3 Month Must Haves

3 Month Must Haves by ebashore featuring Burt's Bees

1. Motorola Video Baby Monitor. Once you begin having your little one sleep in their own room this becomes a must have. We are so grateful that we received this as a baby shower gift. We love the super clear video that this monitor features. It even works good in a dark room. It's reassuring and fun to watch!

2. Fisher-Price My Little SnugaBunny Cradle 'n Swing. We set the swing up when Akayla was first born. Surprisingly she almost always cried when we put her in it. I'm glad we didn't give up on it though because once she hit about 2 months old she absolutely loved it! She would nap in the swing and could literally sit in it, content as can be, for over an hour. Again this was another shower gift we were thankful to have received. It truly provided tons of entertainment and still does!

3. Smart Noggin' Rattle. I stumbled upon this rattle at my favorite toy store in San Diego. It's been ranked a top toy and I can see why. This rattle has it all...perfect size for an infant, fun colors, textures and shapes and...the best part...it has a mirror on one end and lights on the other. This was the first rattle Akayla held.

4. Burt's Bees Baby Bee Multipurpose Ointment. This has become my favorite Burt Bee's product. I use this as a daily ointment after diaper changes and on other dry skin spots. The ingredients are 100% natural and includes coconut oil, beeswax and shea butter. It also has a great, light scent. I totally recommend this product!

5. Infantino Baby Girl Animals - Twist & Fold Gym. This play mat has provided Akayla with hours of entertainment. We swap out the toys and move the mirror around and our sweet baby girl just can't get enough of it. She loves tummy time on this mat and began rolling over on it. Another plus is that it folds up and is super light weight...which makes it great for travel.

6. Night Light. Regardless of what kind you get, a nightlight is a must have when you have an infant.

7. Fisher-Price My Little Snugabunny Bouncer. We started using this when Akayla was a newborn and still use it to this day. As a newborn she would take naps in this and it now provides a safe, secure place for her to sit and watch as I get ready for work. It is battery operated but the batteries have lasted a surprisingly long time. She love the seat vibrations and mobile.

What were your baby must haves? Any special recommendations for the 4-6 month age range?

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4 Months...

Here is our sweet little Akayla at 4 months old...

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Akayla's First Halloween

We had such a fun time celebrating Halloween this year. I think I lost some of the thrill for Halloween when I was about 12 or 13 years old but I can honestly say that Akayla has given me a new found excitement to celebrate holidays. Even though we didn't take Akayla trick or treating, I did want to dress her up so she could help me give out candy.

We dressed up as...drum roll please...late 80's/early 90's workout/aerobic gals.

We had a great, and memorable, first Halloween with Akayla.

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3 months...

I can't believe how fast the past month went...Akayla is already 3 and a half months old. Here is her three month picture and a few tidbits...

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An Extra Day of Halloween Fun...

Well...I can't believe it...we get an extra day of Halloween. Yes, here in the Indianapolis 'burbs and surrounding areas, trick or treating will happen on November 1st! A late fall storm has caused a ton of rain and wind and, because of this, they are postponing trick or treating.

While driving to the store today I thought to myself...gosh if Akayla was of age to trick or treat I think I would somehow convince her to stay at home and help pass out candy. In return for forfeiting her night of treats, I would promise her all of the leftover candy that didn't get used (which...on a rainy night...I would have to assume not many kids would be out...so this could result in a boatload of candy!). Do you think she would go for it?? The thought of trick or treating in the rain would really be no fun, would it??

Little did I know at that time, they had already postponed trick or treating in most communities in our area because of the weather. I had no idea they would do such a thing. I definitely think it's best but what do the children think?? Can they stand to wait another day to get their candy fix?? Having grown up in Michigan I am no stranger to bad weather, in fact, I can even remember years when it snowed on Halloween. I honestly can't remember if trick or treating was ever postponed though.

Nevertheless we will enjoy our extra day of Halloween here...

Tomorrow we will be dressed in costume and ready to greet the neighborhood kids. Happy Halloween!

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Breastfeeding Must Haves...

