One Week Over

I am now one week past the due date without any indication that things are progressing.

I went to the doctor yesterday and had an ultrasound to assess how things are going. The baby is currently measuring at 7Ib12oz. This is a bit larger than I was anticipating. If I delivered her today, great! But, the longer it goes, the bigger she gets. Yikes!

The placenta was placed perfectly and all of her lung and heart functions looked great. The ultrasound tech pointed out (several times) that she has a ton of hair. She even printed out a picture of the hair for us. Greg asked for a third confirmation that they check to make sure that the room can stay pink. She is still a she.

We met with the doctor after the ultrasound. She said that everything is looking great (other than the whole no baby thing). I was not dilated, but she said that I may be about 20% effaced. So, little progress there. She offered to induce me on Friday if I am seriously uncomfortable, but said that she would let me go to next Thursday on my own. I opted to wait it out. Hopefully, things will get moving on their own.

My bosses requested that I stop coming to work as of Monday. I thought that I would be bored out of my mind. However, since I don't sleep well at night, I am enjoying the option of sleeping in every morning. I have less and less energy every day. I have to admit that I would be miserable if I were trying to go in to work at this point. I have big plans of going to the library and the fabric store over the next day or so. We will see if I actually make it there.

The end is in sight!

Today's Conversation

Me: I have a $10 off coupon for a bra from Vicky's Rumor (Greg's name for Victoria's Secret)

Greg: Do they make your size?


We are still waiting - no progress to report.

Due Date

Today is the official due date. Unfortunately, there is nothing to report. This little girl is in no hurry to come out. I went to the doctor yesterday. She said that there was really no need to do an internal check as I have not had any contractions - not ANY! She also said that I was actually only measuring at about 38 weeks (as opposed to 40 weeks). I guess that this explains the utter lack of progress. She scheduled an ultrasound for next Tuesday to check the size of the baby and the condition of the placenta. I have a feeling that I will be able to keep this appointment.

Greg has been having conversations with Miss. Siena all day in an attempt to coax her out. I think that the waiting is actually harder on him than myself.

Below is a list of the things that I want to be able to remember about being pregnant:

- Nausea only lasted through the first trimester and was at it's worst in the mornings
- Green foods (especially spinach) were on my bad touch list during the 1st trimester
- There are foods that I could eat during the 1 trimester that I could not eat during the 2nd and 3rd - dried mango, wheat crackers with cheese, ginger ale
- I developed quite the sweet tooth throughout the entire pregnancy - cookies, ice cream, cake, pie, and muffins - it does not matter, I love it all
- I was able to wear my regular jeans (although with a belly band) until 20 weeks
- I was down to only one pair of pants (stretchy ones) that fit at 40 weeks - this includes maternity pants - I'm pretty much limited to skirts and dresses at this point
- I was really tired in the 1st tri, had alot of energy in the 2nd tri, and was back to being tired at around 36-37 weeks.
- I continued to work and go my swim class right up until the due date (maybe even beyond).
- My fingers tend to swell up at night and then the swelling gradually decrease as the day goes by.
- Some foods that I loved before getting pregnant do not taste as good while pregnant (example: the Volcano Roll at Ichiban)
- I have only felt kicks on my right side for the past 4-5 weeks
- I have to get up to pee an average of 4 times during the night (between 10 pm and 6 am).
- I read everything I could about pregnancy for the first 20 weeks, then stopped reading about it entirely (burned out, I guess)
- I have needed to shower twice a day in the 3rd trimester
- My sinuses get very stuffy in the mornings
- Heartburn is no longer felt near my heart when pregnant - it is at the top of my belly
- I got my first stretch mark at 39 weeks (and still only have the one) - I am not sure if this is due to the Palmer's lotion recommended by Greg's boat mechanic or not, but I use the stuff religiously twice a day
- I only feel kicks and bumps if my stomach is covered - if I lift my shirt up, all movement stops
- Siena gets hiccups regularly (at least every other day) and they are spaced very close together. They usually come when I am at my desk after lunch or on the couch after dinner.

I want to say a special thank you to Kathy and my dad for the beautiful flowers that I got at work last week and to my cousin, Susan, for the bouncy seat that we got in the mail yesterday!

