37 weeks!

yup. still pregnant and my uterus is still occupied... didn't want you to think the radio silence was due to sweet pea entering the world - I've just been swamped/beat.  so here we are... 37 weeks down - THREE to go... FULL TERM! as of today, we're 15 days out from my due date - tomorrow starts the month of May aka the month sweet pea will be born (?!?!?) - holy cow.

I'm still running around like a crazy person at work - I had two "transition meetings" with my coworkers who will be assisting with some of my projects while I'm out so I'm happy to have that checked off the list! Now I have two more days of meetings with my university contacts -- I just need to make it through wednesday and then we'll be in the clear! As of now I plan on working up until sweet pea makes her appearance but I'm not going to lie - its getting tough, I'm beat.

This week was a nicely uneventful one - my sweet coworkers threw me a baby shower so that was a great end to the week and DJ and I did a whole lot of nothing this weekend! SO NICE. I read (for pleasure), did a heap load of laundry and cleaning (nesting), and ate yummy food (gluttony)! Crazy to think it could be our last weekend sans baby... But who knows - she could be in there for weeks still!?

this weeks stats:

• sweet pea is around 7.5 pounds and around 19 inches - the size of a Swiss chard (?!)
• bubble baths taken: 3 (newly obsessed)
• pedicures: 1 and it was GLORIOUS!
• uniform of choice: yoga pants & maternity tanks... I don't want to wear anything else for the rest of this pregnancy!
• number of break and bake cookies eaten this week: two (entire) packages. don't judge, I'm getting on the diet train after this baby comes out so I'm enjoying myself until that happens!
• books read: the first two books of the Fifty Shades series... on the third book now... Not quite about them, they're okay - they are what they are!
• birth plans written: one (by written I mean I checked off boxes on the form on our hospital webpage... it's more a outline/some thoughts - who knows how it'll all go)
• hospital bags unpacked and repacked: one (neurotic party of one...) oh yeah, remember that bag of hospital snacks in the car... yeah, we're going to need to go to the store again (all gone) - oops!

so that's that... here is my 37 week bump... (go cocks!)


this weeks snapshots...
taking advantage of my last few weeks of shameless weight gain - don't judge...


work baby shower... love my sweet coworkers and students!

so that's that... until next week (or labor & delivery)!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

brown paper packages tied up with string...

okay - maybe they weren't tied up with string but packages in the mail are definitely one of my favorite things!  and we [well, mostly sweet pea] has been lucky enough to get a handful of these the past week - we've been continously showered with love and I have to share the last few packages we've received...

first, we got a package from our sweet friend Jenn -- she had gathered a few things for Sweet Pea from her worldly packages - an adorable bib from Australia, a sweet Dumbo/Disney blanket from Orlando and an adorable yellow sundress that Sweet Pea will be rocking this summer!

 then DJ's best friend Donny & his sweet wife Cami sent us some adorable goodies from NYC [well actually, Donny brought them with him when he came down for DJ's birthday] - so adorable and sweet... a NYC onesie, a "locally grown" bib, and an adorable pair of booties! so sweet....

sweet Jamie sent me an adorable onesie and super cute bows!  LOVE. check out Jamie's etsy store Home Made With Love for more adorable bows and goodies!

last, Sarah sent me a super thoughtful and fun package with some goodies just for me [and I guess DJ, hah] - vouchers for new parents, paper voodoo dolls [so don't piss me off], cocktail [or OJ] napkins and the sweetest card ever.

we're so lucky to have such thoughtful, sweet and just amazing people in our lives! 

can't wait for sweet pea to get here and to meet them all too!
[and now I'm off to write thank you notes because, no - this blog post is not a substitute for those!]

36 weeks!

36 down, 4 to go... 

holy guacamole. 

today is the last day of my 36th week

we are 22 days away from my due date [?!?]... 

we've had a pretty good week, just trying to get things wrapped up at work [I think at the end of this week I'll be at a good stopping point/place to pass on my projects and/or pause them for 6 weeks]. DJ is also really swamped at work right now - poor guy worked pretty much all weekend and every night last week. I am so incredibly proud of him and the work he's doing. I catch myself just watching him sometimes and am just in awe of how intelligent, creative and hardworking he is. Sweet Pea is one lucky little girl to have him as a daddy [and I'm pretty damn lucky to be married to him].

