Jamaica=Bliss

We literally just got back into town from our insanely indulgent trip to Jamaica, but I couldn't resist posting some of our favorite pictures from our island getaway. When I asked Clay to describe this vacation in one word, he replied, "Perfect." Indeed. Our five days in paradise were relaxing, rejuvenating, rewarding perfection. Sure, we may not become regular Sandals guests during our lifetime, but at this moment in our lives (both exhausted from teaching and coaching, me now 7.5 months pregnant), a romantic stay at Sandals Ocho Rios was pure perfection. We are so, SO glad we decided to do this over our Spring Break; we returned feeling rested and closer than ever.After a two hour shuttle to Atlanta, a three hour flight, and a two hour bus ride to the resort, we were ready to jump in the water and really be in Jamaica. Ah, that first swim was so nice!A view of the resort from one end

We loved the food--and ate to our bellies' content all week long--but we also loved the restaurants' ambiances. Sitting outside and enjoying dinner under the stars AND on the water's edge made us feel lucky every single time.

One picturesque spot after another down there...

Kayaking=fun

Here is a belly shot Jamaica-style! We kept saying that we were already being such great parents by bringing Baby G to Jamaica at such a young age.

Okay, I just had to include this terrible picture. Imagine all of these resort staff members holding hands and singing, yup, you guessed it, "We Are The World" at the end of Monday night's Street Jamboree. I promise it was the only super cheesy thing we saw--everything else was classy and fun and pretty darn impressive.

We read a lot...

A picture of the resort's beach front property. We stayed in a smaller collection of rooms behind this main building. What did our room overlook? The shuffleboard court and one of the 90+ pools on the property. Clay and I enjoyed both amentities on a daily basis!

The resort is divided into two huge properties: the Manor Side and the Riveria side. Somehow our room assignment was upgraded to a room on the Riveria side, which was the resort right on the beach. But the Manor side was also stunningly beautiful, and so one day we took the shuttle over and spent the day enjoying their HUGE pool and rock climbing wall.

I was officially in heaven at this moment...

In front of Wednesday night's chocolate buffet. Again, perfection.

Clay was a rockstar and learned how to sail! Love these pics.

A view of the resort from the water

Okay, just for the record, I HATE this picture of me, but it does give a pretty good image of how big I am at this point...

Yay.

Our last night was topped off with a yummy chocolate dessert and a final dip in the pool.

Now that we are back in Chattanooga, it's pretty crazy to think we had breakfast this morning sitting right at this table overlooking the Caribbean.

Our last shot right before we left. We were sad to go but left knowing the trip couldn't have been any sweeter--for the three of us.

Children's Consignment Sales...

...are brilliant, maniacal events. If you want to experience passion, devotion, focus, aggression, and insane cuteness all at once, go to one of these sales. I went to my third one this past weekend--the Just Between Friends Sale (supposedly a huge national brand one)--and walked away both scarred by and sold on these things.

Why scarred? First look at this line.

Then look at this warehouse.

Then imagine me feeling like I have no idea what the heck I need for my child to grow up to be a healthy, vibrant, social, thoughtful, fun kid. Don't worry--I didn't freak out, because I know that we are going to try our darndest to raise our child in a loving, thoughtful way. But man, one woman really seemed to know what her child (mind you, still in the womb) needed: the exact floor activity set I was looking at, HOLDING even. So what did she do? She proceeded to ask me if I had placed one of those orange "sold" stickers on it yet, and I--being clueless--said, "oh no, I am just looking at it :)" and then SHE TOOK ONE OF HER OWN SOLD STICKERS, STUCK IT ON THE ACTIVITY SET, and LITERALLY YANKED IT FROM MY GRIP.

Whaaaaatttttt??????

This happened in the first five minutes. So what did I do? I didn't run after her (I didn't want the darn thing, so THERE!), I didn't run out screaming. I took a deep breath, rubbed my sweet belly (the baby is sweet--not my belly), and swore to myself that if I didn't know how to be best mother at least I would be best shopper for the next hour.

