>The Best of 2009

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I can't believe how fast the last year has gone by. 2009 was by far one of my most favorite years in this decade (only second to my first year in college 2002-2003). My marriage continues to grow and I fall in love with B all over again each day we wake up together. And now, we get to welcome a new member of our family at the beginning of 2010. What a way to START a year!! So, without further adieu, a year in pictures with some add-ins. Happy New Year Everyone!!

January

* B's brother marries my new SIL and I fall in love with the idea of having a baby

*We played a lot of beer pong at a local bar

*Went to an Eagles Hockey Game with my dad

*We bought our tickets to Cabo for our honeymoon

February

*Bestie came to visit us with her (then) new BF and we went to a bar downtown with swings

*We started to shop for a new apartment

*We went to our first comedy show and learned NEVER again to sit in the front row

March

*Climbed the Colorado National Monument with our dear friends on a beautiful day

*We officially decide to not NOT try to make a baby

*Decided on the apartment we are now in

*Had a fabulous St. Patty's Day with my BIL and SIL

*I accidently fed B crab--he is very allergic

April

*Honeymoon in Cabo

*I got a new phone that I now and very sick of and want to throw into the pond

*

May

*We're Pregnant!

*Packed to move

*Gave up facebook for 3 months

June

*We've moved!

*We announce our pregnancy to family and friends

*It rained almost every day

*Heard our baby's heart beat for the first time

*Tulo ate B's birthday cake

July

*There is no picture for July

*We had our first pregnancy scare

*B got a new job

August

*I turned the big 2-5

*Celebrated our first year of marriage

September

*We found out baby is a MISTER

October

*My girlfriends in Junction threw me a baby shower

*B and I took a drive up to Estas Park to see the colors and elk

November

*Saw New Moon with bestie

*Got the H1N1 shot

*Get the nursery put together

*Had another scare of possible pre-term labor

December

*Had baby shower at my Mom's house

*Experienced contractions

*Blog goes private

Well, that was a great year. I love seeing that everyone else is doing this kind of recap.

Please, everyone, take a shot or drink a glass of champagne for me! Cheers!

>Last Chance...

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Sometime tonight or tomorrow morning my blog will be private so keep sending those emails! I have quite the lovely crowd that is going to stick around so thanks to everyone who wants to follow what can be a mess sometimes!!

(PS. Had my GBS test yesterday and will get the results on Monday. He checked me again and on Wednesday when I went in with some contractions I was still 30% effaced (yes the first doc "read" me wrong) and at 0 station and no dilation. Yesterday I was 75% effaced and +1!! Holy cow is this baby going to come on NEW YEARS???)

>35/35!!

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(Friendly reminder: On Wednesday, my blog is going private so if you want to continue reading, please send me your email in a comment. If you already did, I still have it and I am keeping it private. So far, of the 102 followers I have, only 8 of you have sent me your emails. I can think of two of you that I will automatically add (bestie and H).)

Happy Monday!

I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend! We did so much and so little at the same time. The goal was to visit with family and relax all at the same time so on Christmas Eve when we headed over to my mom's I literally planned to stay in my PJs all day. I did take my jeans just in case, and after a long nap on Christmas Day, I took a shower and put them on. It was perfect. Once my camera battery is charged up again (hence no weekly pic) I will post a pic of me in my new momma robe. It is delish!

After seeing New Moon in the theater I pretty much swore that would be the last movie I was going to see in the theater before Mister comes. Well, B talked me into seeing Sherlock Holmes on Saturday night. He rarely does activities that he wants to do, by choice, but I really wanted him to have a fun night so I turned cash into change to play video games in the arcade before the movie and then I survived two and a half hours in a hot, sold out theater. THAT, my friends, IS THE LAST MOVIE I AM SEEING IN THE THEATER BEFORE MISTER COMES! Lucky for B, I only complained once. :) BTW, the movie was really good.

As far as preparations go for our son, we have everything we need. It is such a wonderful feeling. I never thought I would be saying this 5 weeks away from our due date. But with all the little scares of him trying to make an appearance, we did what we could to make sure we had everything. I did not want to be sending B to BRU to buy a car seat while I'm in labor. I need him right there next to me! I am getting SO excited! I am not even that scared of labor. I know it's going to hurt and might take several hours but that seems so minor compared to the reward. I am sure in the moment I might have different feelings, but for now staying positive and not worrying is keeping me very motivated to have the kind of birth we are hoping for.

How far along? 35 weeks, 35 DAYS away from our due date!!

Total weight gain/loss: no longer sharing this fun factoid.

Maternity clothes?: I only have about 3 things that still fit so I am quickly becoming the mom that is always in sweats when I am not working. Oy.

Sleep: Less fun. In fact, it is not fun at all. I barely fell asleep last night. I dozed on and off. Get up to pee. Sore. Ugg...woke up with a headache.

Best moment this week: Finding out that the BH I was having were NOT causing dilation--yet.

Movement: All over the place. He tries daily to escape through my belly button.

Food cravings: none. I just want to eat all the time.

Gender: wolverine

Labor Signs: BH last week.

Belly Button in or out? Top is out and when Mister tries to escape, it pops out more.

What I miss: I'm only allowed to list one thing so: alcohol.

What I am looking forward to: Finding out if I am Group B Strep positive tomorrow. I REALLY don't want to be. That would kind of screw up our birth plan.

Weekly Wisdom: Trust your gut.
Milestones: 5 more weeks!

>Dear Baby Boy

>I would like to consider this your first Christmas but the only parts of it you are enjoying is all the yummy food Lolly has made for us and of course the love of our Savior running through your tiny veins. You have been so much fun lately. I truly believe you are giving us a hard time on purpose. I can tell you want to meet us face to face as much as we do, but we need you to be a plump healthy little boy before we say hello. This Christmas has been so much fun and the only thing that could have made it better was you actually being with us around that tree this morning. You grandparents cannot wait to meet you. Lolly rubs my belly and talks to you and after a few seconds you roll around, as if to throw your arms up with excitement--really you are just shoving your head into my cervix, making me jump as that feeling is really not that pleasant. Grandpa and Daddy can't wait do all kinds of "boy" things together. Watching sports, playing with legos, building things. Daddy told me tonight that he was bummed he did not get anything to "build" and that he was a little bored once all was over with. So next year you need to make sure I get him a lego set he can build with you. I will make sure they are the fat ones so you don't try eating them.

We only have a few more weeks left, just you and me, and it is really quite the surreal feeling. Keeping you with me, all to myself, feeling you move and sleep and have hiccups, is something I want forever, yet a feeling just as strong wants you out so I can kiss you and hold you and make you giggle and smile. Every night when I wake up to go to the bathroom you give me a bounce while I sit on the toilet. Then once I am laying down, usually on my left side, you begin to push off of the right side of my tummy as if you are on a trampoline and we share some early morning time together. I talk to you and tell you I love you, then I might pray a little before I fall back to sleep. I don't know yet if you fall asleep then or not, but you are very sweet and don't wake me up. We have nice morning time. You love to roll around after I have eaten breakfast and you really hate when I put tight things on over my belly. Well, son, just about everything I put on is tight right now so I just tell you softly to move a little to the left and you settle down. This past week was the first time you actually stretched out long enough to stick your feet in my ribs and while it was not painful, it was a bit uncomfortable and at times it even tickled a little. I can tell you have big feet!

