40 weeks

Happy 40 weeks baby girl! Well, really 40 weeks and some days. We are quickly approaching the finish line, at least we keep thinking, and you keep surprising us with how long you're camping out in there. I promise we are not scary people but maybe you just need more time to marinate. Perhaps this is a telling sign of your personality, I too dislike being told what to do, being kept to a timeline and doing what people expect, so I'll be the first to say, you go girl! You show 'em who's boss. We'll keep right on supporting you. 

The doctor and I agreed yesterday that we would check things out again on Monday before setting an date to induce. 'Cause really, who likes to be rushed? Instead we are praying for progress and trusting that the Lord has a plan for this part of the process, we know he wouldn't leave us now!

We, yes your dad is a little anxious to meet you too, were happy to hear that there has been some change in my body from last week to yesterday. Your stats are still 'textbook perfect' as the doctor said and things are "happening", just a little slower than I imagined. But again, we trust you and my body and most of all the Lord to bring you about all in good time. See you soon precious one!

Week 39

Okay baby girl, I'd say we are almost ready. Of course you are welcome to come anytime, but only a few details remain. I'm thinking though that this is one of those events where we won't be finished getting ready 'till you come and then ready or not you'll be here. 

We took our last class at the hospital on Friday, picked up some crib sheets and tried to make sense of your room. I'm thinking there will be many things we'll have to figure out as we go. Your Uncle Brad once told us that a lot of marriage is "on the job training", I'm going to take a stab in the dark and say the same goes with parenting. Take it from two oldest children, being a guinea pig isn't as bad as it may seem. 

Here is your room so far, what do you think?

Cozy bed all ready for you, sans cozy blankets: 'cause you know, THEY have rules about that. 

Changing table and all your cute little clothes, did you know they make jeggings for people your size too?

This one is from my travels in Malawi but I thought I would share it with you. I hope you'll learn to love hand made things too.

Your current digs are about to become a thing of the past. I've enjoyed your stay but am of course looking forward to seeing you in person: you know, face to face. We hope you are excited too. We don't want to rush you or anything but there are a lot of anxious folks on the other side asking about you, ready to meet you and shower you with love. Best of luck babe, see you soon!

What did you do with your Saturday?

This season has brought new questions and scenarios I didn't really care much about before. But now I care, I care deeply. Yes, I am concerned for our environment but I'm sorry to say I care more for our household budget. I know; shallow. Feel free to judge. 

Our family likes to joke that as two first born children (Dan and I are both first born) we are perhaps a little more organized than some, a little more methodical in our choices maybe. They are probably right, but we just don't know any other way. For example: This week we did a cost benefit analysis of cloth diapers vs. disposable. I thought I was sold on cloth diapers. I had all the supplies picked out and put on my baby registry. I told friends and family of our choice and was sure we could make it work. I'm sure we could have but at the price of who's sanity? 

Anyway, after our cost benefit analysis we learned that disposable diapers are almost equal to cloth (gasp). I too was shocked. The little bit we would save would be paid for in laundry and time, my time, my precious new mom time. So we said no thanks to that idea and began our quest.

Mmmmmm, rewards points 

One thing I love about Dan is that he loves a good deal as much as I do. Why pay full price when you could buy on clearance or at the thrift store and don't forget our shared love of garage sales? I get excited just thinking about it, oh to save money! Did you know we've flown cross country several times and have yet to pay cash for a ticket. Why? Because Dan loves to play the savings game. He has found all sorts of credit card deals that offer airlines points and rewards points that have allowed us to fly home for.....FREE! See why I love him? (disclaimer: don't play the game unless you can pay off your credit card, we don't advocate for going into debt just to visit WA)

I knew we could do disposable when I heard Dan getting excited about coupon websites, store apps and super sales. We decided our 'sweet spot' would be .16 cents a diaper. Get it sweet 16. We wouldn't pay anything more. But today.....Dan found us an even better deal at .08 cents a diaper! Killer right? So how did you spend your Saturday? We spent ours trekking from one CVS to the next cleaning out their supply of size one and two diapers, 'cause really who doesn't love a good deal?

