Yes, I am still here (at work that is).

We had the most wonderful Baby Shower at the Esdale's home on Saturday night. The food was delicious, and I hope everyone else had as good of a time as TJ and I did! Here is some commentary along with pictures (thanks to Angela and Allen!).

I am huge. These images only prove that I have eaten my way through the past 2 months. And while it may appear that I am drinking for two, keep in mind, it is only water in a wine glass.

Allison and I had a running joke that my little girl was going to be a super girly ballerina and her little boy would be a drama queen. So she got Avery a "tutu". My three chins thought it was funny too. Too bad I didn't think ahead and get Riley some tights and a Mardi Gras mask. Perhaps there is still time!

TJ couldn't hold back from opening some gifts as well! I think he is going to be a great Daddy!

And here is the proud Grandma Ahma...which does in fact have a silent "h" in it.

This is the softest bear that Isabella and Benjamin picked out for Avery. Their parents were some of the hosts at this shower.

This is TJ trying to figure out why the "Moses Basket" has handles if you aren't supposed to carry it with the baby inside.

It was a great party! Thank you to all who came and those who hosted it! We are so fortunate to have such wonderful friends!

In other news, Evan made it back from Europe last night. He did a tour of London, Paris, and Rome. He had great trip, and as always, brought back some hilarious stories. He also did a little shopping for baby gear while in Rome. Little Avery now has her very first designer item, a snow jacket with mittens from a very stylish designer (whose name evades me right now, uhh Baby Brain!). The best part is that Evan was shopping in a designer baby store. Ohhh the mental images. Too bad he didn't bring pictures back of that!

Melanie surprised me this morning with a beautiful blanket that she made!!! It is the sweetest and softest thing I have ever seen! It is perfectly green to match Avery's room! I will post pictures of it at a later date, perhaps even with Avery wrapped up in it!

Daughter and Fun

"And that’s what this whole thing is about. Calling home. Instinctively. Even when all the paperwork—a marriage license, a notarized deed, two birth certificates, and seven years of tax returns—clearly indicates you’re an adult, but all the same, there you are, clutching the phone and thanking God that you’re still somebody’s daughter." ~ Kelly Corrigan from The Middle Place

So I am a blog thief. I stole that quote from Mary Tyler Head's blog. I haven't seen her since high school, but I am stealing from her. It just made so much sense. I agree with it totally. I am so excited I am about to become a mother, but I am equally and perhaps even more thrilled that I get to share it with my mom. Don't get me wrong, TJ will be the one with me in the delivery room. But Jane Ann has been there, and felt all the same things that I do, and it was about me. How lucky I am to be having a little girl.

On a less sentimental note, I have decided to work only half days until Avery is born. I am feeling better already. I go home at 12:30ish and make some lunch, and then I take a nap for as long I can. My energy level has stabilized, and I am more productive while I am actually at work. I also have time to cook dinner and run an errand or two if needed. My stress level has dropped dramatically, and I am not nearly as desperate for it to end!

Searcy and I cooked dinner last night for TJ. She made the Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake and I made Turkey Tortilla Soup. It was most delicious. But that's not what I wanted to write about. While I was searching for my soup recipe, I had the brilliant idea of getting down on the floor so I could see my recipe books better. I am sure you can see where this is going. Searcy makes a comment about how I better not go into labor on the floor because there is no way she could get me up. So after I locate the recipe, I try to get up...yeah, right. Picture my huge self, in lounge clothes, on a very slippery wooden floor, trying desperately to stand. Had I been alone, I probably would have had to re-enact the "I've fallen and I can't get up!" skit on the LifeLine commercial. Luckily, Searcy to the rescue, and she, after several failed attempts and a lot of laughing and pointing, got me up. Let's just say, I won't be trying that again anytime soon.

Tomorrow, I am going to see the doctor. We should have a better idea of when Ms. Avery will make her debut after that appointment. I will post as soon as I know something!

