Baby Violet

I finally cashed in my ProSports Club Prenatal Massage! It was amazing! Thanks Jen, Sara, & Linds! What a delight! I'm feeling much more relaxed and less sore... The Club is really nice, especially the Spa, complementary Women's Lounge, and Women's Locker Room equipped with hot tubs, sauna, steam room, tons of showers, tons of space to get ready, and Pureology hair care products!!! Yummy! I have to say that I should have done this a long time ago. I'm not kidding. New Goal  - before we try for our second baby - I want to save up a for massage fund - enough for about 10 massages - and here's how I'd break it up: Two massages toward the end of the first trimester, at about 12 weeks, then 3 massages for the second trimester and 4 for the third trimester. I only had two professional massages this pregnancy - totally should have done more. The ProSports Club is spendy, so I recommend splurging on one ProSport massage experience and bringing a friend to share it...

Which means that I'm around 39 weeks...which also means...not much else! Since the midwife doesn't do manual checks to see if your dilated or effaced at this point, since they have a "less intervention is better" motto, we really won't know when she'll come until she comes! Although, I've had some people comment on how I've dropped over the last days/week - which for all I know is a merely encouragement - which of course, I don't mind at all because positive is always better - especially now when I'm at my heaviest and I'm just so anxious to see who's eyes my baby has! All I really know at this point is that I'm really looking forward to meeting her and seeing her sweet sugar pie angel face and the faster I realize that she's on her time, the easier it will be for me to be patient! :) Non-Glamorous Reality: Carpal tunnel and swollen ankles, feet and hands, oh yeah, and where did my chin go? Sleeping is not coming very easily ...

Aside from getting no sleep last night what-so-ever, mama Melissa is doing quite well, especially after hearing Violet's strong heartbeat at today's baby appointment. The belly measured in at 38cm (or 38 weeks), a cm bigger than last week's appointment - I wonder if that means she'll be born a little early. God willing - because I'm so excited to see that cute little face and hold her and love her and squeeze her!! Oh yeah, and be a little less swollen and more comfortable in my own skin! Why is it that if you've never been pregnant, you don't listen to the unglamorous parts the women in your life tell you about? You just blindly go into it without a care in the world? I'll tell you why, because if you worried about all that other stuff, you might have a hard time believing its something you really want to do. Plus, the idea that you will unconditionally love another human being is far more rewarding than any "hardship" you "might" ...

Appointment went well today. The belly is measuring right on schedule, and baby's heart beat is 150 BPM. Strong and healthy! Oh yeah, and she's head down - ready to go! I'm almost finished packing for the big day, just have to pick up a few things. But, I'm feeling very ready - I finished writing my birth plan, so...all we have left to do, really, is wait!!  We've waited this long, a couple more weeks will be a piece of cake! Right? Just needed to give a shout out to my amazing sister for throwing me the best baby shower! It was so fun, the food was good, and everyone had a great time! You're the best! Thanks to the girls and Mom for helping too! It was a very special day! :) Also, looking forward to Friday & Sunday's showers too. Baby Violet is so lucky!

We are finally in the home stretch here. Only a couple more weeks and Baby Violet arrives! I've just completed the birth plan and we are looking forward to delivering at East Side Birth Center. This is the most amazing time in our lives, and we are so blessed by all the support we've had throughout this pregnancy. Violet will be born into a world of love and we are so grateful!