Only THREE more weeks until Kayleigh's due date!

Like Justin said before, we attended childbirth classes this weekend. I was a little hesitant to go and didn't really think they would be worth it. Boy was I wrong! I am so glad we went! The classes really answered a lot of what-if questions I had and I think they really helped Justin to see what I'm going to go through. I think guys (before their wives have a baby) think labor is no big deal, but man those videos sure do show them otherwise. And it was cool meeting other couples...you probably really get to know one another if you take the 12-week course. We weren't the only procrastinators...two other couples due before us were there. Talk about waiting till the last minute!

The one big question I still have concerning labor is....when will I KNOW it's time? I know that I'm supposed to call my doctor when contractions are 3-5 minutes apart and lasting 45 seconds to a minute. Oh, and they are strong enough that I can't talk through them. But when will I know labor is starting? What does a contraction feel like? I wish there was a sure sign of labor beginning....did you know only 30% of women experience their water breaking before labor begins. I guess I'll just have to wait and see. Everyone tells me I'll just know when it's time, so I guess I will.

I just can't wait to hold my Kayleigh! I can't wait to bring her home and start life with her. I can't wait to feed her, change her little diapers and dress her in all the cute little clothes she has. Most of all I can't wait to see what God will teach me through her. How will I change because I am Kayleigh's mom? What lessons will come from raising her? I really can't wait to see Justin as a daddy. There's something really cool about watching your husband being transformed into a father. I have a feeling I'm going to have to steal her from him so she can eat! Something tells me he's not going to want to let her out of his arms. I mean you should see him with the dog.....yeah he's a softy, but don't tell him I said so. (I'm probably in trouble now)

One more week of work! Yea! Have a great weekend everyone!

Hope everyone likes the new look. I was getting tired of the old one, plus I'm really bored at work! That's what I get for being efficient and getting all my projects done.

Only FOUR more weeks to go! That sounds like such a short time, and yet I feel like it will never come! I go in for my weekly appointment tomorrow....I'm hoping to find out if I'm dilating at all. I have been experiencing some pretty good Braxton-Hicks...so maybe there will be some progress. All I know is the second my leave starts, I'm going to walk my little tush off, eat some pineapple, drink some raspberry tea and do anything else known to bring on labor. Of course, my luck I'll just end up with sore legs, ulcers in my mouth and relieving my bladder every 30 minutes from all the tea. ;)!

I'm taking a breast-feeding class tonight at the hospital. I have to say this is the experience I'm most looking forward to when Kayleigh is born. I really hope I'm able to feed her shortly after she's born. I just can't imagine what that will be like! Oh, and our childbirth classes are this weekend and then we'll be done with all of that! Whew! I'm just glad she's going to let us attend them! I have this feeling she's not going to wait much longer to make her appearance. Then again...that could just be because I'm kinda tired of being pregnant and super anxious to hold her.

Well I best get back to conjuring up some work to do!

Five more weeks! 34 more days!

In other exciting news! August 27th will be my last day of working at LISD! Yea! I'm going to follow in my mother's footsteps and take care of other people's children so I can stay at home with mine. I'm so happy and relieved. I was dreading going back to work. I struggle to keep up now and Kayleigh's not even here yet. Anyways! I already have one for sure client starting in February and two maybe clients that will start around September. Plus, I'll be keeping twin girls for a half-day a week. Everything seems to be coming together so quickly. I told my boss about our plans on Monday and by Wednesday I had people calling me about watching their children. I had no doubts that God would provide what we needed, but this just blows my mind! I get to be a stay-at-home mommy!!!!!

Only three more weeks till my leave starts...I am so ready to be done working for a little while. My last day here is June 17th...I think it would be awesome if Kayleigh decided to come around then...I'm thinking maybe Father's Day. I wish I could know when she'll come. Oh well!

Six more weeks to go! Okay, I'll admit, I'm starting to freak out a little here! I remember when I found out I was pregnant thinking that nine months was such a long time to wait. Now I have less than a month and a half! Next week is the last week of May! The good thing is we have almost everything we need. They only major thing left to get is the car seat.

My work gave me a baby shower yesterday. I work with the most amazing people! Everyone is so generous and I really feel like we are a little family of sorts. Anyways! The shower was so much fun! Kayleigh received a lot of onesies, which I've been told she will live in for a while. She also got her Pack-n-Play...yea!!! Her Ami(Justin's mom) gave her a personalized diaper bag, which I have to say I might recycle has a purse when she's done with it. I have a feeling Kayleigh is going to be a spoiled little princess. It's okay though...as long as Justin and I aren't the one's spending the money, I don't care how spoiled she is!