Swollen Foot

I don't know if you can tell from this picture, but I had my right foot (left one in the photo) swelled up yesterday. I don't know when it actually happened as I can rarely see my feet these days. I first noticed it at about 4:00 in the afternoon and it is still swollen as I write this. Just a little weird. It must be a pinched nerve.

No Progress

We went in to see the doctor yesterday for our weekly visit. She checked and I am all sealed up. I know that this can change very quickly, but I have a feeling that it is still going to be a little while before we have any progress. We went ahead and made the 41 week appointment while we there.

The worst part is the not knowing....

The good news is that I was able to keep my part of the bargain - I did not go into labor during the UF-Tenn football game. However, watching the game almost sent me in that direction. At least we won.

I have had a bit more energy this week, which is making the waiting more bearable. The swelling is still there, but I am handling it better. Greg has been a dream with cooking dinner and cleaning the dishes afterward. I am a lucky girl! I will admit to slacking off on our evening walks. My tennis shoes no longer fit on my feet. I am still going to water aerobics, though.

In other news, we have an interview with a potential childcare lady tomorrow. She keeps 4 or 5 children in her home and has an opening in mid-February or early March. She was recommended through one of my water aerobics connections. Hopefully this will work out because I am getting a little nervous about what we will do to get me back to work full time (or close to it).

38 Weeks

I have now hit 38 weeks. My due date is technically two weeks from yesterday. No progress so far. Greg asked the other day if I had any signs that it is coming so that he can be prepared. I told him that every night before bed, I feel like I am in labor and then the next day - nothing. I think that I just get tired at the end of the day. I did not even have any Braxton Hicks contractions yesterday. I did, however, have some increase in the swelling in my feet. I feel so sorry for my shoes! Speaking of shoes, I am down to two pairs of flip flops that I will wear. I just rotate between them.

Although I feel pretty huge in the mid-section, I have seen other women at the doctor's office that are scary huge. I am perfectly happy with my current size (I mean, considering my being 38 weeks pregnant - I would PREFER to be a size 4 with a much smaller rear end!). I can still drive, bend down to pick up Mable's food and water bowls, and do some light weeding in the yard. I just have the added advantage of now being able to balance a plate on my belly when eating.

In other news, we purchased a new (to us) deep freezer from Craigslist yesterday. Our house came with a brand new fridge, but it had a freezer that was about half the size of our old one. We have had to be very careful about how many frozen food items we purchase at a time (my current ice cream addiction has been challenging). We know that we are going to want to make of our own baby food in the future that it will need to be frozen, so we decided to expand. The best part is that the freezer fits perfectly in our pantry! I plan to make some lasagna this weekend to freeze for later consumption. Exciting, I know.

Along these same lines, my awesome husband gave me an early birthday/Christmas present last Friday. I had asked for a new, slimer tv for the kitchen that could be hung on the wall. He decided to give it to me early because it was more of a suprise - which it definitely was. I was home for about 4 hours (with multiple trips into the kitchen) before I noticed it. I will now have my fancy new tv to watch while I make lasagna!

Nursery

I feel like the nursery is pretty much ready at this point. I still have one or two decoration items that I am working on, but everything else is set.

We went to several furniture stores over Labor Day weekend thinking that they would have some sales on rocker/recliners - no such luck. However, we did find one that we liked for a very reasonable price. We decided to forgo the cute-sy gliders that cost around $800 and come in fancy fabric for a leather chair that we will move out into the living room once we do not need it for the baby. It just made sense to us. My grandmother (Grandma) made the top Afghan draped over the chair and the bottom Afghan is one we received at the baby shower from my dad and Kathy's church. They match perfectly!

The crib is from Babies R Us (with a Walmart matress) and the rest of the furniture we purchased from Craigslist. Greg did an amazing job sanding and re-painting all of the Craigslist furniture. My only contribution was to paint the knobs and pulls (after he primed them). I also painted the letters over the crib and sewed together the curtains. I think that it is pretty obvious that this will be a girl's room. There is a little pink in there.

The artwork on the wall above the tiny pink chair is from my mom - it is a Virginia artist that does children's artwork. Very cute and colorful. I could not get any good pictures of it - darn flash.

