First pictures

I have so much to say but can't figure out how to say any of it yet! So for now, enjoy some pictures as I try to get my thoughts together :-)

http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=274235543/a=76796422_76796422/otsc=SHR/otsi=SALBlink

Welcome Love

Mack Kincaid Armstrong

January 26, 2009

6:26 pm

9 lbs 8 oz

21 in

We are all home now and just gazing at each other in wonder, through our sleepy haze.

More to come...

Alcatraz

I have decided to name my womb Alcatraz. I am apparently still shut-tight as a lid so poor little Mack has no way out. Not that he seems to really be wanting out right now though. I need to get my body and my baby on the same page as the rest of me!

Snow Day

What do pregnant ladies do on snow days? Make snow angels of course!

After waking up to falling snow with no sign of it letting up, I stayed home from work today since Richard wasn't real thrilled about the idea of his overly pregnant wife rolling out onto the snowy streets. We got up early and made a big breakfast together - yummm. Then we laughed at the doggies freaking out in the snow during their morning constitutional. Lill is quite a crazy animal, see what I mean:

I did manage to get some work done today before we sat down to watch the inaugaration. I've been very disillusioned and uncaring about the whole political season, but I did enjoy watching the today. No matter what your political opinion, you must admit today was a historical day.

After the inaugaration, we went for a walk. Here are a few shots from our escapade:

Then it was more work for me and Richie went for a run (crazy man!). Hopefully it won't be too crazy icey tomorrow on the roads. Mack didn't decide to come during the snow storm. He still has the opportunity to arrive during black-ice conditions however. After a few mild contractions last night I thought maybe things were going to get going, but - alas - no progress! I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow, so we'll see what they say.

Happy snow day & stay safe everyone!

No baby? Snow baby?

Still no baby and no real signs of his coming other than TODAY IS MY DUE DATE but I'm still pregnant. It's wild to have had this day in my mind for the past 9 months only to experience a normal day like any other.

Richard and I are thankful, however, for the days we have together as just the two of us, since these are the last few days/hours/minutes we're just husband & wife as opposed to mommy & daddy.

I wonder what will happen to my little swimming, count-down-guy tomorrow when the due date is past. Will he crawl up on shore and put on some sunscreen?

Speaking of sun screen, we shouldn't be needing any here - the weatherman is predicting 2-4 inches of SNOW tonight and tomorrow, wow! I try not to get sucked-in to the media hype since for the past 4 years they've been wrong about almost every winter storm that has threatened our skies. But I'm also kind of wondering if Mack might try to play a funny trick and actually be born in the snow storm should one really come our way. Thank goodness for 4WD and good tires if that should be the case! But since there are no real signs that Mack's planning to come tonight, the potential snow is providing a nice distraction.

Still pregnant

OK - so there are still technically 8 days until our due date, so we really shouldn't be so impatient. But I am getting really impatient. See above pictures - I would kill for that 11 week pregnant body right now as opposed to the 38 week pregnant body on the right. See how much bigger my smile was then? Ha ha!

I am feeling really good and shouldn't complain. Mack can take all the time he needs to grow and develop so he can be strong when the time comes...but the second he's fully cooked, his mama expects him to put all procrastination aside and get on with it! It's not only the body thing of course, I'm really ready to meet this little fellow whose been preoccupying my every thought for the past 8 months. We were hoping the full moon this weekend and the spicy food we ate Friday and Saturday night might produce the desired meeting, but no such luck! Looks like I'll be at work on Monday after all.

I've read and people have said that the last few weeks of pregnancy teach you how to survive without sleeping or personal comfort (due to all the late-night peeing and inability to get comfortable/digest food easily/wear clothing - check) but I really think the last few weeks of pregnancy are teaching me patience (or that patience is a virtue I only THOUGHT I had).

Our latest adventures

Adding to the list of exciting things Mack has been able to do while in-utero: New Year's Day cook-out at Jordan Lake and Ballroom Dancing "lessons"

For New Year's Day, Richie decided he wanted to have a cookout over an open fire at Jordan Lake. He was being very secretive about the whole affair so I wasn't sure what he was getting us into or what we'd be eating (burgers, ham, hunted squirrel...). When the big day rolled around, the high temperature was only 41, but that did not deter us. Several friends bravely met us out at the lake and Richard started cooking. We had a traditional New Year's meal of ham, collards, & black-eyed peas cooked over a big fire pit. It was very yummy! The only somewhat odd thing we had was pine-tea that Richard made from pine needles off a nearby tree - but that was good too! Here are some pictures of the event:

It was THIS BIG - I have no idea what Richard was talking about in this picture.

Pretty sun-set over the lake

Roasting marshmallows - is there anything better?

Haley went swimming - not sure if she's the smartest dog, but she's definitely a sweetie.

Then last night, our friend Vicky turned 50 (Happy Birthday Vicky!) and her family threw her birthday party at Let's Dance in Cary. We learned the Mambo and the basic Swing steps. I didn't fall over, not even once - and neither did Richard! We did not however win the dance competition. It was very fun and was nice to be up & moving even if my legs and hips got pretty tired and achy from all the gyrations. I don't have any pictures from last night's event, which is probably a good thing for us, hee hee.

Wow, so 16 days left on the ticker. While I'm not sure I'm ready for labor and delivery or for having an teeny tiny infant to take care of, I am definitely ready NOT to be pregnant any more!

Happy New Year everyone!