The Holland Family

37 Weeks

2009-11-14T05:09:00.000-08:00

How far along? 37 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 36 lbs. Hopefully that is so small that you guys can't read it! =)
Maternity clothes? Definitely!
Stretch marks? Yikes!
Sleep: Poor Blake is all I have to say. I busted his lip this week from all my tossing and turning. He's become a COP (casualty of pregnancy).
Best moment this week: Finally getting my c-section scheduled!!!
Movement: Still a wild man! I was able to "play" with him a little the other morning. I noticed he was moving around a lot so I put my hand on my stomach and he would move to the opposite side...he did this about 3-4 times.
Food cravings: Blooming Onion
Gender: Boy!!! No doubt about it after two ultrasounds!
Name: We finally agreed on a name but will not be sharing it on the blog.
Labor Signs: Still none...Baby Holland is still as snug as a bug to stay right where he is. I told Blake we need to start walking every night to get this show on the road.
Belly Button in or out? Flat and ugly
What I miss: a good night's sleep
What I am looking forward to: Maternity Leave...Only one week and two days left. I hope I can make it!
Weekly Wisdom: Try to enjoy these last few weeks of being pregnant and feeling Baby Holland move around inside.
Weekly Wisdom #2: If you have a choice, go with a smaller OB practice. I am pretty much fed up with mine. The wait time is ALWAYS long, phone calls are not returned, test results are not ready when promised or can't be found, etc.
Milestones: 37 Weeks= Full Term

Just a few extras for this week. After talking to my Dr. at my appointment on Friday, I found out a couple things. I tested positive for the Group B Strep which means that if my water were to break, I would need to get to the hospital immediately to start antibiotics. If I go into labor on my own, I will also be treated with antibiotics. If little guy waits for our c-section before trying to emerge, everything should be fine.
I also found out that my Dr. prefers to use staples instead of stitches. This initially freaked me out and I'm sure he could see the panic on my face. He explained to me though that staples allow any fluid to flow easily and you have less risk of infection. This reminded me of what happened with the incision from Brady...I developed an egg-sized abscess that had to be re-cut and drained so I looked the Dr. in the eye and told him I was going to trust him on this. We'll see I guess!
Oh! And Baby Holland should be making his grand entrance on December 1!

Halloween

2009-11-08T04:22:00.001-08:00

Brady wanted to be something scary this year so he chose a skeleton. Without the mask, it's not too scary, but when he put the mask on it became pretty scary.
Sorry for the tired look on my face...I was 35 weeks pregnant and recovering from a cold or flu.
Mimi was supposed to come take Brady trick-or-treating since I had been sick, plus it's just a fun tradition they have. She called that morning to let us know that her car had broken down on the way and that Poppy's car was also in the shop so she wouldn't be able to make it. After Brady spoke to her on the phone, he went to his room and cried and cried. He was so upset but I didn't want Mimi to feel bad so I didn't tell her. She called back later and said she was coming after all in Ali's car...Thanks Ali! I decided not to tell Brady for fear of another car breaking down. So Mimi showed up at our front door as a trick-or-treater, a pretty scary trick-or-treater nonetheless. Can you tell Brady is freaked out? Once he realized it was her, he got excited but at first he was unsure what to think! He later told me that he really just wanted to close the door on the "trick-or-treater".

36 Weeks

2009-11-06T13:34:00.000-08:00

How far along? 36 Weeks (9 MONTHS!!!)
Total weight gain/loss: Didn't bother to ask the Dr. and I don't care to know
Maternity clothes? Definitely!
Stretch marks? The old ones are getting bigger and bigger now...=(
Sleep: Not so great anymore...It goes a lot like toss, turn, pee, roll over, flip pillow, pee, etc.
Best moment this week: Reaching my final month!!!
Movement: He loves to push his little bottom as far as he can into my ribs causing them to be quite sore. I tried icing it today... I had read somewhere that the coldness makes the baby move. It worked! For a few minutes anyways...he is currently back in my ribs.
Food cravings: Olive Garden salad, dried apricots
Gender: Boy!!! No doubt about it after two ultrasounds!
Name: We finally agreed on a name but will not be sharing it on the blog.
Labor Signs: None...Baby Holland is as snug as a bug to stay right where he is. Here's hoping for some progress next week.
Belly Button in or out? Flat and ugly
What I miss: having enough energy to make it through the day
What I am looking forward to: Finding out our c-section date, seeing my baby for the first time, maternity leave in 2 weeks
Weekly Wisdom: Hot baths are your friend!
Milestones: 36 Weeks= no stopping baby if he decides to come after this point

