39 Weeks and Oh So Ready!

I am more than ready for Laney to be here. Honestly, I've been down right miserable since Thursday night. I started having contractions Thursday evening while we were watching tv. They seemed to let up during the night but on Friday they got more intense and more regular until finally I was having them between 5 and 7 minutes apart. I thought it was time. I had gone to Athens to have lunch with Danyell and to see my sister. I'd been having contractions all morning but they weren't very regular. After lunch I went to Dana's house and they were slowly getting closer together and more intense. She started timing them and within an hour they went from 10-12 to 5-7 minutes apart and they were lasting about a minute each. I called my OB and she told me to go to Park West. So, Dana drove me to Knoxville and I left Jareth with my father in law. When we got to the hospital I went to labor and delivery and they checked me into triage. After an exam, the nurse said I was at 3-4 cm but I was still only 50% effaced. They hooked me up to a monitor to measure my contractions. And of course they had slowed down. I was monitored for 2 hours before they finally sent me home. Fantastic.
It is now Sunday and I'm still having contractions although they aren't regular. I've had my "bloody show" and I feel like I'm about to drop a bowling ball. The bottom of my stomach is very sore. I feel like either my stomach muscles or uterus is being ripped open and Laney isn't moving much at all. I really thought we were going to be meeting her this weekend.
I have a dr appt in the morning so we will see what she says. They already offered to induce me on Wednesday so if that's still on the table I'm going to take it. I would induce tomorrow if they'd let me.

And I was doing so well...

I went to my weekly appt yesterday and all was going well until my nurse practitioner informed me that my Ob would be on vacation the week that Laney is due. Great. So she tells me I have two options. 1. I can be induced next wednesday so that Dr. Walker will be there to deliver my baby. 2. I can go into labor naturally and risk having a stranger basically come in, deliver the baby, and walk out never to be seen again. Fantastic. I was so relaxed up to this point. I wasn't very anxious about when Laney arrives, I just kept counting down the days expecting her to come around her due date. I didn't let myself get all hyped up about the possibility of her coming early. But now I feel so much pressure to have her before Dr. Walker leaves next weekend.
I'd really rather not induce this time around. Yes, I did it with Jareth and it his birth was practically perfect but I wanted to experience going into labor on my own. Also, Laney hasn't dropped yet and Jareth had dropped by about 36 weeks. I'm afraid of going in to be induced and labor not progressing making me need a c-section. That's the very thing I want to avoid. Yes, I'd like to go into labor naturally and yes, I'd like to see if I can go without an epidural. But above all else I don't want to risk having a c-section. It's so tempting to induce. It would be easier on us and our family/friends to plan ahead and there is peace of mind knowing that she is coming and that I won't have to wait any longer. The longer I'm pregnant the more uncomfortable I will be and the bigger I'll get and the more anxious I will be. But what If I choose to be induced and end up having a c-section and I don't get the experience that I so desperately want.
If someone else were in my position I know what I'd say. I would tell them to wait it out and let the baby come on it's own. But that's so much easier said than done. I will see Dr. Walker on Monday and talk to her about it. Maybe I can get Jon to go with me. He seems more level headed than I am right now. If anyone out there is reading this, say a prayer for me!

3cm
50%
34lbs gained

2 Weeks to Go!

Holy Moly! I only have 2 weeks left before Laney is scheduled to arrive. Our bags are packed and we are ready to go. The only thing left to do is wait. I think I'm going to make a wreath for the hospital door like I did for Jareth. His is still hanging on his bedroom door. Everyone thought it was super cute at the hospital. I've got to show everyone how special my babies are ; ) Not much else to report. At my last appointment I was 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced. I go back tomorrow to get checked again but I'm not putting too much thought into it. I got stuck at 2cm with Jareth for weeks. Plus, Laney hasn't dropped yet so she may not be coming for a while. Hopefully I can hold out and not be induced this time around. Wish me luck!

