Baby #2 Bumpdate: 35 Weeks

What's baby up to this week? She is the size of a honeydew melon, measuring over 18" long and weighs around 5 1/4 pounds. Her kidney's are fully developed and her liver can process waste products. Her basic physical development is now mostly complete and all there's left to do is put on some weight. That's a relief to hear! 

What's been going on with mom? I had a prenatal massage on Sunday and it was oh so glorious. When she said it was over, I was very sad. She could have continued for another hour and I would have been a happy camper. I also came down with ANOTHER cold. Ugh. I'm sick and tired of being sick!! I cannot sleep because I either wake in a coughing fit or because I'm snoring and wake myself up. So nice!

Symptoms: Aside from being sick.....just tired and crampy. I have aches and pains ALL THE TIME

Yummy/Icky: Nothing. Eating because I have to.....not because anything sounds good.

Clothing: Can I live in my pjs yet? Although those don't really fit anymore either!

Movement: I can pinpoint when she is going to move during the day. She also kicks a lot when I sit cross legged on the floor or bed. She must feel squished. Lol. But honestly standing and doing things gets tiring, so sit I must.

Belly Button In/Out: Flat unless I lie down, then it divots a little

Best Moment this Week: The massage was HANDS down my favorite moment. But watching little Emma go trick or treating in her butterfly costume was a pretty close second. She caught on really quickly that if she said trick or treat, people gave her candy. Lol.

Looking forward to: Maternity leave so I can get some rest and some time with little Emma. I'm really missing my energy and want to recoup some so we can have some one on one time.

If your interested: 35 weeks with Emma

Baby #2 Bumpdate: 34 Weeks

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? Another stressful week at work prepping for a home show. I seemed to be the only one who cared, but I just decided that my tolerance threshold for the project was going to be capped. I can't take anymore stress and need to focus on keeping my blood pressure down. My mom loaned me her blood pressure cuff, so I have been trying to keep an eye on things.

Symptoms: Exhaustion, heartburn, CRAZY ACNE, and just all over aches and pains. The Braxton hicks seemed to slow down lately and I haven't seen or heard much from them. Getting up to pee every night at 2am is just fun!

Yummy/Icky: Chocolate......looking forward to Halloween and getting some of Emma's loot!

Clothing: All maternity....I'm just trying to be comfortable. NOT WORKING.

Movement: Lots of rolling and stretching. She loves to push on this one tiny spot on my abdomen and it hurts. Starting to feel more pressure....ahem....down there.

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

Wedding Rings On/Off: Off for the remainder of this program.

Best Moment this Week: My aunt came into town and we spent some time with her. It's fun watching Emma play with new people.

Looking forward to: Halloween! I failed and had to buy Emma a store bought costume, but I still think she's going to be adorable!

Week 34 with Emma

Baby #2 Bumpdate: 33 Weeks

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 had my 32 week checkup and my blood pressure was elevated. Not scary high, and the doctor isn't concerned, but this momma is. I'm trying to stay calm, but with the amount of stress I'm under it seems nearly impossible. I booked an appointment for a pre-natal massage next week, so lets hope that helps! I'm practicing some meditation and breathing techniques to try and bring everything down when I am feeling overwhelmed.

Symptoms: Same story as last week: exhaustion, heartburn, acne, emotional.....I think these are here for the long run.

Yummy/Icky: Nothing sounds appetizing. I eat because I have to. :-/

Clothing: All maternity.....I have very limited options. It sucks. I'm trying to make do with my long cardigans.

Movement: Lots of rolling and stretching. She has one little area that she loves to push on and it hurts! 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: Pretty sure they are on the chain for the long haul.

Best Moment this Week: Two days off in a row.....and trying to get naps in. LOL

Looking forward to: Resting! And my pre-natal massage next week!!!!!!!

Emma at 33 Weeks

Baby #2 Bumpdate: 32 Weeks

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? I made two very large sales which required me to stay late most days, and miss out on Emma time...which makes me sad. I spend a lot of time away from her so our time is precious to me. I found a dress for the wedding we went to and some TALL shoes....which lasted through half the cocktail hour and then I sent Darin to the car for my flip flops. I also caught ANOTHER cold so I was pretty miserable with stuffy nose and headaches.

Symptoms: Exhaustion, heartburn, emotional

Yummy/Icky: Frozen or ice cold water and ice chips have been high on the list again. Must mean I am not getting enough.....should probably step that back up.

Clothing: All maternity ALL THE TIME!

Movement: I had some really large dance parties with a punching section, which is pretty unusual for her. Must be getting squished in there!

Belly Button In/Out: Almost flat.

Wedding Rings On/Off: Off

Best Moment this Week: Spending an evening with my hubby alone.....also having a couple of sips of champagne.....I need some wine after some of these work days!

Looking forward to: Same as last week....a nap and maternity leave!

32 weeks preggo with Emma!

Baby #2 Bumpdate: 31 Weeks

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. 

What's been going on with mom? Seriously......I just can't handle work at this point. I go from raging angry to wanting to break down and cry. I am just counting down the weeks because I cannot handle this idiocy anymore! Combined with doing work for two stores I am seriously OVER IT!

Symptoms: Heartburn and the indigestion came back on strong this week......probably has a lot to do with stress. Shortness of breath is pretty much up there all the time because baby girl loves to be up in my lungs and in my bladder at the same time!

Yummy/Icky: Still loving on my sweets....but the salty snacks are making their way back in. Honestly I just want things that wont give me heartburn. I've tried to switch out my ice cream for cereal....but I don't think Lucky Charms are any better than a skinny cow ice cream sandwich. Chocolate milk?

Clothing: Maternity.....on the hunt for a dress for a "fall" wedding....which means can breathe enough for it to be 90 degrees but still cool enough for the evening and bump friendly. That's been my challenge.

