RALEIGH SHOWER

These are the ladies who attended my shower and of course sweetie dog was there!

Baby girl got so many cute clothes. I can't wait to see her in them.

The cake was so cute and yummy!!!

Mom and I at my photo shoot.

My belly at 32 weeks. I just love having a big belly, well except for whenI try to shave, put lotion on my legs or tie my tennis shoes.

April 25th - 27th - I went home for the last time pre-baby. My Mom met me in the airport and as soon as she saw me she started crying. She couldn't believe how pregnant I was. On Saturday she gave me a shower with some of her good friends that I have known for a long time. We had such a good time and it was so good to see these women again, plus we had cake, which is a must for my Mom and me. My friend Terria was unable to make it to the shower so she came over that evening and brought her son Nkosi, who is 11 months old. I had not seen Terria since my bridal shower 4 years ago and this was the first time I got to meet her son. He is so cute!! We had a great time catching up and I really think Nkosi and Richard hit it off. On Sunday I had a photo shoot with my expanding belly. Thanks Richard!!

ITS OFFICIAL

April 21st - 63 days left to go and I can't see my feet. I was in the shower over the weekend and as I looked down I could not see my feet. I immediately yelled for David and told him the news. He laughed. I was shocked. I thought all those stories of women not seeing their feet was a wives tale or just lies. Well they aren’t because I sure can't see my feet and I'm almost to the point where I can't put lotion on my legs because I can't bend over my growing belly (pictures to follow soon). I informed David he would need to start shaving my legs and putting lotion on them since I couldn't reach. He just looked at me like I was crazy. I mean I can't deliver this baby with hairy and rough legs now can I?

BACK TO SCHOOL

April 16th - Today David and I went back to school. I swore I'd never go back to school after I graduated from Grad school but life has a funny way of allowing you to do things you thought you wouldn't. Today was our first day of birthing class. Before class we went by the nursery to see the babies. We saw a set of twins getting their first bath while the Father watched and took pictures. I almost lost it just thinking about David standing in that room watching his little girl's first bath.

Our class is one night a week for six weeks and then we have a graduation ceremony. I sure hope we pass. When I went to class I always sat in the front row because I felt you could pay more attention in the front row and everyone knows people who sit in the front row make A's. So when we arrived at class I wanted to sit in the front or second row but David was not interested in that so we ended up sitting in the back couple of rows, along with the rest of the class. Our class is small, only about 12 couples.

We learned some anatomy, breathing techniques, how to time contractions and how to pack a relaxation bag. What is a relaxation bag you ask....well it is a bag full of things to make one comfortable during labor, such as massage lotion, a soothing CD, etc. I could not help but wonder if those things really work. Like David is going to get out the massage lotion and start working my shoulders and I'm going to forget all the pains of labor. Somehow I don't see that working but what do I know, this is all new to me. We do have a homework assignment, which is to pack our own relaxation bag and bring it to class on the 3rd night. I didn’t think we would have homework in birthing class.

30 WEEKS

April 14th - Only 70 more days until our little girl arrives!! Our doctor’s visit today was the same as always except we are now going every two weeks. David and I have been very busy over the last couple of weeks. We picked our pediatrician and daycare, which were both very important and stressful ordeals. I absolutely love the pediatrician, who came highly recommended by a lady I work with. Just today we picked out her bedding and can now start looking at paint. Her crib is ready to be picked up and we are just waiting on the other two pieces to arrive. I am in total nesting mode. I have a long "to do" list and half of it includes cleaning and getting things ready for her arrival. I know David thinks I'm crazy, but I want everything ready and in its place when she gets home. I don't know if that is OCD or just a new Mom nesting, I like to think it is the latter.


David is getting so excited he can hardly stand it. I'm excited as well, but a little (ok more than a little) nervious. We start our birthing classes on the 16th and I'm really excited about that. I don't know why I'm so excited to learn how to give birth, maybe I'm hoping it will extinguish some of my fears.

OUR BABYMOON

April 5th & 6th - David and I went to Land Between the Lakes (LBTL) for our babymoon; our last trip before our bundle of joy arrives. I don't understand the whole babymoon term. A honeymoon comes after the wedding but a babymoon comes before the baby. Oh well, that did not stop us from having one. We left Saturday morning from the Big Grandparents and drove an hour to Kentucky. It was a great day for a drive and the drive was really pretty. Our first stop was the visitor’s center where we learned all about the creation of LBTL. Our second stop was the Elk & Bison Prairie. We drove around looking for Elk & Bison. We saw dozens of Elk and 3 Bison up close and personal. We then headed down the trace to the Homeplace, an old village. It was really neat to see how the settlers lived. I don't think I could live without central heat or air, but that is just me. After the Homeplace we drove up the rest of the trace looking for a place to spend the night. We found a hotel in Kuttawa, KY and just spent the evening relaxing, eating and watching the NCAA tourney.

On Sunday, we tried to go hiking on a short trail. After spending 15 minutes trying to find the trail we saw the hill you had to go up and decided against it, there was no way baby and I could make it up that hill. We went down the street and visited the Castle on the Cumberland, which is the KY State Penitentiary which houses only death row inmates. It is one scary looking place; I hope never to visit it. We ended our trip with a visit to Patti's settlement, a settlement of animals, miniature golf and great desserts. All in all we had a great time even though we couldn't do too much since I could not venture to far from a bathroom. It was a relaxing weekend and it was nice to be away and just spend time with each other before the fun chaos begins.

28 WEEKS

March 31st - We now have 84 days to go. David decided he wanted to start counting down days instead of months or weeks. I really like this idea because 84 is a larger number than 3 (months) so I feel like I have more time to get ready. Today we had another OB appointment in which I had my gestational diabetes test (I should have the results this week). Everything is on track, I am measuring 28cm and my weight gain is good. David and I had a "deer in the headlights" moment at this appointment. Today the doctor told us our next appointment is in 2 weeks. We have now graduated from once a month to twice a month. I guess the whole pregnancy doesn't seem real even though we can feel her and are getting things ready for her arrival. I think we both think she will never get here but knowing we go to the doctor twice a month means we are getting close. I think we both are freaking out just a little :) We're really excited but quite nervous.

David returned to work today. I think he was ready to go back and see his friends. His physical therapy is going great and he is 75% to getting his full strength and range of motion back. He is now ready to paint baby girl's room, even though I think he was hoping to get out of it :)

WE'RE GETTING BIGGER

March 29th - I have really started to "pop" out recently. My belly is starting to get heavy. I find that when I get up I have to hold my belly for support. I just can't tell you how much I enjoy being pregnant, well except for buying maternity clothes, I love to feel her kick and move inside me. I love to talk to her as if I am holding her in my arms. I love when David talks to her and tries to feel her move or kick. I can't wait to meet her but I sure am going to miss being pregnant.

Notice the new haircut? My hair has been growing like crazy so I decided to go shorter so hopefully I only need one more haircut before her arrival.