New House - Weeks 3-4

So when we went up to the house after week 2, they had just the foundation in. Then when we came back only 1 week later (Week 3) on August 20th, here's what we found! OMG - It actually looks like a house!




One of the rooms upstairs:

This will be our Kitchen area and it opens up to the family room (off to the right). Olivia is standing where our kitchen table area will be.

Here is Olivia showing off what will be HER room!

On August 28th, we went back to see what Week 4 had accomplished. Making amazing progress!!!

Garages:

Kitchen area:

Family Room area (you can just make out the outline of where our fireplace will be on the far wall in the center). The room behind that will be our master bedroom:

This is the front door area. We are standing in the dining room and the study is on the other side of the front door.

This is our master bathroom - looking at it from our bedroom:

The back of the house. You can see where our screened in porch will be:

That's it for this posting. I'll do another for this weekend when we checked it out again.

New House - Breaking Ground (Weeks 0-2)

So we have let you guys know that we are building a house up in Wake Forest and - they are really moving along on it! We have been out there every weekend to check in on it. Here are some pictures from the first couple of weeks:

This is before they broke ground - just a nice picture of out SOLD sign!!!! (July 31st)

They were intending to break ground on August 1st. We made our next trip out there on August 6th to see what progress they made during their first week. They dug out the layout and poured some concrete in to start the foundation:

Then we went back on August 14th to see how Week 2 went. Looks like they got the foundation in:

They were making pretty good progress these first couple weeks, but wait until you see what happened when we went back just one week later . . .

Belly Shots

Ok, so I know you guys are probably wondering how big my belly has been getting since it has been SO long since I have posted. Well, here is what you have missed:

31 Weeks

33 Weeks

Here are a couple videos of the little man kicking me quite a bit. This is from August 18th, when I was about 34 weeks along. Pay attention to the upper edge of my belly:

35 weeks

37 Weeks (Today, so one day shy of 37 weeks)

Ok, so let me fill you in on how I've been doing with this little guy in my tummy. All my appointments were going really well until I hit about 34 weeks. At that appointment, my blood pressure was starting to get a little high and I was told to take it easy and slow down. Well, that was also the same week that my swelling started and the headaches started (now I know those are from the high blood pressure). My pressure was 141/86 that week. They wanted me to come back for my next appointment in one week (at 35 weeks) instead of waiting until I got to 36 weeks (2 weeks away).

Ok, so at my 35 week appointment, my pressure had gone down some (and the headaches were better), so they told me I was doing better, but to still take it easy. (Meanwhile, I had started my new job about a month ago, was on a new project and was trying to get as much done before I had this guy as possible!). Anyway, I set off with another appointment scheduled for the following week - week 36.

Well, at that next appointment (last week), my pressure was higher than ever (145/98) and they threatened to take me out of work. After negotiating with them, they are giving me one more week to see how it goes, mostly because it is a holiday weekend and I'll be able to rest a bit (that's what they think!). Anyway, the headaches were back with a vengeance - so is the swelling. They also want me to do some additional testing to test me for pregnancy induced hypertension, uric acid and all the general preclampsia symptoms - so I am currently doing a 24-hour urine sampling today to bring in tomorrow (so much fun) and I will get bloodwork done when I get there in the morning. I have my next appointment on Thursday (so they have time to get these results) and I have a feeling that I will not be going to work again after that. I think I'm probably going to get pulled. Oh, well, I'll have tomorrow and Wednesday to tidy up what I can and turn it over - then we'll see what happens from there.

Now this weekend was a whole other story - but relaxing it has not been yet - so I am trying to take it easy today and get some r and r before Thursday. We'll see how that goes. I'll fill you all in on this weekend in a future post.

Needless to say, I am trying to get as much ready for little man as possible this weekend - just in case he decides to show up early, or the docs think it is a good idea to convince him to come a bit early - so resting hasn't been easy.

We have cleaned off a lot of our registry at Babies-r-Us, put together the swing and bassinet and we are planning on putting the car seats in today and pack my hospital bag to keep in the car. I figure that as much as Murphy's law loves us, if I'm not prepared, then I'll have him this week, if I am, then I can get at least one more week beforehand.

Other than all of that, I wanted to show you all some pictures of little man's room. It is just about decorated (even though we won't be here that long after he is born). He has a cute little jungle sports theme. I painted the cute little animal pictures on the wall in this next picture on either side of the blanket that is hanging on the wall.

Ok, so that's enough drama for one posting. I'll fill you in more in my next couple posts.

Long Time No Blog

So sorry that my blogging has been even worse lately (and that is pretty bad!). Things around here have been busy, crazy and very busy! lol! First, we got a new camera (since our other one went swimming) and it took me a bit to load the software to be able to upload the pictures, also, our internet is SO SLOW at home that blogging can be pretty stressful trying to upload the pictures and videos - but enough excuses, onto the good stuff.

Here are some funny pics and a video from when we first got our new camera of little Livi:

Yep, she got into her hair clips and decided to wear ALL of them! ha ha!

We have a new jumpy place that just opened up in our town and we've already been there twice. It is still pretty undiscovered, so we are taking advantage until all the other kids hear about it. Here is Olivia doing the big green slide - over and over and over again!

Here she is dancing like a maniac when I was watching "So you think you can dance." Apparently, she really liked this song and decided to cut loose! It was pretty funny!

Ok, that's all for this first entry. I'm going to run down and get some lunch then try to post some more. I have a ton to get onine for you guys (about a month and a half, I think) and a lot to fill you in on. I'll be back!

Nelson Beach Trip - Day 4

Ok, so I am finally getting around to finishing up the Beach Trip blogs. I told you that our camera decided to take a swim, so the pictures on this entry are either from my phone or from Becca's camera. Here are a couple more pictures from the day our camera went swimming (day 3):

Nice family shot (even showing off little brother!)

That night we went to play miniature golf (though Olivia and I didn't make it to the end - it was MUCH too hot and we were both exhausted - so we headed back to the room a little early). Here's a nice shot of us from there that Becca took for us:

Collecting Sea Shells on our last morning at the Beach (Sunday morning):

Then we headed off to the Ripley's aquarium after lunch on our way out of town. Here are Drew and Olivia looking up at a shark from this neat bubble thing they had:

Another family/group shot - though Olivia was NOT in the mood for a picture! oh well!

Here is Olivia and daddy petting the horseshoe crabs and other creatures.

Here's a couple videos - sorry they are turned sideways - I don't usually use my phone for this stuff, but had to in the absence of the camera:

Then we headed to the cool tunnel to look at all the sea creatures swimming around us. Olivia was pretty tired (it was right in the middle of nap time), but really liked it all - especially the sharks!!!

Then they got to try to pet the sting rays - though both kids backed up whenever they got too close!

After saying goodbye to Susan, Chad, Becca and the kids - (we hung back to make a potty stop) - we saw that the mermaid show was going on and tried to let Olivia see the *real* mermaid before we headed out. We missed the show - but caught the meet and greet. Here is Olivia when she go to meet mermaid Melissa. She was so excited!!

Unfortunately - for some reason - the videos from my phone don't have any sound (though they do on my phone) - must be something lost when I emailed them to myself. Anyway, this next video is of the mermaid asking Olivia her name and just talking with her.

After we said hello to the mermaid - we headed back to Raleigh. We had a great time and look forward to going back next year. Thank you, Susan for a wonderful family vacation!

Hopefully we can get a couple little day trips in to some different places before little brother arrives and we are a bit more house-bound.

By the way - we did get a new camera - but we haven't really done much since to warrant taking a bunch of pictures. But, when we do, we'll let ya know!