As you can see from the last picture, this little girl has alot of clothes! Both dressers are full as well.

By the way, please don't think that the diapers shown in the corner are all that I have. I ran out of room stacking them in the top of the closet. Those are just the overflow.

Baby Shower

This post is long overdue. I have been busy trying to get everything in order for the big arrival.

We went up to Columbia the weekend of Aug. 28 through 30 for our baby shower. It was absolutely perfect! Kathy and Susan Caskey planned and organized the shower. It was held at the Caskey's house on Saturday afternoon. They did such a wonderful job. The food (what I seem to focus on lately) was delicious. Kathy ordered some adorable petifores from a local bakery (Tiffanys) that had little baby booties on top. Of course, we also had Susan's yummy sausage balls - which my dad immediately claimed the leftovers of when we returned home.

I REALLY wish that I had had more energy that day and had taken pictures of the food and decorations. Between the traveling, excitement, and swelling, I mostly stayed on the couch during the shower.

The guests included ladies from the church I attended growing up, family friends, my dear friend Robyn and her mother, Kathy's mom, Susan's daughter Beth, my grandmother and a cousin from my mother's family. I was so happy to have so many special people there.

We received alot of wonderful gifts. Pictured below are a ducky bathrobe (part of a whole cute-as-can-be ducky set) from the Caskeys, a stuffed lamb from Nancy, Kris, and Lee Hartley, and some nail clippers (part of the baby survival bag) from Lucy and Lilly Kelly.

We received so many other wonderful gifts - some highlights include our travel system (Kathy and dad), our play yard (Mimi), a bumbo seat and tray (Robyn and Aunt Lorretta), lots of baby girl dresses and outfits (pink and otherwise), books (June), diapers, a ceramic "Does this diaper make my butt look big" baby sign (Mitzie and Kathy Robinson), a car seat insert (Lucy), a carseat mat and mirror (Kathy and data), an "S" hairbow in navy and white (Robyn), and an Afghan (Windsor prayer shawl ministry).

Everything has now been put away. The nursery is complete except for the bookshelves. Greg has finished painting them - he just needs to move them into the room. I will post some pictures when they are moved. I find myself just going in there and sitting. I am sure that I will spend even more time in there in the coming months.

We went for a doctor's appointment yesterday - I am going weekly now. For the first time I actually lost weight between appointments. Everything is still measuring on target. I am officially "full term" now. What this means is that the baby is now considered fully developed and would be fine in the outside world. My due date is still 3 weeks away, though. That just gives her more time to grow - although I know that she is running out of room in there. I have been having an increase in Braxton Hicks contractions, but nothing to worry about. I think that she is going to sit tight for a couple more weeks. We will just have to wait and see.

My "nesting" has been in full swing the last two weekends. I have been sewing and organizing up a storm. My nursing cover is completed and I am in the middle of making burp cloths. I need to stop looking at the Etsy website and getting more ideas!

Happy Birthday Katie

Today is also a special day for another reason - Katie's Birthday!!

My little sister is growing up so fast! Today she turns 12 and this past Monday she started 6th grade (middle school!). It seems like just yesterday that I was giving her baths and helping her hunt Easter eggs . Now she enjoys clothes shopping and listening to mom's ipod.

I wish that I could be in Virginia to help celebrate. Katie, I hope that you have a special birthday (maybe some birthday brownies!). Don't go too crazy - it is a school night! I love you and miss you bunches. You are still my special girl. MMMM Mah (that is a virtual kiss).

Happy Birthday Greg

Today is a very special day (even though he refuses to acknowledge it) - Greg's Birthday.

Happy birthday to you, sweetie. I know that I could never come up with the right words to express how important and special you are to me. I love you more than anything and treasure each day that we have together. I look forward to our bond becoming even stronger (if that is possible) as we expand our family.

(Isn't he a good looking man!)

Surprise!

The wonderful people that we work with arranged for us to have a surprise baby shower last Thursday (August 20). Greg was actually in on it, so it was only a surprise for me. He was just being dramatic for the camera (such a ham!). One of the engineers in our office, Laure, hosted the shower at her house. The turn-out was fantastic!

