Maternity Photos

Mother Nature has not cooperated with this mother-to-be where maternity photos are concerned.
Jeff and I had planned an excursion to the Birmingham Botanical Garden several weeks ago, where we were to meet our photographers. The tulips are blooming at the Garden and we thought it would be a great place to take some pretty pictures. Well, we were rained out. I think even the meteorologists were surprised that weekend by how much rain fell. Instead of traipsing through muddy grass and soggy tulips, we decided to re-schedule.
This time, our photographers were able to stop at our house on a return trip from Nashville, saving us the drive to Birmingham. The good news is we didn't have to worry about rain. Instead, Jack Frost was our enemy. It was SO cold! We took the first batch at a playground for some childlike shots. None of us lasted very long but I guess we'll have some funny stories to tell Abby Kate about the day. We took some cute poses with a Scrabble board/tiles as well as with a Sesame Street book featuring the character, Abby. Jeff returned to work after about 30 minutes on the playground and I came home for another session in the nursery. I wanted to get some tummy shots and it was clearly not a good idea to go bare belly in 45-degree weather.
We got some REALLY great pictures here at the house. Our photographers have such a great eye for what makes a good photo and I can't wait for y'all to see them! I will post some on the blog when we get them.

2 Showers, 10 Loads and 5 Weeks

I've enjoyed 2 baby showers over the past 2 weeks.
I've washed 10 loads of laundry in the past 4 days.
I've got 5 weeks to go until Abby Kate arrives!
Pictures from both baby showers are posted on my other blog at www.julie-and-jeff.blogspot.com so be sure to check those out.
I'll have to snap some shots of Abby Kate's closet and drawers to show you all the stuff I've washed for her: clothes, burp cloths, blankets, washcloths, towels. It's been a busy few days!
We went to the doctor Friday for what turned out to be a very quick visit. Abby Kate is still head down. Her heart rate was 160. We start our weekly visits next Friday and the doctor will check to see if I'm dilated at all. That's what is really bringing this home for me... I still can't believe we are so close to having a little girl in our lives.

Doctor's Visit

Abby Kate and I returned to the doctor Friday for our 32-week check-up. I'm happy to report that she is doing great! Her heart rate was 135; the doctor says she is measuring perfectly.
The visit took a lot longer than I expected because the doctor was running behind. Normally I'm an "easy like Sunday morning" kind of gal but waiting an extra hour at lunchtime was brutal! Abby Kate and I felt famished by the time my 11:20 appointment was over at 1:00. Hello, Chick-Fil-A! :)
I talked to the doctor about travel and she said I'm OK to travel up until 38 weeks if my pregnancy continues on its current track. She considers Birmingham or Nashville to be "safe" distances. Right now I don't have any plans to take trips but it's nice to know I'm clear for take-off, so to speak, if I want to visit my mom once again before the baby's born.
Sunday I'll enjoy a baby shower at my home church with "old" friends and family. Next weekend my friend Lee is hosting one in our honor and I'm excited to spend time with my TV family. With all this showering we feel blessed and loved, that's for sure!

Baby Updates

Rain washed out our plans for maternity pictures at the Botanical Garden in Birmingham on Sunday.
And rain hasn't been the only thing falling around our house. My emotions have kicked it up a notch - for no reason other than being pregnant. Jeff has been a trooper dealing with sudden tears!
I can't believe how well I'm sleeping at night. I still make 2 or 3 bathroom trips but have no trouble getting comfortable and falling asleep once I'm back in bed. I am, however, now in my 8th month of pregnancy and I've been told these last weeks will be the most uncomfortable ones. Something to "look forward to,"right?
Abby Kate has been extremely active over the last few days. She likes to play with daddy just as we lay down to sleep or right before we have to get up. And by "play" I mean kick him. I'll lay with my stomach to his back and he can feel her bounce around. Saturday morning he told me he is sure she stretched all four limbs at the same time because he felt it. He joked that she must have been telling him to get out of bed and fix breakfast.
We go back to the doctor Friday for our 32 week check-up. Jeff hasn't been able to make it to the last couple of appointments but he's hoping to join me for this one.

Showered At Church

Jeff & I enjoyed our second of five scheduled showers on Sunday; this one at our church.
Abby Kate received several gifts and we had a fun time in fellowship with friends.

Abby Kate in 4D

Jeff & I got to see our daughter up close and personal this morning... in 4D! I don't think there was ever any question that we'd have the 4D photos done, despite the fact that insurance doesn't cover it. We just figured if Abby Kate didn't cooperate, she could repay us the money out of her allowance some day. Ha Ha...
Her arm was covering her face at first so we were a little concerned we wouldn't get any good pictures. The technician joked that Abby Kate was being either shy or stubborn. I told her my bet was on stubborn because we don't have any shy family members. Stubborn could come from her Poppa or Bidee or Uncle Jeremy. I think Uncle Chad is the only one in my immediate family who she wouldn't get that from.
She is quite the contortionist! For a long time she had her hands beside her face and her feet touching her forehead, as you see below. We figure if she's not an Olympic gymnast she could always be an acrobat in the circus...
We watched her for about 45 minutes and came away with tons of photos on CD and paper as well as a videotape of the whole thing.
Here's a shot of her hand and foot.
The coolest part was feeling her and seeing her at the same time. I told Jeff recently that I wish I could see what she's doing when she moves and today I did.
I think she looks like her daddy but we'll see for sure in about 11 weeks!
I posted different photos on my other blog. You can check them out at http://www.julie-and-jeff.blogspot.com/

Baby Birthing 101

Jeff & I have attended child birth classes the past 2 Thursday nights and I've just got to wonder: Haven't there been ANY baby delivery movies made since 1978?
There are 3 other couples in our class. I'm glad there aren't more than that because I really don't think we'd get through the lesson each week within the 2 1/2 hour time period. You heard me right. 2 1/2 hours. My TV news producing background has kicked in as I consider ways the instructor could shave at least 30 minutes off the course. For example, everyone of the women in our class is in her third trimester. So why did we spend 20 minutes watching a video on nutrition? Perhaps it's a required topic. In my opinion, it's wasted time.
Don't get me wrong; the class has helped us get a better understanding of what to expect during labor although I have a feeling labor is something you can't really understand until you're actually going through it.
My favorite moment thus far has been the after-class question by an adorably young mother-to-be who wanted to know if it was OK for her to use self-tanning lotion so that her legs wouldn't be so white. I guess she's expecting an audience in her delivery room. As my friend Lee so poignantly pointed out: the young lady will be lucky if she can shave her legs at that point.
Next week's class should be better because we will get the hospital tour and what I consider "news we can use."
One more note: my dear Jeff has already mastered the relaxation techniques, as his eyes were closed pretty much the whole time that video was playing. Ha!