The Fanning Four

I have a confession to make..... I am really over this whole pregnancy thing. What's funny is that for as long as I can remember I have looked forward to being pregnant. Most of my life I obviously wasn't ready to actually be pregnant; but I always looked at pregnant women with admiration. They're so beautiful and they get to experience something so special. And in the end they get a beautiful new baby! What could be better?!?! But as I grew up and learned more about pregnancy and the whole labor/delivery process I began to realize that I would probably not love pregnancy as much as I once thought I would. And that is oh so very, very true. Now, don't get me wrong. There are so many things I love about being pregnant (ask me in a few weeks and maybe I'll be able to remember what they are). But at this moment in time, being pregnant feels so overrated! I'm tired but can't sleep, uncomfortable, huge, bored, anxious and to top it all off my feet are swollen! No...

Well, it's set. Miss Bethany will definitely make her appearance by 8-8-08 unless I have a REALLY long labor and she's not born until the 9th. Since the docs won't let us go past our due date, we figured there was no better day than 8-8-08. So we'll go in at 6am that morning to be induced, unless of course she comes on her own before then (which is totally fine with me by the way!!). We'll keep you posted! Oh, and be thinking of ideas for what we can do on 9-9-09!!! 7-7-07: Tom and Katie are married 8-8-08: Tom and Katie Become Parents 9-9-09: ?????

Well, as I posted earlier, yesterday I had a great appointment in the morning. But then I developed a bad headache that wouldn't go away. Despite my headache we decided to go to our small group last night. But in the middle of the lesson I decided we should leave- we were close to the hospital so we decided to stop at the CVS close to there to check my BP since it would take an hour roundtrip to get home and back if we needed to . Well, sure enough it was 150/100 so off to labor and delivery we went. Needless to say I was very scared that they would make me have an emergency C-Section! Aaaah! Thankfully, that didn't happen. They monitored me and Bethany for a while and my blood pressure went down. Bethany was perfectly fine. So they released me a few hours later. What a relief but it was exhausting just waiting to hear what the doctor would say. So I figure that's our trial run to the hospital- next time hopefully we'll come out with a nice healthy baby girl! And I lear...

Well folks- in less that 18 days she will be here!!! We've talked to the doctor about the whole induction thing and decided that it is best if we don't let her go past the due date, but that we would rather not induce early unless it becomes medically necessary. So we are hoping to schedule an induction for 8-8-08. Oh yes!! The much hoped for birthdate! But I really would prefer that we not have to be induced. So hopefully, Bethany will make an appearance all on her own in the next two weeks. Or even better, I will go into labor on my own on the 7th and deliver on the 8th! I have started making some progress towards being in labor. I am 1cm dialated and 60% effaced for any of you that know what that means and are curious. And she has started to drop. So, things are definitely progressing. Tom installed the carseat this past weekend and we got it checked out at the fire station and it's safe. Good job Tom! Her room is ready- this afternoon we're going to put up the valan...

By the end of this week everyone in line ahead of me to have their babies will have done so. I have been fortunate to have a lot of friends going through pregnancy with me. And as of Wednesday, when my best friend from growing up has her little one through a planned induction, I will be next in line. My doctor informed me on Thursday that due to my blood pressure they will definitely not let me go past my due date. In fact, they may induce earlier- Tom and I have many questions about that and are anxious to talk to the doctor more at this week's appointment. Please pray for discernment and wisdom in that decision. But for now Bethany is staying put and we are currently both awake at 12:30am. Tom and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary on Monday. Tom cooked us a wonderful dinner and we had a great time at home reflecting on the great year it's been and the many blessings we've enjoyed. Here's a few pictures:

Really? Is it really July? Do you realize that July is the month before August? And August is when Bethany is due!!! It's incredibly strange how it can feel like time is dragging on and racing by all at once!! Last night, Tom and I had dinner in town with a bunch of his coworkers. Afterwards, I told him we could just go ahead and have the baby since we were so close to the hospital and all. He thinks we should let her grow in there a bit longer- easy for him to say huh? But yes, I can muster all the "logicalness" inside of me and agree with him- she should stay put for now. However, hot temperatures, a big belly, and swollen feet make for one ready-to-go mother-to-be!!! Plus I want to kiss my baby's sweet face!! But then again, I cling desperately to the ability to sleep when I want; go where I want without all the accessories of baby, and of course baby herself; have uniterrupted time to hang out with my husband; and just the general freedom that I know will leave me...

Wow- June has been a busy month!! I volunteered at VBS, Tom and I went to child birth classes, we celebrated Father's Day, had a baby shower and I have some friends in town this weekend! It's great because it is keeping me occupied during the hot summer months of this pregnancy. I don't have the energy to write at length about each event so I'll give you five words for each: 1. VBS- exhausting, loud, messy, coloful, rewarding 2. Childbirth classes: Terrifying, comforting, reality, informational, breathing. 3. Baby shower: Fun, food, friends, gifts, blessing. 4. Father's Day: Family, Food, thankful, anticipation, love. 5. Friend's visiting: Beach, dolphins, talking, silliness, awesome. Bethany is doing very well. We had a doctor's appointment last week and the medical assistant who took her heartrate was kind enough to show us where Bethany was positioned. She has her little bottom sticking out right by my belly button and her head is down, almost where it sh...