Nursery Pics

I realize that several of you guys have not been able to see BB's nursery so I decided I would post a few for you!

Oh October!

My favorite month of the year started with celebration and will end with celebration and has managed (as always) to keep us busy the entire time in between! The first Saturday of the month was made better by B.B.'s first baby shower hosted by dear friends, Resa Watson, Autumn Golob, and Carly Phillips.  It was a beautiful shower, a wonderful time, and a great reminder of the blessings in my life!  The very next weekend, I experienced those blessings all over again with a wonderful (and even bigger) second shower for our little one courtesy of Michelle and Debbie Brock and Celia Anderson.  I enjoyed seeing so many of our friends and family...many of whom I haven't seen in quite a while...and was humbled once again by the celebration of our newest addition.
Also during this busy month, the father-to-be celebrated his 33rd birthday! I wish I could say he did something super exciting for his last kid-free birthday, but I think his mind was on all the projects he hoped to get completed before this little one arrives--Project for October: replace the carpeted floor in the hall with hardwood! He has gotten to enjoy a new camera as the bigger celebration of his birthday and the fact that his beloved St. Louis Cardinals have made it to the World Series this year.  I think that was probably present enough for him (and his brother Matt, who we celebrated on October 13th!)
Tim finished the hall just.in.the.nick.time. before our 4th Annual Hallowine Party.  It was a bit smaller than previous years, though I have to say I was still happy with the outcome...given my current physical state!
Speaking of...I hit the 34 week mark on Tuesday and was measured today at the doctor's office at more like 35 weeks.  The aches and pains are definitely there, but the joy of feeling B.B. move around in his/her increasingly cramped quarters is worth it. On a daily basis, I hear that I just won't make it to December, which probably means I'll be a week late (at least!) Regardless, the most recent "bump" is pictured below with the many other photos from the month.  We will celebrate Tim's mother's birthday on the 30th and I will be 31 on the 31st---that's got to be lucky right?  At least it's a great way to end the best month of the year! 
Love to you all from our whole crew: Tim, Hillary, Rocky, Tillie (also an October baby-2 on the 26th), and BB

Baby Shower hosted by Resa Watson, Autumn Golob, and Carly Phillips

Tim turns 33!!!

Baby Shower hosted by Michelle Brock, Debbie Brock, and Celia Anderson

The Hallway Project and Hallowine

 

BB and me hanging in there at 34 weeks

Projects, Pinterest, and Punching Bag

Labor Day provided ample time to accomplish some much needed catching up around the house, as I'm sure it did for many of you.  Tim has been on a mission all summer to get every piece of trim and doors painted from the difficult-to-work-with taupe to a nice crisp white.  While this has not been fully completed, the light is at the end of the tunnel.  He was momentarily side railed by his now third trimester ridden wife to get nursery furniture painted.  We are reusing a book case and chest of drawers that have been around since the beginning of, well, me.  The chest of drawers has been a few different colors but my wonderful husband sanded and puttied and beautifully restored it to the sweet off-white of my childhood.  Here is the finished product along with the beginnings of some nursery decor:

You may reasonably ask , "Well, what are you doing during all of this?"  To that, I will answer simply, "Home improvement!" Either by way of shopping or craft projects of my own.  I'm sure many of you are as obsessed with the website Pinterest as I am and know that you can quickly become inspired and sucked into all the good intentions you have for your home/life/vacations/etc. While collecting ideas and decor for the nursery, I have also been searching the just-the-right-thing to decorate the rest of the house.  The holidays always stump me because I struggle in my picky-ness to find things like wreathes and such to hang on the front door.  I was recently inspired by something on Pinterest and created one for our front door this weekend as well.  Tim has very little interest in these things so you now will have to endure any craft projects this nesting mama insists taking on!

In other, much bigger (literally and figuratively) news, I am now officially in the third and LAST trimester of B.B.'s gestation! So far, the greatest excitement has been the changing of my internal organs from life-supporting organs to boxing bags and/or trampolines for our LO to enjoy.  He/She really put on a show Monday night at around 1:30 am. Training...I know!



Small Beginnings For Big Things To Come

Many have asked about the nursery for B.B.  There is no real theme and we're still in the beginning stages, but here are few pics of projects in the works.  We are reusing a few pieces that have been around since my toddler room and we've purchased a few new things in anticipation of our newest addition.

Tiger in Training

Just a few more days left in our second trimester! 93 days to go!

Baby Brock--Only 15 weeks away!

