Waiting, Waiting, & More Waiting

So, I have had a very interesting last couple of days waiting for baby Luke to come. Brad took our laptop into the shop to get it worked on so I haven't been able to update the ole' blog lately (and I am incredibly bored at home with ghetto TV and no computer).

Last night my contractions were coming really close together. I had been having them all day long (usually I only get them in the evening) and I even woke up almost every hour during the night on Saturday night feeling them (I usually either don't have them at night or they aren't strong enough to wake me).

Vicki, Brad, and I were timing them and they were 9 minutes apart, then 8 minutes, then started getting around 4 or 5 minutes apart so we called in Perez. We had her looking up information for us from her nursing textbooks. I took a shower (because Perskys always go to the hospital clean, lol) and Brad did some nesting (he started shredding a ton of papers). It was quite funny.

We decided to wait a bit before going to the hospital so we stopped at Monument for dinner (I got tortilla soup and a chocolate milkshake, lol...they thought I should have liquids). Then we headed over to the hospital. I wasn't really sure that it was time to go in but the contractions were so close together! My doctor had told me to come in when they were 5 minutes apart for an hour.

They ended up hooking me up to the monitors for an hour to check my progress. The nurse said that I was 2 1/2 cms but was concerned about my blood pressure. When I first went in my diastolic was around 100 (dang!). It continued to go down from there. By the time we left my BP was like 121/82! My contractions were still 2-3 minutes apart but since I didn't dilate anymore (or so nurse Veronica said) they sent me home. It was a good practice run through though.

We tried telling Luke he would have no nightly storytime until he came out but it didn't work! I enjoyed getting to hear the baby move around in there. At one point we were watching the monitor and Luke's heart rate was 150 and then Brad leaned over and started talking to him and it shot up to 180...we enjoyed that :) We were so wishing he would have come last night!

Had my 14th doctor's appointment (my 40 week checkup) this morning. My blood pressure was a little bit high once again (whose blood pressure wouldn't be at this point, though?!)...124/93 I believe...the first number might be off though? I am actually down 2 pounds from last week so I am back to 170 with a grand total weight gain of 40 pounds. My belly measured 37" once again...she thinks he is still getting lower.

The doctor said that I am 3 cms (only 7 cm to go!) and 75% effaced. (And I do not believe that I gained that 1/2 cm overnight). She did an ultrasound and measured him...she thinks he is around 7 pounds and 2 ounces but said that it could be off by as much as 1 pound and 2 ounces. She said the amniotic fluid level is going down in there...it was at a 14 a few weeks ago and now it is at an 8. The placenta is geting some calcifications since it is getting old.

She set an appointment to induce me on Thursday at 6:00 am if he has not come by then. So we will have a little one by Friday at the latest! Crazy!! :)

P.S. Vicki took some more pictures of us yesterday but they are not on my camera so I will have to post them later :) And I have his birth announcement all planned out...just need my laptop to start working on it!! :)

BVOTD: "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:12

YAY! Some Progress!!

I had my 13th doctor's appointment (my 39 week appointment) today. It was a good appointment...good news from the doctor! It was also the 8th anniversary of our first date...hard to believe time flies so fast! It seems like just yesterday in some ways. We went to Macaroni Grill tonight to celebrate. I thought today would be a wonderful day to have Luke but he opted not.

The doctor said my blood pressure was 141/86 which is good since they look at the second number and it is down from last week (91 down to 86). I don't know how my heart rate couldn't be up right now just sitting around waiting to have a baby! Hello, anxiety!

I am up 2 pounds for a grand total of 172 pounds (up from 170...a total of 42 pounds gained in all). My belly measured 37" once again. Luke's heart rate was 150.

The best news of all was that I am now dilated 2 centimeters (only 8 centimeters to go!) and I am 60% effaced (100% effaced is like paper thin). I have been having a lot of contractions but wasn't sure if they were making a difference or not. One night I had them 10 minutes apart for a few hours. I guess what she did last week made a difference!

She wants us to come back on Monday if we haven't had him by then and she will decide if she needs to induce later next week. We shall see if he comes on his actual due date...January 24th. Maybe he will come on his grandparents' anniversary! Mom and dad celebrate their 37th wedding anniversary on the 30th! :) (Not sure if I can wait that long though!)

In other news...I now have carpal tunnel in both of my hands and not just my right hand. Lovely. I don't think I will invest another $17 in a brace for my left hand...am really hoping it goes away after Luke is born! I am having some serious hip pain, too. Kinda rough getting around sometimes. (I think that is the reason why pregnant people waddle!!) Still suffering from heartburn. I woke up in the wee hours of the morning and had to take some Tums because it was so bad. I am extremely swollen and retaining fluid everywhere. Luke is still moving a lot. I am pretty sure he is really happy in there and has no intentions of coming out where it is extremely cold and not welcoming. I know there are a lot of people who getting pretty impatient waiting for him to come out...

I am spending my days watching stinky daytime TV, eating with Bradley, working on Luke's baby album, cleaning the house, getting some extra sleep, baking cookies (I am going to make Neiman Marcus cookies very soon...my labor supporters will have something to eat if I go into labor at the right time ;) , and going to work half days (sometimes less)...when Gene sees me at work he always says, "You're still here?!" to which my response is, "Yup! I have to do something to pass the time...just waiting to have a baby!"

