33 Week Recap: Ouch.

Tipping over in 3..2...

Wow.  If the picture to the left is any indication, I'm pregnant.  Like REALLY pregnant.  Almost 9 months pregnant.  And while I'm one of those weirdos who really likes being pregnant, this whole 3rd trimester, down to the nitty gritty thing is starting to get to me.  I'm so thankful for this blessing and I refuse to take for granted the fact that there are many women who aren't able to have children of their own, and women who are sick and bed-ridden for 40 weeks of their pregnancy.  And all in all I've had a very textbook, easy pregnancy.  But the fact of the matter is, I'm small - he's big, and every move I make is really starting to hurt.  Even when I sit still and HE's the one moving, it hurts.  I still love to feel him kick or roll, and it's hilarious to watch, but it takes my breath more often than I'd like to admit.  And while Drew and I lay on the couch every evening and play "what body part is that", I know he's just as ready to meet this little guy as I am - and to have his wife back to her old self.  It's official - I'm fastly approaching the point where I'm ready to hold him on the outside, rather than feel him on the inside.  I don't even focus on the '7 weeks to go!' approach - instead I focus on the '4 weeks til he's full term!' way of thought.  I know this is probably just setting myself up for disappointment when I go to like an unheard of 48 weeks without any indication of labor or baby, but it's the only thing that gets me through most days.  And even when I reach that golden 37th week, I can just think 'any day now'.  I know every single day is better for him to be inside, as his lungs grow and mature, but selfishly I'd like my own lungs back to be able to expand to their full extent - something I don't think they've done for about 3 months now.  Until then, I'll continue on with my daily routine - work, come home, put on one of Drew's really soft tshirts, crawl in bed, sleep for an hour, get up and eat a few bites of dinner, take a bath, then crawl back in bed until I fall asleep for the night.  What a life ;)

I had my 2wk drs appt on Monday - and I'm now in the rotation, where I have to see all of the doctors at the office so we're familiar with eachother in case Dr Belle isn't on call when I go into labor.  However, while it's always nice to meet a friendly face, I'll do anything in my power to have no one other than Dr Belle herself deliver this baby.  End of story.  Anywho, I saw Dr Parker.  He's a nice, younger guy - about 6'4.  My appointment was typical - I still haven't gained any weight in over a month - I actually lost 2 lbs.  He said as long as the baby is measuring well (which he is), I dont have anything to worry about.  So again, less weight that I gain, less weight I have to lose when this is over.  :)  I do find it odd that I'm the only person I know who can go to the gym at 5:30am and work out with her trainer to the edge of death and not lose a single pound - but have me grow a human being and I lose with no effort.  Normal.  But not complaining.  Dr Parker read over my chart and noticed that my blood is rH negative - which meant I had to have an antibodies screening (by none other than Braids McBadNurse) and then proceed to have a Rhogam shot.  I had never even heard of such, but apparently if you are rh negative and there's a chance that the baby is rh positive, the antibodies in your blood can possibly attack and kill your baby if your blood mixes with your baby's blood for any reason. The rhogam shot prevents that.  Sounds terrifying, but it's really common and it just makes me really thankful that there's such advances in modern medicine that can detect and prevent this kind of thing from happening.  (Now, lets get working on that cure for cancer, because I'd REALLY love to see that in my lifetime).  All in all, 33wks, I'm healthy - baby's healthy - and my butt's a little sore. 

Now that my shower is over, the nursery is complete, and the only thing we really HAVE to do is our prenatal classes, which aren't until Aug 11, we sit - and we wait.

7 weeks to go (or 4 if you're counting the way I am...)



WEEK 33 CRAVINGS:  Once again, my cravings of trimesters past has come to haunt me.  And this week it came in the form of Oreos and milk.  However, in really thinking about this 'craving', I wonder if it's really that as much as it's my lifelong love for this treat.  I remember eating Oreos and milk as my bedtime snack when I was teeniny!!  Either way, not much has changed between now and then because 1) I still LOOOOVE it and 2) I'm unable to get them on my own, so someone has to get them for me.  When I was younger, it was momma or daddy - and now that I'm barely able to move off the couch, it's Drew.  So, when I asked him for some the other night and he kept saying 'in a minute' (guess he was too busy seeing what was going on in the Twittersphere), I got impatient and from the couch cushion right next to him, sent him this Tweet (which immediately got his attention, and resulted in 5 Oreos and a glass of milk in front of me in no time):

Ah, technology.

WEEK 33 "Dose of Daddy":  Dana always said one of the smartest things they did during her pregnancy was to have a 'Diaper Shower', where a bunch of guys get together and celebrate with the dad-to-be and bring diapers.  Basically, it's a keg party where the dad-to-be gets to hang out with all of his friends that he hasn't had time to see over the past few months because of his nagging, preggo wife, and all the guys bring diapers (which are either a reasonable size because their wives or girlfriends bought them, or just whatever size they first grabbed because they were afraid to be in the baby isle longer than 30 seconds).   Anyway, Andrew had his on Saturday night.  And let me tell you - not only did we get a TON of diapers (6-8 months worth, I figure), but the guys (all around a median age of 30-35) put frat houses around the country to shame.  I spent the night at Dana's, and what I came home to not only disgusted me, but in a way made me proud and happy that the guys had so much fun.  Everyone is so busy these days with their own lives and their own families, it was nice to know that they could all kick back and just have fun for a night.  Now, I may sing a different tune once I get the noise ordinance fine from the HOA, but til then...

