New Year's Resolutions

Every year I make New Year's Resolutions. This year, I am going to make them and keep a copy of them with me at all times to track my progress.

1. Be the best mother/wife that I can be. Every day I grow to love and cherish my family more and more. I want Jeff and Matt to know how much I care about them every day.

2. Be more positive. I have slowly, but surely been working towards eliminating negative energy in my life.

3. Get back in pre-baby shape by June. Don't we all have this on our list?

4. Read two books/month. I love reading and want to branch out from my normal reading material.

5. Take one calculated risk per month. Eleanor Roosevelt said that you should do one thing that scares you every day. I don't know if I can do that each day, but I am going to do something that scares me once per month. Try a new fashion trend, join the "advanced" yoga class, do something outside of my comfort zone.

I am going to start with these five things. I hope by devoting time and energy to them, it will make me a better person. I want 2009 to be a year of transition and change for me. I will be embarking on a new career, it will be my first year if motherhood, and if all goes according to plan Jeff and I will find a house. Happy New Year Everyone!

Matthew 2 Months

Matthew had his two-month appointment yesterday. He is 13 lbs 8 oz. and 24" long! I cannot believe how fast he is growing. He is in the 70th percentile for height and weight. The doctor said and I quote, "He is a little angel and developing perfectly." Poor little guy received his vaccines. I almost cried with him later in the evening! His little legs were sore!

Matthew has also started smiling in response to Jeff or me talking to him. It is the most wonderful sight I have ever seen. Mr. Serious is transitioning to Mr. Smiles. I will post pictures soon! I left my camera at my parent's house. Stay tuned...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Chaos

Wow...I have had one hell of a start to my week. I ran around running errands ALL morning and only managed to get ONE thing done...and what was that? I lost my cell phone. It is dead, so the liklihood of me finding it is very slim. Dang this baby brain...I think I might be officially losing my sharp edge. I spent the last hour packing. Jeff and I move on Saturday. I did not realize how overwhelmed I would feel. Ay yi yi.

Oh, and as I was just typing that...Matthew spit up ALL over. What a day, what a day.

Tale End of a Smile...

6 Weeks!!!

Look at how much my little baby has grown! He looks like a little boy! Matthew was weighed last Sunday at the hospital - 12 lbs! Whoa. He is such a good baby. He sleeps through the night - 11:00PM to 6:00AM and has started smiling! He is such a blessing in my life and I am the happiest mommy in the world!

Angels Watching Over Us

Yesterday, God gave our family a wakeup call. Jeff and I were in the truck with Matthew when we hit a patch of ice. The truck spun out of control, went in the ditch, and hit a bank covered in snow. I was unbuckled climbing in the backseat to comfort Matthew when we hit. I shielded him from the objects that flew in the air. When I opened my eyes, there was broken glass in my hair and my precious baby looking around as if the scene that surrounded him was perfectly normal. My heart sunk. I stirred him a little to make sure he was alright. Then, I closed my eyes and thanked God for keeping him safe.

Jeff and I walked away with a few bumps, large bruises, and scrapes. All in all, more emotionally bruised than physically. I cried tears of fear and joy as I climbed out of the truck. I rushed to Jeff and hugged him tight.

Whenever something like this happens, I look inside and ask myself what God is trying to teach me. So far I came up with this...

- To cherish each and every moment with my family. My boys deserve the best wife and mother in the world, and I am going to make sure that I am just that for them.

- Having a healthy, happy baby is a priveledge, not to be taken for granted. In the past 6 weeks, I have longed for a full night's sleep. Last night, I woke up with Matthew and enjoyed every second of it. Our night-time feedings are a blessing, not a chore. I get to wake up with him every night and that is something to be thankful for.

- The small things truly don't matter. At the hospital, I thought about the times during the weekend that I was not very nice to Jeff. I got upset, because he was a little slow to get moving Saturday morning...he cracked my workout DVD so I was irritated...all things that in the grand scheme of things do not matter. I vow to treat my husband with more tenderness every day. Jeff is a very loving and special man. He is not only my husband, but my very best friend. From now on, I am going to be someone who can laugh off the small things the way that Jeff does.

