Shock and Awe

Today I hit the 28 week mark of this pregnancy. I am officially in the 3rd trimester and am on the downhill slope. Because I haven't made it to full term yet, it is a real possibility that I won't make it full term. (even though the weekly shots will hopefully get me to 37 weeks) When my notification on my phone popped up to alert me of my week change, I was a little caught off guard when it blared 3rd Trimester. When I had Aby I was at 34 weeks. That is only 6 weeks from now. When I had Mac, I was almost 37 weeks, which is 9 weeks from now. Regardless of when Caedy's birthday will be (full term or not) it is not a very long time from now.

So, because of this "revelation" today, it made me reflect on the birth of Abyigayle and McKinley. Specifically the first few precious hours of just holding our miracles. How after those first few hours when the craziness has died down, and the baby has been passed around, you get the opportunity to sit and just look at the baby. You just check out each wrinkly toe and finger, look over the little ears, and try and guess who they look most like.

Here I am really holding Aby and McKinley for the first time.

(Aby)

(McKinley)

Oh how I can't wait to see what Lil' Miss Caedance looks like, and to have one last picture like these to add to our albums!!!!!

91 more days, or 27 Weeks

(Unfortunately I didn't have my handy little picture taker around, so I had to take my own picture)

This week I started my 27th week. It's very hard to believe that soon I'll be moving into my last trimester. As of now Caedance is 2 lbs and about the size of a cauliflower. This past Tuesday I had a dr. appointment. It was good to hear her heartbeat and find out that I'm measuring right on track. These past few weeks haven't been a piece of cake. I'm not sleeping well, and find it very difficult to even get into a comfortable position. My appetite is also not very good. I'm not sure if it's the heat or what, but I'm just not hungry. Luckily Dr. Spears says that my weight gain is ok, so that if I don't feel like eating it's not going to hurt anything. That's hard cause I still have to feed my family. Luckily smoothies always sound good and so does yogurt. Although I'm pretty sure that Chris couldn't live off either of those things =) The heartburn has been horrid. I'm sure that will only get worse as well.

My shots are going well. My mom has had to step in and help out in this area as Lisa has been out of town a few times. I am very thankful that she does. While I was at my appointment on Tuesday Dr. Spears went ahead and checked to make sure I hadn't started dilating. Thankfully I haven't!!! So hopefully these weekly shots are going to work. I was around the 30ish week when I found out I was 3 cm dilated with McKinley. Now, I know you can walk around dilated for weeks, but there is nothing more nerve wracking then wondering if you are dilating more during daily activities. So, I was quite relieved. This next week I get to do the glucose test!! That will be super fun. I think it's funny how things change so quickly. Just a short time ago when I was pregnant with Mac I had to fast before this test, and now they say you don't. I also have moved into appointments every 2 weeks. This makes me a little anxious and excited. I just can't believe we are getting so close to the end.

This week in particular has been rough. I have been extremely tired and hot. I've napped everyday with Mac while Aby has been at camp. I know there is nothing wrong with this. I need my sleep, especially if I'm not getting it at night. But I feel very unproductive. I hate that feeling. I'm hoping that it's a short term thing and I'll get over it. Wishful thinking I'm sure, especially the closer we get to the end ;) We've spent some time hanging out in the pool too. I'm sure that we'll be doing that this weekend as well!!!

I'm also just about finished with her nursery. (that will be a separate post) I feel in need to get it finished. I have just a few things to finish as far as decor is concerned and then it'll be ready for move in day. I have had a lot of fun going through all the girls' old baby clothes and items. And of course she'll get a few new things for herself.

I'm always amazed and a little creeped out by all the movement going on in my belly. She of course is quite busy right when I lay down at night. I'm trying to really enjoy this part knowing I will never have this feeling again. It really makes me wonder what in the world she is doing. And I'm just dying to know what she looks like. The girls are still really intrigued with my ever growing belly. McKinley in particular loves to lay her head on it and talk to Caedy. I think it's quite sweet. They both are also very in tune with how I'm feeling, and if I need help with something they are very good about doing whatever they can. I'm certain this behavior will continue once Caedance is born. I'm very certain I'll have more help than I can handle.

