27 Weeks!

So, I didn't post this on Tuesday, because I had other things going on, and I didn't have a picture and still don't have a picture, so I figured it wasn't that interesting! :) Anyways, I'm 27 weeks, so only 13 to go! Yay! Grant and I hung all the wall hangings in the baby's room last night. It looks so good! I can't wait to get the rest of the furniture moved in and get it completely set-up! We are coming along so well! :)

How far along? 27 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: Not sure...I actually haven't weighed myself this week, but I go to the doctor tomorrow.
Maternity clothes? Yes...but I can still wear some non-maternity shirts depending on the type of shirt. I can still wear some of my t-shirts, as well as, some of my longer shirts.
Stretch marks? Nope...crossing fingers that I don't get any! :)
Sleep: Waking up once or twice a night to go to the bathroom, but overall, sleeping fairly well.
Best moment this week: Getting so much done in the nursery!! And buying the crib mattress...
Movement: Yes! He is moving a lot, and I love it!
Food cravings: Chick-fil-a Chicken Biscuit
Gender: Boy
Labor Signs: Some Braxton Hicks contractions, but nothing too big! Thankfully!
Belly Button in or out? In but getting more shallow
What I am looking forward to: Putting the furniture in the Nursery and Decorating! We hung up all the wall decorations and curtains this week...I'll post some photos later!
Weekly Wisdom: I don't know...I guess I don't have any this week! :)
Milestones: Having my first baby shower and getting lots of great things from friends and family! :)

What a Productive Evening?!

So, we had a very productive evening last night, and I felt SO great about it! I came home, and I cooked dinner and played with Banks a little while. Grant had a meeting to go to yesterday, and they had a dinner after the meeting, so I had dinner by myself. But luckily, I made enough, so we can have leftovers and Grant can enjoy chicken pot pie the next day! :)

After Grant got home, I headed up to the baby's room to go through all of the gifts that we received at the shower on Saturday. I also started to clean out the closet! I can't wait until his dresser arrives, so we can put lots of the items in the dresser, such as, burp cloths, bibs, hats, socks, etc. It will hopefully be ready to be picked up next week.

Grant was also productive...he decided that he would grab the boxes for the Pack n Play and Stroller and go ahead and assemble them, so he wouldn't have to assemble everything at once in a few months. So, he went ahead and put together everything. We stuck the stroller in our hall closet, and the Pack n Play is just in the spot in the living room where it will stay while I'm at home with Weston. So, we are getting ready, and we still have time, but I'm excited to have it done and be one less thing to worry about. Tonight, he's going to install the mobile on the crib! :)

By the way, if you haven't noticed...I have a completely Type A personality! I want to get everything done as soon as possible, and I want it to be finished and organized and looking good. I don't know why, but I've always been like this. It has it's pros and cons, but mostly, I just like staying organized and getting things done.

Updated List & Questions

So, I've updated our "To Do" List, and I'm feeling much better, because things are coming along nicely, and I'm so excited about it! :) Check it out here to see our progress.

Also, we are looking into buying our crib mattress this weekend, but I'm not sure what's the best one to buy...any suggestions from you mom's out there that have recently bought a crib mattress? Any help would be appreciated! :)

All About Us

I've been seeing this "couples quiz" on numerous blogs, and I think that they are really interesting and fun to read, so I decided to fill it out here on my blog, as well. I'm obviously procrastinating today and not getting much done! :)

So here it goes...
What are your middle names?
Mine is Louise & Grant's is Thomas.

How long have you been together?
2 and a half years...we've been married for almost six months! :)

How long did you know each other before you started dating?
Not long at all...we met at work on a Friday, and I was headed to visit friends in Milledgeville for the weekend. He called that night, because there was a Luke Bryan concert in Milledgeville on Saturday, and he asked if I minded if he joined me. I said, "sure", so he came down that afternoon, and we hung out. We went to the concert together, and the next day, we hung out all day. We had lunch, went to the park with my dog and talked all day long. It was an awesome start to a great relationship, but we've been very serious ever since. I came home from that weekend and knew that eventually he would be the one that I would marry.

How old are each of you?
I'm 25, and he's 27.

Did you go to the same school?
Nope...neither high school nor college.

Are you from the same home town?
No, our hometowns are about 30-45 minutes apart.

Who is the smartest?
It depends...I'm probably the smartest when it comes to book smart, but he is the most common sense smart, and he can catch on to things quickly or learn to do something easily.

Who majored in what?
Grant - Forestry
Rachel - Management Information Systems

Who is the most sensitive?
Hands down...Me! Isn't that true for most women?!

Where do you eat out most as a couple?
Mexican, because it's my favorite place to eat and Grant could usually care less where or what we eat as long as he is getting a good meal.

Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
Negril, Jamaica on our honeymoon

Who has the worst temper?
Grant

How many children do you want?
Two...and no budging on that!

Who does the cooking?
Grant cooks breakfast, and I cook dinner, but Grant is one of the best cooks, so I occasionally am able to talk him into cooking dinner, as well.

