Dear Baby,

Dear baby,

It's your Mommy here

I can't believe today is the day we go to the hospital to meet you! I have high blood pressure again so we are meeting you a little bit early. You will be 38 weeks. You were supposed to be a February baby, but now you will be a January baby. It is for our safety though! A lot has happened since your Dad and I found out we were having you. Some good things, some bad. You were definitely the best thing out of them all!

You have a two year old sister named Adalyn. She thinks there is a baby in her belly too! 

She is excited to meet you. She tells everyone she is a big sister. I think you will like her. She is smart and very funny. She will make you laugh, like she makes us laugh! We are ready to meet you too. I can't wait to hold you and cuddle you. I also can't wait to see if you are a girl or a boy. Adalyn guesses differently every day. She said if you are a girl we should name you "Girl". If you are a boy we should name you "Baby Liam" (Just like Ben's new baby brother) We have two names picked out, we will just have to wait and see! The last ultrasound I had said you were about 6 and a half pounds. We will also have to see if that is true!

I can't believe we will be meeting you today or tomorrow! I can't believe we will now be a family of four. I am so excited!

See you soon, sweet babe.

Love, Your Mommy!

Dear Baby

Dear Baby,

It's your Mommy here.

 I cannot believe your Daddy and I get to meet you today. We are so excited! It seems like yesterday we found out we were having you! It was a Sunday, I remember...one of the happiest days of my life. We waited almost 3 months to tell our family, we wanted to make sure everything was okay first. It was the hardest secret to keep. Everyone is so excited to meet you! You are going to be showered with lots of love! I can't believe this journey is coming to an end and you will be in our arms anytime.

It is crazy that you went from the size of a blueberry..........

7 weeks

 15 weeks

 21 weeks

 24 weeks

28 weeks

 32 weeks

 36 weeks

 38 weeks

.....to the size of a watermelon at 39 weeks today! 

I know you are coming early but it is for our safety. I hope everything ends up ok, and you are healthy and strong! The Doctor said you were 7lbs 9oz at our last appointment...we will have to see how true that is!

We can't wait to find out if you are a girl or a boy....can't wait to kiss you, play with you and love you.

(And maybe squish those cute, chubby cheeks we saw you had at our last ultrasound)

See you soon sweet babe.

Love, your Mommy

xoxoxoxxo

What I have been up to the last few days.....

Well lets just say it hasn't been much! I am 38 weeks pregnant today and was in the hospital last Thursday with high blood pressure, then on Saturday and Sunday for a non-stress test. I am very lucky I was allowed to come home. My blood pressure is still borderline but it is not affecting me or the baby! I am basically on bed rest at the moment and am bored out of my mind! I am thankful though, that I am not on bed rest at the hospital. Michael has been great cooking, cleaning, and basically doing everything for me that I need!!! I don't know what I would do without him! He sets up my "station" so I have everything nice and close. Here is what is on my station.....

1. cellphone, home phone and remote controls, wii remote: I don't want to keep getting up to get these things so it is important they are there with me! I have lots of people checking in on me so that is nice too!

 2. Water bottle and a few snacks: Just in case!

3. Puzzle book and pencils, pregnancy books and info, journal: So I can readreadread before this baby gets here and feel like I know a little bit of what to expect! I am also obsessed with these logic puzzles!!

4. blankets, slippers, socks, sweater, pillow: I like to dress in layers so I don't get too hot/cold and have to go upstairs to get more clothes! (Definitely need my toes done! I can't reach them anymore! Yikes!)

5. computer! This was added to my "station" this morning and it has been nice catching up on email, PINNING and updating my Blurb pregnancy book!

5. TV/DVD: I am still going through the shows and movies I had on the PVR so that has been nice!

I am getting up every hour/hour and a half to stretch my legs and to check the fire. (I completely forgot to check the fire today and it was almost out, but I saved it!)