As you can see, we had alot of yummy food. Since Greg loves coconut, but I am not a fan, we had both coconut and chocolate-cream cheese cupcakes.

Although we did not play any shower games (which I am perfectly fine with), everyone got to guess the date of arrival for our little one. The dates ranged from September 15 (Greg's guess) to October 14. I am hoping for somewhere in the middle. Greg just does not want the delivery to coincide with the UF-Tenn game or anything fantasy football related. He would prefer a Wednesday delivery - ha! I will see what I can do. The guys from the FFB league all guessed their date based on when they are matched up against Greg.

People from the office went in together to buy us the William Sonoma Beaba Babycook, which is a steamer, blender, warmer, and defroster for preparing baby food. This will come in very handy for us in the future. A few people got us something extra - we received two swaddling blankets, a ring toy, and a teddy bear. We are lucky to work with such a great bunch of people!

I will post 34 week belly picture and pictures from the Columbia shower (August 22) in a separate post. I still need to download them from my camera!

Update

This is just a quick post to share pictures of some adorable outfits my mom purchased for Ms. Siena when she visited Gainesville several weeks ago. The pink outfit on the left is what we are planning to have her wear when she comes home from the hospital - it will be football season, after all!

I also wanted to post a picture of the chair that I picked up at TJ Maxx last weekend. It was too adorable to pass up. Mable is in the picture for scale. It even rocks back and forth.

We finished our childbirth classes this weekend. Our instructor was a midwife whom I expected be named something like Moonbeam. Her name was actually Abigail, but I am pretty sure that she was part of a commune at some point in time. She gave the class a slant towards natural childbirth - shocker, right? - which I actually enjoyed. Greg and I are planning to go the all-natu-rall route for as much of the labor as I can (hopefully all of it). We realize that every delivery is different and that things may happen out of our control, so we are prepared with alot of knowledge. We are just HOPING to avoid using any drug intervention. I also look at it this way - she is fairly small so far, I have wide birthing-style hips, I am fairly athletic, and I have an awesome birth partner (Greg) - these things are working in my favor towards a natural childbirth. I guess we will find out how it turns out in several weeks.

32 Weeks Plus Some

Here is the photo that was taken last Thursday at the 32 week mark. I am definitely getting rounder and more uncomfortable. Due to my increased weight, I am making more pronounced foot impressions in my flip flops. This makes them somewhat uncomfortable. But if this is all I am complaining about, I am doing pretty darn good.

Below are some pictures from my mom, Mimi, and Katie's visit a couple weeks ago. The first shows some of the goodies that my mom and Mimi purchased for Miss. Siena. She is going to be a well-dressed little girl! I will post a picture later of the ADDITIONAL clothes that my mom got for her. The second picture is of Operation Wash, Sort, and Put Away for our collection of little girl clothes. It took four loads of laundry and hours of folding and sorting. I was thankful for the help.

We had our Newborn Care class last night. I think that we were both surprised that we actually learned quite a few things and were glad that we took it. Greg is now a champ at swaddling. The diaper changing may take some more practice. I actually heard him today giving advice to a co-worker (who has 2 kids) on how to soothe a crying baby. That gave me quite the chuckle! We have tonight off and then we go to the Breastfeeding class on Wednesday. Greg thinks that he will be less involved in this class and has questioned his need to go. I told him that he could skip it if he wanted to, but I did not mean it.

32 Weeks

I will have to add my 32 weeks picture later. It is still on my camera, which is in the car. What can I say - I am too lazy to go outside right now and get it.

I did want to post some pictures from our ultrasound today:

The first two pictures are of the face and head. The last picture is of her little foot. It blows my mind how big she has gotten in the 12 weeks since the last time we went for an ultrasound. She weighs 4 lb 5 oz now and measures exactly in the 50th percentile in every category. Exactly perfect. Her head is already down and the placenta is not blocking her exit. The nurse said that she even has hair! She was very active during the ultrasound - moving all over the place.

Greg has already given her (my belly) lecture about braces because he spotted her sucking her thumb briefly. There was even a bribe involved - something about a longer chain attached to the radiator.

Greg also insisted that the nurse check once more to make sure that she is indeed a she. She is.

