One month old

So hard to believe Cason is one month old! Our lives have been completed with his arrival and it's hard to think about what we did before he got here. He is such a good little baby and brings us so much joy. He loves to eat and sleep. He especially likes to sleep on his mommy... and that is sometimes the only place he will sleep. He did take a nap in his crib for the first time during week 3 and then slept in his crib that night for 2 1/2 hours all by himself!! The next night we tried it again but he kept rolling himself onto his side and it made me so nervous so I took him out. 

He has found his little thumb and sometimes will put it in his mouth to comfort himself. 

When we do tummy time, he can lift his head and turn it from side to side. He also kicks his little legs like crazy... I think once he is on the move we'll never catch him! 

He can follow an object from one side to the other but mostly likes to look at the ceiling fan or bright lights. 

When he is not happy, he makes it known! His lungs work well... very well. 

He does really well when we take him in public- as long as he is in constant motion. 

He likes rides in the car and either stares out the window or falls asleep. He has yet to cry while riding in the car but I'm sure I just jinxed that ;)

Love this little man more than anything. 

39 weeks

I am now measuring 4 cm. I thought for sure it was going to happen during the week. It didn't. Makes me wish I didn't even know about being 4 cm dilated because I feel like that made me think he was coming early. Making it through the work week was not easy!! I'm still training my maternity leave replacement and it is exhausting! 

38 weeks

This week we had another checkup. Everything looked really good, Cason's heart rate was good. He is still measuring right on time. I am still only 3 cm. but so ready for him to be here!!! 

We didn't take a picture this week, sorry! 

37 weeks

This week was a little stressful. We went to the doctor on Friday and baby's heart rate was a little on the lower end of what they consider the "normal" range. They did an ultrasound to check and make sure my fluid was still good, which it was. Cason looked good on the ultrasound. They guesstimated that he is about 7 pounds, 12 oz. His head was really really low so they said that measurement could be off. We were sent over to the hospital for observation... which made me nervous. I know they were just being careful but it freaked me out! I got hooked up to the fetal monitor at the hospital for about an hour and a half just to get a better look at everything. They saw some good things on the monitor and ultimately sent us home with no major concerns. We had a follow-up appointment the next Monday and got hooked up again at the office. His heart rate was comparable to what it was at the hospital. So they were not overly concerned. He may just be a baby with a lower baseline heart rate. 

I measured 3 cm at my visit on Friday and knowing that he is so low, they don't think I'll probably deliver past my due date. When I was hooked up to the fetal monitor, I could see my contractions. They are very frequent, but not painful. Some of them I couldn't even tell I was having. I joked that maybe the real ones will be the same way... haha, right... 

Cason could really come anytime now! People at work keep asking me what I'm still doing there... um, I'm working. At least I'm trying. I will say that my energy level and motivation have decreased significantly. And preparing to go out on maternity leave is sort of a lot of work! I may end up having to train the person who is covering my leave because she doesn't have experience. So yeah, that's what I really want to do in my last few weeks- train someone! Not! Oh well, it's all a part of the job I guess :) I'm trying to be a good sport. 

36 weeks

36 weeks-- Cason is the size of a head of romaine lettuce and weighs about 6 pounds! It sure feels like it... 

At our appointment this week, we learned that he is still head down. When looking at my feet/ankles, our sweet midwife, who is so kind, said something along the lines of I see you have "a little swelling".... yeah, just a little. I only have about two pairs of shoes that I can fit on my feet at this point. I made a joke the other day that I would have to start wearing Crocs to work. Yeah, tried them on and even those barely fit. Jokes on me! My blood pressure looks good though, so that's a good thing.

At the beginning of the week, I got home from work to see a huge box on the doorstep and it was.... our glider!!! Of course it came on the night Ian was working a 24 hour shift. And I was DYING to put it together. So, I did. It may have taken me three times longer than necessary but I did it! And I think it's just perfect :) 

Here are some more pictures of the nursery: 

Over the weekend, we took maternity pictures with Alysia at the Anne Springs Greenway. It felt like a perfect fall day, in the 60's. And it was overcast, which was good for pictures because Ian's eyes are really sensitive to light so he would be squinting the whole time if it had been sunny! We can't wait to see the results!! :) 

On Halloween, we stayed home and passed out candy to the neighborhood kids! They were all so cute! :)  We didn't dress up but we did have some scary music and a strobe light going on the porch. 

We also put together the rock and play that will be next to our bed for the first little while after Cason is born. So I told him he can come now, we're ready!  

35 weeks

Woooo- this week has been long. Work is starting to take it out of me. Being on my feet all day is doing quite the number on my ankles. For the first time, I woke up and was unable to fit my feet in my work shoes... not cool. The swelling is pretty uncomfortable but I'll make it through. I've been keeping an eye on my blood pressure to make sure it's not causing the swelling and so far, so good.  

Since being back at work, people have been telling me I'm huge and that they can't believe I have 5 more weeks to go! Not sure why it's ok to tell a pregnant woman that she's huge but hey, whatever. Another lady told me that she could tell I was getting closer because my lips were swollen??? What's up with that? 

We made the trip out to Greenville this weekend for our final baby shower!! The weather was absolutely perfect and so was the day! We loved seeing our sweet friends! 

This little munchkin has grown up SO much and has such a big personality! Can't wait for her to meet baby Cason! 

34 weeks

I headed back to work this week. It's crunch time, I never realized how much work it was to prepare for going out on maternity leave! I'm just trying to take it one day at a time so I don't get overwhelmed... 

We had a staff meeting this week and the wonderful ladies (and gentlemen) at work surprised me with a baby shower! I had NO clue that was coming and it was just the sweetest gesture. They had a cake, games, decorations, and lots of baby gifts! They were all so very generous.  

Over the weekend, we traveled to the Outer Banks for our diaper dinner/shower hosted by Ian's mom, aunt, and cousin. They put SO much thought into every detail and it was just perfect! If you have never had chicken and waffles, you are missing out. I could've eaten 12 servings but figured I should save some for everyone else! ;) 

This game (below) was absolutely hilarious. Ian and his friend Ryan had to dress a little baby blindfolded... Ian's poor baby looked like a hot mess when he was finished. But he tried so hard! ;) 

We are all stocked up on diapers and wipes thanks to everyone who came! 

Here is my picture for the week: