Ride 2 Recovery

Thursday, December 17th, Chet participated in the fourth annual Ride 2 Recovery, a bicycle ride designed to raise money for wounded veterans. There were about 325 riders total, but Chet and many others, including the CNO (Chief of Naval Operations) only participated in the last leg of the ride, which was 50-miles long ("only" I say!). In case you were wondering, Chet WAS sore the next day. Here is a link to an online article covering the event: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-12-17/story/cyclists_complete_ride_mayport_finale_for_injured_vets.

In addition to participating in the ride, Chet was also responsible for part of the planning, specifically coordinating the ride's on-base finish (imagine 325 bicyclists flying through the base's front gates past armed gate guards...not a normal day). To top it all off, Chet has also been working on a several-month-long project: planning, managing, and overseeing the construction of the base's first handicapped beach access ramp. The ride concluded with the CNO cutting the beautifully handcrafted red, white, and blue ribbon at a traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony, deeming the ramp "open". (By the way, Chet and I were the makers of the "beautifully handcrafted red, white, and blue ribbon".) Here is a picture of Chet in his Ride 2 Recovery outfit!

33 Weeks

Not much news to report! My 32-week doctor appointment went well, and I'll post a picture in my maternity uniform soon (that's for you, Case!). Chet and I have been busy getting ready for Christmas, and although we won't be traveling to Texas this year, we'll spend the big day in West Palm Beach with Chet's family. Here is my 33-week picture compared to 32 weeks, as well as the car seat and Pack 'n' Play we recently received in the mail! Merry Christmas to all!

32 Weeks

33 Weeks

Car Seat

Pack 'n' Play

31 and 32 Weeks

Sorry for not posting last week, but here are my 31- and 32-week pictures (compared to 30 weeks)! Please excuse the 32-week picture (I have a cold and am feeling/looking pretty rough), and I took two pictures the 31st week because I think I look more pregnant in the red dress picture (this was taken right before Chet and I went to his work Christmas party) than in the bare belly picture. In other news, I switched to the maternity uniform at work this week, and I have my 32-week doctor appointment tomorrow.

30 Weeks

31 Weeks

31 Weeks

32 Weeks

3D/4D Ultrasound

Hi, everyone! Last Wednesday Chet and I went to a 3D/4D Ultrasound clinic and got to see our little princess again. I was especially interested in having the technician check...just to make sure...that we're definitely having a little girl. We are (thank goodness; I wasn't looking forward to re-painting the room or returning all of those adorable bows and pink clothes), and it was so much fun to see her moving around and looking like a little human! We got to take home a CD with all of the pictures from the session, but they weren't the best because we were only able to see her right side, and her little feet and some umbilical cord were covering her face part of the time. In case you can't make out what you're looking at, her face is on the left side of the pictures, looking right. And she's smiling in the second one!

30 Weeks, Baby's Name, and Nursery Preview

Hi, everyone! This morning, after I stood up from hunching over while putting on my shoes, I felt a sharp pain in my left side. I'm pretty sure there was a little foot sticking out of the left side of my belly, and I had to gently push it back in to make the pain go away (it didn't feel so painful once I realized what it was!). I thought it was pretty cute, but hopefully she doesn't make a habit of it! Here is my 30-week picture, compared to my 29-week picture.

29 Weeks

30 Weeks

For those of you who don't know and are wondering, we've decided to keep the baby's name a surprise until she's born. We're 99% sure we know what we're going to name her, but since we still have some time, we're not frantic yet (sorry if the title of this entry was misleading!). Also, Chet and I have been working on the nursery, and here is a sneak peak. It's definitely not finished, but I thought you'd like to see where we're going with the decorating and such (more pictures to follow!).

We hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving!

Texas Baby Shower

I flew to Texas the weekend of November 13th for an amazing baby shower hosted by my mom, P-ma (maternal grandmother, for those of you who don't know), and good friend Gwen. Gwen was the decorator and caterer, and everything turned out perfectly! It was so nice to spend time with friends and family, and to receive so many wonderful gifts (especially all of the adorable clothes and accessories that a baby girl can wear)! Thanks everyone!

Ashley, P-ma, Gwen, and Mama

Kitchen Table (with Ginny the Giraffe sitting guard)

Cupcakes (the top tier is actually 4 onesies made to look like cupcakes!)

Punch Bowl

Dining Room Table (too bad the food wasn't set out yet)

Shoe and Bow Tree

Ashley and Cousin Starla

Bathroom Decorations

Diaper Cake

Aunt Sheila, Ashley, and Aunt Ellen

28 and 29 Weeks

Hi, everyone! Sorry for taking a week off from blogging...we've been busy lately! Here are my 28- and 29-week pictures (as always, compared to the previous week).

27 Weeks

28 Weeks

29 Weeks (please excuse the weird hairdo)

Last entry I mentioned having my glucose test, which I failed. Not a big deal; I had to take a more accurate 3-hour test the following week (which was last week). It wasn't much fun, because I had to fast for 12-hours beforehand, then sit in the waiting room of the clinic for nearly four hours, getting my blood drawn each hour. I was pretty hungry by the end. I'm pretty sure I passed this test, because I haven't received a phone call from my doctor (I should have heard from her Monday had I failed again). So thank goodness for no gestational diabetes!

Last weekend I flew to Texas for a wonderful baby shower hosted by my mom, but I'll devote an entire entry to that in the next couple of days. While I was in Texas, Chet and his dad painted the baby's room, and it looks amazing! Pictures to follow!