Yeah, 18 days, wow....

If you have ever been pregnant I'm sure you feel my absolute shock when I say that we have 18 days until our due date. ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? That is insane! On one hand it does feel like I've been pregnant forever, but on the other, these past few weeks have FLOWN by. Everytime I get mom to do my weekly belly picture I say "wow, didn't we just do this?". Anyway, I've got my weekly appointment today so we'll see if we've made any progress. I am 37 weeks now, but still hoping she is hanging out for Adam. I do have to share a little secret though....while I do tell her and pray everyday that she waits for Adam, in the back of my mind it wouldn't hurt my feelings if she came right now! I am just so uncomfortable and ready for this baby to come out!!! I have to take it day by day or otherwise I don't know if I could make it. I know it will all be worth it in the end, but I suppose thats difficlut to realize when you have to roll to get up and feel like you're carrying a bowling ball between your legs.

So last night I had a major reminiscing fest. As I'm sure I've mentioned multiple times, I do not sleep at night. So instead of getting in bed and just laying there as I usually do, I decided to bust out the video camera and watch some home movies (We've had this camera for like 2 years and still haven't transfered all the video to the computer!) Anyway, I watched the surprise deployment party I threw for Adam, some clips from our trip to Chicago, hanging out with friends at our house, and Christmas at his parents, my parents, and on the coast. I don't think the smile left my face for the whole 2 hours I was absorbed at the computer. It was amazing to remember how life was when Adam was here. How happy we were. And, sadly, how much we took it for granted. We were so carefree and had no idea how perfect everything was. While I do still think we are extremely blessed, that point in our lives was truly amazing. I hope that this separation allows Adam and I to never take our time together for granted again! I love him and miss him so much and I can't believe he will be home in less than 2 weeks!!!!!

Before I head off to start the day, I have to share the cutest thing. My aunt told me about this little conversation yesterday and I couldn't stop laughing. Little kids' minds are just amazing. So at the family Thanksgiving while Emily was looking at my belly she told my aunt Lisa that she wanted to take out Maggie Claire and play with her. Lisa said "well we can't do that because we want Adam to be here before she comes." To this the brilliant Emily replied "Well, can't we just take her out and play with her and then put her back before he gets home?" hahaha. So adorable. I must admit that I am right there with Emily in her line of thinking though - I wish I could take MC out, hold her and snuggle her (and get some much needed pregnancy relief!), and then just put her back before Adam comes home. Oh well, once again, it will all be worth it when that precious little girl gets here!!! Hope everyone has a great week and I'll post an update after my doctor's appointment! :)

Food and Thanks

Well our little family Thanksgiving went super well! Jeff and his friend came which was AWESOME - although I'm sure he was a bit overwhelmed with our usual 50 person crew! However, he did survive, so go Jeff! haha. Everyone had a fun night discussing the growing belly and asking me if I was really pregnant or just had a huge basketball stuffed in my shirt...

While everyone enjoyed the belly, I'm not sure it was enjoyed by anyone as much as my sweet Lauren! I think she sat on the couch with me for over an hour just watching and feeling MC move. It was the sweetest thing ever. She would talk to her, put her cheek to my belly, put her hand on it, and get down real close and watch it. She is so precious. At one point I had Lauren, her sister Emily, and my other cousin Kailey all with their hands on my belly watching her. I wanted to tear up it was so beautiful and sweet. Oh, Jeff also got to feel her move! He was saying he had never felt a baby kick before so I said "give me that hand!" haha.

Sweet Lauren giving MC some love!

Getting excited talking about MC

Anyway, hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!! Another doctor's appointment Monday so we'll see how things are going then! I've had about 5 different people tell me that they have had dreams or just think that she's coming any day now... we'll see!

Why Do They Say "9 months" When Its Really Ten???

Hello blog readers! Well, yesterday was my weekly doctor's appointment and.... nothing to report! I know I should be jumping up and down screaming from the excitement, but in the back of my mind I can't help but think "this baby is never going to come out..." I am in quite a predicament here. On one hand I want Adam to here to experience the joy and excitement of the birth of our first child, but on the other hand I selfishly want her OUT! haha. I mean seriously, three more weeks of this??? I can barely function right now I am so uncomfortable and tired (as mentioned a hundred and one times so far) , and I can't imagine it only getting worse. Yes, I do tell her to stay put and wait for daddy - but one percent or so of me might be subconsciously wishing for an early debut! I mean, why do they even associate pregnancy with 9 months in the first place? Unless I am totally ignorant (which might very well be the case!), 40 weeks is 10 months of pregnancy! I am currently 36 weeks. There are roughly 4 weeks in a month. 36 divided by 4 is nine. I am nine months pregnant? Seems like it to me. So when you suprpass the 36 week mark you are 9 months and however many weeks pregnant, right? I think its all a farse to trick women. You think, "oh sure, I can do 9 months...", then BAM! Nope, you still have a WHOLE OTHER MONTH!

