I had my 33 weeks appointment today. Miss Lily is measuring about 3.5 lbs (give or take a pound - ultrasounds aren't known for their accuracy) and both of us are very healthy. Healthy enough that my doctor is comfortable with me staying at 2-week appointments! I have a regular 2-weeks scheduled for 5/24 and 6/7, at which point I would start my weekly visits, but he may just have me come in on 6/21 if things are still going so well. That leaves only a week before my due date (6/27), and we are hoping that she will arrive by then. I feel comfortable with this arrangement! I am confident that I will feel the changes in my own body as they come up, and that the transition into labor and delivery will be smooth and natural. Todd and I are working very hard to make that happen.
It is starting to look more and more like I have a basketball stuck under my shirt!
A large part of this preparation began when we registered for a series of HypnoBirthing classes. We have had 2 of the 5 classes so far, and are absolutely loving them! I'm currently reading the book that goes with the classes, "Hypnobirthing: The Mongan Method." It goes through the chemistry of labor and delivery, and introduces the concept of Physiological Birth. This method allows mothers to work with their body's natural way giving birth for a positive and pain-reduced (if not pain-free) experience. We are currently learning how to intentionally enter a deep state of relaxation or self-hypnosis and to use this relaxation to create a smooth and natural transition for our baby to enter the world. If you want more information, you can visit their website here. I was very pleased to find out that their classes go much beyond "finding your happy place!"
As I have thought about how to decorate Lily's "nursery" (aka: corner of our room), I was inspired by a baby shower gift I received. I was given a small diaper hand-bag (the kind that fits a portable wipes package and a couple of diapers) made from a pattern Beatrix Potter characters! I had grown up with the stories of Beatrix Potter, and completely forgot about them as the years went by. I would love nothing more than to use those stories and characters as a sort of mini-theme for her room. I still want to use butterflies and flowers, but add this theme to it as well. Wish me luck, I'm not sure where I'll find any decorations to use! I did find a couple of books that can act as decor and reading materiel. The Complete Collections of both Beatrix Potter AND Winnie the Pooh! I can't wait to get them in the mail, and start reading them to our daughter :)
Over these next 7 weeks (give or take) we have a LOT to do. We have to figure out what else we need to purchase, decorate, put together, touch up, read, learn, and practice before Lily gets here. Fortunately I will not be working past the end of this month, which will give me some much needed time to rest and finish preparing. I can't wait to meet our little girl! So many babies are being born around us, which makes us even more excited for her to come.
