a few more pictures

here are a few more pictures i forgot to put up.

gavin's first bath in the nursery right after being born. the nurse holding gavin up for all his family and friends who waited the long wait to see him

aunt haylea

aunt mady

granddad

so proud

nana

great grandma

40 weeks and 6 days...

Tomorrow is the big day! I absolutely can't wait to meet my son!! I go to the hospital at 7:15 AM. Keep Gavin and I in your thoughts and prayers! Updates to follow...

40 weeks...

well, the seemingly unattainable due date is here tomorrow. it's hard to believe i have made it to my due date. i went for my 40 week appointment today. my body has made no progress since my visit last week. the doctor doesn't want me to go over 41 weeks. he wants to schedule an induction for monday, july 20th. well, the hospital is completely booked all next week. i am now on a waiting list to be scheduled next week. i am hoping that i can go into labor on my own before then, but otherwise, i hope something opens up on monday because i am sooo ready to not be pregnant anymore!! come on gavin!

i will post a 40 week belly picture this week.

39 weeks....

i went to the doctor on monday. they didn't do an ultrasound :(. i'm not sure why, but i didn't bother to ask. i was 1 1/2 cm dialated. the doctor could feel gavin's head. this is reassuring because a) he has a head b) he's in the correct position and moving down. he stripped my membranes (so unpleasant might i add). i know this has sent some lucky women straight into labor within hours, but for me all it has done is increase contractions a little, but no labor. i'm keeping in mind that with every contraction i'm closer to meeting my little man! he said that since the baby and i are healthy, we should just sit tight and let nature take it's course. i fully agree. i want gavin to come when he is good and ready. doctor said that if by the 21st gavin still hasn't come, we can discuss options. i sure hope i'm still not pregnant in 2 weeks! i have 2 more shifts left at starbucks and then i'm on maternity leave. can't wait!

the nursery is functional and full of great baby things. the hospital bag is packed and sitting by the door. now all we need is a ready baby!!!

12 more days until Gavin's due date...

Gavin's baby book had a space for mommy and daddy to each write him a letter. Here is my letter:

Dear Gavin,

We have spent every minute of the last 38 weeks together, just you and me. It seems like just yesterday I found out that I was no longer one person, but two. I've spent so many moments of my life daydreaming about the day I would have a child of my own. I never dreamed that God would bestow the blessing of a child upon me so soon in life.

Over the last 38 weeks, I've spent so many precious, irreplaceable moments with you, my little night owl. I love to sit for hours and watch you roll around and kick my belly. I've spent over 250 days wondering what you look like and what your personality is like. Some days, I can't imagine waiting another day to meet you. At the same time, I'm extremely sad that our time being just us is almost over. As difficult as pregnancy is, I will miss every second I've spent with you, my beautiful son, tucked safely inside me.

As the moment draws close when I must share you with the world, I'm so excited for everyone to meet the love of my life, my little Gavin. As you enter the world, you will be greeted with the most sincere warmth and love any little boy could ask for. You have so many friends and family eagerly awaiting your arrival. Know that I will always love you and be here for you, Gavin. I am beyond elated to finally meet you and hold you. I'm so proud that I get to spend the rest of my life being your mother.

Love Always,

Your Mama

belly at 38 weeks

compared to 29 weeks...

2 1/2 more weeks!

i went to the doctor today. i am "a fingertip" dilated and 30% effaced. so, it could be days, weeks, who knows! at least i know my body is getting ready for the big day and i won't be pregnant forever! now the race is on to get every little thing in order. i go again on monday the 6th. the doctor is doing an ultrasound to check gavin's position and weight. we will discuss options based upon the results of the ultrasound. the doctor says gavin is probably approaching 8 lbs. i wouldn't be surprised! he feels like he's 10 lbs.

at the end of the day, i don't want to rush gavin's arrival. i want him to be born when he's ready. 18 days until gavin's due date!

here is a 37 week belly picture. as you can see, i have definitely "popped."

the cost of a child

i found this on the internet. it's nice to read when you get overwhelmed thinking about the financial aspect of having a little one.

The government recently calculated the cost of raising a child from birth to 18 and came up with $160,140.00 for a middle income family. Talk about price shock! That doesn't even touch college tuition. But, $160,140.00 isn't so bad if you break it down. It translates into:

-$8,896.66 a year,

-$741.38 a month, or

-$171.08 a week.

-That's a mere $24.24 a day!

-Just over a dollar an hour.

Still, you might think the best financial advice is don't have children if you want to be "rich." Actually, it is just the opposite.

What do you get for your $160,140.00?

-Naming rights. First, middle, and last!

-Glimpses of God everyday.

-Giggles under the covers every night.

-More love than your heart can hold.

-Butterfly kisses and velcro hugs.

-Endless wonder over rocks, ants, clouds, and warm cookies.

-A hand to hold, usually covered with jelly or chocolate.

-A partner for blowing bubbles and flying kites.

-Someone to laugh yourself silly with, no matter what the boss said or how your stocks performed that day.

For $160,140.00, you never have to grow up. You get to:

-finger-paint,

-carve pumpkins,

-play hide-and-seek,

-catch lightning bugs, and

-never stop believing in Santa Claus.

You have an excuse to:

-keep reading the Adventures of Pooh and Piglet,

-watch Saturday morning cartoons,

-go to Disney movies, and

-wish on stars.

-You get to frame rainbows, hearts, and flowers under refrigerator magnets and collect spray painted noodle wreaths for Christmas, hand prints set in clay for Mother's Day, and cards with backwards letters for Father's Day.

For a mere $24.24 a day, there is no greater bang for your buck. You get to be a hero just for:

-retrieving a Frisbee off the garage roof,

-taking the training wheels off a bike,

-removing a splinter,

-filling a wading pool,

-coaxing a wad of gum out of bangs, and coaching a baseball team that never wins but always gets treated to ice cream regardless.

You get a front row seat in history to witness the:

-first step,

-first word,

-first date, and

-first time behind the wheel.

You get to be immortal. You get another branch added to your family tree, and if you're lucky, a long list of limbs in your obituary called grandchildren and great grandchildren. You get an education in psychology, nursing, criminal justice, communications, and human sexuality that no college can match. In the eyes of a child, you rank right up there under God. You have all the power to heal a boo boo, scare away the monsters under the bed, patch a broken heart, police a slumber party, ground them forever, and love them without limits, so one day they will, like you, love without counting the cost. That is quite a deal for the price!!!