38 weeks

ain't no shame in this one!  i feel so full  - and blown up!

How far along?  38 weeks

Total weight gain/loss:   If I read the chart right @ my appt this Thurs, still floating around 8lbs. 

Maternity clothes?  Yep

Stretch marks? No

Sleep:  Yes, and enjoying it while I can!   

Best moment this week:  After being told last Thurs 4/18 that I was ok & not dilated, I found out this Thursday that I am now 3cm dilated!  I didn't pay attention to what % effaced I am, b/c after I heard 3cm I was thinking, "omg... wow," especially after nothing last week.  Made things a little more real (and fun at work!)  Don & I took a meal over to our friends (the girl that had her baby last week) and got to visit & see their baby.  She is even more precious in real life - and so little!  She was 7lbs 9oz born, but she looks so tiny& precious.  It was so cute seeing Don hold her, and you know I teared up looking on.  Oh I cannot wait!!  Another girlfriend & I (and our husbands) had lunch together after church Sunday and shared fun stories, anxieties, etc.  She & I are due 3 days apart, so we're hoping they come at the same time (she's having a boy). Sadly, her dr said she's not dilated yet, so who knows... It's been fun having these two girls to be pregnant with!  Also had my car seat fitted/inspected by the fire dept.  Found out that the ol' Caddy has bucket seats in the rear, which makes it kinda hard to stay level. Also, b/c I got the carseat at a consignment shop, it's missing it's level on it, but they said it was still safe, just to keep it in mind.  Oh geez, haven't even given birth & I'm already a bad parent!  Fortunately, she will be in a different carseat after a while (this isn't a convertable one, just the newborn) & unfortunately, it didnt' help my case to get a new vehicle. :(  haha 

Miss anything?  laser hair removal!!  can't wait to sched that appt.  Sleeping on my stomach. Bending over. Shaving!!  

Movement?  Goodness yes.  After that appt Thursday, seeing my friends' baby & eating Krystals - miss Ava would not be still! I guess it was just so exciting for her.  I tried to relax on the sofa, but couldn't get comfy b/c of it, so I told my husband I was over it & was going to bed.  He came with & we listened to some music  as we drifted off to sleep.  

Food cravings: I have always loved cream cheese w/bagels, crackers... Loving peanut m&m's, and frozen yogurt. 

Anything making you queasy or sick?  Not really, I think I'm past that.  I just try to be careful. 

Gender: girl

Labor signs: nope, still nothing

Symptoms: Soreness, exhaustion, and the waddle is in full effect! 

Belly button in or out?  dangerously shallow

Wedding rings on/off: Off - I miss my ring. 

Happy or moody? Happy & quite anxious! 

Looking forward to:  My in laws are coming over Saturday to help us clean & get ready for Ava's arrival.  The furniture has FINALLY been sanded (thanks mama!), primed (thanks hubs!) & will be painted this weekend - for sure!!!  Then it can get moved into Ava's room & all her clothes can be put away, along w/all the diapers.  My work threw me a shower today & it was so sweet!  They really did a great job & made me feel so special!  They got us the pack & play, diapers, a bath tub, and some other things.  Oh, and the diaper genie made it's appearance from my friend Jen!  Yay!!!  Now the only thing left will be to get the monitor, which I have a coupon for from Target (for what wasn't purchased on the registry).  Loved!! 

Things to do this week: Clean house, paint furniture & relax.  Oh, I'd love to squeeze in a mani/pedi, too.  

37 weeks

a little overdue, but hey, that's my style...

How far along?  37 weeks (wk of April 14th)

Total weight gain/loss:  8lbs (phew!) 

Maternity clothes?  Yes - thank goodness for those maternity jeans. 

Stretch marks? Nope

Sleep:  Yes, with the usual waking up to go potty each early a.m 

Best moment this week:  Hearing that my girlfriend (whose due date was 4/30 - a week  before mine) had her baby on 4/15!  Her daughter is so precious, we are looking forward to some new diva bff's when Ava's born!  Also, having my hospital bag packed & ready to go.  I've decided against a robe, I never wear one anyway, and it'll be summertime.  Unless I find the right one... Oh, and Ava's clothes are washed & folded neatly - along w/the bibs, blankets, ,burpees, towels, washcloths, sheets, etc.  And the bassinet is clean & laundered & ready for a little girl. 

