Christmas 2014 Recap

Christmas Eve

Well it was quite a hectic Christmas.  I felt like Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn in Four Christmases as we traveled from one household to the next this holiday season.  There was some comfort knowing this is the last Christmas to run around since next year we will have a little one.  Randy and I decided to open Christmas Eve morning since the schedule was jam packed.  This was by far the best decision otherwise we may have never found the time to exchange gifts.  Christmas Eve we traveled to North Jersey in the pouring rain to spend the day with Randy's sisters family.  They do the traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes but since there are so many courses, dinner isn't usually served until 10:00pm, which I have never made until this year. I am pretty sure we rolled out of there at least 5 lbs heavier than when we arrived.

Here is a video of the most amazing house in my sister-in-laws neighborhood.  Every year I look forward to seeing their beautiful lights.

After dinner on Christmas Eve, we made the trek back home but decided to stay at my sisters in order to be there when the kids woke up Christmas morning.  Nothing like going to bed at 2am and waking up at 6:45 to my nephew about ready to jump out of his skin with excitement that Santa had come. 
Around 11, we all went to my parents to exchange gifts.  My father is a big kid at heart so he was chomping at the bit to open presents. By early afternoon, this pregnant momma needed a nap.  I slept right up until dinner time at which point we headed back to my sisters.

My father bought Miss Olivia her first bike.  I got very emotional over this one b/c he said he might not be around when she is old enough to ride it but wanted to make sure he had gotten it for her.  I love his thoughtfulness but could kill him to talking that way.  He better be here to teach her to ride in 4-5 years. 

Thank goodness for having Friday off in order to regroup.  However, I took the quiet time by myself while Randy was mountain biking to organize our upstairs in preparation for baby.  I was a mad woman on a mission rearranging closets, washing baby things, and moving all my husbands things our of the baby's room.  Currently, he thinks her room is his personal closet, which is driving me crazy as I am in full blown nesting mode.

Saturday, we celebrated Christmas again at Randy's mothers since his 90 year old Grandmother was in town.  One would never guess her age since she is so hip.  At our wedding rehearsal, she was talking about twerking.  Let alone she goes nowhere without her iPad, which she can probably navigate better than me. 

Here is the infinity scarf I crocheted as a Christmas gift for Randy's dads wife.  Not to shabby for the second thing I have ever crocheted.

Finally yesterday I hosted Christmas for Randy's dad at our house with a luncheon.  There is no doubt that the holidays are absolutely exhausting, even more so when you're almost 7 months pregnant.  Even with all the traveling, the holiday still seemed to fly by.  While I enjoyed the unusually warm temps of 50-60 degrees, it didn't feel quite like Christmas without snow.

Crazy to think that next year we will have 3 stockings hung by the fireplace.

     
 

75 Days to Go

How far along? 29 weeks
Baby is the size of a: Butternut Squash
Total weight gain: I go to the doctor tonight for a weight check but he is not going to be to happy since I have been eating this instead of protein. 

Stretch marks: Nothing yet
Best moment this week: Brunch with Santa at The Reeds where we got married.  It brought back so many memories of our wedding day. Before going into the ballroom to eat, I stood in the exact spot where I paced before walking down the isle to marry Randy.

  
Miss anything? Being able to have a cocktail during the holidays.  The mimosas at brunch yesterday looked divine so I had a sip or two of Randy's, but I really wanted to swig the whole thing down.
Movement: She certainly is an active little girl
Food cravings: Carbs, Carbs, Carbs
Symptoms: Constipation
Sleep:  Since having the flu, I have been sleeping like a champ.  I guess feeling like complete crap for 3 days was worth it to be able to sleep again.
Belly button in or out? OUT
Labour signs? None
Wedding rings on or off? On
Happy or moody most of the time: Happy. I have been getting more tired during the day but I think that's par for the course.
Exercise: None, unless you count numerous trips to the snack cabinet as exercise.
Looking forward to: Spending time with our families this week for Christmas.  It is crazy to think next year at this time we will have a 9 month old possibly crawling around. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Hello Third Trimester

STATS

How far along: 28 weeks.  I can still see my feet but getting big.

How big is baby: She is approx 2.5 lbs and the size of a large eggplant

Weight gain: Honestly, not sure.  Last Monday I weighed 147 but then Tues night I got the flu.  When I weighed myself Friday I had lost 4 lbs.  I have not weighed myself since b/c I don't want to see the number since all I have been eating is carbs.  So I am sure I have put back on the weight and then some.

Sleep: Knock on wood, my sleeping has been better since being sick.  Fri and Sat I slept entirely through the night not even waking to pee.  Sun was a different story but had a good night again last night.

