It only took me what. . . . 9 Months?!?!?!?

Ok so obviously that last post was the real deal. There is so much to try to catch up on that I will do it as gradually as possible so as not to inundate any readers with too much at once.

As I said, my little man is now 9 months old!! How the time has flown too. He has 2 teeth. Crawls all over the place and pulls himself up to standing on just about everything. Those first steps are right around the corner I fear! He is the happiest baby and a joy to be around most of the time. He can say "mama" and "dada" and "baba" - still trying to figure out what "baba" means since he has never taken a pacifier or a bottle.

I'll leave you with some pictures and get back to his again soon hopefully, starting back at the beginning of his life and working my way forward. We'll see how well I do with that :P Hope you are all doing well!


My nephew Christopher is in the background here.


First time in a high chair!


At Aunt Kazia and Uncle Sharon's wedding on May 23rd. He was a wonderful little boy the whole day!!!!

T-Minus. . . . ???

Could this be it? It's almost 3:30 in the morning the day before my little man's due date and I haven't really slept yet. Contractions are coming pretty strong about every three minutes. I took a shower while I had the chance and now I'm using www.contractionmaster.com to see if it's time to head to the hospital.

Just had to take a contraction break right there :P Little guy is wiggling around in there just fine - I don't think he much likes the contractions though, but can you blame him? Nobody likes being evicted!

Hopefully the next update will be with pictures of our new addition once we are home from the hospital! Keep thinking happy thoughts for us.

T-Minus 9 days . . . . maybe

We are now in the single digits - how crazy is that? I've actually started having contractions - though intermittently at best. My impatience is starting to shine through. I just can't wait to meet my little man! I got some pictures of my cousin's son (that's incredibly cool to say) and he really is precious.

So I told Grandma Paula that I did this months ago, I think I've been waiting for the "right" time though and I guess tonight with your daddy snoring on the couch behind me is that time. I fully intend to write a letter to you to give to you some day in the future that will be just between you and me but until then some insight into how I'm feeling about meeting you and my hopes and dreams for you my sweet little Liam.

I'm incredibly excited to meet you and hold you and kiss you from head to toe. I can't wait to see who you look like and what color your hair and eyes will be. I truly believe you are going to be long but we'll see if mommy is right or not soon enough. I worry too about how scary this whole journey will be for you. But I promise you that while it might seem like a big, bright, loud and scary world out here - it's a pretty incredible place with lots of amazing, wonderful people who love you unconditionally already.

As any mommy would admit - I want only happiness and sunshine for you. Unfortunately that's not always possible, and times may be difficult once in a while. But mommy and daddy will ALWAYS be here for you - whether you need a hug, a pat on the back, or just someone to talk to. I want you to know above all else that we love you and always will no matter what. I also want you to know that the sky is the limit. If you put your mind to it, you CAN do it. My mom taught me that and I hope I can do half as good a job proving that truth to you in turn.

From the day I disbelievingly gazed at a positive pregnancy test (December 14, 2008) with tears of joy in my eyes, to the first time I felt you flutter around in my tummy, to the first time you made the book I was reading jump off my belly I have loved you and I always will. I'm ready when you are little man!!

Hmmm. . . . You coming out anytime soon little man?

Well. . . still nothing on my end. My cousin had a boy though! 8lbs 5ozs 21 inches long and one of the cutest babies I've seen in a long time!! His name is Emmett Michael and he arrived on August 11 very early in the morning. Very excited for her - and looking forward to speaking with her but want to give her some time to settle into her new role as mommy first.

Saw my doctor yesterday and she is pleased with everything. For anyone who lives in the same area as I do and is looking for a good OB/GYN at Kaiser - please please please go to my doctor! She really is the BEST!!! She said that my blood work came back perfect - and that pregnant blood panels always come back with at least one level in the red - I didn't have any levels in the red. Go me!

She also said that he is measuring good and he is NOT a huge baby. She estimates him somewhere between 6 and a half and 8 and a half pounds. Doesn't sound too bad to me, we'll see how close she is when he finally decides he's had enough in there.

