T-minus one month!

I can't believe we are already in the home stretch! One month until our due date! Daniel and I went to Memphis last weekend to purchase 'a few' last minute items and ended up breaking the bank! Adorable baby clothes are the devil and impossible to resist! When we got back we had fun putting in the car seat, washing and putting away all the clothes, and organizing stuff! Only big thing left to do is pack bags! Oh, and pick a name. I'm sure you don't believe me, but we really are closer to finalizing the name. :) And I will let you all know when my mind is totally made up.

We've got our first 'weekly' OB appointment tomorrow. We are both anxious to see if any 'progress' has been made by the occasional contractions I've had. Probably not, but I'm excited anyways! I don't want too much progress because Daniel will be in New Orleans November 8-11! Several of my girlfriends have offered to stay with me while he's gone, just in case! Xerxes will probably be late like most first borns are, but it would be nice if he'd make an appearance before Thanksgiving. No rushing these things though!

The nursery is almost done except for needing things to hang on the walls. The Walter Anderson we received will most likely go above the crib once it is painted and framed. I'm undecided what else I will hang, but the walls look sadly empty to me at the moment, so I've got to work on that. I'm open for suggestions! I've posted some pics of the nursery in it's current state.



Please ignore the stickers on the dresser drawers! My feeble brain needs them to remember which drawer has what sized baby clothes!




The gestational diabetes diet is going fine. My numbers are always good unless I cheat. I always know when I'm going to fail, but sometimes I just can't resist that piece of french bread. French bread is definitely the worst offender so far. I am really sick of having turkey sandwiches with a side of carrots and cucumbers for lunch just about every day. We eat lunch at work most days, and it's hard to find things that are easy to bring for lunch that fit the diet. Thankfully today we have leftovers from dinner, so I get at least a day off from sandwiches. Just one more month and then I won't have to constantly think about what I can eat 6 times a day!

Farewell Jenny, Vic, and Madylan!

Jenny, Vic, and baby Madylan should be on the road to California today! Please join me in wishing them good luck and safe travels as the drive cross country with a week old baby, 3 dogs, and a trailer behind the truck! Talk about an adventure! We will certainly miss them! The girls went out for dinner last night as a second birthday dinner for Christina and as a going away for Jenny. We'll all just have to make a trip to California to visit one day!

Weekend at the cabin

Daniel and I drove over to the cabin Saturday morning to enjoy the wonderful fall weather and what could be our last trip to the cabin without a baby in tow! Although it did sprinkle off and on on Saturday, Sunday was just perfect! It's so nice to see blue skies again! I spent a good bit of Saturday relaxing in front of the fire and working on the baby's stocking. I definitely think I'll be finished before he gets here. Not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Yesterday we went for a long walk through the woods and around part of the lake.

It was pretty chilly when we first started our walk, so Mom and I are all bundled up.


Freddie, Mom and Bailey


The Martins


Looking across the lake to our point although you can't see our cabin since the leaves are still on the trees.



Bailey had a blast swimming of course!



The often requested, rarely flattering, belly shot. Feeling big as a house.

Update on Baby Martin

Since Daniel was in California this week and didn't get home til about 2 am this morning, my Mom graciously spent her birthday going to OB appointment and childbirth class with me! Thanks Mom! Appointment went well. Sonogram confirmed our baby is still in head down position with rump and feet crowding my ribcage! He's been in the position for at least the last 2 weeks, so I'm hoping he's there to stay. They are estimating his weight to be 5lb 8 oz currently, so that's good news! He's still in the normal size range, so no giganto babies here yet! My doctor confirmed that the menstrual crampies I've felt very occasionally are most likely contractions, so I guess my body is gearing up! I sort of have a feeling I'm gonna go into labor before my due date, but that could just be nerves I suppose. Just in case, we plan to do some last minute prep this weekend. I plan to get all the clothes and bedding washed, a suitcase packed, and practice with the car seat installation. Maybe this is just more crazy nesting, but it's not like I can stop it, so we'll do it early to make me feel better. My blood glucose levels have been good and fairly easy to maintain. I am looking forward to some homemade french toast with blueberries and syrup and a huge bowl of Baskin Robbins Chocolate Peanut Butter ice cream after our baby gets here! I've been able to have the occasional cookie or piece of cake without failing my glucose tests, so I don't feel totally deprived.

