Happy Due Date to Me!

So here we are- Baby Cashew's due date!! I am 40 weeks today. We went to the doctor today and....WOO HOO!! I am dilated between 1-2 cm!! That means my body is starting to get moving! The doctor did a quick ultrasound and she is face up and fluids look great. It was really funny- he was feeling her head and he says he has never felt a baby's head move as much as hers! I have been telling everyone she is ADD! She just LOVES to move around!!

So the plan is- If I have not gone into labor by Friday- I will need to head into labor and delivery to have an NST (non stress test) to make sure the baby is doing ok. At that point we will discuss the plan of action depending on the results (i.e. when to induce). My doctor is guessing Thanksgiving day! (Which is great because he is on call that day! LOL). So we shall see what she decides to do!

I have been having tons and tons of painless but strong contractions all day. Hopefully they will continue and get painful so we can get going. :) Justin and I have been walking like crazy to help things...Saturday we walked at least 4 miles, Sunday over 3, and today Ainsley and I walked to Starbucks to celebrate my due date (over a mile) and then I walked the mall for 3 hours after my appt!

So here are some pics from today...40 weeks!!

I had to take one with my Chico State sweatshirt on since this little one is a product of two Alumni!!

She is snug as a rug in there!!

Well, today was my 39 week appt and she is just happy in there!! I am not dilated at all yet :( Oh well, she will come when she is ready I suppose!

Here is a picture from last night...39 weeks one day...with my baby Ainsley!

On Monday, we went to Stanford to have our car seat checked out and....DADDY GETS AN A+!!! The guy said only 1/5 can properly install a car seat and Justin was one of those in 5! He said Justin did a great job, gave us some additional info- and sent us on our way! We can thank the presenter at the New Parents Orientation at Stanford we went to a few ago- he showed us all how to do it and gave us info NOT in the manuals. So we are set- the bag is packed (well- almost- we still need to pack some snacks!), the car seat is in...I just need to go into labor! Ha ha ha...

A few mornings ago, I woke up and Ainsley was not in his usual spot in the bed next to me. I went to check his kennel, and he was not there either! So then I went searching for him and here he was...
Sound asleep on his bed in the baby's room!! He is going to be such a great big brother!!

Dinner with "Differently-Abled" People...

So yesterday Justin and I went to Baby's R Us to exchange some onsies we had...and when we checked out I saw a Toys R Us Catalog..."Toy guide for "differently-abled kids". Seeing how I work with children with special needs...I found this title...interesting. So I guess I do not work in special ed, I work in "differently-abled" education. LOL.

So last night a bunch of us who work in "differently-abled" education went out for dinner- it was a great time!! I am so lucky to work with such awesome people!! Here we all are at this great wine bar in San Mateo...

So I work with all the ladies in the picture- to the right of me- Kim, Claire, Kristi, Maggie, Grace, Vanessa, Krysta, and Krista. Then most of our significant others also joined us- as well as two little ones! I had a GREAT time. I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

P.S. We need to go here again once I am not preggers so I can have some WINE!

Yummy Treats!

I really do like to bake- its the clean up I hate so I do not do it too often- ha ha ha! But this week I have baked twice! (Maybe this is me nesting?? Or maybe since I am not working...). I made sugar cookies a couple days ago- but last night I made these:
Basically, you take pie crust dough and cut a ton of shapes out with cookie cutters, spread different flavors of chips on the shape (I did chocolate, peanut butter, and butterscotch combinations) put another cut out on top, seal the edges with some wisked egg, and brush them all with wisked egg and raw sugar and bake for 12 minutes. Pretty easy (I bought the pie crust already made) and YUMMY!

38 weeks...

Well, here we are at 38 weeks and two days! At my doctor appt today I measured one cm more than last week (she is growing!) and gained two more pounds! (The doctor assured me its mostly water...LOL). She attempted to see if I was dilated...however the baby's head was in the way and it was...quite uncomfortable as she tried to get to it, so she stopped. She said its softening but she could not quite get there to check dilation. Next Wednesday they will check again. Good news- her head is fully engaged (in my pelvis) so she is getting ready!

