Blueberry Bronson Prediction Game

We Are Expecting! Due Date Is August 3, 2010!

Tune in to see how Baby Bronson is developing and the challenges and joys that Adam and I face.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Andersson Keene Bronson

I started writing this post about a week after Anders was born, and it has taken me another six weeks to actually post it. Welcome to the busy life of motherhood! :)

He's here! He's here! After almost nine full months, Anders is here! We couldn't be more excited!

Born July 29, 2010 (7 lbs, 9.5 oz, 19 in) at 8:58 a.m.

AND...he made a grand appearance, too! Remember in past postings I have said how incredibly easy my pregnancy has been? It was seamless, with my doctor constantly referring to us as a "textbook pregnancy." Well, that all went out the window on the morning of our induction. Here's how our day went:

4:45 a.m. We received a text from Adam's Aunt Kay that his cousin in Nebraska (who was due around the same time) had gone into labor.

5:00 a.m. I was texting with Adam's cousins about being both excited and nervous for the day and how cool it would be to have our babies born on the same day.

6:10 a.m. Showered and dressed, bags in the car, and Adam and I heading to the hospital.

7:25 a.m. Checked in at the hospital. Waiting for our labor and delivery room to be ready.

8:05 a.m. Hooked up to IV and baby monitor and dressed in a precious pink hospital gown. Getting excited!

8:15ish a.m. Nurse Michelle starts me on a light dose of Pitocin to induce labor. I am dilated to 3cm.

8:35 a.m. Nurse Michelle ups my Pitocin dosage to keep things moving.

8:45 a.m. Everything changes! Got up to go to the restroom and had strong contraction. Nurse Michelle puts baby monitor back on my tummy once I am in bed. Then she asks me to roll on my side because Anders doesn't like that position. Then she asks me to roll on my other side. She calls for another nurse to come help her. Then she puts oxygen on me and says not to be afraid that she just wants to get some more oxygen to the baby. Two nurses show up, and then she has me get up on all fours - the whole time she is moving the monitor around trying to get a good heartbeat from Anders. A few more people run into the room. The next thing I hear them say is, "What is Dr. E saying?.....Okay, we gotta go! Honey, we've got to get the baby out. You're going in for a c-section." Adam has moved out of the way to let the nurses work, and I look at him and tell him to let our parents know to hurry and get to the hospital.

8:48 a.m. Adam sends a simple text, "C section. Going in now." A nurse throws scrubs at him and tells him to put them on and follow her. The nurses confirm that I haven't had an epidural yet, and the section will be under general anesthesia. Adam is led away to a recovery room...away from me and away from Anders.

Somewhere on the way to the operating room, a nurse yells that Dr. E is leaving his other surgery and running to me. In the operating room, another person says, "We can't wait! Dr. R will have to do her c-section." Someone else replies, "Wait, wait, wait! Here's Dr. E!"

As I felt them prepping my stomach, the last thing I remember is Dr. E leaning over me saying, "I know this isn't what you intended to happen, but you are going to be fine, and we are going to get that baby out so you can meet him." Then they pushed hard on the artery in my neck (kind of what I assume a "sleeper hold" to feel like), and I went under.

8:58 a.m. Anders is born. (Less than ten minutes from them telling me that it will be a c-section to when he arrives!)

9:06 a.m. Adam sends another text to our parents, "Anders is out...healthy. Finishing up with Kate. She is doing well though."

9:10 a.m. Adam holds his son for the first time.

9:32 a.m. Text from Adam to parents, "Waiting to see Kate. 8:58am, 7lbs 9oz 19 inches."

9:40 a.m. Adam shows Anders to awaiting family through the nursery glass.

9:45 a.m. They bring Anders to me for the first time to meet him and nurse. I have no memory of this.

10:17 a.m. Text from Adam to parents, "All are doing well. Kate is still in a good bit of pain. Just recovering now."

12:00ish p.m. My parents, Jon Michael, and Adam's parents come back to see us in the post partum room.

Needless to say, it was quite an eventful delivery, but the rest of the weekend was spent getting acquainted with Anders, and enjoying being new parents.

Adam and I spent the next two weeks struggling a bit with the "why was the delivery so traumatic?" question...not sure we wanted an answer because we were fearful that we had caused it. At my two week post partum doctor's appointment, we asked that very question. The doctor simultaneously confirmed our worst fear and our most joyful comfort...both brought chills and tears. Dr. E said that he didn't think the Pitocin or the induction caused Anders's heart rate to drop. Nor did he think the cord that was wrapped around Anders's neck was a major factor. He said that it was very possible Anders was having dips in his heart rate throughout the pregnancy without us knowing, and we happened to be very lucky that he was on the heart monitor that morning because the drop was significant. Anders clearly did not do well with big contractions and had we gone into "true labor" at home, we very likely would have been coming to the hospital with a stillborn. Makes me sick to my stomach to write about it even after processing the idea for almost two months.

Even with the trauma and the emotional and bonding struggles of the first few weeks, we feel so incredibly blessed that someone up there is always looking out for us. We will forever be thankful that labor didn't officially start at home because we were right where we needed to be and someone up there made sure that our Anders arrived in this world safely and right on time.

Now we are all home, healthy, happy, and loving our precious baby boy Anders.

This completes our journey through pregnancy and Anders's arrival. Please visit our new blog that will journal Anders's own journey at http://ourbronsonfamily.blogspot.com/.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Pre Labor

Hmmmm....well...not exactly sure how to describe what I am feeling. It has been an interesting (and frustrating) few days. I had my first real contractions Thursday evening and called my parents Friday morning to have them go ahead and make the trek to Dallas thinking that heading to the hospital was right around the corner.

Friday, I had a few tightening moments in the morning, but then all was quiet for the remainder of the day so I went out to lunch with PJ and Lavenia (my mother-in-law and a dear family friend). Then I met Sara my nails done. Mom and Dad made it to town that evening.

Saturday, we all woke up, and Adam and I took a stroll around the neighborhood hoping to get things moving again. Nothing that morning. Mom and I played on the computer while my dad and Adam worked on some outdoor projects. I felt one contraction around lunchtime and then they seemed to come all afternoon...pretty spaced out and mixed with Braxton Hicks contractions. Kind of confusing to say the least because it kind of sometimes dulls the lines between the real thing and the fake ones. But, they definitely picked up last night so we were all going over what would happen when I hit the 511 rule somewhere in the night. Adam and I were going to head up to the hospital, check in, and see where we stood, and then call the parents to let them know when they should make their way up so no one had to sleep in the waiting room unnecessarily. If you are ever faced with this "this must be it!" moment, don't talk about it, don't guarantee it, just enjoy it because once you say "this is definitely it!" and everyone gets excited, you jinx it.