Movement: Rolling around is her favorite. Sometimes kicks and jabs, but she's just a chill girl.

Belly Button In/Out: Teeny tiny!

Wedding Rings On/Off: Off. I want them back on!

Best Moment this Week: Darin was gone all week. He started his new schedule and then went to Carson City, so having him home on Saturday was nice.

Looking forward to: A nap. Seriously.....and maternity leave! Also hoping to see a decent photo of this baby girl on an ultrasound.

31 weeks with Emma!

Baby #2 Bumpdate: 30 Weeks

What's baby up to this week? She is the size of a head of cabbage, measuring 15.7" long and weighs almost three pounds. A pint and a half of amniotic fluid, but that volume will shrink as she gets bigger and takes up more more room. Her eyesight continues to develop as well, although not very keen. We had our 29 week ultrasound and got to see her cute little face again on 3D. Everything was normal and looked good with her. I have another appointment with my doctor tomorrow so we will check out her heart rate again and all my normal stuff.

What's been going on with mom?  I feel like these are becoming redundant. Stressed and tired!

Symptoms: Exhaustion and heartburn....mild feet swelling.

Yummy/Icky: Sweets! Anything chocolate...brownies, cookies, candy!

Clothing: All maternity all the time......need to find some sweaters soon. It's getting chilly.

Movement: She loves to roll around. Not very big on the kicking and punching. I think she's always trying to find a comfortable position.<3 br="">
<3 br="">
Belly Button In/Out: Shallow!!!!!

Wedding Rings On/Off: Just gonna leave them off. It's easier than fighting with them

Best Moment this Week: Spending time with my family. We went apple picking with lil miss and she had such fun eating all the apples! Haha.

Looking forward to: Maternity leave and spending time with my girl!
<3 br="">
<3 br="">Interested in what I was up to week 30 with Emma?

Baby #2 Bumpdate: 29 Weeks

What's baby up to this week? She is the size of an butternut squash, measuring over 15" long and weighs two and a half pounds. Her muscles and lungs are continuing to mature and her head is growing bigger to accommodate the developing brain.

What's been going on with mom? Stress city.....mostly to do with work. But that has put me on an emotional high as well. I cried all the way home on Tuesday and that night we started our RCIA classes and I cried a ton more during the class just because of the content. We had our 28 week ultrasound and the tech (who was not the normal girl) was horrible and wouldn't let me watch on the screen. She also didn't get any good photos of baby girl. Which made me really sad.

Symptoms: Heartburn, per usual. Dry and itchy skin.....especially my nipples! UGH! The limbs fall asleep quite easily while I am dozing so it sucks to wake up with a dead arm. Also my sciatica pain was acting up.....which meant more tears! 

Yummy/Icky: Nothing sounds appetizing. I wanted root beer again and chocolate. That's pretty much it.

Clothing: Mostly maternity. Not trying to be a hero and squeezing into uncomfortable clothes anymore. If it fits, it fits.

Movement: She loves to kick down low still....it's where I feel her a majority of the time. She loves being low. We did manage to see that her head and feet were pressed right up against my cervix....thanks for making that most comfy.

Belly Button In/Out: Shallow!

Wedding Rings On/Off: Off....I don't think they are going to go on.

Best Moment this Week: Spending QT with my family.

Looking forward to: Seeing a better photo of baby girl....I was so disappointed!

Here's week 29 with Emma!

Baby #2 Bumpdate: 28 Weeks

What's baby up to this week? She is the size of an eggplant, measuring 14.8" long and weighs two and a quarter pounds. She can blink her eyes and she has eyelashes! Her eyesight is developing and she may be able to see light that filters in through my womb.

What's been going on with mom? Stress city. Work has been utter hell as I am covering two stores now, and oh the driving and people not coming for appointments. Seriously trying to breath and think positive thoughts and not stress too much for baby girl......but its proving to be impossible. The hubby took Emma out for dinner and told me to take a bath and relax. It was nice to do and helped me sleep a little better.

Symptoms: Heartburn (I'm afraid that this one is here for the long haul.) Restless sleep, but getting better, and extremely emotional. Shortness of breath seems to be a something that is here to stay too.

Yummy/Icky: Ice cream is still running rampid and I had a strange craving for a cup o noodles the other day. It just sounded amazing. Of course I indulged.....regardless of the sodium intake. I just wanted it.

Clothing: Pretty much entirely maternity. Same 4 shirts and 2 pants on rotation.

Movement: She loves to wiggle at night the most. It's just comforting to feel her wiggle around

Belly Button In/Out: In, but almost flat.

Wedding Rings On/Off: Off, but the weather is cooling down so hoping I can put them back on.

Best Moment this Week: The hubby and I bought a liquid amber tree and planted it in our front yard. It's Emma's tree but will also help to shade both girls room next summer. It's funny the things you get excited over. #adulting!

Looking forward to: Our 28 week ultrasound, confirming the gender and being able to release her name to the world!

28 Weeks with Emma

Baby #2 Bumpdate: 27 Weeks

What's baby up to this week? She is the size of a head of cauliflower, measuring 14.5" long and weighs almost two pounds. She is sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and sucking on her fingers. Everything looked good with her at my doctor's appointment and her heart rate was 142.

What's been going on with mom? Not much happening in this area. Trying to get in as much Emma and mommy time as I can get, but shes a busy toddler and doesn't want to snuggle with momma when momma is tired. But we snuggle before bed. I did my glucose screening on Friday and since I have yet to hear back from the dr office I am hoping that is good news. Since I didn't react the same way this time, super sugar headache and just icky feeling I'm hoping that's a good sign. I got the orange flavor drink AGAIN! It's just so yuck!

