May 16th

Today is Porter's due date. He is here though and already one week old. One day you are painfully awaiting the arrival, waddling with world's largest belly and the next day you are holding all 8lbs 12oz of him on the outside. He is a treasure. A tiny treasure. We are in love and enjoying every day with him.

The girls wake up early to touch him and hold him and ask questions. Randy and I are learning to balance all of the new responsibilities with all of the old ones. We are getting sleep which is a huge blessing but still look forward to the day we can do it in longer spurts!

Dearest Porter, We love you so much and have only begun to realize how perfectly you complete this family. You are so handsome and bring joy to all of our lives. Your sweet skin and warm snuggles make all of us so very happy!


One Week Picture: (doubtful that he will ever be in pictures alone, poor guy. the girls are always there to jump in!)

38 weeks

(and two days but who is counting? hahaha)

Celebrating Sloan

Yesterday I made it through my last class of the semester without having a baby! Woo Hoo! And then I was able to attend my sister's shower!! I would have never thought after this last month of false labor that I would have been able to do these things.

Her shower was beautiful and she was even more beautiful. Sloan is already very loved by many!

At the end of the shower my brother-in-law, Will, her husband surprised her with a new car. They had been looking and he tricked her into thinking they weren't going to be able to pull it off but he showed up at the end and they went to load the gifts... and there it was.

You're A Gymnast!

The other day Ava was standing in her highchair posing this way and that and kept saying, "Look mommy! Look Bella!" I said, "Ava, you're a gymnast!" and she said, "No. I a giwl (girl)!" Ha. Anyway, the girls actually started gymnastics at the Y this past Saturday- Ava for the first time and Bella for the second. They both loved it. Ava is in the parent/child class so Randy is doing the honors and Bella is actually in a tumbling class and they worked them hard!

Easter 2014

Well, to start out the Easter weekend and to end Spring Break, I got the stomach bug. Again. Third time this pregnancy! and before that, it had been almost ten years. Anyway, we had to improvise and change plans but overall I think the girls enjoyed the weekend. Randy took them to my grandmothers for a little visit on Saturday and then we went back over Sunday to watch some trees being cut down. That evening we went to the North Harbor Club (where Randy and I had our rehearsal dinner) with his parents. After having the stomach bug, I did not need to eat that rich, delicious food- especially buffet style! I managed to smile for a picture but felt awful. The girls were adorable in their matching dresses and they manage to have fun anywhere we go, thankfully. We actually got a really sweet compliment about their behavior in the restaurant that evening- proud mama.

36 weeks 4 days

I know I have other things to post about but for now, just a quick update on Porter. I went for my routine visit on Thursday and was 2 cm, he is head down and all of that. At this point, it could happen at anytime, but with so many things up in the air, I don't even know what I prefer anymore!! I am officially full term (37 weeks) this Friday but they have no concerns if he comes before. I have my last class of the semester the weekend of May 2nd but at this point, I am not sure he will hang on that long. Either way, trusting the Lord and trying not to complain and be too much of a damper for Randy's sake. He has been amazing with juggling all that he has to do with my being pregnant and being in school and completing an internship (not to mention his own job and coaching).

Until then, we are all carrying on like normal and trying to have as much in place as possible...

The Nursery...

is complete! I finished it Friday and it feels great to have that done and even some clothes and blankets washed and ready to go.

I knew I wanted some orange and then I decided I wanted navy and orange both to be the primary colors. I also wanted a nautical theme but decided to try not to go overboard- no pun intended. I really wanted a large map in there but I couldn't quite get what I wanted, though I ended up incorporating some maps in the letters above Porter's crib. I just modge-podged parts of NC, SC and NY that Randy and I were either from, lived or visited. Anyway, I had had the anchors for years and never thought I would have a boy but now that we know, they were great for the room. A friend gave us the dresser/changing table and I just painted the knobs. We had most everything but the bedding which I got from Target.com, the rug which my mother in law picked up for us and the little sporty table my mom picked up for us at Goodwill. I got the curtains as a gift as well. I got a couple of the frames and hangings at Goodwill for a dollar or two and then got the two pieces of wallart from Target on super clearance just the other day.



And last but not least, here is my view at 35 weeks. (And all I felt like doing after Bella's party!)