Nursery

We finally got our last piece of furniture in! Now I can feel good about the nursery and take some pictures to share with you all! 

We didn't go with a 'theme' for the nursery. and we tried not to make it overwhelmingly one color (pink). because I get sick of things quickly and I want Ainsley's room to make me (and her) happy for a long time:) So we went with pink and gray. Mom and Aunt Ellen helped us paint. The top half of the walls are light gray, the bottom dark gray, and we painted a chair rail pink to run around the middle of the room. (philip's idea and I love it)

Ok so here are more pictures of the nursery. It is not done yet, it is a work in progress but it is pretty close to being complete! 

love this chair. it is so comfortable

right now the changing table has her Christmas tree and nativity scene on it:) of course after December it will be her changing pad:)

girl has got some clothes:)  

I made this ribbon holder!! I am not crafty so I was quite proud. 

Philip put the closet together with a kit we ordered from Home Depot (it turned out great but was a real pain in the butt for him to put together). 

We are so happy with the nursery. It is just what Philip and I both wanted. The room is filled with so much love from so many of her family and friends. Everywhere I look there are things that have been made for us, bought for us, and sent to us from people who love Ainsley and can't wait to meet her:) We can't wait either Baby Girl!!! 

33 weeks

We are moving right along! We knew these last few weeks were going to fly by; with the holidays and get togethers and everything. She is going to be here so soon!!! 

size: she is the size of a pineapple. 19-22 inches and could be 4.9 lbs! I have had several people tell me they had their baby at 33 weeks and I am like 'holy crap' she could come at any time! 

what is going on with Ainsley: she might 'drop' soon but she certainly hasn't yet. Her feet are all up in my ribs making it hard for momma to breathe:) Her liver is capable of producing some waste (but not fully formed yet). Her fingernails are at the end of her little fingers and will probably scratch her delicate skin once she comes out:) (dont worry we are prepared with baby mittens!) She is pretty active and moves around a lot. She sleeps a lot when I am working, I think the constant movement lulls her to sleep, or maybe i'm just too busy to notice her moving. 

I couldn't resist. how cute is this baby skirt with little bloomers underneath?! 

what is going on with me: I have been sick several mornings this week (the work bathroom has welcomed me back). I am done thinking 'this week will be the week I feel better' and have started thinking 'i will stop puking in 7 weeks':) 

I tried to describe to Philip how I am feeling right now. This is what I told him: "stick a beach ball, weighted down with about 20 lbs, up your shirt. carry it around all day and have it pull on your back and abdominal muscles all day. have people come up to you and tell you they can't believe you have 7 more weeks you look so big.  come home, drink a bottle of hot sauce, a gallon of water, then try to get comfortable in bed while your esophagus burns, your bladder feels like it might burst and the beach ball makes it impossible to find a comfortable way to sleep. then add to that the fact that your legs seem to have become eternally restless.". :) I guess I should say i'm just kidding. but i'm not. that's really how I feel:) but it's worth all of that and so much more, so it is all ok:) 

I now pick things up with my toes and feet around the house. it's not worth trying to bend over anymore:) 

cravings: puppy chow (duh)

Christmas Foods

Lots of food are "Christmas foods" to me. Here are my top 5.

my #1: puppy chow. some people call it garbage, or trash. whatever you call it, it is my favorite. in fact I have had it for breakfast the past two mornings. LOVE IT. 

#2: spiced tea. my mom makes this hot tea and i LOVE it. the best part for me this year- you can make it decaf! (recipe at bottom). Every other year Mom usually makes me some spiced tea and brings it to me. this year, I made my first batch all by myself! I am so proud of myself.  

#3: Aunt Annie's Wisconsin Strata casserole. Aunt Annie hosts a Christmas Eve brunch every Dec 24 in the morning. It is the best food of the whole year. Philip hasn't been able to attend one of these delicious meals... until this year! He has had to work and last year we both missed it. So this is his year:) 

#4: Grandma's peanut butter fudge. She makes homemade fudge every Christmas and it just melts on your mouth. Emily has discovered it this year and has stolen a lot of it from me. 

#5: Press Cookies. you know, the kind that you shoot out of one of those fancy guns and then cover in sprinkles? basically little buttery sugar cookies. my mom makes them. my uncle steve craves them. I think the uncooked batter is the best though (not for me this year though:( )

Ok anyway, here is the recipe for Spiced Tea. I don't like iced tea or even just plain hot tea. this is way different and so much better. Even Philip likes it and he doesnt usually like this kind of thing. 

ingredients: 

1/2 can frozen orange juice

1/2 can frozen lemonade

1/2 can frozen pineapple juice

8 hot tea bags (caffeinated or decaf) 

2-3 sticks of cinnamon

1 tbs whole cloves

to make: put cloves and cinnamon in water and boil for 5 minutes. 

Turn off heat, add tea bags and let simmer. 

Add fruit juices to pitcher. 

Strain tea into pitcher. 

add water to equal 1 gallon total. 

add sugar/splenda to taste. 

*store in refrigerator and make a cup, or two, at a time*

Enjoy! 

Christmas Party

Tonight we hosted the third annual Overall Christmas Party!

My energy and enthusiasm was not quite what it has been the past two years. But lucky for me, I have an awesome husband, amazing parents, and some awesome aunts/grandma who chipped in and helped me. 

