40 weeks, 4 days

Well, my sweet Little Miss' tardy arrival has provided time to do 'extra prep'. Today I used discounts and gift cards to Babies R' Us and purchased a second base for the infant car seat spending $0 out of pocket.

Now to scrub the bathroom and kitchen floors :)

40 weeks

Today marks the completion of 40 weeks of pregnancy and as of 12:30pm my Little Miss still hasn't arrived. And all I can think about is how much I want to meet her. This waiting is so difficult!

Couldn't have said it better myself

http://meditationsofablueberry.blogspot.com/2012/06/finding-patience-at-39-weeks-is-hard.html

http://meditationsofablueberry.blogspot.com/2012/06/overdue-and-tired.html

To keep my mind off of things, I have been trying to keep busy. E and I go out every day, even if it is just for some window shopping or for a walk with our dog. I can't just stay at home and stare at the birth pool all day! But, there's a catch when you go out this pregnant. Someone always seems to think they need to comment on things you do when you are pregnant, and when you are THIS pregnant, it is only worse. I am so tired of hearing all the dumb questions and comments.

• When are you due? (and when I tell them last week I get dumbfounded stares with responses like: And you're out SHOPPING? Um, yes lady, life doesn't stop just because I am overdue. I still need groceries so I can feed this other child right here! And no, my water will most likely not break standing in line. Not everything is a movie.)
• Oh my! How many are in there? Just one thanks.
• Wow, you're huge! My daughter had TWINS and was smaller than you!Thanks jerk for pointing out the obvious. At least I have an excuse!
• You must be uncomfortable. Yep. Another obvious. You know what would have been nice instead of this comment? Letting me go ahead of you in line so that I don't have to stand here being uncomfortable longer. Especially since you have a cart full of things and I have two things.
• You know what gets labour going, don't you? Wink, wink. No comment.
• How dilated are you? Thanks for asking about my woman parts. If you ask again, I'm going to ask you about your last trip to the bathroom. 
• Will they induce you? Or When's the C-Section? Um, the due date is not an expiration date, FYI. It's a guess date. An estimate. 
• That's gonna be a HUGE baby. You better get the epidural right away!Gee, thanks for having faith in the body's ability to give birth and assuming that I can't do it. (When I mention that, no, I will not be having an epidural because I am having a home birth, I either get stares of shock, told I'm "brave" or "crazy", or they just think I'm joking.)
• And the women who think it is necessary to tell me every little detail about their traumatic labour. Seriously, I don't need to hear that this close to giving birth.

We do not know the hour

This Advent I am reminded that just as we do not know the hour when our Lord will return I do not know the hour when my "Little Miss" will arrive. I've been bombarded with questions, particularly at work.
Q. When is your last day at work? A. When this baby decides on her birthday or the doctor says I can no longer work.
Q. When are you having this baby? A. She is 'due' on December 11th, but if she comes before or after that I will have the baby then.
Q. If she hasn't come by December 11th, what are you going to do? A. Try to maintain my sanity, but wait for her to be ready :)

And the comments about my size, everything from "You're too little to be 9 months pregnant" to the opposite "Are you sure it isn't twins?" or "As big as you are you should pop soon"

I just pray that God grant me patience and the Blessed Virgin Mary help me to prepare to be the best mother possible.

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." Matthew 25:13

Endurance and Patience

Colossians 1:11 "strengthened with every power, in accord with his glorious might, for all endurance and patience, with joy"

God, grant me endurance and patience as I await the arrival of my precious "Little Miss" (11 days till her due date).

Amen

A Season of Gratitude

As Thanksgiving approaches I have a lot to be thankful for and am going to just quickly list some of them below.

1. My husband who has been especially supportive throughout this pregnancy.
2. A healthy pregnancy! I have been blessed to have no health complications during this pregnancy and I thank God for that fact.
3. My daughter, she isn't even born yet, but she has taught me patience and unconditional love already.
4. My family (and Dave's) who have done so much to help us prepare for the next stage of our life, parenthood.
5. Our friends who have prayed for us, helped us put together furniture, hosted baby showers, and so much more.
6. My job, in this economy I am blessed to have a job and especially one I find so fulfilling.

There is so much more, but right now I'm tired and must get some sleep. As Thanksgiving approaches I invite you to think about the many blessings in your life.

