A Few of My Favorite Things...

Friday marks week 33! We bought the crib mattress and put the linens "on" the crib. We also ordered our glider which we are waiting to arrive.

We went to Ikea this past weekend to buy some shelves which look pretty good. I also came across a set of three pictures that have a bird in them, and also include "girly" colors like reds and pinks. I wasn't in love with this set of pictures, but since i haven't had much luck anywhere else i figured why not just get them (they were cheap being from Ikea anyway). Nathan hung them above the crib. Errr...I'm not that crazy about them at all, but every time i go into the room i test my ability to like them. I change on a day to day basis. Not sure if they will last or not. Until then, my search for cute bird prints continues.

Things at work continue to be stressful and mysterious all at once. Anyone who knows me wouldn't be surprised to find that I've been very worried about the whole situation. Then last Wednesday i landed myself at the doctor's office with horrible shooting pains from my belly into my legs, as well as the mother of all back pain. It started the night before, but i went to bed thinking i would just let the baby move positions. It didn't really help, but i didn't want to make a big deal about it. The next morning the entire drive to work (all 1.5 hours!) i had shooting pains into my thighs again and the damn back pain lurking. When i got to work i was talking to someone who just had a baby almost a year ago now. I asked her if she ever experienced that before and her response was "Yeah, when i went into early labor."

Mmm. Ok. So i called the doctor, who asked me to come down the office. Once you're this close to your due date (although it's a ways off, people do have babies this early for different reasons), they don't like to take any chances. Loooonnnng story short, i had to get an internal exam and get hooked up to the monitor to look for contractions, etc.

A couple of braxton hicks contractions later they sent me on my way chalking it up to the baby enjoying itself best when it's positioned on nerves that cause the pain.

Fine with me! I felt so dumb for even calling, but i know too many people at work who had horrible things happen to them during pregnancy that i just thought it wasn't worth it to not be cautious. Since that day I've decided that i can't worry about things at work anymore. It's out of my control, therefore i need to let it go. It's not worth mine or the baby's health. So...as Nathan would say...I've turned a new leaf. Things are still worrisome, of course, but time will tell what will happen.

One more thing on work (just as an update): I think i mentioned we had to turn in our resumes a couple of weeks ago, and we did go through a process called talent review. Now next week we have to go to NYC (that's super easy and fun at 8 months pregnant!) to do "meet and greets" with people who haven't been identified yet. Since they like to assume we're stupid - the translation for "meet and greet" in this environment is: interview. Yup, that's right. A 15 minute interview to justify to some stranger why they should keep you over someone else. So I'm thinking I'll just pretend to go into labor and ask if we can reschedule for when I'm back from maternity leave ;)

On the bright side of things, I've been obsessed with a few favorite things lately, that i just thought i would share:

1. Lolli pops - mostly Blowpops and Tootsie Pops. I have been considering writing a letter to the maker of Blowpops to suggest a longer lasting bubblegum.

2. Caffeine free Coke!!! Whoooweee! I mean i LOVE it. Don't know what it is but i can't get enough. I have, however, managed to control my urges.

3. Corn. There's nothing better right now then some good hot corn with melted butter on it. Yum.

5. Garlic hummus in a pita. This has been my lunch for the past 4 days, and I'm still going strong on the likeness. It's so good and a great alternative to lunch meats. Tomorrow marks a sad day as it will be the last pita we have in the house before i need to go out and get more.

6. Foot rubs. Thanks to all the sock rings i get around what Nathan likes to call my "cankles" (calves and ankles running into one) I've been scoring myself some great foot and cankle rubs. Honestly, i still have ankles...but we laugh so hard at the mere sight of how swollen they get these days. It's ridiculous.

7. The warm weather we've been getting. I know it won't last...i mean i live in NJ. But today it's 58 degrees out! Saturday's forecast: Snow. Dare i say more about NJ?

Mmmmm....i guess that's all i have for now on my list.

I did have my 32 week check up today. Everything sounds and looks good. The doctor measured my belly and then felt around and said "Well, you're not going to have a very big baby!" So, i called Nathan and told him we're having a Peanut! I won't say the weight she gave me, as some people who read this are involved in a pool of gender and weight guesses. I wouldn't want anyone to have an advantage ;)

I also asked her how far past my due date they let me suffer for. She said generally one week, unless my cervix hasn't done a thing, and then they will let me go a little longer...more like 10 days. She said they never let it go past two weeks. Well that's good, since i would jump off a bridge by then anyway.

