Hello blog, so we meet again :)

Well today is a great day, it's my official last day of work in 2010. I have the next 14 weeks off for maternity leave - and YES, I will be getting paid the entire time! The long hours I've put in this year have been worth it!!! And to top it off, my raise will become effective October 1st! Thank you KPMG, don't mind if I do.

We had our baby shower last Saturday and had a great turnout of family and friends! Thank you Danielle and Shayne for helping put the whole shindig together - couldn't have done it without you guys! Lyla got a TON of diapers and clothes and some great essentials. We are so thankful to have so many wonderful people in our life!!! I will try and put up some pictures of the shower shortly. We now need to go purchase all the other things that Lyla needs... changing table, bathing stuff, stroller, etc...

We will finally be attending a baby class tomorrow! YAY! Prepared Childbirth from 10am to 4pm. I hope they don't make us watch a birth video.

Next Tuesday is our last baby doctor appointment before the big day. It should be a fun one, I get to climb in the stirrups again. Woohoo.

How far along: 35 weeks, 5 days
Size of baby: Honeydew melon, over 5 lbs now
Total weight gain: ~50 pounds
Maternity cloths: the clothes I bought a few months ago are still fitting, believe it or not. However my one pair of jeans that fit me are starting to get a little tight :(
Gener: baby girl
Movement: All the time - Lyla had the hiccups forever the other night and it made me laugh
What I miss: fitting into my old clothes and shoes
Cravings: ginger ale, ice
Symptoms: hip pain, back pain, heartburn, swollen feet
Best moment this week: baby shower

Week 36: Wee fingers o' steel

The countdown continues… and in fetal developments: most of the bones (soft skull aside) in their little body are now completely hardened, providing a solid structure from which they can now make their grand debut into the world. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we are structurally ready for a secure launch. In physical fitness news: their muscle tone has also improved over these past few weeks, and you’ll definitely be impressed by their steel-like Ulnar grasp (a newborn reflex that occurs if you lay your finger in their palm). And in genital development: if you’re having a girl, her labia are now fully developed. Finally, in the fluids/excretion department: the amniotic fluid-to-baby ratio has fallen over these past weeks, although they’re still swallowing fluid (building up even more meconium for that historic first poop), and some vernix caseosa. They will be more than ready to swallow and digest milk after birth. Just in case you didn’t get it quite yet: you’ve got yourself an adorable and hungry 6.5 lbs 20 inch baby—are you ready?

 

Montessori School

I had to share the conversation Tyler and I had this morning during our carpool to work... I laughed so hard I had tears rolling down may face.

(As we drive by Montessori School International)

Me: I wonder how much montessori school is?
Tyler: Why? Do you want to go?
Me: Huh? Do you know what montessori school is?
Tyler: Yeah, it's like God school...

(Here starts my laughing spell. Through my tears of laughter, I manage to eek out...)

Me: Maybe you're thinking of monestary school?
Tyler: Yeah I think you're right

I laughed for about 10 minutes. Tyler didn't think it was so funny. I'm just glad I hadn't put on my mascara yet.

On that note, it makes me excited that montessori school takes kids from age 18 months and up! And its about the same price as day care. Good to know... :)

Honeydew

33 weeks = Our little Lyla is now the size of a honeydew!

Recent Developments

Well, we have managed to get the old carpet out of the house (with the exception of our room) and the new wood in about half the house. We still have our room and the other two bedrooms to finish laying wood in and the 2 bathrooms to tile. After all that is done, we have to put new trim on all the doors and new baseboards everywhere... Can we finish it all in 7 weeks or sooner? I sure hope so!

We did get to put together Lyla's crib and dresser this weekend! Soon enough, we will have all her bedding washed and set up in the crib... once all our home construction has slowed and all the dust settles, literally.

Marmaduke has already tested out the crib and he seems to love it. I hope Lyla loves it as much as Duke does.

We have another doctor's appointment today at 4:30. It'll be another quick one, taking my weight, listening to Lyla's heartbeat, the usual. We'll find out today when our next and last sonogram/appointment will be. I can't believe the end is so near!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 33 Weeks, 2 days
Size of baby: Lyla is a honeydew
Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained ~ 40 lbs... give or take a few pounds
Maternity Clothes: I'm all stocked up on maternity clothes! Three more weeks of my business casual clothes and then I plan on living in my Target tank tops.
Gender: Little princess
Movement: Lyla is moving like crazy these days - mostly during the day.
Sleep: Ehh not so great lately. I recently bought a Snoogie (body pillow) from Babies R Us and it definitely makes sleeping a little more comfortable.
What I miss: wearing heels, bending over, my old jeans :(
Cravings: ginger ale
Symptoms: severe heartburn.
Best Moment this week: Putting together Lyla's crib and dresser this week! They look beautiful in her purple room :)

I got the "Pregnancy Highlights" idea from gotta run...catch me later. I love reading Jenny's blog!

Lyla's Developments

Baby’s senses are continuing to improve -- when light peeks in through your (extremely) stretched belly, those tiny eyelids and irises blink and dilate. And, baby can now recognize and react to simple songs… time to start practicing your lullabies! Growth (at least inside your womb) is starting to slow, and you may notice baby descend into your pelvis at the end of this month.

Fetal development in pregnancy week 33: fetus in eighth month For all the weight and bulk you’re lugging around these days, you’d think your little champ should weigh much more than a mere 5 lbs and measly 17 inches in height, but nope, that’s about the average size for a baby in its thirty-third week. In terms of appearances, they’re getting cuter and pudgier every minute as they pile on the baby fat for those adorable little wrist rolls and chubby toes. And as we’re sure you’ve already noticed they’re getting stronger with every passing day. Nowadays, it’s possible to observe a well-placed kick just by watching your belly—but you already knew that didn’t you? Although they’re getting stronger, your bigger-by-the-day baby is losing space to move around, so the actual rate of movement will drop off in the last few weeks, despite that powerful drop-kick they’ve been working on. Hey, did you know you’ll continue feeling their movements even during labor?