Week 37

"Dr. E says you still aren’t in a hurry to come out and meet the world. She really wants you to make your arrival by the end of the month so looks like you will be a july baby no matter what. She thinks you weigh about six to six and a half pounds and growing about a half pound per week. You are getting so big and strong. You still don’t kick a whole lot but you love to stretch and move all the time and it’s starting to get a little painful for Mommy. Mommy had a really relaxing spa day last weekend. It was so nice to be pampered. We celebrated Independence Day on Wednesday. Mommy had to work part of the day but after that, Daddy barbequed while Mommy painted a canvas for your room. It was a really nice afternoon. We can’t wait for fun family afternoons together once you are here. Today is Aunt Tiffany’s birthday. We celebrated by doing a little shopping with the Gillenwater clan and then we all met Daddy after work for dinner on South Congress. Other exciting news is that Aunt Tracy is moving back to Texas next week! She and Mr. Steve are moving to Austin so we are so excited to be close again and see them often. You are going to love them!"

Week 36

"We are getting so close to the day that we are finally going see your precious face! I am so anxious, nervous, excited and thrilled. Your nursery is ready for you. Everything is washed and organized. Nana came to visit and we went shopping for all the things you still needed. I never knew you would need so much stuff but it has been really fun shopping and preparing for you. the only thing left is to hang some stuff on the walls, which may have to wait until after your arrival. Pepper loves your chair…of course. What was I thinking buying a white chair knowing that we have a black kitty that loves to cuddle up on soft furniture? Mommy is now seeing Dr. E every week. At our last visit, we were told that you are happy in my tummy for now and you are not moving down anytime soon. This week we took a tour of the new hospital where you will be delivered. It is really nice and I’m sure it will be nice and comfortable for all of us during our stay. We also learned all about feeding, diapering and caring for you in our infant care class. Hopefully, you will be patient with us as we learn this parenting thing as we go. I know we will make many mistakes but we are both committed to doing the best we can for you."

Week 35

"We celebrated Father’s Day this week. I can’t even tell you how much Daddy is looking forward to your arrival. He has been working hard on getting your nursery prepared and almost every day tells me how excited he is to meet you soon. We were so busy preparing for you this week. We took a childbirth class on Saturday which taught us all about what to expect on D-Day. We also had maternity pictures taken of us by the same photographer who will be taking your newborn photos. It was really hot but we had a great time posing with you. Mommy washed all of your clothes and we did a lot of organizing in your bedroom."

Week 34

"Mommy and Daddy have been spending a lot of time on the lake. We were able to get the boat into a slip so its much easier for me to get on and off with you. We have been doing a lot of floating in the cool water. It feels so nice to be weightless and relax on the raft as the sun goes down. Next year, you should be old enough for some boating of your own…although we will have to wait to teach you to water ski or tube but if you’re anything like Daddy, we won’t be able to keep you out of the water for long. We are already planning our lake adventures for next year and looking at extra safe life jackets for you."

Week 33

"The Gillenwaters, Ericksons and Boulewares hosted a couples shower for us this week. We had such a great time celebrating you with our friends. Everyone decorated diapers for you, we ate BBQ and lemon cupcakes, and played corn-hole. Miss Paige and I compared bellies; her baby is due just a week after you. I hope you two become great friends. Uncle Jason and Aunt Candice came to Austin to stay with us and we had such a great time. It will be a while before we will have adult-only time with them again but it will be so fun to watch you get to know your cousins. It is really hot this summer. Mommy has started taking water aerobics classes to stay active and beat the heat. Daddy’s birthday is today. He is now 32 years old. We are celebrating by going to dinner and seeing George Lopez at the Paramount." 

Week 30

"This week we went to San Antonio again for the weekend. It was our annual spring party with Nana, PawPaw, Uncle Jason, Aunt Candice and your cousins. We had so much fun playing on the tire swing, eating yummy food and ice cream and watching the basketball playoffs. This was definitely your favorite kind of day. Sunday was Mother’s Day. Even though you are not out in the world, I am still a mother to you so this day was really special for me. You are a prayer answered and a dream come true and I am counting the days until our eyes meet for the first time. I’m starting to feel very tired. You are a busy bee inside of me and I am finding it more and more difficult to put one foot in front of the other. It’s kind of frustrating because your mommy likes to be very active but it will all be worth it in the end. Only 10 more weeks!"

