from A Time to Be Born

i've been waiting for you now
no more wondering about me---
whether or not this miracle of life
would ever happen inside me


now i can wonder about you--
about what color threads
He's weaving you with


brown eyes or blue
will you like to swim or draw
bake bread or engineer buildings
will you throw your head back
and laugh hard
or just grin


i don't know
i don't know


but i do know that i will
love to hear you call my name
i will love to feel your tiny
hand in mine
i will love to watch your tummy
rise and fall
in sweet sleep


and i know that sometimes you
will hate me
sometimes you will shrink from
my touch
sometimes your fevered breathing
will rattle my soul
in the dark night


but until then
please baby grow strong
take all you can from me please


until then
i'll be waiting for you


~Julie Martin

Projects! It's a "nesting" thing, right?

I'M unsure as to when the nesting phase of pregnancy typically commences, but this weekend really felt like "go-time" in that department. I started on closets and drawers--purging right and left, refolding towels in the linen closet; reorganizing things--all the while being bewildered/disgusted by my hoarding tendencies. It felt good to bid the junk "bon voyage!" Also, we finished painting the guest bedroom this weekend, although I won't have "after" pictures for awhile, as we still need to hang curtains and organize furniture.

Then, for the best news of all, last night I discovered some untapped energy (it's got to be hormonal, because I had gone grocery shopping during the 5pm rush, and made brownies) and started on the nursery walls! I may have only gotten a small section of paper removed, but, it's a start! And I just know someone's going to tell me standing on that ladder is a "no-no"!

30 Weeks!

YOUR baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and he weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him, but that volume will decrease as he gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. His eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after he's born, he'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When he does open them, he'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means he can only make out objects a few inches from his face.

Good things

--feeling lots better

--really close to starting on the nursery
--hospital isn't such a scary place
--baby is moving around ALOT!

Time in Chanute

WE went to Chanute for Hil and Cyrus' wedding this weekend. The wedding was so beautiful and we were glad to be there to congratulate the couple. It was a blessing to have some quality time with my sisters, whom I won't see for another 8 weeks (!).

Needless to say, the weekend wore me out and I had to go to the hospital for 1/2 day today--had some cramping that seemed abnormal, but everything is ok. I'm supposed to go get one of those belly supporters...and, if you find me saying "no" to things, please don't have hurt feelings! Time to take it easy (kinda hard in the summertime) and just focus on getting to work every day.

Posing prior to running errands

Max & Elmo!

Meg's pretty dyed shoes

Pat the tummy...

Kick up yo heels!

With the beautiful bride!

A & B

29 Weeks!

Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

Shawn took this picture of me in my childhood bedroom, before heading out to a wedding..pics of that to come!

Good things:

--I don't have gestational diabetes

--The previa is gone

--We'll be home this weekend