Getting Ready...

Finally, the swelling is going down and I feel like a less huge version of myself! Thankfully, I don't look so much like a rolly-polly as I did… And I feel rested and back to myself. It took a little time after the 11 hour plane ride and 6 hour time difference to feel better, but thankfully Steven was understanding and let me rest..

Plus, it's FRIDAY! And what better way to spend your Friday night than getting ready for baby? 

That's right…

We had some goodies come in the mail today today!!

 And this is just the back seat!

The trunk has a few things as well and we couldn't wait to open them all…

Of course, it must be said that Maggie was equally excited…

 about all the new boxes she would get to play with :)

 And Steven enjoyed getting "HIS" gift all set up for all those father/son outings <3

I had fun watching him put the high chair together!

Over all, it was a great night for the whole family!

We were so excited about getting gifts for Caleb that we pulled everything out and put it together BEFORE dinner.. Which is a big deal if you know my husband.

This whole pregnancy thing ending in a baby is getting more real every day! 

As our house becomes more and more "babyfied" I can't help but be amazed that Steven and I are going to be parents soon <3

Goodbye, Georgia… Hello, again, Italy!

Quick photo with my mom when I finally got off the plane and through customs <3

Breakfast with Uncle Kurt and the gang :)

Spending time with my Nanny <3

With daddy… Saying goodbye to my little, BIG, brother :) 

There were plenty of things that I didn't get photos of. 

Gravy biscuits every morning, running here and there to see everyone,

any american food that I could get my hands on, and special moments with all of my loved ones!

Of course, my mom made sure to get plenty of photos to show how tired it all made me :)

Thanks, mom! I was pooped!!!

After getting in from Atlanta and finally getting comfy..

A quick nap with my Papa, he has always been more comfy than any pillow :)

Not flattering, but with my cat of 14 years, Belle… 

Loved getting some time with her <3

Now it's time to get back home to my husband! It's always bitter sweet, because I hate leaving family… but I love seeing Steven again after 2 weeks apart. I can't wait to show him all the photos and open all the packages of Caleb's things! It will be like having our own little baby shower right in our living room :)

Baby Shower # 2

Baby Blair Shower # 2 -

Let's get this party started, again!

I can't tell you all how blessed I feel to not only have one baby shower, but two! 

There really isn't any better way to celebrate a pregnancy than to surround yourself with the one's you love and know that they are excited about your new addition, too!

I had already gotten to celebrate with Steven's side of the family, now it was time for my side.

(Sorry for photos.. I don't have any digital copies yet! Will update ASAP!)

The food was amazing, the decorations were beautiful, and the whole day was wonderful!

Thank you to all the hard work and preparations that my Aunt Kit-Kit did to make my 2nd baby shower so special! With the help of my Aunt Cathy and my mom (and Anna, too!), Kit-Kit planned one heck of a shower and I had a great day!

There were plenty of games, plenty of gifts, and a few tears.

It was a wonderful way to end my trip home and celebrate with loved ones before leaving for Italy again.

*Aunt Carlie & Aunt Anna love Caleb already*

Caleb Steven Blair

Finally!

After weeks of disagreeing and searching multiple baby naming websites…

we have decided on a name!

Caleb Steven Blair

Gone Fishin'!

Today, I had the best time with Steven's mom and dad!

It has been AWHILE since I've gotten to go fishing, 

so they took me out for the afternoon and we caught some fish.

 

Phil would want me to tell you, he got to take his grandson fishing before he was even born.. :) 

Family Ultrasound

Sweet Dream Ultrasound Studio

Families came together today to see our sweet little guy on the big screen! 

Thanks to Sweet Dream Ultrasound Studio we were able to share a special moment with Caleb's grandparents, great-grandparents, great-aunts, and cousins. 

*I recommend this to ALL military families, if you get the chance to travel home during your pregnancy. There is nothing like sharing an ultrasound with your family, and it is definitely worth the price (Which wasn't very expensive!). *

Our family all met up at the Sweet Dream Ultrasound Studio in our hometown of Rome, Georgia and the wonderful staff snapped a quick photo before we entered the viewing room. 

The room was set up like a mini movie theatre, very nice and private. 

The family was seated, my belly was covered in goop, and the magic began!

Of course, Baby Blair was not shy in showing us 'the goods'. 

His little man business was on full display for all to see.

His sweet little toes and feet were a favorite for me <3

He got a little frustrated with the ultrasound. 

Sweet little hand balled up and ready to fight!

But the greatest of all was getting a little glimpse at his face.

Over all, I am so glad that my friend Jill gave me the idea to do a family ultrasound! 

Being so far from home can make you feel alone during pregnancy.

It's a time when you want family to surround you with love and excitement, 

and living thousands of miles away makes it hard.

