35 Weeks

This past weekend was mission prepare for the baby - which translates to - I didn't take ANY pictures - oops...All I have on my camera are these two shots when Heidi decided to play picnic with her leftover party supplies. It was pretty entertaining.

Saturday I went shopping for all that baby crap you need - from diapers and wipes to baby gas drops and lotion. I forget how expensive these little boogers are! BUT  - I feel a lot better and feel more prepared! Chris and Heidi had a daddy-daughter date and saw the movie Brave - Chris said it was good and Heidi enjoyed it - even the scary parts.

Sunday Chris smoked some chicken - that was delicious and I put away the tons of baby clothes we have. We have so many clothes from size 0 to 6 months! They don't even all fit into the dresser! The baby room is put together and we are one step closer.

Chris also put together our new baby swing - its very nice and I am excited to use it. He still has his "to do" list and is slowly hacking away at it. He gets to do things like put the car seat bases in cars, put the car seat back together, set up the pack in play etc. Next up on my "to do" list is packing the hospital bag - which my doctor told me today I should get done - we will get to that in a moment. But we are actually preparing for this kid...now if we could just decide on a name...

I had my doctor's appointment today - everything looks great. I did gain two pounds - but honestly - I looked at the scale and it was only a pound and a half - plus I was wearing tennis shoes. :) Not to over share, but I also had my first "check" for progress. I was a little caught off guard - I guess I didn't realize how close I'm getting and since this is my second one, the checks start a week early. I am 1 cm dilated and the head is right there. She said the baby is in perfect position. I do know from two weeks ago where they took the baby's heartbeat on my belly - I was a good three inches lower. It's not like they are moving my due date up or anything, but maybe a slight part of me believes I won't go to my due date - just because for once - mainly for work - I want to go full term.

I don't go back to the doctor for two more weeks - I should go every week - but already made the appointment for two weeks out prior and she said I'm fine to stay with that. Its sinking in a little more that the days are numbered and maybe we should get all those "to do" done so we can do some last minute activities like a zoo trip or something.

I will try to take more pictures this week - like there is a slight chance we will be attending the Cow Appreciate Day at Chick-fil-A on Friday... If you dress up like a cow - you eat for free... hmmm...

The Weekend and 34 Weeks

We had a great weekend. Saturday I said I wanted to do something and "do" something we did. First we went to the Memphis Kiddie Park since we had leftover tickets from last time. It really is perfect for Heidi. The tickets are really the gift that keeps on giving, we STILL have some leftover...

 Here is the preggo belly in full action... wow I'm sexy.

Stop number 2 was to find the best ice cream in the nation... I guess this place called Jeni's Ice Cream has been voted the number one ice cream in the nation as well as a flavor was featured on that show The Best Thing I Ever Ate. We figured out there was a store in Chagrin Falls - so off we went. I have to admit, it did not disappoint. I had one flavor that was suppose to be the Milkiest Chocolate in the World and it was awesome - then I went out on a limb and had their Bangkok Peanut - I have never had an ice cream that changed flavors as it hit parts of your tongue. It went from honey to coconut to peanut to cayenne pepper. It was amazing. If you ever come across Jeni's ice cream - TRY IT! Heidi loved hers too!

While in Chagrin Falls, we received an invite from some friends to meet them at the Bay Village Carnival. I did not take any pictures - too busy chatting and playing games. Plus by that point - it was HOT HOT HOT outside. I do know Heidi managed to get three new stuffed animals and a blow up hammer - I did try to take a picture of her stuffing her loot into a bag in the car. Wondering how the preggo lady did after a busy day - yes - I think I was asleep by 8:30 pm - thank you very much. :)

Sunday we had some goals set:

• Heidi: Play outside all day - check
• Chris: Smoke some meat - check
• Me: Wash baby clothes, write up my to do lists, buy lists and pack lists for the baby and actually start to try to pick a name - all CHECK! 

Sorry - no pictures really - we were too busy! But it was a perfect day to get some things done while relaxing. I did snap some pictures of the pile of pre-washed baby clothes and Heidi in her new clip on earrings she got at the kiddie park. She wore the earrings all day - but don't worry - she will NOT be getting her ears pierced anytime soon!

Here is a quick picture of the finished product - Beef brisket and then some beef tips/burnt ends - man those things were soo good - I was eating them like popcorn. For being new to smoking, Chris is sure pulling some nice meat!

