Oh my God Becky... Look at that Bump... It is Like SO Big...

39 Weeks!!!

I think calling my belly a ‘bump’ at this point is a gross misrepresentation. I don’t even know what to name it (Mt. Everest is the front runner). I do think that my darling child has kindly decided to “drop” and let me breath a little bit. So thanks for that kiddo! Now the trade off for this new found lung capacity is that I have to pee every 10 minutes (instead of the usual 20) and the pressure in my hips is making me walk around like I just rode a pony across the barren plains of Oklahoma.

Pregnancy has turned me into such a strange creature... I’m a cross between a mountain range, a bladder problem infomercial, and John Wayne.

Patent Leather Loafers

I have no idea why I’m so enamored with tiny baby shoes considering Aliyah is already well stocked... but look at these little patent loafers. Holy smokes!

Nursery Tour

I’ve caught Tyler standing in the middle of Ali's nursery several times in the past few days. We both agree that there is something magical going on in there. It’s the most warm and happy little room we’ve ever known. I also caught him making the motion of putting a baby in the crib and when I giggled out the words “What are you doing over there!?!?” he responded without an ounce of embarrassment “I’m just practicing laying her down to sleep” and then I stopped laughing and wanted to cry at this beautiful man I call my husband...

Her sweet little bed

Our sitting corner complete with boxes of fun toys & books, a night stand with items for breastfeeding and shelves for holding old memories & fun knickknacks

Old Memories: cowboy boots from my childhood -- a lace doily from Aliyah's great-great-grandma, Gammy -- a hummel from Aliyah's great-grandma, Gandy -- my dad's baby shoes -- a baby bracelet from Aliyah's great-grandma, Bam

A place to play and her antique silver platter wall art

Dresser/Changing table and her "i love you because:_____" sign

Socks, Hats and Hair Bows. OH MY!

Her closet, hamper, a spunky mirror

...and my awesome diaper bag!

This is one FULL closet!!

What's In Your Hospital Bag?

We continue to take care of a few more last minute details...

Our (ever growing) Hospital Bag

1. Car seat - gotta have it to bring our baby love home!

2. Positive affirmations/relaxation scripts, copies of our birth plan, and other paperwork the hospital asked us to bring

3. My Pretty Pushers hospital gown

4. Water, Gatorade, and some healthy & not-so-healthy snacks for us, the staff, and our visitors

5. Pajama pants & tops, robe, clothes to wear home, my blue slippers and sports bras for the labor tub.

6. Outfits, a blanket, socks, and hats for Aliyah. I’ve got a preemie, newborn and 0-3 outfit picked out in case she is a peanut or an amazon baby

7. Toiletries Bag: hair ties, chap stick, lotion, aromatherapy, etc...

8. Mp3 player with tons of music to listen to during labor. We organized our music into different genres: relax - awake - easy listening - lullabies

9. Aliyah's baby book - hoping that the nurses can add her footprints to our book

10. Pillow from home

11. Exercise Ball... our hospital has a few, but we were told to bring one with us just-in-case

12/13. Tyler's and my bags - goal: fitting all this in two bags!

14. Boppy pillow (suggested by a few new moms as a great to have) and a comfy blanket from home

Not pictured: our computers, camera, phones & chargers, a tube of lanolin for breast feeding, and a few other small items... *wow*

After I took this photo, we packed it all up neatly and it’s now sitting right there in our office ready to go when the time comes! I’d love to hear opinions from other moms - have we packed too much? (I am pretty sure I already know the answer to that one) Are we missing something?

Preparing for Baby

What we did this week in preparation: Week 38

This week we practiced swaddling... with our dog.

The Result: more practice needed

A Little Prayer

It's May!!! Which could be the cause to why last night, I was feeling a bit overwhelmed and anxious. Before we fell asleep, your father and I held hands and said a good, long prayer. We prayed for your safe and healthy arrival into this world. We prayed that I would be brave and strong during your birth. We thanked God for all of the people who have loved us and supported us through this process. We asked for knowledge and guidance as we try to figure out how to care for you best. We said thank you for our lives and our marriage and for you.

Afterwards, your father kicked his legs and said there were crumbs in the bed. He eyed me suspiciously. I admitted to eating a bagel under the covers. It was delicious.

Bare Bump @ 38 Weeks

I am now considered 'full-term' - Aliyah can safely enter this world as she pleases! FUN FACT: 85% of women deliver within two weeks of their due date (either before or after)

38 Weeks!!!