Well...today Akayla is officially three months old! It's crazy how fast the time goes and to see how quickly she is growing. I hope to have her three month picture up this week. We are dealing with our first cold here today...and I use the word cold loosely. I'm not sure what's going on with this little one. When she woke up for her mid-night feeding she began choking and gagging on what seemed to be a post-nasal drip (I too felt the onset of a cold...yuck!) Nevertheless it was an interesting night and morning. As I was getting her dressed she began projectile vomiting. Scary!! I sit here now waiting for the doctor's office to call me back. Thankfully Akayla doesn't have a fever and is now peacefully napping. I decided to finish this post I started two weeks ago on breastfeeding to keep me occupied while I anxiously wait for the phone to ring (Doctor's office doesn't seem to have the urgency I do!).

Since I am a little behind on my posts this month...and since her second month must haves are about the same as the first month, I thought I would do a post on Breastfeeding Must Haves instead.

Breastfeeding Must Haves

1. My Breast Friend Breastfeeding Pillow. I honestly had never heard of this product until it was recommended to me by a few friends when I created my registry. It's similar to the Boppy Pillow, which I also have and use on a regular basis, but is much better for nursing because it is "wearable" and has a velcro strap so you can position the pillow at the perfect height.

2. Breast Milk Storage Bags. If you plan to breastfeed you must get a breast pump. More on that below (#6). These plastic storage bags seem to be the easiest and most convenient way to store milk. I have used the Lansinoh brand and the generic Target brand. They seem to work equally as well so I recommend whatever you can get cheapest. They work in both the refrigerator and freezer. Since I haven't used these bags to actually transport the milk (ie. to daycare), I can't comment on how well they hold up for that yet.

3. Nursing Bras. I was hesitant to buy nursing bras. I really didn't want to spend any more money on pregnancy related clothes. After a trip to Target though before I delivered, I decided to buy two nursing bras. One was this awesome (and super cute!) Gilligan & O'Malley nursing bra. I quickly found that I was going to want, and need, to wear nursing bras on a regular basis. They are so much easier to use then a regular bra when trying to nurse, especially in public. When I first got home from the hospital I wore robes around the house A LOT. It was comfy and, most importantly, made for easy access to breastfeed. But as soon as I wanted to start getting out of the house, and having guests over, I found I needed clothes and bras that would make breastfeeding easier. I went back to Target and bought two more of these bras in different colors because they were so comfortable and reasonably priced.

4. Nursing Cover. In the past I would always see nursing mother's using a blanket for privacy. I always thought that was weird. Thankfully I learned that they make these adorable nursing covers now. Definitely a must have.

5. Button Up Shirts. Similar to #3 above, I really didn't want to spend any more money on pregnancy related clothes but I quickly learned that the "right clothes" can make your nursing experience so much easier. I have bought a number of new non-maternity button up shirts. I figure I will get a lot of use out of them now but can continue to wear them even when I'm done breastfeeding. I also needed some flowy shirts after giving birth to disguise my stomach area. Thankfully there are some really cute button up shirts out there right now and many (denim and plaid) that are really in style.

6. Electric Breast Pump. This, along with everything on my list, are items I feel are must haves. Have woman gotten by without a lot of these items in the past? Yes, I'm sure they have. But I wanted to put together a list of things that can make breastfeeding easier. Things that I was happy to have. A breast pump is one of those things. Best part, most insurance companies cover the cost of the breast pump now. Call your insurance company before you finalize your gift registry (and before you deliver). If they will cover it then you don't need to register for it. My insurance company wouldn't issue it until I delivered and it required me to purchase it through a medical device store/supplier. I didn't get to choose the brand. I was given the Hygeria Q and so far it has been working well. I honestly haven't had to use it regularly yet but will once I get ready to go back to work.

7. Nursing pads. Where do I even start? This is another product that I had heard I would need but I had no idea how much I was actually going to need these and how important finding the right ones can be. Boy was I naive! I started with the Lansinoh disposable pads, which came as a recommendation from a fellow blogger, and I can honestly say I hated them. They were so uncomfortable and made me even more sore. Next I tried the Nuk brand pads that were re-usable. Those were hardly any better. They were so stiff and scratchy. Next I tried Organic Cotton re-usable/washable pads that my mother in law helped me find at Babies R Us. I loved them! They were super soft. I liked them so much I bought two more packs. My only problem with these is that, on a few occasions, they haven't held up and I have leaked through them. Talk about embarrassing! So, while I still use the Organic Cotton pads everyday, I started doing a little online research and read a lot of positive reviews about the Bamboobies brand pads. I decided to order a pair from Amazon. They have worked well and so far prove to be "leak proof" and soft. They, unfortunately, are expensive though so I probably won't be ordering too many more. I will continue to use the Bamboobies and Organic Cotton nursing pads. Another key I learned, and would pass along to other first time mom's, is to make sure you change the pads out regularly. Often times you won't even know you leaked but if you let the pad dry, after being wet, it gets stiff and can cause some serious discomfort. Sorry, probably TMI...but I wish someone had told me this before I had to learn the hard way.

