maternity photos | part one

I couldn't have been happier with the way our maternity photos turned out. With a photographer like Kelly Ginn, I know she will go above and beyond our expectations every time.

One of the very first things Will & I decided when we got pregnant (or even possibly before that) was that we wanted Kelly to document our entire pregnancy, from beginning to end...and beyond. She took our 3 year anniversary photos this year where I happened to be about 9-10 weeks pregnant, she was very involved with our gender reveal (the FIRST person to know we were having a boy!) and now she has taken my maternity photos. I think what I am most excited about is that she will be in the delivery room with us documenting Crew's debut into the world. I'm more than excited...I'm ecstatic. I have seen so many examples of tasteful delivery photos and trust Kelly 100% to capture such a special moment in our lives. Any day recently that I know Kelly has a wedding to shoot I get nervous that Crew will decide that it's time to be born and that she will miss it, but I think we are in the clear now....at least until next Saturday! And according to my doctor, we will have a baby boy in our arms by then so I don't have to worry about Kelly missing Crew's big moment!

We took these photos at 33 weeks in a nearby field with perfect sunlight!

All photos courtesy of Kelly Ginn Photography

....and because there are SO many photos that I like and I don't want to totally overload one post, I'll post part two tomorrow!

38 weeks

Oops! Forgot to post this last week! Pregnancy brain!

I'm feeling tired and puffy...can you tell?! Ha!

How far along are you?
38 weeks!! Still having a hard time believing that could be here any day now!

How big is Baby?
He's the size of a pumpkin...appropriate for this (maybe) October baby - His head is about the same circumference as his abdomen - His head could be covered in an inch of hair - He has a firm grasp - His organs have all matured and he's ready to be born...I hope!

Weight Gain? 
32 lbs.
We finally bought a scale so I can keep up with weight loss after baby. I fluctuate between 1-2 lbs. each day. I think it really just depends on when I'm weighing myself and what I've eaten. Of course, I always like the early morning weigh-ins the best!

 Gender?
a boy!

Maternity Clothes?
Yep...same ol' same ol'
I am getting pretty tired of this pink striped shirt though!

Stretch Marks?
Yes :( a few on the bottom of my belly since about 35 weeks

 Sleep?
It's been so-so. I am so tired all the time, but just can't get comfortable in bed or keep having to get up for the bathroom...which is quite a task with this massive belly!

Symptoms?
A little bit of nausea every day - I've been having some sharp pains off and on since Saturday, but have no idea what they are. I'm thinking Crew is just on some nerves or something when he's moving around. - My face has been breaking out again

Movement?
He is stretching and pushing around a lot now

Food Cravings/Aversions?
Craving apple-flavored things

Labor Signs?
I don't think so?

Belly Button in or out?
Out

What I miss?
Being able to move around quickly/easily!

What I am looking forward to?
Meeting our son!

Best moment of the week?
Today was my last day of work...officially on maternity leave! I'm so relieved and excited to just focus on having Crew now.

I’m feeling?
READY. I still can't believe we'll be meeting our baby any day now! I'm trying to use these few days off work (pre-baby) to cross off all our to-do list items.

Doctor’s report?
At my appointment on Thursday my doctor decided that if Crew does not come on his own next week, then we will induce on Thursday, Oct. 3rd. I cannot believe we are less than a week away.

Check out weeks 12-37 bumpdates here!

lately

We've been pretty busy lately trying to prepare for Crew. From decorating the nursery, cleaning and grocery shopping, it's kept me pretty worn out! Hopefully it's just making the time go by faster though!

