Birthday Celebration with my Ladies

As I mentioned earlier this week, my birthday is tomorrow… the big 2-9. And while this number is getting a little high for my comfort, I have to admit, I feel pretty good being able to say I’m still in my twenties. It sounds so youthful, right?

Plus, besides being pregnant, I pretty much look 18, so that works!

Anyway, I digress. Last night I celebrated my birthday with two very special little ladies… my very close friends, Erica and Carrie. We went to this Southern Italian restaurant and ate some good (and some okay) food. The restaurant is new to my area… Salotto Zarletti. What I can say is that they make a VERY good pizza. My favorite was the prosciutto con rucola. It had arugula and a delish tomato sauce… very tasty. The salad – an asparagus salad – was tasty, but tiny. All-in-all, dinner was good, but not amazing!

So the ladies crowd this year was a little small, as my sweet friend Kate is officially moved away and living in Seattle <TEAR> and our other friend, Ashley, was unable to make it. Regardless, we had a great time. After dinner, the ladies took me to go see “The Other Woman,” which was perfectly stupid and entertaining. Definitely a movie you can wait to watch on TV, but it was $5 movie night (with free popcorn) at the theater, so who could resist? It was really fun! I haven’t been to a movie with my girlfriends since I was… I don’t even know? Back in high school? Middle School?

Either way, it was a great little date night with my gals and felt like an evening that would be harder to pull off once baby girl comes. I’m lucky to have such great friends.

In other news, poor little Toby got his first tick… and it was nasty. He was licking his paw a ton last night, so we thought he had some sort of allergic reaction to something (we didn’t see anything on him). We gave him half a children’s Benadryl (a secret remedy our vet clued us in on) and went to bed. This morning, he was still licking, so I checked out his paw again and found this…

Honestly, at first, I didn't know what it was. My instinct was to grab a kleenex and pull the thing out... then I thought, hmmm... might want to wait on that.

Honestly, at first, I didn’t know what it was. My instinct was to grab a kleenex and pull the thing out… then I thought, hmmm… might want to wait on that.

Close-up of the NASTY, giant tick.

Close-up of the NASTY, giant tick.

That's his, "Mommy, I have an owie" face.

That’s his, “Mommy, I have an owie” face.

I decided to take Tobers to the vet so he could make sure the entire tick was removed and didn’t do any damage to our little guy. I love our vet. He’s really awesome. He removed the tick, which was dead, and suggested a monthly flea and tick treatment that works better than Frontline. While Frontline kills fleas and ticks once they bite your pet, this other drug – Vectra – repels them and burns the sh*t out of them if they land on your pup. Anyway, we’ll bring Tobers back in three weeks for his regularly scheduled heartworm blood test, at which point they’ll test for any tick-related illness that could have been transferred.

Until then, hopefully Toby stays tick-free.

 

Symptoms

My back is not comfortable. Some moments are better than others, but it’s really not great. Especially if I have to pee or am feeling bloated… which is probably about 50% of my day. I swear, I literally pee every 45-60 minutes. It’s insane. And for some reason, I’m SO bloated. My diet hasn’t changed, so it shouldn’t be that, but oofta. Not fun.

While I recognize that was a lot of bitching, I must say this, even on my worst of days (in terms of symptoms), I think I’ve had a pretty dang easy pregnancy. I’ve heard some pretty crazy stories. Plus, relatively speaking, I’ve managed to keep the vast majority of my pregnancy weight gain in my belly (and some in the boobs), which helps me to miss my old body a LITTLE less. Although, I really do miss it.

Okay, I’m done complaining. It’s a good day! My baby is playing around as I type and we’re both happy as can be!

DIY Weekly / Monthly Baby Picture Prop

As I mentioned in this blog post, I plan to take either weekly or monthly pics of our little lady for at least the first year of her life (and then maybe just annually after that… or maybe I’ll continue – who knows?) Anyway, yesterday my favorite crafting partner and good friend, Jenna, came over to help me make the Month/Week sign prop for the photos.

I had originally planned to do blocks like these…

Month blocks from Etsy...

Month blocks from Etsy…

But didn’t like what I saw in terms of options at Michael’s. SO, I went a different direction, and here’s what we did…

We took these wooden letters from Michael's and spelled out "weeks" and "months" (we'll do "years" during our Crafting Day - Part 2) and used acrylic paint to beautify them.

