Gwen turns 1!

One year later....

It's a GIRL!

Well, most of you already know this...

Gwendalyn Gail was born on May 20th at 4:50PM.  She weighted in at 7 lb and 3 oz, measuring at 19* inches. (*they measured wrong at the hospital, she was actually 20 inches)

Finding time to blog is difficult, but we are settling into a routine and I'm hoping to pick up my blogging hobby again soon. I promise to write her birth story soon! 

40+ weeks...

Mommy at 40 weeks

Just waiting...

Had a Dr. appt today.  He stripped my cervix - fun - to see if that might get things going. Otherwise, I'm dialated to 2 cent. I will have another appointment next Monday if needed, and induction will be next Wednesday night.  I would go to the hospital Wed evening and stay overnight to see how it goes. I don't feel like that will be necessary.  I can't imagine still being pregnant in a week! Yikes!

Maternity leave has been a little boring, but mostly because I'm just waiting, and waiting, and waiting.

I did buy a new car today. That was fun.  I got a 2003 Ford Escape XLT. It's blue - love it! Fully loaded, so I'm very happy.

So, until something happens....tick tock tick tock.

my new ride

Maternity Leave with no baby...yet.

Maternity leave has begun. Friday was my first day off.  It just felt like a regular day off.  Today feels different. 

The weekend was pretty mellow. I didn't do a whole lot.  Saturday I started a puzzle, finished in on Sunday. Ran an errand on Saturday - Walmart - ick. But I did find a nice camera bag for our new camcorder at a great price.  Sunday my greatest adventure was grocery shopping.  I made peel and eat shrimp with homemade oven fries and garlic bread. 

This baby is very comfy in his/her home.  I have another Dr. appt tomorrow.  I thought it would have been today, but my Doc was booked all day.  So, tomorrow we'll discuss a "plan".  I'm not sure how over he'll have me go.  What I really like about Dr. M is his more natural approach to the process.  He won't induce unless he thinks it's necessary for baby or me. I'm fine with that. I feel pretty comfortable still.  Sleeping is a challenge, but I imagine the constant waking up to pee is just preparing me for the constant waking to feed. :)

Home Stretch

Well, here we are...in the final days. Due date is 5 days away. I can't believe it's almost time! I can barely remember being 20 weeks pregnant and it seems to long ago! This 9+ months has been very long, short, rewarding, amazing, educational, exciting, and many other feelings I just can't seem to wrap my head around.

I don't feel like I'm having a baby any time soon. I know things are happening, but it just feels so "status quo" right now.

I'm a little over 1 cent dialated. I've had plenty of practice contractions (Braxton Hicks) some more unpleasant than others, but nothing too serious.

So, we wait. We wait for little baby Anderson to make his/her debut.

tick tock tick tock.....

Nursery and Nesting

We finally have a "nursery".  It's a little make shift, but it will do until we move into the new house this summer. The daunting task of packing my craft room was finally managed this past weekend thanks to the nesting instinct finally kicking in. It actually kicked in on Thursday while at work. I cleaned out my entire desk and started organizing for my temporary replacement. It carried over once I got home.  I also had a bit of a panic attack Thursday night/ Friday morning. I realized I had a lot to do before baby arrives. I took most of Friday as a personal day and got lot's done.

We did quite a bit of shopping on Saturday at Babies R Us.  Jeff was just as overwhelmed by the store as I was when I did the initial registry.  We purchased a few "necessities".  We bought some bottles, drying rack and bottle brush. Mirror for the car to see what kiddlet is up to in his/her car seat. Window shades to block the sun in the car. Changing table pad and cover, and the swing.  I set up the swing on Sunday night after returning from another shopping trip to Target (where I got more stuff). Then I worked on the baby's room some more. By the end of the night, I had the pack n play set up where the crib will go, diapers out of the package and in the special place for diapers, clothes washed and hung in the closet, stuffed animals and blankets out, and our new(old) glider chair in it's place. I even put up some monkey decals on the wall above where the crib will be to give the room a decorated look. After all my hard work was done, I sat in the glider and stared at the room. Eventually Jeff came in and sat down and did the same thing. He finally says "I can't believe a baby Anderson will be in the room in just a few weeks." Yep - my thoughts exactly.

I will try to post some pictures this week. Oh, and Frankie loves the baby's room. We think she might think it's her room. She waits for us to open the door when we get home for the day, then she just pokes around to make sure everything is in it's place, then lays down on the floor in the sun. She loves it. She does not like the stroller and swing, but we'll work on that.

Week 36

What a great weekend!

Baby shower yesterday. Had a fantastic time. Not sure what to do with all this stuff, but feeling very blessed to have so many wonderful family and friends to share the excitement with and am very thankful for all the gifts! (pics later this week)

Then today was date day with hubby. We enjoyed an awesome Twins game at new Target Field (ok, so they didn't win...)

