Yes...still pregnant. 39 Weeks.

See?



Well, the time has come where we now receive regular messages from friends asking if I'm still pregnant. Joel gets an email at work every morning from his best friend Mike, checking to see if I'm still pregnant. He reasons that if Joel does not respond, he must not be at work, and then he will have his answer. Good thinking, Mike! :-) But, yes - still pregnant everyone! In fact, if you get email updates for this blog from us, you'll be among the very first to know if and when I'm NOT! We have set up an email to spread the news of Baby Corcoran's arrival so stay tuned - we'll keep you posted!

Anyhow, week 39 has just begun, but we figured we'd get this one on the record books just in case. Friday, I ran some errands, did some organizing at home, and then met Kelly (Joel's sister) for pedicures and frozen yogurt! It was a great way to kick back and relax while I fired off a long list of questions for the experienced mother-of-three. Thanks again Kelly for the pedicure, company, and solicited advice! :-) Today, we also had Kelly inspect our car seat installation. Now, we had planned to go to the fire department to have the car seat inspector check it out, but apparently he's really busy right now. So, while we may still make an appointment to visit the fire dept. guy, we thought we'd have the family expert check it out in case we don't make it over there in time. Kelly is known for being a major stickler for car seat security, so we knew she'd be a great person to evaluate our installation efforts! Some of you may be thinking we're a little nutty about all of this, but did you know that 9 out of 10 car seats are not installed properly? We were even pretty confident that we had done it correctly, but Kelly was quick to notice how loose the base was! A few extra tugs on the straps and a couple of adjustments later and we had a car seat with Aunt Kelly's seal of approval! Woo hoo!

Tonight, Joel and I took advantage of our 'childless' couple status and went to see a movie. Once again, keeping in mind that the next time we try to go see a movie, we'll probably need a babysitter! Any takers? ;-) Oh, and as for the movie - we saw Alice in Wonderland. Now, we knew this was a Tim Burton film so we probably should have known better than to think it would be all that good for the non-hallucinogen-taking population like ourselves. Oh well. It was still fun to go out for the night!

Here are a couple more belly shots. I'll do another post later this week with the regular stats - assuming we don't have much more exciting things to share by then! :-)

38 Weeks

Well, Preggasaurus (Rex) is officially on maternity leave. Time to get my knitting needles and sit in the rocking chair, right? Yeah...not so much. While I started the week like a chicken with my head cut off, I ended the week with a much calmer schedule. I have done some resting and made time for naps, but I definitely prefer to keep moving. Sitting and lying around both get very uncomfortable after a while, so I have enjoyed getting out of the house and staying busy. On Thursday, I enjoyed a nice leisurely lunch with Grandma Emilie (Joel's mom) and a stroll around the mall (thanks again Emilie - I had a great time!).

Here is the 38 week belly - kickin back in the glider with the fur-children. Jack (left) and Bridget (right) seem to be ready to greet the newest member of the pack, but we know it will be quite the adjustment that they are no longer going to be the center of our attention. We've been trying to prepare them as best we can and so far, we are hopeful that it will all pay off. We have some special play time all lined up at the Animal Den with Auntie Lisa to help wear them out, too. :-)



We celebrated Grandma Emilie's birthday at the start of week 38 with a 'surprise' party at Kelly & Joe's. Here we are ready to 'party'! :-)



The usual info:

How far along? 38 weeks. The equivalent of 266 days. TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-SIX DAAAAAAAAYYYYSSSS people.
Total weight gain/loss: Next question! (jk....nothing has changed)
Maternity clothes? Yes, but as previously stated, the selection that fits is dwindling.
Stretch marks? Ugh. The same ones just seem to get uglier. I was doing so well for all those months!
Sleep: Comes and goes. Some nights I sleep "like a baby"...other times I sleep like a real baby (meaning, I don't).
Best moment this week: My first day of maternity leave was Wednesday. I slept in, took a nap, and laid around the house all day. It was fantastic!
Movement: Yup. Hiccups, stretching, donkey kicks. You know, the usual.
Food cravings: Cheese. Although, I had some slices of raw zucchini dipped in ranch the other day and that sounds really good right now, too.
Gender: It's a boy. Or a girl.
Labor Signs: Nothing goin' on just yet.
Belly Button in or out? I'd say it was 'out' but it's stretched too much, so again.... we're still flat. I wonder what will become of the poor thing post pregnancy.
What I miss: Wine. Let's be honest. I miss wine.
What we am looking forward to: Being someone's Mom and Dad! We can't wait!
Weekly Wisdom: I think the unanimous words of the wise have been: "Rest & relax while we still have the chance." We're trying!
Milestones: Sadly, I had to officially retire my wedding and engagement rings to my jewelry dish this week - the fingers are finally getting a little swollen. But - 38 weeks of pregnancy with already tight fitting rings? Not too shabby I suppose. I do miss them though!
Current Projects: Stocking the freezer with make-ahead meals so that when we get to a point when it's just the two of us and the baby...we won't have to rely on take-out, drive-thru, or pizza as our only options for sustenance. :-)

