38 Weeks with Sutton

I just hate that I didn't document this pregnancy as well as I did for Craws. I had a muuuch more difficult first trimmest this time but overall this pregnancy has been much easier. I remember having more complications later on with Crawford. I think it was more or less side effects and symptoms I had never had before (like acid reflux) that really made me feel so differently last time. This time around when I was experiencing one of the normal pregnancy side effects I was prepared and sort of knew what was going on with my body.

I definitely did not work out as much with this baby (which is weird for me.) I thought I would feel more comfortable working out this time around since I did so well working out with Craw. First of all I felt terribly ill the first 12-13 weeks so that already got me out of a normal working out routine. Once I felt well enough to work out (around the end of December) I did really start working out normally again. I continued working out ~5 days a week all the way until March. When we moved to the new house my gym was muuuch further away. I often would opt to stay home and spend my morning before work with Crawford instead of working out (which I don't regret at all). Workouts like Pure Barre were getting more and more difficult. I hated to spend the money when I felt like I did not have the same stamina for that sort of workout. I started doing a lot of step and spin at the new Y. I probably did more 5 am workouts this time around but less 8:30 workouts before my 11-9 work days. I have not taken as many walks at night as I did with craw.

I always felt much stiffer and tired after work this time around than I did with Craw. It could be b/c our lunch breaks are now 30 minutes or the fact that we have to go to the other walmart and work for 30 minutes there which all takes an extra toll on the body.

Eating-- I think I have probably eaten healthier this time around. With Craw I had weirder cravings and would randomly eat fast food (which I despise in general). Other than Chick-fil-A I haven't had any terribly unhealthy French fry cravings like last time. I definitely didn't eat bad in the first trimester because I felt soo sick. I wanted bland things to eat. I had no sweet tooth either. Bad part is the sweet tooth returned in the second trimester as was crazy. I started gaining weight like crazy. I also had a lot of food aversions like I did with Craw. With Craw I hated meat most of my pregnancy (and became anemic). This time around I never had trouble with meat and so at least my protein intake was remaining consistent. I ate lunch out more this time just because I couldn't ever decide what to bring for lunch. Around mid March I made a conscious effort to not eat out for lunch. I have brought my lunch very consistently ever since. I have only eaten with Brad maybe 3-4 times since March. My sweet tooth has vanished within the last two weeks and for that I am soo grateful. I have enjoyed drinks other than water much more than I ever have. I love a fountain diet coke, a sip or half of Brad's sweet tea, lemonade, crystal lite (things I never ever drink.)

Nursery- Poor baby girl....I have bits and pieces of her nursery ready. I wanted things simple only because I didn't really find a design I was crazy about.  I decided on a white crib skirt and a white bumper with gray  ties. I then found this adorable pattern below and decided to have it just on the inside of the crib and I love how it turned out. Simple from the outside but still sweet and cute on the inside. She will have the same restoration hardware picture frames Craw had in his room and we will fill them with sweet newborn pics. I have a newborn sign for the door being made and some wooden initials being made for above her crib. Amy's Aunt is making her roman shades and those are still in the process as well. She probably won't have a complete room until after she arrives but that's ok as I am sure she will be hanging with us downstairs for the first little bit.

 

Her due date is June 5th and I have a scheduled c-section on June 4. The doctor wanted to do it on May 29 (at 39 weeks) but I already had my maternity  leave approved and in place and it's so hard to switch things around at work so we are crossing our fingers we make it to June 4th (I know we will). She will also share a birthday with my adorable Goddaughter Ava and that will be so special as well!

 

I have bought everything and anything with her initials and name on it. I have bought cute headbands and swaddle blankets and I just can't wait to put her in the sweetest little outfits.

Brad was just offered a job and it was just terrible timing with us welcoming the baby in a few weeks. They wanted him to start today (which would have meant he would have had to take time off just 1.5 weeks after starting a new job). We thought long and hard about this and are really thankful that he is going to take at least the first part of the summer hanging with the family. It will help us all to get adjusted to this new life. We are hopeful he will find something just as good in the future and I know he will get back in the job swing of things before too long.

Nana is retiring in July and her and Papa have so kindly offered to help out anytime with the kids. They have been such a blessing in our lives. Without having a mom or dad (and none of my sisters here) I can't believe how lucky I am to have had such wonderfully kind and generous in-laws. They treat Crawford like their own and he literally would live there every day if we let him. I can't wait to see their bond with our sweet little girl.

 

I am enjoying my last long weekend with the fam and soaking up all the fun that Craw brings to the mix. We have been asking him what he wants to do and really trying to make the days about him right now. He will get to go to summer camp and I think he will love it. They will have water play time every day he goes and I know he will be worn out and loving all the extra play time.

 

 

Well that was just a bunch of things I wanted to document before baby arrives. 

