The Big Reveal!!!

This past Saturday was the big day!

This was the amazing cake! How cute is that?? It matches the wonderful invites that I got from June-Berry Lane....Here is a sample:

Obviously not our actual names or anything but you get the idea! It was a great deal and everyone just loved the invites!!

Also my AMAZING Aunt made a lot of the decorations, including some super cute elephant punch outs and an adorable sign that I cannot seem to find a picture of but once I do I will post it up here! She did however also make these too cute cookies!

I mean seriously how adorable are those???

I actually have a lot more pictures though I cannot seem to find them at the moment....I think most of them were taken by everyone else and I have yet to get them from everyone! There was bib decorating and also a contest to have everyone vote for either a boy or girl and a winner would be chosen from whichever jar the baby turned out to be! The prize was a giant jar of dill pickles, a pregnant lady's favorite! It got a big laugh I will tell you that!

Okay now for a big moment!

Here we are cutting the cake. My husband did the first slice. Notice he wore his very hilarious "Knocked Up" shirt that he got when the movie came out. It got a big laugh too. I was gender neutral in white but man you can see that bump coming along! You can kind of see the cute sign that my Aunt made but I will post a better picture once I find it!

And now for the moment everyone was waiting for!

It's PINK!! WE ARE HAVING A BABY GIRL!!!!!!

I am so excited and we were surprised! The secret never got out and everyone was so excited that we have a little lady on the way! I will admit I cried a little but I was going to either way! My brothers and my brother in law are already fighting over who will be the best uncle. This little girl is going to be as spoiled as her Mama!

I am so happy to share this out in blog land, and I will post more pictures of the decorations and everything once I gather them all!

Big hugs to everyone, it's time to start thinking of Baby Girl names!!!

Stubborn

Yesterday was the big Ultrasound day! 

 

My husband and my mom went with me to the doctor so that we could get a look at our little one and hopefully get the tech to write down the gender for the big gender reveal party that is happening this weekend! 

 

Here’s how it went: 

 

10:15: Check in. Bladder unbelievably full for the ultrasound, mom and hubby chatting away with me while we all get excited wondering what little Baby K (that is the baby’s nickname from here on out. Our last name begins with K so it fits) is going to be. 

 

10:30: Super nice Ultrasound tech covers me in goo and we start the process of seeing Baby K. 

 

10: 31 Stubborn child is moving arms and legs around but knees are locked together. Will not move head so the tech can measure, in fact all we are being allowed to see is the child’s back and spine. So tech moves on to measuring limbs while Baby K flails around wildly…just like Mama! 

 

10:45: Baby K still refuses to move for the tech so she starts bouncing the wand up and down trying to get the kiddo to cooperate. My bladder is now full to bursting and my pelvis starting to ache from the movement and pressure. I begin explaining to Baby K that it needs to cooperate; we are having a party on Saturday! 

 

11:00: Tech lets me go pee since I will probably start seeing yellow any minute. I have another conversation with Baby K in the bathroom. 

 

11:25: Everyone is frustrated with Baby K’s stubbornness so the nice tech suggests I go to my appointment and then come back and we will try again. I wipe the goo off my pelvis and head to talk with the doctor. 

 

11:45: Weighed in, 5 pound gain for the pregnancy so far! Inside I feel really good about myself. Despite the fact that I think I look huge, my weight is right on target, so long as I keep moving and doing well with eating I will be just fine in the weight department. I allow myself a moment of congrats before starting to worry again that we won’t be able to see what Baby K is and the party will have to be postponed or something. Leave it to my child to be difficult. 

 

12:00: Dr. arrives. Everything looks good but we will have to go for a more extensive Ultrasound next week since the baby won’t get into position so we can measure the head and see all the chambers of the heart. Dr. assures me this is no big deal, everything about the baby seems fine but they do need the information. Appointment for more extensive ultra sound is set up for next Thursday and I go to wait for the Ultrasound tech for our second attempt of the day. 

