Our New Journey: Surrogacy Part 6: My 1st week in Cali and Maternity Pictures

One month ago I left for California prepared to give birth to my Surro baby. 

 The day before that my OBGYN checked me, and said that even though I was only 35 weeks I was already dilated to a 2 and starting to efface. I needed to leave ASAP, or she wouldn't let me fly.

We already had plans for me and the kids to leave the next weekend and Mike to meet us there the 1st of June, but couldn't risk me waiting. 

So our AMAZING family stepped it, and made it possible for me to leave a week earlier!

Once in California I was papered and just relaxed hoping taking it slow would stop progression until Mike could get to there too. I seriously couldn't imagine not having him by my side for this!

 I made myself at home at the lovely guest home my IP's had all set up for us!

I really am going to miss the view!

I got a massage. mani/pedis, my hair colored, drank my weight in pink tea, and got introduced to lots of yummy food.

My intended parents did a wonderful job of taking care of me, and keeping my mind off of the fact that I missed my babies! 

And Mike did an amazing job of keeping me connected to what was going on at home with lots of pictures and Facetime!

One of the days there my intended mother asked me to do maternity pictures. 

My #1 wish for this whole thing was for it to be as special for her as possible, so of course I said yes!

Here are a few of my favorites.

36 weeks!

Then one week after I arrived my hubby brought me my babies!!!!

Once I got all the cuddles they were going to allow 

they wanted to see the property.

 So we went for a "walk" to wear the kids out ;)

Then after nap time we went swimming at the local rec center

It was so wonderful to have my family with me!

I was sure that baby was going to come soon, so Mike decided he would stay.

The next day we started Operation: "Walk the Baby Out" :)

36 weeks brings a Midwife Appointment, a Baby Shower, and an Empathy Belly!

To kick off week 36 I had my weekly appointment with our midwife. Everything is looking fantastic :) I had my strep B test, and will get those results back this week. Baby boy is head down and has dropped (THANK GOD I CAN BREATH AGAIN). I am not dilated or effaced at all, and Baby's heart beat is 140. It looks like I will be pregnant for at least a week longer.

Then I went into work for my awesome team to throw me a baby shower! It was such a great afternoon getting even the guys involved in baby talk and diaper decorating :)

I got some awesome gifts, and my management team gave us a gift card to get the last big item that we need from our registry before baby gets here!

Thank you again to everyone who came and who made it special!

Oh and outside of gifts my AMAZING supervisor Carolyn got me a snow cone machine! John was a trooper and made snow cones for the shower... if he ever doesn't make it as a caseworker the Snow Shack would be lucky to have him ;)

I only had 2... well 3, but the 3rd one was small ;)



My sweet friend Nicole has been such a blessing of support through my whole pregnancy, and she was the one to take charge of planning the shower. Her creativity shined in the cute decor and fun food and games

That evening was our 4th Birthing class! It was the best class so far, because this week Michael got the pleasure of being pregnant too :) Our teacher wrapped his chest in a tight band to make it hard to breath, then put a heated belly with an attachment to squish his bladder on him. Then he got to pick things up, lay down then get back up, and other fun pregnancy trials :)

I ended the day cuddled up watching the lighting storm (which is one of my favorite things)

 with my baby daddy! It really was a wonderful day!

 I am glad everything is staying so happy through this pregnancy I feel very blessed!