39 weeks

Hard to believe this may be the last pregnancy picture I post! We are SO ready to meet this little guy...and as much as I have loved being pregnant, I'm ready to have this baby :)

The tree is up and ready to be decorated (thanks, Jesse, for finding the perfect tree and putting all the lights on!). I have the best husband who has taken such great care of me in this final stretch. ♥

hoping to have good news to share soon!

What a year can bring...

Early in our marriage, as we were starting our collection of Christmas decorations, I got these cute little reindeer stocking holders. Each year, I would put them out feeling hopeful that the third one would have a stocking on it someday soon. I don't remember when my feelings changed, or when I stopped putting the 3rd one on the mantle, but last year I remember holding the smallest one and sobbing. Facing infertility, Christmas carried such mixed emotions of celebration but also longing and realizing it was another year with our unfulfilled desires. Little did we know last Christmas that just a few weeks later, we would get the call that there were 5 little embryos that needed a family.

I still cried as I dusted off the 3rd reindeer this year...but what joy and anticipation fill our hearts. I'm feeling so blessed today.

Thinking of the dear friends I have made through this journey that are still facing the pain of infertility this Christmas season. you're never far from my thoughts or prayers ♥

The Nursery

Is this really in our house? It's still hard to believe.

Mom came to spend some time here, and we had so much fun getting everything ready. She and Jesse put the final coat of paint on the walls and she lovingly ironed the baby's little clothes. I can't wait to see our little one enjoying his room...not long now! The pictures on the wall are prints from a local artist. I love them...almost as much as I love my new glider.

I don't think the pictures completely show off the room, but hope they give an idea of how cute it is :)

34 week ultrasound

Jesse couldn't be at our ultrasound today, so I recorded part of it for him to see. Our little guy is doing well...and almost 6 pounds already! We can't wait to meet him ♥

33 weeks

 

This little guy sure is growing!

29 weeks

3rd trimester…We’re in the home stretch! It’s been so nice to be home in Ohio this week, enjoying some time with my families and friends. It’s crazy to think that next time, we’ll probably be introducing everyone to our little guy! I have been loving every minute of this pregnancy, especially now that he’s getting more active. It all still feels surreal. We thank God every day for this amazing blessing. ♥

Celebrating 8 years

Jesse and I are celebrating our 8th anniversary today!

I was surprised by some beautiful flowers at work...I have such a thoughtful husband ♥

This next year is certainly going to be one of new adventures, and I can't wait!

24 weeks

Our little boy will be 24 weeks Friday! It's hard to believe, after taking care of 24 week babies in the Neonatal ICU that he's to the point that he could potentially survive...but hoping he stays put a little longer!

Adopted for Life

I love being pregnant with an adopted baby. I love that God has taken any sense of loss over not having a biologic child and replaced it with such joy over this little guy that's kicking me as I type. I love that through this adoption process, God has made me so much more aware of and grateful for my own adoption into His family.

As part of preparing for raising a child brought to us this way, I have been listening to the book Adopted for Life on my Ipod (yay for free downloads!) It has been good to start thinking about how we will talk with our little boy about everything. Near the end of the book, the author says

"all those years, God wasn't ignoring me, He was training my affections to love this boy"

wow, talk about making a pregnant lady teary! i can see where God has been preparing me...training my affections...to love this little one - not our genetics, but completely our son. Though I will never tell him that he has his daddy's beautiful blue eyes, I can't wait for the day I can say that he is as crazy as or celebrates like his Nana, or loves and welcomes others like his Mimi. This little boy has an amazing heritage already...and couldn't be loved more.

"In love, He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, according to his pleasure and will - to the praise of his glorious grace"

21 Weeks...meet our SON!!!

Isn't it just the cutest little face :) We are so grateful that he looks healthy...and seems pretty laid back so far

The ultrasound tech said he has piano hands. I wonder if grandma Schroeder had something to do with that!

We're so in love already! ♥

tomorrow, tomorrow...

Tomorrow is our big ultrasound day... we are so excited!!!

It's always so wonderful to see our little one's face.

praying most of all for a healthy baby...one that cooperates so we can find out if it's a boy or girl! :)

I'll try to post the big news and some pictures as soon as i can after work.

it's going to be hard to sleep tonight!

Half Baked–20 weeks!

A week of firsts...

It's hard to believe I'm 19 weeks now...one week away from the half way point!

I am so excited...I think i'm starting to feel our little sweet potato fluttering. It's so amazing! I still haven't felt any real "kicks" yet, but each time I feel a little movement it is just incredible. I can't wait until Jesse can start feeling it too.

The other first this week... a patient's mom asked if I was expecting...brave soul! I can tell people's eyes are starting to go to my belly when I first walk in the room.

The mom this week said, "are you expecting? You've always had a cute figure, and so I figured you were either expecting, or...or" How do you finish that? :)

I'm not sure when this will all start feeling real, but I'm loving it so far!

updated belly pic to come soon - baby has done some growing this week, or maybe it's my insatiable appetite for watermelon

17 weeks

I love seeing that little baby bump! So many years I’ve dreamed of this, and it still feels surreal when I look in the mirror.

11 weeks

our little one is growing so fast! only 11 weeks old and already has perfect little fingers and toes forming. We’re already in love ♥

8 weeks

really looking like a peanut today!

6 weeks!

It was so hard to believe that this tiny little one had a heartbeat we could hear already.

Our 2 precious embryos

 

Here are the 2 little ones we transferred. One other one did not survive thawing. We are so grateful that one of these is growing and thriving…though we miss the 2 we lost. What a miracle this has been.