Guess It's Time to Update...

Well, only a little bit has happened since the last post!... As most of you know, Mallory WAS an early bird, but absolutely would have no part of even waiting until March 6th...her scheduled birthday - most of you know why she was scheduled. Except, she ended up not being scheduled. She had other plans, and so my water broke the morning of February 27th when I got up to get ready for work. I was at the hospital by 6:30, and Mallory was born at 10:19 a.m. She weighed six pounds even, and was 18 inches long...what a tiny baby she was! She's still tiny, but it's important to report that at 10 days old, she had already gained up to six pounds, eight ounces and was then 19 inches long. I am going to stop by the pediatricians office this week to have her weighed and measured again. If she keeps up at the rate she has, she'll be over seven pounds! Joe and I realize how incredibly blessed we are by this beautiful gift from God. She is certainly the light of our life, and we absolutely enjoy every minute with her. Even the middle of the night feedings! She's changing so much, and so fast, so we cherish every minute. We are starting to get out of the house more...I've been a little crazy about taking her out. I guess because just before I had her, everyone I knew had been sick. I'm just so paranoid! I can't wait to starting getting out with her more, and for everyone to meet her! As you can imagine, I don't have time to post a whole lot, but sometime in the near future I will post more...I promise.

Early Bird...Maybe

Yesterday was my 36-week routine appointment, in which I met the last of the doctors in the practice I use. I must add that I was quite nervous about this one because I'm not fond of this particular doctor. Things started off well, with Joe and I receiving the news that I was progressing, and rather quickly. Now for the bad news...I was told I needed to go have an ultrasound because the doctor said she felt something, but not the head. She said maybe it was the head with Mallory's hand on top, or...it could be her heel. Great...just what I didn't want to hear. After worrying around 30 and 32 weeks that she was going to stay breech, I got the word from my doctor that it seemed like she had turned head down. So, as you can imagine, hearing that she now might be breech again hit me like a ton of bricks. So, Joe and I mosied on down to the ultrasound waiting room, and were taken back fairly quickly (a shock, since the last few ultrasounds I've had were 30 minutes to an hour past my appointment time...maybe the key is to just get "worked in"). I climbed up on the table, and within the first few seconds, it was confirmed that Mallory is breech. Again, very upsetting, since up until five seconds ago, I was still holding out hope that she was head down, and just had her hand on her head - earlier ultrasound pictures show that this is not uncommon for her.

I was sent back over to talk to my doctor, who I love, and we discussed the options...of which are:

1. Try an external version - the only problem here...this is my first pregnancy, and the success rate of a version in your first pregnancy is not very good. Not to mention how unbelievably uncomfortable they are for mommy and baby. OR...
2. Have a c-section. I decided right then and there that we weren't going with option number one.

I have my 37-week appointment next Wednesday, where I will have another ultrasound to check her position (no one get their hopes up...her position will likely not change), and visit with Dr. G. Assuming she is still breech (she will be) I'll have to schedule a c-section for the first week of March. All of this assuming I don't go into labor on my own, end up in labor and delivery, have a last minute ultrasound to check her position, find out she's still breech and then proceed with a c-section. The way I am progressing, I may just end up in labor on my own.

Here's to hoping Mallory and I make it to the first week of March!

Getting Closer!

Well, there's not too much to report. I had a 35 week visit with Dr. G. this week, because when I went for my 34 week appointment, I had quite a bit of swelling in my feet and ankles. They were mildly concerned since that can be a pre-requisite to high blood pressure. I was a little nervous at this point, noting that my both my mom and sister had pregnancy-induced hypertension. So, on Wednesday my bottom number was a little high, and I have orders to monitor my blood pressure at home. I have to take it everyday when I get home from work...great...just one more thing for me to remember to do! Last night it looked pretty good, though. I am also starting to dialate, which I understand from Dr. G. is completely normal at this point. I guess we'll see what comes out of next week's appointment.

