Sneek Peek!!

Our sweetie in 3D today! The ultrasound is saying she's 9.1! Healthy girl... it's all in the cheeks.

Little Update

Today I had another appointment at the birth center. I am 40 weeks and 4 days pregnant... was hoping not to have to go to an appointment this late, but that's how it goes. :) Rather than one hour, the appointment was about one and a half hours long. Baby Ruby is in the absolute perfect position - left occiput anterior. This means her head is perfectly lined up in my birth canal, not crooked at all and she's ready to go. Almost 100% engaged. The midwife, Carmen, checked me at the end and stripped my membranes again. I am a very flexible 3 cm, almost 4. She was really impressed with how cooperative my cervix was. :) She could feel Ruby's head bobbling out of confusion as she stripped my membranes. Something kind of weird came up, and that is the size of my baby. Not feeling as big as she seemed to last week at the appointment, but still big. Just to take precautions, I am getting an ultrasound today to gage about how big she is. Not that this is really a risk at all, but it should help the midwives know what type of positions to put me in while I'm laboring as to not have shoulder dystocia issues. (Her shoulder getting lodged in my pubic bone). Again, this isn't an issue that a midwife can't handle. Usually hospitals send you to a c-section so they don't have to worry about having you deliver in a "not preferred position." (On your back). But midwives know all the tricks...
That said, in about one hour I'll be getting a peek at Miss Ruby via ultrasound. Not as good as the real thing, but I'll take it. And that's all for now, folks!

Baby Belly Dancing

A little too embarrassed to post this on facebook, but........ I may or may not be watching / doing belly dancing videos to help induce labor. :) It's been fun. The kicker....... Brian may or may not have joined me / initiated the belly dancing the other night. ;) If that doesn't make you giggle, I don't know what will!

Wonderful Christmas Eve

I think my heart will always cherish this Christmas Eve! While there was no baby Ruby appearances (yet?!), I had a wonderful day with my husband. I am very thankful for that! Here's how it went:

*Slept in til 9:30 together
*Ate chocolate chip pancakes and watched a Christmas movie in our pajamas
*Opened 1 present each
*Slowly got ready for the day, went to coffee and last-minute Christmas shopping
*While shopping, did lots of mall walking and took only the stairs
*Dropped Brian off at the church to get ready for our Christmas Eve service
*Took a nap until the church service :)
*Saw all my wonderful friends at church, enjoyed the candle-lit service and worship
*Got a sweet gift from my bff, Amy (homemade peppermint room spray, and homemade peppermint sugar scrub in turquoise mason jar with lid-CUTE)
*Came home, opened all gifts
*Got the best gifts from my loving husband - he didn't get as many from me :(
*Took hot bath in lavender bath salt (made by Tara), while getting a peppermint-sugar-scrub-foot-rub from Brian
*Now enjoying some red raspberry leaf tea to help labor come on :-p and watching tv with my husband with a heat pack on my back.

What a wonderful Christmas Eve! One of my favorite days in a long time. I am feeling so blessed that I was able to savor worshipping Jesus tonight and focusing on how incredible the Father's love is for us! Thank You, Jesus, for being born and allowing us to worship You for who You are and the mighty things You've done. I am ready to meet Ruby, now. Jesus, she'd be such a great Christmas gift....

Never-Before-Seen-Preggo-Photos

Found these on my computer, never posted them on fb or anything. Wish I remembered all the weeks...:-/
(4.5 weeks - HA!)


(13ish weeks)


(17ish weeks)






(32 weeks)


(36-37 weeks)

Final Days

My darling Ruby is well on her way! I really cannot believe the time has come. Most everyday I hope that it is "the day" but today I'm actually feeling content. I'm due on the 24th, 4 more days! However, if I go 2 more weeks, I feel fine with that. The reality is: she'll be here one way or another. Whether it's now or then, she's coming, and that is exciting. That's how I feel right now, ask me in an hour or tomorrow and my opinion may be different! ;-)

I had my appointment yesterday and the midwives checked me. I was 3 cm dialated and 75% effaced. She stripped my membranes while she was in there. (TMI? Then don't read my blog, lol). I have a feeling I may be more dialated today, but not sure. She also guesses Ruby is between 8-9 lbs! YOW! We'll see, I guess. She is "fully baked" for sure. That's my current status. {And I've been having contractions through writing this whole entry...}

Today my best friend, Tara, was so sweet to come over this morning / afternoon to help me clean house. There are so many things I've been dying to get done that I can't do on my own, currently. My back feels broken after just about anything I do, so a load of chores was hopeless. She came and deep cleaned my bathroom, helped with laundry while I ironed, and organized our "closet." It was such a gift. I feel like I can bring a baby home now to this house! That was the goal.

Thanks for reading, pray for this sweet little one if or when you think about it.

Washed by the Word

I love my husband. I love his passion for the Lord and for His Word. This morning started off right - sleeping in, eating breakfast together, and reading the Word together. We started out with the Proverb-of-the-day (Proverbs 1). Then I told Brian about a Psalm that I can't get enough of the last few days, Psalm 116. It's titled "I Love the Lord." (No, the titles aren't original to the text at all, so usually I try to ignore them, but this one caught my eye). I love having a husband who washes me in the water of the Word, as he's called. (Ephesians 5:25-26). What a delight!
Psalm 116 -
I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy.


Psa 116:2 Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.


Psa 116:3 The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish.


Psa 116:4 Then I called on the name of the LORD: "O LORD, I pray, deliver my soul!"


Psa 116:5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; our God is merciful.


Psa 116:6 The LORD preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me.


Psa 116:7 Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.


Psa 116:8 For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling;


Psa 116:9 I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.


Psa 116:10 I believed, even when [fn] I spoke, "I am greatly afflicted";


Psa 116:11 I said in my alarm, "All mankind are liars."


Psa 116:12 What shall I render to the LORD for all his benefits to me?


Psa 116:13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD,


Psa 116:14 I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.


Psa 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.


Psa 116:16 O LORD, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. You have loosed my bonds.


Psa 116:17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD.


Psa 116:18 I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people,


Psa 116:19 in the courts of the house of the LORD, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD!