37 week - 19 days to go...what?!?!

Yes, 19 days until her due date. Although she is technically full term right now! I am not sure if she will cooperate or not, but this Saturday (the 22nd) would have been my great-grandmother's 100th birthday (my mom's grandmother). Her name was Katherine, and that is where Kate comes from for the baby's middle name. How fitting for her to be born on that special day :) We'll see, I guess...though, it is not looking promising! Kate was also my grandpa Boehler's mother's name, as well as Paul's great grandmother's name. Whew...that's a lot of Kate's!

We had a doctor's appointment last Friday and saw the nurse practitioner. She did an ultrasound to check that baby's position, and she was head down. We are hoping she stays that way at this point. The NP said that she was still high, and had not really dropped yet. I was also NOT dilated...bummer! But, everything else looked good. We go back on the 25th and will see my doctor. I will be 38.5 weeks at that point. Let's hope for some action by then!

In the mean time, we have almost finished her nursery. We are still waiting on the glider and ottoman, which will be delivered this Friday. It was fun to finish putting her closet together, put clothes in her drawers, and hang the art work. The cats think we have done this all for them, and have taken to the soft changing table pad. I find them napping in there daily. They also like to play around in the crib. I am sure they will find the nice soft glider a fine napping spot as well! Here are some pics of the nursery so far!






And of course her closet...




Work continues to be exhausting, but keeps me busy and active. Bending, squatting and getting on and off the floor a hundred time a day must have some positive effect on getting this baby to come out, right?! That is what I have convinced myself, anyway.

Well, that is what is going on with us these days...just a lot of waiting :) Here is the latest belly shot...she is poppin' right out!

36 weeks!!! Hello 2011 :)

Wow. It is now 2011. I say good riddance to 2010, and am ready for this new year. It will bring some big changes! Little T will technically be full term in a week. That makes me very relieved! Paul and I finished our series of child birth preparation classes this week, as well as took the hospital tour and pre-registered. CRAZY! We loved our child birth instructor, and no one wanted to leave the last class...she was so helpful. She has been a doula for over 20 years, and stopped counting how many deliveries she has been a part of at 500! I sure hope we can remember everything when the time comes.

I have to say, I have considered myself lucky during this pregnancy as I have no complications, no aches/pains, no weird symptoms, swelling, dry skin, etc...but last week I started getting noticeably uncomfortable. I declared being "over" being pregnant at like 28 weeks, and I now declare it again...I am done! This morning I woke up, and my back and body were sore...seriously, after just sleeping?!?!? Work is getting challenging, too. Getting up to pee 3-4 times has got to stop. The kicks and wiggles, which before a week ago, did not bother me at all, and I loved every one of them, now are starting to become uncomfortable (but are still cool). Paul and I laugh, as you are supposed to keep track of a "kick count." This means that your baby should move 10 times in two hours...ha! How about 10 times in 10 minutes! That is where we are. This kid MOVES ALL THE TIME!!!!

I am getting anxious to get the nursery all put together. Our crib and dresser/changing table will be delivered next week...yay! Today, my good friend Beth came over with six, yes SIX, big bins of baby clothes just from 0-9 months. We went through 4 bins of 0-6 and got things as organized as we could. The amount of clothes this child has is really unbelievable. Beth, her two sisters and Stacey have all shared, and added to, these bins over the last 6 years (starting with Abby) up until now (Stella is 7 months). Beth has also informed me that there will be at least 2 big bins from 12 months on! I feel very lucky and so thankful for these ladies and cute girls! Ellie will be one well dressed kid!!! Here are some photos from today's fun...







Seriously!!! Look at all those shoes!


Last week I did two loads of tiny laundry.


Porter enjoys all of the baby's things...I find him in the bouncy seat all the time.


I found a new, cute table and even cuter clock, which will remind me how much sleep I haven't had! The ceramic musical gnome on the table was given to me before I was born, and to this day, I still love the song it plays. Somehow it survived being shipped here from Billings.


We had a nice quiet Christmas at home this year. It was sad to not be with family, but we did Skype MT, Pittsburgh and even got to Skype with Adam and Keiko in New Zealand. It was fun to spend Christmas in pj's all day long. Sadly, it did not feel much like Christmas as our weather was 50's and sunny all weekend. We finally got our first real snow storm for New Years.

Here is a tiny bracelet for Ellie, that my mom got in D.C. The little "eyes" are supposed to be good luck.


Christmas jammies from my mom (34 weeks).


And we could not escape without something Steelers...from Ben & Danielle.


We will now just continue to wait! Hopefully I can post some finished nursery pictures soon. The most important nursery item, the glider and ottoman, will supposedly be here towards the end of January, so little T does need to wait until that comes! Next week we have our 36 week follow up appointment. They will do a quick ultrasound to determine her position. I have a feeling she is head down, but it will be nice to know. I also hope they can just check one more time to make sure she, indeed, is a she! If not, we are in HUGE trouble!!! It will also be nice to know if they can estimate her weight. Heck, it will be the day before I am 37 weeks, so maybe I will be dilated...that would be GREAT...fingers crossed, please!

Here is the belly picture at ~35 weeks. I have gained 19-20 pounds so far. I am not sure where else she has to grow!