Nanny

I am a sentimental person even when I am not pregnant, but pregnancy has definitely brought this out in me even more. One of the things I have been thinking about lately is the moment I hold my sweet baby girl in my arms...who will I want to call first? I'm praying that our parents both make it to Augusta to be at the hospital for her arrival. And there are so many other special people in my life that I can't wait to share the news with. But, when I think about who I would want to call first, I always think about my Nanny.

My Nanny was such a special person in my life. She loved her "little angels" so much. We all knew where we stood with her. My Nanny went to be with Jesus almost 4 years ago, and there is not a day that goes by that I don't miss her. It's funny how, in the times that are supposed to be the happiest, there is always a twinge of sadness wishing that she were here to share in the joy and excitement. This special time in my life is no different. The closer I get to welcoming my sweet daughter into my life, the more my heart hurts wishing my Nanny were still here to see her and hold her. I know that she's watching from heaven, and I know that she is so excited.

Almost-35-Weeks Update

At nearly 35 weeks, it's really starting to sink in that we could be meeting our sweet daughter literally any day now! On Tuesday, we went for our 34 week appointment. Dr. Maddox likes to do an ultrasound at 34 weeks to re-check everything and make sure there isn't anything that was missed on the 20 week ultrasound or anything that had developed between then and now. I feel very blessed to say that the ultrasound went amazing! Our daughter is growing wonderfully! Based on the extensive measurements they took, they estimated her to be 5 lbs 5 oz as of Tuesday with an estimated 1 oz weight gain per day from here on out. This means that at 40 weeks, she will be approximately 7 lbs 12 oz!!! Jason and I assumed we would have a little 6 lbs baby - we were both very small - in the 5 lbs range. I'm amazed that she is already almost as big as we were when we were born! At my appointment, Dr. Maddox told me that I was "at the point of no return," meaning that if I go into labor any time from here on out, she's not going to stop it. I can't believe we have gotten to this point! It seems like I just found out I was pregnant!

In addition to our doctors appointment, we have been working hard to get June Anne's room ready for her arrival! Jason finally realized this past weekend that he needed to consider putting together the crib. I will say that I was somewhat dreading this....I know these things usually take a long time to put together, and my husband was NOT blessed with patience. Luckily, it only took us 35 minutes to put it together! Whew! So, she now has a crib (we are waiting on the crib bedding to come in), a beautiful dresser that we are going to use as a changing table, and a sweet, unique shelf that my mom actually found in at a yard sale and we painted. I have also been able to wash all of her ADORABLE clothes and hang them in the closet or put them in her dresser. It's so nice to be able to get this "nesting" done! I feel much more settled and ready for her to come!

As her arrival is getting closer and closer, I've started thinking more and more about what she is going to be like. If she is anything like she is in the womb, she's going to be a wild child who doesn't like to sleep. I think she is going to be spunky and have a lot of energy (just like her daddy). She loves to move around - all the time! She really loves to dance while I am sleeping, which I have started to get used to now. I can feel every single movement now that she is such a big girl, and sometimes it feels like she is going to crush my ribs if she moves any further up.

I will say that the closer she gets to making her appearance, the more and more I love her. I can't imagine how I will feel when I meet her for the first time!

Update #3: Augusta Shower

Two weeks ago, my sweet friend, Jessica, hosted a shower for me in Augusta with all of my closest friends. It was such a special time. She put so much time and effort into making it special. From the location (the Partidge Inn, which is a beautiful, historic hotel in Augusta), to the decorations, to the thoughtful "advice" cards that were available for people to write words of advice and encouragement for us, everything was PERFECT. There are a handful of things that have kept us in Augusta rather than moving back to Peachtree City - Jessica (and her sweet husband, Travis) and the other friendships we have built in Augusta are one of those reasons. These people are more like family to us than simply our friends, and I feel so blessed to have them in my life! I can't wait to raise my sweet baby girl with these amazing people!

