Babymoon and 35 weeks

This past weekend I finally got what I has been dreamin' of...a visit to Hilton Head! Adam and I went to Hilton Head Island this past weekend for our "babymoon," our last hoo-ra before baby. We had a really good time. We did all the things we love to do when we go! We went to "Gruby's," a New York style restuarant for breakfast and to "Guiseppi's" for lunch (our favorite). We went to the movies, shopped, went to the beach, and did more shopping and eating! We also made a few visits to Barnes and Noble! It may sound lame, but we have a little routine when we go and we love it! The weather on Saturday was a little chilly and the sun didn't come out at all, but we made the best of it. Sunday was much better but we left about 2 pm to head home and didn't get to enjoy the sun as much as we would've liked. I cannot wait to take Ella Jae to HHI over the summer! She will be a beach baby for sure!

At 35 weeks this week, Ella Jae is measuring 18 in long and weighs approx 5.25 lbs, the weight of a honeydew. Her kidneys are fully developed and her liver can produce some waste. Most of her basic development is now complete and she will spend the rest of the time putting weight (hopefully not too much more for Mommy's sake)! Even though she may not be able to turn cartwheels any longer because of her size, she sure is moving a lot still. Sometimes while I am at my desk, I just have to stop and watch her little movements and I can't help but laugh! She moves a lot especially when I eat or after I am finished.

This week, I am 35 weeks and it feels like 42.5 weeks! My belly feels like it could split wide open any moment. I cannot eat very much in one sitting. I feel up after like 2 bites and then I am hungry an hour later. I feel so much pressure in "that" area, almost like she is going to fall out ha! I haven't been sleeping all that well and wake up tired. My hips and feet hurt. Geez...I sound like I am whining!! I have been really fortunate to have such a pleasant pregnancy...until now...and it really isn't unpleasant, I an just a little uncomfortable! I still need to finish her nursery and pack my bag for the hospital. Ya know, I have had so much trouble finding pajamas that button down in the front. And I didn't really want to pay a fortune for them at the maternity store. So I will just probably go with a nursing tank and bottoms. I am excited to pack that bag, though!! Maybe I can work on that this weekend! I need to just be on a mission to get all the things I need and pack it! Some of the essentials:

Been dreamin' of this...

ALL DAY LONG!

The weather was nothing short of perfect today! I had to attend a luncheon today for work and we ate outside :) Then I had to run a few more errands for work and I was thankful that I was not stuck inside all day on a day like today. As I walked out of Walmart, I just closed my eyes and just took in the breeze and the warm sun! I think the high was around 64 degrees and it was so great considering the 30 and below degrees we have had here in the south. I just couldn't help but day dream of my favorite getaway...Hilton Head Island! I have been itching to go for our last little "hoo-rah" before baby but the weather today intensified my "itch!" Praying I get my beach and flip flop fix soon...

Busy day ahead

We have a day filled with parties today! And I'm not talking about one or two...we are talking...FOUR! I am going to my cousin's, Jen, baby shower then we are going to sweet Davis' 1st birthday party then to celebrate Nicholas' birthday with our whole family at mom and dad's house then we will make our way to my cousin's, Adrianna, 13th birthday bash! It should be a fun filled day but I am sure I am going to be so pooped by the end of the night! I am excited to see all the people I love most in one day...what could be better? I am off to do some last minute shopping while Adam goes to pick up his motorcycle. Side note: I got Adam speakers for his bike for Christmas so he could listen to the radio or his ipod while he rides and a family friend hooked it all up and attached it for him. He is so excited and has been so anxious to get his "toy" back :) Hope everyone has a great weekend! And pray I don't have cankles at the end of the day haha!

Blogging break and 33 weeks

I took a little accidental blogging break. To be honest, I've just been a little lazy when it comes to bloggin lately. It is typically late when I check the blog (and facebook) and don't really have the energy to post :( But I promise to do better!



I am 33 weeks preggo! Only 6/7 more weeks to go! I cannot believe it! My pregnancy has flown by and I have been so blessed with such a great pregnancy! There have a been a few bumps in the road but none like I hear some people speak of. I have felt pretty good the entire pregnancy with no real complications and sweet Ella Jae is perfect from what the doctors can see. Although, I am starting to not sleep well at night due to frequent bathroom trips and each time I turn over something feels like it is coming detached in my belly, but no fear there. Dr. Serrano said it was just ligaments...whew...thank goodness! Ella Jae is also starting to press on my lungs it seems, too, making it difficult to catch my breath at times. She has camped out on the right side of my belly. I have carried her low my entire pregnancy but not because she is getting quite lengthy she is making her way to the top of my belly and rib area. When I am sitting especially I can feel a little body part pressing on my ribs and I have to put my hand there and move it anyway...but she is stubborn like her Momma and Daddy (bless her heart) and she moves it right back! Haha!



