On other news, Hudson is going to be a big brother in less than 2 months.  Baby boy #2 is due to arrive in early November.  We are so very happy and blessed to be brining another child into the world.  We hope they will be the best of friends.

Here’s a photo from just after Christmas.

He started walking about 2-3 weeks ago.  He walks more and more each day with better balance each day.  We are really looking forward to this summer when he can run around and play in the back yard and at the playground. 

I will write write more when we are home from the hospital.

Pix are my henna tattoo done by our friend, Marcus. The other is of me holding Nora.

Had a midwife appointment yesterday afternoon.  It’s the longest we had to wait.  Got into the room for my vitals; weight and BP, but then waited and waited and waited.  They wanted to monitor the fetal movements, but the room was in use the entire time.  We felt that he’s been quite active and passed up the test; yesterday; but the midwife still wanted to record something so I’m coming back in on Friday afternoon.  Boo to that.  Oh well.   I’m measuring 39.5; not bad.  Did find out that I tested positive for strep-B.  Will have to be on antibiotics so as not to give Hudson an infection that he can’t fight off.  Oh well.

I had a Braxton-Hicks contraction for almost 2 hours straight last night.  Not painful, but not comfortable either.  Mac, lovely partner of mine, swept and vacuumed the entire house.  So much for “us” cleaning last night.  I did go through our pile of mail, so I wasn’t a complete doof. 

We recorded Hudson moving in my belly.  I hope the link to facebook works.

click on image

We received our stroller/jogger this past Friday.  Used the gift cards we received from the showers to purchase the matching jogger to our infant seat.  (Baby Trend – Expedition – Columbia)  It’s very nice; however because of Paulie’s bike accident a year ago, she needs some training.  The first night Mommy Mac did some positive association training.  (see pix) We keep it in the living room but have also taken the jogger on our walks.  Paulie is a little apprehensive, but at least she isn’t barking at it nor struggling to walk beside it.

Mac took peanut butter and a piece of kibble and put it on the stroller's fender. Paulie loves PB!

Paulie sitting nicely next to the jogger

Been monitoring the baby at the midwife appointments the last couple of weeks with non-stress tests.  They put me in a recliner, strap a couple of monitors on my belly, find his heart beat, then I click a button everytime he moves.  He’s a great patient.  At this week’s appointment the midwife did my first internal exam to check progression.  I’m not dialated, but Hudson’s head was in position.  I felt like he had dropped as my guts don’t feel as smushed.

We will have an ultrasound October 2nd to check his size.  Depending on my progress and his size they may want to induce me.  They most likely won’t let me go past October 8th.  So for sure we should have little Hudson in our arms by the end of that week of October 8th. (It’s a Thursday)

Mackenzie and I traveled down to Madison to see my folks.  We brought our black lab, Paulie, with us.  We stayed at their house.  Forgot our inflatable mattress, so Mac and I bunked in our own beds.  Well, I had a couch; she had a pull out single sleeper sofa.  Paulie was in her kennel with me in the TV room.  The kennel we brought was about 3/4 the size of her regular kennel; so she didn’t have much room to spread out, poor thing.  She did really well in the car though. Pix below.

Not much else to report.  I’ve been super exhausted lately. The endo-NP and midwife agreed that I should take it easy; not mow.  However, I sorta want to get Hudson out whenever he’s ready, so I might mow a little.  The lawn actually doesn’t look that bad right now.  Haven’t had any rain, so it’s not growing.  We are nearly all set with everything we need for Hudson.  The stroller should be delivered today.  Got the changing pad from Mom & Dad when we were in Madison, thanks !!!  Mackenzie and I went to get a Lands End diaper bag last night but the Inlet didn’t have them. So we popped over to Babies-R-Us and found a REALLY cute Eddie Bauer, canvas tote.  It’s so us.  We’re happy we got one as we were just going to use one of our backpacks. 

So as of today, 20 days and counting; give or take.  We’re very ready to meet our little boy. 

Mama MJ with Paulie, she's a good traveler!

Paulie in small kennel at Nana & PopPop's house

Mama MJ, Paulie Bleeker, Mommy Mac in Madison, WI - week 36

Went over more of the GD risks with the midwife.  A high concern is a still born birth; which I don’t know what I would do if that happened.  Hudson is so flipping active down there I think he’s practicing his baseball moves already. We did a non-stress test to monitor his movements and heartbeats.  He did just fine.  We have several more appointments because of my GD diagnosis.  Luckily we only have 29 more days.  It’s a strong possibility that I’ll need to be induced at week 39; but I’m really hoping to go naturally or at least get induced at week 40.  (I’m a nerd and want to have the rest of the year off of work; return Jan 4th-ish and not 12/31) 

Right now my focus is keeping my sugar levels in check.  Getting rest and taking it easy is another issue.  Went to Beth and Lisa’s wedding on Saturday night.  It was a fun time.  We did a lot of yard work over the labor day weekend.  We were able to get a lot of our projects done. Mommy Mac was called into work on Monday, so I did a bunch of yardwork; which I paid for later by not being able to move much.  Saw baby Nora on Monday afternoon.  It was Paulie’s (our black lab) first time seeing a live baby.  At first she was just alert to the crying; but when Jen brought Nora over to Paulie, who was behind a baby gate in the tiny hallway, Paulie started to bark.  Oh my; what we have to look foward to.  We’re hoping Paulie will quickly adjust to Hudson’s crying.

Mommy Mac has been incredibly patient and helpful throughout our pregnancy.  She is my rock.  Don’t know what I’d do without her.  She is going to make such a great mother to our son.  It will certainly be the best adventure of both of our lives!

We go to Madison this weekend to see my folks; Nana and Pop-Pop. We are staying with them and also bring our dog, Paulie.  Should be a good time.  We are going to have to rush back to MN early early early on Sunday to get to our Zen-Mama Prenatal Yoga workshop at the Minneapolos Yoga Center.  Looking forward to learning some yoga positions and breathing techniques for the birth.

Pictures of the week!

On a much happier note; we got to see Hudson on the ultrasound.  Got some great looks at him.  He isn’t as big as once thought.  He’s 2 weeks ahead in gestational growth, but the doc said she predicts a high 8lb baby; not over 10.  Everything looks good.  His face doesn’t look at chubby as the last ultrasound, so that’s good.  he was head down; which is great and we want him to stay that way.  Fluid is good too.  We are so incredible excited to meet our little man!

Here are some pix.

face-35 weeks

face

Look at that nose!

toes!