Austin's Blessing

Baby Austin was blessed by is daddy on Sunday. Melanie and JT came from Phenix City and Robert's parents and siblings were all there. It was perfect! :) After the blessing we were going to have a picnic in the park but we got rained out. The next best thing, Grandma's! We went to Robert's mom and dad's house and ate bbq sandwiches and hot dogs. We only took one picture because I left the camera at the house... lame! But here were are, headed to church Sunday morning with Austin looking super handsome in his blessing outfit and Auburn booties, WAR EAGLE!!!I love my boys!

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Only 20-days left...hopefully less :D

Monday was my first day that I experienced swelling...ewwww! It was horrible. Like, below my knees and my ankles were huge and red and it felt like needles sticking in them. Luckily for me Robert was home and rubbed those bad boys with lotion. The swelling didn't subside much, but it relaxed them and they weren't tingling anymore, the ice packed made it feel better too. I should have take a picture, I had cankles!

Doctor's appointment yesterday and progression is looking...

...SLOW! I am 60% effaced and 1cm dilated...ONE!!! This is gonna be a looong month...

Mom is packing and ready to hit the road as soon as she hears the word :D

Take your time momma ;)

Robert is still needing to let his professors know the situation. He should be able to talk with them Wednesday b/c the past two days have just been orientation and he hasn't really spoken with his actual professors yet.

I have a Plan-B now :) If I go into labor at work, Robert's dad is the man to call if Terry is out of the office. Hopefully this will not be an issue, but we shall see. I really do not want to have another false alarm, those are just embarrassing.

I got the glider for the nursery.
We have new carpet throughout the house which is absolutely fantastic!
I am in the process of deep cleaning every inch of our humble abode.
Hospital bags are packed, even Robert's.
I still need to make these curtains.
I would love to find time to do a few crafty things in his room.
Want to download songs for my Ipod (not that I'll likely listen to it), but having issues with downloading.

All of my concerns are pretty minor and superficial now, with the exception of another false labor experience. It needs to be all or nothing at this point.

Look, I realize that I still have 3-weeks left, but I am sooo hopeful of this happening before my due date. I'm thinking that this must happen in the next two-weeks. August 30th is what I have my money on :)

36-weeks

So, here I am with 4 more weeks to go before my due date and well, I'm over it.

GET IT OUT!!!!

Yesterday was the worst day EVER!!! I was tired ALL day!

My doctor is a JERK! terrible appointment yesterday

I have not dilated at all!!!!

My back hurts 90% of the day

I feel a cold coming on :(

I miss my family...ALOT!

But on the bright side...

(there's always a bright side hiding deep in the bottomless pit of misery)

I am 50% effaced, so I am progressing on my own

Austin is nice and lodged into place

the carpet installer comes tomorrow

the Maxima was giving us problems, but it only needed a new battery

My doctor seems to think I will deliver before Aug. 30th :D

So in a nut shell yesterday was terrible and today isn't looking great either...

Robert is off tomorrow so hopefully that will make my week happier :D

35-1/2 Weeks...but whose counting...

Lisa took my maternity photos and they turned out beautiful!

I love them all, but just posted my absolute favorites :)

Austin's nursery is almost complete! I still need to do a few more things...

Get the glider/rocking chair

We should be getting new carpet sometime next week

I need another set of storage drawers for his closet
Wash his linens
Make Curtains

I took a big step and put his swing in the living room

and his high chair in the kitchen...

...this is a huge because I have had it tucked away in his room forever.

I know this is dramatic, but when I had Robert carry it out of the nursery, I felt like, 'wow this is really happening'. That feeling is kind of like de ja vu lately b/c it seems like every time I finish something I have that 'wow, not too much longer' feeling

Yesterday I had some pretty bad contractions (like the worst pain I have ever felt) and Robert met Uncle Terry and I at the hospital. Terry had to take me b/c I was at work at the time...poor Terry!

Anyways, false labor, of course BUT that pain not even being the real thing, made me realize EPIDURAL for sure!!! As soon as I walk through the doors, I'll put in an order for two just in case the first one doesn't work. My pain tolerance out of 10 is like a 1, just sayin'!

So the nurse gave me some Breathine to relax the contractions and it worked like a charm, but only for like 20-30 minutes. She told me to call my doctor when I got home if I started having them again and he would likely send in a prescription for the medicine in pill form. So sure enough they were back when I got home, not as bad as when I went into the hospital but I didn't want to wait until I couldn't hardly walk again. Called ol' doc and he pretty much said, riiight! Suck it up lady! You're body is preparing to deliver this baby and we don't want to stop the contractions...even though I still have a month left??? He's like this just means that you might go into labor in about a week. Wow! He was so at ease saying that too, like that is what I was expecting to hear or something. NEWS FLASH!!!! I'm not ready people! I am suppose to work until the end of the month and still be able to pull last minute things together during my week off before his due date...that is THE plan and I am a HUGE fan of plans! I mean I am sooo into this plan that I don't even have a 'Plan B'.

