I'd LOVE to laminate this

I ran across this link while reading another blog and I could not agree more.  Everything she said I've thought just too chicken shit to say out-loud.  I don't want to sound like a total control freak ( even though I know I really am).

Click here to read

I'm seriously wondering if I could laminate it and post it EVERYWHERE!!!

And seriously...... why the hell do people feel the need to kiss the baby's fingers and face.  GERMS People!!  Those areas are for mommy and daddy!!!!!

Ok... I'm off my soap box

(I think)

Surprise Shower for Baby G

 

So last Friday ( 1/25) was a typical day at work... including the fact I was exhausted and DID NOT want to be at the office ( I had actually thought about not coming in).  LOL!  That would have been bad.

A little back info on my job. I work for DPW with all men except for two women... sometimes I forget there is even three women in our department bc of the ladies keeps herself soooooo secluded from us.  She doesn't really like people in general..... but enough about that. 

 

Tara ( the other girl I work with) planned everything and told the men what they needed to do and where/when to be there.

 

I got a call around 1 that afternoon from Tara saying that I needed to go to the Directors office, she was running late and would meet me there. 

 

LIAR LIAR......

 

 

Here are the pictures that were taken.  ENJOY

 

 

This is my "OH MY...YOU DIDN'T" face.

 

 

 

 

 My SUPER-SUPER cute owl cake!

 

Choc. Owl cupcakes!

 

I LOVE fruit

 The BEST wrapping EVER... don't be jealous!! LOL. 

They got Baby G a pack n play and some really cute sleepers.

 

I've been very fortunate to work with such great people.

Baby Shower...Sunday Funday

WOW.... what a wonderful day today was!  I'm sitting here curled up in my favorite chair enjoying a cup of coffee flipping through the pictures of our baby shower.  I can't tell you how loved we are.  It was such a blessing to have so many wonderful people celebrate with us.  We received some wonderful gifts.  It was really cute to see how some people definitely made it known what sex Baby G will be.

Today's shower was hosted by my aunt and cousins...FABULOUS ladies!!  So with out further a due I leave you with some pictures.

My sister and niece came down from OK to celebrate with us. 

Best diaper cake EVER!  This thing is loaded down with goodies!!  The inside has dreft soap and a buggy cover. 

Love the mantle.  In the middle is newborn pics of Alston and I with Baby G's ultrasound pic in the middle.

A sweet friend from work made this for the nursery! It's one of my favorite sayings. 

The "Glasses"

Wishes for Baby G

We had a "Greek" themed menu....Mmmmmmmmmm

 At an absolute loss for words.... She made a quilt, pillow case and sheets in the these colors. 

 Someone is definitely thinking girl.....

White crochet baby blanket

 White crochet booties and bonnet

 Yellow crochet booties

Blue booties

Baby G's first piggy bank from my parents. 

And now for some fun pictures.... I love my family!!!

 Ignore the "no shoes".... I was done.

 I LOVE me some Britt!... (she's had 2 kids, one is 6 months old!... I pray I can look 1/2 that good)

 Being goofy... trying to figure out the "Heart"....

LOL!!! I've almost caught up!!

My fabulous hostesses!!.......

OH MY... YUMMY!!!

**picture courtesy of Confessions of a Cookbook Queen.  I couldn't get mine to photograph right.****

I ran across this recipe while reading confessions of a cookbook queen.... I LOVE reading this blog.  Of course I always leave hungry and wishing I had to energy to make one of her awesome recipes.

Well.... tonight while the hubby was at the gym (nope.. I didn't go and I don't feel bad for not going) I decided I HAD TO make this.


Recipe Here

Just as heavenly as I thought it would be.  Worst part about the recipe was all the waiting!!!

34 weeks

How far along: 34 weeks

Total weight gain: +36 lbs

Stretch Marks: Fingers crossed I may make it without these....

Sleep: I'm sorry, I don't know what that is....

