Baby Girl,
Well, believe it or not you are still not here! While your daddy and I are very excited to meet you we are equally excited you have not come yet. This means you are still growing where you need to grow so that when you do come you will be healthy and strong.
I went to the doctor last Friday and she seems to think you will grace us with your prescense sooner rather than later. I got to come off my medication that keeps me from having contractions. Unfortunately, for about 2 weeks now I have been having contractions, so I guess the medicine wasn't working. We went to the hospital two Mondays ago and even though I was 70% thinned out and you were between a 0 and a +1, I wasn't dilating. This meant we didn't have to stay in the hospital and got to come home that night! Now that I am off my medication I am also off bed rest and am allowed to lead a normal life. I am able to get out of the house and finish up a few things for you sweet girl.
Your nursery is coming together, finally! Your crib is up, your bedding is in place, and we are slowly, but surely, getting things hung on the walls to make it look like the perfect room for you. Your bouncer, swing, pack n' play, and high chair are in place. I have had your carseat installed in my car and your daddy's car. The only thing missing is you! We can't wait to meet you and feel like it will be any day now (even though your daddy and I joke that you will stay in there until your due date).
I have become very uncomfortable when I sleep at night. It takes me forever to go to sleep and I wake up several times in the middle of the night. I can tell you're gaining weight because when I flip from side-to-side it takes a little while for you to "follow" me and get yourself comfortable. My fingers and feet are starting to swell and I am going to the bathroom it seems every 15 minutes.
Well, just a short update on what is going on in our lives.
Love,
Mommy
Monday, October 29, 2012
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Telling Our Families
Baby Girl,
I thought of a couple stories I hadn't told you yet. You know what a miracle you are by this point, and you know how your daddy and I found out about you. However, I didn't tell you how we told our families about our little miracle. Let me start with my family....
The day we found out about you (March 26, 2012) it was late in the afternoon and truly was not news I was expecting (given our previous rounds). After your daddy and I found out about you I made him jump in the shower so we could go over to my mom's house and tell her. We had always wanted to find out about you around a holiday so we could buy a present and watch them open it. Easter was getting closer, but it was too far away and we could barely contain our excitement. We decided to stop by Target and pick up a bottle and a pack of pacifiers. We put these in a bag and headed to my mom's house. I called on the way and tried to sound normal on the phone. We told them we were going to eat but had a few errands to run and that they didn't take as long as we had thought so we were going to stop by their house for a few minutes. When we walked in my mom asked if we had heard anything from the doctor's office and I told her I just didn't want to talk about it.
**Side note: I had just come back from Nashville, chaperoning a school trip to see the play Mary Poppins. Mary Poppins was one of my favorite movies when I was little and I made my mom watch it almost daily.**
I told my mom I had bought her a present from the show to bring back "old memories." She really wasn't sure what in the world I could have brought her back from the show and wasn't extremely excited about it. She was too upset that I didn't have anything to tell her. First, she pulled out the bottle and was unsure what it was (it was in a box in her defense). When she didn't understand what it was we told her there was something else in the bag. Next was the pacifiers and she definitely got it then. Mom and Henry were so excited and cried and hugged us. You are their first grandchild and they are beside themselves on what to do with you already (and you aren't even here yet!)
Next came the rest of my family. Again, we thought we could wait until Mother's Day (which would have made you 12 weeks old at that point) but we just couldn't. We decided to see if the family wanted to meet us for dinner since we hadn't seen them since Christmas. Mom, Henry, Jenelle, Reagan, Gigi, your daddy, and I all met at Logan's in Athens on a Sunday night. After getting a table and talking for a little while I found an in to tell them about you. As we were talking, I asked them what we had decided to do about Christmas this year (last year took forever to make plans). Everyone said they hadn't talked much about it or really thought about it but they wanted to make plans early this year. I told them we needed to really make plans because my due date was December 5, 2012 and that may change some things for the holidays this year. Since my mom, Henry, your daddy and I knew what I meant we just sat and waited. This is a photo I wish I had. It took them several seconds to realize what I had said. When they finally got it there were hugs and tears again. Everyone is VERY excited about you. You are the first baby on my side of the family. We had to call your Uncle Andy, Dinah, and Uncle Dusty because they were just too far away to join us and we couldn't wait until we saw them again to tell them about you.