On Monday, we will be 35 weeks along and only 35 days away from your due date. If, my dear, you make it to your due date I will be mighty surprised. I have felt for awhile now that you are going to be a January baby, but hey, what do I know. I want you to come when you are ready. If you decide to come next week, your doctors are not going to stop you, even though it's a bit early. You might need to stay in the hospital a few days longer, but that is okay too. The reality of you coming in the next few weeks is really starting to settle in. We have everything you need. All your diapers are ready to go. I love how they smell. You have a rubber ducky, soft blankies, a stuffed monkey, car seat, stroller, rocker, bottles, bibs, bath soap, lotions, and play mat. We are ready for you. We can't wait to meet you. Stay healthy and keep growing big and strong.

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

>34 Week Contractions

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Merry Christmas Eve everyone!

Just a short update for what has been going on this week. I had a great OB appointment on Monday. Found out I have gained more weight than I ever have in such a short amount of time that I will no longer been letting you in on that little (BIG) secret! Oy....I have been very emotional this week. I have cried over something just about every day and for some reason it is worse that it was before. I am overcome by helplessness in my feeling that I just cry and B asks me what is wrong and I literally have no idea. I am so sad and such a sorry mess. Today, I have yet to have that cry but the night is not over yet! Yesterday, I was at work and around 2pm I started feeling super tight in my tummy but I just assumed it was mister sticking his butt out, like he was trying to escape from my belly button! It was rather uncomfortable. At about 2:40 I realized that hey, this is not really going away and wait a minute, this is letting up for a few minutes and then getting tight again....what could this mean? So I wrote the time down when the tightness stopped. Waiting and exactly 10 minutes later, tight again! This continued for an hour. I had 5 braxton hicks in 1 hour and was told to call the doc when that happens so I did. Mind you, we had just been dumped on with tons of snow and the roads were nasty. So I eventually made it over there. I undressed (how many times have I done this now?!) and he checked me. No change. No dilation. Nothing. So in a way I was very glad because, really, it is just too early for him to come! I want him to wait at least 2-3 more weeks! So he sent me home with strict orders to rest for the night and I could continue working. So far, I have not felt anything today but I did drink a lot more water.

So there you have it. A semi-eventful week. Now I get to enjoy the Christmas Holiday!!

>Showered with Love

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As you can see, I spend my Saturday nights, as well as every other night, on the couch watching tv, bumping, chatting, and of course, creating new blog posts. This evening is no different.

My shower was nearly a week ago and I am still filled with joy and gratitude for how loving everyone has been towards us and our new baby! The pictures below are nothing too exciting, but they show me having fun!

Some things we received:

1) Gift Basket of TONS of baby essentials including bath towels and wash clothes, bath soap, breathable bumper, a quilt, and more.

2) Pack N Play! We were really not expecting this. It was one of our biggies and my brother and his gf totally spoiled us!

3) Some lovies (small blankies with a stuffed animal attached).

4) Another homemade quilt that I will photograph soon and post.

5) A jumper that you attached to a door way--B loved this when he was a baby and so this was from his dad.

The shower was a huge success and I am glad it's over. We can now focus on getting the last few things we need and prep for this munchkin to arrive in the next 4-6 weeks! WOW, really?!

In other news: we sold B's truck today! Thank you Jesus! We needed that money SO bad and it could not have come at a better time.

>The Stats and an Announcement

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Stats:

How far along? 33 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 33 and holding

Maternity clothes?: just got a beautiful new red sweater that you will see in some baby shower pics some other day when I don't feel like I've been run over by a truck.

Sleep: Good, when I am asleep. I have only been waking up once to pee so that is good...

Best moment this week: Baby shower!

Movement: rolling all over the place, head down so I have a butt that moves from under my belly button up to my left ribs and knees in my right side with toes that tickle my hip bone...

Food cravings: fruit

Gender: wolverine

Labor Signs: not for awhile

Belly Button in or out? the top is poking out and when the butt runs under it, it comes out. but we have not popped yet.

What I miss: walking normally

What I am looking forward to: Seeing a friend's new baby on Friday night, our doc appt on Monday.

Weekly Wisdom: If I had some, I would need it for myself so I've got nothing this week.

Milestones: 40 inches around from the belly button...WOW!

So, ready for my big announcement? I have come to a decision that I am not sure all of you will be too happy with. Starting in the new year, my blog will be going private. I want to invite all of you to continue to follow after I have set up an email specific to my blog. I know you might be thinking this is terrible timing...you know me just about to have a baby. I know how supportive and loving most of you have been towards me in all that I have shared, especially though throughout my pregnancy. This is not an easy decision, but I feel that protecting my family is reason enough to go private. Like I said, everyone will have a chance to email me in the next few weeks to be invited to continue reading my blog. I am not going to put a limit on who is allowed and who is not. I just want my sharing to become more secure and I feel this is the best way to do it. This is nothing personal towards anyone or anything. I just need to do what I feel is right. If you know you want to continue to follow, please start sending me your email address in a comment. Thank you for your continued support and I hope to see most of you next year!

Oh and this is not my last post for the year...even though it sounds like it is.

>33 Weeks and Nursery Preview!

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A lovely lady in my Bradley class told me last night that everything she sees me in class she is so thankful that baby is still baking. I melted! It is amazing how close you can get to other pregnant moms, especially first timers like myself that are just taking each day as it comes, good or bad. I happen to be doing very well with Mister staying put for at least 5 more weeks and my doc on Tuesday said that she is not worried about pre term labor at all anymore. This does not mean it can't happen, it just means that we are getting so close now that at 35 weeks, which is 2 weeks away, if I were to start PTL then they might not stop it. 35 weeks is till considered PT but you are close enough to the safe zone that complications are minimized. So each day with baby in my belly is another blessing! Speaking of Bradley, last night was our last class! It is so bittersweet. I means that yes, S., you really ARE having a kid! Those 12 weeks went SO fast! And look at me now! Seven weeks away from our due date!

This post is loaded with pics, something I have been lacking in lately so enjoy!

We had a nice snow storm at the beginning of the week that put us in a deep freez. I mean, -17!!! In this pic, Tulo is running like a mad man for 2 reason: so he does not freez his skinny, nearly hairless body off and to chase Butte. While the cold does make him shake, he loves running and playing in the snow no matter the temperature! Do you like his argile coat??

This is me and Tulo tonight. We have had our tree set up for about two weeks now and this is the first pic I have taken of it. This is my offical 33 week picutre. Tulo had to be in it with me....Mr. Protective is his new nickname.

Now...onto the nursery! I had my big baby shower this weekend and it was lovely!! I don't have pics yet of the actual shower but as soon as I get some from my mom I will post!

This is the awsome ten dollar dresser I scored off of craigslist that will also be the changing station. The receiving blanket over the changing pad is from when I was a baby!

Here is Mister's crib! This crib is nearly 50 years old! It was my mother's when she as an infant and then it was mine and my brothers...later it was passed onto my aunt when she had her girls and now we have it! It is a beatiful crib! My mom gave us the breathable bumper as one of our gifts this weekend. I love it!

YAY! We got a pack n play from my brother and his girlfriend! I had it as one of our big items on the registry and was not really expecting to get it...well my brother totally spoilded us! The design on it is elephants! So we have a jungle/puppy dog theme going on in there right now...I said it is more like a zoo with a guard dog!

