37 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 37 weeks! Only 3(ish) more to go, and now I'm officially considered full-term!

Size of baby: Over 19 inches long and a little over 6 pounds

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 24 lbs. (I gained zero between my last two appointments. Like, down to the decimal. Weird.)

Maternity Clothes: I'm in mostly maternity clothes because I don't want to stretch out my "real" clothes, but I still wear some regular tops.

Gender: We're having a boy! Landon Matthew. :)

Movement: This baby is very active. All the time.

Sleep: Getting comfortable in general is really difficult, so finding a way to fall asleep is no exception. Just a few more weeks though! I do remember how much better I slept after Avery was born (yes, even interrupted sleep!), so I'm very much looking forward to that. :)

What I miss: Feeling normal. :) Laying on my stomach. Everyday tasks are getting more difficult (argh, I hate having to bend down to pick up stuff. I'm glad Avery likes to help clean her toys!). I just feel awkward.

Cravings: Nothing really lately. I'm just not even that hungry anymore, probably because my stomach is being squished!

Symptoms: OH THE HORMONES!!! My poor husband. Plus, the constant need to pee, trouble falling asleep, this huge belly, really sore ribs, lots of contractions (Braxton Hicks, but I never had anything with Avery) and other stuff that you probably don't want to know about.

Best moment this week: Getting lots done around the house!! All the baseboards in our tiled areas are clean, Matt painted our guest/kids bathroom, my hospital packing list is complete (although I haven't packed yet), and I finally got Landon's room cleared of all the stuff that was in there. Don't get me wrong, I still have a pretty extensive to-do list, but I think we're getting closer!

Friday Five

1. I celebrated Cinco de Mayo yesterday by meeting my cousin Amy for dinner at Chuy's for my favorite Mexican food in the entire world. Seriously y'all, Tex-Mex beats "authentic" Mex any day in my book. And no matter how hard I try, I just can't bring myself to order anything but the Chuychanga (with deluxe tomatillo sauce!) because it is just that good.

After that I had a whole evening to myself to just run errands, which, for the record, is much easier to do without lugging a toddler in and out of a car seat, knowing where a bathroom is at all times, and coming up with silly songs to keep said toddler entertained.

Thanks, Matt, for letting me have a much needed night away. :)

2. On Wednesday night, Matt painted our guest/kids bathroom, so he put everything back together last night while I was gone. I am so in love with how the color turned out! We picked a Tiffany-blue, and it's amazing how much of a difference it made in that tiny room (I really hate the layout of that bathroom)! We're using the same color in our bathroom (once I get it all taped and ready) because 1) I still love the color, and 2) we only had to buy one gallon of paint that way (we're cheap). So here's the finished product (although the blue turned out much paler in the pictures):

3. Today Avery and I are going to go through the house and get rid of stuff! Woohoo! We're putting some stuff in a garage sale this weekend, so I really need to get it all sorted and priced and out of here. I love getting rid of clutter.

4. Also on the agenda for today is for me to start (and maybe finish?) Mother's Day presents. You might say I've procrastinated a little bit. :)

5. Matt's mom and sister are coming to hang out with us this weekend! I'm sure I'll have plenty of pictures to post on Monday. Have a great weekend!

Just a little update.

So this post started out as a weekend update, but now that it's Wednesday, I think I'll just make it a catch-all. It's not even that exciting. Trust me.


We had a good weekend, during which...

...I finished three sets of coasters for shower hostess gifts. I seriously love the way they turned out, especially because I super-simplified the way I made two of the sets. I just did solid pieces instead of patchwork, and it made them SO much quicker to make. Plus, that way I don't get overwhelmed with fabric coordination since I just have to choose two fabrics instead of five. And then I didn't even get a picture of the finished product. Go figure.

...Avery and I had a fun Welcome Home, Allison dinner at my parents' house (although we missed Matt, Aaron, and Chelsea!). Again, no pictures. (Come on, Heather!)

...we caught a couple of good garage sales while we were running errands and Matt was working at school on a weekend (not that I'm complaining because this actually paid extra). 

This sells for $18.99 on Amazon, and I got it for $1 in perfect condition.

And this one is on Amazon for $37.99, but we got it for $2. It was in great shape but needed a cleaning. Shoot, I'll clean the thing to save $36.

...Avery and I went and hung out with Matt in the sound booth at the show choir concert.

...I spent Sunday morning in the ER with my dad, who found out he has a kidney stone. :(

...some friends threw a shower for Landon.

...we had some major bedtime battles with Avery.

And so far this week...

