Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Tick Tock

It seems like time is both flying and slooooooooooooowly crawling by at the same time.  Things seem to be flying in the respect that I can't believe it's just a matter of weeks until Jeff & I become parents and get to meet our baby girl!  Trying to keep up with the amount of work at my job while preparing for maternity leave has also kept me pretty occupied.  It's the discomforts of pregnancy that makes time seem to be at a standstill.

Don't get me wrong...it is a wonderful, miraculous experience no doubt.  In the beginning, the extreme hyperemesis was the sickest I'd ever been in my life.  But that seems like such a long time ago.  I'd say the 2nd half of the 2nd trimester has been my favorite time of pregnancy.  I was finally over being sick and hadn't yet hit the discomforts that come later on.  Feeling the little first movements was absolutely amazing.  Finding out we are having a girl, seeing her growth with each ultrasound...those are priceless moments we will never forget.

Can't say I'll miss the huge belly (that is always getting in my way and making it really hard to tie my shoes), the near constant hip pain, lack of sleep, etc.  She's totally worth it though.  I've read that as babies get bigger, you often feel less movement because they get cramped for space.  I think it's been the opposite with baby Shay.  The less space she has, the more she pushes, shoves, kicks & punches me as if she's trying to MAKE more room for herself.  And she does it for long periods at a time...I don't think this little person sleeps much!  And for being under 6 lbs., she sure is strong!  My whole stomach literally moves all over the place when she's active.  Sometimes it looks like a marble or roll of quarters is rolling across my tummy.  Weirdest.  Feeling.  Ever.

I'm 36 1/2 weeks along at this point (or almost 8 1/2 months pregnant).  I really hope Shay doesn't decide to come late.  Maternity leave from work begins 2 weeks from today and I am really looking forward to it.  In the meantime, we've been preparing for the big day, getting our paperwork lined up, chores done around the house, cars serviced, packing the hospital bag, etc.  We're almost done with all of our classes.  This Saturday is the last lamaze class (which we've found really informative and would highly recommend in case anyone is ever interested).  Jeff's sister & mom threw us a baby shower last Saturday.  More on that in a future blog.  So we're feeling more and more ready.  Still have to get a few more items but the outpouring of love & support from friends and family has been such a blessing!

We had a bit of a scare a couple of weeks ago when the OB ordered an ultrasound and said that the amniotic fluid was low and that they would need to monitor it.  Thankfully, it's gone back up and everything appears to be healthy.  We had an appointment a couple of days ago and another ultrasound showed the fluid at optimal levels and they estimated baby Shay's weight at 5lbs., 12 oz.  No cute pictures to post though...she had her face all smooshed up against the placenta and her feet up near her head.  She seems to really like hanging around in a pike position...I think she may have some gymnast in her!  Either that or maybe UFC fighter based on how much and how hard she pushes.  Can't wait to tickle her little feet instead of feeling them in my ribs!

Okay time to end this disjointed blog entry and try to get some sleep.  Hopefully I'll be able to update this more in the coming weeks leading up to baby's arrival! 

Monday, January 11, 2010

32 Week Check-Up

I got an unexpected surprise today...got to see baby Shay on ultrasound again!  It was supposed to be regular check-up, but the doctor ordered a spur-of-the-moment ultrasound because she wanted to make sure the baby was alright since the fundal height measurement (measurement of the "baby bump") hadn't grown since the last appointment.  This could be due in part to the way the baby is positioned but the doctor wanted to get more accurate measurements to make sure everything's okay.

This was the one appointment Jeff missed because it was scheduled for afternoon and I just headed over after work.  Meanwhile, Jeff had his own doctor appointment so we figured this would just be a routine check-up and he wouldn't miss much.  I know how much he loves seeing our baby girl on the ultrasound screen so it's a bummer he missed this.  But I think they'll do another ultrasound closer to the due date.

Anyway, everything looks great!  Baby's VERY active, appears healthy and is upside down (the correct position to be born).  She's just on the small side.  At 32 weeks, she is approximately 3 lbs., 10 oz. which is in the 30th percentile.  Jeff was under 7 lbs. at birth and I'm guessing I probably wasn't a large baby either so I think our little girl is just petite.  Under 4 lbs. but she sure can kick, punch & roll...I know, it keeps me up at night!  Dynamite comes in small packages right?  As long as she's healthy, then her being on the small side will hopefully make for an easier birth!

