39 weeks!

And we are 7 days from my due date! Wonder what day Jackson will arrive? The excitement is killing me!:) I am SO excited! I'm still feeling good- just some allergies have gotten me down a bit! But today, when I was outside I put some vaseline on my nose to keep out the pollen- haha- we will see if that helped at all! And the past couple of nights I've slept pretty well. I still get up after Adam leaves to work out (5AM) and migrate to the couch.  The couch just seems to feel so  much better. My appetite has also been somewhat crazy. Some days I have no appetite at all, and other days I can't seem to get full all day. I don't know if either is a sign up impending labor..who knows?!

Also, Jackson is still moving like a mad man. He rolls from side to side, and now that he is bigger, when he hiccups, my whole stomach shakes. I LOVE when he hiccups! Also, when he has his leg up near my ribs, I feel like I could literally grab hold of it through my skin.  Being able to feel his limbs like that is unbelievable! 

I have another appt. Thursday, and although I would love to hear the Doctor say I'm so many centimeters dilated etc., he is sure to remind me that those are still not indicators of when our little man will arrive. So we are just waiting! Fortunately, I'm not going crazy. Lots of people have asked me if I'm miserable yet, and thankfully, I'm not. Adam and I are still making plans for the week/ weekend.  We can't just wait around twiddling our thumbs:) Then, I would really go crazy!

One of my friends who teaches is on spring break, and she invited me over to swim sometime this week. Is it crazy for a 39 1/2 week pregnant momma to be in a swim suit swimming?! I hope not:)

I've been inspired by my friend Jenny's blog, to make a list of what I will miss, and what I will not miss with this pregnancy. Here is my list:

What I will NOT miss:
1) Having to hold my belly and literally move it over with me when I turn over in bed
2) Having to sleep on my side
3) How difficult it is to pick things up off the floor
4) The fact that my chest rests on my belly, and my belly rests on my thighs when I sit down:)
5) The road map of a belly I've been sporting these last few weeks (lots of veins have made their appearance!)
6) Using the bathroom every, oh, 30 minutes or so
7) Having to stay away from blue cheese, too much caffeine, and the occasional glass of wine
8) The feeling that my stomach is so stretched, it just might split open
9) waddling
10) Complete strangers asking me very personal questions about my pregnancy!


What I WILL miss terribly:
1) Jackson literally being with me at all times
2) Jackson's hiccups
3) How much more feminine I feel when pregnant
4) Adam being the sweet husband he is and tying my shoes:) 
5) Watching Adam talk to Jackson through my belly
6) Food tasting SO good!
7)  The kids' (from church) hysterical reaction and questions about my belly
8) The excitement and anticipation of not knowing what Jackson will look like
9) Watching God answer our prayers every step of the way during this pregnancy
10)The constant reminder that God is performing a miracle every second of every day within my body


And here are some belly pics:
FYI- 1) the veins on my belly (thank goodness) do not show up as much on pictures, maybe because of the flash! 
2) I asked the doctor about me "dropping" and he said that sometimes babies don't drop until labor begins...Also, because I have such a short torso, if Jackson is long, it won't look like I've dropped at all when maybe I have..again..who really knows?! 

So, there you go! This journey has been an incredible one so far! Only a few more posts  before he is here!  Anyone want to try and predict Jackson's birthday?

There is a little boy living inside of me:) 38 weeks

Well, here I am! Two weeks away from my due date. Because I can feel how big Jackson is, I get emotional just thinking about how a mere few inches of skin (and muscle, and uterus..blah blah..) are separating us from our boy!!Our boy, who I have a feeling, will be very long! The other day Adam and I watched as the right top of my belly stuck up (Jackson's booty) and at the same time..to the left side of my stomach a foot kept poking out! If I pushed on his booty, he would push out that foot! It was awesome...until it started to hurt..haha. But awesome none the less!

I read somewhere that your belly slows down its growth the last few weeks of pregnancy..I think that's a lie. My belly looks and feels much larger!! If I had a dollar for how many strangers ask me if I have a basketball in my shirt, I would be rich! It's amazing what strangers say to you when you are pregnant! In one afternoon I had 3 women tell me that it looks like I'm about to pop Jackson out right there (in Target). Umm..that's a negative! People are crazy! 

We are getting SO excited about having him!! I can't believe that by the end of this month, he will be out in the world with us!! I've been having stronger and stronger Braxton Hicks, so I hope that's good! A couple of times, they were pretty intense and pretty rhythmic (every 10 minutes for an hour)...but then they went away. I've been pretty good about not getting my hopes up though. I'm looking at all of this as "practice contractions" for the real deal! But I can't wait for the real deal! 

Yesterday we celebrated Easter, and I could just kick myself for forgetting to take some pictures! But we had a beautiful day. Church was awesome as usual..and we spent the rest of the afternoon with the Fountains and their extended family. Between the food and the sweet kids, it was a great day! 

