26.5 weeks!

26.5 WEEKS!!

Size of the baby: Length of a cucumber (and just over 2 pounds!)

Total weight gain: About 13 pounds

Maternity clothes: Yes! And even though it is hard to find them, they are so comfortable! How will I ever go back to non-stretch waistbands..ha!

Gender: GIRL! Paisley Annette Hayes

Movement: VERY squirmy still!

Sleep: I have been sleeping a lot better- the heartburn has gotten a little better and I've learned to not drink a lot of water past 8pm.

What I miss: Having a greater wardrobe selection!

Cravings: Muffins and salads...random, I know!

Symptoms: Lots of back pain this week and the heartburn and indigestion

Best moment this week: REGISTERING! It was so fun to go register and pick out cute things for our little girl. In fact, Jonathan had a little TOO much fun with the gun.

The proud papa at Babies-R-Us

BUSTED! This is one of many instances where I caught he putting some 'Daddy picks' on the registering. Thank goodness for online editing! I got home to find we had a fast pitch softball, a baseball bat, a Nerf gun, and a children's book called "My Little Blue Truck." I think he is out to make our princess a tomboy!

And lastly, I had to share this ADORABLE dress that came in today that I ordered from Zulily. I LOVED smocked dresses and could not resist this precious one! (Don't worry- I'll be ironing it before next summer!) I also ordered some great, cheap hair bows finally that I can't wait to come in!

Do you Zulily? It's a dangerous site with adorable new stuff everyday! If you aren't already a member, you MUST join- cute stuff for great prices and there are new brands every day.

Here is your invite... http://www.zulily.com/invite/bhayes701

25.5 Weeks!

25.5 WEEKS!!

Size of the baby: Length of an eggplant (about 2 pounds!)

Total weight gain: I definitely know I am over 10 pounds but I haven't gotten on a scale in awhile. Birthday week and lots of good food=no bueno!

Maternity clothes: Yes! Mainly all. I still wear some of my own tops and dresses but maternity pants are a must! And contrary to this week's picture, I do not just wear maxi dresses all the time but they are very comfy right now!

Gender: GIRL! Still so excited! I can't wait for hair bows! Can you believe I haven't bought one yet though?!

Movement: We are still VERY active which I love! I think she knew it was mommy's birthday week and has been partying it up!

Sleep: Each week= more pillows...ha! This week I have also been combating some nasty indigestion and heartburn which has but a little damper on the sleep!

What I miss: My body...ha! Not that it was great but I miss clothes fitting right. It is all worth it though!!

Cravings: I haven't had any major cravings this week. In fact, I still can't decide where Jonathan and I are going to go for my birthday date tomorrow night!

Symptoms: Lots of back pain this week and the heartburn and indigestion

Best moment this week: Oh I can't pick just one!...Seeing pink walls be painted in the nursery and celebrating my birthday. Jonathan got me a 'Paisley' charm for my necklace and a small video camera and my parents got us a new photo camera so we are officially ready to document every second of her life!

Paisley- Momma loves you already and CANNOT believe we will be meeting you in less than 15 weeks! My next year's birthday will be even more special because we will have you!

SUYL- Monica!

I am SO excited about today!...I am a HUGE fan of Kelly's Korner blog and participated in SUYL Singles last time with my brother, Blaine!

This time around I could not pass up the opportunity to showcase one of my best friends, Monica who I am ALWAYS on the lookout for a good guy to fix her up with. And I don't even know where to start describing Monica or what an amazing person she is.

She is the all around package guys! Monica is a beautiful 25 year old woman who lives in Central Arkansas. She is a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University where she recieved her business degree. She now works for a revenue consulting company. She is a little business woman and looks super cute in her business wear everyday! This girl already is very sucessful and I can only imagine where life is going to take her.

Her hobbies include going to concerts, trying out great restaurants, spending time with friends, going to movies, reading, and she enjoys the occasional trashy reality tv (what girl doesn't?!). She is a big family person and loves her Momma (which I think says A LOT about a person). She is also a volunteer and Board Member with Bethany Christian Services. Her passion adoption, for volunteering and giving back are unbelievable. (Also, fun side note-I must mention she is known for her amazing poof-ed hair ;)

She is also very involved in her church and above all else, her passion for Christ shines in who she is and all she does.

I can speak most about her as a friend. I mentioned that Monica is one of my very best friends and a reason she is one of my best friends is because of the kind of person she is- she is SO loyal, so thoughtful, and just a joy to be around. I know she would do anything for me and is always honest with me which I think speaks a lot about a person. She is also just as beautiful inside as she is out! She is one of my favorite people (and I know she'll be one of Paisley's favorites too!).

I have high standards for this girl so if you think you are or know of a guy worthy of dating this amazing woman, let me know and LET'S MAKE A MATCH!

23.5 Weeks!

23.5 WEEKS!!

Size of the baby: About the size of an ear of corn (1.5 pounds)

Total weight gain: About 10 pounds (yikes!)


Maternity clothes: Yes! Mainly all. I still wear some of my own tops and dresses but maternity pants are a must!


Gender: It's a GIRL! I still can't believe it when I say that and get excited all over again! Paisley Annette Hayes


Movement: Oh my word...I think we may have a rowdy one on our hands! She was moving so much last night we couldn't stop laughing because it looked like she was going to burst through my stomach at any moment- it was crazy! But her Daddy and I sure love to lay in bed at night and feel her kick- it sure is special.


