Quick Stats

I've posted about every doctor's appointment so far, so why stop now?

Today I weighed exactly the same thing as I did last week. Amazing! I even had Mexican food yesterday!

My blood pressure was 120/78, no swelling, and Collins' heart rate was 150 (the first time she did it; she did it again after Jake made it in and it was 140, but they go with the first one).

I will receive antibiotics when I start labor because I tested positive for GBS (Group B Strep). Wasn't sure if I should be embarrassed by putting that on the blog or not, but apparently about 1/3 of all the deliveries at this hospital are GBS positive. I just happen to be a carrier. It's scary when you Google it because it can cause problems if the baby becomes infected during delivery, but knowing ahead of time and receiving antibiotics enormously decreases the risk to the baby. The doctor said it's nothing to worry about, so I'm not worried. Jake pretty much still is, but he worries about everything, bless his heart (he's protective).

My friend, Lana, found out she's having another little boy this week! They're due December 31st. Lots of little boys being born these days!

Jessica's son, Lee, will turn one year old on Saturday! I can't believe it's been a year already, and I can't wait to see some b-day pics of him :)

My parents are coming to town Saturday to hang out with us...not sure what we'll do. Not anything that requires a lot of walking on my part!

We are supposed to be introduced to the church after the service this Sunday! We've been meaning to join Five Points for some time now...not sure why we put it off. Just lazy I guess.

Hank is getting a hair cut and bath on Monday to get good and clean for his brother :) He is such a good and sweet puppy...I hope that doesn't change anytime soon due to jealousy!

I'll update again next week!

36 weeks on Monday, 8.23.10!

What's the Deal?

I just wanted to make a note of this because I think even I won't believe it down the road.

This has been an amazing pregnancy. Very healthy. I really can't complain at all...just think one thing is very strange.

I have only been sick five times this whole journey (so far) and they have ALL been during the third trimester and ALL on weekends.

Now, I know everyone is different and just because most people experience sickness during the first trimester doesn't mean everyone will. I'm sure it's more to do with indigestion than actual "morning" sickness. Plus, dairy hasn't been so great since I've been pregnant, so that was part of the problem. So I can dismiss the third trimester thing.

But the weekends only? That's just weird.

I'm sure I'll be sick tonight now...on a Tuesday ;)

35 Week Update!

I was 35 weeks on Monday, August 16th. We are in the home stretch now! I had an appointment on Wednesday...my parents' anniversary :) Everything is still going well (thank you, Lord!) I had gained another three pounds, blood pressure was 126/80, and Collins' heart rate was 146 bpm. I will go back next Thursday...I'm going every week now!

Students started fall classes on Wednesday, so things are picking up at work. I feel horrible for my co-workers this semester because we lost two people to jobs/grad school and I'll be on maternity leave. They will be very, very busy!

Jake and I finished our birthing classes on Tuesday night. We went to a total of four: Comprehensive (four hours long...eww), Infant Care, Breastfeeding (middle of the day, so just me), and Infant CPR. I'm sure I'll forget everything I learned as soon as he gets here, but right now I feel more confident having taken the classes.

We also had to purchase a new air conditioner this week :( Woke up Monday morning with it completely frozen. Again. Why do things like that happen on Mondays? It was old and we have to get it fixed all the time. It was going to be really expensive just to fix it temporarily (for maybe another year or so) so we went ahead and set up a plan to get a new one. Luckily, it's no interest for three years and we can just pay them rather than a bank. We didn't anticipate having to get a new a/c right now, but at least we know it's done and Collins won't burn up!

Jake took the car seat to the fire department today and had them install it! My car looks so good with a baby carrier in it :) I washed all his hospital clothes last night and packed his bag. My bag is mostly packed, but I need to pick up a few things at Wal-Mart tomorrow. Then it'll be ready to go! I can't wait!!! (Actually, I can wait at least 4 more weeks...I meant I'm really excited. Stay in there, Collins!)

