37 weeks

Full term! Today at my appointment the little guy had a strong heartbeat around 150, was wiggling and head down! I am 1cm dialated and 70% effaced. My prediction is that he arrives close to the due date but maybe a few days before.

Just a few days prior we had to go through quite a few hoops to get home. I figured that in order to fly at almost 37 weeks pregnant that I would need a doctor's note. My midwife was totally fine with me flying and readily gave me my note along with my medical records. Just to make sure I decided to call the airline to double check their policy for flying while pregnant. Its a good thing I called becasue United requires a doctor's note dated within 1-3 days of the flight if you are in your last month of pregnancy. I thought of just saying that I was 8 months pregnant instead of 9, but I'm a horrible liar. I also thought of getting my midwife to fax over a note, but it would have Bozeman OBGYN right at the top and might raise some red flags that I really hadn't seen a doctor in the last few days. So I called the practice that Hannah had gone to and hoped that I could see the midwife that delivered Lilly Geanne. Unfortunately they wouldn't see me just for one visit and told me I would have to go to the ER to get my doctor's note! The thought of spending 1/2 a day in the ER right after Christmas was really not appealing. Christmas day I called into the ER to see if there would be an OB scheduled that I could see.  Fortunately the ER manager thought that it would make more sense to send me to Labor and Delivery instead of going into the ER. So instead of shopping the post Christmas deals we headed to L & D at St Vincent which was the hospital that I was born at! They monitored Easton's hearbeat for about 30 minutes and my mom got to hear his strong hearbeat for the first time! The OB checked me and I was 1cm dialated but my cervix was still pretty far back. She gave me a clean bill of health to fly!

Armed with my doctor's note and my medical records I had no worries about my ability to get home to have this baby. Irronically enough, no one even asked me how far along I was in the Portland airport or Denver!

37 Week Belly!

An Oregon Christmas

Isabel and I spent almost the whole month of December in Oregon. The highlight of our trip was getting to meet our sweet little Lilly Geanne! Isabel wanted to hold her, and tickle her, and touch her, and snuggle with her... Some of the snuggles were a little too smothery but it was just so cute to see her interact so well with a newborn. I hope she does just as well when her baby brother arrives! 

Isabel got tons of quality time with both sets of grandparents and all of her aunts and uncles. Uncle Andy was definintly a favorite because he would let her watch as much Dora as she wanted, give her cookies and just all around spoil her rotten! While in Portland we went to the zoo to see the zoo lights and rode the train. She loved all the animal lights, but definitely didn't like the raindeer character! I think Disney Land is still a few years out. We also got to hear Tia Rosa sing at the Grotto. Nothing makes the season feel like Christmas like that serene peacful place. Rosa's choir sounded like angels, and almost everyone heard her yell "yay Rosa" when they were done singing! 

We also went up to Seattle for a night to visit the Crow family and see their new home in the heart of Seattle. She adored little Banks (who at almost 6 months old really wasn't little). She would get down on the floor with him and give him toys and try to tickle his belly. A couple times she actually tried to pick him up and take him away from me so that she could hold him! She sure does love babies!

As is our tradition, we spent Christmas Eve with the Brinkers, and Christmas Day with the Fraleys. This little girl was pretty spoiled! She picked up on opening presents pretty fast!

Reading this book was Isabel's nightly routine with Poppa!

"Big hug!" for Uncle Luc!

Our baby boy has a name!

We got our Christmas presents for next year early! 

Ma's creative way to gift some cash

A Fraley Christmas!

Tim's wrapping included personalized artwork - apperently I'm having 7 kids!

Wizzard Isabel defending her cave from he evil cow (she was afraid of a little toy cow that mooed)

Dave as the "Great White Hunter"

The name Easton Antonio brought my mom to tears

My cuddle buddy Lilly Geanne

I'm sure this is going to taste really good after a day of cooking, cleaning, changing diapers, nursing...

WWe were spoiled with the love of our families, and miss everyone terribly already. I really feel that this trip helped Isabel to bond and connect with her family and vice versa. It had been 4 months since she had seen the Fraleys and everyone was pretty amazed at how much she had changed and developed. Next time we go back to Oregon to see the fam we will have a whole new little person to introduce to them!

Pregnancy Photoshoot

While in Oregon, Isabel, the BabyBoyBump and I took a little road trip up to Seattle to visit the Crows in their new city home! While there I was going to do a pregnancy shoot with our favorite photographer, Clane Gessel who did our wedding and Fraley Family photos. He ended up not being able to make it so Sara did the photos instead! We walked down to Green Lake with the kiddos on a drissly morning, and Sara worked her magic.

 I'm thrilled that we have these beautiful photos of Isabel and I, and our little Easton in the last month of his womb home. They are treasures!