SHOW US YOUR LIFE

Show us your life this week is Wedding Shower Ideas. I had two wedding showers and a bacheolrette party....all were wonderful! One of my closest friends and her mother threw me a shower and all of Zach's aunts threw us a shower. A great idea that my friend and mom did was they made all my favorites food or snacks for the shower....it really made it more personal to me and I appreciated it so much. They also had petit fours....which were to die for and I would suggest for showers....very easy to eat and eat MANY!

For my second shower, I love the tradition in my husband's family. For every first marriage and first child, all the sister's (Zach's aunts) get together and throw a shower. Having 7 nieces and 3 nephews of my own....that is at this point....I would love to be able to do this for them, too! This shower was a little bit different from my first shower because I didn't know as many people being they were from my soon to be-in-laws side of the family. One thing I would suggest for anyone who is going to a shower and it is a family friend but you don't really know the bride is to always buy off the registry...And for brides....don't only register for high ticket items! Find things in all price ranges.

My two sisters threw me a Bachelorette Party down in Gulf Shores. Unfortunately, the weather did not really work with us and Hurricane Fay was approaching on the same weekend. So what we thought would be a great weekend on the beach, turned into chick flicks inside and TONS OF FOOD! We all had a great relaxing time together, though and that is what matters. One word of advice I would give to anyone hosting a bachelorette party is to make the night, weekend, or whatever realistic and affordable for everyone invited. The whole point is to make great memories for the Bride with her closest friends and that shouldn't mean losing a pay check!

Just Call me Mrs. Moody

Some may not believe this....but I absolutely hate being moody. But what I hate more is when I realize, dead in my tracks, that I am having a HUGE mood swing. Different things lately have just completely flipped my mood upside down in a split second! I just find myself crying for stupid reasons or no reason at all. I feel so bad for Zach too because he usually is in the center of it all...who better to take things out on than your husband (it really isn't fair, I know).

I am guessing these lovely swings in mood are due to a mixture of being tired, fat, knowing I am getting fatter, being bloated, having indigestion, waddling, forgetting things left and right, swelling, aching....I mean wouldn't any ONE of these things send you into a frenzy....but for them all to happen at the same time! Give me a break! The joys of being a woman. And yes, I know it is all worth it...I just hope that the person who comes across me during a mood swing thinks so too.

On a lighter note.....Zach and I have so much to look forward to in the coming weeks! I am pretty sure every weekend but 3 are full of things to do up until our little one arrives (that is if he/she is on time).

Aug. 28-30

Beth Moore Conference (can't wait) and Misty, Shawn and the girls are visiting!

September 4-6

Alabama football season begins in Atlanta against Virgina Tech......I can hear Rammer Jammer being sung already! Pre-season ranking: #5 Roll Tide! And Zach and I will have been married 1 year! Yay for us!

September 11-13

Friday night we are going to celebrate our Anniversary seeing Chicago at The Fox Theatre and spending the night at The Georgian Terrace! Then Berry Bound for my first baby shower. Then back to Atlanta for a "good-bye" dinner for Kaitlin.

September 18-20

The weekend starts with training for work...no fun, but I get paid. Then we have a couples shower for a friend from church Saturday night which will be a blast!

September 25-27

Hopefully going to be able to travel to Tuscaloosa to celebrate our niece, Kendall's, 1st birthday and then get some tailgating in for the Alabama vs. Arkansas game. Go BAMA!

October 2-4

Should include relaxing and watching Alabama vs. Kentucky (Can you tell I love football season yet?) Also, celebrating our little bundle of joy with all my friends and family in Atlanta at my 2nd baby shower.

October 9-11

This weekend is up in the air. Two great friends of mine just recently got engaged and are having a party in Nashville. As much as I want to be there, we will see how I feel. And one other great friend of mine has a baby shower that Sunday. This is also Bama vs. Ole Miss...should be a great game this year! ALA.....BAMA!

October 16-18

One weekend so far that we have nothing planned....I hope this weekend includes putting my feet up and watching Alabama vs. South Carolina! Roll Tide Roll!

October 23-25

Zach has a "Boys" weekend planned in Tuscaloosa. Depending on how I feel, I may make the trip with him to have some much needed girl time before the baby arrives and to get some great tailgating in for the Alabama vs. Tennessee game. The song for this one isn't blog appropriate.

October 30- Novemebr 1

Second weekend we have nothing planned...possibly eating all the Halloween Candy I am supposed to pass out.

November 6-8

One of the biggest games of the season....Alabama vs. LSU...I always look forward to this Saturday. Hopefully, I won't be watching it from a hospital bed....but then again that wouldn't be so bad :) But nothing else planned otherwise....expect of course getting everything ready for the baby's arrival!

November 13-15

Baby Phillips is due to arrive. We will see!!!

And then we will be able to sit down and breathe....YEA RIGHT!

When is the Baby going to get here???

Every morning, my niece Ally comes straight to my belly....tells me how much she loves my baby and always will, gives my belly a big kiss and then asks....WHEN IS THE BABY GOING TO BE HERE! Everyday!

At first I would always say...in November....but what does that really mean to a 4 year old? Then I started saying....after Julie's birthday (Oct. 24th). That worked for a while...but just wasn't cutting it...the question still comes everyday.

