35 Weeks and Counting....Praying....

Yesterday was the beginning of my 35th week...I can't believe how fast this pregnancy has gone by. I only have 5 weeks left until Miss Madalyn will be here! Here are some things that I am dealing with and will be going on in the next 5 weeks.

1. February is ending (yea! and March is beginning this week; meaning my last full month. I go to the doctor March 8th and then is every week after that.)

2. I have 5 full ; 5 day weeks left of school (That part cannot get here soon enough for me. It's been a struggle lately with school. I am praying that I will be able to stay for the next 5 weeks (which as of this point I don't see me having to come out earlier but you never know. Simply because I don't want to have to return to school before that last week or half day really with the kids)

3. Going with number 2; there is so much that has to be done at school on a normal basis and then I have this weight over me that I have got to start on my sub plans and gets things organized and ready for my time of leave.

4. Going with 2 and 3; there is so much at home that I need and want to do; like daily household chores: laundry, cleaning, cooking, and getting Madalyn's room ready. However, due to school, once I come home in the evenings I'm so tired and my feet and ankle's are swelling so it's off my feet I go; which prevents the household chores from getting done. Not to mention the achy feeling I have as well.

5. This was my last semi-calm weekend. I have a baby shower coming up, a girls' night out, a wedding, and preparing for Madalyn all in the next 5 weeks of weekends. Not to mention I have to do school work on the weekends on top of that.

Yes, I do sound overwhelmed and I am a bit overwhelmed. I am doing my best to take it one day at a time and one week at a time. (My job really adds to me being overwhelmed because there is always school work to do; it never is at rest) But honestly, all I really feel like doing most days is just staying in bed and sleeping half the day. That's what I did yesterday. I got up about 9:00, ate breakfast, then Abby and I took a nap. Kevin came home for lunch, then Abby and I took another nap. I had someone ask me the other day if I was "nesting". I said no, I don't have the energy, all I want to do when I go home or on the weekends is sleep. However, I am praying for God's strength to get me through these next few days and weeks and focus on the positive that is coming, our little girl, whom we both are so ready and excited to meet. However, just like she has much growing and developing left to be done in the next 5 weeks, there is much we have left to do to get ready for her. Anyway, just keep Madalyn and myself in your prayers as we both have a short time but yet at times it's seems very difficult and long days ahead before we get to meet. And having this beautiful spring weather, is wonderful, but it doesn't make it any easier to get my school work done.

And I can't forget my sweet husband. Keep him in your prayers as well. He is in a great need of help, dependable help at the chicken houses. He has been very stressed these past couple of months. He's working harder and working more than he has in several years. I know at least since we have been married. He is excited about Madalyn and wants to be able to come home at a decent hour and not so tired to be able to spend time with her and me, so pray that before she comes God will send him someone. Two people would be awesome!

34 Week Check Up and Nursery

Yesterday I went for my 34 week check up. Everything looked good. I go back in two weeks, March 8th. When I go back I will have th strep test done and my doctor will check me to see how thing are progressing. He also said that we will talk about signs of labor and labor. I will be 36 weeks when I go back for my next appointment. My only complaints right now is my feet and ankles are swelling. Last Monday morning I woke up and couldn't make my feet fit into my shoes. All week (it was a very difficult week at school and I had lots of late nights) my feet and ankles were very swollen. I also started aching really bad in my lower region and it hurts every time I walk or roll over in bed. Which my doctor said all of these things were normal especially to the part that I am in with my pregnancy. He laughed and said the only way to get complete relief of my ailments was to have the baby. Which he also said wouldn't be long now.

After we left the doctor's office, we had to run by Lowe's pick up a little more green paint for Kevin to do some touch ups. Then we went by Babies R Us; we had to pick up the dresser/changing table and the guard rails and converter kit for the crib. Last night Kevin put the crib together all by himself. I was doing school work and fixing dinner while he was working. It only took him about a little over an hour to get it together and that was also stopping to eat dinner. Then we put the bedding together. There is still a lot left to do in the nursery with decorations, paint touch ups, and one more piece of furniture to be added, etc. But we both were so happy with the crib and how things are looking. Kevin made the comment as he was almost done with the crib, that it feels real now that we have a baby coming. Below are pictures that I took this afternoon of the nursery so far. I waited until there was some natural light coming in the room, because the colors change at night with just the overhead light and lamp.

Greenville Baby Shower

Last weekend, Saturday, February 12th, I had a baby shower in Greenville. The shower was at the Barrington Park Club House. I had a 18th birthday surprise party there, high school graduation pool party, college graduation party, and a surprise 30th wedding anniversary party for my parents there. So, marking these special milestones in my life; celebrating a baby shower there was the obvious choice. We have a friend that lives in this neighborhood and she is able to rent out the club house for us.

Getting ready to leave for my baby shower. (33 Weeks)


My Hostesses and Me
Back Row: Julia (my mom's cousin), Lindsey (high school best friend), Angela (Lindsey's mom), Felicia (aunt; married to my mom's brother), and Susan (my dad's sister)
Front Row: Emily (my cousin, Felicia's daughter), Me, and Amanda (Susan's daughter-in-law to be in October)

They did a super job with decorating! Felicia's sister, Keli, made this cute diaper cake and the initial decorations. My aunt Susan got the cute stork balloon. She said that we can save it, and blow it up again once Madalyn is born.

The delicious cake and food!

