40 Weeks, 4 Days, and counting!

As you can see by the title of this post, I am still pregnant. Earlier this week I was on an emotional roller coaster ride, it seemed as I just so badly wanted this baby to in my arms. But over the last two days, I have been the opposite and am fully determined not to have this baby until late Saturday night, or anytime thereafter! You see Scott is photographing a wedding this weekend and obviously I don't want to go through labor and have the baby without him here, so baby and I are content to wait until after he's done with the wedding! In the meantime, we've gotten much accomplished over the last couple days.

We finally got a bed frame for our bed! If you recall this post you may have noticed that our mattress and boxspring was on the floor. They have been like that every time we've used them (as there were 4 months that we didn't use them/during our trip) since November of last year when we left our apartment. You see we somehow decided to throw out the old frame (why, we can't really remember) when we left our apartment and so have been living without ever since. As you can imagine, it is not easy for a 7, 8, or 9 month woman to get out of a bed that is lower than her knees, especially when said woman has to get up 3-6 times a night! I had finally let go of the thought of getting a frame for our bed, but then Thursday morning I was sitting in bed reflecting on the near future and all of a sudden I realized that once this baby is born, I will be spending most of the first 2 weeks in my bed! And seeing as that puts the cradle so high up, I'd have to get out of bed just to put down or pick up the baby, and let's remember, that that will be just after giving birth, which means my body will be doing some serious recovery! So after mentioning my thoughts to Scott, my darling husband and I decided to go out in search of a frame. Just a metal frame as our room isn't big enough for (and we're not ready to invest in) a real bed frame.

However, as a result of the new bed frame (which is AWESOME! We finally are sleeping in a "real" bed!) my Kleenex, water, crackers, etc. (a.k.a. anything else I need) could not be reached if left on the floor as they had been before. So temporarily we put a chair beside the bed for my "nightstand". See picture below:

As you can see, we also have a LOT of pillows! Eight, to be exact (one of which is a full length, body pillow). I generally use between 4 and 5 to sleep and then Scott uses what's left to prop himself up to write when I go to sleep at night!

So, back to what we've been up to... Friday night Scott and I went on a mission to Walmart. We needed: some produce, Rice Dream, water crackers (my favorite), batteries, a travel case for wipes (you know, the flat cases that go in the diaper bag) - as we didn't have one and I hadn't even thought of it until a few days ago - diapers (I've been stocking up whenever I get hold of a $3.00 off coupon), and an end table! We found all that we needed (including a table for under $50) and Scott started putting the table together as soon as we got home! Here he is getting down to the end of putting it together:

Then something was wrong with the drawer, so he had to do some more work on it... I just love watching him!!!!

Not to interrupt, my story here, but you may notice our Pack 'N Play all set up behind Scott with the Winnie the Pooh mobile! It's so cute, we just love it (and can't wait to put it to use)!

Here is the table all done and in it's "rightful" place! I'm sure I'll find more things to put on it, but the drawer and shelf will help keep everything organized! :)

I'm signing off for now. Must get some much needed rest!

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. :)

Missing my Hubby (and a challenge)

Well, it has been over a month now since my dear, sweet, wonderful, loving, kind, amazing, incredible, serving, caring, giving, hardworking husband went back to work at the factory. Oh, how spoiled I am!!!! I knew before that I was spoiled but didn't realize just how spoiled I was until the past month. I mean, I figured that since we only needed one cell phone because we were practically ALWAYS together and because we only needed one car because we were always together then I was no doubt getting to spend a whole lot more time with him than other wives get with their husbands. I knew I had much to be grateful for, but still, I didn't realize just how much! Having him gone for 9 hours a day definitely brought that realization full circle! (Please note, I'm not complaining, just sharing from my heart....) I mean, I have been greatly enjoying my time at home, at OUR home, but it's not so much because I'm by myself as it is because it's "our home". Oh, I am cherishing and treasuring my time with him more than ever these days! (Hence my lack of posts and pictures.) I love my husband so much and my heart just thrills at the sound of closing doors as he heads for the front door when he gets home from work. I know it seems so silly because he was working at the same factory the first 3 months of our marriage. But remember, we've been married for 12 1/2 months now and that means that for the past 9 1/2 months I've had my Hubby all to myself. I mean, when he's home he's always working on something book related, but when he's home I can get a kiss in much more frequently throughout the day than when he's gone for most of the day. :) Besides, just his presence in the house makes me so happy. I love knowing he's working on the couch while I'm doing dishes, cooking, cleaning, organizing, going through boxes (the baby's room is still 1/3 full of boxes). It's nice just to see him as I pass through the room. '

