34

34 weeks appointment went well yesterday...measuring 34 weeks on the dot and everything looked/sounded good! Our next appointment is 36 weeks and we'll have our last ultrasound to see Baby's positioning/size/fluid, etc. Some people say it drags by at the end but these weeks seem to be passing quickly to me. I'm thinking of all of the things I need to get done...might should think about packing a little hospital bag just in case Baby Girl makes a surprise appearance in the next few weeks!
After my appointment, I saw the 4D ultrasound nurse and I asked her if she had time to take a peek at baby and luckily she said yes!! I was so excited but sad Joseph wasn't there...we finally got some decent pics of her sweet little chubby cheeks:)

 Sticking her tongue out...

The past week has been pretty full:

• I went to Columbia Wed-Friday for the annual SC Speech & Hearing convention. It was fun catching up with friends and teachers from graduate school.
• I met Joseph, Kim, Zach, Jessica, and Robert in Beaufort at Jessica's family's beautiful and historic vacation home on the water! It rained all day Saturday so we didn't get to do much but it was a perfect excuse to be lazy (and write thank-you notes). We had a great time and can't wait to go back when it's warm so we can enjoy the outdoors & water!

 

 3 pregnant friends...

• Monday, Lyndsay and Breck found out that Baby Taylor is a...BOY!!! Lyndsay had a feeling all along that it was a boy and she was right! She guessed ours to be a girl from the beginning so she must have a special sense for gender guessing! I'm so excited that I get to buy some blue for William Breck Taylor, Jr, "Will"!
• Last night we started a new Bible study at Ashley Sellars' (beautiful) home. It's called Soul Detox and sounds like it will be a great study. I'm looking forward to spending time with all of the girls again and getting to know a few new faces!

I'm looking forward to this weekend and my baby shower at the beach given by my sister-n-law, Amy, and Joseph's family! Excited to see everyone!

33 weeks & 2nd Shower!

Officially 33 weeks! According to my weekly updates, a typical baby is about 5 lbs at this point!! I can tell that she is filling up most of the space in my belly too. She still moves a lot but there doesn't seem to be as much room and it feels hard all over. Sitting down seems to limit my air supply these days and I'm also feeling the weight in my lower back. After making numerous trips up and downstairs one night this week, I've realized I just can't do as much as I used to do. I still like being pregnant but I am feeling like the end will not be very comfortable...5-7 weeks left!!

Joseph and I celebrated Valentine's Day last Thursday with homemade cards and a fancy dinner across the street at Vienna's Pizzeria ;)

Friday I went to Sumter and had dinner with Taylor, Caroline, and Benjamin. After dinner I had so much fun going through Sarah Sloan's baby clothes and left with a whole tub of adorable clothes for Baby Taylor! Saturday morning I had a hair appointment in Sumter and then drove to Columbia in the SNOW to shop with Mckenzie for the day. While Mckenzie and I shopped, Ansel drove to pick up their latest addition...sweet little George!! He's the most precious little chococlate lab with big paws and a clumsy little puppy run!

Joseph stayed at the beach and decided to go camping at Huntington State Park with his brothers and little cousins, Tyson and Oliver. Can't believe they chose to camp on the one night that it snowed in Myrtle Beach!! They had a great time though and I think Hippy even enjoyed her time in the wilderness...

Sunday I had my 2nd Baby Shower in Sumter given by my sweet high school friends and their moms. It was so nice and we all had a great time catching up! We are so fortunate that most of our big items have been given to us and everyone continues to show their love for us and Baby girl:

Hostesses (missing Wesley)

 

  

 

 

 

Monday was President's Day so Joseph was off of work but I put him to work at home!! He's such a great husband and will be such a wonderful dad. He worked really hard painting the Baby's room and even painted her monogram sign! He had the crib made and set up when I got home :) I LOVE how her sweet little room is coming together!!

(the nursery chair should arrive this week...the black chair will be removed and the ottoman will actually have fabric sewn on!)

I don't think this Baby will be lacking in the area of clothes...most of these are dresses and bubbles 0-3/6 months! 