YAY for diapers!!

Frat houses around the country - show some respect.

WEEK 33 "To Remembers":  Some day very soon, I'm gonna miss looking down and seeing this bump.  It's become proof that God is alive and works in the miracle business - and it's more than become my favorite accesory.  I'm gonna miss giggleing when I see it move with my little blessing inside.  I'm gonna miss being weirded out when my stomach is lopsided from him being completely on one side while the other side looks flat and baby-free.  I'm gonna miss it - big time.  So although I'm a tiny bit miserable and know that it's only going to get worse over the next few weeks, I'm trying to take in the little time that I have left with my bump.

32 Week Recap: Baby Shower Time!!

OK.  Let's get something straight.  The next person that refers to me as "Waddles" will be immediately kicked in the crotch, without apology, just so they know how it feels every single time I take a step.  Now that the warning is out of the way, let's proceed with the blog, shall we?

This week was REALLY exhausting.  Perhaps the most exhausting of my pregnancy, other than the week that we moved.  Every spare minute of the first part of the week was spent getting the nursery finished and putting the finishing touches on some parts of the house that I wanted ready before the baby shower.  The rest of the week was spent getting everything ready for the shower. 
Now, I realize that I may be crazy for wanting the shower at my house.  My momma and about 5 friends warned me that I was borderline nuts.  However, we never had a housewarming party and I wanted to show off our new place and the nursery to my friends and family!  So I put Drew to MAJOR work.  He hung curtains, he hung blinds, he assembled a coffee table, a side table and a book shelf for the nursery.  He also hung shelves (failed to anchor the 2 he hung in the dining room, so shelf 1 fell while I was decorating it, resulting in the demise of a dessert plate I got as a wedding gift, and shelf 2 fell in the middle of the night around 3:30am, which resulted in a glass hurricane vase also meeting it's demise, as well as almost putting me in pre-term labor and giving Drew a heart attack to have been woken to the sound of glass shattering).  Good times.  There was a lot of cussing, a lot of irritation and a few tears from me being emotional and stressed, but I can happily report we made it out unscathed, still in love, and our house is as decorated as it's gonna get for the time being AND the nursery is finally COMPLETE!!!  (Pics to come). 

Momma came to town Thursday and we did a little prelim prep work for the shower.  But Friday's when it got crazy.  Mandy came over and we were all running around the house like lunatics.  I don't even think I took a shower or ate anything (dont tell Dr Belle) until about 3pm that afternoon.  The best part about Friday was that my cousin, Karen, came to town!!!  It's always such a great time when we get together.  We're more like sisters than cousins and I'm pretty sure we're cracked from the same mold.  We went to the Wine Shop for dinner, then to Target for some last minute shower shopping, then home.  Now, usually this is about the time we drink wine, which we run out of, so we move to beer, and we're up until all hours of the night talking and laughing and singing and catching up.  But, given my 8mo pregnant state, I was only able to hang until about 1am, which I think is pretty impressive!!  Thankfully, my replacement came in the form of my beloved husband, who had been golfing all afternoon, and was in the perfect state to accept such a challenge as keeping up with Karen.  Which he did - until about 4:30am.  Lord only knows what they talked about, but I can promise you one thing - I doubt he'll be trying to out-party her again any time soon.  Ha.

2 peas in a very chic and fun-filled pod.

Saturday finally approached and it was SHOWER DAY!!  The shower didn't start until 3pm, but the first part of the day flew by!  Mandy and Dana and Shavon (my lovely hostess') came early to help, and thank God they did because without everyone chipping in I doubt we could have gotten it all ready in time.  Then guests started arriving.  And they kept arriving.  There were SO many people there!!  My house was FULL and so was my heart, from all of the love and support for me and my baby boy that everyone gave by coming.  We mingled, ate, opened gifts, and had a great time!  Once again, I'm beyond blessed with the most amazing family and friends anyone could ever ask for and I wouldn't trade any of them for anything in this world.  I can't wait to introduce Cohen to all of these incredible people!!

The most beautiful women I know.

Sunday was a great day as well.  I was worn out from all of the hustle and bustle from the day before, but there was no time to even think about it because we had our maternity photo shoot that afternoon!!  We met up with our photographer, Wendy Gray, downtown and after an hour and 3 separate locations, we had about all we could stand of the 100* heat and the blazing sun.  Here's one of the pictures that momma took on her phone, but as soon as I get the final proofs of all of them, I'll be sure to put them in a blog as well!! 

We did a few Ohio State pics to make daddy happy.

It was an incredibly busy and tiring week, but shower's over, pictures are done, and now all I really have to cross off my list is our prenatal classes in a few weeks.  Until then, I'll be asleep - wake me up on Aug 11 so I'm not late for my class...

WEEK 32 CRAVINGS:  And I digress.  Back to the frozen grapes craving of month 3 or 4.  They're just so dang good - and so freaking cold.  And healthier than a popsicle. 

