Counting Down the Days!

I married a romantic!

Walking around Irish Fest is a great workout!

We are counting down the days, literally days, no longer months!  Hallelujah. 26 days give or take.

Boy (I mean Girl), looking back, these 8 months have felt like a really long time.  I feel like I've been pregnant forever and ever.  Good thing I love being pregnant!!!  Still, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel feels a-m-a-z-i-n-g. 

Little baby girl's great grandmother came over yesterday afternoon to take a peek at her nursery.  I love sharing all of this baby joy with my grandmother.  It's sooooo much fun!!!  We both love getting all giddy and excited about things like this.  She still talks about the day I was born and how she took my sister to the park and when they came back home I was already born!

Two nights ago Charles offered to pick up all the remaining items we needed for our little girl's birth.  What a sweetheart he is!  Fully confident he would find all the items I placed in my text request, I still decided to "pop-in" and see how his shopping was going!  I found him in the movie aisle, with two different mattress pads in hand.  Gotta balance that purchase out you know =)  We finished the shopping together as I waddled through the store very slowly.  Never know when it will be my last time in the store.

At this point, I probably only have two or three shirts that technically "fit" and the rest, well the rest just get stretched over this big huge belly taking full advantage of meaning"stretch" material!!

My grandma keeps saying it makes her nervous that I'm out and about shopping and driving and that she feels the need to carry a basket around, just in case!  She cracks me up.  I think she forgets how Irish I am and that it takes a lot to stop me.   Speaking of stopping me, there I was yesterday evening, attempting a last minute grocery run so that I could make my hubby something good to eat.  He is the sweetest, kindest, most easy going guy in the world.   He could care less if I fed him cereal for dinner, but feeding him cereal has never made me feel like a good wife.  So, what does determination and motivation do to a pregnant lady???  It drives me to attempt not one, but two home cooked meals AND baking home made cookies all in the same evening!  Aside from the shattered jar from one end of the house to the other, everything worked out in the end and Charlie was an extra happy camper when he got home! A fancy taco feast for dinner last night and yummy Fall stew for lunch today.

Speaking of Fall, I cannot wait for Pumpkin spiced lattes.  Supposedly they come out September 2nd, not that I asked or anything :)  And not wanting to do anything besides hold and stare at a baby all day come mid September, I decided to put our Fall pillows and candles out last week.  Maybe a little premature, but at least it's done and I don't have to think about it.   

The nesting continues on, some days stronger than others.  Just this past Tuesday, there I was on my hands and knees scrubbing bathroom floors.  Boy did it feel good, at the time anyways.  The next day, my lower back did NOT thank me!  On Thursday the chiropractor said it perfectly, "well, you're well adjusted up-top which means emotionally, you got a lot of satisfaction out of scrubbing the floors, but your lower back, your lower back is all out of whack and does not thank you for pushing it past it's limit!"  Ha, ha, ha oh well, we've been adjusted and are back to normal now!

Little girl has been moving around quite a bit these days.  Several times a day I will see and feel her little leg poking out from the side of my tummy!!!  It's the cutest thing EVER!!!  

Get here already little girl!!!!  We are ready for you :)

Dear Baby Girl

Dear Baby Girl, 

Mommy and Daddy couldn't be more ready or more excited to meet you!!! Your mommy has been falling asleep with happy tears in her eyes because she is getting overwhelmed with the emotion of how close your birth is.  Only 4 more weeks little one!

You are more active than ever these days and the two times you enjoyed steak this week, you went nuts.  I think I know what your favorite food is :)  We've been beefing up the protein, salad and fruit intake and cutting out all carbs and sugars which has been good because mom's lost weight and the doctor's been happy.  Win-win!

Just this past Friday your sweet daddy picked up your glorious glider and ottoman so mommy could keep rocking you in the mornings upstairs in your nursery!  I have to admit, your papa looks like a pro when he sits in it and he literally squeals out of joy and excitement when he thinks of you being on his shoulder or in his arms!!!  With a glider in your room and one downstairs, you've been getting rocked twice a day.  Here's to hoping you're a baby who LOVES being rocked instead of walked!!!  I know it works for some babies, but not all.  Let's keep our fingers crossed for mom and dad's sake, okay?

