Monday, August 31, 2009

The thoughts that run through my mind

It is early here in MO this morning and I have been awake for a little while. Sometimes my mind just starts wondering and doesn't stop....go figure :)

I am just so excited for Christmas this year that it has been on my mind since yesterday. Last year we really had no Christmas at all with the failed adoption early December, no decorations up at all and no family and friends to share it with. It was the saddest Christmas I had ever encountered.

BUT, this year, I am going to decorate like there is no tomorrow :0) Yeppers, the tree will be up, all my snowmen will be all over the house, the banisters will be decorated and lit up and I have decided our theme this year will be candy canes and snowmen. How fun will that be. Need to go do a little shopping for some things but that is the fun part so I am going to start that today. Hobby Lobby here I come :)

This will be Annika's first Christmas and it will be all about her. Yesterday I went to the Hallmark shop and bought her first ornament for the tree. I feel in love with the Baby's First Christmas Booties ornament they have out. I saw it online and knew I just had to have them. They are so precious and just too adorable to pass up. So I now have them and they will be perfect hanging from the top front of the tree for all to see. I even found the one that will go in her stocking but it does not come out until October. It is little Pebbles and it says: to Daddy's little Girl :) That will just be so appropriate to give her from her Daddy. Just can't wait. I am hoping to have both sets of Grandparents and one of my nieces here with us to share in her first Christmas but we will have to see how that all goes. I just know I am excited and happy and just can't wait. What a day it is going to be :)

Friday, August 28, 2009

Life's little pleasures

I think little Annika has finally run out of room in there. lol Everyone that sees me says that my belly is so small for being as far along as I am. I just smile and say she is healthy and growing strong so I am all good with a small belly. She will be a small little one and that is just fine with me.

I'm at a fun stage in our journey right now and it keeps me smiling and helps me get through my days. I always know where little Annika is at because she seems to like curling herself up in a little ball and finding just the right place to be in there. When she moves I can see her and when I put my hands on my belly she either kicks or pushes back. It makes me giggle. I am just enjoying this process as much as possible because the big day is getting closer all the time and the joy of that image in my head and the smile on my face is just so amazing to me.

I will say that though I am enjoying this time right now it has made lack of sleep even more of a problem these days. But, I seem to function alright during the day on little sleep so guess that is a good thing and will help me for those late night feedings and diaper changes. I do take a little nap during the day if I can get one and my body allows me to do so. Think those little cat naps is what helps my energy stay up there for the rest of the day.

Monday, August 24, 2009

10 Weeks to go....WOW

Where has the time gone? Can't believe today we are officially 30 weeks along on our journey to becoming parents for the first time.

How exciting it has been and it just keeps getting better and better. We are excited for the big day to arrive and can't wait to meet little Annika and hold her and just love and spoil her :) kee kee kee How amazing it will all be.

I will admit though that I am also scared to death of the whole labor/delivery part of this journey. It's all just so scary and exciting and just crazy when you think about it. Will I go naturally or will I have to have a c section for whatever reason? I want so much to be strong when this time arrives and just take it all in for what it is all worth. I fear the epidural as I am not a big fan of needles to begin with and the thought of one going into my spinal cord, doesn't sit well with me at all. I just worry I guess. Plus i don't want to be drugged up or have Annika drugged up when she first comes into this world. I am praying really hard I can do this without the shot so Annika can be all natural when she arrives :) Wish me luck. lol

Jim and I are still trying to sell our home so we can all be back together again before the big day, but as each day passes we become a little more aware that it just may not happen before then. We will be starting with our new realtor tomorrow or Wed at the latest as our old one just did nothing to help with our home sale at all. Kind of sad but we are staying hopeful that this change will at least bring some foot traffic through and you just never know what could happen.

I have been doing well and Annika moves all the time. When she is not as active and I get myself all nervous I use my handy heart doppler and I have peace of mind once again. Love having that little amazing device. I have not gained a whole lot of weight but my doctor says I am right where I nee to be and doing awesome. Works for me :) YAAAAAA Love my little baby belly and I rub it all the time. She gets to listen to music every nite before bed for about a half hour each night and I talk to her all the time. It's funny to watch when I put the headphones on my belly and she hears the music, she just moves all over. Cracks me up. She listens to Baby Einstein right now and she seems to really like the calming sounds she is hearing.

We now go to see the doctor every 3 weeks starting in Sept. But all testing is done, thank goodness, so they will be just routine hopefully quick little visits. We visited the hospital and meet the staff a few weeks back and we were really happy with what we saw and heard. Everyone seemed really nice and they showed us a round the whole unit. We are all registered with the hospital as well as the cord blood donation process. So, just need to wait for her to be ready to enter this world and life as we know it will be changed FOREVER. We are so ready :)

Thursday, August 13, 2009

The wonder of it all

We are now about 10 1/2 weeks before the big day is to arrive and we will meet our little Annika for the very first time. Hard to believe how fast time has gone by already and now the excitement is really starting to hit us both I think.

Jim is having dreams about holding her and her talking and just fun things like that. Me, I wonder will she have brown or blond hair, brown or green eyes, his nose or mine and most of all, I want her to just be healthy and happy :) Our little miracle has been long in the making and to realize it will be here before we know is just an amazing feeling like no other.

I was talking to Jim last night and told him how much longer we have and he said, "Yep, then our lives will truly be changed forever". It hit me right then and there just how true that statement really was. We will be forever parents so and nothing will ever change that. We will be 100% responsible for another life and all the joys and journeys that will come along with Annika. How amazing is that all going to be? Still hard to wrap my head around but I just know we are READY! Ready for the changes, ready for the laughs, the love and just ready to enjoy our family!

Friday, August 7, 2009

A little update

It's been a little while but not too much new to report. All is going exceptionally well and that is all we could ask for :) Hard to believe in 2 days we will be 27 weeks along on out journey with little Annika but we are enjoying every moment of it that we can.

Annika moves around a lot more these days and I often wonder if my belly will be big enough for her to continue to grow and not be all smashed in there until Nov. lol She seems to really like my left side and seems to burrow her whole little body there at times and my belly looks really funny when she does that. I laugh cause at least I know where she is. kee kee kee On the same token, when that happens it's a little painful so I try to make her at least stretch out and move over a little if I can.

Jim is really getting excited and anxious for the big day to arrive. I so enjoy watching the changes in him as he prepares to be a Daddy. Just makes my heart feel so full and so happy. He had a dream last night that he was holding her and she was only 3 days old and already talking in full sentences...I replied, that must mean she is going to be reallllly smart like her Daddy when she grows up. She gets to listen to music for a little while every night and she seems to really like that. She really moves around to that. It's just fun to watch her go :)

We finally bought our baby monitor so she is all good to go with anything and everything we can think of that gives her Mommy piece of mind.

The time will continue to pass quickly as it has been and we are ready to see and hold our little miracle. Come on November :)