Speaking of sweet boys... Ollie has been particularly sweet to me this week. He's turned into my shadow and follows me up and down the stairs, has to be sitting next to me [if not on top of me] and DJ is convinced he knows Sweet Pea is in my belly by the way he pays special attention to it [I think he just thinks I've eaten too many treats and have grown him a pillow, hah]. Either way, he gave me some practice on what it will be like to work from home and take care of a baby today as he has been in my lap [along with my laptop] all afternoon... fun. haha.

so that's that - I can't believe how close we are to meeting our sweet girl - I am so excited, petrified, overwhelmed, ready... so many emotions and just more than anything feel blessed by how smoothly everything is going. our doctors appointment today went off without a hitch - baby j is measuring a little ahead of schedule (5 days ahead) according the ultrasound she weighs 7 lbs 1 ounce -- but that could be +/- a pound [let's hope not a +, hah]... so basically, she's going to be a big baby! so Sweet Pea is in the 77th percentile [high-normal is what the doctor says] and everything [fluids, placenta, etc] looked normal in the ultrasound. my strep B test came back negative and my blood pressure/swelling still looks good/normal.  all around, a GREAT appointment. it was crazy that the doctor said "see you in a week or before in labor and delivery" at the end of the appointment, yup - we're right around that time! so without further delay here's what my sloppy self looks like as of today...

36 week bumpin' bump....

36 week stats -

• Sweet Pea is right around 7lbs and should be around 19-20 inches long! Crazy to think that's not a guess and we actually know that's how big she is.
• As of now, she's the size of a coconut [a lovely coconut, I'm sure] 
• Sleep has not been my friend this week - baby head on my bladder combined with achey hips has made for many a restless nights... 
• We are SO ready to cloth diaper! I got the last minute essentials that we needed (trashcan, pail liners, cloth wipe solution, etc.)
• Hospital Bag = PACKED. heck yes. [and we have a bag of snacks in the trunk ready to go to the hospital with us, thank you Trader Joes]
• number of bubble baths taken this week: two. heavenly. amazing. LOVED. all that was missing was a nice cold glass of wine... oh well, soon enough! I think one or two more are in my future this week...
• number of loads of laundry I did this weekend: six. can we say nesting?
• things I'm missing: sleeping on my stomach, wine, spicy tuna rolls, running, sleeping through the night [oh wait, I won't be doing that for a long time], enjoying a cold beer with my husband... but as I keep saying, it's so worth it - I'm just SO ready to meet our sweet girl! 

this week's photos...

one of my relaxing baths, AMAZING I tell you...

 my sweet boy...

 puzzles & nesting = my weekend.

so that's that.

22 days until my due date 

[17 days based on sweet pea's measurements today...?!]

c-ra-zy.

danny's 30th...

yes. a week overdue.

oops.

better late than never, right?

[that's what I tell myself at least]

so here are some snapshots from my lovie's 30th birthday....

it started out with a relaxed crawfish boil...

complete with shots, shots, and more shots [not for me clearly]

and dessert! [cookie cake and italian ice, yum!]

then the next day we headed to Athens for some yummy food and a fun day at the Terrapin Brewery...

good times all around.

crazy to think we met when DJ was 14... 

...and he's now my husband...

...and he's 30!?

[...and now we're less than 9 months away from my 30th birthday]
[...and less than a month away from being parents?!]

yikes.

such grownups.

anyways, a great weekend with family and friends celebrating my favorite person in the whole wide world! it was just like DJ - laid-back, close-knit and loads of fun!

sweet pea's baby announcements...

one more thing checked off the list - I booked Sweet Pea's newborn photography session this week - so the next thing on my list is picking out a baby announcement -- clearly I haven't ordered them yet [and can't anytime soon] considering I don't know any of the details of her birth and I don't have a picture of her... BUT... being the overachiever that I am I have a few picked out that I like/am considering...