...I've fallen asleep in two movies that I really wanted to see (The Fighter and The King's Speech)

...we're still having bedtime issues (our sweet little girl has recently decided that she doesn't need to stay in bed when she's supposed to), but I think we're making progress.

...I've been working like a busy little bee in Landon's room trying to get it ready before he gets here.

...I've been a blubbering mess of hormones. Someone make it stop! Okay, fine, so it probably won't stop until after Landon is born (and he really needs to hold off until I'm considered full term on Monday), and even then, I'll have more hormones to contend with. Aah! Maybe y'all should pray for Matt. :)

...Avery hit the 22-month mark (and I still haven't finished her blog post)!

Today I've definitely been nesting (with the help of a very cute little girl!) and really need to finish up a few things while Avery naps so we can run errands when she wakes up. Someone please make me get up off the couch...

36 Weeks and Landon's Shower

Woo! Horizontal stripes make me look even bigger! And yes, I'm wearing a hoodie in May. Good thing I'm used to Texas weather being completely ridiculous.

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 36 weeks! Only 4(ish) more to go!

Size of baby: Over 18.5 inches long and almost 6 pounds

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 24 lbs. (I gained zero between my last two appointments. Like, down to the decimal. Weird.)

Maternity Clothes: I'm in mostly maternity clothes because I don't want to stretch out my "real" clothes, but I still wear some regular tops.

Gender: We're having a boy! Landon Matthew. :)

Movement: This baby is very active. All the time.

Sleep: I decided to try sleeping without the body pillow, and that was the best decision ever. I've been sleeping SO much better now! Now if only I could wake up without searing back pain, that'd be great.

What I miss: Feeling normal. :) Laying on my stomach. Everyday tasks are getting more difficult (argh, I hate having to bend down to pick up stuff. I'm glad Avery likes to help clean her toys!). I just feel awkward.

Cravings: Nothing really lately. I'm just not even that hungry anymore, probably because my stomach is being squished!

Symptoms: OH THE HORMONES!!! My poor husband. Plus, the constant need to pee, trouble falling asleep, this huge belly, really sore ribs, lots of contractions (Braxton Hicks, but I never had anything with Avery) and other stuff that you probably don't want to know about.

Best Moment this week: Right now I'm finishing up washing clothes and other baby stuff, so that means I'm getting really close to having his room in working order. And for the record, this is going to be one really well-dressed kid.

Yesterday my friends Kyndra and Kendra (confusing?) and practically-second-mom Darla threw us a shower, and it was such a blessing! Since it was an open-gift shower, I was able to talk to everybody there instead of making everybody watch me open presents. Everything was set out in Kyndra's dining room so people could walk around and see all the fun little boy goodies. Seriously, I was so spoiled, and I'm so thankful for the generosity of my family and friends. Anyway, here are some pictures. I wasn't able to get pics of everybody who came because I forgot to get out my camera until it was almost over. And I also don't have pictures of the adorable (and yummy!) baseball cupcakes that Darla made; I'll have to steal some from my sister's camera.

Some of the girlies from church :)

My sweet neighbors, Brooke and Whitney

Um, Allison is now very tan.

Hostesses! Kyndra, Kendra, and Darla

Some of the young moms from church (Shannon, Adrienne, Kristina, Iris, and Tara!)

I totally wish you could see how cute this little baseball outfit is! It even says "Landon" on the booty. Matt's gonna kill me :)

Miller girls! (I'm still so sad that they're moving!)

Teresa and Brittany! (Brittany's one of my former soccer players and is dating my youngest brother)

This is Dana, probably the most genuinely sweet person I know.

Mom and Allison :)

Thanks again to everybody who came!

Friday Five

I've neglected the blog this week, mainly because it's just been a rough few days. Nothing major, just some frustrations piled on top of crazy end-of-pregnancy hormones, so I just haven't really felt like writing much. There have been some noteworthy happenings around here this week though, so here's the Five!

1. Potty training is still going really well, except we've had a dramatic snafu at Mother's Day Out. Long story short, too many of the kids in A's class are being potty trained right now, and their classroom isn't equipped with a bathroom, so now they're telling us that the kids can't go potty at school anymore. Now I get that Avery is younger than the typical potty training age, but she actually gets it and tells us (and her teachers) when she needs to go to the bathroom and she goes (I don't think the other kids do though). So now I'm worried about what it'll do to her progress if we tell her that she has to pee in a Pull Up at school. Sigh. Anyway, one of her teachers has been super supportive, and I know it's not the end of the world or anything, but it is frustrating since A has picked up the whole potty thing pretty quickly and now we could backtrack. I guess we'll see what happens this week.

