34 weeks!

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

Lilypie Pregnancy tickers

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Dear Macyn 7

Dear Macyn,

Today...I've wanted to hold you more than anything. Today it is almost breaking my heart to not have you here. Today I am ready.

I want you to wait...3-5 more weeks....but I'm ready for you now.

It almost pains me to see other babies. Its not the same. I don't want to hold other babies, or coo over them or talk to them. I want to coo over my baby. I want to hold my baby. I want to see and kiss and hug and love MY BABY!

I can feel your body inside me. Its the craziest feeling to feel a whole body inside you. To know that you are big and healthy and strong. I love to know that you are squirming around happily in there.

I can't wait to see you squirm outside my belly. I can't wait to see you stretch your legs all the way out and hold your arms out wide! I'll say "Look how big you are my little Macyn!" I will marvel over your growth and your strength! I will kiss your chubby cheeks and smell your fuzzy hair!

Today I laid out your coming home outfit. I picked out a kimono style white wrap shirt that has an "M" sewed on the front. The "M" is a brown fabric with colorful polkadots on the front. Then I picked out brown soft cotton pants with a little ruffle on the butt and cute pink shoes! And to top it off, a pink crocheted hat with a brown ribbon clipped on it! I'm so excited. I love it and can't wait to see it on you! We also got a special blankie to bring you home with. Its pink and brown with little houses all over it! Its a great coming home blanket!

Now we have your pack and play, swing, stroller and car seat, crib, dresser, etc. Its all set up and ready for your imminent arrival! I have stuff for my hospital bag ready and now your first outfit! We are so excited!

We can't wait to meet you Macyn! (But we are praying that you choose to wait a few more weeks!) We know you will come when you are ready...and I don't know if we can ever be ready ... but we are excited!

I love you baby girl! With all of my heart and soul! Forever and always <3
Love,
Mommy

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Dear Macyn 6

Dear Macyn,

Let me tell you about your daddy :)
He's my best friend in the entire world.( I think he will be your best friend too)
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
He is funny and silly and just plain goofy sometimes!
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Your daddy is sweet and very caring. Your daddy takes such good care of me!
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
(Our first picture together) Your daddy is helpful around the house. Your daddy is smart and a hard worker!
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Your daddy loves to sleep late!!!!! (I imagine you will one day too!) Your daddy is a night owl (like you are in mommy's belly!) Your daddy's nickname is Monkey and you are definitely turning into our little monkey!
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Your daddy loves music. (he also plays a little bass guitar)
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Your daddy knows a little German, but I think he would like to learn more and go there someday! (Mommy dreams of taking him someday! (and hopefully you too!)) Your daddy is very good at drawing (especially cartoonish drawings!)
Image and video hosting by TinyPic (That's a picture daddy drew of mommy when we were dating)
Your daddy can always make me laugh!
Image and video hosting by TinyPic

Your daddy loves to talk in funny voices (especially when is nervous :) ) Your daddy does not like sports (he only likes football because on Super Bowl Sunday you get good food!) Your daddy likes to make models and he is amazing at painting them!
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Your daddy is patient and cool headed.(not like mommy! :) ) Your daddy relaxes easy and doesn't stress too much (about most things) Your daddy likes to cook and watch food network. (we've done a lot of that during the second half of my pregnancy, maybe you'll be a chef! :) )
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Your daddy thinks its funny when you make mommy's belly jump around! (you kicked him in the eyeball one time when he was laying on my tummy :)! )

Your daddy can't wait to meet you Macyn! We cannot wait for you to get here to complete our beautiful little family!
Image and video hosting by TinyPic

We love you Macyn! Forever and always!
Love,
Mommy

Baby Shower Picture Update

Decorations in the trees even! Everyone went all out :) I loved it
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Yummy cookies that your Great-Aunt Pat decorated!
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
mmm yummy cupcakes!
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
A fruit bowl that I made :)
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
A tootsie roll pop topiary! It had over two hundred tootsie roll pops! (and had CEMENT in the base to keep it upright!) Now its in your nursery.
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
A banner I made :)
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
The entrance table with some of our maternity pictures on it and the pregnancy scrapbook I made.
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Diaper "cake" that your grandma made!
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Some of the guests
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Mommy's friend Ami giving you a hug!
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Daddy and his mom (your grandma :) )
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Your Great-Aunt Pat, Grandma, Mommy, and Great-Grandma
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Mommy and your great-grandma
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Your grandma playing a game where she had to drink juice out of a sippy cup haha
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Reading a card
Image and video hosting by TinyPic
You got lots of wonderful presents! This was a sleeper from your Great-Aunt Cyd
Image and video hosting by TinyPic

It was a great time! Now we just need you here! :)


PS: You're kicking me as I write this...does that mean you liked your baby shower? Or that you like being outside? Or you like the music? I can't wait to meet you so I can find out what you like :) haha

