One More Day.....

Today was my last day being able to park in the Expectant Mother Parking spot at Wegmans....that is until baby #3....but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Belly Pic #1 Billion

38 Weeks and 4 Days

I am obsessive about belly pics this time around....I guess it is because I don't have that many pics from when I was at the end of my pregnancy with Braeden. I don't care how fat and gross I feel, I have decided to capture and share my big baby bump for all to see!

Aunt Sarah's Softball Game

Just pictures because I am too lazy to type out captions today.....

Last Prenatal Appointment!

So today we had our last prenatal appointment for this pregnancy!

NST first....

It went perfect. Ashlyn was showing off with a bunch of beautiful accelerations. And she got the hiccups at the end! The nurse who did the NST this week was so friendly and compassionate too.

Ultrasound next....

Head size is still measuring big. Ventricles are well over 30mm this week. Luckily, the increases in the head and ventricle sizes are not terribly alarming. With her big head size, the estimated weight was 10lbs 2oz! Yikes!! Good thing I am getting a c-section. Taking into consideration how I feel her in my belly and my mother's intuition, I think she will probably weigh around 9lbs....I guess we will find out on Monday!

Doctor Appointment....

You would think at the last appointment before our c-section, we would see a doctor. Nope...nurse practitioner again. I wouldn't mind seeing an NP, but this one didn't do anything. She just asked me what questions I had and that was it. No physical assessment of any kind since I got an NST and ultrasound already.

C-section is still on for Monday, June 1st at 9:30am...unless of course I go into labor on my own (keeping my fingers crossed that doesn't happen!). I just need to have some pre-op bloodwork done tomorrow morning and show up on Monday at 8am. I cannot believe in 3 days, we will meet Ashlyn Grace!!

Mr. Mom?

Yesterday I did a lot of research on babies with hydrocephalus. I spent most of the time visiting blogs of mothers who have been affected by hydrocephalus. One thing I noticed is that a lot of the mothers never returned to work. I didn't even consider how time consuming and challenging raising two children can be....let alone one with a birth defect. With Braeden, I was working full-time night shifts and watching him during the day....definitely challenging, but I made it work.

I got to thinking that if we struggle raising our two babies, one of us would have to quit our job. And most likely it would be Chris. Financially it makes sense. Chris is salaried...but I work a weekend contract and can pick up overtime. If push came to shove, I could bring in a decent salary on which we could still live comfortably.

Chris used to joke that if I got my masters in nursing, he planned on quitting his job and being a "professional playstation player." Well, he might just get to live his dream....expect in addition to "professional playstation player," he will also be "professional poopy diaper changer."

7 Days

1 week to go!! And I have resorted to wearing Chris's baggy XL t-shirts because even my maternity shirts can no longer contain my big ole belly. Either way, I look super classy lately!

Happy Memorial Day

Braeden's First Haircut!

Today, we took Braeden for his first haircut ever!

Check out the pics:

Haircuts for Peanuts in Fairport

The murals at the salon were amazing!

Such a cute place.....

Braeden's favorite part of the hairdresser....the popper toy in the playroom!

Relaxing before the big cut!

My monkey posing near the monkey mural!

BEFORE

The spray bottle was shaped like a kitty!

Notice the crowd reflecting in the mirror....Mommy, Daddy, and Meme

Braeden's hair....don't worry we saved a couple locks for the baby book!

AFTER
He even got a First Haircut Certificate!

What haircut would be complete without a mini meltdown:

About to POP!

Here I am in all my glory at 37 week and 6 day......sporting the ubiquitous pregnancy dress!

B's Newest Infatuation....His Toes!

Thumbsucker....Nah, I have a toesucker apparently.....

It's Not a Race Korie!

I have to keep reminding myself that June 1st will be here before we know it (9 days to be exact!). It is not a race!! No rushing things....

Turns out that Chris's boss had his baby this morning. His wife was due a couple days after me and totally beat me to giving birth. I am very excited for them and their little guys is super cute.....but I am jealous!

*Whine* When will my day be here? *Whine* Ummmm.....9 days Korie! I so need to just relax and enjoy this last week.

