Sweet October

Oh, October.......how I have been waiting for you to come around! Even though I have been longing for October to come around...time seems to be flying by! Just realized my last post was in July! I have been busy with baby showers(so grateful and blessed for my family and friends) getting plans and my classroom ready for when I leave and getting the nursery and house ready for the baby! I like to make a checklist because it makes me feel really productive!!

1) Lesson plans ready for maternity leave teacher! (Check)
2) Baby Prep Classes! (Check)
3) Nursery! (Check)
4) Hospital bag packed! (Check)
5) Baby's bag packed! (Check)
6) JD's bag packed.........(Working on it)
7) Snack bag packed........(Working on it)
8) Getting huge, anxious, and so excited (CHECK)

I am now going to weekly appointments. At my last appointment blood pressure was good, baby was good and head down (please stay that way) 75% effaced and I haven't started dilating! I know these last weeks are important for the baby....so I'm telling myself the baby isn't ready....but I think in a couple weeks we will all be fine if this baby would like to enter the world at that time!

I can't stop thinking about a Halloween a couple of years ago...we were at my Grandma's party and she said, "Crystal, next Halloween you could have a baby here and we will just take care of it together." Of course that next year there was no baby but there could be this year! I know my Grandma is taking care of both of us now and that gives me reassurance that everything is going to be okay! Now praying this baby is here by Halloween...I have too many cute Halloween outfits for this baby to wear!!

Enjoying Each Moment and Continuing to Pray,
Crystal

Baby Surprises!

Yes, I am really up this early on my summer vacation! I actually can't believe it myself but I have a little motivation....that gets me up and going! To get me to walk each day, JD has agreed to do a chore of my choice for every day I walk. So yesterday was the first day and it worked....I got up early and walked BUT I did let JD off on his chore......he has to double up tonight. So, sounds a little silly but at this point it is working and if I get some things done around the house just by walking I say, "Deal!" Do you think that remodeling a bathroom is a chore.......wondering if I will be able to throw that out there?! See what he has to work with....

Surprise!! We have started decorating the nursery! While JD was on his trip to New York my family worked so hard putting together the baby furniture and working on the closet! Thanks Dad, Cuyler and Wesley! JD was very surpirsed!!







We got the wall art up and it looks great! It is starting to look like a little nursery! Still no theme yet....I just can't decide on the baby bedding!! Here are some pictures of JD putting up the wall art.....he will not be happy....but he was getting a little frustrated! Maybe beacuse instead of taking pictures I should have been helping.......maybe that was it!




I am now 23 Weeks and feeling great! Surprise! The last couple of days I have felt the baby kicking me! (Or at least that is what I think it is) Even though it happens
at the worst times (middle of the night or early in the morning) for me to have to get up and go to the bathroom. Yes, this kicking sends me directly to the bathroom..........oh well, I love it! It does make me a little nervous because when these kicks get stronger.....who knows what will happen!! This week JD and I started our Childbirth Classes. It went really well! We learned all about warning signs, pre-labor, early and true labor. We talked about when to go to the hosipital and when to hold off....you all know me.......the first sign I get....I am out of here!



Enjoying my Moment and Continuing to Pray,
Crystal

Happy Father's Day!

Had a great day celebrating with my Dad and the Soon-To-Be Daddy! I am very blessed to have two great men in my life! I'm sure the baby will feel the same! I got JD the baby's first books! They are all about Daddy! I'm so excited to stand outside the baby's room one day and listen to JD reading to our child! So excited for those memories to begin!! I had to also throw in a book for Grandpa. It is all about the farm and tractors....that will be my Dad's job....teaching my child all about the farm! (I saw him practicing reading it to himself...he is excited)









Today was an experience of what is to come: JD kept throwing out that today was his day! I had asked him early this morning to iron a shirt while I fixed my hair. He replied in a not so happy tone, "It's Father's Day!" I was mad for about two minutes....but when he came back with the ironed shirt...I got over it! He did tell me next year that he wants to enjoy his Father's Day on a golf outing with his friends. I said that is fine...he just has to take the baby, I mean that is the reason he gets to celebrate Father's Day...right?!