We took these wooden letters from Michael’s and spelled out “weeks” and “months” (we’ll do “years” during our Crafting Day – Part 2) and used acrylic paint to beautify them.

The paint selection... we used Martha Stewart paint, but any acrylic works.

The paint selection… we used Martha Stewart paint, but any acrylic works.

Then, we took these wooden doily looking things and painted them a cream/off-white color.

Then, we took these wooden doily looking things and painted them a cream/off-white color.

And then took glue dots and fastened the letters to these cute little chalkboard tags I found (at Michael's).

And then took glue dots and fastened the letters to these cute little chalkboard tags I found (at Michael’s).

Adorable Jenna finishing the "Weeks" tag...

Adorable Jenna finishing the “Weeks” tag…

Voila!

Voila!

And my favorite, the "Months" tag...

And my favorite, the “Months” tag…

And now all together...

And now all together…

Craft Day - Part 2 will also include painting the numbers, which will go in the doily circle. However, I have not been able to find 1.5" wooden numbers that will work... yet!

Craft Day – Part 2 will also include painting the numbers, which will go in the doily circle. However, I have not been able to find 1.5″ wooden numbers that will work… yet!

Cute stuff!

Cute stuff!

Once we finish, I’ll post more!

 

Symptoms

I’ve definitely been feeling pretty pregnant lately. Lots of weird body changes including hot flashes… a lot of them. And the obvious achy discomforts. I’ll hold off on the complaints today… because it’s my birth week! AND, in honor of my last birthday in my twenties (holy shit – when did that happen??), I’m headed to dinner at this new Italian restaurant and a movie (The Other Woman) with my amazing lady friends tonight.

On a sillier note, after dealing with this yesterday…

Apparently Toby likes my new size... boobs for a seat, belly for a boost.

Apparently Toby likes my new size… boobs for a seat, belly for a boost.

Toby and I made a deal that he needed to stay on his half of the car today…

Good little monkey sitting like a good little man.

Good little monkey sitting like a good little man.

Also, how cute is my husband? After he finished doing some work last night, Marky sat in the nursery (in our borrowed glider until ours gets delivered – thanks again, Jenna!!!) reading, “The Birth Partner.” The only thing he shared with me was to make sure he had good breath during the labor 🙂

See him in there?? So sweet.

See him in there?? So sweet.

 

 

Lots of Celebrations & Fun – Weekend Recap

On Friday, the weather was starting to heat up and everything was feeling great. Work was a little slow, but I had the pup with me, so that made it sillier.

My pup, the contortionist.

My pup, the contortionist.

 

After work, we headed over to our friend Mike & Kari’s for a little BBQ get together. Mike and Kari had a wee little one, Madison, just about a year ago and she’s perfectly adorable and behaved and so sweet. Anyway, our friend Tricia and her boyfriend joined too, and we had a little “pre-birthday” celebration for Tricia and I (Tricia’s bday was yesterday, mine is Thursday).

Birthday shenanigans.

Birthday shenanigans.

Make a wish!!

Make a wish!!

The gang hanging out!

The gang hanging out!

Saturday morning we got up early for our first labor & delivery class with our doula! She had tons of helpful information to share with us (some of it a repeat from our hospital class), and it really went well! I’ll share more about this in a separate post.

The remainder of Saturday was spent running errands and doing chores around the house. Your standard grocery shopping, meal prep, yard work, vacuuming, etc. Then, Saturday night, the hubs and I just relaxed and got to bed early.

Then Sunday was the big Mother’s Day brunch at our house. We had my sister and her family over and my Milly (mother-in-law) and Pop (Mark’s grandfather) over. Unfortunately, my parents did not come, as they went to a baseball game instead. While this is something my mother and I fought about and have since “resolved,” the feelings of disappointment and frustration definitely reemerged yesterday. I know the baby hasn’t arrived yet, but it was technically my first mother’s day… it would have been nice to share the day with my own mother.

Anyway, we did a waffle bar that really turned out wonderfully! We had different spreads for the waffles (butter, nutella, fudge, jam) and then tons of toppings (syrup, whipped cream, honey, berries, bananas, chocolate chips, powdered sugar, yogurt… that might have been all).

The table set for 8!

The table set for 8!

Yummy parfait compliments of Milly.