Everyone getting to hear the heartbeat and see his little wiggles made my heart soar with joy, 

and I was one proud mama getting to show off her baby :)

I can't wait to meet my sweet little boy,

 and I can't wait to show him how loved he was even before he was born <3

Baby Shower # 1

Baby Blair Baby Shower #1

Today was the first of two baby showers thrown by Steven's wonderful mother and grandmother, Nanna and Great Nanny to little Caleb. The shower took place at Great Nanny and Papa's house here in Rome, Georgia where Steven's family gather to celebrate our little guy! I'm still a little jet lagged from my long journey, but I woke up ready and excited to get the baby festivities started <3

Yummy food, including cheese straws, chicken salad sandwiches, cup cakes, and fresh fruit <3

 

The decorations were beautiful and the photos of Steven as a baby were adorable!

I loved being surrounded by Steven's wonderful family <3

Megan made me the cutest diaper cake!

 

Both sets of Steven's grandparents, his mom and mine :)

Overall I had a wonderful day and baby Caleb got some really great gifts! 

I feel so blessed that I was able to be home and have this experience with our families <3

Bump Update / Georgia On My Mind

Today I am 23 Weeks & 3 Days pregnant!

Caleb is the size of a large Mango, 

roughly 11.5 inches long and 1.1 pounds!

He has tastebuds forming and he can hear music and mommy's voice :)

I've made it to Georgia… 

It was a long, stressful flight, but I made it! 

Seeing my dad, mom, and Aunt Cathy as I walked out of the Atlanta International Terminal was a wonderful thing! After we got out of there we went to McDonalds, amazing, and then made the long, traffic jammed trip to my little hometown of Summerville, Georgia.

I got to see my grandfather, my Aunt Kit-kit and Uncle Kurt, my little cousins, and my sweet cat, Belle… before passing out and getting some MUCH needed sleep after almost 24 hours of travel. 

I'm so excited for my first baby shower tomorrow!

Steven's mom and grandmother are throwing it for me and I can't wait to see all of them and celebrate this special occasion :)

24 Week Check-Up

I'm not 24 weeks yet, but they had to get me something before my trip home and this was the best date.

Today I Am: 22 weeks and 3 days

Baby's Heartbeat is: 150

My weight is: None of your business :)

Today's appointment was mostly about going over our ultrasound. I was anxious to know that everything with our little boy was perfect and that he was developing correctly. Dr. Vroon flipped through our charts and assured us that everything looked great! "Looks like he might be tall." He also said everything looked good for me to travel on the 10th, so all I needed to do is get my flight letter from the front desk and I was good to go. 

I always love getting to hear his heartbeat. Today he kicked the monitor as soon as the nurse placed it on my stomach. Then she had to chase him around to get an accurate reading. Finally she got him still enough to where she could tell that his little heart was perfect <3 

Overall, everything went well today! 

I'm feeling him move more and more… It's such a wonderful feeling! I'm excited, because I know my family will be able to feel him move easily by the time I make my trip to Georgia.

Not Such a Happy New Year

New Years is a time of fresh starts and possibilities, but for me and my family it was heart breaking. 

On Christmas I was able to FaceTime with my family as they were all gather to celebrate the day. 

We were all very excited because I had booked my ticket to come home to Georgia on January 10th for baby showers and much needed family time. 

I got to speak to my grandmother, my mom's mom, and see her for a few minutes and I didn't like what I saw. Still, I would be home soon and I found comfort in the fact that I would get to see her, and that she was sitting up with the family and talking fine. 

A few days later she went into the hospital. There were many things wrong, but the doctors felt that with rehabilitation and medicine she could recover. This changed things a little bit. I made a new plan to do an extra, mini baby shower in her hospital room just my aunts, my cousin Anna, and my mom… a few balloons and presents. 

I had doctor's appointment before coming home, and I wanted to make sure everything checked out ok before taking a 10 1/2 hour plane ride across the ocean while pregnant. My family agreed and we all decided that a hospital was no place for a highly emotional pregnant lady to be.

New Years Eve she took a turn for the worse and on January 2nd she died in her hospital bed with my grandfather beside her, holding her. 

There is no way to explain the feeling of helplessness that happens when you are thousands of miles away and there is no way for you to get to the ones you love at a time like this. My heart breaks at the feeling of not getting to say goodbye in person, of not being there with my family. These are the times when the sacrifice of being a military spouse really shows itself. 

During this hard time I've been doing things to try and feel close to her. On New Years Day I spent the whole day making homemade chicken and dumplings and my grandmother's buttermilk biscuits. I remember sitting with her in the kitchen as a little girl and how she would always take the last bit of dough and make me a special baby biscuit.. I did the same, this time in the shape of a heart for her. 

The time that I lost with my grandmother can never be recovered… The heartbreaking realization that I only had 1 week until my trip home and I would have been able to hold her hand, she would have felt Baby Blair move, and talk to me about being a mother the way she did on my wedding day about being a wife… sometimes it's too much to handle. Still, I know she understands my commitment to my husband and our life together. 

I'm missing the funeral. It's hard to keep my emotions in check, so it's probably better this way. Steven keeps me busy and tries to take my mind off of things.

 

Sue Ellen Kellett

August 6, 1947 - January 2, 2014