My sweet 1 month old!

Wow...one whole month has already passed us by...in that one month a lot has happened! We had lots of waiting, a few (ok maybe a lot) of tears, but in the end it was all worth it to get this precious bundle of joy!

You were determined to make us wait as long as possible so we had to come and get you!

Our first family photo

And from this moment I was head over heels in LOVE!

What's not to love about this sweet lil' face, you have your daddy's dimples! One on your right cheek and the most noticeable one on your chin!

I live for sweet moments like this

And fall in love all over again with the both of you when I see sweet moments like this

You experienced your first holiday at just 6 days old

You have your moments of being wide awake and alert

Then sweet sleeping moments where you make the sweetest sounds

But there's also bad days...

And some tummy time

But you constanstly tell mommy to stop taking photos of you, or just give me the back of your head!

Your umbilical cord finally fell off and we were able to give you your first bath, you didn't know what to think about it at first but you didn't mind it

You love to smile at daddy while we're making fools of ourselves to get you to smile for pictures

But I just love mornings when you are having some sweet dreams and just can't get enough pictures of you

You have good hair days (thanks to daddy!)

But you have certainly had your share of bad hair days!

You've visited the sheriff's department to say hey to your Uncle Trey

So HAPPY 1 MONTH my sweet lil' monkey, Mommy and daddy love you oh so much!!

I can certainly say that having a child has been one of the most challenging things that Jason and I have ever done, but it's the most rewarding thing as well. Each and every day when we see our sweet lil' boy smile at us is what keeps us going. The long, sleepless nights are not so bad when you get to see a big beautiful smile every morning. I've enjoyed every moment of every day over the past month and look forward to so many more. Everyone tells you what to expect, but it's not really understandable until you have your sweet bundle of joy here with you and you get to experience everything on your own!

I can't thank family and friends enough for all that they have done and will continue to do, but mainly I want to thank my sweet husband for all he's done. He's been there for me over the past month and done things for me and there aren't enough words to express to him how appreciative I am for it all. From diapers and burping to dishes and cleaning or even just allowing me to have some "me" time each and every day; he's been there to do it all! I don't know what I'll do when he goes back to work in a couple of weeks, but know that he's been so helpful over the past month.

Whew...well, 1 month down, only 18 more years to go huh?! :)

Look ma' BIG boy shoes!

We started putting Hudson is some shoes before his boats get too big to fit in them...they are so big still on him though!!

Yea, just chillin'

I'm just so dirty I can't stand it anymore!

Since all the pieces of the umbilical cord finally fell off we are finally able to give Hudson a real bath...

I say he was saying "I'm just so dirty, give me a bath!" in this photo.

He did not like it at first, he was very upset

But soon warmed up to the idea...yes I am in the tub with him

And finally done...

It was a success, he only screamed at the very beginning, making me think that I had made the water too hot or too cold, but the thermometer in the tub said it was just right and once he realized what we were doing he calmed down. It also helped that he was hungry, he ate then went right to sleep after this, so maybe a bath at bedtime every night!!!

3 weeks old

Oh my sweet lil' monkey, you are growing like a weed these days! You eat non-stop, which is good for milk production but very confusing for mommy and daddy because we just don't know where you are holding all that milk?! :) You are sleeping (and letting mommy and daddy sleep) for the most part through the night. We feed you around 9:00pm and you sometimes go down right after but usually by the time the news is on you are asleep and will sleep to anywhere between 1:00am and 3:00am, just depends on how messy your diaper is :) then you let mommy and daddy sleep until your 6:00am feeding, mommy usually lets daddy sleep in until your 9:00am feeding though. You are getting better at sleeping during the day between feedings and not being too fussy but you do still have you occasional "fussy moments" here or there, for this we have enlisted the help of pediatrician recommended Gripe Water, and it works wonders! You still get the hiccups all the time, usually after your feedings but you are dealing with them better. You still have some trouble with spitting up and choking while eating but learning to deal with that as well. Daddy has a really good way of calming you down when you are fussy, I guess it's cuz you know you aren't getting any food from him if you cry??? You are starting to show more emotions on your face, smiling a lot more, grimacing while making prizes for mommy and daddy, raising your eyebrows at different voices and starting to coo. I love watching you while you sleep, you make all these faces and all sorts of sweet noises that make mommyhood so worth it! You are starting to get a little too big for some outfits, i.e. below, but still too small to fit into the "0-3 Month" outfits that we have. You have just about a handful of onesies that we put you in all the time, people probably think you don't have any clothes, it's not that, you have tons, you just can't wear them yet!!! However, you are eating more and more with each passing day so I have a feeling you will be in those outfits before too much longer!