37 Weeks - "Preggasaurus"

Sorry for the delay in updating! These last few weeks have been pretty busy! I'm winding down my days at work and getting ready to transition the long term sub with my class next week. Throw some report cards and parent conferences in there and it's been a bit crazy lately.

Here are the 37 week belly pics. A friend at work said she loved my little striped shirt today so I decided it might be a good day to take a picture. However....my first thought when I saw Joel's pictures was, "Oh, look...a preggasuarus!" :-) I guess that is what happens when you are 9 months pregnant and you wear a bright green shirt with horizontal stripes!




Here are the stats:

How far along? 37 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: I think we've tipped the scale at almost 40 pounds. BUT, when I asked how we are on growth, Dr. Olsson says "Perfect!" I like him. :-)
Maternity clothes? Yes. Barely. I admitted to Joel the other day that I'd go pant-less if I thought it might be socially acceptable. I'm definitely about to outgrow almost everything I have and I refuse to buy MORE at this point.
Stretch marks? Boo. Yes. Not many, but I have a few. Please go away.
Sleep: Thank God for the Sleep Number bed. I had it cranked up to a firmer number earlier in the week and was REALLY uncomfortable for a couple of nights. Once I adjusted it, I've been sleeping much better. I can't imagine what I'd do if I didn't have the luxury of adjusting it! (Thank you genius sales guy at Sleep Train Mattress Center for showing me the very convincing thermal imaging pamphlet about pressure points with pregnant women. I give you credit for my being a well rested mama-to-be. You're welcome for the commission.)
Best moment this week: Having a great dinner out with our friends Jayson and Rhianna last Friday. We know our 'nights out' are going to be rather limited for awhile, so we are cherishing the freedom in these final days!
Movement: All the time. We love to sit back and watch 'the show' going on with the belly! I've also finally noticed when the baby has the hiccups - I could never tell before, but now it is very clear. Poor kid!
Food cravings: Nothing specific. I like to eat, but let's be honest, I've always liked to eat, even pre-pregnancy!
Gender: Well, at the shower, I sided on Team Blue, but thanks to Auntie Brandi's wise suggestion, I also took some pictures on Team Pink so that our maybe-daughter won't feel left out. :-) Thanks Bran!
Labor Signs: I don't think so, but we're getting there. With a lot of activity, I do notice more tightening in the stomach and sometimes it only subsides when I lie down. We went for a walk last night that was probably a little bit more extensive than it needed to be - let's just say I was really glad to finally waddle back to our house and find a spot on the couch. :-(
Belly Button in or out? Flat. It's just flat.
What I miss: HA! How about not getting winded by rolling over in bed? Or perhaps being able to physically GET UP without performing Olympic level maneuvers? What do I miss.... HA!
What I am looking forward to: Meeting the little freeloader, I mean, bundle of joy! :-) We can't believe it's already March and while that does spark a bit of anxiety, we are so excited that we are going to actually MEET our baby so soon! We really can't believe it!
Weekly Wisdom: You might be 9 months pregnant when the staff meeting is held in your classroom and the whole group is wondering if your heater is broken because it's apparently freezing to everyone but you. I was toasty!
Milestones: We have a finished nursery, packed hospital bags, and we've reached our "delivery month"! Wow!
Current Projects: Preparing my class for my upcoming departure - it's hard to hand them over and walk away. I'm sure I will have plenty to occupy me soon, but for now, those are "my kids" and it's weird to think I won't really be around for them for the rest of the year. I know they'll be in great hands, but it's strange for a control-freak like myself. :-)

36 Weeks - Team Blue or Team Pink?

We had an exciting week or two in February with one last baby shower for friends and family in the Nor Cal area! My mom ("Nana Claudette") came down to host the shower with help from Grandma Emilie, Aunt Kelly, and "Aunties" Heather & Brandi. Nana Claudette and Heather went to town on the details and made the day extra special with some really fun little touches (like Heather's Team Blue/Team Pink name tags - so cute!). Kelly and Emilie provided some delicious desserts and my mom tested out a new recipe (parmesan artichoke strudel - YUM!) that was a big hit! Thank you to everyone for all of the time and energy you put into making it such a special day! I had a blast! Thank you also to all of the guests who drove from all around, especially the Bay Area family and friends - it was so wonderful to have you all there to share the day with.

