The Best of Friends

Above is a picture of our first child, Anders. She's a 6 year old, 160 pound, Great Dane who has made our lives much more full than we ever imagined. We often wonder, what did we do for entertainment before her? She's truly a gentle giant with quite the personality. For instance, last night when I told her to get off our bed and onto her dog bed (which happens to be a twin mattress in the floor) she looked at me and waltzed out of the room, climbed on the couch and refused to get up. At 2:30 a.m., I make one of my trips to the restroom and notice she's now laying in the floor next to my side of the bed (nothing like tripping over a body to wake you up). I go into the kitchen for water and find the living room floor scattered with things that weren't there when we went to bed. I took inventory and found; a lid to the spray starch, a blanket, a pillow, a few dog toys, a pen and some dirty laundry. Thankfully, she's not a chewer!

Anders is aware that something is changing in our house and she can often be found laying in the nursery floor. We can't wait for Oliver and Anders to meet and begin to interact. I envision spending my days as a stay-at-home (a blog on that later) taking dog toys from Oliver and kid toys from Anders. It's a good thing Brent and I don't come close to qualifying as a germaphobes.

Here's to Anders and Oliver and the bond they will share!

Kick, Flutter, Bang, Poke, Flutter, Kick...SWOON!

Dear Oliver,

I never thought I would love being pregnant. I sort of always considered it would be a necessary evil required of me to get what I ultimately desired, you. Perhaps its all the horror stories people love to share with you about their own pregnancies or all the details I read in the umpteen pregnancy books before ever peeing on a stick.

What I've learned is, I was wrong. Maybe that's because I haven't found this pregnancy to be particularly painful or complicated. I love being pregnant and pregnancy is nothing short of miraculous. Every week this journey seems better than the last. This week I can actually see you kicking from the outside. It's amazing to look down and see my basketball sized belly moving in sync with your daily soccer drills. I often find myself smiling when I feel you hiccuping from within.

I can't wrap my head around the fact that this pregnancy is more than halfway over. Wasn't it only yesterday I woke up early to pee on not one but two sticks? While I am eager to meet you, I'm also a little sad that I will soon be sharing you with the world and no longer able to keep you snuggled safely all to myself.

The finish line to taste the sweet and painful victory of birth is drawing near. Until then I will savor all of our time together, just the two of us.

Love, Mom.

24 Weeks!

Time to check in. I'm really amazed that I'm already at week 24. I have days where I feel like this pregnancy is going to last forever and days where I can't believe it's over half way gone.

How far along: 24 weeks today!

Symptoms: Heartburn sucks period. Low back ache comes and goes but is at its worst when I've been standing for long periods of time. I'm still experiencing pregnancy rhinitis (stuffy/runny nose). I seem to have found a little bit of energy and am now getting much more done after working a full day.

Total Weight Gain: 10 pounds total and some days it feels like 50!

Maternity Clothes: Nothing new to see here, just the same ol' maternity dress for the 300th wear. :)

Stretch Marks: Shall we count them? Nah, that would just get depressing (and take too long).

Sleep: I get my best sleep from 4 am to 8 am. Too bad I have to be up by 6.

Best Moment This Week: In the last four weeks, we've painted the nursery and put up crown moulding (thanks to my parents), purchased (thanks to my in-laws) and put together the crib, purchased the closet system and dresser/changing table, ordered fabric for the crib skirt and roman shade, had the crib mattress delivered and made final art selections for the walls.

Movement: I'm feeling movement all day every day now and I love it. He routinely kicks, squirms and apparently has the hiccups. I also purchased an at home Fetal Doppler. I love listening to his heartbeat!

Food Cravings: Apples with peanut butter and string cheese.

Belly Button: Still an innie.

What I miss: Sleeping a solid 8 hours. I've never had sleep issues, so this is new territory. Totally worth the headache but a full nights rest would be grand!

What I am looking forward to: Finishing the nursery, baby showers, squeezing in every date night with hubby I possibly can, retiring from work and meeting Oliver!

Milestones: Over the hump!

How is Daddy?: Ecstatic! He's reading books about being a father and parenting a son. So fun!

How are the Grandparents?: Eager as ever! They are ready to meet Oliver and have been 100% supportive in everything we need.

Stranger Encounters: I've gotten a few "when are you due" comments lately and when I say November 5 usually they say "oh big baby!"

Project Nursery - Act 1

One of the most fun parts of being pregnant (aside from seeing the baby, feeling the baby and hearing the heartbeat of course) is planning the nursery. I was dreaming of our first baby's nursery before we even conceived.

We've chosen our smallest guest room as the nursery. How much space can one tiny human need? So far, that answer seems to be a lot! But with proper planning, organization and thoughtful execution, I think it will work out just fine.

Follow me on this journey of creating Oliver's Nest and feel free to add suggestions (well except on his name, paint colors and furniture as those are set in stone). :)

Before picture of nursery/guest room...

