Weekend recap

This weekend went by way too fast. I usually work at least one day during the weekend, which limits the time I spend with my hubby even more, so we always try to make the best of our free time. I worked Friday night, which pretty much meant that I slept half the day on Saturday, living me with only 1 1/2 days of the weekend. We still had a lot of fun together though.

Saturday night we decided to have ice cream (with big chocolate chunks in it! Yum!) and since pregnancy is a major theme around our house now, we watched "The Back up Plan." It was a really cute and funny movie and I think that the fact that I'm pregnant and Brandon is soon to be a daddy, made us relate to it a lot more and also made it much more amusing. But it also made us talk about the fact that we might need to start a college fund sometime soon, and that we always need to watch her when she's playing in the park's sandbox and make sure she's not putting someone's poop in her mouth ( haha. You have to watch the movie to understand). Yeah, we laughed a bit that night.

Sunday was busy, busy, busy! I had to finish registering, so Brandon's cousin's wife came with me for some final input. We though it would be a good idea since she has two little ones already, and could give me some solid advice on what I do and do not need. That was a lot of fun, beside the part where I almost passed out in Babies R Us because I hadn't eaten anything that morning and my blood sugar was really low. I was seeing black spots everywhere and felt REALLY dizzy, so I sat down on one of the stroller racks while Julie brought me some "Cheeze It's." That was not fun at all! But other than that we had a great time, and I even decided on a dipper bag (for some reason it took me FOR EVER to make up my mind on a dipper bag).

Isn't it cute? I love it!

When I got home we had to do a lot of cleaning and shopping since staring this Wednesday we'll be having guests over our house until the end of September. We were dead tired by the end of it all, but at least now we have a clean house! Overall, it was a great weekend and I can't wait for the next one to come since I don't have to work that weekend at all!

I hope you guys all had an amazing weekend too and a very happy Monday!

A great craving has been quenched

Remember how I've been wanting Panera for, well, about one year?!?? I have finally more than satisfied my craving last night! We found one that was closer to our house than we thought, and had a little date night. It was so nice to just enjoy the nice outside breezy weather and talk about how our lives are soon going to change so drastically. We also talked about the coffee/gourmet sandwich shop that I'm going to open one day (got to dream big right?), and even planed some date nights for when Little Miss will be here to join us in just a few months. It's crazy how a good sandwich can bring you closer and open up so many topics, isn't it? Yummy food+ hubby+ great conversation= a very very happy and full me. I absolutely LOVE those kinds of date nights!

So here is the proof of the warm, cheese, basily, smoky, crunchy, super yummy fontega chicken sandwich goodness. And yes friends, I did savor each little bite of it. You can sit there and slobber allover yourself, or run and treat yourself to one... You won't regret it. It's a promise!

So I'm just curious, what's your favorite semi "fast-food" (because let's face it I can't place Panera in the fast food category) place to run to?

I hope you all have a happy Friday and an amazing weekend!

24 week miracle

How far along: 24 weeks!

Maternity clothes: still wearing both maternity and non-maternity clothes. My scrub tops are getting really tight though. I just don’t want to buy any new ones for just two months, but I may have to do it.

Best moment this week: Feeling her move always makes my week!

Foods I love: I just love all food, but I’ve just been sooo thirsty this week; a whole lot more thirsty than usual. So I’ve been drinking plenty of fluids. At least I’m staying hydrated even though I have to pee every ten minutes.

Foods I hate: Same as usual: fast foods.

Movement: Lots of it. I can feel her kick stronger and stronger each week, and I still love each moment of it.

Gender: Team pink all the way!

Labor signs: None, but every day I keep on thinking more and more about how it’s going to feel and I won’t lie, I’m scared half to death of it.

Belly Button in or out: Neither. It’s just flat, neither in nor out. But I guess it’s slowly making it’s way out.

What I miss: my old body and being able to stand up without having to roll over first. But once again, this is nothing compared to having this little sweet baby girl.

