One Month to Go!

We're hoping to meet our little Pumpkin in less than a month. It feels both very close and so far away at the same time. I started packing for the hospital this week and feel that we have most everything we need. I even got 3 free diapers in the mail today! We picked up our stroller and car seat last week and Peter put them together. We still need to install the car seat bases in our cars but then we're set to go.

This past Saturday we went to Philly with friends. For her birthday, one of our small group friends wanted to visit a medical museum. It was the weirdest, grossest stuff I've ever seen. The best part was the gift shop (complete with syringe pens and gummy tape worms). We also saw the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. We had beautiful weather and overall a really good day. It may be a while before we fit in another day trip like that.

Monday I had a very good Dr. appointment. I met another of the 4 doctors and I'm only scheduled to meet one more. I bet the one I don't meet is the one on call when I deliver, haha. I'm sure they're all fantastic. Blood pressure, weight and baby's heart rate were all good. I'm going to weekly appointments now. The end is in sight!

As I'm sure you picked up from this post, I'm ready to have this baby. However, I'm still feeling terrific! Peter and I are just so excited to meet our little lady and learn what parenting is all about. So to balance the post a little I thought I'd list a few of my favorite things about being pregnant:

1) Without a doubt, THE best thing about pregnancy is baby movement. I love feeling hiccups and jabs and stretches. I love that I was able to feel movement so early and Peter could feel it from the very beginning too! I love seeing the movement from the outside - little volcano peaks when she pushes an elbow or heel out, seeing a hand or foot move quickly from one side of my belly to the other, jiggles, belly quakes, big butt lumps. It's all so amazing and awesome. I'm really going to miss it.

2) Maternity clothing. All of my clothes are very comfotable. I haven't buttoned a button or zipped a zipper in months! And best of all - I can get away with being more casual at work because it's very easy for me to say "This is all I had that was clean and fit me!".

3) Not cleaning the litter box. Peter is a saint. Not only has he taken over the litter box duty but he's always offering to do the dishes or the laundry or absolutely anything else I just don't feel like doing. I'm a lucky, lucky girl.

4) Baby clothes! We have an entire nursery full of the cutest little clothes you will ever see. We are so richly blessed by friends and family and it is definitely one of the best things about being pregnant.

5) Naps. I get to take them whenever I want... guilt free!

So there you go. I do enjoy being pregnant very much. I'm just at the point where the idea of holding my little girl in my arms is much more appealing than having this belly.

The Nursery

Two posts in one day!

The nursery is pretty much done. We feel we have most everything we need. Bring on the baby! Above the crib we hung the quilt that came with the bedding set. Above the dresser/changing table we hung the crib bumper that my Mom doctored. Between the bumpers we plan to put the name decal we bought. No - begging won't do you any good. We aren't sharing the name till she's here, haha.

In other exciting news - according to my ticker (above) I have just 39 days to go! Of course that's if she's not late but I'm still going to be excited about it. I sat in the nursery today and read Pumpkin "Guess How Much I Love You". This little lady already holds the key to my heart.

A 3rd Baby Shower!

But this one was not for me. I got to watch this time! Yesterday Peter and I drove to Jersey for a shower for my friend (and former college roomie and bridesmaid) Linz. It was about a 2.5 hour haul but we didn't get lost this time (a first for the 3 times we've been to that general area). We even made it a few minutes early.

Peter hung out with the guys at the lake house while we partied it up at a local (and very elegant) restaurant. I would guess there were 15-20 ladies there and everyone seemed to have a really great time. The food was incredible - I had the crabcakes.

I think Linz had fun and she got some really adorable gifts. I was exhausted once we got home last night but it was a really great day. So excited for you Linz! Best wishes in these last few weeks.

A Birthday Party!

We are quite the party people lately. Peter turned 29 on Wednesday and I surprised him by inviting some friends over for cake. We had a really nice time and Peter was totally unsuspecting.

Last night we brought the pack-n-play and swing downstairs and found them a semi-permanent home. I'm starting to believe that eventually there will be a baby in this house to make use of all this stuff! I've currently got baby blankets in the dryer and bibs, bath towels, etc in the washer. We're getting ready, one step at a time.

Another Baby Shower!

We had a fairly easy-going week. Wednesday we had our very last baby class. We feel prepared! As prepared as first time parents can be anyway.

