On A More Random Note...

Isn't our sweet Sadie just so cute?? :) We had our house all in disarray because we got our hardwood floors refinished. She was so confused because we had to move everything off of the hardwood floors (yes, I will admit...I think I might be nesting) so that they could do their job. So here she is between our leather chair and our kitchen table and a bookcase - all in one space!


I know, kind of random to have a picture like this of myself on here. I just wanted to point out that I did go to Sephora and exchange makeup. When I got the new makeup in Phoenix, it made me look ghostly pale in pictures, so I was able to exchange for 2 shades darker (and new mascara, and I also bought new lipgloss and bronzer...ha). Here I was practicing in pictures to make sure I didn't still look like a ghost :)


When I was in Phoenix, Robbin and I went to paint pottery. Well, she mailed me the pieces that I did while I was there. I have to say, typically, my pieces do not turn out nearly as cute as I think they will. Usually the colors are dull or not thick enough or it just looks like a weird combination of colors once everything is set. This venture seemed to have a different result as I am thrilled with all 3 pieces! The cross is for the nursery, as is the picture frame (aren't the speckles fun?!). The tile with the swirly heart may just be for decoration - not really sure yet. Maybe I will hot glue a ribbon to it and hang it up in the kitchen - that may be cute. Or I could put it on a little stand in the guest room - it matches in there too. Hm! Anyway, I was quite proud, so I wanted to share.

26 Weeks Picture

Well, here is the latest belly pic! It was taken on Monday, so I was exactly 26 weeks. This week my back has started hurting pretty badly. I am sure it is related to the fact that I am carrying extra weight around up front. Baby is moving a LOT - every night before I go to sleep I lay there and watch my belly jump around. It is really neat to be able to feel her moving around in there and then to see my belly jump around too! I think my body is getting tired of only having two options of sleep positions - my hips and shoulders are starting to ache from only being able to sleep on the sides (even though I pack myself in with all types of pillows and blankets). Oh well, in the whole scheme of life, this is just a blip, and it is completely worth the discomfort! :)

Double Digits

Last night as Brad and I were looking at the pictures from Will's surprise shindig, we noticed that the ticker at the top of the page indicated that we only had 99 days left until Katie's expected arrival!!!! That means today it is only 98....and that makes me SO happy (well, among other emotions)! It is so hard to believe that we are in the double digits of the countdown. There is still a lot to accomplish over the next 98 days, but we are beyond thrilled that we will get to meet and hold our sweet baby in just a matter of days.

Surprise Celebration

This past Saturday afternoon, some family and friends got together for a surprise party to celebrate Will's 21st birthday a couple weeks early. He had absolutely NO idea!! He was with Dad this weekend, so we had everyone come to the leisure area in the lobby of the hotel. Apparently Will thought he was going with Dad to the business center in the hotel to check some emails, and they rounded the corner, and there were about 25 friends and family there smiling and shouting SURPRISE!!!! He had absolutely no idea, which I was so thrilled about. We enjoyed some time visiting, eating cake, and opening a few gifts. I know I had a great time - and I think Will truly enjoyed the occasion. I am certain there will be more birthday celebrations to come closer to the actual big day, but I know this will was certainly memorable!

25 Week Belly Picture

This picture was taken before we went to Alison's wedding last Sunday. It was the day before my "turnover day," but I might as well have been 25 weeks! I think the dress may have 'enhanced' my belly...it looks HUGE!! Thanks, Kara, for letting me borrow some dresses and other items! Definitely spruces up the wardrobe! PS: My new makeup is making me look extremely pale in this picture - I think I need to buy some bronzer to brighten up the look!