This awesome exersaucer was given to us by my aunt and unkle! It is so cool and has 3 stages for the baby. The first stage is a play mat that the upside down U shaped item snaps into. SO AWESOME!!!

The nursery as a whole...I love this room! We are doing our best to make it his own but it is hard being limited with space and that we are renting. We are just thankful we have a space for him!

Here are the stats for the week! Take care all!

>BEST GIVEAWAY EVER!!!!

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You all know how much I LOVE MckMama! Well she is doing something wonderful this Christmas season (okay, so like when is she ever NOT doing something wonderful?!). She has teamed up with HP to give away one of their new touch screen computers! How incredible is that?!

Check it out and enter HERE.

Happy Holidays!

>Water Sergeant

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(Side Note: Check out how big my baby in a bubble is! OMG! He is so running out of room!)

Moving on, I have a Water Sergeant in my house and his name is B. Ever since we found out about the amnio fluid being low I have upped my H2O intake by, like, a lot. In Bradley on Sunday I announced that he was being a "water nazi" and he did not like that term so he told me to call him a water sergeant instead.

A typical morning:

B: S, did you fill up your water bottle yet?

S: Yes, honey, it is in my purse ready to go.

B: Good. You better drink three of those today...

S: Okay babe I will do my best.

8 hours later:

S: Hi Honey how was your day?

B: Good. How much water did you drink?

S: I have had one and a half so far...

B: Okay well you need to drink one and a half more before bed, okay?

S: Okay hun I will try.

B: S, c'mon! It's really important! Drink up! Chug!

Yes folks, this happens nearly every day so I wanted to write about my drinking water. I have never been a very good water drinker. In fact, it has been so bad that while I was in college I had been sick all day and had only had a few sips of sprite and half a sandwich. I slept all day. After resting so much, I took a shower and felt good enough to go to the dining hall for some soup. My college had this great "grab bag" program where you could just order a sack lunch and take it to go. My mom tried talking me into this option but I was dead set on having soup. So off I went and on my walk over, I started feeling bad again so I decided to go ahead with the sack dinner. I walked up to the counter and the next thing I remember is I am leaning against a wall on the floor. I had fainted. I could barely say my name. They called 911 as per their protocol. Everyone came: a cop with O2, the fire department, and the EMTs. They loaded me up in the ambulance and they like to have an IV in before leaving for the hospital (this still makes no sense to me) and after 10 minutes, the EMT could not tap a line so he took my blood sugar and it was low. Off we went to the hospital.

There I had a total of four nurses try to get a line in me. They are only allowed to try 2 lines each so that made 10 tries in my arms and hands (including the two in the ambulance). They finally found one in my left hand. After all the tests came back they said I was

severally dehydrated and had a viral infection. Due to the dehydration, I could not go back to school for 4 days ONE WEEK BEFORE FINALS!! It was horrible but somehow I pulled through...

All this to say that I have a reputation for not drinking enough water. I know how important it is to drink water while pregnant. Dehydration can cause contractions and preterm labor and we all know we don't want that to happen. So after several weeks now of honestly trying to drink more, I have reached three 24oz bottles a day! Horray!! My goal is four by the time mister comes. I really believe that drinking lots of water is like lifting weights. Trying to drink 4 bottles in one day randomly without having drank that much regularly it would flood my body and make me hurt, just like I would never go try and do curls with 40 pound weights without practicing first with 15 pound weights and moving up. This may not make sense to you but that is fine. It makes sense to me. So a few weeks ago I could only drink one bottle a day and now, after drinking more water, my body craves more so I can drink more.

I love that B is being so diligent in helping me drink more water. It is important even while not pregnant so I hope this is a habit I will maintain after the baby is born. I have heard that breast feeding makes you super thirsty to I am sure it won't be a problem.

If you read all this, why thank you. :)

>32 weeks!

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While my belly does not look that much bigger from the last few weeks, my belly sure does feel bigger! And lower. He is sooooo looooowwww. I can tell now that he is staying head down and if he happens to flip up it is just for a few hours and he is back down. I am the epitome of the pregnant waddle. I have mastered it and everyone at work says, "oh S., you look sooo cute! Look at you waddle!" To which I smile and keep on waddling. There is nothing more I can do now but wait. And the anticipation is overflowing now! I have a friend who just had a baby on Saturday and she was only 6 weeks ahead of me but delivered 15 days early. Ever since we found out about my effacement, I am really thinking this mister is coming early. As in a January baby. As in, next month. WOW! We are getting so close! I have my big baby shower on Sunday and I cannot wait to see all my friends and family! This week is pretty standard. I have an OB apt. tomorrow morning. B found a stethoscope that he used while in EMT training (he is not an EMT) and we were able to find mister's HB. We could barely hear it but it was so cool! He was even moving around like crazy while we were trying to find it. Our Bradley classes are almost over and I am sad! I love the class and our teacher and seeing everyone! We played Jeopardy last night and we won! I was so surprised. We are, by no means, experts here! But we are learning what we can. Our birth plan is done! I will be posting that as we get closer to our due date. I always have loved looking at other's birth plans and I have no problem sharing mine. So, with only 8 WEEKS LEFT until our due date...here is a status update.

How far along? 32 weeks/8 months!

Total weight gain/loss: 33 pounds

Maternity clothes? duh

Stretch marks? still just the few on my theighs

Sleep: I wake up every time I need to turn over, which, by the way, is very painful-pressure in between my legs. ug

Best moment this week: Celebrating Xmas with B's family over the weekend and decorating our little home on Friday.

Movement: rocking and rolling all over the place.

Food cravings: none really, I am just hungry all the time now

Gender: Wolverine

Labor Signs: Had a few strong contractions the beginning of last week that amounted to nothing.

Belly Button in or out? flat, but almost there poking out

What I miss: the energy to clean the house, shop, and walk the dogs without resting in between or even feeling like I have been hit by a truck only after doing two loads of laundry.

What I am looking forward to: our apt. tomorrow

Weekly Wisdom: REST! It is okay for everyone to wait on you. You're growing a baby! (I cannot tell you how many times I heard this this week, especially after the contractions)

Happy Monday!

>Contractions

>So I told you all that my dear hubby has been laid up for about the last week and today he is feeling great. He cleaned the whole house!! I love it! Well, a few days ago when he was still quit ill and had turned our living room into his own domain I decided to clean everything up. It was depressing me. So I did not rest when I got home from work and proceeded to power clean the house in about an hour. Just before I was done, I had a rather strong contraction. At first, I had no idea what it was. I thought I had tweeked my back. It was rather sharp, located in my low back that radiated and I could tell once I had another one about 12 minutes later that it was just like a wave: starting off slowly, peaking, and then wearing off. I had 4 in one hour, all while my feet were up. (after the first one I laid down) I was not worried or scared. I just kept track of the timing. All were about 12-15 min apart and after an hour, no more. So I am attributing this to my activity and if that means I will not be cleaning house until I actually want to have a baby then that is fine by me! B has been such great help, especially now that he is feeling better. I did call the doc yesterday just to mention it and he said that can be fairly normal but if they get closer together, last longer, and are more painful to call right away. I have not had anymore since, but I have also not been doing much other than working and resting so while at home, my motto is to keep my feet up and keep this kiddo backing long as possible.

In other news, my dear friend is in labor and I am so happy for her!!!

Have a great weekend all!