I will sleep much better tonight knowing that the baby is growing perfectly and snug inside of me.

Beach Trip

We returned on Monday from a trip to Surfside Beach, SC. My grandmother, Mimi, has had a beach house there since I was about 6 years old. We were there with Mimi, my mom, Katie, and David. The trip was filled with bike rides, sunbathing on the beach, bowling, put put, and alot of good food. I think the highlight of our vacation was taking Katie to the pier for some fishing. There was a group of crusty old fisherman with an 11-year-old Katie mixed in. She hung in there with them, though, and managed to catch a whiting (the first video) right away. She was then determined to catch a shark. After 2 hours of patiently waiting, she was able to reel in her shark (the second video). Congratulations Katie!

A recent conversation

Greg: Jerry said that he might be able to get us tickets to the Tennessee game.

Me: Ok, when is the game?

Greg: Near the end of September. (It is Sept. 19)

Me: Do you honestly think that I am going to go to a football game at almost 10 months pregnant - in FLORIDA!

Greg: Maybe just I will go to the game.

Me: Maybe.

30 Weeks

I am 3/4 of the way through and still smiling! Although, I have to admit that there are definitely uncomfortable moments every single day. Bending over without a struggle is a thing of the past. Getting out the car takes a little longer than it used to. Those little kicks and jabs that I have loved so much all along are starting to be a bit painful at times (especially when they are to the ribs or bladder). Enough complaining, though! I am healthy, the baby is healthy - so I am VERY happy.

We had a great appointment yesterday with a different doctor in the practice (my doctor is out with surgery, but recovering nicely). Greg and I both really liked the new doctor and may consider switching to her. She was very personable and spent much longer with us than my doctor ever has. Don't get me wrong, my doctor is very competent and has alot of experience, but her bedside manor is a little stiff. We just felt more comfortable with this doctor. I am seeing her again for my next appointment.

Now for the best part - I have to give Greg total credit for this one - When the doctor asked if we had any more concerns (because I had already gone over several), Greg told her that I have been worried that my stomach is not getting large enough. At first I was embarrassed, but the end result was worth it. She said that I measured right at 29 to 30 weeks, but that she could put 29 on the chart and order another ultrasound at our next appointment in 2 weeks (wink, wink) if I am concerned about the baby's size. You see, my insurance technically only covered the one ultrasound that I had at around 20 weeks. But, if there is a medical concern, the doctor can order additional ones that will also be covered. SCORE! My doctor would NEVER have done this. Do you see why I REALLY like this new doctor?

In other news, Greg has finished painting all but one piece of furniture for the baby's room (the hutch over the desk). My mom, grandmother (Mimi), and sister are coming to visit this weekend and I plan to put them to work. Katie can help Greg move furniture around the room to find the best place for it and help me put the crib together. Mimi can help fold laundry after I wash the mountain of clothes that Robyn gave me. My mom can help give decorating advice. It will be nice to have the help. We are all headed to the beach next week for a little vacation - the last one before you-know-what.

Oh, the pink

When I first started looking at baby decorations, my plan was to do the room in green and chocolate brown. My thinking was that IF we have a second child, we could use the bedding again. My plans changed when I ended up getting the adorable "Zoo Baby" bedding. The colors in the bedding and decorations are light and dark bluish gray. Green and brown would not really work with these colors. I also decided that the room would need a little something to make it more girly given the colors of the bedding. Therefore, I decided to paint the walls blush and bashful (pink and pink) - much to Greg's dismay. He was REALLY not too thrilled at this idea. I think that he was ok with the idea of having a girl, but had not fully come around to it. Green and brown just seemed easier for him to deal with - they did not scream GIRL! They eased him in.

Something changed when Greg started painting those walls. It is like the pink seeped into his system and took over. He suddenly wanted to make the room as "little girly" as possible. I almost fell on the floor when he suggested that we get new switch plate covers that had rainbows or flowers on them. He even picked out a fan at Lowe's that was pink, green, and yellow with flowers and butterflys on it for the room. That's right, macho Greg was wheeling a cart around Lowe's with this giant pink box in it:

This little girl is having quite the effect on her daddy and she is not even here yet. Oh boy! The funny thing is that I don't think he even realized what is happening (he will now, after reading this post!). He still thinks that he is going to be the disciplinarian, i.e. the "mean" parent. I have a feeling that this little girl is going to look up at Greg with giant eyes and he is going to melt. We will just have to wait and see what happens!