Overnight I woke up to a few strong contractions about every 2 hrs-1.5 hrs apart. They really set Anders into a tizzy, but by this morning they hadn't progressed. It is now 11:10 a.m. on Sunday morning, and I have walked the block on two different occasions, napped, had breakfast, and although I am still having contractions, they are being blurred again mostly by what I feel like are Braxton Hicks. Ugh! Just when you think "this is definitely it," it all slows down or stalls again or just seems funny. I know it will happen when it is "time," but I am tiring so quickly, beginning to be irritable (sorry to those immediately around me), and just getting frustrated.

You start to wonder, "Am I farther along than I realize and my pain tolerance is just really high?," "Should I try to go to the hospital in case I am closer than I think?," and "How much longer can this possibly go on?"

I need to just watch a movie and chill out I think....must regain that wonderful, blissful perspective that I had a few days ago. :) Wooooo-saaaahhhhh!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

...and down the stretch they come!

Soon to be dad here again to give you my point of view for the past few months. We are definitely in the home stretch. It has been a wonderful 9 months, but we are ready to start the next chapter. Now we just wait…and wait…and wait some more. Hopefully Anders will make his grand appearance soon.

The past few months have been fun…a little tiring, but fun. They always say the third trimester is a time of nesting for mom to be. Well things were no different for Kate. About one month ago we had a list of our lists I think (maybe not quite that bad). We had list of what needed to be packed for the hospital (for Kate, Anders, and me), a list of things to do in the nursery still, and a list of house projects to complete. If it wasn’t on a list, it wasn’t getting done. I never woke up at 3 in the morning to find Kate out cleaning the house, as some had joked would happen, but it did get to the point that we had Jon Michael crawling around the house wiping all the baseboards. We anticipate Anders walking within the first month, so we want to be prepared. It is nice to have it all done now though. I actually thought we were set until I went out for breakfast this morning and found Kate cleaning out the fridge and wiping down all the shelves. Given that Anders will be on a milk only diet for about 6 months I think we might have been a little premature on that, but who I am to argue. It is great to have it done, so I won’t complain.

Aside from nesting our time has been spent enjoying each other and having fun with friends and family. We know our social lives won’t end just because we have a child, but we figure it will become a little trickier to go out for brunch with friends or see a movie with each other at the theatre.

All that being said, it has been a wonderful 9 months. We have been blessed so far with a relatively smooth pregnancy, so now all we can do is wait. Hopefully we don’t have to wait long, but in the grand scheme of things, what’s a day or two. We look forward to welcoming Anders with open arms.

So Anders, starting sprinting down the back stretch and hurry across the finish line so we can start the next race with you!

Monday, July 19, 2010

We are officially on baby watch!

We had a doctor's visit this morning - our last one!! I am dilated to 2 cm, and I am 80% effaced. Dr. E says we will be lucky if we make it to our inducement date of July 29th!

We are so excited! Please keep us in your prayers over the next 10 days!

Friday, July 16, 2010

Serenity and peace...


...and maybe a little anxiety mixed in there, too. This is what Adam and I are feeling these days knowing that we are within two weeks of meeting our precious Anders. I get very emotional when I think about holding him for the first time and what that "infant" moment of being a parent must feel like.

Last fall, a group of girls and I were planning a baby shower for my sweet friend Kristen Newcom, and one of the other hostesses introduced me to a poem about motherhood. Beyond thinking it was simply an adorable, sweet poem, I didn't totally understand it. Now it has a whole new level of meaning.

Before you were conceived, I wanted you.
Before you were born, I loved you.
Before you were an hour, I would die for you.
This is the miracle of love.
— Maureen Hawkins

As our journey is coming to an end, we are consumed not only by anxiety and peace, but also other emotions of sadness, relief and humility, and excitement.

We have felt a little sadness that we are at the end of the pregnancy, and how quickly it has gone by. As happy as we are to meet Anders, it will be weird to not be large and tired and hungry all of the time.

We have felt relief over how wonderful and easy Anders's development has been and humbled by the amazing privilege of being able to conceive and carry a child. We have never taken any day or stage or challenge for granted, and that has helped us maintain perspective.

And finally, we have felt excitement not only for our future with our baby boy, but for those friends and family that we know are on the verge of this same voyage. We wish for you all of the simplicity, intricacy, ecstasy, and serenity that comes with the miracle of love. May you be as blessed and more!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Projects prior to our 37th week


We had our 37 week check up today, and things are progressing well. I was dilated about 1 cm and 30-40% effaced....Dr. E was pleased (as were Adam and myself)! :) The heartbeat sounded good, and my tummy is still measuring fine. Not as much water weight on the feet today so my weigh in was less than last week - encouraging for sure!

Anders continues to push and kick up and outward. I still love feeling his movements and love that he is so active. However, I predict that he is going to be a long baby when he is born because his feet manage to get way under my ribcage on both sides even though his body has dropped way down into my pelvic bones. He's quite the kicker! Think he has been inspired by all of the FIFA World Cup coverage. And did I mention that the books say he is about 6.5 lbs...pretty much the size of a watermelon. (please no "Look Who's Talking" jokes about watermelons and lemons....it's a little graphic!)

I am still working at Adam's office, though not full days. Adam brings me home in the early afternoon where I waddle to my bed for a nice lie down for the remainder of the afternoon. The fatigue has been the hardest pill to swallow when the energy of the second trimester was so incredible, but for once in these past nine months I am finally napping and LOVING SLEEP! And since I don't get much during the night, I am not feeling guilty at all! Life is pretty good.

In addition to everyone here being happy and healthy, we have settled into a wonderful place of contentment. All of our big projects in anticipation of Anders's arrival have been completed, and I wanted to make sure those special people were given credit for their hard work.

A few weeks ago, Adam, his dad, and his mom built Anders a small bookcase from scratch. Adam and Mark took care of the construction, and PJ prepped and painted most of the pieces. Adam put the final coat of paint on just this weekend. It took a lot of hours, thought, and hard work, but it is really special and sweet.

Also, my younger brother Jon Michael is living with us and working out here in Dallas this summer, and he and Adam repainted our garage and wall outside of the sunroom. They pushed through their efforts over a few weekends of major heat, but the project is finished and looks great! That is a huge thing to cross off our "to do" list for the house.

In addition to those projects, both sides of the family helped us gather baby photos of parents, siblings, grandparents, and even a few great-grandparents to create a baby photo collage on one wall of Anders's nursery. My mom, Adam, and I painted each white frame with a different pattern of either yellow, pale blue, or pale green.