Keep praying for us! We appreciate all the prayers we can get!!

BVOTD: "The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever— do not abandon the works of your hands." Psalm 138:8

A Rough Appointment

I went in for my 12th doctor's appointment (my 38 week appointment) today. Had a bit of a rough appointment. My blood pressure was up from where it normally is...usually I am 130/80, 130/82, 130/84...somewhere in there...but today I was 130/91. She seemed a bit concerned about it but not enough to take any action. She basically said that she would just keep an eye on it and intervene is she needed to.

I am still only dilated 1 cm and 25% effaced...kind of a bummer. All these stinkin' contractions for nothing! I gained 4 pounds in one week...not sure why. I am 170 (up from 166). My belly is up 2 inches from last week, 37" (up from 35" last week).

The doctor said to come back in on Tuesday (the 22nd) and that she would induce labor eventually if things are not moving along...especially if my blood pressure is getting worse or if there is less fetal movement.

The pelvic exam was terribly painful (and like twice as long as normal...ugh) as she said she was "trying to move things along"...definitely not looking forward to labor if it feels like that!! I am such a wuss!!!

Working less hours these days and starting to realize home is kinda boring. There is nothing at all on regular TV during the day. I am working really hard to convince Brad to get me cable or satellite (and DVR too! Lord knows I am going to need to be able to pause live TV to change diapers soon!).

I try taking naps in the morning but usually get calls and can't sleep...either that or my left leg hurts from laying on it (since I am only supposed to sleep on my left side for the best blood flow...just FYI in case you didn't know...if pregnant women sleep on their back or left side their blood flow is restricted because the baby is squishing one of their main arteries). It's a lot of work to even turn over in bed these days...I feel like a beached whale!

Hopefully our next appointment will be better!!

BVOTD: "And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming." 1 John 2:28

He's a 7 Pounder!

I went in for my 11th doctor's appointment today (my 37 week appointment). We're getting down to the nitty gritty here! Only two more weeks till my due date! Can you believe it?!

I didn't gain any weight this round (my appointments are now 1 week apart)....still at 166 (36 pounds gained in all...though I am kinda confused why I didn't gain any more because I seem to have even more fluid these days. I am even retaining fluid in my hips now!). My belly measured 35" again (like the last two doctor visits). She says that is because he is lower (not that he is not growing).

My blood pressure was pretty much the same as it has been 130/80. I am still dilated to 1 cm. She said I am 25% effaced (whatever that means). She did an ultrasound and thinks that he is around 7 pounds. It is so hard to believe that I have 7 pound baby in my belly! (Though it definitely feels like it when I try to bend over! lol) He is where he is supposed to be...head down facing my back...ready for delivery :) She says that he has longer legs then most babies and a smaller tummy. She thinks he will grow around 1/2 pound per week and so she thinks he will be around 7 1/2 or 8 pounds when he is born. Sounds much better than a 9 or 10 pounder! :)

She says that my fluid is good. On a scale of 7-20, I am a 14 on fluid. She said I had a couple of good pockets of fluid in there. That means that he has some room to move around in there. :)

When she did the ultrasound she could see him breathing amniotic fluid in and out...she said that she always smiles when she sees that because it means that he is a healthy baby and is working on learning how to breathe :)

She told me to get a wrist brace to try to help with the carpal tunnel in my right hand so I bought one today at lunch. We'll see if it helps.

I am still suffering from terrible heartburn but finally invested in some Tums and they seem to help!

As for being prepared to go to the hospital...we signed all the papers we could for the hospital on Monday and toured the facility (really we just saw the waiting room, the bathrooms, and one of the labor & delivery rooms). I am hoping that the one that we get will be bigger because the one we saw was pretty teeny. They are having a problem with lady bugs and put poison in the rooms to kill the lady bugs...kinda sad, no?! And seems a little gross to have poison and dead insect bodies in the room that I am going to bring my new baby into the world in!! Hopefully the room we get will be bigger and cleaner!

My bags (one for the labor and one for after delivery), Brad's bag (it has clothes, vending machine money, and snacks for the proud papa), and Luke's bag are all packed and ready. We have the car seat and base sitting in my car but the base is not yet attached.

Audrey painted my toenails today so I will have cute toes for labor :) Brad's mom thinks I won't care about my toes at that point but I believe I will whine and cry one minute and the next minute say, "Look at how cute my toes are!" At least I know one thing will be cute on me ;)

We have the co-sleeper set up in the bedroom but not anchored to the bed yet...will have Brad work on that one this week. Brad put the baby rocker together the other night. I think Luke will like that little seat :) All our Christmas stuff is taken down and in boxes but is not put away yet. Slowly but surely the house is getting ready for Mr. Luke. Can't believe we will be meeting him soon!!!! Hope he looks like his daddy!!! :) And has the temperament of his daddy too!

BVOTD: "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1 John 4:10

1 Cm Down, 9 to Go!

I went in for my 10th doctors appointment (my 37 week appointment) today. I gained 2 pounds since my last appointment two weeks ago (over Christmas & New Years!!!) for a grand total of 36 pounds gained thus far. (164 to 166 pounds.) I feel pretty good about that considering how much fluid I know I am retaining (I look like a blimp!)!

