Doctor appointment

My appointment went well today, but I was unable to see my normal doctor. She is now off duty to have her own babies. I met with the nurse practitioner, and everything looks great. My blood pressure was back down, and the swelling in my ankles and feet has reduced. Our little man had a strong and steady heart rate of 155 bpm. It is a little higher than normal for him, but I was assured it was OK. I will start seeing my new doctor on my next visit. I have heard wonderful things about her, and she was highly recommended by my doctor and friends.

Baby shower

John Chris and I headed to Louisiana for our couple's baby shower. We had such a great time visiting with family and friends. So many of the guests have known John Chris for most of his life, and it was cute to talk about old times and old stories. Our guests were very thoughtful and kind. We received so many nice gifts for our little man. We are very appreciative! Emily made an adorable diaper cake. She attached the cutest little bear and lots of Burt's Bees baby goodies. The Burt's Bees smells so good.
Emily and Liz were awesome hostesses. Pictured here wearing one of their hostess gifts. Thank you very much. Everything was delicious - the cakes, sandwiches, and fruit.

Breastfeeding 101

Really, the class name was Breastfeeding 101. We learned all we would want to know in this class. We now look at the boob as a machine or a tool. Our class instructor was a RN and lactation consultant at the hospital, and she was so very funny and entertaining. She really straightened us out on what to expect, what not to expect, and nipple confusion. Hopefully, we will remember all of the important info when the baby arrives.

JLD expectant moms

I had a great time sharing stories and laughing with the girls tonight at the expectant moms' group get together. Katie was a gracious hostess, and she made the most delicious dip. Yummy! It is crazy to think that we are getting so close to our due dates now. Most of the group is due from March 15 to the end of May. Our group might be short a mom or two next month with soon arriving little ones.
We have now started talking about play group meetings. Even though it will be a while before our little ones can "play", it will be a great excuse for the moms to meet up and visit. I better teach my little man to play nice, because he is one of only two boys that is expected for the group. He will have so many girlfriends!

BabyBjorn

What I always wanted! John Chris got a BabyBjorn baby carrier today, and he was so thrilled. I thought he looked very cute reading the directions and modeling the carrier. He said that the carrier is the one thing that he really wanted. What an adorable Daddy!

We graduated

John Chris and I graduated childbirth class tonight. We now know all there is to know about birthing a baby. A little too much if you ask us. We think this class should be taken before you get pregnant, and it should be mandatory! I bet the birth rate would drop. All kidding aside, we gained a ton of knowledge about labor and delivery. We even got a certificate. I guess that means that we are ready? Now what?

Doctor's appointment

I had my check up today, and everything still looks great. The baby's heart rate was 145 bpm. He has turned, so his head is down. Hopefully he is getting ready to make his entrance, and he will stay in this position. My doctor warned me to slow it down. My ankles and hands are swelling due to my overactive schedule. I was told to chill out and start taking it easy. I find that it is easier said than done. I still have a list of things I have to get done before he is born..... and work .... and clean house .... and laundry .... and do dishes .... and get my tires rotated .... and ....

Texarkana Baby Shower

I had my first baby shower in Texarkana, TX on January 31, 2009. It was nice to see family and friends and not be rushed. We celebrated the upcoming arrival of our little baby boy. The cake was adorable and tasted great. I crave all kinds of cake these days.
Kristi and my mom sipping on some punch. Non-alcoholic of course!

Liz and Emily made the trip from Louisiana to celebrate. I was really happy that they were able to come.

This picture did not come out clear, and I absolutely hate that because it is of me and my mom. The shower was awesome. Thanks for all of the handsome boy gifts. I am going to have so much fun playing with them all.

Childbirth class

Epidural to Episiotomy. Need I say more?

The nursery gets painted

John Chris's mom came this week to help us get the nursery prepped. We painted the nursery in Sauteed Mushroom, which is a warm light brown. Liz is a great painter and can really "cut in" well. After painting the nursery, we attacked some much needed cleaning projects. Carpet upstairs, wood floor downstairs, rugs, wood blinds, and ceiling fans are all clean and shinny. It is a great feeling of accomplishment, and we can't wait to get the nursery furniture.