The ultrasound also revealed that baby Shay already has a lot of hair on her head.  She might be born with a fro!  The doctor said that babies who have parents with dark hair tend to have more hair at birth.  (Note to self: Bring cute bow to the hospital to put in her hair to tame aforementioned fro.)  Finally got to see both of her little feet and both look free of Daddy's double jointed "monkey toes" so that's good news!  She had her hands up by her face and looked like she was playing Peek-A-Boo...she's cute already!


32 Weeks: 3D ultrasound pic. Peek-a-Boo!

In the meantime, we're busy getting things in order for her arrival.  The nursery is really coming together now.  We have all of the furniture and decorations up.  Just need a crib mattress and sheets to complete the crib.  Jeff's on the hunt for the perfect pediatrician.  I'm getting paperwork in order for my maternity leave, hospital pre-registration, living wills, etc.  Last week marked our first class which was Infant Safety & CPR (incidently, Jeff let the practice baby dummy's head fall off, LOL!).  This Thursday we have a Newborn Care class and Saturday marks the beginning of a series of Lamaze classes.  Baby showers are being planned.  Life is keeping us on our feet for sure!  And it is all worth it for the moment we can't wait for...holding our baby girl for the first time. 

Here are the promised pics of the nursery:

Crib sans Mattress & Bedding


Changing Table & some Twinkle Bugs


Girlified Queen Sized Bed for Mommy & Daddy

Dresser & Mirror

Twinkle Bugs!

S-H-A-Y Letter Mirrors we made

Portrait of Mommy & Daddy...frame matches crib design

Closetmaid Cubicle Unit with Fabric Bins

She's already collecting a wardrobe!

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Christmas

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!  I'm exhausted with work, all of the family get-togethers and hustle & bustle (not to mention being in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy!) but I really enjoyed the holiday.  My mom came in town from Minnesota to spend Christmas with us and it was really nice to have her here.  Jeff had some cousins in town so it was good to see them as well...I think fun times were had by all!  Baby Shay made out like a little bandit with the Christmas gifts and she's not even born yet!

Here's a pic of some of the stuff for Baby Shay and this was just from my side of the family!

As a special surprise we took both of our moms out to lunch at P.F. Chang's and then over to get a 4D ultrasound on the 23rd.  They were really excited to be able to see the baby live and we walked away with a DVD and some photo prints.  Baby Shay pretty much slept the entire time but she woke up long enough to give us a good yawn.  Here are a couple of the color pics with close ups of her sweet face:

29 Weeks: 4D Ultrasound

29 Weeks: 4D Ultrasound

This year, I have a special appreciation for all that Mary went through to bring baby Jesus into the world.  Might sound cliche but there are some things I never really thought about or understood until this point in my life.  While I'm reading up on all of the health care pregnancy issues, Mary had no modern prenatal care.  While I'm trying to figure out what to pack for the hospital, she and Joseph were traveling to Bethlehem (and certainly not by car).  While I'm worrying about what labor will be like even in a hospital that has all of the modern luxuries (electricity, plumbing, soft beds, pillows, temperature control, state of the art medicine and machines, doctors, etc.), she  gave birth in what was basically a dirty cave stable at night.  While Jeff & I put together a pristine, beautiful new crib, Jesus was laid in an unsanitary manger. 

And Joseph...I don't forgot about him either.  He stuck by Mary despite all of the judgement and criticism thrown his way for being engaged to a pregnant woman.  After all, how many people really believed that she was a virgin and carrying the Son of God?!  Jeff has taken on an active role taking care of me and committing to being at every OB appointment but I know he feels a little helpless in not being able to do anything when I don't feel well.  How must Joseph have felt?  When Mary was giving birth in that stable, was he running around just trying to do whatever he could not to feel helpless as she laid there in pain?  While most new dads just have to worry about raising a baby in a typical upbringing, Joseph was charged with being the dad to God Himself!

These are just a few of the thoughts that crossed my mind over the last couple of weeks.  And how much more of a miracle it seems that God would choose to show His love to us in this way?  By coming to Earth as a baby...wow!

Well, the tree is still up, but Christmas is officially over.  Usually this time comes with a little bit of a let down but so much is ahead of us in the coming year that the end of the holiday season is bringing a new sense of excitement and purpose.  January kicks off a busy month at work and for the Burton's as classes start in full swing.  Beginning on the 16th, we have a series of Lamaze classes every Saturday.  Scattered throughout the coming weeks will also be a Newborn Care class, Infant CPR & Safety and some others. 

