40 weeks

How far along? 40 weeks!!
Total weight gain: 30 and some change
Maternity clothes? Totally, I have to be careful what tops I wear to make sure I'm totally covered
Sleep: love it!
Best moment this week: I enjoy our nightly walks a lot and the excitement of waking up every day thinking "this could be the day!"
Food Cravings: food is a little blah for me this week and everything is giving me a little heartburn
Movement: yep, and so many hiccups!
Gender: GIRL!!
Labor Signs: Lots of early labor signs, but not really going anywhere
What I miss: Blending in. I feel like a spectacle everywhere I go.
What I am looking forward to: Meeting my sweetie!!
Weekly Wisdom: I will not be pregnant forever and days will start moving quickly again.
Milestones: Today is the day we've been looking forward to since July 18th, 2009!

Mural

On Saturday Nathan's dad (Grandpa T) came up from Cape Girardeau and installed the mural in baby girl's room. It is so awesome and so special that he made it just for her. The room really looks complete now!

It is just what we envisioned, a city in the background and a park in the foreground. It's also cool to see the seminary tower out of the window in her room and then see it on here, too. If you look closely, you can see some familiar faces on the park bench.




Doesn't Jackamo look so cute?!

No. 15 Roast Chicken - Nathan's Recipe

I think I finally got it figured out. Let me know what you think. Credit to my better half for perfecting the gravy.

Brine
3 bottles Schlafly No. 15 beer (this is key)
3 cups chicken broth
2/3 cup salt
1/2 cup sugar
Good amount of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves

Mix brine at let chicken marinate for 6-8 hours. Mix 1-2 sticks softened butter, fresh chopped parsley, and a few cloves crushed garlic. Spread on outside, under skin, and in cavity of a whole chicken. Roast chicken with 3/4 cup of broth and 3/4 cup leftover brine. Bake at 375 for 20 minutes per pound.

Gravy
3 tblsp butter
2 tblsp flour
3/4 cup drippings from roast pan
1/3 cup milk

Make roux with butter and flour. Mix in chicken drippings, then whisk in milk. Season with a little salt, pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon, and garlic powder. Serve with chicken.

39 weeks

How far along? 39 weeks
Total weight gain: 30 and some change
Maternity clothes? Totally
Sleep: love it!
Best moment this week: As strange as it may sound, our false labor scare on Tuesday night was pretty exciting. Even though everything fizzled out by the end of the day, it was so exciting thinking that this might be it! It was also fun to see how well we worked together as a team to get together the last minute things. Neither of us were stressed, just excited and ready to get this show on the road. Even the long, slow walk we took was fun! I've never been so excited to have cramps and horrible back pain in my life, that's for sure.
Food Cravings: food is a little blah for me this week and everything is giving me a little heartburn
Movement: yep, and so many hiccups!
Gender: GIRL!!
Labor Signs: Lots of early labor signs, but I'm trying to not get my hopes up too much and ready into everything (FYI this is impossible, kind of like waiting to find out if you're pregnant)
What I miss: Not being a spectacle everywhere I go
What I am looking forward to: Meeting my sweetie!!
Weekly Wisdom: Taking a walk outside in the sunshine is the best way to boost your mood. It's also fun to see people's reactions to seeing a very pregnant lady walking around with the belly in full view. People definitely move out of the way and give me sort of a scared smile!
Milestones: Due date is in one week!

38 weeks

How far along? 38 weeks
Total weight gain: Does it really matter at this point?
Maternity clothes? I can barely stretch into my pajama T-shirts, as demonstrated in this week's picture
Sleep: love it!
Best moment this week: Getting so much done over the weekend. Now we've traded cars and we both have a carseat base installed in the backseat. Seeing it back there is a little surreal.
Food Cravings: Anything that will keep me full for longer than thirty minutes and not make me feel gross
Movement: lots of rolling and squirming that's almost making me sore!
Gender: GIRL!!
Labor Signs: I don't really think anything serious, but my doctor said last week that some of the tightening I'm feeling is not her moving but may be contractions. I also have been experiencing the return of morning sickness and some crampy feelings and these are all early signs of labor - they could last another few days or a few weeks!
What I miss: Being able to keep up with daily household stuff. My husband is amazing and is doing everything without complaining and I don't even have to ask. He'll make dinner, clean it up, do the laundry, and even help me put my socks and shoes on!!
What I am looking forward to: Meeting my sweetie!!
Weekly Wisdom: Asking a very pregnant lady if she's "had that baby yet" or "when's that baby going to come?" or any other ridiculous questions may be hazardous to your health. Also, commenting on the her size/shape/puffiness/etc. is not a good idea. Particularly if you walk in without a greeting and say "Well, somebody's face is getting a little puffy" whilst doing a cheek slapping gesture is highly discouraged.
Milestones: I can officially say I'm due any day now. It feels totally surreal to actually say that though. Packing the hospital bags and installing the carseats makes everything feel a little more real, though.

Tutu Tuesday

Tutu Tuesday was a success! There are two tutus just waiting to be the cutest accessory any newborn girl could have!

Hard at work


The winking bear wears the purple tutu



And is sassy in the pink tutu

Room

Since it is mostly done, here are a few pictures of baby girl's room. The blank wall will have the mural painted by Grandpa T installed soon. We've seen a few recent pictures of how it's looking and it's so awesome. I think we'll keep it under wraps until it's done because it's that cool.

I picked out at least 10 varieties of curtains, purchased 5 or so and hung them up and returned them, and finally settled on these sheer polka dot ones. I love them! It looks so pretty during the daytime when the bamboo shade is up and you can see a polka dot shadow on the walls. I also eat breakfast every morning in the rocking chair and I love to just sit in her room and imagine how it will feel when there's an actual baby to cuddle in there.


The changing table area. We'll be taking pictures soon of important people in her life and hanging them above the changing table so she can get used to seeing their smiling faces!


Love the purple rug! We've got baskets for disposable diapers for the first few weeks, cloth diapers for after that, changing supplies, and other miscellaneous items. I think we're just about ready to go!


Right now the crib is a storage place for our hospital bags. We're trying not to go overboard so we have a small duffle bag for us and then the diaper bag has a few things for her.


A close up of the wall letters and the sweet butterfly our friend Jamie made. The butterfly pattern is a combination of felt circles and buttons sewn on the backing.


Her closet is stocked and organized!

37 weeks

How far along? 37 weeks
Total weight gain: in the low 30s and holding steady thanks to nightly walks and limiting my birthday cheesecake intake :-)
Maternity clothes? yep
Sleep: sleep, interrupted is more like it
Best moment this week: Realizing that this is my last birthday without having a little one and thinking about how she is the best birthday present ever and how much fun next year will be!
Food Cravings: I'm experiencing the comeback of morning sickness so nothing sounds good in the morning and the afternoon but I manage to eat healthy foods. But then something happens at dinner time and I cannot get enough to eat!
Movement: lots of rolling and squirming and trying to stretch out but there's not just enough room anymore
Gender: GIRL!!
Labor Signs: Nope.
What I miss: sleeping on my stomach
What I am looking forward to: Getting tons of stuff crossed off our list this weekend. We're getting the carseat installed and inspected, deep cleaning the house, packing our hospital bag, stocking up on toiletries, and possibly making some meals to freeze.
Weekly Wisdom: Keep smiling.
Milestones: I'm full term and so technically baby girl is due to arrive at anytime, even though I still think we've got at least 2 solid weeks left.