Funny Sight

I just had to comment on the belly part of pregnancy. I had to park in front of my building at work today because we had to get something out of my car. I want to point out that the parking places in this location are pretty tight anyway. There was only one open space, and of course the cars on either side were parked right on the line. I tried the best I could to park in my lines and allow myself to get in and out of the car. Getting out was a challenge - I had to hold my breath, try to suck in a little (quite difficult when almost 26 weeks pregnant), and "smoothly" slide on out. This strategy worked when I was getting out of my car. Then, a few hours later, it was time to go home. I tried to get in and could not even do it. Can you imagine the sight of a 6 month pregnant woman climbing through her car to get to the driver's seat? Yep, that's right. That was me this afternoon. Oh, the joys of pregnancy :)

24 Week 3 Day Picture

Baby Katie is definitely making her presence known! I do enjoy that the baby belly sticks out further than other parts now :)

The Nursery Is Painted

This is the BEFORE PICTURE (after we had cleaned everything out of the room)

Brad and Robert (Kara's hubby) in the midst of painting (while I was in Phoenix) - thanks for taking this picture, Kara!

The FINISHED PRODUCT!!! (they did the walls, the ceiling, and the trim)

The AFTER PICTURE

The room looks absolutely amazing. I cannot wait for the furniture to come in (should be within the next few weeks) so the room begins to take on the nursery look! I really think it will look fabulous with these color walls, cherry furniture, and the bedding we have. Look for more information in the next month or so on how the room is coming along!!

Letters on the Wall

Like I said in a previous post, one of the things I wanted to do while I was in Phoenix was to make the letters spelling our baby's name that will go on the wall. I am undecided whether to use velcro to stick them to the wall or to use the different ribbon on each letter and hang the letters. Any suggestions? Anyway, here is a picture of the letters - aren't they cute??

Great Friends

Cat & Tyler at a Predators game...I didn't think there were enough fights at the game - that's my favorite part!!

Me & Cat at the Preds game

Yay for wonderful high school friends - Ginny, Carter, Kara, and me!

First Baby Shower: Phoenix

Last weekend I went out to Phoenix to visit and have a little shower. It was such a nice, relaxing trip - made it really hard to come back and go to work! While I was out there, we painted pottery, saw "Bride Wars" and "Bedtime Stories", did some shopping, did some crafts, and had a get together to celebrate our new addition! It was great to get to see everyone! Here are a few pictures from the shower....

The table setting

The food area - we made those letters while I was out there!

Me showing off one of my gifts

Me & Sarah after the shower

I just have to add that my Dad always talks about how I need to do something with my hair other than just have it straight and down all the time. Growing up, he used to curl my hair for church and other events, so he asked if I wanted him to curl it again. He curled my hair before the shower, so that is why it actually looks "fixed". It was funny because the rollers were extremely hot and Dad cursed when it burned his fingers...he commented that the only difference is now he is allowed to curse if need be :)

24 Weeks - Ear of Corn

Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

Pretty crazy to think about having something the size of an ear of corn in my belly!! I have several other posts to do, but they may have to wait until sometime over the next few days. I am just exhausted this week! I had my glucose tolerance test on Monday at my monthly doctor's appointment. It was also wonderful to hear the baby's heartbeat again - that sound never gets old!

Brad and I joined the local Recreation Center tonight and worked out. Yay us! I am looking forward to going and walking on the treadmill and participating in their prenatal water fitness and yoga classes. Gotta stay in as good of shape as possible so that the birth goes smoothly (and the weight doesn't pile on)! Look for more updates over the next couple of days!!

Belly Update: 23 weeks

I would say that the belly has grown in the past couple of weeks! I can tell it is getting more and more difficult to get out of bed - it takes me like 5 minutes to get re-situated after my middle of the night bathroom break!! The baby girl has been super squirmy the past few days - it is so amazing to think there is a little baby moving around in my belly! Next on the agenda is leaving tomorrow to go to Phoenix to see family and have my first baby shower! And then another doctor's appointment on Monday. I have to be good about sweets between now and then because I am having my glucose tolerance test then. Anyway, here is the belly shot at 23 weeks - enjoy!!