Over the past few weeks in our own place, especially since Scott is working 2 jobs (writing/being an author is always a full-time job) God has been reminding me of all the sweet aspects of being a housewife. I mean, I was still a wife for the 7 months before now but we didn't have a place of our own. It was challenging because I had to work hard and be creative to make wherever we were feel relaxing and restful but nothing beats having a home of our own that I can make a "haven of rest" for my Man (and soon to be, family). It is nice to have pictures up (even if they are mostly of *us*) and to have my candles and all the familiar things that were in our first place of residence as "husband and wife". I know Scott would say (and I agree), "it's nice to have our books out again!" :)

I love being married. I love having my own place to cook and clean in. I love learning all that God is continuously teaching me. I love planning snacks to surprise my Hubby with when he gets home. I love being pregnant and thinking that one day very soon I will have a little baby keeping me very occupied while "Daddy" is at work. :)

I don't know if any of this mumble-jumble has made much sense. But to change the subject I now have a challenge for all of my blog-readers:

I know I have not posted in almost 2 weeks and am planing a post with lots of pictures within the next week. But how about a little trivia in the meantime?

Can anyone guess how far along I am in my pregnancy and how many weeks and days are left till my due date? Rate how far along I am (weeks+days if not exact) as of today, June 23rd. If you can guess that correctly, than you'll have no problem figuring out how many weeks and days it is until my due date (that is of course, if you remember how many weeks a full-term pregnancy is). Sometime in the next few days (as long as someone has guessed correctly) I will do a Pregnancy update post as well as a "new home" post with lots of pictures.

Life

Although there have not been many frequent posts on my blog lately, life is still going on. As always the Lord is teaching me much and one of those things is living life productively and joyfully. I have not been making good use of my time lately and thanks to the Little One growing inside me, my emotions have been on a roller-coaster over the past month which makes me happy one moment and then "down" the next, for no specific reason at all (that is to say, that my reasons usually don't merit such an emotional response). But God is at work! As of late, I have been very happy indeed! Why? Mainly because I am working on turning my entire focus onto the Lord! What a difference it makes when we are wholly focused on God and living for Him.

Since my last blog post I have been to Harkness two more times with my darling Hubby! A week ago we went for a picnic and here are a couple pictures....

It was a beautiful, warm day and we had so much fun walking and taking pictures. Scott took a lot more than I did though as he's practicing with a new camera he got for a wedding he's doing later this year.

God's creation is so beautiful! When I look at the ocean, I am amazed at how big it is, especially as I think about how what I'm seeing is such a tiny, tiny, part of it!

My birthday was last week and I had a great day! My wonderful, sweet, loving husband bought me the nicest locket! I tried to take a picture of it, but this is the best I got (see below). It has a pink flower on it with the words "I Love You" beside it. It is so pretty, I just love it!

My wonderful Husband also bought me some slippers which I was hoping for as I wear my slippers ALL the time! Last year my Mom found some pretty white slippers that said "Just Married" on them, and by the end of the Fall I had completely worn them out! About a month before our wedding I had bought (didn't know about the other slippers) myself some pink slippers similar to the ones below because I knew I would wear them frequently. Well, after a year of wear, those also have gotten pretty worn out and DIRTY! I wore them a LOT on our trip and by the time we got back they were pretty worn out. So I got new slippers for my birthday! I love them and they are very comfortable!