Miss anything? Sleeping on my stomach!  I cannot wait to be able to do so again! 

Movement?  All the time, and I love it!  

Food cravings: I do like my chocolate & fortunately I'm not going overboard, b/c my weight was back to 8lbs.  I'm good!  

Anything making you queasy or sick?  Same ol' same - just have to be careful what I eat & at what time, and to have a zantac close by. 

Gender: girl

Labor signs: none at all 

Symptoms: Soreness down below (must be more growing), indigestion, exhaustion.  Got my first taste of dehydration - and saw weird spots (like when you look directly into a light bulb, then look away).  I got nervous but I wasn't swelling or anything else, so I knew it was just dehydration bc I hadn't had enough water Mon or Tues.  I drank a lot that night, and the spots went away.  I had two naps after work, too!  

Belly button in or out?  On the verge of not being an innie much longer. 

Wedding rings on/off: Off

Happy or moody? Happy, thank goodness. I'm out of the emotional phase, trying not to snap or get upset.  Just exhausted!  

Looking forward to:  Last week I was looking forward to the sonogram, which miss Ava decided to turn her back on us for, so I didn't get to see her little face.  But we saw her back & spine, and that looked so cool.  I also met the pediatrician and loved her!  A big plus, she is close friends (not just colleagues) with my regular doctor whom I love, so I was sold. This week was just making it another week.  All was well w/my OB appt, so that was great.  Baby is measuring about 6lbs 4oz right now, just perfect! 

Things to do this week: Make sure that hospital bag is complete (done!) and clothes are washed & ready (done & done!).   Really need to get the house in order b/c people are going to be coming to visit, to stay w/us and it can't look like we just moved in.  Time to get organized! 

xoxo

Beauty Product Review (I'm spilling my secrets!)

So in lieu of another baby post, let's do a product review.  I've been meaning to share a few of these products with y'all b/c I have fallen in love with them completely.  They are a must for me when getting ready each day!  I have not really been much of a "designer" cosmetic purchaser, I'm fine with the ol' trusty Maybelline, Almay, Revlon, Cover Girl cosmetics, but I've stumbled upon some other products that I will splurge for.  Thanks to those samples we get from Sephora...  So here we go!

FACE:
Too Faced Primed & Poreless skin smoothing face primer.

This is literally the best primer I've ever come in contact with. I've used Benefit, Sephora brand (which is very nice, too), and maybe one from Bare Minerals, and I love this hands down.  It goes on so super smooth, and fills in my pores without clogging them. I've never had a breakout as a result of wearing this, and that excites me.  There is a tint to it, but only when you squeeze it out of the bottle, b/c it goes on and disappears.  I follow up w/my concealer (Almay Clear complexion concealer) and it doesn't budge.  This is a MUST for me on the daily.  The only time I don't wear it is sometimes on the weekend, when I wear my Garnier BB Cream, b/c that stuff is amazing too! 
It's great for highlighting, and wears very well.  I keep it on hand for the weekends, and then just throw some bronzer on over it, some mascara, and I'm out the door.


benefit Hello Flawless Foundation. 

I absolutely love this b/c it is buildable, and it covers so nicely.  I wear it over my primer & concealer, but some days I just wear this.  It doesn't clog my pores, it will last all day while I'm at work, and it's just a great product.

On to some bronzers!  Yes, I think that bronzers are necessary all year long, not just during the winter time.  Let's be real; I work in an office, 8+hrs a day.  I don't have time to get out and lounge beachside or poolside and get a real tan.  So I do the next best thing - fake it.  I used to do the tanning bed thing, but that's $ I don't want to spend, plus the damaging effects on my skin - too much.  So I am a strong advocate for the Tan Towel.  I got mine on HSN one day, and they sell them at Sephora, too.  There's a classic & ultra color and they're super easy to apply.  Just don't forget to wipe your palms and knuckles off w/a makeup remover wipe afterwards, so they don't stain.  I run a wipe over my elbows, too, so they don't look so orange-y.   Oh, right, bronzers.  Sorry, got a little off track there.
I used to use an Almay bronzer, which was great b/c the pallet was one that had a lot of colors - which is preferred rather than one solid color - to look more natural.  I was on a Too Faced kick and got the Snow Bunny Luminous Bronzer and fell in love.  (Note: Yes, I love my make up. If I don't love it, why buy/use it?)  This small pallet has beautiful colors in it, w/just the right amount of shimmer w/out looking like a stripper or teenager trying too hard.  I am sad to say that I dropped it and it broke, so I carefully store it, and dab a little here and there for a quick glow.  That's just what it does - adds a nice glow.  Since the break, I went out to my local drugstore to find something similar, and picked up one of those Wet n Wild bronzers, Fergie's Centerstage Collections.  I know, I laughed myself, but it had a nice shimmer (not too much!) and a great pallet.  So why not?  This is not to say that every morning for the first month I was singing "Fergilious" while putting it on, but it's a good bronzer, good color, glow, etc.  It's so delicious... LOL!

