38 weeks begins!

Some people have asked for a photo update, so here you go! The start of my 38th week, and he has definitely DROPPED! (please excuse the wild hair and NO make-up, I just woke up!...haha, who am I kidding, I look like this all the time lately! and I am about to go on a walk in public like this...haha!) I am feeling pretty good actually. I have a feeling Owen is gonna stay in there at least up until 40 weeks...we will see!

week 37 Dr. Appt.

I had my week 37 appointment yesterday. Nothing too much to report...mostly b/c my doctor didn't tell me too much. Ryan and I have three doctors in our practice, and you have to take turns seeing each one. Well, lets just say the male doctor is definitely not my top pick. I am just not impressed with his bedside manner. He comes in the room, barely says hello, takes my BP, measures me, quickly listens to the heart beat, goes through a quick script of things to look out for, then attempts to leave...um, hello?! He did feel the head down really low in my pelvis, so that is good to know Owen is all set down there. I asked him if he could check me to see if I was dialated, but he said "it didn't really matter anyways"...well, I would have liked to know even if it didn't matter. SO I am just going to have to wait for my next week appointment with my favorite doctor to see if she will let me know. The other two are very nice and caring, and take time with their patients, so Ryan and I are hoping that we get one of them with the delivery. 3 weeks to go!

Connor Brady McDonough

My new nephew, Connor Brady McDonough was born August 20th, at 4:54a.m. He is 6lbs, 5oz. in NYC. Both my sister-in-law, Krista, and Connor are doing great! My brother kept us up to date via text/phone calls. My parents made the trip out there today to visit their newest grandchild. I really wish we could be there!!!!! CONGRATS Sean and Krista!!! I cannot wait for Owen and Connor to meet :) :)

36 week appointment!

Just a quick update! I had my 36 week appointment today. Nothing too exciting, which is just fine with me. I have officially gained 20 lbs. now, giving into my newest craving, ice cream, especially peanut butter cup and cookie dough....mmmmmmm! Ryan and my co-workers joke with me that Owen is going to come out green because for the most part I have been craving green things...guacamole, green apples, green grapes, salad, green bean casserole, pesto, pickles...the list goes on, I didn't really notice until they all started pointing it out! haha! Anyways, Owen dropped down out of my lung, so I can finally breath! He is still constantly kicking all day long, so those rare times he doesn't kick me, makes me actually miss it! (Even though as I write this, he is stretching out on my pelvic bone, OUCH!) :) I am continuing to exercise, but it definitely is slow going...I still do the exercise machine for my back at our lunch time at work, it has really, really helped, so I hate to completely give it up! Work is getting more difficult because I am constantly moving...things like pushing wheelchairs, taking leg rests off, walking back and forth to get patients, etc. are definitely getting more difficult, but luckily I work with a great group of people, and someone is always willing to help me if I need it! Ryan has begun P90X. It is a really intense 3 month DVD workout series that is suppose to give amazing results. It is brutal though, I haven't seen him this sore since he played football!!! Anyways, I will now go every week to the Dr. until Owen is born! It is getting so close!!!! We will definitely continue to keep you all updated!!!

Our new kind of Saturday night...:)

Safety First! breaking out the safety glasses for drills and bits in the basement to make Owen a Cubs Bat wall hanging! haha, definitely a funny experience!!

Ryan and his baby Bjorn, he was practicing with Mr. Cub! haha, now the chugging beer might not be a good idea with a real baby! :)

Owen's room is basically done! We are just waiting on our changing table top for the dresser, but it is on its way!

I am really proud of this! Ryan and I really wanted to do something with these two bats, so we got a little creative last night and started pulling out drills and nuts, and bolts, and even krazy glue...haha, it was actually really fun! We weren't sure it would come out okay, but we were able to make this ourselves for Owen's room...and I love it!

Ryan taking a break from putting the room together! He looks like a giant in that glider, but it actually is quite comfortable.

