My AWESOME friend Melanie took over 3 and a half hours out of her crazy life today to take some maternity shots for me. I could not be more thrilled with the turnout, but I have only had time to edit one picture. I have 426 more to get to at some point, but Josh has a rare 2 days off (kind of) and we are taking full advantage of these times before the baby comes. Editing will have to wait …
So, here’s the belly at 32 weeks …
I woke up this morning feeling cruddy. I have felt a cold coming on for a while now, and it didn’t hit full force, but I am definitely sluggish right now! More or less, though, it was my body telling me to take it easy for a day or so. I have been in that “this is my last few months of freedom, I better squeeze out every last drop” mode lately. Which has meant me being on my feel a lot and some later nights.
I don’t regret any of them, and Josh and I both feel like we’re making some great memories right now and are settling more in to who “we” are. Life is good!
All that to say, I spent the day on the sofa doing PTA work for my boss. It was lovely. I hydrated all day on water, popsicles, and orange juice. Had chicken noodle soup for dinner. Made spicy chili for dinner to open things up. And even soaked in the tub for an hour or so. I feel like I just had a day at the spa!
Josh got home and played WOW for a while while I decided to make some cookies. I saw this recipe a few days ago in my September edition of Cooking Light. They were AMAZING! Here’s some pics from our night, Josh in his element, Jack enjoying the brown sugar remnants from my spill, and my Dark Chocolate Coconut Oatmeal Cookies.
Just in case you want the recipe:
1 c. all-purpose flower
1 c. quick-cooking oats
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
6 tbsp. granulated sugar
1/4 c. butter, softened
1 large egg
3/4 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 c. flaked sweet coconut
1/4 c. finely chopped dark chocolate (I just used chips because I am lazy)
Preheat oven to 350. Lightly spoon flour in to a measuring cup and level with knife. Combine flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir with a whisk.
Place sugars and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well-combined (about 2 minutes). Add egg, beating well. Beat in vanilla. Add flour mixture to butter mixture, stir just until combined. Stir in coconut and chocolate.
Roll dough in to 24 balls, bake for 15 minutes. (I only did 11)
Mmmmmmmm Good.
I fell off the wagon again. Don’t worry, it will happen again. But I’m back with an update or two!
First of all, the belly …
30 Weeks
And the Belly at 31 Weeks …
The last picture was taken on the way to my first baby shower! I thought I had more pictures, but apparently we only took one with my camera. Were waiting for more from Aunt Kristen, ahem, ahem. Just kidding. No, but really.
These are the “Foster Women.” We are a rare bunch! Seeing this picture just makes me so happy. It makes me celebrate how different and unique we all are, but that bond that ties us all together. Callie, on the far left, is my cousin. She used to be considered the “tree hugger” of the bunch, but I think Josh and I give her a run for her money now! She gave birth to Izzy last October. I am only one week behind where she was last year in her pregnancy. She has been a wealth of knowledge, as well as a wealth of hand-me-downs. I have inherited her maternity clothes, outgrown diapers, and tons of other stuff. If you don’t read Izzy’s blog, you should!
Then, my Aunt Judy is next to her (Callie’s mom). She is actually my Great Aunt, so my mom’s Aunt and grandfather’s sister. She keeps us all in style and with the times, just check her new hair cut! She has also kept the banana pudding tradition of the Fosters rolling. Then of course the fat girl in the middle and Dylan’s beautiful Nana.
Nana is the baby tamer and “fuss maker” of the family. She makes us all feel special when it’s our time to shine. Then Aunt Cami (Nana’s Sister) is the chief homemade ice cream maker and general glue that holds us together. She’s the first to plan a get-together when it’s been a while. And my cousins (Cami’s daughters) Emmie and Ellie in the front.
I still remember when they were born. Wow. They, of course, will keep us hip and not let us get lost in Mommy and Daddy land. I’m sure they’ll also be responsible for lots of ice cream and general naughtiness that Dylan gets in to and that’s okay with me!
Last but not least, Josh’s wonderful mother worked long and hard on Dylan’s bedding and she surprised me with it yesterday! I don’t have the right lens on my camera right now and am frankly too lazy to change it out, but here’s a close-up of our crib skirt, with the curtain hanging over the crib. Yay!
I really really really miss Athens.
So, last night both sets of grandparents were here and we all decided to get down to business on the nursery! My father-in-law got out the directions for the crib and announced “the first thing it says is that pregnant women have to leave the room until completion.” I tried my best, but was too excited!
Both my dad and Josh’s are extremely methodical and organized, so it was like surgery going on in the nursery! They finished the crib (with minimal supervision) and also put together the changing table (mostly). We are missing some pieces so I have to wait for the new ones to come in.
I was getting anxiety as I was watching them put it together, freaking out about having a baby in it, being able to get it up and down, etc. etc. After they were done, my dad taught me how to get it up and down. I had to pinch the levers on the bottom, one side at a time – NIGHTMARE! My mom and I sat there for a while trying to figure it out. Our fingers were literally RAW and we were trying to make the situation look not quite so bad. I was seriously freaking out, though, and beginning to doubt the cheap crib purchase.
Then, my father-in-law had a divine intervention moment and SAVED the day. You literally just have to put a little pressure on the outside with your leg and then it will go up and down ALL DAY LONG. I just did it for like 10 minutes to reassure myself.
Seriously, that was scary.
I always read about how pregnant women have these really gnarly dreams. Lots of them are really realistic and scary. I really don’t dream at all, so that fact that I usually have one a night or so that I remember shows the validity of the pregnancy dream tales. Last night, my dream starred:
That’s right. John McCain and Michelle Obama. Together in the same dream.
Josh and I won some contest and they both spent the night with us. Senator McCain got here first and we were actually happy to see him (weird). His Secret Service men were dressed as superheros and were sword-fighting in our back yard. It was quote comical. Then Michelle arrived, and I was starstruck. I was running around like a madwoman and trying to make sure she was comfortable – adjusting the temperature, pouring her a glass of wine, getting her a rocking chair! We don’t even own rocking chairs.
I also kept referring to her as the First Lady. I just love her!
Crazy, crazy hormones.
