Katie at 37 weeks (Beckton are you coming soon?)

(No I didn't ride on this just posed for a picture on Tommy's Harley!)

I'm full-term! I'm exhausted, I'm nesting like crazy and I can't keep myself out of the bathroom. He is literally sitting on my bladder. It's weird because I can feel him moving down all the time. Especially at night. Then I think this is it! And it's not! Week 37 was filled with more accomplishments ...

We finished all of our classes! Childbirth, CPR etc. we are trained and ready to roll.

We finished the nursery!! It's DONE! We love it and can't wait to post more pictures!

We prepared the house ... everything is clean thanks to my nesting phase last weekend. We cleaned grout, toilets, baseboards, windows, the gardens, sprayed for bugs, packed un-packed and re-packed my hospital bag, filed documents, power-washed the deck, I mean we got serious!
So the big question is when will you come little guy? We would love to hear your predictions ... you can leave comments at the bottom of this post!

Katie at 36 weeks (Happy Easter!)

Wow time is finally flying by! It's funny how in the early stages I felt like I would never get this far. 30 weeks seemed unimaginable ... now here I am at 36 weeks and Beckton could literally come any day! I find myself feeling these little bursts of excitement. I started out so excited I couldn't stand it, then I got so sick that it was hard to focus on anything else, and now it's almost time! Between feeling a little overwhelmed and nervous I just keep smiling thinking that soon we'll have this little guy who will depend on us and learn from us. It's going to be so much fun.

This past weekend we did some maternity photos. THANK YOU TO MARISA for taking the time to take over 300 photos like a total pro! They turned out awesome and here are just a few!

Nursery Sneak Peak..Love ..

Just us ..

Blooming ..

Our last few moments of serenity

36 weeks!

The whole family

Katie at 35 weeks (Spring has sprung but with snowflakes)

At Miami University with the Upham Arches behind me - while visiting with Scott

Snow in April? Note the tulips mixed with snow on the ground and blowing in the air!

Week 35 means we have 5 weeks to go until 40 weeks! Week 35 was a little crazy as I started having some contractions. Luckily they subsided but were actually pretty painful. Thank God my Mom was able to stay with me since Scott was out of town. If those were any indication of what labor is like ... all I can say is epidural.

The childbirth classes are over but we still have some parenting classes to finish up through April. We also have to attend a Baptismal class for Beckton's baptism after he is born. It's a lot of learning, but I think it will all come in handy.

So far April has been a month of getting things done! From the classes to decorating the baby room, making sure my claims for maternity leave are ready, securing a pediatrician, de-cluttering our house, making space in our house for new baby things, buying items we didn't get from showers like bottles and diaper bags, working on a transition plan for the new person to cover my responsibilities at work ... I think we will be prepared!!

I'm still feeling exhausted because of the bathroom visits in the middle of the night but all in all doing well. Beckton is all over the place and we're all very excited for what's to come.

Katie at 34 weeks (Baby Room is making progress and Beckton is a Canteloupe)

34 weeks and we're moving right along! Beckton is about the size of a canteloupe! This weekend another milestone ... baby furniture arrived, we put it together and the room is almost done. I was so emotional this weekend while we were arranging the room. I guess I just couldn't really believe how one minute it looked like a storage unit and the next it was the room where Scott and I will bring Beckton home to for the first time. It's a pretty cool/strange feeling. Obviously anyone who has done this before gets it but I swear until you go through it once you just can't know how the emotions will take over. It's exhilarating. I'm starting to get really excited and really nervous at the same time. I cannot wait until the room is 100% complete and I can just sit back in the rocker and await Beckton's arrival.

This weekend (March 27th) we also celebrated Scott's 28th Birthday ! This was his last before becoming a Dad so we wanted to make it count! We headed to his favorite restaurant El Toro for dinner with family and friends and then topped off the night with a few rounds of bowling! Everyone had a blast and I think we sent Scott off well into fatherhood.

We also had a doctor appointment and Beckton appears to be doing well! Strong heartbeat and measuring right on target. No signs of any issues which is THRILLING!!! We should learn more next week at our next appointment ...

Katie at 33 Weeks (Another baby shower and a new car!)

Standing outside my new car!

