We Are So Blessed

What a gorgeous baby shower I had! We are so blessed and thankful to have such awesome family and friends. Hadley was showered with precious gifts and necessities and I feel like one lucky girl! Anna, my mom, and sister worked so hard decorating the night before and the morning of. The club house decorations were beautiful and so creative! I wanted to cry when I walked in and saw what they had gone out of their way to for Hadley and I. I do not think a million thank yous would be enough for them and all of those that came to share the special day. It was more perfect than I could have imagined; it will be a day I will never forget. Here are some pics :)

Diaper cake Anna made for Hadley

Lucky onesies for decoration

Family

That's me - the mommy to be

Hand stitched quilt for Hadley from my God Mother's mom

Loved loved the Hadley boxes! And all of her awesome gifts too!

This Baby Shower decoration was such a fun idea and perfect for the occassion

Photo booth fun

My gorgeous and delicious cake

My sister and I playing with the photo booth

The lovely ladies who worked so hard on the baby shower. Love them!

I love prego bellies and since I have one of my own right now I am mildly obsessed with making sure we get lots and lots of pictures of it. The morning of my baby shower we woke up at 5:30 to go take sunrise maternity pictures and I could not be more pleased with how they turned out. Photo credits and a BIG ol thank you to my sister for taking them for us.

Now that both of my baby showers are over with (the wonderful ladies in my office also threw me a nice shower last week and again spoiled Hadley with lots of great gifts and my boss bought us the stroller/car seat travel system we wanted) we are getting down to the wire- 41 ish days to go until she is here!! We are so so so excited to meet this little girl we already love so much but I think I can wait another six weeks, not sure I will be ready any sooner than that. Can't wait to hold and love on her but I will miss feeling her little and sometimes not so little movements in my belly. I have grown to love the feeling so much and I also love the looks her daddy gets on his face when he feels her move as well. Can't wait to see the look on his face when he holds her for the first time!

I am finally starting to feel really pregnant now in week 34. Aside from this belly that seems to be growing by the day, my feet are getting sore and start to swell by the end of the day, I'm sure still attempting to wear heels doesn't help the matter but thankfully I have my own personal foot rubber at home :) It's funny, sometimes I forget how big my belly has gotten and try to fit in a space I could before I had it only to be reminded that I can no longer squeeze myself into such places. I have really enjoyed being pregnant so far and hope these last 6 weeks continue to be as pleasant as the last 33 have been.

This weekend we plan to set up the crib, move the piece of furniture I plan to turn into a changing table up stairs, play/practice with the stroller and car seat, and finish up the few last minute things we have to do to prepare for her arrival. The only big item we have left to buy is a crib mattress which is not as easy of a decision as I thought it would be. I have read a lot of reviews and am leaning towards this 

Safety First Heavenly Dreams Mattress

I plan on making the purchase in the next week so if anyone has any suggestions as far as crib mattresses go they would be much appreciated :) This first time momma is a bit overwhelmed with all of the information out there; I have tried not to get too crazy about all of it. Just today someone gave me some advice I really needed and that was "God Himself chose you to be Hadley's mom out of all the people on the planet. Well intentioned friends & family can give advice. Trust your instincts for what's best for your family." 

A little update on me in week 34:

Weight: I have gained 18 pounds as of our check up last week - maybe 20 now after the ice cream cake I ate at 10:00 am yesterday. A girls got to indulge every once in a while and I only have 6 more weeks to use the I'm pregnant excuse so I'm allowed :)

Cravings: From the mouth of my amazing and oh so silly boyfriend,  there are still no 3 am "I want a hot dog covered with peanut butter and jelly" cravings. 

Feeling: Like there is a balloon being blown up in my belly, seriously excited, and slightly nervous

And to finish today's update, here is my weekly bikini picture update

Have a great week! 

It's All About The Bump

So today I want to talk about my bump, my bump, my lovely baby bump...Check it out
Weeks 31 & 32

I've been loving getting some sun on my bump

This was my Valentine's dinner attire. 

By the way we ended up eating a romantic, candle light dinner at Cracker Barrel after this hungry pregnant girl decided Olive Garden was not worth an hour and ten minute wait at 8:30PM. My blackberry pancakes, with extra whipped cream, ended up being delicious and it makes for an unforgettable Valentine's story. I look forward to sharing stories like this with Hadley Rose.

