Maternity Shots with KellyMarie!

A Couple Saturday Morning Funnies

Super Cute, No?

From Celebrity Baby Blog; UMI SHOES:

Last spring, we introduced you to Umi Shoes -- a brand that counts Violet Affleck, 2 ½, among its biggest fans. If you liked Umi's spring/summer shoes you'll love the new fall/winter line, which is in stores now.

My favorites would have to be Jet ($65), a casual boot for boys with cool sneaker-styling,Sweetgum ($60), a stylish ankle boot for girls with leaf decals, and Puzzle($38), a funky t-strap guaranteed to brighten up even the dreariest of winter days. The entire line is colorful and fun, as we've come to expect with Umi, but what I really love is the sturdiness of these shoes. The boots -- in particular -- seem like they'll hold up well over the cold months ahead and because each pair is easy on/off, chunky winter socks won't get in the way.

Heres My Fave:

32 weeks pregnant

How your baby's growing:

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

How your life's changing:

To accommodate you and your baby's growing needs, your blood volume has increased 40 to 50 percent since you got pregnant. With your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and crowding your stomach, the consequences may beshortness of breath and heartburn. To help relieve your discomfort, try sleeping propped up with pillows and eating smaller meals more often.

You may have lower-back pain as your pregnancy advances. If you do, let your caregiver know right away, particularly if you haven't had back pain before, since it can be a sign of preterm labor.

Assuming it's not preterm labor that's ailing you, you can probably blame your growing uterus and hormonal changes for your aching back. Your expanding uterus shifts your center of gravity and stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, changing your posture and putting a strain on your back. Hormonal changes in pregnancy loosen your joints and the ligaments that attach your pelvic bones to your spine. This can make you feel less stable and cause pain when you walk, stand, sit for long periods, roll over in bed, get out of a low chair or the tub, bend, or lift things.

Picking a Middle Name

DOPE!

Just realized Ashley is my neices middle name - I don't know how this never donned on me before.  

Even though it was the least liked on the poll it was the one we were most sure about until we were driving home today and K randomly said "Brooklyn Ashley ... Kate Ashley" and it hit me!

Im so slow sometimes.

Anyhow now I have no clue what middle name to use ... We liked Jane, hate the initials. We liked Ashley, its already in use. Ann is ok. 

So im off to create another poll ....

:)

Getting VERY excited ...

Here are a few of the reasons Im super excited ...

• Alexa sent me her itinerary which means shes COMING TO THE SHOWER!!!!

• Grammie said she might be able to come all the way down TOO!!!

• My 32 week appt is on Fri and that means I get to leave EARLY!

• I have a 32 week appt on friday!!! ;)

• Maternity Pics on SATURDAY!!!!!!! wooo hooo 

• Camping - day trip only ;) - hot dogs, smores, pozole, 31, etc.

• No Work on Monday!!! 

• Shower is almost hereeeee!

My Newest Niece!

There are 3 new baby girls on D's side of the family in 2008 - this is the 2nd & most recent addition!  I cant wait to get a pic of all 3 of the girls together!

Heres Brooklyns newest BFF getting her first bath ;)

Only 60 days to go ...

... thats 2 months!!!

note to self: talk to HR about Maternity Leave!

:)

Our Vegas Trip

We wanted to squeeze in one last mini-vacation before the baby comes - so we took a trip to Las Vegas. We stayed at Mandalay Bay where we spent almost the entire time in the cabana at their water park/pool.

My highlight of the trip: In the cabana next to us on the first day - there was a girl celebrating her 16th birthday ... and My Sister-In-Law scored us all a piece of birthday cake! I was in heaven - at the pool, not worrying abut sucking in my stomach AND eating cake!

D's Highlight: He won at the roulette table!

K's Highlight: The wave pool!!! She spent at least half of her time there!

Heres a couple of pics ...

Thank You Auntie Norma!!!

We got another GIFT!!!! 

I think I might just go buy a few diapers to complete this adorable thing ...

Over The Hill ...