I'm starting to get anxious to leave work...that's okay right? I'm going to miss my co-workers, but I just can't wait to be at home with my daughter! I have 19 more days of work! Wow! I think I'm getting stuff caught up though. I'm trying really hard not to leave anything pending, but you know how that goes. So far the plan is that I'm coming back at the end of September for a couple months.....but Justin and I are looking at the financials to see if I can't quit sooner. I'm so lucky to have a husband who wants me at home as much (maybe more) as I want to be. This is going to be a giant step of faith for both of us...please keep us in your prayers. It's so hard for both of to make decisions without knowing exactly what the outcome will be!

Until the next time! Have a great weekend everyone!

Only 7 more weeks! 48 more days!

Nothing much going on...just getting through each day and taking it easy. Justin is going on our church's Men's retreat this weekend, so I get the house all to myself! I'm one of those weird people who actually enjoy being alone sometimes. I know I should probably call some girlfriends and go out, but when I get the chance to just sit at home, I take it! Plus, I'm working on some stuff for Kayleigh (cross stitch and plastic canvas things). I might go see a chick filck or something. We'll see.

Sorry things aren't very exciting!

I think I am having my first "I HATE being pregnant day". I know tomorrow will be probably better, but today is the pits! I'm really working on having a good attitude.....after all my mom always tells me, "Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you take it". Maybe if I could actually sleep at night, things would be better. I know....I need to get used to being sleep deprived...but that doesn't mean I still can't complain about it. Kayleigh must really be growing today...my tummy feels all tight and stretched. I am going to look on the bright side though...only 56 more days (I hope). Plus, after all this is over, I'll have a beautiful daughter to show off to everyone.

NINE MORE WEEKS!!!!!!!

Really it's more like 4-9 weeks....since after 35 weeks she'll be completely ready to be born. A part of me wouldn't mind at all if she came early. I am so ready for her to be here! The other part of me wants her to come when she's ready....hopefully that won't be 2 weeks late! But if I had my choice...early June wouldn't be too bad. She could come June 11th....since that's my mom's birthday and I wouldn't have to worry about a getting her a present. Guess we'll all just have to wait and see what birthday she wants!

Last night I spent some time organizing the nursery. There really isn't much left to do...except pack THE BAG! I've already set aside her take home outfit and blanket. I just need to get a diaper bag, so I can load that up. It's looking like I'll be having some of my baby showers after she's born. Somehow...and I don't know how....every weekend between now and 4th of July is booked solid. I'm actually liking the idea of having showers after she's here anyways. I'll get to show her off to everyone!!!!

Only 35 more days of work....if she waits until her due date that is!

Well hope everyone has a great weekend!

WHAT?????

"In the case of abortion, I believe a woman can make a very moral decision to have an abortion. For instance, let's say she already has a family and not much money. She uses contraception and still finds herself pregnant. If she looks at her finances and says we really can't do it and makes a decision not to go through with it. The accidents that happen – a pregnancy after every precaution was taken – can result in a moral decision to have the abortion as early as possible, as most are pregnancies are terminated. "

The sad thing is this statement was made by a Christian pastor.

Ten more weeks! Wow! I can't believe we are almost into the single digits here!

Justin and I had a very productive four-day weekend....I finished painting Kayleigh's room and Justin pulled up bushes, tilled the ground and put metal trim around it so I now have flower beds! What a wonderful hubbie he is! There's just mulch in the beds now...I'll get to putting something in it eventually....that might have to wait until after baby comes though. I'm beginning to notice the physical limitations of pregnancy now. I guess it shouldn't suprise me that my body poops out sooner now....I am growing a whole other person!

Well best get back to work! Only 40 more days of work till I go on leave!!!! Probably shouldn't act so excited about that :) !

Hello everyone! Only 11 more weeks to go! Boy time is really flying by! Guess it helps that Justin and I have been so busy the past couple of months.

Tax season is finally over!!!! Which means, I get my hubbie back! Yea! I'm not sure Justin's so excited though...now that he has weekends off, he has to do the yard work! We both took a couple days off next week so we could get some yard and house work done. I'm hoping to have some color in my front yard by Tuesday!

I had a dream last night about folding diapers...this is not a good sign! Although, I think I am ready on that front. I've been purchasing cloth diapering supplies gradually and I think I finally have enough to get by with. I never thought I would get so excited about diapers, cover, liners and other stuff! It's amazing what becoming a mommy will do.

In other news....I just realized I only have 44 more days of work till I go on leave! Yikes! I have so many projects to complete before then. A part of me feels bad about taking so much time off...I know my co-workers are going to be swamped...seeing as they already are and I'm here. I'm kinda hoping maybe I can work something out with my boss where I work from home about 10 hours a week while I'm on leave. That way, maybe I'll be able to just work 30 hours a week when I come back. We'll see.

Love ya!

