36 Weeks!

3 weeks and 2 days remain until my due date... And I am so excited!!

I will admit, these past few weeks have been very hard for me. I have a ton of emotions and they have been very hard to compartmentalize and move on! (At this moment I am hearing the Jamie Foxx song "Blame it on the Alcohol", but instead of alcohol I am hearing HORMONES haha) I am just anxious, aggravated, miserable, excited, happy- all at the same time, how can that be possible? Today driving into work I was feeling really down and not very excited about starting the work week. Mostly, because I am tired and have nausea and heartburn creeping back in and it would be much easier for me to stay in bed and rest my feet! I guess I was mostly just feeling bad for myself! So when I got to work, I was reading http://www.babycenter.com/, a weekly read for me, and I came across a great article and made me realize what this is really about and I should soak up these last few weeks and be thankful that God has given me the blessing of carrying a child. These last few weeks I need to take this life in and enjoy to small things like having Ryan to myself (instead of bickering at him), because when Presley comes she will be his girl too, Love Roxy and Kyson a little more, I need to do what I want when I want because after Presley it is her schedule, I need to enjoy long showers, rest when I feel like resting, watch TV etc... Because it won't be like this for long!! Here is the list from the article:

1. You finally stop to smell the roses, because your baby is in your arms.
2. Where you once believed you were fearless, you now find yourself afraid.
3. The sacrifices you thought you made to have a child no longer seem like sacrifices.
4. You respect your body ... finally.
5. You respect your parents and love them in a new way.
6. You find that your baby's pain feels much worse than your own.
7. You believe once again in the things you believed in as a child.
8. You lose touch with the people in your life whom you should have banished years ago.
9. Your heart breaks much more easily.
10. You think of someone else 234,836,178,976 times a day.
11. Every day is a surprise.
12. Bodily functions are no longer repulsive. In fact, they please you. (Hooray for poop!)
13. You look at your baby in the mirror instead of yourself.
14. You become a morning person.
15. Your love becomes limitless, a superhuman power.

Other things in Life!

Ryan started a new job at Navy Federal Credit Union last Monday! HOORAY!! He is very excited about the opportunities that the company has to offer. It makes me happy to see him excited to get up and go to work :) Not to mention, the perfect timing.

We did our tax return last night and we are getting back almost $2,000.00, talk about excited! For the past 3 years, we had to pay!! I guess we are just getting all our money back!

Now, I am a true believer in old wives tales and they say good things happen in 3's- That means the only thing lacking is our baby girl!! :) Come on Presley!

Nursery Pictures

They don't do it justice, but they will work. I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the way everything turned out! I just love to go in there and sit!! =) I can't wait to bring Presley home and introduce her to her room, I just know she will love it hehe!

32 weeks & 6 days

Well, 7 weeks and 1 day to go...

I think I can do it--if, I can get some sleep!! Doesn't look like that will be happening anytime soon!! ha. I have gained 20 pounds so far, not too bad to be 8 months pregnant! We went to the doctor yesterday and everything looked great, he said we still have a happy baby and that is the only thing that matters... It will be worth it! I think Ryan feels my pain, just a little differently, not physically, but I complain to him enough I am sure he is tired of hearing about it!! Maybe that is the reason he has been spending so much time at the hunting camp.. hummm, I would like to think it is just the end of hunting season :)

This past weekend I had my first baby shower! It was so exciting and fun. It was great to have all of my favorite girlfriends come together and celebrate Presley. Amber, Rachel, Stefanie and Lindsey did a great job putting everything together- Thank you girls it really was outstanding! I hope to have some pictures soon- I forgot my camera (pregnancy brain) so I am relying on everyone else. Oops! Presley really got some cute things-- she is going to be such a prissy princess and I cannot wait to spoil her. It is funny, because I look back at some of the outfits that my mom and Granny put me in and they were awful. I am afraid in 25 years Presley will do the same thing- that is what Moms are supposed to do, RIGHT?!?

Things around our house have been a little crazy... we moved in, Christmas came in went, the nursery is completed (pictures coming soon), now we are just waiting on our baby girl. But, as most of you know Ryan lost his job in August and it has been hard on us having that insecurity. So I am just asking that each of you say a little prayer for us as he continues the hunt. I know God will bless us with what is right, but has been hard to stay positive. Don't get me wrong, we are truly blessed and things could be much worse. I just hope and pray that by March, Ryan finds something that is right for our family.

Here is to having a great 2010...

Christmas Time!

These past few days have been extremely hectic in the Spikes Household!! It is always hard to visit all family, it always happens that one event gets left out :( There just isn't enough time to do everything. I thought it was hard every year, but this year being 7 months pregnant was by far the hardest! I was completely exhausted by the end of each day!

On Wednesday, December 23rd we had a doctors appointment and ultrasound (Pictures to follow...) Everything went well! Mom, Amber, Meredith and Cooper got to come along! It was fun, except we used the doctor's machine and the quality was low! But, Dr. Andrew's assured me it was still a GIRL! Over the past few weeks, I have been worried about that. I also had a glucose test, YUCK! The actual drink was not that bad, I actually drink it in about 2 minutes... but then the dreaded blood work had to come. I did really well and didn't even shed a tear. For those who know, I am terribly afraid of needles and this was the very first time I didn't cry. The night before I could barely sleep, because I couldn't stop thinking about it. HA! I was very proud of myself. All in all it was a good appointment. Oh, I almost forgot to mention that I gained 4 pounds, WHOA!! No worries, he said I was right on track. My appointments are every two weeks now...

