Nicole’s Blog

Other than baby brain its been a busy few weeks.  We finished our childbirthing class in which Ray fell asleep during one of the relaxation exercises.  Let’s hope as my coach he doesn’t pull that one out in a few weeks.  To his credit it was during a cd that asked us to close our eyes and took us through guided relaxation exercises as we imagined we were walking toward the beach.  At least he didn’t pass out like one of the guys did.  This poor kid who couldn’t have been more than 16 if he was that old passed out during the epidural video and they didnt even show the needle going in!  Whats even worse is that his 16 year old baby momma stood up and left him in the room before he even came to. I mean she got the heck out of there and left the class to take care of him and call the ambulance.   We didnt see her again until right before they came in to take him away!!  Poor kid was out cold for at least 30 seconds!  Thank goodness he didn’t see the actual birthing videos!

During the breathing exercises they asked our partners to look at us and say comforting and soothing words of encouragement he might say when I’m having contracations.  Ray said "you’re beautiful, you’re going to be a wonderful mother, I love you so much… please don’t hit me.." HA!  Wow.. let’s hope I’m really not that terrible right now. 

 After a full day of child birthing classes, we went to unwind with our favorite peeps for our 4th and final baby shower.  Of course like all the ones we’ve had it was awesome.  We had the entire 3rd floor at KGC.  Much like anything this crew does it wasn’t your typical baby shower.  Everything had a peanut theme from the decorations to the cake to the games to the party favors and the awesome Sheryl even made us an adorable & useful diaper cake! 

Apparently we made it look so fun that a random guy crashed the shower. I looked up and asked "uh.. whos’ that guy?"  He was just hanging out with us watching the guys relay!  You know you are a fun group of people when a random stranger crashes your baby shower to hang out for a few! 

 Here’s me and peanut getting some love from my five amazing shower hosts, party planners and some of the best friends a girl could ask for.  I love you chickens and peanut can’t wait to meet all his crazy aunts!!!  Thanks so much for the shower. 

The girls made Ray wear a preggo belly all evening so he could get a taste of what it’s like for me.  Though I would like to point out that balloons are NOWHERE near what it’s like to haul a baby around in your tummy!  So i’m thinking he got off pretty easy, but we had fun with it anyway!

A few weeks ago we elected to have a 4D ultrasound, which is an optional procedure that you pay for yourself.   It makes everything solid and gives you a better picture so that you can in theory see what your baby looks like.  That is IF he cooperates.  Unlike a regular ultrasound if something is in the way you can’t see through it and it blocks your picture.  Sandy, Gleason, Michelle, Tim, Koen and Dad all went with us for what we thought would be peanuts big debut.  When we got there he was head down (which is the way he is supposed to be), but was facing my spine (again which is perfect for birthing but not for looking at my little man).  He of course still has one foot up by his face and was covering his face with his hands. The doctor tried for an hour, but my little stubborn boy refused to show momma his face.   He did however show us a cute image of him playing with his toes!  Self entertaining… that’s my kind of baby!  He would shift around but not long enough to get a good image.  Thankfully the doctor was really nice and told us we could come back the next morning and try again.  After doing everything I could to shake him out of that spot we returned the next morning.  It worked he was on his side with his foot still up by his head, but we could only see part of his face.  The umbilical cord was across his mouth for most of the visit so we could mostly only see his eyes and nose.  However a few times he did turn and this pic is the best one we have.  Ray actually merged two pics together to create this one.  I can’t really see much about him other than he has big beautiful eyes & lips and I think he may have my nose!  All I know is that even in this kind of scary pic he is the most handsome little man i’ve ever laid eyes on and I’m so ready to meet him. 

At the last regular ultrasound a few weeks ago he weighed 4lbs 14 ounces and is on the smaller side of normal in growth. So he may be little like his momma at first.. which is just fine with me!! 

He also has HAIR!  A full head of it.  Check out this pic from his last ultrasound.  it’s sticking out all over the back side of his head!!  Oh my he has hair like my dad.. hahaha!

On Friday I finished what was likely my final legislative event for a while with my regional legislative breakfast.  There will be others that I have advanced planned and someone else with see them through.  Several people teased me that they’ve never seen a 9 month pregnant lady run around a room with heels on like that before..ha!  Anyway I felt like it was a baby shower all over again.  Three people brought baby gifts to the event for me inlcuding one of the wait staff from MeadowView!  They took up so much room I had to store them under the registraion table.  They are all so sweet.  I hope peanut knows just how loved he already is!!!   Then during the legislators remarks they started talking about me.  The Sullivan County delegation went in together and got me a gift card(even though each of them had already individually bought me a gift) .  They gave a little speech that said these events and all the legislative things that our chamber is involved with doesn’t just happen and that the lady who makes them happen is getting ready to be a mother for the first time and they publically wanted to thank me and congratulate me.  It was really sweet of them to do that. 

Peanut has already received his first TN Blue Book and had several fun pictures taken for his baby book of things we did together including photo ops with politicians.  Thus far he has had his picture taken with:

Senator Corker at 15 weeks

Governor Bredesen 34 weeks

and now the Northeast TN legislative delegation (37 weeks) minus Ron who couldn’t be there. 

