37 weeks, 3 days...

Ok kids, I'm officially at 37 weeks 3 days. You know you're getting close to the end when the doctor says, "okay, you can come in any day and have that baby." I'm thinking, yeah... oh crap, she was serious! I had another doctor's appointment today which went well. Same thing as last time, by BP is nice and low, my weight is good, baby's heart rate is good and I am measuring right on. Next week they'll start checking me. I have dropped, I feel it for sure, but I still don't think much is happening or will for a couple weeks. I am enjoying getting ready and relaxing. Thank goodness my parents are giving me this gift of staying home, I think it really helps me feel prepared and be rested enough to be as ready as I can for his arrival! Even the doc said to me today that she just read a study that said that women who have time off BEFORE they have their baby have a better post pardum experience!

Bryan and I are very much prepared now and just enjoying time together before the baby comes. I really appreciate his one day off a week and try to suck in as much time as I can!

Here are some pics as promised!

Belly

My favorite new picture- Bryan folding baby socks! About the cutest thing ever!!!!

Officially dropped and term!

No fun pictures this time, I will take one today, I'm trying to do it every week since the belly seems to change that fast right now. As of this past week we pretty much have everything! Bryan has been putting the swing, bassinette, crib and things together and now that we have the changing table he is going to put that up on his day off.

Thursday night Bryan was oncall and my sister came down after work to hang out with me for the night and then drove to work in the morning! It was so nice to have company especially when Bryan is gone over night! I am spoiled to have people come down for a couple hours!

My parents came down yesterday and took me to lunch while Bryan was at work. We went and made our final Baby's 'R Us run getting everything we still needed. It feels good to have everything we need, takes the stress off in case he comes soon! My mom also finished the shall she made for me, it is my home comfort and labor comfort, probably breastfeeding comfort later on too! My parents have really spoiled me and their grandchild with buying stuff, giving us great gifts and just being there when I need them! I am grateful and so glad I have such great parents!

Carrie's sister Krista also came this week to help me out. Not only did she take me to lunch last weekend but she came over to bring me some baby boy stuff but also showed me how to use the pump! That knowledge is priceless!

Last but not least my hubbie! Bryan has had a really hard month, working so much! This week he was oncall for about 28 hours, came home slept for about 6, went back to work at 5am for a 14 hour day and went back to work this morning for another 8-9 hour day. I don't know how he does it and keeps his sanity. He is never crabby, and still does so much around the house. He'll take the garbage and recycling out at 4:30am before he leaves, he takes both cars to fill up gas, fill tires and get car washes, all before he goes in for his 28 hour shift. He amazes me! I know nothing will change when the baby comes, he will do whatever he can while he's home and not complain. I'm a very lucky wife!

So... all in all things are good. I go to the doctor again on Tuesday, I have dropped quite a bit in the last week so we'll see what's happening. I'm still convinced I'll go around my due date, but we'll see!

Happy Obama Day!

I feel pretty lucky that today I will have my butt parked on the couch watching endless coverage of the inaguaration. It feels like something exciting is happening and people are starting to unite. To have more unification in this country and in congress is so important and I hope it continues. I realized that this is the first president that I have actually voted for!

I'm happy to bring a child into this world with a new president and what I feel is a wonderful change in our country! FINALLY!!!!

Okay- now to the baby... I had a doctor's appointment last Thursday and things went well. Baby boy is head down, my fluid looks good and she checked me and nothing is happening! We also pre-registered which was a little surreal I have to admit. So all is good. I go in every week now, this week I will go in on Wednesday and get checked out again...

Baby stuff is coming together and Bryan has been putting one thing together each day, and he's got a lot to put together!

Here are a couple pictures!

36 weeks

Our bassinette... Bryan put this together even though he was post call!!

Bryan was making me laugh because of his reaction to the huge belly!

35 Weeks

Here is my 35 week picture... I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow. I was able to schedule it on Bryan's day off so he can be there since she is going to pull in the ultrasound machine and see which way this little one is laying. She is also going to check me and we'll see if I am going to start coming in every week or if I get to wait another two for my next appointment.

Wish me Luck!

My photoshoot

So last weekend I was supposed to go up to Duluth to have Kim takes some maternity pics for me. Weather was supposed to be crappy so I ended up not going. No one wanted to be responsible for the pregnant lady driving in the snow! I was very sad but then I remembered that my cousin Jaclyn had a good photographer from her wedding and thought I would take a chance and see if she might be able to take some pics for me. I really didn't want to wait any longer and be more uncomfortable or not be able to drive up to the cities. Luckily she was available and it worked out. She was awesome! She was also pregnant and had two other kids so I was very comfortable gettin' down to my skivies... here is her blog, she has 8 pics on it. I don't like the first one too much, but the last one is my favorite! I am excited to see all the images in a week or so.

Let me know what you think! http://stulagu.bigfolioblog.com/

Christmas pics

So Christmas was good, different this year but good. Bryan worked Christmas Eve and got done around 6. I made dinner and we had a nice, quiet dinner just the two of us. On our holiday placemats though! Bryan fell asleep around 9, while I watched Christmas movies!

He was supposed to work on Christmas day but the numbers were low so he just had to do some notes from home on the computer. He woke up around 6am, did his work, then woke me up to let me know that Santa came and we should open the presents!

He talked me into it and we opened presents, from each other and Santa. My favorite present was from Bryan- it was a book written by Chris Farley's brother called, "The Chris Farley Show."

33 weeks

Baby and Noelle

Rian and Noelle

Bryan and the baby's new hat

Bryan on Christmas Eve and post call.