Bouncing Baby #16 - Weeks 33 & 34

Hello my wonderful readers! Week 33 is starting out with another Moms group at church and taking a Newborn Care class at the hospital. Also this week ends with our preparing for childbirth class. The Newborn Care class was so informative of how to care for baby when we get home, what is normal for the amount of diapers she should have, how to clean her umbilical cord stump until it falls off, just awesome information that I actually had not heard yet. In the class we practice changing a diaper and swaddling a baby doll, well when we got home my husband of course had to practice his swaddle on the dog haha, it was a priceless sight. The week ended with same symptoms, just fatigue and my back pain off and on. No specific cravings except mushrooms and cinnamon rolls one day which husband brought home both for me. :-) We ended the weekend with taking the all day Preparing for Childbirth class. This class was also very informative with how to deal with pain during labor and what exactly is going to happen when it is time. We got to try positions that we can labor in that will be good for back labor and also just regular labor to reduce the pain or help just get through it. I have chosen to take the unmedicated route for childbirth so these exercises that can be done with a hospital bed, chair or birth ball will be put to use. My husband, I think, learned a lot and is ready to support me in doing most of the exercises. Also this week we received a few other big baby items, a changing pad and our stroller/carseat combo. We are excited to get that in the car after our first shower is over.

Below is my husband swaddling the baby doll in newborn care class, then him later at home swaddling our fur baby, Charlie haha.

Week 34 started out just ok. My mother in law came to have dinner with us which was nice. The next day was another Moms group at church and we planted cute little plants to go with our theme of Bloom for the session. I picked a cactus because I kill every other plant that comes in my house for some reason, so I thought this one had the best chance. The week ended with our first baby shower, which is my side of the family and friends, thrown by my mom at her house. (post to come soon)

 Above is me at 34 weeks, getting rounder and bigger everyday it seems like. Below is my little cactus from Moms group that I can hopefully keep alive. :-)

Hope you enjoyed this past two weeks, we are only 6 weeks away now ( I think its only 5 because I think she will come early). Loves.

Bouncing Baby Extra Post - Stocking Up

Hello my fabulous readers! Thought I would do an extra post having to do with baby preparation. I have read many things saying you should stock up on certain things that you know you use a lot, before baby comes, that way you won't have to worry about going to the store if you run out or sending your husband to the store and praying he comes back with the right thing haha. So I am going to share with you the list of stuff I have been stocking up on or just making sure we have plenty of already. We couldn't stock up too much on stuff since we do live in a one bedroom apartment.
These are the items we have plenty of or we stocked up on this past couple weeks. 
laundry soap - we use Target brand free and clear
baby laundry soap - Target brand baby gentle soap
dryer sheets - actually got some Gain ones at the .99 Store
dish soap - went for the regular Target brand biggest one 
sponges for the sink - .99 Store 
hand soap - Target brand with the Cartwheel app coupon 
tums - Target brand 
prenatal vitamins - Target brand
contact solution - also I have plenty of replacement contacts still
deodorant - bought a two pack this time instead of just one like I normally do
toothpaste - we have plenty 
sanitary pads - besides the huge ones I bought for right after labor, I got a supply from my mom who no longer needs them but had a bunch; good to stock up on yourself so your hubby doesn't have to go figure out the universe forever in the awkward aisle of the store haha. 
tucks wipes - CVS brand, had a coupon for a big thing of them awhile back 
face wipes/wash - actually got a bunch of small packs (fit in the hospital bag) at the .99 Store of wipes and have plenty of wash
kleenex - had a coupon on my Target Cartwheel app for a 4 pack of the bigger boxes 
freezer meals - I have two serving meals in the freezer right now, 2 nights of lasagna and 2 nights of pasta bakes ready to go, I'm sure we will stock up on more and frozen pizza when it gets closer
napkins - always get them at the .99 Store
dog treats - had another Cartwheel Target app coupon for our fur baby's favorite treats so I got a couple bags
dog bags - .99 Store sells 100 for .99 so I got 2 packs to have all ready for my husband to take Charlie out
shampoo/conditioner - another Cartwheel Target app coupon for the Herbal Essence big shampoo and conditioners so I got one of each 
body wash - I am in the last quarter of the bottle I'm using right now and actually won another bottle of a different scent at a bridal shower this past weekend, so set for awhile now
lotion - I have so many different kinds of lotion I will never run out in my lifetime I'm sure haha

