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

The First Time I Saw Your Face...

Beautiful quote on the wall of the waiting room @ The Prenatal Picture.

For a few weeks I keep thinking that I needed to do a little research and find a place to schedule my 3d/4d ultrasound.  Being crazy busy and with the insane increasingly long to-do list, it keeps slipping my mind and I just get further and further along.  Afraid I was going to miss out on the recommended "26-32 week" window that yield the best results for this kind of ultrasound, I took it to The Book and asked all of my current or former preggo friends where they went and who they recommended.  The response was overwhelming, "Go to The Prenatal Picture off Johnston Rd!!"  So I immediately called and got in for the next morning (which was yesterday, 6/20).  This was even more convenient since Wednesday offered a mid week special price and Momma was in town from the night before, so she was able to go with us last minute!

There weren't words for how excited I was, but nothing could have prepared me for what I saw on that screen.  We arrived and sat down to fill out paper work in what felt more like a spa or massage place rather than an ultrasound spot.  This was awesome because I immediately felt relaxed and loved the low lighting and the soft music in the background.  The ultrasound tech, Mary was super cool as well.  She was personable and really made us feel special and at ease.

So, I got called back, pulled my huge self onto a REALLY soft bed (why can't all beds at drs offices be like this!!??) and if not for my anticipation of what we were getting ready to see, I would have immediately fallen asleep and been out for the rest of the day.
But, no time for that - as soon as I was propped up, Mary applied the goo and there was my little boy on the movie screen in front of me.  Momma and Drew had a smaller screen right beside me to look at, which was actually better for Drew since a) he didn't have his glasses with him and b) he can't ever tell what he's looking at on an ultrasound anyway. 
It had been a long 12 weeks since my last ultrasound when we found out that Cohen was a boy and I was so excited to see him again.  But this time was different - at first it looked like a typical black and white ultrasound, which is cool enough because you can see real-time movements, but then Mary clicked something and BAM.  There was my little boy's face.  His lips, his eyes, his mouth, his sweet cheeks that I can't wait to kiss all over.  And in that moment, I felt more in love than I ever had before - and wanted nothing more than to hold him right then and there (immediate bawling commenced).
He was perfect.  And beyond cute.  And has my lips - and my chubby cheeks.  And he has hair!  Not a ton of it, but we saw proof of at least a little bit!  I was amazed, giggling and crying at the same time. 
We had a full 25 minutes of watching our little guy make his big screen debut.  His umbilical cord was right up near his face and he kept trying to yank it down, but you can see it in most of the pictures.  Drew said that it was his 'cord shades'.  He opened and closed his mouth, he kicked his perfect little feet and sucked on his perfect little hand.  I know I sound redundant, but ''perfect" is the only word to describe every single thing about this baby.
I'm one of those people who love to watch fish swim around - but as much as that entertains me, nothing could have entertained me as much as watching my baby.  I could have laid there all day, just staring at him.

I can't believe we have a face to go with a name...and seeing this made me even more excited to meet him and actually be able to hold him.  I feel like I know him so well right now - and I know he knows me too...but I'm ready for the next 10 weeks to fly by so that he's here...and I can get to know him even better.  My perfect, handsome, adorable baby boy.

The sweetest little button nose ever!

He's gonna be a talker, just like his momma.

Seriously, he could sign a makeup contract w/ Revlon w/ those lips.

'The Thinker'

Sweet Chubby Cheeks - he gets em honest!

Still fighting w/ the cord...

Chillaxin w/ his 'Cord Shades'

Seriously - our kid is Tebowing in utero...he's an epic baby already.

28 Week Recap: I've Never Been a Good Test Taker



28 weeks and believe it or not, these are non-maternity pants.
Score 1 for the fatty!

I don't know who I really made the promise to or maybe it was just me being paranoid of people's reaction, but I'm actually posting a picture of my bare belly.  For some reason this one turned out cute (in my opinion - if you don't agree, just smile and nod like you do), and although I promised to never continually post pictures of my bare belly on any social media network, this is MY blog and if you don't like it, well then don't visit.  Easy as that ;)  Now, onto my cute, growing, huge, splotchy (although you can't tell - thank you, Instagram) belly - that contains my cute, growing, huge, hopefully not at all splotchy line backer...

