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 :)

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!

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 :)

Tried something new

Yesterday was my first time ever trying a yoga class. I thought I went in at least looking like I knew what I was doing, but boy was I wrong. lol

I arrived at the class with about 8 other pregnant women all of us due at different times. I was the ONLY one who showed up in tennis shoes and socks. Um, I felt kinda of stupid but then just laughed about it. I now know for next time though right :) The room was small and I guess from what the others were saying this class was bigger than what they normally have at one time. The room got a little warm at times and it was kind of rough to get in the mood I guess you could say. Now never having done yoga in my life I was sure I would still look like I knew what I was doing and would be okay. I learned that I really need to work on my balance and focus more and become a little more limber. ha ha ha It will be a process but as time goes on I am sure it will all just come to me and all will be good.

The class take me to the end of August and then for Sept and Oct I will do yoga from home up until delivery. Hoping this will help like they say it will when the pain of birth starts kicking me really hard :)

Learned something fun today :)

I went in for my regular monthly check up and all is going great. No issues or worries at this time :) YAAAAA

When my doctor went to check for the heart beat she measured my belly for the very first time. My belly is at 24 CM. BUT, did you know that your belly should be the same size as your weeks along? I am almost 24 weeks come this Monday and my belly is 24 cm. I just got a kick out of that one. Never knew that before. I am learning a lot along this journey and it's all kind of fun :)

She then put the doppler on my belly and little Annika started moving all over. We were cracking up. She is a very active little one for sure and I love it :) When she sat still for a minute she listened to the heart beat and it was awesome as usual. But then Annika apparently had had enough and kicked really hard making the doppler bounce on my belly. I think she is tired of being peeked in all the time...lol

When I go in next month I have to have the Glucose testing done to check for Gestational Diabetes. Not looking forward to that at all. Have to drink this nasty stuff then wait like an hour and then get stuck for blood. Ouch.

She's just Beautiful....

This morning was the big event and it was just amazing. We were both all smiles as we watched to see how much Annika has changed in the past 5 weeks. It's just amazing and hard to put into words.

We arrived at the ultrasound place to a line already started out the door. Too funny to see how many pregnant women and their hubbies came out to get a free 3D glimpse at their little ones to be. We were just in awe. Very cool :)

We were called into the room and as I got up on the table and things got started I looked at Jim when we first saw her on the screen and what a proud Daddy he was. That just warmed my heart to see and I will never forget that look for anything :) Her little adorable face is all formed now and she has gained weight since the last time. She sure does love her little hands and feet though. Cracks us up. She is curious already...lol She was once again very active and that is always great to see. I know I feel her a lot more now and it makes me smile from ear to ear every time :) Can just never get enough of that good stuff you know :) We ended up getting some pictures put on a CD because no way was I leaving without them :) lol We got some cute ones of her little feet which I think are just the cutest little things ever. kee kee kee We both agree we think she has Daddy's nose and that is a good thing. ha ha ha

She is just awesome and healthy and growing stronger every day. This is all we can ask for and all we pray for over the next 3 months and 1 week :)

We then stopped by the hospital where we will deliver and had a tour of the labor and delivery unit. Very nice area and large rooms. The nurses all seemed very nice and that gives us comfort for when the time comes. All in all a great way to start our day :) YAAAAAAAA

I have attached a few photos from this morning so enjoy. We love her so much already and can't wait for the big day come November.

Enjoying Life

We had a great Fourth of July this year and lots of fun too. Jim was home for a long weekend stay and my best friend from Chicago Debbie was in for a long weekend as well. We enjoyed the lake for a few days then came back to the house and had fun with my hubby and went to pick out fireworks together. Though it rained a lot on the fourth the weather gave us a break long enough to light of all our fun stuff. We had a great times and lots of laughs :) YAAAA

Little Annika is doing awesome :) She is moving around more to where I can feel her a lot and it make me laugh and smile every time. I listen to her heart beat every morning and it's still very strong and that gives me comfort. Love our little fetal doppler :0) lol

When Debbie arrived she had all these gifts that were from my Mom who also loves in Chicago. Jim and I unwrapped them on Friday night and can I just tell you....This child will never wear the same outfit twice :) Her closet is jammed packed already and she is going to be styling for sure! Too funny. We called Mom to say thank you and how cute everything was. We took pictures and will send them her way this week. I did however have to make Grandma PROMISE...no more clothes. She is good through the fist 12 months of her little life to come.

We will be peaking in on Annika to see what she is doing in there next Sat the 11th. We have another 3D/4D ultrasound and I can't wait :) Bet she has changed a lot since 5 weeks ago. YAAAAA. So excited and just hope Jim can make it home for the fun.