8 days and counting....

We are now officially, in the home stretch before the baby will be born. To be honest, there are days, I'm ready and days I could hold this all off for a few more weeks.

We've been blessed by some of our close friends here in town, as they have offered (and we've accepted) for them to watch Finnegan for the full amount of time that I'm in the hospital. And they've even offered to watch him more than we asked (we were planning to pay a babysitter to come and have him sleep in his own bed - but he'll be sleeping at one of their homes instead). This will save Ken from having to run back and forth between their homes and our home and the hospital switching him between friends and family. We've truly been blessed by this gift of love!!

I'm pretty sore today... walking tonight has been pretty painful. I think what I'm feeling is what other women feel when they say "I think the baby will fall out". My muscles are just so sore to walk, or bend. Sitting is the only thing that I think makes it even feel better. And it doesn't even take it away. Grrr...

It's official, I've blown up the air mattress to sleep on tonight, although I don't think my husband will allow me to sleep on it. I keep him up all night with my tossing and turning and pulling on him and bathroom breaks. Oh, I feel so bad. When I sleep good, he sleeps good. Until last night... when I slept good, and he didn't. He said I was still moving a lot. Granted it's only a week, but I just feel so bad for him to not be getting any quality sleep.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Boy!!

So, although our son's birthday is officially next weekend, I decided to celebrate a week early, so we could have one last quiet weekend at home before Sweet Pea arrives. So, we invited about 20 people to the house to help us celebrate Finnegan's birthday. Little did we know, that this small gathering of just a few friends and WA family, would just turn into a WA family party with only two other families joining us. Never the less, we enjoyed the play time with our close friends and enjoyed a relaxing evening together celebrating Finnegan.

We also didn't know that Finnegan's pesky teeth would wake him up early from his nap, and make him super cranky at the beginning of the party. But he was able to find his groove and get over the funky attitude to enjoy his party too! Here are a few photos from the party!

Our Dining room table is transformed into the Cake Central. We had cake, cookies, ice cream and milk to drink (white and chocolate).
With Special Straws for our Chocolate Milk!!
This is me and my birthday boy!!


Here's Finn and Liam Playing together with the toys. Finnegan was getting sleepy, but still found the energy to play!Here we are as the official birthday photo together!! Mommy was trying to make the baby smile, and got a silly look on her face :)
Here are the kids checking out the dogs. Liam and Rylee don't have dogs, so it's a treat for them to see our dogs when they come over. Rylee loves Tootsie!!
Yummy Birthday Cake!!

What a friendly chid...

Today, we walked into doctor's office for my weekly check up. When we arrived, there was another family in the waiting room as well as an older gentleman. Finnegan walked in the door and walked right up to the little girl who was waiting with her mom and dad and said, "Hi, Friend!" She didn't respond, so he said it again! Oh, he is so friendly!! I just love it!!

---
In other news, the full gallery of our maternity photos has been completed. If you're interested in seeing them, shoot me an email, or leave a comment with your email address and I'll send you the password to view them!!

A photo and Video for you!

It's been raining here in WA most of the day, and I just heard a report that there was tornado sighted... and of course it's now getting dark :) Anywho - here are a few photos from this past week. Finnegan and Daddy work in the back yard pulling the weeds, and fixing the mess that is our grass. This is Finnegan helping!!

Finnegan's learned that he can ask for a piggie back ride, and loves to trot around the yard with daddy!!

Here's a photo that I took Friday. Finn and I had no idea that the rainbow had appeared, but Daddy took us out to show us the beauty when he got home.

Here is a video of Finnegan singing. He loves this Bible Song Lullaby CD that we have and sings the songs. His new favorite is Climb Climb up Sunshine Mountain, and he sings it each time I tell him to "climb" up into his seat at the table. It is very cute.

2.5 Weeks and Counting (18 days)

So, today is Sept 5th, and I have 18 days to go before my baby is to be born. Can we just say, that although her room is completely finished, her clothes are washed, my bag is mostly packed and there are meals frozen in the fridge, I really just can't believe that it will only be a matter of days until she arrives. I can't tell if I'm just in denial, or warding off an anxious spirit. However, since moving so far from our families and friends, I've learned to "guard myself" against getting too excited about people who say they're coming to visit. Because it is normally said in passing and I get my hopes up and then it never happens, and it's just a sad day. So I've learned to not get "excited" about visitors until they actually arrive, in hopes that I don't get my heartbroken. I explain all of this to say that I'm not sure if I'm just guarding my heart because I don't think that she'll come... or because I'm a bit nervous about her coming. I don't know.

In the mean time, I'm feeling pretty good. I actually am enjoying these last days of being pregnant, and am convinced that she is not nearly as big as Finn was. I am enjoying (for the most part) the way my body is handling this pregnancy, although I do have moments where I just hate being pregnant... The "going-pee-all-day-long" is no fun. Especially with a toddler... I feel like I'm going 3 times an hour - and sometimes I do! But days like today, I'm enjoying being pregnant, without much of the lower belly pressure and discomfort. And there are some days that I really forget that I'm that pregnant. I just don't feel as huge as I did with Finnegan, although I have begun to waddle.

I've begun to plan a few last minute activities for just Finnegan and mommy to do before sister arrives. I think we'll go to the zoo at least one day together. We baked cookies the other day, a first for the two of us together. I'd also like to do one other thing before the baby comes. I also plan on making some home made playdoh for him to play with after she arrives. Have any other ideas, mommies??

Thanks to all of you who posted comments about our photos! I am absolutely in love with them and continue to view them on the blog and can't wait to see the rest when she's done editing them. If you're interested in seeing the whole set, shoot me a message or email, so I can send you the codes to view them.

The Sneak Peek's are IN!!!

Hey Guys -
Check out the sneak peeks of our maternity photo shoot!!

www.ambersheree.com/blog

When you visit - leave a message on the post (at Amber's site) and we'll get a fre 5x7!!

Hope you enjoy them as much as I do!!

Sept 1st Update

Hello Friends!! It's Sept, can you believe it?? Only 3 weeks before the baby will be born and the count down is on. Below are some photos to enjoy from the last week...

Here I am at 35 weeks and 5days. Not as flattering as I'd like, but I'm in MUCH better shape than I was with Finnegan. :)


Here's my little Cowboy at Mattie's Birthday Party!! We had a really great time at her party, and enjoyed the mini cupcakes!!

And I came home from my Dr.'s appt on Monday to find Daddy teaching Finnegan how to fly an airplane on the Wii. Finnegan will say to Daddy, "Game, Game!" He loves to watch Ken play the Wii, so Daddy thought it would be fun for them to do it together!! :)

Also, wanted to give you an update... Tomorrow night (Wednesday) at 9pm on TLC network, there is a program on called "Truth be Told: I have OCD". The program showcases the disorder and how effects the lives of those who have it. My roommate from college, Wendy, is one of the people showcased in this particular program. And although I'm unsure of how they will portray her, I'm excited to see the awareness that the program will bring to the disorder, and how real it is for so many people. Wendy's had it for so many years, and since I've known her, and understood her experience with the disorder, I've met MANY others who have it as well. It is simply fascinating, and I encourage you to watch it!!

Today, we had our maternity photos taken. I'm really excited to see them when they're edited, and ready to be viewed. When the sneak peak is available (within the next day) I'll post a note and you can visit www.ambersheree.com (her blog) to see the sneak peak. And I'll also post the full ones when they're ready in a week or so!!

Have a great week, all!!
xoxo