I spent most of this week researching two things:  1) whether or not it's actually possible for this kid to kick through my uterus and make his entrance into this world by simply walking out and being like 'what up mom'...like a boss...and...2) what is Gestational Diabetes/how could I have possibly failed my 1st glucose test when I can't eat more than 5 bites of food at a time/what am I gonna do for the next 2.5 months if they cut off all my sugar intake/what book shall I take to pass the dreaded 3hr test?
I couldn't find any scientific fact to prove that item #1 was possible.  Although, I'm sure that if it is, I'll be the first that it's ever happened to, in which case I'll write a memoir about it and appear on all of the daytime talk shows to discuss my ordeal and I'll be on the NY Times Bestsellers list and meet Bethenny Frankel and Ellen and Anderson Cooper and oh yeah, I may have a jacked up stomach scar from a baby just busting out of it, but heck, I'll be rich and famous so I'll be able to afford Dr Paul Nassif to do my plastic reconstruction surgery and me and his wife Adrienne Maloof will become BFFs and she'll introduce me to all of her Real Housewife friends and give me tons of fab shoes from her exclusive shoe line.   Note to self: once I meet  Andy Cohen, tell him to set aside time for my new reality show entitled "Busting Out Baby".  Ok, so I'm joking, but I wanted to give you all a glimpse of how quick and out of hand things get in my mind.  I usually try to let my imagination run amuck quietly and to myself, but sometimes I just go on rants like these out loud and Drew looks at me like I have 5 heads and just shakes his and walks out of the room, clearly realizing just how crazy this chick that he married is.  Anyway, one man's "crazy" is another's "creative"...RIGHT?!
Now, item #2 is actually pretty serious (or at least it has potential to be).  After thinking for sure that I had aced my first glucose test, I got a call this week to let me know that I had failed it.  Not miserably...I guess the normal range is 70-140 and I scored a 145.  So, it's not terrible, but enough for them to force me to come back, kicking and screaming, to do the dreaded 3 hour test, scheduled for Friday, June 22.  NOT.  AT ALL.  EXCITED.  But I know it's something I need to do for the health and well-being of not only Cohen, but myself.  I've always had blood sugar issues and a bout with hypoglycemia, but I thought the constant thirst and rapid heart rate was from being pregnant, like every other ailment I've had for the past 7 months.  But nope, the blood sugar monster has reared it's ugly head again.  So I fast from midnight Thursday, go in at 8:30 and in the course of 3 hours, drink the NASTY orange drink, have 5 blood pulls and 5 urine tests.  FIVE.  I think the worst thing is having to sit there for 3 hours...I'm bringing a book, but I'm thinking all pregnant ladies that are forced to not only endure the nastiness of the drink, combined with the blood pulls and pee cups AND the 3 hour wait, should be provided free massages, a pedicure and a free ultrasound. 
Note to self: present this option to my insurance provider as well as Rosie Pope.
Anywho, hopefully this test will go better, I won't die from boredom during the wait and I'll be good to go (Gestational Diabetes free) for the next 12 weeks. 

The rest of the week was pretty laid back - got the nursery painted and the design finished and everything ordered (go back to last week's nursery posting if you have no idea what I'm talking about) and Friday night was awesome because we had Friday night DOUBLE date night with the O'Briens at RuSans and once again, I slightly bent the rules as far as sushi for preggos goes, but it was SOOO good and worth it.
Saturday was awesome though - we got up early, picked Brandon up and headed to Pinehurst to visit Mamaw and Papaw.  I hadn't seen them since Christmas Day, when I announced the pregnancy, so everyone was SUPER excited to see how big I am and to hear how everything was going!  I had the best time just catching up with everyone and eating all of the good food (big shout out to AP for the dark chocolate raspberry brownies and to Momma for the Pina Colada cake...OMG).  Anyone who knows anything about me knows that I'm a HUGE Papaw's Girl.  He's been my hero from the day I can remember and although it breaks my heart to see him get older, I am so thankful for eacha nd every second we get to spend together.  He's a man of few words these days, but when I walk into the room you can see the happiness in his eyes and he always has something to say to me.  We asked if he was excited about the baby and he said 'oh yes' and when I told him it was time for me to leave he grabbed my arm tight and asked 'why'.  Then he said for me to 'come back soon', which of course I promised I would.  He's amazing - and I love him so much and I can't wait for him to hold Cohen.  Everyone is so excited to meet this baby and I can't wait for him to find out firsthand what an amazing family he's beyond blessed to be born into.

