Happy 2nd Wedding Anniversary Lovey!!!

Two years today I said 'I do' with my best friend and love of my life.  

Kevin, I love you more today than I did two years ago and I know my love for you will only grow as I watch you love our baby girl.  We have such a fun adventure ahead of us and I know we will be kick-ass parents!

I love love love you so much tookus!!!

Dear Baby (33 weeks, 5 days)

Dear Little Lady,

This past weekend we were in Northport Point, Michigan for Charley and Catharine's wedding.  Your Auntie Catharine and I have been best friends for 11 years.  She cannot wait to meet you and spoil you!

(33 weeks, 3 days)

Traveling is getting more and more tiring but this trip was so worth it!  It was so nice to see the entire O'Brien/Noble crew... I hadn't seen some of them in about 10 years.  Everyone was so complimentary of my baby bump.  You have stayed pretty compact in there which has allowed me to keep some of my girlish figure, thank you for that!  It was a nice little boost since I have been feeling pretty sluggish and lumpy lately.  I did my best to be a trooper and not leave the party early for both the rehearsal dinner and the wedding.  I was out till about 11:30/12 both nights which is certainly late for me these days, haha. Your daddy was such a sweetheart and didn't give me a hard time when I was moving slower than usual.  He is the best. 

Your daddy got to play a round of golf before the wedding.  He sure does love his golf.  Silly me didn't tell him there was a golf course there (honestly, I didn't even remember!) so he had to borrow clubs, oops.  It was such a nice weekend and we kinda fell in love with the area so we plan to take a trip back sometime. 

We have one more flying trip this weekend and then we are done... with flying that is.  Does all this traveling tire you out?  I hope I am taking it slow enough for you.  Time is really flying by.  I can hardly believe that you will be here in +/- 6 weeks!  I guess I better do some more work on that nursery of yours.

Your daddy and I love you so much!     

Love,
Mom 

(33 weeks, 3 days)

Dear Baby (33 weeks)

Dear Little Lady,

You are so spoiled!  I went to your THIRD baby shower this past weekend.  Your Auntie Marissa and Auntie Jenna threw you the sweetest little party with food I am still dreaming about and the most pinteresty party favors.  Marissa and Jenna put so much thought and effort into each detail, it was so special.  Thank you ladies soooo much for being such awesome friends and aunties!!! 

We each filled out "Wishes for Baby Fournie."  I read them all out loud and had to fight back the tears.  Everyone has the sweetest wishes for you Little Lady!  I am putting them in a book with the "wishes and wisdom" from your St. Louis baby shower.  They will be so special for you to read when you are older.   

And... guess who was at the shower all the way from Singapore... Claudia!!!  Marissa, Claudia and I haven't all been together since last December so the reunion was long overdue.

To all the wonderful ladies who bought presents for our Little Lady and celebrated with me on Sunday... thank you so so so much!  It was the perfect celebration!

Being the first of our friends here in NYC to have a baby, I was a little nervous about how everyone would feel about it.  Most of our friends aren't ready to have their own babies.  I knew everyone would be happy for us but the true outpouring of love that we have received for you is incredible.  We have the best friends.  They already love you so much and are anxiously awaiting your arrival.

Keep growing strong and kicking me... even though it hurts, I know it means that you are doing well.  Your daddy and I love you so much!

Love,
Mom

(32 weeks, 6 days)

Dear Baby (32 weeks)

Dear Little Lady,

This past weekend your daddy and I went on our babymoon to Bermuda.  It was the last vacation we will take before your arrival and pretty much the only traveling we have done for just the two of us all year.  Oh boy did we really need this relaxing time alone.  We have been so caught up with all our obligations this summer and all the prep work for your arrival that we have hardly had time to breath.

We spent most of our vacation doing... nothing.  It was awesome.  We just laid on the beach and floated in the ocean.  Your dad drank his Cambridge Splashes while I sipped my virgin strawberry daiquiris... yummmm.  I even got my first prenatal massage!  Could you tell I was feeling more relaxed?  My sciatic nerve didn't bother me once on our whole trip!

(31 weeks, 2 days)

Your daddy went fishing one morning and caught a 10 pound bone fish.  You should be very proud!  They are not easy to catch and that was a really big one.  Your daddy is so excited to teach you how to fish!      

I am pretty sure I fell even more in love with your daddy during this vacation.  Watching him rest his hand on my belly and talk to you just melts my heart.  He loves you so much.  I could not have fallen in love with a better man, I am so lucky.  I cannot even imagine how much my love for him will grow when he holds you for the first time.  Thinking about it already brings tears to my eyes.

(paradise with the two loves of my life!)

(31 weeks, 2 days)

We are all rested and ready to finish all our preparations for your arrival.  We cannot wait to meet you!

Love,
Mom

Pregnancy Update (31 weeks)

(31 weeks)

How far along: 31 weeks today. 

Baby's size: She weighs around 3.3 pounds and is about 16 inches long (according to Babycenter).

Boy or girl: It's a girl!

How am I feeling: Tiredddddd.  Kevin and I have been so busy with classes and traveling that it feels like we haven't had a moment to catch our breath recently.  I also haven't been getting in bed till almost 11:30 every night, naughty naughty.  Thankfully we are taking our babymoon this weekend so we will have plenty of time to recharge before we plow through our busy September.  I am also feeling pretty achy these days.  My hips hurts, my sciatic nerve hurts, everything hurts, haha.  I am scheduling an appointment with a chiropractor to see if we can alleviate some of my discomfort and I am getting my first prenatal massage this weekend.  I can't wait!

