30 weeks

30 weeks with 9 more to go. I'm hoping for an Oct. 4th C-section date and should know next week what the exact date will be. Baby girl is taking a lot of iron from me these days and I've been trying to eat a lot more iron rich foods, as well as take a supplement. Being anemic has made me feel really rough some days, but others I have felt great. The lower back pain has definitely set in and my yoga teacher says that doing "cat/cows" and spinal balancing will help this. I'm thinking that a few good massages will help with my comfort level these next few weeks too.

I haven't posted anything about names yet because I've been all over the place with this. And there is a good chance I'll change my mind a few more times. I'm thinking that when this baby gets her and we meet her, then we'll be able to name her. All of the 1st names below are just names I like. Francis is my paternal Grandma and Noel is my maternal Great Grandpa (but it was pronounced Nole).

Elin Francis Smith

Linden Francis Smith

Elloise (Elle/Ellie) Francis Smith

Willow Noel Smith

Check out Buxton eating spaghetti with his fork. He ate a huge bowl of spaghetti that had all kinds of veggies hidden in the sauce. I was so proud of how well he did with his fork. And in the last week my heart has been especially overflowing with all the affection this little man has been giving me. He dishes out kisses constantly and hugs almost as often. I am such a happy Momma.

2nd nursery take 1

I am just now starting to make progress on the 2nd nursery and have the very beginning phase to share. Buxton's room is staying just as it is and baby girl is getting the room that used to be my office. My office is now in our guest room because there was plenty of space and because I couldn't designate another really large room to such a tiny person. I had a hard time with Buxton's nursery because the room is really big and all that space was overwhelming. So I thought the 2nd nursery would be easy cause it's such a small space. I was wrong. But I think I've finally developed the perfect plan to create a space that I love being in, that suits the baby's needs, and that Ben can actually fit in. Now that I have the plan, it's time for Ben to get to work on the dirty work.

This is the corner that the crib will go in. I'm getting a white Jenny Lind spindle for $100 thanks to a 20% off coupon from Babies R Us. I had a Jenny Lind as a baby so 2 checks for economical and nostalgic. The crib will go from the wall to exactly where that tiny door's hinge is. That tiny door goes to the attic so the cracks in the door need something covering them to keep out the hot and cold air.

This window will let the sun shine right in on the crib. I love sunlight so I'm happy about this, but some drapes with a blackout liner will definitely be purchased. Still deciding what these drapes will look like. I'm hoping a rocking chair will be a nice addition to this alcove. And Mom bought us a beautiful chandelier to hang where that awesome lightbulb on a string currently is.

View of the narrow doorway that needs paint and the horrible carpet that will get covered with new flooring. I took the door off to get a dresser in and may end up putting a different kind of door back on. I really want to do an additional screen door like we did for Buxton's room but I don't know if they make screen doors this small.

When you walk in the room and turn right there is a hallway type space with a slanted ceiling. I found a beautiful, modern, low to the ground crib that I was going to put under the slant but then I figured out that Ben would never be able to get her out of the crib easily. So we will probably put some shelving here for more storage if needed.

There is just enough room for Ben to stand straight and walk down the hall, if he hugs the wall.

And this is where the diaper changes will happen, and clothes will be stored. This dresser was my Mom's growing up. Behind the flowery fabric is a large storage space that I know will come in handy.

I hope to be back soon with photos of the new floor, paint and light fixture. Oh and a crib would be good. We're getting close to the 2 month count-down so you know I'm ready to get this nursery done!

And for good measure I had to share this pic of Buxton chowing down on his first ear of corn.

He loved it.

17 months, 28 weeks, and lots of change

At 16 months we began to notice a lot of new progress in Buxton's development. It was like his speech and fine motor skills went into overdrive. And it's been non-stop with him fearlessly climbing everything, running all over the place, and saying new words all the time. He can say over 10 words now, not all pronounced perfectly but well enough to know what he's saying. Of course along with this stage comes the whining and tantrums to get what he wants immediately. He is a really sweet boy though and so low maintenance that I know I can't possibly get another as easy as he is. He is constantly giving kisses, waving at strangers everywhere he goes and not an hour goes by that he's not laughing hysterically at something. He melts my heart with every smile. I've really enjoyed Buxton lately and being pregnant has forced me to have more down time this summer with him than I probably would have otherwise. The down time is when we really get to connect and interact. And it's also when I get random awesome shots of him like these below. We were just strolling around the backyard when he spotted an airplane, and the afternoon light just happened to be so perfect. I think these are my favorite of him so far because I captured his eyes in a way I always wanted to and have tried many times for.

I had to share this pic cause this is a typical Buxton expression. A little bit mischievous on top of a lot of sweetness.

Ben did a little "remodel" to the gazebo area because the grass that was under it started to turn to mud. So now there is black indoor/outdoor carpet on the ground with logs from the woods behind our house and pine straw to serve as the border.

Buxton will only eat blackberries when he picks them off the plant, which of course means they end up all over his clothes.

And finally, here I am at 28 weeks and carrying a 15 in long chinese cabbage. But if baby girl is anything like her brother there is a good chance she is larger than what Babycenter.com is predicting. I'm feeling VERY pregnant these days. The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of change as far as the growth of this baby. The 3rd trimester starts this week and even though time has flown by I'm getting more and more ready each day for this baby girl to be here. I'm so happy to report that I'm on track to meet my goal of gaining less than 30 lbs total. Swimming, walking, doing yoga regularly and holding off on the sweets has helped me meet this goal and I know I've fared much better in this heat wave because of it. This is a shot I took with the timer and I couldn't figure out how to make the camera focus on me instead of the yard!

a full, full weekend

Buxton's best bud, Wynnie, turned 2 on June 30th. I can't believe she is already 2. I remember her being born like it was yesterday and have truly loved every second of being with this sweet girl in the last 2 years. On Friday we went to the Webster's to celebrate Wynnie.

The homemade cupcakes were fabulous,

and all the kids had such a good time with each other.

Saturday morning Buxton and I headed to the mountains with Carla, Ed and Grace. Our first stop was the Blowing Rock parade.

My Mom was in the parade, on her horse, Secret!

Ben drove up after work on Saturday and joined us for a really yummy dinner of ribs and mac n cheese. On Sunday morning we went to Grandfather to see the animals and walk the swinging bridge.

We also went to the Hound Ears pool twice.

And decorated the golf cart for the picnic on on the golf course.

Hound Ears has a duck race every year for the 4th, but we NEVER even come close to winning.

We had 12 ducks in the race this year (out of 500) and out of 10 heats we didn't get a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd. Booo.

My beautiful niece, Grace.

On Monday Ben played golf while Carla, Ed, Buxton, Grace and I went to Hebron Rock Colony to hike and play in the water. Ed carried Buxton in our pack and Grace was quite the little climber/hiker. Buxton LOVED playing in the stream and throwing rocks in the water.

I don't have pics from Hebron cause getting my pregnant self down the trail and up the rocks was about all I could handle.

The grand finale to this wonderful weekend was the birth of Cooper Charles Gosline. Carla got a call from the birth Mom that she was headed to the hospital as they were driving down the mtn on Monday afternoon. They arrived in plenty of time to see the birth of their new son. He was almost 3 weeks early so that was as big of a surprise as finding out that he was a boy.

I drove straight to the hospital on my way home Tuesday to meet this sweet boy. He was 7 lbs, 19 inches with a full head of beautiful brown hair. Seriously his hair color is to die for. I love him so much already!