Oh the places we go

OMG, I just checked in for our flight tomorrow to the west coast. I am so nervous because when I say 'we' it is Landry and I. I am flying alone with a teething , 6month old baby girl to California. I know I will have troops on the ground when I get there. But those 3 hours in the sky are what have me really nervous. I have been trying to read all the tips I can on flying with a baby/toddler and I think I might have all the tips memorized by now. I am packing everything I can think of to make her happy on the plane, Hopefully she will sleep thru it all and be a champ.

I haven't even packed yet I usually pack the night or morning before I have to leave for the airport. But I feel like one suitcase will not be enough for this mommy and baby. Wish me luck I feel like I will need all the positive vibes I can get for the journey that is ahead of us.

It is going to be a BIG week for Landry. She had her  6 month check up on Tuesday and had 3 shots, she is teething and now her first plane ride to visit our California family. I will have to make sure to take lots of pictures.

New hobby taking pictures

I just love taking pictures of Little Miss and she is such a good sport for letting me take them all. I am that mom that now over shares on Facebook. But I feel like I have to since so many of my loved ones are on the west coast. I did a mini Easter session with Landry since the blue bonnets aren't quite up yet. I am so grateful I am crafty and have a nice camera. 

Stock Show with Landry

Us at San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo.

Well Miss Landry can say she has already experienced her very first Stock Show, and at the ripe old age of 2.5 months old. We like to start them early in Texas. The only bad part (or good depending on how you look at it) is that Landry slept thru most of it. And the part that she was awake for I sadly didn't get any pictures of her awake at it. Landry and I went to San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo this month to take some of our 4-Her's to the show to be tour guides to the local elementary school kids. We had a great time my car was full of girls and I couldn't have made the trip without the girls they were the best to Landry and to me. They helped so much with Landry and didn't mind helping out at all. Best part was the girls were troopers while I changed Landry's poopy diaper on the side of the road in downtown Austin in the front seat of my Tahoe. 

The Tom turkey that made Landry watch it in awe.

Sadly the weather was cold at the stock show and not warm like it was said to be. *damn weatherman lied* But Landry was such a good baby, but then again she always is. She slept thru the kids getting
the run down of the day and the bus loads of kids showing up. But she did wake up enough to see all the animals in the HEB building. I think the turkeys were her favorite cause the Tom turkey was strutting the most and was super loud. I even liked him and I am so not a fan of birds. I can't wait to actually have Landry awake at the stock show and see all the animals and get a kick out of them. I know there will be plenty of stock shows in her future.

How my baby girl spent most of her trip at the stock show, asleep!

What a crazy December

This month has been super crazy. We have a newborn in the house and I have been recovering from a c-section. The hardest part has been recovering from the c-section I ended up going to the doctor more afterwards from my c-section and the problems I had from it than Landry had to go to the doctor. I am just grateful for the doctors that fixed  the problems I had and for my doctors being so concerned and staying on top of it for me. I thank my lucky stars it was me with the issues and not Landry. I am so lucky that I am all better and don't have to worry about that again, I just know what I am allergic to now and to stay CLEAR of it all.

Can't say Landry wasn't in the Christmas spirit with this big ol' hat

In the mist of this crazy month we were iced in for about a week. If that doesn't make or break your relationships nothing will, thankfully Mark and I made it out together with not a cross word even said during that time period. The ice storm was nothing like I have experienced before it looked like snow outside but it was all 4 inches of ice outside. It even came down has freezing rain (another thing we don't get in CA) and it took it days to thaw out. Thanks to the ice mail, packages and food deliveries were all behind. When we did finally make it out there was very little food to be had at the grocery store. The only truly bad part about all the ice is that it put Christmas shopping WAY behind this year. But somehow Mark and I got it all done one day. I have no clue how we did but we did.

Callie trying to share her toys with Landry, since they are friends 

Landry looking at her Christmas tree. 

