She's a big girl!

Yesterday was our 36 week checkup and we got to see the baby again on the ultrasound. The machine estimated her weight at 6lbs 11oz! She is making her way up the scales with 3 more weeks to go. Oh my goodness. I know that sometimes those estimates are not accurate, but we are still prepared to have a healthy baby girl that might be a little bigger than we expected.

They also said that she has long legs, big feet, and lots of hair. Kevin never fails to ask if her hair is red, and of course every time the lady says she can't tell. The ultrasound lady doesn't have much of personality when she is working. Everything looked good and she was practicing her breathing, her heart was beating, and she has all her toes, fingers and other limbs.

There is her big foot

This one is the front of her face with her arm coming over

This is a shot from under her chin, showing her mouth and under her nose. What a cute button nose.

Thank you God for our baby girl and for all the joy she has already brought her parents, grandparents, aunts, and cousins. I can't get over what a miracle this all is and how blessed we are.

Last month

Wow, I can't believe that we are in our last few weeks of pregnancy. I say we meaning me, the little baby, and of course Kevin. Kevin has been a wonderful husband and awaiting dad. Don't get me wrong I still feel like I have definitely gone through more than him, so I will still have that to hold over his head, but at the same time he has done his preparing in a different way. He has waited hand and foot on me, listened to me complain about not being close enough to my family, and let me nag him a little bit about the things that I feel have not gotten done fast enough. I only have 3.5 more weeks to be needy, tired, and hog the couch in order to put my swollen feet up. He is going to be so happy to have the couch back.

Overall, it has been a great experience and I really have no major complaints except for the usual pregnancy symptoms that every woman goes through. I will miss her moving around inside my belly and wondering what she is doing and what she is thinking. When she moves all I can do is stare down and wait for her next move. I love watching her play and get so frustrated that no one else gets to see her when she does her big jumps. I am already so proud of her and can't wait to show her off to everyone I know. I guess its time to admit that I am a Mommy. Oh my goodness, that is so BIG!

I just pray that she is healthy, happy, and that Kevin and I can be as good of parents as both of our parents were and are. We are so blessed with all of our families and I know this baby girl will be spoiled rotten with love from her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. She already is, really.

The big question now is: What will she look like? I am so excited to see her face and to see if she will have bright red hair like her mom, Grandma Rosa Lee, Aunt Melanie, Aunt Glenda, and Aunt Sara. The odds are pretty good, but if she comes out with crazy brown hair like her Dad, that will be fine too. The suspense is just killing me though! I am sure she will look a little bit like me and a little bit like Kevin. We will know soon enough. How can she be anything other than adorable, I mean, take a look at me and Kevin when we were little. Precious lil ones!

Staycation

Today is Kevin and my 3rd wedding anniversary. I can't believe it has been 3 years since we had our amazing wedding in the Caymans. I think for our 5 year anniversary we will invite all our friends and family back down to Grand Cayman and do it all over again. I think everyone might show up again.

So for our anniversary we decided we needed a weekend vacation; however, Kevin was a little weary about leaving town with his wife 8.5 months pregnant. I am not sure he knows that they have hospitals in other towns, but I appreciate his concern and care. So, we decided to stay here in Savannah at the Mansion on Forsyth Park. It is a beautiful hotel with a really nice restaurant, rooftop bar and spa. We had massages on Saturday afternoon, had a great dinner that night, and then drank coffee on the rooftop and enjoyed the nice weather. Sunday we layed by the pool and then went out to the beach for the first time all summer. It was really nice and relaxing. Sunday night we ate at a nice restaurant downtown and I had my first glass of Riesling since I got pregnant. Oh my my my! It was so good, I could have drank the whole damn bottle, but I stopped at a half a glass.

Monday we slept in (well I slept in and Kevin went to the house to let Casey out), checked out of the hotel, drove around downtown for 10 minutes, and went home and took naps. It might not have been our most exciting vacation ever, but we enjoyed being away from the house and not worrying about what we needed to do for our chores.

Oh, and I wore a bikini for the first time. Very hard decision, but I felt so free and liberated. There were only a few people at the pool and they were predominately older guys. In fact, one of the guys had on a swimsuit that was yellow, tight, and see thru. This was no small guy either. It was pretty funny, and made me feel less likely to be judged. One of his friends was wearing a speedo too, so it was a great day to let my baby belly hang out and get a little sun.

It was a good time and I can't believe I have been given such a wonderful husband and now the gift of a child to share with him. This was definitely a very special anniversary for us both. We are so blessed and grateful.

8 months! Wowzers!

Well, as much as I don't want to post any pictures of me at 8 months pregnant, I feel like it would be unfair to those who haven't seen me in all my glory. Ok, its not that bad, but check out the Incredible Hulk hands that I'm sporting. That's the best part.