We also took small, whimsical wooden letters for Anders's name and painted each in the same pastel shades as the frames. Then my dad painted a shelf in a soft cream color that matches the rest of the furniture in the room, and we hung the letters from little knobs with grosgrain ribbon and mounted the shelf over the changing table. The little touches really personalized Anders's room!

And that is news from this week. We are in the throws of the hurry up and wait phase as we grow more an more anxious for our precious little boy to join us. But wouldn't it be great if he was to be born on July 21st? Then my birthday would be April 21st, Adam's birthday would be May 21st, and Anders's birthday would be July 21st! So easy to remember! That's my vote!!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Online Baby Pool!


Today, we enter the month of July, and time is running out on the baby pool voting. Obviously, Anders is a boy so if you already voted that then you are ahead of the game.

There will be a prize for closest guess to delivery date, time, weight, and length. I will give you a hint....Anders will be a July baby (no longer August 3 due date) because we have an inducement date of July 29. If you have a vote already placed for after that day, feel free to change your vote soon. We will freeze all votes (if my pregnancy brain doesn't make me forget) probably mid month.

And, just a note to the person who does win...you will get a prize, but it might not be super quick in reaching you. :) Thanks to Danielle Herman who was so patient with me. She won the prize for choosing that Anders would be a boy....it only took like three months for me to send something!

Best of luck!! We are excited to see what you think!

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

It's been an interesting week for sure!




Over the weekend, my dear friend, Julia, took some pregnancy photographs of Adam and me. It was so fun because not only does she just visit with you through the entire photo shoot, but she also has such an eye for detail!

I met Julia about seven years ago when we were both on the provisional retreat for the Junior League of Dallas. She was from Arkansas, and both of us being Southern girls, we hit it off immediately. Plus, it was great bonding since neither of us enjoyed the ice breaker activities, nor the constant baby talk since everyone was pregnant. (Kind of ironic now!) We were pretty much the Debbie-downers who sat in the corner and didn't participate all weekend! But we hit it off nonetheless, and now she and her husband, David, are the proud parents of two precious little girls, Aubrey Joy and Leila.

A few years ago Julia started her own photography business simply because she loved being behind the lens taking photos of her own family. Since then, the business has grown, and it has been fun to see the beautiful memories she has produced for her friends, clients, and family. You can see some of her other work at JuliaSheltonphotography.blogspot.com. She will also be taking Anders's first baby photos.

Here are a few of our favorite shots from the weekend!

On Monday, Adam and I had our final childbirth class, and we graduated! :) Looks like we will be professional parents now! But, we didn't make it up to the hospital without a little adventure first. In Dallas, we have gone several weeks without rain, and these past few days have produced several pop-up storms. Well, what do you get when you combine instant storms, debris-clogged drains, and city streets? That's right! You get flash flooding!

We were driving through an intersection, underneath a major loop around the city in a crazy downpour, and the water looked kind of high. Traffic around us felt the same uncertainty about the water, and everyone was stopping. Then a Honda Prelude tried to cross the intersection and stalled. Next, a silver Buick tried and stalled. We watched and thought, "wow...those sure are low cars....no wonder they had trouble." We have an SUV and felt that we would probably be okay if we kept moving. I was driving, and Adam was coaching. I started to go, and the water seemed suddenly higher than I initially thought it would be, but I knew I couldn't stop. Adam kept saying, "keep going, keep going," and I think we were both a little panicky so I sped up creating a wave of water over the top of the hood. Bad idea! And then....we STALLED!!

Neither one of us could believe it! We looked back, and the line of traffic had decided against trying the high water and backed up and left. Chickens! (or maybe just smarter!) There we were with four other stalled cars with equally stupid drivers as ourselves. We had to wait for the police and fire rescue teams to assess the situation, the water to recede, and the tow trucks to come. What a mess! I just kept praying that I didn't go into labor, and that the news crews didn't come to this intersection to film the weather coverage. Well, after all of that, the tow truck dropped me off to get a rental car and Adam off with the car at the mechanic shop, and we continued on to our final birthing class...only an hour late! :) What an adventure for our unborn son!

On Tuesday, we went in for our 35 week check-up which included a tummy measurement, baby heartbeat check, cervical check, and Strep B test. Again, everything looked great! My doctor said that he is probably between 5-5.5 lbs and will hopefully only reach around 7 lbs so that delivery is easy with my size.

Anders (being the perfect child that he is!:)) has actually already dropped into position, and I have already started to efface, both of which I am told will make things go smoother for either the inducement on July 29th or regular delivery if he comes earlier. Wonderful news!! It means that we are that much closer to meeting our little precious one! All of those Braxton Hicks and ab cramping are paying off nicely.

Day to day activities are becoming a little more challenging, as I am tiring out quickly. About 4:00 pm everyday I am looking to nap, and whether I am able to get one in or not is another question altogether. Our hospital bags are basically packed, we meet with a potential pediatrician this Friday, and all of Anders's clothes are washed and ready for him. It is a nice feeling, and I am finally beginning to release the "nesting stage" and setting into a state of contentment and peace.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

34 weeks


This morning we had our 34 week check up, and we met with one of the other doctors in the practice that could possibly be on-call when we go into labor. Everything still looks good. My tummy is measuring not too large and not too small, and Anders's heartbeat is just right. Next week we begin our weekly doctor's visits.

According to the books, Anders is anywhere from 19-22 inches in length....probably what he will be when he is born. He weighs around 5 lbs and should gain more as he fattens up. The books say he is about the size of a pineapple.

My Braxton Hicks contractions are everyday now and increasing in intensity, and I also feel like the baby has dropped as I am really beginning to feel uncomfortable (crampy and back pain). And no change in position, drinking a small glass of red wine (although that is a treat!), or drinking a ton of water helps them to stop.

Because of these symptoms I was sure that the doc this morning would say, "Oh yes, Mrs. Bronson, you could go into labor any day now," when, in fact he actually said, "Great! Sounds like you are getting a lot of warm up from those contractions....that's wonderful! Everything looks great!" Neither is a bad or wrong answer, but the cliche of "I am so ready to have this baby!" has totally kicked in.

Having read a few books and talked to some other girlfriends, it sounds as though there are different levels of "miserable." My pregnancy has been so unbelievably without complications or major scares that I was beginning to think that I must be carrying an immaculate baby, but I suppose any good run of luck must end at some point. (And really, I know I have nothing to complain about because this blessing is worth any amount of discomfort or pain that may come.)