Cooper went home with Liz to play with Doodle for a couple of days. We miss our little pup, but I have really been able to get some projects done without his help.

Dallas Bridal Show

Caid Floral participated in the Dallas Bridal Show this weekend.

I came across an article that said 85% of brides request a white/ivory floral bouquets for their weddings, so I decided to create all white/ivory bouquets with a touch of greenery. The color scheme turned out perfect, and I really liked the dramatic look of all one color of bloom. The attendees really liked it as well. We had so many nice and complimentary comments on how beautiful the booth was. I was very flattered.
The show was a huge success for business. I have had so many emails and phone calls about booking wedding dates. I love working with the brides, and I look forward to what the future brings. I am on cloud 9 filled with happiness.

I could not have pulled this show off without my dear friend, Chanda. She stood on her feet, talked to potential clients, and made me laugh for two straight long days. I can not begin to thank her enough. She is a doll!

Thanks also to John Chris and Brad for helping with set up and tear down.

Nursery artwork

We found an awesome photo for the nursery. For those of you who didn't know, we have this very cool model airplane that we are going to hang from the ceiling. It is a Sopwith Camel airplane, like one flown by Eddie Rickenbacker. He was an American fighter ace in World War I and Medal of Honor recipient. He was also a race car driver and automotive designer. (Yes, I researched the plane. I am a dork.)

Doctor's appointment

I went to the doctor today for my check up, and everything looks great. I have gained 2 pounds since my last visit; the baby's heart rate was 135 bpm; and my belly bump is measuring 29 cm. My doctor went on and on about how perfectly textbook this pregnancy has been. I am hoping and praying that it remains this easy.

Dallas Market

We have some old friends from high school that own a wholesale jewelry business. They travel across the US doing wholesale shows, and they were in Dallas this past weekend. I often help out, and I really have a blast! Who wouldn't like being at market and selling fabulous jewelry? Check out their website at www.runningww.com.

Childbirth video

So John Chris and I had our weekly childbirth class tonight, it was interesting to say the least. We watched natural childbirth videos. Between all the moaning, massaging, and blood - what the hell have we gotten into? We knew we would watch the videos, but I don't think John Chris was prepared to SEE them. He behaved really well during the videos. As soon as we could go on break, he looked at me and said "Did you see that vagina?" I had to laugh, but I doubt I will be laughing in a couple of months. OUCH!

Childbirth class

John Chris & I started our childbirth classes tonight. The classes go for 6 weeks at the hospital where we plan to deliver Baby Allison. The class has about 10 couples that are expecting their first baby within the next 2 - 4 months. Our first class included group introductions and a few general things to expect in pregnancy and labor. We watched a funny skit by Bill Cosby from back in the day. It was hilarious! We look forward to learning more and getting prepared for our new family member. Stay tuned....

Third trimester!

I can't believe we have made it this far along already. I went to the doctor this week and everything is progressing right on schedule. I am now entering my third and final trimester. I can't stop thinking about how quick it has gone by, and how we will soon have a precious little boy. It is starting to hit me that I am not prepared, and I sometimes get a little panic attitude. The furniture is not here, the nursery isn't painted, we haven't packed for the hospital, we haven't decided on a name, and on and on. John Chris is really great about stopping my worries and reminding me that everything will come together.

We are so very fortunate that we have not had any health issues or problems come up along the way. We are excited to meet Baby Allison!

Paint

Paint, the decision continues.....

Which paint color to choose? We keep buying different shades and just looking at them. It is funny, during the day we like one color and in the evening we like another color.

Farewell guest bedroom

We took the last picture of one of our guest bedrooms. This room is being converted into the new nursery and is now getting a complete new look. We are going from pink to blue for our little boy, and I can't wait to see the finished room.

More visiting

The day after Christmas, John Chris went on his annual hunting trip with the guys. I spent the day with my dad, Clint, and Kristi. It is always nice to visit with my dad since he doesn't live close. We had a great time catching up and having several good laughs.

Also I was able to catch up with my old friend, Suzanne. I miss her so much, and I really had a great time just catching up. She just had a baby girl, Mattison, who is absolutely precious. We just sat and chatted for over 3 hours. We always could talk for hours.