....the size of a cantaloupe...
But...what I can't figure out is...why does my belly look like there is a watermelon in there!??!?!
Just kidding...I know why....but it is still amusing! :)
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Back from Texas...swollen feet and all
Well...I am experiencing my second set of swollen feet. In April, my left foot swelled one day after being on my feet too long....but on Friday and currently....both are puffed out like sausages. I could blame it on the plane ride to and from Texas...but I think majority of the blame lies in the fact that I did WAY too much this weekend...but LOVED every minute of it and would not have done anything differently!!! We flew to Texas on Friday and spent the day with Clint's parents. We had dinner and spent the evening with "Aunt Heather, Uncle Victor and cousins - Jaydon, Jacalyn, Jonathan and Jakob". It was great to see everyone! Saturday morning, Clint and I went to Kristin Greenlee's for maternity photographs. We are excited to see how all the pictures turned out!!! I then went to my baby shower at Mandy Lucke's house, which was absolutely incredible! And that evening we had dinner at Michael and Elizabeth Gallian's house (a fabulous brisket cooked on the BGE!) and went to the Texas Rangers baseball game (Rangers: 14, A's: 1!!!). We flew home first thing this morning and I promptly changed and went to Amanda Rupert's baby shower.
MORE LATER!!!! I will post more about the maternity pics and the shower once I get some pics to post! :)
Now it is time for a nap....
MORE LATER!!!! I will post more about the maternity pics and the shower once I get some pics to post! :)
Now it is time for a nap....
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Another great check-up!!
Melissa had a good check-up at the doctor this morning. Weighed in, got BP and HR checked, heard the baby’s HR (140) and got the fundal length measured (32 cm...still right on track since this was the 32 week appointment!). Next apppointment is in two weeks! Appointments are getting closer together now! 53 days left before our due date!
Sunday, May 17, 2009
A large jicama??
We just got our weekly email from BabyCenter.com (a great website to join when you are expecting!!!). The weekly update for Week 32 says that baby McReynolds should be approximately 16.7 inches long and 3.75 pounds....about the size of a large jicama!?!?!?!? Not having heard of that before, we went to wikipedia to determine what it was:
Jicama is one species in the genus Pachyrhizus that is commonly called yam bean, although the "yam bean" sometimes is another name for Jicama. The other, major species of yam beans are also indigenous within the Americas. It very much tastes like a sweet pea pod.
VERY FUNNY way to describe the size of our baby in the womb!!!!
Jicama is one species in the genus Pachyrhizus that is commonly called yam bean, although the "yam bean" sometimes is another name for Jicama. The other, major species of yam beans are also indigenous within the Americas. It very much tastes like a sweet pea pod.
VERY FUNNY way to describe the size of our baby in the womb!!!!
What an awesome week!
We don't even know where to start. This past week was amazing!!! Clint went to Vegas to spend some time with his good friend Michael, while Melissa finished up her MBA school work here at home. Then, on Mother's Day, Melissa's parents arrived from North Carolina. It was a great day to celebrate "almost being" a "Mom" with her Mom! It was relaxing and enjoyable for all. Then, the hard work started on Monday. So many projects were started and completed throughout the week....too many to name! Diaper Inserts were sewn, a toilet was fixed, a fan was replaced, our kitchen backsplash was tiled, over 60 two-person meals were made for the freezer AND the nursery was completed (it's all ready for Baby McReynolds to move in!). We're probably missing some projects....but the point is...so much was accomplished this week! We are so thankful and appreciative for the help, support and love from Melissa's parents!!! Thank you Mom and Dad!!!
Here are a few pictures of the meals (only about half is shown!):
And a few of the finished nursery (Click on the pictures to make them larger):
In addition, Melissa and her Mom were thoroughly educated in the art of breastfeeding. Angel, a sweet and generous lady from church, came over for two hours on Thursday to tell us stuff that no one else would about the process. Overwhelming as it was, all her tricks and tips will definitely come in handy this July!! Thank you Angel!!!
The week concluded with a great celebration over in Birmingham - Melissa graduated from MBA school. Clint's parents flew in from Texas and we all enjoyed a wonderful lunch at Brio's before graduation. Samford Brock School of Business knows how to do "pomp and circumstance"!! It was a very nice ceremony and the party afterwards at the Lohrke's was fantastic! It was a very special day for our family and we felt very blessed to have everyone together to celebrate!
We are also thankful for Nonnie and Pop McReynolds for getting the Pack and Play off our registry! Clint assembled it on Sunday morning and we are certain that it will come in handy when Baby McReynolds gets home, as well as when we travel. It has a great bassinet and changing table built in. Of course, it has the obligatory sounds and music player so we can all get our fill of the ocean, birds chirping and baby lullabies.
Here are a few pictures of the meals (only about half is shown!):
And a few of the finished nursery (Click on the pictures to make them larger):
In addition, Melissa and her Mom were thoroughly educated in the art of breastfeeding. Angel, a sweet and generous lady from church, came over for two hours on Thursday to tell us stuff that no one else would about the process. Overwhelming as it was, all her tricks and tips will definitely come in handy this July!! Thank you Angel!!!
The week concluded with a great celebration over in Birmingham - Melissa graduated from MBA school. Clint's parents flew in from Texas and we all enjoyed a wonderful lunch at Brio's before graduation. Samford Brock School of Business knows how to do "pomp and circumstance"!! It was a very nice ceremony and the party afterwards at the Lohrke's was fantastic! It was a very special day for our family and we felt very blessed to have everyone together to celebrate!
We are also thankful for Nonnie and Pop McReynolds for getting the Pack and Play off our registry! Clint assembled it on Sunday morning and we are certain that it will come in handy when Baby McReynolds gets home, as well as when we travel. It has a great bassinet and changing table built in. Of course, it has the obligatory sounds and music player so we can all get our fill of the ocean, birds chirping and baby lullabies.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Glider, Vegas and Family!!
We ordered the glider for the nursery last weekend and received notification that it should arrive this Tuesday! That will be the final piece of furniture to make the nursery complete. We selected the Dutailier 611 UltraMotion Sleigh Back Glider. As we live in an area that does not have the shopping for this type of thing, we have to rely on the internet reviews of products such as this one. It looks comfortable in the picture....and it received nothing but great reviews.
Clint left for Vegas this morning. He is meeting his best friend from high school, Michael Gallian, there. This trip is somewhat of a tradition....as they met there in 2007 a few months before Michael's first baby was born. Much fun will be had prior to our baby arriving in a couple of months!!!
Melissa's parents are headed this way tomorrow. It will be nice to spend Mother's Day with them! They will be here for the week and we're certain it will be a productive one, as always! Plans are in place to sew diaper inserts, finish up the diaper wet bags, and put art/etc. up on the nursery walls. In addition, they will be here to receive the contractor who is going to tile the backsplash in our kitchen. It will be great having them here...one final visit before the center of attention shifts to the future little man of the house! Clint's parents are traveling to Alabama this week too. They will arrive on Thursday to visit some more Alabama-family and then celebrate with us as Melissa graduates from MBA school on Friday.
Should be a fabulous week!!!
