Happy Halloween !

Halloween2012 hope your little munchkins (if you got em ) made out well :) !

Life Planner

 I know you've read this exact post a million times but it must go in my blog.

Erin Condren Life Planner

LOVE. 

I discovered this beauty just recently, before this blog, through another friend who blogs, whom I met through her blog, when we started blogging 10 years ago. Got that?! Sorry I wanted to see how many times I could use the "b" word in a sentence.

Could I buy a cheaper Target planner? Yes, but remember I get bored easy? Things have to be cute and have options to keep my attention! The Life Planner not only has options it has personal options. You can customize galore this planner from the cover, notepads, stickers and more. Cannot wait to order baby divas stickers with her first infant shoot! It has weekly and monthly planning options. I love filling out the following weekly schedule on Sunday nights and the monthly calendar feature so I can take a peek and plan ahead our weekends (with or without the triplets). Triplets! Pregnancy appointments and milestones! Need I say more? You must stay organized and plan with triplets and one on the way. Otherwise, divorce anyone? Totally kidding but it does help in the communication department.

I am a major list maker. However, my lists consisted of post-it notes all over the place, which I would lose or eventually throw away while cleaning out my purse or desk. Therefore, my favorite thing to do with it? CHECK off my to-do lists! I can make and reference all of my lists each week and month. Plus there is even a "goals" lists which mostly for me are more to-do list items for us when I run out of to-do spaces.  I cannot lose these lists as I did before thanks to its beautiful sturdy binder. Would I get things done if I didn't have this a planner? Most defiantly, BUT I love checking off my list while its all together and referencing back with my calendar in eye sight. I feel a great sense of accomplishment when my tasks are checked off. If I do not get something done I purposely drag it over to the following week each time (most always low priority items). My list does not consists of " buy boots, get a mani, massage,botox etc." Most of it is important family errands, bills, contractors, housework, family member chores, groceries, appointments, important telephone calls to be made etc. With little diva here, this list will only double! If the Mr. ever asks what do you do all day?  I'll pop this baby out and maybe just because he asked, show him that pretend fun list first. Seriously, completing and having to-do list justify staying home for me a little bit. Would I still make lists if I were working? Heck yes, but now they are organized and I want to see my important duties for me while not working.

So what I'm saying is you have to get this Life Planner or your marriage will totally end in divorce. No, totally kidding but it helps in the communication department.

Whats in my Hospital Bag?

Before I start let me just say " I HATE PACKING" thats right, I hate packing. Always have, suppose I always will. I get this anxiety about leaving something very important or taking too much or too little, so I usually wait till the last minute. Even though I know "it can be bought if not brought".

I have packed for many vacations in my life but Hospital stays? Not a chance. I have been researching and researching what to bring. Each list has been a little different, so what do I do? I bring it all. Our 3 day (I pray only 3) Hospital stay will look like a week stay. It doesn't help the Mr. is a heavy packer also. Oh well there is always the trunk we can keep things in. 

Here is a list of items I am bringing: 

Big suitcase

2 pairs of a size larger Yoga pants

Nursing bras and 2 nursing tanks

breast pads/lanolin cream 

gown

robes 

under garments 

comfortable socks

his & hers slippers

nightlight

small fan

2 sleep mask

dry shampoo

makeup

tinted moisturizer

shampoo/conditioner

hair ties/brush

toothpaste/brushes

2 pillows 

2 towels and toilet paper (heard to bring your own as theirs are awful)

feminine pads and wipes

trash magazines

travel boppy for nursing

Chocolate & Thank you cards for medical staff 

A bag of snacks
Note of items still needed such as charges, Mr. things, and last minute toiletries 

Baby Bag (her diaper bag)

a few outfits, going home outfit

mittens

Aden + anais blanket

soothies

few diapers and wipes (I know they supply)

Baby genetics hand sani

Baby book (someone said nurses will stamp their feet for you)

blanket

burp cloths
cute bows, must have those 

Car seat

I think we are ready! 

Maternity Photos

Better get these up, only was able to go through a few, we are pretty busy preparing today!

My last week of pregnancy

Its official I am ending my last week of pregnancy! Next week we will be welcoming our daughter into this world! Here is a peek of how I spent my last week...

The week consisted of spending a lot of time with the girls. Date nights with the Mr. and lots of alone time together. Comparing my belly to the moon. Indulging in the best cupcakes ever. Rocking my VOTE & a deer hitting my poor car last night! Very scary and bad timing but little diva and I are safe. 

I have a few post scheduled and will update about the birth when I can but as you can imagine we will be a little busy next week meeting the love of our life!! 

This week was pretty gray and rainy but next week the weather is going to be wonderful! Perfect week to have a baby.

