38 weeks

38 weeks! Only two weeks to go until Baby Girl's due date. Crazy!

Baby Girl is the size of a winter melon this week. She's still positioned head down. I'm measuring on the low end of normal again but bigger than last week so the midwife wasn't too concerned. Baby Girl's heart rate was still in the 140s  which is great. She's moving a lot!

I tried to run/walk the North Harbor Tower Fall Kick Off 5K last night but ended up just walking after two 2:30 run intervals. My left shin hurts a lot when I run but is completely fine when I walk. So, I guess it's time to retire from running until I'm cleared postpartum. Sunday's Hot Chocolate 5K will be at a brisk walk instead of a run. I think my mom is relieved that she won't have to try to keep up with me running...ha!

We finally have pretty much everything ready for Baby Girl! The stroller and car seat arrived this week and John got them all figured out. I finished decorating her space. All the stuff that was being stored in her crib is put away. I'd like to have next weekend to relax yet before she arrives but I think we're ready...

 

 

My coworkers threw me an awesome "baby breakfast" this week. The bib/onesie decorating was definitely a hit!

This weekend Mom, Angie, Gwen, and Kayla are here for our annual Hot Chocolate 15K/5K weekend. Fun fun!

And, the Cubs are playing in the World Series! Go Cubs Go! Fly the W!

37 weeks

37 weeks! We finally went to Buy Buy Baby today to order the car seat and stroller...whew! I was waiting for our registry completion discount but then it was only for in-store and our stroller isn't available to purchase in our local store. When I called customer service they told me I would be getting an online completion discount as well so I was waiting for that but it didn't come. When I contacted customer service again, they told me the online completion discount wouldn't come until 10 days before my due date...yikes! But, they also told me that I could go to the store and use the completion discount to order any items that weren't available in store. So, that's what we did! Now, I have to figure out what we need from our other registries and get that ordered ASAP.

We had a good week. Sunday we did our maternity pictures in Millennium Park. I really like our photographer and can't wait to see the pics!

Monday we did the Expectant Parent Tour at Prentice Women's Hospital, the hospital where Baby Girl will be born. We'll be in three different rooms while we're there: triage, labor and delivery, and recovery.

Wednesday I made it back to yoga after missing the past two weeks. I was a little worried that it would feel really hard because the last class I was at felt pretty tough...but this one felt great!

Wednesday morning's pre-sunrise as I was getting ready to run/walk

Yesterday we took the Metra out to the Chicago Botanic Garden for the Night of 1000 Jack O Lanterns. Natalie joined us on the Metra in Evanston and we met Geiner and Marcela there. It was a fun but chilly night! The jack o lanterns were really impressive.

A few of the awesome jack o lanterns

John, me, Natalie, Geiner and Marcela

Baby Girl is doing well. She moves a lot! She demonstrated her stretching skills at our appointment today by moving just when Stephanie started to listen to her heart rate. She's still positioned head down (and hopefully stays that way).

I'm feeling really good still. I was able to run/walk and go to yoga on Wednesday which was great. I've been having more regular swelling in my feet this week but it's not too bad. It's definitely getting harder to put on my shoes and socks...and now it's cool enough that I need them more often too.

We also bought this for Baby Girl today!

36 weeks, 4 days

36 weeks! Only 4 weeks to go! Wow!!! We have weekly appointments with the midwives now. On Friday our midwife talked about the birth. The midwives group has a "Chicago 3-1-2" rule for coming to the hospital. This means contractions should be 3 minutes apart, contractions should be lasting for 1 minute, and the pattern should be established for 2 hours. I like it. She also suggested eating a full meal before coming to the hospital as the anesthesiologists have a rule about only clear liquids during labor. I was hoping I could sneak some Picky Bars in but I guess I'll have to stick with Nuun!

This week wasn't too busy which was good because I caught John's cold. I had dinner with a Chicago Scholars co-mentor and scholar on Monday and then John and I saw Hamilton on Thursday. Neither of us really knew what to expect but we both thoroughly enjoyed it! Best show we've seen in quite a while!

