Day 5: Countdown to Austin

5 days pre-baby and it was time to roll up our sleeves and be productive. We finally completed the finishing touches on the nursery bathroom makeover. I love how bright and happy this room looks now and I feel like we really accomplished the "Hampton's Beachy chic" look we were going for.

Here are the improvements we made:

• We replaced the vinyl flooring with 14" ceramic tile in a tumbled ivory.
• We replaced the unfinished vanity and laminate counter tops with a new vanity, warm cinnamon granite counter top and and ivory undermont sink.
• We replaced all brass fixtures and faucets with nickle fixtures.
• We added wainscoting to the walls as well as a new, detailed chair rail.
• We painted the walls to match the darker strip in the nursery and used a contrasting white on the wainscoting.
• We added brighter vanity lighting and a new large mirror (to accommodate both short and tall people!)
• Although we originally wanted to re-tile the shower and replace the toilet, once we replaced other dated elements in the bathroom, the shower and toilet blended nicely and got to stay!

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I also finished hanging Austin's keepsake shelves in the nursery. I wanted a place to display my silver rattle, spoon, and cup, his new silver cup (to be engraved), Zach's framed lock of hair from his first haircut and Zach's baby dress shoes. I also added some empty frames awaiting his pictures and tah-dah....the diaper changing wall is complete. Now Austin can come.

Day 6: Countdown to Austin

On day 6 pre-baby we slept in (past 7:30am) and had a late breakfast from the Coffee Shop. The rest of the day was pretty low key and I did something I could never do with a new baby....I scrapbooked for hours! Austin's momma is slightly artsy-fartsy so a generic, store-bought baby book just wouldn't fly and thanks to nesting, Austin's baby book scrapbook is now close to 40 pages! I wish I nested right after our wedding since I have yet to choose our wedding album photos let alone scrapbook the event.

Here is a little peek into his album. I was able to use many of my blog posts over the past 9 months to chronologically journal and I highly recommend this to anyone that blogs because as I read through them, I realized how few details I remembered. I got chocked up reliving some of those emotional days!

On the agenda for Day 5..... clean up the total mess I made in the art studio.

I guess a mother's intuition doesn't take effect until the baby is actually born. I totally thought today was going to be the day I went into labor....but it wasn't. So Happy Birthday Aunt Nette, looks like today will continue to be your special day...no need to share.

We just topped of the day with a fabulous dinner prepared by my "shoulda' been a chef" husband. On the menu: Chicken breasts breaded with a secret seasoning, lightly pan fried and then baked with rosemary roasted red potatoes. Amazing.!!! Zach warned me it might make my legs swell....hahah! This deliciousness is worth the risk!

Final Countdown Friday

Okay peeps, turn your volume up and JAM WITH ME!!!! It's the final countdown ladies and gentleman. This last week of pregnancy deserves a little 80's rock!

I decided to start a daily FINAL COUNTDOWN. I might make it one day... or I could make it 15. Who knows, but starting today I plan to do at least one thing a day that I won't be able to do PB (Post baby).

Day 7: Countdown to Austin

Today's agenda includes a leisurely adult-only lunch at Mammie's Cupboard. Chicken Pot Pie is Friday's special so Zach and I are meeting Mom and Dad out there to stuff ourselves with Southern goodness. I might even finish the meal off with a slice of pie.... because I am pregnant and I can! Tonight I plan to walk Silver Street (the big hill on the river), take a really long shower, pluck my eyebrows, and stay up really late watching a movie with the hubs. And when I say late, I mean irresponsibly late. Like 12am or maybe even 1am.

The whole table split Banana Caramel Pie, yummy!

Prayers for Elle

My best friend's baby, Elle, is undergoing open heart surgery as we speak to repair her sweet little heart. She is 28 months old and has been such a tough cookie her entire life! Please pray for the wisdom and steady hands of the doctors at Texas Children's Hospital as they operate on Elle. Visit THEIR BLOG for more updates.

We love you Lisha, Lee, and Eleanor!

39 week update

This morning I went to the doctor to check on the baby- we will be 39 weeks tomorrow. Everything is looking exactly like it should. Here is the rundown:

2cm dilated

80% effaced

Belly is measuring 39 weeks (right on the money)

I lost 1lb from last week (Most likely due to swelling I experienced last week. It has completely gone down which is great news) +29lbs overall

Doc was able to feel his head- said he is head down and ready to rock-and-roll

* * *

So I have heard so many different schools of thought from women concerning how their doctors approach the final weeks of pregnancy and how they address going past your due date. To each, his own and please don't take offense if you totally disagree with me....this is just my perspective as my first pregnancy comes to an end.

