Wednesday, April 23, 2008

A few more photos

Went to the doctors today. Everything is going fine. I lost 3 pounds, the baby gained 2 centimeters. I am not sure how that happens but I am not complaining.

Here is a link to a few more photos...I will try to post a more complete album when the Internet is not moving so slow.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

29 weeks..maternity photo shoot

So I am sure there will be more photos to come, but here is a good start.

I some how hit the jackpot and two of my best friends are professional photographers. Kristen Gardner lives in the area, and Lashelle Chappell works in the Durham, NC area. Both are incredibly talented and I highly recommend either of them if you ever want some shots of you, your family or a special event! Kristen and her husband and sweet baby girl came out to the house on Saturday afternoon and hung out and shot some photos of Josh and I as we wandered around the yard. I really more waddled, but whatever. I haven't seen the whole set yet, but I am thrilled with how these came out and I can't wait to see the rest. My other best friend Katie, whose talents also abound, did my make-up so I haven't felt that pretty since my wedding day. (I know I really do have the hook up when it comes to friends!).

As a complete side note, my sweet husband has been working hard to slim down as I grow and I think he just looks great in these photos as well, especially next to my ever increasing belly!

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Who stole my bellybutton? and other thoughts about 28.5 weeks

So I have been MIA lately and I guess it can be attributed to that old adage our mothers taught us, "if you don't have anything nice to say...". It has been a rough go here the last few weeks and I just haven't been up to posting anything. Josh filled you in on some of the details, so there is not need to rehash it. I am doing a little better. Had a visit to a physical therapist on Monday and learned a few stretches that help my back a bit. But was told what I knew already, that this back pain is not going to end until this baby is out of me...which is a whole other issue.

So we went to our birthing class last weekend. We did a sort of blitzkrieg attack and knocked it out in two long days. It was informative and weird and hilarious. It is just funny on so many levels to sit around the room with other couples who are in the same situation and talk about incredibly personal things. I have to be honest I was a little like that kid in middle school health class, I couldn't help but giggle a time a two. Josh and I also saw a birthing video that may be permanently seared into out brains. Here's the thing, I know it is a 'beautiful' thing and a miracle and all that. But do I really need to see that up close and personal. I would have been an obstetrician if I wanted that view. I think it is safe to say Josh will be staying up near my head and attending to me during the birth of our little one. He might surprise me, but I know I wouldn't if I were him. I am just glad I won't be able to see what is going on.

For those of you wanting a belly update...it's growing. My bellybutton is changing, it hasn't popped out yet, but is on its way. I am up about 15 pounds now and I think my face is starting to show it a little bit. The kid is kicking and moving non-stop and just in the past few days has really started to do a lot of stretching and pushing. It is different than his movements before, which were kind of violent versions of kung foo. Now it is just a lot of pressure but also still some definite kicks. I just feel like I can feel him moving and stretching like I couldn't before. There was actually a defined bump sticking out the other day and I would push it down and he would push it right back up. This went on a few times and finally I let him win (I don't know what that says about my consistency with discipline, but I didn't think it would form any patterns yet).

Kristen will be taking some maternity photos this weekend so I am sure I will post a few when we got those. It should be fun...even though you know how I feel about being the center of attention, I know it is really important to document this time.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

almost 7 months

Friends, family (who will soon take us out if we don't get back to our regularly scheduled blogging), and random passer-by's hello and sorry it has been a while since we last posted.

Things have been pretty crazy for us lately. Shey's had a good deal of back pain (sciatica) that has made it pretty difficult for her to get around, but thankfully after our visit to the doctor yesterday, she is going to the physical therapist on Monday. Yesterday, we found out that Shey is perfectly on track, the baby is growing exactly on schedule which is great. We will start going to dr. appointments every two weeks from now on. We also had a visit to the hospital this week after Shey couldn't stop throwing up for about five hours on Monday afternoon...our little guy is well, Shey's bloodwork came back with positive signs, and so after two bags of IV fluid, some more throwing up, we made it home shortly before midnight on Monday. Things have settled down for her the rest of this week as she has been able to keep food down, get some rest, and take a day off.

We have our birthing class at the hospital this weekend. It will be from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. This will make for a long weekend, but we are looking forward to the tour of the birthing center, and I'm thinking that the reality of all this is going to set in some new ways. But enough with the details.

To be honest, life hasn't been this crazy for us in a long time. Shey is trying to get everything together to finish up school a few weeks early; I'm wrapping up my final semester of seminary and getting whipped up in the process; after some great work by Shey's dad to build the nursery, I will be starting to prime and paint this week (hopefully to get done before the carpet folks come to lay it down); the garden is slowly not coming along, but hopefully next week I'll be able to finish getting it ready.

In all this though, there has still been something amazing to feel the little guy kick his little legs and punch with his little fists with Shey. It has been really hard to figure out how to manage the business of life, Shey's pain, and still find time for us, and to process our time together and the time of change coming. I can't imagine anyone better to go through all of this with, and I can't even begin to say how tough Shey is. There is no way I'd even talk to people with all the pain she has been going through...but she has been wonderful, a trooper, and has worked hard to make things manageable despite the difficult pregnancy.

Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers from folks...we've needed them. We are excited as we head into the home stretch here, and I hope that things will run smoothly for Shey. I know Shey is excited to see many of you at one of the showers, and it will be fun for my mom and Maw-Maw to be able to see Shey and experience some of the pregnancy fun! Much love to all...