37th Mommy Mondays

Pregnancy Update
I feel like I've been complaining a lot lately. I just feel like she's RIGHT THERE, about to just pop out any moment. The last 2 days, her movements have been painful again because she's been moving her hands or her head - all the body parts that are under my belly button. My next appt. is Tuesday and I better be dilated or I'll cry. Plus I'm hoping they'll say she's like right there and maybe I could have her that day. Better not get my hopes up like last time though. I'll be really upset if she's still in side me by Friday because then she'll be later than my son was....just kill me know if that happens.


I think I'm scared about contracting a lot - I'd rather have my water break so maybe that's why I haven't tried to make the contractions come so much.

Saturday night I had hard contractions every 10-15 minutes for 2 hours and then they stopped.
I want her to come when she's ready, but this pregnancy has been so much harder than with my first. I really enjoyed my first pregnancy.

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"Funner" stuff....
We worked on some Counting games, books and file folder games with our son this weekend. They have these cool themed kits at our library. My 2 year old (2 1/2 end of May) is really getting the hang of one to one correspondence. He's so smart! (All parents say that though). One of the file folder games is counting dots on hearts and then matching that to the number. He has trouble pointing to ones that have a lot of dots like 10 because he recounts some of them or skips some of them, but other than that he does so good. I definitely need to make that file folder game.
Apparently he also knows what the numbers 2 and 5 look like. We thought he knew the number 3 too, but started messing that one up after the first 2 times he had it right. He hasn't been so interested in learning his letters so I guess we'll work on numbers more.

Anyone have any good links to FILE FOLDER GAMES for toddlers? I've found some, but not too many that I've liked. Also any LDS ones would be awesome too!
My son had been obsessed with Bubbles this weekend. What are some things that your kids can't get enough of?

Fashionable Fridays #42 - Paint that Nail

Welcome Kristyn from Paint that Nail for another Fashionable Fridays!

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Thank you for letting me do these posts for you! Today I am showing how to do these flowers. They are two colored flowers, and on my ring finger I added a little design. 

First put a base coat on your nails. Then paint a base color: I chose a pink which is one coat of SinfulColors- Easy Going and then two coats of Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure- Shrimply Devine.

Next I made five dots you could use a bobby pin or a tooth pick if you wanted. I used a white nail polish which was SinfulColors- Snow Me White.

Then I put smaller yellow dots next to the white dots, but a little more into the flower. If you are using a bobby pin, put more nail polish and pressure on the bobby pin than opposite if you want smaller dots. I chose a yellow which was Sally Hansen Inst-Dri- lightning.

Next I dragged them into the middle with a tooth pick, but you want to make sure the dots are tacky so by the time you do your one hand, with both colored dots it will be ready to drag.

 

Then I chose a color to go in the middle which was Borghese- Belissima Rose. 

Lastly I added a swirl design on my ring fingers using two Stripe Rites that you can get at Sally's Beauty Supply, but you can use Acrylic paint with a really small paint brush, or you could try a tooth pick. Also If you have an old eye liner brush that could work.

Make sure to add a top coat to make the nail polish last longer, and keep it nice and shiny!

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I love these! So cute and springy! What beautiful colors you combined too. Love the swirl too on the one finger. Thanks Kristyn!

Sprinkles and a Shower

Here's 2 Sprinkles I threw for 2 of my friends in March and then my baby shower.


SPRINKLE

I made these centerpiece "diaper cakes."

Here's the table of food and the other side: prizes.
One friend did the scones and the veggie tray
The guest of honor did the fruit dip and bean dip
I brought the fruit, chips, and lemonade

We ate some food first and then we played some games:
Tray Memory Game full of baby items

Name the Price game - we took the same tray of items and they had to guess the price of each item to get a grand total.

Since the guest of honor and a friend helped out with the sprinkle, I had some other gifts for the guest: the big flower decorations too with her along with the little vases of flowers so she could decorate Baby's room that she'll be sharing with her big brother. The colors will all coordinate with what she has already. Plus I gave her some items from the tray game like a cute baby hat with flower.


SPRINKLE
Then for my other friend, it was more of a girls' night to pamper the Mom. So fun!

We started cooking the pizza and bread sticks, set out the rest of the food, and organized the activities and prizes.

First we ate food. Papa Murphy's pizza, breadsticks, Wheat Thins and spinach dip, fruit and yogurt/Cool Whip dip, pumpkin cookies, M&M cookies and brownies along with Crystal Light (she bought especially for me).
We played 2 games: All About the Guest of Honor and then a Tray Memory game full of hygiene and grooming products.

Lastly we did....
FACIALS - I figured this picture was okay to put up since you probably wouldn't be able to recognize anyone with their masks on =D
We look awesome huh! We did these clay masks. My face felt really soft after.

 Since the guest helped so much with her own sprinkle, I splurged and bought her some pajama sets (they were on sale at Kohls and I had 30% off). She had been talking about getting some so she had something cute and comfy to wear in the hospital after labor.
Everyone didn't end up leaving until about 11pm because we were having so much fun.


