The Love of a Family

This weekend, I was spoiled by my Family yet again. Wes' Mom and Sister hosted the cutest baby shower for me and we invited our family members.

I'm going to rub it in, I really think I have the BEST in-laws in the world. Corrine and Larissa went all out for this Brunch. Look how cute everything is! Wes' mom made everything! and my Mom brought her ever wonderful chow mein to the mix.

These favors were made of toilet tissue paper rolls and decorated as favor boxes, which were filled by homemade butter mints made my Larissa! Delicious!

And the Owl theme continued- so adorable!

The wonderful ladies in my life!

This picture is particularly special to me- such love, sacrifice, compassion and strength wrapped up into one picture. I am fortunate to know these ladies and have them in my life.

I had so much fun with everyone and Baby Charlotte got A LOT of clothes and blankets this time around. I probably won't need to purchase for a year or two!

I keep saying this to people, but it is really amazing to see the support that comes when you're pregnant with your first baby. All my family and friends, my co-workers, are just the greatest people, and Charlotte is going to be born into such love from all of them.

I think of the people who have passed that are missing this experience with Wes and I, specifically our Fathers. But I feel them everyday, Angels watching us and making sure the good in this world is blessing us as much as they can help it. Even though they aren't here with us, they can see us and be with us through it all. We love them and miss them very much! I truly believe their angel hands have helped us to where we are now.

I wasn't this young when my dad passed, he passed in 2011- I just love his smile in this picture :)

33 Weeks!

FOOD

Loving: corn, sweets, and recently learned I can order a half caf latte and avoid insane amounts of caffeine

Hating: My hyper sense of smell has returned and most things smell and make me sick to my stomach. A lot of nausea is creeping up. I'm also hating water. I drink tons but my body expels it too fast so I still end up with crazy swollen feet and hands. I hear the symptom is normal now but it's quite annoying.

BODY

Loving: feeling her move so much and now seeing it as my belly moves about.  I'm sure it's starting to get cramped in there for her. I also love bubble baths. It's so nice to soak a couple times a week and relax. Still doing my prenatal massages and I've added pedicures. So I love my toes too!

Hating: the swelling, back aches and my runny nose. I can accept the weight gain but I am getting huge. I figured I'm going to need lose 70 lbs after Baby.

Feeling:  Excited to meet her and scared for labor, anxious for mommy hood. Blessed and grateful to have this experience and share it with family and friends. 

This week a few things happened:

First, we knocked out our super birthing class last Saturday. 8 hours of everything labor. It was intense, but very informative. I recommend new parents take a birthing class for sure. We feel more comfortable now with what to expect. We also got a tour of our maternity ward, lovely place the University Hospital is and very baby friendly. 

Me and Wes have a few things we wanted to check off our ' Before Baby comes' list. One of them was brunch at Fiddlers with friends. And it happened that 16 of our friends came

 

We got another one checked off too, a nod to our simple past - we both got insanely chunky one holiday season cause we were obsessed with dunking cookies in our coffee. So we made a total night of it and watched Catching Fire on pay per view- super fun date night in. 

Next, the ladies from the magazine threw me a sweet baby shower at  Z'Tejas...their food is so yummy! The cake story is so funny. I wish I would've taken a picture of it- but instead we gobbled it and forgot it really wasn't a baby shower cake- But kinda

 I will miss these ladies so much and not seeing their pretty faces everyday. Except Jamie- I hardly ever see her cause she's the Boss's wife, but seriously- who else's boss's wife comes to a work baby shower? just Jamie, cause she's so awesome! All the girls were so generous with the gifts and food. I'm really a lucky girl!

Lastly, we made the decision that I would discontinue working full time and be more of a stay at home mom, for at least the first year. Shocker- to me even. Wes decided it was what he wanted, and it's been tough for me all week to comprehend how my life will be so turned around. I'm a working girl.. I've worked longer than I've been an adult! and I was completely fine coming back to work full time and doing the day care thing- people make it work everyday and their kids turn out just fine. 

I have anxiety about being home all day and not doing adult things and contributing financially to the household. Wes says my contribution will be raising and teaching our daughter- hello?! Pressure! I'm not exactly a a teacher, or close to one! I'm afraid I won't teach her the right way and that I'll resort to Sesame Street .....or books on tape- no? Babies don't do that? 

The anxiety is also from knowing I can't go shopping when we go down to one income :(. I don't mind working to be able to buy the things I want, that's been my life. So now,  I will have to adjust and face the reality my spa days are over and my online shopping will just be online wishful thinking. Hard to chew. 

But, from what I've heard, being a SAHM is the best thing I can do for us and that once I have her, I know I won't want to leave her. That I won't regret it and it's going to one of the best decisions I made. I might be the odd duck here, but I can't quite see the pros outweighing the cons yet. Hopefully, as we get closer to the due date, my mind set will change and that the thought of being home all year  with the baby won't be a bad thing. The positive thing I see from this is that nursing will be a lot easier, and I'm glad now I only bought a single electric breast pump. The other thing is I can start refocusing on marketing my wedding planning business and hope I can get a few booked for 2015. Yeah- money making is always on my mind. And maybe the magazine will have a few projects for me to assist with so that I can still feel like a part of the team. 

Growing a family comes with many challenges and decisions and most of those decisions are about sacrificing my wants, my needs, and my time for what's 'best for the baby.' It's Been quite the adventure just trying to change gears for what is to be the most wonderful thing I'm about to have.... a daughter. 

Happy Third Trimester- So Far...