This week I have been trying to finish a baby blanket that I started crocheting back in February! I could have had it done before March, but did I? No! I am nearing the end, so I am trying to actually finish it and start (and finish) another as well before another month is up!

The pregnancy is going well. I am now 24 weeks, 1 day! I'm measuring perfectly and am very much enjoying all the movement that I am feeling! I know I've been saying it for close to 20 weeks now, but it still amazes me how intricate God's design is and that there is a little human being growing inside of me. It can hear me, it can see the difference if I were to shine a flashlight on my tummy, it's lungs are growing, and it is moving it's little legs and arms and I can feel it! It is just so amazing, it brings me to tears!

I will end here for today, but if you'd like some more great encouragement, go check out my friend Shayna's blog and the great post she shared here.

Week 13

Today I am 13 weeks along in the pregnancy! I am just SOOOO excited! I'm really hoping that the baby is a girl (although I'll be happy either way). I have had 3 dreams so far about the baby being a girl or holding a newborn girl (didn't figure out who's baby it was before waking up). So, we'll see.... :) I am doing well. The past few days have been pretty rough with feeling very nauseous after eating anything. It is beautiful weather here in Georgia. Yesterday it was raining and it was still fifty degrees out. I just love when the sun is shining and I go outside and it actually feels like the sun is shining because it is so warm. :) Of course, have I taken advantage of this nice weather and gone for a walk? Not yet, but I'm planning to. :)

Here is my first "baby bump" picture. Not much yet, but I wanted to start when I am barely showing so I (and anyone else) can see the progression each week.

On Saturday Scott was doing a signing at a mall and I decided to walk through some stores (imagine my delight when I found a Motherhood Maternity store there). I found this jacket (I'm always wearing one of these, and 2 of mine don't fit anymore because they are too tight if I zip them up) and Scott said I could get it. I was so excited!!! :)


Then Scott was looking around at all their sale items (the jacket was on sale too, I was so happy) and found this outfit and told me to try it on because he really liked it. So I did, and he said we should get it. It's so nice when my husband is looking for things for me. :) I don't remember even seeing this outfit when I was looking around before.

So, it's official, I have bought my first maternity clothes. :) They are SOOOO comfortable! You can't see much of the pants in the above picture, but they are cotton and are so comfy! My husband has GREAT taste! :)

As you may notice in all of these pictures, I am now wearing only my glasses. I have a lovely tendency to get headaches that turn into migraines almost every day and my contacts do NOT help in that area. So for now I am just sticking to my glasses. I just hope I can wear my contacts again by the time the baby's born. I miss my contacts!!!! I forgot how quickly one's glasses get dirty! :)

I haven't been up to too much lately other than accompanying Scott on his book signings (which we had every day last week). We are enjoying a few days rest before it starts again. :) We can't wait to get home (to CT) and stay in the same place for more than 3 weeks! :)

Valentine's Day (a day late)

So, I meant to do this post yesterday, but my computer was acting up and had to settle for reading more of Scott's second book (which I'm loving, by the way). In past years, (once I was old enough to realize what Valentine's day was) my Valentine's day was spent corralling my siblings into planning surprises for Mom and Dad to make the day special, for them! :) It usually included serving them dinner (that we cooked) in another room of the house so they could eat by themselves. Last year was a little different. For the first time I had my very own Valentine, my Fiance! However, my Valentine was going to be working on V-day so we celebrated on February 11th which was his day off. He surprised me with a small red bear, flowers in a mug (with hearts on it, of course), Chocolates, and a very nice lunch! He had the whole day planned out for us! We decided that from that day on we should always celebrate Valentine's day on the 11th. (As you can tell, I will take any opportunity to show my husband he means the world to me, so even though Valentine's day is a "worldly thing" we can still take advantage of it!)

