tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91994849796663346622024-03-01T00:39:23.290-05:00Cary and KellyA blog to chronicle our life as husband and wife!Cary F Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10688759264912486478noreply@blogger.comBlogger184125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199484979666334662.post-5116336625687504172015-08-08T15:00:00.000-04:002015-08-08T15:44:00.576-04:00One year old and growing...<br />
I haven't blogged in nearly a year...wow, being a new mom has kept me busy. It is hard to believe that this precious angel is over a year old now! We have truly been blessed. <br />
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Just a tiny newborn...</div>
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And now she is a year old!</div>
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Here are some photos from her first birthday party...thank you to everyone who helped me that day, and of course, to everyone who came and celebrated with us! It was a special day. Happy Birthday, Collins! We love you.<br />
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She wasn't sure about the smash cake. Played in the icing more than she actually ate it!</div>
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The favors were carrot cake cupcakes (a small version of her smash cake)</div>
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I am one!</div>
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~~photography by Natalie Defnall PhotographyKelly Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04979040562229303037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199484979666334662.post-72702837979216710682014-08-23T08:29:00.001-04:002014-08-23T08:29:58.293-04:00Blessing New Moms and DadsI know, haven't posted in a while. We've been a little busy with our bundle of joy. Here's a post I started but never actually posted....kinda appropriate since time is so precious nowadays.<br />
I've always loved the sweet gesture of taking a meal over to new parents who have returned home from the hospital. How practical is it to take a meal to a newly expanded, and newly busy, family? You know they are hectically keeping up with a newborn's needs, and the last thing on their minds is cooking!<br />
We've been able to bless many new families in our church with a yummy meal, usually a hearty meal for supper time. But recently, I've been thinking, Mom and Dad (and siblings) need to eat breakfast and lunch, too!<br />
Here are some ideas and recipes for lunch and breakfast meals to take to new families who have just brought home their new addition.<br />
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<u>Breakfast</u>:<br />
Muffins (Here's my favorite <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/To-Die-For-Blueberry-Muffins/Detail.aspx?crlt.pid=camp.1niaGFVRitHu" target="_blank">blueberry muffin recipe</a>)<br />
Biscuits with jellies <br />
Breakfast Casserole (see recipe below)<br />
Sliced Fruit Medley or Whole Fresh Fruit<br />
Orange Juice <br />
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<u>Lunch</u>:<br />
Chicken Salad or Pimento Cheese (Here's a simple <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/southern-pimento-cheese/" target="_blank">pimento cheese recipe</a>)<br />
with Crackers or Bread for Sandwiches<br />
Pita Chips with Hummus <br />
Dried Fruit or Trail Mix <br />
Sweet Tea or Lemonade<br />
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Keep in mind any dietary restrictions, too. Are they vegetarian or need gluten-free food options?<br />
Check out your local bakery or even the dollar store to find containers to use for your delicious treats. I always carry everything over in an insulated picnic basket, but use containers that I don't expect to get back. Dress them up with ribbon or cute twine. I also write instructions on the containers, like "keep refrigerated" or heating instructions for casseroles. <br />
Not Susie Homemaker? That's ok! Check out the Deli and Bakery section of your grocery store. Or pick up a platter from a local restaurant...doesn't have to be fancy...bagels, sub sandwiches, chicken nuggets, anything yummy. The gesture will be appreciated, I promise!<br />
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Here's one of my favorite breakfast casseroles. I've made it for family get-togethers, tailgates, you name it. <br />
<u>Sausage and Grits Casserole</u><br />
1 pound Sausage (mild or hot)<br />
1 cup Grits<br />
2 Eggs, beaten <br />
3 cups Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese <br />
1 cup Chopped Onions<br />
Salt and Pepper<br />
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Brown and drain sausage and onion. Cook grits according to package instructions. Mix the two together in a large pan, add 2 eggs and 2 cups of the shredded cheese. Add a dash of salt and pepper. Stir until incorporated well. Pour into 9x13 baking dish coated with cooking spray. Top with remaining shredded cheese (add more if desired). Bake at 350 degrees for one hour. Try it with diced bell peppers or jalapenos for some heat!<br />
<br />Kelly Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04979040562229303037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199484979666334662.post-20063068322771895862014-06-25T17:00:00.001-04:002014-06-26T14:49:16.874-04:00Collins' NurseryThe last time I posted about the nursery, we had painted the room and prepared it for our Master's Week renters. It has definitely changed since then into a special room for our beautiful baby girl.<br />
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The bedding is from Carousel Designs, a USA based <a href="http://www.babybedding.com/" target="_blank">company </a>with gorgeous baby bedding and fabrics. My mom made the curtains, fabric also from Carousel Designs, to match the bedding. And Cary constructed the cornice board, which I upholstered.<br />
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This was cross stitched by Granny, Collins' great grandmother on the Malcom side of the family. It hangs above her crib. The other frames will hold photos of Collins.<br />
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Cary's parents gifted us with the crib mattress, and my Mom made the pillows which were monogrammed by a friend of hers. The classic Jenny Lind crib was destined for the trash because it was a drop side style which is now considered dangerous for babies. (Goodwill won't even take them.) But with some adjustments (ie 5-inch bolts) Cary turned it into a standard and safe crib.<br />
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This shelf is full of keepsakes from my childhood as well as gifts from family and friends. The white dress was her going-home outfit. <br />
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The little stuffed lamb on the table is from her Great Aunt Doris. The recliner is a hand-me-down LazyBoy from my parents, which I had re-upholstered in JoAnn's fabric. </div>
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The dresser/changing table is from Savvy Shopper, a local furniture store that specializes in painted/re-claimed/antique pieces. The cross is from Hobby Lobby, which I spray painted dark grey. The polka dot piggy bank is from TJMaxx. The "Collins" bunting was made by a friend. The monogram is from an etsy store called League of Letters. The small rug has been replaced with a pink shag rug that covers much of the room. <br />
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The book shelves are spice racks from IKEA. There are four of them hanging on the wall beside her closet. I painted them pink, and my parents helped hang them. They hold new books which were gifts from friends and relatives as well as books from my and Cary's childhood. <br />
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All photos were taken by a dear friend and photographer, Natalie Defnall. Here is her <a href="http://nataliedefnallphotography.com/" target="_blank">website</a>.<br />
