:::No MoRe sHoWeRs in tHe foReCasT:::

Well, all my baby showers are over!!! I appreciate everyone who was able to come and all the great things they got for Ryder! :) He is one lucky boy. But we still have a lot to get before his arrival! I have been going through everything trying to organize and make a list of things we still need. It gets a little overwhelming!!! And Sunday, I will say, I had a few meltdowns. But, I will blame that on the pregnancy hormones! Our diaper-keg party is this Saturday! So, it should be fun, and hopefully we will get lots of diapers to start out with when he gets here! Lord knows we will need them! We also had our birthing class this past Saturday. I thought it was fun, and we learned a lot. Eric might not completely agree....but he was a good sport, and I think he learned a lot too. I can't say I feel completely ready now for labor, but, I do feel a little more prepared. :)

The field fires around here have been out of control. Its so dry and the biggest problem is the idiots who throw their cigarettes out the car window....what do they think will happen when it hits a dried up field???!! Last week , they had a bad one at Eric's work. Caught the combine on fire...all because of some idiot and their cigarette. And I believe, just a little bit ago, there was one down the road from our house. I think they got it out though. We have had the dryest period around here in 40 years, I think is what they said. We can't even have a bonfire because of the burn ban! Totally stinks. :(

I just uploaded all the pictures from my camera, so, the next time I am on here...I promise to post some!

Update at Dr. appt......I saw Dr. Bernardain this time. I do really like her. She explained a lot of things to me about when I go into labor. She also felt the area on my pubic bone that has been causing me problems, and pushed on it...which hurt, a lot. So, its definitely the bones there separating, and then they rub together too. It feels horrible. So, she says, I need to take it easy if I can. My swelling, of course, has only gotten worse, and my blood pressure was somewhat higher this time (still in normal range, but higher for me)....so, that worries me. :( I decided to take a day off work this week. And will probably do that some more, as we get closer. I just can't work three 12 hours shifts, get rest, and get anything done. I don't do much anymore anyway. Which is what the Dr. told me to do. She said to let someone else do all my housework! Ha! if only she knew!!! But Eric has been doing small things when he remembers (or runs out of clothes) and my mom is coming over this week to help clean for the party.

Off to get ready for work!

BIG weekend ahead!

Hello all! :) I made it through working three days this week!! Only 6 more weeks of that, IF he waits that long! I am super excited for the weekend ahead. I have no doubt I will be exhausted! But, its all for the baby! I have my baby shower tonight at my Aunt Mary Kay's house for some of my dad's family, and my friends from around here. I'm so excited to see everybody! And, tomorrow is our birthing class!!! It's an 8 hour day (9-5) and, I get to spend it all with my husband! He is so excited to sit in a class all day! LOL I am sure it will be fun. Then, on Sunday, I have my work-baby shower! Hoping to get lots of good stuff for Ryder and then we will be able to figure out all the stuff we have left to get! Then, next weekend is our diaper and keg party. My sister is throwing it for us, here at our house. Should be a lot of fun, and hopefully, people remember that in order to drink beer....you must bring a pack of diapers for the little one!

Last weekend's shower was great. I got to see Christen, Kelli, Sarah, and Lindz from college, and I got lots of really great stuff at my shower. Aunt Diana did an amazing job throwing it! Much appreicaited! Eric put his car seat/stroller all together as soon as I got home that night. It is so awesome! Dad and Tami purchased that for us, and we are so grateful that $$$ part is out of the way!!

One of these days, I will feel like sitting here forever and uploading some pics. (maybe, lol)

Not too much longer, and I will be posting pics of Ryder on here. Can't wait.

Oh, btw...my little brother and his girlfriend welcomed Anna Rose Marie into the world on Tuesday morning. She came a little early at 36+4, but she is healthy! I believe she weighed 5 lbs 11 oz...so, just a teeny tot! Ryder is that big now!!!! Makes me nervous that so many pregnant girls I have known this year have delivered early! I'm hoping Ryder waits until he's at least 37/38 weeks cooked before he decides to arrive! :) (which, btw, is only a few weeks away!)

