Week 40

Where: International Fountain, Seattle Center, Seattle, WA

Week Recap ~

Our baby girl showed up at 40 weeks and 5 days :) This post was started, but never finished since we went to the hospital before week 40 was completed. Since SO much has happened in the last week and a half a lot of this might just say I can't remember. hehe

• Total weight gain/loss : +41 lbs (my final total)
• Sleep : I can't remember :) 
• Best moments : Harper showed up! Also, my mom, dad and mama were in town and we got to spend a lot of quality time together while waiting for Harper's arrival
• Movement : Does coming out count? haha
• Symptoms : Uncomfortable! I was definitely ready for her to show up. It was getting hard to be comfortable in any position - sitting, standing, laying
• Maternity clothes? : Yes, but really only yoga pants or regular pj pants. 
• Food cravings or aversion's? : I've been craving chicken salad lately, but I didn't want to make it and everywhere I looked places had nuts and grapes in theirs. I HATE nuts and grapes in my chicken salad. My mom made me chicken salad this week though and it is amazing :)
• What I am eating : My mom made some delicious meals for us while she was in town. I think she cooked every day she was over, even when she wasn't making dinner she was preparing something for me. It was so great. Having someone cook for you is always great, but even better when it is your mom. We used the grill a lot to keep the house cool.
  
  
  After our doctor's appointment on Tuesday I was feeling discouraged about when she might show up. My OB had given us this eggplant parmesan recipe, with a fun back story of people eat it and go into labor within 48 hours. She had even experienced this, but as an OB isn't claiming that it actually works she just thinks its a fun story. Regardless we went immediately from my appointment to the grocery store. Both Stephen and I were ready for me to not be pregnant anymore. 
  
  
  Stephen prepared the whole thing himself! Even the sauce was made from scratch. 
  
  He worked incredibly hard on it. It was a very labor intensive meal and took him well over 2 hours from start to finish. 
  
  The result...it was so so so good! And 48 hours later I went into labor! Coincidence? Maybe, but something got this labor moving :)
  
  
  
• Exercise : Getting walks in when I can. I don't get too far these days :)
• Gender : Girl! 
• Labor signs : 2cm now! Some more contractions, but nothing large or consistent (this was from our Tuesday doctors appointment) Obviously this changed :)
• What I miss : I can't remember :)
• What I am looking forward to : It was meeting our daughter. The days were getting closer and closer. We even had an ultrasound scheduled to check her out and start discussing what a plan for the following week would be if she didn't arrive. Most likely we would have been induced the following Tuesday. I was very anti induction so I was getting nervous that we were having to start talking about it. I was very glad she decided to come on her own!

Week 36

Where: The Ballard Condominiums with my lovely shower hosts!



Week Recap ~

• Total weight gain/loss : +35.5 lbs
• Sleep : Meh. Not happening like I would like it too, a bad nights rest is beginning to be the norm.
• Best moments : Definitely our shower! It was great to have a laid back afternoon and celebrate our little girl. Pictures below!
• Movement : There isn't a whole lot of room in there for her to do any big movements, but she is still finding a way to move about.
• Symptoms : My skin has started to be very dry. I am lathering up in lotion every night, but no lotion seems to be good enough at this point.
• Maternity clothes? : Yes
• Food cravings or aversion's? : nothing stands out this week
• What I am eating : pasta, steak, jalapeno poppers, Mexican - lots of quesadillas lately, lamb burgers, chicken sandwiches, fries, yogurt
• Exercise : Not much this week. Walked to dinner once.
• Gender : Girl still
• Labor signs : She's for sure head down!
• What I miss : Wearing my wedding rings. I haven't had my engagement ring on for a few weeks, but I had still been wearing my band. As of this Tuesday though it is no longer being worn. :(
• What I am looking forward to : Hopefully the pool this weekend :) Also, I now have all the prints I purchased for the nursery and we will be hanging them this weekend. I am excited to see how they all pull together on the wall. Fingers crossed they look good! Oh and being full term starting Saturday!
  
  
  Seattle Shower Pics:
  
  Condo ladies and great friends! Mandi, me, Aly and Shannon
  
  
  
  Items marked so I knew if I could consume them :) 
  
  
  
  Gummy bears soaked over days in vodka! Highly recommend trying this out
  
  
  
   Grill masters Brian and Eric (below)
  
  
  
  
  
  
   Opening gifts together.
  