Yummy parfait compliments of Milly.

Wheat & Original Waffles... both delish!

Wheat & Original Waffles… both delish!

The spreads!

The spreads!

Mmmm toppings!

Mmmm toppings!

Delicious egg bake!

Delicious egg bake!

That's a tasty plate!

That’s a tasty plate!

The waffle bar in action!

The waffle bar in action!

Pop & Gabs laughing it up!

Pop & Gabs laughing it up!

That's a spoonful of chocolate chips!

That’s a spoonful of chocolate chips!

Heyyyyy!!

Heyyyyy!!

What are you looking at?

What are you looking at?

Where'd I go?

Where’d I go?

Here I am!!

Here I am!!

Third helping??

Third helping??

Have I mentioned I suck at quantities? These are all leftovers!

Have I mentioned I suck at quantities? These are all leftovers!

Here are the recipes I used…

Whole Grain Waffles (I thought these were pretty darn good!)

Waffles of Insane Greatness (These are the original waffles and I’m not gonna lie, they were pretty damn good)

Sausage & Egg Casserole with Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Mozzarella (This REALLY hit the spot. So light and fluffy and awesome)

 

After everyone left, Marky and I totally just took advantage of the day. First the boys crashed…

Food coma.

Food coma.

Then, we snuggled up on the couch and took a nice nap. All the windows were open, allowing for a nice warm breeze. It was wonderful. Once we woke up, we moved to the hammock for some more R&R.

hammock time

Ahhh heaven. But I’m not going to lie. As we laid there, I couldn’t help but think, “holy shit, I’m going to miss this.” It was so quiet and peaceful and just us. I know that when baby comes, she will offer us new and different perfect experiences like these, but regardless, the thought made me feel a little guilty.

After nap & hammock time, we went to the store to put a little icing on our unhealthy day. In honor of Mom’s Day, we bought all of my cravings for dinner. Now, this is something we haven’t really done more than a couple times. But, I figured, might as well enjoy satisfying these little cravings before the pregnancy is over, right? So this was our dinner…

Frozen pizza (yes, I have a total weakness for the stuff)

Frozen pizza (yes, I have a total weakness for the stuff)

Caesar Salad Kit

Caesar Salad Kit

And here’s the kicker….

Jalepeno cheetos! My favorite chip!

Jalepeno cheetos! My favorite chip!

The boys' couch!

The boys’ couch!

We watched Delivery Man with the windows open and just enjoyed the night. The movie wasn’t great, but the day and evening were perfection. I couldn’t have asked for more from my amazing hubs. I should also mention that he wrote the sweetest card EVER and got me a gift certificate for Nordstrom Rack (one just opened and I’ve been dying to go check it out)!

Symptoms

I’m definitely at a much less comfortable place than I’ve been for the rest of the pregnancy. It’s still manageable, but I’m achy all over, my back doesn’t feel great, and my hands and wrists are quite sore. Thankfully I read on BabyCenter that this was normal. I’m trying to do wrist stretches periodically throughout the day, but it doesn’t seem to help. Oh well, right?

 

33 Weeks (May 9, 2014)

33 Weeks (May 9, 2014). Somehow it's already Friday! I'm not going to complain, but this week literally flew by. I'm definitely feeling bigger... at least today anyway. And, I think as our little munchkin beefs up, my belly is looking more and more as if I swallowed a basketball. As for that growing munchkin, she is a pineapple! 17.2" and 4.5 lbs (ish). That's crazy. I can't believe we only have 49 days to go!

33 Weeks (May 9, 2014). Somehow it’s already Friday! I’m not going to complain, but this week literally flew by. I’m definitely feeling bigger… at least today anyway. And, I think as our little munchkin beefs up, my belly is looking more and more as if I swallowed a basketball. As for that growing munchkin, she is a pineapple! 17.2″ and 4.5 lbs (ish). That’s crazy. I can’t believe we only have 49 days to go!

Symptoms

Last night we had an appointment with our hospital to install the car seat bases in both of our cars. We had been scared into having it done by “professionals” during our classes, where they said that 80% of car seats aren’t installed correctly. I’m not going to lie, while the two women installing our car seat bases were nice, they didn’t seem “into it”… maybe I was being a little sexist because I was expecting men to do the installation (I know, I know… terrible). BUT really, they were super lazy about it. I had to ask them to redo it twice because it seemed too loose or it wasn’t level.

