Infant CPR

We took Infant & Child CPR on Saturday at the hospital. I'm so glad we did! It gives us great peace of mind that if something were to happen we could be proactive in saving our child's life (or any child!) We had a great instructor and got lots of practice. It was fun taking a class with Chris. 3 more to go!

34 weeks

My belly hurts!! I really don't think the baby has dropped, but man I am feeling some pressure. I feel like I'm carrying a bowling ball right in front of me. The top of my stomach feels bruised and I noticed my first pregnancy stripes today (aka stretch marks)!! Two very tiny red lines at the top of my belly...they almost look like 2 little red scratches, maybe 1/2 an inch long. Today was especially fun b/c my maternity pants bunched up BELOW my belly, and the shirt I wore today kept riding up.

I feel so heavy, it's definitely harder to get around. I feel like an old lady if I get up from sitting too long. However, I have 6 more weeks!! And I hope Baby Burns stays put the entire time. I can get through this knowing that BB is safe and secure in my belly, growing and growing....moving and moving. I always feel him/her on my right side, but today there was a lot of action on both sides. Maybe the baby is turning? I have no clue, but I absolutely love it when he/she moves. I'm really going to miss that feeling.

**UPDATE** No stretch marks...they really were tiny scratches. Oh well, I'm sure they'll pop up any day now! And apparently I was just having a "growing pains" kind of day. Not as much pressure or aching anymore. Phew!

32 week appointment

I'm closer to 33 weeks (Thursday) but I had a regular appointment today. Dr. K said this has been the perfect pregnancy...great weight gain, blood pressure, etc. I see him again in 2 weeks and then every week after that! He asked if we were signed up for a childbirth class (we are!). We're taking a few classes: Infant CPR at the end of this month, Childbirth (2 weeks), Breast feeding, and Home with Baby (all in early December).

I still have a few things to put away and organize in the nursery (and we still have 1 more shower!) I'm going to start packing my suitcase and the baby bag for the hospital. I want to see what they recommend bringing (I assume we'll get a list at the childbirth class.) We probably won't need anything for the baby now that I think about it...just a coming home outfit. We did get our car seat! It's so cute. I need to get an extra base so that I have one and Chris has one. We also have to install them before it's time to go!

Only 25 school days to go! By the end of the day my feet are swollen, my body aches, and I'm ready to go home! I adore my kids though and I'm going to miss seeing them everyday. I'm sure I won't have too much time to dwell on that once Jaudrey is here :)

Oh, and I totally peed a little when I sneezed today. I was completely mortified, but at least it was in the privacy of my own home. Gotta love it!

Baby loves Dad!

Chris went to the VT game Thursday night and didn't get home until about 3:30 in the morning. Of course I was up every few hours and at no time did Baby Burns move (must be nice to sleep 15 hours a day!) So, Chris gets home and climbs into bed, putting his hand on my belly. Sure enough BB starts rolling around and kicking! It was so funny. I don't know if the baby heard Chris's voice or what, but I thought it was so cool that he/she woke up right when Chris came home.

I can't wait to see him holding our baby. He's going to be the greatest dad.

Our Shower!

We had a huge shower at our house yesterday. It was awesome! I'm so glad it was a family-friendly shower. Our favorite part was seeing everyone together. It was a BEAUTIFUL day. Chris and Dave fried the turkey, which smelled amazing. My sister Kelly decorated and organized games. My good friend Dove made the delicious cake. The grandmas brought tons of food. It started at 1:00, but we didn't start opening gifts until 2:30! The kids that were there were SO funny. They kept asking for the bows and ribbons to add to their collection. They would "oooh" and "ahhhh" over the gifts. So cute. The last guests left around 7:00 and we were exhausted! It truly was an amazing day and we are so thankful for our wonderful family and friends. Only 2 months until Baby Burns arrives!!

I'm adding lots of pictures to our website! Click here to see.







31 weeks!

Sheesh.

October is going by so slow. Longest month ever.

The Office: Baby Shower

OMG, this was the funniest episode ever! From Dwight & Michael rehearsing the baby's birth to the awkward baby shower, this was one of my favorite episodes!








