29 Weeks

Finally! Here is a picture of me & Baby Girl at 29 weeks:

The Date is Set

I have an official c-section date set now for April 6, 2010! It's kind-of nice to know the date (even though it is only 4 days before my due date). My 39 weeks falls on Easter weekend & of course my Dr. will be out of town for 4 days so April 6th was the earliest date I could have it scheduled. But who knows, maybe she'll arrive early, I'm sure I'll be so ready at that point.

As of my appt. on Monday morning, baby girl is 2 lb. 8 oz. (42nd percentile for 28 weeks gestation). Isn't that amazing how they can tell that!?
My blood pressure has been fine so far; at 32 weeks I begin non-stress tests once a week, along with a sonogram once a week (that's 2 appts per week for 8 weeks, none of which I am allowed to take Parker to - how convienent...) but we'll figure it out.
With my hypertension, sometimes it can effect the baby's growth, & sometimes it can effect the placenta so they want to check both growth & the placenta each week to make sure the placenta isn't going to poop out on baby girl. The Doctor said they would normally see some warning of the placenta "pooping out" - or a placental abruption - before it happens so that is why I have to go so often.

As soon as Ace gets home I'll have him take a picture of the growing "baby bump", as I know I haven't posted one since 14 weeks. Sorry baby girl for the lack of pictures already in your life, but I'm not feeling quite as cute this time around. I'm sure I'll have Ace take 25 pictures before I accept one for display on the blog, but he'll live!

Snow!

We went to bed with snow falling & the promise of snow on the ground today & woke up with just that. It's not much but even the roads are covered in a blanket of white. Not enough for a snowman but good enough for Parker to play in.

Last night

The result this morning - umm I think we should have turned off the fountain (it's frozen)

Snow Man

Boone

Sharon, Avery, Knox, & our little family headed up to Boone after Christmas to play in the snow. Ace, Avery & Knox got to ski, unfortunately I didn't get to this year, but there's always next year. I mostly stayed inside, it was truly frigid outside the whole week. There was lots of snow on the ground the whole week & we got to see snow falling our last day there. The house

Parker had the best time playing with his big cousin Knox

Parker sleding all by himself

Parker on his new motorized 4-wheeler from Uncle Michael

Ace sleding - he said it, "big guy on a little sled..."

Pop, Amma, Parker & Knox

Watch out, I'll run over your feet

All bundeled up

Aren't these the cutest little snow bibs?


Ace & I went out on a date for New Year's Eve, over to Blowing Rock where we got engaged. This the the gazebo where it all happened.

This is the entrance to the Roaring River Chalets where we stayed when we got engaged

This is the treturous terrain to get to the Chalets

The Toyota hit a milestone while we were out for New Year's Eve

Parker fell asleep like this on the way back to Atlanta, reading his book

...And like this...cutest boy ever!

Mema's Annual Christmas Get-Together

Mema & Papa (Ace's grandparents) have a Christmas get-together every year for the family, here is a picture of the growing family. I think there are 11 great-grandchildren now, all age 5 & under! And 2 more to come this year. We were just missing Carey with Knox & Ann Tatum in this picture.

Christmas Day

Sorry I'm a bit late on this post! Christmas was crazy this year, my Mom & Steve came in from Chicago, then we went to Boone for a week to play in the snow. But we are back & I'm getting my bearings back, getting organized, & getting into baby 2010 mode! This is the year for Baby Girl Howell's birth! Here are some pictures from Christmas.

Santa hid Parker's car behind the chair & he immediately saw the eyes peeking around the corner. This present was definately a hit.

He loves his new brush (go figure) & his new monkey lovey

Steve & Mimi playing outside with Parker