The Countdown Continues

Well, we are getting to be at the wire here. We are still waiting (somewhat patiently) for our son's arrival into this world. Tomorrow is his due date which is amazing. Chris and I still can't believe that by next week we will have a baby in the house that is ours! It's kind of crazy to look at our lives and see how much has changed in the past 3-4 years! God has truly blessed us with a wonderful marriage and now a baby. It's just amazing that we still feel like kids ourselves in so many ways and yet here we are getting ready to raise a child (I had just started getting used to being a wife, let alone a mother)! I thank God for all the wonderful people and experiences He has brought into our lives these past years, I am certainly not deserving of such grace. It really just points back to how awesome and glorious our Heavenly Father is!

Any guesses on what day Mickey will come and how big he'll be? We can see who will be the closest...Hmm...I am going to guess Saturday afternoon and 8 lbs 10 oz...

My Pregnancy Growth

Me at 16 weeks- I thought I was showing so much! I was amazed that my stomach was growing and couldn't wait to see how large I would get

Me at 7 months- I couldn't imagine getting any larger...

Me at 8 1/2 months- but I was sure able to! You can see my dad laughing at my belly in the background...

Yes, I have grown a lot this past year...and I am even larger now! (no comments or agreements from those who see me thank you...)

Appointment with Dr. Inge

I had my appointment with Dr. Inge today and he said I haven't changed too much. He said I might be a little more effaced but not much...sigh...I am going again Monday instead of Wednesday so if I haven't had the baby by then they will schedule an induction for me. He seemed hopeful that I would have the baby by this weekend though. So just keep praying! I would really like to have the baby before next week...obviously... but I must be patient. He still has a couple of days before he's late so I can give him some time :) There's no reason to think I won't go into labor before this weekend so I need to not get anxious. Thanks for listening to all my rambling these past few days!!

Patience is a virtue...

It's extremely hard to be patient, do you all know that? It's weird because I don't think I have ever had to wait for something like this where I didn't know when something big was going to happen (except waiting for Chris to propose, but I didn't have a week of "is it today?") and it is nerve racking! I know that God's timing is perfect and far supperior to when I think something should happen, but it still doesn't make my brain stop! I know all the waiting will be worth it... I've waited nine months already, I can certainly wait a couple more days...(or is it hours or a week? AHHH!!) Hurry up Mickey Seamus Cooligan Moran...your mommy is going to go insane!

This Past Weekend

Well, I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!! Mickey did not come, but I think he will be here very soon. I have another doctor's appointment Wednesday (if I can make it till then). He has been giving me a lot of contractions and cramping so it could really be any day now! Chris and I both are getting very excited and trying to be patient. I can't believe that his due date is Friday! It seems like it's gone by very quickly in some ways and it's hard to imagine we might be holding our little baby boy by this weekend!! I will keep you all updated!

Appointment with Dr. Taylor

Hello everyone! I went to the doctor again today and everything still looks good. Dr. Taylor says I am now 2 cm dialated and about 50% effaced! It's not much, but it's progress. She's on call until Friday night, so I am kind of hoping I will go into labor sometime in there...I really want her as my doctor as I am sure I have said before. She seemed like she thought there was a chance I could go this weekend, but we'll see. He's definately been doing a number on me. My iron is still a little low, so I need to take more iron pills. Well, not much else happened at the doctor's...she said his heart rate sounds very good, and she thinks he has dropped some more which is also good.

I hope everyone has a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving! Maybe Mickey will decide to come (after lunch) and give us yet another thing to be thankful for this year!! God bless you all!!

Appointment with Dr. Taylor

Well, I had my doctor's appointment today and it went pretty well. I was hoping I would be more dilated, but I was only a little more than 1 cm. I am 40% effaced though and Dr. Taylor says my cervics feels soft which is good. She doesn't think I have fully dropped though because his head is not engaged yet. She also says she thinks he is about 7 1/2 lbs right now! My iron is a little low so they gave me some iron pills to take. My strep test came back positive too (surprise, surprise...I always get strep) but she said that it's not a big deal and they will give me penicillin during delivery. So, it was a busy appointment, but a good one (besides the strep and iron).

I go back next week, the day before Thanksgiving, so we will see what that holds! I get to see Dr. Taylor again then too which is great. You can keep praying that she will be the doctor who delivers Mickey. I like the other doctors too, but she is the one I've seen the most and the one I really want...

He's Practicing for His Big Day!

Well, Mickey has definately been practicing for his delivery...I have been having pretty constant contractions (not too constant in intensity though). I had contractions every 2o minutes and then every 10 minutes for several hours on Friday night. They've been like that the past few nights, actually, so I am still hoping that I'll be more dialated when I go to the doctor's on Wednesday morning.

