Here we go....

It is 8:18pm and we are headed to my Mom's house soon to drop off Harvey and to visit with Kristin and Reese.  We are scheduled to be at the hospital by 10pm.  The induction became a necessity as of today.  My blood pressure was high on top and bottom and it is time for Baby Ellis to enter the world.  We are so excited and we will try to keep you updated and post pictures.  The doctor said he/she would be here by tomorrow afternoon, if not sooner.  We love you guys and we are so grateful to have such a loving family and such great friends.  Please pray for us.  

We are moving along!!

After a great lunch at Outback with great friends named Ashley and Ashley, I came home and worked in the baby's room.  I had about 2 hours before my doctor's appointment, so I needed to stay busy.  These pictures are the fruit of my labor, with the help of a handy dandy staple gun on loan from Mom and Dad.  What do you think of the nursery so far?         

The glider was given to us by some dear friends and we recovered it.  Aunt Lucie helped with the cushions and I did the footstool with the staple gun.  Still waiting on the twin comforter until we know what we are having.

Here is the peanut's crib and bedding.  I hung Oliver's name just for the hubs and he put the remaining letters of Sophia's name in the crib.  The ribbon is brown with white polka dots.

  The shadow box pictures were really fun to make.  My sister Whop, sis-in-law Holly, and I each made one for the baby's room.  The pack and play is also ready and assembled, but cannot go in our room until the new carpet comes on Tuesday.  We really are so close now and I cannot focus my mind on much besides having this little one.  I feel a little loopy and a lot cumbersome!  I am 1cm dilated and 60% effaced for anyone wanting to know where we are at.  Next appointment is Thursday unless the peanut decides to come sooner.  Have a happy Valentine's Day and a great weekend.

Just Waiting

Here we are, only 2 1/2 weeks to go.  I am beside myself with the idea that he/she could arrive at any moment.  It feels like waiting for Christmas morning as a child.  I never slept well because I was so excited about unknown gifts, and I did not want to miss hearing Santa and his reindeer.  I find myself in all sorts of frenzies trying to get prepared.  I finally packed my suitcase yesterday, but there is only so much you can put in until last minute.  We went to childbirth class on Saturday and the reality of all things "birthing" sunk in.  I have known for a long time much of what is involved in giving birth, but now that I am the one....Whoa!  So needless to say, I am a bit apprehensive about it.  I am praying for great nurses to guide this ship safely into the harbor.  I really cannot believe we are down to the last little bit.  I am trying to get as much rest as possible and to enjoy this quickly passing season.  Our little peanut will be here before we know it, so we are just waiting and enjoying each others company.  I have an appointment on Thursday to see if we have progressed and I will post again then.  Thanks for coming along on this journey with us.  Please continue to pray for a healthy baby and safe delivery.  

Grand Opening!!

My sister has finally opened for business.  She has got quite a nack for making "all things baby and toddler."  The name of her site and the precious little one in the pictures is my niece Reese.  Please click on the picture above, check out her site, and send a little encouragement her way!  Thank you.

One down, 4 1/2-ish to go

Hello dear friends!  The last week has flown by and I have not told you about my first baby shower.  Sad to say, I did not personally take one picture, but my friends and sister did.  Still waiting for them so I can post a few--namely Kari and Whoppa.  My shower was so nice and we received a ton of gifts.  From the 9 hostesses, we got peanut's bedding and it is so cute.  You guys are going to have to wait for pics of the nursery, as many final touches will not be added until post baby.  We got so many special gifts and I am still working on thank you cards.  I will get there, it just is taking more time than I thought.  If you want to see a super cool diaper bag that my sister handmade me, go to her blog and check it out.  She also has pictures from the shower for you to see.  It was so nice to spend that special time with family and friends!  

This weekend I received a surprise little stomach bug.  That was awful, but we are back up and running.  That is the first time I have been that kind of sick in a long time.  Today I had my 35 week appointment and all is looking good.  Still measuring a week ahead of schedule and the little pumpkin is riding high.  Next week begins the infamous checks, and I am a little nervous, even though it is going to get so much worse, before it ever gets better.  Modesty is no more friends.  Sad day, sad day.  This weekend I am looking forward to another shower with Bunco and church friends.  It promises to be a grand time.  Our Bible study is going well and I have started to mentor one of our high school youth.  She is a fantastic girl and I would ask that you please pray for guidance and direction for our time spent together.  I want it to be profitable and lasting, and the near future will bring about some challenges (extra-curricular schedules, new baby, etc.).  Now it is time for supper, because this prego is hungry!  Have a marvelously chilly week!

    

These are some of my great friends from the late Camp Buckner.

