Fall Colors

I am absolutely blown away by the beautiful colors that have begun to change the landscape all around here in North Carolina. I forgot how much I missed seeing the leaves change. The roadsides are just covered with bright reds, golds, greens, pinks, oranges even some purples. So beautiful!

Bob and I decided that it was imperative that we get a new fancy camera for taking loads of pictures of our newest family member. After all, isn't that what new parents are known for? We searched high and low and finally decided on one. I picked it up a couple of days ago and took these pictures with it. We have this beautiful tree right outside of our apartment and the camera caught it so well. Here are some of the other pictures that I caught.







Well, every day is one day closer to the big day and Bob and I are getting more and more anxious. I just had my doctor's appointment and discovered that I am 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced. At this point I am really thinking that this baby wants to stay in my belly forever. I know that we are closer than we have ever been, but these final few days feel like they are going to never end! Bob has been reading about ways to encourage labor on the internet. Last weekend he took me to have super spicy food at this little hole in the wall authentic Mexican place called "Rancho Grande." Let me tell you, the Mexican food that they serve at Chilis or On The Border is NOT Mexican food. The mild hot sauce was hot and the green sauce was crazy hot. Whoa! My mouth was on fire for an hour.


Lily was practically dancing in my belly after that dinner. I have also got some tea and have been doing as much walking as I can stand. She is tucked away tight!

Bob has been busy putting together the little cradle that his mom sent to us. It is an adorable little antique cradle that we plan to put her in for a couple of weeks while she is new and we are figuring out breastfeeding. We had a giggle at how well it was packed. I think it took Bob 10 minutes just to get it out of its packaging. He put it together and then had to test the dexterity and strength. In his mind if it could hold our vacuum it can surely hold our little girl.



Meanwhile, I cooked. I love to do it, but standing in the kitchen with a baby belly is wreaking havoc on my back. So ready for her to be here!

The Final Days

The monotony and anxiety of the final days has set in and I wake up every morning hoping that today is the day. I know, I know, I still have two more weeks or so, but seriously, I feel ready to pop and am hoping that the timer goes off soon!

I am so heated right now. Poor Bob is freezing. The other day it was raining and about 65 degrees outside. I went to pick up Bob at the office and had the AC on in the car. The poor guy got in the car and just about cried. At home I have gone ahead and put the down comforter on the bed for him. I cannot stand all of the covers so he gets about 4 layers of warmth on him. You see, at night the temp gets down to about 40 degrees and with the windows open and a t-shirt and shorts on I can usually get some sleep without sweating.


Occasionally I have to use the sheet, but I have some appendage always hanging out. Bob has to gear up just to get through the night.



Honey, we are almost there!

In these last few weeks, it is hard to stay focused on the positive when I am so uncomfortable, but I thought I would share with you all the 20 things I will miss about pregnancy (I was afraid I wouldn't be able to name 10 and I found 20 :).

1. The overwhelming feeling of peeing on that stick and having two lines show up. Probably the greatest high I have experienced.
2. Telling the parents that they are going to be grandparents. After all of the waiting it was so fun to hear their joy and surprise.
3. Getting an ultrasound at 11 weeks and seeing that little heart fluttering away.
4. Having my acne clear up because the hormones are being put to much better use.
5. Not having to worry about bathing suit season. Talk about taking the pressure off.
6. Wearing clothes with stretchy waist bands. Seriously that should be how pants are made. No can't.....get......the.....button.....closed and the infamous muffin top.
7. Seeing my belly slowly get bigger. It was a dream.
8. The first time I felt her move.
9. The first time Bob felt her move.
10. Watching how curteous people are when they see a pregnant lady coming through. Why can't people always treat each other that way? I could not believe the amount of men that would go through a door, start walking away, see me and then race back to open the door. Or the women that would walk by and smile sweetly. I love good manners.
11. Finding out our baby was a little girl. I remember crying tears of joy and excitement.
12. Going to childbirth classes and seeing all of the first time dads try to diaper and swaddle those mannequin babies. There were dads who approached the tasks with resolve and then dads that looked absolutely terrified. Bob was the epitomy of confidence, I was so proud.
13. I also won't forget the video on labor and the looks on women's faces as they had the realization of "I have to do that?" Priceless.
14. Laying down at night and having her move and move and move. Bob and I would snuggle together and he would wrap his hand around my belly and we would just lay there in awe.
15. Having an excuse to sit and do absolutely nothing (and take naps every day) and to have everyone around you encourage it.
16. Feeling our baby's feet as she kicked my left side. I will never forget the first time that I felt her toes. That was a beautiful and emotional time.
17. Sitting in her bedroom and reading to our little one. The best is when the book is resting on my tummy and she moves against the book.
18. Watching Bob laugh as I make the poor attempt to put on my shoes and socks.
19. Having a reason to go and buy a fancy bag for the hospital. It is purple and so classy.
20. The excitement of knowing that our baby is coming and that our love is going to be a tangible, beautiful baby. Five years of waiting for the best most wonderful gift in the world.

