Grayson Stamped Custom Keepsake

I entered a little giveaway at in this wonderful life's blog and I won!  I was so excited about winning this giveaway.  I have wanted one of these ever since I saw Megan's. 

Thanks Megan for the awesome giveaway!

Look what I won:

Isn't it perfect?  It was made by JulieTheFish Designs

You can go to her site by clicking here!

I am very pleased and happy to be wearing it around my neck! 

This would be a perfect gift for any Mom.  So start shopping!

Mother's Day is May 9th 2010!

Thanks for all your help on my last post!  I loved reading all your opinions.  For now I am going to wait until Grayson arrives and see if we need it.

Happy Thursday!

Nap Nanny

Question for all mommies...

have you seen the Nap Nanny?

What do you think of this product?  

I am considering getting one for Grayson, but I want to know if it is worth the money?

Nap Nanny is a groundbreaking product designed by a mother to improve infant sleep.  The Nap Nanny is a portable recliner designed to help comfort and improve sleep for babies with colic, reflux, gas, colds, earaches, flu, and special needs.  The Nap Nanny has a special harness making sure baby sleeps safely and securely at a 30 degree incline. 

http://www.napnanny.com/

National Infertility Awareness Week - Our Story

Picture taken by Amie Hansen Photography

A good Blogging Friend of mine Tiffany from The Pifer's Journey asked me to write our story as part of her week long dedication to NIAW. 

Here is a brief intro to our story:

Us girls all have fairy tales, dreams, desires, wants, and plans for our future. We feel that if we make these plans that they will come true. My dreams have come true, but the timing of the dreams aren't always when I thought it would be. Let me start at the beginning. Our story began when Chad and I got married in September 26th, 2006. We spent our first year of marriage truly enjoying our marriage as a couple. It was a great first year! Towards the end of the first year Chad and I went on a 1st Year Anniversary Trip to Mexico and a month before leaving we decided to go off the pill and start trying to have a baby. We spent the next 10 months trying on our own with no success at all. I was scheduled for my yearly OBGYN appointment and we decided that we would seek additional help. I still remember that day as if it was yesterday sitting in the doctor's office telling my OBGYN that we were having problems and then our world was turned upside down.

You can go to Tiffany's blog today and read this rest of our AMAZING story!  Thanks Tiffany for allowing me to give hope to all couples facing infertility.  I will continue to pray for you and Zach that all your dreams will come true!  As well as all the SWEET couples that are facing infertility and longing to hold a baby some day! 

With love ~ Melissa

Week 36

Nine Months...WOW this is all amazing to me that in 4 weeks or less I will see and hold little G.  We are so excited for his arrival!  As I stated in my last post Chad thinks that Grayson will be born on May 5th.  I don't think he will be here until the Week of May 17th.  If you haven't voted on when you think Grayson will arrive it is on the right hand side of my blog.

Grayson almost weighs 6 pounds the size of a crenshaw melon and he is more than 18 inches long.  At our appointment last Wednesday Grayson's heartbeat was 136, my belly measured at 35 1/2 weeks, he is head down, my doctor estimated that he weighs 5 pounds, and I was 1 CM dilated.  All of this is exciting as the end is insight.  Even though I am going to MISS all the movements in my belly.  I am enjoying the last several weeks of pregnancy by taking it all in, watching my belly more, and relaxing at home with my hubby.  We have spent the last several weekends being VERY busy and now it is time to STOP and relax a bit before Grayson gets here.  We will see how that goes...Chad is not one to sit around and do much! 

Grayson's Nursery is still not complete, but at the moment there is nothing more WE can do.  Our dresser is scheduled to arrive May 15th, 2010.  Once it arrives we will finish up the final details.  The closet in the nursery is completely full and I look forward to the day when everything is organized and put in its place.  If Grayson comes before May 15th we will be okay, but I would prefer to have everything done before he arrives.  We will see what happens. 

Pregnancy Highlights:

How Far Along:  36 Weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss:  15 pounds

Maternity Clothes: I am wearing my maternity jeans and loving them. They are so comfy!

Best Moment this week:  My doctor's appointment - hearing Grayson's heartbeat and hearing the news that I am 1 CM dilated!  I also had a Prenatal Massage on Saturday (thanks to my husband) and it was AMAZING!  I highly recommend it for all pregnancy girls!