A Weekend for Me

My sweet friend, Danyell, called me about a month ago asking me if anyone had mentioned throwing me a shower. I told her "no" and she asked me what I wanted to do this time around. I told her I'd like something different since it was my second baby, maybe something smaller and intimate. She said to leave it up to her. All I knew was the date and that I was supposed to dress up. So exciting! I have to say it was hard to let go and let my friends take care of all the details without my knowledge though. I'm a little bit of a control freak...just a little.
The Friday night before shower I got to have some one on one time with Heather. We went to the Home and Garden Show and had dinner at Chesapeake's. (By the way, their smoked salmon plate is AMAZING!) Afterward she hung out at the house for a little while and then I had the house all to myself. Nice. I slept in on Saturday and it was wonderful. But I did miss my little alarm clock and had to call my little boy. Then, I layed around the house all morning until Erin and Danyell got into town. I loved getting to spend time with these girls. It's not often I get to have them to myself. We went to Market Square for lunch at Blue Coast Burrito and browsed around at the shops. Then it was time to get ready.
The shower turned out wonderfully and I absolutely loved the venue! It was held at Cru Bistro and Wine Bar in Turkey Creek. Jon and I had been there a couple of times and really liked the place so he suggested it to the girls. We had the party in the lounge area where there was live music. Heather made a centerpiece incorporating details from Alice in Wonderland and Danyell had the prettiest cupcakes made. It was very classy. Laney got some really great gifts. The clothes are to die for. She is going to be the best dressed girl around. And oh my goodness at the bows! I need to count them. It's going to be a long time before she has to repeat a hairpiece! There were 13 guests in all, several of which drove over an hour to be there. I am so loved. : ) Here are a few photos from the night.

Maternity Photo Shoot...of a different kind

About a month ago my good friend and photographer, Brittany, invited me via a facebook event to do a budior photo shoot. I soon texted her asking, "You do know I'm pregnant, right!?" She explained that she was getting a group of ladies together for an all day shoot and she wanted me to be her pregnant "model".(I use that term loosely) I was a little nervous at first but I knew I could trust Brittany to make this 8 month pregnant body look at least halfway decent. She is a phenomenal photographer. I decided to make this a Valentine's Day suprise for Jonathan. It was hard to keep the secret but it was very worth it! When the day arrived for the photo shoot I didn't know exactly what to expect. I was told to bring a few items such as lingerie and heels and Brittany sent me some inspirational photos to look at. My appointment was at 3:00 on Saturday and Jon was very curious as to why I was spending so much time on my hair and makeup before I went out to "run errands." When I got to Brittany's and she got started on me I felt so comfortable. Although she is my friend and I would feel fine walking around her half-naked anyway, she was very professional and I think anyone would feel at ease with her. She gave me great instruction and really made the process fun. If anyone out there reading this needs a good photographer, I highly recommend her. After the shoot I asked her if she would have a couple of prints ready by Valentine's Day and she said she would email me one or two so I could suprise Jon. I got something much better than that. Within three, yes THREE, days she texted me that I could come pick up the entire disk! Poor girl probably didn't get any sleep! I was so excited that I took my computer with me so I could check them out immediately. And......they turned out beautifully. I am so happy with my photos! I was so excited to show Jon. I took the disk to Walgreens and made his Valentine's card using one of the photos on the front and I printed off a couple more that I thought he would like. That night, Tuesday night, and yes the night before Valentine's Day I decided to go ahead and give Jon the card. We were cuddling up downstairs and I said something to the effect of "Okay, I can't wait 'til tomorrow!" and I took him upstairs and handed him the card. When he opened it he got the biggest smile on his face and started throwing words like "beautiful," "stunning," and "sexy" around. I think he liked them. I loved how suprised he was. Even 8month pregnant women can be sexy too. Thank you Brittany!
Now I can't put all the photos on here, there are some people in my life that don't want or need to see all of the goods, but here is a small sample of Brit's work.

34 Week Bump Comparison: Laney vs Jareth

Getting big! Laney will be here before we know it!

And here I am at 33 weeks with Jareth. I think I was a little bigger with him!

Nursery Pics

We don't have the baby bedding yet, the blanket in the photo is the one I made for the craddle. I will post the bedding when it's finished.

Inspiration for the flowers came from the garden scene in Alice in Wonderland.

Pinterest taught me how to make them : )

My grandfather made this changing table. My little cousins got to use it first, then Jareth, and now Laney. I love it. I still want to get a new diaper pad cover. I registered for a pretty one so I'm waiting to see if I get it. The white one just doesn't stand out. I'm also thinking about weaving ribbon in the slats for bows.

I just love these Alice in Wonderland watercolors. I found them on ETSY. One of my favorite places to shop! They turned out so pretty!

I think I'm going to put one of Laney's newborn photos above the key. So that space will eventually be filled. I made the little "L" onesie! It has ruffles on the butt. I'm planning to get some little leggings and use this as her coming home outfit. Can't wait!

I had this pillow made by RockLovenStiches. It's hard to see but the black images on the purple fabric are Alice in Wonderland themed. So cute! I made the little owl out of some scrap fabric. It still needs eyes.

I spray painted this antique table silver and added little black scroll stick ons. I think I'm going to put a little tea set on it. I found a few Alice in Wonderland themed sets that would go well with the room.

That's it so far. Less than six weeks for Laney to get here! Still a few things to do but now we are defintely in countdown mode!