40 Weeks plus 2 days

Well, I guess you can say my emotions have been up and down the past few days. When we woke up on Wednesday...I guess we just thought...TODAY IS THE DAY!!! In my heart and body I knew nothing was different but I just hoped and was anxious and ready in some ways for something to happen. But nothing did. Thursday I had my Doctor's report who verified...yes, nothing is happening! Thursday was a bit harder. I was disappointed and just felt so unsure because this is my first time. It's so close to Christmas and just a few other things are on my heart including worrying over schedules with all our family who live so close and little Levi's 3rd birthday...wondering if I can juggle it all!!!

But here's my Christmas blessings that I HAVE ENJOYED so far this year:
I made my Bucket List and here's the fun things I have checked off:

• Christmas Sleepover with Jonah and Levi
• Two Christmas Cookie Exchanges!! still enjoying these from our freezer
• Christmas Baking: Swedish Ginger Cookies, Pretzel Bark, Butter Tarts, Almond Crunch
• A Failed/Botched Sisters and Mom hang time in Summerside....I guess we can still count the 20 minutes of fellowship (It was my fault too, I forgot to bring a document and the rest of the afternoon was us driving around trying to meet Danny!!)
• Bredin Yankee Swap night-Everyone in our entire family including Bella the dog (poor Sophie  Kristi's dog...got stuck at home) but we did see her later on for a quick Siblings only hang out (minus Mike and Ally)
• Stretch Siblings Pizza Party
• Christmas Decorating and Christmas Tree set up watching Elf
• Lots of Christmas movie favorites watched already! Only need to watch a few more to feel like I got them all in including: Muppets Family Christmas and Muppets Christmas Carol and Little Women
• Christmas Shopping DONE!!! I keep thinking of a few things I "could" buy but trying to not to over do it
• Spending time with Dan's Parents *They have invited us for supper 3 Thursday nights this month!! So nice to not have to do dishes!!! plus its always nice to see them of course!! 

Best parts of (STILL) being preggo:

• I have made lists in my head and googled and researched and asked lots of questions of all the things I need. I finally feel "ready" in the STUFF department. Including a finished Bassinet that was done just in the nick of time by bedtime on our official Due Date (Weds)...
  
    This is so so so special to me. I am
• so glad it's all ready for our first family sleep over!!
• I truly do feel fine. I have no real clues that this is the week I'm supposed to have a baby. I feel heavier and trying to rest a lot. I have indulged in naps and sleeping in without (that much) guilt, and we go to bed fairly early cuz Dan's pretty tired. I feel bad cuz I usually wake up at 3 or 4 and read and sometimes wake Dan up....but he's sweet about it
• Baby is happy...kicking and I can definitely feel his/her little bum pressing against my belly and it's always reassuring to hear a nice healthy heart beat....
• So now all I do is wait...pray and keep thinking of things I need to do before baby comes!!

Merry Christmas!!

Almost a week away from Due Date!!!

I really wasn't the BEST model for these preggers shots but here they are all together: 

You can certainly see a great difference in the 6 weeks between 32 and 38...I kept meaning to take shots when I had places to go, but I'm always in a rush and as soon as I get home I put on comfy clothes. Had another visit today, but so far, nothing has changed!!! Its so surreal because my next weekly appointment is scheduled a day after my due date...WEIRD!!!

It's so very hard to believe its all coming so close to meeting our baby.

Baby's Room!! (38 Weeks)

Today I am 38 Weeks!!!! And I keep checking things off my list...these pics aren't professional by any means but I wanted to record them so I can remember all the little details...and it really is one of my favorite places now! I am very happy with it!!

I can't believe that these quilts are over 30 years old! Yowza. I was so blessed by a sweet lady one day I was subbing and she out of the blue said...do you need a baby swing?? And I did! So now I have one. And I kinda wanted a bright red or orange  barn light but was very happy and pleased with the one we got, and VERY excited when Cuz Scott installed the electrical stuff for us!