Who is more social?
Probably Grant...I have some great friends, and I enjoy meeting people and spending time with my old friends; however, I'm also content to just sit at home with Grant and Banks. Grant on the other hand likes to always get out and meet people and hang out with friends. He never sits down!

Who is the neat-freak?
Me...I'm always moving Grant's things, and I think it drives him crazy!

Who is the most stubborn?
Grant

Who wakes up earlier?
Grant...He wakes up right when our alarm goes off, and I wake up shortly after, but not usually until he leaves to go downstairs and takes the dog with him.

Where was your first date?
Well, we went to lunch together the first day that we met one another at the office at Loco's; however, our first real date was to the Luke Bryan concert the next night in Milledgeville.

Who has the bigger family?
Me...I have a HUGE family!

Do you get flowers often?
Never...he bought me a plant once, does that count? He thinks that they are a waste of money, because they die so quickly! Ha-Ha!

How do you spend the holidays?
We spend Thanksgiving day with my family, and either we or him spend the day after Thanksgiving with his family. Both of our families spend Christmas Eve together, and we spend Christmas Day with his family. Usually, we spend the day after Christmas with my family, and we spend New Year's Day at home together with some of our friends. It's pretty evenly shared, and I enjoy our routine.

Who is more jealous?
Me...Not usually jealous over girls, but just jealous in general about the way someone decorates their house or the car that they drive, etc.! Though, I really try hard not to be.

How long did it take to get serious?
An hour...no really, a few days, I guess. He was four hours away when we met, so we would talk for hours and hours at a time each evening, and it was so easy to get serious, because we learned so much about one another so quickly over the phone, and we talked about everything. And just connected...it was something that I had never experienced before.

Who eats more?
Grant

What do you do for a living?
Rachel - Project Manager for Software Development
Grant – Marketing Analyst for Southeast and Southwest

Who does the laundry?
Me, but I hate it, so I always appreciate when he does the ironing. :)

Who’s better with the computer?
Me...it's my degree! Ha-Ha!

Who drives when you are together?
Grant...I hate driving, so I very rarely do it when we are together.

What is "your" song?
"Then" by Brad Paisley

We've been robbed...

...Yes, that's right! Well, we weren't robbed at our home, thankfully! But we were robbed at our office. As some of you may know, Grant and I work for the same company, so we work in the same office. This morning as we were getting ready, Grant heard his phone ring downstairs. Note: It was 6:00 AM. We both thought out loud, "Who would be calling so early?" So, Grant went downstairs got his phone and called a guy we work with back. The guy asked if Grant had taken his computer home last night...as usual, Grant had left his computer in the docking station and had not taken it home. Turns out...someone came in at some point last night and stole six computers out of offices where people had left their computers.

It had to be someone who followed someone else in or had access to our office, because the entire office building locks at 6:00 PM. And our office is locked all the time, so unless someone had a key or followed someone in, they couldn't even get into the building. I'm a fairly trusting person, and I can't imagine someone coming in and taking things from our house. It was such a shock to me!! Grant went off to work early, and I followed behind shortly after. Luckily, I had taken my computer home with me last night, so I am not out a computer, but it's going to be a tough day and maybe even week for those whose computers were taken! Talk about a loss of productivity...Anyways, it makes me really sad to know that someone would steal from you like that. I really can't imagine someone being that desperate to take items that they probably won't make much money from, and who knows if they can even rebuild them. They are very secure, and I know that they won't be able to login to the computers. They might be able to wipe them clean and start over with a new OS, but it's going to be a difficult job. We also have serial numbers on all our computers, so it will be easy to track if this person(s) tries to sell them.

Well, I hope everyone else has had a better start to their day! :) It is wet and rainy, and we have had our space invaded here at the office, so everyone is feeling a little under the weather.

When will Weston arrive?

So, at the Baby Shower on Saturday, people wrote down their guesses of when Weston would make his debut...early, late, right on time, etc. It was really interesting to see when they thought that he would be born, as well as, how much he would weigh and how long he would be.

Since I found it to be so interesting, I decided that I would ask you all of that question...you've got up until his arrival to make your guess. If you've got a specific guess, you can post it here. Otherwise, I'm going to post a poll on the left-hand side of the blog to make a guess of Early, Late or On Time. The person who makes a specific guess to include date and time and who is the closest when he is born will receive a prize. I'm not sure what the prize will be yet, but I promise that it'll be really cute!

Family & Family Friends Baby Shower

I had a Family & close Family Friends Baby Shower this weekend that was hosted by my wonderful sister and a close family friend, Laura Beth. It was SO wonderful, and I got way too many gifts! We got a bathtub, extra base for our car seat, stroller, Pack & Play, lots of clothes, diapers, toys, blankets and the list goes on! It was beautiful! The hostesses did a great job, and I was SO impressed. The food was great and the decorations were fabulous, so I'll leave you with some photos of the shower.

My Sister, Amanda, and I

Opening Presents...Grant loved this!! :)

Cupcakes to match the Jungle Themed Shower

Really cute diaper cake and part of the Food table!

My sister standing behind the Food Table!

Me standing with the two hostesses, Laura Beth & Amanda
Weston's Name & Present Table

Stress...