Best moment this week: My family is coming down for one of our showers. 

Miss anything: sleeping on my stomach, not having heartburn, being able to bend over and wearing my old clothes. 

Movement: I'm pretty sure Baby G is trying to jab his/her way out.  

Food cravings: Jimmy-Johns!!! 

Anything making you sick/queasy: The heartburn is KILLING me

Gender prediction: I'm still trying to stay neutral....I still can't believe we made it withou finding out.

Labor pains: Braxton Hicks

Wedding ring on or off: Ring is off :(

Belly button in or out: still odd looking... 1/2 in 1/2 out

Mood most of the time: Happy... I haven't felt this good in quite awhile.  

Looking forward to: Baby Showers are coming up... Jan. 27 and Feb. 2

Next appointment: January 28th and our last Sonogram

Any new symptoms: Dear Lord... SWOLLEN ANKLES & FEET... BOO!!!!!! 

Prego Moment of the week: I've never been so miserable in the car until this past weekend.  Dear Lord!  I HATED the car ride. 

33 weeks

How far along: 33 weeks

Total weight gain: +36 lbs

Stretch Marks: Still looking good

Sleep: I'm sorry, I don't know what that is....

Best moment this week: I got to go see Ashley and Ms. Renley!  She's two weeks old and OH SO SWEET!  I pray that Baby G is as good as she is. 

Miss anything: sleeping on my stomach, not having heartburn and wearing my old clothes. 

Movement: Baby G has stepped it up a whole notch this week.  I HURT so bad. 

Food cravings: nothing...my appetite is shrinking.  Which amazes me that the scale still creeps up. 

Anything making you sick/queasy: The heartburn is KILLING me

Gender prediction: I'm still trying to stay neutral.

Labor pains: Braxton Hicks

Wedding ring on or off: Ring is off :(

Belly button in or out: still odd looking... 1/2 in 1/2 out

Mood most of the time: Definitely getting anxious and nerves are starting to kick in. 

Looking forward to: Maternity pictures in Dallas on this weekend. 

Next appointment: January 28th and our last Sonogram

Any new symptoms: Dear Lord... SWOLLEN ANKLES & FEET... BOO!!!!!! 

Prego Moment of the week: Just about every day this week I've come home with huge feet....I look down and I don't even recognize my own feet/ankles.  I was in the shower last night shaving and I just kept staring down and thinking...ARE THOSE REALLY MINE? 

Hormones made me do it.....

What a week this has been.  Pregnancy is kicking my ass, I'm beyond uncomfortable and miserable (and everyone keeps saying I haven't seen uncomfortable- I still have 7 weeks)... thanks for the reminder.  I'm so much more emotional this week too.  I'm pretty sure I've cried at least 3 times this week.  I had to bite the bullet and buy bigger shoes this week too.... BOO.

I think one of the hardest things about being pregnant (for me) is that I feel so helpless and dependent on others for things.  We've been cleaning and defunking the upstairs (majority of this has been on Alston's shoulders) and it so overwhelming, where in the hell did we put all that stuff?!  I want to do more, but lifting and bending down are not really things I can right now.

Maybe I should have renamed this post "Bitching".... or "Pity Party".

I got home yesterday and pretty much crash.... all I had energy for was to do one load of laundry and take a bath (but hey, I did blow dry my hair.... that's definitely a plus).  OH!  I forgot... I started the dishwasher... but...Alston loaded it.

But now I want to brag on Alston for a second.
Last night after doing some grocery shopping for us, he came home and totally kicked some ass on the house!  He reorganized the utility room, finished hanging my sconces that I keep forgetting to put up in the living-room (prego brain) and he reorganized the guest room.  I'm not sure what time he actually came to bed last night, but I'm pretty sure it was SUPER late.  

So this morning I am downstairs drinking my morning coffee getting super excited about our first birthing class this afternoon... YAY! and feeling pretty foolish for writing this post.... I really should be focusing on the wonderful things that are taking place in my life.   It's interesting how when I started this post I was so "poor-pitiful me"... but as I typed I realized how minuet all this really is.  I guess I just really needed to vent for a second..... thanks for being my sounding board.

