Happy Due Date!

Dear Eli,

I just wanted to let you know that today is your due date. This means that you are supposed to come today. I am not sure you are aware because you aren't really giving me any signs you will come anytime soon. I know I have grown this nice huge belly for you to be comfy in, and you are enjoying your time in there. However, mommy and daddy are very ready to meet you. Your room is ready, we have diapers waiting, and I am just anxiously awaiting my first real contraction. Everyone keeps calling and texting me to ask if you are here yet, and I have to keep disappointing them with a resounding no. Let's give them some exciting news today, okay?

Love,
Your very uncomfortable, tired, headachy, belly-rashed nesting momma

1 Day To Go!

•How far along?: 39 weeks...due tomorrow!


•Total weight gain: 30 pounds! I'm was trying to keep within the 25-35 lb range so looks like I'm there!

•How big is baby?: Last week Eli was 8.2, but he is just sitting in there adding fat as we speak!

•Maternity clothes?: Yep.

•Stretch marks?: Just when I thought I was safe, I got two on my stomach a few days ago! My doctor assured me they would be very low and unnoticeable once this big belly goes down--let's hope so!

•Sleep?: Not at all. I think I average about 3-4 hours a night..usually two in the beginning, and one here and there. I'll be a pro at staying up with Eli all night.

•Best moment this week?: Seeing Eli on another ultrasound, having an amazing husband who does everything around the house, and my momma finishing the bedding and curtains!

•Movement?: Still pretty active. He has spurts where he squirms constantly, then sleeps for about 20 minutes. Lots of hiccups!

•Food cravings?: Coffee ice cream!

•Labor signs?: Tons of Braxton-Hicks, but they have been around since about week 25. Every now and then I have an actual contraction that hurts the tiniest bit. He has dropped even more according to the doctor today, and I am one measly centimeter dialated. One.

•Belly button in or out?: It's officially out...way out.

•What I miss: Sleeping on my back & my stomach.  Just sleeping really.

•What I'm looking forward to: Starting labor and seeing his sweet face!

•Milestone: Making it the entire 9 months. I'm hoping Eli will take after his momma and not like to make a late appearance. That gives him one day to get things started. Please don't be like your daddy and be late all the time...okay? Thanks.

Franklin Shower #2

After the first shower, the girls ran around cleaning and preparing for the second shower. I ran home and made a wardrobe change, thinking this would be cuter. Looking at pictures, I realized I'm big either way you look at it..oh well. Here are the two pregnant ladies starting up the food line. Notice the big smiles at all the delicious food choices.

I think I must have mentioned to everyone how much I love monogrammed baby gifts, and everyone granted my wishes. I got tons of great gifts with Eli's name on them. There's just something about seeing his name or initials on his little things...

Here we are with Zachary, who is leaning over to give me a sweet kiss. Zachary was born around week 23 and just recently had his two year birthday--such a blessing!

Here are most of my sweet girlfriends who were at the shower. The two on the far left, Christa and Corinne, threw me the shower at Corinne's beautiful home. I love my sweet friends and wish we could see eachother all the time. I hope they'll all be planning a trip to visit Knoxville really soon!

This is one of my very best friends Katie. She and I have been friends since we were around 9. We have gone to every school together, and were roommates in college. She's wonderful. Did you notice? She's pregnant too. I could not be more excited to share this with her. Baby Aiden is due June the 2nd, and we can't wait to meet him.

See the framed invite? It matched the two cakes perfectly!

Here I am again, smiling and swollen with love and gratitude at all the amazing people who came to our baby showers and gifted us with great baby gifts and love. Matthew and I are extremely blessed to have such wonderful family and friends.

Franklin Shower #1

About a month ago, my sweet sweet girlfriends threw me not one, but TWO showers. I knew we would only be in town for that weekend, and our invitation list was super long. They decided to bless me with two showers on the same day! We started out with a lot of our sweet friends from our old church in Franklin.

Here we are guessing the measurements of my belly. My sister-in-law Kelci's was way too long ( thanks sister), and I think the big winner was Debi Shelton, who was right on target. Some were actually too short--bless those women!

We had a light brunch of homemade chicken salad sandwiches, salad and cake of course! I tried to not gobble it all up, knowing there would be more for shower #2.

The cake was made by a friend of one of my hostesses. She did a fabulous job; the design even matched the design on the shower invitations--so creative!

Corinne and Christa gifted me not only with an amazing shower, but with a clothesline full of precious baby clothes.

Last but not least, me glowing from my gift chair. I had a hard time getting up from that chair gracefully!

Still Waiting...

That belly looks uncomfortable, doesn't it? It's quite the amount of weight to carry around on my front...my back is definitely feeling it these days!

Just to make myself feel even better, I like to compare myself to my husband, who keeps. getting. skinnier.

