35 Weeks!

How far along? 35 weeks!

Due Date: February 3, 2011

Total weight gain/loss: -1 this week, oddly enough, so +22 total.

Maternity clothes? Oh yes. I even had to buy a few things

in larger sizes recently to get me through the next 5ish weeks.

Sleep: Some nights are great, others are terrible.. it just depends.

Best moment this week: Celebrating Christmas with my family!

This week has been just awesome, being off of work

and spending time with the people I love.

Movement: All the time! He does seem to be running out of room,

so the movements are usually smallish and sort of bumpy.

I do still feel the occasional big kick or stretch, though.

Food cravings: Pineapple.. yum!

Food aversions: Still not loving peppermint.

 
Gender: It's a boy!

Labor Signs: I am having contractions on a daily basis now,

but they're never consistent enough for me to time them.

Belly Button in or out? Still in, but it's shallow.

What I miss: Not feeling aches and pains all the time..

my hips feel so awful when I get out of bed each morning!

What I am looking forward to: My shower tomorrow, 

and the opportunity to ring in the new year with my family

before they head back to Michigan.

  

Milestones: Today is 35/35 - I am 35 weeks and have 35 days

left until my due date. Crazy!

 

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34 Week Update

How far along? 34 weeks

Due Date: February 3, 2011

Total weight gain/loss: +23 according to the doctor's scale.

Maternity clothes? All maternity, all the time.

Sleep: Not so great.. but when I do sleep, I sleep deeply.

Best moment this week: Getting to hear my little boy's heartbeat

at yesterday's appointment, and finding out that we'll see him
on ultrasound again in a couple weeks.

Movement: It's like a 24/7 party in there.

Food cravings: Anything sweet, pretty much. Salty is nice, too.

Food aversions: I'm not so much into peppermint these days.
Even at Christmas! I used to love the stuff, too.

 
Gender: It's a boy!

Labor Signs: Still having occasional BH contractions,
but they are few and far between.

Belly Button in or out? Still in.

What I miss: Quality sleep.

What I am looking forward to: Christmas!!!

  

Milestones: Starting with my next appointment on 1/6,

we'll be going in once a week to check up on baby and me.

I can't believe we're already to this point! We're almost there. :)

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Stream of Consciousness

Can you believe there are only FIVE days until Christmas?

And that I'll finally get to see my family

(for the first time this entire pregnancy)

in just FOUR days? Ahh!

I always feel like a little kid this time of year,

but this Christmas is particularly special, for obvious reasons.

My only regret is that I can't see my big, huge, extended family

in Michigan and give each and every one of them a hug.

Don't you just get the warm fuzzies at Christmas?

I know I do.

Especially when I have such a sweet husband

and a little one on the way.

I love both my boys so much, even though

I haven't met one of them in person yet!

Yesterday morning, I woke up around 6 am

for my second bathroom trip since going to bed.

I guess my fidgeting woke Justin up too,

because when I came back to bed,

he snuggled sweetly with me, and with my belly.

I cherish these days so much!

We ended up talking about our baby,

about the dreams we'd had during the night,

and about who knows what else,

until forty-five minutes had passed, and we knew

that we might as well get out of bed.

We went to church and then ran a few errands,

and somehow ended up swinging by Baskin Robbins

for a little treat. :) My husband ordered some sort of

chocolate peanut butter ice cream conconction,

and I asked for two scoops of peppermint ice cream

in a waffle cone.

The lady running the drive-thru was apparently confused,

because she gave me TWO waffle cones, each with one scoop.

Instead of making a fuss about it, the two of us just laughed.

And laughed. And laughed some more.

As we drove toward home, ice cream cones in hand,

Justin looked over at me with my two pink ice cream-filled waffle cones,

laughed again, and said, "You're one happy pregnant lady, aren't you?"

Indeed, I was.

I may or may not have eaten one and a half of my two cones.

That was my limit, though. It upset my tummy a bit,

and all I was able to eat for dinner was some plain Chex cereal.

Is it bad that I think it was still worth it, though?

Well, anyway.

For now, I'm off to get some work done --

if I can find any work to do, that is. :)

 Just two more work days after today,

and I'll be on Christmas break.

Hurry up, Santa! I'm ready for you!

More to come...

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33 Week Update

How far along? 33 weeks!

Due Date: February 3, 2011

Total weight gain/loss: Still +22 lbs. No gain this week!

Maternity clothes? Yep! I actually have a couple tops coming

in larger sizes to last me through 'til the end.

Sleep: Still uncomfortable.. some nights are great,

others are miserable. I guess it depends on how tired I am,

how much my little boy is moving around, and how often I have to pee.

Best moment this week: Seeing Colin roll around in there...

I was even able to get a good video clip with my cell phone

one particular night, when he was being really active!

Original Video - More videos at TinyPic

Movement: All the time.

Food cravings: I could use a good latte.. it's been a while.

Food aversions: None really.

 
Gender: It's a boy!

Labor Signs: Just the occasional BH contraction.

