Nesting has kicked in!

This picture was actually taken 3 weeks ago, so I was at 33 weeks.  I can't believe how much bigger I am now!

We are getting so excited for the arrival of our little boy!  I can tell it is getting close because my nesting instincts are really strong right now.  There are two things I said in this life that I would never do and they were sewing and giving birth naturally.  I for some reason have had this overwhelming desire to do both.  My sister-in-law let me borrow her sewing machine when I made the smocks for the kids and then after Christmas I just thought why not just try it.  I went out and bought fabric to make a car seat cover and nursing cover.  I got started on the car seat canopy right away and finished it that night.  It was the very first project I did completely on my own without any help and was so proud of myself!  I know it is so simple, but I never thought I could do it.  I still haven't started the nursing cover, because I got side tracked in making a rag quilt for Erik.  Rag quilts are the perfect beginner sewing project because you can't really mess it up.  I thought for sure that it would look terrible when I got done, but because of the rags you can't really see the glitches.  I will post pictures with this entry as soon as I get some.  I have been terrible with the camera lately.

I really am not trying to announce that I am giving birth naturally to get everyone to think I am trying to brag or be tough, because this is really my journal and I have had a really neat experience preparing for this baby that I don't want to forget.  I have really bonded with this little one already and I am so excited to have an incredible experience without drugs getting in the way.  Of course I don't think the epidural is bad and for others, it is better for them.  I used to think that I could never give birth naturally, but comparing Bria's birth where I had the epidural to Erik's birth where I had to do it naturally, I actually thought that the natural birth was a better experience for me.  I felt everything and going from the most extreme pain I have ever been in to absolute heaven was an amazing experience.  I was more alert and I got to get up right away and be with my baby.  I got to bathe him and we just seemed to bond faster because there weren't any drugs getting in the way.  I knew that with this labor, I probably would have the same situation where I wouldn't have time to get the epidural, so I decided to prepare myself in doing it naturally and have an even better experience.  Derek and I are so excited to be in absolute control and to do this together with our little one.  I have been practicing the Hypno birthing method and have learned that fear makes the pain so much worse.  I have convinced myself now that I am not scared to do this and I can't wait to go through this experience.