I want to be mentally prepared since i have a feeling this baby knows how horrible my patience are, and therefore will most likely test them by coming out late.

That's it for now. Sorry i don't have any pics to post this go around. I will take more of the room and the ever growing belly this weekend!

xoxoxo

It's February!

I'm so glad it's February. I felt like January lasted FOREVER. These last weeks are dragging on...slower then i could have imagined. I'm hoping that with February being a short month it will help it move along faster.

We've made major progress on the nursery. Nathan worked so hard this past weekend. I kept saying "wait until tomorrow to paint that, or put that together," but he just kept going on Saturday and didn't stop. When we woke up on Sunday all that was left was the changing table to put together which he did after he ate.

The bird decals also arrived this week so i started putting some of them up. We need to go get a crib mattress and the glider. I have a shopping trip planned this weekend to buy some shelves and other decor to start bringing it all together. All in all i really like how it's coming along.

Here are some pictures:

I'll take more of the final product once i decorate more. Still lot's to be done, but it's definitely a big change from when we started!!!

I'm 31 weeks now. I can't believe it. That feels pretty far along. Once you're in the "30's" it starts to feel more real for some reason.

Things at work are getting a little scary. We had to turn in our resumes last Friday so they can start a process called talent review. It's where they go through a group person by person and basically decide if there is a position for you in the newly formed organization. The worst part (although there are many), is that they are hoping to make their decisions by March. That means that i could potentially be laid off before even going on maternity leave. I am FREAKING. I do have some days that are better then others, but it's such a horrible thing to go through no matter what - so i think the pregnancy just escalates it. Ugh.

Anyway - here's a couple of 31 week pictures:

Swelling in my hands and ankles has ensued big time. I can't even wear the loosest pair of socks i own without having painful, dark red rings around my ankles and shins. It's so strange because i don't look like I'm retaining water anywhere else - but sometimes i can't even get my wedding rings off. Sleeping also sucks lately - i don't get much each night. I toss from side to side about once every hour. I just keep saying it's God's way of preparing me for no sleep.

I think that's all for now. Sorry it took me a while to get this one up. I've been distracted with work i suppose.

My next doctor's appointment is Wednesday the 11th. After that i start going every two weeks until I'm 36 weeks...then it's every week. Hopefully this baby won't make us wait longer than 41 weeks. Anything after that and i know I'll go insane.

xoxoxo

Woot woot!

I passed my glucose test! I'm so relieved.

I know people thought i was crazy about worrying - but with pregnancy you never know what's in store, and considering I've developed a mean sweet tooth with this little one i wasn't not at all confident that my diet had contributed to a "pass" on this test.

I LOVE being wrong in this case.

Someone get me a milkshake...STAT!

Oh yeah...finished the trees! Will post the finished products this weekend. Maybe by then the birdies will have arrived as well.

xoxox

My Weekend Project

Well we've been working full speed ahead on the nursery now. My goal is to have it done (for the most part) about a month before I'm due. This way all we have to do is put things away and wait...and wait...and wait.

I've been really struggling with this project. The bedding, as i posted a few weeks ago, is about as gender neutral as i could find without going the route of characters that i just don't like. I just couldn't do a nursery with Pooh or Zoo Animals. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with that decor, but i was hoping for something simple and modern that would suit either gender just fine. It's been easier said then done so far! I had my aunt come over earlier in the week and we chatted about some ideas. Then i got online and started searching for cute nursery items to give me some ideas. That's when i came across this:

http://www.wallcandyarts.com/item/Season/232/c56

I just think it's so cute and perfect to add some neutrality to the walls. I figured i wouldn't add in the butterflies or flowers until after the baby arrived. The only catch is we decided to just paint over the ugly paneling in the nursery, and with these you need a smooth surface. Grrr.

SO after much contemplation i figured to try and give it a go myself with craft paint and a little imagination. These are from yesterday after i had just gotten started on the leaves:

I stopped half way through this one to go watch the football games for the night. I ended up finishing them both this morning, but haven't take more pictures yet.

To go in the trees, and around the room, i ordered cute little birdie decals that work just like that tree decal above does. I can use these on the paneling since they are small enough to fit in between the ridges. I plan to stick some in the two trees, as well as on top of the window and around the room just for some kind of theme - and to tie all of it together.

