This week...

This week has been crazy busy and I've not had time to blog but I want to just show ya how the week went instead.. I would much rather see pics than read a lot... :)
Have a blessed weekend...

Our Soon-to-be Normal

The more I think about adding a life to our little family, the more excited I become. I remember feeling terrified and nervous at this point (I'm almost 35 weeks w/ Rhett now) of the unknown, and how our lives would change.  Now, I semi-know what to expect w/ a newborn, given each child and baby is different.  I know sleep will be a thing of the past, which hasn't really been "present" since Shelby arrived anyway, we will be late to things, we will have to pack a million items anytime we go anywhere, we'll have to be flexible, things won't always go as planned and most the time won't come close, there will be meltdowns by ALL OF US and sometimes all at the same time, and life will never be the same.  This doesn't scare me like it did when we were waiting for Shelby to come.  The thing that scares me this time is how Shelby's life will change. THAT scares me.  I know she's going to be a fabulous big sister and HUGE help, but I want her to continue to feel like the princess she is and to have attention that she needs and is used to. I KNOW that will change and her attention she'll receive will just be in a different way.  I'm fearful that she will be overcome w/ feeling left-out by me having to devote so much time to Rhett or like she doesn't matter anymore now that he's here. I am racking my brain to come up with ways to keep her as my precious baby and so far, I think it's going to be a challenge but manageable.  I'm a planner...plain and simple...that's what I do. Now, whether it's completely followed through, that happens, but I am a planner and it gives me peace and comfort so bear with me...LOL...

First of all,
On the day we are scheduled to have Rhett, I want JUST Josh and Shelby in the recovery room w/ me and Rhett. I want time w/ just our new little family and let Shelby be in control of what goes on then. I want her to be the first person outside of me and Josh to hold Rhett; he is, after all, HER little brother, and I want their bond to begin right away, just as I want the bond Rhett and I to have begin right away as well. I want peace and quiet w/ just us for  a while...no outside visitors til later...even our families... I feel this is important for Shelby to get to know this new little person who will be forever in our lives that I've felt grow, kick, roll, jab and thrive inside me.  I worry about this and how our families will react since this is the "first grandson" and everyone will want to soak him up.  I didn't have a plan w/ shelby and I still remember feeling deprived of time with just Josh and Shelby. I didn't get that. I felt bombarded and invaded almost by family and people holding her.  Privacy, in these initial moments, is something I really want this time. On that note, when it comes to feeding Rhett, I will be breastfeeding and I want that to be private as well.  It was not with Shelby and it was very uncomfortable for me.  I am a pretty open book but there are somethings I like to keep to myself and not open to the world, and that's one of them.  Again, ONLY Josh and Shelby should be sharing these moments w/ me.  I've been very open w/ Shelby in this area and it's something she is interested in being apart of and I want her to be.  I want her to be my little helper and she will be good at that.

I think the thing I'm most worried about isn't having Rhett, being cut wide open again for a csection, or any of the recovery.... I'm most worried about Shelby while all this is going on.  I do not want her to be pushed aside or just given something to do while everyone focuses on Rhett and his arrival. I want her to feel special. I'm still trying to figure out what to do for her on the day Rhett arrives; maybe a gift, or goodie bag with special things JUST FOR HER.  This all falls back to the conversations of anytime someone sees Shelby they initially ask if she's excited to be a big sister.  She is but she's an individual and has interests too, ask about HER. I'm having a real hard time letting go of this only child business.  She's been our #1 focus for almost 5 years now and that having to change is tough for me to wrap my brain around.  So I don't know what's going to happen with her on this day, or who will be caring for her. I want to be, but that can't happen... :( I wish she could be with me the whole time, but again, that can't happen. :(  I've cried myself to sleep almost every night over this and wanting Shelby to be ok and feel special and not pushed aside.
Just pray for me... pregnancy hormones are over taking me!

Rhett's Room-progress....

It's hard to believe that I'm now 8 MONTHS pregnant, I feel all 8 of them. This pregnancy hasn't flown by, like Shelby's did, but never the less, it's a miracle and I'm grateful for God's blessing us w/ this little prince we never dreamed we'd be carrying. I know all the pain and struggle this pregnancy has brought will be totally worth it when we both see Rhett and introduce him to his AMAZING big sister, Shelby. I can't wait to see her face the first time she sees him! I've decided, since I won't have to plan out a "birth plan" so to speak, that I want Shelby to be the first person (other than Josh of course) to see, hold and meet Rhett. I want our family time with just us and let her soak in her new gift, being a big sister.

I worked quite a bit in Rhett's room yesterday. I rearranged the furniture, painted the trees and applied his wall phrase.... I've gotta pallet I want to paint (small 16x20) for his wall but I have NO IDEA what I want to paint on it. I know I want to put his initials/name on it but not sure how I want to execute that yet. I also have some other artwork I want to do.  I've got to get the changing pad down from the attic and make the cover for it. I'm debating on whether or not to make him a coming home outfit. I want to do something with his first name on it but nothing fancy.... I'm thinking maybe his name stitched on a hat and his initials on a white cotton sack/gown ?? I don't know....
Anyway, here's Rhett's room progress:

as you walk in

to the right as you walk in

We found out this week that my office is hosting us a shower. We are so blessed! :)
Have a great weekend everyone!