Framed pictures of Ryan's belly photo shoot of me! I am loving how the room has turned out!

Picture that my friend, Boug, got us! I love how it has his name on it! so cool!

Cubs lamp and everything getting organized below.

My BOB running stroller! It was definitely a big splurge for me, but I love it, and I cannot wait to get back into running. I love that this running stroller has a car seat adapter so I can get back as soon as I am cleared by my Dr. :)
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Let the NESTING BEGIN!!!!!!!! I have been a crazy woman this week when it comes to getting everything ready for Owen's arrival. We had boxes and boxes delivered to go through on top of all the goodies we got at our showers last weekend. I am proud to say almost everything we got is put together and ready to go for Owen! Owen's room is basically done, except for the changing table topper, that was on back order so hopefully it gets here soon. Ryan and I had our hospital visit at Evanston Hospital yesterday. We both feel a lot better after seeing exactly where we have to go and the rooms we will be in. The nurse that was running the tour was very helpful and actually educated us on a lot of things as well as giving the tour. The one bummer that we found out is that visitors have to be 12 and up, so unfortunately, Macy and Cole won't be able to come visit Owen on the maternity floor :( Er, if you guys make it up here we will have to figure something out, but we can discuss that later. Ry and I stayed up until midnight last night getting Owen's room together and actually had a good time doing it! We got a little slap happy and decided to MAKE Owen a wall hanging with these two bats we got...fortunately it turned out looking really well and I am proud of our creation! haha! Only 4 more weeks to go!!!!!!!!!!!

Baby SHOWERS!!!!!

35 weeks! Lydia and Ali's baby shower decorations, so cute!

The two Hostess' and me :) such a fun shower!

Love the CUBS cake!

Leigh got Owen a DMB onsie, AWESOME!

Lydia's mom, Janet, made Owen a CUBS fleece blanket!

All my friends and the BABIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The McKee baby pool...I like how Leigh added that Owen will be 3 ft. LONG! ha, that better not happen!!!!!

Family baby shower at my mother-in-laws. Such a nice spread of food and decorations!!!

My camera battery died so I don't have too many pictures of this baby shower unfortunately:( but my mom took a lot on hers!!!! :)

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Ryan and I went home this weekend for TWO baby showers, one on Saturday and one on Sunday. Saturday was at Lydia's house and all my girlfriends came with their babies! It was crazy baby central but SOOOOO fun!!!!!!! They all went around and wrote baby advice on cards for me to have. It is so nice to have so many friends that have babies, I have so many people to go to for ADVICE! Ali and Lydia did a great job throwing me the baby shower. They had a ball park theme and everyone wore baseball jerseys and they had hot dogs and popcorn as the food, it was great! Sunday was my family baby shower at my mother-in-law's house, both Ryan's aunts/cousins and mine made it out. Lu and Sarah had such cute CUB theme decorations, and my mom got a really cute cake! Erin had a really cute baby game, you made babies out of bubble gum then I had to judge the best sculpture...haha, my aunts and cousins definitely got creative with that! haha! We got such great gifts from everyone, and we really appreciate everyone coming out to show their love and support of our growing family! LOVE you all! :)

Lydia's mini photo shoot :) 35 weeks!

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My best friend, Lydia, was nice enough to take a few pictures of Ryan and I and my prego belly! I only gave her about 10 minutes because I was a tired, sweaty prego that just wanted to go lay down! haha, I can't believe she got such great shots in that short of time!!! Lyds, you are becoming such a great photographer, and I am so proud of your hard work and dedication to it!!! Thank you so much for everything you did for me this weekend :) you are such a great friend! love you! Just for all of you that may not know, she has started a photography business, LYDIA LEE PHOTOGRAPHY. You can check her out on FACEBOOK and she is working on a blog as well. Let me know if anybody needs pictures taken, and I will give you her contact information, she is great!!!! I had both my baby showers this weekend back home in Indiana as well. I will blog and send out pictures later today!