I absolutely fell in love with these baby announcements from Tiny Prints [I actually fell in love with three times as many but then DJ went through and nixed the ones he didn't like and this is what we're left with...

option one - charming welcome: wild strawberry

option two - wonderful moment: princess

option three - sweet salutation: begonia

option four - lovingly looped: rose

option five - today's special: soft pink

...now the difficult part... 

deciding which one!

which one is your favorite?

maternity photos....

Originally we had planned on getting professional maternity photos taken but as the pregnancy progressed [and our budget tightened - it was one of the things that just didn't seem necessary, I am much more invested in newborn photos of Sweet Pea].  So we are lucky enough to be friends with an amazing photographer and one of our favorite people Josh [along with his photo assistant and wife Tiffani] came down and took some pictures of DJ and I [and Sweet Pea and Ollie] before our baby shower...

All of the pictures were great, but I can't lie - I'm definitely just am not a fan of the way I look in pictures right now... I know, vanity - not my friend. I need to get over it.

Anyways, thought I would share a few of our faves....

so there we are...

I know... Ollie is the cutest pup around.

unfortunately, he was not very into the photoshoot...

oh well, fingers crossed he cooperates more once sweet pea arrives...

[because let's be real - Kristen will kill me if I don't take some baby/bully pictures]

35 weeks!

whoa. 

this pregnancy is clearly flying by.... 

I'm on the last day of my 35th week of my first pregnancy

 ...a pregnancy that could be over - resulting in a baby...

any. day. NOW. 

whoa. [wait, I already said that]

so yes, today is the last day of my 35th week and marking the "less than a month" point [29 days!!!] til my due date...

let's get real - my pregnancy has been a really easy and fairly painless one. everything has been normal, on track and I haven't had [too many] complaints... things are still great, don't get me wrong but I have officially hit the point where I am ready to not be pregnant -- as my nurse told me today, it's downhill from here until the baby comes [gee, thanks]. not only am I huge [HUUUGE] but I am very uncomfortable [HUUUGE] and getting nice and swollen [HUUUGE]. Braxton hicks has officially started and I have these fun bruises popping up all over my body [strange].  my legs/feet are killing me and did I mention I'm huge?

now, with all that being said - I am so grateful that I'm healthy and that sweet pea is seeming to be right on track. I had my 35 week appt today and it went great, everything was normal and my midwife checked sweet pea's position and great news - she's head down! AND she seems to be "pretty far down there" [her words, not mine] so we're definitely on track! I'm going back on Monday [a week from today] and we're getting an ultrasound to see how big sweet pea is. Such a great surprise as I didn't expect to have another ultrasound for the rest of my pregnancy [I'm trying to be optimistic and not think something seems odd and that's why we're having one].

it was a busy 35th week - we spent lots of time with friends and family for DJ's 30th birthday [recap coming soon], that partnered with a hectic hectic week at work, not feeling too hot and yes - you guessed it, being huge - made it a tough [but fun] week. 

so here are this week's "stats" --

• sweet pea is over 18 inches long and should be weighing a little over 5lbs [so exciting that we should have a better idea on this next week]!
• The "fruit/vegetable" of the week is a honeydew melon! which I picked up at the grocery store this weekend and marveled at that fact that "one" is inside me!
• baby j is pretty much done developing - now her biggest job in there is to put on weight!
• number of ankles I have: ZERO. no seriously. no ankles... two big ole honey baked hams that are attached to big ole fred flintstone feet. FUN.
• sweet pea has been wiggling all over the place this week, the movement definitely feels different as she's getting bigger and I've been able to see "points" in my stomach from her feet/knees/elbows - it's CRAZY.
• number of hospital bags packed this week: zero! oops - I will pack my bag this week! any suggestions for "must-haves" and/or "things you brought that you didn't need" -- ??

forgive for a lack of a real "bumpin' bump" this week - I have no motivation... therefore, enjoy these pictures from this weekend which I think do a pretty good job of showing my large and in charge-ness....

35th week snapshots.... getting the nursery all setup - nesting is in full force, painted my nails a fun purple color [new from this months birchbox!], books for sweet pea and the newest additions to the making of a baby divided...

and of course - we couldn't have a weekly post without a dose of Oliver cuteness... this is pretty much how I felt this week....

