The Baker Family

Thankful

2011-11-21T07:14:00.000-08:00

Each year we have so much to be thankful for....my number #1 this year is this guy:

What a mess he is...and I love him to death for it!

I love Thanksgiving. I really do. But I'm one of those people who have a bad tendency to skip over it and head straight for Christmas. My tree might or might not already be up :). I found this little Q & A at Blue Eyed Bride's blog, so here goes!
1. Do you eat stuffing or dressing? Dressing. And my parent's dressing is Oh.So.Yummy.
2. Did you ever dress up as a pilgrim at school? I think so
3. What is your favorite dish at Thanksgiving? Definitely the dressing. I also love the mashed potatoes and squash casserole. Carb overload!
4. Are you all about the turkey or all about the sides? Definitely the sides!
5. Do you have pumpkin pie at your house? Do you eat it? No, we don't have pumpkin pie. Maybe I should make one??? My grandmother actually always made sweet potato pie and told me it was pumpkin pie...she knew I wouldn't eat it if I knew it was sweet potato! I think I was like 15 before she told me the truth :)
6. Do you watch the Macy's Thanksgiving parade while cooking? We love to get up and watch it! I'm excited to see if Will is into it this year.
7. What other traditions do you associate with Thanksgiving? We travel each year, so it's never a laid back holiday. Even more stressful when adding a kid to the mix. We alternate between Nashville (the hub's family) and Georgia (my sister's family). Maybe one day we will actually be home for the holidays!

Feel free to add these questions to your blog! Have a Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!

Meal Planning

2011-11-01T08:06:00.001-07:00

I've tried to do better at meal planning...one look at my monthly Target bill and it's overwhelming. So I'm coming up with new ways to save money, other than just using coupons. Which leads to meal planning. I'm going to try super duper hard not to go to the store more than once a week. So on this week's menu:

Monday - Chili (yummy and we have leftovers for lunch!)
Tuesday - Chicken Tettrazini (chicken is already in the crock pot and should have leftovers for lunch tomorrow!)
Wednesday - Meatloaf wtih roasted potatoes and green beans
Thursday - Rotel Chicken Burritos

I make an attempt to cook throughout the week. I try to cook enough for us to take leftovers for lunch. Weekends usually consist of a visit to the local mexican restaurant on Friday, some sort of cooking out/hanging out with friends on Saturday, and Sunday is casual...talking about soup, sandwiches, leftovers, etc.

Another thing I've tried really hard to focus on is using coupons. My favorite site is The Krazy Coupon Lady. She has tons of coupons listed, all you do is print them out. I make a grocery list in Excel, pair up with what's on sale (I do most of my shopping at Target. Publix is wayyyyy too expensive compared to Target), then list what coupons I have. A lot of times Market Pantry or Archer Farms products are cheaper than name brands, even with a coupon, and Target's brand products are really good!!!! This week I saved $25 in coupons alone!

So please share your secret to meal planning/couponing, etc. with me....I'm always looking for ways to save some extra $$$$$ !

Christmas Cards!!!

2011-10-27T12:34:00.000-07:00

Yes, I've already been thinking about Christmas cards...it's never too early, right???? I was checking out ideas today and ran across a fabulous giveway on We're Finally Three!'s Blog. She teamed up with Pear Tree Greetings , who has the most adorable cards!!! Head over there, check out her giveaway and check out the cards that Pear Tree has to offer.

Thank You.

2011-10-27T07:12:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my wonderful husband, I'm rocking these beauties today :)

We have quite a deal worked out, due to his love of golf!

Bare Minerals Giveaway

2011-10-25T09:32:00.000-07:00

Head over to visit Blue Eyed Bride's Blog. She is having an awesome giveaway on Bare Minerals this week!

19 Months

2011-10-24T06:33:00.001-07:00

19 months ago, our lives were forever changed. Each day, my precious angel surprises me, makes me laugh, and completely makes my day worthwhile. I wanted to do a post about what all he is up to at this point. He amazes me all the time with the stuff he comes up with! At 19 months:
** He LOVES music, loves to dance, and loves to put on a show for anyone!
** One of his favorite things is his daddy! I love watching him grin as soon as Austin walks in the door. I can say, "daddys home!" and he runs to the door, waiting impatiently for Austin to come in.
** Another favorite is rocking out to music in daddy's truck. It's so funny to watch the two of them shaking heads, rocking to whatever is on the radio.
** His appetitie is back. He went through a period of eating nothing/very little, but now he pretty much eats anything. His favorites are mexican (cheese dip and rice), beef tacos, chicken casserole of any kind, natural cheesy puffs, and fruit.
** He is talking constantly. He has about 20 words right now, and his new thing is to say "no" to everything.
** Boy has a temper! If he doesn't get his way or I take something from him, he goes NUTS. Full-out, throwing himself on the ground, temper tantrums.
** He still gets a milk bottle in the morning. Our doctor is on my case to take the bottles away completely. Honestly, it's more for me and my snuggle time. He drinks from a sippy the rest of the day, so I know he will do fine without the bottle. I just need to suck it up and pack them away.
**His new favorite thing is trains! He is obsessed with Chuggington, hearing or seeing a train, LOVES them! Maybe our theme for his 2nd birthday party????
** Cries when we drop him off at daycare, but ends up loving it. His teacher says he loves doing the arts and crafts.
** Obsessed with books. We seriously read about 10 books each night.

He is so funny, so amazing, and I really want to freeze time and keep him at this age. The best 19 months of our lives!!!!

Pumpkin Patch

2011-10-13T08:37:00.000-07:00

After our eventful night at the e.r. on Saturday, we took Will to the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum on Sunday. We did the train ride and pumpkin patch. To say that Will is obsessed with trains is an understatement...so we knew he would love riding a real train!

Will and Daddy

Trying to find the perfect pumpkin

Can't decide which one to get!

These are how most of our pics turn out these days!

First E.R. Visit

2011-10-13T08:35:00.000-07:00

Saturday night we had our first emergency room visit with our little guy. He was spinning in circles, fell and cut his forehead open :(. Luckily they were able to glue the cut instead of stitches.

Guess this comes with the territory of having an active boy!

Fall Fashion

2011-09-27T06:21:00.000-07:00

From my last few posts, I'm sure you all can tell that I LOVE Fall! One of the best parts is breaking out the sweaters and boots. I'm ready to pack away my tanks, capris, and flip flops. Here are a few things in my fall fashion wishlist:
Intyce Boots by Steve Madden

This entire look, LOVE this:

A good cardigan and tank can go a long way:

Leave a comment and tell me your favorite fall trends!

Week 1 Down...Final thoughts.

2011-09-26T06:25:00.000-07:00

Now that we are finished with premiere week, I'm going to add my final thoughts. A few shows surprised me (in a good way), quite a few disappointed.

Sunday
I'm ashamed to admit that I watched the premier of Sister Wives last night. Very intriguing, though it won't be a must-see for me.

Monday
I actually tuned in to Castle (I believe it was Monday) and it was REALLY good. I might have to rent seasons 1 and 2 to catch up.
Weeds finishes up this week, but it's usually one of our sumemr favorites.

Tuesday
Blah...boring night of tv.

Wednesday
Criminal Minds (LOVED the premiere) and Revenge. Oh my goodness, that was a great show. Can't wait to watch this one!!!

Thursday
Grey's Anatomy and The Office were both really good.

So, what did you think of premiere week? Any excitements/disappointments?

Night One

2011-09-20T08:14:00.001-07:00

We have one night of premiere week under our belt. Here are my thoughts so far.
Dancing with the Stars
Not impressed at all. I'm sadly disappointed with the cast this season. Although I do wish I had Kristen Cavallari's body.
The Playboy Club
Another disappointment. I turned it off about 10 minutes into the show. I did DVR it, so if I get bored I may try to re-watch it. This makes me sad b/c I was really excited about this show!
Two and a Half Men
HILARIOUS! LOVED LOVED LOVED it! I laughed from beginning to end. I'm really excited to see Ashton on this one! I think he gives a much-needed refresher to the show.

I think I might tune in to The Biggest Loser tonight....Anna K might be a nice addition to this season!

Fall TV Lineup

2011-09-15T07:31:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things about the month of September is the new fall tv lineup! I am so sick of re-runs, and since Entourage has ended (insert tear here...or a million tears) we are in desperate need of some new shows.

Here is what I'm thinking our faves will be:
Sunday
NFL Football (I'm in a Fantasy League...give me a break!)

Monday
Dancing with the Stars
The Playboy Club (this is a new one...will have to watch and see!)

Tuesday
Dancing with the Stars (results)
Ringer

Wednesday
Criminal Minds (FAVORITE!)
The X Factor

Thursday
Grey's Anatomy
The Office

And of course, we're all excited about the return of our favorite serial killer:
Sunday, October 2!!!!!!

Leave me a comment and let me know what some of your favorites are!

