Crazy Fears of the Unknown

So, two days ago I was sooo busy! I was cleaning out the two closets in the nursery (It was formerly my office) and moving all non-baby related items up to the new office and getting things organized and clothes arranged by size, etc. etc.. Then I was working on some artwork for the nursery so that I can finally get the last few things hung on the walls and have everything complete when I realized that ......When was the last time I felt the baby move??? I really hate it when this happens. You get so busy and into doing a task that you forget to notice and the next thing you know.....I am totally freaking out! Maybe this is how everyone reacts or I am seriously going to be a wreck when this baby gets here. I also think that I had a contraction about this time because my stomach had gotten really hard and my back was hurting but still no little kicks or rolls. So I run downstairs and get a glass of crushed ice......OK...So I saw this little trick on TLC's "A Baby Story".....It is supposed to wake up the baby if it is asleep. I ran a bath and then got in with my glass of ice and was just seriously crunching away....Jason kept assuring me the baby was just resting, and HE was...Thank goodness! Finally he starting moving all around and my mind could rest. I will be sooo glad when he gets here so that I can know that he is fine and I can count all his little fingers and toes...Who knows...I may even count all the hair on his head...There is just so much that is unknown when they are inside of you and I read all this stuff about the umbiblical cord getting twisted and about counting the number of times you feel your baby move in an hour.....I'll probably never sleep again once he arrives. I am sure I will get up every twenty minutes with a mirror and place it under his nose or lay my hand on his stomach to make sure he is breathing....My life is never going to be the same! Still, I can't wait for him to come!

Baby Showers

My mom, me and my sister (She is expecting too!)

My friend Kristen from college.

Me and Leah

First, I have to say that I have been blessed in my life with the best family and group of friends! They are all amazing and I don't know what I do without any of them. My first baby shower was held in Gallatin for all of my family and friends up that way. Seven years ago, my husband and myself moved closer to his work and that has put us about 45 minutes to an hour away. It took some adjusting and I hope to move back closer in a couple of years but I really love my home and it is convenient to everything. But I saw friends that I haven't seen in years and got to catch up with alot of my closest friends from high school. My friend Kim drove in from Bowling Green, KY. We grew up down the street from each other but distance doesn't allow us all to see each other the way that we would like. Unfortunately, I am usually the picture taker at these kinds of events and we were rushed for time, so not too many pictures were taken at this shower and I am really sad about that. The ones that I have are of the most unbelievable and creative present that I received from the shower. My stepdaughter totally stole the show and really expressed how excited she is about her new baby brother. She spent way to much money but it is the way that she presented it and the time she took to do what she did that really meant the most. I have never seen this done before and it is just so cute everyone will probably do it in the future that saw it. Let me explain.....She bought like a hundred different things from outfits and sleepers to socks and bottles....Then she took clothes pins and pinned everything to a rope or clothes line so that when you started pulling things out of the bag it wrapped around forever. It looked like a clothesline full of baby goodies. Please see the pictures for the full impact. It was just so creative and being me I just loved the thought and time that she put into this wonderful gift, she is such a thoughtful and special child that I love dearly!

MY FRIEND SHOWER

Holli, party planner extrodinaire. She is awesome!



My second shower was held at my house on January 26th and it was for all of my college girlfriends and my close neighbors and coworkers who didn't want to drive all the way to Gallatin for the first shower. My dear friend Holli, who is the best and most creative person that I know, put it on for me. It was wonderful and felt like a fancy themed party instead of a baby shower. Fun was had by all and I was able to reveal my nursery to everyone! She had wonderful Chinese food and made all the decorations and invitations by hand. For an activity she had everyone write little letters to either myself, Jason or the baby and then had everyone fold them into these little origami cranes.

The idea behind the cranes it to take them with us to the hospital and read them while we have some down time. They are filled with words of encouragment, advice and well-wishes.

Holli also made these little thank you boxes for everyone that were in little chinese takeout containers and she hand dipped fortune cookies in chocolate and had little packets of oriental and flavored teas inside.

Everyone seemed to have a wonderful time and it was just small and intimate and I wasn't rushed for time, so that made it really nice.

Me, Sharon and Lexy

Amanda, Jessica and Rachel

Carla, Rachel and Tish

One of my oldest friends from high school. She drove 4 1/2 hours from outside of St. Louis to be here with me and it meant so much to see her!

Me and Amanda

Me and Lexy

My Sister

Jessica Spires

RachelBrenda and Cheryl

Michelle Sweatt

Carla (the smartest person I know!)

To all of you that are reading this and came to either of my showers. Thank you all so much for being there for me and being such a special and important part of my life. I hope that we will all be there for each other for many years to come! I love each and every one of you!!