WEEK 32 "Dose of Daddy":  As I mentioned a few months ago, we were so blessed when Drew began a new job at Mazzella Lifting Technologies.  It was something we'd been praying about for awhile and it was so exciting when he was officall offered the position.  This job got him out of the overworked and underpaid employee plan at his previous company and allows Drew to work from home most of the time.  This is awesome for him, as it provides him sort of a reward for years of getting up at 5am and not coming home until well after dark.  Awesome for him.  However, this also provides me with the task of having to hurl my orca-whale of a tail out of bed and propel myself to the bathroom to get ready and out the door to my 8-hour in an actual office job.  I can't honestly say it would be any less irritating for me to face this daily, daunting situation not being pregnant.  However, I can totally say that being pregnant does seem to make it a little more frustrating, as I head out the door, using every ounce of energy I have before I even back out of the driveway, while my husband (and cat) are snoring and drooling their way through the 8am hour.  I'm proud of him beyond words - and I'm happy that he can take advantage of being able to reap the benefits that come with his new job.  But I have to be honest - it takes every ounce of self control to kiss him goodbye gently on the forehead every morning when I leave, rather than flick him on the forehead like I really want to do.

My view every weekday morning.

WEEK 32 "To Remembers":  The phrase 'all because two people fell in love'.  I mentioned my beloved Papaw a few weeks ago in my Fathers Day post, but I can't really mention him without giving credit to my Mamaw, the person who makes him who he is.  I have never seen 2 people set a better example of what true love is.  They've always shown that love to us grandchildren and it's so obvious, even to perfect strangers that pass them on the street or see them eating together out in public.  This love has become even more apparent lately, as Papaw's health really started fading.  The tender love and care and insurmountable patience she shows him is one of the most inspiring things I've ever witnessed with my own eyes.  Momma was talking the other day about how they have always talked for an hour or so when they go to bed at night.  They talk about their day, about their kids, about us grandkids.  And even now, 62 years later, every night when they go to bed, Mamaw talks to Papaw as if nothing has changed and as if he's able to communicate right back to her.  It's amazing.  And such a demonstration of the love they share.  In today's world, where the divorce rate is 50/50, it's so refreshing to see them still so much in love.  And it's a constant reminder that I'm blessed to have, that real love exists and can really last forever.  It's better than any love story I've ever seen in a movie or read about in a book.  And the best part is that it's so real.  It's such a blessing.  And my momma, my aunts and uncle, me and my cousins, and this beautiful baby I'm carrying wouldn't be possible without these two people, that fell in love...and still are.

Me, Cohen, and Mamaw.

Be still...

This week I've gotten some really sad news regarding a friend that I grew up with and her heartbreaking story of how she lost the precious baby girl that her and her husband were expecting.

I sat and read her blog post with tears streaming down my face and my heart physically aching for her and her situation.  Why anyone should have to go through something so painful, and especially when such unexplainable events happen to someone so sweet and loving, is beyond me.  Daily you read horrific stories or hear about them on the news, where a mother has abandoned a child or someone has been arrested for abuse, or an Amber Alert is sent out signaling a child abduction.  How God would give these types of people a child, and take one away from someone so deserving and able to provide a good home and more love than can be imagined is so confusing.  It's the kind of thing that makes you lay awake at night and just ask 'why'.

These questions hit even closer to home when you carry your own child.  For my heart to break for me friend in the way that it does, stems directly from the experience I'm going through right now.  I cannot even fathom anyone telling me that something was wrong with Cohen.  And knowing that I would eventually lose him would change me forever.  And while I can't imagine what my friend is going through, I lean on my faith, just as she's leaning on hers. 
"BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD".  {Psalm 46:10}  This verse explains what we don't understand.  This verse brings comfort in those moments when all you can do is ask 'why'.  And this verse gives the peace that passes ALL understanding.  For even in the most heartbreaking situations, He knows the 'why'.  And in EVERY situation, He brings blessings.  'Letting go and letting God' is one of the most difficult things in the world to do - we just have to lean on faith that He's leading us and works all things for our good - even when all we see is pain.

I keep my friend and her dear husband on my heart and in my prayers - and know that someday, this will all make perfect sense.  It may not be revealed until God tells them Himself in Heaven - but in the meantime, here on Earth, I pray He gives them the healthy, perfect baby they've been praying for - and takes good care of their angel that lives with Him now.

Xo.

Week 31 Recap: 4th of July!

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!

Life is getting pretty nuts lately, so I'm actually writing this on July 18th (my 33rd week)...and from what I hear, it's only going to get worse, so I'm trying to just maintain and keep up as fast as I can.

Anyway, back to 2 weeks ago.  Monday I had yet another doctor's appointment.  I'm really starting to feel like I live there.  My weight hasn't gone up or down - it's stayed the same since I lost a poound 2 weeks ago.  Dr Belle didn't seem at all concerned though - she said as long as the baby is measuring on schedule, she's totally fine with it - and he is.  And honestly, the less I gain the less I'll have to lose when he's out :)  I told her I'm not eating a whole lot because I don't have room for it and because he's big and I get full so fast when I do actually eat.  Guess it'll be this way for the rest of my pregnancy (or at least until he drops some and gives me some room).  Until then, all of my food and nourishment is going to him (which is fine with me - I wonder if I can find someone to donate all of my food to after he's born so this whole weight loss thing is easier).