Just a little extra for this week. I've had many people ask me how I am feeling numerous times throughout the day so here goes...
I'm tired, anxious to meet my baby, scared of my c-section, worried that my water will break at school, tired, sleepy-you should see the bags under my eyes, uncomfortable-if only you could see my waddle, excited about being a Mommy again, tired, nervous about starting all over, fat, my hormones are raging-ask the lady who rear-ended me at McDonalds this week, thankful that I've made it this far in my pregnancy without complications, thirsty almost all the time, disappointed that I still haven't been able to schedule my c-section, and did I mention that I am tired? This is why when people ask me how I am feeling, I usually just answer "Fine". =)

As a side note: I was rear-ended on Monday in the drive-thru of McDonalds by an older woman. Before I even knew what was happening, Mama Bear came out of me and I was out of my car yelling at her. Totally not something I would EVER do. I feel so bad about it now. Thankfully, Brady was not there and little one and I are fine. Now you see why I say my hormones are raging and I can't wait to feel like my normal self again.

Brady's Soccer

2009-11-02T06:12:00.001-08:00

Brady has been playing soccer again this Fall. He has been playing since he was 3 years old making this his 6th year! I have to say that I have seen the most improvement this year. He has become aggressive and goes after the ball now. The best part is that he loves to play. He loves going to practice and games and really looks forward to those days. I love that he is getting exercise!
At one of his last games, he had a penalty called against him for pushing a girl. We know he didn't do it on purpose...that it is just part of the game...but we love to give him a hard time about it!

He is learning about offense and defense this year and the positions. His favorite seems to be when he gets to run the entire field. His team hasn't had enough players for the last two games, so he has been running his little heart out to make up for the missing players. I'm so proud of him!

Fall Fun

2009-11-01T14:49:00.001-08:00

The jack-o-lanterns Brady and I carved...Blake's wasn't finished yet. Can you guess whose is who?
Brady came home from school the other day and pretty much begged to rake leaves...Seriously! So of course, we obliged! Here are some cute pictures I took of him playing in them. He had a ball!
This is also documentation for when he is a teenager that he asked to rake leaves. =)
For some reason, he reminds me of a scarecrow in this picture... I think it's the combination of the rake and the baseball pants.

35/35!!!

2009-10-31T05:36:00.001-07:00

How far along? 35 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: Hoping and praying not too much more!!!
Maternity clothes? Definitely!
Stretch marks? Yeah...Seems like there may be a couple new ones on my sides.
Sleep: A lot of tossing and turning and trying to get comfortable. Added an extra pillow to prop up more to help with breathing
Best moment this week: Finishing baby's laundry
Movement: I've been keeping up with his hiccups...He's getting them at least 5 times a day if not more...sometimes 6 or 7! Poor little baby!
Food cravings: Chili again!
Gender: Boy!!! No doubt about it after two ultrasounds!
Name: We finally agreed on a name but will not be sharing it on the blog.
Labor Signs: Some Braxton Hicks...especially when there are stairs involved.
Belly Button in or out? Flat
What I miss: Being able to eat and then breathe normally afterward...we're running out of room here, people!
What I am looking forward to: Finding out our baby's birthday on Thursday!!!
Weekly Wisdom: If you are going to call your dr. or go see him for a problem, follow the instructions he gives you and try not to question them!
Milestones: 35/35...I am 35 weeks pregnant with 35 days left until my due date! (Which for me means that we will have a baby in less than 35 days!!!) ending post to go nest =)

Charlotte Baby Shower

2009-10-24T04:23:00.001-07:00

A couple weekends ago, I headed down to Charlotte for a baby shower given by my Aunt Susan and cousin's wife, Natalie. It was so nice to be able to visit with some friends and family I haven't seen in quite a while and share the joy and anticipation of our new little baby boy! In the above picture is Cindy, my "photographer" and myself.

