Last "Pre-Baby Girl Foster" Baby Blog

This will probably be the last post I get to make before your arrival next week (assuming you stay put that long).  We cannot wait to meet you!

32 Weeks – This week, Gram, Pop and Andrew came with me to my checkup, so they could all hear your heart beat.  We had an abnormally long wait to see the doctor,  but I always think it is worth the wait to hear your little heart beating (Andrew may not have agreed... I’m not sure he really understood what he was listening to).  Dr. Salata also shared that we would schedule your delivery at my 36 week check up… UGH, so long to wait still!  While Gram was still here, she helped me finish your bed skirt that I had half finished (the light pink layer was mine, but it was see through, so Gram came up with a pretty solution to cover up the crib).  We need to make one or two adjustments when she comes back in January, but otherwise it's complete!  Other than washing and putting your clothes away, your room is all ready for your arrival now!

Andrew's old nursery, girl-ified.

 

Andrew's new room... in a previous post, I was going to show this all done.  It's been done forever. Sorry for the delay!

 

34 Weeks – You are the size of a cantaloupe this week and weigh just over 4 pounds!  While sitting in the doctor’s office this week, I had the sudden realization that you were coming in just 5 short weeks and was both excited and overwhelmed at the exact same time!  I feel like so much has to happen between now and when you come still, so this weekend I finally cut all the tags and washed your new clothes. 


Your closet... cannot wait to dress you up!

I’ve been having a hard time sleeping most nights due to “restless leg”, and your poor father puts up with quite the bedtime routine from me.  It goes a little something like this: Every night, I put on a Breathe Right strip (because otherwise, I’ll wake up at 2am as congested as can be… your Dad tells me that I’ve been snoring anyway the past couple weeks), take out my thyroid pills, get a full glass of ice water, lay down with my pregnancy body pillow and pregnancy wedge (these are in addition to my normal 4 pillows I sleep with), then get almost immediate indigestion, so I sit back up, take two Tums, lay back down, get all settled, decide I should probably pee one more time before I fall asleep, get back up, go pee, lay back down, resituate my pillows, and proceed to lay there fidgeting with my legs for a minimum of 20 minutes before I finally fall asleep (I’ve also spent over an hour some nights waiting for this sensation to subside).  I sleep for roughly 2 hours before my first trip to the bathroom, and if I’m lucky, I can lay back down and fall right back asleep… but more often than not, the process repeats itself.  Lucky me.  Someday, you’ll be laying in bed awaiting your little ones arrival, and I hope you can read this and laugh and know what goes around comes around!  J

37 Weeks – Yay! Dr. Salata gave me the best birthday present – she wrote me out of work!  It was only two days earlier than planned, but who cares?  I’ll take what I can get!  That means, I’m officially on disability – which has not been easy to figure out.  The state of California has special laws for its residents who pay CA state tax (which I do), and it seemed like no one at Prudential could easily answer my questions for me... or didn’t want to because they were on holiday vacation.  I have finally found out the following:  I get 2 weeks paid pre-partum and 6 weeks paid post-partum from Pru.  Then I get 2 weeks paid post-partum from CA for having a c-section.  Then I get 2 weeks Paid Family Leave from Pru, then I get 6 weeks Paid Family leave from CA, then I get 18 weeks unpaid leave (if I want it).  Whew… did you get all that?  Basically, to sum up, I get some form of payment (not 100% that whole time) until mid-May, then can take 18 weeks unpaid after that, which is mid-September. 

Us at 37 Weeks.

 

Two other exciting things that happened this week:
1) We picked up my must have gift (from Gram and Pop) - the Mama Roo!  This thing is AWESOME.  I hope you like it as much as I do!

Andrew thought pushing the buttons was REALLY fun.  We let Blue Bear and White Bear go for a ride... Andrew did want a turn, but seemed to understand that he was too big.  Hopefully, that understanding lasts!

 

2) My Diaper Genie arrived!  I say "My" because your father insists they're gross and won't use it... we'll see. We borrowed one for your brother, but in this big house - I just did not want to deal with lugging poopy diapers from upstairs every day.

My Diaper Genie!

38 Weeks – One week left… and I’m very conflicted.  Part of me is SOOOOO over being pregnant (okay, almost all of me is over it), but the other part of me needs you to stay put until Sunday when Gram and Pop get here. I am officially miserable… in addition to my complaints from week 34, I’ve had a cold for 3 weeks where I can’t breathe at all (regardless of my nasal strips, saline solution, or humidifier).  My mood is severely affected by this discomfort and lack of sleep, so I’m sure your father is ready for your arrival too… BUT, I’m nervous about going into labor before Gram and Pop arrive.  I just don’t think I can leave your brother at the neighbor’s in the middle of the night.  I won’t be able to relax and enjoy your arrival and our first moments together if I’m thinking Andrew is crying in a pack'n'play at the neighbors. So, please stay right where you’re at for at least 3 more days, and I promise I will try to keep the complaining to a dull roar.  I love you already and cannot wait to meet you... next week!  ;)