27 weeks

This is the final week of my second trimester!

I’m beginning to feel a little less comfortable on a daily basis and just over the weekend got some serious back pains –I’m not sure if that’s pregnancy back pain or I did something to it. I’m actually heading to the acupuncturist this afternoon to see if they can give me some relief! Other than my back I have noticed some little changes, like the size of my belly growing daily, the increasing struggling to put on my own socks or tie my own shoes, my discomfort and trouble sleeping, and heart burn! While I am my no means complaining as I am so very thankful I didn’t have these things sooner or experience other issues early on in my pregnancy, I hate to think of feeling this way for another 12 weeks! Thankful I have a husband who is overly concerned with my comfort, safety, and feelings that he tells me every day how beautiful I am, how much he loves my belly, and is now helping me with those hard to reach tasks I knew were inevitableJ

On another note – we got the rest of the furniture for the nursery this past weekend and I am so glad to have that done and have items that I love – I can’t wait to put together her room! Whenever I get nervous that there is too much zebra print and not enough pink, Jimmy reminds me that the walls will be pinkJ So we should have a good balance of the two! Her room will definitely be a little diva complete with a nursery chandelierJ I’ll be sure to post pictures once complete.

Other than that not much new on the pregnancy note. We still find it so hard to believe that I have a baby girl growing inside me and that in just a few months we will meet her and our lives will forever change. We also found out a few days ago that my best friend Katie is having a baby girl too so that is very exciting – another generation of best friendsJ

My weekly update says she’s still the size of an eggplant although my other one said a head of cauliflower. It also says my uterus is the size of a basketball which seems huge! Either way, here’s the little development update on our peanut.

Baby's lungs are going through some major developments these days, which (combined with the opening of previously plugged nostrils) means he's now able to practice inhaling and exhaling. The lack of air in your womb means every "breath" is filled with amniotic fluid, but hey -- it's progress.

confessions

I read quite a few blogs and have found that often times several of them do “brain dumps” or confessions so I stole their idea and bring you confessions from the heartJ

1.   I can’t go to the movies without getting a fountain pop.

2.   I eat a string cheese every day.

3.   Lately it’s a good week if I get 3 workouts in – sigh.



getting a rub down during the chicago marathon

4.   I haven’t loved being pregnant and find it hard to understand what women mean when they say this. What’s so great about getting fat?! Partially kidding but mostly not.

5.   I don’t call my best friends enough.

6.   I haven’t given up caffeine while pregnant – limited myself yes, completely refrained no.

7.   I love reading about celebrity’s lives for no apparent reason.

8.   Jimmy and I love to cuddle and sometimes sneak into our bed just to cuddle for a little bit after work or in the middle of the day on the weekends.

snuggling up the weekend we got engaged - jul09

9.   Every Sunday at church I get teary eyed when worshipping because I think about my family and friends all over the country doing the same thing, and because of all the times I was alone and living in different places worshipping by “myself” this brought me so much comfort.

10. I still cannot believe we are actually having a baby.

the test don't lie - aug10

11. A few weeks ago I bought a package of “Be My Valentine” zebra cakes, brought them to work, and ate the whole box within a few days.

wedding cake - yummy!

12. I am so thankful for where we are financially and the lack of debt we carry as a young couple. This is such a good feeling as we start a family and face an unknown income change (I plan to cut back to either part time or less hours once baby girl arrives and we are still unsure of what that will look like in my pay).

13. Jimmy and I found a new ice cream place in town – Orange Leaf – where you pick and serve yourself yogurt out of tons of options, pile on the toppings, and then pay based off how much it ways. It’s amazing and I think about it at least 5 times during the day….I wish we lived closer to this establishment.

14. Giving birth freaks the crap out of me and I pray my water doesn’t break at the office, how embarrassing!

15. One day I hope we own a lake house.

16. I cannot wait to meet my new nephew and am super jealous that mom and dad get to see him tomorrow. Seriously, look at this face!

samuel william gardzelewski - 2 weeks old

26 weeks

Yesterday marked 26 weeks, less than 100 days to go!

