Project 365: Day 51

34 weeks today! Mom took us out to good ole' Lake Susan to take maternity pictures for our Christmas card... and  a few of them I really like :-D





Project 365: Day 50

I finally got to a point where I couldn't wear my wedding band  and engagemet ring anymore :( A lot of people told me to just wear them on a chain around my neck, but that made me a little nervous. What if the chain broke and I lost those rings? Justin worked hard to buy those rings for me! So, Justin and I searched high and low for a ring that I liked... and that fit. I have fat fingers to begin with so that was a bit of a challenge considering that my hands swell depending on the temperature and if I've done a lot with my hands during the day. I had to buy a ring a whole size up... so sometimes it's a little lose, and other times it's perfect! We finally found a ring I liked at a little shop in town and I was super relieved. I couldn't just not wear anythign on my finger, it felt naked and I freaked everytime I realized my rings were missing... even though they are in a safe place!

Definately  not a typical wedding band or even engagement ring... but I like it. I will probably hold on to it for Elah since it's what I'll be wearing until my body gets back to normal after having her. I might even get a new one for my next pregnancy. Perhaps a new tradition?

Today was a pretty uneventful day in the Massey household. I didn't do much this morning except sleep in, and stay under the covers watching movies all morning. My hips are spreading and they're really painful right now... and no matter what I do I hurt. Atleast when I'm lying down I can find a tiny bit of relief. This evening we went to my inlaws and cooked dinner (well... Justin cooked dinner LOL!)... my favorite! Wings, baked french fries and green beans. YUMMO! Needless to say, I was a very very happy pregnant lady :-D

Elah is doing well, she's definately running out of room however. Her movements are much stronger and she makes me rather uncomfortable sometimes. This morning she made herself comfortable on my right side and stayed that way for over an hour! My belly was totally lopsided! This evening she's up between my ribs, and I'm pretty sure her butt is right there against the front of my stomach. I thought I was having a Braxton Hicks contraction because of how hard it felt.... until I realized it wasn't just firm, it was moving. So yea... Elah is enjoying stretching mommy's tummy out!

Tomorrow I'm hoping my mom will be feeling better (her students shared their sicky germs) so that she can take a "family" picture of us for our Christmas cards! You may have seen my post a few days ago about Shutterfly! I received my code to get 50 free cards after writing my post, so now I just need to design them and pay shipping and handling so that we can mail them out! Even more exciting than that.... I'm 34 weeks tomorrow! Elah could be here within a month! How crazy is that?!?!? I love being pregnant, but this pregnancy has definately been a bit miserable, so I will be SUPER excited for Elah to finally get here and to have my body back! I will miss those kicks and nudges and knowing that she's protected in my womb... BUT it would be nice to be able to reach to shave my own legs and tie my own shoes.... ;-)

Nesting.... eek.

As I posted earlier today, I have been super productive for the first time in months! I have a little bit of energy, not much, but more than I've gotten used too. I didn't have any nausea today and I was able to get out of bed and function like a normal person, with the exception of super sore hips and my ginormous belly! Everything in our house is pretty much ready for Elah, and has been since the week after our baby shower... but there were a few more things I wanted and needed to get accomplished.

This is what I got done today:

• Washed and sorted all of Elah's cloth diapers (stuffed and put into baskets on her shelf)
• Worked on the burp cloths that I am making... only have 3 left to do!
• Sorted and rearranged things in her room to make room for new things
• Batteries were installed in her bassinet
• We didn't do this today, but we finished the majority of the pages for Elah's scrapbook yesterday!
• Packed my bag for the hospital... all I need is to add maternity tanks (which mom just ordered for me!)
• Packed Elah's diaper bag to stash in the car in case we need to stop anywhere on the way home from the hospital
• We are doing our birthing classes....
• Scheduled infant feeding class
• Scheduled hospital tour
• Already met with one of Elah's pediatricians
• Kind of sort of finished my birth "plan"
• Between Janelle, Justin and myself... we pretty much know how we're going to handle getting in touch with eachother when I go into labor

Things I still need to do:

• Buy large batteries for bouncy seat and swing
• Set aside pillows and boppy for the hospital
• Finish those last 3 burp cloths
• Get the house CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN

And I'm sure I'm forgetting a few things... but you get the idea ;-)

Project 365: Day 49

I've almost made it to Day 50... and I've kind of sort of kept up with this challenge! Woohoo!

Anyways, today I am being super duper productive. What's wrong with me?! I'm thinking that nesting has seriously set in... so far today I've done 3 loads of laundry, including prewashing Elah's cloth diapers, worked on the burp cloths I'm making, finished a paper for one of my classes, a quiz for another, and started studying for an upcoming exam! That's a lot considering I haven't done much of anything this entire pregnancy!

