Home Brewed Smittle: Week 39. 1 to go.

Seriously? I really only have ONE week until my due date?! I can't believe it. I've hit all my goals. Now we're just coasting. I've had contractions just about every day, but nothing big and not enough to be actual labor. I'm fine with still being pregnant because I keep telling myself that Eli just isn't ready yet and the longer he's inside the more likely it is that he'll be fat and healthy.
My diaper/giftcard shower was wonderful! The shower was for my friend Susan, who just had her baby yesterday, and I together. It was so fun to share a shower. We had several friends come and we had a nice time chatting and laughing. We were blessed with tons of diapers, wipes, and giftcards.

My mom started a tradition of getting each of the kids a special gown and outfit to wear home from the hospital. Now that we birth at home that outfit is usually worn on their first Sunday at church. I'm in love with this little gown for Eli. It's Ralph Lauren and OH so soft and sweet.  I have it laying in the bassinet waiting for him and every time I look at it I just can't wait to get it on him!

Every night when Isaiah goes to bed he says, "Momma! I can't wait for Eli to be born!" Such a sweet boy! My Mia seems to be starting to understand a little about what is going on. She's still clueless, but as "baby things" start popping up around the house she's starting to point to my belly, point to the items, and say "day-dee"

My midwife gave me "Parents Emergency Birth Instructions" yesterday with things to do if the baby starts to come before she gets there. As long as I call her at the first signs of labor that is unlikely to happen, but just in case we got instructions of what to do. I read through them with Manly, and we both laughed out loud at the last one, which said, "Get the mother something to drink. You will probably need one too." Ha! Yeeeeeahhhh. I think Manly would be needing a drink if he just delivered a baby on his own! Ha! In reality, I was very glad to get them, but hope to not use them!
Babycenter doesn't have much to say about Eli's development other than he's just hanging out putting on a layer of fat and waiting to meet us! They have him at about 20 inches long and a little over 7 pounds-about the size of a mini watermelon.

 





Thankful List: Pregnancy Edition

I've been  known from time to time to think of random things I'm thankful for. This morning, as I was trying to take a shower I came up with a list of random items I'm thankful for especially right now. I am ALMOST 39 weeks pregnant. I've been pregnant 229 weeks in the last 9 years, so being pregnant is something I know a LITTLE bit about. Now, I'm no pro because every pregnancy is different, but here are some of my thoughts of thankfulness.

• I'm thankful for the bar in my shower. For without it there is no way I'd be able to shave my legs or, at this point, take a shower at all.
• I'm thankful for maxi dresses. They are the ONLY thing that feels comfortable right now and doesn't make me feel like I'm being cut in half.
• I'm thankful for my husband's grey hoodie. I'm sure he'll be glad to have it back, but there are some days when pajama pants and that hoodie are just the right thing to keep me cozy and warm.
• I'm thankful that we homeschool and I don't have to get kids ready and out the door by a certain time. I'm pretty sure the kids would be kicked out of school by now!
• I'm thankful for my Livi who makes lunch for the kids every day.
• I'm thankful that all the kids still nap(or at least have rest time).
• I'm thankful that my husband, with a little nagging, will trim my toe nails for me.
• I'm thankful for vitamin B complex. Without you, I'd still be in bed. You give me enough energy to make it through the day. Well, at least until naptime...
• I'm thankful for the barstool I drug into the bathroom to sit in while I get ready. It makes that time so much more doable. 
• I'm thankful for the kind of friends that know they can touch my belly and I won't get mad.
• I'm thankful for friends who know they aren't the kind of friends who can touch my belly and they leave me alone.
• I'm thankful that strangers haven't tried to touch my belly this time. I think it's because I look older and meaner. HA!
• I'm thankful for cooshie seats.
• I'm thankful for lots and lots of pillows that help me sleep at night.
• I'm thankful for the stop watch on my phone to time contractions.
• I'm thankful for friends that buy diapers as gifts.
• I'm thankful for friends who give me hand me downs.
• I'm thankful that in a few days I'll be finished with this season.
• I'm thankful for the crockpot and the easy meals that come from it.
• I'm thankful for netflix and the mind numbing hours of tv I have watched this pregnancy after the kids are in bed.
• I'm thankful for friends who gave me a baby shower even though this is our SIXTH child.
• I'm thankful that I'll be able to sell/get rid of my maternity clothes in a few weeks.

UPDATE!! I forgot two!

• I'm thankful for peppermints. Without them I'd be crying from heartburn and nausea.
• I'm thankful for kefir for the same reasons...

I think that's it for now. I could go on, but it's naptime and I'm sleepy!

Ashley Gets Married!

This past weekend my BFF of 12+ years got married! I'd been praying for that day for such a long time, and it was almost like I was the one getting married I was so excited for her. Ashley has been such a fantastic friend to me over the last several years. She's brought me chocolate when I was sad, been there for me when all my babies were born, stood beside me at my wedding as my maid of honor, prayed for and with me, stood up for me, laughed with me, taught me new things, called me just to vent and allowed me to do the same. She's constant when the rest of the world is unstable. We've had our ups and downs, but I KNOW I can always depend on her. She loves me for who I am and I know she loves my family too.
When she first got engaged I was a little worried because I knew I'd likely be HUGE pregnant when she tied the knot, but it all worked out just fine. I was a bridesmaid and Manly and I sang. Here are some pictures of her bachelorette party and special day.

The beautiful bride-to-be. We went to a place where you paint your own canvas print.

It was a lot of fun and cool to see how they all looked different in the end.

They made Ash all these cute signs.

See? So cute!

Two of the other lovely bridesmaids getting ready to paint! Serena and Khristina

Two more smiley bridesmaids. Jennifer and Leigh Ann. Did I mention there were 7 of us!?

Khristina taking a little sip...

 

Ashley and her mom.

Ms. Cathy turns out to be an artist!

Ash and me.

My painting half way through. I ended up hating it in the end, but what are you gonna do?

All of us with our paintings. We were short two bridesmaids here.

The only picture appropriate for my blog from the gift part of our time together. Ha!

After opening gifts we have a wonderful time talking about what we loved about Ashley.

We each prayed over her which is what this picture is.

 

Leigh Ann doing Ashley's make-up.

Ashley arranged for two stylists to come to the church to do our hair. So much fun!

Ms. Cathy getting her hair done.

Me. In my dress. With Eli making himself known.

 

Leigh Ann(who I think looks like Adele) and me. We've been friends for a long time too!

Ash's cake was so so pretty! It looked like packed snow(her wedding was a winter theme).

She made the cake topper herself. So so pretty!

 

The girls with Aunt Ashley. They love her so much and were so happy to be at her wedding!

Olivia took this one of Ashley.

She also took this one of Ash and me.

And this one of Manly and I. He looked so handsome!!

The view from where Livi was sitting. Ha!

 

Manly singing while we walked down the aisle.

The bride and groom saying their vows.

Ashley getting ready to throw her bouquet to the bridesmaids.

By far my favorite picture of the day. The bridesmaids fighting it out!! HA!

Khristina wins! She was sad because they broke the bouquet.

The best pic of the day of our family. It was past nap time, so this was as good as it got!

The pretty bride and me.

LOVED her pretty blue coat! They had "snow" for us to throw. It looked SO pretty!!

The brides parents after they left. Such a FUN couple.

Loved them like second parents while I was in college.

Ms. Cathy living it up!!

KK sporting the Brides veil.