Need to still buy
AA Batteries - we are going to stock up on these at Costco cause the camera uses AA and the remotes and stuff do too, so we want to have plenty at the ready
toilet paper - we will most likely get one big package of the kind we use before the baby comes but this was something if my husband has to go get I know he will do just fine with coming home with the right thing; also this is something that is so bulky we really don't have the space to stock up on it 
paper towels - we just get ours at the .99 Store 
snacks/lunches - since my husband is going to take off work for a week when Penelope is born we are going to have to go for a haul for snacks and lunches right before she is due that way there is plenty of food in the house, this is where I will most likely use my Safeway app for coupons and Savemart add to see sales 
water - we do not like the taste of the water here in Orangevale, so we buy the 2.5 gallon jugs with the spout on them to drink, so we will maybe grab an extra one soon when we go to the store
dog food - we will most likely get the biggest bag we can find and that usually lasts Charlie a couple months, since he is almost out now this will be a soon purchase, we just get it where ever we see it on sale at 
dishwasher liquid - the past few times we have just got the Target brand so we will most likely do that this time also

Stuff that we still need to do 
Wash all baby stuff - after our first baby shower I am going to start washing stuff and putting it away where we want it go, we don't really have a lot of stuff to wash just yet
dog groomed - he is due soon for groom, so we will get him cut pretty short this time so he won't have to go for awhile and also make sure they cut his nails good this time
hair cut for me - I am going to get a shorter hair cut, something I can maintain easily after baby comes
pack hospital bags - I have pretty much almost all the stuff I need for me and for my husband, we have nothing really for baby yet besides a car seat, so this is something we are going to be doing soon, we are also waiting until after our first baby shower to buy anything we need for baby for the hospital
get rest of stuff needed for baby - we are having two showers, so after both showers if there is still stuff needed for baby we will get it then. 

Well I hope enjoyed my organized chaos of a post on stocking up for baby. She is coming soon, I can't believe it! Loves. 

Bouncing Baby #15 - Weeks 31 & 32

Hello my wonderful readers! Week 31 started on Labor Day so we were at my parents house relaxing and visiting. Also this week we received our first big baby items and put them together. My grandparents bought us a Pack N Play with changing table and bassinet attachments, which in our one bedroom apartment, Penelope will be sleeping in for the first few months, they also got us a high chair that obviously she will use a few months down the road when she starts to eat food other than breast milk. I think Aaron loved putting together all the stuff for the pack n play, which made me happy and he kind of stood there as I put the high chair parts together in case I needed help, like the wonderful husband he is :-). Week 31 ended with our 1st wedding anniversary!! I had to go to a bridal shower 2 1/2 hours away so Aaron drove me so we could spend time together and he could see his family too. We came home and went to dinner at the Elephant Bar, it was sooooo good! We came home and watched a movie and ate a piece of our wedding cake that had been frozen for a year, it really wasn't bad for being a year old. We had sparkling cider, of course, in our wedding champagne flutes. :-)

 Above is me at 31 weeks. Below is us and our fur baby Charlie, our cake didn't come out of the box that good haha.

For an anniversary gift I made Aaron a coupon book with some good coupons for stuff to do and stuff I will do for him and he loved it. He got me two charms for my Origami Owl necklace, a November birthstone (we might have to return it for an October one if she comes early haha) and a little silver heart with pink baby footprints in it. I love them!!! Overall our anniversary and week 31 was great!!

Week 32 started good, I got preadmitted to the hospital so we are good to go when it's time to go to the hospital. I am starting to get my hospital bag packed also, I will do a separate post on what I end up putting in it for me, baby and Aaron. Also this week I started going to to a wonderful Moms group at our church, it was just awesome to meet other women who are moms of younger and older children. I'm excited to go again next week. We had a doctor's appointment this week also, everything is healthy for me and little Miss Penelope! She is doing good, I'm pretty positive she is head down because all I feel is little feet in my ribs kicking away making me uncomfortable haha. Also at the very end of the week we took our maternity pictures (post to come soon). Hope you are enjoying my bouncing baby series, only 7 more weeks before she is here!! Loves. 

Bouncing Baby #14 - Weeks 29 & 30

Hello my wonderful readers! So at the very end of last week we had a doctors appointment and doctor said everything is good with me and little miss Penelope. We are now starting our Kick Card, how long it takes her to kick 10 times. We learned from the doctor that I could have contractions but not they are not actual labor just something your body does, and I do think I felt one last night. On a fun note we finally watched Tangled and Frozen, I really like Tangled actually but with Frozen I wasn't really impressed big time like what all the hype was about, it was cute but not my favorite. So now the only Disney princess I haven't seen the movie I think is the Princess and the Frog, pretty good stuff to know when having a little girl haha. Week 29 ended good just battling fatigue. 

Week 30 started good, ONLY 10 MORE WEEKS!!!!! I can't believe we are at the point where we are in single digits of weeks now really. I think she is going to come a week early personally haha. Week 30 has been really emotional. I am just worrying about everything it seems like, from whether we have everything we need to money to whether stuff is put away correctly, everything is something to cry over it seems like lately. These hormones are driving me crazy! Other than that the only craving besides a California roll and chili dog still, is chocolate swiss rolls haha. Other than that my husband is good, just hanging on to the emotional roller coaster best he can, poor guy. 

