Stay Tuned..

So here I am, 36 weeks, where has the time gone? I am now seeing my doctor on a weekly basis until Eli arrives. She is so happy with the progress, as am I. I have been so fortunate to have such a smooth pregnancy. So far, there have been no problems or concerns and I feel very blessed! Brad is as ready as I am. We are both so excited and ready for this incredible change in ours lives.
Chances are that I will not post another blog until Eli gets here, but Brad has promised to update the blog while all the excitement is going on. So stay tuned....

Baby Showers

We definitely had a eventful weekend, filled with great friends and family. We are so lucky to be able to raise Eli around such great people. Friday afternoon, my place of work threw me a baby shower. The shower had a jungle theme and was too cute! I attached a picture of the diaper cake that a friend of mine made for me...she made it herself and I was amazed. On Saturday I recovered from the eventful day and got up and going again on Sunday. Brad and I traveled to Chattanooga for another shower thrown by two of my other mothers who totally outdid themselves. The day was great! I was surrounded by wonderful family, great food and friends. With all the support and wonderful gifts from both showers, Brad and I are confident that we are ready for Eli to get here. I can't believe that he will be here a little over a month....where has time gone?

The Nursery

This weekend we finally completed the nursery for Eli. The room is so cozy that Brad feel asleep in the chair while reading a book yesterday. We are so very excited to use it even more once the little guy gets here. We spent the weekend catching up with friends and also attended our first basketball game of the season...GO VOLS!!!!
We only have about seven more weeks to go and we are wondering where time has gone. We met with the doctor again on Friday and everything is still going great. When Brad asked how big he is right now, she estimated that he is close to four pounds....good golly!!!! My belly is growing about an inch a week, just when I feel like I cannot get any bigger. Emotions have been a hot topic the past week, but the great weekend helped me chill out again. So, as you can tell, things are going great. No complaints here:)

Birthing Classes

Last night we had our second birthing class and oh the things I realized. First, Brad is a great breather! We did this exercise on different breathing techniques and he was so focused and did great. I tried to focus as much as he did, but I couldn't stop giggling. He is going to be such a great help when I am in labor. Secondly, I want drugs as soon as contractions begin. We watched a video on labor all the way to the birth, and golly those ladies go through alot of pain. It is finally getting through my head that Eli has to come out of me somehow too and the way that is, doesn't look pleasant.
The countdown has begun, and Brad and I are getting closer and closer to becoming parents. The nursery is ready, we almost have everything we need, and now we just sit back and wait. I am 31 weeks along, meaning Eli can arrive anytime between 38 and 40 week...that is not far away!
Until then, Brad and I are going to try and stay busy. Basketball season has begun, and thanks to my father-in-law...we have great seats, perfect for a pregnant woman to get to. No more 32 steps to climb...yeah us! We also have the holidays fast approaching. I have been realizing how much work it is to shop, so gifts cards are the way to go this year:)
Don't forget to vote!

Baby Shower

I have to say, I have some of the most wonderful friends around! Not only have they been there for me through this exciting time, but this past Sunday, they threw me a wonderful baby shower. Jaci and Terra outdid themselves. There were silly games, a costume contest and of course, lots of sweet surprises for Eli and I. It was such a beautiful day and we all had a great time! Thanks ladies!!!

Me at 29 Weeks

It is hard to believe that Eli is going to be here in 10 weeks. Time has flown by, even though I feel like I have been pregnant for years. Eli is still moving and making his presence known more and more each day. Last night Brad put together our new stroller and what a sight. Believe it or not, it was actually more difficult than putting together the crib, or so it looked that way. I was just the director:)

The picture attached to this blog is one from this past weekend. On Saturday, we took a picnic to the National Park and went for a short, but beautiful hike. I would have made it further if it weren't for my bladder.

Not much more to say, we are still just moving along and trying to get everything situated before our little one arrives.

Sending much love!

Brad, Jen and Eli

2 Years!!!

That is right, today Brad and I are celebrating two year of marriage. Whew, how time flies!

Last weekend we were able to skip town and head to Nashville to watch the Titan/Viking game. We knew one of us had to go home dissappointed, and of course that person was me. We had a great time though! We saw Brad's friend from College, Brent, AKA Biggie and also met up with Neil and Laura.

Not much else going on, though I would post a couple pictures.

Hope all is well!

Lucky me!

