Bags Packed, Ready to Go

38 weeks and counting--2 weeks till due date. In some ways, I am SO ready for this little gal's arrival, but in many other ways, I am hoping she stays put for another few days (or a week or two). It's the strangest thing--I told Casey last night that even though it is getting close, somehow it feels like it will never get here. He keeps warning me not to get my hopes up that the baby will arrive early, so that if she doesn't, I am not disappointed. But I am not really getting my hopes up, because there is this big part of me that doesn't expect it to EVER happen. Strange, right?

This week has been monumental in getting our house ready for Baby Girl. Over the weekend, Casey finished the cubby, and Monday night he put together the crib, which brought the final furniture pieces to completion. It was perfect timing for my parents and my sister Bekah, who came in to town for my doctor's appointment and ultrasound on Tuesday. Not only did we get another glimpse of our currently 7lb. 4oz. gal (according to the measurements of the ultrasound, which by admission, can be off up to a pound either way), but my mom and sister helped me get a TON of stuff ready.

37 1/2 Weeks

Up to this point, although I had been doing lots of planning for nursery decorations, I was really waiting for all of the furniture to be finished before doing the actual decorating. We got a good part of the book wall art completed (pictures to come), and more importantly, we got boxes opened, baby toys assembled, tags cut, and clothes washed. And everything cleaned up, to boot. By the end of Tuesday, our nursery actually looked like a nursery. It's still a work in progress, and all of my decorating projects are about half done, but here is a preview. And my favorite part.

Quilt from Aunt Bekah (and Aunt Melissa and Grandma)

My sister Bekah has become quite the seamstress this summer and she surprised Casey and I with an early birthday gift for the baby: a handmade quilt! It's the perfect way to tie the room together. Several months ago, I decided on a children's book theme for the nursery, but my color scheme has always been a little up for debate. The walls of the room are blue (and are staying that way!), and we have a chocolate brown comforter on the guest bed (which is also staying in the room), so my original thought was to add yellow and do yellow, brown, and blue (but not much blue other than the walls). The biggest problem is finding children's books that fit (just) that color scheme. Children's books are just so colorful. So I wanted to use lots of colors, but I still wanted them to "match." With the quilt, we were able to select a variety of books that have lots of color, but still fit a color scheme, too. And we are still using the yellow and brown, but not exclusively. I'm really excited about how well it's all turning out. Like I said, all of my projects are still about half finished, so I will post more pictures later once it is further along.

I also packed my hospital bag this week. Before it was packed, I kept feeling like I was running late and needed to already have it packed. Now that it's packed, I feel like it was way too early. I'm not an early packer--most of the time, I pack the night before/morning of a trip. This is different, sure, but it's still weird to have a suitcase sitting by the bedroom door, just waiting for some indefinite day.

But with all we accomplished this week, now I feel so much more ready to go. I'm actually really glad not to have gotten stuff ready before this. It only makes me more anxious for the big day!