32 weeks.... 8 weeks to GO!

How far along: 32 weeks

Total weight gain: 36 lbs

Stretch Marks: lOOKING GOOD

Sleep: SUCKS 

Best moment this week: I had a dr appointment Tuesday to check on Baby G, s(he) is doing GREAT.  I alson met with the Labor & Delivery Liason for the hospital.  She went over my birth plan with me and really made me feel as ease with the whole process (first time jitters).  I'll post my birth plan on another post.

Miss anything: Margaritas and sushi

Movement: I think I'm bruised from the inside

Food cravings: nothing new

Anything making you sick/queasy: sometimes when the baby moves it makes me a little queasy.

Gender prediction: I'm still trying to stay neutral.

Labor pains: Braxton Hicks are back this week 

Wedding ring on or off: Ring is off :(

Belly button in or out: still odd looking... 1/2 in 1/2 out

Mood most of the time: Getting VERY excited.

Looking forward to: First birthing class is this Saturday. Maternity pictures in Dallas on the 19th.

Next appointment: 

Any new symptoms: Nothing new-new... heartburn is kicking my ass pretty bad.  

Prego Moment of the week: Openly talking about breast feeding and not feeling awkward or embarrassed. I have to finally bite the bullet and go shoe shopping for bigger and more COMFY shoes.... boo 

Birth Plan

After meeting with the labor and delivery liason I feel really good about my birth plan.  I know it's not a guarantee, but it still gives me such peace of mind to have my thoughts and wishes down on a piece of paper. 

~If your hospital has a liason I STRONGLY recommend meeting with her before your D-Day... especially if your're a new mommy to be or hoping for a natural birth ( I'm both).

Angela ( the liason) told me to make three copies of this.  Give one to Dr. Chapman at my next appointment, put one with my medical records that I'll bring to the hospital on D-Day and put one in my luggage for just in case. 

She offered so much advice and knowledge, it was amazing!  Everytime I leave that building I always thank God for the people at Women's... they are all so amazing.  After our meeting I can definitely say that I am more a peace with my birth plan.

Birth Plan

MOTHER-TO-BE:  Hollie

LABOR SUPPORT: James & Alicia

BIRTH SITE: Women’s

PHYSICIAN: Dr.

Birth Preferences

Early labor and preparation:

Wear my own clothing

 I would like an IV if I become dehydrated.  I will accept having a heparin lock inserted into a vein so that an IV can be started quickly.

 

I need to wear contact lenses or glasses at all times when conscious.  My contacts can be removed very quickly in the event of an emergency.  My husband will have my glasses in case I need to remove my contacts.

 

Labor:

   Use of electronic fetal monitor externally only for an initial 20 minute strip: after that, I would prefer to intermittent Doppler monitoring, unless the baby is in distress.

  Want to move freely and be able to walk around out of the bed/sit up.

  Would like light foods and clear liquids, taken orally.

  I do not want internal fetal monitoring unless the baby has already shown signs of distress.

Allow labor to proceed on its own: prefer no artificial induction methods.

   Would like to labor in a tub.

Prefer not to use medication: I will ask if I need them, please do not ask me.

Dimmed lighting.

Use of my heating pad.

Delivery:

Labor position: whatever feels the most comfortable at the time.

I would like to wait to push until I feel the urge, even if I am fully dilated.

I would like my husband to cut the umbilical cord once it has stopped pulsing.

I do not wish an episiotomy unless required to avoid an extensive tear. 

Postpartum:

Skin-to-skin immediately, with blanket covering both of us.

 

 Suctioning and other evaluations be done while baby is in mother’s arms unless there are complications.

 

 Breastfeeding as soon as possible.

 

  I intend to breastfeed exclusively and do not wish to have any pacifiers or bottles given to him/her, including   glucose water.

