Happy monday! and... it's been a year...

Yep. One year since my first blog post here. If you're reading my blog but not blogging yourself, I would really suggest it. Today, I'm able to look back and see where I was a year ago. I'm changed. Not only am I a mommy now, but I'm stronger and more in control of my own happiness. This blog has been an outlet for me - even if I write long posts and never post them - it's allowed me to relax and have some time to myself to really think about myself. And most of all, it's a document of the past year. because you can't know where you're going until you understand where you've been.

Soooo... here's to another year! Maybe some of my other readers will start their own blogs this year! I'm going to try to catch up on all my "in-progress" posts this week and see what else I can check off my 30 before 30 list seeing as that is approaching pretty fast. Hope you have a fabulous Monday! Here is some motivation for you <3

Caleb's Birth Story

May you touch dragonflies and stars, dance with the fairies and talk to the moon. May you grow up with love and gracious hearts and people who care. Welcome to the world little one; it's been waiting for you.

Today we would have been 40 weeks. Full term but I knew you're going to come early, and so I started this post early so I could write it on what was supposed to be your due date, April 19th (although your Daddy will tell you it was 4/20... don't believe him).

It's your Birth Day

Dear baby,
It feels like I've been waiting for this day to come for my entire life. I can't even explain to you the mix of emotions running through my head and heart as I rub you inside my tummy this morning for the last time. I didn't think I'd miss having you tucked away in there because I've been wishing you would come out for weeks now... But I'm starting to wonder.

I'm so curious to get to know you. To see your baby blue eyes looking up at me. To find out if you really will have hair on your head already like the ultrasound tech said. And of course, your Daddy and I have some guesses on how much you will weigh and how long you'll be. You're so special to us, baby. Every little thing you do. And I hope to show you that when you are here in my arms.

Baby boy, do you know who this is?


These are your Mommys grandparents; PoppiDukes and Nani :) I sometimes wonder if you were able to meet him in heaven before you will come down to us. Do you know that 89 years ago, this day was a Friday and that it is the same day Poppi was born? This is so incredibly special to me because he was an amazing person and someone I feel who still watches over and guides me (and you). When we first found out we were pregnant and you were due in April around his birthday, it really said to me "everything will be okay... This was meant to be." And so it is. I can only hope that sharing this connection with your great grandpoppi will mean you'll have even just a little of his courage, humor, and spirit. There are so many wonderful memories that I have of him... And I can't wait to start making some of our own together.

Rest up, big guy (Lord knows I wish I could!). Today's our big day. There's a big bright beautiful world waiting to meet you here.

Love,
Your momma

39 weeks

How far along: 39 weeks. This is it, ladies and gents! My last bump photo before baby arrives.

Maternity clothes: Yes. All day, everyday.

Stretch marks: Nope. I'm not even going to count the ones on my hips because I had some there previously and who knows if they are just darkening because of my skin stretching. And while we're talking about skin... where the heck did my linea negra go? I swear I had one... now it is no where in sight!

Sleep: is still sucky. My last day of work was Tuesday this week and thank God, because I only slept about 4 hours on Tuesday night and maybe another 4 last night. Seriously, I think I've looked at every possible recipe and quote on Pinterest there is.

Weekend update- Happy Monday!

What a weekend! I'm going to start with Friday. I made a bunny cake for work which is all too adorable for me not to share here. My mom used to make one with us and although I'm pretty sure she used candy to decorate his cute face, I took the easy way out and just used gel frosting and sprinkles.



The bunny is so easy to make. It's only two round cakes with one for his face and the second you cut the bow from the middle of the cake and voila! Bunny ears. :) The whole pregnancy klutzyness didn't help me while baking though and I dropped one of the round cakes... Grrr. So I made a second round cake and decided to do cupcakes with the rest of the batter :)

Last weekend before baby comes...

Wow. This is our final weekend before ohBaby comes. To try to cram things in and get everything that needs to be done before his arrival, here's another amazing list that I probably won't finish... gah!
First of all, I've got a baby shower on Saturday at 2 and Easter Brunch with some friends on Sunday morning. In the meantime, we have to also pick out and buy a new TV stand for the TV mom got us for Christmas [Thanks mom! :)] as well as FINALLY make it out to another friends house to pick up the rocker she is giving us. So... time is already shortened with those running around activities.
Little C's Room
-Clean his tub/bathroom
-Dust his shades and vaccum once more
-Fix the bumper (Big C has to do this because my belly is in the way)
-Sew the ribbons on the mobile so it'll hang properly
-Finish my last DIY project for him
-Last load of baby laundry (towels, washclothes etc.)
Home Cleaning
-I gave in and scheduled someone to come out on Monday to clean our house. Little C's room and the Mancave/guestroom don't need as much attention since we don't often use those rooms (yet) and they will basically be doing the living room, dining room, kitchen, our bedroom, and 2 bathrooms. So I'll just have to do some little stuff ahead of time, like...
-Cleaning out the cabinets (need to make room for some bottles, the formula samples we have etc)
-Would like to clean out the older stuff from the cabinets and make sure there are no crumbs
-Clean out the inside of the fridge and make room for some extra stocking up of groceries
-Wash, dry and iron the couch covers. I may just take them off Sunday night so that the cleaning people can get all the crumbs and stuff from whatever is hiding in the couch
-Spot clean whatever is left upstairs on the rug
-Plant something in the pot in front of the house. I'm thinking the snapdragons because they are hardy and I have a hard time killing them :)
Baby Stuff
-Need to pick up a bottle drying rack
-Possibly need to pick up the stroller converter bar so we can put his car seat in the stroller
-Install the car seat

38 weeks

http://alphamom.com/pregnancy/pregnancy-calendar/week-thirty-eight/

How far along: 38 weeks and feeling done. So super well done. Sorry, no picture this week, but... keep your eyes peeled for the nursery reveal coming next :)

Maternity clothes: Yes. And it's casual week at work and my swollen feet are breathing freely in flip flops. Everyone loves telling me how horrible they look. I'm glad they agree with me.

Stretch marks: Nope. Two on my right hip and everything else just looks swollen and like my veins are going to pop through my skin.

All my bags are packed...

OK, so I think I'm packed. I hate packing... I always forget something as it is an there are so many things that I use everyday and can't pack up ahead of time. Anyway...
Here's what's in my bag:

- Birth plan (not that we have a specific plan mapped out, but our hospital gave us a book with guidelines, so we filled out our preferences.)
- Preadmission paperwork (already sent this in to the hospital, but was told that you had to fill out paperwork once you get there anyway, so I kept a copy just in case)

- Yoga pants
- Button up PJ's (mom  got me a cute pair that will be good for breastfeeding so I don't have to wear that awful hospital gown the whole time)

- Snacks for Cliff

- Playing cards

- 2 going home outfits with socks and scratch mittens (Since we don't really know how big C will be I have one in newborn size and another in 0-3 months. Both have socks and a hat and mittens just in case he comes out with really long nails.)
- Baby nail clipper (Because I've heard they will keep scratching themselves and the hospital won't cut them.)
- Robe
- iPhone charger

Things to grab last minute

- Comfy socks w/ rubber soles  (You wouldn't believe how hard it is to find this kind of socks!) The hospital won't let me walk around with regular socks or barefoot.

- Glasses

- Camera

- Clothes for me to go home in
- Pillow
- Birthing ball

Things I'm not so sure about:

- Nursing bra

Am I missing anything?