How I feel: Happy that I have not thrown up in about 8 weeks! I was just thinking about that last night and it put a huge smile on my face. Also, next week my SIL is coming over with her family, and that is marking the beginning of our super busy month of September which should make it go by super fast! I’m just too excited about it all!

Milestones: I’m six months pregnant today! This is so exciting! I only have a few more months to go, and so many things to do! I just can’t believe that in a little over 3 months I’m going to meet, hug and snuggle with my sweet little girl! I’m just bursting with excitement!

Have a cup of random...it's on me

Lately I've been having all those random thoughts going through my head, and I though I should share them with you ladies, so you may partake (or laugh) with me in all this, and also so I can come back and giggle at all the randomness that once ran through my mind. Haha.. So here it goes:

• there isn't a day that goes by that I don't wonder what my daughter is going to look or be like. Will she be an ocean lover, social butterfly, trying to get her hands in a bit of everything this world has to offer like me, or will she be more reserved, calm, laid back and a mountain lover like her daddy.
• nowadays, I am TERRIFIED that I might literarily pee allover myself if I laugh too hard. Don't worry it has never happened... yet. However, my bladder has a whole lot more pressure on it now and every time I laugh it just seems like I come this.close to peeing on myself. (too much info here?)
• This may be no secret, but I cannot wait to move! I made all kinds of notes about how many days of work I have left, how many days we have total, and even wrote little "you can do it" type things for each day I still have left of work. Oh, and I have an i-phone app to count them all down. Yeah, I'm a bit obsessed.
• Even though it still makes me giggle after, it gets less and less funny each time one of my patients becomes a "painter." We call "painters" those patients of ours who decide to poop and than draw all over themselves with it. I find myself often being told "Nope ma'am" with the most honest look in their eyes when I ask the pretty frequent question "Mr. J (or A, or W, or M, or...you get the point) did you poop on yourself again?" The thing is, I can clearly see the creative design they drew all over their face that always happens to be some shade of brown. Interesting isn't it?
• I also cannot stop thinking about how I'll decorate our new home, and all the time I'm going to spend with my little lovely girl. Once we move, I won't be working for at least 8 months (2before she gets here, and six after)! I just cannot wait to spend all that time with my precious little bundle of squishy joy!
• It is getting harder and harder to stand up without rolling over in some shape or form. My husband finds it kind of amusing. Every week a more clear version of oompa loompa stares back at me in the mirror, and for the first time in my life I'm not doing a thing to change it but actually smile at it. However, as much as I love and am so thankful for this big belly and would never regret a thing, I would be lying if I said I didn't miss what once used to be a small waist line. Sigh... It's ok though, because I truly believe that my old waist line and I shall meet again some day. We HAVE to.

Ok, I think that's enough randomness for one day. I hope you ladies have a beautiful Monday!

Oh Fall, I Love You!

You ladies have no idea how ready I am for this fall to make its entrance!!!! I just get so giddy each and every time I think about it! Fall marks the beginning of the holiday season, decor, and family time, and I love all of it! There are sooo many things happening this fall, and I am jumping out of my skin with excitement about every single one of them. So I thought since it's right around the corner, I should share with ya'll some of my absolute favorite things about this fabulous season...

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice coffee!

It's well known that when they start making this wonderful drink, the beginning of fall is being marked. I love the smell and taste of this drink, and it gives me such a happy feeling whenever I get a hold of it. It's love at first sip.

Driving through winding roads while everything shines in gold and red colors around me, and smelling that fresh, crisp air. Honestly that look of fall and the air is what I've missed the MOST last year when we moved to Texas from Michigan. It seems like the Dallas/Fort Worth area totally missed the memo on the changing colors and crisp air. However, this year I may get to enjoy fall in all it's glory since we'll be moving to Idaho. This makes me a VERY happy girl!

Scarves!

I love buying, collecting, and of course wearing them in all colors, shapes, and forms.

