Still no baby... but maybe soon???

Possible labor signs, starting today:

1. I am nauseous. I have hardly been nauseous at all this whole pregnancy.
2. Feeling menstrual cramps, that I have to breathe through, about twice an hour.
3. Walking funny, like the baby has gotten lower.
4. Other gross stuff I will not go into, because you probably know me and that's just awkward. :) But if you've been pregnant before then you might guess what's going on.
5. Swollen ankles last night, but they are better today.

On top of all this, I have been sick with a cold for a few days. It started with a swollen throat, then tons and tons of sneezing and runny nose, and now I am coughing a bit. My head is all cloudy feeling!

I think I'm being punished or something. Sick and overdue. :) haha

D-Day has come...

As you can see, today is Little Dude's due date.
My doctor is determined that my due date is highly accurate, due to an early ultrasound, and will not let me go more than a week overdue. I am hoping and praying that the New Moon tomorrow will mark the beginning of my labor. CLICK HERE to read about the correlation between full moons and births! Apparently, there is a correlation, and possible causation, between the moon's cycle and births. So... perhaps something will start happening tomorrow!

I had a doctor's appointment this morning. Only gained 1 pound (and it's probably all water weight because DUDE all of a sudden my ankles are swollen!) and that was really nice. Also, I am more dialated, a little less than 2 centimeters, and about 60-70% efaced, which my doctor said is great progress. I have another appointment Thursday, but will hopefully not need it.

Blake dropped me off at the front of the hospital, where my doctor's office is located, and went to park the car. I got in the elevator with another pregnant lady. I asked, "When is your due date?" She said, "Friday, what about you?" I said, "Mine's today!!!" We both started laughing, and she sweetly said that I dont seem that far along because I'm getting around so well. It was fun.

Well, wish us luck! And your prayers are greatly appreciated, I have really felt a lot better today. I am very calm and Blake and I are just enjoying this time we are so blessed to have together. What a special time of life!

9 Months, 40 weeks... First False Alarm!

Blake and I made our first trip to the ER today, thinking that labor was imminent. We thought that perhaps my water had broken, and the nurse told us to come if there was any slight chance, so we did! We got there, signed in, then they made me sit in a wheelchair (even though I was not in pain at all), and they rolled me down the hall. Then, they made me put this awful apron on (but it did match my earrings) and lay in a hospital bed - which I have NEVER done before!! Anyway, we were there a couple hours so they could check up on everything. We got to hear the baby's heartbeat the whole time, it was great. But, in the end, they sent us home and said, "See you in the next week!"

So, the moral of the story = better safe than sorry and everything is great when you come out with a cool water jug...

BIG BABY

This whole time we've been calling the baby "little guy." Well, now we're going to call him "BIG little guy." Had another doctor's appointment yesterday, and my doctor did an ultrasound. It was cool becaues Blake AND my brother were there! So, Terry got to "see" the baby before he went back to school for his last 3 weeks! He graduates January 25th. So, this is what we found out from the ultrasound:

1) She measured the baby twice. The first time, she grinned really big and started laughing. Then, she said, "Well, you grow them big! He measures at 8 pounds 12 ounces!" (OHMYGOSH!) Then, she measured him again and got 8 pounds 10 ounces. She said it may be a little off, but he is for sure atleast 8.5 pounds big. Yeah, BIG, that's right!

2) He is swimming in barely enough fluid, so I have to drink a LOT of water and cannot workout to the point of sweating.

3) I am still hardly dialated at all.

4) He has a normal-sized head but "football player shoulders." Oh gee.

So, I asked of course to be induced that very minute. She said NO because I am hardly dialated, it would be a bad idea and likely result in a C-section. She said we need to be patient and hope I am more dialated by my next appointment on Monday, or that I go into labor.

I am asking for prayers that the baby will come soon, so he and mom will both be healthy. I am so scared because he is just going to keep growing. Thanks for everything, we'll of course stay posted.

The Baby's Room

Here is Little Dude's room, 99% complete! I am so grateful to Blake and my parents (especially my Mommita, aka "the Tornado") and Terry for all the help they gave me in doing this. My energy level has been so up and down I could have never done it alone! Now all we need are a couple of things we're having framed, and our little guy to arrive!

