30 Week Update

Today's update is brought to you by

Cap'n Crunch's Peanut Butter Crunch

and the number 4 (a.m., that is!).

I'm honestly surprised this hasn't happened

earlier on in the pregnancy.

Tonight (err... this morning),

I awoke in the middle of the night

to go to the bathroom.

The difference tonight, though,

is that when I went back to bed,

I absolutely could not fall back asleep.

I tried the old "close your eyes and breathe deeply" trick,

but no sleep came.

I tossed and turned and watched a little TV

(with no sound, so as not to wake my snoring husband).

I placed my hands on my belly and felt my little one

roll around and kick me.

The more I lay there, the less tired I got,

and the more I started to just feel uncomfortable.

Sore back, achy hips, hunger pains.. you know,

all the joys of being 30 weeks pregnant.

So I got up, let the dogs out to go to the bathroom,

turned on the lights of our Christmas tree

(which went up yesterday, and which I adore)

and made myself a bowl of cereal.

And now here I am.. blogging, wide awake, at 4 a.m.

This might just be the most pregnant moment I've ever had.

How far along? 30 weeks.

Due Date: February 3, 2011

Total weight gain/loss: Not sure if weighing myself this week

would be a good idea, after indulging in so much

Thanksgiving goodness. :)

Maternity clothes? Oh yes. Non-maternity tops

ride up and show off half of my belly at this point,

so it's all maternity, all the time, except for a few

select items that were a bit too big before.

Sleep: Yeah... not so much.

Best moment this week: Celebrating Thanksgiving

with Justin's family, and decorating our house for Christmas.

We have a real Christmas tree for the first time in our marriage,

and I am loving it!

Movement: He is a little party animal. :)

Food cravings: I don't think I had any real cravings this week,

but I will say that everything at Thanksgiving tasted better than ever.

Fried turkey, homemade dressing, gravy, broccoli casserole,

crock pot macaroni and cheese, cranberries, etc etc.

MAN was it good!

Food aversions: I've been staying away from tomato based sauces

lately, because they tend to give me heartburn. Not necessarily

an aversion, though; just something I'm not as into right now.

 
Gender: It's a boy - Colin Justin Vaughan.

Labor Signs: I think I've had the occasional

Braxton Hicks contraction, but they are very

few and far between. Otherwise, the answer is still no.

Belly Button in or out? Still an innie.

What I miss: Sleep. And being able to walk/sleep/do anything

without feeling sore and achy.

What I am looking forward to: CHRISTMAS!

Milestones: The number of weeks left
is in the single digits now. It won't be long!

All ready to watch the Gamecocks beat Clemson. Go Cocks!

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You know you're 29 weeks pregnant when...

• You wake up at least once a night to pee

• You have seen your belly move on its own

•  You catch yourself tearing up over the silliest things

• You think that ice cream is always a good idea -

even in November

• You constantly have at least one hand on your belly,

because even though you feel baby kicks every day,

you are still completely fascinated with them

• It doesn't faze you to see numbers on the scale

that you've never seen before

• You find yourself completely head-over-heels in love

with someone you've never met

***

 

I have to say... at this stage in the game,

I am really enjoying being pregnant!

Sure, I've had some unpleasant symptoms here and there -

mostly lower back pain (which is much better at the moment,

thanks to my chiropractor!), heartburn, occasional fatigue,

and the inevitable clumsiness that comes

with the third trimester of pregnancy.

But, those things are nothing compared

to the love I have for my unborn son.

I know I haven't done any actual parenting yet, but

I already consider myself a mother

and already I feel an intense love for -

and special bond with - my sweet little boy.

***

How far along? 29 weeks.

Due Date: February 3, 2011

Total weight gain/loss: +17 lbs

Maternity clothes? Yes, and I love them.

Sleep: I am getting plenty of sleep,

but still do a lot of tossing and turning

to try to get comfy throughout the night.

