The weekly report...

This morning, Justin and I made our weekly trek to the doctor's office.  Unfortunately, I still don't have anything too significant to report.  I think we are going to have to change Little buddy's nickname to Little stinkpot (that's the G-rated version) or something! :)  The doctor did say he would maybe give me a half of a finger-tip of dilation, but I really think he was just trying to be nice!  

Some good did come from the appointment,  however.  We got a little more definite timeline and plan of things to come.  Next Tuesday - assuming he hasn't come yet -  we have a whole slew of tests to go through (not really - two).  We have an ultrasound scheduled that will make sure Little buddy has enough amniotic fluid for his growing body.  They haven't measured him, but based on how I feel and how I (can't) breathe, we don't have to worry about him being too small!  They will also do a non-stress test for Little buddy.  They will attach a monitor to my belly and basically just monitor his heart for 20 or so minutes just to make sure he's doing alright.  If either of those two tests come back unfavorably, they will go ahead and send me to the hospital.  

If Little buddy makes us all wait until the last possible minute, the doctor said it would most likely be Thursday (Dec. 4th) or Friday (Dec. 5th) that they would get things going.  "Get things going", by the way, means having a vaginal suppository - can't tell you how exited I am for that! After that, it's just a waiting game.  Hopefully he doesn't make us wait too long!!  

Since we don't have any pictures of our beautiful baby boy to post yet, I'll show off our nursery. We are really happy with the way it turned out!  It is so comfortable and we really like being in it.  We can't wait to finally bring Little buddy home to it!   

We hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!  We'll be keeping you posted!!  

Today is "d" day...

Today is Little buddy's "official" due day (November 24), but I don't think he's coming anytime soon!  He is just way too warm and comfy in this womb of mine.  Justin and I are growing more and more anxious by the minute, but are definitely trying to enjoy these last few days as a couple, instead of a family of three!  

My 28th birthday came and went last Thursday without my extra-special birthday present (Little buddy coming a few days early), but Justin made sure I had a great day anyway!  He is such an amazing husband...I can't wait to see him be a dad!  He took me out to lunch, which is a special treat for me, and always makes my day!  And the gift he got for me was a huge surprise, and something I was VERY excited about!  This past September when we were in Arizona, we both had massages at a very nice spa at the resort next to the villas where we were staying.  This resort has the nicest, most comfortable robes I had ever put on my body in my entire life.  I think I kind of contemplated stuffing it in my bag before I left the spa, if I remember correctly - it was that amazing!  After our massages, both Justin and I talked about how great the massage was, but how amazing the robes were!  So, sometime between September and now, Justin contacted the spa and ordered a robe for me and the entire time I had no idea until I opened it last week!  I think the only time I have not had the thing on is in the shower and to go in public :)  

I also have to share one more quick birthday surprise that made me laugh a lot last week.  I received a Cookie Bouquet from my aunt, uncle, and cousins in Charleston.  First of all, the cookies were awesome, so I highly recommend a cookie bouquet if you ever want to send one...second, the bouquet was HILARIOUS :)  Here is a picture of it:

In case you can't read the top cookie, it says "Hope your birthday's a real BLAST".  The card attached said "...and by blast, we hope your water breaks!"  It made me laugh really hard.  Unfortunately, my water did not break :(  

I have one more picture I will share today...of my freaking cute nephew Jonah.  I figure one of these days when our baby actually decides he wants to enter this world, there won't be so much room to post pictures of Jonah, so I want to take advantage of all I can now :)  He is so darn cute (and getting so big!), and I have to say...I love the outfit!  

It's so nice and warm in here, mom!

I think Little buddy must be sensing the freezing cold weather, and is definitely in no big hurry to deal with it!  I went into today's appointment optimistically, even though I hadn't really been feeling any "different".  My doctor gave me a double dose of optimism when she told me about one of her patients who went in on Monday and was not dilated at all and was not thinned out at all, and had her baby the very next day!  I was like "Hallelujah - I might get this guy out in time after all!!"  And then the exam began...

We started out listening to the heartbeat.  Check.  Measuring my belly.  Check.  Now the fun part...the internal exam.  Still not dilated, still not effaced.  UGH!!!  Then, my doctor decided she wanted to do a quick ultrasound because she could not feel any pressure from the little dude's head.  She wanted to make sure he was head down and not breech.  I will not lie to you, at this point, a small part of me was like, "ooh...maybe he will be breech, and they will be like 'okay, he's breech, you're 39 1/2 weeks, let's just go ahead and do a c-section'".  We went in and had a quick scan, and our little guy is head down - just really high and one stubborn little fart. 

