Here's a picture of the big guy catching some rays as I type. This blog post is sub-titled:   The story of how my birth plan was scrapped and then almost completely put back in place Or alternately titled:   How God answered my prayers over and over.  Why should I be surprised!  Or also known as:   The best day ever What a difference a week makes! Here is the account (or at least what I recall) of last Monday morning and the 21 hours that followed.  Although it won't be much, I would like to say here that I will be telling about some pretty gory stuff. My point is not to gross you out but to share honestly my birth experience.  It would have helped had I known some of this stuff beforehand :) A little before 4:30 that morning, I awoke to a gushing sensation.  I thought that maybe incontinence had finally struck, especially since I had been going to the bathroom 4 and 5 times a night.  I ran to the bathroom only to discov...

Each Sunday, I'd like to do a  highlights post , including a picture, summarizing the differences in my pregnancy from week to week.  I totally "grabbed" this idea from  Kelly .  I did this with my pregnancy with Hadley, as well, and I still think it is a great way to jot down the things that I don't want to forget later on.  I'll probably write these on Saturday nights and attach the picture the next day.  That way I can stay semi-technology free :) Pregnancy Highlights: How far along :  36 weeks - Third Trimester Size of baby:   Baby Boy is between 19 and 22 inches crown to feet and weighs as much as a large cantaloupe (around 6 pounds) Total weight gain/loss :  As of my last appointment, I gained another pound, so my official weight gain this pregnancy so far is 19 pounds. Maternity clothes:   cotton shorts, "wife-beaters"/loose-fitting tank tops, flowy/comfortable dresses Gender: A less bouncy, more rol...

Each Sunday, I'd like to do a  highlights post , including a picture, summarizing the differences in my pregnancy from week to week.  I totally "grabbed" this idea from  Kelly .  I did this with my pregnancy with Hadley, as well, and I still think it is a great way to jot down the things that I don't want to forget later on.  I'll probably write these on Saturday nights and attach the picture the next day.  That way I can stay semi-technology free :) Pregnancy Highlights: How far along :  35 weeks - Third Trimester Size of baby:   Baby Boy is between 19 and 22 inches crown to feet and weighs as much as a large cantaloupe (around 5.5 pounds) Total weight gain/loss :  At my appointment last Wednesday, I had gained back the two pounds I lost, so my official weight gain this pregnancy so far is back to 18 pounds. Maternity clothes:   My "typical" clothing attire is a soft sleeveless tank and soft knit shorts. ...

Each Sunday, I'd like to do a  highlights post , including a picture, summarizing the differences in my pregnancy from week to week.  I totally "grabbed" this idea from  Kelly .  I did this with my pregnancy with Hadley, as well, and I still think it is a great way to jot down the things that I don't want to forget later on.  I'll probably write these on Saturday nights and attach the picture the next day.  That way I can stay semi-technology free :) Pregnancy Highlights: How far along :  34 weeks - Third Trimester Size of baby:   Baby Boy is between 19 and 22 inches crown to feet and weighs as much as a pineapple (around 5 pounds) Total weight gain/loss :  At my appointment last Tuesday, I had lost another 1/2 of a pound, so my official weight gain this pregnancy so far is 16 pounds. Maternity clothes:   My "typical" clothing attire is a soft sleeveless tank and soft knit shorts.  If I'm feeling super fa...

Each Sunday, I'd like to do a  highlights post , including a picture, summarizing the differences in my pregnancy from week to week.  I totally "grabbed" this idea from  Kelly .  I did this with my pregnancy with Hadley, as well, and I still think it is a great way to jot down the things that I don't want to forget later on.  I'll probably write these on Saturday nights and attach the picture the next day.  That way I can stay semi-technology free :) Pregnancy Highlights: How far along :  33 weeks - Third Trimester Size of baby:   Baby Boy is around 19 inches crown to feet and weighs as much as a honeydew melon (around 4 1/2 pounds) Total weight gain/loss :  At my appointment last Monday, I had actually lost 1 1/2 pounds (I'm sure due to the low/no fat, gluten-free diet I've been trying to follow.  But.  I have tried out a few foods in moderation that have fat and or gluten, and I've managed to tolerate...

