37 WEEKS!

AHHHH! Look at the time! It is going so slow and yet so fast. December went...I don't know where, but if went fast. Maybe because I was sick half of it and just kind of existed during that time. Well, we are 37 weeks today so we are having a full term baby. 3 more weeks to our due date, but I think things might happen sooner than that (but I'm not resting all my hopes on that, that's just what I think).

Today was our first appointment to be "checked". I am 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced, which the doctor said could mean absolutely nothing since I could spend weeks like this OR I could have the baby tomorrow. I think it is just exciting that something is happening. She has most definitely dropped - she's actually been like that a while, but I have felt more pressure this last week. At least breathing has gotten a little better. I have contractions frequently, but not regularly. They are not painful, but they are not comfortable either.

Today we had a non-stress test. Basically, they hook you up to to monitors on your belly, one to track the baby's heart rate and the second to track contractions. They said the goal was to see the baby's heart rate accelerate at least 2 times in 20 minutes - I already had "passed" in the first 5 minutes, but they had to keep it on the full time. I don't think the baby liked the monitors because she kept kicking and pushing out right at the spots where the monitors were strapped on - a little tight too. She had a great response and I had one solid contraction during it. I am so excited.

Time is ticking by and I think we are just about ready. We are waiting for just a few more things in the mail and then I'll blog about our Nursery - I LOVE IT! Also, I am having a baby shower thrown for me by the branch at church for any that might be in the area. We registered at Target which was actually kind of stressful and frustrating. Registering for our wedding was fun, but registering for baby was hard. I don't know if it is because you either have NO choice in different things or so many you don't even know where to start! Its crazy.

Well, this is the update for now. I am definitely more uncomfortable these days, but still so excited and happy to feel her everyday. We are looking forward to this year and all it brings us.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I Made It Monday: Crafty Christmas Gifts

I got an early start and got crafty for Christmas Gifts this year. Many hours were spent on some of these seemingly simple gifts, but I loved doing it! I hope everyone who received them enjoyed them as much as I did making them. I was so proud of each creation as I made them.

Purse/Tote with Matching cosmetic pouch
For Tori this year I made a purse/tote with a matching cosmetic pouch. This was by far the hardest thing I attempted. I got my original idea from THIS blog tutorial, but it turned out very different - the only thing they really have in common are the size and shape and the fact that it has lining and a magnetic snap.

I picked out some black and white polka-dot material for the lining and red and pink polka-dot home decor fabric (a little thicker) for the outside. I thought they were fun colors together.

I didn't plan to make the straps from the same strip as the gusset (sides of the bag) but I measured way too much and had a perfect amount to just have the strip circle all the way around. It was fun to discover how to make this bag as I went. I even sewed a little pocket inside (even though it is quite crooked).

The little cosmetic pouch was hard (sewing in a circular way is harder the smaller you go!). I had no plan to what I was doing just a picture in my head. I never did figure out how to make it without having one side of the lining showing the stitching (does that even make sense? I don't know how else to describe it.) Nevertheless, it turned out MUCH better and cuter than I had planned.

Water-bottle CarrierThis was a fun one to make. It fits both the small and large water bottle sizes. You can't see really well in the pictures but I used a clip (like a mini car seat buckle) with an adjustable snap. I followed THIS tutorial. One difference is that instead of using a thicker material I doubled a thinner material in half and cut it to the sizes of the 2 main pieces so the right side of the material was in the inside as well.

Aromatherapy Hot/Cold Rice PacksIn the past I have made a much simpler version of these rice packs (one pocket instead of four). Dan and I have loved the one I made. We love the scents and the comfort of it. We loved it so much we thought it would be fun to make as gifts. THIS tutorial version was harder, but bigger and better. It was fun to pick different fabrics for different people AND the great thing I did this time around was instead of gathering different potpourri items and cinnamon sticks and spices that sometimes poke through the fabric I bought real aromatherapy essential oils of lavender and cinnamon from a hippie health and wellness store. Just a few drops leaves a scent for a VERY, VERY long time and has real aromatherapeutic properties - it doesn't just smell good.



