Does this look dangerous to you?

We're rearranging and making room for baby, so, of course, at our house, that means painting!! The family came this weekend and got started on the downstairs bedroom (which will be the new guest room), and Dusty started the hallway Tuesday. Freddy came yesterday to help him finish. Freddy is the official 'cutter' when it comes to painting! I know he'll love the blog mention! :)

We borrowed a ladder that was supposed to make painting in stairways easy...doesn't look easy or safe, does it? And trust me, you can't get the full effect from this picture!

However, it is finished and it looks great!

Thanks, Freddy, for your help!!

Meet Avery Claire 4D

26

This week, Avery Claire is about the length of a English hothouse cucumber.

(Don't you have some of those lying around your kitchen?!)

How far along: 26 weeks
Net weight gain/loss: up 15 lbs.
Maternity clothes: Still loving maternity pants. Wearing a lot of sweatpants since we’ve been out of school!
Stretch marks: No (still hoping for none!!)
Belly button: innie – but it’s starting to stretch!
Sleep: Pretty good, except for bathroom trips.
Baby movement: Yes – she’s busy in there!
Food cravings: I’m still loving pepperoni!
Food aversions: No…
What I miss: That’s a hard one this week…
Looking forward to: Getting furniture in so we can get bedding started!
Best moment this week: Deciding on a name…and seeing Avery Claire on the 4D ultrasound - pics to come in a few moments!
Milestones: The network of nerves in baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. She can now hear mommy and daddy much better. She's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of her lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when she's born and takes that first gulp of air. And she's continuing to put on baby fat. Avery Claire weighs (as of 12/22/09) 1 lb, 15 oz.

Merry Christmas

...from our house to yours!

I'm not a fan of having my picture taken, but we wanted Avery Claire to see one day what her mommy looked like the Christmas before she joined us!

Santa Stopped By...

to visit Win!

He left a new blanket, a new football toy that makes a really weird squeaky noise, and not one, but TWO busy bones!!

Thanks, Santa!

Baby Girl D has a name for Christmas!

Ornament Tradition

We wanted to start an ornament tradition for our baby girl, so we decided this ornament was perfect for this year. While we await her arrival, Bama had an undefeated season and won the SEC championship, Mark Ingram became the first Bama player to win the Heisman, and Bama is on the way to the national championship game!

Less than 100...

...days to go until Baby Girl D's arrival!!

25

This week, Baby Girl D is about the size of a rutabaga. Trust me, she's much cuter!!

How far along: 25 weeks
Net weight gain/loss: up 15 lbs.
Maternity clothes: Still loving maternity pants. Wearing most of my own shirts/sweaters.
Stretch marks: No (still hoping for none!!)
Belly button: innie
Sleep: Pretty good, except for bathroom trips.
Baby movement: Yes – she could move all day long and I’d love every second!
Food cravings: I’m loving pepperoni – and I usually do NOT like it!
Food aversions: No…
What I miss: Buying new pants at Gap – they have some really cute hip-slung fit pants right now! But I’m not complaining!
Looking forward to: Painting the new guest room and painting Baby Girl’s room over the holiday break.
Best moment this week: Christmas break has arrived!
Milestones: Baby Girl Davis is beginning to put on some baby fat. She is growing more hair, and if we could see her, we could tell the texture and color of her hair. She is wiggling up a storm and doesn’t like to be crowded. If her mommy or daddy pushes on her a little, she kicks back!

Smokies

Friday after school, D & I left to go to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge to meet my family (mom, dad, Matt, Grandmother Joann, Mike, Kenneth, Melinda, Dan, Lisa, Anna, Daniel, Jacob, Beth, and Josh) for the weekend. It was a very quick trip, but we really enjoyed it. We got in a little (and I mean very little) Christmas shopping and some quality time with the family. And we got to spend about 12 hours in the car together, which is more consecutive time than we've got to spend together lately, it seems.

We didn't think about taking pictures until we back to our room Saturday night and Sunday morning, so they're not very "mountainy." It was very cold, though!! Brrr!

Sorry the quality of these pics is sooo not good. Hotel rooms do not have good lighting!

Look closely - you can see the 24 week bump!

Baby's Closet is Filling Up

I've had these pictures on my camera for awhile, but I've been a blog slacker, so I haven't downloaded them. We're working on filling Baby Girl's closet...Nana bought her a sweet pink tutu, her first baby doll, a ballet outfit, and some cute little Polo outfits for next fall. I ordered a sweater dress for next winter...and of course we have to get our Bama outfit collection started early!

24

This week, Baby Girl D is about the length of an ear of corn.

