38 weeks and counting

Hello Family and Friends!

This week, Wednesday, August 27th we turned 38 weeks! Wow.... well, give or take. According to our OB/GYN we are measuring about 37ish when we are turning 38 weeks but Emma is definitely feeling more of the signs of preparation (cramping, pelvic pressure, the lovely waddle..... and is 30-40% effaced and counting because they did not check for dialation this week) - lucky Emma - so essentially when we went to our doc's appointment on Wednesday she said little "Olive" could come between now and 3 weeks. :) Or more... you know how it goes.....

So what does that mean for us?
Well, we are pretty ready (as ready as we will ever be) and excited to meet our little girl. We have met with our Doula, Sarah Skoberg for the last time before we go into labor and we both agree that we have the world's nicest and knowledable Doula and know she will be an invaluable support tool for us and "Olive's" journey into this world. Emma has started acupuncture each week at Points of Health with Stacy Smith until "Olive" arrives to help prepare the body a little more for the birth process or if she is past due to help induce labor if the time arrives. Kevin has been reading the last tips from "Be Prepared: A Practical Handbook for New Dads" by Gary Greenberg and Jeannie Hayden. Together we have been reading birth stories every now and then from "Ina May's Guide to Natural Childbirth" by Ina May Gaskin, which has also proven to be a valuable tool to help us prepare for the big day as each birth story that we read is different and demonstrates the nature of birth being different for everyone.

Oh... an update on "Olive's" growth, according to the records (www.babycenter.com), she is just plumping up more and more now! Because weight is different for every child we are now going to leave you guessing or betting on how much our little bundle of joy will be when she arrives! Still, what we do know is that inside the womb, she has a firm grasp, which we'll soon be able to test when we hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb. YIPPEEEEE!!!

Other than that, Astro gets his stitches out today - HURRAY and is still on the mend - no pun intended. Kevin is still architecting... Emma is still yogaing and teaching as an adjunct at SBCC, Astro is still recovering from his mishaps last week and "Olive" is still growing!

Until next blog, we are truly blessed! Thanks for reading our journey.

Love and namaste, Emma, Kevin, "Olive" and Astro

37 weeks.... well maybe

Hello all!

Ok... this week (August 20-27th) we thought we were turning 37 weeks but after a visit to the OB on Monday she says we are 36 (remember a while back two docs has two different dates.... a week apart. However, since I am already 30-40% effaced and my cervix is thinning I am thinking "Olive" will be closer to the 10th (original due date) than the 17th (other due date tossed our way). So bottom line is she is growing - YEAH, I am growing - lucky me, and we are ready as our nursery is set and our bags are somewhat packed! We have all the natural birth knowledge we can find, are done with our birth classes, infant car seat is installed, we have picked a pediatrician and just have one more meeting with our doula. PHEW!!! Emma finishes her yoga and personal training privates as well as yoga class at SBAC (Santa Barbara Athletic Club) the first week of September and then from there will just teach prenatal yoga and teach online for SBCC til "Olive" arrives.

The belly abides!

We are truly blessed.

Love and namaste,

Emma, Kevin, "Olive" and Astro

P.S. You will notice in this weeks pic's Astro is wearing a cone... he had a little accident on Tuesday..... all is fine now... just was playing with another dog and ended up with an inch long laceration that needed stiches. Bummer, we know but the main thing he is doing much better and will be well for the arrival of our little girl! :)

Week 36

Sorry y'all... we spaced and our 36 week pic was not taken. But just so we keep you in the loop, here is what was happening last week (August 12-19th):



::"Olive" is growing! She weighs approximately 6 pounds (think crenshaw melon :))and measures 18 1/2 inches.
::Emma is doing well... just feeling bigger!

::The previous weekend Emma was "showered" with love and support! That is right, her best friend Delia through her a fabulous shower (I have to mention with the help of many others.... I will try to attach pictures later.

::It is worth noting that Emma has been showered quite a lot as her Mother and Sister-in-laws threw Emma a shower in July and Emma's yoga connection also helped shower "Olive" this past weekend. We definitely feel the love!!!!


::Kevin is working hard on some really cool projects..... and has one more exam to go for before he takes the oral exam for the AIA and becomes a certified architect.

::Play is also important and we have managed to keep date night once a week and feel pretty lucky to live in SB where the ocean has been a great retreat for us each weekend!

We are truly blessed.

Love and namaste,

Emma, Kevin, "Olive" and Astro :)

35 weeks (August 6th)

Patient friends and family :)

Ok... this should have been posted last Wednesday, August 6th.... so the good news is that pictures that are being posted are from the 6th but we are a week behind... later in the day we will also post our 36 week pic... phew! Bare with us.... Emma has been nesting and getting all of her ducks in a row with work related issues and Kevin has had a major project at work that has kept him busy around the clock!

So, you may be asking, what is happening with "Olive"? Well, at week 35 our little "Olive" is approximately 18 inches long and is a whopping 5 1/4 pounds (this is on average according to www.babycenter.com). So that means if you go to the farmer's market and pick up a honeydew melon that would be what we are carrying inside Emmma's belly right now! Although the books say because it's so snug in Emma's womb, she isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore she has still been on the move with boisterous kicks here and there. On the development front, her kidneys are fully developed now, and her liver can process some waste products. What this means for "Olive" now... she pretty much is over developing and is into packing on the weight now - lucky Emma :) So we are sure with these next couple of weeks to go you will see us grow by leaps and bounds as "Olive" prepares to make her grand entrance into this world. :)

Other news to report: We had another check up at the OB's and all is well. Emma's blood pressure is fine, baby's heart beat is great, and well... no news is good news! Our nursery is coming along as we just need a couple more odds and ends like bedding and a rocking chair but it is really starting to come together! Whew! Tis all for now.... again. We are truly blessed.

Emma, Kevin, Olive and Astro



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34 + weeks

Hello Beautiful Bloggers!

This past week we reached 34 weeks (Wednesday, July 30th) and alhtough this picture was taken a day later you will have to excuse us as we are just getting around to posting it now!

As you can see, we are growing! This 34th week marks Olive's biggest weight yet! Approximately 4 and 3/4 pounds. Accordingly, her weight is comparable to an average cantaloupe. That's right, Emma is essentially carrying a cantelope and then some as she is also approximately 18 inches long at this point. She is getting plumper, her skin smoother, her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well (www.babycenter.com). In a nutshell, she is progressing and we are just getting ready for her arrival - YEAH!!!!

We have a accomplished a lot these past couple of weeks that is worth writing about! We have installed Olive's car seat (we are required to go to the fire department to have them help us install it so it is quite the ordeal and we did it :)), chosen a peditrician, washed her newborn clothes, put her stroller together (it looks fab!) and finally, we have purchased diapers and wipes for the first two weeks. We know what you are thinking... and yes we probably are overprepared... but better to be over prepared than to not have anything done. Also, Emma going through nesting is CRAZY... she is already an organizer and planner so it is magnified x 50. Lucky Kevin :)

This past weekend we celebrated "FIESTA" in Santa Barbara with Kevin's parents, grandmother and aunt so we also included a picture of all of us in our backyard post Fiesta Parade on Friday.

Other than that, life is still moving along. All in all, Mom, Dad, Olive and Astro are all doing well! We are truly blessed! Until next post!

Be well and namaste, Emma, Kevin, Olive and Astro.