Let the Count Down Begin

So I went to the doctor Monday and was 1.5 cm and 70% effaced so she doesn't think I will make it to my due date of May 12th. My sweet mom changed her flight and gets in Sunday afternoon! I am so excited to have her here so I don't have to "keep him in" any longer! My sister is super busy with her best friends wedding and a college roommates bachelorette party in Nashvegas! But, she will come just as soon as she can! I got some more pictures from Cody Smith and will post those soon, just wanted to catch everyone up! I hope to be posting pictures of Jack very soon!

Showers and Maternity Pictures

Since my last post I had great showers in Pocahontas, Arkansas and in Fayetteville!

The Pocahontas shower was thrown by several of my mother-in-laws friends who I feel so blessed to have gotten to know over the years. They all treat me like family and make me feel so welcome when we visit. I can't wait to take Jack to Pocahontas so he can meet all of his second grandmothers!

My shower in Fayetteville was amazing. It was thrown by my great girlfriends Allison, Beth, Crandall, Courtney, Judith, Katy and Stephanie. Jack got some very cute stuff and everyone was so sweet to come and share in this special time!

Clinton and I were lucky to find Cody Smith during a "free weekend." (She had a ton going on, but was so sweet to fit us in!) Clinton, Tex and I met Cody in Fayetteville and took some great pictures! A few weeks later, some friends convinced me that I needed to take some belly pictures as well, and did. Cody was great! She did such a good job and I cant wait for Jack to be here so she can take some more!

I started going to the Doctor weekly now! I cant believe it is so close! I'm not dilated, but that is OK....I just want him to come when he is ready, but sooner is fine with me if that is what he wants since I am 37 weeks tomorrow! I never thought I would get to this point but everything has flown by and now we just cant wait to meet him!

Showers= almost time for Baby!

I just returned from Nashville, TN for my second baby shower! My sister, Amanda and her best friend is who pretty much my sister Mackenzie were so sweet and threw an amazing shower. My mom came into town to visit her friends and to be there for the shower! It was so great getting to see everyone.

Since my swelling is getting worse, my legs were very sad when I arrived. When driving, I want everyone to get out of my way, so I can get into my rhythm and keep going. However, I had to stop every few hours to stretch my legs but i don't think that really helped! By the end of the weekend they were better and weren't too bad for the drive home!

I got to see friends that I haven't seen in FOREVER at the shower and everyone there made it such a special event for me! I cant explain how i much i appreciate everyone and how much it meant to me now and always.

A few weekends ago I also had a shower in Fayetteville hosted by Martha Ellen Myers, Cristy Smith, Erica Martin, Ginger Hyneman and Theresa Fender...and their husbands....

It was so great getting to see several people that we had not seen in a while. Luckily, with this group I've got plenty of people that I can go to with all of my questions! I'm so blessed to have such amazing family and friends in my life! It sure makes having a baby so special when there are so many people to share it with! Thank you all for making this time in my life so special!

Counting Backwards with less than 9 weeks left!

I know I know!!!! It has been a long time since I last posted anything but things have been pretty busy. We have had smiles and tears but it's just one foot in front of the other. I want to thank everyone for their prayers. My mother-in-law is doing much better. She will be going back for more tests because her last set of tests didn't show any signs of seizures, so when she gets back from Colorado she will have some more tests, but shes very strong and I know she will be just fine! Ashley, Kevin, Grace and Bennett are doing well too. The loss of their baby girl Julia will stay with us all forever, but in the 3 days that she was with us, she taught us more than we will ever realize. All of your prayers have made each day a little easier, and wanted to thank you all so much.

Over the past 2 months we have really been getting ready for baby Jack! The nursery is coming together, and the signs that he will be here soon are all over the place since we had our first baby shower last Saturday! We have such amazing friends! I feel so blessed that I have "family" in Fayetteville since our family is so far away.

Back on February 10th we had an ultra sound done at What's Kickin' and he really looks like a little boy! I just can believe that was 4 weeks ago! He moves all the time and has been trying to escape from my right side, but I keep telling him that is the wrong direction!

We finished our last prepared Childbirth class last night. The first night, while watching a video Clinton fell asleep! I was so worried about how the rest of the classes would go, but he was actually very involved. He changed the dolls diaper, gave it a bath, and held it like a pro! He's going to be a great dad! We were laying in bed in one Saturday morning and he got down near my stomach and said "No!, No Jack", "Dont touch that", "Stop that!" I asked him what he was doing and he said that he wanted Jack to know his voice and those were going to be the most common phases that he would hear! I thought it was pretty funny....I don't know if Jack did and Tex sure looked confused!

Over the past few days I have official gotten kankles and heartburn! I've been so swollen at the end of each day, so I have been trying to put my feet up as much as possible and I have a bottle of Mylanta by my bedside table. Oh the joys of pregnancy!

I am starting part time with my job March 23rd, so I will have more time to blog and will keep everyone updated with the latest news! Sorry Mom and Kim that it has taken so long, but here ya go!