Papaw's Girl
B and his Papaw (biggest Braves fans ever) - Me, Papaw & B
Me, Drew, Cousin Kevin, B and Papaw - Mamaw's Girl - Me and AP (Cohen's other Grammaw)

WEEK 28 CRAVINGS:  Now that summer is officially here, I guess it's fitting that this week I craved something seasonal.  I still have mad love for my delicious and disgustingly sour green apples, but I've been really intrigued this week with cherries.  Not maraschino cherries (although those are my favorite part of an ice cream sundae and I could seriously sit and eat an entire jar), but real, red, you-gotta-spit-the-seed-out cherries.  And while they're not cheap ($4.99 for a bag, at minimum), they're so worth it.  And I'm already into my 2nd bag for the week.  Mmmmmm...cherries.

WEEK 28 "Dose of Daddy":  This week, Drew did something really sweet.  He's good to me all the time (even when I don't deserve it, which seems to be less and less, the more pregnant and irritable I get), but every now and then he'll surprise me with something from my favorite jewelry boutique City Art Works off Woodlawn Rd.  When we lived off Woodlawn a few years ago, he'd stop and pick things up all the time.  But now that we're not really close to it anymore, the prizes are a little less frequent (but somehow a little more special).  So, during one of my 1million+ bathroom breaks last week, I was so excited to see a white box with a purple and pink bow tied around it.  They hand wrap every gift there, and there's no mistaking when it's a CAW prize!  The box was set on top of the toilet paper holder, which at first I thought was a little weird, but I opened it and inside were a gorgeous pair of silver earrings!  I went back into the living room and asked why he put them there and he said 'you're in the bathroom so much, I figured you may as well be rewarded for it one time'.  Haha - and with that explanation I was immediately reminded of exactly why I love him. 

Yay for 'PRIZES'!

WEEK 28 "To Remembers":  Spending time with my family this past weekend really made me stop and think about how fast time goes by and how the people that you look at when you're small and think are invincible are actually people too - their hair turns white, they walk slower, and they have a harder time speaking.  I remember thinking that MY grandparents would never get old.  And by the grace of God, this has almost been proven because I've been blessed with 29 years of my grandparents being happy and healthy and vibrant and able to enjoy in every milestone I've ever had.  But the fact is that like I said, they're human.  The important thing is that you never stop creating memories.  The memories yesterday, of the camper and the beach trips and Disney World and Christmases and Braves games are just as special to me as the ones that we created last weekend, where we sat around the table and laughed and pushed Papaw around in his wheelchair and ate together and just enjoyed being in the same room  as eachother.  The memories may be different, but they're all so very special in their own way.  And as much as it breaks my heart, I know Papaw won't be able to watch Cohen graduate highschool, but I know how much he loves me and loves my little boy already.  And that no matter what, I have a million of amazing memories to share with him.

4 generations!
BEYOND blessed.

27 Week Recap: 3rd Trimester, Baby Baybayyyyy!

Okay, so I know this isn't a true 'belly' shot, but it's got my belly in it (kind of) and I wanted to take advantage of a day when I could actually see my knees and ankle bones :)

Ready for some REALLY exciting news!? 
I'M OFFICIALLY IN THE 3rd TRIMESTER!! 
Yay for the home stretch, for the fact that the countdown is on til I can see my feet without bending over and that there's only about 13 week left until I meet my lil man!!  Can I get an 'amen'!?  This journey has been one of the most exciting things I've ever experienced, but I have to admit that I'm starting to really have days where I'm ready to feel like a normal person again.  It's indescribable to share such a special bond with the baby and to feel every move he makes, but I'm starting to get really uncomfortable - all the time - and it'll be beyond nice to be able to sleep longer than 45 minutes at a time without having to get up and pee.  Plus, in return for all of these things, I also get a BABY in the end!  Pretty sweet deal if you ask me!  Please don't confuse me for one of those girls who constantly complains about every little pregnancy thing.  I've been incredibly blessed with a very healthy and happy pregnancy and I've cherished every single moment (even the not-so-pretty ones where my head was buried in a toilet).  But, I promised this blog would be full of the good and bad things I'm experiencing, so I'm only being honest in admitting that they weren't lying when they said that the 3rd trimester really is the toughest. 

On top of the fun aches and pains that accompany this continually growing linebacker of a baby that I'm carrying, this week was the one where I had to face the dreaded glucose test.  UGH!  I made Drew come with me because 1) he hadn't met Dr Belle yet, 2) he hadn't heard his baby's heartbeat since week 17 and 3) there was no way I was sitting in that office alone and bored for an entire hour during my test.  So I got there, drank the disgusting orange drink in the alloted 5 minute time limit and sat and thought 'wow, that was the fastest 5 minutes ever...if they served that at the end of each work day, the last few minutes would FLY by instead of the clock moving backwards'.  But alas, I survived and we met with Dr Belle for my bi-weekly appointment (I can't believe I'm already at the point where I have to go every 2 weeks) - and Cohen is growing and thriving right on track!!  Dr Belle has already blamed 'Mr Handsome' (as she referred to Drew) for the size of the baby, but I guess that's expected when you marry someone an entire foot and 1 inch taller than you.  I've only gained another 2 lbs since my last appointment, and I'm happy to report that it's pretty much all in my belly.  I'm still waiting for the appt where I gain 30 pounds in 2 weeks, but I'm trying really hard to avoid that.  My weight is perfect and actually a few pounds under the average!  YAY!  Dr Belle said they'd call with my results of my blood work, but that 'even the big girls pass the test' (OMG, she's such a trip - she has got to be the one to deliver this baby - she's already checked and she's on call for my due date, but in the dire circumstance that she's not, I will cross my legs until she is.  I thrive on people being funny, and I need her there).  So, I confidently walked out, knowing I had aced the glucose test and I was home free.  ***note to my readers: I'm writing this during my 28th week and just got a call that I actually failed the test and have to go in for the 3hr re-test...but more on that next week.  FUN.

The rest of the week was kind of awesome because they were remodeling our office at work, so I got 2 free days to 'work from home'.  I honestly did a little bit of work, but I did more sleeping in and catching up on my reality tv.  Either way, it was awesome to relax and not have to rush out the door in the morning.  It made me even more excited for Maternity Leave, when I can just settle in to the role of being a mommy and spend time with little man.

CHEERS TO THE HOME STRETCH!

WEEK 27 CRAVINGS:  Drew and I took advantage of the fact that we were both home on Friday afternoon and traveled to NoDa for a late lunch at Cabo Fish Taco.  We grubbed out so hard that we weren't even hungry for dinner.  However, around 8:30 I had the ridic craving of a strawberry milkshake and only Cookout would do.  So we piled in the car and that way.  Luckily there's one close and we both got a shake and a burger.  Best Friday night date night in a a long time :)

WEEK 27 "Dose of Daddy":   Things got REALLY real at Casa de Sac this week when Drew decided he'd put the bassinet together.  This was the first thing that's actually required assembly and more than a few times I heard him say something to the effect of "OMG, ish is gettin real - I can't believe I'm putting this together for my baby'.  I'm happy to admit that construction was completed in a timely fashion, and with minimal cursing involved.  It's funny how the bigger my stomach gets, the longer Drew's 'honey-do' list gets. Up next: painting.  Ohhh, how he's gonna love me after this task.

Our test subject approves of the bassinet.