My sweet boys!

A night alone!!!

Today was an exciting day, we had our first adventure out of the house and took Hudson to lunch with some friends. We got Hudson all dressed up in his Aggie onesie and then he slept the entire time we were there! Oh well, it was a pretty calm afternoon then Jason was gone that evening. He signed up to work at a Chamber event last night so that left me home alone for about 8 hours with Hudson for the first time! Can you say AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!?! Everything was fine though, a friend brought me some movies, my mom brought us dinner (and allowed me to take a shower) but in the end Hudson went down right after his last feeding and was out cold so I really didn't have to worry about much! Woo-hoo this mommy business is getting a little easier...I think!

My chunky monkey!

Well we went to the doctor today for Hudson's two-week check-up, yea a few days late but we insisted on seeing his pediatrician this time so we had to wait. Well, his weigh-in was 8lbs 6oz!!! That's 1lb 2oz in a week!!! Holy cow, he's going to be my chunky monkey afterall! That's ok though, check out those chubby cheeks...I just can't get enough of them!!

Doctor says you are doing good though, nursing good and putting on weight so that's a plus! Umbilical cord is still on so the doctor put some meds on it to dry it up and says it should be off soon, they drew some blood from your lil' foot too, I think mommy had a harder time with it than you did! I don't know how I will handle your 8 week shots!!! All-in-all you got a good bill of health and we are scheduled to come back in 6 weeks. 

2 weeks old

Another onesie from your Aunt Jaclyn (that we also thought was going to be too small!)

My oh my where has the past 2 weeks gone?!?! You are starting to let mommy and daddy sleep through the night some, we had our first few nights of 4 1/2 hour "naps" at night time...we are loving it! You are very colicky these days, makes for a stressed out mommy and daddy but we are learning to deal with it more and more with each day that passes. You are eating well, starting to fill out more and more throughout your little body. I'm sure at the doctor this week you will have packed on some pounds! You are getting better at not spitting up so much, although mommy and daddy still have to learn to hold you upright after you nurse or you will spit up! We have just about gone through all the newborn diapers we had, and we didn't even think we were going to need newborn diapers and here you have gone through them all! You have now spit-up, pooped and peed on mommy and I love every minute of it! You sneeze a lot and it scares Dixie, our dog and you get the hiccups all the time! You have a hard time burping, we are giving you Mylacon to try to help with it but you just can't seem to get those bubbles out of your belly at times. All in all, it's been an ok second week, mommy and daddy are learning more and more with each passing day but we are loving every minute that we have with you now!

I love moments like this!

Jason caught this sweet moment...just melts my heart!

And this one later one...

Yes if you notice, he does have two different onesies on...Hudson hasn't learned yet about his refluxes so we change outfits quite often throughout the day! :)

1 week old

We had our first doctor visit this afternoon, Hudson is putting weight back on, he now weighs 7lbs 4oz, almost back at our birth weight!! He doing good though, doctor says he's looking good so back home and we'll be back next week for our 2 week check-up.

How can you not just fall in love with this lil' guy?!?!

So what has happened in one week. Well, we came home just 4 days ago so not too terribly much has happened. You still have your days and nights mixed up, but I don't mind. You sleep well in your swing, and that makes me very happy!!! Me and daddy are happy to be home, but we got spoiled while in the hospital with all the nice nurses taking care of us. I can't look at you enough, I can't hold you enough, I just can't get enough of you! I never really believed in "love at first sight" until I saw your sweet face just one week ago. I cry when you cry, I smile when you smile, I just love you so much. Daddy is so proud, I love seeing him interact with you; changing diapers, trying to console you when you are upset, everything about him as a father just makes me love him that much more. You are feeding well obviously since you are putting weight on, but just not very long. You nurse about every 3 hours, sometimes more and sometimes less, it really just depends on the day. You have a little problem with spitting up, some days it's really bad and we change you about 10 times, others you are ok and we only have to change you maybe once. Each and every day with you is different and so much more fun than the day before. If the next 7 weeks are as fun as this past week has been, I don't know how I will ever go back to work!

