Mommy Helpline

For all of you Mommy's and Mommy's to Be out there your opinions are needed. I am pretty much done with registering, but there are some items I am unsure of what exactly to get. So if you have a second, I would appreciate you leaving a comment and sharing your recommendations on the things listed below. This would really help me out a lot with making decisions on the items we are still needing to either buy or register for. If there is one thing that has stressed me out the last several weeks it is choosing the right things for Ainsley. So relieve me of this stress, please!

1. Changing table pad- What brand is yours and where did you get it from?

2. Humidifier- Do you have one? Would you recommend getting one?

3. Bottles- What works (or worked) best for your baby?

4. Breast Pump- Okay I know NOTHING about this. They are kinda intimidating...Haha.

What kind did you get? What brand is it? Where did you get it? Do you like/not like it?

5. Crib mattress- This one is probably the most important to me.

What brand is it? Where did you get it? Would you recommend it?

6. Baby monitor- This one is the one I've gone back and forth with the most. I have always

thought I want one that has a video monitor. But they are pretty expensive.

What do you have? Do you like it or wish you had gone with a different one? Is it worth

getting one with video?

7. Pediatrician- We have it narrowed down to 2, both at the same practice. (Thanks Jenny

and Natalie!) But I have no idea what questions to ask when we go interview them pre-baby

to make our decision.

What questions did you ask when you went?

Are there any questions you did not think of to ask at the time, but wish you had?

Okay, I think this about sums it up. Answer any of the questions you can or have opinions about. I am already looking forward to seeing what everyone has to say. Thanks!

*Don't miss my post below. It's new too! *

Dr. Visit and 26/27 Weeks

I never did a 26 week post...surprise surprise. But I really didn't have that much to say! I had a doctor's appointment this past Wednesday, so I figure I'd wait to share about that. I did the "dreaded" glucose test at this last visit. And honestly it really wasn't that bad. Luckily, they had the orange and fruit punch flavors of drinks to choose from and I heard recently the fruit punch is better so that's what I went with. And it really wasn't all that bad. The worst parts were having to drink it pretty quickly and then have my blood drawn. I made Brantley go to hold my hand! What I didn't know is that you don't get the results back right away. I was expecting to know before I left if I have Gestational Diabetes or not. They told me I should hear something by Friday, but that no phone call is good news. And fortunately I never received a phone call so I guess I'm in the clear. Other than that my blood pressure is good, Ainsley's heart rate was between 150-155, and I've gained a total of 13 pounds (7 lbs. since my last appointment four weeks ago). I'm now really starting to feel the baby weight take over! Everything is looking great. I'm fortunate to have had a really easy going pregnancy thus far which makes me nervous of what's to come. Also in the past couple of weeks I've been feeling Ainsley move more (still mostly at night) and I've even been seeing her move some. Weird but wonderful all at the same time. When it starts happening I just want to sit there and stare at my stomach not knowing when it will happen again. But it's just so amazing! In other (still baby related news) we FINALLY got started on the nursery this weekend. I was so excited because I have been creating images in my mind of how I want it to look for a while now and it is finally on it's way. This weekend Brantley and I refinished an end table that is going to go next to the glider. Also our crib came in so we went to pick that up. Next weekend we will paint the room (well my dad is going to help out with that because he is an "expert painter") and start refinishing a dresser that we will use as the changing table. I will update you with pics of the nursery once I feel most of it is complete. I would rather wait until you can see the final product!

26 Weeks

27 Weeks

100 Days

I just got on to check on my blog and noticed my ticker says, "You have (about) 100 days to go!" I just had to point this out (mainly for myself). I can't decide which sounds shorter: I am 26 weeks, I am 6 and 1/2 months, or I have 100 days left to go? Hmmm...

Sorry for the boring post, but I just got a little excited when I saw this.

Well, that's all folks!

What's in a name?

It's another snowy day here in Nashville. I wasn't really expecting it to turn into anything when I went to bed last night. But I was pleasantly surprised when I woke up, looked out the window, checked my email, and saw in the subject line from the school director: We will be closed today. It has been nice to have another day to recoup from wedding weekend (which I will update you with later).

Onto the title of this post:

Well, Brantley and I have pretty much decided on a name for our precious baby girl! As I have been telling A LOT of people this past week, "We are 99.9999999% sure." Haha. It's been hard not to tell anyone who has asked because we weren't necessarily keeping it a secret, but I also wasn't out there just "telling the world" either. You see, I get extremely nervous making something so permanent, well, so permanent. But we have been using this name ever since we found out we are having a girl back in December and it's pretty much stuck. So ladies (and any of you gentlemen that happen to be reading this) the name we have chosen for our daughter is...

~Ainsley Sue Pearce~

Questions we have been getting when telling people this name.

Well, for those who have never heard the name "Ainsley" before they tend repeat it back to make sure they understand what we are saying! Haha. It's okay. When we put this name on our list 6 months ago, or so, I kinda thought it was a tad bit difficult to pronounce. But now I don't think twice about it and it just seems right.

Where did we get the name "Ainsley" from?