Best moment this week: Being able to get away

and see the Biltmore Estate last weekend.

Movement: He could have starred in Karate Kid!

Food cravings: No specific cravings this week,

although cranberries still sound really good.

Good thing Thanksgiving is next week!

Food aversions: Nothing at the moment.

 
Gender: It's a boy - Colin Justin Vaughan. :)

Labor Signs: None, although I'm starting to wonder

if some of the pressure I've been feeling off and on

could possibly be Braxton Hicks contractions.

Belly Button in or out? Still in.

What I miss: Being able to roll over in bed

without feeling like there's a 3 lb metal weight in my tummy.

What I am looking forward to: The holiday season.. all of it!

You have no idea how excited I am to decorate, eat all the good food,

see my family in just about 5 more weeks.. it's going to be awesome!

Milestones: Nothing specific, really - I'm just amazed

at how fast time seems to be going by these days.

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'Tis the Season...

This weekend, we were able to escape

with Justin's family to Asheville, NC

to take in the beautiful scenery

and to visit the amazingly majestic Biltmore Estate.

The colors were so pretty, and the sky was a perfect blue.

That's just a side view of the house, from one of the gardens.

This is Justin's brother, Tim, his wife, Shannon,

and their beautiful daughter -- our niece -- Emily Grace.

My husband belongs on a dollar bill... don't you think?

It was unseasonably warm that afternoon,

so we took little breaks to rest and rehydrate.

Here are the original 4 - Justin, his parents, and his older brother.

And here are the Vaughan boys with their beautiful wives. ;)

Pictures don't even do justice to how pretty the Biltmore is...

See what I mean?

It's the biggest residential home in the United States.

Here's a cute one of Emily. I love that girl. :)

...and so do her "Mema" and "Papa"...

...and her mommy and daddy...

...and her Uncle Justin!

At night, the estate became something magical,

like a castle out of a fairy tale.

Emily actually did call it a castle,

and kept wondering where the princess was!

I wish I could show you the inside, but no cameras or phones were allowed.

I assure you, though, the inside is even better than the outside.

Especially all decorated for the holidays!

Now, who's in the mood for Christmas? (raises hand)

(Thanks to my lovely sister-in-law, Shannon, for these photos!)

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28 Week Update

How far along? 28 weeks!

Due Date: February 3, 2011

Total weight gain/loss: Somewhere in the +15 range.

Maternity clothes? Oh yes.

Sleep: Some nights are great,

others, not so much. It really depends.

Best moment this week: Hearing my son's heartbeat
at this morning's appointment - a strong 150.

Movement: My little boy likes to do karate in there.

Food cravings: Cranberries... mmm.

Food aversions: Nothing at the moment.

 
Gender: It's a boy - Colin Justin Vaughan. :)

Labor Signs: None, thank goodness.

Belly Button in or out? Still in. I have noticed, though,

that the scar from a former navel piercing has moved up

above my belly button, by at least an inch.

It sort of looks like an asterisk. Sexy!

What I miss: Sleeping in without having to pee.

What I am looking forward to: Thanksgiving,

and then my favorite holiday ever... Christmas!

The holiday season is upon us, my friends!

Milestones: I am officially into my seventh month. Wow!

At our doctor's appointment this morning,
little man measured two weeks ahead.. yikes!
It looks like we may end up having a January baby.
Only time will tell! He is certainly growing and thriving, though,
and that's all that matters. I love my little Colin!

 

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No words on this one.. just a self-explanatory video. :)

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A Birthday, and a Survey

Today was a good day.

It started with a relaxing morning

where hubby and I ate cinnamon rolls for breakfast.

We did have to take one of Justin's dad's company cars

to a local place for an oil change, but that didn't take long.

Then, we hung out at home, took care of a little light cleaning,

and went to Red Robin to redeem my free burger coupon.