Recipes

2011-09-13T08:06:00.000-07:00

Check out the link to Kelly's Healthified Kitchen....she has some yummy recipes you need to try! I actually know Kelly from college, and she's super sweet as well as a great cook!
A few of my favorites from her site have been:
Burrito Casserole
Buffalo Chicken Chili
Bacon Ranch Chicken
and Creamy Taco Mac
All are your typical comfort foods, but she uses low fat/healthy ingredients so they aren't so bad for you!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

2011-09-09T07:32:00.000-07:00

Fall

Oh how I adore Fall....cooler weather, football, yummy recipes, falling leaves, mums, and beautiful decor!

A few favorites:

I thought this candle/candy corn idea was precious! Easy, affordable, and cute. Might have to try this one out at the Baker house.

Love love love this front porch setting. There is nothing better than a beautifully decorated porch/yard in the fall!

LOVE LOVE LOVE a warm bowl of chili on a cool evening...

Now...if only we could lose the 85+ temps we are having....

Revival

2011-09-08T12:24:00.001-07:00

I'm trying to revive the good old blog...give me a few days. I'm way behind and completely messed my page up trying to install a new template.

Birthday

2011-06-13T10:23:00.001-07:00

Will's 1st birthday was March 19. We had a small party for friends and family at our house. He had a blast, received so many great presents, and LOVED his cake!!!!

The smash cake

Hotdog Bar

The cakes and cupcakes

Turks and Caicos

2011-04-04T07:55:00.000-07:00

During Spring Break, we took a trip with A's family to Turks and Caicos. We stayed at Beaches Resort, which I highly recommend! Very family-oriented, but great for adults as well! We quickly discovered that our child is obsessed with water. He loved being in the water!! There was a lazy river (that was freezing cold!), a kid's water park, and many other things to do. We had a blast and are so glad we took him with us.

My Water Baby

Attempt of a family picture

This was taken seconds before a wave took Will out (and he didn't even cry!)

We had a great time!!!!

1 Year Check Up

2011-04-01T12:32:00.000-07:00

On March 17, we had Will's 1 year check up. My chunky monkey weighs 26 lbs and is almost 32" long. We have a big boy on our hands!

At 1 year, Will is:

Walking/Running

Says "mama", "dada"

Waves to everyone

Has 8 teeth (4 top, 4 bottom)

Finally sleeping through the night (thank the Lord!!!)

Is on whole milk (Saving some $$$ on formula!)

Loves water (bathtime, playing outside in the water, etc)

He loves to eat (cheerios, yogurt, waffles, goldfish, apples, bananas, pears, Gerber Graduate meals, pasta, chicken, taco meat, rice, and beans are a few of his favorites). There are very few things he will not eat.

He loves playing outside and going for walks with me. We can spend hours outside and he is so happy. He gets so mad when we bring him in!

I love this child more than anything. He makes us laugh each day. Austin and I are constantly amazed by how much he is learning and changing every day!

What a Mess!

2011-04-01T12:24:00.000-07:00

My little man started walking in January, right around 10 months. He is now RUNNING everywhere and ridiculously hard to keep up with. He is so much fun right now though, his personality is really starting to show. He loves to dance, loves Jake and the Neverland Pirates (Disney), and LOVES when his daddy gets home each evening! In February, Will came down with Hand/Foot/Mouth disease (along with quite a few of his classmates). It was the worst week of our lives. Poor baby ran a high temp, was absolutely miserable, would not eat or drink for a few days. In this picture, you can see some of the spots on his face. All spots are now clear, thank goodness! Someone gave him this backpack at my baby shower. We put it on him the other night and he loved running around with it!

War Eagle!

2011-03-31T09:28:00.000-07:00

Austin and I, along with several of our good friends, went to Phoenix for the National Championship game in January. We had a great time (minus the stomach bug that traveled through most of our party) and loved seeing Auburn win the National Championship!!!!!!!!!

Wow...

2011-03-31T09:24:00.000-07:00

Has it seriously been almost 3 months since I updated? I am a terrible blogger. We have been crazy busy lately. My precious "toddler" is now 1 year old, walking/running everywhere, and is changing by the day. Since January, we have done so many things. Austin and I made the trip to Phoenix to watch the Auburn Tigers win the National Championship! War Eagle!!!! We spent February dealing with hand/foot/mouth disease (Will) and the flu (Me). During March we went to Turks and Caicos and a certain precious little boy turned 1!!!!!! Stay tuned for new posts!

Christmas Eve Morning

2011-01-13T18:33:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas Eve morning tradition is to get together with A's family for breakfast. Mawmaw and Dada-T gave Will this awesome car! Getting ready for his driver's test!

K and J modeling their new football gear!

Awesome Auburn hat (that didn't exactly fit!)

Christmas Morning

2011-01-13T18:02:00.000-08:00

Somebody was a good boy this year! Santa came to visit and left a few very fun (ahem, LOUD) toys! He adores the V-Tech Walker shown!

Stocking stuffers didn't exactly fit in the stocking!

He loves his train!

A lot of catching up to do!!!!

2011-01-13T18:01:00.000-08:00

Wow! We have had such a busy month and my blog has been neglected. I'm working on a few new posts, so stay tuned!!!!!!!!!!!

9 Month Stats!

2010-12-21T06:37:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, my precious baby turned 9 months old!!!! Where has the time gone? I aboslutely love watching him roam, explore, and learn how to do so many new things. At 9 months he can:

Crawl
Pull up
Sit up on his knees
Says "mama" and "dada" (plus a few other things I haven't figured out!)
Clap

He has 5 teeth and working on a 6th. Sleep has gone from bad to worse lately. He has an ear infection and is on antibiotics (again!). He weighs 23lbs and is 30.5 in length. We have a big boy!!!!!

We are enjoying the Christmas season with our little guy and can't wait to see what Santa brings him! Speaking of Santa, I will post his pics with Santa later today!

Pic Post

2010-12-16T19:26:00.001-08:00

Will is officially crawling, pulling up on everything, and driving his mama crazy! More detailed posts will come this weekend!

Swinging!

2010-11-15T07:58:00.001-08:00

Saturday, Will made his first park visit with Mawmaw, Dadda T, and his cousins. You can tell he had lots of fun swinging!

Big Boy Seat

2010-11-10T08:33:00.000-08:00

We got in on a great deal for Britax car seats, so we went ahead and ordered W's big boy seat! I am to the point of not being able to carry his infant carrier (plus he screams every time we strap him in) so hopefully he will love his new ride!

I've got a brand new pair of roller skates.....

2010-11-10T08:27:00.000-08:00

But I can only go backwards right now.......... things like the pantry get in my way!

A Baker's Dozen?????

2010-11-05T07:08:00.000-07:00

Random story alert!!!! The other night Austin and I were having an off-the-wall conversation about the Duggar Family (which I am obsessed with watching). He tried to come up with a crafty title for our reality show, which ended up being "The Baker's Dozen" (No, I will never have that many kids, we were just being goofy).

So, on to my point.....how many of you know the exact amount in a baker's dozen????? I didn't and was surprised at the number. How many do you think are in a baker's dozen?

Lately.....

2010-10-31T18:37:00.000-07:00

Lately, I have been a bad blogger. We have been so busy and my blogging has suffered. Keep scrolling for a few new pics (and check out the cutest tiger you've ever seen!).

Will's First Halloween

2010-10-31T18:34:00.001-07:00

A Few New Pics!

2010-10-31T18:20:00.001-07:00

Milestones

2010-09-26T06:24:00.000-07:00

My baby has his two bottom teeth (pardon the pic, I know it's not the best quality, but he guards those things like Fort Knox!).

He can sit up for a few minutes unassisted

War Eagle!

2010-09-26T06:21:00.000-07:00

Will did a great job cheering for the Tigers during our win over South Carolina!

Comments

2010-08-18T16:43:00.000-07:00

I have a live traffic feed on our blog, showing me people from all over the U.S. are viewing my blog. I want to know who you are! Please leave comments, I'm always curious if anyone reads my blog or not, so tell me who you are!!!! I know our family and a few close friends check us out, but I want more comments!

Pray for Khloe!

2010-08-18T12:36:00.000-07:00

Blog readers/stalkers.....whoever out there reads this blog. Here is a link to a precious little girl's caringbridge page:
www.caringbridge.org/visit/khloesassman

This little girl is an amazing fighter and needs as many prayers as she can get! Check out her site and read her story. Every time I receive an update I am reminded of how fortunate I am to have my healthy little boy. Warning: You may shed a few tears as you read her story and updates (I know I always do).

Back to School....

2010-08-17T08:46:00.001-07:00

So.....the past few weeks has brought many changes to the Baker household. My summer break ended which means Will has started daycare (insert tear here!). He started last week on Thursday and, so far, things have gone great. He seems to love the ladies in his room, is slowly making progress as far as naptime, and is always happy when I pick him up. The only bad thing, we were in daycare for 2 days before we got a runny nose! I guess this is to be expected, gotta build that immune system up somehow!!!!!

I learned this summer that I love, love, love being home with my precious baby, but am not meant to be a stay-at-home mom. I feel that in my occupation, I have the best of both worlds, lots of time off but time to get away as well. I'm very fortunate to have had him home with me since his birth.

I'll keep everyone updated as daycare progresses, but keep him, his teachers (God bless them....I could not handle 7 babies!), and all of us in your thoughts and prayers as we move through this journey together!

New Seat!

