34 & 35 weeks

what's cooking? [new baby things]: in the past two weeks babe has gone from about 4+ pounds to over 5 pounds [most likley].  she also went from about 17" long to 18" or so.  she's lost most of those hairs that were helping her stay warm because she's getting big enough to warm herself.  she is also developing her own mini-immune system instead of solely relying on mine.  her finger nails and toe nails are growing a lot right now [and i'm terrified to trim them one day - they are just so little!]

gender: teeny tiny little girl! our mini, emmie collins.


movement: i'm still utterly enjoying and in awe of all her little [and BIG] movements.  about 80% make me feel excited and so joyful and the other 20% kind of hurt [picture big kicks to the ribs and her curling up into a tight ball on my side] -sometimes i wish those would quit.  but i'd never, ever trade in those 80 for the 20, so i'll suck it up.  babe, you still move at all hours and i would consider you 'very active'.  almost all your friends and family have been able to feel you or even see you move, now that you jiggle my whole belly.  i'm pretty sure that you were upside down for a while but have since done flips over and over so i'm not sure when you'll settle down into your little exit posture.

momma developments:  my uterus is the size of a watermelon and i'm pretty sure no one would argue with that.  this babe has completely taken over the upper half of my body.  since i like her so much i don't really mind sharing though.  i do get lightheaded every now and then still.  i always think it would be when i'm really active or something but it generally happens when i'm just sitting still, working etc.  i'm still loving being pregnant but it does physically feel more difficult now.  it is hard to carry so much extra around when you're a weakling like me!

total weight gain: 32-34 pounds

maternity clothes: all the time. even my maternity shirts from the beginning are starting to get too short in the front.  :(  i don't want everyone to see my spandex topped pants!

cravings: nothing really.

anything hard? 

the planner in me is really struggling not knowing when this babe is going to make her debut.  i love to have a deadline, a goal, a time that i know i can get things done.  i like to make plans.  i like to control what's going on with our lives even just a little bit and i find myself constantly saying "well, that's the plan...unless we have the baby."  "i think we can do that...we'll just have to see when she comes."  and even things post-delivery feel so up in the air to me.  even though i've had lots of helpful friends try to prepare me for what's to come i still feel completely unprepared for what to expect.  i really just need to adopt a go-with-the-flow personality but i don't know how to engineer one of those!

we are going to young life camp very soon and i couldn't be more thrilled that i've been cleared to go as a 9 months pregnant momma.  but i do have a little bit of anxiety.  just about what the week will be like, how i'll be able to get around or keep up with girls.  i know i'll be so much more limited than in years past, and theoretically i'm ok with that but i don't know, when it actually happens how i'll feel.  i just hope that no matter what, God will use that time there for His glory.  that's my prayer.  that, and that we wouldn't have a baby 4 hours away from home.

still really struggling with the to-do lists!  so many things to do, buy, make, write, read to get ready for this.  i feel like i'll just never have the time.  so i basically need to get off here and go be a busy little bee.

never forget:

emmie, you and i are officially waddling now.  we waddle everywhere we go.  i thought i started waddling a few months ago, but no.  this is it.  your dad thinks so too.

last week we got to celebrate father's day for the first time with your poppa!  he needs a special post all his own.  you're momma is slacking on this online baby book of yours.  we've just been so busy visiting, celebrating, renovating the house, planning for ministry and planning for you!  we cannot wait to have you be part of our family, part of our everyday life out here.  you have one amazing man as your father and i know you'll celebrate him daily with me.

we also got to have our final baby shower with your granna [stephanie's] and grandpa norm's families.  it was so special and sweet.  they showered you with all kinds of goodies that i can't wait to show you when you get here.  it was such a blessing just to get to be surrounded by such wonderful women.

i didn't think about taking a bump picture of 34 weeks [i forget almost everything] so this is one of the only ones i have.  you can see her enjoying her shower.  yay bump.

i finally made a decision for your baby bedding.  only about 3 months after i planned to.  i hope you and your future siblings will enjoy it.  your talented future friend kari is making them for you and will undoubtedly do a fantastic job.

oh and one final thought, your momma has nine more work days before she 'retires' to stay home with you!  we cannot wait!  ahhhhh!