I thought about calling the cops......

Last night I kept waking up to the sound of motorcycles. The noise went on until 2:00 AM and lasted for a few hours. My neighbor has a Harley Davidson and I thought for sure he was having a motorcycle party. I think I called him every curse word in the book. I was totally annoyed that A) he would have a party on Sunday night and B) they would be so inconsiderate to run their motorcycles at 2:00 in the morning. DIDN'T THEY KNOW I WAS 9 MONTHS PREGNANT??! After a few hours of trying to sleep through the noise I was ready to call the cops. Thankfully I was too lazy to get up and get my cell phone and I drifted back off to sleep. It was then that I noticed that wasn't motorcycle engines I was hearing.......that was ME snoring. I think even alone and in the dark my face turned bright red out of embarrassment. Thankfully I realized where the noise was coming from before I called the cops on myself. I would have really felt silly then!

Exactly 1 month to go!

Today is November 12 and the baby's estimated due date is December 12......wow, time has flown by! I can't believe that I am four weeks out from my due date. It seems like last week I just found out I was pregnant. I am confident we are ready for the baby (well, as ready as we will ever be). We have bought all the essential items for the baby including a breast pump, a car seat, a crib, a pack n' play and some clothes. After today I think I will officially be done with the baby's room! I just need to paint the bead board that we had professionally installed (I finally got Jason to cave and hire help!).

As anxious as I am to meet the baby part of me is already missing being pregnant. I know it sounds crazy, as most women complain non-stop while being pregnant. Yes, I am uncomfortable with my swelling, weight gain and frequent stops at the bathroom but knowing that our baby is safe and sound in my body gives me a sense of contentment. As long as the both the baby and I are healthy then I feel I have no reason to complain.

I will miss feeling the baby move in my belly. It never fails, I could be completely annoyed by someone at work or from a driver who cut me off but as soon as I feel the baby wiggle a sense of calmness comes over me. It's like a gentle reminder not to sweat the small stuff!

The Baby has a 66.6% Chance of having Brown Eyes

According to this website, http://museum.thetech.org/ugenetics/eyeCalc/eyecalculator.html, the baby has a 66.6% chance of having brown eyes, a 20% chance of having blue eyes and a 13.3% chance of having green eyes. Fingers crossed that the baby is not "blessed" with my boring, dominant gene, brown eyes!

Although, this calculator could be a load of crap too. My parents, who both have brown eyes, have a son (my brother) who has blue eyes. The odds of that happening were 9%. So my baby's 33.3% chance of having blue or green eyes is looking much better!

Funny How Things Change!

Yesterday I was thinking about myself 1 year ago and boy how things have changed! Prior to my pregnancy I knew I wanted a baby but I was afraid that I was too selfish of a person ever to love a baby more than myself. In my mind, having a baby meant sacrifices not only monetarily but emotionally and physically as well. I was convinced that I wouldn't be half the mom my mother is. I remember thinking "Gosh, it will really suck when I have a kid and I can't buy the new shoes I want because the baby needs diapers" or "Hmmm, having a kid will really cut into my social life." Hearing those thoughts now makes me cringe. I am embarrassed to admit that I once thought like that!! Even without ever meeting my little one I know without a doubt my baby will come first in my life. I can't wait until the baby is here so I can spend my time home with the baby seeing all his/her milestones first hand. I now envision my Saturday nights with Jason and I sitting in our living room, with the TV in the background, playing with baby. What a far cry for our Saturday nights a year ago! The funny thing is, given the choice, I would gladly sit at home with our baby vs. going to a bar (well, that is on a regular basis.....never say never!). In a way it makes me sad that I was too self centered to see that loving someone else more than yourself provides a better satisfaction in life.

I might not be as great of a mother as my mom but I know without a doubt I will give my all to making my baby's life as wonderful and safe as possible! Only 75 days until the baby is here!

28 Week Poll!!

Sorry for the lack of posts in my blog in the past month. I have been distracted by other things in my life but I promise to become a regular poster again!