12 more weeks to go!!!!!

Not that I'm complaining....I really do love being pregnant....but I'll be glad when these 12 weeks are up! Things are starting to get a little uncomfortable now. I was doing just fine and then all of a sudden this week has been the pits! Kayleigh must be running out of room because she keeps rib kicking/punching me...not a pleasant feeling. Although, I know she's doing okay since she's moving around so much! Even eating isn't as pleasurable as it used to be.....now I feel like my tummy is going to explode after every meal. And let's not mention sleeping...or the lack there of. It's all for a good cause though and I know that I will soon forget it all when she's finally here.

I go in for my gestational diabetes test on Monday. Hopefully it won't make me sick! And in other exciting news....our toilets aren't working!!!! It's a good thing Justin's parents live so close...although I find having to drive two miles to use the restroom quite humorous. Hopefully, this problem will get fixed today or tomorrow.

That's about all that's going on around here! I have a four-day weekend...YEA!!!!! I'll be painting Kayleigh's room, so it should be all ready for her by Monday! I'm so excited!

Only 13 weeks and 90 days left till Kayleigh is here!

That's about the only thing exciting going on right now! Although I have decided that Kayleigh really likes it when I'm trying to relax. My dear friend Dee is working with me on relaxation techniques to prepare for labor. Well, every time I lay down and begin to relax, Kayleigh decides it's belly dancing time. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to concentrate on relaxing when your belly is doing waves?! I love the feeling though!

I need to get signed up for childbirth classes...I know I should have done this a month ago...but if you know me, you know I tend to procrastinate. Does anyone have a suggestions of where I could go? The hospital has a weekend course, but I'm afraid it might be full! I'm going to try that route though, but I have no idea where to go if they are full! I must be weird...but the thought of giving birth really isn't freaking me out or anything. I know my body is designed to do it and I'm really not too worried about my ability to do it...seeing as I really don't have a choice now! Maybe I'm in denial!

Well I'm off to my weekend! Hope everyone enjoys theirs!

Three years ago today a beautiful thing happened in my life! The handsomest, most wonderful man in the whole universe took my hand and said "I do"! I can't believe it's been three years already! Time has flown by so quickly!

Would you like to know how wonderful my Justin is? He is such a blessing in my life! First of all, he goes to work everyday and strives hard to succeed at what he does. He takes the responsibility of providing for our family very seriously and for that I am so very grateful! He encourages me to do the things I never thought I could...even though it takes a good shove on his part! He nags me to stop picking at my fingers....which no matter how I react, I really do appreciate...it really is a bad habit that I need to break! He understands that I don't have a lot of time to cook and doesn't complain about the fast, easy, and sometimes very unhealthy meals I fix. He doesn't complain about the house being a mess at times and even pitches in when he can. He cleans the bathrooms! He puts up with my pregnant moodiness.....personally I think he should be awarded a medal of honor for that one! He loves me unconditionally and I have never had reason to doubt it! Most of all though, he is a man who seeks to know the Lord and he desires the things of God! I am so privileged to be married to this man!

100 MORE DAYS LEFT!!

We received Kayleigh's bedding last night!! It's so pretty! I can't wait to see what her room will look like! Now I have to pick out the paint and get to work clearing out the room! Yippie!

Hello all!

I am almost glad to be back at work after my week off. I was sooooooo busy! I spent Monday and Tuesday cooking meals to put in the freezer so Justin and I will be able to eat decent for the next month or so. Then Wednesday and Thursday I was preparing the house for the painting that occurred on Friday and Saturday! Special thank yous to my two moms who are such a blessing to us! Thank you for all your help with the painting and everything! I can't imagine trying to do this all on my own.....I am so glad Justin and I live close to our parents!

Anyways! I was looking at my calendar this morning and realized there's not much time between now and July. I can't believe July is so close. I remember when I first found out I was pregnant I thought July would never get here. Now I'm thinking.....I could use a little more time to prepare for all of this! Less than 15 weeks! According to my pregnancy calendar we have 101 days! We have so much to do still! I'm hoping to get Kayleigh's bedding within the next two weeks...then I get to paint her room. I need to start going through all the clothes we've been given and begin to get things organized in there. Probably should make a list....that always helps to organize the tasks needing to be accomplished. I'm so glad I have a freezer full of food at home.....tonight all I have to do is turn the oven on, pop the meatloaf in, heat up some veggies and dinner will be served!

It's been a fun week! Sorry about not posting for while. I had plans to, but then received a jury summons for Tuesday and what do you know I was selected for the panel. Crazy! At least it was a short trial. I kinda enjoyed it! I've never actually seen a real court trial before and it was a bit enlightening. Did you know that judges can make jokes from the bench! I had no idea....my thoughts about trials all come from watching Law and Order while in highschool. I was pretty amazed at how different the real thing is!

