Monday, February 28, 2011

Sneak Peek

So I know Alan isn't completely done yet, but I just wanted to post a sneak peak of the *almost* complete TV stand. Hopefully the final product will be completed this weekend!

Alan ordered the parts he needed so he could make the drawers!
 Hopefully that won't take too long to get so we can get them built!!

Awesome feet! Alan didn't make them, but I sure love them!

Friday, February 25, 2011

37 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights


How far along? 37 weeks, 1 day


Baby's size? Guessing she is around 6 pounds, 4 ounces since babes this age typically gain about half a pound a week


Gender? Still a baby GIRL!! Elizabeth Anne


Weight Gain? Still 25 pounds!


Maternity clothes? Mainly maternity, but I can still wear regular dresses and "comfy" pants


Stretch marks? Still just the two and the linea nigra


Belly Button in or out? The top is out, the bottom is still in. It's pretty consistent now...


Sleeping? Pretty decent. I still wake up tons to go to the bathroom, but the past couple nights I've had some longer stretches of sleep (2-2 1/2 hours instead of 1-1/2)!


Foods I'm loving? Anything sweet! But there is nothing that I absolutely have to have.


Foods I'm hating? Nothing really


Best moment this week? Taking maternity pictures! I can't wait to see a sneak peek!!


What I'm looking forward to? Sleeping on my stomach and having Elizabeth here so I don't have to go to the doctor and get told crummy news every week. :) And getting the dresser in so that I can finally finish organizing Elizabeth's room!!


What I miss? Sleeping through the night and sleeping on my stomach.


Symptoms? Mainly frequent potty breaks and extreme exhaustion.


Milestones? I'm considered full term! Now she just needs to hold off until after next weekend (but I'm still thinking I'll go past my due date) so I can see some sweet friends from College Station!!


Emotions? I cry over just about anything these days... And I'm beginning to get a little frustrated with my doctor, but that's a whole 'nother story that I'm not going to go into. It's raising my blood pressure just thinking about it... Haha


37 weeks

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Woodworking!

Alan has been working on a project here and there since New Years, and we're just now getting to the point where it is getting semi-close to being finished! You see, since we've been in this house (which is just over a year... man, where has time gone?), our TV has been on a makeshift TV stand... i.e. one of our end tables. You can see (and/or pull at) all the cords, and with a 2 year old nephew that is occasionally over at our house AND our soon to be arrival, this just wasn't cutting it. 
So, we began the search for the perfect armoire for our TV and stumbled across this beauty at Ethan Allen (my all time favorite furniture store... although we don't buy from there because it's a little way too pricey for our budget).

new country by ethan allen three-piece media dresser


This was the perfect piece, in my mind, minus the fact that it was 4 or so inches too wide for our little nook. So, my husband, being the awesome carpenter that he is decided that he would make our own armoire, using this one as a model. It will consist of three pieces, the base, the middle section (which is for components), and the actual top part (where the TV will eventually sit). Alan has only started on the base, and that's what we'll use until he has the time to finish the rest. Now, keep in mind that we are still missing the feet (we're ordering those tonight), doors, and an actual color, but that will come probably next weekend, and I'll be sure to post pictures once it is actually done!

Base as of yesterday... The bottom two shelves will consist of 
4 drawers and the top shelf will be open.

Alan screwing the back onto the frame

The completed base (minus doors, feet, and drawers)

Side view

Top view

Detail of the top

Alan is quite the handyman, if I don't say so myself! I'm so lucky to have married such a talented man and I can't wait to see the finished product! This will be something I will treasure forever.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

36 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights


How far along? 36 weeks


Baby's size? Guessing she is around 5 pounds, 12 ounces since babies this age typically gain about half a pound a week


Gender? Still a baby GIRL!! Elizabeth Anne


Weight Gain? 25 pounds... Wishing this would slow down some!


Maternity clothes? Mainly maternity, but I can still wear regular dresses and "comfy" pants


Stretch marks? Still on the two, but still aren't very dark. And  I've got a faint linea nigra...


