First Photos

I have been planning for a while what I want the first professional photos of Arielle to look like. The photos we take will be the ones used for her birth announcement, which will also be an insert in my Christmas letter... oh yeah, still have to write that. I've got time, right? (eek)

I bought the fabric a while ago and had a vision for a longish skirt attached to a onesie to make it comfy for her and easy to get on and off. I wanted a longer skirt because it's going to bug me if she's on her back for a photo with a regular length dress and has her legs curled up so that all you see is the inside of the dress because it's all bunched around her torso. I figured with a longer dress, that wouldn't happen. It's only a theory. We'll soon see. Soon, as in, between now and 6 weeks from now... which isn't really very soon.

I want to make a matching ruffle-y tie-back top for Eden, but I don't know if that will get finished or not. All the pattern pieces are cut. It's the next thing on my list of sewing to-do's. Once again, we'll see. I'm VERY proud to show you the finished product for Arielle. I did it all tonight and couldn't wait to post it for show and tell.

Here it is in all its glory!

I used the pattern from Whimsy Couture's Etsy shop for a tiered ruffle dress. It's the second pattern of hers I've used (the first was her peasant dress pattern for Eden and Arielle's Christmas dresses) and they have both turned out great!

More from Week 36

Chuck and I went out to dinner tonight. We were originally going to drop Eden off with a friend, but her little one got sick, so it didn't work out. We decided to go out anyway and take Eden with us. She did great and our meal was delicious. It turns out this wasn't a good night to have a date anyway because Chuck's actually back at work finishing up as I write this. He came to dinner in scrubs, but I took the chance to dress up a bit. I even put Eden in a dress. I thought I should take a picture or two to commemorated the event. They're not very good, but I didn't have the energy to try to set up the real camera. These are from the Mac.

Eden thought it was great fun to watch me hit the button and run to the foyer while the computer counted down from "3" before it snapped the shot. She was in stitches and wanted in on the game. Such a sweetie pie.

Belly Shot: 36 weeks

We made it! The OB wanted me to make it to 36 weeks and here we are! I also wanted to make it here so that my mom would be able to document the last stage of my pregnancy with some photos of Chuck and I. The only photos I have so far are of just me, so I really wanted some of us together. Here are a couple I was able to retrieve from her camera before she left. I just couldn't wait to show them off. There were so many I absolutely looooooved, it was hard to choose just two.

Bradley Bit: a Bit Behind

We are slackers.

I thought we could overcome it, but our slacker tendencies have overcome us at the moment. Even though I'm trying to keep myself from being disappointed by reminding myself that Arielle really has 6 more weeks if she wants them, it would also be smart to realize that she could choose to come at any moment. We haven't practiced a single contraction, haven't done a single minute of relaxation and haven't studied a single page from my binder in weeks.

I got a bit of a wakeup call yesterday when Arielle decided to stretch out and put some major pressure on my cervix. I seriously felt like she was getting ready to pop out and say "hi." No contractions, just a lot of pressure. It made me realize that another baby was really going to come through there in just a few weeks. I haven't been nervous at all, but after that, I did get a little nervous and pulled out the Bradley book again.

We need to jump on the bandwagon again and get crackin' with some exercises and some reading. I did get one good thing to share from the chapter I read. It's a mnemonic for remembering how to handle all suggested interventions at the hospital - BRAIN - Is this Beneficial? What are the Risks? Are there Alternatives? What does my Intuition tell me? What happens if we wait and do Nothing? I would tend to switch the I for a G (What is God telling me?), but that would mess up the word... :)

Oh, and the other thing I read that was good was just the use of the words "birthing team." I wouldn't have thought to use that terminology except for a home birth, but it is true that the nurses and my OB at the hospital are my birthing team and it may help me keep a positive attitude for me to think of and refer to them that way.

Belly Shot: 35 weeks

Only one more week until no one will try to stop my labor if it should decide to start.
Anyone else see that she's dropping?

Waiting

I heard this song by John Waller this morning and, even though I don't feel like I'm desperately waiting for Arielle to come yet, I might need this reminder in the near future. I remember being completely consumed by wondering when Eden would arrive the last few weeks of my pregnancy with her. It will probably help to have her as a distraction this time.

These words are still worth meditating on.

I’m waiting
I’m waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I’m waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience

While I’m waiting
I will serve You
While I’m waiting
I will worship
While I’m waiting
I will not faint
I’ll be running the race
Even while I wait

I’m waiting
I’m waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I’m waiting on You, Lord
Though it’s not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait

I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting on You, Lord

Doctor's Visit: 34 weeks

Another uneventful OB appointment. (That's a great thing.) Arielle's heartbeat was 160 and Eden was talking about it the whole time we were in the office and for the rest of the day that day and even some the next day. She says "hah-bee? hah-bee?" anytime I talk about "baby Arielle" or "the baby in Mommy's tummy" or even "being a big sister."

The OB did the group-B strep swab on me and, while it was available, she decided to check my cervix... without telling me. I was just chatting away with her when I suddenly realized that there was something uncomfortable happening. I asked her if she was checking my cervix and she said nonchalantly "I just thought I would really quickly." I told her I'd prefer she not in the future, at least not without telling me. She said she wanted to check to make sure that my Braxton Hicks haven't been doing anything significant. I can understand that, but I do wish she hadn't told me I was 1 cm. Now, even though I KNOW that it means NOTHING, I'm still struggling to keep my hopes of Arielle coming early (just a little early) in check. Women can be dilated for weeks with no change. It indicates NOTHING. nothing nothing nothing nothing... sigh.