Ultra Sneak Peek

{baby girl's crib}

Well, the walls are painted, floor is done, and all furniture is in the room. The crib is completely set and ready for whenever she decides to make an appearance. The biggest issue right now is I am not so sure I like how the furniture is arranged. I would love it if I did not walk in the room and see the cable faceplate that will not/can not be flush on the wall, so I think things need a little rearranging so that the dresser can hide it for me. Either that or I am going to have to get really creative and maybe put a frame around it or something so it's not obvious that it is sticking out a half inch off the wall. This is something we have tried to fix in the past, and one of those minor things you don't really think too much about when buying a house but comes back to bite you in the behind. I'm going to recruit my hubs to use his muscles play around with the room set up this weekend and hopefully get it just right.

Things to buy:

area rug

curtain rods

bin/basket to put diapers, wipes, etc. on dresser

Things to do:

reinstall closet and room doors

hang curtains

apply wall decal

shelves? other decorations?

final touches

My thoughts on life right now:

Whew. 

Getting there. 

Running out of room.

36 weeks

{7.27.11 @ the Phillies game}

Pregnancy: 36 weeks

Weight Gain: 23 pounds. I gained a few since my last weigh-in and can definitely feel it in my belly. Feels like a 10 pound gain though!   

Sleep: Interrupted, but I guess that's to prep me for those late night feedings.  

Gender: It's a girl!

Name: She's got a name. :)

Feeling: 36 weeks? Seriously? Holy moly! I'm feeling great minus a whole lot of stretching and some back pain. I'm also feeling a lot more positive and anxious. Her floor is down and furniture is in, now it's just a matter of fine tuning the furniture placement and decorating. Last night we went out and got a new crib mattress and a few little things so I think I'll take today's "heat advisory warning" and spend it inside working on the room. Just a few more things to pick up (curtain rods, basket/bin to go on top of dresser for her diapers & supplies). Oh, and I'm getting to that so-flipping-exciting part of pregnancy where the end is in sight but I'm also so nervous about how things are going to be once it's labor day and once she's here.  

Health: Doing great. At my appointment on July 26th I gained a few pounds, but nothing my doctor was concerned about and my blood pressure was 118/76. Her heart rate was great too. I did find out I'm on the border of being anemic. They'd like the number to be above 11 and I was 11.2, so it was suggested I may want to take an iron supplement since I'm possibly having the repeat c-section. I may just try and increase the iron-rich foods in my diet first since the supplement can cause some stomach issues that I'd rather not have. 

Movement: Last week she moved so fast and hard that there was a small splash sound...totally crazy! I LOVE feeling her movements, but I also can't wait to hold her.   

Belly: Getting bigger by the day! 

Next Appointment: August 3rd...Once a week appointments from here on out! 

10 on Tuesday

1. What colour are your toenails painted?
A mauvey shade that I'm not so fond of but it was a 3-in-1 I had on hand and couldn't handle doing more than one coat without passing out

2. What colour are your fingernails painted?
Not painted at all.

3. What is your favourite brand of nail polish?
OPI

4. As the norm, do you DIY your nails or get mani/pedis?
I used to be able to paint my own toenails, but I just tried that on Saturday and it didn't go so well since I can't really reach. I usually get mani/pedis a couple of times a year, but generally just when there's something special coming up. 

5. Have you ever had a gel mani? Do you recommend it?
Yes a couple of times, and I love it, however I don't like that you have to bake your hands under the UV lights. 

6. What is the last movie you watched on television? (TV, Netflix, Redbox, etc.)
Secretariat, nope, take that back, it was The Blindside.

7. What is the last movie you watched in the cinema?
Cars 2, and before that it was Toy Story 3. See a pattern starting?

8. Is there a movie that everyone talks about as if it is a classic but you haven’t seen?
Um, not that I can think of.

9. What is your favourite movie soundtrack?
Dirty Dancing...lol

10. Have you ever seen a movie and thought it was better than the book it was based on?
Nights in the Rodanthe was pretty good

Baby Love

{Aidan loves his baby sister so much already}

New nursery floor

{New floor!!!}

I can't even begin to express how appreciative I am for the friends and family members we have. Monday evening Sean and three of our awesome guy friends (one being Sean's brother-in-law), came over and installed the new maple chocolate laminate plank flooring in the baby's room. This afternoon Phil came over and finished up with the quarter round trim. I couldn't wait for it to be done but to have it complete in 24 hours was a dream! (Okay, so we do have to get a vent cover still, but that's simple enough) I love, LOVE, love it. I'm not totally sure how best to clean it, and the first go around with the Dyson using the wand with the upholstery attachment took forever and wasn't too kind on the back. It did get all the dust though and made the floor look fantastic, so until I figure out what to use so I don't scratch the floor, that's my method!