As I sit here with Matthew in my arms, I count my blessings and thank God over and over for keeping us safe. We had our guardian angels by our side, and I thank them too. I know that as time goes by, this memory will fade, but I am going to keep Matthew's tiny hospital anklet close by to remind me of this day...however terrible it was, because I know that it will remind me to treat my husband and my child as the precious gifts that they are each and every day of my life.

Tummy Time!

Update

Matthew has slept through the night THREE nights in a row! YEAH! Last night, he slept from 11:00PM to 7:00AM...mommy feels good today!

Matthew 5 1/2 Weeks

Matthew is now sleeping from the time we put him to bed until 5:15 AM, when Jeff gets up. He is also staying away for longer periods of time, which is really exciting for me! Every day we have "tummy time," so that Matthew's muscles will grow strong. It is so much fun see my little boy develop each week. I love motherhood!

Zzzzzz

Last night, Jeff informed me was going to be "THE" night. I smirked and told him that he thinks EVERY night is going to be "THE" night. To my surprise, it was! Matthew slept through the night!!! Although I am not fully convinced that this has become his new sleep pattern, it was really nice to get an uninterupted night's sleep.

I am thankful for...

1. The men in my life...Matthew and Jeff!
2. My family
3. Good food/wine
4. That 75% of my baby weight is gone
5. That Matthew is ALMOST sleeping through the night! WHOO!

One Month Old!

I can't believe my baby is one month old already! He has grown so much over the past few weeks. Here is a picture of daddy and Matthew snoozing. How cute!

Baby Shower for Charlotte!

Over the weekend was my sister-in-law Angie's baby shower. Angie is due to have a little girl, Charlotte Rose, in early January. I had so much fun helping to plan the shower! I can't wait to meet my little neice...just a few more weeks!

WELCOMING ADDISON MARIE BYRD!

My cousin Lisa gave birth to a healthy baby girl today! I am so excited for her and her husband Chris. Addison is adorable! Matthew can't wait to meet his new little cousin.

Bedtime Lineup

I think Jeff and I have found the perfect recipe for putting Mathew to bed. Here is our nightly routine.

- Bottle of formula (supplementing breastmilk with formula will help baby sleep longer, since it is more filling).

- Nightly Bath - Matthew loves bathtime and the warm water puts him in sleepy mode.

- A pair of snuggly fleece pajamas. He loves his pj's!

- Story and prayers.

- Swaddle with receiving blanket or swaddler.

- Ocean waves CD. This relaxing sound reminds baby of being in the womb and lulled Matthew right to sleep!

It was our first night of waking up only once! Ahhh....it was so nice.

First Time in the Tub!

Matthew's First Bath

Awww...poor baby

Matthew's First Video Debut!

Jeff and I received a new video camera from my parents for our birthdays. Today we are playing around with all of the features. Here is Matthew's first home video!!! Note when I tell him to say hello the second time, his little hand waves...how cute!

Eek!

I just found out about the most amazing gadget EVER! The new Amazon Kindle. You can download books, periodicals, and magazines right to this device for reading. You don't even have to hook it up to your computer to do so! The Kindle works like a cell phone...only when you purchase it there are NO contracts, no monthly fees, etc.

One concern of mine was that I hate reading on a screen. However, this gizmo has such a hi-def screen it mimics the pages of an actual book. YEAH! I HAVE to have this item for Christmas. I already purchased one for someone in my life. No names mentioned in case that someone reads my blog!

And another one...

I had to share one more picture! He looks so much like Jeff! Ah! He may look like his daddy, but he sure acts like his momma...#1 He is content as long as he is fed #2 He is very serious #3 He is very intelligent (Ha! I had to throw that one in there).

Three Weeks

Matthew Richard is now three weeks old! He is adorable as ever. He is really starting to look like a little boy and less like a baby. He HATES to be naked...haha. Any time we change his outfit he immediately gets upset.

We took our first trip to the mall today to go Christmas shopping. I brought Matthew to my favorite hot spots...the M.A.C. counter in Nordstrom and Metropark (new boutique that my sister Tina loves!). Everyone gushed over how adorable he is! I am a biased opinion...momma always thinks her baby looks cute!