The doctor says I have dilated 1 cm (only 9 to go!). My belly was 35" which is down an inch from last time...she says Luke has dropped a bit more (she could put her hand between my rib cage where Luke used to be). My doctor thinks that I probably won't go beyond my due date.

My blood pressure was a little higher than usual, but the doctor says it isn't enough of a difference to be concerned about.

I tested positive for Group B Strep which basically means that I have to take a couple of doses of penicillin before Luke is born.

I was supposed to get another ultrasound today but it didn't happen, so I will get one at my next appointment next week. All in all, things are progressing along quite nicely. :) I have another appointment set up for January 10th.

Feeling okay this week except for feeling tired and big as a house and suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome in my right hand. Who knew carpal tunnel was so terrible??? My fingers on my right hand (except for the pinky and half the ring finger) are all tingly all the time (it feels like I slept on my hand). I need to go get a wrist brace to see if that will help. It stinks to write which is such a bummer because I need to be working on Luke's baby album before he comes!! Not to mention I still have to type while I'm at work!

Speaking of work...I am hoping to start taking off more days soon. I believe the inlaws are in denial and think that I can be there everyday till Luke comes (and then I think they believe I will be back the day after he comes, lol!!). It is getting so hard to get around at work and I am getting so lazy it is not even funny.

Write up a refund? Eh.

Lower my legs and get up out of my comfy chair to answer the phone? Not so much.

Enter gazillions of invoices? No, thanks. I'd rather not.

Somehow it is so much more difficult to do everything. I just feel like laying around and sleeping all day. I also really want to clean the house because it's such a mess...though it is improving every day. We are down a sofa, big chair, ottoman, and Christmas tree (yes, ladies and gents, we finally took down the Christmas tree!) and the place is starting to look a little roomy even! :) I just really need to attack all the piles of clutter and throw things away!! Wish me luck! I need to work efficiently to get it all done before Luke arrives! :)

BVOTD: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8

That's Why I Have to Pee so Much!!!

I had my 9th doctor's appointment today (my 35 week appointment). I gained 6 pounds. (158 to 164 pounds.) 34 pounds gained so far (not sure how much is water weight but I know I have it!). She says that I am "all belly" and retaining fluid (now in my fingers, calves, and a little in my feet).

My blood pressure was good (as usual). My belly measured 36" (which is a 6" jump from my last visit two weeks ago). She said that could be just because of the way that he is hanging out in there. I have a feeling Luke is going to be a looong baby just like his daddy!!

She did a pelvic exam and she said that he's dropped (I knew it!! That explains why I have to pee all the time!) but that I haven't dilated any yet. Luke knows what he's supposed to do I suppose :) Smart boy!

She told me to lay off the exercise so that I don't go into premature labor. That is the first time that anyone has told me not to exercise...kinda fun :) lol (But I really do miss running!)! She also did some kind of test for some kind of bacteria. Hopefully I don't have it...

When my doctor read the chart the nurse had written that I am "35" weeks but apparently Hilda's 5s look like 9s...my doctor was freaking out thinking that I was 39 weeks and that she needed to get this baby out soon and schedule an enduction. I was thinking "Ummm, I don't think so". Brad was getting excited over in the corner because he thought we might get a little tax deduction baby :) lol I told her that I am due January 24th instead. She apologized profusely and told me I just need to come back in two weeks for another checkup. My next appointment is scheduled for January 3rd.

Luke is still a crazy kicker. Sometimes it is so strong that you can see him move from across the room. Kinda fun. :) (And other times makes it a little difficult to get back to sleep at night!)

Still having daddy read to Luke each night (or at least most nights). Luke still kicks when daddy reads to him. Bought him a new book last weekend..."Love You Forever". I like that one :) I have plans to buy him "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" as well! Sadly enough, sometimes it's the only time of day that he gets to hear from his daddy. Also on my list of things to buy for Luke...a gloworm! (I had one when I was a kid and loved it!) And some more sleep sacks! And maybe even some snap onesies...not sure where to get those but they would be really convenient!

I have a feeling that he may be a night baby...when I go to sleep at midnight he is awake...when I wake up at 4:00 to go to the bathroom he is awake...when I get up at 7:30 he is awake. I may be working the graveyard shift for his first few weeks!

Have decided that there will be no more grocery shopping for me until Luke is born. I went shopping last week and had the hardest time lifting everything to put it in the cart and then lifting it out of the cart to pay for it. It was hard to even push the cart around the store! I told Brad to get himself ready to do our shopping (he hates it too!).

Am generally feeling as big as a house with this big ole' belly in front of me. Even driving is difficult sometimes because I am used to turning my whole body to see if there is a car behind me. Now trying to turn and look back is a chore! I now understand why people are so ready to not be pregnant anymore. I have come to the conclusion that being physically and mentally ready to have a baby are two different things...

Still suffering from heartburn. Can't wait for that to subside!

Just finished up our last childbirth class. She finally brought out the dolls!! We got to diaper, dress, and swaddle a baby. We learned four different "holds" for the baby. The last class was actually pretty informative I thought. We watched a couple of videos on baby care. To me it would make sense if at least two whole classes (instead of just one) of the four had to do with childcare and not just childbirth. I mean, childbirth is many hours but childcare is many months, you know?

