Finishing Touches

Today is one month out until my last day of work (but who's counting?) - so Chase and I decided to try and work on a few things around the house. As the count down has started, we have started to work on our checklist of last minute items - one of those being - hanging everything on the walls... although we still have the sailboat to hang, here is a sneak peak as to what Hunter's room will look like.

** This cross is so very meaningful for us, and was given to Hunter from the Clark family. *** We are already packed (well Hunter is) & ready to go!

** Hunter has a closet full of clothes!

Bigger by the day...

So many things have happened over the last few weeks. It seems like every day I'm getting bigger and the time is going by faster. Hunter has had 3 baby showers in honor of him now, we have finished his room (although we still need to hang everything on the walls and add a few last minute touches), and we have already started packing for his big day (or at least we have packed his bag). We have less than 6 weeks left until he gets here and its hard to believe it has gone by so quickly. Below you will see some of the newest pictures of the belly (stay tuned for pictures of the baby showers). One of Chase and I's good friends Morgan took the pictures!

Much to Celebrate!

The past two weeks have been full of wonderful blessings... on Sept. 3 we got the great news about the baby and then this past week Chase was hired on by Archer Exteriors. We are still working on the baby's room, but hopefully next weekend Chase will be able to finish it while I'm in South Carolina.

Yesterday marked the first day of the Baby Shower Season. One of my friends Erica is also expecting a little bundle of joy and I attended one of her showers... I had a wonderful time. Its hard to believe that she will be having a baby in one or two months (I'm almost one month behind her). It made me realize how much we have to do! Next weekend is my first shower in SC, and I'm already counting down the hours... I'm so excited to see everyone and hope that all of my friends and family from back home will be able to make it (if you haven't RSVP then make sure you do). Today I received one of the first baby gifts. Unfortunately Chase has to work, but I was lucky enough to be able to go to lunch with John Paul and Mindy. They will be in Las Vegas during the showers here in Alabama, but they got our little guy all kinds of wonderful gifts (the cutest little outfits, diapers, baby stuff, etc).

Chase and I feel so very fortunate that we have such wonderful family and friends... thank you all so much for everything!!

Sept 3 - Great NEWS!

Sept. 3, 2009
I wanted to thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers. I know many of you have been following the blog and know that we had to go see a specialist for the baby. This past Monday, I went in for the monthly check up and passed the glucose test with flying colors. We are down to go in the day after Thanksgiving (our little guy is already showing to be a big Alabama fan - as the day after Thanksgiving is Iron Bowl). Today we also had our big appointment with the specialist and everything looked great! The baby's little kidneys have healed and he is looks healthy and weights 2 pounds and 1 oz. We also received good news this morning, that our little guy has a cousin to play with when he gets here (Chase's aunt Kelly had a healthy 7lb, 4oz little boy today).

August With All Of Its Ups & Downs...

Exactly 26 kisses from Chase & 26 kisses from Butter Bean

Cooper after our beach trip (8.16.09) Me - 24 weeks (8.15.09)

So much has happened in the month of August.. and I must say I'm glad the month is almost over. At our last doctor's appointment (22 weeks), we found out that the baby needed to go see a Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist for a special ultrasound of his little kidneys. Something, that took us for a scare, but after talking with my mom, I realized our little guy might have the same problem that my little sister had at birth (which can be fixed), but until our appointment in Sept., we won't know much. I also founded out there are a few places on my very fair skin that didn't look so great either and I needed to go see a dermatologist (hopefully Butter Bean has his dad's skin). Good news, is that everything else seemed to be going better with the pregnancy, not as many sciatic nerve problems.

