24 weeks and kicking away!

I am officially 24 weeks! Carter is doing great, per our ultrasound yesterday. It was supposed to be a cervix length measurement, but of course they let us see our little dude! It was really nice because my mom came with us and got to see her grandbaby for the 1st time. She was just in awe. It was cute. We gave her the ultrasound pics (our fridge is already plastered with them!) and she's been showing them to everyone that will look!

Today, I am washing all the clothes from shower #1. I am glad I didn't wait until all the showers were over because it took me hours just to get tags and stickers off! So, now I have to hang them all up and start washing the million towels and washcloths that I got! I am enjoying it, but it is some serious work! But its good work!!

OK, I'm off to do some laundry and maybe try to get some other housework done...somebody's gotta do it, right??

We have a nursery!

The nursery is painted! It looks great! We started on Thursday night. We had to take out all of the guest bedroom furniture out first, so that went downstairs. When Steven opened the paint can, our jaws dropped and we looked at each other with that "OMFG" look. It literally looked purple! Not purple-ish...but lilac!! I almost cried, but then figured "Let's just give it a try." We sighed in relief when it rolled on blue. It got better and better every minute it dried more.

Earlier that day, my friend Katie and I went to Babies R Us. She will be on her honeymoon when we have my shower here, so she wanted to get my gift early. She insisted that she was going to buy my bedding. After trying to talk her out of it (it's expensive!!), she did it anyway! I was so very thankful...that is a huge gift!!

So...after the paint dried, we brought the bedding in. Perfect match! Oh, we're good!! LOL, it really looks like we meant to do that! My mom is buying us our crib this weekend, so I will post pictures then...that way you can see how well it all goes together!

My appointment on Thursday went great. It was very boring...which to me is wonderful!! Carter had his booty poking right out! We could literally feel his little crack! It was so funny! Anyway, we heard a nice, strong heartbeat and discussed delivery a little bit more. He wants to see me again in 3 weeks, but I have a cervix check this Friday. That means that I get to see my boy!! Steven has to work, so my mom is coming, which is awesome because she hasn't seen Carter in 4D yet. I will definatly post pictures after we get back!

As for me, I am up 10 pounds. I now weigh 140. I never thought I'd be happy to gain weight! But I feel great and I am actually very happy with the way my body looks. I have to admit...I am having fun here!

Nesting Begins!!

I am officially nesting! Yesterday, I cleared all the stuff out of Carter's room (it was a guest bedroom) and found new places for it. I moved the bassinet into our room and put it next to the bed. I love seeing it there! We took all the nails out of the wall and are patching the holes up tonight...after Big Brother. Goooooo Memphis! Anyway, last night Steven took the bedroom furniture down to the basement so we can paint.

Today, I cleaned our bedroom and rearranged the drawers in the kitchen. I also moved around some decorations and other random stuff. I just feel like I can't stop once I start!! Tomorrow, I hope to clean the master bathroom and do a little bit more in Carter's room.

Carter has been kicking like a crazy man the last 2 days! At around 9pm, he starts up and it is just a blast! I even had a little caffeine tonight...just to rev him up. I couldn't help myself!! I just love to put my hand on my belly and feel him kick back! Only 2 more days until I hear that sweet little heartbeat!!

I will be sure to post pictures of the progress on Carter's room. Its happening slowly...but surely!

Happy Birthday Bailey!

My first born is 9 years old today! In honor of his birthday, I thought I would write a few things about my Bailey Bear...

Nobody quite understands our relationship. People sometimes look at me as I share my dinner or dress him up to go out and think "You freak. He's a dog." What they don't know is that he isn't just a dog to me...he is the reason I am alive.

When I was in my accident in May of 1999, I pretty much deemed my life to be over. I was paralyzed, in a wheelchair, and dependent on everybody around me for everything. I couldn't feed myself, dress myself, brush my own teeth...all the things people take for granted every day. I needed everyone, and nobody needed me. I was to the point where I was plotting my own suicide. I knew that I would not have many options since I could barely move, but I was determined to die. I just couldn't take the massive changes that were happening in my life and thought the world was better off without me. It was just a matter of time before I could figure out how I would do it.

