35 Weeks and Counting...Nursery Progress

Ooohhh baby... You are large, or at least you sure feel that way. You do strange things with your pointy little limbs particularly when I lay on my side at night. You are wide awake around 4:30am (around the time that I have to get up for a bathroom break, which is very inconvenient for daddy who usually gets woken up too and whose alarm goes off just 30 mins later). Aaand for some reason you make my belly jut out at the top, slant downward and then round out at the bottom.

Below, the Belly at 35 Weeks

35 Weeks was an important week for productivity in our expecting-Anderson-household. Michael installed shelves in the baby's closet...

Below, Michael reading instructions for the shelves.

Note: Michael said he'd prefer if I not take pictures of him reading instructions, but rather take pictures of him working with tools. I explained to him that he was much more of a man for actually reading instructions than for knowing how to use tools.

We installed baseboards (shout out and thanks to the Francis family who had a saw we could borrow)...

Below, Michael uses the tiny flowered hammer I got from mom this Christmas to pull out the nails from the OLD baseboards. Huck is a great supervisor!

Below, Michael puts in the finishing nails for the baseboards.

We assembled the crib and dresser...

Aaand we found out that the lovely bedskirt mom and I made is too long, so I begin yet another sewing project for baby - shortening the skirt. I'm hopeful that pics of that are to come for week 36!

32, 33 and 34 Weeks... and counting

Well this is the home stretch people! It hurts me to bend over and get things out from under my desk and I occasionally request help putting on shoes or socks depending on how limber I'm feeling. Mostly, I just feel LARGE and yes, I know, it will only get worse. Our baby feels like she is all knees, elbows and heels these days. Michael marveled the other night at how little flesh stands between us and this little girl in there squirming around.

32 Weeks

33 Weeks 34 Weeks

We've purchased baseboards and they have one of two coats of paint, the windowsill has been primed, and we've completed our "Labor in a Day" Childbirth class at the hospital. We've pulled the shelving out of the boxes and Michael is going to begin that installation this afternoon when he gets home from work. Later this week is baseboard installation. We OWN a crib and dresser that await assembly once some of the "construction" is complete.

My bellybutton has had a tough couple of weeks and is now hardly an outie and more like a little bump with a wrinkle at the top. It now has a stretch mark right at the top as well (thank you pregnancy fairy) and I'm at bi-weekly doctors appointments. As we left College Station to head back to Dallas from Christmas we realized that the next time we see our families our baby will be on the way or here... wow, now THAT is crazy!

Our holidays were wonderful and as the cameras flashed and people cheered and made funny raspberry noises with their mouths to try and get a grin out of our sweet nephew Jackson for his first Christmas, I am excited for next Christmas when Jackson will be 18 months and showing his 10 month old-ish cousin how this whole Christmas thing works. I'm also excited to be the one that crashes my family's Christmas with the first great grandbaby - sure to be into everything by the time next Christmas comes around.

Huck, Bro Otis and Uncle Max

Charlie (Michael's dad) was out trying to document these three little Westie friends over the Thanksgiving break so I joined in the fun. Huck LOVES going to College Station and playing with his brother Otis (Michael's brother and his wife Sara bought him at the same time we got Huck) as well as his "Uncle Max"(Michael's parents' Westie). It's such a funny dynamic with the two 'rowdy puppies' Otis and Huck wrestling constantly and playing until they can't keep their eyes open and Uncle Max telling them to 'back off' and 'be still' with this growls and grunts.

The one thing that they can all agree on? If there is a squirrel in the backyard, it's time to ATTACK!

Below: Max looking up, then Huck with his tail at attention and Otis in front of him.

Below: Max stands on the tree, blocking our view of Otis as Huck keeps watch on the tree.

29, 30 and 31 weeks... and counting

Well it's time to face the reality of it all. I'm 31 weeks pregnant, the nursery is not done, we do not own a crib, our "sitting room" looks like Babies R Us threw up and I have done about 10% of my Christmas shopping. We did have a wonderful relaxing Thanksgiving, but last/this week I am back to work where we are discussing some major re-branding to happen early next year and 2011 Media plans. This is all just work-speak to you guys, but for me it means travel (just this week) and very busy work days at least until Christmas.

