Week 33

Hi again,
This post is going to be short and sweet since yesterday's post was quite long. Week 33 flew by!  I worked, Nick worked his last official week in CA, we organized (garage, closets, drawers - oh my!), we relaxed (a little), and the next thing you knew it was Sunday morning!

The tail end of the week was so gorgeous here. The kind of weather that had me looking at Nick about 27 times a day and asking the same question "Are you sure we have to move?"

Sunny, 78 degrees, 33 Weeks Preggo

Gotta love a self pic

Us + the big, bad wolf 

Doesn't Dorsey Dog totally look like a cartoon wolf in her shadow? It made me laugh.  

Here is the official "week of" picture but I must say the tank top I had on looks like it is too short, I'm wearing a sports bra - it wasn't my best look of the week but hey you guys will cut me a little slack, right? ; ) 

8+ Month Mama

Precious Baby,  you are just growing away and I'm stretching / expanding along with you. You are most definitely my child because you sure like to move around a lot. This week your Dad and I signed up for our childbirth class at our new hospital for the first Saturday we are in AR!  We have also been reading our books on what to do with you when you actually arrive. Disclosure - we are somewhat clueless parents but are learning lots so don't worry (yet!) 

Thanks for being a trooper during this crazy time! Like I said last week, you are so much better off staying inside where it is so peaceful and when the time is right (preferably as close to March 16th as possible) we will beyond excited to meet you. 

xoxo little one

32 Week Fun, Belated.

I am happy to report that since my last post no other major life changes or decisions have been thrown into the mix and although I'm pretty sure we are covering all the major ones right now I feel like that is worth sharing. Also after my last post I received several thoughtful emails, texts and phone calls from those of you who follow my blog.  Thank you.  It means a lot and without getting all sappy, I'll leave it at that.

After we returned from Arkansas, we had two super fun things occur and I must share although they are belated.  One was the gender reveal party for our close friends and the other was having one of my college roommates / best friend + her cute BF come stay with us from Chicago -  all in the same day!! It was the perfect thing to come home to after a pretty hectic week in AR.

Nick in the background with his pink bow on in support of GIRL

Mustaches for Team Boy

So how cute is this idea?!  For the gender reveal everyone had a can of silly string and at the same time everyone sprayed his or hers to reveal the sex of Baby B!  See it play out below... 

Mama, Daddy & Big Sister Hallee

Poor Hallee Jane started crying from all the commotion but we think she is excited to have a little SISTER :) 

Our Amazing Small Group / Dear Friends (sans Ryan)

*2 little girls now, 2 little girls on the way & 2 little ones (gender unknown) due this Summer*

We say that we have the most fertile small group EVER and that in order to be part of it you must produce a child.  Kidding, kidding. :)  It has been so special to share our pregnancy adventure with these truly amazing friends!

After all the baby fun we headed down to the Pier to meet up with B & Mik.  We couldn't have asked for a prettier evening. 

I snapped this shot when we were walking up to the restaurant 

I will miss evenings like this one

Good times, great friends

After drinks at the Pier, we headed home and B had a little surprise up her sleeve... She gave me a book for the baby and then proceeded to tell me that the 9 girls I lived with my Junior & Senior years of college also had books for me / Baby.  But that wasn't all... she opens her computer and each one of my girlfriends had videotaped themselves reading the book that they are gifting to the baby.  It was just the sweetest thing.  Of course I cried but I had some good laughs too. 

I look horrible but I love B's face. Marcel the Shell - how cute!

Watching the videos from the girls

It is moments / memories like these that truly put everything into perspective.  Nick and I are so blessed to have the friendships that we do and no matter where we live those will always come with us. 

I have my Week 33 pic but at this point I think you've read and seen enough for one day so I'll just wrap it up for now.  Have a great week pals! xoxo 

Ch-ch-changes

Oh friends I just don't even know where to begin... since my last post quite a bit has happened at the Sass Household.  Here's the BIG news - Nick accepted a promotion and we are relocating to Arkansas. Yes, Arkansas! As soon as we got wind of this news and the initial shock wore off, we booked our flights to Arkansas and spent last week there house hunting, BUYING a house, checking out the area and meeting with a new doctor.  Just writing it out makes me want a nap :) 


But wait there's more - Nick's official start date is Jan. 30th (as in next week!!) and we can't forget one small detail - I'm 8 MONTHS PREGNANT! Eeeeeee! So here's the plan: we are moving to AR the second week of February, setting up the nursery, getting unpacked, taking those ever-so-important birthing / CPR / childcare classes and of course having a healthy little girl. 


