Waiting, Waiting, Waiting...

Right now we are playing the waiting game. My due date is on Tuesday and we are so ready for this baby. Not to mention, I'm looking forward to not having a big hard belly again. I mean, I know it will take time to get back to "normal" (that is, whatever my new normal is) but when I'm doing dishes or cooking and I need to get something from the upper cabinets, I am constantly reminded of the fact that I'm 39+ weeks pregnant! As you can see in the pictures I've gotten quite large and baby is ALL in front now (and a little lower). I am praying and praying that if it is in accordance with God's will He will allow the baby to be born sometime in the next few days. But, for all I know, I may not have the baby until September 10th, or sometime around there! (Oh, what a dreadful thought that is!)

Thanks to the shirts my Mom gave me (they came at JUST the perfect time) I still have 3 shirts that I can alternate with, two of my new ones and a size XL maternity shirt that I had bought just before my shower. I don't know where expectant mothers of twins find shirts to wear when they get close to the end of their pregnancy! As it is, I never thought that I'd fit into a size XL, never mind an XL maternity shirt! Anyway, enough about me and my clothes!!!! :)

I've had a nice, relaxing weekend. Yesterday I got some cleaning done (I'm hoping the next time I need to do the vacuuming, will be after the baby is born!) and started on a new baby blanket for my Etsy shop.

Today I took a short nap after Church and then later this afternoon, we went out to dinner at a Thai restaurant. It was very good and close by so we were back home before 6. Now I'm writing a blog post and Scott is working on writing and the likes. :) Check out his blog post about his short stories here.

I don't have many plans this week. Actually, I don't have any plans this week other than my weekly prenatal appointment (which I'm hoping will be something different...). I don't know if that's a good thing because the baby will come, or if that's a bad thing because I'm going to end up finding myself rather bored. :)

It is so strange to think that Summer is practically over. I have many friends who have already gone back to college and I know that even the high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools are starting as well. I am very thankful though that we are at the end of summer because that means the baby will be here very soon as well as the fall weather! I love fall, the leaves changing and cooler weather! Of course, I have other reasons for wanting fall too. September marks the first month that I'll be a Mommy and we have company coming at the end of the month that we are greatly looking forward too!!! I'm also looking forward to after I have the baby and getting things a little more settled and organized as right now we have all we need for the birth and everything taking up a lot of space in this (while larger than our apartment was) small, house!

So, what are you looking forward to in Fall?

Stuff... Update

As I sit here starring at this blank page I am trying to decide how to start off my new post. I am posting because it's been awhile since my last post, baby could come at any time (which would most likely mean some more time would pass before another post), and I have some time on my hands.

I was very pleased with myself for finally clearing off my kitchen table (it's needed it for, oh about 3 weeks now) and then moving the table lengthwise along the wall to give us more room for the impending water birth. I also swept and mopped the kitchen floor and did some laundry. I must say, it always feels so good to get my house in good order!

This week we also moved Scott's desk from our bedroom to the baby's room to make room for the Cradle in our room. Everything fit just perfectly, and now we really feel "ready" for the baby. That is, as ready as we'll ever be. It is only by God's grace that we will be good, godly parents.

Now for an update on the pregnancy....

The day of my prenatal appointment this past week, my feet were more swollen then they'd ever been and I had gained 7 pounds in 1 week. (Yes, that freaked me out!) So as a result of that (and other things) I went and got some blood work done to check my iron, blood cell counts, etc. Everything was right where they should be which was very nice and since my appointment I went down a pound, and have stayed just below that initial amount the past 5 days instead of climbing over the course of the week. Of course, I have also been doing more exercising this week (as in daily) compared to last week (which was once or twice).

Now on to the baby... :) Baby seems to be posterior, which means it's facing toward the front instead of toward my back. However, it is also very active and a lot of the times feels like it lying on my side more then anything. So, we will just wait and see. When a baby is posterior that means that you have a lot more back labor (which is more uncomfortable than normal labor).

On Thursday night I had a good 3 1/2 hours of contractions that were more than the normal braxton hicks, but as you can see (due to lack of pictures, etc.) although they were close together, they weren't very consistent and eventually died off. Even though I was very disappointed that they didn't get more intense I know my body is prepping itself for labor (which is coming since I am 38 weeks, 4 days along now) and as my midwife encouraged me, I am enjoying my last days of just me and my Hubby. :)

Another exciting thing for me this week was that my Mom found me a three maternity shirts (sizes M, L, and XL) on clearance that she surprised me with! Everywhere I've gone I haven't found anything, and I was refusing to spend more than $15 on a shirt that I'd only wear for a few short weeks. The size M shirt is a little short (although longer than all my other maternity shirts) and so I will no doubt get more wear out of it over the first couple months after the baby is born and then save it for the next pregnancy. The other two shirts are nice and long and look nice (of course the fact that they don't have any stains on them... yet.... is very nice) and it just totally made my week to be able to have 2 new shirts in particular that are comfortably loose, and don't look so "drab". :) My Mom is so great!!!!

Head on over to my Etsy shop: HandMaidGifts and check out the new baby blanket that I added here.

Okay, I think that's about all for now. Don't forget to do something special for your spouse (or a family member) today, "just because" and enjoy your weekend. :)

Pictures!