2010-08-15T09:49:00.000-07:00

We finally set up our space saver highchair and Will loves it! Now we eat dinner in our big boy chair instead of the bumbo. And, just wanted to add, aren't those the most kissable cheeks ever?????

Hear Me Roar!

2010-08-12T18:40:00.000-07:00

Isn't he the cutest lion you have ever seen?

Starting Solids!

2010-08-12T18:21:00.001-07:00

This summer we started solids! So far we like peas, green beans, and squash. Oatmeal and bananas hurt our tummy (a special thank you to mawmaw and poppi for getting us through those few days!). He wasn't too sure about food at first, but now we love our veggies at dinnertime!

Not too sure about this....He definitely learned it's easier to drink his food!

Getting a little better....

Still messy, but getting the hang of it!

Just a few pics.....

2010-08-12T18:11:00.001-07:00

Played so hard he fell asleep on his bear

Doesn't he look like he's up to something????

In need of an update....

2010-08-12T08:36:00.000-07:00

I am waaaaayyyy behind in blogging. We've had a very exciting and hectic August so far and blogging has fallen to the end of my to-do list. I will be working on updates over the next few days, so stay tuned!

4 Months!

2010-07-20T08:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday my sweet baby boy turned 4 months old! It seems like he just joined us yesterday....kind of sad how times moves so quickly. We took him to the doctor last week for his check-up. He received 4 shots (boo), only cried for a second and stopped when he saw his daddy's face! We still have a chunk on our hands! He weighs 18 lbs (97th percentile) and is 26 1/2 inches (92nd percentile). We also started solids this week, which has been hilarious to watch!
I will post some new pics of our sweet boy when I get home tonight!

Beach

2010-06-28T10:33:00.000-07:00

We had a great week at the beach with family.....lots of sun, good food, and a little bit of oil!

It now takes many attempts to get a decent family photo....

So much fun!

Summer Fun

2010-06-28T10:18:00.000-07:00

Summer is flying by! Here are a few pics of my sweet boy!

Loves his bumbo!

Sweet Emma and Will

Don't they look cool!

Jack thought it was hilarious to let Will wear his Auburn hat

Little guy loves his Aunt Henny!

New Stats!

2010-06-02T09:27:00.000-07:00

We went to the doctor yesterday for Will's 2 month check up (even though he's really 10 weeks). He had to get several shots, which were not fun, but Poppi was there to console him. He weighs 15 lbs (can we say CHUBBO!) and is 24 1/2 inches long. His weight is in the 97th percentile, height is in the 90th percentile.

Will is pretty consistently only getting up once during the night, which is awesome sleep for us. He is such a happy baby, smiling and laughing all the time. I'm finishing up my last week at work and can't wait to be home with him for the next few months!

Keep reading......I've done quite a few new posts!

My boys!

2010-06-02T09:25:00.001-07:00

No explanation needed....

Sweet boy and his Momma!

2010-06-02T09:23:00.000-07:00

Just had to share this pic.....

J's 5th Birthday!

2010-06-02T09:18:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago we traveled to Georgia to celebrate J's 5th birthday. This was Will's first roadtrip and he did awesome in the car! Here are a few celebration pics.

J got some golf clubs....now he can play with his daddy, Uncle Austin, and Poppi!

Our little athletes!

Sweet birthday boy!

The boys had to get in on the action too!

Chillin in my bumbo.....

2010-06-02T09:14:00.000-07:00

Look at me...I can sit in my bumbo all by myself (for a minute at least...)

Getting a little tired now....need some assistance from Momma!

A few new pics.....

2010-06-02T09:08:00.001-07:00

Bathtime fun! This kid LOVES his bath. He gets so mad when we get him out of the tub!

Will has the most adorable dimple on his cheek but rarely shows it off. This picture show his precious little dimple!

My happy baby!

Mother's Day 2010

2010-06-02T08:26:00.000-07:00

My first Mother's Day with my precious baby boy!

6 Weeks!

2010-04-28T08:07:00.000-07:00

I can't believe our sweet boy will be 6 weeks old on Friday. We go to the dr. Friday, so I will update stats this weekend. Here are a few things going on:

He now loves bath time!

Still hates to have his diaper changed.

He is a chunk! Eating about 4 oz every 3 hours.

Sleeping about 4 hours at a time at night.

He can flip from his belly to his back!!!!!

He loves napping on someone's chest!

This is how I was greeted at the door when I got home from bunko the other night :)

He loves bath time!

3 Years!

2010-04-15T11:00:00.001-07:00

Wednesday, April 14 we celebrated our 3 year anniversary! It's amazing how quickly 3 years have gone by. We have done so much in 3 years but we agreed our best accomplishment is our sweet boy! Thanks to Mimi and Poppi for babysitting while Austin and I had a much-needed dinner to ourselves!

New Pictures!

2010-04-15T10:56:00.000-07:00

Here are a few new pictures of our precious baby boy!

Easter Sunday

2010-04-07T11:58:00.000-07:00

Will had a great first Easter! We skipped church (didn't want to get him around so many people at such a young age) and went to eat at my parent's house for lunch. Here are a few pics of Will in his adorable new outfit (thank you Mimi and Poppi!).

"Blue Steel" look (for those of you who have seen Zoolander)

New Pics!

2010-04-07T11:45:00.000-07:00

On Friday our sweet baby boy will be 3 weeks old! People are so right when they say time flies, enjoy it! We are doing great at home, still adjusting to our new life. We had a rough 2nd week, but are working out our days and nights (someone was up all night and slept all day....a little confused??). Here are a few new pics of our sweet boy!

Loving his play mat!

Mommy posing him on his hippo!

Getting used to his bouncy seat!

At 3 weeks:

Will eats about 4 oz. every 3 hours

He is finally sleeping in his crib, mostly waking only to eat

He his holding his head up so good!

He can turn his head from side to side when on his tummy

He loves to cuddle with his daddy in the evenings

Hates diaper changes

Isn't thrilled about bath time, but we're working on it!

LOVES to be held (and I don't mind holding him!)

Becoming more awake each day, playing on his mat or sitting in his bouncy seat

Already in 0-3 month clothes, due to length (hopefully he will be tall like his daddy!)

Future Girlfriend?

2010-04-07T11:39:00.001-07:00

Last week Will met his first friend, sweet Demi Alsobrook. Demi's dad, Zach, is one of Austin's very good friends and fraternity brothers. Maybe one day they will be at Auburn together (and possibly attend a Pike formal together?????). Here are a few pics of their meeting!

Checking each other out!

They liked to cuddle!

Baby Boy Is Here!

2010-03-22T17:22:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures of our sweet baby boy! Birth story below! Coming home!

Sleeping soundly

My two boys!

Our first family picture!

Sweet baby boy!
Friday, March 19th at 10:39 a.m., our lives changed forever! Our precious baby boy was born at 7 lbs 6 oz and 20 inches long. He is absolutely beautiful (not just saying that because I'm his mama, he really is a pretty baby!) and we are in love with him!

I had a short and relatively easy labor. We arrived at the hospital at 5 a.m., got things going around 6:45, and things certainly sped up after that time! Long story short, my epidural only took on one side to begin with, so it had to be re-done (not fun!). However, I progressed very quickly and he was born a short time later. It was such a surreal experience, one I hope every person gets to experience one day. It's crazy how your life changes in that instant and you feel love you've never felt before. Austin and I are so in love with him and spend all day staring at him! I could seriously sit and watch his face for hours!

Last Week!

2010-03-15T14:38:00.000-07:00

So as of tomorrow I am 39 weeks pregnant! Exciting news to share....went to the doctor today and we scheduled an induction for Friday! Dr. did say that baby boy may decide to come on his own before then, but this is our back-up plan in case he's too comfy in my belly. So, I guess this will be my last weekly update, then it will be baby updates.

So, here we go!
How far along? 39 weeks (almost)
Total weight gain: Lost 2 pounds today, which is common at the end of preggos
How big is baby? A little over 7 pounds (hopefully not too much bigger!)
Sex: Boy!
Maternity clothes: Yes, but getting ready to move to nursing clothes. Doesn't that sound fun!
Stretch marks: Gross..........yes..............all I have to say about that!
Sleep: Really bad
Best moment this week: Knowing that in the next 4 days I will meet my little sweetheart!
Movement: Still lots of it, but he's definitely running out of room
Food cravings: Nothing in particular right now
Labor signs: Still having contractions, but nothing regular. Am dialated to a little over 3
Belly button: Still in, but looks very funny
What I miss: A lot
What I'm looking forward to: Seeing my baby boy!
Words of wisdom: Officially done with work for 8 weeks!!!!!
Weekly gripe: Still a little upset at my dr. for going out of town, but whatever!

I still need to post finished nursery pictures. Will do that this week as I wait for my sweet baby to arrive! Hope you all have enjoyed following the Baker family during this journey of pregnancy! Stay tuned for the parenting stories that will follow!

Baby Update

2010-03-10T06:09:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone is having a happy (but very rainy here) Wednesday! As of yesterday, we are 38 weeks, only a little time left before we meet our little guy. My doctor's appointment went well yesterday. I have made progress, am now 3 centimeters and 70%. The doctor I saw said she thinks I will have him sometime next week! She also said I will probably have a quick labor, so I'm thinking about camping out at the hospital all week......I DO NOT want to miss my chance for an epidural! So, Austin and I are in last-minute preparation mode, making sure everything is ready for baby boy at home.