Two Weeks

Well, my little Matthew is growing up so fast and he is only two weeks old! Over the past week, Matthew has gained a pound and grown 1/4"! I can't believe it!

Happy Birthday Honey!

I love my husband Jeff so much. I am very lucky to have married one of the most intelligent and sweet men that I have ever known. With the birth of our son, Jeff has revealed to me a new reason to love him even more. Before Matthew was born, Jeff had never changed a diaper and could count on one hand the number of times that he had held an infant. Over the past two weeks, I have seen Jeff morph into "Super Dad."
He is so loving, patient, and naturally gifted at being a good parent. Matthew could not have been blessed with a better father. I love watching Jeff hold and care for Matthew. It has given me yet another reason to admire Jeff!!

And so on this day, I would like to wish my amazing husband the happiest birthday yet! XOXO!

One Week Old

Here is an update on baby Matthew. He is one week old! I can't believe that a whole week has gone by already. My little man is growing up so much. He weighed 7 lbs 4 oz. at his pediatrician appointment. After losing a little weight in the hospital, he is on the upswing...I wish my baby could stay this little for a little longer.

Here is Jeff doing a little Sudoku with Matthew watching. Haha. I thought this was a cute pic!

Announcing Matthew Richard Burch!

Jeff and I have a new addition to our family! Matthew Richard Burch was born yesterday October 24, 2008 at 7:05PM. He weighed in at a nice 7 lbs. 6 oz. and measured 20 1/2 inches in length. He is the perfect baby!

Thursday at 4:00 AM I started having contractions. I called the doctor, but he said it was very normal to have contractions that come and go as a woman approaches her due date. So...I carried on as normal. I even went to school! That evening my conractions got more intense, but still had no regular pattern. After a sleepless night, Jeff and I decided to go to the hospital. I suspected that my water may have broke, but couldn't really tell. We were fully prepared to be sent home. To our surprise, my water had broke and we were going to be staying to have our son...a week early! Yay!

I planned on seeing how my contractions were going before deciding whether or not to be medicated. After having contractions for 24 hours +, I decided it was time for an intervention...the epidural. My epidural was painless and getting it was the best decision I have ever made. Instantly, my contractions disappeared, and I was in a state of total and complete relaxation. The remainder of my labor I was in heaven. It is the most relaxed and comfortable that I have ever felt...no lie. I was able to nap, watch General Hospital, and prepare for the birth of my son in a very serene way. Yes, I just used "serene" to describe my labor.

Delivery went extremely well too! After one short hour, Matthew was born. I have never felt such joy in my life. As soon as I held him, my heart felt like it was going to burst!

Little Matthew has been very good to his mother. My pregnancy was a breeze, he came a week early, and labor/delivery was a piece of cake! Now, the journey begins.

In gear...

With all of the last minute changes to our plans, Jeff and I are adapting well. We are in gear for this baby and ready to rock. Baby clothes are washed, supplies are stocked, hospital bag is packed, and our eyes are on the prize...a happy, healthy baby boy.

My last day of work is today. I am hoping in the next few months to generate enough accounting projects to work strictly on a contract basis, allowing me to stay home with the baby. I have pooled my resources, put out ads on Craigslist, am working on some different ideas to generate business, and actively marketing my skill set to different small businesses in the area. I hope my action plan comes together on such short notice!

Call for Prayer

Jeff received a phone call last week that the opportunity that was offered to him in Grand Rapids was being put on hold for the time being. Just two weeks before my due date, we are forced to re-examine everything...where we are going to live, daycare, our careers...everything.

We are saying our prayers that SOMETHING will give for us. The past 9 1/2 months for me have been filled with 15 hour work/school days Monday - Friday...I can't imagine returning to that schedule with a three month old...

Projects

Jeff and I have begun to fix up the house. We are re-doing trim, painting, installing new doors, getting new carpet, re-doing bathrooms...the works! I say "we," because for being 37 weeks pregnant, I have done quite a bit to help! (Jeff can vouch for me). Last weekend, I tore out the majority of the trim in the upstairs bedrooms. I think I really enjoy demo work. It is fun and a great way to relieve stress.