A good ole' family photo before Eli really joins the wild crew. We are actually missing our first born Rivers, but he had just ran out for an evening trek around town. And yes, it's the same night. I changed my shirt b/c I realized my horizontal stripes were actually not that flattering on a 9 month pregnant body. Isn't the black slimming?

We actually took these pictures for my mother-in-law b/c she was dying to see just how big I've gotten since she saw me last a month or so ago. My sweet sister-in-law Leah was kind to oblige, and we had a little photo shoot after dinner on Saturday night.

Next up? A doctor's appointment tomorrow to check on our progress ( or lack thereof as of lately) and maybe make a date to induce after the due date passes us up. Our doctor doesn't want to go past one week late, so we'll see. I'm still up in the air about our decision for that.

Nursery in Progress.

This is the fabric we used for the crib bumper. My mom also made diaper stacker and a blanket out of it as well...I love it because it's a very subtle blue, and I love the pattern with jungle animals. It's called "Jungle Passage" by Braemore. We found it at a fabric store in Brentwood called The Fabric House, which has amazing fabrics for amazing prices!

Above is the rug we ordered from Overstock two days ago, and received today! I was thrilled because they said it could take weeks, but nope--two days! It's the cream colored one, and I love how it feels on under my swollen pregnant feet! Plus, I will be able to use it again if we have a little girl!

Last is the fabric for the bed skirt and curtains. This was a Joann's find, and once it arrives, I'm going to attempt to make the curtains myself and we will be able to use them again also! Once the curtains and cornice boards are made, the last thing to do will be wall art. I have been working on some art projects and will post pictures once those are finished as well. I have some other plans for wall art but have to wait until Eli is born to get those made, and yes, they include pictures of his precious self! Today I opened the shutters in his room and sat in my glider, just picturing a baby in there. I can't wait to hold him, and know we are just getting so close to meeting him is killing me!

From Working to Shopping...

Now that I'm not a working girl anymore, I have time to get all those last-minute important items for baby. Yes, pjs and baby leggings. I mean, what would I do if Eli was born tonight and I didn't have those adorable leggings to put on his precious thighs?

In reality, I had a gift card from my hot hubby to spend from Christmas, and here are just some of the things I bought. Nursing pjs...I always thought you could just adjust your normal clothes a little and nurse away, but apparently, it doesn't work that way. So, I gave in and bought some comfy, cozy, nursing pjs for the summer. They should be here soon, and I will probably wear them every night for the next oh, I don't know, year.

Next are those adorable leggings. Eli won't be able to wear them right away, unless he is as chunky as he feels in my belly, but one day, I can throw on a onesie and these leggings and take lots of pictures of his chunky thigh rolls and diapered bum. Who doesn't love some chunky baby thighs? You could actually sew some of these leggings very easily. Buy some cute long socks, cut off the feet, and sew a seam, but hey, I had a gift card!

To Induce or Not to Induce...

As of my last week's doctor's appointment, my doctor told me that she would like to induce on the 24th...THIS WEDNESDAY! That's only about 6 days away! I told her I needed to think about it. I originally had a birth plan I wanted to stick to--stay at home as long as possible when contractions start, be in the comfort of my own home for awhile, etc. My OB is going out of town April 1-6, so if I wait to go into labor, and am late like most first-time mommas are, then she will not be here to deliver me...I will have a stranger bringing this sweet boy into the world. Does that bother me? I don't know.

I have read that if I am artificially induced, labors are typically longer, harder, and more likely to end up in a c-section...all three of which don't sound fun at all. I know some people who have been induced and delivered naturally just a few hours later, so I know there is no way to know what it will be like. When we went to the doctor yesterday, we told her we would like another appt. earlier next week, and an ultrasound to see what Eli's estimated weight is, and would like to be checked to see where I am in terms of progress. As of yesterday, there was none. If he is still little and there is no progress next week, I may just wait it out, and let him come when he is ready. Opinions? Experiences? Anyone...anyone?

Showered with Laurel Love

Toria, Rosemary, Caroline, Me, and Leah, and Kelci

Here are my wonderful hostesses from our church shower here in Knoxville. Our church here has been so sweet to Matthew and I in our last two years of being members; we are truly blessed to have such a supportive, thoughtful family when we don't get to live right by ours!

Here's my mom and and mother-in-law oohing and aahing over baby Josie. She was a big hit; my mom didn't want to put her down! They are definitely ready to be grandmas!

Here are a few of the girlies from church--Katie, Emily, and Nicole. I've already gotten lots of great mommy advice from Katie and Emily, and like to get my fashion advice from Nicole! We need more time to eat more girl dinners together! I'm sure that will come when Eli is here...ha.

Guess What??

As of this coming week, I am officially full term! Eli can officially come any time now!