28 week update

I seriously can not believe we have made it to the third trimester! These months are going by so fast and we are getting so close to meeting our little man. He already has a mind of his own and it kind of scares me for when he gets here!! Every time we go for an ultrasound he is either covering his face or turned around facing my back so we can't get a good face shot!! He is also moving like a crazy man in there. The ultrasound tech always comments on how active he is!! Silly boy is going to be such a handful once he gets here. It still seems so crazy to think about a little human being in my belly. I love him so much already and just cant wait to meet him (well we can wait a little longer, he needs to grow some more before making his grand entrance into the world)!!
How far along? 28 Weeks

Size of baby gautreaux? Baby Gautreaux is the size of a chinese cabbage 
Total weight gain/loss: +11
Maternity clothes? Still going back and forth but pretty much living in dresses and maxi skirts.
Stretch marks? Sadly I think the growth spurt ones on my sides might be growing. They are turning red! I have been lathering the belly butter on them but I think it might just be out of my control. UHHH
Sleep: It is so up and down. Some nights it is amazing and some nights I am up constantly. 
Best moment this week: Painting the nursery, starting the third trimester, and seeing his cute little self during our ultrasound!!! 
Have you told family and friends: Yes! 

Miss Anything? Still wanting ham sandwiches and a strawberry margarita!! 

Movement: Oh yes!! He is like the karate kid in there but I love it so much! I am going to miss this so much once he is here! 
Food cravings: Lately it has just been what sounds good that day. 
Anything making you queasy or sick: No

Symptoms: Last week I had my first experience with Braxton Hicks. They didn't hurt but they were happening every 3 minutes so Hubby was freaking out!! He was ready to head to the hospital when I read that all is good unless they start to hurt so he calmed down after that!! All I could do was laugh. Otherwise I am starting to feel huge. I know it is only going to get worse but man my belly feels like it is about to bust!! It is crazy how your belly grows and grows while you are pregnant. 

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!! 

Have you started to show yet: Yep 

Gender: BOY!!!!! 
Labor Signs: No real labor signs just BH

Belly Button in or out? Still in!! I can't believe it has lasted this long but it is still hanging in there!!

Wedding rings on or off? On

Looking forward to: Redoing the garage sale dresser we found to make his changing table and decorating the nursery!!

celebrating two years of bliss

On Tuesday the hubs and I celebrated two years of marital bliss. It was simple but oh so amazing. We decided to stay home and cook ourselves instead of getting all fancy and going out after a long day of work. We had salad, steaks, baked potatoes, green beans, carrots, and bread for dinner and man was it delicious!! My hubby is really really good at grilling steaks!!! After dinner we had chocolate covered strawberries and chocolate chip cookies while watching extreme weight loss (yes we were pigging out as these people were working their buts off to lose weight.... haha). The two year present is supposed to be cotton and that proved to be harder than we thought. We ended up asking each other what the other one wanted and just getting that (how boring I know)! I asked for an apron and he wants a new tool bag! It was such a simple night but so special. The last two years have been absolutely amazing. He is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I have no clue where I would be without him. His kind, gentle, thoughtful, and sincere soul continues to amaze me every single day. He treats me so well even when I don't deserve it and never complains about my craziness!!! After dessert we laid in bed watching my belly go crazy. Little man was so active as usual and we were laughing our buts off. He already has a personality of his own and it is so funny. I just can't wait to meet him in three short months!

24 week update

{Actually 25weeks 3days}

I can't believe another month has come and gone. It is crazy how fast this pregnancy is going. This past month has been really great pregnancy wise. Sleep is the only thing bothering me, otherwise I feel amazing! I am just loving having my bump and feeling his constant movements. I really think I will miss those kicks once he is here. We have finally started making some decisions on the nursery and plan to paint in the next couple weeks! I just can't wait to see the finished product! James started feeling him kick around week 22 and is totally loving it. He will sit for the longest time just feeling his son kick and wiggle. So precious! 

How far along? 24 Weeks

Size of baby gautreaux? Baby Gautreaux is the size of an ear of corn 
Total weight gain/loss: +5
Maternity clothes? still going back and forth but I don't think I have much longer with my pre-precnancy clothes. 
Stretch marks? No new ones just the few I already had from my childhood growth spurt!
Sleep: still bad 
Best moment this week: the constant kicking is always the best and passing our glucose test was a plus too!!
Have you told family and friends: Yes! 

Miss Anything? Ham sandwiches!! I would kill for a cold ham sandwich on white bread right now!!

Movement: For sure!! This little guy is always moving. 
Food cravings: Fruit as always. it is like I can't get enough of it!
Anything making you queasy or sick: nope

Symptoms: so much lower back pain!!!! 

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!! 

Have you started to show yet: Yep 

Gender: BOY!!!!! 
Labor Signs: No!!

Belly Button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On

Looking forward to: Ordering little man's bedding this week and starting to paint. 

losing Papa

James "Jim" Hemphill Jr.

August 28, 1935- May 1, 2013

One week ago today we unexpectedly lost James' sweet Papa. He was truly a remarkable person that will be missed dearly. In the 7.5 years I have been around this family he has been the one to always make me feel included and always ask how things are going. Every time I saw him he would say "heyyy baby" in the sweetest voice and always ask how school was going and since December he always asked about little man. He was so funny too! He never met a stranger and could make the most miserable person giggle.
James took this news so hard. He loved his Papa so much and losing him was such a shock. There was no preparation for this. We literally saw him at our nephews first birthday party 4 days before he died. He was his normal happy, funny, entertaining self and no one could have known what would happen a few days later.
Monday was the funeral and I have never been prouder of my husband. The grandchildren decided that they wanted to all speak at the funeral. James is not much of a "speech giver" but he stood up there and spoke from his heart. He told the sweetest story about his grandfather and what kind of impact he has made in his life. All six grandchildren were so strong and spoke so fondly of their grandfather. They were absolutely amazing and I know Papa was so proud of them for doing that.
So often James and I are compared to Papa and Nana and it is such an honor for us. They have been together since high school and have a love like no other for each other. They are such an amazing example of a happy couple that truly loved each other unconditionally. They have been married 59 years and I can't imagine how it must feel to lose the love of your life. She has been so strong throughout this. She is truly an inspiration to the kind of person I strive to be.

