He's BIG!

We saw Dr. K today and Burke is doing awesome! He is a BIG boy though! He is weighing in at 5 pounds 3 ounces! I am 32 weeks and technically he shouldn't be this big until 35 weeks. Dr. K said, "we are going to get you to 36-37 weeks and get him out"! I cannot lie, I was a little surprised with this news as I had always assumed he would be small. Greg said, my eyes had a look of total shock when he said he was significantly bigger. You see, we just took our birthing class this weekend and I heard all the horror stories of having a big baby. I, of course, told myself that none of these situations apply to me because Burke is going to be small. Haha! This week has been one enlightening moment after another! So, we see Dr. K on January 6 and it looks like a BIG decision will be made at that appointment. I had assumed I would have Burke around the 26th of January, now it looks more like the 11th!!! OMGOSH...I'm so excited!

We did not get any pictures of Burke this visit. We saw him on the screen in 3D, but Dr. K was busy getting a lot of measurements. Which by the way, I found out Burke's placenta is an anterior placenta. Which doesn't mean much regarding Burke, but it does explain why it took so long for me to feel my little guy move and kick. Basically his placenta is guarding my belly so he has to kick hard for me to really feel him. It was a full day and I feel so good to know Burke is big rather than small. Even if I was rather shocked!

At our Birthing Class we had a local celebrity in it, click here for more info! The class was very informative, but like I said much of the time I was like "oh my"!

I am very tired today, but I wanted to tell you all about my visit to see Dr. K. I am so happy that Burke is doing well! I can't wait to meet him and see his face in real life!

Can you believe I am 31 weeks pregnant?!

I certainly cannot believe I am 31 weeks! Whoohoo! Burke and I are cruising along and doing very well. He puts on his nightly show and moves, kicks, squirms...I swear he is going to be a football player! Even if he is just the punter. He loves ice cream which should be a given, since his parents love ice cream. Every night after ice cream he just goes crazy. I absolutely love the feeling he gives me! It is so amazing and the most wonderful gift!

We attended the Railroad Christmas party last Saturday. It was a lot of fun and great to meet all the people Greg works with. I found out just how proud Greg is to be a daddy, as everyone I met knew I was pregnant. I danced a couple of songs, but I am klutz and just knew I would wipe out. I didn't want to take any chances, especially since I about wiped out just walking down the stairs to get to the party. Someone at the party took our picture and it is a great picture, but we haven't received it yet. I'll post it as soon as we get it!

We see Dr. K on Monday. He is the BIG doctor. The one that makes me nervous...the one who can really tell if something is not going right. We will have another Level 2ultrasound, and we will leave hopefully feeling as elated as we did last time! We are really excited to see Burke in 4D again. At 20 weeks, he was super skinny. And it stressed me out. I have worried about him a lot due to the pictures. I was told that was perfectly normal, for him to be so skinny, but it stressed me. 32 weeks is optimal time to have a 4D ultrasound, so we can't wait to see our little guy again! Hopefully, he will be chubbier! Plus, we get to see him in 4D for free! Meaning we don't pay extra for those amazing pictures! I tell you, being high risks does have its perks!! Dr. K will be checking to make sure Burke is growing fast enough. Lovenox, the shots I take, can slow down his growth. I have no reason to believe he isn't growing fast enough, as his kicks show me he is a strong little guy! Please pray though that our news is positive and I hear once again that my baby boy is doing perfectly!

I feel like I am leaving something out. Oh yes, I finished that grueling book!!! Hooray for me! I feel like I am an adult now. I did not enjoy that darn book one bit, but I set myself out to finish it and I did. I will not tell you what it is, because it seems to be quite popular right now. I would hate to sway you one way or the other.

I'll let you know on Monday what Dr. K says.

Love,

Alicia and Burke

30 Weeks!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We had a great time with all my family here. I hated to see them all go. I won't see my parents again until Burke is here. That makes me sad. I wish we all lived closer. My sister and her family will be here a couple days after Christmas, but for the most part it will just be Greg and I. It was great to have them for Thanksgiving and I am so thankful this year. When my dad said the prayer before our turkey dinner he prayed for Burke. I still get a lump in my throat right now thinking about it. While I pray for Burke every day, it was so wonderful to hear MY BABY being prayed for out loud by others. Huge tears welled up in my eyes, just as they are now. Thank you God for this baby. OK, I am getting too emotional, onto other things.

