The Cotton Family

I can't believe I am already considered full-term! It has really gone by so fast! We have been really busy trying to get things around the house ready...clothes washed, last stuff hung up in the nursery, assembling things...it's been a whirlwind! I forgot to post a 36 week picture so here it is...

36 weeks!

At 35 weeks I started to have some pretty strong Braxton-Hicks contractions. They put me on the monitors and they were coming about every 10 minutes so my Dr. decided to put me on some medication that would keep the contractions down to a minimum. He only gave me enough pills to make it to week 37, in which case, if Easton decided to come anytime after 37 weeks then we will let him! I have been off the medication for 2 days now and am still having the Braxton-Hicks contractions, some are more painful than others, but they definitely aren't true labor contractions yet. Today I am 37 wks. 1 day and I had another appt. this morning. He said that he has "dropped" more into my pelvis and is head down, ready to go. "So far, you are batting 1000!" were his exact words. He uses a lot of sport analogies...I guess that's what happens when you have a male OB! He did not check my cervix because he did not see any signs that I would be dilated quite yet, so maybe next week. But as for now, Easton is comfy where he is!

2 weeks ago our wonderful friend, Todd, took some Maternity pictures for us. They turned out really great! Here are a few of our favorites...







Didn't he do a wonderful job!!! We took some in the nursery and some in Piedmont Park, right around where we got married! There are a ton more really great shots but he hasn't given me all the digital files quite yet so maybe I can upload more later :)

I will keep everyone posted on Baby Easton's progress. Thank you for all the prayers and support! We are excited and ready to embark on this amazing journey into parenthood! xo

34 weeks!

That's not exactly the greatest picture of myself, but it was taken right after I got back from the gym and realized that I hadn't taken a 34 week picture...it will do :) As you can see, Easton is growing fast and seems to be nestled in one little spot, right in the middle of my belly! He is still as active as ever! I can't really tell what body parts are what, but I can definitely tell where his little feet are! I had my 34 week appointment and he said everything looked great, his heartbeat was around 155 bpm and I am measuring 33.5 cm, which is normal! At 36 weeks I will start going to the Doctor every week as we start to prepare for delivery!!! Raine and I are definitely getting excited! Although I still have a little work to do in the nursery and have quite a bit of stuff to still buy, I'm beginning to get into nesting mode and we are moving in the right direction.

I had a second Baby Shower, in Atlanta this time, thrown by some really great girlfriends! The decor was perfect, the food was amazing and we got some really great stuff for Easton! Here are some pictures from the day...

Me with the wonderful Hostesses!

Duncan and Laura enjoying Mimosas

Alicia and Duncan

Another awesome Diaper Cake

 

Yogurt station...LOVED this!

Food table

Baby carriage out of watermelon, so cute!

Posing with the food :)

Me and Jodi

Alex and I

Staci, Cheryl, Laura and Alex enjoying the food

Aimee, Stephanie, Jodi, and Shawn enjoying the food

AU hat!

Such a cute bib...love it!

Got a start on Easton's library, with a classic!

Moses basket!

Much needed Diaper Genie!

That night...the boys cooked us a yummy dinner!

The only time Laura will ever wear anything AU! :)

Thanks to everyone who made that day so special! Raine and I are definitely feeling the love and support as we embark on this new chapter in our lives! We can't wait to meet Baby Easton...only 5.5 weeks to go :)

Sorry it has been awhile since I last posted, we've been busy preparing for Easton's arrival! I have started going to the Dr. every 2 weeks now, so I had an appointment last Tuesday, at week 32. He said that everything was going great, his heart rate was completely normal, he measured my belly which was 32 centimeters at 32 weeks, right on time! And when he felt my belly, he said that he seems to be head-down. However, since that appointment he has been moving like crazy, so I'm not quite convinced he is still that way! It looks like I may have a little work-out buddy in the future :) I hope and pray he gets comfy in the head-down position, but time will tell! Baby Easton should be a little over 4lbs now and roughly 17 inches long. Only 7 weeks to go!

32 weeks

I feel like I look a little smaller in this picture than the previous one, but I assure you, it's just the shirt! Here is a picture of the nursery, a little further along. It's hard to get a full picture of the room because it's a rectangular shape, but when it's all done, I'll be sure to get quite a few more...


I do love how it is turning out...it's a lot of work but it's coming together, slowly but surely! I have an appointment on Tuesday, so I will let everyone know how that goes.

I had my first Shower a couple of weeks ago, given by some wonderful ladies that I have grown up with! Everything turned just perfect and I had such a great time, I can't thank them enough! Easton got some good stuff too...

Lots of monogrammed goodies and a "War Eagle" onesie

Cute Diaper Cake!