Here I am, 25 weeks along in my pregnancy and already want to little guy to be here. The anticipation is killing me! In the meantime, Brad and I have been hard at work getting the nursery ready and organizing the house so Eli has a place for his stuff in our sweet, little home. Motivating Brad is pretty easy, his input has been great and I am so lucky to have a guy who is helping out so much with everything! Granted it took us weeks to figure out the color of the nursery because we both had our own ideas, but we finally agree. If it was up to me, I would have painted the walls blue and bought a bedding set from Babies R Us and accessorized with everything that they have there, but Brad wants to go with a "Northern Moose" theme, and it is turning out to be great! We found this great rug and bedding that has blue, chocolate and khaki in it, so accessorizing shouldn't be a problem. The walls are painted Khaki and I had to buy the wood letters that spell out his name. Tomorrow night we are picking up our furniture from Brad's aunt and uncle. They are sweet enough to let us use this beautiful set of baby furniture. I cannot wait to see it in Eli's room.
I have to brag on Brad one more time, he has been wonderful!!! I cannot stress that enough. Some days I wonder how I got so lucky...he is just so patient with me and it is so great to have that especially after a long day at work when all you get are demands and deadlines. He's pretty amazing!

Another Appointment

Nothing too exciting to report at this time. I just wanted to add something. I had yet another appointment last Friday and all is well. Eli's little heart was still beating at 146bpm and still moving and grooving. My doctor informed me that he sleeps for only 20-40 minutes at a time right now, so when I notice him refrain from kicking, I should expect it to start back up within a half an hour. I guess this is one of the most active times for him because he still has the space to move around some, but space is getting very limited. He is also able to hear what is going on around him so we have been talking to him a bit more.
Mommy is still feeling good and getting so very excited. This past weekend we started working on the nursery. We decided on a theme but going back and forth on colors. Just another step closer:)
Oh, and his first friend was born last week. William Roswell Kingery was born on September 5. We are so excited for the happy parents, Ros and Catherine. He is so sweet and cannot wait for him and Eli to meet!
Sending much love!!!

Kicker

Well, vacation is over and back to work. Brad and i had a great trip up North and thanks for those who were able to stop by to see us while we were home. The trip flew by and every day was a new adventure. Brad got his fair share of fishing in, and we were able to enjoy the week with my whole family. Now that Pat is back, it was possible to have the whole family around again. I gotta say, they are the best! The first weekend we were in MN, we were greeted by mom, dad and Laura. By the end of the day, after the baby shower, Chris, Kelly and Mike were all there. Sunday, Pat made his first appearance. We spent the afternoon teasing him and playing corn hole. For those of you who do not know what corn hole is, corn hole is a game where you throw a bag of corn on a board with a hole in it. The team to reach 21 points first, wins. Who would have thought that this would keep us occupied all week??? On Monday, Brad and I traveled to Itasca State Park. the weather and the trip was great. When we got back on Wednesday, we were able to spend the afternoon with mom and dad. We had dinner and spent the rest of the night playing dominoes and catch phrase...mom and i won of course. On Thursday we met the boys and headed to the state fair where cheese curds and fried twinkies were consumed. Friday we spent the day fishing with the folks and on Saturday, we threw a party for Chris and Kelly. Once again, corn hole was a hit. If my partner Chris would have kicked it up a notch, we would have won the tournament. The hardest part was Sunday after breakfast. We had to say goodbye and frankly, I wasn't ready. It is so hard being away from people I love so much!

Eli obviously loved the North. By the third day of our trip, he started kicking. Not just for me to feel, but Brad, Grandma Shirley and Aunt Laura got a feel too. Since then, he hasn't stopped kicking. It is kindof odd at times, but comforting.

My belly is growing more and more each day and starting to realize how people I don't even know want to start asking questions and talk about the baby. Thank goodness they don't come up and just touch me though. Touching the belly without asking...big no no! Unless your my mom or Brad.

Now that I am in to my 22nd week, things are going great. I feel great and I am finally finding cloths that I like and that fit. Our basement is now full of baby stuff. Who knew such a little person needs so much stuff? It is nice to know that we are somewhat prepared. We even have a large supply of diapers. So thanks again for those who came to my baby shower last week. You all did way too much...we so very much appreciate it though!

Itasca

After our last paddle

Well, really just wanted to put up a couple pictures from our Itasca trip. We are still in Minnesota and having a great time! My mother threw me my first baby shower where Eli is already spoiled and the past two nights were spent in Itasca State Park where we rented a cabin and canoe...who needs anything more! We spent our days hiking and paddling on the lake, it was so peaceful and relaxing! Isolation is needed once in awhile!Enjoy the pics!