Christmas time was bitter sweet for me this year. I didn't go home and celebrate it with my family. I stayed here in Texas and celebrated it with Mark's family and our little family. I thank God for face time because that way I did get to be with my family on Christmas. Faith got to talk to her cousin, which more like lets play the singing dog for Landry and Faith danced along. It was nice to see my family and them get to see Landry I love how far cellphones have came since I first got one back in 1999. Now Christmas with Mark's family was different than what I am used too but I loved every minute of it. All of the family was there, all 13 great grandkids (Landry is lucky #13) all of the grandkids (9 of them) and aunts and uncles (4) and all the spouses too. As you can see the house was quite full from the oldest being Great Grandma (79ish) all the way to Landry (1month). We brought over tri tip and cookies and thanks to my AWESOME cooking skills I have been nominated to bring tri tip to all the family gatherings. The one tri tip I brought didn't even last 15 minutes and it was demolished. But damn it was yummy.

Our tiny but mighty baby who can hold her head up when she sits up. 

Out of all the craziness I wouldn't change a thing it was a great month and got to spend it with friends and family. I loved being at home with Landry and being a mom to her. She is an amazing baby, she might be tiny but she is mighty that's for sure. I can't wait to see what the next year brings us and the adventures we have and memories we make.

Puppy Love

I could not have asked for a better puppy. Callie has been a great dog ( for the most part) she has been in love with Landry before she even made her debut. Callie would love up on my belly waiting on Little Miss to move or just to be near me. Well now that love has transferred to the little one. It is the cutest thing ever to see it. 

I am sure one day Callie will be annoyed by Little Miss but for now she checks on her whenever she makes a noise or cries. And if I get up to do something away from the baby Callie takes over and watches Landry until I get back. I secretly think Callie is just waiting for her chance to bounce on her pacifier or pick up a sock that might drop. Callie loves the pacifiers cause there is a little animal attached to them. We love Wub-a-Nubs in this house!!! 

I can't wait for the day when my 2 legged and 4 legged baby get to play together cause I just know it will be way too cute!! For now I will enjoy the sweet moments of Callie loving on Landry and her not even knowing it or caring!! 

So Close yet so Far away.

Well my due date is just around the corner and things are coming together! I have the room done, bags packed, fridge stocked and a induction date!! Yes, I said that right if she doesn't come on her own come Wednesday night I will be induced to have this little one by the 21st. So by this time next week I will have Little Miss here! I am so excited, nervous and ready for her to get here. I can't tell if the boys are as excited to meet Little Miss, but they are so laid back its hard to tell when they do get excited. 

I have to say I love having a make co-worker cause as we talk about what's happening next week he chimes in and says " you are gonna miss Duncan" and that's when I realize I am going to miss Duncan, I love that show. In case you are not familiar with Duncan, it is a HUGE swine show in Duncan, OK that is about 3 days long. Every year since I have moved to Texas I have attended with Todd. I love going and seeing people I know and seeing all the pigs. It's something everyone needs to go to at least once if they are into showing pigs. Thank you Todd for reminding I won't be going this year, but I think my excuse is a good one. 

This weekend is our last time to do last minute items and catch up on sleep. So if I don't answer the phone I am napping! I feel like I am going to need all the sleep I can get before Little Miss gets here. I hope she is a good sleeper like her dad.

Nesting

Well nesting has begun and let me tell you it has boiled over from my house to my office to even my pinterest account. I started nesting last weekend when I washed all of the baby clothes (newborn to 3 months) got her crib ready. I just have last minute details I need to finish up and that's my plan for this Friday. yes, I did finally get my bag packed and Little Miss' bag packed for the hospital. I do keep adding cute outfits for her, just in case. Plus I have NO idea what to pack for her. My bag is done ( i think) and I'm hoping everything I need is in it. If not I guess Mark gets to go shopping for it. Yeah right, he might send his sister which is ok by me too.

  Then this week at work I have been tackling cleaning and organizing it. Not that it was horrible but the fact I wanted it to look WAY better after I come back. And if anyone needed to get to my stuff while I am gone it would be way easier for them. I even organized my closet which is full of curriculum and fun stuff needed for projects. All the while I have been cleaning I got my reports done, caught up on emails to teachers. I just hope I am not forgetting something.

Then taking a break from all my organizing I decided to check out pinterest but what do I really do is de-clutter and organize my imaginary world on pinterest.  I love pinterest so many ideas so little time!! But I do love the recipes I have tried and love and have become a new favorite. If any one wants to check out my pinterest boards look here: http://www.pinterest.com/acalabretta/ 

I have no idea what nesting means, most people say that the baby is coming soon when you start to nest. But according to the doctor there still isn't any change to me and being dilated. But who knows this child of mine is probably just like me and has a mind of her own and will come when you least know it. I'm just so so impatient that all this waiting is DRIVING ME NUTS!!!!! Hopefully she gets here soon. 
 

Preggo Rant (caution may contain TMI)

There is a BUNCH of stuff people forget to tell you when you become pregnant and there is no googling or forum group that can explain it to you. Don't get me wrong this is a fun and magical time but WOW do books, movies and tv set you up to think this is a fairy tale time with no aches no pains. Let me tell ya not even watching the Baby Story on TLC would help you prepare for child birth, unless you think it can all happen within 30 minutes. I wish child birth could be so fast.

First trimester:  This time should be exciting because you just find out you are pregnant yet also scary cause so many things could go wrong and loose the baby too. This time for me was HOLY SHIT I am pregnant and sick all the time. My poor co workers had to deal with me being sick at work. And my poor Mark had to deal with me being sick ALL the time. Those that are lucky and get away without being sick during this time I envy you!! On top of being sick morning, noon and night don't forget the boobs that ache like no ones business. And hell even a shower hurts when it hits your boobs (sadly this comes back in the third trimester, too). On top of all this excitement you are WAY too tired to even enjoy it and want a nap all the time.

Second trimester:  The trimester everyone looks forward to!! This is the time you find out if you are on team blue or team pink. This is also the time you get your energy back, thank goodness cause by now you need it. Luckily some of the aches go away and you feel back to normal. But also during this time your lovely baby bump starts growing and NONE of your clothes fit so shopping for clothes you will only wear for a few months and that cost a bunch you must go. Best thing I found to invest in is maxi dresses they can accommodate almost any size your baby bump gets too plus they are beyond COZY. Bonus about maxi dresses is that you can dress them for winter or summer, thanks to pinterest and fashion bloggers. Also during this time you get to see the little bundle of joy and of course feel the flutter/kicks. As the trimester goes those flutters become try outs for indoor soccer teams (it did at least in my case) 

Third Trimester: The final trimester (THANK GOD) and what also seems to take the longest too. It takes forever because now you are waiting for the bundle of joy to get here. On top of all the waiting now comes the fun part your body getting ready to deliver the bundle of joy. The aches and pains are SO annoying. I personally wish it would just all come at once right before I deliver her not this drawn out process. The "experts" forget to tell you that your boobs will now hurt even more than the first trimester and feel like they are on fire. And NO ONE tells you about "lightening crotch" which is the nice way of saying it feels like someone stabbed you in the vagina. "They" tell you hemmoroids can happen and they do, and holy shit they are annoying and I don't wish them on anyone. Pregnancy does screw with so many different parts of your body all at once.  Yes, I do enjoy the movement I feel but its WAY more intense now and I am in the annoying part of pregnancy (37-38 weeks in) I am to the point I am ready to have her!  I can totally see how men weren't built to have children, they can barely handle being sick let alone all the factors that happen to your body for pregnancy. I am glad to report I am THANKFUL for my high pain tolerance cause I am sure what some of the stuff I feel otherwise would be calling labor and delivery every other day thinking it was time. Nope, not me I might just be that one that could have her last minute in the truck ride to the hospital. Let's hope not. 