Why was I sold?

Because you can find awesome deals! I scored a perfect wash basin for Baby G for $4, a brand-new Johnny Jump-Up for $10, an adorable shopping cart cover for $4, and a super-cute pack-and-play for $50. $68 and I was outta there in less than an hour. Score.

I think I am hooked.

Third Trimester!

Wow, I feel like I have a lot to update our sweet readers (all two of you out there--thank you!!!). It has been a busy two weeks. At school, it is track and research paper season, so the double whammy has kept me pretty preoccupied since the last post, but as the smiley face cupcakes suggest, we made it through the research papers--now I just need to grade them :-). Back to my hole I go. No, really, my students are very understanding and are even sweeter now that I am growing larger every day, so they aren't begging me for them back yet. Good thing, because by 9 p.m. every night, Sara is toast. Even if I can stay up later than that, I am a useless grader. It will be interesting to see how grading goes when Baby Gahan is here this time next year. I recently found out that I am going to be teaching all 10th grade students next year, which is great considering I won't have a second prep (8th grade) but a little scary considering 10th grade is a writing course full of papers. I am already trying to figure out some strategies I can implement to insure that I won't have to bring home stacks of papers every night to grade after Baby G goes down (or doesn't go down--hopefully he will be a faithful little sleeper!).

MS Track is a totally unexpected blessing. I love the 50+ girls we have every day at practice, and they have shown both talent and heart in the two weeks of workouts we have completed already. I was honestly not looking forward to coaching while I was 7-8 months pregnant, but it has actually been a wonderful distraction for me and a way for me to get to know more girls. Glad I am doing it.
As for pregnancy, I am definitely a third trimester girl right now. My sweet husband surprised me at work last week with a bouquet of gorgeous flowers...just because. He is the best. He has been so supportive, so attentive, so understanding and eager to do whatever makes things easier on me. I don't know how he intuits so much of what he does, but all of the little things really have made me love this pregnancy. I guess what it boils down to is that I feel like we are on the same page, that he is thinking about the fact that I am pregnant and even honoring it in ways I couldn't imagine. It also makes me want to be tougher. Sure, I am going to bed early and backing way off of my workouts (especially now--last day of yoga was on Friday and I honestly don't anticipate going back until post-labor), but I also don't want to focus on the challenges of being pregnant. Are there challenges? Definitely. I can no longer touch my toes, which you wouldn't think would be that big a deal, but putting on shoes in the morning really is uncomfortable. I can't stay still for any length of time (both sitting and lying down get awkward after a bit), and I do get frustrated when I can't exercise efficiently. For example, I got on the elliptical the other day and was over it in about 10 minutes. The rest of my workout was pure willpower, but even then I was going at a pace and heartrate much lower than ever before. Walking up our apartment makes me winded, and that gets old. But I am feeling him kick more than ever now--he is VERY active--and I look at other babies and children and immediately lose track of everything else. I just want to study them, hold them, hear them laugh, see them run...it's like I am the same person I always have been but at the same time, my perspective has totally changed. And let's be honest. Pregnancy makes a woman feel pretty darn special. Everyone asks you all the time how you are feeling, strangers are willing to help you with your groceries, people smile at you when you walk down the street, and other mothers quickly become your close friends because you really do feel like you are sharing something important. I love being where we are right now--less than 3 months to go (May 31st-June 6th is the due date week!) but I still have time to focus on lots of other things and hopefully get a lot done before this little guy comes along :).
And one of those things is celebrate our good friends Kat and Nate, who are getting married May 30 (yes, friends, I WILL be sitting on the aisle for that wedding...just in case). We put together a little surprise dinner for them to celebrate and it was a big hit. They are having a potluck wedding reception--isn't that such a fun idea? People aren't giving them gifts--they are instead bringing a favorite dish to share at the reception. Love it. Love them.

