39 Weeks

My tracker today says 6 days.... that is CRAZY to think about. Even though I know it will probably be more than 6 days - it is weird to think the due date we have been thinking about for SO long is only 6 days away.  The good news is that she is out of my ribs --- the bad news is that the pain has just moved to a different location in my tummy :)  This week I have been making headbands to match different newborn/0- month outfit, crafting and cleaning. Every day I clean the apartment so that when I go to bed each night - I know it will be ready for guests at any given moment.

 

 

 

 These are a few of the bows I made this week and some burp clothes I made last week for Livi and Mason :)

 

This is an adorable bib that Mrs. Jane sent in the mail for Livi :)

I'm trying to convince her to come out and see all of this cute stuff she has!

I went to the doctor yesterday and there was really nothing to report. She again confirmed that if I do not go into labor before my appointment next Thursday, they will schedule an induction for the 20th of October - so there is an end in sight!

39 Weeks

Dan and I went out last night to celebrate our anniversary (which isn't technically until Monday - but he has class on Monday night).  We had a coupon for a free steak at Outback and we went to see the matinee of Courageous - so we had a lovely AND economical anniversary celebration :)

 That is what my belly looks like from my point of view :)

We were having a rough time taking pictures of ourselves... 

38 Weeks

It is VERY hard to believe that my tracker today says 1 week and 5 days left.  I can't believe it is finally October. Daniel and I have an anniversary in 9 days - I think we are both conflicted with hoping she doesn't come on that particular day, but knowing we would be ecstatic if she did. I'm finally at the point where I am getting uncomfortable.  I can't complain too much - because some people feel this way A LOT longer than I have... but I'm there.  I'm feeling quite Shamu-ish and lots of parts of my body are hurting.  Not to mention the insomnia.  But even with all of that - I have plenty to be thankful for.  I am thankful for no varicose or painful veins, no stretch marks, no waddling walk (yet) and no swelling.  I am also thankful that I can still wear some of my own clothes - somehow makes me feel better. God has been very good to me through this pregnancy and I know He will continue to be faithful.

Our bags are packed and we are ready when she is!

 38 Weeks

A new teddy from Aunt GaLindy ;)

*For the record - I know that cannot stay in the crib - trust me - it won't*

Some very cute bloomers for pictures one day (either newborn or 4 months... we will see)

My 38 week appointment was canceled and moved to Monday - so I don't know anything yet, but I have a sneaking suspicion that she will say there is nothing to report :) BUT- again - that is okay.  Whenever she is totally ready - God will let us know (hopefully in enough time for the grandparents to make it here - but thats another issue entirely)    :)

37 Weeks

When I went to the doctor this week, there was nothing to report.  She told me that Livi was still growing, but that it didn't look like I would be seeing her before my due date :) So - we continue the wait! (which is totally fine - we had some important schedule conflicts the grandparents needed to get past before she could debut). 

 37 Weeks

Livi on her preferred left side of my body

This picture is a few weeks old - but it is my first and (so far) only battle scar from not being used to my big pregnant belly --- belly met hot pan right out of the oven :) Thankfully there is no scar!

That is probably the only documentation of a bare belly you will ever see from me - just for the record. 

36 Weeks!

This week was the start of my weekly appointments.  I had mixed feelings when the nurse basically told me I was no where close to delivery - as much as I would like to sleep on my stomach again - Livi can stay in there until after my mom and dad get back from their trip to New York and until after my mother-in-law is ready to come :)

I have been on iron pills for the last two months and they finally re-checked me this week and my iron is good. I have to stay on the pills - but I was relieved to hear they were working.

I just thought this baby pumpkin was cute

 I'm still enjoying the start of fall :) It's 55 degrees here today!

36 weeks

I know this first picture is kinda burry - that is why I took the second one.

Take a look at how much bigger my belly looks in the second one--- I think she poked her bottom out.

I felt my first Braxton Hicks contraction today.  It may not have been the first - but it was the first I was aware of.  Things are slowly progressing :)

35 Weeks

I can't believe 35 weeks has come and gone.  My parents came here to visit last weekend and my mom got me some "projects" to help keep me busy until delivery :) It was great to see them - and it made it easier to see them leave knowing I'll see them again in about a month!