Wednesday was the 4th - and thankfully our office was closed.  I appreciate any day that I don't have to get ready and rush out the door, drive half an hour and sit here at my desk miserable with my feet propped up on my computer.  We had a great brunch at Brandon and Denise's (seriously, the best homemade french toast I've ever had - and of course it took me back to my first trimester craving, where I ate french toast almost every single day).  We had made plans that night to go to Knights Castle to watch the game and the fireworks, but the heat index was about 115*, so we nixed that plan (THANK GOD) and just decided to spend the day at the pool and go park the truck somewhere and watch the Carowinds fireworks that night.  Perfection.  We had a great day at the pool.  Shavon and Damon and I spent most of it in the kiddie area, and all I could think of is how excited I am for Cohen to splash around next summer!  Then we went to their house for a cookout and about 9pm we all loaded up and headed to some random parking lot near Carowinds where we all watched their fireworks.  All in all, it was a pretty fantastic 4th with great friends...and as little heat as possible :)

Cohen's cutie baseball shoes!  Can't wait for my lil slugger to be here!

I was back to work Thursday and Friday, but cut Friday a little short and we headed to the lake for the weekend.  Jenks was in town for his annual 4th trip, so we all had a great time hanging out with him.  It's such an honor to be sitting there and listen to some of the stories he has to tell about the war and trips overseas.  It really makes you thankful for all of the men and women who fight fearlessly so that we can have our freedom.  It's not something you really stop and think about everyday, but it's so amazing how unselfish he (and people like him) are and it really puts the 4th of July in perspective.  So, fun in the sun, yet another cookout, and church on Sunday.  Great weekend!! 

We had to head back Sunday afternoon because we were helping to throw a shower for our good friends, Vinny and Courtney.  I am beyond excited for the two of them and can't wait to celebrate their big day on the 28th (I just hope I can waddle down the isle and maybe even dance some at the reception!)

So there you go - another weekend in the books.  Down to the single digit weekly countdown now!

WEEK 31 CRAVINGS:  ANYTHING frozen.  Grapes.  Ice.  Slushies.  Smoothies.  I don't care what it is as long as it's freezing cold.  When it's a million degrees outside and even the 'refreshing' pool feels like bath water, you just want something cold.  Frozen.  Period.

WEEK 31 "Dose of Daddy":  Andrew has an 'interesting' or 'unique' fashion sense.  Which is hilarious to everyone that I married someone with such flair for the unordinary.  Every 4th of July he and Brandon go to Walmart or whatever discount cheapo store they can find and scope out the clothing section for the most ridiculous 'I'm Proud to be an American' shirt.  A shirt so insane that even Toby Keith or Larry the Cable Guy would shake their head.  And this year was no exception.  As we cleaned up after the pool and I put on my super cute white and navy maternity sundress that I had been saving just for the 4th, Drew turned the corner wearing this.  I am completely out of words and the picture needs no explanation.  Just take a sec and let it sink in.
**oh and I must give credit where credit is due - he fringed the sleeves by his very own self.  Vera Wang move it on over - there's a new fashion designer in town.

Ladies, you can have your Magic Mike - I have my very own American Andy.

WEEK 31 "To Remembers":  The benefits of being pregnant this time of the year.  While yes, it is insanely hot and at times completely miserable, there are a few reasons why it kinda rocks to be pregnant in the dead of summer:
1.  You get to wear cute dresses.  Rather than packing on layers and coats and everything else that you have to don in order to stay warm in the winter, it's nice to just throw on a one-piece dress and call it a day.
2.  It makes the weeks really fly by!  Summer is always so busy, so it's really nice that there's always something fun to do, which in turn makes the time pass quickly!  I can't imagine being pregnant and stuck indoors all winter long, with it getting dark at 5pm and nothing to do but watch the clock.  Ugh.
3.  For the first time EVER, you don't have to 'suck it in' in a bathing suit.  This probably rocks most of all.  No amount of pilates or yoga or treadmill time is getting rid of the inevitable belly and stretch marks, so throwing on an adorable one piece swimsuit and rockin out with your bad self is pretty much the only option.  And surprisingly, I get compliments every time I'm at the pool.  Now next summer will be a totally different story, but I really have enjoyed just embracing my belly and not having to constantly suck it in.

I'm a summer girl - even when the heat and humidity is damn near killing me.

Week 30 Recap: AsheVegas

Pigtails - hat - sweatpants...at work.
Please don't hate....

10 weeks to go!!  Whew!!  I'm trying so hard to get everything around the house decorated for the shower on July 14, and I feel like I'm in AC Moore or Hobby Lobby or Kirklands every single day, buying something else that I just HAVE to have in order for that to happen.  This week we got a new dining room set and I have Drew running around like a chicken with his head cut off hanging stuff, since a) he freaks out every time I get on a ladder of any kind and b) he's just so dang good at it.  I'm more of an 'eyeballer' when it comes to hanging stuff, but he's all about measuring, leveling and making sure it's perfect.  Reason 342,398,571 to love him.

