4 Weeks (give or take) until Nugget Arrives!
We've had our last class at the hospital, the diapers are stacked, the tiny little clothes are washed, sheets are on the crib, and the mobile is charged up and ready to mobilize. Of course there are still tons of other things to do, and my bag hasn't yet been packed for that hospital stay, but we're getting there. If Nugget decided to arrive tomorrow, we're ready enough. Unless it's a He-Nugget, then he might be nameless for a few hours... we just can't agree on the perfect name. Craig's not too worried, he's convinced Nugget's a she.

Tomorrow is the first of the "every week" Doctor visits. Apparently 34 weeks was a pretty big milestone in that if labor were to begin, the docs wouldn't do anything to stop it. Baby is considered to be pretty healthy & ready to be able to sustain life outside in the big bad world. At this point, Nugget is packing on the pounds - about a half ounce a day making him/ her baby soft, and ready to snuggle. I - thankfully - have seemed to stop packing on the pounds, and am actually weighing in on the lighter side of normal... then how come I still feel as big as a house??

Showered with Nebraska Lovin'
Some of the lovely ladies in my Bible Study along with some of the super Sunday School teachers from our church threw Nugget and me a shower a few weeks ago. I was hoping to put up a picture or two from that, but haven't received any yet. We feel loved by our "United Faith" family, and Nugget will undoubtedly be warm (and cute!) cuddled in the sleepers, onesies, sockies, and blankies.

And just last week, a group of Christian Education Directors that Craig meets with in Omaha, surprised us with a luncheon shower! Through a series of very serious "Old Wives Tales" exercises and questioning they have also deemed Nugget a girl. You may get your "Daisy," yet Grampa Shantz! I still maintain that it's a fifty-fifty chance...

Surprise that's Worth the Wait
We do realize that we are driving a fair number of you insane by not finding out the gender of the baby, or by disclosing the names we've nearly decided on (Wendi!!) - and perhaps we're a little over anxious ourselves - but the guessing has been so fun! It won't be long now, and we'll all know what only God knows.

We continue to pray for a healthy little one, and that God will fill us with His perfect grace and love for us to spill all over the life He is entrusting to us. It seems like every evening we spend some time mystified over the fact that we'll soon be/ already are parents, and what our changing roles & life together as a family will be in six weeks, six months, six and sixteen years from now. I am so incredibly thankful for the gift that God has given to me in Craig - I cannot fathom anyone more perfect for me with whom to embark on this new adventure.