I’m in my final few weeks and it has been very hard (2 weeks and counting).  I am beyond uncomfortable and peanut is too.  I’m not sleeping well, I have trouble breathing and my feet, hands and sometimes face continue to swell.   I’m so nervous about all that’s going to happen in the next two weeks or maybe less.  It’s a lot to take in.   Our bag is packed; his room is finished (and it’s ooooo sooooo adorable); we’ve read books to prepare us for labor, breastfeeding, heathly sleep habits and developing a routine; I have instructions from my doctor about what to do where to go when I go into labor; my girls have their phone/texts lists ready of who to keep informed when they get the word we are headed for the hospital; we have a labor plan of how we want things done (drugs, procedures we want, handling of baby after the birth etc); the car has been cleaned and the car seat installed; I have weekly visits with my doctor to montior our progress (so far we are right on target) and finally thanks to Aunt Lesley and Aunt Lara he has two adorable going home from the hospital outfits to choose from.  He has a ton of family and friends who love him and me and can’t wait for his arrival.   So I guess you could say I’m as ready as i’m ever going to be!   It’s almost here… the day I’ve been anxiously awaiting since I first found out I was preggo.  

He could come at any moment.. and so now we wait.  My mom was 2 weeks early with both of us and all the women of my family have had VERY fast labors. The doctors say that it’s hereditary so I’m hoping that i’m lucky like that too.  So wish me luck and continue to remember my family (me, Ray and peanut) in your prayers.  I know that he is going to be the biggest blessing I have ever received in my life. 

In the mean time though I have my new guilty pleasure to keep my mind off of all the fears and nervousness i’m experiencing.. GLEE!  I love this show.  The singing, the dancing it’s o so good…AND if that isn’t enough there’s the hottie Mark Salling who plays Puck… WOW!!!  Who knew a mohawk could be so HOT!  So if you aren’t watching.. get on it.. its AWESOME!

New pics are posted to the preggo and baby shower folder.   I  will warn you these maternity pics are artistic belly and body shots so if you are grossed out by the pregnant form I dont recommend you view!   We wanted to capture the beauty of pregnancy and have plenty of shots to remember just what this little joy did to my figure. 

the nervous mother nut (ready or not he’s coming soon!!!)

Well it appears I have a severe case of baby brain.  Last night we drove to Cwood for Ray’s papaws funeral (please remember our family in your prayers it’s been a tough week).  Because I am so very preg it’s not really ideal for me to be too far away from the hospital this late in the game (36 weeks and counting.. we have less than a month now..wow).  So we drove over and back and it was VERY late.  I finally got in bed about 1:30 last night and did my usual up and down all night not really sleeping routine.  I was exhausted when I got to work this morning. 

Christmas is almost here and we did our Christmas decorating a few weeks ago.   I love to put stuff all over the house not just on my tree.  

One of my favoritve of our Christmas traditions is something we started doing the very first christmas we dated.  We always get two special ornaments each year.  One represents something we did that year and the other we have engraved with the year and our names.  We have ornaments going back to Dec of 2000 when we traveled to Knoxville to cut down our very first Christmas tree together.   We have a chili pepper from the year we went to Cancun, a mouse holding house keys from the year we purchased our home and one year we made our own from baked stained glass ones etc.  Typically the picking of the ornaments is something that falls to me or something we do when we are both together.  However this year Ray surprised me with the perfect one.  It’s a teddy bear riding a rubber ducky that says "parents to be 09".   And yes I cried like a silly girl when he showed it to me hanging on the tree! 

I love setting my Christmas table!  No we don’t eat off of and its just for show, but it makes me happy!   

Of course Ray and I have been enjoying our big Christmas present to each other the Wii.  The two times Vinay has been in since we got it the boys have stayed up late and boxed and golfed and Ski Jumped until they could do no more.  Last time was no exception we had the gang over and had a Wii off with the Bishops!  Vinay has a wii too, but i think the boys like having another male to Wii with.  Although I must say I do play a mean game of boxing and have taken out several of the boys…who will remain nameless.  Seriously how are you going to let a 7 month preggo beat you.. man up fellas!!  And if i’m not mistaken I am the reigning ski jump and bowling champion..what what!  HA!

We were supposed to have our annual friends Christmas chili cook off party at the Bishops last Friday however because of the weather we had to cancel.. boo hoo

I’m just thankful I made it home.  Ray kept messaging me Friday afternoon telling me to come home.  I was at our Staff Christmas party in Church Hill and it really wasn’t doing anything there.  Finally I listened to him and made it home just in time to avoid all the craziness that happened on I26 where people were stranded for 5 to 8 hours.  As i got off my exit it was just starting to back up and get bad.  I slid a couple times coming down our road, but made it home just in time! I mean I am a SWVA girl who is used to driving in the snow, but having my baby with me in the car makes me MUCH more cautious!!!

Friday night much like most of NE TN and SWVA our power went down about 7 and didn’t come back until Sunday night around 9.  Thankfully we have a kerosene heater.  We blocked off the bedrooms and camped out in the living room.  We made instant coffee on my s’more maker and once we finally got some of the trees out of the road went out for our lunches and dinner.  It was actually a really fun weekend!  I haven’t been snowed in since we lived in SWVA where we used to get snow ALL the time!