Yes, I have a hard time believing I could have grown as much as I have in a mere 4-5 weeks too!  B.B. has been super busy getting bigger and more active since I last blogged.  Since last blogging, we have had another monthly visit to the doctor.  After B.B. so sweetly kicked at the sensor as the nurse attempted to find the heartbeat, we discovered he or she is still measuring at a strong 158/159! This was also the date set for my one-hour glucose test that almost didn't happen.  Thankfully, after the doctor took one look at a very hungry patient, he went through with the test...only for me to fail it! Happily, I can report that I successfully passed my three-hour glucose test today with flying colors! Just so you know...Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding has no bearing on passing a fasting glucose test :p

B.B. is most active at night, but has become increasingly mobile throughout the day.  Kicks can be strong enough to actually see through my clothing now.  However, if you try to feel for one, he/she is aware he's/she's being watched and stops immediately.  My dad and I concluded that B.B. (like the rest of the Potters) believes that one person does not an audience make.  Definitely a performer in there, but he/she needs a stage and not my belly to confine him/her! Just a short 15 weeks from this little one will make the grand debut...yet another hard thing to believe!

Anatomy Scan

We are happy to report that B.B. checked out well at the anatomy scan today!  We have extremely low odds of any birth defects and everything seems to be working as it should--our kid might be more normal than either of us! :)  Heartbeat is still up there measuring at 158.  Here are some of the latest pics:

Profile 1

Profile 2

B.B.'s foot

And just for fun-what B.B. looks like from the outside!

Bumps, Bedding, & Busy Bees

The month of June has proven to be quite a busy month for the Brocks.  We started with a packed trip culminating in the nuptials of my dear sweet cousin, Lindsey, and her handsome groom, Andrew.  We began our trip with a night in Asheville.  One of our favorite groups, Mumford & Sons, was playing at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium.  Based on the excellence of this concert, we knew we were in for a great trip!
Not a great pic, but worth posting just to pay homage:

After Asheville, we headed up to Pittsburgh for a Pirates game.  While there, we sampled some popular Pittsburgh fare including Iron City, tater-tots and the "Pittsburgh Wrap"-steak, cheese, cole slaw, and french fries wrapped in a tortilla...one of Michael Jordan's favorites.  The only one of the three I sampled were the tater-tots--Tim was much more ambitious!

The next day, we road-tripped across the state to Lancaster, PA to take in Amish Country.  This was a truly unique experience. It amazed us how they still manage life with limited conveniences, though we did learn that they have rock star parking at the local Target and part-take of Ci-Ci's pizza buffet once a week!

From there, we headed south to Gettysburg, PA to give our trip some historical significance. On the way, I learned the inevitable relationship between comfy clothes and the pregnant woman.  As we stopped at the York Co. Visitor's Center (contained within a Harley Davidson factory) to pick up Gettysburg info, I desperately switched from just-too-uncomfortable-shorts to the skirt-from-Heaven.  After the quick wardrobe change and odd Visitor's Center, we were back on the road and arrived at Gettysburg with a few hours to spend. A few of the better picks are below:

From there, we trekked to West Virginia for Lindsey and Andrew's wedding where we spent the rest of the weekend enjoying a great time with amazing family!

As if that trip didn't keep us busy enough in June, B.B. was very busy encouraging the growth of my waistline! Second trimester is a wonderful thing...until it's time to find clothing that feels good!  Luckily, I am blessed with wonderful friends who generously donated to the cause!  Below is the first of many "bump" pics to come:

With the close of the month, I FINALLY decided on baby bedding that was both gender neutral and something I could live with.  It arrived yesterday so I'll share a pic from the internet. The process of getting the nursery decked out is in full swing, so I am sure I'll have plenty more pics in the coming months!

He/She's a Peach!

We are happy to report we are currently the proud parents of a peach! Translation:  I am currently 13 weeks and 1 day along.  Now that I am entering the beloved second trimester, we are able to relax a little more, I'm feeling a little better and have more energy than I have the last several weeks (hence the new blog post!) The ultrasound picture you are viewing is B.B. (Baby Brock) at 10 weeks (when we were having a prune.)  We were able to hear the heart beat at this time and it was a strong 176! The hard part now will be my patience as I try to pick out nursery decor for either a boy or girl. That's right, we are NOT going to find out until B.B. makes his/her appearance this winter!  I know many of you think this is going to be an impossible task for the control-freak, planner you all know so well.  I guess all I can say to that is that I do always enjoy a challenge!

