Baby Gardiner Update

On Monday we went to get an ultrasound to measure the baby. He is still measuring at 35 weeks (which is what I measured at 3 weeks ago...so he's only 3 weeks bigger instead of 6 weeks). So we are kind of catching up to where he should be. He looked so big in the ultrasound! His head measurements are off the charts and he has long legs. Based on his measurements, the ultrasound estimated that his current weight is 4 pounds, 12 ounces (about a pound bigger than average), and estimated due date was January 20th. My official due date has not changed from February 4th, but I'm going to be ready for him to come early anyway!

Here are a few pictures from our ultrasound at 31weeks and 5 days:

We have also been using the small pieces of free time we have to work on the nursery. James has put a lot of work into assembling the crib, painting the walls, and putting up this cute border. James did all of this a while back as a surprise to me. He is so wonderful! We are going with a safari theme and I absolutely love it. I think the baby decorations are more for the parents than the kid! I think it's just something that is a part of the experience that helps you to feel connected with the baby while getting ready for him.
James and I are both excited for the semester to be over. I turned in my final project to complete my Master's program and I should be graduating on Saturday, the 19th! I am so excited and relieved that I am finally done. A lot of hard work has gone into this program and I feel so grateful to have had the opportunity to gain the knowledge and experience that I have so far. And we are also so excited that James now only has one year left for his Bachelor's! He has been working so hard and making good grades, I am so proud of him! He is so much more diligent at studying than I ever was.

We can't wait to celebrate the holidays with our families and look forward to the upcoming events of 2010!!!

Thanksgiving Break

Well we had a great Thanksgiving break! I got to spend a lot of time in San Antonio with my family and had a friend from Virginia, Jackie, come and visit me!

Thanksgiving day was great. Lots of great food and family. It was nice to spend time with family that I don't get to see as often as I'd like and hang out with my siblings. We watched the UT/A&M game that evening and BOY, was it exciting! Everyone was surprised at how well A&M played. It was the most yards in history during an A&M/UT game...there was constant action on the field. In the end, A&M was outscored but it was still a great game.

Friday the girls went and ventured out for Black Friday. We just got a few things at Kohl's but decided to call it a day after that. You had to wait an hour and fifteen minutes just to check out! How insane!

Later I showed Jackie a little around town and we went back and relaxed at my parent's house. James went to Bastrop for the day to hang out at his parent's ranch. Later that night we saw "Old Dogs" at the movies in the Quarry Market. It was a pretty funny movie and we had fun walking around and getting ice cream nearby.

Saturday my mom, me, and Jackie went to downtown San Antonio for some sightseeing. We went to the Menger hotel, the Alamo, and got a horse drawn carriage ride around downtown! I had never done that before and it was really awesome. We got to see a lot of neat stuff. We ate dinner on the Riverwalk at Rainforest cafe and then walked around to see the Christmas lights on the river. It was beautiful!

Sunday we went to church and Jackie finished up the baby blanket she had started crocheting for the baby. It is super cute! I need to take a picture of it to post online. Baby Gardiner sure is lucky to have all of these people who care about him!

Sunday evening we decorated the Christmas tree at my parent's house with Pat and Melanie. I love decorating the Christmas tree. It is one of my most favorite traditions. We always have lots of funny stories that we recall--things we did as kids, funny moments, etc. Dad always tries to taunt me by putting his UT ornaments front and center on the tree, haha.

I am so glad we had such a fun and relaxing Thanksgiving break. I really needed it! I have been so stressed out and tired lately. Now I just have to muster up enough energy to finish the final project for my master's program, and then I will be done! I'll get a little breather before the baby comes. I can't wait to graduate and then get to see our little guy!