It's like a warm hug in the crisp air.

Pumpkins, fall decor, and Thanksgiving!

I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE this part of fall!

And this year I'm going to have a brand new home (for us) to decorate and enjoy the holidays in with friends and family.

Dear fall, I love you!

So please do tell... What are your favorite things about fall?

23 week miracle...

A front view...

I'm definitely getting bigger

How far along: 23 weeks

Total weight gain: we’ll just say 7. I initially lost five pounds right around 12-13 weeks, but no worries I’ve gained them all back and then some. So I’ll just count my weight gain from what I started with at the beginning of my pregnancy (112lb) instead of from my lost ones (107lb). This way I’ll feel better about myself. Haha.

Maternity clothes: I wear both maternity and my own. However the shirts are most definitely getting tighter and shorter…

Best moment this week: Being in Idaho and seeing friends and family as well as our potential new home.

Foods I love: Cold watermelon is so yummy! I still like lots of fruits, however whenever I run out of them to munch on, I go straight for the carbs and sweets. Not good!

Foods I hate: Still hating that fast food smell, and most fast food. I really do think that it has a lot to do with the fact that the McDonalds in our hospital is the only food source we have at night. I’m sooo sick of it!

Movement: She move quite a bit and I love it! I just love putting my hand on my belly and feeling her kick it.

Gender: A sweet baby girl that I can hardly wait to meet!

Labor signs: None, but hopefully they do come right around 37-38 weeks! There are so many ladies I know that have been induced lately! I have a feeling this little lady will want to come late too, but I would rather she comes on her own with no induction help.

Belly Button in or out: This thing has been stuck half way in half way out for weeks. Who knows if it will ever come out.

What I miss: My legs seem to hurt a lot more, and I am moving slower nowadays. Either way, it’s all worth it!

How I feel: I’m still very excited about all the things that are about to happen in the next few months. After seeing the house in Boise this week, I’ve already decorated it all in my head! I can’t wait until I really am able to settle in and decorate all the rooms! Gosh, I’m so excited I can’t stand it!

Milestones: Her sense on movement is well developed now and she can feel me move and dance! The blood vessels in her lungs are also developing and getting her more ready for her first breath of air. My little girl is growing!

Getting close

We've been in Boise Idaho for the last few days and we're loving it! We've been spending lots of time with our friends and family, and looking at a few houses. The good news is that the house that we've been looking at online for weeks, is the one that we actually really like and hope to be the place we call our new home in a few short months. I cannot believe that we're so close to moving and being closer to family and friends! This being said, I've been just thinking non-stop about how I'll decorate this new place. I've got about a million ideas, and not nearly as much cash in my pocket to make it happen.

One of my favorite places in a house is the master bedroom, and here are some ideas I've gathered in the last few days. I just love those bedrooms, even though they're all different styles. I would probably just take bits and pieces from all of them, and make it my own, but they are still gorgeous!

I love how elegant this one is!

This bedroom looks so comfy to me. I love the fireplace in it!

This lime green just makes me smile each time I look at it!

This can definitely be my happy place in the house.

Awww... so clean and elegant.

I probably would never go with an all white bedroom, but it's still lovely to look at isn't it?

Now we're off to look at some furniture and decor stores! I'm just too excited about it all! I hope you guys have a lovely Monday!

22 week miracle

The dress I bough last week during our Anniversary celebration.

I promise my hips are not that wide. It's just the dress!

And a side view. She's growing!

How far along: 22 weeks

Maternity clothes: I still wear a lot of my own clothes, however I did buy some maternity ones last week. I got some pants, but they literarily fall off my butt if I walk for more than 2 minutes. I think they’ll fit a lot better in a few weeks when my belly gets even bigger.

Best moment this week: We finally sold our house in Michigan this Monday! It was on the market for a whole year, and we’ve had to pay for two places this entire time. Not having to pay for that each month is going to be a HUGE relief on our income. Plus, now it will be a whole lot easier for us to move to Idaho sooner and start our new lives there. I can’t wait for that!