In other news - we have somewhat decided on a name. We reserve the right to change this name, so nothing is written in stone (or on a birth certificate) yet. As of right now, we are going with Siena Lynn(e) - we have not decided on the spelling of the middle name yet. My mother's name is Lynne and Greg's mother's middle name is Lynn. Siena is the name of a city that we spent some time in (and fell in love with) when we were in Italy. We think that it is a beautiful city and would make a beautiful name! Siena is home to the famous (in Italy) Palio di Siena (Il Palio) horse race. Horses with riders representing each of the 17 neighborhoods in Siena compete in a race that lasts approximately 1.5 minutes through the streets of the city. The race occurs twice a year - July 2 and August 16. Hopefully we will go someday!

28 Weeks

An update is long overdue. My apologies. I have been quite busy at work with actually doing, well, work. It has really been cutting into my blogging time. We were also out of town for the 4th of July weekend (I will save that for another post).

I have reached the 7 month mark. Only 3 more months to go and we have so much to accomplish still. Greg is going to paint the nursery this weekend and I will (hopefully) start sanding some more of the furniture. It is fantasy football draft selection weekend, so that is going to cut into our work time on Saturday. Sunday should be more productive. We have decided not to have the carpet replaced in the nursery and to have it professionally cleaned instead. We took a look at it last night and decided that it is actually in pretty good condition.

I passed the 1 hour glucose test from a few weeks back. Health-wise everything seems to be going nicely. I know that I am continuing to gain weight, but I am making a genuine effort to keep it under control. Hopefully, last month was the worst it will be.

I feel the baby kick and turn frequently. She seems to be the most active at night. Every kick is makes me feel more confidant that she is snug and safe in there. I started taking a "Mothers In Motion" water aerobics class this week. I am surprised that it is actually a pretty good workout (although I do still go and walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes beforehand). I have enjoyed meeting other women that will be having babies around the same time that I will. My favorite part of the class is the end when we lean against the wall for relaxation time. After 1 to 2 minutes, I feel the baby start to move around inside.

My good friend, Robyn, came for a visit several weekends ago. We had fun having girl time. She got a (short) break from her hectic life with 2 kids and I got tons of advice - and hand-me-downs!!! Below is a picture of some of the things that Robyn brought for me - an excersaucer (sp?), an activity mat, a bottle sterilizer, and TONS of little girl clothes. These are just the 0 to 6 month clothes. She is going to pass more along as her daughter outgrows them (Josie is only 10-going on-11 months old now). Not pictured are the breast pump and bottle drying rack that she also brought along. These things are going to help out sooo much - THANKS ROBYN!!

I also received a goody bag of clothes from Greg's mom, Karen. Below is a picture of the clothes she sent along. The stack in the background is all sleepers. My favorite is the tiny little jeans jacket - so cute! THANKS YAYA!

During our 4th of July trip, I was able to visit with both of my grandmothers in Greenville. We had a great time going out to lunch and went on a trip to Goodwill afterward. Each of the grandmothers had a bag of gifts waiting for me. Mimi (my maternal grandmother) gave me a handmade night light for the babies room and a special picture frame that she had been saving for some time. We will find some cute to use in the frame - perhaps a baby picture? Grandma (my paternal grandmother) gave me an afgan that she crocheted and another pink blanket for the baby. Both of the blankets will be wonderful additions to the room.

I also made my first baby clothes purchases during the trip. I think that I have shown a great deal of restraint by holding off until now to buy ANY clothes for the baby. I had a coupon for the Gap Outlet that I used for the blue dress (right). Mimi actually paid for the red outfit, but I picked it out myself during out Goodwill trip.

I will try to do another post sooner rather than later. My next doctor's appointment is not until July 23rd. I am meeting with another doctor in the practice as my doctor will be out due to surgery. This is a good thing because I have doubts that my doctor will actually be the one in the delivery room with us (due to her health problems). This way I get to meet more of the doctors in the practice.

