38 weeks and a PRAISE!

For You created my innermost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." - Psalm 139:13-14

This week has been full of ups and downs, in a major way. I went in for my 38 week appointment on Wednesday and the doctor had decided to do an ultrasound to get an idea of how big Saylor was and then check if I was dilated, etc. Sean and I went in for the ultrasound and everything was moving along nicely... they estimated her to weigh 6 lbs 10 oz. After a few minutes, the nurse began to focus on a certain area for quite a bit of time, thus making me quite nervous. She then got up and said she needed someone else to look and went and got another person. I fell apart as soon as she left the room. I knew this meant they thought something was wrong with her and I had no idea what it was. 


The other nurse came in and took quite a long look. She then explained to Sean and I that they were concerned about her bladder. On the ultrasound it appeared to be very enlarged and not functioning properly... in other words, she wasn't pee peeing.  They were also concerned of very high fluid levels that were surrounding her. They were unsure what the problem was and wanted us to meet with the doctor then go to USC Medical to meet with another doctor. Needless to say, I was a complete mess. Scared to death. So worried. 


We met with my doctor who reviewed the ultrasound pictures and told me, worst case scenario, since I am full term, they would go ahead and deliver this baby and then she would need to be seen by a Pediatric Urologist. Not the news I wanted to hear. Needless to say, Wednesday was a very tough day. 


My appointment at USC was set for the next day (yesterday). My mom came down Wednesday night to be with me, so we headed over to USC and met Sean there to see the doctor. I was a ball of nerves and emotions, but just kept reassuring myself that the Lord is our Great Physician, that He created every inch of this little girl, and he has a perfect plan.


We were seen by the nurse and doctor at USC and as soon as Saylor popped up on the screen, the nurse immediately said she didn't think anything was wrong at all. Oh my gosh. I could breathe again. I was so overcome with emotion. What an answer to pray. What an amazing God. She continued to take a look at her and continued to reassure me that this little girl was perfectly fine. She brought the doctor in to have him check as well and he completely agreed. 

Then I will go to the altar of God,

to God my exceeding joy,

and I will praise you with the lyre,

O God, my God.

—Psalm 43:4

The doctor was incredible. So warm and caring and made us feel wonderful. He pulled out the 4d machine and gave us sweet little pictures of baby girl. They measured her there as well and said she weighed 8lbs! Holy cow! Big difference from the weight we got the day before at my OB. My guess, she's somewhere right in between (mama's hoping, at least!). 

So now, we are relieved. We are thankful we have an amazing God. We are overflowing with praise. We are reminded of the bigger picture. We are overcome with joy. We are thrilled to be in the arms of such a sweet Lord. And we are waiting... excitedly, for little Saylor to join this great big world.

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 38 weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 24 pounds

Maternity Clothes: blech. I wear the same 3 outfits constantly.

Best Moment this week: Finding out Saylor is just perfect and healthy!

Gender: It's a girl - Saylor Alden Branch

Movement: her moves hurt these days and I feel every single one, ha

Food Craving: comfort food!

What I miss: fitting into my regular clothes and sleeping all night

Sleep: Good nights and bad nights

What I am looking forward to: meeting baby girl SOON!

Belly Button: Looks like it's going to stay in.

Stretch Marks: None yet. Yikes.

Symptoms: Nausea is full force. Lots of zofran. Overall, just feeling huge.

38 weeks:

And a HUGE thank you, with all of my heart, for the village that surrounds us. For sweet friends and family, praying for us, for Saylor. We are beyond blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful people. We love you!

can i be close to you...

in the morning when i wake and the sun is coming through

you fill my lungs with sweetness and you fill my head with you

shall i write it in a letter, shall i try to get it down

you fill my head with pieces of a song i can't get out

can i be close to you

can i be close to you

can i take this moment, where the fields are painted gold

and the trees are filled with memories 

of the feelings that are told

when the evening pulls the sun down, and the day is almost through

oh the whole world is sleeping, but my world is you...

-the paper kites (thank you, kellie!)

Saylor's Nursery

Saylor's Nursery is not quite complete, but should be by the end of next week. We aren't cutting it close, are we? :) The window treatments are in, they just need to be hung. The dresser/changing table should be delivered any day now, the chair and ottoman are at the upholster now and will be done middle of next week, and the comforter and sham should be coming in next week as well. But... since today @ Kelly's Korner is Show Us Your Life Friday - Nurseries and Children's rooms, I thought I would link up with the few pictures we have of the nursery.


My dad and brother did a fabulous job with the paint and picture molding in the room. The paint is grey and we went with a bright white for the molding and trim. The crib is a pewter canopy crib from Restoration Hardware Baby.

This is the view as you walk into the room:

We hung a chandelier that has pink crystals on the end to give it a very girly feel.

The bedding is a very soft petal pink, white and grey. The crib skirt is a ruffle grey.

To the right of the crib is a vintage white victorian end table. I absolutely love it. After a high and low search, we combined 2 separate lamps to get a crystal base and just the perfect color pink shade. On the table are 2 frames, one of which has Saylor's ultrasound picture in it. 

Hanging on the wall above the table is a very special dress my Nana gave me for Saylor. I wanted it to have a very special place and it looks darling on the wall.

These are the window treatments that we plan to hang next week. We ordered them from RH baby since the color we are using in the nursery is super hard to match.

Here is Saylor's closet... one of my favorite things!

