37 weeks ~ work baby shower ~

How far along? 37 Weeks

Total weight gain: up 28 lbs. 
Maternity clothes? shirts yes...and my artizia winter leggings. Seems to be the only things that fit comfortably 
Stretch marks? none yet :)
Sleep: on and off, but still not too bad. Preparing me for what is to come....no sleep!
Best moment this week: surprise work baby shower that my co-workers/friends planned early just incase I wont be at work if baby comes early! I felt very loved! bittersweet- excited to be off for a year but i'll miss my friends at work (not the work part!)
Miss Anything? being comfortable! 
Movement: lots of major movements & rearranging...sometimes I'm worried the baby is completely readjusting but so far baby's head is in the correct downward position 
Food cravings: not too much of an appetite these days... probably cause there isn't much room left
Anything making you queasy or sick: meat & pasta
Labor Signs: very strong Braxton hicks but that's all so far 
Symptoms: hard to breathe and very uncomfortable

Exercise: still managing to get 45-90minute walks in everyday. Once i'm off work i'm hoping to do a minimum 60 minutes per day. I just feel so much better after. The walking is slow tho!!

Belly Button in or out? out
Wedding rings on or off? on !! happy about that :)
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy

Looking forward to: baby Gray's arrival....less than 30 days away 

WORK BABY SHOWER

My work planned an amazing surprise baby shower!!! 

Friends creatively colored onesies (pictures to follow with baby wearing them)!

They gave me a BEAUTIFUL gift basket filled with all sorts of baby items and a few things for mommy & daddy :) THANK YOU everyone! We feel SO loved

Aveeno baby wash & bath soap

Play and grow donkey toy

Icy bite teether

bugs on board toy

gone fishing bath toy

Mini Dr Seuss's books 

onesie and billy-bob teeth pacifier

welcome, baby book

colors book

lullaby baby cd

adorable little slippers 

wine & gift card for pedicure ~ for mommy ~

scotch & ear plugs ~ for daddy ~ 

gift card to babies 'r' us ~ for baby gray ~

family photo shoot

Today was the perfect day for a maternity photo shoot. My dearest sister, Emily, offered to take some amazing photos for us!! 

Just a few days away from 37 weeks ~ full term ~ so we are ready for baby to come in a few weeks!!

Ready for baby to come now!! So excited to meet him or her

Will it be a boy or a girl ?!?!

healthy crockpot freezer meals

I love my crockpot and I feel I will love it that much more when I'm exhausted and don't feel like making dinner. I've started preparing some meals to freeze that I can throw in the crockpot the morning of. 

Turkey Rice Soup

~ ingredients for each bag ~

2 cups chopped onion

2 cups celery

1 lb ground turkey

3 cups chopped tomatoes

2 cups sliced carrot

1/2 cup long-grain brown rice

2 tsp parsley

1 tsp thyme

2 gloves garlic

1 tsp rosemary

1 tsp pepper 

* add 7 cups prepared chicken broth to the crock pot with contents of bag 

Freeze until needed. 

Instructions for each bag: 

Cook covered on low for 7 hours or on high 3-4 hours

Crock pot Fajitas

~ingredients for each bag ~

1/2 onion cut into chunks

1 cut-up green pepper  

1 cut-up red pepper

2 lbs chicken breast ( i used 4 frozen breasts)

2 tbsp vinegar

1 tbsp lime juice

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp chili powder

1 tsp cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp salt and pepper each

1 tsp garlic powder 

Freeze until needed. 

Instructions for each bag: 

Cook covered on low for 6-8 hours

*Place on warmed tortilla, top with lettuce & cheese. Add sour cream, guacamole or cilantro if desired. Serve with spanish rice. 

Teriyaki Chicken 

Chicken breasts with teriyaki sauce

Freeze until needed

Instruction for the bag: 

* cook on low 6-8 hours* Serve on rice 

More recipes to come!! 

36 weeks and feeling very pregnant

How far along? 36 Weeks

Total weight gain: up 28 lbs.  I'm eating healthy and still walking so the doctor said i'll gain what I need to gain as you can't diet while pregnant. Hopefully won't gain too much more in these last 4 weeks (OR LESS) 
Maternity clothes? yep - literally leggings & maternity shirts from here on out! Especially since it's fall weather
Stretch marks? none yet... I keep looking tho 
Sleep: very interrupted as i'm awake every hour to hour and a half. I guess it's preparing me for what is to come :)
Best moment this week: hitting the less than 1 month till due date mark!! and of course hearing babies heartbeat
Miss Anything? I miss a lot of things..but I'm sure once this is all over i'll miss being pregnant and feeling baby kicking all day long. 
Movement: still lots of movement.. all the time 
Food cravings: cheese & crackers but I normally eat that anyways
Anything making you queasy or sick: pasta 
Labor Signs: No
Symptoms: This week I really felt pregnant with all the symptoms that go along. I have been exhausted and have a hard time breathing
Belly Button in or out? out
Wedding rings on or off? on, keep thinking they won't fit but they slide on just like normal!
Happy or Moody most of the time: for the most part HAPPY
Looking forward to: baby's arrival of course! I am officially ready. I am looking forward to this next week..37 weeks - baby will be full term and can come ANYTIME !! hopefully sooner than later :) 

35weeks... baby clothes dividers

Craft of the day: baby clothes dividers 

Supplies

- glue gun

-paint brush & paint

- sharpie/ marker

- wooden door hangers (from Michaels Arts & Crafts)

- ribbon (from Michaels Arts & Crafts)

- wooden animal characters (from Michaels Arts & Crafts)

Paint the wooden door hangers a color of your choice. I painted it the same color as the baby room walls. Let completely dry and paint a 2nd coat. 

