2 more days!

Alright, I'm just getting the last little things together today since early next week we're going to be parents! Early Monday morning I go to the hospital for last tests for me and our little guy. Then, they'll induce me sometime Monday night/Tuesday morning. CRAZY!!!!!!! I'm sure you can imagine there is just about every emotion pumping through us and we are more excited than we can express. So, I just thought I would say some of the best parts about the last 9 months.... 1. the Carnegie Library is on my way home from work so every few weeks I would stop in there and check out whatever pregnancy/parenting books they had. They never had the best selection so I read some pretty interesting books. Anything from Mr Roger's philosophy to babies act the way they do because of their ape roots. I didn't always read the really strange ones... 2. Sending Stanton his birthday-picture-banner-thing and realizing that when he comes home he'll not only have a brother-in-law, but a nephew. It's been an eventful 2 years! 3. Having such an incredible support group and family. It means a lot that even though we are on the other side of the country we still feel such an abundance of love from everyone. We have been absolutely blown away with all the letters and packages people have sent us. Each one has meant so much to us! We feel so much peace about everything - and I know that is because of all the prayers and fastings and temple trips our family and friends are doing for us. 4. Speaking of family and friend support - the greatest baby shower Stephanie organized! I wish we would have taken a picture of all those faces on video chat. Greatest thing ever to see everyone! 5. My sweet young women throwing me a mini-shower and celebration. They completely surprised me! They decorated the YW room with baby onesies they made and had games and fruit and everything. We didn't snap the best pictures, but here are some of my YW and an idea of their surprise party. Being in Young Women is the world's best calling! I love these girls and all the leaders. Here is a pic of a smaller shower some friends through for me here in Pittsburgh. It was so fun, and more of just a hang out with everyone. Wish I would have remembered to take pictures while everyone was still there so you could see our friends. oops! 6. A million things reminding me of my cousin Amanda. For some reason, this whole pregnancy I have seen so many things in passing that remind me of Amanda. Here are just a few things.... Who knew Outback created an Oreo Waffle plate? Also, if any of you see the 100 year oreos with funfetting icing you HAVE TO GET THEM! They are absolutely amazing! Funfetti birthday cake + oreos = amazingly delicious There is this little Asian restaurant we drive by on our way to church called Lulu's! We went there to celebrate Adam finishing a really hard semester (and because it is named Lulu's) and it did not disappoint. Incredible smoothies. Over the last 9 months I have discovered where every bathroom is in every store. This one was the most decked out that I went in so I had to take a picture to show Amanda and the fam. It was at Trader Joe's....would you expect any less from Trader Joe's? Now, there have been a ton of other little things that remind me of Amada, but I didn't get to snap a pic. 7. Going to our baby classes. I found out about this non-profit in Pittsburgh that is geared toward helping out teen moms or teens that have no where to go because they are pregnant; however, anyone is welcome. So, I signed us up! (also, when you go to these free classes they give you free baby things so it saved us a lot of money). - We've been meeting such interesting people and hearing the most interesting advice from those pregnancy, birthing, child care classes....but it was good to go to them. As of this last Thursday, we graduated the classes! Now, we have tons of stories and new friends and I am CPR certified (which I've been trying to get for a long time) and we have tons of free baby things! 8. Okay, so the saddest thing in the last couple of weeks has been finishing up at my job and saying goodbye to my clients. I really grew to love these kids and their families since I spent everyday with them, in their homes. It is really sad not to be with them and not know how they are doing anymore. Here are some pictures of them: I taught Bracha how to play basketball, which she loved. hilarious sight to see an 8 month pregnant woman with zero athletic ability teaching Bracha how to play basketball. best memories! She loved drawing and making "Monster Crowns" as a reward. She loved going to school and learning with her friends. I also introduced her to silly putty and she loves playing with it while she waited for her friends at school. I'm so sad I only really have pictures of Bracha, but here are 2 of Menachem. He was the greatest boy who loved doing structured activities and homework. 9. I loved/hated going to more doctors appointments than I can count. I'm sure you can imagine that I got a lot of good reading done in all their waiting rooms... So even though it was a pain to go to a couple appointments a week, I would go to double that if it meant that I was helping our little boy. I feel so confident that all the doctors are prepared for him to come. It is unbelievable how much they can tell about his heart condition when he isn't even born yet. 10. So, obviously, I've been working with quite the spread of different doctors that all specialize in areas relating to his heart condition. I love meeting new doctors that are working with us and seeing how every single one of them is not a native to the US. My OBGYN is from Ukraine (or something). Our pediatric cardiologist - so the heart specialist we've been going to - is from India. Our cardiology surgeon is from Puerto Rico - as some of you know he is the dreamy older man who Adam and I have a major crush on. Even the doctor in the NICU is from Germany or something...I'm not going to be surprised when I meet the anesthesiologist and he's from Antarctica or something crazy! America is certainly a melting pot.