Saturday, May 26, 2012: 38 Weeks

We are in the home stretch!  My spirits are still up and my head is held high... most of the time :) I am SO glad that we decided to wait to find out the gender of Baby Cooper.  It is about the only thing getting me through the last couple of weeks.  I am just SO eager to find out! 

Dr. Hemphill told me last week that I am 50% effaced, baby's head is down (just not far enough down yet), but I am not dilated.  I wasn't that surprised to hear that.  I haven't had many contractions or other signs that labor is imminent.  I know that Baby Cooper will arrive when he/she is ready.... We are just getting very anxious for that day to arrive! 

Final Nursery Project

This is the wall art that is over the changing table in the nursery.  Right now it has a bunch of our maternity photos in the frames (along with a couple of ultrasound photos), but once Baby Cooper arrives we will be putting his/her pictures in them!  The best part..total cost was roughly $20.00! 

The nursery is done!!!!!! 

Saturday, May 19, 2012: 37 Weeks

Full term!!!

If Baby Cooper was born this week, he/she would be perfectly healthy. :)

So far, no real signs of that happening.  I am still plugging away at work and home. 

I got all of my annuals planted today, finished up the last project in the nursery, and cleaned up the house (ok, so my mom actually hired a cleaning lady to clean my house for my birthday!). 

Things at school are beginning to wrap up and I am just about finished with all of the end of the year projects.  I guess the overall theme is... WE ARE READY!

Maternity Photos

Our incredibly talented friends, Nikki and Tiffany offered to take our pictures for us!  We went to Petrified Springs Park in Kenosha on a beautiful Friday evening.  These were taken 1 day shy of 36 weeks.  We can't say THANK YOU enough to our wonderful friends.  We are so blessed to have them in our lives.  They are incredibly kind and generous!!!!

 Cory was a good sport!  Very entertaining :)

 So in love.... and we haven't even met yet <3

Just over 3 weeks to go until our due date!  Can't wait to find out if we will have a 'Finley' or a 'Reid'

Baby Cooper's nursery is DONE!

 The final result!  Baskets are filled with lots of baby goodies, pictures are hung, decorations are complete!

 This is such a beautiful painting!  It was painted by my cousin Lauren.  She also etched the glass with Jimmy Buffett quotes.  The actual picture was inspired by an island we saw on our honeymoon.

Baby Cooper's first pic...

The crib is ready!  The beautiful quilt was made by our family friend, Paula Hendrickson.

The only thing missing is the baby's name above the crib.... Will it say Finley or Reid?!?!?!

This will have various frames in it once we have more pictures.

Our friend Emily Garcia made us this cozy quilt!  It matches the nursery perfectly!  This chair will be used a lot once the baby arrives!

Baby Cooper's Final Shower - Olive Garden: Racine, WI

My wonderful friends at UGES threw me a WONDERFUL shower at Olive Garden two weeks ago.  All of my work friends and colleagues were there.  It was SO much fun!

 One of the tables of some of my favorite people.

 We were so excited to get our monitors.  It was one of our last, big items!

 It is hard to see but the label on the cookies says, "Thank you for your kindness so sweet.  Please enjoy a tasty treat! ~Baby Cooper.  These were probably the most delicious cookies I have ever had!

These are my girls!  Andrea, Tiffany, and Nikki... AKA - My constant source of support, advice, and friendship throughout my pregnancy and throughout any other time in my life!  They are SO good to Cory and I.  I can't wait for Baby Cooper to meet them.  He/she will love them as much as we do!  Thank you for a fun, perfect shower!

Saturday, April 28, 2012: 34 Weeks

It is nearing the end... or as I like to call it, the beginning! 

The beginning of an entirely different life and reality than we are used to.  We are both ready for the challenges and rewards of being parents.

It has been a very busy few weeks, but we have been getting a lot of things done... the nursery is just about done, major spring yard work is complete, car is cleaned, car seat is installed, and the rest of our house is pretty much set!

My doctor's appointments continue to go well.  My Dr. continues to say that I am measuring right on time, the baby's heartbeat is strong, and my back pain continues to be manageable with rest and ice.