Thanksgiving Week Recap

Tuesday when school was over, Kevin and Madalyn picked me up at school and we headed to Augusta, GA to the OBGYN for my 33 week check up. All is looking good so far. I go back in two weeks for my 35 week check up. Then we left Augusta and we headed to Greenville. We had to combine Thanksgiving and Christmas this time with my family because this was going to be my last trip to the upstate until after the baby comes. So we did Thanksmas with my mom's side of the family and with my dad's side of the family. One advantage to doing this was that Madalyn has some new toys to play with between now and Christmas and it won't be so overwhelming for her. We came home on Friday.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today, we went to church, then we headed out to find our Christmas tree. Kevin wanted to do something different this year, since it was going to be Madalyn's last Christmas as being the "only" one. So off we went to a tree farm.

We didn't find a tree that we liked at the tree farm, so we left and headed to another place. But it was a neat experience for us all, because neither Madalyn nor I had been to a tree farm before. We finally find the right tree for us and we brought it home and started decorating right away.  We had to find a new spot to put our tree in the den this year due to us having to rearrange to get ready for the new addition that will be arriving very soon. I like the new spot in front of the windows. 

Kevin helped me put the lights on and then it was Madalyn's turn to put the angel on top of the tree.

Madalyn helped me decorate the tree.

Madalyn and Bella

My mantle isn't finished yet. We added two new stockings this year...Bella and Alexis. I have some more decorating to do with it, but this is where I am so far.

A tradition that I started a long time ago, was each year I buy a few new ornaments for the tree. If we go on vacation somewhere, I always try to find an ornament to remember where we have been. Or I find something that goes along with our family for the past year.

Now this ornament isn't "new", but it's new to our tree. This was something Kevin made when he was in kindergarten and his mom found it the other day.

I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoyed spending time with family. 

31 Week Check Up

Yesterday, I went for my 31 week check up. All was good. I did mention to my doctor that Tuesday and Wednesday I had not felt her move as much as I had been. But I had been really busy during the day and I normally don't feel her move when I am standing or walking. So just to be sure everything was okay, they put me on a monitor for 20 minutes. I had to hit a button each time I felt her move. She had a strong heartbeat and she moved over 20 times in that 20 minutes, which is the most I had felt her move in the last day and a half. So, I just have to be more aware when counting my kicks after I eat. She has been moving much more today. I start my every two week visits, so I'll go back the week of Thanksgiving. The end is coming at us fast and we are getting excited to meet her, but not for another 8 weeks please.

We didn't take Madalyn with us this time and when we picked her up from her Meme's house, she asked me if I got the baby out of my tummy yet. Then I was getting her out of the bath tub last night and she put her ear to my belly and asked me if she could talk (meaning the baby). I told her yes, she will talk eventually but not at first. And if this one talks as much as Madalyn does, Kevin and I might need a good set of ear plugs. Just kidding! :0)

31 weeks

Soybeans

Kevin planted two crops this year he had never planted before: cotton and soybeans. I posted the cotton pictures earlier and here's the soybean pictures. They started harvesting the soybeans on Friday and Kevin took Madalyn and I Saturday afternoon to see them.  They are still harvesting the soybeans so I don't know yet what the final count will be.

Soybean Field

I didn't realize how little the soybean was. They are about the same size as an English pea.

The plant is picked up at the front of the combine....

and the trash comes out the back. It only keeps the beans.

Once the combine gets full, the soybeans are put into a trailer.

Kevin and Madalyn climbed up to see the beans.

Each truck can hold 1,000 bushels.  As you can see this truck isn't full yet.

That's lot of little beans to full up this truck.

30 Weeks in Pictures

So, yesterday I was 30 weeks....9 more weeks left to go!  I saved all my maternity clothes from when I was pregnant with Madalyn in hopes that I would need them again. I haven't worn many maternity shirts yet, but today I had on one. I realized that I wore this same outfit when I had my shower at school for Madalyn. So...I went back in time and found the picture.

So in comparison I think I am a little bigger with Alexis at this point than I was at Madalyn, but just about the same. My hair color is also a little different and in the picture I took today.  I don't have shoes on, so I look shorter.  

My Baby Shower for Baby #2

Saturday, Nov. 1st, I had my baby shower for baby #2 in Greer at my parents' house. Craziest thing ever, that night we had a winter storm warning and sure enough at 5:00am it started snowing all over the state of South Carolina, except at my parents' house. I was worried about people traveling and not be able to come, but at the same time I was disappointed I didn't get to see the snow.  However, despite the crazy weather, there was a nice turn out of people and I greatly appreciate everyone who traveled in the snow to get to my shower.

The shower was a brunch and the food was delicious!

29 weeks and will be 30 weeks on Tuesday.

My mom, Madalyn, and Me

My Hostesses:

My best friend from high school, Lindsey, My aunt Susan (my dad's sister), and my aunt Felicia (my mom's sister-in-law)

Mrs. Katie (Kevin's mom) aka MeMe, Madalyn, and Me

Madalyn and me with two of my sister-in-laws, Heather (holding Madalyn) and Tori, and Mrs. Katie

Time to open presents...

I let Madalyn help open the presents. She even had a few just for her.

Sometimes Madalyn would open the present and take off with it before I could see who it was from or what it was.  She was really into opening the presents.

All of my wonderful gifts. I greatly appreciate them all.

Madalyn and I left to come to Greer on Tuesday after school. I had a 3 day conference to attend for school. While I was at the conference my mom and dad kept Madalyn for me. Then after the conference each day I went Christmas shopping..I have two more people to buy for and stocking stuffers and I then I will be done. 

Then Friday, Kevin came up and we got to have a date night and go to one of our favorite restaurants in Greenville.  While Madalyn and I were in Greer Kevin painted the nursery and repainted Madalyn's room.  I will have pictures to come soon of the nursery and Madalyn's new big girl room.  

I have 9 weeks left and this baby girl will be here. Time is flying by! :0)

Happy Halloween!

Saturday, Oct.25th, we celebrated Halloween.  For the past few years, Kevin's parents have had a big Halloween or Fall party at their house. All the kids gets to dress up and play on bouncy slides, bouncy houses, do a hay bale maze, hay ride, games, food, and of course trunk or treat.  They open it up to the community and my parents normally come down. This year for Halloween Madalyn wanted to be a princess. Not a  Disney princess, just Princess Madalyn.  She had a blast playing on the slide and trunk or treating.  I didn't feel good at all that Saturday, so I didn't take as many pictures as I normally do, but I got a few.

Princess Madalyn

Kevin's mom made the spider. I thought she turn out cute.