Monday, November 26, 2012

A Week of Thanksgiving (34 weeks)



How far along? 34 weeks
Baby size: A butternut squash/cantaloupe, but I am pretty sure she has been the size of both of these things in the past, that is what happens when you use two different sources! About 18 inches long and weighing 4.75 lbs.
Total weight gain/loss: my weight gain has been crazy lately, at my appointment I had gained a whopping 34 lbs,  granted I lost 1/2 a pound after I peed. I sometimes weight up to 5 lbs more by the night than I did in the morning...I am not going to worry until my midwives start to worry.
Maternity clothes? I keep catching my belly hanging out the bottom of all my shirts...even the maternity ones haha
Stretch marks? No new or growing stretchmarks this week

Sleep: I have been sleeping well with my 5 pillows :-) and getting up by 8:30 every day.
Highlights/Best moments this week: This week was Thanksgiving and there was so much to be thankful for. On Sunday our Church had a baby shower in honor of Anna Sophia (See pictures below). The ladies pitched in a bought us a Britax travel system...my dream stroller and car seat.
We are so blessed by so many people that love and care about our baby girl. So many people put in time and effort to make food and decorations and gifts (homemade quilt, and cloth diapers!)

We also spent the week house-sitting for some friends of ours, but it was more like a vacation for us than a favor for them. We had a week filled with board games, ping pong matches, and baking in a nice big kitchen. Plus we were able to finish painting the bedroom without having to sleep in the paint fumes!

We celebrated Thanksgiving this year apart from our families, but we realized that God has blessed us beyond measure with a Church family that love us and love the Lord (and they can cook too!). We spent the night singing praises and thanking the Lord for all that he has given us. 

On Saturday, the last day of week 34 we took advantage of the Black Friday Deals. We went on a nice date to Cheesecake factory, and then used a gift card that came just in time to Pottery Barn Kids (Thanks Kathi and Larry Provonsha!) I was able to get the most perfect diaper bag that I had had my eye on for a long time. The combination of sales and gift cards made it ppossible to buy. We also bought a crib mattress and a camcorder all on sale and combined with gift cards!
 
Miss Anything? I miss... nothing really
Movement: She is able to respond and recognize songs now and she definitely does! She loves it when I sing and she dances along, either that or she is nudging me to keep it down
. haha But she is in the right position and I think she has more room to move now that she found her sweet spot ;-)
Food cravings: trying to eliminate my need for a cookie a day since I gained 7lbs between visits haha
Anything making you queasy or sick: nope!
Have you started to show yet: Yup
Gender : It's a GIRL!!
Symptoms:New this week is joint pain in my hands and slight swelling in my feet, but only on Thanksgiving. It must be all the baking I was doing on my feet.
Belly Button in or out? pretty much non-existent or out.
Wedding rings on or off? off and around my neck.
Happy or Moody most of the time: SOOO excited I know that my nesting is about to start.
Looking forward to:  Organizing baby girl's nook and getting things ready for her to come!




The following photos are by Sara Jean Peck!







Sunday, November 18, 2012

The Past Two Weeks! (33 weeks)



How far along? 33 weeks
Baby size: A Durian (I don't even know what that is)! About 17 inches long and weighing 4 lbs.
Total weight gain/loss: 28 lbs.
Maternity clothes? rockin out in my maternity clothes or just big clothes

Stretch marks? Only stretch marks so far are on my side and they are barely noticeable. I keep waiting for them to pop up out of no where.

Sleep: I sleep pretty well even though it is hard to get comfy.
Highlights/Best moments this week: The past two weeks, I voted for the first time as a Virginian, we attended several parenting seminars which were such a blessing, I started going to a Chiropractor and I am totally in love with it,  I have spent time learning how to take care of babies from my experienced mommy friends Shelby and Sara Jean, and we worked on our nursery room a little more. 
Miss Anything? Still missing my rings, but I think that is about it.
Movement: Oh she is moving all right. But thankfully she isnt a violent baby and she is very kind to my ribs :-)

Food cravings: Cookie craving is here to stay
Anything making you queasy or sick: nope!
Have you started to show yet: So basically I am huge
Gender : It's a GIRL!!
Symptoms: still having back pain, but the Chiro has been helping, also having a hard time not losing my breath as I talk.
Belly Button in or out? Still half in half out...it makes me happy 
Wedding rings on or off? off and around my neck.
Happy or Moody most of the time: I cry so easily and I am so sentimental when I think about baby girl's life and future.
Looking forward to:  Getting everything done, the Holiday Season, and baby girl's grand entrace into this world....eeeep I can hardly wait.   



