32 Weeks

Getting bigger!  I never knew getting out of bed could be such hard work in the mornings!

Molly posed for me even though she didn't want to!

Our precious baby, Molly! 

32 weeks is here!  That means I survived the entire first week of school.  My feet are not very happy with the fact that I've returned to school.....but it is what it is!  School has gone well.  I have successfully moved the chorus room to a different wing at the school (thanks to the help of some great friends, co-workers, and one awesome husband) and all was ready for the kiddos to come in on August 15th! I'm able to sneak a snack during my boy's chorus class and I've told them that as long as they didn't make a mess, they could eat a snack too.  Of course, we keep the door closed so no one will see us!  :-)  And, the best part the new school year has been the installation of a modern day marvel called the thermostat in my room.  I've tested it out all week and have realized it gets quite cold and works great.   They students have shivered all week.  Meanwhile, I'm still sweating. 

We're putting the final touches on the nursery.  I've started packing my hospital bag.  I've also conquered the great task of finding a pediatrician and reserving Baby Bonds a spot in daycare. 

We started prepared birth classes at Crestwood Hospital (even though we're delivering at Huntsville Hospital) for the past two week.  They have been interesting to say the least!  For what it's worth, I would like for everyone to know I DO WANT an epidural.  So to whomever takes me to the hospital or is in the room with me after my husband passes out, please tell the doctor! :-)

Really the only things left on the to do list are:

1. Tour the hospital
2. Pre Register at the hospital
3. Have the car seat fitted at Huntsville Hospital (can you believe they only do that a couple of days each week?)
4. Win the lottery!!!  :-)

Baby Bonds got to experience his first football game of the season from inside the womb.  I hope he liked it and was comfortable while he had a leg/foot jammed in between my ribs.  It was quite painful for mommy, but we all survived.  And, we were able to cheer on the BHS Bucks and "Coach Bonds" to their first win of the season against Madison County at the Jamboree. 

We are still waiting on the results of the iron test from last week.  I'm praying iron levels are normal and no infusions are needed!

We love you all!  We are so thankful for the prayers for our growing family.  I have received so many sweet emails, text, phone calls these past few weeks.  They have meant the world to me!

31 Weeks

Well the weeks are getting much longer but are going by entirely too quick!  I can't believe in less than 10 weeks we will be able to finally hold our baby boy (who is still without name).

I just had my 31 week checkup on Monday.  Of course, my doctor had another patient in labor and I didn't get to see her.  I had been having some serious pain in my pelvic area and a few other issues so I was anxious to speak to her.  But, the staff took great care of me.  They were concerned as well!  So they shipped me off to the ultrasound room.  I was told last time I wouldn't be having another ultrasound.  They were unable to check the cervix because Baby B's head was pressed on it, but the placenta checked out to be fine.  I was shocked that I really couldn't recognize Baby B on the ultrasound.  I had invisioned him looking like he did at 20 weeks.  He had grown so much and took up almost all of the available space that things just looked unrecognizable to me.  I had to ask the technician where the head was!  She also told me his foot was lodged in my pelvic area which could be the cause of the sharp pains I've had when we've been walking.  They also sent my urine sample off to check for blood and I'm waiting to hear back from the lab about it.

I have actually lost 4 pounds.  So....to date I have not truly gained a single pound.  I would have never thought I would be the girl to not gain weight while pregnant.  Isn't it funny how things work??  I have had a little nausea in the past week or so and my appetite has been awful!  I really don't want food at all!!

I got the lab order for yet another sample of blood to be taken for iron samples!  I'm taking Integra F like a champ and it better be working!  I'm praying for iron levels to be normal so I do not have to go in for the dreaded weekly iron infusions and be scheduled for a blood transfusion after delivery!!!  I would appreciate your prayers for Baby B and myself!

Tony is so creative!  Notice the heart he painted to dot my "i" with. 

Maybe you can't see the excitement in Molly's face, but she is definitely excited! 

Tony hard at work!

We have almost finished the nursery!  Did you see the color change??  I never dreamed I'd have a blue nursery.  I've never been one to follow tradition!  We will have to pep it up with a few ideas that are a little more creative!
If you have any tips on how to get up from a chair or out of bed with this huge belly that I have, call me!!  I need all of the tips I can get!!

30 Weeks

As you can see, "the bump" has really grown this week!  And, boy, I have felt every inch of it!!!  I'm still feeling regular baby kicks and the hiccups, at times, too.  We are slowly getting things done to prepare for Baby Bonds.  We still have no name picked out yet.........it will come....soon!  