Hide your eyes if you hate bare belly pics!! I probably wouldn't want to see either!

Thought this was funny...my former co-worker, Celeste, sent some onesies and blankes to me via intra-campus mail! I told her this was the most creative wrapping I'd seen yet :)

Enterprise and ECCC Shower

Kristin, Leigh Ann, and Courtney gave me a shower last weekend, Saturday, August 14th (34 weeks, 5 days). It was at the Enterprise Senior Center at 10:30am...another yummy brunch shower!

There was such a good turn out which I was not expecting. I'm so thankful all these ladies were able to make it to my shower. I love them ALL so much! We don't all get to see each other too often anymore, but I was very close to each of them at one point or another (mostly in high school and/or college). They will always be some of my best friends :)

Collins got some great things...just like at all the other showers! We played a game where everyone had to make a baby out of playdough within 2-3 minutes. I was the judge to see who did the best.

Jake and I are SO thankful for all the showers and gifts people have given us for Collins. We are very blessed to have wonderful friends and family in our lives.

Playdough baby winners...Lori and Ms. Cook!

Activity gym!

The hostesses: Kristin, Leigh Ann, and Courtney

Some ECCC girls...Erica, Lana, and Courtney

Haley came and brought lots of stuff for Collins, including a door hanger she made!

Leslie and Keever...Keever came from Louisiana! They gave me a gift certificate to Nancy Taylor day spa. So thoughtful! Also part of the gift was a "coupon book" for naps, diaper changes, etc., a "spinner" to see who would do the next baby duty, and confetti! Cute gift and so thoughtful :)

EHS girls! Tiffany, Kristin, Leigh Ann, Ms. Cook (our yearbook advisor and Spanish teacher...love her!), me, Leslie, and Keever

Grammy, me, and MawMaw

Lori, me, and Mrs. Gayle

Kari Rain (Tiffany's daughter) taking off with the presents :)

Spoiled

By my sweet husband, that is. He bought me a "push gift" (as they call it) early and went ahead and gave it to me. I have always told him I didn't want a gift for giving birth b/c it doesn't make much sense to me. We didn't give each other wedding presents either. I told him I WAS his gift ;)

I was planning to reiterate my seriousness about not getting a push gift soon, but I was too late. He bought me a beautiful diamond cross necklace. He was planning to give it to me before we actually went into the hospital, but thought he'd be able to wait at least a day after purchasing it. Not so.

He left me sitting in the truck while he ran in the Enterprise Dollar General to get something for his mom and got paranoid that I was snooping. After some of his indiscreet prodding, I eventually figured out that he had something in the console for me and that there was a yellow reciept somewhere for it (he had grabbed a notepad thinking that was it)! He is so funny...can't keep anything from me ;)

When we got to his parents' house Friday night (8.13.10), he told me to come out and sit on the pier with him (at sunset of course!) He had the box sitting in the swing. I absolutely do not need a push gift, but I really do love this necklace. And this man. Thank you, Jake!!

Family Shower

Some of my aunts and cousins gave me a family shower on Saturday, August 7th (33 weeks, 5 days) at the Town Hall in Enterprise. It was all four sides of our family! They did a brunch shower at 10am and the food was wonderful. I love brunch! Collins got some great presents and it was a lot of fun. Very special shower!

Aunt Tammy, Granny, me and Aunt Jo

Memory table from Jake's and my childhood :)

Mrs. Melissa, Aunt Bobbye, me and Nanny (Jake's aunt)

Presents!

The hostesses: Kayloni, Aunt Kay, me, Aunt Brenda, Olivia (and Aiden!)

Granny and Maw...they made the blankets behind us when I was a baby!

MawMaw and Grammy had fun opening gifts, too :)

Wreath Olivia made

Petunia!

In my last post I basically bragged at how good I did decorating the nursery on a budget. I really do love bargains...always have. I once bought a pair of black peep toe pumps for $1.07. However. Every now and then I discover something that I think is worth a splurge. Like a diaper bag.

