He's a Watermelon

Carter has graduated to being a watermelon this week! woo hoo!



Well, there is my 36 week belly!! Carter is so big in there! Just when I didn’t possibly thing my belly could stick out any further, it always does. I am getting more and more stretch marks it seems on my lower belly. Boo. It’s ok though. I try not to complain about them. I think I would get them one way or another even if I would have tried everything in the book to prevent them. I am just happy to have a big healthy boy in there, so I can deal with the stretch marks. That’s just battle wounds of being a mommy, and I am ok with that. At my 36 week appointment, the last of my two weeks and on to the weekly appointments, I was 162.2 lbs, BP – 110/62, Carter was in the 140’s, my belly measure 35”, and holy moly I was already 1 cm dilated. I couldn’t help but get a little excited when she told me I was dilated. She said I’ve made progress. Even though I know you can be at that for a while or even get higher and stay at that for a while. I was still excited to hear that the process is beginning. I guess it made me feel somewhat normal. I like hearing these kinds of things to know that I can have a baby normal like everyone else. I guess I just haven’t felt sure until I’ve made I this far and followed the progression just as I am supposed to. I still though do not feel like I know enough about the process to be comfortable. It never fails that I forget every question that I wanted to ask the doctor when I am there. I guess that is why they say to write them down. I never do, and I always forget. Note to self…duh! Carter’s movements are getting really big and bony. I feel his little bones. He has managed to double me over a couple of times. I swear he uses my organs as punching bags sometimes.

I am not 37 weeks. My doctor’s appointment this week, I was 164.8 lbs, Carter was 140 BPM, I was like 112/72 BP, and she said I was 1 to 1 ½ cm dilated now. As you feel like her whole arm is where it shouldn’t be, you are almost holding your breath when she said you are still at 1…or maybe 1 ½ cm because I can feel the head. Hello!! Yeah, I think you could probably reach in there and grab him out! Gah, it hurt a little. I’m glad to know his head is down there though instead of him being breach though. I know he could still possibly flip around, but I’m hoping he’s down there to stay. My chiropractor tells me that he could work his magic and make him turn back around though if he needed to. That comforts me a lot. I have begun the pregnant waddle, because it hurts my pelvic bones to walk normal. I feel like he’s sitting directly between my legs almost. LOL So, I have started the waddle. Things that is nearly impossible: Bending over, putting on socks, grooming the “area”, washing the left side of my left leg with my right hand or shaving it, getting up off of the couch without a push, or leaning against anything to reach something on a top shelf since I am short. I am sure there are many more things I am leaving off, but those are a few. Kyle cracks up at me when I start kicking my feet from the couch meaning I can’t get up, so he gives me a slight push to help me up. I’ve started experiencing contractions. I am not sure if they are regular ones or Braxton Hicks. I have some that tighten my whole stomach and make it a little tough to breathe. They last about 30 seconds, and then it relaxes again. Then, I’ve felt the bad cramping like some people compare them to. Both times I have cramped pretty bad are after the doctor has checked me. I mean, that is about the only action I’ve had in months, so I am not surprised I react that way. LOL I was in some pretty bad pain last night for about an hour. Kyle wasn’t home yet and I was slightly disappointed. I wanted him to share the misery with me! haha Or well try to make me feel better. I was so uncomfortable and cramping so bad that I was moving my feet around to try to make it better. Kyle got home and said my face was red. I am sure I was holding my breath most of the time. He felt sorry for me and spooned with me on the chase until I went to bed. This of course made me feel better. J I asked the doctor if I looked to be on track or looking to be early. She said well you definitely aren’t overdue. It looks like you are just on track. We’ve made some guesses on the due date. I wonder who will be right. It sounds like Carter is going to be a good boy and wait until its time. Here are the guesses we’ve made so far. I can only remember my exact description not everyone elses.

Me – March 14th, 7 lbs 8 oz, 7:37 am, and 19 inches long.
Heather – March 17th for St. Patrick’s Day
Derek – March 20th
Brandi – March 23rd – 7 lbs 10 oz
Kyle – March 25th – He is determined
Everyone at work seems to think I will go next week or so. I’ve heard March 12th and the week of March 7th – March 13th.

Oh and here is my super cute pedicure, but you will see my fat swollen feet. It says cHj if you can't see. The OPI color is Espresso something and the letters are in green to match his room stuff. I love it.



