37 weeks...and a few days!

Unfortunately, our camera broke...what great timing! We tried to take the 37 week pic twice already. We will try and borrow a camera or something by the 38 week pic. But, I still wanted to write about 37 weeks. We only have 12 days left. I really can't believe it. Last night, I dreamt about him all night...playing with him, seeing his face...it was pretty cool. My Dr's appt on Friday was uneventful. She didn't check me at all-just listened to the heartbeat and off we were...pretty boring, right? As far as things left to accomplish before the big day, I believe all that is left is the knobs/hardware for the dresser. Brian put the dimmer in the nursery today and purchased a dimmer lamp for our room. This coming weekend, I am getting my spa pedicure (a baby shower gift:) and we will spend some special time together as it will be our last weekend as a family of three!!

Your Pregnancy: Week 37
Your baby is officially baked this week! That means you could literally give birth at any given moment. A terrifying, exciting and overwhelming concept, all rolled into one. Your partner is undoubtedly having the same emotional roller-coaster ride, so be sure to share your feelings and enjoy these last weeks (days?! hours?!) together.

Wondering what's up with your body, your baby and your life this week? Read on ...

What You're Thinking:
"I can't eat, I can't sleep, but I can do a great imitation of a beached whale. Seriously, are we almost done with this?"

Your Body
You made it! Your baby is considered full term at the end of this week. So kick your swollen feet up and swig back a glass of lemonade. All that hard work has finally paid off!

At your checkup this week, your doctor or midwife may do an internal exam to see how things are progressing. We're not gonna lie to you, an "internal" can hurt like hooey. But hey, it ain't labor! While she's in there, your practitioner will check three things: dilation (how open your cervix is), ripeness (how soft your cervix is) and effacement (how thin your cervix is). For baby to come on out, the cervix must be open to 10 centimeters, as soft as the skin on the inside of your mouth and 100 percent effaced.

It's normal to have some brownish spotting after an internal exam or a little wham-bam, but if you notice any bright red discharge or consistent spotting, call your doc or midwife immediately. Also, as your mucus plug preps to dislodge itself, you may also find an increase in gooey discharge "down there" these last few weeks. Just what you wanted to hear, right?

Your Baby
Huge news this week: You're carrying a full-term baby! If you were to go into labor today, all systems would be a go. Woohoo! Even though you can't wait for the little bambino to quite literally rear his head, keep in mind that your bun benefits from every day in the oven. Other ticker-tape-worthy developments:

Baby's growth slows down dramatically this week, which is great news for your birth canal. His bones are still soft and pliable and will solidify after he's born. More great news for your birth canal.

So if he's all cooked and ready to go, what the heck is he still doing in there?! He's busy practicing for "life on the outside," working on his breathing, sucking, sleeping, gazing and peeing abilities. The only thing he can't practice yet is his ability to scream at the top of his lungs when he's hungry—but he'll do plenty of that in a few weeks.

At this point babies vary in size, but the average length is between 19 and 20 inches and most babies weigh approximately 6 pounds. About the size of an average largemouth bass caught in Minnesota by your cousin Earl.

Your Life
If you can't stop Windexing everything in sight or you have a sudden desire to rearrange your linen closet again, then you're officially nesting. Nesting is the phenomena where exhausted and very pregnant women suddenly find the energy and the drive to clean like their life depends on it.

Though many women think "nesting" is a wives' tale, it's actually not the stuff of urban legend, and many women get the powerful urge to ready their home for the impending arrival in the final weeks of pregnancy. (Kind of makes you wish nature had the forethought to send that urge to your partner every now and then, doesn't it?)

Now's a good time to make sure your nursery is clean and ready for baby to spit and poop all over it. Spend some of that extra nesting energy stocking up on baby needs like diapers and wipes. You really don't need to be polishing the silver right now.

Even if you're feeling super-energetic, make sure to get enough rest. You'll need your strength for labor and beyond.

Our First NFL Game

Tayler and I got to go to the Colts/ Bengals game on Thursday night. He has always wanted to go to an NFL game but trying to buy Colts tickets is nearly impossible. But, this summer I was able to get a couple to a preseason game. It wasn't nearly as exciting as a regular season game but it was still a lot of fun. Of course we were in Lucas Oil Stadium and that was great. It is huge to say the least. Our seats were on about the forty five yard line on the top level. But we could see everything pretty clear.

Before we went to the game we went to Hard Rock Cafe- another place Tayler had never been. It's a fun atmosphere and we had some good pork sandwiches.

The Colts lost (no big surprise there in preseason) but we got to see Manning warm up (third picture down) which was pretty exciting considering his knee injury. Hopefully this won't be the last NFL game we go to but it was definitely a memorable first game. Go Lorenzen!

Oh, and notice Tayler in a COLTS jersey? He bought it a few years ago when they went to the Super Bowl. Don't be fooled- he is a die-hard Patriots fan but likes Joseph Addai. He was a good sport and wore #29 last night to humor me.

