Tuesday, March 30, 2010

POLL QUESTION...

I wish I would have added this sooner...
What do you think? Boy or girl?

No Baby...

The due date (March 28) came and went with no baby.
Which is pretty much what I expected.
Today was my doctor's appointment, & really there is no change.
We did cancel the c-section; we're going to wait it out until next week.
Evidently there is only a slight chance that I'll have to have a c-section.
In fact, the doctor is hopeful that I'll go into labor on my own and be just fine.
The whole c-section thing got blown a bit out of proportion.
We scheduled it just in case we needed it, and the nurses kind of urged us on.


In other news:
Aaron got sideswiped this morning on his way to work. He is totally fine as is the pickup. Hallelujah! I have thanked the Lord over and over and over and over.

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Don't Worry About Us...

It is rather amazing, but we woke up in Oklahoma this morning.
I was a tad concerned that we'd wake up in another state today.
I had visions of us just scooting along the countryside in the rental house...
The wind was so incredibly, indescribably insane all night last night that I was just positive the house would end up blowing away-taking us with it.
It wasn't swirling, tornado winds, just straight and awful.
But, we're still here (whether we want to be or not...).

Friday, March 26, 2010

"Green" Day


Not St. Patrick's Day
Not the band

Just my random day filled with green...

It just so happened that I went from feeling nervous to go places and do things because the baby might be coming...to feeling like I have the chance, and I have things I've wanted to do...I'm going to do them. So I did.

Today, I set out on what turned out to be a "green" day - truly coincidental.
First, I visited a brand new store in OKC - The Green Bambino. This is a store dedicated to (drumroll...) reusable diapers. Aaron and I haven't decided if we are going to go the reusable/cloth route, but we've really wanted to check into it. According to friends who have chosen this method, articles I've read, and common sense, the cost savings (especially if you use them for multiple children) is really amazing. On the other hand, it is a bit more work. So, we're giving it some thought and consideration. We won't start out with cloth for the first little bit as we have a fabulous supply of disposable diapers that have been given to us. We aren't in a super-big hurry to decide.

Then, I made my way to The Green Goodies, an organic cupcake bakery. Living in Phoenix spoiled me. We had a Sprinkles in Scottsdale, and I miss it. So, I've been on the hunt to find a place somewhat similar. This is my second cupcake shop to try here in OKC, and it is the best so far (although still not a Sprinkles).

Next, I need sheets to match the girly quilt ~ just in case. I have looked and looked and finally decided to try USA Baby. They had the perfect sheets - lime green.

Next, I went to TJ Maxx to see if they had gotten in their spring supply of my favorite flip flops - Havaianas. They did indeed have Havaianas, and the ONLY color in my size: green.

Finally, I got home and walked up to the door, and a package was awaiting me. My dear friend and wonderful photographer, Christy sent me a lovely photograph she had taken of an Arizona cactus. Of course, a cactus is green. Christy and I met in Arizona, and she knows how much I miss that city. She said if I didn't like the enlarged photograph I could throw it away. Hardly. I can't wait to frame it. It might be the only decoration (other than a photo or two of our new baby) in this rental!

P.S. I am walking and walking and walking and walking. I want this baby to come naturally!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Most Recent Baby News

Yep, the doctor gently broke it to us that I might have to have a c-section. If that is what it comes to, we are okay with it. The baby's health is the most important consideration! However, we are praying and praying that God will help the baby be delivered naturally. The doctor does not want me to go over 41 weeks - but - 41 weeks is Easter Sunday. We tentatively scheduled a c-section for 3/31, but we will most likely cancel that and wait it out until the day after Easter. So, we'll see what happens.

In other news - putting a quilted mattress pad on a crib mattress is not my forte. First of all, Target's brand is not high-quality. I washed it with cold water on gentle cycle, used a low heat in the dryer (as the tag suggested), didn't even let it finish drying, air dried it, and somehow the bottom melted. Of course I had thrown out the packaging - I had no clue I'd have to deal with a melted mattress pad. Thankfully Target returned it with the warning they will NOT do this again...and they had to put it toward the total on my driver's license. I do NOT like Target's return policy on gifts.