Finally, Easter came around and we decided this was the best time to tell your daddy's side of the family. We had already told your Aunt Jamie and Uncle Craig, but we hadn't told Nanny and PaPaw Tim. We went to church with Nanny and PaPaw Tim and then headed to Uncle Craig and Aunt Jamie's for an Easter lunch and to spend time with your cousin's Grant and Gracie. When we got there, Aunt Jamie's family was there and we were waiting on Nanny and PaPaw to join us. We made t-shirts for Grant and Gracie that said "Big Cousin" and changed them into them while we were waiting. Finally, they got there and we explained to Grant what was going on, but Gracie was a little young to understand. We asked them to go out in the living room and see how long it would take Nanny and PaPaw Tim to notice there shirts. While Grant and Gracie did a great job with this, the rest of us just stood there waiting and couldn't wait very long. We finally told Grant to show Nanny his shirt....it took a few minutes, but she finally got it!! PaPaw Tim was outside so when we came back in we told Gracie to show PaPaw her shirt...he never did get it. We had to explain it to him. They were very excited and are looking forward to meeting you.
I thought of a couple stories I hadn't told you yet. You know what a miracle you are by this point, and you know how your daddy and I found out about you. However, I didn't tell you how we told our families about our little miracle. Let me start with my family....
The day we found out about you (March 26, 2012) it was late in the afternoon and truly was not news I was expecting (given our previous rounds). After your daddy and I found out about you I made him jump in the shower so we could go over to my mom's house and tell her. We had always wanted to find out about you around a holiday so we could buy a present and watch them open it. Easter was getting closer, but it was too far away and we could barely contain our excitement. We decided to stop by Target and pick up a bottle and a pack of pacifiers. We put these in a bag and headed to my mom's house. I called on the way and tried to sound normal on the phone. We told them we were going to eat but had a few errands to run and that they didn't take as long as we had thought so we were going to stop by their house for a few minutes. When we walked in my mom asked if we had heard anything from the doctor's office and I told her I just didn't want to talk about it.
**Side note: I had just come back from Nashville, chaperoning a school trip to see the play Mary Poppins. Mary Poppins was one of my favorite movies when I was little and I made my mom watch it almost daily.**
I told my mom I had bought her a present from the show to bring back "old memories." She really wasn't sure what in the world I could have brought her back from the show and wasn't extremely excited about it. She was too upset that I didn't have anything to tell her. First, she pulled out the bottle and was unsure what it was (it was in a box in her defense). When she didn't understand what it was we told her there was something else in the bag. Next was the pacifiers and she definitely got it then. Mom and Henry were so excited and cried and hugged us. You are their first grandchild and they are beside themselves on what to do with you already (and you aren't even here yet!)
Next came the rest of my family. Again, we thought we could wait until Mother's Day (which would have made you 12 weeks old at that point) but we just couldn't. We decided to see if the family wanted to meet us for dinner since we hadn't seen them since Christmas. Mom, Henry, Jenelle, Reagan, Gigi, your daddy, and I all met at Logan's in Athens on a Sunday night. After getting a table and talking for a little while I found an in to tell them about you. As we were talking, I asked them what we had decided to do about Christmas this year (last year took forever to make plans). Everyone said they hadn't talked much about it or really thought about it but they wanted to make plans early this year. I told them we needed to really make plans because my due date was December 5, 2012 and that may change some things for the holidays this year. Since my mom, Henry, your daddy and I knew what I meant we just sat and waited. This is a photo I wish I had. It took them several seconds to realize what I had said. When they finally got it there were hugs and tears again. Everyone is VERY excited about you. You are the first baby on my side of the family. We had to call your Uncle Andy, Dinah, and Uncle Dusty because they were just too far away to join us and we couldn't wait until we saw them again to tell them about you.
