It Will Be Here Before We Know It!

I am 32 weeks and 4 days. I feel bigger than big! Take a look!

Nolan moves around so much. I really think he is going to be a great soccer player! Just like his mommy and daddy! Everything is going well with the pregnancy. My blood pressure is great and I am measuring right around my gestation age. I am now going to the doctor every other week for a check-up.

We have been preparing for Nolan. It is so much fun. We got a stroller the other day and Brett couldn't wait to put it together!

We have also been adding things to his room. It is not quite finished yet, but here is what we have.



My mom is coming in a few weeks to help me get a few things done before Nolan arrives! I'm excited for her to be here. She is going to bring the curtains for Nolan's room and a few other things. She is also going to be here to help cook and freeze food for when Nolan arrives. We need some good ideas of food to freeze. Feel free to give your suggestions!

While we are waiting for Nolan to get here, we are both busy with work. I started my new job a few weeks ago. I love it so much. I have learned so much in a short amount of time. It is a little rough working night shift, but not as bad as I thought it would be. I am pretty busy the whole time making the night go by quicker. The only hard thing is trying to sleep during the day. Brett has been busy with his work as well. He is doing so great. He finishes up his schoolwork this weekend. So, next week he officially graduates again! I am so proud of my hubby for going to school for his Accounting degree! He worked so hard working full time and going to school full time. He is great!!!

On my days off I have been relaxing and doing some fun things. I like to go lay out by the pool. I have even tried my hand at baking. I want to be a good cake and cupcake maker, but I have to start somewhere. Here is a picture of a Strawberry and Cream Cheese Cake I made.

It's Official!

Wow. Such an awesome day. I took my NCLEX on Wednesday. This is the state board test that I have to pass in order to become a registered nurse. This morning I found out that I passed! I am incredibly excited! I now have initials after my name, Catherine Gates, RN BSN. Wow. I have worked so hard this past year to get to this point. I honestly could not have done this without the love and support of my husband, family, and friends. I love you all!

A lot has happened in the past month. My parents came into town for about a week. They helped Brett and I move into a new apartment. We love the new apartment. It's two bedroom and two bathroom place. It is very nice. I graduated from nursing school. What an accomplishment. It was a great time. I was so glad to have my family and friends there with me. I also had a surprise graduation party a couple days later. I was so surprised to have my friends come to celebrate with me. It was so much fun. The next day I drove back with my parents to Charlotte for about nine days. It was such a good vacation. I had a very nice baby shower while I was there. It was so nice to see some people that I have not seen in awhile. Nolan got so many cute new things. He is so spoiled already. I also found out while I was home that I got a nursing job. I will be working in the Level 3 NICU at The Woman's Hospital of Texas. I am very excited! I cannot wait to start my career as a nurse. Brett and I celebrated our two year wedding anniversary this past weekend. He took me on a surprise trip to San Antonio. We had so much fun spending the weekend together and celebrating. I love being around him.

We are very excited for Nolan to get here. We are enjoying watching him kick me. He moves all the time. I love feeling him move. He is going to be a little wild man like his daddy. I am 29 weeks along tomorrow. I can't believe how fast it has gone already. I feel like I am huge already, but I know that I am only going to get bigger. Oh joy. We are both just so excited to meet him. He is going to be the cutest little boy ever. We are in the process of working on his nursery. We have all the furniture in his room. We are just working on the decor. His quilt for his crib is finished. I love it! The letters for above his crib are finished, but I have yet to put them up. His room is coming together so well. I love it.

I am so excited about this new chapter in my life that is beginning. I start my new job on Monday and Nolan is only about 11 weeks away from being here. I can't wait to be a mommy!!!

Here are some pictures from the last month:






This my creation! I love it!


Baby Shower tree!


Letters for above Nolan's crib.