So this year, I made plans for us. I made sure I had the ingredients for a Chocolate cake (that ended up with a pink heart on the frosting thanks to sprinkles) and also bought the ingredients to make us a nice meal. I couldn't find a nice card, so I wrote him a love letter, which I knew he'd prefer anyway. Knowing my husband, as I looked at all the valentine candy (and the ridiculous prices) I finally decided to get him some ordinary Reeses Cups! They're his favorite and since I don't prefer them (although I don't mind them, but that means I always go for something else if we're deciding to get a little treat) I knew he'd love to have them!
Now, I will admit that I did constantly remind Scott that since he got me a bear (that was maybe 6 inches tall) last year, he had to get me one this year. I told him it could be really small, I didn't care, but he had started a tradition, and he should keep it! So, on February 10th, he went shopping and I made our cake (which he didn't know about). We ended up deciding to start our little celebration that night because we were going to get the house to ourselves. After he got back I had asked him to go get me something from the car and to just put it on our bed in the bedroom. Well, then he kept telling me that he had done that and that I should go make sure he got the right thing (or something like that). So I went into the bedroom and found this (see below) sitting on my pillow with a single Red Rose sticking out of the heart! It was so sweet (although a bit bigger than I had expected!!!! :) )

Scott wanted me to see it right away so the Rose could get into some water, and apparently the large bear (instead of a smaller one) was because he didn't like any of the smaller ones! That's okay, I love my bear! I especially like that it has the year right on it!!! :) I have the most wonderful husband!

So, what did you all do for Valentine's day?

As a side note, here is a picture from our stay with Bryan Davis and his family:

New Jersey

Wow, does time get away from me! I can't believe we're already about to leave New Jersey! It has been 5 days since we left our beloved Connecticut. I am pleased to announce that there were no tears. They came very close to breaking through, but I held them back and made it out the door without allowing them to fall. Albeit, the last 2 minutes of saying "goodbye" to my family was a bit "rushed" as my Sister put it, but I did not want to start crying when we were so close to the door. I hugged my parents one last time and almost broke down, but I smiled and said "see you soon." :) God definately knew what I was going to need, because as it turned out, at the time that we were ready to say goodbye to my family on Thanksgiving night, my 11 cousins, 2 aunts, 1 uncle, and Grandparents were all there and half of the family were watching a funny movie and everyone else was playing games, playing with toys, or whatever. It definately helped that everyone was a little distracted. 5 months isn't that long, and with the technology that we have, it is very easy to stay in touch with our loved ones. Besides, it is always better leaving everyone with cheerful attitudes than being emotional and all sad when there really is no need for it.

4:oo Friday morning came very quickly for me, but I was up and in the shower by 4:05. Scott was up and ready for the day by the time I was done and we got what little stuff was left all gathered up before taking a few minutes to eat breakfast and chat with his family before we left. However, being SO early in the morning and the fact that although my body was functioning, it wasn't fully awake, I was not able to eat more than a few bites of oatmeal before feeling a little sick. Scott went outside to hook up the trailer while I finished getting things ready, and we discovered that it was POURING outside! We said goodbye and made it to the book signing in Waterford safely, and by 2:45 we SOLD THEM OUT! We did take a long break mid-morning for some breakfast. :)

We arrived safely in New Jersey around 6:15, quite tired! :) The past 5 days have been great! Our Hostesses have been terrific, and we are so blessed to have been able to stay with them.

Tomorrow morning we'll be heading to Beaver Falls, PA and then on to IN on Thursday!

Over the past week I have been thinking about how blessed I am to have my Husband. I love him with my whole heart and can't thank the Lord enough for putting him in my life. I love watching and listening to Scott as he talks to different people about his book and I am so proud of him for following his dream. Back in the begining of our relationship we were researching the possibility of starting our own Publishing House and what that would mean for us. I am SO glad that I encouraged him to follow his dream and not to let anything deter him from doing what he needed to do even if it was a risk. To all you married women, I encourage you to take a moment and thank God for your Husband. And be specific! Don't just say "thank you Lord, for my Husband." Think about the things you appreciate about your husband and be specific in your prayer.