Houston Shower

Last weekend, Drew's aunts hosted the sweetest shower for me and Charlotte. It was honestly the best weekend I have had in awhile. My sister, Amy and niece Kaitlyn, drove in from Corpus and Mom drove in from Seguin and they all met me at school... They got to see me teach and meet my students. After school, we ran some errands and went to dinner. That night we set up most of the nursery! It was so fun to have all of this girl time... I haven't had that in quite awhile. It was also fun to show them all of the wonderful things we've been getting for Charlotte in the mail and things we've bought and put together. The nursery is almost complete... pictures to come soon :)

The next day, we all got ready for the shower. We headed over to Drew's aunt's house where my mother-in-law and sister-in-law and my other sister, Katherine, were there waiting to help get the party started! All of my guests started arriving. It was such a nice group of women who definitely spoiled Charlotte! I invited some friends from school, Junior League, Bible Study, Bunco and some of Drew's friend's wives. I felt so blessed that day to have so many sweet friends in my life here in H-town.

After the shower, we headed back to the house and my mother-in-law and sister-in-law spent the night too. More girl time! It was the best! Even Lucy loved having all of this girl time... I have to mention that Drew went to Corpus for the weekend for opening dove season. He was glad to be out of the house with all of this estrogen :)

Sunday rolled around and I shed some tears privately when everyone went home because I didn't want any of it to end. I wish that all my family lived closer and in the same city. I miss them so much.

Next event on the agenda... my DOUBLE baby shower with my BFF Gina (check our her cute blog!). We are both having GIRLS and our best friends from high school are throwing this darling baby shower for us. Two more weeks!

Here are some of my favorites from the Houston shower:

Me and Drew's aunts... sweet hostesses (Mitzi & Lana)

My Girls! My sisters, Katherine & Amy, my niece Kaitlyn and my Mama




Kenedy got Charlotte Tri Delt bloomers :)

Baby Bullet...homemade baby food, here we come!



My Mom gave me another treasure chest filled with treasures!
Old and New... This was my homecoming outfit I wore
when I came home from the hospital... Charlotte will wear it
too along with my bonnet and little pink shoes :)

There was also my baby jewelry, a nightie for me and Charlotte to wear in the hospital, and the baby blanket my grandmother made for me that I was swaddled in to come home from the hospital in (Charlotte will too!) Sweet treasures, I will treasure!

Baby Aidan due in January, Baby Charlotte in November and Baby William in October... Charlotte will have lots of little boyfriends soon :)

Sweet teachers from my school! Tamara & Tori

My adorable friend Kenedy! She is not only a good friend but a sorority sister and even sometimes like a real sister, Charlotte can't wait to meet her Aunt Dede!

Drew's family... Aunt Mitzi, Drew's cousin Laci, Drew's sister Codi, Drew's mom and Aunt Lana

Charlotte's Grandmothers... Her Grammy (my Mama) and her Grandma (mother-in-law)

Maternity Pictures

I could not have been happier with our beautiful maternity pictures that we took a couple of weeks ago. There were so many wonderful shots that the incredible Aubrey Torrey took! We headed over to the Outdoor Learning Center here in Katy... it was the perfect location. The amazing thing is that 5 minutes after taking the last shot, (the incredible sillouette), it starting pouring down rain. God answered my prayers that day in holding off the rain until we were done.

Here are some of my absolute favorites!

 

 

 

3D/4D Sonogram

Today was such an exciting day! We finally got to do our 3D/4D sonogram. Drew and I couldn't wait to get a glimpse of what our daughter actually looks like. It was a little tricky because she loves to keep her hands in front of her face and constantly squirm. But we did manage to get some images.

I love her sweet little cheeks (they are chubby like I imagined!) and her precious little lips! Her nose... I'm not quite sure about that one. We'll have to see when she actually arrives who it really looks more like. 9 more weeks sweet girl (or less!) :)

Sweet Charlotte,
Mommy cannot wait to meet you! Keep growing healthy and strong. I love feeling your little kicks and rolls. I don't think I'll ever tire of feeling you. It's a constant reminder of what a little miracle you really are. I dream about the moment when I get to hold you for the first time and shower you with love and kisses. I pray that you are smart, kind and more importantly love everyone. You are such a blessed little baby.

I love you,
Mommy

Look at those precious chubby cheeks!

Button nose

Full precious lips!

Kissing your hand :) I can't wait to read one of my favorite books to you... The Kissing Hand

Third Trimester... Large & In Charge!

I can't believe that I'm already 31 weeks and in my third trimester. Time is flying by so fast it's almost as if you blink it's soon going to be over and I will no longer be pregnant but holding my sweet sweet girl.

