Des Moines Getaway

This past weekend Adam and I took a mini-vacation to Des Moines to do some shopping, see a good friend, eat lots of yummy food and relax. We did lots of shopping for the baby! We came home with a trunkful of purchases from Babies R Us and Target! It was tax free weekend on clothing, so even Adam came home with a few purchases! I came home with NOTHING! I can't wait until I'm not pregnant anymore so I can start shopping for clothes again! We always try to eat at places that aren't around here whenever we go to a bigger 'city,' so we ate at Fuddruckers, PF Changs, and Hu Hot while in Des Moines! We also got some ice cream at a WONDERFUL ice cream shop called Maggie Moo's! We both liked it much better than Cold Stone! We met up with Abby on Saturday night for dinner at PF Changs - we sat and chatted with her and her boyfriend, Aaron, for a few hours. Aaron is getting deployed to Iraq in September, so of course he and Adam had lots to talk about! Even though Des Moines isn't necessarily a vacation, it was nice to get out of Clarion and spent a weekend together before the baby arrives. We're actually heading back to Des Moines this Sunday with another couple to hit up the State Fair and go to the Big N Rich concert! Yee Haw!!!!!!!

Adam and I at PF Changs (nasty pic of me - but look how big/swollen I am - GROSS)

Abby and I

Abby and Aaron

33 Weeks

We have less than 50 days to go!!! The feeling is so surreal - but so exciting! I think we are finally ready for the baby to arrive. We have been mentally and emotionally ready for awhile now, just not ready as far as baby gear goes. But after the wonderful baby shower, we have everything we need to get us started with Baby Nerlien! I haven't started nesting yet [which Adam and I both don't' see that happening ;)], but have all the sheets, blankets, and clothes washed and put away. The swing, pack-n-play, and bouncer is put together, the toys are all in one basket, and the changing table is prepped with all the essentials! Now I just have to work on the hospitals bags - I'm a huge procrastinator so I should probably start now, instead of waiting until my water breaks! Here's what's going on during week 33:

For all the weight and bulk you’re lugging around these days, you’d think your little champ should weigh much more than a mere 5 lbs and measly 17 inches in height, but nope, that’s about the average size for a baby in its thirty-third week. In terms of appearances, they’re getting cuter and pudgier every minute as they pile on the baby fat for those adorable little wrist rolls and chubby toes. And as we’re sure you’ve already noticed they’re getting stronger with every passing day. Nowadays, it’s possible to observe a well-placed kick just by watching your belly—but you already knew that didn’t you? Although they’re getting stronger, your bigger-by-the-day baby is losing space to move around, so the actual rate of movement will drop off in the last few weeks, despite that powerful drop-kick they’ve been working on. Hey, did you know you’ll continue feeling their movements even during labor?

Baby Shower

This past weekend my mom hosted my first baby shower, and it was so much fun! We had great food, fun games, and I got to see lots of friends! My mom did an AWESOME job planning the shower, I can't thank her enough! Baby Nerlien got lots of great things: a stroller/car seat, baby swing, pack-n-play, bouncy seat, bibs, blankets, toys, sleepers and many other useful items. The spoiling has begun! I attached a lot of pictures of all the details that my mom worked so hard on! I love her!

The hostess with the mostest: Grandma Dawn

The anxious Grandmas

Brett also put in a lot of time helping plan and decorate

The tree was decorated with baby items too

The AWESOME diaper cake

One of 2 diaper wreaths

Baby tub filled with water (and pink and blue ice cubes shaped like teddy bears and ducks) Thanks for all your hard work on these Brett!

The party favors for all the guests (It was a cinnamon roll with a label that said "Thank you for coming to celebrate with Brooke and her little 'bun in the oven;"

A few friends from high school

Adam putting together some of our new stuff!

In other news: We start birthing classes tonight!!! The fact that we're going to be parents soon is starting to become more and more real as the days go by! We're so excited!!!!