What we've learned is that drug stores often have the best deals. I wasn't a believer before but I'm now convinced. 

Our stockpile, ready for babe. So your kid might have to wear Santa diapers in May but really....who cares? 

Let the countdown begin

Happy New Year! I wonder what this New Year holds for you? For us, it will be a baby, a new job; a really good job mind you and some big adjustments. Depending on who you talk to this adjustment can be good or not so good. Often it's the seasoned women, the women who longs for the time when her kiddos were small, the mama who wishes she could travel back in time, it's that mama that tells me motherhood is a joy, that children are a pleasure and smiles sweetly when I tell her it's a girl. 

There is also the mama with the small children, the tired mama, and dare we say frazzled and overwhelmed; this is the mama that makes me nervous, 'cause when I tell her I'm staying home or that I have no family here or even that it's our first she gives me a half grin and says with a sigh "well it's an adjustment." 

Side note: This is a request from all first time mamas: just humor me! Give me the good stuff, smile sweetly and tell me what a joy its going to be. I'd much prefer to hear this story than the one about exhaustion, and frustration. I'm thinking there will be a little of both, joy and exhaustion, but let's hope the joy outweighs the exhaustion. 

We are counting down the days now, just 25 until her due date.  We've grown so much and are looking forward to the new year, both the exhaustion and the joy!

34 Weeks

Happy 34 weeks baby! People are beginning to notice you before they notice me, a trend I'm sure will continue 'cause you'll be so stinkin' cute. But yes, you have grown. The doctor estimates that you are about 3 pounds this week. 

You sure do like to wiggle, a trait you pick up from.....well maybe both of us. Like clock work I can tell when you wake up and when you go to sleep? Who are we kidding, I don't ever remember you going to bed. I haven't had to do a kick count on you since week 27, for that I'm thankful!

It is beginning to look like Christmas both in our house and around town, although this picture looks like fall, don't be fooled, I only took my jacket off for a moment. A new jacket mind you, we both didn't fit in any of my old ones. We are so very excited to meet you!

Do you remember that character from Charlie and the Chocolate factory? Violet? Yeah, those are my feet and yes, I look a little like violet, at least around my middle. 

We were without our trusty chalkboard today but I think you get the idea. 34 weeks here we come! Soon and very soon we get to give lots of snuggles and kisses. 

Week 27

As we enter into the third trimester I feel an urgent need to relish all opportunities that will become more challenging once baby arrives or at least not as simple as they currently are. Taking spontaneous day trips is a luxury we felt the need to spoil ourselves with. On Sunday after church we left for the "mountains", Oak Mountain in fact, soaking up the fall colors and soaking up our last days of our baby-less season.

View from the top. As you can see there isn't much 'height' in Alabama. 

Don't you just love fall colors. 

Our girls is at 27 weeks now.  Kicking like crazy, I used to just feel her when I was sitting or lying down but  now she is moving all around, all the time. At 2 pounds she is becoming quite the little lady. The most exciting development is seeing her movements from the outside in, when she moves and I can see it-ahhh it makes it all the more real. Welcome the the third trimester baby girl, we're sooo looking forward to meeting you and maybe someday taking you on spontaneous day trips.

Week 26

Fall is officially and finally here. If I can wear pants during my lunch hour without sweating to my death then yes, it has arrived. Alabama is famous for starting the morning out at 46 degrees and heating up to 75 by one o'clock. Crazy and difficult to dress for but it means we've finally caught up with the rest of ya'll. Pumpkins don't seem quite so out of place as they did two weeks ago on 90 degree afternoons. Who doesn't love waking up to a crisp 46 degrees?

You know what is also here? Week 26!

There isn't anything extra special about 26 weeks other than we are excited to be here! Excited and maybe a little nervous. That means only 14 Fridays (we hope) till we get to meet our daughter. Whew, deep breath, 14 weeks is a long time away right? 14 weeks ago I was not very excited and very ill. All that to say, a lot can happen to my mind, body and spirit.....and baby! 

