Playing Catch Up

I have been on a blog hiatus for about a week! Everything seems to be going in lightening speed!

Here is an update on what we have been up to for the past week.

Last weekend we were in Modesto celebrating my FIL's 70th birthday! It was good times. We surprised him with something he has wanted for a long time, an Alaskin Cruise! I could tell by the smile on his face, he was truly excited. We spent lots of time with family and drove home Sunday evening.

Monday we had a midwife appointment. And let me just tell you, I love these ladies. My fav. midwife Cheryl went over the ultrasound results I had a couple of weeks ago. And to my surprise, I am carrying ALOT more fluid than a normal pregnant woman. Which explains so much! My eyes welled up with tears because I felt validated for some reason. Maybe I just felt that I had a reason for how uncomfortable I have been feeling. I mean, I am REALLY uncomfortable. Nothing like how I felt with Riley. She said our boy is big, but he is not that big. In other words, if my water breaks, she says I will need a couple large beach towels!! Lets just hope I am NOT in public. She also instructed me to sit as soon as my water breaks because there is higher risk of the cord wrapping around the babies neck. She also said there is a chance he could flip to be breach, so she wants to monitor me closer and maybe do another ultrasound. She didn't want me doing any real physical activity this week until I made it to 36 weeks and now I can start going on walks. She wanted to make sure that he was fully developed (besides getting chubbier) before I started getting ready for our big day!

Wednesday was my 26th birthday! I woke up to my husband making me french toast and he even went out and cut flowers in his boxers, yes, in our front yard! Now thats true love! I met some girlfriends and our little ones for lunch at Broadway Heights. I went downstairs to take Riley to the bathroom and when I came upstairs Jim was there with balloons and two dozen roses. He came home from work early and took Riley and I to the park, where we had some appetizers and played in the grass. It was perfect. We got home and my brother and his girlfriend had decorated the house and brought over pizza and cupcakes. All around, it was one of the best birthdays I have had in a long time.

Thursday was our 4th wedding anniversary! Since I had been so pampered the day before, I got up early and made my husband breakfast in bed. I bought him a gift certificate for a one hour massage. Which he went and redeemed this morning! He took the day off so we could spend it doing whatever we felt like! We took Riley to the movies and then picked up my favorite meal, Chipotle! It was so nice to have him home. I kept telling him all day that I was so thankful for his job, which has allowed me to stay at home, but that I just love when he is home. We have family in town for the weekend so he will have a total of 5 days off!

As you can see, we have been quite busy around here but it makes the time go by fast!

The best money we've ever spent

When Riley turned 1 years old we had her pictures taken by a local photographer, Park Avenue by Terese. It honestly is the best money that we have ever spent. I browse through the pictures often and it reminds me of when Riley still had her baby fat. My birthday and anniversary are next week and I told my husband that all I want was a gift certificate or money to have our family pictures taken after the baby comes. I cherish these pictures of our little girl so much and I can only imagine what our family ones will turn out like.

I told my husband that in 20 years are we going to remember the "things" that we have? Probably not, but these pictures will be in our family forever!

This is where I hang....

I was browsing through pictures as I was writing this post and came across two pictures that I had taken of our backyard when we first viewed the house. Little did I know this would be where I spend most of my time! Our backyard size was very important for us when looking for a house, so much that we looked for almost a year to find a house that had a big lot size. It's not so big that it's to much to handle, but just enough to keep us busy. After looking through the pictures I realized we have done a lot to the backyard in such a short amount of time. Don't get me wrong, there is still a lot to do, but little by little it's becoming such a santuary for me. The other night Jim and I sat outside at dark, with candles lit and talked about how we will probably be bringing Avery outside for feedings on some (hopefully) cooler summer nights!

Ohhhh Baby!

We finally got to see our little boy last Friday and let me just tell you, I am smitten! Our computer was being really weird when I was trying to scan the pictures so I had to take a picture of the ultrasound picture, so sorry for the bad picture. I was beyond amazed at what we could see. The ultrasound place purchased a new machine a year ago, which means it's an even better machine that we had when I was pregnant with Riley. We were able to see Avery going pee! It was hilarious! I guess it's just a sneak peek of what is to come with his pee shooting everywhere. I can't believe we were able to get his hand, foot and face all in one picture. She printed us over 20 pictures because he just kept giving her good shots, thats my boy!

