My Christmas list has started

I know it's not even November 1st, but usually I ask for lots of clothes at Christmas, well this year I don't really see the point.  I am due at the end of March and getting some new clothes for Christmas wouldn't be bad, but I wouldn't wear them for too terribly long.  So this year I am thinking outside the box and trying to find things that we could use or that are just simply fun to have!

First, a Whirlypop popcorn machine!  Love it!!  Makes the best popcorn ever!

Whirlypop

Bed sheets!  I really dislike ours, but haven't gone out and purchased them!  White or cream is just fine with me!

Banana Republic gift card

I could use this after the baby is born!

New running shoes!

I plan on running with the baby in tow after it's born, so I would love to have some new kicks!

So what's on your Christmas list this year?

8 weeks vs. 18 weeks

Today I was looking back at my belly pics.  I've been taking them since 4 weeks.  I wanted to see what I used to look like after the baby is born!  Well I see my 8 weeks belly pic and then 18, low and behold, same sports bra, different day!  So Here's my progression from 8 weeks to 18 weeks.

8 weeks

18 weeks

 Ignore the pj pants!! 

A little different....I can't imagine what it's going to look like at 28 weeks! 

Thanksgiving is fast approaching

I am in love with Thanksgiving....You get turkey, mashed potatos, gravy and green bean casserole all in one place, what's not to love!  I've been looking at Thanksgivng decor these days and absolutely drooling!  I want so many cute things, but until we purchase a house, I won't be buying anything!  The house hunting is a completely different post in itself!

First these plates are oh so cute....Perfect for appetizers!

Acron plates

This would look great on a table scape!

Cranberry vase filler

Front door worthy if you ask me

Etsy wreath

Now I will leave on this Friday with some fab tablescapes for Thanksgiving

I know it's early

Today I was browsing Potterybarn's holiday decor and Christmas tree ideas and once again, I fell in love!  I am a sucker for Christmas and December is my favorite month of the year!  I love all that the season has to offer, not to mention the yummy goodies we have around and the decor.  So here are PB's Christmas tree ideas for the year.....drool.  Now I need to find one that fits our style and make it happen for half the price!

The traditional tree

The woodland tree

The sparkle tree

The bell tree

The family tree

So tell me this....Which one fits your style best?

17 weeks

I am now 17 weeks pregnant and starting to have a bump that actually makes me look pregnant!  I've been in that in between stage, and look like I'm either pregnant or been eating too many cheeseburgers!  Other than that, nothing to really report.  I have so much more energy than a few weeks ago.  I feel like a human once again!  I will leave you with a couple of belly pictures.  I'm being very brave and sporting a bare belly pic!  Have a great weekend!

And the bare belly that evening...Ignore the pj's!

Hold tight to your loved ones

Today I lost my dear grandmother.  We had to move to her hospice last week and her condition greatly worsened from there on out.  Today she took her last breath around 10am and thankfully my mom and grandfather were there holding her hands.

  Although I am heart broken because we were so close, it was more than I could handle seeing my grandpa say goodbye to his soulmate that he has been married to for 64 years.  You could see how much he absolutely loved her, she was his life, she was his everything. 

   Thankfully I feel very blessed to have had her for 27 wonderful years.  Although she is gone from this world, her memories will live on in our family forever. 

    I say hold tightly to your loved ones because it was just a short few months ago that she was diagnosed with cancer and today she's gone.  I will never forget all that we have shared, she was at every birthday, every big event and I can say that she knew absolutely how much I loved her. 

The hardest part for me is that she will not get to hold our first child.  Although I know she will forever be our guardian angel, it still is saddening to know that she won't get to share that joy with me the day we bring this baby home. 

    Thankfully last Tuesday I got to have a great conversation with her and she knew the baby was healthy and arriving in March.  I know she'll be there with me, but it still doesn't take the hurt out of her not being there physically. 

    Hold tight to your loved ones tonight as you never know when their memories will be all you have.

To my dear grandma: If you're reading this in heaven I want you to know how very much we already miss you and love you.  Thank you for being the best grandma a girl could ask for.  You taught me to love life, love my family and most of all you gave me a wonderful example of what a strong marriage should be.  May you now be free of disease, have peace within and be dancing on streets of gold in heaven!

  I love you. 

XXOO

Pregnancy weeks 13-15

Nothing much to report about the pregnany these past weeks.  I have been feeling like I have a ton more energy!  Food is strating to sound better and I might be able to actually eat a cheeseburger one of these days.  We had our 16 week appointment and the doctor heard a strong heart beat very easily with the doppler.  It was 150bpm and the doctor thinks it's a boy, I am positive it's a boy and B also concurs with us! 

  We have our 20 week anatomy scan in 4 weeks and we are staying team green.  As in we are waiting until the birth to find out the sex of half-pint.  Most people are supportive of ths decision but we've had a couple of people voice their distaste for this decision....Oh well, this is a very important detail to B and I am fine with that!  

