Daddy wants to know...

Every time I say, "oooh, ouch, hmmmmm" my baby's daddy says, "Did your water break?" "Are you having a contraction?" and I have to take a deep breath and say, "no, dear. I am just adjusting my position" or something to the effect. He says he is ready for this baby to arrive so he can meet her! I am ready as well, but we need to give this baby a break as she is actually not scheduled to arrive for two more days ;-)

We have been in bed all day today watching college football and junk TV (breakfast and lunch as well). I love it! We just rinsed off and are soon off to the store to pick up some things...which will be our only outing and break up the day.

This baby has been stretching and moving my belly side to side. It is amazing to watch. Chris loves to feel her and try to guess which body part is which - massaging her as she moves around.

As much as we are amazed of the thought that this baby is in my belly...the more we will be amazed when she arrives. Hurry up little girl! We're ready.

Come on baby!

I went to the doctor today...my fourth weekly visit and despite the fact that my belly measures 40 weeks, I am (only) 1/2 cm dilated. After I heard that I stopped listening to what the doctor had to say about anything else. I couldn't help but think...geeeeeze...are you kidding? Could we be more ready for this little girl to arrive? What is this baby thinking? Isn't she ready to meet us?

This baby has been so darn active I can't help but think...you must be ready to get out of there where you will have more room to move around. I call her recent movements "alien baby" because she stretches the length of my belly - across opposite sides, of course...which makes her movements look alien. She will stretch and move my belly in an extreme a-symmetrical way.

Chris and I were at the store on Monday purchasing a glider chair and the sales person said, "wow, that is some kind of movement". She stared at my belly for quite some time and then called her manager to approve a 20% discount off of our purchase!

Baby shower with friends

Six of my girlfriends threw me and Chris a baby shower on Saturday, August 9th. About 40 of our friends attended and it was such a great opportunity for us to see everybody and enjoy adult time before this baby arrives. Being given a baby shower is a humbling experience. Everybody is so generous and we received so many beautiful things to help us with this little girl!

We had such a great time and I stayed up until about 1:30 AM with Tonda looking at everything...ooooohhing and ahhhhhhhing! Her sweet clothes are so tiny...blankets so soft and toys so sweet!

Chris, on the other hand fell asleep watching TV very soon after we got home - which he rarely does! He was so darn tired from the work week, putting the crib together, installing shelves in the laundry room for baby supplies, loading our baby gifts and unloading them once we arrived home!

We're getting there! I had no idea how much preparation was involved in getting ready for a baby. Although Chris says she would be just as happy sleeping in the dresser drawer and sleeping in her diaper, but I don't think so ;-)

Nursery fit for a princess

All of our baby furniture arrived piece by piece over the last week. Chris picked up and tackled putting together the crib last night - even after he had an exhausting week at work. I was so excited I could hardly stand it. All of his engineering skills were put to the test. He opened all of the packaging, laid out all of the parts, confirmed we had everything we needed and began to put it together. Not one mistake! And, it only took him about 1 1/2 hours. As the parts coming together began to transform into a crib all I could say and think was...what a beautiful, comfy safe haven for our little angel!

Then...it was time for the bedding. We added the skirt...freshly ironed, added the padding and sheet for the mattress then the bumper pads. Whalla...perfect! So many family members contributed to helping us plan this nursery. We were so proud of the finished product!

Love living for our baby

Going through all of my old photos has been such a journey. I have been blessed with so many good times over the years...lots of adventures, travels, love, friendships, fearlessness...times I would never replace, but choose to live again!

I also found my baby photos. And, lots of childhood photos of my sisters, mother and father. Life as a child was good...really good. The occasions caught on film after all of these years jogged my memory and took me on particular adventures once again.

It is amazing the difference between my childhood years, my life during my 8 year college stint vs my life in the professional and "adult" world. Worlds apart! I wish I would have stayed free-spirited throughout the years.

But, you grow up, have to become (at the very least reasonably) responsible, get a job and somehow become cynical along the way...influenced by people, begin to worry and care about what others think about you, allow yourself to believe you are what you aren't or what others think of you, blah, blah, blah and get sucked into a world of everyone’s confusion, fear and negativity.

I have always believed that what once was can be again. For some reason I stopped believing and stopped “living” as I was intended to live. It is easier to be sucked into becoming a negative person than positive and to live in fear than love.

Well…seeing all of the photos of my mother made me really miss her. She was so beautiful inside and out. Although I may not remember the shape of her teeth, the smell of her hair, and the sound of her voice…I certainly remember the things she taught me about life and people. She was wise beyond her years.

My constant thought over the last couple of days has been to RELAX, enjoy and strive to be more like the woman that my mother was. She lived in faith - not fear, never strayed from what she believed in regardless of what others thought of her. She lived her years to the fullest and I want to be able to say and do the same thing for our little girl.

Saturday...in the house

I hate to admit it, but today I am really tired of being pregnant! It feels selfish, but I want my body back. I want to sleep on my tummy, be able to get out of bed effortlessly, sleep through the night, walk normal, wear normal clothes, be at a normal weight, sit on the toilet in the middle of the night without wanting to fall asleep there…and many other things...

However, I feel like I was mostly productive this afternoon being in the house. I napped off and on today (completely necessary), washed the baby's clothes, and started a big project I have been wanting to complete for a long time! I purchased photo albums off of ebay and decided to chronicle photos I have collected my entire life. I ended up sitting at the kitchen table for hours sorting photos by event. The events span my entire life - no kidding. Talk about memory lane. I cried a little and laughed allot. I had forgotten some of the adventures I've taken over the years. How fun to re-live them.

I can't wait to finish my project. Again, it makes me feel accomplished and at least in control of a little something. Having all of these photos in a big plastic tub bothered me...now, I can go through them with our little girl and share with her some of the adventures I had before she came into my life.

Next big project...download the rest of my CD's...and download music on iPod for hospital stay.

Tomorrow, I am going to treat myself to a pedi/mani. Can't wait!