Harper Wynne

Hello all! I can't believe I'm just 1 day from my due date. It's getting very exciting and knowing that Mom will be here soon is so comforting...I'm glad Harper has stayed on board till now, but as soon as MeMe lands it can be go time! I wanted to let everyone know ahead of the big arrival that I'm going to be switching my posts from "public" (anyone online can view) to "private for friends and family" (you must register with vox.com and then I'll add you to my blog list). I'm not particularly worried about sharing photos, but I do want to keep Harper's photos private until she is old enough to start writing her own blog! So, I thought I would go ahead and set up this post as "public" and another post with a really cute picture of Jeff & me as private. Give registering a shot (I'll inlcude steps on how to below) and let me know if you have any problems viewing the other post. Thank you all for reading my blog, and don't let registering scare you. You can click to "save your registration" info and that way you shouldn't have to log in more than once.

1. Click “Join Vox” at the top left corner of Harper’s baby page (or log in if you already have an account...many of you that have left comments in the past already created an account so use that one and skip to step 4)
   
2. Fill out the info on the right including name, email, age, etc. and click “Sign up” (I never get any spam messages from vox so sharing your email will be safe…you will get a weekly digest email that will tell you of any new posts on Harper’s blog…you can turn this off if you want.)
3. You’ll then receive an email with a code in it to complete your registration. Copy the code and paste it into the box that says “enter code” and click Confirm Account or click the link in the email.
4. Go to Harper’s blog: http://baby.slaydenmitchell.com
5. Click “Add Harper Wynne to your neighborhood”. A box will pop up where you can check if you are a friend or family. Click one and then click “Save.”
6. Once you do this, I’ll get a message alerting me that you’ve registered & I’ll add you to Harper’s neighborhood so you can see all of the private posts!
7. Let me know if you have any questions…sorry it’s a long process, but better safe than sorry!

We had a good checkup today. Her heartbeat was strong and she is still head down (which I was worried about because she has been really active and I was afraid she flipped back over, but that wasn't the case). The doctor said I didn't appear to be any closer to labor than I was last week so as a "just in case" she went ahead and put me on the calendar for an induction to begin late next week probably around Thursday evening. Even though I was hoping we had a made a little progress since last week, I was pleased that the timing still gives her over a week to make her debut on her own, and as Jeff said it is nice having an end date in mind. She said the induction may take awhile though so even if I go on in Thursday, Harper may not be born till Saturday which means we won't get home till Monday or so. But, as long as I know she is in good hands we'll be fine venturing on in to Thanksgiving week. But, we'll keep praying and see if maybe she comes on her own before then...but after Saturday when MeMe arrives!

They delivered the new glider, courtesy of MeMe and Granddaddy, this morning. Jeff & I assembled it tonight which only involved removing one tag and turning 4 screws. We've both taken our first glides in it and it's awesome! We love it and hope Harper will enjoy many naps after swaying in its arms! Check out the photos below for before and after!

Friday was my last day at work (woo-hoo), so I've been enjoying being on maternity leave for the entire week. It's been fantastic. I've gotten lots of little things done, but have mainly been resting and taking daily naps. Major is thrilled that I've been home most of the day so he's getting quite spoiled. But, all the extra activity makes him very tired at nighttime so he doesn't wake us up early banging on his gate because he wants to come play!
I went to my 38 week check-up yesterday and we're still progressing well! She's measuring right on target, her heartbeat was great, and the doctor said she expects to see me at my next appointment (meaning I probably won't go into labor for another week). It was really funny when she put the jelly on my belly to listen to the baby's heartbeat. It sounded good, so she wiped it off and turned around and asked "How is she moving? Lots of kicks?" I just laughed because I was still lying flat on my back with my belly showing and Harper was just dancing all around. My belly was literally vibrating. The doctor turned back around and looked at my belly and just laughed and said "Well, I guess that answers my question well!" When I was leaving, she added "See you next week...or at the hospital"...which was a little wake-up call that even though I feel no labor pains yet it could happen any minute!
I'm closing the baby pool no Saturday which is one day shy of my 39th week...so get your guesses in now!

I had my 37 week checkup today. Everything went great! Her heartbeat was perfect and she's measuring right on target. My blood pressure was fine and the doctor said she can tell she is definitely still head down and doesn't expect her to show up anytime soon. I haven't started having any "practice" contractions or braxton hicks yet, and she said that is another sign that birth is not right around the corner just yet. I'm really looking forward to Friday which will be my last day at work till Harper arrives. It has been fun letting everyone know that I will "turn into a pumpkin" on Halloween :)
This past weekend I got motivated to start washing some of Harper's clothes and I ordered lots of things online in preparation for her arrival. Jeff just laughed at my Sunday night as I was rearranging her drawers and commented that "nesting" has definitely set in :) One of my orders arrived today and they are the cutest things you've ever seen. They're called Baby Legs and they are for infants and toddlers to wear with onesies or under skirts, etc. to keep them warm and make diaper changes simple. I ordered Harper a pair that are gray and pink argyle and the pattern is called "Wellesley"...she's already my little ivy-leaguer!

