8/7...

7 weeks to go! I know I just did 9 last week, but I was almost a week off on my countdown, so I decided to combine 8 and 7. I'm feeling pretty good at this point. The hardest thing for me right now is that my back constantly aches. I still feel really fortunate, though, to be sleeping through most of the night and not have any heartburn, which most women have at this point. Josh and I finally went and registered for baby gifts this past weekend! I haven't allowed myself to look that much before now, because everytime I would, I would get WAY too anxious for James to be here (even when I was just barely pregnant), so we both just got SOOOO excited going up and down the baby aisles and thinking that we're just about to get to use all of this! I posted a current picture of myself (after work today). If you notice the red spots on my face, I have gotten hives for some unknown reason all over my cheeks. I've had them for over a week, and thankfully they're finally starting to go away. Anyways, several people at work have commented on how my belly has just popped out all of a sudden. Looking at the picture of me two weeks ago, I think they're right!



This coming Thursday and Friday, my whole family is traveling to Oklahoma for my brother's wedding!! We are all so excited to have his fiance join our family! I couldn't have picked a more perfect match for my big brother, who I love and admire so much. I also am very excited about seeing all of my extended family there from all over the country. Please keep us in your prayers for safe travel.

9...

I'm in the single digits...the homestretch! All of a sudden, it seems like it's a downhill slide until week 40! I constantly look at my calendar at work and look at every week to see how fast it will go. I feel so at peace right now with where I am in the pregnancy. I feel like I can't wait to meet him, but it'll be here before I know it, so I have just enough time to take in life as I have known it for the past 3 1/2 years. I'm trying to enjoy teaching, knowing that I'm not going to do it again for a long time. I'm enjoying every second I can with just Josh time. I'm enjoying waking up late on Saturday mornings. I have a quick funny story that Josh loves to tell people. We woke up at our usual time of 9:00 several Saturday mornings ago, and Josh got right up to my belly and started talking to James. He started responding by moving some, so Josh said (trying out his dad voice), "Now James, this is called a Saturday morning. Saturday mornings are for sleeping late. Your mommy and daddy have REALLY enjoying doing this the past few years, so we expect you to let us continue to do this. If you agree, kick once." And literally right on que, he kicked one hard kick! It really was hysterical, and of course Josh bragged afterwards about how obedient our baby already was. Don't worry... I do realize that this will most likely not be the case! Anyways, this week Josh and I started our birthing classes that will last 6 weeks. It was so much fun to go, mainly for the fact that it has made it feel even more real. Next week we get to go on a tour of the labor and delivery floor. I'm so anxious to see it all! Not much else changed this week, except that his movements have seemed to get stronger and more forceful. Sunday night, I felt a noticable difference that hasn't changed, so he must have had a little growth spurt. Sorry to bore you with all of these details, but I'm writing all of this mainly for myself to go back and read, as I'm sure I'll soon forget!

10...

The countdown has begun! 10 more weeks till my sweet baby James is here!! I have been waiting for this week for a long time, because it just seems like it's just around the corner for people when week 30 comes. Things have really changed since week 30 started. I really thought to myself a couple of weeks ago, "I could do this forever! I don't know why people complain so much!", but just as soon as I thought that, the pain started. My body's not happy with this baby taking over! The good thing about the 30's, though, is that there is an end in sight. I'm trying to focus on my brother's upcoming wedding to keep my mind off of it! I just started my every two week appointments, which is exciting, too! The baby is head down now (he's been breach for a long time) and is constantly keeping me company with kicks to the rib and painful/ticklish kicks on my side. I never mind, though, because it's always reassuring. Here's a current picture of me.

4 Things

This is going around...

Four Things
Four jobs you have had in your life:
1. Babysitter
2. Hastings
3. Youth intern
4. Teacher

Four movies you would watch over and over:
1. Napoleon Dynamite
2. Sound of Music
3. A Beautiful Mind
4. Office Space

Four books you would read over and over:
1. The Bible
2. Charlotte's Web
3. Love You Forever (makes me cry every time)
4. The Polar Express


Four TV shows you love to watch:
1. The Office
2. Grey's Anatomy
3. 24
4. The Apprentice

Four places you have been on vacation:
1. Europe
2. Colorado
3. St. Lucia
4. L.A.

Four web sites I visit daily:
1. My blog
2. Other blogs
3. Pregnancy Websites
4. Gmail/Hotmail

Four of my favorite foods:
1. fajitas
2. queso
3. chocolate chip cookies
4. PF Changs Mongolian Beef

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. Europe
2. In April at the hospital just after James' arrival
3. The beach
4. At a fancy restaurant, not pregnant, so I could have anything I wanted w/o worry