Oh... the places we will ....and can go now!

The Thompson household has been VERY productive this past month. (I will reveal the nursery next week.) But our most recent task we were able to check off the TO DO list was installing the car seat base. Of course I documented it all.
*Warning: The pics do include my half naked Hubster.
*Side note: But that is okay because he is a stud AND because the heat index was 105 degrees the day we installed it. (you are thinking we are crazy right now.... but really the day before was 110 heat index, and there seems to be no end in site to this heat.)

The Hubster rereading the directions once out in the car.

Familarizing himself with the LATCH system.

Using his knee to make sure the car base isn't going anywhere.

And me driving to work with my unborn child's car seat safely installed.
Kind of weird when I look into the backseat!



Went to the doctor this past Tuesday. I was 50% effaced with no dilation. That was at 37 weeks 4 days.
I was officially diagnosed with PUPPS. It is horrible. Now I know many women who have gotten PUPPS on their stomach... but I have it everywhere. Only 1% of pregnant woman get PUPPS this bad. I feel so lucky! It is extremely itchy and just spreads like crazy. I am on a steroid and benadryl to try and keep it under control until I give birth to Baby T. Apparently it just goes away after delivery. It's just one more thing that makes me more excited to meet Baby T.

Today is my last day at work. I can't believe I won't have to drive downtown every morning anymore (at least not for 12 weeks). You think I would be excited about this break from work, and I am, but am wondering what the next week or so will be like without Baby T here yet. I have plenty of projects and appointments lined up for next week, so I am sure I will stay busy.

The Hubster snapped some 38 week shots this morning. Here is one of them. Can I get any bigger?

The predictions are trickling in for when Baby T will arrive. The expected due date is August 12th.. Papa says August 5, Hubster says August 7, friend Colin says August 8, Nana says August 10 and friend Leah says August 15. I already told the August 15th guess that I hope they lose! My MIL predicted I would already have had Baby T.
I like the Hubsters prediction of 8/7/11. It gives me a full week off, a relaxing Saturday, and then Labor and Delivery.

Here's hoping we will be using the car seat sooner than later, but not too soon. Still have some TO DO's to check off the list. But once Baby T arrives... Oh... the places we will go!!

Baby Project #159- Shelving unit that fits just right...

Have I mentioned that the Hubster can do ANYTHING! The man can cook, garden, rebuild an engine, and start and successfully run a company. He can also draw, paint, build things from scratch, and get many questions correct in any given episode of Jeopardy.

He is impressive.

There have been many projects taking place around the Thompson household in preparation for Baby T. I will share the outcomes of many of those in the next few weeks. But for now, I will share Baby Project #159- Building a shelving unit.

I was having a hard time finding a white piece of shelving/cubby/storage/side table/bench like furniture that would fit just so under the window in Baby T's room and still allow the air duct to let out air and still allow space for the swivel, rocking recliner. I shared my concern with the Hubster. I explained when I found something with the right amount of depth, then it was too tall. When I found the right height, then it stuck out too far. His simple answer? "Why don't I just make it?"


He sketched out what I was describing, we double checked the dimensions and off to Home Depot we went. I should clarify that I prefer Lowe's... but Hubster thinks Home Depot is closer. (It kind of helped that Cracker Barrel is in near proximity of Home Depot, since he had agreed to breakfast for dinner that night! I had forgotten how good their pancakes are!)

At Home Depot.....we carefully selected the right wood.



Random people in the store looked at me like I shouldn't even be walking. Sometimes I forget I am so big, until someone looks at me funny, or does one of those sympathy smiles.
And then when I look down I am reminded just how big I am these days.

The following day the Hubster came home from work with the almost finished project.
It took him 30 minutes to put it together. Again, he is impressive.

All it needed was some coats of white paint. I insisted that I should do that. So 3 days later... it was complete.

I love it! However, I love the Hubster even more.



My belly and the other woman.

I have decided that since I will only have this bump for a bit longer (that's hoping it shrinks once Baby T is out) that I should take as many pictures of it as possible before D-Day. So I am upping the glamorous photo shoots to every 2 weeks now. I can't believe the growth between week 32 and week 34!!

32 weeks

34 weeks

Besides the growing baby, there is another new important thing in the hubster's (and I's) life. Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting his new girlfriend. Do not judge... she IS older. Much older...as in 60 years old. And she needs a lot of work, but I really think the hubster made a great choose. Her name is Fiona.

Fiona- 1951 Chevy



She is a 1951 Chevy Sport Coupe. I can't wait for us to take her out as a family once the hubster is done renovating it. It is unbelievable how great the condition is of the interior, body and paint after 60 years! I am very excited for his new project! And pretty sure (and proud) that whether Baby T is a boy or a girl, it will know a thing or 100 about cars, thanks to its smarty Dad.