WEEK 27 "To Remembers":  I remember my momma always saying that even when we have children, it's vital to any marriage to still always put your partner first.  With that said, I'm realizing how busy life is getting and the baby isn't even here yet - so it's easy to understand why most couples get stuck in the day in and day out humdrum of life and it all becomes so routine that they take for granted their significant other and start treating them more as a roommate than with the respect and passion that a husband/wife deserves.  Since we began dating, Andrew and I have had this rule that unless it's completely unavoidable, we don't make plans on Monday nights - that's our night to just veg out and settle down from the first day of a new week.  We also try and observe 'Friday Night Date Night' as often as we can.  Whether it's a sit down dinner at a nice restaurant or a milkshake and burger fromt he Cookout drive-thru, these nights are my favorite.  Being such a social couple who loves the time we share with our friends, it's always SO nice for it to just be the two of us.  I can't predict how crazy life if about to get in the next 3 months with a new person to share our home with.  For 4 years it's just been us.  But we have more than enough lvoe for eachother, that we're so excited to share with Cohen...we just need to remember to always make it a priority to take time for just the 2 of us so that we can keep that love continually growing. 

6/7 @ Ziggy's for the Simplified show.



Yay for Cohen's Nursery (and not having to sleep in a bathtub)

So, pretty much since the moment we found out we were having a boy, I began planning in my mind what I wanted for his nursery.  The colors were already decided, since I'm obsessed with grey and turquoise for a boy (it was going to be grey and fuschia for a girl), and I knew I wouldn't have trouble deciding on the furniture since I had been set on having a black/espresso finish.  But OMG, did I have my work cut out for me when it came to actually deciding on bedding and wall coverings and accesories. 
Let me be the first to say - while I realize I am having a sweet, beautiful baby, the last thing I wanted was sheep or a nursery ensemble with puffy blue clouds and trains.  I wanted sweet, but I didn't want a diabetic-coma-inducing design.  I wanted something that would have just the right balance between newborn baby sweet and toddler cool.  I knew I needed something to add just the right touch of 'sweet', so shortly after finding out we were having a "Cohen", Drew and I were in Pier 1 and I saw the softest, cutest stuffed owl and I knew that was my 'sweet' component!  That's when I decided that owls would play a part in the decor.  I didn't want the nursery to be owl crazy...just a few owls here and there.  So I found a wall decal on Etsy and decided to place an order.  I wanted a dark grey accent wall behind the crib, and the white tree decal would be the perfect color contrast - and the turquoise accents on the leaves, owl and birds wings would tie in the turquoise color!
Then came some creative wall hangings - I was at work one day, playing around with PowerPoint and came up with the "C is for Cohen" name print that I've mentioned in previous blogs.  So I printed it out, framed it and that became my first wall hanging.  The 2nd wall hanging I ordered off Etsy from a lady who does song lyric tranfers onto canvas boards.  I chose the lyrics to 'My Wish' by Rascal Flatts, which has also been mentioned in previous blogs and was just perfect, for completely obvious reasons.  My 3rd wall hanging (not pictured yet), came from my momma and stepdaddy when they were in Savannah.  It's Cohen's initials from various pictures taken in random places.  The best initial though, is the "L" for Lees.  It's a pitchers arm, angled in an "L" shape and holding a baseball.  Given Drew's love for all sports, he LOVED this touch and it's sure to hang in Cohen's room for a LOOOOOOOOOONG time. 
So, the majority of the room had been decided on - except, for the dreaded bedding.  I just couldn't decide on anything.  Every bedding set in the store made my head spin and while I would have loved some of it in other people's nurseries, I just couldn't see Mickey Mouse in my house.  So, I took to the internet to have something custom made.
Being a pattern fanatic, I knew I wanted stripes.  I'm more than mildy crazy-nutso-obsessed with anything striped (vertical, horizontal, chevron...stripes, stripes, STRIPES!)  There's something so timeless and fun and bold about stripes - and the versatility to be able to put any color with them makes them effortless.  So I had my color scheme, my furniture, and my pattern.  But putting it all together caused the most anxiety that I've experienced during this entire pregnancy. 
I would look at the bedding designs on www.babybedding.com (c/o Carousel Designs) where they had a virtual nursery that you could play around with fabrics and create whatever combination of patterns you could dream up.  While entertaining, this feature was a dangerous option for someone so OCD about the task at hand.  I'd get on the website pretty much every day and play around with putting it all together, then close the browser, still unable to pull the trigger and make a decision.  This went on for about a month.  There were nights where I'd get up to use the bathroom and literally lay there and think about bedding designs.  (Insert 'this girl is crazy and should not be allowed to pro-create' thought here).  So I did some mockups of what I think I wanted, then eliminated what I didn't like once it was printed out.  I shared it with momma, with Mandy, with Drew (who responded with the correct, albeit unhelpful response of 'whatever you want, babe')...and after about 2 weeks of hearing 'you better get that ordered before the baby's actually here and has to sleep in the bathtub', I pulled the trigger and decided on a pattern.  This momentous decision happened about 2 hours ago when I logged on, decided on my pattern, piled up the virtual shopping cart and entered in my debit card information. 
And with that, ladies and gents, I give you the finalized design board for Cohen's nursery!

