Baby Ford is Here!

David Bradford "Ford" Gaultney, III entered our world on July 31, 2011, at 4:39 p.m. Weighing 7 lbs., 7 oz. and measuring 20 inches long, this tiny man has totally wrecked our hearts. We are unbelievably smitten. It's a good thing he's so cute and loveable... otherwise we might actually notice how little we're sleeping. :)

More details soon, including Ford's birth story, which is an incredible testament to prayer. Spoiler alert: No C-section!

For now, enjoy a few photos.

Discouragement

I'm not really sure what to post right now. Lots of emotions, and I want to be careful about how I express them. But I will just say my appointment with Dr. Norwood this morning was very discouraging. For the first time ever, we didn't have any lighthearted chit-chat. No levity at all, really. The doctor was very concerned that I am three days "over my due date" and yet I still don't have any signs of labor. In fact, the baby moved upward from last week (he's at minus 3 station). So, opposite of progress.

We talked about a number of options, and I don't want to get into the details, but the bottom line is that he is afraid I am going to have to have a C-section. Of course, this is the ONE THING that I want to avoid more than anything else, and it has been one of my biggest prayers -- that I will not have to have a C-section. In fact, I chose Dr. Norwood because his C-section rate is so low. But he's giving me the impression that it may be inevitable if nothing changes by this time next week, and he's not confident that it will change.

I asked all the right questions and appropriately objected, saying I will go as long as I can unless it's not safe for the baby. We're going in for a "biophysical profile" early next week to make sure there's still enough amniotic fluid and try to determine if there's a reason the baby hasn't dropped. From there I will have a better idea of how we're going to proceed.

In the meantime, I am asking all of you to pray that labor will start on its own. I'm not on board with the idea of an induction, either, though Dr. Norwood -- who prefers not to induce as well -- said that an induction at this point is almost a given. I will go for that if I absolutely have to, but C-section... it just breaks my heart thinking about it. So please, please... join me in praying that the baby will move downward like he should and that things will get kick-started into action.

I trust that the Sovereign God, Adonai Yahweh, can make labor start at any time. I also know that if it is a part of his plan, for some reason, that I have a C-section, that will come to pass. But I am asking in faith that he will allow me to have the kind of birth experience I have envisioned. Anything but a C-section. I'm grateful to have had a dream pregnancy to this point, but I am feeling really defeated right now after meeting with the doctor. So thank you in advance for lifting up this need.

"I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted." Job 42:2

"Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish." Isaiah 46:10

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23

"Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him." Isaiah 30:18

"Let your mercy, O Lord, be upon us, just as we hope in you." Psalm 33:22

Due Date!

 

 

 

I didn't actually see this movie and heard it was kind of "meh," but it seems appropriate for today! (Plus it's hard for me to believe that Zach Galifianakis could do any wrong. Have you SEEN "Between Two Ferns" ?!)

Notice the number in the "Baby Countdown" widget at the right? Zero days left! Happy Due Date!!!! Baby G must not have a calendar in there because with zero days left, there are zero signs of labor. I didn't expect there to be any, but I would be ELATED to feel a contraction today. Even just a false one. Something to tide me over... :)

As thrilling as I know it will be to welcome the Babe Gaultney into our lives, I am also cherishing these days of waiting. I am going to rip off an email I just sent to a friend to tell you what I mean:

[...] I am so EXCITED to meet him, but I'm just telling myself he's not technically "late" until August 8 (two weeks from now). Plus, this is such an amazing time to contemplate all of the joys and challenges ahead... I know that sounds cheesy, but really... What other time in LIFE am I going to have this kind of quiet time to ponder how God has blessed us, what kind of wife/friend/mother/sister/daughter I want to be... I'm not a very "contemplative" person by nature, so it has been cool to have a peace that allows me to think through those deep, spiritual questions. And I get a little giddy thinking that God knows Baby G's birthday already and we'll find out soon enough!

 

I really do mean that...  Yes, there are a few small things I'm kind of dreading. Namely, all of the well-meaning friends who may write things like, "When's that baby gonna get here?!" on my Facebook wall... and I also would like for the little guy to be born in July, which I believe is one of the most fabulous months. But really, that stuff doesn't matter in the long run.

That's not to say I'm not doing anything to encourage his arrival! I've amped up my exercise routine, walking a little further every day and spending some additional time on the exercise bike. I'm also using a Swiss ball instead of an office chair. And my doctor recommended that I start drinking a few cups of red raspberry leaf tea every day; it doesn't induce labor, but it does tone the muscles you'll need to use for delivery and may encourage the baby to ooch his way into position. These are just little changes to help things along, hopefully. 

 

I wrote way back when that Google is my frenemy... Such a great way to find info to help me in my pregnancy--what's okay to eat, what symptoms are normal, when you should call your doctor--but some of that info can be awfully scary. I made the mistake on Friday of Googling something like, "What happens if the baby doesn't drop," and the answer was -- dun dun dun -- C-section. I figure he's got to drop at some point though, right? And my doctor has a really low C-section and induction rate, so I think he'll work with me to allow the babe to come on his own time!

I promised you a bump pic today. Brad's gone and will be until later tonight, so here's an iPhone pic in the meantime. Forty weeks! Thank you, God, for bringing me to this point! 

Random Updates IV

Again with the random updates. None of these topics really warrants its own post, but I have much to share! (Scroll down for an appointment update from this morning, if you're interested.)

