Pictures, Pictures and more Pictures

Tomorrow is the Big Day :)

Well... tomorrow morning we will go to the hospital & I will be induced! We are so excited to get to meet Mason :) Please keep our family in your thoughts & prayers tomorrow!!

37 weeks & I'm in countdown mode :)

Well... I am 37 weeks & 4 days!! I am officially counting down the days until Mason makes his grand debut! The uncertainty of this whole labor & delivery deal has forced me to come face to face with my serious control issues :) The fact that I don't know exactly WHEN I will go into labor means I don't know WHERE I will be when i go into labor. This situation is only made more stressful by the fact that at my appointment on Wednesday during our ultrasound Dr.Martin said "Wow- you still have really good amounts of amniotic fluid - when your water breaks you are really going to GUSH" My response- AWESOME!! It's not like I spend the majority of my day in front of teenage boys & girls that would totally FLIP OUT if one second I am teaching them about the Supreme Court and then next moment I am "gushing" amniotic fluid everywhere!! AWESOME!! And that doesn't even get me to the point where I have no way to predict the circumstances of my delivery!!! I spend a good portion of my day thinking about how little control I have of over the one event that i would want to control the most! Oh- God has such wonderful ways of teaching us things, doesn't he? Patience and Trusting in God- I am really working on it!!

More about the 37 week appointment with Dr.Martin... this was my second cervix check & WOW those are NO JOKE!! The second one was SO much easier than the first (which I had last week at my 36 week appointment) Some of my girlfriends had attempted to prepare me for the exam- but there really was no preparing for that! The results from both exams were exactly the same- I am totally effaced, a "fingertip" dilated & -2 station! So after the 36 week check Dr.Martin thought that things would move right along quickly & I would have Mason early right around 38 weeks. Well... then when I was EXACTLY in the same spot this week- he kinda changed his tune a little bit! Mason is doing fabulous though. The ultrasound showed that his legs are still in the 90 something percentile & based on the measurements he is about 7 pounds. Dr.Martin said Mason had "chubby cheeks & poochy lips" - I can not even put into words how excited I am to meet Mason face to face and hold him in my arms and just look at my baby boy!

The prepared childbirth class my mom & I attended the past two Saturdays was decent. They didn't cover allot that I hadn't already researched - but the best part was that it was taught by nurses that actually work in the hospital where I will deliver & they were able to give us allot of information specifically on how things work & what our experience will be like at North East Georgia Medical Center. Plus the class gave mom & I an opportunity to spend time together & talk allot about the specifics of my plans and desires for labor & delivery & all that good stuff! The class also gave us some good laughs! No one can crack us up like each other :) haha Two peas in a pod! Nate & I will go to the Breastfeeding class on Monday night & I am SUPER looking forward to that class & I'm hoping I learn allot more than I did in the child birthing class!

I have been so amazed at the things that people have said to me in the past couple weeks! I am so tired of people doing the whole "eye contact, belly stare, eye contact Awwwww... How are you feeling? head tilt, belly stare" I keep promising that the next person that asks is going to get the honest non-filtered answer! haha :) The comments are never ending and everyone thinks their comment is soooo original and hilarious! You have no choice really but to smile and go along with the whole thing or risk looking like the emotional bitchy pregnant lady and then face a whole new round of comments :) The best comment today came from an old lady giving samples of something in the frozen foods area of Costco today. Mom & I came down the aisle and she made a beeline over to us and said "Oh NO!! Is someone boiling rags in the back?!?! (insert old lady cackle laugh here) Don't come to me to deliver that baby- I don't know anything about birthing babies- I had two sections" Now you ask yourself- why could she not just let me walk down the aisle and go about my business? It's because talking to extremely pregnant women has the whole train wreck appeal- the whole you don't wanna look but can't help it. I really think people just can't help themselves but to make a witty little comment or offer advice or give you their personal OB history. For example the lady that was behind me in line at subway - when the condiments I ordered on my chicken sandwich included spicy mustard, banana peppers, and pickles she quickly chimed in to tell me I really better reconsider that because i didn't need to be eating all that spicy stuff and then STARED at my stomach! At that point I wanted to then say to her "would it be appropriate for me to tell you not to order mayo & cheese on your sandwich because you are overweight? No? Then why is it okay for you to tell me how to order my sandwich because I am pregnant" It was quite a hilarious moment LATER- at the time I just glared and ordered my sandwich exactly how I wanted it- SPICY condiments and all :)

