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 :)

  

Monday, December 26, 2011

Christmas 2011

This was the first Christmas Chris and I have spent alone.  We usually alternate between our families for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  This year we were supposed to go to Little Rock to be with Chris' family, but my doctor said, "I strongly advise you to not travel from now on."  So, Chris and I had our last Christmas where it was just the two of us.  Although we did miss seeing our families, we really have enjoyed spending this time together.  We also got everything finished with the nursery which is a HUGE weight off my shoulders!

Here are our first two babies just chillin'

I mean really....how cute are they? 

Awww....SO CUTE!!!! 

Christmas morning, Otis got a new bone! 

He has such a baby-face in this pic! 

There's Mr. Fatty! 

Daisy got a new rope toy since she destroyed her other one.  She LOVED it!! 

My sweet girl! 

Christmas night, we got together with another couple, Andy and Nandini.  Here are the guys just chillaxin' 

Mommy and Daddy to-be :) 

Nandini and Andy.  Aren't they the cutest couple?  They have been such sweet friends to me and Chris.  They are so excited about Pearce's arrival and have said over and over that they will babysit whenever we want....well, o.k.!!!! 

Me, Pearce :) and Nandini 

For dinner, we went to Kobe, a Japanese Steakhouse.  We were so surprised that it was SOOOOO crowded!  We had the best time and best dinner! 

Although we weren't with our true family for Christmas, spending it with Andy and Nandini was the next best thing! 
















Friday, December 23, 2011

34 weeks!!

This pic was taken last night on my way to a surprise birthday party.  Chris was already there, so I just took my own pic....plus it was the first day I actually put on cute clothes AND makeup :) 


Pregnancy Highlights
How Far Along: 34 weeks, 5 days in the pic
Size of baby:  About 5 1/2 pounds and 18 1/2 inches long. 
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. 
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:  Just being able to take it easy and not have a whole lot to do.  We just have a few organizing things to do for the nursery and a few more things to get, but everything is pretty much done. 
What I am looking forward to: Maternity leave in just a couple 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  :)

**Only 15 days until full term and 36 days until due date...SO CRAZY!!!**

Friday, December 16, 2011

Class Baby Shower

My class had a small baby shower for me this afternoon!  It was so fun and and kids LOVED it! 

One of my moms made the diaper cake.  It was so cute! 

How awesome are these cupcakes?  Chris will be so proud that the moms knew we are Razorbacks!  Actually, it was one of my little girls that told her mom to make Razorback cupcakes.  Good girl, Avery! 

Look at this cute banner! 

Seeing his name makes me smile :) 

Here's one of the moms that helped put it all together.  Just FYI...I don't usually wear sweat pants and a t-shirt to school, but today was our school-wide pajama/comfy clothes day :) 

My sweet kids 





Present time!  I had 5 gifts, so each table group got to come and give me my gift.  Pearce got this fun toy where you move the beads all around wire loops.  Obviously he won't be able to play with it for a while, but I know he will love it as he gets older because all my kids wanted to do was play with this toy! 

Here's another group 

Pearce got a cute pair of jeans and a onesie from the Gap! 




LOVED these cute socks!  The moms said these are the best socks because they actually stay on the baby's feet...and they look like sneakers! 

I got a really neat scrapbook that has all kinds of neat stickers and labels...I've never done a scrapbook before, but I think this "kit" will make it easy to make a really cute book! 


The last present was a daddy diaper bag!  How sweet of the parents to think about Chris.  It's a really nice looking diaper bag.  I can't wait to show Chris! 

My sweet class.  I really lucked out with getting such a sweet group of kids this year!! 

Here are the two moms that put the shower together.  Sherrie and her son, Grant and Ashley and her daughter, Avery.  Such sweet moms and kids!! 

I have exactly 25 minutes until Christmas Break starts and I cannot wait!  This is probably going to be my drink of choice during the break :)