What a week…

Garrett and I made a quick trip to Spokane for a baby shower hosted by our moms and my sister.  It was wonderful to see family and friends, some I haven’t for over 2 years, and to spend the day with my grandma, Francie, and cousin Tracie.

The shower was great!  Graycen is already getting spoiled and will have plenty of outfits for the multiple outfit changes I have heard newborns require J

Garrett and I were also able to spend lots of time with our amazing 4 year old nephews.  I love watching Uncle Garrett (aka “Knuckle) play with the boys.  He is a great wrestler, video game player, etc and the boys LOVE him. 

Brayden is excited for his cousin to arrive.  I don’t think he knows what a “cousin” is, exactly, but he is definitely trying to use Graycen’s arrival to his advantage.  He keeps asking my sister to buy him certain toys and candy “for his cousin.” 

It was a good thing it was just a quick trip due to the “Snowmaggedon” that had taken over western Washington.

Tuesday, Seattle Schools announced a 2 hour late arrival due to snowy conditions around the city.  I taught for an hour, had my prep period, ate lunch and then the district announced we would also have a 2 hour early release due to the increase in snow and went home early and we haven’t had to go back.  Everett WAS covered in a very, very, very thick blanket of snow (at least 6+ inches), but we're back to typical "winter" weather and the rain has melted most of the snow.   

Although, I will have to make the days up in June….when I really won’t want to be back at work…it has been nice to have some time off from work.  I have spent the week being very crafty – making cards, working on the wall art for the nursery and starting to scrapbook Graycen’s baby book.

8 more weeks...

Even with 2 weeks off for Winter Break, I still wasn’t able to figure out how to blog on a regular basis.    

Garrett and I now have a little over 8 weeks before Graycen’s arrival.  The anxiety is starting to set in as we get closer her due date. 

A recap of month 7:

(1) During month 7, I have gained an additional 4 lbs, which puts my total weight gain at a little over 20 lbs.  I’m sure some of the extra weight was due to the pounds of Christmas cookies and fudge that I have eaten over the last few weeks.

With the additional weight gain has come lower back pain, nights filled with tossing and turning, uncomfortable sleeping positions and lots of bathroom visits.  AND, I have been told by several colleagues that I am starting to waddle as I walk down the hallway. 

But, I am also feeling baby Graycen multiple times each day and night, which continues to be such an amazing feeling.  I can feel her arms and legs pushing against my belly – sometimes see even these movements on the outside.  Although I can’t wait to meet her and be with her on the “outside,” I’m going to miss this “inside” connection we have.  

2)  Garrett and I have spent several hours working on the nursery as well as organizing and cleaning out our storage areas to make room for things that we don’t have room for inside the house and the extra items that we have been acquiring.  Garrett doesn’t quite have the sense of urgency for cleaning, organizing and prepping that I have had recently, but he has been a trooper during my “nesting” time. 

The nursery continues to be a work in progress, but it is looking more like a nursery than a spare room/extra storage. 

  Phase One – “The Clean Out…”

Phase Two – “Putting it All Together…”

Phase Three – “Closer to completion”

Now, I just need time to finish the art projects I have planned to decorate the walls and shelves.

 ….my craft inspirations J

Not only have I been "nesting" and feeling a need to clearn and organize, I've also felt a strong need to make things for the baby.  So, my project is to create some artwork for the walls based on the above inspirations. 

(3)  In addition to working on the nursery, cleaning and organizing, Garrett and I spent a day last week visiting 5 daycare facilities.  What an experience….I can’t believe how many things you need to think about, ask about, look at/for, etc.

Of the 5 centers visited, 3 made it onto the list of potential daycares and we are on the wait list for 2.  I’m glad that part is over, now we just wait until May/June to officially register.  I’m sad that I will have to leave Graycen during the day, but thankful that I have summers off and will be able to spend the summer with her before daycare must start.

(4)  After talking with HR and Benefits center, I learned that in order to keep my health benefits during the summer months, I must return to my classroom by June 1^st.  I was hoping that I could continue my maternity leave through the summer months, but will need to return for the last 3 weeks of school.  It will be a rough 3 weeks – 8^th graders check out at that time as they realize they are going to be high schoolers soon, and I will be checking out early knowing that I have a baby at home J

Thankfully, Garrett and I don’t go on many vacations and he has accumulated lots of vacation time and with some help from the Grandmas, he should be able to stay home with Graycen while I go back to work for 3 weeks. 

Time has not slowed down for us, and we continue to add items to our “Baby To Do List”

On the agenda for this month:

·         2 baby showers planned (Spokane and Seattle)

      ·         8 month check up appointments
      ·         continue to work on nursery and decorate
      ·         paint the bathroom
      ·         start making baby book
      ·         continue to organize and clean

Our 6th Month....

I definitely should not quit my day job to become a blogger.  I haven’t figured out how people have to time to blog every day, or even every week J 
 
It’s hard to believe that over 6 months ago, Garrett and I received the phone call that has changed our lives.  Time is really flying by so quickly now. 

A recap of the last 4 weeks:

Baby Smith has a name…(drum roll please)… 

Graycen Elizabeth Smith

 

Weight Gain and Maternity Clothes - Over the last 4 weeks, I have gained an additional 5 lbs, which puts my total weight gain at 17 lbs.  My “baby bump” is getting bigger each week (pictures to come), and I spent last few weeks trying to fit into jeans and pants that DON’T WANT to button or zip.  I finally have given in and wearing mostly maternity jeans and pants, so much more comfortable than trying to squeeze into my other pants.  I did have a moment this weekend, trying to squeeze into an old pair of jeans, and Garrett had to nicely ask me to put on a different pair.  I was taking “skinny” jeans to a new level of tight.

