almoooost

my special helper for today 

I cannot believe how fast time has flown by the last few months, I mean really can there only be 12 days til my due date, really? At the most I have 22 days left, which seems feasible at this point too.

Two weekends ago we did maternity pictures in the sweltering heat, which makes me think, maybe, just maybe I shouldn't have waited til I was 8 1/2 months pregnant to schedule pictures, but Melodie did a wonderful job, and Jacob wasn't too grumpy for it being 104 outside and we got snowcones, so really not a bad afternoon! To see our pictures go here...and do it now!

jonah's quilt courtesy of Sara. thanks again, we LOVE it!

Jonah's bed (courtesy of Melodie and Mac)

the changing table and all the goodies

I think these are {just a few} of the hats!

bucket o shoes

This weekend we go to celebrate with lots of family and friends at a baby shower thrown for us by some rather fantastic gals. I don't have any pictures from the shower...YET, but I will soon and I will share them with you as soon as I do! But in the meantime here are some pictures of what the nursery looks like, there are many more things to be put away, but they are being laundered at the moment. I really had a wonderful time with everyone who got to come, we are really so blessed to have such great friends and family and I can't wait to share Jonah with ALL of them!

molly hanging out with bear

baby face

Today I was thinking about all of the modern technologies we have and how convenient and fun most of them are, like ultrasounds.

At the beginning of my pregnancy we had a few ultrasounds to see how he was growing and check regular stuff, but we haven't had any since the anatomy scan at 20 weeks. We also had an elective ultrasound around 18 weeks when my family came up here and got to go with us when we found out he has boy parts. :)

I ramble because today I realized that after the 6 or so ultrasounds we had, we haven't got to see the little man's face! I think we have one profile picture that turned out really blurry since he was being a wiggle worm. But really, we have no idea what he looks like, not even a guess. I think most people (or at least ones I have talked to lately) get a sweet little 3d shot of their wee one's face to guess at who's nose he has or maybe even a sweet little smile, but I guess we did get a shot of his tiny tush. :) Not until I came upon this realization did I start to get incredibly anxious to meet him!  I mean, that, and the fact that seems like time is slipping through my fingers (24 more days if you're curious).

We are slowly getting things together and ready for him to make his appearance, very slowly. We finally picked out a carseat and are going to get it on Thursday after my 36 week appt. I have most of my hospital bag packed except things like our toothbrushes and phone charger. I talked to my mom today and they are going to bring the bassinet that they used for me and all my siblings up here when baby comes...and my dad is fixing it up for us and painting it and everything...I'm so excited!

Oh and I cannot forget to mention that we are going to do maternity pictures this weekend with Melodie (if you haven't checked her out yet...do it now!) I just have to decide what to wear, which may be a challenge since I'm outgrowing most of my clothes.

I feel like I ramble, but you like it...right?

Oh and if you have any awesome suggestions for a playlist at the hospital...tell me them now. please. thank you.

I'm really not this bossy normally...promise.

time flies...literally

So, this is almost too funny not to share.

I called my Dr's office this morning to see what time I made my appt. for next week and while the receptionist was looking it up this happens:
Receptionist: "Wow, I can't believe you're so close to the end, it's pretty exciting huh?"
Me: "Yep only a little over 5 weeks away."
SILENCE
Receptionist: "I think you mean 4 weeks, you know a month from tomorrow"
Me: "Silly question: When is my due date then?"
Receptionist: "August 6"
Me: "Are you sure about that?"

I thought (incorrectly for 8 months now) that my due date was the 12th and after that conversation and two similar ones with both of the nurses, I was wrong. I just lost 6 days of being pregnant. Yipes. Everyone seems to be pretty excited, and I'm sooooo excited to meet this little guy too! But, to be honest I feel a little unprepared, I'm not sure why 6 days makes such a difference in my head, oh, maybe because it's almost a whole week...eeeek.

I can't help but laugh about this, and I'm sure it will be funny for a while.

Other than time literally flying by we celebrated Independence Day this weekend with some friends and food and fireworks, and it was fantastic. I took pictures and everything, but then I left my camera at the party, so I don't have them with me now, but I know if I wait for the pictures to publish this, it is very likely it won't get done. So, look forward to those later.

i'm a slacker...or just forgetful, let's go with the latter.

I don't know how much all of you (ok, like the 6 of you who read this) like reading this part, but I like telling you, so there.

How Far Along? 33 weeks and a couple days

Size of baby:  Pineapple

Weight gain/loss: +11 lbs (before i bought pudding cups :))

Maternity Clothes: I'm all about the maternity wear and Jacob's clothes, I confiscated a pair of basketball shorts that he'll probably only ever see on me 

Gender:bouncing boy

Movement: He rarely stops moving, he's either squishing my bladder or in my ribs...sometimes both at the same time. 

Sleep: 3 pillows and 2/3 of the bed and I'm good, I think Jacob probably misses sleep now though. 

