Kick, kick...Nudge, nudge...Stitch, stitch!

So we are now at 30 weeks, and still not prepared! But, we are getting closer!!! I was talking to Hope (one of my long standing BFF's, met the day we moved in together Freshman year @Belmont) last week and telling her all about the fun stuff we've been gathering together for little SAS. I was feeling quite proud of myself until she asked if we had any of the "necessities". Of course I thought we did, as I gushed about last time, we have furniture, clothes, etc! She kind of laughed at me and asked about onesies, blankets, diapers... Sadly the answer was no, no & no! So, then we started gathering some of the less fun but still ridiculously-cute-because-they're-so-small items like the onesies and diapers! And even some diaper cream & wipes, too. But of all the "necessities" we've acquired lately, I've totally fallen in love with something I never imagined: the burp cloth. I know,  I can't believe it, either! And thanks to my oh so incredibly full of surprises hubby, she'll never have a boring one! 

Since almost the moment we knew we were pregnant, I've been on and on (and on) about wanting an embroidery machine so that I can put a monogram on any and everything possible for baby! Once we found out we were having a girl, that desire multiplied by about a million. Then there was the whole A.S.S. debacle, but obviously we got that one sorted out...SO one day last week I opened up the front door to take Macy out and VOILA...the embroidery machine fairy had made a stop (was probably more like a guy in a truck wearing brown shorts & knee socks, but whatever) and the rest is now really cute, personalized history and our sweet little SAS will spit up on the cutest of cute cloths. And onesies. And gowns. And whatever else I can think of to stick her name or initials on!

The last thing we've been working on this week is arranging and painting her nursery! Everything is here except for the crib, so we've been moving furniture all around to make sure we get it all just where we want it! The room already looks crazy different than when we started, and we (actually Mom) has only gotten the ceiling painted so far. I'm so excited to see the way it all turns out, I hope she loves it as much as I think I will! We only have about another month until it's totally finished, but of course I'm taking photos along the way of the changes! 

More important than all that we've doing is all that she's been doing! I can't believe that she's now nearly 3 pounds and more than 15 inches long...although it definitely feels like she's every bit of that and even more! I love that she now seems to have a sleep/wake pattern, which I very much hope she continues as it seems to be right on target with mine, and I really love watching what Kimmie calls the "lava lamp" belly! According to todays email, she can now taste, see, hear and touch everything around her...not that that's very much yet! I'm constantly amazed at the little miracle that kicks and nudges her way through the day and even more thankful than I ever imagined for it!

Hello, Third Trimester...Please Slow Down...Mommy is a Procrastinator!

This week we entered the THIRD TRIMESTER! And I cannot believe it! As I've said before, time is just going much too quickly for us. Sometimes I feel a bit like an oddball because it seems that most people at this point are ready to be finished with this pregnancy business and just wanting to meet their adorable little baby. Not me! Not that I can't wait to meet her and see her little face and play with her little toes, I'm just not finished with being pregnant yet! I've completely loved (almost) every moment of this time. I love her little kicks. I love trying to guess if she's going to have my eyes or Steve's nose. I even love the way I feel...so far! And besides all that, we're not even close to being prepared for her arrival!

It's so hard for me to imagine that one sweet little girl needs so much stuff to get her started, not least of all, a name! We've known pretty much all along what we wanted her first name to be, hard part over, right? WRONG!! As it turns out, we couldn't really agree on anything for her middle name. There was just one that we both really really loved, but, alas, that would make her initials A.S.S. And we almost decided to just ignore that and go with it anyway, as everyone told us no one would notice, she's our baby, etc. Of course we ran the name by Kimmie (who was one of the one's who told us to ignore what others said) and her new hubby Clay, who pretty much sealed the deal with her name. I can't remember exactly word for word how he responded, but it was very similar to the way I worried the average 8 year old boy would act! He immediately pointed out that maybe she could have a backpack someday with her initials on it. And that wouldn't it be cool for her to walk down the halls of school with A.S.S. on her back. I think he even volunteered to buy it for her...SOOOO back to the drawing board! We have now decided that we'll use the same two names that have always been our favorites, we'll just reverse them! So, now Steve & I are going to have a little S.A.S. Which she's pretty much destined to be anyway with us as her parents, so we might as well call a spade a spade!