I.  Birthday

Tuesday was my birthday. I have always been very possessive of July 19... I LOVE birthdays -- mine and others' -- and I didn't want to share that day, even with my precious baby (I should say, I didn't want him to have to share it with me... right...)! So I was relieved when the day came and went with nary a sign of labor. It was a great day, centered mostly around food, which is just how I like it. Brad brought me breakfast in bed, then we braved the crowd and had In-N-Out Burger for lunch (one just opened in Dallas), and we went to our favorite sushi place in Deep Ellum for dinner. In between I worked, Brad and I took a walk, we visited Preston Center and window shopped, and generally just enjoyed spending time together. I got lots of calls, emails, texts, and Facebook messages, which made my whole day really special!

II.  Dream

So far I've been pretty lucky not to have insane pregnancy dreams or nightmares. I've had a small handful, including two dreams where I gave birth to a Treasure Troll. But the dream I had a few days ago takes the cake. First of all, I've had a few totally unreasonable pregnancy fears, like that our baby has really short (toothpick-sized) legs, since I can't feel him kicking in my ribs like I would expect. I also had a fleeting fear that the baby doesn't have ears, since I have never seen ears in his ultrasound videos or pictures and he doesn't really react to loud noises. And finally, I keep thinking, "What if it's not a boy we're having after all -- what if it's a girl?" because I haven't had an ultrasound since our gender reveal at 20 weeks, and they could have gotten it wrong.

That may explain why I dreamed that not only did I have the baby and it was a female, but she also had a full-grown woman's face and a Prince Valiant haircut like Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men. And she was talking to me and apologizing for not being a boy, like we expected. I was HORRIFIED in my dream and ripped out my IV and left the labor & delivery room. It's not like I don't WANT a girl, but we're "prepared" for a boy, so I woke up in a panic.

III.  Vanity

It's hard to look or feel beautiful at 39+ weeks pregnant. A few people have asked why I stopped doing "Bump Chronicles" posts after 35.5 weeks. Part of it, honestly, is that I packed up the camera and all its cords several weeks ago when I packed our hospital bag. But I also feel bad asking Brad to take the pictures (he hates doing that kind of thing -- totally not a historian), and whenever it's convenient (first thing in the morning or last thing at night), my hair is usually messed up and I'm not wearing makeup. I plan to take one on Monday though (due date).

Also, probably due to a combination of HEAT (more on that later) and hormones, I am fighting a vicious battle against acne. It's like the first trimester all over again! I'm washing my face at least three times a day and using copious amounts of benzoil peroxide to keep from being broken out like a 15-year-old when I meet my son. More than you wanted to know? You're welcome.

IV.  Activity Level

Mine and the baby's... I think I'm "over" the nesting thing. There were a couple of weeks there when the urge to tidy, organize and create was virtually uncontrollable, but now I'd rather go for a walk or read or watch a movie than spend an evening organizing and reorganizing the pantry. And that's probably healthy at this point.

The baby continues to move a LOT. One thing I can't figure out is this sort of slow flicking, clicking sensation I feel near his head. The best I can imagine is that he's grasping, like opening and closing his hands. It's SO weird to be able to sense those things. I am sure he's been making those movements for a while now, but I guess he's run out of room to the point that I can feel most everything.

V.  Heat

I mentioned recently that it bothers me when people make disparaging comments under the guise of being funny or wise, like when they tell me I'm never going to sleep again, so enjoy it now. A close runner-up in annoyance is the people who just seem to have such pity for me... strangers at church who will shake my hand, ask when I'm due, then say, "Ohhhh, I bet you're just MISSSSERABLE." Or, "Ohhh honey, to be nine months pregnant in this heat! I would not want to be you right now!" And again, I just think what I always think, which is that being pregnant -- and having a healthy, comfortable pregnancy -- is such a blessing and a privilege. I would not change a thing!
 
That said, I do thank God for air conditioning, as it seems we are having a doozy of a summer! I read this week that Dallas is experiencing its hottest summer since 1980, making it the second-hottest summer in 100 years! We're on our 20th or 21st consecutive day of 100+ degree temperatures, with the highest temperatures reaching 107 (that's actual heat, too -- not heat index). And get this -- my due date, July 25, is historically the HOTTEST day of the year in Dallas! Why do I get the feeling our baby is going to be a little firecracker?

Can't wait to meet him!

Baby's Still Cookin'!

Today's Thursday, which means I had another appointment this morning. Today is also the first day I can honestly say I feel nine months pregnant. After not sleeping well on Tuesday night, then not sleeping at all last night, I have a pretty gnarly headache and am feeling just really "meh." (And yes, this is probably some sort of cosmic payback for saying I don't require much sleep. I really don't require MUCH, but I would like SOME.)

Nevertheless, Dr. Norwood and I had a very nice visit, as we always do. We talked about birthdays (he's a July baby too!), weekend plans, Netflix, and other random stuff. Then I asked him to give me the scoop on the doctor who will be on call this weekend, just in case I go into labor. Dr. N insisted that I am not allowed to have the baby this weekend because he wants to deliver it. I want him to, too, but a girl's got to be prepared!

The heartbeat was strong and steady at 147 bpm. The doctor said Baby G sounds very healthy and comfortable in there. My belly size is measuring exactly on schedule. Then he felt for the head, and...

THE BABY STILL HAS NOT DROPPED! 

I want to make it very clear that I'm okay with this, but it is surprising. His head is still high -- I felt it and was able to push it upward. He said the baby is at "minus 2 station," which I think means he's about halfway to the cervix (see illustration above). So despite that last week the doctor didn't think I would go past my due date, now he guesses baby has about another week in there. Which, if accurate, would be EXACTLY what I have predicted since our first appointment with Dr. Norwood -- July 28. But we'll see. None of us has a crystal ball, of course! I'm still totally cool with letting the baby hang out for as long as he needs to until he is ready. I actually find it really motivating that the baby signals for labor to begin, not me; it's like we're working together. His little body will send a message to my body and then things will get going when the time is right! God is an amazing planner and designer!