Clint left for Vegas this morning. He is meeting his best friend from high school, Michael Gallian, there. This trip is somewhat of a tradition....as they met there in 2007 a few months before Michael's first baby was born. Much fun will be had prior to our baby arriving in a couple of months!!!
Melissa's parents are headed this way tomorrow. It will be nice to spend Mother's Day with them! They will be here for the week and we're certain it will be a productive one, as always! Plans are in place to sew diaper inserts, finish up the diaper wet bags, and put art/etc. up on the nursery walls. In addition, they will be here to receive the contractor who is going to tile the backsplash in our kitchen. It will be great having them here...one final visit before the center of attention shifts to the future little man of the house! Clint's parents are traveling to Alabama this week too. They will arrive on Thursday to visit some more Alabama-family and then celebrate with us as Melissa graduates from MBA school on Friday.
Should be a fabulous week!!!
Saturday, May 2, 2009
A full Friday
Yesterday, Melissa (and the baby) had the day off from work. After sleeping in, the day exploded into a whole lot of fun! First stop - lunch at Brio's with a couple of girlfriends from school. We ate outside....so the atmosphere was beautiful, the food was fabulous, but the company was even better. The next stop was Samford University for an honors ceremony. Then began the whirlwind Birmingham shopping tour! Erin and Melissa only hit a couple of stores....but they were well worth it! The stops included Babies R Us and the Carter's Outlet mall. With Erin's help, Melissa fulfilled an item on the baby registry at Babies R Us, and picked out over $110 worth of baby boy outfits for just over $30 at Carter's!!!
To the left is a recent picture of Melissa's belly. Erin and Melissa had a good laugh about being able to park in the "Expectant Moms ONLY" parking spot at Babies R Us!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
My baby shower!
Almost two weeks ago, on April 18th, a very precious friend of mine - Amanda Rupert - hosted a fabulous baby shower for me.
Amanda decorated her house in browns, blues and elephants, but more importantly she opened up her home to many wonderful ladies to celebrate!!! As I have mentioned, my parents drove down for the weekend so that my Mom (Gram-to-be) could attend.
The food was tasty, and the green sherbet punch was refreshing and VERY yummy. All the friends and family that came were extremely generous in their gifts for the baby. The stories shared made me realize how 'real' this is. More importantly, I was able to conclude that I will be able to handle everything/anything that comes my way with the support and love I have from all my friends and family!
Amanda decorated her house in browns, blues and elephants, but more importantly she opened up her home to many wonderful ladies to celebrate!!! As I have mentioned, my parents drove down for the weekend so that my Mom (Gram-to-be) could attend.
The food was tasty, and the green sherbet punch was refreshing and VERY yummy. All the friends and family that came were extremely generous in their gifts for the baby. The stories shared made me realize how 'real' this is. More importantly, I was able to conclude that I will be able to handle everything/anything that comes my way with the support and love I have from all my friends and family!
Friday, April 24, 2009
Baby Movement...
WOW...This week has been crazy-busy AND full of FUN feelings! The baby is moving SO much. His movements are often so strong that Melissa's belly moves on the outside. So much so, that people have started to notice when it moves! Including Clint, who thinks it is really neat to see/feel and wonders what is actually poking Melissa (a hand, a foot, a head, a butt?). :)
We used to think sugar or food 'activated' him...but this week it didn't matter what time of day or night it was...the baby is active at a wide variety of times. It is a really neat feeling.
Will write more this weekend, as we still want to document last weekend's activities!
We used to think sugar or food 'activated' him...but this week it didn't matter what time of day or night it was...the baby is active at a wide variety of times. It is a really neat feeling.
Will write more this weekend, as we still want to document last weekend's activities!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Fill-in post
With Easter, work and school we were really busy at the beginning of April and we neglected to write about our visit with the McReynolds grandparents-to-be. Jay and Paula came over to Alabama the first Friday in April. We stood around our kitchen island as they showed us many keepsakes from when Clint was a baby. Including the outfit he went home from the hospital in! Here is a picture. How sweet!
Paula also lovingly made the baby a beautiful "Miracle Blanket" (http://www.miracleblanket.com/video.htm) and a sling for us. Hand-made gifts are the best and we can't wait to use them.
On Saturday April 4th, we headed up to Loretto Tennessee to celebrate Aunt Opel's 97th birthday. We can now say that we had the youngest celebrator with us! We enjoyed a very nice lunch with over 35 family members and sat outside in the beautiful spring weather for most of the day (even got a little sun)!
Jay and Paula headed back to Texas on the first flight on Sunday morning in order to be home to celebrate our nephew's third birthday. Lots of celebrations lately! And more to come!!!
Monday, April 20, 2009
28-week appointment
Once again...Melissa had a flawless check-up this morning at the doctor's office. This was the appointment where Melissa had to drink the prescribed bottle of syrup for a glucose tolerance test. The solution went down easier than anticipated at home in the presence of her departing parents. A few minutes after arriving at the doctor's office (an hour after drinking the solution) her blood was tested and she passed, as expected.
The fundal length is still on track - 28cm. And his little heart rate was 147 bpm - loud and strong! :)
Not much to report...but that's a good thing! Our next appointment is in four weeks, and then the appointments will switch to being every two weeks. We thought we could get another look at the little guy next time, but apparently according to our insurance, it is not standard to have one at 32 weeks :( Oh well...we'll meet and greet him in person soon enough!
Melissa will post more later about some other great events that have occurred lately (visit from the Lloyd grandparents-to-be, baby shower, etc.).
The fundal length is still on track - 28cm. And his little heart rate was 147 bpm - loud and strong! :)
Not much to report...but that's a good thing! Our next appointment is in four weeks, and then the appointments will switch to being every two weeks. We thought we could get another look at the little guy next time, but apparently according to our insurance, it is not standard to have one at 32 weeks :( Oh well...we'll meet and greet him in person soon enough!
Melissa will post more later about some other great events that have occurred lately (visit from the Lloyd grandparents-to-be, baby shower, etc.).
Cloth Diaper Care and Washing Instructions
First - apologies for not writing in over two weeks. Things have been busy. As promised, we are going to post wash and care instructions for cloth diapers. These instructions are authored by Melissa's Dad, Carmen Lloyd and edited by the diaper maker herself (Melissa's Mom), Sue Lloyd. If you have any questions, please leave a comment and we'll get you some answers from the experts!!! Also...if you are interested in cloth diapers, let us know as the diaper factory at the Lloyd household is open for business!!!
Also - we know a few of the blog followers already use cloth diapers. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please leave a comment! Thanks!
Diaper care and washing
Before you use –
1. Pocket diapers, covers, inserts and items made from micro-terry or bamboo need a quick wash. Warm or hot water with detergent (see below for recommended detergents).
2. Organic/unbleached cotton and hemp products require several washes before they will be absorbent. 5-6 hot water washes (or more). If possible, hot water for wash and warm water for rinse.
Ongoing maintenance –
1. 10-12 diapers per wash
2. 1 short cycle cold water wash with detergent (you can also use 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda in place of detergent to neutralize acid and odors). Add 2 gallons of water with a bucket after it fills.