I told Nate the other night "Next time I am pregnant and I start saying I am uncomfortable at 6 months- remind me that it ain't nothin yet- gear up for 9 months baby" I have really had an easy pregnancy- I am grateful most of all for the health of mason & myself- overall my complaints have been minor. I am still tyring to stay very positive about the physical toll pregnancy has taken on my body - but it's getting hard! I am really uncomfortable! I don't remember what it's like to NOT have a human being in my body- but I think I remember it feeling kinda nice! I really love feeling mason move around- watching him move is even more amazing- but I could really do without his 90 something percentile legs round house kicking me in all my major organs! I'm telling you his hiccups are out of control too! My back kinda hurts, I feel like I am holding a bowling ball between my legs, it is impossible to get comfortable sitting or laying, sleep is still impossible, the leg cramps are still nightly, add in the lovely effects of the pollen and don't forget the braxton hicks contractions I've been having!! But all that physical stuff is all in the background compared to all the mental stuff running through my head about labor, delivery, and of course.... MOTHERHOOD!!!

I am lucky to have such an amazing husband to take care of me and put up with me. I am lucky to have such an amazing mom, dad and sister who are all so excited to meet mason and have done so much more than we deserve to help us prepare for our son's arrival. I am so lucky to have Nate's wonderful parents that are just as excited for their 3rd grandson as I'm sure they were for their first & of course the Schmackers who are finally going to get a counsin & nephew! I am so lucky to have the best girlfriends ever that listen to my worries and offer me the best advice and always a good laugh!

Love to ALL
xoxo

Another long overdue update :)

Well... I know I said I would NEVER go too long between updates again - but it happened :) LOTS has happened since my last update!


I will be 35 weeks on Tuesday!! Mason is BIG according to Dr.Martin's frequent ultrasounds & there is a good possibility that I won't make it to my official due date May 12th! We'll just have to wait & see :) At our last ultrasound Dr.Martin said "You do NOT need to worry about this baby" :) Always a comforting thing to hear! It is so crazy to think that in a month Mason will be here!! The time has just zoomed by! I can't even belive it!

So... what have I missed updating on...

• Aubre & Mom (Mike, Madison & Dad) threw us an AMAZING baby shower !! It was SO awesome that our friends & families came out to celebrate with us - especially since it was SNOWING!!! You know it had to be extreeme when Gwinnett County closed school the next day!! We are so thankful to Aubre & Mike & my parents for all the work they put into the shower. We are super thankful to all our friends that gave Mason generous gifts & spent the time celebrating with us on a snowy day! My sweet future brother-in-law Mike made the most AMAZING cake for us! He did such a great job- and it was the FIRST cake he's ever made!!! He is truly a jack of all trades! Nate & I were both really touched that he wanted to make such a special gift for us! He's such a great guy & we are excited to welcome him into our crazy family!

• My mom has been spending LOTS of time helping me get everything ready for Mason! She has cleaned, organized, put together, folded, decorated her heart out for her grandson!! I can honestly say there is NO way I would be as prepared as I am now without her! She has been amazing!! We have all our bags packed & ready to go to the hospital! I am so thankful that my mom has been able to spend the time here preparing with us! It has given me a sense of calm & peace going into such an unknown scary crazy exciting time!!
  


• Nate turned 31 today!! Man he's old! haha :)
  


• We are crazy & are making a trip to Florida on Wednesday for Spring Break! Yes- traveling to Florida at 35 weeks pregnant! Tom & Kathy Jones were so sweet to invite the entire Muth family down to their house in Blue Mountain Beach! We are SUPER excited to get to see Melanie, Eric, Will & Jack!!! It's going to be great to spend time together!! The good news is Dr.Martin will be down at the beach too :) haha :) When we went to our last appointment we checked with him to see if he thought it would be okay to go & he told us he'd actually only be about 20 minutes away from us that week with HIS family! He said he would "do the baywatch run" down the beach if I needed anything - which is a scary thought- but did make me feel better about going! He also did a test that would detect a certain protein to see if there was any possibility that I might go into labor in the next two weeks- came back negative- another thing that made me feel better about going :)
  
  

• We went to look at daycares- not the best experience of my life! We are now going to meet with a wonderful lady that does inhome day care. She has come HIGHLY recommended by the Drakes. Ms.D keeps Sutton & he LOVES her!! We are hopefully that it will all work out for her to keep Mason in August as well :) I will update on that after Spring Break!
  

