Progress

Between baby showers, weekly doctor’s appointments, and grueling weekends of hard work, I have a lot to share! Let’s start from the most recent of events and I’ll work my way backwards.

So we somehow managed to get all of the rooms moved around last weekend! Brandon and I were exhausted after all was said and done, but now I can finally let the nesting begin! I created this endless list on my iPhone just to make sure I don't forget anything. The challenge is going to be whether or not I let myself obsess over it like I did while anticipating the re-arrangement of Brandon and Caden's rooms. I wish that my default was set on focusing on the truth of Scripture instead of worrying and obsessing over the details. Because "who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” (Matthew 6:27)

A few sweet co-workers of mine put together a luncheon/baby shower for me. I was delighted that so many ladies showed up and that Samuel got most of the items that I was hoping for (which enabled me to use the gift cards we'd already received on one particular 'big' item!) One of my favorite gifts was from my boss. She got Samuel this little white t-shirt that had “iPood” written across the chest. Too funny! 

Here are some pictures that were taken during the party...

Baby bath tub filled with goodies!

Awww a duck hooded towel!

Yay! One of those cute seat covers for grocery carts or highchairs!

Yesssss, the bedding set!

Last but not least, here's the belly at 34 weeks! (and the crib mattress!)

After the baby shower ended, I made my way to my (now weekly) doctor’s appointment. I was expecting the blood work, but the “strep test” that they had mentioned that I would be undergoing was not the one where they swab the back of your throat. Oh, they swabbed me alright, but it wasn’t my throat. Just sayin'... Quite honestly though, can I just say that I don’t even know what the word ‘modesty’ means anymore? The appointment ended on a high note when my doctor informed me that he was putting in a request of May 24 for the cesarean! That is exactly one week earlier than his estimated due date! Once it is cleared by the hospital, we will finally have an exact date to look forward to. YAY! There’s a light at the end of this tunnel…

Last but not least, here are some pictures from the baby shower that my friend Janet hosted for us at our house a few weekends ago.

Here's the belly at 33 weeks!

The card Caden picked out for Samuel was so sweet. It was one of those cards that plays music when you open it. "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" was the tune and he looked in my eyes with a big smile on his face as he sang every word. I was a goner. I don't know what exactly triggered the tears though; it was either pregnancy hormones, or the "I love you Sam" that he wrote on the inside of the card. Probably both now that I think about it...

Here are some of the guests who gathered around to watch me open Sam's presents!

The guys got a real kick out of this diaper rash cream!

Game one: Guess how big around Katie's belly is using streamer. The winner? One of the guys! I wish I had a picture of how long the streamer was that my mom did. That thing wrapped around me almost twice!

Game two: While holding a napkin behind you back, tear it into the shape of a baby's t-shirt. My stepmother won this one, but my MIL came in at a close second. As you can see, she was very proud of hers!

And then of course here are some pictures of me and some of my favorite people in the entire world:

My beautiful mother!

Janet! (Schmee-haw)

Nicole! (mommas mommaaas!)

Here's Kristen, Janet, and I being are regular, normal selves. (For the record, I think Janet was trying to eat my baby.)

My handsome man.

My darling trouble-maker, Caden Lee.

Oh, and I can't forget this one... This is classic B and Caden right here:

Sorry it took me so long to update all of this! It's been crazy at the Wilkerson house lately. 

Stay tuned for May's belly picture and more...

Unprepared

The most popular question that I was asked at our baby shower was, "So where is the nursery?" It always made me laugh because we are far from having the nursery ready. We don't even have a room available yet! At least, not until we play musical chairs rooms. First, Brandon will have to move his office into the dining room. Second, we will need to move Caden into the room that Brandon's office used to occupy. Then we can start to set up the nursery in Caden's old room. Although it may seem easier to just put the nursery into the room we move Brandon's office out of, I think Caden would benefit more out of that room since it has a built-in desk and double the closet space. Hopefully this weekend our plans will finally be put into motion. Brandon is planing on getting his new desk assembled so he can start the transition from his old office into the dining room.

I may not have a room for the nursery yet, but I do have pictures of some of the things that will fill it! Here is the changing table/dresser that I found on Craigslist for only $140!

I found the cute baskets at Pottery Barn Kids. That place has the potential to get my pocketbook into some serious trouble. I saw a bunk bed there that I absolutely fell in love with. Then I noticed the price tag and walked away, super disappointed.

I also found this glider rocker on Craigslist. (Thank you Joann, for buying it for us!)

We got it for less than half the price of some of the ones we saw while registering at Babie's "R" Us. I couldn't believe how expensive these things were normally priced!

I found these cute letters somewhere online. I can't wait to see them on the wall above Sam's crib.

The layette we chose for his nursey inlcudes a whale, so I couldn't stop myself from picking this little piggy bank up at Target. Isn't it cute?

It was only two bucks! I love the discounted section they have set up at Target when you first walk into the store. I find some of the neatest stuff there.

I am so eager to start decorating and preparing Samuel's room. The fact that I can't yet is making me feel a little crazy. I need to nest! I must nest! I shared my frustration with Brandon tonight and he told me to stop fretting. Oh, I wish it were that easy. I can't help but think, "What if Sam comes earlier than expected and we aren't finished moving all the rooms around?" I know it's a ridiculous thing to be concerned about since for centuries, babies have survived just fine without a proper nursery. Geez Katie...

