Is This Normal?

I start my third trimester today. I cannot believe that we only have three more months. We will have sweet baby Parker in our arms sometime in the next 10-13 weeks!
To be honest I am feeling very pregnant. I am very belly big. I promise we will be sharing new belly pictures soon.

With the summer-like weather we’ve had my entire body feels swollen and at times sore. Luckily I was able to schedule a prenatal massage next Saturday. I also start my prenatal yoga class at the hospital on Monday. I am thinking it will help me to relax and focus during labor and delivery.
I bet Chris is hoping yoga will help me to relax now. I have started my nesting faze which is driving him crazy.
We plan to work on the new guest room this Saturday. It will be a difficult project because I am pretty much useless and Chris has the Children’s Miracle Network this weekend. Nevertheless, we have decided to take all the sports paraphernalia & collectables off the walls and spackle nail holes on Saturday.

I was feeling good about our decision to work on that room this Saturday but that still didn’t stop me from going bananas last night. After work I drove myself to Lowe’s and searched for painting supplies. What?
I had no idea what I was buying.
I had no idea why I went without Chris.
We already have the paint we need.
I just knew that I wanted the rooms to be ready for Parker. NOW!
After walking around Lowe’s for 20 minutes I finally bought some plastic drop covering for the carpet. I then walked to my car, sat there for a while, and I cried.
My anxiety is too intense for me to handle so I have no idea how Chris is dealing with me and my crazy mood swings.

Parker is moving, kicking, and getting the hiccups more and more each day. There are moments when I just know you can even feel him outside my belly. Of course the little stinker stops moving once someone puts their hands on my stomach. I think he is going to be a cuddlier.
I also think he will truly enjoy going to baseball games because I crave hot dogs and sunflower seeds almost everyday. Today I am finding that I have a new craving…SNOW CONES!
I am not sure that I can wait until this evening to buy that grape- peach-pineapple snow cone that I so desperately want. Let’s hope my anxiety doesn’t kick in again…or I might be taking some sort of a break time to stop by the snow cone stand this afternoon.
Will I go back to normal Amber in August?

Bedtime Stories

The most difficult part of our Memorial weekend was getting out of bed and ready for work this morning. If only we had another day off?

Our weekend was full of great food and family gatherings. Chris’ dad, step mom, and sister Caty came to visit.
On Saturday my parents joined us for a delicious cookout at Aunt Betty and Uncle Bill’s house. Uncle Bill grills the best beef and chicken skewers! Of course I am not the best judge of food at the moment because EVERYTHING tastes delicious!! We also played two rounds of croquet in the backyard while the mosquitoes had their own feast.
Sunday evening Caty had us watch her favorite movie Twilight and then she played Mario Cart with Chris. Then yesterday morning we all had a delicious breakfast together before Chris’ dad, step mom, and Caty headed back home. I wish that Chris would have gotten to spend some more time with his dad on Sunday because we probably won’t see him again until August.

After breakfast Chris and I went and registered at Baby Depot. I had been so excited to register there because they have the bathtub and the monitor that I wanted for Parker. I hope that I do not end up regretting our decision to register there because it took the lady in the baby department forever to complete our registry. She was having all kinds of computer problems. We worry that our friends and family will have a difficult time printing out our list at the store.
After completing our registry Chris bought me an adult Boppy which is pretty much a full body pillow. Sweet heaven I haven’t slept as well as I did last night in a long time. At this point I should become a spokeswoman for the Boppy products!

My favorite part of our long weekend happened last night just before I went to bed.
To be honest my swollen feet, grumpy attitude, and the hot summer-like temperatures outside got the best of me and I was a total mess.
Just before falling asleep Chris and I sat in bed and talked about Parker. I expressed my concerns of not being ready. I still have so much to learn about before Parker arrives.
I am either entering nesting time or a panic mode because I only have 12-14 weeks left to prepare!
My thoughts were going crazy when Chris said: “When he gets here it will just come natural to you Amber. You are going to be a great mommy.” That was all I needed to hear... he then rubbed lotion on my huge feet and before I knew it I was having peaceful dreams about us meeting Parker Bailey.

Graduation, Golf & Good Times!

Boy is it great to be home! I have not slept in my bed since last Thursday night!
I had a work conference yesterday and today in Albuquerque so Chris and I thought this past weekend would be a great time to visit Chris' family. Since we are coming up on the beginning of the seventh month (*third trimester*) of my pregnancy we have a feeling that road trips will be minimal until Parker is a few months old.

I was mostly excited for this past weekend because we had some celebrating to do! Since we planned on visiting Lori and I decided to throw a *surprise* cook out party for Chris. Not only did he graduate on Saturday, but he also has a baby boy on the way. I really hate that there are not showers or celebrations for the husbands and we wanted to make sure that we did something special for Chris. Plus we are so proud of him!
Lori and I had been scheming this party since early April and all our hard work and secretiveness paid off.