Finally, Easter came around and we decided this was the best time to tell your daddy's side of the family. We had already told your Aunt Jamie and Uncle Craig, but we hadn't told Nanny and PaPaw Tim. We went to church with Nanny and PaPaw Tim and then headed to Uncle Craig and Aunt Jamie's for an Easter lunch and to spend time with your cousin's Grant and Gracie. When we got there, Aunt Jamie's family was there and we were waiting on Nanny and PaPaw to join us. We made t-shirts for Grant and Gracie that said "Big Cousin" and changed them into them while we were waiting. Finally, they got there and we explained to Grant what was going on, but Gracie was a little young to understand. We asked them to go out in the living room and see how long it would take Nanny and PaPaw Tim to notice there shirts. While Grant and Gracie did a great job with this, the rest of us just stood there waiting and couldn't wait very long. We finally told Grant to show Nanny his shirt....it took a few minutes, but she finally got it!! PaPaw Tim was outside so when we came back in we told Gracie to show PaPaw her shirt...he never did get it. We had to explain it to him. They were very excited and are looking forward to meeting you.
This isn't from Easter, but here are your cousin's Grant and Gracie in their shirts at your gender party.
Here is a picture of your "cousin" Mary Hyatt. She made this sign for you after we told her Mommy and Daddy. She is about 18 months older than you and we hope ya'll are the best of friends!
Here is a picture of your first Easter Basket. After we told your Daddy's family we came back home and had dinner with my mom and dad (like we always do on Sundays) and the Easter Bunny had been to see you at their house!
Love,
Mommy
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Your First Baby Shower - Family and Gifts
Baby Girl,
In the last letter I shared with you pictures of the decorations and food at your first baby shower. I didn't get to tell you about all your family and friends that came to celebrate this special day with us. Of course, all female family members were there, as well as close friends (that will be like family), and friends that have prayed for us and with us as we have made this journey. The shower was very laid back since Mommy was still on bed rest, but it was more then I could have ever asked for.
Here is a picture of all your aunts on your mommy's side. Aunt Dinah, Aunt Jenelle, Mommy, my mom, and Aunt Reagan. They worked hard all weekend to decorate our house for the shower. The next picture we added "Aunt" Christen. She came over and helped decorate as well as baking cookies for the shower.
In the last letter I shared with you pictures of the decorations and food at your first baby shower. I didn't get to tell you about all your family and friends that came to celebrate this special day with us. Of course, all female family members were there, as well as close friends (that will be like family), and friends that have prayed for us and with us as we have made this journey. The shower was very laid back since Mommy was still on bed rest, but it was more then I could have ever asked for.
Here are your mommy, my mom, and Nanny before the shower. And another picture of your mommy and my mom.
This is Mommy and your Aunt Reagan. She helped out so much during the shower and gave up a lot of time to make this day special for you. The next picture is your "Aunt" Christen. While she isn't a blood relative you will spend a lot of time with her and her family. They have a little girl named Mary Hyatt that is very excited to meet you and become friends. Your mommy and "Aunt" Christen have been friends for a long time and are excited about many years to come!
Here is a picture of all your aunts on your mommy's side. Aunt Dinah, Aunt Jenelle, Mommy, my mom, and Aunt Reagan. They worked hard all weekend to decorate our house for the shower. The next picture we added "Aunt" Christen. She came over and helped decorate as well as baking cookies for the shower.
Finally, here is a picture of your Uncle Dusty, Aunt Reagan, and Uncle Bogan. Uncle Dusty and Uncle Bogan traveled a long way to be a part of this special day for you. They even stayed for the shower with all us girls.
The first picture shows Mommy opening a gift from a friend at your shower. Next to me is your cousin Gracie. She helped open all your presents! The second picture is Mommy and Gracie and Sarah Whitt. She is a friend from Mommy's school. She also helped open your presents and is excited about meeting you. In fact, she thought she was going to get to meet you at the shower! She says your name is Dewayne.
Here are some more pictures of Mommy and Gracie opening your gifts. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of everyone that came to the shower, but I have kept all the cards so that you can see how much you are loved and how excited everyone is to celebrate this with us after our long journey to get you here.
