31 weeks and 4 days!

It has been a wonderful past 9 days!!! Noah and I left July 17 for Laguardia airport......we then spent a week driving through the Northeast and exploring! Some of the highlights were Newport, Cape Cod, Boston, NYC and my brother's beautiful wedding in New Jersey! In Newport, Rhode Island and Cape Cod, MA we spent time enjoying the cute towns, walking the beaches and checking out the mansions! :-) It was so great to be away.....but the temps were absolutely stifling!!! With weather in the 90s the entire time, we basically didn't stop sweating until we returned last night! In Boston we spent tons of time walking around exploring the city and Harvard, and had a fun lunch with friends. In NYC we had dinner with some college friends, lunch with a grad school friend, attended a Yankees game with all of my cousins, and got to visit the NBC studio thanks to some good friends where we saw the SNL studio and watched Jimmy Fallon's monologue rehearsal! What a blast! This past weekend we were in New Jersey...mostly Park Ridge and Washington Township.....my parent's hosted a wonderful rehearsal dinner and cocktail party at a steakhouse Friday night, and the wedding reception was at a beautiful place called the Seasons on Saturday night.....some of the best food and dancing I've seen in a while! :-) It was so great to have some time with my extended family who I just don't get to see too much being so far away! My brother and his bride were so excited and happy!!!

Despite the hot temps and busy week, baby girl did well! :-) I had an OB appointment today, and the MD assured me that she is measuring just right and her HR is in the 150s which is perfect! Her head is still down-with her spine to the left of my belly button and her feet to the right. I've gained almost 26 pounds.....wow, seems like a ton.....but again, MD reassured me that I'm still on track for the goal of 30-35! It's always so wonderful to get good news....especially as we approach the big arrival in the weeks ahead! The fatigue and uncomfortable part of pregnancy has definitely arrived.......but I'm sure will be well worth it!

As for the nursery.....I realize I've been slack about posting pics, but we have had quite the delay on finishing up the molding, doors and closet....so I wanted to wait until the completed project. The contractor notified me today that things should be in within a couple days and he should be installing the doors next week.....I sure hope so! As soon as I get things in a little better order there will definitely be some pics up!

For now, enjoy the following pics from vacation.....! :-)

Lots of pregnant co-workers!!!

This picture was taken today at our rehab summer barbecue!!! I can't believe how many of us are pregnant!!!! :-) So fun!!!! We are standing in order of our due dates.....starting with the girl next to the baby, we are due August 30-September 23....then the last girl is due in early January.

Nursery preparations underway!

What a fun and productive weekend!!! :-)

Mom and dad came up on Thursday evening and we essentially spent all day Friday and Saturday fixing up things for the nursery (although we are still awaiting for the doors, molding and closet shelves-ugh!). Mom and dad bought Noah and I a glider chair for nursing/rocking the baby....such a lovely gift, and something we'll have forever! It is super comfy and I can already picture myself in it during those late nights with the baby. Noah and dad spent time putting the crib together and they did a great job....it looks fantastic and I'm so pleased to have this job complete! Mom and I painted the nursery dresser a very cute Disney green color....I absolutely love how it came out, and I owe 99% of the credit to mom who spent hours on this tedious project to make it perfect! Dad put together our baby jogger stroller, and Noah and dad together put together the glider chair! Tons of work, but we had a great time too!

Saturday night we went out to Vic's and enjoyed some music and dinner...such a fun area of town! Wally and Lager had a blast together as usual....and were best buddies the entire time! Definitely got some cute pics of the two of them together.

Sunday was the baby shower that some of my friends from here hosted for me! It was absolutely perfect and the food delicious! I feel so fortunate to have such wonderful friends here in the Twin Cities! I received so many adorable, generous gifts.....baby girl Parker is sure to be spoiled! :-) It was so much fun to have mom there too...and she had a great time meeting all of the girls. I've posted a few pics today, but mom has many more that I plan to add in the week ahead....unfortunately my camera battery died! Noah and dad enjoyed a round of golf together during the shower....of course they both loved that!

Mom and dad left this morning, but fortunately I had taken the day off to relax and get caught up on things...it has been wonderful! Definitely getting progressively more tired as the belly gets larger! Baby girl is still sitting very low in my belly....but still kicking a ton and growing!

Tomorrow it is back to work...however, only for a few days, as we are leaving for NYC on Saturday afternoon.....almost wedding time for my big bro! :-) I can't wait to be on vacation!

Almost 29 weeks down!

Today I had another OB check-up appointment........everything is progressing perfect! I mentioned to the doctor that I had noticed more pressure in the lower belly and I feel that the baby is resting very low.....she felt around and informed me that baby girl is in the head down position. I couldn't believe it as this seems so early...however, she informed me that some babies settle in earlier to this position and get comfortable. Apparently there is no higher risk of premature delivery when the baby is in this position----definitely reassuring to hear!

I am measuring right at 29 weeks and have gained 20 lbs.......wow, sure seems like a lot! :-)

I had my rhogam shot today due to my blood being A-. OUCH......!!! This will protect baby in the case that she is born + and will protect further pregnancies from potential rejection if +. We don't know Noah's blood type, so this is just precaution in case he is +.

Heartbeat still sounds perfect per the MD and it is always such a relief to hear her little heart beating away! She is also moving around tons and tons!! Very active little girl!!

She is moving a ton and I'm starting to feel her kicking my ribs intermittently......that definitely feels odd! Her buttocks is right at my belly button level and can easily be felt. It seems so crazy to me that she is comfortable in that upside down position....but apparently that is how she likes it! The doctor told me she'll probably stay there until delivery!

Mom and dad are coming in town on Thursday evening for a few days! I can't wait to show them the nursery that is just about complete. We are awaiting the electrician Thursday and then the doors and molding will be put up sometime next week. We are planning to put the crib together this weekend and maybe paint the dresser for the room too. Should be a fun weekend!

My baby shower with Minnesota friends and mom is Sunday....so I'll post more pics after!