Nesting

A 38 week belly

Let's just say the nesting kicked in, and I got a little surge of energy. I installed a shelf and mirror all by myself...into dry wall. It was tough, heavy, and is probably crooked. Last minute purchases arrived and swaddles were dip-dyed. Art still isn't framed, but I have a hard time wanting to spend money on those things right now. The far window still needs curtains that I'm being very fickle about. Hence the lack of photos of that wall. If only I had two more matching lace panels. Baby Bloom's book collection is lacking, but we will build that over time. I was a slow starter in that department too. But don't ask Mary Kate, she'll tell you I didn't learn the alphabet till I was 12. 

The house has been deep cleaned three times now. I'm over that and the dog hair. I did about 100 loads of laundry last week. I refolded all of the extra linen in my house and tucked them away nicely into closets. Baby Blooms clothes are cleaned, folded, and organized. I am in major need of Tea Tree Oil and Summer House candles to make this place sparkle and smell nice before she comes. If you haven't cleaned with this Tea Tree oil, you probably don't like to clean. A last minute run needs to involve new shower curtain liners, dishwasher detergent, and trash bags. Its the small things I don't feel like buying, but a clean and fresh house to come home to will be the best. I've started filling my fridge with things I know Mark and our families would eat. Living alone usually means a very empty fridge. The cinnamon rolls are waiting, and I am being very good not to eat them. Its almost as much torture as waiting for this baby. My gas tank remains full because I am notorious for driving it till it says 1 mile left. I finally packed my hospital bag last week when I convinced myself I was in labor. I since then realized the bag only contained items for myself and none for Baby Bloom. I feel like baby prep is done and I am just waiting now.

Mark and I planned out every good case scenario for the timing of this birth. All worked around his games and travel schedule so that he makes it in time and doesn't miss a single game. He hopes for September 7th, I hope for tomorrow. My sister reminded me that I need to pray and ultimately this baby is coming when God plans for her to. I pray for peace because I am truly over thinking the timing and if Mark will be there. There isn't a plan Mark and I could make for her arrival that is better than God's. We have already been blessed with the timing of this pregnancy. This season seems to have flown by with great excitement and anticipation for our new family. It is also very hard to feel alone with Mark being gone while I have our little baby growing inside of me. I know that whenever she comes, Mark and I will feel the most blessed! 

So here's to the final stretch. I am going to rest. 

Baby Bloom's Room

A pretty tour:

From our bedroom looking into her's.

View from the doorway

Because her Daddy is the best soccer player she'll know.  

My new favorite room.

An iron crib borrowed from my sister, a cowhide chair from Oppo, a new favorite pillow from Summer House and a basket full of blankets. 

A simple mobile

The sweetest story. Art from my sisters, Mary Kate and Clementine. A Katherine Lundberg original. 

Another piece lent from Mary Kate. A daffodil painting by my sister Caddie. 

My dollhouse. A painting from my Dad.

Where Baby Bloom will sleep for the first week before she's off to Toronto.

Nine Months Ago...

I was working the night shift on Christmas Eve. I had the pleasure of taking care of teeny tiny twins that had been born a few hours before I came on. My hands were pretty full with the twins. One was so little he had trouble keeping his temperature stable, and the other had difficulty feeding so we battled sugars all night. Not to mention caring for a mama recovering from surgery. While running around the entire shift I knew something felt different. I didn't know if I was getting sick, tired, or even just sad I missed Christmas Eve with my family. Christmas morning came and I went home to the most wonderful husband. The house was sparkling, with beautiful music playing, coffee brewing, and Mark making breakfast. We spent a couple hours opening presents and being together.

