Week 33: Pineapple

This week was a pretty busy week compared to my normal fairly scheduled weeks.  The in-laws arrived on Tuesday and we spent some nice quality time with them.  My mother in law has been knitting some adorable things for Cash and it was great to see that even my father in law is excited.  They say the apple does not fall too far from the tree and this is the case for my husband and father in law.  I am reminded when they visit just how much alike they are.  Guess we will see if Cash is the same.  But I do hope the baby gets some of me in them, I’m not all that bad ;)

I had a check up with the doc this week, unfortunately after a night of eating too much at Amerigo.  So the morning of my appointment I was retaining fluid.  I have a gained a total of 23 lbs and measuring 33 ½ cm.  Dr. E said “You’re doing good kiddo”  I just love her and her matter of fact-ness.  We also had a lake talk.  She told me not to jump in or ride in a speed boat hitting wakes too hard as it could hurt the placenta.  So when we go I will take it easy.  My next visit with her (I have to see a partner next time) she said she will do an ultrasound if Cash is still breech just to check things out.  All and all she said we are just playing the waiting game now and hope baby cooks a bit longer.

Friday night I have an enjoyable evening with the in-laws working on the husband's blown out tire...even though I watched the Jeep almost roll on top of my father-in-law it was a pretty fun night.  Even if I had to pee on the side of the interstate with my mother-in-law holding a blanket so cars driving up the on ramp would not see my preggo butt - haha.

On Saturday my best friends showered Cash and I with love...and there was so much love this day. 

We had so much yummy food, we made 25 onesies for Cash, guests played Bingo while I opened gifts, and we all played some baby trivia.  After all of the merriment and clean up, the ladies hung out by my mom's pool for the rest of the afternoon.  I do love me some spaghetti sauce!! ;)

I have the most generous friends and family.  There are no words to express my gratitude.  BK and JM...thank you from the bottom of my heart for the best day!  Everything was PERFECT.

Well back to watching the hubs put together baby items...happy day :)

xoxoxoxoxo~

CC

Week 32: Jicama

Happy Father's Day to all the amazing dad's out there...

Fatherhood...something my love is close to embarking on.  I cannot wait to see him transform to the most wonderful father. I know he has so many hopes and dreams already for our child.  Things may not always be what he envisioned but if we stay connected and show Cash the life we have created together, he or she will fit right into our lives and hearts.  

This week Cash is weighing approximately 3.75 pounds (the size of a large jimaca) and is 16.7 inches long.    I'm supposed to be gaining a pound a week now and half is going to baby.

This weekend my dear friend Wendy hosted our first baby shower.  It was a bit odd to be opening gifts for a baby to be honest and even more strange to bring them home and put them away.  I have sippy cups in my pantry.  Weird.  

The shower was full of sweet friends I have not seen in too long and friends I see every weekday.  We stuffed ourselves on breakfast goodies and everyone made predictions on sex, birth date, weight and length of Cash.  I think some of my friends want to hurt me with a huge and long baby - haha.  It was fun to hear all of the predictions and girl was the most popular choice.  Guess we will find out soon.

Well, back to cleaning for the arrival of my in-laws for the week.

Much love,
CC

Week 31: Four Oranges

This week I celebrated 33 years of my life…and it was a good week.

My celebrations started Monday with lunch with one of my dear friends, Tuesday I had lunch with my dad (and Cash received his/her first UT outfit – yay!), on Wednesday I had lunch with another dear friend, and Thursday (on my actual birthday) I celebrated with an appointment with Dr. E….more on that below.  I also received my favorite cupcakes and a beautiful orchid from my dear friends at work.  Thursday night I celebrated with my sweet husband.  Sadly that was all of our celebration because he was scheduled to work all weekend but he made up for that.  I came home from work to a dozen white roses on the counter and an iPad!!  And we went to Germantown Café for dinner.  It was delish and we had some much needed time together.  As I write this I realize it might be the last real night out just us before our life is changed with the responsibility of a newborn and I am pretty sure between and iPad and my new 50mm lens for my SLR that I will not be getting any more extravagant gifts from the hubby for a long while…at least not the monetary kind.

Friday I had a prenatal massage and went shopping with my mom, Saturday I had pool time with some of my girls, and on Sunday I got to spend some time with my family including little brother.  He had not seen me since December so I am sure my growth was a change, but I am so glad to feel the belly.  I cannot wait to see him with Cash - he is going to make a great uncle, that is if he moves back to TN!  

My check-up with Dr. E went great.  Pretty quick and easy.  I had gained 1 pound from last visit and measured 1 centimeter larger – so a total of 19 lbs and 32 cm.  She is happy with my progress.  After the C-section discussion at our birthing class I did mention to her that 30% of births are C-sections now days.  She said she thought that it was high and they are now putting more of an emphasis on this fact.  From her deliveries of the past 1.5 years, her C-Section rate is 35% but 19% for first time moms.  I am happy she is open to discussing this and her view of C-Sections is to perform them only when is best for mom and baby.  We did discuss when Cash being breech is an issue.  She said at 37 weeks if Cash had not turned we would evaluate our next steps.  Right now I think Cash is just comfortable with his/her position.  I wouldn’t want to be head down that long either!! 