As always, we were overwhelmed with all of the generosity and kindness bestowed upon us. We feel so blessed and lucky to have all of you in our lives and we are so grateful for your love and support as we prepare to welcome Baby Corcoran to the world! Thank you again!

34 Weeks - We have a Nursery!

We officially have a nursery! We've been working on the room for a while, but all of the pieces are finally coming together now. Joel has been a busy daddy-to-be, assembling the crib, stroller, bouncy seat, and (with Grandpa Ken and Grandma Emilie's help - thanks!) moving the two dressers upstairs. Combined with the nesting instinct kicking in on my end, we've made some serious progress!

Here is the 34 week picture and some other nursery snapshots. We ended up changing our plans for the bedding in the room and we are so glad that we did! The new bedding is still gender neutral but is a lot easier to coordinate with. When we saw it, we both thought it was pretty cool and we loved the fun polka dots. It matches so well with so many of the great gifts we've received so we are really happy we made the change.

Assembling the crib:

Jack, doing what he does best - supervising:

"Is this the right one, Jack?"

Almost there....

Ta-Da! Nice job Jack, er, Joel! :-)

34 week belly with crib and new bedding:



How far along? 34 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 30-32 pounds - hasn't changed really at all lately
Maternity clothes? Um yes, although some no longer fit. That was a depressing moment, let me tell you.
Stretch marks? As previously stated, my luck has run out - I have a couple. Oh well.
Sleep: Sleep has been a little rocky lately but I think that's more because of being sick than being pregnant.
Best moment this week: Spending some time relaxing with Joel and the dogs.
Movement: Still plenty of movement going on, although it's changed as the little one is running out of space for his or her little bounce house parties. No feet in the ribcage just yet, but I have definitely noticed that the baby likes to push out on the left side of my abdomen, while pushing off of my right hip bone. Thank you for that, dear.
Food cravings: Sweets if anything. I've curbed my salty food craving because I would prefer to not be confused with the Goodyear Blimp. But I don't have the will power to avoid sweets, too!
Gender: You tell us! Be sure to vote in the poll on the top right of the blog.
Labor Signs: No labor signs still, but we are planning to pack the hospital bag and have the car seat installed soon, just in case. One of the couples from our childbirth class just had their baby last weekend and that hit home that this whole pregnancy thing is coming to an end pretty soon. Yikes!
Belly Button in or out? Oh, belly button, wherefore art thou? Has anyone seen my belly button? Even if it was 'there' I doubt I'd be able to see it anyhow.
What I miss: Remembering what it feels like to not have 30 pounds strapped to my stomach (and everywhere else). I think I've reached the point where it's hard to imagine NOT being pregnant and wondering what it feels like to be 'back to normal'.
What I am looking forward to: Hmmm.... well we are definitely looking forward to bringing home the new addition to the family. Although, when people ask if I'm ready, I am hesitant to say yes because I know - without really knowing of course, that we won't ever really be ready for the chaos that lies ahead!
Weekly Wisdom: Well, after being sick these past two weeks, I can say that a humidifier makes a huge difference in recovering!
Milestones: Thanks to all of the wonderful gift cards we have received, we were able to buy our stroller and car seat system this week. Woohoo!
Current Projects: Decorating the nursery walls, packing the hospital bags, and continuing to organize the house!

33 Weeks and a Baby Shower!

We were so fortunate to have my best friend Mary offer to throw an LA baby shower for family and friends! It was so much fun to visit with everyone and Mary did an amazing job with all of the decorations and food! We all keep telling her that party-planning may be a calling of hers. :-) Thanks again to Mary, Ray, Corie, the Pearls, and the Magluyans, for all of your time and energy to make it such a fun day for us! We love you!