Dear Macyn 5

Here's a beautiful song that I want to share with you that I think totally describes how I feel and how much I love you already!
"In my Daughter's Eyes" By Martina McBride
In my daughter's eyes I am a hero
I am strong and wise and I know no fear
But the truth is plain to see
She was sent to rescue me
I see who I wanna be
In my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes everyone is equal
Darkness turns to light and the
world is at peace
This miracle God gave to me gives me
strength when I am weak
I find reason to believe
In my daughter's eyes

And when she wraps her hand
around my finger
Oh it puts a smile in my heart
Everything becomes a little clearer
I realize what life is all about

It's hangin' on when your heart
has had enough
It's giving more when you feel like giving up
I've seen the light
It's in my daugter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes I can see the future
A reflection of who I am and what will be
Though she'll grow and someday leave
Maybe raise a family
When I'm gone I hope you see how happy
she made me
For I'll be there
In my daughter's eyes


I love you my baby girl! With all my heart. Forever and Always.
Love,
Mommy

Nursery is REALLY coming together!









Sunday, August 15, 2010

Dear Macyn 4

Dear Macyn,

We had our baby shower today! You are SO very loved....now I just want you to be here!
I want you to be here so badly its almost painful! My heart yearns to hold you and kiss you and love you! I imagine you in all these little clothes! I imagine laying you down into your beautiful crib! I imagine winding your mobile for you! I imagine reading books to you! I imagine snuggling with you! I imagine feeding you and changing you and swaddling you! I imagine bathing you and smelling your clean skin!

I just can't wait.

Please hurry up!

....but please take your time! I want you big, strong, and healthy! So how about we agree upon the first week of October or so?

I love you little girl! I love you with all of my heart, forever and always!
Love,
Mommy

Suddenly overwhelmed

Well here's a very quick update of today/this weekend.

We had our baby shower today and it was amazing. We had SO much fun and got a lot of necessary stuff! Everyone was so generous and really helped us out! I love going through everything and looking at it and sorting it. Everyone put a lot of work into the shower, Kelly, Jan, Jenn, Pat, Mom. It was a lot of work.

We had candy and sweets as the theme, so all the food was pretty much deserts. I made a banner that said Macyn, Kelly made a topiary out of tootsie roll pops (so CUTE!), We had candy at the center pieces, wash clothes rolled to look like lollipops, cupcakes, and cookies....lots of good stuff. I made a watermelon fruit bowl that was carved to look like a baby carriage. There was pink punch! It was great.

I didn't eat too much because I went and socialized with everyone as much as I could. I tried to make sure that I made the rounds and chatted with everyone. Scott's mom and sister, Mandy, came which was great. Lots of people from church and some good high school friends. It was a lot of fun to see people who I don't get to see that often, and probably won't get to too much when Macyn arrives.

Scott also stopped by the shower, which was great! He brought flowers for the grandma's to be, and the ladies who helped plan the shower. He helped open gifts, ate some food, and played a few games. It was nice having him there and getting to formally introduce him to a lot of people who hadn't really met him in person before!

Suddenly I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by all the things I need to do. I'm SO exhausted, and feel like as soon as my head hits the pillow, I would just sleep forever. But earlier tonight, Mom, Pat, and I went through all of the shower presents. I took all of the tags off of the clothes and things that needed to be washed. I tried to organize things, but just made big messy piles. I had a huge trash pile too. So after watching Big Brother and going for a little walk, I thought I was going to bed. Well then I decided I had to throw the trash away. Then I decided I had to put all of the clothes and washable things in a laundry basket. Well that turned into going through all her crib bedding and sheets. Which turned into me wanting to hang up the diaper stacker, which turned into me putting all the diapers away. Which turned into me putting things together and moving things away from the bed. It just spiraled and now I'm sitting here looking at all the time I spent down here (an hour at LEAST) and how much there is still to do!!

I have TONS of laundry to do! (I had an OVERFLOWING basket just with the clothes and bedding Macyn received today at her shower, that does not include clothing and blankets she already had and OUR clothes!!)

I would REALLY like to take a bath tonight though! I feel SO stressed now with everything to do, and I put on bug spray so my skin feels GROSS! But the only bathtub I COULD take a shower in is all the way upstairs and its SO small! I would love to take some of Macyn's bedtime bath wash, and curl up in mom's big bathtub and just relax! Michelle Rustler gave me a great book on how to put baby on a schedule and help her sleep. I would love to just curl up in the warm water and read that book!

At least it was nice out today! It was my perfect summer weather. It was in the seventies and there was no hot sticky humid air! It was great. When we came back from the shower (we had invited family to come over, but the shower ran long so most people had to head home or had other plans) we came home and dad had made shredded chicken, beans, chips, potato salad, and fruit salad. So we sat on the deck, ate and talked. It was so nice! So at least I didn't have to feel crabby hot! I was pretty warm at the shower, but it was okay, I survived!