It's a.....

I think there are a lot of mixed opinions these days about whether or not to learn the gender of your baby. For us it was a 'yes please'. For many reasons, one of which is how exciting it is to know. I've heard though that waiting until delivery is also really special and brings an excitement and joy all its own (maybe a surprise will be for the next go round). But for this one we wanted to know. Would you like to know too?

please forgive the blurry phone picture

In case you can't read that, "It's A Girl." We now get to include the word(s) girl, of course, but also daughter, niece and she. No longer an it but Our Baby Girl! (please read a big smile in my voice as I write this) We would have been pleased with a boy or a girl but the knowing is, for us, so special. And now for you reader, we hope the knowing is special for you as well. 

Note to the reader: We are planning to keep our daughter's name a secret until after her birth, you can ask but we won't tell. Guess there are somethings still left to surprise you with. 

22 weeks

Well baby, you are 22 weeks old now. I've gone from being slightly aware of you to now very aware. It seems like last week you decided to move and kick way more than ever before (that may seem obvious but it's still very cool to experience). I've been asking you to kick hard enough for daddy to feel and like the good, obedient first born you are, you responded. On Sunday, dad got to feel you kick for the first time. But you can be a trickster sometimes, just when you are moving and squirming and he puts his hand to feel, you stop. Baby, this is not hide and seek. 

I swear the bump looks bigger in person. 

This week you've gained 3 oz, that's a lot when you are so tiny to begin with. They tell me you are the size of a spaghetti squash, only way better looking I'm sure. We love you precious one. We pray for you all the time and know life wouldn't be the same if you were to leave.

Your baby too

My brother asked me a couple months back if I was going to post weekly photos of the bump. Not thinking I would be one to participate in that trend I said "no." But this week I can't seem to help myself, especially since we (the royal we, baby and me, but mostly baby) have gone from slight pooch to really noticeable. 

And, there is also the fact that this is your baby too! Maybe you're missing seeing it grow. Maybe this is your niece or nephew, grandbaby or relative and in that case I think I'm totally justified in posting the 'bump' photos for you, 'cause I think you secretly or not so secretly care :)

To catch you up on what's been happening we have:

Thankfully sickness ended around week 16, this last month has been delightful. I think I actually enjoyed being pregnant this last month! Just tonight Dan gave a big grin at the table, he too is thankful I'm feeling better, we are eating meals now! Fully cooked meals, it's the small things folks.

And now we are in:

Yep, week 21. Past the halfway mark and fully in the second trimester. My, how we've grown (again, the royal we- baby and I). This week baby is 13 oz, only 380 grams. For you folks at home that is very tiny and yet big enough that I can feel baby move, squirm and give gentle kicks, think the size of a carrot. Super cool! Who knew that someone with 3cm legs could make such an impact!

It was hard for me to enter into full excitement mode when my head was hanging over the toilet (sorry if that is too personal) but full excitement mode is here now! We've been crafting (not Dan so much as baby and I) and decorating and cooking! Ahhh the joys of the second trimester, it is everything they say it will be and so much more. 

WE are back

Apologies for the gap between posts. It has been so long Google didn't even recognize me. I even had to create a new password to log in! I promise I have a good reason for my absence though, I'm sure you've heard and if you haven't, I apologize that you are learning this over a blog post but Dan and I are expecting our first baby in January! 

                          

(When I look at myself in the mirror I feel HUGE but somehow these photos don't have same effect.)

 See what I mean about good reason? The last 12 weeks have been challenging. I can't really explain it to you and I'm sure you won't really get it unless you've had some foreign creature  baby living inside of your body but trust me when I say there is nothing like it. I've been sick before, I've felt strange before, but this was not the same.

Week 18

But as the three of us walk though week 18 together, we are much happier than week 8, we are thankful that this little creature is in charge, even if it means we are just along for the ride. Thankful to be welcoming babe into our family and thankful for renewed energy to blog!