And some of my favorite quotes:

Michael: "Jan is in the terminal stages of her pregnancy."

Dwight: "Do you have the Sharpie?! When the baby emerges you must mark the baby with a symbol that only you can recognize and that no baby snatcher will be able to replicate."

30 weeks!

This has been an interesting week. Lots of emotions. As I approached 30 weeks,
I’ve felt the rigors of pregnancy: my feet hurt, minor aches and pains in different places, waking at 2 and 3 in the morning. I’m also fighting off a cold or bug of some sort. I’ve wanted to take ½ days off work twice this week! It doesn’t help that people are starting to point out that I look tired or that I’m starting to walk slower. Thanks people, like I don’t notice these things? Luckily I have a Dr appt tomorrow and I have the morning off (I’m looking forward to sleeping in!) I’m starting to worry about when I’ll go into labor. We have classes to take (CPR, Childbirth, and Breastfeeding) and I have a lot to get organized before I leave my 2nd graders. It’s very hard to give up control of your class, but I think it’s even harder to prepare to give up control. I know my kids will be taken care of, I just want to make sure I’ve done a good job in preparing everything my sub will need. What if I go early? My due date is January 1st, but I’ve known so many who have gone weeks early. My goal is to have everything ready by December. That month is going to be so hectic and I’m sure it will fly by.


It’s been so wonderful being pregnant…even with all the changes it brings. What has made it all worth it is Jaudrey (I just love saying that name…it makes me laugh.) No longer am I getting a little poke or kick here and there. When I lay on my right side, the left side of my stomach is where Jaudrey likes to move…and when I say move I mean roll around and even keep a limb there for a few seconds. I love watching it! When I go to bed I the leave the light on so I can watch the show. I sometimes touch where I see him/her moving and it’s so cool to think I’m almost touching the baby. I wonder if it’s a hand or an elbow? A foot? The head? Butt?? I just love it! I really love to watch Chris watch and feel the baby. He’s going to be such a good dad and I’m so lucky we’re in all of this together.

So all in all, I'm really starting to feel pregnant! I hope Jaudrey stays in there long enough to be born healthy. I hope I have the strength to hang in there!

Surprise Baby Shower!

We went to WV last weekend for Christopher's family reunion. It was so nice to see everyone and even though it was a very short trip, we had a lot of fun. After the reunion we went to hang out with just our family and walked in to a surprise shower! Chris had known about it, but I was completely surprised. Cute decorations, lots of gifts, and yummy cake :)




Some of the things we got were the Boppy, Baby Einstein jumper, grooming & safety kit, Baby Bjorn, and of course a bunch of Va Tech apparel! It was so wonderful.

28 weeks, and our anniversary!

On Oct 9th I officially began my 3rd trimester! It was also our 4th wedding anniversary :) We had a fantastic dinner at The Cheesecake Factory and Chris loved the VT track suit I bought for Baby Burns:





The next morning I had my Gestational Diabetes test, which I'd been dreading for the longest time. It wasn't bad at all though! I got to see our favorite nurse, Danielle, and the drink was very tasty....like sugary orange soda. If there's a problem I'll hear from them this week. Somehow I think I'll be ok...my body has been handling large doses of sugar for many, many years ;)

It feels so good to be in the 3rd trimester. I'll be seeing my Dr every 2 weeks now until I'm 36 weeks. Time is flying by and I'm getting bigger and bigger! Please keep BB in your thoughts...we want him or her to stay in there as long as possible!!

27 weeks!

I'm such a mom!!

I was at Starbucks this morning and one of the girls asked how the baby was. I said BB was great and moving around a lot. Then I busted out the baby pictures. Right there in the drive-thru. Of course the girls loved them and I just loved showing them off. I can only imagine what I'll be like when the baby is actually here. I'm going to be one of those annoying moms who makes people look through an entire photo album as I comment on each picture. Brace yourselves!

Baby Videos

I uploaded the videos onto our website. Here's a couple of them:





Baby Burns moved A LOT in 2d. The 3d view looks slower because it's a few frames behind the baby.

