Labor Day

The morning started out like any other. Carl got out of the shower and I hoisted my pregnant self up in bed. A wave of nausea came over me. Nothing new. I hobbled to the bathroom, barely able to see out of my dry and tired eyes. And that's when I realized it.

Labor had begun.

I realized that day was the big day and I immediately perked up. I told Carl to go tell my mom, so he ran in the guest room and woke her up. We all had hit the floor running and our adrenaline was an all time high!

I had very minor cramping from the time I woke up (8:30) till about 1:15pm. Nothing major, no huge contractions. I was feeling a little tightening and dismissed the feeling since I didn't want to get my hopes up. Just five days prior, I had been in the hospital while they monitored Luke's movements...

Rewind to the previous Friday...

It was at my thirty-eight week checkup that I told my doctor that Luke was being unusually still.  I had eaten a sugary breakfast to try to get him to move, and I had a cup of coffee.  Still, my little active baby wasn't himself that morning.  The doctor did a small procedure and said that would aggravate the baby and cause him to move, but if he didn't start moving I should head over to Labor and Delivery at the hospital to have him monitored for about twenty minutes or so.  When he still didn't move after the procedure, she said she wanted me to go on and have him monitored for a little while.  I called Carl and told him what was going on, and as I stepped into the elevator I finished explaining what the doctor said, telling him "She wants me to go to labor and delivery."  And then the call dropped.  Great timing, huh?  The elevator doors opened so I called him back right away, letting him know I was not in labor but we just needed to make sure Luke wasn't in distress.  Mom and I went over to the hospital and the nurses all told me we were doing the right thing, having him checked.  They said they would keep me for just a little bit, but after they hooked me up to the monitors, they realized I was having pretty regular contractions (about 5-6 minutes apart for over an hour).  The contractions weren't growing in intensity, so the nurses let me go home and said "See you soon!" as we headed out the door.  I had hoped I would be back that night.  Mom and I ran some errands around town, and by the end of the day, I had a few contractions that knocked the wind out of me.  I thought for sure that my water would break sometime during the night and we would be heading off to have a baby within the next 24 hours!  But… that didn't happen.  I had contractions for over 14 hours straight, so when they completely stopped and I realized it wasn't "Labor Day," I was disappointed. 

Fast forward five days... on this particular day, when I was having regular cramping, I kept trying to downplay the fact that I could actually be in labor.

Around 1:15, I started having some more serious cramping…but these weren't regular cramps…these were undoubtedly contractions. I was still in denial.  Carl texted me close to 2:00 asking how far apart my contractions were.  We had a plan to go to the hospital when my contractions were regularly 5 minutes apart, or when I could no longer handle the pain (whichever came first).  Imagine his surprise when I texted him after timing several contractions and letting him know that my contractions were three minutes apart.  "3 Minutes?!?!?!" he responded.

I did some light housework and took my time doing a few last minute things, knowing that I'd be heading to the hospital later that day.  The contractions were getting stronger and stronger but I was able to breathe through them and keep my mind off of the pain.  My mom kept encouraging me to rest, but I knew I would be laid up for a few days, so I wanted to get as much done as possible.  Looking back, I wish I had rested more so I was in better shape for labor.  (Note to self-listen to mom more...) But, ya live, ya learn, right?  At 3:15, I took a hot shower, and the hot water felt so incredible on my aching body.  I stayed in the shower for about thirty minutes and by the time I got out and the cold air hit me, the contractions were bringing tears to my eyes.  My dad was waiting on the phone to talk to me, so soon as I got out of the shower, my mom handed me the phone and I started talking to my dad.  I think he could hear the pain in my voice as I started being unable to talk through each contraction.  I was getting emotional talking to him because I knew his grandson was about to be born and he wouldn't be at the hospital for the birth.  I wanted him there, but knew logistically it wasn't possible.  I fought through the emotions the best I could and did my best to stay in great spirits, looking forward and knowing full well that I'd be meeting my son soon!