Ignore the not so happy look on my face here, 

I was in fact very happy with how my make up and hair turned out that day

One more bathing suit bump shot

I figure since I only have 7 more weeks (give or take a few days) with this lovely baby bump, I better flaunt it while I've got it. When my belly first started filling out I was a little skeptical about showing it off because I wasn't sure if I actually looked pregnant or just fat, but now that I actually look really pregnant I am not hiding it any longer. Before I continue I want to add that while being pregnant I have called myself fat probably somewhere close to 100 times and I wish I could take every fat comment back. To all of you gorgeous pregnant mommies to be out there....you are NOT fat. You're body is going through an amazing process right now. Embrace it and love that belly. Get creative with dressing it up and don't be afraid to show it off!

Luckily every time I have referred to myself as fat Andrew has been there to inform me that it is not fat, it is baby. To all of you loving fathers to be out there....take note and make sure to remind your mommy to be that her body is beautiful-multiple times a day (even if she already thinks/knows her body is beautiful, she will appreciate the fact that you pointed it out)!


As you can see I cut my hair off during week 31. I needed a small change before the BIG change in our lives (Hadley's arrival) and I am loving it :)

I have been so good since my first Hadley shopping spree and this is only the third outfit I've bought for her BUT how could I resist something this cute?

My baby shower is this weekend! So excited to see everyone. Stay posted because I will be posting lots of pictures from the shower.

Have a great weekend friends :)

Entering Week 31....HOLY COW!!

WOW! Somehow it's week 31, day 217 of this journey! Only 63 days to go (give or take a few days depending on how anxious or stubborn this little girl will be).

So last time I posted I mentioned the dreaded 1 hour glucose test I had to do, well I -the one who eats so healthy and only indulges once in a rare while- missed the cut off for the sugar, after an hour of drinking that syrup, by 6 points! My doctor said it was probably being sick that threw my sugar off a little bit and she didn't think I had gestational diabetes but better safe than sorry so with that I had to partake in the 3 hour glucose test. The first hour was the worst and after that, aside from the waiting game and getting my blood drawn 4 times, it wasn't so bad and.... Drum roll please.... I PASSED!


I still don't think this little girl sleeps very much in my belly- seems like she is constantly trying to get my attention by kicking or punching me in the side (don't worry baby girl mommy doesn't forget that you're in there). We've been playing her reggae music lately, I think she likes that better than those slow heavenly lullabies lol. It will be cool to see how she reacts to different genres of music after she's born.


I put my mom in charge of picking out the outfit we will bring Hadley home in and after hours and hours  of unsuccessful searching online she ended up finding a cute little outfit this weekend. She wanted something that had some sort of roses on it and that is exactly what she found.

Can't wait to see her in it!

Since I'm still feeling really good and haven't started waddling yet, I have been trying to get out and do as much as I can between work and school and I think I've been pretty successful at it. I've been fishing with Andrew (catching bigger fish than Andrew hehehe), rocking some wedges, and trying to dress up this growing baby bump as much as I can

Only 12 days left until the baby shower now.... it is flying up on us! After the shower we will build her crib and start to get all the furniture organized for our baby girl's arrival. As excited as I am for her to get here and for us to bring her home I can't help but feel like I will miss feeling her little moves and karate chops in my belly. It has been such an amazing experience so far and we are so looking forward to all the joy and love this sweet girl will bring to our little family.



In week 30/31:
My weight: Looks like I have gained between 14 and 15 pounds now
My Cravings: Still haven't experienced any major cravings. Maybe smores? I've been diggin' those lately
My Feelings: Happy, excited, hopeful, blessed, maybe a bit anxious, oh and feeling rather large these days (I think this belly grows every day)


Hope everyone has a great week :)

We've Reached The Double Digits

I can't believe it's been more than a month since I last updated....sorry!! I really don't know where the time went.

Since my last update we enjoyed a more than wonderful vacation in the gorgeous mountains of North Carolina. It was absolutely gorgeous at Andrew's parent's cabin. We spent a lot of time relaxing and enjoying the company of each other and family. Oh ya AND I saw snow for the first time, it was more beautiful than I could have imagined.

This was from a light snow we got on Christmas Eve (my first snow!!!)

