No Baby No Rules

We felt a ton better this week after seeing our doctor. Not only did he say there’s a good chance we’ll make it through the weekend without any labor, but he reassured us that the other doc in his office shares his philosophies and listening skills so not to worry. He said they couldn’t work so closely and not have those things in common. Also, as much as he said he thought I could make it through the weekend, he said there’s just as much of a chance that I wouldn’t! AAAARRRGH!

There are no rules for birthing babies. There is nothing consistent in any of the stories I have read or heard. I have spoken with just about every mother I know personally and heard their birth stories, most even have more than one. I have read accounts on many webpages from women with babies from this month and from years past. The only thing I have learned - they are all completely different! There is no sure fire way to tell, nothing that every woman said happened to them before their labor began that let them know, this is it, it is time.

So I sit here waiting and hoping for a sign, a contraction pain, bleeding, anything to make me think something might be happening, and it matters not. I could get no signs at all and suddenly start labor and have a baby 12 hours later! Or I could have signs and signs and more signs for a week or more and no baby. Awesome.

I have heard from most mothers that the only thing that is the same for them all is the last few weeks are the worse. It starts to feel like you’ll be pregnant forever and like the baby is NEVER going to come out. Of course rationally and logically, we all know this is not true, but let me tell you, in this moment, it feels like I am going to be like this forever!

My stretch marks have gotten worse since he dropped, though still not bad and something I have great pride in, they are sore and itchy. Once he’s out they won’t be as big of a problem. My tummy is in the way of everything. I can’t do dishes without getting it wet! I can’t bend over to pick things up easily. I can’t sleep on my stomach or lie on my stomach to watch TV or play a game. Sure, I’ve been going through these things for a while, but I feel like ok, enough is enough.

Another sign I think it is time to have the baby is, my maternity clothes aren’t fitting too well any more. Phyllis got me a ton of clothes to wear and they got me through the summer greatly. And even since the weather has cooled off, there were a couple pairs of pants and shirts I could wear that were warmer. But the pants are getting too tight and I can’t wear dresses when it’s cold, they seem to get shorter and shorter! I can’t even wear my own PJ pants, which are some of my favorite clothes, and I had been able to wear this whole time until very recently, nor can I wear my own boxer shorts! I can only wear some of Andy’s. My maternity panties are even getting too small!! And they say one size fits all!?! How can that be when they don’t fit me anymore?

And now I am starting to feel like people blame me for holding on to this baby. Even Andy says to give it up so he can hold it too! Believe me, if it were up to me, I’d have had him out a week ago! I am so ready to get this show in the road.

Actually, we’ve been saying we aren’t NOT ready anymore. I don’t know how ‘ready’ we can be until he’s here and we get it going, be we definitely don’t feel not ready anymore. We’re totally ready to meet him and hold him and see him. Are we ready for the lack of sleep and stresses of parenthood? Maybe not, but is anyone ever ready for that before it actually happens? No. I doubt it. But we’re not NOT ready, that’s for sure!

So when am I having this baby? Don’t ask me. Ask him! Ask nature. Ask God. My body doesn’t even seem to know yet, it sure hasn’t given me any signs. It’s all a matter of him finishing up and signaling my brain to start the process. Though he should be finished by now! He should have his lungs very well put together, he could breathe on his own, his digestive tract won’t be quite ready and he’ll be sensitive to all his senses with his immature nervous system, but thus is the life of a baby. That’s no reason for him to hang out much longer in my belly!

I just keep reminding myself and my loving supportive husband, that it can’t be much longer. The doctor won’t want us to wait much longer as certain risk factors come up. But not just that, nature won’t wait much longer. Baby and I are healthy and I feel that both of our bodies are truly ready for this experience. I even thought that I wouldn’t make it past this weekend. Mostly because the doctor is gone and that figures! But I have been saying since I first heard my September 27^th due date that he’d be born in October. Let’s just hope not too far into October! Like the 1^st or 2^nd would be good!

Keep us in thoughts and prayers and thanks for your support!

Tyler says "Turn off that light!"








Biggest belly yet! This was taken tonight actually and I swear ot looks so much bigger in person! You can see my newest stretch marks coming in on this side, too.