Belly Button in or out? Depends on the day/time/position... Mainly flat, but part of the top has popped out


Sleeping? Ok, I guess. Some insomnia, and definitely waking up tons to go to the bathroom


Foods I'm loving? Anything sweet! And I'm definitely loving the frozen strawberries that we bought at Sams! Let them thaw for 30 minutes and put a little bit of sugar on them and I'm in HEAVEN! =)


Foods I'm hating? Nothing really


Best moment this week? Hanging out with our small group at our couples book shower (Elizabeth got lots of amazing books!!!) and NO DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT THIS WEEK!!!!!


What I'm looking forward to? Maternity pictures on Monday, getting Elizabeth's dresser in, and her arrival!!


What I miss? Sleeping through the night and sleeping on my stomach.


Symptoms? Mainly frequent potty breaks and extreme exhaustion


Milestones? Almost full term!!


Emotions? I cry over just about anything these days...


36 weeks! And feeling even bigger...

Thursday, February 10, 2011

35 Weeks plus a surprise for Elizabeth!!

Pregnancy Highlights


How far along? 35 weeks


Baby's size? 5 pounds, 4 ounces... In case you're wondering, that's 10 ounces in a week... Man, she sure is growing!!


Gender? Still a baby GIRL!! Elizabeth Anne


Weight Gain? 23 pounds


Maternity clothes? Mainly maternity, but I can still wear regular dresses and "comfy" pants


Stretch marks? I actually have noticed two... =( But they're on my side and not very dark... Hope these are the only two... And a faint linea nigra...


Belly Button in or out? Depends on the day/time/position... Sometimes flat, sometimes shallow. Part of it has popped out, but it's just the very top...


Sleeping? Ok, I guess. I wake up every hour and a half to two hours to go potty...


Foods I'm loving? Hmm... I'm not loving anything, but I'm not disliking anything, either


Foods I'm hating? Nothing really


Best moment this week? Seeing all my friends and celebrating Elizabeth's soon-to-be arrival! Being told that I don't have to see my doctor until 37 weeks and no more Non-Stress Tests!!!


What I'm looking forward to? Elizabeth's arrival in 5ish weeks!!!


What I miss? Sleeping through the night!!!


Symptoms? They've been toned down this week... mainly frequent potty breaks


Weekly wisdom? drink, drink, drink!!!


Milestones? 35 weeks down, 35 days to go!


Emotions? I cry over just about anything these days...


35 weeks... Beginning to feel huge!

When I got home from my doctor's appointment today, I noticed that I had a package by the front door. I hadn't ordered anything, so I was very curious as to what it was. Turns out, my Mom and Dad sent something fun for Elizabeth... So, in pictures, here it is...

Car Seat before...

Car Seat After...

How cute is this!?

So even though we decided to go gender neutral on our car seat, Elizabeth will still have the cuteness of a girly  cover! Thanks Mom and Dad! I LOVE it!!! =)

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Baby Shower!

This past weekend my two sweet sister-in-laws hosted a baby shower for me and Elizabeth. They did such a beautiful job and I loved getting to see both of them, as well as all of my sweet friends that came!! Here are some pictures. Enjoy!

Me and my sweet sister-in-laws

Aunt Linda, Granny, me, and Mom (MeMaw couldn't make it due to the nasty weather in Texarkana)

The most beautiful (and YUMMY) cake!!

Amber's take on a "diaper" cake - full of blankets, towels, wash cloths, and fun toys!
The blanket on the bottom tier was handmade by my other sister-in-law, April. It is super cute!!

Clothes line full of gowns, socks, hats, and bibs!

What will be hung on our door at the hospital. One of my Dad's PA's made this!
(We'll obviously fill in the details)

Sweet doll, cute sock monkey, and hippo.

Swim suit, from Mom, to make sure we come down to swim this summer. =)

The cutest activity mat... EVER

Burp cloths made by one of my friends moms... so cute!!



