38 weeks

Last week I started going to my weekly doctor's appointments. My doctor checked me and said I was dialated to 1 cm and 50% effaced. That afternoon I started to get horrible pains in my leg and back. I think the baby shifted and was sitting on a nerve. It was a pretty miserable couple of days. I could barely walk because the pain was so intense. After a few days the pain stopped coming as frequently. Throughout this past week I would get those pains every once in a while. At the end of this week I had much more energy then I did last week. I've also had alot of pain in my hips which has made it hard for me to walk. People are telling me that it just means I'm getting ready for labor-woohoo! Yesterday, Jeremiah and I went to our weekly doctor's appointment. She said that I am still 1 cm dialated and 50% effaced. Nothing has changed since last week. When we left the office, I started feeling those instense pains again! So, I believe the pains come from me getting checked by the doctor. Ugh! I had them all last night, but I feel better today. I think I'm going to deal with these pains until she comes. I've had such a wonderful pregnancy and I know I've been very blessed. So, I can't really complain if I have these pains for a few weeks!
Today Jeremiah and I arranged a few things in the baby's room. Then he put the bouncy seat and pack n' play together. We are ready for her to come! My mom and dad came today for lunch. They brought us my grandma's rocking chair which my dad refinished for us. It is beautiful and looks fantastic in our nursery!
Also, Friday was my last day of teaching until May 26! My class threw me a baby shower yesterday and I received many great gifts. It was sad to say goodbye to my kids, but now I'm even more ready for our little girl to come into this world. We still have about 2 weeks until our actual due date, but I hope she comes early! :)

38 weeks and growing

My dad refinished my grandma's rocking chair for us. I love it! Here is a picture of it..

37 weeks

Here are pictures of me at 37 weeks...

36 weeks

Here are some pictures of me at 36 weeks...

Church Baby Shower

On Sunday, Amy and Erin threw a baby shower for Jeremiah and me. Many people from our church came to the shower. It was an absolutely wonderful time! They had ordered cute (and delicious!) cupcakes, had a prayer journal for us, and also had people "bid" on our due date. It was fun to hang out with so many of our friends from church. Jeremiah's mom and my parents were able to make it too. We received so many fantastic gifts and now I think we feel ready (well as ready as we can be!). I've said this many times before, but we are just so blessed to have such amazing people in our lives. We are especially thankful to be in such a great church community. A big "Thank you" to Erin and Amy. We are very thankful for both of you!:)
The delicious cupcakes!

Jeremiah and Jon

Carol (Jeremiah's mom), Jeremiah, and me

Dad, me, Jeremiah, and Mom


Jeremiah and Charlotte (our Goddaughter) Erin, me, and Amy

My School Shower

My school co-workers are absolutely wonderful. Seriously, I am so blessed to work at Lincoln Trail and especially blessed to be a part of the 3rd grade team. I love these ladies! Today they threw me a fabulous shower at school. They went with the brown and pink theme. The center pieces were adorable-flower pots surrounded by brown and pink polka dotted paper. Then they ordered a cake with brown and pink polka dots on it. At the shower, we received our car seat from my 3rd grade co-workers!!!! I now feel prepared. Before today the only big thing that we really needed was our car seat and I was kind of freaking out because we hadn't received it yet. So, now I am relieved and so happy that they went in together to get this fantastic gift for us! We also received many other gifts such as our bouncy seat, a carrier, baby swimsuit, blankets, bumbo seat tray, a gift card to Target, and a gift certificate to Portrait Innovations. There were a few other things we received but I can't think of everything right now. Cynthia gave us a super cute Cardinal's outfit! I can't wait for our baby to wear it to her 1st Cardinal's game. Also, it was so nice because my mom and Kacy came to my shower. They didn't have school today, so they were able to come and meet my class before the shower. I was really glad to have them there! Overall, it was an awesome shower. I really want Jeremiah to put the car seat in the car tonight, but I don't think it's going to happen. We have our last baby class tonight. If any of my co-workers are reading this post, please know how much I appreciate you!! Thank you for everything you did for my shower today! Here are a few pictures taken at the shower.


I think this is a funny picture! Melissa always feels my stomach. Today the baby was moving around alot for her!
My fantastic co-workers!


Nicci (32 weeks..I think) and me (35 weeks)
Mom, me, and Kac

35 weeks

We are in our 35th week right now! I can't believe we only have 5 weeks left until our little girl arrives! Last week a few teachers at my school told me they thought I had dropped. It kind of freaked me out. My mom had me at 36 weeks, so I know it is possible for our little girl to come early. However, it just made me realize how close to the end we really are! I'm at peace with it now. Whenever she comes, we'll be ready for her! The day the teachers told me that, I called Jeremiah and was a little stressed about it. When I got home from school, he had hung up our curtains and the letters in our room. He had actually gone to the fabric store and purchased the ribbon (and I must say..he did an excellent job!) to hang up the letters. We had talked about doing this, but we were going to wait until closer to her due date. He told me that since I was stressed about dropping, that he wanted to make me happy. Also, he said that he wanted me to feel like our room was ready in case she came early. I know it sounds really dorky, but I just stand in her room and smile. I LOVE her room! My Aunt Jil did an awesome job on the curtains.
Our baby is constantly moving. I have said this before, but I know I am going to miss her kicking inside of me when she is born. I love putting my hands on my stomach and feeling her move. Last night I think I felt her knee and part of her leg move across the top of my stomach. What an amazing feeling! I just don't understand how people don't believe in God when little miracles like this happen every day! Anyway, I'm just so excited to meet her. I only have 3 weeks of school left until I start my maternity leave (we have spring break the week before I go on leave). The past couple of weeks I have really been praying about being a witness to my class instead of being grumpy with them. I have noticed that I am more calm with a few of my kiddos, so I am praising God for that!
Here are my 35 week pics.. I didn't realize that my last belly shot was taken at 31 weeks and I have grown alot since then! Also, I have included a picture of the crib and the curtains.
35 weeks

34 weeks

Here is a picture of Anne and me. I can't believe we haven't taken more pictures together! Anne is 32 weeks and I am 34 weeks.

2nd Baby Shower

We have been very blessed throughout this entire pregnancy. With the exception of a few days, I haven't really felt sick or uncomfortable. Also, we have been very blessed by the generosity of our family and friends. Last weekend, a Cox family friend threw our second baby shower for us. It was really great to see many Decatur and out of town family friends that I hadn't seen in a while. In addition to those people, Jeremiah's Grandma Cox and Aunt Carol came too. I hadn't seen Jeremiah's Aunt Carol since our wedding! I was thrilled that Beth, Kate, Carol, Gangee (Jeremiah's other grandma), and my mom were able to partake in the shower festivities too. The shower was thrown by Kathy Mueller and we had a very nice brunch at her house. She made a big banner with pictures of Jeremiah and me on it. It had the Jeremiah 1:5 bible verse on it: Before I formed you in your mother's womb, I chose you. Before you were born I set you apart. Beth and Cathy created some fun games for us to play. We were excited to receive our stroller (that goes along with our car seat), our high chair, and a bunch of other wonderful items!
After the shower, we went back to Jeremiah's parents' house and hung out with the family. It was a fantastic day! Here are a few pictures from the shower. Yes, I'm wearing the same dress as my last shower!:) It's hard to find a cute maternity dress!
Kate, Carol, Beth, Aunt Carol, me, Grandma Cox, and Gangee

My mom and me

Kathy (the hostess) and me