Full Term!!!

May (3 months) and December (37 weeks)

The big 3-7 week is here! Full term. So the little princess is welcome to come whenever her little heart desires. I had my checkup today, and still at 3 cm, so no new progress in that area. I also had a sonogram and it showed that she's only weighing 7 lbs 4 oz. That was a HUGE sigh of relief off of my chest. I was so nervous that she was going to be a gigantic toddler in there. The tech's words were that she was within the "normal" range and that she was long and skinny. Specifically, her tummy was skinny. So here's to hoping her machine wasn't way off and that the little bean doesn't pack on 3 pounds within these next few days.

This past weekend was quite busy. Of course we had Thanksgiving on Thursday, and then on Saturday a first birthday party and getting all the Christmas decor for inside and outside of the house out of the attic and up. All while watching the Gators beat Florida State! Perfect day. Sunday, we went to target and got a new stocking and stocking holder for the baby. We are up to 7 stockings on our shelf! Crazy! We also went and picked out of Christmas tree.

The rest of our Sunday afternoon we decorated the tree. Addisyn was so excited to look at all the ornaments and to place them on the tree. Alyse was excited at first but soon lost interest. Once everything was up I had to goal to get both of the girls together for a picture. Alyse said no and ran to the kitchen yelling about wanting a banana. My solution: tell her she can have the banana AFTER she takes a picture with her sister. A few more minutes of crying went by, I reminded her of the bribe, and she stomped over to the tree. And she stood there. Arms folded and her bottom lip poked out. When I asked her to smile and say cheese all I got was a humph and her "humphing" her crossed arms. What a little stinker. So since she took her picture, she got her banana, after all smiling wasn't part of the original deal.

Addisyn's Pre-K3 picture

After a week off, Addisyn went back to school on Monday. She was so excited to get back into the routine. They've started their unit on the Gingerbread Man. I know she's going to have a blast with all the activities her teacher (whom she absolutely adores) has planned. They are also busy practicing for their Christmas Program that will be next week. I just hope I'm not holed up in the hospital and have to miss it :( Also, she will be in the Christmas parade this Saturday. I'm not quite sure how she really feels about it, because I'm pretty sure that she realizes that she is going to miss getting to watch the parade, which is something she really enjoys. We may take her over to Ocoee's parade that afternoon so that she can still get the opportunity to see the parade.

Until then, we're just patiently waiting. We might have a bit more information at my next appointment next week. Or, I may not make it that long lol. But, in the meantime I'll just try not to think about it, otherwise the days are just gong to frag by. I am so ready to meet this baby girl. Can't wait to get a big dose of baby smell! :)

36 down, how many more to go??

At 36 weeks and 3 days, the countdown is officially on! Things could literally happen at just about any moment. I had Alyse had 37 weeks and 2 days. I was induced, but probably would not have lasted much longer on my own anyways. Some people are placing bets that it will be sometime next week, I'm still holding out that it won't be until the week after. Again, she may play us all for a fool and come closer to the due date. I think if I truly did make it to 39 weeks I'd ask for the induction for convenience purposes. I know some people are totally against that, but in my opinion, if the doctor is fine with it and all signs point to healthy then why not use the medical advancements that we have available to us?

I have this gut feeling that my water is going to break sometime during the night. Just a feeling that I have. A few interesting notes on Addisyn and Alyse's deliveries. They were both induced, both born on a Tuesday, and Bill Clinton was on David Letterman the Monday night before being induced with both of them. So, check the schedule to see it Clinton is going to be on Letterman any time soon :)

I'm still feeling good. Not really much to complain about. My back hurts especially when I have to sit at the computer for any length of time scoring essays. I still get winded and out of breath. But really, it isn't all that bad. People keep asking if I'm done being pregnant yet, and honestly, no. I haven't felt pregnant the majority of these 9 months anyways, so just now getting those feelings doesn't have me completely drained. Don't get me wrong, I'm so excited to meet the baby girl and to hold her, but this pregnancy has truly been a breeze other than those first few weeks of morning (all day) sickness. I'm still crossing my fingers that she isn't gong to be any bigger than Alyse and would feel like I hit the jackpot if she were to be smaller.

