To Baby Kay,

I love you with all of my heart. I lay awake at night dreaming of finally being able to hold you in my arms.  I want to feel your skin and smell your smell. I want to hear you cry that first cry. I want to look in your eyes and take you in. You are my little angel, and I know that you will be a ray of light for our family. Before we have even met, I have loved you with every ounce of love I have to give.  As you continue to grow in my belly, I feel so blessed to know that I am keeping you safe and warm. I am so excited to introduce you to this world and to share experiences with you.

I know your daddy feels the same way. He thinks about you all the time. He talks to you everyday and kisses you and loves you. You should see the way he beams with pride when he talks about you. He has high hopes for you, his baby girl. He wants to give you the world, and I don't doubt that he will. He is an amazing husband and friend, and you are one lucky little lady to be able to call him daddy.

We are waiting patiently for you Baby Girl. I don't think I can wait much longer or my heart will explode. I wish I could take every day until you were born to concentrate only on you. I want to think about only you, love only you, talk to only you, but I can't. There are some things I still need to take care before you arrive, but I want you to know that I am counting down the days until we meet.

Love,
Mommy

35 Weeks

35 weeks pregnant, and I can finally say I feel pregnant all day every day! Up until now, I have had it easy. At times, I would forget that I was pregnant, but not anymore. Your typical pregnancy symptoms are creeping up on me and I think they are here to stay until the end. (you know... having trouble bending over and getting out of bed, constant need to pee, swollen ankles, cramping and stretching in my belly, and a few other unmentionables) 

This has been another hectic week. It has been so hectic and stressful that I took a half day off of work yesterday morning. I slept in a little bit and did some things I have been meaning to do before going to work in the afternoon. 

At 35 weeks, I ...

* had my first eventful Dr. appointment (well actually 34 weeks). On Tuesday evening, Dobbie and I went to the doctor after work. Our Dr. had trouble finding our sweet girl's heartbeat. I wasn't nervous, but I immediately started thinking "hmmm, when was the last time I felt her move?" After she found the heartbeat, it was really low. It was 120 and it has been in the 150s every other time. So, I was put on the baby monitor to monitor Baby Kay's heartbeat. We waited for about 30 minutes. I had to eat a lollipop and drink some water to give my little sweetness a sugar kick. After that, her heartbeat had a spike in acceleration and we were all good. It made us a little nervous because up until this point we have had no issues. 

My friend S and her husband had an appointment at the same time! They went back first. We were still waiting when they came out and off they went to the hospital. S had high blood pressure! They wanted to do some tests, etc. Everything turned out okay, but she is now out of work until little Baby A arrives! Good for you S! You deserve the time to relax and put your swollen feet up!  I know that baby girl will be here before we know it! I cannot wait! The whole thing made me realize that things are starting to happen and Dobbie and I better dedicate this weekend to getting our ducks in a row. We need to put away and organize baby things, do more laundry, and pack a hospital bag. 5 weeks is no time at all! 

* had a baby shower at work from all of my wonderful friends and co-workers! On Tuesday morning (again 34 weeks), we had breakfast, cake, and I was given all kinds of wonderful goodies and a generous gift card for the baby. Thank you so much Tatem family for your generosity! Baby Kay is one loved little girl already! I had to share one little gift that was in one of the gift bags...

I want a pair of these in my size! How adorable? These are perfect for a photo shoot!

* find myself day dreaming about what this little girl will be like. What will she look like? When will she smile? When will she roll over?  I am so interested to learn her personality. What will she like? Will she be curious and carefree or cautious and careful? Will she play sports like her mommy (fingers crossed) and daddy or will she be more artsy and creative? Will she be kind and loving? One thing is for sure...she will know what love is. She is so loved already and I cannot imagine how we will feel when she gets here.

* look like this.

* am looking forward to being home with my baby girl wearing sweatpants everyday. I dislike maternity clothes! They are not flattering and I feel like I wear the same outfit everyday! 

* am looking forward to getting our maternity photos done this weekend! Dobbie and I are getting pictures done by Allyson Crozier and I need some ideas. Anyone have any good ideas? My friend S had her pictures done last weekend and they turned out beautiful! It is so special to document this time (you know, other than shots in my bathroom mirror with my head cut off). Leave me a comment if you have a good idea for some maternity shots! 

* am starting to stress about Halloween. What am I going to be for Halloween at 37 weeks pregnant? I normally would not dress up, but I teach first grade! I need a costume! Maybe I could stop working before then... a girl can dream right?

