Weeks 36, 37 & 38

36 weeks

Two weeks ago, I became full term.  The past nine months have flown by quickly, and now..time is moving slower than a turtle.  Crazy right?  I have had such a wonderful pregnancy.  I loved everything about carrying my child.  Especially since he made it pretty easy for me.  However, once I became around eight and a half months, my pregnancy thrill went to..okay..time to come on out son.  The end of pregnancy is not as thrilling anymore.  My stomach started to slowly drop and it began to get in the way of everything.  If I stand on my feet too long, they slightly swell.  Also, when I walk, I feel my baby’s head deep down in my cervix.  Not a great feeling.

Last week at my doctor’s appointment, my doctor was able to feel my son’s head exactly where I had said I felt it.  He also stated that I have dilated a little over one centimeter.  Boy, was I ecstatic!  At that moment, I did not realize that some people dilate slowly.  It is now a week later, and I am at two centimeters.  Man, a centimeter a week, really?  Come on Kaelin!  I have heard stories of some people getting stuck below five centimeters for days even weeks, and others that increase quickly.  I have yet to start contracting.  Maybe once that does happen, everything will happen quickly.  Until then, I feel great!  Well that is only when I do not feel like a huge head is about to fall out of me.

38 weeks

Dearest One I wait for,

I am now three weeks away from my due date.  When it comes to waiting..I am starting to become restless.  I have an abundance of excitement that continues to grow as the time closes near.  I believe it is not only the excitement that is making mommy restless, but also because you have been showing signs that you may be on your way!  One sign is my mucus plug has slowly been coming out.  I wish that you could speak to mommy, or give me a sign that would tell me exactly when you are ready.  Until then, I will just have to stay ready for any and everything. 

I keep wondering about how you will actually look, what types of personality will you have, will you really be tall, and so much more?  I wonder about how it will be when we first meet, the first time we look into each others eyes, the first time I tell you your name, and will you know that I am your mommy?  As I have told you before, I believe you will be you father’s twin.  Every ultra sound photo that we have seen of you, you looked just like him.  A couple of weeks ago, we were able to see that you have chubby cheeks.  I also had chubby cheeks when I was born, so at least I know you have one feature of mines.  Well besides the height if you really do end up tall.  With all these thoughts, I just need you to hurry up and come son!

When I dream about you, I dream about so much.  How cute you will be, how smart you will be, the first time you crawl, bounce, walk, and much more.  Lately I have been having dreams about going into labor.  I wonder if that means anything?  Hmm..If it does, I am ready.  Your father and I took Lamaze classes for me to be ready for you when I do go into labor.  I learned different breathing techniques, and ways to relax.  Your father has been helping me to feel comfortable in whatever way possible.  Which is a reason why I love him.  Hopefully we can remember everything we learned when I do go into labor.  It will be interesting how everything occurs.  I have the hospital bags all ready and next to the door.   So all we need is for you to come.

Mommy cannot wait to meet you..So please hurry!  I love you Kaelin! 

A Day with Tatum

She loved playing with Kaelin's bed

Then she wanted to play with my birthing ball

She told me the Ipad is hers, not uncle G's..because he was not there

Isn't she cute?..ya I know!

"I can hear Kaelin!"

Uncle G said go to sleep, she said okay.  If it was only that easy for me.

Alaiyah's 2nd Birthday

It has been years since I have been to Chuck E Cheese other then to pick up a pizza for Gerald and I.  My how that place has changed since I was a kid.  Or maybe now that I am older it just seems different.  Saturday we celebrated Alaiyah's 2nd birthday at Chuck E Cheese!  She had a blast, just as long as Chuck E did not come close to her.  Alaiyah's (Lay lay) mom is one of my best friends.  Lay lay was the first baby out of our group, and now she will soon have a friend to play with.  The past two years went by so quick!  I remember when Lay lay was a couple months old, and she was fussy at TJ's birthday party.  I took her, and started showing her how to spit, and her cries soon turned into laughs.  Yes yes I know, teaching bad habits are not good, but at least it got her t stop crying.

