40 Weeks–almost!

I was given 3 different due dates for this pregnancy – June 30th, July 2nd, and July 5th. Absolute craziness, I know!! So, tomorrow marks 40 weeks according to the first due date given. I can’t believe it’s been that long!

I went to the OB yesterday for a regular check-up. We listened to Finley’s heartbeat, he measured the outside of my belly, and then checked my cervix. After a quick check, with a smile on his face, he said, “Well, would you like to have a baby on Friday?” Of course I want to have a baby!! And, the sooner, the better! :) I am 80% effaced and 4 cm dilated at the moment. So, if I don’t go into active labor on my own before Friday, we will be checking in to the hospital at 6 am to start Pitocin and get things rolling! My doctor assured me that she would be here by the early afternoon on Friday if that was the case. We couldn’t be more thrilled to meet our sweet new baby and are praying that all goes smoothly!!

We took our last belly shot last night and that sucker is HUGE!!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 40 Weeks – tomorrow!!

Size of baby: She should be a little over 7lbs at the moment – but let’s hope not too much bigger!!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 28.5 lbs – man, that feels like a lot! But, it’s actually 1.5 lbs less than I gained with Cori.

Maternity Clothes: Still wearing maternity tanks from Target DAILY :) and maternity shorts. Gotta keep it comfortable in this HOT weather!

Gender: It's a girl!!! Finley Grace Smith

Movement: Little clusters of BIG movement – may have something to do with those contractions I’m having!

Sleep: HA! What sleep?!

What I miss: Being comfortable – plain and simple.

Cravings: It’s varied all throughout pregnancy. I did buy a new tub of ice cream yesterday. Cookies and Cream, here I come!

Symptoms: CRAZY heartburn!! I don’t remember it being this bad with Cori.

Best Moment this week: Hearing that we will definitely have a baby here by Friday. It’s nice to know a little bit of information rather than just having to wait it out!!

 

My belly looks like a bullet! But I do actually look more comfortable this time around – not sure if I feel more comfortable though!! One other funny side note – CB was born in December (notice the paleness of my skin), and Fin will be here in the middle of summer (loving the tan!!) It makes all that extra weight look a lot nicer. HA!

Please be in prayer for us as we have our second sweet girl – pray for a quick and easy delivery! And, for both mom and baby to come through healthy!! You can also pray for Cori as she becomes a big sis. I know she is going to be a GREAT one!

Beach Week 2011!

Every year the Smith clan travels over to Crescent Beach for a week. Every year more and more people come and this year it was literally a Smith Family reunion with about 30 people! The picture above is just of David’s immediate family. We took a picture of everyone, but not on our camera – hopefully we will get it soon though! It was so much fun – especially to see all the kids! Last year it was just Cori and her 2nd cousins, Elle & Taylee, who are just 1 day younger than her. But this year we had Cedar (5 yrs), Reed (2 yrs), Cori (18 mo), Elle & Taylee (18 mo), Taylor (6 mo), and Jona (2 wks). I wish I had taken a picture of all the kids together. They were a blast!!

This picture is one of my favorites from the week. We took it for Father’s day. All the son’s with their kids… and Joe with Jamie. I wish I had one with out CB’s finger up her nose, but every time we got the camera out that’s where her finger went! Go figure!!

Little Miss certainly LOVED the ocean!! You should have seen her! She was hysterical running into the waves and loved getting out there to swim! Those few days of swim lessons prior to our trip definitely paid off. We had a little fish out there! I can’t believe just how old she is getting. 18 months TODAY! Wow!! She is the oldest grandkid out of Dave’s immediate family and looking at her next to Taylor and Jona made me realize just how big she is. Little Miss Independent too! Here she is on the first day out in the water with her daddy. Just look at those BIG smiles!!

 

She even liked the sand – on most days anyway! :) Some days she wasn’t really into getting dirty and would have rather sat in a beach chair to relax, but there were a few days she was ALL about digging and getting dirty!