This week, we enjoyed supper club at Leighanna and Chad's last night...Mexican pie and pineapple upside down cake...with a tour of their new oceanfront putt putt to end the night! I'm leaving for Columbia today for the annual SC speech conference and will meet Joseph, Kim, Zach, Jessica, and Robert in Beaufort on Friday for a relaxing and fun weekend!

32 weeks & 1st Shower!

32 weeks appointment went well and I'm still measuring exactly on time so Doctor says we should meet baby girl within the next 6-8 weeks!!

We had a great weekend celebrating Sarah Sloan's 2nd birthday, Rebecca and Branford's engagement party in Sumter Saturday night and my first baby shower at the beach on Sunday!

Kim and Leigh Anna gave Baby Taylor the sweetest shower decorated with pinks & aquas and lots of chocolate and sweets...Mommy's favorites lately ;) We are so thankful to have so many great friends here at the beach and we were definitely spoiled at this shower! Lots of pics...

Pretty & girly food/decor!

 

 

Sweet hostesses!

Grandmas!

 Charlotte & Mom with our baby pics!

Spoiling Baby Tay!

What a great surprise from Kenzie, Mom, & Charlotte- our car seat & stroller!!!

A sweet bonnet that she can use as a hankie in her wedding!

Can't wait to dress up my little baby doll in all of these cute clothes :)

A monogrammed blanket to match her bedding!

Lots of great things! Love the big monogram to go above her crib :)

We are so grateful for all of the people who love us and already love this little girl! I'm looking forward to my Sumter shower this weekend!

31!

31...we're officially in the single digit countdown!

According to my weekly updates, Baby girl is pushing 4 lbs, about 16 inches long, and will continue to gain half a pound for the next six-seven weeks!

I went for my 30 week checkup last week and the doctor said that I am one of the few patients on her "no problems" list, which was great to hear! She said my glucose test came back great and I don't even have a touch of anemia (which is common in pregnancy). I'm measuring exactly on target and will continue going every 2 weeks until 36 weeks and then I'll go every week for the last stretch. It's crazy how quickly it's all happening!!

Last week we had a nice time at supper club at Molly & Hayes' house. I always love having breakfast for supper! Joseph was in Hartsville for the night with his leadership class so I was sad he wasn't there to celebrate the exciting news that Jessica & Robert will also be expecting a baby this summer! Baby Taylor's list of playmates continues to grow, which is so much fun :)

Saturday, Joseph and I took the "Prepared Childbirth" class at Waccamaw Hospital (where I'll be delivering). It was very informative and slightly graphic at points but I would definitely recommend it! Joseph wasn't a huge fan of the videos but he made it through and learned a lot of good info ;) We discussed everything from natural delivery, breastfeeding, c-sections, breathing, and pain medication to taking a tour of labor and delivery along with the postpartum suites in the hospital. The rooms were nice and it makes me feel better just having an idea of what we'll be walking into.  We had to write one thing we hoped would happen during our delivery and I wrote that it would be a "quick, easy, and enjoyable time"...haha the teaching nurse reminded me that this would be the hardest thing I'll ever do but I still want to have a positive mindset! Prayers for a smoothe and easy delivery are much appreciated :)

We celebrate Superbowl Sunday with Kim, Zach, Jessica, Robert, and Jeremy. They came over for grilled burgers and the girls talked while the guys watched the game. Always a fun time discussing life and babies, of course!

We celebrated our 100th day of school on Monday! Only 80 days left for the kids this year. Time is flying by! I'm the only "noticeable" pregnant teacher at my school right now and the kids are very intrigued by my growing belly. We only have 4-7 year olds at Primary so it's so cute when they ask me how my baby is doing and remark that my baby looks like she is going to "pop" out anyday. I stand in the hall for afternoon duty as the first graders walk to their buses and one of the sweet little girls (I didn't even know her name) brought Baby a gift last week! It was so thoughtful! Here is the little dress and pacis she gave me:

I'm very much looking forward to this weekend because Saturday is Becca's first wedding festivity (engagement party) and Sunday is my first baby festivity (shower at Kim's house)!!