Welcome to the World, Lily Ann!

Thursday, February 4th
12:59 p.m.
7 lb. 8 oz.

Week 39

Dear Lily Ann,

I am writing to you on the night before I become a mother. Thank you for giving me the gift I have dreamed of my entire life: motherhood. I have dreamed of being your mother since I was a little girl playing with my Cabbage Patch dolls. I didn't know what roads would lead me here or that I would ever meet a man as incredible as your father. But I knew one day there would be you. This road has been an amazing journey. Now I stand one day away from meeting you and already know that you are more beautiful, joyful, and perfect than I could have ever imagined. Motherhood will be be the most awesome, terrifying, thrilling, rewarding thing I have ever done.

The last few days have been marked with weird pains in my lower abdomen, back pain ALL over, and very limited sleep. Given how perfect my pregnancy has gone thus far, I'll take a few days of discomfort in preparation for your arrival.

Your dad and I celebrated our anniversary by having dinner (Mexican.. yumm!) and talking about you almost the entire time. We are so excited to meet you! I keep imagining how different things will be once you are here, imagining what you will look like and what your cries will sound like, imagine myself holding you and taking care of you every day. I can't wait to see your beautiful face!

We will see you tomorrow... and no doubt fall in love!

We Love You,

Mommy

3 Years of Wedded Bliss

... and the best is yet to come.

Don't Mind Me....

Just getting all of the important last minute preparations out of the way...

(Sorry... forgot to snap an after and I've got bed head right now!)

Monday: Last Work Meeting and Hair Appointment
Tuesday: Manicure and Pedicure
Wednesday: 3rd Anniversary
Thursday: My Daughter's BIRTHday!

(Although, I did feel some really weird pains last night and woke up about every hour.... so I'm just hoping we make it to Thursday!)

Week 38

Dear Lily Ann,

Wow! I didn't think I could possibly get any bigger but I just keep growing! And I feel you moving and squirming all the time! You are probably ready to ditch your cramped quarters and pay us a visit! We are definitely ready to meet you! Only one more week until we hold you in our arms.... and never let go. Okay - I promise I'll let go at some point before you hit your teen years... hopefully. What do you mean you don't want to take your Dad to Prom?

You now get the hiccups probably 3 times a day, on average. I worry about you, but they soon subside and you resume to happily practicing your kickboxing... which I absolutely love, even when it hurts. My most amusing activity is sitting still and watching my belly move up and down and side to side. This week I have felt lots of weird different cramping sensations, had some major swelling going on in my feet, lost quite a bit of sleep (partly because of this big belly and partly because the Australian Open is on all night long and I just can't seem to turn it off), and had one day suffering through a pretty bad headache. Any time I experience these symptoms I immediately wonder if you are making an early arrival. But I just hang on a bit longer and everything seems to pass. I have been happy, pain-free, and enjoying almost everything about this pregnancy. Thank you for being such a good girl and giving me such a wonderful pregnancy experience. Our time so close together is almost over. But I'm looking forward to growing closer to the baby, girl, and woman you will soon become.

Now, I have to spill all the details about my doctor's visit this morning:
I am 2.5 cm dilated and 60% effaced. That means you are well on your way to your birthday (February 4th.... if you make it)! My blood pressure has been high for the past three weeks and they are a little worried about it. I was hooked up to a monitor today and your Daddy and I got to hear your little heart beat for a solid 40 minutes or so. After observation, the doctor and nurses think you are looking good and not too concerned about my blood pressure. It should go back down after you are born.

We are keeping busy during our last week without you here. Tomorrow is my last day of work in the office and I stayed up until 1 in the morning putting together my new desk for working at home; we have plans to meet some friends for dinner tomorrow night; we are taking your grandparents and great grandparents out to eat on Saturday; I am getting my hair and nails done on Monday and Tuesday; on Wednesday your father and I are celebrating our 3 Year Anniversary; Thursday morning we'll wake up bright and early and head to the hospital!

See you in one week, baby girl!


We Love You,

Mommy

No baby yet....

Still here. No baby, yet. I've been pretty busy at work lately, trying to prepare for my short time off and my transition to working from home (for a while, anyway). There are many last minute preparations taking place before Lily Ann's arrival, including a class on breastfeeding last night. So, I'll leave you with an image of how I feel right about now....

Happy Tuesday!

Birthdays

We had two birthdays this week!

Monday, we celebrated my dad's birthday by eating some Mexican food! What better way to celebrate any occasion? He and Lucas participated in Happy Hour! I'm ready for Lily Ann to arrive so I can participate in the occasional Happy Hour, as well! He followed up dinner with a free birthday shot of tequila! Oh my goodness! Too much for my poor daddy I think!


I followed Monday's Mexican with leftovers for lunch on Tuesday and Mexican again on Wednesday night. Hey.... I'm pregnant. I can do what I want. ;)

Tuesday was our little Rafa's 2nd Birthday! He wasn't spoiled with a party all his own and doggy cupcakes like last year. Sorry, Rafa. Momma's been a little busy lately. But we did give him lots of loving, lots of cookies, and one of his favorite big bones which he scarfed down pretty quickly for such a small dog.


Birthdays are fun! And in less than 2 weeks ~ we'll have a big birthday to celebrate!