Iris 4-25-09

I had to show off my Nanny's Iris. She gave these to me last summer (2008) and we just plopped them down in the bed that the contractors that built the house made. It isn't the most desirable soil choice but I thought they would do fine. Well, whatever is in that soil they LOVE. They look beautiful!!! Notice how tall the one purple one is. It is literally waist high! Thanks Nanny!

Nice Bears collar Sandi!

35weeks 5days

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Brodie practicing CPR on a rescue victim!

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35 weeks & Dilated

We had our weekly checkup today. I am 35w1d and Taylor is measuring 36w. I am dilated 1cm and my cervix is softening. YEA! She's is still floating around in there which means she hasn't started descending into my pelvis, but I feel and look like she has already started to drop. All of our vitals are good and she's face down.

My OB wants my bag 100% packed tonight! She said that before the exam so I think she must tell that to all 35 weekers. I did my Group B strep test so hopefully that'll come back negative. Not sure how long it takes to come back.

Man, I can't believe we are about to have this little baby in our arms. I am so very excited!!!!! WOOO-HOOO! We have been down such a hard road to get here and our dreams are finally coming true. We are so very blessed. Please keep all of us in your prayers as we will certainly be needing them in weeks ahead.

35w5d at CG Station Emerald Isle

34 Weeks

So, we only have about 4-6 weeks and our little bundle of screams, tears, and dirty diapers will be with us. Just Kidding...we are very anxiously awaiting her arrival. Although, now that it is getting closer we are questioning if she is really a he. We don't have any real basis for this though. I bought a bunch of girl stuff but kept the receipt and refuse to remove the tags until SHE is home. Her heartbeat is 154, I haven't been emotional (just annoyed), I have a tiny baby bump, not really carrying low but not real high either. (People have noticed that I have started dropping.) Well, I guess we'll find out soon enough. She is also getting very strong. She is right around 5 lbs and she's very active. Yesterday she was hurting me pretty badly. Her feet and arms move across my stomach with such force that it seems like she is just going to bust out of there. It really hurts!

A lot of people have been asking me if I am getting scared or nervous. Well, not so much. I am not afraid of labor (although I probably should be). I am more nervous about the first few weeks. I know it will require a thousand times more patience than I possess and I am praying that God will be with us and give us strength. Brodie is a rock and I know he'll do great. We also have Nanny Rogers coming to stay for 3 weeks and that will be invaluable. I am sure between the 3 of us our baby will get all of the love and attention she requires, regardless of the time of day or night.

It's silly, but I also think a lot about her growing up and becoming a teenager and what that will require from us. Parenting is the hardest job in the WORLD and I'm not even a mom yet. I just hope that I will be a good mom and wife. There is nothing that can prepare me for what lies ahead, I just pray so very hard that God will guide me to the right decisions. I know I will make mistakes, it's inevitable. I just hope that when she grows up she can forgive me for them and know that everything I did, I did for her.

Whew, okay. Now I'm all emotional! Deep breath...shake it off...

So, at 34 weeks my tummy is measuring 40" around and I am 168 lbs. I have gained 31 pounds. My next appointment is next week and I will start going once a week after that. My last day at work is May 1st and I am counting down the days. I get very tired after lunch and it is hard to stay focused. Physically, I feel alright most days. My back has started to ache a little. I have been having Braxton-Hicks contractions which is normal, they are very small ones now, but as I get further along their intensity will increase. I have been nesting like a crazy person. I can't stand for anything to be dirty. One glass in the sink freaks me out, which is completely opposite of my untidy character. I need to rest but my urge to clean forces me to get up. I have a thousand things spinning around in my head that need to get done so I'll make a list and email it to myself. LOL!

Enjoy the pics!

(Remember, click on pic to enlarge and use "back arrow" to go back to main blog page.)

Poking out just a little! ;P

8 months and 2 miles off shore

Hi! So, we finally had our first beautiful weekend. We took the boat out 2 miles off shore for some fun and sun! At 33 weeks this was my last chance to get out on the boat for a while.

Brodie caught a bunch of black sea bass and I got a tan. Yep, I laid on the front of that boat in my bikini with my pregnant belly out and proud!!! It was SO funny! It's a good thing we were the only boat in sight! Guess what? Pregnancy increases the skins sensitivity to the suns rays. Can anyone say, "Crispy, Pregnant Critter!"

My First Daffodils

This is for Nanny and & Chay.

I am the only person in my 80 lot subdivision that planted Daffodils. They are so pretty and everyone on the street loves them. Everytime I look at them they just make me smile.

Also, my Nanny's daylilies are starting to pop up! (Click on pic to enlarge)

8 Months Today

Hi! We hope you enjoyed our video.
(It was bedtime so please don't pay any attention to my appearance! Thanks.)

I am 8 months today. I can't believe it. Where has the time gone?

We have completed our child birthing classes. I have gained 27 pounds and my belly measures about 39 inches at my button. Taylor is about 4 pounds and 17 inches tall. She is so big and moves all the time. It is crazy because now I can feel her arms and legs, not just little bumps and flutters. The time has passed so quickly and I am sure that has a lot to do with the fact that I have had a relatively easy, symptom free pregnancy. Thank You God!!!

We have everything ready for her to come home with a few tiny exceptions. The glider won't be here until May 1st. We still need to get some curtains put up. Also, we need a small lamp table to set beside my glider. I'd like to get a few shelves put above her dresser so that we can put her books there. But, as far as the diapers, wipes, and all the other necessities goes...we have that. I will pack my hospital back this weekend.

IT'S GETTING CLOSE!!!

28 Weeks

I will be 28 weeks tomorrow and I am officially in my 3rd trimester. I have finally gotten some of my severe pregnancy symptoms taken care of with a large bottle of Nexium, the purple pill. I didn't want to take any meds at all while pregnant but I was dying. I am much better now.

My NC neighbors had a baby shower for us this past Saturday. Between this shower and the one in Mississippi, Taylor has gotten some GREAT things. Thank you SO VERY MUCH to everyone who has given Taylor gifts. She really appreciates them... and so do Mom & Dad!

So, I really liked this cute pic taken at my NC shower. To me it really sums how happy I am to be a mom.

25 Weeks

Taylor Renee and I had our 25 week checkup today. She is about 1.5 pounds right now and is gaining about half a pound per week. My tummy is measuring 37"inches and growing.

I have started to become "mildly uncomfortable." That is putting it nicely, like the books like to describe it. They also like to describe labor as "discomfort!" HA!

She rolls around inside my tummy and puts a lot of pressure on a vein called the Vena Cava that runs along the right side of my spine. It's like second largest (or largest) vein in the body, so when she is on it she significantly cuts off my blood supply. I feel very light-headed and can't breathe. I have to mash on her or lay on my left side to get her to move. My tummy is getting bigger making it much harder to do stuff, especially sleep.

I had a reality check today. I have to take my glucose test this week and we are gearing up for childbirthing classses starting next month. These things are done towards the end of the pregnancy. I can't believe we only have about 14 weeks and counting down until Taylor is here with us.

I have decided to cloth diaper after about the first month or two so I have got to start ordering my diapers. Ladies, you wouldn't BELIEVE how far diapering has come since the "old fashioned" birdseye diapers! There are now 5 different kinds of diapers!

Well, here are my 25 week belly pics. I'll be posting my belly pics every 5 weeks or so. Our next regular checkup is scheduled for March 10th. I probably won't have another ultrasound until just before Taylor arrives. This will check for any unforseen complications during labor such as her cord being around her neck or in a knot and levels of amniotic fluid.

Yea! No stretch marks...

yet!

21 week belly pic

Hi Everyone,

I have been asked by some family members to post a belly pic. Since she has finally started to grow, I finally think I have enough of a tummy to justify posting it. I have been feeling fine, relatively speaking of course. I never got sick. I have had only very minor indigestion. My biggest complaints would be some pretty bad headaches, fatigue and an occasional emotional breakdown. All of these things are very common so I think I am doing pretty good!

I weighed 137 when I found out I was pregnant and I weighed 150 yesterday morning.

OMG! IT'S A GIRL!!!!

All we can say is "OH MY GOODNESS!" So, as it turns out...our Dr. was incorrect at 10 & 12 weeks. We are having a little girl. We are both in a bit of a shock right now and are really just trying to catch our breath. Everything in the ultrasound looked perfect. She weights 12.6 ounces. Just 3.4 oz to go and she'll be 1 whole pound!!! She's approximately 10.5 inches long (crown to heel). The Dr. said that according to her weight and length, she's in the 45th percentile of the growth chart, or 5% below the average size of most babies her age. However, most charts I've seen on the internet and in books say the average for a 20 week baby is about 10" & 10.5 oz and she's bigger than that! But anyway, Brodie and I were both small-ish babies too so we'll just have to wait and see. Her heart beat was 154 bpm. All of her limbs are of the correct number and length. Her intestines are all inside her abdomen. Her brain, heart, and other organs look perfect. She is doing just fine and that is all that really matters to us. I feel her kicking all of the time now and she is even trying to kick the remote off of my tummy. She is so funny already.

So, since we have had all of this confusion we are planning on having one more ultrasound before she is born. However, we are requesting that all gifts are gender neutral! :) You never know what this little boy or girl is going to pull next!!! Oh Buddy, I think we are in for a heck of a ride with this one!

(Remember, to enlarge the pic click on it and hit the 'back' arrow to return to the main blog page. The pics enlarge nicely.)


It's a GIRL!!!














Her bottom...no boy parts there!

Her butt is on the left and she is facing right. Those two bright white dots on the left are her pelvic bones. Her knees are bent so you can't see her legs. Her feet are the blobs and white dots on the right.














Baby facing us. Head is on the left side and her mouth is open. Her hands look like mittens. You can see her abdomen and her knees and legs are on the bottom right side.

Thumbs up! I'm good in here guys!














Her spine

Measuring her femur














Measuring her heart beat. 154 bpm

Her brain looked great as well

His Name???

Hi,

We need some help with deciding on a name. It's SO hard! Please go to the website listed below and vote on a name.

Thanks,
R&R

http://www.babyzone.com/babynames/bnpoll.asp?pollid=130320

Nursery Furniture

We put up our baby furniture today. It is absolutely beautiful.

Trying to figure out where we want the pieces to go.

Placing furniture in the right place.

Unwrapped armiore and unwrapping dresser.

Unwrapping crib.

The crib will convert into a toddler bed, a day bed, and a full size bed.

The track for one of the drawers was a little bent but Brodie was able to fix it. Thankfully we don't have to send anything back.

The crib.

Crib headboard.

Dresser.

Armiore.

Everything in it's place with the dresser to the right.

The nightlight Brodie bought for the nursery. The lights shine blue.

Sandi was pretty freaked out by all of the excitement and huge boxes in the living room.

Sandi hiding.

Sorry you have to turn your head to see this video but I couldn't figure out how to rotate it. Turn the volume up.