As long as everything is okay in the end, I will be okay with this decision. This also helps because I will get there in time for at least one, but hopefully two, doses of antibiotics. I tested positive for Group B Strep, which puts him at risk for a respiratory infection at birth. The chances of that happening are slim, especially if I get meds right before/as I go into labor. Hopefully everything works out so that I do not need pain meds and can handle the pain on my own. I will be using the Bradley Method, and I feel confident I can do this without medical interventions (as far as the pain goes…). All I know is I should be one happy mama by Monday night!!

My doctor’s appointment on Thursday indicated zero progress. I am still at 2cm, 70% effaced. My doctor believes that I’ve pretty much progressed as much as I am going to on my own. She thinks it will take labor for me to finish dilating and effacing. She did not mention inducing this week, but I am sure she is still considering it. He measured a week ahead yet again, and she keeps commenting on how big of a baby he is going to be. Hopefully he will decide to come on his own before it comes to her wanting to induce me!

Last week I mentioned my mommy blog that I have recently started. I cannot get motivated to update it, so I am not sure if I will keep it going or not. I may just use it to review baby and household products, because I will soon have tons of experience with things in those categories! That will allow me to keep any product reviews off of Southern Girl Ramblings. At first, I thought I wanted to keep my life separately from parenting and Sawyer, but since that will be my life soon, why keep it separate?

My next appointment is September 9, but she mentioned quite a few times that she will not be surprised or hurt if I do not make it for that appointment. She thinks there’s a good chance I will have the birthing doctor “laboring on Labor Day.” I think that’s a neat idea! She also said that they would end up inducing me the week of my due date if he does not come on his own before, because they do not want to let him get so big that a natural delivery is difficult or impossible.

In other news, my freelance writing gigs are going exceptionally well. I have been able to put back some money for when I cannot work when I have Sawyer, and we are doing great financially. I am making as much at home as I was working for the local telephone company, so I have really kicked it up a notch. I have landed a few wonderful clients for continuous writing, and I have several content mills to fall back on if the works begins to slack off from them. I want to look into getting some residual income coming in through articles and ebooks, but that will not happen until later in the year when I have the time to devote to such tasks.

Since we did not take a vacation this year, James and I have decided to take a few days and go to Gatlinburg the week after Christmas. Sawyer will be 3 months old then, which is worries me a little because we will be among so many people with such a tiny baby. My mom and sister are going as well, because my step-dad and brother will be going to their hunting land for the week. We plan to leave the morning of the 26th and return on the 30th. We have booked our timeshare for a couple of nights, and a hotel for the rest of the time. Since we have confirmed the reservations, I have gotten more excited about going and having a few days to not worry about anything!

I went to a consignment baby sale with James, my mom, and my sister Wednesday, and we got a TON of stuff that we still needed for the little monkey. In all, we spent $76, but $50 of that was money we had received at the shower. We got a bouncer, some hooded towels, sleepers, gowns, bottles, and a few extra bassinet mattress covers. Oh, and James bought him a ride on toy. Yes, it’s quite early, but he really wanted Sawyer to have it so he bought it. It’s cute to see him get so excited! I cannot wait to see the look on his face once our little monkey arrives!!

I am now 34 weeks pregnant (did you expect a post that did not mention my pregnancy? ). Only 6 more weeks, and all the side kicking, rib jabbing, and pelvic pushing will be over. I am going to miss him being inside of my womb…it’s such an awesome experience to know your belly is moving/rolling, and it’s coming from another life inside of you.

He’s measuring a week ahead as of my last doctor’s appointment. Everything is going great. My blood pressure has been good the entire pregnancy, and I have gained 17 lbs. 5 of that was in the last two weeks, which made me freak out just a bit. The doctor is not concerned though, so I am not either. Thursday is my last bi-weekly appointment. I will be going every week after that until he is born…and the nice cervical checks start this appointment too. What fun!

I got the results of the glucose test back today, and I passed! I was a bit worried because quite a few ladies I know have gone/are going through the situation of having gestational diabetes. Plus, the amount of carbs I have craved this pregnancy haven’t helped things. Instead of craving good fruits and veggies, I can’t get enough bread, chips, snack mix…basically anything loaded with carbs. My body apparently handles it well, either that or I’m doing a good job at handling my constant need for bad foods.

I go back to doctor on July 9, and I will then be 29 weeks!

Until this summer, I’ve always been a bit “eh…” when it comes to swimming. The first couple summers it was pretty cool. No more local pools, sharing water with strangers, and having to pay $3 for a hot dog. But, as with all new things, the excitement wore off a bit in the later years, especially when I moved out of my parent’s house. Since then, I had probably gone swimming about 10 times each summer.

This summer, however, has been completely different. As soon as the weather reached temperatures warm enough to swim in without freezing, all I have wanted to do was be in the pool. I’ve read swimming is the most recommended and easiest exercise for pregnant women, and I agree. We typically go up to my parent’s house to swim 3 days a week. I later up with Mary Kay SPF 30, which my lily white skin thanks me for, and enjoy the cool water for at least an hour each time. We were just up there this evening, swimming with my mom, brother, and sister. Luckily, I have not came home with any sunburns yet (*knock on wood*). It’s such a great way to exercise without breaking a sweat…and to cool off from the almost 100 degree temperatures we’ve been having the past week.