waiting on baby

38 weeks39 weeks

This is my first "official" week of maternity leave! I have been filling my time in several ways. I have been doing some cleaning so that when Charlotte comes, we can at least start off clean. I'm sure it won't stay that way for long! I have also had a chance to relax, watch some TV/movies, and read. It has been wonderful!

I am scheduled to be induced tomorrow! I am nervous about labor and delivery. I have read about it, seen it in real life, been to classes on it, but I still don't think you can understand it until you have done it yourself. However, I am VERY excited to meet little Charlotte. I just keep thinking about what she will look like and how big she will be!

As I think about my pregnancy, here are some perks that I definitely liked along the way:
- People are always saying "You look so good!" Any other time in my life, these kind of comments haven't come so frequently. Probably, this has been when I've needed it the most since this has been the only time in my life when it has been okay to gain a pound a week!
- Strangers at the store have been extra helpful. For example, I had a man just randomly offer to carry my groceries out for me. Another time, I was at the end of a very long line and the cashier from the jewelery department came and got me out of line and let me check out in her department!
- I can ask people to do simple things for me, like pick up something off the ground, and no one thinks twice about it.
- I actually finished an entire ice cream treat from Sonic and didn't feel guilty later.
- Along the same lines, I can eat two cupcakes in a row and it is totally okay!
- The last two weeks of work, I wore tennis shoes every day . . . with dress pants . . . and no one said a word!
- I have never received so many gifts in my life! The baby gifts from friends and family have been so thoughtful, appreciated, and heart-warming.

Many people have asked me if I have had cravings. I don't really know what to say. I guess you could consider some of my food choices cravings, but I'm not sure. Here is a list of the foods I have eaten a lot of over the last 9 months:
- pizza, pizza, pizza
- cheddar cheese cut from a block
- strawberries
- ice cold sodas (but only one a day)
- pop tarts
- El Fenix chips and hot sauce
- Tin Star cheese quesadillas
- salty foods
- cereal

I have been so unbelievably blessed with a very smooth pregnancy. Yes, of course I could complain about my morning sickness, my swollen ankles, or my aching back. But why? Don't all pregnant women have these problems? They come with the territory. The Lord has blessed me with a safe and healthy pregnancy and that is what I would like to focus on.

Dear Father in Heaven,
Thank you so much for blessing Mark and me with this gift of life growing inside of me. Thank you for the last nine months and the ease with which I have been able to carry our child. I pray that your hand of blessing continue to be upon Charlotte and me as we go through labor and delivery tomorrow. May it go very smoothly and may we both be healthy. Please watch over Mark and I as we begin out new life as parents. Please bless us with much wisdom, gentleness, patience, compassion, and love. Amen.