Five Weeks To Go...

Well, here it is...my first profile shot of the pregnancy! I wasn't sure if I could bring myself to post it, but then I realized that the last time my sister, Laura, was here it was September! So for any of our readers who are out of town or far away, and especially for Laura, I decided to go for it. Five weeks (or 34 days) to go and this is how my body looks these days. Pretty crazy! We have much to get done in a short couple of weeks, including washing baby clothes, assembling the crib (finally), arranging the nursery furniture, packing our bags for the hospital, finishing up our Childbirth Classes, getting a carseat and, oh yes, Christmas is around the corner, too! Plus I have 21 fourth graders counting on me each day for about four more weeks. So, I'm beginning to feel a bit overwhelmed with all of these things...and this is only before we become parents! There's a whole new life and routine awaiting us after this baby comes. Whew! It's enough to make me wonder if I'll be able to do it, and do it well! I'm incredibly thankful for Brett, who is so supportive, and for our families and friends who are around to pitch in also! I know that we'll welcome the help.

*Stay tuned for updated pictures of the nursery

Lilly's Favorite Room

Lately I have found Lilly asleep or playing in the nursery--all by herself. I think she has claimed a new favorite room in our house, except she has no clue that soon her favorite room will be filled up with furniture and a new baby! Right now there are fun toys and clothes to explore in peace and quiet. I wonder if it will still be her favorite room in a little less than 8 weeks...

Good News!

For those of you who read the last post, we received good news today about our baby's health and growth! After some worrisome news at our last appointment that I was measuring significantly smaller than where I should have been, we had an ultrasound today which confirmed that our baby is strong, healthy, and growing well. When they took her measurements today they matched up exactly with her due date of December 29th! A rarity, we were told! Now, if only we could get her to actually come on that date...

We are thankful to so many of you who were praying for us and for our little girl over the last two weeks! God is good!

Oh, and to also comment on the dream I shared in the last post...the doctors are estimating her weight to be 4 pounds, 5 ounces right now. Thankfully, that is a long way off from the 20 pound baby I dreamt about!

Baby Weight

Recently I had a pretty crazy dream about the baby (I've been told that will happen)...

I dreamt that I had given birth to the baby, apparently without being conscious (?), and when I woke up from labor Brett told me that she weighed 20 pounds!!! My response in the dream was, "Brett, are you sure you don't mean 20 inches?!!" And he replied that, no, she was indeed 20 pounds at birth. (Whew! Maybe I should call this a nightmare, instead!) I paniced about how we would definitely NOT be sending out birth announcements with a stat like that. But the worst part of the dream was that I looked down at my body and I had all this extra skin (my skin) hanging down to my knees! Gross. Then I woke up. Ugh. I wonder what it all means:)

Actually, on a serious note, we are a little worried about the baby's weight--but not for being too big. When I went to the doctor this past week, they scheduled me for an ultrasound on November 6th to check on the baby's growth. Although I've been measuring a week or two behind my due date all along, I am now measuring four weeks behind. So, please pray for our little girl to be healthy, strong, and to be growing as she should. We are trusting that the Lord is in control!

30/10

This weekend marks the beginning of week 30 in my pregnancy, and I'm not sure which makes the baby's arrival seem closer--saying I am 30 weeks along or saying that I only have 10 more weeks to go! Either way, it is pretty crazy...and pretty close! We are still awaiting our nursery furniture, so the nursery has yet to take shape. Needless to say, I am anxious to get it set up! Brett has been busy painting and putting up shelving in the closet and I have been busy cleaning the floor, cleaning the blinds, organizing the gifts we have received for the baby, and preparing to set down the nursery furniture--whenever it arrives. Perhaps this is what "nesting" is all about!

Baby Shower

Today was the first baby shower for Baby Girl Schatz! And once again I am reminded of how the Lord has blessed me (and Brett) with wonderful family and dear friends. The gathering today included many amazing people that have been encouragers, prayer warriors, and memory makers with and/or for me over the years--and I just can't wait for all of them to meet our little girl. She will have so many incredible role models to look up to! We can only pray that she has the same deep friendships that I have been gifted with. Thank you, Kris and Susan, for the fantastic shower you put on. I felt so special!

Thank you, also, to all of you who have posted a comment on our new family blog! Marcey unveiled this to us today and so I am reading and seeing all of it for the first time. I only hope I can keep up with it! I know that life is about to change and get busier very soon!

Welcome!

Welcome to the Schatzes' blog, where Betsy and Brett will be sharing family updates and news. Blog readers will no doubt be hoping for lots of baby updates -- and pictures!