I've got a busy day ahead of me, People. Prepare yourselves...I will be... ~Rearranging my Pinterest folders. ~Staring out the window. ~Playing Candy Crush---have you PLAYED that?? Geez.  The Bestie introduced me to it yesterday, and I can't seem to quit.  Until it makes me, that is. ~Giggling at this video (that The Bestie also introduced me to)! Oh Lawd! ~Searching real estate sites for my dream house.  Y'all, I've been so claustrophobic lately.  It's probably because I'm looking at the same walls day in and day out, which are still looking lovely in all their freshly painted glory.  But, I think I'm nesting, as well, and I really want to get things settled, but because of bed rest, I'm restricted in that.  I want to be washing baby clothes and putting them away.  I want to be arranging furniture in a way that works for our family.  But, the bottom line is, because of financial reasons, this would be the ideal time to move, if we c...

Several people have advised me to "schedule my day," as it were, to keep me from being bored or going stir-crazy while I'm on bed rest.  So, Monday morning, I did just that--I planned out my day.  Then, Tuesday, I tweaked it.  Yesterday, I followed it pretty closely, and this morning it totally went by the wayside. But , I'm almost back on track. :)  I realize I don't have to follow it precisely.  It is MY schedule, after all.  But, because I like organization, and I truly love a good schedule , I think I will enjoy sticking to it.  It seems to make my days go by quickly, and it gives me a sense of feeling productive!  Well, as productive as someone on bed rest can be.  Haha, I need a hobby. So, here's the schedule I planned out.  As you can see, blogging didn't happen until much later this morning.  I had several phone calls and received several texts, so that threw me off (in a good way!). Much of what I do has me either lo...

I thought it was time for another photo collage of my weeks of pregnancy.  This collage is of weeks 24 through 32.  I think my favorite one so far is this week's. :) One observation:  Good grief, I really need a haircut!  I wonder if the sweet gal who's cut my hair for years and years would drive up here and cut my hair.  For some reason, I don't think my doctor will okay a two-and-a-half hour drive just for me to feel less shaggy, haha, and despite the fact that my mom keeps urging me to find someone local to cut my hair, I just can't do it.  Angie's my friend, and more importantly, she knows how to cut my hair!  That's a rare thing!  I might have to do a search on Pinterest on how to cut one's own crazy hair! 

Here follows the story of how I got put on bed rest... Last Monday, after weeks of not having any back pain, we drove up to the Austin area for my uncle's funeral.  I don't know whether it was the long car ride, the church service, the food at the reception after, the long car ride back, or none of those things, but my back began to hurt.  As I've explained before, this pain is a not a dull ache.  It doesn't feel as if I've pulled something or as if something is just really tight.  It's a sharp pain directly behind my ribs on the right side.  It grabs on and stays for the long haul.  Some nights, it's difficult to sleep because no position brings relief to that one spot in my back. Anywho. That was Monday.  Tuesday and Wednesday I had the same pain, along with extra weariness, but I kept pushing along.  There's not much else one can do when one has between five and eight classes of children coming in and out of the library expecting to be re...

Each Sunday, I'd like to do a  highlights post , including a picture, summarizing the differences in my pregnancy from week to week.  I totally "grabbed" this idea from  Kelly .  I did this with my pregnancy with Hadley, as well, and I still think it is a great way to jot down the things that I don't want to forget later on.  I'll probably write these on Saturday nights and attach the picture the next day.  That way I can stay semi-technology free :) Pregnancy Highlights: How far along :  32 weeks - Third Trimester Size of baby:   Baby Boy is around 19 inches crown to feet and weighs as much as a head of lettuce (4 pounds according to the doctor on Friday) Total weight gain/loss :  So far, I'm up 18 pounds total this pregnancy. Maternity clothes:   I *heart* maternity clothes :) Gender:   A very bouncy baby boy Movement :  Big, uncomfortable movements and small hits and jabs are his thing th...

