Day 231 (35 to go): Itsa cool 74

It's been quite an interesting week at the Hargis household so I thought I'd take a moment and catch everyone up on the going on's here!

We started the nursery and if you can make it out on the picture to the right it's yellow and (kind of) green stripped, once we add the top boardering to the room we'll take more pictures. So far though, it looks really great and we're getting more and more anxious for it to be finished! The air conditioner has been installed and I love basking in the coolness that is my upstairs (Stitch loves it too)!!

On Monday I lost my little plug (if you're female you probably know what it is, but I'm going to spare the details on this one cuz it's kinda yucky) which as you know isn't definitive measure of knowing when labor will start. It is however a sign to us that my body is preparing itself for the journey it's about to take. It also made us recognize the things that we haven't quite gotten around to, like packing the hospital bag or washing the baby clothes that have been piled up in a rubbermaid bucket. So Monday was our wake up call, now the bag is packed and I've started a load of baby clothes, so there is at least something for that "just in case" scenario.

Today brought another little surprise. As I was going about getting ready, I went to put on my clothes and realized that things were feeling different. That high up bump that I have been so used to, had lowered. Yeup that's right, he dropped a little. All just little signs to show us that things are progressing and we really have no idea when he's actually going to come! Perhaps our doctor's visit next week will give us some insight...! Other than that things are pretty normal (which in our world means kinda hectic) as we're just preparing ourselves for what's to come!

Developmentally our little guy continues to pack on the pounds, getting those fat deposites to increase so that he can be a well formed kiddo. His skin has also become more pink and smooth because of these deposites.

Well sorry I don't have much to write about, I need to get a move on with this day - hope all is well with everyone! Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers!

Day 223 (43 to go...): Half outty, half flatty

I know I know - I'm huge!!! So much so actually that at our doctor's appointment today, our doctor made the announcement that she wanted another ultrasound ordered for me - just to see how big this baby is! Which of course sends my mind spinning in 20 different directions - what if he's huge, they have only heard one heart beat right, or what if he comes way ealier??? As if there wasn't already enough to contemplate, now there are more "what if's!" Though of course all those get put aside once that doppler runs its way across my tummy and there it is, his fantastic heart beat, oh how I love hearing that!

So much has been going on since I last wrote. First of all I had my last day at my job last Friday and while I thought it would be more difficult to leave, it wasn't. I guess that means that I was just really ready to take the opportunity to catch up on things here and take the chance to really enjoy this last part of my pregnancy. We also started our birthing classes (after a very confusing incident where they had forgot to inform us that our classes had been cancelled) and will be doing those for the next several weeks. So far we have learned different breathing techniques, labor positions to reduce pain and the pros and cons of the different medicinal options during labor. We also had our breastfeeding class where I got to learn all about all the fun different aspects of natural feeding - oh this really is an adventure! Besides the classes we are taking we are keeping busy with many other things! Last week we had the heat pump (which includes air conditioning) installed and have been working getting all those lose ends tied up. We've also finally come up with an idea for the nursery and will begin the room this weekend (yea!!!).

As this little guy keeps growing I've found a lot of interesting changes that come with it as well. I've started getting those Braxton Hicks contractions which while not very painful (knock on wood), do cause me to stop and take a second until it slowly fades away. My belly button which had changed from its formally innie self to a "flatty" position, now has poked halfway out. That's right folks I have half a flat belly button and half an outty - lol! Oh also, I can't see me feet! In his world a lot is going on as well. His fingernails have reached the end of his fingertips, his eyes open and close depending on his sleep cycle and he can register information from all five of his senses. He has assumed the fetal position because his living quarters are becoming cramped and today we learned that his head is lying on my lower left side and his feet are tickling the upper part of my right side, every now and then kicking at my ribs (ouch!).

Well like always we hope all is well with everyone else and we miss you! Take care and please keep us in your thoughts and prayers!