Tyler lounging under a blanket.








Here's Mr Thunder with momma's belly. I posted a pic like this a couple of montsh ago too, so this is a size comparison for those who remember. He's the only cat we're worried might get jealous because of his close relationship with his daddy. Andy has promised to make sure he spreads his attention around!

Upsetting News

I got a call today from my doc’s office that they needed to change this week’s appointment. I had originally been going to see our secondary doctor because our primary will be out of town this weekend, which I was already quite concerned about. They called to change the appointment with our secondary because apparently, he will be going with our primary and they will both be gone! We have spent the last couple of months trying to get to know these two docs and them getting to know us and our pretty specific desires and concerns about having this baby. And now to have to realize that if the baby comes any time in a 5 day window – which will be after my estimated due date and quite likely – he will be delivered by someone we have never met and will have no idea about us, our history, and our desires. We are a little freaked out.

The receptionist at the office originally tried to reschedule me for the following week, October 2^nd! I had to explain to her, I am due to have this baby THIS week and I’d rather not skip an appointment during my due date week. So she got us squeezed in tomorrow to see our regular doc in the morning. It will be good to talk with him face to face about who will be delivering for us if we have him while they are both gone.

There is a third doc in their office but we have never met him. I have seen him, seen his pictures all over holding newborns he’d delivered, even talked to a patient of his that was very happy with him. I have no doubts he is a wonderful doctor, after all he’s a part of this office and we are happy with them, but the fact remains that we have not met him. We will discuss with our doc tomorrow the chance of meeting the other guy sometime this week, just for our own peace of mind and to let him in on our plan.

I will be making out a detailed birth plan. I had one before but want to make sure it is up to date and accurate with how I feel now. We’ll bring 2-3 copies with us so we can go over it with the other doctor. And we’ll try to meet with any doctors that may be on call this weekend.

It’s just really scary. I am sure this was a possibility all along. If we go into labor outside of regular hours, the on-call doc handles it I guess. Well, then why do we go through the relationship building with one doctor? I don’t get it.

And we did go through a lot to see this guy. We moved 2 months early so we’d be in town soon enough to have a few months to build a relationship with a doctor before the baby came instead of only a few weeks. We paid double rent for 2 months to be sure it would happen that way. We didn’t like the office staff at first though we have come to like them more over time, but we fell in love with the doc right away! Maybe this wouldn’t be as big of a deal as it is if we didn’t like these two doctors so much. And trust them so much. Our first doc of this pregnancy was not personable and was a know-it-all that didn’t listen well, so if it had been him perhaps we could have hoped for someone we liked more. Now we couldn’t imagine someone we’d like more and I my feelings are hurt that they are leaving. I understand life goes on and doctors, especially OBs cannot wait around for all their patients to have babies. It just sucks that this is our first one.

And we’ve had such a great pregnancy. We’ve hit almost no bumps in the road when it came to my health and the baby’s health. We’ve felt very safe and secure with this doctor knowing and understanding our desires. We’ve discussed things with him at every appointment. He’s given his opinion but been understanding of ours.

Honestly, right now it just comes down to the fact that we are scared. We’ve been scared all along, this is a scary thing, even if it wasn’t our first, but more so because it is. And now the rug’s been pulled out from under us.

There’s still a chance I could go in to labor tonight or tomorrow or Wednesday. But the chances are also great that it starts over the 5 days the docs are out. Still could be not until they get back and we’d have to look in to inducing. That’s part of what makes this so hard, the not knowing.

I guess we have an option of getting induced this week before they leave, but I don’t feel that is good for the baby or the mom when there is no medical reason for it. It greatly increases risks of c-sections and births of underdeveloped babies that end up colicky, miserable and full of health issues that could be avoided by a little more baking.

So we’ll be letting him bake. And if that means our two favorite doctors miss out on this birth, so be it. But we are nervous about being in the hands of someone we do not know. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers about this.

We plan to do all we have within our power to keep it our way. We will have our detailed birth plans with us and have copies for everyone. We will discuss our desires with every nurse, tech, doctor or orderly that walks in to our room so there is no question. But there is not much more we can do.

