Walking Circumspectly
I am glad you are ok!! Was wondering what happened to you! Can't wait to see baby pictures. (your pregnant tummy is so cute) Praying for your delivery!
So glad you and baby Noah are okay! I was kind of afraid to ask, thinking the worst, I'm afraid. Sorry. Glad my fears were unwarranted, and will be praying for a safe and joyful birth!
I am so excited for you Kristen! You're gonna be a great mommy. Enjoy every minute of the cute baby stage, because it goes by REALLY fast, and the next thing you know you are looking at an 8 year old boy, wishing he could be that tiny little bundle of softness that you can cuddle all day long again. We will praying for a safe and healthy delivery for you. All of my children were born at home without any drugs, or epidurals, or anything..it is possible to have a drug free delievery! You'll do just fine!
God Bless!
Ali
Oh Kristin! I'm so sorry I haven't written in a long time, things have been really crazy for me. I have kept you in my prayers and I've thought of you often over the past months. I can't believe how beautiful you are! I am so happy for you and I cannot wait to see the little baby boy! God Bless and Merry Christmas!
I'm so glad you and baby are doing well! I pray that you will have a wonderful and beautiful birth experience. I was so scared before giving birth the first time, I remember asking about epidurals on my first couple of prenatal appt.'s. Then my second baby came too quickly to get the epidural and it was such an amazing experience!! The last four have all been epidural-less and my best tip for you is to relax your body as much as humanly possible. It really does make a difference! Lest anyone think I'm bragging, let me also say that I asked for an epidural each time but didn't have time to get one 
It's true what they say, when you think you can't go any longer, you're almost done!! Blessings, Emily
Look at that bump! You look so darling! I am definitly praying for a peaceful, intervention free labor for you and little Noah. Just remember that the only thing that truly matters is a healthy mommy and baby. Labor is different for every woman every time so no guilt! Just focus on enjoying that precious little blessing! ANd don't make us wait so long for pictures
It's so good to have an update--and hear you and Noah are doing great--I am counting down to January 27 with you!
I will be praying for your labor and delivery--I believe you will be a GREAT mom!
You will publish pictures for us after he's born won't you???
Can't help you with the delivery advice, but as a recent first time mom here is what I suggest you do...
Write down all the things you want to do and put the list on the refrigerator now. Do you want to cut a lock of hair? Write it down. Do you want pictures of you and Noah with certain people? Write it down. Do you want video footage of something in particular? Write it down. It is amazing how much you can't think about at first because of just adapting to everything the first several weeks.
If ANYONE offers to make a meal, TAKE IT. If anyone asks if there is anything they can do for you, have them bring you a meal. Having meals brought in was one of the greatest blessings the first six weeks.
The biggest challenge for me the first 8-10 weeks was adapting to the neverendingness of it all. That and not being able to get done what I wanted to get done because Caroline's needs always came first. It has gotten better though. David and I kept telling each other... She will start sleeping longer, she will start eating less frequently, etc. We're finally getting to that point the past few weeks (she's fifteen weeks now) and life is SO MUCH MORE NORMAL. Whew! We actually sat down and watched a DVD movie last night and hung out together uninterrupted.
Actually I do have a piece of delivery advice. It may not be a popular piece but... Talk about and prepare yourself for the possiblity of a c-section if it becomes a medical necessity. I know it is clearly not what you want, but if it does happen it is not the end of the world and your baby will be just as wonderful. And from talking with some friends I had an easier recovery from my c-section than some of my friends had with natural delivery (I drove sooner, had less complications in the weeks after, etc.)
I hope you have a wonderful last few days/weeks and so look forward to seeing pictures of your little one.
Hugs,
Sallie
So glad you are okay! We'll be praying for an easy delivery and a smooth transition.
Kirsten! Great to see an update! Praying for an amazing labour and delivery, and that you settle in really quickly to the first few weeks together.
My advice is: over the next two weeks, do EVERYTHING that you won't be able to do once baby is here. Go to the movies, lie on the couch and consume a while book in one sitting, spend a few uninterrupted hours with your husband, get a facial, go shopping and out to lunch with a girlfriend....you got the picture! That is what I would do. The childbirth thing - never done it, no advice. (Pray for us if you would like to - we are taking a while to have a baby. Hard.)
Sending you love and blessings from Australia - you're going to do GREAT!
Vlaerie
p.s. Molly just did a post on birth and raising children - I really liked it.
THERE you are, lady!
No advice from a childless broad, but will pray for a healthy delivery. Good luck, and nice to hear from you again!
I knew we had to be getting close...
My prayers for all three of you over these next few weeks.
Stock up on your sleep now. 
Kristin~
So glad you & Noah are well!!
I have a 9 mo. baby boy.. he was born with no epidural or other medicine.. at home. The transition will get you praying, yet it isn't too long.. when you relax & let the cervix hurt all along the labor, it actually makes it shorter.. tensing prevents it from opening. Good tip I got! Having someone count (10 for me) to get your pushes long helps.
It's so awesome to not put drugs into my baby! They are so much more alert that way.
Blessings galore for your delivery.
I love you.
Being a mommy helps you learn to be selfless, yet in many ways it is so easy.. longing to bless your little one! Don't worry, just be willing.
Looking forward to seeing Noah also!
Kristen, SO good to hear from you! I really missed you and wandered how you were.
I'm so glad that you and baby Noah are doing well and I will be praying for you!
Loving hugs all the way from Germany !!
I'm so glad you're back! I was so worried that maybe something had happened with the baby. Wonderful news that all is well.
