Preparing for the big day...

So we have been preparing for months for the birth of our daughter. It's hard to believe that she could be here so soon. We are so blessed to be at this stage in our lives. I have been trying to get things done around the house to be prepared. The house is cleaned, her bed ready, clothes washed, hospital bag packed along with a list of last minute things to grab, I even went as far as putting a plastic shower curtain under our sheet just in case my water breaks during the night. I also bough puppy pads (pads of dogs to pee on when you are training them) to sit on in the car and around the house again in case my water breaks. I am just so anxious for her to arrive. I can't help but wonder who will she look like. From the ultrasound at 20 weeks I could tell that she would have George's nose! haha but will she have my face, lips, his eyes, my hair. Praying that she gets her height from heaven above since we are both short. The anticipation is killing me! Hurry up baby!

Kendra's Baby Shower

One of my former co-workers and friends, Kendra Hough had her baby shower on July 24th in Graetinger. She is due to have her baby girl on August 6th...unless she comes before then. ;) I really wanted to go to the shower so at my last doctor appointment on Tuesday, I asked my doctor if I could go. She said I was clear to go as long as I knew where the nearest hospital was (Graetinger is an hour and half away from Fort Dodge)!

I found another friend, Jessica Lenz, who was planning to go to the shower as well. So we rode together. What a blessing! George was a little stressed letting me go that far away but was happy to know that I wouldn't be alone. Jessica decided that she would drive so I grabbed my stuff from my car. She gave me an odd look when I put a towel down on the seat. HELLO!!!! If by some odd chance my water would break I don't want to get it on your seats!! She laughed and laughed. Her boyfriend sent her with his GPS system just in case so we could find the nearest hospital. Needless to say we were prepared.

We had a wonderful time at Kendra's baby shower. They played some really fun games too. One game in particular was pretty funny. You drew a card and on your card was a saying...some included: night of conception, tiny toes, those that can't breast feed, contractions, etc. Then you went to a table and had to pick out the candy that matched your word such as: night of conception= skor, tiny toes= tootsie rolls, those that can't breast feed= milk duds, and contractions= whoopers. It was a fun little game!

Kendra was blessed by the presence of great family and friends. And she received some pretty awesome gifts for her little bundle too. Some of her family is quite crafty and made some awesome blankets and towels.

Kendra Hough and Jessica Lenz.

Me and Kendra (and our little girls in our bellies). I was 38 weeks and 3 days pregnant. I look and feel like I could "pop" at any moment.

Part of my gift to Kendra was a pink/purple tutu and a flower head band to match. I made the tutu. I also gave her some baby booties and wooden letter blocks. I told her that she could use the letter blocks to spell out the baby's name in some of the pictures that they take of her as well as write how old she is...one day, one week, two weeks, etc.

There was some pretty cute little babies at the shower too. We got one little girl to model the tutu and head band.

Isn't she just the cutest little thing ever!!!

Ahhhh....air :)

So since we have moved we haven't exactly had great air conditioning. Supposedly the land lord had the furnace checked out, but it sure doesn't cool down anything. I kept the thermostat at 69 and the coldest it ever got was 79!!! I sweat like crazy and my poor husband can't figure out why. I'm sure he thinks I'm being a baby about it, but we kept the old place at 70 degrees and I'm pregnan=extra hot!

So since we have moved in I have been using two oscillating fans. If I'm in the living room, so are they. If I go to bed, they are there too. Where ever I go, they go. It helps even if it is only blowing warm air.

My parents took pitty on us and brought over a big window air conditioner. George helped dad put it in a window in the living room. Mean time, mom helped me with a little more decorating. By the time my parents left...I thought I was going to need a sweatshirt!! Okay, maybe not quite a sweatshirt but the air was getting cooler and I didn't need the fans anymore. What a BLESSING!!!!!

With the burst of cool air come some energy. I organized an area in the living room where we will change diapers, swing the baby, place for her bassinet, and brought down some of her clothes to put in a drawer on the main floor.

Thank you so much to my parents!!! You're lifesavers!!!

Birthing class #2....or not

So tonight we were to go to our second round of the birthing class. Before we were to take off to class I wanted to throw a load of laundry in. George carries the clothes down to the basement and I put them in. Tonight we noticed that there was water in the basement! UGH. Good thing we don't keep anything down there.

We called the land lord and he said he would be over to check it out. Class started at 6pm and he showed up at 8pm...go figure! Said he would have a plumber come to take care of it in the morning. In the meantime use the bathroom sparingly as that water is coming up to. GROSS!!!!

How can a pregnant lady not go to the bathroom?

Well the next day the plumber came and the cause of the clog was hair...supposedly my hair! Man I must be losing a heck of a lot to clog that drain. Doubtful.

Another trip to see Dr. Olson

So today we had a follow-up appointment. Got some good news too...the baby is head down, starting to dilate and the strep B test came back negative.

We are getting so excited for her arrival! I even started to make some tutus for her to wear...now if only she will hurry up and get here!

Girls just wanna have fun!

I was needing to get a few things in Des Moines prior to baby Osai's grand enterance, so I called my friend Marcia Dahlstrom to go with. I picked her up in Ames and got to see her family for a bit. Marcia recently gave birth to her second child and this afternoon of a girls get-a-way would be her longest time away from her kids.

We had such a great time together. We started off by going to Me and Mommy-to-be in Ankeny. It's a neat little consignment shop that has some really cool flower head bands so I just had to get a few for our little one on the way.

Next we headed off to PF Chang's to eat lunch. I hadn't eaten there in years and that was back when we lived in Virginia. It was a nice change of pace and a good choice by Marcia.

I needed to run into Jordan Creek Town Center to pick something up real quick, but was afraid that I would be stuck parking far away as the lots were looking pretty full until I found one just screaming my name...

What a blessing as I was starting to get a little tired! Got the stuff I needed in that mall and next we were off to Valley West for pjs and eventually to Babies R Us.

Time just went way too fast for us. But it was great hanging out with a good friend again. Thanks again Marcia for such a great day!

Flirty at 30!

Yesterday was my mom's birthday. Little did I know that she (along with some of my friends) had something up their sleeve. I was asked to go to lunch by one of my co-workers/friends, Sandi Buhl. Nothing too unusual about that. But I mentioned to Sandi that I might not be able to go as I was needing to pick up mom's birthday pie. Sandi had mom call George and got him to do it so I could go out to lunch.

We arrived at Sister Sadies for lunch and I recognized one co-workers car there. I just figured that she must be there eating with a friend too. We went into the place (using the wrong door) and then went to our seat. It was a table that was beautifully decorated and had birthday balloons. Soon to join us was my mom, Linda Zehr, and Brittany Bush. It was such a wonderful way to not only celebrate my birthday, but mom's too! I love my friends!!!

Later in the day I had yet another doctor appointment. Was hoping it would be a quickie as the ones in the past have been. Appointment was to be at 4:15pm and I needed to be in Manson at 6pm to celebrate mom's birthday. But like my normal appointments lately...the doctor was down in labor and delivery! The nerve! haha At least I saw a friend there to talk with in the meantime.

I finally got to see the doctor around 5:30pm. Had my strep B test and will get the results at my next visit. She said the baby and everything else was looking good. We discussed my bad experience with one of the doctors and said that she might end up inducing me just so I wouldn't have to have that doctor. Wish should could have done it that day!!!

Had a great time in Manson celebrating mom's birthday as well as mine. I always enjoy good family time. My family and friends must think that I have terrible pregnancy feet as I got three gift certificates for pedicures!!! haha I least I will be pampered.

The next day at work was quite interesting. I arrived to find my office looking like this....

two co-workers had foiled my desk! Everything on it was covered in foil...my lotion, hand sanitizer, water bottle, stapler, fan, pictures, computer, chair, calculator...you name it...it was covered! I thought it was pretty funny. Thank you Ginny and Tera!

Another co-worker, Stacy Johnson, made scotcharoos for me. She knows how much I enjoy them. After work, George had peanut butter soup and rice balls for me. Yummy! Can't get any better than this! Maybe 30 won't be so bad afterall.