Happy Birthday Lay Lay, Auntie Loves You!

To my unborn grandchild..Love Grandma Penny

Hello Kaelin.  This is Granma Penny, aka Nana.  I am very much looking forward to your arrival which I feel will be very soon.  I was a week early when I had your mother, and thus far, she has been carrying you the same way I carried her.  She has also gained the same amount of weight as I did with her; she has had no morning sickness as I had none with her; and she is basically in good shape, gaining only stomach weight as I did with her.  The other thing I noticed is she has her stretch marks in the same place I received mine.  So yes..I truly believe that she will deliver early as I did.

I am so excited for your mom and dad.  They are going to be excellent parents loving you unconditionally, with their whole hearts.  They loved you from the moment you were conceived.  As soon as your dad found out about you, he purchased a book on parenting so he and your mom could be the best parents they could be….and when they found out that you were a boy, they immediately begin to fill your closet with clothes.  You will always be considered as your parent’s baby….as a toddler, a pre-teen, a teenager and even adult.  Till this day,  I still refer to your mother  as my baby.  She commented once, that she wasn’t a baby..but I had to let her know that she would always be my baby, my little girl, my princess.

I know you are going to be an amazing, and talented child, inheriting your father and mother’s athletic skills.  When your mother was in my womb, there was never a dull moment.  It always felt as if she was turning flips or poking me in my side.  From what she tells me, and from what I saw, you are exactly the same.  Your mother recorded you moving one night.  It was amazing watching your movement.  When your mom poked at you, you would move again.

This has been a blessed year for me.  This is the year your mother and father got married, your uncle graduated from college, and your mother conceived.  I truly thank God for his many blessings, which includes your mom who has truly been a blessing to me, as you will be a blessing to her.

Sleep tight tonight and give your mom some rest.

I will see you soon.

Love always, Nana

To my unborn grandchild..Love Grandma Randi

My dearest Kaelin,     

                                                      

Ever since I heard the good news of you, I've been excitingly, anticipating your arrival.  God has truly blessed me with the desires of my heart, my offspring, a part of me, a little warrior.  The sun is now shining a little brighter and my heart has grown a little fonder knowing you'll be in my arms soon.  I can't wait to make you Mickey Mouse pancakes, bake you cookies and take you on a shopping spree.  Grandma is going to shower you with so much love, you'll have it all and we'll travel the world together when mommy and daddy allows you to.  There's nothing I won't do for my little bundle of joy. I love you Kaelin, see you soon.                            

Love, Grandma

Your Grandparents

One of the greatest things in life, is to have wonderful grandparents in your life, that will always be by your side.  I grew up with three of the best grandparents a girl could have.  I had two grandmothers, and one awesome grandfather!

My grandfather, is your great grandfather who passed in 2000.  I still miss him till this day.  There are times I feel like he is with me, and all the special moments I have had in my life since his passing, he was smiling down on me proud.  It was hard when I first lost him, for he was the only grandfather I had and I spent much time with him.  He would always buy me honey buns, which was and still is my favorite sweets to eat.  I never even had to ask for them, because he already knew how much I loved them.  When I would go see him, he would already have them ready, or we would go get some.  I was blessed to be able to have such an awesome grandfather, and lucky for you, you will have two grandfathers and not one!  Not only will you have two grandfathers, but two grandmothers as well.

Your grandparents have been so excited about you, since they first heard of your coming.  You should have seen them at the restaurant when they first heard the news.  Since then, they have helped your father and I with so much.  We are all blessed to have them!  The only person that doesn't know that you are a boy, is my father.  He wants to be surprised at the hospital.  He has no clue what you are, and it is crazy he has gone this long not wanting to know.  He will be so happy once he hears the news!  

The next two post are from your grandmothers.  They wanted to write you a letter, to let you know how they have been thinking about you, and how much they love you!

