Collins Family Shower 10/4/09

Thanks to all of Mom's sisters for throwing a wonderful shower almost a month ago.  It was great to see everyone -- the family, family friends and the ole' Tommy Tech softball team.  Many great memories from 'holy cow you're having a baby' to the beautiful diaper cake and even Granny D misbehaving her typical self with her borrowed apron.  Thanks Kay for all the pics too:-)

39 week update

We're in the home stretch which could be days or weeks.  At yesterday's doctor's appointment, there was no progress.  Still a fingertip and 50% effaced.  The doctor kindly reminded me that a fingertip is the optimistic way of expressing my cervix is still closed 99% of the way.

Today marked the last day at LPK for maternity leave.  Can't believe it.  I'll either have 2 weeks of R&R pre-baby or we'll be ready to rock n' roll with the lil' one.  Just a matter of time.   Crazy and very exciting.

Thanks to all those for a great last day lunch.  Very yummy and the Graeter's was a perfect finale:-)

The countdown has begun.....

for baby Wright and baby Ives.  We had the 38 week check-up yesterday.  Still only dialated a fingertip, 50% effaced and the head is officially down and ready for delivery.  Just a waiting game at this point:-)  I'm feeling many Braxton-Hicks in the early AM and around 4p-6p each day.  Looking forward to the day they will be real and I can announce 'were off to have a baby today' ;-)  Baby Ives due date has also been pushed up a week, so the cousins might be born within days, hours, even minutes of each other.  We can't wait:-)

Also, we confirmed that next week is the official last week of work.  Such exciting craziness:-)

Dialated only a fingertip

37 week appointment -- great news, Baby Lo is officially full term.  The Strep B test came back negative and today's appointment confirmed that there is some minor dialation -- only a fingertip, though.  We will be lucky if next week, we are 1cm, but who knows......

Tonight, Hugh and I are trying to finish assembling the stroller, carseat, bouncy seat and swing.  Woot woot!!  We are almost ready:-)

Good News Sunday

Sunday was a GREAT day.  The Wright/Lococo family threw a great shower for Baby Lo.  It was a lot of fun.  We are so lucky to have such a kind, loving family and circle of friends.  Baby Lo has already been very spoiled, but we appreciate it:-)

Through the day, we had also been following many texts from the Wilke's.  The exciting news is that baby Emerson Ann Wilke was born.  We were able to visit the new family today. Emerson is beautiful and looks a lot like her mama:-)

To finish the day, we received an exciting call from the Kings announcing that Avery was going to be a big sister.  Woo hoo.  Three of the four Ives girls are prego at the same time.  Baby King is due to arrive early April which means that the three cousins will be within 6 months of each other.  YaY!!

Looking forward to another great week:-)

36 week check-up!!

Yesterday marked the 36 week check-up for baby Lo.  It was the first internal exam and also the time to do the Strep B test -- fun!!  Again, all vitals were great.  I dropped 2lbs for some reason.  Of course the nurse told us that you tend to lose a few pounds right before you give birth -- yikes, we still need a few weeks.  However, the internal exam showed that I had no dialation, only a softer cervix.  She anticipated we'll still have a few weeks.  Lo is around 6lbs and is anticipated to be a healthy 8lb baby if we go to full term.  She did think that he/she would be a longer baby (like his/her papa) because he/she is occupying the full length of my mid-section -- ribs to bottom of my belly.  Baby Lo is also quite active, as gaining a consistent read of the heartbeat was challenging.  He/she was constantly changing positions.  They are what I like to call 'jumping jacks' or 'snow angels'!!  From here on, we will be going to the doctor every week.  Next appointment is Wednesday (10/14) @ 3:40p with Dr. Beaven.  More to share!!

Who-Dey!!!

Baby Lo has brought some good luck to the Bengals this season.  What 3-1?  Oh yeah -- Who Dey!!  The last three games against the Browns, Steelers and Packers have all been too close for comfort, but hey we'll take the big 'W'.  Attached are a few pics from the Steelers game at home.  Check out the awesome Bengals stats from the first half -- yikes!!  The second half, I found myself jumping up and down (sorry Lo!) as we managed to win at the very end.  Not sure how, but we did!!  They could have put me into labor -- he, he, he!!  Hopefully, we'll continue on with a great season!!