32 weeks

Dear Duncan,

I still like to think of you fondly as The Blueberry sometimes but it seems like a lifetime ago since we were 6 weeks along.  I can't believe that we're 32 weeks today!  The books say that you are roughly the same weight as the average jicama.  That sounds not as cute as "The Blueberry" so thankfully, we have given you a real name.  :)  You are growing so fast and before we know it, you're going to be here. (Secretly, I can't wait!!).

You've had the hiccups several times now and it is always entertaining to us.  It feels funny to me from the inside and it's even funnier to see my belly moving on the outside to the rhythm of your hiccups.  I think I might really miss that once you are born!

Today, you and I went to the first of our weekly non-stress tests.  Next week, Daddy will be able to join us, too!  He missed out on seeing you on the ultrasound and listening to your heart rate on the fetal monitor today.  I loved it.  We're being monitored weekly so that they can make sure that you have enough amniotic fluid and are getting enough oxygen.  From what the nurse said at today's test, everything is absolutely fine and you are doing great!  You didn't disappoint and gave her a good series of movements just like she wanted and your heart rate did exactly what it was supposed to be doing whenever you moved or were still.  So all is well!!  I couldn't be happier.  We must be doing something right, so I won't complain too much about my weight gain and "cankles" and such...  (Note that the picture I am using for this is NOT a current one of my chunky self, but rather my favorite photo that Kate took at the baby shower).  On today's ultrasound, I got to see your face, spine, one long leg sticking out to cause be discomfort underneath my right ribs, AND your cute little head with a ton of fuzzy hair!!  How cool is that?  Your Daddy was so proud to hear that you have hair!  It was pretty cute.  :)

I sure am enjoying being pregnant with you and you seem to be doing pretty well.  I could do without the constant craving for sweets, but I guess I can't have it all...  :)  I can't wait to meet you, though, and am so looking forward to being your Mommy.  I hope I do a good job.

Love,
Mommy

31 weeks

The weeks seem to be flying by now and Baby Duncan is going to be here soon!  It's a pretty exciting time at our house.  We've finished our baby classes, we've got the nursery almost completed, and we're just trying to enjoy our time together before Duncan arrives.

Our front door seems to be constantly lined with boxes from Amazon and Babies "R" Us and today will be no different.  Matt thinks we live at the shipping depot (he comments as he is constantly dismantling and taking out the boxes to be recycled).  But I have to say that I am thankful for free 2-day shipping and the convenience of having all our baby goods delivered instead of hauling all this stuff from the stores!



The nursery chair arrives today!!  I cannot even tell you how excited I am that it is FINALLY coming!  I am going to thoroughly enjoy gliding, rocking, and reclining as soon as it gets here.  Although I do have reservations as to whether or not it will fit through the nursery room door...  We'll just have to find out!

Chair corner

Nursery 08/23/11

Changing station

Duncan's crib

So next time, the nursery photos will have some wall decor & window treatment (I hope!).  Heather made us some really cute "DWG" letters I want to get to hanging, as well as some prints I need to get framed and hung.  We've got some wall shelves to put up and I've got some cute wall vinyl art coming, too!  Fun!  :)

~ Tam

30 weeks

It's like clockwork, I tell you!  As soon as I mention Kate and her photos, they show up in the mail!  :)

We are 30 weeks today and feeling great!  Something about being in the 30's now in weeks is making me a little panicky about having so much left to do and so little time left.  Ahhhhh!!!

So forgive me for not having any updated belly photos on the blog in awhile (I realized that it has been 6 weeks since the last one!) but maybe these awesome photos that Kate took at the baby shower will make up for it.  Enjoy!!

Baby Shower 08/06/11
Kate Kintzel Photography

28 weeks 3 days
Kate Kintzel Photography

Baby Shower 08/06/11
Kate Kintzel Photography

Baby Shower 08/06/11
Kate Kintzel Photography

Baby Shower 08/06/11
Kate Kintzel Photography

More photos will be posted soon, so check back!!  I've saved some of my favorite shots of the day for later.  :)

FUN TIDBIT
Baby Duncan had the hiccups for the first time ever last night and we were pretty entertained by it!  My belly twitched in a constant 2 sec. rhythm for about 5 minutes.  Very cool!  :)

~ Tam

Baby Duncan, Baby Shower, & Baby Classes!

I apologize for the lack of blog posts over the last 4 weeks, but as you can see from this post title, we've been busy!

We are just about 30 weeks along now with baby, if you can believe that! This third trimester has started off with a lot of activity as well as the occasional Braxton-Hicks contractions, but we are feeling great so it's been a lot of fun!

If you haven't already heard, we've decided on a name for the little fellow and it's one that has personal significance to us. We'll be proudly naming him Duncan William Gaddis. Named after our favorite author, taking his daddy's middle name, and the newest Gaddi to join the family. :)

The name Duncan has Scottish roots as a royal family name (good thing Matt has some Scottish heritage or this would be weird), as well as literary significance in Shakespeare's Macbeth. In Scottish, it means "Dark Warrior" or "Brown Chief" and when spoken by my 3yo nephew, "Baby Duncan" is just about the cutest thing you will ever hear. :)

On August 6th, my incredibly awesome sister-in-law, Heather, threw me an unforgettable, magnificent, and fun-filled baby shower in Denver. It was the first time in a LONG time that I had seen most of this special group of Colorado friends and family, so I was THRILLED!! Heather is AMAZING at crafts and she handmade nearly all the party items (decorations, favors, invites, etc.). I cannot even begin to tell you how special she made this day for me and how much I admire her skills. For days afterwards, guests were still raving about how it was the best baby shower EVER! And it was! We had so much fun that by the end of the day, my face hurt from laughing. :) Our good friend and photographer extraordinaire, Kate, was there to capture the entire afternoon as well as to take some very beautiful maternity shots of Matthew and I before the shower. I'll post all those photos as soon as they are available. You won't want to miss them! Kate is something else when it comes to photography. I am truly blessed to have been given the full attention of these two amazing gals for an afternoon of fun, food (the menu was all homemade by Heather and my big brother! SO YUMMY!), games, and presents. :)

Photo taken by my dear friend, The Donna  :)
From left: The Rod Family (Lucas, Jeff, Michelle), Me, Logan, and Matt

I loved the time spent in Denver with my dearest family and with my dearest friends at the shower. Fond memories for sure! Thanks to all my best gals who showered me with love for a day, as well as all those who sent photos of congrats and best wishes from near and far! What a sweet surprise that was! :)

We just finished our first baby class on Saturday (one more to go!) and it was a doozy! Luckily the course instructor is a very likable woman who tells it to you as it is, so I thoroughly enjoyed the influx of new information. I do not want to go into details about pelvic stations, epidurals, episiotomies, or placenta deliveries, but you get the picture. Labor and delivery sounds like it's going to be a world of joy... Catch the sarcasm? Let's not think too much about it for now!

I'm off to do more nursery things! Hope you're week is starting off well! I'll be back soon with more updates!

~Tam