Believe it or not, this was the only one Brantley came up with that I actually really liked and we added it to our short list of names. He got it from one of his favorite television shows (one I don't care anything about). He really liked the name and asked me what I thought. I know of one other "Ainsley" and a few people I have told have also known of someone with this name. We wanted something that sounded traditional but was uncommon and this seemed to fit. We also think it flows better with the middle name we had already chosen. I felt when putting these two names together it made it sound somewhat southern and girly compared to our other choices of names and I really liked this. So, this is the name we chose to start calling baby girl and it has stuck!

*Take note that she is NOT being named after someone from a t.v. show. Brantley just heard the name when watching it and really liked it and asked me what I thought.

What about the middle name?

This was a given to Brantley and me. We always said if we have a girl we will use the name "Sue" in some way. For those of you who do not know, Brantley's mom passed away when he was 9 years old. Fortunately, over the years, he has been able to keep a good close relationship with her side of the family who lives out in West Texas. And because of that I have also been able to get to know them over the last 8 years we have been together. They hold such a special place in our hearts. So we decided to use "Sue" as her middle name in honor of both Brantley's mother, "Suzan", and his grandmother (Suzan's mom), "Sue". I was so happy to be able to give our little girl a name that is so special and meaningful. It's just perfect!

So, there you have it! We are so excited to meet this little girl of ours. Now that wedding weekend has come to an end, we are going to start focusing on getting what we need done around here to prepare for Ainsley. I've already gotten the crib bedding, but am waiting until I get a lot more done to post pics of all of it as it comes together. I have pretty much planned out the next 15 weekends (assuming she gives us 15 more weeks) to make sure everything gets done. But I am looking forward to all of it! As I'm finishing up this post I am feeling her start to squirm around. I love feeling her move more now and it's just going to become even more often in the coming weeks! So far this is definitely the most wonderful part of pregnancy. Hope everyone had a Happy Valentine's Day!

25 Weeks

25 Weeks

Wedding Shower and 6 Months

Last Saturday was Michael and Emily's wedding shower in Memphis. (Also, I hit my 6 month mark that day! Whoohoo!) The shower turned out really great thanks to family and good friends who put it together for them. Since Memphis is where Michael and I grew up it was nice to be able to have a shower for them there with the people we care about have known for so many years. They showed how much they care for Michael showering he and Emily with so many wonderful things they can use to start a new home and life together. It was actually kind of overwhelming for us because most of the people that came we have not seen in a long time. So to try to talk to everyone was kind of difficult, but it was so great to see their faces. Thank you to all that helped with giving Michael and Emily such a nice day. Up next: Wedding Day! Only 2 days away. I cannot believe it! I have a busy day ahead of me tomorrow and then an even busier, but wondeful, day Saturday. Next post my little brother will be a married man and I will have so much to share! Until then...

Happy Bride and Groom

Kelsey, Me (24 weeks), and Emily

What a great idea!

Mmmm....

Snack time!

What's inside!?

These two gotta have good coffee mugs.

You know you went to Highland St. C of C when...you get one of these!

Mine is hanging in my dining room.

One of their place settings and their toasting glasses for the wedding.

Emily had an iPhoto book made for Michael as a gift from when they got engaged. They also made one to include their engagement pictures. They turned out so good!

The Gifts

21 and 22 Weeks

Well, not much in the news these days except the weather. We are under a Winter Weather Advisory and my school is cancelled. Gotta love it! So I figure I'd take advantage and post this QUICK update. I had my last doctor's appointment this past Wednesday. It was a really quick general check up. Dr. Draughn said that everything from my ultrasound looked great and how it's supposed to be. We were curious because the tech who did the ultrasound said there is a chance if the radiologist that looks at the ultrasounds is unable to see something he needs to that I would be called back in. But fortunately that wasn't the case. Between my first and third appointments (8 weeks to 15 weeks) I had lost 3 pounds from my start weight. So really I've only gained 3 lbs. from my start weight and 6 lbs. total. But man do I feel like it's more than that. I don't understand how I can be growing and have a human inside of me and only gain a few pounds. But I know it will start to catch up with me during this next "phase". We also heard baby girlie's heart beating away loud and proud. Love it! This is actually the first time I didn't even think to ask what her heart rate was. I just laid there and enjoyed it. I guess I'm getting used to the going to the doctor thing and now I know the gender, so I wasn't as curious. But after the fact I wish I had asked just for my own record keeping. Oh well. There's always my next appointment and the many more to follow. I was just glad to hear a good strong heart beat! Also, it was time for the Dr. to bring up that we should start thinking about which hospital we want to deliver at (which we already know) and who we want to use as a pediatrician (which we already have a general idea of...thanks to friends who have already had to go through all of this!). But it was just crazy that we are starting to talk about those details. My next appointment is the dreaded Gestational Diabetes test. Blah! But that just means we are 4 weeks closer to meeting our baby. Below are pics from the past couple of weeks. I'm actually 23 weeks tomorrow, so those will come later (of course). Well, that's really about it. I'm glad I have the day off so I can meet up with my Mom to help her go over all of Michael's/Emily's wedding stuff and make sure everything is coming together and nothing has been overlooked. Only 2 more weeks till the "Big Day". Will have a lot more to post about within the next couple of weeks. Until then...

21 Weeks

22 Weeks

Bath time is fun!

I took these pictures a little while ago and never got around to posting them until now! Keep scrolling down...Ainsley's 9 month post is below!