31 Weeks

I'm a week behind my 4 week intervals of taking pictures...I finally got a picture taken today and am getting it on here...tomorrow will be 31 weeks.


I'm huge. Can't comprehend how I could possibly get any bigger. Then I remember that's what I thought 4 weeks ago. :-) But seriously now...I bend down and have a hard time getting back up, middle of the night bathroom trips are getting quite normal, and trying to get comfortable enough to go to sleep has become a challenge! But I have to keep remembering that awesome part about it is that as I'm getting bigger, so is Addysen!

Only 9 more weeks to go...the weekly countdown is in single digits now!!! "They" say that she's about 16 inches long now, 3.3 pounds (the weight of 4 naval oranges).....and heading into a growth spurt (which probably also means I'm headed for a growth spurt too...).

We ordered a Glider chair and ottoman yesterday...I'm SO excited about them! And they originally said 10-12 weeks since we did a special order...meaning Addy would probably be here before that came too...but then when they wrote up the order, it said 5-7 weeks so hopefully it should be here in plenty of time before she arrives!

Anniversary Trip

We got back earlier this evening from our little mini-trip to Tucson. We just stayed one night, but we certainly made the most of it and had a great time together! We stayed at the Westin resort which was beautiful! We went to a Family Life Conference there a few years back, but the hotel was sold out by the time that we registered so we stayed somewhere else..but talked about coming back at some point and staying at the Westin.

So I definitely have some random pictures from this trip, but we had some funny moments along the way...

On our way to the resort, we got stopped by a train. Now I realize for the Pratchards, this would have been a very exciting event, given this is one of Chase's favorite things EVER; however, with no 2 year old boys in the car, we were just anxious to get there. All that until, we looked across the tracks and saw something you don't see every day. Apparently, this RV didn't quite see the railroad crossing flashing its lights in time...

Fortunately, there was enough room that he didn't get hit by the train!! :-)

We got to our hotel, checked in (early which was great!) and went up to our room. I soon realized, I wasn't the only expectant mother in our room...

This Mama bird was in the top corner of our balcony. She would eye us when we'd go out there, but literally did not move the entire time we were there...very protectant little Mama! :-)

We spent a good bit of time at the pool just relaxing yesterday afternoon and today...drinking smoothies, reading, people watching...it was great. We had absolutely beautiful weather...a rarity in Phoenix / Tucson the end of May! It was low 80's both days we were there...it felt incredible!

This guy played guitar and sang both days we were there. He was really good and made you feel like you were in Hawaii or something...it was great atmosphere...which we all know Jeff is all about the atmosphere! :-)

This was one of the pools they had. They had several pools...we stayed mostly at the adult only pool...figured it may be our last time to do that for a while. :-)

Ok...so another story. We were laying at the pool when I started hearing what sounded like someone singing (or trying to sing). I looked around and saw this lady with her headphones on across the pool from us...singing out loud. I pointed her out to Jeff and we got a good laugh out of it. The funny thing was, it continued and continued. People stopped and looked at her. People sitting in front of her literally turned around and gave her a little stare down. A lady came to bring them their drinks. No change...continued to sing along to whatever she had on her ipod. The funniest part about it was that her husband was sitting next to her the whole time...and didn't say a word. Completely oblivious to the people around them looking at her and being bothered by her attempts to sing. We just couldn't stop laughing...it was quite entertaining! :-)

Last night was our actual anniversary and we decided to go to dinner at a local place in Tucson Jeff had been wanting to try called Wildflower. It was good food and good atmosphere...great choice! We decided to order desert and while we were waiting for it to come out, fireworks started close by that we were able to watch from our table (we were eating out on their patio)...it was so cool! People around us and our waiter were trying to figure out what they were for...I told the waiter I thought it was because someone knew it was our anniversary. :-)

Shortly after the fireworks ended, they brought out the desert we ordered...a chocolate bottomed creme brule...not only was it absolutely delicious...but look at this presentation they did because of knowing it was our anniversary! AND...they even gave us 2 chocolate covered strawberries that were delicious as well!!