Our first holiday!!

Well, Happy 4th of July EVERYONE!!! It was a pretty uneventful day in the Casa de James. We went to my parent's house for lunch and lots of photos of the families. It turned out to be a pretty fun day though.

It's a little grainy but you get the picture

Hudson got to wear a onesie his Aunt Jaclyn got for him, that we actually thought was going to be too small for him! Who'd thought he'd be so small!?!? No fireworks this year for our lil' man but maybe at New Year's he can see some. We did watch the firework show in New York on TV tonight, it just about brought tears to my eyes remember 3 years ago when Jason proposed to me under the Statue of Liberty just before the fireworks in the Hudson...where my sweet monkey got his name from :)

Our family photo :)

The Oldham familia

The James family

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

Fun times in the hospital

So because I had surgery I was kept at the hospital all week long. You know, in the beginning, I remember thinking "I'm going to stay in the hospital as long as I possibly can!" Well after the third day I was done! I spent 5 days in the hospital and was so ready to come home! We had lots of visitors but when you are confined to the hospital bed for 2 days it makes your time there really boring!!! Thank goodness for my mom's laptop and all the friends and family members that came to visit us all the time. Hudson even had the chief of police come to visit him in the hospital, actually lots of officers came, we were the talk of the hospital, everyone wondering why all the cops are coming up to the hospital. It was a good laugh for us. The days really are a blur, I couldn't tell you what day was what while we were there. During days we kept Hudson in our room, at night time we sent him to the nursery in between feedings so we could get some rest, the papmering was quite nice!! We had some awesome nurses too, at the push of a button they were at my beck and call with whatever I needed or wanted. My first night after he was born, my night nurse finally was able to sneak me some broth, it was the best damn broth I have ever tasted!!! The next day my nurse was able to get me on solid foods by lunch time and ordered me a grilled chicken sandwich and it was sure yummy! Friday finally came and we knew that we were going to be able to go home! I couldn't wait. I was ready to go around 9am, my nurse informed me that discharges usually took place between the hours of 10:00am and 1:00pm so I knew I would be home by lunch or shortly after...well we came marching in around 4:00pm. Lots of babies were being born and things just got really hectic at the hospital and unfortunately we were the ones that took second chair to it all. Hudson was so tiny, the newborn outfit we took just swallowed him, I know they grow up so fast but oh my he was so tiny! He looks so small in his car seat, I was scared the whole drive home that something would happen to him in that car seat because it seemed so big for him but the nurses assured me that everything was fine with him and even though he was tiny, he would be ok.

All 6 pounds 13 ounces of him...so tiny in that car seat!

So excited to be heading home!!

He wasn't as thrilled as we were about being home...he was hungry!



We are glad to be home now, we know the first few days will be filled with visitors but Jason and I are just ready to be parents to our sweet lil' not-so-chunky monkey. Our first real test is going to be this evening, our first night with him...can't call the nursery tonight to send him off once we are done feeding...EEEK!

Hudson Alexander James

Well, it's a good thing that I got everything in the nursery finished over the weekend because he's here! We went in for a check up yesterday and by the end of the "check-up" we were making our plans for checking in to the hospital that evening. WHOA! I had her repeat...baby wasn't progressing as she would have liked for him to, my body was not preparing the way it should have been and I'm now 4 days past my due date. Her final words were "either way you'll have a baby by tomorrow!" Ok...so take some deep breaths, it's ok, we've been preparing for this for 9 months, it's finally happening so it's ok right...WRONG! We both felt like we have a million and one things left to do, afterall, today is our last day we have to ourselves, after today, we will have a child to consider before we do anything at all...AHHHHHHH! Ok, so Jason and I left and went to tell our parents that by tomorrow's end they will be grandparents, then had a quick bite to eat and then it was back to work for me. I finish a few things then I had to take off and head home, I just knew there was something I forgot to pack or clean or finish around the house. I guess you could say I had some "doctor-induced nesting" that was going on.

