All My Bags Are Packed...

... I'm ready to go - if only Emmalyn felt the same urgency.

So, we've finally made it to week 37 - FULL TERM!  HALLELUJAH!

How far along?   37 weeks and 1 day
Total weight gain/loss:  35 pounds
Maternity clothes? Mostly
Stretch marks?   Still the one on my hip, but none on the belly
Sleep:  Lately I've been very anxious just wondering when she will come and thinking about how my life is about to change so dramatically.  It has been hard to sleep at night, but I've gotten really good at cat naps (about 1 hour long) which I guess is good prepping for a newborn.
Best moment this week:  Getting some compliments from the ladies at work.  I feel so huge and even strangers have not been shy about telling me their opinions of how big I am, but just one compliment makes me feel like this is so worth it.
Movement:  ummmm.. YES!  she shook the whole bed that other night as she was trying ot get comfortable inside me.  

Cravings:  crushed ice - I eat it all the time!
Gender:   GIRL!!!! - Emmalyn!
Labor Signs:  Still having braxton hicks contractions.  I am currently a centimeter dilated and I'm still working and trying to walk a lot to get things moving along.
Belly Button in or out?  FLAT!
What I miss: Not too much.  I think there is just so much to look forward to that I don't have time to think about the things I'm "missing"

What I am looking forward to:  starting labor.  I'm anxious to know what it is going to feel like and how it will start and how Caleb is going to react : )
Weekly Wisdom: I got some great advice from my sister-in-law yesterday.  She said that even though I want this child to come out and can't wait to care for her, I need to use the last few days/weeks to take care of myself and do things that I want to do without having to think about carrying a child with me.  So, I think this week I am going to get a pedicure, lay out at the lake with some friends, and rent a few movies.
Milestones: making it to 37 weeks!

I have all our stuff packed and ready to go.  I might go ahead and put our bags in the trunk of the car.  I have everything needed for our hospital stay.  A bag for Emmalyn, one for me, and my breast pump - just in case!  AND, how could I forget the cameras!  The labor and delivery nurses know my flexible birth plan and my dear friend Mandy has even volunteered to take very newborn pictures of Emmalyn at the hospital.  My mom and dad even have their bags packed so they will be able to leave soon after we call them.  Caleb is getting the phone tree together so he won't be on the phone the whole time.  There are so many people just waiting for this one child.  I feel so blessed to still have a healthy child.  I know she probably needs to do a little more cooking, but I'm very much looking forward to the timer going off.

Kayla : )

24 days...

As I attempt to patiently await Emmalyn's arrival I feel like the days are creeping by.  Everyday I just wait for some sign that she will be making her debut soon.  Are the increasingly frequent braxton hicks contractions really making progress, when will she "drop," what will my new stats be at this week's Dr. appointment?  There are so many questions running through my head every day.  With all the uncertainty surrounding each day now, I just keep thinking about how wonderful it is going to be when I finally hold her in my arms.

As I was thinking about that day that seems so close but yet unattainable at the same time I remembered this song that I have loved for years.  When I listened to it again it sounded like a mother talking to her child and it definitely expresses how much I already love and would do for Emmalyn.

For You I Will - Monica

Yes, when you're feeling lost in the night
When you feel your world just ain't right
Call on me, I will be waiting
Count on me, I will be there
Anytime the times get too tough
Anytime your best ain't enough
I'll be the one to make it better
I'll be there to protect you, see you through
I'll be there, and there is nothing, I won't do

1-I will cross the ocean for you
I will go and bring you the moon
I will be your hero, your strength, anything you need
I will be the sun in your sky
I will light your way for all time, promise you
For you I will, yes yeah, yeah

I will shield your heart from the rain
I won't let no harm come your way
Oh, these arms will be your shelter
No, these arms won't let you down
If there is a mountain to move
I will move that mountain for you

I'm here for you, I'm here forever
I will be your fortress tall and strong
I'll keep you safe, I'll stand beside you right or wrong

Lay my life on the line, for you I will fight, oh
For you I will die, with every breath, with all my soul
I'll give my word, I'll give it all
Put your faith in me, put your faith in me
And I'll do anything

I know there is no need to want to rush things because potentially I have her for the rest of my life, but it is really hard  to feel her moving and imagining what she looks like and sounds like and thinking about my future with her and her dad.  I just so excited about being a mom.  

