See ya Monday!

Oh weekend joy here we come! We're about to head out to Charlottesville for a wedding - two fold - Megan Daubert Events is working it Friday - Saturday up until the reception, then we party like the rest of 'em! I don't know how I will contain myself should a Michael Jackson song be played during the dancing. I can't not move?! BUT my ligaments are falling apart and separating and everything else scary that comes with the last month of pregnancy. It could be a total disaster on the dance floor. Michael, you're gonna have to hold me down in my seat. Or take me to the cake table.

We get to see some of our dearest and most missed friends this weekend too! We had something so good in Charlottesville when we lived there. The friends were incredible. The friends here are too, we just haven't let go of how much we love the Cville crowd.

Sunday we'll get to go to Portico and see more people we miss and worship with our old church. Then a fiesta at the Uhls aka BFFs! I'm so excited! I better calm down or I might throw myself into preterm labor. (j/k, Doc did a test on me and she's not coming in the next 1.5 weeks for sure.)

Happy Friday! (Heather I wish I could go to Costco with you guys, I'd like a hot dog too.)

Pillow

I have a best friend who knows how to sew anything and everything. She saw some fabric and thought of me and Carmen so she bought it and asked what I wanted. I said maybe a little pillow for my rocker. A week later, I got this in the mail:

It's so unbelievably cute I don't even know what to do with myself! I love that people already love Carmen and make things for her. Especially Bek. We will treasure this pillow forever.

Green Thumb After All

I cannot believe how well my basil plant is growing! Based on my past experience with greenery and basic failure with Tom and Tina, I didn't think the basil had a chance. Lo and behold I'm about to make my first batch of pesto. This is a huge step in my life and I'm hoping for many, many more years of homegrown basil. Anybody need some??

Good Company

There's nothing like girlfriends that know exactly what you're going through! Sunday evening we had a Baby BBQ for 3 couples that are all expecting babies very soon. Our husbands got to grill, hang out, and play yard games while the pregnant ladies rested our swelling ankles in the AC and talked all about pregnancy. It was so sweet to hear Michael and another dad-to-be talk about how cute baby girls clothes are and how they plan to take walks with the baby strollers. These types of convos don't happen often because 1) most people don't care 2) if you're not going through it you have better things to talk about and 3) men don't usually go around talking about tiny pink dresses. I try hard to keep the baby topics to a minimum when I'm with other people. I totally get that it's not on other people's minds 24/7 and that's why Sunday was so refreshing!

The beautiful women in the picture are Carolyn w/baby girl, Mallory with baby Lily, and Meggie w/baby boy. This was the first time we all met! We're planning a post-delivery gathering in October.

33 Weeks

Here we are, getting closer! Baby C is moving around a lot still and letting most anyone who catches her at the right time feel it too. I'm running into things with my belly left and right. I can't seem to remember that I'm a lot bigger than I used to be. Feeling great still and debating whether or not I want pregnancy portraits. Most of me says no, but then I think what if this is my one and only opportunity? I'd be sad if I missed it. We shall see.

Michael and I went to our first childbirth class on Wednesday. I thought it was a lot of fun. We're taking a small, private short course through my precious doctor's office and it's wonderful! There is only one other couple attending so it's very intimate and we can ask questions at any point without feeling like we're interrupting a class. My OB is amazing and likes to bake homemade treats for her "students" as well as provide other drinks and healthier snacks. How does she have the time?? In between the baby deliveries, doctors visits, her own life and living a state away, she has the time to bake us treats. It's just another little gesture that shows us she really cares for us and makes us feel well taken care of. The instructor has worked exclusively at our hospital for over 30 years and is able to give us the ins and outs of the place and what is normal practice and so on. Another great confirmation! The first class really gave Michael and I a sense of what is happening and how special that time will be for the two of us. It's still scary, but I'm looking forward to it more now. Plus, circumstances allowing, I can get a whole days worth of relaxation massages out of it from Michael! Bring on the hospital bed, I feel tension in my back that needs lovin' already.

Tiny Clothes

Below are some of the most creative little onesies that my friends' decorated at the baby shower Jenny hosted. Aren't these so good??? I love them.

Who do you think this burp cloth is actually for, Mommy or baby? And just for fun, I was picking out what clothes I wanted to pack away for the hospital and make her "going home" outfit. It was a hard decision and I'm still not sure. I packed 4 just in case and in a little different sizes too. Here's to hoping she's a healthfully small baby!