This is me at 30 weeks, looking and feeling bigger every single day! Loves. 

A Few Projects for Penelope

Hello my fabulous readers. So since I have quit my job, I am focusing now on being relaxed and healthy for baby. Nothing makes me more relaxed than crafting and creating new things. I am a huge YouTube watcher I guess you can say, I love to watch craft and beauty videos on there all the time. I came across this channel by Melanie Ham that is called I Heart Stitching and have been loving trying some of the projects she has on there. Also she breaks everything down so good that me, as a visual learner, got it in a second. I have made her newborn crocheted hat and I also made a scarf to go with it (scarf is not on the channel for newborn). 

They are a baby pink color, the camera made them look a bit purple haha, I plan to make a little flower eventually so when we put the scarf around Penelope's neck the little flower can hold the two ends together. I thought this was a good idea since she will be born in November and it may be a bit chilly. 

Also from the channel I tried the baby blanket that she makes on there as well and may actually be making another one just because I loved doing it so much. 

The three pictures are the start, half way through and the completed pink, white and brown little blanket for Penelope. It was very relaxing to sit and do these projects and if you have a second check out her channel and try some of your own. https://www.youtube.com/user/iheartstitching    Loves. 

Review It - Lush Bath Bomb and Fruit Smoothie Mask

Hello my wonderful readers! I thought I would do a review post this week cause I tried two new beauty products on my road to trying to relax during pregnancy. Growing up me and my mom both had sensitive skin so we didn't really get to do the face mask thing and hang out, we did them once and both broke out bad all over our faces. Ever since that bad experience I have been so scared to try any face mask or anything along those lines, but as I have gotten older I have wanted to try them more and more. I had Ulta rewards to use and thought I would just go for it with one I found in the checkout line on the stand with all the goodies that get you every time haha. After a nice day with my husband just hanging out and for once not having to be anywhere, I ran a bath and tried a new (to me) Lush bath bomb called Twilight, http://www.lushusa.com/Twilight/03157,en_US,pd.html#start=8 . It smelled so good and turned the water purple and felt so moisturizing and luxurious. I would recommend that bath bomb to anyone, it was so relaxing. Right before I got into the bath with my fresh glass of brewed decaf iced tea, I put on this crushed raspberry fruit smoothie deep pore cleaning masque by Montagne Jeunesse. Here is where you can find it http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod2960041&skuId=2165171&_requestid=233227 . Mine looked a little different then the one of the website but that is the same one. 

The good thing about the mask was that it was only $1.99, I love that price. If you have the chance to try either of these products go for it! You might see me reviewing more masks in the future since I'm not so scared now, because my skin felt good after and no breakouts. Loves. 

Bouncing Baby #13 - Weeks 27 & 28

Hello my wonderful readers! Week 27 started a little rough emotionally and ended in a bittersweet emotion. I quit my job and that was my last week after being with the company for almost two years. I was filled with many emotions. I feel I have not been treated that well since transferring to my new store after our move and it got to the point that I just couldn't take it anymore. I had talked to the manager many times about certain issues and she would say every time that she would change it and it hasn't happened yet and that has been going on since April. My original plan was to stay until October. My husband and I decided it wasn't worth the stress on me and baby to be there any longer, so I gave my two weeks and that is over with. I plan now to stay home for awhile until that's no longer possible for us and then find a job that hopefully I can use my degree in and is just all around better for me and our family. On a pregnancy note, since this is what it is suppose to be about haha, I got sick for the first time since my first trimester. I believe I just ate something that didn't sit well with the baby. Other than that I am just tired and everything else is perfectly fine. I have been trying to exercise as much as I can. The one craving I have had since I got pregnant has been chili dogs and California rolls, well my parents came to visit us and we went to sushi and I had California rolls and they were AMAZING! They tasted like the best thing I ever ate in my life haha. 

Week 28 is the start of the Third Trimester!!! We are 2/3rds of the way to meeting little miss Penelope Ann. I am scared and nervous both for everything and whether we will have all we need and it will be ready for her when she gets here. We did get our first pack of diapers sent to us from a friend so we do have one pack of newborn size diapers, and we did buy our first pack of wipes because they were on extreme clearance at CVS that we couldn't pass up 180 wipes for $4, it was a better deal than we had really seen anywhere so far. I felt really excited to have those two things for sure for her and of course we have picked up a few outfits along the way since we found out it was a girl (I'll share those in another post soon). Otherwise week 28 has been good and I did get my chili dog and it tasted so good! Also this week I joined a Moms group that is starting at our church that I am really excited about. We haven't really joined anything since we moved and met a lot of people from this area so I am excited to meet some moms and maybe get some tips and tricks as well as just hanging out with some nice people that share the same values. I will end with another baby bump picture from week 28. Loves.