Maternity Photos - NIGHTMARE!

Well my Saturday was ruined after our consultation with our photographer. I got there and we reviewed the photos  - they were AMAZING! First off - We paid $350 to get maternity and newborns done. It was cheaper since we booked both photo sessions at the same time. I was lead to believe we would of course have to order and pay for prints but that all of our photos would be given to us on a disc/online version. Well I was wrong. I found out we would have to pay $1,400 to get all my maternity photos on a disc and would have to pay right then and there. It would be another $1,400 to get all of our newborn photos - or $110 a photo. That is WAY more than what we paid to have 8 hours photographed on our wedding day, prints, and digital copies! I was SHOCKED!! Needless to say I did not purchase any of the online photos. I paid $30 a piece for 5 5x7 prints. I am hoping I will be able to scan them and they turn out okay. I have found a new photographer in Katy to do Bennett's newborn photos - $300 for a studio session and digital rights to all photos with props included - a much better deal.

We didn't end up doing dinner with Ted and Cindi and hit up HEB - or I as I call it "a highschool reunion" every time we go! LOL Of course, we ran into Adam's old highschool friend Bill. We haven't seen him in 4+ years!!! We talked to him for at least 20 minutes and turned down the next isle to run into my coworker/closest work friend and her husband! Such a small world!

Sunday we made a trip to Paul's because hubby had a box of junk (or known as his ex girlfriends stuff) and Paul and Tiffany were moving Sunday! They got a house near us on the other side of Katy Mills and needless to say almost every thing in the box got thrown away.

We went to lunch at Cucos on Sunday afternoon - knowing we had a lunch date with Bob and Jeff at 3 - but my excuse was baby Bennett is hungry and of course the hubby can never say no to me :) OF COURSE Los Cucos made me sick but we still went to lunch with Jeffy and Bob! It was good to see Jeff - he helped us when we moved and we have been MIA since. I promised after we had Bennett we would be social butterflies again. Last night we had a lazy night and caught up on our (my) new favorite show - Ice Loves Coco LOL Don't ask me why but I just LOVE them together!

Nothing too excited this week - just work and hoping to tackle putting the car seat together! 21 more "work" days until I am on maternity leave - 24 more days until I will be 37 weeks pregnant!! I am officially to the horrible part of being pregnant - sore ribs, hip pain and horrible back pain! Ugh! Can't wait to have my baby here and my body back :)

.58 cents for a breast pump!

#1 - I cannot stand the fact that I just paid over $300 for a breast pump. (Well we had Target gift cards so technically I just paid .58 cents for one! That makes it a little better)

I was told DO NOT get a cheap breast pump and it will be the biggest regret I do. Everyone told me to not get anything but Medela. I read reviews and they were all amazing. Some women were on their 3rd child and were still using the same pump - that makes me feel a little better. Babies R Us and hospitals rent them for a mere $50 a month and who wants to use a pump that someone else has used? Yuck! Not me!

Yesterday I was up at 6:30 (on my day off) and managed to get 2 loads done, nursery finished, all bottles sterilized, dinner made and all the dishes done! Whew. It was an exhausting day! Hubby kissed me goodbye for work this morning and woke me up at 6 so I have been going at it with cleaning, petstmart, walmart since then. At 1 I have my meeting with our photographer to go over maternity pics! Woohoo!!!! Can't wait! Tonight we are doing dinner with Ted, Cindi and of course that gorgeous red head 4 month old Miles! I can't wait to see him! I am in charge of dessert... I think I will be making a stop by Ooh La La or HEB bakery this afternoon ;)

tomorrow hubby will be off so it is our typical errand day. He promised last Sunday we would go get snow cones!! I have been CRAVING a cherry or rainbow snow cone since forever! :)

100th Blog and 33 weeks!!

First off - Happy 100th blog post to me! I started in August of 2011 and can't believe I am still going! :)

I won't do my usual weekly pregnancy update today since I went to doctor today.

I was put on bed rest for the day yesterday and was told to NOT get up and drink water all day. I did as I was told and my contractions stopped around 1:30pm yesterday - woohoo! I had my biweekly appointment today and was super nervous.

TMI if you have sensitive ears :) I of course had to a pelvic examination with my bout of contractions yesterday. I felt her hit his head!! It was so weird! She was so surprised at how low he actually was - his head is right there! She had to go around his head to get to my cervix. My cervix looked good still, but with him being so low - I was told to take it easy and rest these next two weeks. As long as I hold him in these next two weeks, anytime after that she would not stop labor and let him come and he would be perfectly fine. She can now gaurantee he would not hold out until my due date and he should be here sooner than later! Him being so low and me having a tiny frame is also why I feel so much pressure on my pelvis. Ah the joys of pregnancy. I will try my hardest to take it easy these next 2 weeks. I have tomorrow off as I planned on getting the whole nursery done but I guess I will just take my time.