Still working @ GFAP...wanting to take off some more to finish my thank yous (I have made almost 60 cards and written over 30 but unfortunately ran out of ink in my pen on Monday night when I was working on them at Starbucks and had to quit early), start working on my Christmas cards (they get sent out later and later each year!), and do my Christmas shopping (I have shopped for only 6 people off my list so far!). I also need to go back to Babies R Us and pick up the things we haven't gotten yet that we will need before he is here (like the Co-Sleeper, feet extensions, and some other random items).

The house looks much better than it used to...should share some before and after photos (just a warning the before photos will scare you!). Most of the house is now clean...except for my scraproom which is a total disaster. I am working on getting Brad to get a portable building to store our extra stuff.

I started washing baby clothes on Sunday and of course the washing machine decided that it would stop mid-cycle...the first time it has ever acted up in over four years of it being here!! Luckily, Brad came home and was able to get it going again. I now have some little clean clothes for our little guy. I bought some newborn diapers at Wal Mart the other night and have started packing our diaper bags. I am also working on packing mine for the hospital. So hard to believe that I will be going there soon to have him! Crazy!!! We have yet to tour the hospital and fill out the paperwork. I still have around four loads of baby stuff to wash...will have to get crackin' on that soon. Oh! And we totally need to have the car seat installed soon (and as an added bonus that means I get rid of a box in the house! Yay!)!

I am going to go work on our Christmas cards now...hope everyone is (wow! I just totally threw our laptop on the floor just now! Sheesh!!!) having a great week and taking some time out to think about the reason for this wonderful season that we are in!!!

BVOTD: "Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble." 1 Peter 3:8

A Wedding Reception & A Baby Shower

Lots has happened since I wrote last...I will try not to leave anything out!

Alicia and Robert tied the knot on Friday, November 16th. We all celebrated with a reception at a local country club. Went a little crazy trying to plan the reception in a week but I think we got everything done and everyone had a wonderful time. I took their engagement photos early on in the week and had some printed up to display...also made some wallet sized photos so people could take some home with them. I was also kinda the informal photographer at the reception (which is not so good since I don't have a clue how to use camera settings and don't get along with the flash so much). I tried my best and got some cute ones...tried to take photos of everyone that came.

Had my first baby shower on Sunday thrown by the wonderful Perez, her sister Liesel, her momma Nelwyn, Linda W., and Julie. It was so amazing. I felt like I was on the show "Live Like a Star" and was getting a famous person baby shower! Honestly! Everything was so beautiful! And everyone was so incredibly generous!

This little boy is very loved I can already tell.

As a hostess gift, I received Luke's car seat which makes me all giddy inside since I can't take him home without that piece of equipment. I also received 4 handmade blankets (did I mention that my family is very crafty and talented?!). I received a handmade blanket from my Aunt Imogene and I didn't even know that she crocheted!! Can't wait to take pictures of Luke laying on it; it's beautiful! I also received 2 blankets from my Aunt Linda; 1 with trains & cars and the other with baby Snoopy. One side has the print and the other side is made of incredibly soft material. I'm sure he will love being wrapped up in those blankets! I also received a blanket from Granny Hill that she started making for Brad when he was a baby and just finished it recently. It is a cow jumping over the moon blanket. Totally cute. I received tons of hooded towels, diapers, and onesies. I also got a baby tub/shower, Diaper Genie II, baby scale, diaper bag (it is soooo cute!), and a convertible lounger/chair.

Perez went so above and beyond...she bought Jones soda bottles (Berry Lemonade flavor) with Luke's ultrasound picture...got me the cutest corsage to wear...framed cute baby cards in floating frames...had boxes of "It's a Boy" gum cigars...brown and blue polka dotted ribbon on the tables...bought blue hydrangeas to decorate the tables...made "flowers" out of a white pot, toothpicks, and different colored blue cupcakes (a Martha Stewart idea)...made a four tier diaper cake for the food table...made 2 diaper wreaths to hang on the door...inflated blue balloons to lead the people into the conference room...had a friend make the cutest onesie cookies in clear bags with blue ribbons tied on them to decorate the tables...and Julie made the yummiest blue cream cheese icing frosted milk & dark chocolate polka dotted cake I have ever seen (now if I can only keep myself from eating it!!)... I mean, seriously. Amazing What a blessed girl I am!!! :)

I went to my 7th doctor's appointment (my 29 week appointment) on November 14th . It was so weird going to the doctor after only 2 weeks had passed! Well, good news! I didn't gain any weight! So I am still weighing in at 156 pounds...and my belly was still 29". My doctor says that I am retaining about 5 pounds...so, technically, I have only gained like 21 pounds, right?! lol! His heart rate was 150 and he was actually kicking while she was trying to find his heartbeat. The doctor says that I don't have gestational diabetes or anemia and that my blood work came out fine. So that is good :) I go back on December 5th for another checkup.