Just had our 30 week check up yesterday and everything looks good with baby and with me.  At this point, we'll be seeing the doctor every other week until I hit the 36 week point at which time we will go in every week until I deliver.  I have no idea why but both Jeff & I think Baby Shay will arrive a little early.  He's thinking Feb. 28th.  I'm thinking Mar. 5th.  No rhyme or reason why really...we're probably both way off but we look forward to whenever her arrival is.  Can't wait to see and hold our baby girl!

Happy New Year everyone...may it bring lots of happiness and many, many blessings!

I'll leave you with some photos from the last week:

Jeff & me...I wish him luck giving birth to that one!

Forget "Goodnight Moon."  We have "Goodnight Minnesota!"

Mom, me & Jeff at New River Fellowship after the candlelight Christmas Eve service


Big huge tree at the Opryland Hotel


Jeff's dad Larry & his "Grandpa Larry" t-shirt


My mom and her "I'm Too Sexy To Be Called Grandma" mug


The baby carrier Nana got us (and the goofball wearing it!)

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Alive & Kickin'

Chalk it up to one of those "Duh" moments, but a few weeks ago, I think I finally understood the phrase "Alive & kickin'."  Because the only way I know that baby Shay is alive is when she's kicking me.  So, although sometimes I want her to stop if I'm trying to go to sleep, I am glad when she gives me a few kicks or rolls to let me know she's okay.  And she's giving me bigger and stronger kicks by the day.  I think this baby thinks she's a Rockette or a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader in a kickline or something.

Really not a lot of news to report but I was feeling guilty that I haven't updated this blog lately.  Life has been really busy with work & preparing for the holidays.  Plus I get tired out a lot easier than I used to.  We had our 28 week check up yesterday and Dr. Mackey said that everything looks "perfectly healthy" and that she "has no concerns at all."  Baby is growing well and her heartbeat is strong, so we can't ask for better than that!  I did have to drink a bottle full of orange flavored nastiness for a glucose tolerance test which is a routine early screen for gestational diabetes.  Jeff found it amusing to watch me chug the stuff and make faces.  Won't get the results back until the end of the week but I'm not too concerned about it.  Although, after all of the Christmas sweets, perhaps I should rethink that!

A little crib drama update:  After all of the running around to get the crib & changing table, we tried to put them together the next day only to find that the big backboard piece of the crib was severly cracked all the way up one side.  So we contacted the company and they sent a replacement piece a couple of weeks later.  Well, Jeff opened the box and it was the WRONG PIECE!  Another phone call to the company and they said that they would send the correct piece and arrange for the other to be picked up.  Another couple of weeks later and the big box containing the wrong piece is still hanging out in our dining room.  Glad we didn't start this process a month before the due date or baby Shay might not have a bed!

Speaking of bed, Jeff has begun reading "Goodnight Moon" to baby every night.  Apparently, her ears are developed enough to hear sounds outside the womb and babies can recognize their parents' voices at birth and it can calm them.  My OB's office has a website with a link to week-by-week pregnancy timeline if you want to check it out.  The development on a week-to-week basis is amazing and I love reading up on it...truly a miracle!

Here's a couple of pregnancy portraits we had done for our Christmas card.  Please excuse the quality...we only had prints and our scanner isn't quite the best thing around:




Friday, November 20, 2009

Crib Craziness

This is my loooong tale of adventures in baby shopping today (begin reading at your own risk...you've been forwarned that it's long):

Buying a crib & matching changing table.  Doesn't seem like it'd be too big a task right?  WRONG!  At least the particular crib & changing table set I happened to get my heart set on came with all the features I wanted and an added dose of drama. 

It all started a couple of months ago when I found the set on Target.com.  It wasn't on sale when I first discovered it, nor did it qualify for free shipping.  So I decided to bookmark it on my web favorites and keep checking back.  No luck.  Upon adding it to a shopping cart the shipping costs alone came out to $173.98!  Of course I picked out the one model by Graco that is pretty much only carried at Target.  Not any other comparable store, Babies R Us or dept. store.  I did find it online at a couple of different crib sites with free shipping but the price they had on it would have been equal or greater to buying it at Target (and that's WITH the extravagant shipping).

