The Best Thing to Ever Happen in Our Lives?

I LOVE MY HUSBAND! I cannot imagine loving another human being as much as I love Brett. Brett and I have been a twosome for almost nine years now. We are perfect! We "fit", we complement each other, we are after all "two petes in a pod!".

Over the last 35 weeks there have been moments of anxiety when I think about sharing Brett, how our relationship is going to change, adjusting to a stranger joining our "pod", being a Mom, the fear of bringing Cannon into the world.

I have read in many books that my feelings are natural but when I ran into a fellow preggo a few days ago and she was so full of excitement, no doubts, no fears, just sheer BLISS; I worried about my normalcy.

On Christmas night, my dear sweet husband had to comfort me as I cried over sharing HIM, the pain of childbirth, needing a glider for the nursery, sore boobs, sleepness nights, never being ALONE with my husband, the pain of bringing Cannon into the world, will I be able to nurse, will he be a good baby, how can I love someone as much as I love Brett and more!

Brett comforted me in saying that "everyone says it is the best thing that has ever happened in their lives". It is hard to imagine anything better than my husband. If Cannon is better then I am going to be putty in his little hands.

Christmas

Two "Petes"

I have always looked forward to the day when I could host my family in my home for Christmas. This year it became a reality when my doctor said, "NO traveling home for the holidays". Brett and I decorated and cleaned our home, we planned our menus for the entire holiday, wrapped presents and waited for our guests to arrive.

My family came in on Saturday: Dad, Mom, Chad, Stacy and Wade! On Saturday, we just hung out and snacked on dips and such! That night we feasted on garlic and pepper crusted pork loin, apple and cranberry stuffing, butterbeans, collards (yuck!) and more! My mom made the Hardee family "traditions" chocolate pound cake and "green stuff". We were all thoroughly entertained throughout the evening by my brother, Chad. He is a riot! He took tons of pictures and many of himself. It was so wonderful to share my home with them. Chad is so happy about Cannon, he could not stop touching my belly and giggling about how "funny" I looked! He bought Cannon a cute rubber ducky to match the one he has at home. He apparently spent quite a bit of time at the mall trying to find Nike shoes for newborns!

Cannon and Uncle Chad having a "serious" discussion.

On Sunday, we had chicken and dumplings for lunch (a family fav). They left on Sunday afternoon and we waited for Brett's parents to arrive. They got in late Sunday night.

On Monday, Carla and I went to the mall just to walk around. It was great going to the mall on Christmas Eve and not needing to purchase one thing! The mall was actually very slow!

On Monday night, we had our Lovelace Christmas Eve Tradition of SEAFOOD: roasted oysters, fried oysters, shrimp and hushpuppies!

On Christmas morning, we all slept in. Brett decided that he wanted to start a new tradition of reading the Christmas story each year so he read it to everyone. We then opened gifts and had Christmas dinner. That night we watched the nativity story and played games. We got Brett's parents to reluctantly play Cranium! It was hilarious, especially when Carla had to be "Madonna" and she chose to sing "Like a Virgin"! and when Tom laid on the floor and got Carla to guess he was a "Pig in a Blanket"! I think they enjoyed themselves!

Cannon's "MiMi and Poppy"

Yesterday, Brett and I took down all our decorations! We've been joking that we are the Scrooges of the neighborhood. Our house looks like we never had Christmas. We had to get it packed away quickly...Christmas has passed and now we have to get ready for little Cannon!

Why?

This weekend, friends of ours lost their little girl. Lilli Grace was 18 months old and lost her life. It was a tragic accident and it has many of us asking, "Why?"

Lilli Grace was a special gift from God, her parents tried to get pregnant for a while and many of my friends at Calvary experienced this journey with them. Our prayers helped bring her in the world, her parents wanted her so desparately, loved her so much and now she is gone.

Tomorrow, Lilli Grace will be buried. Please pray for this family and for all of my friends that love this family. Please pray that we will all see "God in this tragedy" and that He will be glorified through our actions as we love and support this family.

http://www.mdjonline.com/content/index/showcontentitem/area/1/section/14/item/101081.html

34 weeks

I had my 34 week checkup on Tuesday. I have gained 13 pounds, the heartbeat was fine and I am measuring "perfectly", according to my doctor.

I have another appointment in 2 weeks. I will have a group b streph test then. I do not have to have any pelvic exams because I am having a c-section! Yippee!

We only have 5 more weeks until Cannon joins us! His room is still not ready!!! We need to get busy!

That Francie!

When my friend, Francie, found out I was pregnant she asked, "Does that mean I get to throw you a vampy baby shower?". "Of course!", I said. I knew that she would be responsible for a CRAZY day and it would be tons of fun for me and everyone involved. You see, Francie and Jennifer just happened to be the hostesses of the "FAMOUS" Trailer Park Shower!