Elizabeth got TONS of cute things, but I don't think you want to see pictures of everything. Let's just say that she is one blessed and loved little girl! I can't wait for her to arrive so we can put everything to good use! Stay tuned tomorrow for my weekly update. =)

Thursday, February 3, 2011

34 weeks and some GREAT news!

Well, since I'm so excited and relieved, I'll start out with the good news. The ultrasound tech at my doctor's new office noticed something, called echogenic bowel, about 3 or 4 weeks ago. This could've meant anything from nothing to Elizabeth having some sort of genetic/chromosomal abnormality. My ob said that we wouldn't really know anything until I saw the maternal fetal specialist (the high risk doctor I've been seeing once a month due to Elizabeth's small size) the next time, which was this morning. Of course as soon as I heard that, I started freaking out and thinking the worst. I was dreading today's appointment to say the least. 


I love the ultrasound techs at the high risk clinic! They are so helpful in explaining things throughout the whole ultrasound and even though she couldn't tell me any details, I was able to understand a little more about what echogenic bowel is. The simplest definition is that the bowels are the same "brightness" as the bone, or more bright than the bone. She pointed out Elizabeth's intestines as she was explaining, and I was finally able to see what my normal ob had been talking about.


Well, once the ultrasound was over, the specialist, Dr. S came in. First off, she told me that Elizabeth has had a major growth spurt in the past month and has gone from less than 10th% growth wise to in the 20th%!An answer to prayers! She said that Elizabeth's intestines look great and that it is normal to see some brightness in the intestines this late due to her practicing "breathing" and swallowing fluid. Another answer to prayers! And the best news that she said...


She's releasing me from her care!! Dr. S said that she doesn't need to see me for the rest of my pregnancy, I don't need any more tests (hoping this means I won't have any more 4 hour doctor's appointments and that I won't have weekly NST and ultrasounds), and to enjoy the rest of my NORMAL pregnancy!! So needless to say, Alan and I are both thrilled, ecstatic, relieved, and thankful! I just want to thank everyone who has been praying for us! All our prayers have been answered! :) We just have one more... a smooth and easy delivery. :) In celebration, I stopped by McAllister's and picked up soup and sweet tea!


Now, with all the exciting stuff over, we can get to the highlights...


Pregnancy Highlights


How far along? 34 weeks


Baby's size? About 4 pounds 10 ounces


Gender? Still a baby GIRL!! Elizabeth Anne


Weight Gain? Didn't step on the scale this morning, but I'm guessing between 21 and 22 pounds...


Maternity clothes? Mainly maternity, but I can still wear regular dresses and "comfy" pants


Stretch marks? Not yet!! Hoping I take after my mom and don't get them!!! But I have noticed a faint linea nigra...


Belly Button in or out? Depends on the day/time... Sometimes flat, sometimes shallow. Part of it has popped out, but it's just the very top...


Sleeping? Ok, I guess. I wake up every hour to two hours...


Foods I'm loving? Frozen yogurt with fruit, chick-fil-a, the lasagna I made this week (probably because I used WAY too much cheese), Mexican, really anything!


Foods I'm hating? Nothing really


Best moment this week? Being released from the high risk doctor and finding out that Elizabeth is in "position," she just needs to wait anywhere from 3-6 more weeks. :)


What I'm looking forward to? My baby shower this weekend that my two wonderful sister-in-laws are throwing me! And getting to see my College Station friends that I haven't seen since we moved.


What I miss? Sleeping on my stomach and sleeping through the night


Symptoms? They've been toned down this week... mainly frequent potty breaks


Weekly wisdom? Doctors generally tell you worse case scenarios... Hope for the best, but be prepared for anything.


Milestones? Elizabeth is in position! Being told I can have a "normal" rest of the pregnancy!


Emotions? I cry over just about anything these days...


I can't seem to find my camera cord, so the picture will have to wait. Let's just say I'm starting to feel HUGE! I'm so ready for her to get here. :)