35 Weeks

  Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that she's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew). Because it's so snug in your womb, she isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times she kicks should remain about the same. Her kidneys are fully developed now, and her liver can process some waste products. Most of her basic physical development is now complete – she'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

" Dial P for Poppy"

Dennis Hugo Lindstedt, Zack's grandfather, was born on October 2, 1930 and passed September 23, 2010. Just shy of his 80th birthday. As you all know, he was diagnosed with esophagus cancer and decided to have surgery to remove it. Unfortunately, since his surgery it was complication after complication. By the time he passed away at Madison Hospital he had spent 100 days there. Through the entire ordeal Poppy kept fighting and stayed very positive. Dennis was a man of MUCH integrity. He loved his family dearly and always put us first. Zack and I will miss him terribly! We would always be excited to see him down at Zack's moms for the holidays. Thanksgiving: He would have come with his great turkey and relaxed in the living room with a glass of ,his favorite, Brandy and a shot of water.He also would have met one more of his great grandchildren by that time ( Payton). Christmas: He would have came with his great ham and spoke of times he might of let the fire get a little to big when he was making" Glug" for " Glug Nights" in the past. My family also got to know Dennis and become close with him because family was so important to him. At Christmas time he always made it a point to come to my mom's Christmas eve open house. He always said that the "Swedes" and the "Polaks" had something in common.......good FOOD : ) and he was right. We ALL loved him so and will miss him dearly. And we will never forget one of his great lines. If you needed anything or were in any kind of trouble always remember to "Dial P for Poppy".

34 Weeks

    Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers – which she'll need to regulate her body temperature once she's born – are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies. Babycenter.com

I can't believe I am at 34 weeks! I am literally half way through my LAST trimester and I am definitely ready! Zack and I just can't wait to finally meet our 'Lil Sweetness! I am getting more tired lately. Taking as many naps as I can. One ... because I am starting to slow down and Two... because I have been told abundantly that once baby comes you will never sleep LOL. I am trying to get as much rest as I can. This past weekend Zack got to go do an overnight in Iowa with his closest friends. They all went to a wedding reception together and had a great time. One last hurrah for daddy to be. I went to my good friends Sarah's bachelorette party and Carin's wedding shower.  Zack's brother , Nick, who lives in California decided to come home and visit for about a week so we are excited to be able to spend time with him. It is crazy that in my last trimester Zack and I are the MOST busy with friends and families celebrations and obligations! Maybe it will make these last final weeks fly by

33 Weeks

   This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. She is rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and her skeleton is hardening. The bones in her skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for her to fit through the birth canal. These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as her brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

   Oh boy, we are getting closer! Zack and I had our baby express class and got informed from everything to car seats to delivery! Lets just say it was the baby crash course! We did get to take a tour of the labor and delivery area at Sherman hospital where I will be delivering. Very nice private single suites as rooms. Payton's nursery is officially all set up for her to come home. Now it is just the waiting game or should I say countdown.

My AWESOME Baby Shower!

My sister, Annie, planned a most amazing baby shower for me! We had it at my mom's house and my mom made all the food. My mom made all my favorites! Chicken salad, pasta salad, chopped salad,cheese and sausage, veggie tray, cheese ball dip,etc. YUMMY! Thank you SO much mom! Annie is the best party planner. She did not miss a single detail. The theme of my shower was " The Apple of Our Eye" which was the cutest theme ever! We had one shower for all of our family and friends, and everybody was able to come! We ate. Played awesome games like "The Price is Right", baby style. Also Annie interviewed Zack with questions about fatherhood and Payton's firsts , and I had to guess his answers. I thought that was so much fun and sweet. We have such caring and generous people in our lives, and we cannot thank everybody enough. We have every necessary item to bring baby home. PLUS Payton has an amazing library AND wardrobe already, e lol! Thank you again to ALL of our friends and family. We had an amazing time!

We had Carmel Apples wrapped up as our favors! To CuteAnnie put up a clothes line full of outfits for Payton that matched the theme instead of streamers! Loved it!The party planner herself and I! Thank you SO much Annie! It was amazing  and I loved every moment of it. My Mama and I. Thank you so much for everything you do! I hope I can be half as good as a mother to Payton then you have been to me. You are always so supportive,positive, sympathetic,caring, and every other amazing adjective in the book. I love you mom with ALL my heart......PLUS stop signs, lol!My mother-in-law Diane. Thank you for all your prepping and cutting skills! Can't wait for Payton to meet her Grandma Kerruish.

Zack got this from his Aunt Denise! It was great. The folder has " Application to date my daughter", etc.

32 Weeks

  By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth. -Babycenter.com

Zack and I went to our Doc appointment this morning and found out that Payton is positioned correctly ( head down) so far. She still has room to flip around and play but the doc says that she will most likely stay in the right position. We had a really good check-up once again. Baby is healthy and Mama is healthy. No swelling at all! This is something I have been trying to keep an eye on and a little worried about since I stand for my job. I am really excited that I am holding up in that department. We are going to move to a doctors appointment every two weeks now! I have to tell you for a women who very rarely went to the doctor EVER I am getting my fair share this past eight months and counting. LOL. I do absolutely love my midwife and I am glad we went with her. I am SO excited because this weekend Zack and I have our birthing express class, my bestie's bachelorette party, and then MY baby shower. My sister has planned my shower and she is an AMAZING party planner , so I can't wait to see all she has in store for me. Lots of festivities and pictures to come!

Cantigney Park, Here we come!

One of my Dearest clients is a retired band teacher. He has spent his retirement playing gigs ( conducting his many different ensembles) at different venues. My husband and I decided to go see his Big Band play at Cantigney Park and we dragged along my sister Annie, brother-in-law Jason, and niece Isabel. We all went a bit early so we could walk the grounds of Cantigney before we went to see the Big Band. I have not been to Cantigney since I was really young and I had such a great time being there again. The gardens at Cantigney are absolutely stunning and I can't wait to get back and spend a WHOLE day walking them. While we were there we got to look at their museums, some of the gardens, and listened to a Big Band play. We had such a beautiful day! Can't wait to plan more trips there in the future with Payton.

31 weeks and NOW I get it!

  This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. She weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. She can turn her head from side to side, and her arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath her skin. She's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.  Babycenter.com
   I would have to say That through out my pregnancy I have had it pretty easy compared  to the horror stories you hear from other women ( or maybe I was just so psyched out by  all the horror stories) but NOW I get it. I still really can't complain compared to some but it seems as if Payton decided to hold off on mommy until .....bam.... the third trimester. The other day marked over 24 hours straight of horrible acid reflex ( tums aren't cutting it, lol) no sleep, and Payton was pushing so high up into my ribs I think she is confused which exit she is supposed to come out of. She is getting so big it is pretty funny to watch my stomach. Like I have said our whole pregnancy she is a mover and a shaker and just because she should slowly be living in tighter quarters that is not stopping her by any means! I can't know for sure until the next doctors appointment exactly how she is positioned but I do feel like  she is  literally sticking her butt out as far as she can as if to shake it for us! LOL. Zack and I are so excited for our birthing class AND baby shower next weekend. After that Mommy and Daddy should be really ready for Payton to arrive!