This was last Sunday after going to church where my grandparents are members, my parents grew up (& got married), and where I went when I was little - They celebrated 100 years as a church! (37 weeks)

We got the carseat installed and ready to go!...with the help of Remi of course. (37 weeks, 1 day)

Last Friday night we went to our favorite Mexican restaurant with Tyler and Amanda. I asked for the spiciest thing they had to try and urge Crew to come out...must not have been spicy enough because he's still not here! (37 weeks, 5 days)

Tiffany and baby Elliott sent the sweetest gifts to Crew this past weekend. I can't wait to use it all! I love blog friends! (37 weeks, 6 days)

Will gave his first pedicure last weekend also! He did pretty good for his first time! (Thank goodness because I can hardly reach my toes!) (37 weeks, 6 days)

We got home from the grocery last night and realized how many apple things I wanted to buy. I guess I'm craving it?! Weird thing is, I don't even like apples that much normally. (38 weeks, 1 day)

That's pretty much all that has been going on around here. We are so ready to meet Crew and cannot believe it's almost time! I (still) have not packed our hospital bags, but it is on the to do list for the next few days. My last day of work before maternity leave is tomorrow or Thursday so hopefully I'll have a few days to rest...and finish all we have to do...before our sweet baby gets here. BUT if he wants to come before our list is completed, that's fine too! I keep thinking things like, "this could be our last Tuesday as just Will and Courtney." It's so crazy to think our son will be here any day now!

37 weeks

I get so behind on posting these as they "should" be posted every Sunday or Monday. Oh well!


How far along are you?
37 weeks...holy cow, I'm full term!

How big is Baby?
He's the size of a wintermelon (never heard of it) - He's gaining about an 1/2 ounce per day - He weighs anywhere between 6.2 and 9.2 lbs. That's a pretty big range, but that's what The Bump tells me. I'm guessing he's in the 7 lb. range at this point.

Weight Gain?
32 lbs.

 Gender?
a boy!

Maternity Clothes?
Same answer as always...tired of wearing the same thing over and over. (Especially when I'm starting to outgrow some maternity items at this point!) He needs to hurry and come out because I can't afford to start a Fall maternity wardrobe!!

Stretch Marks?
Yes :( Sadly I've gotten some on the bottom of my stomach. I can't see them when looking down, but I can see them in the mirror.

 Sleep?
Still not sleeping well. It's so hard to roll over or change positions.

Symptoms?
I've started getting nausea off and on again for some reason - Dizziness - low back pain/cramping

Movement?
He stretches out a lot and I seem to always be able to find a foot sticking out on the side of my belly

Food Cravings/Aversions?
No cravings. Nothing ever sounds good to me and I can't eat as much as I could 5 weeks ago. I get full much quicker now.

Labor Signs?
I don't know...maybe? With every "new" ache/pain I feel I wonder, "Is this it?? Is my water about to break?" Haha - I've been having more cramps and back cramps lately and I just feel different sometimes.

Belly Button in or out?
Basically out

What I miss?
Laying on my stomach
NOT having restless legs every single night

What I am looking forward to?
Having this baby!!
We are so close to getting the nursery done

Best moment of the week?
We finished the accent wall in Crew's room and I can't wait for everyone to see it! It's definitely my favorite part of the nursery.
Being full term!

Daddy’s feeling?
"It's hard to believe that Crew could come any minute now! It's been such a great adventure so far and I can't wait for the adventure to be even better. Every day is filled with excitement as we anxiously await his arrival. We are definitely ready to hold our little Crew!"

I’m feeling?
Tired and achy. I am so ready for him to be here and wonder every day when it will happen. I'm trying to not get my hopes up that he could come early, but it is always in the back of my mind. Today, September 20, was actually our original due date before it got moved back to October 6. Maybe he'll surprise us!

Doctor’s report?
As of my appointment today I am a little over 60% effaced and still not dilated. My doctor says he doesn't want me going past my due date so at least I know there is a maximum of two weeks left. But I'm still hoping he decides to come on his own...before his due date!

baby shower #3

One of the perks of having a great photographer friend is having a great photographer friend who's one of the hostesses for your baby shower! Thank you, Kelly Ginn, for these photos!

My amazing friends Roxanna and Kelly gave Crew and I our last baby shower. It was so special. The decorations and food were awesome. R & K are both so incredibly creative and I had no doubt the shower would be anything less than perfect.

The game of guessing the circumference of my belly...For the record, everyone but one person wayyy over-guessed!

Has anyone picked up on the theme for Crew's nursery yet???

It was a great shower to end with..thank you Rox and Kelly! We love you both so much!

36 weeks

I look down at my belly every day thinking it doesn't really look that big...until I see these photos each week! Ha!

