As I am sitting down to type out this post, I am currently 31 weeks pregnant. What seemed like an eternity when I found out that I was 5 weeks pregnant has now came and gone. This baby is already completely changing every aspect of life for me, from my eating and sleeping habits to my emotions, all the way to my perspective on different areas of life. It is such a wonderful feeling being pregnant but also very life-changing. Yes, I know, wait until she actually gets here :) The picture above was taken at 30 weeks. Tight doesn't even begin to describe my tummy right now.
I have learned so many things about Caroline. We have already formed a bond and I have never even met her. For example, she loves when I drink chocolate milk, no matter what time of the day it is. This pregnancy has doubled my love for milk even more that it was, so I am going through a gallon or so a week. She also is not a fan of the light. I catch her rolling and flipping while I'm laying on my side at night, but the second I pull up my shirt to show Kyle, she immediately becomes still. It is so funny sometimes that it makes me giggle. She is so high in my belly right now that I constantly have rib pain. Her little bottom is rock hard and she stays balled up on my right side. That is her favorite place.
The past few weeks have had ups and downs. I had another episode of extreme heartburn again. This is the second time this has happened (even while taking medications daily.) Thankfully, it lasted around ten hours. No worries-between my ER besties and my mama I was well taken care of. Kyle was at work for this episode, which probably worked out in his favor considering I was helpless. I usually work four ten-hour shifts a week, and now I have realized how hard it is becoming to work ten hours in your third trimester of pregnancy. It can be done, but it's not easy. My ankles have not quite made it to cankles, but they are starting to swell at the end of the day. This is hard for me because I like to work and I like my job so I find it hard to just sit down and rest. I always feel like there is something I should be doing or feel guilty for sitting down.
Christmas was really special this year with the anticipation of Caroline coming at the beginning of 2015. Of course we received more gifts for her than we did for ourselves which we were extremely grateful for. Little girls are so much fun to buy for. Tomorrow we are going to Huntsville to pick up our nursery furniture and I am very excited! Every step makes it feel more and more real. Here are some pics from the past month…iPhone quality.
We took off for Chattanooga one Saturday for a rock-climbing gym adventure with Andrew and Victoria. You never know what kind of adventures the four of us will have. We had almost made it to the gym when Kyle had to pull over because I was tossing my cookies into a Hardee's bag. I ended up throwing up so much in the bag that I resorted to the sidewalk where I continued to vomit in front of a man walking down the street. Thankfully, he was very sympathetic and the vomiting stent only lasted less than ten minutes. I served as photographer for the day at the climbing gym and watched the three of them climb for a few hours and then we had a great meal at Big River Grille.
I am not a huge fan of selflies but I made myself start taking some iPhone pics so I could look back and remember good memories during this pregnancy. This is before our shopping trip for my birthday. Target for the maternity win.
Kyle had to work the day after my birthday so I loaded up with Dad, Mom, Andrew, and Victoria and we headed to Chattanooga and had a great meal at Sticky Fingers. Zantac to begin my meal and Tums in between the appetizer and entree. Story of my life.
This night was so much fun. We had our Sunday School get together at Tim and Kim's for Christmas and laughed the night away. Before we knew it, it was 9:30 and we felt like the party had just started. We played "Rate Your Mate", where I laughed so hard I was sure I wouldn't make it to the bathroom in time three or four times. Those are the best kind of nights. :)
The picture quality isn't that great, but it this after our cousin Wiley and Sara's wedding. We ate wings with Andrew and Victoria after the wedding to celebrate my birthday, which was that night. I settled for my Wing-Stop favorite, Garlic Parmesan wings, which made Caroline very very happy. ;)
December holds many birthdays for Kyle's side of the family so our tradition the past few years has been to pick one night and celebrate at Rosie's. This is after we got home.. we were so excited that we had eaten dinner and it was only 8:30 so we could still go to bed early. The funny thing is that I am serious. :)
My church had an Artsy Amber painting party and mama and I painted these door hangers. It was really fun and I managed to actually do an okay job!
Merry Christmas! This is our last Christmas picture as a family of two before our sweet baby gets here.
I can't believe I am posting a picture of my self in pajamas after waking up ten minutes prior to this picture, but I had to show my new gun. Kyle and I like to target-shoot together but my little Smith and Wesson trigger was hard to pull. Christmas morning I woke up to a brand new Taurus 9mm and a grinning husband that couldn't wait to give it to me. I can't wait to try it out after Caroline gets here. Kyle says that I am slowly converting to a redneck, but I would like to make it very clear that this is not true. I just like to carry a gun and know how to safely use it.
And I can't forget my sweet little Libby Lou! She had the best Christmas (her 3rd Christmas with us.) This sweet fur baby got a Christmas doggie that she has played with non-stop since Christmas morning. She also got a stocking at her nana's (my mom's) full of goodies. Words cannot express how much I love her and her sweet little personality.
My mother in law had asked me last month what I wanted for Christmas and specified that it had to be something for me, not the baby. All I could think about was how miserable I was at night not being able to get comfortable so I suggested a body pillow and boy was I happy I thought of it. This pillow has only been in our house two nights and I am in love with it already. It has helped with my rib and back pain while sleeping. I love the monogrammed cover and I even got an extra cover with my name monogrammed for when I am washing this one! Such a great gift.
Mama got Kyle and I this ornament when she went to the Smoky Mountains in October. It is so sweet and special. I am pretty sure she is right up there with me in the excitement and anticipation of her getting here in February. ;)
Full, tired, and happy on Christmas night. I look so very tired but I want to look back and remember how happy and thankful I was this Christmas. Happy that I got to spend it with Kyle and we both were off work and thankful for my healthy family that cares so much about us. I couldn't help but think about how much God has provided for me and how much we take for granted. I am so thankful for Kyle and his love for me and the baby. God has blessed us tremendously this year and I don't want to take a single bit of it for granted.