Marking Another Item Off the List

I love lists. I live by to-do lists. It makes me happy to be able to mark things off my to-do lists. This weekend, we were able to mark yet another item off the Baby Katie To-Do List - registering. Yesterday we went to Target and successfully registered. This afternoon, after taking down all the Christmas decorations (hm...I guess I can mark that off the to-do list also), we went to Babies R Us and registered. It makes me so excited to think about all of those baby things finding a place in our home and being used so often. I think at Target I got a little carried away with the binkies/passies (I had no idea there were so many different kinds!) and at Babies R Us, I got carried away with playyard sheets and crib sheets. I guess with those different items, it is a good idea to be well-stocked. We registered for all kinds of items and I hope we scanned everything that we will need come May. If you want to see all the items we registered for (and feel free to make suggestions as to if I missed anything!), click here for Target or here for Babies R Us.

Now, time to prepare to go back to work tomorrow. I guess I am easing back into it because this week, I only work 2.5 days before I head to Phoenix for a long weekend!! :)

It Once Was Lost, But Now Is Found

WOOHOOOO!!!!! Thank goodness I left my information with the girl at O'Charley's last night - I just got a call...and they have my camera!! I was so mad at myself for losing it. I guess it fell out of my purse when we ate there last Saturday. I was gearing up to buy a new one, so that'll save me about $250 - hooray! Just wanted to comment on how excited I am! I think we are going to head out here shortly to go get my camera and begin registering. Today we will begin registering at Target, and then maybe tomorrow at Babies R Us! Yay! Happy Saturday!

Baby Brain

It is real...and it has been happening more and more often these days. And not only is it real, but it is so annoying and frustrating. A couple weeks ago at work, I got mad at myself for leaving my lunch at home on the kitchen counter. On my way home from work that day, it hit me that I had brought my lunch and put it in the freezer at work - how in the world do you forget stuff like that?!

Most recently, I lost my digital camera. If you know me well, you know that I really enjoy pictures and typically have my camera in my purse. When packing for our Greensboro trip, I could not find my camera anywhere. When we got home tonight, we looked everywhere in the house and in our cars and it is nowhere to be found. I also called Kohls, O'Charleys, La Hacienda, and the movie theater - all places we went this past weekend. ANNOYING!!! I guess these things do happen to a lot of people, but not usually this often...to me. For the most part, I consider myself to be a person that has there stuff under control - it seems as if my body is putting all energy into this growing baby instead of memory and typical events in my daily life.

The worst part is....I have been told it does not get better once you have the child...if anything, it gets worse! Should be interesting to see how this goes!!

Happy 2009!!

Wow...I can hardly believe that it is January 1, 2009. It just seems like we celebrated the entrance of 2008! I am so excited about what this new year has in store for us. While I am excited about the future, I also look back at 2008 with great memories. One of the biggest memories was mine and Brad's trip to Europe. What an amazing opportunity - two and a half weeks traveling around Switzerland, Italy, and France. This past year also included many exciting moments for our friends - between engagements and weddings and additions to families, as well as expecting new additions to their families, it has been quite exciting. My mom faced a few extra challenges this past year, but I am happy to say that she is doing really well. In fact, I told her I think she has recovered back to her "normal state" (whatever that maybe...hehe). I am very thankful that she recovered somewhat speedily. The doctors told her that it often can take up to two years to recover from a brain injury, and though it is frustrating, here we are 9 months after the fact and she seems to only be having her typical, age-related "brain farts". Hooray! We can definitely handle those :) This past year was also very challenging for many people across the world. We are so lucky to have good jobs, a roof over our head, food on the table, and great family & friends surrounding us.

Finding out that Brad and I would be welcoming a bundle of joy into this world was probably the most surreal experience of 2008. I think we appreciate it that much more because it took a little extra work - and we really cannot wait to meet her! Only 4 months to go, which sounds like a lot, but considering we have known the good news since the end of August, that is no biggy at all!

We look forward to what this year holds for us, and we know that as long as we continue in our faith and walk alongside eachother, we can face any challenge or triumph. Thanks so each and every one of you that has played an important role in our life. vvAs we toasted to the new year last night at midnight, we dedicated the toast to Baby Coulter - what a wonderful and special toast to share with some of our best friends. We wish you all a healthy, happy, and fruitful 2009!