First Baby Shower!

Today we had our very first baby shower! We have been looking forward to this day all week long! It was a family baby shower given by my two sister-in-laws, Missi and Angela! We received so many nice things and it was great being in the company of our families! I cannot possibly list all of the gifts that Caroline got but she did get her very own pink Bible, piggy bank, crib, boppy travel swing, baby monitor, clothes, receiving blankets, baby wash, shampoo, wipes, diapers, hiney cream, clothes, onesies, sleepers, shoes, monogrammed burp cloths, washcloths, bottle washer, toys, monogrammed hairbow wall organizer, and lots lots more! Her mommy even received a few items! We are so appreciative of all the gifts and are very blessed to have family members that traveled many hours to share this day with us. Thank you all!

Yoo-Hoo Feet...Where Are You?

Yeah, week 32! I had my 32 week appointment today! Everything is still looking great! All of my vitals were wonderful- normal blood pressure, 146 was Caroline's heart rate, measuring 32, and finally minimal weight gain- yes only 2 pounds! Ever since my last appointment I tried doing some things differently- I changed my breakfast cereal- from Cinnamon Toast Crunch to Frosted Mini Wheats, I've been drinking less milk and more- yes even more water (with a little, I mean a lot of Crystal Light flavoring), eating less yogurt and snacking on more fruit. I feel like I am going to turn into a Pink Lady apple (they are the best in case you've never eaten one). I was in and out of the doctor's office in 20 minutes.
I came home from the doctor's office to find Sam drawing polka dots on one of Caroline's walls. I was really excited to see how these polka dots would turn out. After dinner Sam began to paint them and I love it!! He's still not finished but he's worked hard on them all afternoon. He's really excited about being able to draw and paint them- when he's finished I'll send more pics! We ordered our baby furniture last Friday and Sam just got the call saying that it was in! So tomorrow we'll be making a trip to Babies-R-Us to pick it up! Oh, I am so excited!
Here's a couple of pictures! My belly is well- BIG! We just had our maternity portraits taken and from them I think my belly looks like the shape of an egg- it makes me laugh to look at it! We had fun taking those portraits and I can't wait to get the prints we're ordering!
I think in the beginning of my pregnancy I've shared some typical "pregnancy symptoms". Well today I got a new one! This morning I woke up and could barely walk- it was more like a wobble from a stretching pain/sensation "down there". As the day progressed I found myself beginning to think that I was waddling- yes, yet another stymptom that I said that I would never get- Waddling! I wasn't bothered by this symptom- somehow pregnancy has calmed me down a bit- because another friend said that she had this same symptom! I did however mention this "pulling/stretching" ache to my doctor and he said that this was very normal and that it would only get more dramatic. I'm thinking that I'm going to be in a wheelchair because it REALLY hurts to walk- however I'm not complaining! Also, look at the last picture- what do you think it is? This is the my view of my feet Yoo-Hoo Feet...Where Are You! I use to be able to see my whole foot now its only a mere peek of the toes- another thing that makes me laugh! My belly doesn't just affect my view of my feet- I need help getting up off the floor, I can't easily bend over, I'm unable to shave my legs, put on socks, tie my shoes, and squeezing through spaces is almost impossible! I love being pregnant! It's fun to see and feel all of these exciting and new changes!
Caroline is a busy bee! The doctor asked me today about her fetal movements- was she moving a lot, etc. Since my last appointment she's gotten a lot busier. He told me that she would be moving less often now because of the amount of space she's inhibiting! Her kicks are really hard and I'm feeling them on both sides- I'm thinking at times that I'm being kicked near my back almost (I've read in the famous pregnancy book "What to Expect When You're Expecting" that I would feel harder kicks because there is more fluid than baby)! Also, my ribs- my poor ribs- at times I think they are going to break. Under my right rib is her favorite hang out spot! If you look closely you can tell that she's hiding there- most of the time!
Also, here's a picture of me and Mr. Kitty! He's noticing that his mama has changed- he seems very attached to me- he NEVER wants to sit on my lap and tonight he just decides that he has a big pillow to lay on! He's so sweet! When Sam works in Caroline's room he just walks around her room and meows!

Maternity Photos

On last Saturday we took maternity photos with our photographer! Here's the link and password to get on to view them:
Here's the log-in for collages.net:
Go to www.collages.net.
In the "view an event" section, enter username: Melissa and Sam, Maternity
password: 10292
I'm still getting use to them! Its hard seeing yourself this way- I feel very vunerable!! Patty, our photographer recommended that we wear dark pants and said denim would be best; however I didn't realize that she'd be getting me in my tennis shoes (I wore those for comfort)! Let me know which is your favorite! I couldn't wait to take the ones with her blanket, blankie buddy, and her toy Raffe!

Out of the Double Digits!

Nine weeks to go and I am so excited! Today I met with HR at my DO to discuss my maternity leave! My last day for this year is Friday, March 20th! I have enough leave to take the rest of the year off if she doesn't come any earlier than March 13th! I am so sad about leaving my children- this is by far the best group of children that I've ever taught- but then I'll be getting Caroline!!

Tonight we're picking out pink paint to go above the chair rail! Originally Sam was wanting to have the brown and the navajo white but I told him her room wouldn't be complete without the top part being pink (even though he's already painted with the navajo white). Sam's also going to polka dot one wall to match her bedding with a deeper shade of pink. I can't wait to see it all finished!

