Bumpdate - 34 Weeks

Please excuse the photo this week....not only is it excruciatingly late, but it was windy and hard to get this shot! We tried to go on the golf course to get a pretty shot, but it was ladies league night so it was impossible to do so! My hair just looks all disheveled! I will attempt to be on time next week.....and hopefully we can get a good chalkboard and photo locale! Things have been CRAZY around here.

What's baby up to this week? She is the size of a cantaloupe, measuring almost 18" long and weighs around 4 3/4 pounds. Fat layers, which help to regulate her temperature after birth, are filling her out and making her rounder. The central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well.

What's been going on with mom? Super tired! I get a lull around 2:30 everyday where I just want to take a nap, which doesn't always work out in my favor.....well most of the time it doesn't. We have entered the uncomfortable portion of the program! Sitting, lying down, breathing....it's all become very difficult. Baby girl decided to stretch herself out sideways over the past weekend and it was all I could do to find a comfortable position. I was able to get all of my thank yous done from my baby shower this weekend also.....just need to send them out. We started to go through "Boutique Emma" as I call it, to asses the items that still need to be purchased. We didn't count how many outfits, but we filled two 36 gallon tubs with clothes! Were also trying to decide if we should pay to do a maternity shoot. It's getting late in my pregnancy and finding time when both D and I, and the photographer are available seems unlikely.....with the two 3D ultrasounds, I'm kinda leaning towards the newborn shoot after she's born as opposed to the maternity session.

Symptoms: Exhaustion, heartburn, acne, mild charlie horses, emotional, hip cramp, braxton hicks have been around, but I just figured out that's what they were!

Yummy/Icky: ICE COLD water...and watermelon.....or berries in general!

Clothing: Mostly all maternity. Just trying to stay comfy!

Movement: Lots of rolling and stretching. Sometimes I feel the hard kicks and punches, when it's time for bed, but mostly shes just trying to find room, things are getting squashed!

Belly Button In/Out: Teeny tiny, almost to the flat point!

Wedding Rings On/Off: On, but tight when I don't get enough water or I'm hot. Soon it will be time to retire them to a necklace.

Best Moment this Week: Finishing the thank yous for all the guests that came to the shower, and spending a relaxing weekend just lounging on the couch and watching movies with my mom!

Looking forward to: A good nights sleep? Is that dumb? Last of our childbirth classes and packing the hospital bag. Also baby girls arrival!

Throwback Thursday - The Time I was a Beauty Queen

Do any of you use the Timehop app? I check it every Thursday in hopes that it bring up some interesting pictures to use for Throwback Thursday. This morning I looked and it alerted me to the fact that it has been 5 years since I ran in my local "scholarship program." Lets be real, Beauty pageant! It's been really great to look back at these photos and see how much I have changed, but to also remember the lasting friendships that I made along the way. I was new to the area and was hoping to meet some people and network along the way and really that's what I got out of the program. I did not win my category, but was still able to participate in the events and enjoy all the things that my not-so-little valley has to offer. I made lots of memories and even though there was some unpleasantness that occurred, it really was a fun thing that I did! Will I let Emma participate in one? Maybe or maybe not. We will see if it's something that interests her first! Please take a trip down memory lane with me as we take a look at some of the events I did!

Actual pageant! My and my momma!

Swimsuit Competition! Post baby body inspiration right here!

Evening Gown Competition.....loved this dress!

My proud hubby and I

Jazz Festivals, we did face painting for the kiddos!

Multiple Sclerosis Golf Tournament

Independence Day Parade with my girlie!

Photoshoots

Chili Cookoff!

All Corked Up Wine Festival!

I had tons of fun and made some lasting friendships! I also taught myself, and with the help of others, how to be a girlie girl.....before this curling my hair and wearing makeup was really not in my vocabulary! Just a little peek into my past for this Throwback Thursday!

Bumpdate - 33 Weeks (plus a bonus 3D U/S!)

As Emeril Lagassi would say "Bam!" and there's a bump! LOOK AT IT! It came out of nowhere!

What's baby up to this week? She is the size of a pineapple, measuring over 17" long and weighs a little over 4 pounds. She is rapidly losing that wrinkled look, by the looks of our 3D ultrasound we did she has the cutest chubby cheeks. Her skeleton is hardening, although the bones in her head aren't fused together which allows them to move and slightly overlap, making it easier for her to fit through the birth canal. These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood so they can grow as the brain and other tissues expand throughout infancy and childhood. At my doctor's appointment last Friday she had a good solid heart rate of 147 although my fundal height measurement was a little small, my doctor didn't seem at all concerned with. He thought she might be breech, but at our 3D they confirmed shes still got her head down by my bladder....which I can attest to frequently. 