Lord, help me just be still and know that you are God. (Psalm 46:10)

3D Ultrasound - Attempt #2

To encourage better results for this Ultrasound, I was instructed to do the following exactly 45 minutes before our appointment:

• Eat waffles with lots of syrup
• Drink orange juice
• Drink lots of ice-cold water

All of those things are supposed to help the baby be more active. However, our experience today reminded me of a saying that I've heard. Plans make God laugh. I guess the reason I thought about that was because even though I did everything that was suggested, we ended out waiting over an hour before we were even seen - rendering all the things I had done in preparation, useless! We were not too happy about this and neither was the Ultrasound tech. Apparently, there are only two rooms equipped with the machine she needed and my doctor's staff had put other ladies into those very rooms, so we had to wait for them to be seen first. Uggggh! It was very frustrating.

Luckily though, compared to our last visit, we got a couple of pretty good images of Samuel. We received several other pictures, but out of all of them, these were the best. The other ones may need more explanation as to what is what.

Here is the best one; I love his little nose!

Here is the other one. He moved his hand for a split second revealing both of his closed eyes and his nose. But there is that hand in the way again...covering his mouth this time!

We can definitely conclude that Samuel likes to sleep with his hands curled up near his face (just like mommy) and that he is stubborn (just like daddy) since he wouldn't move those hands for us to get a view of his entire face.

Brandon and I can't WAIT to finally meet him! I'm going to kiss every inch of that little face once I finally get to see it.

April Update

Let’s start this thing off right! Here is your April belly shot.

My iPhone’s “What To Expect” app tells me that baby Sam has reached an important milestone this week: The development of his own immune system (that provides him protection from mild infections once he’s out of the womb) is complete! Come baby come, baby baby come, come! Sorry about that, I couldn’t resist the urge to type that out as the song crossed my mind. The app also explained the reason I am feeling lots of nudges and pushes lately – the level of amniotic fluid in my uterus has reached its maximum this week, making it likely that I have more baby than fluid in there. There’s less liquid to cushion the blows! Awesome.

Alright, so if you know me well, you know that I have a faulty memory. It works sometimes; however, it seems like when I really need to remember somthing, I can’t. Pregnancy hasn’t helped either. It has made something that is already askew, worse. Accepting this fact, I decided to compile a list of questions to ask my doctor yesterday during my appointment. I am so glad that I did because there have been too many instances where I knew I had a question, but for the life of me, couldn’t recall!

I asked him the most pressing question that has been on my mind since our failed attempt to take a sneek-peek at Samuel in 3D. “Did his due date change?” The 3D monitor showed that his due date was 5/25 when all along we have been anticipating his arrival to be 5/31! I was hoping that we would get to meet him a week earlier, but the answer I got was quite on the contrary. He told me that the only way that he would change the due date in the third trimester would be if there were at least a three week difference. Bummer!

Another question I asked him was one I had asked already several months ago. I knew that his answer wasn’t going to change, but asked anyhow. “When can we schedule my cesarean?” I was right. His answer didn’t change. For whatever reason, my doctor waits to schedule the surgery until I am at least 35 weeks. He told me that since our due date is 5/31, we could plan on him doing it the week prior to that day. You have no idea how often I stare at May’s calendar, anticipating! I made one for you to obsess over as well. Note: The writing under the 27th says "Caden's B-Day"

Based on what my doctor said, any of the highlighted days could be the day we finally get to swoon over our precious little nugget! Unless of course, Samuel decides to surprise us and come into this world even earlier than that (crossing my fingers).

I am glad that there is a lot going to keep me busy this month.

My mom gets into town tonight (with my awesome step-dad, Mike and hopefully their adorable, little rascal of a dog who lives up to his name, “Rowdy”) to be here for the baby shower that my BFF Janet is throwing for me at our house tomorrow. I can’t wait to see who all shows up and of course unwrap all the gifts that we registered for and so desperatley need! I will post pictures from this event sometime next week.

Monday, we have our second and final attempt in seeing Samuel on a 3D Ultrasound. We are praying for just one glimpse of his face or at least the silouette of his face!

Next Sunday, I will be taking Caden to Christus St. Catherine Hospital to attend what they call a ‘Sibling Class.’ It is supposed to help him understand how special it is to become a big brother, address his role as the older sibling and inform him of what to expect once the new baby arrives, and how he can help out Brandon and I!

That following Thursday, my co-workers are hosting a quick baby shower for me at the office during our lunch hour. I have got to say that I felt very loved when my boss gave my my invitation. She made them herself and even carved the stamps that were on the inside of the card by hand. How thoughtful is that? I am so blessed to have a boss that cares enough to do something like that for one of her employees. Check it out! First, there is the front of the invitiation. The pictures following that are of the stamps.

That very same day, I have my next doctor’s appointment. Apparently I get to do another HIV screen and they are also doing a strep-swab. I can’t WAIT for that appointment. Gagged and stuck with a needle all in about an hours time! Yessss.

That weekend I get to attend a baby shower of a friend of mine who is having a girl. I am looking forward to this because it gives me an excuse to spend too much time looking around and saying “awww” to all of the adorable baby girl stuff out there in stores. I already know I am going to spend too much. Isn’t that always the case though when shopping for a baby shower? It’s so hard to keep yourself from overspending.

Whew! So all of that is happening in April and then it will finally be May! WOOHOO!

3D Ultrasound - Attempt #1

I am so bummed. The 3D Ultrasound we had last week wasn’t very successful. Samuel was fast asleep with his arm covering his precious little face the entire time! However, we did get a good shot of his little giant foot. We try again on April 12. I sure hope he will cooperate b/c if not, we just flushed some hard-earned money down the drain for a picture of his darlin’ foot.

Here it is!

The Ultrasound technician said that he weighs an even four pounds and Brandon pointed out that based on his measurements, the machine changed his due date from May 31 to May 25! I wonder what that is going to mean for scheduling the cesarean? Does that mean that I will be having Samuel a week earlier than expected or does it not change anything at all? I will definitely be asking my doctor at my next appointment.