Also, not that you care to know..but I got a pedicure the other day! And a couple of hours after getting it, I decided I didn't like the color I picked out...so instead of paying more money to go back and get another color, I...drum roll please...repainted them myself! And let me tell you..it was a BAD idea! It took me a good hour to find enough positions to get to each toenail. I will say though, after wards I was quite pleased with how well I did. I just won't be painting them again until after Jackson is born.

Anyway, there isn't a whole lot of news to share. We still have to install Jackson's car seat, but we are doing that sometime this week. And I think this weekend we are headed to a BBQ festival with some friends! 

Here are some 38 week pictures...watch out! My belly has enough veins showing through that it could, quite possibly, be mistaken for a road map! Enjoy!

(P.S. I still laugh at some of the earlier pictures when I thought by belly was SO HUGE!- yeah I had no idea.)

Weekly Appointment #1

So today we had our first of, hopefully only a couple, weekly appointments! And it went GREAT!!! The doctor said that he could feel Jackson's head, so he is head down! YAY! and that my cervix is soft..sorry if that it TMI. Anyway, because of that, and because I'm having more intense Braxton Hicks contractions (some are rhythmic, and some could be real contractions) he said it shouldn't be long before I start to dilate, and that he doesn't think I'll go past my due date! YAY again! 

He also said that he doesn't like to induce first time moms, but they will definitely induce me if I go a week past my due date. I would rather go into labor on my own since it's my first, and I guess I'm just anxious to experience the process, but if I'm sitting at 41 weeks, I'll do anything!:) 

Anyway, we really have no idea when our little man will come, so we will just have to see! But as for now, things are looking good!  Thanks for your prayers! God is faithful:)

FULL TERM:)!! 37 weeks

I can't tell you how wonderful it feels that Jackson is now considered full term! He could come anytime and be just fine! Although Adam and I are praying every night that he comes when he is fully developed- only Jesus knows his birthday!

We have gotten practically everything ready for the event. His nursery is completed; everything is washed, and I have a somewhat finished list for the hospital bag in my mind. I at least know which things I want to throw in a bag..gosh we are so close! 

My belly is growing by leaps and bounds..or at least I should say Jackson is growing! My stomach muscles are really starting to feel the strain, but my sweet husband has been helping me with anything that is uncomfortable for me to do! This morning he brought me a chick-fila chicken biscuit in bed:) He's the best! Also, I didn't really have any cravings up until this point,  but now...gosh my desire for a chocolate milkshake has somewhat overtaken me! Well- anything sweet right now seems to be on my mind CONSTANTLY! In fact, after this post I think I'm going to make me a homemade one! Yummy!


Anyway, Adam and I are doing so well. This week I have an appt. and my doctor will check if I'm progressing. Adam is going to come with me for the slight chance that there may be an ultrasound involved. The nurse told me a few weeks ago that if the doctor can't quite figure out what position our little man is in, he would do an ultrasound. I would LOVE for the doctor to know immediately that Jackson is already in the perfect position, but if he can't tell, I would LOVE to see his sweet face in an ultrasound, so that is why Adam is coming, well that and just because he loves me!


Speaking of doctors, let me just say how much we love our doctor and his practice! The entire staff has  been such a blessing to us. The two ladies who work the front desk are the sweetest, most encouraging two women! And the office itself runs so smoothly that I've never had to wait longer than 5 minutes in the waiting room. Also, the doctors are christians so they play christian music through out the place, which can be very comforting at times. Anyway, we just have been so pleased with the entire experience. What a blessing!!

Alrighty well, here are some more pictures. I can't believe there will only be a few more belly pictures left!! AHH! And the one front on...yeah I know my belly looks lopsided..haha..guess it's how he is positioned??

36 weeks...phew!! Am I done yet?!

Well I am just past 36 weeks...and I don't think my belly could get any bigger?! And I'm not sure Jackson has a whole lot of room in there...he seems a little squished right now:) Actually right now he is pushing a limb into my ribs. I have a feeling he will be a big boy like his daddy! 

Symptom wise, I am doing great! Really my only struggle is sleeping...and some nights are better than others. Last night my hips ached all night, so I think I flipped over maybe 30 times or so? Crazy right?! Good thing I'm not working! I don't know what I would do if I had to be somewhere early in the morning after that kind of night's sleep! I'm also have lots and lots of Braxton Hicks. Adam and I are praying that the practice contractions are just getting my body ready for the real deal! I am also waddling now..I think. It's hard to tell. I asked Adam and either he really couldn't tell or he was just being sweet, but he said he didn't think I was waddling. I think he's wrong:)

And the nursery is pretty much finished!! And it is my favorite room in the house! I'm tempted to sleep in there! But I don't think Adam would like that too much:) Anyway, most all of Jackson's stuff is washed, and I've come up with a tentative list for the hospital bag. We are getting ready!!  I go back to the doctor next week, and  he will check me for progress! Let's pray for progress!  I can't believe we will meet our little man in just a few weeks! Here are some pictures:

the completed nursery (we still have to hang the curtain):

 

And some belly pics! (And I'm not sure why my camera takes some pictures with really bad exposure)

35 weeks and the nursery so far...