We had 8 trees down in our yard and 3 down blocking the road at the bottom of our hill, which was pretty scary to hear them falling.  Ray wouldn’t even let me go toward the back end of the house because we have 3 huge trees that would come right through our bedroom and back bathroom if they fell.  He went out Saturday morning to get food and helped our neighbors remove several trees blocking the road with a chain saw.  Once he saw the roads were safe for me to travel on he came back to get me and we drove around looking at the snow. 

I wanted to go sleigh riding so bad, but being 32 weeks full with baby.. it just isn’t a good idea.  So on Sunday we built a snow woman instead and made her preggo just like me.

Of course Ray couldn’t just let her be preggo he had to give her boobs too!  I think we have the only x-rated snowwoman on the block! 

On a serious note though we are so fortunate to have power.  Our families in SWVA still don’t and as of today don’t have any water either.  It is harder over there to get to power lines.  There are still trees down everywhere.  The National Guard is giving out water and helping clear the roads. They aren’t expecting it will be back on before Christmas.  The town of Clintwood just got power back today. 

Rays parents have power, but no water.  My mom and my dad are both without power and water.  Mom has a gas fireplace and Dad has a wood burning stove heating the house.  Both mom and dad have generators to keep their deep freezers from losing all the food.  My step dad broke the axel on his 4 wheel drive just trying to get out of his driveway.  Today was the first day my brother and sister in law were able to get out of the holler they live in.  There were nearly 20 tress in the road blocking them in.  Tim and the neighbors finally cleared them enough for people to get in and out and they still ended up driving under two trees to get out.  If my dad and brother hadn’t scraped our holler with their back hoe and tractor no one would have been able to get out of our road either.  It’s a complete and total mess over there.  We are still going over for Christmas, but its going to be crazy this year!  We are grilling steaks on the gas grill at dads and will use the generator to cook at moms.  We will have power at the Austins however like both my mom and dads we wont have running water!  Woohoo..Christmas campout!  Clark Griswald where you be!! 

So please remember our families and all those who aren’t fortunate enough to have heaters and things to get them through this in your prayers. 

Over all peanut and I are doing good.  I’ve started having Braxton Hicks and the leg swelling continues on and off.  My back is still killing me, but thanks to Jud at my Chamber shower I now have a spa day pregnancy massage to look forward to! I love that everyone has given us so many wonderful things for the baby, but i’m not going to lie I was secretly jumping for joy when I saw that massage for mommy!  Thanks JT! 

New pics are posted in the Christmas Folder.

Wendy I just realized you didn’t do your 12 days of xmas song on here this year.. so sad a tradition is broken 1st the chili party and now this.  We aren’t with it this year at all are we??!!  I will at least close with my traditional Griswald Christmas song!

It’s that time, Christmas time is here
Everybody knows there’s not a better time of year
Hear that sleigh, Santa’s on his way
Hip, hip hooray for Christmas vacation

Gotta a ton of stuff to celebrate
(jing-a-ling-a-ling-a-ling-ling)
Now it’s getting closer I can’t wait
(jang-a-lang-a-lang-a-lang-lang)
gonna make this holiday as pefect as can be
just wait and see this Christmas vacation

This old house, sure is looking good
Got ourselves the finest snowman in the neighborhood
Ain’t it fun always on the run?
That’s how it’s done on Christmas vacation

Let’s all deck the halls and light the lights
(jing-a-ling-a-ling-a-ling-ling)
Get a toasty fire burning bright
(jang-a-lang-a-lang-a-lang-lang)
Give St. Nick the warmest welcome that he’s ever had
We’re so glad it’s Christmas vacation 

Merry Christmas,

Snow momma

Over the past few weeks we have been pushing hard to get the house ready for peanut.  Ray has been slowly working on refinishing our basement for a while.   With peanuts upcoming arrival we needed the den and office finished so we could move the office upstairs to downstairs, move the guest bedroom into what was formerly the office and the guest bedroom (the room beside us) would become peanuts nursery.  And of course we needed to clean the house from top to bottom.

Well with the help of wonderful family and friends we are almost there! 

Ray Blair has been helping Ray on and off with the sheet rock, electrical work, ripping out and installing of new steps over the last few months.  But we were really in a push to get the rest of this done in a hurry.  So over the past two weeks it’s been a marathon of cleaning, finishing rooms and moving furniture.

Gleason spent the night with us a month ago and helped Ray cut all the crown molding & basboards for the den.

Gerb helped Ray finish painting the den. 

Mom was here last weekend and we shampooed all the carpets as well as the furniture and washed down the walls & baseboards in the rooms we shampooed.  LIterally every piece of furniture in my home has been moved into another room over the past few weeks as well as everything taken off all the walls in my house.  It looked like we were either moving out or moving in. 

Sheryl, Ray and I painted the nursery last Sunday.

 Dad & Ray painted the windows & trim in the nursery and scrapped the concrete in the den to get it ready for the flooring.

