Wow - that baby looks HUGE!

"Let Them Eat Cake!"

I can't report that there have been any great developments over the weekend. I will complain for just a brief moment that my lower back is starting to feel the weight of carrying this little kiddo around. On Saturday night I was prepping some food for a casserole I was making for a church potluck when my back completely seized on me. I had rolling waves of pain through my lower back, and I had to sit down. It felt awful! Inwardly, I was hoping that it was labour - and I just kept thinking "Let's get this over with". But after a few minutes of rest, and then sitting down at the table to shred my cheddar, the pain went away. This sort of makes me think I might be looking at having some major back labour, so please pray that this isn't the case!

On another note, I have always love McCain Deep 'n Delicious marble cakes - but they taste INCREDIBLE when you are pregnant! I bought one to serve at Bible study last week because I was having a craving, but the leftovers keep calling to me - and at all hours of the day! I've tried to keep some level of self control, because I have currently gone over my goal weight gain for this pregnancy. But a couple of pieces of cake won't make a huge difference, right? It ends up that my aim to eat one SMALL piece a day usually leads to two MEDIUM sized pieces - because one small one is not enough to satisfy my taste buds. I do know that I have enough self control not to buy another one once this is gone. Besides, they aren't cheap. However, that ooey-gooey goodness is too much to bear. I have one piece of cake left, but maybe I'll make that tomorrow's breakfast. Does anybody else share my McCain cake addiction?

37 Week Appointment

It seems like these appointments are coming really quickly - which is good, because that means time isn't dragging too much now in the end. It wasn't really a very eventful appointment, although I found out I am positive for Group B Strep - which simply means I'll be put on IV antibiotics while in labour and delivery.

I have been having some funny, sharp pains in my pelvic area these days. They sort of feel like brief moments of crampiness, to a sharp discomfort that only lasts a couple of seconds. These pains come and go, but tend to happen the most in the evening. From my online research, I'm guessing it is simply the continuing dilation of my cervix - but it feels so weird. Or maybe it's just the baby's head moving around and hitting a nerve? Has anyone ever experienced this?

Week 37 and counting...

Signs & Wonders

There are more and more signs every day that this baby is on it's way, and that it is on it's way fairly soon! I've definately been having some Braxton Hicks contractions (up until recently I didn't think I had any). There has also been some "secretions" that indicate that things are getting ready for baby to make an appearance. Who knew that "secretions" could be so gross, and yet so totally exciting?!

I ventured out with my prego friend Rebekah on Friday night. We went to a huge Christmas craft and gift sale called Scattered Seeds. We had so much fun, but not because of the shopping, or even each other's company. No, we had fun eating all the FREE SAMPLES! We seriously loaded up on pretzels and dips, crackers and spreads, jam, gelato, toffee, fudge, popcorn... we actually felt full (and a little ill) when we left! It was a pregnant woman's dream!

Then on Saturday evening I decided to accompany my husband to the Bomber football game. It wasn't my idea of fun really, but we have season tickets and I thought that this might be my last game of the year! I did have a good time, and it was a good game - but I was all bundled up (in a big, heavy dress coat), and I barely made it from the car all the way up to my seat. It was a serious workout, and it gave me contractions! By the time we sat down, I could barely catch my breath, and I wasn't planning on moving again until we left! Thank goodness I only had to take two bathroom trips - one when we got there, and one when we left. I've decided to start a petition that womens bathroom doors should have to open and close just a little further away from the toilet. Like, maybe an extra foot is all we would need. It's tough enough to swing those doors shut sometimes when you are UNpregnant - so never mind when you are sporting a hefty belly too.

I'm already starting to feel a little anxious about travelling without a hospital bag, so I've thrown together some essentials to take along - just in case. What were the things you found you absolutely needed when you were in the hospital? What do you wish you had taken? What did you take for your baby? Or, if you aren't prego, what do you think you would take?

Before...

... and after!

Come soon baby!

Giddy

I am giddy today, because I just got some great news from the Dr. this morning! I had my regular checkup (which will now happen weekly until baby arrives), and she checked my cervix. She told me that the baby's head is down, the cervix is very soft, and I am 1 cm dilated! Yay! She said, "Don't hold it against me if I'm wrong, but..." then she paused, and I said "I have a feeling I might be a little early". She said, "I think you might be right".

