ILL

To me Fall means a chill in the air, the smell of a charcoal grill, a bloody mary with your breakfast brat, a really good tailgating playlist courtesy of Ryan or Rich Bosch, and Illini football. If you were going to grow up in the Bosch family, you were going to have this family tradition instilled in you. I've loved this time of year since I can remember. And there are pictures, and bad perms, that go way back to show we've been doing this for a long, long time. When you open your front door on that first football Saturday, and it "smells like football", Fall has arrived.  

So, of course, my son will spend many a Saturday tailgating with the family, listening to his Grandpa Bosch & great Uncles argue over the game, the coach, the players, who watered down the field for that Casey game back in HS, and cursing the Illini like we all do. Yes, we know they suck. Maybe we're gluttons for punishment. Most of us are Cubs fans, too. Maybe it's our love for the Chief and the football atmosphere. Whatever it is, it's tradition. I wouldn't have it any other way.

I had someone make this Illini diaper cover and bow tie for me - I couldn't help myself!

And, yes, I'm still pregnant :)  I almost can't believe I'll be 39 weeks tomorrow. I am starting to slowly notice some changes - normal stuff. My DR asked if I wanted to be induced this week. I quickly responded "no". I don't want to rush this. He has to come sooner or later, and he will come when he is ready. I spent 8 weeks not doing anything. I'm really enjoying this "Me" time. No need to rush it. It's kind of fun to wonder when the day will be. And if I feel great, might as well keep trucking on.

ILL - INI!!

38 Week Pictures

I went out to my friend Laura's house last night to get another picture taken. Have I mentioned how awesome she is?! I am so happy with the photos we've taken to document my pregnancy. I can't wait to see what she comes up with for the newborn pics! We're working on some ideas, and I'm very excited for them.

We're not sure how many more pregnancy pictures we'll get to snap, so I'm glad to get in what I can. Maybe we'll get to take another one next week?

Laura is 33 weeks pregnant with her third baby. She has 2 adorable little boys. Laura and I were college roommates, and have known each other for about 11 years now. It's fun to be able to share this special time with her. Doesn't she look so pretty!!

I'm nesting like crazy since I've been off bed rest. I was already a super organized neat freak. Now it's on a whole other level. You might call it a crazy level. For instance, I was rudely awakend at 4am by one of my precious cats (Lily) pouncing off me for fun. I couldn't go back to sleep. I really wanted to go downstairs and organize a cabinet. I made myself wait until 6:30am.


Some of my family came over today to help get some last minute projects done. God bless Bryan, my mom, grandparents and frousin, Kristen. We got SO much done. I know everyone is probably so tired. I really appreciate the hard work. I was telling them that no one will ever want to come see me again because I put people to work when they're here. There should be a lull in activity for awhile, until the next big project I come up with :-).

38 Weeks

It has been 1 full week since I've been released from bed rest. I'm so happy that he's still safe and sound, and we've reached 38 weeks! He's pretty much all developed now. My doctor hasn't taken his measurements in awhile, but he's probably close to 7lbs & 20in. He is ready to go in the real world. At my appointment this week my doctor told me I'm 1 - 2 cm dilated. What does that mean? Nothing, really. I can stay this way for a couple of weeks, or I could go into labor. I'll get checked again next week. That will give us a better idea of how I'm progressing......or not. I have this feeling that he is pretty comfy in there, and I'll probably be overdue after all of the stress & bed rest. All that matters is having a healthy baby.

I've played catch up this last week. I got a lot of things done that had been looming over me. I even went back to work. I was a little apprehensive about that, but it hasn't been bad at all. It's so nice to see my coworkers again, and to just get back into a normal routine. I'm pretty wiped by about 1pm, but what 9 month pregnant woman wouldn't be? I actually have come home every day after work and, get this, laid on my couch. My couch, my nemesis. I long for it while I'm at work. Go figure!

I'm going to keep on enjoying these last few weeks/days of me time, and Bryan and me time. Soon there will be an exciting, new chapter in our lives......the 3 of us! EEEEK!

Freedom!

Waking up this morning took me back to my childhood. It was just like waking up on Christmas morning. I could do anything I wanted to do today, within reason of course. Today I am 37 weeks - full term! I no longer have to stress about having a premie, I am going to have a termie!

This morning I got up, got ready, threw a load in the washer, organized the freezer and a couple of cabinets, and then I needed to sit down. I went to get my eyebrows waxed, get a pedicure, have lunch with a friend, and then back to the house for a nap. I got a much needed haircut, then back home to sit on the couch. Bryan & I also finally got to go on a date. We went to our favorite resaurant (Station 220) & had a delicious dinner. I even took a bite of his rare steak - I am so bad! Rare steak is my favorite, and I have missed it dearly during this pregnancy.

I have a ways to go before I get some stamina back. I am now experiencing what it feels like to carry baby weight, and to just be pregnant. It makes me happy.

This was my fortune from lunch today:

Dear Little Man - this is not an invitation for you to come now. Please stay comfy a while longer.
Love, Mama.

As my night winds down, I'm going to finish celebrating my freedom with some alcohol free wine (no, I did not feel awkward waddling in to Friar Tuck today), tv time & my couch. It's crazy that I even want to be on my couch right now. But I'm choosing to be here, not forced, and it feels damn good.

Free at last. Free. At. Last.

Bed Rest Birthday

While not the best birthday I've ever had, it wasn't too bad. I had kind of forgotten about my birthday until last week. My main focus has been on Thursday (Operation: Freedom!). But I woke up this morning and decided to do things a little different today, as much as I could, to make it feel more like a birthday. So what did I do differently you ask?