As for names....sorry we will not be sharing!  We have a girl's name we both like, but as for boys, we are totally lost!  Any suggestions, we only have about 3 name books and one says it has over 100,000 names...you would think we should be able to decide.  Thankfully we have some time! 

Here are belly pics from 13 weeks and 16 weeks.

13 weeks

16 weeks

Hats & scarves

With our weather man predicting snow this weekend I thought it was time to look into some hats and scarves for the upcoming season in the frozen tundra!!!  The high here on Saturday is 48....and Sunday, snow is predicted....I think Iowa forgot fall this year!

Love this one from Gap

Had to sneak these gloves in there! Love the trim!

Check out this Beret for only $9.50

Simply fabulous...

To die for..

Must have

On my Christmas list

Bittersweet

Today is October 6th, 2009.  Today is a bittersweet day for me.  Today was my due date for my first pregnancy that I miscarried at 12.5 weeks.  Today was supposed to be the happiest day of of our lives and although I am so thankful that we now have a healthy baby growing, it's hard not to think of all the what if's....What if our 1st baby would have been healthy, what if we were on cloud 9 right now with a baby in our arms...

  With that said, I once again know in my heart that God has a very special plan for B and me and he will deliver when the time is right. I know that we will have a baby in March, and when that day comes we will never be able to picture our lives with out that child.

Once again I go to the prayer of serenity....

God grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference.

October is about Pink

With October being Breast Cancer Awareness month, I thought it was important to get information out there about this horrible disease.  Breast Cancer has touched so many lives, I think it is of the utmost importance we look at early detection.  Call your forever friend this week and remind her to do her monthly breast exam...It just might save her life.

In 1998 I lost my nanny and second mom to breast cancer.  From that day on, I have always pledged to try and educate my friends and family on the subject matter.  This is important information for every women and man.  "Knowledge is power."  We are our only advocates....I dedicate this post to my two wonderful grandmother's who are breast cancer survivors and to Jeanne, my second mom.  I wish we knew back then, what we we know now.  May your memory be carried on by those who loved you!

Below I have posted some stats about breast cancer and early detection.  Share them with the ones you love!

-The American Cancer Society's most recent estimates for breast cancer in the United States are for 2009:

-about 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women

-about 62,280 new cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) will be diagnosed (CIS is non-invasive and is the earliest form of breast cancer).

-about 40,170 women will die from breast cancer

 

-Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam (CBE) as part of a periodic (regular) health exam by a health professional, at least every 3 years. After age 40, women should have a breast exam by a health professional every year.

 

-Breast self exam (BSE) is an option for women starting in their 20s. Women should be told about the benefits and limitations of BSE. Women should report any breast changes to their health professional right away.

-Women at moderately increased risk include those who:

have a lifetime risk of breast cancer of 15% to 20%, according to risk assessment tools that are based mainly on family history (see below)

have a personal history of breast cancer, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS), atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH), or atypical lobular hyperplasia (ALH)

have extremely dense breasts or unevenly dense breasts when viewed by mammograms.

-Due to the increased use of mammography, most women are diagnosed at very early stages of breast cancer, before symptoms appear. However, not all breast cancer is found through mammography. The most common symptoms of breast cancer are a change in the look or feel of the breast, a change in the look or feel of the nipple and nipple discharge. These are listed below:

•Lump, hard knot or thickening

•Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening

•Change in the size or shape of the breast

•Dimpling or puckering of the skin

•Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple

•Pulling in of your nipple or other parts of the breast

•Nipple discharge that starts suddenly

•New pain in one spot that doesn’t go away

 

 

Want to get involoved.....Participate in a Walk for the Cure!

Share with me how your life has been touched by breast cancer. 

"Knowledge is Power"

I won!!

Remember how I introduced you to one of my favorite blogs called Fun and Fancy Free, and how she was having a giveaway of a customized garland?  Well, low and behold...I WON!  I never win anything!!   So now the great debate....what word do I get to go in the nursery??   B and I are NOT finding out the sex of the baby before it's born.  It's a pretty important decision to B and I am ok going either way, so I thought a great comprimise is to be surprised this time at the birth and next time be surprised at 20 weeks. 

  

   So my initial word that came to mind if FAITH.  While on our journey to concieve this child we have had to deal with two losses and without our strong faith I don't know if we would have been able to pick ourselves up after each loss.   This baby would not be here without faith in ourselves, faith in God and faith that there is a bigger meaning to this crazy journey we are on. Other than that, I am stumped.....So I pose the debate to my readers...First, we are doing the nursery in white, and green with black furniture, there will also be a some khaki color mixed in.  It needs to be gender neutral and fit in a nursery....So what's your opinion, what word should we get?