Flowers + Mud + Parents = Great FUN!!

My parents and I got up early and went yard saling. We bought ZERO, nada, nothing!

So, on our way back to the Salter Homestead, I decided to tell my folks about how Jen and Val have both recently made a visit to Paulus's Market to "cut your own flowers".

http://www.paulusfarmmarket.com/

$7 for a large coffee can of flowers. They had some great arrangements, showing all of the

various varieties lining the rows of the farm, available to cut.

Mom said: "Lets do it, my treat!"

They handed us a large coffee can, 2 sets of garden clippers and we were off...into the yards and yards of beautiful flower garden rows.

Before we had walked 10 yards, our sneakers were soaked. Mom was wearing flip-flops, so this didnt phase her feet. Then, we made it to the rows of flowers: Zinnias. Cock's comb, Sunflowers,

Statis, straw flowers...beautiful! AND...MUDDY! Half way through our cutting walk, my shoes were caked with what can only be

described as mud snow shoes. Perhaps, 5 lbs of mud had caked onto each of my sneakers, a hard time for a girl who cant see her feet.

We laughed and laughed, as we cut our flowers.

At one time, I believe I had a whole bush and caked mud stuck to my feet.

30 minutes later, we headed back to the market stand from the field, with our colorful treasure in a can.

Dad held me under my arms and made me scrape the sides of my feet off...to some avail, but little.

I took my shoes off and put them in the hatch of my parents car. My mom asked for a hose, but then just decided to follow my lead.

We piled into the car, but not without my dad taking a slide onto the ground, as he tried to get a plastic bottle of chocolate milk he had dropped.

I think if there was a time that I was going to go into labor, that would have been it. I was out of breath, sweating, and laughing hysterically.

Just another day with my incredible parents!

We arrived home just 5 minutes later.

Mom manned the hose and washed off our shoes, allowing them to dry on the porch.

She then came in and took our coffee can of flowers and transformed it into 2 beautiful arrangements, placing one on the

dining room table and one on the kitchen island.

What a day...what a day...what a wonderful day!

Waiting....

I have become quite accustomed to slower days lately.

Lately, I am filling a few hours each day with visits to and from friends.

This morning, Jeanne came for a coffee and blueberry cake visit, for an hour or so. It seems that we never run out of stories for each other and that our time together is always well spent.

Yesterday, Val took me to breakfast. We then headed to Joline's for a visit. Val cleaned the floors, while new mama Joline got some rest. I held Brayden. I must say, I felt alot more comfortable holding a 6 week old baby, just those extra 3 lbs he has gained made him feel more sturdy for clumsy me. It is awesome to see how much he has changed just in 6 short weeks. He can hold up his little head and he recognizes faces now. We danced to his awake music. Val and I worked for 20 minutes to rid him of hiccups. This was actually quite funny. Val looked up what to do on her IPhone. I swooshed him around 3 times and it scared the hiccups out of him.

Tonight is softball. It sounds silly, but I really look forward to watching our church team play in the evenings. It is a social outlet for me. Jim is the coach. I am the cheerleader.

My parents are headed for a visit again this weekend. They hope that their grandbaby decides to make a debut while they are here. I am not sure I can make that happen. I have been trying to coax the baby out, but to no avail.

Molli and I have gone to the park the last 3 days. The walking is good for both of us. The poor dog has gotten a little heavier than I would like...all my fault. She didnt get as much exercise over the last 9 months.

Wow....9 months. I did it. I made it 9 months...er...almost 10 months.

At week 37, your pregnancy is considered full term, meaning baby is likely to thrive after birth. Baby spends these last weeks in preparation for the outside world… meaning careful refinement of the blink, suck, inhale and exhale. Meconium, which you’ll probably find in the first diaper, is accumulating in the intestines. If (okay, as) you worry about giving birth, consider what it’s like for the little one. During the journey out of your womb, baby will produce more stress hormones than any other time in life.

I have made it from a poppyseed to a watermelon according to The Bump's How Big is Baby Charts, posted above.

I am both scared to death today, and excited. I have never had an IV. I have also never pushed a watermelon out before. I hear that taking care of "my" baby will come naturally. I am relying on that advice. I hope that it does.

These Last Few Hours

My cousin Amanda sent me this beautiful poem tonight and I wanted to be sure that I included it in our blog.

Beautiful words for my daughter or son...who I will meet very soon, I hope.

These Last Few Hours

It is important to me
That I spend a part
Of the next few hours
Here alone with you
In the darkness

You and I will never be
This close again
Soon you will be
A tiny person
All on your own.

No longer the kicking,
Demanding bulge in my body
That I have grown to love so much

I pray that you will be safely guided
On your journey to my arms

And I ask for the strength, courage and
The power of birthing, to open my body and mind for you
And ever so gently us as one will become two

-Author unknown

Is it time yet?????

At today's dr's appt, Karen said that I was about 3 cm dilated and 50% effaced. Baby is locked and loaded. She offered to strip my membranes. I declined. I was suddenly scared to death to have that done. I told her that I would agree to it next week, should I not have had the baby by then. Karen seems hopeful that I would maybe meet baby by this weekend. HOLY COW! Lord, let that be true!!! I went to Brusters to celebrate with a Peanut Butter cup sunday, which I got all over my shirt...and I really dont care.

