>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

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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.