(3 weeks and 1 day until the due date of Little Miss)

Showered in Love

Our family is truly blessed and our daughter greatly loved as there were 4 baby showers hosted in her honor.

The first baby shower was on October 20th in Scott City and was attended by people in my dad and stepmom's family as well as people from my grandma's church. She received a lot of clothes, blankets, toys, and more. My stepmom organized the shower and served ice cream cake-pictured below.

The second shower was on October 27th at Dave's parents house. His sisters and mom organized a fun shower that included onesie and bib decorating. She received a convertible car seat, pack n'play, and of course more clothes among other gifts. Each guest also brought our daughter a book so she has quite a library.

On Sunday October 28th a shower was hosted by the Moenigmann family. It was a small and intimate gathering, but a lot of fun and our daughter was still VERY well spoiled.

The final shower was Sunday November 4th and was hosted by a committee (Mrs. Kramer, Anne, Liz, & Susan) and attended by my mom's family and friends. I was also blessed that my friend Sarah, who moved to Texas in April, was able to Skype and join us at the shower. That was an AWESOME surprise.

So after 4 showers she has a packed armoire of clothes.

And yes Dave and I have bought some things for our own child. We bought the mattress for her crib, the infant car seat, and as her mother I needed her to have Billikens' clothes for THIS season (Anne & Susan got her some for next year).

Overall, I know that God has blessed us with wonderful family and friends who love our daughter and have provided for many of her needs!

Wedding Dress-Christening Gown & Writing a Birth Plan

Today Dave and I went to 9am mass at St. Ambrose instead of our usual 11am mass in order to avoid La Festa craziness on the Hill. La Festa is St. Ambrose annual parish festival, but we did not want to attend this year because I have been so tired.

After mass we came home to relax and then I met a friend of my Aunt Clarice who is going to turn my wedding dress into a Christening gown. I am so excited to see how it turns out. She was very sweet and I already know she is the perfect person for the job.

This afternoon we watched the Cardinals lose game 1 of the NCDS, but then in an attempt to continue to get ready for baby (9 weeks, 2 days until due date) I wrote a birth plan using the bump's worksheet. Anyway, I know this post is a bit scattered, but that is how my brain has been lately. To sum up, I did as much today as I could to prepare for baby, but I'm looking forward to baby showers coming up when we will have some the "stuff" needed to care for our baby girl.

I almost forgot, IT'S A GIRL!

We found out at our ultrasound on September 12, 2012, that our baby is a little girl. From this point forward you may hear me refer to her as "Little Miss".  I know many couples choose to wait and find out the gender at birth, but I wanted to know and am happy to know.

I will refrain for the time being about getting on my soapbox about too much pink, oversized hairbows, etc. Nonetheless, I'm most excited about having a healthy baby, but after 3 younger brothers the thought of being around a baby girl EVERY DAY has me feeling overjoyed!

Breastfeeding & Parenting: Making It Work Conference

Yesterday I had the privilege of attending a wonderful conference hosted by La Leche League of St. Louis. The conference was titled Breastfeeding & Parenting: Making It Work.  I learned SO much and feel empowered to follow through with my decision to breastfeed my child even though I know I will be returning to work. There was actually an entire breakout session on Breastfeeding & Working that I learned so much from.

The conference was filled with women (and their children) at all different stages of parenthood: pregnant, mother of 1 newborn, mother of several young children, and mothers whose children are grown, but they could provide so much insight on how to make this natural art of feeding and caring for our children possible in the real world. God designed women to be the natural habitat of a baby beginning at conception. After (hopefully) 40 weeks, maybe more, of carrying the child in the womb the mother's body still has everything the baby needs to adjust to life on the outside.

This is not to say that fathers are unimportant, because their love is equally important. And fathers can bond with baby by holding them, rocking them, bathing, burping, etc. I have just over 10 weeks left until the expected arrival day of our baby girl and I will continue to read and educate myself on how to meet her physiological and emotional needs in those first few hours, days, and weeks to form a secure attachment just as God works to form a secure attachment with each of us.

A Beautiful Sunday

This past week was rather long with both Dave and I catching a season changing cold/allergy problems, so today I want to just thank God for the beautiful Sunday. Last weekend we were able to celebrate Lucia Buyle's 1st Birthday on Saturday and catch the Ram's Home Opener on Sunday. Today (after chores yesterday) we are home from mass, brats are cooking, the Ram's game on the TV, and the only other thing I need to get done is delivering my little brother's birthday card.

