Brooke Week 1

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Brooke is HERE!!

Check out who won the baby pool!
www.bebepool.com/brookewerner

Doesn't seem fair, does it?  :-P

Will post pictures soon!!

39-40 Weeks

Think this will be my last post???  We sure hope so!  
We had our 39 weeks and 5 day check up yesterday and Brooke seems to be preparing herself.  I am 60-70% efface and a 1/2 centimeter dilated.  Our next appointment is a week from today and if we make it that far then we will have an ultrasound, non-stress test and a doctors appointment (all standard procedure post-term).  At that time, they will also schedule an induction date early the following week (probably).
The good news is the past two evenings, I have had regular braxton hicks contractions that have felt stronger than they have before and last night was stronger than the night before.  HOWEVER, they go away when I lay down.  BOOOOOO.  Hoping this is a slow lead up to the real thing!  If it is any indication how labor will start, looks like it will be in the middle of the night!
Adam is trying to get any last minute work done and I am trying to keep the house fairly straight so when it is time, we are ready!  Everything is packed and sitting in Brooke's room, just waiting for the green light.

Mood: I am anxious and starting to be impatient.  After last nights "contractions" it made me a little nervous knowing this is going to happen anytime, whether we are ready or not!  I am trying to keep myself busy.

Energy: Probably the same as last week.  I have been trying to stay very busy, but some days I need more sleep than others.  I am up almost every hour at night and some nights can't get back to sleep, so after a few of those in a row, I usually take a nap during the day.

Cravings: I'm just not in the mood to watch what I eat anymore.  Just give me the sweets!!!!  HAHA!  (I get full much faster though!) 

Nausea: Last night when I was having the strong braxton hicks, I felt nauseous.  Not sure if it was just last night or if this will happen regularly. 

Total Weight Gain: 31 pounds 

BEW update (per Babycenter):
39 Weeks:
Your baby's waiting to greet the world! He continues to build a layer of fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it's likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, a mini watermelon. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) The outer layers of his skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.

40 Weeks:
It's hard to say for sure how big your baby will be, but the average newborn weighs about 7 1/2 pounds (a small pumpkin) and is about 20 inches long. His skull bones are not yet fused, which allows them to overlap a bit if it's a snug fit through the birth canal during labor. This so-called "molding" is the reason your baby's noggin may look a little conehead-ish after birth. Rest assured — it's normal and temporary.

38 Weeks

I'm a little late posting this week, because technically tomorrow I will be 39 weeks!  YIKES!!  We are going to have a baby girl before we know it!  I am so excited and yet starting to get nervous again.  We had our check up with Dr. Adams yesterday and she said that Miss Brooke has definitely dropped very low and my body is preparing itself!  (No dilation yet, but all other signs are good!)  Dad told me that Mom had contractions before her water broke, so I'm hoping she passes that on to me, so there are no "surprises" and we can slowly prepare to leave for the hospital. (AKA, we can shower, etc.)
Brooke's heartrate is at 160, so still in the normal range and she is still moving like crazy!  Giving me some good kicks and punches.  I also had my whooping cough shot yesterday, which the doctors recommend now, so I can pass immunities onto her before she is born.  There have been so many outbreaks of this lately, why take the chance!

Not that the Werner Family doesn't have enough excitement coming in the months ahead, but Adam also received amazing news at work.  AGAIN!!!  He was asked to be a part of the team that will open a new PHH office in Buffalo, NY.  NO, WE ARE NOT MOVING!!!  Adam, will be in Buffalo temporarily from April until possibly December, but no longer than that. It is an amazing career opportunity for him and huge resume booster.  I couldn't be more proud of Adam both for being such an amazing husband and not-too-distant future Daddy!

Mood: Adam is very ready.  He has been ready for weeks.  I think I am ready now, but after my appointment yesterday, knowing that she is really getting ready and could come anyday now; I am definitely more nervous!

Energy: Adam says I am getting my burst of energy and doing some major nesting right now.  We have non-stop things to do to feel like the house is clean and ready for her!
Cravings: Well, I feel like the same as normal, but considering I have gained 7 pounds in 3 weeks, I guess I am eating more?  Or she has had a huge growth spurt!! 

Nausea: None

Total Weight Gain: 31 pounds

BEW update (per Babycenter):
Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.

Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)

Baby Brooke Guessing Game!

http://bebepool.com/BrookeWerner

Yes, the time has come! Only 11 days to go, so we thought we would have a little fun over the next week to week and a half and have a Baby Pool to see when everyone thinks Miss Brooke Elizabeth Werner will arrive. Click on the link and enter your thoughts. We can't wait to see what everyone thinks!

Love,
Adam and Charlotte (aka DADDY AND MOMMY!!!!)

HINT: Her due date is October 19. :-)

37 Weeks = FULL TERM!!

Three (ish) weeks to go!!  Brooke is welcome to come anytime she likes at this point, although I have a feeling she will be late like her Mommy and Daddy!
Doctors appointment last week was informative.  We had the Group B Strep test and also checked if I am dilating yet and I am not.  I would have been very surprised if I was.  Her heart rate is still at a strong 140 and she is a growing little girl!  My iron is also still a little below the level they want in spite of my prescription, so I am *Attempting* to eat more broccoli.  I guess more than I was eating, at least!  Next appointment is tomorrow with Dr. Bing.

Daddy had a nice weekend of rest because he has been working so much, so I know he is ready for her to come too so that he can have a couple of weeks off!

We had our maternity pictures taken on Sunday by a very talented photographer named Megan Bond.  Didn't she do an AMAZING job?!?!?!?  She is still working on some of the editing, so I can't wait to order some prints once she is done.  We took them in her backyard and also at the front of our neighborhood.  Adam was such a good sport, because Megan and I both had a bunch of neat ideas from Pinterest that he had to try with us!  :-)

Mood: Getting excited!  At this point I am more excited than nervous, so I hope to stay that way!

Energy: Same as last week.  I am sleeping really well when I do sleep, so that is very helpful. It gives me the energy to get things done around the house after work.  I do nap every now and then, but probably only once a week or less.  Although, I hear from some mom's that I should "practice napping" so I have an easier time sleeping when she sleeps?  I was born a BOND; therefore, don't think I need the practice!  LOL

Cravings: No cravings other than the usual, but I feel like I am eating more, so I need to slow it down!

Nausea: None

Total Weight Gain: 28 pounds (ugh, almost to my max of 30, guess I will be going over that.  Poo!)

BEW update (per Babycenter):

Your baby is now considered "full term," even though your due date is three weeks away. If you go into labor now, his lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb. (Some babies need a bit more time, though. So if you're planning to have a repeat c-section, for example, your practitioner will schedule it for no earlier than 39 weeks unless there's a medical reason to intervene earlier.)

Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

Maternity Pictures

Our photographer is VERY talented!!

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