T-2 days

We are in the h0me stretch now! Praise God for that. In just 48 short hours we will be holding that precious baby in our arms. Our hopes and dreams from the past 9 months will become a reality. I can't wait to just take him all in. I know that seeing Derek hold him for the first time will be a moment that I will cherish forever. We would appreciate your prayers on Friday that he would come into this world without complications.

Derek and I have to be at the hospital at 6:00 a.m. to check in and the c-section will start at approximately 7:30 a.m. We will be in the hospital through Monday if everything goes as planned. We probably won't post pictures until we get home because we have enough stuff packed to worry with a laptop but we will post lots of pictures everyday once we are home. I'm sure that Aunt Tay will have pictures on facebook immediately.

Derek has to work tonight then he is off for at least 2 weeks. We are going to spend today and tommorow spoiling our firstborn and then she is off to the kennel tommorow afternoon!

Here are some pictures from the shower we had a couple of weekends ago. Taylor had the adorable idea of doing a bedtime snack as a favor. So everyone who came got to go home with cookies and milk. Milk has been my biggest craving so it was perfect. I wanted to share these favor pictures for sure! We took alot more pictures but I don't have them on my computer.

The sign for cookies and milk:

The milk jugs:

The set-up:

Planning parties is one of Taylor's specialties. We know that Deacon will love his Aunt Tay just as much as we do.

Have a blessed day!

Long Overdue

It's been awhile since I updated. I have been under the weather and D has been out of town so that made for a not so fun beginning to the week. Thanks to my mom and sister for taking such good care of me. I had to have a not so pleasant procedure done on Wednesday for issues indirectly related to the pregnancy and now I'm on complete bedrest. I'm not supposed to be vertical very much if any throughout the day which is hard for me. I like getting up and making sure things are straight and in order around the house but I'm learning. In the midst of the problems this week Dr. Anunciato has been out of town but she will be back Monday and we have an appointment so she will reasses the situation and see if the csection should wait until Friday or can be moved up an earlier in the week. The nurses think she will move it up but we never can tell with her. I am fine with him coming whenever because I know it will be within the next 8 days. Deacon is completely fine. It's my body that's beginning to wear out.

I had a very fun shower at our house on Saturday. I got to see alot of friends that I haven't seen in awhile and my sister, Jill, and Amanda were good hosts. Taylor had so many special details that made for a fun day. I didn't take many pictures with my camera but when I get some from Taylor I'll post them.

Derek and I enjoyed two fun filled days on the lake this weekend and it's a good thing because we didn't realize it would be our last weekend for a couple weeks. Next time we are out there Deacon will be in tow. We spent Sunday with our friends Dustin and Ashley and ended the evening at Belews so we got to have fun before I was sentenced to bed.

We will be spending the next couple of days getting things ready for Deacon. Derek has to install the carseat and I have to get our bags packed. Deacon is packed but my sister is coming over to help me get packed and then of course D will pack himself. Taylor was with me when I bought most of the stuff to take to the hospital so it should be no problem for her to pack under my direction.

Thank you all for reading our blog. There will be lots more exciting posts and pictures when Deacon gets here. Our first baby, Maddy, turns 2 tommorow so we will be doing lots of spoiling at our house. Please continue to keep us all in your prayers. God Bless you!

Jackson and Amelia

Jackson and Amelia have been celebrating some big milestones in their lives the last couple of weeks and we have been blessed to share in these with them. On May 25th, Jackson graduated from kindergarten and Taylor and I got to go to that and then on June 3rd, Miss Amelia had her first dance recital. This was also just a girls trip but Mrs. Patsy joined us for this one. We are so blessed to have them in our lives and can't wait for many more special memories to come.

Graduation
Jackson's graduation was bittersweet for me. Jackson has always held a special place in my heart and seeing him grow up is so much fun and rewarding but also a little sad. Not too long ago he spent the night with me and told me that he's getting too big to kiss people that are older than him but he can still kiss little kids so he will kiss Deacon so I shouldn't worry. I wish he was still in the stage where he would sit in my lap for hours but it is fun watching the young man he is becoming. He is very caring and kind towards others.

When I was growing up I only wanted girls. We come from a very girly family and I thought I would just die if I didn't have a little girl to doll up but Jackson being born changed that for me (thank goodness huh!) He and I have a special bond and I can't imagine the bond I will have with Deacon. I went with Jackson on his first day school as I have yet to miss a first of his so it was only appropriate that I was there on his last day before becoming a big first grader.

Jackson and Mrs. Vicki as Jackson received his diploma.


Jackson after receiving an accelerated reader award. He was so proud!

