11 years...

On Sunday, I celebrated being married for 11 years.  Just saying that makes me feel so old.  We decided to take a 4 day trip to one of our favorite places, The Sea Ranch.  We combined our anniversary trip with our Babymoon and had such a relaxing time.  We rented a gorgeous house right on the bluff and spent 4 days napping, eating, playing games and talking.  It was an awesome way to celebrate 11 years of marriage and to enjoy one last vacation together as "just the 2 of us."  

Our 11 years have bee filled with...weddings...divorces...owning two houses......cancer...illnesss...surgery...2 puppies...moving and starting a new adventure in a new city...new jobs...difficulties at jobs...success...failure...Chicago...Boston...Cabo...Hawaii...The Grand Canyon...Yellowstone...The Tetons...Bodega Bay...Sea Ranch...becoming landlords...death...pregnancy...hiking adventures...disappointments...and lots and lots of crazy, amazing LOVE.  

I wouldn't change the last 11 years of my life for anything.  I didn't know what I was getting into when, as a 19 year old child, I chose to devote my life forever to another person.  Boy am I glad that I made that crazy decision.  I cannot wait to see what the next 11+ years hold for Layton and Jocelyn Wedgeworth, because I know that they are going to be full of AMAZING things!

An ode to my bro...

Yesterday my big brother hopped on a plain and flew across the Pacific Ocean to move to Maui.  Needless to say, this is not something that I'm particularly happy about.  My family has always been extremely close and it feels very weird knowing that he is so far away now.  It's very difficult not know when I will see him next and not knowing when he will get to meet his nephew.  However, I am very happy for this new adventure that he is starting.  You see, my brother has had some rough patches in life and needed a fresh start and I am so excited that he has the bravery and courage to start new.  He has a blank canvas waiting for him in Maui and I admire his bravery.  I have been so blessed to have such an amazing big brother.  I will admit, sometimes in high school having such an overbearing big brother got a little old, but I wouldn't change it for the world.  I know that no matter where he is in the world he will always be concerned about my safety and that he will always be thinking of me.  I love you Zachary!

32 weeks...

This week didn't start out the greatest.  My grandpa, your great-grandpa, had a stroke, and my brother, your uncle, moved all the way across an ocean to Maui!  Needless to say, with all of that happening in one day...yesterday was kind of a crappy day!!

However...onto more happy things!  I am 8 months pregnant.  I can't believe it!  Only 5 weeks until I'm full-term and my doctors would do nothing to stop labor.  This is all getting SO real.  I have baby on the brain 24/7 now.  Cribs, mattresses, car seat installation, car seat installation check at the fire department, packing my hospital bag, labor and delivery music play list, reading books about delivery, reading books about trying to get you on a sleep schedule, maternity photo shoot, baby shower, organizing your closet and dresser, ordering last minute things that I don't get for my shower, birth plans, weird physical changes in my body, and the list goes on and on.  Does it sound like your mother is anxious?  The answer is YES!  My sister, your aunt, keeps telling me..."As long as he has clothes and a boob he'll be okay for awhile!"  I think that's pretty good advice. 

I've been very emotional lately.  I think I cry about once a day now.  Your crib is at the store and ready to be picked up and I cried last night when I found out it wouldn't fit in our car.  Now I have to wait until next Tuesday to have it delivered.  

We've been taking birth classes at the hospital and last night we took a tour of labor and delivery.  It was so much fun.  I cannot believe that I am kinda actually looking forward to the whole labor and delivery aspect of birth.  I don't enjoy pain, but I think that this will be the kind of pain that is so rewarding knowing that my body can do something so incredible.  Also, I know that the outcome will make it all worth while.  The hospital that you will be born at in Berkeley is the 2nd largest delivery hospital in the state of CA.  They deliver over 8,000 babies a year.  More than 1/2 of their deliveries are non-medicated births and the birthing suites are really great!  The beds break down into birthing stools with squatting bars that can be attached.  They have showers with bath tubs in every room.  And since it's Berkeley, they are very supported of a mother's choice for non-medicated birth.  