Minnesota Sunset

Sunrise

The Streaker

Well, yesterday we got to view little Eli James once again. The first thing he showed us was his boy part...go figure. I have a little streaker:) We have lots of pictures, so beware when we get up North next week.
He seems to be at par with growth. According to his size, I am put at 21 weeks, the due date will not change due to constant changes throughout the pregnancy. The most amazing thing that we saw yesterday was his face. The image was so detailed we saw the lens of his eye. Now, that may not sound amazing to you, but when you see it yourself you think, wow, I really do have a little person inside of me. Oh I cannot wait to meet him!!!!
So, I bet you are wondering how I am doing? No...well, you have to hear anyways. I am feeling better then I have since all this has started. Brad and I joined a gym and trying to make it there as much as we can. I love the pool cause I don't feel like 500lbs and Brad is enjoying the basketball court. Work is getting a little hectic, but the constant moving and shaking is helping me ignore the slight issues that the pregnancy brings.
Another reason I seem to be feeling so well is the support we are getting from our friends! There have been two that have been so great to me through the good and the bad days, and that is Terra and Jaci. They are amazing! Last weekend, the three of us were able to get together. Terra made the trek from Hutsville and Jaci join us for dinner. The girls took advantage of my full wine rack and both ended up spending the night. It made for a great slumber party! Brad was great too. He not only made us dinner, but he also made us a fire while listening to all the "girlie things" we needed to talk about. Every once in awhile he would add something about the upcoming football season, but the conversation did not last very long. On Friday, Brad and I will be heading up to Minnesota for our first baby shower and to visit the family. We are so excited!!!!

Yuck Yuck Yuck!!!

That is the best way to explain the week Brad and I have had. We spent a weekend at the lakehouse with Jim, Wanda, Colton and Savannah. We had a great time, until Monday came around. Cole managed to get a total of six of us sick. I think he had the worse of it though...poor guy. Brad and I shared a sick day at home on Monday, I guess you can say it was a great bonding experience. I suppose we have to get use to little people germs. Now, it is Wednesday, and the only thing that keeps my tummy happy is crackers, sprite and I finally graduated to smoothies. Yeah me.
No baby news to report, Eli is still there fluttering away. Right now he is about 5.5 inches crown to rump. We will have plenty to report after our visit on August 18.
Much love!

The proof...

The picture is from looking at the bottom showing his two legs with the proof in the middle. He is not going to be too happy with me one day knowing that I was flashing pictures of his you know what around:)

It's a Boy!!!!

Well, as you can tell by the title of the blog, we found out the sex today. The picture showed two legs with a little extra protrusion between the two. When I sent the picture to Brad, you would think that he was on top of the world. Both of us are so very excited and cannot stop smiling. We are still tossing around some names, but until then, we finally get to refer to it as a "he". The ultrasound tech was also very impressed with his heart, she could see the four chambers. She said it was a good sign of a strong heart. So folks, that is what we have right now, a strong, blue eyed little McCarter. Brad and are so blessed! I cannot wait to meet him!

Weekend Get-A-Way

Brad and I are taking advantage of our last few months of just the two of us, and we were able to squeeze in a little trip to Atlanta to catch a ball game and see the city. We had such a blast and it was nice to get-a-way just the two of us. We left Saturday morning and stayed in Buckhead, just North of Atlanta. I was able to reserve us a nice hotel where they put us on the 22nd floor overlooking the skyline of Atlanta. After taking a short shopping trip to Lenox Square Mall, we took the Marta to the Braves game where they got slaughtered. It was till a great time! The next day we had a nice brunch and then headed over to see Brad's sister and family. Jacob and Cassie are getting so tall and they are both fearless. Cassie was happy to show off her biking skills, she no longer needs the training wheels and Jacob told us all about his baseball team. They are very sweet and active children, I don't know how Ashley and Luke keep up with them. The sweetest part of the day was when Cassie run up to me to give me a hug and stopped after noticing my belly, she so sweetly hugged and placed her ear to my belly.
All in all, it was a wonderful weekend. We cannot wait to share these kinds of weekends with the baby!