Mrs. Long and Nat
Mom
This is Juli...She is a friend from college who in the past few years relocated to the Concord area. She holds a special place in my heart as she was Brady's babysitter while I did my student teaching. She was wonderful to him! She told me that she was there for Brady's baby shower and she wanted to be here for this baby's shower!
Brittany and Emily...some of my friends from high school. I haven't had a chance to see them in ages and it was so great to catch up!
Aunt Susan, Mama Ward, and Mom...Doesn't the table look pretty? I loved all the fall decorations.
Another special treat was having Mama Ward at the shower...all the way from Alabama!!! We were able to spend some good quality time with them over the weekend and I so enjoyed it! (I just love this picture, by the way!)

34 Weeks

2009-10-23T13:49:00.000-07:00

How far along? 34 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 31 lbs...That is really bad! The Dr. wasn't too concerned but he said to stay away from cakes, candy, and such if I was worried about it. And he tells me this right before Halloween! And...when he mentioned those items, Brady piped in and said, "Oh! My mom loves all those and has them all the time." ....Tattletale!
Maternity clothes? Definitely!
Stretch marks? Yeah...Seems like there may be a couple new ones on my sides.
Sleep: Not too bad for 8 and a half months pregnant yet still waking up exhausted.
Best moment this week:Finally finding a store that has all the letters in our baby's name so I can hang them in the nursery!
Movement: It is so fun to just simply sit and watch my belly move. However, people tend to look at me weird and ask what I am doing when I do this.
Food cravings: Scrambled eggs, pizza with ranch dressing
Gender: Boy!!! No doubt about it after two ultrasounds!
Name: We finally agreed on a name but will not be sharing it on the blog.
Labor Signs: We will find out in two weeks at our next appointment if there is any progress yet!
Belly Button in or out? Flat
What I miss: Having enough pants to wear without having to do laundry in the middle of the week. I wore the same pair two days in a row without washing them.
What I am looking forward to:Getting Baby Holland's name on the wall, curtains hung and hemmed, and animal pictures finished!
Weekly Wisdom: Go to bed early!
Milestones: Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. His fat layers — which will help regulate his body temperature once he's born — are filling him out, making him rounder. His skin is also smoother than ever. His central nervous system is maturing and his lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

32 and 33 Weeks

2009-10-17T11:22:00.000-07:00

How far along? 33 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: As of last Thursday, 26 lbs! Holy Cow!
Maternity clothes? Definitely!
Stretch marks? ?
Sleep: Pretty good...Blake picked out a new cover for my body pillow and it is SO SOFT and comfortable!
Best moment this week:My Charlotte baby shower! It was so much fun! (and getting hit on in a gas station while 8 months pregnant and in my pajamas! Too funny!)
Movement: Still a wild man! And still painful! I am starting to be able to distinguish more and more little body parts!
Food cravings: Ehhh...nothing in particular.
Gender: Boy!!! No doubt about it after two ultrasounds!
Name: We finally agreed on a name but will not be sharing it on the blog.
Labor Signs: A few Braxton Hicks but nothing painful...just tightening
Belly Button in or out? Barely in
What I miss: Tying shoes normally...If you ever glance at my shoes, you will notice that they are tied on the sides now...the only way I can reach them. I kept thinking, I don't remember this being a problem with Brady. Then I realized he was born in July and I was only wearing flip-flops!
What I am looking forward to: Finishing the nursery...it's almost there! And I will post pictures just as soon as we finish!
Weekly Wisdom: If you drop something, it's OK to ask the nearest person around to pick it up for you! =)
Milestones: Baby should be over 4 lbs now! All in all, to be 8 months pregnant, I feel relatively good! Hopefully it lasts!

