Big Belly is Getting in the Way...

Well, it's getting harder and harder to do the things that I used to do... one of those things is painting my nails.  Getting my foot over my big belly was definitely a challenge....

But I managed to finish my toes... (notice our new stranded bamboo floors - according to Todd, that's my babymoon!)

And my nails....

Do I dare ask Todd to try painting my nails for me?  Ha!  I think I'll just need to suck it up and go treat myself to manis and pedis.

Busy Weekend!

My mom, sister and her husband Rob came to Dallas this weekend to help me with some baby prep work.  Specifically, my mom came into town to recover a used glider that I bought off Craigslist.  Todd was definitely shocked when I bought the glider for $45 on Craiglist.  He totally expected me to want a brand new $1000 glider or something like that.  Not that I think there's anything wrong with buying a new expensive glider, but I think he was really proud of me for being budget-conscious.  So many of our friends have bought really nice gliders that they will be able to use in a living room or another room in the house once they are done with it in the nursery (therefore they can justify the purchase), but I have no room for another chair in my house.  So... I found one on Craiglist.  I always knew that my mom was a good seamstress, but my college roommate Katie and I discovered that my mom also does a FANTASTIC job reupholstering furniture.  (Katie, I found out that those chairs my mom did were her first experience reupholstering furniture - can you believe you were the guinea pig?  I would have never guessed.)  Anyway, I knew that the glider would be no challenge for my mom, so I wasn't turned off by a glider that had an ugly dark mauve cushion with monkeys and palm trees PAINTED on the fabric.  I wish I would have taken a before picture for you... it was hideous.  I thought I might go adventurous and pick out a fun patterned fabric, but I actually just went with a solid soft green suede fabric.  I think I'll spruce it up with accessories... maybe an embroidered pink blanket over the top of the chair?  Check it out!  (FYI: The walls still need to be repainted.  They will be painted next weekend, and it will be a lighter, softer shade of green.)

 Mom was great at all the detail work making all the piping for the trim and making pockets for the side.

 
Here I am trying it out... I think I might be able to take some naps in this!  Thank you SO MUCH, Mom!!!

Todd likes to say I ran a sweat shop this weekend in the house, but don't feel sorry for him.  He and Rob managed to find time to play golf Saturday morning.  Then Rob, Judy and Todd went and spent a few hours at Top Golf, and we went out for nice meals both Friday and Saturday night and Sunday brunch.  All in all, it was a fun productive weekend.  Thanks Mom, Judy and Rob for making the trip!

We are so lucky to have such great friends and family who have sent us hand-me downs for little Ali.  Todd's sister Tiffany sent us her daughter Julia's clothes earlier this summer.  Then tonight we went to have dinner with friends at Season and James' house, and she gave me a huge bin filled with clothes her 4 month old daughter Avery has outgrown.  Both Julia and Avery have AWESOME wardrobes, and Ali is SO lucky to get their clothes.  I swear... she'll never have to wear the same thing twice!  Oh, Todd and our friend Mike have done an fabulous job of installing Ali's closet system!  I'm really happy with how it turned out.  Thanks to everyone for ALL your help.  We are so lucky!  Check out Ali's closet!

Watch Me Grow!

I'm 28 weeks pregnant today!  I feel huge, but in reality, I'm not that big.  I started my third trimester last week, so we're starting the countdown.  At my 27 week appointment last week, my doctor mentioned that my uterus was measuring a little small and asked me if I'm eating enough.  I really think I am constantly eating.  I am definitely not trying to diet during my pregnancy.  I've started eating breakfast, and I eat a full lunch with snacks throughout the day.  I have ice cream almost every night, and I certainly am eating more at dinner than Todd does (although that's probably not saying much since he stops eating when he's full.)  I also found out after my gestational diabetes screen that I am not at risk for gestational diabetes.  In fact, my blood sugar is actually low.  So, the doctor recommended that I eat more protein at breakfast and more meals throughout the day.  Seriously, I don't know how I can eat more, but I'm up for the challenge!  I guess I shouldn't complain.  I'd much rather be told to eat more than to eat less.