Anyways! Guess what.....only 16 more weeks to go! That sounds like such a short time! That's 112 days! By the time I return to work from Spring Break it will be right at 100 days left. Scary!!! One quick questions though...when does the third trimester begin? I have a Pilates tape with different work-outs for the trimesters. I'm still doing the second trimester one...so when do I need to move to the last one?

Also, I've been thinking lately about if/when I get back to school. I'm trying to decide just what the heck I want to do. I've thought about education....great job for when you have kids in school. But I'm not quite sure about that one. I've thought about Accounting....loved the one class I took...plus I love numbers....plus it's something you could do from home. But lately, I've been thinking maybe I should look into journalism or something. People tell me I have a nack for expressing myself in words and maybe just maybe I'd be good at something like journalism. I don't know what I'm going to do....good thing I have quite a bit of time to think about it!

A clip from an editorial:

Might I suggest to the Christians busy waving Bibles they never bother to study, if you are truly concerned about marriage as an institution, the most effective means of protecting it is by enacting and enforcing laws prohibiting divorce and punishing adultery. Until such time the chest beaters demonstrate their conviction by eliminating the most obvious dangers to the family, their protests will stink of hypocrisy.

While I'm not too pleased with the implications that Christians are a bunch of Bible- waving, chest-beating hypocrites, I have to say that I agree with this person on some level. Now don't take this to mean I think the implementation of gay-marriage would be a good thing. I do believe that allowing same-sex couples to be able to call their relationship a marriage will create many problems within society. But the truth is, marriage as an institution, created and given to man by God, has been under attack for many, many years. "Till death do us part" has lost it's meaning to many people. Personally, I know a lady who has been married NINE times; twice to the same guy! Each time she has pledges her love till she dies, and each time the relationship ends in divorce. For her marriage was just the thing you do when you fall in love with someone, and when you fall out of love the marriage ends.

For me, the best way to defend marriage as I believe it should be is to take the vows I made to Justin seriously and strive to fulfill them everyday. The best way for me to protect the future of marriage in this country is show my child(ren) what commitment looks like....what "till death do us part" really means. It's amazing how people look past what we say and focus completely on what we do!

Hello Everyone!

There is a verse that has run through my mind for the past couple of days:

And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Okay, so I've already said that I should stop reading the editorials...but I just can't help myself! Actually, I've found that by reading them I am forced to come up with rebuttals the the things I disagree with. I am forced to seek God's truth to confront lies....so I guess in a way the editorials are helping me to vocalize the truth I know. Anyways....so my next task is to figure out how to confront the lies in this statement:

"If Jesus were here today, he would wearily turn away from Mr. Gibson and his film with infinite sadness and disappointment. I can only imagine Jesus here, today, continuing his ministry of tolerance, acceptance, equanimity and love, blessing the unions of gay couples in San Francisco, as a crowd of Americans call for his crucifixion. "

First of all, the whole "Jesus is all about tolerance and love" thing drives me bonkers. I'm really getting tired of the word "tolerance". I mean do I really have to be tolerant of everything and every behavior? Isn't there some standard of right and wrong, and am I not then able to decided certain behaviors are wrong by looking at this standard?

Second, I think we should be careful when trying to say what Jesus would do if he were here today. How can we, the creature, predict the behavior of the Creator beyond what is told to us in Scripture?

And don't get be start on Jesus blessing the unions of gay couples......does this person even know whom they are speaking of? Yes, Jesus taught love and acceptance, but He also taught truth and obedience to the Word of God. This same Jesus is described in Revelation as having eyes of flames and a sword coming from His mouth. He sees through the flesh of people and into their hearts. His Spirit convicts the world of sin. He does love and accept everyone, but He loves us too much to allow us to continue to disobey His Father's word. Jesus is not just The Lamb, He is also a lion!

So, maybe once I get my thoughts together, I'll send a reply to the paper about this one.

Kayleigh sure is an active little girl! She likes to keep me up at night with all her moving around....mostly because I don't want to miss feeling her! It is such an awesome and yet strange feeling to have something moving around inside of you! Sometimes I can feel her while I'm talking to someone in the office and I almost burst out with, "Give me your hand...feel this!"

This is such a strange stage....being a mother, but people not really thinking of you as one. It's like I'm expected to go about the things I'm doing as if nothing in my life is changing. I'm finding it very difficult to keep focused at work...especially now that I am so aware of her presence. Things at the job just don't seem as important as they used to! I can't imagine what it will be like after I come back from a 13-week maternity leave...I'll be coming back to work for about 11 weeks. After that...it's all up in the air! I can't wait to be a stay-at-home mom or at least a part-time stay-at-home mom!!!!

Well best get to work!