39 weeks, 5 days and counting...

I had Mario snap a picture of me today at 39 weeks, 5 days, and still counting! I really can't complain too much I still feel pretty good. I'm just sooo ready to hold her in my arms rather that in my stomach. My face is now starting to swell which is pretty normal for me and I have cankles which I know are very attractive! :) We installed her car seat today which was pretty exciting for me. My doctor will induce me at 41 weeks, so we just might have 1 more week! Tom. I'm going to try doing some walking. It worked when I was pregnant with Ethan so I'm going to give it a try. I am dilated to a 3 and 80% effaced so maybe just maybe! :)

Ethan and Emma helping with some raking today. Except Ethan decided the snow shovel would work better! Emma is practicing dancing. She is taking traditional ballet and loves it. Today she asked me if we could install a "dancing bar" in our living room for her to practice. She also asked me a few weeks ago if she could have her own cell phone. I asked her why and she said to call her grandparents and friends. I told her to ask again in 10 years...

A few weeks ago we had our first "snow" of the season. Just a trace. I was taking some recycling to our bin and turned around to find our 10 year old cat Cindy had snuck outside to enjoy the snow.

Great Baby Elise News!

I went to the doctor today and received the best news! Baby Elise has dropped and I'm dilated to a 2! Hey it is a start so I'll take it. Her heart rate was great at 137. So now I feel the pressure to finish up a few things around the house and get my bag packed! :) With Ethan I was only dilated to a 1 on my due date and Emma I was induced a week early due to swelling and my blood pressure so this is wonderful news. I'm off to enjoy some yummy cake since it is my 33rd birthday, yikes. :) Mario asked me what I wanted to do and I said stay in, have a good home cooked meal, eat some sweet cake, and rent the movie The Proposal. Our menu, chicken fried steak with homemade mashed potatoes and gravy and green beans. :)

Car Seat Purchase!

I bought the fabric for this blanket at Hobby Lobby a few months ago and my friend Bonnie was so kind to make baby Elise a beautiful blanket, I love how it matches the stroller/car seat so well. It is fleece, a softer heavier material great to use in car, shopping, etc. I found this stroller on line at most stores but it was cheapest at Wal-mart.com. I was a little nervous ordering a car seat that I had never seen in person before but the reviews were all wonderful so I decided to just go for it last week when I saw it was on sale! And I'm so glad I did! I love the quality and pattern. It really was a good deal at around $150.00 for the system. And it only cost 2.37 to ship directly to our house. There is something very exciting about buying the car seat, its like I know we are about to meet our sweet baby girl but here we now have her car seat that she will use! I can't stop looking at it and imagining her in it... This Tuesday marks 38 weeks. My feet are swelling again, I now have no ankles!!! I went to doctor last Friday and baby has not dropped at all! I go again this Thursday so I'm hoping for something, anything! But who knows she might just decide to be late and be a Nov. baby, I'm trying to really just enjoy everything with this pregnancy because it might just be our last! It snowed on Sat. so our weather is crazy, today it is sooo gloomy. This past weekend we went ahead and bought the kids new snow boots, hats, gloves and coats. Old Navy and the mall in general were crazy busy, I think a lot of parents had our same idea! Enjoy you week! I'm off to clean my house and light my pumpkin candle! :)

Apple Orchard Fun!

The pumpkin patch.

Emma pointing to a good area to pick apples.

Emma getting help from her friend picking apples.

The girls waiting for lunch! Emma is on the right end.

Today we had a field trip to an apple orchard with our friends and had a wonderful time! The weather was perfect! The kids really enjoyed picking their own apples. It was a beautiful orchard. I bought some apple turnovers for dessert tonight that were made fresh at the orchard. They smell yummy. I think this will have to become a fall tradition. :) About 5 of us ladies went with all our kids and had lunch together. The weather has been very cool and rainy here in Iowa so it was such a blessing to see blue skies! The orchard also had a pumpkin patch and offered trailer rides.
This Tuesday marks 37 weeks! I am starting to feel all of 8 months pregnant too. :) Baby Elise has become a quite the kicker. I think she is ready to have more room! My energy level is slowing down a lot. I've had a great 3rd pregnancy but now I'm officially getting uncomfortable so I'm ready. And I'm starting to have labor dreams.:) I go to the doctor every week starting this Friday so Oct. 27th will be here soon and I can't wait!

Our Apple Orchard Trip!

Emma and her friend having fun.

Ethan picked his first good apple!

Ethan and his friend walking side by side in the orchard.

The kids picking apples!

The kids on the bridge!