Just 14 days to go. . .

I can't believe I'm 37 weeks pregnant! I'm scheduled to be induced in just 14 days. I've been having lots of contractions, but I'm pretty sure I'll make it to the induction date because everything was similar with my last two and I made it to that point without going into labor with them (of course, I was 5 years younger then!). A week ago I was dilated 3cm and 80% effaced. I cancelled my apt. today because Dave's sister Sierra was graduating from HS and we wanted to celebrate with her, so I wasn't able to be checked. I wouldn't be surprised if I've dilated another cm or two! I was dilated 6cm with Kyra at this point. Over-all I feel really great. . .other than the sleeping being rough, the lower back pains getting a little intense sometimes, the extra 30 lbs making it a little hard to get up and down, and the heartburn after eating anything!!!

I went out with my sister Kimmy and got another haircut. Dave's concerned that the days of "long hair" are long gone, he may be right because I'm loving the shorter hair, but we'll see. . .maybe after having a little one again I'll just want to pull it back in a ponytail for a couple years. :)  I experienced my first case of KANKLES the other day and did not like it ONE bit! I spent two full days sitting at the computer so I could totally catch up on my scrapbooking (which I did, thank you very much--you can check out my pages on my scrappin' blog) but it resulted in my legs retaining water and getting pretty swollen at the ankles and feet. That has never happened to me. . .it felt weird and looked gross. Needless to say, I will not sit for more than an hour at a time from now on!

I have the crib set up, the camera charged, and the baby clothes and diapers in the baby's room. . .that's all I should need, right? I guess I did tell Dave we should probably splurge and buy either a small swing or a bouncer so I have somewhere to set the baby other than on the floor. But, other than that, I think we're set. The kids are SO excited. Mark is done with school and Kyra has the week off that I'm being induced, so I shouldn't have to work around ANY schedules for a bit. I'm definitely looking forward to the relaxed atmosphere and just spending time with the kids and the baby. I also look forward to having my mom stay with me for a few or more days! I hope all goes as planned. :)

Motherhood. . .

(I actually started this post a few months ago, but haven't come back to it until now. . .yesterday being Mother's Day reminded me of it.)

is a GIFT! The first thing I find myself thanking Heavenly Father for in each of my prayers is the opportunity to have children in this life and for the freedom I’ve had to make the choice to be home with them to teach, serve, and LOVE them every day! I’ve realized that as I talk to friends about various difficult parts of raising children, I always point out that we would really have it no other way, as we would easily choose the problems we’re facing over NOT having our child/children. If I’m having a particularly hard time, I think of my step-mom who lost one of her children in a car accident when he was 6 years old! I know she feels that she would take ANY difficulty in raising him over not having him anymore. Or I think of a good friend who has tried to have children for many years and is not able to. I know she would also trade any difficulty over not being able to be a mother in this life. How difficult it must be for these two and others to watch so many of us take motherhood for granted. Before I got pregnant (8 months ago), I couldn’t believe my baby Darci was over 4 years old and only a year away from kindergarten. . .and I realized how fleeting our time really is with our children! Mark was nearing the end of “playing with toys” and my kids were almost all in school! Could the toy messes really end so soon? Could my time with little ones at home all day really end so soon? Have I done enough? Taught them, loved them and served them enough? I couldn’t believe it! Time had gone WAY too fast. I look back on every minute I’ve had with them and thankfully am grateful for all the time I’ve NOT been away.

If you know me, you know I’ve had my fair share of vacations, girls night outs, etc. It’s not that I haven’t done anything without my kids. I really think that doing things with my sisters and friends on a regular basis is serving my children as they need to have a healthy mother! But, I also know there’s a time and season for everything and soon enough I’ll have plenty of time to do things “for myself”. . .and if I really think about it, I’m not necessarily looking forward to that time. For now, I’m happy to be having a baby in a month and postponing that time a little longer. :)

Pregnancy

I've always enjoyed pregnancy, from the minute I've seen a positive test result to the minute I've given birth to each of my children, I've LOVED being pregnant! And, I've always really missed it after I've had my babies! I enjoy knowing there's a baby growing inside me, then feeling the baby move around, and love knowing that I get to be a mommy to another child! For the most part, I feel great throughout too. Of course I deal with morning sickness for about three months, get heart burn, stretch marks, loose joints, splotchy face, leg cramps, itchy, etc. like everyone else, but, I guess it's never been bad enough to make me not enjoy it. I'm a bit sad that I only have 5 more weeks of this pregnancy and then it will be over!!

I've also always thought that most women enjoyed being pregnant and it was the minority that didn't like it, but during this pregnancy I've come to think I've been wrong. I feel like I've come across way more women who say they DON'T enjoy being pregnant than do! Most agree that "it's worth it" but they'd rather skip the pregnancy if possible. I'm just curious how all my girlfriends feel about this. . .now that I realize it's not such a GREAT experience for most of you! So, PLEASE, do tell!!!