birdy love

Monday, December 24, 2012

Week 31


This last week of school seemed to drag on forever.  Kelsey and Dabe got to Ozark on Sunday night and I went to Tyler's parents house on Monday night to hang out with them.  On Tuesday we had Tyler's family Christmas and did a gift exchange- Mason got some cute outfits from Auntie Kels!  Kelsey and Dabe stayed the night with us that night, and I didn't intend to stay up until midnight talking to them but that's what happened.  Time flies when there's good conversation!  Tyler has been sick all this week so that's been no fun.  I'm thankful that I haven't gotten sick from him (yet!  And hopefully not!).  The rest of the week was spent wrangling excited 5 & 6 year olds to follow directions while they were so excited for Santa to come.  A few kids brought me gifts, but the sweetest gift of all was from my little girl I've had such a problem with the past few weeks.  

At first she was just horrible and I didn't know what to do to manage her behavior.  Honestly, one night I prayed to God to take it from me because I didn't know what else to do and I was exhausted from this girl.  The next day, she had a great day.  Every day after that, she has progressively gotten better.  That is not a coincidence!  This girl has a terrible home life - I can't even imagine what she has experienced, it's so sad.  Well on Thursday she came into my room, beaming, went straight to my desk and put some little baby shoes on my desk.  She said "These are my baby brother's old shoes but they don't fit him anymore so I asked my mom if I could bring them to school for baby Mason.  I really want you to have them."  Melted my heart!  How sweet!  I know she doesn't have much, and to offer those shoes to me means more than she probably realizes.  She was so proud to give them to me, too.  This is one reason why I love my job.



  • How far along? 31 weeks
  • Total weight gain? 16 pounds, officially
  • Stretch marks? Still none
  • Sleep? Yes, and less often than I want.  There's just a whole lot that I feel needs to get done so I stay up doing it instead of sleeping even though I'm tired.  This relates to my "best moment this week" so keep reading!
  • Best moment this week? A lady that works with Tyler at the hospital has a 3 year old boy and has been trying to conceive for awhile now with  no luck.  She told him that she was "tired of having all this stuff at her house" so she said we could come look at what we wanted.  We assumed of course that we would pay for what we wanted and were prepared for that to happen.  When we got there, half of her garage was full of baby gear & clothes.  As we started filtering through what we wanted to keep, Tyler asked how much she wanted for our pile.  She said "Just take it.  I'm tired of looking at it."  WHAT!  We literally left there with thousands of dollars worth of stuff, for free.  Nice clothes-- tons of baby Polo, Gap, Juicy (didn't even know that existed), Zutano, and tons of name brand clothes that were barely worn by her boy.  She also had a  lot of camo baby clothes which Tyler loved so we got the best of both worlds in the clothing department.  SO many toys, 2 swings (she had 4 at her house- said her kid 'didn't like a certain kind' so she'd buy another), a jumper thing to put over the door, 2 walkers, crib mattress, changing pad, bottles, etc.  Incredible!  We don't even know how to thank this lady and her husband, a thank you card is certainly not sufficient, but necessary.  So now I have a ton to organize and sort through but I'm very thankful even though it kind of stresses me out.
  • Miss anything? All I do is work, eat, and sleep (or that's how I feel at least)... I miss having a social life.
  • Movement: As I was sitting in front of the class about to read a story to my kids on the carpet, one said "Uhh... Mrs. Barnes... your stomach is moving.  It's freaking me out."  haha!  So we all watched Mason do flips and move around.  That is how much he moves!  They loved watching it even though it was alien like.
  • Food cravings: Anything sour/sweet/fruity.  When I go to the mall I have to go to Mr. Bulky's and get sour strawberry ropes and a mixed cherry/Coke Icee. 
  • Anything making you queasy or sick? Not this week. 
  • Showing? Yep!
  • Gender: Boy
  • Labor signs: Yes actually!  I had my first contraction late Saturday night.  It felt like a dull period cramp and I just walked around for awhile until it went away.  I practiced doing some yoga stretches to alleviate the very little pain I was experiencing. It was uncomfortable but not really painful.  I basically did yoga just to practice getting into those positions when it really does get painful.  I felt more like "what is going on because I've never felt this while pregnant".  I confirmed with my recently pregnant friends that I had a Braxton-Hicks contraction, but I'll ask my doctor about it next week at my appt to make it official. 
  • Belly button in or out: Out and proud.
  • Wedding rings on or off? On.
  • Happy or moody most of the time? I feel moody this week.  Particularly because I feel stressed with everything there is to do, plus Christmas gatherings.  I'm not complaining about family and friends getting together but I just need more hours in a day!  I think once the nursery is somewhat finished I'll feel much better.
  • Looking forward to: Getting the nursery 80% complete... right now we're sitting at 15%.  Yikes!
  • Baby's size: Pineapple
  • Saturday, December 15, 2012

