Day 230 of Being Pregnant.

230 days of being pregnant!!!! That is 63% of a WHOLE YEAR.  (I know-this is the math nerd in me coming out)

There has been so much going on that I don't want to overwhelm you, but I gotta TELL about all the cool things that have been happening!

I'll start with the biweekly MIDWIFE update--as of last Thursday--- Baby is still chilling out head down.  The baby had a heartrate of 129 with acceleration.  Excellent.  I'm measuring 1 1/2 weeks ahead now...so I'm evening out.  I suppose that's the phrase-but I tell you what every time I step on the scale at the midwife's office I can't help but laugh....It's pretty impressive:)

Other things going on is that I'VE BEEN NESTING LIKE CRAZY!  I saw an article describing the nesting phenomenon.  Basically the gist of the article talked straight to me---"Dear Megan, You don't quite know how to be a mother, but right now you do know how to decorate and you do know how to organize.  And that makes you feel more in control of things."  B.I.N.G.O.  So anyways--prior to the arrival of Della (aka mom-i have a tons of moms--della=mom) I was bugging Russell.  Each of our rooms in the house got rearranged at least once--I think our bedroom has been 2-3 times.  Now Della is fully supporting this behavior & allowing (or maybe enabling) me to get things done.  The NURSERY is coming along just perfectly! See picture.

My SIS, BIL, niece & nephew made a HUGE trek up from Austin & it was amazing! The kids are getting so big! I just can't believe it!!!! Arjan is sooooooo BIGGGGGG & smart! When he works on his schoolwork it is so fun to see him do his thing!....Riya has such a great personality & just continually cracks me up.  They both went in and got the CUTEST bear--that has a recording of them each saying, "I love you little ROCK!" Oh and the bear has a WNBA jersey with the name Rocky:) SO Cool!!!!! IT is currently the only thing that I'm allowing in the crib:)  My sis and family put a lot of work in and that I'm sOOOO thankful for..........

My BFFs came into town this past weekend- to celebrate all kinds of things!  Here is a wall hanging my BFF Kellen made for Little Rock's room.  SHE IS SO FREAKIN talented! Honestly, I have received amazing gifts from people--and SOME AMAZING handmade gifts!!!!!!! Shoutouts to Candels, Gertie, Katie, (oh goodness I'm forgetting someone-please don't take offense-PREGNANCY BRAIN on HIGH ALERT!).

What else....Hum well next week I will officially begin working on coverage for my maternity leave.  This is making this very, very real.  My plan is 8 weeks off, and then I do have the EXCELLENT opportunity to bring my baby to work with me on days that I'm not on shift (which will probably consist of 2- 2 1/2 days a week).  I plan on doing this for a month or so.  I think this is great-and something that EVERY organization should allow.  It is pretty pathetic when you look at the US as a whole and the unimportance of Maternity & Paternity leave compared to other nations.  The statistics are completely disturbing:

• Out of 173 countries worldwide, the United States is one of only five that don't guarantee paid leave to give birth and care for a newborn, according to a recent study by researchers at Harvard and McGill universities.
• http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/products/indwm/ww2005/tab5c.htm  ---EXTREMELY interesting statistics put together by the United Nations on other nations maternity policies. 

Otherwise-things are going super well:) I have to add that the baby did a little jig while listening to John Cougar Mellencamp---he/she obviously knows good music when he/she hears it:)

and could it be more obvious that people think we are having a boy:)

OH--And again!  To re-post what a fellow pregfriend posted tonight:  "Dear Baby, I want my brain back please." (Thanks, Mel) I'm serious!  I apologize for everything and everyone I might have left out, dates that I have forgot, slight errors I have made at work.  Honestly, I am doing nothing maliciously; it doesn't mean anything.  BUT this preggo brain is serious stuff.  Here's a study that documents this: http://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20100205/just-how-real-is-pregnancy-brain . So please bear with me....50+days and counting.....


Love to all,
The Momma