What I miss: being cold...i'm forever hot.

Cravings: milk and cheese and brownies popsicles and snow cones...

Symptoms: regular pregnancy stuff i think, nothing too bizzare...yet.

Best Moment: Jacob laying with his face by my belly and Jonah punching him, Jacob's eyes lit up and he was so excited! This is becoming so real, and I can't believe we only have 9 weeks left of this!

But I know you all LOVE reading this part...right?!

I have started this stinkin thing three times and forget to finish it...everytime. oops.

But here is what has been going on as of lately. On Saturday, my friend Shelby (HI!!!!!) came over and we made freezer meals for after baby Jonah gets here, I ended up with half a freezer full and I'm so excited. Sometimes, I just like to open up my freezer and look at it. And later that night, we had dinner with the Frakes and had snow cones...mmmm.

 Also I have been invited to two birthday parties this week, both for very special little girls...

Happy Birthday Emily!!
Happy Birthday MJ!!

I think that's all for now, I have a hard time staying on track. Maybe after I finish my coffee I will be able to think more clearly...or just have to pee some more.

back to work

Today was my first day back to work in a little over three weeks, and boy, oh boy, was I ready to do something other than be in my own house for hours on end. Although while I've been home I've found lots of things to do with the kiddos this summer, like make fairy houses, join the reading program at JPL, and pick blueberries, and maybe even some strawberries (if I can find a patch close). I don't know if I have ever been so excited to get up in the morning, well it was either that, or pregnancy makes it really hard to get comfortable, but I'm pretty sure I just missed their sweet little faces. And here is one of the many reasons why:

While we were on our way into town today to take Molly to school this morning this conversation occured:

Molly: "Did you lose your baby?"
Me: "Um, nope, he's not here yet, I'm still growing him in my belly, remember?"
Molly: "Oh...ok"
Emily: "Yeah, ok, but when will he be here already?"
Me: "Well, in about 59 more days."
Emily: "Are you sure it hasn't been long enough yet, I want to see his face."
Me: "Me too."

I then tried to explain maternity leave to an almost seven year old, and failed miserably, I only know this because after I got done I glanced in my rear-view mirror and Molly was playing with her toes, and Emily was staring at a piece of hair right between her eyes.  Oh, and David was still reading the book he started before we even left the driveway.

I feel so blessed to spend my days with this particular family and to know that these kids will grow up to be something extra special.

They make my heart smile. And my face too.

radiating

Updaaaaaaaate: I thought this would be fun to do and see how things change from week to week, get ready to see this A LOT, ok, maybe not a lot, i'll probably forget, but here it is for now!

Jacob: You are radiating

Me: Aww, tha...

Jacob: No you're radiating heat...scoot over.

hahahahahaah

How Far Along? 31 Weeks (tomorrow)

Size of baby: Summer Squash

Weight gain/loss: +8 lbs

Maternity Clothes:Yep, almost everything is maternity at this point, well, except when I wear Jacob's shirts, but even those are beginning to get a more snug. :)

Gender:boy

Movement: He rarely stops moving, he's either squishing my bladder or in my ribs...sometimes both at the same time. 

Sleep: 3 pillows and 2/3 of the bed and I'm good, I think Jacob probably misses sleep now though. 

What I miss: being cold...i'm forever hot.

Cravings: milk and cheese and brownies popsicles and a freakin snow cone...(we have a snowcone date for sunday though)

Symptoms: nesting, some bh contractions, easily worn out. oh and i forget a lot of stuff all the time.

Best Moment: Jacob laying with his face by my belly and Jonah punching him, Jacob's eyes lit up and he was so excited! This is becoming so real, and I can't believe we only have 9 weeks left of this!

anniversary

We recently celebrated our fourth anniversary. I cannot believe it's already been four years...unbelievable. These last four years have been some of the most fun, challenging, unforgettable years of my life. I am so blessed to have shared them with my best friend.

To celebrate this year we took about 24 hours to just hang out together. We headed down to Rogers, AR to get away. The only thing I wanted for the weekend was somewhere with a pool, and it was glorious. We checked into the hotel around 230 and headed straight for the pool...seriously fantastic. Then we headed back upstairs to get ready for our date to P.F. Chang's, also fantastic. After a movie (at a theater where the arm rests fold up...way fun!) we cranked down the air in our hotel room and enjoyed sleeping in...ahhh. The next day we headed to Pinnacle Hills and did some shopping and visited Build A Bear, hey it's not just fun for kids. We made a little bear for baby Jonah, his name is Grizzly. I can't get any of our pictures from then uploaded, maybe later. It was so good to get away and just hang out and laugh and not worry about anything for a day.

Earlier this week we had some of our friends over for dinner, I'm so glad they got to come over and spend the evening with us, it is so much fun to share the excitement of expecting this sweet babe with such sweet people!