35 Weeks, Showers, and More!

I'm 35 weeks pregnant.  I can't believe I only have 5 weeks left!  It's flying by so quickly.  Everything is continuing to go well, and for that Lee and I are very grateful.  We enjoy watching and feeling this little girl move.  We are reading On Becoming Babywise, so we are sure we will be perfect parents with a perfect baby in no time, right?  Just kidding!  My doctor's appointments are going well.  At my 32 week appointment I had actually lost 1/2 pound, so Dr. Walker mistakingly made the comment, "You can eat more if you'd like."  Well OK!  So, after two weeks of just following doctor's orders, my weight gain at 34 weeks was, as he termed it, "interesting."  I really am hungry all the time!  Lee and I have been very blessed to have two wonderful showers over the past two weekends.  The first shower was January 29th and was given by the ladies of our church.  Everything was beautiful, the food was delicious, and there were so many nice gifts.  We are very grateful for our church family.

Kim (also expecting!), Mrs. Cheryl, Me, Mom, and Granny

The sweet hostesses.  Mrs. Kay somehow managed to not make this picture, so she is pictured below: 

Ms. Melanie, Mrs. Mary Jean, and Mrs. Kay

The gift table.

Our second shower was February 5th, hosted by my Aunt Daph and Aunt Kathy, with a little help from my mother and Big Mama.  It was a vintage-themed shower, and everything was precious!  I have never seen such a cute shower!  We played two games, one of which involved everyone guessing the circumference of my belly.  Evidently, I look like a small house!  The decorations were a mix of family heirlooms and antique store finds.  It was right up my alley!  I received so many special gifts from so many special people.  I am so thankful for everyone who came. 

The gift table and pretty backdrop.  My mother made the diaper cake.

The yummy food!

Aunt Kathy, Aunt Daph, and me.  I'm wearing the corsage my mother wore at a baby shower for me!

Big Mama, me, and Granny

"Grandmother," "Mama," and "Nana"

As wonderful as the shower was, it ended with a trip to the hospital.  I managed to fall and give everyone a good scare.  I broke the fall with my hand and knee, but just to make sure everything was OK, I decided to put myself on the monitor just to check the baby.  My nurse friends called Dr. Walker when they saw I was having some tiny little contractions.  He came in, and I ended up staying overnight.  Call me "Grace."  Fortunately, the contractions stopped and the baby looked great.  It's flat shoes from now on for me!

31 Weeks

I'm 31 weeks pregnant today!  The time is really flying by now.  Lee and I have been very busy with Christmas, a move, and preparations for this little girl.  I've had two doctor's appointments since my last post.  At 28 weeks I had my glucose tolerance test.  After failing the 1-hour test I was sure I would be bidding farewell to all things sweet (right before Christmas).  Fortunately, I passed the 3-hour test.  My appointment last week went well.  Everything is looking great!   Just nine more weeks to go!





27 Weeks

I'm 27 weeks pregnant!  We've been busy with Christmas festivities and as you can see I have enjoyed my sweets.  This baby girl is growing!  She's already been so blessed.  Her Uncle Jacob and his girlfriend Crystal gave us some pretty things for her nursery.  My parents gave us a basket with pretty things and some books to read to the baby now.  I'm particularly fond of this one:

I've given this to expectant moms before, so I was thrilled to get it as a gift myself.  This is my favorite page:

Lee and I really can't wait to meet this baby girl!  I mean we don't want her coming early or anything, but we are definitely looking forward to March!

Baby Knowles Is . . .

A GIRL!!!  Lee and I went to the Florida Institute of Ultrasound yesterday.  The students and their instructor all agreed that this baby is a girl.  We're tickled pink! 

Going Home

Today we laid to rest the body of my sweet great-grandmother.  The Lord called Grandmama home Saturday, November 19th.  She was 94 years old.  She still lived at home alone, cooked her meals, and attended church every Sunday.  She was truly a remarkable lady.  Grandmama loved the Lord, her friends and family, and her church.  She will be deeply missed, but we know she is at home with Jesus now.  She left us many memories and stories.  Here are a few of my favorites:

• One Mother's Day a few years back, Grandmama was recognized as the oldest mother in the church.  She stood and proceeded to announce, "I may be the oldest, but I'm not the ugliest!"
• When my brother and I were in elementary school she asked what grades we received on our report cards.  I replied with "all A's."  My brother's answer was "C's and D's."  She said, "Well here, let me give you a dollar anyway."  My mother says Grandmama swore it was always the teacher's fault that Jacob received such low grades.  Nothing like a grandmother.
• Grandmama's expletive of choice:  "Bull-turkey!"
• Until my family decided that it was no longer safe for her to drive, Grandmama made daily trips to "Big Bear," the local grocery store.  She knew the employees, and evidently considered herself a quality control specialist.  She was quick to let them know if there was something she disapproved of.  I thought the poor woman would never stop talking about the change from white to black styrofoam under packaged meat.  The store changed forever when Grandmama drove into the exterior wall and then repeatedly tried to convince us that her foot was on the brake instead of the gas. 
• She enjoyed eating cookies and pies as much as she liked to make them.  Her specialties were fruitcake cookies, spiced and chocolate-covered pecans, lemon pie, and Lee's favorite, pecan pie.  She believed a meal was not complete unless there was dessert, and I tend to agree.

Brother Larry said it best today when he said the word that describes her best is "faithful."  He also talked about how truly content she was with what very little she had.  She loved greatly and was greatly loved.  We are truly blessed to have had many wonderful years with such a Godly lady.

 





24 Weeks

Today I had my 24 week appointment, and everything looks great!  I had an ultrasound.  Dr. Walker took measurements and attempted to determine the gender.  The baby measures over one pound.  We are still not sure if the baby is a boy or a girl.  At my 16 week appointment Dr. Walker said he was 70% sure the baby was a boy.  Today he said the baby looks more like a girl.  How in the world am I supposed to decorate a nursery?  Fortunately, however, this baby will be well-dressed, boy or girl.  My mother has been busy working her magic with fabric and thread.  We have a few gowns for a boy, and she is now working on one for a girl.  I am blessed to have a mother who loves heirloom sewing!  On another note, my Granny said to me today, "You are looking very pregnant!"  There's no denying the bump now.  I love it!

23 Weeks and the Beginning of the Blog

My name is Tiffany Knowles, and I am beginning this blog to keep friends and family updated as we grow our family.  My husband Lee and I are overjoyed that we are expecting our first baby, and we are looking forward to becoming parents!

Lee and I were married on June 11th of 2005.  We planned to begin a family a couple of years ago and have since suffered through three miscarriages and a few other bumps along the way.  The Lord has blessed us with this pregnancy, and so far things are going very smoothly.  We are truly grateful.

I am now at 23 weeks.  I feel good, and I am enjoying being pregnant and planning for this sweet baby.  Thank you for reading, and welcome to The Knowles Family blog!