This summer I was gifted the most beautiful quilt, and immediately knew it would be perfect for our little one's room! I love how it has all the colors that I wanted to use, and just special that one of my childhood friends has given me such a special gift to use for my baby. I've been collecting kids books for years and this bookshelf was a VERY important part of the room! Oh, and when I opened up this cloud garland at my baby shower...I was PUMPED...it was exactly something I wanted but didn't know where or how to get it! I was SO happy that I got one of Hannah's crafts for my baby!!! 

So, Julie knows that one of my dreams is to go on a hot air balloon and gave me this sweet little nite light!!! I also should add that Jules and Gregg financed our sweet little curtains too!!! Thanks so much guys! And Dan's sister Kara blew my socks off with TONS of grey polka dotted hand made things (swaddle cloth, burp cloth, drool handkerchief, stuffie...like...WHOAH!!!!) And I was so proud of myself for scoring this rad rocker from Bev before she moved and priced getting the cushions covered at a fabric store ($100 bones...no way) and found this body pillow cushion for $6...so yeah...great deal!! How special is this beautiful painting by Kit...matches perfectly!!!

I can`t wait to add more baskets and organize this closet...but at this point I don`t have enough things to fill the baskets I ALREADY have...so that will come! I couldn`t resist Christmas PJs...but I just can`t even imagine which ones will be used!!! A few months ago, Dan`s sister was sorting out her baby clothes and gave me TONS of little yellow and green sleepers..which I was so happy to have but I snuck a few red ones in too...cuz you know...boys OR girls can rock a cute little red sleeper! Thank you so much KRISTI for this beautiful Hot Air Balloon picture! It`s completely PERFECT in every way!

More hot air balloon art over change table...and a crazy polka dotted bag...not really a diaper bag, but may need a few weeks to figure out what kind of bag I will need/want/use once I actually know what baby's need/want/use!!! And was so so so happy to receive so many cute polka dots at my shower....blankets, sheets, clothes...you name it! I am so thankful for my sweet man painting and updating my bassinet that was made by the sweetest, kindest Grampie who was a carpenter. He made that bassinet for ME when I was a baby, and now my baby's Poppa Stretch and Daddy will also have part in the bassinet legacy too! So sweet. 

So...like I said...38 weeks:

Best Parts:

• Last week I worked 4 days, which basically for the last year was a RARE thing for me...I was happy to have work but pretty achy and sore by the end of the week (lucky for me there was a surprise snow day last Thursday!!!) So this week, I kinda told myself I wouldn`t book in advance...I ended up working today (Tues) but that just might be my only day, and I don`t mind at all! I have a pretty bad cold/cough/runny nose and want to get my energy and health to a good place...just in case!!!
• I told my mom tonight besides my cold that I was feeling pretty great. I feel like I can climb stairs no prob and in general (besides the achy pubic bone/pelvic area and lower back pain) I truly do feel fine! But mom told me that alot of women feel a surge of energy near the end..and in Mom's words "It's how the Lord prepares you for labour..." so...um...that kinda makes me feel like whoah this stuff is getting REAL!!!
• I am so happy that for the most part my baby's room is all done... the bassinet is very close to being done. We got our car seat safety inspected and have put our cozy carseat blanket in...but are waiting a few more days to put it in the car. 
• We got a few other things crossed off our list on Black Friday...and I just re read the "What to Pack for the Hospital" handout and feel like I have most of what I need! So just need to get that all settled and tucked away! 
• Got all my Christmas decorations up (except tree)...I can't tell you how much that means to me! I am so thankful for dear Danny who did all the climbing and grins and bears my silly sentimental decorations!!! I broke one little porcelain caroler this year...which almost brought me to tears...but even Dan said I handled it good. And this afternoon I wrapped up a few gifts. I've literally NEVER been this close to being DONE shopping this Early...cray cray! But also very relieving!
• What else...I'm going in tomorrow to see my Doctor for my first weekly visit...not sure what they are going to "do" to me to "get things started"....so honestly not looking forward to THAT....don't make me say it on my blog but it involves a different kind of "sweeping"
• I am just very excited and nervous and can hardly believe that this jumping bean inside of me will soon be here and I will get to hug and kiss this baby's face for real THIS MONTH. And if its on sched....in 2 small short weeks! YEEHAAA!!!!