This weekend's task was to tear down wallpaper in the kitchen. I thought I had the job near complete...then my mom came over to help and discovered another layer of glue. I will never ever put wallpaper up in any house that I live in. It is just too much of a pain when you want to change it!

All in all, Jeff and I are very pleased with the progress so far. We want to finish the upstairs before we move in. We are taking a long weekend October 17th to put another dent in the "to-do" list. I will have to post before/after photos as we complete the different rooms. Our goal is to be done with everything but the kitchen by New Year's. Wish us luck!

The Secret Weapon

For all of you out there who, like me, worry about losing the weight after baby, I am going to share with you the secret weapon I plan to use...The Ultimate New York Body Plan.

David Kirsch is the trainer who whipped Heidi Klum back into shape in time for the Victoria's Secret fashion show after she had her baby. I know I am not a super model, but I have experienced the results this plan can bring pre-baby...we will see if David's "Core" DVD can bring me the same results post-baby.

I also plan to work with my trainer Leo to be sure that I am working as efficiently as possible. Leo helped kick my butt into shape before my wedding, and I hope he can work his magic on my body once again. It is going to be a lot of hard work, but I am bound and determined to regain the muscle tone I had 9 months ago!

I realize that my planning and ambitions may be a little premature (I haven't even had the baby yet), but I am just excited to be able to work out again! I don't think it is ever too early to start planning or setting goals. Wish me luck!

Getting ready for baby...

With four weeks left to go, Jeff and I have been VERY busy preparing for our new arrival. My last 36 weeks have been filled with work from 7:00AM - 4:30PM, school 5:00PM - 10:00PM, side accounting projects, and sleep! Not much time to prepare for the baby and NO time for pampering!

However, I have managed to wash all of the baby's clothes and put them on color coordinated hangers...white 0-3 months, blue 3-6 months, and green 6-9 months.

Now, it's time to clean out the cars, install the carseat and put all of my hospital goodies neatly in a bag. Why doesn't Jeff do this you might be wondering? Well, Jeff has also been busy outside of work fixing up our future home and crafting our baby's crib.

Yes, he is building the crib! And I must say it looks fabulous. He is modeling it after a crib I fell in love with at Restoration Hardware (pictured above). I am VERY impressed. Jeff has worked diligently over the past two weeks, visiting a woodworking shop in Royal Oak to pick up some parts, and doing tons of research on safety. His hard work has paid off. Our baby will be sleeping in a one-of-a-kind, custom-made crib - built by his daddy. GO JEFF!

Look at that belly!

This past weekend was my "Burch" baby shower! I had such a good time. My mother-in-law Patty, sister-in-law Angie (pictured above), and soon-to-be-sister-in-law Julie put on such a great party. The food was amazing, the games were fun, and the table settings were adorable. The theme was "classic toys." Each centerpiece consisted of a childhood toy that we remember, as well as some toys from Jeff's childhood to pass on to our baby! They did an amazing job. I truly appreciate all of their hard work and effort!

On another note, check out the picture above! Angie and I posed for the camera showing off our baby bumps. Whoa, I did not realize that I look THAT big. Doesn't the camera put on 10 pounds? I sure hope so...haha.

Shoe Shopping!

And not for myself...

PAINT!

Jeff and I have chosen the paint colors for the house...with the help of my mom's interior design friend - Tyler. I can't wait to pick up the swatches to see what they look like in person!

Upstairs master bedroom - Silver Mist

Upstairs Bathroom - Lattice

Nursery - Honest Blue

Downstairs Bedroom - Lemongrass

Living Room/Kitchen - Urban Putty

Dr. Right...where have you been?!

Today I had my 35 week appointment with a new doctor. Now, I am going to the doctor's office weekly and will be meeting all of the doctors in the practice. I was hesitant to start my "rotation." I was even more hesitant to have a younger male doctor discussing the intimate details of my pregnancy. To my surprise, I loved my doctor today. In fact, I would say that I prefer him to my regular, female doctor. Lucky for me, he delivers 80% of the practice's babies.

He was very professional and carried himself with a certain charm. He offered information without me having the ask the "right" questions, which I really liked. I am officially done discriminating against male OBGYN's.

