The Bump {9} - Recap: 24-28 weeks

This month has been all of the bump. I have gained pound after pound and this little bump just keeps getting bigger and bigger. I have to constantly remind myself that I am short with a very short torso so where else does this little baby have to go but out...That doesn't stop me from the occasional meltdown with Gspice. I tearfully bombard him with "I'm so huge!" and "I can't possibly make it three more months!" and he just gently reminds me that "Everything is perfectly fine" and "You aren't actually that big" with a big hug and kiss while he wipes away my ridiculous tears. Seriously, what would I do without him? I'm such an emotional and crazy pregnant person! The cutest thing he's done this month? On a day that I was especially crabby and not feeling well, Gary sent me an email like usual (asking about work, how my day is going, how was Peach, etc) but ended it with "PS: you looked really pretty this morning." He's so sweet :)

Besides all my emotional hot mess tendencies, this past month has been super fascinating too. For one, Mini Mr. has become increasingly active. I didn't start feeling his kicks and punches as early as I would have liked, but I am so happy we can feel them now. It is a constant reminder that he's doing okay and Mommy doesn't need to worry so much.  Gary felt his kicks for the very first time at 25 weeks, 1 day. His expression was priceless - a look of shock, wonder, excitement. Such a sweet moment! I had been feeling them for awhile before that but I still get a kick out of watching my bump jump with his drop kicks and right hooks. It's pretty cool! I plan to start officially counting his kicks at 28 weeks to make sure he's still on track.

One thing I can tell from where his kicks and punches are landing is Mini Mr.'s position. My guess is that his head is down on my left side with his feet up near my right rib. It seems that is his favorite spot because all pain I have is always on my left side. My mid-upper back on my left side, my left leg will tighten much more quickly than the right, my left lower back, etc. I also had my first experience with rib pain on my left side. It just ached and ached! I'm guessing that he moved positions because on that day, I felt kicks on my upper left side. Crazy dude.

One thing I definitely notice nowadays is that I can't sit for too long. The moment I stand up after a longer sitting session (at my computer desk, on the couch, etc), it hurts terribly to walk! It's like I got punched in the you-know-what-region.

As far as non-bump-related news goes, I officially started my new job at Luther on Monday. However, that meant that all my other jobs had to go. I'm very happy that I will have one "normal" job rather than three part-time jobs but the three I had were good to me. I was able to do things I enjoyed, make money and still have somewhat of a life. However, it was hard not having a specific schedule and not being home a lot. And when I was home, I was always tired and completely unmotivated to do anything. That being said, I am definitely going to miss everyone I've worked with over the past couple of years.

Now that we'll both have a normal schedule, I am soooooooooo excited to start menu planning and getting a routine down before baby arrives. I know that he'll be all-but-routine, this is something I've been wanting to do forever. Little Mr. will get older and become part of our routine too and I'm just excited that we'll be able to be together as a family every night and on weekends.

And what everyone has probably been waiting for...................BUMP PHOTOS! Here's the latest installment. Like I said, my bump keeps getting bigger and bigger!

The Bump {8} - Prego & Eggo Project List - AUGUST

I am sooooo glad I made all these to-do lists. I feel so much less anxious and nervous about getting everything done because there's a plan. I know that not everything will fall in to place as easily as I might expect it to, but who cares when you have a plan? I'm pregnant, already feeling huge at only 6.5 months but NOT feeling a ton of mental pressure...THAT'S what makes it worth it.

Gspice had an awesome suggestion for the Prego Project list that sent me in to a serious fit of giggles. He mentioned on a whim that it needs to be titled "Prego & Eggo Project List" so that is what it has become. You know, Gary, that just means you need to help out more - thanks for being so willing! ;-)

As far as the actual to-do lists, I thought July flew by. My oh my, August is going by even more quickly! We finished just about everything for July so that really helped but it seems that a lot of larger tasks were set for August. I've managed to not totally freak out and work on things bit by bit.

I did promise a little update which really isn't much. I added art to the ledges my dad and bro-in-law put up for us last month using the idea of LOVE.

1. Do what you LOVE what you do.
2. My heart lives in Decorah :)
3. Love you [Gspice]

I also managed to put up some of these to-do lists in a cute way :)

August to-do list sampling:

• Still finish Dining Room decor - at least everything but the nails have been purchased!
• Hang up pictures/art in Living Room - the rest of the decor will be purchased in September when we can actually make it to IKEA
• Measure Little Man's room - boy is it going tight!
• Assemble crib and changing table
• Budget - using new avalanche attack method :)
• Photobook 2012 - Finish November
• Blog posts
• Weekly photos
• Deep cleaning
• Extra room - happy to report that I am working on it hardcore!
• Garage 
• Door Decor - Back to School 
• Events!
• Adventureland! - August 3-4
• Friend party - August 10
• Relative B-day party - August 17
• Mary Kay party - August 18
• Farewell party :( - August 20
• Prego Class w/ Gspice - August 24
• Start new job! - August 26

PLUS so much more. Yeah, like I said, August is flying by with tons to do!!