The upside of the nursery... My bedding is totally complete, I just haven't posted any pictures because there isn't really a good way to "display" it so I'm just waiting for the crib. The room is painted, Michael took all the wiring OUT of the nursery closet and rewired it to drop into the hall closet as well as replaced all the sockets with child proof ones. The blinds are back up and the closet is completely painted. Dad was here a couple of weeks ago and helped dramatically with putting a coat of paint on the walls and helping us sand and patch the closet. Cleaning the carpet, painting the windowsill, and installing baseboards and closet shelving remain.

Below: See dad and Michael "discussing" in the nursery.

It is noticeably harder these days to:

• Put on socks, pantyhose, shoes, etc.
• Shave my legs (thank heaven it's winter!)
• Roll over in bed at night
• Get up off the floor or out of a chair
• Bend over to pet Huckleberry (or to scold him and drag him out of the backyard where he is chasing squirrels)

I am still sleeping hard and sound at night and I am VERY thankful for this. I am dreaming vivdly, but not having any crazy baby dreams. I am exceptionally hungry and thirsty most of the time. Every couple of days (what used to be) my belly button hurts and burns while my body tries to grow and accommodate this little person that God is growing in there, but other than that and the occasional aching in my left leg I really still feel pretty good. I am VERY thankful for this as well! At times Michael and I can distinctly feel something hard pressing from inside my belly like a butt or head or knee (ha! it's distinctly there under the skin, but it's totally indistinct what it is!) and this is exciting b/c it's different than the little jabs and kicks we were feeling before when baby had more room to move.

At 29 weeks my friend Allison who is a photographer was so kind to take some maternity photos of us in downtown Grapevine. You can see some of the pics on her blog http://allisonharmsphotography.blogspot.com/2010/11/michael-and-natashas-maternity-shoot.html and you can see others here http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=583980&id=864180073&l=b640afaa04 . They came out so great and we have so many that we love of Michael and I + baby belly.

During week 30 we had our second super high-tech sonogram and confirmed the baby is still a girl! Whew! She still looks perfectly healthy (so much to be thankful for!), they estimate she weighs 3.7 lbs and her femur measured longer than average... shocker! She's measuring about 2 weeks ahead of my due date, but our OB said the Dr. that did the sonogram always tells people their babies are huge, so maybe she's not quite so large after all.

The belly at 30 weeks.

The belly at 31 weeks.

Sweet Things...

Last weekend we were in College Station and got to have lunch with Ninny and Opa at Red Lobster after church. I don't remember how we got to the subject of the baby, but Michael said "Did you ever think you'd be sitting here talking about your great grandbaby that is on the way?"

I wish that I would have done a better job of mentally noting what Opa said, but the gist of it was that he didn't ever expect it because sometimes as you're going along through life you just have no idea what good things that God has in store for your future. There is no way of us knowing what our future might hold and what events might occur to change your circumstances in ways you never expected... He said that sometimes when we're younger we just don't know how good we have it so that we can just stop and appreciate where we're at, at that time.

I thought this was such a nice thing to be said in regard to this sweet first great grandbaby on the way. Ninny and Opa, I know that you are so much looking forward to meeting this baby girl that is growing by the day and I hope that you know how very excited we are to share her with you.

Psalm 127:3-5
Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them...

26, 27 and 28 Weeks and Counting...

Well, sometimes life just gets in the way of things we intend to do... and for me, it gets in the way of blogging. Ha! Among other things! I tried to tell Michael that he was behind on updating the blog (I believe he last posted several months ago), but I am the one that started this weekly pregnancy update in the first place.

Here is my attempt at catch-up! The last couple of weeks have been full. Full of my birthday, Halloween (I guess technically these two things were on the tail end of week 25), our 2-year anniversary (which included a wonderful and relaxing trip to Hot Springs, AR), our first baby shower (yay!), a visit from my dad and plenty of other things!

