You Know You're 9 Months Pregnant When...

So...we're almost there...finally! A little more than 3 weeks from our due date! It seems that things don't always go as planned when preparing for a child. In the past few months, we've had: a broken car (for 6 weeks), 2 broken toilets (at the same time), a leaky a/c unit, multiple flooded bedrooms (and ruined flooring), and now a sick husband with a fever and strep throat.

My doctor has officially ordered bedrest, so no more work for me! I don't have to stay in bed, but I have to take it easy. She is worried about my high blood pressure and the level of amniotic fluid being a little low. We have been to the hospital several times for ultrasounds lately. We were thinking that our son might need to make an early appearance, but so far he's staying put.

So, all that being said, I've decided to compile another list. This one is called,

"You Know You're 9 Months Pregnant When":

1) Your blood pressure and the pressure to have everything ready are higher than ever before.

2) Heartburn is your worst enemy (And TUMS are your new best friend).

3) The bathroom is your new office (My sweet baby's head is pressed right on my bladder).

4) Sleeping through the night seems like a distant dream (And when you get the chance to nap, you wish you could sleep all day).

5) Time seems to be moving slower than ever before (Counting down the days takes on a whole new meaning)!

6) It seems your house will never be clean enough or organized enough (And, how am I supposed to properly give in to my nesting instincts, when the doctor puts me on bedrest?)!

7) Your emotional outbursts and mood swings can get a bit out of hand (Sorry dear hubby for getting to be the victim and the emotional counselor)!

8) You're having strange labor dreams and/or baby dreams almost every night (This is, of course, when I sleep long enough to achieve dreaming).

9) Your husband starts to twitch from stress, when ever you mention the idea of baby coming sooner than planned.

10) When you are sitting/lying down, you have to seriously consider whether or not getting up for something is worth the effort.

11) Strangers stare at your belly when you walk into a room (Hey Buddy, my eyes are up here)!

12) When friends and family haven't seen you in a while, their first words are..."Wow! You're getting big!"

I'm praying for patience a lot at this point. I'm also trying to remind myself, that whether or not everything is perfect, our child will be loved. If my to-do list isn't all checked off, if our house isn't all ready for company, and if our baby doesn't have everything he needs for the first year of his life...we'll still be okay.

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."(Matthew 6:33, 34 NIV)

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." (James 1:2-5 NIV)