So, blogland, I need prayers for peace and patience.  And, you might want to pray for Emmalyn too because if I'm this crazy before she's even born who knows what type of basket case I'm going to be when she is actually here?!

Kayla : )

Around the House

So today I stayed home and vegged out!  It has been great!  I worked until 1am last night (this morning) so I i figured with the weather being so humid and little sleep, I deserved a day to myself.

I cleaned a lot of the house, edited some pictures from an engagement shoot that I'm rather happy with, and put a few things in the house.  I also got to watch the first episode of The Bachelorette without my husband "the peanut gallery" and it was great.  Not sure how next week will go :)

Here are a few pictures from life lately.

I received this inspirational book from a fellow nurse at work.  I've read a few stories out of it so far and am loving it.  It's kind of like the Chicken Soup for the Soul books.  As I anxiously wait for my daughter to arrive, things like this will help a lot. 

Caleb got an XBOX 360 so we decided to get netflix as well since they have the instant que and we have definitely used it a lot!  

Have I mentioned how much I'm obsessed with Etsy?  Well, I ordered this vinyl and had some scrap wood around so I had Caleb cut it and I painted it and then added the vinyl and ribbon.  The paint color was a difficult decision because I plan on redoing the colors of the laundry room and needed to figure out decor.  I decided to make it a gamecock theme.  Since moving there is no room that would really accommodate garnet and black decor so I figured the laundry room could be my "fun" room.  I'm excited!  So, here is the first addition! 

Again, I LOVE etsy!  I have been wanting a sign like this for years and finally found one at a decent price that matched the colors I wanted as well.  I'm just so happy with it.  It is hung above our front door.

So, there goes my Monday.  We are still waiting patiently for the days to pass by until Emmalyn gets here.  25 days left!  I'm still working about 4-6 hours at a time to keep the swelling down, but also get out of the house and walk some.  However, I think more walking will be beneficial to assisting Emmalyn to move down more.  We will see if it works!

Kayla : )

1000 Gifts

51. Getting packages in the mail

52. A good hair day

53. watching television with my hubby and vegging out.

54. Folding Emmalyn's little clothes

55. cereal

56. Nexium - I can sleep now!!!!

57. Ice cream sundae

58. a tan - even if it only lasts a day or two

59. hearing your favorite song on the radio

60. knowing that my little girl will be here so soon - still praying for a healthy delivery and baby!

Kayla : )

Prego Update

Today I went to the doctor to get a few things checked out.  We started off having an ultrasound to check Emmalyn's placement and the placenta placement and thank the Lord everything is fine and a natural birth can be attempted.  In case you didn't know, the placenta was over my cervix for awhile and if it would have stayed there my only option of getting Emmalyn out was a c-section.  And I say that a natural birth can be attempted because we definitely want for Emmalyn to make her debut via the "good ole" way, but know that it is not in our hands and even after labor starts a c-section is still a route out if things do not go well.

Anyway, I had my group beta strep drawn - the cells are now growing in the lab... juicy huh?  We will know results at my next visit.  By the time we left the doctor's office we knew that Emmalyn weighs approximately 6 pounds, is measuring right on track with her due date and I'm barely dilated.  I'm anxious to get there next week to see if there is anymore progress toward labor starting.

For the past week I have been having some braxton hicks contractions and in the past 2 days they have definitely gotten more intense and are happening more often.  Still nothing that hurts, but I can really feel them now whereas a week ago I barely knew I was having one until I or Caleb would touch my belly and it felt rock hard.

So, long story short, everything seems to be happening like it should.  Granted I'm so ready to hold my child in my arms, I know that God is keeping her safe inside me until he is ready to set her loose to Caleb and me :)

Caleb talks about the labor and has been asking a lot of questions lately.  He says he doesn't know how good of a father he will be because it will all be so new.  Even though I know he will be great because God is our savior and he already loves her so much, I'm still praying that he isn't too freaked out.

So, the picture today is of me at 35 and 4 days.  It is a horrible picture and I debated on whether or not to post it, but I figured it can't be any worse than the pictures that will surface of the actual labor, so just to give you a mental image of how big this belly is and how big the rest of me has gotten...  Here ya go.

