The Final Countdown!!

We are officially in final countdown to Lucy's arrival! Yesterday was my last day of work until I return in Januray (although my office was only 26 minutes into the work day this morning when I got my first phone call...sigh...)! When I had Aiden, I was only able to take about 6 weeks of maternity leave. He seemed SO small and helpless when I returned to work, and it was really tough. This time, I made sure that I had been paying into short-term disability to help with financially being out longer. Plus, the way Lucy's birth date falls will easily incorporate dates I am already off of work for Thanksgiving and Christmas into my total time at home before having to go back. So, in all I will be home with her for 12 weeks. Not as awesome as the full year maternity leave some other countries allow, but much better than the last time!

I had my last doctor's appointment on Tuesday. I had gone from absolutely no progression to 1 cm dilation and some downward movement. It doesn't really matter since I will have to have a c-section anyway, but it's good to know that all the latest discomfort has had some result! We were told that we will need to check into the hospital at 6 AM Saturday morning, and that the c-section will begin between 7:30 & 8:00. So, in 48 hours we should have a baby girl!! FINALLY!!!

This weekend mom, John David, and Stephanie came over to watch the Aggie game. John David brought a really cute shirt he found for Aiden. I think we are going to have Aiden wear it on Saturday to the hospital! Mom also took some pictures of Lucy's finished room.

I will be posting pictures of Lucy on facebook and on the blog as soon as I can. I'm sure my mom will post them quicker than I will on facebook, so I will tell her to tag me in the pictures so everyone can see!

Wish us luck as our family grows from three to four this weekend!

Uncle John David and Aiden with his new shirt!

Hold still for a picture Aiden!!

Here's hoping Aiden's shirt quote will be accurate!

Lucy's crib & Mother Goose pictures

Lucy's dresser/changing table

Dollhouse bookshelf that Uncle Jesse bought Lucy!

October Update

Yay!! It's officially October, and I made it! After a couple of weeks of scares, I am finally at a point where I feel comfortable with Lucy making an appearance any time. Her room is ready, clothes are washed, supplies have been purchased, and I am "end of the road" miserable....it's time!

I am very curious to see how much she will weigh when she is born. Aiden was only 7 lbs. 2 oz., which is less than what the doctor thought (he predicted a little over 8 lbs.), but I can tell that my stomach is much bigger this time. I'm also very curious to see what she will look like. I remember being so surprised when I saw Aiden for the first time because I just assumed he would favor Ryan and have a darker complexion and dark hair. When I saw him, I remember being shocked that he looked like...me! He is starting to look more like his dad than when he was a baby-especially his eyes. So, now when I picture Lucy I see her looking a lot like Aiden. Maybe I'll be surprised and she'll be the one to look like Ryan!

So, we are still set for a c-section on October 10 (also Ryan's 30th birthday!). Ryan's parents and brothers and my parents and brothers are coming in Friday night, so we will have more than enough spectators for the big event!! Mom and Dad are planning to stay at our house with Aiden until we get home from the hospital, and Nan & Joe will be at Mike and Elizabeth's house until we get home and will then move over to our house to help until they leave on Wednesday. I think my mom is planning to come back to stay with us for a few days after the Cossers leave as well. I am thinking that I will need lots of help this time since there will be a 3-year-old running around the house too!

In other news, I will be gaining yet another sister-in-law this summer! Jesse proposed to his girlfriend Marissa during their vacation to Mexico last week. Marissa is an Aggie and a high school math teacher in Houston, so she'll be relocating to Dallas to be with Jesse after the school year is complete. She's from Corpus, so I assume the wedding will either be there or in Houston. I've only gotten to hang out with her a few times, but I really like her a lot and think she is a good fit for Jesse. So, we'll have one wedding (John David & Stephanie) in April and another in the summer...busy year! Hopefully they'll move quickly so that Aiden and Lucy will have some cousins to play with on my side of the family :)

Here are some pictures of the new engaged couple: