A Day with the Dog and the Ducks

Today, I weathered the heat and drove to Children's Lake in Boiling Springs. This is a natural spring lake just 10 minutes from our home.

With my niece Jocelyn and Molli in tow, and a bag of old bread and rolls, we headed out to feed the ducks.

We stopped near a small boat ramp and Jocelyn opened the bread and magically she called

in every duck on the lake. From Mallards to Geese to Loons, all the ducks came to partake of our yummy honey wheat Sara Lee Bread.

Molli kept hesitating at the side of the lake, like she was wanting to jump in.

Finally, Molli made her way down the boat ramp and cooled herself off in the water.

All the while, Jocelyn fed the locals.

I am not sure who enjoyed the excursion more, the little girl, or the little dog.

Father's Day

For Father's day, which was last Sunday, I made breakfast for my dad and Jim.

We had belgian waffles and fresh fruit.

That evening, I treated my husband to his first Father's Day Dinner. I made London Broil on the grill with corn on the cob and potatoes.

I lit some candles. I poured tea and water into wine glasses and made a Happy Father's Day sign. I think Jim enjoyed his meal.

Dear Audrey or Grayson

Your room is ready.

Your crib looks comfy. I play your mobile whenever I visit your room.

I made sure I got you a plush changing pad for your lil hiney, since I hear you'll be spending alot of time getting your diaper changed.

I added a comfy glider so that I can rock you to sleep. I've placed books nearby so that we can enjoy some reading together. Daddy even has some very special books about fire-fighters that he will read to you.

I added a cd player for all the wonderful lullaby cd's that we will listen to together. But, don't be surprised if I sing you to sleep. I have been practicing in the shower. I especially like Baby Mine by Bette Midler...since I know it pretty well.

I have your clothes seperated by boy or girl...or neutral. Whoever benefits from the opposite sex hand-me-downs is incredibly lucky!

Your play pen is set up inside the family room. It has little elephants hanging from above.

Your swing is in the family room. It has polar bears and fish.

I really tried to find things that I hope will make you happy and keep life not so humdrum.

Every where you look will have something new for you to explore; a rainforest play mat, a barnyard kick mat, even a bear-skin rug that GramCracker made for your room.

Your car seat is ready. Your diaper bags are packed.

We have enough diapers and wipes, bottles, and bath wash.

We are ready to meet you....so ready!

Car Seats and the last of our Baby Prep needs

Today, after a yearly check-up visit to the vet for Miss Molli, I made my way to Babies R'us and Target to gather the last of the items that we will need to be prepared for baby.

We had very little to buy, and our gift cards covered all of our needs.

At Babies R'us, I picked up some waterproof crib pads, a little laundry bag that snaps to the changing table, a play pen sheet for GramCracker's playpen that my Aunt Linda so graciously lent to her, and car seat strap covers.

At Target, I bought a breast pump. I opted for the Medela manual pump, over the Lansinoh that I had orginally registered for. At my breastfeeding class, I learned that Medela is by far the most highly recommended, and that since I will not be returning to work right away, a manual pump would suffice. I also got some breast milk storage bottles for my pump.

Lastly, I got a cool mist humidifier. At our baby care class, they discussed how using a cool mist humidifier greatly reduces the risk of SIDS.

That's it. Those are the only items that we needed to purchase on our own, and we have enough gift cards left to cover anything else that will pop up in the first few weeks.

We are just so grateful! Our friends have been so good to us. Our parents have been amazing!

After I returned from my shopping excursion, I drove to the Upper Allen Police Department. Sergeant Beaudry was in the parking lot with Jimmy, finishing up the installation of the car seat base for the Expedition.

Once completed, he installed and did all the safety checks for the car seat in my Trail Blazer.

He went over the advice of the American Pediatrics Association for rear facing car-seats and then sent us on our way!

We are so lucky to have friends like Sergeant Beaudry to help us with these final important tasks.

Over the course of the week, I have been working on the finishing touches to the nursery. We added a Cd player to the room so that baby can listen to the great cds that we got as gifts.

I put together a basket of great books from the showers, to have close by for baby and us to read.

I washed up the last of the bibs, receiving blankets, and outfits.

There is little left to do.

My next task, addressing our birth announcements.

