Annual Baking Day

Every year around Christmas time I spend one Sunday & bake my little heart out making all kinds of holiday treats. I then box them up & hand them out to our cul-de-sac neighbors & a few friends. It has become a yearly tradition & the neighbors have told me at our get-together's that they look so very forward to my "treat box" every year which makes all my hard efforts worth it.

I was unsure whether or not I would have the energy this year - being 35 weeks pregnant - to stand on my feet all day baking but I pressed on thinking this might just be the very last year I am able to enjoy this by myself without a "helper" getting his little hands into everything :) I also couldn't let the neighbors down!
 
So on Friday I carefully selected the menu of what I was going to make/bake & wrote out the grocery list. Saturday I bought all the groceries & on Sunday I spent a good part of the day baking away. 

Millie didn't leave my side all day - wasn't sure if she just wanted to hang with her Mi-Ma or if she was enjoying cleaning up the floor from all the baked goods that "accidentally" fell on the floor :) lol

So this year I made Mint Oreo Truffles, chocolate dipped caramels with walnuts:

Peanut butter cups, English toffee & Salted Nut with Caramel cookies:

And of course Iced Sugar Cookies (my favorite):

I packaged everything up in cute little boxes & delivered the "goods" to all our neighbors this evening. I then came home, proceeded to pour a tall glass of milk, put my feet up & enjoy a few baked goods for myself :) 

Another annual baking day in the books! We will see what next year brings...

35 weeks

35 weeks & around 35 days left to go - What. The. Heck. That just doesn't seem possible. This pregnancy is flying by & it makes me nervous to know that in just a few short weeks Baby T could come at anytime. I still have so much to do - hospital tour, breastfeeding class, birthing class, weekly Dr appts, putting the finishing touches on the nursery, washing all the adorable baby clothes hanging in the closet, going through everything & seeing what else I need, assembling the pack-n-play, the swing, bouncy seat.....ugh it is getting all so overwhelming just writing it all out.

One thing is for sure - Baby T will come whether we are ready or not so I will try not to stress - yeah right!

How far along? 35 weeks - baby has passed the 18 inches mark & should weigh over 5 1/4 lbs

Symptoms: Reflux, noticing lots more Braxton-Hicks contractions, getting super tired in the afternoon which usually requires a nap, hips are starting to ache & the swelling in my ankles usually shows up around mid-day.

Weight gain/loss: will weigh-in at my Dr's appt this week (total of 21 lbs so far)

Maternity clothes? yes - all the time now

Sleep: I have started sleeping with the body pillow my sister gave me every night now which has helped a TON! Still wake up a couple of times a night to go to the bathroom & change positions but sleep has become much better using that pillow!!

Food cravings/aversions: baby carrots with Ranch & cheese/crackers

Movement? I had a little scare last week as Baby T wasn't very active for a couple of days. I had my biophysical & NST exam during that time & the nurse assured me that he is perfectly fine & is just running out of room so I won't feel him move/kick as much. I do my "kick counts" everyday & he always knocks those out within 10 min so he is doing good despite me being a "nervous nelly"! He remains head down & feet up in my ribs!

What I miss: my energy :)

Best moment(s) this week: hitting the 35 week mark & celebrating the Christmas holiday with my hubby

What I'm looking forward to: finishing up the nursery & awaiting Baby T's arrival

Next appointment: Friday, Jan 4th - visit to the OB, weekly biophysical ultrasound & NST check

Milestones: Because he is so snug in your womb, Baby T isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks or rolls should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now & his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

34 weeks - Christmas

34 weeks kind of came & went about as fast as the Christmas holiday did! I unfortunately didn't get a weekly pic nor am I going to write an update as not much has changed from last week so I will just recap how we spent Christmas.

I was on call this past weekend which was my very last stretch of call until I come off of maternity leave in May - woo hoo :) I ended up working all day at the hospital on Christmas Eve, met the hubby after work at Longhorn's Steakhouse for a really nice dinner, came home, was in bed by 9pm & before I knew it the morning had come.