At 4:00, Carl surprised me at the front door.  He came home knowing that we'd be going in soon.  I purposely didn't call him to tell him to rush home because I didn't want a false alarm.  I was probably too concerned about getting to the hospital and being sent home.  My goal was to be admitted and be dilated past one centimeter, and be at least 75% effaced. 

Carl took a shower, since he knew it might be a couple days before he would be able to take one again.  Meanwhile, my mom encouraged me to eat and I took her up on her offer to make me some tuna and crackers.  I don't know if it was a pregnancy craving, or a good way to take my mind off of things, but I began really looking forward to that tuna.  It sounded like the yummiest thing I could imagine.  So, imagine my disappointment when my mom said we were out of tuna.  I asked Carl to run to the store really fast, for some more tuna… but as another contraction hit, I told him he better just stay with me.  While I continued breathing through the contractions and eating a bagel the best I could through the tears, Carl worked on installing Luke's car seat.  I had asked him to do it earlier in the week but he insisted on waiting… stubborn man.  While Carl worked on installing the car seat, I worked on bringing Luke down into my pelvis more.  I rocked on that birthing ball like you couldn't imagine!  I wanted some serious progress to be made before leaving home. 

Not during a contraction:

During a contraction:

(Excuse the mess in the house- we had a ton of nursery projects still going on at this point.)

Carl finished installing the car seat.  Then, we headed to the hospital.  I was still focusing on breathing through my contractions when we pulled up to the emergency room.  My mom ran inside and told the nurses that her daughter was having a baby and that she needed a wheelchair.  She rolled the wheelchair out to me; I hopped in and Carl pushed me into the hospital while mom parked the car.  A labor and delivery nurse met me in the ER and took down some information as she jetted me down the hall to labor and delivery.  This was the real deal!  I was so excited to be doing this- this event that I had long awaited!  While coaching me through breathing, the nurses asked me who I would allow in my room while I was in labor and delivering the baby.  They told me I could have up to four people.  I gave them my mom's name and Carl's name, and my friend Amanda's name as well.  I asked Carl to call our friend Amanda, who is a labor and delivery nurse at another hospital, just to tell her what's going on.  Amanda had helped me with so many questions throughout my pregnancy, and she eased my mind with every last labor or delivery question you could imagine!  We invited her to the labor and delivery ward, and told her she's welcome in the room if she'd like to be there. 

Last few photos being pregnant:

Carl helping me through a contraction:

The nurses came and checked me shortly after filling out the paperwork, and upon inspection, I learned I was dilated to a 3 with a melting cervix, and I was 100% effaced.  Yep, this was definitely D-day!  (Delivery day, what else?!)

Through each contraction, I was debating whether or not I wanted an epidural.  My original goal was to not have an epidural unless I felt I needed one because I wanted to know what labor pains truly were.  During each contraction, I asked for an epidural but soon as each contraction subsided, I told the nurses I didn't think I wanted an epidural.  They waited for me to say absolutely yes before they called the anesthesiologist.  I finally decided I did indeed want an epidural, and so they called for the anesthesiologist to come and administer it for me.  He arrived within half and hour and I was already dilated to a 6!  Things were moving quickly!

Amanda did come to my labor room and she hung out with us. She arrived after my epidural, and I was so happy to see her.  I visited with her for a bit, while my mom and Carl ate the dinner she brought them.  Unfortunately, I was starving because I had the epidural without eating first!  Note to self- next time I have a baby (Lord willing), eat up before the epidural!  Amanda calmed me as my legs continued to get more and more numb, and get more and more itchy. It was an odd sensation to be coping with for the first time!  

After the epidural had fully kicked in, the nurses (including Amanda) strongly advised me to rest and get as much sleep as possible because soon it would be time to push.  I was able to sleep for a few hours but I woke up intermittently.  At one point, Amanda had to get going because she worked the following day.  I was hoping Luke would come while she was there, but he wasn't quite ready.  A couple hours later, I woke up feeling like I had to go to the bathroom.  I told the nurses I felt like I had to go to the bathroom, so they checked where the baby's head was.  They said he was really low, and I would need to start pushing soon.  They prepared my delivery bed and then the real fun started.

