Baby Emma's on the Way

Any time now I will go into labor, deliver a baby, and be a mother. When I look back to that life-altering day in October when I took my first (of seven--all positive) pregnancy tests, I can hardly believe the time has almost come.

As surprise (though planned, it happened FAST) turned to excitement and excitement gave way to fatigue, that first trimester seemed to drag on forever. I guess I would work in a daze because I can't really remember how I made it through each day. I would come home, sink into the couch until Will got home, get up and make something for supper(I can't even remember what--we probably didn't eat much those first few weeks), and then go right back to sleep--only to wake up the next morning feeling exhausted.

Second trimester brought renewed energy, and at first, when I still wasn't showing, I almost felt "normal" again, except for the occasional and delightful little flutters that my baby used to remind me she was there. Those kicks and punches and somersaults became stronger and stronger, and in week 19 we found out Baby Odom was a GIRL! That day in itself brought a flood of emotions, as we watched God's little creation growing inside me--moving all around, breathing, heart beating....But I was afraid Will would be upset. I thought he wanted a boy, and I had been building up that I thought the baby was a boy. So, despite Will's reassurance that he was thrilled to be having a little girl, I cried all the way home. Not that I didn't want a girl--I really, really did--but I think all of the emotions that came with the realization that we were really going to be parents and there was no turning back hit home at once. And I cried. After I dropped Will back at work, I turned on K-Love and the first song on the radio was "Cinderella" by Steven Curtis Chapman. It was a new song, and it was the first time I had heard it. The whole song is from the perspective of a father to his little princess daughter, and I felt God's reassurance that Will would love having a little girl.

The last trimester has had its ups and downs. There was the dizziness and black-out spells and shortness of breath that had my doctor send me to see the cardiologist--all for her to tell me that my blood pressure was probably dropping when I stood up and that I needed to drink gatoraid. We stopped by Kroger on the way home and stocked up. Needless to say, my wedding ban got almost too tight to take off about a week later (extra sodium will do that!), so we had to make a trip to Kohl's to get a nice 3-stone CZ for $7.99. Along with the trip to the cardiologist, there's been the steady weight gain (no doubting my state of being with child) and anemia (325 extra mg iron/day!) and two diabetes tests (I passed the second one!) and a rhogam shot (since I'm O-) and endless phone calls to the insurance company (gotta make sure I get those benefits!) and a hernia (I see the surgeon on Thursday--though I'm still praying its NOT a hernia) and carpal tunnel (I get to wear these "cool" little hand/wrist braces at night!). Really, compared to a LOT of people, I've had a very good and low-maintenance pregnancy. I think that maybe God allows all these strange things to happen to our bodies towards the end, so the desire for the baby to come will outweigh all the nervousness that accompanies the impending labor and delivery.

I tried to take advantage of as many pre-baby opportunities as I could while pregnant. We took took several trips--we flew out to NC at Christmas, where we spent time in Charlotte, Raleigh, and Wilmington, and we flew out to NC/VA in March for Shannon and Javier's engagement party and a week in Richmond for IMB candidate conference. Though I had been sick with the stomach virus right before we left (which was the ONLY time I hugged the toilet the entire pregnancy!), we had a wonderful time. God continued to confirm our call to missions, and we enjoyed time spent with family and both old and new friends.

In April, we took our final pre-baby vacation--our "babymoon" is what I called it. We got a really good deal on the Hyatt Regency hotel downtown, and the view from our room was excellent. It was a whirlwind, long-weekend trip, where we visited Zoo Atlanta, the Georgia Aquarium, the Varsity, World of Coca-Cola, and the Fernbank Museum of Natural History. In between these activities we were able to meet up with my good friend Kara from college as well as my friend Mary. We relaxed in the hotel room at night and watched National Treasure II one night. We enjoyed the time together, though I was a little sentimental about it being our last vacation before becoming parents.

The end of April my mom and sister Shannon flew out for a whirlwind shower weekend! Will's family as well a few friends gave us Emma Brooke's first shower on Saturday, April 26, and Longview Heights gave us our church shower on Sunday, April 27. We were overwhelmed with the generosity of the many wonderful family and friends that God has given us here in Mississippi (it's hard to believe how many close relationships you can make in a place you've lived in less than 4 years!). On Monday, May 5, some sweet co-workers and friends from Hope Sullivan Elementary gave us a shower there as well. The Lord has truly blessed us with providing for our baby girl!

The first week of May we went to what will probably be our last concert for a while when Casting Crowns came to Southaven. It was a lot of fun, but I sat down for the whole concert. I was relieved when school got out on May 23. It has been getting harder and harder to get around with such a big belly!

Though I thought I would just relax after school got out, I can't seem to sit still for long as I wait for Emma Brooke's arrival. I keep going back and forth from wanting her to be here and wanting just a little more time before she comes. I've cooked and frozen a few meals for us to eat after she comes, but I still have a few more I want to do. I've washed clothes for her to wear the first week she's home, and I've read up on getting her on a feeding/sleep schedule. I had lunch the other day with a lactation consultant friend to discuss breastfeeding. I've been trying to keep on top of laundry and keep the house clutter-free, as at any time a potential buyer can come by to look since it's on the market. I've read and watched a video on giving birth, but I still feel clueless. Last night I actually started reading a non-pregnancy/parent book--Shadow of the Almighty, by Elisabeth Elliott. It's Jim Elliott's biography, and missionary biographies are my favorite genre to read. It seems like it's been so long since I've read a book on anything else but pregnancy and parenting, so I decided now might be the only chance I get for a while to try to get my mind on something else. I've gone to the pool a few times, and I am hoping I can a few more times before the baby comes.

The bags are packed, and the car seat is installed. We aren't setting up a nursery since we are trying to sell the house, but the guest room closet and dresser are full of baby girl clothes, blankets, burp cloths, toys, diapers, wipes, etc. Emma Brooke's pack 'n play,which will serve as her bed as we travel from MS to VA to Costa Rica to Mexico over the next year, is set up next to our bed. Everything seems ready, but am I? Is Will? We will see in a few days or a few weeks--or even a few hours. Now we just have to wait....

It's been a long time since I've posted, and I am guessing next time I post I will be a different person. I will be a mom.