This little guy is very active. Starting Sunday night, little Luke has decided to push as hard as he can on my belly and hold for it as long as he can. It is a very odd feeling. I am used to all the kicks but not to him just pushing with his all his might. lol :)

Still feeling pretty good. Am getting a bit sick of retaining weight and not being able to wear my wedding & cross rings. Oh, the joys of pregnancy! ;) I need to buy a good chain to put my wedding ring on...just makes me nervous that it will break and I will lose it. My face is still ugly as can be. I think I should go see a dermatologist soon. I don't want to scar! Not sure what I can really use to help my skin though. Hopefully it will get a bit better soon (but I am guessing it won't be until well after he is born). I still can't believe how big my tummy is getting! I am a big fan of the elastic/supportive shirts that I got. I wear them everyday and notice a huge different when I don't have it on. By the early afternoon I definitely start feeling the weight of my belly. I am liking wearing the leggings under my jeans too.

I need to get my booty busy on thank you notes is what I need to do!!!!! I am actually going to get started working on them this weekend...just have to get my card factory cranking! I am not sure how I can even begin to thank everyone for how wonderful it was and how happy it made me!! I certainly felt loved on Sunday!!!!

So now the extra room (the room with the Christmas tree) is full of presents (stay tuned for some "before pictures...my wonderful sisters have decided to help me overcome my crazy huge mess!! Vicki sorted baby clothes & assorted goods today and next Saturday I think Amanda and Vicki are going to work on painting Luke's room and organizing all of our stuff!!)! I have decided that I do not like the smell of diapers...not sure why...just kinda grosses me out. Is that weird? I hate the "scented" smell that some stuff has...

Had a wonderful Thanksgiving...didn't take a single photo!! We were missing quite a few close family members but we got some good food and had a lively pool tournament at mom and dad's house! I have so much to be thankful for this year!!!

I am looking forward to a baby shower with friends this Saturday afternoon. I hope to see some friends that I haven't seen in a while!! It is always good to catch up!

BVOTD: My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. Proverbs 3:11-12

Snoogles are the Best!

• Went to my 6th doctor's appointment (my 27 week appointment) on Halloween and naturally was scheduled to be tested for gestational diabetes...I thought she should have made it for the next day to make sure I didn't eat too much candy, lol. I haven't gotten a call yet (they only call when the results are bad) so I suppose my tests results were good. The flat orange tasting soda stuff wasn't so badn (it was even cold!). However, even though I asked Hilda to be gentle with me when she took my blood, I still ended up with a bruise on my arm. Oh yay. ;) She used a skinnier needle this time and everything (and she only pricked me once instead of twice!) but still. What is up with that?

• Got to see the baby so I hauled Brad along this time...have a couple new pics of our little Luke. It was hard to tell what is what in the photos but we have a photo of his head from the side and one straight-on looking at this face. He is face down (part of 75% of babies that know it is time to go head down...see, I told you he was smart ;) and facing forward. I enjoy the fact that when I am sleeping he is sleeping the opposite way. :)

• His heart rate was 140 this time and he looks happy in there...kicked around a lot yesterday...starting to make me nervous...this baby boy may never sleep when he comes out! My next appointment is on the 14th of November...I will be going every two weeks from now on. Hopefully that will help me track my weight better!

• My belly went from 24" last month to 29" this month. I ::gasp:: gained a bunch of weight once again (a large 10 pounds...so I am up to 156 pounds...soon I will weigh more then Brad! I am hoping this font is so small that mom can't read it! My doctor assures me this is okay and that my body is just preparing for breatfeeding! Nonetheless I have to cut back...stinky part is that I am hungry all the time! I am cutting out all extra Chick visits except for Fridays!). I do believe a lot of it is water weight though because the doctor looked at my legs and told me that I was retaining water (and I believe it because they look pretty fat...and a lot less fat early in the mornings). Oh joy. I just don't have much time these days for putting my feet up and laying around. Too much to do!! And you should see our mess of a house!! (But you will be happy to hear our mess of papers is MUCH better!! I filed all my bills and stuff in that blue box! Now if I could just get rid of all my CBS stuff I have to store, lol!) We really need to kick it in gear to get ready for this baby!!

• Went to Babies 'R' Us last Sunday to register. I got Breann to go with me to point me in the right direction. I had no clue what to get so I was really glad to have her there!! And they just found out this week that they are having another girl!! :) So excited for them! Little Anika is 11 months old now and cute as can be!! Alicia and Robert also came to Babies 'R' Us when we registered because they are expecting too! Since they don't know what they are having yet they just took it all in. She is due in May so Luke will have a cousin that is 3 or so months younger then him!

• Went to the grocery store last night and the checker was really friendly (they usually aren't very friendly at HEB). After I put all my items up on the belt she said "You know, a lot of people are trying to eat healthier these days" and I told her, "Well, I have reason to". She said, "Why, are you...?" and I leaned over and pointed at my belly. She was very excited and asked me how far along I am and if this is my first baby. Then she insisted that the bagger gal take my groceries out for me. People are so nice to pregnant people, it's great!! :) I told the gal that I could get it myself and headed home. Glad to have the fridge restocked with milk! I go through that stuff like there's no tomorrow these days!

• Some of our nursery furniture has trickled in. We received the changer, bookcase top & bottom, and mattress. I am still sad I can't get the dresser! Especially now that we got the bookcases in...they are corner pieces and won't hold very much! Unfortunately, the bookcase top came in broken so Brad has to haul it on down to Penneys to return it.

• Good news is I tried ordering the conversion rails for the crib online and I think I can get them...not sure why they wouldn't give us them when we tried ordering them at the store, but whatever! As long as I get them, I'm good! I found out that the bedding, crib, and conversion rails (if they really do exist) are coming in December. Bummer about the bedding because I was going to find my paint color off the bedding! I have to have that room painted before then, though! Will just have to come up with something I suppose!!