I thought a collage or two would be fun. This one is from 12 weeks to 23 weeks.  I'll probably do another one in a couple of days for up to where I am now, and then I'll do one from that point until we meet our little man.  I feel huge now, and it's hard to remember what it felt like when I was thin and could wear everything in my closet.  I put on a slip this morning, and I was shocked at how tight it was! I feel like I'm wearing low-riders today, but in the form of a sheer piece of material instead of jeans! :)  

Each Sunday, I'd like to do a  highlights post , including a picture, summarizing the differences in my pregnancy from week to week.  I totally "grabbed" this idea from  Kelly .  I did this with my pregnancy with Hadley, as well, and I still think it is a great way to jot down the things that I don't want to forget later on.  I'll probably write these on Saturday nights and attach the picture the next day.  That way I can stay semi-technology free :) Pregnancy Highlights: How far along :  31 weeks - Third Trimester Size of baby:   Baby Boy is around 18 inches crown to feet and weighs as much as a head of lettuce (about 3.1 pounds)--at my appointment on Tuesday, the doctor said he weighed 3.3 pounds, so right on track ;) Total weight gain/loss :  So far, I'm up 18 pounds total this pregnancy. Maternity clothes:   I *heart* maternity clothes :) Gender:   A very bouncy baby boy Movement :  He's ...

Hey, y'all, We had our 30 week prenatal appointment and ultrasound today.  Our doctor (whom we didn't see last time) said she was going through withdrawals not seeing us (we've been blessed to see her every single time this pregnancy except for our last appointment)!  We love her!  I wish she could be our pediatrician, too, haha!! I'm measuring right on track (up 18 pounds total--yikes!), and Baby Boy looks great ! He's measuring 3.3 pounds and is growing right on target. He's in the 40th percentile, which is normal. *Bonus* He's already in the right position (head down), so we're good to go there :) We were treated to a long ultrasound, and she even got a couple of great shots for us to keep, including this 4D image (during the ultrasound, the 4D imaging allowed us to watch him suck and smack his lips!). I know some people are having trouble "seeing" him, so here's my best explanation: Most of the picture is of his f...

Each Sunday, I'd like to do a  highlights post , including a picture, summarizing the differences in my pregnancy from week to week.  I totally "grabbed" this idea from  Kelly .  I did this with my pregnancy with Hadley, as well, and I still think it is a great way to jot down the things that I don't want to forget later on.  I'll probably write these on Saturday nights and attach the picture the next day.  That way I can stay semi-technology free :) Pregnancy Highlights: How far along :  30 weeks - Third Trimester Size of baby:   Baby Boy is around 17 inches crown to feet and weighs as much as a butternut squash (about 3 pounds) Total weight gain/loss :  So far, I'm up 16 pounds total this pregnancy. Maternity clothes:   I *heart* maternity clothes :) Gender:   A very bouncy baby boy Movement :  I think he's very active.  He doesn't move all day long, but when he gets going, he's a move...

Each Sunday, I'd like to do a  highlights post , including a picture, summarizing the differences in my pregnancy from week to week.  I totally "grabbed" this idea from  Kelly .  I did this with my pregnancy with Hadley, as well, and I still think it is a great way to jot down the things that I don't want to forget later on.  I'll probably write these on Saturday nights and attach the picture the next day.  That way I can stay semi-technology free :) Pregnancy Highlights: How far along :  29 weeks - Third Trimester Size of baby:   Baby Boy is 17 inches crown to feet and weighs as much as a small cabbage (about 2 1/2 pounds) Total weight gain/loss :  I have gained 4 more pounds, so I'm up to 16 pounds total this pregnancy. Maternity clothes:   I *heart* maternity clothes :) Gender:   A very bouncy baby boy Movement :  I think he's very active.  He doesn't move all day long, but when he ge...