Last supper...

My parents had Jeremy and I over for dinner tonight...it was my last meal :) We went to Ice Berg after for delicious shakes. It was a lot of fun...we laughed and joked, one of my favorite things to do with my parents is laugh! My dad is hillarious and we can always laugh when we are together, I thought Jeremy was going to choke on his ice cream. Anyway, it was a fun evening and helped take my mind off of "D" day tomorrow! We also took Tica over to my parents house...they offered to tend her while we are in the hospital for 4 days.

Fantastic Idea!!

I love flowers, but really have no idea how or what to plant. My mom and dad are professionals...my mom loves flowers more than anything! She had a fantastic idea and called me to see what I thought. She said that my dad and her wanted to buy us a rose bush to plant in our yard in honor of Cameron's birth. So they came over today and we went to Glover Nursery and Jeremy and I got to pick out the one we wanted. I LOVE the one I picked...I've never smelled such a good smelling rose, and the color is a pinkish purple.

My dad bought the rose bush and soil and had the perfect place in mind to plant it...where it would get full sun. Once he started digging he realized the sprinkler pipes were right there and didn't want to plant it on top of them.

Plan B was to re-route the sprinkler system and add another head so one will water the rose bush and the other head will water the lawn. So off to Lowes my dad and Jeremy went (we have loved having Lowes in our back yard!) When they returned they worked on it for a few hours. I'm so thankful for my parents and all their love and help...my dad is so patient and I'm sure he didn't plan on it taking this long today. I'm mostly thankful for them teaching us what to do! Jeremy will be the first to admit he has no clue about things like this and has been grateful to have help.

The finished product! Tica was taking time to smell the roses :) She was a little jealous that grammy and grampy did this for Cameron and not her, she is used to being the one that gets spoiled from them! Oh boy does she have another thing coming....

YIKES!!

So I just opened my blog and Cameron's BIRTH-day ticker shows 2 days, 3 hours, 33 minutes, and 12 seconds. I'm not sure if that countdown give me more excitement or anxiety ;) Some of you are probabaly thinking "wow, time has flown by" or "that hasn't been so bad, 9 months went quick." All I can tell you is if you don't have a filter and think of saying something like that outloud to me...well, I can't guarentee your safety! I have cat like reflexes and 9 months and quick or fast or not too bad DO NOT belong in the same sentence! Although my emotions range from excited, thrilled, nervous, anxious and scared for Wednesday I can say I can't wait to get 'myself' back! I can't wait to get my breathing back (this constant stuffed nose is a nightmare), my ability to get up and down out of couches without doing the rocking manuever back, my eye sight back, my insides back to their normal place inside my body instead of all squished up against my spine and under my ribs, my feet back to not aching, my bladder back (yahoo no more potty trips every 20 minutes!), my energy back, my stomache sleeping back, being able to sit for longer than 20 minutes without being uncomfortable and in pain back, being able to go up and down stairs or dry my hair without getting out of breath back...I could go on and on but I realize I'm starting to sound like a Country song played backwards (you get everything back). Wednesday will be here SOON, I can't wait to meet you Cameron...I love you!

I can't stop!!

I'm not sure why I am the way I am, but I can't seem to relax and rest! I've spent the last 2 days running around like crazy trying to shop and get things for my house. I want things to be done and it's driving me crazy! I was looking for shower curtains and drapes and pillow and kitchen stuff....HELP! The worst part is I come home exhausted, in total pain, with swollen feet and I can barely walk to the couch to lay down, but I do it all again the next day (in my jeep with NO air-conditioning remember.) My friend Amy sent me a text today to see what I was doing, when I told her she replied "of course you are out getting stuff for your house, you are the only person I know who is 5 days away from having a baby who would be out running errands." Yeah, I know I have issues...I need to have an intervention!

More birthday fun!

