38.5 weeks and counting.....

38.5 weeks and counting....it's like the duggars but with preggo weeks instead of kiddos!

How far along? 38.5weeks
Weight loss/gain? 26.5 pounds
Maternity clothes? everyday....well i fit a few non preggo things in here and there but nothing fits like the preggos do!
Stretch Marks? Nope still keeping them at bay!
Sleep? only for an hour or so at a time interrupted by potty breaks or attempting to get comfortable
Best moment this week? knowing that regardless April is around the corner
Miss Anything? wearing normal clothes and shoes
Movement? oh yeah, the bump has a life of its' own
Food Cravings? still milk and pizza lately but mostly sweets....and easter candy is by far the very best
Anything making you queasy or sick? nope
Have you started to show yet?  Oh yeah, depending on who you ask "I'm not gonna make it to Easter" .....well folks, I do hope you're right about that!
Gender? Girl!
Labor signs? no, all closed up! avery is still holding out for diamonds...they are a girls' best friend! 
Belly Button in or out? In - and holding on for dear life and still thankful for that!
Wedding rings on or off? Off officially -- fingers swollen and achy - ready for revisitation of wedding rings and well any rings
Happy or moody most of the time? I'm pretty happy and laid back just waiting...and waiting....
Looking forward to? seeing what tricks Miss Avery has up her sleeve....hopefully we won't get any crazy "APRIL FOOLS" jokes


Well, well,well....ah, the ups and downs of being a preggo mama! I went to the dr yesterday and still nothing in relation to dilation.  (sigh) Our "due date" which I am constantly reminded by the iphone app is only an estimate is a mere 10 days away, plenty of time for Miss Avery to decide she's ready to start this party!

I've always known she wouldn't be here before April...call it mother's intuition or just knowing if a gal can hold out for a diamond she usually will (her daddy is so proud - at least she's got that part of life figured out already). LOL

I'm still working and have been crazy busy this week so that's a positive sign. According to the "old wives' tale" of when you feel your baby move the first time, Avery should be here monday the 2nd....stay tuned on that one! I had the clinic give me the on-call schedule for the next few weeks so I would at least know whenever, if ever, I decide it's time to head to the hospital I'll know if I'm dealing with a dr from my clinic or someone I haven't ever seen. I'm sure that whichever it is that if it's truly "go time" i won't care who's there as long as I have some drugs and they know what they are doing!

So happy Thursday friends! Send us some special vibes for Miss A to join us very soon!

Loves! xoxox

Full term baby.....

Hello FULL TERM.....which means, she would be fine to join us now but she obviously disagrees....

How far along? 37.5weeks
Weight loss/gain? 25.5 pounds yep, even when your preg you take advantage of losing 1/2 a lb!!!
Maternity clothes? everyday....well i fit a few non preggo things in here and there but nothing fits like the preggos do!
Stretch Marks? Nope still keeping them at bay!
Sleep? only in short increments...practice for arrival i'm sure!
Best moment this week? getting the dr to agree to strip membranes once i get dilated
Miss Anything? full night sleep and margaritas
Movement? all the time....sometimes it even feels like she's karate chopping in there!
Food Cravings? milk...not sure if it's really a craving or just a great way to keep the heartburn managable...either way, i'm good with it (which is crazy since in my previous life i had milk about once every quarter)
Anything making you queasy or sick? nope
Have you started to show yet?  apparently i look like i could "pop" or like i'm having twins but according to the dr we aren't any closer physically
Gender? Girl!
Labor signs? no, all closed up! avery is holding out for diamonds...they are a girls' best friend! 
Belly Button in or out? In - and holding on for dear life and still thankful for that!
Wedding rings on or off? Off officially -- so i look like a pregnant heathen
Happy or moody most of the time? Happy and excited but moody when there's no progress in the labor dept
Looking forward to? being dilated or at least feeling like there is a light at the end of this pregnancy tunnel!

