39.5

Nearing the end of Little Bug's gestation...

39.5 weeks along...

38.5 weeks

We're nearing the end of this pregnancy in the next few days (I hope) and are getting really excited to meet this new little person! But if we're being completely honest, we're also a little freaked out anticipating all the changes we'll be making in the coming weeks. But everything will work itself out...of this we are certain!

Tre and I did a belly cast yesterday. We used a different kit than last time so the results were VERY different but that just correlates to how every pregnancy, delivery and child are varied and special! It's currently drying and hopefully we'll actually paint it and/or decorate it...unlike Lelia's belly cast which is still sitting in raw form in the nursery. I'll just tack it on to my ol' TO DO list! :)

At present, it feels like this little person is quite snug as a Little Bug in the ute. Two days until I'm technically 'due' but with the way things are going...it seems as though we will be missing out on any sort of tax credits this year as birthing does not seem at all imminent!

Alas, we could be surprised...it remains to be seen whether we'll have a baby this year or if we'll be a family of 4 in 2011! Any guesses?

Christmas Cheer

We should start at the beginning of Christmas...pics of when we got our tree early in December. Forgot to post these earlier...don't know why?!?

Mighty tree hunters...

Yeah for family self-portraits

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Lelia and I celebrated Christmas Eve...just the two of us (well, three counting Little Bug in my belly). Tre was finishing up a double shift at the fire station so although we didn't get him for Christmas Eve, he was home on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Lelia had a special gift from Koko to open on Christmas Eve so after her bath and before bedtime, we got to share in her lovely present.

An excited "Hoo" for the owls on her new jammies!

Ready for a good night's sleep in her new jammies...

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We celebrated Christmas in laid back fashion this year! With everything else going on, we wanted to keep things low-key just in case 'you-know-who decided to make an arrival'...which he/she did not! :)

We welcomed family in the morning and shared a lovely Christmas brunch of buttermilk pumpkin waffles with apple cider syrup (recipe I got from Sunset magazine...and SOOOOO worth all the steps to make this heavenly meal), eggs, bacon, fruit salad and of course lots of miscellaneous chocolate!

We had a blast watching Lelia play elf as she brought presents to each of us. She would then eagerly watch whomever was opening their gift and smile and clap. She is truly filled with a generous and sweet heart! She got some very lovely gifts and played with them immediately...it was fun to see her so happy and busy and interactive especially as she was only 5 months old last year. What a difference a year makes!

But I think Christmas is best told in pictures...

Lelia in her Christmas dress...complete with some rough and tumble Converse sneaks!

Reading a book with Papa

Enjoying her new art easel...an artist in the making!

Go Beavers! A sweatshirt from Great G&G Doty!

Learning farm animal noises with Koko

Her animal filled barn was a hit!

Reading the 'Christmas Story' with Papa

Merry Christmas from The Clayton's!

36 weeks!

We're now 36 weeks along with Little Bug! WOW!

We'll be greeting our new little family member in +/- 4 weeks! Double WOW!

Other than some achey ribs, near constant heartburn (oh, yeah) and beginning to feel pretty crowded for personal space, I'm doing well! Both Little Bug and I are healthy and right on track!

We're slowly getting things ready...linens/clothing washed and prepped, hospital bags packed for Tre and myself and an overnight bag for Lelia, "game plans" for various scenarios of me going into labor and (most importantly) trying to decide on names...without much luck, I might add! :)

It's an exciting time in life...elevated by this special time of year. All I gotta say is, poor Mary! At least I'm not 9 months pregnant and riding a donkey back to my hubby's hometown for a census. Phew! I can't even begin to think how miserable that must have been! One more reason to be relishing this pregnancy...

Hindsight...I should've worn a different shirt. I look like a giant pink and brown fish...scaly all over! I think they're actually flowers but when stretched to the point they are...they look more like scales. Um, yeah!