BUT....let me describe this phase of what most people would call "miserable" because my beast has many forms. Sometimes it is the unbelievable balloon that my tummy becomes by the end of the day when you feel like you just need to deflate somehow and no position brings relief. Sometimes the beast tightens my stomach into a tight, tight ball (a basketball size with more of a bowling ball feel) and doesn't release for a good 60-90 seconds. This usually draws out some of that lamaze/birthing breathing that we have been practicing in case I can't have an epidural. Other times it is that "cannot possibly get enough sleep" because of the errands, cleaning, and work that need to be done during the day in addition to the at least five bathroom breaks in the night accompanied by the "why is it always so damn hot?!" awakening that usually happens around 1:00 a.m.

All I ever want to do now is lie in bed very propped up with the air turned way down or sit in my inflatable pool in the backyard in my old bikini (yes...the one where my tummy hangs out because it is cooler than my more conservative tankini that I wear in public). Everything is quickly becoming a real effort, and this 100 degree Texas heat is totally my enemy. In any case, I hear that I don't even know "miserable" yet, and the best (or worst!) is yet to come.

But it is ALL WORTH IT! It is hard to live in the now when the future seems so incredible!

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Braxton Hicks Makes His Third Appearance

Braxton Hicks...who is that?

This was a term having to do with contractions that was completely new to Adam and myself prior to pregnancy. Braxton Hicks contractions, also called "false labor contractions," are irregular "practice" contractions that can be first felt around mid-pregnancy and increase in frequency and strength as your pregnancy progresses. Some people experience these, and some don't. They are nothing to be worried about, but they can certainly scare you if you aren't sure whether they are false labor contractions or the real thing....especially when you are only 32 weeks along in your pregnancy like us.

I have only experienced them twice before - once when we were in the mountains and it could definitely be attributed to dehydration and maybe altitude, and another time when we went out on the boat, and the water was really choppy. But both times, I knew that they were nothing to be worried about and they subsided after a few hours.

Anyway, yesterday we met Adam's parents at the airport to return Tucker, their Havanese and Hayley's best buddy, after dog-sitting for the week. When we were driving home, I began to have contractions. That was around 8:45 pm. They didn't hurt, but there was a definite, significant tightening of my abdomen, and they were happening about every five minutes. According to What to Expect When You Are Expecting, here is how you are supposed to deal with them:

To help with the discomfort of Braxton Hicks contractions, change positions (lie down if you're walking around, get up if you're in bed) or take a warm bath. If the contractions do not go away with a change in activity, and become progressively stronger and more regular, you may be in real labor, so be sure to put in a call to your practitioner.

You also read that you should drink water in case dehydration is the potential cause of the contractions. Well, we went ahead and picked up fast food for supper, ate, drank two large glasses of water, and then I went to lie down on my left side (also something you read in the book). Around 10:15 pm, the contractions still hadn't stopped so we decided to read some more for fear that maybe this was not Braxton Hicks but possibly pre-term labor signs. Babycenter.com (a reliable source) said the following:

When should I call my doctor or midwife?

Call your caregiver right away if you haven't reached 37 weeks and your contractions are becoming more frequent, rhythmic, or painful, or if you have any of these possible signs of preterm labor:

• Abdominal pain, menstrual-like cramping, or more than four contractions in an hour (even if they don't hurt)
• Any vaginal bleeding or spotting
• An increase in vaginal discharge or a change in the type of discharge — if it becomes watery, mucusy, or bloody (even if it's only pink or blood-tinged)
• Increased pelvic pressure (a feeling that your baby's pushing down)
• Low back pain, especially if it's a new problem for you

If you're past 37 weeks, there's no need to call your doctor or midwife just for contractions until they last about 60 seconds each and are five minutes apart — unless your caregiver has advised you otherwise.

The only symptom I had was "more than four contractions in an hour," but it was enough to make us nervous, and we decided to be safe instead of sorry. (Hopefully others have done this, and we weren't the only ones to cry wolf!) It was one of those moments where it was the blind leading the blind. Adam was looking at me with bugged eyes saying, "I don't know...what do you think we should do?" And I was returning the same freaked-out look saying, "I don't know...what should we do?" Sorry, Anders, Mama and Daddy are definitely amateurs on this crazy ride. :)

Anyway, we decided to call the doctor on-call instead of going to the hospital. At 10:30 pm, the doc seemed to be a little annoyed at our call and said that based on the symptoms it was just Braxton Hicks contractions, and I should go to sleep and see if they were better in the morning. If I was to wake up to them increasing in intensity overnight, then by all means I should go to the hospital.

Okay....hmmmmm....should have felt better from that news, but our other sources (the web and the books) said we should be concerned. Oh well, we decided to go to sleep. I woke up a couple of times in the night and could still feel my abdomen tightening, but it was no worse than when we went to bed (and I was more tired at 2 am and 5 am than concerned so I went back to sleep).

I woke up this morning and was still having them and have continued to have them all day (but at least they have been more sporadic). Again, you go through this, "okay...are these things supposed to last this long and not be real contractions?" This time we decided to look at Adam's The Expectant Father book that I had given him when we first found out we were pregnant. Ya know...sometimes guys just simplify things perfectly. There was a section and checklist for "you might be having false labor contractions if," and we were dead on for every symptom.

Whew! Crisis averted! Thank goodness. They say you should "just know" when you are in true labor, and maybe that day is coming soon. And maybe I WILL "just know," but until then some of these things surely do seem strange and scary.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

31 week sonogram and 32 week check-up



We scheduled a 31 week sonogram on Tuesday, June 1 and invited both sets of our parents (Anders's future grandparents) to the big show. All was well! The images and video were in 3D which was pretty incredible, but the fact that our little one actually looked like a baby boy and not an alien anymore was a true delight! He showed us his cute face, his hands, his boy parts, and he even stuck out his tongue a couple of times and smiled! You can tell that he is just as anxious to meet his new family as we are to have him arrive. (He has been in the "head down" position for over a month now so he is definitely ready to go!)

This past Tuesday, June 8 was our 32 week check-up. Nothing out of the ordinary. Just like most of the previous visits, they checked and measured my stomach and listened to Anders's heartbeat. All sounded and looked great. The doc says that we are still a "by the book" pregnancy so we couldn't be happier that this has been as smooth as it has.

We only ran into one kink in the visit when we asked the question of "what happens if I go into labor on a night or weekend where you are not the on-call doctor?" And maybe the answer was already mentioned to us in a previous visit, but I cannot recall ever hearing about it.