I swear I must have the best friends, family and husband in the world! This week was a little crazy as we've been car shopping. I love my little Saturn but two-door coupes aren't user-friendly for car seats and babies! So Scott and I kept searching and found nothing we really liked. Then we test drove this really cool fully loaded black Nissan Altima and we loved it! After discussing it a little further we decided it was probably a little much for us and we didn't need all those options. Turns out Scott must think I deserve something nice after what I've been through and he went back and bought the car the next day and totally surprised the heck out of me! He lied and told me he was going to the Saturn dealership to see how much they would give us and instead he went and got a great deal on the Nissan, drove it right to the front door of my office and called me to come down. It was so awesome. I was shocked to say the least. I literally started crying! I absolutely adore the car! THANK YOU SCOTT!!!!

Then, as if that weren't enough to give someone a great week ... the Kenney Family threw me a shower! THANK YOU Michelle, Michelle, Melinda, Marilyn and Mom for an awesome day! THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME AND BROUGHT OR SENT SUCH ADORABLE GIFTS! WE ARE SO GRATEFUL!

The shower was so much fun, had the best food and cute decorations. It was so nice to spend time with the family! THANK YOU KENNEY'S!

I am definitely feeling the aches and pains of pregnancy but with so many people to celebrate with and such great gifts, you won't find me complaining! Beckton is moving around a lot in there. He doesn't kick all that often he just seems to change position a lot. Most of the time it's fine but every once and a while it's uncomfortable. Hopefully he is enjoying his time in there because he doesn't have much time left!

Katie at 32 Weeks (My first baby shower!)

Oh yeah, I'm getting big now!

Mom and Me

Miami girls (minus Jamie) LYMYMYED


Small CHS reunion (everyone is either married, engaged, has kids or expecting! Crazy!)

Kristin, Andrea, Katie & Kathryn (the old HDC gang)

Katie & Marisa

So cute, Beckton's little shoes (Mom is a great photographer)

Scott and I with our new stroller and car seat compliments of my Mom and Sister!

He came after the shower - the Bud Light can is his!

Well, Birthing Classes are underway and going well. I'm feeling alright, pretty tired due to my getting up to go to the restroom every hour on the hour (even during the night!)

Big news this week ... we had our ultrasound and they say Beckton is doing great! We've had some scares in the past but this time everything measured up accurately. Our little guy is currently 3.8 pounds and in the 25th percentile, they say he won't get very big. Fine by me! As long as he is big enough right? We got another DVD of the ultrasound and this time we got to see his mouth moving all around as he shoved his fist inside. It was too cute!

More big news from the week obvious from the pictures, my first baby shower!

THANK YOU TO MARISA, RACHEL, LAURA, & AMBER for hosting such a fun shower! THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO COULD COME SPEND THE DAY WITH US ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT TRAVELED FROM AFAR LIKE MY MIAMI GIRLS!
THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR THE WONDERFUL GIFTS!

EVEN IF YOU COULDN'T MAKE THE SHOWER WE KNOW YOU WERE

THERE IN SPIRIT BY ALL OF THE WELL WISHES AND

WONDERFUL THINGS WE RECEIVED!

The final big news from the week ... the baby room is finished being painted! My wonderful husband did the first 4 coats and my wonderful Mom finished the last one! The color is just what we were hoping for and it's a relief to have it done! THANK YOU SCOTT AND MOM!

Katie at 31 weeks (Birthing Classes, Showers, Bachelorette parties)

Katie looking a little exhausted

Amber, Katie (Beckton) and Carla

Above are a few pictures of me at a Bar in Columbus. I ventured out with some friends for my our friend Stephanie's Bridal Shower and Bachelorette Party. Let me just point out that party buses are not as exciting when you drink water. However Beckton really seemed to enjoy himself as he was moving all over the place the whole night! He must have been dancing to the loud music! Guess he likes the same music as Mom!

Last week our friends and co-workers at LexisNexis through Scott and I a little baby shower! We had cake, told some funny stories, and they gave us an adorable card and very generous gift! THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!

Beckton is starting to get lots of things! - THANK YOU to my sister and my Mom - who boxed up AJ's things from 0 - 12 months and sent to Beckton and I to enjoy! Thanks sis for all of the adorable things! All I had to do was separate and wash! It's very exciting to have things for him already! We continue to receive little gifts here and there from family and friends and it's just so nice.

The other major event from last week was that we actually started our Childbirth classes. Not much to be told, except that after some introductions, diagrams and watching some birthing videos Scott announced that he will most certainly be out of town the week I go into labor.! His exact quote? "Nothing should be that hard for anyone ever. It's completely ridiculous." I'm just glad he agrees with me! Needless to say we've paid for the classes and we did learn some things, so we will be going back weekly. Next week we're hoping we don't have to watch any horror movies though.

Beckton seems to be doing well (we're looking forward to our next appointment on March 11th when we get to see him again!)