Our hearts are almost full...(33 weeks)

According to TheBump.comhttp://pregnant.thebump.com/pregnancy-week-by-week/33-weeks-pregnant.aspx, Rhett:

weighs about 4.2 to 5.8 pounds and measures about 17.2 to 18.7 inches. And he may grow up to a full inch this week -- amazing.

Rhett at 33 weeks

• He's keeping his eyes open while awake.
• He's also starting to coordinate breathing with sucking and swallowing.
• His bones are hardening.
• And he going through (more) major brain development -- that's one smart baby!

This is totally unreal to me, and yet it isn't because I feel huge, look huge and well, I AM Huge! LOL... I really want to see him one last time before delivery but I'm not sure if we get another ultrasound or not. I want to see again that we are having a boy. LOL.... I have trust issues....lol...
Not only am I counting down the weeks and days til my due date but I'm also sadly counting down the days til Shelby isn't my only baby anymore.  This whole process is sooo bittersweet. It's weird to feel joy to have a new baby coming into our family and us all be so super happy & excited but at the same time, I feel guilty because Shelby won't be my #1 focus anymore and who I give all my baby cuddles to.  I know that everyone tells me your heart makes room for another baby(ies) but right now, I can't wrap my mind or HEART around that right now, SO...the way I"m coping w/ this is to not focus so much on Rhett when I'm with Josh and Shelby and to focus solely on us as a family of 3 right now. One great way we did this, which was a great idea by Josh, was we all had Sunday lunch together at home after church and then loaded up and spent the afternoon outside at Logoly State Park (it's like 10 mins out of town). It was a gorgeous day and perfect weather and temps!
It was sooo fun and nice to hike, just us 3, through the woods and explore God's creation and let shelby feel the nature and see the nature. It was so lovely and made me forget all about being so uncomfortable and the stress and strain my body is under right now. It's hard to see these pics of Shelby because it proves how fast she's growing up. :(

 This past Friday, Shelby got sent home w/ the Secret Sack from PreK! She was soo excited! It's a pillow case w/ a notebook in it that the kids have to find an object (that's not a toy) and put it in the sack and then have their parents write THEIR description of that object in the notebook. They then take the Secret Sack back to school and their peers have to guess what's inside by their description. It's so fun and this is the 2nd time shelby's done it. :) She was out sick yesterday w/ a cold so we brought the sack back today! Can't wait for her peers to see what she put in there! It's something of baby brother's...
I just love how she wants to include Rhett in everything. Out of  everything she could've chosen to put in there, she chose something that is his and even wanted that in her description. :)

 Shelby got this Nerf Crossbow for Christmas from Mammy & Pop Pop and Josh and Shelby have had MORE fun w/ this thang.  It is right on target w/ the scope and shoots far, FAST AND HARD! The other night, I had a moment of weakness and allowed them to play w/ it in the house w/ some guidelines. Poor Figaro begged to go sleep in the garage this night.
Something doesn't quite belong in my blinds...

I was minding my own business in my chair when I felt beady eyes looking at me and this is what I saw. LOL.. I was in the cross hairs...

I see 4 eyes do you??

 One of Shelby's teachers, Ms. Janae, tagged me in this pic of Sheebs at PreK on Thursday after she got her dressed for dance class before I picked her up. She's such a ham!

 Well, one more prep for Rhett's arrival is done. I'm slowly but surely making progress... I want to use a Moby Wrap with him because I am going to breastfeed and want him as close to me as possible at all times to help w/ that but I will need the use of my arms w/ the every day activities we have. I looked into the Moby Wrap because it's soft, comfy for mommy and baby, and doesn't have any parts, straps, buckles, etc... well the issue at hand with it was that it's SOOO DARN EXPENSIVE(at least $50) so I researched it, which I do a lot on things like this that I get in my head that I could possibly make my self.  I found out that all the Moby Wrap is, is 5-6 yards of fabric at about 30" wide... seriously? That's it?? AND I realized if I used a jersey knit fabric, I wouldn't even have to sew or hem this thang!! WHaat?! Ok so come on... too good to be true??
NOPE!
I did it! I chose a jersey knit fabric I liked (which was another issue I found w/ the Moby Wrap; I hated all the fabrics and prints!), ordered 5 yards of it and BAM! It came in Monday night via UPS! The fabric was 60" wide x 5 yards long (yes that's huge!) and all I had to do was cut it in half long-ways and make it 30" wide x 5 yards long and that's it!! OH, and I got 2 wraps for HALF THE PRICE OF JUST ONE Moby Wrap bought in the store! SCORE!!!!! Josh was even impressed! The fabric cost me less than $30 (I waited til my favorite site, Fabric.com, put their Jersey Knit on sale and used my VIP Shopper coupon)!! It was hard to cut that much fabric in half so I recommend you getting it done for you at the fabric store by the clerk if you don't order your fabrics.
My lovely assistant thought it was the coolest thing and she and I learned how to use it by watchin YouTube video tutorials on how to wrap the wrap! Shelby was so cute walkin around wearin her baby! I like to call this our "Fauxby Wrap" hee hee

Well, that's all for now chickadees....
Have a blessed day and rest of the week! I've got exciting news coming up probably in my next post about Hubby's group, CrossPoint! :)