That will pretty much be it for this update! It's late- I'm exhausted! That's the weird thing- I'm back to all the pregnancy symptoms I had in the first trimester- fatigue, heartburn, etc. but I am also SUPER uncomfortable!!! It is all so worth it though! Mason gets hiccups all the time - the STRANGEST feeling ever! He is super active & moves night & day! I have such a great time just watching my stomach moving around as he flips & kicks his way around in there :) I can not wait to meet my son!

Pictures now.... Words Later :)

I wish I had time to write a blog right now about the fabulous weekend my mom & I had together this weekend getting Mason's room decorated but we are off to Tom & Sally's for our traditional Sunday night dinner! So... I will post an update later but wanted everyone to see the cute pictures right away :) LOVE TO ALL :)

Mason's New Room

26 weeks :)

I can't believe I am 6 and a half months pregnant! CRAZY!! Let me try & think of what has happened since the last time I updated.....

• Mason now has furniture in his room :) We purchased a beautiful Bassett crib & dresser/changing table for Mason & have it all set up in his room :) We also picked out the bedding & decorations! We did not go the traditional "baby" route with the bedding & room decor. The colors are chocolate brown, cream, and light blue - which are very baby boy friendly colors HOWEVER my mom is actually making all of the bedding & room decorations:) Nate & I both so lucky that we get to benefit from my mom's amazing creative talents!! We have all the materials and plans put together- but you'll have to wait to see pictures until after next weekend! Mom is coming down Saturday with sewing machine in tow to spend the weekend with me & get Mason's room all set up! I promise to update next Sunday with pictures of our progress! I know it is going to look AWESOME - all of my mom's projects end up super cute!!!
• I have noticed a major increase in the strength & frequency of Mason's movements! It is the most indescribable feeling! It is so much easier for Nate to feel Mason moving around now also. I am betting it will only be a short time from now that we will SEE him moving by belly around :) Feeling Mason moving around is by far my favorite part of being pregnant!
• I am getting more and more uncomfortable each passing day. Sleeping is pretty miserable. I get up 2-3 times a night to go to the bathroom and in the past week or so I have been getting painful calf cramps that send me straight to my feet. I really can't complain though- all-in-all I have had a really easy pregnancy so far! I remind myself of that frequently! The last thing I want to be is one of those pregnant ladies that complains all the time :)
• I have finally lost my craving for Orange Juice! It went away as quickly as it arrived. So Strange. I still have the cravings for grapefruit & eat at least one a day! I have a new found craving for regular cheerios with honey & sliced banana! This has become my daily breakfast ritual & I start looking forward to it when I am getting ready for bed the night before!
• Almost 2 weeks ago I did the glucose screening test to check for gestational diabetes. For those of you that aren't familiar with this test- basically you drink this flavored sugar water stuff and then have your blood taken an hour later to check to see how your body is metabolizing the sugars. Everyone had described this sugar drink as the most awful thing EVER! People made it out like it was going to have me gagging and dry heaving all the way to the doctor's office. IT REALLY WASN'T THAT BAD!! The only bad part was that you can't eat or drink anything starting at midnight the night before. I was SUPER thirsty & pretty hungry that morning but thought that the drink just tasted like extra extra extra sweet kool-aid. The mag-citrate I had to drink for the flex-sig is still holding #1 for the most disgusting thing I've ever had to drink!! As I figured- the test results came back perfect :) No problem with gestational diabetes :) YEA!!
• We go back to see Dr.Martin on Wednesday!! Two exciting things about this upcoming visit- we are going to do an ultrasound so we will get to see baby mason :) AND then after this visit we go back every 2 weeks!! AGGHHH!! That means I will be in my 3rd trimester! CRAZY! We will start going to our different classes at the hospital, checking out day care options, and getting ready for Mason to come home :)

