Countdown

I have less than 2 weeks left before this baby is due.  On one hand this pregnancy has flown by, on the other I feel like I have been pregnant forever!  The last part of pregnancy has always been tough for me.  Day after day of wondering if this is going to be the day...or will it be another 2 weeks?  Or 3 weeks?  Each day is a day of wondering, demanding my patience and submission to timing that is not my own.

I had a bit of a rough week.  Last Sat. I had contractions for about 3-4 hours and I thought I was entering into labor.  They stopped...and nothing happened.  I feel like that little incident threw my body over the edge of being big and pregnant, to becoming huge (did baby drop??  think so.), beyond uncomfortable, and feeling like I'm about to blow up.  I feel swollen, often dizzy (doc told me that could be my low blood pressure), nauseous, and so tired.

It's interesting to me how God created this process for our bodies to go through.  It's really a crazy miraculous time.  To think there is a fully formed little someone inside of me always blows my mind.  It's a privilege to be a mom and to carry these babies.  It's also quite humbling.  My body has become someone else's.  It's no longer just me.  I feel overtaken by what is going in inside of me.  Everyone movement is really and truly hindered by the little someone.

Though physically I am more than ready to have this baby, I know that I am jumping from one frying pan into another!  Having a newborn is no cup of tea.  Though I do have some experience here, I am always sobered and nervous about the transition.  Sleepless nights are very tough for me.  In a completely different way than pregnancy, nursing is demanding on the body.  My postpartum emotions are often on full display.

It's funny how this season feels so demanding and intense, but when I think back to my other kids, I can hardly remember these days.  I'm sure they were just as tough, but by the grace of God we got through them and have sweet memories and these wonderful little people to share our days with.  I'm confident that will again be my testimony of this time, even as intense as it all feels right now.

Tomorrow is a new week full of life and kids and work.  Any day now we will meet our new little one that will change our family forever.  I am forced to tackle each day with faith and confidence that God's timing knows best.

I really am looking forward to this new stage, esp. having a little one to smell and squeeze and enjoy.  The kids (esp. the older girls) are beside themselves with anticipation.  They knew that I was having contractions last weekend and I'm pretty certain they already feel like the baby is overdue!!  I look forward to seeing the love that I know they will all have for this new one.  That has been a highlight for me my previous 2 pregnancies.

This is one of my favorite pics of me and Greta.  She was just a couple months old here and now she is a chatty, silly 3 year old!  Can hardly believe it.

Photo credit: Tina Lapp

Homemade Swing

37+ weeks

Sweet Family

This past week I got to take some pics of my cousin (Josh) and his adorable family.  It's so fun to see him as a dad, he's a good one!  These were taken at their house and across the street from them.  Such a beautiful location.  Thankfully the snow was all melted and we had a beautiful afternoon to shoot.

Building Site

Steve is up to his elbows with supervising the building project at church.  He loves to take the kids over and show them the progress.  I was away the other night and got this pic sent to me.

What??

It's old news by now, but we had a crazy early snowstorm this past weekend.  Though it was beautiful, it was a bit hard for me to enjoy b/c it seemed so out of place.  The kids had a blast playing in it and for 2 days, my house was a tornado of boots, gloves, and snow pants.  I am happy to put it all away for a couple more months.

The snow was so wet and heavy, poor Claudia could not keep her snowman family together.  Every time I would try to take a shot, something would fall off one of them.

My poor flowers.  My annuals were still looking very pretty.  Not anymore.

This was day 2, the snow had melted significantly.

Trick or Treat

We had a fun evening with the kids last night.  Steve and I were walking down the road together watching them run up ahead and I said to him, "These are the good times..."  It's sweet to see them all having so much fun together.

Buzz Light Year.  He was SO thrilled with this costume ($3: thrift sale)

I think every child has worn this costume at least once.  She wanted to be a ballerina but I told her she was going to be too cold.  Thankfully, she was easy to sway.

Hobo

Pirate