This is what the chair and dresser will look like once they arrive next week:

Right now, we also have the moses basket sitting in her room, which she will be sleeping in for a little while after she is born:

I am still on the hunt for a few little things... a mirror or something to go over the changing table, antique white frames for behind the crib... just some little details :). We have about 2 and a half weeks before her due date, so I have a little time, ha. 

More pictures to come once the nursery is complete. Hope you enjoyed Saylor's pink and grey whimsy room :)!

37 weeks!

This post is a few days late, but I just went to the doctor today, so I wanted to wait to get updated information. And speaking of late, little Saylor appears she just may be late as well. I was checked today and the doctor said she is comfy cozy and is not looking like she is coming anytime soon. Boo. I go back next week and they will be doing an ultrasound to check out how much she weighs and see what we are dealing with (her words, not mine, ha). She said she expected me to be dilated atleast 1cm today... but I am showing no progress at the moment. She did mention that babies often surprise us, so we really never know for sure... but she thinks baby girl is snuggled in happily for the time being. Happy baby = happy mama, I guess.. haha. 

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 37 weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 22 pounds

Maternity Clothes: blech. I wear the same 3 outfits constantly.

Best Moment this week: Getting the nursery close to being done!

Gender: It's a girl - Saylor Alden Branch

Movement: her moves hurt these days and I feel every single one, ha

Food Craving: comfort food!

What I miss: fitting into my regular clothes and sleeping all night

Sleep: Good nights and bad nights

What I am looking forward to: enjoying a date weekend with my husband (probably our last for a very long time!)

Belly Button: In.. but looks like its wanting to pop out.

Stretch Marks: None yet. Yikes.

Symptoms: Nausea is full force. Lots of zofran. Overall, just feeling huge.

Grace.

Grace. Not just enough to get by, but an overwhelming abundance that we'll never understand or fathom.

Guide us with your grace.

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

i will be your little girl forever and will cherish this dance for the rest of my life. 

shoot the moon. i love you.

36 weeks

I went to the doctor today, and things are looking good. Her heartbeat was at 143. Saylor is still head down and has dropped a good bit. Her dropping has helped me breathe a bit easier and has helped the heart burn as well.  Thank goodness.. I was about to buy Tums in bulk. I haven't dilated any yet, and will be going back next week to be checked again. I tested positive for the Group B test (didn't know what that was until today), so I will be getting penicillin in an IV when I am admitted to the hospital. I can't believe it is so close and I am now seeing the doctor on a weekly basis. Time is really flying by. Can't wait to meet the little girl!

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 36 weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss: So much for that losing 4 lbs 2 weeks ago, this time I had gained 5, putting me at a total gain of 21 pounds.

Maternity Clothes: blech. I wear the same 3 outfits constantly.

Best Moment this week: Getting the nursery close to being done!

Gender: It's a girl - Saylor Alden Branch

Movement: feeling her move all the time... seeing my belly pop up in places when she pokes her arm or foot!

Food Craving: comfort food!

What I miss: fitting into my regular clothes and sleeping all night

Sleep: Good nights and bad nights

What I am looking forward to: Meeting Saylor in a few weeks!

Belly Button: In

Stretch Marks: None yet. Yikes.

Symptoms: Nausea is back full steam. I am currently fighting a cold and a fever, which isn't so fun when you're this pregnant.

Souls.

"Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same." 

- Emily Bronte

Diaper Duty

I read today that on average a parent changes 2,788 diapers the first year. Now that, folks, is alot of stinkin' diapers (no pun intended). We are gearing up for diaper duty @ the Branch household... atleast baby bums are so cute!

via

holy belly, batman.

We are in the homestretch... with just a four and a half weeks to go. I cannot believe it. Just crazy. Saylor is growing. And I mean growing. She is now consuming my entire belly, not leaving me much room to sit, sleep or breathe for that matter :). I can't wait to meet this little one!

Today

Small things I am loving today:
-sitting on my deck drinking hot tea, soaking in the cool, fall morning
-laughing to myself as I think about the fun weekend we just had in Charlotte celebrating the marriage of my very dear friend Kristen, and her new husband, Ben
-wearing a sweatshirt (can we tell I'm ready for cooler weather)
-reading books as fast as I can, trying to squeeze them in, before Saylor arrives, and my Nook will be thrown to the side
-getting sweet text messages from my husband while he is at work, telling me he misses me
-making orange plato with Chloe for her class
-organizing Saylor's closet, and hanging up all her dresses
-writing thank you notes from our showers and counting my blessings, that we have such amazing friends
-realizing that in a month's time, a sweet little angel will be joining our family, and I just cannot wait to meet her.

life is good.

Saylor's grand finale

Last weekend the Covington's hosted a wonderful Couple's Shower for us back in Greensboro. It was such a blast and we are so thankful they offered to do this for us. Little Saylor, you are quite loved, little girl... :)


The Covington's have been family friends of ours for almost 10 years, and now Candace will be joining our family. She and my brother, Jake, got engaged in August and are counting down the days to their June 2011 wedding. Yay!


Thank you Covington family for an awesome night... a night filled with so much laughter, fun and precious baby girl things!

The Hosts:

The fabulous decor and cake: 

(oh that cake... it was to die for! We even took the top tier home with us and it's in the freezer. We will be taking it to the hospital for Saylor's birthday! Happy momma here! ha)

This stork was made by Jake and Candace, and I absolutely adore it! It will go up in our yard when Saylor is born... :). 

Amazing friends and family that came to celebrate with us:

Precious baby girl things... swoon:

We are so very blessed to call all of these amazing people our friends. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

"Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave and impossible to forget."