My Baby Girl!

I am now just over 32 weeks. Really hard to believe that it's gone this fast. 2 appointments ago when I met with my OB he said that I would have to start weekly ultrasounds starting at 32 weeks, so here I am. I have had this ultrasound tech at my 20 week and with Gabby a few times, so it was nice to see a familiar face that I really liked. I have to have the weekly ultrasounds because I am on meds for my gestational diabetes. To really check the growth of the baby and make sure she isn't getting too big.

She was super sweet and explained everything to me. Since it's not just a dating ultrasound it was a little longer and was about a 1/2 hour. It was a biophysical, so they have to check for breathing, muscle tone, body movements, amniotic fluid and heartbeat. When I had it done with Gabby she passed all but the fluid test (I had it done at 41 weeks) and I was admitted and induced that night.

Pineapple did wonderful. She got the breathing out of the way right away, heartbeat was a good 144BPM (strong heartrate). Her movements took a little longer, but not much and they were BIG movements - like I figured would happen. This baby girl moves a TON all the time. The fluid also passed with flying colors at 13.4 - It has to be between 7 and 22. So we are perfect there as well. All in all it was a great ultrasound and I expect next week to be the same. I had my appointment with my midwife after that and I was measuring right on. She isn't worried at all. Blood pressure as usual was great 80/52.

The tech was super sweet and nice and gave us a 3D ultrasound picture. It will be fun to see her next week again. Look for another pic next Tuesday.

Wordless Wednesday

Mike and I had our maternity photo shoot this past weekend. I wasn't going to do it because we just couldn't afford the photographer fees and the digital fees. Thanks to my best friend who is the most amazing, creative and wonderful person in the world we were able to still do it.

We went out to the arboretum at is close to our house and we couldn't have asked for a more wonderful afternoon. The sun was shinning and just overall a beautiful day.

Check out my friends website Red Organic to see all her creative projects. Here are some of the pictures from our shoot on Sunday.

 

Thanks Aurora, You are one of my best friends and I am so glad you are in my life. I am so glad to be able to see your creativeness within you and how it touches your life and those around you. You truly inspire me to be a more creative person. MWAH! Love you!

30 Weeks

So now technically I am 31 weeks today, because I have been SUPER lazy with this blog. I apologize to all my readers out there. I looked back at my blog with Gabby when I was 30 weeks. Such a different pregnancy. At this time with Gabby I had just found out I had Gestational Diabetes and was just starting to test my blood. This time around I have been doing it for 22 weeks already and it's old hat. Not that I like it anymore this time around.

Things are going really well this pregnancy and like I have said before it's been so different than Gabby's and I am not complaining what-so-ever.

The diabetes is going well, I am now meeting with my nutritionist every 2 weeks ,but after my next appointment we might be able to go down to phone appointments. I am seeing my Midwife & OB every 2 weeks as well and starting with my appointment on the 24th I have to start having weekly Biophysical ultrasounds. I have them scheduled out until the middle of October. They want to make sure that the baby is growing well and okay. I had one with Gabby and that ended up being the day we were admitted into the hospital. So I will be spending a LOT of time at the doctor's office.

Pineapple is moving around a TON and almost all day long. She likes to move around especially at night when I am laying down to read and then to sleep. The other funny part is a lot of the time if she hears Gabby crying, yelling, giggling, she starts moving around. Its really funny to see and feel.

Gabby totally is in love with her baby sistah as she calls her. She says goodnight and tells her that she loves her before she goes to bed. Usually she whispers it, so I sometimes tell her to yell it so baby sistah can hear her.

Only 9 weeks to go!

A Gentle Reminder

This past week has been frustrating as a parent to say the least. I now have a two year old and it's amazing how whiny and crabby she has gotten just in the past week. Don't get me wrong she is still her bubbly self most of the time, but it seems like changing her diaper, getting her dressed, staying asleep or going to bed have been fights.

I don't like to fight with her, who does? Mike and I try to get her to calm down and then talk logically and rationally with her. Did I just say logically and rationally about talking with a 2 year old. Yep! We have always talked to her like an adult, we treat her like her own little person.

It was almost fitting then that I got an article in my email about "Why children need to be reminded over and over". I keep getting these emails from the Mom's Circle and keep thinking that I am going to unsubscribe and then a great article like this comes around.

It reminded me that even though she knows how to put her shoes on, and other things that she is still learning. That she still needs to be told things and I need to be patient with her.
A great couple of paragraphs from the article compare this to crawling

"A perfect example of that process is learning to crawl. The baby begins to rock back and forth. She’s thrilled; she didn’t know she could do that! She practices rocking back and forth and only that, for a day or so. Then she gets up on her knees. She repeatedly practices going from laying flat to getting up on her knees. Once mastered, she adds the rocking back and forth. The learning and mastering of each singular part before moving on continues until she masters crawling.


