A Few of my Favorite Things...

I was blessed with many a wonderful thing for Christmas this year.  Here are some of my faves:

Also, my sister and BIL took one of our maternity pictures and had it blown up in black and white and framed.  This is the one they used:

BUT...the kicker!  See that little name there on the bench?  They had it changed to our last name.  It is just the most perfect gift of all time.  Now, where to put it?

A Little Update...

So much to update you on!  What better way than with the old stand by bulleted post, right? 

• My last day of work was on the 17th.  I'm officially a SAHM with no baby yet :)  It was a bittersweet last day as so many of my co-workers were incredibly thoughtful about me leaving.  Isn't it sad, though, that you only really find out how much you are appreciated until you leave? 

• Upon my retirement, I spent all of my time preparing the house for our Christmas visitors!  I finally cleaned up the dining room and the study which had become catch-alls for anything and everything I didn't know what to do with.  I also baked my little heart out!

• We welcomed a whole host of visitors this year to Cleveland for the holidays.  My parents, Matt's parents, my sister and her husband, and my brother all stayed with us for several days to celebrate.  Everyone was so worried about me having to do so much with everyone here, but I seriously don't think I did a thing.  Whenever I woke up the dishes were done and put away and the kitchen was always clean.  It's like I had a built in maid-service for three days. 

• Christmas was just wonderful!  I got some amazing gifts from my family and we were able to soak in so much time together.  Simply precious.

• My brother stayed a few extra days to help Matt and I get the nursery ready!  Her little room is now finally painted (touch ups still to be completed), she has a completed hutch, and her glider came yesterday!  All of her furniture is here just waiting for her arrival.  I even knocked out the assembly to the stroller by myself.  Impressive, yes?

• Speaking of the babykins, perhaps I had an exam yesterday and I am already at 4 cm and 100% effaced!  I was 3 cm about a week and a half ago so I am progressing slowly...but my doc assured me to get to the hospital ASAP when and if I break my water...as this baby girl is coming fast!  Apparently I am a great candidate for a natural childbirth, if I choose to go that route, as I am already further along than many women at the beginning of their labors.  So...we shall see!

• Matt went back to work today so I feel as if this is my first day truly being "home" and not working.  So far I have gotten up at 6 a.m., done two loads of laundry, made a list for Walmart where I intend to get my extremely overdue oil changed, and watched two episodes of Saved by the Bell.  I'm pretty sure the day can already be classified as a success.

To My Special Someone

Today is a very special day. 

31 years ago on this very day, God created my husband.  My handsome, caring, fan-freaking-tabulous husband.  The man with whom I am diving into this adventure of parenthood. The man who is my entire world and surrounds me with so much love and joy I wonder how I ever got this lucky.

I love you to the moon and back my sweet.  And I will thank God everyday for the rest of my life for bringing you into my world.  Muah!

And on an exciting baby note:  at my 35 week appointment on Friday...the doctor checked me and it turns out that I am already 3 cm!  She was VERY surprised but everything looks good to go.  So perhaps this baby will come a little earlier than expected?  Or maybe not?  Isn't God's timing perfectly unpredictable?   

Maternity Shoot

Over Thanksgiving, my dear BIL, an aspiring photographer, offered to take some maternity photos for us.  Matt was less than thrilled but I think we got some really great shots of the three of us together.  Most of these I used on my Christmas cards, but these were my favorites.

It ended up being such a beautiful morning and I'm so glad we had the opportunity to capture this time together.  Thanks DMB.  You rock my world! 

And in baby news:  we are meeting with our potential pediatrician today!!  Hopefully it goes well and our little one will be all set in that department.  Yeah!  One more thing to check off my list.  999 to go!  :)

Tinkerbell Cake

Remember that girl's blog you used to read that made cakes?  Where did she go? 

Peek-a-boo!

Here I am!

Apparently moving and being pregnant puts a little damper on the cake business.  But I managed to fit one in this weekend and I think it turned out super cute.  I made a Tinkerbell cake for a little girl's 3rd birthday.  This is the third cake I have made for her and she is just precious.  Great repeat customer :)

I also decorated a special doll cake just for her!  It's pretty much my favorite thing of all time.

They could not have been more pleased which makes my heart full.

Now, what to make for Christmas??

And since I think everyone has gotten their Christmas card...I'll share! 

A Chanel Experience

Last week I had a Junior League event on the east side of the city.  I will not complain to you that it took me over 2 hours to get there because of a massive snow storm.  Nope.  I'll just skip right over that part.

Anyway, it was a Chanel event I was co-chairing so I had to go.  I'm not much of a fancy makeup kind of girl.  I don't even know what half those products are or what they do.  Maybe someday I'll find out.  When I'm old and rich and able to shop for my makeup at Saks instead of Walmart.

So the ladies are all up in my face asking me about my routine and if I have any questions.  I actually do have trouble matching the particular powder I use to my skin tone as I always seem to get these lines around my chin that do not blend in.  So our conversation proceeds as follows:

Saleswoman:  "Do you have any questions?"

