October 20, 2009 - 38 Week Update

"Droppin It Like It's Hot"













Finally! At this week's doctor's appointment it was "officialized"
that Mr. Hudson has finally decided to, "come on down" and "drop it like it's hot". So sorry...couldn't resist!


Our doctor said that he most definitely dropped and is very low. She also said that I was beginning to make progress! I was super excited to hear more about what this "progress" was supposed to mean! 1 centimeter, 2 centimeters?!? Nope...less than a centimeter....but anything is progress right?! Even if it's just a tiny little something....I'll take it. I'm not sure if all of this makes me excited or more nervous...or what it all really means in terms of just when his birthday will be...but I've been learning to just take it one day at a time! I know I'm constantly saying this, but I'm so very grateful for how wonderful I really do feel...all things considered! I thought for sure that I would feel much more miserable by now....there's still time for a lot of crazy things to happen...however, for right now - I feel great. Tired and sore at the end of the day, and getting used to the hard jabs, pokes, and rolls Hudson makes about a gazillion times a day. All in all....everything is really wonderful.

Our last "baby class" was this week. It's hard to believe that we're really on our own now! We're "supposed" to be ready now right...yikes! The classes have been really amazing and so very helpful, but I can't help but think about how much more I really need to learn in such a short amount of time. I'm hoping that "mommy mode" will kick in at the moment I see his sweet little face and I'll just know what to do. (Dear Hudson, if you are reading this blog (with your mom being a teacher...I'm assuming that you are already an advanced reader so just go with it!) mommy and daddy will promise to do their very best. Please be patient with us as we learn all there is to know about little peanuts like you. Try to only laugh at us when we're not looking!)

While working in the nursery this past week I took this picture of Izzy. She loves to sit in the rocking chair in Hudson's room. Often times when we can't find her around the house, she's sitting on this chair. It's the cutest thing ever! It's like she's waiting for him to come too! I still have no idea how she got that bib on all by herself....lol...hmmmm! :-)















My first grade class surprised me with a classroom baby shower this week and it was the sweetest thing ever! My students are so very excited and can't wait to actually "see" who has made Mrs. Miller so fluffy! We received lots of wonderful presents, enjoyed cake and juice and the kids sang "Happy Birthday" to Hudson! I couldn't help but get mega emotional...lol of course! The love from 22 six and seven year olds is one of life's greatest gifts.



































A very tired mommy and her first little pumpkin Izzy during one of their nightly hang-outs in Hudson's room.














And so the wait begins.......Less than 17 days til our "due date"

October 13, 2009 - 37 Week Update

So it's the "top of t he 9th" (month that is)...



Chalk up another successful week! Although I am so tired at the end of the day, I even amaze myself at the energy I somehow still have even after waddling around playing "Mrs. Miller" all day! School has kept me so busy that it has made the weeks just fly by! Where has the time gone?!? Once upon a time (a few weeks ago) I was waking up at the crack of dawn not being able to wait to start the day and be productive! Now...even if I go to bed super early I wake up soo tired. It seems as though all of Hudson's gymnastics during the night leave me weary and puffy eyed in the morning! I leave so early for school in the morning, around 6am, that it's still so super dark and quiet in the neighborhood and along the beach. Two days in a row this week I found myself behind a Krispy Kreme donut truck as I painstakingly drove to school. I couldn't believe myself when I realized that I was actually driving faster to catch up to it as if I were the quintessential donkey chasing a dangling carrot attached to an unreachable string. Bless my pregnant heart, I "chased" that donut truck the whole way down business 17 both times only to have it make a left hand turn at Krispy Kreme and me, having to drive right on past. Well, at least the hot pursuit kept me awake in transit! I'm telling you, at this point in pregnancy, I've learned that I need every and any motivational opportunity to get me from point A to point B!