Here is our weekly update:
How far along? 38 weeks, 1 day
Total weight gain: Stayed the same this week, which was nice!
How big is baby: Weighs almost 7 pounds and about 19 inches long, according to BabyCenter
Sex: Boy (hopefully...I will die if this baby comes out a girl!)
Maternity clothes: Yes, they are getting tight and I am sick of them!!!!!!
Stretch marks: Ugghhhhhh........yes. Already found some cream online that I plan on ordering though (A "Stretch Mark Eraser" cream....we'll see if it's worth the $70 I'm gonna spend)
Sleep: Depends on the night, very dreamy and I keep imagining what it will be like when he finally arrives!
Best moment this week: As I say every week, I love hearing his little heartbeat at my appointments. Also, the nursery is finally completely done! Will post some pictures later on this week.
Movement: How many twilight fans do I have out there???? I swear this child is trying to pull a Renesmee and bust out of my stomach! It hurts when he moves a lot!
Food cravings: Apple juice....I could drink a gallon of it.
Labor signs: Still having a few contractions, nothing consistent, but hopefully will start this weekend!
Belly button: Just looks funny
What I miss: Shoes and socks are much harder to put on.
What I'm looking forward to: Normal clothes, smoked salmon, life without heartburn, the list goes on and on and on................
Words of wisdom: Only 3 days of work until my maternity leave starts!
Weekly gripe: Spring Break.....and the fact that my doctor is out of town all next week due to it! I mean really...do doctors need vacations? Okay, so I know I'm being selfish, but I am really upset about this! Whatever, as long as somebody is there to deliver him.

As I mentioned above, the nursery is finished! I will take and post some pics later on.....it is adorable, just missing a "sleeping baby" in it (notice I said sleeping, not crying, not spitting up, not anything else....just sleeping)!

Have a happy day ( and try to stay dry!)!!!!!

3 Weeks!

2010-03-03T08:56:00.000-08:00

Wow....that was a scary title to type! Only 3 weeks (or less, hopefully not more) until we get to meet our sweet baby! I had an uneventful doc appt. yesterday. No changes since last week. She said she didn't expect me to dialate much more until "real" labor begins, and we could talk about an induction at 39 weeks. However, Austin and I have decided to wait and talk about induction closer to our actual due date, not plan anything as of now. When we decided to start trying to get pregnant, my prayer to God was that it would happen when he knew we were ready. So, my prayer now is that baby boy will come when he is healthy and ready to meet us! Hopefully he wants to see us in the next 2 weeks, but if it's longer that's okay too!

Here is our weekly update!
How far along? 37 weeks and 1 day (this is how miserable I'm getting, counting the actual day!)
Total weight gain: Only up 1/2 pound from last week
How big is baby? weighs around 6 pounds and about 19 inches long
Sex: Boy
Maternity clothes: Yes, and really sick of them. But, at the same time, I am so not ready to wear pants that I actually have to zip and button! All you women who have had babies know what I'm talking about!
Stretch marks: Ugghhh.....yes, around my belly button (if you could only hear the disgust in my voice as I type this). However, my sister is totally right when she said they are worth it for this precious baby! I will completely wear a tankini for the rest of my life, as long as he arrives safely!
Sleep: Crappy....dreamy....and Austin said I'm now a snorer. However, he is thoughtful enough not to wake me up when I'm snoring.
Best moment this week: Knowing that he is now considered full term, and would be healthy if born. Also, with the help of my fabulous mother-in-law, my house is clean, all errands are done, and I have nothing left on my "to-do" list!.....never mind, still need to install the car seat (maybe we'll get that checked off in the next day or two)
Movement: Yes, but he's running out of room!
Food cravings: Sweets and apple juice.
Labor signs: Had tons of contractions Saturday and Sunday, nothing timeable, but now they've stopped. Still dialated at 2 1/2
Belly button: Weird looking. Still in, but the top hangs over, kind of like a little hood.
What I miss: So many things........
What I'm looking forward to: Meeting my baby boy!
Words of wisdom: Got nothing....except for the fact that I only have 7 days of work until maternity leave starts!
Weekly gripe: Strangers touching my belly. Weird and very inappropriate!

Also, I want to brag on my hubby for giving me a wonderful "push present"! Due to the fact that this is currently a public blog, I'm keeping it personal (those close to us know what it is!). However, he is the best husband in the world and I'm so thankful for all he does, not only for me, but for our family!!!!!!

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

2010 Census.....

2010-02-27T15:27:00.000-08:00

I've occasionally blogged about my lack of sleep/weird sleep patterns. Prime example.....this morning around 4 a.m. I HAD to wake Austin up and tell him my important thought. My thought was "I hope the census people wait until after baby boy is born, so we can say 3 people live in our house, not 2!" Also had the thought, what if I'm in labor when they call or visit....can I say 2 1/2?

In case you're wondering what Austin's response was......he told me to go back to sleep.

Here's a toast to lack of sleep and crazy thoughts during pregnancy!

36 Weeks!

2010-02-23T14:54:00.000-08:00

Today we reached the 36-week mark! Only 1 more week until baby boy is considered "full term".....so that's a big relief. I had a doc visit today and will continue going weekly until our little one decides to make his big debut! As of today I am 2 1/2 centimeters dialated and 50% effaced (spelling?), so definitely making some progress. Dr. E said he doesn't expect anything to happpen for 2-3 weeks, but also added the "you never know" comment. I think I need a few more weeks to finish things though!

Weekly Update:
How far along? 36 weeks
Total weight gain: added another 2 pounds today....this is getting ridiculous!
How big is baby: He should weigh almost 6 pounds and around 18 1/2 inches long, but who knows!
Sex: Boy!
Maternity clothes: Yep....and even those are getting tight!
Stretch marks: Mama Mio has let me down. I think I have a few around my belly button. Don't worry, I've already started on Austin to let me have laser treatments eventually.....I am severely upset about this!
Sleep: Depends on the night. Very dreamy sleep though!
Best moment this week: I LOVE hearing his heartbeat, so that was fun! Also, it's exciting to know we are making some progress toward him being ready to join us.
Movement: Still lots of it, but can tell he's running out of room (as is Mama!)
Food cravings: Sweets, chocolate, cheesecake, anything bad for you.
Labor signs: Still having occasional contractions, 2 1/2 cents dialated!
Belly button: Still in, but looks funny
What I miss: Smoked salmon and caesar salad!
What I'm looking forward to: Meeting our precious boy! It's so weird that he's so close to me, but yet I know very little about him. What will he look like, what's his personality, so many questions!!!!!!!!!
Words of wisdom: I asked my dr. if I could travel to Atlanta this weekend for E's b'day. He said sure, as long as you don't go on Friday during rush hour! All of you Atl folks, your traffic is horrible!!!!!!!!!!!
Weekly gripe: I think more places should have "expectant mother" parking. Just a selfish thought at the moment.

Have a great day!

Week 35!

2010-02-17T05:59:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I went to my 35 week check up. I start going once a week from this point on. Things are still looking great and measuring right on time! Here is our weekly update:

How far along? 35 weeks
Total weight gain: Gained 3 pounds in the last 2 weeks....yuck
How big is baby? He should weigh around 5 pounds according to babycenter
Sex: Boy!
Maternity clothes: Still wearing them and hating them. Only a few more weeks though!
Stretch marks: I think I see one around my belly button, but not quite sure. Can't tell if it's just my skin or an actual stretch mark.....great.
Sleep: Pretty bad. I have very vivid dreams about crazy things!!!!
Best moment this week: Hearing his sweet heartbeat at the doctor! My favorite sound!!!! Also, it was nice to have a 4-day weekend (snow day, President's day). Gotta love that!
Movement: Still lots of it, but it's changing. Fewer definitive kicks, more rolls and pushing-type movement
Food cravings: Fruit, apple juice, and sweets (basically everything!)
Labor signs: I did have a few contractions over the weekend, but they have stopped. I'm going to be such a wimp when the real ones start.....
Belly button: Looking funky, but still in
What I miss: Comfortable sitting/laying positions
What I'm looking forward to: Can't wait for his arrival in a few weeks!
Words of wisdom: If you have any, I need them!
Weekly gripe: People who talk very loudly on cell phones in public places (like the doctor's office). Can't your conversation wait 10 minutes!!!!!!

Doc said next week we will check to see how things are going. I'll post when I know something!

Updated Nursery Pics!

2010-02-12T09:50:00.001-08:00

Here are a few pictures of the nursery. Bedding and curtains are here and it is BEAUTIFUL (yes, I am bragging!)!!!!!

Monogrammed bedding (yes, I know I will not be able to use it again or sell the bedding, but I don't care! Absolutely LOVE the monogramming!!!!!)

The beautiful bedding! My talented sis-in-law found the fabric and designed everything. If anyone needs a designer, give her a call!

Another view of the bedding

Adorable bassinet (thank you Mawmaw!). Susan, my mother-in-law, actually made the bedding for the bassinet!

