35 weeks

I haven't been the best at posting pics of my growing belly. It's frankly getting a little too large to fit into the camera frame. But, for your viewing pleasure, here are the pics from 34 and 35 weeks respectively.





It's a good thing you can't see my feet because they've become quite the swollen mess these days. Good thing Robert loves me unconditionally because one look at my "Shrek feet" (as my friend Christina fondly dubbed her swollen preggers feet) is a crazy scary sight. Maybe it's the 99+ degree weather, or the fact that I now weigh a whopping 150 pounds (32 over pre-pregnancy weight), or maybe it's just that this is par for the course at 8 months pregnant. But there's one thing for sure, I'll definitely be glad to have my normal feet and body back in two to four weeks.

That's our new catch phrase now - "two to four weeks" - because we're on the official countdown. Basically, Trey could be here in as early as two weeks (if he comes on his own, aka I go into labor, anytime after 37 weeks) and no later than four weeks from now if we end up with an induction at 39 weeks.

I can definitely tell a big difference in my ability to handle pregnancy that came on somewhere in week 34/35. It's much harder to get though a work day these days. There seems to be a whole new level of fatigue that pretty much lasts 24 hours, and carrying him is honestly just harder - because let's face it, little buddy is heavy! The swelling of the feet doesn't help either - but it is a nice excuse to prop up your feet on the couch after a long day at the office. Again, this is probably all normal for this stage, but it did catch me by surprise how "useless" (My words, not Robert's) I became almost overnight. Good thing most of our baby prep is done because I don't think I'd have the energy to tackle it now.

Honestly, I'm just ready for him to be here. To meet our sweet little man, for sure, but also to finally not be pregnant any more. Which is a pretty amazing thing considering the concept of giving birth has been mostly freaking me out during the majority of the pregnancy. I think the swollen feet, fatigue, and other symptoms you have in the last weeks of pregnancy definitely get you ready to say, "Sure, I'll push that 7 plus pound baby out of my vagina. That's a completely rational idea, doc." Talk about an attitude transformation.

But funnies aside, we are mostly just so thankful that we continue to have good weekly reports from the doctor. I had my 35 week appointment yesterday and Trey continues to look great (kicking up a storm, good heart rate and breathing, etc.). I'm really not worried about him because of all the activity he always has. I feel him move so often. My amniotic fluid levels were good and so was my blood pressure. As I mentioned, a little swelling (really just in the feet - and more so the right foot than the left - which Robert's dad says is actually normal because of the way the uterus puts more pressure on your right artery; also, Trey is situated on my right side, still head down thankfully) started settling in last week and is pretty much here to stay, but it does go down, thankfully.

I have been staying active as much as possible. My sweet friend Katie Crawford (20 weeks pregnant with a baby girl!) is keeping me on the walking trail! We did 5 miles last Saturday which almost wiped me out but I'm determined to keep it up when I can. Haven't been as faithful this week since I've been fighting a cold and wasn't taking any meds until the doc yesterday said to go for it. It's so nice to now be able to breath!

We are actually feeling really good about being ready (as ready as you can be) for Trey. His nursery is complete aside from the rocker/ottoman, which we should be able to pick up this weekend. I need to do a couple more loads of laundry for him (new clothes from the baby showers), and Robert put his swing and bouncy seat together this week. We got the car seat and plan to give the cars a good clean this weekend so we can run by the Homewood fire station and have them install the car seat bases for us.

My other goal this weekend is to go ahead and pack our bags. It's probably time we had them ready to go by the door...just in case.

Ryan's Graduation

My baby brother Ryan graduated high school last week. I was nine was he was born and remember going to the OB appointment with my mom the day we found out he was a boy. It's amazing how time flies when the youngest - who happens to be the tallest - leaves the nest to take off for college. We are so proud of Ryan and the young man he has become and his heart for the Lord. He has lots to look forward to in Tuscaloosa for the next four years, and I know he'll be a great uncle to Trey. I remember when David graduated high school four years ago and I leaned over to Robert and said, "We'll probably have a baby by the time Ryan graduates."And low and behold we almost do!

Ryan's graduation, coupled with the fact of being (and feeling) every bit of 35 weeks pregnant, and that this week UA torn down the dorm I lived in my sophomore year of college, has me feeling a bit old these days.

Nothing like a graduation celebration dinner with the family at Stix to cheer you up. Turns out you get extra food for being pregnant if your Japanese chef is nice, so clearly we should have been hitting that place up for the past eight months.

Here's Ryan getting his diploma from his principal.

We always gave Ryan a hard time because Kyle and I both won the principal's award (or whatever they called it) at Clay-Chalkville our senior years (me mostly for being a nerd; Kyle mostly for being cool, nice, and useful and always helping the administrators with their technology problems). David was just always big man on campus who everyone loved, and so we always told Ryan he had a lot to live up to to uphold the family tradition of being tight with the administration. Turns out he and Mr. Laney are pretty tight. We may have won the award but Ryan somehow gets his principal to pick up his tab at Waffle House as a random act of kindness kinda thing. Go figure. Actually, I probably take a free meal at Waffle House over a dusty award mom has in the attic anyday, so maybe Ryan's on to something.

Here's "Sunshine" (as his friends have been calling him due to the long hair - a reference to that quarterback from California in the movie Remember the Titans) with mom and dad. He says he's keeping it long until his mission trip to Costa Rica this summer so he can get authentic dreds, then he's shaving it off.

And with David, Emily, and Big Mama (I swear Kyle was there - not sure where he was when we took the pic.)

Congrats, Midge! We're proud of you!