Shane & I had a really low key Christmas which was actually kind of nice. We both talked about how this would be our last Christmas together just the two of us so we made sure to enjoy the time spent together! We both agreed not to exchange presents this year as we had spent quite a bit on nursery furniture, getting ready for Baby T & some household repairs. The furries of course had a few presents under the tree & the bulldogs enjoyed tearing into their presents about as much as a little kid does:

I made the both of us a yummy pancake breakfast & spent the morning being lazy lounging around the house. Later in the day we headed to the movie theater & saw the last of the Twilight series: Breaking Dawn 2. Shane has seen all the Twilight movies with me so it seemed fitting to see the last one together as well. He would never admit it but I think he likes going to "chic-flicks" with me :)

The rest of the day was spent taking a nap, then cooking dinner & catching up on some pre-recorded TV shows on the DVR. It was a wonderful "last" Christmas with just the two of us & am looking forward to how different our Christmas will be next year!

Bravo

Our monthly neighborhood game-night gatherings have become almost non-existent these past few months & instead we have been trying to meet monthly for a dinner outing. 

Earlier this week found us gathering at Bravo! for some yummy Italian food, catching up with all the girls, talking over everyone's Christmas plans, latest travels & planning upcoming get-together's in the New Year.

Always so fun to get together with this group & enjoy the laughs! Looking forward to many more in 2013!

Baby Shower #3

This past Friday I gathered with my nearest & dearest girlfriends at Deb's house for a baby shower, our annual Christmas gift-exchange & a slumber party & it was so much fun!

These are my besties - the ones I went to Vegas & Destin, FL with (minus Deanna & Keri - boo), the girls I have been through thick & thin with & these lovely ladies threw me a baby shower! 

There was a huge spread of food made by all the girls & the dessert plates consisted of Smallcakes cupcakes & chocolate dipped strawberries which were so YUMMY! We spent a good portion of the evening gathered around the island, eating, catching up & while the other ladies enjoyed cocktails, Camille made Jen & I (the 2 PG girls) "mock-tails" :)

 

After we stuffed ourselves silly it was gift opening time:

These girls outdid themselves, spent way too much & spoiled me & Baby T rotten!! They ended up getting me 2 cases of diapers & 2 cases of baby wipes from Costco as well as my car seat & stroller combo which was such a huge surprise! LOVE IT!!

I also got a Snap-n-Go for the car seat which will come in handy that first year as well as a few other cute gifts from these girls! They are the greatest group of girlfriends EVER!! I am so very blessed!

Next we gathered in the parlor for our annual Christmas gift exchange. We each took turns passing out our gifts to each other & checking out what everyone had gotten each other. I was so very excited to give the girls my gift as I knew they would all love them! 

I ended up making everyone a photo book from Shutterfly of our trip to Destin, FL & the girls did indeed love them. We enjoyed reminiscing about all the good times we had on that trip & cracking up about all the fun, crazy stories we shared.

After the gift opening, we all settled in front of the fire, watched a movie & ate more food! It was well after 1am once the movie ended & we all decided to call it a night. Since we knew we were going to be up pretty late, we all packed a bag & spent the night at Deb's which I am glad because I was way too tired to have driven home!

The next morning we awoke to a dee-lish breakfast of egg bake casserole, fruit, english muffins, OJ & coffee. We all filled our bellies, packed our bags, loaded up the SUV with all the gifts & were on our way.

It was such a fun evening spent with such dear girlfriends! Thanks SO much ladies for all the laughs, gifts & the memories :)

33 weeks

Today I had an appointment for my weekly biophysical & NST check of Baby T along with my very last appointment with my favorite OB :( As I mentioned before, my OB is retiring from obstetrics at the end of the month. She is still going to practice GYN so I will be able to see her during my annual PAP's but it's not the same. I really wanted her to deliver Baby T :*(

Baby T was behaving like a rockstar today & passed all his tests - YAY! He is estimated to weigh 4 lbs 12 oz right now, is breathing, moving, & in no distress so far. The US tech pointed out that he has some some super chubby cheeks which you could totally see as well as a lot of hair on his little head. There is an old wives tale that says if you experience a lot of heartburn during your pregnancy, your baby will have a head full of hair. Seems fitting with as much heartburn & reflux as I have been having!!