Here's the project board I've created for inspiration after many, many hours of research:

Tomorrow my always-willing-to-help parents are coming over to paint the walls (Thyme Green - much brighter than pictured here due to scanning), paint the closet (light grey) and put up crown moulding. We'll be ordering the crib, mattress and dresser next week. I already have the adorable owl sheets and pillow from DwellStudio. Not pictured is a recliner that's being slipcovered in white as well as a crib skirt that's still in the design stage.

We are so excited to see this nursery come together!

Happy Painting!

20 Weeks and Counting (DOWN)!

20 weeks 3 days

looking right at us

waving hand

Time to check in. I've officially crossed the halfway threshold of pregnancy. I had my 20 week doctor appointment today and all looked great. I got to meet the only male midwife on staff and I loved him! That's not to say I haven't been happy with everyone in the office...well, there was that one midwife... :)

How far along: 20 weeks and 6 days today!

Symptoms: Heartburn is still showing its ugly face, low back ache comes and goes, round belly continues to grow. I've been experiencing pregnancy rhinitis (stuffy/runny nose) for the last few weeks in addition to a growing appetite. Oh and I almost forgot my varicose veins and swollen ankles by the end of the day. No real complaints though, we're on our way to having a healthy baby boy and that alone makes all of this worth it!

Total Weight Gain: 7 pounds total. Midwife is happy with the gain. When else in your life can you gain 6 pounds in 4 weeks and get a high-five from the doctor? (Well unless you happen to be one of the Olsen twins.)

Maternity Clothes: Update: I added maternity underwear to my collection and if that ain't sexy I don't know what is!

Stretch Marks: Just a forgone conclusion at this point.

Sleep: How does one get comfortable with a melon in the belly? I'm still trying to figure this out.

Best Moment This Week: Having a detailed ultrasound, confirming Oliver is indeed a boy and starting work on the nursery!

Movement: I feel movement daily, especially right after eating.

Food Cravings: I'm back to eating pretty much anything. Chicken still isn't my favorite but I can eat it. I'm also back in the kitchen creating recipes which makes hubby very happy!

Belly Button: Still in but getting sore. I wonder how much longer it will be in?

What I miss: The gym!

What I am looking forward to: Traveling to Charleston to visit the in-laws (and check out all the cute baby stores there), getting the nursery finished and meeting Oliver!

Milestones: Over the hump!

How is Daddy?: Glowing. :)

How are the Grandparents?: Anticipating Oliver's arrival and eager to help do whatever needs to be done!

Stranger Encounters: Still occurring. I love when my friends and family want to touch the baby belly. Strangers? Not so much.

And he shall be called...

OHE

Oliver Edmunds Holloway.

We've known since we conceived that if Baby H was a boy we would name him Oliver. Why you ask? Simply because we love it. It's different and not often heard anymore. The middle name, Edmunds, is from Brent's side of the family. Edmunds was Brent's great-grandfather. We feel good about not only getting a name we love but also one that connects this baby to the family he comes from.

Calling Oliver by his name makes this pregnancy seem all the more real. Last week Brent said something very simple, "when Oliver gets here..." and it completely caught me off guard. I think for the first time I actually was able to imagine what a tiny piece of our new life will be like. We can't wait to meet our little Oliver face to face.

A bit of useless information: The name Oliver means" kind one, olive tree (a biblical symbol of dignity and fruitfulness) and peace." Edmunds means "wealthy protector."

The cat is out of the bag. Let the monogramming begin!

17 weeks!

Checking in again....

How far along: 17 weeks today!

Symptoms: Nausea is gone , heartburn is back with a vengence, low back ache comes and goes, round belly continues to grow. Sore boobs and round ligament pain. Oh and varicose veins!

Total Weight Gain: Still at 1.5 pounds total (remains a 4.5 pound loss since the positive test).

Maternity Clothes: It's all I wear. Surprisingly, maternity clothes have come a long way. There are some really cute things out there!

Stretch Marks: Nasty little suckers!

Sleep: Seems to be getting a little better despite the double bathroom trips each night.

Best Moment This Week: Finding out that Baby H is a BOY!

Movement: I felt a few flutters while relaxing in Hawaii.

Food Cravings: Still hating chicken but am doing much better in the food department.

Belly Button: Still in.

What I miss: Hawaii and so does Baby H.

What I am looking forward to: Planning and decorating the nursery, oh how I cannot wait!. Feeling Baby H kick!

Milestones: Finding out Baby H's gender.

How is Daddy?: Excited he will be raising a son and all into selecting the perfect crib!

How are the Grandparents?: We invited them all to the gender ultrasound and everyone had a blast. Now that they know its a grandson, it's just a matter of time before the buying frenzy begins!

Stranger Encounters: So every stranger predicted a girl and they were all wrong! I encountered a few people in Hawaii who were interested in my growing belly but thankfully none of them were interested in copping a feel. Phew!