I am trying really hard not to get too discouraged.  For the most part, I am still relatively comfortable.  Justin and I have been having some trouble sleeping together (not that kind of "sleeping together", perverts!)  We just seem to have some trouble "running into each other" while we are sleeping.  I woke up twice the other night to Justin asking me to move - one time nicely, the other time not so much - he basically picked up my arm and tossed it to the other side of the bed :)  I have some back pain, but Justin has been awesome at giving me back rubs whenever I ask (and even when I don't!).  I am just so anxious to meet the little guy I can hardly take it!  It's also been hard because there are TWO people I know that have had due dates a week later than mine that have already had their babies.  

Hopefully we'll have some more exciting news for you soon...

I've been tagged!

One of my best friends Karrie (check out her blog here) has "blog tagged" me.  What is "blog tag", you ask?!?!  (I might actually be making that phrase up, but oh well!)  On her blog, Karrie was "tagged", and filled out a questionnaire, and when she was done, she "tagged" me, so now you all get to read my filled out questionnaire!  How fun!  :)  I am really excited about this, because it comes at the perfect time!  I was totally running out of things to write about...there are only so many weeks you can write about your stupid doctor telling you that your stupid baby isn't coming anytime soon!  Justin gets mad at me when I call Little buddy names, but maybe one day when he has a baby inside of him punching him continuously in the side,  he'll get it!  

So, here is my "8 Things Tag".  I think I will change some of the rules throughout, because I am not sure everything will apply perfectly to me.  It's just easier to make up my own rules than to actually have to use my brain, and I only have a few more days (or maybe weeks at this rate) to pull the "I am pregnant; I get to do whatever I want" card, so I am going to take advantage of it! 

8 Favorite Baby Products - The original topic for this one was 8 Favorite TV Programs, but Karrie changed it to her 8 Favorite Baby Products.  Since Little Buddy is not here yet, and I do not know what will end up being my 8 Favorite Baby Products, and TV Programs are definitely something Justin and I know a thing or two about, I will do a hybrid of the two and do my 4 Most Anticipated Baby Products/4 Favorite TV Programs.

1. Tiny Love Monkey Island Activity Mat - Although I am sure any activity mat would be fine, this just happened to be the one we registered for.  I love talking to Katie and listening to Jonah talk and talk and talk while he is playing on his activity mat.  I can't wait for that!
2. Baby Bjorn/Wraps - We registered for both a Baby Bjorn and a wrap.  I am sure we will use both, depending on the situation, and I am not sure which we will prefer, but I can't wait to try these out!
3. Dutailier Glider - This is the glider we have in the nursery, and it is sooooo unbelievably comfortable!  I can't wait to sit in it and nurse and read books to Little Buddy.  There are a lot of times now when I just sit in it and think about how our lives are about to change!
4. Any and all of the toys - I know we have so many more things that are essential to his survival (and mom and dad's sanity), but right now I am just looking forward to having the little guy here and playing with him, and seeing him smile (I know I have a few months for that, but that is what is getting me through these last few days of torture!)
5. Friday Night Lights - It is worth paying a little extra for DirecTV just for Friday Night Lights and Tim Riggins.  LOVE IT!!!
   
6. Lost - I can't wait for 2009!!  
   
7. 24 - Even though the last few seasons have sucked, I still have faith in Jack Bauer!  
   
8. The Office/30 Rock - Two of the only shows that I laugh out loud while watching.  Justin gets really mad when I don't laugh out loud.  I think he thinks there is something wrong with me???
   

8 Favorite Things To Do with Baby Myers - This is another one I think I am going to change the "rules"...I obviously will have to a little bit, because Baby Myers is not here :)  The original topic was 8 Favorite Restaurants (which is again something Justin and I know a little about since we practically eat out every meal), so again I will create a hybrid topic and do 4 Most Anticipated Things to Do with Baby Myers and 4 Favorite Restaurants

1. Watching Justin and him bond - just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes.
2. Taking him to his first sporting event - I don't know what this will be...a basketball game or baseball game, maybe??
3. Reading to him - We are planning on starting this as soon as he's here, and I can't wait for him to be here so we can sit together as a family and read together.
4. Getting peed on - okay, maybe I only want this to happen once, but I feel like it's just a rite of passage for new parents!  :)  
5. Bennihana - If only Bennihana liked my stomach...
6. The Precinct - A delicious steak restaurant in Cincinnati.  The filet melts in your mouth!!
7. Montgomery Inn - Another Cincinnati favorite - and to think, I  never ate ribs until I had Montgomery Inn.
8. Kickin' Chicken - This is one of our favorite places to go when we visit Katie and Ben in Charleston.  I CRAVE sandwiches from there...i actually wish I hadn't thought about it....