36 weeks! I like how this one shows off my new "outtie" belly button.

Tomorrow there will be a crib to put in that corner!

New Life

I went to visit my friend Jeryn and her new little baby Hayden today. No matter how hard I try, I cannot keep from crying when I meet a new little baby. Every single time I look at one of those little people, I am reminded of God's greatness, His majesty, His power - and His ability to bless us with little miracles called babies. They seem to be placed straight into our arms from His - and looking at those precious little features seems like looking at the face of God - flawless, innocent, without sin, just perfect in every way. So, of course, looking at little Hayden today I was overcome with joy and cried many tears. He is just adorable. I purposely did not take my camera - although I don't know why exactly. I just didn't want to blind him with the flash on our first meeting.

My personal counter on my computer desktop currently reads 29 days, 9 hours and 10 minutes until our baby is due. Finally, less than a month to go! I am still enjoying pregnancy - but at the very same time looking forward to its end. I feel stretched to the max, and carrying around those extra pounds is starting to take its toll on my body now. Restless legs at night, cramps, aches and pains in my groin are just some of the new recent developments. I am just hoping and praying that I wake up one night to find that my water has broken! I am starting to actually get excited for labour. I am basically 95% sure that I want to try to have a natural, unmedicated birth. I think about it a lot, and feel really ready. I am praying for a slightly early birth - maybe a week early would be perfect. I know that most women probably feel that way - and then end up going overdue and feeling really impatient! However, I feel like an early baby may not be entirely out of the question. I don't know why - I just have a feeling. So if you think of it, can you pray that I will be a week early - or at the very least, right on time? Oh, and maybe tack on a little prayer that the birth goes well and I don't need any medications.

Okay, this is an icky picture of me - but I had to post it because I look SO pregnant! Maybe my complete lack of photogeneticism these days means I'm having a girl. No, I've never been photogenic.

Into Month No.9

Here are some poems to celebrate my last month of pregnancy!

**********

CELEBRATE
We celebrate the coming birth

Of an angel come to Earth,

Resembling now a basketball,

But soon our love, our life, our all.

**********

NOT ALONE
Running errands and talking on the phone,

I am pleasantly reminded that I am not alone.

Little tiny hands a precious rounded knee

Pushing and twisting that no one can see.

Oh sweet child kicking up your heels,

It is our little secret that only I can feel.

I look forward to your birth,

When I can kiss your skin,

But for now I will just smile,

As I feel you play within.

**********

MOTHER-TO-BE
Your eyes are bright and sparkling.

Your cheeks have got a glow.

Your belly's being touched and rubbed

by people you don't know.

You're craving weird, exotic foods

and calories don't matter.

You can't remember life without

an elbow in your bladder.

You're getting medical advice

from everyone you see.

Welcome to the joyous days

of Motherhood-to-be.

It's a BOY... and a GIRL!

Congratulations to my dear friend Jeryn and her

husband Steve on the safe arrival of

Hayden Nash Peters

Born October 9, 7lbs 3oz

and also to...

Kent and Deanna Kroeker on the arrival of

Lexi Jane Kroeker

Born October 10

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! May you truly feel blessed this Thanksgiving. We have SO much to be thankful for!

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

1 Chronicles 16:34

I'm so stoked! The company that my husband bought his machines from last year offered to give me some fabric for baby blankets! I got to choose from hundreds of different prints - so these were the seven that I chose. There is enough to make eight receiving blankets. Now I just have to find someone to serge them for me...

Theme Dreams

Lately, my dreams have become extremely vivid. They also seem to have a running theme each night. Last night's theme was "Climbing". All my dreams involved me having to climb a hill, a steep road, a path, etc. Each dream is different throughout the night - but always within the theme. Very, very strange. Other dream themes have been "Food", "Sex", and "Fighting". All of them were extremely weird, and very vivid. I can remember specific details about all of these latest dreams, including who was in them and what they were wearing. I'm sure this must be some sort of effect of the hormones I'm dealing with - but it's almost scary at times, and I wake up thinking "Why in the world would I have dreamed about THAT?!". Did anybody else have really interesting pregnancy dreams?

34 week silhouette.

Oh mama! My reflection really amplifies that belly!