My burger was delicious (I got the Whiskey River BBQ Burger)

and Justin's was disappointing (he ordered a bacon cheeseburger,

and it had way too much mayo, which ruined it for him).

After lunch, we headed to Books a Million

where we looked at cute baby books

and talked about the ones we'll want

to read to Colin once he's here.

The afternoon brought a fun phone call

from my little brother, that ended up lasting

over an hour. I really love that boy. :)

(I love my baby sister, too, by the way!

She's amazing too... just for the record.)

 At four, Justin's family started to show up at our house.

They came bearing cards, gifts, chicken wings

and cake and ice cream.

My little party was a lot of fun,

and I really enjoyed getting to hang out with everyone!

And now, here I am, vegging out in my PJs

while Justin watches the Gamecocks play.

The game isn't going so well... sorry, love.

Anyway.

I'll end my lovely 25th birthday blog entry

with a random survey I yanked from someone's Facebook.

Good night, world!

1. What time did you get up this morning?

About a quarter after 8.

2. How do you like your steak?

Medium to medium well 

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?

Let Me In. We were the only ones in the theater!

4. What is your favorite TV show?

Dexter

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

Somewhere with four distinct seasons, on the east coast

or in the midwest.

6. What did you have for breakfast?

Cinnamon rolls.. yummy!

7. What is your favorite cuisine?

Italian

8. What foods do you dislike?

Hot dogs, bologna, mushy green beans,

meaty sauces on pasta

9. Favorite Place to Eat?

Carrabba's. We went there last night.

As usual, it was amazing!

10. Favorite dressing?

Ranch or Caesar.

11.What kind of vehicle do you drive?

A red 2006 Mercury Mountaineer.

12. What are your favorite clothes?

Jeans and a cute & comfy top.

Although.. right now my most comfortable pants

are my stretchy maternity khakis.

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance?

France, definitely.

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?

Half full! I'm definitely an optimist.

15. Where would you want to retire?

Why stay in one place? I'd love to travel and see the world!

16. Favorite time of day?

Lazy weekend mornings are my favorite.

17. Where were you born?

Fort Worth, TX

18. What is your favorite sport to watch?

Meh.. football, I guess.

19. Bird watcher?

Sometimes, when birds nest in our yard.

23. Are you a morning person or a night person?

More of a night person, but I have no problem

getting up in the mornings; I'm pretty alert right away.

24. Pets?

Daisy and Ellie, my puppers.

25. Any new and exciting news that you'd like to share?

Um.. I'm pregnant? ha.. oh, and the holidays are coming!!

26. What did you want to be when you were little?

A singer.. just like Amy Grant. :) Or an actress.

27. What is your best childhood memory?

Christmases with my parents and siblings.

28. Are you a cat or dog person?

Definitely a dog person.

29. Are you married?

Yes, very happily married!

30. Always wear your seat belt?

Yes sir.

31. Been in a car accident?

Yep.

32. Any pet peeves?

People who chew with their mouths open. YUCK.

33. Favorite pizza topping?

Hawaiian.

34. Favorite Flower?

Are roses too cliche? Oh well.. I do love them.

35. Favorite ice cream?

Cake Batter from Cold Stone, with cookie dough.

36. Favorite fast food restaurant?

Probably Chick Fil A.

37. How many times did you fail your driver's test? 

Zero. I passed the first time!

38. From whom did you get your last email?

My daddy.

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?

Probably Target.. they have everything.

40. Do anything spontaneous lately?

Last night we spontaneously went to Blockbuster

and rented "V for Vendetta." (Whoa, dream big!)

41. Like your job?

It's not bad.

42. Broccoli? Cauliflower?

Broccoli.

43. What was your favorite vacation?

My family's trip to Scotland. So incredible.

44. Last person you went out to dinner with?

My hubby.

45. What are you listening to right now?

The Gamecocks game is on our TV,

but I'm not really paying attention.

46. What is your favorite color?

Pink & green

47. How many tattoos do you have?

None.

