35 Weeks and 35 Days

Just a month left and so much to do and so little energy to do it.

• How far along? 35 weeks
• Total weight gain? 26lbs
• How big is baby? 5.5 to 6.0lbs, feels more like 20lbs
• Maternity clothes? I hate them, period.
• Stretch marks? No, crosses fingers.
• Sleep? For two hours at a time.
• Best moment this week? This little girl is head down and ready to go.
• Movement? Sometimes it looks like there is an earthquake in my belly.
• Food cravings?Butter beans.
• Labor signs? Braxton Hicks.
• Belly button in or out? Flat
• What I miss? Being able to walk around Publix or Target without thinking about using the hover-round.
• What I'm looking forward to? Having our house professionally cleaned and, of course, meeting my little one.
• Milestone? She is just 2 weeks from full term!

Thank you Southern Savvy!

I got an award! Thank you so much Southern Savvy!


Southern Savvy is a fellow Florida Blogger that just so happens to be expecting a little one as well. If you haven't checked out her blog, please give it a look-see. She is a doll!

This award is for the special bloggers who take the time not only to read my posts, but also leave comments, respond to comments, form blog friendships with and support others, answer blogger questions, etc. . . . the ones who are "a real gem" in the bloggy world! The bloggy world wouldn't be the same without you! The only rule for this award is to accept it, display it proudly on your blog for all the bloggy world to see your greatness, and/or pass it on to other bloggers as you see fit. So, to the following bloggers I say, "you're a gem to me" and here is your award!I'm passing along this blog award to the following gems:

Seaside Smitten

&

Kentucky Mama

32 Weeks

The further along I get, the less I want my picture taken! But, I will try to motivate the hubs to snap one of my round belly. I thought a survey would be nice for today, it's been a month since my last one. So, here we go!

• How far along? 32.1 weeks
• Total weight gain? 23lbs (this unveiling will end soon)
• How big is baby? Over 4lbs! At my appointment yesterday, my doctor said she was measuring a bit big?! What, how could that be?
• Maternity clothes? Oh, how I wish I could wear non-mat clothing.
• Stretch marks? Not yet.
• Sleep? All I can say is it's painful.
• Best moment this week? I love watching my little shark move around my tummy.
• Movement? Busy as a bee!
• Food cravings? Last week it was peanut butter, this week Publix sandwiches and frosted cookies.
• Labor signs? Thank the Lord, no.
• Belly button in or out? It's very, very shallow and it hurts like hell.
• What I miss? Walking for long periods of time with out pelvic pain. Energy.
• What I'm looking forward to? Finishing her nursery.
• Milestone? This little girl is getting chubby, just like her Mama.

9 Weeks to go and my 100th Post!

31 weeks and all I can say is, I tired. Things have been moving a bit slow around here lately. Sunday was our 1 year anniversary. We finally got the cake top out of the freezer. It was less than yummy. However, we did have a lovely dinner a la Texas Cattle Company. Being almost 8 months pregnant slightly hinders what exciting things you can do on your anniversary. Travis picked me a lovely bouquet of flowers and that made my day. I think he has it too easy! Since I hit my 3rd Trimester, all has come to a halt. Little bit's nursery just sits and waits to be polished up. And to think, I ONLY HAVE 9 MORE WEEKS TO COMPLETE MY TO DO'S! I don't even know where to start. Here is just a peek of what we/I need to accomplish before her arrival.

• finish the nursery


• scrub/clean our floors


• dust like I have never dusted before


• eliminate the rickety pie safe in our kitchen


• clean said pie safe and relocate stuff in my tiny kitchen


• install our sparkly new dishwasher***


• find 4 dresses, one of them formal to attend 2 showers and 2 weddings


• clean out my overstuffed car and install the car seat


• pick up E's new rocker at the upholstery shop


• do something with my hair color, I am thinking about going back to my roots


• completely prepare the sweet lady that is covering for me at work


• wash baby clothing


• write a million thank yous


• sleep a bit here and there


• register at the hospital


• um, there are about 100 more things that belong here that I can not even think of

***Believe it or not, but we do not have a dishwasher! I have lived without one for the past three years. It has not been easy. My husband has lived without one for 9 years! As you can probably tell, he is not much for technology. Honestly, I think he would be happy living in a house without AC in Florida! I, on the other hand, would near die without my AC! But, finally my hubby has been convinced, by my male neighbor, none the less, that living with a baby and no dishwasher might be a nightmare. Mind you, I have been telling him this since I moved it. Our neighbor let Travis know how much fun it has been for he and his wife to sterilize bottles without a dishwasher. So, last week I got to pick out my shiny new Bosch! I love it! However, it has yet to even come out of the box. If you could see my 1950's kitchen you would understand why. Hopefully, Travis will have time to install it this weekend.

