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

Deck the {Hurley's} Halls

Decking the halls has definitely kept us busy these past few weeks! We're really happy with our tree this year... Chris considers it the best we've ever had!

I've successfully kept him from using colored lights outside or purchasing a plastic Santa, but something tells me that will all change when we have a baby to decorate the house for! I'm sure it'll be 2 against 1 then!

We're happy to report that Winston is on the "nice" list as he's been leaving the tree alone!

Newborn Essentials

We took our first parenting class this past Sunday. Mass General recommended taking classes through a company called Isis. Coincidentally, it's the same place Chris' sister and husband took their classes last year!

The class was Newborn Essentials. There were about 10 couples in the class and it was a 3 hour session chalk full of information on how to care for a newborn!

We left feeling a little more prepared, and like we learned some new information! I feel a little overwhelmed with all there is to think about and preparing a birthplan err... "birth preference" list. 

In the end I know that even if I plan something, things may not go my way and the end goal is for baby Hurley to arrive safe and sound into the world. That'll be my mantra to keep in mind over the next few months! 

The only other class we're taking before baby's arrival is an infant CPR class which will be held at Mass General. We're hoping to get a tour of the hospital while there for the class! February will be here before we know it! 

8 Months Strong

This weekend marked the start of our 32nd week of pregnancy! We're already 8 months along... time has flown by. I continue to feel great but after a long day, I am definitely mentally and physically exhausted.

I have been feeling some Braxton Hicks contractions (at least I think that's what they are) and we've read my body uses these to prepare for the real thing... I'll think of it as the "pre-game" of delivery.

8 months | 32 weeks
December 8, 2012

My coworkers threw a lovely baby shower the week before last, and we got a ton more stuff for baby Hurley! True to teachers' style, it was filled with fun games like an estimation jar, famous people's baby names, a word scramble and baby trivia...

I learned that during pregnancy a woman's uterus expands 500% in size to accommodate growing baby! That's pretty amazing if you think about it!