Nickerson News

My contractions are picking up. Last night after dinner, I was having one every half hour… some were closer together, some were further apart. I can’t believe how painful they are and am I not even in real labor!

I feel like there is so much pressure and pain that it really is making it hard to walk. How do some women have a ton of kids? I REALLY admire pregnant women after going through this experience.

Not too much else to report since I really haven’t left the house too much and when I do, I usually have help. Like yesterday, my sister Ali, came grocery shopping with me. Thanks Ali! The simplest things are getting hard to do.
I should spend some quality time with my kitty, Allister. He needs some TLC. He desperately needs a bath and a visit to the vet. His poor folded ear looks infected again. I can’t keep up with that ear!

I can’t even express how excited I am! Drum Roll, please….our new guest room is complete (minus a few little details). The walls are up and painted, the bed is in place and I have managed to even decorate it! This is a HUGE weight lifted off our shoulders. I am so thankful to my wonderful hubby and all the amazing people who have helped us with this undertaking. My wonderful mom and sister, Alison, spent their entire weekend helping us out. It was a true blessing. I have a great family! (pics to come soon)
In baby news, I had my 37 week check-up. Baby Nick is still measuring a week ahead, at 38 weeks, which just leads me to believe I have a tank in there. Although, I know I’m huge, I really don’t need other people telling me I am. Like, this morning… A women ask me if I was due soon and I said “yes, very soon” and she replies, “Must be a big baby!”. Seriously, what is wrong with people! I can’t wait for the comments to stop, although I am sure there will be new comments like, “oh, you need to put a hat on that baby” or “your baby sure is big” or “too small for his age”. Stop it with the comments people and keep them to yourself. Ok, enough of my little rampage.

I am only 20% effaced so it doesn’t look like he is coming this week, which I know could change at any given moment. Seth and I are just prepared now that if it happens now, we feel as ready as ever. Next Monday, June 4th, we should know more if and when I am going to get induced.

As for me, I’m can’t sleep. I’m pretty much up all night peeing and then around 4:30/5:00 I just can’t sleep anymore. So, I usually get up b/c I can tell I am keeping Seth up. But now, if he wants to he can easily go downstairs to our guest room for a decent night of sleep.

Here is what is happening this week: baby-gaga.com

It’s the calm before the storm… developmentally speaking anyway. Changes in your baby’s weight have leveled off with only a few ounces of fat added this week. At this point your baby should weigh in at around 7 lbs and 20 inches (with boys somewhat heavier and longer than girls). Happily, as far as internal organs go, they are now developed enough to function in the outside world although the oh-so-important immune system is still developing and will continue to do so after birth. With a large boost of antibodies provided by breast milk when nursing begins. Fighting infection and staying healthy should be well within their physical capacity when your little fighter is born. Your baby is now considered full-term.

Thanks everyone for your predictions. Please keep sending them.

I know, I will probably have an 8lb child (and obviously, so does everyone else), but I just didn’t want to say it b/c I have a hard time imagining pushing out an 8lb baby.

Maternity leave….here I come. I decided that this is going to be my last week of work. I was going to work till the end of May, but I have been struggling the last few days. I have been in quite a bit of pain, so I just figured I probably wasn’t the best organizer right now. Thankfully, I have lot and lots of photo organizing work that I can do here at home before the baby comes.

I finally had to break down and buy the maternity belt. My midwife instructed me that I needed to get one, because my little tank is way too big for my short self to carry around. I put that belt on and can’t believe I have waited so long to get one. It is a huge help!

We had a great weekend. We attended our birthing class on Sat. morning and they actually didn’t care that this was our first baby. At the “refresher course” we learned so much, and poor Seth, his eyes saw more then he ever wanted to see. After that, we had our pregnancy shoot by our friend Allison, which was so much fun. Then her hubby, Chad, met up with us for dinner and we had a blast just catching up and eating Mexican. (An activity we do quite often with them):)

You can take a sneak peek at a few pictures from the shoot at allisonmorganphotography.com under her portfolio.

I had my 36 check-up and Baby Nick had a huge growth spurt last week-no wonder I was in so much pain. He is measuring in at 37 weeks. I started having contractions last week and boy do they hurt! Since he is growing so much and I am so small, they may induce me even earlier, but they are just going to see what happens each week.
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
We want to know when you think Baby Nick is coming and how much he will weigh.

I think my little guy will get here on June 8 weighing in at 7lb 13 oz.

What do you think? Let us know your predictions by leaving us a comment.

Here is what is happening this week: baby-gaga.com

The countdown continues… and in fetal developments: most of the bones (soft skull aside) in their little body are now completely hardened, providing a solid structure from which they can now make their grand debut. In physical fitness news: their muscle tone has also improved over these past few weeks, and you’ll definitely be impressed by their steel-like Ulnar grasp (a newborn reflex that occurs if you lay your finger in their palm). Finally, in the fluids/excretion department: the amniotic fluid-to-baby ratio has fallen over these past weeks, although they’re still swallowing fluid (building up even more meconium for that historic first poop), and some vernix caseosa. They will be more than ready to swallow and digest milk after birth. Just in case you didn’t get it quite yet: you’ve got yourself an adorable and hungry 6.5 lbs 20 inch baby—are you ready?