Any Day!

We went to the doctor on Wednesday and found out that I was at a three! Our doctor was super pleased and scheduled us for an induction on Wednesday, October 19th. Since our appointment I've been having lots of contractions. Last night they were 4-8 minutes apart so we went to the hospital to get checked. They ended up letting me go because although they are regular, they are not strong enough to have dilated me more than I already was. We came home and for the first time in weeks both really got good rest. We have everything packed in the car and are ready to go if my water breaks or if the contractions get stronger. The nurse said some women have contractions like this regularly for days, and some get much stronger pretty quickly and end up back at the hospital pretty quickly. We shall see what Miss. Lainey decides to do. :) We are so ready to meet her and bring her home, but if we have to wait until Wednesday that will be OK too. We are enjoying the last weekend as a couple and trying to get as much rest as possible before she comes. Hopefully in a few days I will be posting pictures of our precious girl.

9 1/2 Months Pregnant!

I am so excited that I've been lucky enough to carry this sweet girl to nine and a half months! It feels great. My feet are swollen, I'm getting tired easily and I've officially starting having REALLY bad false labor pains. Lainey seems to be out of room in there and is making me quite uncomfortable. I'll be thrilled if she makes it to forty weeks because I want her to be as healthy as possible, but if she comes early that would be great too. Brian and I spent the weekend getting last minute things done and enjoying our time together. We went out to dinner on Saturday and then went to see Courageous. What an amazing movie! It was perfect to see with just a week or two before our first child is here. I can't wait to see God work in our marriage and family as we being this next phase of our life.

 Tonight I got to meet Amanda and Jeremy's baby Seth. It was so special to get to hold that precious boy that we've prayed for for so many months. Amanda and I wanted to be pregnant so badly for so long and then we found out within a week of each other that we were both expecting. To get to hold her precious little one was truly one of those moments that God opened my eyes to his amazing plan. Although we wanted to be pregnant so long before we finally were, God has always had a plan. I cannot wait to watch our sweet little ones grow up together. God is good!

While I was at work today I had several really strong contractions. One was so bad that my kids noticed. I could hardly get my lesson out and turned bright red because I was in so much pain. I don't know if that means anything, but I'm hoping it at least means that I'm making some progress. I went ahead and set my sub plans out just in case something happens tonight. I don't think that it will, but WOW, the reality that I could go into labor at work set in today. :) I am going to miss my students while I'm out. I'm so lucky to have a job that I really do enjoy. However, I'm looking forward to the best and most challenging job in the world, being a mommy to our little one. Here is my latest belly picture. I've really grown this week, it will be interesting to see what that scale says on Wednesday. :) I really am close to staying at my goal weight gain so I hope these last few weeks or days don't ruin it for me. I guess either way it will be worth it. Hopefully I'll be posting a 39 week photo next week, but if not pictures of our little one will be up soon. We can't wait!

37 Weeks

It's so exciting to know that we are finally 37 weeks! It's wonderful to know that we are officially full term and if Lainey was born today she would most likely be very healthy. We have everything ready if she decides to come early, but if she wants to hang out for a few more weeks I'm ok with that too. My feet have been swollen and I've been tired, but overall I'm still feeling good. We have a doctors appointment tomorrow so we will see if I've made any more progress. Brian and I are enjoying as much time together as we can, it's hard to believe that our 7 years as just the two of us are about to come to an end. It's so exciting, but it's also making us appreciate every moment that we have together. I'm so thankful to be married to such an amazing man and cannot wait to start our family of three with him soon. We are truly blessed and cannot wait to meet our little bundle of joy.  Here is my latest tummy picture, she seems to be growing every day right now. :)

9 MONTHS PREGNANT!

Well, we have made it to the 9 month mark and I cannot wait to officially be "FULL TERM" in a few days. This week has been even crazier than last week. We had our last shower given by my co-workers last week and so I spent some time this weekend organizing Lainey's closet, washing a few items for her, and finishing our "before Lainey comes" list. We have checked everything off of our list so we are now ready whenever she decides to come. I even made some freezer meals so that we can just pull things out if needed. I want us to be able to enjoy the few days we get with Brian home. I'm still trying to finish the book Baby Wise, but other than that I am ready!

  I know everyone thinks they will have their baby early, but Lainey is so low that I'm convinced she may come early. Our doctor checked me today and said that she was so low that she had to go around her head in order to feel my cervix. I think this little one is going to want out soon. We've given her lots of pep talks and made it clear that this week and weekend just aren't the best, so she needs to hold on a little longer. If we can make it to the next week that would be even better. :)

Right now Brian's daddy is in ICU. He had a heart attack on Sunday and ended up having major surgery on Tuesday. The doctors only gave him about a 50% chance of surviving surgery so things were really scary for a few days. He did make it through surgery and is trying to recover. He is in such poor health that we don't know how long we will get to have him here for, but we are glad that for now he's hanging on to meet our sweet girl. We've spent the last two nights at the hospital and I think Brian is going to go up tonight after his class ends at 9:00. I am physically drained and feel like I'm getting a cold so I'm not going to make the trip to 290 this evening. I really want to keep from going into labor so I am just going to try to relax and get some grading done. Brian has games the next three nights and is hosting a tournament this weekend. We've been running like crazy and my poor body has just had enough! My feet and hands are finally starting to swell and I'm just in that uncomfortable stage. I'm so happy to be pregnant and wouldn't trade it for the world, but at this point I need a night of rest. Here are a few pictures from our last shower and of what I look like at 36 weeks. There is no doubt that I've grown.