     


Now that the name issue has been solved (as long as we don't change our minds...again) we figured it was time to get on with finding the rest of her furniture. Up until this week, our poor little SAS only had a diaper bag, a changing table and a chest for her nursery. She of course has plenty of clothes to nearly fill the drawers, several tiny little things in her closet, more pairs of shoes than a small country (priorities), and we had actually ordered her crib linens, but no crib to put them on, no chair for me to rock her in, not even a light for her room! Those who know us really well know that we both love to shop, actually you probably don't have to know us that well to know that, but whatever. I am, however, known as a "stalker" or  "lurker"...I like to have what I want, and find it at a deal! Amazing how things work out...
We had at least chosen the crib, but since everywhere we looked at it said "ships in 2-3 days" we hadn't actually ordered it yet. Of course this week, when I decide to order it, it's on backorder. Until mid-September. Well, great! This meant that I had to resort to my usual methods of stalking and combing the internet like mad to find what I want, which I did. AND, on this obscure website, it was 25% off for 2 days only. It will be here in about 4 weeks. Score one for me. Next on our list was a chair for the nursery. We have looked all around for what we envisioned in our heads, with the help of the internet, for the perfect glider, but we couldn't find what we wanted anywhere. Not even at Plaid Rabbit (our favorite store as of about 6 months ago). So, I was nearly resigned to having to order one online, which I wasn't crazy about since we couldn't test-sit first, but we just couldn't find what we wanted! A few days ago, I emailed the designer of my "ultimate chair" just to see if there might be some little place I didn't know about nearby that would have one of their chairs so I might have some idea of what it would be like. Little did we know there's an adorable little place in Franklin called It's Vintage, Baby, but there is. And today, we went in. Would you believe that they had the exact chair of my dreams. Steve loved it. They are moving at the end of the month and don't want to move furniture. "If you would like to have this very chair, we'll knock 20% off"...why yes, yes we would like to have that very chair! So, as of today, sweet little SAS has a nice little setup for her nursery! Moral of the story, procrastination pays! Or at least gets a discount!

Now, if we can just get her Nana to paint every surface of her nursery pink, we'll be in business and ready for her arrival! Once we get her a mattress that is...and a car seat...and diapers...hmmmm.

It's June already???

I honestly cannot believe how fast time is flying right now!! It seems like just a few weeks ago that it was January, and now it's June!! The last few weeks have been absolutely packed with fun & happy times, and considering there's been a bridal shower, family visit, wedding, two birthdays and a vacation since my last blog, I thought it was maybe time for a little update!!

Two weeks ago, our family in England started arriving for something we've all been waiting quite a long time for: Kimmie's wedding!! Steve's sister, Ali, & her family (Rob, Josh & Jazzi) arrived on Tuesday morning before the wedding and his brother, Graham, along with Lyn, arrived late the following night. Somehow in the few days they were in town before the wedding, we managed to play at the pool, hit Green Hills, the Hill Center & Cool Springs for shopping, enjoy Kimmie's rehearsal & dinner AND have a big Southern style family BBQ!! Oh, and Jazzi & I joined Kimmie and her maid of honor for a mani-pedi, too! What a busy busy busy few days!!!

The most exciting part of the last few weeks was something that we've all been waiting for nearly two years: Kimmie & Clay's wedding! After months of planning with Kimmie, on Friday, May 28 the wedding day finally arrived!! It was an absolutely beautiful day, right up until time for us to leave the salon when it started pouring with rain...all afternoon until about an hour before the ceremony in the garden of Belle Meade Plantation! We all kept our fingers crossed and thankfully it cleared up long enough for their garden wedding ceremony and time for the guests to make it inside the Carriage House for the reception! Close call, but it all turned out beautifully!! She was the most beautiful bride I've ever seen and, if I do say so myself, we planned a fantastic wedding and reception! The Italian buffet was yummy, the cake was spectacular, flowers & band couldn't have been better, and to top it all off, a photobooth kept everyone busy and having a great time!! Congrats to Kimmie & Clay, I know they'll have a very long and happy life together!!