I chose a boy announcement and a girl announcement that we can print off at Walmart upon baby's arrival. We just need to add a picture and the birth specifics and they will be ready in no time. Since I know that they are 4 X 8, I bought envelopes ahead of time so that all we have to do is stuff and send.

What the next few weeks hold

I am really unsure.

Today's doctor's appointment seemed to give me some idea of direction though.

I am once again measuring 2 weeks ahead for my fundal height ( pubic bone to top of my uterus).

This visit was with my normal midwife Cindy, whom I haven't seen in nearly 2 months.

It is funny how each midwife's demeanor is so very different. All 3 are very good. Cindy tends to be the one who is slower to worry. She said she was still planning my visits and ultrasounds based on my August due date and that everyone measures ahead and ultrasound measurements can be off.

However, after that, she did the exam and she did say that the baby felt large when she was pushing on my belly.

Today, we discussed my degenerative disc disease/osteoarthritis and how that may effect my options for pain medication or interventions, such as a c-section. Cindy scheduled a consult with the anethesiologist to discuss options before I go into labor. I highly appreciate having a consult before D Day, so I can wrap my head around my options.

I am also set up for a final ultrasound during the week of July 26th( the 38th week of my original due date) to get an idea about the size of the baby. This is pre-caution should the baby not have already arrived.

I am already guessing that should I continue to measure so far ahead and I have an appointment scheduled with one of the other midwives that the ultrasound date will get pushed up. I think I have it all figured out now.

For now, Baby and I are doing fine.

God is good and I am grateful!

30 Days..hath September, April, June and November...and possibly me.

After today, we have 30 days until our projected due date!

Ya know, I think that I worry just as much now as I did for the first 35 weeks.

My worry is just a different kind of worry...will the baby be healthy, will delivery go well, will I be a good mom, will the baby be a boy or girl and will I be better at being a mom to one or the other???

Today I am just plain achy...like period achy. Though I think I have only experienced "period achy" a few times in my life. My back is a little stiff, my hips kinda hurt, I am feeling some pressure, I am more gassy as of late, my belly even feels a little upset in waves.

I have a Dr's appt scheduled for tomorrow morning. I think this will be my first internal exam and the start of my exams that happen every week.

The baby seems to have found a new favorite place to sit...right at my belly button. This makes it impossible for me to bend at all.

The baby must be very long. It feels like I have a little hand under my right hip that is constantly waving, a hiney that can't decide if it wants to sit to the left or right of my belly button, and a foot in my left rib, or maybe my lung. I have been short of breath a few times over the last week.

I drum a beat on my belly and the baby seems to sway toward certain noises.

It likes when I sing, and when I eat strawberries.

It is most active when I am winding down.

It has a mind of it's own.

AND I LOVE IT ALL!

Baby Shower #4 and a wonderful weekend

Our baby shower frenzy is over. Baby shower #4 took place at the Greshville Inn in Boyertown.

This was held for my mom and dad's family and friends who live nearby.

Wow...Jim and I are so blessed by such amazing family and gracious friends. We recieved so many wonderful gifts. There are just a few last items that we need to purchase and we have many gift cards to use for those remaining items. God has given us so much by way of our family and friends!

While the ladies and I were away, my dad and Jimmy worked on shelving for our shed, garage, and basement storage. It seems that they had an ejoyable day together, while my dad schooled Jim on plywood and drills. I am so grateful that the two most important men in my life actually like each other.

When we arrived home my Mom and Aunt Robin helped me to get the final items all put together and ready for Audrey or Grayson's arrival.

This morning, I woke at 6:15 am to my Mom working in my flower beds. In a few short minutes, my Aunt Robin joined her. They managed to weed and pull and move many of my flowers. The beds look awesome.

Then, they created a new flower bed around our shed, as Jimmy has been annoyed by the stone under the shed that keep falling into the grass and he hits with the lawn mower. They mulched and within an hour were finished with yet another project that we benefit from.

Do I tell my parents and family often enough how much I appreciate all that they do for me?

I am one lucky kid.

So often when they leave, I kick myself for the complaining and criticizing that I so often do when they are here for a visit.

Today, they had just pulled out of the driveway and Jim said to me: "Are you crying because you miss them already?"

The truth was, I was.

The next time that I see them, I won't be the same person. Neither will Jim. I'll be someone's mom. He will be someone's dad. They will be someone's grandparents.

It will never be the same. Isn't that amazing? Isn't that scary? Isn't that wonderful?