I can't wait until we can have parties which include you. With all the work that went into this shower I know your birthday parties will be fantastic!! These pictures are just a window into our lives to show you how many people are thankful you are on your way to our arms. They have all prayed with us, sent kind words, texts, or made phone calls to help us get to this point. This was a great way to celebrate where we are today and has helped us look forward to what will happen sometime during the next 8 weeks.
Love,
Mommy
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Your First Baby Shower - Food and Decor
Baby Girl,
After getting such great news at the doctor we could truly celebrate your baby shower this weekend. I can't wait until you are old enough to see and appreciate the pictures from your first party. Your Aunt Jenelle, Aunt Reagan, Aunt Dinah, "Aunt" Christen, and my mom spent a lot of time preparing for this day. Your Aunt Jenelle and Aunt Reagan did so much to make this special for you and Mommy.
Once I got put on bed rest it made them re-think what to do for the shower. We decided to have it a little earlier than we had originally planned just in case you decided to come earlier than we wanted. We also decided since I was put on bed rest to have the shower at our house, and this weekend our house was overcome with pink, tulle, and shower goodies. Below are several pictures of the decorations and food that were brought over for the shower....
Here are the cupcakes from Gigi's and the chocolate-covered pretzels on the desert table.
After getting such great news at the doctor we could truly celebrate your baby shower this weekend. I can't wait until you are old enough to see and appreciate the pictures from your first party. Your Aunt Jenelle, Aunt Reagan, Aunt Dinah, "Aunt" Christen, and my mom spent a lot of time preparing for this day. Your Aunt Jenelle and Aunt Reagan did so much to make this special for you and Mommy.
Once I got put on bed rest it made them re-think what to do for the shower. We decided to have it a little earlier than we had originally planned just in case you decided to come earlier than we wanted. We also decided since I was put on bed rest to have the shower at our house, and this weekend our house was overcome with pink, tulle, and shower goodies. Below are several pictures of the decorations and food that were brought over for the shower....
These are the pedifores from Peggy Ann's bakery (my favorite) and cookies your Aunt Jenelle found from a lady - they were so cute! They were in the shapes of onesies, strollers, and booties.
This is your diaper bouquet your Aunt Christen made. It has 84 size 1 diapers that we will be able to unroll and use when you get a little bigger. Next to the diaper bouquet were party favors for everyone who came to the shower. Your Aunt Jenelle bought OPI nail polish called "It's A Girl."
These are "diaper" waters and pink lemonade on the drink table.
This was at the front door for everyone to see as they came in. And another picture of the table with the party favors on it. Your Aunt Reagan found this cute box to put the nail polish in as decoration.
And finally, one more picture of the precious desert table with 10 different types of deserts. There were chocolate covered pretzels, pedifores, 2 different types of cookies, another type of chocolate pretzel, rice krispie treats, pink M&M's, pink Hershey kisses, Gigi's cupcakes, and one other type of candy and marshmallows as decorations.
This is just the first post about your baby shower. You can see what a great job everyone did helping to get ready. It was absolutely perfect! Just goes to show how many people love you and you aren't even here yet. We are so excited to meet you and were so excited to celebrate your arrival this weekend.
Love,
Mommy
Good News!
Baby Girl,
We have made it!! We are finally at 32 weeks and I couldn't be more excited to share this news with you. Your daddy and I have talked a lot about getting to this point and how the doctor didn't think we would get here. Friday was the first time I went to the doctor and we got to talk about anything past 32 weeks. I still think you are extremely stubborn and will be in there until at least 40 weeks. But whatever keeps you growing and healthy is/has been worth everything.
On Friday, the doctor told us I could begin getting out a little now. She told me I should continue to stay in bed and rest, but when your daddy was home or my mom was around we could go on one errand or so a day. This means we can finish some things up to prepare for your arrival and even shop for you a few new outfits! We have to have an agenda and know exactly what we are going for. She made sure to tell me not to wander around aimlessly (which I am very good at). Your daddy, my mom, and Nanny still think I don't need to do much, and honestly, I agree. I still want you to grow and stay in a while longer (even though I feel like some days I can't wait any longer to meet you sweet girl).
