Preparing for Baby Girl

Steven and I finally have been purchasing things needed for baby. We got a pack n play (thanks to my mom). We are using that as baby's bassinet. They have a changing table and a little diaper attachment.

It was the last GRACO pack n play, and it was "on clearance." The red sticker said $128. When we checked out, we found it was only $75! Sweet!!!

Here is our night putting it together:

 Posing for the pic. (cute smile, huh?)

 Completing the last part!

He is a cutie. I have to say, having this set up in our room (only for the first 6 weeks) really brings baby into reality. We are almost to the point we can expect her any day!

Also, you can see the little diaper station attached to the side is full. It has diapers right below it. I opened the Newborn package, and I swear I fell in love!! It smelled like baby. So, so, so very good. I know when they poop, they will stink. But if this is what babies smell like, I will love having a baby around. Heavenly.

I really like the Wal-Mart we went to. So, awesome deal on pack and play. They had a stroller/car seat travel system on clearance, but it wasn't in the budget for this month.... I am praying somehow it stays until July.



And then there were these beauties! I wish we were super rich and I think I would have bought them out for baby presents for friends and family. Please correct me if these aren't good prices! I am one who loves a good deal but am willing to admit I'm not very familiar with this market yet!

All those things were $3 each and the white long sleeve onsie (on left) was $1.50. The larger stickers are just tricking you. There are really small ones that said $3. :)

 4 onsies for $3 on the left. Awesome, price, no? And 3 burp cloths for $3. I wasn't going to get any burp cloths because they were expensive and you can use wash cloths and such instead, but they are stinkin' adorable (and what I thought to be a great price)! The bottom one is a  pink leopard print--just in case you can't see it. :)

 This baby memory book was $3. Originally $13. Hopefully, my sil, Becca, doesn't read this blog. Cause this is her baby present. :)

I was sad that they didn't have any for girls. Oh, well. It is something still on my to-get list (along with many other things). There are quite a few items we will be hunting for at garage sales. It would be a lot easier if Steven wasn't so tired Saturdays, but we do what we can!

Preparing for baby has been fun. I still feel like we have so many loose ends (because.... we do.). But it's slowly coming together.

P.S. If anybody knows of a washer/dryer in SLC area being sold for a good price, please feel free to share the info! We are definitely in the market! (We have been looking at Craigslist and KSL for good prices and such but I always feel more comfortable knowing where the stuff comes from.) Or dressers/bookshelves/organizational boxes. We still don't have our home quite as furnished as this expectant mother would like. Example: My bedroom would look a lot better with a place for the clothes.... We'll just leave it at that.

:)

Ultimate Sweetness

Note: Just another journal entry. Read according to your own boredom. P.S. I am not publishing on facebook, so only those of you who are subscribed will have the luxury  to read this (hopefully it doesn't scar you). If you are concerned just don't read the really small font. :D

Everybody says their husband is the best. This always kinda bugs me because.... well, a lot of people think that. So, it's inaccurate. Not everybody can be right. =P Maybe (as in probably, most likely, definitely) is a little too logical

But, today I will say it.... and be a hypocrite. :)

Steven has been amazing during this pregnancy. I haven't had complications or anything (just swollen feet once in a while). I have been tired. Yes. I have been experiencing food aversions. Sure. I have had some other minor pains. Fact. But nothing to really stop from doing what I need to. Or at least that's what my high expectations say. 

Steven has cooked a ton of dinners. He has done tons of dishes. He hops up from naps (even if he has had less sleep than me due to his shifts) to answer the door. He has rubbed my feet and legs loads. This may be weird, but I don't care. My journal :). When our swamp cooler went out (and it was like a bijilion degrees outside (ok more like 100)), he got a sponge and would wet my belly and fan it. Weird? Probably. But sweet. And just the other day, he painted my toenails. I think I may have mentioned this in another post, but it seriously means that much to me. Bending over has become a not-so-pleasant experience recently. And to do it long enough to paint my toes? Not going to happen. My old toenail polish was decreasingly pretty to look at. One toe even had all of it chipped off. It was hideous. So, we watched a movie one night and he painted them. 