Perhaps that is how it always is and we just were under the wrong impression. Unfortunate if you ask me.

Just reiterates my desire for home births with midwives from here on out as long as we have no complications with this one.

Thank you again family and friends for your continued support and concern! Now let’s hope the phone calls start tonight!! Come on out Little Andrew, the world is waiting for you!

Fun Nature Video!

We saw this going on in our very own front yard and had to capture it on video! It's pretty neat stuff and Andy explains what's going on a little during the beginning. Enjoy!


BTW - still no baby, but it could happen any day, so keep sending me those positive labor prayers and vibes!

Coming soon: Grandma Phyllis's garden and the puppy Tazz on video! And hopefully a baby!!!!

39 Out of 40

Full gestation is considered 40 weeks. I am at 39 weeks. However babies can be born safely from about 37 weeks to 42, though most doctors don’t like to let women go past 41 weeks because of dangers that can present. So here I am at 39 weeks and still pregnant, knowing if nothing else, in about 2 weeks, we’ll probably have to have an induction, which I don’t want. The problem with estimated due dates is that they are just that, estimated! And it’s impossible to know exactly when you conceive, unless you only have sex every few months I guess! So I could be a little bit farther along or a little bit not as far. AAAHHH! It’s all just too much guess work for me. I am a planner, I like to plan. It’s hard to plan for having a baby when one has no idea what day he will decide to make his appearance!

So we wait. And wait. And wait.

And every day seems longer than the last. I am trying to enjoy these last few days of no baby when we can sleep freely and play games and read and whatnot, but I must say, it’s not easy. We want to play with our baby! We want to hold him and wash him and feed him… and MEET him!

Andy has read his book for fathers about birth and delivery. So he’s ready now. As ready as he can be.

I am trying to keep up with laundry and dishes so they don’t backed up. I’d hate to be at the hospital trying to enjoy the birth of our first child with the weight of dishes in the sink and dirty clothes waiting at home! Especially since they won’t be getting done for at least a few days when we return home!

We have our bags in the car ready to go just in case we are out and something happens.

We’re playing games before bed while we can.

But it just feels like we are in a limbo. Like we’re waiting to be born as well!

I tell the baby everyday his lease is up and he needs to get out and join the world. We have so much to show him! He has so much love to be given from family and friends!

We see the doctor tomorrow so it’ll be interesting to see what he says. He didn’t seem to think we’d make it to the next appointment at our last one. And I guess we still might not, there is a whole night between now and then! I’m just afraid he’ll want to start talking inductions. I have a fear of inducing. It’s not the natural course but sometimes nature does need some help. I have read plenty of birth stories – PLENTY! And some of the inductions went quite well, but all involved an epidural, which I do not want either.

I’ve been thinking about some actions on my own here to get some progression. I have been reading up on Evening Primrose Oil and that seems to help ready the body, though it doesn’t cause labor. I don’t think I want anything that will cause labor, I want that to happen on its own, but anything I can do to help ready the body for when it starts will help it to progress faster and easier – especially if we end up needing an induction. The other thing I’ve read about is raspberry leaf tea. So I may get those two things today and start a regimen and see how it goes. Since the doc doesn’t do internals until labor starts I have no way of knowing if I’ve had any progression yet and if these things will increase it. But I figure it’s worth the small investment since they don’t hurt and are good for women’s healthy anyway!

Meanwhile, back at the Goin Home…

We’re too excited to even express in words. It makes my heart melt when Andy talks to my belly or tells me how he can’t wait to do his part to help out. He really wants to take such an active role in his son’s life. He doesn’t want to miss a thing! I know he can’t help me feed him for at least 6 weeks, maybe even 3 months depending on how I am feeling! But he wants to help with every other process he can. And even during feedings he wants to help! I understand how women say they fall even deeper in love with their husbands after they have a child together! And we don’t even have the baby in our arms yet but already I feel my love for him growing.

