Nesting...

I guess you could say the "nesting" process has definitely begun! =)  Jeremy would say that I've been nesting for months.......haha!  I thought I'd post a picture of me in my hospital gown that my friend Christi made me.....I mean who else would sew me a cute little gown to wear during delivery!??

Hey, anything to make this process more enjoyable...

I also made little Isabella a "homecoming" dress this week!  I used lavender eyelet fabric....it's very, very simple because I didn't want anything too fancy to take away from her sweet little face! =)  I have a cute little white onezie she can wear under her jumper and a precious little newborn white sweater to keep her nice and cozy!  I also have some adorable little white patten leather shoes for her too!  Depending on how big her head is - I will try and put a little headband/bow on her that I made to match the dress!  Of course, I'll have to wear a lavender dress home too......we have to match! =)

So....just a few more finishing touches to the nursery.....a few more purchases to be made....and we will be all set! =)  

Valentine's Day and more...

Jeremy and I received a gift certificate to a really nice resturaunt down town.....we've been saving it since October to use on a special date!  Since I was so sick for so long....we decided to wait 'til I c could enjoy it! =)  So, we decided that Valentine's Day was the perfect night!  We dressed up and had a nice romantic dinner together!  We enjoyed a 5 course dinner.....and I haven't been that full in a LONG time!  It was so delicious!  Here are a few pics from our evening...

I decided last week that I would use some scrap fabrics to make a few little bibs for Isabella......they aren't perfect - but it's a learning process!  I figure if she's just gonna be spitting up on them....no need for perfection! =)  Here a a few of the bibs.....I backed them with a soft flannel and lined the inside with a towel......

This weekend we have DNOW with our students at church.  The theme this year is on Purity......our prayer is that the students will grow in their relationship with Christ as well as make commitments to remain pure.  I think we have 225+ students involved - it's so exciting as we anticipate all the Lord will do in each one of their lives this weekend!  I'm looking forward to visiting the houses with Jeremy and hanging out with the students.  God is definitely moving in the lives of our students.....and I'm so excited to see what He has in store for this weekend!

I'm hoping to get started on making Isabella's homecoming outfit next week......I'm thinking a sweet little dress......maybe a cute little bow to match!??  We are headed to Panama City next Tuesday to get our pregnancy pictures taken by Jeremy's parents...so that should be fun!  Hopefully, it won't be too chilly out on the beach. =)  Then, on Thursday our child birthing classes start!  I'm sure I'll have some fun stories to blog about after that experience!  We seem to have most everything that little Isabella needs........we are waiting for our nursery chair to arrive in the next few weeks....finishing up the curtains and adding some final touches as well!  I'll definitely have to post some pictures in the next couple weeks as her little nursery reaches completion!

Doctor visits...

On Tuesday, I was able to go for a prenatal appointment to meet Isabella's pediatrician!  He is a wonderful Christian man who goes to our church.  Several of the families in our church have highly recommended him to us and have so many good things to say about him.  It is truly a blessing to know that Isabella will have such a good, Christian doctor caring for her!  Of course, I had a long list of questions to ask him.....and he patiently answered every one of them.  He recommend a book by Focus on the Family....."Birth & Childcare" - which is pretty much a huge encyclopedia of everything I will need to know about how to care for Isabella from birth through adolescence!  I've already thumbed through it....and it is very informative...lots of good reading in the future! =)

We also went for my 33 week appointment today!  They listened to her heartbeat, weighed me...blood pressure etc.  I've gained 23 lbs so far - my blood pressure is good and overall, the pregnancy seems to be progressing just fine!  They hooked me up to the big heart monitor and did the "stress test" on Isabella.  We sat there for about 20 min. while this big machine detected her heartbeat.  It ranged from the 120's all the way to the 160's....which is exactly what they want to see!  Whenever she would kick really hard or move - her heart rate would go up quickly!  I definitely had a few kicks to my ribs. =)  So, the appointment went very well!  I talked with them about how I've been so congested and haven't been able to breathe out of my nose for over 2 weeks! Ahh!  They said it's very common to have congestion and all during pregnancy....they suggested Benadryl or Zyrtec.  I just hate taking meds.....but at night I usually have to take something so I can sleep and breathe! =)  I will pretty much be seeing a doctor every week now until I deliver!  Next week I'll see my high risk doctor....then the following week I'll be back at my OB.  They plan on stopping my baby aspirin at 36 weeks.  Such a blessing every time we hear her little heartbeat and get a good report.  We don't take one doctor visit......little kick.....or little punch for granted these days!  We are truly blessed!

Shower Fun...

Well, this past weekend on Valentine's Day my sweet neighbor and her daughter threw me a baby shower!  It was so much fun to celebrate baby Isabella's life with neighbors and friends from our community!  Two of my little first graders from last year also came with their moms.  It was so much fun to open the gifts they picked out just for Isabella. =)  Isabella has some adorable little dresses waiting for her.....and she even got a cute little bathing suit with a matching beach hat....size 3-6 months!  So it will be perfect for her first few beach trips this summer!  Here are a few pics from the shower...

My neighbor Maddy =)....I'm sure she'll be helping take care of Isabella lots!

A few little crafts...

Well, I've been battling a cold this past week - but I have managed to try a few new sewing projects!  I decided that Isabella needed some little burp cloths to match her dresses I sewed for her a few weeks ago.  So, these aren't perfect - but it's a learning process! =)

Church Shower...