3. 1 long/heavy duty cycle hot water wash with detergent. Add 2 gallons of water with a bucket after it fills.
4. 1 additional rinse (warm water rinse if you have that option). You can also use ¼ cup vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser to break down residue, restore ph, reduce lint and eliminate static cling.
Detergents – Use ¼ recommended amount for front loaders, ½ for top loaders
1. Diaper friendly – “Charlie’s soap”, “Allen’s Naturally”, “Vaska” (available on-line at diapershops.com) or “Country save” or “Planet”.
2. Not recommended – free & clear detergents, baby detergents, any detergent with fabric softeners, whiteners/brighteners, enzymes, fragrances and/or bleach.
Periodic maintenance –
1. Stripping – if diapers are leaking/repelling often or you have smells when they become wet, then it is time for a stripping with several (4-6) hot water washes (no detergent) to get rid of residues. You may consider adding ¼ cup of vinegar to the first cycle or two (optional).
2. Or, use “RLR” laundry treatment once or twice a month. Wash on hot, then wash 2 or 3 times more on hot with no soap or anything.
3. Or, use a couple of tablespoons of dawn dish soap in the diapers once or twice a month, then wash 2 more times on hot without soap
Do you have hard water ?
Use a water softener (ex calgon), never a fabric softener.
Calgon can also be used to strip diapers by washing clean diapers 3-4 times with hot water and Calgon (no detergent).
How about bowel movements ?
The best recommendation is to use “rice paper flushable-biodegradable liners” – remove the soiled liner and flush or throw in trash.
You can also use a “diaper sprayer” to remove the solids right into the toilet.
How about pre-soaking ?
If you wash often enough, you should not need to pre-soak. However, if you go long on washings, pre-soaking will reduce the amount of staining. To do so, fill diaper pail with water and if especially soiled, add a small amount of baking soda to the pail
How should I dry the diapers ?
Dry on warm to hot cycle - make sure to close the loop & hook (velcro) closures. To further shorten drying time, a dry towel can be thrown in to draw moisture.
Also - we know a few of the blog followers already use cloth diapers. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please leave a comment! Thanks!
Diaper care and washing
Before you use –
1. Pocket diapers, covers, inserts and items made from micro-terry or bamboo need a quick wash. Warm or hot water with detergent (see below for recommended detergents).
2. Organic/unbleached cotton and hemp products require several washes before they will be absorbent. 5-6 hot water washes (or more). If possible, hot water for wash and warm water for rinse.
Ongoing maintenance –
1. 10-12 diapers per wash
2. 1 short cycle cold water wash with detergent (you can also use 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda in place of detergent to neutralize acid and odors). Add 2 gallons of water with a bucket after it fills.
3. 1 long/heavy duty cycle hot water wash with detergent. Add 2 gallons of water with a bucket after it fills.
4. 1 additional rinse (warm water rinse if you have that option). You can also use ¼ cup vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser to break down residue, restore ph, reduce lint and eliminate static cling.
Detergents – Use ¼ recommended amount for front loaders, ½ for top loaders
1. Diaper friendly – “Charlie’s soap”, “Allen’s Naturally”, “Vaska” (available on-line at diapershops.com) or “Country save” or “Planet”.
2. Not recommended – free & clear detergents, baby detergents, any detergent with fabric softeners, whiteners/brighteners, enzymes, fragrances and/or bleach.
Periodic maintenance –
1. Stripping – if diapers are leaking/repelling often or you have smells when they become wet, then it is time for a stripping with several (4-6) hot water washes (no detergent) to get rid of residues. You may consider adding ¼ cup of vinegar to the first cycle or two (optional).
2. Or, use “RLR” laundry treatment once or twice a month. Wash on hot, then wash 2 or 3 times more on hot with no soap or anything.
3. Or, use a couple of tablespoons of dawn dish soap in the diapers once or twice a month, then wash 2 more times on hot without soap
Do you have hard water ?
Use a water softener (ex calgon), never a fabric softener.
Calgon can also be used to strip diapers by washing clean diapers 3-4 times with hot water and Calgon (no detergent).
How about bowel movements ?
The best recommendation is to use “rice paper flushable-biodegradable liners” – remove the soiled liner and flush or throw in trash.
You can also use a “diaper sprayer” to remove the solids right into the toilet.
How about pre-soaking ?
If you wash often enough, you should not need to pre-soak. However, if you go long on washings, pre-soaking will reduce the amount of staining. To do so, fill diaper pail with water and if especially soiled, add a small amount of baking soda to the pail
How should I dry the diapers ?
Dry on warm to hot cycle - make sure to close the loop & hook (velcro) closures. To further shorten drying time, a dry towel can be thrown in to draw moisture.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
The Nursery!!!
We are SO pleased with the nursery furniture! Clint and Paul (Clint's co-worker) brought it home from Birmingham on Thursday. By the time Melissa got home from work, all the boxes were unloaded from the truck and in the baby's room. After Paul got something to drink to re-hydrate himself, he headed home with many of thanks and much appreciation from us.
Clint was unaware of what the night's events were going to be....as Melissa had already decided that the furniture would be assembled on Thursday! Other than helping get the furniture pieces out of the boxes....Melissa was not a part of the assembly process. It turned into Clint's project and what a fine job he did!!!
According to Melissa, the crib is not yet in its place....but we are going to try out some different configurations before settling on its location. Now all that is left to do in there is to buy a glider and decorate the walls. The glider will be purchased sometime this month, so we'll have it no later than mid-May. The ideas for the walls have been generated and the materials purchased....now it is just a matter of finding time to get it done!
Clint was unaware of what the night's events were going to be....as Melissa had already decided that the furniture would be assembled on Thursday! Other than helping get the furniture pieces out of the boxes....Melissa was not a part of the assembly process. It turned into Clint's project and what a fine job he did!!!
According to Melissa, the crib is not yet in its place....but we are going to try out some different configurations before settling on its location. Now all that is left to do in there is to buy a glider and decorate the walls. The glider will be purchased sometime this month, so we'll have it no later than mid-May. The ideas for the walls have been generated and the materials purchased....now it is just a matter of finding time to get it done!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Nursery Furniture
The baby has Daddy to thank for getting all his future nursery furniture ordered! And...the baby will have to thank his Daddy and Daddy's co-worker for getting the furniture home this coming Thursday!
It is very exciting to be getting the baby's room ready! As mentioned above, Clint ordered all the furniture last week and he will be picking it up this Thursday to bring it home. It was all finalized last Friday...so we spent our Friday evening packing books from two large bookshelves into boxes and taking about the Sleep Number bed in that room. Sleep Number beds are not the easiest to assemble, or disassemble for that matter! But we got it done and everything was moved up to the attic for storage.
Melissa started on some craft projects for the walls of the nursery and hopes to be finished with those this week. All the bedding is in, so the crib will be 'dressed' on Thursday! Watch for pictures on Friday!!! :)
It is very exciting to be getting the baby's room ready! As mentioned above, Clint ordered all the furniture last week and he will be picking it up this Thursday to bring it home. It was all finalized last Friday...so we spent our Friday evening packing books from two large bookshelves into boxes and taking about the Sleep Number bed in that room. Sleep Number beds are not the easiest to assemble, or disassemble for that matter! But we got it done and everything was moved up to the attic for storage.