Updated list as of 2:30 PM on Tuesday, October 27th!!

So, this "To Do" List that I've created is starting to stress me out...I just can't stop thinking about it, and I want to get everything on the list done as soon as possible. I've updated the list, and I've added the things that we have planned for this weekend to the completed / done section, but I noted that they were "In Progress". I'll update on Sunday or Monday when they are really finished. Anyways, I've got to get these things done, so I can feel better and stop stressing out so much!

Weston's Room
- Put Crib Bedding on Bed (By 11/8)
- Hang Wall Hangings - Canvases, Frames, Growth Chart, Shelf & Name Letters (By 11/8)
- Organize and Clean Closet (1/1)
- Wash Clothes & Hang / Organize in Closet or Dresser (By 1/1)
- Set up Diaper Area (By 11/30)

Weston's Bathroom
- Decorate & Organize Weston's Bathroom (By 12/1)

Our House
- Deep Cleaning! (By 1/1)
- Rearrange photos on wall in Guest Bedroom to coordinate with new furniture (By 11/1)
- Hang Floral Canvas Prints in Dining Room (By 1/1)
- Hang Family Name Sign on Steps (By 1/1)
- Hang photos below Family Name Sign on Steps (By 1/1)
- Recover Small Chair for Vanity (By 11/15)

Left to Purchase
October
- Purchase Small Table next to Glider from Target

November
- Two Lamp's
- Glider & Ottoman

Completed / Done
- Tape for Brown & White Stripes
- Paint Brown & White Stripes
- Tape for Green Stripes
- Paint Green Stripes
- Remove Old Desk from Office
- Move Grant's old chest from Guest Bedroom into Office
- Clean out Old Desk in Office
- Move old Bedside Table in Guest Bedroom to garage and prepare to take to Goodwill
- Touch-up Trim
- Hang additional photos in office / update old photos
- Install Dimmer Switch
- Organize Hall Closet upstairs
- Organize Hall Close downstairs
- Clean out and organize guest bedroom closet
- Clean out and organize guest File Cabinet in Office
- Organize items to move into Attic
- Move items into Attic
- Frame photo of UGA Farm Truck and hang in Office
- Clean Blinds & floor well before moving in Furniture
- Hang Curtain Rod and Curtains in Guest Bedroom
- Clean out Dresser in Guest Bedroom and move to garage to take to Good will
- Get my Antique Furniture from Mom & Dad's house and move to guest bedroom
- Hang Canvas artwork on Wall
- Hang hooks on back of Door
- Move Crib into Weston's Room
- Install Window Valence & Curtains
- Hang hooks in Closet for Ties & Purses
- Decorate Fabric Cork Board for Banks' Ribbons & Hang in Office
- Pick up Monogrammed Towels and put in Bathroom (By 1/8) - In Progress

Purchased
- Creme Ribbon for Photos
- Blue Ribbon for Bathroom
- Fabric for Cork Board

Seriously Crushing on...

Luke Bryan!!

I love a southern, country boy, and Luke Bryan is just that! He has a great voice, and I've been listening to his new CD all day for the past two days! He is just laid back and relaxed about everything, and he puts on a great show! I can't wait until he comes back to Athens, and I hope that I'm not pregnant when he comes, so I can really enjoy it!

Though I have a huge crush on Luke Bryan, I feel so lucky that I have a southern man who loves to hunt, fish and wants to live on 500 acres. As a young girl, I dreamed of marrying a banker...someone who wore a suit to work everyday and made lots of money. Not saying that anything is wrong with that... :) I dated mostly guys like that until Grant came along, and he blew me away. Nothing can replace a southern gentleman and his charm, and I quickly fell head over heels for him. He doesn't need have the finer things in life, and he enjoys living the simple life. He puts his family and home before anything else, and he works hard to support us everyday! We are so blessed!

One of those Days...

Grant and I got home and ate dinner really quick, and we got right down to work. We were able to get lots done on our "To Do List", and I was SO proud. We still have things to do, but we got some stuff done yesterday, so that was a relief.

Anyways, I'm having one of those days today though! I couldn't get to sleep last night until midnight. I was just rolling around and trying to get comfortable and from the time that I laid down until I finally fell asleep, I had to get up three times to go to the bathroom.

I woke up and my nose is completely stopped up and running. I don't think I'm getting sick...I think it's just the weather and the typical stuffiness. I also have a headache that isn't improving as the morning progresses, and I'm exhausted. My fingers are also swollen today, and I could barely get my rings on this morning. I don't know that I'll be able to get them off now! I'm sad, because I want to be able to continue wearing them.

Well, I'm full of complaints today, so I'm going to get to work, and I'll hopefully be in a more cheerful mood when I come back tomorrow!

