36 Weeks...So Close!!

We had our first weekly appointment today! Everything is well and baby boy is right on schedule. My belly is measuring 34 cm and he is head down! His heart beat is in the 120's and I absolutely cannot wait to have this little man!

Other than that, nothing new! Next week we will check if any dilation is happening...everyone cross your fingers! P.S. I promise I won't post pictures of any dilated cervics!

Where Are You Christmas?!?

My goodness, before we knew it our Christmas was over and we were waking up with the roosters on Monday morning to mope back into work! I am a terrible blogger considering I took all of three pictures over the Holiday and they were of our backyard snow piles and our adorable puppy-monster.

Poor Bode-Ode in the snow that was waaaaay too deep for his short stumps!

We hope everyone had a fantastic Christmas! We celebrated our first Christmas as husband and wife as equally as possible, spreading ourselves thin between all of our family gatherings. Everyone was very understanding and we made it everywhere we needed and wanted to be!

My dear husband was a bit worried that we were going to get more things for the baby than we were going to get for ourselves...However, we made out just fine. No one was forgotten, including little "P.J." at the Gawkowski's! I hate to break it to them, but Peter Jackson Edward Daniel Gawkowski is a bit extreme. Everyone, rest assured we will have a proper name for this child...Even if you have to wait until he bounces into the world!!

Christmas and belly pictures to follow! We have a doctor's appointment tomorrow! Here's crossing our fingers that our little man's arrival is not far off!

Bode Helping Mommy cook Grandpa G's Lasagna Dinner

35 Weeks!! Doctor's appointment tomorrow!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree!

This weekend we had an extra busy schedule in front of us...For once.

Friday we had my work Christmas party in Cascade which was beautiful. Great food and drinks as well as some quality time with my boss and his wife, who are both great people!

Saturday we had family obligations to go to Pete's mom's family get-together. It was all of Becky's aunts and uncles from her mom's side. Unfortunately, I never got to know Becky's mom. So the next best thing was their family Christmas party.

Sunday...The day I thought for sure Pete was going to hang himself from any tree in sight. Not only was it Pete, Bode, and I, but my two sisters came along with us to get a Christmas tree...Now, keep in mind I normally cut the tree, tie it to the car, and set it up when we get home. Considering I am 33 weeks pregnant, I wasn't going to be playing Paul Bunyan on this trip.

What a good sport he was though, that Pete. Three Furman women all telling him which tree they think HE should cut down. We finally got both trees to their assigned homes and I must say, my husband did a wonderful job trimming!

All of the ornaments we have hanging on our tree are a combination of Pete's and my collections from years passed. It looks so cute. Needless to say, I am very proud of our first Christmas tree as a semi-complete family.

We wish our little man could be here for this Christmas. Nani said that would be the perfect present for her this year. Just a cuddly little baby for her...Small expectations, right?!? However, he is in for one great Christmas, even if he isn't physically here. We can't wait to have him help us pick out our next tree!

Bode had a great time as well! We can't forget about the puppy dog! We weren't going to let him run around with us until Auntie Ashy insisted he come out of the truck and help us pick out that perfect first Christmas Tree of his! So he treaded right along with his Aunt sniffing out that perfect tree for his house. He stuck right alongside Ashley and even posed for a few pictures for his Aunt Laura, who cataloged the whole experience with her camera as well.

So when we returned home, Bode was right next to Mommy while she decorated the tree with lights and ornaments. You can see in the picture we do not necessarily trust the Bodester enough to have our ornaments on the lower third of the tree. Maybe someday he will be trusted!!

I think he was a bit worn out though at the end of the day...

Contractions = Trip Down Memory Lane

Along with my growing belly and frequent "Practice" contractions, I decided that an update was much needed for my devoted "Belly Followers". So I decided to put all of our belly pictures in one post so everyone can see how large this child has actually made me! They start at four months and progress to tonight. WARNING: IMAGES MAY BE GRAPHIC TO SOME...Hahahahahaha!! Enjoy!

Four Months: Does anyone remember my body looking like this? Because I DO NOT!

Five Months


Six Months

Seven Months

Seven Months

Nearing 33 Week Mark! I think he is growing by the minute...I keep telling Petey he wants out. For some reason my dear husband won't take me seriously!

Learning The Tricks of the Trade (If There Are Any!)

This weekend we took part in Hackley Hospital's ever informational "Expectant Parenting Class". To a 32 weeks pregnant woman, the class was entertaining, emotional, and shocking to name a few benefits. To her husband who had fifteen other things to do--that by the way he never did actually identify--it was a bit much.

There is nothing like a video of an actual childbirth to make you think, "Holy Sh*t! What did I sign up for?!?!" To be perfectly honest, I am not afraid of the pain...Let's face it, it's not going to be comfortable...We know this. The thing that makes me uneasy and a bit stressed out, is the thought of Pete's emotions through this whole thing. Knowing that he is going to be a wreck, sitting there watching me go through this and knowing that there is nothing he can do (Other than get in my face and count to 5 on his fingers like the idiot man in the video--He knows better...BELIEVE ME!).

All in all, it was a shorter day than what we had planned on, both agreeing that was a good thing. Parenthood is such a complex adventure that we feel the need to take in life. Although it starts out filled with expletives and baby goo, we cannot wait for the looks of love and admiration we someday get from our children.

We're starting to understand our parents more and more everyday...There mom, I said it.

Bulging Bellies

I just posted those belly pictures, and already I feel like I have grown larger...and larger...and larger! However, for my sanity and self-esteem I'm going to keep the posts to every two weeks like my doctor's appointments.

Also, does anyone know how to hide your ribs from an active 7 1/2 month fetus?!? Just an inquiry :-)

30 Weeks

For those of you who wish to see more belly, here ya go! He's getting so big as we near the end. It is so hard to believe that we are almost 32 weeks into this!! We have another check-up this Thursday. Then on Saturday, we are devoting our day to an expectant parent class. Pete is EXCITED to say the least. Stay tuned for more weekly "belly shots"...Oh what our lives have come to!! It is fun though!! ENJOY :-)