Melissa started on some craft projects for the walls of the nursery and hopes to be finished with those this week. All the bedding is in, so the crib will be 'dressed' on Thursday! Watch for pictures on Friday!!! :)
Monday, March 23, 2009
Another great check-up
This is Melissa writing...I went to the doctor this morning for my 24-week appointment. All is well with baby and momma! I heard the heart beat and it was 152 beats per minute. Still rockin' right along! My 'fundal height' (the distance from my pubic bone to the top of my uterus) was measured for the first time today. It was right on track - 23.5cm (should be ~ the number of weeks that I am pregnant +/- 2cm).
The doctor ordered a hemoglobin test to make sure my iron levels were ok after I mentioned I was more tired than normal. My levels came back normal....so the recommendation was that I slow down and try to not do as much. I will see what I can do about that... :)
The doctor did not seem to be concerned about the red blotches on my skin, nor about the tingling sensations in my legs. The blotches are from increased blood flow and the sensations are most likely because our little guy is sitting on a nerve at the moment. She said to just keep exercising when I can and feel like it and once I make more room for the baby, he will be able to re-position and relieve some of the pressure he is causing.
At my request, my doctor recommended some pediatricians...so I will most likely start calling them in the next few weeks so I know which one the nurse should call when we are in labor and delivery.
Overall...another great appointment with the doctor!
The doctor ordered a hemoglobin test to make sure my iron levels were ok after I mentioned I was more tired than normal. My levels came back normal....so the recommendation was that I slow down and try to not do as much. I will see what I can do about that... :)
The doctor did not seem to be concerned about the red blotches on my skin, nor about the tingling sensations in my legs. The blotches are from increased blood flow and the sensations are most likely because our little guy is sitting on a nerve at the moment. She said to just keep exercising when I can and feel like it and once I make more room for the baby, he will be able to re-position and relieve some of the pressure he is causing.
At my request, my doctor recommended some pediatricians...so I will most likely start calling them in the next few weeks so I know which one the nurse should call when we are in labor and delivery.
Overall...another great appointment with the doctor!
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Parenting 101
We attended our prenatal class at Anniston's Regional Medical Center (RMC) today. Labor and Delivery Nurse Lisa presented a lot of great material to ten expecting moms and their respective partners. The hospital seemed very grateful for us being there. We are their job security!! The topics ranged from how to tell when we're in labor to what the delivery process is at the hospital. Postpartum was also explained including how our baby will be cared for after he enters this world. We all got a quick lactation lesson, which was both important and informative. And we received a tour of the labor and delivery area, which reduces a lot of anxiety of what the environment will be like in a few months. We were impressed with what we saw at the hospital and are pleased to have such a great Women's Center in our area. As first time parents, we both commented that we were glad we spent our Saturday the way we did!
Friday, March 20, 2009
Exciting day
Yesterday Momma-to-be had an exciting day....the baby moved SO much that the movement was visible on the outside of her belly! It happened at about 8:30am and Melissa ended up staring at her belly waiting for it to happen again....and it did! It was crazy, but very exciting. It means that Daddy-to-be should be able to start to feel the baby move. Fun stuff.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Crib and Glider Research
We have settled on a crib and dresser/hutch combo (for the changing table, dresser and bookshelf). It is the Babi Italia Pinehurst Collection from Babies R Us.
We will not be getting the wardrobe in the middle of the picture, but the crib and the dresser/hutch are exactly what we have been looking for.
We've also started to do some research on gliders for the nursery. We have looked at a lot of rocker/gliders, and found that many are reviewed poorly by owners. Several gliders out there are too small to be comfortable when sitting in them to nurse/feed a baby. That's not good, since that is what we will be using it for!!!! Others report that the glider squeaks after a few months of use. We definitely want a glider that is covered in microfiber. We just know the quality of this fabric is great and it cleans up well. We also know that we want the wood to be a 'pecan' color, as our furniture for the room is "tea stain" in color. And, we want an ottoman to match to rest our feet!
Here are our top finds:
GLIDER and OTTOMAN SETS:
Shermag Ultra Glider & Ottoman Set in Pecan
http://www.rockingchairs.com/glider-rockers/indoor-gliders/shermagultragliderwithottoman.cfm#ReviewHeader
Dream Collection Glider Rocker and Ottoman - Pecan
http://www.babysupermall.com/main/products/she/she37779pec.html
We will not be getting the wardrobe in the middle of the picture, but the crib and the dresser/hutch are exactly what we have been looking for.
We've also started to do some research on gliders for the nursery. We have looked at a lot of rocker/gliders, and found that many are reviewed poorly by owners. Several gliders out there are too small to be comfortable when sitting in them to nurse/feed a baby. That's not good, since that is what we will be using it for!!!! Others report that the glider squeaks after a few months of use. We definitely want a glider that is covered in microfiber. We just know the quality of this fabric is great and it cleans up well. We also know that we want the wood to be a 'pecan' color, as our furniture for the room is "tea stain" in color. And, we want an ottoman to match to rest our feet!
Here are our top finds:
GLIDER and OTTOMAN SETS:
Shermag Ultra Glider & Ottoman Set in Pecan
http://www.rockingchairs.com/glider-rockers/indoor-gliders/shermagultragliderwithottoman.cfm#ReviewHeader
Dream Collection Glider Rocker and Ottoman - Pecan
http://www.babysupermall.com/main/products/she/she37779pec.html
Crib Sheets - Coming this Friday!!!!
I just got an email with the confirmation that our crib sheet set will arrive via UPS on Friday. I am SO excited to see it, touch it and...well....leave it in the box. :) We will order the nursery furniture in a couple of weeks.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Tonight's sewing project
This is Melissa...I sewed two burp cloths tonight. The pattern is SIMPLE. 9x22" with rounded corners and notches cut out of the middle (to fit the contour of a neck). They consist of two layers of flannel (one patterned and one solid) with a terry towel in between. I still need to work on how to finish out the end that needs to stay open in order to turn the cloth to the right side after sewing all three layers together. Some pictures are to the right.
A great way to spend Spring Break Night! :)
Now back to cutting out some more....
A great way to spend Spring Break Night! :)
Now back to cutting out some more....
Diaper Materials used
As previously mentioned A LOT of research went into making the cloth diapers. The diapers we make are called "All-in-Ones" (AIOs). AIO diapers are a one-step diapering system that is easy to use. They are shaped like disposable diapers and consist of a waterproof outer layer with a sewn-in absorbent layer and then fitted with a soaker (or insert). All-in-one diapers are put on just like disposable diapers: Open the diaper, lift the baby's bottom, slide the diaper underneath, close the diaper and you are ready to go! The one-size method that we chose is adjustable based on the size of the baby. For smaller babies, the front flap is placed higher on the baby, the touchtape is secured around the baby and then the flap is folded down securing to some touchtape tabs.