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2 Months...

Here is Akayla's two month picture and fun tidbits.

**Her weight and height were from her appointment on September 20th. The picture was taken a few days late because of our move.

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My Oh My...

Where has the time gone?!?! I can honestly say this has been the craziest 12 weeks of my life. 11 weeks ago today, we were bleesed with the most amazing gift anyone could ask for...a healthy baby. If that wasn't enough...we also listed and sold our condo. For those of you that haven't had the pleasure of selling a home...or have forgotten the joys that come along with listing a property...it is A LOT of work! I don't recommend it when you are 9 months pregnant. We also just moved across the country. Yes...all this in the past 12 weeks! I guess you may understand why it's been almost a month since my last post. I promise to post more pictures soon.

We are in the process of unpacking boxes and trying to get our new home as organized as possible without making ourselves too much at home. We are just renting and hope and plan (fingers crossed!) to buy a home by next spring, after we get more familiar with the area.

If that wasn't enough, I am also on a mad hunt to find daycare since I will be going back to work at the end of November. I had no idea how time consuming this search would be. I am researching, doing more research, calling, touring...this is a job in itself!

We have headed 2,000 miles East...leaving our beloved San Diego (where we spent almost 9 fun filled years!) to make Indianapolis our new home.

Thanks for your patience...please check back again soon. Pin It

1 Month...

Akyala is already 7 weeks old, so I am a little behind on this post but, nevertheless, here is her picture and fun tidbits.

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Akayla's Newborn Pictures

Photos by Megan Leigh Photography

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First Month Must Haves

I can't believe it's been a month since Akayla's arrival. It's been an amazing ride so far! As I reflect on our first month...and life as new parents...and life with a newborn...I thought I would share some of our must haves from the month.

1. Aden and Anais Swaddle blankets. I love these! Swaddle blankets are a must...but I especially love the ones made out of super soft cotton muslin material or bamboo. Aden and Anais is becoming a super popular brand and I see why. They are a great size, lightweight (which is really nice for a summer baby), breathable and comfy. I also recommend the similar styles made by Swaddle Designs and Chick Pea.

2. Avent Soothie Pacifiers. First, I must say, as a first time parent I had no idea you have to boil new pacifiers. So glad my mother in law was here to tell me because I honestly didn't take the time to read or even realize that there were instructions on the package. Second, I will admit that I gave into a pacifier sooner than I had hoped and planned. I had read, and was also told during a parenting class, that you should wait 4 weeks to introduce a pacifier to a new born. I believe the intentions are to ensure there is no nipple confusion and to make sure your baby has fully mastered breastfeeding before offering a pacifier. Needless to say, whether it was or wasn't the right thing to do...I offered Akayla a pacifier at about 10 days old after getting the all clear from her Pediatrician. While she doesn't use one regularly, or need one to fall asleep, they have come in handy. She is showing preference to the Avent Soothie brand over the others she has, even though I personally think they are the ugliest thing (not cute for pictures either!).

3. Lansinoh HPA Lanolin. For all breastfeeding mothers...this is a must!!! It was recommended to me by many experienced mothers and boy am I SO GLAD I had it on hand from the very beginning. This product soothes and protects...truly provides the much needed relief you'll need.

4. Britax Car Seat and Stroller. So it's no surprise that every new parent needs a car seat. These days the hospital won't let you leave without one. We chose Britax for both the car seat and stroller and, so far, are very happy with both products.

5. Fisher Price Rock 'N Play Sleeper. We decided to try this product instead of a true bassinet. Every baby needs a place to sleep and this product has worked well for us so far. It is lightweight and portable so you can easily move it from one room to another. This is why I like this product so much...especially for a newborn. We move it to the living room for naps, outside when we are eating on the patio and back to the bedroom at night.