Maternity clothes: Last night Kev took me to buy some maternity tops because all the t-shirts I have been getting away with have become a little too short in the front.  Except for my long stretchy tanks, I think that everything I wear these days is maternity.  I am definitely lucky that I got away with so many regular clothes till now.  It does seem silly to spend money on clothes at this point since I will only use for the next 2 months or so... then I have to buy some new nursing appropriate clothes, ugh.

Sleep: I have started sleeping only on my sides though sometimes I do wake up on my back.  I am trying to encourage Little Lady to turn 90 degrees.  Sleeping on my sides isn't too bad but it certainly hurts my hips.  Between all the bathroom trips and the constant flipping from side to side I am not sleeping very well.

Baby movement: She moves around all the time still.  Her movements have gone from distinct jabs to more rolling and pushing.  Sometimes I just wonder what on earth she is doing in there.  She has found a nice sensitive spot on the lower left side of my stomach to push on repeatedly and it hurts... it feels like she is bruising some internal organ.    

Food cravings: Still nothing at all, boo.

Food aversions: Still have no real appetite but no major food aversions.

What I miss: I still miss knowing what I feel like eating and feeling hungry.

Best moment(s): Definitely the two baby showers that this spoiled little munchkin has had so far.  She sends a HUGE thank you to both sets of grandparents!  I have been so overwhelmed by everyone's generosity and genuine excitement over this Little Lady, it has been so heartwarming.

We got a much better view of Little Lady at our 3D/4D re-do ultrasound.  I still can't get over how cute she is.  Kevin and I just can't wait to meet her and hold her and kiss her and love her.  It is crazy to think that she could be here in just two months, time is flying by! 

What I am looking forward to: BERMUDA!!!  Kevin and I leave tomorrow evening for a little babymoon in Bermuda.  I just cannot wait to sleep in and enjoy some alone time with my love.  

(31 weeks)

Dear Baby (30 weeks, 5 days)

Dear Little Lady,

This past weekend we went to St. Louis to visit your daddy's family and celebrate your second baby shower.  What a fun trip it was.  We got to spend lots of time with your G-Paw and Grandma.  G-Paw loved the card you made for him - you are so thoughtful.  We got to go to Ted Drewes for frozen custard TWICE!  It was so tasty.  I always get the All Shook Up with bananas and Reeses peanut butter cups... I'm sure you would like to have another one right now!  Of course we also had to stop at Carl's for cheeseburgers, they are your daddy's favorite.

We got to go to Busch Stadium for the Cardinals game on Friday night.  It was my first time at Busch Stadium... yours too.  Every time we go to a baseball game I can't help but picture your daddy taking you to your first game... hopefully your first game will be a Cardinals game.  I know he can't wait for that.  Obviously because we were there the Cardinals won!   

Your Grandma threw you the sweetest baby shower... there were even elephant cake pops!  I may or may not have eaten four of them. 

All the ladies at the shower are so excited to meet you!  You received so many wonderful and thoughtful gifts.  Your Grandma asked everyone to bring you a book for your library so we have lots of new books to read you.  Your daddy read you Harry the Dirty Dog last night.  Did you like that one?  We had so much fun at the baby shower, didn't we?  I know you loved your gifts because you kept kicking me while I was opening them.  I can't believe you still have one more baby shower, you sure are spoiled!  Where am I supposed to put all your things?

Thank you Grandma for throwing Little Lady such a sweet shower!

We are getting closer and closer to meeting you and we couldn't be more excited.  It's crazy to think that the next time we see your G-Paw and Grandma you will be here!

We love you little one, keep growing... and maybe think about turning vertical sometime in the next few weeks, no pressure.

Love,
Mom

(30 weeks, 5 days)

Dear Baby (29 weeks, 6 days)

(29 weeks, 6 days) 

Dear Little Lady,

Well well well someone has been in quite the mood the past 48 hours.  I feel like I am your personal punching bag and it kinda hurts!  Aren't you getting tired in there?  Do you need to take a nap?  I swear you have been moving around so much you haven't given yourself a chance to rest.  It has definitely made sleeping more uncomfortable for me.  Maybe you are trying to get comfortable in there.  Is that the problem?  Your daddy and I are going to try the rebozo technique tonight to see if we can shift you around a little.  Hopefully we can get you more comfortable and also find me a little relief.  Even though it has been uncomfortable I love feeling you move around all the time.  I got to feel hiccups for the first time the past weekend... so cute!

I am going to take it easy the next month or so because we have lots of traveling to do and you have lots of growing to do.  We are heading to St. Louis this weekend to see your daddy's family.  I cannot wait... especially for the large cup of Ted Drewes frozen custard that is calling my name!  We are going to take you to another baseball game too.  Your big job is to cheer up your G-Paw because he hasn't been feeling too well... maybe you can give him a good kick or two to let him know you are thinking about him!  I am so looking forward to sharing you with everyone.

Hopefully your dad and I can get you into a position that is more comfortable so we can both get some more rest.  We've gotta be well rested for our St. Louis adventure this weekend.

Your daddy and I love you so much!!!

Love,
Mom

(29 weeks, 6 days)