The day before Halloween that year, my mom came into school to pick me up. Zipped in her jacket was a little white ball of fluff. Out popped the cutest face I had ever seen. I knew right then that this little guy needed me. He was so small. Being that he was the runt, he needed to eat specific things at specific times, and I was the one that had to feed him. Without me, he could've died. So, my life's purpose changed...now I was someone's "mommy". From then on, we were inseparable. He came to school with me, to the store, and even to physical therapy!

Bailey and I have a bond that not many humans/dogs have. We saved each other. So, happy birthday little angel. Mommy loves you!

The light at the end of the tunnel?

I think we may have a cure for B! We took both dogs to Petsmart last night, which they loved! Especially Bianca...she's never been there before. We bought her 2 Kong toys, and a Kong Sr. for Bailey (they're softer for his bad teeth), and a couple different kinds of treats to fill them with. We also bought B a new collar...it is pink leather with little spikes and rhinestones! Totally cute!!! Bailey got Dingos (his fave) and a pair of sunglasses. His 9th birthday is Saturday, so he picked his presents out. Bianca was going nuts in the store meeting all the new dogs. She didn't want to leave! We decided that we are bringing her back for obedience classes, since she still doesn't listen to me as well as she listens to Steven. Plus, we think the interaction with other dogs her age will be great for her.

Anyway, we got home and began filling the Kongs up with various treats, as well as plain old peanut butter. As soon as we gave them to her, it was like we didn't even exist. Steven got up and left and she didn't even cry or try to follow! We decided not to crate her with them until we knew how she would react to them...which was excellent! A toy has never kept Bianca's attention like that before! We gave them to her at 9:01 and she was still going at them when I looked at the clock at 9:37! After she was done, she fell over and was snoring so loud that I had to turn the volume up on the TV! So, I am hoping that this is the light at the end of the tunnel with the separation anxiety. We are going to continue working on it and we'll see what happens. Keep your fingers crossed for us!!

On the baby-front, Carter is moving like crazy and he hates when I lay on my back...even if I only do it for a minute. He kicks and has a little temper tantrum until I move into a more comfortable position. I have an OB appointment on Thursday, so I will get to hear his little heartbeat then. I have to bring all the papers for the cord blood banking to have the OB sign them. It is a lot of paperwork and preparation. But it is very very important, so we have to be sure to get it done ASAP!! So...that's all for now. I'm off to relax a bit before the big USA/Phelps swim tonight.

We are "arteests"!

We have decided on paint!! Yessssss! After staring at swatches blankly for a bit, Steven convinced me to go with a bit of a darker light blue. Sounds weird, but I was thinking of going very light...white with a blue tint. I agreed with him after he convinced me that the darker color will look much better with the white furniture we have chosen. Its a good thing he can visualize these things...because I have a hard time with that! We are going to buy the paint this week and probably get the job done this weekend!!

We are still sticking with the indoor crate for Bianca. She has such bad separation anxiety, so we have begun the "desensitizing" as well as positive reenforcement with all crate related activities, such as putting her food in there, giving her treats for going in, etc. All without closing her in...for now. We want her to associate the crate with good things, and not with us leaving.

I feel a lot better now that I am getting out of the house and getting things done. I even went grocery shopping without Steven today, LOL! I am really starting to fully enjoy being pregnant!! Tonight, we will probably relax...I had a long day! I'm sure we will be watching Micheal Phelps win some more gold!!

GO USA!

I'm ALIVE!

Well...my motivation finally kicked in! Friday night, Steven took me to Smokey Bones for dinner. It was great!! Then, yesterday we went over to a friend's house to hang outside. Us girls just hung out and talked while the boys played cornhole. It was relaxing, but fun to be out of the house.

Today, I had a rough morning. At church, Carter found it necessary to dance on my intestines...felt like I was going to #2 in my pants! I have issues going in public, so I sat through it. When I got in the car, I realized it was just gas...once I moved a bit, it went away. We got home to find Bianca hanging out in the living room...out of her crate. Her face was covered in blood. Steven went in the house 1st, knowing that I would spaz at the mess she made. Turns out, she just chewed the cage and bent it enough to squeeze out. It was her gums bleeding. Steven came back out with her and I opened the car door. Before I could even think, she leapt up onto me as to say "Mommy, please save me!" Well, she caught me with her left paws in the stomach...it took my breath. She weighs about 55 pounds. We spent the next hour poking at my belly trying to get Carter to move. I guess he was pooped from all the dancing he did at church because he didn't want to move. I drank a cup of caffienated tea and finally felt a little nudge under my belly button. I am still a little worried, but at least he is moving normally. If he doesn't continue, I may call the doctor, just to see what he thinks.