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<br />Kelly Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04979040562229303037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199484979666334662.post-35929833498618274092014-06-12T16:51:00.000-04:002014-06-12T16:51:37.605-04:0039 Weeks: The DeliveryTimeline (estimated based on phone calls/text to our parents):<br />
9:00pm- get home from softball game and Kelly says "no rush, but we are going to the hospital tonight"<br />
10:20pm- arrive at hospital and go to traige. Kelly was placed on monitors and 4 cm dilated<br />
10:50pm- moved to an L&D room; we were told "you're having this baby tonight"<br />
11:50pm- epidural placed<br />
12:55am- water broke and 7 cm<br />
1:15am- 10 cm and OB called<br />
1:40am- OB arrived and on to the fun part<br />
2:39am- Collins was born<br />
5:30am- after bath, assessments, and recovery, we finally get to our room<br />
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This picture was taken right before we left for the hospital:<br />
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Throughout the pregnancy, Kelly had not really had many contractions and the ones she had were pretty small. Well, that all changed on Tuesday night. Kelly woke me up describing intense pains, but they were irregular so we knew it was false labor. She was up most of the night and decided to take Wednesday off from work as she already had a regular OB appt that afternoon. At her appointment, she was 1 cm dilated with minimal expectations for a delivery soon. <br />
Kelly went to work on Thursday, with stop-in-your-tracks contractions throughout the day. She said if these had gotten any worse, she would not have been able to treat patients.<br />
That evening, Kelly said it was less painful to be upright and walking around rather than laying down, so she walked (or paced) throughout our downstairs area. She said it was fine for me to go to my softball game, so I did. In hindsight, it was a good thing we lost the game, because otherwise, we would have played again at 9:30pm.<br />
After returning home, even stopping to get her frozen yogurt on the way home by her request, she let me know pretty quickly that we wouldn't be staying home tonight. The bags were already packed so after showering and loading the car, we headed to the hospital. Once we got to the hospital, everything moved quickly. Kelly had told me after arriving, I hope this isn't "false labor and they send us home." That was certainly not the case as we were in a room within 30 minutes. We had an awesome L&D nurse who supported us the whole time. She re-assured us and answered all our questions or concerns, even when Collins went into distress at one point, and Kelly was put on supplemental O2.<br />
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I could tell from the way everyone was acting that things would be happening sooner rather than later. The room was quickly prepped and frequent checks occurred along with a barrage of questions. We even got the question, if she happens to be a he, would we like him circumcised? Once the anesthesiologist came to place the epidural, I was asked to leave, so I went to the car to get a few things and update our parents. I told them (specifically mine because of distance) it would probably be wise to start heading this way. <br />
It was about 30 minutes before Kelly was "comfortable" after the epidural. She described the feeling as pins and needles in her legs and later numbness, but she was able to move her lower body some. Her water broke just before 1AM and Kelly described it as a "whoosh" sound that could be heard on the fetal monitor. Things moved very quickly after that. Her OB was called, but she held off on pushing until her OB arrived. After arriving, the nurse and her OB coached her through the pushing process while I counted. I would estimate after 8-10 sets of contractions with pushing, the baby was out. Once she was out, I cut the umbilical cord, the nurses took care of the baby, and her OB took care of Kelly. APGAR was 8/9, she weighed 6 pounds, 7 ounces and was 19 inches long. We let our parents know Collins had arrived, and they came in about an hour later to see her.<br />
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A friend from church was her baby nurse until morning and gave her the first bath, nail trimming, assessment, and vitamin K shot. It was comforting to know that she was in good hands.<br />
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I was under the false assumption that small babies made small sounds. That is incorrect. She was LOUD!<br />
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After all was well with baby and mom, we moved to a room around 5:30AM. Considering this was my normal wake up time, I was exhausted, as was Kelly. We kept Collins with us that night (well, morning) and tried to get a little sleep throughout the day.<br />
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Cary F Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10688759264912486478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199484979666334662.post-67482281170451868862014-05-31T16:41:00.000-04:002014-05-31T16:41:00.062-04:00Showered with Love, Cute as a Button<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Collins' last shower was hosted by a good friend of mine, Courtney, and my sister-in-law, Sandy. The theme was "Cute as a Button." Every detail was amazing, and the food and cake were so good! Family traveled from near and far and local friends were able to attend as well. The weather was beautiful, so we were able to enjoy the patio and spend time chatting and opening gifts in the sun.<br />
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The beautiful cake by <a href="http://www.delightfulbitescakery.com/" target="_blank">Delightful Bites Cakery</a>. It was delicious and smelled like pure sugar!<br />
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Such good food </div>
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The guest book, now in her nursery, was signed by all guests and full of sweet messages and well wishes.<br />
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Sweet friends (and my maids of honor) from college, Jill and Courtney</div>
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Enjoying the patio </div>
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Cute lamb from her Great Aunt Doris, now in her nursery.</div>
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Precious outfit with cute detail</div>
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Build a Bear Mouse made by my niece Courtney</div>
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Monogrammed polka dot pillow from my Mom, for the nursery</div>
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From Granny, Cary's grandmother</div>
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Burp Cloths from Diane, Cary's Mom</div>
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And from my Mom, Margaret</div>
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A bib from my Mom...she's called Collins "Sweet Pea" ever since we found out we were expecting!<br />
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Lots of essentials! </div>
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A lamb piggy bank from Aunt Wanda...you know a West child needs a piggy bank!</div>
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Courtney gave us a Bumbo (and co-hosted the shower) </div>
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Cute details</div>
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Another shot of that cake! Wow! </div>
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My beautiful hostesses, Sandy and Courtney. They did an amazing job! I can't thank you enough. </div>