Gender: It's A Boy - Grayson Konnor!

Movement:  Yes it is AMAZING! The punches, jabs, and kicks are a bit stronger and at times hurt. But it is worth it. I love feeling them and knowing that Grayson is inside of me doing well.

Food Craving:  I haven't really had any new cravings.

Honey Nut Cheerios, Dark Chocolate, Cinnamon Bears, Twizzlers, Zone Perfect Dark Chocolate Bars, and Chocolate Muffins from a local bakery in Bentonville. They are so Yummy!

What I miss:  Sleeping on my belly and sleeping through the night!

Sleep:  The past couple of nights I have slept good. I think that I have been so busy that by the end of the day I have no problem falling sleep.

What I am looking forward to:  Relaxing and watching Grayson in my belly over the next several weeks!

Belly Button:  In for now, but it looks like it is going to POP out! However I did find out that both my sister's belly buttons did not pop out.

Symptoms:  I am still extremely tired by the end of the day and I have had stronger contractions throughout the day.  This past Friday I had them throughout the night and it was VERY uncomfortable! 

 

NEXT WEEK I will be FULL TERM... WEEK 37 here we come!

When Will...

Grayson Arrive?

That is the question in our house.  Will I be pregnant until the end of May or will Grayson come early? 

This past Wednesday I had my doctor's appointment and had my first Cervical Check.  Let me tell you it was VERY uncomfortable.  I am 1 CM dilated.  It was exciting to hear as Grayson will be here soon, but when?

Here are a few other updates from my appointment:

No weight gain - still holding strong at 15 pounds in total

Grayson's Heartbeat - 136

My Belly Measured @ 35 1/2 weeks

Grayson is around 5 pounds

I go back in 2 weeks, but until then what are your thoughts... do you think Grayson will be here early?

Chad thinks that Grayson will be born on May 5th 2010.  I think he will not be here until the week of May 17th 2010. 

I have added a POLL on the right hand side of my blog.  So if you would like please vote for which week you think Grayson will be here?  I think it will be FUN to see your answers. 
Happy Friday!

The Gift

Our dear friends Alex and Anthony gave us a wonderful Gift for Grayson.  It is a blessing for our Grayson.  We have one for his room, one for our bible, and one to read each day. 

Once Grayson's dresser arrives this will be displayed on top of his dresser.  Below is the blessing:

The Gift

Father God

After all these months of pregnancy, what will we do with this gift ~ this Grayson Konnor Stafford?  We value him and love him ~ just like You.  We'll meditate on, remember and team him Your truth ~ that You knit him together in the womb.  He is made in Your image.  He is a creator.  He creates his life with his words ~ just like You.  So we abide in ~ delight in ~ feed on Your Word and keep the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts acceptable and pleasing to You.  We will only think and speak to and about him in ways that agree with You ~ what You have already said about our baby, our Grayson ~ this child of Yours. 

After all these months of anticipation and planning, what will we do with this gift?  We'll meditate on, remember and teach him Your truth ~ that You will not ~ You will not ~ You will not leave him nor forsake him so he can boldly say that You are his Helper.  You've sent angels to protect him and help him do everything You've placed him in this earth to do.  The angels respond and obey Your voice ~ Your Word ~ coming out of our mouths.  So we will not be anxious or worry about him.  We cast his care on You because You care for him and us. 

What will we do with this gift?  We will continually thank You that he has great peace and thank You for teaching him daily.  We'll meditate on, remember and teach him Your truth ~ that he has the mind of Christ, an anointed mind.  He is quick to learn and has success in school and throughout his life.  Like Daniel, he stands for You and you bless him with skill in learning, in wisdom and in understanding.  In all matters, he is found to be ten times better than the devil's children.  He's blessed coming in and blessed going out!  He's above only and not beneath!  He's the head and not the tail!  And that blessing ~ that You bestowed on Adam, on Abraham and, thru Jesus, on Grayson and us... that blessing Makes Us Rich!

In Jesus' name, I thank You and praise You ~ Amen. 

Thanks Alex and Anthony we are blessed to have you both in our life! 

a blessing inside and out

Blessings come in many shapes,

In sizes large and small,

But a brand new little baby

is the sweetest of them all!

All photos taken by Amie Hansen Photography!