Updates

First, an Elliotte update...
I had my 36 week ultrasound and doctor's apt. yesterday morning. Elliotte is estimated to weigh somewhere around 7 1/2 pounds! She's a big girl already! I feel like she's a long baby too since her head is way down in my pelvis, and her butt is still pretty high up. She was practicing her breathing on the US, so she's getting ready. She was completely healthy. Her heart and kidneys looked great. I am almost 3cm dilated and about 80% effaced which is great for 36 weeks. Still, my OB doesn't think I'll go into labor on my own. At my next apt on Thursday, we will schedule an induction for 39 weeks which will be around Aug. 19th. So there is an end in sight! I really hope she comes on her own before then, but I'll take whatever I can get. My OB said she would not let me labor for too long since we know she will be big. The second it looks like she's not coming out easily, she will take me for a C-section. Bless Dr. Haney. Love her.
Sorry I don't have any US pics. When the baby is that big, there's just not much to see. She wouldn't show us her face, of course. Being stubborn again.

Now, a Ben update...
He got an email yesterday saying that he was on the "Eligibility Register" for the Metro EMT position. This means he is on the list that they will pull from when they hire. This is GREAT news!! We know nothing more than that. Metro likes to keep you guessing. Ben was told when he took the last test that the next step would be a background check, drug test, and driving record check. He'll pass all those just fine, and then there will be an interview. Please keep praying for this job. It's very important to us in more ways than you know!

I'll keep you posted...

Hillsboro Church Shower

Ben and I are so blessed to attend Hillsboro Church of Christ. I've been a member since I was 10 and can't imagine going anywhere else. We have such good friends at Hillsboro, and we love our class and small group. This past Sunday was my church baby shower. There were so many gifts, and everyone was so generous! Elliotte will be one well-dressed and well-read little girl! I love getting books as baby gifts, and Elliotte received a lot of sweet books. Thanks to all the hostesses who threw my shower. It was so nice and the dessert was very yummy!

Hostesses: Vera, Catherine, Brittney, Janet, me, Meredith, Courtney, Cristie, and Kim

Drennon gave Elliotte her first Madame Alexander doll and instructed me to let her play with it and not set it on a shelf like ours were!


Camo bib for Ben from Mrs. Connie



Hand made booties and quilt!

Leslie, me, and Mom. Can you tell that Leslie is 19 weeks pregnant? Neither can I!

We found out the day after the shower that Clay and Leslie are having a GIRL!! We are so excited, and can't wait for Elliotte to grow up with her cousin. Her name is Leah Marie Robinson.

The Perfect Dog

Since most of my posts will soon be dedicated to a precious baby, I decided to do a "Hoover" post today. Last night I was watching TV and both pugs were in the den with me. Hoover was somewhere else having "alone" time away from the pugs. She does this every so often. When I went to bed, I found out where she was having her precious time alone...in our bed. Now, the dogs are not usually allowed in the bed b/c of all the hair. Hoover is the only one that can jump up onto the bed b/c it is too tall for the pugs. Hoover was so comfortable and sweet that I almost let her stay in the bed. Buster loves to cuddle with his Hoover to go to sleep, so I knew that was not an option. He would freak out if she wasn't in bed with him. He is slightly co-dependent.

Hoover really is the perfect dog. She does exactly as she is told, and sometimes I think she can read my mind. I look at her, and then she does what I'm thinking. Mutts really do have something about them that makes them so smart. My pugs are smart, but this dog puts them to shame. She is going to be such a good "dog mom" to Elliotte. I can picture Hoover sitting patiently beside her and letting Elliotte climb all over her. She will be protective and playful. I love my sweet Hoovs Doovs!!

All cuddled up and comfy.

Luckily she was on Ben's side of the bed.

Childbirth Class

This past weekend, Ben and I attended Childbirth Class at Baptist. I had to attend this class while I was in my OB rotation in nursing school, and I remembered it being very informative. Since I wasn't pregnant at the time, I didn't pay too close attention. Ben went with me kicking and screaming. While in class, he texted, got up and down, went to the bathroom A LOT, and asked me over and over when we could leave. I asked him to please pay attention many times and he replied "I can listen and do other things too!" Yeah right. The lady teaching the class got a big kick out of his inattentiveness. After the two day class was over, he did admit that it was very beneficial and he learned a lot, but that I would tell him how to do everything anyway. Little does he know that there will come a time when I am not thinking like a nurse and am needing him to remind me how I'm supposed to breathe, push, etc. He will see very soon.

I made Ben put on the "empathy belly" so he could feel the weight of pregnancy. He was pretty shocked at how much it weighed. I then asked him to bend over and try to touch the floor. He couldn't do it....

Showing off his belly.

I had my 32 week apt. this afternoon. I am now measuring 2 weeks ahead, but my weight gain is perfect. So, I will have another US at 36 weeks to determine her size. Elliotte has now been labeled "LGA" which means large for gestational age. I hope that label does not follow her the rest of her life!!

My Best Friend's Wedding!

After a year of waiting and planning, Drennon is finally Mrs. McMurray!! I've never seen two people so in love and so happy. Drennon and Will are truly perfect for each other. I had the privilege to be Drennon's Matron of Honor last night as she married Will. I was so honored. It was a beautiful ceremony at Christ the King and then a very fun reception was held at Belle Meade Country Club. Everyone had a blast and Drennon and Will are headed to Jamaica in the morning for a well deserved week of relaxing!

Lunch at LaPaz on Thursday to start off the wedding festivities. We ate with Drennon's aunt and uncle and Barbara Jo.