Here is a picture we took yesterday...

Justin and I are ready for her to come. Though I feel good (I'm really not too uncomfortable), I am just ready for her to be here. Send us lots of "labor dust"!

Apple Hill...and maternity pics too!!

Well, despite my being so close to my due date...we headed up to my parents place this weekend (about a 3 hour drive) because I really wanted to go to Apple Hill before I gave birth! So we headed up yesterday morning, and Melissa D. and Megan and her daughters Lilyn and Ella joined my mom and I at Apple Hill. Here we are!

It was a fun couple hours...I got a caramel apple...YUMMY!

That night we headed to dinner with my parents, brother Rick, Sister in law Jen, my Niece Darienne, my nephue Geoff, and Geoff's mother's family to celebrate his 19th birthday which is on Monday (Happy Birthday Geoffery). There was about 16 of us. Fun times!

My cousin Jacquie, as I mentioned earlier, took some beautiful maternity pics of us. You can find all of them at the link below...They turned out AWESOME!! Let us know what you think!!

www.bonviestudios.com/darkroom/view/index.php?darkroom/client/yeh

OK this little girl is going nuts in my belly right now. I think she wants out!! LOL.

The Nursery!

We are about done with the nursery! We are still hoping to get a couple other small pieces of furniture (like a small bookcase) but no rush. Here are pictures!

Her Crib and bedding....

Ha ha...one of the cats perched on the back of the crib!

Her dresser, diaper pail and hamper

Changing table and glider...never is there a time a cat in not in it!

Shelves...

Her new light daddy just hung tonight!

I made this for her...hangs near the door by her crib...

Her first train! From one of my former students...Is it not just adorable!?

Now we just need her to get here!!! Ha ha ha

Well, less than 3 weeks until my due date! Tuesday was my 37 week appt. I have officially gained 26.5lbs, my blood pressure is still nice and low, and I am measuring right on. I continue to have Braxton Hicks contractions throughout the day...but nothing painful. The doctor said they will most likely not check me until 39 weeks. Right this second, this baby girl is trying to do martial arts in my uterus!

After my appt I headed to the mall and walked around for a couple hours. I bought myself some nursing bras (that was fun!), and also bought the baby two Christmas outfits!!

Then Wednesday I got my hair done...I had been waiting for that for MONTHS!! I no longer have 2 inch roots! I also treated myself to a pedicure :) It was a great day!

Today my wonderful husband left me notes all over to remind me to get the car washed (check!) and pack my hospital bad (um- 3/4 of a check!?). I have most of the things for my bag together, but I still do not know what we are going to bring her home in! Decisions decisions....

Also- you can check out my cousin's blog at:

www.bonviestudios.com/blog

To check out a "sneak peak" at some of our maternity pictures. Can't wait to see the rest! :)

Then and now...

I have been wondering what this baby will look like. Will she have lighter skin like me, or darker skin like Justin? How Asian will she look? Will she have light eyes or dark eyes?

I know...we will just have to wait and see. We do know from the ultrasounds that she has some chubby cheeks!

Here are some pictures of Justin and I when we were little ones...I wonder what traits she will get from each of us? What do you think?

Here are some of Justin...so cute!!

And here am I...

I hope she gets lots of daddy's genes...He is so handsome!! :)

Maternity leave..and some pictures too!

Well Friday was my last day at work! It was an interesting day to say the least...I will leave it at that!

Justin came and helped me move out some of my things- and move some of my things into my old classroom for my friend/coworker to use when I am out. Looking around my room made me sad to be leaving. It was a bittersweet moment. (Don't tell anyone this...but I will miss my work!) However- I am also ready for the break right now. My body needs some extra rest and this year has been particularly challenging!

So here are my 36 (and a half) week pictures- Side, front and back. I am starting to think my belly cannot stick out any more!



And Just for fun- here are the cats in the nursery...they LOVE the new room!!!