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Aunt Gina, Nana, Aunt Nancy, Me and Mom (Aunt Wanda left early to return to Tennessee) </div>
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Sorry for the picture overload. It was hard to narrow them down!</div>
Kelly Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04979040562229303037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199484979666334662.post-21060976877778017182014-05-29T19:31:00.000-04:002014-05-29T19:31:00.398-04:00Showered with Love by Our Church Friends<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our church small group threw us a beautiful shower at Stevens Creek Church a couple Saturdays ago. I probably don't write on this blog often enough about how much we love <a href="http://stevenscreekchurch.com/" target="_blank">our church</a>. We have met so many amazing people through Stevens Creek. It isn't just a place for church services we attend every Sunday but like another home full of awesome Christian friends. <br />
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Since it was a morning shower, they served a yummy brunch. Look at all of that food!<br />
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Mom-to-be and Grandmothers-to-be</div>
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Sweet friends from the church.<br />
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Collins' future friends</div>
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Collins received lots of gifts, clothing, and essentials. </div>
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I do love a monogram!</div>
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Cary made an appearance, too.</div>
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Thank you to my small group girls for hosting a beautiful shower! Love y'all. </div>
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Kelly Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04979040562229303037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199484979666334662.post-62486024851447335062014-05-26T18:08:00.000-04:002014-05-26T18:17:21.474-04:00Showered with Love by Our Co-workers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Over the past few weeks we have been blessed with showers from friends, family, and co-workers. My co-workers threw Collins her first shower at a local restaurant. We had a great time and enjoyed a delicious dinner finished with carrot cake. We even had a diaper cake (which other restaurant patrons thought was a real cake).</div>
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At Crums on Central with my co-workers</div>
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Cary's co-workers threw a shower for us over lunch at a fun pizzeria.<br />
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Yummy dessert, fit for a little girl's party</div>
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Thank you to all of our co-workers for your support and advice. We appreciate your generosity and can't wait for you to meet Collins!</div>
Kelly Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04979040562229303037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199484979666334662.post-62247275202793000442014-05-17T20:22:00.004-04:002014-05-17T20:22:58.423-04:0036 Weeks<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2gL1GsV4wJTU1Koa_QSXL0jLU-yz6zgRgvPUpZBT19WxwrUcL5xnosxRg7kcbCV9YOBb8g9u_a_jfNIF9u-fLo590iQHS-kRFTf_JKgZHlCDeLRqvQBejAUXkS_4LDfBYEqE6QwXy9ck/s1600/36+Weeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Wow, Collins Jewell will be here in less than one month! We are so ready to meet her! I've been having trouble sleeping, waking up every two hours or so.
Guess that's just good practice for when she gets here. I feel like
we've made a lot of progress this week and have checked things off of
our list. But we still need to pack our bags for the hospital,
sterilize bottles, and finish the nursery, and probably a million other
things my pregnant brain is forgetting!<br />
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We had several showers over the past two weeks from family,
friends, and coworkers. I'll post more pics and details in another
post, but until then, here's an adorable diaper cake by Alexis.<br />
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We have been getting the nursery ready thanks to some help from my parents. Book shelves were hung this past weekend, and clothing, bibs, and burp cloths were washed and put away. <br />
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Look at those proud grandparents, working hard! Cary and I are thankful for the help.<br />
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We've got a few more finishing touches, and then it will be ready for Collins Jewell to arrive!</div>
Kelly Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04979040562229303037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199484979666334662.post-12792738215265891342014-04-28T17:20:00.000-04:002014-04-28T17:20:00.940-04:0034 Weeks and Our RegistriesYou are the size of a pineapple this week and weigh about 4 pounds. I can feel you kicking much more forcefully and your movements are more coordinated. You appear to be sleeping less, and so do I!<br />
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Cary and I are taking baby classes at the hospital where we plan to deliver. It has been informative and put us more at ease for the process of delivering this bundle of joy. We've toured the entire maternity wing of the hospital and our instructor walked us through each step of what would happen during a delivery....vaginal, C-section, or induction.<br />
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We are also working on the nursery more, getting more furniture delivered and trying to add some special touches. I have a few showers coming up, too, so I am getting excited. <br />
Everyone has been asking us,"What do you need?" "What do you want?"
Well, definitely check out our registries, and you will find both. <br />
Ultimately,
what we want and need are prayers. Please pray for a healthy pregnancy
and a safe delivery. Please pray for a happy, healthy baby. Please
pray that we can guide her to walk in His way.<br />
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<u>Our Registries: </u><br />
Here is a link to<a href="http://www.buybuybaby.com/store/giftregistry/view_registry_guest.jsp?pwsToken=&eventType=Baby&registryId=10837234&pwsurl=" target="_blank"> our registry </a>at Buy Buy Baby...Don't forget your coupon :)<br />
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Here is the link to <a href="http://www.toysrus.com/registry/search/index.jsp?_flowExecutionKey=_c5DC96D6B-91DF-7A78-EE90-31F7FA26D6EE_k3A2D9829-26B3-F8BA-633C-09CAA5AD8FA8&overrideStore=TRUS" target="_blank">Babies "R" Us Registries</a>. Just enter our information. Kelly Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04979040562229303037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199484979666334662.post-31459782332496858472014-04-14T19:45:00.000-04:002014-04-14T20:26:36.614-04:0031 Weeks, First Masters Tournament<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDc7ddUMsq9Qo0OoV3CT8jb2eTqto4aPyf4ixPuS7h0YRhkaF92O8WNUZYR8BdIZc7mgKT6J4ly9wURRwtPJtdiJUE4ILfbA77Mr4CoJKfOjGBmB0BUMhIpGr-RsxHo66k8TvkHIGEKIU/s1600/31+Weeks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDc7ddUMsq9Qo0OoV3CT8jb2eTqto4aPyf4ixPuS7h0YRhkaF92O8WNUZYR8BdIZc7mgKT6J4ly9wURRwtPJtdiJUE4ILfbA77Mr4CoJKfOjGBmB0BUMhIpGr-RsxHo66k8TvkHIGEKIU/s1600/31+Weeks.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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Over the past couple of weeks, we've experienced several changes, mostly to our home. As Masters Week approached, we prepared our home for renting which included converting the future nursery into a bedroom ready for renters. We also had our front porch and front door re-done and stained and had our master bathroom painted. Mostly capital home projects that renting helped us accomplish. This was our first time renting since moving to this home in 2011. If you aren't from Augusta, the idea of renting your home may sound bizarre, but for locals, it's par for the course this week (pun intended).</div>