What's been going on with mom? I am tired every day! As she grows larger, I just seem to get more and more tired. Sleep is better depending on the day, although it was awful over the weekend because of my excitement about my baby shower, I'll post on that soon I promise! Emotional times were had as well as just being completely overwhelmed! Baby girl is so blessed already!

Symptoms: Same story as last week: exhaustion, heartburn, acne, mild charlie horses, emotional, hip cramps (even with the pillow!)

Yummy/Icky: ICE COLD water...probably due to the 100+ degree temps that plagued the southland last week. At least it cooled off for the weekend.

Clothing: All maternity on the bottom! Mostly on top as well. I did find a couple of cute maternity tops at Ross, although their selection was crappy....at least I have some hot weather stuff to wear!

Movement: Lots of rolling and stretching. Sometimes I feel the hard kicks and punches, when it's time for bed, but mostly shes just trying to find room!

Belly Button In/Out: Teeny tiny!

Wedding Rings On/Off: On, can still get tight.....hopefully the will stay on! If the weather continues to be hot, I have a feeling they will be retired to a chain.

Best Moment this Week: Definite the baby shower and spending time with my mom and step mom!

Looking forward to: Resting! I know....lame. But this 3 day Memorial Day weekend is screaming my name "sleep and put your feet up!"

Below is this weeks chalkboard and some cute shots of Miss Emma from our 3D ultrasound! Of course in true fashion the arm was in her face the whole time! But the tech managed to get some good images!

Little grin, once she finally removed her hand from her face!

Rubbing her face! Look at that little hand!

Little ear....looks like daddies! Does this child have any of my features?

Chubby cheeks!

Baby Shower Preview

The day has arrived!! Today is the day of my long awaited (at least for me) baby shower. As I sit here thinking about the day and feeling our precious little one move around I cannot help but think how lucky I am to have such a wonderful support system around us. It's true what they say that everybody loves babies but so many people have told me just how excited they are to welcome little Emma into the world! She will be such a loved child and I am so grateful for that.

We kicked off the celebration by picking up my step mom from the airport yesterday afternoon. She had no idea I was going to be at the airport so when she saw me and the tears came for her, they did for me as well. We made the trek back in from lax, if you live in L.A. You know what an irritation that is on a Friday afternoon. We ran a couple errands and then relaxed at my cousins house to try and stay cool out of the triple digit heat. Apparently things for me are always planned on weekends where we have record breaking temps. Sorry family! We then told my step mom that we were going to dinner, wings and fries of course, but actually had booked another 3D ultrasound so she could see babes precious face on the screen. D's dad also came because he missed the last one as did his mom and my mom. Once we pulled into the parking lot I could see the perplexed look on my step moms face and I pointed to the sign exclaiming "obviously were not going to dinner yet, but here first." She instantly lit up and of course started to cry again. We enjoyed another 30 minutes of little miss stubborn with her hands in her face, but we did get some good photos and I will post those soon! :)

After that we made our way out to the local Bdubs (BWW) for wings not realizing that the Kings were playing the Ducks for game 7. The place was a zoo, but it was a buzz with excitement because they ended up winning 6 to 2 dealing the Ducks fate in the Stanley Cup race and moving on to defend their title! We got home and put together our car seat and stroller, both of us were so tired that it was interesting watching the hubby reading the directions how to snap everything in place. All in all it was such a great Friday and the perfect way to start off the weekend.

I know this post promised something other than a recap if yesterday so here's a couple of photos I was able to sneak in with regards to the shower. I can't wait to see what the ladies have done and I cannot say enough times how lucky I am to have such wonderful women in my life!!! Stay tuned for the whole recap (you know I'll be snapping away and the details!)

My Only contribution...the chalkboard layout!

The color scheme

Decor - Cupcakes made out of receiving blankets and onesies

Decor - Adorable diaper cakes

Decor - Popcorn boxes and cupcake toppers!!

Boys Behind the Blog - Final

I am so sad that this is the final Boys Behind the Blog. For the last year, once a month we have gotten to find out new and funny things from our significant others, and how they feel about this crazy world of blogging. I can honestly say that I am going to miss this link up, but sometimes good things come to an end.

Here are link's to Darin's answers in the past:

July 2013
August 2013
September 2013
October 2013
November 2013
December 2013
January 2014
February 2014
April 2014

So without further adieu.....D's final questions and answers, as usual I put in my two cents in purple.

1.What was your first job. Sadly my first job was Six Flags Magic Mountain. I guess a job is a job right. He loved it at the time! Free entrance to the park and first dibs on riding all the rides! C'mon that's one of the reasons I worked at Disneyland!

2.What's the biggest risk you've ever taken? Umm not sure what would be my biggest risk would be but maybe just trying things I have never done before such as Zipling. Which ended up being amazing. This was definitely a risk for me! I was utterly terrified to do this but my wonderful hubby got me to go and it was such a great experience!

