Gettin' a Tree!

We went to our friend's tree farm on Sunday and got our Christmas Tree. It was fun because we went with two other couples and then went back to one of their houses and had a nice relaxing time with some yummy pecan pie and hot bevs!
Look at this sweet action shot I got just as the tree was toppling :)Here's the whole gang. We have three stages of mommy-hood here. There's us, with bun still in the oven (which you totally can't tell when covered by my puffy jacket!) Scott and Esther with their 4 week old (who is hiding inside a gorgeous baby sling which, incidentally, I made :) And Peter and Shannon with their 5 month old and two year old. And very cool because all three of us have the same midwife and I've been able to pick their brains about pregnancy, natural childbirth and mommy-hood all along the way!

Baby Shower at Work

The staff and clients at work threw me a baby shower in mid-November! I have been so blessed and so touched by how caring and supportive everyone has been to me throughout my pregnancy. They are all so excited! So here are a few pictures from that shower. I've had to crop out the clients for obvious reasons but it was a very sweet thing to get to celebrate with them!

Also, My mom came to this shower as well which meant so much to me. We both are not huge fans of having our pictures taken, so we don't have that many pictures of us together which I've realized is a shame. That's why I LOVE this one of us!

39 Weeks and Counting

Well people. I'm ready. Miss Ella can arrive whenever she is darn well ready. Some nights I sleep alright (meaning I'm able to fall back asleep quickly each of the gazillion times I have to get up to pee) and others I can't really sleep at all, which makes for a super fun day of work the next day! Last night was the latter. I could not fall back asleep after my 4am pee time. I was wide awake and finally decided to get up and do something productive at 5am.

I rearranged the office. Moved EVERY piece of furniture, including desk, file cabinet, two large, filled bookshelves and a treadmill. I then sorted and organized everything! I really like the new layout. (I was also secretly hoping this would help send me into labor...no luck there! I still feel fine.)

Then I dubbed around on the internet and changed the background of by blog as you can see and watched the sunrise.

And here I am, 39 weeks and one day pregnant...and counting. Heading off to work (Note the comfy pants. And I shall also be wearing my crocs. Comfort is key these days people.)

Thankful

I love Thanksgiving! Everything is about perspective in life and this day is such a wonderful reminder to look on the positive side and even if you're in the toughest of places, to dig deep and find something to be thankful for.

I don't have to dig deep, here are some of my list toppers of what I'm thankful for!

• All of my family, not a cliche, truly.
• Knowing Jesus as my Savior. Also, not a cliche, I need Him every day!
• A really a wonderful pregnancy overall and still feeling great at 39 weeks!
• Having these few last precious days to savor with just my husband and I.
• Superb friends.
• Land in the country. (I'll be honest, there are days I have to work to be thankful for the home that sits on that land, but I AM thankful for a home!)
• The extreme priviledge of working today and getting to spend the Holiday with a group of amazing individuals and the moment where I was asked to say Grace at the dinner table and had the opportunity to Thank the Lord and praise Him while holding hands with all the folks I work with!

A Thanksgiving Miracle!

Okay, so maybe this doesn't actually fit the Biblical picture or definition of a miracle but it feels like one people!

We got the internet at our house today! WAHHHHHHOOOOOO!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Baby Belly

WARNING: Bare Belly pictures ahead! If you don’t want to see my bare belly you should probably click away!

You’d never guess it if I didn’t tell you who took these...Jason! You see, I wanted some really pretty and artistic belly pics but didn’t really want to pay a professional and unfortunately I can’t take them myself. So I did the next best thing...I set up all the lighting and back drops and coached Jason on how to take pictures, telling him to get unique angles and fill the whole view finder with his subject etc etc. He used a digital so I would check them and give him more pointers and so on. Anyway, it took a while but he was very willing and very patient and I think he made quite a good photographer!

I figure if these came out this good with me just directing then I could do some pretty awesome ones with my manual camera that I can adjust the light and focus much more accurately. So, when all my friends get pregnant I’m making them let me take their belly pictures. Yup, even you Steph!

So here are some of my faves:

Baby Update and Belly Cast

Well folks, I’m 38 1/2 weeks along. At my appointment today my midwife said she is VERY pleased with where I'm at and if I went into labor today it would be fine. I'll spare you the centimeters and percents details:) Translation: It really could be any day now.

I don’t think I’ll go early, but my midwife said she's very confident I won't be late, but her last words were "I'll see you next monday...that is if I don't see you before then".

I’m feeling really good, still working full time and thinking I will do so up until I pop! Jason thinks I'll go a little early as evidenced by the fact that he's started having dreams that we have an infant :) We’re trying to savor these last weeks and fit in all of the things we want to do, such as this lovely belly cast. It was a fun project!