32 Week Update

I went to the doctor yesterday and got an excellent report. Baby girl's heart beat was great, and I'm healthy too. She's measuring about a week ahead (33 weeks), but the doctor says that's normal. Baby girl has a favorite spot just above and to the right of my belly button. She curls up in it. I can see it and feel it. I told the doctor, and she could feel her. She said she thought it was her little butt nuzzled up in that spot. 

Here's the belly in the nursery. I'm hoping to get some things hung on the walls to show off soon. My sweet friend, Stephanie, made the diaper cake and surprised me with it yesterday! It's so cute; I had to show it off. She just had an adorable little girl a few months ago. I'm looking forward to having a fellow new mom to share the early times with. 

I also went to visit a friend of mine that has a precious brand new baby boy. It was wonderful to get to catch up with her and hold her little bundle. It is always amazing to see and hold a new life, but there was something much more real about it now. I could feel my little baby moving around while holding her sweet baby. It was surreal. It just made it a little more concrete that I have a new life growing inside of me. 

Ellie is a big fan of the new carpet and had to sneak into the picture. Everyone keeps telling me how much I'm going to hate her once the baby is born, and I wish they would stop. Don't get me wrong; I hate her sometimes now. The other day she barked for 5 minutes just because I opened a trash bag, but she's a dog. That's what she does. I have loved dogs so much for my entire life, and it really breaks my heart when people say that I'm not going to love my dog anymore. I know she will have to take a backseat, but I'm going to love her just the same. It really bothers me. I've even been having nightmares about it. The world likes to portray the idea that pregnant women are crazy hormonal monsters, but I've decided that the world is just plain mean to pregnant women-at least verbally. I'm fairly certain the general public and well meaning friends and family just lose brain cells when talking to pregnant women. People say the rudest and dumbest things. I will give the world credit for being physically helpful and nice. I've had more groceries carried for me, doors held, and just general kindness since I've been pregnant. Those people are nice; it's the chatty people you have to watch out for.

I have to give myself some credit here too. Everyone knows that people say crazy things to pregnant women, and I really thought I wouldn't be able to control my vicious comebacks. I think I've taken the comments with very few comments or eyerolls on my part. I'm trying at least. 

That's enough of my pregnant lady rant. I'm so blessed and don't want to complain about anything. This pregnancy has been wonderful. I'm so thankful that I've felt really well and strong during the process, and I'm even starting to feel stronger. There is something so encouraging about feeling the baby move so much. It's like I have a little teammate with me all of the time. She's wiggling around, and I'm thinking we can do this!

Baby Shower

My baby shower hosted by several of my mom's teacher friends (and ladies I've known my whole life) along with my my mom and sisters was on May 18. It was an event that I'm still in shock over. All of the guests were so happy and generous. My family worked so hard to get everything perfect in the house and arrange the shower, and the hostesses brought delicious food.

The shower had a library theme. The invitation looked like a library card and asked the guests to bring their favorite children's book instead of a card.

The night before the shower Dad got to have his part in the gift giving. He and Mom had picked out the perfect stroller car seat combo and surprised me with it. I felt like I was getting a new car! I'm not sure why, but the stroller and car seat were the things I was most worried about and overwhelmed with choosing. They picked out the perfect teal combo that will be great for baby girl and future Bagley babies to come. Dad was especially proud to get to participate in the traditional "ladies only" shower events, and he escorted me into the room with his best proud smile!

The next day the house was in order and ready to go for the big event. 

Front table with little book plate cards for the guests to stick in the books they brought. 

 Party favor table-mints, and bookmarks designed by my sister.

Dining room mantle with some of my childhood favorites-my teddy bear, Oscar the Grouch book, and children's Bibles. 

My mom and sisters-simply the best.

Two of the sweetest ladies I've known since kindergarten

My mother-in-law and me

One of my favorite pictures of my mom and me

My aunt(Dad's sister) and cousin with us

With my mom's sister, my Memaw, and great aunts

The gifts! I'm still overwhelmed by the generosity of all of the guests. 

It was really a great day! The food was delicious, the company was good, and the gifts were abundant. This is one loved and blessed little girl (okay two-the baby and me)! 

