35 Weeks.

Elliott:

We're only 5 weeks away from meeting you!  We went to see Dr. Chang this week and he says everything is looking good.  You're still head down, and he thinks you will weigh somewhere in the 7 pound range at birth.  Right now you could be up to 22 inches long and weigh around 5.5 pounds, the size of a large cantaloupe.  We start going for check-ups once a week from here on out, which makes your arrival feel very close. 

We went to visit your grandparents, aunt and uncle this week in Texas.  While we were there they enjoyed watching and feeling you move around, and we discussed grandparent names for your grandma and grandpa, but nothing has been decided yet.  Everyone is looking forward to meeting you.  The Millender side of the family showered us with gifts for you at Thanksgiving.  You're one lucky little boy already!

We went and picked out of Christmas tree this week, and the house is all ready for the holidays.  My last few belly shots will have to share the wall with the tree.  When I found out you were due early January, December seemed forever away.  Now it is upon us, and we're all giddy with excitement!

Keeping growing strong,

Momma

Life lately, according to my iPhone.

(1.) Operation Christmas Child.  (2.) Thanksgiving dinner.

(3.) Gary and Murphy. (4.) Grant family siblings.

(5.) Our fun tree. (6.) Peace. (7.) Big Santa.

(8.) Christmas tree shopping. (9.) Our real tree.

Thanksgiving 2011.

We spent our Thanksgiving in Fort Worth, TX with Gary's family, as is our usual tradition.  While we were there his family also had a baby shower for Elliott.  We got more nice things, and I think aside from his carseat, Elliott is set!  What a lucky little boy to have such sweet family.

While in Texas, we ate lots of good food, watched the Hogs heartbreaking game against LSU, and spent time catching up with family.

Elliott's shower in Texas.

Opening gifts for Elliott.

Gary's sister, Gina and her husband, Zach at Thanksgiving dinner.

Enjoying a delicious Thanksgiving dinner at Garys Aunt and Uncle's house in Allen, TX.

My mother and father-in law at Kincaid's Hamburgers.

We have so much to be thankful for this year! We're looking forward to cherishing our last holiday season as a family of two.  The next time we travel to Texas we'll be bringing an extra family member!

Elliott's Maternity Photos.

Recently we had our friend Grant take some maternity photos for us to show Elliott some day.  Grant normally shoots weddings and engagements, but agreed to do this for us, and I think he did a wonderful job.  Just wanted to share a few with you, you can see the rest on my facebook.

34 Weeks.

Elliott:

I can tell you've done some growing, because this week you have discovered my ribs.  I'm getting lots of little painful jabs now.  This week you weight about 4.9 pounds, measuring around 19 to 22 inches long, the size of a pineapple!

We're leaving today to go see your grandparents in Texas for Thanksgiving.  I can't help but wonder what our lives will look like next Thanksgiving as a family of 3.  By then you may be almost walking and talking.  You're not even here yet and I already want to slow down how fast (I know) you are going to grow up!

I went ahead and started pulling out our Christmas decorations, since I figure it will take me a little longer to put it all up this year.  I'm glad to have the holidays as a distraction at the end of my pregnancy.  I hope they make the next 6 weeks fly by!

So thankful for you,
Momma

Elliott's Park Hill Shower.

On Sunday, some of the women who go to the church where I grew up, threw me a shower. Once again we were overwhelmed by our friends and family's generosity!  Elliott is set for the first few months of his life.  We got diapers, wipes, clothes, books, toys, blankets, bibs, our baby monitor, a high chair, and more!

I was especially excited that Gary's grandmother and two of his aunts were able to make the trip from Arkadelphia and Bentonville for the shower.  Thanks to Shirley and Meemaw, Elliott now has his own OBU gear, since we all know he will be a future Ouachita Tiger.

Here are a few photos from the shower.  We are so blessed to have each of these women in our lives!

The beautiful hostesses! 

Baby Paisley got to come celebrate too!

Me with Gary's grandmother and aunts.