I think that's about all the updates I can think of right now... I'm sure I'm leaving something out- the whole "pregnancy brain" thing is no joke! I forget things like CRAZY these days! Pregnancy has done horrible things to my brain & my body- I can only hope they will both go back to thier previous condition post pregnancy! DO NOT TELL ME OTHERWISE EVEN IF IT ISN'T TRUE!!!! LIE TO ME- I PROMISE I'LL BELIEVE!!!! haha :)

My wonderfully sweet sister & mother (including Mike, Madison & dad OF COURSE) are throwing Nate & I a casual couples shower at our neighborhood clubhouse on March 1st :) WE ARE SOOOO EXCITED & SOOOO THANKFUL!! We really are looking forward to just hanging out with our friends & celebrating the expansion of our family!! Nate has been so super involved in my pregnancy that it just wouldn't have seemed right to have an all girls baby shower! We both really wanted all our friends & family members to be included in our celebration - even the men & the kiddos!!! We hope to see you all there :)

Madison & Mason Pictures

Madison with her WikiStick creation of Mason's Name :)

Happy New Year!!

Happy 2009 to all our loved ones :)

This is going to be a very exciting year for our family & I CAN'T wait to experience every moment of it :)

Nate and I had a very low key New Years Eve- but it was absolutely perfect for where we are at right now! We had dinner at the Kani House- yummy!!! (Kani House is a Japanese Hibachi Restaurant for those of you who don't live in Georgia) After dinner we went back home, got in our comfy clothes, sat on the couch, watched football & Dick Clark's Rockin New Years Eve and played scrabble! A little background on the scrabble game... We received Scrabble as a wedding gift but it had yet to make an appearance out of the box! Neither Nate nor I had ever played the game before Scrabble was banned in my house growing up- apparently my parents got into some pretty heated arguments across the scrabble board early on in their marriage & as the story goes in order to preserve their union the Scrabble board was blacklisted from Baldwin Family Game Time!! ha ha Well... on Christmas we went over to the Lataiff's house and brought Scrabble & Monopoly for the Lataiff Kids/Young Adults :) I watched Emily, Francis and my mom play a game & it totally inspired me to go home & learn how to play! My mom must have been equally inspired because she went out to ToysRUs and bought the New Amazing Diamond Edition Scrabble. She & Dad must have come to some sort of truce & removed Scrabble from the blacklist :) I sent mom a text to share the wonderful news that i had just beat nate at our first scrabble game & was delighted to hear that she & dad were currently playing scrabble themselves :) They weren't keeping score- and I'm sure that was for the best- those two gotta ease back into the fierce game play!! Nate & I are going to visit them again this weekend & I'm sure we will all play a game of Scrabble together! Nate & I will be put to shame by their scrabble skills- but it will be so much fun in the process :)
We came over to Tom & Sallys today for a New Years Day full of football & a yummy steak dinner!! We always enjoy coming over & hanging out with Tom & Sally :) I was just telling Sally tonight- there is nothing like a home cooked meal cooked by a mother in her home:) I hope one day Mason will say that about coming home for dinner at our house :)

Christmas 2008 Spent at Casa Baldwin .... just the 4 of us (well 5 with Mason)

Nate & I spent Christmas up in Rome with my parents! Aubre, Mike & Madison were up in Clarksville. Tom, Sally & Adam were all in San Antonio with Melanie, Eric, Will & Jackson. This was supposed to be our Christmas with the Muth/Schmacker family- but sadly because of Nate's work schedule we were not able to make the trip to San Antonio this year :( We really missed them all ALOT & it was sad that we couldn't all be together. Nate & I of course loved the extra time with my parents & really enjoyed the rest & relaxation of this low key Christmas! We had our traditional Enchilada Christmas dinner- yummy!!! Mom still cooked like the whole gang was there but no complaints from us- mom sent home the equivalent of an ENTIRE pan of enchiladas & home made Spanish rice! We ate off that for DAYS :) YUMMY!!! After eating Christmas dinner we got a call from Aubre with some very exciting news - Mike had proposed & she said Yes!! Madison was of course overjoyed that she would officially be Mason's cousin :) She is so in love with Mason already- it is adorable!!