I am definitely starting to nest. His room is almost done. We put the crib together, and I put the bedding in it…without a mattress so far. I am buying one this week. I’ve washed all of his newborn up to 3 months clothes, towels, wash clothes, and some blankets. I’ve gotten my bag stuff set aside and ready to throw in the suitcase when Kyle gets it out of the attic. I’ve scrubbed and bubbled my shower. I cleaned out two racks in Kyle’s bathroom pantry and put his towels, wash cloths, and washes/shampoos in there. Now, I just need to make room in the kitchen somewhere for his bottles and stuff like that. I’ve also this week been working on his decorations. I didn’t think to take pictures while I was making his elephant pictures. All I did was order vinyl elephants that match his bedding and stuck them on the glass of some picture frames. I want to hang them so that you can see the wall behind the glass around the elephant. I will put up pictures when I get them hung. I completed them last night and will try to hang them up soon. I still have the vinyl circles to hang down one wall also. Kyle finally took the maternity pictures with me, so I am trying to get them ordered. I will probably use some of them in his room too. I think I will order a vinyl emblem for his name to go about his crib. I need to get on that actually. It will all come together. Not much longer until Mr. Carter gets here!!

I had my final family shower this past Sunday. I got a lot of good stuff again. Mom got me the glider for his room. I love it!! My grandma made him a quilt that has elephants and a little dutch boy stitched into the quilt. It is solid white and so, so soft! She also made him an Alabama blanket for when he gets older and knows a little about football. I love them both! Mom also made him a blanket and what she calls a “go to hell hat”. LOL it’s one of those hats with a short brim in the front. They are both so cute. Carter is already so spoiled.

Here are a few pictures of the progress. I will put more up of the entire room when I get the wall decorations finished and the junk out of one of the corners that will not currently fit in his packed out closet.

The Elephant is Close!

Take a look at that little elephant at the top of this blog. It only has 5 more weeks left until my full term due date!! Holy moly!! Nervousness, anxiousness, oh my goodnessnous! ha ha! What am I going to do? I will be in the hospital in a couple of weeks delivering my precious miracle. I am so excited and so nervous all at the same time. I feel like I still know so little about the process. Ahhh what to do!

Well, our house is slowly but surely getting put back together. I am IN LOVE with the new floors. It makes our house look so much different. It is also a nice change after living here for 5 years. I feel like we've moved into a new house. Not only have we done the floors though, we have painted rooms that have never been painted before. No more stinky dog room, no more stinky dog carpet. Bring on the new floors, new paint, and new baby! The new floors seem to make all of our bedrooms much bigger. I love it.

Oh and remember the bed that I ordered...um...months ago!! It has been in my garage patiently awaiting the new floors so that it could be put together. We finally were able to put it together. It did end up being cracked on one of the side rails. I was pretty bummed, but there is nothing I can do about returning it, since I did get it in the mail months ago. As long as the bed holds up, I am fine with a crack. It is hidden by my night stand anyway, so it's all good. So, here is a before and after picture of my bedroom. I finally painted it after 5 years. I still have not put decorations on the walls. That will be another after picture later. I've got it all ready to go, but I haven't taken the time to put it up yet.

I had a shower at work on the 17th. I got soooo much stuff. Here is the cute cake and spread of food that they had for me. I got a lot of the big gifts I needed like the travel system (stroller/infant car seat), the Pack-N-Play, 2 bouncy music seats, 2 play gyms, 2 diaper bags, and lots of other super cute stuff! I feel so spoiled! Kyle finally installed the closet organizer in Carter's closet and brought the crib and dresser home. I started unloaded the gifts into the dresser and closet. It was so much fun. It makes it so much more real. Not only that, it was so fun. I would just smile and giggle to myself thinking oh my gosh, I am about to have a little baby wearing these clothes. Awwww! It just makes me smile. He already has a closet full of clothes, a good start on diapers and wipes, and a few toys. I have tons of super cute monogrammed burp cloths. I love all 3 of my diaper bags. Ooo I am getting excited! Now, we just have to put the crib together. It's not as big a deal right this second, because he will be in our room for a little while. I still would like to have it together before bringing him home though. I want to show him his room when he comes home. I would like for it to be done. I still have to put the vinyl circles and elephant decorations up. I will get to it eventually. I take one day at a time.

