T minus 12 days!

I really can't believe that in just a few short days...I will be able to say "I'm due next week"!!   That's CRAZY!!  Cody is at his absolute limit waiting for Miss Baileigh...he is hoping I have her...like...now!  I'm excited as well, but fully prepared to wait another week or so.  I guess the looming reality of delivering a baby is slightly frightening, so if she wants to chill for a few more weeks - fine by me!

We celebrated our last Christmas as just "a couple" a few days ago.  It was a little strange.  It was our tenth Christmas as a couple, so we definitely had plenty of years together with lots of great memories.  We spent a good part of our Christmas Eve and morning talking about what next year will be like with a soon-to-be one year old.  I'm sure she'll be terrorizing our tree and eating gobs of wrapping paper - but we can't wait!

With the new year just a few days away, Cody and I have spent some time reflecting on 2012.  In January, we were both anxiously awaiting my possible acceptance letter into the Clinical Laboratory Science program at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center.  I thought I had a good chance of getting into the program (they only accept 2 applicants a year), and we were anticipating I would be a full-time student for most of 2012 and into 2013.  I received the letter the second week of January, and was devastated that I didn't get in.  Cody and I had talked about this possibility, and where we would go from there.  Our number one priority was to start a family.  After almost 4 years of trying to go back to school and not succeeding, we both felt that perhaps that was not God's will for our lives.  In our hearts, we had wanted to start a family for many years, but just hadn't had any luck.  So my rejection letter was our green light to give it a try again.  It also gave me the courage to say out loud, "I hate my job and I want to quit ASAP," and to look for a new job.  That very next Sunday at church, I read about an open Secretarial position and applied right away.  Much to my surprise, I got the job and so began my short employment at HDC.  Within 2 months, much to my surprise again, I found out I was pregnant.  It was a little scary, but the happiest moment of my life.  So to sum this year up...God has taken Cody and I down a path that we never saw coming...and we couldn't be more thankful.

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." 

Proverbs 19:21

One month to go!

Well it's officially less than one month away from my due date!  The nursery is ready, baby clothes are washed, carseat is assembled, and the hospital bag is packed and ready to go!  A few days ago Cody and I tag-teamed a massive grocery list, and tonight I began Day 1 of cooking meals to freeze for next month.  Today I made enchiladas and meatballs, and tomorrow I will tackle Hawaiian Chicken, Goulash, and Shredded Chicken for sandwiches and burritos.  By this weekend our freezer will be packed! As accomplished as I feel right now - I still have that lingering feeling in the back of my mind that I am not quite ready.  I'm sure there is some truth to that feeling - I mean, does anyone ever feel completely ready for a baby?  Hopefully I'm not the only one with doubts!

Cody and I decorated our home a little earlier than usual for Christmas this year, because we knew we would be taking everything down early as well.  We usually leave all of our decorations up until the first or second week of January, but with Miss Baileigh making an appearance soon, we decided we would take everything down the weekend after Christmas.  As much as I would love to bring her home to a house full of Christmas decorations, I know our house will be filled with lots of new baby stuff - which would probably make for a packed house and cause me lots of anxiety.  Right now my motto is 'the simpler, the better' - so with that being said, the decorations are coming down early!