Kitty & I finished washing down the rest of the walls in the bathrooms, kitchen, dining room, halls and forier as well as deep cleaned the tile in the kitchen, dining room and bathrooms.

Here’s me sorting through all the shower gifts and clothes we have received thurs far! 

Today Mark & Ray put the flooring down in the den.

Lara & I shampooed all the furniture that will go in the den and de tagged and sorted by size all the baby clothes to prepare for washing. 

 As of last night all the nursery furnture is actually in the nursery and no longer living in my garage.  The only other piece to go in there is the rocking chair/glider that Dad ordered for me yesterday. 

Because Im preggo I can’t really lift things, I tire easily, I can paint only in short spurts because of the fumes (no worries everyone it is the paint that you can use when you are preggo), I can do cleaning if i’m wearing gloves but again the fumes get to me, vacuuming and shampooing I can do but I have to be careful not to do too much at one time because of the back pain.  Soooooo BIG thanks Gleason, Ray B, Gerb, Mom, Sheryl, Dad, Kitty, Lara and Mark for helping us get ready for the little bundle of joy that will be here in a few short months.  It would have been a huge load for us to carry without your help especially for Ray and I was really starting to feel overwhelmed with all the things we had left to do.

Of course big thanks to Ray.  He has done sooo much of this by himself and unlike normally I haven’t been able to help him as much.  So thanks Ray as always you have done an excellent job!

We are by no means done, but we are leaps and bounds further than we were a few weeks ago.  Still on the to do list for the next month deep clean the fire place, rip up and lay the new flooring in the forier, put railing up on the steps, stain the bottom steps going into the den and paint the back of the new steps, finish the baseboards in the den, paint the nursery closet doors and frame, sort through all the extra stuff that came out of the office, decorate the den & nursery and of course after our final shower finish purchasing the rest of the items we need for baby peanut. 

I’ll get Ray to take some finished pics of the office, den and nursery and post them on here.  It all looks really good.  We haven’t cleaned it this thoroughly since we moved in!  Ahhh nothing like a clean house.. you could eat off my carpets, walls and floors right now… although please don’t with all this work we are a shoe free party zone from now on!!!

Pics are posted in the Home Projects folder on the website.  I also uploaded my pics from New York.  I have been waiting on Ray to give me a few more of the ones he took of the city and some of all of us in front of the Brookyln bridge, but he’s been a little busy so I went ahead and posted.  The trip was fun we went to Gettysburg, Mystic Conneticut, Catskills NY and of course NYC.  While in NYC we saw Shrek on Broadway, went to Central Park, FAO Schwartz, Statue of Liberty etc.  Of course notice the various places Ray caught me sitting down.  I was soooo worn out with all the walking. 

I also posted in the Lara’s bday folder a few pics from Larasgiving.. the thanksgiving meal we do to celebrate lara’s birthday!  This started out as a pic of Mark & Lara.. they had no idea we were photo bombing their pic.  Sorry lady.. you guys look great in it..ha.  Wendy’s throwing the peace signs and i’ve got crazy arms.. unfortuantely we are too short to get our faces in there..ha! 

the exausted momma

Let me preface this blog by saying Les I love you, but this story is too crazy not to share and since all I have blogged about since August is being preg I think the readers deserve a new topic.. even if just for today. And I promise you as it was happening it was not at all funny to me or to Les.  She has had a really hard week and this was the LAST thing that she needed on top of everything else. 

Wed night I answered the phone to a very distraught Lesley.  She was crying and the only words I could make out were deer, the van, glass everywhere… might be in my eye.  I had talked to her earlier in the night so I knew she had dropped the boys at her grandmas and was making the hour long journey back to her house on a very lonley strech of two lane road.

So back to the story.  I then hear her say hold on a man is coming up to the van let me call you back.  I said OH NO YOU DON’T stay on the phone with me.  So the man asks if she is alright and then says they heard the accident all the way in the house.  She asks him if anyone else is home.  He says yes his daughter and wife.  She said Nicole there are other people in there with him let me call you back.  I refuse.  I told her she is taking me with her no matter what and that I want the address of where she is just in the event he tried to cut my bf up in tiny pieces and lock her up in a trash can (yeah yeah i know ive watched one too many forensic files episodes).  She goes into their bathroom and from what i gather is covered in glass, its in her clothes, hair, underwear pretty much everywhere.  It’s here that I start to get what happened at this point all I knew was she hit a deer.  I didn’t know how bad or if she was ok.. I just knew we were on the phone and she wasn’t getting off.

Apparently she was just driving along minding her own business in the dark and fog when out of nowhere a deer jumps from the woods and flings himself into her front windshield, the impact totally shatters her front window.  The deer then richocets back and breaks out her drivers side window with its head and is now partially in the car with her.  She said "Nicole I looked him in the eye" and he apparently hit her as he came through her window  Can you imagine driving along and all the sudden a deer is IN the car with you, looks you in the eye and smacks you with its body??!!  She’s telling me the story then asks for a broom so she can sweep up the glass in their bathroom… even in distress my bff is thoughtful.ha. 

