Jack's First Photo Shoot

Click on Alisha's link to the left to see all the precious pictures of Jack, 3 days old!  If you want to see the rest, go to her website and click on client proofing... password is babyjack.  They are all SO good.  Alisha, you are the best.

Home Stretch

Well, it looks like Baby Jack will be here before our milk even expires!

We have entered the 9th month and now the countdown gets serious!  Only about 5 weeks left (assuming he is not late).  I really can't complain too much about this pregnancy.  The constant nausea, heartburn and rib pain has NOT been fun... but other than that I have felt pretty good.  I haven't been too tired, haven't had a lot of headaches, minimal swelling and my skin has stayed pretty clear.  Despite his cramped environment, Jack has remained very active.  He literally moves ALL of the time.  I can totally feel where his head, back and feet are.  He really hasn't changed positions very much... just lots of kicks and jabs, and HICCUPS.  Poor thing gets them almost everyday!  I had an appointment with the doctor today and she said his head has lowered, and I am 2 centimeters dilated.  I was dilated 2 centimeters with Allie for 2 weeks, and she came 10 days early ... so we'll see what Jack decides to do!

Allie is as excited as can be.  She loves to put her hands and her head on my belly and feel him kick her.  She also loves going in his room and getting his little stuffed animals to play with.  She has confiscated a few, claiming that he really doesn't need 4 of them, and since she is going to share with him, he can share with her too.  The chalkboard countdown helps with the constant "How many more days til he gets here?", but she is still dying to know exactly what day he is going to arrive.  Will she be in school?  Will it be in the middle of the night?  What if he tries to come while we are at church?  Or at the grocery store?  In the meantime, she is planning out exactly how she is going to "train" him.  She knows she wants him to like Pirates, but hasn't decided about the rest :) 

We started our childbirth classes at the hospital, which I have to say has been pretty entertaining.  Ryan actually looked at me during the first class and in all seriousness said, "Do I really need to be in there during the delivery for the whole time?".  He also added "Flask" to the group list of things you need to bring to the hospital.  Needless to say, I will have to clear up that if I cannot be drinking any alcohol, neither can he.  Here he is wearing the belly suit, which of course he said was exaggerated, and that's really not what it feels like to be pregnant.  Like he has any idea.

There are still some things to tie up in the nursery. We are waiting on the glider to come in, Papa to finish the pictures and I need to get the closet organized and the window valances monogrammed.  Promise to post pictures when it is completed.

A very BIG thank you to Alisha for such beautiful maternity pictures.  She never ceases to amaze me with her talents.  I only have about 2 pictures of when I was pregnant with Allie, so I wanted to make sure that we captured the belly at some point.  You can check out her blog (link to the left) to see more.

Alisha Schwanke is THE best