Merry Christmas to all!

Hi Y'all,

Hope you had a very Merry Christmas and that you are looking forward to a great new year!

We had a very relaxing 4 days off together over Christmas and it was great to not have much planned out. We enjoyed a deep fried turkey for the first time with our neighbors, Ben and Jess and their family. So moist and so quick!!! Spent Boxing Day with the Lovell family, watched movies and just vegged out!!

Jamie and I decided on a family gift this year instead of lots of things for one another, so we got ourselves the Wii and Wii Fit and then a Digital SLR for when the baby comes. We have been enjoying both so much, we use them every chance we get! The camera takes amazing pictures and it is so nice to be able to be sure the shot we got was great each time instead of developing film and ending up with only a hand full of good pictures.

We also had a visit to the doctor last week for another ultrasound and exam. Things are looking really great!! Baby is 5 lbs and growing, everything looked healthy, got a great picture of the footsies and saw the heart beating too! We are at 35 weeks this week and planning a big doc appointment next week. We will do several exams and try to determine my progress. More pictures and updates to come.

Momma update:

Still super itchy this week, my belly has been a bit less terrible, but my arms and legs are taking their toll on me. many creams and body butters later, still trying to ease the itch!! Will be very happy when that dies down a bit!

Baby is kicking so much it is crazy!! I have yet to have to worry about my daily kick count as I get so many, so quickly, I loose count. I absolutely love it though, even the slightly uncomfortable ones. It keeps me assured that baby is doing well and growing strong. yeah, no doubts about the strong part ;) Baby definitely takes after daddy...stays up late, sleeps in late and is constantly on the move! Cant wait to see if daddy can keep up with the baby! hah!

Getting tired more easily now and finding that I am tired longer in the morning and sooner on an evening. Still a good amount of energy in the middle of the day though so I try to get my important things done then.

Quiet at work this week, it is giving me an opportunity to get a few things done. I am trying to catch up from the last two weeks of crazy so it helps.

Well, need to get dinner finished so gotta run. Will update again soon. Have a great night.

Much love,

Ally and Baby

Ok, so slacking on the blog seems to be a theme of late

Hi again, its been a while.

Things have understandably been crazy! It is the holiday season after all!

Our visit to California was great! Got to spend time with the family. Had a super yummy Thanksgiving dinner. Got to feed/walk moms horses and see the barn and all the barn friends. Had a wonderful baby shower and saw lots of family I haven't seen in years!! Great fun!

Got Home and had a visit with Auntie Lynn. SO great to see her. We had a super fun shopping day and lunch, just the girls. Had a 2nd wonderful baby shower with all our friends here in TX. Went to see the playoff game for UT at Pluckers!! Go Horns... way to give us all heart attacks!

Busy busy busy!

This week and last at work I have been tying up loose ends for the holidays - party plans, cards for our customers, gifts for our customers, decorating the lobby, and training my future coverage. No breaks for the weary, but it is fun!

We had another two visits with the doctors the last two weeks and things are looking great for the baby. Baby weighs around 4 lbs, 2 oz currently and is looking very healthy. we have been having LOTS of kicks and rolls and an occasional stretched foot or hand that makes my belly misshaped. There have also been some strange looking/feeling rolls across the tummy, too weird! Momma has unfortunately developed a terribly itchiness on my lower belly and just above my belly button. I have lots of medicated creams and body butters to sooth the pain and itching, so we are looking forward to that part calming down a bit. Otherwise things are great. I feel really good. I am getting tired more easily, and notice that things take much longer to accomplish, such as the decorations at work. what would normally have been a few hours, took the whole day and left me very tired at the end, but the result was so pretty, I cant really complain. And of course, my very favorite thing about being preggy so far are the baby kicks! What an amazing feeling, knowing that this little person is in there practicing all the moves they will need when they are born. Reacting to my touch and reminding me that things are going well. This is one very active baby! Not that I am the least bit surprised, considering how daddy is and can never keep still. Baby even has daddy's love of sleeping in late in the morning and staying up late! Lots to look forward to for a girl who's bedtime is never much later than 10! Hah!!

The nursery is full to bursting at the moment from all the fabulous gifties from the baby showers and all that packaging! Thank you to everyone for all their generosity! We are just overwhelmed to be surrounded by such wonderfully loving family and friends!

I really should head in there now and see what progress I can make before Jamie gets home from work. Until next time, which I desperately hope is not so long, have a wonderful weekend!

Much love,

Ally and Baby