Week 29

"We were blessed with several wonderful showers for you this week. The first shower was a garden party at Nana’s house. It was just girls except for you and your cousins Wyatt & Hudson. We had a great time eating lots of yummy breakfast food, visiting and opening presents for you. Aunt Candice and Nana made it really special for us with the Goodnight Moon theme. Daddy’s cousins Chrissy and Andrea and his aunt, Lynda, hosted the second shower, which was held at Grandma’s house. It was an evening shower and all the family and cousins were there. Your cousin Cat wanted to know what your name is. I told her it was a secret. She thought about it for a little while, came back and asked me how to spell your name. She is very smart and eager to know your name but we are still keeping it a surprise. For now, everyone is still calling you “Randall” or “L-Rod”, short for Little Rodriguez. While Mommy was in San Antonio this week, I was able to meet Miss Stephanie and Miss Michelle for dinner. We always have such a fun time together; Mommy got a good ab workout that night from laughing so much. The staff at Mommy’s work also had a shower for us with yummy cake and a gift card to buy fun stuff for you at Target. I hope you were able to feel all the love that surrounded you this week. We are so blessed to have such amazing family and friends."

Week 28

"We are so busy preparing for your arrival, only 12 weeks to go! We bought your nursery furniture and your bedding came this week. Your closet now has a light and your room has a fresh coat of paint. Our house is a disaster right now but soon we will be putting together furniture and making your room beautiful. We are visiting Dr. E every two weeks now and at our next appointment, we are going to the new hospital. You are growing by leaps and bounds. Just when I think I can’t get any bigger…I get bigger. I can feel you moving so much now. You don’t really kick me, you seem to just nudge and stretch a lot. Daddy says you must take after him because even when you are sleeping, you are moving. I am still craving lemonade all the time and have had a pretty sweet tooth lately but I am attending weekly boot camp and walking on the treadmill and around the neighborhood as much as possible to maintain a healthy weight gain. Mommy is also working in San Antonio two days a week now so we spend the night with Nana & PawPaw once a week and they love watching you (and me) grow."


**Special thanks to my clients and friends, J&M Comer, for taking this pics of me, y'all are awesome!

Week 26

"Daddy and I have picked the perfect name for you! We had narrowed it down to two names that we loved so we called you each of the names for a couple of weeks and then one day we both just knew that one of the names fit you perfectly so, that was that. We are still keeping it a secret from everyone but we love calling you by your name when we are at home. Daddy loves to put his face right up to mommy’s tummy and talk to you. We can now see you move from the outside. Sometimes I think you are doing cartwheels in there. It is so fun to watch you. Daddy has also been able to feel you a couple of times."


*** blogger has decided to change their entire platform so I am getting used to the changes. I like consistency so it's bothering me that the new posts are going to look slightly different than before but hopefully I will figure it out soon**

Week 24

"We went to the Dr. again this week. We didn’t get to see Dr. E because she was delivering a baby at the hospital. The other Dr. was very nice and she says mommy is growing right on track! You were a little toot again when Flor tried to hear your heartbeat but it is so strong now that we could hear it without the doppler right on top of you. Mommy and Daddy celebrated our 5-year anniversary this last weekend. We have had such an amazing 5 years and cannot wait for this new chapter. We love each other so much and always want you to that you are our greatest blessing. 5 years ago, we were preparing for our wedding. This year, we were preparing for you."

Week 23

"You have already been getting so much stuff from your new friends and family. You have so many clothes from your friend Jackson and from Cousin Wyatt as well as some toys, books and a baby bath. Wyatt was a little hesitant to give up his hats and socks. He wanted to try to still wear them but they were too small. Your cousin Presleigh has given you a nickname…Randall. She wanted to know your name but I told her it was a surprise, so she decided Randall would be a good name to call you until she finds out your real name. We started to be able to see you kick from the outside of Mommy’s tummy, you are growing such strong little legs!"

Week 22

"You took your first trip on a plane this week. You were moving around quite a bit while in the air...not sure if that was because you liked it or not. We went to see Miss Tracy in Washington D.C. You experienced so much while you were there. We visited the beautiful cherry blossoms, saw a couple of monuments and visited a museum. We ate a lot of great food, we rode the metro and we did a ton of walking. We also traveled to New York City for a couple of days. We rode the train, visited the 9/11 Memorial and met Miss Wendy for a walk and pedi-cab ride through Central Park. Miss Tracy realized quickly how much you love lemonade so she made sure to call each restaurant ahead of time to be sure they served lemonade before we went. We had a great time and are missing Miss Tracy already."

