Week 38 and sneak peak at the nursery!

Hello all! We have reached week 38 here, in the Casa de Kristensen. Hopefully only 2 more weeks at the most! At our appointment on Friday I was disappointed to find out that I wasn't dilated, but softened at least. I realize that doesn't mean anything and you can be 0 cm one day and have your baby the next, but it would have been nice to know there is some progress going on! She has certainly dropped lower, as I have to go to the bathroom all the time. We have another perinatal appointment on Monday so we will see how big is. Hopefully not too big!

THE LAST BUMP SHOT - Week 38

Week 34 compared to week 38. Bigger and lower!

And now on to the nursery sneak peak. There is a surprise hidden in one of the pictures. Who is going to be the first to see it?

Dresser/changing table

Crib

Recliner and handmade bookcase

Closet organizer

Baby stuff and lots of diapers!

Better view of the bookcase. It was made to match the crib and dresser, right down to the wainscoting backing that matches the sides of the dresser! Very happy I came up with the idea for the angled sides!

Daddy and Grandpa building the bookcase!

Nothing much else going on here. Just waiting. Poor big sister Buttercup had to have a broken lower canine pulled this past week. So all the chew bones have been put away to avoid her opening up her stitches. Oddly enough neither dog has noticed that yet.

Illinois Baby Shower

In the last couple of weeks we've attended our baby basics, childbirth preparation, and breastfeeding classes. Can't learn too much! We are now seeing the OB every week. At our appointment this week we had a quick ultrasound to check the amniotic fluid levels and the doctor's response on seeing Baby K's position was, "Wow, she's really down there!". She didn't say exactly how far down she was, but I've been under the impression that "station" determination is made during a vaginal exam, which our doctor doesn't start until week 38 unless we ask her to do it sooner. But I think I'll wait for that fun adventure. I know she's getting farther down there, because I have to pee ALL THE TIME now. And I finally caved and got a maternity support belt because I just couldn't stand to be upright for any length of time. My back was just killing me, and it always went away if I laid down, so I suspected it was just my ligaments reaching the end of the rope (literally). The belt has really helped a lot! I still have to lay down each afternoon, but that's more from exhaustion than pain.

Anyway here are some pictures from our Illinois shower!

Me and my Mother-in-law, Dawn

Me, Aunt Anita, and Dawn

Me, Grandma Gerda, and my niece, Maeve

Me and Grandma Gerda

The nieces, Maeve and Claire, enjoying some cake!

My sister-in-law, Kristen and her little girl, Maeve

Claire is more concerned with getting her picture taken than watching present opening

Liz and her girls, Johanna and Adelyn, made the long drive down from Lansing, MI for our shower. So glad they could make it!

Lots of delicious pastries and cake. Just torture for a sweet-loving gestational diabetic!

Food, food, and more food!

Our NM neighbors threw us a shower as well! We really did pick a great neighborhood! Lauryn's mom made an adorable hippo hat to match Baby K's pettiskirt!

Susan, Lauryn, Daxton, David, and Christi. (Maddie and Matea are around somewhere)

At the time of posting we are just 1 day away from FULL TERM!!

Week 34 and a finished quilt!!

We are finally closing in on the end. Only 2 to 7 weeks left to go! (At the time I write this, we are currently 35 weeks). We are both getting very anxious to meet our little girl! And we have finally settled on a middle name! Ryan is starting to get a little nervous that we won't be ready when "it's time". But for some reason, I am very ok with our current level of preparedness. If I don't happen to get my Ipod loaded before labor starts, oh well. I'll just have to amuse myself by playing Plants vs. Zombies and Zombie Farm.

We've spent a lot of time the past few weeks getting the nursery all put together. The crib and dresser are all assembled, everything has been opened, washed, and put away. And Ryan and his father built an awesome bookcase to match the crib and dresser, incorporating my design elements with minimal grumblings. I'll post pictures of that project after it's painted and stained.

Daddy working on assembling the crib

Mommy and Daddy-to-be with the finished crib!

Last weekend Lauryn did her last baby bump shot, little Brighton will be here any day now! I'm jealous! And I managed to get her quilt finished in time!

At our Perinatal appointment last week, Doctor Hurley said "I'll see you back in 4 weeks, if you're still pregnant". I must admit that got my hopes up, but even though Baby K has dropped just a little (I can breathe a little easier, but now I have to pee all the time again), I'm sure we still have several weeks to go! At that appointment Baby K measured at 5 lbs 13 oz (76th percentile). And if she continues to gain a 1/2 lb per week...well, let's just hope that she comes a little early! And we start our every week obstetrician appointments this week too!

Baby bump at 34 weeks

Week 34 compared to week 30

I managed to finish Baby K's quilt too!! I am really happy with how it turned out. It is a great addition to the nursery, and hopefully she will enjoy her tummy time all that much more with such a cute quilt to stare at! I think after Baby K is born I am going to get her name and birth date embroidered in the border.

Close ups and full shots of the quilt. And someone has already tried to lay claim on it!

Almost done, I swear. Just a few more details of the nursery. After we get the bookcase in the room and move out the pack and play, I will post some photos of the whole room.

A super cool baby book I found!!

There really are gremlins under her bed....

Ok, I'm done now. But there will be another post coming very soon with pictures from our Illinois shower!