Why Cloth!??!? Well...numerous reasons...Not only are cloth diapers comfortable for the baby, they are more economical, healthful and environmental. From the comfort stand point - would you choose to wear paper/plastic undies!??!?! Cloth diapers are made from breathable and cushiony fabrics that are soft to the baby's skin. The inner fabrics are moisture-wicking, keep the baby's bottom feeling dry. They don't have any plastic on them that would otherwise rub against tender skin. From a health standpoint, the fabrics used in cloth diapers allow for increased airflow inside the diaper, keep the baby cooler and help to prevent diaper rash. Disposibles contain chemicals and plastics that have been known to cause allergic reactions and other health problems. And from an environmental standpoint, hands down cloth diapers are a responsible choice. Disposable diapers leave a trail of waste from manufacture to disposal. In addition, the solid waste in disposible diapers goes into our landfills, which can leach into groundwater and potentially spread disease. On the other hand, cloth diapers release solid waste where it belongs - into the sewage system to be treated with other household waste water.
All those reasons aside....I can't help but mention that cloth diapers are CUTE!! They can be stylish and soft at the same time. We chose to do solid colors with a contrasting color on the inside. The ones in the pictures from yesterday's post are red/navy, celery/olive, burgundy/black and turquoise/brown. The remaining sets to be sewn for our little guy are sage/chocolate, baby blue/navy and chocolate/turquoise.
What we decided on was to use at PUL fabric on the outside and a suedecloth on the inside. Then a Microfiber insert is placed between the two layers through a welt pocket in the suedecloth. This insert comes out and is washed seperately. The benefit is you can adjust where the insert lies, depending on how big your baby is and whether you need more up front (for a boy) or more in the middle (for a girl). We also choose to use Touchtape to close and secure the diaper around the baby.
Fabric glossary:
PUL (Polyurethane Laminated Polyester) - The PUL fabric is a highly waterproof fabric. A thin polyurethane layer is bonded to a stretchy polyester knit in a high heat industrial process. It is recommended as an outer layer on diapers and for waterproof bags for wet diapers
Microfiber - Usually 75% polyester 25% polyamide, and is a great diaper fabric for soakers and inserts. It traps moisture between its fibers and can absorb up to 8 times its weight in liquid! Light and thin, microfiber dries quickly and gets more absorbent with use.
Suedecloth - Is thinner than microfleece but has many of the same qualities that make it perfect for diaper inners. Suedecloth wicks moisture away from baby, resists staining, and does not hold pooh. In addition, suedecloth does not pill and stays new-looking longer.
Touchtape - Is a durable hook & loop system similar to velcro and aplix. We prefer touchtape to aplix because it is so flexible and has an extremely strong hold. Best of all, touchtape comes in lots of colors to match our beautiful outer diaper fabrics!
One big resource for the above informaiton is http://www.zany-zebra.com/
...more later on storing dry and dirty diapers and how to wash cloth diapers.
Why Cloth!??!? Well...numerous reasons...Not only are cloth diapers comfortable for the baby, they are more economical, healthful and environmental. From the comfort stand point - would you choose to wear paper/plastic undies!??!?! Cloth diapers are made from breathable and cushiony fabrics that are soft to the baby's skin. The inner fabrics are moisture-wicking, keep the baby's bottom feeling dry. They don't have any plastic on them that would otherwise rub against tender skin. From a health standpoint, the fabrics used in cloth diapers allow for increased airflow inside the diaper, keep the baby cooler and help to prevent diaper rash. Disposibles contain chemicals and plastics that have been known to cause allergic reactions and other health problems. And from an environmental standpoint, hands down cloth diapers are a responsible choice. Disposable diapers leave a trail of waste from manufacture to disposal. In addition, the solid waste in disposible diapers goes into our landfills, which can leach into groundwater and potentially spread disease. On the other hand, cloth diapers release solid waste where it belongs - into the sewage system to be treated with other household waste water.
All those reasons aside....I can't help but mention that cloth diapers are CUTE!! They can be stylish and soft at the same time. We chose to do solid colors with a contrasting color on the inside. The ones in the pictures from yesterday's post are red/navy, celery/olive, burgundy/black and turquoise/brown. The remaining sets to be sewn for our little guy are sage/chocolate, baby blue/navy and chocolate/turquoise.
What we decided on was to use at PUL fabric on the outside and a suedecloth on the inside. Then a Microfiber insert is placed between the two layers through a welt pocket in the suedecloth. This insert comes out and is washed seperately. The benefit is you can adjust where the insert lies, depending on how big your baby is and whether you need more up front (for a boy) or more in the middle (for a girl). We also choose to use Touchtape to close and secure the diaper around the baby.
Fabric glossary:
PUL (Polyurethane Laminated Polyester) - The PUL fabric is a highly waterproof fabric. A thin polyurethane layer is bonded to a stretchy polyester knit in a high heat industrial process. It is recommended as an outer layer on diapers and for waterproof bags for wet diapers
Microfiber - Usually 75% polyester 25% polyamide, and is a great diaper fabric for soakers and inserts. It traps moisture between its fibers and can absorb up to 8 times its weight in liquid! Light and thin, microfiber dries quickly and gets more absorbent with use.
Suedecloth - Is thinner than microfleece but has many of the same qualities that make it perfect for diaper inners. Suedecloth wicks moisture away from baby, resists staining, and does not hold pooh. In addition, suedecloth does not pill and stays new-looking longer.
Touchtape - Is a durable hook & loop system similar to velcro and aplix. We prefer touchtape to aplix because it is so flexible and has an extremely strong hold. Best of all, touchtape comes in lots of colors to match our beautiful outer diaper fabrics!
One big resource for the above informaiton is http://www.zany-zebra.com/
...more later on storing dry and dirty diapers and how to wash cloth diapers.
Monday, March 16, 2009
The Diaper Factory!!!
We went to Mom and Dad Lloyd's this weekend for a visit and to start up the diaper production line!!! Mom and Melissa completed 24 diapers! Doesn't sound like much to some??? Well...these little diapers are made completely with LOVE and HARD work!!!! And LOTS of both!! They are very labor intensive, but we had good fun making them. Mom had already done a lot of prep work (all the diapers were cut out, the pockets were made and the velcro was cut). After a few hours, we had a system created on the production line and had a complete set of six diapers done on the first day, plus another set that just needed its velcro sewn on. The second day we finished the set from the day before and completed two whole sets.
There was lots of talk about going into the cloth diaper making business. Any buyers out there? Let us know!!!!
Below are some pictures.
Sets of four diapers in each color that we made.
All the different colors we made this weekend set-up in the bigger size ("Bigger Little Man Under Pants").
All the different colors we made this weekend set-up in the smaller size ("Little Man Under Pants").
A front view of the turquoise and brown diaper. On the left is the "Little Man Under Pants" and on the right is the "Bigger Little Man Under Pants".
A side view of the two different ways you can fold the diapers to fit a growing baby!
There was lots of talk about going into the cloth diaper making business. Any buyers out there? Let us know!!!!
Below are some pictures.
Sets of four diapers in each color that we made.
All the different colors we made this weekend set-up in the bigger size ("Bigger Little Man Under Pants").
