38 Weeks Along....

38th week started with a fun get together with some of our co-workers and friends for yet another Chili Cook off. Surprisingly, my chili won last year. It was like the second time in my life i had ever made chili. Not to mention, i never use recipes, nor do i measure...so really it was an adventure, but apparently it was pretty darn good. This year was the same fate. My chili won for a second year in a row! Talk about surprised. Everyone's was great though. Mine is really not that special, just hearty and to the liking of every man i put it in front of! I was just happy to have everyone come over to our new place and enjoy fellowship.

I had my 38th week appointment on Friday and the doctor announced that Little Mady is on her way! I am 50% effaced and 2 cm. dilated! This could last for several more days, even weeks or just hours. So really...we are no different than had we not been dilated. However, as i write this (two days later) i can certainly say that she has dropped way down and i have contractions quite a bit. So i really feel like she may come this week!! I am happy for her to come whenever the Lord decides to bring her; healthy and happy. I still feel pretty good. Sleep is my only issue and the contractions are getting a little bit more uncomfortable, other than that I am fine. Still working a few more shifts too!

My dad comes in town on Wednesday! I am so pumped. Bryan is in for a good time having the two BIG HEADED, LOUD Italian's in the same house for an extended amount of time! I also hope that Mady does come this week so my dad can be here for that. I am a little more prepared for her coming now than from my last post. I had some time off this weekend where I was able to get most of her clothes and bedding washed. We also put together her pack-n-play, stroller/car seat, bouncy seat and got her room more organized. Now i just need to start packing our bags for the trip to the hospital.

Well we shall see how the rest of this week goes. We are really only at the beginning of the 38th week. We are joyfully awaiting her arrival. Anxiously praying for peace myself. Bryan is super excited!! He is going to be the sweetest daddy! I heard recently that little girls 80% of the time favor their father. In both personality and looks. I would love for this to be true for us as well. Bryan is so tender-hearted and loving. Two things that (sadly) do not come naturally for me. I have learned these as i have grown in my Christian walk from both the Lord and Bryans great example. I am thankful.

Baby Showers

We were so blessed to have some wonderful people host and throw us some wonderful showers!
We absolutely were showered with amazing gifts that I am sure will serve us well as we care for little Mady.

Here are some fun pictures of those showers.

Shower # 1

Ya Ya Sister's Shower

Flower girls from my wedding....

all grown up!

Grandmothers-to-be!

Shower #2

Baise Family Shower

The adorable little ones....

Matthew, Layton and Emori

 My sister in law and I, 10 weeks apart!

Luke and Mady in the womb.

 

Shower #3

Couple's Shower 

Bryan practicing with the nursing cover.!

It was such a lovely shower with so many great friends.

One of the most amazing families that have consistently been involved in our lives have been the Shutt family. They continue to love, guide and pray for us in ever stage of life. They were nice enough to host our shower at their beautiful home!

The gift of life is a wonderful thing to celebrate. 

We are praising God that he heard our cries for a child and saw fit to bless us with 

Madelyn Joan.

37 Weeks

Full Term...
I am excited for her to come, but have mixed emotions. I feel i am not prepared one bit. We still have so much to figure out. Like which insurance we are going to use and afford. Which pediatrician to use, which vaccinations to forgo....or hold off until later. We still don't have a car seat, pack and play, stroller, or even a diaper! Alas...

God is in control! But I would still like her to wait a few more weeks until i can tie some loose ends. :)

Psalm 127

"Unless the Lord builds the house; those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city; the watchman stays awake in vain.
It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb of reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate."

This Psalm was shared this week at my church during Sunday worship. Our pastor was introducing some of the MANY children that had been born recently. He was stating how this verse is so applicable to parenthood.

1. Because ANYTHING done without the Lord is done in VAIN. Our hope, trust and guidance has to come from our Great Shepherd. The one who knows our deepest longings and interprets our sighs.

2. (This was very interesting to me) Our children are like ARROWS in the hand of the Warrior. Warrior being God, who has the ability to send them well beyond our lives, into the future to advance the Kingdom of God. Even after we are gone they have the ability to "be shot our like arrows" into the unknown of the future and proclaim the Gospel that hopefully we as parents are faithful to teach them, while we are with them.

I thought this was a very interesting picture. I have always concentrated on the blessing part of this Psalm and never really saw God's plan for our children. Those who will be called into salvation and in combination with our faithfulness during our time with them can go far beyond our physical existence. Talk about a spiritual legacy.

Happy Birthday to you!

Imagine, if you will. Waking up on your birthday to the rather rank smell of dog feces and vomit...in your new house, on your suede couch and again, on your BIRTHDAY! Well, that is exactly what happened to Bryan this morning!! Happy Birthday from Mr. Calvin the dog, who apparently had a little too much peanut butter yesterday!

Nasty is all i have to say. The smell wont leave and we had to get a professional cleaning service to take our couch cushions to get them cleaned and de-rankified! Is that a word? Poor Calvin. Sick all through the night and we had no clue! That is what you get when you live on three levels.

We are still in the process of moving into our new home. I will blog about this to come...but today we must celebrate, its Bryan's 25th Birthday! And if it had not been for his incredible sense of smell his first birthday "present" would not have been the one he received. His nose never sleeps. I guess this is just one more way we are being prepared for parenthood!

Off to PF Changs for a tasty dinner, ice cream cake to follow!