Jeff caught a foul ball. That was definetly the highlight. We had really good seats and tons of fun!

We even took my bump update picture at the ballpark!

Me and my bump at 36 weeks

Mommy and Daddy

View from our seats

Daddy's gift for baby!

A tea party for Baby Anderson and Mommy (and Daddy too)

My office held a baby shower for Jeff and I yesterday.  It was a fabulous tea party! (Crystal was at it once again!) When I first walked into the room, I was completely overwhelmed and I started to cry. I had to excuse myself to the bathroom to compose myself.  Then I almost started crying again when Jeff arrived.  It was such a beautiful shower.  The food was excellent and the cake....OMG!!!! It was SO GOOD! (It was a Patticake from YUM bakery in St. Louis Park).

18 people were present at my party.  That includes my boss' wife Bev who came in just for the occasion. She had lot's of good advise, and her and Bill were very entertaining. :)

We opened lot's of amazing gifts, including an adorable handmade blanket covered with monkeys and a small handmade blankie with lot's of fun ribbons sewn to the edges for baby to discover.  Handmade gifts really touch my heart. It was so nice that these ladies put themselves into gifts for our little one.

I had a great time at the party and it was very hard to go back to my desk when it was done and work for the rest of the day. (but I did...I was swamped!)

Here are some pics from the party:

A Tea Party for Baby Anderson

"The Kelli Belly"

I love that title! :)

Here is a link to more photo's from my belly session a few weeks ago...

Tina Vega Photography

34 weeks

I still feel pretty good. Here's what I hear a lot:

"Are you ready to be done?"

No. I am still fairly comfortable. I haven't gained a ton of weight. I'm rarely swollen. And I'm just not ready to be a mommy quite yet.

"You're pretty small for xx weeks/months"

Bless those who say this to me! I feel like strangers look at me differently now than even a few weeks ago.  I feel like I'm getting the "oh, that poor lady" instead of "oh, look at that cute pregnant lady". I know it's in my head, but still....

"Are you getting excited?"

Really? Why do people ask this? I just want to say, "nope. decided to give the dumpling away. mommyhood...ick." Of course I'm excited!

"Looking forward to that first cocktail?"

YES! I miss the taste of beer fiercly.  Especially Dos Equies. Fajita's just haven't been the same without Dos Equies.

So enough about that.

Other updates:

Still waiting to hear about the hosue. Should be any day now. I'm more anxious about that than having this baby. I think it's because I KNOW I'm having a baby, but I don't KNOW where I'll be living. Makes me a little nutty.

Allergies - HOLY CRAP! It started Saturday night with a sore throat. I feel like complete poo today. At my appointment yesterday (see Check Ups page) my doc said I can take Claritan.  It helps a little, but I still want to die. I hope this goes away really soon! My work shower is on Thursday, and I want to be able to enjoy it!

33 weeks

Still feeling great.  Having a little trouble sleeping, but still have energy. I'm getting very excited for all the changes coming up.  New Baby, new house, Summer off....FUN FUN FUN!!! I can't wait to meet our little one. 

He/She is very active, but running our of space.  I can't quite see appendages moving across my belly yest, but I can FEEL the pressure. 

 I think I know what a butt feels like now! HA!

Here's me and my bump at 33 weeks...

I also had my belly session yesterday with Tina Vega.  She is hosting the scrapbook retreat I am at this weekend and asked me a few weeks ago if I would be willing to "model" for her. I said "HECK YES!" She's amazing! We had a lot of fun and her style is exactly what I would look for in a photographer. I can't wait to see the pictures.  Here's a peak at my session:

You HAVE to check this out!

I just posted a SUPER long, but VERY fun post on my other blog.  You should check it out.

click here: Like Totally

Enjoy! :)

A Party! YIPPEE

I'm so excited! I got the invite for my work shower yesterday! Isn't it cute! A tea party just for me and baby!!!

Rough night

Sleeping has become very complicated lately.  I HATE sleeping on my left side, but that's what I gotta do. I HATE having to get up 2-3 times every night to pee. I HATE waking up at 6:00 for work. HA!

But...I LOVE that I'm going through all this for our little bundle.

Last night was a little more rough than usual.

I must have streched a muscle or something when I was getting ready for bed because I was in pain! It hurt very badly.  Jeff was perfect.  I went downstairs to tell him I didn't feel good and I was in a lot of pain.  He said to go back up and lay down and he would be right up.  So when he came upstairs, he asked me to explain the pain. Shooting, dull, comes and goes? etc. We agreed it was most likely a muscle or something over streched.  He gave me a tylenol and sat with me for a little while.  He then got Frankie to distract me with her adorableness. I eventually got sleepy enough that he could turn out the light and go back downstairs.  I slept until about 2:30 before my first pee was needed.  When I got up, Jeff must have been awake because he asked me how I was feeling and I actually felt better.  But...I didn't sleep well.  I was up two more times. 