>Not in the Mood

>I don't have much to say except that taking care of a sick husband and two needy dogs while 7.5 months pregnant is hard. Hard on my body. Hard on my emotions. Just hard. I have managed to stay healthy. B is sleeping out on the couch and has turned our living room into his own little sicky world. I am cleaning up around him and my.body.hurts. My back is killing me, my hips are sore, my neck is stiff, and I am dead tired. I was ready to hit the wall at 7pm last night so I thought, well, I might as well go to bed. So I did. But I did not fall asleep for several hours. I rested and dozed on and off. Then poor B got a call at 2:30am to go shovel snow and off his sick self went. I was so mad he had to do that. The money is worth it, yes, but he still has a fever. He has been sleeping almost all day and I am just done. I think part of the reason I went to bed so early last night is because the state of our apartment was SO BAD I could not look at it anymore. Trash, dishes, clothes EVERYWHERE and I could not stand it. So I cleaned up super fast this afternoon and now I am done. I am not doing anything until tomorrow other than a bath and grazing on what we have in the fridge.

>My List of Thanks

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When I think of the things I am thankful for, I think of basics like a roof over our heads, food in our bellies, and the love of family. you know, the typical cliche of thanks. Without those things I would not be able to sit here and share what it is I am truly thankful for and for that, I am thankful.

In no particular order:

*I am thankful for Butte and Tulo. Without dogs in my life, I would not be the person I am. I have always had a dog. The longest I ever went without one was while in college on the other side of the mountains for three years. However, I still had a dog to come home to, to recharge the fuzzy love I so desire. After our dog Coco died almost 3 years ago, we went without a dog for nine months before Butte joined our family. Butte was my birthday gift after spending a much needed break in NJ with family for the summer. I was not home for my birthday and a month later my dad drove me down to a shelter and the moment my eyes laid on Butte I knew she was the one. Tulo came almost a whole year later. B and I started dating about 6 months after I got Butte and one month before B proposed, I found "greyhound puppies" for sale on craigslist. I was super sneaky and called the breeder up and set up a time to visit. I then told B we were doing something special and as we pulled into the neighborhood I told him what we were really doing. His eyes lit up and we picked Tulo out among his 10 brothers and sisters. B actually picked him out. I wanted the all white girl. I had never had a boy dog before but this was his thing and I wanted him to pick out the perfect puppy in his mind. It worked out great. Tulo is a special, smart dog that we are so in love with. He and Butte are the best of friends and we are hoping they will enjoy the newest addition.

* I am thankful for my marriage. Not just being in love and not just being in love with B. Being married means so much more than just loving someone. Of course we love each other with every fiber of our being, but it is not love alone that keeps us strong. In the year and a half that we have been married, I have learned so much more about who I am as a woman and even more what it means to be a wife. We rarely fight or argue and when we do, we hate it so much that we talk it out right away. We cannot sit in silence for more than 30 minutes without finally saying something, apologizing, suggesting something to solve the problem-anything. Our marriage is not based just on love, but also on our friendship and our love for God. We are best friends first, husband and wife second and this makes our marriage so fun. We are playful all the time. We make each other laugh. I am so thankful to have married my best friend.

* I am thankful for my job. I work with seniors and I never imagined that would be a field I would work in. I had always veered more towards childcare and nanny jobs. I worked in a high school. I want to be a teacher someday. But working with old people? Never would have thought about it. I feel extremely lucky with how I got my job. My job at the high school was ending. I was working on a temporary basis, meaning job renewal in the fall would not be an option until the school year started up again and I could not wait that long without a job. I had a coworker who's wife worked where I work and was told about the over night job available. Another I would have never considered! But I was desperate. So I called them up, got an interview, and waited. The first phone call I got told me I did not get the job, simply because I had 3 weeks of school left and could not start right away. (yeah right like I'd work over nights AND days...I don't think so). So I moved on. Two weeks later the same coworker let me know that the person they had hired did not work out. I only had a few days of school left so I sent an email to the person who interviewed me and let her know I was still available if need be. I got a phone call a few hours later and had the job!! I was so happy! Within 6 weeks I was working days and getting to know the residents. I have continued to get to know all our residents and truly love them all. I have always respected my elders, but not in the way I should have. I never understood seniors until I was faced with them, learning about their likes and dislikes, their pasts, how much they love their families, their previous jobs and college years. So similar to my experiences to date, but so different having been in a different time. I understand them now and I have learned to be patient with the things that used to bother me. I am so thankful for my job and the blessing and change it has brought to me as a person. I am different, and hopefully better, because of it.

*I am thankful for our unborn child. The blessing to become a mother is my ultimate dream come true. I already met my dreams of graduating college, marrying a handsome loving man, and living independently with said man. Now I just needed to become a mother and all would be well in the world! Well, here I am, seven and a half months pregnant with our first child and my grateful heart is exploding. I cannot stop thanking God for this blessing. It is hard for me to imagine ever doing anything else after our babe is born. I am so thankful that he is healthy and that I am healthy. Sure the scares are heart-stopping, but they are also humbling. I hate the thought that anything could possibly go wrong, but I am not going to be naive and think that is not possible. It is and I am so thankful to have this time with my unborn baby. I am thankful when he moves, when he sits on my pelvic bone, when he causes the worst back pain I've ever had, when he is silent and worries me, when we hear his heartbeat and when we see his sweet cheeks on the big screen. Those sounds like the bad things and while I am the first to start complaining about the back and pelvic pain, I am still thankful because it means I am still pregnant and that I am going to be a mother. I would do this a hundred times over just to know I would have a healthy baby boy. There is no feeling like that. I have never experienced that kind of unconditional love before and for that, I am thankful.

Sure this list could be longer, but this is what my life revolves around. This is such a special season for us and like I said in my last post, we cannot wait to meet Mister and the change that is soon to come!!

>I Almost Counted

>

12 Pairs of Shoes

Around 30 0-3 Month Pants/Overalls

40 0-3 Month Onesies/sleepers

29 Hats

60+ pairs of Socks/Booties...I lost count since I added the last batch.

Okay, I lied. I did count. I am just so moved by how many clothes have been given to us. Literally, it blows my mind! I have bought ONE outfit. The one Mister will wear home from the hospital. I also have a box and two bags full of 3-6 month clothes, two bags of 6-9 months, and one bag of 9+ month clothing. The shoes in the first picture are all for 0-12 months, maybe even a little longer depending on his growth. I have another bag full of shoes for when he grows out of all those clothes. I also counted about 18 bibs that are all NEW. Can I just say how much I love the smell of these baby things? Most of them are used so the have that baby scent on them and it makes me smile every time I bring a shirt to my face and smell it.

We have two months left, but I think he will be here in less than two months. In fact, I think he will be here about a week early and I'd really be surprised if he did make it to/past his due date. I can tell we are going through another growth spurt. The week of Thanksgiving had me eating like I never get fed, not just because of all the yummy food that's involved. On Tuesday I ate so much Mexican chips and dip I swear I put Mister into a food coma as he was mellow jello the next day. Speaking of movement, boy is he a jumper! Sometimes, his movement is a bit uncomfortable and takes my breath away as he is literally doing a flip and I must pause to allow him to do so. One of my coworkers observed this movement and I think it made him a little uncomfortable. In general, his butt is just to the left of my belly button. When I wake up in the morning, I find him higher and more to the right side until he has settled back to his typical head down position. And speaking of being head down, it flipping HURTS! I am so sore from the pressure! I can barely spread my legs far apart to put pants on. Oh and to put pants, socks, and shoes on I must sit on the bed. I cannot bring my leg up high enough to stand now. I tried shaving in the shower last night and about broke my back bending over to do so. I will not be attempting that again before Mister comes and if you think that is gross, well I happen to hate shaving so I really don't care what you think about that.