Best moment of the week:  Waking up Saturday morning finally feeling better.  My appetite was back so I asked my husband to take me to my favorite breakfast spot.  I am supposed to be on a high protein diet since the Dr. is concerned about my weight gain but that has gone out the window.  My first day back feeling good and I consumed banana fosters french toast for breakfast, bagel bites for lunch, and pork with noodles for dinner.  What can I say, I am addicted to carbs!  They just taste better!!!

Symptoms:  Boy oh boy has restless leg syndrome kicked in hard.  I use to only experience it in bed occasionally while trying to fall asleep.   But this week I have been suffering while sitting on the couch after dinner.  So much so that I was doing hot laps around my house last night to try and will it away. 

What I missed: I had to miss out on our Girls Annual Holiday Dinner at Melting Pot.  I was looking forward to it so much and already had dinner planned in my head from the first course - dessert.  However, I did teach myself to crochet in order to make a blanket for my girlfriends new little boy and another girlfriend of mine picked it up so it could be hand delivered.  Watch out as I get the hang of this crocheting thing, everyone might be getting crocheted gifts during the next year. 

Not to shabby for a first timer.

 

27 Down, 13 To Go

How far along? 27 weeks...last week of 2nd trimester

 

Baby Size: A Head of a Cauliflower

Total weight gain: 26 lbs

Maternity clothes? Mostly leggings and occasionally maternity jeans but the bands make my stomach/back itchy and dry. In addition, my pre-pregnancy leggings are starting to feel a little too tight.  However, I scored a killer deal on Cyber Monday from PinkBlush .  This is my first time ordering from them so I am anxiously awaiting delivery to check out the quality and fit.

Stretch marks? No signs of them yet.

Sleep: No, but nothing new there. At least I am past the tiredness from not sleeping.  It seems to have become the new norm.

Best moment this week: Partaking in my sister's annual gingerbread competition.  This year was bigger and better with more friends and family. I sat for 3 hours decorating my house below and loved every minute.  What else was there for me to do since I can't drink.  However, I think I consumed too many sweets while decorating b/c the next day baby girl was wild.

Miss Anything? Clothes not feeling snug around my waist.

Movement: Kicking like a crazy woman.  She was kicking me so hard in church on Sunday that a few times it made me flinch in my seat.

Food cravings: Apparently I love carbs too much b/c the doctor is concerned about my weight gain and wants me to cut back on carbs and load up on protein. FYI, in my opinion this is not the way to add protein to your diet.  I thought it could be a good afternoon snack.  Woof!

Looking forward to: My girlfriends holiday dinner on Friday.  We started this tradition a few years ago at Melting Pot since our lives took us all in different directions.  This year our group has grown even bigger as friends of friends have started to join.

Update: 26 weeks

 Just a little bump humor.

Baby size: My little girlfriend is about 2 lbs now and measures approx. 14 inches, about the size of a scallion, from head to heel. Her eyelids will begin to open and blink on their own.  She may be able to hear my voice and they say to play music for her.  She's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid as well.

Weight gain:  I weighed myself Saturday night b/c I was anxious to see how many lbs were added after our Thanksgiving feast and was thrilled to see only 2 more lbs since my last doctor's appointment. 24 lbs in total so far.

Stretch marks: Not yet and I hope it stays that way.

Belly button: Definitely out.

Sleep: Still suffering from insomnia but the tryptophan from the turkey worked wonders as I slept through the night on Thanksgiving.  Maybe I need to start eating a turkey sandwich each night before going to bed.

Movement:  She is a mover and shaker.  I have discovered she especially kicks right after I drink something very cold. 





Best moment of the week: Cutting down our Christmas tree as a family of 3.  This year seemed extra special knowing that the baby was part of the process. 

It is tradition that we go with my sister's family each year to pick out and cut down our trees.  It took us about 15 mins to pick out a tree.  Actually my sister found our tree and we agreed it was a keeper.  On the other hand it took them 1.5 hrs to find the BIGGEST tree at the nursery.

Griswald's Family Christmas Tree

  Here is a pick of my brother-in-law and husband trying to get their tree in the house.  LITTLE FULL, LOTTA SAP!

Looking forward to: My favorite holiday activity is driving around to see all the houses decorated with Christmas lights.

Miss anything: Champagne but I had a 1/2 of glass last night while cooking dinner for my family. Figured a splash wouldn't hurt to celebrate hitting the 6 month mark.  I don't need gifts when baby girl arrives just bring the champs!      

Food cravings:  Really enjoying the sweets lately.  Never was one to crave sweet things but now dinner is not complete without some dessert afterwards to curb my sweet tooth. 

Symptoms:  Just a large belly.  Had a lady ask me last week if I was having twins after I told her I wasn't due for 3 more months.