so this is what heaven is like, huh?

We've made it through our first day at home! The puppies are doing *okay* but I think they need some adjustment time. Baby Ben is doing GREAT! He had to explore all his new surroundings, but then it was back to business as usual - eating, pooping and sleeping. Oh, and being pretty much to-die-for adorable.

We made a freakin' baby...whoa! Still can't believe it when I look at him. I feel like it's all some surreal dream. Dream on!

Can't wait to spend our first Christmas together as a family of three!

pictures and more pictures!

The pictures on this blog are probably gonna get out of control here for a bit. Sorry, I can't help but think I have the cutest child known to man. :)

Alright, off to relax and enjoy my little family. :)

Our gorgeous, perfect boy is here!

I'll post more later, but our little guy, Benjamin was born at 5:43 a.m. after the shortest labor EVER. Water broke at 12:15 and 5.5 hours later, I was holding my son. Contractions sucked more than I could have imagined and I caved and got an epi. Pushed for two hours, but it was so worth it.

He weighed 8 lbs, 1 oz, is 18 inches long and has lots of hair. He's happy and healthy, took to feeding immediately and is just too amazing for words. A few quick pics:

Maybe not.

I went back to sleep for a few more hours, woke up about thirty minutes ago and have had ONE measly contraction. So maybe this isn't the real thing after all. I swear I will bawl my eyes out if eight hours of contractions were a complete waste of my time and energy. I don't think I am emotionally prepared to handle what could happen at the doctor's appointment today. I'm envisioning something like this:

Me: So I started having contractions at 9 last night and I had them at about five minute intervals until I went to bed at 2. Then I woke up at 4 in pain, still contracting regularly and did so for the next two hours. Woke up at 8 to totally irregular and non-painful contractions. What gives, doc?

Doc: Hmm, let's check you. Oh, it appears that you've actually digressed. You're now only 1 cm dilated and 60% effaced. No labor for you anytime soon! 

Is that completely unrealistic? Am I losing my mind here? 

Update: still in labor (I think)

From what I've read, it sounds like I'm in early labor. I got a few hours sleep - which was COMPLETELY nerve-racking b/c I just knew the contractions would peter off - and I just woke up (at 4:00 am after not getting to sleep until about 2:00) to more back and pelvis pain. AND more contractions! They're still coming on regularly, still not too painful. But the fact that this has been going on for seven hours straight now really gives me hope that I will be meeting my baby in the next couple of days. I think this is it, folks!

My doctor's appt is at 12:50, so I guess I'll be holding out until then unless these contractions start taking my breath away. Then we'll see what the doc says. Oh, and because it's apparently my luck, of course this baby is going to make his appearance during the week that my doctor is out of town!

could it be labor?!

I started having contractions at 9 tonight and have been logging them for about four hours now. They average about five minutes apart, but the weird thing is that sometimes they're painful and sometimes they aren't. And most of the pain is in my lower back - it also kinda feels like my pelvis might break or something. But some of the contractions have been almost painless. So confused! How am I EVER going to know when I'm in labor? Do I go to bed and see what these bad boys are like in the morning? Do I make sure I have everything I need for the hospital bag? Ahhh!! I'm so overwhelmed with questions and I just wish someone had a magic answer for me!

Okay, off to time more contractions. Wish me luck! Could I actually meet our little guy soon?!

guesses

This baby will be born someday, I know that much. So to help the time pass, let's play a game:

When is baby Hibbard coming?

For those who may be behind, here's the rundown:

I'm due on the 30th, was 2 cm dilated and 80% effaced at 36 weeks, 3 cm dilated and 90% effaced at 37 weeks and have my 38 week appointment tomorrow (I'll fill you in on the stats after). I've been eating pineapple, driving down bumpy roads, walking, bouncing on my birth ball, eating eggplant parmesan, and so on. Today I bounced on the ball for an hour, then went for about a mile and a half walk (in mounds of snow) and came home and tried out some acupressure points.

So...when is it gonna happen?

My guess? December 29th. Hmm...7:37 p.m. And he'll weigh 7 lbs, 8 oz. Any other takers?

diary of a mad pregnant woman.

I began the day with a plate of spicy burritos. Then we installed the car seat and headed to Kansas City to finish up baby shopping. We're officially done and he can feel free to come out now. While in Kansas City, my head started pounding and within ten minutes I felt like it was in a vice. I knew the only way it could be solved was by eating a taco supreme with FIRE sauce. Once we got back to Lawrence (and my headache had been effectively squelched by my brilliance), we decided we really, really needed spicy sushi. Mine was raw fish-free, of course. But my mouth was blazin' by the time I finished it off. Then we hung the frames in baby's nursery and I ate MORE pineapple. And then, because apparently I hadn't done enough labor prep today, I felt the need to go for a late night, freezing cold two mile walk. Then I came home and bounced on my birthing/yoga ball.

