34 days!

We are settling in for the longest 4 weeks of our life! Waiting on Emery is hard on all of us here in the Ladd house. Vance is anxious, he knows there is a change in the air. Benji is ready to hold her....and I am ready for him to take over holding her too!

It has become increasingly impossible for me to sleep. I know this is God's way of getting expectant mothers ready for the first few weeks. I have a foot that feels like it is broken and haven't seen my toes in awhile.

Good news is I haven't gained any more weight since my last check up and hopefully won't. All the technical books say that Emery is drinking more amniotic fluid, as well as my own body is absorbing more of it to make room for her weight gain. Many times the mother's weight stays the same as the baby grows a little more during these last few weeks.

We are pretty much finished with the nursery and with collecting all that we need for the big day.

We tour the hospital this week, pre-register, and pack essentials in bags that we can grab up when the time comes. We are just hoping that she stays put long enough for Benji to finish his LAST class which starts July 7th and last for a week.

Here are some pictures of the nursery completed. I still have a few things to add to the walls but this is basically what it will look like.



Her outfit to wear home, complete with her first pair of shoes.



A collage of memorabilia from all of her showers.


The cool "E" that her aunt Kathi made.

30 and my three favorite things...

So I turned 30 this past week.... and it's not so bad.

I have had a lot to be thankful for in 30 years.

I've traveled more than I could have ever imagined. I've spent the last seven years married to my best friend in the whole world. I've loved getting to study at three, yes three! of the best schools around....and I'm about a month away from giving birth. I am a girl that has been given much more than I deserve.

Plus I have a really cute dog that loves me.

The past couple of months have been so busy! Finishing school, graduating, traveling back and forth to Georgia for vacations, and showers....beginning the process of moving, making a nursery for Emery, preparing for Emery, going to the doctor for Emery....spending 30 hours a week at the bux, and of course putting on 40lbs in 9 months....

And I am developing a human.

Needless to say, I decided that for my birthday I wanted to just chill.

I got to sleep late. Went shopping (for Emery). When Benji got off work we went to eat at Sapporo. Sapporo is a great Japanese restaurant that has amazing sushi.

Now sushi is something that is near and dear to my heart. I can't think of one certain food that I love more than sushi, except maybe french fries.

I haven't had sushi for over a year. One, because it's not necessarily conducive to winter weather, and two, because pregnant women are NOT suppose to eat raw fish.

Recently though I started having this major craving for Sushi. I was so depressed and disappointed....then I realized all sushi isn't raw fish! Many sushi dishes are vegetarian and many are made with cooked or fried fish! mmmmm.....

So I finally satisfied one of the only cravings I've had this whole pregnancy. and boy was it worth it.

Here are some pictures from my birthday. My mom got me a kickin coffee maker that grinds the beans right before it brews, which is the freshest way to enjoy coffee.

Benji got me some pottery from Louisville Stoneware. Louisville Stoneware is an old Louisville business that makes, paints and fires all their own stoneware. Each piece is unique and one of a kind, something I have been wanting to collect before we have to leave our beloved Louisville!

I had a wonderful day turning 30, with three of my favorite things.... Sushi, coffee and Benji. What a lucky girl.



One of the coffee mugs from Louisville Stoneware.


The mother of all coffee makers.


A full and blessed 30 year old pregnant girl and her BFF.

Who's your sugar daddy?

I'm all about natural sugar. Preferably raw sugar, but I would pick sugar over artificial sweetener any day. But some people have issues.....

We deal with some real nut jobs at work. Some are employees. Some are customers. This post happens to be about a customer. This one guy comes in on average 3 times a day. He gets a venti (20 oz) coffee. Which is pictured below in relation to the sugar shaker......



He then proceeds to pour HALF....HALF! of the sugar into his cup. On this particular day we had just filled the sugar, no one had used it before he came in..... this is the after picture.....



Seriously. This is what I deal with. Feel sorry for me. People are not right.

There was this family with two little girls sitting near the condiment bar watching the whole coffee sweetening process.

When the guy finally finished and left, one of the little girls said, "mom, that was too much sugar!"

My co-worker then proceeded to take pictures of the evidence. The pictures which are posted here. I've seen this guy do this for about 2 years....and it still shocks me every time.

All Bets Are In

So some are thinking Emery is going to be a chunk. We've taken bets on what weight she will actually be. Here are the results so far.....add your comment and join in the fun!

Benji- 8.2
Kristi- 8.0

Maxey(Benji's dad)- 6.5
Sue(Benji's mom)- 7.11

Shannon(Benji's bro)- 7.5
Neysa(Sis in law)- 8.6
Lydia(Niece)- 10.11

Cindy(My mom)- 8.14
Kathi(My sis)- 8.12
Kenny(Bro in law)- 9.4

Dana(friend)- 8.4

6 weeks to go.

We had a long but exciting weekend! Friday we left Louisville about 5pm after Benji got out of class and headed to Gainesville for my last shower before Emery arrives. The trip to Gainesville is about 7 and 1/2 hours...a long time for an 8 month pregnant bladder, back and hips.



Saturday was the shower and we had a great time. My sister Kathi, good friend Loria and my Mom hosted an amazing shower. We had most of Benji's family there and my closest friends from childhood, high school and college.



Sunday we spent some time with Benji's dad for father's day and then it was on the road again, back to the ville.

We have gotten most everything that we need for the arrival of Emery. She is one spoiled little girl already! We are planning to finish up the nursery this week. I'll start washing clothes and sheets next week and packing hospital bags....oh my!!!

I go to the doctor tomorrow and am taking a breastfeeding class tomorrow night at the hospital. I'd have to say that breastfeeding is the thing that I am most nervous about. I just really want to do it and am nervous that I won't be able to do it right.

Okay, so I'm a little nervous about not sleeping for two months as well but I know there is no class I can take for that.




Emery is moving like crazy. She is making me very uncomfortable now, but I don't mind at all. I know that all those jabs and punches are signs of a healthy, growing baby.....she was particularly fond of these mini cupcakes we had at the shower.

Finally, this is a picture taken at the shower of all my bridesmaids from my wedding, seven years later! I say we haven't changed a bit! It was so good to see all my friends....

I'm Sweating

I'm hot. No seriously. really hot. I'll be 32 weeks on Saturday. We are getting really excited about this whole baby thing. She is moving all the time, and as you can tell from the photos, she is definitely growing. I can feel where her head is, mainly because it's the spot that hurts the most when I lay on it.

We had a great time at the beach. Time went by to fast.



I have gained 40lbs during this pregnancy so far. Looks like I'll be pushing the 50 mark towards the end. That should be fun to take off.

Work is getting harder for me. It just hurts to stand that long. It's starting to hurt walking around the grocery.

We have had two great showers! And are continuing to get things ready for Emery's arrival. Riverbend gave us a shower the Sunday after we got back from the beach and we were so blessed.



Benji has been in class all this week. He has one next week and then one in July for a week....then he is D.O.N.E! Hopefully after that a job will "fall" into his lap and we will be off to unknown lands....after Emery is born of course.

Not much more to report. I've started going to the doctor every two weeks now. We have one more awesome shower (given by my sis and friend Loria) in Gainesville, and then I have to stay put!