3.What is one thing you cannot live without. I could never live without my family and friends being around. I am a social person so I love people being around. Such a true statement!!!!

4.What is your least favorite food. I would have to say my least favorite food would be anything with cheese and sushi. Ok I kinda feel him on the sushi, but honestly I have never understood and will never understand how a person cannot like CHEESE! It's amazingness abounds! I just love slicing off a big chunk of extra sharp! YUM! I love him anyways though!

5. If you could time travel where/when would you go. If I could time travel I would like to go back in time and see how living in the Wild West times would be like. Huh....interesting! Not wanting to visit Doc Brown in the 80s?!?

There you have it. I hope you all enjoyed reading thoughts from my hubby as much as I did. I might still keep on asking him questions every month, especially once he becomes a daddy, just to hear his perspective on things, also in his handwriting. (typing)

Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve

About a month ago, my bumpdate shoot was held at a pretty cool place. I was up visiting my parents for the weekend, trying to decide where to take it when my mom suggested the Antelope Vally Poppy Reserve. We drive through the desert and see the wild poppies all the time but I have never been to the preserve. It really only blooms in April so going for my bumpdate seemed like an ideal plan.

My mom and I loaded up into the car and made our way into the preserve, seeing all the wild poppies on the side of the road got me excited! People were out in full force taking their photos along the side of the road. Once inside the reserve we discovered that we couldn't go off the path and take photos in the field. It was also outrageously busy with tourists and gale force winds made it almost impossible to keep the chalkboard upright without recruiting someone to hold it from behind.

We took a couple shots in the Reserve as well as some fun artsy shots, which is the purpose of this post. We decided to stop along a concentrated area along the road, where you can get deep into the fields and take photos which is inevitable the one I chose for the update. My mom couldn't help herself and had me pose for a couple without the chalkboard, but the wind made it really difficult to get a good shot.

It was a fun afternoon and of course after this weekend the poppies really bloomed, so if you live in Southern California or are visiting in April, go and check out this pretty place and take some photos of your own! :-)

Mother's Day Recap and Bumpdate - 32 Weeks

Since it's not technically my first Mother's Day yet....just a pseudo Mother's Day I thought I would share with you what we did this year. First off baby girl woke me up at quarter to six wiggling around and kicking me as a reminder that she's still in there! I love her kicks, but I really wanted to sleep in....guess that didn't happen, so I just lied there til about 8 feeling her moving until I woke up the hubby. He went downstairs to get my gift, a custom box of Sees candy! YUM YUM and my card. He is also taking me for a mani/pedi soon for my gift as well. Can't wait for that! Some relaxation time is in order!

We got out of bed to get ready for our day and head out to the golf club for Mother's Day brunch with my in-laws. My brother-in-law is a chef at the restaurant so we all had bomb omelets and yummy breakfast foods with all the fixings. I was so full when we left. It was kind of exciting as I am perusing my way through the muffins I look up and see Mark Paul Gosselar! You know Zach Morris from Saved by the Bell! I had a mini heart attack and the hubby, who was watching my reaction and laughing at me wandered over and confirmed my suspicions! I was fan-girling hardcore, but left him alone to be with his family. Would have loved to have gotten his autograph though! Next time.

After brunch we walked home, called my mom, and waited for my mother-in-law's cousin and niece to stop by for a quick visit. While we waited I updated the chalkboard for 32 weeks and just relaxed on the couch. After all the family left, I passed out for a solid two hours. I guess that was my body's way of letting me know that I needed to rest! Once I finally woke up, the hubby and I took our bump shot and relaxed for the evening. It was a great day and super relaxing!

What's baby up to this week? She is the size of a large jicama (might have to send the hubby to get one of those! YUM!), measuring 16.75" long and weighs about 3.75 pounds. She will gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She has toenails, fingernails, and hair. Her skin is becoming soft and smooth.

What's been going on with mom? Super tired as the heat gradually gets worse and she gets bigger in front of me. I can still see and reach my toes which is nice to be able to update my colors. Sleep, and getting in and out of a reclined position is really difficult. Getting really hard to keep up on my "grooming" because I can no longer see certain areas! I asked for the acne to move somewhere else other than my face, and my body accepted that challenge....by letting pimples pop up on my neck, chest and back.....while still coming up on my face. Thanks universe!

Symptoms: Exhaustion, heartburn, this is not going away, acne, mild charlie horses. Emotional

Yummy/Icky: Jicama sounds yummers! Juicy fruits (watermelon, grapes, oranges) and ICE COLD water.

Clothing: Maternity, however I can still wear some pre-pregnancy items. Need some hot weather shirts STAT!

Movement: Everyday there's a wiggle section. The kicks and punches have slowed but she still likes to shift around!

Belly Button In/Out: Teeny tiny!

Wedding Rings On/Off: On, can still get tight.....hopefully the will stay on!

