3rd Trimester

I cannot believe I am already in my 3rd trimester. Time really does fly. I can remember going to the doctor at 8 weeks and thinking that 28 weeks seemed forever away. Well, here it is! Where does the time go? I am sure all the veteran moms out there are thinking, "wait til you have the kid, then it really will fly by". Things have been great in the Benton household. We got to go to Oneonta to visit my family for the 4th of July holiday weekend, and it was great. We played in the lake most of the weekend--which makes me miss being close to water! It was so nice to be with my family, I feel like I don't get to see them much, so I really treasure the time I get to spend with them. Then, on Monday I had another special treat. My mom's aunt Eloise and her two cousins Honey and Beth, and Honey's son Lyle's girlfriend Alex came to see me. They took the official tour of the Benton house, and then we went to eat lunch. It was so nice to see them too. What a great family filled weekend!!

This weekend I am headed to a bridal shower for Carley in Columbus, should be fun to see more family (Bryan's). And, next weekend....drum roll please.....we are having our first baby shower!! My great friend Kara and my awesome cousin Jennifer are throwing me a shower here in Memphis. I can't wait to see everyone and catch up, and get great things for Martin. Hope everyone is doing great!

New Photos

All of the new additions to the nursery. This is my fabulous new rocker. Still need to get a blanket for the chair....but it is so cozy (good thing since I am sure I will spend many nights in it)! This is the dresser/changing table in the picture below it. The wall behind the dresser is the wall I am THINKING of painting green. I haven't decided if I want to paint at all.

Martin's first piggy bank. Isn't it adorable? It matches his room perfectly!

We have been so busy getting things ready for when Martin gets here. This weekend was Bryan's birthday (27) and we had a wedding to go to. The wedding was so much fun, and I was exhausted by the time it was over. Being pregnant really takes it out of you. Bryan and I celebrated our 4th Anniversary last Thursday. Sometimes it is hard to believe it has already been 4 years, but it is hard to remember my life before him, so it shouldn't be that surprising that 4 years has already passed. He gave me a beautiful fleur-de-lis necklace. I was so surprised, and he picked it out and everything...I had no idea.

We did some shopping Saturday and ordered (FINALLY) a dining room table and china cabinet. I haven't bought a dining room table since we moved in our house because I couldn't find one I liked. Well, I finally found one I really liked, and wouldn't you know it....we must have good taste, because it is on back order until the end of July. I guess if I have gone since October without one, what is 6 more weeks? I love it, and can't wait for it to come in! We have a huge table in the kitchen, so I haven't been in a rush at all. But, it feels nice to finally have the last thing out of the way as far as house stuff goes. And, to top off the weekend, we put the first two coats of paint on our porch swing for the front porch. I think one more coat of paint and it will be finished and then we can hang it. I have one more small project for Bryan before Martin gets here....I want some shelves for Martin's room. But, I don't really know what I want yet. Hope everyone is doing great. We certainly are. I am not sure why I thought being pregnant the entire summer was a good idea....but I guess I will live. Happy First Day of Summer Everyone!!

Martin's new bedding!!!

Martin's new pictures!! Isn't he perfect????

Same picture as last month....this must be why I feel him kick me so often.

Sweet baby profile. He weighs 1 1/2 pounds....isn't that crazy that he is so tiny?

Beach Pictures 2010--Fort Morgan, AL

Well, we had a great trip to the beach, and it is very hard to be home. I believe the only reason I agreed to get in the car to come home was because we had a sonogram yesterday morning to see Martin again. The beach was great, and we didn't see oil until late Friday afternoon. We got plenty of ocean and beach time in before the oil showed up. Martin loved being in the ocean and the pool....I can only imagine what that feels like to a baby in utero. It must have been pretty cool, because he just swam around the whole time I was in the water. And, boy did I eat while we were there!!! Lots of shrimp and mahi mahi (my fave fish)...and even some fried cheesecake. It was a great trip. I of course did plenty of shopping for Martin while we were there....maybe a little too much. But, he will not have to go naked, that is for sure!

So, yesterday we went to the doctor, and had a great report. My placenta has moved way up out of the way, so it is no longer a concern in relation to the cervix. Great news, right? Martin weighed in at 1.5 pounds which seems crazy since just 4 short weeks ago he was only 12 ounces. However, his mom is gaining weight like crazy. I had a slow start having only gained 5 pounds in the first 20 weeks. But---drum roll please....I have gained 9 more pounds in the last 4 weeks. Now, keep in mind I have been at the beach and didn't miss a meal the whole time we were there. So, I think that is some of it. Doc assured me that 14 total is still great....but it feels strange to be ok with weighing 140+ pounds. I guess it is my one excuse to put on weight, so I will enjoy it while I can. The doctor said everything looked great. I do the glucose screen next visit (yuck!), and get to schedule the 4D ultrasound at that time too. I can't wait to see that....

I will post pictures from yesterday tonight. I didn't have time to scan them last night, so I will do it today after work. I was too tired last night....imagine that??