Good news...baby is in the head down position. I was beginning to worry he was feet down. Probably another reason I liked my doctor today - he delivered good news! I am measuring right on with 35 weeks and am gaining about a half pound per week. Right on track!

The hunt is over...

After 9 months of scouring every baby store, website, and magazine, I have found the bedding for the baby's crib! It is from Restoration Hardware Baby + Child, my new favorite stop for all things baby. It is the perfect blue with chocolate accents. I think it will look amazing with the crib that Jeff is working on.

Fall is here!

My favorite time of year is here! I am so excited for fall. I love the changing colors, apple cider, doughnuts, and pumpkin carving. This year, Jeff and I have something even more exciting to look forward to...meeting our son. With my due date just five weeks away, we have been very busy trying to get everything ready for his arrival. We are going to make time to visit a cider mill soon. I can't wait for my first sip of apple cider!

One Year

Jeff and I celebrated our one year anniversary this past weekend. We went to Cygnus 27 at the Amway for dinner. It was amazing! We were told when we got married that for our one year anniversary, the pastry chef would re-make the top of our cake for us...so that was quite a treat! At the end of our meal, our server came out with a huge cake donned with the exact design that was on our original wedding cake! They also served us champagne for a toast. (Yes, I did partake in one very tiny sip!) It was very nice. We both really enjoyed the spectacular view, the amazing dinner, and of course each other.

When Jeff and I reminisce on what we were doing a year ago (honeymooning), it brings a smile to our faces. When we look towards the future and all that it holds (especially the baby!), our grins get even bigger. We are both very blessed. I thank God every day for my wonderful husband.

Home Stretch Part II

Inquiring minds...belly button is still an "inny."

HOME STRETCH!

6 WEEKS TO GO!!!

I do not have a picture to post. I will get Jeff to take one this weekend (if I remember) and will post next week. However, here is an update on the "bump."

Weeks: 34

Pounds gained: 20

Bump measurement: 13 1/2"

Feeling: WONDERFUL! Can't wait for the little man to be here already!

Milestones: Everyone can see large movements in my belly. When he moves, my whole stomach moves. I also can no longer see my feet when I look down.

Days until due date: 42 days

Labor Day Weekend!

Jeff and I had a great Labor Day weekend. We went up to the lake Saturday and Sunday. Here is a picture of all the girls in our sunhats and movie star glasses! (Picture courtesy of Lakeside Knitter) The baby will have to get a sunhat too for next summer! Then, he can match mom.

We also spent some time with my parents. My mom insisted on taking yet another photo of my growing belly. Stay tuned for that picture...it is a goody.

Motivation

I have already started planning my post-pregnancy workout regimen. I really want to get back in shape STAT! This is my motivation...a simple cocktail dress from Banana Republic. I love the color and think it is the perfect combination of sexy/conservative. Jeff, if you are reading this...I am a size 2 and would ADORE the matching belt and some earrings! I hear a new outfit hanging in the closet helps women to lose the baby weight super fast.

Jeff's First Triatholon

Sunday was Jeff's first time competing in a triatholon. He participated in the Island Lake triatholon, which consisted of a half mile swim, 12 mile bike, and 5k.

Before the race...lucky #25!

Coming out of the water after the swim. Brr!

Taking off for the bike ride!

Coming in after the bike ride.


Crossing the finish line! His time was 1:27:45. Very impressive for a first time triathlete.

There's no place like home...

With a baby on the way, Jeff and I have been making plans for the past 7 months. There is so much to think about when a child enters the picture. Planning for child care, college, and how we want to raise our son has been at the heart of most of our discussions lately. With that said, we have decided to move back to Grand Rapids! We are very excited!!! We will be moving after the baby is born in mid-November.

Now, we just need to find a place to live!

30 Weeks!

Sorry no photo this time...maybe this weekend I will take one. I am 30 weeks pregnant, hitting the home stretch! The baby is kicking and moving more than ever! I cannot wait for our son to be here. 8 more weeks of work...10 more weeks of pregnancy (hopefully)!

Where are the cravings?

