13 days...

It's getting close! We have crossed the "two weeks till" date and are headed for our 38th week appointment tomorrow afternoon. I didn't update on last week, but according to Dr. Bohmer Isabella is growing perfectly and he guesses she is about 7lbs right now. I haven't gained much weight (only a few lbs) in the last month and I am still itty-bitty compared to everyone else I have seen in the office who is 8.5 months along, but I'm thankful! We have been so blessed to have no complications with this pregnancy, so far and I hope that means a quick and "easy" labor.

I can't remember if I posted about it yet, but the week before last (so week 36) we had a bit of false labor and they had me come into the hospital to be monitored for a while. It was all a false alarm, but a great practice run! In light of that this past week the doctor talked to us about the issue of our living an hour from the hospital and the chance of my having a very quick labor. He said that if I am more than a couple cm dilated this week, he would be willing to schedule an induction for next week (the week of the 4th) instead of risking a fast labor. Daniel is much more worried that I am, so I am siding against the induction, but for his sake we have been talking about it and will talk more to Dr B tomorrow about pros and cons. I'll keep you all posted!

Needless to say, regardless of an induction or completely natural birth, we are more than ready for our little girl to make her grand arrival. The sooner the better!

More soon...

Nana

I won't be able to write much here tonight, but I am going to try a beginning and maybe add on over the next few days or weeks. I know Bella won't get to ever meet her, but my Nana was one of the most wonderful, loving, strong and wise grandmothers anyone could ever ask for! She left us knowing that she was about to have her first great-granddaughter and I know that made her incredibly happy. But since Bella won't ever get to meet her face to face, I wanted to write about some of my favorite memories of Nana for her to read one day. I am so thankful for the fact that she was able to be with me for so many years and wonderful memories, like my wedding day and to hear Daniel and I announce that we were having a little girl. I know Nana already loved Bella and I want my daughter to know that from her mom first hand...

To begin: pictures of Daniel and I with Nana and Bunka on our wedding day 1/2/10

more later...

some photos

As promised...
here are some photos from the shower, of Bella's room, of me recently and of our little home! Enjoy!

look at her cute little door knobs!a sweet little blanket given to Bella at the shower....

my old dresser vamped up for Bella...stacked high with all her pretty things!
a packed wardrobe (another freebie!) that Becca K and I painted and Daniel installed a light inside...I love it!
view from the doorway, that window is the last little project- needs curtains and blinds.
looking around the room some more.... look at her beautiful crib (Daniel's dad made it) and the changing table from Aunt Lydia

Pictures from my shower-- thanks Gail, Suzie and Jane! Also, notice the beautiful crib build for Bella by Daniel's dad...

a street near our home...
our little bungalow!
getting ready for Dee Dee's wedding...(thanks Jennifer!)
Daniel and Me on our last "babyless" vacation

A family photo... with Baby on the way :)

Well, that's good for now! I can't wait to start posting pictures of her instead!!

so much to update with so little time left!

Sorry for my long absence! With the end of school came a series of weeks unpacking and preparing Bella's beautiful nursery. My nesting instincts really kicked in after I finished stressing over finals and moving! We have (nearly) everything we need for her upcoming arrival and her room looks awesome! (I will post some pictures soon, I have to upload all of the baby shower and recent belly photos today) Speaking of the shower, it was wonderful! My mother-in-law and her sisters really went above and beyond anything I was expecting and made me feel so special :) Bella got a TON of really amazing things....and even more clothes! So, needless to say, I am working on a stack of Thank You's still! haha

Since I last wrote, we have graduated to weekly doctor's visits and so far Bella and I are doing wonderfully. She is growing every week, putting on about .5lb every week and taking up every inch of my belly. She spends her days trading time between beating my ribs and hips, sticking her bottom out for everyone to see (it is really amazing!), hicupping on my bladder (not my favorite pastime) and sleeping (the most rest I get!). It is starting to feel like she has been in me forever, now, so I am definitely ready to have her in my arms! But I know that she will come when she is ready and I'm trying not to be so anxious. Daniel says that he is nervous...but we completed our Childbirthing class with ease and besides the car seat, that we should be getting in the next week or so, we are about as ready as anyone could get. I am hoping that she holds out till her due date, but I know that babies have minds of their own!

My most recent adventures have been the random cravings for Bagel Bites and Brats- Daniel calls it my "boy in college" diet. But, thankfully, so far I haven't gained more than my 1lb/week that keeps us on schedule for a healthy baby/mommy weight. Other new things that aren't so fun are that Bella is dropping lower in my pelvis and putting a lot of pressure on my siatic nerve...my right leg has been in terrible pain for about 48 hours and doesn't look like it will be getting much better. I will talk to the doctor tomorrow and see what he thinks. Also, sleep is becoming a bit of a nightmare in that I just can get comfortable and wake about ever 45/60 minutes. Probably just a combinating of nerves and my back being sore. I really can't blame Bella because she sleeps all night long and I don't really have to pee more than normal.

Anyway, I will get on later today and post some pictures of her room. :) Time for a little house-cleaning and homework (my summer classes have already started up!)

Love ya