We went to an early dinner with our families, I guess celebrating the arrival of our little bundle, my nerves were all out of whack though! I was contracting but also just butterfly-bellied, scared but excited...it was the craziest thing I have ever felt. Jason and I went home to finish some things, loaded up the car then proceeded to contact the hospital. Our doctor said to call first, just in case they were busy, which they were...we called at 8:00pm and were told to call back at 9:00pm. At 9:00pm we were told they would call us when a bed became available and what was the latest we would be willing to come up there. My only response to that was "well there's a reason why my doctor insisted that this begin tonight so I guess there is no limit to how late," but oh the waiting game!!! We finally did get a call around 10:00pm (I found out after the fact that my doctor had called up there and had asked what the heck was taking them so long!) and it was off to the hospital we go. They weren't lying, it was a mad-house there! Medical emergencies and babies galore, you take your pick and they were everywhere! We get checked in and I get all hooked up to everything, it was kinda scary, this was my first time to ever be admitted into the hospital. Around 11:30pm I get a pill called Cytotec and was told to get some rest, they would be back to check on me around 2:00am. They gave me some medicine to help me sleep and it did work, at 2:00am they checked me and my body was reacting to the pill as it should so they let me sleep until 4:00am at which time they planned on starting Pitocin, a drug used to induce labor. 4:20am I was getting my first dose of Pitocin, and by 5:00am I was in labor...let me tell you about this little drug called Pitocin, IT DON'T MESS AROUND! Around 7:00am my doctor came to check on me and shortly there after she broke my water for me, what little I had.

I guess let me back-track a little, last week when we went in for our 40-week check-up my doctor noticed that my body was not producing much amniotic fluid anymore, and that the lining of my placenta was beginning to break down. She said it's nothing to be too concerned about at that time but when we went in on Monday she noticed that there was even less amniotic fluid so that concerned her. She said basically my body was beginning to shut down like it was about 41-42 weeks pregnant and I was only 40-41 weeks pregnant. So this is why she insisted on the inducing, even though she knew it wasn't what I had wanted, I had told her from the very beginning, "this is what I want, if you think that anywhere along the way we need to do something different then just be upfront and honest about it" and I completely trust her opinion.

So, she breaks my water and I was told things should move very quickly from here on out. Well...the only thing that moved very quickly were the contractions. They started out fairly mild, then mild went to OMG really quick. I had my support system there, Katie was awesome, kept constantly reminding me how awesome I was and how proud of me she was. Jason, oh sweet Jason, I held his hand some tight and wrapped my arms around him so tightly at times, I know he had to wonder where the strength came from at times but he was amazing. However, even with the support of them, I wasn't getting a break from the strength and quickness of the contractions and by lunch time I had had enough. I tried my hardest to get the all-natural birth I had always wanted but with the amount of Pitocin they were giving me and the strength of those contractions, it just wasn't possible. By noon I had my epidural and was sleeping and feeling much better. Shortly after lunch my doctor came to check on me and said I had made some progress, she said she had patients to tend to from 2:00pm-4:00pm and would be back around 4:30-5:00ish to check on me. You could imagine my surprise when she walked in around 3:45pm. I could hear her talking to the nurse, saying things like "this isn't good," or "this isn't what I wanted to see" so I knew something was up. Of course I'm as calm as can be with the epidural but still could feel my heart start to race, especially when she began asking where Jason was at. He had stepped out for a moment and she wanted him back.

So...it started off pretty simple, but she explained that the baby was beginning to struggle during contractions. Basically he wasn't breathing properly during contractions and was trying to over-compensate after, his baseline heartrate was beginning to rise and it was concerning her. She said we could monitor him and keep it going for a couple of more hours if we liked, or we could end it right then and there. I probably shouldn't have just made the decision without talking to Jason first, but I did. At that moment, I think the only thing I really heard was her concern for the baby and the oxygen levels she was seeing. In my mind, there wasn't really time or a need for discussion, just a decision that needed to be made. Jason is great and keeps telling me that it was my decision to make and no one else could have made it for me, but I do see after the fact that maybe I should have asked everyone to step out so I could talk it all over with him. Anywho, so they ordered the c-section and everything from that moment on was really a blur. I remember my sweet doctor apologizing over and over again because she knew it wasn't the delivery that I had wanted, but I just kept saying it's ok because in the end the health and safety of the baby was all that really mattered to me. Everyone stepped out and gave Jason and me some time, really just some time for me to ball my eyes out. Jason was great during it all, I don't know that I could have asked for a better partner in life to be there for me during this all. It was hard, because on one hand you're dealing with the emotions of everything that everyone had just told you, but on the other hand you are worried about the health and safety of your child. All things aside, I'm glad I made the decision I did. No one made it for me, no one had to talk me into or out of something, it was a decision I made and looking back I'd do it again a hundred times over to get the same result.

