39 Weeks

39 Weeks

How far along? 39 weeks

Total weight gain: 26lb.

Maternity clothes: I have been wearing Blake's t-shirts, since all of mine have obviously not been fitting for a long time. Now, his shirts are getting a little tight and short so I am very happy I only have 1 more week left!! :)

Stretch marks? No

Sleep: Sleep has been a big struggle recently. I will wake up in the middle of the night wide awake sometimes, wake up a billion times to turn over, and get up a few more times to the restroom. Ugh! My hips have also been hurting more in the morning after I wake up. I can't wait to sleep on my back and stomach soon!

Best moment this week: We have been so blessed to have quickly made some great friends since joining our church. We got to hang out with some of them this weekend, which was great!! It was also Father's Day this weekend. To celebrate, my parents came over and we went to lunch at Cock of the Walk! It was DELISH!

 Blake and Dad after enjoying lots of yummy catfish!

Love my mom so much!!

Miss anything? Being able to eat a normal sized meal. Whenever I eat a little too much, I am so uncomfortable for hours afterward. Caroline is taking up too much area for my stomach to fill up like normal. Haha!

Movement: I can really tell she is running out of room to move now. She is definitely stuck and wedged in there for good now!! Just waiting for her to move OUT now!! Haha!

Food cravings: Blake and I have been enjoying half price milkshakes at Sonic at night... yum! I love their strawberry milkshake!

Anything making you queasy or sick: No

Gender: Girl!!

Labor signs: More contractions for sure, but still nothing that is making any big progress. I was 1.5cm dilated this week and 90% effaced (thinned out)... so, we decided on a pitocin induction Tuesday (June 26) if she doesn't come before that on her own! We can't wait to meet her! It has given me such peace of mind to just have an end date in sight. We are praying for a healthy baby girl and safe delivery whenever she comes into the world!

Symptoms: My belly is still growing! She has definitely dropped lower, but I just feel huge. Haha! It is so hard to just roll over in bed  or bend over to pick something up having such a big belly.

Belly button in or out? Out

Wedding rings on or off? Off... can't wait to wear my rings again soon!!

Looking forward to: Meeting our sweet Caroline in the next week!! I cannot wait to hold her in my arms and just love on her! It has been such a blessing and joy to carry Caroline inside for the last 9 months, and I cannot imagine the feeling of holding her in my arms for the first time! What a miracle...

38 Weeks

38 Weeks

How far along? 38 weeks

Total weight gain: 25lb.

Maternity clothes: I am so ready to not have to wear only maternity clothes. My wardrobe selection is very limited, and I am ready to be able to just wear some different things. I remember how eager and excited I was when I first "got" to wear maternity clothes... haha! Oh how a few months can change your perspective!

Stretch marks? No

Sleep: I have been sleeping pretty well. Getting up about 3 times a night and waking up maybe 1-2 other times just to turn over in bed. 

Best moment this week: Having an ultrasound and getting to see our little girl!! :) We had an ultrasound at this appointment just to check on everything and make a guess at Caroline's size. Based on their measurements, they guessed her weight at 7lb. 6oz. right now. I don't know how accurate those estimates really are, so it will be interesting to see how much she really weighs when she makes her grand entrance!!

Miss anything? Laying on my stomach. That is just the one thing that I crave more than anything that I can't do right now. Haha! It seems like such a silly thing.

Movement: I promise sometimes it feels like she is trying to kick her way out of my stomach. She is going to have some muscular little legs based on how hard she is kicking me now!

Food cravings: I haven't really had any specific cravings, but I am trying to just eat small frequent meals and snacks. I have run out of room for my stomach to really hold a normal sized meal comfortably.

Anything making you queasy or sick: No

Gender: Girl!!

Labor signs: I am definitely having contractions... they just aren't strong yet. They will just come and go randomly throughout the day. I was 1cm dilated this week. We talked about a possible induction next week if I am dilated more... but I really want to go into labor! I know it is convenient and nice to just have it scheduled, but I have always wanted it to just start naturally. So we will see! I have just been praying that I will have a peace about God's timing for an induction or labor and know if that is the right thing to do this week or not. I am not really leaning towards the induction this week... so we will talk about it Tuesday with my Dr and see. I just want what is best for Caroline.

Symptoms: My hips have still been hurting some... mostly when I first wake up in the morning. I am just thankful that means she is moving down and my body is getting more ready for her! Hard to complain about that... haha!

Belly button in or out? Out -- it also seems to be poking out more this week than before. Not sure if it is just how she is positioned or what. Haha!

Wedding rings on or off? Off

Looking forward to: My doctor's appointment this week and seeing if there is any more progress toward labor. We could possibly be meeting our sweet baby girl (either because of induction or going into labor) this week so we are definitely looking forward to that possibility more and more every day!! :)

Caroline Grace Thaxton : {Nursery}

The day has come for Caroline's nursery reveal! Here is a photo tour through her room.