The end of this week, our family took Tom Mack Auctions on the road and had our first out of town auction in Asheville!!  Brandon, Drew and I got there Thursday evening and went to the best mexican restaurant I think I've ever been to - Papas and Beer.  OMG, coming from a self-proclaimed mexican restaurant connoisseur, I can honestly say this one tops it all.  And I stuffed my face as much as Cohen would let me, considering he's taking up 90% of my stomach region these days.  The mexican food high was awesome, until we got back to our hotel room and discovered that the mountain hotels don't really take into account the fact that yes, while the climate is considerably cooler in certain times of the year, it was 90+ that weekend and our room was hot.  Hot as H-E-double hockey sticks.  I tried to sleep, being uncomfortable as I am already, and finally Drew pulled the mattress onto the floor right in front of the A/C unit.  I finally fell asleep around midnight and sletp ok, but I was such a zombie the next day when we got to the Events center that I worked for a few hours and had to curl up under a table in one of the spare rooms and, wrapped in a table cloth, I slept like a baby on the floor for a good hour and a half.  It's crazy the things your body allows you to do when you're pregnant.  Being able to sleep like a baby on the floor is one of those things - and I think to myself how I probably couldn't have survived that day without that glorious nap.
The auction went well and we had a great time with our auction family.  I got really dizzy and nauseas up on the block during the auction and momma had to come relieve me.  Back to my spot on the floor for another carpet nap.  And before I knew it I knocked out a few more hours of work and we were headed home.  It's so crazy to think that I won't see our auction family again until I'm a mommy!  Our next auction isn't until September, so Cohen will definitely be here and I can't wait to show him off!  Just gotta get him a Tom Mack Auctions embroidered onesie before then ;)

Saturday night we relaxed and rented '21 Jumpstreet' - hilarity AND Channing Tatum??!  Double win.  Then Sunday Drew went golfing so I decided to round up my faves and have some MUCH needed girl time.  And what better way to celebrate being a girl but by going to the theatre to see 'Magic Mike'.  I'll keep my comments to myself, but there are 2 things I'm positive of after seeing the movie: 1) I have no idea how I didn't go into labor during some of the dance scenes (especially the way Dana and I were dancing like we were part of the crowd in the actual movie).  Holy moly.  and 2) I can guarantee that I'll NEVER listen Ginuwine's 'Pony' quite the same again.  If you're a woman and you're wondering why, just do yourself a favor and see the movie.  If you're a guy, just take my word for it.  WORTH IT.  I needed that time with my girls so badly.  And it was so much fun to get away from all-things-pregnancy for 3 hours.


WEEK 30 CRAVINGS:  Ice.  Again.  Blame it on the heat.  Blame it on the anemia.  As Milli Vanilli said, 'blame it on the rain'...I don't care.  I want ice.  Now. 

WEEK 30 "Dose of Daddy":  Part of our beloved auction family, Linda and Wayne Foster, partnered with momma and Tom for the auction in Asheville.  And since it was a weekend-long, out of town affair, they brought along their 8 year old, Jesse.  From what I hear, Jessie was pretty bored on Thurday before Drew and Brandon got there on Friday to play with him.  And let me tell you - play they did!  It was crazy some of the toys this kid had - and how complicated it all seemed when he tried to explain how they all worked.  It didn't take long to realize that we need to step up our game and prepare ourselves for when Cohen is old enough to play with this stuff - because clearly the days of Lincoln Logs and My Buddy are G-O-N-E.  What was so cute though was how Drew and Brandon spent every spare second entertaining Jesse.  I think they both got quickly overwhelmed with the toys of this generation, so most of their entertainment consisted of throwing a ball at inademant objects (or yours truly at times).  It's crazy how patient Drew can be and watching him play with Jesse just made me that much more excited to see him play with Cohen soon.  :)

Jesse and his buddies.

WEEK 30 "To Remembers":  If at all possible, take a nap.  I know in a few weeks the ability to take a nap whenever, wherever I want will be completely a thing of the past, so I plan to enjoy the freedom to snooze away as much as possible.  Even if that means I'm on the floor wrapped up in a table cloth.

Dear Baby Cohen - 7mo Letter

HELLOOOOOOO IN THERE!

Not that I have to scream - you're laying on every single one of my vital organs right now, so I'm pretty sure you can even hear the things that I'm simply THINKING.
Well, 2 months to go.  I don't even know how I feel.  It's an indescribable feeling of excitement and anticipation with a little bit of fear and anxiety mixed in there somewhere.  I used to get these weekly pregnancy emails, updating me on how big you were and what developments you were going through, and I'd just be in awe of the fact that you were in there, growing and thriving without me even feeling you.  Looking back, it was an incredible leap of faith, just trusting that God was taking care of you and blessing you with the ability to grow strong and big and healthy and perfect.  And now, I get these emails and just can't get over the thought that in less than 9 weeks you'll actually be in my arms instead of in my belly.  And while it's still somewhat a leap of faith, I can feel every single move you make - and with each kick or stretch or roll I'm reassured that you're in there just hanging out and continuing to grow strong and big and healthy and perfect.  It really is the most amazing thing I think anyone can ever experience - and there aren't words for how BEYOND blessed I feel that it's you that God chose me to experience this with.

Daddy and I have been really busy the past couple of weeks, trying to finish your nursery.  We've had the furniture for awhile, but I kinda drug my feet in making some final decisions on colors and patterns.  You might as well know right now that I'm a huge perfectionist and especially when it comes to design and decorating, I always have a picture in my head and I'll stop at nothing to make sure what I see in my head is exactly what the final product looks like.  So daddy painted, and I planned, and I can proudly say it's almost done!  My baby shower is next weekend, so it'll definitely be done by then...and while I know you'll probably never understand or appreciate the time and money we've put into your nursery, it's honestly the most fab thing I've ever created and it's perfect for you.  The only thing we need now to make the room complete is you :)

A few weeks ago daddy and Grammy Mack and I went to a special doctors office who gave us a special 3d/4d ultrasound which let us see you in such great detail!  It was honestly one of the most amazing moments in my life and as soon as your actual face popped up on that screen, I was a blubbery mess.  You are the most beautiful and precious thing I have ever seen.  You have my chubby cheeks (you can actually thank Granddaddy for that!) and my nose.  It's crazy because some of your pictures look exactly the way some of my baby pictures did.  I'm hoping you have your daddy's eyes though because he has the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen - and to pass those along to you would be a great thing.  We got a bunch of pictures and even a DVD of the entire ultrasound - I can't wait to show it to you one day!  It's so cool!! 

