Wilmington for Memorial Weekend!

The weekend was beautiful!! We went to visit Wini and Gary Guthrie at their lovely home in Wilmington (these are the parents of my good friend, Gary Guthrie, Jr...we went to college together. The Guthries are my adopted 2nd family). Brian, Payton, and I (and Callie and Emma!) visited them last year about this time, and it was Payton's first beach trip (at 5 weeks old!) Emma came with us this last weekend, but we dropped Callie off at "Camp Canine Resort" where she truly ran out all of her energy with MANY other doggie friends.

The Guthries spoiled us. Shrimp, steak, eggs, bacon, waffles...and Saturday evening we attended one of their friend's 60th birthday celebration (for Goldie). It was catered, and the dinner was wonderful! They had a trio playing music (stand up bass, keyboards, and drums) and the decor was amazing...it was held outdoors, in Goldie's backyard, underneath a huge Oak tree, with Spanish moss draping the sturdy branches, and lanterns hanging by chains over the tables which were set for 40! A really beautiful setting, and evening. Wini and Gary got a babysitter for both Payton and Gary's daughter, Cameron (6 years old). Payton was SO worn out from the beach and pool that we put her down before we even left for the party. Although the wine was flowing, the bartender was gracious to offer me sparkling lemon-lime spritzers, in a wine glass, every time she saw me :)

We made it to the beach both Saturday and Sunday, and we were in their pool multiple times each day. Payton can't get enough of the water. She copied what Cameron would do and she ran to the edge of the pool, but instead of jumping at the last minute, she just kept running. By the end of the weekend, Brian would throw her into the pool, we would let her sink, then I'd pull her up. She wanted to do this over and over again, and loves to blow bubbles. Wini just loves when her grandchildren come to visit, and Payton is definitely an "adopted" grandbaby to her...she was spoiled!

Sidenote...the first night we put Payton's bed in the closet of our room, so it would be dark enough for her (the other bedrooms available weren't dark, especially by Payton's standards)...so we thought she'd sleep better with us. WRONG! She is SUCH a light sleeper. She woke up when I came in to get ready for bed, then proceeded to cry. We've NEVER had this happen. I walked with her for a bit to calm her down, and eventually got her back to sleep. The next night we moved her to their "sauna room" where there are no windows. Don't worry...she wasn't "in" the sauna...LOL! I can tell she's becoming more aware of her surroundings, and strange places are a bit scary to her right now. Once we had her moved to the dark room, she slept fine, but was still waking up much earlier than normal...around 7:15am. She must have smelled breakfast!

I was able to get a couple runs in with Emma over the weekend, and although very hot and humid, I'm still able to truck along...though slowly! Still no swelling. Still not miserable, as long as there is water close by (for drinking and swimming!!) Just TEN more weeks from today and we meet this little booger. It still hasn't hit me yet. Guess we probably should start talking about names soon!! Most people over the weekend guessed "her" to be a girl. Tides are changing...could it be?

28 Week Appointment for Squish

We had a fantastic weekend! Payton and I were in the pool swimming at 6pm Saturday, with Daddy watching on, and thankfully, we made it past the "End of the World!!" The weather over the weekend was hot, sunny, and beautiful, just the way I like it. We spent most of Sunday at our friend, Adrianne's, lake house to celebrate her birthday. Payton and Madi entertained themselves playing in the sand, and floating on the raft Payton got me for Mother's Day.

I had my 28 week check up today. This included getting a Rhogam shot in my hip, because my blood type is negative, and Brian's is positive. They re-tested my iron levels since they were low 2 weeks ago. The vitamins I was taking didn't have iron in them...strange! So I began taking some prenatals that do have iron, and started eating more spinach and raisins. Anyway, my levels have since risen from 9.8 to 11.1, so I'm doing awesome! I had to take the one hour O'Sullivan's test (glucose screening for gestational diabetes), and passed :) Also, I got another ultrasound, just to confirm that my amniotic fluid levels were normal...and they were! That means I can continue running as long as my bladder, and back, can take it. We finally got a great face shot. After 11 ultrasounds with Payton, we never got a good look at her. She kept everything a surprise. I think it totally looks like a boy, but we'll see! The ultrasound tech, Allyson, even gave us a disk with the 4D movement AND the gender!!! I quickly passed that CD off to Brian to eliminate the temptation!

The baby is measuring 3 lbs, 4 oz, which is in the 81% of size. Measuring 2 weeks ahead...I grow BIG babies! I've only gained 8 lbs, and I passed my glucose test, so it's nothing I'm doing "wrong." To compare, Payton was 2 lbs, 8 oz at this same time of my pregnancy. This one had a heart rate of 141, and Payton's (at the same time) was 146. So who knows, really? My blood pressure was good at 112/62, and I go back in 4 weeks for another "regular" check in. Not much longer.....SORRY THE PICS ARE SIDEWAYS!

Two down....just ONE to go :)

15 Weeks (above)
17 Weeks (below)
19 Weeks

20 Weeks

22 Weeks

23 Weeks

25 Weeks

26 Weeks

27 Weeks

Payton and Madi..."Honey, I shrunk the kids!!"