My Friday Thoughts.

1. The good news is that Florida won the BCS championship. The bad news is that my ankles are overflowing out the sides of my shoes.

2. Yesterday, as I was sitting in Service Excellence class at work, I began having strange back pain that was radiating down my legs. I casually mention it to my Mommy friend, Laura, who immediately freaks me out. She swears that's how her labor began, and that I should definitely call the doctor. Which, of course, I did. The nurse tells me to go home, get off my feet, and if in an hour, it is still painful, that I will need to go in and get checked out. Of course, as soon as I laid down, I fell asleep. I was so exhausted from not being able to sleep at night. The back pain was gone when I woke up, and I felt a million times better. I slept for 3 1/2 hours straight. That is the longest stretch of uninterrupted sleep I have had in weeks. It was beautiful. But my feet didn't quite get the memo. They are still packin' the heat, and causing major discomfort. My blood pressure is normal if not low, so it's not really of any major concern, but they sure do look ugly.

3. Maggie was spayed this morning. She was so sad when I left her at the vet. She knew exactly what was about to happen. She will probably be very mad with me when I go to pick her up. Hopefully, one day, she will understand why we had to do it. Partner...watch out. You're next!

4. Here is a picture from Christmas at Granny's of TJ in his perfect downhill skiing form ( you could probably come up with 100 different titles for this picture that would be funnier):

5. It's Friday!!! So that means I will have another super fun filled weekend of cleaning and napping! Yeah for adulthood.

I am the limo.

A wise woman once said about pregnancy:
"How do you feel about being nothing more than a vessel for him (or her)? It gets worse after their born - no one pays attention to the limo, they only want to see who gets out. "
So true.
So get ready Avery, you will be the star. I am so ready to pass the torch. I wish people would quit staring at my huge self. I know I am a whale, I don't need to be reminded.
It seems like this whole pregnancy, I have been preparing for more pregnancy. Now it is time to begin preparing for motherhood. There is so much to learn.

Complainer Alert

The Countdown is on. Feel free to place bets on when Avery will be born. Master P has already picked February 1st. He says she will make her grand entrance into the world just as Bruce Springsteen is singing "Born in the USA" at the half time show of Super Bowl 43. I love the irony, and how much thought he put into it. I am still liking February 3rd, although I would love, love, love it if she came a week earlier than that! Apparently, the only cure for all that ails me, is delivery. No one discusses how difficult it can be when nearing the end! Sure, sure, everyone knows that you get nauseated in the beginning. But they don't know about the pelvic pain, the incessant sleepiness, the back aches, how incredibly difficult it becomes to sleep, and even worse, roll over in bed-All this, and I am not even to the labor and delivery part (and trust me, I left out the things I shouldn't discuss via Internet). Forgive me for complaining. I am sure there are people out there who loved every minute of pregnancy. I have read your blogs, and I think you are full of crap. I don't want to be a complete Debby Downer. I whole heartedly believe that Avery is worth ever second of it. Now, do Mommy (and subsequently, Daddy) a little favor, and push yourself out!

38 days to go.

I went to the doctor today for my 34 1/2 week appointment. All of my levels were good. Avery is head down, which is excellent, because it reduces the likelihood of a C- section. Apparently it is uncommon for them to turn breech or transverse once they settle in the head down position. (I am fully aware of her little head, because it is pressing on my bladder oh-so regularly. Lucky me!) My next appointment is on the 15th, and from then it will be weekly appointments until she gets here! It's crazy that it is almost over. It feels like I have been pregnant forever, but at the same time, it has gone by so fast! I am just so ready to meet her!

Some pictures for your enjoyment

This is Humphrey and Heidi getting snuggly on the couch. Still not sure why or how they got in this position.
And for comparason's sake, I wore the same shirt from a few weeks ago. Pretty monster belly, and subsequently baby, in there.

Today:

November 11th:

And this is one from the begining of the week...Seems like the belly has grown overnight!