Sleep: I'm finally sleeping pretty well. I have found my 'happy place'... sleeping on my left side with two pillows under my head and another between my legs.

What I miss: Feeling 'normal'. I have been blessed to have a great pregnancy where I have felt great but lately back pain has been giving me fits and some of my joints have been hurting. I feel like an arthritic old woman..ha! Oh, and I do miss laying out this summer- I am WHITE!

Cravings: This week it has been all about SWEETS! I craved chocolate chip cookies one night and yogurt another night!
Symptoms: Mainly just the back pain and occasional achy joints!

Best moment this week: A great doctor's appointment and getting to hear that beautiful little heartbeat again! Also, getting to celebrate Jonathan's first Father's Day. He got a onsie that said "Daddy's Princess" and Steven Curtis Chapman's book "Cinderella".

In other exciting news....the nursery is going to start getting painted this weekend (thanks to that handsome man pictured above)! I am SO excited to see it come together! We have bedding and furniture order and even some special pieces being built by Paisley's Pops! I can't wait to share the finished product!

Baby Habit Giveaway and TOMORROW!

I know...I've been a bad blogger! I just can't begin to tell you all how crazy life has been! I will fill you in though that things will be slowing down and I vow to be a better blogger! I am definately getting a 'bump' and most importantly...TOMORROW we find out what the baby is! I cannot even begin to express how excited I am to find out! Do I care what it is? No, I honestly just want a healthy baby but it makes me happy just knowing I get to see my little one tomorrow and be able to call it by name and say he or she!

My friend Jennifer is hosting a giveaway on her precious blog and it is for a great baby site, The Baby Habit so I had to join in since I will be needing LOTS of baby stuff soon!

There are so many cute things on this site!

If I find out girl tomorrow, these are a must have...

How cute are those?

And either girl or boy I love these personalized burb cloth sets...

Go check out Jennifer's blog and see the oh-so-cute Brody and Jillian and go check out the cute stuff at The Baby Habit.

I am planning a small gender party tomorrow night for us to reveal the sex so be sure and check back for the BIG NEWS :)

BOY OR GIRL?

I mentioned in my last post that I had done a few 'Old Wives Tale' Gender Predictions. Here are some of the results I thought I would share for fun....

Urine test: By observing the color of your urine- if it is neon yellow or a dull yellow. Mine was neon in color which indicates BOY!

Morning sickness: They say that little girls make their mama's sick and I had NO morning sickness which indicates BOY!

Soft or dry skin? Mine has been extremely dry which indicates BOY!

Are you craving citrus? YES! I have been buying orange juice like CRAZY which indicates GIRL!

Have you felt glowing or less than beautiful and had lots of breakouts? I have been breaking out like a teenager and feeling less than my best. They say the baby is 'stealing your beauty' which indicates GIRL!

Heartbeat indicator: Both our heartbeats were pretty fast which is said to be an indicator of a GIRL!

Craving fruit or meat? I would have to go with fruit which is an indicator of GIRL!

Pendullum test (which my boss swares by): Indicated a GIRL and for my next child a BOY!

Dreams- I've heard opposite things on this. Some have said that whatever a mother thinks, it is because mother always knows. Others have said that you have opposite of what you have been dreaming about. I'm not sure but I have felt and dreamed nothing but BOY!

I just thought I would share some of these silly tests. Do any of you have tests you've heard of? What do you think it is going to be? 23 days until we find out!!

13 Weeks! (sorry I missed 12...)

Okay...so my life has been CRAZY and I am not as great as this blogging thing as I thought I would be. Once I survive April, things will be SO much less hectic. April is full of birthdays, meetings, showers, and...I am co-chairing a HUGE fundraiser on April 30th (more to come soon) which is consuming much to all of my free time.

The above picture is not the greatest as it is taken from the Iphone but I do have a new camera at the top of my birthday wish list for when Baby Hayes gets here! I also feel like it is misleading- the flowy top makes me look like I have WAY more of a bump than I do!

Pregnancy Highlights-

How far along: About 13.5 weeks now! (Baby is the size of a lemon now)

Weight Gain: 1.5 pounds! I thought I was doing bad but that reassured me this week!

Gender: Come on May 13th! I'm still feeling boy but Jonathan swears it's a girl. I did some fun Old Wives Tales Predictions this week that I will share soon! Don't forget to vote on the poll on the right...looks like more people are agreeing with Jonathan!

Movement: I was laying in bed one night and I think I felt my first 'flutter'! It was SO amazing!

Sleep: I am trying to train myself to sleep on my side because I am a stomach sleeper and it has really kept me tossing and turning lately! I don't know what I am going to do!!

What I miss: My work pants fitting comfortably :)

Cravings: This week it has been eggs and orange juice...and still jelly beans!

Symptoms: This week it has been the random food cravings, back pain, and back to going to the bathroom constantly!

Worst Moment of the Week: I got sick with Strep Throat which landed me on antibiotics and a day and a half off work spent in bed. I just get so nervous taking medications and running a fever while pregnant.

Best Moment of the Week: Feeling my first flutter...pretty cool!