Christmas Craft & 36.5 Week Check-Up!!!

Connor getting ready to make his turkey headdress
Miss Turkey, a.k.a. Kristen

Jacob working intensely on his turkey headdress

Their finished product

Miss Emma modeling her headdress

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When I was younger, attending Thanksgiving at my Grandma's house, it seemed to be that there were years we spent time (after dinner was done and cleaned up) making some sort of craft that had to do with Thanksgiving or wintertime. While I am crafty-handicap and have to be guided every step of the way, I do enjoy doing them and the finished product. Well, those fond memories gave me an idea to come up with something for the grand kids to do at my parent's house this year. There were going to be 11 grand kids in attendance. I wanted something fun, simple (for my sake), and something easy to explain. So, the night before I spent time cutting out 99 turkey feathers, 11 turkey bodies, heads, beaks, and gobblers. Then I made a trip to Hobby Lobby where I found googly eyes that were eyes like you're used to seeing or ones with eyelashes to make girl turkeys. So, Thanksgiving Day came, we had dinner, cleaned up, then gathered all the kids together with a parent. It was fun to see the kids decorate and put together their turkeys. Some had their feathers pointing one way, some had their feathers rearranged another way. It was just fun. I don't know if they cared much or will remember it but, I thought it was fun and something to help them have a fun Thanksgiving.

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Tuesday I had a check-up with my Dr. He asked how I was feeling and then decided he should check to see if I was dilating yet. So, he checked and then said, "You're almost dilate to a zero! Congratulations!" Then he laughed. He said I am a steel trap and nothing was going to come out anytime soon, if ever! After discussing past pregnancies, labor, etc. he said he felt confident that my body was not made to fully dilate, if dilate much at all. It's a good thing I'm not a pioneer. So, he went ahead and scheduled my c-section with the hospital for December 17th! That's 16 days away, FYI! Aside from the fact that I'm made of steel (ha ha!), everything is great! My blood pressure is awesome, which I'm so grateful to hear. I've been SO SWOLLEN this pregnancy that I was worried. No need to worry though. I'm measuring ahead (no surprise), and the baby is doing great! So, now I just go see my Dr. weekly until the day of the c-section!

I'm excited and can't wait to meet this baby and find out what we're having. Most of you know I've felt 99.9% sure that this baby was a boy. Well, don't know what it is but, I just all of sudden feel I may be wrong. So, now I'm really anxious to know. However, there's a side of me that's scared for Dec.17th to come! I do not feel mentally prepared, less than I have felt with all of my other pregnancies. So, that scares me. I hope my body goes into 100% ready mode, or close to it, when the time gets here. Physically I am 200% ready to be delivering soon! I hurt SO MUCH! I'll spare too many details but, I waddle everywhere. To get up after sitting or laying down is very painful and takes me a minute of walking like a penguin to get going. If I have to bend over then I'm in big trouble! Connor asked me, "Mom, why do you always have me pick things up for you?" Or there's my favorite, "Mom!!! What happened to your tummy?!?!" My siatic nerve is pinching me like CRAZY! I have continuous heartburn. My tummy is measuring 4 inches larger than I was with Rylie. With all of this whining, complaining, and crying that goes on though.....I am so grateful and feel very blessed and lucky to be pregnant and to be carrying this baby as long as I have. I am loving all of the movement this baby has brought. This baby is VERY active, especially after 10pm. He/She kicks me so hard, especially in the ribs but, it's all proof and reassurance that this baby is alive and well! That is such a blessing!!!!

I'm nesting like MAD but, it has its downfalls. #1: I can't lift much anymore without it hurting and I can't reach up and grab much either. So, a lot of the organizing, etc. I'm doing has to wait until Mike is around. We're making progress though. I've got bottles out and sanitized. I've got the new dresser in and organized. We've got the car seat ready to go. I've got a list of everything needed to get done before the baby comes. A lot of it will be done this weekend. I mainly just need to finish washing the baby clothes and bedding, buy bottle nipples, diapers, etc. We also need to put the baby swing & cradle together, and then shift our bedroom around to make room for the cradle. Mike has been really helpful lately and has been supportive and understanding of me needing him for every little task. We also are planning to set up the Christmas tree and decorate this weekend. The kids are really excited and I'll be so happy to have the Christmas decorations out! I've got nearly all my shopping done so, I'm looking forward to the last few days or so to where I can sit back, enjoy this time, and prepare for the baby. I've even scheduled time with niece to get gel toes done on my 9 remaining toenails (ha, ha!) so that I at least have pretty feet!