Now I'm sitting here wondering if my pelvis is going to split in half. But it was worth it. I can handle making it to my due date. I really can. But going past? Especially after learning that I'm 2 cm dilated and 80% effaced at my 36 week appointment? Man, I just don't know. I think I'm gonna go cruise the internet for labor inducing pressure points and put Tim to work now. Baby. Come. Out.

Getting this show on the road, folks.

We had our 36 week appointment yesterday where we got to see the little squirt in all his chunky, hairy glory! This is the second u/s where they've commented on the hair on his head, so I'm thinking he might actually escape the bald baby fate that I thought his daddy and I were going to bestow on him. He's also chunked up a lot since the last time we saw him and he weighs in at a whopping 6 lbs, 4 oz. He's now bigger than our dog, as wild as that sounds.

Fast forward thirty minutes or so: GBS test & getting checked. The strep test wasn't nearly as bad as I'd envisioned. It was quick and painless - and really not even that embarrassing. Then she strapped on those latex gloves and I braced myself for the inevitable - to be told that I was making no progress. As my hubby says, I'm a total pessimist. But alas, I've made progress! After having someone elbow deep in my crotch and trying with all my might not to scream out in pain as she "had to go around baby's head to get to the cervix because the baby is so low," she declares, quite shocked I might add, that baby is very low, I'm 2 cm dilated and 80% effaced. So this means there's no way this baby is holding out another five weeks on me, right? Ha, wrong. I had to open my big mouth and ask that question. Her response?

"Well, I can't really guarantee anything. He could still technically be late."

Bah. Whatever. She said a lot of other stuff that lends me to believe he's much more likely to be on time since my body is doing what it's supposed to, but she also said that this means that should we have to induce because I'm late, it'll be a quick and easy induction as I'm already dilated. Should we have to induce because I'm late?! Ugh. So I've decided to be a better pregnant gal, like my pal Jenna, and actually do things to help along my big fat pregnant self. I'll leave out all the gory details, but let's hope we can get this show on the road before 2008 is over.

Sadly I got a hair cut yesterday that turned out disastrously.  Despite my attempts to get a trim, I got ALL my hair whacked off.  Right before delivery and, therefore, a million pictures.  :(

exhausted.

We had another doctor's appointment today. Everything looks good - I was only measuring one week ahead this time (as opposed to the four or five weeks ahead that I normally measure), and the doctor thinks that means he could have dropped! If I could not be a 42 weeker, I would most definitely appreciate it. We also have a sono scheduled for next week to see how big this guy is. Oh, and a double plus - I only gained 1/2 pound since my last appointment two weeks ago! Maybe it'll start slowing down now?

The negative: because I couldn't skate away completely unscathed, the doctor announced that they'd be performing my group b strep test next week (although they were supposed to do it this week). Because I can't bring myself to form the words myself, I'll just go ahead and copy and paste a little diddy from babycenter.com explaining the procedure:

"Your practitioner will take swabs of cells from the lower end of your vagina and rectum (this won't be painful at all) and send them to a lab to be grown in a culture that will identify whether GBS bacteria is present. Your results should be available in two to three days, and your practitioner will give them to you at your next prenatal appointment."

Yep, you read it right, folks! As if pregnancy itself wasn't humiliating enough.

35 weeks is finally here!

I don't know why it's such a big milestone for me, but it is! I feel like we're getting super close and I get to hold our lil punkin' soon!

As for me, I'm bigger than ever and ready to have my normal body back! My mom has been kicking butt with her diet/exercise plan and is now down to a size 4 - my pre-preggo size. So I was sitting there the other day thinking, "Hmm, I should give mom some of the four or five HUGE bags of clothes I have that are all size 4." Then it hit me that my mom will be smaller than me for the first time in my life - and probably for awhile. It's great for her, but I don't know how to deal with it. I will be a size 4 again. I will be a size 4 again. I will be a size 4 again. :)

I'm off to shop for some CVS deals and some paint so I can finish PBJK's nursery (his new name, by the way).

For your viewing pleasure, my 35 week self portrait. Ignore the fact that I'm kicking it in sweats on this chilly winter day!

the afters

His bathroom is now fit for a baby

The glider's cleaned off and ready to be relaxed in

The dresser is ready to be peed on

The floor is cleared of his laundry...which is currently chilling in the washer/dryer

And though it doesn't really look like it, the closet is organized

Oh, and I even rearranged our kitchen drawers/cabinets today so there's a spot for his bottles and nipples.

Ahhh...nesting: complete. Well, minus the fact that we still have a big open wall waiting for some pictures/frames and another big open wall that needs a bookshelf, but that's what Christmas money from the grandparents is for.