Everyone told me to wait until my third trimester...that food would taste like it never has before in my life...that my cravings would be so overwhelming they would cause me to rush to the grocery store at all hours of the day just to satisfy them. Being a food lover, I was very excited for this. Well, I am 30 weeks pregnant and I have not had one single craving. Of course I feel like certain foods more than others, but that isn't atypical of my behavior when I am not pregnant.

In the beginning of my pregnancy, I had a taste for lemonade and licorice, but this faded quickly and wasn't really that strong. So where are the cravings? I guess I shouldn't speak too soon, I have 10 weeks left...perhaps they will surface in the next week or two.

Swimming

Last night I stayed home from school to spend some time with Jeff. It is getting harder and harder to keep up with my schedule. Working all day, then going to school where I am on my feet all night is exhausting. So, I thought I deserved a night off!

Jeff is training for a triatholon that he will swim/bike/run this coming Sunday. So, I thought I would buy a swimsuit and swim alongside him while he trained last night. I bought the swimsuit (above) from Target. It was so nice to feel "weightless," in the pool, and I know that Jeff really appreciated all of the "thumbs up," and "high fives." I wish we got to spend every night together. April 2009 cannot come soon enough! (My tentative graduation date)

Things I want to teach my son

I have been doing a lot of reading on brain development in the early years and I think it is important for parents to play an active role in a child's development. I have collected all sorts of articles on teaching children to talk, read, and truly enjoy learning. With all of this reading, I started to think of all of the things that I would want to teach my son someday...

- A language. Young children have the capability to learn 24 new words each day. I think it is important to expose children to another language. Language is an important skill that will help to develop his eager brain and serve him well someday if he chooses to be a part of the business world.

- To play an instrument. Reading music and developing an appreciation for the arts is great for a developing mind. The brain is a muscle...and in my opinion must be exercised. Numerous studies have shown that children who play an instrument, particularly the piano, score higher on both standard and spatial cognitive development tests alike.

- To ski. I grew up skiing and so did Jeff. It is a sport that we can enjoy as a family and will teach our little man to pick himself up after he falls and try again.

- To cook. OK, this might seem a little "dainty," to some, but cooking is an important life skill to everyone...not just women. By teaching a child to prepare meals for himself, it encourages healthy eating and responsibility for one's own health and well being.

- To mind his own business. My parents taught me the value of a dollar at an early age. I always had a job and learned to value hard work and the rewards that hard work can bring. They also taught me to budget and to mind my own finances. Money is a taboo subject, but it is one that faces every individual every day. I want my son to build a healthy relationship with money and to understand the importance of budgeting/saving.

-To be bold. I would like for my son to be bold - to hold true to his own values and convictions. This is not to say that I expect my son to be a saint. I just want him to stand up for what he believes in, even if the person he is standing up to is me.

This is a pretty "bold" list to make. If I accomplish one thing on this list, I will be happy. I have read that it is unhealthy to set expectations on a child before he/she is even born. I wouldn't say that I am setting expectations, I would just say that I am excited to have my son in my life and want the best of everything for him. If he hates learning a language or playing the piano, that is fine by me. I would just like him to have the opportunity to try new things and to find what truly makes him happy in life.

Someone has a guardian angel...

My sister Arie has always been a risk taker. On family vacations, she was always the one sneaking under guard rails or running ahead on hikes. This in turn, has given my parents and myself quite a few scares. By the time she was two years old, Arie had been bitten by a dog (barely missing her eye), had to get stitches a second time after running into a glass table, and broke a finger from being slammed in her bedroom door. After all that, my mom and I made a pact...to keep Arie alive until she was 18. Well, Arie just had her 19th birthday a few months ago.

Sunday night, Arie escaped yet another scary situation. She was at her friends' apartment, when three gunmen burst through the door demanding money. Held at gunpoint, Arie was forced to turn over her purse. It makes me feel physically ill to think that my little sister was in such a terrifying position. Outside of her purse being taken and a red mark where the gun was held to her head, Arie is alright physically. I am sure it will take a long time before she feels truly safe again. I just keep thanking God that he was with her that night and kept her safe. It makes me believe that Arie has more than one guardian angel, she must have an army.

