Burkemont Baby Shower

Zack and I are getting things done as we approach and pass the 32 week mark.  This means that in less than 8 weeks, my due date will be here!  I am hoping that Thunderbolt decides to arrive around his due date.  I have heard stories of babies deciding to stay in their mother's womb for up to two weeks past this date.  I am praying that Baby Houston is not one of these babies.  However, each week, I get excited that he continues to grow on schedule inside mommy's belly.  We definitely don't want him to come too early either.  We are praying for God's timing for Thunderbolt's arrival. 

We were able to order and pick up our crib this past week, and Zack worked to put the crib together the night we picked it up.  I am going to purchase the mattress sometime soon so this part of the nursery can feel complete.  With the addition of the crib, it is really starting to look like Baby Houston has a room he can call his own.

We went this past weekend for one last visit to Morganton to see family and friends before I am no longer able to travel far from home.  I am making one more trip this direction in two weeks to throw one of my best friends a baby shower (she is due three weeks after me and is having a boy as well!).  It is so special to be celebrating this time with her.  While in Morganton, we were able to see both of our families.  We were spoiled by having them cook amazing food for us all weekend, and my home church where I grew up threw a baby shower for us on Saturday.  We had about 30 people come to wish us well and shower us with love and gifts for Baby Houston.  It is amazing to see the support that Zack and I have from people who have watched us grow into the adults we are today.  I am humbled by all of these people and their continuous generosity as we approach another significant milestone- becoming parents.  We got so many cute clothes, blankets, books, diapers, wipes, and all the other things a baby needs and could ever possibly want.  We are truly blessed.

An outfit, shoes, and Precious Moments Book from "Grammy" Bakewell

A hand-made blanket from "Grannie" Houston

Cousin Wade putting his "congratulations" on the dry-erase board in the youth parlor

 Some of our amazing presents

 The Cantrells and Houstons

 The Bakewell/Houston/Kennedy Girls

 Soon to be Mom and Dad with Grannie and Grammy

 Great-Grandma Nancy (a.k.a. Grams)



One of my best friends, Ashley, came to visit for the afternoon on Saturday.  She has two boys of her own so she is constantly sending me messages with important information regarding being a "mom".  I love getting her texts or cards with encouragement as we are approaching this exciting time in our lives.  I can't wait for my little boy to meet her two precious children.  I think they will be close friends and undoubtably get into some sort of mischief while playing together in the upcoming years.  She dropped off a diaper kit that I can keep downstairs when I don't want to take Thunderbolt upstairs to the changing table.  She also gave me "The Cat in the Hat" book, stuffed animal, and Dr. Seuss onesie (she truly is obsessed with Dr. Seuss!).  While she was in town, she took some maternity pictures of Zack and me.  She is such a great photographer and made the time fun and enjoyable (especially for Zack who is not a huge fan of pictures!).  More to come soon......

Happy Valentine's Day Baby Houston

So..... Zack and I don't typically buy gifts for each other for anniversaries or holidays such as Valentine's Day.  This year we had the same agreement.  We would rather save the money we would spend on a gift to work toward planning a trip or purchasing something for our house.  This year, we went to dinner on Valentine's Day with one of our best friends, Kelly, and then went to Babies R Us.  We purchased Thunderbolt's crib and corresponding toddler and full size rails.  The crib we picked out is one of those three-in-one cribs that Baby Houston can use for his entire lifetime at the Houston Household.  It will take 7-14 days for the crib to be delivered but we thought what better way to spend Valentine's Day than to purchase a bed for our coming arrival.  Happy Valentine's Day Baby Houston! :)  I am looking forward to the crib being put together (by Zack of course) and getting the nursery set up so we are ready for whenever Thunderbolt decides to join us.  Here are a couple pictures from 31 weeks.  As an update, a student at school this week said I was getting "fat", so I have transitioned from being "big" to "fat" in the eyes of children.  I can't wait to see if any other words are used for my growing size in the upcoming weeks. 