As you can tell, B isn't doing well with her crate training. She just gets so worked up. We even tried putting her in it while we are here, then letting her out after a few minutes with lots of praise. Every time we leave, she turns into Houdini and figures out how to take the cage apart from the inside. Last night, Steven put zip-ties on the corners, so she couldn't get out...hence the blood and bent cage. I don't know what to do. Her separation anxiety is driving me nuts!!

Yawwwwwnnnn!

I am so tired lately. I don't know why, but it is getting ridiculous. I want to get up and get going, but all I really do is sit on my butt and think about getting up and getting going! I feel like Carter is sucking the life out of me. I felt this way at the beginning of the 1st trimester, but then it got better. Same with my acne...it started getting better and its flaring back up again. What the heck is this all about?

Tonight I was really hoping to go out to dinner with my husband and maybe go get paint for the nursery, but I will probably end up in my underwear watching movies and eating Lucky Charms. I need Steven to drag me out of this recliner, throw me in the shower, and force me out of this house! But he is way too sweet to do that. He thinks that if I am tired, that's my body's way of telling me I need sleep. When he calls me from work, he always says "Go take a nap." Sometimes I just wish he'd tell me to get my lazy ass up!

Well, I'm going to try to get motivated...I might be stuck to the chair...let's hope not!

Shower pics...

Here are a couple shower pictures. I am getting pretty big, huh?

Does it ever end??

Well...its a no-go on the cage. Since we have so many beams in our basement, the cage just wouldn't fit. I didn't realize how big it was. So...onto plan B. We are going to put down a concrete slab by our garage and put it up out there. As far as a cage inside, we found an extra-large metal cage with a plastic bottom at Wal-Mart for $70. My mom is a manager, so she is going to pick it up for us with her 10% discount. Bianca will hate it, but we can't let her tear anything else up. Plus, when the baby comes, we need to be sure we can control her when we need to. So, we will have that later tonight.

On a lighter note, we have central air!! The repairmen came yesterday! They replaced the unit and copper piping. They normally haul it away for you, but we figured since copper is worth so much out here, we would get rid of it ourselves. It makes me feel a little better knowing that we're getting some money back...even though its not much! The important thing is that I am cool and not sweaty. I can finally relax and be comfortable. Thank God!!

I got my cord blood collection kit today. Lots of paperwork to fill out. They also gave us these cheesy LiveStrongish rubber bracelets to wear 4-6 weeks before my due date in case I go into labor early and the doctor on call needs to be reminded to take the cord blood. I have to wear one and Steven has to wear one. Aren't we cool? Anyway, I feel good that it is ready to go and I know that's one less thing to worry about before Carter gets here.

1 down, 3 to go!

My shower was a blast! My aunts did a wonderful job. I only got 1 thing off of my registry (my high chair), but I will not need any more towels, washcloths, or onesies. I got some of the most adorable outfits I have ever seen!! I am also off to a good start on diapers and wipes. I got a couple duplicate outfits that I am going to take back and get diapers. I want to have a good supply before Carter gets here!

We had fun visiting family, too. While I was at my shower, Steven had a boy's day with his brothers. Yesterday, we took Bianca to my dad's to play with her mommy and daddy. They had a great time running around...and B is still tired from it today! Thank God!! I can finally relax! We also got the cage from my dad that was in his basement. He is done breeding boxers and offered it to us for B. She tears the house apart every time we leave her, but if we confine her to a room, she ruins things permanently...like the carpet in our bedroom that needs to be replaced. Every small cage we've gotten for her has turned out bad. She gets her paws or her face caught and ends up making herself bleed. This cage is different because it is bigger and she's been in it numerous times and has not hurt herself. This will be a life saver!!

So...as far as my future baby showers. The one in Ohio is going to be on September 6th. My mom is going to be on vacation from work and wants to make sure she can put it all together without her job interfering. The "Jack and Jill" shower that my mother-in-law is giving us is going to be on October 18th. She is inviting both sides of Steven's family...it is going to be huge. The one that my step-mom is giving me will be the following day...that way we only have to make 1 trip to NY. It will be crazy, but we are so excited!

OK, I'm off to rest after my long weekend. Our central air is being fixed today and I am looking to relax and not sweat for a change! I will post a few shower pics later.