We hung up the phone for her to call 911 and for me to look up the Allstate number.   She calls back and tells me that she is going to ask the police when they get finished to take her back to her grandmas.  We get off the phone and I wait for her to call me back.  No answer. She hasn’t returned any of my texts to let me know how its going.  I’m starting to freak out then i get a missed call from a strange number.  I call back… no answer.  An hour passes before she finally calls me back. She is in the airport.  The police wouldn’t take her to her grandmas so she had to go all the way into Lynchburg with the tow truck driver and on top of that her cell phone died, but thankfully he was really nice and let her borrow his.  At this point it’s 10 at night.  She is sitting in the lynchburg airport getting ready to pick up her rental, but first she plugs her phone in a wall so she could call me back and it’s a good thing because I was about to send out a search party!

She is banged up, her face and arms have some cuts, she’s sore and her van front and drivers side windows were busted out, but thanks be to God that SHE is alright.  After I knew she was safely back at her grandmas I thought about it and had to laugh.  I told her that only one of the two of us would have such a crazy story.   What a terrible, awful and ridiculous thing to happen.  Wow when it rains it really pours.  I love you Les Lou.  I’m so thankful you are ok and that the boys weren’t with you.  I love being your in case of emergency or in case a deer decides to go all Tommy Boy and hurl itself through the window at you, onstar bff representative.  Big hugs to NC.  I wish I could have hopped in the car and came to see you this weekend.  The non preggo me would have been in the car wed night. 

In other news, Ray and I have talked about getting a Wii for a while now.  We had fun this summer playing with Linz & Jer while we were in Hilton Head and over Thanksgiving  mom, Eddie, Dougie, Ambra, Ray and I had a marathon of Wii!   So we finally decided to get one for each other for Christmas this year so we are getting rid of the xbox and all the games that go with it.

When we first got engaged Ray bribed me into getting an Xbox.  He said since I got that shiney new rock I should get him an one so I did. I think he figured since he had to spend forever with me he should at least get an xbox out of the deal.  We would spend hours after work laying around, ordering pizza and playing xbox.  One of our favorite games was Blinx.  This silly game where you suck up trash to shoot at monsters, run through hearts, triangles and gold to get tools you need to get through stages etc.  It’s sooooo much fun.  Earlier this week I came home and he had set up the xbox and Blinx for us to play before we send it off to ebay land.  We hadn’t done this in years.. probably since we lived in Abingdon and that was a LOONG time ago.  Since then I have been catapulted back to those old days.  Every evening when I get home we pile up, order food and play Blinx until we are too exhaused to play anymore (which is a lot faster for me than it used to be).  I forgot just how fun that game was and how nice it is to have those low key evenings together again.  So here’s to finding your Blinx moment.  Do something that reminds you of being young and fun again.. it’s refreshing!

the deer slayers bff and wifey of a blinx champion 

A few weeks ago, the girls had a chance to see our little peanut in action for the first time.  Ray gave up this visit so that Wendy and Lara could go with me for my 26 week check up.  Typically everytime I see my high risk doctor they do an ultrasound however when we got there they said they weren’t doing one.  I said "oh no are you sure because I brought my friends and they really want to see him" and while I was in the room getting ready the girls layed on the charm and our tech said "well we have a few minutes before the doctor gets here I guess i could do a really quick one!" 

Of course when we peeked in on him he wasn’t laying how he is supposed to (he never is…) He was on his tummy with his butt in the air.  He had one foot and entire leg up behind his head, one of his hands was on his head and he was patting himself on his little noggin (hahahah sooooo cute!  Or maybe its just that we make his head hurt..haha!)  The tech wanted to see if we could make him look around so she tapped on my tummy with the wand, the girls were laughing and he started shifting his eyes back and forth like "who are these crazy women I always hear giggling?"   This was the first ultrasound since his eyes have been open and it was so cute to see them for the first time. So there it is the day Charlies Angels met our little peanut.  Like everyone else they are anxiously awaiting his arrival.  Peanut you have no clue how loved and adoraded you already are!

I turned this pic upright so you can tell what you are looking at.  To the right you can see one of his eyes open, in the middle is his nose and chubby little cheeks.

Here he is again at 26 weeks.  His mouth is open because he is yawning, but you can’t see the right side of his jaw in the pic.   

Here is one from our visit yesterday.  His eyes are closed and to the left you can see his face, eye, nose and mouth.  I think his hand is on his face to the right. 

Ray and I went back yesterday for another ultrasound and measurements on our little guy.  I’ll be 29 weeks tomorrow.  Sunday night peanut was squirming around on the left side of my tummy then all the sudden my left rib started hurting.  It hurt for the rest of the evening.   I told Ray I thought he was doing something to my rib.  When we peaked in on him yesterday I was right.  He was actually laying in the correct positon head down.  He was laying on his right side with his entire body to the left of my belly button and one leg up by my left ribs.  He was holding the other leg up by his head and stroking his face with his other hand..haha.. again i’m so going to have my hands full with this funny funny little guy!  He looked so cute just rubbing one side of his little face.  At first he had his eyes closed, but he soon opened them so Ray could see him with his eyes open for the first time.  He has big beautiful eyes and chubby little cheeks that just started filling out in the last few weeks.  They did his measurements, rated his movements and watched him practice his breathing.  All of which he passed with flying colors.  He is doing great.  He once again kept opening and closing his mouth drinking, which looks so funny.  He’s like a little fish in there.  He weighs approximately 2 lbs and 10 ounces!  My little guy is growing growing growing.  He isn’t a little man anymore which is going to make the next 11 weeks really interesting..ha!  They said he is measuring about 2 days ahead of schedule as far as growth goes. 