Finally Painted Nursery, 98 Days & 26 Weeks

So, first I'll share some photos of the finished stripes in Weston's nursery! Grant is SO thrilled to have finished all of the painting. Now, we are steam cleaning the carpet tonight, then we are going to put the crib in and start hanging decorations over the weekend. I'm SO excited to have it start to look like a real nursery! :)

Sign on Weston's Door

Photo from Corner of his Room looking into the Hallway

Looking into his room from the Door

On another note, I had 100 days left to go on Sunday, so I'm down to 98 days today! I'm finally in the two digits rather than three, and I'm SO excited. I can't believe that 168 days have passed since this journey began! It's amazing, and I see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Also, I hit the 26 Week mark today! Grant didn't take a photo of me this morning, because I woke up late or had a hard time getting out of bed, and he was already headed to work before I made it downstairs, so I'm hoping that he'll take one this afternoon, and I can update my post to add a photo. If not, we'll take one tomorrow, and I'll post it then!

Here is my weekly update:
How far along? 26 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 16 lbs.
Maternity clothes? Yes...but I can still wear some non-maternity shirts depending on the type of shirt. I can still wear some of my t-shirts, as well as, some of my longer shirts.
Stretch marks? Nope...crossing fingers that I don't get any! :)
Sleep: Waking up once or twice a night to go to the bathroom, but overall, sleeping fairly well.
Best moment this week: Hitting the 99 day mark and finally being in two digits rather than three!! :)
Movement: Yes! He is moving a lot, and I love it!
Food cravings: Ramen Noodles
Gender: Boy
Labor Signs: Nope, hopefully not for a little while longer.
Belly Button in or out? In but getting more shallow
What I am looking forward to: Putting the furniture in the Nursery and Decorating! And my Family Baby shower this upcoming Saturday! It is going to be so much fun!
Weekly Wisdom: I don't know...I guess I don't have any this week! :)
Milestones: Hitting the 99 day mark!! Yipee!!

Also, I passed my gestational diabetes screening, so no diabetes for me! I'm SO excited! This is great, and I'm thrilled that I have one less thing to worry about. They also tested my iron level while I was there last week, and it came back okay, as well. It's been a great week, and we've gotten so much accomplished. I can't wait to get more done, so we can get everything ready to go. Our weekends are booked solid for the next few months. I actually don't have a "free" weekend until January, so it's going to be busy, but we'll get it all done somehow! I'll be updating my To Do List today, as well, so if you are interested, check it out.

You can just call me...Mrs. Waterworks

Because I've broken down sobbing twice in the last 24 hours...I'm assuming that it's my hormones trying to play tricks on me and letting stupid little things bother me, but I'm going to try really hard to restrain myself the next time something stupid happens, and I feel like breaking into tears!

Last night on the way home from taking Banks to his Hunt Test, I got an email on my phone from my sister. She was updating me on who all was planning to come to my Family Baby Shower on Saturday, the 24th. I read through the list, and I came across one of Grant's sisters, and she had replied "No". I can't tell you how disappointed that I was to see that. Showers work much better for me on Sunday, because we have a busy schedule, but we planned it for Saturday, because she told us that she wouldn't be able to come if we didn't have it on a Saturday. So, Saturday it is...then, she volunteered to help my sister with the shower, and she bailed on helping, because she was "too busy with work". Okay, I understand that...we are all busy, and I can't blame her for not wanting to help. Then, I sent her an email in early August, and I told her the date of the shower, so she would be able to work around her schedule and make it. She emailed me last week and told me she thought that she would be able to make it, and she would let me know by the end of the week. I never heard back from her but apparently, she emailed my sister and told her that it was her boyfriends birthday weekend, and she felt like she needed to be there to celebrate with him, etc.

I sent an email to both of Grant's sister's inviting them to stay with us the night of the shower, and I never heard back from either of them. I doubt his other sister will come either, as I'm sure she has other things to do, as well, though she has known the date for quite some time also. As soon as I saw the email, I mentioned something to Grant about it, and I just burst into tears. I am extremely hurt that they don't make an effort to come and share things with me and to be a part of my life. I love them both, and we get along great, and they are fun to be around, but they don't make things that are important to Grant and I a priority. I felt like making the decision right then to not come to any showers that they ever have, because why would I make the effort if they don't make the effort for me.

Also, Grant's mom is very similar. She is coming to the shower, but she'll blow me off when I invite them to come to Athens to visit. They are always too busy or have something else going on. I emailed her almost two weeks ago, and she still hasn't call me back. I called her on Thursday and left her a voicemail asking her a few questions and asking her to call me back. I haven't heard from her yet. It's just so disappointing, and I feel like I can't count on them. It's so different from my family. If I called my dad this morning, and I said I needed something, he would drop everything and help me out. Same with my mom and sister, but I don't feel like I could do that with Grant's family. He knows this, and he has had similar experiences with his family, so he doesn't ask them for much, and he doesn't talk to them often. It just sucks, because I want to have a close relationship with them like I do with my parents.

The second time I cried was this morning...I was standing at the door waiting on Grant to help me carry some photos that I wanted to take to my office to my car, because they were heavy, and I had my hands full. I left the door open while I was waiting on him, and I was letting all the cool air from outside into the house, so he snapped at me about closing the door, because I was wasting energy, etc. I don't know what it was about him telling me that, but I just broke down into sobs, and I closed the door and took the photos to the car one by one by myself. Just thinking about it now makes me want to cry again...And it's SO stupid! He was just trying to avoid our power bill from being outrageous! Why am I so emotional?! I hate this, because it's SO untypical of me, and I want to be back to normal! Ha-Ha! Hopefully, I'll be back to normal before long!