How far along: 24 weeks
Net weight gain/loss: up 16 lbs.
Maternity clothes: Still loving maternity pants. Just ironed a maternity shirt for tomorrow.
Stretch marks: No (and let’s pray for none!!)
Belly button: innie
Sleep: Pretty good. Being wiped out from shopping yesterday helped last night!
Baby movement: Yes – she could move all day long and I’d love every second!
Food cravings: Not really anything this week.
Food aversions: No…
What I miss: Sleeping on my stomach.
Looking forward to: Deciding on Baby Girl’s name!!!!
Best moment this week: Seeing Baby Girl on the ultrasound…she was holding her foot in her mouth with her hands – looks like she’s flexible!
Milestones: Baby Girl Davis weighs 1 pound, 10 ounces (as of 23 weeks, 6 days). She should gain about 6 ounces every week from now on (if you don’t want to do the math that means she should weigh around 7 lbs, 10 oz at full term). She is starting to plump up, which I could tell in her cheeks on the ultrasound. Her brain is growing rapidly and her taste buds are continuing to develop. Her lungs are developing “branches” of the respiratory “tree,” as well as cells that produce surfactant (that’s a substance that helps her air sacs inflate and not stick together once she is outside the womb).

Furniture

We've looked for nursery furniture for awhile, but I just hadn't found any I loved. I wanted black, and the only place I found a black collection that I even liked was JC Penney (but I just wasn't that happy with it - and I couldn't see it in person before I ordered it). So, last Friday, we went to LilyPads in downtown Northport, and when we walked in, I saw two beautiful nurseries set up, and they both came in black! So, after getting the go ahead from Baby Girl's daddy (that sounds a lot like "my baby daddy", doesn't it? She needs a name, I know!!), we ordered nursery furniture yesterday!!
I ordered the Sheffield Collection from Bonavita. We love it and can't wait to start painting!!
I found bedding that I love here....but I've found someone to make it for me as soon as we get the bed in and get it measured (thanks, Tia's Aunt Jane). So, we're on the way to getting Baby Girl's room ready. (If only we could decide on a name!! Hopefully, we will soon!)

23

This week, Baby Girl D is about the size of a mango.

How far along: 23 weeks
Net weight gain/loss: up ? lbs. (I haven’t weighed since my last dr. visit, but I know I’ve grown since then!) I go to the dr. Wednesday, so we’ll see then.
Maternity clothes: Still loving maternity pants. I’ve decided it’s good to be pregnant in winter – most of my sweaters work just fine!
Stretch marks: No (and let’s pray for none!!)
Belly button: innie (but, Wow, is it stretching!)
Sleep: Pretty good…I’ve had a lot of good sleep in the recliner this afternoon!
Baby movement: Yes! She loves music and moves all around when she hears it.
Food cravings: Not really anything this week.
Food aversions: No…
What I miss: Not a thing!
Looking forward to: Ordering furniture – I’ll post a picture soon.
Best moment this week: We’ve discovered this weekend that we can “see” Baby Girl move if we watch my belly…who ever thought watching a belly could be so entertaining?!
Milestones: Blood vessels in Baby’s lungs are developing to prepare for breathing. The sounds that her increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as Win barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb. Her first words may be “No bark, Win!”

Four months until Baby Girl Davis's due date!!

Elf on the Shelf

Have you seen this cute little idea? The Elf on a Shelf is a cute little tradition I learned about last year. You read this book with your kiddos and then this cute little guy (or girl if you wanna chick version, see here) appears in your home in a new position. Here's what it says about the tradition on the creator's website:
"The first time the elf arrived at our home, my children officially adopted him by giving him a name. Each year he would arrive around the holidays, usually at Thanksgiving. His sole responsibility was to watch the children's behavior and report it to Santa each night. The next morning after the children awoke, they discovered the elf had returned from the North Pole and was now resting in a new and different place. My children would race each other out of bed to try and be the first to spy him in his new position.
Over the years the tradition was perfected and rules were introduced. For example, to better preserve his mystique the children were not allowed to touch him but talking to him was a different matter all together. My children shared many secrets with the elf, and while he was under strict orders not to talk to them, the elf was under no such orders where grown-ups were concerned."
I just think this is the most precious idea and thought I'd share! I can't wait to share this tradition with our little girl!!

22

This week, Baby Girl D is about the size of a butternut squash.

