Just a funny!

Have a wonderful weekend!

36 weeks

Four weeks to go! Yesterday we had an appointment with Dr. G. Everything is going smoothly. Our girl is head down and working her way to arriving in the next few weeks. I had a pretty good increase in weight since two weeks ago. Scary! The nurse said reassured me that the baby has had a growth spurt. I have been very proud of staying on track and don't want to ruin it right here at the end. Anyway, my momma is on her way here as I type this to help me finish the few little things on my "to-do" list. I am excited! I think it will bring me comfort that she is here...even though we drive each other crazy sometimes....there is something soothing about your momma. I have been getting a little emotional the past few days and I just want her here! So, I better go get out of these pjs and put my working clothes on! Below is an update from BabyCenter about this week's progress.

Your pregnancy: 36 weeks
See the big picture
How your baby's growing:Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.

A wonderful baby shower

On Saturday I had my first baby shower. Who knew it was going to be so fun? I had a great time seeing friends that I don't get to see too often. The guests enjoyed delicious brunch foods made by the hostesses. I am still not convinced that Michelle made those delicious hot grits! Leeann made my only food request, a Ranch Chicken Cheeseball...yum! Everything was decorated so pretty and the cake was delicious! While I opened gifts, the guests played a little baby shower bingo. They got to mark off squares based on the gifts that were being opened. Everly got so many wonderful necessities, cute items and books. On the shower invitations, guests were asked to bring a signed book in place of a card. She didn't receive one duplicate book! I love to read and hope to pass along this hobby to E. B's mother brought a bag full of B's books from his childhood, including favorites Frog and Toad and A Kiss for Little Bear. I almost cried when I read the little gift card. I had to stop and take a breath...I hate to cry in front of anyone. I just wanted to say thanks to everyone. I know it was a wet rainy day, not to mention a holiday weekend. I appreciate all of your love!
Delicious cake! I brought home the three leftover pieces and they were gone by the next morning...no I did not eat them all!

The newlywed, Leigh Ann, just back from her honeymoon!

A personalized platter from LeeAnn. The queen of showers!

Mommy and Me pajamas! I can't wait for E and I to wear these soon.

Sweet pink cowgirl boots from Leigh Ann...love them!

Yay! A highchair!

Thanks ladies! I had a wonderful time. Everly will be so blessed to grow up with you in her life!

The two sweet grannies!

Belly buddies...exactly 14 weeks apart. I can't wait for Annsley and Everly to meet!

All of Everly's new things waiting to find their spot.

I can't believe...

We're finally in the home stretch. With about a month to go, I have finally gotten into nesting mode. Yesterday I got Everly's things together for the hospital and most of mine. I also cleaned carpet and made another freezer meal. I have all these "to-do" lists that I feel must be accomplished. My momma is coming down next Wednesday to help with the things that I can't do anymore. She is so excited. She has only seen pictures of the nursery and she can't wait to see it in person. I am excited too, because she is spending the night. She hasn't spent the night at our house yet. She's really good at helping organize things, so we're going to tackle my closet while she is here too.

B got the car seat base installed in his truck last night. We had the little manual out while dinner cooked. He kept asking me questions and all I could say was "I don't know...I've never had a car seat before!" Anyway, I believe we got it right...the level thing on the side looked like the one in the manual, so I think we're all set. You should have seen him take the carrier part out afterward, that thing was tilted and leaning all over the place. I was just laughing and told him that he needs to be a little more gentle when E arrives. I know he will, but it was funny to think, what if a baby was in that seat right now...poor thing!

Tomorrow is my first baby shower in Prattville. I am so excited! These ladies really know how to throw a shower. I can't wait to get together with my friends and celebrate little E. It is a brunch, so I am also excited about the food...yum! ha! ha! That sounds like a classic preggie girl comment!

Just for fun...

If you are pregnant, try this out just for fun. It is a labor prediction quiz.

http://www.justmommies.com/quizzes/labor_prediction_quiz.php

Here are my results-

You won't need to try any secret recipes to bring on labor. Have your emergency numbers ready. Don't wait until the last minute to get your nursery ready. We predict your baby will come 1-2 weeks early. Your baby will most likely be born in the morning. Justmommies predicts that your baby will weigh approximately 7.8 pounds and that your labor will be about 13 hours long. Read more: "Labor Prediction Quiz"

A week to two weeks early sounds pretty good to me! I am working on packing my bag today!

