I am currently almost 37 weeks pregnant. My due date is February 7th, I feel like a house, I struggle to put on shoes and socks, and I’m growing VERY impatient. So far, this pregnancy has seemed to go by very quickly. It’s probably because we were so busy in 2013 – building a house, moving, celebrating (THREE! Brian, Ally and I all have the same!!) birthdays and Christmas. And now, it’s 2014. The year our baby boy will be born! I have less than a month left and the nearing end has definitely got me ready…and waiting.

While this pregnancy has gone quickly, it hasn’t been super easy…at least over the past couple of months. There have been some “red flags” that I didn’t experience with Ally, so extra tests have been ordered and medications are being taken. I’ve been a bit worried and scared that something really could be wrong, but I was reassured this morning that everything is fine and we’re not dealing with anything that I, the baby and my docs can’t handle. Doc said “baby brother” (as we’ve named him for now) will probably come 1-2 weeks before my due date, he’s laying low with his head down (ready for delivery!) and I’m already progressing at 3cm! So “baby brother” is coming VERY soon!

But boy, he can’t come soon enough! Like I mentioned above, I’m growing very impatient. Sure, having a 20-pound belly is physically demanding and the unpredictable characteristics of pregnancy are a little annoying, but I’m just ready. Ready to hold our baby. Ready to feed him, change him and just snuggle with him. I’m ready to meet him and see what he looks like. I’m ready to see Ally as a big sister and see her maternal instincts kick in. I’m ready to buy “baby brother” Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and GI Joes so he and Brian can play like boys. I’m just ready for everything that comes next!

So in the coming weeks, I’m going to anxiously and impatiently wait for labor and delivery. Hopefully all the “red flags” are behind us with a safe and speedy arrival ahead!

Here are a few current baby bump pictures. I struggled getting a good “selfie” with the self-timer, so these aren’t super glamorous, or even in focus! But they’ll have to do…

Today also marks day one of maternity leave. From now until at least March 1st, I’m not scheduling any sessions, weddings or meetings. I still plan to do as much computer work as possible, or as needed, but nothing too physically demanding outside the office. I have some blog posts to share and will be answering email here and there while I’m away, but overall, JFP activity will be a little down. So I hope you have a happy January and February, and I hope you’ll continue following as I take some time off and welcome Baby Fike #2 into this world. It’s baby time, y’all!