I had my appointment on Tuesday. Progressed from 2 cm to 3 cm and have effaced a tad more. I didn't get to see my doctor because she was doing a delivery, but saw the Nurse Practitioner. I asked her about my random popping noises from my belly and she looked at me as if I were crazy. Said possibly gas (don't think so) or the baby's ribs cracking. Hmmmmm. I go back on this coming Tuesday for a checkup as well as a sonogram to check on her size. At the appointment prior to this past week's I had asked about baby size because of Alyse's giganticness so Dr. Lambert suggested an ultrasound just to get an idea. Not that she could do anything about it if baby Gummy is indeed toddler sized.

Had a great Thanksgiving yesterday. Made the rounds to my parent's, doug's grandparents, my aunt and uncle's, and then back to mom's for a rousing game of Balderdash. Gotta love the holidays. Excited that Gummy will most likely be here for the next holiday! ;)

I can tell you one more thing though. I am PAST ready to get out of these stupid maternity jeans. They slip and slide and roll. They drive me absolutely insane. wish I was one of the lucky ones who can wear their normal jeans the whole pregnancy. But no, I have to deal with the torture pants. I don't get the people who always rant and rave about maternity clothes. I hate them. With a passion. Here's the big belly, at 36 weeks!

Oh! I almost forgot!!!! The other night, Addisyn was doing her nightly baby check where she takes a look at my belly. Alyse saw her and actually came to inspect as well (this is a first, because she is normally not too happy to talk about the baby). Addisyn was pressing around and talking about how she could feel her. Next thing I know, she trying to look into my belly button and her face just completely lights up. She yells that she is able to see the baby. I almost died trying not to laugh at her. Then, that got Alyse excited so she then was trying to look into the belly. It was so cute to see how excited the both of them were. Can't wait to see their reactions when she's really here!

35!

So pregnant. I swear this baby has GOT to be running out of room. I have a feeling she's going to be another long one (as if she had the genes to not be long??) because she has yet again found my ribs. There are times where I have to completely stretch my entire torso out to make enough room for her. It's funny to look at my stomach though when  she's all stretched out because it will be all disproportionate with some huge bump on whichever side she took over.

I'm starting to lose some of my energy. Tired a lot. But, I'm still trucking along through everyday activities. The girls keep me busy as well as scoring essays in the evening. I will admit though that it's quite hard to stay at the computer reading essays for hours at a time (even when not pregnant). Still takes a lot of effort to get down to the floor or to even turn from one side to the other while in bed at night. Ahhhhh, the end is near. I would say that I'm quite lucky to just now be feeling like this. Some women are like this the entire pregnancy.

I had my doctor appointment on Tuesday. Dilated to 2cm. She said the baby was still a bit high, so looks like we still have some time. Not like you can actually predict labor anyways. Doug is swearing the baby will come the last week of November. I'm still sticking with the first week of December. Maybe the second? As anxious as I am to have her here in my arms I want to make sure she's good and ready to come out. Hopefully with some less poundage than what her sister entered the world with. I'm kinda nervous I'm going to end up with three toddlers ;)

Officially on weekly appointments, so I'll be back at the office next week. Then, the following week I'll have an appointment as well as a sonogram just to check on the weight. Not like they can really do anything if she does look big, but it might be nice to know what we're working with. I'm just praying for a smooth delivery as well as a perfectly healthy baby girl. I would LOVE to avoid her having to be readmitted because no mom wants to see her baby go through all the testing and monitoring that the hospital would require. Been there twice and hoping third time is a charm in terms of health.

Alyse's first successful Santa visit, 2012!

