I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas! Our Christmas was very laid back this year. (I am sure it will be the last laid back year!!) Both of our immediate families are very flexible so that makes it much easier. We had our Earnest Christmas with everyone the weekend before and usually we would have dinner with the Burke family (Rileys moms side) but since she was in the hospital until the 23rd we did not do that this year. Christmas Eve Eve was with my immediate family. They came to our house for dinner so that we could look at Christmas lights afterwards. We were supposed to go to church on Christmas Eve but I didnt feel too great and plus the weather was not so great! Speaking of...did anyone see the big Christmas tree in front of the Courthouse (which is right by our church)? It blew down that night! Anyways we had Rileys immediate family Christmas on Christmas night. It was so wonderful to be able to spend Christmas with his mom at home! I had really missed the whole family being together and what better time for us to be together again than Christmas! I can't wait for next Christmas! :)
P.S. Sorry I was a slacker with pictures this year!

Coming Home for Christmas!!!

Riley's mom is FINALLY coming home tomorrow!!! Just in time for Christmas! We are just so excited...I know she is so ready to be at home! It will still be a while before she is able to get around, but being home with family will help so much. God has really answered some prayers. Thanks to all of you that prayed for her during this time!!

32 weeks

I went to the doctor on Thursday and everything was looking good. It was kind of sad because this was the first doctors appointment in a long time that I didnt get to see her. But I know I got way more ultrasounds than most. We talked a little about the her size right now. He said she is already pretty big but that would be a good thing. It just might mean coming earlier than the 13th. He said that we would talk as it got closer to time to see about taking her earlier if she still seemed big, but for now we would just leave the due date as the 13th.

I had a little bit of a scare yesterday. I had taken the day off to get some shopping done and also just for my sanity (yes I know I wont be back after Christmas but the kids are bouncing off the walls right now...if I can just make it until Tuesday!) Anyways, I had started doing a little shopping and was no where close to being finished with what I wanted to do that day when I started having a constant shooting pain on the right lower side of my stomach. I was in Barnes and Noble and could barely walk. So, I went and sat in my car for a little while and called Riley and I was in tears because it was really painful plus I was a little scared. He kept telling me to call the doc. but I hate to call them for every little pain so I said I would wait. So it seemed to be feeling better so I got out and walked in another store and had to walk right back out because I could barely walk. I had decided to go ahead and call the docs office but they were already closed and I didnt feel that I needed to call the emergency #. So I just went home. Finally, after a laying down for a while...the pain went away. I knew the whole time it wasnt like a contraction or anything but I also knew it was very painful and I had not had that kind of pain yet and of course with it being my first time with all of this I am going to worry. I came to the conclusion that I think she maybe had hit a nerve or was in a very strange position.

Nursery and Pregnancy update

I am 31 1/2 weeks right now and still feel pretty good. Sleeping is the only bad part right now. When I finally get comfortable...I have to get up and pee and then I cant go back to sleep. Some nights I sleep SO good and hard! (Riley says I have been snoring more these days! haha) I have been eating like crazy, but I dont know if that is to blame on the holidays or pregnancy! She kicks or should I say jabs me a lot these days. I can lay down and just watch my stomach do waves. Even though it is aggrivating sometimes when it feels like she is in my ribs or she keeps me up all night occasionally, I still love every minute of it! I think I will miss the kicks the most when I am not pregnant anymore! I am still having the problems with the Carpal Tunnel but it doesnt seem quite as bad. My arms just fall asleep at night and my right hand middle finger stays numb all the time. I am getting to the point where I just feel BIG...pregnancy is not "cute" anymore! haha Cant wait for February!

The nursery is coming along slowly. We do have the furniture put together and the bedding on. I have washed the newborn and 0-3 month clothes that I have now and I am in the process of organizing and putting them away. We have already put together the stroller/car seat that Mom got us and the high chair. We still have lots to do though. It will help to be off in January to get things done! I will post pics when it gets closer to being finished.

Things we still have to do in the nursery:
-Get the chair and night stand from Sugarfoots (the chair is in, we just have to pick it up)
-Find a chandelier and get it put up
-Finish organizing the closet
-A few things to hang on the wall (a friend is painting something to go over her bed) but I just need a few other things to go on the walls.
-And Im sure there is more, I just cant think of them right now.

**Dont forget to scroll done...there are more posts! :)

Happy Birthday Riley

I just wanted to say Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband! He really is more than I could have ever dreamed in a husband and I thank God for him everyday!! I know he will also be a great father to Anna Riley and our future children! I love you Riley and thank you for everything you do!

Update on MIL

Thanks to all of you that have been praying for Riley's Mom! It has been a rough few months for her but she is finally recovering and working on physical therapy! They moved her to the Spain Rehab part of UAB to continue her PT. She took her first steps with a walker a couple of weeks ago and is now walking with the walker a little everyday. The doctors said it is just taking a while for her to regain strength due to being cut open so many times over the course of a couple of months. We were hoping she would be able to come home for Christmas and finish her PT at home but we dont know if that will happen yet or not. We plan to go to the hospital on Christmas and spend the day there if she is still there. We are hoping that if not Christmas, sometime in January! However, she will still have a lot of physical therapy to do when she gets home but at least she would not be in a hospital room any longer!!

Please continue to pray for her...as hard as it is for us to not have her around here for the holidays, its even harder for her to be stuck in a hospital and not with her family at this time of year!

Baby Shower at Boley Naz.

Mom and Dad's church gave me a baby shower Sunday. The ladies always do so great with all the food. I got lots of cute dresses and sleepers, diapers, blankets, a swing, and gift cards and more! It was so great to see everyone!! Thanks to everyone who came or helped!

School Book Shower

Last Monday the teachers at school gave me a Children's book shower. I thought the idea was so cute! I got so many good books. I got lots of touch and feel books and even one book that is a hand puppet! I also got a set of Eric Carle board books (love Eric Carle!) and some other great titles that are good read alouds.