Jun 1, 2010

Memorial Day Weekend

We had a fabulous Memorial Day weekend! Our weekend started Thursday night with a Columbia Blowfish game with Jason's family. This was Camryn's first baseball game, and she thought it was the best! Friday morning, while Camryn and I headed home for a girls' weekend, Jason traveled down to Charleston to hang out and watch baseball with his college roommate, Jordan, at the SoCon Baseball Tournament. While Daddy was away, Cam and I went out for Mexican food, made cupcakes, watched a Tinkerbell movie, did some shopping, and went out for Camryn's first sno cone.


Even though we had a great time together, we were still excited to have Daddy back home on Saturday. Sunday, after church, we had a great lunch with our friend, Joya, then spent the rest of the day being lazy. On Monday, we were so productive! We priced everything for our yard sale this coming Saturday, put all of the baby seats, mirrors, etc., in our cars, packed my bag for the hospital, did laundry, and grilled out steaks for supper. I also added to my freezer stash this weekend. I made extra blueberry muffins (just because I'm addicted), made two meals' worth of BBQ chicken, and marinated two kinds of chicken that Jason grilled up with the steaks. I also made a broccoli and chicken casserole which I divided into two meals by baking it like this:



You just pull out each individual section, wrap it up, and freeze! Jason made me post a picture of it, because he walked into the kitchen and was so impressed I cooked and divided it like this, he told me I was a genius. I told him he was silly, because people do stuff like this all the time, and I got the idea off the internet anyway. I think I'll take genius for the day, though!

May 30, 2010

Pregnancy Update: The Last Month

How far along: 36 weeks, 2 days

Total weight gain: 21 pounds

Maternity clothes: Getting a little sentimental about my maternity wardrobe. I like it better than my regular clothes. I'm gonna have to go on a shopping spree for some better non-pregnant clothes after Ella gets here!

Sleep: I've been doing better lately. I still get sore hips during the middle of the night, but I feel like I'm sleeping much better overall.

Highlight of the week: Getting our crib bedding! I picked the bedding out about a month after we found out we were pregnant. When we finally got around to ordering it, it was listed as backordered until May 29. The day after I placed the order, the website then listed it as backordered until June 29. So, we were really excited to finally have it in our possession.

Meltdown of the week: None! :) I've felt great lately. I think it's because we've slowed down, and I've had opportunities to really relax and get some things done around the house. We've both been nesting like crazy. So, no meltdowns recently - just happiness!

What people are saying: The question I hear most often is "How much longer do you have?" After I tell them the due date I hear, "Oh, that's not too much longer! I know you're ready!" My immediate reaction has been, "Oh yeah, I am!" but I've tried to stop myself from giving that automatic answer, because it's not really true. I AM ready for her to get here, because I want to see her and hold her. But, I'm not miserable or to the point where I'm "done" being pregnant. If this is really our last baby, I want to enjoy this last month of being pregnant and not wish it away.

Movement: She's moving away as usual! Her movements aren't as big lately, but I know it's because she's running out of room in there!

Cravings: Coke. Ooooo ... I know. Bad, bad, bad. I've tried so hard to drink it in moderation, but I'm struggling now.

Labor signs: Feeling some not so pleasant pains every now and again.

What I miss: I really can't think of anything I miss enough to complain about right now. The only thing that came to mind was cake batter. Cam and I made cupcakes Friday night, and I was sad because I couldn't lick the spoon! :)

What I am loving: That I get to see my sweet baby's face very soon! I'm convinced she's going to look like Camryn, so I'm ready to see if I'm right. I'm also loving that I've felt so great lately. I love that we had our amazing shower and now have everything we need for Ella's arrival. There's just a lot to love lately!

What I am not loving: That my pregnancy is almost over. It really makes me sad. And, while we have made lots of headway on the nursery, it's still not 100% complete. We need curtains, we need lampshades, we'd like to have a rug, the shelf we're having made won't be ready for a couple of weeks. But, all in all, the basics are there, and it's not a requirement that we have lampshades in order for her to be born.

What I am looking forward to: Our doctor's appointment this week - just to see if I've made any progress

What I'm not looking forward to: The uncertainty of the last month. The fact that I could go into labor at any time. The fact that the hospital is not right around the corner like it was when we had Camryn. The fact that going into labor naturally (my water breaking, etc.) would be a whole new experience since I was induced last time, and I don't feel prepared for that. The fact that I'm not 100% sure what the situation will be with Camryn when Ella decides to make her debut. We have plenty of people we know we can call on day or night to come stay with Camryn if/when I go in to labor. It would just be nice to have a definite plan already in place.

May 25, 2010

The Baby Stash


When I was pregnant with Camryn, one of the main things I worried about was making suppers for us once she was born. I knew I would be tired and preoccupied with her and wouldn't feel like/have time to get in the kitchen and make supper each night. So, I decided about a month before she got here to start making and freezing extra meals. It was a lifesaver some nights during those first few weeks.

As you can see above, I've already started my "Ella stash." It's been even more important to me this time around to have some good meals ready, especially since I don't want Camryn to have to live on Spaghettio's or take out food until I'm ready to get back in the kitchen on a nightly basis. I have a lot more I want to accomplish before Ella gets here, but this is what I have so far:

2 meals of chicken & dumplins
1 meal of marinated mexican chile & lime chicken
2 meals of marinated teriyaki chicken
2 meals of meatloaf
1 meal of homemade chicken nuggets
1 bag of baked & seasoned chicken (for chicken casserole or pot pie)
1 bag of spaghetti sauce
2 meals of potato soup
4 hamburgers
2 bags of blueberry muffins (4 breakfasts)
1 homemade cheesecake


Anybody have suggestions for other meals that freeze easily?

May 18, 2010

Covenant Baby Shower

On Sunday, the choir at church hosted a baby shower for us. We opened presents for a full hour and a half, and by the time we were finished we were completely overwhelmed by the kindness, generosity, and thoughtfulness of the people in our church. We are so blessed to be loved by these people and went home feeling very spoiled! Now we just have to figure out where to put everything!


The yummy cake

Getting help from the big sister


So many people thought of Camryn as well, and she left the shower with a nice little stash of her own!

We got so many handmade things that just wowed us!




ALLLLLL of our gifts!










With a few of our sweet hostesses - Mrs. Karen, Mrs. Gwen, and Mrs. Pat

May 14, 2010

Do We Watch Too Much HGTV?

Sunday morning I was in my bathroom getting ready for church, and in the mirror, I saw Camryn walk into our bedroom looking around as if she'd never seen it before. She caught me watching her and said, "I'm looking for my first house. You know, like on TV when they're trying to find their first house?"

I tried my darndest not to laugh out loud at her.

She came into the bathroom and ran her hand along the countertops and opened up the water closet door and looked inside.

I stood there watching, trying so hard not to laugh. Then we had this conversation:

Me: So, do you think this is going to be the one?

Cam: Well, I haven't signed the paper yet.

Me: What!?

Cam: You know, how they sign the paper? I haven't signed yet, so I don't know.

And, with that, she left to check out the rest of the house.

She later told me that she didn't choose our house. We lost out to the one with three bathrooms. Guess our 2 1/2 baths don't quite cut it for such a high maintenance little girl! :)