Another note - Saturday I have my meeting with Studio Ainsley photography to review our maternity photos! I can't wait! Hope some turned out good :)

Anxiously waiting! - Updated!

I will be 33 weeks and that means next week we will be 34 weeks - and officially on baby watch. I do NOT want him coming at 34 weeks - but it is just hit or miss with my surgery I had last summer. My doctor says most babies come within 34-37 weeks if you had this surgery done. She is almost positive he will be here before June 7th - our induced date and our 39 week mark.

Starting last Thursday I started having tons of pressure on my cervix and yesterday (a long with tail bone feeling bruised) I started feeling tons of pressure on my back side - especially when up walking around. I have a doctor's appointment Thursday. I am almost positive he has dropped and is now ready to go. I have read a baby can come instantly after dropping or 2-3 weeks after. Another sign of him dropping would be if I go to the bathroom more often. This is hard to tell because I literally have to go every 10 minutes!

I think it is safe to say no more crazy adventures for me. I will be sticking close to home and resting, resting and resting until he comes. I want to keep him in as long as possible! I took off Friday and hoping to get his nursery completely done by Sunday. It is driving me crazy knowing he could be here any day, or a month from now. After this appointment I go back at 35 weeks pregnant (in 2 weeks) then once a week from there on out.

44 more days until our induced date
30 days until I am 37 weeks and will try to make myself go into labor (so we do not have to induce)
9 days until we are officially on baby watch



...Yikes!! So soon!!

Update - last night I STARTED in Bennett's room. I got mommy and daddy's diaper bag almost ready, washed his bedding and got it set up and finished his bathroom - still have LOTS to do!!

I woke up this morning to contractions, contractions and more contractions. I have had about 7-8 in a span of about 2 hours. The first set of 4 were 5 minutes apart. I made it to work and will chug lots of water in hopes that will make them subside! Ugh! Hoping I can make it until my doctor's appointment tomorrow afternoon, we will see!

Feather the nest was a success!

My baby shower turned out to be amazing! The theme was "Feather Her Nest" and I loved it! It was so good to see friends and family that I had not seen in a long time - some was our wedding!! Bennett was definitely spoiled beyond belief!! Here are some photos :)

The wishing tree where everyone wrote down pieces of advice for me and B :) They are hilarious! I will make a page in his baby book and place the cards in there

Some of the decor - I read this to Baby B Saturday night, such a cute story! It had been a LONG time since I read it!

Party favors

Invitation

Didn't get a pic with all the food :(

My favorite - Crave cupcakes! My family knows me so well :)

My second family got me a HUGE bucket filled with baby items!!

The after math of the bucket!

My and lovey Tiffany :)

My other mom and best friend - Pam and Kristi

Me and my future sister in law!

Ashley, Me and Natalie!

My familia! Kayla, Mechel, Mama Debbie, me and Natalie

My mom, me, Kristin (6 months pregnant) and my Aunt Linda

The after math.. we look like hoarders!! I will definitely need to take a day off just to organize this mess! Can you spot the kitty?

Shower Day!!!

I am so excited for Bennett's shower today! (Even though he kept mommy up all night, yes this is now 3 nights in a row) Adam was shocked to find me awake on the couch at 5:30 this morning when he was getting ready for work lol I am PRAYING Bennett gets back on his old schedule of being awake all day and sleeping at night.. fingers crossed!

I cannot wait to see everyone at the shower! I think I am more excited to see everyone today than I am about showering Baby B with presents! lol Don't get me wrong though, I cannot wait to get his room complete!!! Bennett's 2nd cousin Karen sent us a bunch of shower goodies along with his baby tub. I got his bathroom all set up last night :) I'll post a pic later. Now onto errands and getting ready for the shower! :)

32 weeks!!

How Far Along: 32 weeks!

Size of baby:   4lbs and 17 inches!

Gender: still a growing BOY

Maternity Clothes: Yes...

Weight gain: 22lbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Movement: yes yes and yes! Baby B kept me up all night last night!

Sleep: See above. Minus last night, it takes me forever to fall alseep but once I am out, I am usually out until my usual bathroom break at 4:00am

Symptoms: Morning sickness has been better!! I am almost positive he has "dropped". My hip and ribs are killing me as well as tons of pressure in my lower abdomen

Cravings: Cup cakes and Olive Garden

Best moment this week: Hospital tour for sure!

 

 

 

I have been busy this week working on Bennett's hospital annoucement door hanger! I am officially done with my part. I am HORRIBLE at making my bows so Brenda is making me a bow tonight for it and then it will be done!

