Updates a few days late

Last Thursday Josh and I went to the doctor the for what has become weekly checkup. So far everything continues to look ok. I am still progressing faster than they would like but nothing immediate. I asked the nurser practitioner if she had to bet on how much longer it would be, what would she say? Her answer was "I give you at least a week" That is only mildly helpful. At this point I still don't want Addie to come to soon, but I'm also hoping she doesn't wait until her due date. I'm pretty uncomfortable and I a week or two like this won't be terrible - any more would get really old. She is still sitting super low and I was about 50% effaced. A week ago the doc gave me medicine to take as needed to stop the contractions. I don't really like to take it though because it is actually a medication to lower blood pressure so it gives me super bad headaches and makes me pretty dizzy. The other option was a med that would make me jittery and shaky. Neither was really a good option.

Other than constantly wondering when she is going to come, everything is going fine. My mom flies in today. She has been in Canada and Alaska all summer in their RV. Since there is a chance Addison will get here early she and Larry got to Seattle and then mom will fly in today to stay until after she is born. Larry will come for a few days once Addison is here.

I'm going to brag on Josh for just a minute. He has been so incredibly helpful and sweet it is just unbelievable. Yesterday I kept asking what I could do for him - the poor guy was so worn out. All he would tell me was I should let him take care of me! I really don't know how I would have gotten through the past 8 months without him. I know we are going to need each other even more once we have a newborn and it is reassuring to see how supportive he has been already.

This picture was last week (I think). I'm probably just a bit bigger now but it is still pretty close.

Cradle

I posted pictures of the nursery yesterday but wanted to give special attention to the beautiful cradle that Josh's parents had his uncle make for us. We picked a style that will convert to a toy box when Addison is old enough. I also had Matt paint the top house part general colors so that we can pass this down with all the kids. What a great treasure for Josh and I to have for our kids from their grandparents!

The pictures absolutely do not do it justice. It is all handmade and incredibly beautiful! Matt is so talented. He works out of Fredricksburg,TX - here is his website if anyone is interested:


I have a doll cradle and rocking horse that were made for me when I was a baby. They are in Addie's nursery now. It's neat for me to think that this cradle is something all of our kids, and hopefully grand kids will be able to use.

At last...

Nursery Pictures are here!

The room started out light blue. Josh spend a few days putting primer on the walls-


Then when my dad was here, he and Josh painted the walls a yellow that matched the bedding -



Then, Josh and I found a tree graphic that we agreed on. He projected and traced it on the wall, then painted in the brown. It was a tedious and tiring process but he was so excited about doing and sweet even when his shoulders and back were sore.


Finally, we put up the wall stickers that matched the bedding and they look great. I decorated the lamp I found to match. I made the three frames that are on the wall by using a window valance that came with the bedding that was too small - I cut up the fabric and covered the frames. The picture album is one I bought and put Addison's name on the cover. I am so excited to be able to put pictures in so she can see what we did to get ready for her to be here. The bunny's name is Flopsy. Josh and I went and made her at Build-A_Bear as a present to Addie from us. The whole thing has come together and I love it, love it, love it. The only thing missing (besides Addison of course) is a glider that I hope to get. I can't wait to sit and rock in the room with her and even before she gets here.

Recent Visitors

For the past two weeks my best friend Jackie Beth as been staying with Josh and I. This is the third year (maybe forth) that she has come for an aerial dance festival in Boulder. Aerial dance is basiclly like Cirque de Sole type stuff - trapeze, fabric, other weird steel frames, bunjees etc. It's pretty awesome. I actually wanted to take a class with her this year but being 8 months pregnant that didn't sound like a good idea.

While JB was here we didn't even get to spend a large amount of time together but it was so great just to have the day to day interactions when we both got home in the evenings. I love any time we get to spend together and wish we didn't live so far apart. Friends are a blessing.

Friday my dad and stepmom came into town for the weekend. We don't usually get to see them very often so this was a special trip. Pam thought it was really important that my dad see me pregnant and I am so glad that they were able to come. While they were here we worked hard on all of my current "nesting" tendancies. Pop and Josh painted the nursery and rearranged the furniture. Pam and I worked on going through boxes that Josh and I had not unpacked yet. Most of them were decorations so we hung up the ones that Josh and I wanted on the walls and then sorted through the rest of the stuff to decide what was going to Goodwill. I'm not putting up any pictures of the nursery yet because Josh has one more thing that he wants to finish before we post pics but I have some of the rest of the weekend. One of the funny things that my dad told me is that my belly actually looks smaller now than in pictures a few weeks ago. I think it's because Addison has moved down lower.

