Del Mar Fair

We went to the Del Mar Fair yesterday with the Annaloros.  We used our free tickets we earned cleaning up the beach in Oceanside a few weeks ago from the Surfrider Foundation.  The doctors had given me mixed reviews about going to the fair, but I didn't feel like sitting around and waiting for this baby so we loaded up the car in case we had to go to the hospital immediately, and off to the fair we went!  We had a great afternoon and evening with Kristin, K.C. and especially Sophia who is finally big enough to go on some of the kiddie rides with her dad.  We checked out the livestock, the cool products for sale and of course, ate a LOT of terribly delicious food (we did NOT eat the deep-fried butter, but I had to prove that they made that!). We also visited the all-you-can-drink beer tasting area where award-winning beers from all over the world were featured and available for (not pregnant people or 2 year olds) your endless tasting pleasure.  We can't wait to go back next year!

Baby progress!

We went to the doctor today to get checked and we got some good news!  I am 1 cm dilated, and 80% effaced and advised to both "take it easy" and "walk walk walk !"  The first piece of advice is related the fact that my fluid level had dropped from 13 last week to 8 today.  If it gets down to 5, they will send me straight to the hospital for induction.  My next appointment is on Monday to check the fluid level. The latter piece of advice is to aid in the continued dilation and effacement of my cervix.  Whether I go into labor on my own or if I am to be induced because of a low fluid level, the fact that my cervix is "prepping" for labor is great news!
How am I feeling?  Well, after the news today my emotions have been all over the place, ranging from anxious to ecstatic.  Now that labor is imminent (I know, it has been imminent the whole time but it is becoming more real by the day!) I am a little scared of the fact that once labor begins there is nothing I can do to stop it and our lives will change forever!  However, I am much MUCH more excited that this is soon coming to an end and it won't be long before I will holding my little baby girl in my arms and introducing her to all my family and friends!
We have the car loaded up with the hospital bag, diaper bag and properly installed car seat, thanks to a visit to the CHP today.  So we are READY TO GO!
Stay tuned...

Father's Day Fishing trip

We had a great day honoring Ken (Alex's wonderful dad), John (my awesome dad) and Alex (excited dad to be!) on a fishing charter from Dana Point harbor on Sunday. The weather was absolutely gorgeous, and even though the fish weren't quite biting, we had a great time relaxing on the boat and just spending the day together.

Happy Father's Day!!

Sculpin fish, poisonous spines, YIKES

Catch of the day!

The boys

Dolphins!!

Aboard the Dana Pride

Avery and I

Video of Avery moving around in my tummy

Click to see the Avery the Alien video on my Facebook page
CRAZY!!

Completed Nursery

I am FINALLY done with Avery's nursery!! I am so happy with the way it turned out and I just love going in there every day and thinking about how soon she is actually going to be here and using all this "stuff!" Very surreal and exciting. I have included live links to some of the items I chose, for all my preggo friends that might be wondering what I got and where.

A MILLION thanks to all our generous family and friends that helped us prepare for our little bundle of joy! Definitely could NOT have done it without you.

Closet stuffed with adorable little clothes (more in the drawers of the dresser!) along with shoes, monitor, Bumbo seat, breast pumps etc. All the essentials!

Hand-painted tree by Daddy with Umbra wall flowers, changing table/dresser with crib

Crib with bedding and wall letters

Extra bed for Grammy (and Roo) bookcase and bassinet with blankets

The rest of the baby gear!! Strollers and play yards and swings, oh my! (Also car seat and infant seat)

Just call me Big Bird

Big, for obvious reasons and Bird for the insane amount of nesting I am doing right now!  At the end of a long day running errands (which may not sound tough, but when your ankles triple in size in the car and your daughter's feet are jammed in your ribs so even sitting hurts...) I cannot resist the urge to re-organize drawers and closets and do load after load of laundry.  My problem is that if I don't do these things that are on my mind, they stay on my mind and then I can't sleep!  I guess I am preparing for the inevitable sleepless nights ahead :)

Holy Sack of Potatoes!

So at my growth-scan ultrasound today, the tech said that Avery weighs an estimated 5 lbs, 14 oz (which is almost 6 lbs, which is HUGE-sounding to me).  Babies are BORN that weigh that much, and it is totally tripping me out that something that huge is inside me.  Adding to that, babies at this stage gain about a 1/2 pound a week for the remainder of their gestation, which means if I get to 40 weeks, she could weigh upwards of 8 lbs (which wouldn't be surprising considering both Alex and I weighed about that much when we were born)! 

Honestly, I would be more than happy with a 7 pounder but I am so glad to hear she is growing well and healthy.  It also eases my mind to know that if she was born tomorrow (which I hope she isn't, momma still has some things to do!) she would be a healthy baby and do just fine without much intervention.

Carrying around a sack of potatoes in my belly does explain some of the less than comfortable aches and pains I have been experiencing, but no pain no gain, right??