I worry about our cats. How will they react? They are good adjusters to change when we move and bring in new things to the house or have visitors, but this will be quite the big change for them. Especially for Andy’s cat Thunder. His relationship with that cat is like it’s his first son. He will almost have to treat the situation like that as well. We’ve been discussing how to make sure Thunder gets special time with his daddy so he doesn’t get jealous of the baby. Though I am hoping he won’t. The way I see it, he will either get jealous or he’ll recognize it as something that comes from Andy and be protective of it. I also fear because he and Sami have their claws. Thunder has decent claw control but Sami has none. I would feel horrible if they lashed out at the baby and scratched him. Wait, I will feel horrible any time that child gets hurt and yet it will happen and I can’t and shouldn’t try to stop it! But with the cats, I feel it is something we can try to control. If anyone has any suggestions about cats with babies please email me.

My mom came to visit the other night and had dinner with us. It was great to spend some time with her though it wasn’t long enough. Feels like every time she leaves I remember at least one more thing I meant to discuss with her! She was sweet to drive the 45 minutes to our place this time since she knows we are scared to leave our hospital’s town. I know labor isn’t an instant thing in most cases, but if my water breaks or something we want to be as close to our hospital as possible. While she was here she agreed to take a few pictures of us together! We don’t have many of Andy and me and the belly, especially at this late in the game. I am putting up two though I think I am making a goofy face. Mom doesn’t know how to give a count down and I was talking or laughing trying to tell her how to use the camera through most of the shots! :D

Andy looks super cute in this one! I look silly in both of them - but it's not about me, it's about daddy and the belly! Although the shirt doesn't do it justice, the belly feels bigger than it looks!

Here it is in all its glory! Relative to the size of my hands, you can get a feeling for how big this thing is getting! Time for him to come out now!

Please keep sending us positive labor vibes and energy for this to come quickly and go swiftly and smoothly and ending with a healthy baby and healthy momma! If I am having labor pains that are going to last for a while, I plan to make a blog post about it, a short one, to let everyone know the moment is at hand.

Also, please email me if you want a phone call and we haven't already discussed it with you. We're happy to make sure everyone gets contacted. All are welcome to the hospital but no flowers please. Just bring yourself! If you feel the need to get a gift, Walmart gift cards will help us tremendously with groceries. But we really just want our family and friends close in this time. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers!

Our First Video

A very big thank you to my Mom, Ken, and Tressie for pulling together and getting us a video camera that we will be using to make many videos as the baby comes and we start our family. This first video is a test really and full of some things we do while we are in our holding pattern waiting for Baby Andy to come. You will see Lea and the final stages of the belly and how big it's gotten (even close ups to see if you can see it moving!), video footage of our cats Tyler and Thunder, and the garden Grandma Phyllis has been helping us with. The garden started off as nothing but dirt and dead bushes; look and see a small tour of how much the ivy and tomato plant has grown!

This is only the first episode of what we plan on being a series of sorts and is rough in certain areas with editing. The camera we have is so easy to use and is very quick at transfering the video to the computer, it's really a matter of just editing one together and uploading it to Google where we store them and present them here. We already have more footage of the baby room to share in the next episode and more. Thank you for reading and watching! Click play to watch the first video below.

Videos to Come!

If the video in the next post does not play for you, please go here:

CLICK HERE

And download this latest Flash player. You'll be needing it!

We are so blessed to have the family that we have. They are all so generous to us and we can never say enough.

Tonight we were given such a sweet gift from Andy's parents and aunt. They got us a digital video camera. We were planning on trying to get one on our credit card in a month or so, but they said we needed one now since the baby will be here before then and they want videos right away! So we got an early Christmas present tonight and we couldn't be more excited!

Be on the lookout for many more vids to come. They'll be much better quality than the one with Tyler since they won't be shot on a regular cam but on an actual video camera! We'll have them posted on youtube or google so we can embed them like that directly into our posts here. You should be able to watch by just clicking play, just make sure you go to the above link and get the Flash Player.

Tomorrow we're going to try it out on a tour of the nursery!

Our Tyler

Here is a video Andy made of our cat Tyler. It was shot in bits on our digital camera which can take short video clips (uses up the whole memory card so we only do it at home!). Then Andy edited it all together. I am the narrator! It's pretty cute we think, but we think he's cute!
You must have the latest version of Flash installed so if you can't see the video, get Flash.
And he's just about the happiest healthiest kitty you'll ever see! He's getting old, but he handles it so well, still frisky!

