10 more weeks...

This weekend I really started realizing how quickly little baby J is going to be here with us...

-only 10 more weeks to get everything ready
-only 10 more weeks of being on no one else's schedule but our own
-only 10 more weeks of JUST me and Nick
-only 10 more weeks until this little person joins our family
-only 10 more weeks until we are placed with the most awesome responsibility we have ever been blessed with
-only 10 more weeks until I am a MAMA!

Pretty wild...I know these next 10 weeks are going to FLY by and my goal right now is to just really enjoy and absorb this time...

And because some of you have been asking (mostly mom), here's us at 30 weeks.

Ahhhhh...the weekend

*Image via Google Images

A perfect start to my weekend:
-A "Mommy-to-be-Massage" package (a gift from my fabulous sister in law!)
-Spray tan session
-Mushroom take and bake pizza from here
-Date night in with the hubs

Hope everyone has a relaxing weekend planned!

My most prized possession

Yes, truthfully this gorgeous looking blanket would be the most prized possession that I own. It was made for me when I was an infant by a sweet auntie and quickly became the item I could not live without...my blankie. No fancy name, no super soft fabric...just a now faded, tattered, and well loved blankie.

The joke used to be:
"You'll sleep with that thing until highschool"....yep.
"You'll take that thing with you to college"...yep.
"Are you going to get married and still sleep with that blankie?"...yep.

While I have certainly graduated from the days of dragging blankie around the house with me everywhere I go, I still prefer to sleep with it. Yes, I confess, I can sleep without it now, but I much prefer to have it. It certainly ensures a better nights sleep and provides just the right amount of extra neck support with my pillow.

So the question is...now that baby J is coming in T minus 2 1/2 months (ahhh!) is it FINALLY the time I have to give up sleeping with blankie? Does becoming a parent mean I should probably not have a security blanket? Will it be weird one day when she's like "Mom, what is this tattered blanket hidden behind your pillow??"

Here's what I think...I love that blanket, and really, she's not going to be talking for a while so I should be fine for at least say, another couple of years, right?

Don't answer that. My decision has been made. The blanket stays. At least for now.

Happy News!

Congratulations to my little Kricklett and her Kevin on their engagement this weekend! As her dad Terry would say, these two are "quite the pair" and are just perfect for each other. I am beyond thrilled for them!!

I.Heart.Craigslist

And though I don't use it nearly enough, every time I do, I'm reminded how great it is!

After doing some registering this weekend, Nick and I picked out the car seat we'll use for Baby J. Along with that car seat, we need to buy two bases that will be in each of our cars. This will allow us to click her in and out of each of our cars with ease.
As you can tell, not the most exciting purchase one can make. Not to mention, the hefty price tag that comes with these guys-- $90 each!

But yesterday Nick found two of them on Craigslist for $20 TOTAL! What a steal. I was euphoric thinking of the money we saved. Thank you Craigslist.

Looking forward to...

-the opening ceremonies

-some pre-natal yoga
-shopping for baby

-delicious dinner with some fabulous friends and their equally fabulous parents
-hanging out with these crazy pups
-a Valentine's brunch with my funny Valentine
-a V-Day movie with my girlfriends

Hope everyone has a lovely, relaxing weekend spent with those you love...

Sign.Me.Up

Did anyone else see this little blurb on MSN today?:

The "Glee" cast is expanding -- and you have a shot at joining the show. Find out how you can apply, plus the scoop on what's in store for the series (Madonna alert!) and its characters.

Um....yes PLEASE! I want IN!

Unfortunately, A. I am over the age limit (26 max) and B. They already have a preggers character so I guess that means I'd be a bit redundant huh?

Bummer.

Wonderful {Productive} Weekend!

I am a lucky girl.



My amazing mama was here all weekend to help get some crafting projects both started and finished! She is the BEST! We made:
-Curtains for the baby's room...plain white with some adorable Amy Butler fabric for the tie-backs (a big THANK YOU to Jamie's Mother-of-All-Trades for sharing her sewing machine with us when mine decided to have a melt down mid-session!)

-Sheets for the baby cradle (which BTW will be the 9th baby to use this cradle...it started back in the day with me...)

-Fun closet dividers for baby's closet. I got the idea here and altered them a bit. I'm quite pleased with how they turned out!

(yes...those are still Nick's clothes in the closet...rearranging where we are going to put everything will come soon enough...)

-Started on some pillows (mom took these home to finish)

-A crib and changing table purchased!

Annnd while we were busy crafting, Nick got some more work done on refinishing the armoir and almost getting the hand-rail put up to the basement...hopefully this project is getting completed this week?....you reading this lovie??

Onward now to the next projects...

This...

Made me SO happy last night during the Golden Globes! I love Glee a ridiculous, crazy amount...the show is darling and their voices-Wow!! I'm so happy all those talented cuties won!