I'm pretty much finished with Christmas shopping for the three girls. Have a few more things in route via UPS and Fedex. Everyone else, not sure what's going to happen with you! Just needed to ensure that Santa was taken care of. We also went to Millenia yesterday to get the girls' pictures with Santa. Surprisingly, Alyse had no tears and of course Addisyn was a pro! Last year Alyse wasn't a fan of Santa. Ok, it might be more suiting to say that last year Alyse was petrified of Santa. This year, she went straight up with no issues. It felt strange to be doing the Santa visit before Thanksgiving, but I didn't want to risk not being able to take the girls since there's no way to plan when the baby will arrive. next week, school is out so I'm sure that place will be a madhouse.

Alyse's traumatic experience last year, 2011

One weird side note to happenings this week: I have heard this random clicking/popping type noise come from my stomach on three different occasions. Two times while laying on the couch the other while sitting at the computer scoring essays. It was just one little pop, like the sound your knees would make if you squat down to the ground. Just one single pop. The first time it happened I think my heart skipped a few beats because I had a couple people tell me in other pregnancies that they heard a pop noise as their water broke. That was the first thing running through my head. I have absolutely no idea where the pop came from, but it wasn't fake, I wasn't moving, and nothing else was around. Freaky! Good thing we are pretty much set and ready with just about everything we need. My goal is to install the baby's car seat sometime over the weekend, and then it's all good!

Excited for Thanksgiving next week. I wonder how much bigger i can get this belly to grow? Addisyn had a big feast at school today. Her class has spent the last couple of weeks working on Indian attire to wear to the feast: an Indian vest, headband, necklace, etc, and little Addi came waltzing in not wearing anything. What a weirdo! She loves dressing up at home but yet decided not to wear all her cool stuff! She was excited to show it all off once she got home though. Alyse was just as excited to look at all the cool things that she had made.

I had a bit of craftiness myself this morning before going in to help with the feast. I made big and lil sis shirts for all three girls. I used fabric applique letters off of etsy and applied them to the shirts and tiny onesie. They're pink, red, and green and I though that they were absolutely PERFECT for three little girls during the Christmas season. I just need to get to JoAnn's to get some thread to hand stitch them on for a little extra  umph. Can't wait for the girls to wear them.

34 weeks!!!

Woah. This is getting real. A technical 6 weeks to go. I feel like I essentially say the same thing each post. You know, commenting about how close it's getting. But seriously, each passing week is making time closer and closer. I'm getting more excited each week, but at the same time I'm get more nervous each week. How in the world do I do three kids? Insane. Of course I know I can handle it, afterall I taught several classrooms of 20+ kids. I'll be good. <------- That's my current mantra to get me through.

A funny Addisynism of the week. The other night while I was cleaning up the kitchen after dinner, she asked if she could lift up my shirt to look at my belly. I tell her yes but inquire as to why she wanted to do so. Her response was that she wanted to check on the baby. So, I step back from the sink and she gently lifts my shirt. "oh! Your belly button is almost closed. So, that mean's the baby's coming out soon." With that, she satisfactorily pulls my shirt back down and walks away. I think I have a future doctor on my hands!

Today, while Addisyn was at school Alyse and I ventured out to do some Christmas shopping. I can honestly say that this is the earliest I have EVER started thinking about Christmas. My normal philosophy is no Christmas until AFTER black friday (nope, not one of the crazies who goes out in that mess!). But, seeing that a new baby will either be on the way or already here, I need to have the ducks in a row prior. I had already been finding a few things here and there online, but that is a bit limiting since I refuse to pay shipping. I'm pretty good about finding coupon codes for a lot of places and my free trial of Shop Runner (12 months was the initial free trial, but I got an additional 3 for signing up for some email thing. I'll be good until March 2013, woohoo!). It's fun tracking packages online and waiting for them to arrive.

I've been having braxton hicks contractions still. Nothing major, but some are quite uncomfortable. I think little Gummy has dropped a bit lower because her foot that was in my ribs for most of last week hasn't been bothering me. I also feel a bit more room to breathe. I have my 35 week appointment on Tuesday, and I'm pretty sure my doctor will be checking to see if I'm dilated yet. If I remember correctly, I was at like 3 cm for this first check with Alyse. The following week I was at 4cm, and the nest week at 5 cm. That's when I was induced. So, if this goes anything like it did with Alyse, we may only be about two and a half weeks out.

