Time is Ticking!

We have been having lots of fun playing in the nursery this week! It's so much fun to get in there, set up shop and get ready for the little bundle of joy soon to arrive. Soon we will meet our little baby and find out if "it" is a she or a he!

Beautiful Built-Ins!

I am glad to say the built ins are FINISHED! We are so happy with them. It's been a lot of work. What all started as a simple sketch... has become this! 

It's amazing to know that Luke has the talent and creativity to build something like this from scratch when he never had before! 

Chris has put in a lot of work and it was definitely a collaborative effort... he even learned some carpentry skills along the way and made a workbench in our garage! 

We have a beautiful unit that is totally custom to our needs! Something like this would have been a fortune to have hired someone to build. The unit was completely built by Wednesday and this weekend, after several trips to Lowe's, was completely done!

This weekend, some of the things Chris took care of were:

• painting the entire unit 
• installing all of the hardware on the drawers
• installing the light switch 
• installed the bar for hanging clothes
• emptied the entire nursery for cleaning
• steam cleaned the carpet

Everything looks so great, I we cannot wait to get to work decorating! Luckily, I have a long weekend to get started! Here's a peek of some things put onto the shelves but I'm definitely going to play with it for a while. 

38 Weeks

We are at 38 weeks this weekend! Wow! This pregnancy seems to have flown by. Baby Hurley will be here so soon!

We are trying to enjoy our last quiet moments but have been very busy. I feel good but LARGE and cleaning the house is never fun but while pregnant, that's another story.

38 Weeks
January 19, 2013

We went out for one last "date night" as single parents last night to one of our favorite sushi restaurants. The table was right at my belly and I could not even pull in all the way!

Last week I was told the baby weighs 6 pounds, 14 ounces. My weight has remained the same over the past 2 weeks which the doctors say is normal. I have really enjoyed being pregnant throughout this whole pregnancy. It'll be interesting to see what happens to my body after this baby is born!

Breech, Baby!

At this week's routine doctor's appointment I was referred for an ultrasound because the doctor was unclear of the baby's position. Up until this week (37th) I have been told the baby was head down and in the correct position...

That all changed when I returned the next day for an ultrasound. Even going in to the appointment I had told myself the baby was not breech and I had nothing to worry about.

The ultrasound technician (which seems like a pretty interesting job, if I ever leave education) "lubed" me up and immediately stated the baby was breech. Now, I was sure to warn her ahead of time we do NOT KNOW THE GENDER so please do not spoil the surprise - which she did not!

Baby's head is right up at my ribs! I have had a hard object jabbing into my ribs for several weeks and chalked it up to the baby's butt or foot! Now we know it's the head. (Good thing I haven't been pushing hard on it)

While this was not the news we wanted to hear, it was nice to hear the baby is perfectly healthy, breathing and weighing 6 pounds 14 ounces. I got to see the baby breathing, the lungs doing their thing and the baby covering his/her face with his/her hands.

Because the baby is breech it cannot be delivered vaginally as is, which was our original plan. We have 2 options; schedule a cesarean or try and have the doctor's physically move the baby by pushing on the outside of my stomach, A.K.A. External Cephalic Version or ECV.

We ultimately chose to opt for the C-section. This was not at all what I wanted or envisioned for delivery day but, my days of planning and having my way are obviously numbered with this little one's arrival!

I'm a little scared. Never had any surgeries, pain medication, nothing. Not even my wisdom teeth out. But, considering 1 in 3 babies are delivered via C-Section, I'm sure they have the procedure down as far as the hospital goes.

State of Affairs in the Nursery

I am 37 weeks pregnant and... ready for it? 

Here is the current condition of our nursery:

Luckily, the prenatal yoga breathing techniques I've learned are getting me through this. For any of you who know me, you probably know I consider these images terrifying. What's that under the sheet? Oh, the crib!

All joking aside, Luke and Chris have been working very hard on completing these built-ins before baby Hurley arrives. I think it was a lot more work than either of them predicted. (I'm told one more week and they will be complete.) We really appreciate all the work Luke has done... it has taken a lot of time and effort and his craftsmanship is amazing.

I know everything will look wonderful when it is all done and we'll be forever grateful. He and his wife have earned aunt and uncle status for this! Cannot wait to post completed pictures!

Tis the Season (for the Flu)

I'm sure all parents have plenty to worry about... especially the first time around.

Giving birth during the winter months definitely presents its worries; will there be a snowstorm the day/night I got into labor? Will we be able to drive all the way into Boston for the delivery? Will the heat in our home be too cool/too warm for baby?

However, last week this story was in the news; Mayor Menino declares public health emergency in Boston because of flu outbreak. We're hoping many of our family members have had their flu shots (hint, hint).

We know there are many people excited for baby Hurley's arrival but will understandably be cautious with visitors to protect our little bundle of joy from this potentially fatal illness.

Full Term!

Wooohooo! Our baby is officially full term today... 37 weeks to be exact!

We both feel very fortunate that baby Hurley will not be premature. Michelle's brother Danny was a "premie" and the incubator and visits to the NICU are still scary memories.

Here are some 37 week snap-shots. As you can tell, pregnancy fatigue is getting to me. This mommy-to-be can't be bothered with blow drying the hair on weekends or matching socks to outfits anymore.

37 weeks
January 12, 2013

I feel very fortunate to have dodged morning sickness and other serious complications this pregnancy. I'm fully aware I could have had it a lot worse.

However, I am pregnant so I feel I get to complain about some things! My biggest issues have been back pain and shortness of breath. It is making work feel like a lot more of a challenge. I just need to keep reminding myself that in about 3 weeks, work will be the last thing I need to worry about!

The Hurley household has been busily preparing for baby's arrival... there has not been much down time (photos of the nursery's current state soon to follow).

I spent the day making returns to stores, purchasing frames for the nursery, doing laundry and lesson plans. Daddy-to-be just finished his forth day in a row of working 12 hours! Guess we will be ready for all the sleep we will not be getting once baby arrives.

However, Winston still continues to sleep like a baby... the life of a dog!

One Month

February 2nd is just one month away!

We have a lot ready so far:

• car seat is installed
• pack n' play and co-sleeper are set up
• most of baby's laundry has been washed
• the built-ins (still a work in progress)

One of my favorite resources during this pregnancy has been the Baby Center. I have their app on my iPhone and iPad and have enjoyed seeing pictures, videos and milestones of the baby's development throughout my pregnancy. Would definitely recommend it to expecting parents!

Baby Center's image of 35 week fetus

Happy New Year!

December 25, 2012
34 weeks

Hope everyone had a great Christmas! Here we are, 34 weeks pregnant. Baby Hurley was showered with presents, and s/he is not even here yet!

Our little one received clothes, toys, stuffed animals, fun lullaby CDs, ornaments and even a stocking! How cute are these baby Uggs?!

I enjoyed vacation from school, saw some friends and family and had some time to relax. Much of my vacation was spent preparing lessons and plans for school during my maternity leave. It's a lot of work, but the extended break from school will be well worth it! 

On New Year's Eve we celebrated our second wedding anniversary! We enjoyed a nice dinner in Providence. These two years have flown by, and we celebrated a bit differently this year (I had ginger ale and cranberry juice) but it's still my favorite night of the year.

December 31, 2010