35 Weeks! 

I got a little bored one Sunday and decided to fill up Livi's bow holder... 

I hope she has hair!  

Olivia's first set of Mickey ears!  Her Nana and her cousin Kamryn sent these to her after a recent trip to Disney.  I can't wait until she's old enough that we can all go and have fun there together!

I'll post some pictures of my sewing projects after my mom gifts them --- I don't want to give away the surprise.

34 Weeks

It is really hard to believe that there are only 5 weeks and 1 day left until my due date (I am 35 weeks tomorrow -- sorry for the delay!).  Right now she is supposedly the size of a large cantaloupe --- I would say that is about right :)

Did you guys know that if you measure a pregnant girl's stomach from two certain points like they do at those monthly doctor's visits - the number of centimeters should be roughly the number of weeks she is... Kind of like the rings in a tree.  I just learned that and found it pretty interesting ----- I knew they were measuring me but I didn't know how they calculated it.  God is pretty spectacular. I am measuring where I should be finally (she was a little small her first few months) so tomorrow I should show 35 weeks :)

Psalm 139

I am reading through Colossians in my quiet time - but for the past week or so I have really been constantly pondering Psalm 139.  I feel like I understand that Psalm more now than ever and I know that understanding is only going to grow once Olivia is actually here. It was always so overwhelming to think about God actually forming me in my mother's womb - piecing me together in His perfect way - knowing everything about me before I was even in the world - knowing every word I would ever speak before I could even talk.  He even knew that I would be sitting right here in NC pregnant with Olivia in August of my 24th year.  That is so hard to wrap my mind around - yet it is so incredibly exciting to think of the intimate way that He loves and cares for us.

Every time that I feel her little kicks or nudges (which have gotten significantly stronger this past week) and every time I feel distinguishable body parts pressing into a rib or pushing out of my stomach - Psalm 139 starts playing over and over in my head.  God - not me or my body because of anything I have done special - but God is actually knitting Livi together inside of me - from the "buds" to that are now  arms and legs she now has (she actually has fingernails now!) and all that is in between.  This is the time that her immune system is being completed - but it isn't by chance- God is growing her so that she will be healthy enough to survive outside of the womb.  There is no doubt that God loves me and He loves Daniel and Olivia and that is why He is blessing us - but He is ultimately doing it for His glory.  Being pregnant and having a baby is just one more way that He can reveal some of His mystery to us and He can show us just how much he deserves all adoration.  I feel like I have baby on my mind all of the time - but the Bible says that God's thoughts toward us outnumber the sand --- as much as I love her already , it does not compare to the Lord's love for her.  He has ordained her days, even before there were any days and I know that in His infinite wisdom He has a special plan for this little girl.  

The closer I get to my due date - the more I start to think about actually delivering.  There is some anxiety that comes with that -but today I am praying that the Lord would search me, try me, know my anxious thoughts, see if there be anything wicked in me and then lead me to His everlasting way.  I have to trust that God loves Olivia more than Daniel and I do - more than we could even imagine - and so whatever plan He has for her is the best plan we could ask for.  

Psalm 139 (NASB)

1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
          You understand my thought from afar.
3 You scrutinize my path and my lying down,
          And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before there is a word on my tongue,
          Behold, O LORD, You know it all.
5 You have enclosed me behind and before,
          And laid Your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
          It is too high, I cannot attain to it.
7 Where can I go from Your Spirit?
          Or where can I flee from Your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there;
          If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.
9 If I take the wings of the dawn,
          If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
10 Even there Your hand will lead me,
          And Your right hand will lay hold of me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me,
          And the light around me will be night,”
12 Even the darkness is not dark to You,
          And the night is as bright as the day.
          Darkness and light are alike to You.
13 For You formed my inward parts;
          You wove me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
          Wonderful are Your works,
          And my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from You,
          When I was made in secret,
          And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;
16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;
          And in Your book were all written
          The days that were ordained for me,
          When as yet there was not one of them.
17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
          How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand.
          When I awake, I am still with You.
19 O that You would slay the wicked, O God;
          Depart from me, therefore, men of bloodshed.
20 For they speak against You wickedly,
          And Your enemies take Your name in vain.
21 Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD?
          And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?
22 I hate them with the utmost hatred;
          They have become my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
          Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
24 And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
          And lead me in the everlasting way.