Thanks to all for your support from all across the globe – I am happy to say it has been a much better week and my emotions seem to be more in control.  I hope I have found my own way of coping with them.  I hate to feel needy but the extra love and support makes a huge difference when you do not feel yourself and you doubt the kind of person, wife, friend, daughter, sister you are and doubt what you contribute to the lives’ of the ones you love.

Eat some oranges this week ;)

xoxo~

CC

Week 30: Cabbage

They say pregnancy brings out hormones.  Until this point I have felt in control of mine but this week it has not been going so well.  As Cash is continuing to grow, (weighing in at approximately 3 pounds) I find my emotions are running high especially at home.  I’m afraid if I don’t get control I might cause my husband to avoid me over the next 10 weeks - haha

As the weeks go by and the arrival is getting closer I do have doubts running through my mind – Was this the best time for us to start a family?  Am I ready to be a mother?  Will life ever be normal again?  Will my body ever be normal again?  Will I become this child obsessed mom that drives everyone crazy?  Will our marriage be strained by adding a little one to our family?  Will our friends still want to be around us with a child?  - I pray whatever is causing these doubts works itself out soon or I am going to avoid myself for the rest of my pregnancy…

This weekend we went to our childbirth class.  I did not have any expectations but hoped it would not be a bunch of videos to watch.  I can watch videos at home for free.  Well we did watch quite a few videos.  All and all I enjoyed the class.  I liked visiting the labor and delivery floor so I could wrap my head around where we would be going and how things would be set up.  I also enjoyed some of the relaxation parts, it was nice to be sitting pretty much wrapped up by my husband and just concentrating on breathing.  And although he knows how to give a great massage, there were a few areas he would should to concentrate on that felt wonderful.  Also the infant care was informative, although I am sure they will go over all of it again after the baby is born but it's nice to wrap your head around it now (as well as other things from class) since at the time of delivery emotions will be high and we just might forget it all.

Fun side note about class is there were 10 couples - 5 boys, 4 girls, and one unknown...we would have made it a tie to tipped to scales to boy being the clear winner ;)

After class on Saturday we were starving.  We went downtown to grab an early dinner at South Street. It was a gorgeous afternoon to spend just enjoying each other.  I pray times like these do not go away after Cash is here.  I do not want to be the kind of mother that my whole world revolves around my child.  I believe with all of my heart that a child is second to growing a happy and healthy marriage.  A child can sense unhappiness and any discord would not be good for a family.  So we will be having more nights like this...

After dinner we went to watch my hubby's old band play.  It was great to see them, but one piece was missing from the stage...hopefully he can play with them again soon.  It was fun to be out in the crowd dancing and singing along with the hubs and having Cash enjoy his/her first rock show :) 

Hope all is great in all of your lives...enjoy the nice weather and the ones you love.

Much love,

CC

Week 29: Butternut Squash

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!!

Summer is upon us...and this means the arrival of Baby C is getting closer.

Cash is going to begin some rapid weight gain over the next weeks, this week his/her weight is about 2 1/2 pounds and over 15 inches long.  The head is growing bigger to make room for their developing brain.  The human body is pretty amazing.

We had our 29 week appointment this week.  I went 3 weeks between visits because Dr. E is going to be out of town next week.  I'm not to keen on seeing the partners but in the coming appointments I am not going to have a choice.  They made all of my remaining appointments when I checked out this week.  Boy it made the arrival of this little even more real - this kid is coming!!  And of course my doc is on vacation the last week of July...

We are both doing well.  Cash is breech but of course still has time to turn into position for delivery.  Doc measured my fundal height (the size of my uterus) and I asked what my measurement was this time.  I am measuring 31 centimeters.  

This week has been a full week with pedicures with the girls, poolin' and grillin' with "The Ten", and spending today on Tim's Ford Lake.  It is a different experience when you cannot participate in skiing, wake boarding or knee boarding, but it was nice to be out in the sun and water.  I pray pray pray Cash is a water baby!!

Hope you all are enjoying your long weekend :)

xoxo,
CC

**Happy Birthday Dootsie ~ We love you**

Week 28: Chinese Cabbage

This week Cash is a bit over 2 pounds, the size of a Chinese cabbage...grow baby grow!!

I looked at the calendar this week and realized it had been one year since we said our goodbyes to our UK family, and luckily this week we got a visit from one of them.  Kristine was my cubemate and most days my lunch buddy.  She is incredible intelligent and the most logical person I know.  She became my confidant, my partner in crime, my friend.  She had also just moved to the UK a bit before me from Latvia.  Even though at times what we were trying to communicate to each other might need to be translated, we understood each other on another level that can really not be explained.

