Growing and growing....

I had a doctor's appointment on Friday, the 2nd, which the doctor informed us that I am not dialated or effaced at all.... which provides me some relief since Jason is out of town this week in Hawaii for work- AND my OB doctor is out of town this week as well....:( I am still just really anxious this week while he is gone just in case something happens- he is not just a few hours away! He just left this morning and I already miss him! I have to train my replacement for work Monday and Tuesday and then have the rest of the week off so will be trying to take it easy... although I am definately in a nesting mode!!!

Where has the time gone?

Well today I am officially 36 weeks! I have had two doctor's appointments since my last posting- last week we had another ultrasound which confirmed that Baby G is head down and we are 100% positive it is a boy! Yesterday, I went to the doctor again and his heartbeat is strong and now he is just growing and gaining weight... here is a pic of me at 34 1/2 weeks- we have been finishing up his nursery so hope to post a pic soon:) We are anxiously awaiting his arrival- as well as our families who are coming to visit as well!!! well it is 9:00- bedtime for me and baby- good night!

Our Phoenix Family

Our Phoenix Family!

"Guess the Chocolate Game"

Rachelle, a PT I work with in Surprise, who is due four days before me, October 18th with a baby girl!

My friends Brean, Kelli, and sis in law Emily hosted a baby shower for me this past Sunday with my "Phoenix Family". I got to see many of my friends from Iowa that I don't get to see often- which I just love friends who you can just pick right up like you just saw them yesterday, my co- workers, and my friends who I have met here in Phoenix. Baby Grant is blessed to have so many people that love him- here in Phoenix and far away in Iowa and other parts of the US. He received lots of football- themed clothing, a car seat base, bottles, and blankets. I have yet to take the time to figure out how to add a slideshow to my blog so I added a few of many pics from the shower....

Amazing Example

I believe that many events/ situations in my life have happened for a reason and one situation right now that I am extremely thankful for and know that God has placed this family in my care as a teaching moment for me.... I work with one of the most challenging babies I have ever had to work with from an emotional standpoint.... he has a condition where his brain did not develop and his head contains primarily just fluid ( and will continue to grow and expand with the fluid). He does have his brain stem so he is able to breathe and eat on his own remarkably but was referred to hospice right after he was born. His mother is such an amazing example to me- she is a single mom who is so loving and dedicated towards him and has such a love and desire for Jesus- despite her situation. He has been on my mind and my heart lately- especially today because mom told me again how she didn't want to put his crib together because she didn't want to see his crib empty and was explaining to me eventually how he would pass away- which he is expected to do before the end of the year. She had me in tears:( So in October when I say goodbye to this baby -- I know I will never forget him and hope that I can be as an amazing mother to my baby as she is to her son.

Hahaha...

Today at work a sibling of a kiddo I work with asked me "Ms. Kim... why is your tummy big?"... I said "Well it is a baby sweetie" She said with a puzzled looking face " Did you swallow it {the baby}? hahaha...... her comment made my day!

Family Pics

here are some of my favorite pics my sis took of us while we were in Iowa....

A little R & R

Jason surprised me with a getaway weekend to Amara Resort and Spa in Sedona. I knew we were heading up north for the weekend but those were the only details I knew about until we got there! The weekend was wonderful- cooler weather, couples massage, napping by the pool, and just hanging out with my hubby!! ahhhhh!!:)

29 weeks...

I am already 30 1/2 weeks but am trying to take a pic everytime I have an OB appt which my last one was at 29 weeks... his heartbeat was 125 beats per minute and the doctor says I am measuring "just right." As I am getting bigger, my job is progressively getting more and more difficult... there are many days where the heat just drains me by the afternoon (since I go in and out of people's houses and my car all day) and I just want to lay down right on my family's floors and take a quick power nap! I also spend the majority of my day on the floor working with the kiddos so finding a comfortable position to work with them is getting interesting! I have been advised that I cannot sit cross legged or with my legs in a 'v' position since I was having some circulation problems so basically I can stay on my knees and that is it! I have considered wearing my volleyball knee pads for some of my families that only have hardwood/tile floors!!:) hahaha..... but I am slowing down my caseload which just breaks my heart and is very difficult because I absolutely love all of the kids and families I work with- many of the kids I work with I have known since they were 4-6 months old and have been able to watch them grow up and have celebrated all of their developmental accomplisments!!! They are all such amazing kids it is so hard to say goodbye!

