Getting there!

It's been about 2 weeks since my last post and Baby H is growing like a weed and I am too! Here is my latest picture at 30.5 weeks. Somedays I wonder how much bigger I'm going to get--it kind of makes me nervous!

Everyone tells me I've only gained it in my belly but personally I definitely see a difference in my face, arms, thighs, etc....! It's all worth it though, right? And temporary (I hope!)

I'm still feeling good for the most part except my sciatic nerve pain which has flared up now and then since 17 weeks has become practically unbearable at times! It doesnt start in my lower back and radiate down my legs--it is strictly in my left butt cheek and with every step I take it feels like someone is stabbing me. It hurts to walk, bend down, stretch, etc! And it's ONLY on my left side--which makes sense to me because most of the movement I feel is on my left side--so I'm guessing Baby H has settled right onto the nerve.

I called a local chiropractor/masseuse and have an appointment scheduled in a week. Hopefully I can make it another week! It seems to be the worst after I walk a lot, and after I sit or lie down for a long period of time and then stand up.

Oh well--if that's my main worry right now, I think I'm doing pretty well!

Casey's leg is healing and he was given the OK to put weight on it. He is still using crutches but will eventually (soon) be able to transition to just 1, and then eventually no crutches at all. He is still planning on going on his hunting trip to Ohio in 2 weeks so we'll see how that goes! I don't mind that he goes--in fact, I'm happy for him. He looks forward to that trip all year and it would have broken my heart (and his) if he had to miss it. I'm not nervous about being home and doing everything on my own for a week because I've been doing everything on my own for the last 8 weeks since he broke his leg! Laundry, dishes, cleaning, etc....it's been a challenge but we've managed and it could have been a lot worse! I see it as early preparation for when the baby gets here. I've never been so busy in my life as I have been these last 8 weeks, so I might as well just keep it going until baby gets here!

My craft show last weekend went GREAT and I made almost triple what I made last year! It went so well that I actually signed up for another craft show on November 12th! It's the day Casey gets back from Ohio so I know I'll want to spend the day with him--but, I'll go make us some extra cash instead :)

Baby H's room is coming along but I still have so much arranging and finishing up to do! I scored a beautiful FREE 8 drawer dresser on Craigslist and it just needs to be stripped and painted white to match the crib. I plan on doing that sometime this week. Then I can get all the clothes washed and dried and folded and put away, rather than piled on the floor like they currently are! Here's the FREE dresser I found:

I'm looking forward to seeing the room continue to come together. Once the dresser is stripped and painted, I will need to finish the crib bedding (the crib skirt and the other fitted sheets) and then hang the fabric embroidery hoops on the wall, and the mirror, etc. Whew...I'm glad I started this process EARLY because after Casey broke his leg, I sort of lost time for everything related to the baby room!

My 28 week appointment went great and I'm right on track as far as weight gain, measurements, etc. The heartbeat was a steady 140 as usual and our next appointment is on November 2nd, when I will be 32 weeks! I can't believe how fast time is flying by.  Right now I have about 9 weeks left....with Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner--it's going to come so fast!

We have baby class every Tuesday (this Tuesday will be the 4th class out of 5) and last week we went on a tour of the hospital. It made everything VERY real, and a little scary! I try not to think that far ahead but it's impossible not to. Where will I be when I go into labor? Will I know? Will I go too early and have a false alarm or will I wait too long and give birth on the way there? (Haha). Will I go before my due date, on my due date, or after my due date? Will it be a boy or a girl? Will I have an easy or hard labor? So many questions that won't be answered until that very day!!!

That's it for now! I'll update more later as more exciting things happen.

Into the Third Trimester!

Wow, it's been a while since my last post and so much has happened!

Let's see...where do I even begin? My last post ended with "We're off to a wedding tomorrow so I'll take my "almost 27 week" picture then"

Well, here it is!

That was back at 26.5 weeks....now I'm 28.5 weeks! 2 weeks makes a big difference, because here I am today:

Baby H is growing each day! He or she is pretty active when I lay down to go to sleep at night, but it never fails--whenever I say "Casey! Quick, feel right here!", he or she immediately stops! :) Stubborn....!

