36 weeks and still 40 inches

From 1-24-09 Due Date

Just 4 more week, or so!!

Babycenter said "Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position."

We also got so much done around here during the Christmas break. Items checked off the list include: gathering the items that need to be sterilized; washing the first load of baby clothes (see photo below) and other baby items (so sweet); the baby mattress arriving and putting it in the bed; unpacking the car seat and getting it all set up (we still need to get it installed by the fire department); preparing the bath toys and bath tub; setting up the diaper champ; unboxing (but still needing to assemble) the swing, bouncer, baby gate (for Tate and Molly) and pack n play; putting the crib aquarium on the baby's bed; moving the computer out of the baby's room and into the upstairs hallway; taking down the card table in the baby's room; moving the modem, router, and wireless to the left of the baby's bed; boxing up the desktop computer to give it away; hanging the wooden shelf back in our master bedroom after my parents got it refinished for us along with the rest of the bedroom set; moving the filing cabinet so that the handmade cradle will fit in our bedroom; and connecting the printer and external hard drive to my new laptop.

From 1-24-09 Due Date

My Dr. apt are every week now. I had one today and the baby's heartbeat was about 151 beats/minute. I also had my first internal exam. and Dr. Radbill said that my body was starting to progress. NOT TO GET EXCITED (a HUGE reminder to myself mostly)- but I am 50% afaced and a fingertip dilated. Dr. Radbill was very surprised by this since I am only 36 weeks and this is our first baby. He also confirmed that the baby is head down. My sister, Jen, is helping me to stay securely grounded since she was 70% afaced and 2-3 cm dilated with Molly for a few weeks and still was 10 days late. My apt. next week is on Thurs. afternoon.

From 12-29-08 Sadie's Debutante Ball

Last night, we went to Sadie's, my cousin, Poinsettia Debutante Ball at the Vestavia Country Club. It was a fun night to get dress up - Jeremy in a tux and I also got my hair "done". Click here to see more pix.

From 12-24-08 Christmas Eve at the Long's

From 12-13-08 Batson Cmas in ATL and Bham

Now that we have done Cmas with both my immediate family and Jeremy's immediate family, I wanted to show you what I made for the little girls this Cmas. These shaws are very easy and quick to make. I just cut out the fleece, did a blanket stitch with yard on the outside, and then knit a flower to go on it. I have already posted the Batson Cmas photos, so here are the Long Cmas photos.

1 MONTH from Today! (35 weeks and 40 inches)

From 1-24-09 Due Date

ONE MORE MONTH until my due date 1/24/09!!! I am feeling great and really enjoying being pregnant still. YEAH!

From 1-24-09 Due Date

Pregnant or not pregnant? Each time I wear this shirt it looks like I am not pregnant, so we decided to take a pix. Well, here I really am from the side.

From 1-24-09 Due Date

Babycenter says "Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight."

From 12-21-08 The Wii

Jeremy got a Wii this week, so it has been lots of fun playing. He has these additional games: Tiger Woods Golf 09, Mario Cart, and Game Party 2 (lawn darts, shuffle board, trivia, horseshoes, skee ball, etc.)

From 12-19-08 Jordan's Graduation

This past Friday, Jordan graduated from Auburn with a Liberal Arts degree in Spanish. She is not sure what here next steps are (she might be moving to Los Angeles, moving to Spain, just getting a job somewhere in the US, etc). We are just excited to see the next move that God has for her life. Congratulations, Jordan! We are very proud of you. See more pix here.

Dr. Apt and Importanat Items ordered....FINALLY!

I went to the dr. today for my 35 week apt. It went great! The baby's heartbeat was about 145 beats/minute. He also said I was measuring about 33 weeks, so Dr. Ross is thinking our Little One will be just shy of 7 lbs. - which sounds nice to me.

We are very blessed to have our carseat purchased for us: Link



I have also spent the day order a few items that are much needed to bring our Little One home. We were very blessed with some cash gifts, credit at some stores, and also gift certificates:

baby bed matress - Link

bouncie seat - Link

diaper bag - Link

34 weeks and 40 inches

From 1-24-09 Due Date

Wow - how am I 34 weeks already!?!?! It is so exciting to say that we only have 6 weeks left. YEAH!

Babycenter.com says "Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. "

From 12-13-08 Batson Cmas in ATL and Bham

We have had a fun filled week - see all the photos here. My parents and Jen/Chad/Molly were in town from Friday - Tuesday. We spent some time in Atlanta with my dad's extended family celebrating Christmas. Then on our way back on Sunday, we ate lunch with my mom's extended family celebrating Christmas. Monday was a much needed relaxing day back in Birmingham at our house - some of us didn't take showers until 4pm.

