Keeping Up with the Jones'

We're pretty excited to have reached the 37 week mark. At this point - Camille is considered full term which means that she's developed her most crucial functions. Of course, she’ll get even healthier and stronger over the next few weeks, so we're not getting too impatient. Oh and my nesting instinct has kicked in full force. I've been busy getting the house ready for Camille!  Camille is about the size of a winter melon! She likely measures around 18.9 to 20.9 inches and weighs about 6.2 to 9.2 pounds. She's gaining about 1/2 ounce each day - I feel like I'm gaining about a pound day. I feel huge and totally uncomfortable. I have had a few contractions - they have been pretty isolated so there's no real pattern yet. I have my regular appointment coming up on Tuesday.   She's practicing some skills: inhaling, exhaling, sucking, gripping, and blinking! She's also getting her first sticky poop (called meconium) ready for her first diaper. 

Thanksgiving was really wonderful. This was the first year since Alvin & I have been married that we spent Thanksgiving alone - just the 2 of us. All of our families are holding out until Camille arrives before coming down and being that I'm 36 weeks pregnant - not a great idea for us to travel! I prepared cornish hens, cornbread dressing, yams, peas, banana pudding, and freshly squeezed lemonade with mint leaves. The meal was absolutely wonderful - just ask my hubby....LOLOL. After we ate, I slept for what seemed like forever. I think I must have slept for maybe 4 hours. I was really tired and I needed the rest.   My banana pudding - which is always a a huge hit! Cornish Hens & Dressing We have SO much to be thankful for and I firmly believe that Thanksgiving is not just a day - it should be a way of life. I'm thankful for the people in my life and the life growing inside me. So grateful that God is blessing us with one of his children.  I certa

Well, the countdown is really on now! I am now going to see my ob every week. At last week's check up - she said I hadn't dilated any which was a little bittersweet. I certainly realize the longer she stays in the better off she'll be - but gosh I just can't wait to meet her! PLUS - (I know this may sound selfish) I am starting to feel so uncomfortable and omigod I'm so tired. I'm just ready to feel like "myself" again and meet my daughter. I'm hanging in there though. She is moving SO much these days. Also, she's in a "head-down" position which is absolutely wonderful.....so that means the chances of a cesarean are extremely low. I'm so happy about this. At the end of this week, Camille will be considered full-term. Oh and I went to a breast feeding class on Saturday. It was extremely informative. I'm very excited about breast feeding. I hope that everything goes well with that process. It's actually quite involved and

Another week has passed. OMG. Our little princess will be here in around 34 days (give or take).  Camille is about 17.2 to 18.7 inches. She won't get much longer, but she's plumping up. She's somewhere between 4.2 and 5.8 pounds and will put on a pound or more of baby fat before birth. She's about the size of a coconut. Her hearing is fully developed too. Her kidneys are fully developed and her liver can process some waste products. As for Mommy & Daddy - we're gearing up and getting ready for her! I packed our hospital bag this weekend. The car seat is all assembled. FINALLY picked out paint colors. Gosh, who knew there could be so many different shades of pink! We settled on the swatch below which is called "Powder Pink" - the trim and chair rail will be painted an Antique White. We're still waiting on confirmation from our painter, but hopeful he can be here this weekend to complete the work. I'm starting to get antsy! Oh and we got th

Another wonderful week anticipating the arrival of Camille!!!! We had so much activity the weekend of the baby shower - I think it took me all of last week to fully recuperate. I spent Friday between Babies 'R Us & Target returning duplicate gifts, getting more stuff, and analyzing the importance of things like bottle warmers, wipe warmers, humidifiers, etc. So thankful for great friends who provided such valuable insight because sometimes I feel like I don't have a clue! Alvin & I were up until about 3 am on Friday night...washed all of Camille's clothes/ blankets/ bedding and put everything away. Boy that was a chore. I finally have her room situated exactly as I want it - well almost! Next steps are to get the walls painted, install the chair rail, install lighting, and pick up my chair/ ottoman from Babies R Us. My chair arrived, but still waiting on the matching ottoman. We should have the nursery complete the weekend before Thanksgiving. We spent all day (9