Thursday my parents came to visit. They delivered the crib mattress and high chair we couldn't fit in our car to bring home from the shower last weekend. Mom also covered a pillow for me in Classic Pooh fabric to match the green slip cover on our nursery chair and cut our crib bumper in half and stitched it back together to we could hang both halves on our wall as decor. Everything turned out spectacularly (is that a word?). Peter hung the bumpers and the quilt that came with the bedding on the walls and it looks awesome. I promise to post updated nursery pics as soon as it's less chaotic in there. Anyway - Mom and Dad took us out to Texas Roadhouse and we had a great time.

Friday I cleaned the house with lots of help from Peter. I crashed on the couch somewhere around 10.

Saturday we took a walk and went grocery shopping. Then around 12:30 my friends Michelle and Melinda kicked us out so they could decorate for my baby shower. Peter and I went to Cracker Barrel for lunch. Once we got back the boys left to go to the driving range. The shower was so nice. There were 8 of us there I think so it was a cozy affair. The food was lovely and I got some really, really wonderful gifts. 3 of my 4 college roomies were there so they hung around for a bit afterward and we visited. All in all an awesome day. Peter went to an Oriole's game with the boys and got home around 11:30. Too late for me... I was asleep.

Sunday we taught Sunday school and then we went shopping! All those gift cards were burning a hole in my pocket so we bought everything else we needed at Walmart and Babies R Us. We only ended up spending about $5 of our own money. We are so blessed by friends and family.

Today we had the best Dr. appointment ever. The midwife said my weight gain and blood pressure were beautiful and I had a nice looking belly, haha. The best part - she got to tell us baby is finally head down! I really didn't think she was going to turn on her own but she did. Peter and I are thrilled.

It's going to be another fantastic week!

A Baby Shower!

Another busy week. I had a Dr. appointment Tuesday. All is well. Sadly Peter couldn't be there because of work but he'll be at the next one.

We had our first Baby Boot Camp class Wednesday. It was really interesting. We learned lots of little tips and tools. We even practiced swaddling. We're looking forward to this week's class. Then we're finally done with all of our classes (all 9 weeks of them!)

Friday Peter and I had dentist appointments and we both received clean bills of health. I got to skip x-rays too! Another benefit of being pregnant.

My friend Nicole came from Erie to visit for the weekend. Saturday we went to visit another high school friend, Rachel, near Philly. A long trip but we had beautiful weather and it was totally worth it. I don't think I had seen Rachel since my wedding! We, plus Rachel's 3 month old Ian, went out to lunch. Rachel sent me home with some gender neutral clothing. It was a really nice day and we topped it off with gelati and custard from Rita's.

After Sunday school Peter, Nicole and I made our way to my parents' for the baby shower! It was an awesome, chaotic day. It was so great to be surrounded by family and family friends (probably 40+!). We received so many nice things and I think everybody that came gave us at least one piece of clothing. This girl will certainly be well-dressed! I joked she has a bigger wardrobe than I do and Peter said "Yeah, but yours will last longer." True. I just ran up to the nursery (currently a disaster zone, haha) and counted 48 articles of clothing from yesterday's shower. Wow.

We got quite a few of our big must-haves too like a pack-n-play, swing, high chair and crib mattress. Unfortunately, it wouldn't all fit to bring it home but we got most of it. I'm planning to sort through and organize it tonight while Peter is at the cat shelter. I can't wait!

Peter and I feel so incredibly blessed and are constantly amazed at God's goodness and provision. Now all we need is the baby!

Happy Easter!

I hope you had a lovely Easter. Going back to work after a 3 day weekend was a bit difficult.

We had a busy but fantastic week. Tuesday we had our small group over for a pot luck dinner. It was a really good meal and a nice time. We played Spousology and apparently Peter and I don't know each other at all, haha.

Wednesday we took our last child birth class. We even received a little graduation certificate. I guess I'm now certified to have a baby. Thursday we took a "bear essentials" class. The focus was on hospital pre-registration, car seat safety and shaken baby syndrome. It feels really good to get a head start on the hospital paper work.

Friday I had a day off! I spent a little time at Target just wandering around. I went grocery shopping. I did some laundry and hung out with the cats. A terrific day. I just wish Peter could have had a day off too. Oh well - he gets plenty.

Saturday we slept in and then went out for coffee (hot chocolate for Peter). Peter's dad stopped by with some of Peter's old baby things and a gift from his grandma. My parents spent the night and took us out for Thai.

Sunday we taught Sunday school and then mom and dad met us at church. Afterward we all went to my gram's for Easter dinner. A lot of running around but overall a really good day.

That's the news from here. Peter's at the cat shelter and I'm about to try out a new recipe for dinner. Wish me luck.