29 weeks

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind! I've spent so much time with friends and family!  Mom came for a visit (and to claim "Nana's Room). I went back to Huntingdon with her for 2 weeks while Tony was working camps and at conferences.  Mom and Dad brought me back to Madison and stayed the night with us.  My baby brother, Travis, came to visit for a couple of nights.  And, one of my best friends from Ole Miss came to visit us, too!  I just got back from my 29 week checkup and am now waiting on Mom to arrive so we can head up to the mountains for a few days!  All of these visits from my favorite people (coupled with a growing baby) have made this this best summer of my life!  I am truly blessed beyond measure! I have literally cried for hours after I had to say goodbye!  Tony has just started laughing each time I have a "come apart", as I like to call them.  I sure wish we lived closer to all of these people!

The 29 week visit went well! This is the first visit Tony has missed but he had football workouts this morning.  I have gained 5 pounds (and I feel every ounce of them).  The baby's heart rate was 140--down from the 150's at last months visit.  But, that just means Baby B is preparing his body to enter this world!  There is still concern over my iron levels.  I've been placed on an iron supplement pill and they will check iron levels in another week to see if I will need to begin getting weekly iron transfusions.  Also, if iron levels remain low I will have a blood transfusion after delivery!  I am praying this is not the case.  Transfusions do not sound fun in any context, and certainly not with the word "blood" in front of them!  I now begin going to see the OBGYN every 2 weeks.  I suppose that will prepare me very well for the drive to the hospital when labor starts! 

Here's a few things that have begun changing:

• Daily naps are a must!  If not, I crash well before 10pm.
• Caffeine after lunch means I will be up all night.
• My "cravings" have been short lived....one week I was stuck on frozen pina coladas and cheetos (as a meal)....I don't want chicken (that's a biggie....I am the chicken queen).....I'm craving a yummy steak...and cheese...and friend pickles....

And, here are few important things I need to write down to remember:

• Tony first got to feel Baby B kick on July 5th.
• And, on July 25 Tony got to feel Baby B do gymnastics in my belly.  That was the first time I could visually see my tummy move due to Baby B.  It was strange!
• Regular clothes can no longer be worn.  I tried on my favorite Gap jeans in a size too big and it was impossible feat for them to button.  Even my big t-shirts are snug on the tummy!

We've got to paint the nursery this month!  And, our deadline to pick out a name for Baby B is Aug 15th.  So far, we have no front runners in the name area.  So we are open to your suggestions! 

Prayer Requests:  Please pray that my iron levels become normal very soon and that no iron transfusions are necessary.  Also pray for me to have no blood transfusion after delivery and for Baby B to continue growing strong and healthy.  I've been praying for God to give me peace in finding Baby B's perfect name.  So, just maybe if you pray in agreement Baby B will have the perfect name and everyone will be happy!!

Nursery Update

Well we finally have the nursery going.  This is a good thing seeing as how bedding that Tony and I agree upon is very scarce to find.  We've actually found the perfect bedding and have purchased all of it!  Below is a stock picture of it!  We actually have all of our furniture and only have one thing left to do.....PAINT!

Baby Bonds will be here before we know it!  I've only had one really cruddy week and the rest have been amazing here lately.  I definitely feel pregant now!  And, that little boy of ours (who is yet to have a real name) is moving all of the time.....especially when I'm asleep.  More updates to come, along with a new prego picture, soon!  Right now, we are enjoying time with Mom.  She came down to visit on Friday and we've enjoyed lots of fun shopping and eating! We sure do love MOM and can't wait for her to come visit for a while longer when the baby is born!

20 weeks June 4, 2011

School has ended!  And we've finally found out the sex of our baby!  We're having a boy!  Even though I was certain He would be a She due to all of the crazy dreams I've been having, we're still super excited!  And, the 20 week ultrasound showed that our little boy is right on target as far as size and weight goes!  We were able to see so many features of him with the ultrasound.  Technology is amazing!  They checked his heart chambers, kidneys, hands, feet, measured his femur bones, arms, legs, eye sockets, checked to get a negative reading on cleft lip and palate.  His heart rate was 152 which is right where it's been every single time we've been to the doctor!  So, we have a happy, healthy, growing and KICKING boy on the way!  Here are a few highlights!

Pregnancy Highlights:
How Far Along: 20 weeks
Gender: It's a BOY!
Total Weight Gain/Loss: 6 pounds since my previous visit, but I'm still in the negatives since I lost so much at the beginning
Maternity Clothes: Good golly, they sure are comfortable!
Sleep:  It's getting better!  But I wake up feeling Baby Boy Bonds kicking like crazy some times! 
What I Miss: a normal appetite
Cravings: cold foods, I almost can't stand the thought of eating a hot meal!
Symptoms: a growing bump, and a few other things which aren't appropriate for this blog!
Best Moment of the Week:  Having the gender revealed at the ultrasound.  We thought Baby Bonds would be difficult like the time before, but as soon as I was smothered in that gel and the transducer started going, Baby Bonds "strutted his stuff".  It was hilarious!
"Baby Change Moment" of the Week:  Finalizing our nursery furniture!  Thankfully we've got some pretty awesome family who helped us out big time on this one!
Coolest Moment of the Week:  Drinking a Mountain Dew before my appointment on Wednesday (June 1st) and feeling the baby kick all of the way home from work!!!!

Gender Reveal with the rest of our family:

Family on Jill's side:  Since we were in Lexington, KY for Johnny's graduation ceremony, we decided to only stay one night in KY and drive to Huntingdon to stay the night. That allowed us to tell my family in person.  We stopped on our way out of Lexington at a baby store to pick up some blue baby photo albums so I could put all of the ultrasound pictures and special moments in them.  So we got three--one for "Nana" (Jill's mom) and Jill's Dad (who has yet to decide on a grandfather name), one for Jill's "Grah Doris" (grandmother on her dad's side) and "Grah Hampton" (grandmother on her mother's side).  Tony also found a package of "Pee Pee Tee Pee's for the Sprinkling Wee Wee"!  How hilarious!  So when we got to my parents house, we gave my Mom, Dad and Travis a "tee pee" and asked if they new what it was.  Dad guess it was a hat that was too small for any baby!  Finally, we told them we were having a boy and gave them the book of ultrasound pictures. 

I also took a tee pee and book to Grah Doris' house.  For whatever reason, she knew exactly what the tee pee was for!  Maybe those things come back around in cycles!  Must have been a big thing in the 50s when she was raising her boys!  Who knows!  She was very excited and glad to hear all of the awesome things we got to see on the ultrasound.

I took a book to Grah Hampton and left it on her door step since she wasn't home.  A couple of days later we got a sweet note in the mail from her!

Tony's Mom:  Tony elected to call his mom and give her the big news over the phone!   She was hysterical and hilarious!  She's also a very excited "Grandmother Bonds". 

Finally, we could put it on facebook!!!

So here are a few ultrasound pics and here's a picture of Me & Tony at the UK Graduation Ceremony.

 (Above) This is the very first shot we got of Baby Bonds.  And, there clear as

day, is the evidence of our baby boy!

 (Above) This is a great picture of him looking right at us!

 (Above) Here's the most amazing picture of them all!  What a perfect little boy God is creating!  Such a miracle!

Finally, here's a picture from the UK Graduation Ceremony.  Not much of a baby bump, but it's getting there!

19 Weeks 3 Days

It's hard to believe we've made it all the way to 19 weeks.  Seems like only a few days ago I was headed to the doctor for my 8 week appointment!  It's been quite a wild ride here in North Alabama for the past few weeks, which is why there has been no update.  Between tornadoes, no electricity, Travis graduating and school stuff I just haven't had the energy to blog.  However, we had very little damage due to the tornadoes (just a big tree uprooted in our front yard).  We went 6 days without electricity but vacationed in good ol' Huntingdon, Tennessee with my parents.  I'm happy to announce I have been recommended for tenure and it looks like Tony will also be rehired next year.  And, can you believe I have a brother who is a college freshman at UTM. 

Pregnancy Highlights:
How Far Along: 19 weeks 3 days
Gender: we will find out next Wednesday!!!
Total Weight Gain/Loss: Absolutely not one ounce gained since last visit!
Maternity Clothes: I really need more!!
Sleep: It keeps getting worse!  Sleep is amazing until about midnight and then it's almost miserable!!
What I Miss: Energy!
Cravings: Juice, fresh fruit, superhero popsicles, shaved ice!
Symptoms: headaches, no energy and a growing bump
Best Moment of the Week: We had our 8th grade picnic today for band and choir students and all of my girls wanted to take pictures with the "mommy to be and baby".  Then they loaded them on facebook.....all of them labeled "me with the mommy to be and baby".  I love my students!
"Baby Change Moment" of the Week:  Meltdown in Target.  I am overwhelmed with the number of crying babies that are always in the baby section and the fact that Tony wants to buy everything NOW!

**Sorry the picture is bad!  It was taken with my iPhone since I lost the other camera in the move to our new house!