It’s been a while since I’ve updated so I wanted to check in and tell you guys that everything is going great. I’ve had two OB appointments since the last blog entry. Now that I’ve reached a certain point, I go in every two weeks. Unfortunately Dr. Woodland has been out of the clinic, so I’ve been seeing Dr. Graham. She’s nice enough, but I really have bonded with Dr. Woodland and look forward to seeing her again. My next appointment is Wednesday of next week before we leave town for Adam & Des’s wedding. Everything is still very standard at the appointments, I’m measuring right on for my gestation and the heartbeat has been averaging about 150 beats. After the next appointment, I start going every week!

Two Sundays ago we had the big family and friend baby shower. It was such a special day to share with all my friends and family. The gifts were too numerous to list here, but some of the most memorable ones were things that people took the time to craft for me. I got some really special quilts and blankets made by Grandma Joyce, Auntie Judy, my cousin Sara, and from my parents created by their friend Pat. Kristi Dezek made me an adorable frame for photos of me and Baby Buster. Randy and Tina gave me the most adorable wooden bear rockers. Tj’s mom Sharon knit Buster the sweetest little hat, mittens and sweater. And Mandi sewed a very loving, and scary monster doll.

There were some sentimental gifts too. Auntie Cathy, Samantha and Sara brought me back some baby clothes from Chicago from my alma mater, Columbia College. Jody gave me a Mother Goose rhyme book that belonged to me as a child, fully inscribed from my parents. Grandma Joyce gave me a calendar that my mom had printed when I was born.

There were so many special things, like I said, that I’m hard pressed to list them here. Hopefully nobody feels slighted that they’re not mentioned here on the blog. :)

On a personal level, I’m feeling pretty good still. I have to say I’ve really enjoyed being pregnant and for the most part it’s been smooth sailing. Just this week it’s really started to take a toll on me physically. But with only about 5 weeks left, I think that’s not too bad. Monday night I came home and just crashed. Walking to the train is taking me longer and I keep forgetting that I probably can’t do as much as I think I can.

Tj’s been really great about chipping in and doing more to help me out. Sometimes I wonder if he thinks I’m crazy or what. The weekend of the baby shower he left town for 4 days to go to Adam’s bachelor party at the cabin in Brainerd, MN. He left during a huge rainstorm and I freaked out. It was as if he was going to Timbuktu and never coming back. The emotional hormone thing is really hard to deal with... but he was amazing. He didn’t say I was being irrational, he supported me and checked in every so often on the road until he got there. And my nesting instinct to keep everyone close didn’t start with him – I did the same with my sister when she drove to Madison and flew to California! I just want to keep the people I love close and safe to me I guess.

Click here to see the full gallery of pregnancy photos.