Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Pictures from 30 weeks...Almost down to the single digits "left to go"!

One of my college roommates in Ithaca! So good to see her!!

My project at the Corning Museum of Glass

30 weeks!! Only "10" to go!

Field Trip Outfit:)

Part of the work we did last weekend...

Our apartment back to normal!!

30 weeks...sorry I'm late...

How's momma feeling: I had a great week! This cool weather is AMAZING! A couple people were talking about how we haven't had summer weather, and I told them they aren't pregnant:). I'm finding that being on my feet for long periods of time puts stress on my lower back, so I just have to sit periodically and be smart not to push myself. I'm grateful for a job where I'm up and down all day, so it's a good balance!!
Size of baby: Baby Girl Cully weighs about 3 pounds and is around 15.5 inches long!! She still doesn't feel heavy yet (I know; I'm sure it's coming). She is still getting chubbier!! She looks like she will at birth but just on a smaller scale...I can't wait to see what she looks like!!

Cravings: Pepperoni pizza...don't worry...I got some!! Also, my mom introduced me to key lime Greek yogurt - YUM!!! I wouldn't say I craved it, but I definitely enjoyed one (or two or five) while they were here!
Aversions
: Nothing this week. (this is a good one to not have an answer for!)
Sleep: Back to sleeping well!! It could have been that I was more tired from family being here (movies, chatting, shopping, cooking, etc.) or just that I found the right pillow to put in between my legs while sleeping, but either way, I've slept soundly. I still get up occasionally to go to the bathroom, but I think that's more from drinking too much before bed as opposed to just being pregnant:).
Exercise: Made it to Zumba this week and had energy and was able to do just fine still! I am so grateful for this! It's kind of my personal test of how well I'm doing:). We had a substitute teacher, and I really enjoyed her class.
I also had the privilege of entertaining my mom and brother doing Rockin' Body DVD's while they watched and critiqued the people in the video...haha!
Looking forward to: Maternity pictures this weekend! A dear friend of ours from church is going to take them for us! Can't wait!
Something fun: My mom and brother came to visit this week! They arrived Wednesday afternoon. Wednesday night mom treated us to an anniversary dinner at a local diner we've been wanting to try for awhile now. It was yummy! Thursday I took off work, and we baked cinnamon rolls to freeze for after baby, made a grocery list (Mom came to fill up our freezer with meals for after baby!!), had an OB appointment, went to a few stores, and met up with one of my roommates from college (she and her whole family were in Ithaca that day!!) for ice cream.
It was a FUN day! That night, I also got my pepperoni pizza:). The rest of the story/pictures will come in this week's post.
FYI: I had a field trip at work last Friday, so I wasn't able to post when I normally do. We went to the Corning Museum of Glass. We got to do a little glass project, had a tour, and ate lunch there (that was my favorite part:)).
We got A LOT done last weekend!!! Tom got to go with me to a "mentoring" class that I'm taking so that was special. We got our little apartment put back almost to "normal"and made another pile of things for my mom and brother to take back with them to store until we move (thank you!). It feels good to put things away, organize, and clean out!!
Thank you, Lord, for: Time with family this week! This was my brother's first time to Ithaca, so it was special to introduce him to our home and our town. They were such a big help, and we can't wait to eat my mom's food...after baby, Olivia...after baby! We had a good time at home and out and about. Next time we see them, we'll have a little one...wow! That's a lot to think about!

Friday, August 2, 2013

Pictures for 29 weeks...

Boston, MA

On the Freedom Trail! (see building behind us...kind of)

Paul Revere's house

Mike's Pastry...heard it was awesome! (Got gelato; the pastry line was CRAZY!)

The restaurant we went to in Warwick, RI.

Mystic, CT (great weather both days...got some sun!)

The cool bridge! We watched it go up and down to let boats pass through!

A little museum near a little beach we stopped at.

The ice cream place we stopped at on our way home!

Glad we did?

 Guess whose is whose...
 



Haha! Don't worry...I didn't eat it all! Meat sounded good that night!

Happy 2nd Anniversary! (restaurant in back...our first time there)


28 weeks and 6 days!

Almost 11 weeks to go!

29 weeks!


29 weeks...Definitely into the 3rd trimester!