What a way to start off a Monday morning...hope everyone else has a great Monday!!

On another note...check out this great offer from Traylor Papers:
"Send us an email to VIP@traylorpapers.com with your name & address and we'll send you a free customized card with your name. Tell us your favorite colors and/or style (i.e., whimsical, classic, girly..., etc.) and we'll try to make you a match ;) BONUS: post this offer on your blog or wall, send us a link and we'll send you a few extra! Good thru 10/28/09!"

Busy, Busy, Busy

So, as you can tell, I didn't make it back yesterday to update my blog! It was such a busy day, and I ended up not logging back in and not reading anyone's blogs at all yesterday. Since I went to the doctor, I was out of the office, so it put me a little behind at work. I had to do work when I normally would've been blogging, because I was out for the appointment.

The appointment went well, and if I don't hear anything back with results by the middle of next week, then I passed. Keeping my fingers crossed that they don't call next week! :) I ate a Chick-fil-a biscuit after the appointment, and it was SO good. I wasn't even hungry for lunch since it was so late, so I skipped lunch yesterday. I had a Cancer Auxiliary Meeting yesterday after work, so I didn't get home until about 8:45 or so, and I was ready to curl up with Grant and not think about catching up on blogs!

I'm busy today too, but I wanted to stop in and post a quick update...I also got my flu shot yesterday. It wasn't bad, and I didn't have any reactions, so I'm thrilled. I had never gotten a flu shot before, so I was a little concerned. Today, I have errands to run after work before I can go home, then Grant and I are taking Banks to his hunt test tomorrow, so we'll be gone all day on Saturday and Sunday.

Question for all you Mom's out there...What did you bring your newborn home from the hospital in? Did you buy a special outfit or did you have something made? If so, what was it? I'm trying to decide what to bring Weston home from the hospital in, and I really have no idea what to buy or bring for him to wear. Any suggestions from anyone? I'd love to hear them!

Since I said I would post my list of things I was thankful for yesterday and didn't...I'm going to post it today.

Anyways, today and everyday I am thankful for...

• Baby Weston - A great doctor's appointment...wonderful growth, appropriate weight gain, low blood pressure and a strong heartbeat! All good news! :)
  
• Mr. Harvey - I've been really busy lately and gone during the evenings on a regular basis, and he never says anything about my busy schedule or makes me feel like it's a burden. I feel bad, because if I'm not home, he has to come home and take the dog on a walk and cook dinner, etc., and he has no one to share the evening tasks with. So, I appreciate him, and I am thankful that he does those things without complaints.
  
• The Weather - As much as I hate the cold weather, I am loving it this year, because the cooler it gets outside, the closer it gets to the birth of Baby Harvey! I'm loving that it's getting cool out and trees are starting to change color. It's awesome!
  
• My Friends & Family - I have wonderful friends and family, and within the past week, I've received two baby shower invitations for showers that they are throwing for me. I'm so excited about the showers, and I'm so thankful and appreciative of their hard work and willingness to do something like that for me! I'm looking forward to the first one that's next weekend! Yay!!

Well, I guess that's all for now...Hope everyone has a great weekend, and I'll be back on Monday!

So...Hungry!!

So, I have my glucose tolerance test this morning during my doctor's appointment. My appointment is at 9:00 AM. I'm starving though, and I can't wait until it's over, so I can have something to eat! Keep your fingers crossed that the test will go well, and I can't wait to find out that I passed. I think I might also get the flu shot while I'm at the appointment, because I haven't gotten one yet.

Anyways, I'll be back around 10:00-10:30 AM, and I'll post about the appointment, as well as, a list of blessings for Thankful Thursday! :)

My Girls

As I was looking at photos today to print some out for our office, I came across photos from the Bridesmaid Luncheon, and I realized that these are the most important women in my life, so I wanted to post a photo of the women at the Luncheon, as well as, tell a little bit about each one and how we met. :)

From top left to bottom right: Laurie, Abby, Natalie, Rachel, Amanda, ME and Amanda

Laurie - My BFF since 5th Grade...She was one of the first people who talked to me when I started the 5th grade at a new school. We were also both thrown into the 4-H scene, and we both remained very active in our local and state 4-H program throughout high school. After high school, we went our separate ways...we were both 4-H counselors over the summer, but she went to UGA and I went to GC&SU. We didn't talk everyday, but we talked often, and we picked up right where we left off every time we had the opportunity to spend time together. This girl has been my right hand through so many adventures in the last 16 years, and I wouldn't trade her friendship for anything!

Abby - Friends since college...we were both involved in 4-H throughout high school, but she thought I was a snob, so we weren't really great friends. Turns out that we both went to GC&SU, and we lived across from one another in the dorms. We ended up hitting it off, and we were inseparable along with our roommates for the remainder of college. We still all four get together at least every other month to spend time together.