As for baby things, here is a quick run-down on some things on our minds lately:
1. We are going to try cloth diapers. They have come a long way, folks. Go here if you want to see the ones we are going to invest in.
2. Bought a vintage bassinet yesterday at a consignment sale. Hopefully it will be perfect for the time between when Baby G arrives and our move since we won't have a nursery until we are in the new house. Camden has only tried to jump in it once since I brought it home yesterday.
3. LOVE consignment sales. Go here for a list of ones in your area. One note: if you are a new mom, expect to have a breakdown at least once while you are at one of them. When it happens, call your mom. She knows everything.
4. Supposedly omega-3 fatty acids are the important nutrient BabyG's brain needs right now. I am eating fish and walnuts every chance I get.
5. By last visit, I had gained 23 pounds. My doctor told me to reign it in a little. Note taken. Darn those girl scout cookies. Next visit is on Friday for the gestational diabetes test; I may not even look at the scale.
6. Baby G is somewhere around 2.5-3 pounds and 14 inches long. He is fully developed--now he just needs to grow bigger!
7. In terms of delivery, I told my doctor that my main goal is to have a vaginal delivery. Ultimately, whatever needs to happen for both the baby's and my health is of course most important, but what I most want to avoid is an emergency C-section. I am going to go into the labor prepared but also without set expectations of what I definitely want to happen. I am going to try to go for as long as possible without drugs, but I am not opposed to getting an epidural.
8. I am excited to experience labor firsthand. I hope it will be an intimate, empowering experience when once again I can be amazed at the female body. I am also scared out of my mind.

I hope to try to keep this more updated as we get closer!

26 (27?) Weeks!

We're Moving!

We have it pretty darn good right now. We currently live on the third floor of an all-boys dorm, get to eat for free in the dining hall every night, live on a beautiful campus, and have wonderful neighbors. Here is a picture of our current abode:But it gets EVEN better! Next year we will be living here:

We feel so fortunate that we have been given the opportunity to move into a house on campus that will give us more room, easier access, and two full bathrooms! Right now our bathroom is a sorry little sight, and boy, have we missed taking baths...but next year we could potentially take baths at the same time! I know it sounds silly, but it gets Clay and me pretty darn excited :-).

Our new home has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, tons of closet space, a huge kitchen with lots of elegant countertops, a big living and dining space, a deck, a driveway, and a fenced-in backyard that Camden will surely love.

We hope to move into our new little home sometime mid to early summer...which means we will have one more important thing to take with us: a little baby! Crazy to think that he will be here by then. Just 101 more days...and according to the ultrasound, perhaps even fewer than that!

Home Sweet Home (the middle one). Perfect for visitors!

Sweet Shannon

Isn't this adorable? My dear friend Shannon, a former classmate at UVA, MAKES these and she sent me one out of the blue the other day. Check out her blog here! She has the most beautiful twin boys--and somehow she finds time to sew precious baby gifts!

Happy Belated Valentine's Day From Us To You!

Frozen 5K for Haiti

One of my XC runners also happens to be a nationally ranked triathlete and a local race director. She is 16. Inspiring.

For the second year in a row, she organized the local Frozen 5K for Haiti. Obviously, this year it was more important than ever to support relief efforts in Haiti, so Clay and I headed out one snowy morning to join in the fun!

Another one of my precious XC runners, Mary Holland, with her father--who was basically the third coach on our team last fall. Both=awesome people. Lots of people came out for the run!
Who's that handsome runner? :-) Why I do believe it is first place runner in the 30-39 age group!

The finish. The runner behind Clay is one of my mentors and dear friends, Jeff. Jeff is the head coach of the GPS XC Team and a beast of a runner in his own right.

Clay clocked in just around 21:50. Baby G and I had fun cheering him on!

Belly Shots (Thanks to Brittany)

My sister actually went to a maternity store in NYC and tried on a belly (that's right, tried on a belly! I wish I had pictures of that!!) so she could pick out some fun maternity clothes for me. How awesome a sister is she??

Brittany, these are for you! THANK YOU!!!!

