Big Bird Nesting

Okay, I knew that pregnant women nested before the baby came… I wasn’t aware how overpowering the urge would be. I have so far: cleaned under all the beds, cleaned out the garage including a complete reorganization, cleaned out the kitchen cupboards, organized all the electronic cords we have… and we have a lot of them. There have been other little projects but these are the big ones. I swear I caught myself dusting the fan and washing the windowsill. Poor Don, he comes home from a long day at work and there I am with a list of things that I can’t do (either because of chemicals or heavy lifting or height etc.) I feel like Martha Stewart on speed… I can’t help it, it is overpowering. The good news is that I am doing all those things that have been on my to-do list forever but were such low priority that it usually takes years to actually get them. I figure I will never have time to do it again. Okay, well I should go I have a whole list of projects to get to!

Socks

Don was very entertained by this picture. We were doing the Ryans laundry and the socks didn't dry very fast so we laid them all out on the top of the dryer. We might not have everything but we certainly have enough socks, just so there is no confusion our baby only has two feet :)

Stacey's Mom

We all have that moment when we realize we are no longer seen as teenagers. I understand that I am 26 and haven’t been a teenager for some time, but it is hard to actually accept this. I recently had these two high school senior boys come to the door to try and sell magazines for some school trip or something. At the end of the conversation the boys said to me “We are wrapping up the neighborhood and want to get one or two more houses in, are there any houses you know of with hot moms like you.” They meant it as a compliment, but wow, I mean really wow.
Holy cow, when did that happen…? That Stacey’s mom song now has new meaning to me. I guess this is the beginning of a new era.

Maternity pictures taken

though I haven't seen the pictures yet, I think it went well.. I even got into a pair of jeans. I got a little Demi in some of the pictures... let's see how well I pull that off. The best moment was when Don put his head against my stomach.. he said something which apparently Ryan didn't like, so Ryan kicked him in the face.

maternity pictures

Don and I decided to get maternity pictures professionally taken (by our wedding photographer who we LOVE). She is coming by Thursday to take them. It seemed like a great idea, I mean what a great way to remember this time. But picture this… you are 25 pounds heavier then you usually are and you have to get practically naked in front of a camera. One of her suggestions: I can wear a pair of pre-pregnancy jeans unbuttoned with a little tube around my boobs. Are we really to assume that in the gaining of 25 pounds my ass has not grown in the slightest…? I am going to declare right now that I am going to stick with stretchy material, no jean for me (I don't want to embarass myself).
I don’t really know what to expect, what poses we will have, or how undressed I will end up. Luckily my class was canceled tomorrow so I have the whole day to primp, that should be enough time right???? I will post pictures when I get them back (I am not going to rush her… I want her to have has much time airbrushing as is needed).

32 weeks

32 weeks and I can still dress up with the best of 'em

Grandma's Wedding

Ryan's Grandma got married this weekend, Ryan kicked to show his excitement on many occasions throughout the day. It was a very nice ceremony (which I officiated) and reception dinner at Fearrington Inn in Chapel Hill.

Faith

I have this theory that if you truly believe something will happen, it will. I’ve always sort of lived my life this way. For instance with my wedding, we didn’t have a back up plan for rain, I knew the weather would be good and it was. I knew I could fit into my wedding dress (there were a lot of doubter’s haha) and I did.. and I didn't have to give up eating or anything. I have decided to apply this to the pregnancy.
So, the doctor recently told me that I have to do baby kick counts (4 kicks in an hour). I didn’t have any problems, then one day I got 45 minutes into the hour and only had one kick… I drank some juice and he finally got going. I didn’t like that… so I had a talk with Ryan and told him that he needed to start kicking more… it would make me feel better about things. Ever since then he has been kicking strongly, I mean STRONGLY.. significantly more then he was before. I know it doesn’t make a lot of sense that “talking” to the baby would actually change his behavior, but I believe it did and it seems to be working. I also believe that I will have a positive birth that will go smoothly. I will report back about how that goes.

kicking free

During class today, Ryan managed to get his foot stuck under my rib, which would have been an interesting enough feeling except then he seemed to panic and kicked his way free. I nearly jumped out of my chair. I can see where he was coming from with the panic... but still...

Almost done with the paint...

The muralist isn't quite done but she only has one more plane to do which she will do on monday. Don is going to start on the furniture anyway.

Ryan Room Update - Mural Started

Here is the quilt that has inspired the theme of Ryans room. (Let's hope he doesn't develop a fear of flying).



The muralist started today and she is amazing... here are the two completed planes (there are going to be 4 in total). they are pretty big on the wall and it's going to look great! She is coming back tomorrow to finish it up. Then we can start putting together the furniture.

Clumsy Fawn

“Clumsy fawn”, this is one of the descriptions I have read about pregnant women. Now I have never been the primo ballerina, but I am starting to see the effects of a change in my center of gravity. I have nearly fallen out of the shower about 5 times; I now stick close to the far wall. My latest experience: I was walking up the stairs and I tried to set something down. This is where it all falls apart. I hit my head on the handrail, lost my balance and ended up sprawled on the stairs. Luckily I was carrying the babies changing pad which cushioned the fall. Poor Don hears the crash, comes barreling around the corner and finds me curled up on the stairs with a bump on the head. Maybe I should put a helmet on my baby registry.

What Ryan has to look forward to...

With a daddy like this Ryan's coolness is ALMOST guaranteed! Don is going to get me back for this post...