The night before we were going to leave the snow just started coming down and Andrew had to attempt to make me a snowman but the snow was a little too dry and powdery. He did however succeed in making an awesome snow angel.

The next morning was absolutely, breathtakingly beautiful! It looked like a winter wonderland scene right out of a Christmas movie! So exciting for me since I had never seen anything like it.

Hadley Rose is moving all over the place these days! I swear I am harboring a party animal in this belly. She doesn't keep me awake at night but every time I do wake up she is in there moving around. I hope she likes to sleep a little more once she is born. We can't tell which parts are which yet when she is moving around and poking out but I'm sure we will be able to soon. It's pretty cool to lay there be able to see her moving around my belly. Sometimes it looks like there is an earthquake going on in there. Last night, instead of kicking him like before, Andrew said she high fived him. He loves her so much. It is the most amazing feeling; she is in there moving around and growing every day. She likes music, sometimes at night we will play her heavenly lullabies and she starts to kick around even more (She either really likes the heavenly lullabies or is trying to tell us to switch the station).

We are now in the double digit count down - 83 days to go. According to The Bump app she is the size of  an eggplant measuring between 13.6 and 14.8 inches and weighing between 1.5 and 2.5 pounds. She can open and close her eyes now and her lungs are getting stronger every day. My belly is between 35 and 36 inches around depending on where she is sitting. I would bet that she is going to be long like her daddy because I can feel her on both sides of my belly at once sometimes.

 I officially have an outty now

and my belly is getting so round!

With only 83 more days to go there is so much going on.
I can't believe I only have 10 more weeks at work! It is going to be so strange not going to the place I have gone nearly every weekday for the past 7 and a half years. I am getting a little taste of what that will feel like as I haven't been to work yet this week because I am battling a nasty cold.
A great friend of mine (Anna) is working so hard on planning my baby shower along with some help from my momma. I am so lucky to have such awesome people in my life :) One lucky girl right here. Can't wait to see everyone there and see what they have planned.
Have I mentioned that Anna is getting married in 2 months? Yes I am going to squeeze my prego belly into a bridesmaid dress 2 weeks before I am due! It is going to be a beautiful wedding and she is going to make a gorgeous bride!
With my baby shower coming up in 4 weeks I am trying to put the finishing touches on my registry. I really have no idea exactly what we will need so I did my best trying to think of anything that would be helpful once she gets here. Some mommy friends have given me some good pointers too (Thank you ladies). We will be learning as we go, that's for sure.


Hadley got some super cute outfits and a tiny robe for Christmas along with a bouncer, a glider, an owl blankey, a stuffed owl, and a CRIB (I will post pics soon after we put it together)

In week 28:
My weight: taken at the doctor today has me at gaining between 9 and 10 pounds so far
My cravings: Still not having any pregnancy cravings...except that Cuban sandwich I had to have for dinner last week
My feelings: Happy happy happy, excited, overwhelmed, and a bit drained from this cold 



I am going to take the dreaded glucose test (while I have bronchitis) tomorrow...wish me luck!!

I promise not to go so long before updating next time!

Have a great week friends :)

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

 I love this time of year. The end of October through January are my favorite months but come 2014 I have a feeling April will be my new favorite time of year since that is when Hadley is due. I think she already likes this time of year too because she sure is moving around in there a lot...She must be dancing along to all of the Christmas music I've been playing or it could be the dark chocolate peppermint bark and the hot coco I've been having lately :)

I really do love this time of year though. I love waking up and coming home to the smell of a Christmas tree, baking cookies, buying gifts, and spending time with family and friends. We got a beautiful tree this year and my mom, sister, and I will start the Christmas cookie baking process this coming weekend.

There is so much going on this time of year, the time is just passing so quickly! Between Christmas decorating and shopping, wrapping gifts, working, and trying to fit in some time to relax we are so busy! It's such an exciting time though, in the past 3 weeks, 2 of my long time friends have given birth to beautiful perfect baby girls (yayyy more friends for Hadley). We can't wait to meet our baby girl, we love her so much already. Andrew tells her every night that her daddy and mommy love her, it's the sweetest thing. Just 4 months and a few days and we will be able to hold and love on her.

