38 wks & counting....

This week, I'm 38 weeks pregnant and Matt and I have lots to update since my last post (when I was 31 weeks)...so here goes!

We kept Valentine's Day simple this year since we were going on a babymoon.  Matt made me a wonderful dinner with portobello mushroom pizza appetizers, steak, and caesar salad.  For dessert we made our annual Valentine's cookie cake...everything was soooo yummy!!

The following week, we went on our babymoon (a getaway for expecting parents) to Kansas City.  We stayed for the weekend and really enjoyed spending time together without an agenda.  Here are a few pictures to sum up the weekend....

We ate at Jack Stack BBQ at Country Club Plaza...it was wonderful, but Matt will argue that it doesn't touch NC bbq.

We went shopping and walked around Country Club Plaza...very nice area.

That night we also took a trip downtown Kansas City...this is the Power
& Lights district...this is where it all happens at night.

Sunday, before going home, we went to the market and got to sample a variety of goodies...so much fun!

To finish out February, we went to our preregistration appointment at the hospital.  Matt got a little nervous when it came time to fill out the birth certificate application....I think he is worried about the final commitment on Paisley's name...he's too funny!

at the hospital filling out paperwork...33.5 weeks

At the beginning of March, we decided to go on a big shopping spree to buy some final items to prepare for baby Paisley to arrive.  We went back to Kansas City for our shopping spree because all of the stores have a better selection.  We shopped until nothing else would fit into our car!  We bought our glider, baby toys, monitor, baby gates, breast pump, swaddles, changing pad, diaper pail, changing pad covers, and the list goes on...  Thank you to everyone who has bought us items and sent gift cards and money.  With all of your love and support, Matt and I didn't have to spend any of our own money to make these purchases!!

This is what our living room looked like when we unloaded the car! 
You can see Toby was very interested in what was going on (if you can find him)!

The following week Matt had surgery to correct his deviated septum (he's only been able to breath out of one nostril for over 4 years) and to clean out his sinus cavities.  We were told this would be a relatively easy surgery...but it didn't turn out that way. 

To begin, Matt had a bad reaction to the anesthesia.  He came out of surgery very sick and he felt like he had been hit by a truck.  In addition, he was only supposed to stay in recovery for about an hour, but due to his reaction to the anesthesia it turned into 6.  A few days later, his pain medication wasn't working, so we had to take a trip to the ER.  He was given morphine for the pain, and steroids because he was having an allergic reaction to the nausea meds.  He was originally told he would be able to return to work after one week, but he wasn't able to return until a week and a half later.  Not to mention, during that week, I got a bad stomach virus.  It was all we could do to get by that week.  (Those are definitely the times we wish we lived closer to family.) 

I forgot to mention his surgery was delayed by 4 hours, so I ended up taking a nap with him in his pre-op bed.

He's doing much better now, but he still has pressure and headaches daily.  Overall he's had good results from surgery as he's able to breath better.  He's supposed to see continued positive results over the next following months as swelling continues to go down.  (We're also very thankful Kansas doesn't have the pollen problems we do back home, which has helped us both with our sinuses this year!)

Here is a belly shot from that weekend...35.5 weeks.

Two weekends ago, we went back to Kansas City (if you can't tell we have to make a lot of trips there for entertainment and shopping), because we needed to replace my car.  Unfortunately, Red Rover (my Nissan Xterra) needed repairs that would have cost us as much as the car was valued.  So, we decided it was time to replace him.  We are so excited about Skyler, my new Honda Pilot (she's not new, but is new to us).  We have so much more space and feel confident we won't have to worry about being stranded on the side of the road after Miss Paisley arrives.

Here's a picture of our salesman, Phil, me and Skyler...love her already!

of course we had to put a little ECU bling on her...more to come later!

That weekend we also had our maternity session with Heidi Wise at Grace Imagery (she's currently changing her company's name from ImageWise Photography).  We had a wonderful time and even had a chance to play around ourselves.  Here is a sneak peak of the session with Heidi....I'm 36.5 weeks in the pictures below.

one of my favorites...I really feel God's blessings when I look at this photo

Here are a few of Matt and I playing around...

We'll have more pictures to share in the next few weeks.  Heidi is also going to do our new born pictures with Paisley and I can't wait!!

Here are a few pregnancy updates:

• I was 1.5 cm dilated at my last appointment (March 22nd)
• I was 80% effaced at my appointment two weeks ago (probably more now...I forgot to ask at my last appointment)
• Paisley is already at a station 0 or +1 (hopefully since she's already so low...delivery will be faster)
• Total weight gain to this point 27 lbs
• Based on my measurements, my doctor made a rough guess that Paisley will be approx. 7 lbs at delivery
• My doctor seems to think I'll deliver a little early...but I still have doubts.  (due date April 10)
• I have shooting pains in my right leg because she hits a nerve on occasion...so uncomfortable.
• I've slept in the recliner the past two nights due to acid reflux...I'm already take tums and prevacid daily.  This doesn't help the already sleepless nights.
• I've lost most of my appetite...and no I still haven't had any cravings.
• I've started having slight swelling in my ankles and hands.
• I'm needing help from Matt on occasion to get out of the bed, in the car, and off the floor.
• I'm also having occasional Braxton Hicks contractions...they don't bother me and usually I don't even notice.

Matt and I have also been working hard to complete our last project to finish up Paisley's room...her name to put on the wall above the crib.  We hope to get that hanging and have the nursery completed this week!  Coming soon, I'll do a special post just to reveal the nursery!

We'd like to ask for all of your prayers as we near delivery.  Please pray we have a healthy baby and that everything goes smoothly and safely during delivery...oh yea, and that my epidural works correctly!! :-)



Don't Forget Toby:

Toby has been so sweet (I think he knows something or someone is coming soon and it's not that Mommy is just getting fat...hehe).  He's also really enjoying the benefits of this beautiful weather by beening able to take long walks and eating out on our patio.  Oh and he loves riding in Skyler.

He's also really funny when we bring things home to add to Paisley's room...he's very curious and likes to know what's going on in there. 

Here's a picture of Toby and one of his favorite toys (that also doubles as a pillow) from his Aunt Litla...too funny!