Baby Update

Doc says I am a little more than 3 cm dilated and still 80% effaced. Not exactly the progress we were hoping for, but what can you do?? Dr. Schieffer scheduled an induction for the morning of June 7th, so no matter what, it is 11 days or less. Whew!!!! We are hoping Stella makes an appearance without any assistance, but it's comforting to know it will be soon!!!!

Thirty Eight Weeks

Assuming we don't go past our due date, we are about 12 days or less from having our baby girl!!! YAY!!!!

The Waiting Game

We went to our 38 week appointment today. Dr. Schieffer said we are 3cm dialated and 80% effaced. So we are still making progress, but don't know when our baby will make her grand entrance. It could be anytime now. Tonight is a full moon and this weekend is supposed to be rainy (remember: doc says a drop in the barometric pressure is good). Keep your fingers crossed...

My friend Jennifer had her little boy, Harrison, at 12:30 this afternoon. He was 7lbs 12oz, and healthy. Congrats!!!!

As for my progress, I will keep y'all posted!!

Luke's Birth Day!!!

Our first nephew, Luke Vincent Barnes, was born yesterday morning, May 15th. He weighed 6lbs 9oz, and is 19 inches long. He is absolutely beautiful!!! Nate and I drove in to Houston, so we got to meet the little guy in person. At first glance, we were in love!!! Michelle is doing great, and Seth was like an old pro at this "baby thing". Later in the afternoon, Annie came by to meet her new little brother. I am not quite sure if she grasps the concept that Luke is theirs forever, but she was very fond of the cake and cookies that were "from Luke" (when introducing siblings, Michelle has already learned bribery is always a good start!!)

Making Progress

Today was our 37 week appointment. Dr Shieffer did another pelvic exam, and this time I was 2cm dilated, 75-80% effaced, and Stella had dropped some more. The doctor said it could be a week or two, but it could also be tonight. You never know, I guess! She also said that changes in the barometric pressure (rain is forecasted for tonight) can speed up the process. Luckily in the 37th week it is considered a full term pregnancy, so I can safely say I am ready any time now!!!!!

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!!! This morning was officially my first ever, so Nate woke me up with breakfast in bed. He is such a good husband. How did I get so lucky? Later we went on a walk throughout the neighborhood. It is such a perfect day...sunny, cool, a light breeze. Nate thinks we should start walking everyday, which sounds good to me. Maybe it will help Stella get here sooner, rather than later!!!

Since it is Mother's Day, I want to say a little bit about my own sweet mama. My whole life I have been a "mama's girl" and even though I am approaching twenty-nine and about to have my own daughter, I am still unabashedly a "mama's girl".
When I was growing up, she was the most nurturing, caring, involved mother as well as a homeroom mom, taxi, neighborhood chef, cheerleader at our sporting events, tutor, hairstylist (I was quite lazy in the mornings), and good role model. And all this without the slightest gripe or moan. One of the many things that amazes me is that somehow she managed to raise my brother and me to be best friends, and deeply care for each other. I hope we can raise our children to have a similar bond!!!
Now that I am an adult, my mom has evolved in to a best friend. When anything happens in my life, good or bad, she is the first person I want to talk to. She is an amazing listener and has a way of making bad days good and good days great! It is ultimately comforting to know that love, support, advice, reassurance, or a good conversation is just a phone call away.
After spending a lifetime in awe of my mother, I can only hope that as I dive in to motherhood I am half the mother she has been. She is EVERYTHING I aspire to be!!!!

Love to all the Mothers and Moms-to-be!!!!!

36 Weeks

I went for my 36 week appointment on Wednesday. We did an ultrasound, and Stella is 6lbs1oz, in the 56 percentile, and head down. They said she has dropped some, but isn't fully engaged yet. I am also dilated to 1cm, but not effaced yet. I think she is going to be a big girl! The doctor seems to think i will make it to the end of May, which would still put me before the original due date. but who knows?!?

It's count down time now!

Prego Meg-o

With our little bundle on the way, Nate and I decided to join the wonderful world of bloggers to share news of our growing family with our loved ones. Our online family journal will be at: http://littlelittles.blogspot.com/
If you really like us, I suggest bookmarking it for easy access :) *And I promise to work out the "kinks", for example our lovely sideways photo, as we get more familiar with blogging*

4 weeks, 3 days left until Stella's due date. But who's counting? Nate and I had an eventful week...on Wednesday, April 30th, it was our three year anniversary, so Nate planned a sweet getaway to Fredericksburg, Texas. We stayed in a really cute bed and breakfast, ate delicious German food, and shopped on Main Street. The next day we woke up early, so we could enjoy the best part of staying in a bed and BREAKFAST, walked around Main a little more, then ate lunch at the Herb Farm. They have their own garden, and use fresh herbs, edible flowers, and produce for their menu. Yummm! By mid afternoon, we headed to the lakehouse to hang out near the pool, read, and relax for a while. Then we drove down to Gruene to meet our friends at the Gristmill for dinner. We got home pretty late that night.
It was quite a mini-roadtrip, but we considered it our "last hurrah" before our baby girl arrives!!

On Sunday, Nate graduated with an MBA in Entrepreneurship from Acton School of Business. Mama Barnes, Papa Barnes, Susie, Charles, Aunt Vickie, Uncle John, Carl, Kathy, Haley, Mark, and Bianca all came to watch the ceremony at the Four Seasons. We were all so proud when they announced that Nate was the class Valedictorian!!! I won't go on much more, because I will embarress him, but let's all hope that Stella inherits his smarts (and of course my charm, hee)! He has worked really hard all year, so now he is excited to have a break, and enjoy his pregnant wife!

Today, my amazing parents were still in town, so we all worked on Stella's nursery. The curtains were hung, the shelves are up, the art is on the wall, her bed is made, the clothes/blankies/bibs are washed and put away, and her closet is organized. So, after all of our hard work, it finally feels like a cozy little baby girl's room and I love it! Thank you mom and dad!!!

Wednesday we have our 36 week appointment and most importantly our last ultrasound. They will use this to determine Stella's approximate size, weight, and date of arrival. I can't wait to find out!! I feel ready to have her on the outside of me, because lately I can feel the effects of having a big baby in my belly: my back hurts (especially the right side) and I have started sleeping in an elevated position; my ankles are swelling and my legs are retaining water; and Stella is really packing a punch now. Really, I can't complain because I have had such an amazing pregnancy, but I feel ready to finally meet our little angel! Nate has been especially attentive and helpful these last few weeks. He is still reading books to Stella in my belly, and his favorite seems to be "But Not the Hippopotamus". I think she likes it too, because she moves around at the sound of daddy's voice!