Emotionally, this week has been ten times better than the previous. I feel so much better knowing that my body is really not trying to give birth, but is making baby steps to do so. At this point, I believe that is a good thing. Our lovely doula said effacement is one of the hardest parts for first time moms to get through and if I am almost half way there then hopefully that means it will be easier once the time comes. Speaking of the time coming, I cannot wait! I can wait another 8 weeks for him to be ready, but meeting him and kissing him and snuggling on him--I can't wait! I don't care about the lack of sleep, getting peed on, my boobs being sore....none of that matters when he is here in our arms. We are so blessed.

>30 Happy Weeks

>

Yes, folks, I was able to squeeze this pregnant mama into my non-maternity Team Edward tee shirt. However, not without layers. See, I had to buy "fat" pants as my previous maternity pants were way too tight and you know, I still have some growing to do so that is where the Bella Band comes in handy once more. It helps hold the pants up. Then I had a long tank on, the long sleeved gray shirt and then the top. It has been chilly here and the theater was super chilly too so I was glad to have layered up. So New Moon was great. I really enjoyed it. TEN times better than Twilight. The music was great. I just had a great time. Bestie came up to enjoy the day with me and it turned out great!

See my crooked linea negra??

How far along? 30 WHOLE weeks!!! Ten more to go!!

Total weight gain/loss: 30 pounds

Maternity clothes? duh

Stretch marks? still just the few on my theighs

Sleep: don't ask. i managed to pass out last night and slept better than i have in several nights even after getting up twice to pee.

Best moment this week: The good news from the doc (see below)

Movement: super active. i love it!

Food cravings: chocolate milk and strawberries

Gender: Wolverine

Labor Signs: very little, a BH here and there

Belly Button in or out? flat.

What I miss: a glass of wine, sleeping well

What I am looking forward to: having a full term baby

Weekly Wisdom: Every doctor is different. Ask for a second opinion RIGHT AWAY if warranted.

So we met some learning curves this week. After last weeks crazy-emotional and frightening week, we were really looking forward to our appointment today. I was praying there was no more effacement and absolutely no dilation. I go to a clinic with four doctors. I have seen all of them but only two have I only seen once or twice and the doc I saw last week was the second time I had seen him. The doc we saw today I have seen almost 5-6 times. He knows us well now. We know him well so I knew that whatever he found would be accurate. So he looked over last weeks notes and seemed a little confused and wanted to check me again. I am really getting used to spreading my legs and I don't think that is a good thing! ;) Anyway, he had a hard time measuring the effacement with fingers so he decided to do a transvage ultrasound, which I wanted so we could get something super accurate this time. He measured 30mm of cervix left which is around 30% effacement and not super uncommon at this stage. He also double checked the amnio fluid and it measured a 9. That was also something he was not worried about, I just need to keep drinking water. Last thing he did was measure my ute and she was nearly 28 weeks so....I suppose this is all to say that every doctor is different. Not to say my doc last week did anything wrong. He was just being careful. We want our doctors to all be careful and double check things, but we did learn a big lesson. Next time someone starts just grabbing machines and shoving my legs apart (wow that sounds bad), I will want a second opinion first. Like I said, there are 4 of them in the practice and having someone else check things out right away would have been nice. I am not going to dwell on what the doc last week said and how it is different than what actually is. It is frustrating, but the most important thing is that our baby boy is healthy and I am healthy. He is not worried about preterm labor at all. Sure there could be more effacement as we get closer, but that would be a good thing as it is almost time for big boy to arrive! Ten more weeks!!! We are very relieved and happy with what today has brought us and Praise Jesus for answering all our prayers!

We went and bought Baby L's coming home outfit and it is TO DIE FOR!! SO stinking cute!! You will get to see it when he wears it! :)

In other news, B is looking for a winter job. His seasonal job has ended for now unless it snows and that is not something we can depend on. I am starting to feel more worn out by work, but hanging in there nonetheless. We are just extremely grateful for all the blessings in our life right now.

I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving week! I may not post again until next week.

>29 Weeks

>

First and foremost: my beautiful cousin Heidi had a healthy baby BOY this morning!! Congrats love!!

Okay so no pic this week. As you can guess, I am not in the picture taking mood and will try to post one next week.

How far along? 29 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 27 pounds
Maternity clothes? all my early preg shirts are starting to have that gap at the bottom where my belly pokes out. oy.
Stretch marks? a few stretchies on the upper thighs
Sleep: I slept SO well last night! The night before: not so good.
Best moment this week: Finding out baby boy is, overall, very healthy
Movement: tons. he has a pretty predictable schedule
Food cravings: chocolate milk and strawberries
Gender: Confirmed once more the HE is a HE
Labor Signs: ug. It's too early for me to be writing this. 80% effaced
Belly Button in or out? flat.
What I miss: having a fairly worry-free pregnancy
What I am looking forward to: keeping this baby in as long as possible and our check up on Monday
Weekly Wisdom: When you're told to drink water, drink it! I went from barely drinking 32oz a day (GASP!) to 2/3 of my body weight. Let's hope I can keep that up.

Today I went back to work and it went well. My back pain is flaring up so icing that as we speak. A lovely friend/co-worker made us dinner for tonight and my heart is filled with joy! It is so wonderful to see how compassionate people can be. Not that we did not realize this before, but it is so humbling to realize how important family is and that is all you need to stay strong. We have prayed over this child and pregnancy since day one and sure those prayers increase when problems arise. But we step back and find that God already knows what is supposed to happen and to trust in His plan. It is hard, SO hard to do that. Yet we know that this baby is a gift and we both believe that he will survive, even if he comes a little early. Thanks again for all the support and prayers. This child is already so loved! God Bless you all!!

>An Update

>

All those thoughts and prayers are paying off! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the love and support! You're all so wonderful!

After our appointments yesterday I came home and proceeded to drink nearly a gallon of water between then and this morning. We went into the ultrasound and the tech measured his body, the blood flow in the placenta and umbilical cord, and amniotic fluid. His measurements came out to about 27.5 weeks, so almost a week and a half behind, the amniotic fluid was at a 12, and the blood flow in all areas was really good. All this to say that both baby and I are fairly healthy. What does not change is my effacement and the fact that even though baby's measurements are only a week behind, my belly is still measuring at 22 weeks. For now we are just going to take it easy, I will drink water like crazy, and rest as much as possible. No bed rest yet and I will start to have weekly doc appointments now. I can still work until I'm told not to so things are not perfect, but definitely better!

>a hard one to write....

>

We need some prayers people.

I went into my OB today for a regular exam to hear the HB and all that other routine stuff. I've gained a total of 27 pounds and my BP is nice and low. The doc came in and he had a nice OB student there with him to observe. He asked how things were going and I said fine, other than the upper back pain earlier in the week. He then listened to the HB and it was at 160 BPM. He then brought out his measuring tape and discovered this 29 week mama is only measuring at 22 weeks. He then left around and found baby is already head down, something that is not very common at this point. It's a little early for that. He wanted to check my cervix and found it closed, but 80% effaced and at 0 station. My body is already preparing for labor. I have only had one notable braxton hicks contraction to think of with occasional low back cramping that is quite dull when present.

