Baby Jackson is here!

I don't have too many details, but Jackson Spaulding arrived yesterday! My cousin Jenn had him yesterday. Now it's Lainey's turn!

Baby Shower Pictures

I'm not too blog-savvy. My sister says that if I paste what she sent me in here, there will be a slideshow of the pictures she took of the baby shower in California. It was a really nice shower. My Mom, sister, and Grandma out did themselves! Let's see if it works...

***I am having technical difficulties... stay tuned.***
There we go!!

39 week check up

Well, we are making a little bit of progress. I am 70% effaced as opposed to last week when he said he had me at about 20%. I am still not dilated yet. I have noticed a few more contractions this week that are slightly stronger, but nothing painful or even close to regular. I imagine that she will come pretty close to her due date. The doctor said that they really do not like women to go past 41 weeks because of placental breakdown and the effect that can have on the baby. So we might be discussing induction next week if things haven't progressed further. However, I am really against inducing unless Lainey is in distress so hopefully that won't be necessary. I am all packed and ready to go the hospital whenever she decides to come! Only 5 more days until "D-day". :)

39 weeks

We are at the 39 week mark! Still no sign of Lainey's pending arrival. I had a few mild, but noticeable contractions yesterday. We'll see if those are the precursors to the real deal or not! I had a really difficult time sleeping last night so I'm pretty tired today. Good thing I don't have any plans! Tomorrow we have another appointment to check on things. I will update tomorrow with any news. In the meantime, here is a picture of me and Lainey on the 11th. We are 38 weeks, 4 days. It's a little bit of an awkward angle because I took it myself with the timer. :)

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.