Your nursery

It's all done and waiting for you!

You are destined to be an archaeologist...

Kerry gave you the most amazing gift this week, a little archaeology doll complete with a test unit, shovel, trowel, and artifacts!  No pressure here, but between the toy and the onesie you already got I think you are destined to be an archaeologist or at the very least I am certain you will love to play in the dirt like your momma.  Your archaeology dolly and test unit are nestled high on your bookshelf and when you are old enough you can happily play with them :)

P.S. hurry up and get here already! at this point your daddy is more anxious for your arrival than me!

Dovetail Baby Shower

This is about a week late, but the awesome duo of Kerry and Kerri put together an amazing baby shower lunch in honor of you last week.  The entire office enjoyed homemade lasagna, salad, cookies, and a sparkling cider toast in your honor.  It was a truly wonderful lunch filled with laughs. 

Dovetail Christmas Party

Just so there is evidence, your dad and I know how to have fun :)

37 Weeks

We have finished Christmas decorating, shopping and wrapping presents.  Your nursery is ready and all your clothes are in their drawers.  We have finished birth classes and our hospital bags are packed.  Now all we need is you!  Anxiously awaiting your arrival :)

Car Seat

Yesterday your dad and I went to the fire station to have your car seat installed....it's very weird to look in the back seat of daddy's car and see your seat ;)

36 Weeks

This is a couple days late, but we had our 36 week appointment on Monday and things a moving right along...1 cm dilated and 50 % effaced! See you soon Ellie!

Our First Braxton-Hicks Contractions

Last night about 3am I woke up to intermittent Braxton-Hicks contractions, the first ones I have felt.  They only lasted about an hour, but just another sign that your big day is getting close!

Your Pediatrician

Last night your dad and I interviewed two pediatricians.  I was nervous about finding your physician without ever meeting you, but I think we found somebody you are going to love.  She is young and energetic, but most importantly she is part of a group of physicians that have an office about 5 minutes from our house.  I am excited we finally made this decision, now we are really ready for you!

Your Name

We have officially begun sharing your name...its Ellouise "Ellie" Keegan Calhoun.  There is a lot of family history and meaning in your name.  My middle name, Lauron, is a combination of my grandmother's names (your Grandma Bank's mom).  We wanted to carry on this tradition with your name, so here goes...the El- comes from your Great Grandmas Norma Louella Haines and Eleanor Bank, there are also a lot of el, ell, and ella's in the family.  The Louise comes from your Great Aunt Lila Louise Smith.  After your dad and I had chosen your name, your Grandpa Fred told us that your great Aunt Lila was named for his Grandmother Louise Helen Bank (who I knew as Grammy).

Your middle name comes from your dad's best friend Nicholas Keegan Armstrong, who passed away a couple years ago.  Your namesakes were VERY important people in our lives and we hope that you can appreciate the significance of your name when you get older.  And just in case, we have included pictures of all your namesakes in your nursery :)

Along the same lines as your name, I have had for a long time a set of hand embroidered pillow cases made by my Grammy (Louise Helen Bank).  When your Grandpa Fred told us that the Louise in your name comes from Grammy, I knew we had to some how figure out a way to display them in your nursery. Your Grandpa Fred made this amazing shelf and rack to display them, after A LOT discussion with your Grandma.  It was a surprise for your dad and I, and I think it looks AMAZING in your nursery.

Baby Shower

This past weekend Jenn, Sarah, and Dana hosted an amazing baby shower all in honor of you!  It was truly an amazing day, with so many people that are so very important in my (and soon to be your) life.  You are so very spoiled already with people that love you and brought you amazingly thoughtful gifts.  The shower was at your Auntie Jenn's house, which she decorated with little pink baby girl clothes, beautiful flowers, decorations, and amazing food. Auntie Sarah had AMAZING cake pops made for you and of course you Auntie Dana took all the amazing photos.  Here is just a sample of the festivities...

The Whole Gang

The lovely hostesses

"Future Pool Hunny" Onesie from Ashley and Rachel

Cute little baby girl clothes!

A special gift from your Grandpa and Grandma Bank, a baby blanket that was hand made by your Great-Grandma Bank

Beautiful pink flowers

MMM Cake Pops!

Look how crafty your Auntie Jenn is!

Your Auntie Sarah

I just wanted to let you know that you already have an amazing group of people that love you very much, including a large network of aunties :)

Last week your dad had to be out of town for work and was going to have to miss birth class.  I was pretty bummed because I didn't want to be partner-less, but at the last minute (literally) your Auntie Sarah swooped in and rescued me.  She was an amazing birth class partner, she took notes and asked questions--dare I say she was even better than your dad!  Then again this week dad was out of town for work and again Sarah rescued us.  This time in the form of a Friend's marathon and good girl company :)

Baby Quilt: The First Cut

Granny has been hard at work calculating and planning your quilt and this past weekend she took the plunge...she made the first cut of fabric!  I keep getting picture updates and she is making tons of progress, I can't wait for you enjoy snuggling in your baby quilt!

