The Home Stretch

Well, we are finally ready, or at least I think we are. There have been some hiccups along the way, nothing to cry about, but I probably did shed some tears. So here's a run down since my last post...

Baby's Room

The beautiful Green Splash Paisley that I had originally picked out and ordered did not arrive as planned. I waited a long 8 weeks, expecting it to ship out on May 1st. I called Penney's twice to find out if it had shipped, and both times I was assured it had shipped, and I should receive it by the end of the week, May 8th or 9th. May 8th comes and goes, and no delivery from UPS. So I call again, but this time I check to see if the bedding had been charged to my credit card. Guess what?? No charge = No shipment.

The next day at work, I get an e-mail stating there has been a delay in the production of my beautiful bedding, and I should expect it to ship out on May 30th. Again, I call Penney's and this time I cancel my order, b/c I can't wait another 4 weeks to finish the baby's rooms. Helen will be here shortly. The Customer Service Rep, who was honest and knew what she was doing, goes on to tell me that the company that produces this bedding is unreliable, and Penney's has problems with them all the time. So why couldn't the two other reps have given me the 411 when I called previously???

So here's the bedding I picked out and received last week:

My room looks identical to this one. OK, maybe not. Andy put up white wainscot with chair rail trim, and we had the top half of the wall painted the blue from the bedding with thick white crown molding to finish it off. Our crib is white and was crafted in Itlay, no lie, and is the same crib we used with Grace and Anna. Andy designed and constructed a changing table for the room as well. We had beige carpet laid yesterday, so the room is pretty much ready. It is beautiful! Andy has worked really hard to get it ready. I will post some pics later.

The car seat is now in the Expedition, my bag is packed and ready to go in the SUV. Baby clothes are washed, diapers, wipes, and baby products are ready for baby.

Anna is sleeping comfortably in her sister's room. Her Superman stickers are now decorating Grace's pink walls. Anna did tell me that it was OK for the baby to have her room. Grace is a little put out about having to share a room, or at least that's what she likes to tell us. However, she and Anna have been doing everything together, and she acts like it is no big deal. Grace just loves drama!

Doctor's Visits

Well, I am now going every week. I have my dose of daily cramping and some pressure, but this is to be expected as we enter the home stretch. My legs and feet are swelling ever so slightly, just ask Rachel. My stats are stable. I've gained a whopping 18lbs, my blood pressure is normal, I've dropped just a 1/2cm, and I am just starting to dilate. I go back to the doctor next Tuesday, and today I am 37 weeks and 6 days.

Have a great Memorial Weekend! I'll be spending mine with family.

Much love,

e

29 days and counting

Let the countdown begin. I can honestly say, I am not ready. Not even close. So as we enter crunch time, it's time to get the room ready, my bag packed, and hopefully Andy and I will be ready for D-Day.

I guess I really can't blame Andy for the lack of preparing because it really is me. Yes, I said it. I am so anxious for the newest arrival, but apart of me isn't quite ready. I mean, it has been the 4 of us for 5 years, 7 months, and 20 days. Anna will no longer be the baby, ok, she hasn't been the baby for quite a few years, but she is my baby. Just like Grace has always been my BIG girl. The baby will be taking over Anna's room, and that just upsets me. How can I take down the Superman wall stickers that cover her room and slap a coat of paint on it as if it isn't Anna's room. It doesn't seem fair. I mean, I can't even see the screen as I type without my tears blurring my vision. What do I do? Suck it up and be an adult??? That would be my advice to someone else. I don't want to suck it up. I just want to sit her a while, and think of my girls.

I am reminded of the upcoming arrival everyday. Just yesterday, I started cramping, and it really hasn't subsided much. Cramping through the night, and this morning. Probably just Braxton-Hicks, but a steady reminder of what is ahead. I am thrilled to be blessed with another child because this is just another chapter in the book of my life. I am definitely not ready for the THE END. But as this chapter prepares to begin, another one ends. I am in a melancholy mood.

All in all everything with this preggo has been fine, the doctor's visits are uneventful. I go back to doctor on Monday, and then every week. My stats from the last visit go a little like this:

• Weight: +4lbs - up 17lbs total
• BP: 120/70
• Baby's heartbeat: 130s

So that's it for me,

e