and a few more-barefoot and pregnant!! - I think that is Caleb's finger that is stuck in my belly button below?
Maternity Photos, and thinking about what is to come....
To my husband: Thank you for our son....thank you for your love.
"My beloved is white and ruddy........."
Song of Solom 5:10-16
Song of Solom 5:10-16
To Caleb:
This hug...is love.
This hug...is the closest I can be to you...
This hug, will happen 1,000 more times in the days before I meet you...
And this hug, my son, is nothing compared to those you will receive once you are in my arms-
with nothing in between...
I can't wait to celebrate your birth day...
That is one pregnant belly.....and an outy belly button I never thought was possible! I've always wondered how prego bellies stay so round....babies don't come out in the shape of a basketball....
That is one pregnant belly.....and an outy belly button I never thought was possible! I've always wondered how prego bellies stay so round....babies don't come out in the shape of a basketball....
A special thanks to my wonderful friend Natoshia for capturing such a special time in our lives....I will always cherish these images.
Tinkle, Tinkle, Little Star
I saw these on Babies R Us website and just thought they were hilariously pracital. Especially for new mom's who prefer avoiding urine showers from their little boys... haha!!! - the message on each is priceless...I like 'oops' myself - as if they know!!!
HOSPITAL INFORMATION
When the day comes for Caleb's arrival, and it soon will, Josh and I want to be as prepared as possible and that means preparing our friends and family as well. I know that there will be so much going on and we really want to avoid tons of phone calls asking for directions on how to get where we are....so that is what this is for! - I've listed the important information below and more detailed information further down - once you arrive at the hospital, you will see a waiting area.....just shoot Josh or myself a text or call and let us know you are there!
Carolinas Medical Center-Pineville
10628 Park Road
Charlotte, North Carolina 28210
704-667-1000
Click here for Printable Campus Map
I've listed directions from Denver, Gastonia & anyone traveling from the East and below I have a map of CMC with the best place to park, and where I will be located! (click on the image for a larger map!)
Directions from Denver:
1-Take the ramp onto N Carolina 16 S 5.6mi
2-Turn right onto the Interstate 485 South Outer ramp to Spartanburg0.3mi
3-Merge onto I-485 S 18.8 mi
4-Exit onto N Carolina 51 N/Pineville-Matthews Rd toward Matthews 0.5 mi
5-Turn left at Park Rd 0.2 mi
Destination will be on the left
10628 Park Rd, Charlotte, NC 28210
Directions from Gastonia:
1. Take the ramp onto I-85 N
2. Take exit 30 toward I-77 S 1.6 mi
3. Merge onto I-485 S 12.4 mi
4. Exit onto N Carolina 51 N/Pineville-Matthews Rd toward Matthews 0.5 mi
5. Turn left at Park Rd
Destination will be on the left 0.2 mi
10628 Park Rd Charlotte, NC 28210
Directions from the EAST
1-Continue onto I-85 S
2-Take exit 38 to merge onto I-77 S/US-21 S toward Columbia 11.2 mi
3-Take exit 2 toward I-485 W 1.4 mi
4-Merge onto I-485 S 3.4 mi
5-Exit onto N Carolina 51 N/Pineville-Matthews Rd toward Matthews 0.5 mi
6-Turn left at Park Rd 0.2 mi
Destination will be on the left
10628 Park Rd, Charlotte, NC 28210
Carolinas Medical Center-Pineville
10628 Park Road
Charlotte, North Carolina 28210
704-667-1000
Click here for Printable Campus Map
I've listed directions from Denver, Gastonia & anyone traveling from the East and below I have a map of CMC with the best place to park, and where I will be located! (click on the image for a larger map!)
Directions from Denver:
1-Take the ramp onto N Carolina 16 S 5.6mi
2-Turn right onto the Interstate 485 South Outer ramp to Spartanburg0.3mi
3-Merge onto I-485 S 18.8 mi
4-Exit onto N Carolina 51 N/Pineville-Matthews Rd toward Matthews 0.5 mi
5-Turn left at Park Rd 0.2 mi
Destination will be on the left
10628 Park Rd, Charlotte, NC 28210
Directions from Gastonia:
1. Take the ramp onto I-85 N
2. Take exit 30 toward I-77 S 1.6 mi
3. Merge onto I-485 S 12.4 mi
4. Exit onto N Carolina 51 N/Pineville-Matthews Rd toward Matthews 0.5 mi
5. Turn left at Park Rd
Destination will be on the left 0.2 mi
10628 Park Rd Charlotte, NC 28210
Directions from the EAST
1-Continue onto I-85 S
2-Take exit 38 to merge onto I-77 S/US-21 S toward Columbia 11.2 mi
3-Take exit 2 toward I-485 W 1.4 mi
4-Merge onto I-485 S 3.4 mi
5-Exit onto N Carolina 51 N/Pineville-Matthews Rd toward Matthews 0.5 mi
6-Turn left at Park Rd 0.2 mi
Destination will be on the left
10628 Park Rd, Charlotte, NC 28210
Motherhood. Am I ready?
Today I was chatting back and forth via email with my friend Ellen and she asked me a question that I often ask myself:
"Speaking of which…how are you feeling about motherhood? Are you feeling “ready” for it? Are you imagining what it will be like. You're so close!"
