37 Weeks

I'm ready. Let's DO this, baby!

• I have our bag packed in Daddy's car.
• Your car seat is installed.
• I have your diaper bag ready to go.
• Your clothes are washed and put away.
• I am pre-registered at Evergreen Hospital.
• I have the number to call when I go in to labor and we are heading to the hospital.
• I have a birth plan that I am ready to throw out the window for whatever you need.
• I have a plan for if I go in to labor here at work.
• I am closing up all of my important tasks and projects necessary with work.

I can be as "prepared" as I want, I know that as soon as I start having contractions or my water breaks, my life is going to go sideways. I'm okay with that. You are so worth every effort.

9 Months

NINE MONTHS. 36 weeks down, 4 weeks to "full" term. I am not even sure what to do with myself at this point.

I still have to pack my hospital bag and have no idea what to even put in the darn thing. I have read list after list of what should go in, but that doesn't really help me when I think of my own items. Hmm... I think I should hit up Target or Bartell's for some travel size toiletries. Am I really just using this blog as a notepad right now? Yes. This is how out of sorts I am.

PAIN. I am so tired of having contractions at night every time I try to get out of bed to pee, which is ever hour up until 1 AM, usually. I slept from 1-5 this morning and thought it was the greatest accomplishment ever. I am tired of needing help to get off the couch, in to the tub, or off the floor. Apparently Drew likes to help, which I am so thankful for. He's been the most amazing cheerleader I could have ever hoped for. He lets me do things myself unless he really deems them dangerous for me or an unnecessary strain. He walks up the stairs bent at the waist next to me so I can use him as leverage. I don't. He's just being silly. But, I love that he wants to walk me up the stairs. He hears how much my breath becomes laboured when I do it alone, so he is trying to make it easier on me. I love him for that.

Booker is active still, which is great! Though at times it's very weird to have him push against my ribs with his feet because that causes him to put pressure on my pelvic bone. He's a big guy. I'm hoping I go in to labor around the 14th or 15th, which is two weeks early. I don't know what kind of state I would be in if I carried him full term at the rate he's growing. If his stats are on track, at our appointment tomorrow he will be the size of a 38 week old, not 36. He's been measuring two weeks big since 24 weeks. Tomorrow's appointment also marks the first of my weekly appointments!

My heart just started racing. I really could have my baby any day now. I'm not fully ready. I don't know what to expect at the hospital. What happens if my water breaks at work? I assume Dawn would take me, she's the only one I trust to drive like a sane person while I'm going insane. I should buy some throw away towels to keep with me so I don't mess up someone else's car. I could just have whoever drives take my car. It's gross anyway.

My face is getting hot and my pulse is starting to rise. I'm going to go ahead and cut this post off now before I send MYSELF in to early labor from freaking out about it.

I. AM. SO. EXCITED.

Booker Scott Kalani Pettersen

Do you know that name? No? Well, I've known that name for about 7 months now. Drew chose it before we even know "he" was a he.

Booker was found in the game Bioshock: Infinite, which Drew had been playing during the beginning of my pregnancy. No, we are not naming our child after Booker DeWitt, we just really liked the name itself.

Scott is Drew's father's name, who apparently doesn't like his middle name, Markam, which I would have loved to have used.

Kalani is one of my favorite names ever. First off, it represents the man that will be Booker's favorite uncle, Danny. Secondly it's a very well loved and used Hawaiian name on my Kruse side of the family. I asked permission from Danny first, of course. He will use the name with his first son, too, but he will use Naumahakalaniopu'u, which is the full version.

Booker is due October 30th, which is only 5 short weeks away. We are almost all ready for him. I'm just missing a few key items, like a diaper bag, bottles, and a few more bibs. He is going to be an amazingly dressed little man, I know that much for sure! He has been showered will all sorts of different sizes and types of clothing and I have never been so excited to do laundry. I love tiny laundry. :-)

 February 19th, 2013. The day before our 3rd wedding anniversary

 8 weeks, first time seeing him

 12 weeks

 16 weeks, amniocentesis appointment, it's a boy.

 20 weeks.

 Maternity photos with Amanda Lockleer

 Our family of 3, almost 4

Drew's very first shoes

 His amazing Star Wars nursery

 Slowly organized closet

8 months

I can't believe I'm almost there. I have been wanting a child of my own since I was 11 years old, when I first started babysitting. Now I have one on the way that is half me and half the most amazing man I have ever known. Drew has been a great care-giver to many babies over the years in service at EastLake Church. They used to call him the baby-whisperer. My heart begins to swell just at the thought of seeing him hold his son for the first time. It's hard to explain, really. It's this whole new world I have never experienced and now it's coming to a head.

I'm ready for him to get here. I want to hold my son. I want to show him just how loved and cherished he is. He is my baby.

MY BABY.

House Update

I figured before I talked about the truly awesome event happening in our life right now, I'd update on our house! We have lived there for a full year now and it is ... home. We can both park in the garage, and plan to keep it that way. We have a nerd den, a guest room, and a nursery. We have a family room. We have a master bedroom and a shower built for two, and we use it most often together. What can I say, I like to save water!

We have projects:

• I want to pull up the bushes in the front and plant lavender. One day I would like to take out the tree in front and extend the porch so I can have my porch swing.
• We have a big backyard that is a bit of a hot mess right now. The deck needs to have the nails pounded back in, get sanded, and get stained.
• There is a rocky path surrounding the cement patio that needs to be dealt with. I think I would like to remove the loose rocks and just lay a smooth path.
• The grass extending from the cement patio needs to be removed so we can lay concrete for our son to be able to play basketball. :-)
• The entirety of the wild bushes growing along the fence need to be removed. They are just sad looking.

Ah... plans and projects. Will you ever get started? Doubt it..

Signing the last page!

  The "Sold" sign with the previous owner's vehicles... We couldn't help but drive by.

Got the keys!

Our beautiful home.

 Some photos... Need more.

 Aunt Amy, who passed away suddenly last year, in her proper place of honor.

 What our living room looked like.

 Dining room. That hutch is now black. :-)

 Up the stairs from the dining room.

 Drew cooking for the first time in our home.

 Master Bedroom + Christopher

Booker's Nursey