Dr. N said that once the baby does drop, he would expect the onset of labor to happen pretty quickly for me, since everything else is progressing like he would want it to. But there's no telling when that will be.

In the meantime, I would like to try to sneak in a nap! I think I'll block off an hour on my calendar to try to snooze during lunch. Wish me luck!

Hardheaded Baby: The Final Chapter

First, an appointment update. Then, a little bit about why having a "hardheaded baby" may not be the worst thing in the world.

Dr. Norwood is so darn likeable. I actually enjoy talking to him. This morning we talked about art; he wanted my opinion on some paintings he hanged around the office. It was really flattering and also fun to put my master's degree to use like that!

My blood pressure was really good this week, so after last week's work-related blip, I was pretty relieved. Like I said previously, I'm content to wait as long as I have to for Baby G to be ready for his debut, but I was curious about when Dr. Norwood thought we might expect him. The baby's head was still pretty high at this appointment, which seemed to surprise the doctor. I was expecting him to tell me not to get to attached to 07/25, but toward the end of the appointment he said he gives me another week and a half or so -- which would be exactly 07/25! I expressed surprise, saying I thought I'd go late, and he said there's no reason for him to think I'll go past my due date. He said he usually tries to mentally and emotionally prepare his patients who are obviously way behind, and he's not worried about me. Guess we'll see what happens. I'm still not contracting at all and feeling very comfortable.

I asked Dr. Norwood to level with me: the last three appointments, he has said that the baby's head is exceptionally hard. So I asked him if that means it's going to be more difficult or painful to have the baby. He apologized for scaring me and said no, that the baby's head still hasn't "sutured up," so it will compress and be fine. He also said it may only seem harder because I don't have a lot of body fat compared to some of his other patients, so it's easier to feel the head.

Honestly, I have been a little scared about the head thing. That's why I was really blessed by last Sunday's message at our church, Watermark. Todd talked about when Ezekiel was first called to prophesy, and how God knew it was important that the prophet have a "hard head" in order to reach a "rebellious people":

"I will make your forehead like the hardest stone, harder than flint." (Ezekiel 3:9a, NIV)

Todd made the point that too many "Christians" don't have hard heads; they want to be gentle, loving, and accepting, which is key, but they scrimp on justice. They are afraid to say the things that hurt, even though they are true. Part of love is justice, and the most loving people will not relent for the sake of being "nice" or sparing feelings. They have to have hard heads but soft hearts.

It may sound silly, but I was really encouraged by that message, relating it to my own hardheaded spawn. I don't know what's in store for him, but I have been praying that he will come to know the Lord at an early age, and that he will accept the responsibility God chooses to lay on him. So for the first time, I started thinking about what a cool heritage that is: to be hardheaded from birth!

Random Updates III

Just a bunch of random stuff today!


I. Timing

Baby is due in two weeks, meaning he can come any old time he wants. I'd like for him to hold out until 39 weeks, minimum, since there's a lot of research showing rapid brain development between weeks 37 and 39. But I have a feeling he'll be coming closer to 40 or 41 weeks, and I'm 100% okay with that. It's funny... Part of me doesn't want to say I think he's coming late because I hate being wrong (haha), and if he's early, Brad "wins" (he's been convinced Baby G will arrive before July 25). But just going off the fact that I haven't had ANY contractions -- not even Braxton Hicks (besides those two around 30 weeks) -- and the baby hadn't dropped at the time of my last appointment, I just can't imagine him coming, you know, tomorrow or anything. I know things can change quickly. Regardless, it's probably better that I tell myself he's coming late so I don't make myself crazy or pin all my hopes on 07/25/11. 

II. Sleep and stuff

There are very few things that irk me about being pregnant, but I have to admit that I do get annoyed with the Negative Nellys. Mostly, I can't stand it when people make disparaging comments under the guise of being funny or wise. For example, if I say something like, "It felt so good to sleep late this morning!" it seems like anyone within earshot will say, "Enjoy it now, because you're not going to sleep again for the next 18 years!" 

I am probably going to jinx myself by saying this, but... I really don't sleep that much anyway. I haven't for most of my adult life. I haven't been fatigued during this pregnancy, I am not a napper (though I'm trying to become one), and most weeknights I get maybe five hours of rest. I wake up every night at least once or twice, pregnant or not (pregnant it's more like five times a night... seriously). And I get by. Granted, I imagine it's different when you are awoken by a crying baby and you have to be conscious enough to attend to his needs. Maybe I have no idea what I'm talking about. :)

III. Visual

Here are pictures of Dr. Norwood and Dr. McCants. This may officially put me in creepy-stalker territory, but these pics were posted on the Women's Health Alliance Facebook page, and I realized that my reading public (hi, Mom!) doesn't know what my prenatal caregivers look like! I, for one, always like a visual. So here you go.

IV. Leisure

I may be getting better at the whole "slowing down" thing. Partly because I'm just bigger and slower, partly because if I overdo it, I feel it in my ankle or something. As I think back to our activities this weekend, I realize it was probably a pretty good pace. We went to a birthday party and had dinner with a friend, got some things done around the house, watched Netflix (The Art of the Steal, SO GOOD), went to church, I spent some time in the kitchen (making mozzarella and bread!)... but I didn't try to run too many errands or clean behind the refrigerator or anything else that might win me the Super Nester award.  We have plans to see some friends this week for dinner, and Brad surprised me with Harry Pottery tickets for Friday! I am glad for the chance to have FUN right now and not feel the pressure of a big to-do list.