Parents stay by their infants to support, remind and help them. There’s no parental frustration because the parent realizes this is how babies learn. When a baby becomes a child however, parents tend to forget that process of learning. This is because it's not as visible; there’s more brain development than physical development happening. Parents think because the child is walking, talking and potty trained they should remember all the rules after being told once or twice. The problem with that line of thinking is the impact brain development has on a child. "

I need to remember that she is learning and remind MYSELF that this is new to her. It's like a new job, people might need to remind you to do something over and over again until you learn the way to do it, this is no different.

I think we all need reminding about the development phases our little ones go through.

Wedding Bells

Five years ago one of my good friends Shelly met this wonderful guy Erik.....this past weekend they tied the knot and it was one of the most beautiful days and beautiful ceremony's I have seen.  I was honored to be a part of it. I wasn't able to help her out as one of her personal attendants before the wedding too much (Thanks Juli and Melissa for picking my slack) but I knew at least I would be able to rock it out the day of wedding for her.

 
Mike and I headed up on Friday for the rehearsal, grooms dinner and to check into our hotel. It was at the fabulous Breezy Point Resort where Mike and I are timeshare owners. We were a little early for the rehearsal so we stopped at the good old Fleet Farm - if you haven't been to a Fleet Farm you need to check it out. They have EVERYTHING. From toys, to clothes, to food, to licenses for hunting to hunting gear and attire. I think in Iowa they call it Farm and Fleet ;)

After the rehearsal dinner, Mike, some of the bridesmaids, attendants and I finished decorating the reception hall. Shelly had it decked out and did a WONDERFUL job planning it all and getting all the supplies. Those who know Shelly know she can get a bargain and she sure did with this. Hats off to you Shelly. I learned a TON of you and learned a TON about you!

Those planning a wedding or a large party - Pay attention to below.

Shelly wanted the tule and lights hung. Her now Hubby hung them for her (great job Erik!) and she got the material and the lights for cheap by keeping an eye on craigs list.

At first I didn't understand this, but this is Shelly's Candy Bar (I had never seen it at another wedding). It was a HUGE hit - especially with the kids. Sorry parents! She had all different kinds of candies for people. She created the cutest signs.

Beautiful center pieces. One thing to keep in mind (although it only happened to one of them) the candles did burn one of the flowers. The flowers are all fake (although you couldn't tell, another money saver).

Another cute idea that I just loved! making her own Mrs and Mr chair covers for the head

Very cute place settings. When I first saw the tables I hadn't realized that Shelly brought the teal fabric and the gray ties for the chairs. She saved a TON of money by doing this herself.

Shelly really outdid herself. She bought paper umbrella's and put wonderful sayings on them - all different with stencils. She had 8 of them to do. I knew she was creative and talented but never really knew how  much.

Saturday was an awesome day. I was tired by the end of it - okay by the time the ceremony came around at 2:30 I needed a nap, but it was totally worth it. Up at 6:30 to get ready and help the bride. I do want to thank my husband for running to Brainerd (which is a 1/2 hour from Breezy Point) to get the flowers for the bride and the balloons. Shelly needed these for pictures.

I was honored to be able to be the one to help Shelly into her dress. I have NEVER tied a bride into her dress, only ever had one with a zipper, so this was a new challenge for me. But it was wonderful to see how beautiful she looked. We got her on the shuttle and down to the pier where she could meet her soon to be hubby and start pictures. They were able to take pictures on the point at Breezy Point and it was such great lighting and a slight breeze which made her long veil look wonderful.

The Bride and Groom out in front of the lake

The Bride and her personal attendants - We did not even plan to all wear black.

After pictures, we headed to the church to finish decorating and get everything ready for the ceremony. I have to say that I liked decorating, it was a ton of fun. I also liked that we were able to take the stress off of the bride and just let her be her and relax before the ceremony.  It went off without a hitch.

We cleaned up and then headed back to Breezy Point to finish a few things before the reception. The reception was wonderful as was everything else and everyone had a great time!! I was so excited and honored to be apart of Shelly & Erik's big day. Mike and I were so busy throughout the day that I never once though to take a picture of the two of us dressed up. I am pretty bummed, but we at least got a picture the next morning (thanks Keelyn).

Thanks to my parents and the IL's for watching Gabby and the pup so that Mike and I could go to the wedding. We also got to sleep in until almost 8 on Sunday morning - YES! So nice....and I even made it until 11:30 the night before at the reception. WAY past my bedtime. But Shelly girl you were worth it.

As I sit here writing this, I am thinking of my anniversary coming up here at the end of the month - 8 years with my best friend. I wish all the best to you two. Shelly and Erik you guys mean a lot to me. I was apart of your relationship in the beginning and saw you guys start out. I know we have had our rocky moments but I am so glad that you are both in our lives and you both deserve the best future. You are a great match and I am glad that you found your way to one another. Love you both and Congrats!!