  
  
   The guess the celebrity baby game was a big hit.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  I just really loved this picture of us :)
  
  
  Thanks so much to Mandi and Aly for putting on a great shower for us! We really have found great friends here in Seattle. :)

Week 34

Where: Din Tai Fung (dumpling restaurant), Bellevue, WA (the guys behind the window are making thousands of dumplings)

Week Recap ~

• Total weight gain/loss : +33lbs
• Sleep : Better this week than the previous week. I still wake up a ton to pee, some nights every hour!
• Best moments : Having a long weekend was really nice. Stephen, Ellen and I got some good work done in the nursery. Stephen and I got all the boxes of stuff out and put away in her room the best we could at the moment. The rug is laid out and I love it. Ellen and I sorted and put away most of her clothes. We have one more load of laundry that is washed, but just needs sorted and put away. It is coming together nicely. 
• Movement : Similar to the last few weeks. She's in there, not a big kicker but makes herself known. Mostly by being really to the right side of my stomach. 
• Symptoms : Unfortunately the swelling feet got worse this week. I had a few work days that I was in an all day meeting and did not get up as much as I normaly do to move. Needless to say after day one of this they were prety big and haven't had the chance to recover. 
• Maternity clothes? : Obviously
• Food cravings or aversion's? : Nothing stands out this week
• What I am eating : burgers, thai, stir fry, onion tart, fries, fruit, pastries, cheese sticks, salad, pasta, hummus, pretzle chips
• Exercise : :( I was bad again
• Gender : Girl
• Labor signs : None
• What I miss : I don't think I miss anything new right now, not peeing every hour, beer, my feet. haha - all the same as normal. 
• What I am looking forward to : Stephen and I are doing another cooking class this weekend, on summer grilling. We had a really good time at the last one, so we thought we would get one more in before the baby comes. Also, next week starts up weekly doctor visits. Not that it is exciting going to the doctor every week, but it means we are getting close!
  
  
  Other Happenings:
  Stephen and I hit up the Ballard farmers market for the first time since moving. It was fun to walk around and pick up some good stuff. This picture makes me look oddly tan, I am not. 
  
  
  
  The dogs tried to run to safety on me/in my arms from their dad, who was going to brush their teeth. hehe
  

Baby Shower

This post is super late, but better late then never right? Good thing baby girl can't ready yet, don't want her to think that way. hehe. Anyways, Easter weekend Stephen and I hoped a plane and headed to St Louis. My sweet family threw me a baby shower. It was a wonderful time, got to visit with many people and celebrate the soon to be new addition to the family.

 

My sister & mom put together a great day, with the help of my aunts, mama, cousins and mother in law. All of the decorations were so great, the food delicious and the company delightful as always. :)

Me with my mom and mother in law.

Aunt Nancy and I :)

Jessica and I :)

Family! Thanks ladies for helping out with the shower. I had the best time!

Kozlen ladies :)

 

Sisters! Ellen spear headed the shower and she did a great job. Everything was amazing.

Old friends! So great Holly was in town too, so she got to come celebrate with us :)

BFFs :) Love all these ladies and their little men!

Thanks to everyone who came to celebrate! I can't wait for everyone to get to meet our baby girl.