The DNC

I guess I get my conservative roots from my parents, mentors and friends. However, I have attempted to keep a somewhat open mind to the Democratic Party. In my lifetime there have only been two Democrat Presidents (Carter and Clinton). I think this speaks to the overall values of our nation. With this in mind we enter a new political season and the brink of history as Senator Obama accepts his party's nomination. I watched Hillary's speech last night and thought she walked the line pretty tight between supporting Obama and letting people know she is the better candidate. It was a speech meant to bring unity to a party that is harshly divided but in the end it just reminded Hillary supporters why they would rather have her as their candidate than Barack. As a Republican I would rather have seen Hillary win the nomination because I believe she would be able to handle the rigors of the presidency better than Barack. I just can't believe that a party (less likely a whole nation) would nominate someone with so little experience and history in politics. Twelve years ago he was attending a convention dreaming and was probably inspired to give it a swing and now he is months away from being the leader of the free world. It speaks well to the American Dream but is it best for the country?

For the rest of this go here

Mentors

The best mentoring relationships are the ones that happen naturally...

I was in high school when I started attending youth group at First Baptist Church in Franklin, TN. A new youth pastor was coming in the fall of 1990. I remember hearing him speak for the first time. It was during Sunday School and he talked about transforming our schools and looking for student leaders. He said if no one in this group would step up then he would go into our schools and find new people. We knew he threw down the gauntlet and we were ready to answer.

For the rest go here

Soccer Season begins!

This is the first year that Tayler is playing Soccer in the Fall. He always plays in the Spring but not Fall b/c of football. However, this year, we are letting him do both. Here are a few pics of today's game. It was VERY hot outside but they won 6-2 against Speedway.

36 weeks!

We are approaching the end here with only three weeks left...I am sure it will fly by. We are pretty much ready...only a few things left to do..put the car seat in, etc. At our appt today, we discussed the upcoming C-Section...that felt weird talking about the big day but it is still all so surreal. I guess after this week, I will post a picture each week.

How Big is the Baby at 36 Weeks Pregnant?
By 36 weeks pregnant your baby is now right about 6 pounds and is about 20.6 inches or more long! Your little one will soon enter the ranks of heavyweight champs as you continue pregnancy week by week and he approaches delivery!
Your Baby's Growth and Development


Your baby is still working on putting on weight during pregnancy week 36. While that may not seem very exciting, keep in mind this is his primary job from now until delivery. Round babies are healthy babies. This is probably the one time in your baby's life they can put on pounds with wild abandon. If you were to peak inside your womb, you'd probably see your baby giddy with glee.

Did you know that some researchers believe your baby actually releases a signal to trigger labor? There are actually several different theories. Some believe that when your baby's brain is completely mature it sends a signal to the fetal adrenal glands. These glands then start to secrete the hormone cortisol, which may alter the metabolism of estrogen and progesterone, resulting in labor.

Other researchers have postulated that the fetal lungs secrete signals indicating they are mature, as well as enzymes that result in the release of prostaglandins, which help the cervix ripen and help the uterus to contract. This is highly likely as the body does release prostaglandins around the time of birth.

Your Growth and Development
You are round and beautiful during pregnancy 36 weeks. Your uterus during pregnancy at 36 weeks is now more than 5 and a half inches from your navel. You may think you simply can't get any bigger by pregnancy at 36 weeks, but don't forget you still have four weeks of growing left! Some women may even have a little bit more!

The capacity of the uterus and abdomen to stretch during pregnancy is truly a remarkable phenomena. At no other time will the body transform at such a rapid rate than during pregnancy. Amazingly, while it takes nine months for the uterus to stretch to several times its normal size during pregnancy, by your six week checkup it will be back to its normal pre-pregnancy size already.

Changes in You
You are probably getting more and more anxious for delivery by 36 weeks pregnant. You probably still have a good 4 to 5 weeks to go however even at 36 weeks pregnant, particularly if this is your first pregnancy. Full term is defined as gestation between 37 and 41 weeks. That means your baby could come any time between then and that would be perfectly normal.

While some women hope and pray that their baby will come early by pregnancy week 36, the vast majority actually come a little later than we expect. Relatively few women actually deliver on their exact due date, though many do in the days just before or just after.

The level of amniotic fluid in your belly is relatively constant. Your baby will actually swallow a certain volume of amniotic fluid each day during pregnancy. Typically your baby will go on to excrete this fluid as urine. There is a balance between your baby swallowing the amniotic fluid and the baby excreting the fluid as urine that is maintained each and every day.

If this balance is not maintained the amount of fluid in your womb will increase or decrease significantly, causing a condition called polyhydramnios or oligohydramnios respectfully. These conditions are relatively rare though it may affect up to 8 percent of pregnancies. Abnormal amniotic fluid volume is more common in the third trimester than in the second though it can occur at any time. Your healthcare provider will be able to measure your baby's amniotic levels via ultrasound during your pregnancy if he suspects abnormal amniotic fluid volume. If you are feeling a bit clumsy lately, you aren't alone. When was the last time you saw your toes? One of the best things you can do for yourself in the last few weeks of pregnancy is go for a light swim. Swimming is wonderful during the last half of pregnancy, if for no other reason that it renders you practically weightless, which can relieve a lot of the pain and stiffness you might experience in the last half of pregnancy.