This week at the doctor I was told I have gained a total of 11 pounds with this pregnancy. With 8 more weeks to go (57 days at this point) I am sure I will put on much more. My back has started to hurt much more because of the weight from carrying you. I have also started to get nauseated again and dislike food. Although, I have really started to crave sweets. I think this is because you are so sweet! My rings are starting to get a little tight and my feet are starting to swell slightly. Sleeping is terrible!! I guess it is preparing me for your arrival and your sleep habits. I still feel you move constantly throughout the day (you are a little dancer inside my tummy). Your daddy and I love to sit on the couch at night and watch my belly "bounce" as you roll around, kick, punch, or whatever it is you do in there. Your daddy can also hear your heartbeat if I lay very still and the room is quiet. He is very excited about this and says it is one of the neatest things he has ever witnessed.
We have just about finished the basics of your nursery. The walls are painted, the closet is striped (with clothes hanging in it), your dressing station and wardrobe are in (and beginning to fill up), and your bedding is here. We are still waiting on your crib and are looking forward to decorating the walls with artwork before you arrive. Below are some pictures of what we have done so far....
This is your Uncle Dusty and Uncle Bogan moving your furniture around to make it look best in the room. They worked very hard this weekend to help us get ready for you.
This is your closet after your Uncle Dusty painted it for us. He was very particular about how this looked and did a fantastic job. It took him most of the morning to do this for you. It is going to look great with your pink and gray bedding.
Here is the finished product. Your clothes are hanging, a new shelf has been hung, and a dresser has been added to help store all the things you need.
Here is a picture of your nursery so far. Your bedding is on top of the wardrobe but you can't really see it. This week your Nanny and Papaw bought you a carseat and a stroller. Your daddy and I can't wait to get your car seat installed in Mommy's car. This means it is getting close to time to bring you home.
Well, this is the "Good News" this week. You are continuing to grow and we are lucky to still have your inside Mommy's tummy. This week was a big milestone for us and for you.
Love,
Mommy
We have made it!! We are finally at 32 weeks and I couldn't be more excited to share this news with you. Your daddy and I have talked a lot about getting to this point and how the doctor didn't think we would get here. Friday was the first time I went to the doctor and we got to talk about anything past 32 weeks. I still think you are extremely stubborn and will be in there until at least 40 weeks. But whatever keeps you growing and healthy is/has been worth everything.
On Friday, the doctor told us I could begin getting out a little now. She told me I should continue to stay in bed and rest, but when your daddy was home or my mom was around we could go on one errand or so a day. This means we can finish some things up to prepare for your arrival and even shop for you a few new outfits! We have to have an agenda and know exactly what we are going for. She made sure to tell me not to wander around aimlessly (which I am very good at). Your daddy, my mom, and Nanny still think I don't need to do much, and honestly, I agree. I still want you to grow and stay in a while longer (even though I feel like some days I can't wait any longer to meet you sweet girl).
This week at the doctor I was told I have gained a total of 11 pounds with this pregnancy. With 8 more weeks to go (57 days at this point) I am sure I will put on much more. My back has started to hurt much more because of the weight from carrying you. I have also started to get nauseated again and dislike food. Although, I have really started to crave sweets. I think this is because you are so sweet! My rings are starting to get a little tight and my feet are starting to swell slightly. Sleeping is terrible!! I guess it is preparing me for your arrival and your sleep habits. I still feel you move constantly throughout the day (you are a little dancer inside my tummy). Your daddy and I love to sit on the couch at night and watch my belly "bounce" as you roll around, kick, punch, or whatever it is you do in there. Your daddy can also hear your heartbeat if I lay very still and the room is quiet. He is very excited about this and says it is one of the neatest things he has ever witnessed.
We have just about finished the basics of your nursery. The walls are painted, the closet is striped (with clothes hanging in it), your dressing station and wardrobe are in (and beginning to fill up), and your bedding is here. We are still waiting on your crib and are looking forward to decorating the walls with artwork before you arrive. Below are some pictures of what we have done so far....
Well, this is the "Good News" this week. You are continuing to grow and we are lucky to still have your inside Mommy's tummy. This week was a big milestone for us and for you.
Love,
Mommy
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