My birthday started out with Jeremy going in late to work (that isn't unusual at all), but he woke up and made me chocolate chip pancakes! They were soooo good. Then I went in our backyard and read a book in the nice sun. Yeah, I'm not reading the kind of books you would expect a pregnant person to be reading...right now I am reading about the guy who murdered his wife...Scott Peterson. Michele called and asked if she could take me to lunch...so she came to pick me up and took me to Cafe Rio. Then we walked around IKEA because I've never been there...and really never care if I go back (not a fan)...however, we did get some good chocolate cake there. I had to go to the bathroom which was by the cafeteria and we both noticed the picture of the delicious looking cake :) After she dropped me off I took a nap. I was in some major pain after walking around that store, I think I walked 5 miles. Then when Jeremy came home we went to dinner at Johnny Carinos to celebrate both of our birthdays, since we will be in the hospital on his actual brithday.

I opened my gift...YEAH running shoes! I can't wait to go running again. It has been torture to not go running! I am hoping to be able to get back into running after I have Cameron and just pray my back and leg problems are gone (maybe that will be my blessing for enduring all I've gone through to have Cameron)

Jeremy got some Reef flip flops (the most comfortable flip flops ever!), a few shirts, a nalgene water bottle (to take to work), and yes sadly he got another wallet. The wallet I gave him for Valentine's day (with the Jazz/Lakers tickets in it) died shortly after I gave it to him. I don't know what he does to his wallets, but he's pretty hard on them.

They gave us free dessert since we were celebrating our birthdays...ice cream with chocolate sauce and whip cream and a cherry on top. After dinner we rented a movie "Run Away Jury", there is no way I could sit through a movie at this point, 7 days away from having a baby, I wouldn't be comfortable and I would miss more than half the movie with all my potty breaks.

Happy Birthday to us!

My mom & dad had our birthday dinner yesterday at their house. My family all came to celebrate and Jeremy's grandparents were there too. We felt special eating on the "red birthday plates." We got to choose the dinner...birthday chicken is what we call it & it's usually the choice for birthdays! I am due in 10 days, so we decided to celebrate both our birthdays early and do it together.

After dinner we opened gifts. The yellow gift bag is a funny inside joke between Margo and me. That bag has been passed back and forth between us for about 5 years now! We just keep putting gifts in it and re-gifting the sack.

One thing my parents got Jeremy was a Magnalite Flashlight that he really wanted, you can't see his face but he's excited. It's so big & heavy it can be used as a weapon. It came with a tiny little flashlight too...maybe that one can be mine :)

Janessa was our photographer for the evening...she likes taking pictures...

We saved the best for last. After we opened gifts we ate dessert. I requested Cheese Cake Factory Cheesecake...and it was delish, we blew out our candles and made a wish (I'm such a poet). Thanks everyone for a nice birthday dinner and for the great gifts!

Dog for sale!

It appears Tica has regressed to her puppy antics of chewing up things and making messes when we leave her alone. She used to do this when Jeremy first got her and after he came home to chewed up pillows and big messes he decided to leave her in her cage all day. Then she grew up and figured out if she obeyed the rules she had more freedom and we left her to roam the house when we were gone. We haven't had any problems leaving her by herself for the last 4 years. Now that we have moved into a new house and she senses a lot of changes are on their way she has been acting out and being more defiant.

We left today for 30 minutes and when we came back we found this mess. BUSTED!! At least she has minty fresh breath now! When we walked in she was tearing up the stairs as fast as she could to get on her bed. Jeremy went down stairs and noticed she had been "jumping" on the guest bed and had messed up the comforter and pillows. What a defiant little dog. This is actually the third day in a row I've come home to some kind of mess from her. The first day it was a pack of gum she had got from my purse and it was all torn up like the picture above. The second day I came home to find our check book on her bed chewed on and the checks all messed up...and she was on the couch which she isn't allowed on! She doesn't seem to mind the consequences of me locking her in her cage in the garage for TIME OUT. I ask...where is the dog whisperer when you need him!!??