Pretty sure that somebody isn't going to know quite what to do with himself when "his" office chair is in fact removed from the office and the room is converted to a nursery. How will he patrol and guard the backyard now???

19 things

I think it must be in knowing now that we are having a little girl, but this whole pregnancy is feeling so much more real. I ordered the crib bedding (the only thing we have for her yet...oh, besides a WSU bib and a Husky burp cloth (long story...) and have started thinking more and more about preparing for her to come into our lives.
It's easy to start thinking about all the things we need to buy to prepare for her arrival...and honestly there truly is SO much to get...but I came across this blog post tonight and loved these simple tips. These are the important things we need to prepare for in learning how to become parents. I hope I can always remember to say these 19 things...

19 Things we should say to our children

1. I love you! There is nothing that will make me stop loving you. Nothing you could do or say or think will ever change that.

2. You are amazing! I look at you with wonder! Not just at what you can do, but who you are. There is no one like you. No one!

3. It’s all right to cry. People cry for all kinds of reasons: when they are hurt, sad, glad, or worried; when they are angry, afraid, or lonely. Big people cry too. I do.

4. You’ve made a mistake. That was wrong. People make mistakes. I do. Is it something we can fix? What can we do? It’s all over. You can start fresh. I know you are sorry. I forgive you.

5. You did the right thing. That was scary or hard. Even though it wasn’t easy, you did it. I am proud of you; you should be too.

6. I’m sorry. Forgive me. I made a mistake.

7. You can change your mind. It’s good to decide, but it is also fine to change.

8. What a great idea! You were really thinking! How did you come up with that? Tell me more. Your mind is clever!

9. That was kind. You did something helpful and thoughtful for that person. That must make you feel good inside. Thank you!

10. I have a surprise for you. It’s not your birthday. It’s for no reason at all. Just a surprise, a little one, but a surprise.

11. I can wait. We have time. You don’t have to hurry this time.

12. What would you like to do? It’s your turn to pick. You have great ideas. It’s important to follow your special interests.

13. Tell me about it. I’d like to hear more. And then what happened? I’ll listen.

14. I’m right here. I won’t leave without saying good-bye. I am watching you. I am listening to you.

15. Please and Thank You. These are important words. If I forget to use them, will you remind me?

16. I missed you. I think about you when we are not together!

17. Just try. A little bit. One taste, one step. You might like it. Let’s see. I’ll help you if you need it. I think you can do it.

18. I’ll help you. I heard you call me, here I am. How can I help you? If we both work together, we can get this done. I know you can do it by yourself, but I’m glad to help since you asked.

19. What do you wish for? Even if it’s not yet time for birthday candles and we don’t have a wishbone, it’s still fun to hear about what you wish for, hope for, and dream about.

via

Like stardust shining on fairies' wings...
Little girls are such magical things.
-Sherry Larson

Yep. Found out today this little bean is in fact a little girl. My gut feeling (and the gut feeling of most of my girlfriends) was correct. We are beyond excited. A little girl...

POP

And just like that...my belly has popped!

I kind of loving having this little belly right now with our little bean growing inside. It's a pretty amazing thing going on and I want to remember every single stage. I haven't been as good about taking pictures all the time, but now that it is showing so much I'll be better I think...

Whatrya doin' New Years....

New Years Eve!

It's hard for me to say NYE without singing this song. Just love it. This New Years was perfect for us...my lovely in-laws had gotten Nick and I a joint birthday gift of a trip up to Victoria, B.C. for the night at The Empress Hotel and we decided to cash in on their generosity this New Years.

It was cozy, relaxing, calm, and filled with delicious food...JUST what I wanted!

After much convincing, I was able to use my best skills to persuade Nick into partaking in the afternoon High Tea that The Empress is known for. The tea sandies, little dessert morsels, and delicious tea were all divine...and with the weather outside cold and rainy, it just felt right.

Pinkies up!

Our Christmas in pictures...

Whew! I don't know about you all, but I can hardly believe the holidays are over and we are starting a new year. Time spent with family always goes way too fast, but we have been so lucky that each year we are able to spend time celebrating with both sides.

Some favorite moments of this Christmas season...
The beautiful view from Nick's parents house


This little cutie {I promise, I only tortured him in this outfit for a little while...and only in the name of Christmas!}


Christmas morning stockings...


Fun new card games...


Coordinating Plaid Christmas outfits (yes, my red handband got LOTS of use this December as evident from about the last 5 posts!)


Special family stockings that have been in the family for over 50 years that were once lost, were found again!


Nicholas admiring my families famous "Gold Bow"...also a tradition we think that has been going on since late 70's??


Hard to believe it was our last Christmas as two and not three. Well, really three not four counting Mr. Max! I must say, I'm pretty excited for next year already.