Next it was off to 30A for Christmas with my family. As we packed up the car I couldn't get this idea out of my head that I didn't feel good. I figured it was likely the lack of sleep catching up with me, but while Mark was getting the animals situated, I ran to the bathroom and took a test. Now that I knew, I didn't know how to tell Mark. We were leaving that second. The entire drive I couldn't bare it,  I was so happy. I told Mark all about my night with the twins, and we talked about what our life will be like with babies one day. Little did he know....When we got to the beach house, everyone was coming up from the beach with empty coffee mugs. Mark and I decided to go down anyway and sit on the beach together. It was the most beautiful morning and perfect time to tell him. While Mark was playing with my new camera I told him take a picture of the sand. He didn't even realize what it said till after he took the picture. It was such a sweet Christmas present to us both. The happiest little secret. 

Christmas morning

Now we're here. Waiting for our little one that could come any day. It's amazing how fast time has gone. 

Thirty-five Weeks

The Good...

I'm already 35 weeks, and almost done with this pregnancy. I can't help but want my body back to myself. I love growing a baby and think it is absolutely beautiful what God made our bodies capable of. I am just ready to be done, meet our baby, and be little again.

I have not had any major issues with this pregnancy. I'm healthy. (Besides almost being a gestational diabetic, being anemic, and having a very low lying placenta). Baby is healthy. I'm on track with a healthy weight gain. My baby's head is down.

I work on labor and delivery. This could be bad in the sense that I have seen more than any pregnant woman should going into the final stretch of this thing. However, I'm going to put it as a good. My coworkers have my back and I know I am in the best hands. Every single OB and Family Medicine doc will make sure I'm taken care of. I mean, I am their favorite nurse...

Up until last week most of my pants and shorts still bottoned. In the first trimester nothing fit around my waist. As soon as I hit 18 weeks, everything fit again. My belly just needed to come up a little bit. Now I'm wearing the belly band and everything linen.

I'm having a baby soon! When Mark and I were dating, I made it clear I wanted to start having lots of babies at a young age. Here's to number one!

I'm only a month away from spending maternity leave in Toronto with my husband! What a joy it will be!

The nursery is coming a long. Slowly, but surely.

No stretch marks yet.

The days I get to go to prenatal yoga. Child's pose has never been as wonderful with that bolster.

The fact I've hardly bought anything "maternity."

It's been nice to share this experience with my sister Mary Kate and sweet friend Hillary who are both due the same week as I am.

The Bad...

Heart burn. Some say that means your baby has a lot of hair, and I've seen it to be true on the unit. If that's the case, it will be a good thing, but for now, it is bad. Plus, I was a bald baby, so my hopes are low.

Mark has not been here to indulge my random food cravings. If he was I'm pretty sure we would of had French toast and pancakes for breakfast every day. For dinner I've wanted yummy bread and yummy things to dip it in.

The fatigue that has hit me again. 1st trimester I was exhausted. 2nd trimester I felt great. 3rd, I'm exhausted again. I get very weary after a few hours of movement. This has made any type of errand a hassle, working 12 hour shifts miserable, and staying inside and still, wonderful.

My big belly and the jokes Mark likes to make about "my weight gain in a certain mid-section."

The middle of the night bathroom trip.

Being this pregnant in the summer was a BAD idea.

The Ugly...

I have one terrible vericose vein on my knee that exploded into spider veins. It looks like a huge bruise. That popped up early on in the pregnancy. In the last month, a lot of veins on the back of my right leg are now bulging. I pray they go away after pregnancy. Otherwise, I am thankful for my Navy health benefits.

I feel like my face is rounding.

The 4th of July

My mom and I spent the morning on the porch, in our Jammie's, drinking coffee. For breakfast we ate local Robinhood Meetinghouse blueberry biscuits, topped with fresh strawberries and homemade whipped (frothed) cream. Our day could have ended there and we would of been satisfied. Instead, my sister Clementine joined us, and coffee was traded for sparkles as we prepped for the next meal. We made our favorite pasta salad and my mom's famous Grey Havens Inn blueberry crisp. The Stevens came over to watch the Five Islands parade and we all ate more food. By 7:00 pm it was storming and my mom and I were in bed, reading with red wine. It was a good day.

While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,

Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,

Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,

As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.

God bless America,

Land that I love