I think I have gotten to that point when everyone says they are getting miserable with being pregnant. I still can't complain much, but I am starting to swell. My feet swell a good bit by the end of the day. My legs are a little bigger. My fingers are swollen, so I can't wear my rings any more. They even kind of hurt, because it feel like I need to pop them, but they won't. They feel sore. I feel like an old woman when I stand up from sitting even for just a little while. My hips ache when I get up, so I have to walk slow. I still sleep really good so far. I have only gotten up to go pee twice in the same night...one time! I am so happy. I've had multiple nights I've had to get up to pee once, but most night its even not at all. So, I have been lucky in that department so far. I sleep good when I do go to sleep. Turning over in the bed is an event though. The belly is so heavy that I have to do a 2 point turn. LOL I have to roll onto my back and stop before attempting to roll to the other side. My back normally cracks in the process. haha It is so crazy all that your body goes through during this time. Although all of this is going on, I am hanging in there and still trying not to complain much. If this turkey isn't done baking, I don't want to rush him out. I only have a few more weeks to stick it out for his health. I am getting tired though. It is getting hard to get up and get ready for work. I get agitated a lot quicker now. I just think...only a few more weeks!! Carter Jace is getting so much bigger that his movements are huge. It is starting to make my gallbladder hurt more now. My friends and I have our dates picked out for the pool of when he will be born. I say March 14th. Kyle swears it will be my due date. He is in denial. LOL

Everything is going well though! I go to my next appointment on Wednesday. It is the last of my two week visits at 36 weeks. So, I will start my weekly visits next week. Ahh fun stuff!! Three of the girls that were pregnant with me had their babies within this last week. Two girls and one boy! Heather finds out what she is having in a week. I can't wait to know! I am guessing a girl. She is still a skinny mini though! She will be half my weight at full term...lucky dog! Speaking of weight...I forgot to mention earlier that I found stretch marks. Boo!! They are low on the bottom of my belly, but they are there. I can only see them in the mirror. They are beyond the horizon that I can see from up here. I weighed 158 lbs at my last two week appointment. That is now a gain of 31 lbs. I am pretty sure I will be more Wednesday when I go. Carter Jace has really put on some weight these last couple of weeks. He is growing straight forward instead of around my belly. I really don't know how much bigger he can get! Yikes!!

This past weekend, we had a girl's night out. We went to eat at a fancy Mexican restaurant and then to the movie to see Valentine's Day. It was a pretty good movie, but it was probably more one that you should just watch from home. It has a ton of good actors in it, but I think it was too many different stories going on at once. It was good though. There were some really funny parts. That was probably my last GNO for a while now. Kyle has his BNO this weekend for the Jay-Z concert. I am so excited for him to go. I know he will have a great time.

Weeks 32 & 33 - Construction Zone!

I don't really feel like I have much to update on baby wise. I had my 32 week appointment 2 weeks ago. It is time for my next appointment on Wednesday. Everything is moving right along. I believe I now weighed around 155 lbs. Carter's heart rate gets lower each time, which they say is normal. I can tell he is running out of room in there, so his movements are really big and move my whole belly. My feet and legs are starting to swell a little bit. They aren't massive or anything like that yet, but when I sit all day with my legs dangling, they tend to swell a little. My socks leave rings around my right ankle pretty bad cutting off the circulation. My shoes sometimes feel tight, and they look wide when I take them off where I am probably stretching them out. This is why I am glad I've just been wearing flats, so that I'm not messing up my other normal shoes.

Kyle's family shower went great. We had a really good turn out. We had to make a trip to Montevallo for it. I was pretty tired after that day. I started reading Dear John for the two hour trip there. Kyle's mom and aunts did a really good job on the shower. They had a whole booklet of games printed off for everyone to do with lots of good food from Publix. We were pretty late getting home that night, so I was pooped.





I was sad it was dark on the way home, so I couldn't read any more of my Dear John. I was attempting to read it before the movie came out. I've had it for months, because I bought it at the same time that I bought Twilight. I've put it off for so long that Heather threatened she was going to see the movie with or without me. I was afraid to watch the movie first, because then I didn't see myself wanting to read the book after that. I was afraid it would ruin the ending. So, I stayed up until 1 am Thursday night before the movie came out reading the dang thing! I finally finished. It was a good book! We went to see the movie opening night after work last week. The movie had the same plot line, but it did not follow the book much at all. I was a little disappointed, but the movie was still great. And goodness is John (Channing Tatum) not so cute! He made the movie even better. LOL I think I liked the ending of the movie a little more than the book. They were different. We had a good time.

My friend Brandi and I that are due on the same day had our shower on the same day too. Luckily, they were at different times, so I was able to go to hers. She is technically on bed rest, so she couldn't come to mine. It is so funny how we are carrying our babies so different.