Curtains and bassinet

Baby Shower Pictures!

2010-02-12T09:34:00.001-08:00

Saturday, January 30, friends and family threw a fabulous baby shower for baby boy and myself! It was WONDERFUL and he got so many precious things! Thank you so much to the hostesses (Missy, Jenn, Laurie, Vicki, Christie, Gayle, Mandy, Barb, Lynn, and Kim) for all you did! Here are a few pics from the day:

Mimi, myself, and Aunt Jenn!

Missy, aka "best hostess ever", and me

Mawmaw, me, and Mimi!

So many gifts!

Adorable!!! Bottles hanging from the fixture!

The beautiful table and food!

Thank you ladies so much!!!!

Ready for Spring!

2010-02-09T06:54:00.001-08:00

Is anyone else sick of Winter weather? I am so sick of being inside all the time, cold weather, and rain!!!!! I am in serious need of some sunshine and temps at least in the 50's! Maybe I'm just going a little stir crazy.....

I still need to post pics from my baby shower, which I will try to do tonight. For now, here is our weekly pregnancy update!

How far along? 34 weeks (yikes!)
Total weight gain: As I've said before, I refuse to weigh myself between dr. visits, so I can update this next week.
How big is baby? According to babycenter, he should weigh around 4 3/4 lbs and 18 inches long. According to Dr. E last week, he was about 4 lbs, so baby boy might be a bit under babycenter's prediction. Who knows though.....
Sex: Boy!
Maternity Clothes: Ugh!!!! So sick of them! I really hope stores have a fabulous Spring season this year, because I cannot wait to wear normal clothes! I am so ready for sundresses, sandals, and shorts! I'm hoping clothes will be my motivation for losing baby weight!
Stretch Marks: Not yet. I've been using Mama Mio cream and it is wonderful!!!!! If anyone needs assistance in the stretch mark area, I highly recommend checking out their website.
Sleep: Depends on the night. Last night, not so great. Saturday night was wonderful sleep!
Best Moment This Week: His nursery is really starting to come together. I'm still waiting on curtains and bedding, but I will post pics once we get everything done. Also, another great moment......Austin took my to fav restaurant Sat night (Bonefish!!!). It was yummy, kind of an early V-day dinner (we hate getting in the crowds on V-Day).
Movement: Lots of it, but I can tell he's beginning to run out of room.
Food Cravings: Lovin' some apple juice and am craving a lot of sweets this week!
Labor Signs: None really, but have noticed more Braxton Hicks than I used to have. At my appt. next week, I start getting "checked" (yuck), so we will see what/if any progress is made at that point. Don't get me wrong though, I don't want him to arrive early!
Belly Button: Still in, but looks kind of funny, according to my hubby.
What I Miss: So many things I won't even go there!
What I'm Looking Forward to: Seeing what/who he looks like! As most of you know, we did not do the 3/4d ultrasound, so our only pic of baby boy is from our 20-week ultrasound.
Words of Wisdom: Nothing......
Weekly Gripe: Been a long week at work at it's only Tuesday. I'll leave it at that!

Hope you have a great day and I will post baby shower pics soon!

Oh crap.....7 weeks left!

2010-02-02T14:31:00.000-08:00

Reality is finally setting in. I will be a mother in about 7 weeks!!!! Exciting, scary, a lot of freak out moments this past week!

I had a doctor's appointment today. He believes baby boy is in position, head down, and is weighing about 4 lbs as of now. My doctor also said I had a pretty pregnant belly :).....something to make me feel good about myself!

Here is our weekly update:
How far along? 33 weeks
Total weight gain: I did gain my 6 pounds back....but no more than that, which is good.
How big is baby?around 4 pounds
Sex: Boy!
Maternity Clothes: Yep....but really sick of them.
Stretch Marks: Nope
Sleep: Good, but lots of crazy dreams!
Best moment this week: My baby shower was last weekend. It was fabulous!!!! I could not ask for better friends and family!
Movement: Yes, he likes to kick around 2 a.m.
Food cravings: Nothing in particular
Labor signs: None
Belly button: Still in!
What I miss: Being able to talk and walk without getting out of breath
What I'm looking forward to: Cute summer clothes
Words of wisdom: Nothing.......
Weekly gripe: My hands and feet have started swelling a little bit. They aren't bad, but is a bit uncomfy for me.

I had my baby shower last weekend and it was WONDERFUL! I'll post pics later on!

Check out this link!

2010-02-01T11:54:00.000-08:00

I added a link for Eat at Home on my page. Awesome site I found with weekly menu ideas. Perfect, since Austin has labeled me as being in a "cooking rut". The site gives you menu items, grocery lists, and the recipes. Very convenient!

I'm also trying to get out of my "rut" by utilizing the AMAZING cookbook my fabulous sister-in-law gave me for Christmas (thank you Laurie!).

Check out the link when you get a chance!

Nursery Sneak Peek!

2010-01-27T14:47:00.000-08:00

Here are a few sneak peek pics of the nursery! We're still waiting on bedding and curtains, so it's not quite finished. Stay tuned for more updated pictures!!!

8 Weeks Left!

2010-01-25T08:17:00.000-08:00

So, I'm starting to freak out.....only 8 weeks left until we get to meet our little man! I am excited, nervous, scared, overwhelmed, any emotion you can think of, I've probably had it! We made HUGE progress on the nursery this weekend. All furniture is put together and arranged, most of his clothes are hanging. Just waiting on bedding and curtains, and we will be ready for him!

Some of you may know, but I am absolutely terrified of the birthing process. I'm hoping God will feel sorry for me and deliver him by stork to our front door (a girl can hope.....right?). But I am trying to convince myself that women do this every day and I am strong enough to get through it! Any comments of encouragement would be greatly appreciated (but please refrain from telling me your horror stories, since that's what many women like to do).

Here is our weekly baby update!
How far along? 32 weeks
Total weight gain: Not sure. I head back to the doctor next Monday, but hopefully I have at least put on the weight I lost last week.
How big is baby? He weighs about 3.75 pounds. From this point on, he gains most of his birth weight in preparation for arrival!
Sex: Boy
Maternity Clothes: Yep.....really sick of them though.
Stretch Marks: Not yet! I do need to re-order some cream this week though.....
Sleep: Pretty good
Best Moment This Week: Getting his nursery close to being done! I can't wait until the morning I walk by and see him in the crib!
Movement: Lots of it. He LOVES to dance around about 10 p.m. when I try to go to sleep.
Food Cravings: I REALLY want a few treats I can't have. I've lived without since July though.....I can wait until April!
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button: Still in!
What I miss: Having more clothing options
What I'm looking forward to: My baby shower is on Saturday! Can't wait to see all the goodies he gets!
Words of Wisdom: Nothing.....well, I only have 7 weeks left to work, so that's fun news.
Weekly Gripe: I must be in a pretty good mood, because there isn't much to gripe about today (except for the lady at Publix last week who cut me off to get the first parking space. I hope she felt bad when I walked by her car.....I will be much more courteous to pregnant women in the future.).

I've been taking pics of the nursery, so need to post them at some point. Have a great week!

Chick-fil-A Update

2010-01-19T07:03:00.000-08:00

Update on my incident at Chick-fil-a......

I made good on my promise to call the manager at Chick-fil-a. I explained to him what happened and he was speechless. He could not believe what his employee said to me, and I told him I was in shock when it happened! He promised me free food, which I politely turned down. I told him it was not my intention to get anything free.....I just wanted him to know what his employee was saying to customers! He was very apologetic, which made me feel a little better about the situation.

Word to the wise......if you work in the food industry, never, ever, EVER say anything to a customer about what they are ordering! (Especially a pregnant, hormonal one!).....

Have a great day!

Rough but Productive!

2010-01-18T13:20:00.000-08:00

This weekend was interesting, to say the least! Saturday morning, we woke up bright and early, very motivated to conquer the world (i.e....the nursery and organizing the house). My WONDERFUL husband got the nursery painted and it looks great! I, however, came down with a stomach virus and spent much of the afternoon and all night very sick. Being sick is the worst, and pregnancy makes it a hundred times worse. Yesterday I felt a little better though, just in time to go to the doctor today.

Today was my 31 week appointment. Due to the stomach virus, I lost 5 pounds since my last visit. However baby boy had a strong heartbeat and was moving around while they checked us out. The dr. said to keep rehydrating and focus on gaining that weight back in the next few weeks. Guess that means I can have lots of Milo's burgers between now and then :)

Here are our weekly stats:
How far along? 31 weeks....wow I am so not ready for this!
Total weight gain:Down 5 due to stomach bug, so total is around 11
How big is baby? He weighs about 3.3 pounds and is around 16 inches long
Sex?Boy
Maternity Clothes?Yes, but getting very sick of them!
Stretch Marks? Nope!
Sleep:Pretty good this week
Best moment this week: Getting the nursery ready
Movement: Definitely! Little guy was going nuts while I was sick!
Food Cravings: Nothing sounds good after this stomach bug
Labor signs:None
Belly Button:Still in
What I miss: Normal clothes
What I'm looking forward to: Wearing normal clothes.....
Words of Wisdom: All men should remember to "dote" on their pregnant wives!
Weekly Gripe:Today I was at Brookwood Mall running a few errands. Keep in mind that I just got over a stomach bug and still don't feel great. So, my mom and I were shopping and I started to feel a little funny, somewhat dizzy. I've done this several times during pregnancy and usually it's low blood sugar so drinking a coke makes me feel better. I go to Chick fil a and order a large coke. The ignorant GIRL at the counter said to me "you shouldn't be drinking coke". I replied to her, "I do not need you or anyone else telling me what I should or should not be doing". She then says to me "You need to learn to take a joke. I joke around with my pregnant friends all the time". I could not believe she actually said these things to me!!!!!!!!!!!!! I fully intend to call the manager today and complain about this girl! I'll let you guys know what response I get.....