Natalie - After college friends...Natalie and I went to high school together, yet she was four years older than me, so we didn't know one another well. I graduated from college, and I moved to Athens where she was living. We both ended up going to a DZ Alumni Chapter Meeting in Athens one evening. We hit it off, and we grabbed one another's numbers, and we started spending a lot of time together. She is a steadfast friend who I've spent a lot of time with here in Athens since graduating, especially when Grant was living in Jesup. We spent many evenings drinking wine and chatting after work!

Rachel - My sorority little sister...I met Rachel at Ruby Tuesday's only a few days after she pledged Delta Zeta. I came up to her, and I told her that we would be friends, because we both had the name Rachel. At that time, there were no other Rachel's in our sorority. We began hanging out and found that we had a lot in common. We both are scarily alike in our relationship likes and dislikes. We enjoy many of the same things and some people even say we look alike. Our families are even from the same town of Columbus, GA.

Amanda - Where to start...she has been a lifesaver for me. Grant's friends have NEVER been real nice to me, mainly the girls or girlfriends of his friends. She was dating one of Grant's best friends, and I went to a wedding as Grant's date when we were dating, and she immediately gave me a hug and introduced herself. She was pretty much one of the only people that spoke to me or spent time with me that evening. She called me the very next week to see if I wanted to come over for dinner since Grant was living in Jesup, and we have been steadfast friends since. She spent a lot of time going out of her way to make me enjoy my time in Athens even though Grant was in Jesup. She has always included me, and I've enjoyed being the third wheel with her and her boyfriend on a regular basis when Grant was away! :)

Amanda - Not sure if you can see the resemblance, but this is my sister! We are two years apart, and we haven't always been extremely close, but in the past two years we have grown very close, and we talk to one another via phone, text or email almost daily. If I'm ever sad or upset about anything, I call my sister. I know that I have great friends, but my sister is the one who will never judge me and never ask questions. She'll listen to me and understand. If Grant and I have argued about something dumb, I call my sister. She doesn't think that Grant is a "bad" guy, because we've had a fight. She just listens to the situation, and she understands that we are being stupid, and we'll get over it in the morning. She is my shoulder to cry on, and I am so grateful to have her for a sister. She also takes after me and was a Delta Zeta at her college, as well. :)

Alright, so I've written a novel about my awesome bridesmaids, so I'll move on to some of the other important women in my life...

My Sister in Laws, Anna & Ashley

Both of my sister in laws are so much fun, and I really love and enjoy spending time with them. I'm so lucky that both of Grant's sisters and I immediately hit it off, and we've been friends since the beginning. I first met them both when Grant asked me to go with him to his sister, Anna's, graduation from college. They both came up and were able to make it to my Bachelorette Party, and I keep in touch with them regularly via email.

My Mom & Mother in Law

I'm blessed with a mom who I am very close to and talk to on a daily basis! She does so much for me, and I couldn't do it without her. I'm also very lucky to have a wonderful mother in law who is extremely easy going and enjoyable to be around. She doesn't meddle in our business or try to call or come visit on a regular basis. She is the best kind of mother in law to have! :)

We had a few others who were at the luncheon, but I don't have photos of them, including our grandmothers. Everyone is wonderful, and I have a great group of friends and family that I'm so lucky to have and who care about me and support me through all of life's challenges.

25 Weeks

Here I am at 25 Weeks...I still took the photo in the morning, because it's really the best time for Grant and I to take a photo! Usually by the evenings, he gets home later than I do, and I cook dinner and put on some comfortable pants for wearing around the house or PJ pants, and so, I don't usually want to take a photo in one of those outfits. I also noticed that I've worn a black shirt in all three pictures that I've posted...I'm going to have to change it up next Tuesday and wear a different colored shirt. At least they were all three different black shirts! Ha-Ha! :) I think that my face is getting fuller, and I'm not very thrilled about that! I'm hoping that it's just the angle, because I don't notice it in the mirror. I think I might take a photo face forward rather than turning my head to see. :)

Update: I took a photo of myself face forward to see if my face had gotten fuller, and it definitely looks like it has...not good!! I don't like that at all, so hopefully, I can prevent it from getting any more full in the next few months!

How far along? 25 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: Not really sure, but I think about 12-13 lbs. I go to the Doctor on Thursday, so I'll know for sure then.
Maternity clothes? Yes...but I can still wear some non-maternity shirts depending on the type of shirt. I can still wear some of my t-shirts, as well as, some of my longer shirts.
Stretch marks? Nope...crossing fingers that I don't get any! :)
Sleep: Waking up once or twice a night to go to the bathroom, but overall, sleeping fairly well.
Best moment this week: Today when I woke up and realized that I was at 25 weeks, and I only have 15 left to go! Yipee!! :)
Movement: Yes! He is moving a lot, and I love it!
Food cravings: Nothing in particular...
Gender: Boy
Labor Signs: Nope, hopefully not for quite a while longer.
Belly Button in or out? In but getting more shallow
What I am looking forward to: Decorating the Nursery! and my next Dr.'s Appointment.
Weekly Wisdom: I don't know...I guess I don't have any this week! :)
Milestones: One more week behind me and only 15 Weeks to go!