Payton playing in her water table that Aunt Missy & Uncle Jon gave to her

Kate McNeill and Whitt Tisdale at Ocean Isle Beach 2010

Sweet Caroline Tisdale

Amy and me...OIB 2010

Johnathan Tisdale....Labor Day Weekend 2010

I'm officially in my last, or third, trimester! This pregnancy has flown by unbelievably fast, and I'm still feeling terrific (knock on wood!!) I'll be getting a csection on August 9th, unless something comes up for Dr. Lucas. I know, I know....it won't be the blow-by-blow excitement of following the blog during labor for this birth, but it will come as a welcome change....trust me! I'm still feeling "boy" but only time, and a birth, will tell. Above I've posted my belly pics from my second trimester, so you can see when I "popped." I also had to sprinkle in some pictures of Payton! As of today I have only gained a total of 8 pounds, at 27 weeks, so I'm doing really well keeping the weight off! We have a doctor's appointment on Monday, so I'll send out a quick report then....

On a serious, sad note, our longtime family friend, Johnathan Tisdale, has been suffering from a brain tumor which has now spread into 4 tumors. He had a series of seizures over the weekend, and is now at Duke for further evaluation. His vitals were dropping, but I think he's now stable. The doctors will most likely administer his FOURTH series of radiation on Tuesday. Please pray for a miracle for the Tisdale family. Amy, his wife, has been a dear friend of mine ALL MY LIFE. They have 2 small children, and the heartbreak they are going through is unimaginable to me. We just want a time of peace for them, and their families. I've also posted pictures of Amy, Johnathan, and their sweet kids, Caroline (4.5) and Whitt (8). Again, please keep them in your prayers!

Happy Mother's Day!

I had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend with my family...I couldn't have asked for a more loving, beautiful, and charismatic daughter, and I am so thankful I get to be her mommy! She certainly made my weekend special, with all her laughs, smiles, hugs, and kisses, and a personality that just doesn't stop. Brian got the boat somewhat cleaned up, and we went on a ride Saturday afternoon with the Boughmans. Raegan and Payton both left their lifejackets on without complaint, which was way more than Cheryl or I expected. We found the boat has a gas leak, and will be getting that fixed soon. In the meantime, a good friend, Greg, let us take his boat out on Mother's Day. There was an abundance of sun and warm weather, and Cheryl and I have bright red skin to prove it! Don't worry....the girls were completely protected, under a bimini top, and slathered in sunscreen. The girls wouldn't nap on the boat, so we headed home, where they were both happy to crawl in bed. We were able to relax some at the pool, and take a "break" on our mommy's day.

I had Payton in the pool for a short bit on Saturday. The water is COLD. She was literally jumping in off the sides, and I was dunking her. She was all laughs and just wanted to do it over and over again. My back paid for it later, (I was not in the water, but dunking her from the side) but it was all totally worth it to see that happy face of hers :) We'll have to be especially careful this summer, as she has NO brakes, or fear, when it comes to the side of the pool.

The previous weekend we went to a crawfish boil/birthday party. Payton LOVED crawfish! I was actually surprised at this....the food was quite spicy, yet she chowed down on some corn on the cob, and ate numerous crawfish. That's my girl! I'll have to record this baby eating corn on the cob. It's pretty hillarious. She gets "crazy eyes" as she chomps down.

Payton is starting to try and repeat things we say...time to watch out all you potty-mouthers! She shakes her head yes and no, depending on what she wants or doesn't want to do, and she points a lot. When we pull up to the house in the afternoons, Callie usually starts barking...Payton has learned how to "shush" her by placing her finger over her mouth and saying "shhhhh." She's running around and playing like a big girl. She likes to help clean up, she, of course, LOVES her bathtime, and is getting pretty good at following directions. She's starting to ask for a nighttime story, but it can't be too long, because she is quickly read for her bed! She still sleeps about 14 hours at night, if we let her, and takes 1-2 naps, depending on what time we wake her in the mornings.

Pregnancy update: I'm 26 weeks along now, (6 1/2 months) and still feeling pretty amazing! I'm still managing to get multiple runs in each week, and ran close to 50 miles last month. Over the past week, I've noticed that my lower back is starting to ache at night, a pinching sensation, my bedtime is getting a little later (which is fabulous that I can actually stay up until dark), and I've noticed an increase in my appetite. Other than that, and the fact my belly is getting bigger and bigger by the day, everything is still going quite well. No swelling, no carpal tunnel, no sciatic pain, or any of the other complaints I had with Payton. I had a regular check up yesterday. My blood pressure was 102/58, and I've gained only 9 pounds, which I'm very proud of! Baby's heart rate was 152, and measuring on time. My iron is a little low (anemic) so I have to start eating like Popeye, I guess....I'm sure not touching liver! EW! Tentatively, I'm going to have a csection on August 9th!! I'm already at appointments every 2 weeks, until 36 weeks along, when they become weekly appointments. Next up I have my Rhogam shot (because I'm A-) and my glucose test (testing for gestational diabetes). Just THIRTEEN more weeks to go! Brian's "rule" is that we aren't even allowed to discuss baby names until after the 4th of July, so I'm hoping this baby has a name before the delivery!! As you know, we aren't finding out the sex, so we'll have to come up with 2 names....oh, and agree on them :) My third trimester begins next week, so stay tuned for my 2nd trimester "belly shots." I wanted to post them all at one time, to show the progression of growth over these past 13 weeks.