Since my last post, lots of things have been happening in the Dueitt house. Such as:

1. We have the nursery ALMOST complete!! We have all the furniture assembled and we are waiting now on the bedding from my Mom (she will bring it on Friday!) Yippee! We still need to hang pictures, wall hangings, etc and get the wicker rocking chair cushions recovered.

2. Nesting has officially set in! I have been cleaning the house like a mad woman and scheduling: pest control, a carpet cleaner, a maid to come DEEP clean, and decorating for fall. I just love FALL! And it's super exciting that I won't decorate my house again until AFTER Charlotte gets here!! So crazy!

3. I started back to work... BOO on that one. I do have to say that it is making the time go by faster and when you work with a fabulous team who've become some of your best friends... it's not really that bad. I just am SO TIRED all the time and literally out of breath. Some days are harder than others but I just take it day by day. Luckily, my class is the BEST I've ever had so it makes things easier.

4. I'm getting larger... larger... and larger. Technically, I've only gained about 12/13 lbs which is unbelievable to me, since I thought I was already closer to 20 but wow, I guess I am doing great :) My doctor said I could drink milkshakes and have dessert and not feel guilty... umm wish I had known that so I could have indulged more :)

5. A couple weeks ago we went to Louisiana for Drew's cousin's wedding reception and I ended up with food poisoning and had to be admitted to the ER because I was severely dehydrated and we were worried about baby girl. Everything turned out okay and it was scary but I'm fine and she is too :)

6. I'm now going to the doctor every 2 weeks. It's so fun! I LOVE going to the doctor. In fact, we just had our 3D/4D sonogram and video... (next post!)

7. We had our maternity pictures with the AMAZING Aubrey Torrey Photography. She's posted 2 pictures as a sneak peek on FB but I can't wait until she posts more on her blog. Hopefully soon I can share with all of you her amazing work. I just love them already!

8. Drew and I are counting down the days for our sweet girl to arrive... only a few more weeks baby girl. Technically 9 but I'm secretly hoping she comes a little early. I can't wait to hold her. My impatience is setting in and I dream about the moment when I get to meet my little girl.

My 2nd baby shower is this coming Saturday. I'm so excited and blessed to have wonderful family members on my side & Drew's that love spoiling us. I will blog all about it once it happens. More importantly, I'm excited for all my family to be in town celebrating. My two sisters, my  niece, Mom, mother in law, and sister in law will all be here this weekend... seriously. can't. wait!

A Giggle, A Curl...A Sweet Little Girl! First Grade Team Baby Shower

My amazing first grade team hosted my very first baby shower this past Saturday. I was looking forward to this day for so long. They've been working so hard secretly to make this perfect for me and Baby Charlotte. It turned out amazing!

My Mom and Mother-in-law were able to come in town and my sister Katherine and niece Becca drove over from Baytown. It was so special to have some family there. I also invited my closest friends from school. It was a wonderful turn out and I got some really amazing things. It's really making Charlotte's arrival seem real now that I know I will be using these gifts with her. :) Here are some fun pictures from the shower.

Welcome Table with Party Favors

Delicious Food

LOVED this! My friend who hosted had a chalkboard wall in her kitchen so they were able to write this cute quote on the wall... "Charlotte... you will fill our lives with sunshine... And our hearts with LOVE."

They also had set up a "scrapbook station." Every guest would get to fill out and create a pre-made scrapbook page for all of Charlotte's first's. All I have to do is fill it with pictures when she reaches one of her "firsts." There was "First Thanksgiving" "First Christmas" "First Bath" "First Vacation" "First Mother's Day" all the way until her her "First Birthday" What a special gift and cute idea! I can't wait to document her first life :)

My amazing team/hostesses
Corali, Kristi, Jeannette, Me, Cassie & Tori

Charlotte's two Grandmother's were there to help shower her with love :)
My Mother-in-Law and Mama

Me with my cute glass filled with delicious raspberry punch! Mmm!

Opening presents!

One of my favorite gifts was this trunk from my Mama. Inside was filled with blankets, quilts, shoes and clothes that were made for ME by my Grandmother that was given to my Mama at her baby shower when she was expecting me. How special it was to receive all of this and how special it will be for me to use with Charlotte. She has many treasures that will be passed down to her.

All of my presents! Clothes, diapers, toys, Baby Bjorn, Snug-a-bunny Bouncer, bottles, nipples, pacifiers & bows :)

My cute diaper cake that Kristi made! I don't want to take it apart.

Last but not least... another favorite gift! My friend Laura made this adorable wreath to hang on the hospital door to add decor and Charlotte's information when she is born. Later it will hang in her room and maybe be a future bow hanger... until now it's hanging on the crib.