Write the months you would like divided at the top and

 place the animals on the bottom using the glue-gun. 

Use ribbon to hang-up in the babies closet.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

35 WEEKS!!!

 How far along? 35 Weeks
Total weight gain:  26lbs
Maternity clothes? wearing mainly maternity tops  
Stretch marks? none  yet, going strong!
Sleep: sleeping good, just have a hard time staying asleep
Best moment this week: seeing my sister-in-law who is due 10 days after me.. got me even more excited for babies arrival
Miss Anything? running.... breathing, sitting, laying normally 
Movement: lots of wiggles, hiccups and karate kicks 
Food cravings: this week...tea
Anything making you queasy or sick: pasta
Gender: trying not to listen to the Old Wives tales on determining if you are having a boy or girl. Just excited to see if little baby Gray is boy or girl 
Labor Signs: Nope, but I have had a few braxton hicks lately
Symptoms: feeling great now ... pelvic bone pain is about 1 in every 4 or 5 days. Just extra tired and need to take it easy at times.
Belly Button in or out? Out
Wedding rings on or off? On, so far no swelling :) 
Exercise: Back up to my 45-90minute walks a day !
Looking forward to: the one month till due date celebration. 

34 weeks, Wrapping Paper Holder

How far along? 34 Weeks
Total weight gain:  didn't gain any weight this week... same as last week (24lbs)
Maternity clothes? since the weather has cooled down i'm back to my regular clothes.... Aritzia leggings with long shirts 
Stretch marks? none 
Sleep: sleeping good again
Best moment this week: Getting a good nights sleep and finding the most perfect baby book 
Miss Anything? running & being able to fit all of my clothes
Movement: lots of hard kicking and hiccups 
Food cravings: rice krispies @ 2am & recees pieces
Anything making you queasy or sick: pasta & some meat
Gender: Getting VERY excited to find out if baby is a boy or a girl 
Labor Signs: No
Symptoms: pelvic bone pain...still comes and goes otherwise feeling good
Belly Button in or out? Out
Wedding rings on or off? On
Exercise: Still trying to walk 30min- hour everyday, I take advantage when i'm feeling good and try walk lots then (usually right after I get up in the mornings).
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy!!!!
Looking forward to: baby's arrival! Seems so surreal at this point, I can not wait to see his/her precious face & hold baby for the first time. 41 days to go till due date

Wrapping Paper Holder

I was sick of wrapping paper just piling up so I bought 3 plastic bag holders (from Ikea) and

 placed them on the wall. It works great!!

DIY bath salts recipe

DIY Bath Salts Recipe

After a long, busy day, there's nothing better than a relaxing bath 

with fragrant bath salts. 

A great gift or to use for yourself. 

I purchased 3 glass jars from the dollar store.

In a bowl I combined:

- 3/4 cup Epsom salts

1/2 cup coarse salt

1/4 cup baking soda 

split the mixture into separate bowls, depending on how many colors you will be making. 

slowly add drops of essential oil (I used Ylang Ylang and Lavender) until you get the smell you want

 then add food coloring (I used green, blue and pink) till you get the shade you desire

birthday week

Chocolate Oat Chippers

I pulled out my favourite cooking book that I've had since I was a kid... 

"Kid's Cooking by Company's Coming" 

See the recipe below.

I used about 3/4 cup brown sugar and 3/4 cup chocolate chips instead...

I added extra oats! 

33 weeks pregnancy chalkboard update

How far along? 33 Weeks
Total weight gain: 24 lbs 
Maternity clothes? yes....comfy clothes! belly seems to be getting in the way of everything now
Stretch marks? none!
Sleep: sleeping way better thanks to the new body pillow :)
Best moment this week: listening to the baby's heartbeat at our Doctor's appointment... baby is a very 'active baby'.
Miss Anything? oatmeal cookies 
Movement: still lots of movement & hiccups all day long 
Food cravings: anything sweet
Anything making you queasy or sick: nope
Labor Signs: No
Symptoms: just pelvic bone pain...lack of my usual mobility, otherwise feeling good!
Exercise: still trying to get my 30min-hour walk a day but it is VERY slow now, depending on the pain 
Belly Button in or out? OUT
Wedding rings on or off? on!  (but getting very tight) 
Swelling? not that I can notice
Happy or Moody most of the time: mostly HAPPY!!
Looking forward to: birthday this week..and organizing more of baby's room. We have generously been given lots of baby items from friends (thank you!!). I want to go thru and find a place for each item.... noticing babies come with a lot of "stuff"