I remember everyone coming back in, Katie, Jason (he had to run to inform the parents on what's going on) my doctor, my nurse, other nurses, the anesthesiologist, and my brother. My sweet brother, I didn't want my mom, I knew she'd start crying and I'd be even worse, I didn't want my dad to see me like that, so my brother was my request. In all my times that something horrible has happened in my life, I can always remember my brother being there to bring a smile to my face. He walked in and immediately made me smile asking "you ain't had that baby yet!?" I was rushed off to the operating room; Jason, Katie and Trey were all taken to my post-op room to wait. You know, in all this, the funniest thing I can remember (even though I was still balling my eyes out at this point) was going into the operating room and my gown being raised up to my chest where the sheet was and I can remember sitting there...for at least 10 minutes with all my business laying out and nothing being done...just me, hanging out there. There had to be at least 10 nurses or other staff in that room at that time, you wanna talk about a time when you put all your pride aside...well that was my time! Anywho, they prep me and at the last possible moment they bring Jason in. I remember a lot of pressure, my body was moving around but it was really funny to feel your body move like that and wiggle around but you really can't do anything about it. Anyway, it didn't last long, because next thing I know I can hear everyone talking to my son, saying his name, then the cry...oh that sweet cry. In that moment, anything and everything that had happened and mattered that day didn't seem to really bother me anymore! I had a beautiful, healthy, baby boy.

So everyone, it is my pleasure to introduce to you:
HUDSON ALEXANDER JAMES
Born June 28th @ 4:54pm
Weighing 7 pounds, 8 ounces
Measuring 20 inches long

I'm a little puffy-eyed...

Here's a happy moment :-D

Most of the photos I have of him he's a little lacking in the clothing department. From here, Hudson was sent to the nursery, with Jason, for measuring and checking on everything with him; I was sent to post-op to just wait...I think I sat there for about an hour and half before they sent me to a room. I do remember Jason coming back in for a moment to let us know that Hudson had been measured, he asked for guesses...of course they were the 8+ pounds...Jason said "7 pounds, 8 ounces" and my response was "are you sure they measured the right baby?" We had planned all along for an 8+ pound baby, where the heck did this lil' 7 pound cutie come from?!?!

I was finally able to see Hudson around 8ish so I could begin nursing him. The families were all there, it was very hectic and I don't remember much, just that it was a crazy night and I was STARVING!!! Since I had surgery, I was strictly limited to a liquid diet, that can't begin until morning...ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!! It is going to be a long night...

Nursery is complete!!!

I finally finished everything in the nursery and it's lookin' pretty awesome, if I may say so myself!!! :)

So here's your notice Baby James...we are ready for you, so please COME ON OUT!!!

40 weeks...YAY!!!

The time has finally come! Technically my due date is tomorrow but all these crazy calendars say it's today...but hopefully we will have a baby soon! I really can't believe that the time has already passed by so quickly. I can remember October 12th and then October 15th, taking those two pregnancy tests; November 19th, hearing the heartbeat for the first time; then February 2nd, finding out we were having a precious baby boy; and now here we are, June 23rd, and we are just waiting on him to make his arrival. I told my mom the other day, as a little girl you always dream of growing up and having the princess wedding and then becoming a mom, I can't believe that all my dreams are coming true. I got my princess wedding to my hero, best friend and prince charming (yes you are all those things sweetie!), now I'm becoming a mother. It's truly a humbling experience to know that all these dreams of mine are coming true.

 

I am sooooooo super excited!

PREGNANCY AT A GLANCE

How far along? 40 weeks - stick a fork in me, I'M DONE!

Baby's size? Well, we will find out today, going to the doctor this afternoon!!! (Hoping and praying for an "average-sized" baby!)

Gender? Better still be my lil' man!!!

Weight gain? Too much to even count anymore, but it's always been a healthy weight gain

Maternity clothes? I have my one or two favorite things to wear

Stretch marks? They are everywhere!!! If you look closely in the photo above you can see some of them

Belly button in or out? Still barely in, depending on where he's sitting

Sleeping? Oh that sweet sweet thing I used to know so well...