Now on to the part that makes me nervous, he is BIG. I couldn't believe how much bigger he looked than Riley. We had ultrasounds for the both of them at 34 weeks. His head is measuring that of a 37 week old baby. And since I am planning (I know this is just a plan) another drug free labor I am nervous about the size of his head. She is told that she over estimates their weight by about 6oz most of the time, so her estimate was that he was about 5lbs 13oz already! At the corner of the screen they give an estimated due date based on their measurements and his was June 6th, when I am not due until June 26th. I know this doesn't change your due date at all but my point is that he is one big boy. Riley was 6lbs 15oz so I am only use to little ones!

Anyway, it was such a joy to see him. I have literally looked at his pictures 40 times. I just can't believe that this is my little boy. I feel so blessed to be his mommy!

The infamous big brother

Lastnight we had the pleasure of watching DJ be the opening pitcher for his baseball game. I sat there nervously hoping for the best for him. He did an amazing job. I could tell how nervous he was and I wanted to take that away for him. But I knew this was a part of him growing up. As I uploaded the pictures of him pitching my eyes welled up with tears. I was reminded of the dedication I did for him on the day I married his dad. When Jim and I started dating DJ was only 2 1/2 years old and he'll be 10 this year! He has been such a joy and the best big brother to Riley. He is wise beyond his years and I am so thankful to be his stepmom.

Take a deep breath...

After yesterday I needed to take a deep breath and relax. I woke up this morning feeling refreshed and renewed. One of the things that almost sent me over the edge yesterday was the changing pad cover I was making. I had made a HUGE cutting mistake and was trying to make dinner at the same time. Bad combo there! Anyway, I was able to salvage the fabric and retry. It turned out pretty tight on the changing pad but I still love it. I just used left over fabric that I had from making his bumper, which is almost finished! Also, Jim put the bird decals on the antique window which is now hanging above the guest bed. I am not sold on the owl picture above the changing table, the positioning looks weird. Anyway, we are making some progress finally! 2 more days and I get a sneak peak of my little boy!

A case of the Mondays....On a Tuesday!

I can't help but feel so blah today. Like I am stuck in a rut or something! Normally I feel like doing something crafty or having me time during Rileys nap but today I am not sure what is up. If I deliver this baby at the same time I did Riley, I only have about 5 weeks left and to be honest, I wish it was sooner. After being in the hospital last Thursday I have been on an antibiotic for the bladder infection, which caused another type of infection ( I'll spare the details!). As if that wasn't enough, the antibiotics are making me throw up! I felt fine this morning, went to the church for a bit, met my friend at the park and as I was driving home, it hit me like a ton of bricks! You know, where you feel so sick you think to yourself, "How am I going to make my child lunch?" Right then, my amazing husband walked in the door to save the day! I had planned to have my in-laws over for dinner and lets be honest, I am not in the mood. I think what is all boils down to is this...I am tired and in desperate need of an uninterrupted 8 hour stretch of sleep...Maybe tonight?! Wishful thinking....

Have you seen this?!

As I have mentioned earlier, I am looking for bedding for the guest bed in the nursery. My friend Holly turned me on to Urban Outfitters where I found this bedding! I hadn't originally planned on a bird theme for Averys room but it has turned out so! I think the quilt and pillow are a little to much but I LOVE the thought of having these two pillow shams!

So if anyone has been this fabric anywhere, let me know because I would love to make them after a tutorial I found here. These run about $30 for the pair and I think I can make them for cheaper! I've got diapers to buy so every penny I can save is great!!!!

Hope everyone is enjoying their Mothers Day! I was welcomed with an amazing breakfast, lunch at Burger Hut (my choice, I was craving it!) and BBQ steak dinner by my man. He even painted my toe nails today because I can't reach them! Now that is true love.

A weekend away!

