26 Weeks.

Elliott:

You are now about 9.2 inches long from crown to rump, weighing in at around 2 pounds (still about the size of an eggplant)!  This marks the start of the last week of the second trimester.  It's hard to believe next week we start our final trimester, time is flying.

This week we got a lot done.  We made a trip to Texas to visit your Great Grandma Millender, your  Grandparents, and your Aunt Gina and Uncle Zach.  Everyone was excited to see how much you had grown.  While we were there we also finished up our nursery shopping at Ikea.  Sunday evening we spent several hours putting together furniture for your room and our new sunroom/office/playroom.  On Monday your rocking chair and bedding arrived.  Both were exactly what I had hoped they would be, and now your room really looks like a nursery.  I've enjoyed rocking in the rocking chair, holding a pillow about the size of a newborn baby, pretending you're here.

It won't be much longer now.  Keep growing,
Momma

25 Weeks.

Elliott:

Only 15 more weeks until we welcome you to the world.  This week you are about 9 inches long from crown to rump, weighing around 1.7 pounds, about the size of an eggplant.  You had the hiccups for the first time this week.  We went to see Lion King with some friends, and during the movie I felt a consistent little thud for about 10 minutes.  You also got to listen to music for the first time this week.  We decided to put headphones on my belly and play you some tunes.  You started moving all over the place.  I hope you were liking it, and not squirming because you were scared.  Either way, at least we know you can hear!

We are continuing to check things off of the "to do list" here at home.  We want everything to be perfect when we bring you home (I guess you could say I'm "nesting").  I've been collecting letters for an alphabet wall in your room.  This week I did lots of painting and covering letters.  Only 6 to go until it's complete.

I'm still feeling good.  My organs are beginning to feel a little cramped, but overall this has been a pleasant pregnancy.  I hope the last 3 months are as good as the first 6 have been.

Counting down the days,
Momma

24 Weeks

Elliott:

We had a busy week this week.  Your Daddy got your crib put together and it's now in your room awaiting your arrival.  We still need to order your bedding, but it's starting to look more like a nursery.  I  also went to buy fabric this week for the quilt Laura is going to make for your room.  It's going to be gray and white to match the bedding I have picked out, and it will have an orange binding to tie in with the orange rocker we have on order.  I can't wait to see the finished product!

We also went to Babies R Us to begin registering for all the things we will need when you arrive.  It was a little overwhelming seeing how many things a baby needs, but it was also exciting thinking about using all the things we registered for with you when you arrive.

You're growing faster every week.  You now weigh about a pound and a half and measure about 8.5 inches from crown to rump, making you about the size of an ear of corn. I'm still feeling pretty good and sleeping pretty good. I'm trying to stay active, walking 3 miles a day several times a week with your grandma, and attending the aqua moms water aerobics class twice a week with some friends at Baptist Hospital.

I registered us for several classes offered through the hospital so we'll be more prepared when you get here. I'm also reading several books about breastfeeding, labor and delivery, and how to help get you in a routine when you arrive.  Between all the preparations and the holidays, you'll be here before we know it, so I want to be prepared.

We love you more than you can imagine,
Momma

My favorite Ouachita Faculty Member.

My Alma Mater is Ouachita Baptist University, and if you know me very well, you know that OBU holds a very special place in my heart. This year marks OBU's 125th anniversary.  In honor of this milestone, they asked students and alumni to blog about OBU each Tuesday during the month of September.  I missed last Tuesday, but this Tuesday's topic is to share your "favorite Ouachita faculty/staff member" with the OBU blogging community.

Gary and I both agree that Dr. Bill Downs was our favorite OBU professor.  We both had Dr. Downs for multiple Mass Communications classes.  Not only is Dr. Downs an exceptional teacher, full of wisdom, he also has a wonderfully sarcastic sense of humor.  We always looked forward to any Dr. Downs class, because you would never be bored in his class.  I often recorded the funny things he would say to students in class, and I wish I could find them and share them with you all on here.  He treated each student as his equal, and talked to them honestly, like he would a friend.

When Gary and I got married in January of 2007, the weather was icy, so many people traveling from Arkadelphia to Little Rock weren't able to attend the celebration.  Dr. Downs made a point to track down my Dad's cell number the day of our wedding, and call to apologize that he and his wife wouldn't be able to make it to the wedding.  The next week when we returned from our honeymoon, we had a gift waiting from the Downs'.  His wife had made us a set of monogramed towels.  How many people can say that one of their college professors sent monogramed towels hand made by his wife to them as a wedding gift?

When I think back on my time at OBU, I think of all the days I spent in Dr. Downs' classroom, and smile.  He has since retired, and I hate that my younger brother, who is a student at OBU, won't get the pleasure of having Dr. Downs as a professor.

So, thank you Dr. downs for being a wonderful teacher, and friend.  OBU isn't the same without you.

I'm so thankful for my time at Ouachita, the friends I made, and the education I received.  Here's to another 125 years!

Life lately, according to my iPhone.

Selling Jenkins Enterprises Razorback gear at the Little Rock Hog game.

Elliott's first Razorback game!

Registering for baby boy.

Gary loving the scanner.

Maggie enjoying the finished sunroom pre furniture.

TV night.

Sweet puppy dog eyes.

23 Weeks

Elliott:

We're less than four months from your due date, and this week marks the beginning of a growth spurt for you.  In the next four weeks you should double in size!  Right now you are around 8 inches from crown to rump and you weigh about 1.2 pounds, about the size of a papaya.

I've started feeling a little uncomfortable this week.  My belly feels like it is stretched to its capacity every time I eat a meal.  Sometimes I feel like I need to catch my breath when I'm just sitting still, because my organs are being squished.  It's hard to imagine my belly getting bigger, but I know we still have a ways to grow.

We went for our check up with Dr. Chang this week.  Your Daddy has come with me to every appointment so far.  We both love getting to go hear your heart beat.  This time your heart rate was 144 bpm.  My weight gain had picked up significantly at this appointment, but Dr. Chang says we're still on track for my height.

We still talk about you all the time.  We can't wait to see who you will look like and what your personality will be.  We love you so very much and we can't wait to meet you.

-Momma

Labor Day Weekend.

We spent Labor Day weekend at the lake with family. Gary's parents were in Arkadelphia visiting his grandparents this weekend, and they were able to stop by the lake to spend an afternoon with us.  Our time was filled with eating lots of good food, shopping, watching the Razorbacks play (and win) their first game of the season, sleeping in, catching up on some reading, boating, playing cards, and watching movies.

I hope your 3 day weekend was as relaxing as ours. Here's to heading back to work tomorrow.