15 DAYS (or so) !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The end is in sight and it's almost coming TOO fast now! I feel like there's so much to do before she arrives. My hospital bag is sorta packed. I can't pack a lot of things because I still use them on a daily basis. Plus, if everything goes as planned (haha....like that'll happen!) I hope to stay at home for the first parts of labor. You know, take a shower, EAT, etc... So I'm thinking I'll have time to finish the bag packing then. We'll see!!

School is still crazy for me. I have a project due Nov. 10th, 12th and 19th. Along with a midterm exam on the 17th. For my last project that was due I ended up staying up over 36 hours. Spending ALL night in the computer lab with 18 other classmates of mine. It really wasn't fair that they all had coffee and red bulls to keep them awake while I sat there with my water! But, I got it done just in time!

Here are a few pictures of the nursery. The only thing that is missing right now are the letters of her name. They are going above her crib.

28 Days!!!

Holy cow, we only have 28 days left to go (giveor take a few weeks I know!). Ever since I started my classes the time has just flown by. I'm starting to get the feeling that it's going too quickly. I'm so busy, I don't feel like I'm able to really enjoy this part of my life. There are so many wonderful things going on right now, and I don't feel like I'm getting the chance to take them all in. I know that very soon, a little precious girl will be joining our family of 2 (okay 5 if you count the animals)!! We're very anxious for her arrival, but I also want to enjoy these last few weeks with Brian. I know we'll never truly have time to ourselves anymore. Yes, we'll go on date nights alone, while grandparents or friends watch her. But I know that she'll always be on our minds.

I'm not saying this is a bad thing by any means...it's just going to be different. Anyway, these past few weeks have been so busy for me with school. I get home late, or if I come home early I'm stuck on the computer doing homework. Or the nights where I've designated some quality time with Brian he ends up having to stay late at work because one of his soldiers has done something stupid. The past couple instances involve getting picked up for DUI and trying to commit suicide. I really hope that when Brian takes his 10 days off for Daddy Leave he's able to enjoy the time without worrying about what's going on at work.

Right now I'm considering giving my professors a date in which I stop going to classes so I can focus on me and my family. Well, I may still go to class, but maybe I'll let them know that I won't be able to meet all of their deadlines for projects. I don't feel like I'm fully prepared to bring a little one home quite yet. My hospital bag isn't even packed yet!!! Well, that's it for now. Here's a picture of my current belly size at 36 weeks.

What Changes When Baby Arrives?

I found this list on the internet (babycenter.com). It's a list of what changes after you have a baby. I know that our little one is not here yet, but I'm looking forward to the moments that are listed below!!!!

1. You finally stop to smell the roses, because your baby is in your arms.

2. Where you once believed you were fearless, you now find yourself afraid.

3. The sacrifices you thought you made to have a child no longer seem like sacrifices.

4. You respect your body ... finally.

5. You respect your parents and love them in a new way.

6. You find that your baby's pain feels much worse than your own.

7. You believe once again in the things you believed in as a child.

8. You lose touch with the people in your life whom you should have banished years ago.

9. Your heart breaks much more easily.

10. You think of someone else 234,836,178,976 times a day.

11. Every day is a surprise.

12. Bodily functions are no longer repulsive. In fact, they please you. (Hooray for poop!)

13. You look at your baby in the mirror instead of yourself.

14. You become a morning person.

15. Your love becomes limitless, a superhuman power.

16. You'd rather buy a plastic tricycle than those shoes that you've been dying to have.

17. You don't mind going to bed at 9 p.m. on Friday night.
(Umm...is it sad that we pretty much do this already? Okay, maybe it's 10PM but still!!)

18. Your dog — who used to be your 'baby' — becomes just a dog.
(I can't see this happening! I know that Sadie may take a back seat for awhile, but she'll NEVER be "just a dog")

19. You take the time for one more hug and kiss even if it means you'll be late.

20. You realize that you can love a complete stranger.

Just 5 more weeks!!! We're getting so anxious for her arrival! Things are going great, still. Although each day it gets harder and harder to breathe! I'm also getting pain "down there". I think my pelvic bones are starting to spread apart. Ouch!!!