So, what's going on with you over the past month?  You're about 3 pounds and 16 inches from head to toe (no wonder you're taking up every square inch of my torso - I don't have much room to spare, so I apologize for the cramped quarters.  Just hang in there though, I'm putting the finishing touches on your nursery and once you're out and about, you're going to LOVE all of the room to groove!!)  The lanugo (or weird hair that covers you while you're in the womb) is starting to shed and is only visible on your back and shoulders.  I bet you're the cutest little monkey EVER :)  Your hair is starting to grow, which we saw proof of when we saw you in the 3d/4d ultrasound!  You didn't have much at that point, but if the increase in indigestion that I'm having is any indication, you may be born with no less than a fab afro.  Your body is completely formed and you look just like a perfect little newborn in there!  Your skin is no longer transparent and paper-thin - it's now pink and smooth!  You have eyebrows and eyelashes and your eyes that were previously fused shut are now open and you're able to shut and close them and blink like crazy!  Your nails have reached the tips of your fingers and toes (don't worry - mani/pedis ASAP!) The most exciting part of the past month is that you're totally formed - you're just in there cooking away until it's time to bring you into this world!!  Your lungs are the only thing left to completely develop, and each day counts, so while I'm super anxious for you to be out here in the great wide open, I understand why I have to be patient (which you'll learn soon enough, is not one of mommy's strong suits).

This month's 5 things hasb een condensed into 3 major categories and is all about sports.  I figured since you're a boy, it would behoove you to be born into this world with general knowledge about our household teams (and why your wardrobe consists of mainly of the following 6 team logos).  Besides, Daddy's favorite day of the year, college football kickoff, is the day before you're due!! 
***1.  COLLEGE FOOTBALL
OHIO STATE - I feel like you're probably inbred with all of the Ohio State love that you can stand, considering scarlet and grey runs through your daddy's veins the way that it does.  But let me give you a little bit of background on why we love the Buckeyes - your daddy grew up loving the Buckeyes (something that just like you, he was born into) and eventually acheived his dream of being a Buckeye himself and going to college there!!  I have forbid him from sharing the majority of his experience there with you until you're at least 21 years old, but know that he's pretty much the biggest Buckeye fan ever and I'm sure he'll have you decked out in scarlet and grey just as soon as he can get a onesie on you.

CLEMSON - This is momma's college football team.  While we do love the Buckeyes, we also need a good ol southern ACC team to cheer for!  And we get our Clemson Tiger love from Poppy.  What's really cool about Poppy's love for Clemson is that his daddy went there and on home gamedays, Grammy and Poppy sit in the actual seats that Great Poppy did when he went to school there!  I can't wait to take you to a game and for you to be big enough to eat some of Ms Carol's famous pimento cheese sammies at halftime.  It'll be a few years down the road, but I know Daddy and Uncle Boo are already excited to take you to the Esso Club.

***2.  NFL FOOTBALL
CLEVELAND BROWNS - Being that daddy is from Cleveland, he's automatically inclined to have mad love for the Browns.  Now, you should know that the Browns don't have the best record.  And Sundays can be a bit of a drag for a Browns fan, but they're a team with alot of heart and if nothing else, Browns fans make the games a TON of fun (they even went to tailgate when there wasn't a team to tailgate for - have daddy fill you in on that) so it's usually a good time whether they win or lose.  And when they do win, it's like the best.day.ever. for a Browns fan.  So, when they're playing, just be really sweet to your daddy and love on him to keep him in a good mood - but don't ever remind him 'it's just a game'...because to him, it's NEVER 'just a game'.

CAROLINA PANTHERS - You're a Carolina boy, born and bred, so naturally you're gonna join us in cheering for the Cats on Sundays as well.  Coincidentally, the past few years have proven to be just as rough on a Panthers fan than they have on a Browns fan.  So unfortunately, Sunday really isn't the happiest day of the week in our house when it comes to professional fall sports.  However, we have a few key players that, if they could get the rest of the team to hop onboard and actually play as a 'team', we have potential to be a stellar team.  A few years ago I even watched the Cats play in the Superbowl.  We lost, but at least we made it there.  Panthers games are super fun to go to, and considering the stadium is here in Charlotte, I'm sure we'll be taking you to alot of them!  Hopefully, by the time you're old enough to actually know what's going on in the game, just like the Browns, we'll be a better team. 

***3.  BASEBALL
CLEVELAND INDIANS - Again, being from Cleveland, there is no reason to justify why daddy is an Indians fan.  He can tell you stories about when PapPap took him to games when he was little, and how he and his buddies would go together when they got older, and how Progressive Field (where they play) will always be "Jacob's Field".  Since most of the games aren't shown down here, daddy has some online subscription where he watches them on the laptop.  It's funny because we both lay on the couch and I watch the big tv and he watches the laptop at the same time.  I know he can't wait to take you to a game and pay $7 for a hotdog for you.