I called Jimmy....I dont think he thinks the baby is truly on its way.

I called my mom...I dont think she thinks it will happen before her visit this weekend.

I called my close friends and they are all hopeful.

GOD, you are so good. You are awesome. I lay my baby, myself, and everything all at your feet. I am ready for this gift. I am ready!

I hope that I dont stay stuck at this point for weeks!

Love Is

Love paints a swingset that allows you to fly high above the trees.

Love is a ladder to the top.

Love is the soft grass under your feet.

Love is like a safe nest.

Love is letting go of the old and making room for the new.

Just Mom, Dad, and Me

My parents came for a visit this weekend.

As always, they spent a great deal of

time helping us upkeep our yard and home projects.

Friday was spent watching way too

much of Deadliest Catch for my mom's tastes, but she did it anyway.

We got up early with a plan to head out to some of my new local haunts.

We made a quick stop at the UAFD chicken BBQ Set up to say hello to the boys, including Jimmy. I love the boys at the firehouse. They are truly like a second set of family to me, a grandpa ( Pop) a Dad ( Bob), a brother ( Shummy) sons ( Bam and Zach)and all the others thrown into one of these or a similiar category.

Then, we headed to Ressler's Bagels and Deli for a cup of joe and a bagel with cream cheese. Yum!

Our next stop: West Shore Farmers Market. We wondered around the stands of produce and baked goods. We settled on a soft pretzel for both mom and I. Dad settled on an iced twist and a peanut butter frosted donut.

We checked out the baby clothes in the upstairs store. I am excited to go by a gender specific outift once baby is here. This store has alot of very cute, special clothing items.

After an hour or so, we made our way to Hershey Gardens, located at the Hershey Hotel.

I had seen an advertisement for a Butterfly House at the gardens and thought it would be a fun place to visit. My mom and I have visited a few butterfly houses in our travels; one in Grand Cayman, One in St. Maarten. Jim and I visited one on our honeymoon.

I must say, the $10 adult admission at Hershey Gardens in WELL WORTH it. The gardens were stunning, VERY well kept, and just incredibly enjoyable.

We started our journey in the Italian Rose Gardens.

There were roses of every color and size and scent. It was wonderful to walk around the gardens and enjoy looking at all of the various species of roses there to capture our eyes.

We headed to the butterfly house.

My mom made a prediction on our entry into the Hershey Gardens that if a butterfly landed on my then it was a sign that we were going to have a little girl.

Guess what came to visit immediately upon my arrival?

We saw many types of butterflies. One visited my mom's shirt.

We continued our journey through the gardens, taking in the herb garden, Mrs. Hershey's rose garden, and a number of theme centered gardens that we could enjoy. I managed to make the 1 mile trek through all that Hershey Gardens had to offer my parents and I for the day. We had a great time. The weather was sunny, but breeezy enough for me to be able to enjoy the day, even as a 38 week pregnant lady. The walk did we some good.

I then decided to top off our journey of "new places" with a visit to Pakha's Thai House for lunch.

This is a local Thai Food Restaurant in Dillsburg. My parents had never tried Thai food. I ordered Vegetable Pad Thai and Pork Red Panang Curry for the three of us to enjoy Family Style.

I think that they really enjoyed the sweet and spicy taste of Thai Food.

An overall great day for my parents and I.

Still waiting on Baby's arrival.

Well, it's just another day.....

My days are slowing down, especially when it gets close to 90 degrees outside, like today.

My typical day includes doing the laundry, cleaning around the house, caring for Molli and the cats, taking care of my flower beds and the bird feeders, whipping up a meal or a special dessert or both, reading. I spend alot of time on the computer, which is an activity that I am beginning to loathe as wasted time. I am finding a new joy in cooking, making up my own recipes sometimes. I take a nap almost everyday.

On other days, I fill my calendar up with lunch with friends, cheering the team at Jim's softball games. I think this past Tuesday was my last visit to Bingo. The chairs are a bit uncomfortable now. I wanted to go see the new Harry Potter, but I think that too would be a bit too long to sit in the same seat.

I have been bouncing on the exercise/birthing ball for a few minutes each day, hoping that the baby is getting the idea that they should be working their way to the birth canal.

Baby is still moving alot, and as always, the busiest from 9 to 11 pm.

My gut tells me that I have WEEKS to go...uncomfortable weeks. I think I will probably make it to me original due date of August 7th, maybe further...So what does that mean...21 days. Yep...maybe longer.

I am feeling very achy, especially my hips. Lots of pressure in my nether region. I feel like I have to turn from side to side while sleeping every 10 minutes. I feel bad, because I think I keep Jim up. My belly is streched to the max. Sometimes the baby sits just above my belly button and pushes my belly out farther.

My boobs hurt. My feet hurt and seem thicker in the soles. My left hand is asleep all day long. I am huge and my body feels stressed to the gills.

I worry about the complaining...that something will be wrong with the baby because I seem so ungrateful. I worry so much that I feel guilty for saying that I feel achy. All I want is a healthy baby, just like everyone else. Yet, still I worry. Will I be the person who is tasked with raising a child with special needs? Will the baby come out and need a NICU, since the hospital we chose is not equipped? Will I really be able to birth a baby? Am I a wimp?