Here's a progression of my belly shots... scroll down, and watch me grow!

12 weeks:

17 weeks:

20 weeks:

24 weeks:

And now Today at 28 weeks:

Think the camera can really add 10 pounds?  I think I've popped!!!

Amy Becomes a MANN!

Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Tony and Amy (Force) Mann!!!  We headed up to Colorado last weekend to celebrate their mountain wedding with Tony and Amy, and sure enough the wedding weekend was full of fun and adventure.  Seriously, it seems like we always have something memorable to take away from weddings like Jen spilling a bottle of foundation on my white wedding dress, the groomsman falling down the steps while trying to light the candle at Jen's wedding, the writing on Daniel's shoes at Emily's wedding... oh the memories.  Well, we can add another adventure to the list.

On Saturday, we decided to drive to Estes Park to have brunch and then head up into Rocky Mountain National Park, drive up to the top of the mountain and take a short scenic hike.  Sounds like a good plan, right?  We had 9 people (5 girls and 4 boys) in two cars.  Near the top of the mountain, we pulled over at a rest stop... good thing we did... Jen's car was SMOKING!  Turns out the radiator pipe had cracked and radiator fluid was leaking out of the car... in a national park!  Did I mention that we had no cell phone reception in the park, nor did we have cell phone reception at the lodge where the wedding was and where we were staying?  At this point, it was a little after noon, and the trip back to the lodge was an hour away.  We ended up having Dana drive the "high maintenace" girls down to Estes Park where would could get cell phone reception to call AAA to have them go tow the car.  We left the boys and Gump at the top of the mountain with the car.  Once we were able to call AAA, Dana took the girls back to the lodge so we could start getting ready for the wedding.  Oh, did I mention that we had 7 people in a cabin with two small bathrooms?  We arrived back at the lodge around 2pm, so we could start getting ready.  Dana then had to make the 2 hour round trip drive back up the mountain to pick up Gump and the boys.  We were really afraid that they wouldn't make it back in time for the wedding, and we even started debating whether Amy would prefer the crew come dirty or show up late.  Thankfully, they got back right before 4:30, jumped in the shower and were ready in time for the wedding.  Whew!  Crisis adverted!

Here are some pictures from the weekend... I tried to do some editing in Photoshop, but my pregnancy brain has somehow affected all the information I learned in the Photoshop class, and I was too tired to get my book out.  Enjoy the unedited pics...

The prego girls: Lacey at 17 weeks and Cindy at 27 weeks.

Near the top of the mountain trying to enjoy the view while we figure out what to do...

Since it was chilly and windy on top of the mountain, we left our extra clothing up there for them.  I left the camera with Todd, and I guess the boys decided to be cute and take pictures with Caleb wearing Jen's hoodie and Todd wearing Dana's fur thing while modeling the cheerleader arm pose.  Haha!

Finally at the wedding!  Amy was a beautiful bride, and we all had a great time!

Next up, we have Dana and Adam's wedding in Jackson Hole at the end of the month... wonder what trouble we can get into there...

Starting on the Nursery...

Well, the nesting continues... I've chosen crib bedding and ordered the furniture.  Unfortunately, the furniture won't arrive until August.  Good thing we ordered it early!  As in Memorial Day... can you believe it takes that long?  We ordered white furniture, and we plan to paint the nursery walls a coordinating green.  Here's a picture of the bedding I chose:

I know, I know... I'm nuts for choosing such a white bedding for a baby, but if anyone can keep it clean, I know we can.  The bed skirt is white and has cute embroidery along the bottom.  Here's a close up of the bed skirt detail:

The crib sheet that comes with the set is a pink gingham.  It looks like stripes in the picture, but it's really a gingham.  I figure I can buy other sheets that will go well with this as well, gingham or solid colors. The crib bumper has a cute tufted pattern.  I'm hoping any messes Ali makes go on to the sheet instead of the bumper.  BUT, if we do get the bumper dirty, it's machine washable - Whew!

Here's a closer up detail of the bumper...

So, I know I may be crazy, but I thought this bedding was cute enough for all the work that may come with it!