I think this weekend I'm going to put together a picture collage to see the belly progress from last fall until now.  This should make me want to go for a jog after Emmalyn's born!

    

Kayla : )

Emmalyn's Room - so far

So, it is still not complete, but she won't be sleeping in her room for a few months anyway.  Here is the progress so far... There's only a little more left to do!

This is her temporary monogram.  A friend is painting one but I wanted something above the crib for the time being.  Next I will be hanging the canopy above the monogram.  So excited about that part!

Caleb hung the chandelier that my friend Emily redid from a thrift store.  I love it so much!  I still have to  put fabric on the lamp shade, but am waiting to get it in the mail.

Another view of the room

The hanging outfit is actually what she will be coming home in.

Her closet.  The shoe organizer will hold her shoes, head bands and hats.  The bins below have random things in them like extra diapers, blankets, toys etc.  Maybe I'll get around to making some tags to hang from them.

I'm thinking this will be my favorite spot.  Once the cushions are finished on the glider, I can't wait to sit here with her and sing or read and breast feed.

This sign is hanging above the entrance door.  I love this song and can imagine that I'll be singing it a lot in the next few years.

Lately, I've also been working on jazzing up some of her plain onesies. I definitely have left a few alone because when it gets cooler she might need that extra layer of clothing, but since she'll be facing the hot months on July and August apon her arrival, a onesie and a cute skirt or shorts seems like a great outfit!  I ordered these appliques from etsy at around $1-$3 a piece and ironed them on myself, which was super easy.  Now all she needs are a few matching bows!!!!

Kayla : )

The Late Night Diaries

It's 0215 and although I am no stranger to being awake at strange hours you would think that since I've been awake all day that I'd be tired and fall straight into dream bliss.  NOT!
The past few nights I have not been able to fall asleep for the life of me.  I feel so anxious.  I can think of a million things to do and I keep tossing and turning.  I hope this is God's way of prepping my body for exhaustion once Emmalyn arrives.

On another note, I had my last baby shower on Saturday.  I was actually late to it because my blood pressure was high and I wasn't feeling well.  Looking back at the pictures from the day I canNOT believe how swollen I was!  I mean, everyone kept saying so, but I really didn't think it was that bad - WOW was I off!  Honestly, it is hard to tell what is fat and what is excess water weight sometimes, but I can definitely tell from the pictures at the shower that my face and ankles were getting a little extra something that day.

However, despite my increasing fluid issue, the day was great!  The shower had a luau theme and Emmalyn really racked up.  I'm was especially touched by the beautiful hand crocheted blankets she received form 2 very busy coworkers that I have no idea how they found the time to make them!  They will be treasured for years!

So, right now I have about 10 projects going on at once and they are getting done little by little.  Emmalyn's hospital bag is packed, all of her clothes, linens, and blankets have been washed, and my house has gotten a bit of a facelift since my nesting has gone into turbo mode.  Hopefully tomorrow I will get more done and post a few pictures of the nursery.  Until then, I'll leave you with a few pictures from the baby shower.

A few of the lovely nursery/L&D nurses

Handmade with love!

So excited to take some pictures of Emmalyn and this!

And the belly picture.  WOW!  I keep telling myself that pregnancy looks different on everyone and I'm just not one of those cute lucky ones, but she will be out soon and all of this will show worth it.

Kayla : )

1000 Gifts

41. Long conversations

42.  The prospect of the future - whether that be dreaming of what tomorrow will bring or looking forward to eternity in Heaven

43. Laughing at yourself

44. Learning to loosen up

45. Driving at night on a country road with the windows rolled down.  I love the smells and the sounds.

46. Finding a good deal

47. A happy husband

48. America's Funniest Home Videos

49. Feeling like just listening to someone vent or tell you a story made a difference

50. cookouts with 7 dogs roaming and playing in the backyard (because when we all get together that's how many furry animals we have) and all of our friends enjoying a nice day

Kayla : )

35 weeks

How far along?   34 weeks and 5 days
Total weight gain/loss:  30 pounds!
Maternity clothes? Mostly
Stretch marks?   I have what appears to be a popped blood vessel on my right hip at the moment.  Not pretty!!!  But still no current stretch marks
Sleep:  Lately I have felt constantly tired.  I think with the extra weight and getting up about 6 times a night to empty my bladder doesn't help.
Best moment this week:  Mother's Day.  My sweet baby's daddy :) gave me a sweet card.
Movement:  all the time and she's all over the place!  Sometimes I feel like she is trying to kick her way out and when Caleb comes home from being gone all day and we start talking she starts moving.  I'm convinced this is because she was some attention from her daddy.