33 Weeks.

Elliott:

You're growing like crazy these days, and so am I!  This week you are about the size of a honeydew, weighing about 4.5 pounds and measuring in at around 19 inches long.

We had a busy week this week.  We attended our final two classes: childbirth and newborn care.  In our childbirth class we learned what things to expect when I go in to labor, how to cope with the pain, and got a tour of the labor and delivery wing of the hospital where you'll be born.  In newborn care we learned, how to change your diapers, bathe you, care for your cord stump, soothe you when you're upset, etc.  I think we're now as prepared as we can be for your arrival, the rest will just have to come naturally.

We also had another baby shower, thrown by several women that go to church with your Pia.  We got so many nice things!  Your nursery is now complete and we've washed and organized all your new things.  Aside from getting your car seat and installing it in our car, we are ready for your arrival in case you decide to come early.

On Monday we took some maternity pictures with our friend, Grant.  I can't wait to see them!  I thought it would be a special keepsake for you to have when you are older.

We're checking things off the list and looking forward to enjoying the holidays with our family.  This will be our last holiday season as a family of two!

We love you,
Momma

Stepping Up for Ouachita 2011.

Thursday was the 2nd annual Stepping Up for Ouachita women's luncheon and style show to raise money for women's scholarships at OBU.  I was honored to get to serve on the planning committee both last year and this year.  Also our salon has volunteered to style the girl's hair for the style show both years.

This year the event was held on campus in Arkdelphia to celebrate OBU's 125th anniversary.  Laura and I got an early start Thursday morning, arriving at 8am to style hair and apply make-up to the 9 models.  After we had all the girls ready, we enjoyed the luncheon at our table with Amy, Gary's grandmother, Betty Jo Grant, her friend, Mary McBeth, Gary's aunt, Shirley Hardin, my mom, and her friend, Suzanne Sims.  The food was wonderful and there was a packed house.  I'm looking forward to hearing how much money was raised for young women to come to school at OBU.

After the lunch, we got to visit with my brother who is a sophomore at OBU this year.  Ouachita holds such a special place in my family's hearts.  I was thankful to be a part of giving back so that other girls can have the opportunity to experience what I did at OBU.

32 Weeks.

Elliott:

You're about to hit a growth spurt, packing on around a half a pound a week in cute little baby fat.  This week you weigh around 3.9 pounds and measure around 19 inches, still about the size of a head of lettuce.

This week we had our first baby showers.  All of our friends and family are so excited to meet you, and they showered us with all kinds of gifts.  You have so many cute little things waiting for you in your room now.  We are overwhelmed with how blessed we are to have so many wonderful people in our lives who already love you so much.  I can't wait to use all the things we got when you arrive.

After the showers I spent a lot of time "nesting" in your room.  I put everything away and washed all your clothes and bottles.  I think I may have over done it a little, because my lower back has been really sore, and I've spent every night this week on the heating pad.  I've also been having lots of Braxton Hicks contractions at the end of the work day.  Dr. Chang says this is just my body's way of practicing for labor in 8 short weeks!

Loving you more all the time,
Momma

Elliott's Shower at Aunt Jessica's.

On Sunday my sister and a few of my friends hosted another shower for Elliott.  This shower was family and my friends that don't go to Epoch with us.  Once again, I was so impressed with the cute decor and all the yummy snacks the girls prepared.  They even prepared a canvas for everyone to help paint, so now Elliott has an awesome piece of art for his room.  The canvas had a tree with "Gary & Kat" carved into the trunk painted on a blue background, then the guests used orange paint on their fists to add "baby footprints" on the branches as leaves.  It turned out so cute, and the colors match his nursery perfectly.  

Me with the wonderful hostesses!

Me with my mom, sister, grandma and cousin. 

Once again, we got SO many nice things, and I plan to post some of them later, because they are just too cute not to show off!  I've spent my day off organizing all of his new things in his room, and I'm so overwhelmed by how blessed we are to have such wonderful friends and family who already love Elliott so much.  His room is filled with gifts, and we still have one more shower to go!