How's momma feeling: I'm still feeling great, but I was a bit tired this week (we had a couple of early mornings). I spent some time putting away more of baby's things last night - hanging up clothes and such. It was fun! We were at a BBQ last night, and I was meeting new people who were asking how far along I am. When I said I have 11 weeks to go...it was like WOW! We're on the home stretch. Not sure why 11 seems so much less than 12, but it does! I did just fine in Boston this past weekend. I did enjoy stopping to sit every so often or stretching my back. My lower back did start to hurt (but this is not a new thing for me). I walked a bit slower than usual, but I didn't want to overdue it right off the bat. We made it from 11 until about 6 or 7 (I forget:).
Size of baby: She's about 15-17 inches and 2.5 - 3 lbs...about the size of a butternut squash! Her head and body should be in proportion now, her brain can regulate her temperature, and her eyes are more sensitive. I still love to feel and watch her move!

Cravings: Nothing really this week. Still LOOOOVE the smell of stuff grilling!
Aversions
: Nothing really this week. Still DOOOOOOOON'T love the smell of fish (but I like to eat it).
Sleep:  Not as sound this week. I think I've just wanted to sleep on my back, and I've been awake enough to tell myself not to. I think last night I fell asleep propped up on all my pillows, and I did sleep better (did end up on my side). I think I might be getting out my "belly pillow" soon:).
Exercise:
I've had to miss Zumba for the past couple of weeks:(. I miss it! I've been trying to work on more toning this week (sometimes I'd just rather do cardio because I enjoy watching the Food Network or reading:)). Gotta get my body ready for birth! Yay for squats and pelvic tilts! I also have been reading while working out this week and am almost done with one of the books I mentioned in an earlier blog - Kisses From Katie. Lots to chew on, but I've really enjoyed the book.
Looking forward to: My mom and brother are coming to visit next week...we're going to be cooking and baking and putting things in the freezer for when baby comes! Maybe we'll do some cleaning and organizing as well. Can't wait to see them and show my brother Ithaca (this will be his first time here)!
Something fun: Our anniversary weekend was lots of fun! I think we're getting old though because by the end of the day, we were worn out! We got to Boston around 11 and saw the following: Boston Common, the park right next to it with the frog pond (we really enjoyed watching all the kids; they were hilarious), Harvard/Harvard Square, Freedom Train, Quincy Market, lots of street shows, Boston Tea Party Museum (although closed when we got here), the harbor, and I think that's about it. That night we drove to Warwick, RI, and the lady who checked us in at the hotel recommended a great place to eat and a waiter to ask for. It ended up being an AWESOME choice! The food was great; the service was amazing, and the company was even better:). We drove to Mystic, CT the next day - definitely more of our scene...less people, no big buildings, right on the water, lots of boats, lots of cool cars, a neat bridge, etc. We ate at the "famous" Mystic Pizza, walked around Old Mystic Village, checked out the local shops, watched the bridge and boats, and drove to a couple of coastline type areas before heading out. We also stopped for ice cream on the way home. 

On our actual anniversary, we got to have lunch and dinner together! My sweet husband skipped out on a bit of school to meet me for lunch! 
This weekend we'll be catching up at home! Looking forward to it!

FYI: We went on a tour of the hospital last week...forgot to mention that. It was awesome! Our "tour guide" was super friendly, and they just seem like such a supportive birthing unit. They really seem to love what they do. I'm super glad we got to go do that. It just helps. We asked lots of questions, and she gave lots of information. Very productive hour!
We also did a one-night two-on-one birthing class this week. We took away a few tips and tricks and are grateful for the experience. There were lots of visuals which I really enjoyed!! Pictures help! 
Thank you, Lord, for: Your provision. He takes care of us...even when we're leaning towards our doubts. We were reminded of His provision this week in more ways than one, and we are both so grateful!

Friday, July 26, 2013

Pictures from this week...28 weeks!

Painted Pony Rodeo

My good-lookin' cowboy

We had a lot of fun!!



Our favorite cheap date night - a McDonald's 99 cent vanilla cone...
We we got one at like 1:00 in the morning on our way back from the rodeo (I had been napping but definitely woke up for this treat)!
Bull riding!
Our favorite was the bucking bronco part!

At the shower by the lake
This is the lake in our town...isn't it beautiful?

27 weeks and 5 days (that's baby's "closet" behind me) :)

Our OB-GYN - we are down to going 2 times a month now!

Hello, 3rd trimester!!

At the shower...playing the yarn game:).
This is the dress I mentioned in last week's blog...isn't it SUPER cute?
Yay for outlet protectors! Hadn't thought that far ahead yet...glad someone did!!

The student who got this didn't even know we are doing a cow-theme "nursery". He just went with the "animal" theme. Good work!! Isn't it cute?

28 weeks!!

28 weeks...HELLO 3rd TRIMESTER!

