Life in Transition

May 14, 2011

41 weeks..."You have got to be kidding!"

Well, here we are, one week past Pepper's due date. Originally, I had mentally prepared for this because I had heard that first babies often go over. Then I had some preterm labor and so all thoughts of going past my due date vanished. Well, now I realize that I should have kept the mental preparedness going because it is very hard to go past the due date...especially a whole week! Like I already said, I have had a great week and I feel good, so I am not complaining. I am just so excited to hold her that I can hardly stand it! This is a good exercise in patience for me and patience is NOT one of my strengths.

This sweater is at its MAX capacity.

We REALLY want to get our pic into the Awkward Pregnancy Picture website.

We are ready to be 3 instead of 2.

Waiting on Pepper

The Paradise that is John and Pat's yard.

I will be planting one just like this in our yard someday.

My week has been an excellent one. It is true, I am very anxious for Pepper to get here, but I am also enjoying the time that I have had to rest, relax, and prepare for her arrival. I completed countless little projects and cleaned the house a couple times. I have been doing some cooking for the first time in forever! I also have been able to exercise, completing almost 15 miles of walking this week. Napping has been a daily occurrence, something that is entirely uncharacteristic for me. The weather has been very warm so I have been able to play with the dogs in the pond. I even tried to teach Zoe to swim, without any luck yet. It is not that she can't swim, it is just that she does not know she can swim. How do you explain that to a 6 month old puppy?
Overall, I have been blessed that Pepper is happy where she is... though today is an excellent day for her to change her mind!

The bees and me love these blossoms!

This is as far as Zoe will go in

Framing Begins

Observing the progress on the house has been really fun this week. Framing is cool because it seems like so much gets done each day. You can really see a difference from day to day. Jo has been working some with Gene and also spent some time back filling around the porch and prepping the floor in the under-porch storage area. Sunday the stairs from the basement to first floor go in. It is so fun to be able to walk through and picture how big each room is. Mom and Dad are going to have such a great, cozy place down there!

Another Zoe Nest

Bedroom framed in

A bit of springtime rain

Jo always measuring...always planning.

Under the porch.

Straight ahead is an awesome pantry/storage area. Thanks for the idea, Ralph!

Zoe helping.

May 9, 2011

The Floor

To keep you updated on the house progress, I will post last weeks pics of the basement floor going in. It is so exciting to watch each stage. I am learning a lot. Jo is doing an amazing job! I compare his role to an orchestra conductor who is also playing half of the instruments. Not only has he been working like crazy on the house but he has managed to help me around the house and hang out with me a lot, enjoying our last few days as just US. What an incredible husband I have!

40 Weeks and the Count CONTINUES...

For comparison purposes... 10 week pic

I can't believe that my due date has come and gone! I know that first babies often go past the due date, in fact only 5% are actually born on the due date, but still it is hard to watch that date come and go with no indication that she is anything but entirely content to stay inside forever. On one hand I am so glad that she has not come yet. I had such a restful, relaxing weekend. I am getting a lot done around the house and feeling even more READY for this transition. On the other hand, I am getting a bit apprehensive that she is packing on the pounds, only to make the exit more challenging. I have an appointment tomorrow to find out when an induction can happen. Hopefully that will not be needed and things will start on their own. Maybe I'll try another 5 mile walk...

Composition perfection. Into a mirror with my headpiece just right. Another Jo masterpiece.

At this point I make a basketball look tiny.

"Almost" Mother's Day

My AMAZING Grandmas- aka Grandma D and GUMBY

I call this an almost Mother's Day, at least for me. There is a chance that Pepper could have decided to make me work for the celebration of this day. Instead, she stayed in and chilled as usual. I don't think that carrying a child for 10 months really makes you entitled to the mother role, especially when the pregnancy has been as easy as mine has been. Nonetheless, it was fun to pose with the REAL mother's in our family. They are wonderful, just what mother's should be. I love them so much and have a lot to learn from them!