Baby Bedding

My Aunt Jan, in Atlanta, is making our baby bedding for us. It is getting really exciting because after her patiently sending us lots of emails back and forth, Jeremy and I have decided on the fabrics she is going to use. The fabrics are going to be a stripe, a patterned, a solid, a soft fabric (like a Minky Dot), pom pom fringe, and some ric rac that all compliment green and terquoise. If it is a boy we won't change anything, but if it is a girl she is going to help us add some pink here and there. Here are a few of them.


The curtains are going to be a roman shade style like this in the green and terquoise colors...

The bedding is going to have a box pleat dust ruffle with the bumper having the Minky Dot on the inside with a "L" monogram. I think it is going to be something like this...

23 weeks

From 1-24-09 Due Date

We have had a good week. A few fun stories from the week:

#1 Jeremy and I were talking one morning before he was leaving for work this week and he mentioned "We need to clean off the computer desk on Sunday." (The metal college computer desk is going away and we are going to move the computer out of the soon-to-be baby's room.) I said "Well, we can wait a little while until the wooden desk gets refinished and the baby bed comes in." He said with his back arched and hands on his back "Well, I don't want you to be 8 months pregnant and pointing - put this here and put that there. Michelle, I am nesting." I thought this was so funny and cute.

#2 On Friday night, we went to dinner with Jason, Diana, Tate, and Huey. It was dark outside and we were driving home from dinner and I was sitting in the back with Tate. I was listening to Jeremy and Diana talking and Tate points at my belly and said "baby". I could not believe it. Then a few minutes later she pointed at it again "baby". How does she know? crazy! We had not been talking about my stomach either or pointing at it and telling her "baby".

Babycenter.com is saying "Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb."

From 9-27-08 AU vs LSU and TN

From 9-27-08 AU vs LSU and TN

We also went to Auburn on Saturday for the game. We stopped by tailgating to see Brian Shinnick and also the Wesley tent to see the famous David Goolsby. As most Auburn fans know, yes - we won 14-12, but it was a very uneventful game.

Fun-filled weekend

From 9-21-08 AU vs LSU and TN

From 9-21-08 AU vs LSU and TN

From 9-21-08 AU vs LSU and TN

We got to do alot this weekend. Click here to see more photos. First, we went to Auburn for the LSU game. It was fun to be back in Auburn, even if we didn't win. We got to visit with 3 sets of people. We ate lunch with Jordan and Huey, Jeremy's sister and dad. Then tailgated and spent the night with my parent's at Mrs. Julia's. Then, Devon (my Tri Delta big sis) came by to visit the tailgate, since they were in from Cleveland. We had not seen each other in 6 yrs - too long. We are going to the TN game next week too, so more photos to come.

P.S. Here is our sweet little Auburn fan in Baltimore (Molly, 1 1/2 yrs. old)

From 9-21-08 AU vs LSU and TN

Second, on Sunday we went to the Bessemer Air Show. Jeremy was supposed to meet up with the Gateway kids, but they ended up going on Saturday instead. But, we did get to see Tate and Jason there. Click here to see more photos.

From 9-21-08 Airshow in Bessemer

From 9-21-08 Airshow in Bessemer

22 weeks

From 1-24-09 Due Date

Well, week 22 is here - by popular demand (Sashari)! I went and saw Dr. Ross on Thurs. and he said that everything was looking good. The baby's heartbeat was middle of the road - 157. So no clue on a girl or boy from this. I feel like the baby has gotten bigger in just the past few days. I feel like my stomach is BIG - I know it really isn't in comparison to how much longer I have. The muscles or skin underneath my bellybutton feel like it is stretching and I have definitely transitioned over to maternity jeans now (as the picture above shows).

A first time presence was felt by Baby Long in Auburn this weekend. Baby Long really did some kick boxing during the loud downs during the game. That night, while waiting on Jeremy to come to bed, I think I felt Baby Long having the hiccups. The "kicks" were very consistent for a longer amount of time. Just a few minutes ago, I got to see my stomach "jump" 5-6 when Baby Long was kicking. Very fun and cool!

I went on Thursday to see my favorite nurse, Marnie, at Dr. Steinkampf's office. They wanted me to come back when I was about 5-6 months, so now was a good time. I also brought them some chocolate covered green apples from Edible Arrangements, Co. It was so good to see them all again! They were so good to Jeremy and I.

From 1-24-09 Due Date

Here is what babycenter.com said this week "At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily."

A New Look

Before:

From 9-19-08 Our House (before-afters)

From 9-19-08 Our House (before-afters)

We have been meaning to get the outside of our house painted for about 6 months and this week was the week. We are very pleased with the outcome and are so glad we finally did it.

After:

From 9-19-08 Our House (before-afters)

From 9-19-08 Our House (before-afters)

21 weeks

From 1-24-09 Due Date

This week baby Long and I are continuing to do well. Jeremy had already bought me some maternity clothes, but I made my first purchases this past week. My cousin Sadie, here in Birmingham, has a Debutant Ball in December that we are going to. It is going to be very fancy and Jeremy is going to be wearing a tux, so I have been on the search for something appropriate to wear at 8 months pregnant. I found this fancy top at MiMi Maternity (I will put it with a black skirt or tuxedo pants) and also bought this "no belly" skirt (love it because it is so comfortable!).

From 1-24-09 Due Date

From 1-24-09 Due Date

Babycenter.com says " Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like she's practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now."

20 weeks

From 1-24-09 Due Date

HALF WAY - 20 weeks! I can't believe it! We have had a good week. We started re-arranging the house and making room for Baby Long. Jeremy and I also went yesterday to register the rest of our "big" items at BabiesRUs. We took care of the swing, car seat, car seat base, pack n play, and pack in play sheet. Just these few items took us almost an hour, so I am (and so is Jeremy) that my mom and sister helped me register the rest of the store.

It has also been a BIG week for Jeremy. He got to feel the baby kick - BIG - and roll around 3-4 times. I also bought my first maternity clothes and wore my first maternity outfit this week.

Here is what Babycenter.com said this week "Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper.

19 weeks

This week has been fun, since I have gotten to feel the baby kick more and also can feel the baby every once in a while with my hand. I love those moments. We are still attempting to get the baby to kick for Jeremy, but I know it will be soon. It makes me sad on those days that I am so busy that I don't get to feel the baby move and kick as much.

I also finished a few sweet little gifts for our baby - either boy or girl - for when we are at the hospital. I will be knitting these in both pink and blue, but for now this is what we have. Photo #1: the pre-assembling of the pink booties. I felt like I had a bird's next on my hand when I was ready to assemble the first bootie, but it turned out well. #2: the finished pair of pink booties. #3: a blue hat if it is a boy.



Here are some interesting facts on the baby this week: "Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, taking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you. Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom —about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid."