Christmas Adventure

Yesterday we headed out to good Ol Dowagiac Michigan to Butler Tree Farm to pick out the Urankar Christmas tree 2009. The trip was about 20 minutes from our house so not too bad, the whole time there we listened to comercial free Christmas tunes and couldnt wait to get to the tree farm, as I mentioned last year was our frist married christmas and we went to a tree farm to cut down a tree and decided that we would make that our little tradition, so this year we headed out to Butler Tree farm in search of the perfect tree. I was so excited on our drive, even though there was no snow to set the mood even more, but it was perfect. I couldn't help but think that this was the last year that just the Hubby and I would be picking out a tree together, that next year and all the years after we will have our little girl and who knows what other children with us :)

Butler tree farm was great, they even had animals out for the little kids to see, they had 3 basset hounds, lamas, a deer, ducks, goats and lots others.  They were serving hott cocoa and hott apple cider and had tractor/sleigh rides that drove around the farm playing christmas music, it was all too cute. I think i said like 11 times I LOVE CHRISTMAS! so it was a fun trip, we started looking at the white pines, but them moved our way onto the douglas Fir's because they looked like they wouldnt shed as much. I swear I am the WORST at pulling the trigger and making a decision when i am starting at like 1,000 trees, but together I think we agreed on the perfect one. Nick chopped it down and we were headed home. 

Decorating the tree this year was great also because out tree this year is very sentimental because my grandma Lake had all of her kids, and grandkids go through all of her chirstmas decorations she has had for many many years because they dont use them and havnt used them in years because they are in Arizona during christmas every year, so I have ornaments that are from my GREAT grandmas original tree and from my grandparents first ever tree, and a bunch of other ornaments from their trees they have had down the years, I even am using the beads my grandma used on her tree.  We are using the same tree topper as last year and nick did his anual placing of it :)


I hope you and your family have fun decorating for the Holiday!!

35 week update

wowzers, there I am, and there is my belly... I have officially begun to feel like my body is no longer mine. My belly is constantly tight and hard and always round, and low... I tell ya, the body is an amazing thing, but i truly feel like a house, and in one way I am, I am my little girls house, she is staying warm inside, I would say pretty comfortable, she is warm, she is fed, she has a roof over her head and she is protected... so in a way, i am a house... and boy do I feel like one. not much longer though, I can see the finish line I am just walking to it. so far no one seems to think that she will actually hold off til January, my husband has said December 17th for some time now, my friend Mo has said December 21 or the 26th and my mom thinks December 28th.... so with all of those guesses, i must admit I have been getting very excited, but also I think if all those dates pass I will be a little let down, so i am trying to still see the letters JANUARY in my head but its so dang hard!   however I must admit that although i feel like a house and i am very anxious to meet her, I am still feeling great, still sleeping well, still working, still able to do the normal things, it's just there is a large hard belly that sticks out and sometimes I just want to hug it in , and well thats impossible. 

in other news as you can maybe tell from the pictures, I have been growing my hair out, not sure how long i want it because I am very much a short haired girl, but I want to let it grow so i have the option of pulling it back and also giving myself a new momma look possibly, and who knows what that means, maybe short, maybe long, but i want something new so I am growing it out so I can re shape it after a little while...

tomorrow is our official Maternity Photo Shoot, and I am so excited for it, the Photographer is coming over to our house, I am not sure where we will be set up to take the pictures but I am sure she will find just the right spot...  now all that is left is the belly cast.... I always said when i got prego the fist time i would do a belly cast, I just think it would be neat, and what a great picture after she is a new born to set her in it...maybe i sound crazy, and i am not sure what i would do with a cast of my house of a belly after that photo is taken... hahaha I just got the image of moving out into a new house and my grandpa carrying out the belly cast, and everyone like what the heck is she going to do with this... who knows, maybe it can be a useful fruit bowl one day...

Thanksgiving

this years thanksgiving was great, it was our first year we sat in one spot all day... well not literally one spot but we stayed in one house and didn't spend 1/2 the day traveling, although we missed out on seeing some wonderful family, it was a very good year for us to stay put, as i am getting closer and closer to my due date I pretty much like relaxing and taking in everything around me because before i know it there will be a little one calling me momma who will also have a schedule.  We were out in New Carlisle for the holiday at my uncles house, ( mom's side of the family.) He made a whole spread of food but with the hubby and I being vegetarian we get to eat all the yummy carbohydrated filled sides. you know the taters, the yeast rolls, green bean casserole, vegetable stuffing... all that stuff... but boy it was yummy!!! We had a blast this year, I got to spend most of my day with my cousins 4 month old baby boy, I fed him, changed him, rocked him, kissed him, smelled him, played with him... I AM SO READY!!! seriously the smell is so wonderful I promise i will figure out how to bottle it up :) Nick spent a lot of time with my younger sister Madison and some of my cousins, even my grandpa downstairs playing rock band, or our ever favorite game of marbles.... it was a great Holiday. Mom and I got to sit together and chit chat alot which I also enjoyed. I love the holidays... and now its on to the Christmas season! I can hardly hold my smile back that is filled with the excitement of going to a tree farm to get our tree!!! hope to do so soon!!!

hope you all had a happy thanksgiving!

It's Tree Time

So it's that time of year again, Christmas is near... I Love this Holiday, any day centered around Christ and family is a great day to me.  Last year was our fist married christmas and we set out to make a tradition of going to a local tree farm and picking out the perfect tree and cutting it down and strapping it down to the car and looking like the Clark Grizwald family as we ride home in are small car and large tree.... so here we are just the very next year, excited about our  tradition but looking down at my ever growing belly and knowing that this little girl is due January 1st, which is darn close to christmas... what's a family to do? and well we decided that we still want to venture out, so shortly after thanksgiving the hubby and I are going to drive out to some local tree farm and enjoy hot cocoa and get my fat behind up on the wagon and truck it out in the snow and chop down our tree.  We want to do this earlier this year than last that way we have time to enjoy it and can toss it right after christmas hopefully before this little girl arrives, that way we don bring baby home and find a rotting sappy tree and a mess to clean up. so thats that. Christmas is near and I just can't wait! I am not quite sure where we will be getting our tree from this year because we have moved, so if you have any suggestions about a good one close to the south bend Mishawka area please let me know :) Oh I' am  getting so giddy just thinking about it! What are your families traditions around the christmas time?

New Hours

with January 01 right around the corner my midwife and I decided at my last apointment that it would be best for me to cut back on my hours at work to de stress and take it easy. I am now working 30 hour work weeks no longer that 6 hours at a time and no more than 3 days in a row, and ladies I tell you what, this has been great. This new schedule started this past Friday and I can be honest in saying I am much more relaxed, a lot less tense and have been sleeping much better at night. I think anyone would really to go from working 48 hrs to 30 is truly a blessing. My manager at work has been great also, I think he was actualy relieved when I brought in the note to him because all of the guys here are so worried that I will just plop out my little girl right here in the store, so now with my having shorter hours I think it makes them all feel a little better.

so yep, 39 days left until January 1st, I just can not believe it. this Pregnancy has been so great. I have read in lots of pregnancy books that every pregnancy is different but i must say the next time around I wish to have it like this all over again becuase it has been a blessing and easy to say the least. and i know this sounds weird, but  I am looking forward to labor.... i know i warned you that it woudl sound weird, but i actually met a lady at work last week who is pregnnat with her 4th child and she told me she LOVED labor, I said excuse me? i have never heard anyone say that and she said i mena i am a big fan of the epidural but yes i love the labor, all the anticipation leading up to holding your precious gift in your arms, there is just nothing like it, when she left i thought... wow... I can totally see myself looking at labor that way just minus the epidural... we shall see...

PiCtUrES O CriB

THE CRIB

the crib the crib the crib is HERE... that is correct, the crib did in deed arrive today and will be setting up in Jada's room tonight. I am so excited!!! I didnt have to be to work today until after my Dr apt which was at 12:20 so I woke up at my usual time 6:45 Am and had the urge to clean, oraganize and wash so I went to her room and unpackaged all of her towels and wash cloths and blankets and bedding and got through 3 loads of it.  I still have to wash her clothes that will be this weekend but her bedding is washed, yippie! so tonight after the crib is all put together ( unless this sucker is complicated and it may take a few days) the bedding will be all set up and pictures to follow shortly!

I am getting filled with the excitement with her arrival just 6 weeks away.. if I make it to date, or i guess it could be a little longer if i go over also but i just can't fight that excitement feeling, I mean I actually enjoyed cleaning out our junk drawer in the kitchen today to make it Jada's bib and burp rag area, I even sorted our linnen closet and she has her own shelves with her ever so cute little wash cloths and towels.  I am so ready to be a a mother to my little girl. I cant wait to lay my eyes on her for the first time, kiss her soft little face and breathe in her wonderful baby smell! Daddy is excited too, Iam pretty sure just about ever night these past weeks we go to bed talking about becomming a family of three. I love and am so thankful for him and this pregnancy.. and lets not forget about the fact that the crib is here!


now it's just the count down til our combo dresser/changer arrives....