• I am feeling pretty good these days. Bought some really supportive tops that I can't say enough about. I didn't wear one yesterday and by early afternoon I was really feeling the weight of my belly! I think I have learned my lesson! Bought a snoogle (a body pillow) last week at Babies 'R' Us and I love it!! I'm sleeping good at night! (except this morning I woke up with an evil leg cramp!) I haven't had a leg cramp in a while!

• My upper back (left side of my body) is killing me these days. My doctor says it is from tension and she prescribed me some muscle relaxers (that sounds kinda rough to me but it is a class B drug so that means that it is completely safe during pregnancy). I haven't gotten the prescription filled yet. I need to invest in a good heating pad.

• My face is still ugly as can be. I am thinking I might have to go to a dermatologist soon. I certainly thought this mess would have gone away by now...or at least leveled off...it seems to be getting worse!

• Heading to Dallas today (just for the day) for a shower for Dayna. Still can't believe she's getting hitched! So exciting! :) Should be lots of fun :) Love those girls! So crazy to be off on a Saturday...I worked yesterday instead! And don't worry, MAM is driving! I am in good hands :) Hope to update with pics soon...

• BVOTD: The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion -- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. Isaiah 61:1-3

Life Is Good

Long time, no blog...so here goes...















Went on a wonderful babymoon to Port Aransas at the end of September. We knew that we wanted a little vacation with just the two of us before the baby came so we opted to squeeze one in while we still could (and before I got too big!!).

We spent five days and four nights at La Mirage swimming in the pool, playing in the ocean waves, watching cable tv, cuddling on the couch, eating out, listening to it rain, and just enjoying being together. It was quite lovely. We even got to visit The Crazy Cajun!! Love that place!

After a long absence from scrapping, I have finally taken it back up. (THANK THE LORD!!!! It was so weird not scrapping at all!! Felt like something was missing but I just could not get myself to scrap!!)...


Made a 20 weeks pregnant page a couple of weeks ago (with a whole page of journaling!) and I am currently working on my "All About Me" album before my life is very different.

I bought blue & brown papers for the baby's album...oh, and some blue & brown albums too that match! Now I just need to get focused and get to work!! However, I am still not finished with some of my graduation thank-yous (I got the initial thank-yous out but the gifts that trickled in a little bit later didn't get thank-yous since I have been on my scrapping hiatus/baby growing/Peru visiting) and I feel terrible about that!! Hopefully I will have the motivation to start (and finish!) those soon!!

I had my fifth doctor's apointment (my 23 week checkup) on October 3rd. Gained 5 more pounds (gained 16 in all...I am up to 146 pounds now)...seems so strange that I weigh that much. I am starting to feel it though. It's strange carrying this extra weight around...even still, sometimes I forget that I have a baby belly and I notice people staring at my belly and I get really confused.

The baby's heart rate was 150 (pretty high again but normal) but I didn't get to see the little guy. Next checkup (my 27 week checkup on Halloween) we will get to see the baby...and I have to drink a sugary drink to test for gestational diabetes and have my blood drawn. Not looking forward to having my blood drawn since the lady did not do it so well last time but will be excited to see the baby again!! :) After the next checkup I will start going in every two weeks instead of every four.

It is really nice having people be so nice to me...we went to order the nursery room furniture from JCPenney's and the lady helping us wanted to know if I wanted to sit down. I am not used to the extra niceness from people!

Can I just digress for a moment about JCPenney's????

The nursery furniture we picked out is on the cover of the "Rooms Babies Love" catalog. It has a full two page spread on the second and third pages. One of the beautiful things about the crib is that it can be converted to a full size bed when the baby grows out of the crib. It says to consult page 6 for the conversion rails...when you go to page 6, it offers 4 different finishes, none of which come in "espresso", the color of the crib on the cover. Apparently I can only get conversion rails for the bed in a mismatching color!! BUMMER!! What is Penney's thinking???

Also, we tried to order the dresser for his room but it says it is "currently not available"...what does that mean???? The crib is back ordered till December 14th (don't worry...it is not a big deal if it ends up coming after the baby is born because he will be sleeping in some sort of bassinet for the first six or so months of his life anyway). Did they forget to manufacture the dresser? It is not backordered. I don't get it. ???? Hopefully, one day it will become available.

Silly Penney's!! They could only deliver the furniture to our house so the changer, bookcase top, and bookcase bottom will be coming in 5-7 business days. The bedding will come in 2 weeks and the the crib will come in December...gotta love that!!

Back to my post...Feeling pretty good overall. A little extra tired these days. Would love to get some more sleep at night. I have terrible heatburn these days, too...I need to invest in some Tums I think.

I have been pretty good about getting my walking in lately...at least three times a week I walk on the treadmill for 30-50 minutes. (Love walking during The Biggest Loser on Tuesday nights! Anybody watching that show??) . I think the walking helps. I love that treadmill! The fan on it is so wonderful!!

I am still losing my brain more and more each day...today I was entering gift items into the computer at work and I was trying to enter a "Glazed Frog Sculpture"...when I went back to print the labels I noticed that I had entered it as a "Glazed Food Sculpture"...lol...apparently I had food on the brain!!!

