Waiting for Baby V: Thirty-Seven Sunny Weeks!

Hello friends! Ahhhh Spring Break! And for me now, MATERNITY LEAVE! YAY! Though the weekend is over, and I never want my time with Chris to end, I am also looking forward to the next two weeks of getting items checked off the to-do list in preparation for baby Eloise. Her room is basically ready to go, but there are a few touches I would still like to add, as always. And of course, I need to get those thank you notes out! But, I am certainly not complaining, since each thank you note I write, represents the love someone has shown us during this very exciting time! So THANK YOU for all you have done for us! This is one lucky little girl!

This past weekend Chris and I planned a bit of a "staycation" or "babymoon". We did several of our favorite things, and just spent time together. First, we had a little picnic at OU with Lucy and just spent some time outside in the beautiful weather. Then, what we had been looking forward to for weeks, we went out to a fancy dinner at Melting Pot, where we took 3 hours to enjoy our 4-course meal. This is by far our favorite (and most expensive) place to eat, and I was glad I had enough room for each course! We also got to go watch a movie in the balcony at the Warren, and have dinner served to us there. These were the two main events this past weekend, but we also just got to be together, doing regular things, like sleeping in and grocery shopping. I love being with Chris, just doing whatever. What an amazing husband I have!

On our last picnic as a family of two plus Lucy!

At the Melting Pot!

In the balcony at the Warren

This past week was a pretty big one too, and I had been praying to at least get through it with no surprises from Ellie. It was big because it was my last week at Norman High, and possibly the last week of teaching for me. Wow. It was packed full of trying to get last minute things done: meetings held, lessons taught, hugs given, and every moment savored. It went by so quickly, but each moment I started to get a bit sentimental, something really annoying would happen, usually by a mistake I made. But the last day was so good it was astonishing! We read the first chapter of my most favorite book, To Kill a Mockingbird. The kids were the sweetest, gave me hugs, and paid attention amazingly! And so many colleagues gave me smiles, hugs, and kind words. I ate lunch with my favorite people in the lounge, and had some good laughs, and we got to eat dinner together too before parent/teacher conferences. One of my students even brought me flowers to the conferences, and the office ladies made sure I was taken care of with ice water and a fan. It was a really wonderful day, and I left feeling much Tiger love. I am sure going to miss this place, and most of all, the people. The people are amazing, and I don't know a better group of people to work with! I have a feeling another blog post will come in the near future about Norman High and all it has been for me, but for now, I'd like to look to the exciting new adventure awaiting me...

Some of the wonderful people I ate lunch with everyday...
One of the biggest things I am going to miss!

Today was the first tiny taste of being a stay-at-home momma, well except for not having a baby to take care of. :) But I am more than thrilled that I don't have to be sad on Sunday nights because I know I have to go back to work. I especially would feel that way if I had to leave Eloise! I know there will be many many things I miss about teaching, and I will be honest about them as the time comes, but as for right now, I am so excited to just be a momma. I know it will be a new challenge, but I can't believe I am finally here! Almost 30 years of dreaming, and now I can finally live it!

Preggo details:

1. Total weight gain: +43 lbs. (+1 lb. this week)

2. Maternity clothes?: Yeppers! Looking forward to putting my old clothes on again soon too though! 

3. Stretch marks?: Eeek! Don't want to jinx myself, but none yet!

4. Sleep?: I now am sleeping with a pillow under my tummy, and it helps me sleep for a few hours at a time at least. This past week has been rough with sleep because I have some kind of allergy induced head sickiness going on, but now that I can sleep in, I am feeling much better! 

5. Best moment this week?: Like I said, the last day of school was really AMAZING! But also getting to spend so much time with Chris this weekend was really wonderful. Lots of good moments!

6. Miss anything?: Being able to do as much as I want to, when I want to. I get tired quickly and my blood pressure creeps up on me. Looking forward to Ellie being here, so I can exercise, do yard work, and do the things I have energy for!

7. Movement?: She's still shaking and moving! It's so fun to be able to feel her tiny bum, her foot, or her elbow move, as well as see her move!

8. Food cravings?: Dairy and dessert! That's what I love!

9. Anything make you queasy or sick?: Nope!

10. Gender?: GIRL! Had a dream I had a boy though...That was scary!

11. Labor signs?: I have to go to the bathroom more often, but I don't think she still has moved down, which is a relief to me! Stay in there until we're induced little girl!

12. Symptoms?: I get tired really easily, she moves a lot, and my back hurts often. It's okay though!

13. Belly button in or out?: Still in!

14. Wedding rings on or off?: On but they're getting too tight. I can only wear them for a little while, but they get tight as the night wears on.

15. Happy or moody most of the time?: Happy! This has been a great week, and I am looking forward to week of fun doing all of my favorites before Ellie gets here (hopefully)!

16. Looking forward to most?: Just doing fun stuff this week! Trying not to look too far ahead, in case she decides to come earlier, but hopefully, I'll get to do lots of my favorites, as well as get some things checked off the to do list.

Going to have a great week, and I hope you all do too!