Symptoms: Heartburn and indigestion.  Restless sleep. The charlie horses have made a comeback (step up the water intake!), and extremely emotional. My feelings get hurt relatively easy these days. Also braxton hicks are totally noticeable this time round and painful!

Yummy/Icky: Cold water.....and chocolate. Needing to switch up my routine.....I am bored of everything.

Clothing: Mostly maternity. Same preggo pants over and over. Need to get some new items in preparation for fall.

Movement: Same. Mostly when I am lying on my side and relaxing....although sometimes she kicks and punches while I'm sitting at my desk at work.

Belly Button In/Out: In and seriously shallow when I lie down.

Wedding Rings On/Off: Off

Best Moment this Week: That would be treating Emma and myself to Dots cupcakes in Pasadena! I looked forward to it all morning! LOL

Looking forward to: Our 28 week ultrasound. Anytime we get to see her is a great thing! Also announcing her name to the world!

Interested: Emma 27 Weeks

Baby #2 Bumpdate: 26 Weeks

What's baby up to this week? She is the size of a head of lettuce, measuring 14" long and weighs one and two thirds of a pound. She continues to put on fat, which we saw in her 3D ultrasound, and she is inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid. These movements are essential for the development of the lungs and are also good practice for when she is born and takes that first gulp of air.

What's been going on with mom? Not much new around the mom areas.....work, home, mom, sleep.....repeat. I just can't wait to be able to catch up on some sleep........in 20 years. I have been trying to get back on my laps and walking.....trying to average more steps per day to keep the weight down.

Symptoms: Heartburn and appendages falling asleep.....that really sucks when that happens. Also, I thought that this was just residual from the cold that I had back in July but I constantly feel like I need to blow my nose. Always. So annoying.

Yummy/Icky: Same as this week last time.....sweets and fruit! Anything else just doesn't sound good. Trying to be better about snacking and falling into the cravings.

Clothing: Same clothes on a rotation.

Movement: She's moving up. Especially when I am lying down, but she still loves to be shy. The other morning Darin asked if she was moving and I told him no. As soon as he put his hand on my belly she kicked him. Lol. He said "yes she is!" Well she hadn't been up to that point.

Belly Button In/Out: In, seriously shallow when I lie down however. The belly no longer lies flat. Lol

Wedding Rings On/Off: Still off.....praying to get them back on soon.

Best Moment this Week: We bought Emma's big girl bedding....its going to be SO CUTE!

Looking forward to: A break.....rest.

Baby #2 Bumpdate: 25 Weeks

What's baby up to this week? She is the size of an ear of rutabaga, measuring 13.5" long and weighs one and a half pound. She is beginning to gain some baby fat, as this happens her wrinkled skin will smooth out and start to look more like a newborn. Her hair now has a discernible color and texture.

What's been going on with mom? Catching up from our San Diego trip. While it was so fun and great to see Emma react to the animals.....I'm still recuperating from sleeping with a toddler, a loud ac and walking a LOT! Then we came back and our dog decided to be obnoxious and wake us up at 4am barking for NO REASON! I asked family members if they wanted a dog.....no takers. She is better now, but I was ready to sleep in the car if it meant a better nights sleep! Also, I am suffering from wanting to wean Emma from nursing, but feeling utterly guilty at the same time. She LOVES to be with me and wants "mommies milk!" "I drink it....mmmmmm" is what she says. HOW do I wean her?! **TEARS!**

Symptoms: Not only heartburn, but severe indigestion! Ugh! THAT SUCKS! Everytime I eat I get waves of nausea. My doc told me I can take zantac, but honestly unless I am dying I never take meds so I probably wont do that. But the option is there if needed. The preggo pillow is not helping my situation. It's just making sleeping harder. Neck pain and royally uncomfortable is the name of the sleeping game. My arms love to fall asleep if they are resting above my head for a significant amount of time. My nipples are KILLING ME!

Yummy/Icky: Nothing....the indigestion is turning me off from foods!

Clothing: Sill all maternity on the bottom. Most of my tops are belly friendly and I love my maxi's when I can use them.

Movement: She loves to alert me for mealtimes.....when it's time to eat I get little taps as if to say "hi I'm hungry!!!!" She is very shy when someone tries to feel her move. Any pressure on my tummy during dance time almost certainly ensures her to stop. Except at a bridal shower over the weekend, Emma was sitting in my lap and she jabbed her elbow into my tummy and baby kicked her away. I laughed.

Belly Button In/Out: In, but very shallow.

Wedding Rings On/Off: Off, but I really want to put them on for my anniversary. Hopefully the weather will cool off and will allow the swelling to reduce and let me. PLEASE!

Best Moment this Week: Our mini vacation to San Diego! It was great to get away just us three and experience something new together as well!

Looking forward to: Sleeping.......well. I guess that's never gonna happen again!

25 Weeks with Emma!

DIY Spot Cleaner for Upholstery and Clothing

If you have kids you know that messes are a big part of life. With a baby on the way I have started nesting a little earlier than usual because I know how fleeting time can be. So during nap time I decided to try a cleaning trick!

I have wanted to tackle Emma's car-seat for a LONG time. With juice and food spillage and it sitting in the heat of a car

<<<<<<<<< That's what were left with!

Yuck yuck yuck!!!!!

The majority of the seat only needed a little vacuuming and spot cleaning, but this pad was downright gross! I was determined to make it spotless before our San Diego trip.....so off to Google I went. I found a tutorial that recommended specifically the blue Dawn dishsoap. Well I didn't have the blue Dawn because I prefer to be frugal....I.E I won't spend $5 on a teeny tiny bottle of dishsoap. So I thought to myself I would try it with my Ajax dishsoap and see how it goes. Heck, it would probably be cleaner in the end anyways than it was before. So off I went to start my little adventure.