I managed to already put the fuzzy floor protectors on the bottom of my glider and ottoman that was in Aidan's room and had Sean move them in. If the darn dresser  wasn't so heavy we would have carried that in tonight too, but much to my dismay because my hubs cares so much about me, we he decided that he'll have someone else help move it. Bummer. I was so anxious to get all those clean clothes into the dresser, but it'll have to wait. Tomorrow's chore: hang up all the clothes that will go in the closet! 

My thoughts on life right now:

Yippee!!! The floor is down!

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU Sean, Phil, Tim, & Colby! 

Time to find an area rug and curtains now. 

10 on Tuesday

1. What is your favorite zoo to visit?
I’ve only ever been to the Philadelphia, Cohanzick, and Cape May Zoos. Philadelphia is my favorite, with Cape May a close second.

2. Do you visit a zoo very often?
A few times a year.

3. Do you have a membership to a zoo?
Yes, and even going just a couple of times definitely pays for itself.

4. When you visit a zoo, do you stay all day or just an hour or two?
We stay a few hours, depending on the weather it could be longer.

5. Do you buy food at the zoo or pack a picnic lunch?
We buy food. Really, it's one less thing to worry about carrying in, but maybe it'd be a good idea to try packing a lunch one time since the food is pretty pricey and just alright.

6. What is you favorite animal to see at the zoo?
Well it used to be the elephants, but they've since relocated to a different zoo, so I guess I'll go with the primates because they're usually fun to watch.

7. What is your least favorite animal to see at the zoo?
Oh definitely the reptiles. I don't even go in the reptile house, but now that Aidan is older I might have to take him because I'm sure he'd love to see them.

8. What is your favorite memory of going to the zoo as a kid?
I guess just walking around the Cohanzick Zoo when we were little, and probably feeding the ducks in a stream nearby when we were done. 

9. Do you visit the gift shop when you go to the zoo?
Sometimes, but there's nothing we really need in there.

10. On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the best and 1 being the worst) how nice is your city’s zoo?
I would give it a 10.

Landscaping

{Corner garden in our backyard}

Whew! I wish I got a dollar for every weed that was growing in my flower beds...then I could pay for a year round landscaper. And why is it that grass grows beautifully, just not where it should? 

Being 34 weeks pregnant and not keeping up with the weeds like we should means that I needed to enlist in some help to get the beds cleaned out and mulch put down. Originally I was going to get an estimate from a local company to have the landscaping cleaned up and mulched, but then my sister and brother-in-law generously offered to pick up a truckload (which later turned into two, and maybe a third later this week) of mulch and come by to weed with Sean. We figured this would save a lot of money and many hands make light work, right? Paying for mulch and buying lunch for our helpers was probably much cheaper than having a company come do it. 

After a few hours of hard work put in by Steph, Brian, and Sean, and a very little bit of work put in by me...oh, and star supervisor Aidan, the weeds are gone and the mulch is down. We still could use another yard of mulch to fill in the other half of the bed around the shed out back, but the front and sides of the house look great. I've also got to pick up two more Gold Thread Cypress bushes for out front where we pulled a dead one and where I needed one anyway. 

Of course there's still a few things I'd like to plant, but that'll wait until fall. Now hopefully we'll keep up on the weeding and it won't take us over again. We greatly appreciate the help that was given to us on Sunday to improve our curb appeal! 

My thoughts on life right now:

Landscaping done. Now onto the nursery. 

Thanks to more wonderful people in our lives, it's getting a new floor put in this week. 

Hard to believe that I may have a new baby in the next 5 or 6 weeks. Time has gone too fast! 