On a baby note...Hudson is doing really well!! Another really great week at the doctors! Although everything seems to be going well in there, there is no evident progress of any kind. Our doctor did say that he's definitely working his way down but has still not "officially" dropped yet. She also added that he may not even drop until labor begins! Nuts. I was really hoping for some kind of sign or "heads up" when things would get rolling! If he isn't even going to drop ahead of time, how the heck will I know when things are getting close!? It's all of the unknown that can be unsettling at times! If only God could email me or fax me a memo of what his plans are of the "big day" so that I could pencil it in on my trusty planner! Lord knows I like to be prepared at all times. Yes, I am "that girl" who tries to be prepared for any possible situation. At any given time, I have been known to have anything from boxes of band aides to can openers in my purse. So the thought of something so life changing happening in a matter of days/weeks and not knowing anything more than that....rattles me! As I've said before...God is always on time....always. I just have to trust that His plan will happen just as it is supposed to. Let's just hope and pray that it will happen before I start busting out of the wardrobe that I have left that comfortably fits my ever expanding abdomen. Speaking of abdomen....what the heck ever happened to my ab muscles...are they still there....anywhere? I sure could use them around when I'm trying to get off the couch or even stand up! I hope they make it back to where they once were someday! It just feels as though I have no strength at all in that area of my body!


Here's a "little" (please note the sarcasm) glimpse of what an ab-less girl looks like.


















Our "baby class" went really well this week. We finished up the breathing techniques (I'm horrible at all of them!) and we went on a tour of the labor and delivery floor. It was a very exciting and yet overwhelming night! We learned lots of wonderful information about the facilities and procedures but the best part of all was when we were getting a tour of the nursery and they brought in two brand new babies for us to see. A little boy and a little girl less than an hour old. Our hearts just melted. Everyone in our class just grew silent, and our instructor just gave us all a minute to take it all in. It's so easy to forget just "who" is about to arrive when you are worried about breathing, packing bags, waddling around with sore hips, etc. When we saw the faces of these two precious little ones, we were overcome with excitement and anticipation that we have one of our very own on the way...a very short ways away. Wow. What an awesome moment.

I just can't wait to see the face of this little angel that I've been dreaming about my entire life. Some little girls want to be princesses, rock stars, or veterinarians when they grow up...I've always wanted to be a mom....always.

I can't believe we have finally reached the end of our theoretical grocery trip! We have come to our final produce selection...we sure have come a loong way from a poppyseed! A watermelon...can you believe it!! Um, wait...yes, actually I can. This is a perfect illustration to demonstrate why my hips feel like they are being torn apart by a crowbar! God bless the human body!














At week 37, your pregnancy is considered full term, meaning baby is likely to thrive after birth. Baby spends these last weeks in preparation for the outside world… meaning careful refinement of the blink, suck, inhale and exhale. Meconium, which you’ll probably find in the first diaper, is accumulating in the intestines. During the journey out of your womb, baby will produce more stress hormones than any other time in life.

What's going on in there?
Your baby is officially baked this week! That means you could literally give birth at any given moment. A terrifying, exciting and overwhelming concept, all rolled into one.

Huge news this week:
You're carrying a full-term baby! If you were to go into labor today, all systems would be a go. Woohoo! Even though you can't wait for the little bambino to quite literally rear his head, keep in mind that your bun benefits from every day in the oven.
Other ticker-tape-worthy developments:
Baby's growth slows down dramatically this week, which is great news for your birth canal. His bones are still soft and pliable and will solidify after he's born. More great news for your birth canal. So if he's all cooked and ready to go, what the heck is he still doing in there?! He's busy practicing for "life on the outside," working on his breathing, sucking, sleeping, gazing and peeing abilities. The only thing he can't practice yet is his ability to scream at the top of his lungs when he's hungry—but he'll do plenty of that in a few weeks. At this point babies vary in size, but the average length is between 19 and 20 inches and most babies weigh approximately 6 pounds. About the size of an average large mouth bass caught in Minnesota by your cousin Earl.

Your Life:
If you can't stop Windexing everything in sight or you have a sudden desire to rearrange your linen closet again, then you're officially nesting. Nesting is the phenomena where exhausted and very pregnant women suddenly find the energy and the drive to clean like their life depends on it. Though many women think "nesting" is a wives' tale, it's actually not the stuff of urban legend, and many women get the powerful urge to ready their home for the impending arrival in the final weeks of pregnancy. (Kind of makes you wish nature had the forethought to send that urge to your partner every now and then, doesn't it?) Now's a good time to make sure your nursery is clean and ready for baby to spit and poop all over it. Spend some of that extra nesting energy stocking up on baby needs like diapers and wipes. You really don't need to be polishing the silver right now. Even if you're feeling super-energetic, make sure to get enough rest. You'll need your strength for labor and beyond.

October 6, 2009 - 36 Week Update

"Baby Got Back"...and front....and sides...