I'm waiting to find out when my appointment is next week, and keeping my fingers crossed that it is with my doctor instead of anyone else, but only time will tell. She said that if I'm "still pregnant next week" she will do an internal exam to see if we're getting anywhere. Weird to hear those words come out of a doctor's mouth. If I'm still pregnant?? I must be getting to the end! Yahoo!

As for me, I'm definitely nesting. Yesterday I organized the diapers! Looking back this just makes me giggle, but it seemed very important at the time. All of the newborn size are in the drawer with the wipes (the diapers with the umbilical cord cut out are in the front of the drawer - the ones without the cut out are in the back of the drawer) and all the stage 1 diapers are under his dresser ready and waiting to go. I even had to show Paul what I had done, he just laughed. When I told my mom what I had done she said "just call me when you're on your way to the hospital ok?" :P Not yet mom! Still nothing except lots and lots of pressure.

Last night I swear my little man was in there getting mad at me. His movements just felt frustrated to me - almost as if he was thinking "I do NOT have enough room in here to stretch anymore. . . . GRRRR!". It was cute. I just can't wait to meet this little guy! Hopefully he'll decide to come soon, we're all ready and waiting for him now.

Nothing yet. . . .

Well August 3 has come and gone and still no baby news from Michigan - as you may remember my cousin is expecting her first little one as well and we're all anxiously awaiting that little one's arrival.

As for me, I'm doing pretty well. Little man has the hiccups as I'm writing this, but it's a nice reminder after a pretty quiet day that things are all going well. I'm not sleeping very well at night, but I seem to be able to crash from about 7:30am till 10am, so at least a little bit of sleep is happening. If there is anything I feel I can say for sure it's that my little guy is going to be VERY long. I have SO much pelvic pressure, but at the same time I can feel him burying his feet up under my ribs (and I have a pretty decent sized torso folks)!

I had a doctor's appointment on Monday. My doctor is pleased with him and me and seriously has no concerns (have I mentioned lately that I love my doctor and how laid back she is?). She did say that at 39 weeks (about a week from now) she will do an ultrasound just to check his size again, but she doesn't seem concerned.

I hate to say that I am "done" with being pregnant - because truly I have enjoyed every single second - even the not so pleasant/scary seconds. I think I'm just getting very excited to finally meet this little person who's been bouncing around inside of me for 9 months. And I would be lying if I said I wasn't also looking forward to possibly getting to sleep on my stomach again, and having a normal sized bladder.

I've also gotten very emotional in the last day or so. Now any of you that know me well will laugh at that statement and say "when isn't she emotional?" and it's true - I'm a very "sappy" person. But in the last day or so I have found myself in tears over one thing or another which hasn't been the norm during this pregnancy. Sure there were tears from time to time but today it seems like every sweet little thing I read about or hear about has the tears running down my cheeks. Does this mean anything? Who knows?

And now, just proof positive once again, that I have the world's greatest husband - he called to let me know he was going to get home late (he didn't want me to worry) and that he would be a little bit later because he was stopping to get me a surprise! We'll see what it is when he gets home.

I will keep everyone updated as things hopefully start progressing soon. Hope life is treating everyone else as well as it's treating my little family. These are truly good days - ones I won't ever forget.

Ummmm. . . . Yikes!!!

So yeah. . . . it's August! Holy crap! That means that I'm supposedly having a baby THIS month! That is just a little crazy to think about.

So sorry that I haven't posted in so long, will work on rectifying that, and in the meantime try to catch you up a little bit.

The car stuff got figured out eventually in case anyone was wondering but there was even more drama to be had after that last post - I don't even want to go into it. It was actually almost comical by the time everything got worked out.

My mom came to visit on July 9 and stayed till July 15 which was wonderful! I didn't mean to put her to work but she ended up cleaning and organizing my apartment - which is awesome since my body has decided it doesn't want to do anything but grow a baby! Did I mention how much I adore her? Other than wanting to see her now obviously pregnant daughter (we saw her back at Christmas but I was only about 4-5 weeks pregnant at the time) she was also in town for the baby shower that Kazia and Sandy threw. It was marvelous! This little boy is SO loved already. I'm pretty sure we have everything we need, and if we don't, well then we'll get it after he arrives. Most of Paul's side of the family and some of my friend's were able to make it and I'm pretty sure a good time was had by all.

