34.5 Weeks

My sweet friend, Heather, of Heather Campbell Photography, took some maternity pics for my this past Tuesday. 

She herself just had her first baby, a little boy, a month ago so we got to chat about that and what it's like to be a new mommy. It was so fun!

Im glad I got some taken. I was hesitant about it, considering how much $$ we are already spending on birth & newborn photography and how enormously huge I feel! but I think in the end Im going to be so happy that I took them once I miss that belly.

Thank you Heather and I cannot wait to see the rest of your artwork!!!

Last night we had dinner with some new friends who just had a baby 8.5 months ago and used the same doc that we are using. It was a good time of fellowship and conversation. They had chosen natural birth as well and it was good to hear someone be positive about our decision to have a natural birth! Not to mention Iris' meat pie was absolutely delicious!! ;)

Speaking of natural birth, our doula, Kaleigh, is coming over tonight for our prenatal visit. This is so that we can talk more specifically about our birth plan and draw it out. She also gets to come to our home (where we hope to labor as long as possible to avoid interventions at the hospital), so she will walk through with us how to make our home a comforting & peaceful environment while we are here. Once I go into labor she will come out and help Drew with soothing techniques for me and also help us to know when the contractions are at the right amount to go to the hospital.

We are very excited about this visit as it means that little man will be here very soon!!!

I think that knowing he is about to arrive has me in a state of eagerness, apprehension, absentmindedness, and excitement all in one! The combination of all of these emotions has me riding an emotional roller coaster each day. On the verge of tears every. second. of. every. day. lately. I think this is probably normal but man, I hope it doesn't get worse because Im going to be a wreck over the next 5 weeks! haha!

In order to pass the time and get ready for baby Jude we have been working on the nursery... well, the best we can without our dresser being here yet :/ It isn't scheduled to be here until the week before he is due! Praying it comes early!!!

Here are some pics of what we've done so far:

my friend Haley came and painted his initials above his bed along with this tree. We are hanging shelving on the branches but we have yet to get the right screws to hang it! I will post a pic of the finished masterpiece when it is done ;)

Also, Im going to buy a little bird house to sit on the shelf and paint it to match... notice the cute bird haley painted for us.

we absolutely love his bedroom furniture!

I sure wish his dresser would come in!! This is where it will go... eventually... ;)

We feel very blessed with what God has given us to prepare for Jude and make him a little space in our home! I sure cannot wait until he is sleeping here ;)

Not a great picture, but this is the cradle that is in our room for when he is first born. It was my cradle that my grandfather had made for me when I was a baby so it's very special to our family :)

The blanket is a blanket that was Drew's when he was a baby. I LOVE these family heirlooms!!! So special!!!!!

& here's Macy Grey... she has been upset with me for a while now.. I think she knows Im pregnant and about to have Jude. Animals can sense these things.

Here is lil' man's swing and seat from my parents. Cannot wait until he's here and can use them!!!

Have I mentioned that our living room is so full with furniture that we don't have room for Judes little things like his swing? so they are currently in our dining room. I think I made an "executive" decision today that this would no longer be our "formal" dining room. I mean look at it. That is pitiful & we NEVER use it. I want to turn it into a sitting room/Jude's playroom. He doesn't even play yet and the little guy has so many toys we don't know what to do with them all!

Will post pics once this is transformed too :)