Quick update

Sorry it has been a while. Most of you are probably aware at this point, but the past 5 days have been quite challenging for Brad and I. Many of you have asked for an update. While at the doctor last week we found out that the baby is between 5 adn 5 1/2 lbs, which means she is in fact a big gal. :-) Unfortunately we also got some troubling news about our little angel. I apologize if I have not contacted you, but I have not wanted to discuss the details. I have needed the past few days to collect my thoughts and formulate a plan. The best thing I can do is rest and prepare and take care of myself so I can properly care for her. I don't think that this is the correct means to discuss or inform, but please just keep us in your thoughts and prayers... and especially little Anna Claire that she arrives safely and is healthy and happy. In short, we believe that it is an issue that can be corrected, but we are anxious and nervous as our doctor's could not offer us any details or guarantees. We remain extremely excited and are conecntrating on positive thoughts. Again, not something I want to blog about.

Aside from the babe, my doctor was a bit concerned about my amniotic fluid level. While he was not yet convinced that I needed full bed rest he did encourage me to stay off of my feet, slow down and drink LOTS of water. I am doing the best I can to stay still and improve the fluid situation. I guess the next 4 or 5 weeks will go at a slower pace. :-) I go back to a Perinatal specialist on Tuesday afternoon for another ultrasound and should get some additional information about our sweet little babe and also at that point if he is not satisfied with the fluid I may be required to go on maternity leave a little early. My goal was to work until Sept. 26th - we shall see! At this point, due to her size and clearly a number of other factors we are set to deliver before or on our due date of Oct. 6th - but it is not likely they will let me go past my due date.

Hope everyone has a great holiday weekend! We continue to rest and prepare for her arrival. Counting down the days!

The Good and the Bad

The good news is - Ashley is in labor! Ray just texted to inform me that she is having strong contractions and they suspect Baby Hammond will arrive soon! Good luck Ashley and Drew! I will keep everyone posted!

On a sad note, a dear friend and co-worker was in a car accident over the weekend. Laura McDonald and her husband Doug McDonald remain in critical condition today. Many of you may have met Laura at the baby shower just a week ago. She is a beautiful person and I cannot believe that this has happened to such a young and amazing couple. Please keep Laura and Doug in your prayers.

I will update everyone on Wednesday after our doctor's appointment. Take care!

Baby Shower Photos

As promised... here is a blog entry about my 2nd baby shower! It was just as great as the 1st! The theme was a tea party and it was very cute and girly to say the least. Thanks to all of my lovely hostesses (Laura, Mills, Jessica, Melanie and Beth) for all of their hard work toward making it so special. Thanks also to Jannie(aka Janice) who filled in very nicely as THE Momma - since mine is in Scotland and had to miss the fun! Every detail was amazing from the decor to the yummy food! Everyone enjoyed themselves and Brad and I were literally showered with some amazing gifts! I think we have just about everything we need! I am working on some final things this week and then I can officially relax! We are blessed to have such wonderful friends and family. BIG thanks to all of you for the special gifts and most of all for your support!

The pictures below just touch on some of the great things we got for the baby! The hostesses gave us a tea set for Anna Claire - too cute!

Nursery Pictures and More!

Finally... I am posting some nursery pictures. At this point I just need a rug and need to put the dust ruffle back on the crib. (It looks just like the window valances) Things have really come together and I think we have a really neat room ready for Anna Claire... even if we will just be here in the apartment for a few months after her arrival. Eventually we will have her name/letters above the crib, but now we have an amazing canvas with her monogram! Thanks Ashley O.!

The shower today was amazing! Thanks to all of my lovely hostesses for making it so special! Hopefully Laura and Melanie will send me pictures soon and I will write an entire blog entry later this week devoted to the shower! Every detail was so special and we got so many beautiful things for the baby! We are blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful friends and family. Brad and I are just amazed again and again as we go through all of the gifts and work on getting things put away and ready for AC's arrival!

We will be 33 weeks tomorrow! Counting down the days! Still feeling OK, but sleeping is a thing of the past. Most nights at this point I am sleeping on the couch for at least a portion of the night. The ultrasound that the doctor ordered is the 27th - will keep everyone posted. Still no news from Scotland... Drew and Ashley are waiting on Baby Hammond and he or she does not seem to be in much of a hurry! Hang in there Ashley!

In the pics below you will see nursery shots and a few pictures of some of her newest items! There are so many more wonderful things to share from the shower today... which will again come in a shower blog entry later this week - I promise!

Doctor's appointment - 32 Weeks

Only 8 weeks to go.... that is, IF I actually make it to my due date on October 6th! Everything went well today, but the doctor does believe that "little" Anna Claire is measuring quite BIG, which may put me ahead of schedule. For this reason, she ordered an ultrasound on the 27th to check her size and position. Mom and babe are certainly healthy, but I hope we don't have a 12 pounder in the oven! She also noted today that the baby is somewhat sideways in position. This could of course change at any moment, but explains the strange shape that my belly has taken on this past week. She favors my right side as Dr. Mitchell said there was almost no sign of baby on the left side. She is sideways, in a tucked position. Sounds like a fancy dive! (can you tell I am LOVIN the Olympic coverage?) Her head does seem to be pointing somewhat in the right direction, so let's hope she gets herself turned around! I may have interesting news after the ultrasound. She may be a perfectly normal size (wishful thinking) but based on my uterus measurements I may be a couple of weeks ahead of my due date. We shall see! I guess we won't really know until they take a closer look... Maybe our babe won't ever fit into those cute newborn outfits! We will go straight to 0-3 months!

Even though there won't be any definite news until the ultrasound, this hypothesis definitely kicks my nesting instinct up a notch! I am going to work on getting THE BAG together this next week and plan to finish up the last few things in the nursery. I am sure I have a few more trips to Babies R Us in my future to make sure we have everything we need (or don't need) - sorry Brad! :-) Better safe than sorry! I am sure in a few more weeks I won't be quite as motivated - so now is the time to make final preparations. Brad and I are doing some classes at the hospital later this month as well. I have a baby shower on Sunday and can't wait to visit with my gals!

Tonight we are having dinner with my Mom and my brother, Chris. Can't wait to visit with him! Tomorrow we send Mom off to Scotland for a couple of weeks, where she will join Ray as they await the arrival of Baby Hammond (Ray's first grandchild!)Good luck to Ashley and Drew! They are 1 day past their due date, so I hope things spring into action sooner than later. :-)

A few things on my mind today...

Pictured here last Christmas - me with my Grandmommy and Granddaddy. (Yes, the dancing Granddaddy!) My sweet Granddaddy just finished his 1st round of chemo yesterday. He is once again battling colon cancer, but this time it has shown up in the liver. Please keep him in your thoughts and say a little prayer! Love you Granddaddy!

Party on Mary Beth! "Aunt MB" turned 30 yesterday (Aug. 6th) She and Alex are vacationing in Northern Africa in Tunisia. I am jealous! Enjoy your b-day celebration MB!

Pictured here... "Aunt Ashley and Uncle Drew" posing with Ray (aka "Poppy") while here for the wedding festivities in October. Drew and Ashley are expecting their 1st babe on August 12th! They live in Glasgow, Scotland. For Ashley's sake I hope the babe arrives sooner than later! Ray is already in Scotland and Mom makes the trip on August 14th. Good luck - we are thinking of you!

Last but not least... Uncle Chris is visiting us for a few days - arriving on Sunday. Can't wait to visit! xoxo