35 weeks

Yesterday was my 35 week mark. I celebrated by going to get my hair done at Amplify, an Aveda Concept Salon owned by my friend Jodi's sister. Since this will be my last haircut before E arrives, I decided to do something special. I love Aveda products and I love getting my hair done at their salons. It's the little things they do that make me feel so special. Like the sensory experience head massage before they shampoo your hair...love it! I got my hair cut a little shorter. It's like Heidi Klum's lob (long bob). It looked really cute after Jodi fixed it, but I can never make it look like the stylists do.

Amplify is located in Old Cloverdale. That is my absolute favorite neighborhood ever. I love all the styles of architecture, mature plants, and shaded streets. I love you can walk to all kinds of restaurants, local hotspots, and businesses. I love the people there take pride in their community and always plan community events and get togethers.

Your pregnancy: 35 weeks
See the big picture
How your baby's growing:Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

Possibly too brave

Not many people like to have their picture made in their swimsuit, much less a woman who is 34 weeks pregnant, but these were the only pictures we took at the beach. We had a great time and it will be fun telling E how her dad and I went wave jumping when I was pregnant with her. We stayed in the water the majority of the time...after I got finished reading the People magazine featuring Kate Gosselin. B bought it for me at Publix, but he read the article the night before! He promised not to tell me what Kate said. It's sad. I hope these two can work it out for the sake of all their precious children.

Anyway, back to the point...wave jumping. That's what I call it. We go out until the water is about to my neck and wait for big waves to come in and we jump in them, me always with my arms flying all in the air. The waves always carry me a long way. It was so relaxing and I loved feeling weightless.

We hope everyone had as great a weekend as we did!

What should he be called?

Vote on my Baby Name Poll!

To announce our pregnancy to B's parents we gave them each a list of "names" that grandparents often...or never use. The note said that they had about nine months to decide. Well less than six weeks left, we have a name for one. Gimme is what B's mom will be called, funny thing is this was one of our "joke" names, but she loves it. It seems very fitting, because she is such a giver. B's dad can't decide though. At first we though he was going with Papa John, but maybe it's a little too much like the pizza guy. B likes Pop and I like Papa. Mr. Johnny thinks he may end up being a Papaw...but there is already a Papaw. So, click on the link above and please vote! If you choose other, leave us a comment with a suggestion.

Addicted....

to cold drinks and juicy fruits. Today I am 34 weeks and I'm totally addicted. I crave cold, juicy things. My absolute favorite are the Edy's Strawberry Fruit Bars. I just feel dehydrated all the time. I can't get enough liquidy, cold things. I am packing for the beach now and one of the things I will pack will be a cantaloupe. If you're from our area, you've got to go to Rick's Produce. He has the sweetest, juiciest cantaloupes I have ever tasted...or it could just be me. Brett even thinks they're delicious though.

Last night B called and told me he had a surprise...yipee, I love surprises! He came home with a homemade blackberry cobbler...yum, yum! Apparently, he picked a bunch of blackberries waiting on his mother yesterday. He was going to bring them home for me to make a cobbler, something that he did last year. His mother told him that she would make one. B thinks she didn't want me to have to do it. It was delicious! Thanks Mrs. Donna. I am so very blessed to have such wonderful in-laws!

So, only 6 more weeks until my scheduled due date. I seriously don't think I will reach that point. I see now why women complain about the third trimester. I have absolutely no energy unless I take one to two naps. I am looking forward to this weekend. I want to do a little shopping and a whole lot of relaxing! I hope everyone is enjoying this great spring (well more like summer) weather and all the wonderful, fresh produce that comes with it!

Oh yeah, did anyone see AI last night? Who was your favorite? I loved Kris Allen's rendition of Heartless. He is the only one of the top three that I could actually picture myself listening to on the radio. He plays my type of music.

Lucky & 34 week appt.