After lunch, we headed to Signature to get our fingers and toes done.



Cocktails at the Greenhouse Thursday night. None for me.

Bridesmaid's luncheon at the Centennial Club hosted by Will's grandmother. Will has the sweetest family, and I'm so happy to have gotten to know them so well.

Will's groom's cake at the rehearsal dinner at The University Club at Vandy. The helmets are MBA, where Will went to high school and now teaches, and Davidson, where Will went to college and played football.

Rehearsal Dinner. Many sweet and funny stories were told about the couple.

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Me, Megan, and Rach Heff.

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The happy couple getting pictures taken before the ceremony. Drennon was breathtaking and Will was so handsome!

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Me and "The Babe." Drennon's dress was pearls, pleats, and a bow which sums her up perfectly.

Bus ride to the reception.

Heading to the reception. They were SO happy.

Cake cutting. Yummy Betty Dean cake!

At the reception.

Ben and the bride.

Ben and the groom.

Exiting to a crowd of lighted clappers! Off to Jamaica!

Maternity Pics

Last week we had Katie Mosley (www.kmosleyphotography.com) come to the house to take some maternity pictures before it got too hot and I got huge and swollen. Ben wasn't excited about the idea ("why do we need those?"), but I didn't really give him a choice. I am so happy with the ones I have seen so far that I had to post them. These were from the "sneak peak" Katie does on Facebook. She captured just what I wanted...casual and sweet. I wanted pics of us at our house with the dogs of course. They didn't behave quite as well as I wanted, but what can you expect when you want three dogs to look at the camera at the same time and one of them is deaf (poor Buster). Katie did most of the pics in the backyard and then took pics of us and the dogs out on our front porch. Enjoy!

Is it bad that this may be my favorite? I just love my little man!

29 week belly

Sweet Hoover licking her daddy. Belle and Buster were in this shot too, but they must have been misbehaving. They were by my legs.

Elliotte's Nursery

Well, Elliotte's nursery is about 90% finished! I was so excited that I had to go ahead and post pictures. Victoria Owens, "The Material Girl," did all the bedding and curtains. I could not be happier with them. I wanted bright, fun, and funky, and that's what I got. I knew I wanted green, black, pink, and coordinating colors. Victoria and I went to three different fabric stores to find all the fabrics. Circles and dots are the fabric theme and the accents are pugs, of course! Check out Victoria's blog at the bottom of my blog list to the right.

I had my 30 week dr. apt. yesterday, and everything looks great. I am measuring a week ahead right now. She should be around 3 pounds. Elliotte is kicking me like crazy and making it very hard to sit up straight. She prefers me reclining which is not always possible!

View of the nursery from the door. Yes, I know the chair is brown. We got it 50% in chocolate. I'm getting Victoria to make a slip covers so it matches.

Pug art above the crib. I saved a calendar from a couple of years ago and used the prints.

Bright, cheerful curtains!

Another view. I'm hanging a shelf on the wall above the chair beside the curtains for some more shelf space. We've got to paint it first.

Dresser/changing table (minus the changing pad). I added pink knobs with hearts on them b/c the black knobs were too boring. If you look closely you can see the pug light switch cover! Belle seems to like it.

Close up of the bumper and crib skirt. The inside of the bumper is the same pink on the skirt. I love the ric rac on the bottom of the skirt!

Family Baby Shower

This past Saturday I attended my family baby shower at Aunt Kim's house. It was hosted by Aunt Kim, Aunt Janene, and Nanny. To say that they went all out would be an understatement. The decorations were so beautiful. Aunt Kim had clear, pink pacifiers attached to her front porch topiaries with pink bows. She had Paige's old baby stroller and baby doll on the food table as the centerpiece. Hot pink roses were also on the table in silver trumpet vases. Betty Dean made all the food, and it was delicious brunch food. I was so flattered that so many of my family members were able to attend the shower. My Aunt Marian drove up from Atlanta to represent the Robinson side that lives down there. My mom, grandmothers, two best friends, great aunts, aunts, cousins (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th!), and even my great, great Aunt Sara were all there. It was such a special shower. I received so many pretty things for Elliotte. Everyone was so thoughtful. Sorry for all the pics, but I couldn't leave some of them out! I had over 80 to choose from...

Baby and baby stroller as the centerpiece on the beautiful table.

Larger view of the table and some of the food.

Me and mom.

Aunt Janene, me, Nanny, and Aunt Kim-the hostesses.

Outside crew enjoying their brunch.

L to R: Leslie, Paige, Meredith, April, Carole, and Alex.

My cousins (John and Janene's kids) each gave me a book that was their favorite growing up. They each wrote a little note on the inside of the book. Eric wrote "this is a great book!" It was so sweet.

Besties Drennon and Jennifer. Jennifer came from Dallas for the weekend to attend the shower. She's preggers with her third baby due in October. Drennon gets married next Saturday the 20th!!!

Elliotte's first swim suit. Hopefully we'll go to Destin this fall so she can wear it.

Heirloom gown from Nanny. This is a "Ben don't touch" dress!

Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls made by Mrs. Miller.

Cinde (Dad's sis in law), Aunt Marian (Dad's sister), and Grandmom (Dad's mom)

Cute dress for next summer.

Me and my great, great Aunt Sara. She hand stitched a pink bonnet and blanket for Elliotte. Something I will treasure forever. She will be Elliotte's great, great, great Aunt!

Aunt Kim made these cookies with Elliotte's name on them as favors. They were almost too pretty to eat!

Nanny, me, and Grandmom