Here we are at 39 weeks.  The belly is starting to feel ridiculously huge!  I am trying to keep myself very busy so that I don’t think about the discomfort.  I spend most of my time busy sewing in my craft room.  I was up there sewing in my underwear one day this week because I was SO hot!!!  It has been fun to be done working and having extra time to do things I enjoy.  I have spent time with friends, had girls over for a movie night, did some baking and lots of cooking and spent time relaxing with Joel.  It feels like summer break.  It has been a lovely change of pace.  I am enjoying my days of rejuvenation but I am hoping there aren’t too many days left before the baby comes.  I am hoping she comes on her due date the 22nd because that is my mom’s birthday!

Will this baby girl will be on the inside or outside for the 40 week picture???

I am all done at work!!! Friday was my last day.  It has been lovely.  I have been sleeping in and napping and making stuff!  I am excited for our baby to join us but I am enjoying my time until then.

Here is a hat I made.  It has been so long since I have knit anything.  It might be a little impractical considering the weather but I wanted to be able to put something I made on her right after she is born and this will be cuter than the hospital issue hats.

This is where I knit that hat, outside on our new adirondack chairs enjoying the beautiful weather.

Today I made some new headbands for myself.  They are reversible and should be nice for the many days I have ahead of having no time to do my hair.

I am also working on making one of these for the nursery with our daughter’s name but since her name is a secret I can’t show it to you.  So here is the image from pinterest where I got the idea.  It is made with embroidery hoops but then the name is painted onto the fabric.

I have a few more things I want to make but nothing that needs to be done before baby Stewart comes…six more days until her due date!

Here we are at 38 weeks!  Don’t mind the cat butt at the bottom.  The only picture I got without Lindy in it was blurry.  My appointment on Tuesday went well.  We are growing on schedule.  The midwife said that our baby girl is a good size and she would be happy for her to come at any time now.  I am still dilated 2 cm and 70% effaced.

 I am looking forward to being done with working.  I declared Friday of this week as my last day.  It has felt good to wrap things up and start saying my goodbyes to the students.  I had planned to work until at least the 18th or until I had the baby but my hips and feet  wanted me to be done last week.  I wasn’t very excited about just not showing up one day, I feel much better about having closure with my teachers and students and not leaving a bunch of loose ends at work.

Last night I was trying on one of the baby slings that I made and decided to see how the cats liked it.  Afina loved it!  It was hilarious.  She curled right up and started purring.  She is such a funny cat!

Well I better get to bed!  Sleep well everyone (including me hopefully)!

This will be a short post for many reasons.  Reasons including: I am starving and need to go to the bathroom, also my back is hurting so I don’t want to sit here very long and my battery is about to die…I could go get to the charger but as previously mentioned I have some pressing concerns that I would rather deal with!

Woohoo!!! We made it to 37 weeks.  That means she is full-term and it is safe for her to come anytime now.  That also means that we are far enough along that we can try out a water birth!  We are very excited for her to come…please come soon!  At my 37 week appointment (last Tuesday) I found out I was dilated 2 cm and 70% effaced.  I can’t wait to find out at my appointment tomorrow if my body has progressed!

Please come soon baby!  Gotta run, the oven timer just went off!

Usually Joel does an entire birthday week where he celebrates me.  It is wonderful and I honestly look forward to it all year.  I think it has something to do with having been a twin and always sharing my birthday while growing up (which I never minded but it makes it all the more special now… I love you Tahnee!).  There is just something wonderful about being celebrated by my husband and it makes me feel like a million bucks!

This year Joel was traveling for work over my birthday and the months of March and April were insanely busy for him.  He just got around to giving me my birthday gift and I think it might be the best one ever!  I have always wanted a KitchenAid Mixer but would never buy one for myself because they are so expensive and are a complete luxury item!  In fact I did buy myself one once (on sale of course) but I felt so bad about spending that much that I left it in the box for a week and then returned it.

This morning I unashamedly opened and used my beautiful mixer.  It was a blissful experience!  I think one of my favorite things about it is that I can use it to bless others.  I love to bake treats and share them. This morning my house smells delicious!  I baked banana muffins and after church we are going to go share them with loved ones.

The banana muffin recipe is one of my favorites.  I found it online on a blog called Cat Can Cook.  Here it is for your baking pleasure:

Ingredients:

3 0r 4 bananas mashed

1 egg slightly beaten

1/3 cup butter melted

1/2 cup white sugar

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 and 1/2 cups flour

There are mixing directions but I always just mix together the wet ingredients and then add the dry ingredients and stir.  I do it all in one bowl. (now in my mixer!!!)  It is the easiest recipe and I have yet to have a batch turn out poorly.  Then you pour it into greased muffin tins and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 20 minutes.

Enjoy!