I started having Braxton Hicks contractions this past week which somehow makes the actual birthing experience so much more real to me. I didn’t know what it was the first few nights I experienced them but after talking to my sister and doing a little online research I confirmed that’s what is going on. They happen mostly at night although yesterday I felt them for most of the day. My stomach starts to hurt quite a bit and tighten, my stomach then gets really hard, and some swelling and “expanding” feels as if it’s happening elsewhere too….

I also decided that I will not watch any more birthing videos, unless they make me at class. I have watched one too many on youtube and they just freak me out. So this is my official vow to stop!

A new routine we’ve started is daddy time at night. Each night Jimmy talks to baby girl while we lay in bed and I swear every time he tells her “kick for Daddy” she does! He has also begun playing his guitar for her at night, which I think is just the sweetest thing – I think she likes itJ

Our next appointment is in 2 weeks – on the 8^th and then we start going every 2 weeks, still so crazy to me!

Here’s an update on our little eggplantJ

Baby's now the size of an eggplant!
Baby's soaking up your antibodies, getting her immune system ready for life outside the womb. Eyes are forming, and she'll soon be practicing the blink...perfect for batting those freshly grown lashes.

new bows

I've posted several new bows on my bow blog - pop over and check them out!

http://jennasbows.blogspot.com/

Here's a preview of what you'll find!

weekend review

I had a great long weekend this past weekend. Isn’t it amazing what you can done with just 1 extra day?

Last week I mentioned that one of my closest friends was coming to town so that I was planning to spend the weekend with her and that I did. Her parents live 30 minutes or so outside of Springfield so we met up and spent most of our weekend out there. Friday afternoon Jimmy headed back to IA to get some work done on our vehicle and I stayed home. Friday night I headed over to Erica’s parents and enjoyed some yummy dinner and catching up with them. Saturday we got up early and hit the road to Branson for some outlet shopping. I found a few good buys but mostly enjoyed the day shopping with girls and a yummy lunch at my favorite Mexican place, Cantina Laredo – so good! We then headed back to her parents as we had invited her 2 cousins and sister in law, whom have also become friends of mine, over for dinner. We made a delicious dinner of salad, roasted potatoes, coconut chicken, and strawberry cake and enjoyed lots of laughs as we all caught up on each other’s lives. I think we scared Erica and Natalie away from getting pregnant anytime soonJ

Sunday we went to church then Erica and I ran to a few places in Springfield she wanted to check out before grabbing some lunch at McSaltys, grabbing some new spring colored ribbon at Michael’s for me to start my Spring bow collection (I'll post an update once pictures are up on my other site) and then lounged at my house for a few hours before taking her back to her parents place. My plan was to drop Erica off and head back to Springfield for the night but her mom twisted my arm into staying for dinner and then staying the night againJ

I made it home on Monday morning after a great weekend of catching up with such a good friend. Erica is one of the sweetest people you will ever meet, so kind, fun to be around, and someone I know I will always be friends with – wherever life takes us!

Monday at home I hit the gym and Sams club, then settled in for some bow making and awaited the arrival of my hubby. He got home pretty early so it was nice to spend the evening together doing nothing but snuggling up on the couch by the fire after a weekend apart. It’s crazy how much I miss this man after being away just a day or two.

This weekend also marked 25 weeks pregnant and I can’t believe I’m approaching the third trimester. Pregnancy update to come later this weekend.

Hope you enjoyed your long weekend.

favorite things

A friend of mine was telling me how every year for Christmas her mother in law does a favorite things package for all the girls – it might contain cleaning products, socks, food, etc. that were her favorite things throughout the year and I thought it was such a great idea. But, since I don’t have kids (yet) and Christmas just passed I thought I’d share some of my favorite thingsJ

In no particular order:

Chanel “Chance” Perfume – I absolutely love this Chanel scent and have for years. I used to only use it for special occasions as it’s a little pricey but now it tends to be my daily perfume.