Dollywood

Nana and Papa  have season tickets to Dollywood. They had some free guest passes and so we were all excited to spend the weekend in Pigeon Forge. We woke up early Friday and had breakfast at Cracker Barrel. Craw asked every few minutes "are we there yet." Once we arrived we were able to check into our cabin. The town was filling up in anticipation of Dolly arriving to town. She rides in an annual parade and people had chairs lining the parkway when we pulled into town. We were able to go into the park at 3:00 and the crowd level was perfect. Craw and daddy rode a roller coaster first. He loved it. Then we moved on to the flying elephants and some other kiddie rides. Soon enough he was begging to ride the Dollywood Express (the black coal engine train he had been talking about for weeks at this point). He loved it except for the loud steam whistle that blew every few minutes. Then he was able to ride the cars (they are on a track but you are able to steer the wheel) it had to be the highlight of his day.

 

 

 

He just took the wheel like he knew exactly what he was doing.

 

He was racing a car next to us so he would hardly even look at me to tell me if he was having fun

 

Craw got to ride the carousel with Nana and he enjoyed it.

On Saturday Hope and Carter joined in on the fun. The park was muuuch more crowded. It was hard to enjoy much of anything due to the crowd level. However, these 3 kids have a great time together no matter what.

 

Brad loved driving the cars too (clearly)

 

having fun watching daddy and Bobby ride roller coasters.

 

They were getting delirious by the end of the day.

 

teacups

 

He HAD to ride in the RED elephant.

 

not sure why brad decided to ride ha!

he wasn't sure what to do once we buckled him in and left him in there by himself. However within minutes he was cheesing and moving the bee up and down with the lever.

 

 

Riding on the tram to get to the park

 Craw and I cruising on the track

Between the park and the cabin the kids had a ball. The cabin had a giant air hockey table, pool table, and fooseball table. They loved playing with all of it. They spent the evening playing in the hot tub. We also watched Frozen in the movie theater. I think everyone had a great time together and we really enjoyed watching Craw enjoy the park!

2014 pictures

 

Well since we spent most of 2014 getting our new house ready we were all over the place. We lived out our last month at the townhouse in Greer in January. Then moved to the Redds for the month of February and finally made it to our new house in March.

 

I had an unexpected shift at work till 9:00 on Valentine's Day. Brad picked up Pf Changs and his mom set the mood. It was sweet! And of course Craw was there to add extra fun!

The 3 cousins are either running around wild or sitting there peacefully playing on the iPad (but really they are usually running wild)

 

 

A fun Saturday at Nana and Papa's. The 3 kids will take turns driving the truck and playing in the sandbox.

 

This day they decided to collect leaves from the yard and take them to the burn pile.

 

 

bubble fun in Nana's backyard.



Post-bath--means wild time! One would think a bath would calm a child down...it does the exact opposite to Craw.

 



 

We love going to Barnes and Noble. He ALWAYS picks out every book with a train on the cover to read and then plays with the train table.

 

A night living at the Redds...after dinner popcorn and Paw Patrol for Crawford.

 

I can't believe we lived at Nana's for a month ---that meant a month of dessert..something new for all each night!

 

He loves painting and eating cheese at Nana's table.

 

After a long afternoon of playing hard with Nana and Papa.

 

He always asks if he can go to church with Nana. She teaches Sunday school and he loves it.

 

probably making brownies or cookies once again.

 

 building a fort in his crib at Nanas.

 

From here we moved into March where Craw helped us get settled into the new house.

 

Helping Pap move the mattress over.

 

Oh of course he has a cookie in his hand (he is definitely Nana's little grandson)

 

 

 

coffee with mommy and daddy at the new house

he often wakes up and goes straight to his playroom

 

a fun trip to Costco with Aunt Cat. His two favorite things: pizza and hot dogs.

 

his new seat up at the island getting ready for dinner

 

being sweet at Nana's house

 

Nana and Papa took the kids to downtown Greer to a transportation expo. They got to get inside school buses, limos, fire trucks, moving trucks, tractors...a boy's dream

melts my heart how much they love each other. Papa is the best with Craw and they really are the best of friends!



 

These are some of his favorite things that he spends his days doing with Papa. He never wants to leave when he gets there.

 

 

 

Craw met "the girls" next door and can't get enough. He asks for them every day and loves playing with them. This is Ainslee she is 4 and dressed Craw up as Doc Mcstuffins. Don't worry he takes them in his truck and plays trains with them at our house.

 

I can't even count the number of cookie baking pictures we have.

 

These two cousins watching paw patrol together.

 

He surprisingly likes the dentist. It probably helps that she walks in singing the Thomas the train theme song, he watches any movie he wants on the ceiling while his teeth get cleaned, and makes him animals out of her gloves,

 

post dentist celebration at the bounce house.

 

hair cut to cap the day off