Aby's Kindergarten Graduation

Kindergarten Graduation was certainly a big deal in our house this year. Aby was excited and very sad about this final ceremony of the year. She was excited about moving on to 1st grade, but VERY upset to be leaving Mrs. Hale. I thought we might have a few tears during the ceremony, and there were just not from her =)

They started off the ceremony by singing several songs. The second song was so sweet and the water works started. It's a good thing we recorded it cause I didn't even hear any of the words. Miss Mac checking out the festivities.


Here all the Kinders are singing their hearts out!

Mrs. Hale giving Aby her diploma.

One last pic of all the kiddos in Aby's class.

Such a bea-u-ti-ful smile!!!

Two proud Grandmas

Aby and two of her best buds

Aby could not have been put in a better class. I prayed and fretted about whose class she would be in, and just hoped that her introduction to school would be wonderful. God answered my prayers 100 fold. We were blessed to have spent the last nine months with Mrs. Hale. She is one of those teachers that you remember you whole entire life. She is that impactful. And Village Elementary is super lucky to have her on staff.

Aby had a wonderful Kindergarten year, and we are looking forward to what 1st grade will hold.

Our Movie Star

Beware- This post is chocked full of pictures

Aby has been dancing since she was 18 months old. She started out "dancing" in a Mommy and Me class in Temple dancing for Lisa's Dance Studio. The class did a bean bag routine on stage and she was forever bitten by the dancing bug. This is Aby's 3rd year to dance at the Performing Arts Studio here in Georgetown and her 5th dance recital including the 2 while in Temple. This year was the Performing Arts Studio's 25 year. The recital was phenomenal. Aby was in the K-1 class for ballet and tap. They did a tap routine about becoming a movie star. Here are some pictures from her recital.

Getting all dolled up.

One of the best parts of recital day is receiving flowers. This year we decided it was easier to just give them to her before she left the house.





Striking a Pose

Me and my girls. Hard to believe next recital Mac will be in her costume too and Caedance will be tagging along.

Aby and her cuz Deanna

This was one of Aby's favorite dances. It's a hard knock life.

This was my absolute FAVORITE older girl routine. This is only portion of the girls dancing to the song Black Bird. They did a tap routine that was A-MAZ-ING. And their costume was so fun.

This is one of the little girls that Aby started dancing with 3 years ago.

And the dancing begins.

Here they are all together. They did a fabulous job!!! So proud of all of them.

I am very much looking forward to watching all of them dance next year!!

3rd Annual Trip

Well, I have a lot of blogging I need to catch up on. (Mainly end of the year activities) But I have a few minutes to catch up on what I was up to this weekend. For the past few years I've gone away for a weekend with some wonderful friends of mine. I have come to very much enjoy and look forward to these weekends. Three years ago we went and hung out in San Antonio, last year we went to Rockwall hung out by the pool and then saw Wicked. This year we wanted to have no itinerary and decided the best place to do that would be the beach. So we made plans to head down to Galveston.

This past Thursday Chris loaded the girls in the car and took them to San Angelo for the weekend. Our niece was celebrating her 3rd birthday, so they had a blast there partying on the lake. This meant I had a whole Friday to do as I pleased. I did some running around, then met Brittany at our favorite salon to get a pedicure. Once Brittany was finished with teaching her aerobics class that evening we were off. These weekends usually consist of lots of talking, laughter and FOOD! This weekend was no different. Saturday morning we got up to eat breakfast and then headed to the beach. We hung out there for most of the morning. The weather was BEAUTIFUL!!! It wasn't too hot and there was a really nice breeze. Brittany mostly laid in the sun (cringe), Lisa joined her but also did some boogie boarding, and then I mostly hung out under the umbrella and worked on an embroidery project for Caedance's room. Lisa was out boogie boarding and then came back saying she saw 3 black fins in the water so she got out cause she couldn't tell what they belonged to. We ended up walking to a pier and as we were doing this noticed most everyone in the water looking out away from the beach. They too saw the 3 fins which actually turned into a pod of dolphins. We didn't get a picture of them because they were too quick, but it was so fun to sit and watch them playing for a bit. We ended up at a very yummy Mexican restaurant where we stayed for a very long time chatting. After that we headed back to the hotel to wash off the sand and head to see what we could find. We found a fun little ice/custard stand called Ritas. Again, we hung out there for quite awhile watching people come and go along the sea wall. We were there well past 6:30 and decided it was time for something a little more substantial, so we headed to Landry's. We dined outside listening to live music and watching the ocean waves. The next morning we got up and headed out. We stopped for lunch at this nice cafe downtown Brennam called Must Be Heaven. And it certainly was!!! This place is worth looking up and dialing into the GPS!