We were very blessed this Christmas and received wonderful & generous gifts from our parents & Mimi (Nate's grandmother) My parents gave us a Sony Handycam to capture all of Mason's Magical Memories along with lots of fun stocking stuffers! Tom, Sally & Mimi gave us a great gift- money to purchase furniture for baby Mason :) You can see the theme of our Christmas was gifts for Mason! We are so blessed at how generous our families have been to our family- especially baby Mason! Spoiled before he has even arrived!

The day after Christmas we drove down to Atlantic Station & went to the bodies exhibit! It was AMAZING!! I would recommend it to everyone! It was so amazing to see the miracle that God created! There is no way to explain how incredible our bodies work expect that God really is an amazing creator! We are already planning to return again with Tom & Sally :) It was so cool!!

On the way home from the Bodies Exhibit Nate had an amazing experience of his own- he was able to feel baby Mason move for the first time! He has been anxiously awaiting the moment that he would be able to feel Mason moving! Every time I would feel Mason moving around I would have Nate hurry and place his hand on my stomach- but every time without fail- as soon as Nate put his hand on my tummy- Mason would stop moving! Nate must have a calming effect on him already:) haha :) Well finally Mason was just getting a nice little workout & Nate was able to feel him moving around. Nate said it was an amazing feeling and after so much anticipation it left him satisfied! Well that satisfaction was very short lived- now he wants to feel Mason moving all the time & is so sad if he can't feel him every time he tires :) We are both excited for every new milestone & experience!! I know in the coming months I will be able to watch Mason moving my stomach all around & feel his kicks to my ribs! For now- every movement I feel makes me feel closer to him- and even more excited for his arrival in less than 19 weeks! Woo Hoo!!

Appointment with Dr.Martin

We had our appointment with Dr.Martin at his new/temporary office on the 30th! Every time we go see him I remember how glad I am that he is my doctor & how wonderful I think he is! He is just the kindest, sweetest, most understanding doctor EVER! He is hands down the BEST! I would recommend him to anyone :) The appointment went well- we listened to the heartbeat and did some measurements- everything looked great! We got the results back from the quad-screen blood test & everything came back negative :) We were happy to hear there is no increased risk for birth defects. Our next appointment is on January 27th & I have to do the 1 hour glucose test! From what I hear it is pretty NASTY to drink but I've also had to drink magnesium citrate for a flex sigmoidoscopy so I can't imagine this being any worse :) haha :) No ultrasound this visit- Dr.Martin hasn't had a chance to get his new machine set up yet- but as soon as we have more pictures- I'll post them :)

20 week ultrasound pictures

:) The arrow is pointing to what makes mason a little boy :)

Picture Updates...

BABY MASON AT 17 WEEKS

BABY MASON AT 17 WEEKS

LONG overdue update on Baby Muth

Where do i even begin???
My last entry was after the 12 week appointment with Dr. Martin that my mom attended :) So much has happened since then. Today I am 20 weeks pregnant! It feels like we just found out we were pregnant- I can not believe how fast the time is flying by! Since so much time has gone by since my last entry I'll try to break down the major events of the past 8 weeks!! I'll start at the 16 week appointment with Dr. Martin!

16 week ultrasound with Dr. Martin

We went on November 24th for our 16 week appointment & ultrasound. This was the appointment that Dr. Martin thought he would be able to determine the sex of baby Muth :) Nate was able to go the the appointment with me & we were both really looking forward to knowing the sex of the baby by Thanksgiving to share with our families! I wanted to make sure that baby Muth was moving around during the ultrasound so on the way to the office- I ate a bag of peanut m&m's :) As it turns out... maybe I should have only snacked on HALF the bag- baby muth was moving around like crazy- but unwilling to move into any position or stay in any position long enough for Dr.Martin to get a good look at the goods!! It didn't help that baby muth was in a breech position- making things even more difficult for Dr. Martin to get a good ultrasound picture! Dr. Martin- sweet as can be- tried & tried- but no luck- baby muth would not cooperate!! He said he was PRETTY SURE it was a boy- but not to run out & paint the nursery yet! Nate & I of course ran with it- we decided then & there that we were having a little boy :) Dr. Martin wanted us to know for sure- so he invited us to stop back in the next week & hopefully confirm his educated guess of baby boy!

