Week 28 and 29

On Saturday I began week 30. What? That means that Claudia could be here in just 10 more Fridays. I'm so excited to meet our little girl, but I'm glad that she is staying put for now! 

I've decided to abandon the list of questions because I'd rather just express what's going on without the constraints of answering specific questions and, honestly, I don't want to share how much weight I've gained! :-) 

The past two weeks have sort of been a blur. Not enough has been going on to warrant two separate updates, so that is why I'm writing this combined one, but you probably figured that out by now. To be honest, its been a pretty "normal" two weeks.

Right after we got home from our Virginia vacation, Austin started working at the Jackson Youth Villages office. It has been SO GREAT having him in town and I don't have to worry about him commuting everyday without cell phone service. We actually get to spend our evenings together again (and baby gets to eat earlier too, which is a plus!). We're currently re-watching "Chuck", our favorite show EVER. When Austin is not home, I'm enjoying the PBS Specials on the "Secrets of (insert historic British home or landmark)" on Netflix. I'm a nerd, I know, but I've learned so much! I particularly enjoyed the episodes on the mansions (Highclere Castle, Althorpe (Diana Spencer's Ancestral Home) and Chatsworth). Now I want to go to England more than ever!

Anyway, having good material to watch on TV has been a blessing because I've just been physically so much more exhausted. Claudia is growing and moving all the time and, by the end of the day, I'm worn out and sore! July 31st is my last day at Union, so hopefully having more time to rest throughout the day will help with this. I've reached the point where I'm pretty uncomfortable most of the time, it takes a lot of extra effort to do basic movements (getting in and out of chairs, turning over in bed, getting in and out of the car). I feel like I'm supporting another person all the time, which is a GREAT thing, but hard in the moment many times! 

I've been so blessed with a healthy, uneventful pregnancy up until this point and I praise the Lord for that every day! We had a doctor's appointment on Wednesday afternoon and everything looks good! Her heartbeat is back to 143 BPM, I'm measuring where I need to be and I passed my glucose test. Everyone freaked me out about that, but it was really just like drinking a really flat orange soda. It amused me that the lab tech had to sit there and watch me drink it. I finished off the appointment by getting my Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis); Austin had to go the pediatric office down the hall to get his :-) 

This weekend Mom and Larry came to Jackson to help set up Claudia's nursery! It was so much fun to see everything come together! Mom is so detail oriented- she touched up paint and hung the curtains and canopy over the crib. Larry and Austin put together the crib and changing table and moved the chest of drawers (which belonged to Austin's great grandmother) into the room. I washed the bedding and made up the crib (although we're still waiting on the dust ruffle because it was back ordered). The room is really starting to come together! I've looked in there so many times over the past 24 hours, imagining Claudia in there. :-) 

Week 27 and Singing

How Far Along? 27 weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss: +14 lbs

   

Baby Related Purchases: Because this week was comprised of returning from vacation, Austin starting work in a new office, and preparing to go to Birmingham, we didn't purchase anything for Claudia. Does buying food for me to eat count?

Sleep: I've been waking up at least once in the night this week. I think its because I either need to turn over or I'm just uncomfortable. I definitely have taken turning over with ease for granted! Moving my body, in particular, my core, takes a little more time and effort these days :-)
  

Movement: I've been able to see her moving from the outside more recently. She loves waking up at night and making her presence known :-) Feeling a lot of movement from her is my cue that its almost time for me to go to sleep. Lately she's also decided to dig her heel up into my left rib, which isn't my favorite. 

What I miss: I've never been a stomach sleeper, but this morning, I missed having the option to lay on my stomach. Sometimes its just a comfortable position to be in when you're waking up! Its the little things sometimes...

  

Cravings: The strange craving for root beer continues....

Anything making you queasy or sick: No, thankfully! 

Gender: Girl!

Labor Signs: No!

Symptoms: Fatigue, Heartburn, Soreness

Happy or Moody most of the time: I think because we had a late night travelling on the way home from Virginia then went to Birmingham over the weekend, I was pretty tired last week. I'm happy that things are continuing to go well, but the physical burden of being pregnant is affecting my energy and, therefore, my mood.

Worries: Now that Claudia has reached the viability stage, I don't worry about something happening to her as much. The fact that I will be going into labor about 12 weeks from now is starting to sink in, however! I want the labor and delivery to go smoothly and for both Claudia and me to come out great on the other side! 

Best moments this week: 

When we returned from Virginia early on Tuesday morning, Austin went to work at the Youth Villages office in Jackson! He doesn't have to commute nearly an hour and half to Linden every day any more! He was able to transfer offices within the company and is now a Transitional Living Specialist (Counselor). In this role, he will be helping young adults (most of whom have aged out of the foster care system) learn independent living skills. We're both so excited and thankful that he's working in Jackson now!

This weekend we went to Birmingham to visit Dad and to sing as a family at Raleigh Avenue Baptist Church. We did a similar worship service last July. We're becoming semi-professionals! :-) We sang some of the same songs and some new ones. We enjoyed practicing with our extremely accomplished pianist, Anna, on Saturday afternoon, then ate a delicious dinner at Iguana Grill. Sunday, we went to First Baptist Church of Birmingham where Dad led the music for worship. After our traditional lunch at Jim N Nicks, we took quick naps, then prepared for the service! It was a quick trip but a good one. We always enjoy spending time with Dad and singing together!

