Promised Pictures

Here are the pictures I promised...

I'm Baaaaaack

I've been neglectling my blog because other things have taken precedence over everything... mainly I have been focusing my attention on MASON!! Yep, he's finally here! He made his debut at 12:14 am on Friday, September 3! At 19.5 inches long he weighed 7 lbs 6 ozs... In other words, PERFECT! :)

Sidenote: I am updating via Seth's computer because my computer is out of commission. This being said, I can only include pictures that are from my cell phone because I can't pulg my camera into this computer.

No Pictures, Just News

Went for my weekly checkup on Wednesday and got a few new tidbits of information from the doctor...
Finally, I have stopped gaining weight! When I heard that, I was very glad! Mason is taking over in the weight gaining department. All of my calories are going straight to him. With that said, he is still gaining steady at about a pound per week. He's on target to be a large-and-in-charge little boy. The doctor said that I have continued to progress with dilation and effacing. As good as that sounds, Seth and I were REALLY hoping that they would send us over to the hospital to deliver after my dr's visit. I guess that is the wish of every woman who is 9 months pregnant. Anyways, due to a few reasons, including Mason's massive size, if we have not delivered by September 9th, he will induce. SOOOO, in other words, Seth and I will be having a baby is less than 2 weeks. Whew.. it's all coming to a quick end. At least this part of things is coming to an end.

Lately

We recently celebrated Seth's 25th birthday (August 13th) by going to eat with a few close friends. We ventured over to Starkville to the Japanese Steakhouse, Umi. Very very yummy. I also created a confectionary masterpiece...

Seth's favorite, Red velvet cake with homemade cream cheese icing... DELISH!



We also went to the doctor on Wednesday for our latest checkup. At 36 weeks, I am 1.5 centimeters dilated and 50% effaced! woo hoo! very exciting news. As far as I'm concerned this means that Mason can come any day now. (yes, I know it can still be a long while before he makes his appearance, but I can still hope.) The doctor also said he believes Mason is currently weighing in at 6.5 to 7 lbs. I'm afraid we are going to have an ENORMOUS baby on our hands. He said that if labor does not occur on its own by September 9th, then we have the opportunity to induce. YAY! The end is in sight!



Some other recent happenings:

- Lauren and Caroline came for a Saturday visit! They helped me hang curtains in the nursery. HUGE help! There was no way I would have been able to do it on my own. Heaven sent, they were.

- I met my mom in Birmingham last week for a last baby-free shopping trip. We found lots of wonderful things at the shop (www.thenestingplaceinc.com) My favorite was the new line of signature candles! My house smells like fall and it has made me ready for football season and cooler weather!

On the Move

These days our whole family seems to be on the move.

My mom has been traveling all over the country with this NuSkin marketing. She is doing fabulous and really building her business.

Seth and I are currently in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Seth is attending a training seminar for Treble Precision Ag. (Tremble is a navigation/GPS system used by farmers) After his training, he will be a certified dealer/consultant.

I have been relaxing in the hotel. I think Seth wanted me to come with him because I would be confined to the hotel room and not able to move around furniture in Mason's room. This was probably good thinking on his part because over the past few days things have started changing. I'm not sure what is going on (actually I do, I'm about to have a baby) BUT the swelling has started in a serious way. I also feel like Mason is getting himself ready for his big debut! A few times on this trip I have thought "oh boy, here we go. We are about to have this baby in _________________."  *fill-in-the-blank with the town we are driving through* Luckily he has decided to stay put for now. I go to the doctor next Wednesday so we will see what he has to say about everything!   

I've gotten sidetracked... Back to our trip ----> we also made our way to Mt. Carmel, Illinois. We picked up a load of pipe from the drilling company for use on the farm. Picking up pipe= more fences being built on the farm. We also stopped by and visited some of Seth's family while we were there. It has been a whirlwind trip and there are still a few days to go.

Mason has also been doing some moving.

He really likes to bunch up on my right side. (as seen below)

Baby Shower

I almost forgot the baby shower!! At the end of June, Sarah Huerkamp and Mrs. Cindy Kay hosted a beautiful baby shower for me and Mason. Lots of people came in from out of town and I was once again reminded how truly blessed I am.  It was so good to see everyone. Here are some pictures I have acquired... I did not have my camera there, so I have to rely on others emailing them to me. These are just a few.

30 weeks... this picture looks fake!

several of the girls got together for a picture

Holly Garrison and me... friends from WAAYYY back

Sarah's little girl, Lane, helping me out with the cake

Mom, myself and Amy - my family is great!

Our God-son Luke (Sarah's little boy)...aka Mason's future partner-in-crime.

As more pictures drift my way, I will try to posts those as well.

Where does the time go?

Once again, I am playing catch-up on my blog! I just can't seem to stay on top of things...

Here are a few things that have been going on.

1. I began a blog for the farm... if you're interested in the latest farm happenings, check it out. http://deeriverranch.blogspot.com/     I also maintain their website (http://www.deeriverranch.com/)

2. Trip to the lake. Seth and I (and four of our favorite couple friends) went to Smith Lake for an extended weekend. We had a fabulous time and couldn't have asked for more beautiful weather! I will post pictures of this trip soon...

3. Baby Mason's room looks like an infant tornado has hit it. There are baby belongings strewn all over the room. As soon as I start one project in his room (folding his clothes), I get side tracked with something else (assembling his swing or adjusting his crib bedding or organizing bibs and burp clothes). It is neverending.

4. 3D ultrasound. Seth and I went traveled to Tupelo to see Mason up-close and personal on a 3D/4D ultrasound at Baby's Kickin (http://babyskickin.com/). We went once in June with both of our moms, but Mason jsut would not cooperate. He was extremely shy and would hide his face any way he could. He kept his foot  over one side of his face and his little arm covered the other side. After the first, semi-unsuccessful photoshoot, they asked us to come back in a few weeks to try again. This last visit was equally unsuccessful! We were disappointed; however, still thankful we got to catch a small glimpse inside Mason's little world. The pictures look distorted in some places because of one or more of the following reasons...   his leg/arm was in the way and it was edited out, the placenta was disrupting the ultrasound image, the umbilical cord was showing up in the picture, or editing left the picture looking a little funny...

In this picture, Mason has his little leg in the way (kicking himself in the face). The ultrasound tech edited the leg out of the picture, but it left the image distorted over half of his face...

Mason's shoulder, arm and hand shielding his face from our view.

He would open his eyes and his mouth. He'd even make pouty faces.

profile view

Long toes like his daddy. Thankfully, it appears that he did not inherit my Fred Flinstone feet.

Sticking his tongue out at us... He is already showing out.

Maybe I will do better on the frequency of future posts...