Oh but ... the bummer part is, the rest of the night I've been feeling like I'm getting sick. I've had a sore throat and its just getting progressively worse!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Keeping it up

I've been keeping my mood up pretty much consistently this week. I've had a few tough times, but for the most part...I'm doing okay so far.
Its only Wednesday, but I've been feeling okay!
Tuesday I had an appointment with Carrie, a massage therapist, that helped a lot. Then today I relaxed until I went to hang out with Abbey. Abbey has been in New York since the end of May, so I haven't seen her in awhile. It was nice hanging out and chatting for a few hours.
Tomorrow I'm working at church from 8-2, then Hannah is coming over and we are going to pick Pat up from the airport!! I'm so excited to see both of them. I don't get to see Hannah a lot, and I rarely get to see Pat obviously. It'll be a nice day I hope!
Friday I have a doctor appointment. It's my first two week appointment! We are 32 weeks now and its starting to become really real!

I'm SO excited for Sunday! Its our baby shower on Sunday and I cannot wait!! :)

Monday, August 9, 2010

Dear Macyn 3

Dear Macyn,
I just read that around 34 weeks (we are 32 right now! amazing!) I will start to feel you less, especially kicks and punches, because you will start to be so big and run out of room to stretch out. I just wanted to let out how much I have LOVED and enjoyed this time where you've been able to kick me. I love feeling your movements. I find it amazing that I can feel when you move and what position you might be in. I like knowing you are awake and moving around. I can't wait to see those little movements outside of my tummy!
I'm excited to be farther along, and the idea that you will be here SO soon...but I'm going to miss these exciting days of watching my belly bounce! :)
I love you Macyn! Forever and Always,
love,
Mommy

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Dear Macyn 2

Dear Macyn,
I'm so tired lately. You are not even here yet and I'm already exhausted. You are wearing me out my dear. I think we should cuddle up together and take an AWESOME long nap!
Are you tired? It doesn't seem like it. You're quite the mover and shaker lately :) I love feeling you push your whole body against my tummy skin.
Yesterday I could see you jiggle my whole belly. That is one of my favorite things to see lately. You've been able to move my belly for awhile, but I just love to see it. You're getting so big and so strong.
We are 31 weeks along now. I can't believe that I will get to see your beautiful face, hold your hands, kiss your little feet, touch your long fingers, squeesh your little chubby cheeks....all in about nine weeks! Its amazing! You're poking my side as I type this...I think you are excited too!
Your baby shower is in almost a week now! I'm getting so excited! We picked up your stroller and car seat Tuesday night. It is amazing to see. Its becoming so real. I just imagine putting your little body in that car seat. Strapping you in, keeping you safe, putting you in the back of our car, and driving you home. Its amazing to know its coming soon.
I'm so ready to meet you...but I'm scared to let you out of the safety of my tummy. I know that I will do my best to keep you safe, but its different now. When you are inside of me, I know that I can hold you tight and surround you with love. I can keep you safe and make sure no one ever hurts you. You can hear my heartbeat and I can grow yours. Bigger and stronger everyday.
I know that I will just become a great mommy and learn as you grow. I will keep you safe as I can and you will grow bigger and stronger everyday...except now in front of my eyes.
I love you with all of my heart. Forever and always.
Love,
Mommy

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Dear Macyn

Dear Macyn,
Today we got to see your sweet face for the first time. I fell in love all over again. At your 20 week anatomy scan you decided you didn't want to show us your pretty little face. You wanted to wait and surprise us...well my darling, as you will learn some day, your mommy is not the most patient of human beings.
We had a 3D ultrasound today and got to look at what you will really look like... or I guess what you look like right now. You're the most beautiful thing I've ever laid eyes on. You have the most beautiful pouty lips, long slender fingers, big chubby cheeks, hair (!), and everything. You're so perfect.
I remember when I first found out we were expecting you. I was so scared. I wasn't sure I was ready for you...and I'm still not. How will I ever know until you get here? But even though I was scared, within 24 hours I was so in love and so protective of you, I would have done anything to help you grow and protect your little body.
You're already my pride and joy. I'm just dreaming of what amazing things you'll do one day. You already amaze more than anything. I want the moon and stars for you. I will move mountains to make you happy and help you become a strong woman one day!
I cannot wait to see your for the first time and hold your little body in my arms! I cannot wait to see your daddy get to hold you for the first time. Your Grandma Judy said today that soon your daddy will get to hold you after months of me holding you. I'm so excited to share you...but not just yet. I want to hold you awhile longer and help you grow big and strong. You are my love and my heart. I cannot wait for you to arrive so that I can fall head over heels in love with you all over again.
My beautiful little girl, I love you with all my heart, forever and always!
love,
Mommy

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Day by Day

just an update of things.
I'm so depressed.
I keep telling myself that I need to take it day by day.
But what do you do when each day is worse than the next?
What do you do when you can BARELY make it through a day?
Yesterday I barely made it through the day with my sanity.
Its gotten to the point where I just want to give up on everything.
I've never been this depressed in my life.
I can't do it anymore.

I just keep holding on to hope that things will speed up.
A few positives I need to remember:
-3D ultrasound on Tuesday
-Baby shower in two weeks

....thats really all I can think of right now. :(