Here's what you need:
Dish soap (any kind that is a degreaser)
baking soda
hydrogen peroxide
toothbrush

Mixing Instructions
Step 1: Mix one part dish soap with two parts peroxide in your chosen container.

Step 2: Then add 1–2 tablespoons of baking soda, making a paste.

Cleaning Instructions:
Step 1: Pour a generous amount of liquid onto the stain. Using a toothbrush or garment brush, rub stain remover into the stain. I used a generous amount and used circular motion to really get the dirt out of the seat pad. **If your cleaning a clothing item be sure to do the same to the underside of the garment, where the stain may have bled through. It is important to treat both sides of the stain.**

Step 2: Let the item sit for at least an hour (more for really tough stains), and then wash according to the clothing label.

Step 3: Check the clothing item to be sure the stain is gone before you put it in the dryer. Dried on stains are harder to remove. Repeat the process until the stain is gone, then dry accordingly.

After the first scrubbing and washing I noticed a little area that didn't completely come out so I did another round just in the areas that needed extra love. Each time I washed it with towels. Once I was satisfied I just let the pad air dry.








Now for the reveal!

DUDE!!!!!! I was so impressed with this that I am going to treat every garment that the new baby girl will wear that has some spit up stains on them, and even do Emma's keepsake clothes! It's not perfect, but it looks almost brand new and I just used my on hand dish soap! Woohoo!

Baby #2 Bumpdate: 24 Weeks

What's baby up to this week? She is the size of an ear of corn, measuring over 12" long and weighs one and a third pound. Her brain is growing quickly and taste buds are continuing to develop. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory tree as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help air sacs in the lungs inflate once she hits the outside world.

What's been going on with mom? Daddy was out of town for three days so I was all by my lonesome in the evenings. We had dinner with my mom, but I flew solo for everything else. Honestly I was having issues at first, but it went smoothly. Emma's pretty easy going, just bedtimes are always a challenge....especially when your a sleepy preggo lady.

Symptoms: Braxton hicks are kicking up a little....sometimes it hurts quite a bit. But since it's up high on my tummy I know it's just that. Oh the heartburn.....please go away! Also I am getting pretty bad hip cramps at night....I had to break out the preggo pillow much to Darin's dismay.

Yummy/Icky: Focusing on trying to eat better. Dry cereal snacks instead of cookies and fruit salads with chocolate milk for desserts.....ice cream sounds so much better though. Mealtimes are hard as nothing really sounds appetizing.

Clothing: Maternity pants to work, with my tees and mostly pjs at home....anything cool and comfortable.

Movement: Her kicks are still really low in my abdomen and they seem to occur after mealtimes mostly. She's still shy to kick when Darin tries to feel.

Belly Button In/Out: In

Wedding Rings On/Off: On

Best Moment this Week: We finally settled on a name! We will be announcing it soon!

Looking forward to: Our trip to Sea World!!!!!!

Week 24 with Emma!

Breastfeeding and A Dairy Intolerance

I mentioned when Emma was very small about how she had a dairy intolerance, but I never really went in depth on the scale in which I had to change my diet in order to continue to have a breastfeeding relationship with our baby girl.

Around 3 weeks new, we noticed that Emma had green mucous stools. While sometimes it's considered normal to have green stools, mucous is not. We already had her 1 month appointment scheduled so we just discussed it with the doctor at her appointment. The doctor tested her stool and it came back positive with trace amounts of blood. Not looking like a good thing already, she asked that I keep the next 3 days of stool diapers and bring them in for further testing. Same thing occurred. Sigh. She told me that Emma had a dairy intolerance and that in order for her to be a happy baby (meaning no colic and tummy issues) I would have to cut all dairy from my diet.....ALL DAIRY. Which meant label reading. You have NOT A CLUE how much we eat has dairy products in it until you have to cut it all out. She also put Emma on an antacid to help calm her tummy. She then proceeded to give me a full sample of a dairy free formula stating "you should start giving this to her now because you will get sick of this diet." Well that put this momma in bear mode as I felt like she was telling me that I couldn't do it! Not this girl.

Being able to breastfeed was something that I was GOING to do. I went home and read every label on every product in our house. Determined that I couldn't eat anything and went to the store to get fruits, veggies, dairy free bread and lunch meats to tide me over. My main snacks had consisted of fruits, cheese and yogurts so I had to completely revamp my entire diet. I also did a survey of our favorite eateries to determine where I could eat out.....very limited.

I went to our local whole food store and got coconut milks, yogurts, dairy free chips and popcorn and granola bars. I was pleasantly surprised that some of the dairy/gluten free options available were actually quite tasty. After about a month of this Emma's tummy seemed to continue to get worse....I noticed after I had peanut butter especially. Once particularly crabby/screamy day and three puking episodes that I just needed to take her in. While there was no blood in her stool the doctor determined that perhaps another round of antacid would help soothe her tummy and prescribed a different kind. So now mom was eating basically nothing and baby was on two medications to help her poor tummy.

You're probably thinking "why didn't you just switch to formula." Well I wasn't giving up. Breastmilk is the best thing for my little one and I was going to do what was best for her. At her next doctors appointment our pediatrician told me to cut out eggs, fish and nuts as well. SIGH! I did it, and with the mix of both the antacids and my very strict diet her little tummy was healed by the time she was 4 months old!

What am I trying to say here? I guess that you can breastfeed your little one so long as you have the patience and drive to read labels and know what you can eat. I did a ton of research and while I ate a lot of things at home I was able to go out and enjoy restaurants as well as a lot of them provided options for a variety of diet limitations and discovered some foods that I liked that I never would have tried before.