It's Almost Time!

Yes, the time is upon us. We literally have less than 2 weeks until the due date. But the doc pushed my due date up a few days, and he even thinks I could go as early as this weekend! PHWEW! Where did these last months go?

I know we have been so busy there hasn’t been time to stop and think much. I’ve slept a lot too, but I just know I need to get it all in while I can. I love sleeping and that will be what I miss most as a mother!

We are so ready. I hadn’t been completely ready until this week though. I just felt like it wasn’t the right time and now I feel like it is. A lot of little things are in place and the things that aren’t, aren’t important enough to fret over. Like my desk – it will never be clean! This baby is so loved already and so many people are so excited about his appearance. Beyond even his mommy and daddy, who are the most excited of all.

Andy has started telling the belly it’s time to come out. I am visualizing him moving lower and lower into position. And I tell him we are ready for him so get ready for us!

As scary as it is, and I sometimes get this wave of emotion, like a rush of a near accident when I suddenly get a realization that I’ll be a mommy very soon, I am thrilled! I can’t wait at this point.

I have no signs of any labor. No idea if I am even close, which there is no sure sign that labor is coming except water breaking. I almost wish the doc hadn’t “called” this weekend. For some reason, since he said it, it feels more possible and now I can’t stop thinking about it and I want to get ready. But if Monday comes with no baby or labor, I’ll be disappointed! Really though even if he doesn’t make his big appearance this weekend, we don’t have long to wait, so it’s all good.

Andy is the sweetest! I try to explain to him what it’s like to have a little person around. Not that I know or anything, but I have had a lot of experience with babies and small children in my time and he has had none. The other day I was explaining to him how maybe we needed to look in to some big covers for our outlets that have things plugged in in case the baby can pull the plugs out when he gets bigger. Andy says to me, “Honey, I don’t think you understand. I’m going to watch him. I’m going to be so interested in him and what he’s interested in.” He’s said this type of thing to me before and I guess I just can’t imagine it. But I must say, last week at the doc’s office a lady came in with her 3 month old. He was sleeping in his carrier and Andy couldn’t take his eyes off of him. He was enchanted! And forget about it once the baby woke up! He didn’t stop staring at him and talking to him and trying to get his attention until the lady got called back to see her doc! He turns to me and says, “I’m just going to want to look at him all the time when he gets here!”

I must admit I have been worried about how I will find time to get things done around here, like cooking and so on when I have to keep an eye on my little one, but I feel much more confident about that now. I know when I need to be in the kitchen cooking or cleaning up, I can count on daddy to stare at his son and make sure he’s ok. And as he gets older, he can play too!

Now if only Andy could help with the nursing!

He actually will. He wants to burp him between breasts and after feedings. Which will be precious since he has not only never burped a baby before, but he’s only ever held one maybe once or twice! I can’t wait to see him learning all about these things. It’ll be so cute!

I’m almost coming to the accepting place where I don’t feel like I have to be perfect. I’m not going to have a perfect spotless home, especially the first month after baby’s birth. And that’s ok. Even if I get it spotless before we go to the hospital, it won’t matter and it won’t last. I get the important parts done and that’s that. I just worry about when the baby starts crawling, but I know Andy and I will have to take turns following him around and playing with him and cleaning up. Sounds easy and I know it won’t be, but I do feel that we are ready, and beyond ready, desire this lifestyle!

The only thing we don’t have completely ready is the car seat. It is installed and we put it in a better spot after some research, and I feel now more like we have it in right. But we can’t seem to get the one lady in all of Denton to be available to check out our job. We have called her now 4 times in less than 2 weeks. She says, “Just call 20-30 minutes before you come so I don’t go to lunch!” I’ve heard that so many times now but then I call and she’s either not ready that day and tells me another day to call and then not ready that day either or she’s away from her desk never to return! It is so frustrating. We may just swing by the fire department here in Sanger and have them take a look. But I really feel like we have it in right now. And again, even if we don’t get it checked out before the birth, we can still see her and have her check it later.

