Happy 4th Birthday Amelia!

Our baby girl turns 4 years old today! We aren't having a big party today, but she did get some new princess dolls, barbie mermaid doll, new dresses, and a nightgown. She loved waking up to see her door covered with streamers and a birthday garland hanging on the mantel. We have a delicious chocolate cake to eat later today that she picked out at the store.

Doesn't look as though she will be sharing her birthday with her younger sister, although I suppose the day is still young. As far as an update on my appointment on Friday, my doctor has several inductions already scheduled for Monday so the doctor I saw wasn't comfortable scheduling me without talking to him first. As it stands now, I will call the doctor tomorrow morning to see if they can get me to be induced tomorrow. If he is unable and I do not go into labor on my own, they will hopefully schedule me for Wednesday. I really still feel ok, not too many contractions, pressure, etc. I am just so anxious for her to come and it is hard to be patient. Hopefully tomorrow is the day! We will keep all of you posted!

Baby Update

As you can see from the ticker above, tomorrow is my due date. I had a feeling that this little girl was going to be late, but I was ever hopeful that I would be wrong. Not so much. The good news is that I am feeling pretty good. Ask me how I was feeling last week around this time and you would not have received the same answer. I'm not sure if I am just used to this feeling or if she has dropped, but I am not nearly as uncomfortable as I was before. I am sleeping better and that alone can make a world of a difference.

My next appointment is this Friday afternoon with a different doctor than I have been seeing (my doctor is in Columbia on a missions trip). I am guessing that even if I wanted to be induced, it would not happen until Monday 2/8/10 at the earliest (when my doctor is back) or some other time that week.

I have to keep telling myself that she cannot stay inside forever and that in less than 10 days I will get to see her sweet face, but everyday is a waiting game. Amelia was 3 days late so apparently it is a girl thing! She will fit right in with Mia and I in this house since it seems she wants to have things her way and is being a bit stubborn! Matt is hoping she doesn't come on Superbowl Sunday since he wants to watch the Colts and I am hoping she doesn't come Sunday since it is Mia's birthday. I don't think she would mind now, but I am afraid that later she will not like sharing her birthday with her baby sister. Not to mention that we would be in the hospital on her birthday and because of the H1N1 rules I would not be able to see her that day which totally breaks my heart.

So enough of the what-ifs since all they do is make me emotional...I must try to remind myself that every time I deliver, a part of me is sad that my little one is no longer with me every minute. Although by the end of the pregnancy I am totally over it, there is still something so amazing about growing a life inside of you and feeling all of the kicks and movements. Not too much longer...we will keep you all updated. Love you all!

Third Trimester Baby!

I am now officially in the last trimester of pregnancy. This pregnancy has definitely flown by and I'm sure our little baby girl will be here before you know it! I am still feeling fine and she is doing well also. Here are some pictures from our 28 week ultrasound. We had another one to make sure my placenta had moved out of the way of my cervix so that we could have a "normal delivery" instead of a c-section. Having never had a c-section before, I definitely was hoping that it had moved and luckily it had! She is breech currently, but has plenty of time to turn around before she comes into this world. She weighs a little over 2 pounds and looks totally healthy. I passed my glucose tolerance test as well so I am free to partake in the Christmas cookies. I would definitely be a cranky pregnant lady without being able to cave into my cravings!

Face on picture of her little face (with her hands under her chin)

Profile of her face

Jackson and Mia are getting excited for the new baby to come. Mia really cannot wait to hold her and she wants her to share rooms with her (not sure she understands the sleeping patterns of infants!) Grant and Liam know that their is a baby in my tummy, but whenever they look at my belly they want to lift my shirt up to "see" the baby. We are discussing names and have several that we like. I think girl names are way harder than boy names. Any suggestions are welcome, though!

A shower for Karla

My Mom, Grandma, a good friend of Karla's, and I were able to host a baby shower for Karla's first baby whom is due to be born around Thanksgiving. The theme was "Karla and Justin's 'Lil Pumpkin" and we decorated with a Halloween style. Karla's friend Brandi did a great job with the decorations and I think it all looked really cute. We had soup and breads for the meal and it was a perfect crisp, fall day for it all. Karla looks great and we are all really excited to see her new baby, especially since we don't know if it is a boy or a girl. I requested that she have the baby before Thanksgiving so that we can all love on him or her when we celebrate the holiday. We'll see when baby Rausch decides to arrive. We can't wait!

Brandi's super cute diaper cake and pumpkin decorations

The mommy-to-be and the shower helpers

Karla and Aunt Pam
Mia and Uncle Jack

Mia came with us to celebrate. She was excited to come to a girl party, but boy was Jackson bummed when we left him in Indy that morning. He told me that we had to have another party sometime with boys so that he could come, but he wanted Nana, Mia, and I to be there as well. Poor guy. Mia was super shy and reserved the whole party, but as soon as all the "strangers" left she was running around and being her typical self. It was a fun day!

It's a girl!!

Had our 20 week ultrasound this morning and found out that there will be a balance to the testosterone in the Steuer house--baby number 5 is a girl! I must admit that I was secretly hoping for a girl, although of course just wanted to be sure everything was growing as it should. She looks perfect so far, everything where it should be and growing appropriately. We are definitely so blessed! She was moving around a bunch and opening and closing her mouth "drinking" during the ultrasound. The last picture is of her with her legs up by her head doing gymnastics already. So excited for little Mia, especially since she and the new baby will have birthdays close together. The hand-me-down clothes will be perfect as well. So glad everything looks good and that she is doing great! More to come!

Ok, so it's official...

...we are pregnant! A 5th baby Steuer will be making it's debut in early February (actual due date February 3rd-one day before my due date with Miss Amelia). I am almost 18 weeks along and doing fairly well so far. I just told work yesterday so I have been holding out making the big announcement until the secret was out. We are excited and nervous and all the feelings that are totally normal for pregnancy. Next month we have the ultrasound and are debating whether or not to find out if it is a girl or a boy at this point or to wait until delivery. So here we go again! I really cannot believe how blessed we have been. My whole life I wanted a big family and God has given it to us--amazing. I will keep you posted on any updates!