For blush, I'm using benefit bella bamba, which is great for spring w/the pop of pink.  It's pretty, also wears well and is perfect for my skin tone.  I had to learn not to apply w/a heavy hand, b/c it's a bit too much  pop! 
EYES:
 bareMinerals Stroke of Light Eye Brightener - this concealer is amazing!  I got a sample and fell in love the moment I put it on!  It's the perfect concealer/brightener for your eyes, w/out leaving that white, cakey look underneath (you know what I'm talking about!).  I hate seeing that look on girls, and feel badly for them.  If only they had a better blendable concealer - like this one!  So try it!

If you're like me, and like to wear eyeliner but  hate that it will transfer to the top of your eyebrow by the middle of the day, you get super frustrated.  I hated it!  Anywhere I went - work, out, dinner, parties, whatever, I always had to look in the mirror and wipe it away. Why oh why did I not realize that I needed a shadow primer in my life??  I had used benefit's stay don't stray eyeshadow concealer, but it was a little thicker & sorta left the light, cakey look when used as an under-eye concealer.  However, it was a great shadow concealer.  The one that I'm using on the daily though is of course Too Faced Shadow Insurance b/c of how light it goes on and how well it works.  You guessed it, I LOVE it.  I am squeezing the last out of my little sample, making it last as much as I can.  Amazing, I tell ya. My eyeliner stays put, doesn't budge or wear off, and never looks messy.  Word of caution, b/c this stuff is so good, line carefully!  It's a pain in the you-know-what to mess up, b/c it won't budge!  :)

In a beautifully primed, concealed, bronzed & blushed nutshell, these are the products that are in my makeup bag, and that I love using.  I hope that maybe y'all will try some out and share your suggestions of products you love, too!  Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

So in love.... & a 36 wk update (probably pregnancy hormones!)

This past Monday, 4/1, Don & I celebrated our 6 year wedding anniversary.  I am just so in love with my husband, I could get pretty sappy if you gave me a chance.  But I will totally spare you all that mess.  When we got married, we were blissful.  Then after a while, things really started to get real.  Sharing things - from space, time, emotions, problems - you name it, it wasn't the easiest.  We hadn't lived together prior to marriage, something we both agreed wasn't right for us as we liked our space & personal time, so that in itself was a major change.  Our first 2 years were definitely a roller coaster ride, but we hung tight, kept praying, kept God in our marriage, and have made it to year 6.  I wouldn't go back to do anything differently, and I'm pretty confident he would say the same thing. We learned, we grew and we are happy because of it. I love my husband more than anything, and it's so exciting to be in a marriage with him - and on this new journey to be parents.  I cannot wait to see him hold our first born, and to look into her eyes.  That is going to be so special for me.  I know that Ava will have an amazing daddy!  My relationship with my father only got better after my teenage years, and I am so blessed to have him in my life. I cherish and appreciate what he and I have grown into, and having a father like mine is pretty special.  There were years of lost time that I would've liked to have made up for, but realizing that moving forward and starting from fresh is more realistic - that's what makes it even more special.  So seeing it happen for my daughter, with her daddy gets me so excited.  Tears!!!
Oh, remember that crib that was stuck in my cubicle at work?  It found it's way home to me last week, on our anniversary, coincidentally... And when I got home from work, it was all set up!