James has always been told he looks like his dad and when I saw this picture of Papa I almost fell out of my chair! This looks exactly like James. It is so funny how you can look so much like two different people. I know it means so much to James to resemble this man. He thought the world of his Papa and seeing how much he looks like his was just the icing on the cake. There was even a man that came up to James at the burial and said how much he looked like Papa. It was so sweet and put such a smile on James' face. I loved seeing that.

one of those moments you will never forget

Little man at his 20 week ultra sound

Expecting a child has taught me that you will have a lot of "firsts" and moments you will never forget. Last night was one of those moments. We had our small group bible study as usual on Monday nights and as I was sitting there listening to someone talk my hand moved on my belly. I knew immediately that he had finally kicked hard enough for it to be felt from the outside. I grabbed James' hand as fast as possible and rested it on my belly. We waited for about 2 minutes and then POP! James' face lit up and I knew he had finally felt our baby for the first time. He was so blown away and smiling and laughing and every other happy emotion out there. It was seriously one of the sweetest things I have ever seen. He refused to take his hand off of my belly and I think our little guy loved it. He kicked the rest of the time. We were surrounded by truly amazing people that were sincerely happy for us and that felt great. In the last few weeks I have been thinking about that moment and praying it would be special for my husband and it was everything I prayed for and more. To see his face filled me with so much joy and happiness. He is such an awesome husband and I know he will be an even more amazing father. My children will be the luckiest kids in the world to call him their dad. 

20 week update

{Actually 20weeks 6days}

We are halfway there and I seriously can't believe it. Time is going so fast it is starting to freak me out. I can't believe this pregnancy is halfway over but I am so excited we are 20ish weeks away from meeting our little man. I am finally just enjoying being pregnant and it feels so good. This is exactly what I have always pictured pregnancy to be like (Lets hope it stays that way). My bump is finally showing enough for people to know and not think I am just fat and that makes me so happy! I love that thing so much! It is getting a little harder to dress it and still be a little fashionable but I am trying! Maxi dresses are my new favorite thing! I would wear one every single day if I could!! 

How far along? 20 Weeks

Size of baby gautreaux? Baby Gautreaux is the size of an banana 
Total weight gain/loss: +2
Maternity clothes? sometimes! I have been given so much that it is easier sometimes to just wear them and be way more comfortable!
Stretch marks? No new ones just the few I already had from my childhood growth spurt!
Sleep: still bad and still begging for the pillow! I did get a wedge and it helps a little!
Best moment this week: Getting to see little man being crazy hyper for his ultra sound!!! Seriously amazing!
Have you told family and friends: Yes! 

Miss Anything? Starting to miss my dollar margarita nights! ;)

Movement: OHHHHH YES! I started feeling him kick around 17 weeks and he hasn't stopped and momma doesn't mind one bit!
Food cravings: Fruit is an everyday craving but today I had my first real craving... Popeye's! I am wanting fried chicken so bad right now! Hubby knows he better not come home without it!
Anything making you queasy or sick: nope

Symptoms: achy all over & growing belly is about it right now

Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!! 

Have you started to show yet: I would say that is a YES! 

Gender prediction: BOY!!!!! 
Labor Signs: No!!

Belly Button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On

Looking forward to: James being able to feel him kick. Every time he kicks James puts his hands on my belly but he still can't feel it. I hope it is soon! The look of disappointment on his face makes me so sad!

whoo will it be...

BABY GAUTREAUX IS A BOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Before I was even pregnant I knew I could never wait until my baby was born to find out the sex. Once I found out I was pregnant that became even more true. I just wanted to be able to call my baby by its name and know what was growing inside of me. James and I decided that instead of the normal go to the ultra sound and find out then call everyone we wanted to do things a little different and a gender reveal party seemed like the perfect idea!

On the Wednesday before the party we went for our ultrasound and it was such an amazing experience. We had an ultra sound at 9 weeks but baby still just looked like a little bean and it was really quick. This time we went to the 3-D place and got to really see baby. It was truly amazing to see what has been growing inside of me. The baby was very stubborn and decided that even though I had drank a coke before hand it was nap time and was passed out facing my back the entire time! We could not wake it up and see the face! But otherwise it was perfect. She was able to determine the sex and we got to spend almost an hour there talking and looking at our little one.

On Saturday we had our party. We were surrounded by our family and closest friends as we found out what the sex of our baby was and it was so fun! We are so extremely excited for little man's arrival. Having a son is so exciting and scary at the same time for me! I have a lot more experience with girls and I am a girl myself but I am so ready for the challenge!!! I don't think I have ever seen James more excited than that day. Even though he won't admit it I know he wanted a boy. He wants a son to carry on the Gautreaux name, be his mini me, and someone to just do boy things with. He is going to be such an amazing dad to our son, I just know it!!!

Proud parents to be!

she is going to be the best nanny ever!!! 

 This set of pictures makes me laugh so much!!! 

OMG its really a boy!!!!

fellow boy mom giving me advice