P.S. Happy Birthday to my brother Joe!

Make Room for Baby...or at Least Build a Bed

This weekend Dave and I accomplished A LOT to make physical room for baby. My wonderful mother purchased the crib/changer combo that we registered for and brought it to our house on Thursday evening. On Saturday our friend Marco helped Dave take our old dresser to St. Vincent De Paul and then Dave began to assemble the crib. I would be lying if I said the process went smoothly. Cribs should not be a two person job to assemble because at 6.5 months pregnant I am NOT much help. I did my best to try and help, but thankfully the Buyles came over and Kenny helped Dave finish.

Fully Assembled! Just needs a mattress and sheets.

Close up of the front of the changer section-a shelf on top with 2 drawers below.

The side has an open shelf and a rolling hamper basket below.

I added this picture to show our new chest of drawers in matching espresso!

This week we also bought an (almost) brand new car. We bought a 2011 Kia Forte, so we are a 2 car household again after 1 year of only 1 vehicle.

2011 Kia Forte

Both cars-2011 Kia Forte and 2005 Ford Escape (aka Cookie Mobile)

Back seat has plenty of room for a car seat-part of why we chose this car.

The beginning of sleepless nights

I've been blessed lately to feel my sweet little baby moving more and more, but Sunday night began my struggle with trying to sleep and sweet little baby wanting to play. I went to bed around 11pm and by 12:30am was awakened by kicking, hard kicking. I got up used the restroom, said a quick prayer, and tried to go back to sleep. I got short bouts of sleep from then until 2:45am and by then I was completely uncomfortable with the gymnastics show happening in my stomach. I got up, went to the recliner, and started looking up online if there were any suggestions.

I found a lot of empathy, but not many practical solutions other than try to keep the baby active during the day by pushing on your stomach and shining a flashlight. At 3:30am I returned to bed because baby seemed to have settled down some. From 3:30am until 7:30am when the alarm clock when off in anticipation of my dad and little brother coming up to visit from Scott City I slept, but would wake up approximately every 30 minutes.

I'm happy to know my baby is healthy and moving, but I really hope he or she gets her days and nights straight. Until then I will continue to "try and keep my baby awake during the day", pray to our Blessed Mother for strength, and look forward to our child being on the outside where Daddy can be more help. Although last night before I went to bed Dave told the baby, "It's time to go to sleep, good night," kissed my belly and I got 2.5 hours of sleep before being awakened. And many fewer interruptions after that.

Making Room for Baby

Tonight I worked on clearing out clutter from our office so that my sewing desk can be relocated from our bedroom area to the office thereby making more room for baby's furniture. I organized by large collection of children's books, recycled old notes from college classes, chose some books to donate, and more. I still have more to do and that reminded me of all of our spiritual lives. Dave and I are adding to our family and have to make not only physical room for this baby, but emotional and spiritual room for raising this child.

This quote particularly touched me today "Marriage is an act of will that signifies and involves a mutual gift, which unites the spouses and binds them to their eventual souls, with whom they make up a sole family - a domestic church."-Blessed John Paul II

We (Dave and I) are called to be an example of Christ's uniting love to the Church. What a responsibility. Which leads me to another quote "To maintain a joyful family requires much from both the parents and the children. Each member of the family has to become, in a special way, the servant of the others."-Blessed John Paul II

I don't yet completely know the ways our lives will change, but even during this pregnancy the ways we express love to each other has grown. We are learning to serve each other as spouses so we can prepare ourselves for the task of serving one another in our shared responsibility as parents and to be a servant for baby. I'm sure our house will never be completely 'ready' for this baby or any future children just as our hearts and minds may not be ready either. Still I will work a little each day to prepare myself body, mind, and soul for the great task of raising my child and helping them to reach heaven one day.

And so I pray: 

O good St Gerard, powerful intercessor before God and wonder worker of our day, confidently I call upon you and seek your aid. On Earth you always fulfilled God's designs, help me now to do the holy will of God. Implore the Master of Life, from whom all paternity proceeds, to render me fruitful in offspring, that I may raise up children to God in this life, and in the world to come, heirs to the Kingdom of His Glory.  Amen.