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We spent the week in Camak, GA with Kelly's parents and drove in each day to work. It meant less sleep, twin beds, and more time in the car. The dogs loved it though, having 30 acres to run around, including an adventure one morning chasing a rabbit.</div>
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Now that the week is over, converting the room back to a nursery will begin. We painted the room before Masters but soon a queen bed will be exchanged for a crib and other nursery furniture. It's been a dry spell of stocking up on diapers but that should start back soon, too.</div>
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After 31 weeks, the biggest thing I've noticed is Kelly's fatigue and the effect of high pollen levels. Though I sleep through the night, she is only able to get a few hours of uninterrupted sleep before waking, turning over and trying to get back to sleep. The work days are more tiresome. Combine that with the fact that most medicines are off limits, little relief is found.</div>
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The pictures below are from the Drive, Chip, and Putt competition, where we were able to go with my brother and his fiance. Though it was cold, it was an opportunity to see the course earlier in the week and first dibs at the pro shop.</div>
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I spent Sunday morning putting our chairs out on Amen Corner, Kelly's favorite spot. A friend and I spent the morning walking the course and watching some of the first groups play their final round. Kelly switched with him at lunch and she and I watched the rest of the tournament from Amen Corner. As Bubba and Spieth came to the tee on 11th, I leaned over and said, Spieth is going to hit it into the water. As fate would have it, his tee shot landed in Rae's Creek. We were pulling for Bubba and were happy to see him win.Cary F Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10688759264912486478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199484979666334662.post-41843901622126470682014-03-15T20:06:00.000-04:002014-03-15T20:06:46.474-04:0027 Weeks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Collins is the size of a cauliflower this week. She weighs around 2 pounds and is roughly 14 and half inches long. By now, she is sleeping and waking at regular intervals, and some I can predict. I consistently get woken up around 5 am by her kicks and flips. <br />
My clothes are getting snug, and some days I have to wear my maternity jeans. Thankfully, co-workers and Cary's cousin shared their maternity clothes, so I haven't had to buy anything, yet. I have bought a couple pairs of pants in mediums (like the pair in the picture above) that have elastic waist bands, but they were not from the maternity section. I haven't found any stores that have overly cute maternity options. Any help? Luckily, scrubs are very forgiving and have elastic waistbands, too, making work clothes easy for now.<br />
I took my Glucose Tolerance Test this week, but have not yet heard the results. My OB didn't have me fast for this one, which confused the phlebotomist. She kept asking, are you sure you were supposed to eat? What did you have? Luckily my OB wrote on the script "non-fasting GTT." They give you10 minutes to drink the glucose drink, which was orange flavored/colored and tasted like a flat, really sweet soda. Then I waited for one hour and they drew blood, well, attempted to draw blood. The first phlebotomist couldn't hit the vein at my cubital fossa, then another phlebotomist attempted the vein at the dorsum of my right hand and blew the vein. She then went back to the left arm and finally got it. For some one who doesn't like needles, this was a little torturous. Let's all hope I pass and don't have to go through that again!<br />
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We also painted the nursery this past week. It was originally a sky blue and needed a lot of repair due to holes from hanging pictures and who knows what else. <br />
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BEFORE: </div>
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DURING: </div>
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Yes, I painted, too. Someone has to do all the edging! Don't worry, it was low odor and no VOC paint. Plus we had the windows open and a fan going. <br />
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It is a very light grey. The nursery colors are going to be pale pink, light grey and white.<br />
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<br />Kelly Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04979040562229303037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199484979666334662.post-9263750277154815432014-03-08T19:10:00.000-05:002014-03-08T19:10:29.318-05:00Let's Go Thrift Shopping...<div style="text-align: right;">
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When we found out that we were having a little girl, I knew that things could quickly get expensive. It is easy to go overboard with buying dresses, rompers, bloomers, bows, jumpers, smocked tops, headbands, onesies, shoes, whew, the list goes on and on. <br />
I have recently jumped into consignment shopping. I know, not technically thrift shopping but still a good deal and a nice way to save money.<br />
A friend who consigns was nice enough to share a pre-public shopping pass with me as well as some advice. I've been to another consignment sale since that one (also getting to shop prior to it being open to the public, thanks to my mother-in-law!), and have some additional advice and lessons learned.<br />
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<u>Don't over think in the beginning.</u> Grab anything you think you like, halfway like or just sort of like. Remember, just because you pick it up, doesn't mean you have to buy it. Once you've looked over all of the selections, find a place to sit and re-evaluate your picks. Lay out everything in front of you, and go through them all with a fine tooth comb, so to speak. Look at condition, brand, and price (see below). If you change your mind, that's ok! Volunteers will be happy to take your items or there may be an empty rack near the check out line to place your "rejects."<br />
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<u>Check for stains.</u> I once picked up a cute pink warm up suit with white Georgia G's embroidered on it. The jacket was perfect but the pants were attached to the hanger under the jacket, so they couldn't be seen. During my "re-evaluation" time, I unzipped the jacket and closely looked at the pants. I was so disappointed to find a stain on the seat of the pants. I had to put the cute outfit back, but I was so glad I checked! On this same note, be weary of white. Check white clothing over very closely, especially collars. What appears white may actually have some faint yellow milk stains. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCtu1dQyrhwEZUk2yf4Cg6ymKg31PTr-nZVxlq0NLwmJpg2LHXskBa_Ja0QdaEqK57QPXUVNxmgf5W0uWnQ2qL1g1bkQfZM5cezVD5qwq5gpZTldr06_jE9WM4s6SB_94bjtKtzsWJUQ/s1600/smocked+pig+polka+dot+baby+girl+dress.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCtu1dQyrhwEZUk2yf4Cg6ymKg31PTr-nZVxlq0NLwmJpg2LHXskBa_Ja0QdaEqK57QPXUVNxmgf5W0uWnQ2qL1g1bkQfZM5cezVD5qwq5gpZTldr06_jE9WM4s6SB_94bjtKtzsWJUQ/s1600/smocked+pig+polka+dot+baby+girl+dress.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a><u>Check for brand names or tags</u>. I have found a few clothes or outfits that are brand new, and they still have the tags on them. These are no-brainers. A safe assumption is that these pieces were never worn or even washed. To me, these are the diamonds in the consignment store rough. <br />