Foods I love: Still love lots of cold fruit.

Foods I hate: Still don’t like fast food smells.

Movement: Lots! This little girl is sooo active! The other night though I was having a really hard time falling asleep because she kept on kicking over and over again in the same spot around my bladder area. It took her a while to stop, too.

Gender: Little Miss.

Labor signs: None. However, I was watching some home birth videos last night, and I’m not sure if it was a good idea watching all those women go through labor because now I’m a bit more stressed out about it. I have seen a few live births, however it’s a whole lot different knowing that I’m going to be the one on the other side. I really don’t want an epidural, but I am not sure how well I’m going to handle the pain. Ahhh, so many questions!

Belly Button in or out: It’s been the same for the last few weeks: half way in half way out.

What I miss: not having to pee so much and feeling so bloated. But it’s really nothing compared to having this little girl.

How I feel: Excited! The next couple of months should go by pretty fast. We’re going to Idaho this Friday to see some family and friends and look at homes, than we have a Family reunion in the beginning of September, than my SIL and her family is staying with us for a week, one of Brandon’s friends is going to visit for a week right after that, than my family comes to visit from Arizona for a few days. And than it’s October and our potential “moving month”, and with that comes a whole lot more excitement including decorating a new house (and her Nursery!!!!) and being closer to family and friends. I really hope that everything goes as planned because I’m just too excited about all of it! God has been so amazing!

Milestones: This Little Love now weighs a whole pound! It may not be a whole lot, but at least we’re finally in the “pound measurement” area. Her taste buds are also developing and she can stick her tongue out and taste the amniotic fluid. I know that sounds really gross, but it’s also so exciting to know all the little things that she’s doing that will help her grow into the little girl I’m going to meet and squeeze and fall head over heels for (that last part has already happened though). I just can’t wait to meet my little miracle baby! 18 more weeks!

A celebration date

Last Thursday we celebrated our 3 year anniversary in style with yummy food and great conversation. I was seriously looking forward to this date night all.week.long. We went to eat at one of my favorite restaurants, "Cheesecake Factory," and we really had a blast! The food was delicious and we talked about a whole lot of random things like our dating days, our wedding, how this little girl already has changed our lives so much, how we're going to decorate our next home, and what the future holds in store for us.

The hubby and his food...

My super yummy food...

Once we were done eating, we planed on going put-putting. However, since the mall was so close, and I was in such desperate need of some maternity pants, we decided that we should go there instead. So finally, this girl has some pants she can actually fit her prego belly in! I also bought two cute dresses there, and I may show you one of them during this week's "pregnancy update". Over all, it was a GREAT night. We had so much fun spending time together and just enjoying each other's company. This is also the last anniversary without our Little Miss. It's crazy to think that for our next anniversary, there are going to be three of us celebrating! I don't know what next year has to offer us, I just know that I can't wait to make lots more memories with my little family.

I love this man!

Happy Anniversary!

Three short years ago today there were lots of flowers, and girls in pretty dresses, gentlemen in nice tuxedoes, yummy cake, and lots of family surrounding us. Three years ago today we were getting ready to say "I do" and spend the rest of our lives together. While standing in front of God, our friends and families, we promised to respect and love one another, be there for each-other during thick and thin, and never take our time together or each-other for granted.

Three years ago, I married this handsome man that didn't just become my husband, but my best friend, my confidant, the shoulder that I cry on, the one that wipes my tears away when I'm sad, the face that can put the biggest smile on mine with his sweet words, my strength, my weakness, and the father of our unborn sweet little lovely girl. It's no lie when I say that I fall in love with him more and more every morning I wake up. I can't wait for the new adventures that face us ahead, and to see him in his daddy role. I already know he'll be amazing. Thank you for being all those things to me and more, love! Happy Anniversary!

Us, as a new couple! I know it was just three years ago, but we look so young!