After a very late night at the wedding, everyone in the Sperring house woke up early on Saturday for our journey to Isle of Palms, SC to spend the week together in a beach house! We spent the WHOLE day on Saturday in the car, which is something I haven't done for many years now and have certainly never done while 6 months pregnant, so

I was thrilled when we finally arrived that night! I must say the drive wasn't nearly as bad as I expected, just wouldn't want to it often! Our house was interesting, to say the least, full of quirky larger-than-life pirates, hula girls and movie star figures, but with a fantastic ocean front pool and huge balconies, so we all really had a great time! We spent the week lounging on the beach, having water fights in the pool and generally just having fun together! Steve & I both celebrated our birthdays while we were there, and he gave me one of the most thoughtful presents ever: a Tiffany key locket to put sweet Baby Girl S's pic in once she arrives! It has two sides, so there'll be room for either a pic of Steve or one of Macy, too, just haven't decided which yet!! A carriage ride with everyone through Charleston and some fantastic meals topped off our wonderful week at the beach!

The Sperring Family @Hank's for Steve's Birthday

I guess I shouldn't be surprised that everything came and went so incredibly quickly! It just seems crazy that we planned and planned and waited and waited for the wedding and everyone's visit, and now, it's all over! We usually only get to spend a few days at a time with our family in England a couple of times a year, so to have nearly 2 weeks together really was fantastic, but that makes it that much more depressing now that they've gone! And I think even Baby Girl might be having withdrawals from her cousin Jazzi, as she spent lots of the week poking my belly and telling her to wake up so she could watch her kick! There are just no words to describe how wonderful it all has been!

So, that's about it for what we've been doing lately, but I think that's more than enough! Now we just have to get busy with the next big project: nursery! I kind of had a bit of a panic today when I realized that we have less than 15 weeks to get everything done and ready for our Baby Girl's arrival...but I have no doubt once September comes, it will all be absolutely perfect and we'll be more than ready...I hope!!

Lyn, Mom, Me, Ali & Jazzi

And, a HUGE thanks to Stephanie & Amy at True Bliss Events for making Kimmie's wedding day so perfect!!

A very busy 2 weeks!

The last two weeks have gone by so quickly I can barely believe it! It seems like we've known forever that our sweet little baby would be a girl and it's only been two weeks, but my have we done a lot in these two weeks!

We immediately started shopping for Baby Girl's nursery decor, although we planned to wait until June to actually start buying anything since what we jokingly call the "British Invasion" is still a couple of weeks away! (this is when Steve's brother, sister and their family come from England to stay for Kimmie's wedding) However, wouldn't you know that every time we spot something we like, it's "the only one"...sooooo, the shopping began a bit earlier than planned!! It all started out innocently enough with a gorgeous pink changing table that we both fell head over heels for, but of course, when we picked it up, there was that beautiful chest that would go so perfectly (and, incidentally, had a "sold" sign on it, but never underestimate a Sperring woman who wants something). So now our Baby Girl has her first two pieces of furniture in as many weeks! And judging by all the kicks and wiggles and nudges, she's quite pleased so far!!

I also find it quite incredible how many adorable little outfits our sweet princess already has in her closet even though she's only been a "she" for two weeks!! Of course, her Nana did start buying sweet little girl clothes almost as soon as we found out we were pregnant, and Steve & I may have bought a thing or two as well...but in the last couple of weeks, her wardrobe seems to have grown almost as quickly as she has!

Last Sunday Steve & I were feeling a bit stir crazy and set out as soon as the rain stopped to get a few things at Target then realized that the store was basically completely empty and there wouldn't possibly be a better time to set up a registry! So, Steve armed with the scanner gun, and I spent some time scanning almost each and every cute little pink item on their shelves! It was quite overwhelming, and I'm sure we could've used assistance from "experienced" scanners, but we had fun nonetheless!



On Wednesday of last week, we took a break from all of the Baby Girl action to focus on Steve's older baby girl, Kimmie, when we spent the afternoon with her having her bridal portraits taken. After spending several hours wandering around Belle Meade Plantation and Cheekwood, we were all quite exhausted, but really enjoyed the day! In less than 3 weeks she'll be an absolutely beautiful bride! After almost 2 years of engagement, we can't believe their wedding day is now coming so quickly!