Regardless, we not have car seat bases!

One step closer to being ready for baby!

One step closer to being ready for baby!

Also, note that our seat is in the middle. You need to be able to get a hand in between the car seat and the front seat, but as long as there is room, this is the safest option for baby. I didn’t understand why until the woman said, “think about if you get T-boned”… okay, now I get it. The middle is a bit more of a pain because you have to reach over, but baby’s safety is worth it. Also, we had picked up some seat pads to protect the seat from the base and were told that unless it actually comes with the car seat, it voids the warranty and sometimes poses issues with insurance. Noted. We didn’t use the pads. I think that’s all, but will say, if you’re installing the base yourself, make sure to yank that thing in VERY tightly. Once secured, it shouldn’t wiggle more than a 1/2 inch.

*FYI, we got the Britax B-Safe Car Seat & Bases. Everything I’ve heard from literally every momma I’ve asked has been that Britax is the best. Best quality, safest, etc.

 

In other news, I’m crabby today. I’m not 100% sure why, but I just woke up on the wrong side of the bed I guess. And if I’m being totally honest, I think I’m a little crabby because Mother’s Day is coming up this weekend and my birthday is next week… and I have this feeling my hubs has nothing planned. I’m a HUGE birthday person, so I think I’m feeling a little disappointed, which I should just let go of. He tends to surprise me now and again.

Also, while poor Ollie the Cat doesn’t get a lot of face-time on the blog, he was especially silly this morning keeping watch from the back of the toilet. Enjoy Sir Kitty.

Kitty on alert. He sees something...

Kitty on alert. He sees something…

Kitty starting to feel safe again, but still weary.

Kitty starting to feel safe again, but still weary.

Okay, things are gonna be okay...

Okay, things are gonna be okay…

HAPPY FRIDAY!

50 Days, Magical Cheesecake & a Great Appointment

I’d like to start off by warning you that I’m obnoxiously chipper right now. Why you ask? Well, a lot of reasons, but mainly, I had a really great appointment with my doctor today. Here’s the update…

Blood pressure: GOOD (98/66… I think?)

Belly Bump Measurement: 32-33 cm (measuring right on track or maybe even a little small… my lady parts like the sound of small)

Baby’s Heart Rate: Great! (I forgot to ask specifics, but she said it was perfect)

Baby’s Position: Still head down! She’s such a good girl.

Weight Gain: Dan da daaaaan… 1 lb! Yes, this made me very happy! My doc said it was great, too! So, now at 33 weeks (tomorrow), I’ve gained 27 lbs. That feels way better than 26 lbs at 31 weeks. I’ve just got to keep up the good work… ie: exercising and eating well. AKA… I will not be going home and eating all the leftover cheesecake. Damn.

I also asked my doc quite a few questions…

1) Can we pre-register for the hospital? No need to! Everything is electronic, so they’ll get you right in a room and any questions needing answers will be asked there.

2) In order to get my breast pump paid for by insurance, I need a prescription… can I get one from you today? Yep!

*NOTE: I had heard great things about the Hygeia Enjoye breast pump and am attempting to go through www.abreastpumpandmore.com to order mine (the website was recommended to me by the rep at Hygeia). I’ll let you know if my insurance accepts it and it works.

3)  Do you apply oil / do perineal massage when the baby is crowning? I’ve heard it helps prevent tearing. I do sometimes, but it depends on the patient and how she’s feeling. Sometimes it is too sensitive down there and the massage doesn’t help. If you would like me to, just let me know and I will. And, if you’d like me to apply oil, feel free to bring the oil with you and I’ll be happy to use it.

4) If I have any tearing, will I receive local pain meds before I’m stitched up? Yes. We use lidocaine, which sometimes hurts a touch when administered (it’s a shot), but sometimes it doesn’t. That should relieve any pain from the stitches.

5) When do you cut the cord? I’ve read that it is beneficial to wait a few minutes after birth to cut the cord so extra blood flows from the placenta to the baby. Supposedly it lowers risk of newborn anemia and iron deficiency. I have been trying to adjust my practice to wait a few minutes before cutting the cord. Just remind us [or put it in your birth plan] and we will do that.

