38 week check up

We had another appointment today. No news!! I am the same as last week... thinning, but not dilated. We just have to be patient! Lainey had a quiet day yesterday and didn't really wake up and start moving until 2:00am. She made me a little nervous, but I did feel her a few times throughout the day so I didn't worry too much. Today she's making up for the lack of movement yesterday. I don't think I've gone more than 10 or 15 minutes without feeling her squirm or kick all day.

In other exciting news, my cousin's wife had their little boy yesterday! Finnley Ryan Spuhler was born 10/07/08 at 10:08pm. He weighs 6 lbs. 7 oz. and is 19 inches long. Ashlee is doing well and it sounds like she had a pretty easy delivery... she only had to push 5 times and he was out! Let's pray Lainey is that easy! :)

Here's Ashlee, Nick and little Finn:


Congratulations guys! We love you!

Lainey's Room

I got Lainey's room all done this week. I had a lot of fun painting the artwork and her name letters. John put together her dresser and I did the crib a few weeks ago. I think it's turned out really nicely. We are awaiting the day that Lainey decides to join us on the outside. I'll be 38 weeks on Tuesday. I have another doctor's appointment on Wednesday. Last week, I was the same... thinning, but not dilated. The doctor predicts that she's 6.5 to 7 pounds. I have been having some Braxton-Hicks contractions, but not too many. I think she's content to hang out for little while longer. I had my first moment of being ready to have her out day before yesterday. I was so tired and uncomfortable, but I couldn't sleep. I decided I'd rather be tired and comfortable with her on the outside than tired and unable to get comfortable enough to sleep.

Nesting has definitely settled in. I am trying to get some reorganization projects done around the house, but my energy level has kept me from doing too much. Today was a day off from projects and it's been a nice relaxing day.

Here's some pictures of her room before I got it all organized. She got so very spoiled by all of our generous friends and family when we were home a few weeks ago.

So much stuff!! Where will it all go?


Her crib and some artwork hanging temporarily.


More stuff! Spoiled a bit?



And here are some pictures of her room completed. It is hard to get a picture of the whole thing, so here it is in parts.

Right side of the room with her crib and glider.


The artwork I painted for her.


Left front corner of the room with her new piggie bank and my old Cabbage Patch Kid piggie bank.




The most comfortable glider ever!!


Her crib with name letters.


We are going to get a toy net to hang in the corner for all her stuffed animals. For now they are hanging out in her crib.


Some shadow boxes I stained.


Overall, I think it turned out well. The couch is against the left wall and can still pull out for guests if we ever need it. It's a nice extra place to sit in there too. I have a Pack-n-Play for our bedroom with a bassinet attachment that she will sleep in at first when she comes home. I think we are just about ready! I have her bag all packed and I am going to start getting mine put together in the next day or so. I just have to figure out how to have the things I want to wear at the hospital packed when I want to wear them now too! The hospital is so close to our house though that if I forget something, it'll be no big deal to send someone to pick it up for me.

Thank you for all your prayers for us! We will keep you posted on our progress. My cousins Jenn & Andrew and Ashlee & Nick are also anxiously waiting for their little boys to be born. Jenn is 1 cm dilated and due on the 15th while Ashlee is about 2 cm dilated and due the 21st. We have an exciting time ahead in our family!

37 weeks!

We are in the final stages! They say most women deliver between 38 and 42 weeks, so we can expect Lainey to come at almost any time. I am feeling good. Just a bit tired and hungry almost all the time. I went to the doctor last week and he said things seem to be right on track. Her heart rate is good and she's in the right position. I have another appointment tomorrow to see if I've started dilating at all. I have been having some small contractions this week, but they are really mild and irregular. They say that you can have these contractions for a week or more before actual labor starts.

Lainey's room is almost totally finished. I just need to get a dust ruffle for her crib. I am going to try to get out to get that today and then I'll have pictures to share. I've been meaning to go for a few days now, but I've been taking 2 hour naps instead. :)

Our friends are moving out today. It will be very quiet around here after having someone living with us since February. I think I've gotten used to having people around all the time. But soon enough, we will have our own little noisemaker, so I'm not too worried.

For those who didn't get to see me last week for the baby shower or the wedding, here's a picture of me with my cousin-in-law, Ashlee. We are both due on October 21st and just about 36 weeks in this picture. Ashlee and Nick are having a little boy... Finnley Ryan.

The countdown is on!

I am 34 weeks... just a little more than a month to go! It's exciting and a little nerve wracking to realize Lainey is so close to her debut. We just took a labor and birth class last week and I feel much more prepared. This week John and I are in California. We will be here until the 22nd. We came for a follow-up appointment for John's elbow surgery. The doctor said all seems to be going well and John should be back on the mound to test his elbow by the end of the year.

We have lots to celebrate in the next two weekends. My cousin Nick and his wife Ashlee are expecting their little boy, Finnley Ryan, on the same day that we are expecting Lainey! Ashlee's baby shower is this Saturday and I am glad we are in town to be able to share that with them. Then next Saturday, my Dad is getting married! We are really excited for that special day too. Dawn and her two kids, Dillon and Katija, are really great and we are glad to have them join our family. The next day after that is my baby shower that my Mom and sister Jessica are putting on for me. We have a packed schedule!

After all this great time to spend with family, we will be heading back to Arizona so that John can start physical therapy on his elbow and so that we can get all of Lainey's things organized before she comes. We will be staying in Arizona until Lainey is here and fully settled. No more travel... Dr. Newman wasn't very excited that I was traveling now as it is!!

I need to put up a new belly picture. We are growing daily! I think that will have to wait until we get back from this trip though. Love and hugs to everyone!! ~Amanda

30 weeks

We went to the doctor yesterday. Everything looks good! He said that Lainey is growing well and is really stretched out. She has herself stretched up under my ribcage on the right side which is occasionally uncomfortable for me. But we are doing well and feeling pretty good. I got a little overzealous cleaning on Monday and pulled an ab muscle. I was back to feeling good by Wednesday though. I didn't realize how careful I have to be since my abs are stretched and moved around. I didn't do anything overly strenuous in my opinion, but the doctor said that sometimes even too much vacuuming can overdo it for a pregnant woman. So we are taking it easy.

My friends in Arizona are throwing me a shower on Sunday. I'm pretty excited for that. And my shower in California is going to be in September. Any of you out of state family, the shower will be on Sunday Sept. 21 at 2:30. If you are planning to come to my dad's wedding on the 20th and can stretch your travel plans out, I would love to have you there!

Love you!

29 weeks!

OK... here is the most recent picture of me. Taken yesterday at 29 weeks! We are growing!

By request!

As requested... here's a picture of me. This was taken on July 9th which puts me at about 25 weeks, so I'm a bit bigger now than I was four weeks ago. But, hopefully I can get someone to snap a new one in the next few days. :)


The new doctor's office was much nicer than my last one. I did the glucose tolerance test and another CBC and all tests came out normally. The cool thing about this office is that they email me when my tests are done and they are posted on a website that I can log into. I can see all my lab values for myself, which I really like!

Lainey is growing fast. She seems to be constantly in motion, but of course she stops whenever I offer for someone to feel her kicking. :)