Finally, topping off all of our festivities of late was my first official Mother's Day! (hopefully Macy won't read this or I'll be in t-r-o-u-b-l-e!) Steve was on call this weekend and in the hospital all day on Saturday, but when he came home at 7 PM, he brought a gorgeous orchid with him! My very first Mother's Day present!! Then, at 4:30 on Sunday morning, I woke up needing to pee (shocking) and he was so excited about giving me the present from Baby Girl, he went to get it right then! I was thrilled to open up an adorable Juicy Couture stroller I'd been eyeing! I absolutely love it! I did find it a bit interesting that the first thing she ever gave me was actually for her...but I should probably get used to that! We both went back to sleep for a bit, then he completed my incredible day with an Eiffel Tower charm for my bracelet from him and a sweet little teddy bear charm from Macy! There isn't much better than baby goodies and blue boxes on a first Mother's Day! Last night, we topped it all off with dinner at Wild Ginger with my parents. I think I'll rate the day as a "10"!

So, that's how our last 2 weeks have been! Now to spend the next two getting ready to see our family, celebrate Kimmie & Clay and get ready for a week at the beach! It might be even busier than these last two! But I know we'll love every minute!

It's a girl!

It seems our life is full of countdowns recently, and one of the ones I've been the most impatient and excited about recently finally ended on Monday! Almost as soon as we learned we were having a baby, I, like every expectant mom I'm sure, have been desperate to know if we were going to have a little prince or a little princess!! At 10 weeks I begged Steve to go along with the gender predictor test at Walgreens, but he laughed and insisted there was absolutely nothing in my urine that could tell us what we were having. He suggested we flip a coin as those odds would be the same. Sometimes it's annoying to be married to a doctor. At 15 weeks I tried to beg and bargain our way to 4D Peek. Again, he insisted that the chances of an accurate answer were as good as flipping the coin at that point. After lots of research online about the best time to see the baby, he did finally agree that we could go for a peek at 17 weeks. Of course his timing was, as always, impeccable because we left for Turks & Caicos two days shy of 17 weeks, we returned right at 18 weeks and our US at the doctor's office was scheduled for 19 weeks, so there was really no point in having a peek less than a week in advance!! All through last week, I'd think to myself "Only 5 more days" or "Only 2 more days" and started feeling quite proud that I, the one who loves surprises but hates suspense, who can't wait to find out what happens at the end of a movie, so I look up the ending on my Iphone in the theater and who still loves Christmas so much I can't sleep the night before, had actually been patient and actually waited the full 19 weeks until our appointment!! That is, until Steve was on OB call at the hospital all day Sunday, and called to see if I wanted to come in and play with an ultrasound machine...at least I made it 18 weeks and 6 days!! So, armed with lunch for Steve & Kimmie, who was also working, as my "excuse", off to the hospital I went, thrilled to get to find out what we were having a whole day early! The whole time we were having lunch together, I was wishing everybody could eat just a little faster, get the small talk over with, and get down to business, I was finished being patient!! So, finally, Steve, Kimmie & I headed over to OB and the next thing I knew, there was our little baby right on the screen!! We watched in amazement as little legs kicked, fingers waved and a tiny little arm punched upwards, swatting at US wand it seemed!! We saw all 4 chambers of the tiny little heart, the perfect little spine, even a little tongue being stuck out at us and what I swear is Kimmie's nose! We did not, however, get to see what we were all there for, of course my baby would be just as stubborn as mom and refuse to give up the money shot a day early!!! Although we left with a pretty good idea, we still didn't know for sure! So back to waiting 19 full weeks and counting down the hours until Monday morning!!