As promised (for once) I am back with new pictures. I am now 37 weeks, 1 day along in this pregnancy...

And for a close up:

The baby has been moving a lot and still having those lovely braxton hicks contractions! :)

We picked up the bouncy seat and the Pack 'N' Play today and so now, I must go put them together while my darling Husband gets some writing done. Why isn't he putting everything together? Because he's writing and I find great enjoyment in putting them together. :)

Update

Okay, so I know it's been too long since my last post! I really didn't mean for so much time to go by! But I will try to make it up to you and fill you in on all that's been happening (which isn't too much) over the past 2 weeks!

For starters:

• I am 37 WEEKS!!!!! That's right, only 3 weeks left until my due date! 37 Weeks also means that I am "Full Term". I am getting more and more excited as each day passes to meet this precious Little One!
• I have gained over 40 pounds, I am sorry to admit and I'm just praying that with T-Tapping and Nursing, those 40+ pounds will roll away faster than they came! (Along with all stretch marks.)
• My headaches/migraines from the first half of the second trimester have been threatening to return over the past 2 weeks, but as long as I keep my stomach full of food (and lots of protein), they seem to be staying at bay.
• My feet and ankles have had some swelling over the past month and even when we have "cooler" days, it doesn't seem to make much of a difference. So, I have been trying to be strict with myself and take frequent breaks throughout the day, but... um... well... that hasn't exactly been working out that well.... It's a little hard to take a break when I have so much I need/want to get done!
• My clothes seem to be shrinking as almost every day it seems I find something else that doesn't fit anymore. I have had to console myself to the fact that no matter how hard I try, the 3 maternity shirts that are still wearable (even though 2 are getting a bit short) are not going to change. Oh, and as for finding something "different" to add to my wardrobe, not happening! The only shirts that would fit and look nice are just way too expensive considering that I only have 3-5 weeks left, and I was blessed enough to find the 2 skirts that I have now! But, that's okay, pretty soon, there will be a beautiful little baby in my arms and practically immediately after that, my wardrobe will start growing (without having to put out any extra money)! Isn't that lovely? :) I think God arranged everything just the way it is, on purpose! :) Over the past week in particular, God has been re-teaching me that lesson of contentment, and reminding me that yes, although it may seem like I don't have much to wear now, very soon I will be able to wear all the other things in my closet and in the bags in storage again, so don't get caught up in the worlds way of thinking "I need more clothes" because really, I don't! Back to update:
• I have been having more Braxton Hicks. Which is a "fancy" name for feeling the contractions that have been going on for the past 9 months but that still aren't intense enough for me to be in labor. But, as you can see, the explanation is longer than "Braxton Hicks" so that's what has stuck, I guess. :) Anyway, the other night (careful, I might go off on several "rabbit trails" as I haven't posted in so long) my darling husband went grocery shopping with me and I had about 5 "more intense" contractions over the space of about an hour. Even though I knew it wasn't (hopefully) the start of labor, it did get me thinking. That particular night I was in NO WAY ready to have this baby! I mean, I am just itching to meet this Little One, but I was not ready for it to actually be here yet (and I'm still not quite ready). Little by little we have been working on getting ready for the baby. I mean, we have everything (including the birthing pool) we need for the labor and delivery part of this baby's entrance into the world, but the baby's room isn't ready (as in the baby's things aren't quite fully organized yet) and we have yet to move stuff in our bedroom to make room for the cradle to go in there. I am the kind of person that likes to be prepared. I'm flexible, but I like to be as prepared as I possibly can be and those contractions the other night gave me a little bit of a scare. :) I told my Mom the other day that I am going to have to get my house into perfect order and then keep it that way, because I am not ready for this baby, just yet, but I really want to be. :) Of course, God may have other plans, but in the meantime, I am (little by little) working on putting the house in good order (finishing organizing things and finding homes for several items) and particularly making sure our room is ready for Baby. :) Okay, back to update....
• The crib is all set up in the baby's room and we bought a swing and bouncer seat (swing is all set up, and the bouncer seat is on it's way). The only thing we really need to get still is the Pack 'N' Play. I've decided that I'm going to set the pack 'n' play up in the Living Room for the first few weeks at least so that way when the baby takes it's naps, it can be close by instead of being all the way down the hall.
• I have also been working on stocking our freezer. I have frozen Ravioli (and sauce in the cupboard) and this week I put 3 containers of Chicken Pot Pie filling (just need to be thawed and get some biscuits on top) and 1 Apple Pie in there as well. I know people will be bringing us meals, but I figure even if we don't touch this food until 3-4 weeks after the baby is born, it will no doubt come in handy to have something that doesn't need too much work after a tiring day or when I don't have anything for Hubby's lunch and I don't have enough time to make a full meal. If anyone has any other suggestions of meals to freeze, please pass them on!
• The past week I've been working harder on exercising more as for a couple weeks I wasn't doing too good. Thankfully my parents have a pool, so I can do lots of exercising in there (which is so nice because it takes all the weight off of my feet for the time I'm in it) and I've been trying to take more walks and do more T-Tapping! The past week I exercised 5 out of 7 days, which is a big difference from 2 days the week before, and 1 day the week before that!

So how's that for a longer update? I'm sorry I don't have a picture, but I will try and take one over the next day or so and post it immediately. :)