**So, here is where I handed the doc my package of mini cheesecakes (see recipe in yesterday’s blog post) and said, “Here’s a little bribe before I ask my next question…” Mark made sure to add in, “You can have the cheesecakes no matter what” haha… I love him.

Classic Cheesecake with Graham Cracker Crust Garnished with Mixed Berry Preserves and Lemon Zest & Whipped Cream, Fresh Blueberry and Lemon Zest... AND, Oreo Cheesecake on an Oreo Crust topped with Whipped Cream and a Mini Oreo. Mmm....

Classic Cheesecake with Graham Cracker Crust Garnished with Mixed Berry Preserves and Lemon Zest & Whipped Cream, Fresh Blueberry and Lemon Zest… AND, Oreo Cheesecake on an Oreo Crust topped with Whipped Cream and a Mini Oreo. Mmm….

6) My company requires a doctor’s note for my maternity leave. I am requesting 12 weeks and was hoping you could write a note saying that I need 12 weeks. Definitely! The more time the better! What I’m not able to do is fill out a disability form because medically, it is pre-determined that a vaginal birth receives 6 weeks and a c-section birth receives 8 weeks.

SUCCESS!!! YES! How amazing, huh??? I love my doc. Hopefully the damn note will be enough and I can finally get the maternity leave thing checked off my list.

One more reason for smiling… as of today, there are exactly 50 days until my due date! I love round numbers.

Classic & Oreo Mini Cheesecake Bake-Off

I decided that instead of making mini pies to bribe my doctor into writing me a note recommending a 12-week maternity leave, I would make mini original and oreo cheesecakes. The recipes were quite simple, but between making tonight’s dinner and prepping tomorrow’s slow-cooker dinner in between my cheesecake bake-off, I was literally in the kitchen for nearly 5 hours.

However, if I get that note, it will be worth every minute spent. If I don’t… I’m coming home and eating all the “leftover” cheesecakes.

Classic Cheesecake with Graham Cracker Crust Garnished with Mixed Berry Preserves and Lemon Zest & Whipped Cream, Fresh Blueberry and Lemon Zest... AND, Oreo Cheesecake on an Oreo Crust topped with Whipped Cream and a Mini Oreo. Mmm....

Classic Cheesecake with Graham Cracker Crust Garnished with Mixed Berry Preserves and Lemon Zest & Whipped Cream, Fresh Blueberry and Lemon Zest… AND, Oreo Cheesecake on an Oreo Crust topped with Whipped Cream and a Mini Oreo. Mmm….

Close up...

Close up…

All packaged up for my doc! Hope she likes cheesecake...

All packaged up for my doc! Hope she likes cheesecake…

For both cheesecakes, I used a pretty classic recipe. The only difference between the classic and oreo was literally the crushed oreos mixed into the cheesecake batter. Here are the recipes:

Graham Cracker Crust:

1 cup graham cracker crumbles

2 TBSP sugar

3 TBSP butter, melted

*Mix it all together and voila! Then press graham cracker crust into paper-lined mini muffin tin.

 

Oreo Cookie Crust:

10 original Oreo Cookies with cream (not double stuffed)

1 TBSP butter

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Throw cookies in the food processor and grind up to crumbs. Add butter and grind again until crumbs. Press into paper-lined mini muffin tins and bake for 5 minutes.

 

Cheesecake Filling

3/4 cup sugar

3 (8oz) Packages Cream Cheese, softened

1 tsp Vanilla

3 Eggs

* Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Beat cream cheese, vanilla and sugar with mixer until blended. Then add eggs one at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until well blended. IF YOU ARE MAKING OREO CHEESECAKE: Mix in Oreo Cookies, just until blended. Spoon cheesecake over crusts.

Bake at 325 degrees F for 15-18 minutes. Let cool, then refrigerate for 2-4 hours. Once fully cooled, add the garnish of your choice and refrigerate for an additional 1-2 hours (at least) to set. TA DA!

Original Recipe Links:

Original Cheesecake

Oreo Cheesecake

 

Keeping the Love Alive… Post-Baby

Can we keep the love sparky and magical post-baby??

Can we keep the love sparky and magical post-baby??

I read quite a few mommy blogs and yesterday, I came across a post that really made me think. A woman was saying that she was recently asked if she loves her husband of 12 years and the question made her think. Ultimately, the conclusion she came up with was that she loved her husband like an old sweater and was no longer, “in love.” A lot of other women chimed in and added phrases like, “indentured servant” and other troubling things.

