Lilly's new arrivals

Spring, spring, spring!!  These new Lilly items just scream happy, sunny summer days to me!  I can't wait to wear normal clothes again (as if I haven't said that a million times already) -- and these new bright pieces make me extra excited to buy a few new things for the new season. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's kind of a big day around here :)  It's my birthday...and not just any bday.  I'm 30!  I'm still getting used to that idea, but so far I'm embracing it.  To be honest though, I have the baby's bday on my mind much more than my own.  We had our weekly doctor's appointment this morning, and things are really looking good!!  Hopefully we'll get to meet our little guy reallllllyyyyyy soooooonnnnn!!!!

Pregnancy Update: 39 weeks!

Pregnancy Highlights:
How Far Along: 39 Weeks -- 1 week till our due date!
Size of Baby: He is the size of a small watermelon
Weight:  Lots.  I can't wait to be back in my normal clothes.  I feel like a blimp.
Maternity Clothes: Yes, yes and yes. (and even some of those are getting tight!)
Gender: It's a BOY!!

Movement: Still lots of movement.  It's changed a bit as he has less space in there, so it's less the huge flips from several weeks back, but he's still moving a significant amount. 

What I Miss:  Running, normal clothes.  SB and I went shopping around today, and I found a bunch of cute items (one running outfit at REI that I really wanted), but I just can't buy anything right now because I feel like I won't know how quickly I'll lose the pregnancy weight, and I don't want to put too much pressure on myself to get back to my normal size in two weeks or something crazy like that. 

Cravings: I've been hungry all week.  I thought that was supposed to taper off around now!!  It's awful when you don't want to gain too much weight, but obviously you have to listen to your body and put the baby's health first and foremost. (though the brownies probably weren't that helpful for the baby...I just couldn't stop!  aggghhh!!)

Symptoms: Swollen ankles, swollen hands (swollen face, if you ask me -- though that's probably just the weight gain!)

Best Moment This Week:  We had a good visit with the doctor last Monday.  The baby's heart rate is still healthy and in the 140-150 range (I always love to hear it).  I have a feeling that he's going to go full term or longer.  The good news is that our doc says we would likely induce if he went to 41 weeks (phew -- I couldn't go too much longer).  I am so, so, so anxious to meet our little guy.  My husband has been especially sweet and supportive, but the anticipation is just killing me....but we've come so far - so 14 more days (max!) won't kill me.  I think I can...  I think I can.... 

 And in other news.....I totally jumped the gun on spring!  It snowed Friday and all day Saturday.  I was not amused.  Fortunately it melted today, but I am SO ready for more of those 70 degree days...pronto!!  We spent the day on Saturday lounging around the house, and then went to see the new Bradley Cooper movie "Limitless."  It was really good!!  It was suspenseful, with action, but not too gory or anything like that.  Today we met another couple for brunch, then did a bunch of errands.   I'm bummed that Duke lost in the Sweet Sixteen....but the tourney games have been really exciting!  I'm cheering for Butler now -- their coach seems like such a good guy, and I love the background story of Matt Howard.  How amazing that they've made it to back-to-back Final 4's!! 

Spring's in bloom!!

We have experienced a couple of absolutely BEAUTIFUL days recently!  The sun has been shining, temperatures have been in the upper 60's, low 70's (though that's about to change with a cold front coming tomorrow), and the flowers and trees are starting to bloom!  (my allergies confirm that last part too!)  We have a beautiful flowering tree in our front yard (I think it's a pink dogwood -- but that's really just a guess).   I planted a few daffodil and hyacinth bulbs in our front yard this past fall, so we will see them bloom for the first time in the next few days.  It's a fun surprise to see some happy little green sprouts shooting up!

And a little baby update...we had our now weekly appointment this past Monday.  The last ultrasound showed that the baby's growth has slowed a touch, which is a great thing (ie: no 9-pounders...most likely).  The doc doesn't think I'll deliver in the next week -- so we'll likely be back next Tuesday to check in again.  We are down to the last 2.5 weeks...no matter what!  Wow!  And a certain someone (me!) happens to have a big birthday next Tuesday too.  Nothing like ringing in a new decade with a very happy life-changing moment soon to come!  SB says it's the best bday gift he could give me :)  He's probably right! (with our puppy Daisy being a close second)

Pregnancy Update: 37.5 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights:
How Far Along: 37.5 Weeks -- We are officially FULL TERM!!  Yay!!!
Size of Baby: He is the size of a watermelon
Weight:  let's just say....LOTS!  ugh.
Maternity Clothes: Yes, yes and yes. (and even some of those are getting tight!)
Gender: It's a BOY!!

Movement: YES!! I feel lots of movement, and SB can feel it and even see it too. 

What I Miss:  Eating and drinking whatever I want, not feeling like a giant beach ball, exercise, tennis, non-pregnancy clothes.  Overall though, I am just so excited an anxious to finally meet and hold our baby!

Cravings: Sweets galore.