 

12:20: Finally get in to the tech again, lots of Mommies to be around here! See what I believe is a sixteen year old with her boyfriend, she just found out she is indeed pregnant and is crying. I want to comfort her but what does one say? Her boyfriend seems really nice and supportive though. I cross my fingers and hope for the best for them. Ultrasound tech calls me in and again I am on the table and covered with goo. 

 

12:41: Tech has me close my eyes. Success! A snapshot of Baby K is taken and put in a sealed envelope that my husband takes away so that I don’t cheat and look. I also get lots of other pictures of Baby K, including some profile shots. I tear up, my husband gives me a big hug and we head out to feed this now starving Mama. 

 

 

See how stubborn this child is?? Just like Mama! Also with those kicking feet it is a wonder that I haven’t felt more than just the butterfly sensation! A few more weeks and those will be full-fledged kicks though! 

 

I cannot even begin to tell you all how excited I am for the party on Saturday. Also I cannot wait to show you all the amazing decorations that my Aunt has put together for me! I don’t want to spoil the surprise of the theme though! Next Monday I will post all the pictures and the announcement of whether Baby K is a boy or girl!

Cleaning Spree

Today is a day off from work.

I slept like crap last night, just could not get comfy and the dogs were pacing around waiting for me to get situated. Luna also decided to have an accident. I am so prepared for this baby...I mean my dogs are like children! So a 3AM clean up was in order and for some reason the belly demanded to be fed rather loudly, so cereal was then in order as well. Random night, but I awoke at 8AM ready to get some serious chores done!

I don't feel too bad when I tell you that I just got my tree down yesterday. After all MamaLaughlin posted today that her's is still up, and she is a busy and awesome chick so obviously that means it is completely acceptable to have your tree up well into the month of January.

My husband did the major work really....I honestly cannot take much credit for the whole tree thing, but either way it is down and put away!

Still there were a lot of chores to be done since I have not had any energy the past few months. I mean literally if I sit down for too long I will be asleep. I have actually fallen asleep at work once, but thankfully it was only for like five minutes because the phone rang.

Back to the chores.

People keep saying it is nesting instinct but really it is just my OCD finally kicking back in now that I can think about more than sleeping and throwing up. There was just so much to be done that finally my brain couldn't take it and so I had to get to work this morning. The big thing that was bugging the hell out of me???

This:

This is my vanity. I sit here every morning to get ready for work and though I am really good about cleaning my brushes every week...the vanity itself has just gotten more and more cluttered as time has gone by, and it has been driving me crazy! There are empty bottles of product, it needs to be dusted, there are a milling bits that should be in the drawer and not out for everyone to see. Every morning I've been waking up to this mess and it just stresses me out.

So then this happened:

SO MUCH BETTER! I got rid of a lot of junk that was left over from when I was trying to do my wedding makeup and got rid of the empty bottles that I always seem to cling to....as though I won't remember what it is I like or something....or I expect them to magically fill so I don't have to buy new again. I love my makeup but seriously I hate paying for it. Though even now I am sitting here thinking..."Man a trip to Ulta would be awesome...I really want the new Loreal Lumi foundation." (You may not know this but I have a serious thing for foundation. My face isn't even bad without makeup, but something about the smooth wonderful coverage of a full foundation makes me feel all warm inside.)

Anyhow that was my big thing today but I also got the floors mopped, bathrooms cleaned, laundry done, dishes done, kitchen wiped down and cleaned, and the tops of the dressers cleared. Even the junk drawer is done....hmm...maybe I am nesting after all?

Acceptance

Note: I actually wrote this post for Friday but as usual did not get it posted! So it will work for today since I am currently home and cleaning up a storm! 

Acceptance

I like to think that I am pretty good at acceptance. I try very hard to not judge and to just let everyone be just who they are. I accept that everyone is different and everyone has different views, opinions, and values.

I’ve never really had a problem with accepting anyone.

Except…for me.

I realize that my body is going to change with this pregnancy.

I realize that a lot of it is completely out of control.

I know that I am doing what I can to be as healthy as possible and moving when I can and when I am not utterly exhausted.

I know all these things.

Yet I feel huge and fat and a little bit awful.