17 days until we are "due" but could possibly be an extra week if Miss Avery decides she wants to keep up the suspense! Only she knows.....

36.5 weeks.....sigh

How far along? 36.5weeks
Weight loss/gain? 26 pounds but feels like 100
Maternity clothes? everyday....well i fit a few non preggo things in here and there but nothing fits like the preggos do!
Stretch Marks? Nope and hopefully won't be any!
Sleep? What's that? I take brief naps interrupted by potty breaks, back aches and crazy dreams
Best moment this week? knowing i am now on weekly dr visits
Miss Anything? sushi and medium rare steak
Movement? she moves a lot..mostly tap dancing on my bladder
Food Cravings? been eating a lot of sandwiches lately!
Anything making you queasy or sick? nothing new
Have you started to show yet?  apparently i look like i could "pop" or like i'm having twins
Gender? Girl!
Labor signs? no, apparently anything i've been feeling is only a tease there is no activity going on in there as far as my cervix goes
Belly Button in or out? In - still thankful for that!
Wedding rings on or off? Off officially -- so i look like a pregnant heathen
Happy or moody most of the time? Happy and excited to see her sweet little face in person!
Looking forward to? Having her in my arms instead of in my belly - momma is tired of carrying her inside

35.5 weeks....whoa!

I stole this from a friend of mine who is updating weekly on her preggo progress. I love the idea so I decided to document the last moments of cupcake's baking...

How far along? 35.5weeks
Weight loss/gain? 23 pounds but feels like 100
Maternity clothes? everyday....well i fit a few non preggo things in here and there but nothing fits like the preggos do!
Stretch Marks? Nope and hopefully won't be any!
Sleep? What's that? I take brief naps interrupted by potty breaks, back aches and crazy dreams
Best moment this week? celebrating the birth of cupcake's future husband, tank williams, and knowing she'll be here so soon!
Miss Anything? enjoying happy hour on a patio. it's been perfect patio weather here and momma could use a bottle of wine :)
Movement? yes all the time...at night i watch to see if i can figure out what she's doing in there
Food Cravings? all things carbohydrate....pasta, bread, sweets..you name it!
Anything making you queasy or sick? the smell of hot dogs makes me gag!
Have you started to show yet?  apparently i look like i could "pop"
Gender? Girl!
Labor signs? No
Belly Button in or out? In - still thankful for that!
Wedding rings on or off? Off - wearing my band occasionally
Happy or moody most of the time? Happy and excited to see her sweet little face in person!
Looking forward to? all of it but mainly seeing her perfect little self!

I'm a terrible blogger...

There...I said it. I totally have sucked at this blogging thing and I don't even have a newborn yet. Yikes! Looks like I'll be back dating posts for awhile!

So, on to the updating.....

January brought my 31st birthday. It was fabulous and spent, as always, in conjunction to the opening weekend at Oaklawn Jockey Club in Hot Springs to watch the ponies! Man, how I love that excitement! I must admit it tends to be slightly more fun when I can share in libations but that too will come soon enough! Also in January I got to see a few of my besties from law school! It was a fabulous time in Asheville, NC spent at the Grove Park Inn. If you ever get to go there, do it! It was beautiful and the spa was fabulous, even for a pregger!

In January we started classes...and a lot of them! We had a four week childbirth class where we learned all about breathing techinques, epidural needles, the lay of the land at St. Vincent, how to swaddle our baby, and the list goes on. I also took a breastfeeding class with Julie to get slightly familiar with the soon to be embarked upon baby feeding. I learned a lot but feel like there is still sooooo much left to learn. Here's hoping lil A makes it easier rather than more difficult. Fingers crossed...and toes...and whatever else counts!

Casey and I started a financial class with some friends of ours as well. It's 13 weeks and very motivated. Dave Ramsey has a great program. It's been such a help to meet with other people who are motivated to be debt free and give us perspective! We have been tackling our debt and making progress! So excited to be ablet to scream one day "WE'RE DEBT FREE"!! So, when you hear it...you've been warned!

