Shower of Love!

This weekend Gary & I had our first baby shower. What a fantastic day filled with love for our little girl! Spending time with my family was great. I got to see people I hardly ever get to see, like my Grandmother. Speaking of which, both my grandmothers made beautiful blankets for Isabella. I remember when they made them for me, I'm so happy that I get to share that with my daughter.

My mom made an awesome cake, complete with teddy bear! And we got so many great, helpful gifts. Lots of diapers, wipes, clothes, a stroller, a carseat, and a rocking chair that my dad finished for the nursery! I feel so spoiled with everything, and we have another shower coming up! I can't thank everyone enough for coming out and helping us with great gifts!

No more worries!

On Monday we had our ultrasound to check on the development of Isabella's kidneys. The result: Perfect. :) Thankfully the one concern we had with her is behind us and now it's more about enjoying the remaining weeks until we get to meet her.

This ultrasound was so different from the first. We weren't able to see her in full on the screen because she's gotten so big. But we could really see her face, fingers, and toes. It was amazing. We could see her movement so well. It was great seeing her move while feeling her.

We had our checkup with my doctor today and asked a lot of questions. A lot of things that we've been concerned with are all coming together. The good thing is that we have our birthing class coming up so a lot more of what we're wondering about will be answered then. We also got all of our checkups scheduled through Nov. 8.

This weekend is baby shower #1. I'm excited to spend some time with my family and just focus on Isabella for the day.

Even better news:
Megan & Jesse welcomed Cameran Rigel Weeks to the world on Sept. 12! A beautiful little boy that is a great addition to our growing family. :)

Close

It's becoming more and more clear how close to the end I am. And it's amazing! I had a checkup appointment on Wednesday, everything was great. Isabella actually let us listen to her heartbeat without trouble, no kicking the doppler this time. :) I'm measuring at 31 weeks, about a week ahead of where I'm at. Good sign. My doctor had me get a flu shot, and Gary gets to have one at his appointment next week. We'll be all set for this winter. She also told me the pain that I've having, I just have to deal with. Fantastic. My body is just getting ready to give birth so the joints are loosening and with my problems I already have, it's just natural.

Wednesday I also realized that I will only be on 6 more schedules that come out at work. 6. That's so few! My countdown is offically at 9 weeks left now. Single digits. It's becoming so close and it's making me so excited. And we have so much going on until then, the time is going to just fly. I'm looking forward to my showers. Getting to see our families and share this time with them is great, I just wish everyone lived closer to us.

We've decided to start saving and preparing more for Isabella's arrival. Tips are now going towards diapers and formula. Since I'm not going to be breastfeeding, formula is going to be expensive so the more I can get now, the better. I just don't know where to start with that. So at my next doctor's appointment I'll be asking lots of questions on the best formula to go with. But the problem with that is, will she take it?

A little over a week until our ultrasound. I'm excited to get a glimpse of Isabella and see how much she's grown and developed since June. I'm also really nervous for the results of her kidneys, so I asked my parents to come with us for a little extra support. Hoping for only good news, but at least I'll have a great support system with me in case anything is wrong. My mom is also awesome. She's saving a week of vacation to come and stay with me after Isabella is born. My parents are going to help me out as much as possible especially because we don't know how long Gary's going to be able to get off of work. He can borrow vacation time against the next year, but at the same time, we don't want to start off the year with him "in debt" in case we need time off later.

For now, we're going to enjoy our last free weekend for the next month and wait impatiently for Isabella to arrive. :) I'm ready for her now.

10 Weeks to go

If the last 2 weeks are any indication of how the next 10 are going to be, I'm in for a long couple months. It hasn't been the easiest pregnancy and I've had my struggles but everything is getting even harder now. I've tried everything to ease the pain in my legs and back but nothing is helping. My feet are constantly swollen, and my hands are most of the time too. I haven't been able to wear my wedding ring for the past 2 months. My job is becoming more difficult. Standing for 8 hours a day is a lot, a lot more then I ever realized, especially with swollen feet. Shoes don't fit anymore. Flip flops it is! Thankfully it's not the middle of winter, I don't know what I would do then. My only problem now is trying to find dressier looking flip flops now that we're getting into fall and I need them for the upcoming events I have. Maybe I can buy a bedazzler and decorate the ones I already have. lol

With all the pain that I've been having, it's been wearing me down mentally and emotionally as much as physically. I've had a couple of break downs this week. Just getting through the day takes a lot out of me. And the morning sickness is coming back again. And on top of that, nosebleeds. I'm still taking the medication to control the morning sickness, but it's getting stronger still.

I feel so ready to have my little girl here. I hate playing this waiting game. I'm ready to have her and hold her and hear her cry, see her smile. I can't wait to share my life with her and teach her everything I know, and to learn from her.

Gary has been so supportive through everything I've gone through and the struggle I've been having. This was such a tough week, it was such a nice surprise to come home to this last night:

I love my husband. :)