I ask myself why I am not one of those adorable mommies with just big bellies and skinny everywhere else.

I’ve only gained three pounds and yet I worry that my butt is going to need its’ own zip code before long.

For some reason I cannot seem to accept that my body is not the perfect specimen of pregnancy, even though it is.

I mean…I am supposed to gain weight.

LOTS of moms gain weight everywhere including the belly.

I do not have a personal chef, trainer, nor can I stay home all day and practice pre natal yoga.

I have to accept these things. I have to learn to love this body and the gift that it is creating within it. I am so very lucky that this baby is growing and is looking healthy. I am so very lucky that my body is able to do this, I am so lucky that I am even able to become a mother, so many are not given the chance.

I will accept my body and the amazing journey it is taking.

I will accept my flaws and remember that I can always get back on track again later. Every pound gained can be lost again and every moment that I spend pregnant is miracle. Every moment leads me closer to the little miracle that will be joining our family.

I will accept these things, and I will smile. 

 

 

The very late weekend update/ today's update

( This post was supposed to go up on Monday....well that didn't happen...) 

 

So how short was your weekend? 

 

Mine was entirely too short. 

 

In fact I am really irritated by the shortness. 

 

Anyhow…

 

Saturday was spent running around town shopping for the big Gender Reveal party that is coming up! I cannot wait to show you all the amazing amount of cuteness that we have put together! There are some truly adorable decorations going on! 

 

So that took up the entire day as my Mom, my Aunt, and I wandered around finding the best deals and the cutest items! It all went very smoothly and I have to tell you this mama- to- be was very pleased! 

 

Sunday was spent doing random chores and mostly just taking it easy. My husband had worked a twelve hour shift over Saturday night and he needed some sleep, so the dogs and I kept one another company as I tried to beat my high score on Bejeweled.

 

Once the husband was up, I informed him I was having a mad craving for my parents’ potato soup. I called them up and got the recipe and asked the hubby to go and get the items for me from the store. One of the ingredients is ham and he asked me just what type of ham I wanted. I proceeded to draw him a picture. Upon viewing it he informed me that it looked like a mailbox. 

 

Cue the crazy pregnancy hormones! 

 

I start sobbing uncontrollably. I was devastated by the fact he thought my drawing was so horrible. Then I started laughing like a mad woman because the whole thing was completely ridiculous! 

 

So there I stand, sobbing and laughing hysterically at the same time.

 

My poor husband thought I had lost my mind. 

 

Needless to say he left right then to get all the items that I needed. 

 

The soup turned out amazing, BTW.

And now on to Tuesday.....

I spent most of the day sick and all of it nauseated. Feel a bit better now but it will be an early night tonight. 

All my invites went out today for the party! Now this baby better cooperate next week so that we can have an awesome reveal party! 

Here's to tomorrow being a better day...I have to be at work three hours early since it is an early out day. It's going to be rough getting up that early after the day of being sick but hopefully it will all work out for me. 

Hope everyone is having a good week!

 

Butterflies

I felt the baby move! 

 

I had been told that I might start feeling things around now, but I really thought since I am a first time mom that I wouldn’t really notice until they were full blown kicks. However I felt this. This was not a muscle spasm, or a simple tummy rumbling….this was something completely independent of me. It was a strange wispy flutter from the inside and that is the only way I can explain it. It did not last long and the husband was disappointed he couldn’t feel anything but I felt it!

This week we are working on plans for the big gender reveal party that I am having on the 26^th. My mom is actually hosting the party but I am helping with theme, invitations, and getting the cake all squared away. Everything is looking so cute and adorable! 

 

For those that don’t know a gender reveal party is just what it sounds like, a big party to reveal to friends and family as well as the parents. It is just a fun way to share the moment with everyone!

 

We are going to be cutting into a cute little cake to see if it is pink or blue and find out what our little peanut is going to be! I know that the family is really excited. My husband and I decided to find out the gender since we could not wait until the baby was born to find out! It makes it really hard trying to decorate and pick out things for a little one when you don’t know what the gender is! 