More soon, including a final (??), more positive post on the "hardheaded baby" phenomenon!

Keep Calm and Carry On

What a week it has been! Brad and I were talking yesterday about how for a short week, it sure feels long... like today should be Friday. It doesn't help that it's one of the busiest work weeks I've had in months. This was an especially stressful morning, so it didn't surprise me that my blood pressure was high at my doctor's appointment. I told them I feel fine, I just need to put my iPhone away for a while since work is blowing up.

Doctor was running way behind schedule, so my four-minute appointment took place more than an hour after it was supposed to. That probably didn't help with the stress level either, just because my phone was literally buzzing and dinging every 10 seconds while I was waiting.

Highlights from this appointment:

• Baby still has not dropped
• Doc told me that since I'm not having any contractions (not even Braxton Hicks), I'm probably not dilated (but he still won't check me for another week or two)
• He guessed that the baby is probably at 6 lbs right now. I was surprised and said that seems so small, and he said no, by the time 40 weeks rolls around he'll be at least 7.5 lbs and that I'm right on track.
• He reiterated how unusually hard the baby's head is and made me feel it (!!!!!!)

They took my BP again at the end of the (four-minute) appointment, and it was a little lower. Still on the high side, but I convinced them to let me go. Otherwise I would have had to lie down for a few minutes and they'd take it again. If I really believed it was worth being concerned about, I would have stayed. Baby is still rocking and rolling inside, so I feel okay about things.

In the meantime, I'm going to try to knock out some things at work and then take it easy the rest of the afternoon (if I can get away with it). And think happy thoughts and take deep breaths.

A Fourth to be Reckoned With

What a wonderful Fourth of July weekend! It started off strong and then fizzled into couch-dwelling by the time Monday rolled around. And to be honest, that was pretty much a perfect pace for me.

That nesting instinct is a powerful force, friends (hence the punny title of this post). As I mentioned recently, I have been going to town on errands and crossing things off my list. In fact, I've been so on top of things that I have run out of preparations to complete, and I found myself searching for projects on Saturday. I decided to wire lamps out of two $5 glass vases (vases from HomeGoods, lamp kit from Home Depot, shades from Target), then I did a little hand-painted, no-sew valance in the guest bathroom to coordinate with our towels and mats and cover up an unsightly metal bar at the top of the wooden blinds.

My lamp project. The other one looks just like this.

This lamp from Crate & Barrel kind of looks like my lamp, but costs $229!

Bathroom valance. I just used hemming tape and craft paint. It actually looks pretty good in person and finishes out the room.

We also bought a baby monitor (it's a good one!) and visited Cabela's, had brunch, went to the Dallas Farmer's Market, and ran a ton of random errands (grocery shopping and the like). I think sometimes I forget my nine-months-pregnant limitations, because on Saturday night Brad and I were getting ready to go for a walk, and I realized my ankle had really been hurting. Sure enough it was all swollen, and not just because of the heat and stuff. I think I tweaked it, or the relaxin hormone made my ligaments temporarily really crazy in one ankle.

So we went to church on Sunday and otherwise were pretty low-key, since I had developed a really attractive little limp. I was REALLY self conscious because I didn't want to be perceived as having a "pregnancy waddle." I baked and just did stuff around the house.

Monday our friends Abby and Zach came over in the morning... SO nice to visit with them. Brad and I were going to make mozzarella, but I didn't realize you needed a gallon of whole milk and I didn't feel like going to the grocery store again. So I made chicken tikka masala out of stuff I already had on hand. Interestingly, that's considered the unofficial national dish of Great Britain, and I made it on the day we celebrate our independence from them. :)

Not a whole lot of baby news in this post. He is moving A TON and really making me excited to meet him in a few weeks!

Hardheaded Baby, part II

Hard-headed? (A moai at Easter Island.)

Another appointment this morning! It was nice to see Dr. Norwood again. He asked if I was excited that I am in the last month, and I said yes... I told him I've been pleasantly surprised at how quickly the days are passing. He checked my ankles and fingers for swelling, and when there wasn't any, he congratulated me for taking good care of myself, then followed that up with a signature Dr. Norwood mega-compliment: "You should be a maternity model!" Love him.

Again, no real news this time. I thought they'd be doing pelvic exams weekly at this point, but I was surprised to learn Dr. Norwood doesn't do those until 39 weeks unless there's a reason to suspect a problem. At first I was disappointed, but after thinking about it more, it's probably better... that way I won't be making myself crazy over the numbers (what percentage effaced I am, etc.).

I can tell you that the baby has not dropped yet (according to Dr. N, "His head's still pretty high up there"), the heartbeat was strong at 150 bpm, and my Group B Strep and HIV tests came back negative (to which Dr. N said, "You'd be checking Brad's Twitter account if the HIV test had a different result!").

But the Group B Strep result is really good news. That means if my water breaks at home, I don't have to rush to the hospital for antibiotics; I can wait out a lot of the early labor at the house. And of course it's less risk for the baby.

Oh, and if I end up having a C-section (PLEASE AGAIN PRAY THAT I DON'T!!!), Dr. Norwood agreed to apply the product my company makes that helps those incisions heal faster. So that's good!

