On Saturday, Damian and his mom threw me a baby shower! It was awesome and so very nice of them to do. We ended up unable to have one with Isabel, so it was nice to be able to celebrate the impending birth of this babe with so many family and friends. And, of course, we picked an awful Saturday, weather wise, to have it, so I am so grateful for the people that braved the snow to come!
There was plenty of food, we had 2 games, neither of which involved baby food or diapers! And we received so many thoughtful and lovely gifts.
Damian totally put so much time and effort into this, I am so grateful for a husband who is willing to do something outside of a traditional gender role. This would not have happened without him! He also provided babysitting services during the shower so all the kids were occupied and not running around crazy. I totally am in love with this man!!!
So, now I just need a few more things (mostly a diaper bag!) and I am ready! I still have a ton of laundry to do, but I'm not too worried about that. I am officially a stay at home mom now (for a few months at least, hopefully longer!) so I feel like I have lots of time on my hands now!
And, at my doctor's appointment this past week, I was told I am 2 cm dilated, and Cael is at 0 station (head down as low as it can get right now). So, there was a little bit of optimism for me! I am so ready! Hopefully, this week or the next, Cael will decide to make his entrance. We're really hoping for this week, though, because Damian doesn't have any papers due in school, they're due the next week, so missing class would be bad. My ideal date is Friday, the 23rd, so if anyone wants to throw out labor vibes to me, that is the day we're hoping and praying for!
And I promise pictures to be added at some point!
So, we've consistently had snow for what, 2 weeks now? And while it was pretty at first, I'm done. I'm sure a lot of it has to do with the fact that I can't see my feet, and I'm terrified of slipping and falling and hurting myself while 8 months pregnant.
Also, car troubles, not so fun in the winter. Damian's Buick desperately needs a new alternator, which he can change himself, but it's cold and yucky outside and I feel bad for him! And, my car had a flat tire last week that poor Damian had to change in the freezing rain. Car troubles are never fun, and always expensive, but winter makes them that much worse!
Isabel, however, loves the snow. She loves to go outside and play and never gets cold. That kid is a furnance! We took her sledding last week, and she loved it! A few friends came with us, and Isabel loved going down the hill on a sled with friends and not having to have daddy go with her everytime! I stayed at the top of the hill and watched, because I'm pretty sure had I gone down, I wouldn't have made it back up! But the kids (including Damian) had fun.
Our Christmas tree is up. It's nice to have it up already and be able to enjoy it for like a month (we put it up right after Thanksgiving). It's pretty. I'll post pictures if I ever find the cord to my camera!
So, another Thanksgiving has come and gone. I was fortunate enough to not have to work on Thanksgiving, so instead I got to spend it with family!
On Wednesday night, we went to Lowell to Damian's mom's best friend's family dinner (did everyone follow that?). There was a ton of good food, and it was nice to catch up with some people we hadn't seen in a while.
On Thursday, we went down to South Haven to my Grandma Peggy's house for a late lunch. Again, a ton of really good food. It was really nice because my uncle and his family came from Iowa. Also, another one of my cousins was there as well with her husband and kids. Celeste (my cousin) is due with her 3rd child (a boy!) about 2 weeks before I am due. So it was nice to talk to her about babies, and we had an impromptu baby shower. It was a great day. And, it was really good to be able to see Grandma Peggy before she left for Florida this week!
I also was able to reflect a little about how blessed I really am. Despite our struggles, we are so very fortunate and so blessed. I am deeply Thankful for all of our family and friends who do so much to support us and love us. I'm thankful we have enough to eat and are able to have a roof over our heads. I'm not sure how sometimes, but for the most part we are able to have enough to make ends meet each month. I have an awesome husband and a fantastic daughter, both of whom I love deeply, and who love me in return.
It's so easy sometimes to wish that we had more, or a little more wiggle room in our budget, etc. However, we truly have so much and are so blessed!
And, still no pictures because I still don't have my cord!
Damian and I went up to Ludington for his birthday/our 5th anniversary/one last weekend away before the baby is born. We had no major plans other than to relax! We stayed at the Best Western of course. We had a "Penthouse Suite" with a whirlpool and a gas fireplace and a balcony that looked over the pool. We also had brought our dvd player and some movies. So we pretty much spent the weekend eating and watching movies. But it was just what we needed! Damian also took me around town and showed me the houses he and his mom used to live in a long time ago.
Isabel got to stay with Grandma and Grandpa Adkins, and she had a blast! She loves to have sleepovers!
On a side note, I lost the cord to my camera, so no pictures until I find it!
Friday I had my 28 week appointment, a little late because I'm 29 weeks. Oh well! I also had to do the glucose test, as well as get my Rhogam shot since I'm Rh-negative. Everything went well. I have a huge bruise from where they drew the blood, and my arm hurt for a day where the Rhogam was injected. My Glucose test results were in the normal range, which is such a relief because of my insulin resistance.
Isabel got to come into the exam room with me and got to hear the baby's heartbeat, which was 138 beats per minute. She's getting pretty excited. I can't believe I'm in the 3rd trimester already! This pregnancy has flown by compared to Isabel's!
This past weekend we went up to Shelby for the annual Thanksgiving/Christmas Eat-a-thon. It is always lots of fun! And there is always so much food! To try to give you an idea of how much food, let me just say that Damian is on the small side for an Omness man. He also eats less than the average Omness man. It takes a lot of food to fill up everyone! Damian's aunt had cooked 31 pounds of beef. 31 lbs! Which is about what Isabel weighs! Crazy!
Anyway, we went up early so we could check into our hotel, and then we took Isabel swiming in the pool for a few minutes. The party started at 6pm, and it was pretty much nonstop eating until 10pm. I tried to limit myself, and I think I did an okay job.
After the party, we dropped Isabel and Damian's mom off at Damian's Aunt Robin's house for a sleepover (Isabel adores Aunt Robin) and Damian and I headed back to the hotel and promptly feel asleep. We were all fighting colds, and were exhuasted! Sunday morning, we headed back down to Grand Rapids, still very full from the night before!
And, of course, I left the camera in the car, so no pictures. Oh well.
Isabel's preschool class had a Halloween party, of course, on Thursday the 30th. Damian and I were both fortunate enough to attend. I think Isabel had a lot of fun. Damian and I were put to work, so our fun level varied! But it was great to be able to go!
Isabel and Jainyn
The girls.
She decorated a little treat box. Then she put it in her cubby for safe keeping.
Instead of bobbing for apples, they eat donuts off strings. Isabel enjoyed her donut.
Damian helping Isabel and Jainyn decorate sugar cookies.
Sampling the decorations.
Isabel made a bracelet, with the help of her Daddy.
Her preschool class. The witch is her teacher, Miss Jessica. She's actually very nice, and not at all witch-like.
Finally, they got to eat their cookies!
Closeup of the cookies!