I had my friend's shower this weekend too. OMG - They did an amazing job on my party. They had so much yummy food! It ended up being left overs just in time for the Super Bowl too, so that was ok. This was the boy/girl shower. Heather made a really cute diaper cake. I love it. They all worked hard on everything. They even made cute game pamphlets too with my maternity pictures on them. We had a good turn out there too and got lots of more good gifts. Carter is already going to be spoiled and loved so much!! I have a work shower next week, and then my family shower is the 28th. I have got to get his room together to get all of this stuff put away!! :)

I ordered a few bags of personalized M&M's with 4 different sayings and put them in blue tins that said thank you on them. They said Carter Jace, Kyle & Melissa, Thanks 4 coming!, and We love you! They turned out pretty cute.

Speaking of his room - That is what the Construction Zone means! My house is an absolute mess!!!! Since Carter's room is empty, we've put all furniture from my bedroom and the guest room in there to do the laminate floors. They got done last week with that, but we had to wait until they could put down the quarter round on the baseboards before we moved furniture back in. So, Carter's room is wall to wall of furniture. My house has saw dust, nails, hammers, razor blades, drills, air compressors, and so forth all over! I seriously feel like I'm in a construction site. Luckily, the living room has been intact this whole time, so that is where I stay. That will soon get destroyed this week too when they get the rest of the house done. We still have to put laminate in the rest of the hall, a small foyer, and the living room. It shouldn't take entirely too long. I will have to paint the quarter round tonight probably before we do put furniture back in our rooms. I've been sleeping on the guest bed that has just been pushed in the middle of my floor in the room. No news in the morning or any kind of TV for that matter. So, I listen to my alarm clock radio while I get ready. I am off my routine, so I am running late all of the time. My undies are in Carter's room, my clothes are in my closet, my shoes are wherever I left them, and I am weaving in between beds and air compressors in my room to get to the bathroom. The dogs nails on the laminate is driving me insane! Serenity gets up at night and walks circles around my bed. CLICK, CLICK, CLICK, CLICK! She wakes me up a couple of times a night doing that. I can't wait to get my bed put together too...yes that same one from like 6 months ago. It has been in the boxes since then waiting for us to put new floors in. I hope it looks good. We finally also painted my bedroom with a thick brown stripe at the top and a tan kind of color at the bottom. I like it so far, so I hope that it goes with the rest of the decor when I get done putting everything back together. We lost two fish in the process of moving things around. I had them in a small bowl in the sink for a couple of days, which killed my kissing fish. I think that was my fault! Mom and Dad took the other 2 to their house to put in their tank until we are finished. There, my clown loach died. He was my favorite, so we were sad about that. He was a totally cool fish. He would sleep on his back. We are debating whether or not to put the fish tank back up in our room or not. I don't really know yet. We didn't take care of it like we should, and now we will have a rocking cradle in there. I just don't know if we will have enough room.

Here are the new floors! Yah!! Then, we messed it all up by piling it full of stuff to put floors in the other rooms.

Well, the time is ticking down quickly! I've been to two other friend's showers as well. One is due any day now, and the other one will be going in the first of March. So many preggers around here lately! It won't be much longer until we get to meet little Carter Jace. Kyle and I are so excited and anxious to kiss his sweet face and bring him home with us!

Progress, progress, progress

I love PROGRESS!!!!!!!!!!


First, let me get week 28 out of the way. Again, I've taken about 3 weeks since the last time. I've been busy with all this progress though that I am happier that is getting done than this. My belly is definitely growing. It's not necessarily getting wider, but it is for sure going out straight ahead more now. I've been told I've got the "pregnant walk" going on. I can feel the waddle coming on more and more every day. I just turned 31 weeks Friday. Only 9 more weeks to go. I can't believe how fast this is going.

I still don't have much to complain about. I've had an amazing pregnancy so far. My one may complain is my gallbladder still. The "sludge", as they called it, has been really bothering me lately. Some days are worse than others, but when it bothers me, it can be painful. Its not an awful pain, but it is very uncomfortable. It's enough to distract me at work. I just want to push on it when it hurts. I have found that Tylenol helps make it feel better, but I try to only take it when it gets really bad. That has only been twice now. I guess it wasn't heartburn after all. The nurse said there isn't really much we can do while I'm pregnant for it, so I have to deal with it and take Tylenol when needed. I hope it goes away when I have the baby. If not, there may be a surgery coming after this. I've also noticed something that feels so awkward. Right where my ribs start to open up, I am numb for about an inch from there down. It is the weirdest feeling. The nurse said that could be just the weight pressing on a nerve. I've also gotten to the fun part of the leg cramps in the middle of the night. My calf muscles have been getting charlie horses so bad that I have to get up and walk around to make it stop. Owie!