Symptoms: The cankles have arrived.  And when I say cankles, I mean ohmylord, my ankles have never been this swollen in all my life.  My hands feel swollen too.  I am just gigantic, and it's tough to move around and I can't really see anything below my belly.

Best Moment This Week: We are excited to have reached 37 weeks.  The end is in sight!  I am feeling well health-wise, just really ready to meet our little guy.  Lots of strangers ask how much longer I have, and the cashier lady at Office Depot even reached out to touch my belly to see if he was kicking (without asking!!! talk about an invasion of privacy!!  Shocking!)  I have a doctor's appointment in an hour or so to get another ultrasound (to see how big he is), and meet with the nurse practitioner afterward.  Our doc is on vacation this week, so I'm hoping that everything will look normal and we'll be able to make decisions about delivery with our regular doc next week. 

Baby on the brain

I think I'm obsessed.  I'm so sorry to anyone out there who is tired of all this baby stuff....I just can't seem to think of anything else!  Our sweet unborn baby occupies my brain 99% of the time these days.  I feel him moving all the time, I have been adding things to our hospital bag bit by bit to ensure we're ready to move at a moment's notice, I love to spend time in the nursery getting everything just right, and I keep picturing what our lives will be like when he arrives.

So in this morning's Zulily email (which you have to subscribe to if you're a mom, a mom-to-be, or even someone who has lots of nieces/nephews/friends' babies to shop for and you haven't already!), I was excited to see a few things that we still needed to get for our little guy's arrival.  My sister actually had given us the shopping cart cover pictured below, and I snatched up the Bebe au Lait nursing cover for a great deal.  If I didn't already have a great diaper changing kit, I'd pick up the one below too. 

Last but not least, I'm kind of debating whether or not I'll want a diaper bag.  I have one Kate Spade hand-me-down from my sister -- but it's a little worn as it's been well loved after 3 kiddos!  I have my own "market shopper" that was actually a diaper bag when I got it out of college....so I could just use that.  I think that's what I'll probably do -- but I also think the bag below is kind of cute.  Just not sure if it's in the "need" category yet.  What diaper bag do you all use?  Do you think it's necessary to have one, or does any big purse fill the need?

Baby Boy Knit Hats

I am absolutely in love with the newborn pictures I've seen with little babies sporting cute knit hats.  Now that I'm totally and completely obsessed with Etsy, I've been searching through the various shops to find a hat or two for our little guy.  Granted, it's probably going to be more of a prop for photos than anything, but can these photos be any CUTER!!??!!

 

{All from Etsy.com}

Baby Showers Galore

SB and I have really been fortunate that we have had many family members and friends throw us baby showers.  Seeing as how we don't live remotely close to our hometowns, it also meant that we traveled a lot for these showers -- but that was definitely fun!!

My first shower was thrown by my colleagues in DC.  It was a total surprise.  Our HR manager convinced me we needed to chat about health insurance, so I came up to the board room while I was in town for training -- and there everyone was!  It was such a fun surprise.  I was totally and completely speechless.  It was just so incredibly thoughtful of them to think of little ol' me -- who now works remotely and they only see once in a blue moon these days.  They very generously gifted us with our infant carrier/car seat, a set of towels, and a Duke-themed outfit.  (plus they served Georgetown Cupcakes....another fave!!)

The second shower took place in Athens, GA (SB's hometown) and was thrown by our SIL and a good friend.  They literally only had 2 weeks to plan because we had to wait to see when we could travel based on the way that the Rams finished their season (ie: playoffs or no playoffs...that was the big question).  It was so fun to see everyone in one place -- and we actually had 55 people in attendance!!  I couldn't believe it!! 

The third shower was thrown by my high school girlfriends, and took place in Madison, WI.  They really thought of every little detail - and it was so fun to be surrounded by people I've known for most of my life.  (I still drool thinking of the amazing chicken salad on croissants and key lime pie dessert....)  Fortunately I finally started taking pictures at this shower -- so here are a few:

 

Me with my high school friends.  Random factoid...each of us captained our own sports teams our senior year of high school.  We were all athletes, but all played our own sports (basketball, gymnastics, tennis (me), cross country/track, and volleyball/softball).

My Niece, Mom, me, Sister

The last shower took place here last weekend and was thrown by one of my sweet Junior League friends who just had a baby last November!  My parents and sister and niece all came into town for it, which was lots of fun.  It's not often that they get to meet my friends in these new cities -- so it was extra special for them to be here.  Lots of the girls in this group either have had babies recently, or are expecting now -- so we will have a good number of new mommy friends!! (thank goodness -- because the advice that other moms give is priceless, in my opinion!)

All in all, we are very blessed to have such wonderful friends and family, and this little guy is already feeling lots of love!! 

MORE!! Birth Announcements, Part 2

I just found a bunch more cute boy birth announcements on Etsy.com that I think I like even better than the original batch.  I just adore Etsy!!  Here are some of my new faves....

  

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