Christmas

We have had a fun week. Abe's mom Margie came and visited us until Christmas morning and Adeline absolutely loved it! She was hoping to see the baby before she left, but that never happened. We still had fun getting pedicures, shopping, and just hanging out. On Christmas Eve we had a nice dinner and opened some presents that Margie brought since she was leaving really early Christmas morning.



Margie flew out about 7am on Christmas and my parents flew in about 1:30pm on Christmas Day. So we ended up celebrating another Christmas Eve, and then actually celebrated Christmas the day after. Adeline was so excited that Santa came and was so much fun to watch. Every present she got she wanted to spend time and play with it. Her #1 thing that she asked Santa for: a "pink" baby... which he brought her. She has been obsessed with it! It was such a fun day.








Since then we have been hanging out waiting for this baby to come. Today I am 40 weeks and 4 days... so depressing!! My dad is leaving tomorrow morning, so he is totally going to miss it as well. It makes me sad since we live so far away from family. I feel like I am never going to have this baby. I have been dilated and effaced for weeks, had my membranes stripped twice, worked out a lot, got a pedicure, taken evening primrose oil, drank Red Raspberry Leaf tea, ate spicy food, used a pump, etc, etc, etc. For people who think that you can help labor on your own, I am not a believer anymore!! I have done EVERYTHING that you can possibly think of (except for Castor Oil... I refuse). HOpefully this baby will come soon. I have a doctors appointment tomorrow and am hoping he can help me get this going! Just as long as she comes before the 1st of January!!


Today we have been pretty lazy and have been laying around. Adeline did get to go sledding for a little bit in the neighborhood. Abe tied Chloe up to the sled and the road were icy enough that Chloe was able to pull her. Pretty funny.

due date

and yet no baby....

On Tuesday at my appointment I was 2cm dilated and at least 90% effaced. So really, she can come any minute since I am ready... or I could be 2 weeks late! Abe's mom has been in town, so we have been trying really hard to get this baby here before she leaves. Well, she leaves very early tomorrow morning, so unfortunately that didn't happen. I have been to the gym the past 4 days. The first day I worked out on the eliptical on the hardest hill level possible and then walked with Abe for a little bit. 2nd day I speed walked 2 miles. 3rd day speed walked 3 miles and ran the last lap. Today we speed walked 3 miles and ran the last 2 laps. Now I am hoping she doesn't come till Sunday so we can actually enjoy Christmas with Adeline in the next couple of days. Since my parents are flying in tomorrow afternoon, we are postponing Christmas morning until Saturday. I have tried just about everything in the book to get the baby out... except for castrol oil of course. I have heard horrible things about it.

merry christmas

Last weekend we went to our Ward Party. Adeline knew that Santa was going to be there and didn't stop talking about it all day long. As soon as he arrived at the party, she decided that she didn't want to see him anymore and got scared. Abe sat with her and watched all the other little kids go through the line and sit on his lap.... and get a candy cane, which she really wanted. After about 1/2 hour of watching, Abe convinced her to wait in line. The whole time she was glaring and was not the happiest camper. She was SO brave though. Abe kneeled down by santa holding her and she whispered in his ear " I want a pink baby". She REALLY wanted to tell him that. Then Abe got her to sit on his lap for a second so she could get a candy cane. She didn't look at me once... so I got pretty horrible pictures. She has been talking about him ever since and always tells us, "Santa's nice!"




Here are our pictures that were going to be on our Christmas Cards. I thought I would all wish you a merry christmas right now since we will not be sending them out anymore. I have been so busy. When it finally got around time to order my cards I thought it would be silly because I just want to send another one out once the baby is born. So we most likely will be sending a New Year's Card??




For all of you guys that guessed I would go a week and a half early (last saturday or sunday)... I am still pregnant. Thanks for the high hopes though. Over a week ago I went to the Doctor and was told I was 2cm dilated and 80% effaced. That is great since I was nothing 5 days late with Adeline. I went again this morning and I am the same... bummer. I REALLY want this baby to come before Christmas. My doctor says my cervix is ready and she is so low that I could go into labor tonight... but she could also hang out there and go overdue. So don't hold your breath!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Girls Night/ Baby Shower & another project

Last week my friend Laura had a "girls night" baby shower for me at the Cheesecake Factory. It was so much fun getting out with all the girls, having good company and yummy food. The only thing that this new little baby would have been lacking was winter clothes since Adeline was a summer baby, but not anymore!! Thanks girls for such a fun night out!


I have been extremely busy and have been trying to cross things off on my "to do" list. One accomplishment out of many was finally making time to make my moses basket bedding. I think it turned out really cute!



My due date is two weeks away from Thursday. Any bets on when I will deliver? Let's just hope that a) it's after this Saturday and b) it's not on Christmas Eve (my due date) or Christmas!! I'm feeling pretty uncomfortable so I'm hoping for 39 weeks!