Umm... Seriously?!?!

Today I went into the parking office on K-State Campus to see if they had any options for me once I get 1-2 weeks from my due date. As of now, I park probably 1/3 of a mile from my classes (that's if I can get into the parking garage). If the parking garage is full I'm closer to 1/2 a mile from my classes. Luckily, all of my classes are in the same building! But I'm already carrying almost 20 extra pounds of my own body weight plus any additional weight that my backpack, lunch, water bottle and purse add!! Not to mention I can hardly breathe right now with the little one compressing on my lungs!!

Anyway, I went in there today to see if I could possibly park in some of the reserved spaces they have RIGHT BY my building or if they knew of a better option for me. There are ALWAYS spaces available in the reserved area! Well the gal that was helping me (or not so much helping me) just looked at me like I was crazy for even asking! She said, "We have no control over where we can have you park. You're in the commuter lot and that's all that is available for you."

I just thanked her and walked out. I wasn't in the mood to try to argue or ask for a manager or anything. Although, I will be calling to speak with a manager later today to see if he gives me the same response. I'm not looking for handouts or anything. And so far, I really haven't tried to pull the whole "pregnancy card". I'm also just looking to see if there's another place for me to park for 1 MAYBE 2 weeks when my due date gets closer! She seriously looked at me like I asked to park in the President's spot for the entire year!!

Update: I tried talking to the manager but the girl on the phone wouldn't transfer me until I told her what my phone call was regarding. In hindsight, I shouldn't have told her! I got the same response as before...it was probably the same girl that I talked to in person!

Picture Update

I've been bad about posting lately. My excuse is: I'm busy with classes. Since my last post I have had two wonderful baby showers. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures of them because I didn't take any with my camera. However, my friends and family do have pictures. So once I receive some from them, I will post pictures from the showers.

Below is a picture of Brian putting a locking mechanism on our dropside crib. I purchased a crib through a friend, sight unseen!! Well, it happened to be on a recall list. So I researched it and the company provides a way to prevent the side from coming down. Sadie decided to help Brian out a little! Not sure if she was much help!

Now for the belly pictures! This picture was taken at 30 weeks I believe.

Here's 31 weeks. It was taken right before I went to substitute teach at the high school I taught at last year.

This one is taken at 32 weeks! It looks like I got a lot bigger, but when I wear that tighter purple tank top I always look bigger!

Everything has been going great for us! I have another doctor's appointment on Friday. A few weeks ago I was a little worried about our Little One because she wasn't as active as she normally is. But that didn't last long. She's back to kicking up a storm. Only now it's more just overall movements. I don't think she has much room to wind up and punch me anymore!!

Hiccups!!

So I've been reading in some of my books and online that I could start feeling hiccups if our little one gets them. Well yesterday, Brian made some awesome Chili Con Carne which was a little spicy. Shortly after dinner I felt a lot of movement! She was going nuts!! Then about 2 hours later I felt very tiny but rhythmic thumps. She had the hiccups for about 10 minutes! Brian wasn't able to feel them very well, but I could definitely tell they were there. It was an awesome feeling!!

Today for lunch we had some more. She went crazy again shortly after lunch but I have not felt the hiccups yet. And can that pregnancy counter be correct at the top of this page!?!?! Only 74 days left to go (give or take a few days I'm sure)!! It's crazy to think that in just over 2 months I'll be holding her! I can't wait to see Brian hold her as well! I've only seen him hold a newborn or even baby for the matter, once! I'm sure she'll melt our hearts instantly!!

Baby Bump Pictures

Here are some pictures at 28 weeks!

Here's my belly from my point of view! Notice you can still kind of see my toes sticking out! But maybe I'm leaning over a bit....I'm not quite sure. :)

We're so anxious to meet this precious little one!

Brian told me that I probably won't be able to wear my regular small sports t-shirts much longer. I think I'm about to show some skin! Oh well...guess I'll go to wearing his shirts! :)