I wish I had more exciting news for my 100th post, but I don't. Although, to me, the dishwasher was quite a exciting little splurge. I obviously doesn't take much to please me!

28 week update

• How far along? 28.3 weeks
• Total weight gain? 16lbs
• How big is baby? Over 2.5lbs -keep growing little one!
• Maternity clothes? Everything, I mostly wear dresses as usual.
• Stretch marks? No, thank you.
• Sleep? Until about 4 am, then I am awake thinking until 7ish, grr.
• Best moment this week? Making it to my third trimester.
• Movement? Busy baby, she must be taking after her Daddy. However, I would love her to stop kicking me in the cervix. That does not feel good, at all.
• Food cravings? Ice Cream
• Labor signs? I have occasional Braxton Hicks.
• Belly button in or out? Getting Shallow
• What I miss? Beer and Wine
• What I'm looking forward to? Our next childbirth class, we actually enjoyed it.
• Milestone? I assume I passed by 1 hour Glucose test. I took it Tuesday and have not received a call back for a 3 hour.

I will update with a picture as soon as I can get Travis to take one!

How to dress a pumpkin

Or a belly the size of a pumpkin. September, October and November are shaping up to be eventful months for me. I have two weddings, four showers and a few parties in between. However, I tend to dread such events because I have to find something to wear. Have I told y'all how much I despise maternity clothing? It is just the shoddiest stuff I have ever been forced to purchase. And, most of it is just plain ugly. If I had my druthers I would design some quality-made and affordable maternity wear for expectant Mamas. Unfortunately, I don't really have the means to launch a maternity line from my house these days. I, unlike Nicole Richie, don't have loads of capital sitting at my feet. But, I do believe I am am million times more qualified (and talented) than Ms. Richie. I mean $58.00 for stretchy maternity leggings or $118 for a tank dress. My dog is more creative.

Anyway, I have been scouring Nordstrom's sale page for days looking for a couple of comfy-airy dresses and found these. I am happy with these, now I just need about four more!

Whew, just under 100

Days that is! I am officially in double digits and this little girl is growing like a mad woman. I like to say she is rearranging furniture in there (just like her Mama) when she moves a lot. As of late, she has completely redecorated her quarters and made quite a bit more room. I am of course thrilled by this! I do believe that I have finally settled on the arrangement in her nursery. And, trust me this was far from easy. When you have 5 rather large pieces of furniture and a room this is all of 10x12 you have to get creative. I have moved that room around at least five times. But, I think I am finally satisfied. My major concern has been keeping her crib away from the window and accommodating a full sized bed. Our house only has two bed rooms at this point and we are stuffed in it like little sausages. From time to time, we have out of town friends come to stay and we had to keep a place for them. I'm sure little bit won't mind sharing her little room. I am also quite certain that I will sleep in the full sized bed when she comes. I am dead set against keeping the baby in our bedroom. For one, our bed is about a four foot fall if you happen to roll off of it and two, I do not think it is healthy to co-sleep. I have known couples that have done this and regret it. Trust me, I realize that I will want to watch her every move of the night, but I just feel it is better for her if we don't.

In other news, I am so ready for summer to be over I could pop. It is hot a Hades here and it is really starting to wear on me. Of course, summer doesn't really end until around November in Florida, but it does start to cool down in October. When I say cool down, I mean it stays out of the 90's and sometimes dips into the 70's. I am really looking forward to our anniversary as well. Travis lost his ring three months after we got married and was crushed by it. So, I am going to get him another one for our anniversary. He has no idea, but I am sure he will be thankful. We shall see!

Have a wonderful Monday!