Check Back Soon for Baby Shower News and Pictures!!

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Project Nursery (Part 1)

Well I finally started on the Nursery, or what I look to refer to as "AnnaSophia's Nook." We only have one wall painted, but it's her wall so that makes it exciting. There is still lots of work to do and she will be here in 10 weeks at the latest or as early as 5 weeks! It's hard to believe how soon we will be holding her in our arms.


Notice all of Baby Girl's clothes and toys and blankets just taking up her side of the room and our make shift curtain? Also that huge paint blob that has been on our wall for a few months now. It's the color we decided to go with.

One of my light bulbs went out, which is why this picture looks darker, but the color turned out really great. The picture doesn't do it justice.

There should be many more updates to come!!

Monday, November 5, 2012

Easy Garlic Red Potatoes

Easy Garlic Red Potatoes 

I saw Ina Garten make dill fingerling potatoes on TV one time and I decided that I would try a similar recipe with our favorite... garlic! I also usually have red potatoes on hand so I chopped them into smaller pieces and tossed them in the pot (after all I am new at this cooking business and I have no idea what a fingerling is)! This has now become one of our favorite family side dishes and it's super easy!


Ingredients:

  • 4-6 red potatoes 
  • 2 Tbs butter
  • 1 1/2 Garlic cloves (could also use garlic powder)
  • Salt and pepper to taste


Directions:
  1. Cut potatoes into wedges.
  2.  In a large heavy bottom pot melt butter. 
  3. Add potatoes, garlic, salt, and pepper. 
  4. Cover and let cook on low heat for 20 minutes. 
 * * Be sure to shake the pot from time to time to prevent the potatoes on the bottom from burning.

Friday, November 2, 2012

Baby Girl Has a Name! (31 Weeks)



How far along? 31 weeks (Proverbs 31 is on my heart this 31st week)
Baby size: A Pineapple! About 16 inches long and weighing 3.3 lbs.
Total weight gain/loss: 26 lbs.
Maternity clothes? Loving my maternity clothes and I bought some skinny jeans (See picture) and a winter coat at a thrift store yesterday woohoo!!

Stretch marks? still only have the little redmarks on my side

Sleep: sleepy varies, its hard to go back to sleep once I get up in the morning with hubby.
Highlights/Best moments this week: Well Hurricane Sandy came to visit and she was a blessing to us. Lucas was off work for two days and we just hid in our apartment and spent time together. It was much needed after our very busy week. We got back our maternity pictures too! Oh and there was Halloween, which we like to call Reformation Day :-) We also attended our first parenting seminar which just made me so grateful that God is allowing us to steward this baby and teach her about Him.
Miss Anything? I miss wearing my wedding rings. I will be happy when my fingers are back to 4 &1/4
Movement: She is moving a lot I think she is back head down and sometimes she is even in my ribs a bit. So exciting how big I can feel her getting.

Food cravings: I can't seem to get over wanting cookies all the time!
Anything making you queasy or sick: nope!
Have you started to show yet: every time I see a picture of myself it catches me by surprise
Gender : It's a GIRL!!
Symptoms: lower back pain :-( Must do more pelvic rocks!
Belly Button in or out? halfy! When I laugh it pops in and out which only makes me laugh more.

Wedding rings on or off? off and around my neck.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy and blessed! I do find myself crying a lot at sentimental things.
Looking forward to:  I have a baby Shower coming up in a few weeks, another baby is going to be born in our Church this weekend, starting rehearsals for the Christmas program. All sorts of good things to come :-)


And Baby Girl's Name is...


 Photos by Artdrea Photography, check out her blog HERE!
 Thanks Andrea!