The “Halfway There” ultrasound! Woop Woop!

Posted on April 23, 2013 by tamaramccray

Today was pretty spectacular! We had our (possibly) last ultrasound before baby Elsie’s arrival. I barely slept the night before because I was just SO excited to see her again! Is it possible to miss someone you’ve yet to meet? Well, I do!

We waited 45 minutes in the waiting room this morning. I was so fidgety. What were they doing back there?! Then finally they called us back. A mom of 5 with Doc Marten boots on was our gal. She was so fun and sweet and answered all my nitpicky questions. Having a great ultrasound tech is key. She was super nice and patient with Elsie.

Onto….our girl. She was a little fetus tornado today! She was whippin’ around left to right…up then down! I couldn’t believe it, and neither could our tech! She said under her breath “she is craaaazy”. We all laughed. She then said “wow, I really don’t know if I’ll ever get the shots I need”. Well, she did get those shots…30 minutes later! Apparently Elsie was excited about the weather, or could easily sense my energy from the sunshine today. Whatever the reason, we loved seeing her bounce about and punch with her arms and legs. I couldn’t feel when she was doing it, but I will soon. At one point she kept crossing her legs like a lady. It was out of control cute. Because of the sonic the hedgehog moves going on it was hard for the tech to get the “glamour shot” of the womb. The profile picture every mom wants…welllll mine is a bit blurry and not defined. She did at one point turn her big face straight at us and wave. It was perfect. Elsie still looks a bit like an alien, but apparently if we did the 4d ultrasound she would have looked much more like a human baby. Ehhhh…no big deal.

Her heart and brain and everything else about her seems to be perrrrfect! Darren and I couldn’t be happier!

Here are Elsie’s baby feet. How proper do they look?!

This is the not so defined profile shot of her 🙂 🙂

“Hey Guys!” Elsie is waving at the camera!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂

21 weeks and I feel…

Posted on April 21, 2013 by tamaramccray

HOW FAR ALONG – 21 weeks! OH MY GOODNESS!

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TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN- I find out tomorrow what the total is…but I would guess probably 8 lbs total so far? Maybe 10?

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MATERNITY CLOTHES?- Yep! Not many. I have a pair of actual maternity shorts I love, and a couple dresses I bought a couple sizes bigger. Other than that, still wearing my stretchy old clothes! Yay for recycling 🙂

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STRETCH MARKS?- No! I feel like my skin feels so tight though. I can’t imagine it stretching any further..

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SLEEP?- No pee breaks = better sleep. Insomnia has subsided. Sleep is good right now!

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BEST MOMENT THIS WEEK?- Feeling the consistent bubbles and knocks in my belly! It was definitely a baby! She doesn’t move often, but maybe once a day I’ll feel her if I pay close attention!

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MISS ANYTHING?- Super sweaty workouts. THE SUNSHINE!!! Regular clothes. My golden tan. <—-Still all of that.

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MOVEMENT?- Yep! Teeny tiny bit!

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FOOD CRAVINGS?- Gone.

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FOOD AVERSIONS?- Gone.

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GENDER- Our baby is a sweet girl.

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SYMPTOMS- Just so much love and happiness! I am beaming constantly! I have tremendous energy during the day, but by 6pm I’m exhausted!! Some breakouts again, nothing major to report. This has been, so far, a pretty great trimester. Apparently for most it is!

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WEDDING RINGS ON OR OFF? ON

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LOOKING FORWARD TO- Our big ultrasound tomorrow to see baby Elsie much bigger and hopefully less alien-like! 🙂

Belly at 21 weeks!

Posted on April 21, 2013 by tamaramccray

Elsie is reaaaally stretching out in there! I finally have been feeling some consistent rattles inside my belly. Mostly after I sit down after being really busy all day. She seems to like how active I am! I suppose she doesn’t want me to stop 🙂 She’s been a good girl so far. Nothing new to report…except for how big I feel that I am. SO much more growing to do though! Tomorrow is our 3rd (and hopefully last) ultrasound. I can’t wait to see her again!! I’ll post those photos tomorrow!

And the 2013 Best Husband In the Universe award goes to…..

Posted on April 20, 2013 by tamaramccray

Ok ok…I know there are ladies out there that make their husband covet that #1 spot on the same exact list. I just had to make a huge statement on what this particular post is going to ooze through each and every word: My love for Darren. I love my guy. He is wonderful. And because my hormones are in overdrive I FEEL the absolute need to yell from a mountain top how much I appreciate him. But, I don’t have the energy to do that these days, so the internet shall suffice! I LOVE YOU HUSBAND MAN! I LOVE YOU A LOT!

These are things Darren does to make me feel like I won the dude lottery:

1. He’s a morning guy. Never a grumpus. He smiles when he wakes up. Maybe because he’s waking up next to me? I’ll just assume that.

2. He’s a morning(and evening) snuggler. He will wake up and snuggle me to pieces every morning. It lasts 5 minutes until the dogs start whining at the door. But, he trys!

3. He gets up every morning super early (before he thinks I’m awake…even though I am) to let the dogs out. This seems like not so much a big deal. But when you’re preggo and tired, every extra minute of sleep matters.

4. He let’s me take showers first. Every time.

5. He won’t let me leave for work with out a kiss.

6. He always asks if I need help carrying things.

7. He makes jokes from the time I wake up until I go to bed. He sings them a lot, too.

8. He makes up a weird song every day or every other day really. They always gets stuck in my head. I try not to sing them to clients when foiling hairs. Very hard.

