34 weeks and 2 days... and NEW YEARS EVE!

Well I made it to another milestone... 34 weeks indicates a significant chance of Landon living if he were to be born now. His lungs are maturing and he is gaining more fat. He is about 5 pounds now! Hes getting sooo big! This past week I have washed and put away all of his clothes and bedding. His room is almost finished. We just need book shelves and the wall decor. We already have the ruf and side table, just need to put everything in place. Its weird to think that hes almost here. My life is going to be sooo different! I can only imagine though and I always am daydreaming about what it will be like. I hope hes a happy healthy baby. I hope that I am able to breastfeed and that I take good care of him. I am pretty sure I have been getting contractions. They are very irregular and dont hurt only sometimes. I also have been getting cramps in my lower abdomen and increased leg and lower back pain. This is all normal of coarse! I have been walking more and stretching a lot. I really really want to start walking as soon as I can after hes born. I dont want to just jump back into a vigorous exercise routine since it has been so long since I have really worked out. I think if I start off slow by walking, and lifting small weights I will be able to get the exercise I need. I am hoping by 6 months I am back to around 130, and I really want to look good for Baileys wedding. Thankfully we get to pick out our own dresses so I can get a super flowy one if needed! I cant wait to shop for a dress and normal clothes. I am getting tired of wearing the same things over and over, and now I feel like even my maternity clothes dont fit me right. I hope Landon is a good baby so we can go walking around the mall! I think for the first few weeks I will just stay in the house. Gosh, I am just not sure how its going to be! And I have to think of feeding him and making sure hes changed and warm and I dont want to take him out when its too cold outside.. SO many things to think about! I really hope this all comes naturally to me. I hope I can learn a lot from the birthing class and from reading everything I have read so far. My Baby 411 book is really helpful and I know the grandmas will help a lot too. Another guy on my fb posted a picture of his son and it just made me want Landon to be here even more. I am still anticipating the day I go into labor. I just wonder what it will be like! I havent packed my bag yet but thats something I will probably do this coming week, just to be prepared. Landon is still breeched so as of now its looking like a c-section unless he turns. He still has time to turn but I guess we will just have to see! People keep asking whether I want natural or c section, and honestly I just want what is best for him. There are pros and cons to both. C-section take a longer time to heal and you dont get to see the baby right after, you have to wait a while. Natural is more stressful during delivery process but easier to heal and no scar on your belly. It doesnt matter to me, either way I am really scared and nervous! I know I will have a lot of people there to support me and comfort me. I just hope everything goes smoothly but I am always wondering "what if..". I just need to stop worrying!

In other news, me and Taylor have been talking a lot about how we want to raise Landon (and our other kids). We are on the same page on pretty much everything. We have both agreed that we want to be an open and honest family, without being too sheltered or too easy going. I am really glad he and I are able to talk about a lot of things together and I am even more glad that we can agree on everything. Our relationship has also been really good. We have had moments of disagreements but we are able to work things out without yelling or fighting. Its refreshing to have a relationship where there is respect, good communication, honesty and trust. I am so thankful for that!

Anyway it is the last day of 2011!!!!! I cannot believe this year has gone by so fast. I know I say that about every year. I just cant believe all that has happened this year. It has been crazy but good and humbling. I look forward to what 2012 has to bring, especially my baby boy. I cannot believe I am going to be a mom! I am not sure if it has really sunk in yet. Like I know it and believe it but my mind hasnt quite wrapped itself around it. I know when hes here it will definitely sink in!! His parents are in for the New year and I think we all might go out tonight. Its kind of our last night to go out without Landon. I think it will be fun and we get to dress up.

The next couple of weeks are going to be crazy. Landon is on my mind all of the time. I will start going to the doctor every week and now its just about waiting for his arrival!!! I hope he comes in January! I dont wanna wait much longer! And I am really big, as you can tell from the pictures! Thankfully I dont have stretch marks but I dont want to get bigger... Its weird having such a big belly and I cant wait to lose the weight! Anyway, here are my 34 week pictures. I will write next year :)

Christmas Eve!

Theres my 33 week bump... getting HUGE!! But funny thing is that when you look at me from the front (and the black helps!) I dont really look pregnant!!