When I told my sisters-in-law (16 and 12) yesterday (we were at the cabin for a surprise bday party for the mil) that Steven painted my toes, they kind of chuckled and made fun of him saying that it was really girly that he did it and did it so well! .... until I mentioned it was because it was very comfortable for me. Then there were some long, girly "awwww"s. haha I love them. 

My mom and I had a long conversation the other day about marriage and introducing kids and responsibilities of both spouses. I will try to never expect Steven to take care of the kids when he gets home from work, but according to his record. I think he will once in a while. And how grateful I am to have a wonderful husband who isn't afraid of relieving me of my duties frequently enough that I'm not surprised. Just grateful. And happy. 

We gave talks last week on fathers. And before I forget, I want to write down that a lady in our ward (still don't remember names... darn it) came up and told me that Steven's talk was wonderful. "You can tell he is a good man," is what she told me. 

What did I do to deserve somebody like him?

Well, I don't know but if I find out I'll do it over and over again. 

35 weeks Questions and Thoughts

Sorry for the lack of pictures. I am lame when it comes to pictures. We usually just don't take them. We are hoping to take some maternity ones this weekend. We'll see!

How far along? Ugh. I feel like such a horrible mom sometimes. I usually do not know the week when people ask. 35 weeks though (thanks to babycenter.com)

Total weight gain: I didn't know my starting weight but I'm thinking like 20-23
Maternity clothes? Yes on outings and no most days :) Husbands PJ pants and Tshirts. <3
Sleep: Nonexistent- because our swamp cooler was out for 3 days. Miserable. I froze Steven out last night after it was fixed.... whoops.
Miss Anything? Not being next to the kitchen and toilet all day. But I'll take it. I love this baby bump.
Movement: She moves around like crazy some days and not so much others. I can feel her whole body move. It's so fun! She likes to stick her butt out making my tummy very cone-like and lopsided.
Food cravings: Meat. I think it's the only thing I've craved and it's not very often. Not just any meat, either. Beef (steak...) of any sort is preferred. :)
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope.
Gender: Girl 
Belly Button in or out? My sister calls it a duck bill. It's weird.
Wedding rings on or off? Friend's-extra-almost-looks-like-an-engagement-ring.
Happy or Moody most of the time: Happy unless tired or hungry but that's pre-pregnancy :D
Looking forward to: Taking my glucose test thing today (not). I heard it's pretty nasty. Wish me luck! I don't want to do it again. The reason it is late is because of the move and finding a doctor and such. Oh, and having my body back. Feet not swelling for no apparent reason (or ANY reason) sounds blissful.




Post Doctor's Appt.I took the glucose test. It was bad until about 1/2 way through; it started to burn my throat after that. Nasty after taste. We'll see if results are ok. It's later than when they normally do it, but we had the move and such. 


It is interesting to see how creative people this pregnant move around.I don't mean waddle (which hasn't really happened yet), what I mean is moving positions while sleeping, getting up from sitting and/or laying. I think I would join Steven's laughter if it wasn't so frustrating at times. ;) Steven has been a sweetie by helping a bunch. Sometimes he'll help by providing support, or even a push. Gentle, of course. He'll get up when something requires fast reaction time. Like if I'm cooking something and we hear the water start to boil over. Popcorn that stops popping (we cook ours on the stove). I really need to make that man some caramel popcorn to say thanks. It's his favorite treat! Or just some caramel would work. 


Now, just for my records sake I am going to write about our feelings of becoming parents. It didn't really hit me how close this whole shindig was until about a week ago. I am extremely nervous. I guess it would be more nerve-racking if I wasn't though! I grew up with nieces and nephews and Steven grew up with lots of younger siblings. We should know quite a bit from experience (plus all the parenting/child/home management development stuff I took in college). I just don't feel like I can successfully implement my ideals as a parent. And I do have them. I formed them growing up but especially taking those classes! Steven says that it really hasn't hit him. The gravity of the whole thing. He's just excited to meet her. I probably should just take that route. I can't prepare for everything, so why not enjoy the moment? That's what everybody says anyway. Speaking of which, I very much do not prefer hearing that my life is never going to be the same. It sounds like it's just doom and gloom. But I see other mothers going through it and I smile. Heck, there have been times in my life that I was very much jealous of it. I just pray that while it's happening to me for the hundredth time that week that I remember how much I wanted this. I really hope not to become negative. I like to think that I've improved since graduating high school and I'm not negative anymore. But I am so nervous I will revert back to my old ways. That's one thing I learned happens under stress/anger/any emotion on a high. 