Baby Shower

here is the Gang at little Jada's baby shower. I just wanted to say a big OL THANKS to all who were able to make it, I had a blas with you girls and thanks for all your wonderful gifts. Jada is sure to be one lucky lady.  It was so nice to be with all you girls in one day, I dont get enough of that with working and the hustle and bustle of getting everything ready for our little girls arrival, oh and then you throw in the distance factor and that adds some more gum to the shoes, ( what did I seriously just say that?) any who I love you all and thanks again!  

Who would have Thought....

and I thought I was showing in my first picture at 8 weeks... and here I am at 33 weeks.... how Lovely !

OuR first True Babies R us trip

Last night after my Husband came home from work, we ate supper together and then made plans to go to Babies R us and pick up some items that we thought woudl be very important in having and now that all the baby showers are over, we can better look at our list and know exactly what we still needed...

We headed out with Gift cards in hand ready to take on the store.  I believe our trip started with me using the bathroom then walking down one aisle and then having to use the restroom again, I tell ya this little girl is sitting right on my bladder. any who back to the main story here, so we started in the back left side and picked up things like an extra fitted crib sheet, 2 changing pad covers, 2 packs of 4 recieving blankets, the cute little pink hangers, all that fun stuff over in that area, we then headed over to the front right side of the store, and picked up a couple extra packs of glass bottles, passy's, and a wipe warmer. I couldn't help but laugh at my husband and I standing in the aisle staring up at the wall of passys, trying to talk it out about which type she would like, the one that says its flexible like moms nipple? the kind that are 50 % off... the ones that have ridges, i mean there were so many, and at this point in our life we were faced with the decision of deciding what she may like and we both looked at eachother and picked up like 8 different kinds, atleast we both agreed on not getting the ones with words on them like "Drama Queen" or "my mute button" we went for the ever so class light pink and light green plain ones.  after all we dont want her using them all the time just as a comfort at bed time... or whenever she needs comfort i guess... oh goodness.. who knows.

we then headed over to the bath area, we picked out wash cloths, her tub, her little nose sucker thing and then came time to pick out the smell goods, what would our little baby girl smell like?! now many of you know me know that smells are ever so importnat to me, so there I was standing in an asile staring at all these different color bottles and brands, do i want to go with the ever so popular johnson and johnson which is that yummy baby smell or do I want to go the more natural product Aveno, Now nick and I use Aveno and Love the way it makes out skin feel.. and hey thats all i have been using through out this whole pregnancy on my belly and so far so good... so after about 10 minutes of pure silence and picking up all the different bottles i began getting Irritated that all the caps had those silly little tabs over it so i couldnt smell a darn thing, I looked at my husband and said, how am i going to make life long decisions for her, when I cant even pick out what I want her to smell like...

I know that sounds silly, and it is, I wasn't toally serious, but Nick assured me that he would be there to help make those decisions and that I just need to grab some shampoo and hit the next aisle haha so we went with the Aveno because it's what her momma and daddy use and love it so this is what we will start with.

moving right along, I really dont remember when else got in a cart but just a few other small items like butt paste and baby powder, and we both agreed that the other things like the jogger stroller , breast pump and the bumbo seat can wait till the more appropriate time..


so we get to the check out line and HOW DID WE SPEND $250? i was so confused, nick and I just looked at eachother like wowzers! haha this was our first true babies r us trip, you know the kind where you arent holding a serialized gun in your hand registering for stuff that you want other people to purchase for you?!! lets be honest... I mean we have purchased the "BIG" items but man these little things add up.. thankfully we had gift cards and only had a small remaining balance to pay, but the important part is daddy and I had fun shopping for our little girl even if they were for the silly things like passys and shampoo..

Crib Update # 3

So after this Traumatic experience with dealing with Hugs from heaven and all the waiting involved, My husband did eventually talk to the store owner who gave her most sincere Apologies, we will be getting 15% off or order total and it is due to arive WEDNESDAY! November the 18th, we were not given a firm date on the combo changer table but were told some time in Decemeber and that they would be sure to stay in contact with us now.  I am very excited and despite all of the other promised dates that this crib would be in I some how have a feeling it will really be here Wednesday, and if not I am sure I will be back here to vent : / keep your fingers crossed!