Now, the drive down to LA at Christmas had been pretty uncomfortable with this growing baby belly, so I knew we would have to fly for this particular trip. Luckily, that worked out just fine and we made it home in one piece! We packed a small carry on suitcase and nestled our two larger suitcases and checked them on the way down. Thanks to Southwest's fabulous 2 free checked bags per person policy, we were able to get home with all of the wonderful gifts we received, too! Of course, I unfortunately also brought home a lovely respiratory virus from my fellow passengers on that flight (Yeah, I'm talking to you, dude with the horrible cold/flu symptoms that opted to sit right next to me in the terminal...). Although it had me hacking, coughing, sniffling, and wheezing over the past two weeks, I suppose I can't complain too much since I have been surprisingly healthy throughout this pregnancy.

Since this is overdue, I'm going to skip the regular update in favor of some more great pictures from the shower! Since Joel wanted to visit with our friends, too, he ended up sticking around and taking pictures during the festivities. As always, he got some great ones! :-) Unfortunately, we have some camera shy guests so we didn't quite get pictures of everyone there. But thank you once again to everyone who was able to make it out to the shower and for everyone's incredible generosity! We are so blessed!

32 Weeks

Well, as a friend put it, we're in the single-digit week countdown now! How did that happen? It feels so far away, but when I look at a calendar, I admit to some sliiiiiiight moments of panic when I see just how few days are left before this little one is actually here! Pregnancy feels like it has lasted forever, but these last few months have really been passing quickly.

We're wrapping up our last week of our Bradley classes this week. It's been fun to meet and check in with other couples that are at the same stage of pregnancy as us. We've made some nice friends and have plans to meet up for a 'reunion class' sometime in May with all of our babies.

I know my last update probably sounded like I was over and done with this whole pregnancy. At the time, I was! :-) But, as it always seems with pregnancy, every day is different. I've been feeling more comfortable lately, so I'm back in the swing of things. Not that I'm saying I want this to last forever....but 8 more weeks, sure...why not? :-)



How far along? 32 weeks (going on 8 months - crazy!)
Total weight gain/loss: Hovering at 30 lbs.
Maternity clothes? Yup. Even had fun shopping for some more the other day. I had some gift cards - woohoo! - although if I ever have to step foot in that Destination Maternity store again, it will be too soon. Joel went with me and even he couldn't believe how much the sales associates hovered. It's like they are trying to suffocate you! But, I digress.
Stretch marks? Ok. Sadly, I think I found two little ones. Boo. Oh well. Maybe they will fade. It was nice while it lasted.
Sleep: Sleep has been fine - just not getting as much as I would like. I even heard today that Kaiser says it's fine to sleep on my back. WHAT?!?! File that under things I would have liked to have known a few months ago! Oh well...better late than never. I can't wait to sleep tonight!
Best moment this week: We're enjoying our last few weeks as a 'childless couple'. We went to a movie the other night and we're trying to relish our time 'just the two of us'. We can't wait to share the joy of having our baby and raising a family, but we know this time is special, too!
Movement: Plenty. Kaiser has a kick count card that I'm supposed to fill out every night. So far...10 kicks in 10 minutes every night. If this is any indication of what we are in for with this kid.... watch out!
Food cravings: Mmmmm Coldstone's. I'm having a chocolate fix lately, but as always, the 'kicks' pass and I move on to something else. :-)
Gender: I still think boy, but as I've said before, we really just want healthy and happy so either way, we're excited! We really are looking forward to the excitement in the delivery room so it's worth the wait!
Labor Signs: No, but we did get to visit the Labor and Delivery department tonight for the Late Pregnancy class and tour. Thankfully, we haven't had to go in for any early visits.
Belly Button in or out? What belly button??? Mine is MIA.
What I miss: Being able to put socks and shoes on the conventional way. So much for that.
What I am looking forward to: Starting to actually decorate the nursery. That is going to be really fun!
Weekly Wisdom: I just learned that I get to consume 500 more calories a day as a breastfeeding mom vs. 100-300 while pregnant. Sign me up!!! Haha....
Milestones: Wrapping up 10 weeks of our Bradley Method classes. We're really glad we took them and feel so well prepared to approach this process having learned what to expect and how to cope with all the possible scenarios that a birth has to offer.
Current Projects: We painted the nursery this weekend (I'm standing in it in the picture above) and picked up the dressers at the store. We should be ready to move the furniture in and start the real fun stuff in the next week when we have time! Yeah!!!