Basically, my doctor is part of an ObGyn practice made up of several doctors. Of those doctors, mine is the only one that delivers at Baylor Frisco, so if I go into labor when he is unavailable then not only will someone else deliver Anders, but I will also be at Medical Center of Plano, a completely different hospital. The hospital is certainly nice, as well. I have had two minor procedures done at their surgery center, but needless to say, that was slightly shocking news. I love my doctor, and I would never leave him, but come on, dude! Knowing that information sooner might have been helpful for my mental state....and consequently Adam's mental state from dealing with my emotional roller coaster.

Oh, well....that is out of our control soooooooo the next question became "okay...what are our options if we want to definitely deliver with you at Baylor Frisco?" We were told that if Anders doesn't come early, that beginning after the 39th week, we can schedule an elective induction. My doctor is typically very conservative so to hear him suggest an induction was pretty much shock #2 of the morning for both Adam and me.

We left the appointment with many, many thoughts swirling around in our heads:
  • What if Anders isn't ready to come, and we push him too soon?
  • What if my body isn't ready to labor, and the process goes too long and we end up in a c-section?
  • Would our insurance even cover this since it is called "elective?"
The flip side of everything is that my very, very conservative doctor totally believes that your baby is baked at 38 weeks and so after 39 weeks there should be no problems. Also, I have had a few friends do this very thing, and it has been smooth sailing and worked out very well.

Anyway, we went ahead and scheduled an inducement for July 29th just to keep the option open (only 5 days before my due date of Aug. 3) because they told me we could cancel if we decided it wasn't for us. We have our last two-week spaced appointment coming up, and then we go every week so we will have five appointments before the induction to ask tons of questions and decide if we are 100% comfortable with the process.

To be perfectly honest, if I had to commit to it today, I would probably opt out. We scheduled the induction to have the option of a guaranteed doctor/hospital/delivery date, but I am not feeling like we will go through with it at this point. That may change over the next month if things are progressing very smoothly and it is looking like Anders is ready. In the meantime, we are going to pray about it a lot, ask many, many questions, read as much as we can, and see how the pregnancy is progressing over the next few visits. We will know a lot more around 35 weeks and will hopefully be able to make a more informed decision then.

Other than that, all we can do for now is tour the other hospital, meet and visit with the other potential doctors, get my doctor's vacation and on-call schedule, and hope that Anders decides to come when we need for him to. He has been quite a performer up to this point so I find comfort in that he may just be my little angel and come exactly when he is supposed to (which will just by coincidence line up with Dr. E and the hospital's schedules). :)

Until that day, I will constantly be repeating the Serenity Prayer....or as I like to call it, My Sanity Prayer.

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Our nursery rug

They say that by the time the second child comes around, the most you will be worried about is "do I have enough diapers?"

With your first child, most parents go a little overboard on the nursery, clothes, and safety issues. And I have to say, we are following that same path having spent the past few months trying to customize Anders's nursery. That being said, I am not sure if I have shared the story of the rug we are having hand-woven in Africa. (A little overboard?....perhaps.)

A few years ago, we took a trip to South Africa with Adam's family. My brother-in-law, Ryan, is from Cape Town, and it was the trip of a lifetime seeing the culture and enjoying time with his family! We spent about a week in Capetown and then went on safari for a few days. The experience really had an impact on Adam and me; particularly a tour we made of a township called Khayelitsha. According to Wikipedia, in South Africa, the term township usually refers to the (often underdeveloped) urban living areas that, under Apartheid, were reserved for non-whites (principally black Africans and Coloureds, but also working-class Indians). Townships were usually built on the periphery of towns and cities. In some cases, there isn't running water or electricity, while others are more sophisticated.

While in Khayelitsha, we visited a non-governmental organization called Philani. The group works to reduce malnutrition and poor health in the community and focuses primarily on women and children, as they are the most vulnerable. At Philani, the women work by weaving rugs and handbags while their children are provided an education at the school on the grounds. The goods produced by the women are sold to tourists, providing not only a sense of pride but also a little money to feed themselves and their children. It is a wonderful organization that does great things for people who certainly need the help!When we began thinking about the nursery decor and how we would want a rug, we decided that it would be awesome if we could have one made by the Philani women. Now, to begin the process, we had to remember the name of where we had visited. Luckily, we had bought a very small mat while we were there and never removed the tag. In addition to that, Ryan contacted his friend in Cape Town that had organized the tour for us, and she was able to confirm the contact information. Then we found ourselves thinking, "Okay, now how are we going to choose the design and the colors, and then how will we get the payment to them, and then how will we know what we will be getting when it is all said and done?"

We assumed it would be a very, very primitive process, and in a way, a leap of faith. To our surprise, we sent an email with our request, and within a week, we had heard back from the group. After a few weeks of emails back and forth, we agreed to colors, a price, and a general design. And even before we had wired the money, the two weavers had already set up the loom, excited to begin our project!
What was fascinating (and lost somewhere in the translation) was that the weavers thought that we were having our 9' X 6' rug woven for a daycare nursery where many children would be playing on it. They could not fathom that a nursery for a single baby could house a rug of that size. (Kind of puts things into perspective, and we didn't have the heart to correct them.)

The Philani group has updated us throughout the weaving process with photos and stories, and just recently, we received an email that our rug was finished and being shipped to port. Once the rug leaves South Africa by boat, it should take about two-three weeks to reach us. So the expression "on a slow boat from China" now becomes "on a slow boat from Africa" for us. Also, assuming the transportation strikes don't hold it up for much longer, we should have the rug sometime toward the end of June. Just a minor "TAB" moment (that's Africa, baby!).

One of the things we have come to love about the Philani group is that they remind us that we are so very blessed. We hope to use the rug as a teaching tool someday to teach Anders to appreciate other cultures and be thankful for the gifts in his own life.

We are looking forward to this unique addition to Anders's nursery! :)

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Sugar, sugar!

Well, thankfully sugar is no longer a concern for us!

After failing my first glucose test, I had to go back in for a three hour gestational diabetes diagnostic test where I drank a super concentrated sweet drink and had my blood drawn four times over three hours. Slightly felt like a pin cushion, but it was well worth it to find out that I am diabetic free! Whew!

So, barring no other unforeseen issues or complications, we should be coasting through these final two-ish months (hoping for more like two months! :)). We count our blessings daily for how smoothly this pregnancy has gone.

