Three weeks...

Three weeks from today (if not before), we will be preparing to spend our last night at home as a family of four.

I have so many thoughts, feelings, emotions that run through my head.

First, I know I am very pregnant and technically could go into labor at any moment...yikes!...but, I am not ready yet.  My bags or not packed.  The baby bag is not packed.

Those are the minor details...and otherwise, we are ready.  The nursery is ready...more than ready in fact..thanks to my mom who spent countless hours this past weekend helping me shop for the final items and organize the nursery.  Owen's name has been moved from the nursery into his big boy room that he shares with his big bro Payton.  He was SO excited to see his name in his room.  The spot on the wall for Baby Boy #3's name is eagerly awaiting the arrival of the baby and the arrival of his letters.  His name has been chosen...after a very careful process.  Honestly, it has only been between 4 - 6 names all along...and maybe one day I will reveal those names...for the past few weeks, we have had it down to two names.  Finally, I have said it enough times in my head that I know the name we have selected is the perfect name.  I hope little baby Webb likes his name too!

Perhaps, the most pressing issue as to why I am not ready is because my first born starts kindergarten next week.  I simply cannot have this baby before he has his first day of school.  His school supplies have been bought, he clothes (uniforms!) are ready, he has new shoes and his backpack will be ordered tonight.  We have received our "instructions" for school lunches, ordering t-shirts, paying for ice cream socials.  We have to go to the school the night before school starts to meet his teacher, pay registration fees, etc.  Why this is the night just prior to school starting, I will never understand....especially since I will be 38 weeks pregnant.

I have to be here to help him get ready and be dropped off for his first day of school.  I have to snap that "1st Day of School" picture with him holding his new back pack.  I have to kiss him goodbye, hug him tight, pat his little head....and cry.  And, if I somehow miss all of this, I will probably cry more.

So, little baby, you simply can't arrive before August 22nd.

Oh, and then there are the other things on our calender that really can't be interrupted either....

Like, Owen meeting his 3 year old teacher...of course, I will have to be there for that!  He also needs school supplies...just waiting on that list!

Among other things, we've got a birthday party or two, Payton's first football practice (which conveniently coincides with his "Meet the teacher" the night before school), a committee meeting for myself at church, a few meetings for Chad, and Owen's first soccer meeting/practice.  Owen has been looking forward to his first organized sporting activity for about 900 days, give or take...so, if baby brother interrupts his first meeting, well, lets just say it might not go over too well!

So, little baby, really, August 30th is the absolute earliest day you can arrive....but, if you have been listening, your father has been planning on you being born after Sept 1st (the school year cut off) for about, 10 years, give or take and would like for all of you boys to have been the oldest in the class.  With your date of Sept 3rd, you are perfect...the absolute oldest in your class...that is of course, unless you arrive on August 30th....then you would be the absolute youngest in your class....the horror!

We have family planning on heading into town for your arrival on the 3rd.  We have plans made to get your brother's to school on the 3rd and 4th (Owen's first day of school, which I will be missing...sniff, sniff).

And, we are planning our annual Labor Day cookout.....KIDDING, no cookouts for the Webb's this year!

Sweet baby boy, you will be loved no matter when you arrive...but, Mommy just isn't ready yet!  I guess I better make plans to get these bags packed...just in case.

If you ask me how I'm doing or how I'm feeling, I may respond "miserable" but really, I'm feeling fine. I am just large and uncomfortable.  Sleeping is difficult.  My feet swell once I have been on them for one hour or less.  I do my best to run errands, work around the house, etc for 2-3 hours and then sit for an hour and then do that same routine again.  Most days, that works well.  Over the weekend I had my parents here to help with several projects and that was great.  I am still working 2 days per week and really, that is miserable.  My glorious nursing job does not allow much "down time" so sitting just isn't really an option.  There are patients to see and I do my very best to keep up with the doctors and patients.  I could easily stay home from work, but since I do only work 2 days a week and since I will not be getting paid for 12 weeks, I figure working isn't such a bad idea....just an uncomfortable one that makes my feet swell...a lot!

I see the doctor weekly now.  Was last there last Thursday.  All is well.  Swelling, contractions, cramping are my biggest complaints.  My doctor is out of town this week and I have to see one of her partners.  She better be back before anything should happen!  I will go on Friday this week.  I would love to quit gaining weight.  Overall eating isn't that much fun...I am so "full" that I just don't seem to get hungry very often...but, due to the swelling we have been eating out far more than I like which is not healthy eating...and, I still "require" my night "dose" of ice cream.

I am happy for people who love being pregnant...I am not in that club...I am ready to meet my baby boy (on Sept 3rd), deal with the pain my c-section for 2 weeks or more (which I remember to vividly and already dread), and then just get back to normal.  I can't wait to run.....really, can't wait!  Remind me of that about 9 weeks from now when I head out for my first jog.

Little baby, you have 3 more weeks to grow...take it easy on Mommy.  I'm pretty sure you already weigh about 9 lbs!