A Weekend in Charlotte

What a week/weekend it has been?!  The week at work has been EXTREMELY busy!!  It makes me wonder how I will juggle all the work responsibilities and family responsibilities once Baby Houston arrives.  I know many moms have done a wonderful job of balancing all this in the past... I plan to take notes from them and take it one day at a time!  This past Thursday night, Zack and I toured the hospital where we will have our baby boy.  It was fun moving from room to room with other expectant mothers and looking at their faces as the nurse who was giving the tour showed us the labor and delivery space.  I think all of us were thinking the same thing..... the next time we are in a room like this..... we will be giving birth to a child.  A child who will become part of our families.  There is so much uncertainty with the actual delivery process, but Zack and I are praying daily for a healthy delivery where mom, dad, and baby are okay.

I am now officially 30 weeks, which means that there are 10 weeks until my due date!  Three-fourths of the way there!  On Saturday morning, I woke up early to go to a huge consignment sale they have in High Point each year.  My mom and dad went with me, and it was overwhelming to see all the baby items and clothing they had available for purchase.  I think that once "Thunderbolt" arrives, it will be easier to see what we need for him.  At this point, I purchased some onesies, a maternity top, and a diaper bag.  My mom and dad did a great job getting a few things that they can keep at their house for when we visit.  I think my mom was more excited about the sale than I was.  She came with a list of essential items that grandma needs to keep at her place and was able to check everything off that list.  So while Thunderbolt might not have sleeping accommodations (ex: a crib) at his permanent residence, he definitely has a place where he can take a vacation.  ;)  P.S.  Zack and I are looking into purchasing a crib in the next couple weeks.

After the sale, Zack and I headed to Charlotte to see family and friends and catch a 49ers basketball game.  We were able to grab lunch with Cousin Wade, walk around campus, check out the new football field, and grab dinner with one of our former youth who is a junior at UNCC this year.  It was an action-packed day, but well worth every minute of it!

Austin, a junior at UNCC and a youth group member at FABC, was able to sit with us for the game.:)

Sunday morning we were able to grab breakfast with one of Zack's best friends, Jason, before heading home.  We are grabbing dinner tonight with Linds and Boom before starting the work week.  This upcoming week is sure to be another adventure.  

"Mrs. Houston.... you're getting BIG!"

Well.... if I didn't already think I was growing in size, it is easy to rely on the words of a fourth grader to ensure you are seeing things clearly.  I was walking down the hall at school the other day, and one of my students stopped me in the hall to "enlighten" me on her observation..... I was in fact getting bigger!  It was the way she said it that made me feel like I must be in the last trimester of my pregnancy.  Random strangers are also noticing I am pregnant.  When I was checking out at the grocery store last week, the gentleman behind the cash register offered to carry my bags out.  When I told him I could handle it, he reminded me that he doesn't carry rubber gloves and hot water if I should go into labor on my way to the car.  I told him that I had a couple more months before we had to worry about that.  It was nice of him to offer to help me though.  You can see from the last two weeks of pictures I am including that it is noticeable that I am "with child".

One more picture from the youth-staff basketball game... check out Zack's "bun in the oven"

28 weeks

29 weeks

Zack was in Nashville this past week for a business trip.  It is wonderful having him home now.  The other night I was feeling like I needed to take a walk around the house to stretch my legs in the middle of the night.  I had to carry my cell phone with me (just in case) since Zack wasn't home if I had any issues.  It feels better to know he is within "shouting" distance as we get closer to the due date. 

Thunderbolt has been kicking a lot this week.  For the first time, I have been able to see my stomach move from the outside as Thunderbolt changes positions.  It is crazy to imagine what he is doing all day and night.  He has been moving in the night (and waking me up) and keeping me entertained during the day at work.  I will be busy with a project, and he gives me a little nudge as if to say "hey there, I will see you soon!"  I am loving this part of the pregnancy.  I have been told this is the part I will miss the most after the baby arrives so I am trying to savor each movement (even if some are uncomfortable at times). 

I had a doctor's appointment this week, and they did the glucose test.  I picked the orange flavor drink (I had been told it was better).  I haven't heard yet the results of the test... I am thinking no news is good news.  I continue to enjoy eating ANYTHING I want!  haha  Thunderbolt's heartbeat is 146 bpm.  The nurse had a hard time getting a steady heartbeat because the baby was moving around so much (probably from the sugary drink I had prior to the appointment).   I have gained a healthy 20 pounds......which is always interesting to think about.  Thunderbolt is approximately 3 pounds at this time..... what is all the other weight gain from?! ;)  He is considered to be the size of a butternut squash at 29 weeks so I will continue to nourish this cute lil' "squash" until he joins us!