Foods I'm loving? Oh I am a bottomless pit these days, I don't eat much at every meal but I eat all day and night at times!!!

Foods I'm hating? Doesn't really happen

Best moment this week? I finally finished baby's nursery letters, now just need to hang them!

What I'm looking forward to? Having some time off, I know it will be consumed with baby stuff but just to be able to not have to get up and get ready for work will be a nice change of pace for me

What I miss? Normalcy

Symptoms? Still about the same, very moody and irritable, sensitive to just about anything someone says, HATE being touched right now because I just feel so large - period, HATE being asked "what are you still doing at work?" or "how are you feeling today?" - I feel PREGNANT!, not able to eat much at every meal - I usually stuff myself to a point that I'm miserable, sleeping is incredibly difficult, everything aches really bad, swelling is getting really bad, hands are going numb randomly while I'm trying to do things...did I mention moody and irritable?! :)

Milestones? Got the kitchen re-arranged and baby items are all washed and in place

Emotions & Moods? Really bad right now, see above "Symptoms"

Room is almost fully decorated!!

I decided to paint some letters for chunky monkey's nursery...I don't know what the heck I was thinking! They took me forever to finish but over the weekend I finally finished them! They are pretty darn cute, but my goodness, Baby #2 will get some made by someone else because these were hard to do. With my hands swelling so much I couldn't do too much without then going numb so I kept having to stop after each and every brush stroke!

My daddy is going to seal them then I can hang them along with other pictures...then the nursery will really be complete!

39 weeks, just counting down the days...

Well, we are just taking it day by day at this point...can't believe it's time for Jason and I to meet this chunky monkey!

PREGNANCY AT A GLANCE

How far along? 39 weeks

Baby's size? Well, we went to the doctor this week and didn't see our normal doctor, so this one felt around and said he felt small...so of course this brought a HUGE smile to my face, we will go back this week and find out some more hopefully

Gender? Still momma's boy!

Weight gain? Well, I actually managed to lose a lb according to the doctor's office this week...

Maternity clothes? Still fitting funny...and tight in areas

Stretch marks? Starting to appear all around my belly button now too

Belly button in or out? In, but at times can be seen sticking out...I had someone point it out for me

Sleeping? The couch has been my best friend for over a month now...I can't wait to be back in my own bed

Foods I'm loving? Anything I can get my hands on...I constantly have the munchies!

Foods I'm hating? Not happening at this point

Best moment this week? I got a couple of new gifts from sweet friends, I love coming home to boxes at the front door! It's like when we got married...only better because the baby stuff is just so dang CUTE!!!

What I'm looking forward to? Just spending time with my chunky monkey

What I miss? Normalcy

Symptoms? Lots of stuff, very moody and irritable, sensitive to just about anything someone says, HATE being touched right now because I just feel so large - period, not able to eat much at every meal - I usually stuff myself to a point that I'm miserable, sleeping is incredibly difficult, everything aches really bad, swelling is getting really bad

Milestones? Nothing really coming to mind

Emotions & Moods? Really bad right now, see above "Symptoms"

38 weeks...I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! :)

Well, it's crazy to think that this pregnancy is coming to an end soon. It's really amazing how fast the time flies by. I feel like it was just yesterday that I took a test and now we are getting ready for the baby to arrive! Where has the 9 months gone?! :)  We did go to the doctor yesterday, he's measuring in the 70th percentile...that's the large end of "normal" but she said she can feel that's he a large baby. Of course this is a little scary but my lil' angel is going to come into this world just as God sees fit for him, and if that's weighing 10lbs then so be it! She assures me that he's not coming early, he has begun to drop, she can feel that the baby is not as high up, but his head has not begun to descend yet and I've not begun to dialate so she says to just sit back and enjoy the ride.

It's kinda dark but you get the picture...he's HUGE!

PREGNANCY AT A GLANCE

How far along? 38 weeks

Baby's size? I guessed right last week, he was measuring about 7lbs on Friday...so probably close to 7 1/4 or 7 1/2 lbs - yes he's going to be big...has his daddy to thank for that :)

Gender? Still XY according to the ultrasound...there's something between those legs!

Weight gain? I'm putting on more and more weight here towards the end, I constantly have to remove food from in front of me...I just can't stop eating!