We saw Dr. P this week. Burke and I are doing awesome. I am having no blood pressure issues, my weight is slowly creeping up, but nothing too much, Burke is growing strong. I have to tell you about my nurse, Andrea. I have mentioned her many times. I should call her my friend, but I want you all to know that she is technically my nurse. Well, when Greg and I arrived she took us to our room and said she'd be right back. When she returned she had a bag FULL of clothes and diapers. Brand new clothes, many with the tags still on. They are all so cute! I have washed them and have them hanging in Burke's closet! She said her baby boy couldn't wear them and she wanted us to have them, as my blog touched her. Out of all the patients she sees every day she picked our baby Burke to get these clothes! Greg had big ole tears in his eyes when she walked out the door. Of course, I had tears too. Andrea, thank you so much! Burke will look great in his new clothes! We think the world of you!

So, this week I am tired. I have been going nonstop since last Wed. and I feel super tired. I have been having moments of panic where I feel like I must get EVERYTHING done for Burke. I have a lot of stuff bought, but nothing is truly functioning yet. This has me stressed. Today I went and bought bottles, wash clothes, a few toys, bassinet sheets, etc. I have done Christmas shopping, house decorating, tree decorating, lunch dates, etc. It has all been fun, but I am whipped by the time Greg gets home. Plus, I joined a book club and can't get into the book...which needs to be read by next Saturday. HELP!! Other than being tired I feel great though! I officially look pregnant as people have started to stop me and say "when are you due". I am sure I must beam from ear to ear as I am so thrilled! My OB wants me to do kick counts and so I have started doing that twice a day. Luckily, Burke goes to town and doesn't make me wait around too much. He already is such a good baby!

I don't know how this happened, but I did not get a picture of Greg or myself this Thanksgiving. Talk about being annoyed. I am the picture taker in my family and I forget to say "stop, take a picture of me"! This weekend we have the railroad Christmas party so I will try to get a picture of the proud parents to be!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Love,

Alicia

29 Weeks and my 2nd shower!

Happy Thanksgiving friends! I can't believe it is already Thanksgiving! My family is all coming to our house on Wednesday! I have bought all the groceries, done some cleaning, and now tomorrow I will make the pies and a few other things. I also washed all of Burke's clothes and blankets in Dreft this week! Greg and I had fun folding and hanging up the little outfits that will looks so precious on our cutie!

I had my second shower this last Saturday given by Karin and Stephanie. It was great! I had a wonderful time seeing all my girlfriends. The theme was circus like Burke's bedroom. It was so cute! They had carmel corn, mini corn dogs, candy, peanuts, and the most yummy lemon cupcakes that Steph made! I received all the bedding for the nursery, the Papasan Cradle swing, diapers, and a few incidentals. I loved everything I received and I know Burke will too! My good and long time friend, Suzanne, made the trip from Ft. Hood. It was so special that she came to my shower! Her husband, Bill, is serving in Iraq, so I know it was a lot for her to load up three kids and make the three hour drive by herself. I am so grateful for this bunch of girlfriends. I played Bunco with them one time as a sub and they liked me so asked me to join, that was almost two years ago. They have become so special to me. I wish we could get together more often!


This is Karin, me, and Suzanne at my shower



Tippy Cup Race! I must tell you, that I won!


The pregnant girls...Carrie is four weeks behind me....

I am starting to feel like I am in the home stretch. I had my two showers, I have Thanksgiving, then the railroad Christmas party, birthing class, then my first book club meeting, followed by couples Poker and then Christmas! January will go slow I am sure, but December should fly by. Greg and I are getting super excited! The anticipation is growing daily! How much will Burke weigh, will he be short, will he have Greg's blue eyes, will his skin be like mine (sensitive), will he need glasses, will he be cool and calm like Greg, will he have a nice smile, we must sit around and talk about this stuff everyday.

I think that is all for now. I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Love,

Alicia

28 Weeks and a shower!

I am 28 weeks and two days! I made it to my third trimester! It was a cause for a celebration so we went and bought the stroller of my dreams. I have been very wishy washy about buying this stroller, but when the price went up I knew I better go ahead and buy the stroller. I will post some pictures of it soon!

I had my first shower this last weekend! It was wonderful. My little sister made me so proud. Saying thank you seems so inadequate. Heather, you did a wonderful job! I had adorable M&M's with "Baby Burke" and "Handsome Boy" on them! Way cute! She had a fruit arrangement done by Edible Arrangements...it was so pretty I hated to eat it! She got Burke adorable clothes, she filled my diaper bag to the brim with all the things I need, but best of all, her husband, gave my mom a free ticket to come to the shower! I knew God blessed me with my sister and he keeps blessing me with her. She is my best friend and the one person who knows me inside and out. Thank you Heather from the bottom of my heart!

