Friday, December 30, 2011

Waiting...

December 30th: Blakely's Due Date

Ok... so it is official. I am overdue. Today is Blakely's due date, and she is STILL not here. I feel like I am a ticking time bomb. Everyone keeps watching me as if I might go into labor at any moment....

We are currently scheduled for an induction next Tuesday (January 3rd) at 8am, but I am TOTALLY okay with her coming before then.

Hurry Ms. Blakely everyone is waiting for you to arrive!!! We love you baby girl!! Can't wait to see you in person!!

Merry Chirstmas!!

December 24th- 25th:

On December 24th, we celebrated Christmas with Richard's family. We had a great day with presents, a delicious lunch and a beautiful church service at ECBC. However, the most memorable gift of Christmas was Ms. AnnMarie's gift to Blakely.



This quilt is so gorgeous!!! Ms. AnnMarie made us the most beautiful quilt for our wedding, and I knew she would make something beautiful for Blakely's birth!!! The colors are absolutely gorgeous and match the bedding in her room perfectly. I know this quilt will be something that Blakely and I will both cherish for years to come!! Love you, GrandAnnie!!

On December 25th, we celebrated Christmas with my family. We played "the game," ate cinnamon rolls and lasagna, and enjoyed our last Christmas without grandkids. We got to be the kids for 1 more year!! Even though she was not present to open her presents, Blakely did get her very first babydoll from her Gigi.


Blakely's first babydoll!! This is an Abby doll from Pottery Barn Kids. It is so soft and cuddly. Blakely may not be able to enjoy this baby now, but I know she is going to be so cute dragging it around our home in the next couple of years. Thank you, Gigi!! We love you!!!

Merry Christmas everyone!!!! Hope you had a special day with your families as well!! 5 days and counting until Ms. Blakely's due date!!! YEAH!!

Favorite Things Episode

December 22nd:

Okay, so I am no Oprah, but I do have some new favorite things. I am a "professional" shopper, and I love to find quality items at discount prices. (I also like to brag about it! HA!) So having a baby has opened up whole new stores, departments.... and CHALLENGES!!

I have 3 new brands that I wanted to share with y'all, and some adorable outfits that Blakely is going to be sooooooo cute in!!


Kissy Kissy is by far my new favorite brand!! It is kind of expensive, but it is totally worth it. It is made out of 100% Peruvian Pima cotton. If you have not felt this material yet... it is like butter. So soft, so cuddly. I can't wait to snuggle little Blakely in this material. Also, Kissy Kissy is my mom's favorite brand as well.





Mud pie is this super cute brand that takes cute baby clothes and adds adorable frills and ribbons. I love this onsie with the bird on it... so cute! All found at my new favorite store on King Street- Princess of Tides. Also, important to note that this is Alyssa's favorite brand.



Last, but definitely not least, is Zutano. This brand is bright, colorful and whimsical. It is also very comfortable clothes for babies and toddlers. Basically, it is everything you would want in baby clothes. This little romper is hysterical..... it has little monkeys jump roping with snakes. Kind of weird, but oh so cute!! This is found in another one of my new favorite stores, Southern Belles off Coleman.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Daddy and Blakely

December 8th: Baby Talk

Richard loves to talk to Blakely!! If we are both home at night (which is rare these days). he will end the night talking to her right before we go to bed. Every night he sings "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" to her, and then tells her what a good baby she is. He calls her his "Little Twinkle Star." It is my favorite time of day.


Occasionally, I will wake up in the middle of the night or morning, and Richard will be telling her about something funny. For example, on Thanksgiving morning Richard was quietly explaining to Blakely all about Thanksgiving, the parade, the food, etc. It was so funny. He is going to be such a good Daddy!! The best part is that Blakely LOVES it when her Daddy talks to her. She squiggles and wiggles until she is almost entirely on the side he is talking to. Last night she moved so far over to the right that I was lopsided!! Blakely is so lucky to have a Daddy who already loves her SO MUCH!!

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

It Begins...

December 5th: The Beginning of the End

Blakely is on her way!! It could be days or weeks, but the end is in sight!!! Today at my OB visit, she informed me that I am one centimeter dilated. Not a lot, but it is definitely a start. Also, I have started having Braxton Hicks Contractions. Not painful per se, but definitely not comfortable either.

But ALL of this is welcome news, because it means that our little girl is preparing for her debut. We can hardly wait to meet her!!! I am oscillating between feelings of elation and feelings of fear. I don't know what to think or what to feel. A million questions keep floating around in my head...

Will I be a good mother? Can I handle the pain of labor? How will our lives change? What will she look like? Who will she look like? How will I ever go back to work and leave my sweet baby at home? How will I know I am REALLY in labor? What if I miss the SIGNS, and deliver at home or a car? Will Blakely come through this healthy? Will I make it through the delivery?

And finally, in the words of "David after Dentist".... IS THIS REAL LIFE???

I know all of these questions will be answered in time, and for now I know I just need to trust that the Lord has good things in store for us. He is the giver of "good gifts".... he does not give his children a stone, when they ask for a fish. He is a good God. Father God, please protect me and Blakely during this time period. Help prepare me to be the kind of mother you need me to be. Help me to trust you. Thank you, thank you, thank you for this blessing!!!

Month 8 Picture!!

November 30th: Large and In-Charge!!

I am now officially 8 months pregnant!! Hurrray!! It is officially Christmas season, which means that this is the SEASON that Blakely comes!!! We are now also >35 weeks pregnant. Which means if she were born TODAY she would get to go straight to Level 1 Nursery, and home with us in 24-48 hours. That is so totally crazy!!

So here is the month 8 picture. I am getting really BIG!! But that means that Blaker's is getting BIG too. Well, not TOO BIG.... Just right. She is currently weighing in at 5 1/2 pounds which puts her at the 40%. Just perfect. If you squint, I think you can see Blakely in this picture.



Her mom isn't looking so hot, but Blakely is looking cuter and cuter!! Can't wait to meet you baby girl!!! What I would love to know at this point in time is:
When will Ms. Blakely make her BIG DEBUTE??? Any guesses??? :)