33 week Photo Op

Seriously... whats a girl do do when she reaches 33 weeks in her prgnancy and feels as large as a house? well I didnt know either so i decided to embrace it and take pictures of myself by myself alone in my bathroom making a bunch of different ridiculous   faces.... why I am not sure but here is my proof.... Mamma Loves you Jada, and Hopes you can appreciate her Silliness one day.

Belly Support

I am carrying really low with our little girl and I am really beginning to want support under my belly.. I cant find what position is comfortable because it hurts while sitting or standing.. sleeping is the most comfortable time believe it or not. I have found that by sleeping on my back with a pillow under my right side ( so it is tilting me more to the left with some elevation and laying in an almost upright position with my head cocked to the side... well its actually comfotable..

but what do I do during the day? I had an apointment with our Doula yesterday which should have a whole blog post to it self but I will go ahead and combine the two here.. She came for our first home visit ( so she will know how to get to our house when i go into labor) So she arrives and the first thing she says to me is wow that baby has dropped since the last time I have seen you, she also noticed that throughout our conversation my hands were resting underneeth my belly and would often lift up as if i was relieving pressure, this was the first time I had paid attention to it and she recommended that I look into getting one of those belly support holster doo hickys.  she said the way that I am carrying she thinks I would bennefit from greatly.

because we were on the topic of how I am carrying I told her that so many people have told me that I look like I am carrying a boy and she looked at me with a look that shocked me... and she said well I have never been wrong on a guess yet and I would say your carrying a little B*O*Y....

ok, maybe she forgot that I told her I was having a little girl, so Nick and I looked at eachother and laughed and said seriously? and she said well I mean you guys havn't completly settled on the fact that it is a girl right? which made us laugh even harder as many of you saw this past weekend a little tour of our little girls room which I believe every girlfriend of mine said something like " oooo i love it, its so PINK" so yes we have settled in on the ide that we are having a little girl and we have for the last 14 weeks of our life, which is a long time I might add..

so again, this was just her guess... I told her we did have 2 ultra sounds done one at 18 wks and one at 27 and they both said girl and they were done at different hospitals. so she did say after that well then she would go ahead and say that that is pretty safe to bet on... but i will admit, I started to think of ALLL the things that would need to be done if we did have a little boy instead of our little Jada Grace...  and my head began to spin... but either way I have loved this little child of ours and have bonded with whomever they are. 

so back to the belly support... do any of you mommas have any recomendations or tips for this? My doula asked if I was working still and when i told her yes she looked at me with a little look of ... i dont know for how much longer missy... but I really do feel great, my belly just just getting super tight and soar and heavy feeling..

Frustrated Momma to be Part 2

just wanted to update you all... So now that I can see that you all side with me and I am not crazy for wanting my baby girls crib so I talked with my Husband and he was floored that I have been so patient after I showed him teh original date of purchase so he said that he would handle it from here on out so I dont get so worked up about it...

so he called today...

Ladies would you believe this.... they answered the phone and he told them the situation, and they said oh no i am so sorry ( acting as if they had no ide... i am not sure how because everytime I call i just say this is chelssie and i am calling about my crib and never once have i gotten someone to say who!?!?! ) so any ways, she said well let me have the manager call you back becuase I dont know how to deal with this ( direct quote from her)

a little while later his phone rings, and its hugs from heaven....my husband and her chit chat for a while, and he tells her how I am so frustrated with this deal that he will no be the one calling... he tells this person that we are very frustrated that this whole time it has been us who have called to see what is going on, not ONCE have we been contacted with info, she then tells him how he is right and they should have called and they are so sorry and that they have been un able to get in contact with this company and they arent returning their calls... and so it has just been hard.

ok ladies are you folowing what i just said... SO IF THEY ARENT RETURNING YOUR CALLS THEN YOU REALLY HAVE NEVER TALKED TO THEM SO YOU HAVE REALLY NEVER BEEN TOLD A DATE AND YOU JUST KEEP LYING TO ME HOPING THAT IS COMES IN! as you can see i am extremely frustrated!!!!

so i keep my cool as my hubby is informing me of the rest of the conversation he tells them that again that is not our problem, that just because their company chooses to do business with a company that has a bad rep for doing this, we should not have to suffer from, basically telling them that they shouldnt have to deal with this either... get this ladies... this is the kicker....


she then says but i mean, dont worry if the baby comes and the crib still isnt here we will lend you a crib or a bassinet for the time being..... EXCUSE ME... what... what  what?!?!?!?!?!?!? are you kidding me.. how did we go from being told it would arive early this week to now being told that we could BORROW a crib if our baby comes and we still dont have the one we purchased...

my husband says look... what are you going to do for us, this is beyond rediculous... we have already paid you $900 and that is just 1/2 so I want to know what it is that your company is going to do for us.. and then the chick says... well that would be up to my manager so i will have to leave a message for her and have her call you back...