As you can see we painted the walls with white on top, chocolate in the middle, and the iced sage (to match the bedding) on the bottom. The wall actually imitates the crib skirt with the chocolate stripe going around it. My mom keeps saying it's a little boys room - which i agreed with until i added the trees. Now I'm starting to see the girl potential as well. I'm hoping once i get the birds and other decorative elements that i can really neutralize the whole thing.

We ordered the carpet today which is being installed on Friday (yay!) as well as two new windows to keep the baby warm. Only a couple more things to do before we can put the furniture together and in the room!

I had my doctor's appointment this past Wednesday but won't know my diabetes results until this week i guess ( I forgot to ask how long it takes to get the results). So I'm either going to be really happy or really pissed. Not sure yet. I gained 3 pounds since December 17th and the baby was lying sideways when the doctor went to measure my belly and listen to the hear beat which was 156. My next appointment is February 11th then i start seeing the doctor every two weeks until 36 weeks at which point i go every week.

We also had childbirth classes on Saturday. It was very informative and humorous all at once. There were many things i didn't know and some that i just didn't want to. I also learned how to breath - including the: hee-hee-hee-hooo move. We learned that we have to fill out our admissions papers now so we are prepared when i go into labor, and that we have to have our pediatrician picked out before we get there!!! I have no idea where to start on that one. Most people were around the same time frame as me, being due in late March and early April. We had one couple due in February and one couple having twins. It was, by far, way more enjoyable then our pre-cana experience!!! Even at the end Nathan said "that wasn't that bad at all."

I turned 29 weeks on Friday. I don't have a good picture as it was taken last night before i went to sleep - literally seconds before i crawled into bed. Nonetheless, here it is (bare belly this week):

My eyes are closed - Nathan snapped it when i was mid sentence. Anyway - it was nice to see from class that i was the same size as most everyone else there who was due around my date. It's always nice to be able to compare!

11 more weeks to go!

Hope everyone is well!

xoxox

Do These Stripes Make Me Look Fat?

Kidding, kidding. I already know the answer to that.

This is my 28 week picture. I know it will sound like crap, but i really don't look this big in person. Don't get me wrong, i have really started to feel "pregnant" these past few weeks. I can't lean over to pick up the dog, bending down is impossible and i lose my breath from going up 4 steps. But I'm serious when i say that the camera really makes this belly look bigger.

I went to the hair salon yesterday to get my hair did and every one's guess there is that it's a boy. Mostly because they say my butt hasn't gotten bigger (yet) and that my face looks the same. One girl just kept saying "you're all belly, that's it."

I'll take it, thanks!

I have a 27 week picture but i had been lying on the couch all day being lazy and my face looks disgusting. Therefore, i will not be posting that one. Don't worry - it's just another big belly shot. I do, however, have a picture of Nathan and i from New Year's Eve. He held the noise maker to my belly so that the baby could get in on the action:

We're working on the room full speed ahead now. I'm taking progressive pictures of it but think it will be more fun for everyone if i post them at once so you can see it from start-to-finish all at once. We did add some flavor to the paint this weekend by adding another color around the middle of the room instead of putting up a chair rail. The furniture was delivered too! We just need to get the carpet put in first before we put it together.

All in all it's coming along.

Going back to work this past Monday was hard since having off for almost a full two weeks. It felt like it always did in school coming back from winter break. Things are off and running and i was in New York on Monday to meet with Bank of America people. They were all very nice, and we're hoping that this all turns more into a "partnership" for our group and not a massacre of our jobs. Time will tell.

I'm keeping this one short and sweet tonight. There's only so much time before Desperate Housewives!

My doctor's appointment (and glucose test) is Wednesday. More on that next weekend.

xoxoxo

More fun to blog about

Ok, we've been very busy over the past couple of weeks with my Dad and Lisa here, as well as Natalie and Jason. We've had such a great time finishing out the year that i'm almost a little sad that it will be over soon.

I'm also dreading going back to work to see what my future holds there - I can't lie. It's scary to not know what's going to happen with work, and i can only hope and pray that i at least get to keep my job long enough to go on maternity leave. How about everyone who reads this hopes the same?!?!? Thanks.

Anyway, we had many adventures while Natalie and Jason were here and so little time to squeeze it into to. Friday (after Christmas) we headed into Philly to eat Jim's famous cheesesteaks on South Street. Nathan and I had only been to Pat's, but my cousin's husband Ronnie insisted that we go to Jim's this time...so we did. Here are some shots:

This is Nate and Natalie standing in line. Yes...a line. It wrapped around the side of the building and then wrapped around twice inside. Insanity. It was very much worth it - and Natalie and i were both glad that we decided not to share one - especially since sharing with a pregnant girl would have no doubt resulted in Natalie getting less.

