38 weeks

Yay for 38 weeks! I did a poll on Facebook to see when people think I will pop, and I got anywhere between February 10th at 5:36 PM to February 26th at 2:50 AM. I hope you guys are right! I honestly don't know anymore, I don't have any sort of motherly instinct or anything so your guess is as good as mine. It would be nice if he came on his due date weekend because Cobb County schools are off Friday and Monday and I have lots of loved ones as teachers so...

no pressure, Grayson ;)

I'm already trying to sneak 85 Scalini and Provino visits in these short 28 days haha I want Grayson to be an Eggplant Parmesan baby! Even if it happens to be coincidence because I literally went 3 times a week, it will still make for a fun birth story. I am so anxious to know what he looks like, but I'm still really nervous about being responsible for a newborn. Ahhh!

Grayson is still extremely active. Like 25 weeks active. I, on the other hand, am dying. I cannot put my shoes on in a timely matter by any means, laundry is becoming near impossible, and every time I walk it feels like he's going to fall right out. So staying active has been a challenge, but I've noticed the more I rest, the harder it is to do daily tasks, so I'm trying to find some common ground. Emotionally, I've been a mess. I can't believe I've found myself watching Snooki and JWOWW (first shameful confession) and then continuing to BALL my eyes out like 5 times every episode. Snooki? Making me cry? C'mon hormones, let's try to stick to things like Super Bowl Clydesdale commercials.

Well here's to another week! It won't be long before I'll be posting newborn pictures on here!!!

37 weeks

Cheers to another week! I don't know if it was my haircut, or my shirt, or whatever, but I swear my belly is sticking out like 3 inches farther than last week?! Haha I suppose I can expect this until he arrives. I'm kind of ready and hoping he drops because I look ridiculous. Next week I'll move my arm so you can see the full extent of it. 

I had zero desire for any sweets throughout my entire pregnancy. Nothing seemed like a good idea to me. Well, all of the sudden I'm like a little kid in a candy shop! Well not so much candy, but baked goods. And not just any baked goods, but a specific brand of chocolate chip cookies (I've experimented with many) and a certain brand of brownie mix (okay, the only one I could find with no hydrogenated oil, but I still think those little chocolate chips make them gold). The Simply chocolate chip cookies, when I get lucky and cook them the perfect amount of time, taste exactly like Subway. It's ridiculously easy, too. I like to make them after dinner and then let them sit out overnight, thennn put them in tupperware. Okay what am I doing, I just wrote a paragraph on cookies. Grayson please come soon so I can snap out of this!!! As for the Zevia, their products are awesome. I drank the ginger ale when I had morning sickness, and the cream soda helps with...um...

So here's my 17 week, 23 week, and 37 week pictures put together. I cannot believe what 20 weeks can do to a pregnant body (let alone 40). I have a newfound respect for all mothers. The fact that you choose to sacrifice your body (for some of you, 4+ times!) for the joys of parenthood is astonishing to me. It's been quite the battle at times. Buying bigger bras, and then even bigger bras, having to deal with your MATERNITY jeans getting tighter every time you put them on, watching every inch of your body get rounder, the numbers on the scale escalating higher, crying at every little thing that's slightly sad, flipping out roid rage style every time the smallest thing doesn't go your way, starving for foods you haven't liked in a decade/never liked at all, feeling like your face is busted no matter how much time you spend in the mirror; all this for a 7+ pound baby! But to have a little human with the genetics of you and your favorite person on the planet is a concept I still cannot comprehend, but so incredibly honored to be able to experience.

I can't believe in 3ish weeks I will have a new title: MOM!

36 weeks

I know I have been slacking tremendously on this blog, and I am very sorry! Holidays got in the way and I was all over the place. And I just got really lazy ;) I look a little different than I did two months ago, I can't believe it! Everyone knows I'm pregnant now, and it's really funny to see how people treat expectant mothers differently. Before I was pregnant, Matt and I would always get the awkward table for two that would wobble unless you stuffed 85 napkins underneath the leg, and placed in the romantic spot right next to the bathroom or kitchen. Now hostesses stare at me with their smizing eyes asking if I would like a table or booth and seat us in the hoppin-est part of the restaurant (which is partially insulting that they think I can't fit in a booth, but just as flattering that I have free reigns hehe). 

I am seriously dying to meet my son. I'm not in so much of a rush to get him out (although my pelvic bone desperately disagrees with me), but more so excited to hold him, take him to his new room, and meet his pug brother along with all of his super funny, caring, loving friends and family. I will eat my hat if he shows up before his due date, I feel like it will be more February 20-something, but we'll see :)  This has been a dream of mine ever since I was a babes myself, so I'm in a state of disbelief and shock that I'm not only expecting him soon, but I'm expecting him in a MONTH. It's so surreal to me and I'm 100% in awe that this dream of mine is actually and finally coming true. I am so happy!

I swear Matt has caught the nesting bug just as much as I have. He's been painting the walls of our house all week now, trying to make this place a little homier for our family. I've been washing everything imaginable, painting nightstands and changing tables, and getting this little room ready for our newest family member :) Everything is purchased, final touches are being made, now all we do is wait! Ah, I can't believe it's been 8 months! Quickest 8 months of my life. 