“Kissing In Paris” body cream and body scrub & “Secret Wonderland” body cream – I got both of these scents for Christmas and LOVE them. I love the body scrub and lotion combo together from Victoria’s Secret and this “Secret Wonderland” scent from Bath and Body is just good.

Matrix Logics Age Revitalize Shampoo & Conditioner – the hair stylist I went to while I lived in North Carolina used this product and since then it’s been the only thing I’ll use. I have a hard time finding it in salons but order mine in the big jugs online.

Cover Girl & Olay Simply Ageless Serum Primer – I recently started using this primer before applying my daily make up and love it. I can really tell a difference in how fresh my make up still looks at the end of the day compared to before when I wasn’t using a primer. This one is relatively inexpensive and I can pick it up at Target, WalMart, etc. instead of making a special trip to the department or beauty store.

Bare Minerals – I have used Bare Minerals foundation, eye brightener (well-rested), bronzer, and mineral veil for the past 5+ years and never turned back. I love how light it feels on your face yet the full cover it provides, when needed. I also love that it has sunscreen in it.

String cheese – I love string cheese and have one almost every day. For me it’s a good, filling snack that is healthy too. I’ve tried lots of different string cheeses and must say I’m a bit particular about them. But since I’ve landed on this one I never stray and always buy this brand, Sargento.

Ugg Boots – I adore my Uggs. I got mine a few years ago for Christmas from Jimmy and live in them in the winter time. They keep my feet so warm and since my feet always tend to be cold it’s a good match.

Joe’s Jeans “The Muse” – my old jeans are amongst one of the few things I miss about not being pregnant. I love a pair of cute, comfortable, and stylish jeans and my Joe’s are the perfect fit. I also really like the pairs I have from White House Black Market.



Diet Coke – can’t live without it. Sad but true. During my first trimester my doctor suggested avoiding foods and drinks with aspartame so I gave up my beloved Diet Coke. But just this past week I’ve treated myself to a few and have been reminded just how much I love itJ

Dove Chocolates – no this is not just a pregnancy thing, my sister and I love love us some dove chocolates. I can very easily eat a half a bag in one sitting so I have to set out just a few and allow myself to snack on them throughout the day. Awww I wish I had some right now, oh wait, I do!

Coach – I think I’ve mentioned this obsession on here before but I have a thing for anything Coach. Call me high maintenance, vain, whatever – as I remind my husband after every purchase, it’s all about the quality. While I say that somewhat to gain a reaction from my husband I really do believe it. Coach stands behind their brand 100% - if you ever buy something and the seams, fabric, strap, whatever start to come apart, rip, etc. they will replace it, that’s it – easy enough, isn’t it?! PS – I can’t wait to use my Coach diaperbagJ I’ve contemplated using it as a laptop bag for work a few times but have been saving it up for little Miss’ arrival.

Pizza – my all time favorite food. While my favorite pizza chain is Pizza Hut – hand tossed cheese with extra cheese and breadsticks, my favorite local place is McSalty’s. I think I’ve mentioned it in my blog before but its pure goodness. They have this great wheat crust that is not too thin and not too thick and loaded with cheese. Yummy!

Asics Running Shoes – the thing I miss most about not being pregnant is being able to run for long periods of time without having to walk to slow my heart rate. When it comes to running shoes I don’t buy anything other than Asics. I have run 5 half marathons and 1 full marathon – all training and races have been completed in my trusty Asics. These are the ones I have right now.

Pure Beech Sateen Bed Sheets – I bought this brand of sheets when I got my first place out of college and now only buy them when it’s time to replace our sheets. They are the most comfortable sheets ever and whenever people visit they comment on them. We currently have them in brown but in the past have had the white and light blue – I love all the color options too, which tend to change slightly with the seasons. The only place I’ve found them is Bed, Bath & Beyond.

Jimmy – my absolute favorite thingJ

Alright – that’s all for now. What are some of your favorite things?

24 weeks - 6 months

They changed our due date at our last appointment but I am just getting around to changing my pregnancy ticker on here and my weekly updates. Our due date is now May 1^st which actually makes me almost 25 weeks. But, I wanted to post my 6 month picture and give an update on this last week so here goes.