All the different colors we made this weekend set-up in the smaller size ("Little Man Under Pants").
A front view of the turquoise and brown diaper. On the left is the "Little Man Under Pants" and on the right is the "Bigger Little Man Under Pants".
A side view of the two different ways you can fold the diapers to fit a growing baby!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
First Public Pics!!!
Here are some scanned pics from our last sonogram (@20 weeks, February 26th). The scans did not come out too clearly...but we can make out the profile of our little guy, as well as the big foot he stuck in front of the camera. Check it out...he has all five toes!!! :)
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Baby Wise
This past weekend when we drove to GA to register, Melissa started reading a book from Nonnie and Pop called Baby Wise. Since Clint was driving, Melissa read important and interesting parts aloud and we both learned a lot. The theories presented are completely our style and we plan on implementing the suggested schedule from day one. What can it hurt?? We are new at this and don't have any better ideas than those proven by others! Melissa finished the book by the end of the weekend and was happy to have several questions answered. Of course....there are a million more left unanswered....but we still have four months (and the rest of the child's life) to learn! :)
For the other expecting mom's reading this - let us know if you want more details about the book or would like to borrow it for a couple of weeks. It is a quick read!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Baby Size
Wow....according to the weekly email we get from Babycenter.com, our little guy is 11 inches length (the length of a spaghetti squash!) and weighs 1 pound!!! His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. So....it is yet to be determined whether we will have a blue eyed baby or not!!! :)
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Well on our way....
The crib sheet set was purchased last night, the crib is picked out, we are registered, diapers are being made as we type and stationary for birth announcements and thank you cards have been purchased. And....Melissa is looking more and more pregnant everyday. Thankfully, she is still feeling great!
We enjoyed a fabulous weekend. The weather was phenomenal (sunshine and in the 70s!). We had a smooth and productive trip to Douglasville Georgia (to register and go to Sam's Club), we went to the movies (Slumdog Millionaire) and watched a movie at home (Taken). Clint also smoked a whole chicken on the Big Green Egg last night, which was fantastic. The baby may not like chicken given how much we eat it these days. :)
Must go to research a glider....that will be our next big purchase!
We enjoyed a fabulous weekend. The weather was phenomenal (sunshine and in the 70s!). We had a smooth and productive trip to Douglasville Georgia (to register and go to Sam's Club), we went to the movies (Slumdog Millionaire) and watched a movie at home (Taken). Clint also smoked a whole chicken on the Big Green Egg last night, which was fantastic. The baby may not like chicken given how much we eat it these days. :)
Must go to research a glider....that will be our next big purchase!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Baby Movement
We've got an active little guy already!!! Melissa reports that the baby is movin' and shakin' in the womb several times a day. There is definitely a pattern too...he is most active in the morning after sitting down to get some work done at Honeywell, then again mid-afternoon and he does another round of exercising around 7 or 8pm. Quite an interesting feeling and thought to know that he is so active!
We're all exercising three mornings a week now at the gym. We start our workouts at 5am with some other brave souls and it feels good to start the day out like that! We definitely hope that we can continue working out through the pregnancy, but Melissa's body will tell her when enough is enough!
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Melissa's high school friend Julie Gough who is taking her little one year old daughter to her first chemo treatment today.
We're all exercising three mornings a week now at the gym. We start our workouts at 5am with some other brave souls and it feels good to start the day out like that! We definitely hope that we can continue working out through the pregnancy, but Melissa's body will tell her when enough is enough!
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Melissa's high school friend Julie Gough who is taking her little one year old daughter to her first chemo treatment today.
Sewing Machine!!!
Melissa bought a sewing machine and can't wait to use it! It will be put to good use next weekend when we head up to NC to sew some diapers! We bought a Janome DC2007, and it appears to be in great working order with a great user manual! There is hope that this sewing machine will last for years to come and be used frequently for a variety of projects. Both our moms have had their sewing machines for many years and they are still going strong! Happy Sewing!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Diaper fitting
Last week Melissa's Mom made a trial diaper out of some flannel fabric and sent it to us to make sure we liked it. Upon receipt we stuffed it with a microfiber cloth and commented how super-cute it was. We pulled up and watched the video on Kayla's Cloth Kits website that shows how to put it on everything from a small baby to a five year old. During the lesson, we tried the diaper out on an OLD cabbage patch and ALF doll! hee hee....
In the real version, a few things will be different....for one...the velcro will be substantially larger and two, the outer layer will be a solid color.
We really liked how the diaper fit and worked....so we gave a 'green light' for production to start!!! In a couple of weeks, we will be part of the sewing team at the Lloyd household! More on the diaper production line later....
In the real version, a few things will be different....for one...the velcro will be substantially larger and two, the outer layer will be a solid color.
We really liked how the diaper fit and worked....so we gave a 'green light' for production to start!!! In a couple of weeks, we will be part of the sewing team at the Lloyd household! More on the diaper production line later....
BIG Baby...
So...according to babycenter.com, our little guy is supposed to be about 12 oz this week. Apparently we already have a starting linebacker in Melissa's belly, as he weighed in last week at 13 oz (estimated from the sonogram). HA! He is also supposed to be about 10.5 inches long (or about the length of a carrot). We cannot recall being told how long he measured, but perhaps we can find the information on the sonogram DVD that we received.
Other than that, the colors of the nursery have been chosen...sage green, brown and ivory. Below is a picture of the sheet set we're looking at getting:
We started a registry at Target yesterday, but still have to do some research to make sure we picked stuff that we actually need and want. And, next weekend we have planned a trip to Douglasville GA to register at Babies R Us! It has been exciting picking out all the necessities and fun stuff. We are anxious to settle on furniture and get that ordered so it can be assembled in the nursery.
Other than that, the colors of the nursery have been chosen...sage green, brown and ivory. Below is a picture of the sheet set we're looking at getting:
We started a registry at Target yesterday, but still have to do some research to make sure we picked stuff that we actually need and want. And, next weekend we have planned a trip to Douglasville GA to register at Babies R Us! It has been exciting picking out all the necessities and fun stuff. We are anxious to settle on furniture and get that ordered so it can be assembled in the nursery.
Friday, February 27, 2009
IT'S A BOY!!!!!!!!
Melissa always joked and said that she was going to have two girls. Clint said he would worry too much about girls and said Melissa was jinxing myself by saying that. Obviously Melissa said it jokingly, because she really doesn't have a say in what we have and we'd be happy either way! After we told everyone, we had a lot of people tell us they thought the baby was a girl. A few weeks after that, Melissa started having A LOT of boy thoughts during the day, but dreamt twice that we had a girl.
They say Moms have an intuition. And hers was right....
The sonograms this week were very fun. It is amazing all that you can see ... face profile, belly, spine, ribs, hands (with fingers), feet (with toes!), heart, etc. At yesterday's sonogram the baby waved at us and then stuck his foot in front of the camera again so all we could see was FOOT and TOES! When he moved his foot, the tech also pointed out the cord and said that was causing problems for us to fully determine what we were having as it was right between his legs. So, the tech switched over to a 'blood scan' screen which lit up all the areas that had blood flowing. The major component with blood flow was the cord. Once it was lit up, the boy parts were visible!
