16 days!!

Wow! I surprisingly hadn't looked at our countdown in a few days and was unaware of just how low it is getting. 16 days!!!! Oh my goodness!!! I can't wait to have our sweet baby girl and hold her in my arms. She is moving so much this morning! It's SO fun to sit here, watching her move around while I talk to her. She's so amazing already!!
I'm quickly becoming miserably pregnant so I'm hoping and praying that she decides to make her appearance soon. I've started having Braxton Hick's contractions, which feel pretty strange but I can't wait to feel the first REAL contraction and know that the big day has come. Ahh!! I can't wait!!
Well I don't go to the doctor again until Friday morning so I'll post my 38 weeks Belly Post when I get home from there and fill everyone in on my progress. I'm hoping for a better experience with the new doctor on Friday than I had last week.

I hope everyone is having a good day!!

Belly Post - 37 Weeks

Holy Belly, Batman!!

Wow! Seriously, look at how big BR is getting!! She/we are now considered full term, meaning that she is fully developed and ready to be born whenever she decides she's ready to come into this world. I hope it's really soon because I'm SOOO tired of being pregnant!! haha!

Inside my belly this week...

Brantley Rae is now full term, which means that if she arrives anytime from now on her lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb. Yay! She weighs around 6 1/3 pounds and is around 19 inches long. She might even have a full head of hair now, that is if she has any hair at all. :0)

How am I feeling at this point...READY!!

I now have stretch marks on my belly and they itch like CRAZY!! I put lotion on them and it doesn't help very much. Boo!! My nesting instincts have been kicking in a little bit today. I've washed more dishes than usual, done lots of laundry, and wiped down all of our kitchen cabinets. Hmm? Maybe she'll be coming soon?!! I doubt it but that would be TOTALLY awesome if she came soon!!

I think I've started to feel some Braxton Hicks this week but nothing painful, thankfully. I guess when the real contractions kick in I'll definitely know it. I hope! I'm gonna be doing LOTS of walking from this point on to try and get her to move down and get this show on the road. Stay tuned for the next 3 weeks, since we'll be having a birth sometime in that time frame. YAY!!

Brantley Rae,

Hey, Baby girl!! How are you? Are you ready to come out yet? I hope you're getting ready because Mommy and Daddy are REALLY ready to meet you!

So...The glidder finally came in this week on Wednesday. It's all set up and it looks great! I've even been sitting in it and rocking you while I play on my computer. It's pretty comfortable and that's a good thing since we'll be spending lots of time in your room sitting in that glidder. Oh I have a request...I need you to turn around and face my back so that your exit from my belly will be much easier for both of us. Please and thank you!! ha!

I love you, baby girl!!

~Mommy~
This is the glidder!! Yay!

Thanks, Nana and PopPop!!!

New Doctor...BOO!!!

Last Friday my doctor had her sweet baby boy via c-section. He was 7lbs 11oz and 20 inches long. (I think I remember that correctly) Mommy and baby are doing wonderfully. They went home on Sunday and Dr. S took him out to her oldest daughters school function Monday morning. Crazy lady! ha! Just kidding! But I guess that shows she's feeling well and the c-section isnt' bothering her all that much. What a woman!!

Anyways, on to my reason for posting...

Since Dr. S is now on maternity leave, today was my first day to see the new doctor. He is a Dr. S as well. I hate to say it but I didn't much care for him. Or I guess I just didn't like that he WOULDN'T check me to see if I had progressed anymore. ARG!! He said that since I was checked last week, I didn't need to be checked again until I'm 38 weeks. That's CRAP!! I don't care if he thinks I NEED to be checked or not, he should check me just because I asked. Right?!! I mean I just wanted to know. So the other thing I didn't really like is that even though I'm 36 weeks/5 days preggo today, he considered today my 36 week visit when Dr. S would have considered it my 37 week visit. Geez! So instead of going back next Tuesday (when I'll only be 37 weeks/5 days), I'm going back on Friday when I'll be 38 weeks/1 day preggo, so he'll have to check me. Ha!

Well other than all of that mess, my visit went well. BR is growing just like she should and her heart rate was great. Yay!! I'm doing good as well. My blood pressure and weight were both good. He said that I should start feeling BH contractions soon so I've got to start paying attention and looking out for those.

I hope all of you are doing well. I'm headed to dinner with my Mom & Dad while Chase is out to dinner with his guy friends for Justin's birthday. Have a good night!!