The excitement, anticipation and anxiety is building.  I'm just trying to take it easy and relax as much as possible before you get here.  

Weeks 30 & 31...

The last 2 weeks have been pretty much uneventful except for the fact that my belly seems to be getting HUGE!  I have only gained 15 lbs and people keep telling me that I don't look like I'm almost 8 months pregnant, but I woke up yesterday feeling like a cow.  I am still walking 5 days a week and doing a regular yoga class once a week and a prenatal class once a week.

We did have your Aunt Magen's wedding in Bodega Bay, which was very exhausting.  It's a lot of work hauling around a baby belly.  I had a lot of fun getting dressed up with your daddy and I was so grateful that the dress I got still fit my ever expanding belly.

Pretty much my days consist of doing something to get ready for you.  I started another furniture painting project for your room this week and I've also been working on a few more art pieces for your wall as well as a few homemade onesies for you.  It seems like there is always something to do or buy in order to get ready for you to come home with us.  We got your stroller and car seat, which I am in love with.  We ended up going with the UPPAbaby travel system.  It comes with the stroller seat and a bassinet.  We'll be able to use the bassinet in our bedroom for the first few weeks that we have you in our room with us. I also LOVE the solid color black car seat that I got for you.  I cannot believe that you are going to be in it in 9 short weeks.  I've been reading a few books to help me prepare for the nature childbirth that I hope I can have and we will be meeting with our doula in about a month to work on our birth plan.  Life is moving right along as we greatly anticipate your arrival.  You are quite the mover and shaker these days!  You are starting to get up into my ribs and you are actually keeping me awake at nights.  I love laying and watching the tidal waves that you create in my belly.  Your moving inside of me is really the only thing I will totally miss about being pregnant.

A few things that I'm looking forward to in the next few weeks...

• Going to The Sea Ranch with your daddy to celebrate our 11th anniversary and to have a little Babymoon
• Our maternity pictures that we are taking in the city
• My baby shower

Weeks 27-29...

It feels like we've had a lot happen in the last few weeks since I last blogged.  Weeks 27, 28 & 29 have been full of some fun things.  We registered in anticipation of my shower that is only a month away.  Registering was slightly overwhelming, but I had a fun time picking out items that I think we might need when you arrive.  I had to take the nasty glucose test to make sure that I don't have gestational diabetes.  Thankfully I'm in the clear, except for a slight iron deficiency.  We also took an infant care & breastfeeding class to help us prepare for your arrival.  We found out that you are going to have a baby girl cousin joining you in the world only 10 short weeks after you're born!  We all cannot wait to meet Riley Anne and I know that you two are going to enjoy playing together as you grow up.  I feel so blessed to have your sweet aunt to enjoy this journey with and I know that it will get even better as your aunt and I learn together and watch you two grow up together.

Your mama is getting bigger and bigger as the days go by and so are you!  Although I've still only gained about 14 lbs!  I'm starting to feel a little bit uncomfortable as you grow and as you insist on putting your feel up under my ribs.  You also insist on playing the bongos on my bladder for half of the day.  Your movements have started waking me up in the middle of the night and early mornings.  I have felt you have the hiccups many times.  We had our 29 week ultrasound yesterday to check the growth of my fibroids and to check and make sure that you are growing properly since you have to share space with my damn tumors!  You are growing perfectly. In fact, you are 5 days ahead of growth.  Right now you are measuring at 30 weeks.  You weigh 3 lbs 4 oz.  I love seeing your little body every 4 weeks and each time I see you I anticipate your birth so much more.  I am so proud and lucky to already be your mom and I know those feeling will only grow the moment I lay eyes on you.  I cannot believe that I will get to see your face in only 10 short weeks.  Those 10 short weeks hold a lot for us.  We still have to finish up your nursery, take a childbirth class, write up our birth plan, go on our last vacation before you're born, celebrate 11 years of marriage, participate in your aunt's wedding, and just prepare our minds and home for having a little one enter our world.  To be honest with you...I'm starting to get a little scared.  BUT...