33 weeks and a few

Technically, more than a "few" days into the 33rd week, since tomorrow will be 34, but I'll update from the past week. Last Thursday, I had my doctor appointment. Everything went well. The glucose test results from the gestational diabetes retest came back normal, so who knows what was really going on. I was measuring a week ahead of schedule, which has been the norm these past few weeks. After my next appointment, I'll be at weekly appointments! Holy cow! I know these next few weeks are going to drag by.

During the past week the little babe's foot finally found my ribs. Ouch. I know when I was pregnant with Addisyn, she was in my ribs for several weeks which made the last bit of the pregnancy quite uncomfortable. This little one moves around so I'm thankful she hasn't permanently wedged her little piggies up in there. Yesterday, I was pretty much uncomfortable all day. It's like I just needed to lay down (yea, like I had the chance to do that lol) to stretch my torso out. Not quite sure how to describe the feeling, but I'm definitely not feeling it so far today.

All this time I've pretty much felt normal and haven't been able to complain about being pregnant (other than those first few weeks of utter nastiness). I think now, I officially feel pregnant. I think I might have a waddle in my step. I breathe heavy. I even make the obligatory grunts and groans when lifting another kiddo or trying to reach down to grab something. It also takes effort from my whole body to pull myself out of bed. Yes, I really am pregnant. I guess it's a good thing I wasn't going through this the whole time and I only have a few weeks left.

Even though, my due date is December 18, for now, my guess will be sometime during the first week of December. We'll see. I'm kinda hoping I'll go naturally and not be induced (mainly just for the experience, totally not against induction meds lol). Then again, it's scary not to have a plan. Although, my plan right now, is just to NOT have a plan. If that makes any sense?

Oh! And, a name update. Addisyn has, after a few steady months, changed Baby Dupp's name from Gummy to Coral. I guess it is a step up lol.

33 weeks!

Happy Halloween!

 

 A few days late getting this on here, but the girls had such a fun Halloween. The Sunday before the girls carved their pumpkins. Addisyn chose a cat face for hers and then picked out a jack-o-lantern face for Alyse's pumpkin. Addisyn dug right in to scooping out the insides of hers, Alyse was not a fan. She barely stuck her hand in and would start flinging it and screaming. She then proceeded to the door telling me that she needed to wash her hands and that it was nasty. It was hard to hold back a laugh. And, that was pretty much the end of the pumpkins on Alyse's end. Addisyn stuck around though and helped Daddy to carve out the faces.

Addisyn had her party at school on Halloween morning. She was so excited that she was going to get to wear her Wendy costume to school. What was even more fun was that a little boy in her class was Peter Pan. How cute is that? She spent the morning rotating to different classrooms to play games and get some treats. I was able to go in and help, which was a lot of fun.

Then, that night, we went and Trick or Treated in my grandmother's neighborhood. Alyse was very nervous walking up to the first house and actually made me pick her up and carry her to the door. Once she realized that they were handing out candy, she was all about it. She got to where we couldn't get to the next house quick enough. As soon as we would leave one house's doorstep, she would say "next house!" Addisyn was of course the seasoned pro and led the way. We made the entire loop and the girls did such a good job with walking and not complaining. They got some yummy candies and received so many compliments on their costumes (especially Addisyn's Wendy dress that grandma made for her). Every time someone would tell Addisyn about how pretty her dress would be, she would be sure to come back and relay the message to us about their thoughts. She is such a ham.

I also wanted to share my little Halloween "festiveness," a skeleton shirt. I found this applique on Pinterest, and it linked me to a shop on etsy. I bought this months ago just so that I wouldn't forget about seeing it. I thought it was so much fun. It was an applique that had "my" ribs and heart and then underneath was a little baby skeleton. I'll hold on to it until next year and hopefully someone will be pregnant and able to use it! I normally don't do pictures of myself, but I'll go ahead and post.