Update!

Yesterday I had the first of my weekly appointments with Dr. Spoon and it was quite informative! While not the most comfortable of visits (I think I have to get used to this), Dr. Spoon was able to let me know (through his poking and prodding) that I am 2-3cm dilated and that Chase will be making his debut earlier than expected! I'll know more at next weeks visit but Dr. Spoon figures he will be here within the next two weeks, making him almost two weeks early - YIPPEEEE!!!!

The room is done and we are waiting on baby!

The furniture is in, the crib is set, his clothes are washed....we just need our baby! I decided to work until the week prior to Chase's due date and it is a good thing. Whenever I am home I simply cannot sit still. Not that there is anything that I can do at this stage, but I am so very anxious to bring him home that I am like a bird trapped in a cage. I keep telling myself to relax now because there will be no relaxing in just under four weeks, but my psychology does not work well on myself! Mike is just as excited, although he luckily can channel his energies into Fantasy Football - a true Sunday babysitter!

What's happening this week: Chase is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. He now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon - ok, what is a crenshaw melon?!) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. He's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered his body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected his skin during his nine-month amniotic bath. He swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of his first bowel movement (sounds thrilling!).

Five Weeks Left - Oh My!

Don't they say white makes you look even bigger? :)

Girls Night Out!

It is official, WE CANNOT WAIT FOR CHASE TO BE BORN!!!!!!!!!! Mike and I are both so very excited for Chase to arrive and now that everything is ready for him, the anticipation is growing even stronger! I have been keeping very busy with work, doctor's appointments and baby classes ( but managed to have a great girls night out with Amber while she was in town. She is always great at getting the girls altogether! I'm trying to remember that in just one month I will have a newborn and I really should catch up on sleep and rest prior to him coming, but I just continue to keep myself busy and the weekends are never long enough. Nesting has definitely set in - although I wish I could say that nesting was limited to cleaning. However, I constantly find projects to complete and the majority of the time those projects should not be completed by a pregnant woman! Oh well, I keep telling myself that the things I really can't do while pregnant will get done after he is born - in my strange world I think I will have time for it all!

Discomfort has definitely set in over the past two or three weeks and sleeping is very difficult. I think I have mentioned this in previous posts, but thought that I would make the point really clear :). I wake up quite a few times in the middle of the night to rearrange and refluff - poor Mike has to put up with it as well! I am still having a hard time breathing (Chase likes to be real close to my diaphram) and I am definitely looking forward to when he drops to relieve some of the pressure!

What's going on with Chase this week: Chase doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds. Because it's so snug in my womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but he still manages to kick and squirm A LOT! His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

DEFINITELY A BOY!

So if you look at the left of the screen, you will see that Chase is definitely a boy!

Shower Time!

Sam, myself, Elizabeth & Nicole

Monica, Sam & Nicole hard at work!

Auntie's Shane, Lauren & Sal!

Amber had her baby shower exactly 10 years ago to the day!

Miss Ingrid - in from San Diego

Marilyn, Julie, Chelsea & Stephanie (Stephanie is exactly four weeks behind me in her pregnancy!) Nicole, Teresa, & Ricci

Auntie Julia

This past weekend, I was very blessed to have my good friends join me in celebrating the upcoming arrival of Chase with an amazing shower thrown by Elizabeth and Nicole (and generously hosted by my dad's hotel, The Tuscany). What an amazing day and my goodness, the gifts! Mike and I cannot express our gratitude for your generosity...thank you to you all. I will keep my post short and sweet as Mike has summed up the day in the post below as only Mike can!

XOXO