Sunday, August 31, 2008

Music Practice

So, I'm sitting here running the sound at Convention music practice. How scary is that? Our sound techs aren't here today. Convention begins on Friday. This year feels really strange to me. Usually, we have people staying with us, and I am super-involved in the music. This year - no guests and no music for me. That's just way too close to my due date. Who knows, maybe we'll even have a baby by then! Joe is planning on singing (Whoops, I actually just typed sinning!) with the group, though. I guess I'd better get used to things changing. :-)

The group sounds fantastic this year. Instead of having our three Ohio churches each lead a separate meeting, we've combined our worship teams. They have huge sound. It will be so exciting to hear them. Really, I won't be crying because I'm not a part of it this year. :-)

We are celebrating our church's 25th anniversary this year, so it will be an awesome time. As much as I want to have the baby right now, I don't want to miss this upcoming weekend! You are all welcome to come. Meetings are Friday night, Saturday morning, Saturday night, and Sunday morning. I can let you know on the times.

Friday, August 29, 2008

Doctor's Report

We went for our weekly visit to the doctor yesterday, and he confirmed my suspicions that the baby had dropped since last week. The last few days, I have been able to breathe much more easily, and my heartburn is MUCH better, so I thought she might have dropped. It's good to know that there has been progress made toward labor; things are happening! The doctor also thought that the baby will be in the 7 pound range. That's just fine with me! We'll keep you posted!

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Full Term

Well, today is a big day for us. We are considered full term now. With only three weeks until the due date, I am getting very anxious to get things moving. I went to the hospital today to pre-register for the birth. I also had to sign the papers to give my consent for our little girl to be treated. It felt so wonderful (and crazy) to write "mother" on the relationship line. Can it really be? :-) I also filled out the insurance papers to add a dependent. A dependent! Are these things so monumental to all new parents? Probably.

Friday, August 22, 2008

And Now We...

Wait!

We installed the car seat yesterday, so if our little one should decide to show up a bit early, we could bring her home. I must say, that big van of ours finally looks right with someone going to ride in the back! We went to the hospital yesterday and had one of the labor nurses who is a car seat technician help us since we had never installed one before. During our birthing classes, she told us that in Tuscarawas County 80% of car seats are installed incorrectly which means that they won't do what they are supposed to do! That's a scary statistic. Anyway, the hospital (and State Highway Patrol, for that matter) will check car seats f0r free. It's certainly worth it to me! :-)

We had our 36 week check-up yesterday. My doctor said, "This is a smart baby. She's head down." I replied, "Was there ever any doubt?" So we are on track at the moment for a "normal" birth, if there is any such thing. I'm getting pretty excited for the big day. I keep thinking What if I went into labor right now? Usually, its pretty inconvenient. :-) "Get used to it," I hear you all saying.

Until next time.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Shower #2

We had a wonderful shower in Akron on Sunday. It was great to see so many people I hadn't seen in years! We were given such many beautiful things for the nursery and bedding supplies that we really needed. I have been so overwhelmed by the love and generosity of family and friends during this time.



We are in real countdown now. Joe and I have have been reading Stuart Campbell's Watch Me Grow weekly since week 4 when we found out we were pregnant. It has weekly 3D ultrasound photos and tells what's going on in there. We only have 2 more weeks to read (weeks 38-40 are combined). It's amazing! The book has a little ticker that moves along the bottom of the page each week and I remember how excited we were when we crossed over the binding. Now we're about to fall off the page! It has been such a fun book to bring us together every week.



Here are a couple nursery photos for you!


Wednesday, August 13, 2008

This Was Yesterday







See if you can figure out what happened! Once you think you know, click below on "Comments" and tell me. I'll let you know if you are right!

Monday, August 11, 2008

Finally - Photos!


Mandi Graziani, Heather, Jennifer Demuth, and Malinda Adams
Heather and Shower Hosts


One of my favorite outfits. It reads, "My Heart Belongs to Daddy!"


Well, we are down to about 5 weeks left of pregnancy! I can hardly believe it. Joe and I were talking a few nights ago about the day we found out we were going to have a baby...

It was a cold December morning. For the second day in a row I felt a wave of nausea for just a second. The first day I thought absolutely nothing about it. The second day I thought, Could I be...? Well, I guess I could. Needless-to-say, I wasn't expecting anything after all this time (all puns intended).

I had to go shopping that day, so I bought my 500th pregnancy test and promptly forgot all about it. That afternoon I was sitting waiting for Joe to arrive home from work in about 10 minutes, and all of a sudden I remembered the test! I jumped up, took it , and then spent 8 LONG minutes staring at the faintest line I had ever seen , trying to convince myself it was there.

When Joe came home, everything seemed in slow motion. We greeted each other (just like every other day). He sat down and took his boots off (just like every other day), and he picked up the dog to give her some love (just like every other day). Then he looked at me and said, "What's wrong?" (I guess I didn't look like I normally did every other day.) Then I said the words I thought I'd never say: "I think I might be pregnant."

To be perfectly honest, I really didn't believe I was. It was just too incredible and that line was sooooo faint. Joe and I then spent the next 4 hours (and 3 more pregnancy tests), trying to decide if we were really going to have a baby.

As I just got a major kick to the lungs, I guess it's true!

Anyway, I wanted to share a few of the photos taken by a very dear friend of mine at our baby shower in Gnadenhutten, OH.
Our shower in Akron is Sunday. I can't wait to see everyone there!