8 Things that have Happened Today - Since it's still relatively early (it's before lunch!), this one might be kind of hard to come up with 8 things, but I will give it a whirl.  If I can't think of 8 things I've done today, I'll throw some things in from this weekend.  

1. Ate Breakfast - a bowl of Raisin Nut Bran and a glass of OJ
2. Watched a deer in the backyard - I could do this all day.  I love it...if only they didn't eat the plants.
3. Talked to Katie on the phone - and listened to Jonah coo and talk (this is really why I call her!  Just kidding!)
4. Caught up with some old friends on Facebook - one of my new favorite things to do!
5. Went to the bathroom about 1,389 times.  
6. Wrote some Thank You notes  - I am almost done...YAY!!
7. Thought about all of the stuff we still need to do before Little buddy gets here
8. Freaked out about all the stuff we still need to do before Little buddy gets here

8 Things I look forward to

1. Welcoming our son into the world
2. Christmas - I love Christmas anyway, and this year with so many new babies in the family, it is going to be exponentially more awesome
3. My birthday - I will be 28 on Thursday (maybe I'll get an extra special birthday present this year?!?!) :)
4. Kristen (my sister-in-law) and Chris's wedding - sometime in March 2009!!!  
5. September 2009 - our first Burton family vacation with babies in tow.  Jonah will be 13 months, Little buddy will be 10 months!
6. January 31, 2009 - But, it's a surprise!!!  :)
7. Getting labor over with - I have really started to dread this
8. Being a mommy!

8 Things on my Wish List (material and not)

1. A healthy baby boy - I guess it would alright if they were wrong, and he ended up being a she!
2. A short, easy delivery - do these even exist?!?!  hey - it's a "wish" list right???
3. A new camera - our old one is nice...we've just had it for a long time, and it's time for an upgrade.
4. Money/Resources/Knowledge/Time/Etc to get everything fixed with our house that we want - I LOVE our house, but there are a few little things that need fixed, and a few bigger projects we want to do.  I hate having things lingering over our heads (particularly a healthy yard free of moles).  
5. I wish we were more involved in church - we have finally found a church we really love; we have been going there for a while, and I would like to find an area were we both can get involved.  
6. IU basketball's return to greatness, led by Coach Tom Crean - a decent football team would be nice, too!
7. The  US economy's return to greatness - what a great time for the economy to tank...just when we are increasing our family!!
8. A healthy baby boy - it can't hurt to wish twice, can it?

8 People to Tag - You all are lucky, because I do not know very many people with blog to tag, so I am just going to name a few.  Feel free to change the rules however you want...  : )

1. Katie N
2. Amanda W
3. Alison M
4. Krista F - I know you don't even have a blog, but this is a great opportunity to start one - and I've already given you a topic for your first post...how perfect! :)
5. Joselyn T - I know you just moved to the other side of the world, but Africa can wait :)

...and I'm done!  Whew, that was a long one!  My next doctor's appointment is Wednesday, so hopefully I will have some exciting news later on in the week!  

3 weeks and counting...

Still  no big news after the doctor's appointment today :(  Little buddy is doing great: good strong heartbeat, head is still down and low, and he is good and comfy right where he is!  My cervix might as well be sewn shut, however - not even a hint of an opening!  

Things for mom and dad are going alright, too.  I am getting increasingly uncomfortable.  Not a day goes by without Justin making fun of my "Darth Vader breathing".  I also have had to move my wedding ring to a necklace because my fingers got too fat last weekend.  I actually had to put my hand in the freezer for about 2 minutes in order to get my ring off!  It totally freaked me out, so I decided I didn't want to take any chances after that!  We finally started childbirth classes last night!  We learned some interesting things, and it was awesome watching Justin have to put on the pregnancy belly!  We found out that we are totally slacker parents-to-be, though.  Our due date is in three weeks - everyone else's was like the middle of January (one was even in March!!).  We have two more weeks of the class, so hopefully we'll make it through the rest - next week's is by far the most important, I think - pain management!! :)

We actually do have some semi-big baby news to share.  We have (finally) narrowed down our name choice!  We have at least a Final Four, and most likely a Final Two!  Unfortunately for you all, we aren't sharing :)  It has taken us a very stressful, head-spinning 37 weeks to even narrow our name search, so we don't want to be swayed by second-guessed looks on the faces of our family and friends if we were to share. :)  I will give you two small hints - one of the names is from our previous name post , and the other is a new name.  

And last but not least, because our little guy is not here to dote on yet, I am going to dote on my unbelievably adorable nephew, Jonah :)  He's growing up so fast - I can't wait for him and Little buddy to play together!  

Jonah rocked the vote - or at least made sure his mommy did! :)

Such a smiley, happy baby!

Jonah at the pumpkin patch

The cutest turtle in the world!