We finally decided on his name. It will be Carter Jace. Pronounce Jace like Chase with a J. Finally we picked it! Carter was what we both liked all along. Jace was the name I wanted if Kyle had to have a J name. We just used it as the middle name instead since it is one syllable too. It fits! I am not crazy about the possibility that people will call him CJ. I don't like that name really. It already happened for the first time today. I quickly corrected them that it will just be Carter, but I know CJ is coming. Boo. I can really feel him moving around now. It is to the point where my whole stomach moves. We went to see The Book of Eli the other night, and he doesn't like the loudness. He moved constantly. I think he had the hiccups that I noticed for the first time this morning. I'm sure he's had them before and everyone always asks me, but I never really noticed before. Kyle got to feel it too, because my belly was against his. He thought it was my heartbeat, but I told him it was the hiccups. I think he also has found my ribs and bladder. He likes to kick them both. I noticed some...um...leakage going on the other morning. I guess I now have milk! LOL Weird!!!!!!

My friend boy/girl party is February 6th. I can't wait! It should be a lot of fun. Kyle's family shower is this upcoming weekend in Birmingham. His mom has been planning a big party. Here are the invites to my friend shower. They are so cute!


My sister-in-law sent us a ton of stuff with our Christmas presents. Carter will have some really cute clothes. She made a really cute diaper cake to use too. Our nieces and nephew wrote us a sweet letter to go with it. Kyle brother, Kacy, finally made it home from Iraq for good this week. He's been back and forth almost the entire time the war has gone on. They hopefully will be coming in town for their spring break. Carter may be here by then!





Wow, I guess I am realizing that I also haven't posted his 4D pictures. I am totally bias, but he is the cutest thing ever!!! I can't wait to hold him in my arms and kiss his sweet little head.




I've celebrated a couple of big birthdays and went to my other preggo friend's baby shower. Mr. Griffin turned two years old last weekend. My camera died before I got to get any pictures of him, but I did get a picture of Kristen's cute decor. This weekend was Keegan's first birthday party. Where has the time gone? I had a great time at Angie's shower yesterday, but I forgot to even take a picture with her. She was originally due 2 days before me, but she is now scheduled for a c-section March 9th. Both of my friends that were due with me have moved to the first week or so in March. I also did something last weekend I hope I never have to do again. My first cousin that was also pregnant with me due sometime in July lost her baby girl. She was just diagnosed with Turner's Syndrome the week before. When she went for her checkup, they couldn't find a heartbeat. My cousin had to deliver the baby. Dad and I attended her funeral last Saturday. I hope to never see another baby casket in my lifetime.







Well, last but not least, we are finally making progress on Carter's room. A couple of Sundays ago, we took all of the furniture out of the dog room and ripped up the carpet. The room is now painted Grass Cloth green, and I've repainted the trim white. We removed the shelf in the closet so that I could replace it was a cooler closet organizer. So, right now, his room is painted, but it is just concrete slab right now. We were supposed to get laminate laid in the whole house today, but that didn't go as planned. We put a deposit on some laminate that was going on sale Friday. It was supposed to promise the amount and price we needed. BUT, when we went to pick it up, they sold our boxes out from under us that day and there weren't enough boxes for us. I was not a happy camper. I really wanted to get the floor put down this weekend so that I could put the furniture and closet organizer in. My first shower is this upcoming weekend, and I wanted to be able to put his stuff away when I got home. With the help of some great friends, I think we are going to try to do it one night this week when the flooring does come in. Papaw put in his fan for him too. I originally put up a light fixture thinking it was bad for a fan to blow air in the baby's face, but I was wrong. So, I bought a pretty ceiling fan. I love it all. I've bought several things to decorate the walls with when everything gets done. I will post more pictures then.









As I was painting the trim in Carter's room, I had to shut the door for a minute. Most of the night, Jigga was laying in there with me on the cold concrete. They are so confused about what happened to their room. Well, I guess since they don't have their couch any more, they had to find somewhere else to lay while I was painting. They are not allowed on my bed, but I guess they are too confused right now. I came out of the room to this view. Be and Jigga were knocked out. You will see a quilt on the bed. I have to sleep with this only now. I wake up sweating if I sleep with the normal comforter.


Last weekend, I also took my maternity pictures. Kyle was out of town and didn't make it back in time for them. I think we are going to try to take some more later with the two of us. I had them done by my good friend Candace at Simple Sweet Photography. I love them! She always does a great job.