    Week 30

    Me, Mom, Mason!
     This week has been great! My shower in Texarkana was so fun. I really enjoyed getting to see my family, and also a lot of ladies who I've grown up with. I feel so blessed that all those people gave us gifts when I don't even go to that church anymore.  I felt very loved!  All of the ladies want to see Mason when he comes so we will definitely have to make a Texarkana church visit.  Here's a few pics- I couldn't figure out how to arrange them so it's kind of a jumbled mess.
    
    My family who came to the shower.

    
    I had a helper to open presents.
    Case loved being around his Gigi!
    I had this face for a few gifts because I didn't know what they were- I was glad that Jessica and Mom were there to explain. :)
    My hostesses!  They are awesome!
    My Mimi and Meemaw.  So good to see them!
    The shower was a Saturday brunch, so after it was done we went back to mom and dad's house for lunch.  While the girls were at the shower, the guys played golf.  Dad and Uncle Allen against Jake and Tyler- Jake and Tyler won bragging rights for a year!  More family was able to come over for lunch and then we took pictures in my parents front yard.  Every time Uncle Allen is around we take pictures because he has fancy cameras and likes to use them.  Here are some pics!
    Our family of 4 that has 9 people now!

    My mom's side of the family





    The pictures turned out really cute!  I'll probably put some in Mason's room or around the house.  We drove back Sunday afternoon (after we had Chicken Express of course) and got back in the evening.  It's Tyler's birthday week!  Also after Friday (his birthday) he has a long stretch of time off so he is excited for Friday to get here.  (written on Saturday-) What an exhausting week!  I went to bed at 11 last night and woke up at 11am.  I haven't slept that long in a long time, might as well enjoy it while I can.  On Thursday night I sang with my friend Onetta at the church Young at Heart Christmas party, it's getting harder for me to take big breaths and sing but we worked with it!  

    
  • How far along? 30 weeks
  • Total weight gain? 16 pounds
  • Stretch marks? Not yet, but I am beginning to see the first signs of "the line".  At first I thought it was a big stretch mark.
  • Sleep? Sleeping just fine, haven't had to get up in the middle of the night to pee very much.  Maybe once or twice this week.  Oliver has had to pee in the middle of the night a lot this week so he wakes me up and that's annoying.  Tyler has been sleeping in the other room because he's been sick all week and doesn't want to spread the sickness.  Hopefully he feels better soon!
  • Best moment this week? Hanging out with Tyler for his birthday.  I was sneaky and got Amycakes Take&Bake cinnamon rolls for him and woke up before he did on Friday to bake them.  This wasn't hard because he was sleeping in the other bedroom.  The hard part was keeping Oliver from running into his room because Oliver misses him being in bed with us.  He's spoiled rotten.  We ate breakfast together before work (which we never do) and then after work we went to see The Hobbit at the B&B Theater Marquee Suites.  Watching a movie in a recliner while being served dinner?  Yes please.  This week was exhausting for both of us so watching a movie and relaxing was perfect.  The movie is great too except I didn't realize it would abruptly stop!  Didn't know this movie was a trilogy.  That info would've helped before watching.
  • Miss anything? Being able to see my lower stomach, especially when that's how tall all my kids at school are.  I never know what I will see until I look in the mirror.  Tape, glitter, glue, boogers, you name it. 
  • Movement: All the time and very swift, once I felt him over on my side almost near my back.  He must have really been stretching out.
  • Food cravings: I've wanted Spaghetti-O's this week.  Weird.
  • Anything making you queasy or sick? On Wednesday at school around 9, I got really light headed and weird feeling.  I was hot but didn't have a fever, but yet my arms had chill bumps and I still felt warm.  I just felt like I needed to sit down and drink ice water.  I asked my doctor (well, his nurse practitioner since he was in a delivery) about this at my Thursday appt, and she said it was probably my blood sugar getting low. Solution is to eat something small, drink water, and rest until I feel better.  She said it usually happens if you eat something sweet right before (I had eaten banana nut chocolate chip bread) or if you haven't eaten in awhile.  This was the first time since 12 weeks that I hadn't felt well, but it's good to know there's a solution to the problem.  
  • Showing? Yep!
  • Gender: Boy
  • Labor signs: No
  • Belly button in or out: Let's just say it has its own shadow.
  • Wedding rings on or off? On.
  • Happy or moody most of the time? Happy
  • Looking forward to: On Sunday night, Kelsey and Dabe (SIL & her BF) are coming to town and staying until Thursday night, and on Thursday night my best friend/college roommate Jayci (who is also 3 weeks behind me in her pregnancy) and her husband Lee are spending the night with us!!!  AND Friday is my last day of school for 17 days, hello Christmas break!
  • Baby's size: Cucumber