 

I plan on posting lots of pictures from the day and I will be sure to announce here on the blog what we are expecting! 

 

In other news…does anyone watch American Horror Story? We started watching it on Netflix on Sunday and that show is so messed up and weird….yet at the same time sucks you in to the storyline! We watched almost the entire season on Sunday…only three episodes left! It kind of freaks me out but at the same time I cannot stop watching…just so long as my husband is there to watch with me! 

 

Well that is all the news for now, hope everyone is having a good week!

The Motherhood

Hello Everyone!

So now that the New Year has arrived so have all the resolutions and weight loss commercials. I am no stranger to the desire to start off the New Year with a bang and start on the “I will lose those 10 pounds this year!” bandwagon. However since there is this whole baby making process going on I am not resolving to lose the weight right now. 

Actually right now I am simply trying to keep food down (which amazingly I have been able to do for four days now!) and start moving more so that once I can start eating normally again I don’t suddenly blow up with weight gain! I am starting to have a little more energy now and that will go a long way toward getting me up and going. I spent New Year’s Eve cleaning out the closet to purge clothes I never wear and put away things I know I won’t be wearing for the next six months. Everyone kept saying I was “nesting” but I think it is too early for that….I think it was more just being fed up with everything being in the way and not being able to find clothes in the mess. Now it is neat and organized and I feel complete again. 

The dishes are another story…I avoid them and hate them with a passion. Thankfully I was able to convince my husband to take charge of that chore for me and he did a fantastic job! I can now enter my kitchen without a panic attack! 

In addition to the moving more and hitting up my treadmill more regularly…does anyone have any pre natal workouts that they loved or would be willing to loan out? I really want to make sure I don’t gain crazy weight with this kiddo and that after I deliver I am able to get things going back strong again so I can be one of the hot mommies…just email me if you have any info! 

And now a touchy subject….

Pregnancy is a big deal. It’s a huge life changing event and it takes up a lot of my brain space lately. Other moms get this…but when you have friends that are not married and have no kids and basically can still do whatever they want….they do not get it. I realize that I probably bore people with my talking about it…but it is a major event that is happening in my life….and honestly if I can sit and listen to you complain about a bank teller or cry because last week’s hookup didn’t call, you should be able to handle a little baby talk. 

Now the flip side. 

Being a mom is not my only identity and I do not plan for it to be. Yes I talk about it a lot, but I am still the same person. I still love movies, travel, going out, and being part of the world. It hurts when I am excluded from events because “I’m pregnant” and cannot drink. I still socialize and if you recall…I didn’t drink that much in the first place! Also…just because you might not feel comfortable inviting me because of the baby….that doesn’t mean you should exclude my poor husband! Trust me, he would love a break and would love to get out and do things before he settles into his responsibility as a father. I don’t mind him going out and having fun without me, he works hard and I trust him without a doubt…he should be able to enjoy going out! 

Okay my rant is over. I apologize…I just needed to vent a bit. 

Now something funny I stumbled on while surfing Pinterest:   

Happy 2013!

Hello Everyone!

Today we continued our tradition of Surf and Turf New Year's Day! My parents make crab legs and steak along with a variety of sides. It's so much fun to get together with the family and dive into a big pile of crab legs and start cracking away!

Here's some pictures from today!

 My Mom's Lovely Table!

 The adorable little crab and lobster table accents. My mom takes making things cute serious.

 A Long shot of the table...that is my tea glass photo bombing....I forgot I sat it there.

 This was my lovely plate and it was just beyond delicious.

And here is a picture of yours truly in my first maternity outfit. 16 weeks along and not too much bump to see yet...however I am loving this outfit as I was really comfortable and felt pretty darn cute! As you can probably tell from my pose!

Can you tell what I got for Christmas? Yep a new camera! 2013 will be the year of pictures on the blog as well as a lot more blog posting. That is my goal/ intention for the year in addition to growing our savings, having this baby, and then bouncing back on my healthy goals so that post baby I will be one of the hot moms!!

Hope you all had a great first day of the New Year!