That day we also visited Ryan's Dad and MawMaw in Defuniak. Whew... we had a long day!

Christmas Eve we spent with Ryan's family. Everyone came in from Missouri and Melbourne. We finally got to meet Baby Ava and she is a doll! It just makes me want Presley here even more!

Christmas was a lot of fun! Santa was very good to me. I got a new pocket video camera and Coach Purse from Ryan. I love them both and I have already uploaded a video of Cooper onto YouTube.(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y1uHD-1PXE) He was cute this year playing with his new toys. Presley got him a Baby Einstein Piano that he really liked. Next year Cooper will be a year and 1/2 and Pres will be 9 months, it is going to be so fun at Mom's!

We also spent time at Lee and Cindy's- it is always so fun over there with everyone laughing! They got Presley some cute outfits, and Mawmaw made her the most beautiful things. I absolutely love them. I am pretty sure I have showed everyone that I have came in contact with. They are so gorgeous, I think she will take her newborn pictures in them. I just need a coordinating outfit!! Man I can't wait!!

In other news, we finally got the paint for the nursery! Now we just have to start. We are going to pick up the crib on Saturday! YAY, then it will finally all come together! I cannot wait...

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. Looking forward to 2010 and all the wonderful things our God has in store for us. I know he creates tough times so we can appreciate the good times... I guess now we will just sit back and wait to see what he has in store.

Update!

WOW- It has been a long time since I posted, almost a month to be exact! A lot of things to catch up on!

I left off last month saying that we would be moving into our new house, and we did! What an adventure is all I can say! I told Ryan we will DIE in this house- I AM NEVER MOVING AGAIN! I am so glad to have all that over with. It only took us 3 weeks, and we still have some things in the garage to put away, but overall we are finished and most things are decorated. We love the new house, it is so much more roomy than our old house, I have tons of space to fill up, which is a good thing since I plan on living there for the rest of my life *wink! Our next house project is the nursery! I am so anxious to get this going, I feel like I am running out of time...

I had a doctor's appointment on December 8th. I had to move it up because I wasn't feeling good at all. Come to find out I had a lingering virus. After a lot of sleep and two days, I was feeling much better. Then the next week, I got another virus and threw up for 24 hours... I have had plenty of viruses over my life, but let me tell you having a virus and being 6 1/2 months pregnant is NO fun!! It was interesting to balance eating... I will just leave it at that.

In between of moving, getting sick, work and going to the doctor we did have some fun :) We have been to one Christmas Party and I had a craft party at my house (Call me crazy, I know!) It is always fun to be around friends and family during this time of year!! Even though it doesn't seem like Christmas to me- Ryan and I don't even have a Christmas tree this year. I figured this is our last year to have a low key holiday season, for the rest of our lives Christmas will be so different and be a production!

My next appointment in December 23rd- this will be a fun and not-so-fun appointment. I have to be tested for diabetes (standard), but we will get to see Presley on a ultrasound! What a wonderful Christmas present.

As the days go by, I am getting more and more excited to meet Presley! It is going to be the best day of our lives and it can't come soon enough! I run around all the time trying to figure out how I am going to get everything done and even what I need to get done that I sometimes forget what the real reason for me doing this is , and it is something greater than I can ever imagine. I am so blessed to even have this experience some long for years or even forever to be in my position and I am determined to enjoy every single second of it regardless of the hard times.

Well, I will leave you all with a picture of my belly... It is starting to poke out there. It is funny when I look at this picture because I don't feel this big at all!
Craft Party Fun-

The girls hard at work!

My unfinished wreath! =)

Lindsey, Kara & Mallory's

Me and Lindsey!

That's all for today! Merry Christmas =)

24 Week Doctor's Appointment

We had our November doctor's appointment this morning, and everything went great! I have gained 1 pound in the past 4 weeks (Total=13), and the doctor said that is normal. My blood pressure was great, measurements on target, and Presley's heartbeat was perfect. So overall a good appointment! Our next appointment is December 8th and it is the dreaded diabetes appointment... I have to drink a nasty glucose supplement and get my blood drawn (as you all know I am NOT looking forward to the blood!!). But on the upside, we will get an ultrasound! YAY I can't wait to see Presley again- it has been way too long!

Miss Priss is starting to move more and more each day. She moves mostly at night. Everyone says when you move during the day it rocks the baby to sleep, and that is why they only move when you are still. Who knows!?!

Our house, is still going well. We will get our final inspection by Wednesday. However, we have one hold up until we can finalize everything--They forgot to order our hardwood floors :( and they are on back order! Only we could get so lucky! Good news: they should be in by Wednesday or Thursday, so hopefully, we can stay on track.

Around our house, we are looking forward to the week of Thanksgiving for many reasons:

1. Family in town =)
2. Baby Ava will be born
3. I am off for the entire week! This momma needs a break ;)
4. Moving into our new house!

What a fun week! Happy Thanksgiving!

HOUSE UPDATE!

Everything is right on track for the house to be completed by Thanksgiving. Our builder gave us great news this week and said everything should be completed by the 13th and all the final inspections, including ours with the builder, should be completed by the 20th. Therefore, our move-in date is around the 21st! Yippie (Can you tell I am a little excited?!? ;)
I have some updated pictures... so enjoy!