Group Shot from the Trailor Park Shower (for Sarah).

This weekend, Francie, Michelle Wilson and Sarah Randall hosted a baby shower for me. The theme was a secret and although I knew it was going to be GREAT fun I was a little anxious. I kept wondering if this shower's theme is "my complete opposite", who am I? Do you ever wonder that? When people are talking about you when you are not around (and you KNOW they do) what do they say? I have always wanted to know what people REALLY think about me and I was afraid I was about to find out! :)

When I arrived at the shower, I noticed my friend Michelle Floyd wearing a halter top thing and then she pulled out a red, chiffon looking thing. I asked are we having a "Hoochy Shower", which I thought means I am a total prude??

As I walked to the townhouse door, I noticed Francie wearing a cute jeans and a shirt with a Moroccan shawl around her waist. I then realized the theme! A Moroccan baby shower! If you know me at all, you know that I LOVE to eat at the Casbah which is this Moroccan restaurant in Savannah. It is great, you sit at short little tables, eat with your fingers and even watch belly dancers! I take all of my "out-of-towners" there! Brett hates it and I do not get to go as often as I wish.

Well, these sweet girls created Morocco in Michelle's living room! The room was dimly lit and had chocolate and red fabric draped from the ceiling, they created a table on the floor surrounded by silk pillows in rich Moroccan colors. Moroccan music filled the air! The girls welcomed me and draped me in 2 red shawls with gold coins, I also received cute earrings that matched!

Our beautiful table.

Moroccan ME!

After everyone arrived, we were seated at the table and did the ceremonial hand washing. We were all instructed to eat with our right hands, no forks! The girls began to serve our four course meal which consisted of carrot salad, a vegetable stew, lamb kabobs and baklava.

Carrot Salad, YUMMO!

Throughout the event, Francie showed off her skills by giving all the guest henna tattoos! She was really good and is considering it as a part-time job!

Throughout dinner, Sarah shared Moroccan "fun facts" about pregnancy and traditions. Sarah explained that in Moroccan culture friends/family present the Mom-to-be with hand embroidered linens then she presented me with an "American" version from my hostesses. It was a sheet made of the softest material with Cannon's monogram embroidered on it. Another custom is that the father reads a portion of the "Bible" in the newborn's ear, with this custom in mind Sarah wrote a special prayer for me, Brett and Cannon. It was so thoughtful.

The "gift" portion of the shower was intended to fill Cannon's bookshelf. Many of the guest gave their favorite childhood book. He received a pig book from the "Pig Farmer", some "grouchy" books from the "grouch", and even a personalized book from Staci.

It was an amazing, intimate experience. There was a small group of us and the girls did an amazing job, they spent a lot of time really thinking about how to make this a special day and they exceeded all my expectations. It was perfect!

Again, I felt so LOVED. I am truly blessed to have these girls in my life. I thank you with all my heart, Michelle, Francie and Sarah. You created a very special day for me. I love you, girls!

Front: Michelle Wilson, Francie, Sarah, Me, Cheryl. Back: Michelle and Staci.

Weight!

Apparently, when you are pregnant weight becomes an obsession. Not just an obsession of the pregnant person either.

Early in my pregnancy, the moment there was a "hint" of a bump, Dr. Edwards warned me that everyone would begin to comment about my weight. He said "small people" would say I was "small" and "big" people would say I was "big". He warned me not to listen to them.

Well, I have been told I was "fat", I have been told I am "very small", "too small" , and I have been told that I have not gained nearly enough weight to be this far along. There have been good comments too, but those do not seem to "stick" with you like the others.

All the while, I have found comfort in my doctor's opinion that he is happy with my weight gain.

Today at my 32 week check up, he entered the room asked how I was and then said, "Your weight gain is GREAT!" I said, "thank you, that is not what I am hearing from others". Dr. Edwards went on the explain that when I became pregnant I was not at my "ideal weight" (nice way of saying I needed to loose some weight). Considering my starting point and where I am now; I weigh the appropriate amount for someone my height this far along in her pregnancy! Basically, I needed to loose about 10 pounds.

He said that the baby is very parasitic (hehe) and takes from the fat reserves that a woman already has. The baby will take whatever it needs before the mother gets anything, if he needs calcium and you do not have enough, he will take it from your bones! Basically, his point was that every woman is different and if you happen to have extra weight when you get pregnant that you do not necessarily have to gain the recommended 25-35 pounds a.k.a. 50 pounds!

So there! Right now, I am fine and Cannon is healthy and I have only gained 12 pounds and my doctor is pleased. Take the ten pounds I needed to loose, add it to the 12 I have gained and that makes 22 pounds! Maybe I'll start adding 10 pounds to my weight gain when people ask how much I have gained. :)

Hopefully, this will help to ease any concerns for those of you that have them, my weight gain is Great!