I want to take my time to enjoy these last few days (maybe weeks) without a baby. Of our lives alone. But I also feel like I can’t enjoy it. I have too much preparing to do! Not just our home and my body but my mind. I am nervous about labor and I try to spend some time everyday researching it and preparing myself mentally. Really I just can’t imagine the pain. I just can’t. How bad can this be? Ask me again when we have the baby home! But for now I just can’t see it being something I can’t bear. But it is my first time so there’s no way of knowing how my body will take it. My doc is confident with my ability though. He says I have a good shape for it and I am healthy. My weight and baby’s weight are good. Should go relatively well. I am just hoping it goes quickly!

Be ready for a phone call or email to come when we are in labor. And please be sure to send positive thoughts, vibes and prayers our way while we are getting this highly anticipated and greatly loved child into our world.

Doctor Visits and Pictures (part 1 of 3 entries today!)

Oh where to begin! Perhaps by saying this will be a 3 parter so be sure to read on after this post for the rest of them. Preview: Nursery pictures! And close to the car story as well as pics of Granddaddy-to-be's new bike!

I have been to the doctor twice since I last blogged. Last week we saw the ‘new guy’ again. He is so nice! But so young! We found out from the regular doc this week, just as we had suspected, that he is fresh out of residency. Kind of nice to know he’s got the schooling so fresh in his brain. I would be happy to be delivered by either him or my regular doc.

At the appointment last week, we had a couple major occurrences. 2 big tests that get done at that stage of 36 weeks. The first was the GBS or Group B Strep test. Strep is a normal flora that lives in and on us all and is what is called ‘opportunistic.’ In other words, if it gets in the wrong place it can make you sick, but in the right places it works with your body. About one third of women have it living normally in their vagina and/or their lower intestine. Which is fine for them. It is not fine however for a completely sterile baby who hasn’t been exposed to any microbiata the whole time in utero and can cause some serious illnesses if the baby passes through a birth canal laden with Group B strep, like meningitis! Fortunately, there is an easy fix of simple IV antibiotics during labor which takes care of most cases. And although it is fairly rare, it is something all pregnant women are tested for because it is so easy to fix.

The other test was an extensive urine test. I get to pee in a cup every time I go and they check protein levels to make sure I am not getting the toxemia, but his one had to be sent off to a lab. Fortunately I am pregnant so I can pee 3 times in one hour easily so going twice in one visit wasn’t hard. I am not sure what all they did for this test. I know they checked for some kind of growth.

I was a little nervous going to the doc yesterday with such looming test results hanging over my head. I had the ‘what if’s’ big time! I blame it on being pregnant. I am usually pretty mellow though I am still feminine and have a greater tendency to worry myself than Andy does. And as much as Andy reassured me everything would be fine, I didn’t breathe the sigh of relief until the nurse told me all results were normal and good!

Another bit of good news has been my weight and blood pressure. This is a time in pregnancy where a lot of women get an elevated BP but mine has stayed low about 100/70 and my weight has almost leveled off. I gained only one pound in the last week. I am officially 165, exactly 40 pounds of weight gained and that was exactly what I was told I’d need to gain because my starting BMI was slightly below normal. So I may go over that a few pounds but not by much.

The other good news is the doc wanted to get another sonogram measurement of the little guy since he measured so big at 31 weeks. I love any opportunity to see him on the screen and be reassured that yes, it’s a boy (saw his testicles again!), and yes, he passes all sono checks. So the tech did all the measurements again and although it can be off by a pound or so at this late stage, she had him weigh in at 6.6. So in 3 weeks, on his actual due date, he should weigh about 7.5-8 pounds! I must confess as strange as this sounds that I do want a big baby. Not a 10 pounder or anything but a good solid 8+. I just feel they are healthier. And aren’t so scary tiny! But if he’s just under 8 that’d be great too. Now we just have to see if we make these last 3 weeks. He could really come at any time! Though don’t worry, I am not having any signs of early labor yet, at all!

The doc seemed to think the chances are greater that he’ll be late. In most first pregnancies they are. I agree. He hasn’t switched positions in months and I get the feeling he is real comfy in there! Though he will start running out of more room soon enough and maybe that’ll inspire him to look further!