"I Spy" BagsThis was a fun craft that I got to get a little creative filling. I'd seen these before and thought it was such a great activity, so I thought I'd give it a try. This is the tutorial I used. I wasn't daring enough at this time to try any unique shapes like the tutorial since I was nervous sewing with the clear vinyl, but I did have fun getting creative with different colors of threads and designs to sew the ends shut. The clear vinyl wasn't too bad to work with. I just sewed in on with the tissue between the vinyl and my sewing machine then it easily ripped out when I was done. I used felt instead of fleece and I also added a list of the items inside the bag with pictures that I attached by laminating it, attaching ribbon, and sewing the ribbon into the side of the bag as I closed it. I hope it stays!

A horrible cold and EXTRA baby ultrasound!

Well, we are OFFICIALLY in the last month! I know I just did a pregnancy update last week, but a few things have happened since then AND there are new pictures!

In my last update I mentioned a mild cold I had caught, but was already on the mend...yeah, it turned out to be a little more than that. Instead of getting better and just being one of those annoying colds that hangs on forever it got worse daily until the weekend (of course I'm always my sickest on the weekends) I started to have such sinus pains that my teeth were hurting, constant headache that the tylenol and tylenol cold approved for me to take were not even close to helping. Also, my eyes were filling with junk and I could NOT sleep! Sunday night I was up literally all night and at about 4 am Dan was helping me and I lost it and started crying - not good when you are already having a hard time with breathing and headaches. I was a mess and in so much pain. I was scared because I was worried about the baby, I was coughing so hard so often my ribs hurt, I was having frequent braxton-hicks, and in so much pain I couldn't sit still. I couldn't understand how with everything I was doing I wasn't getting any better, but worse. I was at my wits end. The only thing that got me through the night was knowing I had a Doctor appointment in the morning. I was just about in tears again when we got in to see my Dr and she said she would get me the "good stuff" and would get me feeling good again in about 48 hours. I got an antibiotic shot of Rocephin to, in her words, "kickstart your immune system" then she gave me a prescription for Amoxicillin. She said these medications do not hurt the baby and that it was better to have me better anyway - I had lost 3 pounds in just this last week.

Within hours I was already feeling an improvement and was able to sleep a little. Last night was the first night I actually slept in several nights, it felt SOOOO good. Today, I am feeling about how I did when I wrote my update last week and feeling hopeful and optimisitc about feeling 100% by Christmas. What a relief!

While at the Doctor office Dr. Graham said that our baby seemed to be measuring a little small and wanted to see if she was head-down yet. So, we got an extra ultrasound. Two weeks ago she said we were done with ultrasounds. So, we got another glimpse of our little baby! It was fun and exciting. She is healthy and very strong, but is only measuring at about 4 pounds 6 ounces! HOW does this baby pack such a punch at only 4lb 6oz! I don't know. And to look at my belly she seems like she is much bigger than that. The doctor came in and said she is required to tell us we have a small baby, but said she wasn't too worried about it because neither Dan or I are big people. The good news is that she is strong and healthy and we might get another ultrasound because they would like to see her grow a little more. We'll just try and keep her in as long as we can and cook her a little more. Technically she would be considered term anytime after December, but we hope we can fatten her up a little more.

Here are the two best pictures we got from the Ultrasound. She's all formed and still a girl. The pictures aren't great. The technician seemed to be rushing through it and obviously wasn't as excited about the surprise ultrasound as we were, but here she is again!

Her profile with a little hand in front of her face


Face on.
Could be a little scary looking, but you can actually see a little baby in there!
I think she looks a little like one of my nephews (Cannon) in this picture.
But who can really tell until she is here, right?

I Made it Monday: The BEST No-Bake Cookies

Well, next to Sis Chaffin's that is!

SO easy and SO yummy! I always have these ingredients around too! This recipes comes compliments of allrecipes.com. I don't do a lot of cooking or baking, but when I do it is usually these...so I guess I'm still not baking when I make these, huh?

I've even fancied them up with drizzling some melted white chocolate on top!

Chocolate-Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies
ingredients:
2 cups white sugar
1/4 Cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 Cup milk
1/2 Cup butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 pinch of salt
1/2 cup chunky peanut butter
3 cups quick-cooking oats

directions:
~ In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, cocoa, milk, and butter. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Boil for 1 minute, then remove from heat and stir in the vanilla, salt, peanut butter, and oats.
~ Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto waxed paper. Allow cookies to cool for at least 1 hour. Store in an airtight container.

34 week/ Almost 35 week Pregnancy Update

34 Weeks!

34 weeks + 2 days

Well, I've been meaning to get this update on here for a while, but so much has been happening. Thursday was a Relief Society Activity I was in charge of putting together...