I've been taking before and after pics of the nursery, so be looking for a few pic updates!

Only 10 weeks to go!!!!

2010-01-10T13:30:00.000-08:00

I am now at 30 weeks! Only 10 more weeks until we get to meet this sweetheart who has been beating me up!

This week we start the nursery. We'll see how good of a painter my wonderful hubby is! I'll post pics as we make progress. Still waiting on the bed and dresser to come in, and bedding to be done (I REALLY hope he doesn't decide to make his appearance early. If so, I guess he'll be sleeping in the bed with us!).

Here is my weekly update:
How far along? 30 weeks
Total weight gain: I'm thinking about deleting this question. Last week I gained 4 pounds in 2 weeks (but in my defense.....it was FREEZING the day I went to the Dr. and I had on boots and a coat. I bet my boots weighed 3 lbs....at least that's what I keep telling myself)
How big is baby? He weighs almost 3 pounds and is about 15.7 inches long
Sex: Boy
Maternity Clothes: Definitely
Stretch Marks: Still proud to say a big NO to this one!
Sleep: Happy to say MUCH better this week
Best moment this week: Snow day on Thursday! I'm getting waaaaaay to used to being off work.
Movement: Absolutely!
Food cravings: A good grilled burger
Labor signs: None
Belly button: Still in :)
What I miss: Not getting out of breath when I walk up stairs, to the car, etc.
What I'm looking forward to: Getting started on the nursery!
Words of Wisdom: Still have nothing....except maybe the fact I only have 10 weeks left!
Weekly gripe: Who else is ready for Spring weather????? I am soooo not a cold-weather person and it has been bitter!

We go to our next birthing class Monday night, which I'm looking forward to. Last week, someone asked Austin how the classes went. His response "I just kept thinking, I am so glad I'm not the one going through this"! Typical male response. However, I must say Austin has been wonderfully supportive during my pregnancy and has put up with a lot of griping and whining from me!

Hope everyone has a great week! I still need to post pics from our trip and will try to do that tonight!

Birthing Classes.....

2010-01-05T06:32:00.000-08:00

are very scary! Austin and I went to the 1st of 4 classes last night. Can anyone explain why the video they show is completely outdated and the women are those you DO NOT wish to see give birth? Other than the video, the class was pretty good. We learned about the stages of labor, what will happen with the onset of labor, etc. Our instructor told the men that we women WILL lose our sense of humor at some point during labor, so don't bother joking around. Austin thinks I've already lost mine :)

She made us write on the board our due dates and wouldn't you know the tiny girl in class who does not look pregnant AT ALL is due 3 weeks before me. Great. Way to boost my self esteem! Austin also made a note to point that out. Hubby not winning brownie points this week!

Head back to the doctor today, so will let you all know what good ole' Dr. Edwards has to say about baby boy!

Happy 2010!

2010-01-04T12:10:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year! We have had a great few weeks. We spent Christmas Day in Nashville with Austin's family, then went to Crested Butte, CO for a week of skiing! Everyone except for me skied, but I had a great time relaxing and catching up on my reading. I will be posting some pictures of our trip later this week.

Here is my weekly update (I actually skipped last week, so here is week 29):
How far along? 29 weeks
Total weight gain: around 12 pounds
How big is baby? He weighs about 2 1/2 pounds and is around 15 inches long
Sex: Boy
Maternity Clothes: Definitely
Stretch Marks: Still proud to say a big NO to this one!
Sleep: Horrible, awful, non-existant, anything else to describe my nights????
Best moment this week: Actually last week our glider and ottoman for his room came in, so that was exciting! Also, knowing we have 11 weeks left until our lives are changed FOREVER!
Movement: Definitely. He loves to wedge his foot under my rib. Very uncomfortable I must say.
Food cravings: Sushi
Labor signs: None
Belly button: Still in :)
What I miss: Having a winter coat that I can actually zip. I refuse to buy one at this point!
What I'm looking forward to: Starting our birth/parenting classes tonight! I am excited and scared at the same time (I refuse to watch the birthing video they will show)
Words of Wisdom: Got nothing.....
Weekly gripe: Sick people in public. Enough said.

I start going to the doctor every 2 weeks now. This pregnancy has flown by!!!! I know I still have a while left, but so far it has gone by so quickly!

Oh......my last post mentioned my glucose test for gestational diabetes. It is with great pleasure that I announce that I passed, so no diets for me!!!!! 11 more weeks to eat like a pig and not feel bad about it (remember.....I have to feed my baby!).

Have a happy day and check back later this week for pictures from Christmas!

Weekly Update!

2009-12-22T17:28:00.000-08:00

Since we have SO many things going on this week, I thought I would go ahead and give a baby update. I went to the doctor on Monday for the glucose test. It actually wasn't that bad except for making me feel like I was going to vomit. They will only call if I fail (will call by Wed.) and no call so far! Keeping my fingers crossed!!!! Baby boy's heartbeat was 150 and the doc said my belly was measuring perfectly at 27 weeks, so that is good news. I now start going every 2 weeks. Not too much longer until he's here!!!

Here are some updates:
How far along? 27 weeks
Total weight gain? It's been a big month (literally!). I gained a whopping 4 pounds, bringing my grand total to almost 12 pounds.
How big is baby? He weighs about 2 pounds
Sex? Boy
Maternity Clothes? Definitely
Stretch Marks? Not yet
Sleep? HORRIBLE!!!! He's up all night so therefore I am too. Austin says it's mother nature's way of getting me ready. Whatever.......
Best Moment this Week: Hearing his heartbeat at my doc appt.
Movement: Lots of it and I love feeling him move! Apparantly we are breeding a little kickboxer
Food Cravings: Chocolate
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button: Still in, thank goodness!
What I Miss: Certain holiday foods/treats that I can't have
What I'm looking forward to: Christmas!!!!!
Words of Wisdom: Remember the reason for celebrating Christmas!
Weekly Gripe: Customer service....it doesn't exist anymore. I'll leave it at that!

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!

Recent Pictures!

2009-12-20T07:32:00.001-08:00

For everyone who has told me they want pictures, here you go! This was taken at a party last weekend, and I am 26 weeks here (6 1/2 months).

Christmas Break!

2009-12-18T06:23:00.000-08:00

Today is my last day of work until January 4!!!!! (Can you tell I'm excited?). That's a great perk about being a teacher....lots of holidays. We have so much planned over the break that we are looking forward to!

Here is my weekly baby update:
How far along? 26 weeks (actually, the way I update my blog begins to confuse me. I usually update at the end of a week. However, as of today I am 26 weeks, but hit 27 weeks tomorrow (Sat). So I guess technically I'm "almost" 27 weeks.
Total weight gain? I go to the Dr. Monday, so I'll let you know next week (let me tell you, it's not gonna be pretty......waaaaaaay too many holiday treats!)
How big is baby? He weighs about 1 2/3 pounds and is the length of a "English hothouse cucumber" (as quoted by babycenter). What that is, I have no clue!
Sex? Boy
Maternity Clothes? Definitely
Stretch Marks? No, but have ordered a new cream from Mama Mia and it is amazing!!!!
Sleep? Not so great this week. He likes to move around at night, and I'm pretty sure he turned into position on Sunday night (he has been breach)
Best Moment this Week: Knowing as of 3 p.m today and I am off work for a while!
Movement: Lots of it and I love feeling him move! I always thought people were weird when they told me they miss feeling the baby move after delivery, but I can kind of see what you people mean now! His kicking is getting so hard, my stomach physically moves at times.
Food Cravings: Smoked salmon. We went to a wedding last weekend and they served smoked salmon....I could smell it a mile away and was almost in tears! I love smoked salmon!!! (I think I might have Austin run to Bottega after delivery and get me an order of the smoked salmon appetizer......)
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button: Still in, thank goodness!
What I Miss: Being able to put knee high boots on easily. I often need a little assistance from Austin.
What I'm looking forward to: Being off work for 2 weeks!
Words of Wisdom: I completely realize how fortunate I am this year. I think often times I take so many things for granted. I'm trying to focus on family, friends, and all the good things in life this year. I remember the day we found out we were pregnant. I completely freaked out. I always thought it would take a while for it to happen (guess I didn't pay attention in Health class), and the thought of becoming a parent scared me to death. I quickly realized how fortunate we are and how so many people don't get to experience the joy of children or go through major heartbreak on the road to becoming a parent. So please remember all you have to be thankful for this Christmas season!!!!!
Weekly Gripe: People staring at my stomach like somethings going to pop out and eat them. Haven't you ever seen a pregnant lady??????

