Nesting in a Sea of Green and Yellow

Since my last post, much in Baby Clark Land has happened. We're now going for weekly OB appointments and I'm happy to report that my blood pressure, while a little high for me in a non-pregnant state, is back in the normal range. So no risk for gestational hypertension or preeclampsia to report. Baby Clark is growing well and officially "dropping" according to my doctor at today's appointment.

On January 18, we celebrated a baby shower with my girlfriends...what a great day! Thank you to all who came to celebrate our little one and to all of you distant friends who weren't able to make it but were thinking of us. We can't wait for you all to meet him/her!

Yesterday, I spent the whole day "nesting"--washing all the cute little gender neutral onesies, layettes, outfits, blankets and towels we've received as gifts over the past weeks. So, three very large loads of little clothes later, it is all washed and ready to wear. I can't believe how tiny those 0-3 month onesies are! I really hope this baby doesn't have an aversion to light green and yellow!

I'm beginning to pay for my inability to just sit and relax. By 8:00 last night, after a day of running (slowly) a few miles in the morning, going to church, grocery shopping, running around the house hauling laundry, and bending to fold and put it all away, my lower back was screaming! Completely exhausted, Brad had to help me off the floor. Thank goodness for heating pads! I guess maybe it's time for me to slow down a little!

I think my nesting wore off on Brad, too. I found him in the basement yesterday afternoon putting the final touches on restoring the bassinet we'll be using for Baby Clark. My Grandpa Schilling (my mom's dad) made it years ago for my brothers and me and now it has been passed on to the next generation. It just needed some minor repairs and now it's ready to use! I'm sure Grandpa Schilling will be watching from heaven as Baby C sleeps peacefully (I stress peacefully) in his/her comfy accommodations!

Here are some pics of my and Brad's weekend nesting projects...

40 Days and Counting

Today marks just 40 more days until our due date. How exciting! We had a little scare at my OB appointment on Friday...my blood pressure was slightly elevated (133/88). My doctor was concerned and wants me to check it at home. So, I've been checking it a couple of times a day and it has been in the normal range, which is reassuring. Still, I'm feeling a little worried and doing a lot of reading on gestational hypertension and preeclampsia. I'm sure I'm over analyzing this but it's strange how you can be cruising along, feeling great (probably better than 99% of 34-week pregnant women) and then you hit a small bump in the road. And then my mind reverts to all of the things on my to-do list at work, which probably stresses me out even more and doesn't help my blood pressure--a vicious cycle! So, I'm trying to revert to a zen-like, stress-free state for my and the baby's health. I wish I were into yoga!

On the lighter side, we celebrated yet another wonderful shower over the weekend. This time, with the Hodges'. Again, a very spoiled baby, with some incredibly generous gifts. And we played this great game--matching candy and candy bar names to pregnancy and baby related things. Questions like: love life before baby (answer: good n plenty); love life after baby (answer: zero); stomach after baby (answer: jelly belly). It was very cute and I had never played that game at a shower before. I also got lots of words of advice from all the moms. Thanks to all of you wonderful Hodges women out there who were able to be a part of this special day! We really are blessed with such loving family!

Everyone stay warm this week in the sub-zero weather...gotta love Michigan winters!

It's Raining, It's Pouring...

Showers, showers, showers...we have one blessed baby on our hands! This past weekend, Baby Clark and I were showered with love by my co-workers on Saturday and the Gavin's on Sunday. How fortunate we are to have such wonderful, generous people in our lives. We received an abundance of great gifts, got to enjoy great company, and of course eat some wonderful food! Thank you to all the ladies who were so thoughtful in showering us over the weekend! More showers to come...the Hodges' this weekend and my girlfriends the next weekend...we are so fortunate!

Our doctor's appointment was canceled on Monday. I showed up and was told that my doctor had to leave 10 minutes before I arrived to go deliver another little one. Of course, I completely understand, knowing that in just a short while, it will be OUR baby who is creating a scheduling nightmare for my doctor. So, we're rescheduled for Friday morning. The only bad thing is that Brad won't be able to go :( He hasn't missed any appointments up until now.

In other baby news: we have a mover on our hands (well, in my belly). The past week or so, as Baby Clark has continued to run out of room in my uterus, he/she has been creating "waves" of movement that are very much visible. At work, I'm starting to get comments from co-workers on the movement--they can see baby kicking/punching through my belly. It's cool and a little strange at the same time. I'm trying to get a good video of the movement to post on the blog. Maybe we'll have a short video for you all soon!

More to come later on updates from our next appointment. For now, here's some pics of all of Baby Clark's shower gifts. Our nursery floor is covered in generosity!


Stuart just loves to show off Baby C's gifts. This photo is from Saturday's work shower. Stuart especially likes all the little stuffed animals. We have a big task ahead of us training Stuart which toys are his and, more importantly, which toys are NOT his.



And here's a combo of Saturday and Sunday shower gifts. How blessed are we!