36 weeks. One month countdown!

Today marks 36 weeks and 3 days. 25 days to go! We are getting really excited and cannot believe it is almost here. It is time to get focused... get the hospital bag packed and get everything ready at home. Once again, are you ever ready? Of course we still don't have a few baby essentials, but we plan on making a few baby store runs this week. (Doesn't that sound fun?!!)

How far along? 36 weeks.

Baby Size: About 6 lbs! and 20.5 inches long.   Total weight gain/loss: I’ve definitely topped the 30 mark.  

Maternity clothes? Mostly maternity. Getting dressed for work is becoming painfully difficult.

Stretch marks? Nada.

Sleep: Getting good sleep just lots of shifting sides & bathroom breaks.

Best moment this week:  Going to a fun dinner with friends on Friday night. Trying to pack in the nights out on the town before we are on house lock down! Also, my MIL and her sisters threw a nice little luncheon for Baby H this past weekend. Lastly, more work on the nursery. John set up the lamb swing & bouncer so its officially looking like baby land at our house!

Miss Anything? Oh ya know, bending over, walking normal, tying shoes. The normal. It is so hard to bend over and pick things up around the house.

Movement: Everyday around 2pm and at night before bed. Definitely a decrease in movement since baby H is chubbing up, so it’s nice to hear a healthy heartbeat at the doc.

Food cravings: Lemonade, strawberries, blueberries…and angel food cake with whip cream. You know I’m going to add a sweet in there!

Labor Symptoms: I think I am feeling occasional Braxton hicks or slight cramping.

Aversions/Anything making you queasy or sick:  No.

Misc:  Cannot believe we are so close!  

Target Threshold Spring Collection

Have you seen the Threshold collection at Target? If not, you're missing out. For the look and the price, it's chic & cheap.

The buzz is out for the new collection to hit stores March 17th. Mark your calendar!

Pieces currently in store that I am loving...

$11.99-$16.99

$25.99

35 weeks...32 days to go!

I cannot get over that as of today we are 32 days from the big due date. Where has the time gone? In a way I feel like I've been pregnant forever (as much as I talk about it on this blog!) but in all actuality it has flown by. We are getting really excited & also a bit anxious, which is to be expected.

We are making progress in the nursery...slowly but surely. My brother saw it the other night and said 'This is it?!'. So while it may look a little bare to most, this mama does have a vision. It's just a matter of getting it all done. We have the main things in place...we would be fine if this babe makes his/her debut early...it's now just time to get things on the wall and all the toys set up.

With that said, we completed 35 weeks on Friday. Here is my little recap.

How far along? 35 weeks.

Baby Size: More than 5 lbs; between 18 and 20 inches in length.  The size of a small roasting chicken! (Yes, baby center really referenced that) 

Total weight gain/loss: 29 weeks! The girl scout cookies & valentines candy are really catching up to me J 

Maternity clothes? Still a mixture, mainly maternity.

Stretch marks? Nope, Palmer’s every day.

Sleep: Experiencing sleep insomnia the past few nights with lots of rotating back and forth, but still feeling rested for the most part.

Best moment this week:  Hearing the healthy heartbeat and having a good doc appointment. Also, we are making more progress on the nursery.

Miss Anything? The ease of getting up & bending over. It is nearly impossible to put on shoes and bend down to pick up things. 

Movement: Hiccups almost every day & lots of swishing!

Food cravings: Candy: Peanut M&M’s and twizzlers!! Also, diet sodas. So bad.

Labor Symptoms: Lots of pressure on bladder and lower back pain but nothing of note. I don’t think I’ve felt Braxton Hicks yet but I do feel the occasional stomach tightening.

Aversions/Anything making you queasy or sick:  No.

Misc: Nothing of note, just getting really excited!

My Baby Shower

This is a little overdue but my best friends hosted the most amazing baby shower for me a few weekends ago. It was beyond perfect & special in so many ways. They really went above and beyond to make a preggos girl feel special and we got so many incredible gifts and baby essentials for baby H. We are so grateful!

Baby Bee was themed throughout the shower and was so cute. Tina did an incredible job on all the fun decor.

A childhood favorite book all the guest signed.

A picture tree of John & I throughout the early years.

Gorgeous food display

Even monogrammed cups for Baby H! Spoiled or what?!

Kristen's famous homemade cookies

My future sister in law & my sis {everyone knows my mother refuses to take pics!}

Sweet handmade blanket from my MIL for baby H if its a ...BOY

And another one if its a... GIRL

]

All the hosts!

All the goods!

Tina made a very special book with cards for each of the guest to fill in the blank. Questions like when you grow up I hope you... I hope you get your mama's....

It's funny how similar answers were from friend to friend. Baby H is going to be well aware of how wild & crazy his/her parents are!

It was such a special day I will remember forever. My sister and aunt both jumped planes to spoil baby H and all of our family and close friends were able to attend. My friends seriously did so much to make it so memorable!

Y'all are the best!

34 Weeks & the Classic City

John had a bachelor party in Athens this past weekend and we both had Prez Day off on Monday, so I twisted his arm into staying in Athens on Sunday night. It was a post-Vday celebration, pre-baby jaunt. I pitched it as a last getaway before we become parents --how many times am I going to use this one?!

We stayed at The Foundry, brunched at the highly recommended Branded Butcher (it did not disappoint), shopped downtown (I've forgotten how cheap everything is), got a fabulous pre-natal massage, and capped it off with dinner at one of our faves & an Athens staple, Last Resort. We also put it together that we met 10 years ago this year in Athens. CRAZY. That's another story in itself!

Picture on the far left was our old stomping grounds senior year. Best house ever. 7 girls, 2 bathrooms, more late nights than we can count.

It was so much fun to get away on a whim & it was the perfect date night before we become parents (my famous last words!).

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Today marks 34 weeks & 4 days...38 days from D-date....wow is all I can think to say right now. Are we prepared? No. (Will we ever be?) Are we excited? Beyond.

Here is Week 34 in recap ::

How far along? 34 weeks.

Baby Size: About 5 lbs and 18 inches long.  Baby can blink eyes and lots of brain development this week! 

Total weight gain/loss: Find out next week.

Maternity clothes? Mixture of both, but mostly maternity.

Stretch marks? Nope, fingers crossed.

Sleep: Several adjustments & potty breaks throughout the night, but still waking up feeling fully rested.

Best moment this week: We finally set up the crib and the glider arrived. Makes it that much more real! Also, hosting some friends baby showers that are due 3 weeks before and 2 weeks after me. Baby H is going to have lots of friends!

Miss Anything? Bending over easily. It’s touch getting dressed & putting on shoes! 

Movement: Lots of movement everyday around 2pm. And the hiccups continue.

Food cravings: Red Berries Special K, blueberries, and lots of Valentines sweets & desserts. Girl Scout cookies were also delivered this week…!   

Aversions/Anything making you queasy or sick:  No.

Misc:  Continued lower back pain but it’s just part of it. Also the face is starting to chunk up & swell along with my fingers! The water retention is kicking in.  

V Day a New Way

Happy Valentine's friends! I am not a big valentine's person; however, I admit if the husband showed up empty handed or didn't acknowledge the day I might pitch a big ole crybaby fit.

But seriously why is it we expect flowers, kindness, appreciation, and love- even a gift on a random date of the year? Shouldn't everyday be a day about love & appreciation?

If I weren't preggos our night would look a little something like this...

                

 


But let's get real, it is going to look more like this...

         

 



I did start a new tradition in our house last night. I decided to make the day before Valentine's a day for John. I made him waffles and fruit for breakfast and he came home from work to a cooked dinner and homemade dessert. Now I know for some of you this is a normal thing, but I haven't cooked dinner in probably 6 weeks. I know, it's really pathetic. It's just not my thing. John is a much better cook and he really enjoys it. And yes I'm aware, I've got it made.

I'm doting my spread with you because the dessert recipe is worth sharing.

Dessert recipe found here at Gina's Skinny Recipe Blog

• 1-3/4 cups challah bread, cut into 1/2 inch cubes {grocery didn't have challah so I used sweet italian)
• 2/3 cup 1% reduced-fat milk  {I used fat free milk on hand}
• 2  tbsp sugar
• 1 1/2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• cooking spray
• 1 oz dark chocolate, coarsely chopped (Green & Black's 70% dark)  {I used toll house brand}
• 2  tbsp fat-free whipped topping  {Used ice cream instead}

Preheat oven to 350°.

Arrange bread cubes in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 5 minutes or until toasted. Remove bread from oven; decrease oven temperature to 325°.

Combine milk and next 5 ingredients (milk through egg) in a medium bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Add bread, tossing gently to coat. Cover and chill 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.

Divide half of bread mixture evenly between 2 ramekins coated with cooking spray; sprinkle evenly with half of chocolate. Divide remaining bread mixture between ramekins; top with remaining chocolate.

Place ramekins in an 8-inch square baking pan; add 1 inch of hot water to pan. Bake at 325° for 35 minutes or until set. Serve warm with 1 tablespoon whipped topping or we used Vanilla Ice Cream.

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My kind of recipe, easy & quick. It is worth mentioning how rich it is. If you're not a huge chocolate person, I would cut out the middle dark chocolate morsels and only use on top. Also, the ice cream was a nice added touch. Don't pass it up!

Enjoy!



33 Weeks: Less than 50 days to go!

How far along? 33 weeks.

Baby Size: A little over 4 lbs and 17 inches long.  Pineapple! 

Total weight gain/loss: 26 total.

Maternity clothes? Yes. Thank goodness for maternity jeans & pants.

Stretch marks? No, but not sure how this belly keeps getting bigger.

Sleep: Insomnia. Crazy. I read it about in what to expect & it’s true, it’s a real pregnancy thing. I wake up at different times throughout the night wide awake & ready to go.

Best moment this week: Organizing & looking at all the great baby gifts we got. Also, having a great doctor’s appointment. Baby measuring on track size wise & heartbeat strong in the low 140’s.

Miss Anything? Sleeping through the night but don’t think I’ll do that again for 18+ years!

Movement: Some movement very early in the morning & also mid day. Also, baby has been hiccuping the past few days. So neat!

Food cravings: Sweets galore, loving the Reese’s valentine hearts & nightly ice cream. Also, cold fruit.  

Aversions/Anything making you queasy or sick:  No.

Misc:  People are so kind to pregnant girls. I get lots of doors held open, strangers offering to carry groceries, smiles, questions & advice.