We are SO very excited to meet our son! Not long now....we're over halfway there!
They say Moms have an intuition. And hers was right....
The sonograms this week were very fun. It is amazing all that you can see ... face profile, belly, spine, ribs, hands (with fingers), feet (with toes!), heart, etc. At yesterday's sonogram the baby waved at us and then stuck his foot in front of the camera again so all we could see was FOOT and TOES! When he moved his foot, the tech also pointed out the cord and said that was causing problems for us to fully determine what we were having as it was right between his legs. So, the tech switched over to a 'blood scan' screen which lit up all the areas that had blood flowing. The major component with blood flow was the cord. Once it was lit up, the boy parts were visible!
We are SO very excited to meet our son! Not long now....we're over halfway there!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Shy baby...
Well...as most of you know by now...we had a shy baby this morning :(
The nurses and techs at the doctor's office were really nice and tried very hard to determine what we are having...but the baby did not want to show us its parts! So...we will go back on Thursday and try again! Stay tuned!! :)
The nurses and techs at the doctor's office were really nice and tried very hard to determine what we are having...but the baby did not want to show us its parts! So...we will go back on Thursday and try again! Stay tuned!! :)
Office Pool
Well...the results of the office pool are in....24 people have guessed what we will be having, when we will deliver and how big the baby is. 10 people have said we'll have a boy, with the 14 others saying we're having a girl. We'll know in two hours who is right!!! :)
On average, people think the baby will be born on July 11 (7/11...that has a ring to it!) at 11:23am, will weigh 7 pounds, 7 ounces (lots of sevens!) and be 20.1 inches long. Sounds like a pretty healthy baby to me!!!
So long as the baby cooperates....Watch for another post today....with EXCITING NEWS!!!
On average, people think the baby will be born on July 11 (7/11...that has a ring to it!) at 11:23am, will weigh 7 pounds, 7 ounces (lots of sevens!) and be 20.1 inches long. Sounds like a pretty healthy baby to me!!!
So long as the baby cooperates....Watch for another post today....with EXCITING NEWS!!!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
The baby's first Mardi Gras party
We had a BIG party last night....our 3rd annual Mardi Gras Shrimp Boil!! It was a lot of fun. Friends from work, Sunday School, running and school came by to celebrate. We boiled 15 pounds of shrimp, 5 pounds of sausage, two packs of mushrooms, 36 half ears of corn, and 10 pounds of potatoes. And it was EXCELLENT! We also fried some meat pies for those that did not eat shrimp. And for dessert....we had King Cake, brownies and peanut butter pie. The King Cake was sent to us from the Gallians, who this year could not join us from Texas. It had been a tradition for them to make their way over to Alabama for this party, but we missed them this year. It was very thoughtful of them to send the cake though and it was enjoyed by many! Greg found the baby this year, and was glad to hear that he did not have to have a baby because he found it! He did promise to bring the cake next year though!!! We have lots of leftovers....so we'll be making lots of meals containing shrimp this week!
Many at the party tried to guess what we're having. Two more sleeps until we find out!!!
Many at the party tried to guess what we're having. Two more sleeps until we find out!!!
Friday, February 20, 2009
Crib and Glider research
We have settled on a crib and dresser/hutch combo (for the changing table, dresser and bookshelf). It is the Babi Italia Pinehurst Collection from Babies R Us.
We will not be getting the wardrobe in the middle of the picture, but the crib and the dresser/hutch are exactly what we have been looking for.
We've also started to do some research on gliders for the nursery. We have looked at a lot of rocker/gliders, and found that many are reviewed poorly by owners. Several gliders out there are too small to be comfortable when sitting in them to nurse/feed a baby. That's not good, since that is what we will be using it for!!!! Others report that the glider squeaks after a few months of use. We definitely want a glider that is covered in microfiber. We just know the quality of this fabric is great and it cleans up well. We also know that we want the wood to be a 'pecan' color, as our furniture for the room is "tea stain" in color. And, we want an ottoman to match to rest our feet!
Here are our top finds:
GLIDER and OTTOMAN SETS:
Shermag Ultra Glider & Ottoman Set in Pecan
http://www.rockingchairs.com/glider-rockers/indoor-gliders/shermagultragliderwithottoman.cfm#ReviewHeader
Dream Collection Glider Rocker and Ottoman - Pecan
http://www.babysupermall.com/main/products/she/she37779pec.html
We will not be getting the wardrobe in the middle of the picture, but the crib and the dresser/hutch are exactly what we have been looking for.
We've also started to do some research on gliders for the nursery. We have looked at a lot of rocker/gliders, and found that many are reviewed poorly by owners. Several gliders out there are too small to be comfortable when sitting in them to nurse/feed a baby. That's not good, since that is what we will be using it for!!!! Others report that the glider squeaks after a few months of use. We definitely want a glider that is covered in microfiber. We just know the quality of this fabric is great and it cleans up well. We also know that we want the wood to be a 'pecan' color, as our furniture for the room is "tea stain" in color. And, we want an ottoman to match to rest our feet!
Here are our top finds:
GLIDER and OTTOMAN SETS:
Shermag Ultra Glider & Ottoman Set in Pecan
http://www.rockingchairs.com/glider-rockers/indoor-gliders/shermagultragliderwithottoman.cfm#ReviewHeader
Dream Collection Glider Rocker and Ottoman - Pecan
http://www.babysupermall.com/main/products/she/she37779pec.html
Crazy or not
Crazy or not...we have decided to cloth diaper (thanks to Kristin for putting this idea in our heads!). We are so very thankful for Mom and Dad Lloyd's excitement about cloth diapering too! Many many hours of research and thoughts have been spent on cloth diapering at the Lloyd household. But...just over a week after pitching the idea, we have a pattern and materials ordered. We'll be using the pattern from "Kayla Cloth Kits" (www.kaylasclothkits.com). Melissa and Sue both joined some co-ops for some great material at excellent prices. We'll be making 40 diapers in preparation of the many diaper changes to come this summer!
Other resources used:
www.verybaby.com
www.kidsinthegarden.com
Yahoo! Group for Kids in the Garden
Yahoo! Group for Covered Caboose
February 24th!!!!
Our appointment to find out what we're having was moved to TUESDAY FEBRUARY 24th!!! We are sooo excited! We will call/post as soon as we can!!! Once again...this is your last chance to put in your guesses! Melissa's office started an office pool for the gender, DOB, Time of birth, Weight and Length. We'll post some of the guesses soon. Some are amusing....17" baby that weighs 8.5 pounds! YIKES. Or...someone stated that we'd deliver on July 28th!! WOAH!!! No thanks! ;)
Friday, February 6, 2009
Maternity jeans are fabulous!!!!!
Just a quick update on "the mom-to-be"....
This is Melissa writing...and I am going to write about me....so no third person format (wink...wink...Kristin!). I am doing great. I feel well, am having no sickness and am "functioning normally" (eating, sleeping, working, studying etc.)! I am shocked at some of the long days I can pull, and by the fact that I have stayed healthy (many people around me are sick with colds and flu....it is that season!).