Pop and Pam have been sending Josh and I packages throughout this pregnancy. They brought us a few more things when they were here. One of them was a potty training toliet seat that looks like a baseball - it was hilarious! Baseball is one of the things that my dad and I share so that was a funny present.

The next doctor's appointment is Thursday. I have noticed that I am definitely getting more and more easily worn out. As much as I was hating bed rest restrictions a few weeks ago I almost hope the doctor increases them now. I'm trying not to focus too much on Addie coming early. I'm not super worried if she does come a few weeks early and the doctors feel confident that she would be healthy. I am mainly just preoccupied with wondering about the timing. I have had the due date in my head for so long and have been counting on that time frame - now with the possibility of delievering early it just increases my anxiety. I have started to worry a little more about the actual labor and birth. I keep telling Josh that I am worried I will be wussy and a whimp. I'm trying not to worry about it too much and not worry about the timing either. I am sure that Ms. Addison will grace us with her presence whenever she feels ready. Hopefully that will be at least by the due date and definitely not after.

Random Updates

I don't have picture to post yet but just wanted to give everyone a quick update on life....

I have hopefully found a good balance between resting and doing things around the house/exercising etc. We go back to the doctor tomorrow and will see if there has been any changes with Addison. This weekend Josh and I were on the church family camping trip. I mainly sat around and played games all weekend. This trip is always one of my favorite parts of the summer. It is probably about 50 people from church, mostly youth group families and we just enjoy being together. This year Josh and I had a cabin instead of our usual tent since I was not thrilled about sleeping on the ground. I did really well except for Saturday when I didn't feel good and didn't sleep much at all. It was not so much contractions as just a constant pain, my guess is from how low she is sitting.

Josh's summer is officially over except for a lock-in/all-nighter in a few weeks. He is working from home most of this week. Yesterday he started painting the nursery with primer and doing a few other things around the house. My dad and step mom come into town from Lubbock on Friday and our goal for the weekend is to get the nursery walls finished, shelves hung up and a few other things. I'm so thankful that they want to come and help us get ready. I will have pictures up hopefully early next week of the almost finished product.

My little sister is in Africa on a mission trip for 3 weeks. I am so, so jealous that I am not with her but I am also so excited that she is getting to have this experience. I know that my time in Africa was definitely life changing for me.

There is a lot of other stuff going on but I should get back to work. More updates and pictures soon!

Fortunes

Each month I go to dinner with my friend Alli that I worked with at Tennyson Center a few years ago.

Last night we went to PF Chang's and after a long time of just talking and eating we read our fortune cookies. Mine said "You are about to embark on a wonderful journey."


Alli's said "Things in small packages can bring a family great joy"

They both could absolutely fit for me, and Alli's sister just had a baby so hers works too.

I just thought it was a neat coincidence and part of my week....

"Modified" Bed Rest

Yesterday when Josh and I went to the doctor for our 32 week appointment. I have mentioned previously that I have been having some mild, infrequent contractions. At this appointment they checked Addison and she looks great! We even got to see her eye-balls move (creepy). Anyway, while she looks good there is also a moderate risk that she will come early. She is sitting really low and they are worried that the cervix is already beginning to soften.

So....I'm on what Dr. Nelson called 'modified bed rest". Josh and I had some confusion about what this actually meant so I called the doctor back this morning. I am still able to work full time for now but may have to cut back. Basically once I go home from work I am supposed to lay around, take it easy etc. I asked if I can do some easy physical activity and the doctor said it was ok as long as it's not too strenuous. That made me feel a lot better - I wasn't necessarily worried about my health or Addison's health (although I want her to cook as long as possible), I was mostly worried about my mood if I was not able to be physical. That is something I know about myself - I get grumpy if I just lay around.

Long story short - Addison is doing great, we just want her to stay in there a little longer. Another thing the doctor said today is that if I make it to 36 weeks then I can go off of the modified bed rest because at that point it won't matter much. I have to go back weekly for appointments from now on so I will keep everyone updated!

Baby Explosion

There is about to be a baby explosion! I have lots of friends who are (or recently were) pregnant.

First, a few weeks ago my long time friend Kristen had her second son Bryce. He was about a month early but is perfectly healthy. Kris and I grew up together in Austin when her family moved there after returning from Africa. We got married almost exactly 2 years apart and moved to Denver within a few months of each other. This is Kris and Bryce before they left the hospital (I got the picture off of her facebook).



