Greyson Stephen Gillespie

John Thomas and I had an appointment set for September 6 for normal blood work the doctor has to do and to find out if we were going to have a little boy or girl. A few weeks before John Thomas started saying he didn't know if he was going to be able to wait until Sept. 6 (about 2 1/2 weeks out at this time) to find out what we were having. There is a place close to where we live that you can go that does gender reveals starting at week 14. I told him it was just two weeks and we could make it, besides..if it was like getting an appointment at the doctor's office it would take forever to get in. He agreed.

Monday came and I could not stop thinking about it, and it was the first day of school. I emailed John Thomas and told him I was going to call and see if I could get us in to do an appointment to see sometime this week. Well now he was convincing me that we could wait two more weeks.

By Wednesday night we both had decided we were not going to wait anymore. I called first thing Thursday morning. I played phone tag all day with the lady working and John Thomas trying to figure out a time we could go. When I left school about 4 that day I called one final time. She was so sweet and told me if I could be there by 5:45 she would squeeze me in. I squealed I was so excited! I told John Thomas he had to hustle and leave work right at 5:30 to meet me (he was only an exit away but the traffic between the two exits is crazy from 5-6 each day!)

We decided we were not going to tell anyone that we were going and surprise everyone that night. I had planned to have a gender reveal party at our house the night after the doctor's visit with cake and the whole nine yards. Before going to the office though I went by Party City and got a bunch of blue and pink balloons so we could leave from the office and go straight to telling people. :)

We sat for what seemed an eternity waiting to go back for the ultrasound (We entertained ourselves by flipping a coin guessing boy or girl). When we finally went back and she started with the ultrasound "it" was being VERY difficult. It would not move or show any parts. After some wiggling around we finally had some movement and clear as day saw that it was a BOY! I think John Thomas was ready for a victory lap around the room! Giddy does not even begin to describe his reaction (and don't worry...I was very excited, too!)

When we left we went straight to Wofford to see Marian (she had a sleep study that evening and was at a dinner so we schemed with his Aunt Monte and was able to greet her at the gate with the balloons!). From there we went a few miles away to JT's brother's and sister-in-law's house. They were so shocked! Then off to my moms. My dad was traveling of course and wasn't at home. Mom was walking Bailey in the neighborhood and was already outside when we pulled off. I jumped out as quickly as I could and grabbed the blue balloons! She kept saying, "I knew it!" She was one of the only people who didn't say what they thought, so I have NO idea what she thought it was.We waited on my brother and his girlfriend to get there to show them and then thanks to technology, we were able to Facetime my dad! Thank the Lord for technology!!


That night it really hit me, I am going to be a mom. I am having a baby. I am having a baby boy. I have a son. It was a feeling that I couldn't describe and still can't. I think it is normal to feel that way. I was so excited and at the same time the realization of it all was making me scared to death.

Enjoy the pictures from the night...

So, in February we will meet our Greyson Stephen Gillespie.
 I.CAN.NOT.WAIT!
I'll post later about the name...


18 weeks tomorrow!

love-

Week 15

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along: 15 Weeks 4 Days today

Size of baby: Baby G is the size of an avocado (4-5 inches and 3-5 ounces)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Haven't weighed myself lately

Maternity Clothes:I am wearing dresses most days. If I do wear pants I make sure to have a trusty rubber band.

Gender: Found out this past Thursday (story to come...), but it's a BOY!

Movement: I think I might have felt a flutter the other night when I was going to sleep but I am not positive.

Sleep: Can't get enough. With school starting I have been past the point of exhaustion most nights.

What I miss: Brushing my teeth without gagging.

Cravings: Probably fruit and anything sour, especially Sour Patch Kids

Symptoms: The continuous "Pregnancy Congestion." I am not a sick person and I have had two colds since I have been pregnant. I haven't been sick lately (knock on wood). Just super tired!

Best Moment this week: Finding out we were having a boy!

After finding out it was a boy. I feel that this week my belly really "popped" out some.

Bullying.

Today we had by far the best staff development training ever. We are beginning a program called Olweus Bullying Prevention Program in our school district. I am not sure how it will work at the K-6 level, but at our school (grades 7&8) I think the impact will be great!

My concern before starting this was that a bullying program would create more drama. When a student was called a name one time it would be reported, etc. and it would create more than help like the purpose should be. Within the first ten minutes of the training I knew my assumption was wrong. 

The opening of our meeting was a YouTube Video. I sat there amazed. I couldn't believe it. Surely that wouldn't happen in our school. However, it does..and often. I just want to share this video. My eyes were opened. I knew about bullying, but never being the "victim" of bullying it's a hard concept to grasp.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdkNn3Ei-Lg

I am so thankful for our school committee that worked SO hard on this to put this together for our faculty and staff today. I am very excited to get this implemented and watch the impact that it will have! 