How far along? 28 weeks and 3 days. Only 81 more days to go!!
Total weight gain/loss: I am up 21.9 lbs (not quite ready to say 22 lbs)
Maternity clothes? Without a doubt YES!! I think at this point even my flowy non-maternity tops no longer fit
Stretch marks? Just on my right hip. I am waiting for another stretch mark explosion to happen any day now
Sleep: Oh gez.......NO! I don't think I have slept more than 8 hours over the last week and a half. I know it's getting bad when complete strangers comment on how tired I look.
Best moment this week: Feeling the baby move. I don't think that will ever get old! Also, we finally got the baby's room painted but I HATE the color - I see more painting in my future!
Food cravings: Dr. Pepper. I know it's not recommended that pregnant women drink caffeine but that is SERIOUSLY ALL I WANT!
Gender: Hmm, I am not so confident it's a boy anymore. Either way I will be happy with what God gives us!
Labor Signs: None, thank goodness
Button in or out? Still in
What I miss: Sleep!! But, it might be years before I get any
What I am looking forward to: Holding our baby for the first time
Weekly Wisdom: Don't sweat the small stuff. As long as the baby has love the baby will be happy!

24 Week Poll!

How far along? 24 weeks and 3 days
Total weight gain/loss: I have more or less maintained my weight. Monday morning I was up 17.6 lbs.....down from last week
Maternity clothes? Yes, and I would really like some new ones. However, I have better things to spend my money on
Stretch marks? Still on my right hip. I *think* I am starting to get one by my belly button. I am hopeful it's not really a stretch mark
Sleep: This week my sleep was OK
Best moment this week: I had my first baby dream. Up until now it has just been pregnancy dreams
Food cravings: Milk.....yep, milk. I haven't had a glass of milk since I was about 4 years old!
Gender: I don't care one way or the other but I still think it's a boy
Labor Signs: No!
Button in or out? In
What I miss: Not much this week. I am happy with the way things are
What I am looking forward to: I know I say this every week but hopefully this week we will start on the baby's room
Weekly Wisdom: Enjoy this phase of pregnancy. It won't be too long before I will be uncomfortable!

23 Week Poll!

Sorry, I have been MIA on my weekly polls. Mostly it was because I was in denial about the amount of weight I had gained. I have been doing better, as the past two weeks I have been able to maintain my weight.

How far along? 23 weeks and 3 days
Total weight gain/loss: I am officially up 18.4 lbs
Maternity clothes? Yes, and I have had to retire a few pants that no longer fit!
Stretch marks? Yes. So far they are just on my right hip although I think they are getting deeper :(
Sleep: It's on and off. Most nights I get up to pee at 2:30 AM and can't fall back asleep
Best moment this week: I can now see the baby moving from the outside!! It's great to look down and see my belly jump!
Food cravings: Dr. Pepper......I have snuck a few lately (which is bad I know)
Gender: I am convinced it's a boy at this point
Labor Signs: Nope
Belly Button in or out? In
What I miss: Having motivation to work out
What I am looking forward to: Getting the baby's room finished
Weekly Wisdom: Don't eat too much crap!

Here is a picture of Jason and I in San Antonio this past weekend

Aren't These the Cutest Things Ever??!

I think I am going to take up knitting. While searching one of my favorite blogs Spearmint Baby, I came across two of her post that included the cutest baby items ever!

The first item is a crocheted hat. If we are blessed with a baby girl I am TOTALLY going to dress her in this hat. It can be purchased from the Etsy seller Sparkle Berry Crafts:

The second item is knitted booties that are just adorable. They can be found on Josi Croche. Regardless of the sex, I HAVE to have these knitted All Stars.....if only I can find a place to buy them!!

I Had my 4th and Final Ultrasound Today.....

It was bittersweet to have my final ultrasound today. I was excited to see my baby once again but I also was sad to know that was my last peek at the baby until it's birthday. The ultrasound lasted for a total of 23 minutes but it was the best 23 minutes of my day! Jason and I were able to see our little one yawning and waving for the camera. The baby wasn't too active and the ultrasound tech mentioned that he/she was probably falling in and out of sleep. I am proud to say that our baby is growing, and as of today weighed 15 oz., just shy of 1 lbs.

For those of you who were waiting to hear the sex of the baby, you will have to wait a little while longer!! Jason and I didn't find out the sex. I am somewhat surprised we had the willpower to stay strong!!