Week 20

"You are a boy! We couldn’t be more excited. Seeing you through the ultrasound was the most amazing thing! She showed us all of your important parts…your brain, your heart, your hands and feet and so much more! I can already tell you are going to have long, skinny legs like daddy. You let us look right at your face as if you were saying “Hello”. It looks like you have Daddy’s mouth too! Also, Daddy said it looked like you were throwing your first tantrum…you were kicking like crazy and arching your back at the same time. We went right away and bought you your first pair of swim trunks, for the kiddie pool, in the backyard, on the very hot days of August, of course. Next year, you will be ready for the boat!"

Week 19

"Mommy is really growing…and showing! Trying to find things to wear is quite a challenge; it’s time to start buying some maternity clothes. We went to see Dr. Eduardo again this week. The nurse, Flor, found your heartbeat right away this time (last time you gave us a run for our money). She says your heart is beating strong at 160 bpm. We just made plans with Grandma for her to come and see us while she is on Spring Break. She is going to help us change the office into a guestroom so all of your family and friends will have a place to sleep when they come to visit. The next step after that will be changing the other room into your nursery."

Week 18

"We love you so much already! I am trying my best to eat healthy and excercise so you will grow big and strong. This week, I photographed a baby’s birth day. I was able to experience the whole day with a family who’s little one was just born. It was a surreal and emotional day. It made me so excited for your birth day. Earlier in my pregnancy, we had pictures taken of our kitty, Pepper. She has been a part of our family for more than 11 years and her life is going to change dramatically when you get here because up until now, she has been the baby. Daddy is a little worried, but I think the two of you are going to get along famously!"

Week 17

"I think I felt you move…once. Mommy and Daddy are in full baby naming mode. We have narrowed them down to a short list but are waiting until we know if you are a made of sugar and spice or frogs and snails. I think everyone else will have to be surprised.

A poem that Nana & PawPaw wrote for you:

Is he blue or is she pink? Makes me want to stop and think.

God is wise and He is true. Is she pink or is he blue?

Whether girl or whether boy, our hearts will be filled with so much joy.

For this one is fearfully and wonderfully made, no matter what the shade.

Made in the very image of God this one will be, no matter if it’s he or she.

Time will tell and our hearts will swell, Carly and Joe just want to know.

We will leap for joy, for grandbaby girl or grandbaby boy!"

Week 16

"You can hear us now. I am very aware now that you are listening so I am only playing and singing the best music for you. Mommy and Daddy want to make sure you are a big country music fan like us so we have been jamming to George Strait, Dixie Chicks, Johnny Cash, Reba, Willie and Waylon as much as possible. I'm sure these will be considered "oldies" for you but they are classics. We hope you learn to love them!"

Week 14

"Mommy’s birthday was this week…I am now 31 years young. We celebrated by meeting Unlce Jason and Aunt Candice downtown Austin for dinner and a night's stay. You attended your first boat show, hopefully you loved it. You will be spending a lot of time on the water with Mommy & Daddy. I am starting to feel better but still having a little morning sickness at random times of the day. Chick-fil-a lemonade is my new best friend, which worries me a little because it has so much sugar in it. Maybe you will like it as much as me when you grow up but hopefully you won't want to drink it as often! I am getting back into workout mode now that I am feeling better. I have gained about 5 lbs and am starting to see a little bump."

Week 12

"Mommy has been very sick since 6 weeks. All day, every day no matter what, I am sick! Garlic and onions seem to be the worst culprits. Hot water with lemon and peppermint tea seem to make it tolerable. I’ve been told to drink lemonade. This is sounding like a good idea since I have been limited to water for so many weeks. I should not complain though, I am so happy! You are the answer to many prayers"

Week 11

"The cat’s out of the bag! We surprised Grandma, Grandpa and Uncle Chris when they visited us at Christmas, then we told the rest of the gang on New Year’s Day. Everyone was so excited! Grandma almost knocked me down, Uncle Chris and Uncle Shane were baffled, Nana and Uncle Jason cried…even your cousins Sydney and Presleigh helped with the surprise. We sent out New Year’s cards to other family and friends. This week, we also heard your heartbeat for the first time!"