Well today I am 33 weeks and 2 days.. And its getting closer and closer til delivery day! My cousin Caty had her baby about a week ago and this girl from my high school had her baby 2 days ago and I am sooo jelous! I cant wait!!! Yesterday my dad came in and we got my rocking chair. Its really nice and looks awesome in the room. Mom will come in tomorrow and we will get the rug and curtains, so its all coming together! And the more it comes together the harder it is to wait! They changed my birhting class to January 8th so I am thinking once I get that done I am ready for baby! I was sitting in the rocking chair last night just thinking how crazy it is that I am going to be a mom. I am going to have to care and nurture him, and teach him things and discipline him... I will tuck him in at night and read him bedtime stories. I know what its like to do that for other peoples kids, even my little brother, but its weird to think that this child is mine. I will have a child, for the rest of my life, I will be someones mother. Its hard to wrap my mind around that. I wonder what hes going to be like, and what I am going to be like as a mom. I hope I am a good mom, who is patient and gentle and loving and understanding. We have all of this baby stuff here like the carseat, bouncer, rocking chair, bed, clothes... and we are going to be using it in a few weeks. We will have a baby to put in the car seat and who will wear all the cute clothes. It just seems empty right now. This brand new, painted room, filled with stuff for Landon. What is it going to be like when Landon fills our home and our hearts?

So other than Landon being on my mind 24/7, I have been having a lot of trouble sleeping. My hip flexors and groin cramp up and so do my legs and calves. I get up to go to the bathroom every 2 hours and each time I get back in bed I switch the side that I was laying on. The boppy pillow does help but I have just been so uncomfortable. I was reading the baby books last night and it said that dryness in the eyes is common... and guess what I have? DRY EYES! I need to go to the eye doctor but I dont want to until I give birth because supposedly your eyes change while your pregnant and I dont want to get the wrong prescription. Landons kicks and movements continue to get stronger. Sometimes it hurts. I do like to feel him kick though and seeing my entire belly shift is still really wild. Its weird to think how he is forming right now. The main thing he needs before he is born is lung deelopment, more brain development and fat storage. Everything else is in place, now its just getting those last few maturities before hes ready to see the world! I was also reading about when it is ok to take your newborn out of the house and some people say they have taken babies out by 2-3 days! That just seems so soon! I was thinking his first real outting would be for his first doctor appt at 2 weeks... Maybe I am already being overprotective.. I would like to go on walks and stuff but its also going to be cold still when hes born. Some people even traveled with their babies at only a few weeks old. I guess we will have to see how he is. I hope hes a good baby and lets me travel and go places with him. I think my mom and Jamie are going to switch off weeks to help when hes here. I dont really know what all I will need help with yet... Everything is so new to me. I think I just want supervision to make sure I am doing everything okay. I am scared I am not going to clean his circumcision right or his umbilliacal cord... I dont know if I spelt either of those words correctly. I dont want him to get infected and then it be my fault. There is just so much to think and worry about. I guess all I can do is my best and learn as much as possible. I have really good books that help me out and I know my mom and Jamie will help. Also, I hope this pediatrician I am going to meet is good too. She seems like she will be.

So today is Christmas Eve and I have a lot to do! I am about to start the chili for dinner, then I want to make the cheesecake and cut up the fruit for tomorrow, then clean, then church, then dinner, then go see lights! Busy but fun day. Its definitely different being here for Christmas. I am glad that my mom will be here tomorrow though. I know she will help me cook and stuff and I am excited to hang out with her for a few days. Taylors parents will be here for New Years so I want to try to find something fun we can do. So far it has been relaxing and not having school or work has been awesome! I am hoping I can work some once Landon is here... just do some work from home to make some extra cash. No use just sitting around if I have time. I wish I could take some of my classes online too. That would help tremendously! But oh well, I shouldnt overdo myself. Hopefully I can take classes in the summer. Tori might be here in the summer so she could babysit, possibly. Its hard not being able to plan everything out. This has been the biggest lesson is not planning and just trusting everything will work out. I am such a planner and like everything to go a specific way but that doesnt quite wotk with a newborn! God sure is funny sometimes!

Anyway, I should get started on todays duties... Cant wait til Landon is here!!!

Love,
The Albritton Family


Baby Room with the rocker!