We had a sonogram at 28 weeks (now mostly through my 29th week), and everything went well. B-cubed looked great weighing 2lbs, 13 oz. and measuring 14.9 inches long. His size was in the 72nd percentile, and his head was in the 83rd percentile. (Large heads are certainly a 'Person' trait, and from the looks of my husband, I wouldn't put it past it being a 'Bronson' trait, too!) He is doing well and is learning to push from both sides of my stomach at the same time. His newest pushing exercise has found its way under my right-side ribs...good times when I am sitting down! :)

And, did I mention that we chose a name? We started the name journey thinking that we wouldn't share anything until he was born. We put all of our choices into a list on a website called nameberry.com. It is a great website that tells you name origin, a description of the name, and other forms of the name. We had several names to choose from, and each week we would try out a new one. There were only two names that actually made it into the "keepers" list, and we would take turns pairing them back to a name on the other list to see if we liked any first and second name combinations. Finally, we asked ourselves why we weren't just using our two favorite names together?

When we actually made our decision, we shared initials with a few friends and family members. Then we decided that we were being silly, and that we were probably going to let the name slip out at some point. So we shared the actual name with that same group of family and friends, but it is time to share it with you. After many months of pouring over family genealogy, we chose Andersson Keene Bronson, and we will call him Anders.

Andersson appears many times in Adam's paternal grandmother's Swedish side of the family. (Nanna was a genealogy fanatic, and kept amazing records so it was easy to find information and stories.) In Swedish tradition, the father would be named Anders, and his son would be named Andersson. In fact, Mark and PJ (Adam's parents) met a relative named Anders on a trip they made to Sweden many years ago, and said he was an adorable man with a wonderful personality! Am sure those are family traits that will be passed on to our Anders, as well. :) And from nameberry.com, we learned that Anders is the Swedish version of Andrew, which happens to be Adam's middle name. We decided that it couldn't be a more perfect fit!

Keene appears six generations back on my maternal grandmother's side of the family. My Gran is also a genealogy fanatic, and had told me about a relative named Benjamin Franklin Keene that was a doctor in Georgia and was bitten by the Gold Rush bug of 1849. He headed west to California before giving up mining to go back to medicine. Today he is known for being the Founder and First President of the California Medical Association. Adam and I both latched on to the name Keene early on so it stuck around until the final choice!

Mom, Adam, and Anders continue to do well, and we are all excitedly anticipating these next two months.

Friday, May 7, 2010

And Now for Something Different...

Here it is, the first guest post on the Blueberry blog. This is Adam, the soon to be father of our little Blueberry and Kate's wonderful husband (shameless self plug there). As we enter the homestretch of our amazing journey I am filled with all sorts of thoughts. Most people know what the mother goes through (a lot), but hey, we fathers have feelings, too.

We have spent the better part of 6 months now trying to get ourselves and our house "baby ready." I don't think it will ever really happen, but I know that when our son finally arrives, everything will be okay, and we will learn on the fly. Furniture is arranged, closets are getting organized, and though our list still has a handful of to-dos on it, on the whole we are feeling pretty good. The major issue looming now is picking a name. While we have talked about potential names throughout our marriage, now it is officially "go time." I never really figured I would feel as much pressure as I do. I mean, this is the name our son is going to have for the rest of his life (unless of course he turns out to be the next Prince, or the artist formerly known as Prince, or whatever he is called now). We have to pick a name that obviously we like, but also one that will grow with him and suit him for all ages. And then if we pick a name, there is the fear that he won't be a (insert chosen name here) when we meet him. Of course, if you know my wife you can probably guess that our son will have lots of monogrammed things, so this name swapping upon birth can't really happen. I guess I just never thought about the long term effects of this decision. My habitual indecision probably doesn't help much either...oh well. Maybe we will figure it out soon...

I also find myself absolutely fascinated by the whole pregnancy. I know people say it is a miracle and all that stuff...yada, yada, yada. It is so cliche. But going through it now, it is COMPLETELY true. It sounds so cheesy but just to sit back and think about what has happened, is happening, and will continue to happen, is absolutely mind blowing. I've watched Kate's belly grow, I've now seen Blueberry pushing and have felt him kicking. It really is awe inspiring, and truly a miracle. And in a few days I will get to see him one more time on film. Hopefully he will perform for us again as he has before. As we read in our books about what is happening to him in various weeks it is just crazy to think that "this week his heart is forming", or "now he can hear me." From what we read he is pretty much fully formed now, just growing, but still, to think that a baby came from nothing is pretty impressive, and in my mind it is most certainly a miracle.

And finally, there is my wife. I try to be helpful and do what I can to make her life easier and more comfortable, but at the end of the day she now has a bowling bowl strapped to her stomach, so really, how comfortable can that be? I'm sure once we hit 100 degrees in Dallas she will be looking for the closest pool, and I don't blame her. Blueberry is already a little furnace for her, so add to that the baking summer temps of Texas, and I'm sure Kate's tendency to always be cold is a temporary thing of the past. I can't pretend to know what she goes through or what it all feels like, but I can say that I am incredibly thankful for everything that is happening.

So on this Mother's Day weekend, we thank our mother's for everything they did for us, and now I thank my wife and soon to be mother for all that she has done and will do. This pregnancy thing is a little crazy, completely unknown, but totally amazing. I don't think anyone is ever fully prepared for it all, and I know I am not, but really, how hard can it be, right? We have three more months to figure things out, and if we don't, it doesn't really matter, because Blueberry is coming anyway.
Now, let's start thinking about Father's Day...

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

The Third Tired-mester...I mean Trimester

What happened to all of that wonderful energy of the second trimester? Beginning with our 27th week, it seems to be quickly dissipating. I must get through my list of to dos soon, or I won't ever finish. Here's the progress:
  • Read "What to Expect..." and other baby books - almost finished.
  • Choose bedding/color/nursery theme - check!
  • Register for baby items for showers - check!
  • Choose baby name - excited to say that we are close (even though we may keep it a secret until he is born)!
  • Choose baby announcement cards - hmmmm....definitely need to think about that one.
  • Write out a birthing plan - need to get on that one, too!
Those coupled with a few other odds and ends, and we are finally beginning to feel ready which is great going into the final stretch....or maybe pregnancy brain is causing me to forget what else there is left to do at the moment.

Other than that, things are going really well. I still feel really good. No swelling feet or hands. No major discomfort. No dark line on my tummy. No "out-y" belly button....yet. There is the occasional indigestion, but eating properly and sleeping slightly elevated seems to nip that in the bud. Allergies have hit hard lately (as they have for most of us with the weird weather of this spring), but with that came some pretty intense congestion and coughing, resulting in my first Braxton Hicks contractions. Kind of crazy to already experience those, but since the coughing has settled down, so have the contractions.