We had our monthly appointment on Tuesday and had another ultrasound because at our 18 week ultrasound the tech wasn’t able to get a good picture of her full spine or her mouth and nose – two things our doctor likes to see. So of course I wasn’t going to object to another glance of our little girl. Turns out this little girl is stubborn (Jimmy says after her mama, I disagreeJ) and still wouldn’t let us see her spine. She is in total breech position – head between my boobs and her butt is just under my belly button (no wonder I feel all her kicks in my lower abdominal on the left side!) and her spine is to my back so there was no seeing it in the ultrasound. She did give us a good shot of her little face though – her hands were in front of it for a while but she moved them just long enough for us to get a good look and our tech to get a picture for the doctor. Nose and mouth development and separation looks good. I also must add that I think she looks exactly like the picture I have of me at the hospital! I don’t think they do this anymore but when my mom had us the hospital gave her these little stat cards with our picture on it and I have mine in my wallet. It will be interesting if that is really what she looks like.

Our doctor did seem a little concerned about her position and the fact that I’ve never felt her kicking anywhere other than my lower abdominal, meaning she’s likely always been in a similar position to now and never really head down, along with the fact that my sister has had 2 breech babies. But, she also said she doesn’t get too concerned with their position for another 8 weeks or so.

So my next appointment is a loaded one – I will have another ultrasound in hopes to see that spine and check her position, take the gestational diabetes test, and have my regular check up with the doctor. This will also be our last 4 week appointment, they will then go to every 2 weeks – isn’t that crazy! I just know how fast the time goes between appointments now while they are 4 weeks apart, I can’t imagine how fast they will go once it goes to every 2 and then to every 1 week!

So our prayers the last few nights and chats with baby girl have been that she will change her position on her own and we won’t have to deal with the decision of doing something about her being breech or just scheduling a c section. I really feel ok with either way, I think knowing this soon is good so it can prepare me for either way, and I must say since both my sister’s babies were breech I wasn’t too surprised. So please add our request of continued growth and health for our babe and for her to change positions!

And here’s my 6 month picture (which was actually taken at about 6 ½J)!

6 1/2 months - taken on Jan 11th, 2011

a new member

Monday we welcomed a new member to the Davis clan.

My sister Kirsten had Samuel William Gardzelewski at 11:06am. He was 7 lbs. 11 oz. and 19 3/4 inches. Mommy and baby are healthy and safe and we can't wait to meet little Sam! My sister lives in Denver, CO with her family so Jimmy and I are planning a trip out the first weekend of March (assuming the rest of my pregnancy goes well) - I'm not sure I can wait that long to meet the little guy!

Welcome to the world little Sam - we can't wait to meet you and we love you to pieces already!

weekend recap

Call it nesting or just getting antsy but I got in baby prep mode this weekend for sure. This was the second weekend Jimmy and I have been back in Springfield since before Christmas so we were anxious to spend some time together and get some things done around the house.

Friday night we went out for pizza at one of our favorite local places, McSalty’s – yummy wheat crust and super cheesy, and then met up with some co workers at the MSU men’s basketball game. We hadn’t gone to a MSU game yet but both enjoy watching sports so it was fun to do something different. MSU just recently beat UNI too so of course I got an ear full from everyone on thatJ

