Today is "D" Day!

December 30, 2008...our baby's due date! There is still time, but I have a feeling our little one is not coming into the world today.

I have a stubborn baby!

We had our Week 40 pre-natal appt. this morning and since today is our due date my doctor wanted me to have a fetal monitoring test to make sure there are no problems and she can let me go overdue. In the waiting area Baby E was rocking and rolling inside my belly! But of course once I went back and had the belts strapped around my middle, "clicker" in hand for every time I felt movement, it all stopped! There was no kicking, moving, or even hiccuping, the feelings I endure all day long! So the nurse eventually had to "buzz" my belly with a loud noise device which startled the baby to kick once, then nothing for a long time! I told Craig I wasn't surprised, we have a stubborn baby! Anytime I have wanted someone to feel a kick or see a "roll" our little Sprout just will not do it. Craig's response was, "Well we know who he (or she) takes after." I'm assuming he means himself...

We Made It Past Christmas!

Yay! No baby born on Christmas!! That was one of my worries, even as special as it would be to share a birthday with Jesus! Our Christmas was very quiet this year, just Craig and me. On Christmas morning Craig woke me up like a little boy would his parents (such a kid at heart!). He read Luke's account of Jesus' birth to me, we gave great thanks and then opened our gifts to each other.

We did open one gift on Christmas Eve...

a diaper bag that Craig will be proud to carry, a blanket, bottle, pacifier, hat and booties...Our child is destined to be a Cyclone fan!

On Saturday we joyfully celebrated with my sister, her hubby Craig (yes 2 Craigs in the family!) son Will, and my dad. It was great to have some interaction with family! We played games

opened gifts

relaxed

and broke rocking chairs!

What a fun time! My dad and sister kept watch for any signs of contractions...they were hoping for some action while they were here! Unfortunately it didn't happen, but tomorrow (Dec. 30th) is my "due date"...so it's bound to be SOON!

Am I Going to Miss Being Pregnant?

As the end draws near Craig has asked me a few times, "You're going to miss being pregnant aren't you?"

I really haven't been able to give him a good answer, due to the fact that it has been wonderful but there is so much I am looking forward to after the baby is born! It is amazing that in 9 short months I have forgotten what it is like to not-be-pregnant. So I decided I must ponder the past several months, all of the ups and downs, joys and "inconveniences", and list them all so we will never forget!

My Joys of Pregnancy:
1. Watching my belly grow!
2. Laughing with Craig as we watch the "fireworks display" across my middle!
3. Wondering is this a boy or a girl?
4. Imagining what he/she is going to look like
5. Snuggling up behind Craig and seeing his eyebrows raise everytime he feels a kick in his back
6. Feeling all the wonderful movements of life inside me
7. All the kind words, prayers, and well-wishes from friends and even strangers
8. Baby showers!
9. Being able to wear belly-snuggy clothes and not feel self-conscious!
10. All the extra pampering!

There is so much more I could write but who wants to read the ramblings of a first time mom?! I have to be honest and list the not-so-great stuff too - just so I can remind Baby E someday what I went through... :)

Things-I-Am-Not-Going-To-Miss-About-Pregnancy:
1. Nausea, nausea, nausea!
2. Short of breath-ness
3. Sweatpants are the only comfortable pants I can wear!
4. Watching myself gain weight and not being able to do anything about it
5. Feeling the need to go to the bathroom every half hour
6. Not being able to bend over which is very inconvenient when I need to shave my legs!

I must stop there because I could probably find more to complain about, but when carrying a miracle of life is such a BLESSING, how can I complain? So I would say my lists prove that I WILL miss being pregnant, but I CAN'T WAIT to hold our little miracle in my arms and share the joys of parenthood with my dear Craig. (It will be nice to not feel so out of shape again too! :)
Will my next post be baby news...???

Getting Ready...

Setting up the crib was a breeze ~

Craig was able to do it in no time!

Now the dresser was another story...

After about 2 hours it is done - woohoo!