I also wanted to mention that not only did my sweet Mother-in-law and Mama came in town but my wonderful Dad came too! While we were getting ready for the shower and for the weekend my SWEET Dad helped Drew put together the gorgeous crib, changing table, and install/hang the chandelier in the nursery. It's really starting to look like a baby girl's room but I don't want to post any pictures until the room is almost complete. We still have a long way to go... but I'm getting so eager to spend time in there with my precious little angel. I often love to sit in there rocking Lucy imagining rocking Charlotte. Three more months to go.... yippee!!

Second Trimester... Feeling GREAT!!

My second trimester has been a whirwind as well. It's been smooth sailing, no complaints, feeling wonderful and of course... growing :)

I was so relieved to hit the 12 week mark because after 12 weeks my morning sickness and other issues I was having were completely gone. I could now sit back and enjoy watching my belly grow and anticipate the first time feeling her move.

Since we knew it was a girl, it was so fun to begin to call the baby "her" "she" "baby girl" and of course "Charlotte." I began looking at bedding, cribs, changing tables, rocking chairs, and decor to start the process of putting her nursery together. We ordered all of the furniture during this second trimester period and most recently it has arrived and we've began to put it all together. Pictures will be posted once room is completely finished :)

My entire second trimester was during this summer so I couldn't complain on how I was feeling but I did complain of the heat. It was SUPER hot and carrying an extra little body in your body doesn't make it any easier to cool off. I did a lot of swimming and staying in doors catching up on good reads.

I also took a trip for work to NYC for a week to study at the Reading Insitute at Teacher's College, Columbia University. Going 20 weeks pregnant to NYC... I wouldn't recommend but it was a life changing experience. It also led me up to the east coast closer to my BFF Gina who had just moved to Charlottesville, VA. Since she is pregnant as well and I've been missing her so much, I flew from NYC to VA for a few days to visit, see her new home and city and of course... talk BABY TALK! We had so much fun and I will forever remember that special trip of visiting her. She has been my bestest friend since our freshman year in high school. We've shared everything together! From living in the same neighborhood, making the cheerleading squad together after our freshman year, both pledging Tri Delt in college and then planning our weddings pretty close to one another... we are now sharing the most amazing experience of all... Motherhood! I was completely thrilled when she returned from her long trip to Europe with her hubby that they were expecting as well and not only that 5 WEEKS after me!!! At the time of visiting her, we didn't know what she was having but now we know... and we have one more thing to share... we will have two beautiful girls that will hopefully grow up to be best friends as well.

20 Weeks and 16 Weeks

Once I came back to Texas I was able to go and visit my oldest friend that I've known. Mary and I have been friends since we were going into the first grade. She lived across the street from me growing up and she is almost like a sister. We've gone from being childhood friends, to planning our weddings together, to now motherhood. She just had her first baby July 3rd and it was a beautiful baby girl. Noelle Elizabeth Frady. I spent two days visiting her and we had so much fun reminicing our childhood and imagining our little girls one day playing with our dolls while we watch :)

Meeting Noelle for the first time... she was only 2 weeks old

Her precious little expressions... or as Mary calls it, "talking to the angels" :)

After literally traveling and being away from home for 3 weeks, I was due for my 4th doctors appt. This was supposed to be my 20 week appt where they go over all of the organs, body systems, check gender again, and make sure everything is forming correctly. Since I had been traveling, this was technically 22 weeks for me. The appt was on July 16th. Everything was perfect! It was an *extra* special appt again because not only did Drew come but my Mom was able to come and see Charlotte moving on the screen. We were so thrilled to see our baby girl for the 4th time and hear her beautiful little heart beating.

22 Weeks, our little Charlotte

Around 18 weeks, I felt Charlotte kick and move for the first time it wasn't very strong and no one could feel it but me but as the weeks have continued I have felt her even more. She is now kicking daily and Drew felt her for the first time after returning from my traveling. My other family members have also started to feel her kick. I just fall in love with her even more every time I feel her.

As summer is coming to an end, so is my second trimester. I had my last appt (5th in my pregnancy) last week on August 14th (and last appt during 2nd trimester!) It was my glucose appt where I had to drink a sugary mixture to test my blood sugar levels for gestational diabetes. Luckily, I passed and can continue to eat dessert & sweets. Did I mention that I constantly crave desserts & sweets??? They are my new best friends! But in moderation of course :)

I will now be entering in my third and last trimester next week! I cannot believe how fast it has flown by. I will now go to the doctor every two weeks up until the last month when I will go every week. School begins next Monday and I just had my very first baby shower on Saturday (more later on it!) Fun and exciting times are ahead but I always want to remember these last 6 months because they truly have been life changing and the most amazing experience of my life. Only 3 more months until our sweet little girl will be here. We can't wait!!

Growing... Growing... and Growing!

Weeks 10-16

Weeks 18-22



Weeks 23-26