Here are my favorite shots from our 9 month preggy belly photo shoot : ) It’s so amazing to look at these now with our new baby in my arms!

These beautiful shots were taken by the lovely and talented Caryn Werner. Check out her website: c2wphotography.com

I’ll be back in the doctor’s office tomorrow morning to determine our progress. She insists that we measure right on track, but every other woman I bump into in public thinks I’m only 6 or 7 months along… I guess I’ll take the “So small!” comments over exclamations at how I’m larger than a house, an elephant, a tent… use your imagination.

It’s really sort of hard to believe that the day has come that we’ve been counting down to! We praise God for 40 weeks of healthy pregnancy, and wait expectantly, trusting Him for His perfect timing for little Hannah to join us. Thank you for your prayers on our behalf for peace, patience, and an uncomplicated delivery. We can’t wait to meet you, baby girl!!

It’s been a rough couple of days, trying to stay off my feet and “keep my chin up” as I wait to meet my baby girl. I’m finding that it’s hard for me to be still. (I’m sure the pregnancy hormones aren’t helping either).

Along with my bum foot, I’ve been battling a nasty sinus headache. I’ve talked to The Lord about this, and I believe He is teaching me, using the discomfort. He could take it all away if that was what He wanted!

I am working on returning phone calls when I am feeling chatty. It’s such a blessing to have folks like you who love us and care about how we’re doing! We’re going to start updating my voice-mail message as things happen with Hannah, so you can get the latest news whenever you call, even if we can’t talk right then. We’ll also update Facebook and this blog as the news is breaking! Pray with us that Hannah comes without needing to be induced!

Oh yeah, and I’d really like to know if anyone has more than 7 ChapSticks and 2 lip glosses in their purse… it just might make me feel better : )

My visit to the doc today revealed that Hannah is putting pressure on a nerve on my right side. This is causing sharp pain in my right foot when I step on it, and slight swelling. (I was already swelling enough, thank you very much.) : P

This means that I am to put my feet up as much as possible (translation: Quit running errands and walking the dog), drink as much water as I can, and visit the pool once a day to keep moving.

We WILL meet Hannah one of these days in-between tomorrow and November 4th (the day we are 42 weeks). I am praying for her birth day to come as soon as possible, especially now that I’m stuck with my feet up most of the time. If you know me, you know that sitting down with my feet up is NOT going to be okay for very long…

Please pray with us that my bod cooperates and begins the process of labor very soon on it’s own, and for patience and peace in the meantime. I know God has the timing worked out as He’d like, and He is trustworthy in any circumstance!

Life will go on for Ben especially in between now and then… MP will have a Fall Retreat Camp Out just for boys on October 9th and 10th, he’s running an After School Program every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoon; throw in a Thursday night and Saturday morning program, and lots of email, phone communication, and meetings with volunteers and many other “behind the scenes” responsiblities! It’s amazing to see God giving Ben everything he needs to walk in the power of His Spirit as he is faithful to obey. We trust that God will take care of the details of ministry responsibilities when Ben needs to take his girls to Scott & White’s Labor and Delivery wing sometime soon : )

I’m trying not to push myself to hard physically while still wrapping up the last of the errands that need to be run and such. (I’ll post pictures of her closet/ sleeping spot soon!) Ben and I can’t help but dream about what it will be like to hold this tiny person that God has entrusted to us!

I’m so looking forward to this next “Mommy Phase” of my life! God is already showing me pieces of the intentions He has for me in ministry as a mom. What a new adventure!

So come on out when you’re ready Baby Hannah! There are so many of us who are ready to see your face and snuggle you up! : )

According to BabyCenter.com, we will be officially “full term” in 7 days! I can’t believe we’re so close to meeting our little girl…

Here is Hannah’s baby bump at 36 weeks:

Long version:

At dinner time today, Hannah and I NEEDED some soup (preferably in a bread bowl, but trying not to be picky). Naturally, I set to work searching the Austin area over the internet for promising restaurants with yummy soup selections. If you know of a great place to get soup, please comment here and let me know! We had quite a time finding satisfactory soup!

We stopped at a new place for us that we found online, Kiefer’s Cafe, (great reviews) but they are closed on Saturday! : ( So, we stopped at Potbelly at Arbor Walk. They had 2 soup selections, neither appetizing… so we left. We even stopped to check out the menu at Mimi’s Cafe… not inspiring. We climbed back into the car, (Ben shaking his head at me, but wanting me to be happy) and drove toward the Gateway shopping center.

Lo and behold, there was Panera Bread! My friend Kristi recommended it to me a while ago, but I’ve never managed to make it inside. I knew they had salads and sandwiches, so I asked Ben to stop by so we could check out the soup selection. Much to my delight, they not only had yummy soup choices, but in beautiful sourdough bread bowls!!!

I had the broccoli cheddar and relished every bite. I can’t tell you how happy it made me! Isn’t it funny how the little things in life can be so enjoyable? I’d like to thank my sweet husband for his sense of humor and for driving me around town to my heart’s content, and of course – Panera Bread, for their delicious soup and bread bowl. Mmmmmm! : )

One dilemma I’m up against tonight (and often, lately) is lack of inspiration to cook. Planning, gathering, and creating meals is just not flowing out of me lately!! Just going to the grocery store is exhausting. My old secret weapon, allrecipes.com, is even failing to light my flame of culinary creativity. (Sigh)

Sweet Benjamin has been very understanding and appreciative of the spotty instances of a well-thought-out meal… I eat lots of fruit, yogurt, cheese and such. (Smoothies… mmm) We enjoy eating out, but it’s too expensive to become habit, and so we are often left to add small things up and call it “dinner.”

I hope this cooking rut disappears when I have a little munchkin in the Moby Wrap to “help” me!

Check out these awesome cakes!! The one on the left was made by the lovely and talented Tiffany P, who patterned the icing decor after one of the quilt blocks I am putting together for Hannah’s quilt! Carrot cake… mmmm!

The one on the right was made by the lovely and talented Kathy W, who used diapers, blankets, hair bows, and baby socks to create a sweet diaper cake for Hannah to use for the months to come! What a creative and practical idea!

Here I am with Gramma Shelley and Gramma Deonne, proud and excited to be the grand-mommies!

Hannahgirl, even though we haven’t met you yet, you sure have lots of folks who love you already!!