28, 29, 30, 31 week belly pics

Wow, I am way over due for the bump picture updates!

28 Weeks:

This is in front of my friend Christie's tree!!  We had a great night with friends, 

eating chinese then hanging out at their house after Camryn went to bed.

29 Weeks:

I spent this week working on Owen's room and Christmas shopping!

30 weeks:

31 weeks:

This was the night of our Christmas party for our friends and their kids!  It was a great night full of laughter and cookie decorating!  I thought it was funny to try on the apron over the big belly and we decided to use this picture for our weekly addition!

How far along: 31 weeks
Total weight gain/loss: more than I probably should have
Maternity clothes: yes, though I am not loving my maternity pants anymore, they are getting too tight around my belly and the band at the top that used to be above my bump is now cutting into my bump.
Stretch marks: .........truthfully.....yes......on the underside of my boobs!  Ladies don't forget about the lotion there!
Sleep:  well I am still tossing and turning and now not sleeping as much.  My left shoulder is really bothering me when I lay on it and my right side falls asleep when I lay on it so.....tossing and turning between pain and limbs falling asleep.  The couch and guest bed have been visited on different nights.
Best moments this week:  All the kicks and movements are so wonderful and just make every day special.  Belly button in or out?: 1/2 flat and the top 1/2 is starting to pop out.
Craving: Cookies and milk are our best friend!
What I am looking forward to: Seeing all our family at all the Christmas celebrations this week!!!

31 weeks by baby center dot com:   This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

a little show from Owen

so i didn't realize how CLOSE Chris was zoomed in on my belly!  Oh well, enjoy!

some dr apt updates with pics

Eye Dr appointment:  the blood from the back of my eye is gone, but the optic nerve is still red and inflamed (not good); but the good news is that my vision test show that I gained some vision back!!  So we are keeping a "eye" on my eye.

30 week u/s:  we went in today to check on my partial placenta previa, no move on the placenta's placement, but Owen is measuring right on track at 3.5 pounds!!!  Chris weighed just over 3 pounds when he was born, but this little boy is going to stay put for a little while longer!  Everything looks great with us!!! Enjoy the photoshoot!  Chris thinks he has my nose!! 

some updates

Well, the holidays are here and that means TONS to do!  I've been so busy here is a little recap and a hint of whats ahead:


Saturday and Sunday were our childbirth blitz classes.  We learned a lot and got a tour of the local hospital, even though we will probably be delivering at the Greensboro Hospital.  Next week we are taking the Infant CPR class and in January the breastfeeding classes.

Monday:  I picked up the birthday invatations for a special little girl that is almost 1 and then had a great lunch with her mommy catching up!

Tuesday: I had an orientation with the unemployment office, good info but a bit dull.

Today: I babysat a precious 2 month old little girl to help out a friend and I also dealt with the gas company (LONG story there).

Tomorrow/Thursday: is a busy day.  I am eating lunch with a fellow blogger for the first time, Krista!!  Then I have my follow up eye doctor appointment, please say a prayer that my eye bleed has gotten better and no surgery or medication is needed.  If all goes well I will end the day with a birthday/holiday celebration at another friends place before heading back to btown.


Friday: no plans except for usual house cleaning, cooking, and catching up from this busy week.  Maybe, I will finish my Christmas shopping!  Oh, did I mention that Owen will be the big 3-0!! 30 weeks!

So, I do have to mention that I WON a contest!!  I entered to win $500 worth of Avent products and I WON!!  WOW!  I feel so blessed!!!  It includes a manual breast pump, a twin electric breast pump, a breast milk storage set, a bottle warmer, 12 bottles and a bottle brush.

PS: I know my 29 week belly pic is still stuck on my camera and it is almost 30 weeks on FRIDAY!! OPS!  Bad blogger......

bloggers get excited! FREEBIE!

Shutterfly is offering 50 Christmas cards to bloggers who blog about their stuff!

We've used shutterfly for tons of stuff in the past from photobooks to personalized gifts, it is so fun to see your pictures come to life in person, how many of us take tons of digital photos and never do anything with them.  I am guilt of this!!

Click here for the link to their Christmas cards, or here for calendars, or here for holiday invitations!  See they have stuff for everything!

Right now I am debating between the following 2 cards.

I think once I select a picture to  use in the card I will know which one to purchase!!  I just love getting christmas cards in the mail so I figure others love getting them too and we all know I have a little extra time on my hands right now!!!

If you are interested click here, to find out more about how you can get your free cards too!

80 days!

Just had to point out that this little man could be here in 80 days give or take a few!!!

just sayin' we are a little excited over here in the H house!

cloth diapering 101 my way!

I have spent the past few months researching and when the black friday sales started so did our shopping.  Here is our plan for our cloth diapering adventure.

Newborn:  

All the experts (aka mom's) recommend having 24 diapers for newborns, I have ordered 18 fitted Kissaluvs, so first we will put this little fleece diaper on our little boy.  I ordered natural, but they were out of stock so instead we got these pretty colored ones! 

Since, I ordered the Kissaluvs as a package deal I got three of these old school (like our mom's used) covers.  They are the Bummis Whisper pant which will be a great back up for when the other covers are dirty.

 The covers that we are going to use are:

This morning I got a phone call that I won one of the Black Friday giveaways and would you believe it was something that I was planing on purchasing later anyway!  An $18 value, 12 prefold diapers that can be used on babies 7-17 lbs.  These work great in a pinch when the kissaluvs fitted diapers are in the wash and as burb cloths too! 

The next step will be moving to the Nicki's Best Bottom Diaper System:

So far we have these colors: vanilla, double chocolate, mint chocolate chip, key lime pie and cow print (thanks Amber!).  These are super easy, snap in the insert and put on the baby!

 Click here to go directly to their website and learn more!

We are also going to use cloth wipes because it is just as easy to throw those in the wash too!