This smocked dress with pigs and polka dots still had the tags on it! Also, scoring a brand name piece is always fun, like this Ralph Lauren dress (smocked <i>and </i>seer sucker, I couldn't resist!).<br />
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<u>Price</u>. While prices at consignment sales are generally great, be sure you really think about each piece. Is that pink smocked dress worth $20 or do you like the yellow one just as well for $12? Some people place a limit on what they are willing to pay per item. I prefer to look more globally at a piece, taking into consideration the quality, condition, brand, and "cuteness factor." Sometimes you just fall in love with an adorable outfit, and sometimes a price just isn't appropriate for used clothing.<br />
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<u>Plan your trip.</u> Consignment sales are usually seasonal. You will likely either have a summer/spring sale or a fall/winter sale. Have in mind the size your child will be in for these seasonal clothes. I didn't want to buy 6-9 month clothing that was all seer sucker and sleeveless dresses....that will be December, January, February, and March for Collins! Also, to me, these consignment sales can be overwhelming. There is more than just clothing and shoes. You'll find toys, high chairs, strollers, furniture, and so much more. Have a list in mind of things you want and need and what you are willing to pay for these used items.<br />
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At the last consignment sale, I found a double jogging stroller for $40. If I had 2 children, I would have snatched it up! You can find great pieces and great deals. <br />
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<br />Kelly Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04979040562229303037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199484979666334662.post-71186421051390814062014-02-17T20:15:00.003-05:002014-02-17T20:15:33.609-05:00Y'all Got Power? 23 Weeks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Winter Storm Pax pounded the southeast beginning Tuesday night in the form of sleet. By Wednesday, ice set in, bringing Augusta to a screeching hault on Thursday. Tens of thousands of people in the CSRA and 90% of Columbia County were without power. Text messaging was our main form of communication as Verizon and other providers were overwhelmed. "Y'all got power?" Nope.<br />
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We couldn't safely get to work on Wednesday and only went in for half
a day on Thursday. We spent Wednesday
feeding the fire in our living room fireplace and covered up in blankets.
Of course the pups didn't know any different and loved the extra
attention. Luckily,
we had good friends feed us a warm meal and offer their home to us and
our pups that Thursday afternoon. <br />
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After 24 consecutive hours of no power and the temp
reaching 51 degrees inside our house, we were grateful to have power
restored on Thursday evening. My parents stayed with us the next night
as they were without power for over two days.<br />
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On our way into work Thursday, roads were treacherous,
not because of ice or snow (that was mostly melting away), but because
of trees, downed power lines and inoperable traffic signals. Waffle House and McDonald's, as well as two gas stations, were the only things open on Washington Rd near I-20, with lines wrapped around the parking lots and spilling into the roadway. The
Summerville area was one of the hardest hit due to the many old oak and
magnolia trees, not to mention the tall pines! Homes, fences, and
garages received tons of damage. Thankfully, none of our friends, family, or
co-workers were injured. We definitely felt blessed. <br />
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Georgia Power, Jefferson Electric, and various other power companies from out of state worked overtime to repair the damage. However, many people didn't have power for days! Clean up is still ongoing. <br />
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As if that wasn't enough trauma for our community, on Friday night around 10:30pm, we experienced an earthquake! It was a 4.4 magnitude with epicenter in Edgefield County (which is across the Savannah River in South Carolina....about 30 miles from our house). Cary and I were in bed, happy to have heat and about to go to sleep when we felt a rumbling that shook the entire house. After looking outside and realizing it wasn't a tornado, we assumed it was a helicopter or plane flying low. The next morning, we realized that we had felt an earthquake (thank goodness for Facebook, keeping us all informed). Again, no damage to our house and none reported in our neighborhood or nearby.<br />
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What a week! Plus, the temperatures are supposed to reach the mid 70s this week. Only in Georgia could you experience three seasons in a matter of a days. Kelly Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04979040562229303037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199484979666334662.post-84701379685549422112014-02-09T21:22:00.003-05:002014-02-09T21:22:35.986-05:00Organ Check, 20 weeksWe recently had an ultrasound about the halfway point to check all the organs. We were able to see the stomach, kidneys, heart (including all the chambers and flow between), and different parts of the brain. We also saw much of the bone structure including the spine, ribs, skull, and even the femur (which measured about 3.5 cm).<br />
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During the ultrasound, which lasted around 15 minutes, Collins rolled over about 5 times. It was funny to see how the radiology tech continuously moved the ultrasound probe to keep up and even at one point, Collins moved her arm towards the probe as if to say "I'm done; go away." It was quite funny. Looks like the current weight is 11 ounces, and the due date was moved up a couple days, June 9.<br />
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This picture is of her "upside down" mid-flip. As I headed back to work, I was happy to know everything was developing well, and Collins is growing as expected.Cary F Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10688759264912486478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199484979666334662.post-8167178969858759902014-01-23T18:27:00.002-05:002014-01-23T18:27:17.221-05:0020 Weeks, half way there!Baby West is growing, and so am I, kinda. I've gained 4 pounds since my first OB appointment back in November. I'm still not really showing, and a stranger would not think I was pregnant.<br />
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She is moving all around....I guess I first felt her about 2, maybe 3 weeks ago. But being my first pregnancy, I wasn't sure exactly what I was feeling. Was that my stomach and intestines rumbling or a baby kicking? Hmmmm... Now there is no doubt, it's her. She is most active in the afternoon, when I get off of work and am sitting still, in the car or on the couch. Or maybe that's just when I notice her the most. She loves to flip around and kick after a meal, too. <br />
I am still feeling pretty good, all in all, I guess I can't complain. The nausea is gone, but I am not sleeping as well as I was in the first trimester. I'm having aches and pains, but the OB reassured me that this is normal...at least the ones I am having. (Contraction-type pain would not be normal at this point in the game.) I am a little disappointed that I don't have a burst of energy like everyone says I would in the second trimester. Luckily though, my food aversions are gone, and I eat pretty much whatever I want (outside of the pregnancy no-no's, of course).<br />