Maternity clothes? Are starting to fit differently...I guess because he's shifting so it makes things fit different.

Stretch marks? Still just have the ones on the underside of my belly

Belly button in or out? Still in, but at times it half-way sticks out if he's pushing out

Sleeping? Yea, that's pretty much not happening these days...hubby is a little frustrated because I can't get comfy so he can't sleep

Foods I'm loving? Again...I can't stop eating these days so just put anything in front of me and I'm going to inhale it

Foods I'm hating? Is that really possibly right now?!?!

Best moment this week? This past weekend I had another shower and we got some really neat things

What I'm looking forward to? Meeting my chunky monkey!

What I miss? My ankles...

Symptoms? Zantac has really helped the heartburn, swelling is getting really bad in my feet and my hands, I wake up and the aches and pains are making it harder and harder to get out of bed (or the couch)

Milestones? Nursery done, car seats installed, bags are all packed - we just need a baby!

Emotions & Moods? Emotions are up and down now...

Baby shower #2

So I cut this one a little close, but it was earlier in the day so I got to rest after it. I had a second shower thrown by some relatives and dear family friends. Just as amazing as shower #1 and just as many cute gifts for baby James. I can't wait until he's here to tell him about all the sweet friends and family that he has that showered him with love before he was here!!

 Getting my "keys" put on

Awesome spread of goodies!!!

BCAC girls :)

My mommy and my monkey cake!

Gift from my grandma - it's a silver teether

Gift from my parents - the box has two lil' silver containers, one for his first tooth and one for his first curl

Again I say, Jason and I are very blessed to have so many amazing friends and family that care so much about us.

We're gonna have a BIG boy...

So we had an ultrasound today to see if we could get an idea of how big our lil' monkey is...well, let's just say he's definitely going to be a Chunky Monkey! Right now he's measuring about 7lbs, the tech said that the machine can be about 10% off sometimes but I'd have to say that in this case it's right now...he's out of room and I can tell he's going to be big! Oh...and it's still a boy, she checked for us :)

37 weeks...ahhhh full term!!! :-D

I can't believe it's just 3 weeks away! This time has really flown by and now I am just so excited to meet my chunky monkey!

PREGNANCY AT A GLANCE

How far along? 37 weeks

Baby's size? We should find out tomorrow...fingers crossed it's accurate but I'm guessing he's going to be about 7lbs tomorrow

Gender? Still my lil' man!

Weight gain? I think I have put on about 5lbs in the last week...I'm eating a lot more, maybe I'm storing food for energy during labor...I don't know but I know I've put on some weight this past week

Maternity clothes? Aren't really cute anymore...they are just things that cover me up :)

Stretch marks? Wake up with new ones every morning but they are pretty - I know I'm weird but I'm actually excited about them

Belly button in or out? Depending on where he is laying in my belly, you can see it sticking out sometimes but it's still barely in

Sleeping? He's starting to kick really hard in the middle of the night, so of course I wake up thinking I'm going into labor and it freaks me out, then I can't get my heart rate to slow down so I lay there for about 30 minutes until I calm down...bathroom breaks come though about every 2 hours in the night

Foods I'm loving? OMG...anything right now...I am a bottomless pit!

Foods I'm hating? Is that really possibly right now?!?!

Best moment this week? I got to go shopping with my SIL in Houston, we put things away in the nursery as well

What I'm looking forward to? My shower this weekend and my mommy helping me put the final things away in the nursery and finishing packing my bags

What I miss? Just being normal...

Symptoms? Really bad heartburn still - taking Zantac now, more aches and pains in my lower abdomen, feet are really starting to swell more and more, getting really tired earlier in the day

Milestones? Swing is all assembled and car seat bases are ready to go!

Emotions & Moods? Just depends on the day...

Putting the nursery together

My SIL came to town this weekend to help me get things put away in the nursery.

She put together our swing :)

Door for nursery...still needs some work!

Our changer, loaded with diapers and wipes :) 

(notice you can see the floor!)

And I still have one more shower...

And bags are getting packed...Jason's on his own, I had to pack 3 bags...he just has 1!!

Now get ready for shower #2 this weekend, I can't wait to get more things and bring it all home. I will finally get to bring the big items home like the bassinet, car seat/stroller, and the wagon his Uncle Trey got him! Baby James is super loved (spoiled) and it makes me super happy!