Tying Up Loose Ends

I'm 33 and 5 days today. Everyday several people approach me and ask how I'm feeling (my usual response is "I feel great, no complaints except for the pain in my hips while I sleep!"). When it's a woman that asks it's usually followed with chatter of empathy and stories of their own births and wraps up with the "you are going to get no sleep after the baby is born, but it is so worth the amazing feeling that comes once you have that baby in your arms!". The funny thing is, I don't understand that euphoria, but I believe it.

A usual set of individuals approach me at LA Fitness now and ask me how I'm feeling and compliment me on how impressive it is that I still work-out every single morning (I've been doing this regularly for 10 years, I can't imagine it any other way). These are regulars I see all the time that see me all the time, but suddenly seeing me with a swelling belly brings upon a tangent that invites conversation. The bottom line is, every one loves a pregnant woman--you are a celebrity. People smile at me in pubic, some make a passing joke or positive remark about my growing belly and to be honest--I just love how excited everyone is for us.

Tonight I walked up my front step and to my surprise, I saw two packages delivered to me from Target.   I knew they were early baby shower gifts from out-of-town guests. Seeing those packages sent a chill up my spine and stopped in my tracks and to think for just a second, "wow, this is starting to get real".  I walked in the front door to see the Jogging stroller we purchased the night before sitting in the sunroom. In the living room sit the pregnancy books, the kitchen is plastered with ultrasound photos.....every where I go, literally and figuratively, is a reminder that the end is nearing and a new beginning is about to start. And not just any beginning--but one that is going to permanently change our lives forever.

I mentioned in my last post that I would post some photos of our "maternity shoot" and of the nursery. We trekked to the Sever's Corn Maze last Saturday with my sister, nephew and mom. I took a few photos of my nephew, and my sister snapped some photos of Jon and I posing with pumpkins. It was horribly cold, I was way under-dressed and it was windy. Nevertheless, we got a few that turned out OK. The nursery is still under construction and I'm coming to realize that it's probably not going to be put 100% back in order until after the baby shower as I don't have a place to put everything just yet and don't want to put everything away prematurely since I'm still trying to determine where everything will go. Regardless, here are the "bare bones" of the nursery in the bottom 2 photos. Stuff is laying everywhere so disregard the mess--I promise no other room in the house is a disaster like this :)