Our first kiss... So sweet

Our ceremony. I LOVED this place! It was just so gorgeous!

Getting ready to walk down the aisle.

And they lived happily ever after!

21 week miracle...

You can't even tell there's a belly from the front...

...but trust me, there's a belly!

How far along: 21 weeks!

Total weight gain: Gosh don’t get me started on this one. Yesterday when I went to my OB appointment, my Nurse practitioner was like “You know you really are not supposed to be eating for two,” and “I see you gained all your weight back and than some.” For crying out loud I only gained a total of 9 pounds! I didn’t think it was that much in 21 weeks, but I guess I need to slow down with my grub.

Maternity clothes: I have this week! I’ve been wearing those maternity dresses that my mom gave me in the beginning. They are so comfy! I really do need some more maternity clothes though. This belly is growing away!

Best moment this week: Hearing her heart beat again beating strong in the 140s! That sound is just so amazing!

Foods I love: Cold fruits! Yum!

Foods I hate: Still fast foods.

Movement: Yes! It’s so sweet. She is kicking stronger and more often now, and I just love each and every one of her little moves. She never stops melting my heart.

Gender: Sweet little Miss.

Labor signs: None!

Sleep: So far so good! Have no complains.

Belly Button in or out: Slowly making its way out.

What I miss: My waste line. But she is so worth every sacrifice.

How I feel: Happy to be carrying this Little Love; hopeful that our house in MI will close next week; and excited about hopefully moving away to Idaho soon and starting our new life.

Milestones: It’s August! I just realized the other day that there are only 4 months left until December. That just seems like it’s so close, I can hardly stand it!

Major help needed!

Before I became pregnant I never gave much though to all the things necessary for raising a baby. I figured that "Hey, all those people raised kids for thousands of years just fine without any of the fancy stuff, so it's not that big of a deal. Right?" WRONG! Holy cow, now I'm seriously about to go crazy with all the things necessary for raising this baby girl. I don't just want anything, I want the best for her growth and development. I question and look up at all reviews from strollers, to dippers to butt cream. BUTT CREAM PEOPLE! So yesterday when we went to register (Yay!) my mind was absolutely overwhelmed with all the different brands and reviews! I need help! No, seriously! I need your help bloggy ladies! As a brand new mommy to be I really need your experience and ideas on what products have worked best for you and which I should avoid like the plague.

Here are a few things that I have registered for and was wondering what your thoughts were on those or any other products. All reviews are welcome, so please don't hesitated to let this about-to-go-crazy momma to be in on the secrets.

Feeding bottles:

I think I have researched this one the most, and from all the reviews I've read, Born Free seemed to be the best choice. Less gas, spit-ups, and tummy aches, as well as durable, is what other mommies say. What's your take on it? What bottles did, are, or will you be using?

Baby slings:

This is the "Balboa Baby adjustable sling" from Target. There are about a million slings out there, and all types of different reviews on them. I went with this one because I thought it was cute and it had pretty good reviews, even though they were mixed as well. Once again, I really would love to know what has worked for you...

Breast pump:

I went with the Medela breast pump after reading the reviews, but holly cow this is one really expensive milk sucking device! Is it worth the money? Do I really need it? Help!

Travel System:

We still have not registered for one since we cannot make up our minds on which one is the best. We did our research and then went into the stores and tried a whole bunch of different ones, and the one that seemed the least heavy to maneuver was this "Baby Trend Venture LX Travel system- Monkey Around". It seemed so easy to assemble and very light weight, and since I will be the one handling it the most, those are two big musts. The only reason I didn't like it is that all the plastic parts make it look so cheep and non-sturdy. But I may be very wrong. What did you pick for your little one?

Ok, I think I've rambled enough for one day, but I really do need all of your input so don't hesitate to let me know about those or ANY other products that have worked or not worked out for you. I thank you all in advance!

From one crazy mommy to be,

Happy Monday!