Use this helpful guide when reading labels to know that just because it doesn't say "contains dairy" on the label may still have dairy! Just a couple of tips.....french fries are a huge source of dairy but Oreo's are dairy free. Try health food stores like Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and Sprouts as they usually have more gluten/allergy friendly options. It's best to make your own meals, as packaged foods use preservatives that contain dairy, this way you know what your getting....and it's healthier for you and baby. Just remember that you are not alone in this and most (not all) infants will grow out of the intolerance.

Should you choose to switch to formula, consult with your doctor on which formula is best for you baby as a lot contain dairy and or soy. All we want are healthy and happy babies! :-)

Backyard Bench Makeover

When we bought our house we inherited a three decrepit looking benches and a collapsed firepit in our backyard. It was nice to have some seating back there, but upon inspection they were in need of a strong sanding and a deep clean. I thought to myself...."self.....these could use some sprucing up." So I did what anyone else does.....ran to Pinterest for some inspiration.

There was lots of inspiration for building benches, or just cleaning them up, but I wanted something a little different. After searching for sometime I did find a cute inspiration, but the colors were just BLECH! Since we have these and some kids adirondack chairs already I knew I wanted to stick in the blue family. SURPRISE SURPRISE!

I enlisted the hubby to do the sanding and I would do the painting but he chose to do work on this project in 100 degree heat! Took the whole thing apart, sanded each board down and even bought new hardware to re-attach it. He asked if I wanted to paint the boards and I politely declined to stand in the 120 degree garage and paint....so he did it! This project was all him with a little direction from me. I love it and can't wait to see the next bench complete!

Now to find a clearance fire pit so we can dump the old one and have a great conversation piece in the backyard. projects for fall and spring.....fix the sprinklers and paint the deck! Then to remove the old "fish pond" and plant something around the deck and in the planters. Lots of projects!

Baby #2 Bumpdate: 23 Weeks

I'm seriously confusing my weeks lately and I thought I had pre-written this post already.....preggo brain strikes again!

What's baby up to this week? She is the size of a mango, measuring 11" long and weighs almost one pound. Her sense of movement is well developed and soon we will start to see her kicks and punches instead of just feeling. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing and her hearing is becoming more keen.

What's been going on with mom? Aside from being tired and irritable? That's pretty much it! We got a portable a/c unit so that's helping with my irritations at home.....and my sleep....a little. The weather has cooled a little, but a warming trend is on its way! I have been working on getting my steps in.

Symptoms: HEARTBURN!!!!! Go away! I hate you! Emotional and crabby. Sleepless nights are becoming more prevalent as well.

Yummy/Icky: Cookies and brownies are on the hit list lately, but I have been trying to avoid them. Chocolate milk is right up there as well! YUM! Cannot drink any bottled water except Smartwater. It all tastes just gross!

Clothing: All maternity on the bottom.....rotating the same two pairs of maternity jeans and a pair of crop jeans all the time. At least at home I have some maternity shorts and yoga shorts with BIG baggy dance tees.

Movement: She's been pretty consistent, but I am anxiously awaiting the really big movements and kicks! I want to watch the belly dance!

Belly Button In/Out: In, but semi-shallow

Wedding Rings On/Off: Off......summer swelling does not help the situation. Hopefully in October they can go back on for a bit.

Best Moment this Week: Being cool!

Looking forward to: Dwindling down the name list!

23 weeks with Emma!

Baby #2 Bumpdate: 22 Weeks

What's baby up to this week? She is the size of a spaghetti squash, measuring 11" long and weighs almost one pound. She is starting to look like a miniature newborn! Her lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct and tiny tooth buds are developing. Her eyes have formed, but the irises still lack pigment.

What's been going on with mom? I'm feeling GIGANTIC! I was not this large with Emma at this point in my pregnancy. I started doing laps at work so that I can curb some calories....but my sweet cravings aren't helping. I have discovered that my iphone health app records your steps without even setting it up. I have been setting a goal of hitting 7000 steps before I leave for the day. I have accomplished it once and most of the time by 5pm I have hit 6k steps. It's an improvement.

Symptoms: EMOTIONAL! Everything makes me cry. Moody....which I think goes hand in hand with emotional. Tired. I can't sleep past 5:30am, but I think that's because of our oh so considerate neighbors that like to let their dogs bark ALL MORNING LONG!

Yummy/Icky: Sweets......I have been craving brownies. Too hot for the oven so I haven't indulged, but ice cream is right up in there!

Clothing: Materity bottoms, lightweight pj bottoms with baggy shirts or yoga shorts. I'm just plain HOT all the time.

Movement: Mostly feel her after meal times. I do feel her regularly on my drive home from work too. I love lying in bed and feeling her wiggle around.

Belly Button In/Out: In and awkward looking.

Wedding Rings On/Off: I retired them to the chain for the summer. My hands swell when hot usually so I just don't want for them to get stuck. Maybe I can put them back on when the weather cools down.

Best Moment this Week: Booking our trip for a mini vacation to Sea World!

Looking forward to: Picking a name!

22 Weeks with Lil Birdie

Baby #2 Bumpdate: 21 Weeks

What's baby up to this week? She is the size of a carrot, measuring 10 1/2" long and weighs three quarters of a pound. Her eyebrows and eyelids are present and her vagina has begun to form. She's also beginning to produce the lovely meconium that daddy will have to deal with! Haha

What's been going on with mom? Was still SUPER sick all week. It would not go away. Blowing my nose and running and feeling just run down. It SUCKED! The heat index is rising also which is making sleep even harder to come by. Slept most of the day on Tuesday and again on Thursday to try and beat this illness. I hate being sick in summer.