So the reason for the title of this post: When Dr. Norwood felt my belly for the baby's head, he AGAIN said, "Whoa, that is a HARD head!" and then he made me feel the head so I could see what he was talking about (it freaks me out to press that hard into my stomach). And yup, it was a rock-hard head. Whereas last time I joked about it with him, this time I told Dr. Norwood, "That is NOT what I want to hear." He said, "Why not? You don't want a soft-headed kid!" And I said, "Actually, I do... I want his head to be like a sponge until he is out of me!!!" I just think about ALL of the babies' heads the this doctor must feel, and he is SHOCKED at how hard Baby G's head is. And recall that Dr. McCants remarked at how "big" the baby's head was, too. Oh well. I hear childbirth is supposed to hurt, so... yeah. :-/

BUT: I am focused on reading positive birth stories over the next few weeks and just not being scared. I have been blissfully confident about this whole "labor" thing for months, and now that everything is more or less done -- nursery complete, bags packed, car seat installed, etc. -- I find myself having more time to think about scary stuff like pain and complications. I am determined not to let that doubt creep in, and I want to replace it with prayer and positive thoughts!

Planning

Those who know me well know that I am a "Type A" personality at heart. I love lists and being organized... In fact, not knowing what time it is happens to be my ultimate pet peeve. It literally makes me feel insane. I shouldn't admit this, but I almost lost control of my car on the way to church a few weeks ago because I noticed Brad messed with my stereo settings and I couldn't get the time to display. (Brad was my passenger at the time... needless to say, he was NOT happy with me. So much for that whole love tank thing.) :)

So it's probably not a huge surprise that I have undertaken this whole pregnancy thing in a very orderly fashion. I've read lots of books, done my research, but ultimately I've settled on what feels right to me. Some things can't be planned. I've done everything you're "supposed" to in terms of taking care of my health--eating right, getting an appropriate amount of physical activity, staying hydrated, not stressing myself out for the most part, going to childbirth preparation classes, setting up a nursery, pre-washing cloth diapers and baby clothes and linens, installing the car seat ahead of time...

And I've got EPIC packing lists for the hospital (yes, lists: one for me, one for the baby, one for Brad, and one of everything I will need to have handy in labor & delivery), as well as some to-do lists for before the baby comes (again, "lists" plural: personal care, like getting that last pedicure and hair cut before Baby Day; housekeeping, like making some frozen meals and getting the carpets cleaned; and even random things like getting my oil changed, creating a spreadsheet for birth announcements, and the like).

I realize I'm going to have to loosen up quite a bit after the baby comes, and probably even get comfortable with losing track of time. (Note: I really do think I have relaxed a lot more over the past several months. Brad says he has been watching me "sit down on the inside.") But at this moment in time, I'm glad for my list-making tendencies because I feel as prepared as I can from a logistical standpoint to welcome a baby into the world!

Our bags are packed and we're ready to go, as the song says. I definitely haven't hit the point of feeling impatient, though. I'm just enjoying these precious days.

Fort Worth Staycation

Credit: Fort Worth Convention & Visitors Bureau

I got some good advice a few months ago from a sweet friend, a mother of four who lives with her family in Kyiv, Ukraine. She told me that as she and her husband were awaiting the arrival of their first child, they made a conscious effort to fill up "the love tank," spending lots of quality time together and just being especially loving. Those stores of tenderness and affection carried them through sleepless nights and other challenges that accompany becoming first-time parents, and she encouraged me to be very intentional in my time with Brad so that we can give each other an extra measure of grace and patience when we may not feel like it after Baby G arrives.

That has really stuck with me. Fortunately, Brad has made it very easy to be kind and loving -- he has pretty much been a saint this entire pregnancy -- but I have been consciously trying make these days when our family is "two" count, affirming him, serving him, and doing fun things together, and he's been doing the same in return.

We decided to head to Fort Worth for the weekend to spend more time just having fun and investing in each other and in our marriage. We had a blast! Brad got us a good rate at the Omni on Hotwire, and since they knew this was our "babymoon," they had sparkling grape juice (Martinelli's!) and chocolate covered strawberries waiting for us in our room. We swam, talked to an awesome, older, black couple about civil rights in Dallas in the 1950s and 1960s (the woman had met JFK on the morning he was assassinated!), ate at some very yummy restaurants, walked around Sundance Square, visited the stockyards, peeked in shops, watched movies... We even had a celebrity sighting -- Chef Marcus Samuelsson visited Tim Love's Lonesome Dove while Brad and I were the only diners there! I couldn't believe it.

I loved turning the AC wayyyy down in our hotel room and not worrying about the electricity bill, snacking on macaroons from Central Market, watching HBO, people-watching, and just taking in all that the hotel and our neighbor city had to offer. Not to mention, Brad and I had a great time TOGETHER!

The Nursery Reveal!

Psst -- If you haven't checked the blog in a few days, scroll down for an appointment update, The Bump Chronicles post, and a post on baby showers!

At long last, I'm ready to post pictures of the nursery! It's been ready for weeks, but I've delayed the big reveal so that I could take pictures with my new camera (see here for a sneak peek with details of some of the fabric another items). It arrived about two weeks ago, and then I waited thinking I needed to learn how to use it before I took pictures. I finally just decided last night I can't delay any longer, so forgive the bad quality of the photos -- I am going to learn!

I've mentioned before that this map from the Future Mapping Co. was the inspiration for the whole room, color palette and (loose) theme. I bought it earlier in the year for our living/dining room only to receive it and realize the orange was far too bright to work in that room. I didn't want to send it back (it came from England), and it is still really cool, so the nursery ended up being the perfect place for it. It's magnetic, too, so we can put little magnets over the countries and cities that are special to us or that Baby G has visited (he has already been to five countries in utero!).