Your President

President Barack Obama is your President.  He was just reelected for a second term.  He and his family inspire many!  Before I was born, my grandparents were not allowed to do many things that white people could do, due to the color of their skin.  Never in a million years would they have thought that a black person would be president of the United States.  When President Obama was elected four years ago, he and his family made history.  They showed that anything is possible, which is why they inspire so many.  The president made history once again by being elected for a second term.  This will be your President for the first four years of your life, and I am sure you will read about him in your social studies and history classes once you start school.

Breast Cancer Walk

I did my first 5k breast cancer walk this past Sunday in San Diego, Ca with my mommy, and Ms. Kandi.  It was extremely touching to see the hundreds of people who were also in support walking and running.  I cannot wait until next year, when I can do this again, but running instead.  Kaelin will not be inside me, but in a stroller while I push.

I walked in celebration of being blessed to still have my mommy and auntie still alive with me today, and for all those that have lost loved ones due to breast cancer.  While I was walking, Kaelin would not be still.  It was not until the last mile uphill that I suddenly needed a restroom.  Thank God it was the last mile, and we made it through.  3.1 miles in one hour.  We did good!

Goodbye 35, Hello 36 weeks

I am now heading into my 36^th week, which means I am now nine months pregnant.. yippee! I am thrilled that I will soon be meeting my son.  Time cannot fly by fast enough.  It is crazy how I always grew up thinking pregnancy was nine months, but technically it is 10.  The only reason “ I think” it is 10, due to the two weeks that are automatically added at the start of pregnancy.  I am 36 weeks, but my fetus is 34 weeks.  Next week, I will be 37 weeks.  Anywhere from then on, it is safe to deliver without too many worries.  My doctor warned me, that by next week, I should be prepared for any and everything.  My due date is December 3^rd, but babies make there own decisions about when they are ready to come, especially if it is before the initial date.

I am now visiting my doctors weekly.  We had an ultra sound this past week to check my son’s size.  Once again he was caught in the act!  I can understand this happening once, but not again!  Who knows how many times he has actually played with himself down there!  The nurse stated (while laughing hysterically), “well just hope he gets it out his system before he is born!”  All I could do was laugh, for I know there will be many times I am going to be smacking this little boy’s hand away from his stuff while changing him. 

At this appointment I also received great news!  Kaelin is in the perfect position to be delivered.  He has been head down for months, but his head is now deeper down, and his legs are straight up.  Kaelin is so deep down that the nurse had to measure his head about five times to get an exact circumference measurement, for it was difficult to measure with it being that far down.  At this time, Kaelin weighs 5lb 4oz, and is measuring in the normal size range, but has long legs.  The nurse said more then likely Kaelin will be tall and slender. 

Now that I am this far along, I have begun to become uncomfortable.  I am back to peeing at least three times a night, and Kaelin loves to stay on my bladder, making me feel like a have a cup full of pee, when it is actually more like a drop.  Sometimes I leave the restroom like, REALLY?  Is this really what I ran here for?  Up until a month ago, I was walking at lest four miles, three times a week, now it is more like three miles.  As most have seen, I am all stomach.  I never knew my skin could stretch so much.  It has stretched so much; it sometimes feels like it cannot get any bigger.  Oh!  Please believe I have found about 10 light stretch marks around my navel!  I was shocked when I first seen two, and then in a weeks span it looked like five more popped up.  I was a tad sad about it, but it is apart of pregnancy for some.  I will continue to oil myself up, and pray no more appear.  As big as my tummy is, it is not a surprise though.  As each week goes by, not only does it seem like my stomach is expanding, but also dropping.  The more it drops, the more I am finding myself having to hold the bottom of my stomach up for extra support when I walk at times.  Thank God, not too much longer!    

Me sitting down, as Bossy licks Kaelin

Things I miss:

§  Laying on my stomach

§  My high heel shoes (yes, I retired them after the shower)

§  An intense work out

§  Fully being able to breathe

§  My body

§  Margaritas  (ahhhh..it will be a lifetime until I taste this again)

§  Beating Gerald in the kinect (I get tired now quicker, so he takes advantage)

§  Being able to do everything in yoga

§  Cute fitting clothes