The doc did a swab to check for some kind of secretion that the cervix emits when it is preparing for labor and that came back negative which is a good sign. After the exam he did an ultrasound and found the amniotic fluid to be lower than normal. At best, baby's growth is around that of a 24 week baby, nearly 5 weeks behind. So he ordered a special ultrasound at the hospital for tomorrow at which time we will know more of what is going on. For now I have my feet up, B is making dinner, I'm trying to drink a ton of water, and rest. If anyone has experience with this type of situation, your suggestions would be greatly appreciated! I will update tomorrow...

>A Deeper Post

>

I feel like I don't have much to write about lately so I am going to try and put something out there. Here goes:

I am not sure about you, but I am super excited about New Moon coming out next week! Hell no will I be going to the midnight showing. I can barely stay up past 10 these days and yes, my sleep is more important. So I have plans with bestie to see the movie on Sunday when neither of us are working. I also have every intention of squeezing my 7 month belly into my "Team Edward" tee shirt even if it means I will be layering tanks underneath. I would like to say that I am not your typical Twilight fan. I am not a "Twi-hard" (that just sounds dirty!). I read the first three books WAY before there was much hype going on. That was two summers ago and my other girlfriend, who is a 6th grand English teacher, turned me onto these which I then passed onto bestie. We share books like chicken pox. We find a good one, and it does not take long for us to beg the other to read it so we can just talk about how great it is. That was what happened with Twilight. The best part? I don't have to share Edward with either of these girls! Lol...they are both Jacob fans. I am just proud to say that all three of us were the ones driving the damn bandwagon, not the ones jumping on it. So in honor of the upcoming release, I have started to reread New Moon and surprised by how much I had forgotten.

Thanksgiving is coming up and I am really looking forward to our plans. This is one of my most favorite holidays. I am not a big fan of turkey, but everything else makes my mouth water just thinking about it! I make a mean green bean casserole, love sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, gravy and my grammy's stuffing. B and I have plans to see both my parents and his mom that day starting with my parents and grammy and then heading south to see his mom. We just pray the weather is not bad! It snowed about 8 inches last night and looks beautiful, but the roads are so nasty and I don't like going anywhere when the roads are bad. Call me a wimp, whatever.

The last week, like I said before, was not that fun. My back has been way our of wack and B has been wonderful in keeping the house picked up and rubbing the spot. It was getting better, but is now coming back. Not as bad, but totally there. This trimester has hit me hard. It literally feels like the day it started my body ached more, I'm more tired, less motivated (except for bursts of nesting at both work at home), and more weepy. I cry so much. I have never cried so much in my life and over the smallest things! I was talking about work and bam! There go the water works. B chopped that up to me being very hungry, which I was. Boy does he know me well! Baby boy is growing so much. My belly is huge and is only getting bigger by the week. I can feel his body when I touch my tummy. I am not too sure of his exact position or what it is I am pressing on, but I guess there is a butt under my belly button, he is head down and his legs and feet swing to my right. I get all these light, tickeling sensations in my hip bone which can only be his sweet little toes. I get elbow jabs that make me jump and out of left field there will be a roll around that makes the whole belly morph into something live. Yes, there is a life in me. WOW! He has pretty regular sleep and wake cycles now. For example, when I wake up, he wakes up and kicks and tells me and daddy he loves us. Then he goes back to sleep for a few hours until about 10 or 11am and is very subtle in his movements. I am not sure if this is because I am sitting at a desk or if he is just stirring because I'm starting to get hungry. Then he goes back to sleep until I get home around 3pm and once I lay down he is rolling around like crazy! This is his play time and sometimes he is up for several hours after that, usually until I go to bed around 9 or 10. If this is how he will be once he is born, I am totally fine with that! I am sure he wakes up at night while I am sleeping, but not enough that it wakes me up. I wonder most often about what his hair will be like. B is Irish and has dirty blonde hair and a red beard. I am a melting pot of ethnicity but the most predominant one is Cherokee. I have olive skin, hazel eyes, and dark hair. This combination could mean anything for our little man! Only 11 more weeks and we will get to touch his soft head and kiss those sweet toes!

I have a rather odd fear. It may not be odd for you, but to me, it does not make sense. I have been taking care of kids and babies for as long as I can remember. I was 9 when two of my cousins were born just a few months apart and by the time I was 12 I was taking care of 2 month old twins--by myself. So my fear? That I won't know what I'm doing when my own child is placed in my arms! I know that for most, including B, that is a totally normal fear but I feel like I should be confident about my skills. For some reason that fear is real for me as well and I hope that once baby boy is here that will all go out the window and we will all settle in nicely together. I know that will happen. B is determined to do and learn everything. It is so wonderful!

That's it for this update. Happy Sunday!

>Laying in bed, not on bed rest, resting.

>I am at home nursing my back. I appreciate the suggestions, but I am totally serious when I say I have tried everything! Since we are going on day six, I started with a bath last week, ice, and B rubbing my back. That continued for the next day or so and then I caved and took some IB Profin. That did not even touch it. I've done yoga, breathing exercises, heat, ice, and finally, I went to the chiro yesterday. I saw someone I have never seen before and I was BEYOND disappointed. He was terrible. I do not feel better! I have worked for a chiro before so I know adjustments can be more sore at first and then will get better over the next few days, but really, he was not gentle, talked all about himself, tried to sell me a massage, promised to give us exercises to practice, and left us high and dry. Thank God I have insurance and only had to pay my copay. After that lovely experience I had to go to my OB and get my RH shot. I am RH- and the shot itself was not so bad but the stuff she injected ever so slowly INTO MY ASS burned like hell. I had no idea this was a rear shot and exclaimed very loudly before the door was shut, "It's going in my butt?!" B just giggled, tried to hide it because he knew how much pain I was already in. So I had to lean over the table in a terrible position that inflamed my back and made it spasam even more. Needless to say, I am a gimpy girl this week and just keep praying I can sit up long enough to enjoy meals. I feel bad for the dogs. I will be able to let them out, but a run or walk is totally out of the question.

In other news...

Today is Veteran's Day. In the past this was just another day that came and went but when my brother stepped up and served our country as a Marine about 4 years ago, he became my hero. No matter how short or long someone has spent in another country witnessing things you and I hope to never have to see in our lifetimes, it is an honor to be among those people. So Happy Vets Day to all!

My cousin Heidi is going to have a baby any day now and I can't wait! It really could still be a week but still...I'm so excited for her!

B is still working his seasonal landscaping job. The snow storm a few weeks ago melted within two days which is nice. He will be laid off soon and stay on the snow crew through the winter. Again, I must praise him for being such an increible support the last few days. He went grocery shopping last night and it took him over an hour and then he made dinner. I swear people, I really don't know how I got so lucky! Thank you Jesus!

I am almost done with the baby shower invites for my mom's party. I have this thing about making invititations and it has been a fun project. I hope to have them done in the next day or so and out in the mail by the weekend.

Now that was a better update, wasn't it?