20 weeks means I am half way there! It is hard to wrap my mind around that. In 5 more months, or less, she will be here! It doesn't feel like I've been pregnant for 5 months, either. I told some one the other day that I can't imagine waiting another 20 weeks, I want her to be here now! Of course, I want her fully grown and healthy before she makes her debut, but I am eager to meet her and see what she will be like.<br />
On the other hand, we are nowhere near "ready" for Miss Collins. The nursery is still in the planning stages, nothing has been done except moving out Cary's big desk (She will be taking over his downstairs office, near our bedroom). I have lots of big ideas for her room. The color scheme for now is pink, gray and white. When I think of all the little things that have to get done to her room, I'm glad I have 5 more months! ;)<br />
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I also turned the big 3-0 this week! Goodbye 20's, hello motherhood. </div>
Kelly Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04979040562229303037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199484979666334662.post-12153717820852556582014-01-13T22:11:00.001-05:002014-01-13T22:11:59.074-05:00Collins JewellWe celebrated a gender reveal party with our small group on the night of the BCS national championship. Also, one of the coldest nights of the year!<br />
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A hot chocolate bar helped everyone warm up from the nearly single digit temps!</div>
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According to all the old wives tales, it should be a boy!</div>
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We asked everyone to cast their vote.</div>
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Team Girl </div>
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And Team Boy</div>
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Then we revealed the surprise by throwing balloons off of the balcony to the living room below.</div>
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June says, "Silly! I knew it was gonna be a girl!" </div>
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We also revealed her name...</div>
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<b>Collins Jewell</b></div>
She is named after our grandmothers, two beautiful women who both have a love of the Lord and raised strong families. Collins is my middle name, but it is also my grandmother's maiden name. Jewell is Cary's late grandmother's first name.<br />
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We are so blessed to have wonderful friends to share in our excitement, and we are definitely blessed to have a beautiful baby girl on the way!<br />
<br />Kelly Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04979040562229303037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199484979666334662.post-55978115799240802492014-01-07T17:06:00.002-05:002014-01-07T17:06:34.363-05:00Gender reveal...it's a ??? (17 weeks)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Baby West is a.....<br />
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We had originally planned to go to a local imaging place this past Friday, but on Thursday afternoon I got a call that the appointment would have to be canceled due to their machines being down. My immediate thought was, "Are you kidding me? This is de ja vu!" They wanted to reschedule for next Friday, but I didn't want to wait yet another week.<br />
I quickly got on the internet and looked up other imaging centers in South Carolina and Georgia. The closest one ended up being on this side of Atlanta, about an hour and a half from us. I sent a link to their website to Cary to get his opinion. He texted me 15 minutes later and said we had an appointment for gender reveal at 10am on Saturday. I know, best husband ever!<br />
The company is called Stork Vision, and they have several locations. I must say, we were very impressed. We chose a quick session, because all we really wanted to know was the gender and maybe have a couple pictures. We got them on a CD, making it easy to print them or share them.<br />
Here is Baby West:<br />
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The sonographer of course found the fetus instantly and took pictures to send to their corporate office (every ultrasound is reviewed by an MD whether an OB, radiologist or primary care physician). Then she found the perfect angle to tell us what we were anxiously wanting to know.<br />
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"It's a Girl!" she said.<br />
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I think Cary and my eyes instantly probably looked twice as big. We were so certain we had a little boy in there, that we were shocked and amazed to find out it was a girl. And we couldn't be happier. We can finally use the correct pronoun, start planning the nursery, and buy some hair bows. Out of Cary's 22 first and second cousins (on his Dad's side of the family), 77% are boys (Yes, Cary ran the numbers)! Plus Cary is one of three boys and his Dad is one of 4 boys! Time to add a little pink to the West family!<br />
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Look at those cute toes:<br />
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I must say, I've always thought these 3D ones were creepy, but this is a pretty good one of her face. The placenta was in front of her, so we never got a completely clear view. She looks beautiful to me! :)</div>
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Ok, that's all for now. Miss West is gonna take a nap, sucking her thumb already.</div>
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Kelly Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04979040562229303037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199484979666334662.post-26826755539374719402014-01-05T09:10:00.000-05:002014-01-05T09:10:13.627-05:00The size of a Lemon (14 Weeks)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Do I have that "glow" yet? Ha, I think it is the weird lighting in our laundry room!</div>
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Finished with my first trimester! Can't believe 3 months have already flown by. I had an appointment this past Monday (Second appointment). This one was much quicker. She basically asked how I was feeling and found the heartbeat. She had a PA student with her who first attempted to find the heartbeat, but wasn't able. Luckily, my OB found it immediately, so I didn't have time to get anxious. She said that due to the location, we could be on our way to a big baby. Not sure what location has do with that....anyone?<br />
I'm actually not showing, so if the baby is going to be big, it has a long way to go! haha....I know, I just jinxed myself. Now I'll probably need a forklift to get me to the hospital! <br />
I am feeling better and actually have a good appetite now, thank the Lord! All that nausea was getting me down. I keep telling myself I'm going to start working out again....some day.<br />
We finished telling family and friends this week and sent out our Christmas cards (which were also the pregnancy announcement). It is nice to have the secret out and not have to hide my pregnancy symptoms anymore. Plus, it is fun to share in the excitement with great people! I'm looking forward to the next trimester. Kelly Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04979040562229303037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199484979666334662.post-3974945944669118792014-01-01T20:50:00.000-05:002014-01-01T20:50:52.678-05:00Happy New Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As we reflect on 2013, it is a reminder of just how blessed we are. It is also a chance to review some goals for 2013 and what to plan and expect in 2014.<br />
