Packed and Ready to Go!

Yep...it's in my nature to be as prepared as possible and I'm feeling good about checking boxes off my baby prep checklist!  Even though, no checklist really prepares you for the unknown in my opinion!

Anyway, my hospital bag is ALL packed and I'm ready to take my Lill Studio bag creation with me.

I created this bag over the summer when I hosted a jewelry and handbag party at my house and on the way to the hospital will be the first time that I carry it.  I originally planned to make it a versatile diaper bag, as it has a nylon lining, perfect for spills or leaks.  But, its first purpose will be used as my 2-day stay bag!

Also, I was gifted this SO sweet and cute knit outfit that I loved so much, I will make it her 1st outfit to wear coming home!  I think I will put a long sleeve either white or colored onesie underneath it as we prep to bring her home from the hospital.  The outfit includes a sweater, pants, cap and booties!  I'm sure she'll look like a doll in this!

Amazing Glaze

My new favorite place for all things creative and personalized is Amazing Glaze.  I originally went over the summer with some of my sorors for a day of pottery and not only is it a good place to chat and sip wine, but it's a great place to create and take home your works of art.

Recently, I went again with another group of girl friends, and of course with nothing but baby on the brain....my creative juices flowed towards a jewelry box for L.L.

And with the second time around trying this pottery thing out...I LOVE it!

Where I will put her first earrings!

The purple and grey matches my Home Goods vase find!

Placed with love on top of her dresser!

Nesting Instincts

After a low-key Christmas that included NOTHING other than lounging, reading, sleeping and eating. I 100% know that I'm experiencing nesting instincts.  And at 36 weeks now, I realize that I'm in that "any day now" mode.  Even though I'm a few weeks away from my due date, nothing is guaranteed.  As I've been off work for about a week now, I've been focused on my last minute "bringing baby home" priorities.

Of course, priority number one for a baby girl is to get her closet and drawers organized! 

Sweaters, coats, robes and baby bundle sleepers

I've tried to organize them by clothes style, size and season...
but it's harder than I thought!

I think she's good on clothes for a few months!  

Washed & Folded...the baby blankets

....her sleepers

...her little outfits 

One of my Favorite gifts!  From my big sister Cindy
...her monogrammed bib and burp cloth

...her onesies - D.L.'s favorite onesie of course!

and organized her little shoes!!

34 Weeks ~ Update

I just went in for my 34 week appointment and the doctor again said that everything is on target!  I'm measuring within the acceptable range, her heart rate was at 150 bpms (which was loud and clear), and I had one of my last vaginal and blood tests to ensure that all is progressing well.  I let the doctor know that I'm feeling great and am just now beginning to feel the intensity of the Braxton Hicks contractions.

I must say that being almost 9 months pregnant, all I want to do when I get home from work and on the weekends is lounge and sleep.  I feel so boring and I feel bad for D.L.  He asked if I wanted to go to RA Sushi and grab a movie last night or did I want to go down to D.C. to go to dinner, but all I could do was sigh and say, not really!  I have to peel myself from the bed or couch to make myself do anything that's not a priority.  And unfortunately, having fun has NOT been a priority of mine.  (sad face)  


I just hope that this is not an indication of what having a child will do to a marriage!!!  I tell myself, I only feel this way now because she's draining my energy.  I guess that's why people tell you that it's important that you don't lose who you are after kids.

I'm ready to get my fun me back!!!

Counting the Blessing

Today's one of those days of random thoughts and sappy feelings for me!  When I was up making breakfast this morning, I turned on my iPod to listen to some slow jams and found myself tearing up!  I charged it to my hormone surge! 

And then I went upstairs to catch up on my DVR recordings, where Bill & Giuliana Rancic are on my recorded series list. So needless to say if you ever watch this series, their struggle to have a child has become a central storyline for this show.  Although I'm sure, that was NEVER intended when they signed up for the show.  Besides, who really thinks that having a child would come with so much challenge??  I admire Bill's support and I applaud Giuliana's courage and strength as they go through such a difficult time.  Yes, I probably speak about them as if we're great friends, but their story resonates with me as I hear personal friends' struggles and challenges to get pregnant, deliver and/or to even maintain their pregnancy!

Bill & Giuliana Rancic

Just in the past 3 months, four people I know have had their own struggles.

My bestie in Dallas just gave birth 2 months ago to a full term, healthy baby boy, but not without being on bed rest for 4 months after having to have a cervical cerclage to stop a premature delivery!

Look at him now!!  Well worth ALL those days in bed!    

One of my god mother's friends recently went into premature labor and gave birth at 27-weeks to a 2 pounds and something ounce baby girl.  She is still in the hospital, but they are quite confident and optimistic that she will develop just fine!