This week, Ella Jae weighs a little over 4 lbs and has passed the 17 in mark. She is losing the wrinkled, alien looking skin and her skeleton is hardening (why her little movements are getting more intense haha). She will gain about 1/2 lb every week. She is in the process of receiving antibodies. She is already in the head down position...good girl!



I go back on Feb. 5 (3 weeks instead of 2 bc my doc will be away) and will have an ultrasound to check her position and weight. I am secrely hoping she will tell me that I could have her any day at that point :) I am just so anxious to meet the little lady that has been inside of my for 9 months! Oh what a joyful day that will be!



Oh, oh, oh! We had our maternity pictures made! You can view them here! Ah...it was so much fun and I think they are so cute! Let me know what you think! I will upload them as soon as I receive the disk!



Now off to celebrate Nicholas' birthday at Olive Garden..yum yum!

Happy Birthday, My Brother!

We love you!

(Nicholas-aka Waldo and Me-aka pregnant geisha dressed for Halloween) haha

Our Christmas

I hope that everyone had a great Christmas!! Adam and I had a wonderful Christmas together this year! On Christmas Eve, we went to Church which was an awesome service! The band worked so hard on the music, it brought tears to my eyes. They did a beautiful job! They sang The Little Drummer Boy and Mary Did You Know. Have you ever really listened to the words of Mary Did You Know? It is such a powerful song! Then we went to Mom and Dad's for their Christmas Eve party. All of our family was there and it was a joy spending it with both of our families. We ate lots of yummy food, tracked Santa, and even got to see him via Skype at Mem and Pep's house in RI. On Christmas morning, Adam and I woke up early and opened presents together at our house, then went to Mom and Dad's to have Christmas with them. Then we all went to Mem and Pep's for presents and brunch, all while still in our pj's :) After Mem and Pep's, Adam and I went to my Grandma's house for lunch. That afternoon, we went to my Mama's house and had a great Christmas with her there. Adam and I were blessed beyond belief with all of the gifts we received, but the greatest gift with being able to share this wonderful time of year with the people that we love most and to give to those less fortunate!! It is so exciting to think that next year we will spend Christmas with our sweet little girl!! It is going to be such a joy to experience Christmas with her. I cannot wait to keep alive the traditions that Adam and I had as a child and the ones that we will create together as a family. I have a lot of pictures that I want to post from our holiday, it is just finding the time to do it. Speaking of pictures, Adam got me a super duper nice Nikon camera with a big lens for Christmas! I am so excited about it and cannot wait to spend time taking nice pictures, especially of our precious little one :)

O Christmas week

It always seems that once December gets here, Christmas Day comes all too fast! So here we are the week of Christmas, and Christmas Day will be here in a few short days. Leading up to the big day, we have events planned for each night of the week which ofcourse will make the days go by even quicker which is a little sad, but it will fun enjoying the season with our family and friends. Tonight, we are celebrating Mutante' Paulie's birthday(and hopefully going to see the lights at Hopeland Gardens-a little tradition of ours); Tomorrow, I am going to dinner with the girls and it is Adam's birthday; Wednesday, I am getting together with my two cousins, Jen and Amanda, and Adam and I will have nice dinner to celebrate his birthday just the two of us; Thursday, Christmas Eve, I have to work until 1 pm and then we will get ready for Church and Mom and Dad's Christmas Eve party; Friday, Christmas Day, we will spend it with our families and just enjoy each other and the day and give thanks for ALL of our many blessings. I am so thankful that Adam's last day at Walgreens is Wednesday and we will be together Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, which wasn't the case last year. I will look forward to many more Christmases together and being able to share them together with Ella Jae and starting new traditions with her! Adam and I really want her to know and understand the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus and giving to others less fortunate. We want to teach her that Christmas is not just about "all I want for Christmas" and getting presents. We plan to not go overboard with gifts but trying to convince the grandparents to not go overboard might be a different story haha! This week, I hope to find some down-time in between all the happenings to bake and listen to Christmas music and really soak in everything about this Christmas season!

Our weekend

Friday night, Adam and I had a night in :) We had breakfast for supper...love it! It was nice just relaxing and staying in because I had a crazy day with my glucose screening and then having to go to work in the rainy freezing cold weather. Saturday, I hosted a Pampered Chef Party! It was so much! Who doesn't love for someone to come cook in your home? The products are great, too! Adam went into work (only 3 more days of yuck-greens) and I spent the rest of the afternoon going through some baby clothes that my cousin gave to me and shopping for things to go on Ella Jae's walls. Who knew that deciding on decor for a nursery could be so difficult. I think I almost have it though!! Sunday, Adam had to be at work at 8 am so I went to Church solo after stopping by Dunkin Donuts ofcourse :) Then went to Mom and Dad's for lunch. We also celebrated Adam's birthday last night. I had to run to Publix to pick up his cake. His whole family came over for sandwiches, chips, potato salad, and cake. It was fun having everyone over and celebrating my sweet husband! His birthday is Tuesday and he has to close so we can't celebrate Tuesday, but hopefully we go to dinner on Wednesday. I have a lot of pictures to post from our holiday season!! Hopefully, I can get a chance to do that sometime this week! Hope everyone has a great week and can enjoy the last week before Christmas :)

A fun girl's night!