Mary's Top Ten (11) List

Mary Collie is one with-it girl. My California-lovin', Ironwoman, Cross-fit conqueror, Pilates-master, talented chef and baker, generous, adventurous friend doesn't let 3000 miles come in between her and her indebted East-Coast family and friends. So every once in awhile I get a super-fun email from her that looks something like what just arrived in my in-box (my responses are in white):

It's good to be round:
1. You can say you're eating for two because you actually are (applied today when I ate two oreo's "for fuel" right before working out)
2. You get to wear stretchy pants all day every day (HEAVEN)
3. You can use the phrase: I'm not fat; I'm pregnant! (I can't even think of the last time I "worried" about my weight--it is so freeing to be pregnant!)
4. You can belly bump with ease (If you have been to our kitchen and seen how narrow it is, you know that Clay and I do this on a nightly basis when we fix dinner)
5. People will give up their seats on buses, planes, and elsewhere (Students hold the door open for me all the time now--it's so sweet, but I'm like, "umm...I can still open doors..." :-))
6. You can be late to class because you're walking for two (usually walking back from the bathroom)
7. You know where every bathroom is in any building or location (see previous)
8. You can act all holier-than-thou about the miracle of life. Hello, it's in your belly. (hopefully I am not taking this too liberally, but every once in awhile I do marvel out loud at how frickin' cool it is that we are creating life without doing a thing!)
9. You can have two, maybe three scoops of full fat ice cream .... and then ask for more (lactose intolerance still applies during pregnancy--darn)
10. Your skin gets the glow and your hair gets thicker (haven't seen either of these happen yet--nothing like lots of breakouts and a bad haircut to take away the benefit of this one)
11. You have an excuse not to exercise (used it yesterday and instead went home and hung out with Cam!)

Did I mention she is an extremely talented writing teacher? I admire her in many, many ways. Thanks for the fun list, Mary! See her blog (Well Trained Collies) by clicking on the link on the right side of this page...

Fun in the Snow--and Sun!

At noon on Friday, I was laughing: GPS had closed school early in anticipation of the "wintry mix" headed our way, and all of the local weathermen were telling people to get off the roads immediately. I looked outside my classroom window: sunshine and not a flurry in sight. My haughty Maryland perspective encouraged me to roll my eyes and turn back around to my computer so I could take advantage of the free time to revise our school newspaper's upcoming issue. Two hours later, I turn back around and...it's actually snowing! Like, for real snowing! By the time I drove home, the roads were slick and there was a solid layer of white over all of Chattanooga. Chattanooga got snow--4-5 inches of it! They weren't kidding!

Clay was supposed to be in Sewanee for a Vestry Retreat all weekend and I was supposed to chaperone a sophomore lock-in at school, but instead the city shut-down and everyone enjoyed a quiet, beautiful night at home. Our supper club gathered for a spontaneous potluck--yet another one of the many perks of living in a campus community. So many friends just steps away!

Camden LOVED the snow

Central Campus two days after the "great" snow

This was a big week in other ways, too! First and foremost, cousin Rachel and Joe welcomed baby Joseph on January 27! How cute is this little guy? Rachel had been on hospital bed rest for close to a week when her preeclampsia became so severe that they needed to go ahead and deliver Joseph. Thankfully, he was already a healthy, strong baby. Congrats, new Mom and Dad!

Sweet Baby Joseph

Today is also Catherine Grace's birthday! Happy happy birthday!!!! We love you!!

Speaking of birthdays, we find ourselves getting more and more ready for Baby Gahan's arrival...especially when our family makes it so easy! Look at some of the fun things we have already received in the form of really, really fun care packages!!

This was one of the first gifts that Baby Gahan received, and I treasure it. My parents gave this to us right after we found out we were expecting. Can't wait to hang it in the nursery.
(I can't get this picture to insert vertically for some reason--sorry!)

It wasn't a full week after we found out we were having a boy that a care package with this gift arrived from my parents. This kid play football? No way! If you look closely at the package, it says for ages 4+ but if I were a betting woman, I would guess it will come out of its package WAY earlier than 2014. Thank you, Mom and Dad!