The pictures above are of a little bird who has taken up residence under our carport. My papaw gave us that horseshoe last Thanksgiving. B placed it under the carport for luck. A few weeks ago I was watering the hanging baskets hanging from the carport. I do this just about every morning when B is getting ready for work. When I got to the second one, three or four baby birds scattered. One landed on the ground near B's truck. I made him come outside and was going to tell him to move it, because I didn't want him to run over it. When we came back outside the little thing flew and got on his bumper. When he went out to leave, it was gone.

So, we think this little guy is one of those birds who just didn't want to leave. It has showed back up each night for over a week. The bird shows up at dark and is gone in the morning. It didn't even wake up while we took several pictures. I like to call it Lucky and B calls it Horseshoe.

Yesterday we went to see Dr. G for our 34 week appointment. Everything is still going great. I love Dr. G. He can really make a pregnant woman feel great. He told me, "It's like you wrote the book on pregnancy!". I told him I had read plenty! Weight gain great, blood pressure great, measurements great. B and I are so thankful for a healthy pregnancy. Dr. G then asked if I had experienced contractions...huh? "I don't think so," I said. I told him I really don't know...this is my first time. He explained about Braxton Hicks. B and I looked at each other and I told Dr. G that "yes, I have felt that a few times." He said this was normal. B asked Dr. G if there is anything we should be cautious about at the beach this weekend. Sun was the main answer. SPF 40 or higher and a hat on my head. He said that pregnant women burn a lot faster than average, which I would expect. He did say something I had never heard of...he said that some pregnant women that get sunburned on their face end up with a "tattoo" of the sunburn and it turns brown and never really goes away. He had a medical term for it, but I couldn't remember even if you offered me money!

I have another appointment in two weeks and then I start to go weekly. Dr. G said after my first weekly appointment he would be happy with her arriving. So that is only three weeks away...exciting and scary at the same time!

Totally off topic...but Triad marriage? What next????

Little things that make us really excited

Are we turning in to a mom blog? Maybe, maybe not? Oh well, we can't help that Everly's upcoming arrival is the most exciting thing happening in our lives! Here are a few small items that make us super excited and counting down the days...less than 50 now!

The first is the new rocker and ottoman from...du, du, du duh...Walmart! I love the rockers from Pottery Barn, but there is no way we would ever pay over $1000 dollars for a rocker. This one was about a third of that price and later on we can buy another slipcover and move it to another room in our home. It is very comfortable. I find myself sitting in the chair folding her clothes and thinking of other things I need to do before she arrives. Then I make a list...B has been giving me a hard time (only kidding I'm sure) about the lists. We now have a Daddy and Mommy "to-do" list with things we must accomplish before Everly makes her grand appearance. I am proud to say that both of us have checked off at least one thing and the lists just got printed on Wednesday! Like B says, "We've got this!".

The little table is from a flea market/antique mall in Opp. You can't really tell in the photo, but it is crackle painted with a little pink peeking through the white paint. I think I already posted about the lamp, but it is from the Simply Shabby Chic collection at Target...yes, Target has collections!

All those little play/sleep clothes in newborn/0-3 month sizes are washed and waiting for their home in baskets under the changing table. I just love the smell of Dreft detergent.

I have a good bit of free time each day and spend some of that time looking on eBay for bargains. I got this Kelly's Kids outfit NWT (new with tag if you're not down with the eBay lingo) for a great deal. She'll be able to wear it this Christmas...how exciting!

Last but not least is the carseat, part of the travel system I have had my eye on since probably the first week we found out we were pregnant. I found it online at http://www.netshops.com/ for a great deal and free shipping!

Body Shots

ha ha! I haven't posted any "body shots" in a few weeks, so I thought I would catch up. These were taken over the weekend at my friend, LAC's wedding. I am 32 weeks here. My friend, MarMar in the first picture is about 18 or so weeks. You can't even tell from this angle!

We had a great time catching up with friends. I had a great time chatting with Mar about pregnancy. She pointed out that we're doing everything together. She and her husband starting dating the same week as B and I. They got married about six months after us and now we're all expecting babies at the same time. B and I think that they will have a boy. We'll see May 11th. They have a doctor's appointment that day and so do we!

We hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Ours was full of love, friends, and family.