I also get the feeling we’ll have a pretty mellow baby. He’s not a kicker. He does wiggle a lot when he wiggles and there’s been times when I am reading to him at night, it feels like he’s trying to come out and meet me right then! But for the most part he’s not too rambunctious. I also think he’s shy. I always want other people to feel him move around in there. It’s such a wonderful feeling I want to share it with everybody! But he so rarely does it when we are around other people. My mom, Andy’s mom, Tressie, our friends, Andy’s brothers, I want everyone to feel him and I don’t think anyone has! My friend Tammy got to feel him hiccupping once. My mom has felt a limb once I think but no real roll-arounds. Then as soon as we get in the car to leave the people we were just with, there he goes dancing away for just his mommy and daddy! Andy says he’s like the singing frog from the old cartoons that would only sing for the one guy and every time he tried to show someone else it would just go, “rib-bit.” We may have a shy guy on our hands!

So far he seems to be like us then, shy, awake at night, and pretty mellow. Now we’ll just have to see.


Here I am in an outfit I wore at 5 months too. It fit a little differently back then... can't quite close the jacket!







"Do I look pregnant in this?"








I do love showing off this big old baby belly!








This dress used to fit differently too! I am coming to the end of quite a few of my maternity clothes. Fortunately not long left and the few that do still fit will get me through these last weeks!







Belly pics from weeks 35 and 36. I can tell it's getting bigger, can you? Hey! Where's my belly button going? It has completely stretched out and I fully imagine the next weeks for it to do the old turn inside out completely gig!










Please read on for more pictures and stories from our last two wonderful weeks!

And remember to click on the pics to see the full size!

The Baby's Nursery! (Part 2 of 3)

Here are the pictures from our very recently finished nursery. Well, it's not even really finished yet. The curtains need hanging and there's a stack against the wall of things that needs to be hung as well. But it is in a presentable state so it's time for pictures!
We start here with a couple of shots of the blankets that Grandma Phyllis made for Andrew. She took special care in selecting touchy feely fabrics that all feel good and coordinate with the print super well! I can't wait to see him all wrapped up in these.





















These blocks spell out 'Little Andy' and will go on the big black shelf once it gets hung.






Changing table. Organized as well as I can without knowing what I'll need and when and how often. I imagine many a thing in the baskets will be moved. The table came from Phyllis and Tressie as well as most of the furniture in the room. Phyllis also painted the green shelf up to the right.













On the left is a very special rocking chair from my mom. It is the one her mom rocked her in and she rocked me in and soon I will be rocking our baby in it as well. Draped over it is a rug my dad made. I will probably hang it right behind the chair so he is there with me. The curtain is also draped there! The swing and bouncy seat will come out into the living room once the baby arrives. And the tub of toys will be put in the cabinet it is next to.


Crib from the door to the room. The letters on the wall behind it were painted by Grandma as well to match the shelf! Hanging on the wall to the right is Andy's present from his mom and aunt on the shower day. It is a camera that we can use to watch baby from the computer. We'll put up a link to it eventually when we have it in a good spot. For now we'll leave it there.



Close up of crib! Look at that awesome bedding! Thank you Anne and Janet! Everything in there was a gift and the crib itself also came from Andy's aunt and mom! We are SO blessed! The pillow was also made by Phyllis. I wish I could sew like that!





Inside the crub. All it needs is a baby! Actually when the baby's in there all that other stuff will go for safety but it looks so cute now! It is unfortunately already getting black cat fur on it! I think our youngest, the girl Sami likes to get in there. Not sure what we'll do about that.




Crib and dresser. A lot of the things on top of the dresser will be put on the shelf once Andy hangs it. I'll take more pics then too.








Dresser again.







Little closer on the book shelf part. There's the frame my shower guests signed on top and a collage of Andy's baby pics up there too. A special book There's a Wocket in my Pocket which my dad used to read to me!




Thank you for touring the nursery! Now please read on to hear more about last week and some info about our plans for labor and delivery! Plus more pics at the end of the next post!

The Week Before Last + Pics!