We have been thinking about names lately and so far we like Luke Allan the best...we really want to come up with at least three full names just in case we meet him and he doesn't look like a "Luke"... so we are still pondering some names for baby boy. :) As of now, we are calling the little one Luke...but he's still a Turtle to us ;) (much to mom's dismay!)

He has been kicking a lot lately. Brad and I believe he has a little disco party in there sometimes because he kicks around so much we figure he must be dancing (either that or doing Tae Bo???).

We have been having a nightly storytime. He can recognize Brad's voice now and starts kicking when daddy starts reading a story. We have been reading books that I read when I was a little girl...like I'll Teach My Dog 100 Words, Sam & the Firefly, Put Me in the Zoo, and My Goodnight Book (hope he doesn't mind that it is about a little girl...we just won't tell him for now ;)

After Brad reads him a story we listen to some baby lullabies (we bought a lullaby CD from Target) and head off to dreamland. Quite a lovely way to end the day I think...cuddled up between my hubby and my kitty with a little boy tucked in all cozy and warm in my belly. :) Life surely is good!!

Hard to imagine that we are going to get to meet the little one in just a few short months!! Life will be crazy different but I know we will love it! :) We are praying for a happy and healthy baby!

I think I am going to head to bed now...I need my sleep!! Have a fabulous day and thanks for reading! I love reading all your comments!

BVOTD: A fool spurns his father's discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence. Proverbs 15:5

IT'S A BOY!!!! :)

Brad and I headed to Austin yesterday morning to get a 2D ultrasound.

We have a healthy and happy BABY BOY dancing around in my belly. He weighs about a soda can (13 ounces) and is very active. At one point I thought she was moving the machine around but she said she was completely still and he was just bouncing around. (That explains why I have been feeling him move around so much the last few days!)

He has two hands and two feet and a bunch of toes and fingers...we could actually see all the little bones in his fingers and toes (or at least almost all of them...hard to tell since he moved around a lot!). We could even see the chambers of his heart!

The sonographer said he is right on for 19 weeks and looks healthy.

His heart rate was 150...a bit on the high side...I am afraid the boy is taking after me on that...I really want him to be really laidback and easygoing like Brad...I can't take another me at home! lol

We went home with four pictures and some VHS footage of our boy. :)

So needless to say we could not be happier!! Feels so much more real now that we know! We can start thinking about the nursery and registering and focusing on boy names! :)

We headed to a snowcone place to celebrate but when they weren't open we went to the Outlet Mall and shared some Starbucks tea (it was decaf, don't worry! :).

God is so good!!!

BVOTD: O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Psalm 63:1

8 Pounds Later...

I had my fourth checkup (my 19 week checkup) with my doctor today. I was really anticipating finding out how much weight I gained since I hadn't gained much my first three visits (I started at 130 and gained one pound each visit to make a grand total of 133). I have been a lot more hungry lately...have noticed that I seem to be hungry most of the time. When I stepped on the scale I noticed that I seemed quite a bit heavier. I even told Brad a few days earlier that I just felt so much bigger. I think all that weight went to my tummy, lol! I don't feel any bigger anywhere else really.

So, yes, 8 pounds later I weigh a grand total of 141 pounds. I have actually weighed very close to this before. I think I got up to 140 about a year after we got married. I never put on the freshman fifteen but I did put on the married ten or so...then I ran it all off at the gym...and now I am back to it but for a good reason :)

My doctor said the weight gain was good because I am half way through my pregnancy and have gained 11 pounds....14 to 19 pounds to go (I am supposed to gain around 25-30 pounds in all).

The baby's heartrate was 150...once again the doctor said the baby might be a girl because the heartrate is so high...

It is so hard to believe that I am half way through my pregnancy!! This Saturday I will be 20 weeks...6 months along! Crazy! Time is flying!! I am going to blink and have a baby in my arms!

God is so good!!

BVOTD: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Back From Peru...

And settling back into normal life. Peru was wonderful...have lots of pics to sort through. Will post about it later. Just thought I would update with some of my randomness...

*Being pregnant = losing my mind. The other night in the course of about 2 minutes I almost drove the car into the garage door (in my mind I had already put the car in park...but apparently only moved my hand like I put it into park)...then I proceeded to get out of the car, attempted to carry all of my grocery bags in to the house, and managed to spill the remains of my snow cone into basically all of my grocery bags. Nice. Hopefully this losing my mind business does not get any worse as the months go on!

*Today while attempting to eat celery I managed to jam the celery up into my teeth in such a way that I made my gums bleed. Now I need warning labels on vegetables. Double nice.
*Brad brought this little beauty home for us earlier this week. He found it on Craigslist. It even has a fan! I mean come on! That is awesome! :) We have both been liking having a treadmill in the house. It is a lot harder for me to avoid exercise when we have a treadmill in the next room. I have been jogging a bit but mostly walking (with hand weights...trying to take care of my yucky arms...you lay off exercising for a little while and everything falls apart!). Brad hard core runs!

