Good Grief. 41 Weeks.

Well, in my infinite, newbie wisdom, I actually figured that due date would be about the time I had this baby.

Then the due date passed.

And did the next day and the next and the next and the next and the next and the next.

And here we are, a week past our due date.

The start of week 41! :)

I tried to do the "looking at my watch" thing, but it didn't really work.

Tomorrow is for sure D-day....the induction is scheduled to start bright and early. Though we've had contractions for the better part of the last 24 hours...so I suppose it could happen sooner. Never mind. Based on our track record, that likely won't be happening! :)

Family & Friends Baby Shower

Well, I'm a little behind on this one, but the memories are still fresh!

A few weeks ago, Michael's Mom and Aunt Linda threw Baby K and I a fantastic shower! We had so much fun and were so thankful for the time with friends and family and all the sweet things they "showered" us with!

Here are the hostesses...

And me with Michael's Mom and cousins.

We received the sweetest gifts! Including the comforter that is the color/decor inspiration for the baby's room.
The food and decor were beautiful and included the glittery cupcakes from this fantastic little shop and sherbet! Not to mention "real" food too, that was delicious!


My favorite sister-in-law...

Outfitted her new niece with cute, cute little clothes.

...this baby was definitely spoiled by all of the lovely gifts!

Thanks! It was so much fun!!

Week 34

Well, I never thought that my blog would be **overtaken** by baby content!

I didn't mean for it to happen that way, but, well, that's what I do in my spare time. Prep for baby!

We've taken classes, crafted a birth plan, learned to swaddle the tightest swaddle, and are set to go. This is the 34 week photo ...

And we've just wrapped up 35:

It's still unbelievable. It's gone so quickly and we're so excited. And so shocked at how quickly it's gone and that this baby is right. around. the. corner.

Seriously. We just keep talking about this, but it hasn't really sunk in. But maybe it won't! And that's OK.

We'll just enjoy remarking at the size of the bump, watching and feeling the alien-like movements and joking that she'll be begging the Dr. not to make her come out!

"Seriously, Dr. L! Don't make me go live with them! They're CRAZY!"

hee.

Week 33

The last couple of weeks have been so much fun! We have been so blessed by family and friends who are excited to welcome Baby K! Their sweet words, kind gifts and good wishes have us more excited that we could have imagined!

As this baby gets bigger and bigger we are getting more and more excited to meet her! The nursery is stocked with the necessities and so many cute and meaningful things!!

Apparently, I could not be bothered to change out of my gym clothes for the week 33 pic! Oh, well.

Here I am with both of my "babies." Someone is still blissfully unaware :).

Pregnancy Quotes

Me: "Gosh, I feel like my sides are filling out and you can 'see' the pregnancy from behind."
Dad: "Yep, you can definitely see that fat roll from the back!"

Lady at Mr. Goodcents: "You gots a little one in there rollin' around...that's why you be glowin'."

Saeth: "Do you you have Cankles yet?"

Nephew Nicholas to his neighbor (my co-worker): "My aunt Sarah has a baby in her stomach." (luckily, I was to the point where I was OK with people knowing :)

At lake, me in bikini
Mom: "Oh, Sarah! You had better cover that thing up! People are pretty conservative around here."

Saeth: "When are you going to post a picture of your great, big, Cankles????"

Michael: "You're looking ripe."

Lady at Cafeteria Checkout: "You got more than one?"
Me: "Nope, this is my first."
Lady: "No, I mean in there. You got twins? triplets?"
Me: "Nope, just the one."
Lady looks at me with great suspicion, as though I'm lying.

Saeth: "How are those CANKLES?"

Random Guy in Hallway at Work: "You're looking ripe!"

Michael: "Wow! When you start nursing, think of all the money we'll save on milk!!!"

Week 32: Gulp!

I swear I can feel the bump getting bigger by the day!

Yay!

31 Weeks!

The countdown is on! This whole thing seems to really be getting close! We've started classes and we're now in the single-digits of weeks until baby!

T-10 (weeks)

Well, I just realized I haven't written a single blog post in 12 days! Sheesh. Time is flying! I'm wrapping up week 29. Seems unbelievable!

I've entered a self-proclaimed "chill and grow a baby" phase. After over-doing it at the gym, doing house projects, etc. the weekend before last (and getting the aches to prove I went overboard), I've decided to consciously spend more time relaxing and enjoying the last couple months of being pregnant.

In the last few days, I've started being able to identify "parts" as this babe moves around...what I think is the head here, a limb there, that sort of thing! It's really, really fun play this guessing game!

