One ... Month ... Left ...

So, if you look at the baby counter, you will see that we have only one month left until Baby Liby's due date ... holy cow!!! Where did the time go?! We have so many things left to do -- but have also managed to get so many things done -- it has been a crazy summer, that is for sure! Let's see ... there are many things to update you on ...

We had our second shower this past Saturday. What a blessing! Not only did I get to see much of the Liby family, but we also received many fun gifts for Baby Liby. There was even a sun-shaped cake (delicious!!). Grandy and Grampy Fred, along with Auntie Anne and I all made the trip to Fort Wayne through the utter downpour on Saturday (hectic driving, but Auntie Anne did just fine). It was a great day and lots of fun to see and catch up with the Liby side of the family!

On the downside, when we got home from Ft. Wayne, I was walking into Auntie Anne's garage when I slipped and fell (ouch!!) -- thankfully, I landed on my knee. Boy, did that hurt!! I was carrying Chewie Louis, Grandy and Grampy's dog, and he took the tumble, too. While we both survived, my knee is still very tender to the touch, black and blue and a bit swollen -- but thankfully, it doesn't hurt to walk anymore. Baby Liby survived just fine -- way better than my knee!!

Baby Liby and I also started our weekly doctor visits this week ... if that doesn't make time fly, I don't know what does! Linda was very happy with the progress and is content with all of Baby Liby's numbers. Actually, when we were listening to Baby Liby's heartbeat, it started at 131 bpm and accelerated all the way to 174 bpm within the few minutes we were listening. Linda said that was excellent, and that when they monitor a baby, that is exactly what they look for: accelerated heartbeat. It seems as though Baby is doing just fine. We go back again early next week. Would you be shocked to learn that I am already 1/2 cm dilated, 50 % effaced and that Baby Liby is at a -2 position? Well, I can tell you that I was!!! Actually, when Linda told me this, it shocked me so much that I forgot every other thing I wanted to talk with her about! While there is not direct correlation between these things and the start of labor, it does mean that my body and Baby are working towards the end goal ... a healthy baby boy/girl entering the world.

You know what I am going to miss the most when Baby Liby is born? Feeling him/her move ... what an amazing feeling! I love to sit with my hand on my tummy, feeling him/her move back and forth, push out and around (like (s)he is doing right now!!) and try to guess which part of Baby is poking out ... honestly, one of the greatest feelings I have ever had. It is so reassuring and peaceful! Seriously, men have no inkling as to what they miss out on! I treasure the movements as much as possible because I know that I won't be feeling them for much longer. It is so mysterious to be this connected to something that I have never laid eyes on. There are some sweet correlations, here, to being connected to God, with deep intimacy -- even though we cannot literally see Him. I can see and feel Him move, but I cannot see Him with my eyes -- it is a lovely mystery. It also begs the question, how often do I marvel at the way God moves? Honestly, I can say not enough ... He is so mysterious and transcendent -- constantly moving and working and yet, I rarely pay attention to it. I am trying to correct that ... I want to be aware of where God is moving, and join Him in that movement.

Get this: the countdown of weekends until Baby Liby comes ... well, we are going to be BUSY! This weekend, we have a wedding, the following is our fifth (yes, that is FIVE years!) anniversary and we plan to get away (somewhere close but quaint) for a few days to celebrate (our last anniversary with out kids -- how crazy!), the following weekend, we will be working on the house, the next -- my 10-year class reunion and finally, the next weekend, Baby Liby's official due date ... so our next month is going to be nuts. I may be one of the only women in history to pray that their baby comes around his/her due date -- and not early, since we have so many fun things to do before now and then, and a Masterursery project to finish.

As far as the Masterusery project is concerned ... we have great news! A muralists is starting today on the sun mural in the nursery. She is going to draw it out today and paint it tomorrow and Monday -- I can't wait to see it!! Literally, I have been dreaming about this mural for four years now, and to see it come to fruition is such a blessing and joy! We are sooooo excited!!!! We are still putting the finishing touches on some of the trim, while working on the windows, as well. Momentum seems to be slowing, but I think that is just because we are in a dull part of the project. Once we can knock out this trim, I think we will both have better attitudes and a new outlook on the project! What we have left: putting all of the trim back on the walls, building out the closets, finishing the windows -- moving in!! Yeah!!

So, there you go ... I don't post for two weeks, but look at all of the information you get when I do post! Hope you all are well.

Love,
Katie