From the very moment we knew we were having a baby, "girl" is the only thing that had been on my mind! Not necessarily because I wouldn't love to have baby boy, but just because that's all that was up there! Steve & I had been able to agree on a name for a baby girl, on nursery furniture, even on paint for the nursery, all for a baby girl! We didn't agree on anything, at all, for a baby boy! So, naturally, we both assumed that's what we'd have, just so God could get a bit of entertainment out of us arguing and bargaining with each other for the next 5 months! I didn't sleep at all on Sunday night and was even up before my 6:15 alarm on Monday morning, ready to know the answer to our question and the next thing I knew, I, with Steve & Mom, was looking at our tiny baby on the screen again! Of course the US tech did a full top to toe inspection of our little miracle before getting to the juicy stuff, but finally, after all this waiting, she informed us we are going to the be parents of an absolutely perfect, beautifully spoiled little princess!! Ah, the countdown is finally over...and so begins the shopping! We have pretty much already chosen her crib, her linens, her walls and her name, or at least, her first name. Discussion on the middle name could get interesting...but as I said, this is one countdown that is over, and the next one we're counting down to is Kimmie's wedding, 30 days from today! Just when Steve thought he was so close to having the only wedding he'd have to pay for over with...it all begins again! And we couldn't be happier!

Our Anniversary

So everybody who knows us knows we LOVE our traveling!! Last August, we went with Kimmie & Clay to The Regent Grand on Grace Bay in the Turks & Caicos Islands, and we loved it so much that I actually filled out a very long survey they emailed to us after our vacation. As a "thank you" for filling it out, they entered us into their yearly drawing for a 4-night return stay to either of their properties. To our surprise and delight, we actually won!! So, last week, off to Turks & Caicos we went!!

We like to go different places and see new things, so we decided we'd spend 4 nights at Parrot Cay and then go for our 4 free nights to Villa Renaissance on Provo. We had fun at both places, as we always do together, but Parrot Cay wasn't really up to all the hype and it made us really excited to get to Provo and Grace Bay!! It didn't help that it rained while we were at PC, but, on a fun note, we did see Keith Richards there at dinner all dressed in his headband, fedora and a trenchcoat because that is clearly what you wear in the Caribbean to go unnoticed...


On Tuesday we left the rain of Parrot Cay behind for our boat ride back to the sunshine and blue water of Grace Bay and our free stay! I can't say enough about how fabulous that free stay was! We had a 2 BR ocean front condo right on the ground floor, so we could walk out our patio and straight to the beach! Every morning they brought us a little basket with bottled water, fruit, pastries, yogurt and juice for our breakfast on the patio, which I just loved!! Along the whole beach side of the condo were sliding glass doors with an electric drop down screen so we could open the whole wall and listen to the waves! I'm not sure how many other guests were there, but it felt like we were the only ones! We spent lots of time laying on the beach, reading, racing at sudoku (which I ALWAYS win), played football in the water and took lots of belly pics!
Afterall, when else can a girl wear a bikini and not have to worry about her belly sticking out!

Thursday was our 4 year anniversary, which is the "fruit or plant" anniversary and how I convinced Steve to take me to TCI for my present as it's full of tropical fruit & plants!! During our patio breakfast that morning, he also surprised me with a palm tree charm from my favorite little blue box to go on my charm bracelet! He got the big surprise that morning, though, when he found an envelope in his fruit basket describing the new guitar that was waiting at home for him! I know it isn't fruit or plant, but it was in a fruit basket, so that works! We had a great time just being lazy together last week, but it's always nice to come back home, too! And now we get to look forward to finding out if our little bundle is a boy or a girl next Monday!!! 

We'll be sure to let you know!

Where to Begin...

I'm not really the "bloggy" type & not sure where to begin, so I guess I'll just catch up the last few years and start at, well, the beginning!

A little more than 5 years ago, Steve & I met at around 3 AM over a central line in the ICU (ah, the romance!) It took a few months for us to start dating, but once we did, we never slowed down and on a birthday trip to Italy he proposed during a gondola ride in Venice! Next week we will be celebrating our 4th wedding anniversary!!

During the last few years, we've had a great time enjoying our families, our puppy dogs Maggie & Macy and generally just being together! We have a mutual love, or perhaps obsession, with travel and if you ask what we've done the last few years, the best answer I have is that we've just travelled!!! Together we have visited some of the most incredible places I'd ever imagined!

Before we were married, we visited Nevis, Hawaii, the Caribbean on a cruise with my family and went to England for me to meet Steve's family.  For our honeymoon, we relaxed in Aitutaki, swam with sharks in Bora Bora and shopped along Rodeo Drive!

Steve introduced ME (the most non-athletic girl ever) to snow skiing, which I quickly fell in love with, followed by my mom & dad!