Already so big :)

Had my ultrasound this morning....it was so great to see my little man again. He looked really good! And he's in a good position...head down! (it was really low actually!) Let's hope he stays that way :) So, now I know what's been kicking me where. The ultrasound tech said he looks to be about 2 weeks ahead in his size....not as big as he was! And that right now, he weighs 5lbs 3oz!!! It's so crazy to know that! When Brian and Jordan had Ruby she was just over that at 5lbs 12oz (I believe)...so he's not far from that right now! Crazy!..She told me my fluid level was in normal range too. All good news!! The only unfortunate thing was she wasn't able to look at my pelvic bone to look for the Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction. I am managing the pain, and to be honest, it has gotten a little better. I worked last night, and I was expecting major pain today, but it hasn't been as bad as I thought.

Looking forward to my baby shower tomorrow!!!!! Its going to be a very fun one! My step-mom's family, friends from home and college are all coming! I can't wait to see everybody! Then, I get to hang out with my girls from Ball State for awhile! It is always so good to see them and spend time together. :)

My diaper bag arrived today! I LOVE it.......little by little, this is becoming a reality! Ryder will be here before I know it.....and I get to carry this cute bag around to store all of his things! :)

:( Ouchie :(

So, I believe it was Friday last week, I started feeling this pain in my "lower region". I can't describe it very well, but it got worse throughout the weekend. It was like I had bruised myself down there somehow. I had a scheduled Dr.'s appt. for today, so I just figured I would ask about it then. My swelling has been pretty bad too. I worked last night and headed to my Dr.'s appt. after I was off work. The pain had really only gotten worse and certain things were triggering it.

So, my blood pressure and urine all checked out fine at the appt!!! This was good news because of course, I was worried about my blood pressure being high with the increased swelling. So, then I brought up this pain I was having...She asked me lots of questions and decided to do a pelvic exam. While she was doing that, she went ahead and swabbed me for my Group B Strep. (Its a bacteria some pregnant women carry and if they are positive, they have to receive an antibiotic during labor...no biggie). She said I looked swollen, but nothing looked abnormal. She then started talking about pubis synthesis. Its a natural thing that happens during pregnancy where the ligaments loosen and your pubic bone relaxes a little. But in some women, it separates too much, and it can be very painful. She wasn't sure, but she said that might be what is causing my pain. She wanted me to go buy a maternity support belt (to help support my belly and take some of the weight off my pelvic bone) and she had me schedule ANOTHER ultrasound. So, when I went to get dressed, I could barely lift my leg into my pants. I told her about this. She wanted to me go ahead and take a day off work this week and take the next two days to basically stay in bed and rest. To see if that helps. She did say there is really no way to make the pain get better, except delivering the baby. So, I would probably just have to take it easy and find ways to cope.

So, here I sit. When I finally got home today, I stayed in bed most the day. Tom, Sandy (family from California) and my Aunt Mary Kay came by for a visit. So, I did get up awhile for that. I went back to bed and each time I have tried to get up out of bed since then, I have been in horrible pain. So, here is some stuff I have found online about this issue: http://pregnancy.about.com/od/symptomsofpregnancy/a/pubicbonepain.htm

http://www.birthsource.com/scripts/article.asp?articleid=189

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symphysis_pubis_dysfunction

(I typed all that yesterday).....Last night, I cried because it hurt so bad to go up the stairs and get comfortable in bed. I cried because this is freaking me out and I am worried it will get worse and I will have to be off work and deal with this for at least 7 more weeks. It hurts. A LOT. Today when I have gotten out of bed....it hurts, but its managable. I think that it gets worse depending on how much movement you have done that day...then when you sit or lie for awhile.....going to get up...is horrible. And moving from one side to the other in bed....brings tears to my eyes.

I need to go back upstairs and get back in bed and the air conditioning. Since the weather had gotten cooler, Eric took out the air conditioners downstairs last week. And of course, its in the 90s again this week...so, its like a sauna down here. So, back to bed....Dr.'s orders.

I'm like a bird.......

Hello. Sorry it's been a minute since I posted! :/ Life has been very busy, and I have been very tired. I had my first shower a few weeks ago...and it was very nice. My mom did a great job with everything, and little Ryder got lots of great stuff! I am looking forward to my next three showers coming up next weekend, and then the weekend after that! Hoping to get most of what we are needing then. Then, my sis is throwing us a diaper keg party Oct. 9th here at our house! People we invite have to bring a pack of diapers to drink the beer. Excited to get stocked up on those expensive things! Lord knows we will need them.