February is here and almost gone. Time really does fly by! As I type I am 33 weeks 2/3 days depending on who you ask. We are 6.5 short weeks from meeting our baby girl (if not sooner). My Bunco ladies threw me a surprise baby shower at this month's bunco. It was so super sweet and lil A got lots of fabulous goodies.

Ave and her father sent me flowers for Valentine's Day. It was so sweet! A week later I still have the flower on my desk. Ahhh, happy! 

This past weekend I was so fortunate to be involved in three fun things! One, a  great friend and breastfeeding class buddy, Julie welcomed a little boy into the world on Friday. Grayson Thomas arrived and is perfect. I was able to hold and snuggle his preciousness on Friday afternoon. Can't wait for he and Ave to be besties like their moms!!!  Second, another long time friend's bridal shower! So excited for her and her upcoming nuptials. She deserves all the happiness in the world! Third was my baby shower from my fabulous friends. Wow, such a sweet blessing they are! I got to see some ladies I haven't seen in quite some time and it made my heart happy! We really are so blessed and so grateful for all the support we have been given!

As I get them downloaded, I'll update the blog with pics from all the previously stated events and try to do better with my upcoming posts!

Family pictures....

This weekend we had the fun of trying to get all three animals to cooperate with us for a fun filled family photo for our christmas cards! Many thanks to the Meacham family for their help in the wrangling of three dogs and taking photos! We sure couldn't  have done it without them! Merry Christmas to all!

Here are a few of the faves:

Where does the time go.....

Wow so much to update! I've been busy and very slack in my posts! My apologies! I woke up and BAM, it's DECEMBER!!!!!

So last you all heard we had a 15 week ultrasound and were hoping to find out our "icing color". Well as most of you know, PINK won! We have a beautiful little baby girl growing in my belly and man, we are so excited to meet her! I can't wait to kiss her little cheeks! 

Avery Claire Kell is expected to arrive around April 8, 2012. Since our 15 week appointment, we were able to have a 20 minute ultrasound to determine our cupcake is a SHE and see all of her growing body parts. That ultrasound was amazing. At almost 17 weeks she weighed 6 oz and measured from crown to rump 4.5 inches with her little legs adding an extra 2 inches! Everything looked like it was growing normally and on target for her arrival in April. 

Casey started a new job working at the DFA for the State of Arkansas. We are so excited about this opportunity for him and he is loving it! We are grateful for the opportunities it will provide for our growing family as well.

We started working on the nursery as soon as we knew PINK was our color of choice! All the fabric for the swag curtains and the homemade bedding have been purchased. The bedding has been made and is waiting on a few minor adjustments before it takes it's place.  We even found a large canvas with a fun cupcake on it! So cute!!!!  Now, if I can just figure out how to make bloomers, tutus and headbands.....Daddy beware!!

At our 20 week ultrasound (yes two in a row...it was a mommy to be's dream), our little cupcake weighed in at 10.5 oz with everything still looking great and growing right on target.  The next appointment is set for December 19th but with no ultrasound (sniff sniff). However, I'll get tested for gestational diabetes at that appointment ...so wish me luck! 

For Thanksgiving, the Kells (me, Casey, Debe, Pop, Jerod) as well as the Jackson/Anderson crew (mom, billy, joel, bradley, hannah) and a few others ventured to the Redneck Riveria, Gulf Shores, Alabama! It was wonderful! We rented a big house and got to enjoy the beach in the fall. Debbie was and is doing great after her surgery and got to spend some time with the sand between her toes. We ate well, shopped a lot, and of course, had our hearts broken over the Arkansas loss to LSU. In spite of it, we still love our hogs and continue to call them....WPS!!!!

Now, we are back home and getting in the Christmas spirit. I love the Holidays!!  I love the shopping, the lights, the decorations, the music, the fellowship and the story of the Savior's birth. We have so much to be grateful for this year and are truly thankful!  As soon as the rest of the pictures download I'll be sure to share!