Here he is again at 29 weeks with his eyes open.  On the left you can see the open eye, chubby cheek, part of his nose and a little of his mouth.  That little hand is still on the other side of his face. 

So there you have it the latest adventures of my little peanut. 

Everytime I go to the doctor they ask if my feet, legs and face have been swelling and of course I love saying no!  Well the past few weeks my fingers have started swelling at night and yesterday for the first time my legs were really swollen. 

I was in a meeting seated for about an hour and a half.  When I stood up to leave my legs felt really tight and I had trouble walking. I got back to my office and pulled up my pants to see what the problem was and wow.  My feet all the way up to my calves were hard as a rock… really tight and swollen.  I have no clue why.  I’ve had a lot of issues with my legs falling asleep or waking up in the middle of the night with leg cramps, but this was the first time for swelling.  I’m not sure if it was just that I had  been sitting too long in the same position or what, but i’m going to call the doctor to let them know.  Since they always ask me about it I figure it must be important or could be an indicator of something else.  Ah the joys of pregnancy.  So last night I was stationed in the recliner (yes Ray actually gave me his chair) with my feet up and my awesome hubby took care of me.  My dinner, water, chap stick and even warm cookies were delivered to my chair throughout the evening so I didnt have to get up.  Thanks boo you are the best and I love you so much.

the swollen and uncomfy momma! 

I always do a blog on what i’m thankful for each thanksgiving and this year shall be no exception.  It’s been kind of a tough year and i’m a little frightened about becoming a parent, but I have so much to be thankful for.

First and foremost I am so very thankful for this little gift from God who is living in my tummy right now.  He makes me laugh when I’m sad… truly he already does with his kicks and the funny stuff he does during our ultrasounds.  Last night he had the hiccups for the first time.  I kept feeling these little tiny rhythymic spasms that would make my belly jump every few seconds.  Several people had told me that the hiccups are cute and they are soooo right.  I sat there for 30 minutes totally entertained feeling my belly and watching it jump up and down all the while telling him to hold his breath..so cute!  He isn’t even here yet, but I already know I would give up my own life to protect him.  I can’t wait to meet you peanut.  Mommy loves you so much.  And you have aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins and friends who absolutely cannot wait for you to arrive.  You are going to be so loved and spoiled we wont know what to do with you!

I’m thankful for my husband.  We have had our ups and downs, but he has loved me through them all.  He loves me when i’m thin and when i’m huge and preggo (especially now that i have trouble getting up off the couch or out of bed, bending over and doing simple things like breathing..hahaha).  He’s loved me when we are poor (and trust me we have had quite a few of those times) and when we are doing great.  He loves me when i’m difficult (me difficult…never) and when i’m fun loving and easy.  He loves me happy but most importantly when i’m sad.  Hes loved me through sickness and in health (we’ve had quite a bit of of the sickness).  When push comes to shove he’s always there.  We are two total opposites with completely different personalities and we have been through a lot together.  So on our 10th thanksgiving i’m thankful for him and I hope that we have a lifetime of getting through the easy & the hard, the good & the bad, the happy and the sad … together.

My family.  I dont have the type of family where everything is perfect.  We are a very opinioned group of people, but we stick together.  We disagree, but at the end of the day they love me without condition and would do absolutely anything for me.  I love you guys. 

I’m thankful for my friends.  I have the most ridiculous, funny, crazy, opinionated people around me.  Who love me for me, make me laugh and are there for me whether my basement is flooding, we need help moving or painting or if i just want someone to hang out and be silly with.  They are AMAZING.  They not only get my sense of humor but feed it.  You guys are awesome.  We are so lucky to have each of you!

Lately I’m thankful for:

Parking spots that aren’t too far away.

Bathrooms that are clean and close (especially when you have a little boy who finds it amusing to kick you in the bladder ALL the time!)

Friends that help you fill out a registry and sort through the things you need verses the stuff stores just want to sell you.

Other mommies that offer helpful tips and let me borrow their maternity clothes (we have spent a fortune already so without you guys it would have been much worse)

My mother and Les who have been my best friends and biggest supporters throughout my life and my pregnancy.  I love you guys. (here’s me & les a couple weeks after i started to show.  she wanted a pic with the belly..ha.. you need to come back and get another Les we have much more to work with now!)

People who help me carry things.

My fetal monitor that allows me to hear peanut sloshing around in there and makes me laugh when he kicks directly where i’m listening.  He doesn’t like to be poked or pushed on and just like i would expect any little boy of mine to do.. he WILL kick you back..ha!

Lots of Ultrasounds that allow me to see my little boy, make sure that he is healthy and make me laugh at all the funny stuff he is doing in there.  I’ve had 6 thus far and am going back for my 7th on Monday. 