Nesting Part II

Nipples boiled in water and dried?

Check.

Bottles cleaned?

Check.

Feeling nestariffic again today?

Check.

I decided I had to get his clothes rewashed and his bottles all ready to go. Not to mention all the clutter in his nursery from his shower that still needs to be put away. So that's what's cooking on my schedule on this lovely Tuesday. For my own personal motivation, here are the embarrassing before pictures of the current state his nursery is in. After pics to come!

Baby party extravaganza!

Our tailgatin' baby party was a success! I stayed up WAY too late all weekend and woke up way too early and I'm feeling quite craptastic today, but it was well worth it! Friends drove in from out of town, I got to see my girlie, Robin, and we got lots of cute baby presents!

Makelle and I had too much fun decorating the cupcakes, and our perfectionist ways proved interesting as we tried to do the set-up, but it all came together! My friend who was being induced at 7:30 the next morning even showed up! And I'm happy to say that she had her little baby girl at 7:29 last night!

The drinkers of the bunch stayed up late and karaoke'd.  I crashed because this lil pregnant gal can't hack late nights anymore.

I'll post a few pics & a video of our "baby beer bottle game."

Another symptom of being short.

These days, I'm really wishing I was a solid 5'11". Don't get me wrong, being short has its (few) advantages, but NONE when it comes to pregnancy. Not only do tall girls carry their weight better all their lives, they carry their weight MUCH better during pregnancy.

Because I'm apparently a total loser, I spent a little time google imaging the phrase "33 weeks pregnant" to see how my MASSIVE belly stacks up. Just check this out! I blame it entirely on my height, but it could just be the chocolate cravings I've had lately.

Here's ME at 33 weeks:

(huge, right?)

Okay, now here are some freaks of nature at 33 weeks pregnant:

Could it be worse? Sure, but this chick is pregnant with twins AND 36 weeks. I'm almost as big as her!

I want pumpkin pie!

How cute is this little thang?

Her name's Olive, and she's just a little PEACH! We spent the evening with her and this other little cutie furball:

And I got food shoved down my throat. What is it about being pregnant that make people feel the need to feed you constantly?

"Here, you need to eat this."

"No thanks, not really hungry."

Ten minutes later...

"Hey, try this."

"Oh I'm good, thanks."

Five minutes later...

"You've GOTTA eat this! Aren't you hungry?"

"Actually I'm okay, but thanks."

Five minutes later I was tricked into trying the "to-die-for" soup that really actually was to-die-for. And once I got started, it was WATCH OUT all the way! I couldn't stop. Green been dumpling soup, some amazing raspberry cake thing, pumpkin cake with cream cheese frosting, pulled pork sandwich, baked potato dip and spinach artichoke cucumber dip. 

Thank you, pregnancy.  I will end this thing 500 lbs heavier than I began.

On the pregnancy.

We had our 29 week appt yesterday that was pretty much uneventful. I'm up 19 pounds. Whatever. I'll lose it. I'm measuring 34 - YES, THIRTY-FOUR- weeks! Eek. No wonder I get those, "Wow, you're about to pop any day!" comments from people ALL THE TIME.  They're doing an u/s in two weeks just to make sure that our lil man isn't actually a VERY LARGE man.

My right rib hurts anytime I sit down.  Then there's the acid reflux that's threatening to burn a hole in my esophagus. And then there's the whole fatigue thing. Apparently I have low iron, so maybe that'll get a little better once my new iron pills kick in. But sheesh - I now take a vitamin, a folic acid, a Zantac and an iron pill each day. I thought pregnant women were supposed to reduce the amount of medicine they take? I take four times more than I was before! I can count my blessings though because unlike many pregnant women I talk to, I can actually breathe! I guess I'm carrying him low enough that he really doesn't have much of an impact on my diaphragm. I just threw my hands up in celebration of that well-deserved fact. And my feet haven't gotten swollen at all yet. And no stretch marks. And no linea nigra, although I do have a very hairy stomach these days (but no worries - the doc said yesterday that it'll all go bye-bye once baby comes). Oh, and no pregnancy mask (What's that, you ask?)

So I guess maybe all the whining I do on a daily basis isn't necessary. Though this pregnancy hasn't been extremely comfortable at all times, I've also gotten lucky on several counts.

Back from Colorado and bigger than EVA!

Our baby moon in Colorado was a blast. It was really tough to come home and we've already planned our move to Vail. Though the houses were a bit out of our price range ($440,000 for a literal shack), we figure we'll pitch a tent and enjoy the beauty of the mountains every morning. 

Some other pictures of our trip (and my new hair!) follow:

(He's SUCH a cheeser!)

(We found SNOW!)

And for your amusement, my 30 week belly!