After my ultrasound Jason and I meet with my doctor, Dr. Shoemaker. He assured me that my pregnancy is progressing as expected and I am right on track. I feel really comfortable with my doctor. He is great at putting my concerns at ease.

As I was pulling out of the parking lot I couldn't help but feel complete joy. It would be great if I could visit the doctor everyday and experience the euphoric high I get from the reassurance that things are on track. I then had to laugh to myself, pre-pregnancy I couldn't think of anything worse that having to visit my OB-GYN. Funny how things change.....

Here is some pics from my ultrasound. The first picture is the bottom of the baby's foot. It you look closely, five toes can be made out. The second picture is the profile of our beautiful baby!!

This ALMOST Makes me Want to Find Out the Sex!!!

I came across this website searching the web and they sell the cutest baby clothes!!! Looking at all the adorable outfits ALMOST makes me want to find out the sex of our little one. But, I am determined to have will power and wait until December.
The website is http://www.shrimpandgritskids.com/default.asp and I will definitely be visiting the store come December!!

Meet the Big Brother and Big Sisters!

Jason and I have three dogs that we treat like they are our own children. They are very spoiled but will make for a great big brother and sisters!

Lady:

Age: Who knows, she is a stray that was dropped off at our house.
Hobbies: Jumping fences, cleaning Lucky and The Little Girl daily, chasing rabbits, going for rides in the car and pleasing Jason and I
How will she handle the baby: She will think she is the mama!! Lady is very nurturing and we will have nothing to worry about with her.



Lucky:

Age: Will be 6 in December. He is becoming an old man
Hobbies: Sleeping, pooping, cleaning his man parts (or lack thereof), hanging out in the AC, going for walks and cuddling
How will he handle the baby: Lucky will do well. He will be curious at first but will adjust just fine. Lucky is very laid back and isn't bothered by much.


The Little Girl:

Age: Will be 4 in November
Hobbies: Pooping indoors, barking, terrorizing Lucky and eating
How will she handle the baby: I think The Little Girl will do so-so with the baby. She will be happy to have a baby in the house but she will definitely have to be separated. She bites everyone she meets but she is misunderstood!! Biting is her way of letting you know she likes you. Thankfully she doesn't bite hard but we will need to keep her away from the baby. Biting the baby is not ok!!

It's Offical.....I am a Crazy First Time Mom!

On Tuesday of this week I began to worry because I hadn't felt the baby move much. Initially I wasn't too alarmed. I read in my "What to Expect When Expecting" book that not feeling consistent movement before the 24th week is completely normal. However, I began reading various websites and began self diagnosis......which is never a good idea. I got myself so worked up that something terrible had gone wrong that my rationalization skills went out the window.

I ended up calling my doctor and I told them my concerns about not feeling the baby. They were VERY understanding and told me to come in right away. Once I got there, they immediately took me to the back where they weighed me (yikes!), took my blood pressure and tested my proteins. Next I heard the best sound in the world.....it was the baby's heart beating strong at 142 beats per minute!!! I almost lost it when I heard the "whoosh, whoosh". It was instant relief!! Needless to say, I was super embarrassed for my overreaction and apologized a million times to the doctor. She assured me that it was ok and she's glad she was able to ease my mind by having me come in.

I guess this is just a glimpse of what's yet to come.......I will be the stereotypical first time crazy mom!!

I Have Come Up With a Solution Regarding the Windows

After a week of research and brainstorming I have come up with a solution regarding the windows in the baby's room. I (or shall I say my mom) thought of a much cheaper solution that will look great. We decided we are going to purchase Levolor Blinds from Lowes and build a frame out of trim to be placed around the window. I figure the trim pieces will help mask the fact that the window coverings are actually blinds and give the windows a more finished look. This will take some ghetto magic to pull off but it's worth it given the fact we will save over $1,000.00!!

Here is a picture of the Levlolor Blinds:

What's great about these blinds (other than the price) is they can be cut to a custom size while you shop!

We Purchased the Crib!!