34 weeks

{34 weeks, 5 days}

Pregnancy: 34 weeks

Weight Gain: 19 pounds exactly...it's almost humorous when I get weighed and they tell me I've gained a 1/2 a pound...especially when with Aidan it was like 5 each time!   

Sleep: Has actually been fairly good lately. I'm hoping this continues for a little while. I've been getting up earlier, but probably because I'm not up as many times in the middle of the night.  

Gender: It's a girl!

Name: She's got a name. :)

Feeling: Holy Crap. 34 weeks? Nursery is still not done, and when I mean not done, I really mean it. She's got no floor or furniture in there. And I haven't washed any clothes because I'd rather wash and then hang them up or fold them and right now there's just no place to put them. I did go through Aidan's bin of littlest clothes and managed to get two outfits, a couple of sleep sacks, swaddle-me's, socks, and white onesies. Thankfully people have graciously given gifts of clothing or baby girl would be dressed like a baby boy! Time to buckle down and get the new floor put in and buy a couple of things at good ole' Babies R Us.  

Health: Doing great. At my appointment on July 13th I had only gained a half pound and my blood pressure was 120/80. My belly was also measuring right on and her heartbeat was 145bpm. Oh, and Sean and Aidan were there. It was nice that Sean was able to hear her again since most of my appointments have been while he's working. 

Movement: At times all her wiggling is a little painful. And she's stretching my rib cage which makes it feel like the left side is ripping apart...not an exaggeration. The burning is intense.  

Belly: Can't be missed! And still hasn't been photographed. :( 

Next Appointment: July 26th

10 on Tuesday

1. When you are on a plane and the kid behind you is kicking your seat, what do you do?
I’m very non-confrontational so it’s likely that I’d do absolutely nothing besides moan and groan about it and secretly hope that the parent hears me and makes their kid stop.

2. What food that you KNOW is bad for you and you shouldn’t have, but you love/eat it anyway?
Only one?? McDonalds, but I don't eat it that often.

3. What is your favorite book of all time?
Hmm...I don't think I have a favorite, although Glass Castle was pretty darn good.

4. If I came to visit you in your town, where would we eat?
Applebee's? Sadly there isn't really a stand-out restaurant in my town but they would make a killing if there was.

5. You have 500 dollars and 40 minutes to spend it at any store you want. Where do you go?
Target.

6. What blog do you read every day/the most often?
Whatever new posts show up in my google reader.

7. What’s the longest you’ve ever been stuck at an airport?
Hours and hours and then finally got put up in a hotel in Frankfurt, Germany because our connecting flight left early and we never got on the standby flights. 

8. What’s your daily makeup/face/cleansing routine?
Wash my face (in the shower), 5 minute make-up, wash my face at night before bed.

9. Where is your farthest away friend?
Hmm. I think Danielle is the furthest right now and she's in Baltimore and I'm in NJ. 

10. Where is your favorite place to go hiking (or to enjoy nature)?
I can't say I've ever hiked before, but the Poconos is probably my favorite place to enjoy nature. 

33 weeks

Pregnancy: 33 weeks

Weight Gain: still hovering at 20 pounds (depends on the day, time, and scale), but feeling great  

Sleep: Daily afternoon naps while we were on vacation for two weeks were fab-u-lous and I'm sort of hoping I'll continue with them until she gets here. Night time sleep is broken up by flip-flopping and bathroom trips.  

Gender: It's a girl!

Name: She's got a name. :)

Feeling: A little bummed that I'm already at 33 weeks, time has just flown by. I am also feeling a little anxious since the only thing done in her room is the paint on the walls! I'm hoping Sean and some of his friends can get the floor down in the next couple of weeks so we can get the furniture in and I can work on all the small details. 

Health: Doing great. At my appointment on June 27th I had only gained a half pound and my blood pressure was 116/64! It's never that low even when I'm not pregnant. My belly was also measuring right on at 31cm. 

Movement: She's a mover and a shaker. While we were on vacation I could tell when it was around noon without even looking at a clock because that's when the party started. Then she'd get really active again when I laid down for either a nap or bed. And of course a couple of times when I got up in the middle of the night. 

Belly: Can't be missed! And I really need to take a pic since it's been weeks...sadly I took them every week with Aidan and just can't get it together this time around. 

Next Appointment: July 13-this one's an evening one so Sean can join Aidan and I :)