I so much enjoy these fast paced weekends. I am excited to see what next year will hold.

Hanging out on the beach

Lisa catching a few waves. This was before she was spooked by the fins.

Dining at Landry's.

These desserts were to die for!!! Lisa got the coconut pie (left), I got chocolate, and then Brittany got the homemade bread pudding. We all needed to go boxes.

127 more days, or 21 weeks

A lot has been going on since the last pregnancy post. As of now Caedance is almost a pound and is about the size of a banana. She is moving around quite a bit, and Chris has finally been able to feel her moving as well. When I finally lay down to rest the girls are already in bed, so they haven't been able to feel her yet.

The first time that I saw Dr. Spears we discussed any ways that could help prolong my pregnancy to ensure that I make it to full term. She suggested that at 16 weeks we start weekly progesterone shots. They are taken through the 36th week. Although she did say since they last in your body a full week that we could do through the 37th week so it would take me to the 38th week. At first I was a little nervous about it, but we did research and decided that we'd go ahead with it. Fortunately my mom taught my good friend Lisa how to give me the shots, so weekly she plays my nurse. And I must add she does a wonderful job. So, hopefully these will work and I for once will have a full term baby.

This past week was kind of rough. Starting last Wednesday I started seeing spots out of my right eye. I started monitoring my blood pressure more closely. It was slowly creeping higher and higher. I've also had some headaches that luckily I can take Tylenol and keep it dull enough to get through the days activities. This past Tuesday I had an appointment and luckily we found there was no protein being spilled into my urine. So I was VERY relieved with that. I am going to start cutting back on my activity levels as well to hopefully help with the blood pressure. Luckily school is almost over for the summer, so that will help too once we aren't on such a tight schedule.

I did get some great news. At our ultrasound appointment Caedy was not very cooperative, so we get to go back and get new pictures of her. So next Wednesday we get to see her again. Dr. Spears told us that she looks perfectly healthy, they just like to have two different views of the spine and she wouldn't move around enough for them to get a proper picture.

At 21 weeks I'm starting to feel really pregnant =) I know that sounds funny. Things are starting to be a little more difficult. Like picking things up off the floor, or cleaning bath tubs, or getting out of bed in the morning. It's also nice to have two little ones who can help me a lot more around the house.

This post I have included a friend of mine in the pregnant picture. She is such a sweet friend of mine and I'm so glad to have gone through a pregnancy with her. She is actually about 10 weeks ahead, so she doesn't have much longer. And she is also having a Little girl, so Caedance will have an instant playmate.

Mothers Day

This Mothers Day was very special. I was invited to 2 tea parties. The first one was at Mac's school. We showed up and had a breakfast together.

Here we are with the special gift that McKinley made me. It was neat to get one of these picture flowers because Aby made one of these several years ago. So, now I have two =)

On Friday I was invited to a tea party at Aby's school. This was such a sweet tea party. Each mom was asked to stay in the hall and their child would come escort them in. Then they had to formally introduce us to the class. The room was beautifully decorated with flowers on the tables and a beautiful buffet table.
At my place setting was a place mat made by Aby, and then there were several little gifts set out. One was a corsage she had made, a book, and a facts sheet about me that she filled the answers in.

Here we are with my beautiful corsage.

We had breakfast of fruit, muffins, and tea and got to read through the little book about what I help Aby do. I didn't get past the first page before I had tears streaming down my face. I'm not sure what came over me. I'm NOT a crier. I tear up and can be overcome by emotion. But I don't usually bawl like a baby. But I did, and we're going to blame hormones =) After we had a tea then the kids sang a few songs for us. It was adorable. Once they were finished us moms got to play a guessing game. Each child drew a picture of their mom and we had to guess who was who. I guessed Aby's drawing because of the green eyes she used.

Just when I thought it couldn't get any sweeter she brings me a package wrapped in pink paper. In it was this beautiful painting that Aby painted for me. I'm now looking for just the perfect place to hang it.

Sunday was a very busy day. We have child dedication at church every Mother's Day. It was so sweet to watch the parents dedicate their little babies. It made me long to hold our sweet Miss Caedance, knowing that next year we will have the opportunity to do the same.
Chris and the girls surprised me with a wonderful gift of a gift card to my favorite place to have a massage. So, I'm definitely looking forward to using it!!!