Updates

With school ending and having a million things to do to prepare for this sweet baby, I have let my updates on the blog slide a little bit. Instead of bombarding you all with a thousand pictures in one post, I'm going to try to catch you up one post at a time.

We're going to have to go all the way back to April. I think this picture was taken around 26 or 27 weeks.

Also around this time, Bryant put the crib together. 

He is so proud! 

I'm not sure the exact date of this next "growth" picture, but I'm pretty sure it came next chronologically.

This next one is from Mother's Day around 28 weeks.

And from my perspective about a week later-around the beginning of week 30.

My toes are quickly disappearing.

Over all these weeks, I felt great. Baby girl was moving around a lot and Bryant got to feel and see her move. He and I took a trip to the beach and had some professional photos made. We had a great little "baby moon". 

Baby shower, the end of school, and a nursery sneak peek to come soon! 

25 Weeks

We are at 25 weeks and going strong! I am happy to say that I have no complaints in this pregnancy. My little girl is kicking away and moving around so much. I absolutely love feeling her. Bryant finally was able to feel her little kick last week. He was so cute. His mouth just gaped open and he shouted that she just kicked him right in the hand!

My sisters got to see her move. They watched my stomach intently last weekend until it bounced. They didn't get to feel her move though. 

I went to see the doctor last week and got a great report. I can't believe that we'll get to see her face in 15 weeks. It's unbelievable. I feel so blessed to be her mommy. 

Spring Events

Hello all! Want to know what I've been up to lately? Celebrating birthdays-that's what. Nearly all of my immediate family birthday celebrations occur in the spring, so virtually every other weekend is spent celebrating. We celebrated my birthday in March. There are no good pictures of that-thanks a lot husband.

Then we celebrated Dad's birthday a week later. 

My sweet family. Thanks to Bryant for being our photographer.

Seriously, I'm the luckiest to have parents like these.

Last weekend we celebrated Leah's 21st birthday. I can't believe my baby sister is that old, but she is!

My sisters and my mom did Treetop adventures at Callaway Gardens to celebrate. Let me say; they are daring. I'm pretty glad I had the excuse of pregnancy to keep me out of the tops of trees obstacle course and zip line. It looked like loads of fun, but I'm pretty sure I would be terrified.

They are quite the daredevils! The course also included a dangling from the air ladder climb to a 75 foot platform that they zip lined off of. Crazy.Pants.

Later we celebrated with minicakes, ice cream, presents, and games.

I love these ladies!

The Beginning of a Nursery

I absolutely love home decor. Unfortunately, this leaves me in a constant state of domestic flux with tons of completely unfinished projects. Right now we are remodeling our kitchen in preparation for baby girl. I understand that she won't be born even needing to eat solid food, but we've wanted to redo our kitchen for the almost 6 years we've lived in our house. Nothing is more motivating than knowing that in a few months we will have more visitors than usual. So far we have had our cabinets painted and the walls have their first coat of new paint. Our new countertops should be installed in the next couple of weeks, and the rest of our appliances came today. 

This has absolutely nothing to do with the nursery, except that once it is all done I can really get to work on creating a perfect little room. Last night I ordered her crib and changing table. You can see them here. I knew I wanted a white crib all along, and this style looks almost exactly like the one my mom used for all three of us. I also ordered some prints from this Etsy shop to hang on the walls. I want the room to have a vintage and whimsical feel to it. I want it to be vibrant and full of life for her. I want it to be perfect. 

It's such a strange feeling planning for this little person I feel like I already know so well, but the truth is I have no idea who she is or will be. I don't know what she'll look like or what color hair she'll have. I don't know her talents or her troubles. I don't know her passions and joys, but I can't wait to find out. I can't wait to watch her grow into herself and find out who she is and what she likes. I just pray that we can lovingly guide her into who she will become. 

For now I'll just spread out all of the tiny clothes I've bought for her and breathe them in and imagine her.

"Do you suppose she's a wildflower?" - Alice in Wonderland

The Bun

Yesterday, while trekking back to my classroom from the cafeteria, one of my AP students from last year saw me just in time to ask one of my favorite pregnancy questions yet. 

"Would you mind telling me in layman's terms, how do I say this, how toasty is the bun?" 

I burst into laughter at his carefully thought out and gentle way of trying to ask how far along I am.