Not much has changed...

Just wanted to give you an update, although not much has changed. I saw Dr. Napier today since Dr. Oliver was out and she said everything looks good. I'm measuring 35 cm across my belly, so Ella is moving down to where she's supposed to be. I'm not dialated yet, but I'm a fingertip effaced (don't ask unless you REALLY want to know). She said she doesn't think I'll "go" this weekend, but then again, you can never be sure about these things. She IS sure that we are head down and good to go, but we are still doing a sonogram next Thursday just to check everything out. Oh, and she said that Ella probably isn't any more than 6.5 lbs and will probably end up somewhere right around 7 lbs...thank goodness Joe was a small baby!!

On another note, the nursery is almost totally done, we are just waiting on a couple of pieces, then I will post final photos, probably next week sometime. We have had so much fun putting stuff everywhere, although we have SO many clothes I'm not sure how I'm going to change her enough to try out everything!! Just know that you will be receiving lots of pictures!!

We have some friends who are set and ready to send out an email to everyone as soon as we go into labor so you won't miss a moment and you'll know about as soon as we do.

Stay tuned.
Love,
The Mitchells

Holding on for dear life!!

Okay, so I had our weekly doctors visit today...NO CHANGE!! This child has NO desire to show any movement toward coming out. My friend Maggie is dialating and effacing and dropping and all the things you are supposed to do before the baby comes comes...and Ella...NOTHING. I guess the child is just happy as a lark. Her daddy has been talking to her a lot, and maybe she's a little scared of the singing or something. Last night we got the car seat installed (which is quite a task) and I got the diaper bag (thanks to my aunt Kayla and cousin Devon) all packed up. I started packing my hospital bag last night, but I'm convenced that she isn't getting ready to come until I'm 100% ready and done with all of my tasks.

Luckily The Mitchells are coming next week so we'll get the room finished and then she won't have ANY reason for not showing up soon. Our next doctors appointment is on April 27th (her Mimi's birthday...my mom) and then we go back for a sonogram and doctors appointment on May 4th. Oh, yeah, forgot to tell you...now Dr. Oliver thinks she might not be head down...little stinker. So, we'll get to see her probably one last time on camera before she makes her debut into the world.

Make sure and send us your address if it's changed since we got married 1.5 years ago!! mitchells1016@sbcglobal.net

Recent Pictures

Yep, just updating the pictures...there are a few "belly pics" for those of you who requested seeing them (not pretty, I told you!!) and then I put some in from Easter. Our wonderful family friend (and newly "adopted" sister, Dawn) took us all out for an AMAZING brunch at the Four Seasons...it was a PERFECT Easter Sunday!!

Here are the belly pics:







And here are pics from Easter. The little girls are Dawn's daughters, Addison and Hannah. Dawn is the beautiful and skinny one with my sister, mom, and myself!!

9th Month

At the end of this week, you're going to reach an important pregnancy milestone: Your baby will be considered full term! That means you could give birth very soon. Put any unnecessary travel plans on hold now in case you go into labor early. Many airlines won't let pregnant women fly close to their due dates for this reason. It's also time to start wrapping up projects at work, get an infant car seat if you haven't already done so (you won't be allowed to leave the hospital without one), and put finishing touches on the nursery. Your baby - who now weighs about 6 pounds and is almost 19 inches long - will continue to gain about an ounce a day until he makes his debut.

31 days to go...

Happy Good Friday to everyone! I'm sure a lot of you are off today so you won't get this update till Monday, but either way...I hope everyone has a GREAT Easter weekend. The weather in Dallas is beautiful for all of you who aren't here.

Now, on to the baby update. We went to the doctor today. Had a sonogram this morning to measure the little one (who, by the way, is still VERY much a girl). We hadn't changed weight or measurements in the previous appointments so they just wanted to make sure everything was okay. Well, she is approx. 5 lbs 11 oz. right now. Also, the doc said she should be about 18"-19" long and max out at delivery around 20"...so she's the perfect size (thank goodness a little on the small side!!). They are guessing she'll weight around 7lbs when she's born, so I'm happy!! We aren't dialated or progressed at all, but she's in the correct position, so when she and God decide it's time then we'll go. Joe and I are VERY anxious to see her, but we aren't on our own schedules so we are just going to wait and see when she wants to come out.

As always we'll keep you posted as our appointments are every Friday for the next 4...that's how many Friday's till our due date!!

Other than that everything is wonderful. Trying to make sure we have everything we need and are as prepared as we can be. Childbirth classes are over, but Joe has "Daddy Boot Camp" this Wednesday...surely he's excited!!

I was going to attach "belly pics", but if anyone has ever seen someone 8 months (almost in her 9th month) pregnant then you know it isn't pretty...if you want a pic you are just going to have to ask for it individually!!

However, I'll show you the progress on the nursery...and her ever growing closet. I can't wait to start posting pictures of Ella...VERY soon!!

Off to play in the beautiful weather outside (Joe is doing yardwork!)

Love you all and God bless you this weekend as we reflect on the death and resurection of Christ,
Joe, Andrea, and Elizabeth Hope

Just some pics...

Well, we are on the home stretch...4.5 weeks to go...here are some pics from this past weekend. My friend Kim threw a baby shower and it was SO much fun.

Today's Dr.'s Appt

Well, we are officially 34 weeks down and 6 weeks to go. I saw another doctor in the practice today. Good news...my weight hasn't changed a BIT since the last appointment so we might be on the homestretch as far as gaining goes. Ella is measuring the exact same as the last appointment, so they've scheduled a sonogram for next Friday (yeah, Joe gets to go!!) to take her measurements and see how she's doing. More good news...she's no longer breech. She's head down and her back is on my left side...and she likes to poke out her rear!!

We are having so much fun watching her move, but we are REALLY ready for fingers and toes...and Joe is ready for baby yawns...his favorite.

Can't wait to send you all pictures as soon as she gets here, and of course if you receive this blog then you are on the "first to know" list as soon as she arrives.

Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer.

Love and God bless you all,
Joe, Andrea, and Baby Ella

Look below for pictures from this past weekend! And you can log on to www.mswitschorke.blogspot.com for updates on my sister's pregnancy.

6 WEEKS TO GO!!

Well, I guess we've been pretty busy...not that it's a change for us, but it's getting a little crazy around here:

This past weekend we went to a Rangers pre-season game with a group from our Sunday School Class...here are some pictures:








My friend Stephanie and I are both prego...here's a picture of our bellies:











On Saturday there was a baby shower for my good friend Maggie (she's due 3 days ahead of me...same hospital, same doctor's office, SO fun!!), here are the pics:








Here is a recent pic of the belly...both bellies: