Saturday, January 7, 2012

My weekend with Ash and Baby Charlotte


This weekend was Cotton Bowl weekend, so Chris went to Dallas to hang with the guys on Thursday night.  Ash and Charlotte came to Austin to hang with me.  They stayed Thursday through Sunday and we had the best time!  My kids were so excited to see Ashley walk into the classroom on Friday!    


The kids LOVED Charlotte.  They wanted to play with her and love on her.  Here she is playing with two of my sweet little girls


Apparently, Charlotte thought my room needed a little cleaning.

Ash read a book to my kids.  She used to teach 2nd grade.  She definitely has not lost her touch.

Charlotte enjoyed listening to the story too :)



Friday night we came home to cheer on the Hogs!!  Before the game started, I asked Charlotte if she would like me to paint her nails.  What do you think her answer was?

We got busy getting beautiful.  She was so still.



In the middle of me painting her nails, she just leaned over and gave me a kiss!  What a sweet girl!!!

Are these not the cutest little feet ever?  Thank goodness the Hogs won!!  That game (actually just about every Razorback game) nearly gave me a heart attack!  We did great though, and I was so happy all of the guys were at the game and left in good moods!!!

Saturday morning, we got up and got dressed and headed out to do some shopping.  Ash and Charlotte looked so cute, so we had a little photo shoot.  I think Charlotte's hair looks so cute in doggie ears!
 

Pretty girl!

What a doll!!




We spent so much time doing our photo shoot, that by the time we got in the car to leave we were hungry and headed to the Cheesecake Factory for lunch!  I just can't get enough of this little cutie!!

We did some shopping and then came home to do some more little chores around the house and just hang out.  Ash helped me install the car seat (what?!), she helped me figure out the baby monitor (OMG!), we looked at baby announcements (for real???), and picked out songs for the slideshow my librarian/photographer will use when she does Pearce's newborn photos (WOW).  I just can't believe we are so close now!!  I remember at the beginning of my pregnancy, I had many fears, but one main fear was going into pre-term labor.  I am SO incredibly thankful that I've now made it to 37 weeks.  Although we have a c-section scheduled for the 25th, Pearce can safely come any time between now and then.  I just can't believe my dreams will come true any day now.  ANY DAY NOW!!!!!  


Friday, January 6, 2012

36 weeks!!

Oh my goodness.  I just cannot believe I am reaching the end of this pregnancy!!!  Only 19 days until my c-section on the 25th!!!  Two nights ago, Chris and I were talking about it.  He said he is just so excited and that he doesn't get excited about many things.  Hearing him talk about about our baby immediately brought tears to my eyes...surprise, surprise :)  The more he talked about it, the more teary eyed I got.  I didn't want to ruin the moment by becoming a blubbering idiot, so I started playing with Daisy while discreetly wiping my eyes.  He saw me and asked what was wrong.  I quickly said nothing was wrong..just that I got some lotion in my eyes.  Ha!  I of course am excited for myself and know I will instantly fall in love with my baby, but to see Chris with his baby boy????  It's going to totally melt my heart.  He is going to be the BEST daddy and I just can't wait to experience parenthood with him.  We said we just want to figure things out together...not get stressed out about little things that don't matter.  I just can't wait!!!!!!






Pregnancy Highlights
How Far Along: 36 weeks, 6 days in the pic
Size of baby: He's continuing to gain about an ounce a day.  He's about 6 1/2 pounds and between 18-20 inches.   
Weight gain: Gained 2 more pounds...I weigh about 137 right now.  So far I've gained about 32 pounds...whoa!
Maternity Clothes: Nothing but maternity clothes.
Gender: BOY! Pearce Matthew
Movement: I feel more jabs and pointy parts.  I feel him down really low.  What's weird is to feel him low AND up by my ribs.
Sleep: Sleep has not been good.  I get up almost every hour to go to the bathroom.  I am also so tired during the day.  I can't wait until next Friday when I start maternity leave...at least then I can take little naps.  I'm definitely NOT complaining at all, just wanting to remember this change! 
Symptoms:  LOTS of Braxton Hicks contractions.  I have felt a little bit of pressure down low, but nothing bad.  Achy joints and back.  Swelling isn't too bad anymore since I wear my old lady hose :)  I can tell he's dropped down in the past day, which is crazy! 
Cravings: Lately it's been Whataburger!
What I miss: Nothing!
Best moment this week:  Starting weekly doctor visits!  I went on Wednesday and everything is great.  I got to hear is sweet heart beating and he is head down. 
What I am looking forward to: Getting to 37 weeks and then maternity leave next Friday!!
How's that scar looking? It's gonna be a doozy at the end. It feels really hard...I just don't see how it can stretch more than it has already. But, I don't care!
Belly Button: F-L-A-T :)

**No stretch marks yet!!**

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Nothing but belly pics :)

Here is the progression so far:
7 weeks

8 weeks 

9 weeks 

10 weeks 

11 weeks 

12 weeks 

13 weeks 

14 weeks 

15 weeks 

16 weeks 

17 weeks 

18 weeks 

19 weeks 

20 weeks 

21 weeks 

22 weeks 

23 weeks 

24 weeks

25 weeks

26 weeks 

27 weeks

28 weeks

29 weeks 

30 weeks 

32 weeks

33 weeks 

34 weeks 

35 weeks 

36 week post coming tonight.....I've been so busy!!!


Sunday, January 1, 2012

Goodbye 2011, Hello 2012!!!

Happy New Year!!  Chris was away helping a friend open his restaurant, so I rang in the new year with two fatties :) 
This little girl stayed up with me...

This little boy, did not...

I have a feeling 2012 is going to be the best year yet!!

Thursday, December 29, 2011

35 weeks!

So, I am now 35 weeks, 5 days pregnant.  I just can't believe how fast this last part of pregnancy is going!  I remember when I first started this blog and added the ticker, it was something like "Only 200 days to go!"  Now the ticker says "30 days!!!!"  I am just so thankful that this pregnancy has been pretty uneventful...until last week and this week.  I have had the worse cold with a bad cough and congestion.  I felt like I was getting better, but over the weekend and the first part of this week, my cough got pretty bad and I just could not get any good sleep.  I didn't want to take any medicine, but Chris finally convinced me to call my doctor because in Chris' words, "You sound like a smoker whose been smoking a pack a day for years."  Lovely!  So, I called my doctor and he told me a few over the counter medicines I can take plus he got me an antibiotic just in case.  I am finally starting to feel better!  I'm just glad I've had these past two weeks to rest and take it easy!

Wow...I didn't realize how tired I look in this pic!  At least I did brush my hair and put on some lip gloss!



Pregnancy Highlights
How Far Along: 35 weeks, 4 days in the pic
Size of baby: Over 5 1/2 pounds and 18 1/2 inches long.  He's running out of room because he is now gaining about an ounce a day! 
Weight gain: I weigh about 135 right now.
Maternity Clothes: While on Christmas break, I've been living in my soft, stretchy pants and t-shirts.
Gender: BOY! Pearce Matthew
Movement: Still like stretches and rolls. I still enjoy feeling him get the hiccups.
Sleep: Definitely more restless sleep. I have to get up at least 4-5 times during the night and I find it's harder to go back to sleep.  Having a cold has definitely hurt my sleep...I guess I need to get used to that, though! 
Symptoms: Braxton Hicks contractions, still have an itchy belly, and I have very sore joints when I get up in the morning.
Cravings: Food in general!
What I miss: Nothing!
Best moment this week: Everything is marked off the list as far as the nursery goes!!  We ordered the remaining must-haves from our registry, got the nursery closet organized, and set up the computer in our room AND bassinet in our room. 
What I am looking forward to: Getting to 37 weeks and then maternity leave in a few weeks!!
How's that scar looking? It's gonna be a doozy at the end. It feels really hard...I just don't see how it can stretch more than it has already. But, I don't care!
Belly Button: F-L-A-T :)

Even though I've been sick, Chris and I were still able to finish a few minor projects.  Ashley saved all of Nathan's clothes and about a month or so ago, she and I went through them all and got only the clothes that were in good condition and would work for Pearce's age/season.  Well, I had about 5 trash bags FULL of clothes ranging in size from newborn to 4T!  I've been washing and organizing them and finally finished by putting them in these containers with a label.  There are 6 containers that contain clothes from 12 months-4T PLUS two containers of shoes!  Anything under 12 months, I hung up in the closet or put them away in drawers.  Thank you Auntie Ashley!!!!

Here's the closet when you first open it.  See the containers at the top?

It took FOREVER to wash and organize these clothes, but I am so thankful to have them now!!

Yep, I think Pearce is set for a while!  Plus, since Nathan was Ashley's first, she really spared no expense toward his clothes...Gymboree, GAP, Janie and Jack....ahhh....I'm so lucky!

I am so excited about this!  This is Pearce's little "nest" I bought from Etsy.  I always dreamed of having one of these for newborn pictures, so when I found out I was pregnant, I got on Etsy and ordered one! 

I can just picture him all snuggled and curled up in this.  I can't wait!!

I also ordered this diaper cover and hat from the same lady.  Isn't this so cute!  Again....I always dreamed of having my baby wear something like this for newborn pics. 

This was one of my projects I wanted to do during the break.  It's a blessing ring.  I saved all of the cards people gave with gifts plus the ribbon that came on his gifts.  I punched a hole in the corner of each card and about every 4th card, tied a ribbon.  Such a neat reminder of how loved this little baby already is. 

Here's another one of my projects sitting in the guest room :)  I know it's still a little early, but I had the time and decided why not!  I had fun getting all of the things together that I would need....travel toiletries, two cheap (but actually pretty cute) nightgowns from WalMart, a robe, slippers, comfy coming home outfit for me, and a few other things.  Chris always jokes about how I start packing for a trip WAY ahead of time...well, I guess I can't argue with that :)

And the final project.  Since the nursery took the place of our office, I've been without a computer.  I was able to use Chris' laptop, but that's his work laptop and it was such a pain waiting for him to get off it...or not being able to use  it at all because he was out of town!  We've had this desk and it was just a matter of moving out an old chair and bringing this in and setting everything up.  This desk was my grandmother's, Mama Pearce.  Remember how I wrote about the lamps that are in the nursery?  Well, this was another one of her things that I got.  At the time, I had no idea what we would do with it, but now I am so glad I got it!  It fits perfectly in this corner.  We had hopes of refinishing it, but we just never got around to it.  I actually don't mind the scratches and "wear" that it shows.  I totally remember sitting at this desk at Mama Pearce's and drawing or helping her make a grocery list.  The chair is the same chair she had, too!  It's nothing fancy, but I love it!  Oh, and if you open the center compartment, there's a very old typewriter in there...pretty cool!

Last project...getting this little froggy mounted on the guest bathroom wall for all of the bath toys.  I know Pearce won't need this for a while, but it makes me smile when I go in there :)