My pressure remains low, no protein/sugar in the urine & weight gain is right on track. My OB checked my ankles, said they were mildly swollen & to keep an eye on them to make sure they don't get extremely swollen. I need to start checking my blood pressure a couple times during the week just to be on the safe side. 

My last visit with my OB was a bittersweet one. I held it together during our appointment & then I had tears in my eyes when I left - darn hormones. I am really sad she won't be delivering Baby T but I did get to meet my new OB today & I think I am going to really like her so that makes me feel better. I will have my first appointment with her in 2 weeks so I will get a better "feel" for her then.

So all in all, another great appointment! Can't believe we only have around 7 weeks left - someone pinch me!!!

How far along? 33 weeks - baby has passed the 17 inches mark & should weigh over 4 lbs

Symptoms: Heartburn/reflux is pretty much a constant after I eat & lay down to sleep. I get really tired by mid-day & I am waking up in the morning feeling tired - don't think I am sleeping well :( My hands have started to feel tingly & numb on & off this week which has been weird & my ankles have started to swell by the end of the day - hello cankles!

Weight gain/loss: + 2 lb (total of 21 lbs gained so far)

Maternity clothes? yes - all the time now

Sleep: Go to sleep early but wake up to turn over every few hours to get comfortable, awake at 4am & if I am lucky I fall back to sleep.

Food cravings/aversions: been loving cheese & crackers this week! 

Movement? oh yes - all the time! Baby T is head down & feet up - in my ribs! Feels lovely when you get a swift kick to the ribs, let me tell ya!

What I miss: my family as I won't be able to spend Christmas with them up in South Dakota - my OB said no traveling :( 

Best moment(s) this week: Getting the nursery painted, furniture was delivered, bedding is washed & on the crib & the rest of the nursery is about 80% done! Also attended baby shower #3 thrown by my nearest & dearest girlfriends! 

What I'm looking forward to: the Christmas holiday 

Next appointment: Thursday, Dec 27th - weekly biophysical ultrasound & NST check

Milestones: Baby T is rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look & his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move & slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain & other tissue expands during infancy & childhood.

12-12-12

My dear friend Keri invited some of the "game-night girls" over after work for holiday cocktails (water for me) & some snacks to celebrate the holiday season & the unique date of 12.12.12!

Keri loves the Christmas holiday just as much as I do & it definitely showed by how very cute her house was decorated! She never turns down an opportunity to have friends over & show off all her "festive" decor!

 

Thanks so much Miss Keri for a fun evening & for being such a wonderful hostess!

Baby Shower #2

This past Saturday I had the most wonderful baby shower hosted by some of the bestest co-workers ever!! I have worked at the same hospital since 1999 & our department is pretty big. I have known a lot of the people I work with for many years as well as made friendships with many people throughout the rest of the hospital so it was no surprise when I tallied up the guest list to include around 60 people. I have always been amazed at the outpouring love & support I have received through this "work family" for the last 13 years & I know they all wanted to help celebrate & share in this special day "showering" me & Baby T!

My brother's wife Meghan also works at the same hospital & much to my surprise he had decided to come with her to the shower knowing he would probably be the only guy there!

Who loves his sister??

The shower was held in our break room/lounge at the hospital & I couldn't believe how cute the girls had decorated & transformed it! When I first walked in I noticed the cute little favors filled with mints on the tables:

Then I saw the cute banner hanging above the cupcake centerpiece:

And SO much yummy food:

There ended up being about 40 friends/co-workers present & I felt SO overwhelmed that everyone was there for little ol' me & Baby T! 

After we all got our fill of brunch, we played a couple of games:

1) measure Heather's belly with ribbon

2) Guess what kind of chocolate bar is melted in the diaper (kind of gross but I was smelling them & giving my guesses to my brother in hopes he would win but we unfortunately missed one too many :(

Next it was time for the gift opening! My co-workers were SO very generous & in the end I was amazed by all that was given to me & Baby T! 