Kick Counts

Now that I have hit the third trimester, the doctor recommended that I take "kick counts," to track baby's movement. So, a few days go by and I keep track of the baby's movement, no problem, right? Well, I hit Thursday and the baby must have been pretty sleepy, because he hardly moved at all. Friday comes and no movement. I drink my glass of OJ, lay on my left side, and still after an hour not one single peep from him. I called the doctor's office just to see if this was normal...they send me to Beaumont. Apparently, not feeling very much fetal movement in two days is a big deal. So, naturally as any pregnant woman with her first child would do...tears welled up in my eyes and my brain started racing with "worse case scenario" scenes.

Two hours, a non stress test, and ultrasound later...baby is fine. Whew! According to the doctor, my placenta is in the front (sorry if that is TMI) and that means that it will be more challenging for me to feel fetal movement if the baby is in certain positions. This would have been nice to know...I don't know when they did the first ultrasound! Geez!

Baby Crafts!

Check out these ADORABLE onesies that my cousin Lisa made! She was watching an episode of Martha Stewart and decided to try this craft out. Lisa is notorious for avoiding crafts like the plague...but I knew she had it in her! My favorite is the lady bug!

Click here for directions to make your own!

http://www.marthastewart.com/article/potato-print-baby-clothes

BEST Lemonade Recipe!

MAKES ABOUT 2 QUARTS

Using sugar syrup is key to making lemonade that is evenly sweetened and has no undissolved sugar at the bottom.

ingredients:
2 quarts plus 3/4 cup cold water
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup fresh lemon juice
1 lemon, thinly sliced

directions:
In a small saucepan, combine the 3/4 cup of water with the sugar. Bring to a boil, then simmer until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and let the syrup cool to room temperature.
In a large pitcher, combine the remaining 2 quarts of water with the lemon juice and sugar syrup. Add the lemon slices and refrigerate until chilled. Serve the lemonade over ice.

I just can't get enough of....

~"Flipping Out" reality show on Bravo featuring a saavy LA real estate investor with severe OCD

~ Blow drying! Who knew I would love round brushing so much?

~Smart H2O. My latest addiction. I don't know what they put in that bottled water that makes it taste superior to tap water or any other bottled water. I just can't get enough! Hey - if $1 a day for a bottled water is the only vice I have during my pregnancy...I think I can handle it.

~Pureology hair products. They have several deep conditioners that I have been using. A-mazing.

~TVM (time value of money) calculations. OK, yes I still love numbers. With planning for retirement/baby's college, I love to calculate the future value of investments made today.

Names of the Week!

Jeff and I are in disagreement with names for the baby...we have a couple we agree on, but I am still holding out for my favorites before I settle on one name! I also think we need to see our little man before we decide on a name. What if we pick something, call him that for the next three months, and he clearly does not look like the name we chose?! So, for now...I will share the names that I like. Here they are in no particular order...

~Beckham (More middle name potential)

~Benjamin

~Christian

~Christopher

~Knox (Haha...just kidding. Although, Jeff does love Brad Pitt)

~Matthew

~Michael

~Nicholas

~Stone (Jeff is not fond of this name, but it is one of my favorites!)

Third Trimester is Here!

Wow! Just entering my third trimester and the "bump" has definetely grown. I am in the home stretch now...yay!

So far...

Weeks: 27 1/2

Pounds gained: 15

Bump measurement: 13"

Feeling: Great! Still fitting into normal pants, low rise only of course.

Milestones: Others can feel the baby kick and Jeff can hear the baby's heartbeat by pressing his ear to my belly!

Days until due date: 87

Happy Birthday Christina!

My sister Christina turned 22 today! She came home to spend the week with us in Michigan. Her fiance Kevin came too! It was so nice to have both of them in town.

Baby Shower!

My baby shower was this past weekend. It was so much fun! My mom did a fabulous job putting together a beautiful tablescape. (Shown above) Notice, the cute little booties in the flower arrangement!

My sister brought mini cupcakes from her favorite hot spot in Santa Monica. They were so good! My favorite was the vanilla bean. Mmmm....!

It was so nice to have both of my sisters there!