Me:  "Well, I use a powder as my base and I am having a hard time finding a color that really matches my skin tone."

Saleswoman:  "When you say you use powder, do you use Bare Minerals?"

Me:   "Um, no.  I use Cover Girl."

Awkward....

She should've known right then and there I was not going to buy anything.  I mean, the lowest priced lotion they carried was $75.  Clearly I was out of my league.  I get pissed because my powder is $7.  But honestly, she was super sweet and found me a beautiful color that matched really well.

I didn't buy it.  But I looked good leaving the store!

34 Weeks!

Happy Friday y'all!  I'm so excited the weekend is almost here.  But I'm mostly excited because after today I only have one more week of work!!  Can you believe it?  After over four years at this awful place I finally get to pack up and leave.  And I'm leaving for the best possible reason ever...to take care of my little girl.

I've had a few appointments this week and everything is looking great.  They upped my insulin levels a wee bit at night but doc told me I was doing a good job so that makes me smile.  And our sweet girl is in the 52% in weight according to our last ultrasound...so she's completely normal.  No fat baby here yet!

And really I'm feeling pretty great too.  I get tired much quicker if I'm cooking or baking in the kitchen...and the babes can pack a serious punch these days that startles the poo out of me on a regular basis...but other than that it's been fabulous.  Compared to the first 1/2 of pregnancy...this has been a dream.

Next week is going to be super busy!  We have a few more baby classes, we're meeting with our potential pediatrician, and I have a few events planned in celebration of my last day of work.  And then, you know, Matt's birthday is the 20th!  Don't worry.  His shopping is done :)  Now, what to make him for dinner??  Hm.

A Weekend of Childbirth

Hey y'all!

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend!  Ours was jam packed.  We didn't get much time for rest and relaxation at all.  Because you know what we did??

Childbirth class.

Dun, dun, dun.

That's right.  Matt and I spent all day Saturday and Sunday engrossing ourselves in the birthing process.  Let me just tell you, it freaked me the heck out people!  I mean, every single one of those women in the videos looked like they wanted to actually die.  All I wanted to do was to see just one woman smile.  Just one.  But all I got were moans, groans, and screams.  Not pleasant. 

Now don't get me wrong.  Clearly I know that birthing a child is a painful process.  I didn't expect it not to be.  I just wasn't prepared for the up close and personal view of doing it.

But I think overall the class was helpful.  Now I know what to expect, I have strategies to help me through the pain, and if those don't work...I know all about the drugs :)  Plus, the part of the class where I just got to lie there and get a massage was totally worth the cash.

Can I just tell you though that when we learned hand massages, Matt made me do it to him!  I know.  My husband made his pregnant wife massage him during childbirth class.  I looked around the room making the observation that no other wife had to do this.  You know his response?  "You're the best wife in this class."  Ha.  Nice cover my friend.

Other than all things babies, we did have a chance to get our beautiful Christmas tree from the farm and put up almost all of the decorations.  Isn't Christmas time just the most fabulous time of the year?  It makes my heart so happy :)  I'll share pics soon! 

As for now, I'm off to learn infant CPR!  Woot, woot!  Wish me luck!

33 Weeks...and a Shower Sneak Peak!

Morning friends!  Sorry it's been a million years since I last posted.  I really don't mean to take these breaks.  Work has just been insane with me leaving and the impending holidays at my new, not fully unpacked house are taking their toll.  Thanks for sticking with me!

Today marks 33 weeks for me and the babes.  We're doing well and feeling okay.  I get tired by the end of the day but other than that I truly can't complain.

My diabetes specialist put me on insulin in the evenings to curve my high blood sugar readings in the morning.  Jabbing myself every night with a needle in the belly is certainly not my idea of a good time...but again, I'm thankful there is something I can do to help our little girl.

Because I'm on insulin, I have to go into the doctor twice a week for the remainder of my pregnancy.   I had an ultrasound on Monday and she was measuring just two days ahead of schedule!  I'm so relieved!  I actually asked the tech if she was already huge and she just laughed at me.  So far, I have a 4 1/2 lb. beautiful little girl.

I also had to be put on monitors whilst I was in the office to make sure her heart rate was normal.  I was in the room with one other woman whose little one was just beating away completely normally.  But not ours!  She kept moving around like crazy and making the machine get really loud totally out of the blue.  Honestly, it was hilarious!  My girl does not stay in one place any longer.  The doctor kept walking by and saying, "happy baby!"  She sure is!

We start our childbirth classes this weekend!  Things are really starting to come together.  I haven't really let myself think about giving birth because honestly the thought of it terrifies me...but I'm starting to get more comfortable with the idea of actually having our baby.  I mean, it's one day, right?  And then I get to take home our sweet little girl and love on her every second of every day.  I simply cannot wait!

And for your viewing pleasure, here's a little sneak peak at some pics from my shower I had over Thanksgiving weekend at home.  It was so beautiful and everything my family put together was just perfect!  I'll share more when I get some pics from my sis.

Pay attention to the gorgeous candy buffet.  Sure, it's a diabetics nightmare...but so worth it.