I had to edit this post and add one more photo...everyone keeps commenting about Banks being in every photo! He is the best dog. So loyal, and he loves me so much. I hate to say it, but he is definitely partial to me over Grant. Probably because I spend the most time loving on him, but he is a loving dog, and he just comes and sits with me in these pictures every week. I never have to say a word. He sees me go to the door, and he comes and sits down right next to me. He's awesome! So, the first photo that we took today, he decided to lick my fingers / hand to see if there was anything on them that he might want to eat and Grant caught him in the act. You can also see his rooster toy in the photo below. He carries that toy around with him everywhere, but he dropped it to be in the photo. :) See proof below...

I must admit...I love this dog!!

And our list grows...

So, over the weekend we started to clean out the closet and begin organizing and preparing for a garage sale / Goodwill trip. And we came up with numerous more things that need to be done, so I'm updating our list from last week, as well as, adding some more items to the list, so I can keep track. We also came up with additional items that we need to purchase, so I'm updating that, as well. Let's hope it begins to get shorter soon! :)

I've decided to color coat each item, as well, so it's easier to see who is doing each item.
Red - Grant
Blue - Rachel
Black - Both of us together

Weston's Room
- Tape for Brown & White Stripes - DONE
- Paint Brown & White Stripes on Wall - DONE
- Tape for Green Stripes on Wall (By 10/16) - DONE
- Paint Green Stripes on Wall (By 10/18) - DONE
- Move High Chair from Weston's Closet to Downstairs Closet - DONE
- Touch-Up Trim (By 10/18) - DONE
- Clean Blinds & Floor well before moving in Furniture (By 10/23)
- Install Dimmer Switch (By 10/23) - DONE
- Move Crib into Weston's Room (By 10/25)
- Put Crib Bedding on Crib (By 10/25)
- Hang Wall Hangings - Canvases, Frames, Gr0wth Chart, Shelf & Name Letters (By 10/31)
- Install Window Valence & Curtains (By 11/8)
- Set Up Diaper Area (By 11/30)
- Organize and Clean Closet (By 1/1)
- Wash Clothes & Hang / Organize in Closet or Dresser Drawer (By 1/1)

Weston's Bathroom
- Hang Canvas Artwork on Wall (10/25)
- Pick Up Monogrammed Towels and put in bathroom (10/25)
- Hang Hooks on back of Door (10/25)

Our House
- Organize Hall Closet Upstairs (By 10/11) - DONE
- Organize Hall Closet Downstairs (By 10/11) - DONE
- Remove Old Desk from Office (10/25) - DONE
- Move Grant's old Chest from Guest Bedroom to Office (10/25) - DONE
- Clean out Old Desk in Office (10/25) - DONE
- Clean out Dresser in Guest Bedroom and move to garage to prepare to take to Goodwill / Garage Sale (10/25) - In Progress
- Move old Bedside table in Guest Bedroom to garage to prepare to take to Goodwill / Garage Sale (10/25) - DONE
- Get my Antique Furniture from Mom & Dad's house and move to Guest Bedroom (10/25)
- Rearrange photos on wall in Guest Bedroom to coordinate with new furniture (10/25)
- Hang additional photos in office / update old photos (10/25)
- Frame photo of UGA Farm Truck and hang in Office (10/25)
- Hang Curtain Rod & Curtains in Guest Bedroom (10/25)
- Clean out and organize File Cabinet in Office (10/25) - DONE
- Organize items to move into Attic (10/25) - DONE
- Decorate & Organize Weston's Bathroom (By 11/1)
- Clean Out & Organize Guest Bedroom Closet (By 11/14) - DONE
- Deep Cleaning!! (By 1/1)
- Hang Floral Canvas Prints in Dining Room (1/1)
- Hang prayer on wall in Dining Room (1/1)
- Hang hooks in Closet for Ties & Purses (1/1)

Left to Purchase
October
- Order Dresser / Changing Table - DONE
- Purchase Small Table next to Glider from Target
- Curtain Rod for Valance & Curtains
- Bin for Diapers & Books - DONE
- Cork Board
- White Hooks for Bathroom Door & Closet

November
- Buy Lamp x's 2
- Purchase Glider & Ottoman
- Purchase Changing Pad Cover
- Blue Hand Towels for Bathroom - DONE
- Blue Wash Cloths for Bathroom Basket
- White Basket for Toilet in Bathroom

If the item is "In Progress" or "DONE", I've bolded the item! :)

Coupon / Sale Request

So, I've never been much of a coupon user, because I don't usually have the patience to cut coupons, but I've been reading comments, status updates from people who have been cutting coupons and saving lots of money, and I'm interested.

I've got to relax and just cut coupons once a week, so I'm asking you guys. Where do you guys get your coupons? I know that there are some blogs for sales and coupons out there, and I know that there are other coupons in various locations, but I'm not sure where they are at. If any of you use any of these resources and can point me in the right direction, I would appreciate it.

To Do List

Edit - I've got an update to the below list already!! Grant has already finished painting the brown and white stripes! He is so ready to get it done that he may even at least have the tape done for the green stripes this weekend. Yipee!! :)

So, I've decided to make a a To-Do List. We have approximately 16 weeks left until Weston makes his appearance, but there are still quite a few things that we need to do around our house and in his room, as well as, things that we still need to purchase. So, I'm going to make a list, and I'll update this list weekly on my blog, so I can keep track of my status and try to remain on track with everything that needs to be done. I'd like to have everything finished by January 1st.

