PSU Week 9, Pregnancy: Week 36

NINE and 0 BABY!!!! What a game PSU had last night vs. Ohio State! I was a bit nervous that all the excitement might send me into labor, but I made it! I think the Creamery Ice Cream definitely helped! (We served Bittersweet Mint and Peachy Paterno for Member Appreciation Day! I had a bowl and a half!) 

This is the most exciting football season since the 1994/95 Rose Bowl (My first journey to California!) I'm so excited that LJ will be born during such a memorable year! 

We skipped a week of photos. I've been feeling more and more exhausted as time goes on. Last week, we ran some errands and went to a Farmer's Market before the game. I was just plain too tired to think about pictures. 

We're now having weekly appointments with Dr. Grouse. We saw her on Friday. At that point, I was 50% effaced and about 1cm dilated. Which means absolutely nothing. She said, "I don't think you're having this baby any time soon," which is really okay with me. Besides being more tired, I feel fine. I still cannot really complain, so it's fine with me if he wants to stay put a few more weeks. 

She pointed out an interesting statistic. While he's in the 56th percentile for size and weight, his head alone is in the 73rd percentile! Yep... Steve's head alright! I'm teasing. Could easily be mine too. We knew from the start we were doomed to have a gigantic headed baby. What are the odds of two big headed people producing a small headed child? 

We got a new camcorder on Friday from my mom and dad. Spent some time today learning how to use it so we'll be all set for the big day. It's so teeny tiny. Very cool! We got all of LJ's gear put together...swing, bouncy seat, stroller, pack & play, etc. We'd been feeling pretty good about fitting in our small house. Until now! Man oh man that stuff is big! Our living room looks like a play yard. But what are you going to do? Might as well get use to it. For now! 

This week is a PSU buy weekend. (Good timing for the baby to come?) We're not sure what we'll do without Penn State football. (Yeah right! I'm thinking a nice trip to the spa and a pregnancy massage and facial!) 

Holly & Frankie...Week 36

If my belly keeps growing at this rate...

And Lukasz doesn't join us for 3+ weeks...I think I'm going to be in trouble! 

LUKASZ LOOKS LIKE DADDY!

Well, call me crazy, but when I look at this baby's face, the shape of Steve's head is clear as a bell to me! Our ultrasound tech said that "all babies look the same at this point." But I don't know... I see the perfect outline of Steve's very distinctive head! As long as he also has his nose and not mine, we'll be in good shape! :-)

Went to the doctor for what I assumed would be just another boring "How are  you feeling? Good, see you next week" appointment. But it was a bit more eventful than that. Had a pelvic exam. Nothing awful, but reminded me that all too soon there's going to be a LOT more poking and prodding than that. Made me feel a bit nervous for the first time. We heard his heartbeat again. It started up around 162 when we first listened in, but then he settled down to somewhere in the 150's. (I swear I heard him having gas while we were listening...but what do I know? hehe) 

The doctor THOUGHT he had turned, and is now head down. But figured it was safer to just do an ultrasound to confirm. He has flipped and is now situated just as he should be. He's sideways, with his legs and arms poking into my right side (which I feel regularly) but she says he should be just fine to settle into the "normal" position when it's time. Speaking of "time" she says I've not yet begun to dilate or show any signs of labor. This is good. I'm content to let him stick it out for the next 4 weeks or so. No problem! 

She did mention that his estimated weight is about 5 lbs 12 oz and asked if either Steve or I were big babies. We weren't. (Around 7 lbs some-odd-ounces each) That's only about 8 oz. above the "average" 5 lb. 4oz. that all the baby calendars are telling me, so I'm not overly concerned. 

It was a fun, unexpected event. We were glad to get another good look at LJ before we see him in person....ALL TOO SOON! 

PSU Week 7, Pregnancy: Week 34

Holy cow! I'm getting big! Double holy cow! Penn State is 7-0!!!

We woke up to a very chilly 60 degrees this morning. There was a nice breeze blowing through the house and it felt cool for the first time since who knows when. It was bliss! Socks, sweatshirts, cold noses. It was perfect weather, in my opinion! And it stayed that way all day. Even this evening, there's a definite chill in the air. I can't wait to crawl into bed and sleep in this cool weather! But...I won't get too used to it. It's supposed to go back to the 80's later this week. I'll enjoy my "fall" while I have it! 

Meanwhile, we still have a few things to organize, but by and large, Lukasz's room is ready! His clothes are all washed up and ready for him. We've got to start putting some things, such as his swing and bouncy seat, etc. together for him. Once those boxes are out of the way, his room will feel "finished." This week we hung a fish net and I made some fish out of foamy, spongy stuff to "catch" in the net. It all helped hide the drywall screws that I refused to move! :-) 

Steve and I celebrated our 4 year wedding anniversary on Thursday. We had a nice dinner at our favorite restaurant, Marche Modern. He called ahead and set up a special tasting menu for us. It was wonderful, as always. Actually, it was BETTER than usual. It was a really special night. I attempted to surprise Steve with a couple of rare bottles of wine for his collection. But, he came across the receipt in my wallet (my own fault, really) and the cat was out of the bag a few days early. We got a good laugh out of it. But he did pull off a surprise for me. He bought me a PSU rocking chair. It will reside in the baby's room for now... for awhile. Once he's mobile (and chewing on furniture!) it will move to our room! It's going to look great. I was really surprised and I've always wanted one. It was a great anniversary gift! 