Symptoms: Starting to have trouble sleeping just because of getting comfortable as well. I may need to bust out the pregnancy pillow, but it's TOO HOT! Heartburn is coming back.....have tums in my purse for after lunch since I can't seem to find anything to eat. Having pretty inconsistent cramping high in my tummy, and the doctor said I should be feeling braxton hicks already so that explains that. Round ligament pain is pretty bad when you are coughing and sneezing and then your bottom half feels like it wants to separate from you. UGH! Second baby is no joke!

Yummy/Icky: Watermelon is back on the list. The tea cravings have waned a little and I really want root beer and ice cream.....maybe because its so hot! Other than that my sweet tooth is just raging and I want to try and curb it.

Clothing: All maternity on the bottom for work but trying to find something comfy to wear to sleep in is difficult. Did manage to get a couple pairs of shorts, a pair of capri's and a sweater that was on clearance for the fall/winter.

Movement: Definitely feeling her rather consistently. She gets shy when daddy tries to feel her though. I think she senses when I am home. When I was off on Thursday she kicked and kicked consistently all day. Like she knows when I am relaxed and not at work. Mostly get movements at lunchtime and after dinner....typical. But sometimes she kicks early in the morning and in the car on the way to work.

Belly Button In/Out: It's in but it looks weird in shirts. Very hollow and taking on a strange shape.

Wedding Rings On/Off: On but tight.....typical when the summer heat rises.

Best Moment this Week: Hearing her heartbeat (146) at my doctors appointment and hearing that she is growing perfectly! Makes momma happy.

Looking forward to: Settling on a name. I am set on a middle name, but it's coming up with a first that both daddy and mommy like. Hey we may just dump all the contenders in a cup and let Emma pick! Haha.

21 weeks with Emma!

Baby #2 Bumpdate: 20 Weeks (Halfway!!)

If you missed our gender reveal post.....go back read it! Otherwise SPOILERS! I'm so upset! We took a 20 week photo and when I went to edit it for this post we discovered that it wasn't on the camera....I have a feeling that the memory card wasn't in the camera.....so we didn't notice until it was too late! This momma wants to cry!

Here's a couple of shots at 19 weeks when we announced the gender......since no post should be without photos.

What's baby up to this week? She is the size of a banana, measuring 6 1/2" long from head to rump, 10" from head to heel and weighs about 10 1/2 oz. All measurements will be from head to heel from here on out. Baby girl is swallowing more, getting practice in for the digestive system. She is also producing meconium as well.

What's been going on with mom? I got MASSIVE headcold from taking Emma to her 2 year well visit.....I have been miserable. The fact that all I can take is Robitussin and it really only takes the edge off enough so I can sleep. I'm talking coughing, congestion, nasal pain in my forehead.....plain misery. Baby likes it when I'm sick and lying down however....I get lots of dance parties.

Symptoms: I mean, it's hard to distinguish between pregnancy symptoms when you are sick. Sleepy, irritable, and nauseous!

Yummy/Icky: Still loving on my tea and lemonades.....also diet root beer has still been high on the list. Brownies or chocolate cookies are also pretty up there.....but I still love my salty chips. I keep fruit on hand for Emma, but I find myself eating it more than she does and CHEESE!

Clothing: Maternity.....and long dresses when I can. Anything to be cool and comfy.

Movement: Definitely. Daddy felt baby kick also, They are still faint from the outside, but getting stronger on the inside.

Best Moment this Week: Our anatomy scan and seeing our little girl. Emma was semi intrigued by the ultrasound, but just wanted to watch Elmo. The technician was super funny, she asked us if we cheated on her? Which I thought that meant went to another 3D location to find out the gender, but she meant did we do the blood test that is offered now that tells you the gender at 11 weeks. Which we didn't so she was very excited to tell us the sex of our newest baby! Names still to come.

Looking forward to: Settling on a name.......UGH! It's so hard naming a human!

20 Weeks with Baby Emma!

Baby Kimball #2 is......

We are so over the moon excited! We were planning on using the smoke bombs already, but I heard the song from the Zac Brown Band that morning and new it would have to be incorporated. Darin is the man for all of his ladies!!!

In case you missed it.....Baby Kimball #2 is a GIRL! See the below photos also, that were included in the slideshow. More bows and giggles and sweetness!

Chop Chop Chop

If you haven't noticed in my bumpdates....I made a massive change with regards to my appearance.

It's been so long since I did anything with this mop on the top of my head and I was SO OVER the length. All I ever did was put it up unless I needed to style it. Half the time it was in a messy bun on the top of my head! I love it so much now! Its light and airy and takes no time to wash or style and because she thinned it underneath I don't feel so weighed down!

Here's to good changes and lots more good things to come!

Baby #2 Bumpdate: 19 Weeks

What's baby up to this week? She is the size of a heirloom tomato (YUM!), measuring 6" long and weighs about 8 oz. Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision and touch. Research shows that she can hear our voices now, and D has been talking away to her. Kidney's continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. We had our anatomy scan on Wednesday and it was completely AWESOME to see all the cool little parts on the screen (see below for cool photos) Everything checked out a-ok with the scan, but when it came to get to the good information, baby girl refused to uncross her legs. We ate chocolate, went potty, did some toe touches all to get baby to change positions. It almost looked like we weren't going to get our information. In a last ditch effort D went to get juice out of my car and as soon as he left the room, she uncrossed her legs and showed the goods! A little hamburger if you follow Dooce. Our modest little girl!

What's been going on with mom? Just working away. Trying to figure out how to keep the stress at work at bay without letting it affect me. Damn do I need a drink some days when I get home!

Symptoms: Light headedness and high emotions. Been truly over the top with my crying......I think it has a lot to do with work stress and lack of sleep.