Now every little symptom has me thinking I am about to go into labor. Did my water just break? Is this contraction the real deal? Did she just drop? Does the nesting instinct really mean I will go into labor tonight? Why do I feel like I am about to get my period all of a sudden?

I am so paranoid that I will go into labor spontaneously, which will just take all the convenience out of our scheduled c-section. But at the same time, a part of me wants to go into labor before June 1st.....I should just be grateful that I get to meet Ashlyn 1 week before her actual due date of June 8th!

Just a Day at the Park

Yet Another Belly Picture

37 weeks and 4 days

Countdown is still on!

I had my 37 week appointment today. NST first....perfectly reactive. I met with the doctor next and signed the consent form for my c-section (after going over all the lovely ways I might die during the surgery....). We are still on for June 1st. Although, she did say that if I were to go into labor this weekend, they would consider doing an ultrasound and deciding if her head is small enough to allow me to deliver vaginally. That option makes me just as nervous as having a c-section though.....

I asked if they would still be able to do a transverse cut for the c-section (AKA bikini cut), and the doctor said it would depend on the size of Ashlyn's head right before surgery. So next Friday we will have another ultrasound to see where we are at and make a decision based on that information. I am praying I will not need the dreaded vertical incision.....Good news is that the doctor who will most likely be performing my surgery is Dr. Q who I have met and actually liked! I probably should google her and find out if she has ever been sued or left surgical tools in her patients or anything like that.....

Thank You Captain Obvious....

Last week I was shopping at Babies R Us looking for one of those Itzbeen baby timers. I could not find one after searching the store so I asked the lady at the service desk. Her response: "In the infant section." It's Babies R Us! Isn't the whole store the infant section?! Geez....

My Little G

I cannot believe that I forgot to post about making the switch to gDiapers. When Chris left for his conference on May 3rd, I made the change! So far I am loving them. Everyone else...not so much. Although Braeden does seem to like them...probably because I let him walk around without pants on more now! Tonight, I used a cloth diaper insert in place of the flushable insert (more cost effective). It's official....I'm that modern "crunchy" mom!

My Version of the Pregnancy MuuMuu

I had been eyeing this maxi dress from Motherhood Maternity since early this Spring when it first was introduced. Finally last weekend I got it for my anniversary dinner. Now I live in it! It is totally my pregnancy muu muu....especially now that it is so hot out. I love these maxi dresses....I think I might live in them this summer while I am working on getting my body back to normal. Unfortunately, Chris does not seem to be as big of a fan. I told him it is a bohemian look. To which he replies, I look like a giant hippie....Thanks babe.

37 Weeks

I AM FULL TERM TODAY!

(Cartoon courtesy of www.baby-gaga.com)

Baby Steals

I have been meaning to post a blog entry about a site that I love.....



Every day starting at 9am MST, a new deal is offered. Usually a baby item is priced 50-80% off and up for grabs. Today the deal is 81% (!) off a crib set. It is cute, but I don't need it. For $44 I was tempted though!

Lately some of the good deals I have seen include very cute diaper bags, wraps, swaddling blankets, and much much more. The baby goods are of high quality....many you find at those very chic baby boutiques. So this is a great way to get nice baby stuff without shelling out too much money.

Just one piece of advice....make sure to check the site early in the day because by afternoon many of the offers are sold out. Happy shopping everyone!

Mommy and Me Day

(Cartoon courtesy of http://www.baby-gaga.com/)

Manis, pedis, and facials at Euphoria with my mom today. All I can say is that I was due for some pampering!

Take Me Out to the Ballgame....

We went to our first Red Wings game as a family tonight. It was a long game, and unfortunately the home team lost. : ( But we did have a good time. Braeden was as well behaved as a 14 month old could be. He made friends with some older boys sitting behind us. He was pooped but still managed to stay awake for the firework display (I let the guys stay and watch them even though I am extremely terrified of fireworks....thanks to my dad and uncle!).

Daddy and B

Mommy and B (and Ashlyn)Sharing food with Daddy.

Yay! Go Team!!

He does have teeth!

Check out B's new Red Wings hat!

Mesmerized by the fireworks.

Braeden was exhausted after such a long game!