The baby - yes honestly no name - still called Ooo-Fah is doing great. I had a check up last Monday and have another one this coming Monday. Oh the land of forever doctor appointments. I just wish my doctor ran on time, but I think in the land of OB/GYN, that isn't an option. I actually didn't gain any weight this last 5 weeks, but I'm growing and my doctor was perfectly happy with that. I'm measuring right on target and everything looks good.

Heidi took the picture of me below - it isn't the most becoming picture of me - but at this point - I don't care. :) I finished my last physical therapy appointment today. I feel tremendously better but it isn't solved. I, at least, have the tools and exercises to strengthen my muscles around my joint as much as possible. I have also been taught what to avoid doing and how to move to help minimize any pain. I hope I keep improving and after the baby comes, I won't have to have anything done to my hip! Keep your fingers crossed!

I actually received sympathy from the doctor too - I know *gasp* what a concept. She was asking me if I felt if this baby was the same size, bigger, smaller than Heidi and I told her I couldn't compare. I carried Heidi so low and wide (go back to an old blog - 2008 - I think around April or May and you will get a 34 week picture) and this baby is all high and up in my ribs. She felt the baby and was like - "Wow - she really is in your ribs - that has to be painful at times. yikes! You will be happy when she starts to descend. I feel bad for you." I'm like - wow - really???

This weekend we will begin shopping for all the items we need - hey - I have a list done now. We hopefully will narrow our names down a little more as well. I have about 6 weeks left... that is going to go quickly! Or slowly... it depends on how prepared I am - if we get all prepared - the time will crawl - if we don't - it will be here fast.

Happy Birthday Chris!

Happy Birthday Chris! His birthday week went well. Thursday we opened presents, ate some wings and ate some cake. Heidi, I think, was more excited to open presents than Chris was. She was more than happy to "help" open them... 

She picked out this card herself - It totally says from your Smart-Ass Kid...she doesn't know...

His big present from us was a smoker - he has been asking for one or thinking about getting one for a long time. I decided to be sold by a Home Depot person and bought a smoker and a whole bunch of crap to go with it. It isn't the nicest one out there - but we figure have him get his feet wet with smoking meat prior to really investing in a real nice one.

I wanted to get Chris a special cake and drove through rush hour traffic to Little Italy to get this cake... Unfortunately - it didn't taste as good as it looked - but lesson learned there. I still believe it was better than anything I could have whipped up!

Chris took Friday off for his birthday and his "to do" list included eating a Slyman's corn beef sandwich (which I joined him on), drink beer at the Westside Market and eat a key lime shake - I don't know if he ever got the shake or not. We did manage to get a free meal at Fat Head's that night... how you ask? Well have a waitress spill an entire beer on you that you didn't order. She was setting it down and it slipped out of her hand. Not only was I literally covered from my hair to my shoes (and in my eyes) - but I also got glass, lots of shards of glass covering me too. I'm thankful Heidi wasn't sitting next to me. In all my years - I have never had so much beer spilled on me and that includes college! There wasn't even that much on the table! Nothing like being pregnant and smelling like old beer. As the waitress stood there in shock, Chris reminded her I wanted ROOT BEER not a beer and then I stood up to help get some glass off me and I think she realized I was pregnant... yep. We love Fat Heads and it really was an accident and they handled it correctly. But NOT the way I want to be on my Friday night. I should really rethink eating out on Friday nights - its not going well for me! :)

Saturday Chris wanted to take a mini trip to Columbus to see their German Village... well... I wouldn't call it a German Village or even a block - everything was spread out like crazy and not what we expected. We did find a fudge house and ate at a good German restaurant. Heidi didn't know the difference and had fun...would we go again....um, not so much...

 I tried to get Heidi to take a nice picture with me - I guess she is in her goofy face phase...

Today was let's smoke some MEAT! Heidi and Chris have been outside all day and it literally smells like a camp fire around here. Heidi had a blast playing all day in water and sand. She is such a goofball!

I let Brew outside finally - don't quite trust a going blind dog around a hot smoker... but he sniffed the air and bee-lined it for Chris' beer... Brewski might be blind but he can always find beer!

Heidi wanted to also play with her baseball toy she received for her birthday. Its very entertaining watching her try to hit the balls.

 She actually hit one!!!

Chris is doing a good job at his first round of smoking meat. I think he realizes its a little harder than originally thought, but I think it looks pretty darn good. Now...we need to taste it...

 Happy Birthday Chris!