B-cubed is moving a ton which is incredible to continue to feel daily. It seems like everything grows overnight because the other day I jumped out of my chair with a screech! because he tickled me waaaaaay over on my side. You know that extra sensitive spot near your love-handles where someone can pinch you just right, and you can't help but spaz with a reaction. I had no clue he had the room to get way over there. Then he proceeded to play a little game where I would touch my stomach, and he would make little swirl movements or small pushes right back at me underneath my hand. It definitely freaked me out at first, but it is pretty cool. Adam felt it the other night, and it totally shocked him, too. Even so, the occasional evenings spent just watching my tummy jump with little (and sometimes huge!) kicks never seems to get old.

Next week we go in for our 28th week sonogram, a glucose test for gestational diabetes, and a regular prenatal visit. Adam and I are both very anxious to get a peek and see how much our little angel has grown. As of now, the books say he is about 15 inches long and a little more than 2 lbs. His current produce comparison is a large cucumber, but he certainly feels more like a pumpkin at times. He is pretty much completely formed (lungs being the last to reach the finish line), so it sounds like we will be packing the hospital bag soon just in case he has an early arrival. But seriously...have you seen our "to do" list? No rush necessary on his part!

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Our little eggplant


Had our 26 week appointment this morning, and everything looks good. Baby - about the size of an eggplant. Mom's reasonable weight gain - check! Tummy measurement - right in line with the standards! (even though he feels like an alien trying to push his way out most days!) Baby's heartbeat - excellent! Glucose level - ummmm....well....I did have another petit four right before bed last night. I swear.....I never eat sugar and now that is all BBB wants, and I get reprimanded for it!

In one week, I begin my third trimester (cannot fathom that right now). And in two weeks, we go back in for a sonogram and a glucose test to test for gestational diabetes. I have been advised to not eat sugar for 1-2 days prior.

On my honor, I will try to not eat sugar (but it is going to be really hard :)).


They say you know your body best, and I have never been a big "sweet" person because it usually leaves me feeling fuzzy-headed. It's not a taste thing because who doesn't love something sweet and delicious!? It is a "it doesn't make me feel well afterwards so why do it?" kind of a thing. I have never felt that I process sugar like other people do. But ever since the second half of my second trimester, I have started craving everything sweet in sight. I wasn't getting headaches or a fuzzy head, so I just assumed that pregnancy had adapted my body to process the sugar properly. Evidently not if a petit four from the night before sends up a red flag. Oh well....we will see what the results of the glucose test return and go from there. In the meantime, I suppose I will just have to stifle my sweet tooth.

(Also...update on the bedskirt...came back from the tailor, and it looks great! Crisis averted!)

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Holding my breath.

I dropped off our adorable Beatrix Potter tie-on dust ruffle this morning at the tailor. As it turns out, our precious dust ruffle is actually for a twin bed...or maybe it's a big, long curtain valance....not sure, exactly now...whoops! So, we are having it converted to a crib bed skirt. I went and bought some muslin for the base, and I explained to the tailor our crib dimensions.

Seems simple enough to me. Cut a rectangle of muslin to lay over the spring bed support and attach the fabric to it. Well, no "project" is complete without a few caveats. In this case, the tailor will need to cut off the very ends of the piece because they hang longer than the rest of it...so there's that. Also, a skirt that hangs over a crib base either needs to have holes or slits cut for the support hooks to slip through.

Anyway, (after looking at me like I had 10 heads and saying that she didn't know how a crib base worked - freak out moment #1) the lady at the tailor drew out a picture, wrote down the dimensions, and wrote down the special instructions....I think. I have a copy of the order, and it looks kind of like the button holes are on the top of the muslin instead of in the corners, and she just said to cut off the extra fabric....not that the ends are longer and thus the skirt needs to be constructed from the middle portion of the fabric.

I am having a slight panic attack this morning and have already called them to double check that the instructions make sense. That was met with, "well, you talked to the lady at the desk, right? I'm sure she can explain it to the tailor." Oh my! (freak out moment #2!) This didn't make me feel much better, and I launched into a diatribe about how important this one piece was and that I had custom ordered everything else based off of this skirt working out, and if it is a mess up, then everything will be messed up. (Am definitely having trouble breathing right now!)

I hung up with my last words being, "well, you have my cell phone....please, please, please call with any questions." (still freaking out!)

Anyway, I asked if it could be ready on Saturday. My family will be in town then, so my plan is that if it turns out horribly wrong (freak out moment #4!), then at least I will have a support system to man my meltdown.

Okay....I feel better already....I think. (Gulp!)

Thursday, April 1, 2010

How Do Babies Get Born?

That was the question I received from a toddler this morning.

To which another child responded with the most brilliant answer I have ever heard. He said, "Well, sometimes the doctor has to cut a hole in your tummy, but that is only if the baby is too big to come out through your mouth!"

Oh my gosh! I thought that was awesome! I quickly gave him a big hug, and told him that he was exactly right!

And that is why I love working with children. :)

My baby must be the Easter bunny!


This has been an eventful few weeks between initial nursery set-up, a great doctor's visit over my 21st week, baby store registries, and Adam felt his first kicks from B-cubed!

The nursery is coming together - all of the furniture is pretty much in place, and we ordered our yellow gingham/smocked bumper earlier this week. That was a huge step, committing to bedding, but we both loved it and feel it will be precious (well, maybe Adam said cute...not sure he uses words like "precious"). I bought some baby hangers (so tiny!) to hang his first couple of daygowns up in the closet. (yes...he will be one of those boys that wears dresses in the beginning...we tend to be pretty traditional with our clothing choices)

My doctor's visit last week went really well, minus the slight jump in weight gain that gave me a panic attack and put a full stop to the petit four indulgences. Thankfully, my friend Mary Kempton (her little girl will be arriving on my birthday...can't wait!!) said that she, too, had a few weight jumps, but that then they had slowed down again. (So, maybe the occasional treat is a good thing...after all, it really is the baby asking for the sweets. :))

Registering has been okay....actually better than I expected. I solicited a lot of advice from my friends and family, and let Adam do the research on the big things like the car seat and the stroller which allowed him to really stay involved. It worked out well. Plus, my friends keep sharing new thoughts and products so little by little, I am signing up for more and more stuff. And while registries are meant to be a place for people to purchase gifts for the baby, they have been an even bigger godsend to serve as a place to get organized.

Now, for the big news of the week! B-cubed kicked for his daddy! I have many moments with the baby throughout the day where I feel him turning or kicking, but nothing gets him moving like the sound of Adam's voice. Adam has been making a conscious effort to talk to our precious one daily, and man, does it get the little guy all wound up!?! I love it! They are already developing that daddy/son bond. Adam first felt him early in the week, but Tuesday night, it was as if the baby knew he was supposed to perform. Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!...at least 4-5 strong kicks right in a row. Adam almost couldn't catch his breath trying to get out, "Is that him?" and "Oh my gosh!" before the baby would pop him again! It was awesome! I really felt like the Easter bunny was hopping around in my tummy!