So, I decided to have the girls help me make a paper link chain that counts down to the Expected Due Date (like you do for Christmas). It went over really well and Ally and Kayley really did well. We decorated all 80 strips of paper and then each girl handed me a strip to staple together. Now instead of Ally asking if the baby is coming today....she says "Can we tear off another circle today?"

....79.....and counting!

28 week Appointment

I went to my 28 week appointment this morning. Everything went really well....did the typical weigh in, blood pressure...you know. The doctor checked the heart rate...it was in the mid 140s and measured my growth. And that was it...short, sweet and simple. Next appointment is on Sept. 9th. And the countdown begins....12 weeks!

Here is a picture of me at 6 weeks and then my 28 week for comparison. It is hard to notice changes from week to week, but then when you look at where I was when I started....WOW!

Some other news. I am so excited for this weekend. My mom, Mrs. Brenda and I are headed to a local church, Grace Fellowship, for Beth Moore's Living Proof Simulcast. It is Friday night and Saturday morning/afternoon. If any of you live in the area and want to join us....go to http://www.gracefellowshipchurch.com/ministries/women/ExoEvents.aspx and register. I am pretty sure it is going to be AMAZING!

Also, visit my friend Kim's blog to see a very inspiring video...I think everyone needs these little reminders every once and a while....I know I do! http://kimi-1stepatatime.blogspot.com/

28 Weeks = 3rd Trimester = I feel HORRIBLE!

I have had absolutely AMAZING luck throughout this pregnancy...I have felt great and loved every minute of it. Until this morning.....not feeling so hot. I am hoping it is just today and something I ate...but still no fun.

Today, I hit my 28 week mark.....HELLO 3rd Trimester. I am so excited to say that! I started working out and it felt so wonderful. At the Y, all the cardio equipment has its own TV with Dvd player. I am going to love this! I worked out on the elliptical and definitely felt some liagment pains on my side....but nothing that was too bad to not work out. All that I seem to think about though is running and how good it is going to feel. Crazy, I know.

Wednesday, Zach and I attended our last Showing & Glowing class. Again, very knowledgeable and I am glad we went. This week we learned more about anatomy and physiology. Saw some visuals of what 10cm actually looks like....WOW and OUCH! Learned some important lingo so we actually know what the doctor is talking about and saw the infamous birth video....Poor Zach...he had quite a tough time. At one point, I looked over at him and both hands were over his mouth and eyes were squinted....He looked like me when I watch a horror movie....haha. I guess in his world...this was a horror movie. We also practiced some more relaxation techniques and I will definitely be going to the store and picking up a massage tool for the hospital bag. Our next class, Ready & Able, starts on September 2nd and is 4 weeks long. We will have the same nurse teaching us and the couples in S & G are in this class, too. Ready & Able is all about preparing us for Delivery! Our instructor told us to bring pillows every week and expect to be on the mats the entire time. I am very much looking forward to these next couple weeks.

I have my 28 week appointment on Monday. Same old, same old....I am pretty sure. And after Monday, I will be going every 2 weeks....CRAZY! The baby moves a lot more a night now. I wake up randomly almost every night for about 1 to 2 hours and there is a party going on in my belly. But it makes being up by myself much more enjoyable.

This past week, Zach and I and my sister went to take some maternity shots. Here are some of my favorites:

SHOW US YOUR LIFE

This week is Baby Shower Ideas.....which is PERFECT timing! I have a shower in September, one in October, and a TON of Friends that are pregnant!

One idea that I absolutely love due to being a Book Worm is instead of the guests bringing a card, they bring a book for the baby's library. My SIL told me about this idea from a shower she was invited to.

I also love the idea of doing more of a group luncheon....especially with close friends. There is no real planning and it is relaxed and laid back. But you can still celebrate the baby and all of your close friends have a great excuse to get together!

No sitting around for me!

When one door closes, another door opens....I love how this seems to work. As you know, I found out last Tuesday, I never had the job with the family in Loganville. Now, I have been hired and started working on Monday at the Gwinnett YMCA as a counselor for after school programs. I have enjoyed this so much so far. I travel to various elementary schools and play games, help with homework and supervise a group of children from 2-6:30...give or take. Right now I am a sub...going where ever they need me...but when a stationary position comes open at one of the schools, I will be hired on full time. This works great for Zach and me, especially when the baby comes because it is opposite of his work schedule and still gets me home in time for dinner! The other absolutely wonderful thing about this job, that I think I am more excited about, is the FREE MEMBERSHIP I now have to the Y, which will be so great when training for our races and teaching the baby to swim.

Since I now have a membership to a gym and mornings free....Labor Training will be starting very soon.....November 14th is approaching quickly. I have been told time and time again that labor is a marathon not a sprint. Having run a marathon before....I know exactly what someone means by this phrase. A marathon has to be trained for.....mentally and physically. It is not something that one just sits back and should expect to be able to do easily. One thing I do know about myself from running a marathon is that I am very mentally strong. I would say, for me, that running a marathon was 10% physical and 90% mental. Nothing can talk you into or out of something quicker than your own thoughts. With that being said, the elliptical and I will be becoming very good friends soon. I have been looking into other exercises that will help with labor and everywhere I have read to do Tailor Sitting, Squats and Pelvic Tilts.

I have also looked into which group aerobics classes are offered everyday. I can't wait to take a Yoga class because I definitely need help on breathing! I also can't wait for a spinning class once the baby is here....I have wanted to take one for a while now....inspiration from the Biggest Loser.

LET THE TRAINING BEGIN!