35 weeks down - 29 days to go!

so so so close! 

can't wait! :)

third trimester must haves...

so here it is - the final installment of my "trimester must haves" - this one was definitely the most challenging to write as I feel like I've shared all the "tricks" to my pregnancy but here are a few things that have kept me sane for the last few months of my pregnancy.... [other than the things I've already shared]

1. my TOMs - really, they don't have to be TOMs (though I love mine) but slip-on comfy shoes were definitely key to the last trimester... my feet luckily haven't gotten two swollen [yet] but bending over to tie my shoes or adjust them is definitely not comfortable.

2. nursing bras -- wireless nursing bras have become my friend the past few months -- the "girls" have been growing, growing, GROWING - so wearing a bra 24/7 has become pretty necessary [though not enjoyable]. I hear this is only going to get better when my milk comes in, awesome. anyways, I've started breaking in my nursing bras especially in the evenings when I'm home/in bed. [for sleeping I currently like this one from Target]

3. Baby 411 - this book has been a great catch-all of lots of information for me, I can also imagine it will be a great "quick reference" book for when Sweet Pea gets here - I've pretty much dropped all my pregnancy books and have been focusing on reading this one the past two months...

4. Humidifier - so we clearly got this humidifier for Sweet Pea, but we've been using it in our room until she gets here and we've both really liked it, especially now that allergy season is upon us it's been nice to have a little something extra to keep us feeling less stuffy!

5. TUMS - hello heartburn, nice to meet you. I had never had heartburn before well, let me tell you the third trimester made up for lost time... I felt like I had perma-heartburn. NO FUN.

6. Baby Books - Apparently baby can hear/recognize a lot of what you're saying during the third trimester [or so they say] so what better time to start reading to your sweet baby! They say that babies might be calmed by songs/stories they hear while in the womb - who knows if this is actually true, but its worth a shot!

7. Gentle/Natural/Baby Detergent - Nesting will hit home/hard so get your "baby detergent" and have it ready to wash all your sweet baby goodies! We're using ECOS Liquid (Magnolia & Lily) from Costco.

8. Glider - this was the one piece of furniture that even though we'd be moving in a few months I definitely wanted to have before Sweet Pea came and I'm so glad we got it early because I've been using it tons the third trimester! From reading to her, reading for myself and rocking myself to sleep on those nights when I just can't fall asleep in bed - this glider has gotten plenty of use already. I definitely recommend getting a big comfy one that you can curl up in and an ottoman... in my world these are both definitely needs not wants! [we got this glider in tan/taupe and the matching ottoman]

9. Long cardigans/Open sweaters - my body temperature has been all over the place (as has the weather) the past month or two so I always have a long, cozy, open sweater with me to throw on (and then take off 10 minutes later).  I've been buying non-maternity ones too so that I can keep them in my wardrobe after Sweet Pea comes!

10. Good foot/hand cream/body butter - this whole pregnancy my skin has been dry but this last trimester my hands/feet have been SO dry! My personal favorite Korres Body Butter, I keep one travel sized tube in my desk and one in my nightstand!

so that's that...

let me know if you have any questions

clearly, I'm not an expert but can definitely share my perspective!

draw a stickman...

I know "draw something" is all the rage lately... 

but here's a little random something to make you chuckle on this Tuesday morning...  

visit drawastickman.com for some fun!

I had more fun doing this that I'd like to admit...

but then again, I bet you will too!

go now, hurry - you won't regret it!

birthday week.

happy birthday week!!! 

...to my favorite man on this planet...

hey hey. 

it's DJ's last week in this 20s!

I can't believe that DJ will be 30 this saturday.

I can't believe we met almost 16 years ago.

I can't believe we've almost been married for 2 years.

I can't believe he'll be a daddy in 5 weeks (or so).

I have lots to post about but this is what is is occupying my brain currently...

