I’m completely obsessed- maybe even slightly addicted…it’s like having bookmarks all over the Internet.  Recipes, DIY projects, holiday decorations, even great ideas for teachers!  It is so inspiring- I am constantly amazed at people’s pure brilliance.  You know, the things that make you wish you’d thought of that.  The things that are so simple, yet so very clever– and that somehow make your life SO. MUCH. BETTER.

If you do not know what I’m talking about, go to www.pinterest.com and check it out.  It really is a fun way to waste a lot of time.

If you want to start your own “account” for lack of a better word, let me know your email address and I will send you an invitation.  🙂

With only 17 days until Grae’s due date, we have started packing up our hospital bag (apparently it was recommended to do this at the end of the second trimester… but we are running a little behind).  The best thing in that bag that we have packed so far is the outfit that he will wear home from the hospital!  We wanted this to be “classic”- something that will never go out of style- and something that matched his room, because we plan on putting it in a display box when he outgrows it. (I found this idea on PINTEREST, which I will talk all about in another post because I’m slightly addicted).

Coming home outfit display idea 🙂

Here is the outfit that we picked out for him! Get your cameras ready for this handsome little man, Grandma and Grandpa! 🙂

As we near the due date, I can’t help but feel a little heavyhearted.  I feel like my pregnancy with my first baby has gone way too fast- having him all to myself.  I love knowing that he is a part of my husband and a part of me, and I am growing him inside of my body- he and I are as close to “one” as we will ever be. As much as I cannot wait for him to get here- I already know that I will miss feeling him roll around when his favorite song is on the radio, and how he kicks when I tickle my belly.  Most of all, I will miss him being with me every single second of every single day, knowing that he is completely safe.

Anyway, before I get completely swept away in the joys of motherhood- I wanted to reminisce a little about all of the fun I’ve had carrying this perfect little boy in my belly.

March 8, 2011–The day it all started… the best day of my life so far.

The BEFORE picture 😉

Two weeks before finding out I was pregnant, I “booked” 3 baby goats to come visit my kids at school… they arrived three days after finding out we were expecting and I was absolutely terrified the entire time that I might pass a goat disease to the baby… LOL… looking back now, I realize how foolish this was… Just think how overprotective I’m gonna be when he is born! 

March 19, 2011- The day we shared our BIG news with my family 🙂 

Morning sickness starts… the only thing that sounds good at all is Life Cereal.  I took that box with me everywhere. 

And, sometimes I even decided to share 😉

May 12, 2011- The first time we laid eyes on our little bean

June 30th, 2011- The day we found out we were having a BOY!!!

August 21, 2011- His name is official- There is no turning back now, we painted it on the walls 🙂 Graeson Royce Mielke it is!

September 14, 2011- The first time we got to see his handsome face

Now we are anxiously awaiting his due date (November 11, 2011), or more importantly, the day he decides to make his entrance into the world…   What a great journey we have been on together and in so many ways, the best parts have not yet begun. 🙂

After picture (SO FAR) 37 weeks 🙂

Yesterday we went to the Women’s Center for a tour of the building where I will be giving birth to our baby boy.  I’m glad we went- it really helped clear up a lot of confusion, questions, and just helped ease the fear of the unknown.  On our way there we practiced our route as if it were the real thing.  Ian even asked if he should stop at the red lights.  :0) (I reminded him it would be good if we arrived ALIVE.)  We were one of 6 couples on the tour, and 5 of 6 of us were having boys!  Our tour guide showed us around the hospital- everything from the cafeteria, to the waiting rooms, to the gift shops- so we would be able to direct our family and friends.  The next stop was the labor and delivery floor. Ian and I were pleasantly surprised by the birthing suites- so comfy and roomy- it almost even felt like home.  We were thinking it would be a cold, sterile, typical hospital room. Instead, it had soothing paint on the walls (not the standard bright white), wood furniture, a television, recliners and rocking chairs, a wall of windows, a huge open area for labor and delivery, and a huge bathroom that even has a birthing tub and a big shower.  We will have the baby in that room, stay for about 2 hours to stabilize, then will be moved upstairs to our own private room for the next 24-48 hours (which is equally as nice!)  The nurse gave us a lot of ideas of what to bring in our hospital bag- things that we had never even thought of, so that was also helpful. We have lots of packing to do. 🙂

The doctor confirmed that the baby has indeed dropped- her exact words being “He has really dropped! You are getting so close!” Ahh!! As excited as I am, I’m starting to get a little anxious!  All my tests from last week came back negative- no diseases or bacteria that shouldn’t be around our little manfant- so that means no planned C-sections (which I hear is a good thing, but part of me was kinda hoping for a C-section instead of the alternative ;)) .  The scale reads WAY too close to 200 lbs when I step on the damn thing now- let me tell you- NOT my favorite part of the visit.  We got to listen to his heartbeat, which she said sounded great, and as before, he is measuring just as he should be, and she estimates that he is between 6 and 6.5 pounds now (although there is no way for her to be sure).

The best two words that were said today:  “FULL TERM!!!”   YAY!!!

The worst words said today: “He is now the size of a watermelon!”    GOOD GRACIOUS!

(pictures soon :))