I am wearing my first pair of maternity jeans today...and I LOVE THEM! They are VERY comfortable and trendy (if I say so myself!). I am still able to wear some of my non-prego tops, but all my non-prego pants will be put up this weekend! I have "popped" (so they say) and am getting quite a little belly. :)
Some very special friends that sent me some maternity tops from their collection and I am very grateful! I will definitely enjoy the variety! Thanks Kristin and Elizabeth! I will take good care of them, clean them and return them in time for you to wear again! ;)
19 more sleeps until we find out what we're having!!!
This is Melissa writing...and I am going to write about me....so no third person format (wink...wink...Kristin!). I am doing great. I feel well, am having no sickness and am "functioning normally" (eating, sleeping, working, studying etc.)! I am shocked at some of the long days I can pull, and by the fact that I have stayed healthy (many people around me are sick with colds and flu....it is that season!).
I am wearing my first pair of maternity jeans today...and I LOVE THEM! They are VERY comfortable and trendy (if I say so myself!). I am still able to wear some of my non-prego tops, but all my non-prego pants will be put up this weekend! I have "popped" (so they say) and am getting quite a little belly. :)
Some very special friends that sent me some maternity tops from their collection and I am very grateful! I will definitely enjoy the variety! Thanks Kristin and Elizabeth! I will take good care of them, clean them and return them in time for you to wear again! ;)
19 more sleeps until we find out what we're having!!!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
All negative blood work is a GOOD thing!
We got word today that all of Melissa's blood work came back negative…so no downs, open spine or chromosomal defects. That’s good news! We weren’t really that worried about it since there is no history in our families…but you never know…
Anyway…now we’re really looking forward to the next doctor’s appointment on the 25th. And…we are pre-registered for a prenatal class on March 21st. That should be fun. Maybe Melissa will learn how to change a diaper, since she has never changed one!
Anyway…now we’re really looking forward to the next doctor’s appointment on the 25th. And…we are pre-registered for a prenatal class on March 21st. That should be fun. Maybe Melissa will learn how to change a diaper, since she has never changed one!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Catch-up Post #1
As we mentioned....we'll try to catch you all up, since we only started posting at week 16! We are ending week 17, and all is well! Melissa has been feeling good, and is counting down the days until we find out what we're having (26 more sleeps!).
We found out we were pregnant on November 6th...Melissa's Dad's birthday. The next night we had our first Christmas party of the season...so it was fun to get dressed up and have a mini celebration! It was REALLY odd knowing something that NO ONE else knew anything about. We seemed to talk about the news all the time. It was as if nothing else was happening in our lives. We were super excited.
For Thanksgiving, we drove to Texas to see the McReynolds family. Melissa studied all the way there and a bit each day when we were there, trying to complete 3 classes of her MBA. We figured that everyone was a bit suspicious that Melissa declined coffee every morning and wine every night. That was a bit out of character for her! Overall, it was a fantastic visit and we drove back to Alabama uneventfully.
Upon returning home, Melissa and Clint went into high-speed-mode, trying to wrap up the year at work and school, as well as getting ready for a big trip to London England and to North Carolina for Christmas to visit with the Lloyd family.
Before the trip, we had our first prenatal appointment with our friend and doctor Jacquie Tessen. Jacquie was THRILLED when she heard us both talking in her office. She knew Melissa had been thinking about becoming a patient of hers, but had no idea that we were expecting. It was a great appointment, as we got to see the baby for the first time on the ultrasound. The baby looked like a little kidney bean and was 1.75cm long from "crown to rump". Little tiny baby! More later....
We found out we were pregnant on November 6th...Melissa's Dad's birthday. The next night we had our first Christmas party of the season...so it was fun to get dressed up and have a mini celebration! It was REALLY odd knowing something that NO ONE else knew anything about. We seemed to talk about the news all the time. It was as if nothing else was happening in our lives. We were super excited.
For Thanksgiving, we drove to Texas to see the McReynolds family. Melissa studied all the way there and a bit each day when we were there, trying to complete 3 classes of her MBA. We figured that everyone was a bit suspicious that Melissa declined coffee every morning and wine every night. That was a bit out of character for her! Overall, it was a fantastic visit and we drove back to Alabama uneventfully.
Upon returning home, Melissa and Clint went into high-speed-mode, trying to wrap up the year at work and school, as well as getting ready for a big trip to London England and to North Carolina for Christmas to visit with the Lloyd family.
Before the trip, we had our first prenatal appointment with our friend and doctor Jacquie Tessen. Jacquie was THRILLED when she heard us both talking in her office. She knew Melissa had been thinking about becoming a patient of hers, but had no idea that we were expecting. It was a great appointment, as we got to see the baby for the first time on the ultrasound. The baby looked like a little kidney bean and was 1.75cm long from "crown to rump". Little tiny baby! More later....
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
16 week appointment
Melissa went for her 16 week appointment this morning and both mommy and baby are doing great. Our doctor, Jacquie, is really happy with how everything is progressing. Everything on the blood work from the 12 week appointment came back normal and Melissa's weight gain is right on track. Melissa had another round of blood taken today in order to complete some testing and the baby's heart beat was heard and measured. It was 164. To bring you all up to speed...here are the measured heart rates that we have received:
@ 8 weeks: heart rate was 180
@ 12 weeks: heart rate was 160
@16 weeks: heart rate was 164
So....look up all your old wives tales and give us your prediction on what we are having!!! We will find out on Wednesday February 25th at 8:30am!
@ 8 weeks: heart rate was 180
@ 12 weeks: heart rate was 160
@16 weeks: heart rate was 164
So....look up all your old wives tales and give us your prediction on what we are having!!! We will find out on Wednesday February 25th at 8:30am!
Friday, January 23, 2009
Ending Week 16
This is our first entry....but we will try to compile some blog entries that talk about the weeks we didn't write. We are in fact completing the 16th week of Melissa's pregnancy. All has gone very smoothly so far....no sickness, no complications and the doctor has said everything looks great.
As some of you know, Melissa found out we were pregnant on November 7, 2008 and we have been excited ever since. We kept it quiet until Christmas Eve when we told our families. Both sets of grandparents are extremely excited, as are Uncle Jeff, Uncle Vic and Aunt Heather.
This week, Melissa began transitioning into maternity clothes. The pants are absolute heaven, and although some shirts are still a bit big, a tight knit maternity sweater just gives that extra bit of room that she needs. This weekend, Melissa will organize her closet to have better access to the maternity clothes she has purchased thus far.
As some of you know, Melissa found out we were pregnant on November 7, 2008 and we have been excited ever since. We kept it quiet until Christmas Eve when we told our families. Both sets of grandparents are extremely excited, as are Uncle Jeff, Uncle Vic and Aunt Heather.
This week, Melissa began transitioning into maternity clothes. The pants are absolute heaven, and although some shirts are still a bit big, a tight knit maternity sweater just gives that extra bit of room that she needs. This weekend, Melissa will organize her closet to have better access to the maternity clothes she has purchased thus far.
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