2 Weeks Left!!

Monday I had my 38 week check up and the news is that there is no news :o(  No change in progress from last week.  Oh boy!  If you think you're disappointed....you should have heard me!  So we continue playing the waiting game!  It is encouraging to know that my doctor will not let her go more than 1 week past my due date, so I can always see a little light at the end of the tunnel!  The hard part is that she has almost NO more room, so I hope she doesn't plan on getting much bigger over the next few weeks.  As active as she is, it really is hurting when she moves now.  My ribs are sore to the touch and I swear that one of those vicious tapping feet are going to tear through my stomach any second!  Just to show you exactly how active she is, I took some video footage last night of her doing her routine evening "workout".  It's so crazy!

Yesterday, Ryan's office threw him a surprise baby shower!!  He called me at work and said I have a surprise....my boss called me into the conference room to "discuss an appraisal job" and when I walked in everyone was there with presents and cake!  He really was sooo surprised and had no idea, it was kind of funny to hear how they tricked him into showing up to his own shower!  It was so nice of them and also very generous; they bought our last large item on our registry, our highchair!  It is dark cherry wood and absolutely beautiful!  They even got us a "supply starter" kit with diapers, wipes and other necessities, along with some really soft and cute toys and blankets!  I really can't thank them enough for making a great surprise for Ryan to share in the experience and for all the really nice gifts!!!

3 Week Count Down!!!

Monday I had my 37 week check up and I'm proud to report that we have more progress!  I am 2cm dilated....hip, hip, horray!  Now let's just hope the trend continues and we don't come to a standstill.  Remember to keep your fingers crossed that the full moon this weekend helps us out a little bit ;o)  Other than being overly anxious, I feel pretty good.  Sleeping is harder than ever with getting up 4 to 5 times in the middle of the evening either to go to the bathroom, pop a Tums or try to find a comfortable position.  I definately feel a lot of pressure and so I now waddle rather than walk, not to mention slower than ever.  I have to get a head start when my friends and I leave for lunch because it is so hard for me to keep up.

Last Friday, February 11th I had my work baby shower with my second family!  Let's face it, I spend 40 plus hours a week with these people and we share so much with each other, my Outback family is sure to share in this special place in my life.  I was soooo happy with how many people took time out of their demanding, busy day to come to the shower that we had at one of our concept restaurants, Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Restaurant.  We had a delicious lunch served with Wright's chocolate cake for desert!!!  It was soooo good, Madelyn loved every bite!  We finished up with opening the many generous gifts that were given!  I can't thank my work family enough for all the wonderful gifts that completed the last of our needs.  What I know more than ever; when your coworkers are also your good friends, you are truly blessed. And that's just how I felt!

All I want for Valentine's Day....

Yesterday I had my 36 week check up and I’m so excited to report that we are definitely in the home stretch!  Blood pressure is great, heartbeat is perfect, belly is measuring right on weekly schedule of 36 cm and I’m falling right in line at a healthy 26 pounds weight gain!  The doctor said that I am 70% effaced, but not dilated at all yet.  So, Madelyn is head-down in ready position and over the next four weekly appointments they will watch to see how we progress.  So let the walking, spicy food and whatever else it takes begin!  I even looked up when the next full moon is….Friday, February 19^th.  If worse comes to worse and little miss wants to show up fashionably late, the doctor said they would not let me go beyond 41 weeks.  So the latest she will be here is around March 13^th, but she sure would make the perfect Valentine's gift!!!

Last weekend we finished the baby room!!  I had already washed all her clothes and bedding, so it was just waiting to be put into place.  The furniture was delivered, which is absolutely gorgeous.  Again, I can’t thank Grammer and Dad Tolle enough for the generous gift of her giving her the beautiful crib!  She will have it for many years to come because it converts into a toddler bed and then again into a full sized bed.  However, the crib came with 4 large white warning stickers that turned out to be a nightmare!  My grandparents came down to help set up the room and fix some shelves in her closet, but my grandmother and I spent the entire time trying to remove these stickers.  What a sticky mess we got ourselves in!  While we rubbed and buffed away, my grandfather put her closet shelves together.  As you can see, now her things and little clothes have a perfectly organized space!

January 29th we had my baby shower for friends and family back home in Citrus County.  It was so much fun and everything was planned out to the smallest detail.  So heartfelt to see all the hard work and planning that was clearly done with such love and care!  Madelyn is so truly blessed to be born into such a caring circle of family and friends.  The decorations were amazing!  The diaper cake with shoe décor (she will love her shoes just like her mommy), the diaper baby, the cupcakes, the “It’s A Girl” clothes line banner, and the watermelon carved carriage were so creative.  I am so thankful for all the hard work the “grannies”, aunts and friends put into to make my special day so memorable.  Not to mention all the generous gifts that were given, which were so many I couldn’t even get them back to Tampa in my car!  My grandparents had to bring the rest when they came down the following weekend.  Let me just say that Miss Madelyn will be the best dressed girl in Tampa after that shower!  She got soooo many adorable clothes and…shoes….let me tell you about the shoes….this girl already has so many pairs of shoes.  She has made her mommy proud!  Nona even proclaimed at the shower that if she ever sees this baby without something on her feet; we will be in big trouble!  But again, I can’t thank everyone enough for all the love, thought and generosity to make that day so special for me (and Madelyn)!  I love you all!