  • 

    Tuesday, December 11, 2012

    Week 29

    29 and feelin' fine... this week was exhausting.  I got a new student 2 weeks ago and "the honeymoon is over" - she used to be very quiet and now she is a terror.  Dealing with her has worn me out!  Thankfully I have wonderful counselors, principals, and a team of teachers to help me because I need it.  This past weekend I went shopping for SIX HOURS at thrift stores, looking for things to decorate Mason's room.  I found the sweetest wall art that will go above his dresser, and I also found an awesome piece of driftwood that I'll find a place for somewhere.  I couldn't pass it up. 


    After all my thrifting I got a pedicure.  My feet hurt and I can't reach my toes very well to paint them, so I deserved it :).  I scheduled our childbirth classes and my breastfeeding class this week.  The childbirth classes take up every Thursday night in January, from 6:30-9!  Bummer.  Especially since I will be learning about birth on my birthday.  At least we only have to go to breastfeeding class.  My January is filling up and it's stressing me out to look at!  I'm thankful that we have a long 16 day break for Christmas.  I'll need that much time to get the nursery/house done!

  • How far along? 29 weeks
  • Total weight gain? 14 pounds, officially.
  • Stretch marks? Still none... I'm waiting for them though, I know they will come!
  • Sleep? This week I slept a whole lot.  Tyler worked overnight at the hospital on Monday and Wednesday, so I took advantage of that by sleeping in the middle of the bed with every pillow around me.  Literally I slept with 6 pillows.  It was glorious!
  • Best moment this week? I felt really stressed on Tuesday and it had been a long day at work.  I took a bath and Tyler sat on the edge of the tub and wrote down all the things I told him that I needed to do for Mason's room.  Every time I look at my calendar for December, January, and February I get stressed out because I feel like there is much to be done!  But it was nice to have him be a voice of reason. 
  • Miss anything? Being able to lay on my stomach.
  • Movement: Tons.  I was sitting in my chair talking to a few kids and one said 'Umm... Mrs. Barnes... is Mason moving because your belly is moving." I think he was freaked out.  Then Mason put on a show, throwing my belly from left to right.  I poked Mason and he kicked back, then the kids poked him and he would kick back - they thought this game was hilarious.  Once Mason comes out he should be accustomed to loud noises because they scream and laugh when they see him moving and call him an alien ninja baby.
  • Food cravings: I haven't really craved anything weird, but I have been loving juice lately.  Grape, orange, grapefruit, anything.  I think I'm just so excited not to be diabetic that I'm celebrating by drinking juice (my friend Ashley couldn't have juice when she had GD, it was the first thing she drank after giving birth!) 
  • Anything making you queasy or sick? No.
  • Showing? Yep!
  • Gender: Boy
  • Labor signs: No
  • Belly button in or out: Out.
  • Wedding rings on or off? On.
  • Happy or moody most of the time? Happy
  • Looking forward to: My weekend in Texarkana!!  My baby shower is Saturday, I'm excited to actually get to visit with a lot of people that I've grown up with.  Every time I visit church I always feel rushed to see everyone.  Also my extended family is coming to my parents house for "Thanksmas" since we didn't get together on Thanksgiving and I won't be traveling to Dallas at Christmas.  I'm excited to see everyone, I haven't seen them since last Christmas!
  • Baby's size: Acorn squash (whatever that is...)