Already December?

I can't believe that it is already December! Crazy because I only have 3 more weeks until my due date. I am a little overwhelmed because I have SO much to do before Christmas. I haven't thought too much about giving birth, which I need to since I am going natural. I still have a lot of editing to finish, need to take out baby clothes and wash them, pack my hospital bag, etc, etc, etc. The list goes on and on. I want her to come a little early, but not yet!

First of all, I posted a couple of belly pictures because a lot of people have been bugging me about it. I think I am 35 weeks in these pictures. It was good that I took some, because these are the only ones I have taken this entire pregnancy.






Adeline has been so cute lately. She LOVES pretending and keeps herself entertained taking care of her dolls, cooking fake food, pretending to go shopping and swimming, etc. She is really excited for the baby too and says all the time that she wants her to come out so she can hold her. She always wants to feel and listen to my belly as well. If you ask her where her baby sister is though, she still lifts up her shirt, points to her belly and says "right there!"




We had a great Thanksgiving. We had some of our friends over and they all pitched in and helped make the dinner. I love Thanksgiving!

the kids were really antsy about eating pie... they kept sticking their fingers in it






I had the best intentions of staying up all night and participating in black friday. By the time Thanksgiving night came around, I started realizing how crazy I was being. So I decided not to go out. I'm sure it was a good thing because I heard that a girl waiting at Toys-r-us went into labor from all the stress. Abe ventured out at 2:30am to Sears and bought a big TV. He had been saving part of our tax return from last year and finally got what he wanted!

On Saturday we went to a tree farm and cut down our own Christmas tree. Adeline had a blast. She rode in the sled while we were looking for a tree and kept saying "I'm having fun!" We would ask her what tree she wanted and she would always pick a tiny little tree and say "I want the little one".


This is the tree she picked out... we didn't get this one though...


The weekend before Thanksgiving was a tree lighting near our house. We took Adeline and she loved it! She got to see Santa in the Parade. She was excited to see him, but when she actually "saw" him, she started crying. At least she is excited about him when he is not in sight. They also had fake snow blowing everywhere (since we still don't have snow), real reindeer, nativities, and the huge tree. She is so excited for Christmas, it is pretty fun.


Random picture of Adeline wearing a 0-9 month robe....

A week ago we decided to have a movie night with Adeline. We rented "UP" and pulled our couch out into a bed, made popcorn and all got in our pajamas. I think we are going to start making this a tradition because Adeline loved it.


Sorry that I have been a horrible blogger, but I have been so busy. I can't wait to get all my work done so I can actually focus on my family and having a baby... if the baby doesn't come before I have time to focus on that!

Baby update, New Car, Halloween...

My mom told me this morning that it was about time I update my blog. I really have been a slacking blogger. It has been the last thing on my priority list since I have been so busy. Hopefully my life will settle down so I can start "nesting" for this baby.

Today I am 33 weeks pregnant. I just got back from an Ultrasound, Stress Test, and appointment. Welcome to another weekly "chore" I have to do EVERY WEEK! They have been a little concerned because I measure small, and the baby is in a small percentile. So lets just say they are watching her closely to make sure they don't have to take her out any time soon. So far, so good. The Smarts and Barkers just have small babies. And don't worry, I gained a whopping 4lbs, THIS WEEK! I must have eaten way too much Halloween candy. Plus I guess it's about time I start packing on the lbs.

We also purchased a Saturn Outlook about two weeks ago. We drove all the way to Chicago to pick it up and I LOVE it!


The week of Halloween Adeline and I made my Great-Grandma's famous sugar cookies. Adeline LOVES helping me do everything and she really likes helping bake cookies because she feels entitled to several when they are done.






Halloween was a lot of fun for Adeline this year. Her friends came over for dinner and then they all went trick or treating together. She had been anticipating Halloween for quite some time now and would always say, "you knock on the door... and then, trick or treat!"





Lately, when she has to go potty she runs to the bathroom yelling "don't let Chloe eat my food!" Its true that Chloe is a threat when it comes to protecting one's food. She is always really worried about it. Another thing she has been saying lately is "don't leave me!" She'll say it really sad and make us feel bad when we are putting her down for a nap or bedtime. She is such a good girl and is at such a fun age right now. I love it!

Boston

It's pretty official... we are going to be moving to Boston in April. Abe just got an email notifying him that we will be moving there for his follow on assignment (he graduates from his masters program in March). Not sure how I feel about it yet. We have known for quite awhile that we will most likely be going there, but I was kind of hoping just to stay here. I love it here. I love our house.

Anyway, I have lots of updates and pictures that I will hopefully get time to post in the next couple of days. I have been SLAMMED with Photography and doctors appointments.... more info on that to come. Hope you all had a Happy Halloween!