Best Weekend Ever

I haven't been able to wipe the smile off my face all day. How can I? To have so many of my friends and family surrounding me today, and to see the amount of work my good girlfriends did to pull off an incredible baby shower just makes me smile. I am so appreciative and grateful for everyone that is in my life, and loved seeing everyone today. Not to mention, once again, everyone is SO generous! Smyrna Baby is one lucky baby!

Last Baby Shower Tomorrow!

So far, my Smyrna Baby Shower weekend has been wonderful! I was able to spend the day with 2 of Smyrna Baby's grandmother's, 2 great-aunts and 1 "aunt"! Lunch in the Highlands, catching up on shows at home/relaxing and dinner in the Vinings. Truly a very nice day.

I should be getting some rest, as my last baby shower is tomorrow at Noon! 4 of my dear friends are throwing it for me and I cannot wait...the thought of having all of close friends/family there is getting me more and more excited by the minute!

LOTS of pictures will be taken and LOTS will be posted over the next couple of days!

Goodnight...Smyrna Mama and Smyrna Baby are off to get some beauty rest!

Whoa! 32 Weeks Pregnant!

32 weeks. I've thought about the day I would reach 32 weeks for quite some time now. Not because this is any big milestone, but because I know someone who delivered at 32 weeks. It's this day that has been looming in my mind because it made me realize after she delivered early that ANYTHING is possible.

I find myself looking at my ankles to see if they are swelling (because hers did), I try to notice if the baby is moving more on one particular day than the other (because hers did), I hear people telling stories of all of the people they know who delivered early and I can't help but wonder if this will happen to us.

Thankfully, every premie I have heard about recently is doing exceptionally well, but I can't imagine the toll it must take on those new parents. The heartache of leaving your baby at the hospital; spending hours upon hours, days upon days at the hospital; hoping and praying that your baby is safe and everything is functioning properly.

Wow. I just can't imagine. So, I won't worry about it. I will continue to think about the fact that we have (hopefully) 8 more weeks until we meet Smyrna Baby. 2 months, approximately 60 days. I'll keep praying that this baby is very comfortable where he/she is, and is not anxious (right now) to meet any of us...and, of course, keeps on cookin'.

According to Babycenter.com:
By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

2 Showers Down, 1 To Go

Smyrna Baby was able to participate in his/her second baby shower today - this time at work. He/She was so lucky to receive such generous gifts from a great group of people. Some of the items included an activity mat, the diaper champ, changing pad cover, several washcloths, towels, bath supplies, bath tub (Smyrna Baby will be the cleanest baby in ALL of Smyrna), tons of books and so much more.

It was a wonderful day. We have our last shower this coming weekend in Smyrna and cannot wait to see everyone who is attending!

Pictures to come later of today's shower.

31 weeks (and 5 days)

Smyrna Baby's grandmother and aunt have been in town visiting the past few days, and I have forgotten every night to update with any new developments. This may not be entirely accurate since this post should've gone up last Wednesday, but at least you now know what has happened in the past 5 days.

According to Babycenter.com:
This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

Maternity Shots Preview

2 hours of my weekend were spent with Jenny from Jenny Lauren Photography . She was so kind as to spend time with us, getting us comfortable and taking a crazy amount of maternity photos. Given I haven't had professional photos taken since our wedding, I wasn't sure how I was going to do in front of the camera, but as soon as she got going, I had an absolute ball!

Today, my day started off with a preview of the pictures which can be seen here.

Enjoy...I know I sure have!

30 Week Appointment...With Another Lecture

Man, these male doctors like to give me hell about weight gain. Going into this pregnancy, if I had to guess, I would've honestly thought any issues that would arise would be centered around the lack of weight gain - not that I am gaining too much. The part that is so frustrating is that, with the exception of one doctor (recently), no one seems to pay attention to my total weight gain, which is a whopping 22 lbs (at 30 weeks and 1 day). Each of them zone in on the fact that from week-to-week I seem to be gaining more than the average 1 lb/week. Of course, they ignore the fact that I lost 1 lb from Week 26-28. As I told Smyrna Dad, it gives me a complex on some level, although I won't change my habits just because of a few comments from a doctor I don't have a relationship with.

Other than the lecture as I was walking out the door, he said that everything looked good. He seemed a little bothered that Smyrna baby's head is not all the way down, and made a note in my file that the baby is "breach". I asked when the baby should be in position and he said at 32-34 weeks. OK, well what is the big deal then? I am 30 weeks!!

Blood Pressure was perfect - 100/60 and I am measuring 31cm, which is right on track for someone at 30 weeks.

We'll see what happens in another two weeks. Now I am just hoping I come in at 2lbs or under just so I won't get a lecture or get my hand slapped for the 3rd time!

OMG! 10 Weeks to go!!

30 weeks...how in the world has it been 30 weeks of being "with child"? How is it possible that in 10 weeks (or less -yikes) that we will finally come face to face with Smyrna Baby? The realization is really starting to set in - especially now that his/her movement is crazy, the carseat and swing have arrived, and, well...I'm getting huge!!

I know the next 10 weeks are going to be tough. I've developed "the waddle", my morning walks with Tungsten are slower than ever, I look like I am having an asthma attack whenever I walk up the stairs and I'm getting downright uncomfortable. But, you know what? I LOVE IT! I love every second of it and am doing everything I can to cherish the next 10 (or how many ever) weeks. I've already started to think about how I can't wait for the next pregnancy (I say that now...ask me in 12 weeks what I was thinking)!

30 week pictures will come in the next couple of days...in the meantime, enjoy a little lesson of what Smyrna Baby is up to this week!

Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

Smyrna Baby LOVES 3.5 Day Weekends!

How it's 7:45 on Monday night, I will never know, but I will say that we have had a very nice weekend! Smryna Baby participated in several walks, watched (well, listened really) to the start of college football, slept an extreme amount and even did projects around the house! OK, well I guess Smyrna Baby didn't really do any projects, but Smyrna Mama sure did

We will hit another milestone this week - 30 weeks - and have another doctor's appointment on Thursday. Stay tuned...

Oh how I love Butternut Squash!

Your baby is growing rapidly now. This week he weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is getting bigger to accommodate his growing brain — which is busy developing billions of neurons. Every day, about 200 milligrams of calcium is deposited in your baby's skeleton, which is now hardening. With this rapid growth, it's no surprise that your baby's nutritional needs reach their peak during this trimester.

Thanks, Babycenter.com for my weekly update! I can't believe I am 6 days away from 30 weeks!

Bring on the Cupcakes!

As if this was any big surprise - I passed my glucose tolerance test! The doctors want your glucose levels to be below 139 and mine were at a whopping 86! When the nurse called to give me the good news, she asked me to to go start eating some sweets.

I treated myself with an oreo and a glass of milk. Talk about living on the edge!