5 weeks til baby thoughts....

We are definitely in the home stretch of my pregnancy and counting down the weeks until we meet our second baby!  When I was pregnant with Champs, I honestly felt great all the way til the end, minus a little heartburn in those last months.  With this one, I have been feeling SO exhausted these last few weeks and am giving out some nights long before my to-do list is done.  I am due 5 weeks from today and am honestly wondering if I'll make it.  I am pretty certain my belly looks now how it did on the day I gave birth to Champs!

The nursery is close to done.  We painted it white - got rid of the blue - and have 3 new pieces of art for the walls.  We recovered the chair/ottoman and are picking it up in Bishopville over Christmas.  Other than that, we are pretty much leaving the nursery the same as when it was Champs'!  I do need to order a few new crib sheets, want to get a pillow made for the chair, and then we'll be good to go!  I'll take a picture when we do get it done. 

I am really so excited to welcome another sweet baby into the world.  I can't imagine having two or loving another child as much as I do Champs, but I know the second I see him, my heart will again be overflowing with love!  Our great friends Charlie and Melissa welcomed their baby girl about a week ago and I've gotten to see her twice.  Holding a tiny newborn is just crazy - I barely remember that stage with Champs.  I am looking forward to lots of cozy, cold days snuggling our new baby and soaking in the newborn bliss (plus the exhaustion!)! 

Champs will still be going to school everyday, as this is his routine and what he's used to and he adores it.  I wouldn't be able to keep him entertained if I kept him home with me while on maternity leave, so we'll still take him to school every day, which will of course make things easier for me having a newborn at home! 

I of course know we will have many obstacles with Champs being too rough with the baby and him being jealous not getting our undivided attention, but boy is he being sweet about the baby NOW!  He is constantly telling me he's ready for baby brudder to come out, how he's going to kiss/hold/rock/hug hime, how he's going to share his toys, etc etc.  I can't wait to see him with his brother.  He gets so excited telling people that his brudder is coming in Januarary (he somehow adds another syllable to that word)! 

I don't go back to the doctor until Jan 8 where I'll be 37 1/2 weeks!  My doctor is going out of town after Christmas, so this is later than it would normally be between appointments.  Makes me a little anxious, but I am betting this baby will be like his brother and not come early.  Barrett will be going to Miami for the Orange Bowl, so I at least hope he doesn't come before January!

I think I have mentioned on the blog before that Barrett and I decided to keep the name a secret this time.  I am so excited to announce the name when he's born and be able to finally SAY IT!!! :)

Please pray I make it these next few weeks, as I am more tired, feeling more aches & pains every day and this is so hard for me to admit, as I don't like anything to slow me down!!!

December fun!

It has been such a fun, exciting month filled with Christmas activities galore.  Turns out I don't have a ton of pics on my good camera, but here's a look at what all we've been doing this month (mostly from my phone)!  It is so fun to see Christmas through the eyes of a child!!

Uncle Will & Uncle Chase in town on the same night helping us put up our neighborhood tree in the front yard!  Champs LOVED having both of his uncles here at the same time!

Before church one Sunday....

Visiting with Santa at McAngus (where Daddy works)!

Decorating our little tree!

Fun with Nanny Pat while Mommy and Daddy are at the ACC Championship game! 

Champs and Barrett came to my work event, Harborside Lights, at Lake Carolina!

 Early morning trip to Krispy Kreme before school!

Mac's Santa Claus party!

The boys spotting Santa coming in!

Sitting with Santa (Pick Lindsay :)

A chilly morning at the Soda City Farmers Market downtown!

We had a great time at the lights at Saluda Shoals.  We had never done this before and didn't really know what to expect, but the lights were incredible and Champs loved being able to sit with us in the front to see them.  He also saw Santa for the FOURTH time -haha - but they didn't allow personal pictures!  We also took a hayride which Champs mostly loved b/c it was pulled by a tractor!

Fun at church Sunday before Christmas!

Living Nativity at church! Champs loved getting to pet the donkey, sheep and goat before the show started!  Once it started he was so eager to see the 3 wisemen, Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus!

Champs and his school buddy, Johnny Rollins!

Champs, Bollin, Julia & Will eating lunch for Christmas and exchanging gifts!

Go Tell It On The Mountain

Champs' teacher sent this to me on Friday and I think it's hysterical.  I promise he does not normally talk quite so southern, but I guess Go Tell It On The Mountain brings it out in him!  :-)

Santa Visit #2

We had Barrett's firm family Christmas party the first week of December.  Champs got to see Santa for the second time this year and was still pretty into him - or at least not too afraid.  He is so eager to get his Gator Truck that I think he is willing to do anything! :)

Catching up!

Goodness gracious where has this month gone?!  I have lots of catching up to do and it's Christmas week.  I will try to work on the ole blog these next couple of days.

I will start by posting a few more pictures from the Clemson/Carolina game that I had on my camera.  (Remember I couldn't download these until I got my laptop back!)  Hooray for our perfect season!!!

Thanksgiving!

We spent Thanksgiving this year in Florence with Barrett's family!  I was so so sad to realize on the way that I had left my camera at our house, so I just have a few pics from my phone of the holiday there.  Champs had so much fun playing at KK and Boo's house.  He got to spend some great quality time with his grandparents, aunt, uncle and cousins!

He is loving being in a big boy bed so we knew we had to have a bed for him at KK's house.  They were so sweet to setup a daybed in their room and Champs slept great there- until about 5am everyday!  Poor KK - she got up with him from Thursday morning all the way til Sunday morning!  Barrett and I left Champs with them for Clemson/Carolina weekend while we came back and cleaned up the house all day Friday and then went to the game on Saturday.

Picking up Champs from school on Wed and telling him we are headed to KK's house for Thanksgiving.  He's so excited!!

I feel so blessed and thankful this year!  I love my sweet family so much and can't believe I'll have another sweet boy to love on in less than 2 months!!