At 2:59, I pushed through my first contraction.  In my head, although unrealistic, I prepared for pushing for five hours.  It was more exhausting than I had anticipated and after pushing for thirty five minutes, I began to wonder if I could actually have the strength to push this baby out.  Part of me desperately wanted to ask someone to reach in and pull Luke out- but I knew that wouldn't happen! I kept following the orders to bear down and push when I felt a contraction coming on, and around 3:40, I heard something that caught my attention.  The nurse asked another nurse "My guess is 3:52, what do you think?"   3:52 sounded like a time to me, but I was unclear what she was thinking would happen at that time.  So, I asked.  "I think that's when your baby will be born!"  I had no idea I was that close, so hearing this great news gave me even more gusto to finish the task at hand.  Then, the nurse informed me that my doctor would be here momentarily.  I knew that the doctor literally came in to catch the baby, and not much else (no offense doctors) so that meant my baby was THAT much closer!  Boy was I excited! 

"I see his head!" The nurse said excitedly.  "He has hair!!"

"Really?!" I was ecstatic.  I had hoped Luke would have hair. 

I was curious as to how close his head was…and when my mom peeked down there, she came back and said "Boy does he ever have hair!"  She told me the nurse had his hair twirled around her finger!  With his head being so incredibly close, I asked if I could touch it.  The nurse guided my hand and I was able to gently feel the top of Luke's head.  Coolest thing ever!  (I told some friends about this and some of them think it's pretty cool, while others were utterly disgusted!  To each her own, I suppose!)  I was feeling my baby's head for the first time, and I was just that much more excited to be meeting my little boy!

My doctor arrived, and since she was in the room, I knew that Luke would be in my arms any minute.  After a few more good pushes, Luke came flying out of me (I now understand the term "Catch the baby"). 

After waiting nine long months, I was ecstatic that at 3:56 am, on Thursday July 11, Luke Robert was born! He weight 7 lbs, 6 oz and was 20 inches long.

Carl and I had planned on having Luke stay on my chest for kangaroo care (skin to skin) time as long as we would be allowed once he was born. We had heard so many wonderful things about skin to skin time, like how it regulates his and my hormones, helps regulate his body temperature, heart rate, and so much more. We made it clear that we wanted to have him on me right away, so once he came out, they laid him on my chest. I had previously thought I would want my baby cleaned, and not slimy when they laid him on me... Oh, but this was MY slimy baby and I never wanting anything more!  The nurses laid him on me and I told Luke how beautiful and perfect he was.  I kissed him, repeatedly.  And I didn't even think to count his fingers and toes, because I already knew he was perfect.  I cried about as hard as Luke was crying- which was not hard enough apparently.  Luke had trouble getting the amniotic fluid out of his lungs, so the nurses had to remove him from my chest to continue to stimulate his breathing. 

I remember feeling restrained on the bed- unable to move from the epidural- while the doctors worked on me.  I was trying my best to listen to what was happening with Luke, and occasionally pausing to ask for more numbing meds while my doctor was sewing me up.  "Another shot of lidocaine please!" My doctor thought I couldn't feel her working on me because of my epidural so she was taken aback when I proved I could indeed feel the needle going in and out of my skin.

Meanwhile, my mom was rubbing Luke's back while the nurses suctioned more and more fluid out of his lungs, and she would periodically come over to me and update me as best she could. Carl, too, bounced back and forth between me and Luke.

As quickly as he was initially laid on me, he was whisked away to the neonatal intensive care unit.