 

So for Valentines Day- we actually decided to celebrate a week early. Wes hand wrote the most amazing note for me that I will actually keep to myself...let's just say he's as sweet as you think he is and paired with his impeccable grammar- this note was pretty spectacular. He made me feel like not the bitchy wifey I think I sometimes am. Plus I had given him a gift a week prior that was his 'push' present. Usually that goes to the wife, but I felt like he needed something to get him through this last trimester with me. I got him a Golf Buddy and he's been using it almost every weekend that the weather allows him to golf.  And sticking with the giving theme, I knew this was my chance to cook for him while I had the energy. So I did a whole Valentines week for him and cooked the majority of the nights.

Night 1: Prime Rib Eyes - these were like $15 each...but were so yummy! Simple sear in butter and oil, seasoned with S &P and finished in the oven at 425 degrees for 10 minutes. Perfect Medium every time.

Night 2: Breakfast for Dinner

Night 3 - A 20 minute meal, Pasta with a creamy rosemary and thyme sauce with mushrooms and chicken. I drizzled truffle oil over the top and it was fantastic!

Night 4: Bowling night for Wes, took him and the guys a cake, not home made though.

Night 5: I had a really bad case of swollen feet, so I skipped the kitchen and had pizza delivered, but I did assemble the cutest desserts ever that included Gelato,  raspberry sauce, whipped cream, heart shaped macarons and our names in chocolate :)

Night 6: Made Wes his favorites! Chicken Potpie and Cherry Turnovers

Night 7: We wrapped it up with Wings and Garlic Fries from Wingers- we love their wings over anyone else's

BABY SHOWER

Paige and Tyce, my sisters from other misters, threw me such a sweet shower this past weekend. I couldn't ask for better gal pals. They made everything so cute and planned this thing so well. I think some people get nervous to plan things for me cause I'm a wedding planner but, I am not picky when it comes to stuff for me- really..well I don't think I am haha. 

 I was so happy to see everyone! and everyone was so generous and sweet. We had a good time...but maybe the Moscato Lemonade and Sangria's had something to do with that ;)

  There are a few girls missing in these pictures, but I know you were there :)  I can't express enough thanks to everyone for the support we've received and the bond that I now share with some of these new and tenured mommies. It's so amazing to think that in just 60 days I will have a little mini me!

I made shower favors for everyone that came..they turned out pretty cute- they were washcloths and body wash wrapped up with a tag that said "From my shower to yours"

MATERNITY PHOTOS

Okay- so when I wasn't pregnant, I was always urging my pregnant friends and family to get maternity photos taken. some really shied away from it and some reluctantly took them cause they were not feeling their prettiest and others were all over it. I get it  now. That feeling of feeling the biggest you've ever been and the last thing you want to do is show how swollen everything is on camera. However..it really does take a good photographer to capture that and of course, my go to, Amanda Hendrickson. She's photographed my biggest moments in life, engagement, marriage and now maternity- I told her she will probably be around to take pictures of my grand kids!

I am so happy I got these done. As huge as I feel and look- I have this special memory on file of being pregnant with this child that took us a while to finally conceive.

  For some, getting pregnant is hard- the issues we face and obstacles can take a toll on your emotional strength, and when you finally get to your goal, you worry that it won't take. The first 12 weeks are so stressful cause you don't want to miscarry. And then when its time to announce- it is so hard not to want to announce to everyone in the world , "Look at us- we had a hard time conceiving but it finally happened!" I get messages all the time that our struggle gave others hope, even though we didn't have to get to far along in the process, the fact that there is a commonality in this group of couples, friends and strangers,  having a hard time conceiving is a big thing- we offer each other support and encouragement.

So, annoying as I am with my pregnancy posts and pictures...I feel like I'm allowed to celebrate. Pregnancy sure isn't easy- its uncomfortable and sometimes achy and your hormones are like a ceiling fan flinging off shit all over the room - but Im so happy and thankful for this experience. It's an absolute miracle to carry and bear children. We've been blessed so many times over and can't wait for these next two months to fly by so we can finally meet our little Charlotte!



And for those of you experiencing this with me....I got my list!

Third Trimester Must Haves and Do's....So Far

 I posted this on instagram: the 3 b's- Blazer, Bows and Bronzer. This blazer has been amazing at hiding my back fat and making me feel slimmer haha..days when you need that boost- blazers help so much. Bows- i got this belt at Smiths for $2  and i love the look it gives me..I also wore it to my baby shower. it shows off the bump well. and  finally Bronzer- So I decided to make a concerted effort and put on make up everyday for the last months of my pregnancy..bronzer is an instant make over in a compact size container..even when i just had bronzer on, i got compliments on my whole look. like Martha Stewart would say "it's a good thing"

 

Girls Night Out- My Book Club and I did the Paint Mixer as just a get together. and Every girl needs to do this, pregnant or not. its one of those experiences you will never forget.

 Pedicures- even when your feet swell up like mine, you look down and see your pretty toes and all of a sudden your swelling doesn't look so bad. Pedicures are definitely a third trimester must have.

Finalizing nursery details: I am down to the home stretch in the nursery. I have a few things to set up still and some picture frames to fill but I am almost done. the reveal will be soon! I can't wait! this print was ordered off Etsy and it is something Wes will appreciate, cause he's such a geek. but I still kept it girly with the pink. only $15 and it gets emailed in two days!

I'd also like to add Bubble Baths with Lavender Epsom Salt Soak (Amazon) or Honey Melt Bubble Bath (The Body Shop), and Black out curtains so the light doesn't wake you up early in the mornings on your weekends. My work weeks are so aweful sometimes cause I wake up at 6 and don't get home til 6 sometimes- it zaps my energy, So i've been enjoying sleeping in when i can.

Finally- Lots of date nights with the Hubby- we are trying to squeeze in as much as we can, and we even have a small list of other things we want to do with friends and family before she arrives.

Sorry this was the post that never ended...I pack in a lot of stuff in one session when I don't get on the blog train for a month, hehe.