How far along: 22 weeks
Net weight gain/loss: up 12 lbs. (I haven’t weighed since my last dr. visit, but I know I’ve grown since then!)
Maternity clothes: Maternity pants! Still wearing most of my shirts, though.
Stretch marks: No (and let’s pray for none!!)
Belly button: innie
Sleep: Pretty good…
Baby movement: Yes! Much more frequent and I’m still loving it!
Food cravings: Munchies!
Food aversions: No…
What I miss: Not a thing
Looking forward to: The Golden Tigers playing in the state championship game this Thursday!!
Best moment this week: Baby Girl’s Daddy feeling her move!
Milestones: Baby Girl is developing tiny tooth buds underneath her gums. Her eyes are formed, but they still lack pigment and will remained closed for another month or so. Her skin is very wrinkly, but she’s about to start putting on some fat to smooth out those wrinkles. She’s also starting to settle into sleep cycles (let’s hope she’s settling into the right ones!!).

thankful

Today, I'm thankful for...
- my husband, who really is the best in the world (or so I think).
- good health
- our sweet baby girl that is growing and moving like crazy
- that my husband can feel our baby girl kicking
- our wonderful families - if only everyone was as lucky as we are!
- our Win and spending time sitting in the sun and playing ball with him
- friends who are like family
- our home
- freedom, and those fighting for it
- jobs that we enjoy
- students that are fun to be around and teach
- a 5-day weekend
- another Friday night football game
- God's grace and our blessings - I couldn't be any more blessed!

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

I know it's a little early, but if we don't start enjoying it now, Christmas will come and go and it's time to put the decorations up! So, I started decorating last week...there are still a few finishing touches to make, but I'm already in the Christmas spirit!

21

This week, Baby Girl is about the length of a carrot.

(I found a new website with these pics b/c the one I've been using stops having pictures for every week.)

How far along: 21 weeks
Net weight gain/loss: up 12 lbs. (I haven’t weighed since my last dr. visit, but I know I’ve grown since then!)
Maternity clothes: Maternity pants! Still wearing most of my shirts, though.
Stretch marks: No (and let’s pray for none!!)
Belly button: innie
Sleep: Pretty good…I keep waking a little while before it’s time to get up and I can’t go back to sleep!
Baby movement: Yes! Much more frequent and I’m still loving it!
Food cravings: Munchies!
Food aversions: No…
What I miss: Sleeping on my stomach
Looking forward to: Shopping for furniture this week!
Best moment this week: The Golden Tigers won - we’re moving on to the 4th round of the playoffs! Her daddy hopes we can go all the way and tell Baby Girl she was a part of it all this year!
Milestones: Baby Girl D’s eyebrows and eyelids are fully formed and her fingernails are long enough to reach the ends of her fingers! (We can’t wait to hold those little hands!) Baby is approximately 10 ½ inches long. Her taste buds are working now and she’s gulping several ounces of amniotic fluid each day for hydration and nutrition.

School Baby Shower

Today was my school baby shower. There is another teacher that's having a baby - in December. So, even though Baby Girl Davis isn't coming until April 1st, the ladies at school asked if it was okay to have our showers together. It was such a sweet shower. We got a precious outfit to get monogrammed (whenever Baby has a name), gift certificates, and money to buy Baby Girl lots of fun things! I already have her first Bama outfit on hold at the Lily Pad (and now I have a gift certificate)!

I knew my mom would be so proud of me if I got someone to take pictures (and I guess I have to be better about documenting if I'm going to be a mom:) And Baby's Daddy couldn't miss out on all of the first shower!

This is Mrs. Young - isn't she tiny? And she only has a few more weeks to go!

(We were supposed to have visitors at our school tomorrow, so today was supposed to be a planning/cleaning day. Therefore, we all wore t-shirts and tennis shoes. Otherwise, I promise I would've looked a little cuter for a baby shower! Just felt the need to share that!)

Making Room for Baby

Since we're moving our guest room to the finished part of our basement to make way for Baby, I decided that when I swapped summer clothes for winter clothes in our closets, I would organize the basement closet and clean out the closet in what will be Baby's room. So, for the past couple of weeks, I've worked on that little project. After 1,000 trips up and down the stairs, I have finally made some progress!
(There's a reason the floor of the closet isn't in this picture, but let's just be proud of the progress I've made so far!)
Baby Girl has already received gifts - her Nana gave her a Halloween bib for next year, the Lawrence's have gotten the sweet, precious little wardrobe started, and one of my sweet students brought me some of her baby clothes that she found at her house.
Next step - painting!! I told Dusty I would leave that alone until after football season (which we hope lasts 3 more weeks!).