Saturday morning we woke up early and Jimmy took off for St Louis to go snowboarding with our friend Chris for the day. So, being the good wife that I am I got up with him, made him breakfast while he was in the shower and kissed him goodbye by 8am. I then got to work on the house. Agenda: all the Christmas decorations down and packed up then off to start finding things for baby girl’s room. I must say, it’s amazing what you can accomplish by 10am (our usual wake up time on a Saturday) when you get up at 7am! By 10am I had all the Christmas stuff down and boxed up, was showered and ready to hit the stores. I’ve known that I wanted to do her room in pink and zebra print for quite a while but didn’t know exactly what pieces I wanted nor how it would come together. So, during our pizza outing on Friday Jimmy approved my budgetJ and it was time to start finding the deals. I shopped my heart out on Saturday. While I love having a shopping buddy I must admit I love going solo as well – it’s so nice to pop in and out of stores or browse for hours in others because you don’t have anyone else to worry about. I hit up a local baby boutique I had heard lots about but never gone to – Jelly Bean, then Hobby Lobby, Babies R Us, Pier 1, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Kirklands, Target, FFO (a furniture store), Kohls, and WalMart. It was a busy busy day and I was exhausted by the end of it but found some good ideas and great deals too! I had one last stop on my way home to get our weekly groceries and then I was looking forward to crashing on the couch with some leftover pizza and watching Step Up 3 – since this was a movie Jimmy would never watch with me and I figured he would be gone most the night. However, to my surprise, after being home just enough time to get all my loot in and the groceries put away Jimmy walked in the door! It was a pleasant surprise to have my hubby home by 7pm when I didn’t expect him until 10 or 11. So, we snuggled up together on the couch, watched some football (I forewent my Step Up 3 choice) and had a nice night in.

Sunday we got up and going in time for early church because I wanted to revisit a few of the finds I tracked down the day before to get Jimmy’s opinion and possibly make some purchases! So after church we hit up Babies R Us and looked at their furniture selection. While they had nice stuff we are still debating on what we want to spend for a dresser. Dilemma: do you buy something inexpensive that will get you through baby and toddler years only to buy them something nicer later on in life for teen and high school years or do you spend more up front and get them something they can use throughout the 18+ years they will live at home? We then snagged some lunch at Panera (yummy!) and head off to TJ Maxx in hopes that the pink chair I spotted the day before would get Jimmy’s approval and match the sheets I had bought. To my disappointment they did not match, not even close. Bummer! Oh well, still looking for a pink chair. On to Target where we purchased a bookshelf that I’m super excited about. We got the one that is made for the fabric baskets so we got the white bookshelf and then pink and black baskets for it – super cute! There will be 12 slots and we got 6 baskets so I’m hopeful that it can dual purpose as a small toy, pacifier, diaper supply holder, and a bookshelfJ Then our last stop was at Sam’s Club to see if they had anything in terms of baby furniture – no luck. So we now have purchased the following items for little Miss’ room: a bookshelf, a lamp, her sheets, curtains, a bumper and crib skirt, and crib (didn’t actually have to purchase – we are inheriting the one my niece and nephew used from my brother and sis in law – thanks guys!) And we have yet to purchase – a dresser, a chair, her chandelier - yes she is having a chandelier in her room, check out how cute they are on potterybarnkids.com, and the few ideas I have in mind for her wall – name spelled out in letters, canvas print of her after she’s born, fancy mirror….we shall see. After our few shopping trips we headed home and got the Christmas stuff put away in the attic and the other decorations back out. I then gave the house a deep clean and put up the other decorations while Jimmy disassembled his drum set and music gear (sad day for him) in prep of that being baby’s room. I know this was a hard thing for him to do as he spends time in their daily but it’s just another change in life as we prepare for our little one, right?! Plus, I reassured him that our next house would have a basement or an additional room where his music domain could be reinstatedJ!

So, we had a pretty busy weekend. I feel good about the things we accomplished for baby girl’s room as I was feeling completely overwhelmed and clueless about it on Friday and now I can’t wait to get things situated.  I think her full closet and drawer full of hair bows were distracting me from actually getting things in order for where she may sleep upon arrivalJ

And today it’s back at work with an agenda full of meetings and projects and then looking forward to a long weekend thanks to MLK! Jimmy is planning to head back to IA this weekend with a load full of music stuff and a car that needs fixed with the help of his dad’s tools while I sit tight in Springfield and enjoy some time with one of my closest friends, Erica! Erica’s family lives just outside Springfield so luckily when she comes back it dubs as a trip to see me! We have a weekend full of yummy dinners with friends, outlet shopping, pedicures, a movie, and who knows what else! Can’t wait to see her!

erica & i

Hope you had a super Monday!