Within an hour of reading the post, I turned to “the Google.” I asked: How to keep the love alive after children. I read article after article and came up with the following as my “favorites” (obviously, I emailed them to my hubs right away):

  • “Sometimes my husband and I take a vacation day during the week and have a date while our daughter’s at daycare. We have a leisurely lunch, then catch a movie. It’s a treat for her to have both Mommy and Daddy pick her up, and we love having the evening together, refreshed after our ‘couple time.’ “
  • “Our secret is simple, and we only recently rediscovered it: Going to bed at the same time. It sounds trite, but for nearly six years, my husband stayed up late to catch some quiet time alone. It’s hard to have much of a sex life — or any kind of intimacy — when one partner crawls into bed after the other’s asleep. Going to bed at the same time facilitates ‘pillow talk’ and all that goes with it.”
  • “I always make sure to hug my husband when he comes home from work, no matter how busy I am. It takes just two seconds to reconnect with him, and it’s well worth it.”
  • “We remind ourselves that in 18 years our daughter will leave us, but that we’re forever. This helps us make decisions to invest in our marriage — date nights at least twice a month, occasional weekends away, prolonged kisses at the door, spontaneous sex during afternoon naps, and loving conversations in front of our toddler (to show her how important we are to each other). My parents did the same, and it gave me a wonderful sense of peace to know that they loved each other so much.”
  • “Okay, men, as much as I hate to admit it, sharing responsibilities is the way to keep romance alive. I get up at night to feed the baby (now that she’s not solely nursed anymore). I give her baths. I share the work equally with my wife. One tired parent does nothing for romance — so help your partner with the housework!”
  • “I tell my wife that I love her as often as I can. I watch out for knee-jerk responses to irritating things. I remind myself to look at the big picture. I make sure that I cuddle with her at bedtime; sometimes I just cuddle ‘instead’ — it always pays off right then, and later on (wink, wink). And every evening we have a few minutes of ‘Mommy and Daddy talk’ when we get home. The kids have to amuse themselves for a little while, but they’re better served by parents who’ve had a chance to reconnect.”
  • Babies often find night time to be the best time to bond with parents, making romance a hit or miss situation, but that is just fine. Baby will make you change your life schedule a million and one times before he grows up and moves out of the house. If you want to get frisky, try the day time hours. Babies are more apt to sleep the majority of the day on a more predictable pattern. So, as soon as that morning or afternoon nap starts, take some time just for Mom and Dad and keep those fires burning.
  • Focus on all the reasons you appreciate each other.  I won’t pretend that there aren’t hundreds of distractions working against us in the romance department, but we can’t let them completely take over our lives.  Today I need to repair the brakes on our van, reorganize the website content for Power of Moms, return our library books, host a play group, and complete dozens of other tasks (just like you . . . I know I’m not alone here), but in the midst of all that, I can think about why I love my husband, and I can let him know I love him.  A quick text message saying, “Thanks for buying me flowers this week” or “I think you’re very handsome” can go a long way.  One day he wrote love messages all over our bathroom mirror with dry erase markers, and I loved it.

When we both got home from work, my sweet guy and I talked about the different suggestions and our relationship. While we know children and marriage in general put a strain on a relationship, we were both feeling confident in our love and the way we work together. We had to laugh, because my husband pointed out that many marriages blend two independent people with a lot of independent hobbies, etc. Where as my husband and I pretty much do everything together. While I do the bulk of the cooking and he does the hard labor, even those things are things we do together. While I’m cooking, Marky will be washing the dishes or helping to chop vegetables or anything in the kitchen. And while Mark is hacking down trees in the yard, I’m picking up sticks and raking and pretty much doing anything possible to be around him. While this isn’t the answer to everything, we talked about how we want to care for our baby and it really is a similar, tag-team approach.

I know we’ve only been married a year and will face far more difficult challenges than those faced to-date, but even just talking about it with Mark made me feel better. I know that when I’m ready to pull my hair out at 4 am with a crying baby, he’ll be by my side, “tagging in” for duty.

I really love my husband.