?!?!? I thought the last time I called a MGR was going to call me back, you mean this isnt even the manager I am speaking with? no sir, its not, i am sorry...

seriously after this, i dont care how cute the clothes may be at this place, I will never step foot in their again.....


stay tuned for another update...


SERIOUSLY, WHAT THE HECK IS GOING On...

Friday & Friends

Today is Friday!! Yippie, I normally do not have a job that allows me to look forward to having the weekends off however, this weekend I do and I am so excited about it! Today when I punch out of work I will be driving home to my wonderful husband and then my BFF Lauren and her BF Matt will be comming from Indy to stay with us tonight for the BABY shower tomorrow!!! I am so excited to have them, they will be our first guest to stay in our guest bedroom in the house, it was fun getting it all ready for them :) they should be here around 6:00 and then I plan to make homemade Pizza for dinner. 

and then Saturday is the BABY shower and I will be with even more friends and then my brother in law and his girlfriend are staying that evening...  I was originally a little bumbed at the amt of family members that are not able to attend the shower but all my girlfriends have turned that frown upside down becuase most of them are able to make it!! My mom is throwing the shower for us but we are having it at our house becuase its a little bit roomier... I am looking forward to the Ice Cream cake and Grandmas yummy cupcakes... oh and the veggie tray... I mean there will be healthy stuff too... but I am sure REALLY excited about the sweets... ok maybe just a little excited...

anyways, so this weekend should be fun 3 of the girls comming are bringing their boyfriends/husbands becuase they are driving in from out of town so Nick will have some guys to hang out with, they are going to watch the ND game up at between the Buns maybe ??!?! not too sure what they will do but thats just an idea i shouted out to him...

and then come Sunday My father in Law and his wife are comming up to visit because they will not be able to make it to the shower, so we will have people with us each night this week, pretty exciting!

so let 6:00 come soon enough and Let the FUn begin!

Frustrated MoMmA to Be

I would not normally do this.. but on for this particular moment I feel very compelled to do so...

I am so very frustrated with HUGS from HEAVEN! and that is to say the least... and ya know Im stuck in a hard place because boy do they sell just the cutes little things... but seriously... I have not been able to trust them with ANYTHING that has been said to me... I am pretty sure I have vented about the anticipation I feel upon waitng the arival of our little girls crib... and I feel as though I keep talking about it, so I thought to myself maybe I have the dates mixed up... maybe it really hasnt been that long since i placed my order, so this AM i looked on my bank statemet because we had to pay  1/2 down to place the order and i was right. We Ordered this thing on AUGUST 29th..... it is NOVEMBER 5th.....

is this not pure madness to anyone else?? when I placed out order i was told it would be here towards the middle of September, and that the changer table/combo dresser would be here in November....


we have yet to have either of these items... I have called and called and ladies, trust me, I know that my calling is doing nothing but annoying them and not making the crib get here any faster  but  they have told me a million dates and they push it back every time I call.... COME ON!!! seriously I can't just sit and wait, and I am sure they look at me like oh this first time mom, shes so silly, the baby isnt even due til January 1st well news FLASH HELLO it doesnt matter if i Ordered in August I should have the Freaking crib!~!!!!

i want to wash her bedding and have it smell like baby and display it in her crib, and wash her clothes and fold them and place them in her drawers so then I can relax and just sit back in her glider chair and rub my belly and be happy and dream of the little girls face that we will be brining home... :) MAKE MOMMA HAPPY!

so I am still waiting... : (
                                 : /


.......

Hooter Hiders

Seriously I am not making this up, this is what this item is called.. take a look for yourself.

http://shop.bebeaulait.com/Hooter-Hiders-New;jsessionid=0a0104471f43f824f26759fd4449a530ae0127ebba6c.e3eSbNqNc38Le34Pa38Ta38Sbhr0


Apparently, this newer version of Hooter Hiders includes a patented rigid neckline so you can easily peer down at the baby to check in on her nursing progress. It's great for those uber conscious folks who don't even bother messing with the cover to check in on baby in fear of accidental exposure or drawing attention to themselves from passerbys. This thing eases that concern cause it holds open the area right below mommy's head at the neckline.

what do you mommas think? would you buy it?