 My heart, which was now outside of my body, was being rolled away to the NICU and I couldn't be with him for the first time in over nine months. Thankfully, I had made it clear to Carl that if something did happen where Luke and I had to be separated, I wanted Carl to go with Luke. He needed support more than I did. I say I am thankful that we talked about that situation ahead of time because as one team of nurses told Carl that Luke was having a hard time breathing, another team announced they couldn't get me to stop bleeding. Carl felt torn but decided to go with Luke and for that I am so thankful. My mom stayed with me while I tried not to panic having my baby removed from my sight.  I didn't even realize that the doctors were having a hard time with my bleeding- I was completely enveloped in the fact that my baby was having a hard time.  My bleeding or recovery was the very last thing on my mind.  All that mattered to me was my sweet little Luke. 

The doctors eventually got my bleeding under control, but it had been what felt like forever and I still hadn't seen my precious baby boy. Every time a nurse checked on me, I asked when I could have my baby back. The nurses were so sweet. Every time I inquired about Luke, one of them would pick up the phone in my room and call the NICU to check on him. We had to wait until Luke's doctor arrived to give him the clear to be released from the NICU, where he also had his first bath.

Thankfully, at 8:00, Luke's doctor came and inspected him and Luke was returned to my arms.  We were so glad to be able to hold our little one again.  We all took turns loving on him...

After I loved on him for quite a while, a nurse came in and had to check me again.

I passed Luke to my mom, who sat down next to a very tired daddy.

By the way, isn't that a sweet hat?  Luke's Momau (my mom) made it for him!

We were rolled over to the mom and baby unit, and so since we were all safe, mom headed home to catch a few Z's and play with our pups who were all alone.  Carl and I hung out with Luke, while nurses came and went. We were so happy to have our baby boy back in our arms. Carl and I both wanted to hold him so badly...we just could not put him down. Carl unbuttoned his shirt and participated in skin to skin time with Luke as well.

That first night, I slept holding Luke (I slept very lightly, for fear that the nurses would come yell at me for holding the baby and sleeping at the same time). I just couldn't put him down! He had heard my heartbeat for the last nine months, and now he was in a cold hospital room. The best place he could possibly be was in my arms! 

Later that day, we were discharged from the hospital and we were free to go home. I had noticed Luke looked slightly jaundiced, but I knew that was pretty common in newborns so I had planned on putting him in some sunlight when we got home. That would help his vitamin D levels get where they needed to be. We fed and changed Luke into a precious light blue going home outfit, complete with smocking and footies. He was crying a little bit, seemingly more than "normal" (what is "normal" when you know someone for just over 24 hours?) and the discharge nurse made a comment along the lines of "You think he is crying now, wait till you put him in his carseat!" Well, Carl went to the car to get the carseat (Mom drove up to the main door for him) and I remained with Luke. I sang "God is so good" to him, as tears poured down my cheeks. He calmed down as I sang to him, and by the time his daddy came back with the car seat, we were in a nice relaxed state.  We loaded Luke up into his seat, which he loved and didn't make a peep about, and headed home!


Here we are leaving the hospital.

And we are home!

 

Another chapter in our life story was officially beginning.

Everything was perfect!

39 weeks...still cookin!

Last Friday, I had my 39 week checkup with my doctor.  She says that baby is happy and doing well, I was 50% effaced, and Luke's station was -1 (he needs to be at a 0 station to be fully engaged in my pelvis).  So, she did a little procedure to try to get a jump start on things.  C'mon Luke... mommy and daddy want to meet you!  Going back to Friday, here's how the day panned out.

Normally in the mornings, Luke is very active throughout breakfast time.  He's normally flipping around and kicking so much that you can see my stomach move from across the room.  So Friday morning, when Luke was very still, I began getting a little concerned.  I tried moving him, but he didn't budge.  I drank caffeinated coffee and had two waffles with peanut butter and syrup (protein and sugar) but he still didn't move.  So, I started yelling at my belly and that got him stirring...slightly.  His kicks were far less than they should've been, so I brought my concern up to my doctor.  When she had done the little kick-start procedure, she said that would aggravate baby and he would probably start moving momentarily.  Well, he did not.  I was getting pretty concerned so we waited for a few minutes and told the doctor that he was still not moving.  She said I should head over to Labor and Delivery in the hospital and have them monitor his movements.  She said they would keep me for 20 minutes or so, and make sure baby is happy and not in distress.  So, I called Carl and updated him.  I was in the process of explaining what the doctor told me and I said "So, she's sending me to labor and delivery" and wouldn't you know as I spoke those words, the call failed.  So, last thing Carl heard was "They are sending me to labor and delivery."  I didn't want to get his hopes up so I immediately called him back and finished explaining that they are sending me there just to check on Luke and make sure he isn't in distress.