Week 26 we got started in the baby's room which involved quite a few samples of paint, some ripping out of base boards, some patching of holes in the wall (they were there before, we did not make them!) and some Halloween dress-up. The belly pic for 26 weeks was actually taken on the last day of week 25 so that we could document our fabulous last-minute costumes that we donned for passing out candy. My 80's make-up is so awesome that the little girl next door kept saying "Why does your face look so different?" Michael said he found it disturbing that I even owned the colors of eyeshadow that I wore that night, but he got some funny looks himself since I think the neighbors weren't sure if his 'white trash' costume was a costume or not!

Below: 26 Weeks - Family Photo

Below: Cozy Bed and Breakfast, Hilltop Manor, where we stayed in Hot Springs, AR

Below:The baby loves hiking! The fall color there was really pretty though you can't tell very well from this picture. Notice the camo jacket!

Below: View over Hot Springs. A note about these maternity jeans, I should have bought the smaller size... the droopy booty is especially evident in this picture!

Below: The belly at 27 Weeks - Hucklebear gets in on the picture action just to make sure you know that he was here BEFORE the baby. :)

My College Station shower was this last weekend on the 13th and I had such a wonderful time with such lovely hostesses! Susan Fox (my 'adopted mother') hosted the shower at her home along with my two fabulous sisters-in-law on the far left and the far right, and college friends Meredith (with the glasses) and Stacey (in green) - see picture below. This is one of those things that makes the baby feel very real. We received so many beautiful little outfits and blankets and toys as well as some of the essentials that we so desperately need - it reminds me that this precious little person growing in my belly right now will soon be joining our lives. I am so thankful to be surrounded by such love and support during this joyous time - it makes what is already a happy time all the sweeter!

Below: Me and the hostesses for my College Station Shower on Nov. 13th.

Below: We also had a joint celebration for both mine and Michael's birthday while in CS with the Anderson fam.

On the last day of week 27 I officially finished the organizer that Mom and I started sewing for the baby's room, the crib bumpers are done, and today I plan to finish the crib/bed skirt. Since we're in town this next weekend I am hopeful that I'll have pictures to show of the painted, baseboard-ed nursery and bedding by week 29.

The baby is about the size of an eggplant these days and she's practicing "breathing" the amniotic fluid to prepare her lungs for life outside the womb. She's most active in the mornings and in the evenings, so usually it's just Michael that catches her punches and kicks, but she did put on a little show for Aunt Sara during church this last Sunday. Baby Girl Anderson is anywhere from 1.5 to 2.2 lbs these days and still wrinkly, but less so as fat deposits under her skin. I'm still sleeping hard at night and hoping this lasts as my friends that pass the 30 week mark tell me that's when it gets hard. Yesterday I bought the biggest YAM at the grocery store I'd ever seen. I was showing it to Michael when I realized it was about the size of our baby.

Below: Michael 'burps' our baby Yam. What a good daddy!

We have another big sonogram appointment on Michael's birthday, Nov. 23rd so hopefully we'll have some great sonogram pics to show off before the Thanksgiving holiday.

Below: Last, but not least, this is where we're at today at 28 Weeks

Until next week... or a few weeks from now... :)

25 Weeks... Hello 3rd Trimester, Goodbye Stomach Bug!

Well the 24th week ended up being tougher than expected thanks to some strange flu-like symptoms including fevers, chills, vomiting and sore throats that plagued the Anderson household. It spared no one but Hucklebear, which basically means it took Michael and I out for a few days. That said, we're much much better now and moving on into week 25.

Week 25, baby will celebrate my birthday with me (in my belly), her first Halloween (in my belly), attend her first San Antonio Builder Guide Builder Rally (in my belly with all the candy that I'll plan to eat there), and begin painting her room (from my belly). Fortunately for her, I took two days off this week to allow for all this quality time!

This is also the week of the much anticipated glucose test. I'm certainly hoping that I don't find out I have gestational diabetes as we approach the holidays!!!

The belly at 25 weeks.

Me exasperated because I was trying to get the pants situated to take the belly picture and the camera died. Then the OTHER camera died. Either way, this is the belly at 25 weeks.