31 Weeks

2009-10-03T12:41:00.000-07:00

How far along? 31 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: We'll see at the Dr. this week.
Maternity clothes? Finally got to pull out some of the long sleeved stuff I've been saving and it was super comfy!
Stretch marks? I'm thinking nothing new as of now
Sleep: Not so bad this week!
Best moment this week:Running into an old student of mine at Wal-Mart and giving her a hug...When she put her arms around me, she leaned back and said "Woa! Are you having a baby?" Lol!
Movement: Some days he is more active than others...I thought he was going to break a rib today. I actually cried out in pain (thankfully I was alone).
Food cravings: Butterscotch pudding
Gender: Boy!!! No doubt about it after two ultrasounds!
Name: We finally agreed on a name but will not be sharing it on the blog.
Labor Signs: Nope
Belly Button in or out? Just plain ugly!
What I miss: Driving back and forth to work without pain
What I am looking forward to: Our Charlotte baby shower!!!
Weekly Wisdom: Tennis shoes are your friend!
Milestones: This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

Virginia Baby Shower

2009-09-28T14:22:00.001-07:00

(So I have yet to master the art of putting pictures in order on a blog so bear with me.)
This past Saturday, I was blessed with a baby shower in Virginia thrown by Blake's cousins Jamie, Kim, and Lindsey and friend Ann. It was so much fun and we got lots of baby items we needed! We played several games I had never played before that were a lot of fun and the food was delicious! The best part was seeing lots of family and friends I haven't had the opportunity to see in a while!
I received a phone call that morning from my college roommate, Layla who lives in Greensboro, saying she was going to be able to make it! I was so excited! I hadn't seen her since our wedding.

Blake and his "I Love Daddy" bib.
It was so nice of him and Brady to come at the very end to see everyone and help with a little gift opening.
Bonnie feeling the baby move! I love this picture!
I couldn't ask for a better Mother-in-Law!
The Grandma's
Wonder who sent this???
Can you just hear me saying Awwww?
30 Week Belly Picture
Check out this adorable baby tree that Bonnie and her friend, Ethel made! It's the cutest thing ever!
And this was the yummiest cake ever!
Granny Sink
With my sisters...I was so happy to have them there with me!

30 Weeks!!!

2009-09-26T04:31:00.001-07:00

How far along? 30 Weeks!!! For some reason, this feels like such a milestone for me! Almost like the point of no return...not that there ever was! =)
Total weight gain/loss: 22 lbs...I guess I'm just going to own it.
Maternity clothes? Hate them! Please God, let it hurry up and cool off!
Stretch marks? Maybe some beginning on my upper belly...I can never tell if it is from where I was sleeping or stretch marks.
Sleep: I just noticed this morning that Blake sleeps with a pillow protecting his head...I guess to protect himself since I have hit and elbowed him several times in the face from tossing and turning. Poor guy!
Best moment this week:Feeling a little foot! As soon as I touched it the little hard spot on my belly, it was gone! It was so sweet and made everything feel that much more real! I love this little guy so much already.
Movement: He's a little wild man! Mom also got to feel and see him move last weekend when she was in town and she got to experience hiccups!
Food cravings: Still Rice Krispie Treats! I just can't get enough of these. Blake made me a homemade batch yesterday and they are so yummy! I also started a class last Saturday for my job. My friend didn't have his books yet so he brought RKT as bribery to get me to share mine with him. It worked!
Gender: Boy!!! No doubt about it after two ultrasounds!
Name: We finally agreed on a name but will not be sharing it on the blog.
Labor Signs: I guess some Braxton Hicks occasionally
Belly Button in or out? Just plain ugly!
What I miss: Regular clothes
What I am looking forward to: Our Virginia baby shower today!!!
Weekly Wisdom: When buying maternity clothes, pay the extra money and get what you really like instead of just buying what is on sale or at the Goodwill! The only pair of pants that I even remotely like are the ones I paid full price for.
Milestones: Attended breastfeeding class, put our decal tree on the wall, Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and he weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him, but that volume will decrease as he gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. His eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after he's born, he'll keep his eyes closed for a good part of the day. When he does open them, he'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means he can only make out objects a few inches from his face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