I can't imagine how strong those kicks will become over the next four months!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Petit four....mmmm!!


Heaven help me...I am developing a sweet tooth! And, I can usually fight off those cravings by simply drinking a glass of milk, but not tonight. 9:00 p.m. and I could hear the petit fours from Central Market calling my name. Am I ashamed? Oh no...definitely not. Am I worried about my weigh-in tomorrow at my doctor's appointment? Ummmm....maybe. But again, it was totally worth it! :) And just in case my craving hits again tomorrow night, I bought a second one (that is if the poor piece of cake survives the next 24 hours....I cannot be held responsible at the moment). Hee hee! Yum!

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Starting on the nursery


We made a ton of progress in the nursery over the weekend, setting up the furniture and looking at bedding.

My parents made it in to Dallas on Wednesday afternoon. On Thursday, my mom and I ran around looking at bedding options and basic registry ideas. That can still be overwhelming! :) (am still avoiding Babies R Us because it scares me...Buy Buy Baby seems to be the less stressful option at the moment).

I already have an adorable Peter Rabbit toile bed skirt that my dear friend Julia passed on to me three years ago. It is this sweet, soft colored, very traditional, custom-made bed skirt with a yellow cotton border and ties. This has been the nursery starting point. However, the conundrum has been finding other pieces to go with it. There are a million different baby bedding sets and patterns, but when you try to buy things a la carte like baby bumpers and fitted sheets, there seems to be a lot of either blue or pink or white....not yellow.

Anyway, our last stop before lunch was at a wonderful little store in Snider Plaza called Night and Day. If you are familiar with Hip Hip Hooray (very, very traditional baby boutique where everything is smocked, gingham, seersucker, or pique), this is the baby bedding sister store. It has some of the most exquisite baby bedding that I have seen, and it was hard to not fall in love with everything in the store! But, thankfully, I had a mission to focus on - to find something that would work with the toile crib skirt. I came across this gingham baby bumper that has smocking on it and a stripe that lines the inside and looks like seersucker...three of my favorite baby fabrics! Oh my gosh! It was so perfect! Now....the store displayed it in blue, and the question was 'could they get it in yellow??' (which, of course, means a custom piece....Adam and I can hear the cha-ching, cha-ching already!) But, we figure we can look at this as an investment.....? And if it is in yellow, then it will be good for a son or a possible future daughter, right??? Regardless, it will be darling!

Then, my mom, dad, and I ran around to Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn looking for little crystal knobs to add some personal touches. While we ended up ordering little blue acrylic knobs from Target at the end of the day, we did come across a white cotton pique bassinet bed skirt and bumper. We didn't purchase it initially thinking that it wasn't necessary, but still super cute! After washing the 32 year old bassinet bumper and lining pads (the ones that my older brother, Will, myself, and my younger brother, Jon Michael, all used) that disintegrated in the washing machine, the PB Kids bassinet bedding turned out to be the perfect solution! My mom and I spent Friday night sewing on little blue ribbons, and our little white wicker bassinet looks precious! (even Hayley got to try it out!...ya know...our first born...hee hee!)

Saturday was soooooo fun! After putting together the crib that Adam and his sister, Amanda, used when they were babies, Mama, Daddy, Mark, PJ, Adam, and I (plus Hayley, Heine, and Tucker...our dogs!) arranged and rearranged the baby room several times until we got a system that we think will work best. It was great having all eyes to come up with a layout that worked for the space, and it will be perfect!

Adam and I spent a while in the nursery last night after everyone had gone home or gone to bed just looking and imagining what life will be like in four and a half months. Will he be a crier? Whose eyes, hair, nose, ears, etc. will he have? What will we name him? Will we ever be able to get anything done again or will be just sit and stare at him all of the time? (hee hee! we will probably be guilty of staring for a lot of the time!)

Regardless, it was such a special weekend to have our parents in to share in these special moments. We can't imagine doing this without you and love you so very much! Thank you!

Monday, March 15, 2010

Half way there!

Tomorrow begins our 20th week which means we are half way to meeting Baby Boy Bronson!

Everything is going well...feeling great, eating healthily, exercising (some), and having fun decorating the nursery.

Last week, my mother, maternal grandmother, aunt, and cousin came into town to spend a few days while Adam was out of town on business....ya know...to babysit me! My grandmother is 97 years old and has never been to our home, so it was a real treat!

They brought out a changing table that was the one used for my mother. It is a sweet, soft white (creamy) color, and it is just perfect! They also brought a headboard for a twin bed that will remain in the nursery.

We spent the week visiting and reviewing family trees because Adam and I want to choose a family name for our little boy. PJ, Adam's mom, joined us for lunch and a visit mid-week, and she brought out Adam's grandfather's christening gown. It is beautiful, and it is the same gown that Adam, his mother, and a few cousins were baptized in when they were babies.

It is so wonderful to be able to use these family heirlooms and pass on the stories that come with them. Our little baby boy has no clue how blessed he is!

It was also a big week because while we were sitting at lunch one day B3 decided to try to push on my stomach. Not a kick, but more of a "look how strong I am, Mama!" kind of a push. I was so shocked to feel this huge knot, and I had my mom run over and feel it, too! It was a little alien-like, but it was still neat. Of course when we both put our hands on him, he moved away.

I
was so excited for Adam to get home to feel this little guy moving! B3 has not made quite as grand of an appearance since his big push, but you can definitely feel when he is nestled into one side of my abdomen versus the other. One side feels soft and squishy, and the other side is hard as a rock. Plus, this weekend, I felt my first "kicks!" He has been moving for over a month now, but the kicks feel like little thumps from inside my abdomen.

After company went home, Adam and I spent the weekend prepping the nursery in preparation for the rest of the furniture to arrive. We pulled out my college bedding which we will use on the twin bed (couldn't believe I would ever find another use for it!), and we placed a white dresser/night stand and the changing table. We also have a sweet, little pastel green chair that was made by Adam's Nanna (paternal grandmother). She is Swedish, and it is painted in the traditional rosemaling design with the perfect colors for the nursery! These few pieces have already transformed the feeling of the room. Makes me anxious for the next months to pass quickly!

This coming weekend my parents will bring out the bassinet that my two brothers and I used as babies, and Adam's parents are bringing out Adam and his sister's baby crib that they used as infants. Then, all we have left to supply is a rocking chair, a rug, and some fun accessories.

It is coming together so quickly!