Long overdue! (blog post, not baby)

Welcome Baby Martin!! What an awesome shower. The cake was so yummy as was all of the food. It was so nice to see everyone. And, the girls did a great job on the shower. It turned out to be perfect. Analee, Sam, and Tracie....you girls really are the best I could ask for! Thanks for everything.I got to see lots of friends from high school that I haven't seen in several years so it was nice to catch up with them. Martin got so many great things. That is going to be one well dressed little man! His closet is bursting at the seams!! Some of mom's friends came that were at my baby shower over 27 years ago....isn't that special?? I can't wait to meet my sweet baby boy....he will be sweet if he takes after his daddy....now if he takes after his mom, watch out world!! It is hard to believe that HOPEFULLY in less than 5 weeks I will be holding him in my arms (boo-hooing I am sure). I can't wait!!!!

My Aunt Kathy made this beautiful cross-stitched blanket for Martin. Isn't it gorgeous?? I love it because it goes so perfectly with his room. I had no idea she was doing it. I can appreciate how much work she put into it. I just love it! We are putting the last minute touches on his room. Only a few things left to do. I need to hang my curtains, and hang the Walter Anderson prints when I get them back from framing. And, I need to paint the wooden letters and find the right ribbon so I can hang those too. I said something to Mom this morning about feeling like I still had TONS to do, and she informed me that I was fine on time and told me that Dad actually had to go home from the hospital one day while Mom and I were still there so he could finish painting the nursery. Now, those of you who know my Daddy aren't surprised by this one bit!We go to the doctor Wednesday for another one of our every two weeks check ups. I am hoping he says something like....."ooh pack your bags, this little boy is coming early"! Wishful thinking, huh?? A girl can dream, can't she? I have been right about average with all of my measurements thus far, so I doubt very seriously he is too big or anything....oh well. I guess I can wait 5 more weeks.

Dr. Visit

Well, drum roll please.....Martin has assumed the position (he is head down)!! So, I can breathe again. I didn't realize how worried I was until the doctor said this morning...."looks like he decided to get into position". I know there was an audible sigh of relief that escaped my mouth accidentally.

I can't wait for the weekend, because we are headed to the coast for my second baby shower--aren't I a lucky girl? Or, I guess I should say isn't Martin a lucky boy? I can't wait to see who all will be able to make it. And, my mom is coming so it will be nice for her to get together with some old friends!

Lots of changes going on in Martin's room. We have two beautiful shelves for the nursery. I just need to paint them (outside in a well ventilated area of course)--and decide where I want to put them! And, I ordered the fabric to have curtains made. I can't wait to see them!! Aunt Karen (Bryan's Dad's sister) is making them for me since she did such a great job on the quilt and baby bag for Martin! So, I picked up a curtain rod yesterday at Hobby Lobby but I am still searching for the rings to hang the curtains with.

I took the Walter Anderson print's to Hobby Lobby to be framed...after the woman told me the small fortune it would cost to mat and frame, I decided to come back next week when custom framing is half off (just the frame is half off--not the mat, board, or glass OF COURSE). But, it makes it about $50 cheaper....so now it will be just an arm, not an arm and a leg. Oh well.

And, I plan to order wooden letters with Martin's initials that I will have to paint and hang with ribbon. But, I better get on that! Hope everyone enjoys the rest of their week!

Walter Anderson Prints

These are the Walter Anderson Prints for Martin's room! I copied the originals so I could watercolor copies first to be sure I liked the colors. Yes, I know I am too much of a perfectionist! But, I didn't want to mess up the originals. So, I really like these, and plan to paint the real ones this week sometime. What do you think?? I am going to mat and frame them. I want to mat them in navy blue, and haven't decided on a frame yet, but I imagine I will do white to match the nursery furniture.

31 weeks

I can't believe I am already 31 weeks along!! It seems like just yesterday we were crossing our fingers waiting on that little line to show up....man time flies. Doc said everything looked good and we will go back in two weeks. He said that Martin is lying Transverse which means he is across my abdomen. Don't panic! This is ok. Especially because he is still moving all the time. I feel his head on the left side, then 45 minutes later it will be on the right. So, I am sure he will get into "position" before delivery time gets here. Besides, I can't stress myself out with one more thing that I have no control over. Right? Right! So, pray he moves his sweet little head down. I think he is enjoying being stretched out...I know I enjoy it! It is better than the little ball he was staying in for a week or so. Thanks for reading.

Memphis Shower

What an awesome shower thrown by awesome friends! Kara and Jennifer really are the best a girl could ask for. Martin got so many great things, and it was great to visit with old friends. It meant so much to me that so many people came. Isn't my belly getting big?? Now I can't wait for him to get here so we can play with all of his new things!

I really should have taken a picture of all of the gifts Martin got. He is one blessed little boy!!

Sneak Peek

Here are some of the best shots from the 4D ultrasound. It was amazing!!! He had his little hand in his face at first--but he moved it out of the way after about 5 minutes and was so cooperative! I loved getting see him. I can't wait to hold him.

We had an awesome shower on Saturday and we got lots of great things for Martin. I can't wait for him to get here so he can play with his new things! I got to see lots of friends and family and it was so special to have everyone there. I will post pictures from the shower soon. Oh....and big news.....we passed the gestational diabetes test. I failed the 1 hour, so I had to sit and take the 3 hour glucose test on Friday, but we passed with flying colors--thank goodness!!!!

Benton House

Well, it is going to be a big week for the Benton House. We have our 4-D ultrasound on Saturday and will get to see Martin one more time. And, then Saturday afternoon we have our very first shower!! I can't wait to have a great weekend. We have family coming in from out of town, and some great friends coming to the shower (even one from out of state)!

I wanted to post some pictures of some new things Martin has gotten in the last few weeks. People have sent us some of the sweetest most thoughtful presents.

Bryan's Aunt Karen, so Martin's Great Aunt Karen made him the most adorable baby quilt. I absolutely love it and can't wait to use it. She ordered fabric from the Javis Davis website (where we got our bedding) and got busy on the quilt. She also made a little bag which will be great for going to church! It is so so so special. I kind of tear up just thinking about it--doesn't take much to make me cry!!! Stay tuned for more updates including pictures from the 4D ultrasound. Have a great week.