My mom and I arrived at the hospital, and the nurses were very sweet.  They said we absolutely did the right thing to come in and check on our little boy.  They hooked me up to some monitors and immediately found his heartbeat.  Every nurse that came by kept saying "Baby is very happy!"  One nurse said that looking at his heart rate, he wasn't just "ho hum" but more like "Weeee!" and he was doing great.  That was good to hear (although I'm not sure how much of that was her just trying to make me happy... but I'll take it!).

The machine she hooked me up to monitored Luke's heart rate, my heart rate, and any contractions I might be having.  After a few minutes, the nurse asked if I was feeling contractions because the machine was showing I had one.  I told her I felt a little tightening but nothing significant so she said it was most likely just a chuckle that showed up as a contraction.  So, we waited.  We watched Luke's little heart beat for a while and I felt more and more tightening up in my abdomen.  This tightening felt pretty much like Braxton Hicks contractions, but they were getting a little stronger each time, and lasting a little longer.  Pretty soon, they started coming at regular intervals.  I was having contractions every 5 to 6 minutes.  They continued coming regularly, causing the nurses to keep me for about three hours instead of the estimated twenty minutes.  The contractions continued coming at regular intervals of every 5 to 6 minutes, and they got more and more uncomfortable.  The nurses checked me and said I was only between 0 and 1cm dilated, but they all determined I was in early labor.  They let me go home in order to do a few last minute things and pack a bag to come to the hospital.  As we were leaving, the nurses all said "See you soon!"  

I was very excited to be having this baby, although I have to say it was an emotional roller coaster thinking I would most likely not be pregnant the following day.  I have loved feeling my little baby kick and roll around for the past several months, so the thought of this stage coming to an end made me pretty sad.  I continued having contractions for fourteen hours straight, and they continued getting stronger and stronger.  I even had a few contractions near the end of the day that made me double over and stop talking.  I was so excited to be making progress!  My mom and I ran errands around town, came home and packed a hospital bag, and then we all watched a little television.  I went to bed unusually early that night because I knew it was important to conserve my energy for the hard labor that should be coming within the next day or so.  And, I knew I most likely wouldn't get a whole lot of sleep since I was still contracting regularly.  I contracted all throughout the night and I was constantly awoken by the uncomfortableness... but I was excited.  In the morning I would be that much closer to holding my baby boy in my arms.  

That next morning, I came downstairs and informed my mom that the contractions completely stopped in the past couple of hours.  I was very bummed, to say the least.  

Since Luke's station on Friday was -1, I decided I would spend some time on the birthing ball (our pilates ball).  Rocking back and forth and left and right is supposed to help loosen my pelvis so that Luke's head can drop a little more and he can be completely engaged (once he's completely engaged, his head pushing down will help the effacement and dilation to get this party started!).  I rocked and rocked on the ball, and worked on Luke's room more throughout the day.  By the afternoon, I was pretty exhausted so I napped for a while.  We missed dinner at our friend's house (where we go almost every Saturday) because I was just too worn out.  Of course all of our friends understood and encouraged me to stay home and rest.  The following morning, we were a few minutes late for church (causing everyone to think we were not coming because I was in labor).  As I walked in, my friend turned around and saw me and made a face that was like "What are you doing here, you're supposed to be having a baby!"  I mouthed "No baby!" to her and took a seat.  Halfway through services, another one of my friends casually turned around and did a double take when she saw me in church.  She held her arms out in a questioning gesture and I just shrugged.  She later told me she just KNEW I was in the hospital already holding my baby.  By time evening church rolled around, people were coming up and saying that my belly looked much smaller since Luke has dropped.  It's almost like he was laying out flatter (and much lower)... my mom compared my stomach to a hill and said it used to be a mountain.  Haha :)  

So anyway, here we are, at 39 weeks and a few days... still cookin' a baby.  I'll probably end up being late since he's my first baby... but I can't wait to meet him.  I'm going to try to just soak in and enjoy these last days with him in my belly.  Maybe Luke is waiting on his grandpa to get here before he makes his big debut... if that is the case, we have 8 days left! 