Recently, another one of my girl friends was just put on bed rest to stop her contractions.

And I am still, as always, in prayer for my line sister who's been trying for 4 or 5 years to conceive.

Stories like these have to make you thankful, encouraged and blessed to know that babies really are a blessing from God!

A Bikini Wax in the Winter

Well, I've been thinking.  Maybe this is the LAST thing usually on the minds of women about to deliver a baby, but its been on my mind.  For some reason, I think I should clear the way for L.L., so I think I should get a brazilian wax.  Yes, I say it's partially for L.L., but mainly for me.  I'm concerned that it's really embarrassing to have unwanted strands of hair and a room full of people gazing at my vajay-jay the entire time.

 Not sure what to classify this thought to, but I think I'm about to research schedule an appointment when time draws near.  I haven't heard of any concerns, but I think it would make me feel good.

She's coming with me!

If you haven't figured out by now, I'm a planner by nature.  D.L. calls it O.C.D., and I call it organized.  Well, I still haven't packed my bag, but I plan to have it packed and ready by the end of the weekend.  That's my goal!

But I wanted to share these two baby travel novelties I picked up online last week.  One of my girl friends that is also expecting sent a link offering these free of charge - shipping and tax was the only fee!

Nursing Cover - for those "I have to stop now and nurse in public trips"

Baby Sling - It looks stylish and trendy, but I'll see how functional this contraption really is!

Really, I don't think I would've bought either of these at full price, but only paying for shipping had me sold.  

When I visited South Africa, using a sling was the only way that the women carried their children.  Baby Bjorn's certainly weren't as popular there as they are here!

Taken on my trip to Soweto, South Africa

33 Weeks -- Baby's Development

Top

Bottom

Here we go!

Our Baby
By pregnancy week 33 your baby will weigh in over 4.2 pounds and will measure roughly 17.2 inches in length or more! (Our doctor estimated L.L.'s weight over 3 pounds)

Changes In Your Growing Baby
Your baby is steadily gaining weight during pregnancy week 33. For the remainder of your pregnancy your baby will continue to put on weight. The amniotic fluid surrounding your baby will reach its highest level at 33 weeks pregnant, then decline somewhat as your baby continues to grow larger.

During pregnancy week 33 and beyond your baby's brain is working hard at maturing. This week your baby's head will increase in size by as much as 2/8 of an inch due to rapid brain growth and maturity! Your baby's skin will also start transforming into a more pink color (I'm sure it's not pink for L.L.) as your baby starts to add fat to his body.

Your Body's Development
By 33 weeks pregnant your uterus now measures roughly 5 inches above your belly button. (CONFIRMED by our Doctor) You may have gained up to 28 pounds or more by this point in your pregnancy. (19 - 20 pounds for me so far).  Many women will gain weight more rapidly in the third trimester due to the rapid growth in their baby. Most babies start gaining anywhere from five to nine ounces every week from pregnancy week 33 until delivery. 

The countdown continues!  It's really hard to believe that what's in that bump you see will be delivered next month!

The Checklist ~ Really?

Well I was on the phone with my good girlfriend, Misty in Houston and she asked if I have my bag packed yet since I'm at the 32 week mark?  Well of course not!  The nursery is 95% complete, her clothes are all washed, folded and hung up and I have a stock pile of diapers as if Pamper's was offering a close out sale!  But NO bag packed yet!

So, I guess that's my next checklist I will have to prep for as I cross things off on my own baby planning checklist.

I ran across this checklist that is printer friendly and pretty thorough which will help me to ensure that I have what I'll need while I prepare to bring a life into this world!

In preparation so far, compliments of my mom, affectionally called Gran by my 11 nieces and nephews, (by the way, soon to be 12 since my little sister is now having her fourth this month) we just got a new Sony Handycam to capture the beautiful moments.

I have my camera (this year's birthday gift) and video camera packed together already so we make sure we have both ready to go with us.  Now, I just have to make sure the Chief Operating Officer (D.L.) is ready and up to the challenge of trying to capture the moments on both!

So you see where my priorities have been.  Now, hospital bag prepping...here I come!

My Sweet Obsession

Now that I'm going on 33 weeks, I feel L.L. more than ever!  I thought she would minimize her movements because she has less space and maybe she does, but the movements I do feel feel like baby legs and arms with STRONG bones!  :-)  Maybe I can attribute it to my love for cereal during my entire pregnancy.

My breakfast of Champions!

I have to say, I've always been a fan of cereal, but during my pregnancy, every morning when I get to work, I pop open my Pops, Froot Loops or Apple Jacks to begin my day.  As a matter of fact, I 'm now on the last bag of my 4th box of SAM's Club value pack cereal which packages these three morning treats together, all for me!

