36 weeks!!!

Can you believe it?!? I'm 9 months pregnant! I can't believe I'm here and getting so close to holding my baby girl. I had an appointment with my doctor today and she decided to check me. Turns out I'm already 50% effaced and 2 cm dilated! YAY! She also said that Baby Girl Amen is definitely a big baby and wants to do an ultrasound next week to figure out exactly how big. I guess she's really, really low, too, so my doctor said I definitely will not be going to my due date with all of those factors in play. Over this past week I've been having stretches of time where I feel extremely crampy and have had a bunch of Braxton-Hicks contractions. I guess that some of that has helped me progress to where I am now. It could be any day now! Who's gonna guess the big day correctly? :)

my own pace...

That's how I would describe my life right now. I do everything slowly and at my own pace. I am working on things around the house, but not with much urgency. I've needed to finish addressing my thank yous for the baby shower for 2 weeks now, but I just can't seem to sit down and completely finish them. I'm also just now beginning to wash some of the new baby stuff, although I haven't done much. I got the car seat cover, swing cover, and bouncy seat cover all washed, so that's pretty good, I think. My biggest accomplishment of the week...I actually packed my hospital bag. Now, a lot of you may not know the anguish this was causing me! It seemed like every time I actually sat down to just think about what I would pack to take to the hospital, I would start to panic. I'm not really sure, but I think I was taking all of my anxiety about going into labor and placing it onto the simple task of packing my bag. However, last week I was finally able to make a list of things to pack, which was a great start. And now I actually have the bag packed! Of course there are a few last minute things that I can't pack yet, but otherwise it's done. I feel a lot more prepared now.

Time's flyin'! I can't wait to hold this little Baby Girl Amen!

i'm feeling, well, bigger...

I just can't believe I'm down to 6 weeks until my due date! It blows my mind that less than 34 weeks ago I was praying and hoping that I'd wake up in the morning, pee on a stick, and see two lines appear on a pregnancy test! It also amazes me that I've gone through this whole pregnancy without Josh physically at my side. That amazes me so much because I haven't felt like he's not here, I haven't felt like he's missed out on anything. I feel that way because I know he is still here and he isn't missing out on anything. He's here for me in ways that he never could be before. Yes, of course I wish he was still here on earth with me, preparing for our baby girl, but I have so much faith in God's plan for Josh, Baby Girl Amen, and me that it's hard to let that "wishing" overshadow my excitement for what's in store for us right now. And right now, I'm in awe of the fact that I've got this little girl growing inside of me and she's going to be in my arms in only 6 weeks!

I feel like during this past week I've gotten a lot rounder. Baby Girl Amen is gaining weight, which I know for sure because I'm blaming my gain of 5 pounds in two weeks on her growth. :) This week is my last week without a doctor's appointment until Baby Girl Amen is born, believe it or not! Next week I will start my weekly appointments with my OB. I already know this little girl is head down...she has been for quite a few weeks now. So, without jinxing myself, I'm not too worried about her being breech or in any other strange positions...but I guess there's always that chance she'd make some acrobatic move at the last minute.

I've also started feeling more uncomfortable. It's hard to find a comfy place to sit, lay, or stand for that matter. I never knew rolling over in bed could be so uncomfortable, difficult, and at times, painful! I'm not really complaining...I'm just stating the facts. I wouldn't give it up for anything...I LOVE being pregnant and I'm already starting to feel a little sadness about it coming so close to the end. However, I think the thrill of having Baby Girl Amen in my arms will help me overcome my sadness fairly quickly. I am so excited about seeing my little girl!

a quick note...

Just wanted to quickly let you know that I've added some new polls to the blog. They are on the right-hand side. Check 'em out!

I had another appointment with my doctor today. Everything is going great. Baby Girl Amen is about 5 lbs right now, so right on schedule. I go back again in 2 weeks, then I'll be seeing the doctor every week after that until I deliver. I'm so excited!

This is a short blog...I don't have any more fun things to tell you!

presenting Baby Girl Amen's 3-D ultrasound pics...

She is so beautiful! And yes, they confirmed that it is indeed a Baby Girl Amen on the way! I think I could have sat there all day and watched the monitor if they'd let me. I have video clips of these images, too, but I can't quite figure out if I can somehow get those onto the blog. The still images will have to do for now. I can already tell she has a silly personality! So, here they are...ENJOY!! :)

showered with gifts...

This week has been extremely busy! I finally got my house completely ready for the baby shower, with a lot of help from my mom on Friday. I have to say, the house looked really good! Then came the baby shower on Saturday. It was so much fun! Thank you to everyone that came and thank you for all of the wonderful gifts! Baby Girl Amen and I received so many neat things. And let me tell you, this little girl will be very well dressed! I am also so grateful for all of the diapers that everyone brought! I love that I have varying sizes, too! With over 25 people here squished into my living/dining rooms I'm thankful everyone was able to stay calm and not get claustrophobic! All in all, it was a great day! Thank you all a zillion times! Here are some pictures from the shower...

...and of course...DIAPERS!!!

I'm not done yet! Now that the grandmas have gotten to see the nursery and the baby shower is over, I figure it is time to post some pictures. So, without further ado, here are some pics from Baby Girl Amen's nursery...

(This is what you see when you first walk into the room.)

(These phrases were taken from one of my favorite children's books, No Matter What, by Debi Gliori.)

(This is the crib and bedding up close. Yes, I know...the bumper will be taken out as soon as Baby Girl Amen comes home!)

(This is the wall to the left of the crib. Forever Amen is the name of the star I had named for Josh and I on our wedding day. The pictures are all of things that Josh and I were interested in as a family...as well as a picture of Baby Girl Amen in the middle.)

(This is the wall to the left of the Forever Amen wall, looking back at the door you came in. Yes, that is Happy Birthday wrapping paper on the wall. It cannot be opened until Baby Girl Amen's birth day! Underneath is her name, which is why it's all wrapped up.)

(And completing our circle around the room, to the left of the wrapping paper wall, this is the window/glider wall.)

So, there it is! Most people were in tears after looking around, especially the grandmas, so I made sure to put a box of Kleenex on the dresser. :) I think the room turned out beautifully and I think Josh approves.

Tomorrow I have my 3-D ultrasound!! I'm very excited for it! Now, as long as Baby Girl Amen is photogenic, I'll have some pictures of her to post sometime later this week. If she decides not to pose for the camera, then I'll have to go back in a week or two and try again. Let's hope she's ready to say "cheese!"