Yummy/Icky: Made passion tea and have been mixing it with lemonade as my beverage. Emma loves it too. At least the tea isn't caffeinated.

Clothing: Still rocking last pregnancy clothing....and adding in pieces here and there that still work. I'm miserable in the full panel, but theres nothing I can do but hold out for the rest of the summer.....two more months.

Movement: Definitely know when shes gonna move. Mostly after lunch, and when I lie down to go to sleep. Sometimes she likes to dance party in the morning....but shes most active in the afternoon and evenings.

Best Moment this Week: The fact that it has cooled down enough at night that we both have gotten full nights sleep in quiet without fans on full blast!

Looking forward to: Our anatomy scan and learning what baby is going to be!

19 Weeks with Emma.

Emma Turns 2!

I cannot believe that two years ago we welcomed the most amazing little girl into the world! She has been the absolute light of our lives! I know you are all wondering where my posts have been regarding party planning like I did for her first birthday. Well to be honest we haven't planned a party for her yet. We will probably throw a little bash for her in August when all the craziness of work and other things dies down. I couldn't guarantee that I would have the weekend off until three days before her birthday so we just did something little at our house instead.

We got Emma a couple of small toys and a scooter to play on while the big gift is still to come.....a swingset with a slide! It's purchased and in the process of being put together......LONG assembly process. Haha. Daddy blew up 30 balloons and we strewn them about the house and down the hallway so she would have lots of fun! She first called them "balls" then they were "bubbles" now they are balloons. Haha. She enjoyed opening gifts and spending the day with daddy as mommy had to work, bummer I know.

We bbq'd for dinner and had grandma, papa, papa d and a friend over for cake, then went across the street to a neighborhood party.

 

The next day we went to lunch and saw Emma's first big screen feature Finding Dory. She made it through most of the movie before passing out. We went to our old stomping grounds and had dinner with her grandma, grandpa and aunt and uncle. I'd say it was a successful weekend and fun birthday!

Baby #2 Bumpdate: 18 Weeks

What's baby up to this week? He/she is the size of a bell pepper, measuring 5"-1/2" long and weighs about 7 oz. Blood vessels are visible through thin skin and ears are in their final position, although they're standing out from the head a bit. A protective coating of myelin is beginning to form around the nerves, a process that will continue for a year after birth. If Baby K is a girl, her uterus and Fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If Baby K is a boy, his genitals are noticeable now.

What's been going on with mom? Stress at work is getting to me. I just feel like crying a lot, coupled with the preggo hormones makes me a walking time bomb. At least I can decompress on the drive home and see my loves when I walk in the door. Darin's new schedule is here and he picks up Emma so being home before 7pm and seeing them both at home when I arrive is just the best!

Symptoms: Constipation is rearing its head regularly and my hands are starting to fall asleep when I sleep with my arms above my head. Other than that nothing really major.

Yummy/Icky: Popsicles and fudgesicles. I partly contribute this to the heat.....It's been close to 90 in our house when we get home at night so anything to cool me down. Also passion tea with lemonade. YUM! I am getting sick of water, and most bottled waters taste bad to me.....so I need some non caffeinated flavor!

Clothing: I caved.....wearing the maternity jeans and still suffering because of the triple digit heat with a polyester panel. Oh well.....at least baby is comfy.

Movement: I feel baby tap and have a minimal dance party after eating lunch and sometimes when I lie down to relax after dinner. It's really COOL!

Best Moment this Week: Celebrating Emma's 2nd birthday! She's such a big girl and will be an awesome big sister. She wraps her baby dolls in blankets and gives them snuggles and kisses!

Looking forward to: Our anatomy scan on Thursday! We're so excited to learn what baby is! We also have NO IDEA about baby names yet! AH! Probably because picking a girl name was SO HARD last time and I'm not feeling my boy name anymore so.....I'm waiting for the gender.

Funny moments: We all know about the elusive pregnancy brain. A couple of weeks ago I was looking at my scaly legs thinking "I need to put lotion on these bad boys." So I grabbed a bottle of lotion and took it in the car. While the hubby was driving I squirted some into my hand and it had a strange consistency. I thought that maybe it needed to be shook up. I shook it hard and nothing changed so I just kept lathering. It took FOREVER for my skin to absorb it, and my hands felt slimy all day when I washed them. I thought "I need to throw that away." Well I forgot about the bottle all day and most of the next day. Darin gets into the car the next evening to drive home, grabs the bottle and says "why is their shower gel in the car?" OMG! I am an idiot!

Here's 18 Weeks with Emma!!

Old Wives Tales Baby #2

Ok. With our anatomy scan approaching and the fact that I have NO NAMES solidified I thought that I needed to do a gender prediction post based off Old Wives Tales. I did this with Emma also and I thought it was really fun.....even though more symptoms said boy than girl. Lol. We can't trust these, but they are still fun right?

#1. If you are moody, you are having a girl because of all the extra female hormones. Oh moody, definitely Girl here

#2. It’s a girl if your left breast is larger than your right breast. It’s a boy if your right breast is larger than your left breast. Well my right has and always will be larger, so Boy

#3. Dark nipples are signs of a son. Girl

#4. If you eat garlic and the odor seeps out of your pores, then you’re having a boy. Um....Girl

#5. If your urine is bright yellow, it’s a boy. A dull yellow means a girl. I thought this had to do with my prenatals....but Boy

#6. If you experience heartburn or indigestion during pregnancy your baby will have a full head of hair. This has nothing to do with the gender.....haha.

