Thursday, August 20, 2009

The Nursery

We had a final fabulous shower this weekend, and it was so wonderful to get to see my in-state family! We finished off the final touch on the nursery--hanging Alina's name letters that Alex painted--just before the first guests began to arrive. Enjoy!

This is the view from the doorway.
This is the wall to the right of the doorway.The back wall of the room.
These are the letters TH painted for Ali.The view of the far side of the room from the recliner.
The poem over the changing table.
The closet area.
And the final touch . . . a "Starry Night" night light.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Yowza!

Check out the "Mommy View":


No wonder . . .
(1) people who haven't seen me in a long time give me an uncontrollable, wide-eyed, shocked stare.
(2) I drop a lot more when eating--I have to sit like a foot farther back now! Good thing the belly catches everything I drop. :-)

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Maternity Pics

I know, I know, it's been a while since y'all have gotten an update! Things have been wonderful and BUSY here--Alex has been working on getting his latest project wrapped up and traveling on his last business trip before Ali gets here, and my work has been C-R-A-Z-Y busy. It seems like every spare second in the evenings is spent doing laundry, getting the nursery ready (we're like 97% done!!), going to childbirth classes, and trying to keep up with all the other, non-baby-related chores that everyday life brings. Whew! Thank God for our DVR . . . we have time to watch TV for about one hour, twice a week. We have to think carefully about what shows we're actually going to stay current on!

I had my last bi-weekly appointment this week, and it was great! Ali is head down (stay that way, baby girl!) and has slowed her overly enthusiastic growth down . . . she's now measuring in the very manageable 65% (rather than the 90%) and is on track to be a healthy 8 lb. baby. Perfect!! Her legs are still measuring ahead . . . I'm wondering if we're going to have a long-legged lady on our hands! I get next week off from doc appointments, and then the following week I start my weekly appointments where we will start looking for and tracking any progress toward labor and, ultimately, a baby!! I can't believe I only have 5(ish) weeks left!

We've had two wonderful showers already, one in Dallas with my mom and Alex's mom's friends, and one here at my work. Everyone has been so incredibly thoughtful and generous--Ali is one LOVED baby already. I've got my friends shower this weekend and can't wait to see everyone . . . I feel like we have really fallen out of the loop in the last couple of months, and I'm sure that will only continue to be the case once we have a newborn. Then next weekend my family is coming together for one last shower at our house. I feel so incredibly blessed to have so many people excited and wanting to celebrate little Alina!

Now for some fun pictures. I have been so fortunate this pregnancy to have not only one, but TWO outstanding photographers take maternity pictures of me--one as a trade for services, and one to simply get more experience and build her portfolio out. Their styles are as different as they are innovative and breathtaking--how wonderful that I have pictures in both styles with which I can document this amazing and brief time of my life!

From Kristen Joy Photography:
This one is half Dad, half Mom . . . and all love!

And from Azini Photography (*note: you can check out the rest of the sneak peeks (haven't gotten ALL the pictures yet...) AND some pictures of our nursery (gasp!) if you follow the link . . . but be aware that they are ALL bare belly pics!):

So, that's what's been going on with us! Working busily in the final weeks to tie up all the loose ends and get ourselves ready for the most amazing new addition ever. I hope all is well with everyone, and we will DEFINITELY keep you all updated as things start to *happen*!