Fall firsts

This past weekend your dad and I went to a Virginia Tech football game with your Auntie Sarah and Uncle Daniel, along with Sarah's parents. It was a wonderful fall day in south western Virginia and we had a fantastic time tailgating. It was your first Hokie game and I hope it won't be the last ;)

This is also your first Halloween, here is us with your furry brother and sister in their turtle costumes. Notice your tiny pumpkin ;)

Pat McGee Concert

Your daddy took me to a Pat McGee concert this past weekend.  It has been at least 5 years since I last saw him in concert, although your Auntie Rachel and I went to MANY of his shows in our youth.  The show was at a coffee shop in Ashland, so I got to sit with my feet up, drink tea, and eat cake while listening to a blast from my college past.  I think you enjoyed it as well :)

Birth Class and Hiccups

Dad and I had our first birth class last night...we learned tricks to make labor easier and you kicked the whole time.  I am also pretty sure at one point you had the hiccups :)

Saint Louis Weekend

This past weekend we traveled to Saint Louis for Auntie Jill's and Uncle Brett's wedding.  Dad and I decided early on to drive, because we were not sure how you (and mostly me) would handle an airplane ride.  It was a long drive, but we split up over two days and took many potty breaks.  I spoke at the wedding, reading Jill and Brett a wedding poem.  Right before I was called up to speak the musicians started playing Mumford and Sons, which you must have enjoyed because you started moving instantly.  You continued all the way through my reading...I think you were just excited to be apart of Jill and Brett's big day :) 

Your beautiful Auntie Jill and her proud Papa

My reading

Auntie Jill got you a basket full of goodies, including an adorable onesie :)

Third Trimester

We have officially arrived at the third trimester!  I went in for my 28 week appointment this week and had my gestational diabetes screening test.  I was super worried about this test and have tried really hard for the last 6 months to limit my sugar, especially processed sugars.  Hard work paid off, you are healthy and normal!  No gestational diabetes for this momma and baby!  I am getting more and more excited by the day to meet you...is it December yet?

Curtains are up!

Dad and I hung your curtains last night and they look fantastic! They look better than the expensive designer ones :)

Sewing Weekend at the Beach

I spent this past weekend at Grandma and Grandpa Bank's Beach House.  Granny and I spent the entire weekend working on the curtains and upholstery for your nursery. The chevron pattern of the fabric I picked for your curtains turned out to be hard to work with, because Granny and I were very particular about the zig-zags lining up.  But after some extensive math and re-cutting, we finished your curtains and they look fantastic!  I can't wait to have Dad hang them in your nursery. Speaking of Dad, he spent this past weekend traveling to the baseball stadiums of the Mid-Atlantic.  His last father-less hurrah with friends!

Granny sewing your curtain panels

Measure twice, cut once...I am sure you will learn this one :)

We of course had to break for lunch on the intercoastal waterway!

Your Baby Quilt

This weekend your Grandma Bank and I spent the better part of two days planning your baby quilt and shopping for the fabric. Grandma Bank picked out a pattern called "Jerome the Giraffe" and we had to adapt the wall hanging pattern to make it big enough for a crib sized quilt. After some math and graph paper we finally figured it out ;) We then set out in search of the perfect fabrics.  After 2 hours at a local quilt store here in Richmond your Granny and I finally settled on a pink and gray color scheme to match the curtains and cushions we are making for your nursery.  I am going down this week to help Granny start cutting and appliquéing.  Here are the fabrics at the store and Granny is pictured at our kitchen table calculating on your great grandma Haines' quilting board.  Also Granny bought you flowers! A dozen BEAUTIFUL pink roses :)

Baby Belly

Only 3 more months until we meet you!

(ps that is your freshly painted nursery wall behind me, dad did a great job!)

This past Saturday night, while at the movies, dad felt you kick for the first time :)  He said it was very soft, but to me it sure felt like a big kick!

Mandi Snuggles

We are pretty sure Mandi knows about you, as she has started snuggling my belly and loving on you :) 

(I fear Roo has no idea you are coming and is going to be alarmed that he is not the baby anymore)

Daddy's Baby Girl Already

Dad played this song for you last night and you started moving like crazy...he is still anxiously waiting to feel you move :)

(ps I love this clip because it also includes stephen kellogg and pat mcgee)

Your Nursery

This Labor Day weekend we started your nursery.  Daddy painted the walls a light gray, Grandpa Bank painted all your furniture white, and Grandma Bank is going to help me make curtains and recover your glider. Here is dad working on the painting (we chose the lighter gray color behind dad):

Grandma Bank and I went fabric shopping together from 300 miles away.  I went to the hobby lobby here in Richmond and she went to hobby lobby in Wilmington, NC. It was great!

We did not find any fabrics we both like, but hopefully we will soon ;) I am thinking a combination of something like this...

Another Day of Firsts

Monday was another day of firsts...

First, I bought you your first outfits, little girl clothes are just too cute :)  Here is your big furry brother Roo posing with your very first fleece sleepers...

Second, while watching TV I felt your first real big kick and even saw my belly move!  I immediately called your Dad to tell him and he was sad he missed it, but I promised you would kick for the next 3 months.  So hopefully he gets experience this soon, he is pretty excited about getting to feel you.  He talks to you every evening in hope that you will start moving, I know one of these days you will :)

Backstreet Boys Concert

I went to a Backstreet Boys concert this past weekend with your Auntie Dana and Auntie Maggie.  We had a blast reliving our middle and high school girl days.  But the most exciting part of the evening was that I felt you move for the first time while not laying absolutely still.  You were moving like crazy for the entire concert, a true BSB fan already :)

Why Hello There Baby Girl

Last Friday we went for your 20 week ultrasound.  Grandma and Grandpa Bank came with your Dad and I, we were all so very excited to see you! You were a bit shy but after three or four tries we were able to find out that you were a girl.  Both your dad and I shed some tears when we found out, it was such a special moment.  We also found out that you are measuring for a due date of December 25th, we can't wait to meet you and what a great Christmas present you will be!