One of the games we played was me trying to figure out what kind of baby food I was tasting - I can't believe babies eat this stuff!

This was a definite "Yuck!!" flavor - I think it was squash or something I don't normally like anyway.

This was a definite "YUMMY!!!!"

And how cute are the party favors??? "Thank you for coming from Kristin and her 'bun in the oven'!"

Then I had another shower at work! This little boy is going to seriously be the best dressed baby on the block that is for sure. They decorated my desk and had a potluck with lots of yummy food. It was a nice way to round out my last week of work.

There's the belly! And my cubicle at work. Cheryl came in on Sunday to decorate my desk!! Such love from my lead :)

The sash says "mommy - to - be" and that cake to my left. . . was made by Cheryl out of blankets and wash cloths!!!! So cool!

So July 24 was my last day of work and it was definitely with mixed feelings that I left. I miss my friends at work and seeing them on a daily basis. But as little man has gotten bigger over the last week and dropped a little bit I don't know if I could still be doing it. I've had a hard time this past week just keeping up with doctor's appointments, I can't imagine what it would have been like while working full time as well.

I've washed the first batch of his clothes and blankets and burp cloths. We got the crib on the 26 and put it together the same day. I'm still waiting for the mattress pad to be delivered but once I have the bedding all put together as well I will post some pictures of his corner in our room. It's really coming together quite nicely. Other than that not too much going on. Just trying to patiently wait for his arrival. This is the truest surprise I think I will ever have - having no idea when he is going to decide to make his debut.

That pretty much sums it up I do believe. I will post again soon, I promise!

Vehicles - The Bain of my Existence

I hate cars. I desperately wish I had no need for them but alas I work 30+ miles away from home and that just isn't walkable, especially in my current condition!

We took the Lincoln in last Saturday to have the rear driver's side shock looked at. Found out on Wednesday that both air bags (it has air suspension) are shot along with the air compressor's motor. Great! So to fix all that it was going to be $700+. Instead for $400+ we can have the car converted to regular coil spring shocks and not have to worry about compressor motors or air bags anymore - score! But of course the parts have to be ordered from out East and won't arrive till the 6th at the earliest. We need this car up and running by the 9th when my mom comes to town (the Saturn just isn't big enough for everyone anymore).

Then the Saturn didn't pass it's smog test. Took it in this morning to find out what's wrong, $140 later it's fixed but the smog place won't re-smog it for free until the guy who did it originally comes in at 2 (so Alex and I wait). Then I have to go to the DMV to get the tags and then hopefully this nightmare is over, at least for a while.

The exciting and wonderful news is that my mom is going to be here in less than a week! It means much cleaning still needs to be done but that's ok with me, I get to see my mom!!! She hasn't seen me since I was only about 5 weeks pregnant - quite a difference now at almost 33 weeks.

My baby shower is on the 11th (the reason mom is coming to town - isn't she just the best?) and that should be great fun. A bunch of my friends that I haven't been able to connect with in quite a while are going to be there, it will be so nice to see them again! And let me just point out how truly blessed I feel that some of these friends are driving quite some distance just to see me and celebrate the coming of this baby. I'm a very very lucky lady.

Other than that I'm just doing my very best to stay as cool as possible - the temperatures have been awful lately - and since when is Southern California humid? I don't like this new development! And trying to make it through my last 3 weeks of work. I can't believe I'll be on leave in less than a month. I would be lying if I didn't say I'm not looking forward to some time off. I'm hoping my little man doesn't get any ideas about coming super early - I have a lot to accomplish before he arrives. I tell him everyday that he needs to take his time and get as big and strong as he can. I then always amend what I've said and tell him he doesn't need to be TOO big!

I can't believe we only have about 50 days to go! That's pretty crazy, but I am so looking forward to meeting this little person growing and wiggling inside me. Even with my achey pelvis and sore back I am thoroughly enjoying this entire experience. I finally feel as if I'm doing what I was meant to do. I feel so natural and content being pregnant. We'll see how I feel in another 4 weeks right? :P Anyway, that's our update for now. Hope life is treating everyone well!