Here's the slightly flatter 39 week baby bump.

37 and 38 weeks!

We're just waiting on the baby! Here's our last two weeks in photos....

Here's me and Luke at 37 weeks. 

And here's me and Belle taking a nap... there wasn't a way for her to sleep on my round ole belly so she curled up on my chest.  Mom snuck this photo while I was catching a few Z's.

Mom and I have been working on Luke's room and getting all of his baby things in order.  We've organized his clothes and washed all his newborn outfits, and we've put tons of diapers in the closet for storage.  Belle doesn't mind the diapers laying around.

And Miss Sugar doesn't mind Luke's new cradle cove.  "Not half bad," she says.... "not half bad."

38 weeks:

Here's mom and I on Sunday before church.  Perhaps my last pregnant Sunday?  Time will tell... but I'm not holding my breath at this point!

After church, this sweet man and I spent some time in the park together.  Mom was our photographer.  We want to remember this precious time expecting our baby boy.

It was 108 degrees outside... I was kinda hoping that the high temps would send baby Luke on his way...but it didn't.

And this little ham had to get in on the photo-action.

We've also been spending a couple afternoons and evenings in the pool.  In this heat, the pool feels AMAZING.  Especially when I feel light as a feather the moment I'm in the water!  It's hilarious to see my belly in the water- I was standing there talking to my mom and when I looked down, I saw something I hadn't seen in a while... my toes!  I stepped out of the pool to ask mom if my belly looked smaller to her all of the sudden and as we both looked at it, it slowly popped back out.  It looked like there was a balloon being blown up under my swim suit.  It was pretty hilarious.  So I got back in the pool, and then back out, and it happened again and again.  The next day, I brought Carl to the pool and had him watch my new trick.  It was like my pregnancy from 5 months to 9 months in fast forward!  Hilarious!

So, that's been our last two weeks!
Hopefully soon I will be able to show you the nursery and all the progress we have made! 

35 and 36 Weeks, Baby Shower, and More!

When I was 35 weeks pregnant, my mom flew in to California to help me out around the house.  She knew my last few weeks of pregnancy would be draining and exhausting, so she wanted to be around to be the extra set of hands that are coming in super handy right now.  I feel guilty allowing her to do dishes and cook, and run errands for me.... but she says that's what she's here for, so I will take it.  Thanks, mom!  We have a sort of ongoing joke... she referred to me as "miserable" to someone and I was quick to correct her that I'm in fact very very happy.  She said that she considered me being so exhausted and in some pain and discomfort to mean I was miserable... but I said I just feel that miserable is such an extreme word.  Even though I'm exhausted (I could sleep around the clock), I moan (and occasionally ask for a push) when I get up off the couch, I have to sit when we are out and about for too long, I whine about heartburn and getting kicked in the ribs.... I'm not miserable.  Sure, it sounds like it, but you just have to understand that even through the discomfort, I TREASURE this time with Luke in my belly.  I absolutely adore feeling him kick and seeing him move and get comfortable.  It's an incredible feeling that I am going to miss in just a little while!  So mom now understands that I'm not "miserable" but rather just exhausted and achey.  Haha :)

So anyway, mom flew in on the day I became 35 weeks pregnant, and that day also just happened to be  the day of my baby shower.  My girlfriends out here put on quite the shindig!  It was beautiful!  In our church fellowship hall, we entered to see stars hanging from the ceiling and walls, blue for my baby boy, and food and gifts galore.  The star and moon theme came because Luke's nursery theme is "Twinkle twinkle."