25 weeks pregnant-random thoughts

Today marks the 25 week marker. That means only 15 more weeks to go until the expected arrival date of our first born. Last night I was putting different commitments onto our calendar and realizing how quickly the next 15 weeks will pass (or so it seems). I laid in bed last night feeling our little one flipping and kicking about and being amazed at God's great design plan. I pray that between now and December I am able to pray often to prepare myself to become a mother. I have found great inspiration in reflecting upon The Blessed Virgin Mary and her model of how to be a mother, I aspire to be more like her each day. More thoughts to come later, but these are the few things swimming in my head right now.

Dr.'s appointments and ultrasounds

My very first prenatal appointment was on Monday May 7, 2012.  Dave and I were so excited that day.  We went to Dr. Gosser's office at St. Gerard Obstetrics and we were able to see our baby for the first time.  We watched the heart beating and the only way I can describe it would be that the sight was intoxicating. I could have stared at that ultrasound screen all day watching our baby.  Dr. Gosser answered any questions we had and truly put my first-time, worried mom at ease. That day we received the list of ALL our prenatal appointments and we quickly noted that July 18th would be our next ultrasound. We began to look forward to finding out the gender of our little baby.

At the appointments in between I loved listening the heartbeat on the Dopplar and then July 18th came. We went the office and were so excited to see how much our baby looked like a baby. It looked like a baby with its legs crossed and it was. We didn't find out the gender and for a long time I was disappointed. That day the ultrasound tech could sense my disappointment and made arrangements that would require Dr. Gosser to order another ultrasound.

Later that week I was so excited when the nurse called with my results and said I would need to have another ultrasound. But I had to wait until September 12th. Just in the last week I have accepted that it may be God's will that we don't know the gender of this child, but nonetheless I hope we get to find out.

Vacationing in Kentucky

This year Dave's youngest sister, Katherine (Kat), graduated from high school and requested a 'family vacation'. So the Jackson clan went to Kentucky (between Lake Kentucky and Lake Barkley) for the week of 4th of July. In attendance was Mom & Dad Jackson, Dave & I, James (Dave's brother) & his wife Trisha, Christine (Dave's sister) & her boyfriend Steve, Amy (another sister), and Kat (the baby of the family.  We had a 'kids' condo and a mom and dad had their own condo.  It was a wonderful week to spend with my in-laws and I even conquered my fear of the golf cart.

Our Condo featured above

Me in the driver's seat of one of the golf carts.

On the 4th of July (approx. 17 weeks) I took another photo-by then you could DEFINITELY see the baby bump :)

The wait to tell our family

We found out on Easter Sunday when we were going to see all of family, but we weren't ready to share the news yet, it was still our little secret.  We wanted to wait until tax season was over to prevent my father-in-law from having a heart attack and we needed time to process the fact that our lives would never be the same.  So we went through the entire day stealing secret smiles with one another and smirking when no one was around because we knew something they didn't.  It was actually very romantic.  After a couple of weeks we had fun telling our families and seeing how excited they were.  This baby will be the first grandchild for Dave's parents, my mom, my dad & stepmom, and my stepdad & his wife.  Not to mention that our child will have 4 uncles and 4 aunts when they are born (and that's before all our siblings get married).  We are truly blessed to be surrounded by a loving family.

During the time before we told our families I was still student teaching and had told my cooperating teacher so she didn't think I was crazy when I ran out of the room every five seconds.  To most people I didn't look pregnant, but to me and Dave I looked different.  I took a photo then to remember how I looked at the beginning of this pregnancy.  Even looking at that picture now, I think, wow I've changed a lot already.

The day we found out

It was Easter Sunday morning (April 8, 2012) when I took the pregnancy test.  I was so nervous I couldn't even look at the test, so I left it on the windowsill in the bathroom and made Dave check it.  He came out of the bathroom, kissed me, and said, "Congratulations, Mommy."  I can't even describe how I felt, but I'll try: overjoyed, nervous, anxious, shocked.  I still had 4 more weeks of student teaching to survive including my 2 weeks of intensive (aka teaching everything in the 3rd grade).  I knew it was going to be crazy, but somehow I would survive.

The next four weeks I survived thanks to an AWESOME cooperating teacher.  I was nauseous all day, every day.  I was bloated so my clothes didn't fit right.  But I was going to be a parent, so it was all worth it.