The care package also included two adorable outfits! We love how they sent one that acknowledges Mama and another than honors Daddy.

I have been enjoying this gift from Ellen Robertson for weeks. Every page offers a funny or realistic or heartwarming reflection on what it means to be a mom. Reading one a day will definitely get me through the pregnancy!

The two bunnies from Catherine Grace. Both are ridiculously soft. I liked to hold them when we first received them, but I wasn't the only one--to keep them away from Camden, we have had to put them on the top shelf of a closet where they wait for BG.

One of my old students and XC runners gave this book to me the day after we found out it was a boy. I was so excited to know that we were having a son, but it is students like Mary Holland who also make me so glad I get to leave "my boys" at McC everyday and work with young women. They always amaze me with their love and thoughtfulness.

Brittany brought this all the way back from South Africa. Thanks to her, our kid is well-dressed AND global. She's pretty darn cute, too.

Brittany works at J&J, so thanks to her we are already getting set up with baby products!
They smell so good...

My dear friend and college roommate Kristen sent us this book a couple weeks ago. She said it is one of her daughter's favorites. It is also one of my favorites considering what I found inside...

I literally started crying at the mailbox. Kristen gave us a gift certificate for a baby portrait session. Kristen took our wedding pictures and has since become a well-known and in-demand photographer in the D.C. area. Her pictures are stunning, and it has been a dream of mine since we found out that we were expecting to have her take BG's picture while he is still little. What a gift--and from out of nowhere! Check out her website and blog.

Finally, Clay and I had fun looking at pictures of sunny beaches this week as we researched spring break getaways...and then we did it! We booked one! Jamaica, here we come!
That's right, friends--we are pulling a Michael Scott vacation and going to the Sandals Grande Ocho Rios resort for five night in early April. Please don't think less of us for going this route rather than a more original, more adventurous vacation...we agreed that this normally wouldn't be the place we would go for a "getaway," but this spring break is a little different than most: I will be 7 months pregnant, so the idea of long road trips or scenic day hikes might not be the best plan for now. What DID we want? To be together and relaxed and drinking fun drinks (virgin daiquiris for me, baby!) and eating yummy food and altogether living up life as a couple. I did a fair amount of research, and considering that Jamaica is a direct 2-hour flight from Atlanta and Sandals's all-inclusive package included 11 restaurants and 90-something pools, we kept coming back to this one. After a little price comparison on different travel websites and then a final conversation with a Sandals rep online, we got the best price straight from their website. That was the fun part :-). Buying the maternity bathing suit (which I also got majorly on sale--who wants to buy an expensive maternity swimsuit??) was way less fun. My body she is a'changing--more pictures on that to come in a later post!

OH BOY OH BOY!!!

We're having a BOY!!!! WE ARE THRILLED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here are some pictures of our little man:

Profile Shot

Another Profile. Look at how long his leg is! I can actually feel his kicks now--AMAZING.

His sweet little foot! You can't see much in this picture, but that's his foot in upper right corner of the womb.

Being in that ultrasound room was a thrilling moment. The ultrasound tech could tell pretty quickly that it was a boy (Clay was proud of that :-)) but we were mostly so happy to hear that Baby G is super healthy and everything (head, spine, heart) looks strong and just as they should be. Then she told me that I was 21 weeks and 2 days along, and I was like, "What? No...I thought I was 20 weeks and 3 days." She said every measurement she took points to a May 31 due date. Our doctor doesn't officially change the date on my chart, but who knows, I might actually get out of the last week of school thanks to this little guy!

Thanks so much for your love and support. We are so grateful to have such great friends and family! Can't wait for him to meet all of you!

We're Halfway There!

20 weeks baby!!!! Right now Baby Gahan is the length of a banana (love all these fruit references) and weighs somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 ounces. I think I have felt the baby moving around, but I am not 100% sure yet--I haven't had a "oh my gosh I just felt a kick" moment, but every once in awhile I feel something...different. We will have ultrasound pictures for you all on Wednesday!