Thanksgiving in Rome at Casa Baldwin

Nate & I were able to celebrate Thanksgiving in Rome with my parents & Aubre, Mike & Madison!! Nate's parents went to Tennessee to visit Sally's sister & her family- they were missed in Rome for sure! We had a really fun time at Thanksgiving & of course tears were shed during the "pass the corn tradition" My family has a tradition that when we sit down at the table for Thanksgiving dinner each person has 5 unpopped pieces of popcorn at their place setting. As we sit and enjoy the meal we pass a small dish around the table and each person drops a corn kernel in & shares something they are thankful for! Baby Muth was mentioned several times as well as how thankful we all are for our spouses & families! It was a very special time spent together as a family! This was the first time I felt baby muth move FOR SURE!! I had been feeling the flutters for weeks now- but the morning after Thanksgiving- laying in my bed upstairs at my parents- I felt baby muth kick me- a real kick!! It was an amazing feeling that I will remember forever!

Back to see Dr. Martin for Confirmation... this time we brought Sally

Dr.Martin was able to see us again on December 4th to try to confirm his thoughts that baby Muth was a baby boy!! As soon as we left our last appointment and Dr. Martin had invited us back to follow up I knew that I wanted to invite Sally- Nate's mom- to come to the ultrasound. I thought that she would really love meeting Dr. Martin & I knew that she would enjoy getting to see the ultrasound in person. Originally it didn't look like Nate was going to be able to go to this appointment with me- but things worked out perfectly in the end and the 3 of us were able to go the appointment together. After the m&m disaster at the original 16 week appointment I avoided all chocolate before this appointment!! Well you'll never guess- baby Muth was even LESS cooperative at this appointment than at the 16 week appointment! Baby Muth slept through the entire thing! Dr.Martin tried and tried and tried to get baby muth to wake up and move around - but NO luck! We left that appointment with the same 90% certainty that baby muth was a baby boy! It was of course fun to get to see baby & listen to the heart beat - but we were really looking forward to confirmation of the sex of the baby!! We would have to wait for the 20 week ultra sound to know for sure if baby muth was really a baby boy!

The BIG Appointment- 20 week ultrasound

Our 20 week ultra sound would not be with Dr.Martin- it would be with a specialized ultrasound tech at Dr.Allaire's office at the Long Street Clinic. This ultrasound was more than just a "fun ultrasound" to check for the sex- this was a very important scan. The tech was checking to make sure baby muth was totally healthy & all his bones & organs were growing at the right rate & all that good stuff! We were both really anxious to hear that baby muth was healthy that the sex of the baby took a back seat as we waiting for this appointment! As soon as the tech started she asked us if we wanted to know the sex of the baby- we of course said YES!!! We then told her that we wouldn't be surprised if she couldn't tell us for sure because Dr.Martin had been unsuccessful 3 times in a row at giving us a solid answer- her reply was priceless & had us both cracking up!! She said "I don't know what baby Dr.Martin was looking at- maybe he needs to get glasses- because that is a baby BOY" We were both so overjoyed to know for sure!! From this moment on it would not be "baby muth" - we are having a son!! We picked out the name Mason Thomas Muth! Nate claims he knew from day one that it was a little boy- I will give him credit- he never changed his response- no matter how many million times I asked him :) I however- went back and forth in my predictions- but was happy to know for sure that it was a little boy. Since I was a little girl I have always wanted to have a baby boy first and then a baby girl second - but when it came right down to it- I was nervous about having a baby boy. I do not KNOW boy- I've got girl on lock down- I know about little girls and teenage girls and grown up girls, I know all about girl stuff & mother daughter relationships- I AM CLUELESS WHEN IT COMES TO BOY!! I am excited and nervous all at the same time about being a mother to a son! Nate on the other hand has the polar opposite feelings- he knows boy! He can do boy! He is overjoyed at having a son - i think like most men would be :) Okay- back to HEALTHY baby mason... the whole point of the ultrasound! Dr.Allaire told us that everything looked perfect! We were able to see all 4 chambers of baby mason's heart, his kidneys, lungs, bladder, etc. EVERYTHING LOOKED GREAT! All the measurements of his bones were right on track for his due date! He weighed 11 ounces & his heart beat was right at 150 bpm :) In true pregnant momma form I cried after we heard the news that everything looked great! I had the quad screen blood test done that day also and we are waiting on those results- but I am confident that everything will come back perfectly normal there too :) It was the greatest day so far in the pregnancy journey!!! After the appointment we were off to Babys R Us to register & then to a celebratory dinner with Tom & Sally- our post doctor's appointment tradition :)

