Week 29

Dear Lily Ann,

I'm a little behind this week. We are over half way through with our 29th week and I'm just now posting pictures. We had a BIG week! It was our first Thanksgiving trip with you! Next year you will actually be here to enjoy the beach! Every year we go to the beach to eat, shop, and relax. We are so looking forward to having you with us for years to come! Your dad and I, Grandma and Granddaddy, and Mamaw and Papaw are so excited about your arrival and all the fun things we will do together.

We did a little bit of Black Friday shopping. I didn't buy much for Christmas but we bought you lots of clothes (as if you needed any more)! Next year I imagine we'll be Midnight Madness shopping at toy stores to get ready for your first Christmas!

This Thanksgiving ~ and all the Thanksgivings for the rest of my life ~ I am thankful for you.

We Love You,

Mommy

Another Shower for Lily Ann

Great Friends....

Great Food....

Great Gifts....

and the cutest little sleeping baby (Lily Ann's future husband)....

all add up to a great baby shower!!


Lily Ann is certainly going to be one spoiled little girl..... Spoiled with love and spoiled with lots of presents. We are so lucky to have these amazing people in our lives who are looking forward to Lily Ann's arrival 'almost' as much as we are.

Thank you, all, for you love and support! We are so thankful for you!

Week 28

Dear Lily Ann,

Welcome to the third trimester!! What a wonderful week you have had! On Sunday your friends and family got together to celebrate YOU! Since you aren't here yet, I had to open all of your presents. Let me tell you how tiring that was! But each and every gift you received was so special. On top of all the necessities, each guest brought a book with a personalized inscription to you. I can't wait until you arrive and we sit in your nursery reading all those books and the personal notes written just to you!

I went to the doctor's office this week and got to hear your precious little heart beat. We are measuring right on track and looking good (except for Mommy being a little iron deficient). Now that we are in the third trimester, we get to go to the doctor every two weeks. So it won't be too much longer until I hear your heart again!

Your Granddaddy and Papaw came over to help Daddy with the nursery this week. They are making so much progress! And we got the color just perfect for our little girl! I hope you like it.

We are waiting anxiously for your arrival and have several adventures planned for you over the next few weeks. Get ready!!

We Love You,

Mommy

More Nursery Progress

The men were hard at work this weekend and made more progress on the nursery. Lucas and I painted the walls for a second time (the first color was too pink). This color is just what I had in mind! Lucas says it is still pink, not lavender. I disagree. And he is a boy so what does he know?!?

After the paint situation was taken care of, the men could put up the chair rail and finish up the baseboards. It is looking amazing, if I do say so myself. Nice work, Dad, Granddaddy, and Papaw!



We have to sand the caulk down from the seams and put a second coat on everything. We also still need to put up new blinds, new outlet/switch covers, and replace the old closet doors. Once those boring manly things are taken care of, we can get to work on the fun parts of nursery decorating: putting together the furniture, making the curtains and bedding, and getting started on a headboard project I have planned for the daybed. I'll also be able to put all of Lily's things back in her closet and sort through all her new goodies!

I keep telling myself we have plenty of time to get things done, but time is ticking and Lily will be here in less than 3 months. The holidays are going to eat up much of the next 2 months so we better get to work!

Lily Ann's Ladies Shower

Piles and piles of presents!! That is what our living room looks like after this weekend's shower! I was thrilled to visit with our family and friends and show off the ever-expanding baby belly.

These three beautiful women hosted the shower and I am so grateful to have such good friends. They are truly more family than friends. Thank you, ladies!!
And, of course, Landon was there (looking all formal in his necktie onesie his Aunt Ashley made for him). He is anxiously awaiting Lily Ann's arrival!
He even marked the occasion by sleeping in his crib for the first time!

The shower invitations and decorations were done in pink and zebra print. They really went above and beyond to make this a beautiful shower! And just look at the scrumptious food!! I kept going back for more. It doesn't really count if you pick up one chicken salad cup at a time...... or so I told myself.
And the gifts were amazing! I'll go into details on a few later (like - OMG - the stroller!), but I truly love and appreciate each and every gift brought for Lily Ann. She is a lucky girl to have such caring, generous people in her life!

Thank you to everyone who came or sent their regards! We love you!

Week 27

Dear Lily Ann,

This has been a pretty mellow week for your dad and I. We still have much to do but haven't really made any progress. Dad was sick for a few days and slept in the guest room so you and I wouldn't get sick. He is feeling better and back to our bed now. Unfortunately, I lost to your Dad in fantasy football last weekend and he won our bet. So now I am sleeping on your dad's side of the bed for an entire week. That drives me bonkers!! It is getting harder and harder to fall asleep as it is because more and more I am feeling your little kicks. It seems you are quite active around bedtime. Hopefully that trend won't continue after you're here, but we'll cherish every sleepless moment with you.