This weekend Jeff & I made our final preparations for Harper's arrival. This involved a trip to Target, a trip to Baby's-R-Us, a trip back to Target (since I forgot to use my 10% off coupon), and a few hours of unpacking and putting together all of the goodies we bought. It was so much fun! The largest item was her pack-n-play. Originally, we had registered for a pink & brown one but when we were at the store we realized that it would be going in our room instead of hers so we opted for the blue/white/brown which matches our bedroom colors perfectly. We got the deluxe edition which pretty much does everything but have the baby for me - it includes a changing table, a mobile, a vibrating mattress, a music player, a light, and it all packs up in a neat travel size bag! I sure do hope she likes her new bed :) 

I had a fantastic 36 week checkup today. Jeff came with me and in addition to all the regulars, the doctor talked us through the hospital process (when to go in, who to call, what to expect) and answered all of our delivery questions. We feel pretty assured and as best prepared as we can be for such a life-changing event! Before the big appointment, we were able to get our car seat and bases installed by the experts at the children's hospital (a free service which was well worth making the appointment). They installed the base in my car for us then walked Jeff through how to install it in his car. Then they showed us the right way to put the infant carrier in securely, and they even showed us how to properly buckle the baby and made us practice with a baby doll! It was really interesting to learn exactly how and which way all those little belts are supposed to be for proper safety.
So, it was a good and productive morning! Oh, and the doctor said Harper is head down (which is terrific) and that she is measuring right at 36 weeks so we are still on schedule. Jeff asked if she could tell how much Harper weighed, and she said not exactly but she could tell that she is on the small size meaning we'll likely have a little peanut on our hands when she does decide to make an appearance!

Here is a photo of a beautiful gift that we received last week from Chelsey. It's a door hanger that will announce that "It's a Girl" once Harper arrives! The smile represents perfectly how Jeff & I looked this morning after getting such a good report!

Jeff & I went to my 34 week checkup today. The doctor checked the Harper and make some measurements and she said everything was not only "fine" but "perfect!" She is still measuring right on target at 34 weeks and her heart beat sounded strong although softer than usual because apparently her back was against my back so she was not as close as when she's right on top of my tummy. My doctor did some poking around and she still couldn't tell if Harper is head down so she said at my next check-up in 36 weeks she will probably do an ultrasound just to make sure if she is unable to tell by feeling. Because of a work commitment in San Bruno (north of Redwood City), Jeff was able to pick me and go with me to the appointment which was great and turned out being very productive because we both were able to go ahead and got our flu shots at the same time (although mine was a special mix just for pregnant mommies because I can't take the normal shot). He'll come with me to the next appointment which should be a fun one since we'll talk all about when to go to the hospital and what to do and all that fun stuff. Just 5 1/2 weeks away!

Last weekend I had a wonderful baby shower hosted by my friends Treena, Brittany, and Shauna. When I drove u to Treena's house the first thing I saw were balloons at the entrance and a pink sign saying "It's a Girl." When I walked in there was a huge banner that read, "Baby Shower for Harper Wynne" and pictures of Jeff & I as babies all over the house. There were tons of pink and white roses and a 3-tiered baby cake made of diapers! Then, I made my way to the kitchen to find the 3 hostesses busy at work preparing a wonderful spread of which some of the highlights included pigs-in-a-blanket (my favorite), cupcakes, and a watermelon filled with fruit and carved like a baby carriage. Outside in the back yard there were two tables decorated with pink tablecloths and more pictures of baby Jeff & April and beautiful flowers and baby confetti (little footprints). Once the guests started arriving we greeted one another then grabbed some food and some pink strawberry lemonade and sat outside and talked babies! Everyone then made there way inside where the hostesses propped me up on pillows on a bench underneath the Harper Wynne sign. Then, I opened so many beautiful gifts and Shauna wrote down everything in the back of an "I Love You Forever" book (which was one of Mom's favorites to read to me when I was little). After the presents were all revealed, we dined on cupcakes then all settled into the living room and had a big "hen" party for the next few hours. We just told stories and laughed and I filled them all in on what Jeff & I had been learning at our childbirth classes. Many of the mommies shared their advice and wished me well during the upcoming labor.

I can't believe that soon we will have another girl in the bunch to cheer on the Broncos! Thank you to everyone for coming and especially to my lovely hostesses who made the day so special. Check out all of my photos here.

I had my 32 week checkup yesterday. It was a day later than I usually go but they called and moved it since my doctor had been called into deliver a baby. It didn't bother me at all, and I found it quite comforting to know that if I go into labor and she has other appointments then she'll leave to come be with me!
Harper is measuring right on target at 32 mm. Her heartbeat sounded good and strong and the doc checked to see if she had flipped yet (head down), but she said it was still a little early and that she wasn't "convinced" she was headed South yet so we'll check again at 34 weeks.
Jeff & I start our childbirth classes tonight and we're both really excited as we'll get to tour the maternity ward and learn all about what will go on while we are there. Wish us luck!