I had some feelings of panic this week. Not sure what kicked them in. Possibly the fact that Mr. Ryder will be here VERY soon, and have have NOTHING done. :/ I was thinking that if he happens to come early, he could be here in a matter of a few short weeks. It hit me really hard, and I decided I was GOING to accomplish something while I was off this week. And accomplish I did. He now has an adorable dresser that I found in an antique store in Greenfield, and a changing table I found at a used kids store in Greensburg. And finally, FINALLY the bedding arrived today!!! I have been waiting for it to get here for two weeks. Fed X must have lost the first shipment, so, they sent me a new one. It is absolutely adorable! The colors in it are definitely different than what I had pictured. But, I still love it. :) Now I have to pick out some colors for painting the furniture. And so, I feel a little bit calmer now. But, the nesting has definitely set in!

Here is his cute dresser with the diaper cake Eric's mom made for my last shower:

And this is a vintage record I bought off Ebay to put in his room. I think its adorable!

Eric has been working on the nursery some. However, harvest time has arrived!!!!! :( So, not much work is getting done now. Hoping to get it done before Ryder arrives. But, if not....he won't be sleeping in there anyway. So, it will be OK. Drywall is hung, just needs mud/sand/mud/sand/primer/paint.

As far as I'm concerned. I feel like he is coming sooner than later. I just have this feeling inside me he isn't going to wait until November 15th to arrive. My swelling in my ankles and feet has gotten pretty yucky. :( Everything has been fine at my Dr.'s appts....blood pressure and urine checks are good. So, I have an appt. on Tuesday morning. Hoping that stays the same. Just don't know how to deal with the swelling and feeling like the baby is HUGE. I am not complaining tho. As long as Ryder gets here healthy...that's all that matters. :)

A letter to my baby boy....

To my lil' punkin',
Daddy and I have decided to name you "Ryder". We both love this name and I think it already fits you. Ryder Jaron (most likely) Scott. Daddy came up with that middle name. Daddy is very excited to have a little boy on the way. We both can't wait to meet you.
Mommy is so excited for her very first baby shower today. There will be family from my mommy's family....and more family from daddy's family there. And its all because of you! And just think, in a couple more months, you will be here to use all the new things I get for you today. I can't believe your due date is coming up so soon. Hoping you are growing healthy and strong in there (which by the feeling of your movements, seems like you are!) .
I am also glad to say, that since I didn't get a "you failed" phone call from our doctor this week...mommy must have passed her glucose test!!! yay! so excited for that news....this makes it much more likely both you and I will stay healthy the rest of the pregnancy....and MAYBE you won't come out such a big boy. Mommy prefers you to be about 7 pounds! but, of course I will love you so much, no matter what size you are! lol (just keep that in mind..haha)

I need to go get ready for our shower now. There's going to be some good food there!! So, you get to enjoy it too!

Love you so much already,

Mommy

XX Fingers Crossed XX

Had my glucose tolerance test today! Won't know results until tomorrow or so (but only if it wasn't good)....no news is good news. So, I am hoping for no news!! But, if its high, then I will have to go do the three hour glucose test. :( Also had a Dr. appt today. Everything was good....and she gave me some info from my ultrasound! She said his size is now closer to the 65th percentile and my amniotic fluid is at the 70th percentile. This was better than before when they were much higher than that! However, she did say his head circumference was high at the 90th percentile! Oh goodness......that means he has a big head. GREAT. :/ I still measure 4 weeks ahead when they measure my belly/uterus. And she said he was about 2 lbs. 6 oz. at the ultrasound....but that was almost two weeks ago. He's a growin' boy!!

So, last night I spent hours thinking about the baby's room.....bedding, paint colors, decorations..etc.... I do know that I really really love accenting in colors and I love old vintage toys (for example... I bought a Winnebago, just like the one above, but its got more rust, at a garage sale....along with a few other antique trucks) ...which are usually colorful. After much thought, I believe I have completely changed my bedding. I have liked it all along, but just wasn't sure if it would work. And, even though I do like it, I just couldn't convince myself the fabric swatch I ordered was THE ONE!!! So, here it is:
It's so cute and looks really soft. Plus, I think it will go with anything I do put in the room. I am now trying to decide what colors to use on the walls and furniture. Here is another idea I LOVE and would like to try to do something similar to this in his room: I love everything about these letters!!! :) So, I guess the search starts now for letters A-Z! (REALLY in love with the button for the letter O....) Also will be searching for more vintage toys and ideas. Can't wait for Eric to get it done so I can start spending time in there!

*** Super excited for my first baby shower this weekend. My mom and aunts are working on it and we've invited that side of the family as well as Eric's family. Hoping lots of people can make it! Wish Eric's mom lived closer so she could be here for it....I know she would like to be. ;)