Pregnancy Pictures

One of my best friends, Sharon, is certainly gifted at photography. She was kind enough to take time out a couple of Fridays ago and get some great shots of Ryan, me, and my huge belly! :) Here are my favorites:

Across the street from our neighborhood. I just love this fence! I'll be taking Gavin here to feed the horses soon!

In our backyard...

...sitting on Gavin's bedding!

In the nursery

By the way, the huge rock on my finger is fake. :)
My fingers are swollen and I can't fit in my ring! Thanks, Elizabeth, for letting me borrow it!

Sharon's sister Lillian needs to get the credit for these next 2 pictures. We stole the idea!
Thanks, Nancy, for letting me borrow the blocks!
I think these are my favorite of all.

9 Months

Ok, let me do the Math to make sure I'm right: 36 weeks/4 weeks in a month = 9 months. So it is true that you're actually pregnant for 10 months! That is unless the little guy decides to come tomorrow, which from the looks of my belly, he might! But if he's on target, we've got 4 more weeks. Can my belly get any bigger in 4 weeks!?

Super fun thing right now: Gavin is getting the hiccups! My first thought was that my little boy had rhythm because he was kicking me every few seconds on a beat, then I realized what was actually going on!

Fun quotes from my kindergartners to share with you:
At the beginning of the school year when I first told my class I was pregnant, Peter said:
"I'm glad I didn't eat a baby so I don't have a baby in my belly!"

This past week, Taylor said:
"Mrs. Hughes, if your belly gets any bigger, your shirt is going to rip!"

Taylor also said:
"Can you still fit in the car to drive, Mrs. Hughes?"

Grant said:
"What does it look like when you go to sleep? Do the covers stick way up?"

Emily said:
"Your belly looks like a snowman, Mrs. Hughes!"

Reagan said:
"I can't even fit my arms all the way around you anymore, Mrs. Hughes!"

Asia says almost every week:
"Mrs. Hughes, you're gonna cry when you have that baby because it's gonna hurt!"

Sydney laid her head on my belly and said:
"Yep, he's ready to come out."
Most of the girls in my class give "Baby Gavin" as they call him a hug every day. They put their little hands on my belly and lay their head on him. I need to get more pictures because it is the sweetest thing ever and I don't want to forget those precious moments!

My Growing Boy

We had another ultrasound today! We could at one time see him from his head to his feet on the screen, and today his face took up the whole screen! Look at my sweet little boy...

His face looks kind of smooshed here (I think from him moving) but I think his mouth looks just like Ryan!

He weighs 5 lbs 15 oz right now. No longer measuring 2 weeks ahead! Praise the Lord! He's right on schedule. Dr. Roberts said he'll probably be 7-7 1/2 lbs at 40 weeks unless he hits a growth spurt.

And the heartburn rumors are true! He has a full head of hair!! I can't tell in these 4D pictures, but Dr. Roberts saw it right away on the 2D.
He was also opening and closing his eyes and mouth the whole time. He even got the hiccups while she was trying to get a good picture of him. He's such an active little guy!

Mom reminded me that I was this size when I was born 3 1/2 weeks early! I was 5 lbs 13 oz. Just a little one--imagine that! :) Because I was so early, I've planned to be ready by January 20 this whole time. That's tomorrow!! And we're as ready as we can be. All his things are washed, put away, and he has a hospital bag ready! I'll be packing our bag this week. It's getting so close!!

Church Shower

This weekend, my wonderful friends from church threw me a shower for little Gavin! It was such a blessing to our little family. I never dreamed that you would need so much stuff for a little one! Here are a few pictures from the day (thanks for taking the pictures, Julie!)...

The amazing planners: Sharon, Melanie, and Elizabeth
The girls did a nature theme because of Gavin's bedding. It was perfect!
One of Gavin's future girlfriends, Laurel. :)

Opening presents...

The family that we got Dakota from had these onesies monogrammed with "Boxer Buddy"!
Gavin better be a dog lover!HUGE gift from our Care Group--a 3-in-1 exersaucer. Thanks, guys! Gavin's going to love it!
Playing "The Price is Right" game. I really liked winning all the prizes even if I didn't get the answer correct!
Hanging out after opening presents.
Chocolate fondue--my favorite!
Wow, can I just say how pregnant I look in this picture!?
Gram and Nani can't wait to meet their grandson!Thanks so much to everybody who planned, helped, and came to the shower!
It was so wonderful and such a blessing to us. Now, off to organize all of Gavin's new goodies... :)

8 Months

32 weeks! Only 8 more weeks to go (unless he comes early, of course)--can you believe it??

The crib finally came and Ryan put it together Saturday. Look how great it looks with Amanda's trees! It is EXACTLY what I pictured in my head. I can't even tell you how much I love it!!

The Grinch

One of my favorite Christmas movies growing up was How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The first weekend in December, we drove to Nashville to stay with Ryan's sister, Amanda. They had an ice sculpture exhibit dedicated to the Grinch! Here are some of my favorite pictures:

Waiting in line for 30 minutes in the freezing cold just to get inside to the freezing cold.

It is 9 degrees inside, so you have to wear these special parkas. Fashionable, huh?

We're finally inside!The Grinch's dog Max is my favorite character!

Waiting in line for the ice slide...that apparently you're not supposed to go on pregnant.
What!? I still went down it. For goodness sakes, how could that hurt a baby??
Can you believe all this is made of ice?

I am supposed to be eating for 2...Brother and sister

They even had a nativity ice sculpture at the end. Isn't it gorgeous? Thanks for a fun weekend, Amanda!