Baby Are You Down, Down, Down, Down, Down?

John and I had our last biweekly doctor's appointment yesterday. Going forward, our appointments will be weekly which signifies how fast the big day is approaching. I am now 34 weeks along and the doctor confirmed that everything still looks great. She was surprised to see that the baby is already dropping - something that normally occurs between weeks 36-38. Is this a sign that this little one will be arriving early? We found out that if the baby doesn't arrive early, it will be here no more than 3 or 4 days past my actual due date. Due to my size and stature, and with how rapidly the baby grows from here on out, our doctor doesn't want it to get to the point where I would be unable to deliver through my pelvic area - thus requiring a c-section. In addition to this news, she also shared that I can receive an epidural once I start to feel uncomfortable - regardless of how far I am dilated. I absolutely love her and am so glad that we found her!

In addition to our biweekly appointments, John and I also completed our 4 week Childbirth Education class and a 2 1/2 hour breastfeeding class as well. Our Childbirth Education class focused on the labor and delivery process; pain management options; what to expect when we go home; and most importantly, relaxation techniques. We practiced a lot of different breathing methods and poses to help alleviate the pain during contractions. Overall, it was a very knowledgeable and insightful course and we feel more prepared as the day draws nearer.

Our breastfeeding class was excellent! I am so glad that we registered for this course because I feel much more confident in this area. We learned about the proper ways of breastfeeding, what signs to look for when the baby is hungry and just how often a baby eats - which is often! The lactation consultants that we've met thus far are so eager to help and it's such a comfort knowing that they're a phone call away. In fact, their numbers are already programmed into my cell phone!

Burch-Ladies Baby Shower Pics

Sorry for the delay in getting the rest of these pictures up. Enjoy!

Shelly Gift Opening

Auntie Dre's Gift to John

Mom-To-Be displaying a new Mobile

Aunt Becky with her eye on the prize

Grandma Burch (right) getting a "kick" out of the Shower Game

John & Charlie wondering what could be next

The Wonderful Lunch

The Adorable & Delicious Cupcakes

Baby Shower - "The Stuff You Didn't See"

Getting this video here was anyting but easy. After noticing it exceeded the sites upload limits, I was forced to go the youtube route. Then, I had difficulty with the settings of my username which further delayed this post. That being said, after all the time it took I'm sure you'll all find it was worth the wait.

Here's the video of the Shower game Andrea Burch came up with. Virgin eyes...please look away:

The Lovely Party-Favors:

We're currently in the process of trying to get some of the other photos that were taken on a couple different cameras. As soon as we get those we'll post them all right here.

Burch-Ladies Baby Shower

This past weekend, John and I were blessed to have our first baby shower. The shower was hosted by the Burch ladies and held at my mom and dad's house in West Bend. It turned out absolutely incredible and I can't even begin to thank the lovely hostesses for all their hard work in making it such a spectacular event. The day was filled with amazing food, wild and crazy shower games and the company of wonderful family and friends. I couldn't have asked for a better day and it's all thanks to the Burch girls for making it possible!

Stay tuned for "the stuff you didn't see" post with more pictures and a video of the unforgettable shower game Andrea came up with. We should have that uploaded tomorrow at the latest.

Bellin Clinic - My Second Home

Last week was rather interesting to say the least. I had my regular doctor's appointment on Monday and because I was 28 weeks along I needed to be tested for gestational diabetes. I got to drink that wonderful sugary drink and have my blood drawn prior to my normal appointment. While meeting with my doctor, the nurse delivered the results and my blood sugar level was much higher than where it was supposed to be. It turns out I wasn't supposed to drink that Coke right before I left for my appointment! Given that information, my doctor decided to have me drink the "magic potion" again rather than put me through a 3 hour lab which would normally be the next step.

So, Wednesday morning rolled around and I went back to the doctor's office to have my blood drawn again after having the glucose drink. I was in and out in about 15 minutes and was confident that I passed this test with flying colors. Wrong. I ended up being three "points" higher than where I needed to be - meaning I had to go back yet again for a 3 hour lab.

So this brings us to Friday. As I checked in, the woman that helped me asked, "Weren't you just here yesterday?". Yet again, I had to drink another glucose drink only this time it contained even more sugar. The nurse drew my blood prior to me having the drink and then every hour for the next three hours. I was not allowed to leave the premises or eat/drink anything which made for quite a long stay. Thank goodness for the televisions in the fitness center!

When all was said and done, I left the clinic with bandaids on both my arms due to all the blood that was drawn. When John got home from work I showed him my "battle wounds" and his response was, "It was a good thing you didn't get pulled over on your way home. The cop would have probably thought you were a heroin addict.". Ahh, my husband - always good for a laugh. I am happy to report though that my 3 hour lab came back completely normal so no gestational diabetes for me! Woohoo!

Happy 9-Year Anniversary, Love!

While we'll be posting plenty of info from our two most recent doctor's appointments tomorrow, I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish my beautiful bride a Happy 9-Year Anniversary. During our Freshman year at UW Eau-Claire, Shelly and I started dating today and since then every single day seems to get better than the last. Thinking back on all the wonderful memories we've made together and knowing how many we have yet to create brings so much joy to my heart. I feel so blessed to have her in my life and I truly am happier than I ever thought I could be.

Shelly, I love you so much and I can't wait to see how our love continues to grow!

Martha Stewart.....Without the Criminal Record

We would like to take this time to thank the talented Deb Weiland for painting this beautiful tree in our nursery. The inspiration came from a Pottery Barn Kids magazine and she was able to replicate the image and make it look even better! With her artistic tools, paint and projector in hand, she was able to add a very personal touch to the nursery. Her labor of love means so much to John and I - and of course, Baby Weiland. Thank you, Deb, for helping create such a warm and peaceful place for our child to come home to!

While John and I would like to have the nursery fully prepared prior to the baby arriving, we're finding that it's a lot easier said than done. Not knowing the sex of the baby definitely makes things a bit more tricky. Our plan is to decorate the room in a neutral tone and then finalize it with feminine (pink) or masculine (blue) touches once our little peanut arrives.

Stay tuned for results from our latest doctor's appointment!