After a rough night of sickness, I laid around this morning and Philip and I spent late morning/all afternoon cooking and baking together while listening to Christmas music. He was such a big help, and I can't imagine how stressful my day would have been if he hadn't helped me. I am one lucky woman. 

As if that wasn't enough, my parents and Emily came over early and took over so Philip and I could go to a visitation for his sweet cousin Larry. Again, so blessed. 

On the menu for tonight: 

Spicy Cheeseburger Soup

Pepperoni Bites

Spicy Pretzels

Pickle Dip

Puppy Chow (of course)

meat and cheese tray with crackers (I am proud of this one)

crock pot hot chocolate

assorted cookies/fudge

It wasn't as cold as it has been in years past (which makes me so sad...) so the hot chocolate wasn't as big of a hit as it was last year. But everything else seemed to go over well! My favorite (and my dad's) was the pepperoni bites. Philip's was the Pickle Dip. 

It was such a nice time getting to visit with my family and Philip's family. I love having everyone together to celebrate my favorite holiday. And we got to show off the nursery to several people who haven't gotten to see it yet!  It is so weird to think next year Ainsley will be 10 months old. i mean-- crazy! 

To everyone who made it, and those we were there in spirit: thank you for helping us celebrate Christmas and one of my favorite traditions of the season :) 

I sat down while Mom, Dad and Philip cleaned up and then got my feet rubbed after everyone left (thank you Michigan family-- your pleas worked!! haha) 

32 :)

8 months! Can you believe we are 8 months pregnant?? because we can not. 

She is going to be here before we know it. Which gives us so much joy and also some anxiety. I mean, we don't feel old enough/responsible enough to be parents! :) :) 

size: Ainsley is 4.5 lbs and 19 inches. about as big as a honeydew melon (but let me tell you, it feels like she is as big as a watermelon!) 

what's going on with Baby this week: the amniotic fluid is at it's max this week. so all of her nudges, kicks, turns, hiccups are felt much more acutely than before. Her eyes are closing during sleep and opening when she is awake. Light penetrates the womb and she can differentiate between night and day. Good news! her immune system has developed (my antibodies helped her!). 

Talk about pregnancy brain- here is how dumb I have become: for the past 2-3 weeks she has been doing what I have been calling 'thumping' in there. it felt like she was head banging on my bladder. these consistent little 'thumps' that are down where her head is. well, only tonight at dinner did my friends help me realize that she is hiccuping! DUH! how did I not realize this is what she is doing in there?? haha. 

what's going on with me: I am uncomfortable. I feel like I dont fit into my skin. I am waiting for a muscle to just snap (like a rubberband pulled too tight) or for a rib to just crack. There is nowhere else for her to go in there. I have found my first stretch marks (followed by some tears) and thus have been slathering up in the coca butter more than I was. I would say I am not complaining, but I am. But that doesnt mean that I don't think it is all worth it/am not grateful. because I do and am. like my mom says ' pregnancy isn't for sisssies' :)

I am still up at least every hour and am usually awake from 2-3 or 4am. which could contribute to the hormones that are out of control...;) 

I am so so excited to meet our baby girl and hold her and kiss on her. But part of me thinks i'm really not ready for it and wonders if I can really do this. but I think that's normal. mostly I just can't wait to meet her:) 

My brain has officially stopped functioning like it used to. At work I seem to have just forgotten how to do things I usually do 50 times a day. At home I seem to drop everything I put my hands on and then not be able to bend over enough to pick it up. Leading to a few choice words and my calm husband coming over to help me (and give me the look that says 'you have got to calm down'). 

cravings: still fruit. and soft serve ice cream. 

Maya curled up next to my belly :)

Baby Shower!!!

This Sunday Aunt Ellen hosted an absolutely fabulous Baby Shower for us. 

It was mostly Mom's teacher friends, Joy's friends and aunts and great grandma:) 

She thought of so many cute details! and the food was soo good. So good everyone wanted a doggy bag of left overs:)

Mom and Rachel went over early that morning to help decorate and put things together (i have some awesome family) 

the flag to put outside (and that I get to keep! ) Thanks Mom!!!

Here are some pictures of the guests at the party. We had a big turn out and I was so appreciate of everyone who took time out of their day to celebrate Ainsley :)

And the awkward pics of me opening presents:)

it says 'RN or MD' haha thanks Joy! 

We got so spoiled. Ainsley got some adorable things. some bought and some handmade (which always means so much!). Philip and I were so excited when we brought everything home and went through everything. 

our travel system!!! philip was such a good dad and put it together while I was busy puking in the bathroom:( 

the favors for everyone! beautiful flowers in a super cute pink pot:)

the poem attached with each flower:)

We had such a good time. It was so nice to get to visit with mom's friends and meet so many of Joy's. Philip's Aunt Deb came all the way down from Michigan just for the shower! The family that didn't make it sent her some very thoughtful and adorable presents. Ainsley is so loved that it warms my heart in so many ways. She has an awesome family that is so excited to meet her. and so many family friends that are in line to babysit and love on her too:)

Thank you to everyone who came, visited and showered us with gifts and love. and Thank you Aunt Ellen for everything that you did. I know it was a lot of work (but so awesome for your first ever shower!)