Working on Caroline's Nursery!

Caroline's Take Home Dress!

I've been told that Caroline needed to be frilled up when she left the hospital for home! Sam and I did a little shopping today for her and this is what we found. Its not a Feltman Brothers dress (which is what Melinda and I wore) but we thought this one was a lot cuter and cheaper!! We had fun picking out this little white smocked dress (with bonnet) and thought that we'd use it for her dedication too! I know it looks a little big for a newborn but the saleslady told me that they don't run any smaller than 3 months and my oldest sister assured me on the phone that this size would be just fine- I'm needing a lot of reassurance these days (but if its too big then we'll choose another "Fru fru" dress).

While we were shopping Sam found this very cute watermelon jumper that he just had to have for Caroline even though it was more pricey than I thought we should pay. He told me that he wanted to pick her out something on his own and that his little summer jumper would be cute on her- how could I say no (even on sale it costs more than the take home dress)!

We had a lot of fun shopping for our baby girl!

Here we are: Week 30!

Today I had my 30 week appointment! I was weighed (we'll get to that in a sec.), had my blood pressure checked- it was normal, and had my belly measured- which measured exactly 30 weeks- we're right on schedule! I love going to my appointments- some people hate going to doctor's offices but I actually don't mind (yep, even going to the dentist doesn't bother me). Sharon- the nurse tech, as usual today checked my BP, weight, etc. Sharon is so nice- she's the kind of person that you could sit and talk with all day- somehow during my appointments she gave me the nickname of trouble- I don't know why- hope I haven't asked her too many prenatal care questions- but it seems like everytime my visits roll around I have a ton to ask- I like to be very informative! So, Sharon did her usual- then she weighed me- now up until my last visit I wasn't too, too, too concerned with my weight- the doctor's don't have any issues with my gaining 8 pounds in 5 weeks and then another 8.5 pounds in 4 weeks so why should I be? This time when Sharon weighed me she didn't tell me right away the weight gain number (I think she was hoping that I'd forget), so I had to ask her- she joked and said, "I'm not telling you." So I told her the whole story about how I've cut back- didn't think I was eating too much to begin with but it was a start. So she eventually told me my weight gain number and I nearly fell over from joking laughter- you know the kind where you laugh at yourself- putting hand over chest while at the same time not wanting to actually believe what you're hearing? Well this was me when she told me that I'd gain 6 POUNDS- mind you in 2 weeks! So we're at a total of 29.5 pounds. Oh my goodness- but I know it's for Caroline! A friend called me tonight and wanted to check on my appointment and she told me that she talked with a girl from church whose is 33 weeks pregnant and has only gained 6 pounds. I'm thinking wow- she must not have ever had those cravings- and yes they do exist- in the beginning it was pickes and cheese then on to garlic bread- ask Sam about the late evenings run to The Pig for some good ole' garlic bread! So after Sharon broke this news to me and I recovered it was time to see Dr. Holladay! He wasn't at all in dismay about my weight gain. In fact he said everything was great- weight, blood pressure, etc. After hearing Caroline's heartbeat my mind simmered down some about the weight issue and I'm only back on the issue so as to write it here. There's always tomorrow to start walking more (this is what I'm telling myself so as not to feel so guilty)- I guess walking the track at recess duty, in the building after school, and in the neighborhood isn't enough! I've come to the conclusion that you're body is going to do what it's going to do whether you like it or not- even stretch marks fit into this category (I'm knocking on wood because as of now I' don't have any on my belly- just other places)!

Here's some 30 weeks pictures of me. Yes, I'm in my pajamas! One of the things that Dr. Holladay told me to do was to prop my feet up as soon as I got home from work. Yes, I'm starting to swell but its minimal and he said its very normal to swell during pregnancy- "it just comes with it"! So when I told Sam this today he immediately told me to go sit down and prop my feet up and even told me after using a pillow that they were not up high enough- I told him that I didn't need anymore back hurting issues and that using another pillow would only make me ache more!! He's so funny! So that's why in the pictures I'm in my pajamas! I was relaxing for the evening very early- I even went to the mailbox in my pj's! So he's starting to take over the cooking! His house chores lately have become extensive- from cleaning the whole house each week, tending to the yard- which if you know Sam- this is his favorite hobby anyways, and to now the cooking! He's a great chef by the way! Ask him to make his chilli for you sometime!
Caroline- she's so active! I don't understand how someone so tiny could really kick and move as hard as she does in such a little amount of space. Her routines are the same and have been since week 24. She's very quiet and still in the afternoons- she's most active in the middle of the night- I've become her punching bag in the wee hours of the morning- she's getting all those Caroline stretches then-, mid-morning, and early evening. Except for right now she's all bulged over on one side and my belly looks whoppsided- its really neat to look at and especially feel!
The nursery is being painted- and coming along nicely! We're going to be ordering her furniture within the month! I'm becoming very excited!!
I return for another visit on January 28th for my 32 week checkup. I'll keep you posted!

Caroline's Nursery- A Work in Progress!

Here's Caroline's daddy and granddaddy measuring the nursery for chair rail! Afterwards the chair rail and crown molding were added to the nursery for accents! We still have a lot to do in 11 weeks and I'm so excited about seeing the nursery complete!