20

How far along: 20 weeks
Net weight gain/loss: up 12 lbs.
Maternity clothes: Nothing but maternity pants! Still wearing most of my shirts, though.
Stretch marks: No (and let’s pray for none!!) Bought the Cocoa Butter lotion for stretch marks so we can try to keep this from happening!!
Belly button: innie
Sleep: Pretty good…I keep waking a little while before it’s time to get up and I can’t go back to sleep!
Baby movement: Yes! Loving it!
Food cravings: Still apple juice, I guess (And my mom-n-law got me a case of caffeine-free Dr. Pepper – YEA!! Thanks so much!)
Food aversions: No…
What I miss: Not missing anything this week
Looking forward to: Deciding on furniture and bedding
Best moment this week: Seeing Baby Girl on the ultrasound – and hearing the doc say that everything looks wonderful!
Milestones: Baby Girl D weighs 12 ounces and measured 20 weeks, 2 days last Wednesday. She’s starting to really practice swallowing. She's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in her bowels, and we'll see it in her first soiled diaper. (You probably didn’t really want to know that, but there’s not much going on this week!)

Halfway

We are halfway to meeting Baby Girl D!

We had a dr.'s appointment Wednesday. We got to see Baby Girl again -she was just as busy as ever. The lady confirmed that she IS girl (although she was a little shy about letting us see, and her daddy is OK with that!). Her measurements are right on track; her heartbeat was 162 and she weighs 12 ounces.

20 week belly shots (per request!)

19

How far along: 19 weeks
Net weight gain/loss: up about 10 lbs.
Maternity clothes: Nothing but maternity pants! Still wearing most of my shirts, though.
Stretch marks: No (and let’s pray for none!!)
Belly button: innie
Sleep: Still interrupted every couple of hours for a bathroom break, but sleeping with a regular pillow between my legs helps me not toss and turn as much.
Baby movement: Yes! Loving it!
Food cravings: Captain D’s rice
Food aversions: No…
What I miss: Going for hours between bathroom breaks!
Looking forward to: Going to the dr. for an ultrasound this week…can’t wait to see Baby Girl again
Best moment this week: The Golden Tigers won their first playoff game. Now it’s time to take on the Trojans again!
Milestones: Baby Girl D’s skin is now covered with vernix caseosa, which protects it from the amniotic fluid. (If this didn’t happen, her skin would look like she’d taken a 9 month bath when she’s born.) She’s starting to grow hair and her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, vision, and touch. She can distinguish between bitter and sweet tastes. Some researchers think she can even hear our voices now! It’s time to get the books out and turn on the music!

Sunny Days and Shopping Dates

Win has really enjoyed the past couple of sunny days!

Doesn't he look happy to have been woken up?

Because I was desperately in need of pants to wear, we went shopping last night. We met a lovely (and slightly scary, crazy) employee at Motherhood. By the time we left, she knew my shoe size, my clothing size, my profession, and she'd made many trips to the dressing room to let me "try" something else. When we left, I knew her shoe size, her sister's shoe size, her father's profession, and more about her 5 year-old niece than I ever cared to know. Our purchases there were made just to get us out of there!! It's a good thing D is such a patient shopper, because we had to make a couple more stops to actually find pants that I could wear.

Belly Shot

Per my Dad's request, here's an updated belly shot...

18

This week, Baby Girl D is about the length of a dinner fork.

This week, Baby Girl D is the size of a sweet potato (but I know she's much cuter!).

How far along: 18 weeks
Net weight gain/loss: up about 7-8 lbs.
Maternity clothes: bought a couple more of pairs of pants last night
Stretch marks: No (and let’s pray for none!!)
Belly button: innie
Sleep: Still interrupted every couple of hours for a bathroom break, but sleeping with a regular pillow between my legs helps me not toss and turn as much.
Baby movement: Yes! Last week I could only feel Baby Girl move when I was sitting very still. For the past couple of days, I can feel her when I’m moving around, too.
Food cravings: Captain D’s rice/rice with Dale’s sauce
Food aversions: No…but when I smelled the ranch dip I was so craving a few weeks ago today, it made me gag! How can that be?!
What I miss: Diet Mountain Dew! I saw someone walking through the mall with one last night, and I so wished I could have a big gulp of a cold diet MD!
Looking forward to: Baby Girl’s Daddy feeling her move!
Best moment this week: Wearing maternity pants - Goodbye, BeBand!
Milestones: Baby Girl D is about the length of a dinner fork – now that’s a comparison I can understand! She weighs almost 7 ounces and she’s busy flexing her arms and legs. Her ears have moved to their final position and her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place (Her Daddy says “whoa!!”). If a loud sound is made, Baby Girl will raise her hands to cover her ears – how cute is that?!