The other mattress pad I have came from Babies R Us. I washed it the same way, and it didn't fit either. I visited their overwhelmingly huge establishment today, and they took me back to their mattresses and showed me that it does indeed fit. Sort of. I came home, stretched it and stretched it, and it is on. It looks like how I would look if I tried to put on a pair of little girl panty hose or tights.

So, here's what I'm thinking - I will develop a mattress pad that fits. It is really a novel idea, and I'm thinking I could make loads of money. It doesn't seem like rocket science. Also, seeing how this mattress pad will need to be washed and dried multiple, multiple times, it seems like it shouldn't be so hard to use. I think I'll do that in all my spare time after the baby comes. :)

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

5 Days...More or Less...

After months and months of wondering, we are down to days...
Do we have a son?
Do we have a daughter?
When will the birth date be?

We are excited, anxious, and pondering this leap from 12 years of Just The Two of Us status to A Family Of Three status. The mind-boggling thoughts + the uncomfortable body form I find myself in have caused me many sleepless hours. I can't really nest as we are not even really unpacked in this rental, but yesterday and today I've tried to get my ducks in a row. {Have you ever thought of that saying? Can you ever really line ducks in a row? That might be why it seems like I get something done (clean the microwave) and I realize I need to do something else (clean the fridge)...those ducks will never line up straight. I've been trying to get them lined up my entire life! Sorry about that - just something else to ponder...} Edited to Add: I think it should be "get my geese in a flying V formation" - then it might just work...what do you think?

Aaron gets some significant time off for paternity leave, and all week long I've equated it to how I felt every year before summer break - pure elation and expectation of fun, joy, and freedom. We've declared, though, that I never had another little human appear in our lives right before my summer breaks. I truly think I am more excited about his paternity leave than he is. With this addition to our lives, I'm hoping and praying for an end to a tough season for me (and Aaron, for that matter...). I would NEVER recommend moving half-way across the country, leaving friends, a church you love, familiarity, an unpacked/situated/decorated/good-smelling/perfectly-painted/nicely-carpeted/clean home, & a fulfilling job while expecting your first child after almost 12 years of marriage (and after just losing your precious baby girl doggy). I have felt listless, useless, and somewhat lonely - not the lonely where I ache so much for actual friends, family, neighbors, and other such people, but the I-am-stuck-in-the-house-for-hours-on-end-in-a-place-I-don't-really-like-and-the-weather-is-terrible-and-I-hate-wind-and-Aaron-has-to-work-too-many-hours lonely. I filled my time with good books, walks with Fletcher, sewing, and dreaming of the baby - but - there is only so much of all that you can do.

So, I am not only on the countdown to the BABY, but also on the countdown to AARON IS HOME WITH US. I realize that the baby will bring many different challenges, changes, and craziness, but I feel like I see a light at the end of the tunnel - spring, sunshine (let's nix the wind, though), getting a special human gift from the Lord, my husband around more, and maybe some answers to our future. Speaking of our future, we know 3 things: 1) We will have a baby in the next week or so. 2) We will be moving out of our rental in 3 or fewer months. 3) We will most likely be leaving the Edmond area. Where will we go? What will we do? We don't know. We do know we could use some prayers for all of this, though!

Jeremiah 29:11 ~ I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out - plans to take care of you, not to abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. (The Message)

Thank you, Lord, for knowing our future, having a plan for us, taking care of us, loving us, and letting us lean on You and rest in You. What would we do without You? P.S. I can't wait to meet the little person you've given us to take care of, love, and raise to love and know You!

Friday, March 19, 2010

Baby Haiku

We want to meet you.
We want to see your cute face.
You're special to us.