Right now, Joe and I are ecstatic, and can't wait for Mallory's arrival. We have come so far in the last couple of weeks. Her cradle is ready and in our bedroom, her nursery is almost complete (we just have a few minor touches to add) and Joe has already, yes already, put her carseat in the car. Now, we just have to go have it inspected. That reminds me...I need to call the fire department to set up a time!

See below for some pictures of her nursery. Stay tuned for more details from next week's appointment. I can't believe we only have 28 more days to go!!!

...And here's one of my precious Bailey. He's so shaggy!

Why See Marley and Me?

Joe has been on my case lately because I never mention the dogs in any of my posts. He's right, I should talk about them more...they are our first "children", so everyone should get updates on them as well.

All I really have to say about what they've been up to lately...or should I say what Charlotte has been up to lately...will completely justify the title of this post.

Some time ago, Joe and I would walk in the door everyday from work, and Charlotte would have torn something up. One day she drug her blanket out into the middle of the den floor...not a big deal at all. The next day she had torn a parenting magazine into a million pieces all over the den and our bedroom...frustrating because we had to clean it up, but it's not like it was anything of value. Now for the kicker...the next day, it was a $246.69 reimbursement check from Mazer. GASP!!! Now, I must let you in on the whole story...

We had some boxes of leftover hardwood after we completed the new floor in our house. Joe took it back, but because it had been over 30 days, they just gave us a store credit. Well, as it turns out, I found the perfect wool rug for our bedroom at Mazer. This was going to be great...we would essentially be getting a wool rug for next to nothing! I was there on my lunch hour, so I asked the manager to hold it, and told him I would bring my husband back by 5:00 that afternoon to present the gift card they had given us. I wrote my name on a red SOLD tag, and watched him place it on the rug. At 4:45 that afternoon, Joe and I walked through the door at Mazer ready to walk out with our new rug. Not so...the manager...the one who put the SOLD tag on the rug, met me at the door and said he had just sold it out from under me to a lady about 15 minutes before. He said he was sorry, and that was it. I stewed all night long...I mean I was so mad that I didn't sleep that night (probably had a little something to do with the pregnancy hormones). So, I didn't let it lie, and I talked to that manager's boss the next day, and explained that since Mazer had ruined my chance to spend my credit on something I really wanted, I'd rather have a reimbursement check issued to me so that I could spend the money somewhere else if I chose. They were very cooperative, and agreed to cut us the check. Well, with it being almost Christmastime, it took a good two weeks to get the check in the mail. Not even thinking that something so ghastly would happen to it, Joe left it sitting on the kitchen counter for a few days until he had time to deposit it into our account. On day three of the check sitting on the counter, we walked into the house from work at 5:48 like we always do, only to discover that Charlotte had torn the check to shreds. At least the total amount and routing number were still salvagable. Joe taped what was left back together, and we headed to Mazer the next day to explain the situation. Imagine explaining that your dog ate a check. That's an excuse a seven-year-old tells their first grade teacher happened to their homework. But, the guy just laughed and agreed to issue us another check. Needless to say, we leave nothing...I mean NOTHING...of value on the kitchen counter anymore.

So...the moral of the story...we pretty much live with Marley. I have yet to see the movie, but I loved the book. I can't wait to get a chance to see the movie, and really compare our Charlotte to Marley.

Oh, and of course...Bailey is nothing but a sweet angel. He never does anything wrong and behaves perfectly all of the time. Thank goodness he doesn't let his sister influence him;).

I'm sure this is not quite the post Joe had in mind about our sweet and wonderful dogs, but I did what he asked and wrote about them. I thought it only fair to our readers to tell the most interesting story I could think of...enjoy!

32 Down, 8 To Go!

Well, it's been a while since I've posted, as usual. I had my 32-week appointment today with Dr. G. It was actually a great visit! I am having some Braxton-Hicks contractions, but Dr. G. said not to worry, everything looks great. Including our baby girl's position! A week and half ago, Mallory was in what is called a "frank" position. She was breech, with her legs straight up in front of her face...hence the reason we never got good shots of her during any of the three, yes THREE, 4D ultrasounds. Mallory has moved in some kind of way in the last week or so that has really taken my breath away, so I thought maybe she was turning. She has had the hiccups several times, and judging from where I felt them, I was hoping she had turned. She has! Yay! Dr. G. said that it wouldn't be too concerning if she hadn't, but they like to see them turn about now for fear the longer they wait, the less room they'll have, therefore they're likey to still be breech when they're born. Hopefully she'll stay where she is and not turn back around like a bad little girl.