This week I have noticed Hudson spending most of the day climbing on down. His change in positioning really made me realize that my sugar coated dreamy theory of him just stepping out of his little baby "door" that will appear on my belly (of course) just isn't happening....eek. Apparently that's not the only thing that has been noticed this week! As I was taking my students through cafeteria lunch line, one of the super wonderful lunch ladies ...who is about 50 years old busts out in a very lively rendition of "Baby Got Back" for all to hear. Thankfully, I absolutely looove this lady and couldn't help but just laugh and sing along. Of course my kids were wondering what in the world was going on while they were just trying to get their hot dogs in peace and quiet. Unfortunately/fortunately they may never fully appreciate the great poetic lyrical genius of Sir Mix-a-Lot. My lunch lady pal rounded up the last verse while adding, "D. Miller, has finally grown a butt." Yes, I suppose I have! We laughed and as I walked out of the cafeteria line I said a quiet prayer thanking God that today wasn't one of those "cry at the drop of a hat days" and I was able to laugh and take it all in stride. My new "back", front, and the rest of me from all angles have grown for a wonderful reason. At this week's doctor's appointment my new self weighed in at a healthy 28lbs gained and I feel great about every single one of them...regardless of just where they ended up! :-)

Our appointment went really wonderfully! I was so concerned that I was carrying the next 19 1/2lb baby. I was beginning to think I should schedule a play date in the upcoming months with that traumatized family in Indonesia who have already welcomed their large bundle of joy! I just kept thinking about how Hudson was weighing in at 4lbs in August when we were hospitalized...surely he was already nearing 8lbs or more! Well....much to our surprise, our perfect little peanut is just that....a perfect little peanut. Hudson weighed in at 5lbs 14 ounces and was right on schedule for a very healthy birth weight. I can't begin to tell you how relieved I was!! This sounded much more "do-able" compared to the "Stay Puff Marshmallow Man" size I was picturing in my dreams during the past few weeks! Although I have felt him move further down, he hasn't officially dropped. He was head down and just hanging out when we saw him on the ultrasound. Even after all of this time, and all of the ultrasounds, he manages to take my breath away each and every time. What a true gift, a true miracle...so close to finally becoming a reality.

We started a new baby class series this week. For the next three weeks, Garrett and I will be learning ALL about the miracle of birth as we take classes on breathing, labor and delivery, etc. Our first class was really great. Although we nearly got kicked out when we giggled and laughed when we were supposed to be practicing the breathing techniques, we somehow composed ourselves in time to realize this was probably something we should pay close attention to! The other couples were really sweet and we enjoyed talking with them and getting to know their stories as well! One of the girls was there with her mom as her labor coach. Her husband is serving in Afghanistan and would not be making it home in time for the birth of their baby girl. At this news, I grabbed Garrett's hand under the table as my heart never felt so thankful...thankful for the men and women serving our country who rarely ever get to experience special family moments as they secure the safety of strangers...and thankful that I have had, and will have Garrett by my side. God bless that sweet family and thank God for the sacrifices made by others so that we may have the life that we live.

On a "lighter" note...haha...wow...the irony sprinkled with sarcasm....

I thought I would include a little something extra in this week's blog. Prepare yourself!

"Ta-da" Here I am! No, no stretch marks....yet...just a whole lotta baby belly goodness!

What's going on in there?...

What Mom's Thinking
"One hundred bottles of milk on the wall, one hundred bottles of milk. Take one down, pass it around, 99 bottles of milk on the wall ..."

What's going on with mom-

when you think you can't possibly stand another day of your baby kicking your lungs and crowding your stomach, your baby will drop it like it's hot. This process, called lightening, will probably make it easier for you to breathe, but with your baby's head resting directly on your bladder, you'll be breathing all the way to the bathroom. When your baby drops, you can rest assured that your pregnancy journey will be over within the next few weeks.

Hudson -

baby continues to put on weight at about ½ pound each week. This layer of fat will help your baby regulate his body temperature after leaving your climate-controlled womb. In fact, your baby will be 15 percent fat at birth (and you ... well that's another story). Even in the womb, your baby can listen, feel, touch and see. The only thing separating him from living in the outside world is a little thing called the birth canal. Other highlights this week: His gums are firm with ridges that look somewhat like teeth, though his actual pearly whites won't start breaking through until he's between three months and a year old. Your baby has definite patterns of sleep and wakefulness—opening his eyes while awake and closing them while sleeping. Your baby will become alert and turn his head toward light and sound just as a newborn would—except when you put on that Celine Dion CD. Then the baby puts his hands up, turns away and gurgles, "Oh no you didn't!" Your baby is now around 18½ inches long and nearly 6 pounds—just about as big as a breadbox!