Belly Post - 36 Weeks

Wow! Can you believe it, I'm in my 9th month of pregnancy?!!! Only 4 more weeks to go. Maybe less but hopefully not more. Ha!

Inside my belly this week...

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her 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 her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she 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 her from the outside of your belly.

How am I feeling...

**Thankfully, Brantley Rae IS head down and has started to DROP into my pelvis so we should be in good shape unless she decides to turn over, heaven forbid. She is quickly running out of room in my belly and her head is pushing on my bladder constantly and her legs are kicking my ribs, which is extremely uncomfortable. Ouch!! Last night I actually slept pretty well and I only had to get up 3-4 times instead of 15 times. It was nice! My hips are really starting to hurt at night which also makes it harder and harder to stay comfortable at night. I just keep telling myself that I only have 4 more weeks (or less) and then she will be here and I'll partially have my body back to myself. :o) Anyways, I've reached my goal weight gain and I'm hoping I don't gain anymore. My doctor and I are happy with it so I'm satisfied! On Tuesday, I went to the doctor for my 36 week visit. BR's heart rate was about 137 bpm, I think, and Dr. S said that was great. I'm still measuring just right for how far along I am. They haven't told me how big they think she is yet, I'm guessing they'll do that in the next few visits. I was surprisingly 50% thinned out and 1/2 centimeter dilated. I really didn't think I would have made ANY progress but I guess my body is getting started. I haven't started having any Braxton Hicks contractions or not that I know of. Maybe I have but I just don't know it. Honestly, all I feel is a very active little girl growing inside my belly and pushing on my bladder and ribs. She and I are doing great!!**

Brantley Rae,

Today we were suppose to have a snow day. Schools were closed and everyone was preparing for white weather, but alas that didn't really happen. It DID snow at our house and around town but not much of it stuck and it was too warm today for it to stay. So it's pretty much all melted and everything is just wet now. The temperature is dropping, which means the roads are probably going to get icy during the night. I'm telling you all of this because you need to just stay put until it's a bit warmer outside and the roads aren't icy.

**FYI...I'm not showing signs of labor I'm just saying.**

So tonight Daddy and I are going over to Bebe and Granddaddy's house to watch the National Championship game. The University of Alabama is playing Texas this year in Pasadena which is really exciting for the SEC and for the Tide. Daddy and I don't normally pull for the Tide but tonight we will be because we want the SEC team to win. So for one night only I'll type RTR and pull for the Crimson Tide!! You're Granddaddy is a Bama fan so you'll probably hear him get excited tonight!

Anyways, we're still waiting on the glider to show up at our house. Nana ordered it last week and Babies 'R Us said it would be here between the 7th and the 13th, so hopefully it will show up by next Wednesday. I can't wait!!

Well, Daddy is ready to head on over to Bebe and Granddaddy's so I guess I've got to go. Keep growing and try not to hurt my bladder so much please!! Thank you!!

I love you!

Mommy

(Daddy loves you too!)

Belly Post - 35 Weeks

Wow! I totally can't believe I am 35 almost 36 weeks now. The time is starting to fly by and the excitment is starting to grow at our house. Little Brantley Rae will be here in 4-5 weeks!! Yay!!

Inside my belly this week...

This week Babycenter.com says BR is starting to run out of room and let me tell you, that's the truth! It also guesses that she is about 18 inches long and around 5 1/4 pounds. She won't be doing as many flips anymore. Now she's just jabbing me with her knees and elbows. Ouch!

Also, her kidneys are fully developed and her liver is starting t oprocess some waste. The website also says that most of her basic physical development is now complete- she just has to keep packing on the weight now.

Brantley Rae,

I wish I could explain to you how excited I'm getting about you being born. Not only I'm a ready to see your sweet little face but I can't wait for you to be out of my belly. I, by no means, want you to come before you are ready but I really can't wait for that life changing day to come! Mommy and Daddy are gearing up and getting ready more and more everyday so that we can be prepared for whenever you decide you're ready to come into this world. I'm going to start packing my bag this week, even though I don't think I'll need it for a few more weeks. It will make me feel better to know that it's started.

Nana ordered our glider today and it should be here in a week or so. I really can't wait for it to come in so I can sit in the nursery and rock with you and read you stories and stuff! It's going to be so relaxing! I'm hoping we have better luck with Babies R Us than we did with Wal-Mart. Hopefully this one will actually come. Fingers crossed!