2. We got to go to the Ranger game on Tuesday night with our sweet neighbors! They were great seats (and great parking, which I appreciate even more these days!), and Avery did great again. She loves cheering on her Rangers, and she talked about the game the whole day before we went and the whole day afterward. I might be sensing a party theme for her 2nd birthday...

The Rangers lost got killed, but we had a good time anyway. Thanks again for the invite, Brooke and Dave!

3. While she's been in her "big bed" for a couple of months now, Avery just figured out this week that she can test Mommy and Daddy by getting out of it after we put her down for naps or bedtime. Consistent discipline has helped really quickly to keep her in bed, but she's also started waking up super early in the morning and coming into our room. I guess we were spoiled that before she would just stay in her bed, but I need my sleep!  Or maybe God is just using her to get us ready for the interrupted sleep that awaits us in just a few short weeks, haha! Hopefully it's just a short phase while she gets used to waking up when she needs to use the bathroom or something. We'll work on it. :) And these next pictures have nothing to do with her getting out of bed, but they're really cute and since I didn't post them earlier this week, I'm posting them now.

4. My sister, Allison, got home yesterday!! She's been studying abroad in Costa Rica since January, so we're so glad she's finally home again! (And just in time to take maternity pictures before Landon is born, lol.) Avery and I went with my parents and Allison's boyfriend, Isaac, to the airport yesterday, and then Matt met us at Red Robin for dinner on our way home.

Welcome home, Allison!

5. Matt has to work a ton this weekend (concerts tonight and tomorrow night as well as a competition he's working at in the morning), so Avery and I are on our own for most of the next couple of days. And on Sunday some sweet friends are throwing us a baby shower for Landon! (Speaking of that, I need to finish my hostess gifts! Eek-- I'm running out of time!)

Have a great weekend!

35 Weeks

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 35 weeks! Only 5(ish) more to go!

Size of baby: Over 18 inches long and 5.25 pounds

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 24 lbs.

Maternity Clothes: I'm in mostly maternity clothes because I don't want to stretch out my "real" clothes, but I still wear some regular tops.

Gender: We're having a boy! Landon Matthew. :)

Movement: This baby is very active. All the time.

Sleep: I decided to try sleeping without the body pillow, and that was the best decision ever. I've been sleeping SO much better now! Now if only I could wake up without searing back pain, that'd be great.

What I miss: Feeling normal. :) Laying on my stomach. Everyday tasks are getting more difficult (argh, I hate having to bend down to pick up stuff. I'm glad Avery likes to help clean her toys!). I just feel awkward.

Cravings: I think I ate a turkey sandwich every day last week. 

Symptoms: The constant need to pee, trouble falling asleep, this huge belly, really sore ribs, lots of contractions (Braxton Hicks, but I never had anything with Avery) and other stuff that you probably don't want to know about.

Best Moment this week: Getting Landon's finished Texas Rangers quilt from my mom! I love it and will post pictures soon.

Easter Weekend Picture Recap

We had a fantastic Easter weekend!

On Friday night we went to the Good Friday service at church. I actually babysat Avery and two of her little friends in the nursery, so we spent most of the evening playing on the playground. The girls had so much fun going down the slides and getting themselves dirty! I didn't take my camera though. :(

Saturday included a trip to Lowe's, lunch at Chick-Fil-A, an Easter egg hunt, a couch nap, and yardwork.

Daddy's little shopping buddy

I'm ready!!

Who won the egg hunt for the 0-3 category? This girl!!

Hunting eggs is hard work!

Completely cranky worn out

Saturday nap replacement = watching Tangled

Scratch that. Saturday nap inducer = watching Tangled

Front yard finished right before dark. Good timing :)

Testing out Matt's improvised watering can

So proud of their newly planted flowers!

Easter Sunday was a relaxing but full day of church breakfast, the service, lunch with lots of family, and Skyping with even more family.

Happy Easter!

Easter Basket Loot: sidewalk chalk and Sesame Street coloring book and crayons

Hanging out with Amy!

Uncle Nick is such a pushover...

Today's entertainment: singing the ABCs at the top of her lungs into a plastic pot.

Ring Around the Rosies (aka taking captive whoever will fall for her never-ending game)

Story time!

Ending a very full day by Skyping with NeNe, Pop Pop, and Aunt Carrie before bed. Goodnight!

On a totally unrelated note, my sister comes home on Thursday!!!

And I'm pretty sure that Matt fell asleep putting Avery to bed. I'm gonna go check on him. And if I can get this house straightened up soon, I'll be in bed before ten. Sweet!

I hope you had a great weekend celebrating Christ's resurrection!