Your mom has been reading Well Adjusted Babies when she can't fall asleep at night and has been prepping for these last few weeks.  Last night was our first cup of Raspberry Leaf tea to help strengthen the uterus for birth and post birth.  Our friends swear by its magical powers!

Now that your nursery is all complete and set up, clothes washed and in drawers, I guess it's time to check off the last items on our birthing list.  Mom has the towels all washed for the birth, but she still has to pick up a water proof mattress pad and some safety pins at the store.....those last loose ends.

Last night daddy surprised mommy with a few boxes of Tucks.  It's hilarious how things like that seriously become sweet gestures of thoughtfulness when you become parents =)  

Speaking of the really romantic thoughtful, your daddy is one of the most thoughtful guys I know!  Your papa sent surprise flowers last week with a note about how excited he was that we were counting down from the one month mark!!!!!!!!! Can't tell you enough how much that encouraged and motivated me to think "we can do this!!!!" We both seriously can't wait to meet you sweet baby girl.  We are guessing the time what you will look like.....will you have hair, will it be blonde or black, how much will you end up weighing, will you come on time, late or even, of all shocking things, early?

Your mama is super excited to celebrate your life this weekend with friends and family!  Both grandmas and both great grandmas will be at your shower.  How fun is that, little one?!?! 

Up until this point, you've really let your mama sleep pretty well through the night, but all within the matter of a week, that has completely changed.  Now you keep me up on and off all night.  Things are starting to get pretty heavy and uncomfortable, which is probably a good thing because it just means we are getting closer.  If we don't think in the positive, we'll moan in discomfort.

Fall is slowly creeping into the air and daddy has brought in a handful of yellow leaves.  This makes us soooo happy because it reminds us that we are closer to meeting you!!!!  We can't wait for you to come so we can keep you outdoors enjoying the Fall weather.  Taking you to the cabin, the apple orchard, the pumpkin patch and traditional Fall festivals are on our top priority list for after you arrive, so hurry on out here little one!

Mom is definitely going to miss being pregnant with you, but she is even more excited to finally hold you in her arms all day and all night.  Seeing daddy hold you for the very first time is going to be magical, just like watching daddy's face as mom walked down the aisle at church :) nothing else like it. 

We love you, love you, love you, sweet little babe!!!! 

See you ever SO soon our little girl!

Love, 

Mommy & Daddy

The Sunday Currently, vol. 19

Reading:  A book from the Chiropractor called "Well Adjusted Babies" and this book is BY FAR my favorite book of my entire pregnancy!!!  So many helpful suggestions, even for these last weeks of pregnancy!  Couldn't recommend this book enough. 

Writing:  "thank you notes" to all the sweet Tae Kwon Do moms who have been showering us with baby books, baby outfits and manicures and pedicures for mommy, (who definitely can't reach her toes anymore)!    

Listening:  to my husbands motivational Tae Kwon Do movie in the background before he tests again today.

Thinking:  that I should start washing baby clothes really soon!!!  I just brought home a huge rubbermaid filled with gorgeous baby clothes from when my little sister was just a newborn.  Can't wait to see what's in there. 

Wishing:  baby would come a week or two early, I wouldn't mind at all =)

Hoping:  that today is another amazing pool day!  Need more sunshine before Fall comes.  It's right around the corner, at least according to all the leaves on the ground already!

Smelling:  My favorite Anthropologie candle.

Wearing:  maternity pajamas and a soft pink nursing robe from my mother in law!

Loving:  having a fridge once again!!!!  I'm loving eating at home, snacking on veggies and fruit and making cappuccinos again every morning before work. 

Wanting:  two full days to finish getting this house cleaned and in order.  Purging and cleaning has been in full force around here lately and I want to keep it up/finish it.  I'm ready to sit back in the rocking chair and wait for babe.

Needing:  a nap, again.  

Enjoying: late night walks around the neighborhood with my hubby. 

Missing:  the above view in Hawaii.  Besides the incredibly long flight, I'm ready to go back!!!! 

Anticipating:  little babes arrival in 5 weeks or less :)........or more! :(

Have yourself  

a very relaxing Sunday!!!

xoxoxo,

Maggie