9 1/2 months... oh my!!!

Well... I have officially made it to the end. I know that the big day is still 5 days away... but I realize that really this baby could come at anytime!!! We are VERY excited to meet him or her. It has been an AMAZING journey... one that I will NEVER forget. Every moment is truly a miracle. This pregnancy has been filled with many ups and downs, but I can honestly say that I have enjoyed being pregnant... even though I am physically ready for it to be done.

Today I took my final belly picture... it was truly bittersweet... it makes me all teary just thinking about it being the last picture of this HUGE belly. I'm sure we'll still take some pictures before the "actual" big day... but this is the last one for the books.

Feb. 2007 ~ the Beginning and Oct. 2007 ~ the End

Frontal view... look at those lovely beauty marks...

and of course Claudia sneaking in for a kiss...

I want to personally thank each and everyone of you who has spent time over the last 9 1/2 months checking up and praying for us during this journey. Please continue to pray for us the next few days as one journey ends and another one begins. Right now I feel totally ready for everything to happen, but I'm sure the anxiety will rise in the next few days. Thank you in advance for all of your prayers... we love you all and can't wait to introduce you all to the newest member of our family.

Make sure to check back soon... the next time I post I may be a new mommy AGAIN... I can't wait!!!

With love,
Jenn

A special gift...

Today was my 29th birthday... it has been a long, exhausting week for me, but today was special. My mom and dad had dinner waiting for me when I got to their house to pick up Claudia... we had pork chops and mashed potatoes... one of my favorite meals my mom cooks... and it was fabulous!!! After dinner we had some cookie cake and then it was time for me to get pampered. My mom and Claudia took me in the living room and they gave me a pedicure. I have to say it was the most special pedicure I have ever had. It may not have been all professional, but the time we were able to spend together was something I will ALWAYS cherish.

Okay... so don't mind how frumpy I look here... I'm totally slouching in the chair so I look huge... not that I'm not 9 months pregnant huge... but the way I am sitting definitely does not help... I do have to say that I was REALLY comfy though!!!

Claudia thought she was big stuff being able to pamper mama...

Of course after I was done she had to have her turn too...

Thank you mom and Claudia for making my birthday extra special. This pregnant mama definitely was in need of some pampering... and it was truly special to get pampered by people you love... thank you!!!

Me & My Dad...

Last weekend, while at mom and dad's, dad and I took our traditional pregnancy picture. It's hard to believe that the picture on the left was taken 3 years ago already. The time certainly flies by. I am very blessed to have been able to take this picture again. The last 2 years have been filled with many ups and downs... I am just so thankful that my dad is still here with us and that he will be able to enjoy every special moment with his grand kids :)

Full Term!!!

Well... today I am "Officially" considered to be Full Term. It really is exciting to know that baby could come at any time and that all will be well with baby. I am getting anxious for the big day to come. Even though we have a scheduled C-Section, I still anticipate daily that it's going to happen before the "set" date though... we'll just have to wait and see.

Jon's sister hosted a "I'm going to be a big sister" party for Claudia last night. Claudia had SO much fun. She is really excited about becoming a big sister... little does she know that things are seriously going to change around here. Here's a few pictures from the party.

My suitcase is packed and Jon and I are as ready as we are going to be for this little miracle to make his or her grand entrance!!! The nursery is as complete as it's going to be until baby arrives. We still need to hang the babies name... but no point doing that yet... since it is still a surprise. Jon finished laying the carpet last week and it looks FABULOUS!!! It really made the complete... thanks mom and dad!!!

Soon there is going to be a little one sleeping in that crib... I can't wait!!!

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

Every 2 weeks...

That's how often I'll be going to the doctor to check on baby and mommy. I really just can't believe how fast this pregnancy has gone. Today's appointment was the normal appointment with not too much excitement. I gained 1lb. in a matter of 2 weeks and Dr. Kraker was really happy with that. I told her that I had been watching my carbs and sugars and she said that was fabulous and to keep up the good job. Babies heart rate was a little higher than usual... so now I'm even more confused on the sex of this baby. I had really been thinking boy, but now I'm kind of thinking girl. I am really getting anxious to find out though:) Claudia has also changed her thoughts about the baby. For the longest time she was dead set that it was a baby brother in there, but now she's telling everyone it's a girl... so who knows:) As long as baby is healthy that is all that matters to me. I'd love to have a little boy around here since everything in our house right now is so girlie, but I also think it would be SO much fun for Claudia to have a sister... oh the suspense!!! Thank goodness there's not that much longer to go:)

I have been EXTREMELY tired... more like exhausted lately. It's hard to do anything. Even going to the store for milk makes me tired and ready for a nap. Please keep me in your prayers as I will be heading back to work in a few weeks and I am REALLY nervous about how tired I've been and how the transition back to work will go.

That's about it for now... like I said... nothing too exciting right now. Hope you all are well:) ~ Jenn

Guess who's 7 months!!!

That's right... it's me. I'm technically 28 weeks pregnant... I can't believe it!!! Over the weekend Claudia and I went up North with with G-ma Van Dyke and Auntie Kelly. We had a blast, but boy was I one tired mama!!! We did a lot of walking, which was a good thing with all the Italian food we ate. It was SO yummy though... and I was on vacation:)

I took my 28 week picture last night, but I was just too tired to post it on Sunday... but here it is... I think I look like I'm carrying pretty low... I don't know how that's possible though with all those kicks I'm getting in my rib cage:) I've also started washing baby clothes. We have a lot of white, yellow and green things, so I've been getting them ready for baby. Not to mention all of the additional blue and pink things I've washed:) I definitely have a ton of pink, but I'm sure if this baby is a boy he'll have a pretty decent wardrobe in no time too:)

I am so ready to kick back and relax today... isn't that funny how you can go on vacation and then you come home needing a vacation to rest from the real vacation:)

Here's my growing belly...