I follow several blogs including <a href="http://www.mymoneyblog.com/" target="_blank">MyMoneyBlog</a>. This blog is written by a guy in his 30's in a similar life situation as us, though he has been chronicling since 2004. He inspired me to write down my goals for this year.<br />
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After some reflection, here are my personal and family goals for 2014:<br />
Read the entire Bible using the <a href="http://churchofthehighlands.com/bible#" target="_blank">One Year Bible</a> reading plan<br />
Have at least 1x gross salary in retirement<br />
Read 1 book each month for pleasure<br />
Complete a living will and estate plan<br />
Fund a 529 account at a rate that will obtain FULL tuition, room, and board by 2032<br />
Have 6 months reserve cash emergency fund<br />
Be on track for paying off our home by 2024<br />
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You (Kelly included) may ask why publish these?<br />
1) It helps keep us accountable<br />
2) It may help someone else<br />
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Hope 2014 is a great one.Cary F Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10688759264912486478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199484979666334662.post-14540398179208706682013-12-29T19:08:00.002-05:002013-12-29T19:08:40.515-05:00Baby West says, Go Dawgs! (12 Weeks)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The whole pregnancy thing from my (Cary's) perspective:</div>
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I remember very early on, I was sitting on the couch and Kelly brings me an EPT. I'm thinking, sure they have commercials about those, but are they really accurate? Personally, I put little stock in it. It wasn't until I saw the ultrasound that it was real.</div>
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My role? Support and Logistics. When Kelly has cravings, I go to the grocery store, coupons in tow, and support the craving. I even bought tart yogurt from a frozen yogurt place, filling up a container until they were out of that flavor. From a logistics side, our health insurance is from my employer, and I have read just about everything our insurance has on prenatal care, pregnancy, birth, and postnatal care. I should know from working in healthcare, but I soon realized that though most services received are dictated by insurance, the doctor's office is unaware of who gets what services.</div>
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It is definitely an exciting time, preparing our home, our budget, and our hearts. Speaking of budgets, Kelly sent me <a href="http://www.southernsavers.com/2012/08/stocking-up-on-diapers-how-much-to-buy-at-what-price/" target="_blank">an article</a> from Southern Savers about the best deals on diapers and what is considered a good per diaper price based on size. As with other products, I've taken this somewhat as a challenge to find the best deals...more to come on that later.</div>
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**Just FYI, these posts are not "real time" and may be a few weeks behind. We plan to catch up soon.** </div>
Cary F Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10688759264912486478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199484979666334662.post-29569667483740185132013-12-21T12:12:00.000-05:002013-12-21T12:12:06.330-05:0010 WEEKSBy this point, the baby is about the size of a grape.<br />
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We had our first doctor's appointment (I was actually 9 weeks, 5 days at the appointment, but who's counting). I made this appointment as soon as I had a positive ept, meaning almost a month prior. When I called, the receptionist told me I would have to wait until I was 8 weeks and then due to appointment availability, I was going to be 9 weeks. Maybe it's just me, but that's a LONG wait for a first time mom to wait! Then, on the morning of the appointment, I get a phone call that my MD had been called into emergency surgery, and they needed to re-schedule. Now I completely understand that when I am that pregnant woman with an emergency c-section, I will want my MD there as soon as possible, but the thought of delaying an appointment this important caused some serious stress. Not to mention Cary and I had taken the day off from work! Luckily, I got in the next Monday morning.<br />
Cary had the day off for Veteran's Day so he was able to come, too. As soon as I checked in, the receptionist asked if this was a prenatal visit, and I said "Um, yes." Yep, I am pregnant, and this is really happening. They took my weight and BP, and I peed in a cup for their pregnancy test (which I assume was positive, they never said :)<br />
More waiting and then they took me back to see the MD. She went over the do's and don't's of pregnancy, answered my questions, and then performed a pelvic exam and pap smear. She then told me that I'd be having an ultrasound next. I was instantly excited. From reading and talking to friends, I thought that I might have to re-schedule for another time to have an ultrasound. We went right into the ultrasound tech's office and got to see our baby!<br />
Now, I should warn you this may be TMI....<br />
I was warned by a friend who found out she was pregnant around the same time I did....the first ultrasound is trans-vaginal, not through the abdomen. (The baby is too small to be seen through the abdomen at this point.)<br />
The ultrasound makes it real. I don't care how many pregnancy tests you take, the fact that you've missed periods, or have morning sickness. Seeing your baby on an ultrasound makes it REAL! I remember asking the tech as soon as we got in her office if we were gonna get pictures (you know me and pictures!). I held Cary's hand throughout and still remember his smile at seeing his first child for the first time. <br />
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That little baby is 2.88 cm! About an inch long!</div>
<u><i>And my favorite part:</i></u> As soon as the ultrasound tech found the sac, the baby was moving around like crazy! We could clearly see arms and legs moving in every direction. The next miracle was the heart beat. We saw the little chambers of the heart pulsating, and I remember asking the heart rate and Cary answered (you know he's a numbers guy). It was in the 160's...which is normal but studies say cannot predict gender :) He/she stopped moving and the tech joked that he/she went to sleep. She was able to take measurements and told us everything looked good. She also checked to make sure there was only one sac ;)<br />
And no, we do not know the gender. From what I have read, you cannot determine gender until 15 weeks at the earliest and usually 16 to18 weeks to be sure. <br />
They later took a bunch of blood for testing and another urine sample. The whole process probably took about 2 hours. The best part, by far, is seeing the baby. It will be <i>several </i>weeks (20!) before I get another ultrasound, so I will just have to be patient! Kelly Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04979040562229303037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199484979666334662.post-35998465109334633182013-12-15T18:33:00.000-05:002013-12-15T18:33:34.814-05:00Big AnnouncementNo, our big announcement is not that we are actually posting on this blog again...although, it could be. It has been months since this site has seen anything new, sorry! No, we have much more exciting news:<br />
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We're expecting! </div>
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Personally, I've known I was pregnant since late September/early October. I took a pregnancy test about a week and a half before my missed period. I bought one of the cheap ones from the dollar store because I didn't really think I would get a positive, and I didn't want to waste an expensive test. (In case you've never priced a pregnancy test: The nice ones like "ept" or "First Response" are about $10 each, but the dollar store ones are, yep, a dollar!)<br />
