My due date has arrived...

But the baby hasn't yet! The doctor tells me I am 4 cm dilated and 100% effaced, which I suppose means baby M could be on his way any minute....or, it could be another week of waiting. So, I am still hanging in there, planning a trip to the grocery store and walk this morning and some baking and tidying this afternoon, with a Chick-Fil-A lunch break in there with my friend Staci. We're doing it because she went into labor with her daughter the day after we walked at the mall and ate Chick-Fil-A for lunch. We are laughing that maybe it will do the trick...but if it doesn't, at least it will be a fun and tasty treat on my due date!

Magazine Time with Daddy

Gram and Gramp gave N a subscription to Wild Animal Baby and the first edition came in yesterday's mail. Thank you very much, Gram and Gramp!! Here are some fun pictures of G and N reading in the big brown chair. N really liked the stories, especially the ones about the brown bear and the little boy who lives in the big city and rides in the elevator to go home. It will be so much fun for N and his daddy to read this magazine together each time it comes in the mail!

4 Days until the 30th...

Although I told myself early on I wouldn't be surprised if I made it to my due date or beyond with this pregnancy, I have to admit that I AM READY FOR BABY M TO COME INTO THE WORLD!!!

I go back to the doctor on Wednesday morning unless I've had a baby by then. I feel like I have been on a bit of a mental/emotional roller coaster because I've had some false labor, and I'm just ready to meet this little guy instead of toting him around on the inside.

N tell us that he has dreams about Baby M, and he also practices singing "Rock-a-bye Baby" quite often. I think we are all ready!

This is Me

My friend B posted this on her website, and I thought I take a shot at it (while I am waiting on a baby, which my Bible study leader agrees is one of the hardest things to wait for...)

I am: surrounded by God's unfailing love.

I have: two outdoor cats that don't get as much affection as they did before the baby was born!

I Dislike: aggressive dogs.

I Miss: camping in the mountains. Maybe next summer.

I Fear: failing.

I Think: I am usually right, and boy, does this cause some conflict with those I love most! :)

I Know: the love of Christ.

I have no idea: when I will go into labor, and it's killing me!

I Want: to be a contented, grateful and gracious woman one day.

I Hope: the fall weather lasts a long time.

I Feel: like I am going to pop any minute.

I Smell: a clean house, or at least a clean den.

I Crave: sweet and salty at the same time.

I Cry: very easily - when I am hurt, happy, lonely, empathetic, watching a chick flick...poor G!

I Usually: enjoy being up early in the morning.

I Search: for missing toys.

I Wonder: what the world will be like when our boys are adults.

I Regret: every moment I spend complaining or being anxious for "the next thing."

I Love: music.

I Care: about the feelings of others.

I Always: eat breakfast.

I Worry: about different things at different times...

I Am Not: an extrovert by any stretch of the imagination!

I Remember: my happy childhood.

I Believe: we should be involved in helping the hurting, in our community and around the world.

I Dance: to make my son giggle.

I Sing: all the time - today's theme song has been "Zaccheus Was a Wee Little Man."

I Don't Always: express how I truly feel.

I Argue: over silly things, and then regret it.

I Write: in journals for both of my boys. Will they want to read them one day, or is that more for girls?

I Wish: I had bought some chocolate at the store today!

I Listen: to the sound of silence when I have a chance.

I Don't Understand: football, for some reason. I can follow basketball and baseball just fine, but football just seems confusing to me.

I Can Usually Be Found: curled up under my Carolina blanket on the couch.

I Need: to get started on the pear cake.

I Forget: to clean the kettle, and it gets so gross G has to scrub it with a brillo about once a year.

I Am: my children's mom.

Still pregnant

We are still waiting on baby M's arrival. The doctor said yesterday he would be surprised if I make it to the due date! We are taking it easy today. N and I went to the grocery store and then played outside before lunch. The weather is gorgeous and I am trying to soak up the sunshine, clear skies and colorful leaves before I am completely consumed with caring for our newborn son! Easier said than done, though. I am planning to bake a pear cake this afternoon as a way to distract myself from thinking every twinge is the beginning of labor. Well, N needs help finding his toy fireman so I'm off to enjoy another moment with just me and my first baby...

Art!

Don't you love this bedhead? After breakfast this morning, N climbed up in my chair and asked to color. I brought down the box of crayons and colored pencils and he got to work.


This is a box that my sisters and I used to hold our art supplies many years ago. I hope he has inherited some of M and K's artistic talents!

Weekend Update (no, it's not a spin on SNL)

Yes, I am still here - no baby yet! I am definitely feeling that any day now would be nice for M's arrival. I am pretty "front-heavy" and my tummy is quite tight with a big boy in there.

My sister K flew in for a visit last week, and she stayed with us for a few nights before we all packed in the car for a weekend trip to Cheraw. N was completely delighted to see her!


She babysat for him while I attempted early voting (to no avail because the line was way too long for a pregnant woman), again while G and I escaped for a bit of Mexican on what we thought might be our last dinner date before the baby (I had false labor all day Thursday), and again when I went to the doctor for a quick check before hitting the road Friday.

In between the times I was out of the house, I really enjoyed catching up with my newlywed sister. She is a beautiful person with a loving, joyful and fun personality!


We all ate to our hearts' content Friday evening at MeatFest, my parent's annual celebration of every kind of grilled or smoked meat you can imagine, plus many delicious sides and desserts provided by their guests. I really thought I was going to pop after eating all of that food!

My sister M's bridal tea was Saturday morning. I really liked the warmth and coziness of her fall-themed shower. She was certainly the glowing bride, and I hope she lets me borrow some of the goodies she received as gifts.



We'll keep you informed on any baby updates...I probably won't announce when I go into labor, but I will try to post again mid-week if we're still around. :)

Pumpkin Patch

We had my sister M and soon-to-be Uncle R over for breakfast yesterday morning. N loved playing with them, and eating "second breakfast" was a big hit, too.


After our food settled, we went to a local pumpkin patch. N had fun roaming the grounds and picking out a tiny pumpkin. Daddy picked the big one! The weather was great and it was really relaxing to be outside together.

A long time coming...

Our computer was sick last week, so it's been a while since my last post. It's all better now, so here we go! I am almost 37 weeks pregnant. Today's visit to the doctor was uneventful, except for the doctor's comment that "We'll see you next week, if you're still here!" I suppose the baby could come any day now, but I'm honestly not expecting him this early. I am hoping for at least another couple of weeks - I would love to make it to MeatFest at my parents' house and M's bridal tea next weekend!


We have been enjoying the beautiful fall weather. Here are a few shots we took last weekend on the front porch.


Here's our little chef hard at work in his very own kitchen! I found it at a consignment shop for about $10 this summer. We finally cleaned it up last weekend and it has been a big hit. We are making sure N practices making burgers and other good food like his Daddy!


Well, it's nearing lunchtime here so I'll be going now. Hope everyone has a great day. Go Tigers!