...trying to think of ways to celebrate my love and best friend.

you see, I'm quite the expert on 30th birthday parties 

[just ask my ex-boyfriend, his was amazing - no really, it was]

so I feel kinda guilty... it's almost like Big Daddy

...but I guess we're even because someone [aka DJ's ex-fiance] had a long-drawn-out-romantic proposal whereas I got - "hey, you want to stop by town hall on the way to work?"* 

....and my ex got the whole crazy surprise weekend 30th birthday bash and a girlfriend that wasn't 9 month pregnant and too tired/exhausted to focus on planning a party... 

[yeah, to say I've been distracted is an understatement]

so yes, we might have "wasted the good surprise" on someone else...

but in the end, we have each other.

....and I ordered 20lbs of crawfish.

so I guess that's pretty great, right?

ANYWAYS.....

happy birthday week to my danny j.

love you jiggs!

more birthday love coming soon.... :)

*yes, there's more to our proposal, and it was sweet in its own way.... and absolutely perfect and I wouldn't have it any other way... I'll tell you the whole story one day...

34 weeks!

34 weeks down, 6 to go! It's crazy to think sweet pea will be here before we know it! This week (other than the my sick boys) was a pretty normal, relaxing one... It was spring break for most of the schools in Atlanta so our commute wasn't too bad - and I stayed home from work on Wednesday so it was a nice break in the middle of the week (do you think I could have four day work weeks for the next six weeks??). Things are moving along nicely - all of sweet pea's clothes are washed, I washed/prepped her cloth diapers this week, and started packing our hospital bag!  Ollie is feeling all better and has been SO sweet this week. Sweet Pea is definitely getting bigger, I can clearly see her moving inside me from the "outside" - it's nuts!  I've also been REALLY thirsty this week - other than that, no big changes. More than anything, I'm just getting antsy know - I definitely want her to stay in there and cook a little more but I'm so ready to meet her!

So, here are this week's stats...

• Sweet Pea is right around 4 and 3/4 pounds (around the size of a cantaloupe!) and around 18 inches long!
• She's starting to fatten up and her lungs are continuing to develop -- and she's urinating about a pint a day [?!]
• current cravings: water, juice, rice crispie treats, soft serve and french fries
• number of trips to Athens Baby J took this week: two and we had two yummy dinners at Farm 255 [aka her dad's favorite restaurant]
• number of thank you cards written: NUMEROUS - but I'm all done with all the shower gifts, phew!
• number of chins I have: more than I'd like to admit.

34th week bumpin' bump....

34th week snapshots...

so that's that!

...ready for the next few weeks to fly by and to meet our sweet girl!

sweet pea's shower...

just thought I'd share a few more pictures from sweet pea's baby shower... it was a great, fun and relaxing afternoon with family and friends and we are so lucky to have such generous, sweet people in our lives!

fun, bright decor....

I made sugar cookies with royal icing as favors for our guests...

world's best strawberry cookies... 

yummy sangria for those who could partake [aka everyone but me...]

 opening gifts...

and yes -- men drinking beer out of baby bottles... amazing...

thanks to both of our moms, our sweet sister-in laws Summer & Julie, and the always amazing Lindi to making the day such a fun and special one! 

...so that's that - now onto planning the next big shindig in our house....

...that's right -- someone turns 30 next weekend!

sick boys...

oh man. I'm not having the wednesday I planned on... I stayed home from work today to take care of my two sick boys - DJ is not feeling well and poor Ollie isn't doing too hot either. One doctors appt and a prescription for Nexium later hopefully DJ will be feeling better soon... $200 at the vet later Ollie seems to be in better spirits too...

....and me? well I had the pleasure of cleaning up loads of poop off the carpet for the past 24 hours (Ollie's not DJ, hah) and feeding Ollie prescription dog food every two hours with a spoon... I guess this is good prep for when sweet pea comes! ha... seriously though.... the Bissell Little Green has become my new best friend...

so that was my wednesday... oh and we got a crapton (yes thats a technical term) of packages - including DJ's 30th birthday present - his new watch! I was a nice wife and gave it to him early....

fun, huh?

So that's that, my craptastic (pun intended) wednesday - now I'm off to the apple store to see why snow leopard won't install on my "vintage MacBook" - maybe ill be coming home with a new computer...??

Haha... wishful thinking.

seriously though...