Now, for the record...to my recollection, I have never spent more than about $35 on a purse or wallet. It's just not important to me to have a designer bag. I'd much rather have the clothes or shoes or house ware or whatever else could be bought with that money, and those things must always be on sale.

For some reason, the diaper bag was very important to me. It was a practical decision, really (kinda).

1) From what I hear, the diaper bag becomes your purse. So it's two in one.

2) I'll use it for several years...hopefully through at least two kids (Jake says just two...we'll see).

3) This particular bag, Petunia Pickle Bottom, can be worn as a messenger bag, a back pack, or hung on the stroller. I can already picture me wearing it as a back pack when we take Collins to the mountains or Disney World one day!

4) It has a built in changing pad. You just unzip the sides on the front.

5) It's pretty huge. There are several pockets (inside and out) and comes with a wet diaper bag (for dirties you can't toss right away) and a wipes case.

6) I did some research online and did actually get it a little cheaper (by about $20) than I would have paid elsewhere. Didn't have to pay shipping either.

7) It's beautiful and I love it!! :)

So now that I've tried to justify the splurge in my own head, behold...the Petunia Pickle Bottom diaper bag in "Venus Roll."


Oh yeah...It was delivered last Friday while I was at work. Jake opened it and set it on the counter for me (I made him send me a pic of it on the phone of course!), but I somehow indicated I had looked forward to opening it like a present (such a dork). I told him it was no big deal and to just leave it, but that sweet fella put it back in the box AND wrapped it for me. I love him.

Nursery Pics!

It has been SO much fun putting Collins' nursery together! I think I mentioned before that I spend a lot of time in there just sitting and thinking about how to decorate and imagining him sleeping, or cooing, or screaming ;) Jake has been wonderful at helping me, too. I really didn't have a chance to think on something longer than a day or two because if I said I wanted it painted/hung/etc., he was ON it! Below are details...probably way too many...so we won't forget!

Entrance from door. Thank you, Mama and Daddy for the glider! My Granny made that blanket several years ago...very special :) I found the dresser (changing table) on Craig's List for $20!! It came with a mirror, but it was too big for the room so I gave it to Katie. Jake painted the dresser, chest of drawers (mine when I was younger), and little table (used to belong to Maw)...I love the color! The drapes are from JC Penney. They were a splurge because we had to get them long enough and they're the black out, energy efficient kind. I'm happy, though, because they make the room REALLY dark when they're pulled to (and the grommets make them easy to pull)!

We kept the doors off the closet (people who lived here before us had the changing table in the closet). I think it actually gives us more room because we can have the chest of drawers and hanging rods (really shower rods, hung from front to back). The football prints to the left were some that Jake bought a couple of years ago just because they were on sale at Little Gallery for about $5 each. I think it was a moving sale or something. I had told Jake he couldn't have red (excuse me, crimson) football prints in the nursery, but I would compromise with black and white photos. I didn't even know he already had these sketches! Those little booties were crocheted by Mrs. Loretta Lawson (Granny's friend) with the same yarn as the blanket on the chair.

Mobile Jake and I made. The animals are from Hobby Lobby. They were primary colors so I painted over them to make them pastel and lined the backs with scrapbook paper. This cost about $5 total. I love a bargain!

Crib bedding! It and the crib are from JC Penney. Total cost for bedding was $65...very cool. We bought the bedding and crib soon after we found out we were expecting because I wanted something gender neutral. The ribbons were added later. (They're from Hobby Lobby. Love that store!) I don't know why this pic won't enlarge (why does it do it sometimes and not others??), but that blanket on the right side is one Aunt Shira gave us last weekend. One of her friends made it. The blue and yellow one in the crib (can barely see it here) is one Mrs. Mona Grayson made. Collins is a loved little boy already!