- I got dressed, in real clothes, including a bra!
- Bryan gave me some nice b-day gifts (my favorite being a "Baby's 1st Christmas" ornament).
- I drank some coffee & had a fried egg sandwich.....WITH ham! OW!
- I wrote some thank-you's.
- I went to the doctor. OW OW!
- I laid out in the sun while listening to Four Tops radio on Pandora.
- I had a few visitors.
- I started Vampire Diaries, Season 3.
- Bryan grilled some yummy dinner.
- And all day long I got really nice phone calls, texts, emails & FB messages.


So all in all it was a pretty decent day. And if I weren't on bed rest, this is probably exactly what I would have wanted to do - take the day off and do nothing. I'll really celebrate come Thursday. Ah, Thursday. The day I've been counting down to for 57 days now. I'll be 37 weeks....Full Term!!

Approximately 26 more hours to go & I get to be a independent woman again. Not that I'm counting hours or anything.

36 Weeks + 4 Days

I got to go home this past weekend for the Bosch family shower. It was so nice getting out of Bloomington, and just getting a change in scenery. It felt wonderful to lay on other people's couches for a couple of days. And the shower was so nice. My friend, Kristen, did such a great job putting it together. So many cute details. She even got my dad, brother, uncles, cousins & grandpa to share their words of wisdom. Some made me tear up. It was very special.

Bosch Family Shower, 08/11/12 - Animal Theme

The woman who made my wedding cake made these cookies

Me and the hostess, Kristen Bosch

Showers

The things I've had to look forward to, besides my daily meals, are my showers. My DR said I could go as long as I lay for the majority of the time I'm there. Yeah, it stinks not being able to walk around and socialize, but it's so nice to be among people. I've had 2 awesome showers so far, and 1 more coming up with my family!

Nickel Family Shower, 7/22/12 - Jungle Theme

  

 

Bryan's grandma made this cute fruit spread.
  

Proof that I am taking it easy & that my kid has
awesome Converse socks.



Me with the hostesses, Jill Nickel & Ann Baugh.
They put together a cute shower!

Friend Shower, 8/4/12 - Sweet Pea Theme

My friend, Leslie, made the cake. Cute & delish!

Me & the hostess, Amanda Hager.
She did an amazing job. Loved the perfect, little details!

Me & my best buddy, Aidan.
He really just wants a sucker at this point.



 Stay tuned for pics from the Bosch Family Shower.

2 More Week, 2 More Weeks!

35 Weeks

2 more weeks. That is my chant these days.  I am now 35 weeks. Only 13 more days of BR. I can totally do this. I can tell little man is growing. His kicks and jabs are getting stronger each day. I don't mind, though. This is good. You may not know this about me, but I love lists. I love making them, and crossing off the things that I've accomplished. I'll even write something down that I've already done just so I can cross it off. Love lists. I've started making lists of all of the things I want & need to do. First on the list, a much needed haircut & pedicure. I can't wait to run errands, go on a date with my husband, visit friends, prune my flowers, pack my hospital bag, never be at my house! Oh, who am I kidding. I'll still be at my house. I'll probably go out on my first adventure, and need to come back home for a nap. But at least I'll have the freedom to do whatever I want, if I want.

Until I can do what I want, I must say thank God for the Olympics. It gives me hours of mindless television enjoyment all day long. I know more about the USA swimming and gymnastics teams than I ever thought I could. And quite frankly, I'm getting a gold medal in the bed rest Olympics. Speaking of tv, daytime television is terrible. I now know why I never watch live TV, and only watch what I DVR. Have you seen My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding or whatever it is called? OMG, I can't believe what the world is coming to. I'm not dissing the Gypsy culture (well maybe a little, sorry if you're a Gypsy). I do understand that everyone is different. But their behavior is just unacceptable. Lord have mercy. And why, WHY, is that crap on TV? And don't get me started on this Honey Boo Boo girl. That just makes me want to vomit. What I'm trying to say is, I hate TV.

Changing topics. This is my older cat, Lily. She will be 9 this month, which I can't believe. It's only fitting to pay her homage. She was the first cat I got on my own during college. She was the most curious kitten in the litter, and kept trying to jump out of the pen into my arms. She was the one I had to get. She is still that little kitten in many ways, and VERY curious. But she is often very mature and thinks she's above everyone else. She has lots of personalities. She loves to escape outside whenever the door opens. She loves to explore the counters and the top of the fridge when we're not looking (this is bad!), and she really loves to lick my cast iron skillet when it's not in use (very, very bad!). God only knows how often she did that before I caught on. The skillet is no longer out. She's kind of like a dog. She begs for food, and will even sneak bites off your plate if you're not looking. I have caught her with her whole head in my glass of milk many of times. She also loves to play hide and seek, but only for a couple of minutes. Then she gets embarrased she was caught playing a "baby game". She used to love me. Now she only loves Bryan, as you can see in this picture. She ignores me all day, but will come downstairs when Bryan comes home for lunch. Then it's right back upstairs to nap. The only time she pays me any attention is in the morning while I get ready. She loves to get ready with me. She sits on the counter and watches me, talks to me, drinks water out of the sink, then she kicks me to the curb. I get it, she is a lady with a schedule. She does the same things at pretty much the exact same time every day. It's after 12pm. I can tell you without going to look that she is asleep in my closet on my tank tops at this exact moment. I'm sure my daily presence is a huge annoyance to her life right now. But I love her, and all of her rottenness. Happy Birthday! 

I must add that she did bite Bryan's finger right after this picture was taken. That made me feel better.