29 Weeks

2009-09-18T15:26:00.000-07:00

How far along? 29 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: Still that enormous amount from last week...I refuse to weigh myself at home. I will just wait until my appointment next Friday.
Maternity clothes? Yes and one of the very first shirts I bought was too short in the front this week.
Stretch marks? I can't see the parts of my belly that might have some new ones without a mirror and honestly I just don't care to know...There's nothing you can do about them anyway.
Sleep: Crazier dreams than ever! I will share one experience that was kind of funny. This is Blake's version because I don't remember any of this. I had been asleep for awhile and Blake had been up watching tv. He heard me scream out "OH SHOOT!" and ran to the bedroom to see what was wrong. He said I was sitting up in the bed laughing and I asked him if he had heard that. He told me yeah and asked what was wrong. I told him there was a grasshopper all over me...a BIG one then laid down and went back to sleep.
Best moment this week:Feeling hiccups...usually during nap time. It is so sweet but I always feel sorry for the little guy. Passing the "sugar test" and having "normal" blood work from my last appointment
Movement: All over! There was one day when I felt like he didn't sleep at all. Hopefully he will be used to lots of noise by the time he arrives and it won't bother him.
Food cravings: Still Rice Krispie Treats!
Gender: Boy!!! No doubt about it after two ultrasounds!
Name: We finally agreed on a name but will not be sharing it on the blog.
Labor Signs: I guess some Braxton Hicks occasionally
Belly Button in or out? In but flattening out.
What I miss: bending over without grunting and sleeping on my stomach
What I am looking forward to: Having my mom and dad in town for the weekend and getting their ideas on the nursery!
Weekly Wisdom: If you have the opportunity, attend a car seat class. You will be amazed at what you will learn! We debated about going for 45 minutes but we are so glad we did. However, poor Brady is going back in his booster until he reaches 80 lbs. The law only requires a booster through age 8 but we found out that seat belts are designed for 80lbs and heavier. He seems to be OK with it though.
Milestones: Passing sugar test, got the rhogam shot, attended car seat class

28 weeks

2009-09-12T04:51:00.000-07:00

How far along? 28 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: I don't really want to share but I will... just to keep myself accountable...20 lbs altogether I will definitely try to lay off the sugar a bit from now on.
Maternity clothes? Yes
Stretch marks? I think one of my scars from my gallbladder surgery has turned into a stretch mark as well
Sleep: Leg cramps/Charlie horses started this week. I remember these from Brady...Ouch!
Best moment this week: All the little girls and a few boys in my class announcing they have babies in their bellies too. One of their Mama's told me she came home and told her the same thing and she couldn't figure out where she came up with that idea. Finally, the little girl told her, "Mrs. Holland can't pick me up because she has a baby in her belly." They are so funny!
Movement: Still getting rib kicks and occasional bladder kicks! I also dreamed last night that I could see the shape of his foot pressing through my belly...weird, huh?
Food cravings: Finally got a Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino! Yummy! Rice Krispie Treats too...This is probably where the 8 and a half lbs from last month came from. Lesson learned.
Gender: Boy!!! No doubt about it after two ultrasounds!
Name: Poll is over and narrowing down our choices but still no definite.
Labor Signs: Nope but I do start going to the Dr. every two weeks now...I almost asked him if that was really necessary but decided against it. My plate is so full right now!
Belly Button in or out? In but flattening out.
What I miss: wearing cute clothes
What I am looking forward to: My VA baby shower!
Weekly Wisdom: Staying super busy helps the time go by so fast!
Milestones: Baby H's eyes are opening!

27 weeks

2009-09-04T14:38:00.000-07:00

How far along? 27 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: I'm waiting for my next Dr. appointment (Thursday)...I HATE weighing myself!
Maternity clothes? Yup! I finally broke down one night and made the 45 minute trip to Roanoke for some more short sleeved shirts. I scored 6 shirts and a pair of jeans for Brady for only $38.00. Gotta love consignment!
Stretch marks? Who knows?
Sleep: Pretty good this week!
Best moment this week: Blake actually seeing my belly move instead of just feeling it! I just love to watch him move all around. I always wonder what he is doing in there and what his position is.
Movement: He likes to get up in my ribs and kick and punch. It really hurts!
Food cravings: Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino!!! I want one soooo bad!
Gender: Boy!!! No doubt about it after two ultrasounds!
Name: We can't agree on anything! =(
Labor Signs: Just a few random Braxton Hicks here and there
Belly Button in or out? In but flattening out.
What I miss: Having patience and bending over
What I am looking forward to: Fall and all its fun!
Weekly Wisdom: I have none...Anybody want to share some with me?
Milestones:I made it to the Third Trimester!!!! 12 more weeks until we meet out little one!