9. He pays attention to when I pay attention to how I look. If I try to look real pretty, he always notices and compliments. Always. He’s SO good at this. He is magic!

10. He never lets me take out the trash. Infact, I don’t remember the last time I did!

11. He always always aaaallllways asks how my day was when I get home and if anything cool has happened. BEST PART? He listens when I respond. I think he just really likes hearing about salon drama, but I still appreciate it!

12. He always looks at me before he drives away for one last air kiss! My fave.

13. He takes my hair/clothing advice.

14. He gives me foot rubs and pops my toes after every long day.

15. Are you guys wanting to throw up yet!????! Hahaha. Hey, this is all the truth!

16. He isn’t perfect, and admits when he’s wrong. He course corrects easily. Always considering my feelings in the end.

17. He makes awesome grilled cheese sammies!!! THE BEST!

18. He always has a smile on his face. And if he doesn’t, it’s so easy to make him smile. Even if he has had the worst day ever. But truly, he is always smilin’

19. HE IS THE FUNNIEST GUY ALIVE. Every day it is non stop. For those that know him…you will probably agree. He is really really really hot, too. The most attractive.

20. He tells me he loves me everyday. And I believe him. Because he shows it, too. He shows it everyday. Especially when he asks if a picture is ok before he posts it anywhere haha 😉

Man oh man. I am one lucky lady. I just needed to post how fantastic this guy is. He will be like “Tamara please take that post down”. But, I won’t. He deserves a little husband boasting!

Cheers to all the fellas out there that make you feel the way Darren makes me feel! Make sure you tell them you enjoy every moment of their existence. Even when you’re not pregnant and flooded with the happy hormones!

Here are just a few of my fave Darren photos for your viewing pleasure!

In his zone!

Using my pregnancy pillow….incorrectly.

He is so creative with bday cards!

I crack myself up. BABY brain.

Posted on April 13, 2013 by tamaramccray

I wrote that post earlier about my 2o week photo and failed to explain that I skipped my 18 week photo as well! I posted the 17 week photo almost a week late (when I should have already posted my 18 week photo which I also forgot to take), and then never took the 19 week photo like I should have. My brain just isn’t working as I need it to be these days. I apologize for any weird confusion. This is why I should try to post things on a timely basis if I’m going to do it! Ehhhh….I do my best these days! Ha ha! I promise I will try harder to be more accurate with my postings in general. 😉 Gosh….pregnancy!

Our baby registry! For you early birds who love to shop for baby stuff!

Posted on April 12, 2013 by tamaramccray

Darren and I are in the midst of planning the baby shower for lil’ Elsie bear! We will share all that news with everyone who’s interested in the near future. We have been asked by family near and far if we have our baby registry set up anywhere. Well, we do! We have had quite a time trying to figure out what a baby REALLY needs vs just typical wants and desires that translate into very little usage. We have been extremely blessed by folks that have already had all the children they can and have donated their gently used items. This has shrunk our list by a good amount. Thank goodness! However, every little thing that is on this list is most definitely needed. %100. We decided to plug all of our list into one website to shop from which is Myregistry.com

Here is the direct link to our Elsie’s registry: http://www.myregistry.com/public/Tamara-Darren

Thanks so much in advance for anything big and small that y’all decide to gift!

With love and excitement,

Tamara & Darren!

Belly at 20 weeks! Yep…I skipped week 19 photo!

Posted on April 12, 2013 by tamaramccray

Hey springtime friends! Well, I know that I was supposed to post the week 19 photo, but I forgot to take it 😦 I had a really busy week. Lots of salon action and friend gatherings! It was the best of weather the last week and a half, and I just got so caught up in the whirlwind of it all. So, this week my photo will seem pretty drastic from the 18 week one. Because…IT IS. My belly feels HUGE. I know it will get even bigger so I need to calm it down. This growing is a bit terrifying and wonderful at the same time. I’m just certain that I’m made to have a big ol’ belly. I just have to figure out how to balance my little figure so I don’t topple over this summer. Also, I felt a little bubble action in my belly while falling asleep last night. Could it be her?! I’m curious and on the lookout for any baby movement. It supposed to really start up this week.

17 Weeks and I feel…

Posted on April 2, 2013 by tamaramccray

HOW FAR ALONG – 17 WEEKS and some odd days

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TOTAL WEIGHT GAIN- 5 lbs total officially, but I’m supposed to grow a lb a week from here on out! Awesome, right?

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MATERNITY CLOTHES?- Wore my first maternity dress that I bought on Easter! eee!! It was fun 🙂

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STRETCH MARKS?- Nooope! Still uber POSITIVE!! CREAMS GALORE! MUSTELA AND BIO OIL LADIES! Massively applying the creams to my upper thighs and hips and tummy AND boobies too!

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SLEEP?- Kinda insomnia. But when I sleep it’s been so much better than last week…SO FAR! <—- Still!!!

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BEST MOMENT THIS WEEK?- Ordered Elsie’s bedding! Darren helped pick it out, which was sweet of him. Seeing a good amount of growth in the belly!

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MISS ANYTHING?- Super sweaty workouts. THE SUNSHINE!!! Regular clothes. My golden tan. <—-Still all of that.

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MOVEMENT?- Not yet! I’m searching for it! <—- STILL!