Nursery

Well since my last post, Emily has moved in with a roommate and we have started to work on the baby's nursery! The room was already a southwest red color so we decided to keep one of the walls the red color and then paint the other walls a neutral tan color to match the bedding I found... here is a sneak peak but will post the final pic once we get everything organized:)

Brean's Baby Shower

This past Saturday was Brean's baby shower for baby Carson! So much to celebrate with her and her family and definately makes me excited for his arrival- which will be here in a few short weeks! She will be an amazing mom! Sarah (in the middle) is due in August with baby Dallas:)

Baby Care Class

My mother in law Linda is an OB nurse and teaches the Baby Care class at Methodist Hosptial in Des Moines. She gave us our own personal session before we came back to Arizona.... and we are hoping will be able to be at the hospital when Baby Grant is born! As you can see Jason needs to some more practice with swaddling:)

Aaron & Katie's Wedding Weekend

We had a great weekend in Iowa for Aaron and Katie's weekend! We flew into Iowa on Thursday afternoon and had a BBQ that night at Jason's house... it was so much fun to just relax outdoors and just catch up with everyone before all of the upcoming festivities! Living so far away from everyone just makes us appreciate all of the times that we do get to spend together... Friday we decorated for their rehearsal dinner and then Saturday was the big day! Katie looked beautiful and Aaron couldn't stop smiling! They truly are a perfect match for each other!

25 weeks and counting!

Hey Everyone! Had another tummy check at 24 weeks and our baby's heartbeat is healthy--- getting excited that our baby is getting bigger as I can feel him moving around all the time now and watching my stomach bulge to a side is so fun to see! just can't wait to meet him!

Maternity Pics

I am very blessed to have a sister who is a professional photographer! She was able to take some pics of me when I was visiting in Iowa and will snap a few more with Jason when we fly back to Iowa for his brother's wedding in a few weeks.... here are some of the shots:)

Baby Shower

The Sunday after Jen's wedding, my sister hosted a baby shower for me! I had so much fun celebrating with my friends and family... I really didn't want the shower to end! The shower had a sports theme so everyone had to place the football where they thought the baby would kick and we played the 'vegetable/baby' game ( a game we would play all the time when going to Central volleyball games in the vans). My mother- in- law made a super cute diaper cake and we had all sorts of yummy food for the brunch!

Jen and Andrew's wedding

My friend Jen got married this past weekend in Iowa! I have been looking forward to her wedding for months.... she looked soooo beautiful and so many of my friends from Central and Kansas City (who I only see once a year!) were there!!!! I am so happy for her and Andrew!:)

Baby Grant's bear

During our Level II ultrasound, we recorded Baby Grant's heartbeat on a Build a Bear recording device and put it in this bear to give him when he arrives! Every time we push the button on its hand, we can hear our baby's heartbeat:) Jason couldn't resist buying a football outfit that resembles his high school football team colors and even has a paw print on the helmet similar to his helmet for the Adel Tigers. I had a 'tummy check' this past Monday, the 8th, and Dr. Sawyer says that Baby Grant continues to be healthy and growing! I really enjoyed being able to do some baby activities while my mom was visiting from Iowa---- will be heading back to Iowa in one week already! Can't wait!!!

Just the four of us!

This past weekend Brean's sister got married!! Brean is three weeks ahead of me and is also having a boy, named Carson! It is sooo fun to have such a close friend to share pregnancy stories and to go through this experience together:)

Thumbs Up!

This past Friday we had our Level II Ultrasound and I feel a huge relief!! The technician and the baby (click on the ultrasound pic) gave us a "thumbs up" that he is on track with his size and all of his organs/arms/legs appear to be developing normally. I have only felt small 'flutters' so far so I just LOVE to watch him move during the ultrasound... I am 19 weeks so I am anticipating that I should be receiving some punches/kicks any day now:)

Em's Graduation!!!

Last weekend we surprised Emily with a college graduation celebration. She didn't get to 'walk' with her class since she graduated early and lives in Phoenix.... she was very surprised and it was a great reason to get a DQ ice cream cake!!!:)

It's a... BOY!!!

We had a 16 week appointment today and our doctor told us we are having a boy! We had wanted our doctor to write the sex of the baby down and Jason and I were going to open the envelope later tonight but our doctor got so excited and caught up in the moment, he typed in "It's a Boy' on the ultrasound picture while we were looking at it... he felt bad when he realized what he had done and we were a bit surprised but never the less, very, VERY excited!!! He said he was 100% sure it was a boy... click on the ultrasound pics to get a close up of Baby Grant. No names picked out yet.... you will all have to wait until his arrival in October to find out!:)

16 Weeks!

Here is me and Baby at 16 weeks!

6 Years!

May 2nd was Jason and my 6 year wedding anniversary!! We got married around Tulip Time so every year I buy tulips because they remind me of Pella, IA, and our wedding weekend:) I also write in a journal every anniversary summarizing the year and hopes for the upcoming year..... and then I don't write in it or read it until our next anniversary. Last year's entry was so fun to read because I had written how I was hoping I would be pregnant... God is soo good!:) This year to celebrate our anniversary, Jason and I went out to eat at Tutti Santi and then went to the Scottsdale drive in movie theatre, which was such a cute nostalgic place.

May 11th is our next ultrasound where we are hoping we can find out the sex of the baby! What a great Mother's Day gift:)

Halle Bear

Jump, Jump, Jump!