Weston's Room
- Tape for Brown & White Stripes - DONE
- Paint Brown & White Stripes on Wall - DONE
- Tape for Green Stripes on Wall (By 10/16)
- Paint Green Stripes on Wall (By 10/18)
- Move Crib into Weston's Room (By 10/25)
- Put Crib Bedding on Crib (By 10/25)
- Hang Wall Hangings - Canvases, Frames, Growth Chart, Shelf & Name Letters (By 10/31)
- Organize and Clean Closet (By 1/1)
- Wash Clothes & Hang / Organize in Closet or Dresser Drawer (By 1/1)
- Touch-Up Trim (By 10/18)
- Clean Blinds & Floor well before moving in Furniture (By 10/23)
- Install Dimmer Switch (By 10/23)
- Install Window Valence & Curtains (By 11/8)
- Set Up Diaper Area (By 11/30)

Our House
- Organize Hall Closet Upstairs (By 10/11)
- Organize Hall Closet Downstairs (By 10/11)
- Decorate & Organize Weston's Bathroom (By 11/1)
- Clean Out & Organize Guest Bedroom Closet (By 11/14)
- Deep Cleaning!! (By 1/1)

Left to Purchase
October
- Order Dresser / Changing Table
- Purchase Small Table next to Glider from Target
- Curtain Rod for Valance & Curtains
- Bin for Diapers & Books

November
- Buy Lamp x's 2
- Purchase Glider & Ottoman
- Purchase Changing Pad Cover

So, have I missed anything that needs to be done before he gets here? I'm not sure...this doesn't include little things that I need to do like packing his diaper bag and packing my hospital bag. Can you guys think of anything that I'm missing?

We have Daycare prospects!! Yay!!

As much as I would love to either work from home, have my own business and work my own hours or be a SAHM with little Weston, I know that it's just not something that we can do right now, so I'll be going back to work after Weston is born.

As some of you may know, finding daycare can be a bit traumatizing and a very in depth process. You can also be faced with no vacancies and possibly wait lists. After lots of looking and reviewing different locations via the GA Daycare Licensing website, I've made some calls. And now, we are set-up to go and visit two of them within the next two weeks, and I can't wait.

We are visiting one that is about 2-3 miles from our office, and I'm loving that. It's on the opposite side of town than we live on, so it's close to the office, if I needed to, I could go by anytime, and it's closer to my parents, so if my mom or dad ever was going to keep him for an evening, it wouldn't be too far for them to drive to pick him up. This location is my first choice without visiting her home.

The second one that we are visiting is my second choice location. It is in a neighborhood located right across the road from our neighborhood, and it's a nice location, but it's a 20 minute drive from our office. It would be difficult for me to just come by if needed, and it would be tough for my parents to pick him up, because it would be an extra 20 minute drive from their house.

Anyways, I'm looking forward to visiting, and I'm so glad that we finally have something scheduled to look at daycare. Grant has been on me for weeks about calling and making some appointments, but I've been putting it off, because I thought it would be a stressful process, and I didn't feel like dealing with it. Ha-Ha!

I'll keep you all posted! :)

24 Weeks

24 Week Photo

*Please ignore my face...It looks huge and pale! I swear it's not that big, but it's a terrible angle! And for some reason, I think it's a good idea to take the photos in the morning before going to work when I've just woken up...obviously not a good idea! I'll change my timing for next week! :)

So, I'm 24 weeks today, and I can't tell if I've gotten any bigger than last week. Compared to last week's photos, what do you guys think? By the way, I did not ask Banks to come get in the picture and sit next to me like that, he just does it. He is too funny! :)

How far along? 24 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: Not really sure, but I think about 12-13 lbs.
Maternity clothes? Yes...but I can still wear some non-maternity shirts depending on the fit.
Stretch marks? Nope...crossing fingers that I don't get any! :)
Sleep: Waking up once or twice a night to go to the bathroom, but overall, sleeping fairly well.
Best moment this week: Feeling Weston have hiccups! Too cute! :)
Movement: Yes! He was moving when I woke up on Sunday night, and I couldn't believe that he was awake and moving!
Food cravings: Nothing really, just hungry often!
Gender: Boy
Labor Signs: Nope, hopefully not for quite a while longer.
Belly Button in or out? In but getting more shallow
What I am looking forward to: Decorating the Nursery! and my next Dr.'s Appointment.
Weekly Wisdom: If you aren't set on stripes, avoid them! They cause your husband to cuss! :)
Milestones: One more week behind me, other than that no big milestones this week!

On another note, I decided to post a really terrible beginning photo...this picture was taken about a week after I found out that I was prego, and I was trying to take the photo by myself and obviously the lighting was terrible. I think it's amazing to see the difference in the beginning to now. And to think that all I could think about was how my stomach was huge, because I was SO bloated in this photo when I first took it, and I didn't want to post it! Ha-Ha!