I go to the Dr. Monday and have to take the dreaded glucose test! I'll let you guys know how it goes!

Finally Friday!!!!

2009-12-11T06:27:00.000-08:00

Thank you Lord that Friday is finally here! This seems like the longest week ever. As I said before, I LOVE Christmas!!!! However, sometimes I get so frustrated at the million things to do over the Christmas season! Oh well....only one more week of school then I have a nice long break.

Here is our weekly update!
How far along? 25 weeks
Total weight gain? Haven't stepped on the scales this week, so I'm still saying around 8 pounds
How big is baby? He weighs about 1 1/2 pounds and is finally starting to get some baby fat on his bones! He has also started growing hair (just in case you were wondering)
Sex? Boy
Maternity Clothes? Definitely....also on a sad note, apparantly myself and baby boy are going through a growth spurt. Some of my maternity clothes are starting to get a little tight. Not good, considering I have 15 weeks left :(
Stretch Marks? Nope
Sleep? Pretty good this week. He does tend to move around a lot at night, but I love feeling him so I'm not complaining!
Best moment this week? Last weekend we had tons of fun with Jenn and fam! Dad drove the fire truck in the P.G. parade. He carried Santa and Emma and Jack rode with them too! It was so fun seeing how excited the kids were!
Movement? Moving around a lot. Austin is starting to be able to feel him more and more, so that's fun! Also, the other day he kicked so hard I could see my stomach physically move! Weird!
Food cravings? Nothing special
Labor signs? None
Belly button? Still in, but looking funky
What I miss? Being able to find something to wear. It gets boring wearing the same things over and over, but I'm not going to put tons of $$$$ into clothing I'll only be wearing for a few more months! So, for those of you who see me on a regular basis, sorry I'm always wearing the same thing!
What I'm looking forward to: Holding him in my arms. Lately I'm starting to get more sentimental (or hormonal, whatever you want to call it) and I just cannot wait to see him and hold him!
Words of wisdom: Got nothing....
Weekly Gripe: People who make comments that offend me (even though they probably don't know they offend me). Yes, I am big. Yes, I have a big belly. No, I am not due in a few weeks, but in a few months!

Have a happy Friday! I PROMISE I will be putting up pics this weekend! I have so many cute ones from last weekend and am hoping to take more this weekend (parties, wedding, lots going on this weekend!!!!!).

Tis' the Season!

2009-12-04T06:59:00.000-08:00

I'm going to start by saying that I LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas time! I love everything about the season. The smells, Christmas music, the sounds of the Salvation Army people ringing their bells and wishing you a Merry Christmas, traditions, family time, presents, and the true meaning of Christmas! This year I realize I have so much to be thankful for and owe that all to the Lord. He is a wonderful God and I am so grateful for all he has given myself and my family. I hope you enjoy the season as much as I do!

As far as baby boy updates, Austin and I are SO ready to see him and meet him! I keep wondering what this precious angel is going to look like. Will he look like me, like Austin, or have a mix of both of us???? Only 16 more weeks until we find out! We have decided not to do the 3/4d Ultrasound (they freak Austin out) and be surprised when he gets here! Recently we've started the beginnings of preparing his room. I'm going through a "nesting phase" and have most of the room cleaned out. I now have to find a new place to put all the junk I cleaned out though! We plan on painting after the first of the year. By that time his furniture and bedding should be close to arriving.

Here is our weekly update:
How far along? 24 weeks
Total weight gain: Still holding at around 8 pounds (as I said in an earlier post, in an attempt to keep some self esteem I refuse to step on the scales at home. Only at the Dr.'s office!)
How big is baby? He weighs a little over a pound and just over a foot long
Sex: Boy!
Maternity Clothes: You betcha!
Stretch Marks: Not yet. Still packing on my preventive cream daily though. I'm almost out of my tube, so Santa if you're reading I would love some Stretch Mark Cream in my stocking (wonder how many people ask Santa for that????)
Sleep: Not great this week. Baby boy is apparantly like his daddy and is a bit of a night owl. He gets really upset when I roll over on my belly accidentally....he lets me know very quickly that I'm making him uncomfortable!
Best moment this week: Honestly this has been a long week and I've had 50 million things going on. I can't think of a great moment, but still love feeling him move around! Also, Christmas Vacation has been on AMC every night this week! Best movie ever!
Movement: Definitely picking up!
Food Cravings: Frosted Flakes....yummy!!!!!!
Labor Signs: None
Belly Button: Still in, but I am terrified of the week I have to tell you all that it's an outie! It's gonna happen soon.....just a matter of days.
What I miss: When did putting on knee-high boots get so hard? Oh yeah...when I got pregnant.
What I'm looking forward to: Fun-filled weekend with family!
Words of Wisdom/Weekly Gripe: Nothing here, but do have a funny story. A few weeks ago I went to Chick-fil-A and got a Peppermint Choc. Chip milkshake. Heaven!!!! All was good until I got out of my car and dropped it on the ground. Bottom busted right out of the cup so none of it could be saved. So, the other night after dinner I convinced Austin that I just HAD to have another one and we made the journey to Chick-fil-A. I actually finished this one with no problem....until about 3 hours later when I got SO sick! I'm talking about sicker than I have been my whole pregnancy! Apparantly somebody does not like the milkshake (and that somebody might be living in mommy's tummy)! Hope everyone enjoys a peppermint chocolate milkshake this season!

Have a great weekend!

Update!

2009-11-29T14:18:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We spent a few days in Georgia visiting my sister and family, which was so much fun. I had my monthly doctor's appointment on Monday, so it's time for a new update!

How far along? 23 weeks
Total weight gain? Almost 8 pounds (not too bad!)
How big is baby? Around 1 pound and the length of an ear of corn
Sex: Boy!
Maternity Clothes: Yes
Stretch Marks? Not yet.
Sleep? Pretty good, but am having some crazy pregnancy dreams!
Best moment this week: Austin finally felt baby boy kick! We were so excited!!!
Movement: movement has been getting stronger and stronger every day. He had the hiccups the other night, which was cute but annoying at the same time!
Food cravings: Carbs!
Labor signs? None
Belly Button: Still in, but getting smaller and longer from left to right. It definitely does not look normal at the moment. Guess it will only get worse...
What I miss: Being able to bend over easily (makes putting your socks on somewhat difficult!)
What I'm looking forward to: CHRISTMAS!!!! I absolutely love the Christmas season!
Words of Wisdom/Weekly Gripe: I was finally able to get my swine flu shot a few weeks ago (Dr. said it was a MUST to get). Long story, but I had to go to the health department to get it. Let's just say that I am SO SO SO thankful for health insurance and my wonderful doctor's office after visiting the health department. After braving the HD, my doctor informed me on Monday that they now had the vaccine in their office. Great.....a little too late.

I hope everyone is getting in the Christmas spirit as I definitely am! This year I've decided to focus more on the reason for celebrating Christmas. I see all these ads for "Holiday" , etc. I visit babycenter.com frequently and a girl recently posted about being an atheist, and in the same post mentioned Christmas. Here's my question....if you don't believe, why do you celebrate the month of December???? Shouldn't it be just another month of the year for you? When I had my ultrasound done, I sat there thinking "how can anyone not believe in the Lord after seeing/experiencing a child?". I will never understand some people's thoughts on religion. However, I have my beliefs and my faith and I suppose that's all that matters!!! Sorry for getting off on a rant.....

Hope you all have a great week! Also, I always wonder if anyone actually reads my blogs! Please leave me comments when you visit!!!!

Weekly Updates!

2009-11-19T05:48:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone has had a wonderful week! I personally am looking forward to FRIDAY!!!! Our school system has the entire week of Thanksgiving off, so I get a week-long break. Yah for me!

Here is my weekly update!
How far along? 22 weeks
Total weight gain? Not sure. I go back to the dr. on Monday so will know then!
How big is baby? 11 inches (the size of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound!
Sex: Boy!
Maternity Clothes: Yes
Stretch Marks? Not yet. However, my babycenter update e-mail this week said if I'm going to get them they will probably start showing up in the next few weeks....Great. Something to look forward to.
Sleep? Depends on the night. Last night was the best night of sleep I've had in a while. Tuesday night I was up from 12:30 - 3 a.m. It is getting more uncomfortable to find a sleeping position this week too.
Best moment this week: My talented sister-in-law brought me the fabric design for the bedding, curtains, wall color, etc. and it is amazing!!!!! I can't wait to get his room going!
Movement: Definitely picking up on a daily basis. He still seems to be a night owl, so it makes it tough for me to fall asleep when he's doing kickboxing in my belly.
Food cravings: Nothing at this moment.
Labor signs? None
Belly Button: Still in, but getting smaller and longer from left to right. It definitely does not look normal at the moment. Guess it will only get worse...
What I miss: Still missing ceasar salad
What I'm looking forward to: A week off from work!
Words of Wisdom/Weekly Gripe: Still can't find any words of wisdom. My gripe will be people making rude comments. I had a lady at work tell me that everytime she sees me I'm going to the bathroom. No crap...I'm pregnant, drinking tons of water. What does she expect and did she actually have to point that out????? Get a life!

