37 Weeks

How far along: 37 Weeks

Total weight gain: + 28 pounds

Sleep:  Knock on wood, but still going really well.

Best moments:  We had a really great weekend.  Friday started off at my doctor appointment where I was still about 2 (maybe 2 ½) cm dilated and now about 70% effaced.  Not a huge change, but okay.  Friday evening Steve and I had dinner with high school friends and their significant others at Joey B’s to celebrate both my birthday and my last night out with them before baby!  Saturday we ran some errands, had the lights installed on our patio, and spent a couple hours at the St. Gabe’s school picnic where we hung out with my little cousins and did some cake walk!  It was a fun afternoon.  Here is mom & I at the cake walk!

Saturday night we went to a nice Mexican dinner and to the casino where we all came home big losers (Harrah’s is awesome because they have a whole smoke free section)!  Sunday Steve took me to a birthday breakfast at First Watch.  We were able to get a lot done around the house during the afternoon.  That evening was dinner at mom’s house where I got my birthday present—an iPad!  My awesome family and husband all went in together to get it for me.  I also got some great gift certificates, an ice cream/sherbert maker and a new straightener!  All-in-all, great birthday weekend!  Now I wait for baby’s birthday!

Movement:  I felt his hand or foot slide across my belly which was pretty weird.  Other than that, just stabs and jabs here and there all the time.  Not as much with the hiccups, maybe just once a day now! 

Symptoms:  I’m still popping the Tums all day long, so I’m pretty sure he is going to look like a gorilla when he comes out!

Maternity clothes:  Of course!

Food cravings:  Sunday dinner was my choice since it was my birthday and all.  I was just kind of in the mood for some home cooking, so I requested Bisquick chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, rolls, salad.  It was delicious!  To top it all off, I also requested a DQ ice cream cake which was AMAZING!

What I'm eating: Mexican (duh), Steak ‘n shake chicken fingers & fries (had to start the birthday celebration early), turkey sandwiches for lunches with grapes & string cheese, whole wheat bagels with honey nut cream cheese, cereal & milk, frozen yogurt, apples, bananas, Joey B’s pizza & salad, chicken fajitas with chips and salsa, and the above birthday dinner.

What I miss:  I DON’T miss feeling un-prepared!  Besides the actual labor & delivery part (who is ever really ready?), I feel like we’ve got everything else ready!

What I am looking forward to:  Baby’s arrival!  I know he needs enough time to finish “baking”, but as soon as he is ready, I want to meet him right away! 

Milestones:  Finished all of my Thank You cards this week!  I’m pretty much caught up at work too (there were a few things I wanted to get done before I was out, but I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it).  I also got my maternity leave all worked out, which is great.

This weekend we also got the car seat set up (correctly) in the van.  For whatever reason the car seat was super unsecure in the middle seat in the van.  We moved it to the captain chair and it is 100x better now.  We also have the labor & delivery bag in the van just in case we aren’t leaving from the house.  And of course finishing the nursery!

Nursery Reveal

I'm very excited to finally show everyone our baby nursery!  The room is ready and just waiting for our little one to move in :)  I was able to get several of my ideas from other blogs, so in case anyone likes anything here, I've tried to include links to where I got everything.

Baby Mod Olivia 3-in-1 crib

Circo Lattice Green crib sheets

Elephant blanket

Bed skirt made with by my amazing sister Kelly with What a World Stripe Blue Fabric

The Zig Zag Wall...a true time investment.  I'm totally glad I did it, but wouldn't do it again (hah!). Walls painted School Boy Blue by my amazing husband!

Mobile made by myself with the help of some good friends on a fun girls night!  I can't take full credit, the idea came from Etsy.  I just didn't want to spend that much on something I could do myself!

Custom made art work by my talented friend Nickie, with an idea I also got from Etsy.  After our little one arrives, she will be making a second print with his name, date of birth. etc. to hang next to this one!

Our chair we purchased from Best Home Furnishings.  We chose the Hagan in "mist" and chose to get the matching ottoman so we can be extra comfortable when rocking the little man to sleep.

The pillow is one we've had for many years.  Once our baby arrives, it will be replaced with a custom made pillow (by my sister of course) with his first initial monogrammed on it!

Blue lovie also a gift from my shower.