I was really bummed a few weeks ago when we tried to order the crib I wanted from Babies R' Us. We were given an automated message that the crib had been discontinued but we would receive an email when the updated version of the crib was in stock. We entered our email but I figured the updated crib wouldn't hit the shelves before my due date. I decided I should start looking for alternate cribs but nothing really caught my eye.

I am happy to report that we received the email that the crib has been restocked!! Jason just called to let me know he purchased the crib and it should arrive in the next week. I am blown away by his willingness to buy the crib without me nagging him for weeks on end. Like I said in a previous post, the baby has found a place in his heart!

Here is a picture of the crib again:

19 Week Poll!

How far along? 19 weeks and 3 days
Total weight gain/loss: I think I am at 9 lbs. Although, I haven't weighed myself in a few days.....I'm scared!
Maternity clothes? Yep, I have decided not to buy anymore unless I am forced to
Stretch marks? I think I am getting a few more on my hips :( I'm sad because I still have at least 15 more lbs to gain. Jason has told me after everything is said and done, I can get the laser surgery for stretch marks.
Sleep: Good but I keep sleeping on my back which is not good!
Best moment this week: Feeling the baby. Everyday the connection I feel to the baby just gets stronger and stronger.
Food cravings: Italian subs and Italian Ice. Hmm, maybe I should move out of South Texas...
Gender: Good question
Labor Signs: Nope, not yet
Belly Button in or out? In
What I miss: Not being fat
What I am looking forward to: Seeing our baby
Weekly Wisdom: I am starting to really enjoy being pregnant. There is NOTHING else I would rather be doing

I Purchased a Diaper Bag!

Diaper bags never really got me excited like other baby items have. To me they always seemed ho-hum. Today I was randomly searching Rue La La and came across the Petunia Pickle Bottom Boutique. I found a cute diaper bag (and a great price too) that will coordinate with the stroller/car seat we are planning on buying. Here's some pics:

This is the stroller/car seat combo we are considering:

I was planning on splurging on a designer diaper bag but after the headache I am going through trying to find cheap window coverings I have reconsidered. This diaper bag will do just fine!!

Perhaps Roman Shades?

I have come to the conclusion I am going to be disappointed in my cheap plantation shutter search. I just can't justify spending $1,200 on window coverings!! I have started searching for other options and there is not much other there that I like. I did come across a blog today that had roman shades which I thought added a nice touch to the room. I have requested a few quotes and hopefully they come back cheaper that the $1,200 for the plantation shutters!!

Nursery Inspiration

I came across this nursery on HGTV.com's Rate My Space and I fell in love!! I love the wainscoting and the paint color. I plan on using this as my inspiration!! It is just the look I am going for in our nursery.

Why do my windows have to be so BIG??!

I am currently on the hunt for plantation shutters for the baby's room that don't cost a fortune!! Unfortunately, the baby's room has two huge windows that are 5 feet x 5 feet. That equals pretty penny when pricing custom shutters. I have gotten quotes from about 10 different places and I definitely have sticker shock. I am hoping one day in the near future to have shutters that resemble this:



I have been talking with Jason regarding the quotes and surprisingly he is entertaining the idea of custom shutters. I guess you can say our little baby has already found a place in his heart!! I would be willing to bet that if I brought up the idea of custom shutters pre-pregnancy, it would have been a definite "NO" from him! Ahh, I guess this is just a glimpse of what is yet to come - our baby will be spoiled!!

18 Week Poll!!

How far along? 18 weeks and 2 days
Total weight gain/loss: I am still up 8 lbs (well 8.8 but I am not ready to say 9 lbs yet!!)
Maternity clothes? Sigh, I think I am starting to grow out of some of my pants already :(
Stretch marks? Just the one I found last week. I haven't found any new ones THANK GOD!!!
Sleep: Sleep is good for the most part. I hate sleeping on my sides but there is not much I can do.
Best moment this week: Feeling that baby move more often
Food cravings: Italian Ice
Gender: Again, I really have no idea.
Labor Signs: No, thank goodness!
Belly Button in or out? In
What I miss: I miss having a cold beer on a Friday night!!
What I am looking forward to: Getting the baby's room done
Weekly Wisdom: Keep working out and get a jump on the decorating and renovations that need to take place before the baby arrives