Grayson, see you in 29ish days!

26 weeks

This is my favorite time of year! And thanks to Grayson I'm never cold! So long are the days of goosebumps and chattering teeth! If Matt and I have a night in, you can pretty much bet there's a fire going, cookies baking, and DVR clearing taking place. And as soon as the clock strikes 9:30 PM, we're all passed out on the couch. Ohhh have times changed.

I ordered our Christmas cards! Now I know people barely glance at them and toss them in a pile with the 923847 other cards they receive (maybe even use them as a nice fire starter), but I'm attached. There's something about sending mail to others that puts a huge smile on my face. Please bare with me the next, eh, 50 years.

Regina Spektor was SO GOOD. It was hilarious to me how much Grayson would move during certain songs and then be completely still during others. Maybe he'll recognize her voice outside the womb! Lord knows I play enough of her :)

So I am having the HARDEST time not shopping for this kid for the fall/winter months next year. Especially when Gap emails me every 5 seconds with all these 30% off deals, and then I go looking for more coupons, and then this happens... 

But really, it could have been so much worse. Who says baby girls are more fun?! Boys can be just as exciting to dress up. Who am I kidding, as soon as baby Gray finds a mirror and understands what I'm doing to him it's going to be graphic tees, cargo shorts, long socks, and white tennis shoes. Oh well, all the more reason to soak it up as long as I can!

We're in the double digits! 95 days until D-Day!!!

25 weeks

We're back from the Babymoon! It was fantastic. We couldn't have asked for a better time (or weather!). We ate at so many delicious restaurants, shopped till we dropped, and took advantage of the beautiful, quiet beaches. I am so happy we were able to get away before things got insane with the holidays and baby planning, I can't wait to go back next year with baby G!

Unfortunately, the night we came home from Florida we noticed our entire bedroom closet was flooded due to a hot water heater leak in the garage. Definitely the perfect end to a 6 hour drive! So now it sounds like we're blowing up 71 jumpies in our house from all the fans and dehumidifiers. Sounds just like the ocean waves...

I can't believe it's the Christmas season. Now, previous years I get really upset when Thanksgiving gets shafted, but Matt has informed me the season begins November 1st, not Black Friday (what would I do without his Target knowledge?) so I guess I have to suck it up and tis the season and stuff. 3 more weeks of Christmas sounds good to me anyway! Here's to Peppermint Mocha flavored everything and ridiculous doggie collars and sweaters. Sorry Zane ;)

As for a nursery update, the painting is complete, the crib is set up, and the gliding ottoman came in yesterday! I love it, and I can't wait to start using the glider every day. I've been patiently waiting for that arrival, hopefully it'll show up sometime this week so I can glide watching The Big Bang Theory put it in the nursery and dream about holding Grayson in it ;)

24 weeks

I am well aware this picture doesn't show my babes very well but it was SO COLD and windy that it was the best I could do. This week was packed! I found a new doctor in Atlanta finally, and the appointment went really well on Thursday. Turns out Grayson is 1 pound 7 ounces and I swear half of that is his nose ;) I'm so incredibly excited, becoming a mom is starting to really hit me!

Such a cutie.

Saturday took every morsel of energy out of me! It was the annual Southeastern PugFest, and I'm convinced it was a little glimpse of heaven. So.many.pugs. A ton of them were in costume for Halloween, I honestly couldn't handle it! They had everything from pug races to contests, of which Zane won Best Trick! I couldn't believe it! I was shaking like a leaf in front of everyone while I was giving him commands. I don't know what happened to my comfortability on stage, but it's definitely gone! I wasn't even the one performing :-\

In other news, WE LEAVE FOR THE BEACH ON THURSDAY! I cannot contain my excitement! It's supposedly going to be sunny and in the mid 70's the ENTIRE time! I have a huge list of restaurants for us to try while we're down there, it's going to be awesome not cooking for 4 days!

16 WEEKS LEFT!

23 weeks

Grayson has found my rib cage! And he's showing no remorse. He has been super active these past couple of days, I was actually able to record him on my phone doing the worm through my stomach. It's been awesome seeing my belly move all around at night while he break dances. I can't wait for him to come out and show me all the moves he's learned.

As for symptoms, holy heartburn. Tropical Fruit Tums has become my new best friend. I didn't even know what heartburn felt like until pregnancy.  I wonder if the old wives' tale will be true and he'll come out all hair. Whatever the case, I hope he gets his daddy's wavy locks :)

Also, my dental hygiene has had to take quite the boost these days. If I don't mouthwash and floss daily, I feel like I haven't done anything! (I mean...I have always flossed...of course...). They're not kidding when they say pregnancy puts a damper on your dental health. Hopefully my teeth can keep up their good reputation and stay on point at check-ups!

I go in for my 24 week appointment on Thursday! Should be getting the scoop on the hospital and the classes and all that jazz, I can't wait! We're only 118 days away!