Another win for the good guys! PSU rolled over Wisconsin tonight...48-7, I think. We're now7-0. Unbelievable! What a fun season we're having. We're enjoying it so much! This is our first 7-0 start since 1999! It's so much fun to win. We come home after each game and fly our PSU flag outside. No matter how this season pans out, it's so great to be on top again! Brings back great memories of the Rose Bowl and being a student. It's a special season! 

I continue to feel pretty good and feel I can't really complain. I'm physically tired quite often. And sometimes I'm uncomfortable when I stand, or sit, for a length of time. But by and large, I still cannot help but feel blessed and lucky that this has been a very easy pregnancy. I'm in a good mood, I'm mobile and still having fun getting out of the house. I'm also enjoying rest and naps as often as I can since I know my days are numbered. It's very difficult to engage my abdominal muscles to get up from a lying down position. Momentum is my friend. And it's worse at the end of the day than it is early in the day. But I have a feeling this was to be expected. I can still fit behind the steering wheel. That's a plus! 

Still having fun decorating

We added a fish net and some fishies to Luke's room 

PSU Week 6, Pregnancy: Week 33

Only about 7 more weeks (or less) to go! Another 9am game. We thought about staying home, but decided it's just more fun to go to the Corner Office. Also, pretty soon it will be a bit more challenging to do, so might as well go and enjoy while we can! 

Continue feeling fine. Getting significantly more tired as the days go on. I have about a 4-5 hour "activity" capacity per day. And once that's met, that's it! I'm done! My left knee and foot ache if I stand or walk...much at all. So I'm trying to take it as easy as I can. But overall, I still cannot complain. 

I just can't believe that in roughly a month, the little guy will be here with us! So exciting!!!! 

(Oh, and PSU beat Purdue 20-6. 6 and 0. WOO HOO!) 

LJ's Room is Nearly Complete!

The crib skirt arrived, we got all of the bedding washed up and in place! It's looking great. This week, I found some sailboat sketches, and put them in frames with navy blue matting. They're looking good! I'm also working on a little brightly colored goldfish painting to add some orange into the mix. 

Just when I get things semi-in order, I have more to put away! Once we get all of the gifts from Friday put away, I'll try to get some overall shots! 

Baby Shower Fun!

Presents and a Sundae bar at Meredith's. (l-r) Christine, Meredith, Holly, Kristin, Leia

PSU Pals Baby Shower

(front) Leia, Meredith, Louise, me (back) Caroline, Christine, Kristin

On Friday, October 3, my PSU pals took me out to dinner to celebrate Baby Boy Berecz. We went to Zov's in Newport Coast and enjoyed a very yummy dinner! It was great to see Christine, who has moved to LA and doesn't get the chance to come back to the OC too often. Louise too- she and her husband recently bought a new house, so she has been spending her time remodeling and getting ready for move-in day. The rest of us see each other every Saturday (sometimes bright and early) at the Penn State games. :-) But it was still wonderful to get together and celebrate! 

After dinner, we headed to Meredith's for some games and a "Make Your Own Sundae" party. We played "Fill in the blank Nursery Rhymes." Who would have thought that could be so much fun! Between Leia's x-rated versions and Kristin's total lack of nursery rhyme knowledge (Baa Baa Black Sheep, have you any WHEAT?)...it was hysterical! (I later learned Steve needs an education on this as well...Baa baa black sheet have you any MILK?) We also played the "guess Holly's belly size w/ toilet paper" game. Leia was about half a ply short and Kristin was a ply too long. Meredith must think I am carrying sextuplets! :-) GEE THANKS! haha

They were so kind to us. The presents were AWESOME! Christine gave us a huge bag of PSU gear including a pacifier, baseball cap, awesome t-shirt and the cutest onesies ever- plus Luke's boppy pillow cover with his name embroidered on it. So cute! Louise bought us our laundry basket and filled it up with some (badly needed) necessities along with fun PSU gear- all wrapped in PSU paper! She got us a sippy cup/snack holder (which Christine TRIED to buy too but they were sold out!) socks, diapers, wipes, take-along toiletries for the diaper bag and a teething ring. The rest of the girls all went together and got us our high chair- which I hear was quite an adventure since it's a popular model! THANKS SO MUCH EVERYONE! It was so much fun and you were so all so kind to us! We are so lucky to have such wonderful friends. (Not to mention quite a few of you offered to babysit! We don't forget!!!)