getting ready

Practice makes perfect...
The crib and bedding...

And here I am today, at 30 weeks and 1 day. Glorious.

The nursery still has a way to go. My mom is coming here on Thursday to help with the window treatments. You can see my great-grandmother's unfinished dinning room buffet that we are using as a changing table in the picture with me and Sophie. The drawers are all out, just waiting for us to jump on refinishing it. That hasn't happened. I will take pictures of the final nursery soon. Just view this as a sneak peak.

Sophie has taken up the role of pretend baby very well. We put together the pack-n-play the other day. (that was so generously donated to us by a family friend. gotta love it.)

Not sure if we had the bassinet portion installed correctly, Sophie graciously allowed us to put her in it. If it fell, we knew we had it wrong. Better her than Jones, no? All was well, by the way.

stroller help

There are too many stroller options.

Travel system or not? I feel like a travel system would be convenient, but I may be wrong.

What brand?

What weight limit?

I just don't want to spend money on the wrong one only to hate it. Decisions, decisions!!

Please help!!

Jones update

Jones is not only an accomplished acrobat and kickboxer, he is also apparently quite the looker even at 29 weeks.

I had my scheduled 28 week dr. apt. on Tuesday. All is perfect! I am still on the meds, but will be off on Sunday. Jones' heartbeat was 140 bpm, I had gained 3 more lbs and my blood pressure was perfect. And I passed my glucose test with flying colors. I had an irrational fear that I would fail. This is accompanied my my irrational fear of have a c-section and my water breaking in public. One fear gone, two left. My doc said everything is going smoothly - praise God! The only hick-up has been this minor UTI, so I have zero complaints about this pregnancy.

When he told me he would see me in two weeks my heart stopped for a brief moment. I can't believe that it is already time to see the dr. every two weeks. It has flown.

On to the fun stuff: I went to Jackson to finish up my registry and to get a 4D sono of the little man. The first thing we all noticed was his cheeks. Oh how I love a chubby baby and it looks like he already has such kissable cheeks. He also has the cutest little button nose. During half of the sono he was sticking out his tongue or sucking his bottom lip, which appears to be full and also kissable. All in all, just precious and perfectly healthy.

And he has completely caught up in size. He was measuring almost 2 weeks after the due date, but no longer. he is packing on those lbs and doing great. In fact, he measured almost exactly to the due date, weighs 2 lbs and 7 ounces and is in the 45th percentile. And big news: he is head down. Not that it really matters at this time, but this helps ease my fear of having a c-section. I was convinced he was kicking me in the bladder. Not the case. He is just throwing punches down there. Fabulous.

I asked for the techs to please check and make sure he is still a he. One tech announced that those things just don't fall off, but still - I needed confirmation. He is, in fact, still a boy, by the way. And proud of it.

I don't have the digital images of Jones' 4D, but will try to get the hard copies scanned so I can share.

I just confirmed to myself that I am already an obnoxious mother.

Coach.

That's right. I traded my Mrs. for Coach today.

I had already committed to substituting today, so while I was not 100% this morning, I knew if I had a "real" job, I would have gotten up and gone, so I needed to do the same here. Plus, I did not know who to call to sub for a sub. It was all too complicated.


I got to the school this morning and was handed my sub packet. Subject? Physical Education. True story. I envisioned me in a wind suit running an obstacle course, but unfortunately no such event took place.

It ended up being the best possible situation given my current state. I sat on the bench and watched high schoolers run around the gym for an hour and a half. The best part of the day was first block when half of the class was special education. Precious people.

I only had to sub two blocks, so was home by lunch. Just in time to put on my PJs and snuggle with Sophie, who gladly accepted the invitation. I am still in those PJs, by the way, with no intentions of changing until tomorrow. I am feeling better, just really exhausted, which I partially blame this medicine.

Changing the subject, Trey and his dad just left to go pick up the chair for Jones' room. I. Can't. Wait. I may rock sophie tonight. We shall see.

Last point of the day - Did anyone else watch The Duggars: Special Delivery last night? I'm not gonna lie, I love those Duggars. Yes, they have 19 kids. Yes, I think that is insane. But they are good parents. The kids are well behaved, well-spoken, and actually really cute. (sans some questionable wardrobe choices). And I don't see sweet Jim Bob and Michelle turning into another John and Kate. So I watch. And I love. And last night I cried. Sweet Josie. Did you?

(not me and Trey)

no fun sunday

I spent my sunday morning in the hospital. No fun at all. I started cramping on Friday night and it lasted on and off through the day Saturday. And on top of that, I was exhausted. I don't think I moved from the couch unless it was to go get in the bed! I have felt so fabulous up until this point so I kinda felt like something wasn't just right. I drank lots of water, took a benadryl and went to bed. But I woke up this morning with more cramps. So against my will, we decided it would be best for me and Jones to get everything checked out. Off we went to the hospital.

I was having small contractions, but was not dialated - thank goodness! I can't imagine. I couldn't even believe they were checking. I guess I was in denial. Anyway, it ended up that I have a UTI, which was causing the contrations. I am on antibiotics and am drinking even more water than I was before. I am going to float away. So happy that was all it was; I was a little nervous when they 1) said I was contracting and 2) checked to see if I was dialated. Little man must stay put for a little while longer. And it seems he is doing just that. Jones looked perfect - Thank God!

But I had to miss church and a baby shower for a friend this afternoon. Sad.

On a different note: I am subbing again this week. Yippee! I really like it. Yes, I know that is strange.

My camera is dead. I thought it could be fixed, but it can't. So as soon as I can, I will post pictures of Jones' nursery. We are far from finished, but we have at least started. My mom is coming down in a couple of weeks to help with the curtains and organizing. We still have to refinish the buffet/changing table and I am waiting for my chair to come in.

Happy first week of February to you all.

I give myself an A

I would give myself an A+ had I not snuck cheerios in my mouth during 2nd block.

All in all, my first day subbing was a huge success.

I wish I had funny stories, but alas, I do not. It was uneventful, pretty quiet, and actually really fun. This school is a very good school, so aside from a 9th grader lying about his seat assignment in 1st block (which I totally busted him on), I had no discipline problems. In fact, it was like pulling teeth to get the students to say a word in 2nd block.

I did have one issue; one I did not think of when listing my worries yesterday. My feet. My sub packet said do not sit at your desk while students do worksheets, etc. Well, that is all the students did so naturally I took that rule very seriously and walked around the whole time. I did not plan my shoes too well. So now this pregnant woman's feet are a bit sore. I will know better tomorrow, no doubt.

Other than that, all was well in history class today. I was worried about who I would sit with in the cafeteria, but as luck would have it, I was told I could stay in my class to eat. My peanut butter and jelly sandwich and I enjoyed that very much, thank you.

call me Mrs. Skaggs

I will be busy tomorrow and Friday shaping the young minds of America.

That's right. I will be teaching high school tomorrow and Friday. Subject? History. I am just glad it's not math.

I am nervous about the following things:

1) I have to potty at least every half-hour to an hour. How do pregnant teachers hold it? And I am told that they have the block schedule. I think that means longer classes.

2) I also eat a lot. Can I pack snacks? Hide crackers under my desk? I am not a pleasant hungry pregnant woman.

3) Have you seen the size of high school boys? They will tower over me, I am sure.

4) That I will not be the only pregnant girl in the class.

5) History

Other than that I am totally pumped. This will give me something to hopefully look forward to. Not that I don't love the time I spend cleaning house, walking, cooking and nesting, but I must admit, it is slightly lonely at times. I am so used to being around people all the time. I am sure this will change when Jones comes around. And, yes, I am enjoying resting whenever I like. I have been told to take advantage. So I am. I am totally not complaining.

Trey's only advice was to not be a nerdy sub. I asked him what constitutes a nerdy sub to which he quickly responded a nerdy sub is one who announces that they do, in fact, have a college degree and then proceeds to list all the books they read while in college.

And to think, I was going to hang up my diploma in the classroom.

what advice, other than none-nerdy subbing, do you have?

Got to go pick out my school clothes and pack my lunch. I'll report in tomorrow afternoon for a full update.

more....

Here are pictures of some of Jones' precious gifts he received at the shower.

Amanda gave me a monogrammed hospital gown. She said giving birth is no reason not to look cute and have on monogrammed items. I tend to agree. check out the cute cards by Renee at http://www.babyfacedesign.blogspot.com/

These are just some of the precious things he got! He got so many useful, fun and adorable things. I can't wait!

pictures

Sorry - wasn't trying to be a picture snob. I don't know what happened. I made a collage with the pictures from scrapblog. I can see them just fine, but I found out via text message this morning that it said you must be invited. Who knows. I probably did something stupid.

So, here are some of the pictures of the day.

The sweet hostesses with me

Gulfport shower

This past weekend some of my dearest college friends, Lindsey, Laurette, Mims, Amanda and Tricia hosted a shower in gulfport for little Jones. I have not seen some of these girls in forever. SO much fun. My mom, Nana and sisters came down. And I was so honored to have so many of my Hattiesburg friends and my new Gulfport friends be there with me to celebrate. It was such a fun, exciting and special time. And Jones got fabulous things - now I am ready to have him here!

I have awesome friends from so many different times and locations in my life. It was so fun to combine all of them for one occasion!

Thank you to everyone who helped make Jones' first shower so wonderful.

Here are some pictures: