From Beginning to Now!

Well - - I should have started this a long time ago, but it's never too late. As all of you are aware, in March we found out that the latest addition to our family was going to be born. It was such an AMAZING blessing because we weren't sure if I was going to be able to have any more babies. We took all the precautions, and kept me as healthy as possible in the beginning to be able to get to the point that we're at today.

6 MONTHS PREGNANT!!!

It has been a better pregnancy than my last one in so many ways. No swelling yet! With Ethan I started swelling before 6 months, so hopefully I can keep from doing so for the remainder of my pregnancy. I have been able to be home working with this pregnancy which I think has helped me to take better care of myself. I have had amazing family, friends and support to keep me feeling REALLY good about how this pregnancy is going as well! Now the only fears I have (outside of worrying if this labor will be TOTALLY more difficult than the last one!) are if I will be able to successfully breastfeed this time around. But I'm looking in to a good pediatrician who offers support, so hopefully things will work in my favor!

In June we found out that our little baby was going to be a little Miss! How exciting! We're like the all American family! First born son and second born daughter! We were so hopeful for a daughter this time around, because we wanted to be able to have some more girlyness in our household! As soon as we found out, Allan was on a WAR PATH to design the PERFECT room for his little girl. He looked through all kinds of ideas, and finally found the room that was PERFECT for his daughter. We started working on it in July as soon as we had funds to start, and we contine to draw closer and closer to it's completion. It's filled with pinks, yellows, purples, and a few other colors mixed in, and the theme, to top it off and add perfection, is Minnie Mouse!!! As Ethan's room is filled with Mickey Mouse, nothing could have been MORE perfect for her. The room looks GREAT! Allan has done a WONDERFUL job! He truely has a talent for these things, there's no doubt about that!

So far Ethan has taken a liking to the idea of mommy having a baby in her tummy. He talks to her, tells her he loves her, and is more than happy to show EVERYONE where his baby is! I think he's going to be a WONDERFUL big brother. They all start out so wonderful though don't they?!? He sometimes gets confused and tells dad that he has a baby in his tummy too. But we're really trying to make him feel like he's part of this whole thing! And he's shown to be VERY affectionate, caring and loving toward his new sister, so we couldn't ask for anything more!

She's been moving around here and there. I definately feel more movement this time around than I did last. The doctor says her heartbeat is strong, that she's growing right as she's supposed to, and hasn't been commenting on my weight gain, so I must be doing okay! My blood pressure has been really good, and hopefully will remain good throughout the last three months. The only problems I've had have been a strained muscle in my back, and a bladder infection, which was not fun at all! But other than that, she's treating me well so far! I am excited for the next three months to pass, because I'm SO excited to meet this little lady! But I'll take it one day at a time, and enjoy these last few months of pregnancy!

Soon I'll post up some photos of the nursery, and some more stories as they come to me! Until then, just keep us in your prayers!