First picture... this is the top of a blanket I started for J's nanny in February... of 2009. Really. So once I finish the burp cloths I think I'm going to start finishing that... MAYBE it will get done for Christmas, but I doubt it. Otherwise my goal is to atleast have it finished to give to her for Mother's Day!
And... introducing Singer. My sewing machine. My mom bought her for me about 2 years ago I believe... yea. I'm slowly but surely learning... I suck at straight lines, and I've only managed to make a few things! When Janelle was pregnant with James and Jonathan I made 2 bibs and a set of burp cloths for them... and I've made a baby blanket, a dog blanket, and several tops for other quilts (including the one above). I really want to make some clothes for Elah and some cute stuffed animals I found on http://www.homemadebyjill.blogspot.com/ . (Check her out, she ROCKS!)

This is what progress I've made on the burp cloths. Compared to the one's I made for Janelle and her boys these are HUGE! But I think they'll be better that way! I have about 6 left to sew and then I have to go back and cut around the edges so that they'll fray. I actually got the pattern from http://www.homemadebyjill.blogspot.com/ !

Project 365: Day 48

This is what we've done ALL day... work on Elah's first scrapbook. I'm currently working on the pages with baby bump pictures and sonograms...and I think Justin is working on the pages w/his family on them. Exhausted.

Project 365: Day 47

I went on an adventure today with the Flints... we finished filling 4 Operation Christmas Child boxes, ventured to the mall to eat at Chick Fil A (where about 20 different school buses of kids were JUST leaving... close call!)... and then we stopped at Earth Fare. James and Jonathan were asleep, so Joseph and I stayed in the truck with them while Janelle and Jesse and JoyAnn bought groceries. Just after they went inside this car pulled up beside us and this HUGE dog stuck his head out the window! He (or maybe she?) was gorgeous! I very sneakily caught a picture to share... not a great pic, but he really was beautiful!

Project 365: Day 46

Shutterfly Christmas Gifts and Cards!

I've never used photo Christmas cards, however, this year being our first year starting a family, and even possibly having our little Miss Elah here for Christmas it sounded like a great idea! Since we don't know for sure when Elah will be here, Justin and I want to create Christmas cards with our "first family photo"... we're going to have my mom take a picture of Justin and myself holding Elah... in my belly. LOL! And then next year, our Christmas card will be all about our little princess all dressed up for the holidays! I think it will make a fun family tradition!

As I was browsing through all the many choices that Shutterfly has to offer, a few of them really caught my eye! This one is fun and a little bit different from your normal red and green traditional Christmas card...

This may be the one we choose, but I won't know for sure until after we get our picture taken! I might even plan our wardrobe to go with this card so that we can use it! Another one I really liked was this one...


I love the little snowmen! This would be a sweet card for our "first family photo!" I can't wait to start really going through and putting our picture into the cards to pick the perfect one! Shutterfly makes it super easy with a step by step process, and with all of their countless choices you should have no problem finding a card to suit your family!

Not only does Shutterfly have cards, but they have an endless supply of gift ideas, invitations, and even wall art! All you have to do is choose the pictures you want printed on the product and order! Here are a few of my favorites that I hope to order for Christmas next year with our daughter's picture on them!

Calendars
Personalized Mugs
Canvas Wall Art

Don't stop reading though! If you are a blogger you can get 50 FREE holiday cards from Shutterfly! Sign up HERE.

Project 365: Day 45

Well... I had a picture of all the scrapbook pages and stuff I'm using on my phone... and now it has disappeared :( Ugh.

I'm working on Elah's first scrapbook... I'm hoping to make a series of them for her so that she'll have them to look at with her future husband and children and grandchildren! I hope to do the same for any siblings we give her... but who knows. Knowing me, I'll slack off and not get it done :-\

Anyways, this first book starts with pictures of J and I when we first started dating, then it moves on to engagement pictures, wedding pictures, pictures of our families, pictures of Snickers and Mudgett... and then finally onto belly pictures, pregnancy tests (yes I kept them) and baby shower cards, pieces of wrapping paper and punch outs from the gift bags, etc. I can't wait to finish it :)

Project 365: Day 43 & 44

Ok. So... we decided to put the Christmas tree up a few weeks early, typically, we put it up on Thanksgiving evening... but I wanted it up NOW. After 2 days of putting everything up, which wasn't even everything we usually put up, I'm wishing we had put it up in like June. It took all of my energy, and all of my strength and stamina to just put ornaments on a tree. Seriously? It was awful :( I went to bed SUPER early last night, and after finishing today we went to mom's and I basically collapsed into a chair most of the day. I'm pooped!

And after looking at this picture... my OCDness comes out... the bottom of my tree needs to be fluffed. It's off balance people!