 

Symptoms

A few things to report… 1) my back still hurts… a lot. I need to remember to call the chiropractor. 2) Today I had to say goodbye (for now) to my dearest little friend, Kate, who is moving to Seattle tomorrow. We had a great lunch together – a perfect farewell – but I can’t help but feel very sad for myself as she moves on. We’ve been friends for what feels like forever and I will truly miss her. Thank goodness for FaceTime and a ton of prior commitments this summer (including her wedding) that will bring her back to me at least a few times. Love you, Katiekins. 3) Last night, we were getting ready for bed (at a very slow pace) and while I brushed my teeth, the tiny lady was squiqqling around. She apparently got comfortable, because by the time I got into bed an hour later, she had settled in and seemed to be sleeping. So, imagine her surprise when Marky started to read her bedtime story… at an abnormally loud volume… right up against my belly. Needless to say, she nearly jumped out of my body! That mean dad startled the poor girl! It was pretty silly actually. And one more… 4) Yesterday I was in the car belting out to the new John Legend song… I love it. Anyway, I decided to give the baby boo a little massage as I sang “to her,” so I noticed the right side of my belly looked further out than the left, so that’s where I massaged. Within a minute, she adjusted to put her little butt up against my hand and enjoy a closer massage. That’s my girl 🙂 Oy. I love her. She’s so silly.

A Busy Weekend Recap

Another weekend recapped in photos…

Toby and I were on the same page on Friday afternoon. We were definitely feeling sluggish and just over it. Especially after putting in some extra hours last week.

Toby and I were on the same page on Friday afternoon. We were definitely feeling sluggish and just over it. Especially after putting in some extra hours last week.

We were both pleasantly surprised when the hubs popped in for a surprise visit after his training session was let out. That helped with the afternoon.

We were both pleasantly surprised when the hubs popped in for a surprise visit after his training session was let out. That helped with the afternoon.

After work, we all napped for a little before heading to my sweet friend Kate's parents' house for a farewell dinner. She's abandoning us and moving to Seattle. New job at Expedia!

After work, we all napped for a little before heading to my sweet friend Kate’s parents’ house for a farewell dinner. She’s abandoning us and moving to Seattle. New job at Expedia!

Carrie brought her tiny little 6-week-old man, Phoenix to the dinner!

Carrie brought her tiny little 6-week-old man, Phoenix to the dinner!

Such a smoosher.

Such a smoosher.

He's way too cute!

He’s way too cute!

We enjoyed a night of pizza making, GREAT food, and perfect conversation.

We enjoyed a night of pizza making, GREAT food, and perfect conversation.

Why would she ever want to leave this??

Why would she ever want to leave this??

Resident Chef Erica shaping the dough.

Resident Chef Erica shaping the dough.

Mmmm cheese!

Mmmm cheese!

How cute are they?

How cute are they?

The boys!

The boys!

Watch out, Kate! First comes Seattle, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in the baby carriage :) I think your hubs-to-be might be ready!

Watch out, Kate! First comes Seattle, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in the baby carriage 🙂 I think your hubs-to-be might be ready!

Is that an AMAZING looking pizza or what?

Is that an AMAZING looking pizza or what?

I have to include this salad dressing recipe, because it was AMAZING! Compliments of Kate's momma. SO tasty.

I have to include this salad dressing recipe, because it was AMAZING! Compliments of Kate’s momma. SO tasty.

On Saturday, we were supposed to have our first labor class with our doula, but she had to cancel because she had a birth on Friday night. I know this is crappy to admit, but I struggled/struggle to believe it. I had emailed her as a little reminder on Friday night and she emailed me back within 10 minutes to cancel and say she was on her way to a birth. Maybe I’m just being skeptical. Oh well.

The lack of class left room for EXCESSIVE amounts of yard work…

Marky trimmed trees...

Marky trimmed trees…

A lot of trees.

A lot of trees.

And I was in charge of raking and picking up sticks. So, after literally almost 8 hours of hard labor… at 8 months pregnant… I decided that it might have been a little bit too much. By the end of the day, I had a few Braxton Hicks contractions right in a row, which kind of scared me. It could have been from over exertion or dehydration… but either way, it was probably too much. I felt fine while we were doing it though? In fact, it felt nice to get in some exercise and enjoy the sunshine.

After all that gardening, Marky and I chowed down some Mexican food! Mmm. I was in bed by 10.