I just really really want a decent nights sleep! I doubt I'll see that again for about 20 years, if ever. At least I'm realistic. :)

DID YOU SEE THAT?!

Last night we were sitting on the couch and I told Jeff to watch my belly.  He finally got to SEE baby moving.  It was pretty cool. Got to feel baby move again too.  I love those moments.

Dr. M

Today I would like to share with you a little bit about my doctor.  He's great! I am so happy he is our doctor.  Jeff and I both really like him.  His name is Dr. Moriarity (more-e-air-ity).  Took me forever to be able to say his name properly. 

When we were at the "mom-to-be" expo at St John's Hospital this past weekend, the nurse who gave us the tour went around and asked each of us who our doctor was.  When I said who my doctor was, she lit up and said "oh, Dr. Joe! He's wonderful!" Jeff and I prompltly agreed.  She made a few references to him during our tour.  That made me feel really good.  Now I know Dr. M is well known at our hospital and has a fantastic working relationship with the nursing staff. I also learned that he did his residency at St. Johns.  He definetly knows his way around that hospital.

All these things put my mind at ease and help me better prepare for our big day.

Stress reduction and relaxation is the name of the game from here on out people. Let's all play along! :)

PS. Here's a little more about Dr. M.  - http://www.healtheast.org/index.php/about-healtheast/search-for-doctor/provider-details/?DocID=22303

Mommy and Daddy's minds at ease

Today we got to tour the maternity care center at St Johns Hospital.  The easiest way to sum up how I felt walking out of the hospital...

ah....

It was awesome.  They just finished (on Friday) a year long remodel.  They did a GREAT job! The colors, rooms, everything was fabulous. 

Some of the highlights I really like:

• Large rooms with lot's of windows to let in the sunshine
• "Spa like" bathroom
• sleeper sofa for Daddy
• All new equipment including a new hightech monitor so I won't be hooked up to any cords and wires while walking around the maternity care center, etc.
• Two family pantry's on the ward - stocked with water, soda, juice, snacks. 
• Kitchenette provided with fridge, freezer, and microwave for family and friends to use while waiting for baby to arrive
• mini fridge in our room for snacks and drinks.
• Afternoon tea time  for Mommy with cookies and scones brought to our room.
• Oshi Bori (a form of integrative therapy - aromatherapy)

Having the opportunity to see the delivery rooms and ask questions has given us  a lot of peace. After we left we sat down outside to rest (for Jeff's poor knee) and talked about how everything had exceeded our expectations and how we're so happy we got to tour the maternity care center.

Mommy at 30 weeks

In all my belly glory!

Hiccups, Rippling Belly, and We Interupt this blog...

First, let's talk hiccups. Poor Baby gets them a few times a day.  Poor Mommy gets to "enjoy" endure them too. If you're not pregnant, haven't been, maybe never will be, or just plain forgot what it was like, let me try to explain what it feels like. Imagine a tiny bubble popping over and over in your belly.  Or...a little muscle spasm. It's sometimes annoying, but wonderful at the same time. Any movement by baby is fantastic.  Let's me know the little bugger is doing something in there.

Second, let's talk about the "rippling belly". I experienced this laugh riot last night.  I was laying in bed and Baby started kicking, as he/she usually does at bed time.  I wondered if I would be able to see the movements. So I lifted my shirt and stared at my belly.  Within moments I watched a ripple move from the right side of my belly to the left. I shrieked with laughter.  Baby must have thought this was fun or funny too. It happened a few more times.  My belly would either "ripple" or just raise up suddenly in one spot.  It made me think of Katy telling me about her watching Kiley moving about in her belly.  I didn't really grasp what she was talking about until now.  It was very cool!

And lastly, let's talk about interupting life to... pee. OH BOY. I can't believe how often I have to waddle to the bathroom in pain.  I feel like a little kid that's having so much fun outside, they wait until the last minute to go in to pee. Only I'm not outside playing.  I'm at my desk, making dinner, or SLEEPING. And where does it all come from? I drink a fair amount of liquids, but come on! And I know, I know...it's only going to get worse. Sheesh.

When impulse buying is a good thing

I waited too long! :(

I just went to the website to buy that awesome diaper bag I so desperately wanted and it was sold out. I should have know better! I'm so impulsive and the one time I decide to wait, it totally bites me in the arse. And they had FREE shipping too! dang it.