Yes, I’ll Have the Enthusiastic with Grateful Gravy, a Side of Apprehension and a Serving of Boredom.

Enthusiastic - Today marks our 32nd week of pregnancy and leaves only 6-10 weeks to go. Did you read that 6-10 weeks left. I can't believe it. Of course we are hoping more for 6 than 10 so that we will have a little more time to get to know our little girl before the big move. But either way we have a short while to go. We are getting so excited to get to see her and start to discover who it is that God has been creating in my ever expanding belly. These last 4 weeks the belly has been stretching as pants and shirts get tighter and the turkey timer "aka my belly button" is beginning to pop out. We still have a ways to go though, this turkey isn't done yet.

Grateful - So far we have had a great pregnancy. The glucose test came back good (no 3 hour repeat test, whew), my iron levels look good, and so far I've gained 22 lbs which the Dr. is very happy with. Baby girl is measuring right on she is head down and the "kick count" is going well also. Yesterday we meet with our soon to be pediatrician and he said I've had a "dream pregnancy". We really like him so we are set up to see him as soon as she is born and he will be her Dr. until we depart SA.

Apprehensive - 32 Weeks and counting till delivery date. We have taken all the classes and seen "The Video" and as the time approaches I wonder how the delivery will go. Can I do with no pain meds? Do I want to try this with no pain meds? Will everything go smoothly? Maybe natural child birth is the way to go. Should I take more classes on breathing? For now I am trying to focus on a Bible verse that has been standing out to me and we approach delivery "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Cor 4:17-18. Can I see contractions as light and momentary trouble? I'm clinging to this verse and waiting to see what happens.

Boredom - 32 Weeks and counting and growing. Oh what it will feel like to lay on my belly again, or my back for that matter. To walk and not get achy. To hug my husband with out having to lean forward 30 degrees. To just, well, not be pregnant any more. Baby's room set up- check, car seat ready to install - check, all the baby clothes washed - check, childbirth classes attended - check, Pediatrician set up - check. So what is left? Wait to install car seat at 36 weeks. Wait to pack a bag until around 36 weeks. Wait for the contractions to be 5 min apart. Wait. Wait. Wait. Maybe I should memorize a Bible verse on patience too.

New Wheels

And she's ready to go.... Yesterday we received the Travel System (thanks Mom & Dad L) and that completes our necessities for baby's arrival. We were so excited to use it that Mr. Koala got yet another opportunity to try out baby gear. We thought about using Chibi for a minute but the "don't even think about it" look followed by the escape to the other side of the table saved her from a dreaded ride.

We are now at 30 weeks and counting, and though we have a Dr. apt today all is just plugging along. I think we have reached that point where we are getting close to delivery (and yet still so far) and we just want to be there already. But alas we still have 8-12 weeks to go. Is it wrong to pray for 8?

Last weekend was fun as we attended our Child birth class and then another class on Monday for Breastfeeding. Lot's of good information and the teachers were great. They really took a lot of the fear out of the whole process just by being informative and helpful. Plus if we have problems at the hospital they will be the ones there to help. Whew! Oh, and can I just say with such cute accents who could not just love these people to death.

Several people have asked about the weather here and we have definitely entered fall. The temperatures have dropped from 100 to the mid to lower 80's with a cool breeze. This has been a welcomed change but as many of you know, with fall comes fall allergies and for me the seasonal head cold. Please pray for me as the head cold is starting to come on... boo!

Guess we'll have to wait....

Today was our second 3D ultrasound to see if we could get that "first picture" of our baby girl but it turned out that she is determined to make Papa and I wait for D-Day. The tech said that her spine is running along my belly and that her little face is toward my back. Furthermore, she said that I am carrying her "very low".

But all that being said we still got to see her and had a lot of fun watching her today. She is "practicing breathing" and we can see her diaphragm moving up and down and today she was even yawning for us. We could see her tiny little tongue moving and at one point she even stuck it out at us. Maybe that was her defiant little nanny-nanny-boo-boo move that we couldn't get her pic. It was super cute and we had such a blast seeing her.

As for the 3D, that was our last shot. Oh well, it is starting to get pretty uncomfortable on that table so I can't say that I am upset I won't have to repeat that maneuver.