34 Weeks

Week 34 of pregnancy was a tough one. The crazed days of work and life are saying go, go, go, but my body is finally starting to say "no thank you." This week was extremely tiring as I prepared for my first observation of the school year. One down ... three more to go! Mostly, I have cleaning, organizing, and nesting on my mind and I have NO time to do anything! I have this overwhelming urge to move furniture, shampoo carpets, clean windows and curtains, organize drawers. I even have the strongest desire to power wash the sidewalk in front of the house. I wish I had a week off of work to do all of these things, but I guess they will have to wait.  Thank goodness for Dobbie because he takes care of all of the everyday things. If it weren't for him, we would have no clean laundry and no clean dishes.

At 34 weeks, I ...

* have had the worst swollen ankles after working all day. They look like they did back in college after one of my many ankle sprains.

Cankles at their finest! Rosie O'Donnell called ... she wants her ankles back. I can barely see my feet past my belly, and when I got my first glance, they looked like two Christmas hams. To my poor ankles ... I'll be seeing you in 5 weeks. Hang in there.

* have started to feel a few cramps in my belly. I was wondering if I felt my first Braxton Hicks contractions, but I really think it is just Baby Kay growing and expanding. She is so high that she is really kicking and punching me high in my ribs. 

* am feeling really fatigued. My body is carrying around all of this extra weight, and it is not happy. At the same time, I am having trouble getting comfortable sleeping at night. So I am sleepy and not getting good rest. 

* LOVE this baby girl so much. I am really starting to get to know her. It is funny because her movements are so pronounced that it is like she is mad in there. She rolls around in there and stretches out, and then BAM...she slams me and my whole stomach moves.  I love touching the outside of my belly and feeling her.

* did her first load of laundry this weekend. Dobbie and I washed all of her 0-3 month clothes and pjs. You should have seen the lint when we were done...it was ALL PINK! We washed a few of her 3-6 outfits too. I can't wait to put her little clothes away and organize all of her things. We were going to do it  this weekend, but the weather was beautiful. Dobbie, Lexi, and I went to an apple festival in Medford and the dog park instead. It was such a wonderful weekend, and Dobbie and I only have a few more before our lives are changed forever and for the better.

* bought orange juice with an expiration date of November 18th! I will be a mommy before I have to throw away the oj! That is insane. It really hit us that she will be here in no time. With that being said, this coming weekend will be all about baby! 

Here's to another healthy week of pregnancy. I hope my friends that are new momma's to be are feeling great and enjoying every second! 

A Love Like Theirs...

Started from the beginning and only grew with time. 

It paved a road to happiness for everyone lucky enough to be a part of their lives.

It inspires others with overwhelming love, respect, understanding, and sacrifice. 

It has taught me life's greatest lessons about trust and commitment.

It has created treasured memories that I hold dear to my heart.

It is something that I strive for in my own life.

I love these two people with my whole heart.

And I want to wish them a Happy 33rd Anniversary. I want to thank you for giving me a loving, happy home. I will never understand how you managed (and still manage) to be the greatest parents while taking care of each other, but you did it! Here's to another 33 years! Congratulations and I love you!  

The Aftermath

The Aftermath. There is evidence all around my house of a great time had by all.  My house has been taken over by presents, toys, and baby clothes galore! Our recycling is overflowing with huge cardboard boxes of new swings, strollers, baby bouncers, and car seats! Our trash is at the brim with bows, cellophane, tissue paper, and bags! We can't walk around the house ... now we have to "drive" in our new rides to get around all of the stuff that will soon be Baby Kay's.

Our new rides! How lucky are we?!?! Our City Mini & BOB

Saturday was extremely special. My family and friends helped me celebrate Baby Kay, and I was given a shower that was just perfect. I want to start by saying how truly grateful I am to my mom. She is the most wonderful, caring, and giving mommy in the world, and if I could mean half of what she means to me to this baby, I will be doing something right. Thank you mom for throwing me the most beautiful shower on earth. Everyone had a wonderful time and everything was just perfect!  Thank you for always being there for me as I know you will be when this babe comes into the world.

I really want to thank all of my friends and family for being there for me. It was so nice to see everyone and I loved sharing this day with you. Thank you Tracy for putting up with me! The cake was beautiful and delicious! In fact, I finished it off tonight ;) 

A Gift from Above... A Baby Girl to Love

Even Dobbie got involved in the action. He went to the restaurant early to set up flowers that he bought for me with a special card. It was the such a thoughtful thing, but I am not surprised because Dobbie is the most thoughtful person I know. He always goes out of his way to make me feel special, and I truly felt special on Saturday. Baby Kay is only lucky little lady to be so loved already and to have a Daddy like that!

Look at the ribbon with tiny footprints! Thank you so much Dobbie. They were beautiful and unexpected! 

The shower was beautiful. I was overwhelmed at all of the gifts and love! 

The food was amazing and the restaurant was beautiful. I wish I had my camera because the room was decorated with vines and lights on the ceiling. It was a perfect venue for a baby shower.

