We welcome, Joanie Leigh

I have lots to blog about and catch up on . . . till then, I wanted to leave you with a few photos from the 'start' to Joanie's Newborn Session. I say 'start' because every time we 'start' a session, she poops or pees or spits up EVERYWHERE. She's a gassy lil' thing!


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Joanie Leigh  //  9.19.12   //  8lb 6oz  //  20in

Joanie Leigh  //  5 days new

Joanie Leigh  //  7 days new

38 weeks

At this point today, I have two more days until the arrival of Joanie Leigh. We are very excited . . . but very nervous. I have been physically drained. My Braxton Hicks Contractions are constant. They tend to stay between 6 and 10 minutes apart. Never consistent. I waddle everywhere. And typically when I walk or sit in an uncomfortable way, I get pains in both legs. I am emotionally challenged! Laugh. Don't mention the 'cry' word . . . or I will start. Not sure why. But Jess has asked me twice if I was about to cry and of course, the works turned on! Argh. Hormones. I have slept decent the past two nights, but I need to catch up from the last 5 weeks! Needless to say . . . I'm ready for a little bit of normalcy.


My 38 week appointment was on Thursday of this past week (hey, it's hard to keep updated).  I checked out fine! Baby girl is WAY down (of course). And I am 2 cm dilated. My weight gain is (so far this morning) a successful 27.5 lbs. Still proud! I have REALLY splurged the last couple days in the 'eating' department . . . whoops! But hey, I don't have much more time left for me to do that! Right? The doc. said my belly was measuring at 36 weeks vs. 38 but he thinks that's because she has already dropped.

*My goal is to walk into the hospital the day of our induction and already be 4 cm :) A girl can dream! We go in Wednesday morning at 6am to be induced! I'm a bit nervous, now that I know what induction is all about . . . and I am emotional about Houston. BUT I am more excited to meet Joanie and add to our lil' family.








Below is my 38 week photo. It's a few days past our 38 week mark.  It's hard to get someone to take my pic! Mostly, it's hard for me to get dressed to look decent. Laugh. It takes too long! Not to mention, this week most of my clothes have started to get too small. None of my dresses 'stretch' over the bump (well, I have two dresses). And I have several shirts that cover my belly fully. My belly usually pokes out the bottom! haha. I've refused to purchase any more maternity clothes since this is my last pregnancy . . . I can pass the wardrobe to someone else! j.

38 weeks, 3 days

Next post will be a photo of my Joanie Leigh + my last belly photo at 39 weeks! AH. I can't believe it's time!

7 days

Today marks our '7 days' till we meet Joanie . . . unless she comes on her own between now and then. Matt and I have been talking about how crazy time has flown. How it just seems like the other day we decided we even wanted to add another Billingsley Baby to our mix. And now . . . it's time for her to become a part of our family. AH. Enter freak out mode. But really. Where did the last 9+ months go?

I think that Matt and I are ready . . . Well, ya know . . . as ready as we can be. However, we aren't quite sure that our first born, Houston, is as ready as we want him to be! Sigh. One can wish. We have talked with Houston time and time again about us bringing a baby home to stay with us. He knows her room. He knows her toys. He knows her beds / swings / etc. He prays for her every night before bed.  He points to her in my tummy. I'm just not sure he 'gets' it. But then again, how do you prepare an almost 3 year old that a baby is coming to stay forever.

I'm not going to lie. I have had my 'melt downs' that my lil' boy isn't a lil' boy anymore. He's growing up so fast. And when reflecting on how fast the past 3 years have gone . . . I cry because I know Joanie Leigh's going to grow just as fast. Tear. I keep having to ground my self and not skip ahead. Matt mostly does that for me. Laugh. I always think in advance . . . and right now, I need to just keep my head in the moment!

SO, the next time I blog will be about my 38 week appointment (that's tomorrow) . . . and then . . . right at 39 weeks, we will deliver our first lil' girl! Till then!

Joanie Leigh's Room

Matt and I have finally finished her nursery . . . well, mostly! There are still a few things I can't decide upon OR a few things we still have left to do  (i.e. paint the ceiling baby pink + crown molding and rearrange a few things) BUT for the most part, this is it!