Which leads me to think about labor. Let me just document that this is the one and only thing that I have been scared of motherhood since being a child. No joke. Dead serious.I believe my mom and all my sisters have had average or shorter times delivering. I pray and pray that it is in our genes or something! The whole process scares me. So, it is my goal to read everything scientific I can about labor (no horror stories), visit my hospitals facilities, and take a Saturday class. I don't know if it's considered to be worth it, but I think in my case it will help with nerves. Anything I can do to expose myself to the reality. 


My lesson that I've learned (or at least seen and am learning) is not to panic because women who seem to have supernatural powers and be excellent moms (you know, the kind with their hair done and all their kids look like they came out of magazines) have their problems. They survive. Also, my dear sister went through a lot with a little one(s). And she survived, not only survived but happily. I think I can manage having the privilege of doing it and staying home. We can all do hard things. I can do hard things. That should be my motto for motherhood. That's what I say but as I reread that, I sit here and wonder, "Why does it have to be hard?" Do people just make it harder by trying to do too much? I don't do that whole overly full schedule thing very well. I don't think it's good for anybody's sanity. But maybe I do too much on the other side? Oh, heck. Whatever. I am having a baby. And she is just going to have to be ok with me. She has no other choice, but I will try my best. I hope in 5, 10, 20 years she reads this and knows that I tried to do my best. Whether it be putting her in a bunch of lessons and such or keeping her out of them. 


I love this little girl inside of me. It's crazy to think that my love will only grow for her. How is that possible when my heart already feels like it's going to burst? 


July 22nd, here we come!

Nutrition in Cooking 101

I have seen on a crock pot website about how when you cook in a microwave the nutrients get "zapped" out of the food and how it never happens in a slow cooker....

This is where I am grateful for my college education as a family and consumer sciences ed major. On the contrary, microwaves do a better job at keeping nutrients in the food than most forms of cooking (especially of the frozen variety). The longer something cooks, the more nutrients cook into any liquid around it and the hotter it is, the more nutrients break down. For the microwave, just place a little bit of water in the bottom of the bowl and put veggies right in on top. The water will create steam that will cook the veggies and any nutrients "lost" aren't really lost. They just moved locations. If you really are worried about using all the nutrients, just make sure you use the water. (P.S. I think microwaves give veggies the prettiest color that I've seen.) Slow Cookers probably have a higher possibility of cooking out the nutrients, but I do believe you use the liquid in most recipes, so you still get them. At least the ones that haven't broken down.

Here's a good example. Ever seen broccoli that is over cooked? It's hideous. The poor things.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdWMmgptkCEKh6WSAMrgXy4to8D5sdr0_d2uT4mQ-ASfiuevg3tKxGsgHQviXCtihaSmCTU9nQGWtvcDXD8bG80U6TS1Hv7Q_Q5kHk1q2eMdhIpoovZdfDUY8mI2KOrnXFbLdR6gfUGM/s1600/long+cooked+broccoli.jpg

 
Ew, right? Although the color is actually given off by chlorophyll and isn't considered a "nutrient," I think it gives a visual for what the nutrients go through. They aren't the same. They've changed. And for your Gee Wiz file, nutrients are colored. That's why it is recommended you get in all your "colors" of veggies.

Energy (heat is a form of energy) breaks down nutrients--not "zapping."

Did you know that microwaves actually cook by causing molecules in the food to move, like "vibrate." Then as the molecules on the outside start moving the molecules on the inside and so on and so forth. That's why the insides aren't hot enough sometimes. And that's also why it's important to let the food sit if the recipe says so. Ever cooked baked potatoes in the microwave but didn't let them sit for 5 minutes afterward and had unsatisfying potatoes? It's because you didn't give the heat created from conduction long enough to cook the middle! It's like magic.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love the crock pot, and I think it's marvelous. It just makes me want to share my knowledge with the world when I see silly things like that on websites.

So don't diss the microwave. K?


P.S. An update is on its way. It's a very long one because it's for the month of April, and April was a busy month. :)