A few things I have learned in just the last week:
1-Sun bathing is not nearly as enjoyable as it used to be.  This will be a different kind of summer for me!
2-Dancing in heels at a wedding stops at Joseph and Leah's!  Been there, done that, bought a cute pair of wedges for Lindsey and Andrew's!
3-The "Ancient Chinese Prediction Calendar" says "It's a Girl!"
4-Gender-neutral baby bedding is depressing!

5-Snap-N-Go is apparently the way to go!

Belated Brock Blog

In like a lion, out like a lamb;

and don't you forget to pay Uncle Sam!

Summer is near and the Sun's getting stronger.

We've got some news that can't wait any longer!

We can't simply tell you...

but we'll give you some clues.

It could come as one,

or maybe as two,

swaddled in pink,

or pale baby blue.

December the 6th is the big day

When Baby Brock is on his or her way!

Baby Brock at 6.5 weeks.  Baby Brock is currently 9 weeks and the size of a grape!  We have seen the heart beat on an early viability ultrasound and hopefully will hear the heartbeat on May 12th when he/she will be just past 10 weeks.



To All the REAL Teachers:

REAL TEACHERS


Real teachers grade papers in the car, during commercials, in faculty meetings, in the bathroom, and (at the end of the nine weeks) have been seen grading in church.

Real teachers cheer when they hear April 1 does not fall on a school day.

Real teachers can't walk past a crowd of kids without straightening up the line.

Real teachers never sit down without first checking the seat of the chair.

Real teachers have disjointed necks from writing on boards without turning their backs on the class.

Real teachers are written up in medical journals for the size and elasticity of kidneys and bladders.

Real teachers have been timed gulping down a full lunch in 2 minutes, 18 seconds. Master teachers can eat faster than that.

Real teachers can "sense" gum.

Real teachers will eat anything that is put in the workroom/teacher's lounge.

Real teachers hear the heartbeats of crisis; always have time to listen; know they teach students, not subjects; and are absolutely non-expendable.

-Author unknown

Playing Catch Up (once again...)

Well, I have a good excuse this time-our computer crashed in late September and my access to pictures, blogging, and slide.com was impeded by malware and a crummy hard drive.  Some time in December, Tim was able to get everything in working order again so here I am on my first snow day of 2011 playing catch-up on the last third of 2010!
I'll start with what I never got to in September, our trip to New Hampshire in mid-September.  Tim, being the nature enthusiast he is got more pics of the scenery than he did of Mary and Andy's celebration.  The weather was a welcome change from the warm September we were having in the south and the sights were gorgeous. 
North Conway, New Hampshire:

The whirlwind of October quickly swept in and we were absolutely terrible about taking pictures.  Both Tim's 32nd birthday and the 3rd annual Hallowine snuck by without a single picture being taken.  Great fun was still had but until Tillie's first birthday we have nothing documented.  Tillie has quickly managed (with the help of her brother to de-stuff any stuffed toys she received and I managed to survive turning 30!  It probably helped to have have a wonderful husband who gave me gifts that acted as a trip down memory lane to all the wonderful places we've been together.  Some highlights were the bar-b-que from Fiorella's and the deep dish pizza from Giordano's...YUM! Camellia's in bloom and a beautiful day in the park made my 30th a wonderful day!

November ushered in yet another milestone as Tim celebrated his 10 year college reunion at The Citadel.  We also hosted Thanksgiving with ALL of the family once again.  Good times were had all month long!

Somewhere between November and December, I finally convinced Tim to get started on the fence...or he finally convinced me to let HIM do it...one way or another, here are few of the pictures documenting the progress. Now, if it only had a gate...

With the holiday season fully underway, we were able to host once again. First, Tim's grandmother and aunt stayed with us for Christmas. We enjoyed having them here from St. Louis...especially since they brought a white Christmas with them! We almost thought we would not be able to host the Potter gathering the next day. However, much like the Potter way, a party of 8 turned back into a party of 30+ once word got out that the roads were safe!

One of the many wonderful things about South Carolina is that we can be blessed with a white Christmas and less than a week later have beautiful weather at the beach. We were lucky enough to head to Hilton Head, SC for the New Year. Starting the year at such a beautiful place, I have every reason to believe 2011 has many more wonderful moments to offer for us and I pray for all of you as well.

Happy Holidays from the Brocks (meaning Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year...along with any others occurring during this summary!) Here's to 2011!