This is what it will look like...

It will look great in your room! We are so thankful for this Christmas present because it will complete your nursery. Oh and guess what...Bebe made you the most adorable quilts this weekend and yesterday! I can't wait to show them off. One of them has a B on it and just totoally adorable and the other one is made of fabrics with pretty pastel pinks, greens, yellows and cream. You're Bebe is very talented and I can't wait for you to use them. Yay!!

Well, since you and I just had a snack and it's 4:45 in the morning, I guess I'll go get back in the bed and see if we can get some more rest. Please be still and sleep for me! Thank you sweet girl!

I love you more than you know, probably more than I even know,

Mommy (Daddy loves you so much too!!)

My New Years Resolutions

My New Years resolutions for 2010 are...

1) To strengthen my relationship with the Lord. He has done so many wonderful things for me and given me so much that I need to be spending more time with Him. Studying His word and thanking Him for all that He has given me. I've let this priority slip down my list and I'm going to move it back to the top of the list. I want Brantley Rae to learn to love and trust the Lord by watching me (and her daddy) so I've got to get my act together.

2) To be a better wife to my wonderful husband. Chase has such an amazing heart and loves me dearly and I want to make sure he knows how much I love him as well. The Lord has blessed me with an amazing spouse and best friend so I want to make sure Chase know how much I love him. I know when BR gets here this will become more challenging but more than anything I want to keep Chase happy and let me know daily that I love him and apprecitate all he is doing for our family. I get to stay home with BR while he works so hopefully I can keep the house clean and dinner on the table, just to name a few things.

3) To be a good Mommy. This is going to be the biggest challenge of all. The Lord is/has entrusted Brantley Rae to Chase and I which is a wonderful blessing. I just hope that I can be a good Mommy to her. Love her and care for her as best that I can. I know I will need lots of patience, love and support to succeed but I'm up to the challenge and I can't wait for my journey as a mommy to begin.

4) My last resolution for this year is to get my pre-baby body back. I know the whole weightloss resolution is typical for new years but I really don't want to keep a baby gut. Yuck!!

So there you have it. Hopefully I will succeed at all 4 challenge. This year is bound to be filled with so much joy and excitement that I can hardly wait to see what all the Lord has in store for our little family.

Have you made your New Years resolution(s) yet? If so, what is it/are they?

Happy New Years!!!

Yesterday was pretty uneventful. I finished packing up our Christmas decorations, we went to Lowes and the bank, Chase went to his Dad's and played with his welder and then we took a nap. The nap was AMAZING!! I'm really starting to LOVE naps. They're just what this mama needs.

So after being lazy all day we decided to go out to dinner at Surin West. YUM!! Sushi sounded SO good!! We met Ashley, Jeremy, Chad, Mandy and some of Chad's friends there.

I had some yummy (COOKED) sushi and Chase had Thai barbeque chicken. Both of us were very full and happy when dinner was over.

I was so happy to spend New Year's Eve with Ashley and Jeremy. Chase and I have really enjoyed getting to hang out with them this past week. After dinner Chase and I went home but the rest of them rang in the New Year downtown. I haven't heard if they had a good time or not but I'm sure they did.

2009 was a great year for Chase and I but I can't wait to see what 2010 has in store. We know Brantley Rae will be the first big event and we just can't wait for her arrival.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So today Chase and I had traditional New Years lunch at his parent's house. Beverly made beef brisket with the white sauce, black-eyed peas, collard greens, cornbread and these potato wedge things. Oh my goodness, it was all SO good!! We all stuffed ourselves to the max. After lunch we finished watching the Auburn bowl game. That was the most awesome, stressful, exciting, heart-attack giving game, but WE WON!!! WAR EAGLE!! It was a wonderful way to start the year. Thankfully all my yelling and elevated blood pressure didn't put me into labor and Brantley Rae and I are doing great tonight (other than the fact that I'm still awake).

We spent the rest of the afternoon and night at home watching football, I took a nap and then we had pizza for dinner. Yum!! Today was really a good day, even if we didn't do much. I mostly liked it because I was with Chase and that's my favorite place to be anytime. Aww! hehe! I love him so very much! He is a wonderful husband and my very best friend.

Anyways, I guess that's all for today. Hopefully, I'll get tired soon and be able to go to sleep soon.

Happy New Year, everyone!!