What a difference 39 weeks makes...

Hopefully this will be my last belly pic of this pregnancy. Literally about to BUST at 39 weeks...but, enjoying every last minute of it! It's weird to think that this time next week, I will have a sweet baby in my arms. I will be induced on Monday morning if baby doesn't decide to come before then. I'm officially on maternity leave, which is a great feeling! I did some major nesting today....made a HUGE trip to Wal-Mart and the grocery store to stock up on household items and food. I starting cooking some of our favorite meals that freeze well...hopefully I'll have a couple more days to get all of it done before baby arrives. Tomorrow my house is being deep cleaned...I will feel so good once that is done! Had my last doctors appointment today....everything is still looking good, but no major changes from last week.

39 Weeks...

If this picture grosses you out, I'm sorry. I just want to remember what my belly really looked like! It's truly a miracle that there is a baby in there!

A trip down baby bump memory lane...

13 Weeks (and 45 glorious pounds lighter)...

16 Weeks...

19 weeks in Zambia...

22 Weeks in Zambia...

25 Weeks in Zambia...

29 Weeks...

33 Weeks...

35 Weeks...

36 Weeks...

38 Weeks...

39 Weeks...bet you weren't expecting this beauty! :)

I hear that modesty goes out the window once you've given birth, so I might as well get over it now!

GO #54!!!

My sweet (I mean ROUGH AND TOUGH) Cole Jackson Popelka is playing football! We had so much fun watching him this morning. He's a little stud out there and definitely gave those Southlake Dragons a run for their money! I can't believe that Cole is old enough to play football....the first of many games I'll watch him play, I'm sure!

My brother was #54 in high school...how cute is that?!

Hamming it up on the sideline for his MiMi...

Cheerleaders...GO #54!!

After the game, I had breakfast at Cafe Brazil with some of my besties...Gillean (due with baby boy Wade in January), Caroline and Karen. Gill and Carol are in town from L.A. and St. Louis for their high school reunions. We had a great time catching up!

A perfect prayer for moms and moms-to-be...

Someone special shared this with me. It has become my daily prayer for baby Rives...

Dear Lord,

Thank you for how you are fashioning my baby's joints, shaping her face, smoothing her skin. I marvel at the way you work, so patient in your artistry, so painstaking in your attention to detail. Swaddled within the folds of my womb lies a baby I haven't seen or heard or touched, yet I long to know her. In my longing, help me to realize that you long for her too; that you are the one who knew her first, and loved her first; that she was conceived in your mind before she was ever conceived in my body; that she was set apart not to fulfill my will but yours.

Help her go grow pliable to that will, Lord, responsive to every touch of your hand upon her life. Shape within her a spirit so sensitive to spiritual things that she will be able to feel your breath when you whisper to her conscience, sense your shadow when you move across the circumstances of her life.

Use the little girl to mold me, Lord. Use her clinging fingers to make me more gentle and her sudden smile to make me more joyful. Use her countless spills to make me more patient and her helpless cries to make me more compassionate. Use her to mold me not only into more of a mother but more of a human being.

Amen.

From "Miracle of Life - Devotions for Expectant Mothers"

Julie's Grandmother Shower...

My mother-in-law's friends and teachers from her pre-school gave her a surprise grandmother shower last night. It was so much fun to be there to celebrate the soon-to-be first time grandmother! She will definitely be a good one!

Julie's nursery for the baby is African themed, so the party had some African touches!

Julie's favorite...red velvet cake!

The ladies purchased Julie a new chair to rock baby in....she was SO surprised!

Opening gifts...

The whole gang...

Me, Julie and Carolyn (Julie's best friend)...

Carolyn wanted to do the ring test on my belly. It went in a circular motion, which "means" it's a girl. We'll see...

38 Weeks...

I had my 38 week appointment on Monday. Baby's heartbeat was 153 and he/she is weighing in at approximately 7 lbs 4oz. I've started to dilate...cervix is soft (and slightly tilted back, which should work itself out). Doc said things are looking good and getting ready "down there!"

This is my last week of work! I'm busy preparing for my final wedding this weekend and wrapping up the rest of my clients for 2010. I'm definitely going to miss work, but I'm ready to be done for now and hopefully have next week to relax and finish preparing for baby's arrival.

Looks like I will be induced on Oct. 18th (my due date) if baby doesn't come before then. I'm still in shock that this little one is almost here, but I couldn't be more excited!

38 Weeks = Large and in charge!