We are all finished with child birth prep class and tennis season is almost over. I'm still going to make your dad get out and hit with me so I can stay active and won't lose my game too much. Before you know it, I'll have you out on the court with me. School is also coming to an end for the semester. I have two finals to prepare for and a one-page paper to complete that isn't even worth mentioning. So as everything draws to an end, so too does our second trimester. Next week we are moving on to the third and final trimester. I am so excited to be one step closer to meeting you.

Aunt Aida is throwing your first baby shower this weekend so lots of people are going to be fussing over you. You are a big deal, if you didn't know that already. I can't wait to see our friends and family and introduce you (or rather, my belly) to everyone. Also so excited to see all the goodies you rack up! Now if only we can make some progress on that nursery so we have some place to put it all!

We Love You,

Mommy

We are Officially Ready

According to our Childbirth Prep instructor, we are all officially ready and capable to deliver a healthy baby into this world when the time shall come. We even have a certificate stating that very fact. I, on the other hand, am less confident in my ability. But we shall see when that time comes.

To celebrate our last night of class (thank goodness!), we had birthday cake and the dads led us in singing Happy Birthday to our babies. Hey ~ anything for cake!



Lucas thought it would be more memorable to hold our child through the men's stunning rendition of 'Happy Birthday to You'.


But I guess she had a little gas because he had to begin burping her half-way through.


We learned how to swaddle and burp our little plastic child.


But eventually dad got tired of the pictures.

(See what you have to look forward to, Lily Ann?)

At least baby was a willing participant in all pictures. I hope our child is this happy and quiet!

The Year Before the Trick-or-Treating Begins....

This is the year before the trick-or-treating begins, so we had to celebrate as usual even though I happened to be over 6 months pregnant. The good thing about being pregnant on Halloween is that this belly serves as a good prop..... once the appropriate costume has been chosen. ;)

So we met at the Rookie's house and had a wide assortment of characters there to pre-party.

Coach Saban stopped by

and one of those Bama twins must have followed him up here with her lady doctor.

Speaking of football, Brett Favre joined us as he was down south searching for retirement homes.

We had the Cooks pest control guy on hand with his friendly ladybug.

Our Mexican Pedro and French Maid even got the night off to celebrate.

But it was a big night for Lucas ~ or should I say Billy Bob - and I.....

It was our weddin' night!!!

We made it official with a kiss. I was even wearing my high school class ring as my weddin' band.

We raised our solo cups for a toast

(Note: Not actually my beer, people.)

Everyone seemed to have a great time ~ even though it was a bit cold!

And luckily there was a doctor on hand in case of any emergencies....

Hmmmm...... maybe not.

Halloween 2009

Ashley, Rafa, and Lily Ann
26 Weeks

Note: This Halloween costume was not meant to offend anyone. But this is Alabama and I do know a few people who fit these roles year-round.... thankfully I don't think they read my blog. You just gotta laugh!

Note 2: I bought my dress at the Thrift Store. As I was standing in line to purchase the dress, the woman in front of me asked me when I was getting married. Really?!? You can't make this stuff up.

Week 26

Dear Lily Ann,

What a week! You have been an active little girl, and I am beginning to feel you more and more. Daddy thinks I'm funny because I'm always wondering what you're going to look like, what your personality is going to be, what will your voice sound like, and many more things. He thinks I should just take it one day at a time, but it is fun to daydream about life with you in the future. We are so excited to meet you!

It seems pregnancy is beginning to make me lose my mind. I had my first pregnancy panic attack last night because your dad was extremely late coming home from soccer and I was worried. Turns out, he was just celebrating his winning goal with his teammates and some beer after the game. I couldn't figure out whether to cry because he was safe or because I was so angry. Needless to say, he is very apologetic and knows to let us know these things from now on. Also, the other night I got up to take Rafa outside and ran into a door. Yes, your mother walked straight into a closed door. That, in turn, triggered the water works. Your dad did a good job of holding back his laughter til the next day when I would laugh with him. It was pretty funny now that I think of it. On top of all that, I got wrapped up in our birthing class and forgot to turn in this week's group assignment for Accounting until the next morning. Thankfully, I sent a pleading email to the professor and we were not penalized. (In fact, we made a 100.) Anyway, hormones are going up as memory is going down and our to-do list keeps getting longer and longer. It is creating quite a stir in our household.

We celebrated our first Halloween with you. You went to your Uncle Rookie's house to pre-party and then to the Young Professionals Halloween Party on the top of the parking garage in downtown. It was cold but we had a great time. I can't wait to show you all those pictures when you get a little older.

We Love You,

Mommy

(Look at mommy's cute boots! I just can't stand to go through winter without boots, even if maybe they aren't the best choice in my collection at the moment. Don't worry - I won't wear them too much longer.)