Monday, April 28, 2014

A Bumpdate: A Few Favorites at 6 Months

A milestone! 

We're well into the 6-month mark as, today, I begin week 23 of pregnancy. As much as I can't wait to meet this baby boy to whom I'm so attached already (no pun intended), I need him to stay put a little longer. I'm not ready to wish away all of the intimate, yet unique, moments pregnancy brings.


A few favorites:
  • Baby N is the most active when I get home from work. As I sit on the couch and slump back, it's like clockwork. The rolling, thumping, and squirming commence right on cue. That could never get old. 
  • Oh and did I mention his second most active time is as I'm falling asleep? Yep.
  • Kevin's hand lightly pressed against my belly to feel the movements of his hyperactive son is something I cherish even more. I don't even have to tell him where to place his hand anymore. It's easy to tell by the sporatic rising and falling of my tummy. It gets us every time. Nolan, you just keep getting stronger and stronger.
  • We'll be parents in 17-ish weeks and have absolutely nothing to show for it in terms of preparation. Sorry not sorry :). We'll get there, we promise. Does registering count?
  • It totally doesn't bother me when people (well Kevin is the only guy who ever does) touch my belly. 
  • "You're getting so big" is a compliment that doesn't offend me. My students remind me almost everyday :).
  • People I don't even know are starting to notice the bump and will even ask if I'm expecting. (The first time that happened, I was completely caught of guard!)
  • I'm loving the me + Kev time that we're soaking up as we count down the days to me + Kev + Nolan.
  • "Goodnights" are not complete until my sweet husband talks to his "buddy" telling him how much he loves him and can't wait to meet him. 
  • We still haven't decided on which middle name we like best.
  • I love lemon water.
  • Bagel Bites are my snack of choice (at the moment).
  • Gradually out-growing all of my clothes is still the most beautiful mess I'm in. I'm so thankful for all of the maternity clothes loaned out to me!
  • And I have to mention the fact that the thought of summertime has never been sweeter.

Until next time...
I'll be sitting here...feeling this babe within me squirm...and probably getting nothing done as a result. Again...sorry not sorry.





Saturday, April 12, 2014

A Sweet Reveal


The pun in the title of this post is TOTALLY intentional. These cupcakes were divine and made special by Just Freshly Baked, our favorite local bakery.

We had the BEST time last weekend with our families and a few friends as we celebrated the big reveal of whether we are having a girl or a boy. 

My guess had been a girl all along. Kev had staked his claim on a boy. I didn't mind losing that bet one bit. We were so thrilled to watch the faces of our family members as they bit into the cupcakes, the center of which revealed the color blue. It was fun seeing who guessed what (half of the cupcakes were topped with blue icing and half were topped with pink). I'm so thankful that so many got to come! And those who couldn't make it were surely missed.

I remember that Kevin's mom thought it was a girl as did both of my parents. Bub was really hoping for a boy.
So thankful that kid's wish came true ;).

But no matter the variety of guesses, everyone was ecstatic to learn that a baby boy would soon be joining the Boyd/Webb/Griffis/Blile/Dickerson clan. I couldn't be more thankful for and humbled by the love and support and tangible excitement from our family. Uncle Bruce, Aunt Jennifer, and the boys even drove all the way from Alabama to find out. Just for the day! 

What an incredible group of people to raise a child alongside. I can't wait (and I mean this) to watch as our sweet little man is passed from one person to the next, showered with love and kisses by the people we've loved the longest. Warms my heart just thinking about it.

Kevin and I are so thankful for all of the preparation that went into making the weekend so perfect.
Thank you, EVERYONE, for showering our little family with so much love.
We love you more and more.

Welcome to the family, 
Nolan.
You are so loved already.



















Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Have you ever loved someone (and I mean reeeeeally loved someone) that you didn't think it was even remotely possible to love them even just a little bit more? 

This guy:


Just when I think I can't love this man any more than I already do, he gives me yet another reason to. What was so special this time? Oh, nothin'. He just became a dad ;).

Kevin celebrated his 25th birthday in style this year. I was determined to make it extra special. His birthday fell on the same day we were scheduled for our next doctor's appointment (April 3rd). And at this appointment, we found out the gender of our baby. Coincidence? I think not. 
Happy birthday, Daddy!

I rode into work with a friend Thursday morning so that Kev could pick me up afterwards. The anticipation was building all around me throughout the course of the day. My co-workers' and students' excitement for us was contagious. I couldn't help but count down the hours and minutes to getting to see our babe again. How had it changed since our "gummy bear" encounter 10 weeks ago? We could hardly wait to see.

When we got to the doctor's office, we didn't wait long before heading back to the ultrasound room. We told the lady that we didn't want to know the gender and asked her to keep it on the hush-hush when it came time to examine that part. She complied. What Kev didn't know is that I was peeking the entire time and knew well before he did whether or not we would try raising a little girl or a little man first. All a part of my b-day plan.

Our ultrasound technician is such a southern belle. Not a very personable type of gal, but her southern accent is adorable. She rubbed my swollen belly with warm jelly and began the examination process. Kev and I eagerly watched as our baby immediately flashed up onto the black and white, fuzzy screen. The technician began the intricate process of taking all of the vital measurements of our youngun'. The femur, the head, the heart, and so many other parts and areas I couldn't even begin to name. "It" was awfully squirmy and didn't make things easy on the sweet woman. I loved watching "it" kick and feeling it at the same time. So surreal. It eventually came time to check, well...you know, while the baby was in a good position, so Kev and I "looked away." Confession: I didn't look away at all. 
It was all I could do to hold back my smile as the ultrasound technician wrote 
IT'S A BOY!!!
across the top of the screen.

Meet...our SON!


Cutest little profile I ever did see.

We left praising the Lord for the health of our little one. Everything measured as "normal" and he is growing at a perfect rate. I kept staring at all of the pictures over and over the whole way home. Again...so in awe of my God and His faithfulness.

As soon as we got home, I bolted upstairs to wrap Kevin's birthday gift. The perfect gift to reveal the gender! I wrapped a pair of navy blue baby Toms I had ordered weeks prior along with the ultrasound picture declaring "IT'S A BOY!!!" plus a little card stating: 

"Happy Birthday, Daddy! Love, your son"



I videoed the whole thing. Kev's expression after opening that little box was priceless.

Within minutes, we had officially decided on his name and were eagerly anticipating sharing the news with family and friends that weekend. Until then, we celebrated. We met some friends for dinner at Kev's b-day dinner pick (the Schnitzel Shack) and relished in the fact that our son would grow and grow and one day join us. 

Until then...we wait.

p.s. Hooray for being halfway there!