After work tonight, I met some of my best friends at Elegant Bridals for one of my best friend's, Jessica, wedding dress fitting! We had so much fun and she looked so beautiful! Afterwards, we ate at Five Guys Burgers and Fries or as Jess referred to it, "Five Guys and a Burger!" So yummy! Jess is going to make such a pretty bride! I skipped trying on bridesmaid dresses haha! But I still have to order it in January, but hopefully I can just go up a size from what I wore before I was pregnant and then just have it altered. Surely I will lose most of the baby weight 6 months after giving birth haha! Jessica is getting married in September and I plan to work my little (so not so much now) booty to the bones to get back into shape. I have Nicholas and Megan's wedding to get ready for in October, too. 2010 will be a very eventful year :) How exciting!!

Me and my beautiful besties!

Amanda, Megan, Me, and Jess (the bride-to-be)

A sigh of relief

I went to the high risk doctor today for my last visit! My last visit was actually supposed to be last month, but I was given somewhat of alarming news or atleast it was to me being a new mother. I was told at my last visit that Ella Jae may have a heart valve or atrium abnormality, which means that one side of her heart would become enlarged and fluid would begin to build around it. I was completely blown away because every screening had come back normal so far. The doctor went into great detail which confused and upset me even more. Then she said that it could be completely positional but wanted to see me back in 4 weeks to confirm if it was positional or if there was an abnormality with her heart which would mean surgery after she was born. Fortunately, Adam was with me at this visit otherwise I would not have been able to drive home. I completely lost it in the elevator. I tried so hard to wrap my head around everything she said, but none of it made any sense to me because every screening and sonogram had been completely normal until then. All I could think of was Ella Jae and feeling her tiny movements at that moment and then the possibility of something being wrong with her precious little heart. In my heart, I felt everything was fine but I still new that there may be a possiblity. Well, the next day I called the doctor to get better clarification and try to understand why I couldn't just go back right then and see if she was in a different position and they could take a better look at her heart. I spoke with the really sweet technician who I love, and she really gave me a peace about things and basically said that nothing was wrong with Ella Jae's heart and the doctor had to give me the whole scenerio and the possibilities and that I had to wait so her heart would be bigger so they could definitely confirm it was only possitional. I tried very hard to put it out of my mind and prayed a lot. We didn't tell many people because we did not want to alarm anyone if it were just positional, and praise the Lord, today it was confirmed that Ella Jae had a perfectly normal healthy heart!!! Call it mother's instinct, but I felt in my heart that she was perfect and I did not worry over the last month. When I would think "what if," I knew that God has a plan for her little life no matter what health condition she may be in, but I am just so thankful that she will be healthy. It was such a sigh of relief and I could have cried but I stayed strong! Praise the Lord that our sweet baby girl has a healthy strong heart. She is growing perfectly and putting on weight as normal. She weighs 2.8 lbs and is over 15 in. long! Which is right on target for 28 weeks, which I will be tomorrow!

Christmas 20 Questions

1. Eggnog or hot chocolate? I love both but I'd have to choose HOT CHOCOLATE!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree? When I was little Santa just sat the presents out, but now he wraps them and puts them under the tree for me :)

3. Colored lights or white? I use white, but colored make me think of Christmas as a kid.

4.Do you hang mistletoe? No, but I'd like to get a mistletoe ball!!

5. When do you decorate for Christmas? The day after Thanksgiving.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish, excluding dessert? Any casserole :)

7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? Spending the day playing with my cousins and our new toys.

8. When and how, did you learn the truth about Santa? I was probably about 8 or so and heard my mom putting out the presents.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? Adam and I use ornaments that we've had since we were little and the ones we've collected since we've been married. I also like lots of color so I use red, green and gold balls with matching ribbon!

11. Snow. Love it or hate it? Love it but would never want it ALL winter long. A day or two is enough.

12. Can you ice skate? I love to skate, but unfortunately I'll have to skip it this year with Ella Jae on the way :)

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? I think I have a new favorite every year!

14. What is the most important thing about the holidays to you? Being with family, remembering the true reason for the season and giving to those less fortunate.

15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? Red Velvet Cake :)

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Going to church on Christmas Eve and the Lambert's party, and spending Christmas Day with our families!

17. What tops your tree? A red and gold bow with gold glitter sticks.

18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? The feeling you get when you give to others!

19. What is your favorite Christmas song? Ahhh...so many favorites....

20. Candy canes. Yuck or yum? YUMMO!!

I tag anyone who reads this!