Here I am just entering the room... you can see the balloons and the decorations throughout the room.

Here's the food table... complete with sandwiches cut into stars, and a huge and DELICIOUS chocolate cake with chocolate icing.  YUM! 

And the adorable little party favors... MOON PIES!  BECAUSE WE ARE OVER THE MOON!

Isn't that just precious?!

And look at this cake that was to die for... "Sent from heaven above, a baby boy for you to love!"

On the table across the room, there was a table full of gifts and an ADORABLE diaper cake that Rose made... check this out:

There was a sweet elephant on top for baby Luke, wash cloths stuffed throughout, an embroidered bib, a bottle brush, car seat toy, and a pacifier with a cover that closes when it falls on the floor!  It was adorable!  Rose had to be out of town, but she was there in spirit.

Here we are at the shower... she has a "Grandma to be" pin on her shirt, and I have a "New Mommy to be" pin on my "New mom to be" sash.  The girls were just so sweet to us.  I'm still kicking myself for not getting a photo with them!  I can't believe I didn't think to do that!  Doh!

We were blessed with many baby items that will help us take care of our little prince.  Marramonie sat to my right and kept track of all of the gifts, so that I could send out thank you cards.  Amanda brought gifts to me and then shuffled them to the gift table, and cleaned up the trash from opening the gifts.  Ruia and Michelle made sure everyone was comfortable and replenished the food and drinks... and Rose had to be out of town on this specific day.  But these girls... man, I can't thank them enough.  Oh, and see the banner over me in the photo below?  It's in three sections that reads "Welcome Baby Luke" and it was handmade by our friend Megan.  She was unable to come to the shower as well because her sweet girl had her second birthday on this particular day... June was a crazy busy month for everyone.

We played one shower game... everyone was given a blank bingo card that they had to fill out with items they thought I would receive as gifts.  Once I opened it, they marked it down on their card and the first person to get "Bingo" would win a prize!  There was also a signature mat for my shower attendees to fill out, so Luke will have that hanging in his room soon.  The hostesses also had guests write silly and encouraging little notes for midnight diaper changes.  They wrote them right on the diapers, and I have to admit I did take a little peek... and they are hilarious!  Some of them are encouraging, reminding me that this is only a short season that we are going through, and others say funny little things like "Daddy's turn!"  So sweet.  Women of encouragement, let me tell ya.

Here is a belly shot of the 35 week bump (taken after church the day after my shower).

And then here we are this week at 36 weeks.

This week, we are slowly working on getting Luke's clothes washed and organized, and putting all of his little goodies away.  We are also working on finishing his nursery... I'm working on sewing his crib skirt, valance for his window, and changing pad cover.  I also hope to make him a pillow for his rocking chair, and we will use extra fabric for a few other little projects I will share with you soon.

We've also been enjoying the leftover party favors (moon pies) every night.  Yesterday, when we got home from church, we discovered SOMEONE had two moon pies while we were gone..... she had chocolate all over her face, her little pink belly was poking out, and she was passed out for the entire afternoon and evening.  That night, when my mom picked up a moon pie for her dessert, this little girl ran over to my mom and started begging for one.  Up until that day, she cared less about us eating the moon pies...but she had a taste of the goodness and wanted more.  Belle!  Mommy's not happy about that, little one... chocolate is bad for you!  

She says "I don't care, it was worth it.  Yum!"  See the chocolate on her face going down by her neck?

Hopefully my next update to you all won't be TOO long away... like I said, I've just been worn out.  Blogging hasn't been a priority, unfortunately.  I feel like there isn't enough time in the day to get everything done.  Millions of errands, lamaze every Wednesday, laundry piling up and the regular cleaning and maintenance to take care of.  But these are all wonderful "burdens" to be blessed with, so with that in mind... I'm going to go straighten up my room and head off for a prenatal massage that Luke got me for mother's day.  It is time to use it!  That is considered a priority!  Right?!  Yep, I thought so.  ;)