Sunday was another big day! It was my sweet Ashley’s bridal shower… with a derby theme! I’m not going to lie, I was a little anxious about having to get dressed up in a theme, because having to get dressed seems to be quite the challenge these days, but I somehow managed. I miraculously squeezed my 8-month-prego belly bump into a pre-pregs dress, threw on a blazer and a hat and was “off to the races.” Well, actually, I stopped for a mani with my mom and sis first! I’m not so sure about my color… it’s a little blah or maybe just too close to my hand color.

The color's a little lame.

The color’s a little lame.

Anyway, the shower was absolutely gorgeous and I had such a great time! It was great to see all my ladies, eat delicious food and play some silly games.

The beautiful bride-to-be!

The beautiful bride-to-be!

The bridesmaids (minus a couple)!

The bridesmaids (minus a couple)!

I’m second from the left! I’ve decided that black + a blazer = a pregnant woman’s best friend! I had quite a few conversations with folks I hadn’t seen in a while that were interupted by, “OMG! You’re pregnant! I didn’t even notice!” Now, I read a lot of articles and posts about things NOT to say to a pregnant momma… for the record, let’s add that one to the list of things TO SAY!

How gorg are these flower centerpieces? This pic is taken in my kitchen... yes, I was lucky enough to bring this prize home!

How gorg are these flower centerpieces? This pic is taken in my kitchen… yes, I was lucky enough to bring this prize home!

When I got home, poor Mark was still in the yard slaving away. Learning my lesson from the previous day, the hubs set Toby and I up on the hammock so we could keep him company.

When I got home, poor Mark was still in the yard slaving away. Learning my lesson from the previous day, the hubs set Toby and I up on the hammock so we could keep him company.

And watch him work...

And watch him work…

Ahhh finally sunshine!

Ahhh finally sunshine!

All in all, it was a jam-packed and fun-filled weekend!

 

Symptoms

Ohhhh my back! I’m feeling a lot better than I did Saturday night, but I’ve still got some serious aching in my back from all that yard work. Good news? I think I’ll survive 🙂 I’m also a bit tired. I woke up at 4 am to pee and could not get back to sleep. I ended up reading until around 5:30 and then my alarm went off at 6:30. I know, I know… practice. Whatever. I’m tired.

But, as I lay there in bed thinking about the baby, I did get pretty excited. Even a little excited for the late night feedings. Not all of them… every night… every two hours… but just to breastfeed my little girl and love on her. And also, I was thinking… in waking hours, you change and feed a baby every two hours(ish)… do you have to change a baby every two hours at night, too? My guess is yes… but oofta. That’s rough.

Anyway, I just can’t wait to meet her. As of today, there are only 53 days left! Ehh… I don’t like that number. Sounds too high. As of today, there are only 7.5 weeks left! That’s better!

 

32 Weeks… 8 Months!! (May 2, 2014)

32 Weeks... 8 Months! (May 2, 2014). HOLY SMOKES! How has it already been 8 months? I can't believe our little girl is already 4 lbs and nearly 17"(ish). That's just crazy. And me... well, I'm obviously getting larger! Today the dude that fills the vending machine at our office gave me two free (and unsolicited) bags of snacks. I must look hungry? Or ravenous? Maybe it was his version of throwing a piece of bloody meat to a tiger and making a getaway. Whatever. I ate the pretzels happily.

32 Weeks… 8 Months! (May 2, 2014). HOLY SMOKES! How has it already been 8 months? I can’t believe our little girl is already 4 lbs and nearly 17″(ish). That’s just crazy. And me… well, I’m obviously getting larger! Today the dude that fills the vending machine at our office gave me two free (and unsolicited) bags of snacks. I must look hungry? Or ravenous? Maybe it was his version of throwing a piece of bloody meat to a tiger and making a getaway. Whatever. I ate the pretzels happily.

Pregtastic

I read on a fellow blogger’s page that she has used Pregtastic as an amazing resource during pregnancy. So, I’ve been listening to these audio episodes all day and really loving it! Which of course means I had to share…

The site covers such a wide range of topics. Here’s a snap shot:

Pregtastic Home Page

Pregtastic Home Page

Give it a whirl! Have a listen! So far I’ve heard two birthing stories (which I can’t lie… I didn’t really enjoy – the ones in Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth are way better), a piece on pain relief (natural and medicinal) during labor, Epigenetics, the Bradley Method… there are so many different episodes!