Baby shower fun!

Well, I had my first baby shower over the weekend. It was thrown by my coworkers, and spouses and rugrats were welcome. It was sooo much fun. There were five children, but I swear it seemed like 20, especially when two were screaming at the same time. Seeing all these little ones, when two years ago only one of them was even born, made it really hit home for me that I'm going to have my own little girl very soon, and she's going to grow up very fast! Here's a link to my facebook photo album. Check it out to see how much fun it was. There are plenty of cute baby pictures to oo and ahh at. :)

Below are a few of the gifts I received. I loved everything I got!

Gorgeous hand-made quilt from Andrea:

Hungry Catterpillar stacking rings was the hit of the party with the kids:

I am going to have to get a smaller size of this adorable 3T dress. I can't wait 3 years to put Aly in it:

PINK butterfly dress. Mom will love putting Aly in this:

And we're in the final stretch!

Yesterday marked the start of week 28, which means I have begun the third trimester. It's true what they say: Pregnancy really does go by faster than you think. I still feel like June will take forever to get here, but hey, I do have two thirds of my pregnancy behind me. What's one more third?

This morning I had to take my 1-hour glucose test to find out if I have gestational diabetes. Aly really enjoyed those first 10 minutes after I drank what tasted like a flat Sunkist. She was bouncing off the walls of her little home, and I swear I heard a teeny "wahoo!" from under my skin. Then, my tiny little child with way too much sugar in her system did what all kids will do — she crashed. I didn't feel her for the last 50 minutes of waiting or while I was being drained of blood. I only felt her after I got home, because she got the hiccups. Now she's sleeping again. Poor little sugar-filled baby.

I don't think I'll know until my next OB appt. (next week) about whether I have gestational diabetes. I don't think I do, but the test will tell for sure! (Or it will tell for maybe, and I'll have to go back for a 3-hour test.)

Maternity Tour

Today I had childbirth/infant care class, followed by a tour of the maternity ward at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital. I'm very impressed with the private mother-baby suites. There currently are 12 rooms in which mother labors, delivers, and recovers, and there will be many more ready by June or July.


At Shady Grove, they never separate mother and baby (unless you do C-section, and then it's only for a very short time), so the baby even sleeps in the room. They have jacuzzi tubs in every room, which you're welcome to labor in. They can equip the rooms with squatting bars if you want to attempt giving birth that way. They also allow you to control the lights (high vs. dim) and play any music or dvds you want to in order to keep yourself relaxed.They have birthing balls (just a few) if you want to use those to keep relaxed, but suggest you bring your own in case they're all in use. All in all, I was very impressed and am looking forward to giving birth there.

Basically, the environment is much like being at home and you have freedom to labor in any way that you'd like to try. I'm pretty sure I'm going to try both the jacuzzi while laboring and the squatting for delivery. I'm really happy I chose this hospital and am looking forward to a "pleasant" birthing experience. Of course pleasant is in quotes, because I do know the reality of the pain and hard work involved!