Best Moment this Week: Probably getting to celebrate my unofficial first Mother's Day.

Looking forward to: My baby shower this weekend!!!!! EEP!

Loved this weeks chalkboard.....got inspiration from Little Baby Garvin!

Bumpdate - 31 Weeks

This weeks photo was fun because I got to have ice cream, but I don't think they turned out the greatest. Nothing I can do about it but say it was an off week! Lol. I tried to use their logo and make the font the same for the chalkboard. I hope I was successful. Any guesses as to which ice cream place hosts 31 flavors?

What's baby up to this week? She is the size of a coconut, measuring over 16" long and weighs about 3.3 pounds. She is heading into a growth spurt and can turn her head from side to side and her arms and legs are beginning to plump as fat accumulates underneath her skin. Everything seemed fine and dandy at our doctors appointment and her heart rate was 145.

What's been going on with mom? I don't even know. Honestly.....the photo project is starting to weigh on me, but I will press on. Only nine more to go. This week was fun though because I got a prize for my hard work.....chocolate chip cookie dough on a sugar cone! That was totally worth it. It's been unseasonably hot so I have turned into a moody person. I can't get comfy because I always feel hot! Sleep is getting more and more difficult because it takes an extra effort to switch positions. Got some hip cramping again so that wakes me up and also the 3am potty break. Went to the doctor on Wednesday and everything looked goo with me. Blood pressure normal and weight gain is apparently on track.....I did not ask because I am to the point where I shouldn't care anymore. We are on every two week appointments now! The time is drawing near!

Symptoms: Heartburn, some days are REALLY BAD!. Acne, can it just transfer to my back or somewhere other than my face? Mild charlie horses. Emotions on on a roller coaster

Yummy/Icky: Nothing really this week.

Clothing: Still maternity. I went looking at some clothes off a re-sale site and nothing jumped out at me. I am on the hunt for a dress for my baby shower next weekend, but I might just settle for something in my closet. Got a pair of maternity shorts for the warm weather to come! YAY!

Movement: Some days I think she wants to join a jujitsu team and others there's a lot of just wiggling and rolling around. All around the same times of day so it doesn't bother me. Just so long as shes moving! :-)

Belly Button In/Out: Teeny tiny!

Wedding Rings On/Off: On, however we had a couple of REALLY hot days and normally my fingers swell anyways so add that in with the pregnancy and they got tight.

Best Moment this Week: It was an uneventful week......sorry that it's so lame.

Looking forward to: My baby shower, seeing all my wonderful family and friends, and my first official mother's day this weekend! :-)

DIY Fabric Pennant Banners

When I planned our gender reveal I knew I wanted to make pennant banners. Why? I don't know. Maybe deep down in my subconscious I knew that baby Kimball was going to be a girl and I could use them in her room. I mean banners are cute, but they have to be done just right for a boy....a little girl banner doesn't need much to be feminine. I raided my scrap fabric box and with the help of the hubby I picked the fabrics that were to be made into the banners. I knew I was going to make one that was large and would have letters on it, but the mini one was just as cute and I knew that it would be a perfect addition to any nursery wall! To the right is the tiny banner and below is the large banner with letters.

What You'll Need:
Cardboard
Scissors
Ruler
Various Scrap Fabrics
Wonder Under
Bias tape
Sewing Machine
Pins
Thread

Cuts:
I first started with some scrap cardboard and measured out my pennants. For the larger pennants I measured 6" across and then from the center of the 6" line I drew a 7" line perpendicular to that one. I connected the point to each end of the 6" line and cut out my pennant. I did the same with the small pennant with 3"W and 3.5"H. I then traced onto the back of my fabric and cut out (10) of each size in my various fabrics.

Next up I printed out my letters to trace onto my denim fabric. I cut out each letter and laid them out on each pennant to make sure I liked the flow.

Directions:
Once you have settled on your layout take each letter and attach it to the wonder under by following the package directions. I used Steam a Seam 2 Lite, but its no longer available so my directions might be slightly different if you use a different product. Using the SaS2, trace your letter about a 1/4" larger than the fabric. Press the letter to the SaS and trim the excess away. Then peel off the paper backing, position your letter on your banner and press the letter to adhere it to the fabric. Repeat with each pennant.

I of course forgot to take photos of the last step. I bought a package of 3 yards 1/2" double fold bias tape in white so that it would blend. Open your tape and insert your your pennant starting in the center and working your way out. Place the top of the pennant against the pressed fold and pin. Once all your pennants are pinned in place, sew a 1/4" seam along the seamed side of the bias tape. Remove all your pins and hang! Simple and easy!

Do you have any fun or creative baby crafts that your working on? I need to start making some stuff for my little girl, but haven't decided what I am going to make just yet! Someone light a fire and give me some suggestions!