6. Mommy's Bliss Gripe Water. Mr. heard about this product a few weeks before Akayla was born and purchased a bottle. We heard even more about it at as it came highly recommended at our parenting/baby basics class. Mommy’s Bliss® Gripe Water is a safe and effective all natural herbal supplement used to ease gas and stomach discomfort often associated with colic, hiccups and teething. Akayla has been more receptive to this product vs. gas drops. As a baby that gets the hiccups multiple times each day and has had a few bouts of gas, this product has really come in handy.

7. Pampers Diapers. This is the obvious one...every baby needs diapers! We decided to use Pampers Swaddles first and they have worked out well for us. I just recently decided to purchase Earth's Best Diapers instead to try and may even consider cloth diapers but I can highly recommend Pampers.

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Bringing Home Baby...

It was so exciting to bring baby Akayla home. While we were happy to have stayed a second night in the hospital, we were more than ready to leave on Tuesday morning, July 30th.

First time in the car seat

Sleepy girl in the car on the way home

All tuckered out from the eventful day

We were welcomed with a number of wonderful gifts, including these beautiful flower arrangements. Thank you for all of the love, support, and well wishes!

I also want to take a minute to say thank you to all of the staff at Mary Birch Hospital for making my stay so pleasant. I feel blessed to have received some of the best care from their amazing doctors and nurses. Pin It

Welcome Little One...

It's officially our due date..August 3rd (well...actually...since I didn't get this completed yesterday as planned it's technically the 4th and one day past our due date). As much as I had planned that this day would come and go...all while impatiently waiting for baby girl to arrive...I am thrilled to say we got to spend the day with the newest member of our family.

Akayla Joy arrived on Sunday, July 28th at 11:37am...6 days early. She weighed 7lb 8oz and was 20.5 inches long.

Here are how things unfolded...

Friday, July 26th: Had my weekly doctors appt. My doctor, who I must say has been absolutely amazing, did an exam and confirmed that my cervix was still closed and I wasn't dilated. I wasn't disappointed by this news...we still another 8 days until my due date and I think the statistics say that most first time moms are late. I mentally had already begun preparing myself that I wouldn't deliver by my due date. I did, however, have an agreement with my doctor not to go past August 9th.

Saturday, July 27th: After a rather long and unusual night. I think I had gotten up at least 5 times to go to the bathroom and each time I woke up I noticed cramps that were getting progressively worse. I didn't think to much of it until I woke at 5:30am. I thought to myself...is this the start of something?? Could this possibly be it?? For the past month, I had been telling Mr. every time I felt something "new" or "different" which, on multiple occasions, resulted in me saying to him "this might be it!". Most times he wouldn't believe me or would say "this baby isn't coming anytime soon...she's going to be late...probably will be the 9th".

Once I got downstairs I started thinking of all the things I needed to get done...I'm not sure if this is considered nesting or a last minute scramble. My bags were half packed...I had some things together but not everything. I needed to wash baby clothes..especially baby's coming home outfit. My mother in law was coming into town from out of state in the evening. In my mind, and in recent discussions with her, we had talked about all the things we would do together before the baby arrived. I would officially be on leave from work and looked forward to having her here to help me finish getting the baby things together...washing the baby clothes and getting the house ready. Her flight had been booked months ago...and now I began to think she may get here just in time for the birth. I spent the morning doing laundry and packing the hospital bags. As much as I wanted to run in and tell Mr. that I thought it WAS REALLY HAPPENING, I knew he was going to need his sleep. When he finally got up I told him...and of course, he had a lot of doubt. It didn't take too long for him to see that it really was looking like labor. I probably over did it a little during our time at home but I just couldn't sit still. I was full of emotions...excited, scared, nervous, anxious. Finally, after tracking and timing the contractions for a few hours Mr. called the nurse line at the hospital. They told us to wait until the labor pains were intense and less than 5 minutes apart.

I must admit, I am a baby when it comes to pain. My pain tolerance is low...very low. So we waited...and waited at home as long as I could. At 3:30pm I told Mr. I was ready. We really didn't want to get the hospital and be told we needed to leave and come back but at this point I was ready to take that risk just to get there. The car ride seemed long and uncomfortable. While I would love to share the highs and lows of the whole labor I don't want to cross the line of sharing TMI so I will keep it simple...we were admitted and after a LOOONNNNGGGG sleepless night with little progress I finally had little baby girl at 11:37am...just over 30 hours of labor. While the labor and delivery did not come easy I can say it was all so worth it...and truly the best day of my life.