How far along are you?

36 weeks! (Although at this point I'm one day away from 37)

How big is Baby?

He's the size of a honeydew - He's working on getting that baby soft skin right now - His liver, kidneys, immune system and circulatory system are all fully functioning and developed - His lungs are still maturing, but if he were to be born now he would be ok

Weight Gain?

At last week's appointment, 30 lbs.

At today's appointment, 29 lbs. Woohoo!

 Gender?

a sweet boy

Maternity Clothes?

Yes, and I'm sick of them!

Stretch Marks?

In the last week I got a few on the underneath side of my belly. I can't really even see them, but unfortunately that means they're still there.

 Sleep?

This was a long week for a lot of reasons. I've be so completely exhausted both physically and mentally/emotionally. However, on Wednesday, I fell into bed around 7:30pm and (with the exception of waking up for an hour in the middle of the night) didn't get up until 7:30 the next morning. I felt so refreshed. I wish I could sleep like that every night. The next night I was back to my usual tossing & turning and being wide awake for hours on end.

Symptoms?

Tired and uncomfortable - pelvic discomfort/pain - sore in general

Movement?

He jabs me all the time when he's stretching out. He also has hiccups a lot and Will & I love watching the rhythm on my belly

Food Cravings/Aversions?

Still loving sweets and back to wanting grape juice again.

There's really never any food that sounds good to me. I can't eat as much anymore and am apparently a lot slower at eating according to Will!

Labor Signs?

I had some cramping/back cramping this week off and on but that's it

Belly Button in or out?

half and half

What I miss?

Sleeping on my stomach; being able to get around easily/walk fast!

What I am looking forward to?

Being full term in one day!

Working on the nursery tomorrow

Best moment of the week?

We had a great last baby shower last Sunday - I'll hopefully be posting photos of that soon

Good news at the doc today (see below for details)

Daddy’s feeling?

"I really can't believe that Crew is almost here. It seems like yesterday that we were announcing we were pregnant. I can't believe I'm about to be a Dad with the most wonderful Mom and wife in the world. It's all just so amazing. God is good!"

I'm feeling?

^ Emotional after reading that! ^

Better after my appointment today. I am not dilated, but I'm 50-60% effaced. According to my doc, effacement comes first, then dilation. Effacement is also the culprit of my back cramping. I was happy to hear I had made some progress after this long week. He gave me his phone numbers just in case we were to need him after hours.

Also, have I mentioned before how thankful I am for Will?? He has been so sweet to me this week (like he is every week). I was so emotional this week as well as tired and just achy. He has consoled me and taken such good care of me. I got a good one!

babymoon part 3: great smokies

part one: nashville
part two: chattanooga

Day 3 (Sunday) of our babymoon was spent in East TN. We said we were going to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge, but after we got there and spent hours in traffic I was so over it. Being Labor Day weekend, everyone and their momma were in Gatlinburg. For me being so pregnant, swollen and tired from the previous two days, the last thing I wanted to do was fight through the crowds in Gatlinburg.

We spent most of our time in Sevierville walking through antique shops. It was a lot less crowded and something I enjoyed doing much more than the shops in Gatlinburg. About mid-afternoon that day I started cramping pretty bad and was having difficulty standing or walking. (I got nervous because I did not want to have a Gatlinburg baby! Ha) We called it quits and made our way to Pigeon Forge for a delicious Apple Barn dinner before heading back to the hotel. I'm wishing that I had some apple fritters and apple butter right about now. SO. GOOD.

Monday morning we got up and drove up the mountains. The weather was in the 60's and felt perfect up there. It was a long drive, but it was so relaxing and we loved it...especially my outdoorsy, nature-loving husband!

35 weeks pregnant

The water was FREEZING. I thought it would do my swollen ankles some good!

Pushing a foot back in...

The next day we drove back to Nashville (after making one last stop at Apple Barn for some apple pie a la mode!) We stayed in Nashville one more night before driving back to Memphis. Overall, we did a lot of driving over 5 days, but breaking it up each day made it so much better. We had so much fun together and were so thankful to have one last trip before we become a family of 5. (I'm counting the dogs here, duh.)