Week 26

Where: Fisher's Restaurant, Belleville, IL

Week Recap ~

• Total weight gain/loss : +19.5 lbs, no change
• Sleep : So, so. I was battling a cold most of the week that made it hard to sleep. 
• Best moments : My mom and sister threw me a wonderful baby shower. It was so great to celebrate baby girl and spend time with friends and family. More to come on the shower, it deserves it's own post.
• Movement : Yes. I can tell she is getting bigger too. She spent all of Friday moving around in all kinds of new places.
• Symptoms : I had a rough week, body wise I was a mess. So it was hard to notice any pregnancy related symptoms. I said I was battling a cold, well on top of that mid week I rolled my right ankle. This caused me to fall to the ground and bang up one of my knees pretty bad. Don't worry I am alright, just sore and scratched up. My ankle was fairly swollen but it is going down each day. It wasn't my worst rolled ankle to date. ha
• Maternity clothes? : Well with my fall I was down a pair of pants. I ripped open the knee on one of my jeans. Thank goodness it wasn't my favorite pair! I had a coupon to Gap, so Friday after work I decided to go and just look. Well I walked out with 2 pairs of jeans to replace my one tore pair. :) They were on super sale too!
• Food cravings or aversion's? : I wanted pizza pretty bad this week. We decided Friday night to try out a place in our new neighborhood that we heard was really good. It was SO disappointing  It for sure didn't satisfy my craving. Will have to try for pizza again next week. 
• What I am eating : Pasta - my mom brought me my favorite pasta all the way from New Jersey over the weekend. Sal's Penne Vodka, no pasta anywhere compares to it. I ate it for a few meals while in St Louis. 
  
  Steve also grilled for us a few times this week, sausage and peppers one night and steak, mushrooms and sweet potatoes another. Breakfasts were the same as always - greek yogurt, oats, fruit. Lunches were mainly pasta, salads or chicken sandwiches. 
• Exercise : Did some light, short neighborhood walking and we went to Ikea (counts as exercise these days, plus that place is huge)
• Gender : Girl!
• Labor signs : None
• What I miss : My family! It was so great to see almost everyone (missed you dad!) over the weekend. We are a long ways from all our family most of the year. We love getting to see everyone. I know it is going to get harder over the next few years when we have a little one. Everyone will need to start making plans to come visit us more often :)
• What I am looking forward to : The sun! When we got back to Seattle the weather was amazing. I was convinced it was here to stay until next winter. Unfortunately the forecast changed to rain all week :( Also, child classes start next week! We are signed up for a variety of classes, but the main one is a 6 week course, once a week. 

Week 24

Where: Ship Canal/Lake Union, Fremont, Seattle, WA (Happy St Patrick's Day!)



Week Recap ~

• Total weight gain/loss : I have no idea again! I forgot to get on the scale yesterday morning and today I am in Portland, OR and our hotel room didn't come with a scale. :)
• Sleep : The begining of the week was terrible, but the end of the week has been much better. I often think I just wear my body out so much with bad sleep taht eventually it just gives up and lets me sleep really hard for about 2 days before going back to waking up all the time.
• Best moments : Had a fun and semi relaxing weekend, celebrating Stephen's birthday. Pictures way below. Also, video chatted with some of my girlfriends this week. It is always nice to see their faces. Some of the kiddos joined as well. They are all getting so big!
• Movement : Pretty much the same as last week, movement but not a ton. She makes herself known a few times a day but isn't partying it up in there yet.
• Symptoms : Tired from lack of good sleep. Also, had more indigestion this week than I have had in a while.
• Maternity clothes? : Yes! I bought a few more things last weekend too. Just a couple more of the Gap body shirts. They are my favorite and Gap had everything 30% off. I couldn't pass that up :)
• Food cravings or aversion's? : Nothing new here
• What I am eating : We cooked at home one night! haha yes just one, but hey more than the last two weeks. Stephen made burgers on his new grill he got for the house. We also had some chineese food, small plates at a dinner out, greek. Lunches I had chicken sandwiches a few times and some salads. Breakfast was fruit and greek yogurt pretty much everyday.
• Exercise : We walked a lot around our new neighborhood last weekend. So much that I ended up pretty sore from it. I think I am pulling my shoulder's forward or something strange when I walk a lot.
• Gender : Baby Girl still!
• Labor signs : None
• What I miss : This is harder than I thought each week. I haven't been missing much. I've been fairly stressed out, so I guess right now I miss being able to have a drink to just relax and calm my mind. I'm just always thinking of what is next for everything lately.
• What I am looking forward to : This weekend. We are currently in Portland, OR. Stephen had to work here today, so I tagged along and am working from his office as well. We are going to do some small hikes around the Columbia River Gorge area, if the weather cooperates, and we have some things we want to look at here for the nursery. No other plans, we hope for it to be a relaxing, fun weekend and I think it will be!

 

Other Happenings:

 

I was all over deals this weekend for baby girl. Got all of the above clothes at Goodwill for a total of $8! The jeans(Baby Gap), jean jacket and Cardinals (brand new looking!) onsie will be for when she's a little older. The white onesie and leggins(Gymboree) she will be rocking this summer. 