Another Check up

Well, yesterday I had yet another check up and evertything is still going so very well. I got to hear the heart beat and it is a strong 156bpm. My doctor, Dr. cadigan is very pleased with everything so far. My weight is finally starting to increase along with the size of me. This week i have been feeling alot better so it means I eat alot more. But, I have been keeping active to balance everything as well. My next apt. in August 18th. This is when we will find out the sex of the baby and also go over the anatomy. They will be able to measure the size of the organs and major body parts. From this information, we will get a good idea on the progress of the baby.
Today I am looking at more daycares. It is hard to find a place where you not only feel comfortable leaving the baby, but finacially feasable. Wish me luck!

Baby Bump

Well, we returned from the beach safe and sound and now getting right back into the swing of things. Laura, Mike and Pat were all surprised to see that my baby is making his/her's mark already. My baby bump is in that transition betweeen "OMG, that girl has quite the belly" to "she must be pregnant". It is fun to watch the changes, also, I have an excuse to shop:)
At the beach Laura got to hear all the exciting things that come along from being pregnant from not eating seafood, morning sickness, losing the mind and so on. I think i may have scared her out of it. :)
I had another doctor appointment last week and the baby still has a strong little heartbeat. I have a gerat doctor who is keeping everything in mind when it comes to the health of me and the baby. Next week I see my pulmonary doctor to make sure the baby is getting enough oxygen from my lungs. For the time being, i am told to continue to use my inhaler and will know more once I am evaluated next week.
Daddy is doing well, he is doing such a good job of taking care of me. Now that my belly is getting bigger, he is giving the baby more attention. Every day the reality sets in more and more.
Not much else to tell, I will hopefully have some pictures up very soon.

First Post

Good morning,
so I decided to start a blog. I guess that this is the "thing to do". Not only am I creating this for the family and friends in Minnesota, Peru, Dominica and beyond, but I thought it would be a great way to keep up with my pregnancy progress.
By now, most of you know that I have a living being inside me. Brad and I are ecstatic and day by day, realizing how much our lives are changing. Here is how it all started:

April 29, 2008 - After a long weekend with friends, I thought I was just exhausted and tired because of all the running around the weekend before. But, that wasn't enough to explain how I was feeling. Later that afternoon I called brad to ask him to come home. He was a little concerned so the news was told right then and there...his response, "I'm on my way home." When he arrived, he had a little smirk on his face and it hasn't left...

Now here we are, eight weeks later and still with child. We have had the ability to watch our baby grow week by week (a perk to working for a hospital system). The first viewing of the baby showed a small, pulsating figure representing the heartbeat. Two weeks later, it started to show arm and leg buds. Now, just last Friday, we could visibly see the facial features, arms, and legs. It is truly amazing and I love the baby more and more each day.

I am asked the same questions every time somebody finds out that I am pregnant. "How are you feeling" "are you hoping for a girl or boy" "what are you going to name it". So, in a nutshell.....I am feeling fine. The first 10 weeks were not so good, but now starting to enjoy the process more and more. I can kindof tell that Brad is hoping for a little boy to take fishing, but honestly, we just want a happy and healthy baby. Regarding names, we have decided on a girl name but tossing around names for a little boy. As of right now, if we had to choose a name, it would be Eli James or Ella Rose.

So what's next? I do not know. Everyday is a new experience. All I know is that whatever we go through, we have an amazing family that is there for us every step of the way. Grandma Shirley has started to keep her phone near by at all times to listen to new updates and to help me work through the emotions, she has been an angel to me. Grandma Marty and Wanda have also been so supportive. Grandma Wanda is thinking as I am regarding the sex. She brought over a pink bib and matching blanket set with butterflies on it this past weekend. So what about the Grandpas? Well, I don't think anybody is as excited as Grandpa Doug, but I know the others are too:)
And the three uncles that this fortunate little baby will have, well, they cannot wait. Uncle Pat already purchased the baby's first book, "Who Pooped in the Park?" Not only will the three uncles show the baby how to fish and get in and out of trouble, but the baby will gain great knowledge from each and every one of them.
The baby will also have three wonderful Aunts, Ashley, Hollie and Marty. All who are so excited, and because they are all mothers themselves, have been three I can lean on. And of course, with the aunts, come more uncles, Luke, Chris and Brady. Between the six of them, our baby will have eight other cousins to keep him/her in line.

This week we are awaiting the arrival of brothers Pat and Mike along with Laura "AKA Tater". Next week the five of us will be basking in the sun in Tybee Island. For those who do not know where that is, it is a island in Georgia near Savannah.

Until next time....