Enjoying my Moment and Continuing to Pray,
Crystal

Happy Anniversary

JD planned a great anniversary outing. The outing was supposed to be a surprise but JD must have thought that I wouldn't be doing any cleaning and he left the tickets out on the dresser. I will admit that I usually do try to ruin surprises but I promise this time was a total accident!

So the first stop was a Reds game! I haven't been in such a long time and I really do enjoy Reds games, especially Skyline Chili Dogs! We also enjoyed the fireworks show after the game.







The best part of the evening though was my true surprise gift! I had no clue that JD had went to Fine Threads. Now here is a moment for me to be honest....I knew the gift was from Fine Threads because they always wrap the gifts for JD! So i'm thinking oh, no I hadn't told Mrs. Brawner anything that I had wanted (which is usually what I do...she is the best at pointing JD in the right direction). But JD really did awesome....he got me a Vera Bradly diaper bag!! Which is in my favorite pattern!! It could go for either a boy or a girl!! I am so excited and love it!! Thanks JD!







What a great 6 years and I am sure the best are yet to come! I am truly blessed!

Enjoying my Moment,
Crystal

Brack

I had my first lunch date with Brack (he was in my class this past year) and his mom. It was so fun. I cannot believe how much older Brack looks just in the short time we have been apart…..gosh, they do grow up fast! (It could be his new really cool haircut too)


I have to share this quick story that I will always remember about Brack: My class was all sitting on the carpet area and I was talking to them about leaving after lunch and that they would have a substitute coming for the afternoon.(I was probably doing a lot of bribing and begging for them all to be nice and to please be good) The whole class was quiet and one student asks, "Where are you going?" Before I could come up with a response Brack shouts out, "I know where she is going! She is having a BABY!" It was great....if only I could describe what the other kids faces looked like!! He was right, I did have a doctor's appointment!!

The last day of school Brack had told me that we needed to have a meeting with his mom. He said that maybe we could all meet at El Nopal in Carrollton. He then went on to tell me that he had a surprise for me! I kept trying to get it out of him the rest of the day but he kept it a secret!


Today when we met he gave me a blanket that he had helped his mom and grandma make for the baby! So sweet!!

On the way home I pictured my child and meeting up with his/her teacher. I know I am rushing things but I am just so excited for those moments to happen! I plan to spoil my child's teacher just as Brack and his mom have spoiled me!







P.S. Brack put in his guess….he thinks it is a BOY!


Thanks Brack!

Baby Field

At our last appointment we got to see Baby Field! The little stinker kept its arms in front of its face the whole time! So no good ultrasound pics of the face. (This baby better not be trying to tell me that it is like its daddy and not photogenic....I will not be happy) JD announced to the nurse that it was already acting stubborn like me....I don't mind that! I guess the baby thinks that since we are keeping the gender a surprise, everything should be a surprise! I can't wait to see its sweet face in October!

The baby is doing great and the heartbeat sounds wonderful! I have gained 13 pounds, so I need to do a little better in that area. I am going to try to start walking each morning, yes hold me accountable and ask me how that is going when you see me!

Well, I had to take the video off because Auntie Hoops and the rest of the family couldn't focus on the mouth and they were trying to figure out the gender....wait until October people!


Enjoying my Moment and Continuing to Pray,
Crystal

Thank You Lord for Your Blessings on Me

Can't get this song out of my head tonight but it is okay because I like anything that reminds me of my grandma! Over the last week I have learned that my grandma taught my sister and cousins this song. You may have the same question that I did, "Why didn't she teach this song to me?!" Well, I have decided that she was my grandma, she knew me well, so therefore she probably didn't want to have to tell me that my voice just ruined the song!! Well, now I am singing it loud and proud and I am sure it is making her smile! Can't wait to teach my little one this song someday!

Enjoy!