Jackson and his certificate


Jackson reading the book we gave him right in the middle of the hallway. He's my kind of kid. I love to read and have been known to read while walking through the house.


Recital

Amelia has turned into such a girly girl. When Jill was pregnant with her we were a little worried because Jill didn't want too much pink or frills. We worried the poor girl would never wear a bow. Well something changed when Amelia was born and Jill became more girly and dressed Amelia adorably with big bows and all. Amelia loves going with Taylor to get her hair and nails done for special events so of course we had to pamper her on her special day. She did every dance number perfectly. She was made for the stage. Jill assured us we didn't have to come because it would be long and hot but the Steele girls love this type of thing!

Amelia has turned into an absolute sweetheart and now likes hanging with the girls. She was very partial to Derek over me the first few years of her life but now she is just one of the girls. She still prefers to sit on his lap when they stay with us but that's ok! She couldn't be more excited about Deacon. She talks to him all the time and everything we have for him is just adorable in her opinion. Seeing her hold him for the first time will be one of the highlights of the day!

Mrs. Patsy and Tay doing hair and make-up



Me and Amelia- it was hot and I was swollen but she looks adorable


In action-


Even princesses have melt-downs from time. At the end of the show they dropped pool toys from the ceiling and she didn't get one. It was a horrible idea actually as some of the teenage girls caught 4 or 5 things. It took lots of coaxing to get her off that stage.

Week 36 Update

We went to the doctor yesterday and Deacon is still breech which we knew he would be! The c-section is scheduled for June 25th. We have to be there at 6:00 a.m. It will be the best anniversary present ever! Our anniversary is June 24th so we will take Maddy to the kennel and go eat then get ready for the next day. I doubt we will sleep. I couldn't even sleep last night! The dr. wrote me out of work due to my extreme swelling. I can still run errands and things in moderation and go out to eat and to the movies she said but the majority of the day I need my feet up. So I am working today to tie up loose ends and then I will be resting at home the remainder of the pregnancy. I hope to still go on the lake a time or two as I relax there better than anywhere else.

Pregnancy Highlights- Week 36

How Far Along: 36 weeks 5 days

Maternity Clothes: Yes I don't want to give them up but I'll be glad to be back in normal clothes

Best Moment this week: Relaxing on the lake, seeing Deacon on the ultrasound, shopping for last minute craft project with D

Food Craving: I made lemonade with Splenda since I'm so sick of water and it is so good!

What I miss: sleeping on my back and belly

Sleep: I have slept better this week except for last night after finding out the date

What I am looking forward to: My shower Saturday, spending quality time with Maddy and D

Symptoms: Braxton Hicks contraction at times

35 Week Update

We had a wonderful weekend on the lake! Saturday Derek didn't get off until 11 am so he slept until about 4 p.m. and I dozed off and on. It was nice to catch up on some sleep. Then we went on a night time boat ride. Sunday we went out with Tay and Chase and then to a cookout. Monday we went out with my parents and Tay and Chase and enjoyed dinner at Moors. I attempted to lay on a raft on Monday but Deacon kept shifting his weight so it was a workout to stay on! This little boy may rock my world I'm afraid:)

We had an ultrasound and appointment yesterday. Deacon is still breech (of course). We could see hair in the ultrasound so that's exciting. He also had a little fat roll on his neck so he may be a chunky monkey. They estimate he weighs between 6.5-7.5 pounds. We are having one more ultrasound next Tuesday and then we will set his c-section date at that time. It's a little strange to pick his birthday but we know that God already knows the day he will be born so it's no surprise to him. I will be a nervous wreck until next Tuesday I'm sure!

Pregnancy Highlights- Week 35

How Far Along: 35 weeks 5 days

Maternity Clothes: Yes I don't want to give them up but I'll be glad to be back in normal clothes

Best Moment this week: Relaxing on the lake, quality time with the family, seeing Deacon on the ultrasound, knowing the end is in sight

Food Craving: Same as last week-Milk again-I have my blood sugars figured out so that I can eat enough protein that it balances out with the milk-Praise God!

What I miss: sleeping on my back and belly

Sleep: My mind goes a thousand miles a minute at night -I usually sleep best when Derek is home and sleeping with me-However, he is currently working 8p.m.-4a.m. so I'm getting up when he is getting home so I call him several times in the middle of the night to discuss things that need to be done before the baby-he's really wishing I could take Tylenol PM about now.

What I am looking forward to: Setting a date,relaxing on the lake, Amelia's dance recital, Aunt Tay spending the night

Symptoms: Braxton Hicks contraction at times