34 weeks

picture taken at 34 weeks 2 days

- I just figured out this week what a braxton hick feels like and realized I have those all the time! And I've been experiencing them for the past month! And yes... I felt like an idiot that I never realized those were braxton hicks :)

- It's official... I can't reach my toes to paint them. Eric's gonna have to buy me a pedicure or paint those nails himself!

- Baby girl started stretching this past week. And I mean really stretching.... I'm worried she's going to bust a rib or 2 if she keeps that up.

- According to my baby app, baby girl has reached her full height/length! She won't be growing any longer while she's inside my body. It's all about the fat now :)

- I think I have permanent kankles. Seriously.... does the swelling go away after the baby comes? PLEASE tell me it does! My legs kind of make me want to barf.... (I know that's vain... but I still care even though I'm pregnant!)

- Baby girl and I are starting to feel very cramped!! These next 6 weeks (actually, closer to 5 weeks by the time I post this) are going to be very interesting.... ha ha!

- I really want to get a few freezer meals prepared to have on hand while I'm recovering (or just too lazy to cook) from having our baby. I've looked for recipes on pinterest but I'm wanting to make meals that I know people have actually tried and loved. So if you've made any freezer meals that you totally loved PLEASE share the recipe or a link :) Thank you!!

it's that time of the year...

Source: handsonhousewife.blogspot.de via Helen on Pinterest

I love November and I especially love that this month is such a great reminder for us to be thankful for all that we have! The past couple years I've joined in on listing one thing I'm thankful for each day on facebook. Last year, my sweet cousin loved it so much that she has kept it up all year long! It's been amazing to see the things she comes up with. Some "thanks" are sweet and others are complicated. But she always found something to be thankful for every. single. day. I went through a rough patch the beginning of 2012 and some days I just didn't want to be thankful for anything... but that is so wrong. Because I am SO blessed! And reflecting on our blessing and all that we have to be thankful for can certainly turn a rough day into the best day!
So today I'm going to share just a couple things that I'm thankful for. And on my rough days I just might come back and add to this list to turn my day into a better one!

I'm thankful that baby girl will be here NEXT MONTH!! Aaaahhh :)

I'm thankful for delicious fall recipes like this and this.

I'm thankful that Eric and I love our work! We both get to use our hands and be creative and I'm not sure there's anything else that could make us happier. (But I am thankful that I feel like I have the BEST job :) ha ha.)

I'm thankful for this country that I live in. I am so grateful for all of our freedom in the USA.

I'm thankful for my family and my friends. People are my "sunshine" and I need them in my life! I'm convinced that I am loved by the BEST people in the world :)

I'm thankful for my senses. I love being able to feel touches like a hug, a kiss, or even a handshake. I get to enjoy God's beautiful earth each day through sight. Smell was the worst thing ever during my first trimester of pregnancy, but other than that? I love the amazing scents our world has to offer. I'm so so grateful I get to enjoy each of my senses.

I'm thankful for those moments when I slow down and really drink in my life. It's the little moments that go unnoticed, that can mean the most!

I'm thankful for Eric. There could not be a more perfect man for me. I love him!!

speechless

Blogging is seriously one of the best things that has ever come into my life! The reason I started this blog was to "journal" my life. I wanted a place to share my stories and pictures so that I won't ever forget little details of our adventures. I didn't expect to meet girls from across the country who just get me. And then meeting bloggers in real life? Amazing! You guys have helped me through some hard and ridiculously lonely times, and I could not be more grateful. I have always felt so much love and support in blog land and it just makes my heart want to burst at times :)
Then I got pregnant. You guys.... I can not express how much your love, excitement, advice and support means to me. And the gifts... I don't even know what to say! Eric and I love it all SO much and we are just in awe at how giving you girls are. Baby girl is so loved by you already! Your generosity and love has made me cry more than once, and I'm not convinced I can totally blame that on hormones :)
Thank you for being so amazing. Thank you for your friendships! Thank you the example of true selflessness and giving. You ALL make me want to be a better person! I hope you girls know just how much I love you!! THANK YOU :)

thriller

Seriously.... I used to babysit this girl zombie! I feel so old :) She had to sneak in a quick belly rub even though she was supposed to stay in character!

Eric took me to the Thriller production at Tuacahn when we were dating 5 years ago and I made the mistake of telling him it's the pretty much the same program every year, they just change up a couple of the dances. His reply? Sweet! That means I don't ever have to take you again..... And he meant it :) I've been asking him every Halloween if he'd take me to Thriller and his reply was always, why?? We've already seen it!
This year we had a party to go to on Halloween night but I ended up having to work out of town. I was bummed to miss out, but at the same time I was slightly relieved because Eric wanted to dress up as Dog the Bounty Hunter and have me be Beth. Look them up if you don't know who I'm talking about.... you'd be relieved as well ;) Anyway, I was hoping Eric would come with me since he had the day off and I was majorly hoping he'd take me to Thriller. Eric told me how "dumb" Thriller was, how much he hated it, why should he have to sit through dancing, blah blah blah. Then the morning before Halloween... he surprised me with tickets to Thriller!! He bought them a couple weeks prior but told me he wanted me to think he was a jerk and that he wasn't the kind of husband to take his wife out unless he wanted to do it as well. Ha ha! Good thing I already knew he wasn't that kind of husband :) It was the best surprise and I thought it was the BEST way to spend Halloween night. Dancing, creepy zombies, baby girl trying to dance out of my belly, and my hubs. The BEST!

33 weeks

picture taken at 33 weeks 2 days

- I got my first prenatal massage this week! Oh it felt amazing!! But it didn't do anything for my hips.... I'm thinking I'm going to have to give a chiropractor a try.

- I'm craving twix candy bars these days :)

- This is kind of silly to document but it's a once in a lifetime... so it needs to be remembered :) Baby girl received her first (and only) Chanel outfit from a very generous client. She should probably wear it every single day until she outgrows it because this is the only time in her life she'll be wearing something like that, ha ha!

- I've hit the uncomfortable stage where I prefer to stand because it gives baby girl (and me) more room, but it hurts to stand. I'd like to sit to give my body a break but it scrunches baby girl and she makes sure I'm aware of it :) And when I lay down the weight of my body pulls on my back. So fun!

- Baby girl is growing bigger and bigger each day! We can pretty much see my belly grow by the minute, ha ha. Even though I'm extremely uncomfortable, I'm so grateful that she is thriving inside my body. Can't wait to meet her in just a few, short weeks!