9 month photo shoot...

Well... once again I felt compelled to take some more fun pictures. I wish I would have taken more with Claudia, maybe that's why I feel the need to do it SO often this time... LOL!!!

9 months pregnant... and loving it!!!

Me and my kiddos...

I have to say that I have been able to love my body more this time around too. My stretch marks are way worse this time, but I'm really proud of them. They will always be a reminder of this miraculous journey. Thank goodness Jon doesn't mind them either... LOL!!! I also finally made a MUCH needed change... as you can see I cut my hair off last week and got rid of the flip that I've had for the last 5 years. I have to say that I LOVE IT!!! It is so easy and SO much fun... I wish I would have done it a long time ago. Now I feel like a hip and stylish mama!!!

9 months... where has the time gone???

WOW!!! Where has the time gone??? It seems like just the other day I took a pregnancy test and saw the most wonderful word ever... PREGNANT!!! I couldn't believe my eyes... it was a dream come true!!!

Soon the morning sickness kicked in and I thought I would NEVER see the light at the end of the tunnel... man... the 1st trimester sure was rough.

Then the 2nd trimester arrived and things seemed to get better. I really started to grow and soon felt baby move for the 1st time. Words cannot explain the joy of feeling that movement and knowing that Jon and I had created a life... wow... God surely is GREAT!!! In the 2nd trimester we got to see our little pumpkin via Ultrasound and that was an absolutely AWESOME day!!! It felt so wonderful to see all of those beautiful parts all just where God had wanted them to be. Our little pumpkin looked PERFECT!!!

The 3rd trimester came quickly. I continued to grow and really enjoyed watching my belly move all over the place. I was no longer getting pokes and kicks here and there... baby was now learning to dance in there. The baby must take after grandma V. and Auntie Kelly since they are the ones who really like to dance in our family :)

Soon exhaustion set back in and I must say that my body is physically ready for baby to get here. Everyday becomes more uncomfortable, but I know that God will let this baby get here exactly when the baby is supposed to come and not a moment sooner. Mentally I think Jon and I are also as prepared as we are going to be. I am still crossing my fingers for just a few more weeks, allowing our little pumpkin to grow and to be perfect in every way.

I am going to my OB on a weekly schedule now. Before my last appointment I had been having some pretty intense contractions, so my OB decided to check me and I was just starting to dilate. She was not concerned, but told me to take it easy. I told her I was back to work and super busy... she told me to REALLY take it easy. I'm far enough along that she's not going to put me on bed rest, but said that if labor started (and being too busy could definitely help labor along) that she would not stop labor. So for the next few weeks I am really trying to take it easy... I really want baby to get all the growing time he or she needs.

Jon is being a trooper through it all... granted there are days that I get frustrated with him, but for the most part he has been really good. I really am blessed to have such a wonderfully, caring husband.

My parents dropped off our baby gift the other day... CARPET!!! That's right carpet... after we had the nursery done they said they wanted to finish the room by buying us carpet. Jon is hoping to work on it this coming week. I can't wait... it's going to really make that room look complete!!! Thanks mom and dad!!!

I know that October is still a few days away, but since I am back to work and SUPER busy I thought I would take my last monthly picture to share with you all. I've also added a little slide show of my growth on the left side of my blog... I hope you are able to see it.

February 2007 ~ 1 month ~~ March 2007 ~ 2 months

April 2007 ~ 3 months ~~~ May 2007 ~ 4 months

June 2007 ~ 5 months ~~~ July 2007 ~ 6 months

August 2007 ~ 7 months ~~ September 2007 ~ 8 months

October 2007 ~ 9 months


Hope you were able to make it through all of that... sorry it was so long... but it felt SO good to reflect on this amazing and miraculous journey!!!

Love,
Jenn

Belly Painting...

Fall is just around the corner. I can't believe how fast the summer has just flown by. Before we know it the leaves will be changing colors and we'll be carving pumpkins. I do have to say that I am VERY excited about the cooler temperatures, and I look forward to wearing different clothes again, (special thanks to Rachael for a great fall maternity wardrobe... that should really lift my spirits).

I had an OB appointment on Monday and everything looked GREAT with mama and baby. I had gained less than 1lb. in 2 weeks, so I was REALLY happy about that. So far I have gained a total of 26 lbs... my OB and I are both pretty excited about that... hopefully I can continue to do well the next 4 weeks :) Everything else was great... my BP was perfect, babies heart rate was great and I was measuring right on schedule.

I officially go back to work next Monday:( I am looking forward to getting on a "routine" again, but am not really looking forward to the exhaustion that is going to come with the added activity. Oh well... it's only for 4 weeks and then baby Van Dyke will be here!!!

Claudia and I thought it would be a lot of fun to do something wild and crazy today while we are awaiting the arrival of our little pumpkin... we painted our bellies to look like PUMPKINS!!! Claudia thought it was SO much fun painting mama's belly. Of course I HAD to take pictures!!!

Welcome Fall !!!

I'm NEXT!!!

Well... it's been a SUPER busy and exciting week around here!!! Two of my best friends had beautiful babies this week!!! Raelynn delivered a handsome little prince... Evan Russell on 8/30 @ 12:39am ~ he was 8lbs. 2oz. and 20 1/2 inches. Justine also delivered on 8/30... she delivered a beautiful little princess... Madisen Elizabeth @ 3:09pm ~ she was 8lbs. 15 oz. and 20 inches. Both mama's and their newest additions are doing VERY well... big sister Megan and big brother Tyler couldn't be happier about their new family members.

It's been such an exciting week... yet very emotional... in less than 7 short weeks our little miracle will be here. I am really excited to meet our newest addition. Seeing those 2 beautiful new babies gets me REALLY excited. It's so hard to believe how fast time goes... I wish that I could slow it down a bit, because before I know it this little miracle will be turning 3 like Claudia will this month and Claudia will be 6 then!!!

I'm not necessarily looking forward to the sleepless nights, but being a mama is absolutely the most wonderful job anyone can have... and I look forward to enjoying everyday of this miraculous journey... even on 2 hours of sleep.

Jon is really getting excited too... he's been rubbing my belly a lot and I have to say... I LOVE THAT!!! He talks to the baby all the time and has really been a big help... little does he know it's all just practice for when this baby actually arrives... I don't quite know if it's sunk in that he's going to be a daddy of 2 beautiful kiddos, and that Claudia is really going to need her daddy while mama is in the hospital and recovering from the C-Section. I know he'll do just fine though... he always does!!!

Claudia has changed her thoughts about the baby... now when you ask her what the baby is going to be she usually says girl... I know once this baby gets here she won't care either way... she really is going to be a fabulous big sister... thankfully she'll get to see Megan and Tyler in action... hopefully that gives her a little idea of what is going to happen in her life... it is DEFINITELY going to change... but it will all be good!!!

Okay... so enough about us right now... tomorrow is my "scheduled" day for the traditional belly picture, but we are heading to the cottage for the annual Lost Lake corn roast, so I decided to take the picture today... here's a progression...

February 2007 * 1 month ~~~~~~~~ September 2007 * 8 months

I'm working on putting a video together of my belly growth... once I get it up and running I'll post it for you all to enjoy :)

Hope you all have a fabulous Labor Day Weekend!!! ~ Jenn