While I'm here, I thought I would post a picture from our trip to Fort Wayne. We took my niece and nephew for donuts Saturday morning while we were there. Lorenn and Daniel really enjoy taking a trip to the donut shop and picking out their own donuts. I can't wait until Baby T is here and we can start Saturday/Sunday traditions for our little family!



The perfect Baby Shower

Saturday was my Baby Shower Luncheon. It was perfect. It was in my hometown, Fort Wayne. My sister hosted it, along with the help of my mother, her four girlfriends and my best friend since 1st grade.

My mother Julie, Me (swollen) and my sister, LeAnn.

It was at my sisters new home and it was beautiful and yummy. We had crackers, cheese and veggies, a yummy salad, chicken salad on croissants, fruit salad and deserts. Her made from scratch cupcakes were a hit (lemon, butter pecan, and chocolate chip cookie). My moms girl friends brought home made little baby themed chocolates. There was even an adorable seating/activity area for the little ones!

The spread, with the famous baby carriage of fruit! Everything was delicious!

My invitation had little chicks on it, so it was only fitting that the homemade chocolate candies were of chicks hatching.

Kids table had tiny baby bottles filled with skittles and baby themed coloring pages and crayons. My niece and nephew had a great time with cousins and friends!

We played games and opened presents. I had dear family and friends drive in from Springfield and Chicago, IL and Indianapolis just to be at my shower! It meant the world.



My mother and I visiting with my dear Indy friend Leah!



My high school friends Tara, Rina, Rachel and Kelley. Emily came in from Chicago, but didn't make it into the picture!

My family from Illinois- Aunt Mary Anne, cousin Sherry, Great Aunt Margaret, cousin Julie (and missing from the picture cousin Aarika and her son Jackson).

My mother in law Cindy, and grandmother in law Ann came all the way from Anderson.

Opening gifts was very fun and yet overwhelming! There were so many! Baby T is not even here yet and is already spoiled! I got so many wonderful gifts! We are blessed!

Who knew such a little baby needed so MUCH!

One of my favorite gifts was from my friend Leah. They were little Colts booties and a matching bib, paci and bottle. Here's hoping there is a season this year!!

My mother is an exceptional quilter and I was very excited to open up her gifts! We had collaborated to choose fabric and discuss the design of Baby T's bedding but I never knew it would turn out so beautiful!

I got to hand pick all the different fabrics used, and even helped pick out the pattern she would use, which is a tumbling block quilt pattern.

And then she surprised me with another quilt. It included embroidered blocks that belonged to my late Grandma Bernadine who was an talented quilter as well. My mother saved those blocks for my first born and created a beautiful quilt for Baby T.

Quilt made by my mother with blocks saved from Grandma Bernadine

It was a beautiful shower and I am so thankful for my sister's willingness to open her home to so many people and all the preparation she put into making it so special!

After the shower the hubster came back to the house (he had been out with my dad and cousin John) and was floored by the amount of gifts we received. We took a nap and then headed to a Tincaps game with our out of town family visitors for a great night of baseball and fireworks.

It was an exhausting weekend but so special! I will always remember it.



So this is what 8 months pregnant feels like!!

I can't flippin believe I am 8 months pregnant! Sometimes, STILL, on the way home from work I will look down at my belly and become overwhelmed with excitement that the hubster and I are going to be parents!
My view:

I am 32 weeks today and am feeling good; besides the swollen feet, sore back and the feeling on Thursday nights when I go to bed at 8:30 that there "is just no way I can go to work one more day this week".

Let me catch you up since my last post. My job was not eliminated and has funding for at least another year now. We took the house off the market... and high fived each other when we took the sign out of the yard. This week the hubster painted Baby T's room and gave me a lesson in painting so I can be more helpful in the future. Last night I cleaned the carpets. This weekend we put together the crib and dresser and have the recliner/glider delivered. It won't be officially complete until Nana's famous quilting talents are added. But for now here are some pictures of the hubster painting and some now gray walls... Sherman Williams- Gray Matters to be exact!

Next weekend is my Baby Shower in Fort Wayne. My sister is hosting it! She is the hostest with the mostest (second to my mom a.k.a. Martha) so it will be GREAT! I can't wait to see family and friends! I will post pics!

For now I will leave you with a picture of my current two babies... Lucy and Linus. They certainly know something is up... between them not being able to jump on my stomach and all the nesting happening at home they have been a bit clingy and curious! They will be great as a big brother and big sister.... I hope!! :)

I can't think of a title.....

Today, my friends, is a Beautiful day! I captured some pictures this morning before I left the house. The hubster's clematis plant is out of control. The plan is to build a wooden trellis IF we don't move.

