Baby Shower #1 – July 9, 2011

The first baby shower was on Saturday, July 9, 2011, and was held at LaCabana (Mom’s favorite)!  It was a girl’s only shower and was so much fun!  It was decorated so cute and girly and everything was perfect!  We visited, played games, had lunch, ate cake, open presents, and visited some more.  I was so touched to see everyone and made memories that will last forever! 
 

The baby shower was hosted by Melinda, Rikki, Melissa, Stacey, Becky, and Brenda.  They had awesome decorations, a beautiful diaper cake, an awesome cake (and delicious too) that was made by Melinda, and just overall turned the room into a very cheerful and pink place.  I LOVED it!!

We played the nursery rhyme quiz which mommy was not very good at.  However, pretty soon I will be an expert at nursery rhymes since we will be reading lots of nursery rhymes in the upcoming months.  We played “How well do you know Lorey?”  It was a game where everyone had to guess what feature I wanted most for Miss Abby.  I said I hope she gets Mommy’s ears, temperament, hands, culinary skills, nose, hair, and smile.  I said I hope she gets Daddy’s eyes, memory, legs, and intelligence.  We also played “Finish the Baby Rhyme,” which again I was not very good at.  It was a lot of fun that brought many laughs to the table.

Who all came to the shower?  So many wonderful family and friends, including:

1)      Melinda and Daxton Anderson  - Cousins  (Hostess Gift)

2)      Lauri, Kailei, and Ashlyn Anzaldua – Adopted Aunt and Great Friends (Hostess Gift for Baby Shower on Sunday July 10, 2011)

3)      Brenda Wallace – Great Aunt (Hostess Gift)

4)      Granny – Great Grandma (Money)

5)      Becky Bunte – Great Aunt (Hostess Gift and quilt, wubbanub pacifier and holder, and pajamas for Mommy)

6)      Mawmaw Ingram – Grandma (basket full of goodies and so much more over all the months including money that helped by the rocker and glider, many decorations for the room,  baby’s first doll, kid CD, towels, washcloths, sheets, toys, Carter clothes, etc.)

7)      DeLisa and Nadia Pettit – Mommy’s Friend and Hairdresser (gift card)

8)      Virginia Hagerty – Great Aunt (bassinet and crib sheets and blanket)

9)      Kristen Helford (Auntie) and Colton Adams – Aunt and Cousin (Hostess Gift for Baby Shower on Sunday July 10, 2011)

10)   Crystal and Brityn Roberts – Mommy’s Grade School Friend (wipe warmer and bath set)

11)   Melissa Ingram – Great Aunt (Hostess Gift)

12)   Eva Helford (Grandma Helford) – Grandma (Jogging Stroller)

13)   Melanie Jackson – Mommy’s Friend (and Bridget’s Mom) (rattle barbell, key toy, and rocker)

14)   Bridget Meleski – Mommy’s Grade School Friend (rattle barbell, key toy, and rocker)

15)   Claire Swartz – Family Member  (spoons, bowls, clothes, and burp cloths)

16)   Kari Murphy – Mommy’s Grade School Friend  (sun shade, formula container, nail clippers, teether, towels, burp cloths, dishwasher baskets, and sheets)

17)   Carol Miller – Family Friend (sun shade, formula container, nail clippers, teether, towels, burp cloths, dishwasher baskets, and sheets)

18)   JoAnna Garrison – Family Friend (diapers, bath soap, lotion, wipes, and pig singing toy)

19)   Karen Webb – Family Friend (nail clippers, wipe holder, car sign, and monogrammed burp clothes)

20)   Rikki Bonet - (Hostess Gift plus a basket full of goodies and so much more over all the months including clothes, baby shoes, toys, spoons, food containers, baby book, highchair cover, and so much more)

All the hostesses went in and got the car seat and diaper genie plus all the baskets full of toys, bath stuff, and other fun stuff for Abby that they used for decorations!

Thanks everyone so much for making this time in our lives so very special!  Y’all are all awesome and will never know how much this all means to me.  I am so grateful and just had a blast at the baby shower!!  It was so much fun and turned out AWESOME!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

 Me and the Cake!

 The AWESOME cake Melinda made!!

 Miss Kailei and Lauri

 What a Precious Diaper Cake!!

 The Hostesses (Becky, Brenda, Me, Rikki,, Melissa, and Melinda)

 Granny and Daxton

 Karen and Granny

 Mawmaw, Preston, and JoAnna

 Some of the Gang (Virginia, Kari, Carol, Lauri, and Kailei)

 Bridget, Aunt Kristen, Cousin Colton, and Grandma Helford

 Playing the Rhyme Game

 Lauri, Ashlyn, and Kailei

 Becky and Claire Lynn

 My Grade School Friend, Crystal and her daughter Brityn

 Brenda partying with Daxton and Preston

 Me Big and Sassy!!

 Opening Presents - Thank You Everyone!!

 Abby Sure is Blessed!

 Adorable Clothes!

 Mr. Preston

 More Stuff for Miss Abbygale

 Abbygale is Spoiled Rotten Already!!

 Melanie and Bridget - LOVE Them!!

 The Car Seat!!

 The Hostess Present!

 A Diaper Genie Too!!

 Kailei Worn Out!!

 Me and Granny!!

