28 Days to go/36 Weeks!!!

Courtesy of Baby Center:

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. He now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. He's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered his body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected his skin during his nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of his first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely He's in a head-down position. But if he isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating him from the outside of your belly.

Hard to believe how close we are getting to meeting our son. Craziness! I had my check-up with the doctor on Tuesday and everything is going perfectly. I am measuring where I need to and his heart rate is where they want it. We will not have another ultrasound but she estimated using my weight gain and what I am measuring to put Landon in the 7lbs range :) I described a stomach pain/tightening to her that I had last week and she informed it was a contraction. She told me to just monitor them and once I hit 5-6 within an hour I know what I need to do!! So Surreal!!! I have converted to wearing my tennis shoes everyday to do swelling and needing more support for my feet and legs. My "Chicken Legs" as Chad calls them are struggling as Landon gets bigger. Tuesday night this week was by far the worst night so far. I was wide awake at 2:30am and just miserable. I moved to the couch and watched Law and Order til 5:30am...Fell asleep after Chad left for an hour and work up for work...Yuck! I know this is preparing me for what lies ahead but I could go without the indegestion, ha! I think it was excitement too. We washed the newborn clothes and blankets. We also put the car seat in the car along with my bag for the Hospital. I think this had a hand in my lack of sleep. I'm just getting so stinking excited to meet my little guy. Seeing his clothes needing to be put away in the clothes basket just gives me butterflies :)
I have my baby shower at work tomorrow and I am super excited about this!! Can't wait to celebrate with my friends at work!! I'll post pictures from the shower once I have them! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

**Please keep my friend Janna's Mom in your prayers. She was like another mom for me growing up and it hurts to see her going through everything she is. I won't go into all the details on here but I will post her Caring Bridge. Belinda is a fighter and an amazing woman. I have no doubt she is going to beat everything facing her right now but I believe in the power of prayer and I know she feels the love and prayer surrounding her.**

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/belindamlusk

35 DAYS to go/35 Weeks!!!

Courtesy of Baby Center:

Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

I have to be honest here people; I am not sleeping very good, my lower back is killing me, by the end of the day my feet look gross from swelling and I have never had this much indigestion in my entire life! However, I know I will forget all about that once I am holding Landon for the first time. I plan to start counting down days rather than weeks...I think 35 days sounds much better than 5 weeks!! Crazy to think it is getting so close!! The holidays made it go by so quick! We had a wonderful Christmas with family and we hope that you did too!!



My first painting = SUCCESS!

So Monday was fantastic and so much fun! We had a Christmas Team Retreat planned by the wonderful Leslie and she planned a wonderful day! Starting with breakfast at J. Christophers...YUM! We then went to a class where we had to pick out a picture to paint and we started with a white canvas. I was a little nervous at first about the thought of that but it was sooo much fun! We had a lot of good laughs throughout the experience! The teachers allowed us to pick which colors we wanted so I went with yellow, red and orange. Inspired from my dishes and kitchen at the house. All of the pictures turned out fantastic and I was very pleased with mine. After we finished our pictures we finished the day off with lunch at Verde! Cheese dip was some of the best I have EVER had. If you know me or read my blog enough you know that I could basically live off of Mexican everyday. If I could hook an IV up to my arm and have salsa and cheese dip daily I would be one happy woman! We did our gift exchange and everyone got such wonderful gifts! Let's say these women know each other very well! My Secret Santa did fantastic! I got the new Rachael Ray Cookbook, Christmas Kitchen Towels, Shower Gels, Babe Ruth, Brownies, and a Baby ornament! I loved all of it! It was a fnatastic day and I love getting to know these ladies more and more each day! I am truly blessed!!

Chad wasted no time when I got home with my picture and it was hanging in the kitchen Monday night. I think he was shocked and didn't believe me at first :) He was proud of his woman! If you ever get the opportunity to take the Canvas class I would strongly encourage it! It was so much fun!

33 Weeks!

33 Weeks Courtesy of Baby Center:

This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

I cannot wrap my head around how quickly the weeks are flying by. Here we are so close to Christmas and 7 weeks away from meeting Landon. Serious butterflies of excitement in my tummy! We are working to get his room ready a little bit here and there. Work in progress so still no pictures yet ;) Soon! I am doing good the only thing I am having issues with are sleeping. I'm honestly only uncomfortable when I lay down at night. It's getting a little better since I started stretching before I get in the bed but looking forward to being able to sleep on my tummy again :) Chad has been super sweet the more uncomfortable I get. He keeps me laughing all the time and life is just amazing! I have my next appointment next week so I will have another update soon :) Have a great day!

Christmas Tree, New Stove and 32 Weeks!!

Whew! The holidays are flying by! Between work, Christmas parties and other festivities I am all over the place.
I'll start with a few pictures from our Marketing Department Christmas Party. We went to the Atlanta History Center and had a wonderful dinner followed by self guided tours. It was a very nice evening! We had such a fun group at our table for dinner!!

We got our Christmas tree up and decorated last week. I must say usually I am on the ball with Christmas decorating but with my lack of energy this year it was a much slower process...Last year we had icicle lights outlining our house and this go around Chad has been working every weekend for awhile now and it was just too much to try and get in. This is what our house looked like last year with the lights:

Our Christmas tree this year :)  I don't have a theme and I probably never will :) I like to use ornaments that have meaning and I am sure before too long our tree is going to be filled with ornaments made by a little boy named Landon!