Achy all over

This past weekend I drove to Waco to see my best friend graduate. It was a lot of fun to hang out with her and Tara because I hadnt seen them in a while. That was my last trip for a long time. I cant travel and probably wont travel much when Landon is here. My old friend Amber was there as well. She has a two year old son. It was nice to have someone to talk to that really understands what I am going through. I know I can talk to my mom and she understands but none of my friends really do. Some of them are saying they cant wait to take me out because I will be such a light weight now. Yes, I would LOVE a glass of wine and a margarita but I have no intentions on getting plastered. I dont even like to think of leaving Landon to go out. Its just not going to be the same. In some ways I am sad about that but in others I am completely ok with it. I dont want to be one of those moms who goes out to party and leaves her child behind. Anyway, aside from that I guess lately I have just been really sore and achy. Its hard for me to walk fast because my legs and groin are so sore. I have been stretching but it still hurts. I am slow and cant bend over and have to pee a lot and have to change positions so my back wont hurt. I am getting hot flashes and I think I am starting to feel some BH contractions. I am also constipated again (yeah, gross I know!) so that isnt helping either. Landon is also getting big so hit kicks and movements hurt sometimes. All of that added up makes me feel 1) like an old lady, 2) like I dont want to do anything and 3) like none of my friends really get it. Yeah, I laugh because its funny that I cant get up off the floor but its really annoying to need help all the time. Anytime I talk about something the reaction is "oh, that sucks..." YES IT DOES SUCK! I just keep telling myself that it is only for a few more weeks. I think if I had him now he would be okay but I want him to be as healthy as possible. I know millions of women have done this and thankfully I have actually had a good pregnancy but I am ready for him to be here!

So thats about all that is going on with me right now. I have a Dr appt on Tuesday. Our birthing class was cancelled today so that kinda sucks. They are supposed to call to reschedule this week but with the holidays I am not sure how that will work. We will see!!

Love,
Alyssa, Landon and Taylor

32 weeks

32 weeks!

Wow.. Time keeps flying by! Its so exciting though and I am so ready for Landon to get here. I finished my finals and have 2 As so far. I am almost sure I made an A in my third class as well but she doesnt post grades on blackboard so I have to wait until Tuesday. Today has been a nice relaxing and productive day. I have been cleaning around the house. I like staying home. We got another cold front like an hour ago so its cold outside again! I dont mind the 50-60 winter weather range. I like wearing my Ugg boots! Today I also made a birthing plan, hospital packlist and a list of things I need for Christmas week from the grocery store. I feel like I have had so many good things to look forward to this year. I am driving to Waco tomorrow for Tori's graduation and I will get to hang out with Tara too. Then our birthing class is Sunday. Then I get to finish Christmas shopping, start baking and clean the house for Chritmas next week. Then my family will be in town and Taylor and I will begin our Christmas traditions. Then we will finish Landons room and then wait for him to get here! If thats not exciting then I dont know what is! Thankfully we have a few weeks to get ready. Taylor finishes finals tomorrow so we will have a good 3 weeks to prepare. I am so excited! I feel like there is still a lot to do though. I am glad that my mom will be here to help. I also cant wait to cook Christmas meal for my family. This will be the first year I do it by myself so I hope everything turns out well! I think it will be me, Taylor, Jenna, Jessica, my mom, Blake, and possibly my grandparents.

As far as my expanding belly goes, I have been getting a lot more aches and pains. Especially in my legs and pelvic area and back. My legs feel really sore and I have to stretch them out a lot. I also think I have been getting mild contractions, which feel like sharp pains in my lower abdomen. I am pretty sure this is all normal. Landon weighs about 4 pounds according to the average estimates and I can sure feel him a lot now. He moves and lumps up in my belly so my whole belly shifts to the right. His kicks are harder and movements more noticable. I feel like I have gotten really big lately. I grow so fast now to the point where its noticable every week. I will post a picture of my 32nd week soon. According to the books, Landon has a 90% chance of living if he is born now. I think he would be fine but I still want him to stay in a few more weeks. Once you get to 34 weeks his lungs are more mature and he will be considered a "late-preemie". So I'd like to have him any time after that. 36 weeks would be ideal if he is to come early, but we will see. I go back to the doctor Tuesday just for a check up not a sono. Maybe he will be able to tell me when he thinks Landon will be born. Like a more distinct time... I just want to know!

