Happy Birthday Ray!!!

Happy Birthday to my Wonderful Husband! I Love You!

32 weeks and wishing for a new back!

Well I have now entered my 8th month which means that she will be here before we know it! Not much has happened this week. We went to week 2 of childbirth class and got traumatized when the teacher decided to show the birthing video... Every thought I had of possibly not using drugs went out the window with that video, but I'm still going to remain positive! On a happier note, I did get a 15 minute massage from Ray since we were practicing relaxation techniques so that was a plus!

My back pain increased this week and I had a minor freakout moment because of it. My lovely husband tried to rub/pull/push/pop the pain away, but the only thing that helped was laying on the bed for a while and not moving. I'm feeling a little better now, but if I'm on my feet for an extended period of time the pain comes back with a vengeance!

I realized today that I go back to work in about 3 weeks and although I miss my coworkers and my lovely students, I'm not looking forward to having to work! Right now I get tired and have shooting pains down my back just from washing dishes so I don't know how much help I'll be in the classroom, but I'll do my best.

I was told by someone this week that I "dropped" a bit, but I don't think so. I've been carrying low throughout my entire pregnancy and I certainly have not notice my bathroom trips increasing or my ability to breath getting any easier... I think the way my belly looks depends on how she decides to pose in there and what shirt I'm wearing... What do ya'll think?

32 weeks posing with Nicholas!

31 weeks! Let the countdown begin!

This week I begin the 31 week mark which means that Baby Mackenzy could arrive in the next 7-10 weeks (9 more weeks until my due date)! Not much has happened this week... I went to the doctor for my check up. I get to see her every 2 weeks now up until I'm about 36 weeks and then I'll go every week. Everything is progressing as it should and Mackenzy finally measured at the correct weekly measurement! I was getting a little worried that she would be a big baby when I was measuring ahead, but she slowed down for that appointment!

Wednesday we began our "Birth and Baby" class. It was long and by the end Ray was exhausted and I felt like I had information overload, but I'd rather have to much information that not enough. We have 4 more of those classes and I'm going to another breastfeeding class and then I'll just wait around for her arrival!

Yesterday we decided to try out the car seat and car bases in our cars and they are very difficult! The manufactures make those things adult/parent proof because it took us about 15 minutes to figure out how to get the thing in there! We finally figured it out, but i didn't think it would be that hard!

Well I guess that's all of the exciting news I have for now. I'm enjoying my summer vacation and if I didn't have to go back to work in August I would continue being lazy until she comes! For now I'll just continue to rest and allow Mackenzy to marinate for the remainder of my break!

My Orange Dress!

Hello! I just felt like taking a picture in the fun orange dress my mom bought me while she was in Florida! I love this dress and the good thing is that it is a non maternity item so I can wear it again next summer!

29 weeks 5 days

29 Weeks and rapidly growing!

Howdy folks! Here I am at 29 weeks and 2 days. I feel like Baby Mackenzy had a growth spurt over the last few days... What do you think? Not much has happened this week. Ray had foot surgery so he's wearing a boot on his foot and I'm playing nurse. All we can do is laugh at ourselves because he is the crippled one and I am the pregnant one which makes us both walk like snails. Aside from my aching back and having a baby inside me that likes to move around when I'm trying to sleep, I can't complain!

28 Weeks- 3rd Trimester

Hi Everyone! Sorry I haven't posted anything all week, but I was out of town at a teaching conference at the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) in Cullowhee, NC. Thanks right! For 1 week I became a mountain girl, learned how to be a better teacher, ate some extremely yummy food, and connected with other awesome teachers from all over North Carolina. I had a wonderful week in the mountains and even learned to preoccupy myself without a cable or a computer close by, but luckily they had a gym so I did work out! I highly recommend every NC Teacher attend a NCCAT seminar before they retire! It's free and definitely worth it. (www.nccat.org)


As you can see, Mackenzy had a wonderful time in the mountains as well and she grew alot over the past week. She is now 28 weeks big and I am finally in my 3rd trimester! Ray and I have been having a blast "nesting" and getting ready for her arrival. We have cleaned out her room, cleared out our room for my glider chair, and we have begun to collect baby hangers for her tiny little clothes! This week Macy's was having a sale, so I gave in a bought her 2 sleeping outfits with the feet in them! They are so cute and one outfit even has the ruffles on the booty!

She's been moving around alot and kicking Ray's hand when he's talking to her! This week we were able to point out a distinct hand/arm going across my belly so that was kind of strange. At night we play the "which way is Mackenzy laying tonight" game and our guesses has been correct so far! My midwife was able to feel that she is head down, her back is on the left side of my stomach, and her feet are going across the top. Overall, I'm doing wonderful and getting lots of rest. It's hard to believe she'll be here in roughly 11 weeks!

27 weeks!

Hi everyone! Below is my latest picture at 27 weeks which is roughly the beginning of my 7th month and the last week of my 2nd trimester! Time is really going by fast right now and we are slowly preparing for her arrival. I can't believe she'll be here in about 13 weeks! I feel like she grows a little bit every day and is moving around constantly. She has developed some sleeping patterns and loves to kick me around 5:30 in the morning! Last night Ray was listening to my belly and she kicked him in the ear! We think she's going to be a Carolina soccer player!

In the background you can see some of the decorations on the wall of her soon-to be-nursery, but I am standing the place where the crib will go... Her room is a work in progress!

After much research on the various sleeping arrangements for newborns, I decided against using a bassinet or a cradle and purchased a Mini Co-Sleeper Bassinet. Regular bassinets only last for 15 lbs and the co-sleeper lasts for up to 25 lbs, was sturdier, and it connects to the side of our bed. I've already set it up in our room so I can get used to having something next to me and so I don't run in to it in the middle of the night!



We decided to change her room theme to Winnie the Pooh! I love the new choice, and there are Winnie the Pooh items all over the place. Ray put up the border last weekend and I put up the wall decals! I hope she likes it!


I decided to place her name on wall across from her crib and painted letters. Eventually they will hang on the wall, but I haven't done that yet.