Our new stove was delivered!!! Yipee!! The stove on our old one worked but the oven would heat up to all kinds of crazy temperatures and we were told by someone that came and looked at it...The computer on it was broke and for what we would pay him to fix that we should just get a new one.  Which is exaclty what we did...I have been without an oven since last Christmas :( I love baking so this has been a long year so I began making up for it with Lasagna and Chocolate Chip Cookies! Ahhh! Cookies straight from the oven - I may have over indulged but it was well worth it!

Now onto Pregnancy Stuff; I hit 32 weeks yesterday! :) Got a great report from the doctor which I never take for granted. It is a blessing to hear everytime I go. I am measuring perfect and Landon's heartbeat was 146 yesterday. He was showing out though. When she put the tool on my stomach to hear his heartbeat he started kicking it away, which made me laugh!  I am growing more and more curious with each week as to who Landon will look like! We now have his crib and chest put together so his room is coming together but we still have a ways to go :) Pictures soon to come once we have it finished! I have to admit, I don't have a picture this week :( I was looking pretty rough today. Forgive me - I will post one next week. But here is the 32 week report from Baby Center :

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, he'll gain a third to half of his birth weight during the next 7 weeks as he fattens up for survival outside the womb. He now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). His skin is becoming soft and smooth as he plumps up in preparation for birth.

9 Weeks to go!

As of today - I am 31 weeks which means with each week I am growing more and more excited!! Last week Landon's crib arrived and the dresser is on the way!!! It's all coming together...but sadly - No, you cannot see pictures yet. It's coming together but not there yet :) Once we have it all finished you will see, I promise! I have a feeling the month of December is going to fly by with everything going on. I received a great report from the doctor last week - Glucose test came back fine and I am on target with everything else that is concerned!! Huge Praise!

Courtesy of Baby Center:

This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

Highlighted text could not be more true ;)

On another note - I am awaiting news from my girlfriend Brandy!! Her due date was yesterday and her doctors decided to induce around 6:00pm last night so Mr. Walker should be here at any moment!!!! WAHOO!!!  So exciting!

10 Weeks to go!!!

I apologize for the delay in my posts. I am back on track :) I reached 30 weeks last Thursday so this post is for last week :)

I have finally reached the 30 week mark! Wahoo!!! I hit 30 weeks on Thanksgiving :) I had an appointment on Wednesday and I got a great report from the doctor! All is going perfect which is exactly what you want to hear! I am more and more tired each day. I am more and more uncomfortable each night trying to sleep. But most importantly, I tear up just thinking about holding Landon for the first time.

Courtesy of Baby Center:
Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and he weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him, but that volume will decrease as he gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. His eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after he's born, he'll keep his eyes closed for a good part of the day. When he does open them, he'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means he can only make out objects a few inches from his face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

Thanksgiving this year was like no other! Honey's house was packed full! Words cannot describe how much I enjoy getting to spend time with my family. It was a no stress Thanksgiving and if you Remember My Post from last year...my pecan pie turned out correct this year!! Instead of 3 Tbls I did 1/3 tsp so it was YUM!

Hello Third Trimester!! I'm glad you are here!

Courtesy of Baby Center:

By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of his head to his heels. He can blink his eyes, which now sport lashes. With his eyesight developing, he may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. He's also developing billions of neurons in his brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

I am now on the homestretch and in my third trimester!! This puts us closer to meeting our little man and this puts me over the moon! Today I have my glucose screening test and I will be getting the shot since Chad and I have opposite blood types. I have been given to wonderful baby showers and we are truly blessed to have the people in our lives that we do. Chad and I will never be able to express our gratitude enough to everyone!! Now that we have a wonderful stroller for Landon it is time to practice with that contraption because if not - we may have child services called on us...Practice makes perfect!!
That's all I have for now and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!!
I also welcome any advice for getting through the third trimester even though I feel fantastic now - I know some difficulties may lie ahead :)

27 Weeks!!!!

Courtesy of Baby Center:

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with his legs extended. He's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing his eyes, and perhaps even sucking his fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While his lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if he were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother him, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

I would just like to add how entertained I am by watching my belly move. I started seeing the movement of my belly weeks ago but it is so pronounced now...Like waves on my stomach and if I put my had down at the right time it's like I can feel his body. Which actually makes me tear up because I cannot wait to meet my little man! He is so active - I feel his movement so much throughout the day!! I love it! Next week I will be in my third trimester :) Amazing how quickly the first two have gone by!

My baby sister is getting married!!!!

My baby sister got engaged over the weekend Mr. Daniel Bentley! My family could not be more excited for them and to welcome him into our family (which he already has been for soooo long). These two were made for each other!! As her sister, I cannot wait to start all of the planning and share this time in her life with her! She will never know how proud I am of her and all that she has accomplished! Jennifer, You are going to be one amazingly beautiful Bride! There is so much going on in our family right now :) I love it!

Congratulations to Jennifer Martin and Daniel Bentley as they begin the next chapter in their life together!!!