39 Weeks and Baby Showers

So, I have been meaning to post weekly but I am already 2 weeks behind......hope this is not a preview of whats to come when Abigail actually gets here.  

I went in for my 39 week check today and was really hoping that I had dilated a little since last week.  I have, but only to 1 cm.  I am really hoping that something may happen this week but if not we have scheduled an induction for Monday the 4th.  I can't believe in less than a week I will be holding her!!  This pregnancy has flown by.  Today was the first hard day that I have had....I felt really pregnant and uncomfortable at work today.  On the upside, Andy and I did get to spend the holiday weekend at the lake which was awesome!  The weather was great and we didn't do anything but relax....I spent the entire weekend floating on a raft.  

We were lucky to have two great showers given to us.  One by my sister-in-law and some close friends and one by Andy's work.  We had a great time at both!!  Below are some pictures from my family/friends shower.

 The Great Grandmothers

 Grandmothers and Great grandmothers

 Mom, me, Reagan, Best Mama, & Meme

Me and my sis Reagan

A gorgeous Diaper wreath made by my friend and co-worker Shantele.

Julie and Casey who have since delivered beautiful, healthy babies.

36 week check & Maternity Pictures

Yesterday I went in for my 36 week check.  From here on out I will be going in weekly to check my progress.  This week, Abigail is still growing well.  I am measuring at 35 weeks and my weight is right on track.  This was my first real exam during this pregnancy and it was an experience.  So far, no contractions or dilation.  I think my OB was hoping I would be at least 1 cm dilated at this point but he was not surprised that I wasn't.  He just said that its pretty likely that I will carry her for the full 40 weeks.  

I have felt rather well the past few weeks but have started getting a little uncomfortable.  I woke up this morning with my feet already swollen....before I even got out of bed!!  I'm still not sure how that happens but my toes feel soooo fat.  I love to feel Abigail move, and she moves a lot, but she is getting so big that it is starting to hurt a little.  Her little butt (or big if she takes after me) or feet stay wedged under my ribs most of the day...its where she is as I type this, stretching my ribs....it feels very strange!

I knew right away that I wanted newborn photos made and who I wanted to do them, but I was not sold on the idea of doing maternity pics.  As all my pregnant friends started getting theirs done I decided I would go ahead and do it.......more because I didn't want to regret not having them made than really wanting to.  Since I had already chosen Michelle to do the newborn pictures she also did these.  Here is her website:  

http://www.michelleschnaderphotos.com/

You can imagine how excited Andy was about doing this.....but once we got there he was much more comfortable than I was with the shoot.  Its hard for me to relax with a camera on me even without a huge belly.  I am glad we decided to do this.....they turned out great.

                                   

The Nursery is Ready

Yeaaaa!! I am so glad its finally finished.  Andy has worked so hard and I love how everything turned out.  

I purchased this large (24in) "A" from Craftcuts.com.  Andy painted it the trim color so it would match everything.  Since its right above the crib, we wanted to make sure it was secured to the wall well so Andy hung it with small finishing nails, caulked and painted over them.  

Here is the dresser with the mirror hanging.

I knew I wanted bookshelves in the room and found this idea online at http://justagirlblog.com/diy-bookshelves/.

I wanted mine to much bigger so Andy made them as long as he could and had them put together in no time.

Here they are in the room.....They look amazing!!

34 weeks

I had my 34 week appointment today and everything was great.  My Dr. is very happy with how everything is going so far.  Abigail is growing right on track and he felt on my stomach to make sure she was in the right position, which she is.  We are so excited she is not breach....hope she stays that way.  All of my pregnant friends have been talking about their babies having the hiccups so I have been waiting for Abigail to have them.  Finally, yesterday, she did....twice.  Once in the morning and then again when I got in bed which was great because Andy got to feel too.

Andy and I got a lot done this weekend for Abigail's room.  Andy finished the closet organizer which I am very happy with and he started building the bookshelves for the room.  I will post pics of the bookshelves when they are finished.  

I have been looking for a side table to go next to the chair and found one I loved at Pottery Barn.  The style matched my changing table but it was $175 plus shipping and we (especially Andy) did not want to spend that much.  So, I went back to Vestavia Antiques and Interiors and found one I really liked.  It was on sale from $185 to $125.  I offered $80 for it and the owner came back and said she would sell it to me for $85!!!  I was so excited.  It also matches the changing table.  All I need now is a lamp.