By the way - I had a super Monday due to another exciting event but more to come on that later, maybe tomorrowJ

23 weeks

Not a whole lot new to report this week. I continue to grow more hungry every day and am noticing that often times I can out eat JimmyJ Granted he is on a health kick and trying to watch what he eats but I feel like I’m going off the other end these days! Most days at work I have eaten my entire lunch and afternoon snacks by 1, lets hope this doesn’t keep up!

Other than that, we are anxious for our appointment on Tuesday and for our ultrasound to see our baby girl again and see how much she’s grown in the past 5 weeks. We also continue with the name discussion. We have a few that we like a lot but still haven’t decided on just one.

It’s crazy for me to think about how fast this time has gone. I knew the months of November and December would fly by with the holidays but I can hardly believe it when I look down and see my belly and realize that in just 7 weeks I will be 30 weeks pregnant! Every day as we pray for our little girl neither of us can believe we are actually going to be a mommy and daddy and absolutely cannot wait to meet our baby girl!

This update gave us the same comparison as last week, the size of a papaya – my other update told me the size of a large mango.

Baby's now the size of a papaya!
Baby's little face is fully formed...minus the baby fat, of course. The next task at hand for baby: sprouting two teeny-tiny nipples!

top 10 of 2010

While I’m not one for resolutions I always like to spend some time at the end of each year and think about the things that happened that year. The things I felt I accomplished, the areas in which I improved, and those that I failed, and think about the coming year and my hopes and plans for it. So with that I give you the top 10 of my 2010 in chronological order.

1.   I married my best friend and my one true love on March 20, 2010. Everything leading up to the wedding was a blast and the day was everything I dreamed it would be (aside from the weather)! We then enjoyed an amazing 10 day honeymoon on the private island of Petite St Vincent, which was all planned in secret by my hubby. He did a fantastic job picking a place and planning our week!

2.   I moved to Springfield, MO to make a home with Jimmy after the wedding in late March early April. I have loved everything about living together and making our life as one. Our first year has truly been the best year of my life and I am so thankful for everything he does to provide me a safe and beautiful home, something I never want to take for granted!

3.   In May we traveled to North Carolina for one of my closet friends, Erica’s wedding. We enjoyed a weekend of wedding festivities and connecting with good friends. Jimmy and I were honored to be their musicians too as I sang and Jimmy played guitar for the wedding.

4.   We had lots of family and friends - Grover’s, Davis’,  Grandma Davis, Grandma and Grandpa Dieken, Jimmy’s friends - Todd, Court, Alex, and Mallory, Jimmy’s sisters and friends – Jena, Erica, Jalissa, and Jackie, and college best friend Katie and husband Ty -  visit over the summer and enjoyed tons of time on the lake with our new jet ski!

5. On August 24, 2010 (just 5 months after our wedding) we found out we were expecting our first child and soon after discovered I was 6 weeks pregnant.

6. In September we took a trip out to Denver, CO to visit my sister and brother in law and meet up with the rest of the Davis clan for a long weekend of camping and fun in the mountains. We also got to break the news that we were pregnant!

7. In October I watched my mom, sister, and brother in law run their first half marathon, the Des Moines ½ Marathon. While it was a bit hard for me to be watching instead of participating I was so proud of them for this accomplishment and it was fun being a spectator for once.

8. On December 3, 2010 we found out our baby is a little girl! Ever since that day everything has just seemed more real to me. From her daily kicks, to designing her nursery, to hanging up new clothes in her closest, I truly cannot believe I am having a baby. I am so blessed to have had a healthy and good pregnancy so far with a healthy baby girl growing each and every day.

9.    In late December we went to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic with the Grover clan and enjoyed 5 days of relaxing and sunshine.

10. Throughout the course of the year we made North Point church our new church home and have loved attending there when we can.

What a fantastic and life changing year 2010 was for Jimmy and I. I can’t even imagine how our lives will change this next year with an addition to our family and the many other things God has in store. I am excited and refreshed for the things that lie ahead and I hope you are too!