Let The Waiting Begin

This weekend we headed up to a friend's farm with these fun people. We were so busy eating, watching football, and doing nothing that we forgot to take any pictures. But this picture below was taken when we all went last spring and the weather was about the same this time around. I love spending time with good friends and having no agenda.

Then Sunday, we drove a little more into North GA to meet baby Owen. Owen was born about a month ago but we have not had a chance to go see him. John and I absolutely adore big brother Hayden and have loved watching him grow up for the past the 3 and 1/2 years. These cute kiddos belong to our great friends Andrew and Stacey. We truly look up to them as parents and love being around their precious family as much as we can.

Now the waiting can begin. We really have nothing else planned and no where to be until our little one decides to arrive (even then we have no where to go)! The official due date is still two weeks away. We are both excited and ready for this season of slowing down a bit. I am not typically a patient person, but I am pretty content in this waiting period. Of course, we would be thrilled and ready if the baby came today, however, I am cherishing however many days we have left. Enjoying the moments of sleeping in on the weekends, running errands on my own time and not carrying a car seat, date nights, walks and lunches with girlfriends, and doing anything spontaneous just because we have the flexibility. I know all the changes in our everyday lives and schedules will be 100% worth it but I am soaking it up for now!

U2 + 9 months pregnant =

An absolutely priceless night! That is right, last night we went to the U2 concert. I know you people think I am some crazy, hippie concert goer seeing as I have now gone to Coldplay, Beyonce, and U2 with this baby in my tummy. Trust me, that is not a typical thing in a 9 month period for me. I have told you though, John and I are suckers for what we see as "once in a lifetime experiences!"

I think I was secretly hoping Bono would sing me right into labor. Oh well, only 3 more weeks and counting though!

Here are some moments we tried to capture last night:

The stage from up above

A little Bono up close

And even closer

With or Without You

Showers

Last weekend we had two baby showers. Both were very special and we felt so loved and blessed. That does not even seem like a good enough description of how we felt, really. I am not one who loves attention focused on me (especially in a larger group). I felt the same way for wedding showers 3 years ago. But as overwhelmed as I can feel by the attention, these showers were amazing reminders of the Lord's love and provision through friends and family.

Thank you to all who took part to make these events so special for us and baby Phelps!

All Grown Up!

I loved my prediatrician as a kid. Dr. Cortopassi - he was the best! In fact, my brothers and I liked him so much, my mom finally asked him one day, "How long can my children come to you before we need to go to a grown up doctor?" He said, "They can come until they have babies, and then one of them has to go!" No, we don't really still see our prediatrician (although we might if we lived in B'ham).

From now until October, during most of my free time, this is what I will be doing:

-finding a pediatrician

-updating life insurance

-making a will

-working out details of my maternity leave from work

-cleaning our guestroom and taking the baby stuff, organizing, etc to make a nursery

-thank you notes to wonderful friends and family

-going to prenatal classes at the hospital

-reading some recommended books

-and just learning anything I can about babies because I know nothing!

Aside from all that though, I have been thinking about what Dr. Cortopassi said alot lately. I definitely felt more grown up once I married and graduated from college, but I am feeling it even more so now. You cannot be the "child" when you have a child. Of course, we are always children of the Lord and growing in him. However, it is quickly becoming a reality to continue to walk with the Lord, not just for me, but because I will have a little one to take care of and teach. The Lord is entrusting this child to me and John on this earth and just like anything else, we cannot do it alone or on our own strength. So, more than any of the things listed above, the Lord is preparing my heart for this baby and I am humbled by this amazing blessing!

Start Spreadin' the News

Obviously, all of you out there know I am pregnant and have known for sometime now. Well, so does every stranger I see now (and it is not because I have told them). Whether it be the grocery store, airport, the pool, getting my haircut, the cleaners, etc. There is something new, weird, or different I learn every week about either my body, the baby, or just pregnancy in general. And making new friends with strangers has become the latest hit. It seems that in the last week I have not gone one place where someone has not stopped me and said, "Oh, When are you due?!" I answer and the next question is also always the same, "Is it a boy or girl?" I answer that one too and say, "I don't know, we are not finding out."

THEN, that is where the conversation really begins and becomes quite hilarious, actually. No more questions from the strangers -only thoughts, opinions, advice, and any other comments that come to mind. They look you up and down, try and guess (or just tell you) why they are just sure it is a boy or a girl. I have a cashier friend at Publix now who is dying for me to have a little girl so she can give me all her daughter's old toys. When I was standing in line for a bathroom one day, a lady told me to name the baby "Mona" if it was a girl. So random and she was serious! I had another lady so worried I had not had a correct ultrasound because she didn't believe I was only at 25 weeks. She was so sure I should be way past that due to the size of my belly. Some say, "Oh, you look adorable" and others say, "Wow, you are huge!" You kind of have to ignore it all and laugh.

You really never know what someone is about to say, but regardless of what they say, it is refreshing to talk someone you would never speak to or even notice otherwise sometimes. We get so caught up in our own lives that we might say "Thank you" or "Have a nice day" to the man behind the counter at the post office or the grocery, but it is different to actually talk and listen. There is something wonderful about babies that make people excited and joyful. And that same thing makes people want to just talk to you and share with you all about their children and their experiences. It really is so sweet (even if they say some odd things too). This all caught me very off guard at first, but I will say now it is one of my favorite things about pregnancy. I love listening to the people I see in the same stores probably every week since I have lived here and now I know more about their lives.

Halfway!

Things have been so busy lately with traveling every weekend, and I realized I have not updated on the baby in a long time. We are now halfway there!

Here are a couple other fun updates:

• 20wks along
• Baby is about 10 1/2 ounces and 10 inches long (about the length of a banana)
• I am quickly growing out of my clothes!
• Most people have predicted Baby Phelps is a boy, but there are a few girl guessers out there in the minority.
• I feel it move pretty much everyday now- which I love! John was able to feel it for the first time last night too.
• Looks like our little one might be a thumb sucker. I had an ultrasound yesterday and saw several pictures of the baby sucking his/her thumb.
• Baby is growing right on track. My due date has not changed and is still set for Oct. 28
• I get a little anxious saying this because it is such a big decision, but I think we have the names picked out. We have a couple girl names and a couple boy names at this point. Of course, this is a surprise too though!

I do not know how people do not believe in the Lord when seeing this process and how He has created us all. I have truly been amazed and learned so much!

To my Friends

SURPRISE!!!!
It's Baby Phelps :)