Great to see you, Kristin! You are looking wonderful. Not too long now! I AM praying for you, and will continue!
Thanks for the update, I'm glad to know all is well. Praying for a safe delivery.
spunky
Hi Kristin -
Glad to see and hear you are doing well. I've been wondering.
I did both of my deliveries without an epidural. I did take a little nubain at the height of hard labor. It gave me about a half hour rest before pushing. It is wonderful. Talk to your doc about it. Really, it puts you out almost immediately - just when you need it, but it doesn't last for long.
When they tell you to come to the hospital, eat before you go - espeically if you haven't eaten in a while. You get no solid food until after delivery - just broth and jello and popcicles and juice. You know the clear stuff. You need all the strength you can for pushing. I always joked that I would stop at McDonald's on my way for #2. I didn't need to cuz I had an induction.
Other than that, relax and enjoy. Can't wait to see little Noah!
Blessings,
Shelly (formerly Sal)
Can't give any delivery advice but I will be in prayer for you! You look great! I'm very thankful to have discovered your blog.
May God bless you and your family!
Yay!!! Kristin, I kept checking for an update ...
You are such a pretty pregnant lady. I am so excited for you. I think often of those last days of my pregnancy, and the blessed anticipation of it all. I know God will see you through. Can't wait to see pictures of baby Noah when the time comes. Take good care of yourself and rest up for the big day.
I have been BETRAYED BY MY RSS READER. Betrayed, I tell you. I had NO IDEA you had updated until Debi told me you had just now. (pout).
Love you much. I'm so glad to see that all is still well.
Labor: Um, got nothing. Three c-sections here. Everyone else has already said the thing that I've noticed most, being on hand for a couple of my sister-in-law's labors: when it gets the hardest is when it's almost done.
Raising babies: Oh, Kristen, you are going to be fabulous at this. There might be times when the permanence of it might feel overwhelming -- at least it did for me, that whole hormonal "no changing my mind if this gets too hard" feeling in the first few days of LT's life outside the womb. But truly, you are going to be an amazing mom.
And you look beautiful. I wish I could hug you.
You do look beautiful and I'm happy for you that you are near the end. I hope that the drug-free plan goes well, but do remember -- if you end up with an epidural or even a c-section -- you are not a failure. It took me a while to get over the disappointment when I had an emergency C, but I still have three beautiful children and God was there regardless, so... it was still a blessed experience, just not quite as I planned it in my head!!
Good luck, prayers and best wishes!!
Sorry, Kristen. That homepage up there is the last one I visited, not mine. I don't know why it published that address. Sorry!
Sorry, I don't have much advice for a mom-to-be (dad-to-be, yes, I have that aplenty) but I trust that Our Father will provide plenty of wisdom for you and Ryan.
Glad to hear things are going well - and I will definitely keep y'all in my prayers.
hi Kristin!
I'm so thrilled to see your beautiful bloomin' belly, and self. Thanks for the update, I've been wondering how you and Noah are doing, knowing that your delivery is close at hand!
Oh, you will be a blessedly wonderful Momma... and Motherhood is still very surreal for me at times, when I look at my now almost 11yo son, and 8yo daughter, I'm in awe and wonder... I've felt such a fright myself here lately with this one I'm carrying now, feeling inadequate still, with thoughts like I'm not even praying enough for the family that I have already, how can I be ready for another Lord?! But then He reminds me of the sufficiency of His Grace, and that it is His Spirit alone that enlivens my children's hearts to Himself.
You just love that little guy, and show him the Way, and he will follow. Children are so resilient. To me, with all the trepidation aside, motherhood has come more naturally than anything else, simply one day at a time. Your little one was created with you and Ryan in mind... you're perfect for the job, and Chris and I have been thrilled to find that we've been the ones to learn to so much, from and through our children's being in our lives.
(((love & hugs)))
During delivery, relax... and breathe deep (so you don't hyperventilate like I nearly did with my first! LOL). In my mind the thought of having an epidural was actually scarier than natural childbirth. I guess that came from my reading about it (and seeing a diagram)... spinal tap, during labor?! NO thank you... though I sure was second guessing myself during delivery! LOL But also, I'd heard too many stories of how it could actually drag out labor, and Moms who couldn't even feel when to push. I wanted to be more engaged in this amazing miracle of birthing my children, you know?
You guys are such wonderful friends. Really...thanks. I appreciate all the good advice, too.
Ali, I didn't know you'd had homebirths! Wow! The way it was done for thousands of years...
I appreciate the support about birthing naturally, too. I am glad that interventions are there if they're needed. I am just hoping and planning (and praying!) for them to NOT be needed!
I'm thrilled you and the baby are OK! And you look FABULOUS dahling!
Thanks for the update! I can't wait to "meet" the little guy!
Long time reader, sporadic commenter here. Can't wait to hear about the birth of baby Noah.
I have a new blog and I'm giving away the apron I won on Mommy Life. C'mon over!
Hi! You look so beautiful. I am so happy your little sweetie will be in your arms soon. Regarding birth , I will pray that He strengthens you to do it naturally. Just remember that no matter what happens, He is in control. He will guide and protect you. Have a blessed day!
KRISTIN!
It has beeen like.....13 DAYS! since this update.
(Shuffles feet, kicks the ground...)
And???
How are you??
How are you Kristen?
I heard from Holly that you have a BABY!!!!!! Man, I'm dying over here, hustle up and post some pics, woman! 
Love,
Molly
Good to hear you and your own are doing good! Last minute advice: Thank God for sleep!
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