Anyway, the day after the wedding we attended a couple weeks ago--our friends Tyler and Lindsay invited us to lunch. My mom had mentioned that she wanted to meet their daughter (Finnley) who was just born in the end of May, so we planned on stopping by my parents house when we got home from lunch. We stopped at our house to let the boys out since they weren't too interested in going for some reason, and Lindsay, Finnley and I took off to my parents house. As we drove up the driveway, I noticed some random cars parked on the lawn and was a little confused, but I didn't think much about it until I looked at Lindsay who was driving and she said "I'm Sorry!!!" Still--I was confused, and had no idea what was going on!

Little did I know, I was arriving at my very own BABY SHOWER! What a surprise!!! I got out of the truck and was greeted by my dad, with tears in his eyes. He gave me a big hug and I proceeded to walk onto my parents porch which was filled with friends and family! To say I was shocked was an understatement...I didn't even know what to do! There was nothing that made me think I was having a shower that day....someone could have come right out and told me and I still wouldn't have believed them. It was the perfect day :) Looking back, I feel so silly that I just DIDN'T catch on!

My mom has one sister and one sister only--and she heads to Florida later this month. My mom wanted to have a shower that she could attend, so she put together the shower that day for a "small" group of family and a few friends. I say it was a small gathering but there were 25+ people there!

My brother snapped some pictures during the shower and here are a few for your viewing pleasure!

 The adorable onesies and toys hanging on the clothesline :)

 My mom did such a great job decorating!

 The diaper wreath my mom made me :) Its so cute I don't want to take it apart!

 Me--clueless

 My dad greeting me :)

 Overwhelmed!

 The baby afghan my mom made me :)

 Oh boy--what next!?

 Yay! My in-laws got me the diaper bag I wanted!! It's beautiful!!

 My brother and his girlfriend outdid themselves and got me an infant tub FILLED with clothes, toys, towels, bath supplies, etc!

My Aunt Colleen got me the most beautiful white rocking chair for Baby H!

 So. Much. Food!

 The sherbet punch...soooo delicious!

 The incredible cake my dads coworker made, to match the plates and napkins!

 My mom, me, and my mother-in-law

I am such a lucky girl! I was surrounded by people I love for the afternoon and everyone was so generous with their gifts. It was something I wasn't expecting and I was so overwhelmed! I feel like I didn't get a chance to chat with everyone, but I just didn't know what to do or where to be or what to do next! We got so many things...from clothes, to toys, to a highchair, pack and play, diaper bag, blankets, diapers, bottles, stuffed animals, rocking chair, bouncer, bath, etc!! We are so lucky and appreciate it so much!

I haven't done anything more to the nursery--mainly because it looks like THIS right now:

 Oh my! I have some serious organizing to do!

Otherwise, life is good! Casey's leg is healing and he is currently at 5 weeks post-surgery. We have an appointment for him next Thursday where he can begin putting weight on that leg and ankle...and take a few steps! He's made huge progress and things are getting easier each day.

As for me, I have my 28 week appointment tomorrow to hear Baby H's heartbeat which is always exciting! Not looking forward to getting weighed since I believe I hit the 20 pound mark, but it's all worth it! (I try to keep telling myself that!!)

I've been feeling good, although my back has been hurting by the time I go to bed each night. But, I literally sleep like I'm in a coma, and I have never had to get up in the night and go pee. (Not a single time since I've been pregnant!) Is that really rare or something?? Everyone I talk to says they were up multiple times a night and couldn't get comfortable or sleep at all at this point in pregnancy. Maybe I'm lucky, or maybe I just haven't made it to that point yet!

I've been busy preparing for a craft show I'm participating in, so that's taken up most of my free time lately. It's something I look forward to, though--and I hope to make some extra cash!

That's it for now. I can't believe there are only 11.5 weeks left....my pregnancy has FLOWN by! With the holidays mixed in there I'm sure the end will fly by too!