I know Cohen probably wont appreciate the time and stress that went into making his room as 'perfect' as possible.  After all, he is a boy and if he's anything like his daddy, he'll care less about decorating and be more into sports (I actually pray that's is the way it goes, lol...) but even with the fact that completing this nursery design was harder than picking out my wedding dress, I enjoyed every minute of it and can't wait to see little man in his room! 

***81 DAYS TO GO & COUNTING!***

26 Week Recap: Tae-Bo Baby

26 weeks / 5 days
(in the classiest of all office bathrooms).

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh my gosh - how is it possible that this baby is going to get any bigger?  I still have 14 weeks!  An ENTIRE trimester!  Seriously.  I don't mind my stomach growing, but I don't think it's growing fast enough to accomodate him.  The reason I say this is because I feel EVERY.SINGLE.MOVE this kid makes - and with his predicted size, I want to say he'll be a linebacker, but with the strength of his kicks, he may very well be star punter.  (Either way, we've decided to go ahead and start the recruiting process and check out possible colleges - although we all know Drew only has eyes for his beloved Ohio State).
Anywho, as I sit and type, I'm being kicked and punched and falling victim to just about every type sweet of martial art skill that this baby has managed to acquire while in utero.  He may be born black certified but one thing's for sure - I hope he loves kicking my right lung as much as I used to love breathing with it.  Sometimes I can't handle it (especially when I'm sitting in my office and I can feel his head on my lung) - so I gently try to nudge him to politely request that he move off of mommy's vital organs...to which he always responds with a series of jabs and immediately returns to his previous location.  Clearly he doesn't understand that if I dont breathe, then neither does he.  But whatever - I still cherish every moment and every movement - even the ones that render me (literally) breathless.

Drew was out of town again this week - this time in VA Beach.  But thankfully he was only gone 2 nights (remember my rule about 2 night being good-but 2 weeks being WAY too long?)  So it was just enough time for me to catch up on my shows (hello Ms. Bachelorette Emily Maynard - let Kaelon and Ryan go STAT) and straighten up around the house a bit.  Drew was home on Friday afternoon - just in time to let the guys from BuyBuy Baby in to deliver and assemble our nursery furniture!  YAY!  I got home and was so amazed that in just a few months there will be a baby in that crib!  **First I have to get the bedding ordered or at least a mattress so the poor thing isn't sleeping on springs, but hey, at least he has his own bed now and the garden tub in our master bath isn't the only option.
Friday night we went to dinner at TGI Fridays (which I used to hate, but has REALLY stepped up it's game - especially with the appetizer pretzel breadsticks w/ the beer cheese dipping sauce.  Seriously - preggo craving HEAVEN). 
Saturday we actually slept in til like 8:30.  And by noon-thirty, it was officially POOL TIME.  The past 3 summers we've taken advantage of Kevin and Shavon's Berewick pool guest passes - but this year we got to use our very own!  The Morris Bros met us at our house, we packed the cooler and pool bag and headed to meet everyone to kick off Summer 2012!  That night (after preggo brain struck and I realized that while I had thought Drew put suscreen on my back, he actually hadn't *ouch*), we all went to a cookout at Mandy and Damon's.  It was a great way to kick off the Summer and I'm super excited for all of the great memories we're all going to make while we pass the time before Cohen's here!

Sweet Dee, me&Cohen, Mandolin & Kimmy.
(why does it look like I have a FUPA?)