48. Coffee drinker?

Yep! Used to have a cup every morning,

now it's only when the mood strikes.

49. How many children do you have?

One.. but I can't hold him in my arms just yet. :)

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27 Week Update

How far along? 27 weeks!

Due Date: February 3, 2011

Total weight gain/loss: +13 lbs.

Maternity clothes? Most of the time.

Sleep: I'm still tossing and turning quite a bit,

but I have finally mastered sleeping with a pillow

between my knees for added comfort.

Best moment this week: There have been lots of great

pregnancy related moments this week.. I don't know that one

stands out more than the rest.

Movement: He is a mover and a shaker! I've been able

to see some movements from the outside, too, which is so cool.

Food cravings: Eggo waffles, pineapple.

Food aversions: Nothing at the moment.

 
Gender: It's a beautiful, wiggly boy!

Labor Signs: None.

Belly Button in or out? Still in, but slightly less deep.

What I miss: Restful sleep, and daily cups of coffee.

What I am looking forward to: Baby showers,

the opportunity to go out and celebrate my birthday

with my sweet hubby tonight, my b-day party tomorrow,

our trip to the Biltmore scheduled for next weekend,

Thanksgiving... there's a lot to look forward to!

Milestones: I can finally say I'm in the 3rd trimester!

This week's photo is a bare belly self portrait... in my PJs. :)

Come on, give the pregnant lady a break!

 

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Thankful Thursday

Out of all the work days,

Thursday is one of the less awful ones,

in my humble opinion.

Why? Well.. obviously, because it precedes Friday!

Also, by Thursday, you're already in the swing of things

and not feeling quite so grumbly as you might have

on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

By Thursday, you can see the light at the end of the tunnel,

and you know the weekend is coming soon!

Oh... have I also mentioned that Thursday

here on my bliggity blog

is also known as Thankful Thursday?

On this Thankful Thursday,

I am thankful that Justin is coming home today

from Alabama, where he's been all week.

I'm thankful that he'll get to be here for my 25th birthday,

which is Saturday, to celebrate with me. :)

I'm thankful that the past year has been full of so much love,

and so many blessings, and that the next year promises

to bring even more amazing things.

I am thankful that my mom's health is improving

(she's had walking pneumonia.. yuck)

and that I'm just fine after a fall I had yesterday

on the sidewalk, smack dab in the middle of downtown Columbia.

I was super embarrassed, but little Colin and I are both great.

I am thankful that today, I'm 27 weeks along.

Hello, third trimester! It's nice to meet you. :)

There is just so much to be thankful for

on this Thankful Thursday.

What are you thankful for?

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26 Week Update

How far along? 26 weeks!

Due Date: February 3, 2011

Total weight gain/loss: +12 lbs.

Maternity clothes? Most of the time.

Sleep: I haven't slept very well the past few nights.

Lots of tossing and turning, getting up to pee,

and trying (and failing) to find a comfortable position.

Best moment this week: Getting to dress up for Halloween

and use my belly as an accessory. :)

Movement: He is actually being a little wiggleworm

as I type this. His feet (I believe they are his feet)

are way up near my ribs at the moment.

Food cravings: Eggo waffles with butter and syrup.

Food aversions: Still pretty turned off

by coconut right now.. strange.

 
Gender: It's a beautiful, wiggly boy!

Labor Signs: None.

Belly Button in or out? Still way in.

What I miss: Restful sleep.

What I am looking forward to: Baby showers!

My in-laws have tentatively chosen December 4th

as the date for my shower here in South Carolina.

I'm not sure yet what my Michigan family will be doing,

but there has been talk of some creative shower ideas,

since Justin and I won't be able to make it up there

until after Colin is born.

Milestones: In just a few more days,

I will officially be in the third trimester.

I can't believe it! I'm starting to get really excited. :)

[Please excuse the crappy early morning photo below.
I snapped it with my cell this morning before work!]

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