Shirts that don’t make me look like a moo moo (ok this is becoming more rare)

People who have tact and dont feel the need to say things to me like… "wow you are HUGE and you aren’t due until Feb??"   "Are you sure there aren’t two in there?"  "You are the most pregnant person i’ve ever seen".  My fav which I heard today from a perfect stranger as i was getting a salad "wow you must be really uncomfortable".  Thanks lady.. can you just refill the lettuce and leave me alone..hahah!  She then wanted to touch my belly!!  Are you kidding me.. no you may not touch me!  Little hint people no pregnant woman wants to hear these things.  There is a baby in there and we cannot help it, we are going to grow.. it happens!

Coco butter.. thus far no stretch marks and keeping my fingers crossed!

Tums & antacid meds!  I thought my acid reflux was bad before.. oh my!  Thank goodness they finally have me on stuff that works… those first 5 months were awful!

My cats who like to curl up on my belly.  It’s cute and cozy and makes for some sweet pics.  (i think they can feel him moving around in there)

All the people who have loved us enough to throw us a shower and give us baby stuff they are no longer using (cribs, changing tables, high chairs, clothes.. you name it we have friends who have given us theirs)  This stuff is crazy expensive, but through the generosity of friends and family we are well on our way to having the things we need.

Hand held massagers.  I have one I keep at work.  I turn it on and stick it between my back and the chair.  With all the back pain i’ve had these things are a life saver!

So on Thanksgiving remember to be thankful for the things you have… big and small.  God gives us so many blessings.. it is up to us to recognize those things and be thankful for them. 

I hope you enjoy a wonderful day with your families.  Get your tummys full and fill your heart with love.  Life is short.  Don’t take the gifts you’ve been given for granted.

the preggosaurus

These and other maternity pics are posted in the preggo folder.  All photos taken by my very talented hubby Ray courtesy of www.dragonflydigital.org

Last weekend Ray and I headed to Clintwood and Castlewood for our first round of baby showers!  Two down…. two to go!   All I have to say is peanut is one loved and lucky little boy.  Seeing all the tiny, adorable things makes me want him here even more than I already do!  February are you ever going to get here?  Besides wanting control of my body again I am sooooo ready to meet my little man! 

Saturday Sandy & Michelle threw a shower with Ray’s family.  Here is the AWESOME cake Aunt Carolyn made for us.  Seriously Carolyn you should make cakes on the side.  It was creative and YUMMY!!

Of course my warped hubby with his silly sense of humor cut the cake and took off the preggo’s belly button and boob!   

Look at the adorable party favors Shell made!  Its peanuts with a note that says "We are happy to say a little peanut is on his way!  Thanks for coming!  Nicole & Ray."  I loved them! 

Look at peanuts cute little Columbia hat.  It will go well with Ray’s Columbia daddy diaper bag (yes he wanted one of his own because he refused to carry the feminine one I bought for me)!   Let’s hope it fits our little nut better than it fits the big nut shown here!

Even Koen had a good time.  He going to have a busy year.  He met his 1st cousin baby Kaleigh a few months ago, next is his other 1st cousin peanut in Feb, then in May he will get a new baby brother or sister!  Here he is showing us his belly button!  That night when I would leave to go to the bathroom he would stand out side and say "cole" when I would open the door he did a little dance that resembled the hokie pokie!  ha!  He plays a name game where he tells you who goes with who.  If you say Ray he says Nicole, Mamaw he says papaw, sissy he says d (tims sister & husband).  It’s so cute.  He’s growing up! 

The preggos!  Here we were 13 (i think) and 26 weeks. 

 Sunday we were off to Castlewood for a shower with some of my mom’s side of the family.

Peanut & I getting some love from the girls!

Here’s the yumalicious cake my mom had made for me.  It has baby booties on it and says "Welcome baby Peanut".  

This adorable hooded towel was one of my gifts from my brother & Ambra.  My brother doesn’t usually get into this kind of thing.  However Ambra said that he got really excited shopping for the baby.   I think my growing bump (he’s not a bump anymore he’s approx 15 inches long and weighs over 2 lbs!) in combination with buying shower gifts made it all starting to seem more real.  She said he barely let her pick out anything and was saying stuff like "no my nephew isn’t going to wear that"!  Unfortunately he couldn’t be there, but he called me from work and sang "happy baby shower to you"!  I love it.. peanut everyone is anxiously awaiting your arrival!  You are going to be soooo spoiled! 

Diane came up with the idea that the party favors & prizes should be stuff that when you win you give it back to the baby!  So I ended up with animal snack cups & toys for peanut!

Speaking of games… lets just say that momma Nicole needs to brush up on her nursery rhymes before he gets here or I will have one really confused little boy!  I was terrible at that game.  For some reason I thought that old mother hubbard lived in the shoe with so many kids she didn’t know what to do and that when the clock stickes one (as in hickory dickory dock) that Cinderella lost her slipper!