The next day (Saturday) we were off to NYC for some sights. We saw the tree, Central Park, Times Square and much more. There were craploads of people there. At one point Nathan had to walk in front of me with his hand blocking my belly because loads of people just come at you. I hadn't seen it like that in a couple of years - but that's probably because i had learned the last time that it was way too crowded right after Christmas to go and haven't since. We did have a lot of fun, and did a ton of walking.

Right after we were in Rockefeller Center to see the tree we stumbled upon the best discovery ever...they put a Magnolia bakery in!!! There was a line (yes, another line) outside the building to get in, but as soon as Natalie saw what it was we were standing in line with drool coming out of our mouths. Here are some pictures of us enjoying our prizes for waiting in the cold:

(Please note Jason in the background looking at Natalie like's she insane)

The whole time i was eating my cupcake i kept thinking about my upcoming glucose test and how i know i'm going to fail. I guess i should just prepare to take the three hour test that comes after you get the phone call that you suck and failed the first one. Ugh.

Anyway - it was a great few days with Natalie and Jason. Until now Nathan and i hadn't spent much time with Jason, so it was great to get to know him better. We absolutely love him and we're so happy that he's a part of the family. Nathan was so happy to have him around. It was like they were old buddies. The four of us were like old couples who had been hanging out forever. Everytime we went somewhere the men would sit up front and Natalie and i would sit in the back just shaking our heads at the things they would say. I only hope that we didn't scare Jason away to much by having him spend Christmas with my family...which can be a bit overwhelming. His memory was great (far better then Nathan's) since he seemed to remember everyone from the wedding - their names and all! If he learned anything from being here for the holidays it was this: Just drink, and you'll get through it.

This was before the festivties really started on Christmas Eve:

On Christmas Day i wore this red sweater that made me look gigantic (yes, i'm blaming the sweater). Since i matched the chair i was sitting in, Natalie took a picture:

Tonight's New Year's Eve. I have to run to the store so i can make a chocolate cake to bring - and it's snowing outside. Again. Sucks.

Tomorrow we're off to NYC again to meet Quincy and Tierney who are flying in today to spend New Year's Eve in Times Square. We're having dinner at Rosa's tomorrow (yay) and then we're all headed back here where they will be staying for a few days. Something tells me i'll be eating another cheesesteak soon.

Happy New Year! Hope it's a safe and enjoyable one.

As Kerri pointed out in my last blog - we have less than 100 days to go until the baby arrives. I can't believe it. Next week i'll be 7 months pregnant. To that point i almost forgot...i ordered the furniture two days ago. I'm so happy it's done with and i just got an email that it's on it's way! Now Nathan needs to finish painting so we can get the carpeting put in! So much to do in so little time :)

More to come soon!

xoxox

Another Christmas Over...

I know. I'm really bad at this lately. The holidays took over and we've been really busy. It's not an excuse, but just my reason for not updating in a couple of weeks.

First off, we totally forgot to even take my 25 week picture on that Sunday. I remembered the following day, so I'm including a front bare belly shot for you Since Sunday is really three days after i turn another week along, and this was taken on a Monday, this was only 4 days before 26 weeks...so there's a little inconsistency here:

As a little follow up to my last blog, i made monkey bread and the delicious pasta dish that Sue had given me the recipe to. It was DELICIOUS. Of course by that time i was running around like crazy with company so I didn't remember to take a picture (pregnancy takes away your memory, by the way). Here's the monkey bread:

Also, Nathan and my dad got a start on painting the baby's room. Here are some before pics of the room. I'll post more soon. The first coat is on, but with Christmas and the company we've had, Nathan hasn't gotten around to the second one. I can't be around it, or else i would do it:

Lastly (for now), here is a picture from Christmas Eve, one day before i turned 26 weeks pregnant and officially entered my THIRD!!! trimester:

And my normal 26 week picture taken tonight:

Natalie and Jason drove up from North Carolina to spend Christmas with us! We had such a great time. I have so many fun pictures to post from their visit, but will have to do that another time. I'm using Nate's computer (mine appears to have a virus...yay!), and he needs to do some work.

More soon, i swear.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and has a safe and memorable New Year!!!

xoxoxo