24 Week Update

So here is the 24 Week Update, a week late... :)
Last Tues was our doctor's appt. I have been rotating through the doctors at my practice so you aren't meeting a new doc for the first time on your delivery day, if your doctor happens not to be the one on call. Anyway, so I met with Dr. Bradford(Sue), who I know personally, as I worked with her husband, and it was a great visit.

MG made it difficult for Sue to get her heartbeat, making her chase her from the bottom left corner of my belly, over to the right side, to up above my belly button, before she settled down enough for us to hear that heartbeat clear. She was quite the show-off and Sue kept saying we were in "trouble"! She is constantly on the move these days, often times I wonder just how she is positioned to be kicking me in the spots I'm feeling her(like in my bum!).

I started feeling her kick right around 20 weeks, and Jeff really felt her the first time around 22-23 weeks. The other day he laid on my belly for a bit in the morning, when she is really pretty active and he felt some really good movements for the first time. It was exciting!

I have the "burps" a lot, and have had a couple more spells of "getting sick" the past couple weeks, but for the most part feeling pretty good in that department. It is getting harder to breathe and my appetite is starting to pick up. Yesterday I finished my big slice of pizza and then started on the end of Jeff's he couldn't finish! HA! Maybe that's why I gained 5 lbs this visit!! HA! I blamed it on the turkey and mashed potatoes that I ate!

I have also been experiencing a decent amount of back pain. This is said to be attributed to my anterior placenta as she is sitting on my spine instead of the placenta being a cushion between baby and my spine, therefore she has direct access to kick me there! And boy do I feel it!

I also was experiencing some sharp pains that I knew weren't quite right. I talked to the doctor about them, and turns out.....I have a small Hernia! Urrghh! I joked around saying I felt like my stomach was going to bust through my skin, well I guess it just about did! She said it can happen in pregnancy as your muscles relax and it makes it easier for your organs to push through those walls. Hopefully it will repair itself in a matter of time, if not, then they will do surgery after MG is born. It just makes for a little more discomfort and I'm now restricted to lifting no more than 5-10lbs! In the middle of packing and moving, I find that rather difficult, but I'd prefer for it to heal itself and so I am trying to refrain from lifting too much.

24 week Stats:
Bust - + 1/2"
Waist - +4" - the Belly is definitely growing
Hips - no change
Weight Gain - +5lbs, total to date 8lbs - gotta love the Holidays!

Madelyn Grace is over 1 1/2lbs now, and about 9 inches in length! She has outgrown all the "fruit" references regarding size now, and is about to be compared to a 2lb chuck roast regarding size now! HA! She is in a growth spurt in these next couple weeks gaining 1/2lb a week! Her little face is almost fully formed now, complete with eyelashes and eyebrows and some hair starting to grow on her head!
It truly is a miracle! We are soo blessed and continue to pray for her growth and health!

***I hope to be back this week to upload pics and with an update regarding our weekend; Jeff surprised me with a room downtown overlooking the Marion Square Christmas tree, and we went to his Christmas party. BUT disclaimer, I might not find the time bc my parents arrive this week and we close on our new house. We will be painting an entire house this weekend if you are bored and want to come help!! ;)

Happy Holidays!!

WAR EAGLE, a Baby Shower, and Thanksgiving!

Can I start with a WAR EAGLE!! Undefeated, 12-0!!!

I am Soo proud of my Tigers this year! They look great, never give up, play with heart, stand beside each other, regardless of all the mud that has been slung their way around this Cam Newton situation! I've never been more proud to be an Auburn Grad and part of the Auburn Family. I Believe in AUBURN and LOVE it!! I can't wait for the day I can take this little girl to a game and she can see and witness the true Auburn Spirit and LOVE for the "Loveliest Village on the Plains" !

I say this not just as a fan, but as a Graduate and a 4th generation Grad at that! My Great-Grandfather played for Auburn and helped on the field after! My Grandfather graduated from Auburn, my Aunts, my Uncles, both my parents! My sister and I! We are ALL GRADS!! I LOVE IT!! On my graduation day, I stood next to the Auburn Stadium in my cap and gown and my Great Grandfather stood on my shoulder! His picture from his days of playing was on the side of the stadium in a huge mural! He is in the Sports Hall of Fame! He has a "star" in the Auburn Walk of Fame! I could not be more proud! How many people our age can say they are a 4th generation Graduate all from the same lovely University! I LOVE AUBURN!

I was not oblivious to the situation with Cam Newton, but I stood behind Auburn and an innocent kid and believed we didn't do anything wrong! And turns out, I was right! I was appalled by the actions and words of many people, even friends and family, that wanted to think this 20 yr old kid was Guilty until proven Innocent. Don't we live in America?? Where a man is INNOCENT until proven Guilty??!! He is just a kid, who looked to his father for guidance and evidently his father was wrong. That's not HIS fault. The fact is, he is one of the most talented players in SEC history and not just because I'm an Auburn fan, but bc all his stats prove it! His father let him down! Shame on him! But shame on you, if you were one of those people that spoke so badly of him, he's just a kid doing what he loves, and you were slandering him without knowing the facts! Shame on you!

But I am proud of Cam for continuing to play hard and not let the negative thoughts and words of the rest of the world harm him! I'm proud of the Auburn family for being soo supportive of this young man. And I'm extremely proud of Coach Chizik for sticking up for his "son" and defending him against the negative media, even though his own father brought this on him.
I am Proud to be AN AUBURN TIGER!! :)

OK - now that my love affair with Auburn rant is over....I'll move on to a Baby Shower and Thanksgiving! :)
My sweet friends threw me a shower while I was home, since we won't be back in AL until after MG's arrival. Yes, we have a name! :) MGC!!
The shower was wonderful, thoughtful, and I'm soo thankful for these women in my life. Friends that have been there for everything, and I can't wait to introduce my little girl to these women!
We received some wonderful gifts and some true treasures that we'll hold dear to our hearts forever. She got her first bracelet from Jeff's Grandmother, she was given her Daddy's baby ring from Sally, and Mimi(my mom) knitted her a blanket and passed down my first hair brush to my little girl. We are thankfully for everyone and their generosity!

AU Diaper Cake!

The Wonderful Carriage Cake made by Sweet Magnolias(Nicole's mom and sister's business)

My Sis, Me, and Momma

The ladies of MG's Life(Jeff's Grandmother, Sally, Me, and Mimi)

My Beautiful Girlfriends!

3 Preggos! All a Month apart, in order....HA! We have been friends since Elementary School! Erin is having her 4th, my 1st, and Kim's 1st. I can't wait to find out what the other 2 are having! Erin isn't finding out, but Kim does in a couple weeks! I'm guessing Girl for Erin and Boy for Kim!

Thanksgiving was spent in Bham with my extended family! There was about 27 of us, all at my mom's house. It is always fun to get together and see everyone, as that's about the only time of year we see everyone now, bc of living so far away, and everyone having to fit in time with in-laws too. We are a little more split these days. Next year 2 more little ones will be present! Kerri is due about 5 weeks before me. :)

My SIL, Sis, and Me

Parker on Uncle Ronnie's motorcycle!

Mollie and Uncle Jeff! I think they could pass as father daughter in this pic for some reason....makes me smile thinking about him with his own little girl soon! :)

If you are still reading.....THANKS! I've been MIA and then upload all at once! HA!
I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving with your family and are getting into the Christmas Spirit!