One of the funniest moments of the day came from my little cousin Aiden who is almost 3.  His mother (my cousin Yvette) told him that soon he was going to get a new baby cousin.  After a few minutes he asked where my little boy was.  Yvette said "well he’s not here yet, he is in her belly and will be here in a few months."  Aiden thought about this for about 5 minutes and turned to his grandma with the most serious look on his face and stated "mamaw she ate her baby!  She ate her baby!!"  We all burst out laughing and Diane and Yvette explained to him that mommas don’t eat their babies and that he is safe and sound in my belly… ha.  You have got to love his logic though.  I mean he sat there contemplating just how in the world this little boy might have gotten in my BIG belly and it was a pretty logical conclusion he came up with.  So funny.  Ah.. so now in his eyes i’m a baby eater!

Thanks for a wonderful weekend!  You girls did a great job.  We ate too much, got a ton of stuff and most importantly got to see our family.  Thanks for the love you’ve shown to us and to peanut. 

 After a busy busy weekend of food, fun, family and tons of unwrapping we were a very tired Mr & Mrs Austin! 

Baby shower pics are posted.  Also posted are maternity pics from this month in the preggo folder.  They were taken in various places NY, Central Park, our yard, mom’s house & Kingsport. 

This weekend we celebrated Lara’s birthday with our 2nd annual "larasgiving" feast.  Those pics and New York coming soon!

Happy almost thanksgiving.. just a reminder don’t eat your babies!  HA!

The Hungry Mother (thanks for suggesting my sign off Vet..ha)

As you saw in my blog a few weeks ago the Army Corps of Engineers is proposing to suspend a mining permit (NWP-21) which would drastically effect coal mining in 6 Appalachian States.  My brother has been heavily involved in the fight against this.  Below is my letter to the Corps expressing my opposition to this action.  If you would like to write an opposition letter the address is listed below.

Also to the 6 country music stars who banded together against coal mining today to form "Music Saves Mountains" to "protect" the mountains where country music was born and is celebrated:  Would you please tell me where the land you own here is located (oh right you don’t own any land here) and what exactly you know about this subject and the people here you want to "protect"?  You may want to jump off the bandwagon as it’s getting a little crowded.

Headquarters, US Army Corps of Engineers

Attn: NWP-21
441 G. Street, NW
Washington, DC 20314-1000

To whom it may concern:

I am writing to express my opposition to the proposed suspension of Nationwide Permit -21.  I grew up in the beautiful mountains of Southwest Virginia and want nothing more than to protect the area I love.

However I am also the granddaughter, daughter, sister, step-daughter and daughter-in-law of Virginia coal miners.  More than 80,000 jobs in the greater Appalachian region depend on coal mining to sustain its livelihood and the suspension of NWP-21 would devastate not only the area I’m from, but the entire region.  It will also affect mining in West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio and Pennsylvania. 

There are currently more than 250 permits backlogged for the past two years at the Army Corps of Engineers and the Corps has not stated how it plans to deal with the more than 80 permits this suspension would affect. 

There has been no evidence presented of environmental damage to justify such drastic action.  Working in politics myself, I easily recognize this as nothing more than political bantering by an anti-coal Obama administration and environmentalists who want to see the coal industry destroyed.  This is an attempt to force legislation by the suspension of this permit.  What will take the place of coal and who will keep our electricity on if you cripple the industry to the point mines are forced to shut down? 

These coal miners and companies are not ignorant, money hungry scoundrels, who want to destroy the beauty of the Appalachian region, pollute the streams and kill the wildlife as the environmentalists would have you believe.  They are hard working men and women who fish in these streams, drink and bathe in the water, raise their children, make their homes and live their lives nestled in these beautiful mountains. 

This decision will affect more than just those who work in the coal industry.  In many of these regions, coal and the coal companies who give back in these communities are the primary economic engine.  These are the people that shop in the stores, take vacations, spend their money and buy homes throughout these six states.  Through suspension of this permit you will bring the coal mining industry to a standstill affecting tourism and the overall economy of those who depend on coal money to run their businesses.  You will not only shut down the mines, but will cripple and bankrupt entire regions in these six states.

Most proponents don’t fully understand the issue or the regulations that accompany NWP-21 that make coal mining a reliable, affordable and secure source of energy.    NWP-21 is the only nationwide permit, designed with another fully developed federal regulatory program under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA), to ensure mining impacts are minimized.  Jobs and communities depend on this permit without causing unnecessary delays and complications.  I urge you to gather the facts and reconsider the proposal to suspend NWP-21 rather than relying on the emotional “save our mountains” message that proponents are sending. 

Thank you for your consideration,

Nicole Austin

Coal miner’s daughter, lover of the mountains, concerned citizen & educated supporter of coal

My heart is filled with sadness today as the world said goodbye to a wonderful person. 

Eli Sutherland passed away this morning. 

Please remember the Sutherland family in your prayers.

 Eli was a Pharmacist at Holston Valley, loved the lake, loved to laugh, loved music and always had a positive outlook on life. 

The last time I talked to Eli he was that upbeat, fun loving guy I remembered.  He said life was good and he "couldn’t complain."  He was doing well working in Kingsport, spending time on the lake and that he had met my husband and thought I had married a nice guy.  He never once mentioned that he had cancer.   

 Eli you were light in this world and we will miss your smiling face. 

Eli Sutherland

August 1979 - November 2009