How's momma feeling: The weather has cooled down this week, and it's been wonderful! I'm feeling great! I can still bend over (sometimes it takes me a couple "swings" to reach for things, and I can still shave my legs (TMI?), so I consider that to be a good thing. I'm measuring 28.5 inches (and I'm 28 weeks), so just about right on target (I'm grateful).
Size of baby: She's 2-2.5 lbs. and about 15-16 inches long. She's getting chubbier, too! She's about the size of a large eggplant (finally, a vegetable I know)! She's moving all around in there. One of my co-workers (friends) got to feel her the other day. When the midwife went to listen to her heartbeat yesterday, she kicked for her:).  

Cravings: Pancakes. I finally made some last night, but in trying to consider the health of my baby, I made whole wheat pancakes. They were good, bu they just weren't the same. Still filled me up, though!
Aversions
: Pasta salads. I made a couple of homemade pasta salads, and I had a hard time getting them down this week. In fact, I packed them for lunch yesterday and just couldn't eat them.
Sleep: Since it's been cooler this week, I've actually woke up a little cold in the mornings, but I'm still sleeping great. I turn from side to side during the night, but it's nothing to mess up my sleep that much. I haven't had to get up to go to the bathroom consistently yet. I know this can come back in the 3rd trimester, so we'll see.
Exercise: Not sure why, but I had lots of energy to exercise yesterday. It was fun!I have really enjoyed stretching while pregnant. Before being pregnant, I disliked stretching, but now I actually WANT to. It feels good; I know it's good prep for labor and delivery and recovery. YAY for stretching!
Clothes:
I got a couple pair of shorts! I thought they would be good for our Boston trip. I think they will also come in handy this August. I'm definitely finding shirts that don't quite "cover" my belly. They hide it, but they aren't long enough to go around it:). You really have to be strategic when dressing as a pregnant person. If not, you'll miss the opportunity to wear some things!
Looking forward to: Our anniversary trip this weekend...two whole years!! Woohoo! We are going to Boston, Rhode Island, and Mystic, CT. It's going to be so much fun! Tom has never been to Boston, and neither of us have been to RI or CT, so it's going to be an adventure. Can't wait!
Something fun:
My students threw a baby shower or Tom and I this past weekend. We had it at a local state park by the lake. It was a PERFECT day to be outside! They all brought food, so there were lots of yummies - Nutella brownies, chocolate chip banana bread, Chalupas (funny story), homemade hummus, fun cupcakes, etc (in case you were all dying to know the food selection). One of the guys brought a game to play - he brought yarn, and each person had to cut off how much they think it would take to fit perfectly around my tummy. We had some close guesses and some really FAR OFF guesses too! Good thing I'm not one to get offended:). It was super fun! We just ate and enjoyed chatting. They were super generous, and we got some beautiful baby things.
FYI: I had my glucose test this week. I hadn't heard anything good about the orange stuff they  have you drink, so I was prepared for that. BUT, I actually liked it! I thought it tasted like Orange Crush. I think liking flavored drinks while pregnant helped too. I had  minutes to drink it, but I think I downed it in about a minute. They should have the results today.
Chalupas: One of my students has been calling our child Chalupa Batman (now Batgirl) all along and thinks that is what we should name her. It's a fun on-going joke around here. Again, when you start your 3rd trimester seems to vary, but I think 28 weeks is a safe bet. I'm saying I'm officially in the 3rd trimester (although, according to some, I may have been at 27 weeks and maybe others not until 29 weeks). Someone needs to come up with something "official":).
Thank you, Lord, for: For super supportive friends through this pregnancy...friends who send fun packages in the mail; friends who share their baby things; friends who throw amazing showers; friends who attend those showers; friends who come to visit; friends who email, text, or call to check in; friends who get excited to hear how we're doing; friends who are praying; friends who send encouraging Scripture, messages, or cards; friends who have us over for dinner to talk babies; friends who get excited to see my growing tummy...FRIENDS! Love you all! {We helped pack up two "sets" (not sure how to say that) of friends this week. Although it's sad to say good-bye, we're excited for what lies ahead for all of you! We'll miss you, but are grateful that you were (and will continue to be) in our lives!}

Friday, July 19, 2013

Pictures from this week...27 weeks!

From the garden tea party!!

:) (I only had one)
A little pregnant humor...I'm 26 weeks and 2 days here. (On our way home from church)

This word has a whole new meaning now. I can only imagine what those driving by thought. 

We're growing (so are the apples behind us:))!

27 weeks!

Love the shirt, Cuz!

Switching up my pose a bit:)...ha!