Other than a little bit of swelling and a horrible pain under my rib, I feel fine. Everything is still going well and we are 7 weeks away from our due date. It gets more and more exciting every week. I forgot to mention that after the big weekend of baby showering and family visiting, I did have to wear a surgical shoe on my left foot because I had a stress fracture. It really was no big deal, it is already off, but my feet were under a lot of stress from all my extra weight. My poor little feet aren't used to carrying around that much person.

Sara Kristine

Happy Birthday Sara!!!

Well, 33 years ( I think that's how old she is) ago on this day, my sister Sara was born into this World. Most people think that we look like twins, but I think it is just the red hair. Yes, she was lucky enough to be born a red head just like me. We are a rare kind and Sara is even more rare than just being a red head. She has always been the one in our family to be the most laid back and would go along with anything as long as it included the rest of us. She is funny, smart, beautiful, and some times really full of bullshit. She loves to give people a hard time, and she loves to be given a hard time.

Sara and I always had a special bond. The four of us sisters had such close relationships, but they are all different. I am the youngest and Sara loved to recruit me to join in on any of her wild adventures that usually included tormenting Tara. Of course that resulted in a lot of beatings from Tara when Sara wasn't around to protect me. I loved hanging out with Sara though. I loved being her sidekick. I loved the thought of us two redheads sticking together to act out mischeviousness. Although, I would still consider myself a very good child.

Well, Sara has grown up now and is a Mom to Madison Riley. She has raised Madison for the last 13 years by herself and has done an amazing job. Her parenting skills might be different from some of the rest of the World's, but it works for her and for Madison. Madison is a good hearted child who loves everyone and forgives everyone at the drop of a pin. She is very well behaved for a 13 year old and has stayed out of trouble, except for talking a lot in school. No one can take credit for her besideds Sara. They have fun together and laugh a lot. They have been through some really hard times because of Sara's unexplainable health problems. Despite all that, they are both happy and healthy.

At one point, we didn't know if Sara would make it through her many surgeries and hospital visits, but she did. We all prayed and prayed that God would allow her to stay here with us and with Madison and now I am still so thankful for that. I love being around Sara. We have so much fun. We don't talk about serious issues too often, but most of the time that is a good break. We try to enjoy one another's personalities and forget that the World or we might not be perfect. There is plenty of time to discuss everyone's faults and how someone else feels about our faults. We laugh and most of the time, we laugh really hard. When Sara isn't laughing, I know something is wrong. I would never want her to be anyone but herself. She's not just funny though, she is giving and would step in front of a bus for any of us. She would drop anything she was doing if I called and told her I needed her. She loves her family and is very loyal to us all.

I miss you and would give anything to be with you on your birthday Sara. Have a great day and know that you are so special to me and to so many. People with personalities like yours don't get told that as much as some others, but its true. I respect you and love you very much.

She is going to hate me for putting up this picture, but I love it. It shows her silly side and that is what I love her most for.

Happy 1st Birthday BB

Today is Miss Betty Beatrice's birthday. Betty (BB) turns one year old today. She is the first child of my cousin, Grace and her husband Justin. Grace and I grew up together and were best friends throughout our whole lives as well as family. Now, she has a one year old and I have one on the way. Time really does get away from you. I really wish that our two daughters could run the streets together like we did, but situations are different and we will get them together as much as possible.

BB you have your whole life ahead of you and I know you may look a lot like your daddy, but believe me, if you are as half as intelligent as your mommy you will do great things in life. Both of your parents are fun, creative, generous, loving, and good people. You really have no idea how much love you will get from the two of them, as well as the rest of your loving extended family. I know how great your mommy's family is and I am sure Daddy's family is just as great! I am sorry we couldn't make it for your birthday party, but maybe next year we will bring your cousin, baby girl Beckwith, to your 2nd birthday. Happy Birthday BB!

Birthdays this Week

Well, I had a very busy last week and super busy weekend. So I have some catching up to do on my birthdays.

Happy Birthday Kam!!

First, Monday was Kam DeLeon's birthday!!!! Happy Birthday Kam and I am sorry this wasn't up on Monday. I know you know that our parents and sister Tara were still here on Monday, so hopefully you will forgive the tardiness of my posting.

I know this was Kam's first birthday as a Mommy. I bet that is a birthday to remember. I hope that you and Terri and Vin had a wonderful day together and that you got some much needed sleep for your gift. From what I can tell, you are doing an amazing job at taking care of Vin. He is growing so much and getting more and more handsome in every picture. Kam has always been so thoughtful and such a fun loving person. She is always down to try new things and open herself up to anyone that comes around her. She has a great smile and uses it a lot.

We have been "sisters" for I think 13 years. When I say "sisters" I mean we weren't born sisters, but our parents married and then we became step-sisters. I decided this weekend that I don't like using the term step, but it does help people understand the dynamics of your family. The point is: I don't know everything there is to know about Kam and vis versa, but we have still shared a lot and our parents are so good about getting all of us together for family time. I am sure as our lives continue we will learn more and more about one another. I would have to say that Kam is one of the most daring and creative people I have ever known and I respect her for always pursuing her goals. Happy Birthday Kam!!

Kam, Terri, and Vin