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and great Thanksgiving. I realize I have SO much to be thankful for (my family, my amazing husband, this perfect creature growing inside of me, wonderful friends, etc.) and I hope each of you count your blessings as well!

Have a happy day!

Happy Birthday Mimi!

2009-11-16T10:02:00.000-08:00

Today is my mom's birthday! Happy Birthday Mimi! Looking forward to next year when baby boy is here to celebrate with us!

Exciting Weekend!

2009-11-16T09:28:00.000-08:00

So this past weekend was very exciting. Sunday was Austin's birthday, so we celebrated all weekend long. Saturday night we went with some of our close friends to have dinner for his birthday. Sunday he played golf ALL day long, then we went to dinner at Bonefish with his family (YUMMY!!!!). Happy 27th Birthday Austin!

Saturday I picked out and ordered all of baby boy's furniture! I can't wait to get started on his room! Here is a pic of the set we ordered:

We also ordered an chair/ottoman glider set to go in his room. Now to get going on the bedding and painting!

Weekly Updates!

2009-11-12T11:33:00.000-08:00

This past weekend we had so much fun! The guys had a golf trip to RTJ Prattville for the weekend, so my sister and the kids came and spent the weekend with me and mom. Great weekend had by all (right Jenn????) I got to register for baby boy, which was fun but tiring at the same time. WAAAAAY too many choices out there for babies! I mean really....what baby needs sippy cups in 10 different colors??? (I guess my baby does, since I did register for like 3 different ones :))After 2 1/2 hours at Babies R Us, we decided that was enough for one day. I have started my Pottery Barn registry online, but still need to go in the store to finish it.

This week I enjoyed Veteran's Day off and shopped for baby furniture. Hopefully we can get everything ordered by this weekend and get started on his room!

Here is this week's Preggers Update!
How far along? 21 weeks
Total weight gain: I refuse to step on scales at home, so still at 6 until my next dr.'s appt.
How big is baby? Weight is 3/4 of a pound, and the length of a carrot
Sex: Boy!
Maternity Clothes? Yes
Stretch Marks? Not yet.....hopefully I will be saying that until week 40!
Sleep? Lots of crazy dreams lately.....and he seems to be a night owl, which doesn't help me sleep very good.
Best moment this week: Picking out baby stuff/furniture!
Movement: I am feeling him move a LOT more, so that's fun!
Food Cravings: Nothing particular at the moment
Labor Signs? None
Belly Button: Still in, but is getting more shallow and is stretching out a bit from left to right. Is that normal?????
What I miss: Ceasar salad
What I'm looking forward to: Getting started on his room!
Words of Wisdom/Weekly Grip: No words of wisdom, but definitely a gripe! Where did customer service go??????? So many stores say the economy is hurting them, but when you need help the service is HORRIBLE!

Have a happy day !!!!!!

This Week's Update!

2009-11-05T11:40:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a wondeful Halloween weekend! We had major plans for the day....watching college football ALL day (I'm talking about from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.), having a few friends over, and giving candy to all of the kids who came by. Wow....things sure do change in a year! Last Halloween Austin and I dressed up as Tony Romo and Jessica Simpson and went to Halloween parties. This year we did not dress up at all, went to bed around 10 p.m., and Tony and Jessica are no longer together....sad day! At least Auburn beat Ole Miss!

So here is my weekly pregnancy update!
How far along? 20 weeks
Total weight gain: I have not stepped on the scales this week, so I'm sticking to last week's #....6 pounds
How big is baby? About 10 1/2 ounces, and the length of a banana!
Sex: Boy!
Maternity Clothes: Oh yes...
Stretch Marks: Nope, but am addicted to my preventive creme!
Sleep: Depends on the night. Pretty good this week.
Best moment this week: Getting my hair cut this afternoon, which I am SO looking forward to. My hair will not stop growing!
Movement: I did get a swift punch in my belly yesterday...be nice to Momma!
Food Cravings: Sneaky Pete's Hot Dogs (yummy!!!!)
Labor Signs: none
Belly Button: Still in, but it is getting a little more shallow. I will DIE when/if I get an outie!
What I miss: A lot of thing...
What I'm Looking Forward to: Feeling movement every day
Words of Wisdom (I should change this to weekly gripe):I can't stand people who say to me "Wow, you're really starting to show!". I know that...I look at myself every day in the mirror....I am aware that my clothes are getting tighter and tighter....Why do you people feel the need to call me out even more!!!!!!!!!

Hope everyone has a great weekend! My sister and the kids are coming in town for a fun weekend of shopping, and helping me set up my registry. I can't wait!

Weekly Updates

2009-10-30T06:15:00.000-07:00

From now on, I'm going to do my best to post weekly updates on my pregnancy (if I'm feeling really technical I might even post a weekly bump pic!). Here is my update for this week!

How far along?: 19 1/2 weeks
Total weight gain: 6 pounds
How big is baby? about 9 oz, 6 inches long (as big as a heirloom tomato, whatever that is!)
Sex: BOY!!!
Maternity Clothes: Definitely
Stretch Marks: Not yet, but I am using my cream daily
Sleep: ok....most nights I am awake from 2 -4 a.m though
Best moment this week: Finding out that we can call him "he" instead of "it"
Movement: A little bit every few days
Food Cravings: Apple Juice
Labor Signs?: No, but have started to have Braxton Hicks, mostly in the evening
Belly Button?: Still the same, In
What I miss: Too many things...
What I'm looking forward to: Seeing his precious face!
Words of Wisdom: My dr. said there is no question about swine flu vaccine, GET IT (but he doesn't have any to give....)

Baby Baker!!!!

2009-10-30T05:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we went to the doctor for our first ultrasound. Baby Baker is breech, which made it a little hard for us to see the goods, but baby finally cooperated and we are SO excited to announce that we are having a BOY!!!!!! After some moving around from both myself and the ultrasound tech, she was finally able to get a good glimpse of him in all his glory!

So, any of you boy mammas need to be sending some advice my way! As I told my sister yesterday, I have NO CLUE what to do with a boy. We are so excited though, and he is measuring perfect, no problems so far!

We are almost officially halfway there, only 20 more weeks left until we meet our precious baby "Will". His name will be William Mathews Baker, and we will call him Will!

Hope everyone has a great weekend. We'll be cheering on the Tigers tomorrow as they take on Ole Miss! War Eagle!

Baby Baker Update!

2009-10-02T06:47:00.000-07:00

I went to the doctor yesterday. Not very eventful, but did get to hear the heartbeat! The nurse said it sounded like a boy, but we'll see in a few weeks! We set our ultrasound up for Thursday, October 29. Then we'll know if Baby Baker is a boy or girl! We are so excited to find out!!!!

Hope everyone has a great weekend. War Eagle!!!!!!!

We're Still Here!

2009-09-18T08:36:00.001-07:00

Obviously I have tons of updating to do! Here goes:
We are now 14 weeks pregnant. My next Dr. visit is Thursday, Oct 1. Dr. Edwards told us at that visit we can set up our ultrasound to find out what Baby Baker is! Hopefully the ultrasound will be around the 3rd or 4th week of October.

Last weekend we were EXTREMELY busy! Friday night, I went with the girls to the Taylor Swift Concert! We had SO much fun! Taylor is an awesome performer! Kelly Pickler opened for her, and I am now a HUGE KP fan! She was really good, much better than she is on the radio. I've never been a huge fan of hers, but am now hooked to her music!

Saturday morning we got up and made the trip to Auburn for the AU vs. Miss State game. We had an awesome day and it was great to see everyone. It really makes you miss those college days though!

For this week, we have had a million things going on. To top everything off, I now have a bad sinus infection, so am even more exhausted than I have been the past few weeks. Hopefully I will be feeling better soon!

Hope everyone has a great weekend. I PROMISE to post pictures soon!

Our News!

2009-09-04T07:17:00.000-07:00

So, I mentioned this in my "About Me" section, but Austin and I are expecting our first child! We are really excited. Our due date is around March 21, 2010. We got to hear Baby Baker's heartbeat yesterday, which was AMAZING!

We are about 12 weeks along. No belly posts yet, but I promise to get pictures up soon!

Happy Birthday Dad!

2009-08-28T12:02:00.000-07:00

Today is my dad's 60th Birthday! Happy Birthday Dad, aka "Poppi"!!!!
We have lots of celebrating to do. Tonight, we are having dinner at my parent's house to celebrate. Tomorrow, Austin and myself, my Mom, and Michael and Jennifer are hosting a big party for him at our house. Sure it will be lots of fun! Can't wait for a party-filled weekend!

Happy Birthday Dad! Next year, Baby Baker will be here to celebrate #61!!!!!

Blogging World Here We Come!

2009-08-27T08:01:00.000-07:00

So, I have officially crossed into the "World of Blogging". After being one of the few people in America that did not have a blog, I decided that being a Business Education teacher, I should try to stay with current technology (Since that's what I preach to my students!). So here we go.....Blogging here we come!

Not sure how good at this I will be or how often I will actually take the time to update, but I'll try my best to stay as current as possible!