Cloth diapers are washed and folded and ready to use. Birth plan is written. BOB Revolution has been purchased (yes, we broke down and bought the stroller of our dreams, and we are super excited to start using it). Our house is unpacked and organized. My mom flies in tomorrow.
Our to-do list is finished. The last thing on my list was to finish packing for the hospital, and I finally did that. There are a few little items we still need to purchase, but we plan on waiting until after she's born.
10-10-10 came and went, with no sign of Ellie. Oh well, I heard the hospital was going to be packed with women scheduling C-sections and inductions on that date. I'd still prefer to have Ellie arrive in her own timing. I just hope that timing is soon!
We are considering today our last full day together, as family begins to arrive tomorrow, and then sometime soon, Ellie. So, we plan to make a day of it, our last full day as just the two of us.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Couples Photo Shoot
Our friend Kathleen came over to our house and took a few pictures for us. These are me at 38 1/2 weeks pregnant:
Sunday, October 3, 2010
The Nursery of Ellie Grace
We are very happy and settled into our new home. Multiple times I day, I turn to Michael and just say, "I really like our house," or, "this little home will just be perfect for bringing Ellie home to."
We are really happy here and are so thankful for the way God provided this place for us. We'll try to post a few pictures of the whole place soon, but for now, here are some pictures of Ellie's room. The landlord told us we could paint the walls if we wanted to, but the colors were basically what we were thinking, so we just left them as they were.
I knew I wanted purple and brown in the room, but that's as far as I had thought through. I had also pictured her name up on the wall. I bought different purple scrapbook papers and put them on wooden letters.
Next are a couple pictures of the room. Michael bought a dresser we are refinishing and that will be the changing table as well. The other corner of the room (not pictured) has our new Pack 'N Play, which has a changing station on it. The quilt on the crib was made by one of Michael's co-workers at MCC.
We can't wait to welcome Ellie Grace to her new room and home!
We are really happy here and are so thankful for the way God provided this place for us. We'll try to post a few pictures of the whole place soon, but for now, here are some pictures of Ellie's room. The landlord told us we could paint the walls if we wanted to, but the colors were basically what we were thinking, so we just left them as they were.
I knew I wanted purple and brown in the room, but that's as far as I had thought through. I had also pictured her name up on the wall. I bought different purple scrapbook papers and put them on wooden letters.
Next are a couple pictures of the room. Michael bought a dresser we are refinishing and that will be the changing table as well. The other corner of the room (not pictured) has our new Pack 'N Play, which has a changing station on it. The quilt on the crib was made by one of Michael's co-workers at MCC.
We can't wait to welcome Ellie Grace to her new room and home!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
A month to go
Less than 5 weeks until our due date:
This week I had my 35-week appointment, and now I will begin going to the doctor every week until the baby comes. It's surreal to have the next five weeks of appointments already scheduled, all the way up to our due date!
I've had a hard time differentiating between the baby kicking and contractions. During my appointment the nurse practitioner was measuring me, and suddenly said, "Oh! You're having a contraction right now." I was able to finally figure out the difference, mostly. I still have times when I'm not really sure, but since there's no pain, just a bit of pressure, there's nothing to worry about.
I've continued to gain tons of weight each week. I'm tired of feeling frustrated by it and have decided to just stop worrying about it. I've far surpassed the "recommended" weight gain for my pre-birth BMI, but oh well. I don't feel like I've used the pregnancy as an excuse to go crazy and eat irrationally. I know I haven't been nearly as active as I'd hoped to be. I guess I'll just have to work hard once the baby is here. Looking forward to some P90X, whenever I can start working out again!
We have to be out of our apartment next Sunday. Hopefully we have a house to move into!
This week I had my 35-week appointment, and now I will begin going to the doctor every week until the baby comes. It's surreal to have the next five weeks of appointments already scheduled, all the way up to our due date!
I've had a hard time differentiating between the baby kicking and contractions. During my appointment the nurse practitioner was measuring me, and suddenly said, "Oh! You're having a contraction right now." I was able to finally figure out the difference, mostly. I still have times when I'm not really sure, but since there's no pain, just a bit of pressure, there's nothing to worry about.
I've continued to gain tons of weight each week. I'm tired of feeling frustrated by it and have decided to just stop worrying about it. I've far surpassed the "recommended" weight gain for my pre-birth BMI, but oh well. I don't feel like I've used the pregnancy as an excuse to go crazy and eat irrationally. I know I haven't been nearly as active as I'd hoped to be. I guess I'll just have to work hard once the baby is here. Looking forward to some P90X, whenever I can start working out again!
We have to be out of our apartment next Sunday. Hopefully we have a house to move into!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
35 Weeks
Five weeks doesn't feel like very much time. That's about a month. Wow. On the one hand, I'm anxious to meet our little girl and wish time would fast forward. On the other hand, I think through all the things we have left to do, (and the intimidating process of going into labor) and I pray she doesn't show up anytime soon!