Kristine was in the states for business and flew down to Nashville before flying back to the UK.  It is very flattering for a friend to travel so far for a short visit.  She arrived Friday night and the hubs and I greeted her at the airport.  We went back to our home for a nightcap.   I was surprised with a care package from many of our UK family.  Kristine is a wonderful knitter and made Cash a blanket, some socks and gave us a book of fairy tales.  Cash will also be styling an adorable Union Jack onesie for awhile as we got 2 sizes thanks to Tracy and Jo, there we also some treats for us as well...the Team GB Olympic blanket is fantastic!  We chatted on the deck before calling it a night as Saturday was a full day.  We started with introducing her to Cracker Barrel.  We chose the Sunrise Sampler for her and I hope she enjoyed it even though she is not a big breakfast kind of gal.  We then went to a nearby mall for some shopping.  She had found a pair of Calvin Klein heels in Indy but did not have her size and we found them here.  Score #1.  We then went picnicking at Arrington Vineyards with our dear friends of the good ole US of A.  My husband had prepared a lovely spread and we just enjoyed the great weather and friendship.  We could not have asked for a better afternoon.

After freshening up, we took her to Stoney River for dinner.  We had never been ourselves and had been told great things about it.  It was a nice meal and having a medium steak was a treat for me.  We then took her downtown to let her see Nashville at night.  The honkey tonks were hopping.  We ventured in a few boot stores and stopped in Robert's for Kristine to have a Pabst Blue Ribbon and enjoy some music before calling it a night.  Again we came home for a nightcap and just more quality time together.  Today the hubs had to work, but Kristine and I still had a bit of shopping to do before she could fly back across the pond.  She wanted a leather jacket, and Wilson's Leather at Opry Mills delivered.  I am jealous of her purchase and you can get a great deal in May on leather.  Score #2.  We had some extra time so we ventured on through the mall and went in RCC for the heck of it.  And after some consideration, she ended up with a pair of Dan Post cowboy boots.  Score (and splurge) #3.  I was so proud to send her off in some nice boots :)

Saying goodbye was incredibly hard and I am not certain I said enough just how much it meant to see her.  (I am glad "tomato" season was over...haha.)  Next time I hope the visit is much longer and it will be a bonus that Cash will get to met Aunt Kristine.

I pray we will not have to go a year before we are together again my dear friend.  In the meantime, I will keep you in my heart...

Love,
CC

Week 27: Cauliflower

Cash is around 2 pounds this week, like the head of a cauliflower and about 14 1/2 inches long.  So far I am lucky that Cash does not move much in the night.  Any movements are not enough to wake me.  I think I am used to some of the smaller kicks and adjustments the kiddo does, unless it's very low and those are just uncomfortable.

This week the hubby had a much needed break from school/work and did some work in the garden and nursery.  We had an accident with a shelf but nothing that some putty couldn't fix and at the end of the week the hole was patched and a new shelf was built and hung on the wall.  I also received news that I passed my glucose test, but have low iron and I need to take a supplement.  I have heard horrible stories over what iron will do to my already slow system, but I'll take it anyways if it is what the baby and I need.

We spent his last day/night of his break with breakfast at Cracker Barrel and running some errands.  When we were headed home from our errands, we passed a truck in the Target parking lot with a sign that said "Kittens"  First I am allergic, but I am a sucker for a cat and I miss having one around the house.  I insisted we just go home and do not stop, but the hubs turned around anyway.  He does all he can to make me happy...so we stopped and there were two left, a male and a female.  We would have taken them both but another couple showed up and took the male.  Our new baby is a brown tabby.  Per the previous owner, she is around 7 weeks.  Right now I am concerned because we think she does not know how to eat cat food but she will get there.  She is using a litter box we provided so that's a plus.  I do not want to be cleaning up messes all over the garage.  We are throwing names around - Lyra (because it was a girl's name we had wanted to use) or Arya Stark.  After getting the kitty settled in and doing some much needed organizing of the guest room closet, we finished our day with some Mexican food and The Avengers.  If you haven't seen it you should go.  It was excellent.  Oh how I love thee Iron Man...

Today I celebrated my mom and grandmother with lunch at my mom's house.  We had homemade salad with a copy cat Olive Garden dressing, Pioneer Woman lasagna, and a yellow cake mix, chocolate and peanut butter dessert I found on pinterest.  YUM.  It was a good day minus the normal family drama.  This is why you pick your friends ;)  

I've had a few Happy Mother's Day comments, some cards and mom got me a cute dress but even if I am growing a life right now, I do not feel like a mother yet.  Being a mother and what kind of mother I want to be is not something that is truly defined in my mind and I do not think this will take shape until Cash born.  I know this will change and adapt in all of the stages of his/her life.  My hope for my child to learn who they are along the way to adulthood.  I hope to give them the tools to accomplish this - help them explore interests, constantly learning, and evolving.  I am a believer that children learn by example, therefore I just hope to set the best example I know how for my child.

What lessons did you learn from your mother, grandmother, the most influential woman in your life?  What do you hope to pass along to your children?

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the mothers out there.  Hope your day is full of love...

Candace

**Here's the only pic I have been able to get of our new family member.