Clean Clothes

I had so much fun doing laundry last night! I took the tags off of Cam's tiny clothes and his receiving blankets and washed them. It is hard to believe he is almost here and that he will be wearing these clothes soon!

I just looked at each outfit as I was folding them and tried to imagine what he was going to look like wearing them....for a few days before he grows out of them! I have these moments every now and then when reality hits me and I realize I am not going to be pregnant forever, which means the little human inside of me is actually going to be here and I am responsible for him. YIKES! Doing his laundry was one of those moments, but it was actually a fun and exciting moment :)

Getting ready for Cameron!

We figured we better start getting things put together now that we are moved into our house. We really cut things close to getting settled and having Cam's room done. And...I don't think we will be completely settled any time soon. However, every day it seems less chaotic. I had to laugh the other day because I was thinking "I am supposed to be nesting right now and getting organized and all ready". Most people don't make their life more hectic when they are pregnant, but apparently I (we) don't know how to do things the easy way!

Handy man Jer putting the stroller together...I sang "the wheels on the stroller go round and round, round and round" while he put it together. I've never seen him do anything so fast. I'm not sure if it's because it was easy to put together or if he knew he had to finish the stoller to stop my singing :) Either way we both won! By the way thanks to Jeremy's mom Theresa for getting us this nice travel system off our registry, it's a stoller and car seat together, obviously a must have and a very nice gift!!

Next "we" put the moblie together...I helped by sitting on my new swivel, rocker chair and put my feel up on the ottoman. This is a pretty sweet chair, every mom has to have a comfy chair for night feedings and rocking the baby to sleep!

I was proud of Jeremy for actually reading the instructions (after he spent awhile trying to figure it out)...I figured I better snap a picture of a male reading instructions!

YEAH!! The cutest mobile and husband ever. Now the animals on the mobile can go round and round, round and round... I was so excited when I opened this gift at a shower, I couldn't wait to go home and put it on his crib. The finishing touch!

Mother's Day

We officially moved into our house Saturday May 9th, so that was our first night sleeping here. We slept in pretty late Sunday morning because we were up late putting stuff away and had spent 2 hours grocery shopping. Jer got up and popped open a can of Pilsbury cinnamon rolls and stuck them in the oven. I relaxed in our back yard and read a cute book about enjoying motherhood, that my mom gave me for Mother's Day, while he cooked breakfast. Well, he didn't set the timer and when he went to get the cinnamon rolls out they burned. So plan B for my Mother's Day breakfast (at 11 pm now) was a box of Betty Crocker blueberry muffins and scrambled eggs. I was starving by that point (being pregnant does that to you) so I think the burned cinnamon rolls would have tasted good to me!

After breakfast Jeremy gave me my present...this sweet Willow Tree figurine (I love these things!) the name of it was Guardian and the mother is holding her infant baby close, guarding him from everything (something mother's are inclined to do.) I thought it was so nice. Then we went to church....the 1-4 schedule is horrible! After church Jeremy started dinner. He made Herbie's famous fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, and broccoli-thanks for such a good meal hubbs. I made some delicious brownies for dessert. I have to admit it was a strange Mother's Day being pregnant and anticipating being a mother. I was quite emotional most of the day. I spent a lot of time thinking of my mom and how awesome she is. The role of "mother' is the most important thing you can do/be in your life. I think I am nervous knowing that I am going to be everything to this little baby, he is going to depend on me solely in the beginning and throughout his life to teach him, love him, and help him develop into an adult!! I realize more and more every day how important my mom was in shaping who I am today. My mom is above and beyond special. She is the most selfless person I know, she always puts everyone else before herself (even with her own health issues.) She is such a good example to me of how I want to be with my children...she's always there with a listening ear, good advice, a helping hand, non-judgemental, constantly giving and doing, and patient. She stayed up every night to tell me a story after tucking me in (even though all she wanted to do was go to bed), she cooked dinner every night and we always ate as a family, and then there were the family vacations she and my dad planned, supporting all my sports events and running for student body officer. I love you mom and appreciate all you have done for me and still do for me. Once you are a mom you are always a mom and you've always been there for me, I know I can always count on you (and dad). Thanks!!