How can you truly thank the most important people in your life for being there for you? How can you truly express how grateful you are to your friends and family? I feel like I will never be able to truly thank everyone in my life for sharing in the big moments. I understand the hectic schedule of life. I had friends drive for hours to be there. I had friends get off of planes after being away from home show up. I had friends with families and commitments of their own choose to be there.  

Saturday was one of those days when you feel like you will never be able to repay the thoughtfulness and love that you were shown. Thank you everyone for sharing this special day with me. I cannot wait to introduce everyone to our baby girl, and for you all to be a part of her life! 

33 weeks (and a half)

I made it to 33 weeks and it seems like time is speeding up instead of slowing down! I am not ready. I am not ready. I am not ready. I just clicked my heels 3 times, but nothing happened so I better get a move on. It is such a blessing to be 33 weeks pregnant with a healthy, growing babe! I am a little shocked at how smooth and easy this pregnancy has been. However, the last two weeks have been a little tough because work is kicking my rear end! 19 first graders can be needy & I need to put on a performance everyday. It is exhausting!

At 33 (and a half) weeks, I ...

* am looking large and in charge! My belly is fully popped and it is almost at capacity. With 7 weeks to go, I am not sure what is going to happen, but I imagine whatever it is, it will not be that comfortable. Oh, and my poor belly button is being stretched to the limit. It is sore, but it still hasn't popped out yet! See for yourself...

* am apparently carrying extremely high! Everyone was amazed at how high my basketball belly was at the shower on Saturday. 

* have stopped feeling our baby girl kick as much. Now, it feels like she is struggling to stretch out and get comfortable. She must feel like her momma. All of a sudden, I will feel a huge hard spot on my belly up by my ribs, like she is trying to break free! I rub the spot and tell her to back off because she has some more waiting to do.

* have been told by both of my doctors that her head is down! I love feeling her little butt stick out on the right side! I love that little rump, and I am sure I will continue to love the rump when I am wiping it and changing diapers non-stop! 

* am feeling very emotional these days. I can cry very easily. I am not sure if it is because of how exhausted I am after a month of non-stop work and play or because of my raging hormones. I would say a combination of both. I am happy to have this coming weekend to myself to prepare all of Baby Kay's things in her room. 

* I CANNOT wait to get her things put away and organized! I am feeling the overwhelming urge to organize and clean, and I have not had any time to do it! It is stressing me out big time! I am so excited for this weekend! Dobbie has already set up her things from the shower, and now I can't wait to spend time putting it away and washing clothes and filling her beautiful new dressers. Oh, and a stop or two to pick up a few last minute things like bottles, lamps, and odds & ends.

* am loving my girl's new onesie! Too bad Lexi doesn't feel the same way! Lexi actually got sick and puked again today. What is wrong with our little doodlebug? She is having so much anxiety and her sister isn't even here yet! I had this made for her at a boutique. I LOVE it! 

Is this the cutest onesie you have ever seen?

* just started feeling tons of pressure in my belly. When I go up the stairs or why I sit down, I feel a lot of pressure. When I lay down at night, I can't get comfortable. I am starting to not be able to sleep because it feels like I am laying on her (even when I lay on my side). 

* can't wait to eat sushi, hoagies, blue cheese galore! I can't wait to have a glass of wine if I want ... heck with the wine...I want to drink 10 ice teas in one day! 

* ugh! I didn't want to say it, but I gained 32 pounds already :(  

Here's to another week of pregnancy! I am grateful to feel great and still be working!

A New Month...

As a crazy September finally left us, I haven't had a chance to blog. Life seems to be moving at full speed and I want it to slow down so I can enjoy the end of my pregnancy and focus on prepping for this baby. At night, I am too exhausted to blog especially this past week.

Things at work are busy!

Along with work, we had a doctor appointment on Monday night, birthday dinner for my brother on Tuesday, some cleaning up and food shopping on Wednesday, Back to School night Thursday! Busy week and I was exhausted on Friday night. BUT IT DIDN'T MATTER!

I was so excited because my family was throwing a baby shower for me this weekend! My friend Claire was on her way from Syracuse to spend the night and help us celebrate our special day!!! Once she arrived, we went to dinner for Mexican!!! We love Mexican!

Saturday was such a wonderful day! The shower was beautiful and I had an amazing time! I cannot thank everyone enough for everything.  Can you believe I didn't take any pictures? I am so grateful for my friend A because she was able to document the day with beautiful pictures. Please visit her blog here. She wrote such a sweet post of the day.

As I get some pictures sent to me from friends, I will be sure to post them! Stay tuned for more about the shower, being 33 weeks pregnant, and my hopes for October! I have a lovely Sunday planned and blogging is numero uno on my list (after a quick trip to BuyBuy baby)!