13 Weeks!

I'm 13 weeks (and 2 days)!

(The G is not crooked, JT had the camera crooked but it was dying and we were trying to hurry because Wally was trying to get in.)

Pregnancy Highlights:

 

How Far Along: 13 Weeks

Size of baby: Baby G is the size of a lemon (3 inches and about 1.5 oz)

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Loss 9 as of last week. Weeks 6-10 were not the best of weeks and I couldn't keep much of anything down.

Maternity Clothes: I'm wearing my normal clothes- some days I have to use the rubber band trick on my capris. Thankfully with work, I can wear all of my dresses still :) My mom took me shopping for my birthday so I do have some cute clothes for when I do need to bust them out! Actually, this shirt is maternity.

Gender: Can't wait to find out! September 6!

Movement: Too soon. If I did, I wouldn't know it.

Sleep: It would be nice if I didn't have to get up for the bathroom :) I am not as tired as I was at first though!

What I miss: Mountain Dew- I still drink some caffeine, just not that much :)

Cravings: Probably fruit and anything sour, especially Sour Patch Kids

Symptons: I'm starting to feel a lot better, much more human! I still feel blah some days but those days are now far outweighed- just in time for school!

Best Moment this week: Last Thursday going to the doctor and the ultrasound looking like a baby and not a bean!

Back to School!

Today was the first day back for Staff Development! I had a great summer but I must admit I am ready to be back in a routine. If I have said it a once, I have said it a million times. I LOVE my team! I teach with wonderful people! Super blessed! Over the past three weeks I have periodically gone to my room to work. Mom came one day and help me hang all of my posters and today was mostly spent organizing and getting rid of clutter! I felt like I had a shelf beside me everytime I turned around. So today I was determined to get rid of some and move some things around! Our school has great custodians! Today, I had a new trash can, a broken desk removed and a bookshelf out in a matter of five minutes! I am so thankful for them. 

This is what my room looked like when I first went back in July. 

My room looks so different now. My posters are up, desk are organized and my desk is clean! I love an organized work area! When everything is ready, I will show pictures! 

I pray this school year I am a the light in these children. Some only get love and attention at school~ I may be the only smile these kids see. I feel that my job is not only to teach English, but to be that LIGHT! I am already praying for my students and will continue throughout the year~ even when I am gone on maternity leave.

Have a happy Thursday!

Pawleys Island 2012

I LOVE vacation! We packed the car Friday, the 13th and headed East on 26! I love the beach and I love Pawleys! We had a wonderful time with family and friends! I took my good camera hoping to get some good pictures but I never took it out of the bag. Enjoy my iPhone pictures of our week! 

 This was our first day...so peaceful!

 John Thomas's cousin, Steth. He is so funny- our Merman!

 This is Lauren and me on the beach one day! She is 10 weeks ahead of me...here, I am 10 weeks and she is 20 weeks!

 Nothing beats a good burn!

 Dinner at my favorite restaurant at the beach- Sara J's!

This is Alex- I was his babysitter from the time he was in the 5th grade until he was a licensed driver! He is attending Coastal Carolina on a baseball scholarship and met us for dinner. I am thankful he still loves his babysitter!

Pregnancy is going well and getting better with my "All-Day Sickness". I would like to punch whoever named it "Morning Sickness". I will update soon and post a picture of my bitty bump!

love-

8 Weeks + 2 Days

July 4th marked 8 weeks of being pregnant and yesterday was a month since we found out!

What a busy busy month it has been! When I first found out we were expecting, I downloaded the "What to Expect Pregnancy" App on my phone. It gives daily and weekly updates on how you might be feeling and what is exactly baking inside. One thing that I really like about it is that it tells you about what size your baby is. In the past month we have gone from an orange seed to a green olive and it is about an 1 inch long! What a miracle! Just last week at the doctor it wasn't even close to an inch! 

I have bad all day sickness...morning my butt! I was going to try my best and not take any medicine the whole time. Well...after about two nights of not being able to sleep because of headaches (I quit drinking Mountain Dew the second I found out...my doctor told me I could ease back into this and I might. I still drink tea or a coke once a day because of the headaches) I took some Tylenol. 

At about 6 weeks the sickness came full force! I could not function- it was awful! I tried everything and finally I called my doctor and she called me in Zofran. That little white pill is a miracle pill! It stays in my pocketbook and with me all the time. The past few days I have gone and only had to take it once instead of twice of day. I feel most sick in the early morning, most of the time before I even get out of bed and then late at night. If I don't eat by 7- it's over and Zofran can't even help me. 

We go back August 2 and get to see the baby again...I am hoping on at least a guess on what it could be! I have some friends and their doctor was able to tell at this point, fingers crossed! I think I am pretty sure about a girl name and we keep going back and forth on boy names...decisions, decisions.

This is a kind of boring post- nothing exciting to report...I just want to remember things for myself! 

love-