We have a set date!

Went to the doctor again today :) Since our last visit last week I/we have been trying EVERYTHING to get Nolan to come out, from walking, to jumps, to bouncing on a ball...I mean EVERYTHING! So I was hoping, even though Nolan wasn't here yet, but that he at least made some progress. Went to the doctor today, and NO progress!!! Oh My Gosh!!! I couldn't believe we had made no progress in the entire week. So the doctor swept my membranes again and stretched me from 2 cm to 3 cm. That was not fun at all! It was very painful but hopefully it helps Nolan come on his own.

If Nolan does not come on his own we have set a date for an induction, Monday October 22nd!!! So no matter what we will be able to hold our little boy within a week! I am so excited to know I will have my baby at most in a week!

So mark your calendars :) No one guessed October 22, but he still could come before then too. So excited!!! Everyone get ready, its FINALLY here!!!

Hospital Bag...ready, set, go!

Yeah for weekly OBGYN visits! Had another visit today. As I have been saying, a bunch, I want Nolan to come by the end of this weekend :) So the doctor checked me out today and I am 2 cm dilated and 70% effaced. She stripped my membranes. Who knows if that will help or not. I have heard stories from friends who went into labor within 24 hours after having their membranes stripped all the way to others who had to have them stripped again. My mom had hers stripped with Brad on a Thursday and she had him by that Saturday. If I am like her then he will arrive 10-11-12, just like she wants ;)

The membrane stripping was definitely uncomfortable and the doctor said thats the pain I will feel when going into labor. My response "ok so Ill come into the hospital asking for an epidural then." She said I may have a bit of a bloody show but thats ok and not to worry. I need to focus on timing contractions if they get intense and watch for a possible water break. If your water breaks you must get to the hospital and have the baby within 24 hours.

Brad and Lauren come in town this Thursday and leave Sunday, so he needs to get here by Sunday. I really want them to be able to see him here this trip! I am doing all I can to make sure he is.

Now is the time to make sure all is set and ready to go. I have the hospital bag ready to go. I didn't know but the doctor gives you a file of paperwork that is notes on all your OBGYN visits that you MUST have when you check in to the hospital. So that goes with me everywhere. Here is what I have packed in my bag:
 - Comfy blanket
 - Plush robe
 - Pillows
 - toiletries (face products, toothbrush, toothpaste, hair brush, hair ties, headbands, shampoo, conditioner, soap, body firming lotion).
 - Hair dryer & straightner
 - Breast pads
 - Nursing bras & tops
 - 2 comfy pj/day outfits
 - My going home outfit
Nolan's bag
 - Boppy pillow
 - breast pump
 - 2 newborn size outfits, with caps
 - going home outfit, with cap & booties
 - Mittens
 - Receiving blanket
 - Going home blanket
 - Car seat
Other
 - Baby book: so they can put his footprints in it
 - Visitor Bubbles: for people to sign when they visit. I will make it into a picture I got from etsy

His nursery is ready, clothes are washed, we are ready. Come on down Nolan!

T minus ?, and Counting

We are officially 37 weeks! If Nolan comes when I am hoping he will we have 10 days left. 10 DAYS!!! That's almost in the single digits! This is getting crazy!

All the showers are done, and I am so thankful to have such great friends and family supporting us at this major time in our lives! We have literally everything we could need for Nolan. Anything we did not get in a shower we were able to purchase with gift cards! I feel so blessed and so thankful that Nolan gets to come into this world with so many people loving on him!

Here are some wonderful pictures from the Resiterns shower (the doctor's wives group).

The AMAZING buldog cake Bethannie made :) 

Such adorable onesies for Nolan! And the bowties can come off to go on bigger onesies as he grows!

 I LOVE the bulldog theme!

My favorite book growing up, I'll Love you Forever! I have a copy in Nolan's room but its all torn up. So glad he gets a new pretty copy!

I LOVE smocked outfits! Nolan will be styling in this outfit!

His personalized boppy cover. It has the swanky blanket fabric on the back. I LOVE the way it feels :)

The sweet girls who hosted the shower, JoAnna, Bethannie & Ericca. 

Thank you girls! Yall are the best!!!

The after this fun soiree Greg and I quickly went to Galveston for our bump pictures on the beach. It had been raining all weekend but was clearing up just in time for us to get pictures done! However, as you know, rain usually brings in a cold front...and boy was it cold. We got a lot of shots done and I can't wait to see them. 

But unfortunately I paid the price for the a wonderful picture on the beach, I woke up Monday feeling horrible! I have a runny nose, sore throat and body aches. But thankfully no fever! Just been hanging out at home, as usual, drinking lots of fluids and trying to rest. But its hard when the "nesting" urge keeps tapping at my shoulder. Thanks to mom for coming down for a bit and helping me tidy up and organize Nolan's closet. 

I was sad that when I was feeling horrible that my husband was on call so I wouldn't see him all day. But he switched his calls so he could be home today for our doctor appointment. He hasn't been able to attend one since June! After a full call night he still came home bearing gifts of lotion enhanced tissues (because my nose was raw) and flowers! Such a wonderful hubby. 

I am so excited because we get an ultrasound today! So we went and Nolan is measuring about 6 pounds even. His head is far down the doctor said and he is facing my back. That is the perfect delivering position! Hopefully he stays that way. So with that position he seems to be on my track to possibly coming earlier than his due date. However, he is only measuring 35 weeks 6 days, and he is 37 weeks 3 days. But that is ok because he has always measured small. This can either mean he is coming after his due date or he is just a small baby. And I told the doctor he is moving a bunch still. She was surprised he hasn't slowed down, because that usually means they are getting ready to come. So just like when we were trying to figure out his gender he was doing things to keep us guessing both genders. Now when we are trying to guess his arrival he is doing things to keep us guessing again. Oh child!

All I am waiting for now is to get over my cold so I am better when he arrives. If all this blowing my nose doesn't send me into labor, which I hope it doesn't, then I start my long walks and bouncing on a ball to help get him to come out next week!!! We are ready, my hospital bag list is ready and Nolan's bag is completely packed! Nolan, come any time now!!!