This morning we ate breakfast at one of the hotel restaurants before getting some more pool time in. We sat on the patio that overlooked the pools and the mountains the resort is in. (Notice Jessica P....they also had a "We Proudly Brew" that Jeff visited this morning :-) ).

I got a belgium waffle with strawberries and whipped cream. Nummm!! I just loved the presentation and really, trips to us are about relaxing and food so why not take pictures of the food! :-) They even gave the individual warmed up syrups to use...it's the little things that make the difference!!

We had such a good time and are just so thankful we were able to take the time to get away and celebrate 6 wonderful years together!!

Anniversary

Today is our 6 year anniversary...so hard to believe it's been that long! I can't even begin to put into words how thankful I am for such an amazing husband. The Lord has blessed me far beyond what I could have imagined...all those years before meeting Jeff of hoping and praying for a Godly husband one day. We've been through a number of challenges the last few years and I am just so thankful to have been able to walk through each one with such an wonderful, caring and Godly man.

Last night we went to Ruth's Chris for dinner...our anniversary tradition (not a bad one to have, I must say! :-) ). As always, it was incredible! We had an amazing dinner...it's such a special thing to go there each year and celebrate another year together!

As we ate last night, we were talking about how this will be the last anniversary dinner where we can just go....without getting a babysitter! As hard as it's been to wait this long to have a baby, it made me also realize how thankful I am for the years that Jeff and I have had together...just us. This is time in our marriage that we'll never get back...and for that, I'm so thankful. It makes you stop and realize...once again...that the Lord's timing is perfect and we wouldn't want it any other way.

We are headed down to Tucson later this morning to continue our anniversary celebration. We're only going to stay one night this year, but we're so excited...it's a beautiful resort! I'll post more pictures from that when we get back tomorrow!

Crib

Yesterday we ordered a crib and changing table...SO exciting to have finally made some progress on that!! It's on order...should be here in 10-12 weeks.

Addysen could be here before it arrives. She's due in 10 weeks.

Wow...new perspective on how soon she's coming!!! Fortunately classes start in another week because the whole labor part of this is seeming a little soon considering my lack of knowledge in how on earth I'm going to be able to get through that part of it!

But...on the flip side...how exciting to think that Addy will be here in as short a time as it takes to order furniture!!!! :-)

Chicago

Jeff went to Chicago last weekend to interview for a job and as a result was able to spend some great time with family who lives up there...as well as his parents who came in for the weekend for a retirement party for one of Jeff's aunts. Sounds like he had a great time with everyone...wish I could have been there too!

I asked Jeff to bring the camera and take some pics. These were all he got. My guess is that these pics were taken to "pacify" me since I wanted lots of pics...these were the only 3 he came home with. :-) Oh well...better than none!

Jeff and his Uncle Mark

Jeff and his parents

Jeff and his cousins Andy (L) and Shawn (R)

Mother's Day

It was with mixed emotions that I celebrated my first Mother's Day today! It was so fun and exciting knowing that I am actually a Mom...and that our little one will be with us soon! We are just so thrilled that little Addysen will be joining us soon and I am SO excited to be a Mom...something that I've looked forward to since I was little!!

On the other hand, for some reason, it hit me really hard this morning that our little one that we lost is not with us. I think because this would have been the first Mother's Day that he or she would have been with us...and probably because the pregnancy hormones are in full gear...regardless I've had a couple pretty good crys today...amazing how much you can miss someone that you never even met. Our little one has not...and will not...be forgotten.

Song

So I start this post by saying that I realize I'm pregnant. And as such, emotions, well, they're a little different than "normal."