However, it happened to be one of the few sets actually carried in Target stores (a lot are  available online only) so I thought, "No big deal...I'll just go to a Target store and pick it up.  Better call around and see who has it first."  So I called one store and they had the changing table but not the crib.  The nice sales person offered to check around at other local Targets and none of them had the crib in stock.  So I was told to call back every Mon., Wed. & Fri. morning as that's when the stores get new shipments in (although they apparently don't know what will arrive in those shipments).  This started my barrage of phone calls over the next week.  Once I realized how difficult it was to find either the crib or the changing table, I began phoning like a stalker.  I'm sure the Mt. Juliet Target is sick of me!

This all brings me to yesterday when my brother Ty emailed me and asked if I'd gotten anything from him in the mail recently.  Thinking that was odd, I told him no but that I don't check the mail every day.  I arrived home from work to find that Jeff had gotten all the mail and there was a baby card in it.  Upon opening it, three Target gift cards fell out.  One from my mom, one from my dad and one from Ty & his wife Jen.  The card said that they were for our crib.  We were floored!

I had requested today off from work some time ago, setting it aside as a baby registry day.  Only those familiar with the Nashville area will appreciate the amount of driving involved today, but here's what happened...

We started out the morning driving to the Rivergate area for breakfast at IHOP (the pumpkin pancakes are delicious, by the way).  Then it was off to the Rivergate Target to set up our registry.  After being scan happy for about an hour, we asked a sales associate about the crib and changing table.  She searched the system and found that the Nashville West store had our changing table but not the crib and the Hendersonville store had the crib but not the changing table.  Since most stores don't seem to have either in stock, we thought we'd better jump on it today and had both stores hold which one they had.  So we skipped starting our baby registry at Babies R Us in favor of heading to the Hendersonville store where we discovered the crib box was much bigger than we naively thought and wouldn't have a prayer of fitting into our Ford Taurus.  So down we went to Jeff's folks' house in Antioch and got their truck that they graciously let us borrow.  From there we went all the way to the Nashville West store (on Charlotte) and picked up the changing table.  Then we headed all the way back to Hendersonville to get our crib.  Finally just got home and we are exhausted but so happy we have them.  After the gift cards from my family, we only paid $17! 

Planning on putting them together tomorrow and put some of our decor up in the nursery.  I'll post pictures once that's done.  Jeff was initially dreading putting the furniture together.  Now I think he's sort of viewing it as a test of his manhood after I read a few online reviews about the crib stating that some 8 months pregnant women had managed to put it together by themselves in less than 30 minutes.  Hehe, I'll let you know how it goes later!  All that said, here's what everything is supposed to look like when they're assembled:


Tuesday, October 27, 2009

The Name Game

After much (and I mean MUCH) brainstorming and discussion, we finally have a name for our baby girl! Drumroll please...


Shay Seraphina Burton


So let me share how we arrived at this decision. I first heard the name "Shay" my freshman year at Belmont University. One of the girls who was in Hail Hall with me has the name. Cool name, cool girl. So I immediately fell in love with it. Turns out, Jeff loves it too!

"Seraphina" is the feminine Hebrew form of the root word "seraphim" which are the highest order of angels (higher than archangels and cherubim). Jeff has always loved angels so we knew we wanted to try to incorporate some sort of angelic name for our daughter.

However, we know that she won't always act angelic so we needed a multi-syllabic middle name for her as just yelling "Shay!" doesn't quite cut it. So yelling "Shay Seraphina!" has a little more kick...we know, we both tried it out, LOL!

Monday, October 26, 2009

Big News

This announcement comes a few days late as we got the news last Thurs. Oct. 22nd, but WE'RE HAVING A GIRL! It has been the strangest thing...EVERYONE has been telling us that they thought it would be a girl practically since I got pregnant. Guess it was meant to be!


Our 20 week ultrasound showed our baby girl totally bent in a pike position (she's already a gymnast!). She was awake, moving around a little and sucking her thumb. We actually asked to look at her feet so we could see if there were any tell tale signs of her Daddy's double jointed "monkey toes" and, so far, her feet look normal...woot! Everything else looks great too. She appears to be very healthy and growing well. We couldn't ask for more!
Here are some pics from the ultrasound:


Profile Pic of baby
Sucking her thumb
Looks like normal little feet...no sign of Daddy's "monkey toes!"

4D ultrasound pic