Introducing...

Annalise Michele, born October 29, 2007 at 5:57pm. She is 6lbs, 8oz, and 18" tall. Mommy and baby girl are doing very well and should be home tomorrow evening! We already have a blogspot just for her now that she has a name too: http://annalisewedewer.blogspot.com/, where future updates from now on will be posted.

False Alarm!

Today we had our first (and hopefully only!) false alarm visit to the hospital. I started having contractions about five minutes apart shortly before 6am. They weren't very strong or painful, but their frequency was enough to have us concerned. When they hadn't subsided by noon, we dropped Tommy off at Aunt Lisa and Uncle Brian's house then went to Summerlin Hospital to see if today would be the day.

Alas, 90 minutes of monitoring recorded only three contractions, none of which were the earth-shattering variety (I guess the natural contractions, as they kick off, are really nothing compared to the Pitocin-induced contractions I had with Tommy). The good news is my body has begun the effacement process...an essential prerequisite for this week's induction, if needed...the nurse estimated I'm 70-80% effaced and still dilated approximately 2cm.

Tuesday we are scheduled to see Dr. Joe for my weekly check-up. Stay tuned!

38 Weeks

Boy, I sure wish babies came with turkey timers! At least then we'd know when they're "done," right? Today is the 38-week mark for Baby Girl. Still no productive contractions, but I'm feeling quite uncomfortable and really can't wait for her to arrive. I feel like I should be saving my complaints 39 Weeks, in case she really takes her sweet time making her debut!

Our appointment this week was very uneventful, which is not what you're looking for at this point in a pregnancy. Her heart rate hovered around 148, my belly measured 36cm, I'm dilated only 2cm and basically not effaced at all. The biggest disappointment for me is that if my body doesn't start the effacement process on its own soon, our 11/1 induction will be a no-go. Reason being, it would likely mean a few days in the hospital BEFORE I'm really ready for labor. No thanks, I'd rather spend that time hanging out with my family and preparing for our new addition.

37 Weeks

Baby Girl is now full term...she can come any day now! We have set an induction appointment for November 1, but Dr. Joe seems to think she'll come before that date anyhow. James isn't fond of the idea of being induced, but I feel very ready and can only imagine I will be beyond miserable in another two weeks. If the doctor is right it will be a moot point and she'll come before that (crossing my fingers!) We're just looking forward to meeting our little girl very soon!

I've been having more contractions, but nothing painful nor at regular intervals. Baby is moving a LOT, but I can tell that her movements are becoming more restricted by her cramped quarters.

36 Weeks - Ninth Month!

Gotta hold her up now...this girl's getting big!We're really in the home stretch! Baby's not only turned head first, but she has "dropped" into my pelvis...which makes for a lovely waddle when I walk. I'm dilated to about 1cm, which isn't much, but it's a start, and I'm pretty sure she'll be here in the next couple of weeks. Baby's heart rate was a little high (170 bpm) during our last appointment, but James and Dr. Joe could also SEE her trying to punch her way out the right side of my belly during the exam. Of course it was high...she was getting a work out! As a precaution, Doc put me on monitors for about 20 minutes and she settled back into the 150s just fine.

Tommy really likes to be in the belly pictures now. What a doting brother he is already! I am getting increasingly tired each day and my efforts to keep up with things around the house are getting pretty pitiful. Tommy's tough to keep up with, but James is being a huge help.

35 Weeks - Baby Shower

I forgot to have James take a belly picture this week, but here's one showing why said belly's getting so big...my love for sweets!

Saturday, October 6 my girlfriends, Tamica & Tava, threw a baby shower for me and Baby Girl. Tava ended up being sick and couldn't make it, but Baby and I are pictured above with our gracious hostess, Tamica, and the delicious cake - white with strawberry cream filling - it was SO good! Many friends attended and spoiled us rotten. I've never seen so much pink in my life! It was such a treat to spend an afternoon amongst so many girlfriends (with our husbands all at home on Daddy Duty!) What an honor to have such wonderful pals!