Cravings:  MILK and fruit...STILL!
Gender:   GIRL!!!! - Emmalyn!
Labor Signs:  a few random Braxton Hicks contractions - nothing painful or substantial.
Belly Button in or out?  FLAT!
What I miss: Right now, not a whole bunch.  Whenever I think about how much life is going to change in the next month I get so anxious with excitement and I can't stop smiling.  Seeing my friends who have recently had their babies makes me so excited to actually be able to hold her and look her in the eye.  I can only imagine how amazing it is going to be!

What I am looking forward to:  Our last ultrasound on May 20.  They will be checking her position and the position of the placenta again.  I'm pretty sure she is head down because I get little feet kicking me right under the sternum, but I love it!  I can't wait to see if some of the mannerisms that I have donned her with are true when she comes out.
Weekly Wisdom: Let Caleb do some things.  I rearranged our living room furniture while Caleb was at formation yesterday morning and was pretty much done for the day :)
Milestones: Having baby showers.  I'm so blessed with awesome friends and the showers have really helped us out

Kayla : )

The "Other Woman's" point of view

This post is going to be a bit of me venting about a common situation that is now all over the headlines.  My frustration has hit the top with this article.  I normally don't fall into caring about the lives of the famous (I will admit I use to) but lately it seems like a waste of brain power.  However, when I saw the headline to this article I was curious about what this "other woman" had to say.

My short response to Michelle Mcgee's "womanly" advice is that you and all of the "men you are referring to just need Jesus!!!!

This quote has Satan's influence written all over it:

"Women need to accept that. If you're going to be married to somebody, you need to know that men are not meant to be with one woman. I think you can totally love your spouse and still sleep with other women. That urge will always be there if you're a man. I believe you can love your wife 100 percent and still stray."


Oh my goodness I cannot express to you how upset I got when I first read this and how sad it makes me feel that their are actually people in this world that believe nonsense like this.  


Sex is such a sacred act that I can only imagine sharing with someone you truly and wholly love and trust.  If a man (or woman) can say they truly love their spouse and can find no reason why it is wrong to sleep with someone other than the spouse that they supposedly love so much, then God is not anywhere near the top of their priority list.


I do agree with one thing she said.  I do believe that the urge to stray is in every man, but that's where a person's faith in Jesus comes into play.  We all have sinful tendencies, but a Christian's (should be) constant attempts to be more like Christ and the unconditional love that we have all been shown by Christ is what should keep a man from straying and work on his marriage instead.  


Why is it that society has deemed marriage an institution that is doomed?  With all the cheating, excuses, prenups etc, marriage is not what God intended for it to be.  No matter what we do He (Christ) still loves us, forgives us, and give us second tries for eternity.  


It seems like some people get married because its what makes them happy at the moment or it is the "next step" in the relationship.  However, just a little while later someone else makes them happy and because society tries (and succeeds) to get us to believe that you should be happy no matter who it hurts or what the consequences are.  


This article not only upset me for the reasons above, but it shows that we as Christians are not doing our duty in spreading the word and love of Christ well enough.  If a person has Christ and knows how love is supposed to be, why would they need to find anything else apart from what God has given them...hince, their wife.  


I'm trying to sound holier than thou because I don't share the amazing love of my God nearly enough and there are certainly things in my life that I take for granted and would love a better version of, which just shows that I, along with many others, need to spend more time getting closer to God and understand why he is all we need.


Kayla : )

Happy Mother's Day

First of all, I'd like to thank you all for the kind words and encouragement from my last post.  After reading the comments, praying, and telling my frustrations to Caleb (since now he has more than enough time to hear them) I feel much better about not being as prepared as I would like to be.  

With that said, today was such a good day.  I really wasn't feeling like going to church, but got myself up anyway and as Caleb and I were out the door he slipped this to me...

I started crying as soon as I laid eyes on it.  Honestly, I was feeling a bit jealous of my friends who have already had their 2010 babies and had the physical child in their arms to make them feel like a true mother.  I really didn't think Caleb would do anything for me today, but I guess I underestimated him.