We've sailed through the BVI on a romantic catamaran with just the two of us, then again with Steve's daughter, Kimmie, & her soon to be husband, Clay. We have spent time in Anguilla, Virgin Gorda, Peter Island, Turks & Caicos, Canouan Island, Puerto Morelos, St Lucia and our favorite beach spot, Barbuda.

For years, Steve's mum vacationed in a little lake town in Italy called Malcesine most summers, and we've been lucky enough to meet her there a couple of times. Steve is originally from near London, so we like to go to England when we can to visit his mum, sister and brother, all still there. It's also a handy spot to start (or finish) trips to other parts of Europe, so I've become obsessed with Paris and all things Parisian, been to Prague for the Christmas markets and have fallen in love with an entire country during time in Italy! We were even able to convince my parents and grandparents to come with us in the summer of 2008 for about 2 weeks traveling through Italy, visiting Paris and ending up in London with the Sperrings!  No matter where we are, we've always had fun together, even though we were once dropped off at an "airport hotel" in Barbados around midnight because our flight to the Grenadines was cancelled, spent last Valentine's Day at another "airport hotel" in Antigua for another cancelled flight, between the two of us, have lost our luggage 6 times (or maybe more), gotten food poisoning in Vail, and last but not least, while shopping for a rain coat and umbrella in the pouring rain in Dublin (lost luggage) Steve slipped and broke his elbow on the first of 10 days in Europe!! And being the good nurse that I am, I spent the whole week telling him he was fine and it was just a bruise...but that's not important now, practically ancient history!!

Soooo, that basically covers the last 5 years, which have been quite an adventure for us! Of course during this time, we've only been asked about a thousand times when we were going to stop traveling and have a baby (only about 990 of those were my mom). Our answer was always that we had one more city to explore or one more beach to lay on, etc etc. Actually, though, we weren't really traveling instead of having a baby, but rather because we didn't have one. We both knew from before we ever said "I do" that for us, a family together was a must. Steve already has 3 children, but we both wanted our own family together, which, not to give TMI, required my sweet, wonderful, incredible husband to go back under the knife for a vasectomy reversal shortly after our wedding, 4 years ago. During this time that has passed, along with the traveling, we've taken ovulation tests, false pregnancy tests, consulted with a fertility specialist and finally, in the fall of last year, began the necessary steps to do IVF, which isn't really a secret to those who know us well, as our doctor told us "I'm not saying it's impossible to have a baby without it, but it is a one in a million chance." We had everything lined up and prepared to actually begin the treatments in January, and hopefully be expecting a few months later, honestly so that I could get in one more ski trip and also not be miserably huge for Kimmie's wedding in May (that's the biggest day of her life, which we wanted nothing to interfere with!)! So, that was our plan. The week before our ski trip was planned in January, in true Sperring fashion, I came down with something, was sure it was the flu, and spent the whole week feeling absolutely awful with body aches, low grade fever, stomach cramps and nausea. The day before the trip, I had no choice but to run a few last minute errands picking up things that we needed, and that's when I realized that something was a bit "off"! So, along with my always & tampax I assumed I'd be needing any minute, I picked up a little box of those magical sticks that you pee on and your whole world either changes or it doesn't (and of course went through the "self checkout" lane, didn't want to be the crazy chic buying tampons and a pregnancy test together). When I got back home again, Steve was already off work and was busy packing away, so I told him my thoughts, which worried him that my hopes were up, but we both figured if I were going to spend the next week throwing myself down the side of Vail mountain, it couldn't hurt just to check...and surprise, surprise, this time that little stick actually did change our world and today, as I write this, I'm 16 weeks along and couldn't possibly be happier!

Some may wonder why do I chose to tell all of this, but, it's because it's our story and you can't imagine how wonderfully excited we are about the next chapters without knowing the previous ones, too. And even though we've had to wait longer than we thought we would, and basically nothing has gone according to our "plan", I wouldn't change one day of our last five years together, they have been truly fabulous! So, as I said before, this is the beginning of our story that's been filled with love, happiness, fun, and what we thought was adventure, but I have a feeling the real adventure will begin in about 24 more weeks!!