Today I asked my doctor what his beliefs were and why. Dr. Guedon will not induce your first child before the due date if everything is progressing normally…period. He said it’s so important to let your body take its course on your first child so you know what your body needs in order to prepare. It may need more time to grow/stretch/dilate, etc. Not to mention the baby might need those extra days to position and prepare. Not only will this provide you an accurate frame of reference as to how your body works for your next pregnancy but he said many 1st time inductions can lead to c-section due to the body not responding because it's just not ready to have a baby. Not that c-sections are frowned upon but once you get one you need to have the remainder of your babies by c-section. I know c-sections are routine but to me, surgery is surgery and if there is a way to avoid it, I will.

He said inducing in subsequent pregnancies is very common and he's much more flexible in that situation. In our situation (first time baby approaching the due date) he said he will do a stress test the week of the 18^th (3 days post due date) if the baby has not come and at that point we will consider our options (most likely he will induce early that week) but he said as of now we just play by the little guys rules. I told him I really respect him as a doctor for letting mother nature take its course and letting God be God when it would be easy for Doctors these days to play God, especially to keep a complaining woman shushed.

I am sure if I was swollen, miserable, or sick I might not be so accepting of his cautious principles but as a first time mom, I am so grateful for such a quality caregiver.

I will keep you updated as we head into the last week of the pregnancy and please pray for this little guy and his mama if we do go into labor this week. As eager as I am to meet Austin, I am also very nervous about labor and everything to follow. I pray that I will make a good mother and that God will lead me through the sleepless and helpless moments with confidence and patience.

Ah Sweet Relief (38 ½ weeks)

Well I didn’t produce an offspring on the Nation’s birthday like I had hoped however I am feeling better than I have in weeks. The last 2 weeks I have been struggling with uncomfortable contractions, swollen feet and ankles, and just a general feeling of blaaahhhh! Can I make that a double BLAH with a side of gross…supersized.

But Friday brought sweet relief and I started to pull a 180! My ankles and feet are totally back to normal, I have been able to exercise again, Zach and I did some major house cleaning and preparing and I feel like I did at the beginning of my 3^rd trimester. I think it might be God cutting me some slack because he knows I have a rollercoaster on the horizon. So whether this is here to stay or simply just the calm before the storm, honey I will take whatever relief I can get!

Also the baby has dropped a few inches so I can breathe again! I can’t describe what a wonderful feeling this is….my lungs are in heaven. I find myself taking really deep breaths just because I can.

Special thanks to my parents, my father-in-law and my wonderful husband for spending their 4^th of July with me sticking close to home. Usually this is an eventful weekend at the lake but this year they all hung out with me… swimming, eating ribs and homemade Butterfinger ice-cream, and enjoying a really great fireworks show. I realized how lucky I was to have such a loving family that made our low-key 4^th of July very special. (I'll post pics as soon as I get them from my family..I don't carry a camera these days...I just look too scary!)

I go to the doctor Thursday to see what, if any, progress this little guy is making. It feels like he is just as snug as a bug in a rug and has no intentions of arriving anytime soon. Zach’s guess is the 16^th and I think my guess might be the 11th but anyday now would be fine with me!!

HELLO JULY AND HELLO FULL TERM!!!!!!!

I have been counting down the months, days, and minutes to July for what seems like an eternity and I am so glad it's here! Sounds like a great month to become a mommy to me! Today I am officially full term and 38 weeks pregnant! So he could come any day but most likely he'll be camping out for another week or 2.

We installed the carseats in both cars this week and I still am not used to seeing that cute little seat in my car...makes me smile everytime! And thanks to my sweet husband for a mani, pedi, massage certificate....I went and got a manicure so I could officially be hospital ready! I waited off on the pedicure and massage because there are so few comfortable positions for me these days and I didn't want to chance that the massage might be a really bad experience so I figured I would just wait until after the baby. Also my feet have decided to swell up like the marshmallow man so there was no way I was wasting a pedi on these pitiful pups.

This weekend we plan on getting the house ready inside and out for the baby's arrival. That means lots of cleaning. laundry, organizing, etc. Then we'll be celebrating the 4th with my parents and Zach's dad...just doing what you do on the 4th....cooking out, making homemade ice cream, watching fireworks, and maybe even going into labor!!

I hope all of you have a wonderful Independence weekend full of family, friends, food, and fireworks. Be safe and if you have a spare minute...pray for a 4th of July baby (I will be!!)!