Door Decor Craft Time {5} - Back to School!

Going back to school was ALWAYS something I looked forward to. I loved buying new supplies and having everything be fresh and clean. I loved getting back to a routine and yes, I even loved having homework again.

Go ahead and say it - I was a nerd.

Needless to say, this door decor has been on my radar for awhile. This particular decor, no. I actually had something else in mind but that'll come another time. I decided to go with something a little cuter and so much easier than my original plan and boy that made my day. From start to finish, it probably took only 30 minutes. Craft time in an half hour? Yes, please!

 This may even be my most favorite door decor to date!


Supplies:
* 1 large quilt hoop
* 1 small quilt hoop
* 2 packs of crayons
* ribbon
* glue gun/glue sticks

How-to:
1. Line up the quilt hoops so the small hoop is in the middle of the large hoop.
2. Lay out your crayons in the order you want them placed.
3. For each crayon, place one spot of glue on the small hoop and one on the large hoop. Then place crayon.
4. Have all crayon bottoms touch and leave space near the tips. This will create a little sunburst.
5. Leave room for a ribbon so you can hang it up.

 

Done!

The Bump {7} - Recap: 20-24 weeks

This has been the most exciting part of the pregnancy with Mini Mr. so far. I can't really believe that we're already over half way through! The nesting stage has come in full swing so good thing I have some energy and motivation.

However, my growing belly has sure made it difficult to sleep though the night 80% of the time. I sleep, but not that wonderful and glorious deep sleep that I love so much. One night during week 21, I went to sleep at 9ish and woke up at 11:30 to go to the bathroom. There's about a 40% chance of fully waking up when I need to use the commode so I do everything possible to keep that from happening (ie: keep all lights off, keep eyes shut, leave the tp where I can easily reach it, assume Peach is sitting right next to me so noise won't freak me out, etc) Well, on this particular night, I did all of these things and still fully woke up. Unfortunately, I was then fully awake for the next four hours. Awesome. Welcome to parenthood, Vanessa! Good thing Gspice likes waking up multiple times a night ;-)

I've also started experiencing heartburn (lucky me!) so this isn't helping me sleep very well, especially if I make the wise choice of eating something right before I lay down... During week 22, that's exactly what I did. I made the smart decision to down a little piece of brownie right before bed and not a few hours later, I awoke with terrible heartburn. Though super tired, I went downstairs, sat up on the couch for the next hour and watched one of the many shows I always have saved. I was able to sleep after that hour with no heartburn :) However, you'd think I'd learn after that.....TOTALLY not the case. I'm not sure when it happened, but one night I woke up with the most horrible thing possible to wake up to - acid reflux. Holy cow, I am soooo sorry for anyone who has that problem on a normal basis. I thought I was going to die. I went downstairs to Gary who was still awake and had a complete meltdown. We broke out the tums for the first time and thankfully the most horrible feeling in the world went away soon after.

On to more fun parts of the pregnancy - my growing baby bump! It is equally super fun and super freaky. My poor belly button. I feel like it's already stretched as far as it should probably be stretched. I'm just trying not to look at it too much... We've started taking weekly photos which has been fun. Not much of a change yet between weeks but definitely a bump!

Little Mini Mr. has started to hiccup and kick occasionally which is so darn cool. It still feels a little like butterflies but more and more I can definitely tell he's getting a little fiesty when my stomach will move with each of his kicks. He is such a busy body!  He's also stubborn, just like his daddy and me. Every time I have tried to have Gary feel the kicks, Mini Mr. won't move a teeny muscle. Little turd!

The absolute best part of the past few weeks was our 20 week ultrasound on July 5. Gary and I made a nice trip out of this. We scheduled the ultrasound for this particular date since we both had July 4 off as well. We booked a room in Rochester, shopped for more maternity clothes, looked at nursery furniture and went out for a lovely, but super filling Italian meal. To cap off the night, we took to the park to watch fireworks. Best part was definitely seeing a tree light up after being biffed with a forceful fireball of a firework. Don't worry, it was over as quickly as it began and no one was hurt. Everyone around us, including my silly husband, thought it was hilarious. Later that night, we watched several episodes of Chopped and I inevitably cried multiple times out of nerves. This was the ultrasound we've been waiting for - the one that would confirm many things. I was afraid that all my positivity would come crashing down. Gary was such a sweetheart and helped me calm down but my nerves were present all night and in to the morning as well. Obviously so, because as soon as we walked in to the ultrasound room, I burst in to the tears. Oh to be pregnant and completely freaked out. The sonographer let me compose myself and then we got down to business. That is when she said the best words we've ever heard: "Everything looks good, your baby is healthy, the spine looks good, etc) Seriously, the best moments ever. The next best part was hearing that we were having a little boy. He was squirming around, sucking his thumb and showing off like many men do...