In this particular picture, CB and her daddy had just filled this bucket with sand. Cori decided she wanted to move it. She first attempted to pick it up by the handle, but it was too heavy. SO, she bent down and picked it up like this and carried it across the sand. So strong!!

Remember how I said she liked to lounge in the beach chairs on occasion. Here is my favorite beach chair picture! She was particularly fond of this green chair and would walk over to whoever was sitting in it and say, “Mo!” while waving her hand back and forth. That was her way of saying “no – get out of that chair! I want to sit in it!”

 

It’s tradition every year that we have a shrimp boil on the beach one of the nights we are there. This year was no different. I look forward to this evening of festivities from the first night we arrive. We cook up a bunch of shrimp, sausage, corn, and potatoes in a BIG pot on the beach and then it gets poured out onto a table where everyone fills their plate. It’s definitely a free for all and so much fun!!

Reed, Cedar, & Cori

Here are some more pictures of the kids together throughout the week. They were all so cute together!! Cori especially LOVED Cedar. She loves playing with older girls and really looks up to them in true amazement!

This is hysterical – Cedar was teaching all the girls how to apply lipstick! HA! :)

I found a picture of all the kids after all! :) Here they all are with their GREAT Grandparents!!

Here are a few more favorites from the week…

Lance and Lauren came to visit – we ALWAYS love visits from them!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the picture on the right of my sweet CB!! Those eyes are just gorgeous!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the end of the week we finally got some family pictures taken. Finley is looking ready to pop!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cori Belle, Mommy, Daddy

We had such a great time being on vacation! Finley did her part and stayed in the womb for a bit longer so we could have some time to relax. Now, we are ready for her arrival! :) Can’t wait for next year when we will have TWO little girls running around at the beach!! Oh, what fun it will be!!

This little girl wore herself out!!

Until next time…

A Baby Shower for Finley Grace

I figured I’d better get a move on posting about Finley’s baby shower before she gets here! My due date is just around the corner and we are so excited to meet her!

Three of my dearest, sweetest, best friends threw the shower – Lauren, Kristy, and Emily. Oh, how I love and adore our friendship! I am so blessed to have such amazing friends!!

Emily, Lauren, me, & Kristy

We got together on a Sunday afternoon after church at Emily’s house to celebrate. It was such a sweet time of fellowship. We didn’t do all the traditional games you play at a baby shower for your first baby. We simply enjoyed one another’s company, had a few delicious snacks, opened a few gifts, and prayed. I think that was my favorite part of the whole shower – praying. Kristy wrote these heartfelt prayers out for Finley. They were the sweetest things I have ever heard. She passed them out for a few people to read and everyone prayed over me and Finley. I have SUCH a special group of friends!!

I pray these things for both my girls – and any other future children David and I have.

 

I didn’t need too many necessities this time around since we are having another girl. So, Finley got lots of cute monogrammed things. Cori even got a few things too! My mom and grandmother got a few things for Finley off our registry – FUNNY story!! I opened an ear thermometer and a crazy looking dog night light. I fidgeted with the night light for a moment wondering how it worked when my mom said, “You should know how it works, you put it on your registry.” To which I responded, “No, I didn’t.” After a few minutes of discussion, we realized that my mom and grandma had bought things off another Danielle Smith’s registry!! HA! Much laughter was had about that one!!

Here are a few pictures from the shower…

Mandi, Annie, & Lauren

Lacy & me – the jewelry ladies!!

My mom, me, & sister

Emily & Josie

Julie, me, & Em – almost all of our play group. We were missing Jen!

My mom & Mary Julia

David’s Aunt Claudia & Mama Jean

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love these sweet gifts – a monogrammed Boppy cover, a new picture to hang in the girls’ room with their names on it, and a CUTE new born onesie! LOVE it!!

Thank you everyone for showering me with your love on such a special day!! Ya’ll are so sweet to me and my girls!!