Columbia Baby Shower

This past Saturday, Matt's sister, Laura, threw me a baby shower over at their dad's house. It could not have turned out any better - everything was perfect!  :)  I have an amazing sister-in-law for sure. ♥

We started out just visiting and eating all the awesome homemade food Laura prepared - spinach & artichoke dip with chips, cheese & crackers, mini pigs in a blanket, sausage balls, Waldorf chicken salad croissant sandwiches, veggies and dip, fruit and dip, sherbet punch, and the only thing she didn't make herself - little petifore cakes from Publix bakery.

After that, we played some shower games. The first one started as soon as everyone got there. We were all given a small, blue clothespin to put on our shirts. If we heard anyone say the word "baby" throughout the course of the shower, we were allowed to take their clothespin from them and the person who had the most at the end won. Another game we played was guessing my circumference with a piece of ribbon. Each person there had to look at my belly and cut a piece of ribbon off of a spool, and the ribbon that best fit around my middle won. The last game we played was finish the nursery rhyme. We were given a sheet of paper with lines from several nursery rhymes, but with words or phrases missing. We had to fill in the blanks and see who could get the most correct answers.

Once all the eating and games were finished, it was time to open presents. I got a lot of really nice things that I definitely needed - a Peg Perego Pliko Switch stroller (*love*), a space saver high chair, a Bumbo seat, a Baby Bjorn carrier, crib sheets, a mobile, receiving blankets, bibs, some bath time supplies, the tree decal that's going on the wall in baby's room, a mom & me cookbook, a baby frame/ photo album, and a ton of adorable baby clothes. Matt and I are very blessed to have such thoughtful and generous family and friends!!! Nesting is now in full swing!  :)

PREGNANCY HEALTH GURU - WEEK 32

Building a Nest

This past Tuesday I went for another doctor's appointment at 31 weeks. (Did I mention I go every 2 weeks now?) After what I wrote about in my last post, I was expecting to have gained at least 2-3 lbs in 2 weeks time, if not more. Amazingly, during the 2 weeks when I slacked a bit on my healthy eating, I didn't gain a thing! Figure that one out.

I've been working over the last week or two on getting Baby C's bedroom ready (and the rest of the house, for that matter). I guess you could say the "nesting" instincts have kicked in.  :)  The crib is set up and drawers in the dresser and storage cubes are all cleared out, ready for his things. He actually has quite a few clothes already - plenty to last him through the newborn size and into 3 months, thanks to Breanna for all of Carter's hand-me-downs and the little outfits that Grandma Cindy and Great Aunt Laura already bought for him. I still have a few things to do before the room is finished, but when it is I'll post a picture. Oh, and I also assembled a bookshelf in our bedroom for all of the books that used to be in the storage cubes. It looks good. I'm rather proud of how much I've been able to organize and fit into our apartment.

Tomorrow Matt's sister, Laura, is throwing me a baby shower over at their dad's house. I gave her about 10 names of people I wanted to invite, and she invited a few of their family friends. I don't know who can make it or not, or who all was even invited for that matter, so it will be a surprise. My mom and my friend Courtney are coming up tomorrow morning from HHI to come to the shower and spend the night. It should be a fun weekend... I'm excited.  :)  I'll be sure to post some pictures next week...

PREGNANCY HEALTH GURU - WEEK 31

Confession.

For the most part, I haven't changed my eating habits much during my pregnancy. I never really drank soda or coffee to begin with, and have always eaten a lot of fresh fruit, whole grain bread, eggs, chicken, salmon, etc. Basically, a pretty healthy diet, though I admit vegetables have never been my strong point. I've tried to continue and improve on that, and not snack on junk food too much when I get hungry all of a sudden or need to eat frequently.

Two days ago I did a very bad thing.

We were out of peanut butter, and while getting some more at the store I looked up a couple shelves and saw a jar of Nutella staring me right in the face. In a moment of weakness, I bought it. I couldn't resist. It's 100 calories per tablespoon, half of which is from fat. And if I keep giving in like this, fat is exactly what I am going to be after having this baby. But I SO wanted to taste some chocolate-hazelnutty wonderfulness......

I cannot let this become a regular occurrence.

PREGNANCY HEALTH GURU - WEEK 30

I'm "not sweet"...

...which is a good thing. I went to the doctor for my glucose test yesterday and my blood sugar was 88. I believe it's supposed to fall between 70 and 120, or something like that.

The first nurse who pricked my finger must have been new, because she gave it a pretty good squeeze and it bled A LOT... Too much actually, so I had to go wash my hands and have a different nurse re-prick me. I heard her telling the other nurse, "It's okay. Pregnant women bleed a lot." I guess so, because I've never seen that much blood come out of a pricked finger before. (But it makes sense because my blood volume is double what it normally is.)

I've never seen their office that busy before either. It was packed. Usually I've always been in and out of that place, but yesterday I spent two hours there - just to get my blood pressure taken, pee in a cup, prick my finger, weigh me, and measure my belly. On the bright side, I really liked the doctor I saw. I wouldn't mind having any of the doctors I've met so far deliver Baby C. They've all been really friendly and make me feel comfortable around them.

Feeling good. Getting big. I've gained 20 lbs already, a little of which may have gone to my usual weight-gaining places (butt and legs), but I think the majority is all in the front. Yesterday the doctor told me I looked like Olive Oil with a basketball belly. Hopefully that means a lot of it will go away on its own after he's born. Only 11 weeks or so until he arrives... Yikes!

PREGNANCY HEALTH GURU - WEEK 28
PREGNANCY HEALTH GURU - WEEK 29