More days like this please

Sunday was such a sweet day. Michael and I did our usual church routine - left the house at 6:30am stayed at church until 1:15pm - but made a point to go out to lunch with some friends. We had a great time getting to know these new friends a little better (and are really excited to spend more time with them). We didn't have anything planned for the rest of the day which was a totally glorious feeling and so unusual for the two of us!

On the way home, Michael suggested we make a special detour for milkshakes. I loved the idea. We took our incredibly delicious shakes home and rested for a little while on the couch. I took a little nap and Michael watched the rest of the women's soccer game. As the game finished, we leisurely decided to watch 2 episodes on netflix of the TV series we're in the middle of. The day had cooled down a bit more by the time we were done watching TV so we threw on our bathing suits and headed out to our community pool. Michael suggested we walk (I think he's trying to get me to exercise more) but it was a great idea. The pool is super close by car, but on foot it's just far enough for an 8 month pregnant lady to feel like she's exercised for a week. It felt good honestly. The walk was so enjoyable because it was just the two of us and we chatted the whole way about the baby. We got to the pool and hopped right in. It was cool and refreshing and I felt as light as a feather. We stayed in for about 45 minutes then Michael ordered us a "pool special" pizza and we sat out on the lawn chairs waiting for our poolside dinner. After we finished, we walked back home as the sun was setting. More special conversation followed by a shower and a bubble bath then off to bed.

We don't do things like this normally. We don't watch TV and we certainly don't have free days like this with no structure. It was beautiful. I was so blessed by Michael's intentional choices to spend time together and enjoy ourselves. We are trying to slow down a little bit before the baby girl comes so that we can have more precious days like this.

Pillow Kingdom

Pregnancy sleep during the night is still considered successful in my terms. Of course, I wake up twice to go to the bathroom but it's very easy to fall back asleep. I love sleep.

For Michael, the story might be different. I'm not allowed to sleep on my back anymore. Back lying is the only way I've ever slept. This "sleep on your left side" deal has been difficult to adjust to - for both of us. I started out with one large pillow between my legs to aid in keeping me there. I constantly rolled back to my back each night so I added a pillow to wrap my arms around and help counteract gravity pulling on my belly. Still not enough. Next I added our huge decorative pillow to my backside and wedged it between Michael and me. I sleep surrounded by 4 huge pillows. We have a queen bed although now it's more like I have a double mattress and Michael has a park bench to sleep on. I feel so bad for him. He doesn't complain a bit though because he knows it's for the good of our baby. Our sleeping arrangement is so different these days. Normally, we are big snugglers and sleep close together all night long. We probably could fit on a twin mattress. Not only is Michael now confined to a thin strip of the bed but he's also pushed far away from me thanks to my pillow fortress. We don't like it but we know that it's only for a little while longer. Then we can cuddle all we want for our 2 hours of sleep per night with a newborn.

I've been resisting buying those pregnancy pillows that weave around your whole body. Everyone I know swears by them and I'm sure it would be life altering. But honestly, I don't want to spend $75 on it right now. I have nearly 7 weeks left and have made it this far. My friend just told me I could use hers and I think I might need to go get it. 4 pillows is a little ridiculous.

Summer Vacation 2011

The Doh's let us all stay at their family's beach house for the week of July 4th. It was so great to get to the beach and do nothing! Michael and I enjoyed the "freedom" of doing whatever we wanted out on the sand and not worrying about looking out for a little one's safety. My how things will change.

The house was sitting right on the beach which made bathroom and drink trips so easy.
The water was really pretty for the OBX. Some days it was a gorgeous green/blue and you could see clear down to the bottom. The night of the 4th we all feasted on crabs

Thank you Dohs and Collins for such a relaxing week away!

Recap

Unintentional ignoring of the blog, so sorry.

Not too much as happened in the last couple weeks. We vacationed in the Outer Banks then I went to Dunkin' Donuts this morning. It was so good.

Baby is growing and growing!

Who's that you say? Oh, just my friend Brett. She's awesome.

We went to see Wicked at the Kennedy Center! It was fabulous.

That's us in the elevator. Everyone was glad to be there.

I got my diaper bag! Now we're ready for the baby. Actually, we're not even close. Give me some more time on that one.

Rebekah and Abby, thanks for your continued love and support. I wouldn't have done this without you.