>28 Weeks

>
I've been a little MIA, I realize. This is something not so much intentional as it is me just being too lazy to take the time to post. I feel like over the past week my pregnancy has suddenly become huge. Everything about it: my belly, the back pain, the clothes (mostly tightening), my appetite, my weight, and my laziness. I am a complaining, begging, whining, weeping, tired, achy, sorry self. I took time to tell B last night how I thought I was becoming this terrible wife, always asking him for help and complaining about the pains and whatnots that bother me and he just puts up with it. He looked at me and told me I was being silly and to stop feeling so damn sorry for myself. That is how amazing my husband is. He even told me he does not think I am a terrible person and that he understands it's mostly hormones. I swear people, I have NO IDEA how I got so damn lucky!! It is hard for me to accept that yes, the hormones turn me into this nasty person sometimes. I don't want to use that excuse and I don't want to become someone B and others really don't like anymore and that is where my self pitty keeps running around in circles. But let's move on...

I am not going to use this post to complain. What I will say is that on a scale of 1-10 back pain wise, we have tipped into the teens. I am laying on the couch and here I shall stay.

I wish I had more exciting things to talk about other than my pregnancy, but really, that is all I can think about nowadays. So I won't bore you will all that stuff. I'm healthy, baby boy is healthy, and our dogs are super.

>Let's be honest here...

>

I'm not holding back so watch out.

I feel like someone took a baseball bat to my vag. Yes, I said vag. It EFFING hurts and I can hardly walk or stand. The worst part is I caused this unbearable pain. Now why would I do such a thing? Well, bloggies, here is what happened:

Every so often, sometimes every day, sometimes once a week (you never know for sure) I have to respond to emergencies at work. This entails me getting a signal through an alert or a phone call that someone needs help and off I go. Well, I can't really run anymore and responding to such situations quickly is very important. So I walked as fast as my long legs and big belly would let me. Our building is huge and there was no elevator to help me out with this one. I raised my blood pressure, my adrenaline, and ended up calling 911. This is something I am very comfortable doing, but regardless, it gets your heart going every time. You just want so bad for things to be okay. So then back to the desk I waddled to wait for the EMTs and then back down the hall again. I did not take a break or sit down for nearly 30 minutes and now MY BODY IS PROTESTING. I now know for sure I really inflamed the RLP and brought back Mr. Sciatica so here I lay, in bed, hoping SOMEONE will post some videos from last nights Hanson show that I did not go to. Let's not forget how depressed I still am. Oh but at least I could sell the tickets. I was getting worried when Sunday rolled around and still nothing.

Today started off great and while my mood is still okay, I just feel like I got run over by a truck so if I bite your head off just ignore it. Gracias.

>Speachless

>

Fun with Wordle.net

>The Power of Prayer

>

You're all amazing. The last two days have been GREAT! I have had hardly any RLP (of course, after going to the doc...lol) and have so much peace! Let me back up a bit. I went to the doc on Tuesday because I was convinced the terrible pain I was experiencing was in no way RLP. I had to hear it again to be sure that there was nothing else going on. That day I had been bent over in pain that was radiating into my back and I had enough. I made an appointment for right after work, picked up B and we were on our way. We got to the office and waited only a few minutes. They had asked me to not pee so I could give a urine sample to check for an infection so I really could not wait to get that over with. The nurse took us back, I peed, and we waited. My BP was 110/66 which is where it has been the majority of my pregnancy and I had gained only half a pound in the last week.

Before checking my urine the nurse asked me if I wanted the H1N1 vaccine. WHOAH! That came out of left field! I was so not expecting that and looked at B. We had not made a decision about that yet and had spent the night before with my parents talking about everything. I have been plagued by this decision for nearly 3 months going back and forth as to why I should or should not get it. Due to the increase in my anxiety these days, I really needed to find some peace with this. It was not something I wanted to keep mulling over and we made a decision.

I got the vaccine and I feel great about that decision. It was something that I felt in my heart and B was very supportive. I am writing this mearly for journaling's sake and I do not want to open a can of worms here. If you know me personally, I would be happy to talk about it, but I do not want to be patronized or criticized. If you disagree, please keep it to yourself. I am sorry if that sounds harsh, but I am keeping all negative things out of sight, out of mind as much as possible. I prayed over this for months, daily to find peace and I have it now.

The doc came back in and urine was clean. No infections which is great. And yes, I just happen to have a severe form of RLP. So I finally caved and took some IB profin, as recommend of course, and while it took some time to kick in, I was finally starting to feel better. I took a bath, B gave me a back rub, we practiced the relaxing methods we have learned from Bradley and within and hour I was on my feel making the best chili ever.

Baby L has been jumping around like crazy. I can almost pinpoint the time of day when he will start to stir and when he will quiet down and since he is so active during the day I am praying it will stay that way when he arrives.

Some prayer requests:

1) Continued prayer for the RLP to stay at bay. It may have been great the last few days, but it can still rear it's ugly head.

2) A coworker of mine was just put on bed rest due to preeclampsia at 32 weeks. She and baby are doing well, just needs to slow down. Pray she stays strong and finds small things to keep her mind busy at home.

3) Stellan. You all know who I'm talking about and if you don't, click on his button on the right side of the page. He is very VERY sick with SVT and what may or may not be something else. And today he is celebrating his 1 year birthday in a hospital bed. Poor guy. Pray his family can stay strong and positive.

4) More snow! I know, I am a FREAK! I love the snow. We have about 28 inches since yesterday and it is SO beautiful! On that note, pray people drive safely in the snow. Some dumbass decided to drive DRUNK last night and cause a MAJOR rollover accident last night. Seriously??

5) Lift up your prayer requests. I want to pray for you folks as well. You all mean a lot to me. I hope you are all doing well. Take Care!

Love, S.

>26 Weeks

>

{friday morning sunrise}

How far along? 26 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: roughly 22 pounds
Maternity clothes? yep, loving my yoga pants!

Sleep: this past week was a challenge. one night i would sleep well, and then the next it was the worst night ever. more or less due to the INSANE RLP I've been having...
Best moment this week: sitting on the couch with B WATCHING my belly move
Movement: this kid is a break dancer. I am pretty much tell when he is up and when he is sleeping now.
Food cravings: sweets, milk, pizza, pancakes
Gender: BOY!!
Labor Signs: nope. I was checked last week due to the pain RLP was causing and we are solid. no worries there!
Belly Button in or out? in, but not for long
What I miss: sleeping comfortably through the night. i am not sure if this will ever happen again.
What I am looking forward to: starting 3rd tri next week!
Weekly Wisdom: trust my guts, no matter what the news or other people say. I know what God has planned, I just need to listen and trust in it.

I feel like I have been on a roller coaster all week. Let's start with Monday. I passed my glucose test which was great. Found out I had gained almost 6 pounds in 4 weeks. Wowza. And the round ligament pain (RLP) continued. I have been dealing with this for about 3 weeks now. When I first called the nurse she said it was most likely baby boy's position: sitting like a V with his butt wedged into my pelvic region. So. Uncomfortable. So I tried yoga, and walking, and even had my mom talk to him to get him to move around. He did. YAY! Did the pain go away? NO! Sure it helped having him move, but the general pain was still there and the intensity would fluctuate from mild to intense. Today, it's mild. But Saturday? I thought I was being stabbed in my thighs. Yep, that pain radiates all the way into my inner thighs making it nearly impossible to stand or walk. I begged B to bring me some IB Profin to which he gave me a giant guilt trip about how my body is "preparing for labor and that while it sucks, I should just hang in there...". Right. So I ate some lunch and the pain did subside...long enough for me to get home from work to lay on the couch, fearing the possibility of more pain. It came and went and I did actually get through it without taking anything. Yay me. Our Bradley class is really rubbing off on B. While he might not admit it, I know he is really enjoying the class. We really are learning so much and it has become a special time for us together.