#7. No morning sickness, it’s a boy. A girl if you were sick or nauseous during your pregnancy. Girl

#8. A heart rate over 140 beats per minute(bpm), it’s a girl. A boy’s heart beat is slower. 146 so Girl

#9. If you crave salty foods it’s a boy. If you crave sweets then it’s a girl. In the beginning it was salty all the way.....now its a mix so I'll classify this as Boy

#10. If you eat the ends of bread, it’s a boy. If you eat the middle of the load, it’s a girl. I always eat the middle...I hate the heels! Girl.

#11. If dad gains weight, it’s a girl. If his weight stays the same, it’s a boy. Darin's weight has remained. Boy

#12. It’s a girl if you get acne due to the increased levels of the female charged hormones. A girl steals her mother’s beauty. Lots of acne in the beginning....not so much now. Girl.

#13. If the linea nigra stops at the belly button, it’s a girl. If the linea nigra goes all the way to the bottom of the rib cage, it’s a boy. No line....so Girl?

#14. You got dry hands; it’s a boy. Lots of that! Boy!

#15. More hair on your legs than normal, count on a boy. Couldn't this also be from sheer laziness of not shaving! HAHA. Haven't noticed more than usual so Girl.

#16. If your nose gets bigger and wider, expect a boy. Girl

#17. If your nose swells, it’s a girl. Same pre-pregnancy nose, it’s a boy. No swelling here. Boy

#18. If your face swells and gets rounder, it’s a girl. Long and narrow face, a boy. I get a round face when I gain weight so Girl.

#19. Cold feet, a boy.....surprisingly so cold feet here. Girl

#20. If your legs get really big, means a boy. If your legs stay in shape and lean, a girl. Legs seem the same to me. Girl

#21. If you find yourself clumsier with pregnancy, it’s a boy. Girl.....not been clumsy.

#22. If you remain grounded and still in control of your body, it’s a girl. What does this mean? Girl I guess. 

#23. If you’re carrying low, it’s a boy. If you’re carrying high, it’s a girl. Boy....down low in the morning until I eat and all the food sits on top. 

#24. If you’re carrying in front, it’s a boy. All around your middle, it’s a girl. Girl I think?!

#25. Loop your wedding ring in a piece of thread and let it dangle over your belly. If the rings swings in a back and forth motion, it’s a girl. If the ring moves in a circular motion, paint the room blue. Back and forth....Girl

#26. If you hold a necklace over your hand and it swings back and forth, it’s a boy. A circular moving necklace, stock up on the pink. Back and forth......Boy. Why wouldn't these be the same gender?!

#27. When asked to show your hands and you immediately show your palm, it’s a girl. Palm down = a boy. Up....Girl

#28. Chinese gender predictor. Girl 

Tally: Girl = 19  Boy = 8

We are happy either way! But mom thinks Girl and dad thinks boy. I was wrong last time so maybe were having a boy this time around?! Stay tuned for our gender reveal! Coming soon!

The Hubby's New Career!

For years my hubby has been wanting to get into law enforcement or the military. The military wont take him purely because he is a Diabetic, but I kept telling him to try for PD. His brother made a career in the Sheriff's department and so did his uncle, but I think the hubby didn't want to feel like a tag along.

One day I was perusing through our local paper and I saw that the police station was hiring dispatchers. I showed him the article and he immediately went and applied. A couple of weeks later he was invited to take the test for the job. He was told he would hear back within 4-6 weeks. This was the week of Valentine's Day. 4 weeks went by, then 6, then 8. I think he got discouraged and gave up but I kept praying. The middle of May came around and he got a call for an interview! I was so ecstatic! Prayers were had and so was a great interview. They told him they would call Thursday or Friday to tell him if he got the position. Friday came and went with no phone call and I could feel his utter disappointment. I didn't give up hope.....I mean they waited 3 months to call for an interview. Tuesday came and I received a phone call from the hubby around 11am. HE GOT THE JOB! I started crying (pregnancy hormones with relief) and was so happy for him.

He found out that this dispatch center is completely new to our city and he was pioneering it with 6 others! I am so happy that he is in a career that he can love for years and truly feel like he is helping his community. I am so proud of my hubby!!

Check out this article for some more info!

Baby #2 Bumpdate: 17 Weeks

What's baby up to this week? He/she is the size of a pear, measuring 5" long and weighs about 5 oz. The skeleton is changing from soft cartiage to bone, and the umbilical cord is growing stronger and thicker. Baby can move his/her joints and sweat glands are starting to develop.

What's been going on with mom? The belly is definitely noticeable enough that I can no longer hide it at work. I have had a couple people ask me so I decided to spill the beans to the managers before the entire store knew. We celebrated my birthday at CPK just my loves and I and Darin got me a new phone. Emma was so sweet and a perfect angel at the restaurant and gave Daddy the cutest smile while posing with mommy! Such a doll! It was a great day!

Symptoms: Still just feeling tired. I have a feeling a lot of it has to do with the heat and not sleeping well. Trying to get comfortable and cool has proven a challenge. Changed my prenatal so I have had some bathroom issues and lil miss gave me the stomach flu.....so my tummy was all out of whack!

Yummy/Icky: I'm so thirsty but nothing sounded good except Smart Water......and I don't want to spend a ton on bottled water....but I may have to. I was craving lemonade and Darin pulled through and got the good stuff....which I need to replenish!

Clothing: I had Darin pull down the bin, but haven't broke into it yet. I am dreading the polyester full panel on the pants in 110 degree heat......but I can't wear my regular clothes without feeling strangled! It's coming soon. My mother-in-law gave me a motherhood gift card for my birthday...I need to shop.

Movement: Had a mini dance party on Saturday, but I mostly only feel a couple of taps here and there. I want it to be consistent!! Darin is anxious to feel baby move!

Best Moment this Week: Celebrating my birthday with my loves!

Looking forward to: Anatomy scan on the hubs birthday. Any predictions are welcome!

17 Weeks with Emma!