Anyway, I am also bummed that the doctor isn't going to do any more ultrasounds. I have at least one person a day asking how much she weighs and I just have to say "I have no idea". I mean I would kinda like to know myself. Let's face it - I am not a super big person and I would like to know if I am carrying a 9 pound baby or something. Not that it matters, I know she has to come out not matter what, but I think being able to mentally prepare for that would be helpful. I would also like to know what position she's in and I thought they would too. However, when I asked my doctor about all this he said "Well, she feels like a normal size baby. I don't think you are carrying a super large 9 pound baby by anymeans - I am guessing between 7 and 8 pounds when she delivers. As far as the position, I am almost sure she is head down. I would be very surprised if that was her butt I was feeling during the exam and not her head." I guess he's done this long enough to know what he's talking about, so I'm gonna have to trust him. We'll see how much Maggie Claire weighs when she arrives! I have to disagree with the doctor though, I am not sure she'll weigh that much. I'm thinking barely over 7 pounds at the most. Guesses anyone?

And lastly, here is the 36 week belly. I feel so horrible that most of my belly pictures are me in my MSU athletic shorts. Yes, I do own other shorts, but sadly only one or two of them still fit. The elastic in those MSU shorts is just soooo awesome and stretchy. Doesn't get tight or put a lot of pressure on my stomach which is why I choose to wear them all the time. I told my friend I was going to contact the manufacturer and thank them...

Well, only a few more weeks to go! Hopefully things will continue to go well and Maggie will come into this world a healthy baby! Also, please pray that I can contain my excitment and control myself until Adam gets home!!! I know these next few weeks I am going to be soooo anxious waiting on him to get here!!! Happy Tuesday!!

Master Plan

Adam and I have always thought we were made for each other. That even before both of us were born, God knew that he was going to put us together. It was all part of His plan. Well, we got to talking about this again last night. How we each felt that our spiritual faith has grown because of each other. I wasn't in the best place when I met Adam. I had come out of a really really bad relationship and while I thought I wanted to try again, I really didn't want anything serious. I didn't have a close relationship with God due to all that was going on in my life. I was very angry and did a lot of questioning. Well, with that being said, Adam was telling me last night that that was one of the things that drew him to me. He saw my troubles and his words last night were "I saw Jesus in you. Not the strong Jesus we typically think of, but more of the Jesus carrying his cross and needing help." Well, then he asked me "What was the guys name who helped Jesus carry the cross?" We both couldn't remember - totally crazy. Anyway, trusty google gave us the answer. Know what his name was? Simon. Know what Adam's name is? Simon. Kinda ironic don't ya think? Here I am as Adam saw me, a struggling Jesus figure, and here he is - Simon - helping to relieve the burden. Of course this led to how great God is and the plan He had for the two of us...

Well, after we finished talking I started thinking about how difficult it is to trust in God at times. We think we have all the answers and when things don't go how we feel they should, we think God has abandoned us. However, we have to realize, its all part of His plan! I feel that every single event that has taken place in our lives has lead us to where we are today for a reason. I started thinking about all of the seemingly pointless events that have completely changed my life and led me to Adam. As I thought of more recent events (like the strange way Kristen and I became roommates and how that led to me meeting Jacob. I will have to post about that one day - its a quite interesting story of God's plan at work.), that led to thinking back further and further until I could go back to the beginning of time. Let me show you what I mean:

My family is Catholic. They have been for as long as anyone can remember. If they had not been Catholic, my parents would not have been Catholic. If they had not been Catholic, I never would've attended a Catholic school. If I had never attended a Catholic school, I never would have met my friend Luciana. If I had never met my friend Luciana, I never would've met Craig. If I had never met Craig, I never would've heard about Mississippi State. If I had never heard about Mississippi State and how great it was, I probably never would've applied there. If I had never applied there I never would've met Kristen. If I had never met Kristen, I never would've met Jacob. If I had never met Jacob, he never would've introduced me to Adam.