My friend Hillary came from Ft. Worth with the most beautiful cake! It truly was one of the neatest gifts! Hillary has recently started baking cakes and I do believe it is her calling! Hillary is married to Greg's friend Hervey who also works for the railroad. They are our friends who we always see when we go to Ft. Worth. It meant so much to Greg and I that they made the trip for our shower!

I got lots of great gifts for Burke! He is so blessed...people love him so much! I guess when people know you would give your right arm to have a baby, well the baby is maybe just a little extra special....maybe I am biased. We had a wonderful Saturday and while I was nervous to be the center of attention I had a great time! I was so happy that my mom was here, that my sister did this for me, and for the friends that I have.

The only bummer is that Greg and I are both sick today. We had sore throats yesterday and still do today. Poor Greg...today is his first day to work 12 straight, so please pray he finds time to go to the doctor and that he gets well soon. I know he won't call in sick. In eight years with the RR he has only left one day to be sick. I am headed to the doctor here shortly...hopefully it is nothing.

I have another shower this weekend given by my great friends Karin and Stephanie. I am looking forward to this one just as much as I was the other! I will upload some pictures soon, but I just don't feel so good now.

Have a great week!

Alicia

15 Things I'm not afraid to admit

I was tagged by Karin. I have never done this before, but here goes. Please don't judge me!
1. I am horribly afraid of rodents. I mean deathly afraid. My Dad used to tell me they would eat me alive if there were enough...I still believe that.
2. I love old school Gangsta Rap.
3. I love Birkenstocks and will wear them until I am old and gray. Greg worries the kids will find out Burke was actually named after his Mom's favorite shoes.
4. I am a hippy at heart...I would have loved to have been a teenager in the 70's, instead I was just five.
5. While I am a good at all the jobs I have had, I called in sick way too many times, it is best I no longer work outside of the home.
6. There are many days I firmly believe there has been an error regarding my lab work and that I do not have Rheumatoid Arthritis. Then God gives me a really crapy day and I get a not so friendly reminder.
7. It really grates on my nerves when people judge me for having caffeine while pregnant. Like I would do anything to hurt Burke. My doctor gave me permission to have two caffeinated drinks per day and I enjoy both of them!
8. I have never done any drugs. I used to say I would smoke marijuana if I got cancer, but I've been to too many concerts and the smell is horrible.
9. I enjoy playing "kitchen" with my nieces. I sure hope Santa brings them the kitchen from Pottery Barn Kids!
10. As much as I like living in Texas, Kansas is better!
11. I like California rolls from HEB better than any sushi restaurant.
12. I worked at a soccer store for about a week. I didn't know and still don't know a thing about soccer. Lord help me if Burke wants to play soccer. Boring....
13. I change the ending to movies if I don't like how they end. I just tell myself...that character didn't die, they got together and grew old together.
14. When I am nervous I laugh. And it isn't a little chuckle, it is loud laughter. I don't know why. Generally it happens when something is not going right for my sister. She gets very stressed so I laugh. Not cool.
15. In high school, I dined and dashed one time. Let me tell you though that the line to pay was insanely long and we ate there all the time. When I go back to my hometown I always stop by the Anchor Inn, of course, I stop to have some good food, but I also still feel I need to pay my debt for my $5.95 meal that I didn't pay for!

So that's a few things about me. I tag Carrie, Marci, and Jennifer. Can't wait to read all about you!

Drumroll....the results are in!

I was on the phone talking to Greg heating up my oatmeal, that was laced with sugar and I said, "oh no...it's the clinic on the other line". My wonderful nurse Andrea, was there waiting for me when I clicked over. She said, "it looks like Greg gets a new Playstation 3!" Of course, I was so happy! The story keeps getting better, as I changed the deal with Greg. I wanted to back out of the deal, obviously on his part. Meaning, if I did have diabetes I would still get the purse, but if I didn't he wouldn't get the Playstation because, well, that would be punishing me twice. He agreed to two new games for his XBOX 360. God is so good!

Oh yeah...real quick. On Monday night Burke was a wild child while I slept...or tried to sleep. I woke up for my routine of going to the bathroom at 2:00 a.m. and then he was crazy! He was kicking big time. A couple of times I couldn't keep quiet. It was weird, funny, but truly awesome! Which left me to drift off to sleep with the biggest smile! I had told him earlier in the day to lay off the soda or he would be up all night, but he didn't listen. haha!

And for the record...I really need a new purse, so check back for my celebration present...a new Coach!

Thank you for your prayers.

Alicia