Let the countdown begin!

We will finally get to meet our lil Peanut on Tuesday, October 27th!

Due to a host of health issues, we'll be going through a planned c-section. I realize this is major surgery and would appreciate any prayers you could send our way. I will share Reagan's birth story and pics as soon as possible.

To all our family and friends who have been on this journey with us and supported us through it all, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Now on a lighter note, Lil P will be here just in time for Halloween- her daddy's favorite holiday! I'm thinking this costume would be most appropriate:

Maybe next year! :)

38 Weeks, 2 days and counting...

Today I am 38 weeks, 2 days and counting... Lil P should be measuring the size of a leek

but instead, is measuring 42 weeks in growth!

I am being monitored for pre-eclampsia. Don't google it or it'll keep you up at night. Basically my blood pressure has been high, my swelling makes the Pillsbury Dough Boy look tiny and my protein levels are elevated. No one informed me of the joys of 24-hour urine collection but that is what I'm experiencing now. We may be able to meet our little girl by either this Friday or beginning of next week!

Lesson learned today: Watching a woman scream 'my baby is trying to kill me' during labor on a "Baby Story" is not conducive to thinking calm thoughts about my OWN labor...*changing the channel*

So while we wait out Lil P's arrival- please keep us in your prayers that she'll come when she's meant to come and all will be healthy and well. Thank you!

Here is my 38 week belly pic:

Until next week...or labor strikes! xo

I survived prenatal yoga...

Not a sentence I thought I would ever utter!

It all started when I thought I should research (and by research I mean asking anyone and everyone) how to start labor on my own. I had heard that prenatal massage could possibly get the ball rolling...a.k.a. get me ready to evict Lil P!

So I called a local business and scheduled a prenatal massage for this morning. Well unfortunately, I got stood up! But while I was there waiting, they were beginning a prenatal yoga class and invited me to stay, free of charge. I have to admit- I was intrigued and after the instructor hinted that yoga squats could possibly trigger labor, I was down on my yoga mat faster than you could hum 'naaaaaam.....'!

I admit, I had a really good time. It was definitely relaxing and I'm proud of myself for trying something new that involved exercise- typically not my area of specialty.

But alas, I am still waiting for those labor pains to kick in. Stay tuned...

37 Weeks, 2 Days and counting...

Today I am 37 weeks, 2 days and counting... and uncomfortable, and laden with swollen ankles and numb fingers, and emotional...and ready to meet my baby girl!

Here is this week in a nutshell. Picture me checking out at Target.
Checkout girl: "Oh! So when are you due?"
Me: "Oh a couple more weeks..."
Checkout girl: "Oh my God, you look like you should have delivered weeks ago!"

Um...okay, really? Thaaaaanks... like I didn't know that. Like I didn't realize my maternity pants are too tight, my socks are cutting off the circulation to my ankles and my shirt doesn't cover my ever-growing belly. Yes- I really needed to be reminded of that so thank you check out girl...

Okay- I digress. Monday's Dr. appt. did not warrant the results I was hoping for. We're waiting things out right now and will go back on Monday, where I will beg and plead for some concrete date and time when we'll get to meet Lil P!

Here is my 37 week belly shot:

Until next week! xo

Week in Review

Wow- what a busy week it's been!

On Saturday, my mom threw a baby shower for me and Reagan up north. It was the perfect day- especially after the snow stopped falling! I got to see all the Waverly girls and many thanks to Gamma Wallace, Adrian and Jules for coming along for the ride!

Of course, the food was amazing and we had fun catching up, I gathered as much 'new mom advice' as I could and when we hit the road for Des Moines, I was exhausted! Thanks to 'gamma Kollenkark' for spoiling us with a wonderful shower!

Here's a pic of the gift table:
Yummy sugar cookies in the shape of baby feet!

Me and the 'gamma's':

Me and great-gramma:

Here is the snow that we got that morning. Of course, it wouldn't be a road trip up North without snow! Anyone remember my bridal shower in '07?!

My coworkers threw me a shower last week, complete with cookies, cupcakes, mints, nuts, punch, trinkets and balloons! It was such a nice surprise and of course, Reagan was spoiled with lots of cute outfits, blankets, her crib mattress and activity center. I work with some amazing people!

No wonder I've been exhausted this week- all this partying can wear a pregnant girl out! But we sure are feeling the love! And are so thankful for everything and everyone celebrating Reagan's arrival!

INSPIRE

If you haven't heard of or seen the Inspire wine labels dedicated to breast cancer survivors- now's the time to check it out! My mom made label #2, which is the Chardonnay bottle. This year she will amazingly be four years cancer free!

In honor of breast cancer awareness, don't forget to click!

http://tinyurl.com/2vwcry

P.S. You can find the wine sold at local HyVee stores!

36 Weeks, 2 Days and counting...

Time flies when you're...baking a lil peanut! Today I am 36 weeks, 2 days and counting...

After a follow-up Dr. appt. yesterday, things are looking good. My blood pressure was normal, weight gain was scandalous (6 lbs in 2 weeks, yes s.i.x. l.b.s!) however baby's heart rate was right on track. I have another growth ultrasound tomorrow and hope to hear by Friday/Monday what the game plan is for Reagan's arrival!

I have had some relief with wearing wrist bands to bed- Andy lovingly refers to them as 'the claws.' I'm destined to wear flip flops in 40 degree weather because *God forbid* a shoe company makes a size 11 WIDE shoe. (Seriously- I'm desperate here. With snow in the forecast, where can a girl find a wide width shoe?!)

Other than an atrocious amount of stretch marks, I'm looking forward to my work shower this week and my Waverly shower this weekend! So thankful every day to be blessed with a healthy baby girl and so many amazing family and friends to welcome her arrival!

Here's my 36 week belly shot:

Until next week! xo

A little touch of Broadway...

...and I'm a changed girl! I have to admit, I've never been a fan of musicals. Something just creeps me out when the cast is talking and then all of a sudden- they break out into song and dance. But fortunately, all of that changed after seeing WICKED!

I was left speechless after the curtain dropped and was exhilarated by having seen such an amazing show! The cast and set was incredible and it was great to spend a day with Alyce and her Yahtzee girls. We had a blast!

Can't wait for my next musical... any suggestions?!

"Missing you...since you been gone...away..."

Ahhhh...vacation. The simple life. Livin it up on the lake doesn't get any better than Okoboji!

What a great vacation we had- I never get tired of this view.
The first part of the week was beautiful! We even got to swim in the outdoor pool.

Here we're enjoying the sunset on the deck with a friendly game of Yahtzee that I lost money on. Darn dice!

Fog on the lake, early morning:

This is the exact spot where Andy proposed to me, exactly 4 years later!

Getting ready to enjoy the best breakfast spread in 'Boji at Minerva's!

Okay so yes, we did befriend a squirrel (Twitchy) and his pal... it was so cute to watch them gorge themselves on cookies. Give me a minute and I can turn anyone into a diabetic!

See those happy faces? 50 cent liters of beer...

A beautiful ending to the perfect vacation! Already counting the days til next year!