26 week Bump Picture

2009-09-03T17:36:00.001-07:00

What do you know? I finally got around to snapping a picture of my bump. It sure seems like it is growing a lot these days!

26 Weeks

2009-08-28T16:47:00.000-07:00

How far along? 26 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: I'm waiting for my next Dr. appointment...I HATE weighing myself!
Maternity clothes? For sure...For some reason I thought I was going to need more long sleeves and pants than short sleeves and capris so I am having to really stay on top of laundry to have work clothes.
Stretch marks? Nothing new to note that I can see.
Sleep: Still having crazy dreams and my pillow count has been raised to four...just for me!
Best moment this week: I had two friends at work tell me "You really look pregnant today!"
Movement: Each day this week, while I've been doing bus duty in the morning and afternoons, Baby H has decided it was time to wake up and roll and tumble and kick etc. Kinda funny! Maybe the buses and kids are really loud for him???
Food cravings: Still P-nut butter and Chili (mainly because some of my students were pretending to make some in the House Area one day which got to me thinking about it and then I couldn't stop thinking about it until Blake brought some home from Wendy's for me) =)
Gender: Boy!!! No doubt about it after two ultrasounds!
Name: Still no clue...Blake has pulled out the baby name book again
Labor Signs: Just a few random Braxton Hicks here and there
Belly Button in or out? In but flattening out.
What I miss: Having energy to do things once I get home from work
What I am looking forward to: Entering Third Trimester next week...I think I am looking forward to this...At least it means I'm closer to holding my new little baby!
Weekly Wisdom: Eat fiber! Lots and lots of fiber!
Milestones: I have less than 100 days of pregnancy left...kind of sad because right now it's not too bad. I kind of like having my baby with me at all times.

25 Weeks

2009-08-22T04:37:00.000-07:00

How far along? 25 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 11 lbs total according to last Dr. appointment (only 3 in the last month)
Maternity clothes? Mostly although I wore one of my regular shirts on Friday to work.
Stretch marks? Nothing new to note.
Sleep: Back to nightly potty breaks and I have been having the CRAZIEST dreams lately!
Best moment this week: Seeing Baby Holland on the ultrasound screen and having Blake and Brady there with me to enjoy it as well!
Movement: Most of the strong movement I feel is above my belly button which makes me believe that he is still transverse.
Food cravings: Peanut Butter (as in PB and J sandwiches and P-nut butter cup blizzards)
Gender: Boy!!! No doubt about it after two ultrasounds!
Name: Wish I knew! I would love to have some things monogrammed!
Labor Signs: Nah...
Belly Button in or out? In but flattening out.
What I miss: Sleeping the whole night through...(yeah, I realize it will be a LONG time before I enjoy this one again) and getting up and down easily (from the floor...one of the perks of teaching preschool).
What I am looking forward to: Having less than 100 days left of being pregnant!
Weekly Wisdom: Wash your hands religiously! Now is not the time to be sick!
Milestones: I reached Viability-day at 24 weeks...meaning that if the baby were born after this point, he would have fighting chance of surviving!

Back To School 2009

2009-08-20T14:39:00.001-07:00

The boys (some of the teacher's kids who congregate in my classroom) playing after school after a Great First Day!
He was up and ready to go! He finished his "duties" and watched a few cartoons before having to leave.
Holding up 3 fingers for 3rd grade!
3 fingers for 3rd grade and 7 fingers for my 7th year of teaching...can you believe it's been that many? And I still love it! (The baby bump is showing a bit now too...)
Although this was not a posed picture, I thought it captured how we were both feeling that morning! Haha!
Brady's first time riding a bus besides on a field trip or something like that! He was super nervous about it but it went very smooth! If you click on the picture, you can see his big smile (which of course made me so happy)!