To close the drama from last weeks car episode. We had been told that our car would be ready on Tuesday. We were totally fine through the weekend. We had just grocery shopped before it broke down and had everything we needed. The only problem was we had plans to see my mom and bring her a birthday dinner. Well, we rescheduled that for Tuesday after we picked up the car and that ended up being better for her as well since she just had new flooring put in and it was still being worked on on Saturday. And she is off on Tuesdays. Well, Tuesday we called to find out the car was not ready, the part was not in and hopefully they’d have it ready the next day. Yikes!

Phyllis to the rescue! Big time! She’d been offering us the use of her truck, and we hadn’t needed it but it was so nice to be able to call upon her then and say hey, can we borrow the truck for the night. It was the only night of the week we could see my mom and I’d already made the dessert and started the dinner! Plus we were getting to a point where we were going to need some groceries the next day. She was a doll about it and let us borrow the truck for as long as we needed and even gave us some money for food and gas! Thank you so much Mom Phyllis! We wouldn’t have made it last week without you!

We ended up only needing it for one day. The dinner at my mom’s was fun, and I think she enjoys my cooking! Then we got see some friends too.

The next day we were on our way to the grocery store here in Sanger when Andy’s phone rang. We both thought it was his mom because he had just called her to see if it was ok to keep the truck a little longer since we hadn’t heard about the car yet, but it wasn’t, it was the lady calling to say our car was ready! We figured, no time like the present and headed on down to get it. Sounds easy, but I was totally unprepared. I had no water and no snacks and it’s an hour drive each way with no traffic, and I’m pregnant and need to pee when I need to pee! But I made it there ok and drank a lot of water in the shop and used their restroom. Then I drove our car – which ran beautifully and cost us nothing for the repairs! – and Andy drove the truck back to his mom’s.

This is when we hit the traffic! And of course Little Andy would like to wiggle around and rest on my bladder for brief periods of intense ‘I gotta go now!” pressure, only to move off right when I would be about to pick up the phone and say ‘I gotta go now!’ Of course the traffic was so thick even if I had decided I needed to go, I wasn’t getting anywhere! I’m pretty tough though and made it the hour and a half back to mom’s.

We were there only for a moment because we still needed to get some groceries!

What a day! We left to go shopping and got home over 3 and a half hours later!

We got a special surprise treat last week too when Andy’s dad Paul called one the evening to ask what we were doing the next day. We had few plans and he said he wanted to come take us out to lunch and hang for the day. And of course show us his new bike! It was so nice to see him.

He came over early (for us) around 11 and we went to Denny’s for breakfast. Then we drove all over Denton and he showed us places the Goin family had lived and worked around town. Places he grew up and lived when Andy was young. It was neat. We even went and hung out at the mall for a little while watching the kids play and just talking and catching up. We hadn’t seen him in a few months. He has such a crazy work schedule. But he plans to be off on a vacation around the time the baby is due so perhaps he can come meet him at the hospital!

All are invited to come see the new Goin after he is born and to come support me and Andy while I labor. As long as I can stand people that is! But for the actual delivery, I’d rather no one else be in the room. Ew, you don’t want to see that!

We would like to ask that those that come visit do not bring flowers. They are not necessary, our gift will be a healthy baby boy! If you would like to bring something and don’t feel a card is enough, we would gladly accept gift cards to grocery stores or Target or Wal-Mart. But again, don’t feel a need to bring a thing except yourself! I know it is a tradition when people are in a hospital to bring flowers, but we won’t have time to enjoy them as we will be so busy enjoying the new baby and our family!


Here's Granddaddy Paul's new bike. Pretty sweet!







Nice front shot.






























Damn that's a nice bike! I love the black. And no, I didn't ride it! Not till I go past my due date and I'm trying to get knocked into labor!!





Look at that belly in the background! Yikes!








And to close with cute Tyler so passed out on the chair his head is resting on the bar.






And that concludes this 3 part blog update. If you made it this far, thank you! If you'd like to be on the phone chain to come see us at the hospital, shoot me an email lea.goin@gmail.com, otherwise be checking your mailbox for the birth announcement! And of course check back here (hopefully weekly!) for the pictures!