I also want to share some weekend golf pictures. Earlier on Saturday Chris, me, Chris' dad, sister, brother, and step mom all went for a game of golf. Unfortunately me and my big belly weren't doing much golfing so I was in charge of the golf cart and pictures. I might mention that it was a very chilly and windy morning so my hot pink shirt and capri pants didn't keep me very warm!


On Sunday I woke up dreading Sunday afternoon. We had such a great weekend and I simply didn't want it to be over. After Chris headed back home I hung out with Lori and Tracy. It was so nice to have that extra time to spend with them. After dinner that night Lori took me to my hotel in downtown Albuquerque. At this point the enjoyable weekend was offically over and it was time for work.

Baby Fever

Is there anyway to speed up the end of your second trimester? Every night before bed I think about our sweet baby Parker. What color will his eyes be? Whose smile will he have? Will he enjoy cuddling with me? What shapes will his tiny mouth form when he is sleeping? I cannot wait to meet him! To make my anxiety worse it seems like I haven’t meet a stranger who hasn’t asked me: “When is your baby due?”
Every time someone asks I am sure my smile gets bigger and I know my heart begins to race as I say August 28th!

I also think about sweet Parker’s little personality. Oh how I hope he has his Daddy’s compassionate and goof ball spirit. Speaking of Parker’s Dad, this Mother’s Day he was full of surprises. On Saturday morning after we had breakfast Chris’ phone rang. He answered and in a very suspicious way said “Yes we are.”
Immediately after he hung up the phone I was begging for details. He had me convinced that his Aunt Betty wanted to stop by. Of course I rushed off and started brushing my hair while my wonderful husband cleaned the kitchen. Then I stood and stared out the window waiting for Betty & Bill.
Before I knew it a red Saturn pulled up in front of our house and a woman opened the door and carried this to our door.

As I opened the door she said “You lucky little momma! You have a sweet husband.”
I was speechless. I wanted to cry. I think I might have cried. I love my sweet husband!
Chris and I also started our baby registery this weekend. We have decided to register at Babies R Us, Wal-Mart, and Baby Depot. I'll share links to those registries soon.

This morning one of the ladies who used to work part-time in our office brought her infant by the office. She had sweet Annye two days ago. Annye’s face was tiny and petite and as she slept her mouth made tiny movements and often closed tightly as if she wanted to give us a sweet baby kiss.
After seeing Kristen and her baby girl the rest of my day was all about Parker Bailey.
There are not enough words to express the true joy Chris and I will experience when Parker joins us in this world. I know that I will be one of those crazy first time mommy’s who will kiss her baby’s feet, hands, and tiny cheeks.
Oh how I have baby fever!

Happy Mother's Day

With Mother’s Day quickly approaching I feel like I’ve joined some sort of Mother’s Club. Don’t get me wrong I am definitely NOT complaining.
Last night Chris’ dad, Stacy, and his little sister Caty sent me a beautiful basket full of Mother’s Day flowers. And today I’ve been speechless, thankful, and I’ve even cried after reading emails and greeting cards that have been sent to me from family, friends with kids, and co-workers who are moms.
I never realized just how much other mommas support and comfort each other...we share something special.

I must admit that having Parker has not only changed the way I view Mother’s Day but also my appreciation for my mom. In her mind the very best gifts are me, my sister Jamie and the special moments that we share.

This was in one of the emails I received from my mother-in-law this morning. I love it, believe it, and I just had to share.

Mom Me

What is your biggest fear?
heights
growing old
bugs
snakes
death
childbirth

This morning one of our temporary workers asked me what is my biggest fear. In fact she asked me, my co-worker, and the two other temporary workers who worked this morning. They each started to name things off the list above.

Once Parker gets here every fear I could possibly have will have something to do with his well-being. Before I knew it I looked at her and without a second thought I said: “Not being able to protect Parker.”
I was shocked by my answer but more than anything I was shocked by how quickly I’ve began to think like a parent! Life isn’t about me anymore.

Bradley (class 2)

I've always dreaded the seven day work week... but at six months pregnant YIKES I AM EXHAUSTED!

Our MDA Fill-the-Boot campaign was this past weekend. For the past three evenings I would get home around 7ish, eat, and then make myself comfortable on the couch with a blanket. My wonderful husband did all the cooking, cleaning, gave me back & foot rubs, and of course once I started snoring too loudly on the couch he made sure that I made it to bed.

I was too exhausted to keep up with our Bradley Method exercises this weekend. Last week Chris and I learned several different relaxation tools that will help before and during labor. *After class I decided that I wanted to sign up for a prenatal yoga class this summer.*
We also learned more about a nutrition guide that will help us prevent health risks such as gestational diabetes, toxemia and problems with breastfeeding.

I MUST make sure that I am eating more proteins than anything so that Parker and I will remain healthy.
I must consume between 80-100 grams of proteins per day.

I know how important it is to make sure I am feeding myself and Parker well these next few months.
The best part and my favorite thing about The Bradley Method is that it's *husband coached childbirth.*
I'll have Chris to coach and motivate me when I might only want carbohydrates and tons of sweets!