 

These are the last of my little man's newborn photography hats I ordered on Etsy! I have been waiting for them for over a month and so excited to finally get them! He also has a football cocoon(not sure if it will be too big or not) a crochet football hat, a sock money hat and last but not least - a crochet bow tie - infant sized of course! :)

 

New blog format

Ugh! I came to post a my new book series that I finished and logged onto blogger and everything has CHANGED!! I hate change. I had to stare at the screen for a good 10 minutes before I could figure out how to post!

Anywho, enough about that. My coworker told me about 50 shades of Grey and told me it is apparently Twilight for adults. Well of course I was obsessed with the Twilight series so I knew I had to read them! I started reading book 1 about 2 weeks ago, finished that in about 4 days, and bought the 2nd book that night and finished that book within a few days. It has taken me about a week to finish the 3rd book but I finished it last night! As much as I hate to admit it.. they are addicting!!!!!!!!!! My jaw dropped in the first one when it turned all S&M, but you get used to reading it. The language is definitely vulgar but a GREAT read! There will be another book coming out May 2014 and I believe Universal has bought rights to make a movie. I am not too excited about a movie.. if it followed the book it would have to be rated X and I know that won't happen.

So ladies - I recommend you pick up this raunchy book because it is amazing! They are kind of pricey - the Kindle Fire version was $10 a book - but totally worth it! Here are the 3 books in order -

On another note, 50 days until or induced date!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 36 days until I will start trying to make myself go into labor and not have to be induced. I have heard to walk, walk and walk!

Weekend recap!

I felt like this weekend was crazy busy!!!!!!!!! Friday night I ended up doing some shopping and finally called it quits when I started cramping pretty bad and almost thought I was going into labor. I went home and somewhat took it easy the rest of the night. Saturday morning I was up running errands and getting all our clothes ironed for maternity photos. They went awesome! She said the colors I picked out were opposites of the color wheel which was what she wanted (I have no idea what colors are where on the color wheel so how I managed that is beyond me!) I go back on the 28th and preview our photos! I can't wait to see them! We then went to go meet Bennett's potential baby sitter and fell in love with her! She is so so sweet and very affordable and not to mention she lives roughly 10 minutes away from us on Katy Flewellen/Green Bush. I still have a fear of leaving my baby with someone, but I know I will have to get over that! After that we went over to my brother and sister in laws and grilled out by the pool. We FINALLY got to meet my brother in law's new girlfriend and she is so so sweet - which is a BIG change from the crazy psycho he dated for 7+ years. We had an awesome time! Bennett put on a show for his aunt Nanny and Mechel.

Yesterday we did our HOSPITAL TOUR!! The only word I describe it by is SURREAL. Definitely freaked me out a little bit, but also reassured us that we know where to go and what is going to happen when he comes. I should only be in there 2 days from time of birth. If induced I will go in the night before so 3 nights.

We were crazy busy yesterday working on my mom's nursery at her house and just trying to get everything done before Monday! We got his baby swing put together and managed to have dinner with Bob and Megan last night! She won't be able to attend my shower so she came over after dinner to give me our gifts - She got us the car seat!! EEkk!!!! I was so excited! She also got Bennett the cutest bib, binkies, and raddler possible! She also got MOMMY some awesome soaps, lotions and scrubs. All are all natural and 100% vegan! I tried some last night and they are amazing!

I had hubby snap my 31 and a half week photo Saturday -

I hope this week flies by since our baby shower is this weekend! I can't wait to see my friends and family! :)

31 weeks!

No photo today! I haven't gained any weight in the last 3 weeks (I blame the sickness) so no photo today, plus I am not in a picture taking mood :)

How Far Along: 31 weeks!

Size of baby:   I am going with 4lbs and 17 inches

Gender: a growing BOY

Maternity Clothes: Yes thanks for reminding me that I look like a beached whale :)

Weight gain: Holding steady at 20lbs

Movement: Yes yes and yes, my little man loves to play with his feet... 24-7. I can actually see when he has the hiccups now - which is at least 3-4 times a day

Sleep: Good nights and bad nights - last night was a bad night. Baby was up at midnight and 5:30

Symptoms: Increased appetite, I can stuff my face and be starving an hour later! SORE ribs! It is horrible, I hate sitting down now. Yesterday my feet and hands were swollen :(

Cravings: I am craving Hibachi! Sunday we are going out for Hibachi and Sushi (no sushi for me) with Megan and Ben! Can't wait!

 Best moment this week: B had a great appointment yesterday. Perfect heart beat, same as this whole pregnancy, still head down. We will be on baby watch starting at 34 weeks!! (3 weeks away!) My next 2 appointments will be every 2 weeks and then once a week until he is here!

 

 

I will spend tonight and tomorrow night getting all our outfits picked out for maternity photos! I also NEED a mani and pedi so I will do that tomorrow after work! I am also getting super nervous about our hospital tour on Sunday! Eeek!