This is what you see right when you walk in the door... then if you turn slightly to your left...

... you see this! And keep turning left....

Now you're facing the wall where the door is that you came in... and if you turn to your left once more...

His changing table!
I had a great time decorating this room. We collected a bunch of stuffed animals, preferably jungle theme, and hung them in this cute hammock! See the lion with his huge puppy eyes? Thanks Momma Haines! Cute!

Curious George was the original inspiration for the room. Blake and I both loved Curious George as kids, and we thought it'd be fun to make that his room theme. The jungle theme just fell into place from there. Here you can see my little "vine" decoration I made, with two Curious George stuffed animals hanging from it.

Merry Christmas!

I know that I have posted a lot lately. I love blogging, and it's been a crazy 9th month of pregnancy. So, blogging keeps me sane. I have decided, however, that it's time I post about how amazingly blessed I am. I am so grateful, first of all, for the Gospel in my life. How incredible it is to know who I am praying to, and to know how to incorporate repentance into my life. It is amazing to have a husband who has a testimony of the Gospel as well. Just the other night I really needed some forgiveness from Blake, and he told me, "I forgive you. Dont worry, it's forgotten." What a special thing it is to have this in our marriage. Also, can I just say I took him... you know, the best husband in the world? It was me... sorry, I did it, I took him. Blake is the best, seriously. I could NOT ask for more. He is so sweet, sensitive, humble, and fun. He is patient and kind, and everyone loves him, especially me. I am also grateful for the rest of our family, my side and his. I love my parents and Terry with all my heart, and I am also so grateful to have married into a family that I fell in love with while I fell in love with Blake! Both sides of our family has been so supportive of us through our marriage. On top of this all, I am so grateful to have been blessed with the opportunity to carry our baby boy who will soon make our family 3 (oh and plus Cozmo of course)! I have had an uneventful, smoothe pregnancy. I know I have been a big whiner, very moody, and temperamental throughout the whole nine months. I know Heavenly Father blessed us with this little boy so we can all 3 learn and grow together. I have so much to learn from him!

I hope that this has been a wonderful year for you. It definitely has been for us.

Top 5 Events of 2007:

5-Our vacation to see Wicked in Chicago, where we stayed at the Marriott on the Magnificent Mile and got to ice skate in the snow in downtown Chicago! Magical!

4-Our 2nd Anniversary Disney World vacation. It was cost-effective (we had many coupons and much help, such as a place to stay at my Grandpa's winter house) and a blast!

3-Ironman Florida 2007, where I got to cheer my dad and Blake on as they raced!

2-Watching Blake as he worked hard and graduated with his Bachelor's degree, an enormous accomplishment!

1-Being guided in our decision to have a baby, and blessed with the opportunity to bring a new life into the world. I know I do not yet realize the incredible blessing this is, and I look forward to learning of that soon! Come baby come! :)

FUNNY PICTURE!

This freakin hilarious pic is of 3 years ago when Blake and I were almost officially engaged. Two of our best friends, especially at that time, were Brady and Curtis. I am pleased to announce that these two awesome dudes are now happily married and fathers of newborns! (See their blog links to the right!) So, that means that all 3 of us couples will have babies who are only 2 or 3 months apart in age. How dang awesome is that!?

FINALLY, IRONMAN PICTURES! IRONMAN 07!

Blake and my dad had a great race. Blake finished at 13 hours 15 minutes, and my dad finished his FIFTH Ironman at his BEST time, 13 hours 46 minutes! woo!! Fast! My mom ran the last half of the marathon with my dad, and we all had a really great time! Go Ironmen!

Blake's Graduation!!! He got his Bachelor's of Business Administration!

Baby Cozzy

I just cant resist posting these pics I found from a year and a half ago when we first got Cozmo. Cozmo was my graduation present to myself. It's a great name for him because BYU's mascot is Cosmo, the Cougar! We bought him off of http://www.nextdaypets.com/ and picked him up in Indiana on our way out to TN from Utah. So fun!