SHOWER
After my friend's sprinkle/girls' night the night before, the next day she hosted my baby shower.

Here are the decorations and food

 

We played several games: the first one was measuring my tummy with string. Then we played what traits the baby would have.and my answers were the "correct" ones that people had to match up. The next one was nursery rhymes and then the last one was Bingo with the presents. Then we also raffled off some Jamba Juice cards to those who brought diapers, wipes, or frozen dinners.

Then we ate the yummy food (we waited because the Chicken Croissants were still cooking) -
Crystal Light Raspberry Kiwi Drink (0 Carbs!)
Veggie Tray
Cookies
Fruit Tray
Spinach Dip and Crackers
7 Layer Dip and Chips
Chicken Croissants
Strawberry Cupcakes

Then since some people had to leave early, I started opening presents and just kept going with them....people were so generous or they love shopping for baby girls =D

All the presents - this baby girl is spoiled!!! I can't wait to dress her up in all her cute clothes. My favorites were the Blessing Dress (now I don't have to try and alter that other white dress that I have) and the Vinyl Sign. I love when people make crafty things for me!

36th Mommy Mondays

My mom called me earlier this week to say they're not coming anymore in May to see the baby (because tickets cost $500 right now and they just went to the Philippines earlier this month to see my mom's family - all of her family are in the Philippines so she deserved to go to that. Be lucky if you have family with less than a day's drive to get to you) My in-laws were here just two weeks ago because they had spring break - everyone will be working so it will be hard for them to come back out (our families live in the Chicago area) ....so I've got no one to help me. Now that may not be a big deal to some people, but I cried when I got off the phone with her. I was able to keep my voice steady with her and later with my MIL about it, but inside it really hurts. I think it's more of a big deal because I have gestational diabetes and I've been in so much pain with this pregnancy. If this baby is big and they have to cut me or I tear, this will be super hard for me to take care of the baby and my 2 year old son without help. My husband eventually will take 2 weeks off, but he can't just do that right away - he has to give them some notice.
Plus I miss my mom. When I had my son, she just went to work helping me - she didn't even need to ask me where anything was. She just found it. Plus my mom has some unique meals - nothing too exciting, but good for me. I don't know when we'll be able to see our families again. Last time we saw my family was in July. Maybe that means we need to move to the Chicago area - that would be so nice.

Once I got my crying out, I decided to work on making some frozen meals for after the baby is born. My husband took me to the store, and we bought a lot of ingredients to make several different meals and then Wal-mart too. Also we bought some things to be ready for when the baby comes like some NB diapers, nursing pads, bottles (so my husband can help feed sometimes), pacifiers for later (if she just likes to suck a lot like my son did, we'll be giving it to her after she's a few weeks old), baby girl mittens, some medicine for me, etc. That's the one good thing with the 2nd - you feel like you know what baby basics you need so less time later trying to buy it all. Then I don't have to send my husband to the store, and he can be with us.

I felt somewhat better after having some more meals prepared. I made some hashbrown casseroles: ground beef with cream of mushroom, seasoning, mixed veggies and hashbrowns on top. Then I made Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole: http://wardrecipes.blogspot.com/2010/05/cheesy-chicken-and-rice-casserole.html Once I make more room in the freezer, I'd like to make some Baked Potato Soup: http://wardrecipes.blogspot.com/2010/11/baked-potato-soup.html and Chicken Enchiladas: http://wardrecipes.blogspot.com/2010/05/easy-chicken-enchiladas.html . Broulims had a deal with their family size lasagna, garlic bread and a 2 Liter of Pop for $10.99 so I have that too. I'm really grateful to my friend  for making us 3 freezer meals and some cookie dough too - that helps so much! Plus my other friend  gave me canned chicken noodle soup (I guess you just add noodles to it) and then canned applesauce. She doesn't like the applesauce she made because it's too thick, but my son and I sure love it.


Maybe this will teach me to ask for help, but it sure is hard too when all my other friends are having their babies too. My landlord and neighbor said she'd come over and spend the night if needed - it was so great to hear that from her. I had planned to ask her, but now I don't have to. Hopefully now they'll pick up their phone. =D We're pretty much ready for the baby to come now. Car seat in the car, baby clothes and blankets all washed and put away, crib set up, frozen dinner meals made, my son's schedule written up, phone numbers/contacts to watch our son all set, and hospital bag packed and in the car.

What do you do to get ready for baby?
Those who have multiple children, did you always have help after a new one was born?

Fashionable Fridays #41

Happy April Fool's Day! Thinking about telling people my water broke...... what pranks do you plan on playing today?



I'm 36 weeks now and in my 9 month. Here's what I've looked like each month.

8 weeks - 2 months

12 weeks - 3 months

16 weeks - 4 months

20 weeks - 5 months

24 weeks - 6 months

27 1/2 weeks - almost 7 months

32 weeks - 8 months

36 weeks - 9 months

Black sure is deceiving to how big I am! I weigh 12 lbs. less than I did with my son at this point, but I'm 2 inches bigger around - yeah more stretch marks.