Baby Holland @ 24 weeks!

2009-08-16T18:22:00.001-07:00

Due to his lack of cooperation at our last ultrasound, we had to have a repeat done a month later. Though this ultrasound did not take as long and was not as detailed, we did come away with this cute picture of him. We found at that he weighs a whopping 1 lb and 6 oz! He really is a wiggle worm, too! The technician told us that she sometimes wished she could reach in there and hold them still. =) I love how he keeps his little hands and arms up by his face! He is so precious and Blake and I feel so blessed to have him as a part of our life already!

We are famous!

2009-08-13T05:14:00.000-07:00

Check us out! We are famous! Click here for pictures and see if you can find me!

23 Weeks

2009-08-12T14:26:00.000-07:00

How far along? 23 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: IDK...I'm too scared to weigh myself these days.
Maternity clothes? Yup!
Stretch marks? Nothing new to note.
Sleep: Pretty Good...I think I have just completely worn myself out during the day so I have been sleeping a little harder.
Best moment this week: Any warm bath I got to indulge in...and there were quite a few.
Movement: For sure...I always notice him moving around a lot about 15-20 minutes after I eat something. It's pretty cute!
Food cravings: Left over grilled hot dogs with chili and cole slaw!
Gender: Boy!!!
Name: Vote on our our poll to the right! Benjamin is in the lead with Grant taking a close second.
Labor Signs: I think maybe some Braxton Hicks...I've noticed a tightening in my lower stomach occasionally...especially after being on my feet for a while.
Belly Button in or out? In but flattening out.
What I miss: Enjoying hot weather...I HATE it now.
What I am looking forward to: Fall weather!
Weekly Wisdom: If you have to be in a hot place, even if you feel alright, get up slowly and take it easy. I thought I was OK, but ended up feeling dizzy and light-headed followed by a horrible headache the rest of the afternoon.
Milestones: Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner (or the yelling of his big brother) — probably won't faze him when he hears them outside the womb.

22 Weeks

2009-08-03T06:56:00.000-07:00

How far along? 22 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 8 and a half pounds
Maternity clothes? Yup! I think I finally "popped" this week.
Stretch marks? Nothing new to note.
Sleep: So-so...Both of the possible sleep positions (left side and right side) I have now usually end up making my hips go numb sometime during the night.
Best moment this week: Having Blake and Brady feel baby kick and getting my first stranger comment at the pedicure place
Movement: Getting stronger
Food cravings: Spaghetti (which I normally do not really like)
Gender: Boy!!!
Name: Vote on our our poll to the right!
Labor Signs: Nope
Belly Button in or out? In but flattening out.
What I miss: Having lots of energy to do more
What I am looking forward to: Putting the crib together this week!
Weekly Wisdom: There are pressure points in your feet that can cause contractions. If you get a pedicure, be sure to point out this fact. ( I found this out after the fact...luckily, I was fine. No contractions.)
Milestones: Baby now weighs a whopping pound and will double that in the next 4 weeks!

PS... I will try to get a bump picture up sometime this week.

Return from Vacation

2009-08-03T06:35:00.001-07:00

When we got back home from vacation, we found this in our garage! In all honesty, it wasn't a surprise but still it was so much fun! We are currently "babysitting" it for Blake's cousin. (Oh...and check out where Blake allowed the satellite guy to put our dish! I was one unhappy mama.)
Brady is a wild man on this thing!
He has had a blast on it in the evenings when it cools down.
Somebody else took it for a little spin, too! Don't worry! I didn't go too fast and I stayed away from the holes.

Family Vacation 2009

2009-08-03T06:06:00.001-07:00

We headed to Gatlinburg for our annual family vacation this year! As you can probably tell, we all wore Bama t-shirts for our family pic and the Dixie Stampede.

The newly engaged couple!
Sisters
Brother-in-laws(or soon to be)
My cutie-pie!
The "one-mile" hike!
Dixie Stampede
My belly looks so big in this picture! I don't think it is this big for real, or is it? Somebody please tell me!

Thank you, Mama and Papa Ward for a fantastic and relaxing vacation this year! We had so much fun and appreciate everything so much! We love you!