I haven't taken a week 29 photo yet (sorry, Bethie!) but here is 28!

Definitely Not a Dream

Wow. Well, I've been thinking I need to do a "reflections on pregnancy" post. People keeping telling me to "enjoy it because it goes so fast!"

What does that mean, exactly?

I agree, it seems to be going fast. Here is the first series of bump photos.

But beyond that, how do I enjoy this to the extent I should? Make the most out of it?

It seems so very odd. Though I've always LOVED babies and wanted to be a mom, somehow it seems so unbelievable that it's actually happening. Every time I see this belly, I stare at it as though I'm dreaming.

It's nearly impossibly to walk by a mirror or reflection without stealing a glance at the rotundness (is that a word?) of my mid-section. I'm in awe of it...and not really sure that the entire idea has sunk in.

The neatest thing is by far the baby's movement. The kicking and other moves become stronger and more pronounced all the time...it's almost comical at times. And so comforting, first thing in the morning, when I'm lying in bed starting to wake, to feel that baby move. Just a little reminder that it's not, indeed, a dream :).

Week 24:

Week 25:
Week 26:
..and 27:
And the end of the second trimester. As I'm writing this, the widget on the page says 83 days until baby! Woah. I can't wait. I am DYING to hold her. But I also don't want to be done with this.

This magical, this odd state.

Father's Day

Michael spent his first "Father's Day" engaging in that time-honored traditions of Dad's everywhere.

Assembling stuff.

But not just any stuff...baby stuff!

He, his Dad and his brother (how appropriate! ) worked get baby K's necessities together and into place!

Yowza. I think this look about says it all.

And, uh, this is in our house:

Awwww....

Do you think he knows that things are about to change?

Bumps

So, you know those friends you have that have always been friends? Well, this one has been mine since she was born! Our parents were friends when we were babies. We live in different states, and have most of our lives. But we've managed to keep in touch! Turns out, we even have matching dogs!

We were able to visit with she and her hubs over Christmas, and little did we know she was harboring a secret...one that soon we'd share!

So imagine how fun when she came to town a couple weeks ago and we were able to compare bumps!

How fun! We're looking forward to another generation of friends!

Always Something There to Remind Me....

So....remember back when we found out she...

was, well, a she?

It was SUCH an exciting day. As you remember, we went to Build-a-Bear and stuffed...

and gave a "heart"....

...to the bear...

...that would serve as the gender-teller.

All good fun.

But what we didn't anticipate is that this simple stuffed animal would serve to bring us out of the "was that a dream???" fog that we each keep slipping into.

Dad-to-be still hasn't brought the bear up to it's room. It sits on the end table (and often in his lap) as the tangible reminder of what the result of this bump is going to be.

I think we're both still coming to terms with the idea that this is actually going to end up as.a.baby. Woah. So while we try, the way I suppose all first-time expectant parents do, to wrap our minds around this, she sits. There, to remind us.

Week 24

As the bump grows...

Take Me Out To The Ballgame...

My parents are in town for a couple weeks, so we thought it was high time they paid a visit to Kauffman stadium!

They loved it!

And we all had a great time!

(note: I'm fairly certain this is WORST photo I've ever taken. But it was about 95 degrees and is the only one of all 4 of us! boo.)

The Royals didn't win, which really wasn't any surprise, but our die-hard fan enjoyed himself anyway!

That night, we played the Tigers. And this guy ( Armando Galarraga) was coming off a realllly interesting week. I've been so impressed by the manner in which he has conducted himself, I figured I needed a photo of him!

What better way to spend a hot summer evening??

Rhubarb Extravaganza!

I can't really say that I've had any pregnancy "cravings" so far. But my dad mentioned that his neighbor had a bunch of rhubarb in the yard....which stuck with me. So, I gently pressured him into getting some to bring with him to Kansas.

He did. And I was a happy girl.

I chopped and chopped and chopped.

And the rest of them, well, it was heaven.

Just look at them go! (Michael insisted we add in an apple pie, as he thinks rhubarb is weird).

The result was rhubarb deliciousness.

That was two days ago and there is not a spec left!

The Belly

Is definitely growing.

Barely a bump at 14 weeks. My parents were visiting for Easter and mom wanted a pic. Glad she did because I'm pretty sure this UND T-shirt won't see the light of day for a long, long time!

15 Weeks...
18 weeks...
19 weeks...
The idea of a "comparison outfit" was working well. Until it wasn't.

20 weeks:

And now, 21!

I'm a little concerned at the rapid rate this belly is growing considering there are more than 4 full months left to go! Four HOT months! Yowza.