Registering at Babys R Us- WHOA!!!

With a firm confirmation of baby Mason's manhood - we were off to register!! I had spent alot of time researching and quizzing my friends on all the things we would need for Mason. Thanks to Amy, Analisa, Maria & Elizabeth I was able to compile 10 pages of notes to help us register :) I would have never been able to do it without my friends advice & I plan to one day pass it on to other new mothers that are looking for the same advice :) Despite all the research- Nate & I were both overwhelmed at the whole process :) Nate made comments like "this is all becoming very real" & "whoa- I'm actually going to be using these things with mason REALLY soon" It was a fun, emotional, exhausting 3 hours spent in Babys R Us :) We can't wait to meet Mason & this made it so much more of a reality :)

Pre-Christmas Celebration in Tennessee with Aubre, Mike & Madison

I traveled up to Tennessee with my Mom & Dad this past weekend to visit Aubre, Mike & Madison!! Since we are not all able to be together at Christmas we just moved our celebration up a week! Sadly Nate had to work and was not able to make the trip with us- we were very sad & missed him very much!! We all had a great time together just hanging out & enjoying each others company! Mason received his very first Christmas presents from Auntie Aubre' & Mike & Madison- a super cute little outfit & a pack of newborn diapers! Again- another moment in time that it "got very real" :) It was so sweet of them to get Mason a gift - he's already spoiled & he hasn't even been born yet!!! Mason is kicking and moving around like crazy now!! Its an amazing crazy alien took over my body type of feeling!! :) ha ha :) I love it and am creeped out by it all at the same time! Nate can NOT wait to feel baby mason moving by touching my ever growing belly! It's so cute- every time he kicks or moves or punches me- nate tries to feel it - but so far- no luck!! Mom & I were able to spend the day together yesterday & she was so generous to take me on a shopping trip to my new favorite store- Motherhood Maternity! We had lots of laughs about my ever growing bust- I didn't even know there was a cup size E!! Holy Hell- the things pregnancy does to your body!! Mom was SUPER SUPER generous and bought me several outfits that fit that ever growing baby bump!! It has been wonderful spending so much time with my parents these past few weeks!! Nate & I are both really looking forward to going up to Rome on Wednesday to spend Christmas with my family! We however are equally sad that we will not be able to spend Christmas with Nate's family!! Because of Nate's work schedule we were not able to make the trip to San Antonio this year :( We really are going to miss seeing Will & Jack open presents!! We treasure the time we get to see Melanie, Eric & Adam since we all live in different parts of the United States- and we are very sad that we have to miss that time together this Christmas!

Well... That about covers the past 8 weeks :)

I am not going to ever go so long between posts ever again because so many details of the past 8 weeks have been lost :( I kept saying... "as soon as we know the sex for sure i'm going to update" and then time just got away from me & I got busy with the end of the school year... blah blah blah- excuses I know! I'm sure I forgot & left out lots of details- but at least I am some what caught back up now! We love all of your very much & have appreciated you checking in on us & keeping up with baby mason :) We are exactly at the half-way point & we are so excited for the second half of the journey! I sent Christmas cards out a little late- as in TODAY- but they will get there eventually :) Merry Christmas to all of you!! Nate & I have a greater appreciation for Christmas, God's Love and the miracles that God performs! God is Good and we are so blessed this year!!

Our Baby Looks Like A Baby!!

Today was another amazing day in our pregnancy journey... probably one of my absolute favorites actually!! Right up there with the day we found out we were expecting, telling our families, and the first moment we heard that amazing heartbeat! I guess there have already been ALOT of amazing moments :) Today I feel like I have a new appreciation for how amazing our God truly is. I know I am part of a spectacular miracle that only God deserves the credit for.

