Almost time...

According to my doctors appointment today, Jackson should be here before the weekend is over. I couldnt been more excited!

Dear Jackson,
It's almost time to meet you. I've been counting down the days and looking so forward to the time we'll spend together. The thoughts of seeing you in the coming days brings me so much joy!I LOVE YOU!
Mommy

Sweet Summertime

This weekend was so fantastic. Certainly got a lot more done than i'd planned on.

Friday night I decided I was completely sick of our washed out garden bed, so Joshua and I went to lowes on a mission; Flowers and mulch! We also found some cute chairs for the front porch so I sat out and watched him as he planted the flowers and spread the mulch. He did a great job and I was so lucky to have him do that.

Saturday night we went to my moms house for a birthday dinner since my birthday is this week. It's great as always to spend time with family and I love seeing my niece and nephews. Thinking about bringing my son into this world definitly makes me realize how loud our family dinners will be now. With four grandkids under the age of 3, its going to be crazy! (in the best of ways!)

Usually at least once or twice (sometimes more) a week, my husband and I like to go to starbucks and just sit in the big plush chairs, with coffee in hand just relaxing and talking. It's become one of our favorite things to do. We know that it won't be long before its not so easy to just go out as often as we feel like it. We're trying to make the most of our time together before our little one arrives.

Sunday, my mother-in-law threw us a shower. It was great b/c it was just family and I much preferred it over a big ordeal. We got alot of really great things that we wanted and needed!

How far along? 37 1/2 weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: About 30 lbs, sometimes a little more if i've just eaten alot
Stretch marks? Unfortunately, hopefully they'll go away after the baby *fingers crossed*
Best moment this week: Dialating to a full 2 cm
Symptoms: Fingers and leg/feet swelling...It's this summer heat for sure!
Movement: It's slowing down alot, at least he's out of my ribs now :)
Food cravings: Mexican and southwestern
Sleep: I've just been getting so hot while sleeping. Last night I took the boppy and layed down on the floor and slept, no blanket, for about an hour. Having to pee about every 2 hours in the middle of the night.
Belly Button in or out? Still way out there
What I miss: Being confortable, balanced hormones
What I am looking forward to: His arrival!!!
Milestones: Almost being through with our birth and baby classes, being 70% effaced, and 2 cm dialted!

Nursery

Just wanted to post some pics of the nursery. Finally feel like it has come together and I really love it! I hope Jackson does too!

Birth & Baby Class

What a blessing it is to have only 36 days left till my due date! My prayers for the upcoming weeks are that I remain stress-free for the baby, and that we get everything done that needs getting done before he arrives. We began our "birth & baby" class last night! I learned alot but also had fun. My favorite part was the relaxation techniques. It's where you practice your breathing while your husband helps by massaging your shoulders, back, or neck. They play soft music. It's so relaxing! I'm the furthest along in my class. There is someone who is due two days after me though. We have someone in the class that is pregnant with twins and someone else who is 43 and having her first. Wow! At the end of the class we watched a birth video and it was overall pretty scary to watch. At the end when they handed the baby to the mom, I started crying. LOL, I was the only one doing that...everyone else just was going "ewww." Joshua and I are looking forward to the upcoming weeks in class.

Getting Closer and Sleepless Nights

The past two nights have been miserable. Waking up, rolling around, can't get confortable, heartburn, the baby kicking... the list goes on. Up until now, sleeping comfortably has been the issue but hitting week 34, its a whole new ball game. 1:30 a.m for the past two nights i've woken up just from heartburn and thank goodness i've remembered to leave my antacids on my nightstand. Once he's here I won't mind waking up for him, at least i'll feel like myself and won't be in pain.



Hubby and I are getting excited as the days approach. Our baby shower is this weekend. My sister is throwing it for me at my moms house. I'm very excited to have all my friends and family together. My colleagues at work also told me they were planning a suprise baby shower for me and are working out all the details. I guess the suprise is out!



Work is starting to take its toll on me. I have a trashcan on its side under my desk just to put my feet up on. I want to bring a pillow in to put behind my back too. If you think i'm complaining alot, oh yes, I am. Ask my husband, it gets worse.



We bought Jacksons matching lamp for his room over the weekend. It was so cute to take it out of the box and set it up. My mother-in-law also took some maternity photos of us this weekend. It was tiring but really fun and i'm glad she took the time to do it for us.



I have a doctors appointment this week just as a checkup so they can tell me how i'm doing. My last few appointments they told me everything was perfect; measuring great, weight perfect, baby's heartbeat was perfect. I wonder if they say that to everyone. Either way, glad to know it is!



Joshua and I went grocery shopping yesterday just to grab a "few" things. I felt really bad yesterday, legs and back hurting really bad, feeling like I weighed about 300lbs. As we proceeded through the store and I followed behind him sluggishly with a pouty face on. He would stop to get something and tell me to lean on the cart. Everytime we stopped I would see something I thought looked good on the shelf next to me. Of course I just grabbed it and put it in the cart and he would come back, laugh, and roll his eyes. He said he had to quit leaving me alone with the cart. It's pretty funny looking back on it.

I'll write more later! Prayers would be appreciated in week 34 :)

50 days to go!!!

How far along? 33 weeks tomorrow

Total weight gain/loss: Up 23 lbs

Stretch marks? Not reallllly...