Im 31 Weeks Pregnant!

How your baby's growing:

This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. She weighs about 3.3 pounds and is heading into a growth spurt. She can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. She's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

Heres 31 weeks ... say CHEESE!!!!!

K's First Day Of School!

Anyone seen my Self-Control Lately - its missing ...

My coworker was kind enough to share her cookies with everyone ...

I was kind enough to inhale them all before anyone else could consume the unwanted calories.

arent I sweet??

Now if only my DH will be sweet enough to ROLL my arse into the delivery room - we'll be good. 

:)

i love this pic ...

It reminds me of Kalina & I ... in fact, I did this to her this morning - although just with my fingers. 

Her face looked exactly like that too ;)

So Frustrated

After taking nearly a week off Im back to work and more annoyed than ever ... :P

My back started hurting again - so now Im sure that its sitting that makes it hurt and I'm more annoyed about it than ever. I was feeling good last week. This chair sucks, sitting all day blows and theres so many other things I could be doing right now. 

Yeah ... sure, I do NEED the income, but I could be more efficient at home. I could do all my work in a matter of 4 hours and then have the other half of the day to do everything else on my own personal growing to-do list

Everything & everyone is annoying me here. Im a complete occupational hazard today - I have a million & one things on my to-do list but all I want to do is avoid it. Im incredibly thirsty and therefore continually have to pee. The baby keeps hiccuping and I want to rip my bra off before I lose my mind. 

My boss wants me to create a new dieline for a package we've never done before - which wouldnt be a big deal if I could just focus. Then my Boss's Boss wants me to create a diagram of a truck for the warehouse guys and I just couldnt be less enthusiastic about such a random project. And then of course we have Sales calling to make sure I got the email they JUST sent.

Oh well - I guess I feel better now ... guess I'll go get started on my list of to-do's. 

love this useless little thing

I think baby brooklyn *needs* it ... dont you??

;)

This Could Work ...

I am averaging about a trip an hour to the bathroom. I thought it wasnt supposed to be this bad until I "dropped" but I guess I was wrong. I still have 10 weeks to go ... so at this rate I'll need this new office set up by the end of the month! :P

30 Weeks Down, 10 To Go ...

... til my due date at least. Thats only 70 DAYS!!!! aghhhhh!

I had my 30 week appt today and will now begin seeing my Dr every 2 weeks. Blood Pressure was good, Heartbeat was strong, weight gain was normal, yada yada ... and basically, all's well.

At the end of the appointment Kalina asked if the Dr was going to do an ultrasound - Our OB replied by saying "Sure, as long as your mom & dad are ok with it". Yayyy! We weren't supposed to have another ultrasound again unless they suspected any problems.

She confirmed that the baby was in a head down position and the placenta had moved up top

(it was previously on the front wall of the uterus.) We saw her head, her heart beating nice & strong and her beautiful spine. Chances are good that this is the position she will stay in until delivery ... making for another speedy labor (CROSSING MY FINGERS!).

I also found out today that my Dr. doesn't like to let women go more than 1 week past their due date. At this point they will induce - which scares the crap out of me! Kalina was 9 days overdue ... so if Baby Brooklyn follows in her sisters footsteps I will be begging for just a few more days before being induced. While I trust my Dr. - Id much rather have my body do it on its own.

Baby Brooklyn is the size of a cabbage this week ...

Thank you Auntie Lea!!!

Im so excited to hang my new wall letters ... which were an unexpected gift I found on my porch on friday from my good friend Lea. :D Thank you Lea!!!!

A Few of the Letters Up-Close:

Happy 29!

Im 29 weeks pregnant today!

I cant believe Im this far along already - I feel like we just found out about this new addition!!!

Im feeling good still - although I went from feeling not that pregnant to feeling VERY pregnant practically overnight. And I still have 11 weeks til my due date ... thats still a loooot of time to grow :-/

The baby is moving a LOT and gets hiccups all the time. She consistently hangs out on the right ride and has started stretching those little legs up to my RIBS! hehe. Babycenter.com says that shes prob about 2 1/2 pounds and a tad over 15 inches long. Her muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and her head is growing bigger to make room for her developing brain.