My belly feels like it is getting bigger by the day

I have gained about 9 pounds now (I can't believe I just admitted that!) and as my bump gets bigger her kicks get stronger. Going for our monthly check up tomorrow but according to "The Bump" app on my phone Hadley is nearing 11 inches and 1 pound this week (week 22). Last night when Andrew was talking to Hadley and trying to see if he could hear her talk back she kicked him in the ear! It was hilarious, I could not stop laughing. He thought it was the coolest thing and the look on his face after it happened melted my heart. I like to think that was a love kick and her way of saying "I hear you talking to me daddy."


We are now at 10 days and counting until we leave for our North Carolina Vacation... SO excited!! Still have a lot to do before we leave but that will pass the time even quicker. It is going to be in the teens with a wind chill that makes it feel like single digit degrees so Lord knows I am going to need at least 4 suitcases of  clothes and boots to keep me warm. This will be my first Christmas away from my family, I wish they could all be in North Carolina too but I am still looking forward to the possibility of my first White Christmas! I've never seen snow, except for when I was too young to remember so I am really excited to see the pretty, white, fluffy stuff I've only seen in pictures and movies.



Since I am so into the Christmas spirit I thought I'd look back at some old Christmas pictures of my little sister and I. Found this one.....

She is going to loveeee me for sharing this but I couldn't help it! Her face is PRICELESS. As you might be able to guess from this picture, she made my childhood quite interesting and awesome. I couldn't imagine having grown up without her! She is going be such a great Aunt (or auntie as she wants to be called) to Hadley Rose.



I love buying for and giving gifts to other people all year long..... I also love getting gifts but heck who doesn't! I received this gift last week as an early shower gift from one of my best friends. She was too excited to wait until February to give it to me and it is just too thoughtful and beautiful not to show off. Every time I look at it I can't help but smile and think that soon our baby girl will be here!

Thank you so much Julia! 

I hope every one has a wonderful week. Don't get too caught up in the materialistic mess that is thrown at you around Christmas time, remember what the season is all about. Enjoy your family and friends and all those you love. Take the time to remember who and what matters most in your life. 

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

We Have Reached the Halfway Mark

Can you believe we are halfway? Time was going by so slow there for a while and now we are suddenly at week 20!! Week 20 has been my favorite week so far because I can feel Hadley move around more than ever, it is so exciting! She really likes letting me know she's in there. It's incredible. This week is also awesome because Thanksgiving happens to fall right in the middle of it. Aside from the delicious food I plan on devouring (I am so using the "I have to feed two excuse" these next few days), we truly have A LOT to be thankful for this holiday. Last Thanksgiving I never could have imagined that I would be pregnant this thanksgiving but I am so thankful for this wonderful gift the good Lord has blessed us with. We are so lucky to be able to spend the holiday season with our families and I hope everyone remembers what the holiday season is really about. Faith, Family, and Love.


I had my first official "pregnancy brain" episode yesterday when I was baking pumpkin rolls for my sister. I lined up all of my ingredients as I do when I am baking: the flour, the sugar, the baking powder, the cinnamon.... ok you get the picture. So when it was time to use the baking powder I was really confused when I didn't see it in my line. I looked in the cabinet where I keep it and it was no where to be found. A few frustrating minutes later I went to get a spoon out of the drawer to mix what I had of the ingredients together and HEY THERE'S THE BAKING POWDER

Don't know how or why it ended up in the utensil drawer 

but my excuse is the "pregnancy brain"

Despite the baking powder mishap, the pumpkin rolls came out delicious and my sister will love me for another year now :)

A little update on my belly....it is getting huge!! Well to me anyway. I am now weighing in between 126 and 128 pounds depending on what time of day I jump on the scale. I am loving and embracing the baby bump now though and enjoy showing it off.... here are some pictures and no that belly is not food induced, it is all baby Hadley. 

With the Christmas season flying up on us I decided it was time to take some announcement pictures to include in our Christmas cards this year. Here is a little sneak peak of our Thanksgiving photo sesh. Thank you to my sister for her photo taking skills and thank you to Andrew for putting up with me making you take 100+ pictures. Love you babe!

I am still feeling really great these days and hope it continues this way right up until the very end (please, please Lord let it)!! I really hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and got to enjoy family, friends, and food of course! I am still stuffed from our 2 o clock dinner so I'd say the day was a success. Looking forward to the upcoming weeks of Christmas decorating, baking and shopping, work party, other holiday festivities and VACATION!!!!