The Copacabana

Since I am WELL into this pregnancy and there is definitely no doubt that I am with child, this is how the majority of my conversations go with acquaintances (especially at work):

Me getting onto an elevator/in the breakroom/working out/etc.

Acquaintance: "So, when are you due?"
Me: "December 5th"
---pause while they think of their next question---

Acquaintance: "Is it a boy or a girl?"
Me: "Girl"
---another pause---

Acquaintance: "Do you have any names picked out?"
Me: "Yes, Taylor"
Acquaintance: "Aww, that's cute"
---end of converstation and start of awkward silence---

And this is how 95% of my conversations go as of late. That exact same conversation happened twice today already. I think I should start wearing a sign or something like this...

I just found out today that two more of my friends are pregnant! I think I know more people that are pregnant, than aren't! It's really pretty crazy. I guess we are at that age where we are all having babies, but it's pretty nuts that it's all around the same time. I will admit that caring for an infant does freak me out a little, knowing that I have LOTS of friends going through the same thing puts me at ease. I know I will have other people to call or chat with when I feel overwhelmed with it all...which I am sure will happen more times than not. I am so happy and excited for EVERYONE that has a little one on the way. Some fun and exciting times are ahead of us all. Bring it on.

I am 30 weeks along as of today, which means only 10 weeks left until Taylor gets here! I know I keep saying it, but I just can't believe how fast everything is going by. I told J.T. last night that I was getting scared about having a baby to take care of! It's a scary thought but J.T. assured me that we will be OK. Just a little pre-game jitters I guess. I am trying to think about what a combination of J.T. and I would look like, act like, or be like. Of course we don't care what she looks like or anything...but sure hoping that she is athletic! If not, I won't know what to do. I know next to nothing about hair, makeup and all that goes with it. Guess I will just have to learn! She will definitely have the athletic genes, let's just hope he wants to use them. :)

I have started to feel more tired lately. My doctor said it should kick in about now and will continue until the end. Which I take to mean "the end of time" since once a baby is born you are tired and sleeping in is a thing of the past. I do love my sleep, so I am trying to take advantage of the quiet house now before Taylor arrives :) I am getting excited about what's to come and the way our lives will change. Everyone tells me how much our lives will change, I am just looking forward as to how. No one tells you exactly how it will change, and am excited to find out. Someone did describe it to me as there will be just a lot more of everything. A lot more love, a lot more worry, a lot more good times, bad times and amazing times. I thought that was such a neat way to describe it and has stuck in my head since he told me. If this is the case, I can't wait.

We have had a name picked out for our daughter since before I was even pregnant. J.T. actually thought of it one day, we both really liked it and it's stuck! Her name will be Taylor (still thinking on a middle name) Cope. I have hesitated to post it on the blog since that's kind of announcing it to the world and just wasn't ready to fully committ to it...even though we weren't considering any other name for her. I like the name because it's not too girly but is very cute. I can picture a spunky, blonde little girl named Taylor running around and it makes me smile.

A friend from work reminded me that I haven't posted a belly picture since I was 21 weeks. I kept forgetting to take one, until last night! Here I am at 28 weeks along (over 6 months) in the nursery along with some update nursery shots...it's coming right along!







We ordered this rug last week and it already came in, I am really happy with it. You can see a lot of baby clothes on the changing table that we have already gotten! Part of me wants to put them away in the dresser, and part of me just wants to leave them out because they are just so darn cute. I think I'll leave them out for a little longer. :)

With my growing belly I am in need of XL tshirts for working out and just lounging around in. Most of my tshirts (and I have a ton) are large, and those just aren't cuttin' it anymore. I could wear those but really need more wiggle room...I have never been a fan of uber tight shirts to workout in. I've got a couple of XL that I have kept on a steady rotation. But this morning I had to ask JT in a pathetic voice "Do you have any x-large t shirts I can use?". He starts pulling some out and holding them up to me, settling on one of his old Centenary Tennis shirts that has seen better days...actually all of his tshirts have seen better days. So, that's what I wore today for my workout.

Lately, all my workouts consist of is walking uphill for 30 minutes (varying the hilly-ness and speed) or lifting light weights. It's weird to me that people think that I am weird for still working out. Like my doctor told me, you're pregnant not disabled (I had asked her if I could still play golf after a co-worker told me that I probably shouldn't). I can get around just fine and feel somewhat normal most of the time, so why shouldn't I get some exercise? I don't want to loose my stength or endurance, especially come delivery time.

Things around the Cope home are going to change dramatically come December, so I guess I should start small with changing my workout wardrobe. Not quite the same, huh?

I am almost 28 weeks along now, with nothing really noteworthy to report. I am feeling pretty good overall except the occasional back ache and cramping. All is well on the homefront!

We had a baby shower at our house for our good friends Mari and Dustin on Sunday. We had a great turnout and some good food! There was 4 of us girls that helped host it, everyone brought something different...so we had a lot of food/drinks to choose from. Tara made an incredible diaper cake from cloth diapers! They got a lot of good loot for the little one on the way. They are expecting a boy in early November...

Or so we thought. I got a text message yesterday after work that Mari's water broke at 2:00 in the morning. They had been at the hospital all day trying to stop the labor and make sure the baby was OK. They gave her several doses of steroids to help the baby's lungs to develop and to stop the labor. She is a good two months early and baby weighs 3 pounds 5 ounces as of now. All is going well now and now it's just a waiting game. Mari will stay in the hospital until she has the little guy, which could be days or weeks. There is no doubt that he will be early though, just don't know how early. I went up to the hospital last night and everyone is doing fine. Please keep Mari, Dustin and baby boy Phillips in your prayers!

Here are some pictures from the shower on Sunday, it was a great time!

I still can't believe how fast this pregnancy is going by! Tomorrow is the first day of my 3rd trimester! Things in the Cope household is going well, still just getting things ready for the baby's arrival. We had the pipes in our backyard replaced last week as we found out the pipes are the original ones that have been there since 1945 and they needed to be replaced. They also had to replace the gas water heater line as well...and that meant NO HOT WATER... for a WEEK! Taking cold showers got old, real fast. I am just glad we did that before the baby arrives and not after! We would have to drive to someone's house and mooch off them for hot water. I can just see myself peering in the door of my parents house saying softly, "Mommy..."

I have been feeling pretty good. My lower back has started to hurt, but that could be because I was painting our old dresser for the baby and contorted my body to reach the bottom. J.T. made some comment on my back hurting I told him to "strap some extra weight around his belly and see how good his back feels". He stopped talking after that.

I am pretty sure I have had Braxton Hicks contractions too, let me tell you those are FUN (note the sarcasm). BH contractions are considered "false labor" and the cause is really unknown, but they are your body's way of getting ready for real labor. They don't have a pattern and usually go away fairly quickly.

Another thing I am trying to get used to is not being able to get my lazy butt off the couch as easily as before. J.T. just laughs (and helps...sometimes) when he sees me struggling to squirm off - usually to go to the bathroom. Ahh, the joys of pregnancy :)

I feel her kicking me more and more each day, which is just awesome. She also kicked J.T. when he gave my stomach a zerbert! Not sure if that was attitude she is already giving or a love tap for her Daddy. You decide.