September 29, 2009 - 35 Week Update

Holy cow! Is that a beach ball under there or is that REALLY my belly? Yep....it's me...all me!

Ok, if this picture isn't loud and clear evidence of how tired I really am at the end of the day I don't know what is! EEK! I didn't realize just how tired I looked until I uploaded this picture! The crazy thing is, for the most part...I really do feel great for a large part of the day. Apparently my excitement, anxiousness, restlessness, and the energy exerted as my alter ego "Mrs. Miller" is stamped all over my weary body at the end of the day!

Hudson has been loving school. He has definitely worked himself into a new little schedule. I can tell he takes naps when the kids are working quietly and is ready to rumble when the kids are singing, laughing, and talking. He's already such an active classroom participant! He's been responding more quickly to loud noises. The other day a little one dropped a tray in the cafeteria right beside me and I think it startled Hudson! A little leg shot right up into a rib and an elbow was thrown right into my hip, as if to say, "Dude...this is my nap time."

When I get home from school Izzy and I have begun a new routine. Even though I'm incredibly tired most days, I've been surged with a super power of nesting ability and can't wait to vacuum, clean, and organize when I get home. Before I can play a rolly polly Cinderella, I take time to lay down for a little while with my swollen ankles up on pillows, Izzy by my side, Hudson rolling around and we listen to music for at least 30 minutes before I turn into a nesting Tasmanian devil. It's been really wonderful to see Hudson react to each of the songs. The slower songs he is much more calm and rolls around. With the faster paced songs, he typically gets one leg kicking. It's the most wonderful thing ever. Izzy wasn't too cool about my belly moving all around by itself but she has gotten pretty used to it and now enjoys trying to sit on Hudson as if he were her own little baby bird. It was much easier for us both when she would climb on the belly when it was just a little hump, but now that it's a large mountain with a 5lb baby rolling on top of my insides...and additional 17 lbs of fluffiness is at times breathtaking...literally! lol

So many other wonderful things happened this week! On Friday, October 2nd we drove up to High Point for an amazing weekend hosted by Ann and Mike. They had a wonderful get-together in honor of their little buddy Hudson. Ann went all out as usual! She had a million things to eat, an adorable blue ice cream punch, and an endless supply of belly rubs! It was wonderful to spend time with all of the friends that we so dearly miss and love. We were so humbled by everyone's generosity, love, and shared excitement! It was such a special weekend and we cherished every minute spent with them!

Christina and her beautiful girls!

The adorable little cookie cake that Ann was so mortified about! God bless the bakery worker who tried their best to make it look cute! lol

Jody, Sara, and Shawn

Maggie, Christina, and Ann

Maggie and Ann

An extra special part of our special night was spending time with Josh and Sarah... with whom we share a due date!!! We can only hope that Katelyn and Hudson will share the same friendship someday that Garrett, Josh, Sarah, and I have been blessed with! Josh has already lectured Hudson about not dating Katelyn until maybe they're 30...maybe!

Of course, Sarah and I had a little belly shoot of our own!

I was able to have a special lunch with a bunch of my Southwest Elementary ladies/family before we headed back to the beach! It was so great to see them! Even though we're a few hours apart now, it's been wonderful to keep in touch with such a wonderful group of people who have made a difference in my life.

To add to all of our excitement my wonderful school family had an amazing shower for me on October 5th! The girls had an incredible afternoon prepared for me and I was blown away with emotion! It was so surreal for me to be the one to be sitting in the rocking chair in the middle of a baby shower this time. I couldn't believe that it really truly was my "turn". I will be forever thankful and blessed to have so many people care so much about us! Here are some pictures from our school shower!

Wow...what a busy yet wonderful week!

Mama's body:

As Patrick Swayze put it, "Nobody puts baby in a corner!" Doubly true for your little tenant. Your baby has pretty much taken over your entire torso by now. Over the past few months, he's squished and mushed all of your organs out of the way. Any day now, he'll make a final move and shove your heart up and to the left to make more room for himself. (See, he's got your heart in his hands already.) Before all this pregnancy stuff, your uterus was a small ball the size of your fist and was tucked neatly away behind your pelvis. Today your uterus is the size of a small watermelon and reaches all the way up to your ribs.At this point in your pregnancy all the blood has gone to your belly ... literally. Nearly 1/6 of your body's total blood volume is chugging around in the vessels in your uterus. So that's why you feel so lightheaded all the time! Starting this week you'll visit your OB or midwife weekly. Every time you go you'll probably beg her to tell you when she thinks your babe is coming. Unfortunately, her guess is about as good as yours. Even if you're dilated, there's no telling exactly when baby will make his appearance (unless you have a scheduled C-section, of course.)