  • Wednesday, December 5, 2012

    Week 28

    Whew!  We went back to school on Monday but didn't have kids until Tuesday (the 27th - I am kind of behind in my posts).  Every time we have a short week it ends up seeming like the longest week ever.  I am seriously big now.  And I will only get bigger!  Yikes. 

    I went to my doctor on the 28th, and have gained 14 pounds.  There was good news and bad news -
    Good news- I needed my blood sugar to be less than 140 in order to not have gestational diabetes.  My score was a 107, he said I "knocked that one out of the park".  I am SO THANKFUL that I don't have to prick my finger or watch what I eat!!!  What a blessing!
    Bad news- I am anemic.  I needed to score a 12 and I scored a 10.8... slightly anemic, but I have to take iron pills every day until baby comes.  But hey, I'll take that over diabetes any day.  Hopefully I won't get sick from them.

    I think the highlight of my week was going to yoga - we did exercises to alleviate pain in the upper back and shoulders.  I didn't realize how much tension I held in those areas but after the class was done I felt like I had gotten a back massage!  It was awesome.  I also took advantage of Black Friday shopping, but not the crazy kind where I get up at 4 am.  In the past I did that with my mom but since she wasn't up here I didn't go early.  I did need to go to Target to get a few things (hand soap, mascara, things I don't really need especially on Black Friday, etc.) so I went out in the chaos.  The good thing about Black Friday in the afternoon is that every register is open so it's quick to check out!  I also shopped on Cyber Monday and got new bedding for the guest room - it's kinda crazy but I love it, and I also am looking for a lamp similar to the one in the picture.
    My headboard/footboard is kind of an orange wood so it looks great.  I'm not sure what color to paint the walls yet.  I like the blue walls in the picture, but Mason's room is navy, laundry room is teal, and the rest of the house is gray... I don't want to live in a cave.  So right now the walls are beige and that's what they'll be until I can come up with a color!  My house has cool colors (teal, navy and gray) so far.  I don't want to venture on the other side of the color wheel but I can't seem to think of another cool color that won't look gloomy.  Suggestions??

    Tyler started painting the kitchen/dining area/living room this week and it looks awesome!!  It's Martha Stewart's Flagstone. 
    Color on the left is the old, the gray is new.  It really makes the white trim pop!

  • How far along? 28 weeks
  • Total weight gain? 14 pounds! 
  • Stretch marks? Not yet but my skin around my button is getting VERY thin and I'm moisturizing it like crazy!  I think it's inevitable though... stretch marks are genetic, and my mom has them, so I probably will too.  Sigh.
  • Sleep? Yes and with lots of pillows.  Still trying not to sleep on my back but I find myself there sometimes.
  • Best moment this week? Yoga!
  • Miss anything? Not getting punched in the gut every once in awhile... it's getting to where it hurts! 
  • Movement: A lot.  You can see him from the outside and it's freaky.
  • Food cravings: Thursday night Tyler was at a friend's house and I would not let him come home without grapefruit juice and a grapefruit.  The juice was for instant gratification, the actual fruit was for later... those grapefruits are tedious to eat and I wanted to drink lots of juice NOW.  Haha! 
  • Anything making you queasy or sick? No.
  • Showing?  Yep! 
  • Gender: Boy
  • Labor signs: No
  • Belly button in or out: It's out there.  My kindergarten kids like to poke it and laugh at me.
  • Wedding rings on or off? On.
  • Happy or moody most of the time? Happy
  • Looking forward to: Getting the nursery done
  • Baby's size: Eggplant