From 12-16-08 Ark Hunting Trip

On Sunday, Jeremy left and went hunting with some clients and his dad/brother in Arkansas. See more photos here.

33 weeks and 39 1/2 inches

From 1-24-09 Due Date

So Jeremy thinks that I didn't measure correctly last week, that is why I was 32 weeks and 38 inches around, so this week he measured me and I am 33 weeks and 39 1/2 inches around.

Babycenter says "This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood."


Most of you have probably heard of a website called Facebook. Well, since not everyone is a part of it, I wanted to include Jeremy's "status" updates that he has written these past few months about Baby Long's arrival. I would say he is definitely an excited Dad-to-be:

8/20/08 Jeremy is excited that after Michelle's big ultrasound today... we're having a human (there was some question that it could be a squash or ET)!!!

8/08 Jeremy spent the day looking for baby furniture with Michelle.

9/22/08 Jeremy is wondering what his & Michelle's baby is going to look like.

9/28/08 Jeremy is staring at his wife's pregnant belly and lovin' it!

10/20/08 Jeremy is trying to figure out why they can't make baby furniture that doesn't require hands the size of a 3 year old & the strength of an ox to put together?

11/17/08 Jeremy had fun with his niece Molly this weekend and his other niece Tate tonight. Can't wait to have my own little buddy to play with in a few months!

1/8/09 Jeremy is excited that the doctor said the baby may come 1 1/2 weeks early!!!

1/15/09 Jeremy just enjoyed some tasty chocolate chip cookies with Michelle while waitin' for that baby to pop out. Giddy up cowboy... or cowgirl!

1/17/09 Jeremy and Michelle are going to kick our doctor in the crotch if that baby doesn't pop out today after getting us all fired up that "it will be here before Sunday"!

1/18/09 Jeremy Long had fun playing games today. Took our mind off wondering when "the kid" will get here. It can't stay in there forever... or could it?

32 weeks and still 38 inches

From 1-24-09 Due Date

My hips have been hurting every night now. So a pillow between my knees and Extra Strength Tylenol during the night are some of my new best friends. I have also had my first few nights of "wee hour" acid reflux. So I feel like an old lady now. You should see my nightstand when I go to bed with a glass of water, 2 Tylenol's sitting out, and 2 Maalox sitting out - yep, that is me.

Babycenter says: "By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth."

From 11-28-08 Chattanooga Tgiving and Shower

We had a good weekend in Chattanooga for Thanksgiving. We were blessed with a baby shower that included both sides of Jeremy's family. See more photos here.

We went to the doctor today. We saw Dr. Mackenzie in the rotation for the first time. The baby's heartbeat was about 130. He also didn't want to guess on the baby's birth weight, but he did say that it would NOT be a 9 lb. baby. I guess that means it could be 7 lb, 8 lb, or even 10 lbs - ha ha! He also said that the baby was head down and most likely to stay! YEAH! He let Jeremy and I feel the head in position below my belly button, which was really cool!

AND today was my last day at work! YEAH! Holiday season, nesting, and fun - here I come!

31 weeks and 38 inches

From 1-24-09 Due Date

so my belly grew 1 1/2 inches this week and now I am 38 inches around :) crazy!

Babycenter says "This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy."

From 11-18-08 SSN and AO showers

From 11-18-08 SSN and AO showers

We were blessed with 2 more baby showers this week. Jeremy's office, SS Nesbitt, was very generous and our community group, Alpha and Omega, honored me at a Baby Mama's Night Out.

From 1-24-09 Due Date

I was also excited to put all the books that we received at our Birmingham shower on the baby's shelf. It looks so cute and ready for Baby Long.

A friend had shared this prayer with me awhile back and I just love it for Baby Long:
"Father, cause _____'s identity to be firmly rooted and established in Christ's love, and give ____ the power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ (Eph. 3:17-18). Show _____ that he/she is fearfully and wonderfully made, and that Your works are wonderful. Teach him/her that he/she is precious and valuable in Your sight (Ps. 139:14; Isa. 43:4). I pray that the hope that ____ has in Jesus Christ would be an anchor for his/her soul, firm and secure (Heb. 9:16)."

From 11-22-08 Our House (before-afters)

From 11-22-08 Our House (before-afters)

Jeremy has been doing more house renovations this week. He finished taking down the boarder in in the kitchen and the guest bathroom upstairs. Then on Saturday, Jeremy also painted the whole kitchen. It was a huge task and he did an awesome job. It looks so good and we love the color!