My response:
do I feel ready? Yes and No...
But then I think about Caleb, is he ready for the world on the outside? whatever transition I am having to make, I can only imagine his will be much tougher....weird to think that way I know. but my point is that we'll be going through changes together.
I feel like I have a lot of what I need, and I'm mentally preparing myself for the all-consuming task that motherhood will be, especially in the first few weeks and months. I know my time for other things will be limited and I am prepared to devote myself entirely to my family for the first time ever.
I am ready to hold him and kiss him and love him unconditionally....Am I ready to change his stinky explosive diapers or try to coo him to sleep when he won't stop crying??? Not necessarily but that would technically fall under the unconditional love category....i would imagine.
It becomes more and more surreal. the thought of possessing the title 'mother' as well as holding the human being that has grown inside of my body for the greater part of a year - surreal and magical and frightening and perfect.
I just pray that everything from here until the end goes as planned and that I am able to safely greet my little man into his new world as he welcomes me to mine :)
"Speaking of which…how are you feeling about motherhood? Are you feeling “ready” for it? Are you imagining what it will be like. You're so close!"
My response:
do I feel ready? Yes and No...
But then I think about Caleb, is he ready for the world on the outside? whatever transition I am having to make, I can only imagine his will be much tougher....weird to think that way I know. but my point is that we'll be going through changes together.
I feel like I have a lot of what I need, and I'm mentally preparing myself for the all-consuming task that motherhood will be, especially in the first few weeks and months. I know my time for other things will be limited and I am prepared to devote myself entirely to my family for the first time ever.
I am ready to hold him and kiss him and love him unconditionally....Am I ready to change his stinky explosive diapers or try to coo him to sleep when he won't stop crying??? Not necessarily but that would technically fall under the unconditional love category....i would imagine.
It becomes more and more surreal. the thought of possessing the title 'mother' as well as holding the human being that has grown inside of my body for the greater part of a year - surreal and magical and frightening and perfect.
I just pray that everything from here until the end goes as planned and that I am able to safely greet my little man into his new world as he welcomes me to mine :)
Look at my TICKER!!
SOOOOOOO............its official...do you see what I see...look at the right hand side of the page, up, up a little more...see the growing baby? see where little caleb is on the scale!!! HOOOOOOOO-RAH!!! for you are almost here!!! I LOVE YOU AND CAN'T WAIT TO HOLD YOU IN MY ARMS!
Just in case you missed it... :)
Just in case you missed it... :)
Wow...that's me!
Today as I was walking in from lunch, I was caught off guard by a reflection I saw out of the corner of my eye in the windows downstairs from my office.
It took me a minute but I quickly realized that what I was seeing was me.....
The anticipation is setting in even moreso that before and I am officially going thru the gamut of emotions. Today I cried, for no reason, no trigger but after I started crying I thought of a reason real fast so I wouldn't feel silly!!
I decided that I was crying because he will be here so soon. My little boy, the little person that has been growing inside this ever-expanding belly will be here before I turn around. People are constantly saying, "oh, I bet you can't stand being pregnant anymore, aren't you ready to burst, are you okay? you're due any minute aren't you..." and I always say the same thing, I certainly can't wait to meet him.
The truth is, I don't mind carrying him inside of me, because I feel like he's protected. However, lately I've felt that I can't do as much for him as I'd like to. I know he must be uncomfortable lodged underneath my ribs on the left side of my body, because I certainly am not in the most comfortable of positions. And he literally has hiccups 3-4 times a day...there's nothing I can do but feel around for where I think his little butt is and pat it thru my belly......so am I ready to burst? Not really, but I am certainly excited to finally see my little boys face and kiss it for the first time.
It took me a minute but I quickly realized that what I was seeing was me.....
The anticipation is setting in even moreso that before and I am officially going thru the gamut of emotions. Today I cried, for no reason, no trigger but after I started crying I thought of a reason real fast so I wouldn't feel silly!!
I decided that I was crying because he will be here so soon. My little boy, the little person that has been growing inside this ever-expanding belly will be here before I turn around. People are constantly saying, "oh, I bet you can't stand being pregnant anymore, aren't you ready to burst, are you okay? you're due any minute aren't you..." and I always say the same thing, I certainly can't wait to meet him.
The truth is, I don't mind carrying him inside of me, because I feel like he's protected. However, lately I've felt that I can't do as much for him as I'd like to. I know he must be uncomfortable lodged underneath my ribs on the left side of my body, because I certainly am not in the most comfortable of positions. And he literally has hiccups 3-4 times a day...there's nothing I can do but feel around for where I think his little butt is and pat it thru my belly......so am I ready to burst? Not really, but I am certainly excited to finally see my little boys face and kiss it for the first time.
No Turning Back...(as if I would!)
Well, now that his name is on the wall, I guess it is official....
By the way, never, have I EVER spent such an extreme amount of time hanging something crooked.....it took much longer than it would have placing them straight...but Josh loved the crooked.... :)
By the way, never, have I EVER spent such an extreme amount of time hanging something crooked.....it took much longer than it would have placing them straight...but Josh loved the crooked.... :)