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So as soon I got home from work, I took the test and waited. A few minutes later a very faint pink line appeared in the window. I was instantly mad. I thought, well what does that mean? It didn't look like the example on the box. Am I pregnant or not?!? I took a couple deep breaths and did the next sensible thing....googled it! According to Google, a line, no matter how faint, is a line....a positive test. In more googling, I found out that I should have taken the test first thing in the morning, when hormone levels are highest. Google also recommended waiting 3 days and taking another test, at which time the line should be darker. I felt much better and wondered what people did before Goggle? Old wives tales I guess. Google also will tell you the sensitivity and specificity of pregnancy tests, which is very interesting, but I won't bore you with all that.<br />
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I think I waited 2 days and took another test, in the morning. A couple minutes later, I had a bright pink line! Pregnant. And this was still about a week before my missed period. I debated whether to tell Cary, after all, this was really early and anything could happen. I kept it to myself all day, but by the evening I had to tell him. On the way home from our small group Bible study, I told Cary I had taken a pregnancy test, but quickly explained it was a cheap one so who knows if it is accurate (trying to down play it all). Well!? He wanted to know if it was positive. Yep, it was positive!<br />
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I'll let him tell you about his feelings after finding out he might be a Dad, but as for me, I was excited and nervous and expectant, all at once. I waited one week and took an "ept" brand test. Again, it was positive, so I felt for sure that this was happening. I gave the test and a Georgia G onesie to Cary as a "surprise" we're pregnant gift (I had told him I bought him something he might need for Gameday). Although he already knew, it was confirmation to me to miss my period and have another (more expensive) positive test. <br />
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By the way, that onesie is size 3-6 months...the approximate age of our baby at the beginning of next football season! Crazy!<br />
<br />Kelly Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04979040562229303037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199484979666334662.post-8916781489629633182013-03-29T19:33:00.000-04:002013-03-29T19:33:44.108-04:00Gardening<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJEqRzizIjs76vOkdP_YvBumZKlONlgPSUODlA65bu2d-rSnqUl6dvDMAoj5EVWgIR4uMMUy6lsUCtJPjRtBLGZSfXAsg3acQJPnrArBjfjzukMh-FA3Fewvfk15Z_21w_NYf3RKPSVE/s1600/Finished+bed.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Over the past few weeks, Kelly and I have discussed how we plan to garden this year with the addition of our new dogs. We adopted them last July and were able to harvest a good bit before they thought plants were chew toys and produce was for playing keep-away.<br />
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Last year, we tried our hand at gardening both at the <a href="http://caryandkelly.blogspot.com/2012/04/garden.html" target="_blank">community gardens</a> and in the <a href="http://caryandkelly.blogspot.com/2012/07/green-thumb.html" target="_blank">back yard</a>.<br />
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Several people at work have been talking about building raised garden beds, and Kelly and I agreed this would solve the problem of the puppies and still being able to harvest in the back yard. I read online including a how-to guide from one of Kelly's favorite bloggers, <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/homeandgarden/2011/02/build-your-own-raised-flowervegetable-bed/">The Pioneer Woman</a>. I also read from Organic Gardening their <a href="http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/how-to-build-a-raised-bed">how to build a raised garden bed</a>.<br />
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After deciding where and how to build, I purchased (6) 2x10s 8 feet in length. I cut 2 of the 8 foot pieces in half using a hand saw and then moved the wood to the back yard.<br />
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I used both 3 1/2 and 2 1/2 inch screws in no real order to secure the two layers.<br />
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The bed measures 8 feet by 4 feet and 20 inches tall. <br />
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After the bed was complete, I went to <a href="http://www.bricko.com/">Bricko Farms</a>, a local organic store and got a truckload of garden mix soil.<br />
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Prior to planting, I decided to map out where everything would go. The garden will include red potatoes, bell and jalapeno peppers, tomatoes, and okra. Most of the plants started as seeds in styrofoam cups and were then transplanted to the garden.<br />
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As you can tell, it is jam-packed. Here's the raised bed with potatoes (covered with dirt to create a mound around each and to protect from our last frost), tomatoes, and jalapenos:<br />
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One of the tomato plants with marigolds surrounding it...supposed to keep the bugs away.<br />
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The fencing was added to keep the dogs out. It took them about 5 minutes to jump into the garden bed, so while we hoped the raised bed would keep away temptation, the fence was necessary after all. <br />
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Watering the jalapenos</div>
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Lastly, we will add the bell and red peppers as well as the okra. Here's hoping for a great garden.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJEqRzizIjs76vOkdP_YvBumZKlONlgPSUODlA65bu2d-rSnqUl6dvDMAoj5EVWgIR4uMMUy6lsUCtJPjRtBLGZSfXAsg3acQJPnrArBjfjzukMh-FA3Fewvfk15Z_21w_NYf3RKPSVE/s1600/Finished+bed.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> Cary F Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10688759264912486478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199484979666334662.post-13941048512444709672013-03-22T19:52:00.000-04:002013-03-22T19:52:33.241-04:00Ready for their close-upRecent photos of the pups...<br />
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Focusing on a toy, I'm sure</div>
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Morgan, cutting his eyes at me</div>
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Madison</div>
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Morgan</div>
Kelly Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04979040562229303037noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9199484979666334662.post-18182338049986255492013-02-13T17:46:00.001-05:002013-02-13T17:46:05.857-05:00Map...help me find one!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSMIqPqIcXkDUgza_WUrnSOwxIIvgWXzmZK_QmW9nEU7ysK-ae5erVaBCmhj9UV6tmcQKPHfynkz-mT_Pi15qKIL46nNsCYIFiTZP8YPhGxnUSioRIkUwS7sD1hNpRlMS9gRWdkvlXjpM/s1600/Vintage+map+as+home+decor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
I am really into the new trend of decorating with large scale maps! I love the vintage, monochromatic maps. My pinterest boards are full of them. The only problem? I can't actually find any to put in my home! I really want one of the Savannah River, but at this point, I am willing to take just about anything remotely related to Georgia! Any ideas? Help!<br />
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Kelly Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04979040562229303037noreply@blogger.com0