Baby, You Are BEAUTIFUL!!

Our 3d ultrasound was amazing. I can't believe how beautiful the baby is...I can't wait to kiss his or her little face!! We had a great time, the u/s tech was wonderful. He was very patient and wouldn't give up until we got good face shots. BB just wouldn't face the camera! After lots of tummy shaking, we got some great photos. We also got a DVD, which I am trying to figure out how to upload and post.

Here are a couple of my favorites:










I really want to go again!!!! It was a fantastic experience. Chris and I are very, very lucky!!

The rest of the pics are on our website. Click here to see!!

I'm throwing in the pillow!

Ugh! This is the 2nd morning in a row that I've woken up at 2:30 and haven't been able to get back to sleep (not for lack of trying though.) I somehow end up making it through the day just fine, thankfully. Between Chris not being able to fall asleep until late, and me waking up super early, we're going to have this parenting thing down :)

There's 2 months and 25 days until Winter Break. 99 days til my due date (1/1/09). That's 14 weeks. I plan on enjoying every last minute!

Wish us luck at our sonogram today. I want some good pics of Baby Burns :)

Love this!

25 weeks!!

And 18 pounds heavier! That's what I've gained so far, 9 of those in the last 5 weeks (since our last appointment.) Dr. K says I'm absolutely fine and that I'm measuring great. I love feeling and seeing the baby move, although BB is quite lazy. Chris doesn't get to feel or see very often because it happens so randomly. Maybe as I get into the 30's we'll get more action.

I am so, so excited about our upcoming sonogram....3d baby!! I hope we get some really good shots and that we don't see anything below the waist. Although I'm thinking that if we do accidentally find out, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. We'd still keep it a secret, but I'd go on a huge shopping spree :) Here's what a 3d u/s looks like for a 26w old:




I ordered our glider & ottoman. I need to order animal pictures for the wall and a monogram decal for above the crib. I think we have enough clothes & blankets to do our first load of baby laundry! My registry is done. I feel very ahead of the game.

My next appointment is Oct 9th (our 4 year wedding anniversary!) and I'm dreading it b/c I have to take the 1 hour glucose test. After that I start going every 2 weeks...which is just insane. These last 100 days are going to fly by. I wish I could be pregnant forever! I at least want to hold out until Dec 19th. I want to make it to Winter Break, then BB can come anytime after that!

I'm off to enjoy a beautiful Fall weekend...one of the last quiet weekends ever.

Life is so good!

Every once in awhile I am overcome with the sense of how great my life is. It started to happen when I married Chris. I would just stop and think, "Wow, I'm very lucky to be his wife." I still absolutely feel that way. More and more it's been about Baby Burns. How lucky am I to be carrying this precious person?? Made from two people who love each other so, so much. I hope this baby knows everyday how much he or she is loved, and how much his/her parents love each other.

Other awesome happenings:

My class is really coming along. I forgot how hard it is in the beginning of the year. But we're starting to mesh well and I'm happy about that.

My other SIL is pregnant! I am so excited for her...she's going to be the best mom.

A teacher at my school is having triplets!!!! At first they thought twins, and I actually had a dream last night that she was having twin boys. Turns out she is having 2 boys...and 1 girl! Wow, how lucky is she?!?

I'm having Jambalaya tonight for dinner and Dutch Apple Pie for dessert. It doesn't get much better than that!!

Can't sleep!

It's 3:30 and I'm wide awake. I woke up at 2:30 to use the bathroom, and when I laid back down, Baby Burns was kicking up a storm!! The funny thing is that every night before bed I lay on my back just watching & waiting for a few random kicks. I only get a couple before I get bored and go to sleep.

It was so cool, BB was moving around like mad. I wanted to wake up Chris so badly so he could feel all the action :)

It's a girl!!

We're having a niece! My sister in law Sarah found out last Friday that she is in fact expecting a little girl! She wanted a girl so badly...Isabella is on the way!

Now, will she have a cousin Jack or cousin Audrey to play with?!?