I can't wait to report on the fun of the after birth that no one tells you about too. The countdown to delivery has begun it's November and this little one can come any day. Hopefully before her due date and not after. I don't want a 12 pound baby. I would be happy with a 7 pound baby. So here is wishing Little Miss comes on the 18th or sooner.

October is ending and November is coming!! EEK!!!

Days left until D- DAY!!!

Well the time is getting close as the month is ending (eek!) I only have 18 days left until my due date. I wish I could say I was 100% ready but I am so NOT ready. I am steps closer than I was at the beginning of the month. The crib is up, the stroller is up, I have one load of laundry done. Do I have a bag packed for the hospital?? That's a BIG FAT NO!!!! 

This weekend is my weekend to get that stuff done. I told myself that I want to have all I can get done by the first of November. Cause this little bundle of joy can be coming any day now.I have promised myself also that we do not do any baby stuff when we have Haiden, cause I don't feel its fair to him to be doing nothing but baby stuff when we have him for the weekend when the baby is not here yet. And so far we have been good about making it about what Haiden wants to do when he is with us. Yes, I know it has put us behind on stuff but that's ok too. It will all get done.

BABY BUMP UPDATE: As of 10/29 we weren't even dilated past the size of a finger tip so we will make it to our next appointment. I get to visit the doctor every week now. I feel better about knowing where I stand on being dilated. It sounds weird but I like knowing if I am close or not. The doc says I just need to start having more mini contractions to help with furthering along this process. Mark still thinks she is coming on the 8th but I think if that's gonna happen a lot more pressure has to happen. Stay tuned. 

Link to baby bump photos

Here are some more of my favorite pictures of Mark & I and the baby bump

Baby bump update.

Well the time is winding down but this little girl is not. She is moving and shaking her way into position. I am due 11-18-13 but the way I have been feeling and the pressure I have no idea if I will make it that far. It seems so far away but I know it's not. We still need to finish up some projects and I know I need to pack a bag for the hospital ( that's seems so scary to me). Mark has already said he would put the hazard lights on and drive 90mph to the hospital for us if need be. To me to sounds like any excuse to do that. But I love him and all of his crazy ideas. I feel like little miss has dropped no idea if that's what it looks like to others but wow I am SO ready. I have hit the annoying part of pregnancy when everything aches and you can't get comfortable.

Where does the time go.

WOW time does fly!!! I can't believe that in about 30 days or less, Mark and I will have a new little bundle of joy!! I swear the other day we were just finding out what we are having. We are almost ready for her to get here. The room is starting to come together. Luckily we still have some time left to do the last minute details. I have a sneaky suspicion that little Miss is SO gonna make a early appearance. But hopefully not til after November 1st.

Countdown...............

According to my calculations and my due date (11-18-13) I should have 60 days more to go before the BIG day!! I am getting excited and slightly nervous. But at the same time I have this funny feeling that this little girl is going to be coming early! And if that's the case then I have less than 60 days to go. YIKES!!!!! I find out next week at my last ultrasound how big this little girl is  and hopefully get to see some 3d images of her. I know I can sure feel her, she is a kicker. In the next 60 days a lot is happening there will be 2 baby showers and one wedding to attend, on top of work events and football games. Mark and I have a lot to get done but I bet some how we will manage and get it done before she gets here. (Knock on wood)

10 weeks to go......YIKES!!!

Well here is a picture of the baby bump. It's not a huge one but its there. And let me tell ya I can totally feel her moving ALL the time. I swear she is trying out for a indoor soccer team. The doctor said that we are doing GREAT and that everything is looking good. I am 30 weeks today. Which is slightly scary cause that means I only have 10 more Mondays to go. I don't know if I am ready for that. I know my house isn't ready for her yet. We have no furniture for her yet or a car seat. I told myself after this wedding I would start to put everything together. Mark keeps telling me to wait til after the baby showers little does he know I like to be prepared and its kinda driving me nuts we aren't there yet. He is WAY too calm about this all but I got to love him!