Hudson:

This week the final touches are being added to your mini-masterpiece and most of his development is going to packing on the pounds. While baby's movements may be becoming less jerky, he may do his final somersault in the womb soon—to put himself into the head-down position for birth. Other fascinating facts: Your little Karate Kid can't quite pack the punch he used to due to the limited space inside the womb these days. You're likely to feel more wiggles, stretches and rolls than kicks and jabs. The extra layer of fat your baby is adding will create those cute dimples on your baby's elbows and knees. His liver has begun processing his waste products, so you know which organ to thank when he has his first blowout up the back of his onesie. Baby's nails are growing so long they may curl over the tips of his tiny fingers and toes before he sees a pair of clippers. He'll be in serious need of a mani-pedi once he's born (as will you). Your baby is now about 5½ pounds and over 18 inches long—about the size of one of those price-club sheet cakes.

Sept.22, 2009 - 34 Week Update

Entering the homestretch...and by stretch...I mean STRETCH!!!

It's amazing to me how God designed a woman's body to do all that it needs to do to carry a precious little (bowling ball feeling at times) life. I literally walked by a store window the other day and had to back up to take another look at myself! I could not believe my profile!! Obviously, I see myself grow each day but there are moments when I walk by a mirror or a window and actually startle myself! Each day my lovely baby bump takes on a new shape and size! With my belly stretching each day, I am beginning to see more defined shapes of elbows, feet, legs, and a little round bottom as Hudson is running out of room in his cozy little shack. Most days his little bottom rounds out and presses out a few inches above where my belly button once was! At the same time, I'll feel an ever jabbing elbow in my left hip area. As uncomfortable as it seems, I love every bumping minute of it! I know that someday soon everyone will be seeing his little arms and legs. I can't wait to wrap my arms around him already and to see just who was rolling around in there for so long!

I feel really wonderful. My energy is slowly but surely running out and my ankles really have begun to swell at the end of each day, but I can still keep up with my kids on the playground and do the hokey pokey with 22 seven year olds with the best of them...so I consider myself to be doing pretty well!

This week's doctor's appointment went really well! My blood pressure, weight, sugar, iron, etc. was all right on target and Hudson's growth was really wonderful. He's still head down and our doctor mentioned how long she thought he was! She pointed out where she thought all of his little appendages were and it was amazing to me that he, as long as he is, is able to fold himself up in there!

We had our first two baby classes this past week! Our first class was with 6 other expecting couples and we learned all about newborn care! Garrett was a diaper and swaddling champ! I was so proud of his bundling skills. It was especially nice chatting with other mommies and daddies to be. Next, we had a breastfeeding class. We showed up only to find that Garrett would be asked to leave! Yes, that's right. He was kicked out of breastfeeding class. God bless him. He was so understanding and so eager to be there with me for moral support. The instructor asked him to leave as he was the only daddy who came and was worried that he would make the other mommies feel uncomfortable! lol Oh well...he got an A for effort in my book. The class was great...overwhelming...but really very informational and supportive.

To round (are you seeing a theme here...if not refer back to my picture posted above!) out the week we had an amazing shower thrown by our church family. So many people came together and made such a special afternoon for us. We were so touched and thankful for everyone's love and generosity!

Our beautiful "sweet pea" cake!

A "Hudson" blanket

A very grateful mommy and daddy to be!

Here's what's cookin during week 34...

Your baby kind of looks like he's coated in a layer of cream cheese these days. The thick, white substance that protects his skin from pruning in the amniotic fluid is called vernix. Other news from the womb this week: The soft fur, lanugo, that covered your baby's body for much of her stay in the womb is now almost completely gone. Your baby begins to develop his own immune system, instead of relying solely on antibodies received through the placenta. This will come in handy when some grubby relative manhandles the baby without washing his hands first. This week, your baby measures about 17¾ inches, as almost as long as an American Girl Doll and weighs almost 5 pounds, as heavy as a bag of sugar, minus the cup you put in your decaf this morning.