My friend Jenny gave birth to her daughter, Madylan, on Monday! I hope to see her in person this weekend, but from pictures she's a beautiful miniature of her Mom! Jenny, Vic, and Madylan will be moving to California in 2 weeks, so I've got to get some baby love time in!

And now for an update on the stocking. So Mom and I got all the threads separated, so I hope to actually get started tomorrow. From the number and tiny size of the threads, this is a very daunting task. I may join the ranks of mothers who have half completed stockings crammed in a drawer! Oh well, something to occupy my time and maybe keep me from wanting to re-organize the cabinets above the washer and dryer! :) I will try and take pictures to document my progress. Wish me luck!

We are heading to the cabin tomorrow morning. Since Mom and Freddie both had birthdays this week, we are looking forward to some belated celebrating with them! I'm also looking forward to some sunny, cold fall weather, a big pot of taco soup, and the first fire of the season!

More Coast Shower Pics

My mother in law Anna, me and Daniel


Me and Aunt Katherine


Madeline and Avery both loved the fountain in front of the house.


Lots of lovely gifts!




Our yummy lunch! Thanks Uncle Walter!






Our very delicious cake!

Call me crazy

Call me crazy, and maybe it is some form of crazy nesting instinct, but I have my heart set on making a Christmas stocking for Baby Martin. I looked through every available needlepoint kit online, and finally settled on this one. At first I thought maybe it was too girly, but I wanted something Christmas-y without including Santa, etc. This was one of the very few options that fit that description. I guess when he gets old enough to care, I'll make him a new one with whatever he wants on it. For now, this is what he gets! You'll notice this stocking has a place for the name at the top. I plan to have a name to put on there before Christmas. I really think we are getting closer on that front. Daniel is more ready to make the final decision then I am. Not sure what is holding me back, but we'll get there! I'll be doing the back of this stocking in velvet, so thought I might make some simple velvet stockings for me and Daniel. The question is, what name do I put at the top of ours? Susan and Daniel? Mom and Dad? Mommy and Daddy? Daniel and I were too weirded out by the thought to make a decision, so I'm open for suggestions.

Coast Baby Shower

Daniel and I drove down to Ocean Springs this past weekend for our second baby shower. It was held at his Aunt Katherine's house/bed and breakfast, Chateau Blessey. The day, the decor, the company, and the food was outstanding! I haven't gotten copies of all of the photos we took, but Sherri did provide hers! I look really huge in these pics. I guess that's because I am! Here's hoping I don't get much bigger! Baby Martin should be growing to fill up the space instead of the 'space' growing anymore!

It was much warmer on the coast than here in Oxford, but we couldn't have had a more beautiful day! I was so happy to get to spend time with Sherri and the girls!



Beth, who currently lives in Ocean Springs, was able to come! It was so nice to see her!


We dined on the front porch overlooking the beachfront! Uncle Walter made a wonderful meal for us! Boiled shrimp, pasta with marina, salad, fresh papaya, and bread! Lunch was followed by a wonderful cake! Yes, I did have a piece, and yes, it did make me fail my glucose test that afternoon. So worth it though! So delicious!


Daniel had planned to drop me off and go have man time with his brother, but instead stuck around to help out! He and Zach made wonderful wait staff!


After lunch we moved inside to open gifts. Madeline and Avery were a big help! They handed me presents and gave their expert seal of approval for each gift!






The wonderful hostesses gave us a beautiful Walter Anderson print to hang in the nursery! Let's hope Daniel can persuade our friend Rebekah to paint this one for us as well! She's the best!


Thank you wonderful hostesses! (from L to R: Mrs. Wavra, my MIL, me, Aunt Katherine, Mrs. Kortman, and Mrs. Wilson)


Besides 'working' the shower, Daniel also got to spend lots of time with the nieces. They sure do love their silly Uncle Daniel!


The happy soon-to-be parents!


*Next post will be about my newest project to complete before the baby comes!