WEEK 26 CRAVINGS:  So, I think I need to switch the label to this section of the blog, because I'm kind of past the 'cravings' point.  Every now and then something will strike and I'll have to have it, but other than my typical green apple/lemon juice water, there's not really any food that I'm craving. 
However, I am ALWAYS looking to put together a cute outfit and maintain my stylish self...even at 6 months pregnant.  Don't get me wrong, there are days (like today) where I'm rocking jeans, flops, a cardigan and my glasses w/ my hair in a messy ponytail, but at least 3 or 4 days a week I try to really doll up and look cute.  It's not a vanity type of thing, it's just that I really love clothes and see this pregnancy as the opportunity of a lifetime to accentuate all of the good ways that my body's changing (the bump is my alltime fave accesory), as well as try my hardest to hide the areas that aren't so cute (hips and thighs OH MY).  So Thursday of last week I premiered this look - and I was stopped all over the place with compliments.  I don't know that it was because I actually looked cute enough to receive them, or if people didn't know that kelly green maternity skinny jeans existed, but in the crapshoot world of pregnancy where half the time you feel like you look like a troll, I smiled and accepted each of them politely. 
With that said, I give you: Destination Maternity kelly green skinny jeans, Heidi Klum maternity beige chevron blouse and gold accents w/ Essie coral nail polish.  Easy, comfy and fab.  Just the way I like it.

WEEK 26 "Dose of Daddy":  Beyond RIDICULOUSNESS is the only word I can use to sum up these pictures:

The 2 minutes that Drew was simply 'the photographer'.
That definitely didn't last long.

Who needs and Elf on the Shelf when you have Uncle Boo on a Ledge?

Proof of the Reebok v wall battle.
(Reeboks-1.  Wall-0)

I'm the king of the worrrrrrrrrrld.

Saturday night, after a day at the pool and a cookout, Drew and Brandon were once again totally in 'their' element.  I think it was Brandon who decided it was a good idea to channel his inner Spiderman and scale the wall of our foyer and perch himself up on the ledge of our main entrance. 
It took t-minus 3 minutes before Drew felt left out and decided to follow suit.  After screaming "you don't have insurance until July 1st!" about a million times, I gave up and me and Dee decided to sit on the couch and enjoy the show.
I'm happy to say no one was injured and there are only minor scrapes up the wall from Brandon's first attempt, where he decided wearing shoes was the way to go (all additional attempts were conducted sans Reeboks).  As a concerned wife and mother-to-be who cherishes the thought of bringing this baby into the world with BOTH his mother and father in attendance, I wasn't impressed.  But as a fun, free entertainment-loving chick, this was epic. 
It's just too bad I've decided to never introduce Cohen to his father or his Uncle Boo.


WEEK 26 "To Remembers":  A few months ago there was this thing going around Facebook where you sent a message to someone that you've lost touch with over the years, telling them what they most remember about you.  I got alot of funny ones that made me reminisce and laugh at old memories and the people I shared them with.  But the best one I got was from a girl that I went to highschool with named Ashley.  Ashley was a year ahead of me and while I don't think we ever shared a class together, we had a ton of mutual friends and passed alot of notes in the hall :)  We've lost touch over the years, but keep up on FB...and she sent me this:

It was one of the sweetest things I've ever read and I was blown away at how she went out of her way that day to take time out and send me those words. 
Like I said, this was sent to me some time ago, but she had messaged me again on FB last week and it brought up all of the messages we had ever sent back and forth btw eachother.  As I re-read it, it touched me as much as it had the first time I read it, but in a different way.  I'm not perfect...I've said and done ALOT of things I wish I could take back.  But the fact that someone remembers me this way makes me strive to be an even better person today than I was yesterday.  And now that I'm having a child of my own, I pray that I'm a daily example to Cohen of the person God planned for me to be and that he follows in my footsteps.  I pray that he always sees the good in everyone, that he sits with the kid in the cafeteria that's sitting alone, that he empathizes when necessary, and that he always makes people smile.  I pray that I lead him to be the person that my parents taught me to be - because this FB message is proof that even when you don't realize it, people notice and it makes a difference.  

"Be the change you wish you see in the world."

~Ghandi