That's a wall decal we ordered from Etsy.com. It actually messed up...was supposed to have three rings around the C and Collins. Basically, the rings came off on the wrong side of the wax paper and were just stickers...looked horrendous when we tried to make them straight. So, we tossed them and used just the C and Collins. It looked pretty good, but was too little to be above the crib, so after some deliberation we decided to put a 'frame' around it. Jake bought a cheap piece of chair rail, painted it white, and cut it to make a frame. We are pleased with how it turned out :) The dots around it are more wall decals from Target...just $10 for the whole pack and you can rearrange them if needed! The memo board was on sale at Anna Kate and Co. I like it when I'm in the room, but for some reason in pictures I think it makes that side of the room look cluttered. Oh well.

"Book shelves" from Target (really spice racks). That sweet little outfit is from my mom! I bought the star hook and initials above the door (not pictured) from Hobby Lobby. They were unfinished wood and I painted them all the same color blue. I think they were probably $1 each.

Wreath my cousin, Olivia, made and put on the door at my last shower in Enterprise. She is so talented! She made a diaper cake too that was super cute.

YAY!!! for Collins' room :)

You're Cold?

So, the other night Jake and I were sitting in the living room watching tv. The ceiling fan was on because all the ceiling fans are on...all the time...because it's flipping hot.

Jake is one of the most hot-natured people I have ever known and always has been. I am the opposite. Normally, I sleep with pajama pants and socks on because my husband freezes me out.

Well, this particular night Jake turns off the fan and tells me he's cold and the wind blowing is "burning his eyes."

Are you kidding me? You've never been cold in your life until I'm eight months pregnant? In August? In Alabama????

Get a blanket and some goggles, Jake.

;)

We've Been Waiting for You by Carolyn Arends

Ellen gave me this book at my first shower in Tuscaloosa. It's a compilation of poems, stories, and songs all about waiting for baby. One night I was reading through it and bawled the whole time. Jake's solution? "Baby, stop reading it if it makes you cry!" I had to explain that it was good tears and he totally understood the next morning when he read some of it. Here are a couple of the writings Jake and I found especially sweet and/or can really relate to:

I am staring into the mirror of the maternity store fitting room. I am precisely seven weeks pregnant. Standing in for my soon-to-be belly is a pillow the store clerk helped me strap to my chest and stomach, designed especially for over-eager rookies like me. I am giggling like a six-year-old because I suddenly feel like a six-year-old, pretending to be a grown-up. This moment is the culmination of every game of dolls and house and dress-up I ever played. This little dressing room is, for all intents and purposes, my mother's closet. But this time I'm trying on not her heels or dresses or pearls, but her motherhood.

..............................................................................................................................................

They let us take the baby home. We walked right past the nurses' station and down the long corridor to the elevators, our shoes squeaking conspicuously on the waxy floor. No one asked us if we had a Parenting License or the proper qualifications. Everyone politely pretended not to notice that we didn't have the slightest idea what we were doing. They just smiled and nodded and wished us well, cooing at the over-bundled treasure slumbering unsuspectingly in our shiny new carseat. We made it to the elevator, breathless with equal parts joy and terror...a couple of paupers walking off with the crown jewels.

..................................................................................................................................................

Your Father in Heaven
(A song)

Our precious little one, hello
Hope you don't mind if we watch you grow
Today we saw you focus your eyes
And look at us with such surprise
Could you see we were giving thanks
To your Father in heaven

Soon you will learn to touch your nose
To giggle whenever we tickle your toes
And we can't wait to hear you coo
And then you'll talk and when you do
We hope you know you can always speak
With your Father in heaven

There's a world of wonders
Waiting in store just outside our door
But the greatest thing that we will ever do
Is kneel at your bedside and introduce you
To the One who first thought of the wonder of you
Your Father in heaven

First you will crawl and then you'll stand
We're gonna cheer, we're your biggest fans
You'll take a step, and then one more
We hope it's not too long before
You understand you can always run
To your Father in heaven