Getting Ready for Graycen: Garrett and I spent a Sunday morning at Babies R Us starting our baby registry. 

Although we’re not quite finished with it, we have the important things.  I’m not sure how my parents were able to raise us without all of the cool gadgets and “necessities”? J 

I cannot directly link our registry list to the blog, but the list is searchable using the Babies R Us website (http://www.babiesrus.com/registry/)  and searching by “Robin Smith, Everett.”

Shopping with Garrett brought tears to my eyes – he is going to be an amazing dad.  He has already picked out several “daddy’s girl,”  “I love daddy,” and “Daddy’s princess” outfits for Gracyen.  Hopefully, she won’t develop a complex J

 Making Room: In addition to registering and buying maternity clothes, my parents come over for a long weekend in November to help us start getting the nursery ready.  My to-do list was longer than we had time for, but we were able to paint the bedroom and replace the light fixture and mirror in the bathroom.  Garrett and my dad have some extra work to do before Graycen get’s here.  

The crib has been ordered and should be delivered this week.  The crib bedding fabric has been selected and purchased and will become my mom’s next sewing/quilting project.  

Baby Movement:  Graycen will either be a ballerina, gymnast, swimmer or acrobat based on of her movements - she is one active little girl.  She is definitely more active during the day and after I eat a meal, but this last week I’ve been waking up around 2am and can feel her swimming around. 

Some of my students have claimed to see her moving across my stomach while I’m teaching.  Not sure if they can really see it yet, but at least they are paying more attention to me. 

Coming up:  As you can see, it’s been a busy month for the Smith household.  My to-do list continues to get bigger and bigger each week.  On the agenda for this week:

·         7 month check up and glucose test

·         set up daycare appointments

·         check in, again, with HR and Benefits center to make sure I understand my maternity leave

·         start making baby book

Confirmed: Baby Smith is a GIRL!!!

We are 22 weeks, a little over half way, which is hard to believe and accept.  40 weeks seems like forever, but now I’m worried that I won’t be able to finish everything on my before baby bucket list. 

According to my weekly pregnancy tracker updates, she weighs approximately 1 pound and is about 10 inches.  With a growing baby comes a growing mommy.  I’ve spent this week trying to fit into my “normal” pants.  I’m no longer able to button or zip (all the way) any of my pants and should probably stop squeezing into them  and start wearing maternity pants/jeans. J  I've also noticed a change to my belly button, not quite an “outie” yet, but close.

Another realization this week – be careful what you watch on TV before bedtime.  Garrett and I were getting caught up on the new show, “American Horror Show” and watched two back to back episodes, which caused my dreams to be filled with haunted houses and ghosts for 2 nights.  This could be an interesting week as Garrett continues to get ready for Halloween by watching his “scary” movies. 

Ballet recitals, hair bows and frilly dresses are in our future. We're having a GIRL!!!!

My mother's intuition is working!  We had our Anatomy Scan on Thursday and found out we're having a baby girl (well...we're pretty sure we're having a girl.)  Baby girl Smith was being a bit difficult and refusing to move from her very comfortable position.

She was curled up in a ball - legs crossed and at times hands behind head - for most of the 1.5 hour appointment.  Must take after Garrett....or her brother Halen who loves to snuggle up in a ball too.

We had to switch to an internal scan and hope for better pictures.  Although she kept her legs crossed (I love that she's modest), the tech was able to be sneaky.  She said that she didn't see any parts that would indicate a boy and was fairly confident that Baby Smith is a little girl.  We are SO excited and can't wait to start shopping for our little one, but will save our receipts just in case J

The tech was able to get some pictures of arms and legs.  She has both arms and legs and it looks like all 10 fingers and toes.



Because Baby Smith wasn't willing to move around, despite having to get up and walk around 3 times during the appointment, we'll be heading back in for another session in 2 weeks.  The tech is hoping to get some additional anatomy pictures and measurements.

Name to be announced soon...so stay tuned!

Baby Smith is 16 weeks :)

Baby Smith turns 16 weeks and goes to school! 

It is finally back to school time for me (and baby Smith).  I have a feeling that this little one is going to be very advanced.  Now that the baby's ears have developed and can recognize sound, "she'll" be able to listen to all of my reading and writing lessons and hopefully will be reading and writing out of the womb J

Other exciting happenings...
Garrett and I went to our four month appointment today.  Baby Smith is doing great, we didn’t get to have an ultrasound at this appointment, but we were able to hear the heartbeat.  This little one is quite active; it took the doctor several attempts to find the heartbeat because of all of the movement.  I've also been feeling little flutters/bubbles lately, which is an amazing feeling.  I can’t wait to feel kicks!

And..

We were also able to set our gender ultrasound appointment, which we're very excited about.  Baby Smith will officially be a baby girl or boy on September 29^th….just two weeks away. It’s going to be a long two weeks.  

We've been putting off shopping for baby stuff until we know gender, so I'm excited to start purchasing all of the cute things I'm finding during my "window shopping" trips.

A bump along the way…

I have made it to the 2nd trimester J  Which means no more morning/afternoon sickness.

Now that I am 14 weeks, Garrett has made a few observations – which I will only be taking as  compliments J

1.    My butt has gotten bigger

2.    He can feel my belly when he hugs me.

So, I guess both Baby Smith and I are growing!  Here’s an outside picture of Baby Smith.