9 Weeks To Go

Two months and one week sounds like long time.

Nine weeks OR LESS sounds like TOMORROW!

Either way, I'm 31 weeks today!

Where has the time gone?!

These past two weeks have been so much fun.

I've had really bad back pain, I am exhausted by the end of the day, and my feet hurt,

but Emerson has really kept my spirits up! She kicks and squirms and dances more than ever now.

Sometimes it feels like she is taking her hand or foot and is moving it from one side to the other.

I love it so much!

So today, "E" is about the size of a Pineapple. Mmm, I LOVE pineapple:)

"She's about 15.2 to 16.7 inches long and weighs about 2.5 to 3.8 pounds this month.

She's getting so big, she's probably crowding your lungs."

She's going through major brain and nerve development.

Eye development, too. Her irises now react to light!

All five of her senses are in working order.

                                                                -The Bump

You know, we read all of the things that the baby is developing from week to week, but how amazing is it?! In just 9 very short months, babies grow from nothing to a full BABY. One that can blink and breathe and poop and sleep. Someone that has fingernails and certain reflexes and a very eager brain.

HOW GOOD IS OUR GOD!

I can't seem to figure out how people do not believe in God.

Forget (for a minute) everything that he has already created, birth and babies ALONE should have you on your knees thanking God for everything, every moment of the day.

What a BIG little miracle they are!

And I cannot WAIT to meet mine!

One "big deal" thing we are fixing to do is get a 3D/4D ultrasound.

I am so nervous! If she's positioned right, we will see what she looks like.

Seriously.

This is SO very real now.

Whose nose will she have?

Will she have hair? What color will it be? Will she be bald?

Does she already have the most perfect chubby cheeks?

What about her lips, what will they look like?

I mean, are you kidding me?!

WE'LL SEE WHAT SHE LOOKS LIKE!!!

no big deal.

Take a look at this picture. On the left is a baby in the 3D

ultrasound and on the right is the same baby four months old.

Wow.

So that appointment is Thursday, March 8. :)

I've had trouble finding the right crib bedding, so we've decided to have it made.

I actually already had almost all of the fabric. A little material from our bedroom, a little from my old house, a little this and a little that. It surprisingly all works together. It is NOT your typical female crib bedding. No pink, no fairies, no fru fru at all. (Imagine that)

Who wants "typical" anyway? lol If you know me, you know I like to find different ways of doing things, I like to be original.

Well, this. is. original.

I have this fabulous interior designer I've been working with!

I call her Mama. lol

I am so very lucky to have a professional interior designer as a mama. And she's good:)

We're also going to incorporate a lot of family heirlooms. Sentimental things are so perfect.

The nursery inspiration is not what you would expect. It's a plate from my everyday china!

Lenox Chirp salad plate.

Just the colors, not the birds.

I know what you're thinking..."Hmm, interesting."

Just wait and seeee:)

My best friend and I were talking the other day about what Emerson does NOT want and what she WON'T be wearing! lol One of the things was those DARN SQUEAKING SHOES!

I know they are the "hot thing" and mamas are justa buying them up. Not me!

I kept the church nursery when they first got big. There were like 5 little girls with those things on. I can't handle it. Holly said she had to figure out how to "jokingly" put that on the shower invitation!

 haha But don't worry, if I get them as a gift, they are super cute! I can just take the squeaker out. lol

29th Week

Today marks my 29th week!

11 more to go.

Emerson has really blossomed lately. Really.

People keep asking, "You got twins in there?!"

"My goodness, you're about to POP!"

No, but thanks.

Danny seems to think she's going to come out walking.

People will say anything. lol

The Bump says she's about the size of an Acorn Squash...

"Baby already measures about 15.2 to 16.7 inches long. Right now, she weighs about 2.5 to 3.8 pounds but she's still got a ways to go -- can you believe she'll triple in weight before birth?"

She's getting a little cramped in there, since she's growing so fast. But you probably already realize that, since you're getting all those jabs and kicks.

She's growing white fat deposits under her skin, and her energy is surging because of it.

Feel a subtle twitch? It might be baby hiccuping. 

I think others have read my earlier posts, the one about DON'T TOUCH ME! It's about when I first found out about the pregnancy and once we announced it, everyone wanted to touch my stomach. Basically, I was NOT having any part of it.

I'm 8 weeks along, trust me, ya can't feel her, so don't try.

Well now, I feel differently about it.

Yes, you can touch my belly (if it doesn't touch you first!). lol

My stomach is hard to the touch, she's up very high, and often, she'll kick you. So yes, you may.

Speaking of the belly touching you first...

I have, twice already, knocked over 2 glasses of tea with it. Oops.

I continuously stick it in food as I'm reaching over the table to get something. No need to try and sqeeeeeze through something, cause it just ain't happening!

I went to Emerald Ink & Stitches/Advertising Specialties this week for work. The lady that was working with me there was so nice and very helpful. I couldn't help but notice that she had a big, older, beautiful lab laying in a chair behind her. Something you don't see too often at a place of business. Very well behaved. Great dog! We got to talking about Emerson and when she was due, etc. She ended up giving Emerson a book about this dog that she had written herself, Tilly Goes to the Beach. She even signed it before I left! I was just so excited! Her very first book, local and signed. I was just so happy:)

How far along?   29 weeks today

Maternity clothes?   Yes. I'm wearing a lot of Melon:) which is fun. Haven't found maternity jeans that fit right yet, so I'm still in my regular jeans. Although, as of like a week or two ago, they are completely unbuttoned! They stay up by wearing this bella band thing. Works so well.

Symptoms?   Acid Reflux. I hate this. It really comes when I lay down to go to sleep. Back Pain. And did I mention the massive belly?

Stretch marks?   Yes, but not bad at all. All on my belly.

Sleep?   I'm still sleeping, but I now get up every night at least once to use the bathroom.

Best moment this week?   Last weekend, I woke up and laid in bed for a while feeling her move around. I put my hand on my stomach and BAM! She kicked me so hard! I loved it:)

Movement?   Lots, all day, everyday. I can feel her kick from the outside now, which is pretty amazing!

Cravings?   Hmm, Nothing weird. I have had my share of milkshakes lately. No whip cream or cherry please.

Gender? She's still a girl:) Emerson Adele Gunter

Labor Signs?  None.

Belly button In or Out?   Innie, although it's starting to feel kinda weird.

What I miss?   Sitting down at the table without knocking over something.

What I'm looking forward to?   Meeting her:) I have missed her. As if I already know her. It's strange.

Weekly wisdom?   Get more Tums.

Milestones?   Emerson has really blossomed in the last few weeks. I am very pregnant.

I wanted to give a shout out to a friend in

California who just delivered her baby girl yesterday!

Meet Kara Elizabeth Edwards.

Daughter of Spencer and Angela Edwards.

Congratulations y'all, she's beautiful!



"Humorous" Books & Consignment Sales

I've started reading the book "Sippy Cups Are Not for Chardonnay."

It's one of those funny books about a new mom's experience. Very honest and very opinionated.

Very.

So far, I've only stayed awake to read a few chapters. One of them was about not bonding with your baby until later on, like when they're walking and talking.

What?

That kinda freaked me out. Now, this mom was not the natural "nurturing" type by no means, and she'll tell you that. More concerned about going out, drinking, etc, etc than about having babies. I'm sorry but as of right now, if I didn't "bond" with my baby from the get-go, I'm sure not going to admit that. I don't know, any mamas out there that have experienced this? I just never thought about that not happening. Maybe I'm the crazy one. I would love some feedback on this...

Next chapter, breastfeeding.

Not her favorite thing to do obviously. Apparently, it hurts to the point where you'd just want to die. Yes, I kinda figured that it would hurt at first. But the whole time? 50 times a day for 9 months?? Is this true? Just wondering, as a first time mama. Not that I am trying to figure out whether or not to breastfeed. Personally, there is no choice for me. I will be doing it. God gave 'em to me, and I'm going to use them the way the good Lord intended. Period. End of discussion.

But again, that is my own personal belief. No judgement from me AT ALL if you decide not to.

Tomorrow, I'll be 28 weeks along!

HELLURRRR THIRD TRIMESTER! I CANNOT believe you are already here. Wow.

She's about the size of a Rutabaga.

"Putting on layers of fat, your baby now weighs in around

1.5 to 2.5 pounds and measures about 13.6 to 14.8 inches."

• She's starting to develop more fat, so her wrinkly skin will start to get smoother.
• Her lungs are mature enough that she'd probably survive if she was born now. Wow!

And it's February! I tell ya, it's really flying by now. Emerson will be here before we know it. Very very exciting, but anxious, scary, nervous at the same time.

Right now, I'm on the lookout for gorgeous, perfectly priced crib bedding. Tonight, I'm going to the Mud Pies Semi-Annual Consignment Sale at Main Street United Methodist Church.

Mama and Daddy went to the Switcheroo's GIGANTIC Consignment Sale this morning in Greenville. Found no bedding:(

After tonight's sale, I've got one more to go to, the Cambridge Consignment Sale. I pray that I find something at one of these for her. I really can't spend a lot of money on bedding that Emerson just doesn't care much about. Just me:)

Mama did find a Christening dress at Switcheroo's for FIFTEEN DOLLARS!!!!!!!! And it's beautiful! These things start out at like $100!! So I am sooo excited!

How pretty! It also comes with a sweet little bonnet:)