This weekend we had some more car trouble to deal with. We are working hard to find a house because we have less than two weeks until we have to be moved out. We have a number of prospects, but nothing is set yet. Also, Michael is going to be out of town for three days this weekend...we're praying especially that Baby Chapman doesn't decide to make an appearance then. I am trying to think through all the loose ends I need to wrap up at work over the next couple of weeks. We have quite a few major baby items we still need to purchase. We need to pack a bag for the hospital, find a pediatrician, make some decisions about immunizations, finish reading "On Becoming Baby Wise," pack our entire apartment...the list goes on and on.
I'm beginning to sleep much less comfortably which means I feel sleep deprived these days, but I just see it as practice for all the sleepless nights in our near future.
We are both so excited and can't wait to meet our baby in a few weeks. We are so thankful and so blessed by this gift from God. It's been a long journey, and we are so thrilled that we are about to become parents. I can't imagine a better father than Michael...I can't wait to see him be a dad.
This weekend we had some more car trouble to deal with. We are working hard to find a house because we have less than two weeks until we have to be moved out. We have a number of prospects, but nothing is set yet. Also, Michael is going to be out of town for three days this weekend...we're praying especially that Baby Chapman doesn't decide to make an appearance then. I am trying to think through all the loose ends I need to wrap up at work over the next couple of weeks. We have quite a few major baby items we still need to purchase. We need to pack a bag for the hospital, find a pediatrician, make some decisions about immunizations, finish reading "On Becoming Baby Wise," pack our entire apartment...the list goes on and on.
I'm beginning to sleep much less comfortably which means I feel sleep deprived these days, but I just see it as practice for all the sleepless nights in our near future.
We are both so excited and can't wait to meet our baby in a few weeks. We are so thankful and so blessed by this gift from God. It's been a long journey, and we are so thrilled that we are about to become parents. I can't imagine a better father than Michael...I can't wait to see him be a dad.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
34 weeks
We've felt very blessed to make some really great friends in the 12 months that we've lived here in Fresno. A couple weeks ago a good friend from church hosted a couple's baby shower for us. It was fun to have all the couples we've met in our young marrieds group at church, as well as some other couples we've met in Fresno all together in one place. We felt loved and "showered" with a lot of adorable clothes, as well as a lot of things that we need. We're finally feeling like some of those necessary non-clothing items are being crossed off our list! Here's me on the way to the shower, at 32 1/2 weeks. We meant to take pictures at the shower, but forgot.
Last night the sweet women in the Women's Bible Study group at my church held a shower for me. It was a fun night with the ladies, and once again we are feeling so blessed by the gifts and the love and support from our church family. Here's what I looked like last night. I really can't believe how much bigger I seem in less than two weeks!
Tonight we went to our second childbirth class. We weren't going to have a tour of the hospital until the fourth class, but the teacher decided to take us over there tonight. I was excited to see it. It's definitely helping me to visualize the birthing center, the room, the hospital, the layout, etc. It's also been good to talk through some breathing techniques, and to just be comforted in knowing that I have a lot of options as far as bringing in an exercise ball to sit on, or the flexibility to do squats and walk around if I so choose. I'd like to deliver as naturally as possible, but am not going to put that pressure on myself either. My preference is NOT to be induced, and if I end up needing some kind of drug, I definitely don't want the full numbing epidural.
Another 34-week picture (today).
My doctor has mentioned a few times that most women stop working around 36 weeks. Well, that's less than two weeks from now! I plan to work later than that, but just knowing that deadline is so near makes me realize I need to at least start making arrangements for when I'm not at work. Time is ticking!
Last night the sweet women in the Women's Bible Study group at my church held a shower for me. It was a fun night with the ladies, and once again we are feeling so blessed by the gifts and the love and support from our church family. Here's what I looked like last night. I really can't believe how much bigger I seem in less than two weeks!
Tonight we went to our second childbirth class. We weren't going to have a tour of the hospital until the fourth class, but the teacher decided to take us over there tonight. I was excited to see it. It's definitely helping me to visualize the birthing center, the room, the hospital, the layout, etc. It's also been good to talk through some breathing techniques, and to just be comforted in knowing that I have a lot of options as far as bringing in an exercise ball to sit on, or the flexibility to do squats and walk around if I so choose. I'd like to deliver as naturally as possible, but am not going to put that pressure on myself either. My preference is NOT to be induced, and if I end up needing some kind of drug, I definitely don't want the full numbing epidural.
Another 34-week picture (today).
My doctor has mentioned a few times that most women stop working around 36 weeks. Well, that's less than two weeks from now! I plan to work later than that, but just knowing that deadline is so near makes me realize I need to at least start making arrangements for when I'm not at work. Time is ticking!
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