This is the view when you walk in the door. Behind the door is her closet. Beside the closet is her bathroom.

 I LOVE this corner! I know I will be spending many hours here, and I can't wait! (The door in the background is her bathroom.)

Caroline's bedding was custom made... for someone else. Haha! My mom and I found it at a consignment sale with no signs of wear or tear on it! Great deal for a one-of-a-kind piece!

 Her swing! I sure hope she likes it because I love it! It looks so cozy...

Her dresser and custom window treatments by yours truly! :) I had lots of help from Mom, Dad, and Blake. It was a fun project, and I love how it turned out in the room.

 Up close of the monogram I did!

 On the wall opposite of her crib, we have a twin bed so we can partly use this as a guest room still... or if I need to take a little nap while Caroline naps! :)

 My mom made this banner for Caroline's baby shower. The shelf was in my cousin's room when she was little. The bear in the middle of the shelf is what we put footprints on where I used to work. I had my best friend at work, Rivers, decorate a bear for Caroline before I left so that I can have a piece of them here with me in Florida!! It is now in her hospital bag so we can get footprints on it when she is born! :)

Well there it is!! I hope y'all enjoyed the tour! Come and see it in person and visit Caroline when she is born!! She can't wait to meet everyone! :)

37 Weeks... FULL TERM!

37 Weeks

How far along? 37 weeks... Full term!! Caroline could come any day now! That is so crazy to think about!

Total weight gain: 24lb.

Maternity clothes: My mom gave me a really cute navy blue maxi dress that is going to be perfect for the last few weeks! I think I am going to wear it on a date night soon! We have to take advantage of our last few dates before Caroline makes her big debut! We all know we won't have time for awhile after that!

Stretch marks? No

Sleep: I have actually been sleeping really well... besides the waking up lots to turn over and use the restroom. But I cannot complain about that at all! It has been much better this past week.

Best moment this week: We had a really great week! Sunday-Tuesday, Blake's cousin (April) and her husband stayed with us. His Grandmother and Grandaddy brought April and Dustin to the beach as a surprise for April's birthday. We had a great time spending time with them for a few days!

On Wednesday, Mom and Aunt Nancy came over to Milton after my Dr. appointment for the week and we had a full day of fun!! We fixed up Caroline's nursery (next post will have lots of pictures!!) and had a great day shopping around town a little. We went to the Piano Cafe, which is in downtown Milton inside the Old Post Office (which is also an antique shop). It was great to have some girl time and get lots accomplished too!

Miss anything? I miss being able to go in a store or anywhere and not get a billion stares. Haha! When you are big and pregnant... people's heads turn and look! I am not big on being the center of attention so I am ready for people to stare at my pretty baby instead of me. Haha! :)

Movement: She is one hyper child some days! One day this past week, she was moving so much Blake said it looked like she was about to bust out of there! We grabbed the video camera, and of course she stopped moving completely!! We waited a few minutes and she started again. We caught a little on video but it was not as crazy as the first time. It will be so strange in a couple of weeks (or less!) to not feel or see her kicking inside of me. I think that is one thing I will actually miss after she is born. It is such a special bond to be able to feel that inside of you!

Food cravings: I have just wanted lots of fruit recently. I have been eating lots of blueberries, oranges, bananas, grapes, and peaches. I am so thankful for wonderful fresh fruit at this time of year to satisfy my cravings!

Anything making you queasy or sick: No

Gender: Girl!!

Labor signs: Same ole contractions... Haha! I am wondering when they are going to be getting more intense. They are still very mild at this point, but I know that will soon change! I really want to go into labor as opposed to being induced, so I hope that works out for me!! We will see in the coming weeks...

Symptoms: Last week, I said how my hips have been hurting... Well, I think that pain is paying off. The Dr. (I actually saw a female Dr. who is in the same practice as my Dr. this week because he is out of town) said Caroline is getting lower and in my pelvis now! Her exact words were, "She is making her exit maneuvers." Uh oh!! Getting close!

I also now have the STRANGEST pregnancy symptom ever... Well, at least it has been my strangest symptom. The upper part of my belly is numb. It itches, I scratch it, but I can't feel a thing!! It is bizarre and a bit annoying. I asked the Dr. about it. She said it is from nerves getting stretched and compressed. She said all the feeling should come back after I deliver. I also realized that the hot water in the shower makes it feel very strange now that it is numb. So... I am officially a strange pregnant lady with weird symptoms! Haha!

Belly button in or out? Out

Wedding rings on or off? Off

Looking forward to: Getting to hold Caroline and see what she looks like! It is such a huge answer to prayer that I have made it to full term, and now all I can think about is my baby girl being here and in my arms! I am praying for a safe and healthy delivery for me and Caroline (whenever God knows it is her day to come). I am not anxious for her to be here... I just want to enjoy these last few days and weeks of being pregnant and for her to make her grand entrance in God's timing.