The blanket was a gift from one of my baby showers hand made by the sister of one of our family friends.

The pom balls were hand made by my lovely shower hostesses (and these poms were the actual decorations used at my shower).  They are super easy and look great!  Here is how Martha makes them!

Lamp & shade purchased from Ikea on a trip we made back in March.

 White frames also from Ikea featuring one of our baby's first pictures.

 These two are from fabric samples I ordered back when I was decided which color to use for the curtains (free art!)

My shower invitations were so cute, I had to incorporate them into the room!

The curtains were also made by my awesome sister!  They turned out so GOOD!  They include the Ele Twill in White and Storm and the What a World Stripe Blue that was also used on the bed skirt.  They also include a black out panel on the back to keep the room dark at nap time.

White shelves are from Ikea-LACK Shelves.

On the shelves are our baby sound machine, some new books, two adorable stuffed elephants received at showers, "Our Prince" picture frame (not our prince's picture just yet), elephant lovie, lamps from Ikea-KNUBBIG table lamp, baby monitor, Sophie the French giraffe (I'm sure Mario will have lots of interest in this toy), shower party favor-a jar with M&M's that say "Baby Chung" and have the Chinese symbol for baby on them, and an album of "Words of Wisdom" from all of my shower guests!  

Our dresser/changing table Baby Mod Olivia Dresser

Changing pad with green polka-dot cover

Mirror from where else, Ikea-STAVE

Arm and Hammer Diaper Pail in the corner

I'm very happy with how everything turned out.  I want to thank everyone for their help and generosity on our little man's room!  I hope he likes it :)  

36 Weeks

How far along: 36 Weeks

Total weight gain: + 26 pounds

Sleep:  Had one bad night, but the rest have been pretty good.  Back pain is really starting to get much worse.  I don’t know why but it is the most painful during the middle of the night.  I really don’t feel it until I get up to go to the bathroom though.  Luckily, it is better by the morning!

Best moments:  Had my 3^rd and final baby shower this week.  Some of my co-workers put it together.  It was so sweet of all of them to get together and bring gifts for the little one!

Also, this past week and weekend has been super busy and fun.  Thursday night my brother Kyle flew in from London for a surprise visit for my mom for her 60^th Birthday!  Friday night we went to a nice dinner with the whole family.  Saturday night we threw her a 60^th Birthday Party with over 60 guests at my sister’s house!   It was a great party, and I think she really enjoyed celebrating her 60^th!  It was also really fun to get to talk to all of our family and friends about how close we were to having the baby and for them to all see me with my huge belly!  The other big news is that we surprised her with a trip to NYC in 2013!  Yes, 2013.  It had to be that far out since I ruined the original plan of being in NYC last weekend for her actual 60^th Birthday (and the Cardinals would have been playing the Mets as an added bonus).  So, the trip has been put on hold, and has been scheduled for some time during 2013 (preferably when it is warm outside)!

Movement:  Lots! 

Symptoms:  Hungry, tired and I think a little bit of nesting!  I had to get the house cleaned up this week.  Thankfully, Steve was able to get a lot of it done while I was running errands getting ready for the big party this past weekend.

Maternity clothes:  I know I shouldn’t have, but I got 2 new tops.  I really wanted a new top for mom’s party on Saturday and there was another one that was super cute, dressy and cheap that I could wear out to dinner Friday night too.  I will have to wear them both this week again to make sure I get lots of wear out of them before I can’t wear them again!

Food cravings:  Is it bad that I went to Fuzzy’s again?  It was a Tuesday, and I had to head over that way anyways, so it just worked out! ;)  Also, I’ve been loving me some cherry snow cones lately!

What I'm eating: Chicken tacos, chips & salsa, Jimmy John’s turkey sandwich (toasted at home), Panera tomato & mozzarella Panini with Strawberry Poppyseed salad, snow cones!

What I miss:  Being able to stand for long periods of time.

What I am looking forward to:  Next week’s doctor appointment of course.  I really feel like he is moving down!

Milestones:  Our bag has been sort-of packed for a while now, but this week we finally got the bag officially packed!  There is a list on top of the suitcase of all of the last minute items we will need to grab (hopefully there will be time).  But other than that, we’ve got everything else ready!  Also, went to the doctor again (Thursday) this week.  No change though L  Still dilated at 2cm and 60% effaced!