The longer we have our house up for sale, the more I fall in love with our house. We have a beautiful spacious back yard, a garden inspired front porch that just continues to improve and blossom, and a cozy floor plan. I guess to me cozy is a synonym for cramped. We just need a little more space. If we had this exact same house but with a basement I could see us staying for many more years. For now.... we wait for an offer. But with Baby T on the way in August we are only waiting another week or so and then we will have to decline anything. To us it just wouldn't be enough, comfortable time to find and get settled somewhere else. We can always try and put the house on the market again next year.

We are 28 weeks today! And I am looking every bit of it. And I know this because the ever so polite comments just don't stop. "Are you sure you are not having twins?" "Any day now, right?" and my new favorite when someone asks what the gender of the baby is.... "You mean, you DON'T WANT to know?!" My response... "That is correct, I want nothing to do with my child." I figure rudeness deserves absurdness.

Here is Baby T and I.... and apparently I am carrying siblings for Baby T in my arm and chin/neck.
3 in 1!

Yesterday I came home to a porch full of deliveries. I got very excited knowing that my 31st Birthday is Saturday. Low and behold they were not birthday gifts, but instead baby gifts. Which, actually was even more exciting. Grandma T and Mawmaw and Pawpaw D sent a galore of gifts from our registry.. with the most exciting being our highchair and STROLLER Traveling set. I am so excited about this freakin stroller. If Kyle would let me I would take it out of the box and push it around the neighborhood a couple of laps with nothing in it. But since we have had house showings and space issues, the stroller is to stay in the garage in its box until D day gets closer.

Another exciting thing happening right now is the everyday changing security of my job. I was just recently informed that funding for my position is currently unavailable for next year. I will know for sure next week if it has been eliminated. If it has, my position would end June 30th. One may wonder, "How will all this play out with your health insurance and maternity leave, Jacque?" Funny you should ask. I am wondering the same thing. For the past three days I have tried to find answers and reassurance but have been unsuccessful. But Monday is a new day. So I will try again then. And speaking of next week.... In case you were wondering, I have decided to push my official "Birthday Week" to be this Saturday thru next Friday.... versus my original plan of my "Birthday Week" being this past week. It just didn't feel very "birthdayish" with all the work related chaos. So I will try again next week.
One thing is certain..... my 31st is certainly much different than my 21st. I described my 21st to the hubster this morning... and he seems to think even though I am pregnant I could still have a very similar 31st.... I could still watch my dad get drunk with the boys and I could still throw up on my mom... except this time it would be because I am pregnant, not drunk.

So here is to a Happy Birthday Weekend, and not growing anymore siblings for Baby T just yet.

Here I am 5 years ago, on May 21st, 2006. I was turning 26. It is also the day before I went on my first date with my future husband. Thank GOD I met him. He is my rock and rational guide through all the crazy chaos as of lately. I can't imagine loving someone as much as I do him. I hear I may learn that soon though :)

Toes, linebackers, and another baby?

As I sit here listening to the lite Saturday afternoon snore of my napping hubster and golf commentators on t.v. I admire my fresh pedicure of "Strawberry Margarita". If only I could have a real strawberry margarita.

The pedicure was needed. It was insisted by the hubster if I wanted him to give me foot rubs more regularly. So now the feet are soft and ready to go. We are 24 weeks! I can't believe I am 6 months pregnant. It boggles my mind. But then it all makes sense when I begin crying for no reason, get up two times in the night to pee, and eat a meal like a linebacker.
Speaking of linebackers.... did I mention we think we are having one? No, that does not mean we are having a boy. We still don't know the sex and won't know until D-Day. But this child is rather larger...in my eyes, the hubster's and apparently the camera's too!

We went to the Pacers playoff game Thursday night. My seat was next to another expectant first time mom. She is due 6 weeks before me. The hubster just laughed. I was so much bigger than her. But then he thoughtfully pointed out that though I may be larger than her, at least my husband didn't have little hands like her husbands. He's so romantic, isn't he?!

The pups are definitly sensing something different about mom. They love to cuddle with me and Linus fits very nicely with my bump as a ledge everyday after work when I pick him up to ask how his day was.

The hubster claims to have many pregnancy symptoms as well. I am convinced he is expecting too at times. Here we are out with our favorite couple to dinner and the hubster showing his growing baby bump along with me.

Feeling the baby move a lot more these days. Usually small tiny kicks. It likes it when I run the lawn mower. It also went nuts when I played The Black Keys for it at work this past week. When I put the earbuds to my stomach the baby immediately began doing flips... or dancing. And as the hubster said "Hopefully better dancing than its dad."