Mr. with his bundle of joy

My mother-in-law (aka Yaya) who arrived in plenty of time for the arrival

Enjoying every minute with the newest (and most beautiful!) member of our family

On a side note, I must apologize that we didn't get to take one final maternity/belly picture before she arrived. We had planned to take a 39 week picture on Saturday or Sunday (but, of course, because I went into labor we didn't get a chance to).

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37 Weeks...

How far along? 37 weeks

Date picture was taken: Sunday, July 14th

Total weight gain/loss: I think I was up another 2-3 lbs at my appt on July 11th but I am so done looking at the scale...I didn't have the heart to ask what my weight was the last time I was there.

Maternity clothes? Yes, but most of those aren't very comfy anyone. I look forward to being off work so I don't have to worry about what I wear anymore.

Stretch marks? Thank goodness still none...I hope I can make it these next few weeks without any.

Sleep: Not too bad...Thank you Danielle for suggesting I get a body pillow! It's been a life saver the past few weeks.

Best moment this week: Well...I guess I would have to say the best moment of the week was going on the hospital tour last weekend.

Miss Anything? Yes, my wardrobe and cute shoes! I look forward to buying some new "non maternity" clothes as soon as I can.

Movement: Yes, she's been putting a lot of pressure on my bladder and also kicking by ribs still.

Food cravings: Cereal and milk

Anything making you queasy or sick: No, although I did feel a little nausea this past week but it quickly passed. I'm not sure what caused it.

Have you started to show yet: Yes, yes, yes of course.

Gender: Girl

Labor Signs: Nothing major...a little more pressure and I continue to have Braxton Hick's.

Belly Button in or out? I guess it's out but it basically looks flat.

Wedding rings on or off? Officially off. I've been able to wear the beautiful heirloom ring that my grandmother gave me in it's place though. :)

Feeling: Emotional and anxious

Looking forward to: The big day! Now that baby is full term...I am ready!

Next Appt: July 22nd

Baby is the Size of a: Winter melon...although I have no idea what a winter melon is.

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35 Weeks...

How far along? 35 weeks...and boy is it crazy to think we only have 5 weeks left. I had hoped to post a picture at 34 weeks but have been so busy!

Date picture was taken: Sunday, June 30th

Total weight gain/loss: I didn't gain any additional weight at my June 12th appt! I was up about 2.5 lbs at my Doctor's appt on June 28th.

Maternity clothes? Of course and unfortunately some of those barely fit anymore.

Stretch marks? I'm still good...but my stomach starting itching last week...I hope that isn't a sign that stretch marks are in the future.

Sleep: Last week bad...this week better thanks to my new heartburn medicine. Seriously...life is better!

Best moment this week: Since I am a little late getting this posted these are my best moments of the past few weeks. Getting the "projects" done around the house. New carpet and paint...and a few other minor updates. I also had my work shower on June 14th. That was a blast!

Miss Anything? Being able to get comfortable

Movement: Yes, more movement at night than during the day now...I think she is starting to run out of room though...the movements aren't as frequent as they were a few weeks ago. She gets the hiccups almost every day too.

Food cravings: Lemon cake and chocolate milk...not together of course.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not really...if I eat too much I sometimes feel a little sick though.

Have you started to show yet: Do I really need to answer this question at this point :)

Gender: Girl

Labor Signs: No, other than the occasional Braxton Hick's but those typically don't last too long.

Belly Button in or out? Still flat...I don't know if mine will become a full "outie".

Wedding rings on or off? On, most of the time...until this week. My fingers have been too swollen the past two days to get my ring on.

Feeling: Moody! I must give Mr. the most credit. I've been a real grouchy grouch and bossy boss the past few weeks. I feel awful that I've been acting like this. I've also been a little short with others...I apologize!

Looking forward to: Meeting this baby! I am anxious, excited, nervous and just so ready for the big day!

Next Appt: July 11th...we have an ultrasound at this appt too...definitely looking forward to that.

Baby is the Size of a: Coconut

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Mary Birth Hospital

Since telling friends and family that I am pregnant, I've had a few people ask me where I will be delivering the baby. I decided it would be fun to do a short post about the hospital. To be honest, I haven't been to the hospital yet, although I know a number of moms that have delivered here. We will be attending our childbirth prep classes in early July so we will get a tour and become familiar with the hospital then.

