34 week belly pix

Here are some recent belly pix! Actually take last night.

This past weekend I heard the first inappropriate comment about my size. Okay so I'll admit it, I was at McDonald's (in line for a sweet tea not a big mac!! I swear!) so maybe I was asking for it to some degree. :D A man asked me if I was sure I wasn't having twins. Ouch! He also said he hoped I didn't go into labor right then and there b/c he would freak out. Double ouch! Do I really look that ready to pop! I wanted to say that if I went into labor at a McDonald's (on Central Ave no less) I would be the one freaking out. But I just smiled and told him not to worry, that I have 6 weeks left.



Advice to everyone: Try to refrain from telling a pregnant woman that she looks big (even if she does), looks bigger than she should (even if she does), or she looks about to pop (even if she does) , because she is well aware of how big she is every second of every day. Instead tell her how great she looks, because that will absolutely make her day. No one wants a moody pregnant woman (just ask Ryan), so if for no other reason do it for the significant other at home who has to hear about it later! :D

a work in progress

Well this past weekend we were very productive in marking things off of my insanely long "To Do Before Rhys Comes" list. After sleeping for a record 5 straight hours (I honestly can't remember the last time I slept that long!) I felt like the energizer bunny on Sunday. I cleaned, I painted, I organized! I did pay for it later that night, but it was worth it when I received a lengthy foot massage!

Last week we (I mean Ryan) put the crib together and this weekend I made the crib up. We're so happy with the way it turned out! At least now if he comes early he'll have somewhere to sleep other than a dresser drawer! We still have to get a changing table, a rug, a lamp, paint the dresser, paint something to go over his crib, change the ceiling light fixture, put photographs of family and friends in the frames I bought and hang them, buy a closet organizer, and that's about all I can think of for now regarding his room. :D Whew! I'll post more pix when we have the room more complete, but here are a few:

Theo the Bear and Flopsy anxiously await for Rhys' arrival now! Yep that's right I named my child's stuffed animals already! :D hahaha!

baby shower/ memorial day weekend

Over a long Memorial Day weekend Ryan, Rhys, and I flew down to GA for a much needed break to visit with family and friends. Ryan had just finished up exams for the semester so it was a good time for us to head south, not to mention the fact that no one had seen my baby belly yet! We had such a great time and as always were sad to leave everyone behind...the heat not so much, but the people most definitely! The highlight of the trip was a wonderful shower thrown by Abby, Jen, and Ashley where we were able to spend time with so many people (some of whom we hadn't seen since we moved up here) and all the adorable gifts for Rhys were just an added bonus! Here are some pix of the shower:

Ashley made that adorable shower cake, filled with lots of goodies!

Me and baby Kaitlyn

The VanBavel crew! Mama Jane (on the far left) was mine and Jen's roommate for a summer when I interned in ATL. She's the reason why I'll peel my own shrimp now...a tough love approach! :D

Bennett Hicks

Andrew and Beth

Jen and Kaitlyn

I know my eyes are closed, but I figured I needed at least one picture of the two of us together! (I need to look through Dad's photos, he may have a better one. Hmm...)

Great Grandma Ethel and Great Great Aunt Joy- what a beautiful pair they are!

The Grandpa's to-be!

The first game: See who can drink beer from a sippy cup the fastest! Ryan won, but only because he cheated!!!

Game 2: A timed diaper changing contest! Papa Dave (Taylor's dad) takes a try!

Ryan definitely didn't win this one! Not only did he have a surprise in his baby's diaper (hahaha) but when throwing the diaper away he hit his god daughter in the face and had to do a bit of consoling. No winner here! :D Boy was she mad at him!

Ryan really wanted to recreate a wedding moment by helping me cut the cake!

Simon Hodson (Alec and Megan's little boy)

We had two beautiful little helpers while opening up packages! Here I'm opening a handmade baby blanket that Laura Hancock (Thomas' wife) made for Rhys. It was so adorable!

More gifts!

Grandma To-Be (r) and Great Aunt Susie (l)


At this moment Ryan and I are both thinking "Uh-oh"! Boys are so high energy! :D Simon and Bennett decided to put 12 pack cases on their heads and then proceeded to ram into each other. Over, and over, and over again! I was quite funny!

You have to give them credit, at least the knew to use the handles to see out of!

Alec and Megan

Ashley and Kaitlyn

The next morning we had brunch with the Hicks and Brink crew before they had to leave town. Boy do we miss southern food and sweet tea out of mason jars! It was so yummy that I had to take pix!

"Hey daddy? Guess what?......I love you!"

Silly face time!

Abby, Ryan, and Linden

Jen and Taylor

Uncle Ryan, Bennett, and Linden

Yum! Did I mention how much we miss southern food?

This my friends is what you call a banana dog! A banana with peanut butter on a hot dog bun.

Belly kisses!

Jen, me, and Abby

Just the gals!