Waiting....

What an interesting time we find ourselves in. Just waiting for this little girl to make her debut into the world. I am praying she doesn't inherit her mother's stubbornness, and come late. I was 3 weeks late, thankfully they won't let me go any further than one week past my due date. So we could have a baby tomorrow or as late as Sept 20th!

We are ready!!! I have washed every sock, onesie and blanket, organized the clothes by size, we have installed the car seat, I have packed her coming home outfit and my hospital bag, snacks for Ben and even candy for the hospital nurses & visitors! I have been monogramming burp cloths and blankets. And now I am cleaning out closets and drawers, nesting in full swing.

I told Ben the other night that this time period reminded me of getting engaged. Because it was a huge life-changing event that I had no idea when it would happen, what it would be like and had no control over. A day that I had dreamed and imagined for years. Not sure I have dreamed of child birth for years.....but have dreamed of having children. So we will wait for this day to come, whatever it may hold and whenever it is. (I am still praying she comes early...it has been a loooong 9 months!)

We are so excited to meet you, sweet Annabelle! I am ready to hold you in my arms and kiss your sweet face. And have you hiccup in my arms vs in my tummy!!! We love you!

Fun Baby Bump Pics!

Sugar Plum Dreams is a store in San Antonio where I am registered. And they let you fill a bassinet with stuff you like. When a person comes into to buy you a gift they go to this room filled with bassinets and can pick something out. I am standing by Annabelle's bassinet!

Here I am taking full advantage of the "expectant mother parking" spots at Babies R Us!

I wish every store had this special treatment for pregos! Especially now when I am in full waddle!

Just when I didn't think it was possible to get any bigger, I did! And at 35 weeks, I still have 5 to go! Can't imagine what I will look like in a month. I asked the nurse about my growth spurt, which I am sure have nothing to do with the amount of Chick Fil A and snickers ice cream bars, she assured me I would only gain 5lbs at the most. We will see....

The past month...or so!

I have had a few baby showers I just wanted to highlight. It has been so fun to be celebrated and to blessed with so many wonderful baby gifts!

Ft. Worth Shower
Here we are with "gigi" the hostess with the mostess. She not only had the shower at her house,

but also made homemade lasagna! Lots of Ben's family was there!
Here I am with "omee" and the wonderful, very cute chocolate cake she brought!

Here is a pic of my sweet friends who hosted a San Antonio Shower. They served fried pickles and ice cream! So fun! They are wearing the monogrammed aprons I gave them: Jill Altom, Lindsay Nahoum, Cat Hornberger, Caroline Sasser, & Kristin Stouffer.

Baby Carriage centerpiece made out of fruit!!
Neighborhood shower!

If you can believe there are 3 of us in my neighborhood all due in September.

Lisa is on the left, and we are both due with girls on the 13th. Kimberlely on the right, is having a boy and she is due late September. So our fun neighbors, Debbie, Joan and my Aunt Betsy threw us a dessert neighborhood shower!

Bible Study shower!

I have had the best bible study this past year! They were some of the first people I told I was pregnant back in January, which seems forever ago. They have walked through this season of life with me surrounding me with prayers as well as meals when I was really struggling with migraines in the middle of my pregnancy. I feel SO blessed to be a part of this group. And had the best time at the shower. They blessed me with some wonderful, very useful gifts!

I have to say this past month and half have been my favorite! Everything is becoming more real, as we prepare for sweet Annabelle. I love finding homes for all her goodies in her nursery. I can't wait for her to get to use, wear and play with all her shower gifts!!

I am huge!

Yes, I am feeling very big these days at 33 weeks, 7 to go!

Annabelle's Nursery

Miss Annabelle Katherine's Nursery!!!

This is the family baptism gown she will wear, and I wore as a baby! And the sweet pink dress is what she will coming home from the hospital. Her Halbach grandparents brought it back from Paris just for her!!!

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Her monogrammed lamp shade!

The glider thanks to her Devine Grandparents, and her book shelf.

Her crib,thanks to her great grandmother Yaya. I still need to sew the bed skirt, for now the fabric is draped on the mattress! On the wall are pearl letters of her name!

Here is a more full view of her room, with her changing table and pink Pottery Barn rug, thanks to her Timberlake Grandparents.

We have the best parents and Annabelle has the best grandparents. We can't wait for her to me you all! Thank you all for contributing to making her room so special!

28 weeks baby belly

Here I am in Annabelle's room!!! My belly grows each day. And she moves around all the time.

But she does not perform on command! Each time she is moving and Ben is around I tell him and he sticks his hand on my stomach, and 9 times out of 10 she stops moving! She is a little stinker. Ben thinks she is just being stubborn...wonder where she gets that?

Her room is now my favorite place in the house! I will sometimes just go sit in the glider and rock. It is just so calm and peaceful in there. And it took an army to get it finished. Much thanks to Jim and Lisa who came down and put up a new fan and all the bead board. And then my mom, Betsy, Mark and Kellie all helped finish off the bead board touch ups and set up all the furniture! I still have to hang things on the wall and finish making her crib skirt, but you can see the fabric hanging in her crib!

At my 28week appt she is measuring right on track! And still very healthy. Despite my health during pregnancy there has never been any concern with Annabelle's health, we are so thankful! As the days pass on I am beginning to become more and more anxious to meet her! September will be here before I know it!

Baby Bump

I have had many requests for pictures of my baby bump. And while it seems big to me (much bigger than my normal waistline) it still is small. This pic was actually take 2 weeks ago, so I am a little bigger now!

And.....drumroll........we have decided on a name...Annabelle Katherine Halbach!

She will go by Annabelle. We both just love the name and really love being able to

call her by name now at only 18weeks! She is the size of a bell pepper, and growing healthy,

Praise the Lord. We are so grateful for the blessing of her. Now we just have to make it til September to meet her!

It's a GIRL!!!

We are so excited to be having a baby girl in September! I have been thinking this entire pregnancy that it is a girl, but today the Dr. confirmed my intuition!

I made extra sure that no little boy parts could be hiding anywhere, and he said it was a clear picture, 100% girl. We also got to see all 4 chambers of the heart, the 2 lobes of the brain, the stomach, the spine, ribs, hands, feet and little face. It was unbelievably amazing. I can't believe that little 5 oz life is inside me! She is healthy and growing right on track. Ben was tearing during the appt, and I had a grin from ear to ear, we couldn't be happier!

Later in the car Ben said, "Oh man, this means we have to pay for a wedding!!" I looked at him and laughed and reassured him we were quite a few years away from a wedding! I think we will be ok!

We feel so blessed to be entrusted this baby girl, and can't wait to meet her!