until recently...

i haven't been able to complain much about being pregnant. and still, i can't complain. i mean, i never really had the pukes, uncontrollable gas, or hemorrhoids. lucky me. granted i still have 10 more weeks, so anything is possible. but, i have had this weird "lip disease" as i call it. i've been to the dermatologist, she said it was an allergy...so that leaves me nowhere except to figure out one product at a time what i could possibly be allergic to. but my lips BURN!! and hurt! and peel! and are just weird (that's what i'm calling it so i don't gross anyone out) and my OB/GYN says "i think you should just stick to putting carmex or something like that on it." now, THAT'S some advice! (really? did he think i hadn't tried everything?!) anyway, it sucks. now i also have some serious back pain. it's really annoying. i think most side effects of pregnancy are this way...i suppose they are since you are pregnant for 9 months! so the back pain is just that. annoying. my doc thinks it's something pushing up against my kidneys. fun. especially nothing makes it go away except laying down. on a positive note, i'd rather have back pain than be on permanent bed rest...guess i'll count my blessings! :)

30 weeks and and update...

only 10 more weeks to go!!! yeeehaww!!! i can't wait to meet little baby Ruby! we got to have another ultrasound last week because at 20 weeks the ultrasound showed i had a low-lying placenta. But i was excited b/c i got to have another ultrasound...AND it was good!!! my placenta has moved and is no longer posing a threat to a vaginal birth!! and i got to see my little girl again! it was so fun! she was sticking out her tongue and sucking on her wrist...so cute!!! a very different looking baby since the alien she looked like at 20 weeks! and she's right on track as far as growth. she's about 3lb 5oz and only measuring about a day ahead of schedule.

Ruby Belle at 30 weeks!!! who does she look like?!



justin and i attended a childbirth class last saturday. it was a one day class...8 hrs. long, and informative, but boring. mainly because the teacher talked. really. slow. it was good though. i can't say i learned much because i've been reading so much stuff, but it was good to hear it from someone...made it all more real, i suppose! i think justin learned some stuff though, which was good. it is the only class the hospital offers, so i guess we're done. i was hoping to get a little more out of it, but i guess that's it for now.

belly shot - 30 weeks...getting thicker!



and starting to feel the effects of 16 extra pounds on my body! my back has been really aching...my doc says it may be the baby pressing up against my kidneys...but we're just going to keep an eye on it. it's just a dull, annyoing pain that is a full blown backache by the end of the work day. lying down is the only thing that helps, but that's not exactly condusive to my work day! speaking of work days...man, are they getting long! the days seem to get longer and more exhausting each day. i'd always heard that the 2nd trimester was the best, but i was feeling so great during the 2nd trimester that i didn't understand how i could feel any different! now i know :) we'll see what other aches and pain the 3rd trimester brings...bring it on though because that means we're one day closer to meeting our sweet baby girl!!

2 yrs ago...

...i married a wonderful man! it was the best day of my life and the beginning of the rest of my life.

here are just a few pics from my favorite day!!

in the works

so, here's me in the works at 28 weeks...




and the beginnings of a nursery...in the works :) (sorry, lots of "baby toys" and gagdets around!)

3rd trimester here i come!!!

so, it's here...the 3rd trimester!!! and i'm ready!!!...i think ;)
i've taken a week off work. went to visit my fam in louisiana and had a great time. got to see one of my best friends in Little Rock which was great! and now, i'm home! and enjoying my week! got lots to do though.

1. get as much done on the nursery as possible!!! - so far we've painted the walls, the crib and the rocking chair. oh, and a mirror. i have someone working on my bedding so that should be done in the next few weeks hopefully. now we need a dresser. and i was working on a "shelving-type" unit but, got a little derailed tonight...bad paint stinch (i've painted in short bouts w/a mask so we can get some nursery stuff done, but the laquer!! BAD idea!! the fumes are terrible and i had no idea. well, about 10 min into it i decided to quit and then temporarily freaked out and had a meltdown. i was sure i had damaged my little ruby belle in some way. truly, i'm still a little freaked, but much calmer now...surely the 15 min of stinch didn't do any damage, right??? yeah, still a little freaked.

2. day care search - this was NOT fun. but i think i've narrowed it down to a few places. my husband is going to check them out again w/me this week so we can make a final decision! yea!! it's been frustrating and i only really looked for a few days. but really, i believe it now...no place is good enough to send your child. it's weird that those maternal instincts just start to take over!

3. hopefully some R&R is in store sometime during this break!! but i keep reminding myself that i'm not getting any skinnier or any more energy anytime soon, so i better get as much done as i can!

26 week belly shot and time off!!!!

well, yet another belly shot for your viewing pleasure! i just had my 26 week appt. everything is looking good...no gestational diabetes and not much else to worry about (except my low-lying placenta that i will have an ultrasound for at my next appt). i'm right on track w/weight gain but the doctor did tell me to cut back a little on exercise...not much though. this makes me kinda happy in a way cause i have an excuse now if i want to take it easy, but kinda not, b/c i love to exercise and i hate people telling me i can't :) typical!! really, though i'm perfectly fine w/the exercise i am and can do. i think little ruby belle is, too.

i am headed to shreveport this weekend to hang w/my fam! i was just there a month ago, but excited to be heading back. i'm sure my mom and i will find some more great stuff for the baby and it's always fun to hang out in my hometown. i'm looking forward to seeing my brother and his girlfriend, too!! THEN, i am headed to Little Rock for a few hours to drop by to see one of my best friends, Kenyon. she was one of my college swimming friends, but now she lives in Florida! i haven't seen her since my wedding, but i know it will be just like we saw each other yesterday! and she has a 1 1/2 yr old that i've never met (can't wait) and she's pregnant w/#2!!! always good to see another prego!! :) THEN...i have a WEEK off work!!! a WHOLE week!!! haven't had one of those since my honeymoon, and boy, am i looking forward to it!! gonna get some baby stuff done and some relaxing and catching up!!

24 weeks and growing!

here it is again, my growing belly...i'm 24 weeks along and starting to feel the bulge! it's getting a little harder to bend over and painting my toenails last night kinda took some effort...



and this is just for fun, thanks to my husband :) he thought we could get the FULL effect from a front angle...and he was right...looks pretty big!