So that is how my day looks right now!!! I have an appointment and ultrasound tomorrow so I am hoping she can tell me more! It is getting so close!!! ahhhh I just want to be able to go out and do things again!!

Ashley

What I made on a Sunday Afternoon

Yesterday we had the 7th annual pumpkin carve at Mike's parent's house! We started this way back in 2006 and have done it every year since. I knew I wanted to wear one of the pumpkin shirts I posted on here but of course, knowing me, I left it to the very last possibly second. This literally took 10 minutes (at the most) to make and turned out pretty cute!

I found the t shirt at the dollar store for $2.00 and the felt was 3 sheets for $1.00....so for $2.33 I made this:

I literally cut the shapes out of felt (free hand) and used hot glue to stick them on!!! I don't know if you can tell by the side of the shirt, but it was WAY too big...so I cut up the sides and tied them together to make it more fitted. I also cut the collar off because it was too tight. The chest area is still a little big but I think it turned out really cute! :) I am looking (and feeling) like a pumpkin!!! I am 37 weeks tomorrow!!

Here's how our pumpkins turned out this year:

 Always lots of fun!!!

I also quickly made this album to post the pictures from every year's carve. It originally had flowers on the inside of the plastic cover...I used an exact o knife to cut on each side of the spine and pulled the flower paper out. I replaced it with Halloween scrapbook paper I had.

 I just put the photos in and used number stickers to put the year of each carve. It is funny to see how much everyone has grown since then!!! Now we can add to it every year! ( I can't believe next year there will be a baby in the picture!)

It was a great night, as always!! Sometime later this week I will show you what I made to take over there! Yum Yum

Ashley

Spearmint Baby!!

Have you heard of the blog Spearmint Baby?! I found it halfway through my pregnancy and now read it daily!! I love it! Shari features soon to be moms and their bumps, photos of the day, DIY's, different baby related toys and items and her own kids!! For the Moms to be and the photos of the day people submit their photos and stories!! I decided I should send her my story! She featured it on her blog today!

To see the rest of the article, go visit SPEARMINT BABY....and check out all the other fun stuff over there too.

Ashley

DIY costume Ideas for pregnant mamas!

Here are a few DIY maternity Halloween shirts I could make:

SKULL CUTOUT TEE

 FREEZER PAPER STENCIL SHIRT

CUTE PUMPKIN TEE

This one was more of what I had in mind! So cute!

We will have to see what I come up with!

Ashley

Halloween Costume Ideas....for one big pregnant mama!!

I was thinking I would just make a Jack-o-lantern tee and wear it on Halloween to work...but some people actually paint their bellies....is that weird?! Anyway, here is some of the stuff I found when looking up my costume idea: ( all of these are pre-made!)

 ETSY

ETSY

 ETSY

ETSY

 

CAFE PRESS

The last one is more of what I was thinking. I think I could re-create that, couldn't I?! The other shirts are super cute, but you are only going to wear them once so why spend $30+ to get one shipped to you?! That is just  me though...I am THRIFTY after all! :) I will continue hunting for a good DIY project....we'll see if I can find one! If not, I might have to create my own!!!!

Ashley

Outdoor Fall Decorating!

Here is my outdoor decor for the year!

It was very windy when I took these..the corn was blowing all over the place and I ended up with makeup all down my face because my eyes were watering...hahahahha

Mike surprised me one day with the beautiful white pumpkin! I love white pumpkins! He also grabbed some hay and corn stalks for me too!

We got the gourds and orange pumpkins when we went to a local farm a couple weekends ago! Here is a shot of me, looking like I am stealing a pumpkin. hahhahahh I was 31 weeks. I am now 33 weeks!

and here is one of my Sadie girl...posing very nicely despite all the wind!

 I love fall!

I am very excited for Thanksgiving this weekend! It is one of my favourite holidays!!

Ashley

P.S- I am going to show you guys the nursery next week! There have been a lot of people telling me they want to see it, and it is ALMOST done...so I think I will show you guys next week!!! It is obviously my new favourite room in the house!