Saturday our new neighborhood was having a kids gear sale at the community center. We got up and walked down for the opening. We did not have a plan and were a little overwhelmed, but we did end up getting some good items and saving well over $100! Pretty good for two first time parents having no clue what they were looking for. haha! I picked out some stuff while Stephen held it or looked up on his phone to see how much items originally were. I forgot to take a picture of all our deals, but here is a book we picked up:

Haha! We loved it and it was just $1. We also got a bounce seat, a bebepod(its a bumbo) with trays, a newborn cloth diaper and a man looking Skip Hop diaper bag for Stephen.

Saturday evening we went to the Sounders vs Timbers soccer match for Stephen's birthday. We had great seats!

 

It was pretty cold, but I kept semi warm in his new Sounders hat from his mom and dad. It's so cute, I might have to claim it as mine!

Fancy dinner at home Sunday, as an early bday dinner. Dungenous crab ($4.99/lb! told you all over the deals this weekend. haha). As part of his birthday gift I cracked half of his crab for him. I am slightly better at it than he is, I have years more experiance in crab cracking. :) I will say he does do a good job, he is just slow at it. So by me doing half of his we are finished eating at the same time. 

Tuesday night we had a night out in the city after work. We went to a National Geographic Live lecture, K2 Danger and Desire on the Mountain. The speaker was the first and only woman to have summitted all 8,000+ meter peaks in the world, unassisted with oxygen. The talk was about her 14th peak, K2, and the journey to do it. It was pretty neat and inspiring. We also had great seats, up in one of the "fancy people" boxes.

Week 23

Where: Oh god I hate this picture! We were busy moving Saturday, unpacking Sunday and didn't take a picture. This one was taken last night, so 23 weeks and 6 days. I needed a shower. This is at our new house.



Week Recap ~

• Total weight gain/loss : +14 lbs (taken at the doctor on Wednesday, I forgot to get on the scale this morning)
• Sleep : Off and on. I would have a good night, then a bad night. I woke Stephen up a few nights with my water drinking. I wake up really thirsty a lot of nights, which then leads to more waking up for bathroom breaks.
• Best moments : As every week I get to go to the doctor, hearing that she is doing well and getting to listen to her heartbeat. Also, (not baby related) coming home from work and not having to take the dogs out on a leash and down an elevator while they freak out. Just walk to the back of the house and open the door, they run out and can go themselves!
• Movement : Starting to feel more and more. Still not a ton of movement, but I feel her everyday now.
• Symptoms : Is "crabby bia" a symptom? haha It has been looking up towards the end of this week, but I haven't been in the best mood.
• Maternity clothes? : Got a new maxi dress in the mail this week. I haven't tried it on yet though. I also want to get a couple more Gap t-shirts then I think I will be set for the rest of the months. I love the few Gap shirts I have and I am wearing them all the time, so I think a few more are a must.
• Food cravings or aversion's? : Back to wanting Mexican a lot, ate it like 3 times this week
• What I am eating : Mexican, chicken, girl scout cookies, pasta salad, pizza, gyro, burgers. Need to start cooking again! I did get the kitchen in order this week, so hopefully next week sees more at home meals.
• Exercise : We took a walk around our neighborhood last night, but other than that nothing. I've still been exhausted from the move & stress this week.
• Gender : Little Girl!
• Labor signs : None
• What I miss : Being rational. haha Like I said this week's symptom was crabby bia. Hoping to feel better next week. Also, (not baby related) having a microwave. Our new place didn't come with one. I need to get one asap, cause reheating in the oven is ridiculous.
• What I am looking forward to : Stephen's birthday! I love birthdays and I love to be able to make sure his day(weekend) is special. His weekend wants include building a mock fence and going to Home Depot. I do not think this sounds special so I will be adding in a few things I think he will like for him. Saturday we are going to the Sounders vs Timbers match. Big rivalry, it will be a fun day.