Written by Hayley, soon to be mama.
3/16/10

Monday, March 15, 2010

38 Weeks


*The furniture is painted and situated in the baby's room.
*Aaron did a FANTASTIC job of painting my old furniture. Other than the crib & rocker/recliner, all the furniture was from my baby nursery. Most of it wasn't new when I was born either! Aaron painted it black, and it took him forever (as in multiple weeks, and the neighbors even asked when he would be finished!). He is a perfectionist when it comes to things like painting, and I am so thankful for that!
*Most everything is placed in drawers or hanging - ready to go.
*I need to do some baby laundry in the newly purchased Dreft detergent.
*If the baby is a girl, I found the perfect changing table cover and crib sheets.
*If the baby is a boy, we have sheets but no changing table cover.
*I may end up making one this week if I feel like it.
*Aaron set up the pack-n-play yesterday - borrowed from my sweet cousins.
*Outfits have been purchased for the ride home from the hospital.
*Baby books have been purchased for me to fill out with all the essential information and the fun items I don't want to forget.
*The BOB stroller needs to have the infant carrier attachment installed.
*The infant carrier bases need to be installed in the vehicles.
*The "my pictures" section of the computer needs to be burned onto a DVD and deleted to make room for baby photos.
*I am telling you now, there is no such thing as too many pictures.
*I need to finish packing my bag for the hospital.
*Tears have been shed due to foot pain. I don't know for sure what it is, and I am fervently praying it is a situation that will go away when the baby is born.
*I have some back issues too...in addition to the tightness that all pregnant women supposedly get - it is a stabbing pain that I've dealt with for months that the doctor says will go away when the baby is born - so this hasn't concerned me too much. I can deal with it if I know it will disappear...
*Tears have been shed just thinking about the miracle that will take place in the coming weeks. I don't want to miss anything. I don't want to forget the joy, the elation, the newness. The baby has never seen daylight. The baby has never felt the sensation of taking a breath. The baby has never cried. The baby has never left my womb. The baby has never felt the touch of clothing on his or her skin. I could go on and on. The miracle of it all leaves me teary and overwhelmed - and - I haven't even given birth yet.
*My latest obsession when thinking about the baby is the realization that I get to kiss him or her.
*I'm hoping we make it through today without the baby coming. After midnight, I'm fine with having the baby, but the Ides of March is not my ideal birth date for the precious, sweet child of ours.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Happy Anniversary!

Happy 37th anniversary to my dad and mom today!
Aaron and I are so thankful for all the amazing examples of marriage in our families. We realize how blessed we are!
(Nicholas, Brooke, Aaron and I took them out to eat on Sunday, and Mom and Dad looked so nice - and - I FORGOT TO TAKE A PICTURE! How does that happen? This is ME we're talking about...I guess the baby is squeezing out my brain. This photo is from Nicholas and Brooke's wedding last year.)

Sunday, March 7, 2010

That's My King

I wonder...do you know HIM?

Sermon: S.M. Lockridge

Unbelievable Kindness...


Finding a new church is not easy. Aaron and I had been to many different churches here in the Edmond area, and on one Sunday we ended up at Chisholm Creek Baptist Church. We decided to go a few times to get the feel of it, and on our 3rd Sunday there, the sweetest lady came up and told me she wanted to give me a baby shower. I was seriously so dumbfounded I couldn't speak. Thankfully Aaron was standing behind me and managed to say, "That is so nice of you." The following week, she called me to set up a date, and that day was today - our fifth Sunday in attendance. I don't know about you, but I feel like that is UNBELIEVABLY KIND. These ladies do not know me at all. I do not know these ladies. In fact, of the two hostesses, I only knew one gal's name. At the shower I only knew one other person's name besides that hostess (and my mom, of course). These ladies were friendly, talkative, welcoming, funny, and generous. I don't feel like there are words to thank them appropriately. I'll do my best, but I hope and pray that God honors them for their UNBELIEVABLE KINDNESS to me, Aaron, and the baby.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

The Countdown


Will he or she come early, late, or right on time?