Anyway, everything else has been good. Now that finals and work is over I can relax and get things done around the house which is nice. I feel like I need to be reading more and journaling more, just for personal reasons. I know I wont have much time when Landon is here. Or maybe I will. I really dont know! I can just hope that he is a good baby and that I dont have any complications and that everything will be okay. I really dont know what to expect... even though the books tell you, I know everyone has a different experience. Next week I am going to try to schedule a couple of interviews with pediatricians. Sooo, I guess that is it for now. I have been feeling good. My big cravings right now are cereal and fruit. I also like to eat salads, soups and sandwiches. So pretty healthy stuff. Sometimes I will get the urge for some fast food but thats maybe once a week. I have also been drinking coffee, half caff, but not a lot of it. I think its fine.

So, I guess I will write next week after the birthing class... It is all day from 9am to 6 pm.. AAHHHHH As you can guess, Taylor is uberly excited!! haha I just hope we learn a lot.

Yay for Chiristmas!

Love,
ALyssa, Taylor, and Landon

Pictures and more!

So this is my 31 week picture... I just looked back at my bump time line and man have I grown! I remember looking at my 14 weeks pic and saying "look at my bump". Now Iook back and theres nothing there! Still no stretch marks on my belly so that is good (knock on wood), Today we went to a breastfeeding class. Taylor fell asleep half way through it but it was really helpful. Everyone in the class was about as far as I am so it was neat to see similar bellies. Compared to everyone I am on the small side. Which is ok with me. This sunday we have a birthing class that lasts aaaallll day! Taylor is not looking forward to it but these classes are super helpful. I also got a video on baby care the first year which is really good since they didnt have anymore child care classes. It seems like the nurses, doctors, and lactation specialist are really helpful at the hospital so I am not too worrried about anything. Plus I have a lot of books to read as well. I just want to be as informed as possible. I know nothing can really prepare me but at least I can say I did everything I could.

Anyway below are some pictures of the room. Its not 100% finished yet. Taylor still needs to do touch ups but its pretty much complete! Once he finishes touch ups (which I hope he does soon!) then we can move everything and get things settled. Right now our kitchen is acting like storage. I am ready to get everything organized! Anyway, I will keep this post short. I have to study for finals and right now I am doing everything else I can think of to not study. I just cant wait til its all over so I can focus on fun things like Christmas baking and baby room decorating!!!






Only two more days til finals are over!

Love the Albritton family

31 weeks and 2 days!

So we went to the doctor this past week and he gave us some exciting yet kind of shocking/nerve wrecking news! Well, just to say everything with Landon is good. He looks good and is growing and developing well. We saw him open and close his eyes and practice his swallowing by opening and closing his mouth. He was sooo cute and has gotten really big. There is still fluid in his kidneys but it is very mild and Dr said theres really nothing to worry about. Another thing is that we cannot travel home for the holidays becauseeeeeee...... I will probably deliver a lot sooner than expected! Since my uterus is heart shaped and he is only utilozing one side of it, the expansion is kind of like if I were carrying twins, one baby would be on one side and the other baby on the other side. Since I am only using one side, Dr said I am likely to deliver early around 36-37 weeks or possibly sooner! So we are unable to travel home just in case. Christmas will be different this year but I think me and Taylor will have a good, intimate holiday and we have already discussed our plans and traditions that we would like to keep in our family. I was hardcore freaking out though because I wasnt expecting to have him early to mid January! I just keep wondering when he will be here!

Today we are painting his room!! I am sooo excited!! I am ready to start putting everything away and nesting! I wish finals were over so I wouldnt have to worry about school anymore. I already stopped working, which I am glad I stopped sooner now, so at least I dont have to worry about that. I think Bailey and maybe Paige are coming over to help today, which will be fun! I cant beleive its coming so fast. I still feel like I have a million things to do before he gets here. I also wanted to work on his baby book and scrap books so that way I dont fall behind. I am going to send everyone directions to the hospital too so no one gets lost on D-Day. We also still need stuff for the baby room, like curtains and a rug and a glider and a hamper. I know I shouldnt worry but I just want everything to be ready and to be perfect for when he comes. My dad is coming into town on the Friday before Chirstmas and I think my mom will be here either on Christmas or the day after and so will Taylors family.