(It was fun! A craft and cookie night. There were a couple of craft stations to make Christmas Cards, leather broaches, and Christmas stockings. Everyone brought 2 dozen cookies - one dozen to be shared that night - served with milk of course - and everyone got a dozen of mixed cookies to take home. And surprisingly there was not a single duplicate recipe)

...and Saturday was our Church Christmas Social/Dinner for which I played a harp piece. I hadn't been sleeping well the last several nights and unfortunately was around a few more people than I normally am and picked up a (luckily) very mild version of the cold going around here (I attribute that to my wonderful prenatal vitamins and excellent hydration). I had pretty much kicked it by Sunday night and was just finishing up the sniffles on Monday, but I feel like it could come back this morning so I'm taking it easy by blogging and catching up on a preggo update (only 2 days from being 35 weeks).

So, baby is doing GREAT! The doctor says I'm right on track with growth, weight (now up 23 lbs), and baby's heart rate is strong as ever. She got a kick out of feeling my tummy - she says there isn't much between the outside world and this baby and said she could feel everything - I could have told her THAT! I feel almost every move she makes these days and although it is still exciting and wonderful and miraculous - It has also become rather painful in the last 2 weeks! She packs quite a punch these days, and she really likes to squeeze a little foot or hand or something under my ribs (and I'm not just talking a little nudging - drilling or burrowing might be better words). I've heard babies often favor a certain position like on the left or right sides of the belly - Our little one's favorite spot is to lay sideways with her head on my left and bum and feet on my right and kick the daylights out of my right side (sometimes I look just to see if she's given me a bruise yet). Maybe because she just doesn't have enough room upright and she lets me know! I feel and see so many little knobs I can't tell what is what! Head and bum aren't too hard too tell, but I can't tell if the little ones are hands, feet, knees, shoulders, or elbows! All these acrobatics have made sleep a little more difficult lately - not to mention the fast approaching D-Day. Sometimes I get moments of pure excitement and once-in-a-while I get a little twinge of anxiety like I am not quite ready. But I think we are as ready as we can ever be!

I feel I have to report on the Pink Kit Progress for those of you who care. It has been interesting and I think has been good for us...but it may not be for everyone. Some people may not want to do part of the preparation work. Also, Dan and I finally got to the video portion of the kit and all I have to say is I don't know how many men would put up with this - luckily, Dan is so wonderful and is doing this with me because we want the best birth we can have. The video is a little dated (clothing wise) and seems quite...awkward at times. We have laughed quite a bit, but we are doing it! If any of you are ever interested in trying this kit ask me about it first and I will go into a little more detail so you know what you are getting into!

I am continually amazed at how as one becomes visibly more more pregnant she becomes public property...or should I say subject to public touch, scrutiny, criticism, suggestion, and praise. Luckily, I am pretty easy going and not easily offended and actually find these scenarios quite hilarious. I actually have not been touched much by strangers rubbing the pregnant belly, but I get a lot of looks and comments. I get a lot of guesses that I am having a boy or girl by the way I am carrying. I get a lot of suggestions of what I should/shouldn't do in pregnancy and birth. I also get a lot of assumptions that because I am pregnant I must be after the sweets. Just the other day I was in WalMart and an elderly gentleman pointed to the fudge brownies saying, "I assume you are looking for these". I have gotten a few comments about what a cute pregnant woman I am (typically from people who already know me and very few strangers), but mostly I get looks, double-takes, and comments about how young I look. Usually it starts off with someone seeing me and being startled by my belly as I come around my grocery cart, turn a corner, or get out of the car. They typically do a long head-to-toe double-take and have a confused and sometimes concerned look on their face. Often they look away when I make eye contact, but they keep sneaking looks back until they get up the nerve to say, "I just have to know..." or "I just have to ask..." or "Could I ask you..." - "...how old you are". Most are totally blown away when I tell them I am 28 years old. Then they feel free to comment that they thought I was another poor teenage mom that got into trouble or how they thought I couldn't be more than 17 or 18 but had a wedding ring on - THAT is what I think made people feel like they were allowed to ask. I have to admit I was a little disappointed to find out that many of the looks I previously thought were, "Oh, there goes a cute pregnant woman" were actually, "Oh No, there goes a pregnant teenager. I really do not think I look THAT young, but I am not looking at myself from others points of view I guess. I have not yet had the courage to play with anyone in my reply - although I think it could be very fun to I probably never will. But I often think about what I COULD say to them to get an even more shocked look on their face!