ATLANTA BRAVES - This one you'll definitely get honest from me and Uncle Boo.  Growing up, Grammy and Granddaddy and Uncle and I would watch the Braves every summer, every single time they were on.  I have the best memories of staying up late, laying in Grammy and Granddaddy's bed watching the games.  And your Great Papaw loves the Braves too!!  We've been to so many games and they're so much fun!  Uncle Boo even has a Braves tattoo on his arm!  If you're southern, you're born to love the Braves, and with the Braves outfits Uncle Boo has already bought for you, I know he's more than excited to take you to your first game!!!

***Now you may be wondering why I haven't mentioned a team in the NBA Basketball category.  I figured that with you being so pure and innocent, it's best to just keep you from the humility that is the Charlotte Bobcats, as well as the Cleveland Cavaliers-post LeBum leaving the team.  So, when you're old enough and strong enough to see the stats for yourself, I'll have Daddy reveal the ugliness that both of these teams possess.  Until then, just say GO BUCKS and all will be right in the world :)

Less than 2 months to go little one!  I simply can't wait!
All my love,
Mommy.

29 Week Recap: Braids McBadNurse

29 Weeks
(and the cleaners at work STILL haven't Windexed the mirror).

Wow - I can't believe I'm sitting here and 29 weeks has gone by - and there's only 11 more.  AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!  Should I officially start freaking out now, or should I wait a few more weeks?  The nursery is almost finished (pics to come) so that brings my anxiety level WAY down.  And it seems like every spare minute we have is spent putting together strollers or swings, doing laundry (man, Dreft is expensive) and organizing odds and ends.  Whatever spare time we do have is spent sleeping.  Although I'm starting to feel like no matter how much I do get, it's still never enough...guess this is just preparation for Motherhood...

Week 29 started off with Father's Day 2012!!  We had a great day - maybe the best Fathers Day we've ever had - celebrating with Daddy and of course, the Daddy to be...
Speaking of the 'Daddy to be'...it was revealed to me by my father in law that he made the comment on Mothers Day a few weeks ago, that I didn't need a MD present because "I'm not a mother yet".  This statement has led to MANY discussions and valid points made on my part that while I don't yet have a child to hold in my arms, I have housed his son and given up pretty much everything that used to bring me joy, for the past 7 months.  If that's not sacrifice enough to earn a MD gift, I don't know what is.  While I've received apology after apology and admission that (as usual) I am right, I know that this will be brought up countless more times and will be forgotten about only when I get a gift next year TWICE as fab as expected (a good excuse to purchase a pair of size 5.5 Christian Louboutin black stiletto pumps maybe?????)  But I disgress...  Being the thoughtful, loving person that I am, who LOVES to give gifts more than I've ever liked receiving them, I had plenty of gifts for Drew on Fathers Day.  Him being the scotch drinker that he prides himself to be, I had a set of rocks glasses etched w his initials.  And Cohen gave him a frame w an ultrasound pic inside.  And even Greyson gave him a candle.  So, while he's not an actual 'Father' yet, I wanted to show the appreciation that myself, the cat and our unborn son have for him and the Father that he's going to be in a few weeks.  ***Note to my male readers (if I even have any) - ALWAYS get your significant other a gift on holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, etc etc etc...we say we don't expect it, but we do - and we're severely disappointed when we don't receive something.  It doesn't have to be expensive - just thoughtful.  And trust me, it'll be wayyyy more easier to just get something than to have to deal with the wrath of not.  Rant over.

Yup, all for 'Youre not a father yet' Fathers Day.

Anyway, back to the guy who's been a father for 29 years and gave me life - my daddy!  :)  We grew up loving baseball, and so we thought it was fitting to get tickets to the Charlotte Knights game since it was on FD this year!!  So, we had hotdogs (that weren't $7 at the ballpark) at our house beforehand and headed to the game!!  It was hot - so very hot.  But we had GREAT seats and although the Knights lost, we all considered the day a complete win considering all of the fun we had!

View from our seats!!

A little pre-game action.

Daddy and his kiddos.

Best dad ever deserves the coolest can ever.

Couldn't take the heat - so me and my ice had to take it to the Handicap section for the last 4 innings.

I'm special.

That Wednesday was incredibly special because we had our 3d/4d ultrasound and got to put a sweet face with Cohen's name!  I don't think I've ever felt so much love - it was incredible!  For more details, refer back to the blogpost: http://mommasac.blogspot.com/2012/06/first-time-i-saw-your-face.html