Catch-up #2: 6th Anniversary/Babymoon Trip

Jason and I usually try to take a vacation every year - to us, it's a time to get away from the daily stresses of life, relax, eat good food, and "recharge" ourselves and our marriage. This year, we decided we would stay closer-to-home than our normal vacations. (Even though I begged for him to take me to St. Lucia one more time before our baby girl gets here! To this request, he responded, "I'm not taking my pregnant wife to an all-inclusive resort out of the country!") Instead, we went to St. Simons Island, GA! I lived on St. Simons as a little girl, so it has a special place in my heart. In the 11 years that I have known Jason, we have never been to SSI together, so I was really excited to get to take him there! We had a WONDERFUL time! It was very relaxing - we spent a few days wading in the pool, looking at the ocean (from the pool deck - we aren't really fans of the sand - we mostly like to walk on the beach and look at the water), eating yummy, fresh seafood, and sleeping in late. Here are a few pictures from our trip:

One thing we realized during this trip (as if we hadn't already) was that our lives are about to change drastically! At one point while we were in the pool (well, actually, most of the time we were in the pool), we were being splashed (on accident) by multiple children. Jason and I are used to the adult all-inclusive resorts...without splashing children. At one point, I looked at Jason and we both laughed because we were both thinking the same thing - here's a snapshot into the next phase of our lives! We have thoroughly enjoyed our family of two, and we have done everything that we wanted to do before we had children. So, now, we are so READY for the next, water-splashing chapter of our lives to begin. We couldn't be more excited for the changes that are about to take place!

Catch-up #1: Fayetteville Shower for June Anne

A few weeks ago, 4 of my sweet cousins (Deanna, Jenni, Sara and Kelley) and my Aunt Dona threw a baby shower for me and June Anne in Fayetteville, which is where a lot of my family lives. It was such a special time! Everyone knows how much I love my family (ok, we are kind of obsessed with each other, it's that serious!), so I couldn't wait to celebrate with them and my sweet friends in the area! We spent the entire day laughing! (Except a few sweet moments that brought me to tears.) The hostesses went above and beyond to make the day a special day for June Anne and me. And so many people traveled so far to celebrate with us. All I can say is that we are truly blessed.

The sweet hostesses and me - Jenni, Aunt Dona, Sara, Deanna (with sweet baby Benjamin) and Kelley:Me and June Anne with BeBe and MeMe! Aren't these the best-looking grandmas you've ever seen?This is pretty much what we did the entire day! One of the things my cousin, Deanna, gave me was a sweet bib that says, "Mommy's Little Angel" I'm not sure she expected my reaction! My Nanny always called me and my cousins her angels, and that is what I have been calling my sweet baby girl. Needless to say, it made me cry! (But, what doesn't these days?!)We played a game where Deanna used a string to measure my belly and everyone had to try to cut a string to match hers...some of them were hysterical! They were so long! Really, people? I know I look huge, but come on! Haha!

32 Weeks...a week late...

Life is crazy...that's about all I can say! I'm trying to take things one day at a time and enjoy the last (now) 7 weeks of this pregnancy while also trying to get things together before my sweet baby girl gets here! I've got some delayed posts I will be posting as soon as we get internet at our house...babymoon/anniversary trip, Fayetteville shower, Augusta shower and home renovations. I promise I will do this as soon as I can!

Hiccups!!

I wondered if I would ever feel June Anne get the hiccups. When my cousin Deanna was pregnant, her little baby Benjamin got them multiple times a day. As a soon-to-be new mom, I feel like I'm always wondering if my pregnancy is "normal" (I guess no pregnancy is every the same - so, there is hardly a "normal" to begin with!!). Apparently, some people never feel their babies get the hiccups at all, and have perfectly healthy little ones.

Well, I finally felt June Anne get the hiccups this morning!!! It was one of the coolest feelings!!! She didn't really think so as she tried to wiggle her way out of my belly. Bless her heart!

It's amazing to me how she's starting to feel like a little infant in there. I can remember my friend, Liz, telling me that about her sweet baby, Annslee, and it is so true. I feel like she is growing good in there, and I'm measuring exactly on schedule, so I'm very happy with how things are going!