Hazy picture of the nursery! You can't see the changing table or one of the windows... Or the closet... Maybe I need a wide-angle lens? Or maybe I need to learn how to use my camera first. :)

Reading and rocking corner. I hate the look of these types of chairs, but I hear they actually are pretty wonderful for rocking a baby and they don't cost a babillion dollars like some of the really high end ones that don't look like rockers. And ours is pretty comfy. The forward-facing book racks are spice racks from IKEA. I think I saw the idea on Pinterest.

Another view of the nursery. I DIY'ed that bench in front of the chair; it is part of a vanity set, but it was sort of beat up, and I use a different chair with the actual vanity. So I painted the legs and reupholstered the seat, and now it's an ottoman! The print on the right side of the chair is an ABC wall hanging from somewhere in Asia. It looks really old, but it's probably artificially aged since I got it at World Market for like $2. I got it years ago... It hung in my bedroom at my first apartment when I was 19. I don't know why it never occurred to me that it's kind of youngish (ABCs); I just like the way it looks.

The map and changing table. Changing table baskets are a mess right now; I'm going to wash and fold all of the cloth diapers in the next week or so, then it will look much tidier.

Different angle of the nursery.

Closet! I love his closet. So sweet. Just ignore the stuff crammed up at the top. ;) The drawers on the left have newborn stuff in them, babywearing stuff (a couple of slings), and all of the instructions, manuals, etc. for baby gear. The drawers on the right are pretty much empty since most of his clothes are hanging at the moment. Not pictured: A hanging organizer on the right side of the closet that has shoes, socks, hats and the like. (Oh, and see that baby quilt that's draped over the arm of the rocker? I won that in a blog giveaway!)

Wider view of that same wall.

I made a little bunting out of samples I collected while fabric shopping. The flash cards are just there to obscure his name, which is in the center of the bunting, until he's born. They're not permanent, although they kind of look cute!

This art was a DIY. A couple of years ago Brad and I were wasting time in Borders and found a GIANT copy of Corduroy, which we both loved as kids. It was on clearance for $4, and I thought it would make good art in a kid's room someday. So I hung onto it, got some cheap RIBBA frames from IKEA, stuck photo corners on the mat, cut out Brad's two favorite pages, and boom! Cheap and adorable art.

Another DIY. IKEA had KVARTA clocks on sale for about a dollar each (maybe $1.99?), so I bought one. I just didn't like how the face didn't have numbers on it, so I decided I'd print a different face for the clock. Popped off the plastic cover, made a little clock face in Photoshop, printed it on card stock and stuck it in there. Then I used some of the laminated cotton I had left over from lining the changing table and tacked it onto the front. It's not perfect, but I needed a clock, and this one certainly matches (in addition to the changing table, the bench/ottoman in front of the oatmeal-colored chair has this same pattern, but the cotton is not laminated).

Here's part of the bookshelf that I DIY'ed last month, now with a few kids' books on it. You can also see the bottom of the curtains my mom sewed. I had bought some ivory, blackout-lined curtains from J.C. Penney on clearance, and hoped to lengthen them by adding a panel of fun striped fabric at the bottom. While shopping for the fabric, I managed to get the pom pom trim for a steal. It came together nicely! (Thanks, Mom!) I do notice from this picture I need to steam the curtains though. They're just a little wrinkled. Oh well. The storage cube at the left holds some of Baby G's toys.

Wider view of that same corner. There's a door next to the tall lamp that leads to the bathroom. The sailboat over the bookshelf came from the nautical-themed shower Brittney threw for me. I made the upholstered cornices at the top of all the windows; the fabric on the cornices matches the crib skirt.

A view of the sweet crib. Mom made the box pleat crib skirt. We velcroed it on to the mattress frame.

I love the mobile over the crib. It's from Restoration Hardware, and it's one of the only non-gender-neutral items in the room, which is kind of nice. Supposedly they are replicas of WWI fighter planes. I dunno, I just like it. Plus they kind of fit with the very loose "travel" theme in the nursery (map, boat, planes...).

Sweet little soft friends in the crib! Don't worry, I'm going to remove them before the baby ever sleeps in there (safety first), but since he'll be sleeping in our room for a while, it's kind of cute/fun to put them in there, like they're waiting for their buddy Baby G. And yes, everything still has the tags on it... I'm a freak about removing tags from anything in case we have to take something back for any reason.

So there you have it! The nursery reveal is complete. I'm proud of how it turned out. It's sweet without being overly babyish, it's not too boyish with footballs and camo and trucks, etc., and it's just kind of lovely. Depending on how long we stay in this house, our kids may end up sharing this room, so I like that it's gender neutral, if the next Baby G after this one is a girl. Not to mention that since Brad, Mom and I did a lot of the work ourselves, it didn't cost a fortune. Sure, we had to buy a crib, a couple of chairs, and a rug, but beyond that most of my money went toward fabric, which I got on sale, and the rest was just a matter of reusing pieces I already owned.

List of the DIY projects in this room:

• Curtains
• Upholstered cornices
• Crib skirt
• Bench/ottoman
• Lamps (painted)
• Ceiling fan (painted)
• Artwork
• Clock
• Bookshelf
• Fabric bunting

List of things we already owned and moved into the room:

• "Changing table" (actually a nice shelf from Horchow that I bought second hand last year)
• Map
• Storage cubes
• Lamps (I painted these - see above)
• Side table
• Asian ABC wall hanging (over oatmeal-colored chair)
• Bench/ottoman (owned and refinished - see above)
• Corduroy "prints" (pages from an owned book)

Other no-cost items:

• Pottery Barn picture frame on top of bookcase (won in blog giveaway)
• Baby quilt on arm of rocking chair (won in blog giveaway)
• Sailboat over bookcase (was a shower decoration, along with the little blue pail on the bookcase; it holds pacifiers)
• We were also gifted the books in the room, the stuffed animals (except the lion, which I bought at Anthro with a gift card and coupon), the light-up soother thing in the crib, the blankets... 