Just as I started to be able to cope with the news of the kidney problem, I started to notice I was having some strange pain on my right side. At first I just thought my tummy was growing so fast and my ligaments couldn't keep up, but one night after I had Chase put lots of lotion on the tummy, he noticed I had a large lump in the same place I was having such horrible pains from. At this point I discussed it with my mom and she suggested that I call and tell the doctor. Well at first I didn't think much of it, but after a lunch meeting on a Thur. afternoon, I noticed my side was really hurting. After a short phone call with my doctor's nurse, I started to worry.. one because normally when they call me back its 30 to 45 minutes later, but this time it was less than 5 minutes, next from the tone in her voice I could tell something was wrong, so when she told me I needed to come in the next day and see a different doctor in the practice (my doctor was off that day), I knew it was something serious. Dr. McGrath had said she thought it could be my gall bladder. That night I came home a little worried to a beautiful home made surprise early birthday cake - which of course made the news not so bad... although that night I woke up a few times in horrible pain. Long story short, the next day, Dr. Ives, informed us that my gallbladder was the problem and he sent me to get blood work, an ultrasound and to see a surgeon & to stay away from cake (well any fatty foods). After a bit of a painful weekend, I made it through without having to go to the ER (which Dr. Ives was a little worried about). I had a great night at our friend Katie and Andrew's house warming party, and a relaxing 26th birthday (Chase took me to brunch & then we took Cooper to the beach that afternoon). Monday I spent the rest of the day at the surgeon's office. We found out that they didn't see any gall stones (which is a plus), but that didn't mean they were not there (sometimes they hide).. due to me being prego they couldn't do further tests... so like we had been told that past Friday, that I would have to change my diet, take pain meds and try and relax and after the the baby is born, they will do more tests and most likely go in and take out my gall bladder. We also found out, as the doctor put it "its my problem and not the baby's - he shouldn't be effected by my little, but painful problem."

So between the many doctors appointments in the month of August.. we are so glad this month is coming to an end. We have almost finished the baby's room. Our original idea for the room, has changed, but the room will look great. We hopefully will get the bedding in the mail this week (thanks to my wonderful Aunt Kendra). Today Chase and I painted the rocker for the room and cleaned out part of the house to make more room for our little man. More updates to come over the next 2 weeks.. until then please keep our little guy in your thoughts and prayers, as all we want is for him to be healthy.

22 weeks Ultrasound Pictures

Our little boy is still a boy and growing every day! He is now actively kicking and Chase can feel him! We had another ultrasound because during the last one, he would not move for the doctor to see his little heart.. but this time he was laying side ways and his heart looked good. We will go back the end of August for our next appointment, until then I am under strick orders to keep my stress levels down and take it easy. We hopefully will start to paint the baby's room this weekend and try and get the room ready to go by October.

Over Half Way There...

20 weeks and the bump is getting bigger...

We are over half way to the arrival of the baby.


This past week has been, over all a week of the pregnancy, I will not forget. Sunday we went and registered at Target and then spent a relaxing night around the house. Monday started off like any other day, Chase left for work around 5:30am and I tried to sleep for a few more hours. I woke up and got ready like I normally do. Played with Cooper and then while eating breakfast, the email sound began on my blackberry - a normal thing to happen at 8am on a Monday. This time, as I walked to the SUV and read one of the many emails, I started feeling some cramping as I read. This was a new feeling.. not one where my ligaments are stretching, but a deep pain, where my tummy started to tighten and it came and went. At this point, I just thought that the baby was moving around, maybe sitting on a nerve or the uterus was expanding... to tell you the truth, the email at this point at signaled that Monday was going to be more than a "manic Monday."


After arriving at the office, the stress of the job started to set in and I took it one step at a time... but the pain went away... as the day went on the pain got worse and then would go away. By 3pm I wasn't feeling very well and had talked to the doctor a few times. This time, the doctor sent me home on an afternoon of "bed rest". I was on strict orders to have "NO stress" - in the back of my mind, I thought yeah right, you should do my job and no stress.. well.. anyways I left work, turned my cell off (I know a first) and tried to relax, by keeping my feet up. Cooper and I spent the next few hours napping until Chase came up around 5pm. I feel so bad for those who are on bed rest for weeks... I don't think I could do it.. just a few hours of it made me go crazy.


That night my sweet hubby made sure I didn't do anything... although I did break the rule and turned the cell back on.. but I didn't listen to voicemail or check email, instead I chatted with one of my very best friends Kim for about an hour and a half (that right there was the biggest stress reliever).


As the week went on my stress level decreased and so did the pains I had been having. I still had them a few more times through out the week, but no spotting so the doctor didn't think I needed to come in, until my regular appointment.


Needless to say.. this was the scariest feeling I have had. I was worried that I may have been having contractions, but since they stopped. I feel like Butter Bean was just telling his mommy that he can't handle his mom to be stressed.


The pain has since gone and today the lack of energy has set in. Although tonight is our night for date night (which we are trying to have one at least 2 times a month if not weekly before the baby gets here) - I would much rather just sleep.


Tomorrow... I'm going shopping for fabrics for the baby room and going to check out some baby stuff hopefully with one my friends Alison (who is also expecting a baby - which is great so Butter Bean will have a friend to grow up with - that baby's dad is Chase's best friend Dennis) or Erica (she also is due to have a baby - I guess its just in the water here).


More details to come, but for now - its time for a nap!!!