Grahams Thoughts: Issue 4

So after several equations, bar graphs, and long division problems I have precisely calculated our little boy being here in less than 100 days! How FREAKING exciting!! I know I know...to some of you 100 days probably still seems like a long time but I don't wanna hear it. I am gonna tell you..I am pretty scared about bringing him home the first day/night. I will probably not sleep at all...for the 1st week...or 2! Anyways...I still get so excited about feeling and now SEEING him kick through her shirt. Racheal Zoe project coming on now..IM OUT

My Inspiring Friend Dena

I just wanted to post a quick blog about how great my friend Dena is! She is so inspiring because she is such a savvy mom and we can all learn to be a little more savvy (especially when having a baby). She is also so giving with advice and hand-me-downs. She invited Graham and I over for dinner and we left with a car full of great items that we are so happy she choose to share with us.

She has also tuned me in to giveaways, Metroplex Baby and consignment sales like:
www.divineconsign.net
www.rhealana.com
http://nrichlandhills.jbfsale.com/

Thanks Dena for being so helpful through this whole pregnancy! I am so lucky to have a friend like you.

Our 4th Midwife Appointment

Little Graham is the size of a Rutabega this week! WOW -- he's getting big.

Today we had our fourth appointment at The Birth & Woman's Center. This time we were able to meet with Cherie, which was a great opportunity. At the BWC there is, luckly, two midwives. Throughout our pregnancy, at our appointments, we will have either met with Cherie or Carol and we normally meet with Carol, so today was a treat. We would be happy with either Midwife during labor though, as they are both patient and as excited about our pregnancy as we are (and I'm sure it gets exhausting acting excited to EACH pregnant couple that comes in).

During the appointment they measured our little guy and determined he is exactly where he needs to be. They took the normal blood pressure test and we got to hear his strong heartbeat with the Doppler. The heartbeat part is always mine and Graham's favorite because it is the equal to us seeing him on a sonogram (we don't get to see him again until he has arrived, unless there is a problem). Then we sat and talked with Cherie. I asked questions about ticks (since I got one during camping) and she made a note but advised us not to worry because Lyme disease can only be transmitted if the tick is attached to your skin for over a week!! WHO KNEW?! Then we asked her about another recommendation for a Bradley class that was in Fort Worth because the one they advise is all the way in Dallas. Finally we chatted with her about using a Doula (or Birth Assistant) and she calmed our fears that if Graham and I are knowledgeable about birth and labor that Graham will make a great labor coach for me! Plus, I will be surrounded by my mom, my sister, Graham's mom, my sister-in-law and my best friend Sybil --- which four out of five have already been through this process... so they are sure to be experts!

Finally, we discovered that the next appointment is in one month and then after that we will need to go back to see the Midwife twice a month... where did the time go?! It seems like just yesterday we were setting up all of the appointment dates and I was thinking, "It's going to take forever until we have to come up here twice a month." Before the next appointment I have to drink this horrible looking orange glucose drink. I'll let you know how that goes... it's never good if the Midwife says, "I've heard it's better if you refrigerate it."

******Official Name Change******

Ok my Dad has finally come around and has given us his blessing to use our family name. He originally didn't want us to use it because no one that has been given this name has liked it.... but WE love it and think it is a great way to pay homage to my side of the family.

Our little one's name with officially be:

Graham Alden Quattlebaum

We *LOVE* it... and hope that little G does too!

Jitter-Bug Me :-(

Something weird happened last night... I've somehow started a routine of getting a good nights rest every other night. So, I just figured that last night was going to be one of the good nights. However, I was awaken, as I am every night, to use the restroom. Normally when I return to bed I quickly go back to sleep. Last night it was horrible, I was tossing and turning, my mind was racing and I couldn't sit still. It was literally like I drank two grande mocha's. My breathing was super fast too so I first tried to slow this down. Didn't work... then I tried to calm my racing mind... Didn't work. After about an hour, I told myself that I wasn't going to toss and turn so I made myself lay in the same place for as long as it took me to go back to sleep. It worked -- although it made me cranky. It was like someone was telling me how uncomfortable I was and I was trying to argue that if I didn't lay still that I would never be able to go back to sleep. Finally, I did fall back to sleep.

I don't know if this is normal every once in a while -- but enough with the weird symptoms of pregnancy. I don't think I can take any more surprise symptoms with someone else telling me it's 'normal'. I'm finally settling in to being little G's incubator but PLEASE DON'T TAKE THE FEW GOOD NIGHTS OF SLEEP I HAVE LEFT IN MY LIFE!!!

Retro Baby Registry

I simply couldn't resist registering at The Retro Baby once I found the site... once you go, you'll know why too. Who wouldn't want their baby sporting these vintage-looking onesies and tees?!

I know I promised that we were only going to register at Babies R'Us but Graham and I couldn't stop ourselves... but this is the last place... I promise! Haha...



The weblink direct to our registry is:
View My Registry

Or, as always, you can search for us by name!

Enjoy the adorable-ness!

I'm a WINNER ... finally!

YAY! So, one of my favorite blogs, that pulls on my heart strings (obviously because of the name), is Go Graham Go. You can view the website by clicking on my 'fan' button below, or you can see it here too:

http://www.gograhamgo.com/2009/07/sweets-n-treats-for-your-kids-ears.html

Anyways, my friends Teresha and Brandy have been winning things like crazy on a few blogs so I decide to give it a go... what do we have to lose? I was checking my email and we've won a Sweets-n-Treats for Your Kids Ears CD! I'm so excited to get this CD in and start listening. It looks so adorable and actually has good, positive messages for children of all ages.

I will re-post when I've received the CD and give a better review of it then.

What an awesome day and an awesome prize. Thanks Sweets-n-Treats!

Sybil + Baby Movement

So, Graham and I have been feeling our little one move for a while now (See "Baby Movement" post below) but I can't ever get him to move around other people. It seems as though he mostly moves after 8pm; but before that its just random movement though out the day. We've even waited at Graham's parents house for over an hour trying to get him to move (by Graham talking to him and thumping him) but NO MOVEMENT. But as soon as Graham and I are at home on the couch he is flipping and kicking so hard!! HOWEVER, on Thursday we watched my BFF Sybil graduate from Nursing School and after wards we went out to Dave & Busters. At 9pm he really started moving around but his movements were still a little random. I told Sybil he was moving and she came over to me to try to feel him. After about a minute he kicked her hand. I felt relieved that someone else (other than Graham and I) finally got to experience the abuse I've been feeling for weeks now!!! HAHA. Sybil was amazed at the feeling and we're so excited that he's finally introduced himself to someone new.

This is a picture of me at Dave & Busters trying to show off my bump. It's a lot bigger than it looks in this picture:



Also, some stranger in public finally noticed my bump too! I've been waiting and waiting and I've been in this stage where people can't tell if I just have some chub around my mid-section or if it's a baby. Nevertheless, I was ordering food at Panera Bread, getting ready for a meeting with my friend Natali, and the server asked me if I was expecting! I was so shocked... I almost shouted YES. Ever since then people have been asking all the time; I must have grown a lot over night?!