37 weeks

How your baby's growing: Congratulations — your baby is full term! This means that if your baby arrives now, his lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away. Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

Despite several attempts otherwise, little Asher has made it to full term! Watch, now he'll probably go late, crazy kid. I am really grateful that he made it to full term though. I saw a baby on TV that was born at 34 weeks and was super small and had to be in the hospital for weeks. I feel so blessed that Asher won't be in that position.

I just wish I knew what was going on with my body. I had pretty intense cramping yesterday morning for several hours. It was the worst it's been yet. I couldn't even really tell if/when I was having contractions because the cramping never ended. I finally got in the tub and that helped tremendously. I would rather have rhythmic contractions than just constant cramps because at least you get a break between contractions. But when I don't have the cramping, I feel pretty darn good considering. I still feel like my pregnancy has been pretty easy physically. There's just been lots of drama.

And I did end up getting a hair cut on Friday. I got some more layering so it will now be much easier to just let it dry naturally, and I can still pull it back when I want.

summer tv

Remember back in the day when all that was on TV in the summer were reruns? Well, isn't it nice that these days we get so much more to choose from? Like reality tv shows. I'd like to share with you my favorites.

So You Think You Can Dance

This show is awesome. I have watched it the past three years and the dancers and choreography just keep getting better. It's from the same producer as American Idol, but the show is set up much smarter. To go from 20 to 10 dancers, viewers call in for their favorites, but then the judges get to pick one girl and one guy to go home out of the bottom 6 dancers (3 couples). This assures that the really good dancers stay in at least until the top 10 and don't go home due to ignorant viewers. Once it gets to the top 10 then only the viewers decide. The show airs on Fox on Wednesday and Thursday nights. We are just barely at the top ten now. I highly recommend checking it out. There are some seriously talented dancers on the show this year, but our favorite to win is probably Will.

The Next Food Network Star

This show has been on for several years and I've never watched it, but this year I happen to know one of the contestants--Kelsey Nixon. Kelsey was a year or so behind me in my Broadcast Journalism program at BYU, and I actually helped her produce and edit some of the first episodes of her cooking show--Kelsey's Kitchen. It aired locally on Provo Cable. It was a really fun project and a great learning experience for all of us. Kelsey is SO driven and focused. She is also extremely nice and fun and just plain adorable. After she graduated from BYU she went to culinary school and now she's on the Food Network! It has been really fun watching her. She has made it to the top 4, and I'm hoping she makes it all the way. The show airs on Food Network on Sunday nights at 10 pm eastern. Check it out! Also here is a link to where you can vote for fan favorite. Go vote for Kelsey so she can win some cool prizes.
Now it's your turn... any favorite summer tv? Or are you too busy with fun summer activities to watch this time of year?

what is the deal?

Yesterday I had more intense contractions for most of the day. I was able to ignore them and still do things some of the time--with breaks when a big one came. I also took some time to lay down and get in the zone with my HypnoBabies stuff. And we took a walk. But they didn't get any closer together than 5 minutes. The only thing different is that I'm losing more of my mucus plug. Lovely, I know. And now after reading Ariana's comment about painful false labor for 2 weeks(!) I am getting paranoid. On a good note, I have been able to sleep well. (Except for the many bathroom breaks.) I've also been getting some really good HypnoBabies practice in.

So far this morning has been uneventful, but they didn't start yesterday until about 10:30, so we'll see. I honestly have not been anxious for him to come since he's still early, but I don't want to go through days and days or weeks of this. It's not very fun.

nothin

I continued to have contractions last night but I was able to go to sleep. And this morning.... nothing. Well not nothing nothing. I still have been having the normal mild tightening kind of contractions, but not the intense onces like yesterday. So this kid might be staying in awhile longer yet.

and we're back

Sorry for all the drama, but no baby yet. We went to the hospital about 4 pm. They checked me and I was still 3-4 cm, same as yesterday. So they had us walk around for an hour to see if I'd change. Nope. The contractions have definitely been more intense, but I didn't dilate more so we are back home. I'd much rather labor at home anyway. I'm in no rush.

We asked to have one of the midwives see us instead of the obs/residents. She was super nice and gave us her pager number in case things pick up. The midwife that is on call tomorrow is actually one we talked to for awhile months ago and really liked. She is really good friends with our doctor. So we'd be happy if he came tomorrow so she could deliver us.

Now it's just more waiting and dealing with the contractions. I must say I am excited to eat dinner at home.

today might be the day

This morning I started having semi-intense cramping and then contractions started. They were 10 minutes apart for a couple hours and now they are five minutes apart. So I'm getting my bag packed and we are cleaning to prepare to go to the hospital. I feel really calm. It doesn't quite feel real. If things keep up like they are we'll be going to the hospital this afternoon. If we don't, I'll of course let you all know.

bread and hair

Two questions:

1. I want to start making bread on a regular basis. Does anyone have a simple, great whole wheat bread recipe that they love? I want something that would work for our everyday bread needs and slice up good for sandwiches without being too crumby. Is there such a recipe out there? If you have one, please share.

2. Should I cut my hair again? Short hair requires more frequent cuts and I'm really wanting to cut mine again. But on the other hand, it's gotten to the length where it goes back in a pony tail better. What do you think is more important for a soon-to-be mom? Cute hair or the ability to put it in a pony tail?

Thanks.

update

I just got back from my doctor's appointment. As I suspected, the baby's head is lower. I am also a bit more effaced, but she said I'm still between 3 and 4 cm dilated. I can go back to being a normal (pregnant) person. My plan tonight is to take a walk around the neighborhood once it's cooled down. I'm really looking forward to that.

We now have a car seat and stroller. The bassinet is set up. The birth plan is written. We will see how long this boy decides to stay in now.

btw... I still have photos from the beach to go through and post. I'm hoping to do that tomorrow.

36 weeks!

How your baby's growing: Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. He now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. He's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered his body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected his skin during his nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of his first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely he's in a head-down position. But if he isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying he'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating him from the outside of your belly.

Yay! 36 weeks! I am SO happy to have made it this far. I feel really good that if Asher makes his appearance now he'll be healthy and strong. If I go one more week, he'll be full term! How great is that? The past few days I've had more cramps and contractions. Last night I even thought we might have to go to the hospital. I was having strongish contractions under 10 minutes apart. We cleaned and called our neighbors in case we had to leave in the middle of the night. But things calmed down I was sound asleep by 10:15. Today I have not had as many contractions. It does seem that my body is slowly gearing up though. It will be interesting to see how long active labor lasts since I've had so long of a warm up.

I go to the doctor tomorrow and should get orders to resume all normal activity. I'm really excited to take a long walk and do some yoga. Asher's car seat also should arrive tomorrow too, which means he can come since now we'll have a way to get him home. :-)

park day

Yesterday the high was a balmy 83 degrees. It was wonderful! I was able to take the kids out to the park--our first sans Daddy excursion. It could not have been a more beautiful day. Here are a few photos. I had fun messing around with Pioneer Woman's PhotoShop actions on these.