Bought:

• Chair and a half
• Rocking chair
• Rug
• Crib
• Airplane mobile
• Fabric
• Paint
• IKEA spice racks (BECKVAM - on sale for $2.99 each)
• IKEA clock (KVARTA - on sale for about a dollar or two)
• Large IKEA frames (RIBBA - on sale for $17.99 each)
• Wooden chests of drawers for closet (IKEA RAST - on sale for $29.99 each)

No News Is Good News

Dr. Norwood was on vacation this week, so I saw his associate Dr. McCants again. Such a sweet person. I feel a little bad--after being the EASIEST patient for Dr. Norwood for 30+ weeks--no complications, questions, panicky phone calls over little symptoms, problem visits--I suddenly have lots of questions, and Dr. McCants has to answer them! ;) I guess I'm just thinking things through more now that we're only about 4.5 weeks away from my estimated due date. Fortunately, Dr. M is very patient and eager to answer my questions, no matter how "out there" they are.


Highlights from this appointment: 

• Received routine Group B Strep and HIV tests (results in a week or so)
• Heard baby's heartbeat (~150-160 bpm)
• Baby is head down and has not "dropped" yet
• I'm measuring exactly on schedule (35/36 weeks)
• Weight, blood pressure, etc. are good (didn't gain any weight in the last two weeks)

When she felt for his head, I asked her if his head feels really big. She hesitated for a second and said, "No, not unusually big." But what is she going to say? "Yes, your baby's head is HUGE, good luck with that." 

She asked if I was feeling kicks and punches all over the place, and I said yes, and that they're getting really strong, but I'm just glad he's not using my ribs as a footrest or punching bag. She said I'm lucky because I'm not carrying super high, I've just popped straight out, so he doesn't need to be up in my ribs.

As much as I like Dr. McCants, I had sort of hoped to see Dr. Norwood this week because I have questions about his personal preferences (how does he feel about delayed cord clamping, under what circumstances would he do an episiotomy, etc.). Also, my company makes a product that helps heal C-section incisions up to two weeks faster, and they have offered to give me a unit just in case I end up having to have a C-section (PRAY THAT I WON'T!). So I need to see if he would be willing to apply it, and if so, would he allow one of our clinical account managers to be in the operating room to help with the placement.

Good news is, I go back in a week, so I can ask him then! I can't believe it's getting so close. Bring it on!

Bump, Week 35.5

So a lot has changed in the last ~6 weeks since I did a Bump Chronicles post, no?

Despite that I'm huge (carrying an eight months pregnant belly around!), I feel really good. And actually, I am not feeling like I have a waddle or am bumping into everything. Just looking really... big! Just a few short weeks to go until Baby G's due date!

Showered!

What a joy this season has been... When I think about the fact that I MAY not be pregnant anymore in as little as two to five weeks, mixed in with the feelings of excitement over meeting Baby G are twinges of nostalgia. I have been blessed to have an incredible pregnancy so far, avoiding virtually all of the unpleasant symptoms (morning sickness, fatigue, most aches, etc.). The worst part was the first and second trimester acne! I just relish each little kick, elbow, roll, hiccup... especially as they grow more and more dramatic lately, it's impossible not to want to watch my midsection undulate, knowing our little man is healthy and active inside! Beats watching "The Bachelorette" any day.

I also know that as equally wonderful as second, third, etc. children are, there's nothing like the experience of having your first. Everything is new and exciting and feels worth celebrating, getting "big" is a milestone to look forward to, and it seems like everyone wants to rejoice with you and know the details -- boy or girl, when is he due, have you picked a name, any cravings so far... It's this neat season where no one is a stranger and you just have so many happy and uplifting interactions throughout the day. Hard to explain. It's just really special.

And it has been made infinitely more special by a handful of people who have circled around me with constant prayers and encouragement... and baby showers! I have been totally overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support from family and friends, not just those who hosted baby showers, although they are forever my heroes :), but also those who made a point to attend the gatherings. It has just been the sweetest gift to my heart--one that I will cherish ALWAYS--to sit and catch up with some people I hadn't seen in years, and others I talk to on a weekly basis. To know that they are with me and supporting me all the way with love, advice, offers to help... I can't explain it, it's truly a precious gift.

Not to mention, we have been provided for in incredible ways. You may remember some of my early apprehension over registering. I was stressed out about everything a baby NEEDS--knowing that the only things they need are a place to sleep, something to eat, something to wear, diapers, a car seat... but that my life would be so much easier if we had a decent stroller, an additional car seat for when baby is a toddler, a play yard, some blankets and swaddles to wrap him in, a Bumbo, nursing pillow, and the like. And boy, did my loved ones deliver. After five (FIVE?!) baby showers, we feel much more prepared to welcome our sweet boy into our lives! I am just thanking God and truly storing up these dear memories in my heart and my mind.

I want to devote the rest of this post to pictures from the parties. I tried to take as many pictures as I could, but I still missed a few (like a photo with the hostesses at a couple of showers -- YIKES!). So many of the people who read this blog had a huge part in making the showers INCREDIBLE, and I can never thank you enough!

May 21, 2011
Couples Shower for Baby G
Hostesses: Julie Ball, Patty Ball, Liz Medley and Tricia Veley (with extra help from Grandmother-to-be Teresa Boyer!)

