Fully Baked!

Big Mama at 37 weeks inside Baby D's nursery. This is just a sneak peak inside the nursery since it's not quite finished yet. Just a few more small details before the big unveiling!

Well folks, I'm 37 weeks along and the bun in this oven is now considered full term, or as we like to call it "fully baked." So our sweet little bundle can come at any time now and be perfectly healthy. Of course, the longer the baby stays in, the stronger it gets, so both daddy and I are ok if Baby D hangs out for a few more weeks....or until we are finally done with our to-do list! But as we all know babies have their own agenda, so we could be calling with news any day now. Keep your cell phones close by!

But both Christian and I have always thought this baby would come early. And judging by my progress, it may very well happen that way. The baby has started to drop and each night the contractions get a little longer and stronger. There's definitely less room for the baby to move around so he finds imaginative ways to get in up under my ribs or way down on my bladder. I have a feeling we have a pretty big baby in there. But who doesn't love a chubby baby!

But no matter when the little one decides to arrive, mom and dad are ready, to-do list complete or not. So bring it on Baby D! We can't wait to meet you! Actually, if you can wait until Thursday that would be great - daddy's boss has decided he needs to be in Seattle for a few days. We're a little nervous but hopeful that I don't go into labor before then. I'll be doing a lot of praying until daddy gets back!

That's about all for now. We'll just continue to prepare for the big arrival in the days to come and hope that mom doesn't get any more random cravings for corn dogs at Krystal. I see a handful of tums in my future! Nighty, night...

Family and Friends Make Life so Sweet

On my baby shower day at 36 weeks. As you can see my clothing has reached mu mu status. But at least the prenatal vitamins keep the hair thick and shiny!

Less than 4 weeks until the blessed day! I am still in shock that Christian and I will be PARENTS in just a few short weeks. It's equally exciting, overwhelming and completely surreal.

If you read my latest blog you might think that I'm less than thrilled to be pregnant. Well, I am officially over my pity party of one. It's time to look ahead and focus on all the wonderful things that are coming my way. I have a blessed life and a healthy body that is able to carry a child. There really is no reason to complain. Instead, I should be thanking God for all of my many blessings - mainly my amazing family and friends.

Last weekend was a testament to the love and support I have had during this pregnancy. First off, my mom was in town from California for my baby shower and we couldn't have had a more fun weekend. We went out to great meals, shopped for the baby and worked on the nursery. It meant so much to have her here to share in the baby preparation. She worked so hard helping me fine tune the baby's room....hanging curtains, dressing the crib and making art for the walls. Baby D will know his nursery was put together with love from Mimi. I was so sad to see her go, but she'll be back in a few weeks for the birth.

On Saturday we went to my baby shower given by my dear Atlanta friends...Kate, Sarah, Rianna and Olivia. Teresa even flew in for the day to share in the fun. It was such a beautiful day from the little lamb invitations and California theme food to the great baby games and sheep decorated petit fours. The girls really put love into the day. I am always amazed that I have created such lasting friendships in the short time that I have been here. I know we will all be close forever.

I spent the week trying to recover from the weekend and elevating my feet so they won't swell as much. But there's no rest for the weary. Christian and I still have a very large to-do list so we have a busy weekend of baby stuff ahead of us. We're hoping to finish the nursery by Sunday so I will have some photos to post. Until then, enjoy a few photos from the weekend...

Mom and Christian enjoying a Bellini at Einstein's in Midtown on Father's Day. It was our first "unofficial" Father's Day celebration but Christian insists he can't really partake until next year.

Mom and I made wall art for the nursery. It's going to be such a sweet and precious room that I think I'm going to want to live in there.

Me and the girls at my shower. I have such beautiful and generous friends here in Atlanta!

Me and my gorgeous mom. She's so over the moon to be a grandma for the second time in a year. We get to have her and Joey here for 10 days in July.

Three Little Birdies

Here is one of the little birdies born at the David House last week. If you look closely, you will see him at the very top right corner of the nest. Too cute!

Ok, since my last post was less than "rosey," I have decided to redeem myself with a really sweet one. A few weeks back Christian noticed that a mama bird had built a nest on top of the light outside our front door. After further investigation he noticed there were 3 little eggs in there so he decided to leave it be.