You'll learn green is green and blue is blue
God's crayon box comes with every hue
You'll learn to make angels in the snow
To catch a frog and let it go
May you know that all good things come
From your Father in heaven
We pray that you'll always run
To your Father in Heaven

Lunch with Friends

Some of my sweet work (mostly!) friends took me to lunch yesterday (8.4.10) at Newk's. I love Newk's! Lindsey brought a cake and it was really good! They gave Collins some presents and some sweet cards. Thank you, ladies! It was so much fun :)

Brenda, Lindsey, me, Mrs. Evelyn, and Tasha

Check-up

I had a doctor's appointment on Friday, July 30th at 10:45am (32 weeks and 4 days). The wait was much better this time :) Jake was able to go which always helps b/c he's hilarious. I took my FMLA forms for them to complete and I feel much better knowing that's being taken care of. Forms and stuff stress me out a little.

I also typed up my birth plan and took it to Dr. Myers for her to proof. She said everything is fine; not too many requests! I had planned to donate the cord blood (gross, I know) to either a public cord bank or to science because it makes no sense to me to just throw it away if someone can benefit from it. I think of it like organ donation. Dr. Myers said I'd be responsible for collecting all the info and filling out forms if I wanted to do that. Cool. So I checked online and called DCH hospital to ask about it and no one around here does it :( They know what to do if I wanted to save it for my family (which has a fee...a large fee), but they've never done it for donations before. Oh well. I tried. Maybe I'll figure it out before next month.

Stats wise...my blood pressure is still good (120/66) which makes Jake jealous b/c he has to be on medicine for his high b.p. I won't tell you what I weighed, but I will say I gained 5 lbs since the last visit. I think that's a little more than normal, but whatever. Collins' heart rate was 143 bpm. Love hearing that heart beat :) He is moving around like crazy these days! It kind of freaks Jake out to feel elbows and knees! There's no way he'd be good at being pregnant. Ha!

We had our second child birth class on Tuesday ("Infant Care"). I now know how to swaddle. What a relief...it seems much harder than it actually is! We also watched a video and I could have easily cried just imagining those little babies being my own. Almost cried at our appointment too when I saw a baby in the nursery viewing window. I'm gonna be a wreck!

My next appointment is on August 18th...my parents' anniversary! I have a shower this weekend and next weekend (excited!) and then I'm going to plan to stay home till delivery time. So, after that last shower I'm going to pack my hospital bag(s)! I can't believe it's so close. I dream about having him a good bit and so do my friends/co-workers! So far, two of us have had dreams that I've delivered him myself and two of us have had dreams about me going into labor in the bathroom! Oh dear...

Sunday School Shower

I thought hard about waiting on this post until I could get copies of more pictures, but I just can't help it! Our Sunday School class (Five Points Baptist-Newlyweds) gave us a fun and really cute shower on Sunday night, July 25th. It was at Jennifer and Curtis' new home and lots of couples/kids came!

Look at those cupcakes LeAnn made...they were red velvet and blueberry. Delicious! All the food was good and Collins received some great gifts, including a swing that several people chipped in to buy.

We are so fortunate to be a part of this group of people. Jake and I both grew up going to our own home churches since birth so it was a little intimidating at first trying to get involved with a new church in our new town. Five Points people have always made us feel welcome, even from the very beginning. We are so appreciative of the shower, the gifts, but mostly of the friendships!

Tuscaloosa Shower

Saturday, July 24th was a really fun night! My sister was home for the baby shower with Tuscaloosa friends. She was actually home almost a week, which totally spoiled me and now I want to see her EVERY week. This was the first time she's seen me since we knew I was pregnant! She helped a few ladies I work/worked with throw a shower (really more of a party) for Collins and me. The hostesses were Mary Loyd, Katie, Julie, Corrie, and Haylee. It was so cute and SO much fun! Very laid back so there was time to just eat and catch up. Collins got some really cute gifts, too. We keep talking at work about how we all want to do it again. Maybe even convince Mary Loyd to host a slumber party sometime?!