Brad and I loved this get-together! Despite the males' initial resistance to the idea of attending a "baby shower," I really think everyone had a wonderful time. :) Brad made and sent out an alternative version of the invitation (see below - he had his aunts' permission and I blurred the address for posting here) and tried to "man up" the party by wearing his KA-BAR knife and "dismembering" (aka "serving") the panda cake that his Aunt Tricia had made! We loved celebrating with dear friends and family--male and female alike :)--who we don't get to see as often as we'd like due to living 5+ hours away from San Antonio. They served a truly lovely dinner, complete with china and fancy silverware, and we had the opportunity to catch up with family members and friends over the delicious meal. Aunt Liz surprised us by working behind the scenes in advance of the shower to gather special memories, stories, photos and advice from the guests, then laminated and bound everything into a keepsake book. Brad and I had the best time going back and reading what everyone had contributed and looking at darling old photos. What a treasure!

May 28, 2011
"Ahoy, It's a Boy!" Nautical-themed Shower
Hostess: Brittney Thorne (with extra help from hostess' mother Donna Holdgraf and Grandmother-to-be Nancy Thorne)

Oh my word, where to begin on this incredible, magazine-worthy shower! My sister-in-law Brittney just oozes creativity in all aspects of her life--she's a legit actress, writing and directing children's plays and performing in all kinds of plays in her free time. So it was no surprise that she pulled off one of the most original, creative showers I have ever seen. Each detail was so thoughtfully planned, and she made most of the decorations herself! She even made notes of all my food "favorites," serving a fruit salad with tons of pineapple, pineapple spritzers, a lemon-raspberry cake and other delicious lunch food. We played SUCH FUN games, too (not cheesy or gross -- a difficult feat at baby showers!). A special treat was getting to see so many guests from out of town who had traveled in for the party! I got to see girls I had babysat from the time I was about 14, and everyone wrote down a piece of advice in a cute book Brittney had made. My favorite was Kaylen Buschhorn's sage wisdom: "Always serve your baby something he likes for dinner. I always liked CHEESE." (LOL!) I couldn't believe all of the effort that Brittney, her mom, and my mom put into the shower. It was honestly perfect!

June 4, 2011
Community Group Diaper Shower

God has spoiled me by surrounding me with a tremendous community in my church, Watermark. Brad and I meet with a few other couples on a regular basis to talk about our marriages, share prayer needs, do accountability, and just have fun. My dear, sweet friend Mariam decided shortly after I told her I was expecting that she would like to organize a community group diaper shower for Baby G. We are planning to cloth diaper after about six or eight weeks, but I knew we would need hundreds of disposables before we got to that point! At our "first annual" CG retreat earlier this month, the girls in our group hosted a fun afternoon of delicious snacks, sweet blessings and diaper-related gifts while the boys played cornhole out back (haha). I got tons of diapers and lots of other diapering essentials, like Desitin, wet bags, Arm & Hammer stuff, hand sanitizer, etc. It was awesome to know I was prepared with some much-needed items, but even more so to be reminded what a strong network we have as we navigate these next months and years raising Baby G!

June 12, 2011
"Baby Gaultney is Coming!" Dallas Shower
Hostesses: Michele Howard and Jessica Lewis

Michele and Jessica have had a huge impact in my life since I came to Dallas; Michele as one of my first spiritual mentors in the city--she and her husband Rick led our Foundation Group of young married couples before we transitioned to a Community Group--and Jessica as one of my very first "friends" in Dallas, since our cubicles were adjacent at my first post-college job. I truly would not want to imagine what life would be like without their sweet presence and strong influence in my life! They hosted a group of several friends and family members at Michele's house for yummy snacks (I took arms full of leftovers home because everything was SO. GOOD.), cupcakes, punch and fellowship. There were so many special touches. They printed Psalm 139:13-16 on a keepsake card for me and had a photo album/memory book for people to sign and write special words of encouragement. We played a SUPER CHALLENGING game in which we weren't supposed to say the word "cute" during the shower... Needless to say, I lost RIGHT AWAY, because everything was just too... well, CUTE! I found myself thanking God for seeing me through so many seasons and chapters and seeing fit to give me such a fulfilling life in my "new" city.

June 14, 2011
"Shower for Baby G!"

Most of you probably know that I work primarily from home, while the rest of my team of about a dozen people works at my company's headquarters in San Antonio. It is such a privilege to be able to stay in Dallas and work at the house, but admittedly there are days when I miss interacting with people or feel a little distant from the rest of the crew. I have to confess, I was completely touched when my colleagues told me they'd like to throw a baby shower for me before I am unable to travel. I made my last trip to San Antonio for a while so that I could spend time with the team and get showered with gifts, lunch, and cupcakes (from Cupcake Couture in San Antonio -- SO YUM) in the office conference room! They even decorated it, hanging banners on the windows and putting the cutest table runners and confetti on the long, granite conference table! They really outdid themselves, and it was a sweet send-off as I prepare to go on maternity leave in just a few short weeks.

I should mention, Nancy Thorne wins the gold star for attending EVERY shower she was invited to (three out of five!), even traveling to Dallas. Such grandmotherly dedication!!! So many people have represented, coming to multiple showers, rearranging their work schedules to attend, driving hours to be there, sending special gifts and sweet sentiments if they weren't able to be there in person... I could keep going and going and going, but I feel like I'm already being a little bit pollyannaish in my gratitude (I swear it is all sincere!!!!), not to mention that I'm already at 1800+ words in this post!

So I will end by saying that this has been one of the sweetest seasons of my life, and I owe it to so many people. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!