Well, just last week, the eggs hatched and the cutest, fluffiest baby birdies were born on Spalding Park Place. They are so tiny and sweet and they make the most adorable chirps. All of a sudden the daddy appeared out of nowhere to protect his family. Mommy and daddy make frequent trips to the back yard to collect worms to feed their babies.

We think it's a small sign from God. Our little mama bird had babies just in time for the arrival of lil Baby D. What a precious little miracle. Check out the video below and listen for the baby chirps. Enjoy....

Stick a Fork in Me...I'm done!

Ok, so I just have to vent for a few seconds. This will be a short post, no frills or photos. Just me being real.

The baby is almost here! I wish I could say I was floating on air, but let's be honest, the last few weeks of pregnancy are rough. I feel more like an elephant pounding through the jungle....a hot, humid jungle we call Atlanta. Of course we would have the hottest week of the year just as I was reaching the uncomfortable stage of pregnancy. All weekend I was quoting the movie the Elephant Man...."I am not an animal." Remind me to have my next baby in December in Antarctica!

The swelling of my feet is almost comical. What can you do but laugh?! Well, if you are a man who has never had a child you can do a few things. You can jokingly offer me a wheelchair like the barista in Caribou coffee. Or you can look at me in amazement and say "whoa" as I walk by, or you can just stare at me with sheer shock and pity as I wobble through Einstein's. I want to kill them all but I just continue to smile and remember that I am "glowing," right? Actually, the guy at Caribou got a really nasty look, but we won't go there.

Pregnancy is supposed to be the most amazing time in your life....if you consider heartburn, lack of sleep, exhaustion, swelling and moodiness amazing facts of life. The one thing I do enjoy is the fact that my stomach has been pushed so far back behind my uterus that I no longer have an appetite. Hey, there's a silver lining here.....maybe I'll lose a few LB's this week!

Ok, I'm done. Wow, that felt really good. Don't get me wrong, I have had a really easy pregnancy and I am just so excited to meet this baby!! But sometimes you are just so tired and uncomfortable and you don't want to smile for a few hours. I've decided that's ok. Just as long as I keep my eye on the prize. In a few short weeks a little bundle of joy will change my life forever and I couldn't be more thrilled. Now, if I can just do something about my elephant ankles....

Is this what they call the Home Stretch...?

This is what 35 weeks looks like...yowza! Definitely a huge growth spurt since week 33. In this picture Mommy and Daddy are getting ready for some exercise....if you call a very slow 30 minute walk around the neighborhood exercise!

The arrival of Baby D is less than 5 weeks away and mommy and daddy are in full baby mode! Every closet and cupboard in the house has been cleaned, the majority of the "baby stuff" has been purchased and after our hospital tour tonight, all the baby classes are officially done! So aside from primping the nursery and a few other things, we are pretty ready for this baby to come. I guess we are in the Home Stretch.

Everything about me has just gotten BIG, with the exception of my clothes which are getting too small. And I am just so darn hot lately. I've been setting the thermostat to 70 degrees full time, otherwise my hands and ankles swell up like sausages! Poor Christian sleeps under the down comforter at night - he's a trooper. Despite the terrible swelling, I'm still trying to walk and do yoga but all I honestly want to do is sit on the couch with a pint of Ben & Jerry's and watch So You Think You Can Dance. Dare to dream!

But ya know, all things considered this has been a really easy pregnancy. I'm feeling pretty good and just getting so excited about bringing the baby home. We are scheduled to see Dr Houston on Thursday and then every week after that. So hopefully all is well with the baby. But Baby D is definitely still very active so I suspect we are A-OK! Can't wait to hear the little heartbeat again.

My amazing mom is coming to town this weekend for my Atlanta baby shower. I am really looking forward to the shower and it's going to be so awesome to have mom there. We're also going to put the finishing touches on the nursery and do a little shopping for the baby. I have the best mom and am just really excited to spend some girl time with her. I will definitely have some great shower pics to post next week.

Over the weekend we celebrated Olivia & Jarrads wedding with a reception at Chastain Horse Park. It was a beautiful party catered by Taqueria del Sol - yummo!! Olivia and Jarrad looked so in love that afternoon! We are all so happy for them...


Olivia was gorgeous and so happy! Here's mom with her awesome friends, trying to look fresh in the 90 degree heat. Teresa and Alan came in from Jacksonville which was a nice treat!

The happy couple enjoying some time on the deck. It was warm outside and boy did the margaritas look tasty. But Baby D and I stuck to ice water.