Best moment this week: Watching Jackson move around in my belly

Symptoms: Heartburn, acid reflux, leg swelling

Movement: like crazy

Food cravings: Watermelon

Sleep: Besides waking up every 2 hours or so to pee, I've figured out comfortable positions to sleep in.

Belly Button in or out? OUT

What I miss:

What I am looking forward to: Just relaxing this summer and being at the pool alot.

Milestones: Making it to week 33!

66 days to go....

The kicks really began to get strong this week. Last night I saw what I believed to be his elbow run across my stomach. It was so exciting. Every time he moved like that I tried to get Joshua to look but he missed it. I woke up for the first time from the kicking 2 nights ago. It's funny because everyone had been asking me for the weeks before if I had woken up from his kicking. I thought they were all crazy. Well I guess I was the wrong one! He kicked in the same spot for 10 minutes. I've been craving sweets alot lately. Oreo's are my weakness. I'm not working very hard to fight my temptation to eat them though. I finally started getting consistent with taking pepcid twice a day so the heartburn has subsided. I'm so grateful for that because that had to be one the worst things about the pregnancy so far. I washed all of Jackson's clothes yesterday and folded them and put them in his dresser. Joshua sat in his room with me while I did that and it was a really special moment for us. We were talking and just dreaming about what he would look like in his little outfits and picturing him playing in his room. We know the days won't be long before his what seems like a simple nursery turns into a playroom with toys scattered around. Still, it made us so happy to think about the possibilities of the fun that he would have in that room. I feel so lucky to be able to bring Jackson into this world and know what great hands he will be in. Joshua is such a fantastic partner and I can't wait to see him as a dad. He possesses so many amazing qualities that Jackson will really benefit from. Hopefully we can get a chair for his nursery soon because every time we go up to his room we lazily lie on the floor. Also that room is so hot since the air flow is no good, so we are aspiring to get a fan up there asap! We signed up for childbirth classes. Unfortunately it was a little late for us signing up so we don't start our class until July 21st! That means the class won't end until around the 18th of August. Just to remind you, that is 2 weeks before my due date. I'm pretty convinced I'll go into labor before the class is over but thankfully the last class is just for a tour of the hospital. Not that big of a deal to me, just show me to the delivery room! I guess that's all for now! Can't wait till week 32!

Why Hello Handsome...

Today my husband and I had the pleasure of having the 3D ultrasound done. That is by far the coolest thing i've ever experienced. To be able to see my little one brought me such joy. The bond between a mother and her baby in the womb is already so strong, and then being able to experience something like that makes it even better.

Dearest Jackson,
I got to see you for the first time today. Daddy and I had a 3D ultrasound done and got to see your sweet face. I've never experienced such joy. Jackson, I love you so much already and can't wait to hold you. Being able to see you made me realize how close it is to you being here. It makes your daddy and I all the more excited. We have your nursery all set up for your arrival. I'm 30 weeks along and the further along I get, the stronger your kicks feel. I think you may be a fan of peaches because anytime I eat them, you go crazy in my belly. Everytime I feel you kicking though it makes me smile. The other night your daddy even saw you kicking in my belly from across the room. We are so anxious to meet you. Until next time, you have all my love.
Mommy

30 weeks!

How far along? 30 weeks
Total weight gain: 20 pounds
Maternity clothes? some new dresses
Stretch Marks? a teeny one :( Not telling you where
Sleep: not very good, besides waking up every hour to pee, its uncomfortable
Best moment this week: When Joshua looked at me and said he couldn't wait to hold our son
Movement: lots of flips, turns, kicks, and punches. I love it!
Food cravings: Aside from being plagued by heartburn, i'm craving lots of sweets. Mainly oreos!
Gender: My little man!
Labor Signs: Occasional BH contractions
Belly button in/out: It's weird, the top sticks out all the time. It's mostly all out but it depends on where he is and what he's pushing on
What I miss: The main thing is balanced hormones
What I am looking forward to: The 3D/4D ultrasound on 6/18. We'll get to see how much he's grown and get to see who he looks more like. Can't wait!

Sweet Baby Boy

Yesterday I learned of my future,
Full of tonka trucks, tools, G.I.Joes, and Blocks,
We'll spend our weekends at the park together,
Playing on the swings, feeding the ducks, and throwing rocks.
I imagine what your face will look like,
A sweet smile, innocent eyes, and a button nose
a hand that wraps around my pointer finger,
You'll squeeze so tight as if to never let go
I can't wait to see your reaction
When your tiny toes dig into the sand for the first time
Or when you manage to climb the stairs up to the slide all by yourself
that moment will be my proudest
When you get your first boo boo
I'll hold you and kiss you until the hurting goes away
When you come inside with grass stains on your best jeans
I'll smile because I know these days won't last forever
When you ask me why you can't stay up late
You won't have to wonder long
because i'll be telling you dragon tales and stories from long ago
and your eyes will drift off because you know your safe

The days when you ask me why we have the things we do

I'll tell you because the Lord has given us all we have

And you'll be able to rest in the security that we have an amazing Saviour

And you'll be grateful and give thanks

Your daddy and I will cuddle you until your full

I'll kiss you daily and stick kisses in your pocket to save for later

Above all, we'll tell you we love you today, tomorrow, and always

So you never will have to question how much we care

You've overwhelmed me with happiness

Even though i've yet to see your precious face

4 months remaining till my arms will hold you

Till then, i'll be counting down the days

To the little one in my belly, I Love You