Its amazing really. Of course that is the WAAAAY watered down version. There are SO many other things that come into play along with that (if I hadn't of chosen the right people to hang out with in high school I never would've made the good grades I did that allowed me to get out of state tuition waved so I could even afford Mississippi State in the first place, ect. I could go on and on)

Anyway, the point of my rambling? Trust in God. He knows good and well what he is doing. While it may not make a bit of sense to you at the time, it is all part of His plan. If you had told me when I started college that a few years down the road I would be married for a year, become pregnant, have my husband deploy and move back in with my parents, I would say you were nuts. I would've thought, God wouldn't do that to me. I am not strong enough for that. Yet, here I am. I don't understand why things happened the way they did, but I know its for a reason. Somehow all of these events too are going to shape mine and Adam's life and have a profound impact that we can't even yet understand.

I am happy to say that while Adam and I are God's will for one another, I feel he put us together for more reason that just our humanly happiness. I think God put us together so that we could grow closer to Him. And in the end, isn't that what life is all about? Coming closer to and knowing Him. Without Adam I don't know where I would be in my faith. The great thing is, I don't have to think about it. I have him and have grown and learned so much due to his amazing fortitude and spirituality. I admire Adam so much and thank God everyday that he has blessed me far beyond what I feel I would ever deserve! Again, my other point to this rambling is to find that person who does the same thing for you if you haven't already. If you aren't sure about a relationship, think about whether or not they make you strive to be a better person and grow in your relationship with God. For the people who increase our closeness with Him are always part of His plan!

I hope I haven't gotten too deep with this post. Ya know how somedays you just want to jump out of your skin and say "Thank you God!"? It's sad we don't have days like that EVERYDAY, but while it was on my mind I just had to share! Hope everyone had a great weekend and has a great day tomorrow! I've got my weekly doctor's appointment so I'll be sure update when I get out!

One More Month!

The time is almost here! I can't believe we only have about a month until little Maggie Claire is in our arms!!! I think I mentioned that I have been a crazy person the past few weeks, "nesting". However, for now, everything appears to be done. I feel SO much better! Between getting the last minute things we still needed for her, making sure everything was assembled, putting in the car seats, getting everything washed and put away, organizing all of her necessities, and packing the hosptial bag, I am EXHAUSTED! All of this in addition to my daily routines of working, writing thank you notes, running errands, getting together and sending packages for Adam, and doctor's appointments. Poor baby girl isnt even here yet and I already need a break! haha

Another good thing about the time approaching for Maggie? I GET TO SEE MY HUSBAND!!!!!!!!!! I mean, seriously, does it get any better than that? I get a baby AND my hubby! He is set to leave for his R & R at the end of November. Its taken some guys as many as 5 days to get home, so he should be here by our tentative induction date. However, if things go well, he might be here earlier.

I cannot describe the feelings that have been swirling in my head. It has been approximately 5 months since I have seen Adam (and when he gets here it will have been 6 months). I worry about things being kinda weird when we are together again, but I'm sure thats to be expected. I mean, we will have to sort of get used to each each other all over again. (And sadly, by the time we do, it will be time for him to leave again). I am also worried about sending him back. It was hard enough to let him go the first time. I cant even imagine what it will be like holding two week old Maggie as we watch him get on that plane. Well, I can't focus on that. If I did, I would never fully enjoy our time together and I can tell you I am going to enjoy every SECOND of it!! No thoughts or worries about what is to come. I am going to live in the moment and cherish how lucky I am. Sounding very positive and optimistic aren't I? Yes, its a new kick of mine... haha. Seriously though, I have gone through some major changes since Adam has been away. I feel like a much stronger, capable, independent person. This might be hard to believe considering my posts reflect a worrisome and weak demeanor. Let's face it though - not many people feel the need to post when things are going well. Its therapudic to posts when things are icky. So on those few days when I am feeling down, I turn to my trusty blog and type away all my insecurities. However, on the other days, I remember what I have already made it through and feel capable to handle whatever else might be thrown my way - I just don't post about it! So readers, rest assured that I am doing fine and will try to post more "go me" updates! haha.

Oh, went to the doctor Monday and happy to report that there is nothing to report!! haha. We had a scare last Wednesday with some serious contractions and intense lower back pain, but I guess it was just stress from work that day. Maggie Claire is (at least for now) still holding out for daddy!! Let's keep our fingers crossed it stays that way!! Happy Tuesday everyone!