Then, I opened the card which said this...

I don't know if you can read it, but it is exactly what I needed from him.  Even though I haven't been through the hard part of being a mother yet, I do feel like I've earned a little resignation for the job I've done so far.  

Anyway, I'd like to say Happy Mother's Day to all the women who have been motherly influences in someone's life and all of the women who soon will be mothers.

And, in light of the motherly celebration, I have a few old pictures to share of some women that have shaped me. 

This is 3 generations.  My grandmother, mother and me at one of my bridal showers that was held in the house that my great-grandmother lived in for 15+ years.  Although I don't have a picture of my great-grandmother, Daisy, she, along with my grandmother, Boo (at least that's what we call her), have been amazing Godly figures in my life.  Not only are they mothers to me, but they have both become friends to me and I will never forget all that they have taught me.

Next, is me and my mom at my graduation party that I shared with my best bud, KB.  WOW, what I wouldn't give to look like that again!  Anyway, I'm blessed to have this woman in my life and I think she's pretty stoked about being a grandma!

Last, is a picture of 3 generations with my aunt in there.  My aunt, Cindy, had been my best bud since I was little.  She was only 17 when I was born, so I was like her baby doll that she could spoil and then give back to my mom.  She's awesome and I can talk to her about anything.  She has been extremely helpful since Caleb joined the Army because she has been a military wife for about 17 years now.

I could go on and on about all the women who have my an influence in my life, but I'll save you that!  I hope you have had a wonderful mother's day and have let the women that mean the most in your life know how much they are appreciated.

Kayla : )

Stressing a Bit

I woke up this morning with high expectations for myself.  I was going to run lots of errands to get organized for Emmalyn, clean the carpet, organize all of her stuff, send some stuff off at the post office, wash the sheets and the list goes on and on.

Well, apparently Emmalyn had other plans.  The started with lots of nausea and a constant headache.  While I was sitting on the couch waiting for the zofran to start working I made a list of the things that need to be done (Okay, that I'd like to get done) before Emmalyn's arrival, and it is long!  I realize that there is no way I'm going to be completely prepared for her, but I'd like to have my ducks in a row, ya know?

We still have no pack-n-play, no high chair, no crib mattress, no swing and time is running out.  The money that goes into this one small being is just crazy!  I'll be 34 weeks tomorrow and cannot wait to meet her, but my nesting, if that's what you want to call it, is getting the best of me.

At the moment the nursery is a disaster and my plans are coming together extremely slowly.

So, it looks a little better now, but still very unorganized.  Any advice or words of encouragement will be greatly appreciated.  And prayer for peace.

Kayla : )

1000 Gifts

31. Laughing and cuddling with my dogs

32. afternoon naps with my husband

33. Getting to spend some much needed time with my best friends!

34. imagining how I am going to feel when I first see my daughter

35. seeing my husband chow down on the dinner I made

36. crossing items off my to-do list

37. Getting a compliment from a stranger

38. Having my brother call me to go on a date with him

39. pulling clean dishes out of the dishwasher

40.  Walks at night in the summer when the world seems so still

Kayla : )

Got a fever???

Does anyone have baby fever from this blog yet?  This post might send you over the top...If not, I've got more cuteness coming.

Meet Ellasyn.  Her mother, Elizabeth, and I lived together in college and have lots of memories...Now we are expanding our families together within weeks of each other.  While I was in SC Ellasyn decided to make her world debut, so I got to meet her!  Of course I couldn't wait to take some pictures.

I just think this is precious. She has long fingers like her momma!

Also while in SC, I met up with my friend April who is due with yet another girl just a week before Emmalyn is due.  I finally got to meet her sweet husband Stephen.  April mentioned a while back that she liked one of the mod podge frames I decorated in Emmalyn's room, so I thought I'd make her a couple of things for Ansley's room.

Here, is a picture frame I mod podged and personalized for Miss Ansley.  I LOVE it - if I do say so myself!

Next I decorated this plaque.  After I took the picture I added green ribbon through the top holes so that I could be hung.  I told April she could either use it as is as door decor or hot glue/staple two rows of ribbon to the bottom for a bow holder.  Now, I'm off to make one for Emmalyn.

Kayla : )