Another shower...

What a busy, relaxing, and fun day! I started off my day (Thrusday, May 7th) by getting a pedicure at a really cute place called "Nailed". Amy gave me a gift certificate for a pedicure at my friend shower. What a perfect gift to give a pregnant person who can't bend over to reach her toes...let alone even look down and see her own toes ;) Its a fun place to go, there is a little botique at the front of the store with jewelry, purses, hats etc. If you don't have an appointment you get trapped by looking around at all the fun stuff. Hence, the reason I found and bought a really cute hat that I couldn't pass up!

Don't pay attention to my swollen, pregnant, due in 20 days, can barely fit into my shoes feet. Look past that and notice the color of polish on my chubby, sausage toes! I thought it was a great color to detract from my feet but then decided after the fact that maybe, just maybe they draw more attention to them!! DOH! Anyway, the color is called Prince Charming...I liked the name...I love silver...and that is what it is, it looks like I glued tinfoil to my toes. After my relaxing pedicure, I met my favorite, truly committed, Training Table friend Amanda for some lunch. We ate, laughed, and I got some good advice from her since she is a new mommy herself.

Then I went home rested for a few minutes, got ready for my last shower. Some of my mom's friends, neighbors and people from the ward threw a big shower for me. I just hung around the chocolate dipped strawberries all night....

My mom, Shirlee, & Jewel in the kitchen preparing for the big event.

Melaine, Jewel & me waiting for the fun to begin.

I sat in a nice comfy chair most of the night and people came to me...it was a sweet set up. I only had to get up when I went to the bathroom (which was about evern 30 minutes!)

I got a lot of cute clothes and fun blankets, but not too many items off my registery list. This was one item we got that we needed...a baby monitor. I also got the cute crib mobile I signed up for. I'm way excited to get it all set up.

As usual, I didn't get many pics of the evening and everyone there...it's hard to get everything perfect.

Friend shower

My friend Amy threw me a baby shower last night...these were the cute invitations she sent out. I am mad because none of my pictures really turned out, so I didn't get any good pictures of everyone. Anyway we had a good time hanging out, eating, talking, and opening gifts :)

Amy made "a few of my favorite things" to eat. I LOVE her chicken salad that she makes and puts on crossiants & her yummy fruit dip. She is a great cook!

Teresa, Anissa, Val & my mom.

Melanie, Amy & Laura....

My friend Amanda had a baby 3 months ago & he doesn't know it but him and Cameron are going to be best friends. She gave me lots of fun stuff...

Linda gave me some cute clothes and this hat was so cute I just had to put it on! Hopefully it will fit Cameron a little better.

Jammin it up

I have to admit I don't even like jam...I don't do PB&J I do PB&H (honey is much better)...I don't like jam on toast or anything. Maybe I just don't like store bought jam. Margo makes the best strawberry jam and I've learned to like homemade jam. I asked her if she would teach me how to make it. I've always had this idea that making jam was such a long and time consuming process!

I just wanted to eat the strawberries....one for me, one for the bowl, two for me, one for the bowl...three for Cameron...

When my mom found out I was taking a jam making class at Margo's, she wanted to sign up too...Michele decided to come a long to help. As my mom always says "many hands make light work." We had fun making jam and Margo said it actually took half the time since we were all helping. As you can see the ingredients are strawberries, sugar, and sure jel. One thing that I miss about living in Charlotte is picking fresh strawberries. It was so much fun to go to the strawberry fields and get your bucket and pick until it was full. The strawberries were really small, but so sweet. They would have made delicious jam!

I think Jeremy and I have enough jam for the next several years :) The whole process was really easy and fun. I would definitely make it again, but I don't think we will be running out any time soon. I made some to give to the people who helped us move and am going to put a little sign around the jar saying "thanks for helping us out of a jam...we couldn't have moved without your help!"