 Daxton, Melinda, Becky, and Claire Lynn

 A Mini-School Reunion (Kari, Crystal, Lorey, and Bridget)

 Rikki, Me, Bridget, and Mom

 My Good Friend, Lauri!!

The Family - Mom, Me, and Rikki (I do LOVE my family)!!

July 5, 2011 - Week 31

Abby should be about the size of FOUR navel oranges or a head of lettuce and weigh slightly over three pounds.  Abbygale should gain three to five pounds (possibly more) before we meet her in a couple of months.  Abby should have all five senses now even though she can’t smell anything since she is still submerged in amniotic fluid.  One of her very first scents she breathes in will be Bryan and mines – which should become her favorite smells!!  The thought is so sweet!

What are some changes I have experienced while pregnant?

*More clumsiness than the usual Ingram accidents
*Forgetfulness
*Less concerned about a spotless house
*An increase in shoe size
*My nails are now a lot stronger and grow fast
*So tired but can’t sleep well – able to take naps now
*Can eat ice cream without getting sick
*HOT, HOT, HOT (when typically always COLD, COLD, COLD)
*A need for sweets when I have never been much of a sweet eater
*Laugh until I cry for really no reason at all
*Unable to keep my feet pretty since I can’t reach them without cutting off circulation
  and feeling miserable
*Less stress over the little stuff
*Walk slower than normal
*Killer heartburn throughout the day but especially at night
*A new love for my body (enjoying the pregnancy look)

I had a doctor’s appointment with Dr. Laurette Smith on Wednesday, July 6, 2011. No real news is good news right?  Abby’s heartbeat was roughly 140.  They told me everything looked good and on track.  My heartburn, hotness, and lack of sleep are all just pregnancy symptoms.  She didn’t see any concerns.  She told me to continue taking Zantac for heartburn but to take it roughly 30-45 minutes before my episodes normally occur.  Also take Tums at the same time as I take the Zantac.  Let’s see if it will work!  I go back in two weeks for another checkup.

Here are the 31 Week pictures:

Profile Picture, 31 Weeks

 Growing, Growing, Growing!

 31 Weeks Pregnant

 Miss Abbygale Kate

 Miss Abby Helford

 9 Weeks to Go!

 Big Belly at 31 Weeks

 Abby's Sister, Matty 7/10/2011

Matty resting for the arrival of Miss Abby!

George resting for the arrival of Abbygale!

Abby's Brother, George, July 10, 2011

Abby already loves her Big Brother George!

June 28, 2011 - Week 30

Week 30 with only 10 more weeks to go; the thought of this takes my breath away due to a combination of excitement and nerves!  I still feel the need to pee all the time (I’m guessing because Abby’s head is pressing on my bladder), I am tired all the time again, and pregnancy heartburn is still a big part of my life these days. 

Abbygale’s height and weight probably haven’t changed much in a week but the big news is Abby’s brain gain.  Abby’s brain should be taking on characteristic grooves and indentations.  This allows for an increased amount of brain tissue.  Abby is becoming a little genius more and more each day!!  She should weigh roughly 3 pounds or a little less/more.

I have been swimming some at my Aunt and Uncle’s house.  Swimming makes me feel so much lighter and is supposed to be good exercise too!  I am always so very hot that going swimming helps cool my body off too!  I’m hoping to keep up the pool dates because I always sleep better and feel better after walking around in the pool for a little while.

What do I eat a lot of being pregnant?  Dan’s Hamburgers knows my order by my name pretty much.  When I walk in they don’t even have to ask for my name – they go and get the to-go bag that is for me.  The other day one waitress said, “I didn’t even know you were expecting?”  I said “Did you think I was just getting rounder and rounder?”  She said, “Well we didn’t want to think it was our tacos!!”  I found that hilarious!  Breakfast tacos are a hit these days (as they were before I was pregnant too).  I do eat about the same stuff I ate before (my favorites being Mexican food and Taco Bell).  However, I do eat more ice cream cones and ice cream in general and crave anything ice cold (ice cold water, ice cold limeades, etc).  Ice cream use to make me sick and now I can eat it without any problems; it actually feels really good (keeps me cool) and is suppose to help with heartburn!

My stomach is getting huge!  I soak it in cocoa butter every evening and so far I have no stretch marks!  I sure do hope this continues to be the case!  I can’t bend over to paint my toe nails anymore.  It is extremely uncomfortable and takes my breath away.  Thankfully I have a date planned this Friday with a good friend, Lauri, and her daughter Kailei for a pedicure and possibly a manicure too.  I am SO ready for some pretty feet again! 

I have really enjoyed my pregnancy to date even with the killer heartburn!  I have enjoyed watching my stomach grow knowing a little baby that Bryan and I created is growing inside of me.  It is truly a miracle and a life-changing event!  I do feel like I have the pregnancy glow and really have enjoyed wearing maternity clothes knowing that I am carrying a baby!  It has all been so enjoyable (besides the few pregnancy symptoms) for me and something that I will cherish forever!  Being pregnant has been a very memorable and awesome experience and I already love Abby more than I could have ever imagined!

Here are the Week 30 or 7 ½ month pictures!!

Head Shot

 Week 30 (I'm getting puffy and big)!

 7 1/2 Months

 Belly Picture, 30 Weeks

 3rd Trimester

 Baby Abby

 Abbygale Kate Helford