According to there website, www.sharp.com/mary-birch, more than 8,400 babies are born at Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns each year, more than any other hospital in California. Located in San Diego, Sharp Mary Birch is nationally recognized for its care of expectant mothers and for delivering babies, as well as for its level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Here are a few pictures:   

 

The hospital is about 12 miles south of our house...and is almost straight highway.

   
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It's crazy to think we'll be here soon...less than 7 weeks to go now! Pin It

32 Weeks...

How far along? 32 weeks

Date picture was taken: Sunday, June 9th

Total weight gain/loss: Only 1 lb gained at my appt on May 30th. Yay!

Maternity clothes? Yes but unfortunately those aren't even working out so well these days. Getting dressed has now become the worst part of my day. It's very difficult at this point to find anything that looks flattering.

Stretch marks? I'm still good...

Sleep: Is getting a little more tricky. I am so tired that I literally fall asleep the second my head hits the pillow but when I wake up to the go to the bathroom...anytime between midnight and 3am...I can't seem to fall back asleep. It's almost as though I have insomnia...it doesn't help that I really cannot get comfortable most nights either.

Best moment this week: Finally getting the nursery bedding...so exciting to finally get to see it in person.

Miss Anything?Being able to get comfortable.

Movement: Tons! And unfortunately in the past two weeks she continuously has her foot in my ribs...it makes for a very unpleasant pain on my right side...

Food cravings: Donuts...boy do I miss Max's Donuts...anyone from my home town knows about this place! I'm also having cravings for pita and hummus and, as usual, burgers!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Well...the heartburn and sour stomach sometimes make me feel a little sick.

Have you started to show yet: Of course...there is no hiding this stomach!

Gender: Girl

Labor Signs: No

Belly Button in or out? Flat and a little sore...is that normal?!?

Wedding rings on or off? On but I have had a tiny bit of swelling in my hands and feet and noticed my rings were a little snug a few times this week.

Feeling: Tired. I also think I had a growth spurt this week...which resulted in a sore stomach and other strange pains and overall discomfort.

Looking forward to: Next doctors appt on June 12th and my work shower!

Next Appt: June 12th

Baby is the Size of a: Squash

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Shower Time

I'm sorry it's taken me a few weeks to actually get this post published. I had tons of pictures to sort through from my trip and had such a hard time deciding which ones to post on the blog. Most of the pictures are of friends and family and since I haven't asked anyone if they give me permission to post them on the blog, I've decided I shouldn't post any of those. To my friends and family, please email me or add a comment if you would like me to send you more pictures. :)

While I was home I had such a great time with family...I was able to see my niece's pre-school graduation...I got to see where my sister-in-law works (which is also where my oldest niece goes to school...it was so exciting to see her classroom)...and I also saw my 10 month old niece that I've only met once before this. I also got to see my mom who graciously flew back to Michigan from Africa...Lesotho to be exact...where she currently serves in the Peace Corp. Since I am only able to get back to Michigan about once a year I enjoy every minute I get to spend with my friends and family. I miss them all so much!

Here are pictures from the shower Mr's family hosted for me on Saturday:

Mr.'s family put so much thought into all of the details...the beautiful cake was made by a family friend...we used elegant china...had a tea station...and lots of other cute decorations and yummy food.

I must also give Casey credit for taking some of these pictures. She is so talented. Thank you girl!!

           


Here are a few pictures from the shower my dad's family hosted for me on Sunday:

 

Aren't the decorations so cute?!?! We had great food, yummy cake and a beautiful view at my aunt's house.

Three generations...soon to be four :)

Worlds biggest thank you to all who could attend and for all of the amazing, thoughtful gifts! I have never felt so blessed & thankful in my entire life... I can't wait for little baby girl to get lots of use out of all the goodies we received! We must also give our families a huge thank you for hosting two of the most amazing baby showers! I know a lot of thought and time went into each of them and I really can't say thank you enough for making them both so memorable and special for me.

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And the Winner is...

When thinking about this post, I had thought I would title this "But I never win anything...". After thinking a bit more I realize that I have won contests...and prizes...in the past.