It's so pretty - nice and white, simple and perfect.  Now we can match a white for the other furniture & get that taken care of.  I've been told that the furniture will be here this coming weekend, so that's awesome.  So excited!!  I thought the springs looked pretty low, but when I put the mattress in the crib, and put Coco in it, it sits up just fine. (I have to remember that bending over when the baby is out won't be as difficult as it is now!)  Of course Miss Coco thought she was in prison, but she's fine, I assured her. She'll like being in the crib!  Just kidding... she won't be there when Ava's in there. What do you think I am, a crazy person?  haha (please do not answer that)

 

So on to some more fun updates - I had this all set out yesterday, but then deleted it all b/c I was rambling so much!  My friend brought over 5 bags of clothes for us to go through of hand-me-downs from a coworker of hers.  OMG.... we had so much to go through!  We were squealing, "aww'ing"  and then of course the "omg what is this?!'  with the clothes.  It was so fun.  Don was in Ava's room putting up her blinds (with a few colorful words during, bless his heart), so that's done. He also got some for the front/guest bedroom, but he can do that next weekend.  The room is full of clothes in piles - separated by ages.  Yet another task - wash them and store them!  oy vey. 

More progress this past weekend, my mom & I went to Target and got 2 new lamps w/shades for the master bedroom, and window panels for the living room & window seat at the dining room.  I'm so excited!  It's funny how just these few things really brought the place together.  It's a bonus that the panels (in blue)only cost $19.99/each, and that I only need 3 total.  The lamp shades were under $20/ech.  I did a little mix-n-match w/the lamp bases, I got a more masculine base for Don & a more feminine one for me.  I liked them b/c they coordinate, they're the same color, but are more appropriate for each of us.   I've got 2 creamy white wing back chairs in our bedroom, too, as a sitting area, and I'm going to put a little table w/another lamp there, for reading, doing my blogs, coffee, whatever.  I've got a few extra lamps already, so I'm thinking of spray painting one (my "bird lamp" b/c it's got a pigeon on it lol) a brushed silver color and putting this shade on it, to coordinate w/the others.  All in all, it was a productive weekend! 

Now for the baby update: 

whoa baby!
36 weeks - the countdown has officially begun!

How far along?  36 weeks

Total weight gain/loss:   last week, it was 10lbs, but I weighed today and it was 8.5lbs. I'm surprised b/c I feel so big - and I ate a whopper yesterday after church.  Not a jr., a full one!  oy!  Needless to say, yesterday was a little miserable. 

Maternity clothes?  Yes - thank goodness for those maternity jeans. 

Stretch marks? No

Sleep:  Yes, and a nap here and there on the weekend.  

Best moment this week:  starting the last month... I'm very anxious but so excited - and totally unprepared!! Also very excited about all the hand-me-downs!  Oh, and let's not forget that the swelling in my foot went down.  I weirdly only swell in my right foot, and only minimal in the left (so far...).

Miss anything? Bending over, not having to go the bathroom every few minutes... a cold drink! 

Movement?  A lot! 

Food cravings: I don't know that they're really "cravings" anymore,  but I find myself "grazing" after work, while I'm cooking dinner, later...  This is where the fat will catch up to me!  i need to get craving on some veggies!  (I do love apples though!)  

Anything making you queasy or sick?  Same ol' same - just have to be careful what I eat & at what time, and to have a zantac close by. 

Gender: girl

Labor signs: no, and none of the braxton hicks contractions either. 

Symptoms: Soreness in my rear (due to my work chair), indigestion

Belly button in or out?  innie

Wedding rings on/off: Off!!  Yep, it happened; I had to remove them this weekend, and I'm wearing a ring I found on ebay, a cz eternity band. (so i still look legit)

Happy or moody? Happy!  I did have to warn my mom that if she didn't pull away from the heifer in the truck that almost backed into her in the target parking lot, that she would hear some words she had no idea existed in my vocabulary.  I may be pregnant, but that won't stop me from wanting to hurt a bia, especially if it has to do with my mama. 

Looking forward to:  My 36 wk appt this Thursday - b/c I get a sonogram to see how big baby is.   I also get to meet the pediatrician for a meet & greet, and I'm taking mom, so that'll be interesting.  I need her there to ask questions I may not think of.  

-- I should add a new line for this weekly update, since we're on the homestretch: 

Things to do this week: pack up the hospital bag for me, Ava's "coming home" outfit & anything I want her to be in for pictures (the hospital has a photographer that goes around to the rooms & take pics of baby, put them on a website & you can order them later).  Also it will be a good time to get the newborn & 0-3 month clothing washed & ready for Ava. Next week I'll be "full term" and you never know when Ava will make an appearance!  

xoxo