I went nearly 2 weeks without crying and then it hit me again about mid week that I was, and still am, quite sad about having to sell my Hanson tickets. While this might sound lame, they do happen to be the band I grew with up and the band I still love. Why am I not going? It's a tough one. I have yet to get the H1N1 vac (one which I am still not sure I WILL get) and so to keep healthy I have just been avoiding all these very heavily populated areas where people go to even when they are sick. B has even been doing the grocery shopping, which is awesome, and I think last night was the last time we will be going out to dinner. It sucks, but it is a sacrifice worth taking to protect me and my baby. I hate getting sick and would hate it even more if I did while pregnant. That is why I am making this sacrifice of not going to to the show. I know it is the best decision, but I hate feeling like I am going to miss them. I went last year and it was the best show I had been to in a VERY long time. My entire soul was on fire. It was incredible. B has promised that the next time they are in town we will go. He is the best husband ever and is even a little sad for me that I am doing this. But I lost it the other day. I cried over Hanson, like I was 13 all over again. Oy.

I had a giant urge to nest yesterday so I gathered all the bottles we have been given so far, washed them and stored them in the kitchen with all the bibs we have gotten as well. We are making room for baby and it feels SO GOOD! I was on top of laundry like I never have been before. The house is clean. Could not ask for anything better! I hope you have all had a great weekend. Take care and God Bless!

>22 Pounds

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Wow. I really don't remember what it was like to not be pregnant. What I mean is, my body is not my own any more. I am a vessel and it has adapted to the new life growing inside me right before my eyes. The picture on the right was just a few days after we found out we were expecting-barely 5 weeks and the next one was just last week at 24 weeks.

Nearly 20 weeks has passed and my body is so different. Not only have I gained a total of 22 pounds, I have gained a completely new frame of mind. I am no longer thinking just about myself. Every choice I make is no longer just about me and what I want. It is about what I need and want for the baby. What I deem is best. Sure I make most of these choices right along side B but in the end it is me that is responsible for the outcome. I really am having a hard time remembering what it was like before baby. I know it was not that long ago, but damn I am a different person already. Not

yet a mom, but not who I was before....hanging out in limbo. My urge to be a mother is being fulfilled as each day passes and as baby L's kicks get a little harder and my belly gets a little bigger. I am going to be a mother. WOW! It is seriously mind-blowing. I wonder how my change is changing B. I can see it in his face and the way he looks at me--he is thrilled! He can't wait to be a father. It is a look I have never seen before and one I hope to never forget. Sometimes I don't like the way I behave or whine but I seriously can't help it at times and B seems to know no different. He hugs me, kisses me, rubs my feet, wipes my tears away, tells me I'm not crazy, tells me I am sexier than ever, hold me when I am sad....it goes on and on. It's not that he never did these kinds of things before. The difference is that he just does it. He does not groan when I ask him to play with my hair and the best part is he says he loves doing it. What wife would not want that?! He is incredible! We are changing together and while his change is on the inside and mine is seen more on the outside, it is a change that is brining us closer together than I ever could have imagined. I love him so much my heart explodes with joy. I could just cry at any moment over how happily in love I am with my husband. So while I may weigh 22 pounds heavier than I was 6 months ago, there is a priceless, countless amount of love flowing between us now and his name is baby L.

>25 Week Baby Shower

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Hello Sister Friends!!

I have been in the BEST mood for the last several days and I cannot thank you all enough for lifting me up. Your words of encouragement are BEYOND helpful and I pray I continue to feel this great for the rest of the pregnancy.

Over the weekend I had my first baby shower on the other side of the mountains and it was perfect! Side story: I went to college in this lovely town for nearly 3 years and in that time walked away with some of the best girl friends I could ask for. They were bridesmaids in my wedding, one was a maid of honor who now lives a little closer to me, and the other girls that joined us have been friends since the early days of college (I can't believe freshman year was SEVEN years ago!). Anyway, two of this lovely ladies still live in this town with their families and having a weekend with them was exactly what I needed.

Bestie, my mom and MIL loaded up Saturday morning and hit the high way for a 4 hour drive through the most beautiful driver EVER! I-70 is my most favorite drive in all of Colorado between Denver and Glenwood Springs. We had a snow storm last weekend that killed all our trees and so we missed out on all the colors. Check this out:

SO BEAUTIFUL!!!

Once we checked into our hotel we went to walk around the college. A TON has changed. They have built several new buildings and dorm halls. It looks great! Then we ventured down town to see some more beautiful colors and window shop for a bit. Later we met up at Ashley's house where they were recovering from a sad, SAD loss: OU vs Texas. Next time Boomers, next time! We watched her husband train their dog to fetch ducks that were not real and then headed down to the restaurant where we met up with Kathleen and her family. It was the best! The only thing missing was my dear hubby. He would have come had he not had to film a hockey game that night. Bestie and I then dropped the moms off at the hotel and watch Juno at Ashley's. I will be Juno for Halloween so it was a great way to do a little homework! What a cute movie!

The next day was baby shower day! We all took our time getting up and ready. Here is a pre-baby shower shot:

That top is one of my new Old Navy buys and I LOVE it! So then it was time to leave. We checked out of the hotel, loaded up the car and.....discovered a FLAT TIRE! Could this have been a WORSE day or time for this to happen?? I don't think so! MIL had to stay back until Road Side Rescue showed up to put the spare on and even though Ashley picked us up, I did not let anything fun happen until she got there nearly an hour later. We all felt so terrible it just was not right to play a game. So we just chatted which was great because I rarely get to see most of these girls that it was just the way it was supposed to be. MIL showed up and then it was time to start!!

Kathleen had a bunch of fun games planned! The first one we played was a 5 in 10 game where she gave us a category, like Diaper Brands, and name as many as we could in 10 seconds. It was hard! But I did win 2 of the 4 categories. Then we did this:

Kathleen had everyone guess how big around my belly is by TP squares and Jessica won! I am 10 1/2 so far...lol. Then Kathleen fed me baby food and I had to guess what it was:

First was squash, which I guessed was pumpkin, next was green beans, which I guessed was peas, and lastly was pears, which I guessed correctly!

After the games we opened gifts. I will post pictures of those later. I am going to put the nurser together and show some of those things off then. MIL got us a new crib mattress and we got a TON of new clothes! It was so wonderful!! I love these ladies so much!!

Some quick stats:

How far along? 25 weeks!! Seriously?! Where the heck is the time going!! I can't believe it!
Total weight gain/loss: Not sure...I have a weigh in today with the doctor so I am going to guess about 17 total...
Maternity clothes? YES! I really like my new Old Navy clothes. Too cute!
Stretch marks? none. :)
Sleep: Getting a little more uncomfortable. I wake up every time I roll over and that is annoying.
Best moment this week: Baby shower!
Movement:Lots. He was going nuts when my mom was talking to him on Friday night.
Food cravings: cookies, bbq chicken
Gender: BOY!!
Labor Signs: no way jose
Belly Button in or out? in, though not for long! that once deep space is now just a pot hole.
What I miss: a solid nights sleep
What I am looking forward to: everything! i can't wait to meet this little nugget.
Weekly Wisdom: Positive thinking and prayer really does lead to less tears.