Week 22

 

Where: Century Link Field, Sounders Opening Day Match, Seattle



Week Recap ~

• Total weight gain/loss : +13 lbs (no change)
• Sleep : Terrible this week. I attribute this weeks bad sleep to stress though. I've had a lot on my mind lately from work to moving to the baby. Hoping after we are fully moved into the house I calm down some.
• Best moments : On Tuesday we visited a daycare we really liked. Daycare has me stressed out big time and for some reason this one calmed me down, a little. We really liked the individuals who ran the center and they have a very high retention rate of their teachers. Both of our favorite parts of the center is the outdoor space and outdoor time they spend. Not just playing too, they use outside to learn various things. Even the infants get to go on walks, they have a 6 baby stroller. We are on their wait list, so now we just have to wait to see if in September our name comes up.
• Movement : She's in there, she doesn't always make herself known but she has been starting to a little more lately. We have discovered she really likes music with horns. She was pretty quiet one day until I watched Stephen's video of his commute to work. Check it out for yourself here. She went nuts and he was able to feel her really good again. We were pretty excited she has good taste in music and likes Jurassic 5. Then one day to work she rocked out to the ever popular Thrift Shop by Macklamore (shout out to Seattle!), which features a horn most of the song.
• Symptoms : Pretty crabby this week, see above comments about stress and lack of sleep
• Maternity clothes? : Yup. Pretty bummed though today when I went to put on my maternity maxi dress and it shrunk length wise about 6 inches after first wash :/ Think this might mean I need to buy at least one more maxi dress
• Food cravings or aversion's? : I have been wanting nice salads this week. Although I haven't been ordering them when we are out. I also randomly bought french onion dip and ruffles for lunch yesterday.
• What I am eating : Out all week due to having no kitchen - pizza, mexican, salads, whole foods premade items, burger, ruffles & dip, chicken salad, rolls
• Exercise : Does moving houses count?
• Gender : GIRL! And we are about 95% sure she has a name, don't bother asking us though cause we aren't going to tell you :)
• Labor signs : None
• What I miss : Hmm being able to remember everything. This post becomes harder and harder each week as I try to remember all that happened since the last week. I also keep forgetting things, like I am constantly leaving the house without my phone, my wallet, last night I left my purse at the house when we went to dinner. Baby brain seems to be kicking in hard this week.
• What I am looking forward to : Being moved into the house and starting on the nursery! We bought paint this week for the walls. That will be step one :)

 

Other happenings:

 

The move out of Ballard has begun. I am very sad to leave the place we have called home for the last two years. We have made great friends who live in our building and we have enjoyed all that Ballard has to offer. I know I will find happiness in Greenwood/Phinney as a neighborhood and our friends will be close (although not as close as walking down a flight of stairs). I am already glad to have more space and we aren't fully moved in yet! Here are some pics of the house we are renting:

Master bedroom & me trying to convince Stephen that there is no way our headboard/frame will fit with our ginormous bedroom furniture. He eventually agreed and headboard went to the basement.

Baby girl's room. She has a better closet, I might have to take some of it up with Steve's clothes. haha These orange walls will soon be tan.

 View of kitchen/dinning area from the back of the house.

 View of kitchen/dinning area from the other end. You can see the back deck out those doors.

Living room. Love the two large windows.

Not shown is a third bedroom space that makes up the upstairs. We are going to have it be a craft/game/reading/play room. There is also a basement and a garage.

Chewie loves the deck. He also really enjoys running from the front room to the deck with his new toy carrot (shown in the picture above). He could not be happier to have a house, yard and deck again. He seriously smiles and glows with happiness when we bring them over.

Yuri likes the house too, but is really worried about change. Here he is on the front porch with me, nervous about the happenings of moving and where we are going next. "You are taking me with you right?" He always seems to be saying in nervous whines.

Chewie again loving getting to be outside and watch what is happening on the street. This dog was never made to be a condo dog.

 

Home Depot run to pick out paint for the nursery! We went with Candied Pecan, a beige/taupe color. Just need to get this move completed and Stephen can start painting. 

 



I got some fabric samples I ordered in the mail this week. I love them all. From left to right the first three are my favorites. The more pink one being my top pick, but of course it is crazy expensive so we will see. Going to go to some local shops as well for fabric samples. Hope to have some choices picked out for my review board (Holly, Ellen, Leslie, Nancy, etc.) to advise on at the end of the month. :)