Some of my favorite gifts include:

1) a little KU step-stool

2) a super soft KU gown with matching hat

3) a cute little train outfit that says "toot toot" on the butt :)

I also got my Snuggabunny cradle-n-swing, LOTS of clothes, bath essentials, a bath tub, diapers, wipes & so many other nice things! SO very spoiled!

After the gift opening, everyone enjoyed cupcakes, more food & then started to say their goodbyes. My brother & his wife were so very kind to haul all the gifts out to my vehicle for me while the last few of us helped clean up & put the break room back together. It was an absolutely wonderful morning shared with so many that I care about!

And these are the lovely ladies who put together this amazing baby shower:

Thank you SO very much ladies for such a wonderful time spent with good friends & making memories to last a lifetime!

Once I got home, Shane helped unload everything & the bullies had to "inspect" each & every bag :) I think they thought it was Christmas!!

32 weeks

How far along? 32 weeks - baby is 17 inches long & weighs almost 4 lbs

Symptoms: Heartburn/reflux, starting to get really tired by mid-day, fatigued & uncomfortable, feel the need to pee all. the. time.

Weight gain/loss: + 1 lb (total of 19 lbs gained so far)

Maternity clothes? yes - all the time now

Sleep: No changes here. Fall asleep easily, toss & turn almost every 2 hours to get comfortable, awake at 4am & if I am lucky I fall back to sleep.

Food cravings/aversions: been enjoying extra sweets this week!

Movement? oh yes - all the time! Baby T is head down & feet up - in my ribs! Feels lovely when you get a swift kick to the ribs, let me tell ya!

What I miss: the usual....cold turkey sandwiches, wine, ice cold beer, sleeping through the night.

Best moment(s) this week: my baby shower thrown by my "work family"

What I'm looking forward to: an evening with dear girlfriends this Friday for my 3rd baby shower

Next appointment: Wed, Dec 12 - weekly biophysical ultrasound & NST check

Milestones: Now is the time where I start gaining about a pound a week & roughly half of that goes right to Baby T. In fact, he'll gain a third to half of his birth weight during the next 7 weeks as he fattens up for survival outside the womb. He has now developed sensitivity to temperature & has toenails, fingernails, & real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). His skin is becoming soft & smooth as he plumps up in preparation for birth.

Good to know: Thanks to their recently matured lungs & a strengthening immune system, over 90% of babies born in their 32nd week survive! Let's hope Baby T doesn't get any ideas - I would much rather he arrive when he is done baking!

31 weeks

How far along? 31 weeks - baby is almost 17 inches long & weighs around 3.5 lbs

Symptoms: Heartburn/reflux, starting to get more tired, fatigued & uncomfortable, feel the need to pee all. the. time.

Weight gain/loss: + 1 lb (total of 18 lbs gained so far)

Maternity clothes? yes - all the time now

Sleep: Is starting to go down hill :( I fall asleep easily but wake up every couple of hours to change positions as I am uncomfortable. I have a feeling it is only going to get worse from here on out.

Food cravings/aversions: the pasta craving is back!!

Movement? oh yes - Baby T is an active little guy! He did a somersault while laying in bed Saturday night which was the weirdest feeling ever & something I hope he doesn't do again anytime soon! He was head down at the time but now I'm pretty sure he is head up & feet down due to the now lovely kicks to my bladder. 

What I miss: the usual....cold turkey sandwiches, wine, ice cold beer, sleeping through the night.

Best moment(s) this week: seeing Baby T on the 3-D ultrasound

What I'm looking forward to: my work baby shower this Saturday

Next appointment: Tuesday, Dec 4th - weekly biophysical ultrasound & NST check

Milestones: Baby T can turn his head from side to side now & his arms, legs, & body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He is sure to be moving quite often now so there may be some trouble sleeping as baby's kicks & somersaults are keeping you up - all signs that Baby T is active & healthy. He is expected to start gaining about a half a pound of weight per week from now until about two weeks before birth.