Madalyn got so many wonderful gifts; here's just a few highlights from the shower. There was too much for me to take pictures of everything she got. I am so appreciative to those that came and celebrated with us. (The thing that I find so funny is the expressions that get captured on my face as the pictures are being made in some of my pictures).

My suite mates and room mates from college: Mandy (who is pregnant with her second little boy; due May 15th), Noelle, Me, and Erin. Here's the funny thing, we have had a picture made of the four of us so many times. We had one made the summer of 2003; the occasion was that Noelle (was engaged), Erin (was engaged), and Mandy (who had just gotten engaged) went out to eat to celebrate. Then we had a picture of the four of us made at Noelle's wedding (Dec.2003), Mandy (March 2004), and Erin (May 2004). Then four years later we had another picture made at my wedding (June 2008) however in that picture, Noelle had a 1 1/2 year old little girl, Erin was pregnant and Mandy was pregnant, and you had me, the bride. Now, 2 1/2 years later in this picture, Mandy is pregnant with her second child, Noelle's little girl just turned 4 years old, I'm pregnant with my first child, and Erin's little girl is 2 1/2 years old.

This is Jodi Harter who is married to my childhood best friend, Rhett Harter. They live in Charleston and their little girl turned 1 year old in December.

They had these diapers for people to write funny sayings on them.

Like I mentioned, Madalyn got so many wonderful gifts! The gifts filled up two tables and Mrs. Katie's car! Kevin's mom was nice enough to carry everything home with her (since I wasn't going home until the next day) and got Kevin to help her unload it at home.

Mrs. Katie and my sister-in-laws gave me the pack and play. But they had to order the pack and play, so I didn't get it at the shower. It came one day last week and Kevin's parents brought it over and put it together for us.

My dad came down last Friday (the day before the shower) and brought this book case. He had repainted it (it was white, but needed a new coat). The last time my dad had painted this book case was when he and his dad (my grandfather) built this book case to go in my nursery. I had had this book case in my room even since, until I moved down here. So of course, I had to use it in Madalyn's room.

While I was at the shower, Kevin was at home busy painting the nursery. I was so pleased with the color and he did a great job. I know it's hard to tell the true color of the walls since I took this picture after dark, but it goes so well with the bedding.

We went to Greenville this weekend; my cousin Taylor and his fiancee Casey, had a couple's shower last night, so we were there celebrating with them. They are getting married March 19th. We had the carpet cleaned this past Friday, so we had not moved anything into Madalyn's room yet. Tonight, I added the books that Madalyn had gotten at the shower, stuffed animals, and buckets and baskets of toys that she has already received. I can't wait to get the crib and everything else put up and get her room all ready for her.

32 Week Check Up

Well, all I can say is that this little baby is growing leaps and bounds here lately! I went yesterday for a check up and the doctor said everything was looking good; I was text book was his words. I go back in 2 weeks; I'm starting the every 2 weeks rotation now. It's getting closer fast! After the doctor's visit we went to Lowe's and picked out the paint for the nursery that Kevin will be painting this weekend while I go to Greer to have my baby shower for my side of the family for the weekend. Yea! That will be exciting! Then we went by Babies R Us and picked up the crib and got a mattress for the crib. It was almost 8:00 last night before we got home and we had left for Augusta at 2:30 yesterday. I almost forgot to tell Kevin to dropped me off at school to pick up my car last night.

My weekends have been so busy lately and I'm sure it will only continue...however school has been much busier as well. There is so much normally to do with school and on top of being pregnant and really just wanting to come home everyday, change into some comfortable clothes and lay on the couch...doesn't happen at all. Especially after a hard day with such demanding students who don't know how to behave or listen to you. I'm ready to be done with school so I can focus on the baby coming, but that won't happen until she is here. Then I also know, that if I think things are busy now, just wait until she gets here.

Maternity Photo Session

The day that I went to Columbia for a baby shower for Katherine Grace; after the shower Kevin met me in Columbia and Brantley did a maternity photo shot with us. I think the pictures turned out cute and I have posted my favorites from the day.(If you click on the picture you can make it bigger.) If you want to see more of Brantley's work; you can check out her blog www.alldresseduphotography.com.

.

School Baby Shower

Today was my baby shower for school. We had the shower in our cafeteria and some of the after school kids were still in there finishing up their snack...(they stay after school to get extra help with their homework and subjects). One of my kids asked me "How can the baby eat all this food when it's not even born yet?" I told him that when I ate the food, then the baby would get some. I had a very nice shower, everyone was very thoughtful and generous with their gifts. Kevin's mom came to the shower and took pictures and helped me load up my car and then went home with me to help me unload the car and carry everything into the house. Kevin was very pleased with everything from the shower, but his comment was..."this wasn't even one of your bigger showers and where are we going to be all of this stuff?" Of course, I had everything out in the floor because I had taken pictures of it and I was keeping it out to show him, so nothing was put away yet. It was fun today getting all of this stuff for Madalyn. I got a good variety of things too. It was a happy ending to a Wednesday afternoon.




Yes, I got some Clemson Tiger hair bows! Not sure yet how to get those in her hair without Kevin knowing, but I'll have to think of something....


April, Me, Lauren (Kristen wasn't at school today; she wasn't feeling well and is pregnant herself and had a doctor's appointment today. These are the 3rd grade teachers I teach with.)

Wednesday, Feb.2nd: 31 weeks and 4 days

Here are all of Madalyn's gifts! You can tell that teachers were the ones giving the gifts due to all the books. However, I didn't get one book that was alike.