Well I cannot believe we are getting so close!! Adam and I are starting to realize how soon we will have a little one home with us!! I haven't been sleeping that well, but thankfully, for whatever reason, last night I slept better than usual. I only woke up twice to go to the bathroom (thanks to Jackson sitting on my bladder:) and my hips didn't start to ache until early in the morning. Some nights my hips ache all night, and I toss and turn until morning, but this morning was better! 

I'm really not upset about the not sleeping well. I figure God is just preparing me for the several times I'll wake up in the night once Jackson gets here, which have I said I am SO excited about!? (the him getting here part, not waking up:)

Anyway, this has nothing to do with baby stuff, but I want to point out that I am so proud of Adam. He started P90x this week with several guys. They meet at 5 IN THE MORNING to work out..and Adam has done great! He says I can expect a chiseled husband in 3 months!:) I'm just so proud of him for getting up that early. Maybe in a few weeks I'll be up that early too feeding our sweet child. Wow- life is about to change!

The nursery is almost complete- and it looks amazing! The crib came in yesterday, and Adam put it together in about 45 minutes. I've washed all of the bedding, so that today I can see what it will all look like put together! All that's left is hanging the curtain, hanging the wall art, and applying the tree applique that our fun decorators ordered. 

As far as the daunting task of organizing all of the baby stuff and putting in the nursery, mom is coming today to help me do all of that. I'm so excited to see this room come together!

I also have a doctor's appointment this week, which is always so fun. I'm still having lots of Braxton Hicks, so I'm hoping that means my body is getting into gear! Well, (now) only a week and a half until our little man is considered "full term"!!! I can't wait to find out what his birthday is:)

Ok so I'm putting up some belly pictures...AND some pictures of the nursery so far...but...know that it is not finished! I just can't wait to show you the progress :)!...and there are ALOT of pictures I'm posting!

Here are some pics of some of my high school/ college girls and the creative genius (one girl's mom) who are working on the room!

This next picture is of an old bookshelf my grandparents bought us from an antique store for 20 bucks....I've posted a pic at the bottom of this post of the book shelf in its new paint color!

Adam putting together the crib...

 And the room still has a few pieces of artwork and decorations coming...And that giraffe print piece (which I love)  is a curtain, made by one of my girl's mom's,  that we haven't (obviously) put up yet.

And here is the freshly painted bookshelf! That by the end of this decorating venture will be filled with baby stuff...

So there you go! Hopefully by the end of this week everything will be put away and ready for our little man to get here:)

8 1/2 months...34 weeks!

Well...let's see..the past couple of weeks have been REMARKABLY different! And not in a bad way...just wow...it is so hard to move around now..and it is so hard to do "normal" things like putting on my shoes! So my sweet hubby is doing those things for me. He is the greatest! I've also starting have lots of Braxton Hicks contractions. They don't hurt; they are just more annoying than anything. I did ask the doctor because sometimes I'll have 5 or 6 in one night. But he said I shouldn't call unless I have 4-6 in one hour. But he said that it is great to have them, that my body is just prepping itself for labor!  

Speaking of labor..I think I'm in denial that this baby is coming in just a few weeks! It still just seems so surreal (which seems to be my fav. word nowadays). The nursery is coming along slowly- but we are SO excited. In case you didn't know, one my my small group girls, who is in college now, decided to give Adam and I a great baby gift! Her mom is an interior decorator, and their gift to us was doing our nursery! So this weekend 4 of my small group girls and the one girl's mom came over and started on the project. They painted the walls, and a bookshelf that we already had. They also worked on fun art projects for the walls, and one of the other girl's mom made a curtain! The room is going to look so awesome! As soon as it is complete, I will put up pictures!

And we had our last shower last Thursday. Several precious women from church hosted it, and they did an awesome job. It was the most special event. At some point during the shower, 4 different women prayed over me and baby Jackson. That moment brought me to tears. 

One of my favorite moments was opening a gift from one of our dear friends. They put their baby gift in an Easter basket. No one else would have noticed why that was special...but it melted my heart, and let me tell you why. Last year, about this same time was when we lost our first baby. And that same friend dropped off an Easter basket for us filled with goodies and a card saying that God had a plan for our lives, and that they loved us. And now, a year later, they were able to put gifts for baby Jackson in an Easter basket for our shower. It was just a small reminder of how far God had brought Adam and I. I know a miscarriage isn't the worst thing that can happen to someone..but to us..God used it to absolutely transform our lives. And now every time I feel Jackson kick, I'm reminded of God's faithfulness. When you've been through a valley, the harvest is that much more fulfilling!! 


I took some more pics of course...and where at one time I thought the pictures made my belly look larger than it really was...now I think my belly is larger in person than in pictures! If you see me, you can decide:)

 Ok Ok...I know my arms look deformed in this next picture...but it was the best one of my belly front on! so...look past the alien arms...

A

And here are some pics from the shower..

And here is a picture of all of my beautiful hostesses!:) The nice picture didn't turn out:( It was SO dark..but I think someone else got a "formal" pic. This one makes me laugh anyway!