26 Weeks

I have reached the 6 1/2 month mark. Only 3 1/2 months to go. It is a little scary, but exciting at the same time. I am torn between wanting to have the baby out so I can finally meet her and enjoying the last few months of it just being Greg, Mable, and I. We will soon be a family of 3 (4, really).

I am pretty sure that the baby had hiccups the other day. My belly would shake a little at fairly regular intervals for about 3 or 4 minutes. It felt different than the kicks that I have become used to (and actually love because they are reassuring!). I have not noticed any feet or hands sticking out, but I can tell when my belly changes shape as the baby re-adjusts.

I realize that there are positives and negatives to my long torso and relatively small baby bump.
Positive - nobody and looks at me and says "You are about to pop any day now" - to which I would have to respond "No, I have 3.5 more months."
Negative - I do not look like I am pregnant. Rather, I look like I have a good sized beer belly going.
2nd Positive - I am not huge and uncomfortable.
I am trying to enjoy things as they are.

In other news, Greg and I finished the new artwork for our living room. We got the pictures hung last night and I think that they make such a difference. We no longer have a huge, blank wall on one side of the living room. The wall is so tall that we would have to rent scaffolding to paint it, so we opted for an alternative way to bring color in. Not too bad for two people who have ZERO artistic skill. I love the little sail boat that Greg added!

Update

I have finally gotten the chance to lay out the gifts I received at the lakehouse baby shower for pictures. I love all of it!!


Greg began his major project of painting the furniture for the baby's room this weekend. It was the hottest weekend of the year and he was out in the garage, drenched in sweat, painting away. The fist dresser has been completed and moved back inside. It looks really good and the paint seems to match the crib perfectly. I am very lucky to be married to a skilled painter. I try to hurry through it too much and make a mess of everything. Two more pieces to go! Then we will need to start on preparing the actual room to put it all in.



My doctor's appointment last Tuesday went well. The baby appears to be right on schedule. I was reprimanded about my weight gain over the last month. It seems that I have now gained almost all of the weight that they wanted me to for the ENTIRE pregnancy. I had really hoped to stay within the 25 to 30 pound range, but it looks like I might surpass that. Awesome. I am trying very hard to cut back on the sweets that have become a staple in my diet. Gone are the ice cream desserts after dinner. Sadness.

I have an appointment on Friday for my 1 hour Glucose Tolerance Test. The results will indicate whether I have developed gestational diabetes. I guess that this is as good of a time as any to cut back on the sweets. I am expecting (hoping) to pass, but you never know.

I will end with a picture of a sweet bunny sent to me by my mom. I was a bunny girl growing up, so it is very appropriate that my little girl with also have a bunny.

Suprise Shower

I had a wonderful weekend with my friends at Lake Burton in North Georgia. A great big THANK YOU to the Smith's for letting us enjoy their house and all the amenities. The only downside of the weekend was that Lauren had to deal with a myriad of canceled and delayed flights and did not arrive at the lake until Friday night (approximately 15 hours later than planned).

My amazing friends surprised me on Saturday with a baby shower. Brooke, Lauren, Melissa, and Jennifer - you guys rock! I want to especially thank Brooke because she did almost all of the preparations - including the decorations, favors, and food. Everything was so darn cute! and tasty!

I noticed that Brooke was preparing some food that was a bit fancier than what we had purchased at the store, but I assumed she was just making us a nicer lunch. When I came up to the house to use the bathroom (one of many times), everything was decorated in pink! We sat down in our bathing suits to a yummy lunch of crabby toast, shrimp salad on baguettes, asparagus wrapped in prosciutto, veggies and dip, and sausage balls. For dessert, we had our choice of white chocolate and raspberry or strawberry cupcakes (I had a little of each). Brooke made the table decorations by rolling up baby socks and attaching them to pipe cleaners to form flowers. They were adorable.



I received the sweetest gifts from all the girls! I will post a picture of all of them together soon. (Lauren, if you are reading this - your gift was waiting for me when I got back to Gainesville - Thanks!) Here are a few shots of me opening gifts - lots of bathtime accessories!



I have a short video of the decorations and some of the preparations before we sat down to lunch.