Easter :)

The hubby worked Saturday (Like usual, but I was lucky he was finally off on Sunday for Easter! We always go to Adam's Aunt Ellen's house out in Katy. She has a beautiful home off Katy Flewellen (SP?) and has a few acres of land. Even though Katy is growing so much, she is still lucky enough to be considered in the "country". We got there early so the hubby could fire up the grills before every one arrived. The kiddos had 2 Easter Egg hunts. It is so funny to watch them run all over her property. Bennett will be the baby on his side of the family so Adam's sisters need to get on it and have a baby ; ) On my dad's side we have always had a SMALL family with him just having 1 sister and my 2 cousins. Fortunately, my cousin Kristin has Jonah - the cutest boy ever who will be 3 this year and she is due with baby #2 in July! My other cousin Greg had Ainsley on New Years Eve and she is just precious as she can be! So happy Bennett will have some second cousins around his age! And who knows, with my brother getting married this Christmas, maybe he won't be too far off from having a kiddo :)

I was of course POOPED (Like usual) after his family Easter get together and ate way too many sweets! We just had a lazy Sunday afternoon at home and the fur kiddos. I have my 31 week appointment on Wednesday and after this appointment, I will go see her every 2 weeks so we can have a pretty good idea if he will be here early. I will talk to her tomorrow about scheduling to be induced on June 6th if he is not here by then.. eek!! SO close, but so far away!

Adam is off this weekend - for a FULL weekend! Yippee! We have maternity photos Saturday, I am so excited! Sunday morning we have our hospital tour.. kind of nervous! I went to the hospital on Friday and signed my life away. Not really - I just had to submit all of my consent forms with a witness present before my 7th month of pregnancy (which is THIS weekend!) I also plan to meet Bennett's hopefully future babysitter if all goes well. An old friend of mine from highschool, Atosha takes her baby boy there and LOVES her! I am excited to see how it goes!

All of my FMLA paperwork is pretty much done with work and starting May 31st (If he does not come before) I will officially be on maternity leave until mid July! I have already started "nesting" and rearranged Bennett's room this weekend for the 50th time :) My baby shower is NEXT weekend! So excited to see all my friends since I have been such a home body this pregnancy. I am hoping to getting aronud to uploading some Easter photos tonight, so if I get around to it, I will update this post with some pictures :)

Got around to uploading Easter pictures last night, and also Adam's friend Sac uploaded some pictures from Paul and Tiffany's wedding that I had completely forgot about! I can't believe they have been married over 2 months now! Sigh.. I remember how I felt like a COW in that dress, I barely had a bump then! lol




Cindi & Baby Miles, Allie, Megan, Me and Tiff!



Love this one.. Paul, Bob, Ted, Sac, Hubby and Jerrold planking



This is what I deal with :) - Bob, Ted, Sac and the hubby


Now for the Easter Photos -

This one I LOVE - my mother in law telling the hubby what to do :)

My gorgeous sister in law, Mechel

My niece, Katelyn with her daddy and my brother in law, Chad! Definitely a framer

My amazing mother in law! Love her!

Me and my better half :)

The kiddos after one of the hunts - My niece Katelyn on far right and my other niece Kayla on far right

Corey, Chad, Adam and Kyle playing football at Ellen's

30 weeks!

(And still recovering from this sickness, it has now been over a week! UGH!)

How Far Along: 30 weeks!

Size of baby:   I am going with 3.5lbs and 16 inches - He has definitely gotten bigger this week!

Gender: a growing BOY

Maternity Clothes: Today I am wearing a maternity shirt with my regular non preggo jeans

Weight gain: 20lbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Movement: Baby b has definitely discovered his feet! He sits there all day and moves his feet across my belly! Usually around 10 is when he settles down for the night and 9:00am is when he usually wakes up

Sleep: I have been having the hardest time falling asleep. I am so tired but when I get into bed, I am all of a sudden wired! I think it was finally 11:30 when I fell asleep last night

Symptoms: Morning sickness hit me right in the middle of dinner last night - BAD! Needless to say, I did not finish eating :( I have been really "veiny" especially on my tummy. Harder to move around, cannot bend over, out of breath

Cravings: I am really the opposite of every preggo lately. I am just not crazy about food and still in this super picky mood

 Best moment this week: Adam got home last night for work, before kissing me hello, he kissed my belly, it was so sweet! :)

Down and out

Thursday night I went to bed super early because my throat felt funny on the right side. Friday I woke up with a horrible sore throat, made it through the day just fine but it turned into a full blown head old and now has managed to turn into a head and chest cold. Ugh! I am miserable! I started on Sudafed yesterday but Bennett and me were both up all night so no more Sudafed. I am going to pick up Robutussin DM and see if that does the trick :( I have loaded up on orange juice, lemonade - any other suggestions would be great!