Belly Button in or out? Still in.

What I miss: Pants that fit comfortably. :)

What I am looking forward to: Christmas break.

There are definitely some perks to working for a University.

Just 3 1/2 more work days left this year!

 
Milestones: My due date is 7 weeks from today. Wow!

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Christmas fun!

If you're looking for a fun time waster,

look no further. Presenting: my latest mindless addiction:

CLICK ME! 

I hope everyone is having a wonderful December.

My holiday countdown has already begun...

7 work days 'til holiday break,

11 days 'til I see my family again,

and only 12 days 'til Christmas!! Woohoo!

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32 Weeks!

How far along? 32 weeks!

Due Date: February 3, 2011

Total weight gain/loss: +22 lbs according to the scale

at the OB's office. But, I did eat a huge Mexican dinner last night. :)

Maternity clothes? Oh my, yes.

Sleep: Still doing a lot of tossing and turning,

and little Colin likes to kick me at random times

in the middle of the night. Oddly enough, though,

I'm never too tired to get through the day.

Maybe I just need less sleep right now for some reason.

Best moment this week: Hearing my little one's heartbeat this morning,

and actually getting to HEAR him kick. He was not too thrilled
with the nurse who was pushing on my belly
quite a bit with the doppler wand. Ha!

Movement: Lately, he's been quiet some days, but this morning

he's a little wiggleworm.

Food cravings: I still love spicy foods, but now it gives me heartburn.

Thank goodness for Tums!

Food aversions: None at the moment.

 
Gender: It's a boy!

Labor Signs: I think I've had a couple more

Braxton Hicks contractions, but they're not too bad.

Belly Button in or out? It is definitely getting more shallow.

What I miss: Sleep.

What I am looking forward to: Getting our maternity photos back!

 
Milestones: I am officially in my 8th month now.

We're getting close! :)

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World's Best Banana Bread Muffins

Have I ever mentioned that I have the best husband ever?

Well, in case I haven't, I do.

Yesterday, he went and did the grocery shopping

while he was off and I was at work,

and he picked up 3 almost-rotten bananas

(which, of course, were dirt cheap).

He had banana bread in mind,

but last week, I made some pretty delicious banana muffins.

Last night, he started to pull together the ingredients

for those muffins, but we realized at the last minute

that we didn't have quite enough oil.

So, we made a modification and used half oil,

and half melted butter, and let me tell you...

I am so glad we did!

I also need to brag on my hubby and say that

he whipped this batter up himself,

which was easy - even for a non-baker -

because this is a one-bowl recipe. How cool is that?

So, without further ado, our new favorite muffin recipe.

Banana Bread Muffins

Ingredients

• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 3 very ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 teaspoon baking soda

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350. Place muffin cups in muffin tin, or grease with a little butter.
2. Mix sugar, oil, butter and egg until creamy and light yellow. Add bananas and mix well. Add flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir until completely smooth. Spoon batter into muffin tin.
3. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, (or, if you're using a dark & heavy muffin pan, like I did, only about 25-27 minutes) until toothpick poked in center muffin comes out clean.

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For my fellow moms-to-be, and anyone else who is interested...

I just wanted to share this cool illustration of the changes we pregnant ladies go through. I have watched it sporadically throughout this pregnancy, and it is always so cool to see which "stage" my body is currently in. Isn't it amazing the way our bodies are made to do this? Try telling me there isn't a God - I won't believe you. :)

Click here to see something awesome!

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31 Week Update

How far along? 31 weeks.

Due Date: February 3, 2011

Total weight gain/loss: I was up 19 lbs at the last weigh-in.

Maternity clothes? Goodness yes.

Some of my maternity tops are even

starting to ride up now. Yikes!

Sleep: Some nights are better than others.

Two things are certain, though:

1. I will get up to pee at least once per night.

2. I will wake up feeling like I've been hit by a bus.

Best moment this week: This week has been

somewhat uneventful, but I do so love it

when my little boy starts to kick and roll,

and I take a moment every now and then

to put my hands on my belly and feel him.

Movement: 24/7!

Food cravings: Nothing in particular... but man,

my diet has definitely not been so healthy lately.

I blame it on the holiday season.

Food aversions: I hate to say it, but I think

my love for Eggo waffles is wearing thin.

I've been eating them for breakfast

at least twice a week for the past few months,

and now I think I'm ready to switch back to cereal.

 
Gender: It's a boy - Colin Justin Vaughan.

Labor Signs: Nope, nada!

Belly Button in or out? Still in, but slightly less deep.

What I miss: Sleeping comfortably,

and not having hip/nerve pain.

What I am looking forward to: The mini photo shoot

we have scheduled for Sunday afternoon,

and my next doctor's appointment,

which is a week from today.

We only have one more OB to meet before

we can decide who we're going to stick with.

Also, I always look forward

to hearing Colin's heartbeat. :)

 
Milestones: Exactly 9 weeks left

until my due date... that's just crazy!

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