Next Month??

So here we are in June,and if the baby's ETA is July 28... that means we could have a baby NEXT MONTH?!? Wow, this is suddenly going along a lot faster. Mostly.

Local folks think I look pregnant now (really, after only 8 months?). They're saying I have "that glow". How do you feel, they want to know. Honestly... swollen. and off-balance. My feet are swollen every day- the only question is before which meal - a good day means I can get to dinner with relatively the same sized footprints.

As for the off-balance phemon... it is really amazing to me how, when I stand up after 30 minutes of sitting, I can literally feel my insides rearranging themselves. Fun conversation-

Me: You know what I'm really looking forward to when this pregnancy thing is over?
Jim (innocently honest): the baby?
Me: Um, yeah. That too.

What I was really thinking was for my body to return to a fairly stable and skinnier state! Although, despite the unusual developments that are part of normal incubating... being pregnant is kind of fun. I mean, the freedom to take naps whenever is just awesome!

Oh, and the prenatal check up went fine yesterday. All stats, measurements, developments, etc are normal and good. Got "the list" of what we need to bring to the Birth Center, have at home, etc. The towels/garbage bags in the car (in case of water releasing early) freaked out Jim, as did some of the other "deal with graphic bodily functions or messes" tools... but all in all it looks doable.

Not like we can back out now anyway!

Good Baby Stats (take my word for it!)

Hey everyone! Today was the last ultrasound appt- dr & midwife wanted to check the amniotic fluid levels (last time they were on in the low normal range). Since I remember also having some not so great pics of the baby due a fairly empty bladder, I chugged 5 glasses of water before we arrived at 11:15 for the appt... then sipped from my water bottle.

Of course, this was a day the doc was running late... we had fun with the other families in the waiting room, but after 45 minutes, I started crossing my legs... at 12:15, I tried to use the bathroom and was gently encouraged to wait just a few more minutes, as I was to be called ANY minute... at 12:30, they invited me back (got weighed) and got me settled into the ultrasound room. At 12:45, a good 90 minutes after arriving, I shared with Mom and Jim that I don't think I've gone an hour and half without peeing for the past 6 months! Of course, the doc arrives and we get right to business...

and despite a great increase in fluid, the little one had decided to curl up into a ball, head near my ribs but face down... so we got NO GOOD PHOTOS! Geesh! In the waiting room, he or she was all about kicking my bladder... of course, I did tell the baby to go to sleep and rocked ourselves back and forth... I guess it worked? Just another reminder that we're not really in control.

Still, all measurements (the ones he got, including the ever popular tibia) were in the right ranges. The babe weighs about 4 pounds already, and the actual age is 31 weeks, 4 days, but the measurement average was a week ahead of that- maybe we'll hit a July 22 birthday (which combines my birth date with Jim's birth month! Just like my nephew Taliesin!).

Since I promised photos, here's some from our anniversary jaunt to the beach (local, relaxing, short but fun). Will post again next week with another appt update :)

Time for class...

Hi friends! Sorry for missing last week- it got a little crazy at work for both of us. But now our events are fewer and more stretched out... we're both working on VBS in June, and Jim is preparing for a local mission trip in July with prep mtgs and fundraising, etc. Even the slow times keep us busy, which is nice in a lot of ways.

We began our birthing class this Friday. We joined the 4 other couples on the second session (missed the first since it conflicted with Confirmation & First Communion- whoops!). So boy oh boy and girl oh girl... is this baby becoming more and more real! It was a pretty good class- though Jim's not too thrilled with the more personal graphic shots on the videos! But we did learn a lot of breathing techniques that reminded me of some contemplative prayer (and some yoga relaxation). Of course, after a few minutes of deep breathing, the babe had a lungful of good oxygen and started some tumbling... which broke my concentration pretty quick! Guess I'll have to figure out how to work WITH the little one in the next few weeks & months!

We also took our church's baptism class this weekend. Trying to get our ducks in a row with all that. Neat to meet up with other couples with young children.

AND- as if those two things weren't enough to bring home the fact that we'll bring home a baby in about 10 weeks (!)... last weekend, our TEAMS marriage group suprised us with some great gifts (stroller, clothes) and later in the week, we received a cool care package from our friend Kiki. She's a Physical Therapist who works with kiddos (birth-3) and in addition some cute towels and diaper bag, she also sent us a Kody Bear... an adorable bear named in memory of one of her kiddos who didn't make it through his 4th heart surgery. So now KodyBear is sent to us to make friends & remind the little one that Kiki's around even if she's far away. Really, Kik- way to make us both cry with that!!

Then, this weekend my godmother and a close family threw us a shower! People were very generous, which is always nice, but it was especially nice to see everyone... and how excited so many of our friends are for this little one's arrival! Although, almost everyone there was more like family than friends... over half the group has known me since I was a baby, and most of them were at our wedding too. It's pretty neat.

So we had lots of reminders that the babe is real, is really coming, sooner than later... and we're blessed in that and so many other ways. Thanks to all of you, too, who are following along from a distance and sending your love & prayers along :) You are appreciated!

Seven months along already?!

Well, it appears the baby is making his/her presence known a bit more apparently... yesterday at church, I turned around to give the sign of peace to the man behind me, who replied "Peace be with you- hey! BOTH of you!" This was the first 'stranger' to recognize I was pregnant- very funny to me.

Not much going on- my next check up in on the 15th this month, but then I start the every 2 weeks routine. And I still have a belly button, though a quick check tonight revealed it's waaay shallower than usual. (As some of you may know, inny's become outies the bigger your stomach gets). A friend was telling me that her husband called it 'the turkey timer' b/c when it popped out, it was almost time to take the turkey out of the oven! (yes, their children seem well-adjusted...).

Oh, I almost forgot- we finally registered, too. You can search online or at stores- we're at both Babies-r-us and Target. This tidbit is for those of you who were asking- although I feel weird posting it b/c it seems like a gift solicitation! I'm not sold on the whole registry thing in general- we're both more than happy for anyone to pick out what they think the baby will love! (Warning, though, I doubt any Steeler-rival things will actually touch the firstborn's skin!!) What we want most is prayers and well-wishes :) The rest will fall into place...

Have a great week!