I had Jamie feel where the baby was on Saturday and she said that his head is still down (as it should stay until delivery now) and that it does seem like I've dropped a bit. According to her, his head feels like it's right above my pelvis too which is an indicator of dropping and a good sign. I'm really relieved to hear that because it means he should be fine for a natural birth and God willing, no c-section!

I'm a little anxious about not knowing when he's going to come...I mean, they tell you the due date, but really he could possibly come anytime and not know what day or what time is a little nerve wracking. Just keep praying that God gives me peace and contentment until the day arrives, and that all goes smoothly with delivery. I really want Jamie to be my nurse so you can pray for that too :)

And the wait goes on...

Well, I am 37 weeks today! Woohoo! Only three more weeks to go (and hopefully not more than that...less than that would be nice...) until Mickey finally graces us with his presences! He's still been pretty active. He doesn't kick anymore, but he does slide his arms and legs around quite a bit. He wants to remind his mommy that he is well and getting ready to come.

It's very cool that so many women from church are having babies all around the same time. It'll be fun to have playmates for Mickey and so much godly wisdom from the mothers in church. I am sure that I will need LOTS of it! It's so intimidating to think that Chris and I will be raising a man and how all that we do affects him. I am so glad that God doesn't leave us here to do it on our own, but gives us wisdom and the help of others in order that we might glorify Him through our parenting.

I am really excited that we will have a baby for the holidays. It makes it all the more wonderful to be able to have our son there with us for Christmas this year (even though he won't be doing too much). It's been fun Christmas shopping for a baby too. Chris says he's too young to even care about presents, which is true, but it's still fun for me! (And for Chris...he's just as excited and I am sure that as Mickey gets older, Chris will be the one wanting to buy more presents for him...)

Getting Ready

Well, Mickey is trying to get ready...he starting to drop! (and for those who don't know what that is, it means he is getting into position near the pelvic bone...it doesn't mean that he is going to fall out or anything) It's exciting to think that he'll be coming soon...although the extra pressure and running to the bathroom more isn't fun. I've had two nights in a row where he's woken me up and had me wondering if he was going to be coming, but it was just a false alarm. He was nice enough to let me sleep last night (except for the runs to the bathroom...sorry to the guys who might think all of this is too descriptive...)

Chris and I had our nursing class this past Monday...poor Chris...he's being such a good sport with all the details that go into pregnancy and having a baby. He's going to be such a great father to Mickey. He's already VERY excited (as am I) to see our little boy. It's so great to have such a supportive and helpful husband. It makes this whole experience all the more wonderful! We are both so excited to do stuff with Mickey...dress him in his cute little outfits (although Chris wouldn't word it that way...lol...), bring him for walks, and all the other fun stuff. Sorry, back to the nursing class...it went really well! It was very helpful and definately confirmed our decision to nurse Mickey. It helped relieve some of my anxieties about it as well. It confirmed it for Chris as well when he heard how expensive formula can be...lol...that's Chris for you :)

Mickey's Perspective

Well, Chris and I were talking about what it must be like for Mickey in the womb right now. How traumatic for a baby! The one place he has ever known seems to be shrinking in on him! Only for him to leave the warm, quietness of his mommy for the cold, loudness of the awaiting world. We imagine him keep a 'baby journal' inside his mommy:

"Dear Journal, I don't think I will live much longer...the walls seem to be closing in on every side..."

Poor little guy...just wait until he comes out and is never left alone to have some peace and quiet. He already has a VERY anxious Mommy and Daddy who want to cuddle and kiss him like crazy! He will be very blessed though because he has all of his aunts, uncles, grandparents, and friends to snuggle him and keep him warm. He will never want for love, I know that!!

Mommy and Daddy's Bundle of Joy!

How adorable is this face?? We were so excited to be able to see a 3D picture of our sweet little boy...This was taken at 20 weeks (the middle of July) We think he has his daddy's forehead and mouth...it looks like he got his mommy's nose and bony elbows though!

4 Weeks to Go and Counting...

Chris and I have decided to set up this site in order for friends and family to find out what's going on the last few weeks before Mickey arrives, and to keep you updated on our son once he is here!

It's amazing to think that in only four weeks, Chris and I will be parents and we will have our precious baby boy! God has been so good to us to bless us with Mickey Seamus. Chris and I both have grown so much through pre-pregnancy and pregnancy (no jokes about belly size). We have become closer to each other and to God and look forward to all that will come with the baby.

It's hard not to become anxious...I am so excited to see Mickey that it's making it harder to wait! It's also hard with the new found aches and pains that come the final month. But, I trust it will all be worth it when the doctor holds up that precious new life for his daddy and mommy to see.

I had a doctor's appointment Tuesday which went very well. The doctor says I am 1 cm already which is good! I am hoping that will only increase before I go into labor so that maybe it won't take as long! The baby's head is down too which is a great thing! We don't have to worry about him being breeched!

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers...we will be keeping you updated!!!