So, if L.L. is born with cavities..I will officially say it's all my fault!

Our Last Single Supper

This is probably the first time that D.L. and I have stayed here in Maryland and didn't go to either Louisiana or Cleveland to visit family for the holidays.  At first, we planned to just eat dinner out somewhere and not do anything special...just keep it low key.  Notice I said, at first!  Well, the day of Thanksgiving, D.L. woke up and said he's going to make some collard greens, so what am I going to make?  Okay, the no cooking plan is officially out of the window.  So, what did we end up doing?

1. Seafood and Sausage Gumbo -- I just had a taste for a down home dish
2. Roasted herb rubbed Cornish hens 
3. Cheesy Mac N Cheese
4. Fresh String Beans with sliced garlic cloves
5. Spring Mix salad with bell pepper, onions, cranberries, apples and feta
6. Homemade Cherry Cheesecake
7. Fresh Rolls

Yep, just for the two of us!  Notice that the greens were never made...all of the stores were out of greens here, imagine that!  So after it was all done, we looked at each other and said, so WHO is this for??  Oh, well.  Once I began cooking, I figured we'd may as well make a hardy meal of it!  I must say, that I was sitting while the pasta boiled, while the rolls rose and as the roux began to bubble.  I could feel the pregnancy all while I was cooking!

Sorry, no pics to prove it...I was caught up in the day, but trust me, it was a lovely, last, just the two of us kind of day!  I got all nostalgic and told D.L. that this is the last Thanksgiving that it will be just us...we can plan on having company for the rest of our lives!

Bring my Sexy Back!

Well, at 32 weeks, I can officially say, "I want my sexy back"!  Even though people are so kind and always compliment "how small I am", I feel like a walking, wobbling penguin.  Absoltuely NO swagger!  I told D.L. the other day that being pregnant gives you a glimpse of what to expect when you're old, achy and arthritic.  Fortunately, D.L. gives me an occasional back rub and I'm waiting to begin our daily leg stretches, because I definitely feel my bones are either shifting or tightening.  Whatever is happening, I feel every popping bone when I'm at rest longer than an hour.

For example...this pic is SOOO not sexy!  I actually can't even believe I'm posting it because I fussed at D.L after he took it because he should have told me to pose straight.  I didn't realize that I could really no longer do the sideways pose!  I was about 25 weeks in this pic...no belly, ALL boobs!

Mommy's Favorite Things

This post was of course inspired by last Friday's Oprah's Ultimate Favorite Things, especially as I was off work, sitting in front of the TV, wishing I was in the studio audience!!  But oh well...I guess I won't ever get my chance to enjoy some of the FREE finer things in life since this is the end of her season/show!

Well through this experience, I sure know that there are a TON of all things baby out there.  The entire baby market reminds me of the bridal market also.  It's one of those industries that knows you want the best, the safest, the nicest, etc. and they put a price on it all...a pretty price that is!

Well here goes my list of faves that I'm looking forward to enjoying with L.L.

J.J. Cole Bundle Me

Britax Chaperone Infant Carrier

Pampers Swaddlers Sensitive Diapers

Baby Trend Snap N Go Single Stroller

Graco Pack 'n Play Portable PlayYard

The Original Baby Signs Program

Saftey 1st True View Video Monitor

Balboa Baby Nursing Pillow

Maclaren Techno XT Umbrella Stroller

Peg Perego Aria Lightweight Stroller

Carter's Comfort Classic Reclining Wood High Chair

Eddie Bauer Bouncenette

Bright Starts Start Your Sense Activity Mat

Showered with L-O-V-E

Yesterday was the day of our baby shower and it was all I could ask for and more!  I must first say kudos, thank you and a job well done to the two hostesses that offered to give us the shower.  Besides the fact that I appreciated them for offering to host it, I had ALL confidence that the planning was in good hands.  And it was~

The 2 hostess with the mostest!

I have to let the pictures speak for the event because it came together perfectly.  The food was perfectly prepared.

Daddy Lav and I wanted family and friends to celebrate with us in a casual venue.  So, what better place to host friends and family, but in our home.

Me and Daddy Lav

If you notice the lovely and great tasting cupcakes on the table,  you'll know that I can't forget my longtime bestie's contribution to our day as well.

Me and Kat - Friends since high school

And the DELICIOUS cupcakes she brought to the shower...

So many of our friends were there to join in the celebration...

Kimali flew in from H-town! 

3 Preggers!

More Ques!

And of course, they came to shower our little lady with love and gifts.

Lastly, to all my hostesses, my friends, my family and those who couldn't attend, but thought of us enough to still send a gift...

Thank you!