That being said, on my way home today, I heard this song on the radio and started crying. It's by Steven Curtis Chapman and it's called One Heartbeat at a Time. I'd never heard it before, but had to come home and download it...it's beautiful. If you haven't heard it and you're a Mom...honestly...go listen...you'll probably buy it too!

In this stage of life knowing that significant change is right around the corner...this just meant so much to me. His reference to it being one heartbeat at a time was so neat...with that being the only way I get to hear Addysen right now...and it means more than anything. And the importance of being a Mom and how the little drops of rain do turn into a river over time...and I pray that the daily rain drops along with a huge amount God's grace will allow Addysen to grow into a Godly woman...

One Heartbeat at a Time

You’re up all night with a screaming baby
You run all day at the speed of life
And every day you feel a little bit less
like the beautiful woman you are

So you fall into bed when you run out of hours
and you wonder if anything worth doing got done
Well maybe you just don’t know
or maybe you’ve forgotten

That you, you are changing the world
one little heartbeat at a time
Making history with every touch and every smile
Oh you, you may not see it now
but I believe that time will tell
how you, you are changing the world
one little heartbeat at a time

With every, “I know you can do it”
and every tear that you kiss away
So many little things that seem to go unnoticed
they’re just like the drops of rain
over time, they become a river

And you, you are changing the world
one little heartbeat at a time
Making history with every touch and every smile
Oh you, you may not see it now
but I believe that time will tell
how you, you are changing the world
one little heartbeat at a time

You’re beautiful, so beautiful
how you’re changing the world, yeah you’re changing the world
You, you are changing the world
one little heartbeat at a time
Making history with every touch and every smile
Oh you, you may not see it now
but I believe that time will tell
how you, you are changing the world
I believe that you, you are changing the world
one little heartbeat at a time

Dr. Appointment

Had another good doctor's appointment this morning. Love hearing little Addy's heartbeat...every time. Gained 6 more pounds...I've now gained 14 pounds all together! Less than 3 months to go...can't wait!

Quick Visit

My brother Johnny and his wife, Emily, who live in Bellingham, WA flew through Phoenix this morning on their way to Atlanta. They had about a 2 hour layover so Jeff and I met them at the airport and got to spend a little over an hour visiting with them! It was such a fun surprise and it was SO great to see them since we live so far apart!!

OB Triage...Trip #1

We had to make our first trip to the OB Triage at the hospital last night. We're hoping it will be the last before Addysen decides to come! Won't get into the details as they're really not blog appropriate, but there was a minor concern and so my Doctor wanted me to go get it checked out. So off we went...arriving at about 10pm last night...and not leaving until 1am. The great news was that everything checked out ok...on a side note, it is kinda funny that you get happy about "negative" results...and we got back home around 1:30am.

I'm primarily blogging this so I can remember when this all occurred.

However, as long as I'm writing, I have to say, Addysen cracks me up. So when you go to OB Triage, they hook you up to a fetal heart monitor to monitor her heartbeat as well as a thing (yes, that's the medical term) that monitors any contractions you may be having. At his point, the contractions one was pretty steady as expected, but her heartbeat was so funny.

First, I have to back up by saying that it has been quite clear that Addysen does not like things pressing up against my stomach. She kicks anything that presses up. If I get a pillow that's pressed up too much against me, she kicks at it. If I poke my stomach and all, she kicks at me (which, on another side note, Jeff gets on my case for whenever I do it...which is not often...but he starts poking at me, saying how would I like it if someone was poking me all the time?? :-) Protective Dad already...). And the lap belt of my seat belt...she kicks the whole time I have it on.

So when they have these "things" strapped to me poking into her last night, she was not thrilled. She kept moving around and kicking at them the entire 3 hours we were there. It was so funny though because they had the heart monitor on, so every time she would move around or kick at it, it would make a sound like you were blowing into those old play microphones we used to have when we were kids. I just kept laughing...she didn't like the experience all that much. :-)

At the end of the day, I'm just so glad to know that things are still progressing as normal and there don't appear to be any problems.