When I was about thirteen or fourteen I won a contest through a teen magazine. I would have to ask my mom if she can remember the details more clearly but I believe this is how it played out:

• I entered a random contest through a teen magazine.
• I got a call weeks, possibly months, later from a women saying that I had won the Wild America contest. Apparently Wild America was a Jonathan Taylor Thomas movie...at that time he was my TV crush...although I don't think I actually ever saw the movie. When she called, she didn't tell me what I had won. She just needed to verify my address. 
• I should have thought to ask her what I had won. I believe I was able to dig up the magazine and learned that the grand prize was a trip to Canada. I was really excited! 
• A few weeks later a package arrived. I opened it eagerly and was quickly disappointed to learn that I hadn't won the grand prize. It must have been third prize or some other random consolation prize because it was a Caboodle and a Wild America poster. What a disappointment! 

More recently I won a wonderful prize. In 2006, during Mr's first deployment in the Navy, they raffled off a few "First Kisses". This was a great prize...it meant your spouse/significant other would be the first one off the ship when they returned home from a 6+ month deployment. You also got to be escorted on the pier to greet them and give the "first" kisses. They typically show the "first kisses" on the local news. It also really saves a lot of time because the ship has over 1,500 people...it can take awhile to wait for everyone to come off and it's time consuming searching for your spouse in a mass of people that are all dressed the same.

This "first kiss" raffle was done at one of the monthly wives meeting. I didn't attend these meetings regularly but I had heard they would be raffling off a "first kiss" so I made sure to attend. You had to purchase the raffles tickets...but I didn't mind. After buying roughly $20 worth of raffle tickets I thought I might have a good chance because there weren't more than 30-40 people there. At the end of the meeting they drew the winning raffle ticket and it was mine! I was so excited and so was Mr.

So onward to the real reason for this post. I am excited to report that I have won another raffle! This was through a local boutique called Baby Vie. They have some really cute women's and baby clothes and accessories and they are literally right across the street from my house so I make frequent stops to browse. I started following this store on Facebook to see when they would have sales. I saw a post saying they were conducting a raffle of a few items as a way to solicit clothing donations for a local shelter. I had a few items in the closet that I was willing to donate so I decided to drop them off, knowing that it was a good cause. A few days later I got an email saying I had won a Blue Petunia Pickle Bottom Cake diaper bag!

I couldn't believe it. I actually already have an amazing diaper bag that I received as a gift from my girl friend Rebecca...Thank you girl!...so I'm not in need of a diaper bag but it was still exciting to win. I now have two gorgeous diaper bags...what more could a mom-to-be ask for?!?!

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30 Weeks...

How far along? 30 weeks...only 10 weeks to go!

Date picture was taken: Monday, May 27th.

Total weight gain/loss: I'm up another 4lbs as of my May 15th appt.

Maternity clothes? Yes, but even some of those are starting to feel a little snug and unflattering. Some of the maternity jeans are getting tight and the cute, flowy shirts have lost there shape and, as Mr. says, they look like I am wearing a big bag.

Stretch marks? No, thank goodness but they have been on my mind lately. I think if I am going to get them, they will likely happen during this last home stretch. I feel a little better knowing that my mom didn't get them when she was pregnant...so glad I asked her last week...it keeps me hopeful. Fingers crossed!

Sleep: Getting a little more challenging. Not only am I getting up more often, I'm having a hard time getting comfortable most nights. Once I wake up, it's hard to fall back asleep. Baby is also quite active at night which adds to the challenge...especially now that her kicks and movements are getting stronger.

Best moment this week: Spending time with Mr. We had fun last weekend. I'm enjoying the time we can spend together, just the two of us, before the baby comes.

Miss Anything? Well...we had a wedding last weekend...with an open bar...

Movement: Yes! I find it fun to watch my stomach...the movements are becoming more visible and are pretty amazing.

Food cravings: Sweets still but as I get close to my "recommended" total weight gain (and still have 10 weeks to go!), I am trying to cut back a little.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Actually...a little queasy this week a few times...not sure why...maybe the headaches.

Have you started to show yet: Yes and really starting to feel "big".

Gender: Girl

Labor Signs: No

Belly Button in or out? Flat

Wedding rings on or off? On

Feeling: After feeling great for the past few months...which I am very thankful for...I've noticed a change this week. I'm feeling more tired and had a HORRIBLE headache a few days and nights this week. I just feel off...like I am running out of gas. I guess this is my body's way of telling me to slow down. I hear it's very likely that I will feel this way for the remainder of the pregnancy.

Looking forward to: Next doctors appt on May 30th...and getting the nursery done. Paint and carpet have been picked and will be done soon.

Next Appt: May 30th

Baby is the Size of a: Cabbage

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