Also I am posting pictures of our Christmas decor! The last thing I want to do is put up a really cute garland around our door. I still really like living here at the sunshine house. I cant wait for Landon to be here! It is getting more and more real as time goes on and as he grows and my belly grows. Oh, I also gained 3 more pounds. Not bad considering I am supposed to gain a pound a week and last time I was weighed was 3 weeks ago. Landon will double in size by the time he is delivered. Right now his brain and lungs are maturing and he is accumulating more fat on his body. I already think he is super cute just by the sono pics. We werent able to do a 3D picture because his hand was in his face. I just cant believe its so soon that he will be here!!! aaahhh

Ok, lastly, my legs, back and pelvic area hurt and is sore all the time. I know I need to stretch more... It is just weird how my legs cramp up while I sleep. I also cant bend down well and sometimes when I lay on my back my lower back will get sharp pains. The boppy pillow is still a life saver but I always toss and turn at night, then get up to pee every 2 hours. Definitely practice for when baby is here! Taylor and I are still really good. He is going to start looking for a job for next year since he wont be taking too many hours for school and will be graduating. I am proud of him for getting through this past semester. Well we have almost gotten through... Finals start next week! He is also super excited about Landon and moved out all of the stuff from the baby room and will probably do most of the painting today. I am still very grateful that he has taken full resposibility and is committed to Landon and I. What a great guy!

I am eager to read more about babies in their first year. I have lots of books that I havent been able to really get into because of school and work. Now that everything is going to be finished, I will be in full baby mode and get as prepared as possible. Also on the agenda is pediatricians! So I will have to find a good one that is close!! Ok the internet is going out so I might not be able to post pictures right now... But I will as soon as our internet is back and running again!

LoVe,

ALyssa, Taylor and Landon <3

30 weeks and 4 days

Getting into the single digits!! Holy cow this has gone by super fast! My last day or work is Wednesday then my last final is next Thursday! Time is flying!!! Ive been feeling good the past few days. I get tired easily but I am still able to do things. I went Christmas shopping this past weekend which was fun. We also put up lights and our tree! I love our sunshine house.. its so homey! Everything is still going well with the pregnancy. I am feeling good, other than more frequent back aches. Landon is getting bigger so his kicks are bigger and so are all of his movements. I feel him more days than others. On the days I dont feel him as much I get all paranoid... but he does move everyday so thats good. I will go back to the Dr on Thursday. The special sono technician will look at him and take more measurements. She will also look at the fluid in his lungs to make sure that is cleared up. Ive been getting pain on the sides of where my tummy is growing. I cant believe I am getting so big! Its noticably bigger each week. I have been putting cocoa butter on my belly and havent gotten any stretch marks yet... Thank God! I have some on the bottom of my breasts but better there than my belly! Everyone tells me I am just belly, which I am. I havent gained weight anywhere else! YAY! And my face finally cleared up! YAYAY! Not completely but its wayy better than it was before. Hopefully after I have the baby it wont freak out again.

I am starting to get really nervous about giving birth. Taylor and I take our breastfeeding class next week and our birthing class in two weeks. I really really wanted to take a child care class but they dont have any more available. I hope I am prepared. I watched a babys story today and I was just thinking of how it will happen to me. I've been wondering about what time of the day, whether I will expect it or not, where I will be, who I will be with, etc. I also wonder when Landons birthday will be... Could be January or February! Full term is 37 weeks so he could be here in late Jan! Its getting colder outside... None of my coats really fit me. Well my belly at least.

S0o0o0o Taylor and I have been talking about wedding and engagements. I have no clue when it will be but we are talking about a wedding in fall of 2013... Sometimes it seems so far away but when I think about it logically it is a good time. I wish it could be sooner but I want Landon to be old enough to be ok with us leaving on a honeymoon. Things are still going really well with everything. I am still really happy and couldnt have asked for anyone better. Taylor is so good to me. He is everything I want and I cant wait to be a family. Only 9.5 more weeks!! I still cant believe its going by so fast! Landon likes to push his entire body up at the top of my belly. Its funny because you can see a huge lump of Landon. I like it though. I still wonder what he will look like or how he will act.

I miss coffee. Its cold.

I miss eating salmon sushi.

I miss sleeping on my tummy.

I cant wait to hold Landon in my arms!!!



30 weeks!!!!