These pictures are from a trip that Jim and I took to Squaw Valley last August. This was the last time that we went anywhere alone. So when the opportunity came up for Jim to travel for work next Friday, we decided that we would take this time to have a weekend away together before the baby comes. My brother and his girlfriend are going to stay at our house to watch Riley. We are leaving for Santa Cruz after our ultrasound appointment and I couldn't be more excited!

I can hardly wait for one week from today, first we get to see the baby! We haven't seen an ultra sound of him since he was 17 weeks and he still looked like a skeleton. I will never forget seeing Riley at 34 weeks and I couldn't stop staring at her picture. We got the perfect profile picture of her and it looks EXACTLY like her now! As I have mentioned before, I am a super impatient person when I am excited about something so I cannot wait to get a sneak peak of our little guy.

Right after, we are off on our weekend get away. Jim asked if I wanted to do anything in particular and I told him I just want to have a weekend where I don't change any diapers, give baths, prepare food, clean up. All I want to think about is where we are going to eat and what I am going to wear =) I am looking forward to having uninterrupted conversations with my husband and to sit at a coffee shop with no time frame. We have been trying to go on more dates lately but there is something about getting away that is so important for the marriage.

I love my husband more and more everyday. He just makes me smile and I can't wait to reconnect with him!

Bags & Babes

I just got home from being monitored at the hospital this morning. I woke up with a bad bladder infection and my midwife was worried that due to the pressure I have been having, maybe I was in labor and that was causing the infection. Thank goodness everything was fine. Unfortunately Jim is out of town and couldn't be at the hospital. He felt sooo bad. But luckily we are A-OK!

I have been working on Mothers day gifts this week and ran across this tutorial and had to give it a try. And then I ran across literally the most brilliant tutorial and had to try it too! I mean, how can you go wrong with an old placemat?!? Now my problem is, I don't want to have to give any of them away!!

Baby on the Brain

My cute friend Stephanie gave me the idea to make a mobile for Averys room. We never had one for Riley, mainly because I was afraid that she would get hurt by it somehow? Hmmm, can you tell I am having my second child? It seems like you don't worry about things AS MUCH the second time around. And the fact that this would be hanging from the ceiling brought some relief to me. Anyway, I bought the stick wreath for $2.99 at Joanns, I pretty much raided my scrap pile for the detail on the birds, my grandma gave me all the buttons and ribbon, and last but not least, the felt is $.29 for an 8 1/2 X 11 sheet so all in all, this was a pretty cheap mobile to make! My friend Stephanie always has great crafting ideas! Check out her etsy shop here. Happy Wednesday!!

Oh How I love this!

Remember what I said a couple of posts back about making things to save money? Forget I said that just for a minute. I am cooing over this quilt from West Elm. I love it in the white and really want to buy it for the guest bed in the babys room. But it runs about $129.00. Maybe I'll just wait until it goes on sale?!?! Mothers day? Birthday? Anniversary? Wishful thinking!

A Major Score!

I opened up a magazine (can't remember which one) last week and spotted this dress. It was under an an article that said something like, "Dresses under $50.00." I immediately LOVED it and looked over to see where I could get it. I was surprised to see that it was from lulus.com. It was exciting to see a local boutique (they only sell online now) get into a magazine!

Like I have described in previous posts, I am a penny pincher especially when it comes to clothes. So I didn't think much of it and moved on.

Fast forward to Friday night, I was browsing craigslist to see if there was any good yard sales the next morning and I noticed Lulus was having an outlet sale the next morning at 8am. I got up early, showered and headed on over Saturday morning. I got there a little early because I anticipated a big crowd.

When I showed up, the employees were still getting things situated and hanging clothes on racks. And then I spotted it, an employee pulled this very dress out of the box and hung it on a rack! I was so excited! It was time to get our shop on and I went straight for this dress. Remember, I move a little slower than others these days so by the time I got to the rack there were girls everyone. But I nicely asked, excuse me please and pulled the dress out. There wasn't a price tag on it but the owner had been saying we are willing to bargain, which I am horrible at. But I was hoping she would have mercy on a pregnant woman and she did! I scored it for $10.00!!! Thats 1/4 of what it cost!

I also got another dress for $10 and two purses (big ones!) for $3 a piece!!! I would say thats a great shopping trip!