The remainder of the week was pretty uneventful up until Friday, when I had to be at the dr at 8am for my 3hr glucose test.  OMG - next pregnancy I will Google until I find a way to ensure a passing score for my initial test, that way I never ever have to endure such torture again.  First off, it's incredibly ridiculous to require any pregnant woman to fast for 12 hours prior to the test (especially when after the 12 hours, you know you still cant have anything to eat or drink for the 3 hours that you're actually at the dr during the test).  I got there at 8, had my first blood pull w no issues, then was forced to drink the sugary stuff.  Last time it was orange - this time, fruit punch.  And I gotta admit, it wasn't THAT bad this time.  I drank it within the allotted 5 minutes and didn't gag once.  Then I had to wait an hour - and as I prided myself on getting the drink down with no problems, it hit my completely empty system and I spent the first hour dry heaving and laying on the table in the exam room trying to keep the ceiling and floor from spinning.  But I did have an appt w Dr Belle within this hour, so that kept my mind off it for a few minutes, as I heard Cohen's heartbeat and got measured and weighed.  Dr Belle said I was DOWN a pound since my appt 2 weeks prior - explain to me how I work out relentlessly and dont lose a pound, but I'm creating a human being, expected to gain a pound a week, and I lose one!??  Man, the weight gods are rude.  Anywho, Dr Belle didn't seem concerned and as quick as she was in, she was out.  Then hour 1 was done - time for another blood pull.  This time, a different chick did it (we will refer to her as 'Braids McBadNurse') and clearly she had no idea what she was doing.  I doubt I was the first person she's ever taken blood from, but you could have fooled me.  She put the needle in, collapsed a vein, but still attempted to draw blood by just wiggling the needle around IN MY ARM.  Seriously?  I'm already nauseas and tired and on the verge of either puking or passing out.  She finally had to ask the 1st nurse to do it, which of course she did without any pain or problems at all.  (I'll spare you the disgusting picture of what my arm looks like right now, but let's just say it's every color of the rainbow and about the size of a softball).  Hour 2 passed and I started to feel better - and nurse 1 did my blood pull (thank God), and I was into my last hour.  I relaxed in the waiting room and finally, at noon, got called back for my last pull.  This one was a doozy.  So much so, that I forgot my book and my sunglasses and darted out of there and to my car so fast that I'm sure I stirred up some dust.  I sit down in the lab, overly excited that the only thing standing between me and a Big Mac was this last blood pull.  And then, Braids McBadNurse turns around w the needle in her hand.  She was sweet, so I decided to cut her a break and let her attempt to redeem herself and the bruise that she caused.  Fail.  She decided to try my other arm because she noticed the result of her right arm attempt, and immediately as she put the needle in, NOTHING.  No blood...no vein...no bueno.  I wasn't willing to look like a domestiv violence victim on both arms, so I asked politely if nurse 1 could do it instead.  I felt bad bc I know Braids didn't mean any harm, but I couldn't handle anything else at this point.  So, needle in, no pain, blood out, and I pretty much ran to my car, leaving half of the things I kept to keep me entertained behind.  Luckily, it's less than 2 weeks until I visit my home-away-from-home again...so I'll just grab em then. 

That afternoon, Drew's parents came into town to spend the weekend with us.  I didn't feel well most of Friday afternoon/evening, so we hung out around the house and just relaxed.  Saturday we spent the day at the pool and had dinner at Maggiano's that night!  We were so stuffed afterwards we headed straight home and I'm pretty sure we were all passed out by 10pm.


WEEK 29 CRAVINGS:  Ice, ice baby.  I don't know whether to blame this craving on the heat or my anemia, but I want ice - all the time.  And only crunchy ice will do.  I favor Sonic, Showmars, the Shell station up the street from my office.  If there's a place that sells the 'nugget' ice anywhere within a 5 mile radius of me at all times, I'll find it.  I'm not gonna lie - I've priced these ice makers on Craigslist - but dang they're expensive :(  Looks like it's the drivethru for me...

WEEK 29 "Dose of Daddy":  I'm thinking of renaming this section 'Dose of Daddy & Uncle Boo', considering when there's a good story, it usually involves both of them.  It was their personal goal of the day at the Knights Game to catch Cohen's first foul ball.  I swear they jumped up even when the ball was like a million feet away from us.  Anyway, long story longer, they finally got one.  I don't know the exact story of how it happened, but here's the picture and description that Uncle Boo put on his Facebook page. 

Awesome day!!! Took Dad to the Knights Game, got him some gems, and highlight of the day... "this foul ball was hot off a rail, Dru saved the Cohen with his hands... Ball deflected off his hands flew in the air and UNCLE BOO caught it!!!!!!" so crazy! His 1st foul ball! Proud uncle! (2 b)

WEEK 29 "To Remembers":  In lieu of Father's Day, I have to dedicate this week's "To Remembers" to my daddy.  Some of my very favorite memories begin with him.  When I was little I used to have chronic ankle aches that would strike in the middle of the night.  And he was always there to rub them and give me Panadol (haha, remember that nasty chewable stuff?) and to take my mind off the pain, he'd make up stories about "Freddy the Frog".  I loved these moments because I loved his stories and I would try so hard to stay awake, but always fell asleep right in the middle.  And I'll never forget 'The Magic Chair', where he'd fold his arms in front of him and I'd sit in them and he'd carry me up to bed.  He brought me Icee's from KMart every single night that I had the chicken pox.  And he took me to buy my first car when I was 16.  But above all of these great memories, my favorite was when we danced at my wedding.  He kept me cool and calm and collected the entire way down the isle, but the dance was where it all came together.  As Steven Curtis Chapman sang the words to "Cinderella", I realized that no matter what had happened between my parents, the relationship between my daddy and I had never changed.  I had always been, and will always be, his Cinderella.

She spins and she sways
To whatever song plays
Without a care in the world
And I'm sitting here wearing
The weight of the world on my shoulders

It's been a long day
And there's still work to do
She's pulling at me
Saying "Dad, I need you

There's a ball at the castle
And I've been invited
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone...

She says he's a nice guy and I'd be impressed
She wants to know if I approve of the dress
She says, "Dad, the prom is just one week away
And I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone

She will be gone

Well, she came home today with a ring on her hand
Just glowing and telling us all they had planned
She says, "Dad, the wedding's still six months away
But I need to practice my dancing
Oh, please, Daddy, please?"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms
'Cause I know something the prince never knew
Oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't want to miss even one song
'Cause all too soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone