Call Me Crazy

But I love the orange glucose drink you have to take for you GD test!! Seriously, I would drink that stuff if it was in my fridge! It was delicious! All I hear about is how people think its so gross and disgusting, but not for this momma...yum yum! Baby sure liked it too because about 5 minutes after I finished that sucker she was putting on a little dance recital in my tummy.

Today was another routine OB appt. I got my seasonal flu shot, talked about the H1N1 vaccine (which I will get when it becomes available), got weighed, listened to baby, got measured and talked over a few things such as pre term labor, pediatricians, and all that jazz.

So now we wait to see if I passed the 1 hour glucose test. I failed it when I was PG with Kay and had to take the 3 hour which was a horrible experience for me. Ultimately I did not have GD with her. I ate really good this morning (eggs, with 1/2 piece of flax toast) and drank only water, so nothing sugary, carb filled, or processed. Hoping I pass with flying colors!

I am also happy to report that some how I only gained 2 pounds this month...which seems like a complete and utter miracle or an error to me...but hey, I'll take it! Total pregnancy weight gain is now up 18 pounds. I am hoping that in the end I don't gain more than I did with Kay..which was 33/34 pounds. We'll see!

Speaking of Photos...

The photographer I am working with to do all my maternity (if I still do them), newborn & 3 months portraits offered to photograph my labor and delivery for free! She offered to do it just for the chance to shoot such an amazing, special event, given that me and my DH were comfortable with the idea. At first I had to think about this and talk it over with my DH and see how he felt about having someone else (who is essentially a stranger) in the room for one of the most intimate moments of our lives. He was fine with the idea (relieves him from camera duty : ) So I really started to think that there is no way in hell I will let this opportunity pass me by! I know what a whirl wind the miracle of child birth is and there are never enough pictures! Plus can you imagine what AMAZING photos she will be able to capture?


She also shot my trash the dress pictures back in April! I love her style and feel like she will really be non-intrusive being a mother of 2 herself.


I know this will be such a special, amazing, deeply personal moment in time so I was wondering what others though of the idea? Too personal to have someone else in the room? Or a perfect opportunity to capture some amazing photos? What do you think?

A Change Of Heart

Ever since long before my BFP I was set on doing maternity photos! I mean, there wasn't even a question in my mind, this is probably my last pregnancy and I am doing them. I didn't do them with Kay, and wish I had more pictures of me pregnant with her. I didn't even take belly pictures when I was pg with her! Well as time goes on and the bigger I get I am really starting to change my mind. If I had not put on 20 pounds while doing fertility treatments (keep in mind I am only 5'1 here people, 20 pounds is A LOT!) and was my normal weight when I got pg I might think differently. But I honestly don't like the way I look. Not in pictures, not it the mirror, not in person, so why would I pay someone to take pictures of me that I will probably hide away and never hang, etc. I am starting to think belly pictures will be enough to fulfil the need to capture the beauty that is my growing belly! Its not my bump that I don't like, I LOVE my belly....its the rest of me. I look like a weeble...they weeble and they wobble but they don't fall down..yeah...those weebles!! My ass and thighs are huge! And I know most women feel huge while they are pregnant, but honestly that evil infertility treatment weight gain really blew it for me : (

I love my belly and plan to take a belly picture every 2 weeks from now on! I just hope I don't end up regretting not doing them.

Are You Sure Your Not Having Twins?

I get this question quite often....sigh. Really...all.the.time. When people ask me when I'm due, and I tell them January 9th, there eyes bulge out of their heads like I just told them I am from a different planet. 2 different people at the nail salon the other day couldn't believe I am this big and not due until January. One of them said "Wow!" The other one said "Are you sure there is only one in there?" Well, yes, I have had about 6 ultrasounds already and yep there's only one! I also try and put emphasis on the fact that I am due in early Jan. (like it really matters) Its really becoming a daily thing. I never really know what to say other than this is my second, and I am much bigger than the first time around, and well...what else am I supposed to say? Yes I know my belly is huge! Even my DH cant believe how big my bump is...I am just worried about what I am going to look like when I am 8/9 months??!!

Kay 2.0

I say 2.0 because Kay has curly hair, and once in a while she will ask me to straighten it for her and being the most awesome mommy in the world I will : ). I am always SO amazed about how completely different she looks with straight hair! Like a different child and so grown up!

Meal Planning

Up until about a month ago, my grocery shopping/meal planning consisted of going to the grocery store once a week, grabbing the "usual" and then day after day trying to think of things to put together for dinner. Well that's all in the past now! I have started planning out my meals a week in advance. It has made my life so much easier, and made dinner time hassle free. Now, I buy the meats/staples in one shopping trip, and then run to the store every few days for fresh produce, etc. Yes, I am going to the store a little more often, but I am saving money by planning ahead and buying only what I need , rather then winging it all the time and wasting. Here is my dinner meal plan for the next week or so:

• Beef taco's with spanish rice and beans
• Fish, rice, and a sweet baby peas
• Burritos made with the leftovers from taco night
• Chicken and rice casserole
• Grilled steaks, baked potatoes, and sauteed green beans
• Spaghetti, french bread, and a side salad
• Soup and Sammie's
• Crock pot beef stew

So now I don't have to ask myself "whats for dinner?" and worry about thawing something, having ingredients, etc. I post my meal plan on the fridge, and while I am making dinner the night before I take out what ever meat for the next day to be defrosted! So much easier!

Ready For Fall

Now that the first "official" day of fall is here...even though it is still 100 degrees where I live, I just cant seem to wait for all things fall!! Not only the more cooler, comfortable weather but all the holidays that go along with it. I cant wait until its cool enough to take Kay to the park again, or out to ride her bike, or for long walks after dinner. Ahhhhh the simple things in life after being locked up all summer because of the heat!! I cant wait to smell pumpkin candles burning and take out all my fall decorations, open my windows and let the fresh air in. I cant wait to carve pumpkins, celebrate Halloween and Thanksgiving!! And Christmas..don't even get me started on Christmas....weeeeeeee!!!

I just cant wait!!!

24 Weeks!!

Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up.

How far along: 24 weeks! YAY for viability week!!

Total weight gain/loss: Up 16 pounds total from my last appt...kinda worried about this.

Maternity clothes: Yes, everything is maternity.

Stretch marks: Nope

Sleep: Better, but still not sleeping through the night.

Best moment last week: Ordering her furniture.

Movement: Yes, and now sometimes they hurt! Oh and DH finally got to see AND feel her kicking for the first time.

Food cravings: Beef, salads, and anything with ranch.

Gender: GIRL!

Labor Signs: No, but I have started to get Braxton Hicks contractions.

Belly Button in or out: Out

What I miss: Coffee, my waist, and my regular cloths

What I am looking forward to: Having her room painted and carpeted so I can begin decorating.

Milestones: Making it to viability week!! Now don't get me wrong, I don't want this baby coming for a long long time, but it is a little reassuring that if something happened now she would have a chance at survival.

24 Week Bump Shot

Getting bigger!!

Grow baby Grow!

Must Have!!

OMG I cant believe my eyes!! Is this true? Someone tell me please tell me I am not dreaming! All I have to say is, where is the nearest store that sells this little container of heaven? It makes me think of when I was pregnant with Kay. All I wanted all fall/winter long was PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE. No pumpkin pie or pumpkin muffin was cutting it. I had to have pumpkin cheesecake! It wasn't an easy quest, but I found some. Eventually. This would have made my whole life a lot easier : )

MAJOR Check!

I ordered the baby furniture today!!

This had really begun to stress me out because I was planning on ordering from JC Penny's which only takes a week or 2 to come in, but really started second guessing the style. It just seemed a little too bulky for the size of the room. Most baby furniture lines take anywhere from 9-18 weeks to come in depending on the brand. So I started to panic, thinking I should have ordered this a few weeks ago. Well today I got really really lucky and found out that the USA Baby near my house had a Munire collection in the finish we wanted in stock at their warehouse! So we bought it! It will be in a week or two. So here it is, the Munire Essex collection. We ordered it in white. I ended up buying the crib, and the combo dresser minus the hutch (we don't have room for the hutch, although I would love to have it). It will double as the changing table as well. Oh I am so happy I don't have to worry about this anymore.

Meanwhile, back at home today we found that the nursery needed much more prep work than originally planned. Along the wall with no window I found out that there was no electrical outlet, and that was just not going to work. So we had to install one today, but ah...its never easy around here. The wall right behind the drywall is cement to it had to be chiseled out enough to fit the outlet box. Not an easy job. They went ahead and pulled up the carpet and had a lot sanding, etc. to do. So this is what I came home to.

Needless to say, its not going to get painted today..but it is a work in progress!! And that's good enough for me : )

23 Weeks

Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes.

How far along: 23 weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: Up 16 pounds total..kinda worried about this.
Maternity clothes: Yes, everything is maternity.
Stretch marks: Nope
Sleep: Better...still waking up to pee a few times a night, but am able (for the most part) to go back to sleep.
Best moment last week: Deciding that I am just going to name her myself and DH will get over it...although it still hasn't gone over too well and I am still not entirely sure I can pull this off, but my plan is that if I say the name enough, it will grow on him. Plus I told him he can pick a middle name. His response? "No one cares about the middle name". lol.
Movement: Yes, and now I can feel her kicking in 2 places at once..so it must be her hands and feets. Ahhhh I love her!
Food cravings: Still beef, celery with light buttermilk ranch, salads.
Gender: GIRL!
Labor Signs: No, but I have started to get Braxton Hicks contractions.
Belly Button in or out: It has popped like a turkey timer! DH thinks its funny, and calls it my 3rd nipple because you can see it poked out from under my shirt.
What I miss: A vente cafe mocha from Starbucks...boy have I been craving one of those!
What I am looking forward to: Having her room painted.
Milestones: Registering (well starting it), its a lot of work/research!

Life After Infertility Treatments Fail

This article was in the New York Times today. I found it very insightful.

And this (warning, may be offensive to some) is from a guy that had commented on the New York Times article. I wish I knew him, I would tell him how awesome he is!! Plus it is so refreshing to see something from a man's perspective on infertility....even if he does drop the F bomb every other word : )

Who Knew?

There were so many different shades of grey! I walked into Home Depot with a very good idea of the color I wanted, but was overwhelmed by how many other colors of grey I liked for the nursery. I walked out with 4 samples, got home at painted away. Well they were all MUCH darker once they were on the wall. These are all pretty light looking colors, so I was shocked that they turned out so dark. Thank god for samples right? The four colors on the top are the original samples I brought home, and I really liked the last 2, but they were still too dark. So I went back to Home Depot this morning and they made the same colors for me but with 1/2 the concentration (the 2 shades on the bottom are the colors as the ones above, only lighter). The one I like best is the bottom left.

And here are the 2 lighter versions I narrowed it down to, but larger.

Ultimately I think I will go with the one on the left (Behr's Graceful Grey UL260-10). It has a more earthy undertone, where the other one has more of a blue/cool undertone. So I think it will match the bedding/decor better. Our house helper is coming over on Saturday to prep the walls and get started on the painting. I'm so excited!! I'll post pics when it's all done!

A Blank Canvas

Well here it is...the empty guest room that will soon become a nursery for OUR BABY. I still cant believe this is really happening until something major happens, like a u/s or like cleaning out the room that will be the nursery! So surreal that a baby, our baby, will be sleeping in this room. So the guest room is currently a light celery green color including the ceiling (it matched the room decor that was in there). I am going to buy some paint samples today and we plan to start painting this weekend! Then we will install new carpet, and baseboards! So here is the view of the awkward room from standing in the doorway (much narrower than I previously estimated at only 7 3/4 feet wide but 15 1/2 feet long):

A view from standing in the corner of the opposite wall. Facing the closet door, the door on the left, and the entry door on the right.

A view of the wall to the right when you walk in, huge window and built in shelves.

With the room being such an awkward shape, I still don't know where the furniture will be placed etc. I have found a few helpful sites like this one and this one that allow you to input the measurements of your room and add furniture to see what the layout will look like, so that has been helpful. Ultimately though I don't think we will know until we have all the furniture in there. But we are on our way...off to get paint samples now : )

Back in Business

Momma got herself a new camera! Boy living without one (yes even for only 2 weeks) drove me nuts. I feel like I missed out on so many photo opportunities while everyone else was shooting away with their cameras while laughing in my face. Maybe it was just my imagination though... So I got the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3K as pictured and some of my favorite features are that is shoots HD videos, has a 25mm wide-angle setting, and 12x optical zoom. I haven't owned a Panasonic camera before or have I tested it out yet, so I am hoping it lives up to what it says. So stay tuned for hopefully some great pictures!!