Perfect Little Baby

Martin is getting so big that I decided to share a belly picture or two with my readers. Lucky you, right?? Well, for those of you who have been asking...here they are. And, I am sure I will post some pictures when we get back from our vacation at the beach of the bathing suit bump!

We have set up Martin's crib and are just waiting for the bedding to come in to see what it looks like all together. Isn't it snazzy? We are still trying to decide what we are going to do about painting the nursery. I am thinking green, navy blue, and white stripes on one wall (maybe the wall with the changing table) and then possibly green on the opposite wall that has the big window. But, I have no idea what to do in the other places. I can't possibly paint that whole room navy blue or green....that would just be too much. Decisions....decisions...decisions.

Bryan's dad brought us a great present for Martin. He gave us the rocking chair that he had when he was a little boy. And, I feel certain Martin will love rocking in it when he is big enough! Until Martin comes along, his alligator from his cousin Jennifer and cousin Sara Foster will have to keep it company.

I can feel Martin all over the place now. One night last week I was in the bed telling Bryan how I hadn't felt Martin much all day and he must have been tired when Martin decided to show daddy just how active he could be. As we were in the bed with Bryan's hand on my belly--Martin proceeded to kick and punch away for a solid 10 minutes. Last night I think he was kicking my bladder. I don't know how possible that is, but it makes me feel like I have to go to the bathroom SO BAD! It is kind of funny, but I am hoping it doesn't happen again. We are headed to the beach in less than a week, and I cannot wait. I need the sand, sea, and sun....bad! Have a great week.

Anything and Everything

I title this blog post "Anything and Everything" because I really feel the need to blog, but don't really have anything in particular to blog about. I feel certain it will morph into another blog about Baby. But, that is all my life is consumed with these days...so who can blame me, right? I went to Jackson this past weekend to spend a few days with my cousin and her precious daughter. We had a great time! I got some baby stuff (of course) and ordered some more. We went on a hunt for the perfect chair for the nursery. I found one! I knew the chair I wanted, just had to decide on the "perfect" fabric. I left in the morning thinking I wanted a navy blue chair (the nursery is green, navy blue, and white).....and I ended up with an ivory cover that has a different texture paisley same color print on it. I love it and think it will look great!! I passed over the 2" x 2" fabric swatch because I didn't like it, however when we went in a shop in Madison and saw the fabric on a different chair I fell in love!! I can't wait for it to come in (4-6 weeks).

I also picked up the baby bed while I was in Jackson, and will get the dresser/changing table when I go back to pick up the chair. And, on Monday I ordered the Nursery Bedding set from Javis Davis that I posted on here a few weeks ago. The Javis Davis website says the bedding can take 5 days- 2 weeks. I hope it is closer to 5 days...haha!! And, we did our first round of registering at Babies R Us and will register tonight at Target too. Bryan was hilarious when we were registering. Everytime I turned my back he was scanning single jars of baby food (to entertain himself) and bibs that say "Chicks Dig Me". What a mess. Needless to say I had to delete some things when we got home. At least he went, right?? I will post pictures of the bed and bedding when we get it all set up and the chair when it comes in. And, for the record--we leave for the beach in 12 days!! I absolutely cannot wait to eat some yummy food, and have the sand between my toes......

Photo Shoot

More pictures of Baby Benton. Martin was very cooperative this time. And he even let us get lots of great pictures and measure and check things that needed to be checked!

Great Profile Shot

It's kind of tight in here.


Another profile shot from the other way....he is VERY active.

STRETCHED OUT...head on the bottom left, belly on the right, and legs stretched across the top

Sweet Little Feet

We got to see Martin again today, and that my friends will never get old. I have never looked forward to going to the doc like this....I don't even mind them taking blood when I go as long as I know I am having an ultrasound too. We have had a great few weeks. I got to spend the weekend with my mom for Mother's Day, and it was so nice! She is a great mother, and I hope that I grow up to be all of the parent for my kids that she is for us. And, we went to dinner last night with Bryan's family to celebrate Mother's Day with his mom too. It was very nice. And, of course I got the best Mother's Day present today. I got to see a happy-healthy baby! We counted 10 fingers and 10 toes. The Ultrasound Technician showed us that the placenta has moved up a little already, and they feel certain it will continue to move up as everything in there gets bigger to make room for Martin. We have four chambers in the heart, no cleft lip or palate, appropriate brain size--I told you guys he was taking my brains away. And, he weighs a whopping 12 ounces this week. Three weeks ago he was measuring 6 ounces, so this explains why I have all of a sudden developed a belly! And, I have officially gained 5 pounds. Which everyone assures me is great! I will be having an ultrasound next visit too (woo hoo!) because he didn't have any liquid in his bladder---if he goes as often as his mom, it's no surprise. I think that was his gift to me, because it means I get to see him again. They all reassured me that this wasn't cause for concern, and that he had liquid in his stomach which is a good sign, but he literally could have just gone to the bathroom. We got a great report from all parties! All in all a wonderful Monday afternoon. Bryan got me a fabulous porch swing for my front porch. I can't wait for him to paint it and hang it! Hope everyone has a great week.