Baby finally made his appearance!

If you haven't already seen Rick's posts since baby, check them out at rickloveschristine.blogspot.com.  He already made a pretty great movie trailer.

A few photos so far...

39.5 Weeks...the final leg

We have made it to the week of the due date.  I am well aware this week could come and go with no baby making any kind of appearance but my hope is that we will meet him this week or soon after.  My most recent hope was that we wouldn't make it to our next appointment.  The appointment is on Wednesday.  It looks like we will make it.  The fun thing about this is to talk about all the progress I am doing but in the end we still wait on baby. 

We have been actively telling him we are ready yet he just is having a great time gaining weight and playing.  If I were to tell him everything we are thinking I think I would say:

Hey baby, first off...I can't wait to name you.  As soon as you come out I can name you and call you something other then hey baby, although maybe you like that.  I am really excited to see your feet as I often feel them coming out my side.  I am assuming you are enjoying your time in my womb.  Glad to hear it.  I don't know what its like in there but I really think you will enjoy the world out here too.  We have the essentials you will need so don't worry about anything.  We are excited to see what you look like and share you with others.  If you would like to make your appearance before Wednesday at 10:30am, that would be awesome.  If not, we will still love you but just give it some serious thought.  We have enjoyed this time together but we (your dad and I) are now just anxiously awaiting your arrival.  See you soon!  With lots of love and anticipation.

We will see if my little letter does the trick.   

side 1

side 2

Waiting, waiting, waiting...

We are definitely smack in the middle of this huge waiting game.  I didn't realize it would be so hard.  After a week to rest and get things organized, my emotions switched.  I hadn't really given myself much time to get excited with anticipation to have this little guy on the outside.  I think I hit that point last weekend, and since I just have a hard time not hoping each day that things will get started.  In the mean time, I thought it would be good to reflect and document the things I have enjoyed about pregnancy as this period is coming to an end soon.

What I have loved out being pregnant:

• Growing a human - seriously pretty amazing.  It is crazy every night when I lay on my side and can really feel where he is at and which way he is laying.  This little baby is just chillin out and growing inside me.  Crazy.
• The times when Rick was able to feel and bond with him some.  I know it must be different for the dads during this stage but I loved what bonding they did do.  
• Drinking milk.  I never really liked milk but for a good few months I craved and drank a lot of it.  
• The ways Rick has supported me and been "protective" of me and the baby.  He has put so much energy into us being safe during pregnancy and me be emotionally supported.  This has been a huge blessing to me and I have enjoyed the ways we have grown closer.
• The first time (and one of the only times) the baby kicked me in the ribs.  It was shockingly strong.
• Bonding with other moms.  A handful of my friends back east and out here have entered into mommyhood in the past few years.  It has been fun to bond and journey with them during this time.
• Gaining weight and not feeling bad about it; realizing that it is inevitable.
• Limited clothing options.  I actually think I loved this.  I feel like I have put a lot less thought and care into what I am wearing and it has been a nice break.  Not that I am a fashonista or anything but I have collected a lot of clothing over the years and the simplicity during pregnancy has been refreshing.
• Being supported and loved so generously by our friends and family.  It has been pretty amazing for me to realize that we are really cared for out here.  Sometimes I really miss my community and family back east and wish we could experience everything with everyone.  This time has made me so thankful for the unending support by friends and family back east and the constantly growing and generous support of our friends and family out here.  

Ok...tomorrow marks 1 week until our due date.  Soon, baby, soon.