Remember however to stay away from the hot tub until after delivery. You can however enjoy a warm bath as well during the last half of pregnancy. Many women actually climb into the tub during the early phase of labor to help relieve some of their discomfort.

Whether this is your first pregnancy or last, take a few moments to savor the feeling of your baby moving about your belly. There simply is nothing quite like it, and in the grand scheme of things pregnancy is just nine short months of the long journey of life. Your newborn baby will eventually grow into a teenager and then an adult. Before you know it you will look back on these days of bloating, weight gain and fatigue with awe and longing!

Group Picture!

Here is the group picture from the Shower....as promised. This is not all of our staff of women but the ones who came. That is one thing I LOVE about our church, we have so many women staff...that is rare in churches. On another note, only three weeks left! Although, I feel like he could come anytime...but probably just b/c I feel so big! (could my face get any bigger?-lol)

Y'all are so Sweet!

I had an awesome baby shower tonight from people at my work! I am amazed that I have so many friends that want to bless us after only six months of working there. I am almost speechless at their generosity. Leaving tonight, I teared up thinking about how God had just shown us His love and faithfulness through these people.
The theme was rubber duckies (so cute), we had curry chicken salad, fruit salad, pasta salad, and homemade cheesecake (Janese, seriously, you ROCK!) I received all kinds of awesome gifts! Chase receieved his first quilt that came in its own keepsake box...so special. He also got lots of fun toys including the puppy that plays patty cake and simon says! I love playing with it! One friend got a piggy bank and each person went around and put change in it with a well wish for Baby Hume. I even got a pedicure for me and a starbucks gift card!! Really-what more does a girl need? When I got home, we had another shower as Tayler and Brian got to re-open all of the gifts. My camera died right before the group pic but I will post it when I have it emailed to me. Enjoy the pics....I am off to eat more cheesecake!

PS The title of the post is what I said repeatedly throughout the day and night..my co-workers like to repeat it in their best Southern voice.:)

Count with us!!

We have a Date, Now Let's Make a Date!

We found out yesterday that our scheduled C-Section will be September 12, 2008 around 1:30 p.m. In thinking about this as it is one month from today, I am wanting advice on what to do before Baby Hume arrives. Should Brian and I plan some dates? If so, what should we do? Should I hang out with my friends and do fun girl things? If so, what do you suggest? Let us know what you think and Let's make a date!

Help with name...

When we first found out that we were going to have a son we thought we had a name picked out. We were going to name him William Bradford after my dad. However, over time that name has been modified to William Chase. William after my dad and we let Tayler pick Chase. Well, sort of- we said he could help come up with names and he picked Chase and we liked it. Now, that we began filling our baby book I realize how many in our family name their firstborns with one of their names. I have been pushing to use Brian for awhile. I would like for my son to have the name Brian Chase Hume. It could also be Chase Todd because that's my middle name. But, we have been leaning towards William Chase for so long that Karin wants to stay with that one. I told her that while she's medicated after the birth and they ask for a name I'm saying "Brian Chase". So, give us your opinion (not that it matters because I'm going with Brian Chase;)). Karin says it will throw off all the monogrammed items- oh, well....

Random photos!

Because I am bored, I am posting some random photos! Some are of the nursery (Tay organized the changing table and book shelf), a few bibs from my sister, my work shower invitation, Baby Hume's snuggly, high chair, stroller, cupcakes (b/c I love them and think Funfetti rocks!), Tay's gift for baby, and last but not least a pic of a note pad that Rachel got me that speaks of baby brain! I know this to be true as it took me an entire two days to get it downstairs..lol I kept picking it up and leaving it along the way!

Baby book

Brian and Tayler filled out Baby Hume's baby book today...I captured a picture (though it is very dark). They were so cute filling out current events, family history, etc. Tayler was so glad they had a sibling page. I wish the pic would've turned out better but I wanted to chronicle this little piece of history either way. On another note, I got a ton done today and the nursery is finished!! I will post more pics of that soon.

My Sister's Website

Portrait of Tayler in fourth grade.













While my sister was here I was amazed by her artistic ability. I knew she was a good artist (and we have some of her art in our house) but it was a good reminder just how talented she is. Check out her work at www.lizhume.com You can have work commissioned, buy some of her art or maybe she'll paint a mural for you...check it out!

Nursery and Mural Part II

Here are a few more pics of the nursery-still not totally finished. However, the Mural is....Great Job, Liz! The mural is of the animals from the bedding, same colors, etc. I love how Baby Hume will get to look at the silly monkey each time he is changed. I am sure as he gets older, he will get a kick out of this! On another note, Christy came over and we put up all the gifts from the shower. We also categorized all clothes in the dresser and closet from 0-3, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12 months. Tayler and I spray painted the changing table on Friday-he did a great job. This is the changing table I used with him as well. There is still quite a list but we are well on our way. Five weeks to go!

PS The pink hangers are from previous children we have fostered. They were still good, so we are using them. However, some friends-Sandy and Mandi did get us some blue ones...they are in the mix.