This week is a big week for us.  We have maternity pictures on Saturday and my shower is Sunday.  I am so looking forward to seeing all my friends and family!!

Brinkley's 6th Birthday

Yesterday was my first 4 legged baby's birthday.  

Here is Brinkley the day we went to Tennessee to pick him up.  He was 6 weeks old. Much to my dismay, he rode in Andy's lap almost the whole way home.

First introduction to the pool....its hard to believe it now but he didn't really care much for the baby pool.

Brinkley and I have both changed a lot over the past 6 years!

Here he is at 6yo.  Look at that white face!!

For his birthday he and Bella got doggy cupcakes....

and his favorite a large stuffed animal.  This year he got a Easter chick that was on sale.

Bella really wanted the chick....

Brinkley doing his most favorite thing....sucking on his toy.  He did this for hours until bedtime came and we had to take it away for the night.

DIY Baby Mobile

A few weeks ago, I set out to search the internet for a mobile for Abigail's room.  I scoured websites, pinterest, and etsy and just could't find anything I was satisfied with.  Either the colors were not right or the price was too high.  So I decided to make my own.  I used this blog as my inspiration:  http://www.chicspacesforlittlefaces.com/2011/03/diy-baby-mobile.html  but made a few changes.  My mom and I went to Joann's Fabric and were able to get all the supplies. 

Supplies:

Card Stock (10 sheets)

Circle Cutters

Fishing Line

Needle (I used a safety pin)

Craft Glue (I used super glue)

Screw Hook

Embroidery Hoop

Yarn

I Choose Card Stock that matched my nursery colors....

I had to buy the circle cutters but it was well worth the money.  I got one 1" and one 1.75".

I borrowed fishing line from my Dad......it was 6lb line.

Embroidery Hoop with 4 strands of fishing line strung across the hoop to hang the circles from the middle.

My plan was to have a longer strands of circles in the middle and shorter on the outside.  So this is what I ended up with..
1 strand of 14 circles
8 strands of 12 circles
8 strands of 10 circles
and for the outer hoop 16 strands of 8 circles
This added up to 318 circles!!!

Here is a picture of the first strand (14) hung from the very center.  I made each strand by first tying a triple knot at the end of the fishing line, punching a small hole in the center of the circle with a safety pin then sliding the circle down the line till it sat right on top of the knot.  I then moved up only about 1" and tied the next knot.  I continued doing this until I had the desired amount of circles on the line.  I wasn't very systematic with the color or size placement.  The look I was going for was more random.  Tying all the knots took a lot of patience but having the circles so close together made the final product look even better.  A few people have asked how I got the circles to tilt different directions.....I didn't have to do anything.  They fall that way on their own. 

I needed Andy's help to hang the stands from the fishing line and to make it easier to work with I went ahead and temporarily hung the mobile from the ceiling fan in my living room.  To hang it I just tied four strands of fishing line on the hoop and all four in a knot at the very top.  I made them very long so I could have plenty of room to adjust the length with I got it up to the nursery.

I waited till I had all the strands on before deciding what to do to cover the wooden hoop.  I had a few ideas but ended up just wrapping it with yarn.  My mom already had the yarn so it was a free and easy way to finish it off.

Here is the finished mobile hanging in the nursery.  Andy used a screw hook to hang it with. 

I love the colors!  

32 Weeks

I'm 32 weeks!!  So far the weeks have gone by so fast.  I saw my OB today and he said everything was going perfectly.  I am measuring right on schedule and he is happy with my weight gain so far (thank goodness!!)  This week Abigail has been so active.  She seems to be moving all day.  I love feeling her move (as long as its not a kick to the bladder) and I love it even more when Andy gets to feel it.  Although now all he has to do is look at my belly and he can see her bumping around.

We went to the lake this weekend and had a great time.  The weather was perfect.

  

Dad let us borrow his canoe, which we were excited about, but Andy forgot the paddles at home so we really didn't get to use it this weekend.  We also got the Jet Skis and put them in the water....Andy played around on them for awhile.  Brinkley really wanted to go for a ride too!!

We are spending as much time as we can relaxing at the lake before Abigail gets here.

It looks like Bella is watching over Andy as he naps....I can't wait to see how she is with a new baby around the house.