Yeah, so I am calling a pediatrician today so that I have that before going into the hospital. I have to pack our bags and wash baby clothes and that is pretty much it, well and move the bassinet into our room. Everything else can wait until after he gets here.

I just got tired thinking about all of this.

I must say, as much as I hate the term "cravings", I have been having cravings but just these past few weeks.

Fruit, pretty much any kind except berries
Ice!!!
I want ice all the time, crushed, chunks, whatever I just want to eat it

We are doing great and really getting anxious for this huge event.
If I can take care of these few last minute things
I believe I'll be as ready as I can be.

Hold off Baby Austin, mommy & daddy need a bit more time :D

33-Weeks

I was just cleaning out a closet and came across all of my unused needles, meds & syringes from IVF. WOW! I almost cried...almost, but not quite! I mean, just thinking about all that we went through to be here, 33-weeks along, only 7 left. I can't believe that this time last year we were stressed and trying to cope with the possibility of never experiencing this whole pregnancy thing. I know that I complain a lot about being uncomfortable and blah, blah, blah, but we are enjoying this brief moment more than any other experience. The anticipation of what is next. The excitement of decorating and getting clothes and cute little items that I don't even know the purpose of :P My favorite so far is laying in bed or sitting on the couch with Robert and having him place his hand on my tummy, feeling baby Austin rolling around and stretching to the max. It truly is amazing! Medical technology is amazing! I have never been happier than I am right now, just knowing that there is so much more to life and we will soon be blessed with him :)

While I'm feeling so chipper, let me just say how much I love Robert. He is an amazing man and I am so blessed to have such an incredible best friend that I can absolutely depend on for everything. And did I mention that he pretty much adores me, well he pretty much adores me :D Lucky, I think so!

Enough of that mushy, gushy stuff... let's chat about something more exciting, more...shallow!

....On a lighter note, or heavier, depending on what angle you are looking at...I'm pretty much HUGE now! That's right, huge! Apparently I have great elasticity in the gut thus far b/c no stretch marks...YET! Only time will reveal my stomach's fate. When I look down I don't see huge, but when I get a glimpse in the mirror I can't help but be amazed at the size of the beast. Wait, I'm gonna go measure this thing.....***measuring***.....HOLY GUACAMOLE!!!! 38-inches!!!! Yup, I wouldn't lie. That is the first time I measured since I first found out that I had a parasite growing inside me and then I measured....***looking for journal...that I didn't ever update*** RRRGGGG!!!! I only put my weight, which was quite a bit less than I'm currently tipping the scales at. Here, let's compare pictures, shall we?!?!?

Remind me, why did I cut my hair again???
Now that I compare the two, I haven't changed a bit!

Soooo, I thought I posted my to-do list like a month ago, but I did not :( I typed it all up, but I never posted it. Anyways, I am going to post that draft soon. AND to my surprise I have actually checked off a few things, AWESOME!

32-Weeks!

Baby Austin @ 32-weeks

I am sooo excited to meet this little fella! Seeing this ultrasound made me realize how close I am. Only 8 more weeks to go! He is head down with his feet in my ribs :) Doc says that babies usually take after the mother as far as birth weight, which is ridiculous b/c I was 9lb/11oz!!!! Just sayin', that is a big baby! He is currently 5 lbs., but we won't say what mommy is weighing in at :P I have made it a point to not step on the scale at home, doctor appointments only.

This morning I spent 15 minutes just trying to find a pair a pants that fit comfortably and didn't cut off all circulation when sitting down. I am down to two pairs of jeans. I have some khaki capris too, but only one pair of shorts. Let's be honest, I am oddly proportioned, even for being pregnant. I still have a flat booty, so when pants or shorts fit at the tummy, they look like a balloon around my junk. Sad.

So Tuesday Robert made it official, he actually referred to our baby as "Austin" :) It was pretty cute. Now we call him "Baby Austin". Also, we chose a middle name!!! I know, we're making progress. "Austin Michael". We are naming him after Robert's daddy :)

I really need to break out my camera and take pictures of his nursery. I found the perfect quilt, I mean I am in-love with this quilt. Got it at a little childrens boutique here in Montgomery, My Kids Attic. The quilt is white with blue trim. I think it is more of a coverlet than a quilt, it is gorgeous. Granted it probably won't be for long, ya know, being white! I made a bed skirt to match, using a white sheet and blue ribbon at the bottom. I still need to make curtains though. I hope it all looks nice together when I am finished. I am free after work all next week so I am planning to work on some of my projects during that free time. I think I made a list of things that I need to finish before Austin's arrival, I am pretty sure that I haven't checked one item off that list. I have had quite the busy month.

Lisa is taking maternity pics of me on the 31st, weather permitting. I am so excited! I am sure my next post will have less chatter and more pictures...well, maybe lots of chatter and lots of pictures.