The Spindler Girls came to Chicago for the weekend. Mom and her friends Diane and Mary arrived early Friday afternoon and then Jill, Joy, Jeri, Bev, Joanie and Krystal arrived Friday evening. Erin and Chelsey arrived late Friday night and then Jamie joined us Saturday morning. Quite a crew! They threw me a mini baby shower with awesome gifts, we played Apples to Apples and Bingo, a few of us did a little shopping, a few of us visited a couple sites for Open House Chicago, and we all went out for breakfast at Wildberry and supper at Pizano's.

The view from the Blue Cross Blue Shield building during Open House Chicago

Mom, Diane and Mary brought Baby Girl's dresser, made by Diane's husband. It's beautiful! Now that it has arrived, I have her clothes out of the crib and in to the dresser. Hopefully I'll be able to finish her space this weekend.

I started a new prayer for this last month of pregnancy.

RIP Uncle Mark

Grandma and Mark at John's and my wedding

My Uncle Mark died on September 1, 2016 after a battle with cancer. Yesterday there was a celebration of his life in my hometown. It doesn't quite feel real to me because John and I didn't go. My midwife advised that the 6 hour one-way drive would probably be a bit more than I'd want to do at this point in my pregnancy (and I completely agree as I get pretty uncomfortable just sitting on the couch for a few hours) so we decided to stay home.

I can't say I knew Mark all that well. He lived in Florida for most of my life so I only saw him for holidays and special occasions. The last few years, he and his wife Trina would make a point to come see John and me when we were vacationing in Florida.

Last spring, I texted Mark to let him know that John and I were expecting our first child and his response was "Cool, cool, cool." Typical Mark.

Rest in peace, Uncle Mark. Give Grandpa and Uncle Randy hugs from me.

Race Report: International Chicago 5K

Yesterday I ran the inaugural International Chicago 5K, a new race put on in conjunction with the Chicago Marathon. I figured that since I would not be participating in the marathon this year, this would be a fun way to still be involved. Since I signed up quite a bit in advance, my bib was mailed to me for free. There also appeared to be race day sign up.

It was a very relaxed race. There weren't any start corrals, just pace signs to line up by. This worked out just fine for me! There were runners from all over the world, many of them also running today's marathon. Most of the runners weren't taking themselves too seriously and even stopping to take pictures of the famous Chicago Theater sign, the marathon start line, and the skyline. The course wound around a little bit of the loop and then along the Lakefront Trail, finishing near the marathon finish line.

I decided that since the Bucktown 5K went so well, I would try to run this whole race too, just keeping my breathing nice and easy. It wasn't so easy this time but I did it! My legs hurt almost the entire time but I was able to keep my breathing under control. I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to run/walk (or maybe even just walk) the North Harbor Tower 5K on October 27th and the Hot Chocolate 5K on October 30th.

Finisher(s)!

Awesome finisher's hat!

Distance: 5K
Time: 36:41
Cost: $35
Pros: No packet pickup (bib mailed for free), convenient location, small race, all the food/drink you wanted at the finish (apples, protein bars, beef sticks, water, Gatorade), awesome finisher's hat (which you actually had to finish to get)
Cons: No gear check
Would I run it again?: Definitely!

35 weeks, 2 days

35 weeks! Only 35 (well, now, 33) days until Baby Girl's due date!

Week 35 was a busy one. We didn't have any plans last weekend but had lots to do at home. Karen and I treated ourselves to pedicures on Sunday which was amazing and much-needed. Tuesday I had jury duty in Maywood, IL. I ended up only being at the courthouse for about 3 hours but it took me over an hour to get there and get home so it was still a long day. Tuesday evening I had a Chicago Scholars workshop, Wednesday evening we met John's parents and Natalie for dinner, Thursday evening I had a haircut appointment, and Friday we had a baby appointment and then I met the Oiselle Team for dinner. Whew!

Baby Girl is doing great. She moves lots and lots. Her heart rate was once again in the 140s at our appointment on Friday. We now have weekly appointments so we'll be seeing the midwives a lot in the coming weeks.

I'm still feeling good...but starting to get anxious about everything I want to do yet before Baby Girl makes her arrival! I suppose it will all get done eventually...