TueOct 23

77^°

56^°

Partly Cloudy

CHANCE OF RAIN:

10%

 

WIND:

SSW at 10 mph

Details

WedOct 24

76^°

54^°

Partly Cloudy

CHANCE OF RAIN:

10%

 

WIND:

SSW at 8 mph

Details

ThuOct 25

74^°

48^°

Partly Cloudy

CHANCE OF RAIN:

20%

 

WIND:

SSW at 10 mph

Details

Fall Swap

I participated in another swap recently (love those things!), the theme was "FALL" so anything fall related. It is fun to be paired up with someone you don't know and to shop for! I was paired with the sweet Betsey over at Simply Southern, go check her out her blog....adorable. 

On to the GOODS 

She got me this BEAUTIFUL scarf and some smell goods from bed bath and beyond, I love it all! The scarf has beautiful detail and you bet I have already worn it. 

This will probably be my last swap for awhile due to baby girl, but I highly recommend them, I bet there are a bunch of fun Christmas ones coming up!

Lilly

Lilly is my sweet 2.5 year old peekaboo baby. She is smart, spoiled, shy, doesn't like men (besides daddy and her great grandpa) loves belly rubs, and is mommas shadow. Pretty soon she will not be the only little baby in the house. Fortunately, she is good with the trips (unless they were to steal her food) but she is spoiled and feels like she is on the same "level" as they are so we may have a little work. She has never hurt them and she is happy when they are around, so after a little adjusting I think she will do well with the new baby. I have heard stories of dogs and babies not doing well and people having to get rid of them. That would break my heart! It eases my worry a little that she has been around children her whole life. Her grandma (my mom) loves her as much as I do, so she will watch her for a bit when the baby first comes home, then we will slowly introduce the two when mom has the week off to help me when the Mr. goes back to work.

I figured Lilly would need a little extra love once the baby steals most of mommas attention so last month I signed her up for a monthly " Barkbox " which sends pets a box of goodies each month. She was pretty happy with her goodies, some more than others. It was cute when the mailman dropped it off it was like she knew it was for her, normally she doesn't make a fuss about the package just the man delivering! So far we are happy with this product!

In this month's box :

West Paw Design chewable toy (she didn't play with this, she normally likes soft squeaky toys)

LA Fresh wash and go wipes (nice and clean wipes I like)

Wag.com treats (she loved these)

Whole Life Pet dried sweet potato treats (she did not care for these)

Barkworthies power bar (one of her favorites)

Zukes dog breath bone  (she thought it was ok) 

37 weeks

37 weeks 

The questions are pretty redundant at this point! Here is my big ol' belly. At my 37 week appointment this week my weight stayed the same up 20lbs. I think she dropped just a smidge because the bathroom breaks have gotten even worse, didn't think that was possible! If I eat by or before 6 p.m. I am good, any later I feel big and miserable all night. Belly is measuring a tad small but no big deal. I think she will be a small 6 pounder like my mom and I were. We cannot wait to meet her of course! Her furniture is set up (big relief !) but no nursery reveal until all the decor is in place (which will be well after her arrival).  I think I could write a book on nesting cleaning, scrubbing, & pitching the house is all in order and ready for lil diva's appearance. 

I am now just taking time with the family, for myself and date nights with the Mr. before a new chapter in our lives begin.. 

Wordless Wednesday

<3

Meeting "The love of my life" & manic nesting

When I woke up Sunday (early after no sleep) I hurried out the door to get the groceries done and headed to Bed Bath and Beyond to get some household items. One of the workers was a lady who stopped me and wanted to talk about my pregnancy and asked if I needed help. You could tell she wanted a bit of a conversation not just your typical employee/customer chat. If you have been pregnant before you know at the very end you are kind of over talking about your pregnancy. I'll admit that I was annoyed and just wanted to be on my way so I could get home. I tried to be polite but also give her cues that I was in a somewhat hurry. At the end of the day I remembered our conversation, I told her how I was "nesting" and she told me that she used to have a rabbit whom when pregnant, her chest hair would thicken and she would use the shed for her baby rabbits nest to keep them safe and warm (how beautiful) then she told me be prepared to meet "the love of my life". So after feeling annoyed in the moment, later on I really appreciated her conversation with me. She told me to come back and bring the baby when we are out and about which I will most definitely do. 

I have been manic nesting for about a month now. It comes and goes, usually in groups of a few days. Literally a bi-polar type feeling, I will have a TON of energy (I wish I could bottle) not need sleep and just prepare, clean, clean, clean THEN after a few days I could sleep for 12 hours and not want to move off the couch. My to-do list for baby and the house is almost completed and it really makes me feel accomplished. 

 My best friends recently?  