Christmas, New Years and Bedding

There have been 3 exciting events that have happened since I last posted anything:

1.Christmas

2.New Years

3.Picked out the Bedding!

Christmas was amazing. Clinton and I spent it in Hawaii with my family. My mom broke her wrist right after Thanksgiving and it was still giving her pain so that was a bummer, but it was just so nice being able to be with them. They got little bennett several cute outfits and the softest pillow and blanket. Clinton and I also celebrated our 3 year anniversary right in the very spot we got married. While we were there we found out that they do not let people get married in that spot anymore since it has a lot of Hawaii Historical History....or something like that.....

New Years was spent in Carbondale, Co with Clintons family. It was so much fun playing with our Niece Grace and Nephew Bennett. Clinton showed what a great dad he is going to be! Grace is skiing and its amazing since she is only 51/2! I did not do any skiing, however my sister in law who is due Feb 18th did! Shes good! We will have to go out again soon so the cousins can hang out and I can ski!

Clinton springs the whole "we are getting the nursery painted in 2 days so pick out colors" on Sunday. This caused my picking of the bedding to be pretty fast! I found this on the internet and fell in love so I hope I like it as much in person! Everything is starting to feel real. Im 23 weeks and he is moving like crazy! He must be just like his father! We can't wait! Clinton finally got to feel him the other night....because he actually left his hand on my stomach longer than 2 seconds! I think if he felt him, it would make everything real so he was trying to hold off! Ha Ha!

Here is a picture of the belly at 22 weeks!

It's a BOY!!!!!!!!!

Well, we finally know what we are having. I just couldnt resist the 3D imaging at What's Kickin' and we "cheated on our Doctor" as Clinton says but I dont care! I wanted to know! The ultrasound tec. was new to 3D so she asked if she could spend a little more time that usually practicing and I said of course so we had a full hour of looking at our little boy! I was hoping for a boy since we had the name picked out and everything! Well, we did! Tonight Clinton informs me that he is dead set on NOT naming him John Edward Bennett after his father and my father because we would call him Jack and he doesnt want to give him a name he as to explain. I can understand this a little.....but I LOVE the name. He didnt want to play the name game before... he really wont want to now!

Well, I guess we have some time to work on the whole name thing!

We had our real doctors appointment 12-17-08 and then we are heading out of town until 2009 on 12-20-08! I can't wait!

The following pictures are:

1. The position he was in and would not move until I ate chocolate so I was sure it was a girl! The tech could not get a good picture of him and she thought at one point he wasnt going to move. They knew how badly I wanted to know so the had me twisting and flopping. It was pretty funny but the chocolate got him moving!

2. This show his "stuff". He will be so happy to know I have shown the world!

3.This is the 3D picture from the side. It shows him just sitting and thinking.

4. This shows the face, and little bit of the arms and chest.

We will do another 3D session when he is 28 weeks, they say that is the best!

15 weeks 5 days

Well, we went to the doctor Friday afternoon. I have decided this isn't the best time to make an appointment! I know what I am like at work at 3pm on a Friday....just ready to leave! Clinton and I were hoping that she would want to do an ultrasound like last time, so we could find out what we are having....but nope.... and I don't blame her. We did get to hear the heartbeat 140bpm, have blood drawn for the AFP, a flu shot and since I have been feeling a little under the weather, got some medicine to help with the congestion.

We have our next appointment Dec. 17th when we get to do an ultrasound and find out what we are having! I have been really anxious to find out what "it" is, so I scheduled a 3D ultrasound that just tells what the gender is so it is inexpensive, but I think I am going to cancel it because I want my doctor to tell me....I can wait an extra week!

I think I am feeling the baby move just a bit. If I push on my belly I will start to feel little flutters or sometimes it feels like a thump a little bit. I'm glad that I can feel "it", or at least think I can, but I'm ready to really feel something and for Clinton to be able to feel it as well.

We have been able to come up with a boy name.... I think. His dads name is John and my dads first name is Edward, so we are thinking John Edward Bennett. His dad goes by John and my brother goes by Edward (long standing family name) so we are thinking we would call him Jack. That was Clinton's idea and I like it. I guess we could add Jackson or something to his name, but then I think it just gets too long and Jack is close to John so....we will see. We just really want to use family names, and I think having two people with the same name to be difficult. Girls names... we just cant come up with anything yet, so I guess i kinda hope its a boy!

Clinton has already made is way over to Pocahontas for hunting and is going to stay until Thanksgiving. I am heading over Wednesday. Ashley, Kevin, Grace and Bennett are already there! They flew in from Colorado Saturday. Ashley is pregnant as well and due February 18th! My sister is also coming over from Nashville and Kim is glad so she will have someone to enjoy wine with since that is usually my job! Amanda is then going to come to Fayetteville before returing to Nashville to help decorate the house. It will be so great to have her here! Im ready to relax and spend time with the family!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving and travel safely!