I cannot wait to meet you little one!

Week 26...

Not much has happened this past week.  I can tell that you are growing quite a bit because I am growing!  We had our 26 week check up yesterday and your heart beat sounded perfect.  I've gained about 11 lbs so far, which I'm happy about since my doctor said that most women double their weight gain in their 3rd trimester.  Speaking of 3rd trimester...I'm starting mine on Monday! I cannot believe how fast time is going.  We are in the process of working hard on getting your nursery ready for you.  I finished painting your dresser/changing table this past week and we got it up into your room.  It looks even more perfect than I expected!  Tonight your dad is going to spray paint the beads that will be used to make the abacus that will go on the wall above your changing table.  Today I will start working on painting your bookshelf to house the many books I have for you that I hope you will LOVE.  Your shelves will also be filled by our friends and family at my book themed baby shower!

I have been craving fruit!!  Mainly strawberries.  I have also craved the occasional cheese quesadilla.
You move quite a bit!  In fact, your dad and I lay in bed last night laughing so hard at how much you were moving around.  It is still quite shocking when you give me a good jab with your knee.

I love you sweet baby boy and cannot wait for October 1 when I finally get to see the face that I daydream about.

Weeks 21-25

Yet again I am extremely behind in my blogging.  Hopefully now that it is summer I will get back on the blogging once a week thing.  Let's see if I can catch up on the last month of pregnancy.  

We found out you were a boy and we are extremely happy about that.  We've started working on your nursery.  Grandma and Grandpa Wedgeworth came over one weekend and painted your room for me.  I have your dresser/changing table painted and I'm working on some custom art pieces for your walls.  I've also ordered a rug and curtains and your Gabby is going to start making your bedding soon.  Your Aunt Hannah is also working on a few things that she's making for your room.  Daddy and I are going to pick out a crib and stroller for you this weekend.  Everything is really starting to come together.  We are also going to register for the shower that your Aunt Miranda and Hannah are planning.  

I've gained about 10 lbs so far and have been told by one doctor that I'm underweight.  We'll see what my main doctor says when I go in next week.  I've been craving blueberry bagels and strawberries lately.  I even sent your daddy to the store the other night at 10PM to get them for me.  People are starting to ask me when I'm due, so I guess I must really look pregnant now.  

Over the last few weeks we've had some issues.  You sent me to the hospital at 23 weeks with contractions.  They were about 45-60 seconds long and about 10 minutes apart and my doctor wanted me to get checked out.  After about 2 hours of monitoring, they did an ultrasound to check my cervix and then gave me a shot of medicine to stop the contractions.  Thankfully the medicine worked.  I've just been told that I need to take it easier than I have been since not only am I carrying you, but I am also carrying 5 uterine fibroid tumors.  Speaking of my tumors...I will now be getting an ultrasound every 4 weeks to check on my tumors until you're born.  I had one yesterday that was so much fun!  It is so great being able to see you every 4 weeks now.  The tech said that you were very handsome with a strong nose and chin...just like your daddy :)  She also said that you are a big boy with very long legs.  I cannot believe that you weight almost 2 lbs now!  Good is that 2 of my fibroid tumors are dying!  This means that they will eventually be gone.  That gets me one step closer to the natural birth that I desperately want to have.  We're just continuing to pray that these damn tumors don't make it necessary for a c-section.  

As soon as we get more of the nursery done I will start putting pictures up of that.  

I can't believe that you're going to be here in less than 15 weeks.  It feels like we still have so much to do to prepare for you.  After seeing you on the screen yesterday I got so anxious to hold you!  I pray for you every day, my little miracle.  

Love, 

Your Mom