These bad boys! I am pretty sure their stock went up from this Northern Kentucky housewife, I go through a few of them a day. It is so bad that last night after I FINALLY stopped to break, I took a bath and there was one next to the bath which I proceeded to use and clean the bath and tile instead of soak. 

These next two weeks I'd like to try to focus more on quiet time and alone time with the Mr. I could cry tears of sadness (and JOY) that this coming weekend will be our LAST weekend together without needing a sitter. We're going to try to make the most of it! 

Our Fall weekend

This past weekend was one of the last weekends we will have with the trips as a family of 5. Pretty soon there will be a little one in the mix and we will definitely have a different schedule and activities for awhile. So we decided to soak up the wonderful fall weather and hit a pumpkin patch farm, apple pick, animal feed and go see Hotel Transylvania, which was really good. A lot of parents asked me about the movie because they were worried it maybe too scary for their young ones, this one is not. Very comical and a great story line, Paranorman? If your child gets scared easily I'd suggest you skip that one! Here are some pictures of our weekend. 

Sunday my nesting bug hit pretty hard, it deserves its own post. Pretty hilarious folks! Hope you are smiling this Monday, I know I am. My nursery furniture is coming today!!

36 weeks

I will be 37 weeks tomorrow, guess I need to do these post earlier in the week, in my defense this picture was taken at the beginning! 

How far along? 36 weeks   

Weight gain?  Broke 20lbs, up 21 

Baby's size? Honeydew 

Maternity clothes?  yes, loving leggings thats all I've been wearing lately 

Stretch marks? no

Sleep:  The energy from last week? Gone! I am a sleepy baby this week. 

Best moment this week: Going to my dr officially a 9 month prego getting checked weekly. 

Miss Anything? Being able to eat again and not feeling like I just had Thanksgiving with it wanting to come back up :/

Movement: Very active I am surprise would think she is running out of room! 

Food cravings:  Anything cream cheese 

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Tomato-y dishes due to reflux  

Gender: GIRL 

Labor Signs: No, just a lot of the Braxton hicks 

Symptoms:  Acid reflux, sore feet, ribs, back, just everything ha I am a mess! 

Belly Button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On

Mood: Lathargic this week and anxious for it to be over.

Looking forward to: Her due date of course in a matter of days/weeks!

Happy weekend, we will be busy with the Trips hitting up a pumpkin patch my fav!

Crock pot days

One of my favorite meals growing up was mom putting roast in the crock pot. Crock pot meals are the best thing ever, especially for bigger families.

Yesterday was a raining chilly day so I thought it would be perfect to slow cook one of our favorite meals.

3lbs pot roast (boneless beef bottom round roast or chunk)
6 yolkon (or red) potatos halved
small bag of carrots 
one stalk of celery cut small
1 can of cream of mushroom 
1 package of lipton's dry onion soup mixed with one cup of water 
Salt and pepper to taste 
2 garlic cloves 

It should produce its own gravy but if you'd like thicker (like us) 1hr to 1/2 hour before serving whisk a 1/2 cup of flour and water into the pot stir leaving no chunks

Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4 hours 

I serve with dinner crescent rolls and sometimes over mashed potatoes leaving out the yukon 

Enjoy!

& this was a nice perk after dinner, she offered I accepted, isn't she gorgeous? 

Speaking of rain I pulled out my new Hunters, when I saw they had purple and grey this year I died. My two favorite colors together <3 

FINALLY... October

October 2012 best month of all time! Why ? My daughter's arrival, I cannot believe it is actually here !! Only 3 more weeks until this pregnancy turns into a miracle.

Dear Baby,

The day I found out you were coming, February 16th, was one of the best days of my life. I felt so much joy and love for you instantly. Your daddy and I were so excited, grateful, and surprised that you came to us so quickly. I remember seeing you on the ultrasound screen and feeling you for the very first time around 16 weeks, wow did that make mommy happy! Then seeing you again a little later smile on the screen when mommy started to talk ...... that beautiful moment  I will NEVER forget, I cannot even begin to describe it! 

It seemed like it would take forever before we got to meet you. Now here we are sweet little diva in the month of October, your birth month. Mommy wants you in her arms so badly she can barley stand it! Before all the excitement begins with your birth, I just wanted to let you know what an honor it has been carrying you in my tummy. I am going to miss feeling your hiccups (a lot) and your cute little feet pressed up against the outside of my belly. I am also going to miss special "morning moments" you have with daddy when you kick him and play while mommy is still trying to sleep. I have loved having you with me at all times knowing that I am responsible for your safety. 

 Daddy and I love you sweet baby and promise to always love and protect you for the rest of our lives. You have a mommy, daddy, three sisters, grandparents and more waiting for you to come into the world with open loving arms. Love you always and forever, 

Mommy