Thank You notes they had made to match the invitation...LOVE them!

Such an adorable cake!

Food table...yummy!

Got a boppy!

Jill, Page, Blair...a few of my faves!

My friend Janie is one talented girl...this onesie is adorable!

Easton's rainforest bathtub, I know he'll love it!

Isn't this onesie PRECIOUS!

My girls! :)

I had my 30 week Dr. appointment on Tuesday and everything went well. He said that he is measuring 2 centimeters behind schedule but he also said that is pretty normal. His heart rate was perfect and strong! Easton should be around 3lbs and about 15 inches long...about the size of a head of cabbage! He is still an active little booger and I can't tell his position at the moment, because I honestly thing he changes quite a bit. He definitely favors my left side...sometimes I feel like he is just balled up all on my left side. I definitely don't mind the karate chops and fist pumps...it makes me giggle. Raine loves to wake him up when he is quiet and push on him so he pushes back. It's cute :) I am still feeling great, still have energy, and still able to get into the gym quite a bit but I can't get nearly as good of a work-out in as before. The Dr. says I can continue my routine as long as its not uncomfortable, so hopefully I can last until the end...I can tell I sleep better when I am able to get even a short work-out in!

30 weeks!

Easton and I have our first Baby Shower in Greenville, SC this weekend...given by some great friends that I have grown up with! We are very excited!!! Raine is going to come with me because I am technically out of the "range" I should be traveling out of the area but it's only 1.5 hours away and its only for a night so I think we should be okay. I will be sure to post some pictures next week!

Have a good week everyone! xo

I can't believe I am already in the 3rd Trimester...it has definitely gone by fast! I had my 28 week check-up and my Glucose Challenge Test last Tuesday. Everything came back good and normal, so no gestational diabetes, Hooray! I will now start seeing the Dr. every 2 weeks instead of every 4 weeks. He told me that Easton is laying transverse or sideways right now. I  could already tell that because I can feel him on both the right and the left sides when he is moving around. He was breech at our last Ultrasound so I was a little concerned because I really want to avoid a c-section, however, the Dr. said he is not concerned at this point that he won't turn "head-down" by delivery...he is still so small that he has all kinds of room to move around. And he is as active as ever...which I am certainly thankful for, but sometimes his kicks and punches are just shocking! He should be around 2 1/4 lbs. right now and about 14.8 inches long! I am still feeling great, and still able to get into the gym about 5 days a week. Even though they all stare at me, and quite a few make comments about the fact that I am still going to the gym. It's amusing because most of the comments are from men...they are very curious about how far along I am, his name, etc.

28 Weeks

What else we have been up to...Well, we attended my 10 year High School Reunion (which I can't believe it has actually been 10 years) a couple weeks ago in Greenville, SC. It was a lot of fun to just hang out with some girlfriends that I don't get to see too often but it did prove my theory that Facebook seems to do away with the need for reunions...I knew what 90% of the people I saw there were up to and they knew just as much about my life. Raine was a good sport, luckily he knew most of my friends' husbands so he was entertained! All in all it was a good time, but I'm not sure I will go back to the 20 year Reunion...we'll see! :) Here are some pictures from the Reunion...

All my best friends from MHS...3 Preggos in the group!

That's all for now...Hope you all have a great weekend! xo

I tried to post these videos on my blog, but I think they were too large, so I had to upload them to YouTube and just post the link. They are too funny, they make us laugh every time we watch! I am so glad I was able to get him on video. I'm sure he'll love to see it someday :) Sorry the lighting is a little off, I'm usually laying on the couch when he is his most rambunctious!

24 weeks...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZVA90f0T7c

26 weeks...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIo2irn80ns

Have a great day! :)

Well, it's official...our baby boy will be named Easton Raine. I imagine that most of you already knew that because we have been pretty set on Easton to begin with, but I just wanted to make the official announcement. We have been calling him Easton for a few weeks now and we just think it's perfect for this RAMBUNCTIOUS little boy growing inside of me! He is quite strong right now and last week I was laying on the couch and I could have sworn he was doing somersaults for about 45 minutes, unfortunately Raine was in SC for the day but I was able to catch it on video! It's too large to upload from my phone so I will have to see if Raine can figure out how to get it uploaded, because it is pretty amazing to see!

25 weeks

There isn't a whole lot to report this week. I have been gathering things for the nursery but nothing else is done yet, so I will post some pictures after I finish a few projects I have in mind! My next mission is to find a glider/ottoman, crib mattress, rug, curtains...and much much more! My next appointment is July 5, where I will have to take my Glucose Challenge test to see if have Gestational Diabetes. Also, it will be the first week of the 3rd Trimester...I can't believe it, it's going by too fast!