Meet me at the Fair!

We have officially hit week 37 and the contractions are still coming! I am so uncomfortable right now! There is not a seated, lying or standing position that works at present and both Bob and I are just getting anxious and praying that things really get started sonner rather than later. In an effort to pass the time Bob and I decided that we just had to go to the North Carolina State Fair. We have heard that the Fair here is awesome and let me tell you, it did not disappoint.



We headed over on Saturday morning and found a front row parking spot that only cost us 7 dollars. Totally worth it to not have to walk. This pregnant lady is sloooooowin' down! Our new friends Grace and Sebron invited us to come and see them at the fair. They were both working in the livestock area. We thought it would be easy to find but the fairgrounds are enormous. Apparently, the fair is a HUGE thing here in NC. On our way to find them we walked past some of the coolest kiddie rides and food, food and more food. We started with some Kettle Corn and watched this little "ride."


Kids get in these blow up balls and roll around in the water. How fun. Of course Bob and I kept thinking, kids in an airtight plastic ball in water, boy, hope it doesn't spring a leak or they get them out before carbon monoxide takes over. For all of our worry, both Bob and I would have done it in a heartbeat!

Then Bob got some apple cobbler with ice cream, kind of a pre lunch snack,


and I started to notice that on all of the food signs was a plethora of fried items. Apparently, in the South when in doubt, FRY IT! Look at this, Fried PB and Bananna sandwiches. The most talked about food item was the Krispy Kreme Burger. Yep, you guessed it, a beef patty, sometimes with cheese, between two Krispy Kreme Donuts. Even if hamburgers sounded good this just makes them so gross. Seriously, I don't even want to guess at the calories in that food item!



Well we finally got connected with Grace and saw all sorts of cows, horses, pigs, chicks, sheep and goats. When we walked past the pigs there was a new mom with about 8 piglets. All of the piglets were falling all over each other to get to mom and all I could think of was "Praise the Lord there is only going to be one on me soon!"


Next we stopped for lunch and had a footlong hot dog. Probably the healthiest choice in the whole park!


We decided to share it just so that we had more room for other food.

The NC Fair is also a huge time for competition from fruit, vegetables and honey to sewing, baking, jewlery making, cake decorating, quilts and loads of other trades. So much fun! It made me want to go and live on a farm. Check out the size of this pumpkin and the watermelon. Holy Guacamole!



At this point I was getting tired and ready to head back towards the car. As we headed back we got a homemade Root Beer Float and a Carmel Apple. Don't judge! How many times do you get to go to the fair?


In case all that sugar wasn't bad enough, Bob just had to try the Fried Oreos.


Not kidding. They take oreo cookies, put batter on them and then deep fry them. No wonder obesity is an epidemic.

As we got to the entrance there was a guy demonstrating the SHAMWOW shammie cloth. Have you seen those? They are amazing! Well Bob and I fell hook line and sinker. We got 12 cloths for the price of 3, what a deal. Bob is firmly convinced that the shammies will be perfect for Baby puke. When we got home we dumped a whole glass of water on the floor just to see how they work.


Pretty cool! I don't really think it is going to work on Baby Puke, but I will keep my fingers crossed!

Awesome Experience!

Beautiful Baby Belly

Well here they are, our wonderful baby belly photos. What a memory! Bob, Me and Lily had a wonderful time during our first family photo shoot. My cousin Chelsea spent the whole day with us on the first weekend in October and just took one photo after another. We went down to Jacksonville, NC and found wonderful photo spots. My favorite were the ones in the ocean.

































"My precious Baby Girl, I will never forget when you were snuggled away in my belly. You made me feel like the most beautiful pregnant lady in the world. Your Daddy and I love you precious one!"