Other things to report...Mallory's bedding should be ready on Friday, and I can't wait to get it. I can finally start putting her bed together! Once that's done, I'll finally feel like I'm getting somewhere. That's not to say we don't have A LOT left to do. We certainly will be working to get ready for her arrival, probably up to the time she gets here. That being said...are you ever REALLY ready?!? That's what I keep trying to tell myself. If everything little thing isn't in its place, it's going to be okay! I still have to wash and iron all of her clothes. I think I'll start that process sometime in February. Hopefully it won't take as long as I think it will...I hate ironing!

My wonderful husband has been so good to me...he's hardwooded and painted until he can hardly do anymore. Needless to say, I love him dearly and he's the best husband ever! He's pretty excited about Mallory, and is rushing the next seven and half weeks along. He's ready to hold his baby daughter in his arms. She's already wrapped around his fingers!

Hopefully I'll get better about posting in the next several weeks. I start seeing the doctor every two weeks now, and then every week starting at 36 weeks, so I should have quite a bit to report soon! Stay tuned...

Monday's Doctors Visit

Okay, so I promised this post would be up on Monday, but I've been terribly busy at work. I guess that's what implementing a new website will do for you. I'm pretty worn out, but luckily tomorrow is my Friday. Joe and I are heading to Nashville Friday morning for a quick weekend getaway before there are three! We have plans to eat really good food, see the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular and see the Opryland Christmas lights. We are staying in the hotel, and have an atrium room...I've never stayed in an atrium room before! Much love to my husband for planning this trip!

Now on to what everyone cares about...Mallory! Joe and I went for the routine check-up, I had my one-hour glucose test and the 4D ultrasound. I haven't heard from my doc about the glucose test, so I'm assuming the results were good. Thanks goodness. I didn't want to have to take the three-hour test. Everything with the routine check-up looked great...the baby bump is measuring right on schedule. She asked me if I was having contractions...my response..."if I am, I don't know it!" We determined that the sharp pain on my left side is just Mallory sitting in a spot that makes mommy uncomfortable. The ultrasound was a bit of a bust. We only got a few pictures...much to my dismay. I was told that the glucose can sometimes make them sleepy and lethargic. She definitely was. She would kick the ultrasound tech from time to time, but she would not move her hands and arms away from her face! So, we got what we could and we're scheduled to go back for another 4D on the 29th. Here's to hoping for a better turnout - I'll have to drink a little caffeine to get her moving before the ultrasound!

From the pictures we did get, I've heard from lots of people that she has my nose and mouth. I emailed my mom the pictures, and she held up my baby picture and said the nose and mouth are definitely mine. We'll have to wait three more months to know for sure! I personally think she has her daddy's deeper set eyes, and from the looks of it, sweet Mallory already has some hair! Just for kicks, I scanned the pictures and put them up. As you can tell, not much to see. There will be more to come on December 29th...hopefully:)!

Double-Digits

I have just realized that Joe and I are no longer counting down the days from triple-digits! We entered the double-digit realm today, and only have 99 days to go before we meet sweet Mallory Hope! I'm not sure why this is such a huge step for me, but it seems to be.

Joe and I will visit Dr. G on Monday the 15th, when I will have my one-hour glucose test (not too excited) and experience the 4D ultrasound. We are so excited about that. My mom found a picture frame for us last weekend...it will be perfect for one of the 4D shots. I'm just hoping baby Mallory cooperates, as she always has in the past, so we can get some great views of her. I can't wait to see her again!

A shout out to one of my best friends, Lauren, and her husband Malcolm. Lauren delivered Allie on Saturday, November 29th. She is a healthy and precious baby. I know Lauren and Malcolm are proud.

Be on the look out for the next post (it will probably include 4D pics of Mallory)!