                          Our work did a joint shower for three of us.

                    Karen and I are both having baby girls! Lela and Lainey!

                         One of the coolest gifts we got was a set of 12 bibs! One for every month and every special holiday. Angie started the idea with the pumpkin last October. She knew we were going IVF and bought it hoping we would be pregnant. Although it didn't work the first time she kept going with the idea and ended up with one super cool gift!

                     All of Lainey's cool things from my co-workers.

      36 weeks! I've gained 22 lbs. and I think 5 of those have gone to my face. :)

34 & 35 Weeks

The last two weeks have been so super busy that I haven't even had a second to think about blogging. We have been so busy trying to get last minute things done for Lainey and have also been very busy at school. We had a doctor's appointment last week and everything still looks great. I go back next week and will be checked for progress each week after that. Lainey is growing so much! I've gained 21 pounds and she's really cramped for space. She's been hurting me a lot because she's all over my ribs. I know we will both be glad when she's free. :)

Since this weekend was Brian's last weekend without a tournament until mid October we went ahead and bought the rest of the things we needed for her, loaded car seats, washed her sheets and packed my labor bag. I don't think she will be coming for a few more weeks, but we only have 32 days left and I want to be prepared. We've also been super blessed to have two more showers with my former cheerleaders and some co-workers and Brian's school. We are truly amazed at how loved our little girl is! The presents have been a huge help, but it's the thought and the fact that almost 300 people have sent her something to tell her how loved and welcome she is that means the world to both of us. We are so blessed!

Our schedule this week is pretty crazy, but nothing like the last two. I think we may actually get some sleep at nights. That will be wonderful! We've been going to bed late, waking up early and I've been up a lot at night. The other night I went to the bathroom every 15 minutes for two hours. It was crazy. I am convinced that God uses pregnancy to prepare us for being sleep deprived once our little ones come into the world. I've also had so much on my mind. I still have so many things I want to do, books I want to read before Lainey comes and it's hard to shut my mind off. I've been reading the book Baby Wise and love it! There is so much more to a peaceful baby than what I thought. We cannot wait for our sweet girl to get here, but in the mean time we really are enjoying each other. We even got to go to the Third Day concert this weekend! It's been great! Well, we are about to go to bed! We're both exhausted! Here are a few photos of the last couple of weeks.

                                            35 weeks!

                               Third Day and Matthew West Concert

 Some of my former cheerleaders helped host a shower for Lainey! It was SO good to see them!

                              My sweet co-workers! Love these ladies

                                  One of my favorite outfits for Miss Lainey

                                  Love these girls so much!

                          Lainey's first pair of boots! Thanks Marianne!

                         Lainey's Love Letters from Amy! This looks great in her nursery!

Our Maternity Photo Session with Jess

We got to take our maternity pictures this weekend and I could not be more happy with them. Brian has tournaments every other weekend before Lainey is born so it was really our last chance to get these taken without being too stressed on time. We took these at Market Street on Saturday morning and the weather was perfect! We are so pleased with how these turned out and can't wait to take newborn photos in just a little while. 

Our good friend Jessica started her own photography business a little over a year ago. She calls it frugal fotography! She takes amazing pictures and then gives you a CD at the end of the session. You get to do what you please with all of the photos! She took some amazing pictures of us so if you are interested in her contact information let me know. :) 

32 Week Update

Lainey's nursery is finally finished!! I've still got to wash sheets and some of her newborn clothes before she comes, but we are finally satisfied with what the nursery looks like. I love it! It's super bright and cheerful and I think it represents what she is bringing into our life. Today we had our 32 week ultrasound. This is the last time we will get to see her before seeing her in person. That was bittersweet! I put the one ok picture that we got in the her ultrasound book and was amazed! Looking at the tiny embryo that she started out as and now seeing these chubby little cheeks and head full of hair was amazing. I teared up thinking of the emotional journey we've been on waiting for her to come into our life. God is so good and we are so blessed. Our appointment today was great. The doctor said she is super healthy, has a head full of hair already and weighs 4 lbs. 11 oz! WOW! I weighed 5 lbs. 6 oz. when I was born so that was super hard to believe. She's a chubby little one. I am so excited that in just a few weeks she will be in my arms. We've waited so long for Lainey's conception and arrival that I really can't believe it's about to actually be time to meet her. I love being pregnant and feeling her move, but the rash that I've had since April needs to hurry up and go away. That I will not miss. :)  Here are a few pictures of her nursery and how big I've gotten! 

                                                           The view from her crib

                                             Her cubbies hold blankets, books and burp cloths.
                           The sign on top of her cubbies will be for her visitors to sign at the hospital.

                                                          Lainey's places to relax :)

                                                        My favorite wall in her nursery!

                                                    All of the fun new outfits for little missy!

                                                    All of her bows for her full head of hair!
                                                   My friend Lyndsay made her bow holder.

                                                                       Lainey's Crib

                                                          32 Weeks! I've gained 19 lbs!