29 Weeks today and counting... I'm sure I'll see her face to face before I know it.

Baby's "Room"

Last weekend we make the trip to IKEA to get our baby furniture. When we first looked at it the crib and dresser were put together in a cute display but when we went back this time they had moved our crib out and put a different one in it's place. Boo!! Since we will not be setting the crib up until we get to FL we wanted some pictures so that Grandma & Grandpa B. could see what they got their Granddaughter. The crib is amazing!!! It is hard to see but it looks perfectly suited for a little princess. Oh that and it splints in two to make a great toddler bed.

We also took pictures of the dresser at the store but since we need it I thought I would show it in the "baby's room". I say that in quotes because it is also my hubby's office. So here is my hard workin man, who make the construction of this thing look like a walk in the park, and the finished product. Well mostly finished. I decided today to swap out the knobs for something more baby girlish but that is in progress... as you can see.

Thanks to the dresser being set up I was able to knock out the first load of laundry and get half the newborn and 0-3 month clothes washed and put away. It is amazing how much fits in such a big dresser. I have also been organizing, organizing, organizing, and it has been a challenge getting all baby's stuff into this room & closet without loosing it's usefulness. Whew!!! But after this we should be done. We will be ordering her Travel System this week, thanks to Grandma & Grandpa L but that stays in the car.

No Million Dollar Shot

Today's Doc apt was awesome. We were able to verify that she is definitely a little girl and thank goodness since we have all these cute clothes thanks to the generosity of all of our friends. She is measuring 2lb 11oz, 28 weeks and 3 days and everything is looking good with her development.

Unfortunately when it came to the Million $ 3D shot baby girl just would not cooperate. She must have seen the paparazzi coming as she kept blocking her cute little face with her hands... I'm sure if she could speak she would say "no comment". But the tech did get this great profile pic of her little face and hands and told us that she is positioned with her head down. So that means I keep getting punched and kicked when I feel all that movement.

For now we are rescheduled for next Wed. to try it again. If we can't get the pic then the hospital will refund our payment. Either way though we love getting to see her even if it is just in 2D. It only makes me more excited to see her in my arms.

28 Week Belly Pics

Wow! Pop goes the belly. What a huge difference from the last picture. Then again this shirt cuts in more so.... what am I saying. Shirts, pants, and well skin is not fitting as well as they have been.

Today marks the first day of our third trimester and the beginning of a busy and fun week. Today's picture shows what I have been dealing with recently. Though I just purchased some new clothes while in Omaha they are about to be put away to the "next pregnancy" pile as I am starting to embrace some Lg maternity pants and some of the bigger Medium shirts. As for the the skin... I am happy to report no stretch marks yet (is it wrong to pray they won't come?). I still have some form of a belly button but some day's it looks more like an X then a button.

Baby girl is moving all over these days and for now most of that movement is during the day... does that mean she'll naturally be a night sleeper? One can hope. Also her movements are much more apparent as my belly bounces and thumps when she tries to get comfy. Occasionally there are these tiny flutters though and I find my self wondering if it's her tiny little hands touching Mama. Oh, if only there was a womb with a view.

Keep watching as this weeks blog should be full of excitement. Tomorrow we go in for our 28 week appointment and we get to have a 3D ultrasound. I guess I will get my "window into the womb" even if for just a few min. We are very excited to see our baby girl again. The tech is also gonna check to make sure she is definitely a girl before we head out to buy the crib & dresser and probably more clothes.

A Trimester in Review

Today marks the official end of our second trimester and now were off to the home stretch. Of course of I have 28 week belly pictures but before posting those I wanted to review the "baby bump" over the last 12 weeks. These pics cover weeks 24, 20, 16. Man, when you live in this body it doesn't seem like such a big change but when looking at these pictures it really shows just how much baby and I have grown....


From now on I will try to include the previous picture as well as the new belly picture so it's easier to see the difference.

My Cutie Weebs

What a picture perfect moment. For Chibi's birthday we got her a kennel pad so that we could put it up on the hearth and create a new "bed" for her so she can join us in the living room. She loves it!!! She is just so sweet when she is all snuggled up being a cute little pugger.



We are still working at keeping her off the couch... no help from Mama since I'm such a sucker and love to let her "cheat". But we are all getting better at discipline and trying to be consistent with no couch time. Chibi only succeeds when we remember to put the tin foil on the couch cushions when we are gone. Turns out she can't stand the stuff. But if we forget... it's on. We come home to find a happy Weeb's at the door, a big dent in the back cushion (warm to the touch) and then a tucked tail and ears little doggie hiding away from us. Ugggggg. Maybe she'll catch on and start preferring the living room "bed" over the couch. One can hope right?