Then, my friend Jenny had her little boy last week. Jenny and I were in club together at ACU and she worked Leadership Camps with me one summer. Jenny and her husband Chris welcomed Jude on 7/28/09. (Jenny, I got the picture from your blog).


Seeing Jenny and Kristen's pictures and hearing about their family's joy welcoming their new children makes me so ready for Addison to be here. Now for friends that will have babies soon...Next is Erin and her husband todd. We were in Siggies together at ACU. They are going to have a little girl named Ellie.

Ashley Snow, who was one of my good friends at ACU and bridesmaids, is due about 2 weeks after Erin and is having a little girl named Emma.

After than it is finally time for Addison to be born. I'm due about 2 weeks after Ashley. I'm not only blessed that I have been going through this experience with other christian women that I love, I'm also excited that our kids will grow up together and maybe even be friends as they get older. We aren't even all in the same place but it is so fun to be able to keep up with each other thru blogs etc and share this time.

I also have two friends who are due not long after Josh and I are. Kasey, one of my very best friends, another bridesmaid at my wedding, is actually due on my birthday, November 23. Sara is another friend who is due between Kasey and I (not sure exactly when).

Keep, all of the new moms and moms-to-be in your prayers.

Mission Trip Update

A lot has happened since I updated everyone about Josh's trip. They stayed in Grand Junction for 2 days before heading out again. In Montrose, CO they prayed with police officers after 2 fellow officers were wounded and one was killed during a domestic violence situation. From there they went to Moab and were able to help several families who had car trouble on the way. After staying the night in Moab (where God provided a camp group with the exact number of spaces left at a discount for the night) they met a man named Warren who needed a ride to Fruita, CO. They gave him a ride, helped him fill a prescription and set him up with a place to stay.

That night the group ended up in Vermal, CO where they stayed at a local church. The next morning they went to another local community church to see if they knew of any service needs. The pastor immediately mentioned an elderly disabled woman who had lots of yard work that needed to be done. Josh and the group mowed her yard as well as her neighbor's yard. They also replaced part of the roof on her car port that was badly rotted. The woman was not home while they were doing this but they ended up meeting her later when a few of the girls went to a near by nursing home to visit with residents there. It turns out that the woman who owned the house was there visiting a few old friends for the day. The church that suggested this project to them was very welcoming and not only made the group lunch but the pastor stayed and worked with them and then insisted they stay at the building that night.

Today the are headed back east to eventually be home tomorrow night. I know the group (kids and adults) has learned several great lessons about trusting God, opening your eyes to the needs of others, and the support of the Christian community. They have been blessed with lots of free meals and places to stay wherever they have ended up. I will most likely do another post next week about how everything ended up etc.

Favorite Things

My friend Ashley has been blogging weekly about some of her favorite things and it inspired me. I won't be doing it on a regular basis but thought I would share a few today.

#1. Palmer's Cocoa Butter Lotion - I have used this after surgeries to help with scars and in the winters when it gets so dry in Colorado. While being pregnant I have loved it! I'm not sure if it does more good than a regular lotion would but I like to think so. Josh always tells me I smell like chocolate when I have it on.


#2. Pina Colada gelato - One of the things I have been craving is anything tropical (that does not include alcohol). Pina Colada gelato has been something I have been indulging in lately. It is super yummy and healthier than regular ice cream. Mine doesn't look this pretty though.


#3. Neutrogena Healthy Skin Tinted Moisturizer - This is my summer favorite. I have to wear a little makeup for work but don't like it to be to thick in the summer. This is a perfect tinted lotion!


#4. LemonHeads - Josh laughs at me because I ate a few lemon heads one day and have been wanting them ever since.


#5. Peaches - Yes, another food...Colorado's Palisades Peaches are so so yummy. I am gong to order a box from a local farm that I should get in August. I don't like to eat peaches like you would an apple because the fuzz hurts my lips so I usually cut it up and eat it with a fork. Random, I know.


#6. Presents - This is totally selfish but I have come to appreciate presents that are just for ME and not for Addison. I know that the stuff for Addison is really for me too but I have gotten a few smaller "grown up" presents lately that have really made my day.



#7. JoAnn Fabric and Craft Stores - I like to just go in here and walk around to get ideas, dream up projects etc. I start thinking of things to make for Christmas presents each summer. This year I may have to get started sooner than I normally would on making things. This store can be a creative person's paradise.


That's it for now. Thanks for listening!