Im getting sick of the headless shots - so im moving on to faceless ones ;0)

Ways to Make a Pregnant Girls Day

Today I hit the Jackpot! My cousin Helena who is having a baby girl TODAY - passed on a TON of maternity clothes to me. Im wearing an entirely new (to-me) outfit today. So it started me thinking about all the things that really just MAKE YOUR DAY when your pregnant & you feel like a beluga whale.

• Cute Hand Me Downs that FIT!

• Comments like "you dont even look pregnant from behind" - even if i dont believe 'em. ;)

• My Husband & Daughters hugs - theyre even better now that I have a round belly.

• Baby gifts on the porch when you get home from a super thoughtful, sweet friend. ;) 

• Homemade Food - thank GOD for my husband.

• Food in general. ;)

• Calls/emails from my sisters & sister-in-laws to just say "hi" and see how im doing.

• My moms aka Gramma's excitement about Baby Brooklyn and the shower!

Those are a few of the things that made my week this week ;)

I feel so loved :D

A gift for him ... or for me?!

So although I know he probably wanted something car related - I went against my better judgement I got him something sentimental. ;)

The traditional 1 year anniversary gift is paper -  so I had our vows written in calligraphy for each side of the bed. This way we can never go to sleep mad - haha. yeah right!

   

\

yup theres something growing in there...

Pregnancy amazes me ... this is what happened between weeks 12 (on left) and week 28 (right).

Ive been very irritable this week with everything - I just feel grumpy in general. But when I think about how cool all of this is it helps mellow me out.

So - yes; physically this is a very amazing and awe-inspiring experience for me (even the 2nd time around) but in all honestly Im kinda freaked out - Im nervous about everything this week. These same things didnt phase me last week - but here are a few of the things that completely freak me out at the moment;

• how Kalina adjust to having a sibling.

• how our family will adjust to having a newborn

• if im grumpy now ... *sigh* 'nuff said.

• how will a new baby affect our marriage?

• will my baby be healthy?

• can i possibly push another baby out successfully?

• will i end up having a c-section???

• how bad is it going to suck leaving a baby again when i go back to work -

i hate separation anxiety (mine, not the babys)

• will this all work out financially like we've planned?

• will I have discipline enough to get back into shape?

• will david be sensitive to what im going thru?

• will I be sensitive to the changes hes going to be experiencing?

• who will cook dinner and sweep the floors??? haha.

and those are just the immediate concerns. Dont get me started about the responsibility of raising a self-sufficient adult ...

ok ok ... i know. it'll ALL BE FINE. This stuff has a way of working out - right???

one things for sure; she'll be here before we know it.

Feeling a little Nemo-ish today

just a leeeeeeetle lop-sided. :P

i want this dress ... help me find it.

Crazy Prints

I need this top dress ... 

What A Difference A Day Makes

28 Week Belly Shot:

The image on the left is the Pre-Anniversary-Dinner-Belly and on the right is the aftermath; the morning-after-the-dinner-belly.

By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

Our 1st Year Anniversary!

We had a wonderful dinner last night at Joe Dimaggios - the food was awesome, the restaurant was gorgeous, staff was great and the company was as good as it gets ;) 

We were pleasantly & unexpectedly surprised with not one but 2 delicious desserts sent over from my Sister & her family (I didnt even have to share ;)!! We enjoyed a chocolate Souffle with vanilla cream and a very yummy fuji apple crisp topped with vanilla ice cream.  

Since im lame I forgot to take any pics of it until the very end of the night - but David assured me that we have plenty more anniversaries to photograph in the future ...

Birth Announcements

What do you think? I found some layouts I liked online and created them myself with better fonts & colors... I think I like #1 the best.

Our Favorite Pastime ...

...playing with PhotoBooth. Youve got to check it out ...

How did I get so blessed to have such an awesome Daughter!??! and now TWO :D