Well, last Saturday some of my sweet friends threw me a church wide shower!  It was so much fun to have my parents come down for the weekend along with Jeremy's mom, grandma, aunt and cousins who joined us for the shower!  Of course, when there are more than 2 Boyds together - there must be some sort of athletic competition =).....so....Saturday morning, Jer and my dad ran the Double Bridge run...about a 9 mile run over the 2 bridges which lead to Pensacola Beach!  My mom and I had so much fun cheering them on. =)  They both did awesome and we were so proud!

We headed home to rest a little before the shower.  Here are some pictures from the day...

Mamma & Daddy w/me...

The beautiful cake that one of my sweet friends made for us!  Their family has 3 children who are in the youth group and they have been such wonderful, encouraging prayer warriors for us the past couple of years.

She even made little faces of Jer, Isabella and Me! =)

Here's the drink table...

Food table...

My dear friend Christi helped coordinate the whole shower.....it was so much fun opening all of Isabella's gifts.....my mamma was such a good little note taker.....and Christi kept the process moving smoothly! (a little over a year ago, Christi and I were both walking through our 2nd and 3rd miscarriages together - now she has a beautiful 4 month year old little girl who is anxiously awaiting Isabella's arrival!)

Here is one of my sweet friends Kelly - her husband is the middle school minister...

I was overwhelmed with the generosity of our sweet friends and family.  The Lord has truly blessed us with such an amazing church family who has given us prayer support and encouragement through out this long "baby journey."  It continues to amaze me how the Lord surrounds us with dear friends who have become our "Pensacola family".....while we are living so far from both of our families.  The notes, meals, emails, hugs and prayers continue to remind us of how the Lord carries us through difficult times as we rely on Him and our family of believers.  We are truly so blessed.

31 weeks and a growing baby bump...

Here is my baby bump at 31 weeks.....Isabella is growing fast! =)

Birmingham Shower...

This past weekend, my mom and sisters threw me a little shower in Birmingham with some of my closest friends and family!  We had brunch at a fun little resturaunt in Mountain Brook Village and then went back to my friend Julie's house to play some games, eat cake and open presents!  It was such a wonderful time as we celebrated Isabella's life!  I received some of the cutest little outfits and toys for Isabella!  It definitely makes it all seem more of a realty when I'm opening little gifts for her! =)  After we finished the shower they all circled around me and prayed for Isabella and me.  Of course, by the end of the prayer - we were all in tears.  It was such a blessing to have such sweet friends praying for my pregnancy and delivery.  The Lord has truly blessed me with such Godly sweet friends who have been such a prayer support throughout the passed 1 1/2 years of this pregnancy journey.  I'm so thankful for each of them.  

Here are some pics from the shower! 

Brunch...

Courtney is due about 6 weeks after me with a little boy!

Ellen is about 10 weeks preggo here!  This will be Isabella's first cousin =)

Sisters...

Love my sisters and my mamma =)

Friends and family...

30 week appointment...

Isabella's little profile....30 weeks...

We went to see our high risk doctor and had another wonderful appointment!  Isabella is 3lb. and 9 oz.!  They measured her little foot and it measured 2 1/2 inches....so cute!  We seem to have a different ultrasound technician at each visit and they always seem to comment about how long and skinny her little feet are......makes me think she has her daddy's feet. =)  Her heart rate was 139....which is just perfect!  During her ultrasound we noticed that she kept opening and closing her little lips.  The technician told us that she was practicing sucking and swallowing....how cute is that!  So many answers to prayer once again......all her organs seems to be working just perfect!  She still measures a little bit above average which just continues to reassure us and the doctors that she is receiving all the nutrients she needs to grow nice and healthy.  They want me to continue taking my baby Aspirin every day until 36 weeks - and then I will stop.  The placenta is pretty much finished growing at that point.....so there really is no need to continue past 36 weeks.  Many anesthesiologists won't give you an epidural if you continue taking Apsirin/blood thinners up until delivery.  I'm definitely open to trying to go natural and not having an epidural.....but I want to leave all my options open!  Who knows how my body will respond to labor/delivery!??  Let's see...what else - my blood pressure and all seems good and I had gained 22lb.s at 30 weeks which is right about average.  I've continued to enjoy walking about an hour every day and a couple times a week I've added an awesome pregnancy cardio/toning DVD to my workout routine.  I love it!!!  It has a specific workout for each trimester.....and it really gives me a nice little workout! =)  I have managed to somehow catch a cold this week......so I'm praying that I will get over it quickly - it's NO fun being sick!  

Isabella continues to LOVE hearing her daddy lead worship...she just kicks and bounces all around whenever the band gets loud.......I almost feel bad like it's too loud....but I'm sure she's fine! =)  It's so neat feeling little bulges in my tummy and trying to guess what body part it is....little knees, elbows and I can definitely distinguish her little bottom - she loves to stick it out!  She also seems to like to curl her little feet up under my right rib and kick! =)

We went to our Hospital orientation last night.....and have decided to deliver at Baptist hospital.  That is the hospital my doctors prefer and we are very pleased with their services.  We will start our birthing classes and all in a few weeks....which should be interesting! =)

I'm just so thankful for every little movement.....God is so good and we continue to be overwhelmed by His faithfulness.