Weekend behind, week ahead

Update:  All is well, per the doc.  I am measuring 34 weeks and we will return in 2.  Thanks for keeping us in your prayers.

On Saturday Jaime and I took a little trip to San Antonio.  It was definitely our last as a duo, and we had a great time.  We ate at Mi Tierra downtown, which was a first for me.  It is very authentic Mexican food, not Tex-Mex.  Definitely recommend it if you have not been before.  Super colorful and they even have a bakery, filled with every type of Mexican treat you can think of.  I refrained because I had seen a Krispy Kreme on our way in.  I really don't even like KK's, but I was wanting some doughnut holes.  Sidenote: when we were in NYC for the first time last Thanksgiving, they had a Dunkin Donuts on most streets corners.  All I wanted was some donut holes, in a city busting at the seams with diverse cuisines.  Blame it on the childhood memories at our local DD's.  Back to our trip.... We viewed the Alamo from the car and drove around downtown.  Tons of horse drawn carriages, which reminded me of Central Park.  We headed to Babies R' Us to purchase a much needed mattress for the crib.  We picked up a few other things and headed over to the DSW and then on to La Cantera.  A lady at Macy's politely told me they don't carry maternity clothes.  I was hoping they might because Nordstrom does, but Macy's is quite a bit cheaper.  A little embarrassing, but I recovered well and we went to the GAP, which has been a life saver for this pregnant body.  I found a few things to wear for my showers that are coming up.  We got some frozen yogurt at Marble Slab and got back in the car.  No time for Krispy Kreme doughnut holes.  Sad, but true.

This week is a full one.  Today I get to go see my OB and this evening we have Bunco!!  Yay!  Tomorrow I am having lunch with a dear friend and I hope to get more advice on this birthing ordeal.  I have a sinking suspicion we may not make it to the child birthing classes, which is a little unnerving.  We started a new Bible study on Wednesday nights called Anointed, Transformed, and Redeemed.  I think it is going to be great and help me make it to the end of my pregnancy.  I am bringing this week's dessert and I don't have any good ideas yet so I may have to go the already made route.  Friday my sister and her family are coming for my baby shower on Saturday morning.  I am super excited about this shower and getting further along in decorating the nursery.  It is not nearly ready yet.  I also am having another shower on the 31st.  I am one blessed young woman and I am so grateful for my loving friends and family.  If I get any interesting news at this appointment I will post it later.  Have a wonderful week!

My Mental Recap

Harvey's well and awaiting his new "toy"

Our beautiful tree from the Epley's

Holly, Me, and Whop-same hat, different colors

Cute brothers and b.i.l.'s

Whop and Reese at Moom's

Some of my loot

Got this for Jaime and it is hilarious

Just to preface this post, I have a severe case of pregnancy brain.  I will do my best to remember and to write about the last 20+ days, in short form of course.  We had a lovely Christmas this year.  It was time well spent with my immediate family and Jaime's too.  I even learned how to make delicious Hungarian Kremes.  They are similar to an American cream puff, just 10 times more delicioso.  My sweet Aunt Lucie let me mess up her dishes and kitchen as she taught me how to make my great Grandma Roman's recipe.  My sister and her family were here quite a while, so of course I took full advantage of playtime with my 6 month old niece Reese.  She is such a ham.  On Christmas Eve day I decorated cookies with my sweet niece Aidan.  We went to a short service at church and then to dinner with the Ellis'.  We opened pj's at Jorge and Amy's and then came home to open our gifts to each other.  Jaime was so sweet to get me tons of things I love and things I needed.  He is a fantastic husband year round!  We awoke Christmas morning and had brunch and presents with the Ellis' and watched movies.  After a quick rest at home, we headed to Mom's and Dad's to open gifts and have Christmas dinner.  It was a blast!  Ashton and Reese made out like bandits.  The big kids drew a name and filled the corresponding stocking.  That also was a lot of fun.  We all pitched in and got Mom and Dad a table book filled with pictures of the grands and us, of course.  Mom cried, which we totally expected.  It was a marvelous Christmas celebration.  Post Christmas day we hung out, played games, and enjoyed each others company.  New Year's Eve we spent with the Ellis'.  Jaime and I called it quits around 11, due to my stomach ache.  Earlier that day I also went to see 7 Pounds with my Mom.  (This recap is for my fallible memory, but thank you for reading).

On a side note, I am thrilled to begin a new year.  There is so much in store and we can't wait to see all that the Lord does in 2009.  I also cannot wait for my precious son or daughter to get here.  The pregnancy has taken over--- body and brain.  Praying wonderful blessings for you and yours this new year!  His mercies are NEW every morning.