Another thing I have noticed is that my dreams have changed in the last week or so. Ever since I was pregnant my dreams have seemed more vivid in color and reality, but still weird and harmless. In the last week my dreams have gotten rather dark and violent. Almost every one involves an out of control and dangerous animal (bears, alligators, wild dogs, raptors, flesh-eating lizards, and such), strange people that are after me, and me being forced to do some sort of extreme sport or thing to save my life (like parachuting, hang gliding, base-jumping, zip-lining, cliff jumping...just to name a few). I know it sounds funny, but in my dreams people are actually mauled, shot, chased, or falling and I see it! NOT fun! I've actually had to will myself to change the dream or will myself to wake-up. I miss the less harmful nightmares I had before about forgetting to feed the baby again and again.

Ok. enough of that! We are getting ready for baby. Her nursery is starting to look super cute! I will have to post pictures soon. Also, we started a birthing class at the hospital. So far the best part has been the tour of the hospital (very nice!) and an anesthesiologist who came and spoke to us and answered questions for almost 45 minutes on pain management and epidurals. I thought that was SO valuable and learned a LOT of new things. I still want to see what I can do on my own in labor, but I am not afraid or against epidurals. Dan and I are going into this with the attitude that we will do as much as we can "naturally", but if I am not coping and labor is going to leave me scarred with horror stories and I am miserable and unhappy it isn't worth "going natural". I don't want memories of labor to be horrible. That being said, I am well aware that labor is not in anyway easy or pleasant - I guess it is all perspective. I know what some of you may think - just wait until you are there sweetheart! But Dan and I have done a lot of preparation and I know what kind of labor I want - and if that ends up natural than fine and if I have an epidural that is also fine.

We are SO excited! I can't wait to be holding this little one in our arms very soon! Sometimes I just sit back in amazement of it all and actually laugh out loud when I am all alone because I am just so happy and excited to become a mother. It is amazing how expecting has brought Dan and I closer. I thought we were very close before, but something has definitely changed and I love it! I'm not saying this well, and I'm not sure there are words to say it, but it is wonderful to have him as my partner in this! He has taken such good care of me and he is going to be an amazing Dad! I love him so much.

WOW! Novel here! Well, again, this update has been MUCH longer than I meant it to be, but I hope it wasn't too tortuous. Merry Christmas!

AND POMEGRANATE BLOG CHEF CHALLENGE WINNER IS...

...Jalynn!!!
(see her blog post here)

She really took this challenge to heart and I think she went above and beyond! There were other good suggestions of recipes sent my way, but Jalynn not only attempted a very challenging recipe, but she came up with it herself after researching several different recipes! AND she included pictures! I had not thought about pomegranate in much more than salads and desserts and expected such entries, but Jalynn's recipe was actually a main dish/entree! I am a little intimidated by this recipe, but I am going to try and attempt it one of these days! Congrats Jalynn and enjoy the reward!

For her efforts and participation Jalynn wins a family trip to Krispy Kreme for free doughnuts! I thought that would be fitting since doughnuts are currently my favorite food and
Krispy Kreme has the best!

Honorable mentions goes to my Dad for putting pomegranate seed in his salad with mixed greens (including spinach and chard still from the garden), diced asian pears and Fuji apples, poppyseed dressing and pecans. (I actually did get to taste this one when in WA and loved it!!!)

And another honorable mention to Julienne for a recipe suggestion for Pomegranate Cheesecake that looked pretty scrumptious (here)!

Thanks to all who participated and I hope that if I do another future BLOG CHEF CHALLENGE that more will have fun participating! In the words of Julia Childs (from the movie Julie&Julia, which I HIGHLY reccomend and LOVED!), "Do not be afraid!".

Remember the Pomegranate! And other randomness

You have 2 more days to get your pomegranate recipes in! I've received a small few so I'm still hoping some of you are planning on giving it a shot!

Tonight Dan and I watched "Julie & Julia" and I absolutely loved it! Dan loved it too! I think we saw a little bit of us both in it.

Hope you are all enjoying the season. I sure am! I've helped plan and put on 2 Christmas activities for church and they were both great successes and have really gotten me into the Christmas Spirit!

I will do a 34 week pregnancy update with picture tomorrow for all you who enjoy reading those.