 

  We want the baby in the room at all times.  We do not want the baby to be taken away from us unless he/she requires medical treatment or unless we request to have him/her taken to the nursery.

 

 We prefer that our stay at the hospital be extended to the longest our insurance will allow. 

 

 I would like to meet with a lactation consultant regarding breastfeeding as soon as possible.

 

If the baby is a boy, then we would like a circumcision while in the hospital.  

 

 

 

 

In case of a complication which requires emergency care, we ask that our care providers still do their best to accommodate as many of our preferences as possible.  We would only want our baby to be born via Caesarean section in the case of an absolute emergency.

Baby Names

A co-worker of mine came into my office today and said " Did you know that is some countries you have to choose your baby's name from a list of names the government provides?" ... So I did a little digging on the internet, and she was right.

New Zealand has a list of 102 names that are BANNED...

In Portugal there is an 80-page government document that tells you exactly what you can and cannot name your child.

And the Dominican Republic bans names that are not gender specific.

Check out these articles Here -  Here and Here

Quotes for a mommy to be....

Finding and reading quotes is another one of my secret (well... I guess the secrets out) obsessions.  So I thought I share some of the ones I've been enjoying the past couple of months.

• “Being a mother means that your heart is no longer yours; it wanders wherever your children do“ By Author Unknown

• “Feeling fat lasts nine months but the joy of becoming a mom lasts forever“By Nikki Dalton

• "In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins - not through strength but through persistence” By Megan Woodman-Browning

• “There is only one pretty child in the world and every mother has it“ By Chinese Proverb

• “To be pregnant is to be vitally alive, thoroughly woman, and undoubtedly inhabited” By Anne Buchanan & Debra Klingsporn

• Life is tough enough without having someone kick you from the inside“ By Rita Rudner

• “There are three reasons for breast-feeding: the milk is always at the right temperature; it comes in attractive containers; and the cat can't get it” By Irena Chalmers

...And the last two are for my Hubby...... 

Happy Birthday Ms. Renley

After being 11 days past her due date, Ms. Renley finally decided to make her grand entrance!!!

Isn't she beautiful?... The moment she came into this world her eyes were open.  

Ashley went in at 4 AM Monday morning... pushed for 15 minutes (So praying that's what mine is like.....)

Look at how amazing Ashley looks!  Yes.. this was taken moments after Ms. Renley got here!

2 of the 3 Proud Big Brothers!  The oldest one made sure that everyone washed their hands before touching is lil sister.  So very precious. 

After seeing Ashley and holding Ms. Renley it hit me that IM NEXT!  HOLY COW.... Baby G will be here in 8 weeks.  WOW!!!!

31 weeks... Happy New Year! 2013

How far along: 31 weeks

Total weight gain: 33+

Stretch Marks: nope..... YAY

Sleep: Sometimes it's okay, sometimes not so much. 

Best moment this week: We got Baby G's recliner and ottoman (will.... actually my parents had to pick it up in North OKC.  Everywhere in Baton Rouge was sold out)

Miss anything: Margaritas and sushi

Movement: Lord yes.... this baby is quite active

Food cravings: Mustard

Anything making you sick/queasy: sometimes when the baby moves it makes me a little queasy.

Gender prediction: I'm still trying to stay neutral.

Labor pains: No sir.

Wedding ring on or off: Ring is off.

Belly button in or out: Kind of odd looking... 1/2 in 1/2 out

Mood most of the time: Getting VERY excited.

Looking forward to: meeting Ashleys new little girl Renley.  She is 11 days past her due date and is being induced this morning....UPDATE: Ashley just had Ms. Renley at 12:16!!!  She's beautiful and I can't wait to go see her!! 

Next appointment: January 8th

Any new symptoms: Nothing new this week.

Prego Moment of the week: well.... it happened.  Alston had to help me put my tennis shoes on.  I just couldn't bend over long enough to do it.