"GET THAT BABY OUT!"

Guest blogger: Rob Raborn

Anticipation is met with trepidation as Katherine and I seek new ways to get this little gal to come out and play! As you may know, we live near the holler in 'ole Kentucky. Being so, we have access to Appalachian literature, including works on pregnancy in the hills. Chapter eight in the hill-people medical works "Chillin with your Chillen" is all about inducing labor. Heeding the book's wisdom, Katherine quickly took to mowing our lawn at a mere 39 and a half weeks preggo. After a while, we thought her water broke! However, she was just sweating from the hard work.

I guess hard labor on Labor Day Weekend doesn't always end in hard labor.

Anyway, I took a picture to document our unsuccessful attempt at meeting our little girl sooner than we hoped.


We are very much looking forward to sharing our newest miracle with all of you! -Rob

Let's Get Started

Bassinet 101: Strebeck Patent Design



An amazing quilted bassinet made by Hannah:

Tomorrow or 3 weeks from now?

We get to see our second ultrasound tomorrow morning! I can't wait to see how big she is and hear if our due date will get changed or not. Last time we were able to see her suck her thumb :) This Saturday is our birthing class at the hospital that will include a tour of the place, etc.

Sooo....how do women do this? How can I possibly go 3 more weeks? I can't hardly walk with my toes stuffed like little sausages and so hot/swollen that I can't feel my skin anymore. She is still kicking all day (and night), which I'm surprised since there is very little room left. My goal?...To walk once around the block everyday til she comes. Today was a success, but pretty tough making it up the hill.

33 weeks already!

Today B-ma and Ema will be getting here from Knoxville. We have plenty planned for the weekend: Cincinnati Saturday, Jungle Jim's, and other places plotted out on our road trip...should be lots of fun. They may need a wheelchair for me this time :)

Also, Amberly is leaving to come back today with her mom. Can't wait to see her and the kids. Good luck on the 16 hour road trip!!!!

What's been going on in July

1. Great 4th of July! Parade, fireworks, watermelon, and sparklers. Also, Grilling out (thanks dad for the purchase!) with the amazing veggies that are coming up in the garden.
Ok...I wasn't feeling too hungry for dinner, so this is a pic from just Rob's dinner :)

2. Trip to Georgia to see great friends at a lake house (about 2 weeks ago)....Facebook has all the group pics and shared albums.


3. Redesigning the living room all thanks to Charlie! Bamboo shades, white curtains, white paper lanterns, and couch cover....let the nesting begin.


4. Baby room projects and painting
Sewing the changing pad

I'll work on the other letters once we decide for sure on the first name...

3 mirrors to hang on the wall with glass knobs and a canvas (you can see in the mirror) to hang over the dresser.
Still have to sew ribbon on the valance to match the bedding.


Soon to come....
1. Mom-in-law and Ema are coming to visit this week
2. Fun trip to Cincinnati

Can't wait!

Don't give Rob the gun!

So, we decided that we were ready and geared up to venture into Babies R Us yesterday afternoon. The first time we went (just to scope out the place), we were really overwhelmed and never wanted to return. But yesterday wasn't so bad, because we went in with a game plan...knowing what items we needed, where they were in the store, and to not to take too long deciding on the big items.

The girl helping us set up the account said, "It's ok to register for 250 items or something...that's average." WHAT?!!! We walked out with around 30 and thought that was too much. Here are a couple of pictures after the pressure was off and we felt good about keeping our time under an hour....



I just couldn't pass up this little dress.

30 Weeks

My leg almost fell off!

As I tossed in bed last night and remember stretching a little, I could tell a calf cramp was coming on...but thought, "I will stretch it out a little more and save myself from a "charley horse." Well, WHAM!!!!!!!!!!! It was the worse Charley Horse of my life! I let out a yelp and woke Rob up (which he probably thought I was going into early labor). I couldn't believe how long it lasted. Next time....just punch me in the face.

28 weeks on Friday