February 2007 ~ 4 weeks ......... & ......... August 2007 ~ 28 weeks

PHEW...

So today was my big 3 hour Glucose test. It was not the most fun getting poked 4 times, but I passed all the tests with flying colors. I am SO happy and relieved, as that means no gestational diabetes for me!!! I definitely learned something with all this though... I do really need to watch what I eat better. It's not that I've been HORRIBLE in my eating habits, but those chocolate chip pancakes that I had been craving for a good month were probably not the best thing for my body or the baby. I am still going to indulge in the occasional sweet treat... I mean with my mom, grandma and mother in-laws baking abilities, who could pass up those yummy goodies... LOL!!! I'm just going to work harder to make my meals work for me:)

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend. Claudia and I are heading up north with grandma Van Dyke and Auntie Kelly for the weekend. We are staying in Ludington, and plan to head up to Manistee for some shopping. It will be nice to get away for a few days. When I get home I'll be 28 weeks pregnant... that's 7 months already!!! Wow has this time just flown by!!! Enjoy the warm weather. I know we need rain desperately, but I'm secretively praying it waits until we get home... then it can rain for days:)
~ Jenn

Didn't pass my test...

This morning I had my Gestational Diabetes test done... and I didn't pass. Now I have to go and have a 3 hour blood test, I can't wait for that... yeah right!!! Hopefully that will come back good and I won't have to worry about Gestational Diabetes... but with the large family history of diabetes... I'm a little nervous. Oh well... I would rather be treated for it so that I know that all is well with baby. That's the most important thing right now.

I also welcomed another milestone this weekend... the 3rd trimester!!! I just can't believe how fast this all has gone. Before I know it there will be another little Van Dyke in our home. I am really getting anxious to meet this little miracle.

Here is the latest belly picture taken yesterday at 27 weeks...

Shopping spree...

Today was a fun, yet busy day. Claudia and I headed to Grand Rapids to look at "baby" things. We went to Burlington Coat Factory (the Baby Depot) and to BabiesRUs. It was a lot of fun being able to shop with Claudia and have her help pick out things for the new baby. I think she was pretty excited too:) After all our "baby" shopping we went to the mall in Grandville and we went on the Carousel together to celebrate, and then we went and had Spaghetti at the Olive Garden. It was SO yummy... I was craving their Minestrone soup and Claudia is obsessed with Spaghetti and bread, so it was the perfect choice.

Here's some of our great deals we got today... you know me... I'm a BARGAIN shopper... LOL!!!

Baby Van Dyke's outfit for Hospital picture's...

I wonder which outfit will be the big winner???

I thought it would be a good idea to look at some "boy" things first since I have a ton of girl things and not too many "boy" things. I got each 5 pack of onesies for under $8... that is an awesome deal... of course had to get some "boy" binkies too:)

Then I felt kind of bad about buying "new" boy things, so I HAD to buy some "new" girl things too... I made sure that I bought different sizes so this baby is set with onesies:)

We also found a new changing table cushion, since Claudia's old one was all torn up after 2 years of use. I also thought I'd show you Claudia's artwork she did for the nursery. She had a lot of fun painting it, and is REALLY proud of it:) I really love being able to include her in the new baby things. I think that will help make the adjustment easier on her. I can't believe in a few months she will be 3 and we'll have another little miracle living in our home. God certainly is GOOD!!!

6 1/2 months...

So I thought it would be fun to compare my baby belly growth with Claudia and this baby. These pictures are both at the 6 1/2 month point in my pregnancy. I thought it would be extra fun to take a picture wearing the same outfit. The one on the left is with Claudia and the one on the right was taken today. There is definitely a difference, but it's not as much as I thought it was going to be. That definitely made me feel much better because I was seriously feeling HUGE!!! I obviously have grown in other areas too... LOL!!! Oh well... not much I can do about that right now.

I have been quite a bit more tired the last few days, and have also had a relapse of Morning Sickness. It doesn't last long, only 2-3 hours, but I've had it everyday for the last 3 days... I could definitely do without that!!! The baby has also moved and has been REALLY active. Everyday the kicks and punches get much more intense... that part I LOVE!!! The other day Claudia was sitting on my lap and the baby started kicking and just kept right on kicking. Claudia felt them and was pretty excited about it too. It was fun watching her expression when the baby would kick. I can't believe how fast this pregnancy is going... I have less than 100 days... that is just crazy to me!!! Monday is my next OB appointment... I can't wait to hear what Dr. Kraker has to say. I also have to take the Gestational Diabetes Test... yup that's right I get to drink that nasty orange drink... oh the joy!!! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I pass!! Hope you all are doing well!!!

Pregnant Mama's...

Justine and Tyler took Claudia and I to Sears to have pictures taken together. Best friends and best buddies looking cute together. We had SO much fun, and made such a wonderful memory!!! It is really crazy how many of my close friends are expecting... all I can say is that there must be something in the water in Holland... so be careful as you drink the water.

the mama's to be...

Mama & Me...

baby Van Dyke due Oct. 19, 2007

Tyler James & Aunti Justine...

baby VanderZwaag due Aug. 30, 2007

My best buddy Tyler James...