36 Weeks - The Last Leg

I can't believe I am typing about the beginning of my 9th MONTH of pregnancy. Wow. Well, as most of you have experienced, the weather here in Indy has been atrocious this week. Today's high is 4 degrees. I'm managing to stay warm, but poor Nathan is stuck taking the dogs out every single time. Its amazing how warm my body is with this little bun in the oven - no pun intended!

I am definitely feeling 8 months, 3 1/2 weeks pregnant. Mostly, my groin muscles, hips and knees are weakening under the strain of carrying the following weights (minus 4 more weeks of growth):

• 7 1/2 pounds is about how much the baby will weigh by the end of pregnancy. (Jude is about 5 1/2 - 6 1/2 lbs right now and is gaining 1/2lb per week)
  
• 1 1/2 pounds is how much the placenta weighs.
• 4 pounds is attributed to increased fluid volume.
• 2 pounds is the weight of the uterus.
• 2 pounds is the weight of breast tissue.
• 4 pounds is because of increased blood volume.
• 7 pounds is attributed to maternal stores of fat, protein and other nutrients.
• 2 pounds for the amniotic fluid.
• Total: 30 pounds (I am at 24 pounds gain currently - so adjust the above numbers accordingly)
  

Not much has changed since last time I wrote. Nathan arrived back from Alaska without any issues and we have been quickly preparing for Jude. We opened and put the stroller together - and when I say "we", I mean "he"... We* put the pack n' play together and the swing too. Everything else is going into a closet until he is about 6 months old. We had a baby shower at my Mother-In-Law's home, hosted by her, and two of Nathan's Aunts (Jude's great-aunts) Suzie and Jenny. As I have said a million times on this blog - we are TOO BLESSED. We received so many linens and onsies and Bumbo seats! ;-)

I will post some pictures as soon as I receive them from my sister's camera!

The main reason for this post is to share with you something very special to Nathan and me. On January 2, we spent 3 hours in our home with THE most talented photographer taking pregnancy photos. I have always loved pregnancy photos, but to me its so crucial that they are done the RIGHT way. Otherwise, they can be tacky or cheesy. Jessica Strickland, our photographer is beyond talented. She shoots in a way Nathan and I both prefer; its very artistic, natural and magazine-like. I just wish we could have had her at our wedding... A few are little risque, but don't worry, I was fully clothed! ;-)

Here is the link to her blog where OUR PICTURES ARE POSTED! Feel free to leave comments!

Yours,
Bonnie and Nathan

Entering Week 35 - "Welcome to the Wide World of Bonnie"

Hello Happy-Readers. Well, again, I didn't uphold my end of the deal by posting soon after Christmas, but this will just have to do!

Christmas was wonderful. We received all of our "big ticket items" from family, so we are finally set with the stroller, pack n' play, bouncer, swing... you name it. I can finally sleep at night knowing that the kid isn't going to home in a shoebox! (here is a picture of all our loot!)

My incredible, irreplaceable, perfect, adoring husband also treated me like a queen in the gift department. I started opening my gifts and the first one was THE blue box we all know and long for - Tiffany's. I opened it (after giving him the look of "what have you done!!?") to find a sterling silver chain. So I open the next box. Its blue too. Now I give him the look of "what on EARTH have you done!!?". Its a charm shaped like a lock with the letter "J" in the middle of it - for Jude, sterling silver from Tiffany's too. I'm crying now. So, we go through a few more gifts and he gives me my last one. Its a large box, so naturally, I am picturing a new sweater to cover the beach ball awkwardly attached to my belly. But no.
Its another BLUE box. Tears, check. The look of "what have you done" has changed to "who are you!? where is my husband that shares my low-balance bank account!?". But this blue box is bigger. I open it very slowly, shaking, crying. Its a strand of pearls. Tiffany's Pearls. Perfect Pearls that no other in the world come close to competing with. The pearls I have looked at adoringly since I first entered a Tiffany's at the age of 14. Here is the series of photos Nathan took throughout- note my expressions...

 

Nathan left for a week of shows the day after Christmas. I wasn't very happy, but what can you do? It is becoming very difficult to take care of the dogs and to get all my clothing on without help! Starting week 32 (8 mo.), Jude starting growing very very rapidly. I have only gained a few more pounds, but its amazing to feel the energy drain out of your body and go straight to your stomach. He doesn't kick too hard any more either, instead he is rolling over and shifting my whole belly! 

I had my 34 week appointment on Monday and Nathan was able to go. It was a normal appointment, but the doctor did confirm that Jude has "dropped", also known as engaged. I can tell a major difference in my center of gravity and I can hardly wear any of my pants because it is so tight down around my pelvis; his head is down there now! As I write, he is jabbing my bladder, not just sitting on it. By him dropping, he is now putting pressure on my cervix, which will hopefully encourage it to soften and begin to dilate. Please pray it does!! My blood pressure was 100/80 and I had only gained about 2 pounds. 

I have been fighting a terrible cold for the last week and that has made getting bigger so much worse. Its hard enough to sleep, much less propped up on three pillows to keep my head clear. Other than that, things are going well. ;-)

Nathan left for Alaska yesterday where it is -38 degrees. I sure am glad that I am snuggled up in my jammies, but I wish he was here to help pull my socks on!

Well, that's all for now. I have another baby shower Sunday with Nathan's whole extended family. I am so excited and blessed to be surrounded by so many people who care about our new gift from God.

Please keep us in your prayers; we pray specifically that Jude come two weeks early, but naturally and healthy.

Yours,

The Ehmans

PS. Here are some photo galleries online of some recent events

Thanksgiving 2008

Phillips' Baby Shower, December 8

Christmas 2008