*Went to my third doctor's appointment on August 8th (my 15 week checkup). Lugged Brad with me this time hoping that he would get to see and hear the baby...unfortunately, no ultrasound this time. He did get to hear the baby's heartbeat though :) (Sounds just like a train...heart rate was 140). We found out that we go to a different doctor for the 3D ultrasound in three weeks. Crazy to believe we might know if we are having a boy or a girl in three short weeks!! (Side note: I'm not sure how much I trust what they tell me since we know some people who were assured that they were having a girl, bought lots of pink stuff, decorated the baby room with pink, picked out the perfect girl name, and then ended up having a boy! They are in the hospital now thinking of boy names.). I also found out that I am up to 132 pounds...I have only gained one pound since my last checkup...Not sure how my belly is as big as it is when I have only gained a pound since last time?? Anyone? That means that I have gained three pounds since I have been pregnant...one pound gained at each 4 week checkup. I eat a ton...who knew it would be this difficult to gain weight?! I am losing the muscle I once had early on in my pregnancy and muscle weighs more then fat so that makes a little bit of sense. I suppose now that I am eating so much healthier my body is confused.

Can you see my baby belly??? Kinda crazy, no?! I am wearing maternity pants these days. So nice and comfortable :) Can still wear all my shirts...they are just a bit shorter on me these days. I have a feeling I am going to make good use out of my loooong tank tops. I need to have a long layer to cover up the maternity elastic band. My wonderful sisters & hubby (thanks, guys!) took me shopping for maternity clothes last weekend so I have quite a wardrobe already. :)

Overall I am feeling better...more energy and less sick. That is a very good thing :) Ah, the beauty of the second trimester!

My face is still t-e-r-r-i-b-l-e. My doctor prescribed some antibiotic gel to clear up the infection. So sad to have all my acne back :(

*Went to our first Home Owners Association meeting. Was interesting to say the least. I feel so old...pregnant and going to HOA meetings! lol :)

*Our dryer broke the day before we left for Peru...I have been house hopping trying to wash our clothes (you know...hey mom and dad...while I am here do you mind if I was some laundry? ;) My handy man ordered the belt to replace the broken one and repaired the whole thing himself. He is soooo the best husband ever! For real! It is so nice to be able to sit at home and clean our clothes!

*Got a new nickname for the baby...Turtle :) Brad looked at my belly one day and said, "It looks like there's a turtle in there." Alas, the new nickname. :)

*Would write more but I am tired...must head to bed!!

BVOTD: "But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15

A Cute Baby??

Had my second doctor's appointment today at 8:45. After sitting in the room for close to an hour, my doctor finally came in (she had an emergency surgery this morning) and I had a list of questions to ask her.

She squeezed that jelly stuff on my belly and let me hear the heartbeat (so amazing!!!!!!!). She said that the heart rate was 150 which is high (but normal). She said that could possibly mean that the baby is a girl because they tend to have higher heart rates but of course we won't know till we have the big sonogram in about 20 weeks (sooooooo long to wait, lol!).

After I got to hear the heartbeat she showed me the baby on the monitor again. The first thing she said when she saw the baby on the monitor was, "What a cute baby!!". (When I told Vicki that she said she laughed and said the doctor knew I would eat that up :) This time the baby was moving all around - last visit the baby was just kinda hanging out and not moving much. (When I told dad that he said “it’s like a little Lacey in there!”) All the movement may explain my morning/afternoon/evening sickness.

She said the baby is now about 5 cm and is much bigger then she/he was last time. (Four weeks ago the baby was 1 cm). I could see an eye and legs. So much cooler on the monitor…when she prints the photo it seems so blurry (although this time it really makes sense that the pic would be blurry with the baby dancing around like crazy). But I have an updated photo of the baby to show off now :)

It was so amazing to see the baby in there moving around. It will be really awesome to feel the baby moving inside of me...but the little tike is too teeny right now.

I gained one pound (which the doctor kind of scoffed at) but that is how much she told me to gain last time I was in. She said she was surprised that I didn't lose any since I have been sick. I am not sure how much I am supposed to gain right now…eventually it will be a pound a week (sounds hard to do!! But I guess it will be easier to gain if I stop being sick!). I really need to start exercising! I have been so lazy for the last couple of months! I guess women who work out quite a bit have to eat a lot to make up for the calories that they are burning. (I went walking with Brad tonight, yay! Except I am so out of shape and pathetic that by the time I got back home my legs were all red and itchy and burning because of a lack of oxygen...I also returned with blisters on both my feet - a far cry from my "in shape" days! lol I'm falling apart!).

They got all my blood and urine test results back from the last appointment and I don't have any sexually transmitted diseases (duh, coulda told her that before she sent it off but, alas, she must test for it anyway these days), I am not anemic, and my thyroid is fine. Oh, and my blood type is A+ (I had no clue what my blood type was)…So all my tests results were good. :)

I am still sad that if I have a question when my doctor’s office is not open (they are only open M-Th 8:00-3:00 & F 8:00-11:00) I can only call the hospital and they basically tell me to come into the ER. They don’t answer any questions or direct you to the doctor on call until you’re 20 weeks pregnant (sad!!). 9 more weeks till they really consider me pregnant…

I have another appointment in four weeks (I go back August 8th).

All around, I felt much better with the way the appointment went this time...my first appointment I didn't ask very many questions because I was pretty clueless. I feel better informed this round.

So, that about sums up my second doctor’s appointment. A really exciting day!! :)

BVOTD: "Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD. Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart." Psalm 119:1-2