Margaret Anne Update

As of my last Dr's appointment, there has been no more progress, so it looks like I will be induced on Thursday, August 14th if I do not go into labor on my own before then. That is exactly two weeks from today and we are excited and ready for her to be here! I won't know any details about it until I go in for my 39 week appointment on August 11th, so I can tell everyone more about it then. Here is a little "teaser" picture of the crib in her nursery, and I am going to recruit Hays to take more pics tonight when he gets home (he is much better at it than I am) so you guys can see the whole nursery. We are waiting for some art for the wall to be finished, but I don't know when that will be and I want everyone to see it. SO, more nursery pictures will be up soon!

Happy Birthday to Hays

I know this is a little late, but Hays' birthday was Sunday, the 27th. My parents came in town and took us to lunch, and then we came back home and sang "Happy Birthday" and ate the cake that I made for him.

There is a story behind this cake... last year I made him one with baseball decorations and it was so cute, but they didn't have any sports decorations at the store this time, so I had to go with a "sea creature" theme. It was still cute and quite tasty! Hays had a great Bday weekend that included getting a new golf bag from me and playing golf in the RAIN on Saturday with some good friends. I think he had lots of fun!

Another week closer!

Yesterday I went to the doctor and there is a little progress, but not much. The doctor seems to think I will be ready for an induction at 39 weeks if I haven't gone before then, and that is music to my ears! That would be sometime during the week of August 11th. Unfortunately, he also told me that he was going out of town during my 38th week! My plan is to have her before or after that, but her plan could be a little different, so we'll see! I will not be starting back to work before she is born, (I had planned to try to start the school year) so that is some very good news! I told the Doc I was NOT comfortable with him leaving at that time and I wanted to ask him if he was going to a bar mitzvah in San Diego, but I wasn't sure if he would get that movie reference so I kept it to myself!
Alot has been done around here in the past week, so at least I will feel good about the house being mostly ready for her arrival. I was able to get my lesson plans done for the time I will be away from school, and that is a major relief! Also, we (meaning Hays) hung a few more things on the wall in the nursery, as I was finally able to get the magazine rack from Pottery Barn that I REALLY wanted, and now it is hanging on the wall with several of her little books in it. I will post pics soon, I promise, we are just waiting for 2 more things to put in there.
I feel the need to say this about my husband... I could not have married a man who would put up with my crap more than Hays does. He has been SO wonderful and seems to understand the fact that when I feel like something needs to be done, it needs to be done NOW. He seems to really get this "nesting" thing, either that or he just doesn't want to hear me nag him all of the time. I don't know of anyone else who would be okay with spending their Friday night hanging shelves. He has been really great throughout this whole thing, and without him here, there is NO WAY I would have made it through this. So thanks Hays, for everything! If he is this good with me, I know he will be an awesome dad.

Getting closer to the end...

I know I haven't posted in a while, which may make some of you uninterested in checking out the blog often, but there honestly has been so much to do and so little energy for me to do it that it has taken a while to get back here, but here I am!
I had the last of my baby showers on Sunday, and it was SO nice. I am so thankful to have so many friends and family to support Hays, Margaret Anne, and myself. We received some beautiful and much needed items, and I am so appreciative of everyone. THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts!
I had my first of my weekly doctor's appointments yesterday, and everything looks good, despite all of my swelling and complaining! The doctor did find some time to make fun of my "monster feet," which I appreciate. Nothing exciting is happening yet, and being only 35 weeks I am glad, because I still have a LOT to do. It's almost time to pack that hospital bag!
It is so funny because I feel like I have been pregnant forever, but I can't believe I am finally rounding that home stretch. I wonder if I have taken the time to fully enjoy being pregnant, because as much as I have been tired and complain-ey it really hasn't been bad. I do love the fact that she is always with me, and her little motions inside remind me that she is there when I happen to forget for even a second. But I just can't wait to look at her face and hold her in my arms, and to watch her with her daddy, which I think will be the most precious part of my life, and I think it will be so special to watch their relationship develop. Everyone says that I will miss being pregnant, and now that I am nearing the end I think they might be right. I am going to try to enjoy these last few weeks while I wait for her to get here. I know that they will pass quickly.
The good news is that I don't have to work for a few more weeks, besides preparing my lesson plans, so that will be very helpful in giving me time to prepare and rest. I hope to have pics up of the nursery soon, just waiting on a few little things.

Many Goings On...

We have been extremely busy, therefore unmotivated to blog. Which is a bit discouraging because this has been a very exciting and different time in our lives! Meredith has now had 4 of her 5 (that's right, 5!) baby showers, and the last one is on Sunday. Thank you from both of us to everyone who has supported us in one way or another. All of you are greatly appreciated! We have both been working hard lately and haven't had much energy for else. We have been that anti-social married couple that no one ever sees, but it hasn't been because we don't want to see anyone; we are just TIRED!!! Meredith's birthday was yesterday, and I hope she will enjoy the ripe ol' age of 29. Her folks came into town, and we had lunch at Macaroni Grill (thank God, not Olive Garden. I could spent a whole day complaining about Olive Garden). She got a 1-hour prenatal massage and an Edgar's strawberry cake from her hubby, a $55 gift cert to Fusion Spa from Alan and Sandi, and an assortment of cash, cards, and night gowns from parents, in-laws, and grandparents. We love you guys!!! It is hard to believe that we have only 5 1/2 weeks until Margaret Anne's due date, and while it is ever-approaching, I feel like it is crawling here. All I can think about is what she will be like, and the fact that she came from us! Yesterday I was thinking about how absolutely blessed we have been through the entire pregnancy. It has always been fascinating to me how different people have different struggles throughout their lives. Have you ever found yourself looking at someone else and thinking "Man, they have it great because ________"? I know that I have been guilty of that many times in my life. But when you step away from the microscope, we all have our bumps and bruises, and no one is doing as well as they seem, or as well as they would have you believe. My point in saying this is because we all have experiences that shape who we are (whether we like it or not), and I feel like that the past 8 months have been one of the most special and memorable times for me/us. Whether tragic or joyous, there are events that bring families closer together, and fortunately this time, ours has been joyous. My encouragement to everyone (if anyone still reads) is to be thankful for what you have, because after all it is yours!