My wonderful mother drove down from Rome last night in order to accompany me to my appointment with Dr. Martin today. Sadly Nate had to work & this was the first appointment he would not be attending with me. I was so grateful that my mom was willing to come down and go with me. I know it made Nate feel a little better too knowing that I wouldn't be going alone :) I knew my mom would love Dr. Martin as much as we do so I was really excited for her to meet him in person!!

Dr. Martin had an emergency at the hospital so unfortunately it was a short & sweet appointment. The SWEET part was getting to see our little angel & hear our baby's heartbeat again!! It was such a cool experience to have my mom there & watch her see her first grand baby!! The little peanut was sleeping peacefully when we first tuned into baby TV- but after a little encouragement from Dr. Martin baby Muth was moving all around. We saw our little peanut is already moving its hand up to it's mouth like a thumb sucker & has a set of kicking legs that I'm sure I'll be feeling in no time! It was just so amazing to see our baby moving all around!! I have no words to even describe how I feel! Truly Amazed!

Dr. Martin was not able to predict the sex of our baby today- but I am more than okay with that. I really want Nate and I to be there together when we find out. We had a plan in place if Dr. Martin WAS able to tell. He was going to write it down, put it in a seal envelope & then Nate and I would have opened it together. I am just really excited that now we will be able to see it and experience it together and Dr. Martin can show us what he see and explain it so we can see it too :) So as much as I would have LOVED to know the sex of the baby today- I like the way this worked out much better!!

So sorry folks... you'll have to stay tuned for another month to find out the sex of our lil peanut :) Next appointment is December 1st & Dr. Martin is SURE he will be able to tell us the sex at that appointment.... as long as our baby cooperates :) It's amazing how much love I already hold for our baby and I know it is only going to grow and grow and grow!!

Countdown to Doctor's Appointment...

I am officially 10 weeks pregnant tomorrow!! Sometimes I feel like saying "Wow- 10 weeks ALREADY?!?!?" & other times I feel like saying "ONLY 10 WEEKS???" I am looking forward to so many things that are still ahead in this wonderful journey that occasionally I find myself wishing that I could hit the fast forward button on the pregnancy remote & get to the good stuff :)

I started feeling a little bit better in the nausea department only to be attacked by the worst case of heartburn possible!! I LOVE spicy foods & sadly they have become my arch enemy! I can not tell you how lame I feel carrying around a bottle of mylanta in my purse - but as of right now that nasty chalky white liquid sounds better than any frosty miller light EVER has :)

Nate had the weekend off & we were able to go up to Rome & visit the family! Aubre, Mike & Madison also stayed in Rome Friday night!!! It was a wonderful mini-family reunion! Team Rios was making their way from Tennessee to Orlando where they set sail on a Caribbean cruise Sunday afternoon!! SO JEALOUS!! We had a fun evening catching up and enjoying each others company! We had been waiting to tell Madison about the baby in person & it was worth the wait! The expression on her face was priceless! Madison LOVES babies & she is already planning all of the things she will teach our baby!

Saturday morning we had our traditional Baldwin Family Breakfast of grits, eggs, & biscuits at my special request :) YUMMMMMM-0! I am so thankful that I did not pick up an aversion to eggs! Sadly, Team Rios had to leave right after breakfast but Nate & I were able to spend the rest of the day watching football with my parents! It truly was a perfect day- nothing i enjoy more than spending time with my family & nothing Nate enjoys more than watching Texas football! Throw in all those AMAZING snacks my mom made & it was a perfect 10 for BOTH of us!!! It is always so nice when Nate has the weekend off work & we are able to spend two consecutive days together just relaxing :) I do more of the relaxing than he does these days :) ha ha

Today was a teacher work day so I was able to get alot accomplished at work- always a great feeling!! Nothing better than being organized and prepared :)

We go back to the doctor two weeks from today & HOPEFULLY he will be able to predict the sex of our little baby! I look at the calendar everyday somehow hoping that the appointment will magically have moved up a few days! I must keep repeating... Patience is a virtue.... Patience is a virtue... Patience is a virtue...