At our Saturday practice in Buchanan Hall at Samford :-) 

We're famous! Almost... :-) 

The Rhea Family Singers! 

After the service, we presented Anna with flowers as a thank you :-) 

The Ward Family- all three of us! 

Week 26: Virginia Vacation

Week 26 was a very eventful one! Monday afternoon, I went to the doctor for my monthly checkup and got to hear Claudia's heartbeat. She really loves running away from the heartbeat monitor- haha! It took nearly 3 minutes for the nurse to be able to count her BPM because she was so squirmy. Love my active little girl! I also got the final okay to fly from the doctor and he gave me instructions on what to do if something happened while I was out of town. That really helped put my mind at ease!

Tuesday evening after work (also Austin's last day at the Deer Valley campus of Youth Villages!) we packed our suitcases and went to Dickson so we could be closer to the airport for our early Wednesday morning flight to Virginia! 

We went to visit Catie and Charles Thompson in Newport News on the Chesapeake Bay in southern Virginia. I had actually never been to the Newport News/Norfolk area before! Catie and I have been best friends since we were fourteen (we figured out that is now half of our lives- haha!) and we hadn't seen each other (shamefully) in nearly 3 years!!! Not okay. We finally went for a visit and we had a lovely time! 

Catie and Charles were so gracious to us! We stayed with them in their beautiful home, Catie cooked and baked all sorts of delicious food and Charles drove us everywhere and was our tour guide for our visit to the naval base in Norfolk. We enjoyed being a part of their lives for a few days- visiting military bases (which neither of us had done before), going to church and getting to know their sweet group of friends! 

We planned an activity for each day and it turned out to be a great balance between being out and about and relaxing! Here are some of the highlights: 

In Nashville about to board the plane!!!

We had tons of fun in Catie's kitchen! Here we are modeling two of Catie's Williams Sonoma aprons :-) 

Strolling among the shops in Colonial Williamsburg! I loved it!!!

The Candy Shop!!! We had to sample a few items before we left, of course! We particularly enjoyed the air conditioning in this shop! 

In front of The Cheese Shop, where we had an amazing lunch! It was the best sandwich EVER! 

Williamsburg is full of beautiful gardens! They inspired me to do more in our yard :-) 

The Episcopal Church- such a beautiful building!

Catie and Charles in front of the Governor's Palace

My favorite house in Williamsburg! So quaint! 

The guys had to take a picture in such a great climbing tree! 

The courthouse and gunpowder magazine

Catie in front of her favorite house! 

The elegant Willamsburg Inn

The Christmas Mouse, where I bought some wooden cranberry garland for our Christmas tree this year!

The monument at Yorktown on the 4th of July! Look how blue the sky is! 

Catie prepared a delicious (and super cute) picnic dinner. We found an amazing spot right on the river!

Our dinner: BBQ sandwiches, cole slaw, fruit, creamed corn and Peach Tea. Yum!!!

The Alliance! I love how the light is hitting the sails

Claudia's first 4th of July! 

The pavilion at Ft. Monroe. There are concerts here during the summer.

Ft. Monroe!

Soaking up some sun at the beach! It was the PERFECT day!

At the Norfolk Naval Base! I love being near the water! 

Love this sweet couple! I feel like this belongs in a magazine! '

How Far Along? 26 weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss: +14 lbs

   

Baby Related Purchases: Catie and Charles gave us an entire box of things for Claudia! There were three adorable outfits, pink baby hangers, bassinet sheets and Claudia's first monogrammed stationary! 

Sleep: I slept so great on vacation! We did a lot of walking and I think that really helped me stay asleep through the night.
  

Movement: Claudia Grace loves to stick her heel (or something!) up into one of my ribs on occasion. She definitely doesn't let me forget she's there! She was also quite active when we would take off and land in the airplane. I love feeling her move!  

What I miss: Being fast and having endurance! When we went to colonial Williamsburg, we walked everywhere, of course! It was frustrating having to stop as much as I did to rest. Fortunately, there were benches under the shade all along the way! When we were in Yorktown for the Fourth of July, with thousands of other people, I wished I could walk quickly as we were leaving after the fireworks. I'm really reaching that point where it feels like I'm carrying another person. 

  

Cravings: No strange cravings this week :-) 

Anything making you queasy or sick:  No, thankfully!

Gender: Girl!

Labor Signs: No!

Symptoms: Tiredness, some swelling, some heartburn, leg and foot cramps on occasion

Happy or Moody most of the time: I have been very happy this week! However, I can tell my emotions are shifting more easily these days. In the Charlotte airport, they have friendly bathroom attendants who are responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of the restrooms, greeting people, and they have some mints, lotion and other toiletry items you might need. Austin told me that the attendant in the men's restroom was a sweet old man. As Austin was washing his hands, the old man gave a peppermint to a small boy and said, "Stay in school." I started crying right in the middle of the food court in the airport when I heard that story!

Worries: No new worries here- I'm still struggling with the same old same old. Going on vacation was such a gift! Sometimes just getting out of your normal routine helps! 

Best moments this week: Um, all of it!!! :-)