So bear with me if my blogging is inconsistent over the next few weeks or if you call me and I sound like a crazy person or you end up talking to my voicemail. We are in a total time crunch.

32 Weeks! 

Baby Girl, you are 18 inches and 4 pounds. Gosh you are getting big! You are excellent travel companion and we couldn't be more thankful for your cooperation. Trust me when I say that you are better off staying inside for the time being as life on the outside is a little hectic at the present moment. We can't wait to eventually meet you but for now just hold tight, keep growing and we'll be a happy little family in Arkansas soon. 

xoxo

30 Weeks

Happy New Year to You!  I hope you had a wonderful holiday, we sure did. As I mentioned - we went home for a 9 day a celebration: Christmas, a baby shower and my sister's wedding. It was a total whirlwind of unforgettable memories with family & friends.

I want to give each event it's own glory so I'll be playing catch up over the next week so you can see all the fun. In the mean time, here is Mama Peeps at Week 30.  It was crazy to write a "3" as the first number.

Baby, you are a growing girl! You are almost 3 pounds now and over 15 inches long.  This weekend we got into baby mode and purchased a glider AND a changing table. Your Dad keeps saying after each purchase - "so we're good to go now, right?!" Ummm not quite... a still have quite a list ; )

Please excuse my attire / "play clothes" as we call them in my family, we were cleaning out the garage & putting away Christmas

Ok dear ones, I'm a sleepy Mama so sorry for the brief post. More to come in the next few days.

xoxo

28 Weeks

Merry Christmas to You! 

"So Merry Christmas everyone 

And Peace throughout the year

The time has come to celebrate

So let your voices fill, the air

Everyone, watch and pray 

that the sun will shine on a brighter day

Join your hands, lift them high

For this gift of life" 

28 Weeks!

Merry Christmas Baby and friends! Excited for a week of celebrations!  xoxoxo 

27 Weeks

Ho ho ho!  Only ONE week until Christmas! Let's all pause for a deep breath, ok more deep breaths... So despite all the joy and  excitement I can't help but have some anxiety about all that still must get done - packed / shipped / baked / wrapped in the next few days.  Whoa Nelly.

One week from today we'll fly home for a 9-day celebration - Christmas, my 1st baby shower, a WEDDING (not just any wedding, my sister's wedding!!!), and loads of family & friend time! The excitement is almost too much for this pregnant gal.

The soon to be MR. & MRS.!

This weekend we went to a Holiday party for one of Nick's customers and I decided to wear an oldie but goodie dress (well, it's more like a top these days). I debuted this dress in October 2007 when I was visiting Nick out in Boulder, Co.  Oh how we have changed and not just physically!

Then

Now

Baby, you are taller than a Barbie doll this week! You weigh over 2 pounds and head to toe are 14-15 inches. That seems really tall to me.  I love all your moving and even kicking; it makes me giggle. This week you got several adorable new outfits from the sweet ladies who attend St. A's.  I often feel like I'm birthing you for the entire congregation as they all refer to you as "our baby." I don't mind and you'll love it when you arrive and get to meet them all!

Dorsey wanted to say Hi to Baby

Last week of my 2nd Trimester

Baby, you are so loved already. I hope you are enjoying this special time of year from within; I can't wait for next year when you are here!!  xoxo

26 Weeks

Season's Greetings Friends! Have you gotten in the Christmas spirit? We finally have and it's about time! In addition to the constant hum of Holiday tunes on Pandora - I finally watched Love Actually (an all time favorite!), sent out our Christmas cards and put up some Holiday decor. We opted to not put our tree since we'll be heading home in just two weeks (eeeeeeeeee!) and this Mama wasn't up for the challenge of unwrapping all the ornaments, unraveling the lights, etc.  Yes, I'm pulling the pregnancy card.

Ho, ho, ho! 26 weeks!

 Switching up from our usual spot for something a little more festive

Baby, you weigh about a pound and two-thirds and measure 14 inches from head to heel.  You are very active these days - I wonder who you get that from?!  Today during church when Pastor Paula was praying I think you were doing a gymnastics routine.  ; )  


We've reached the point where everyone asks about you as soon as they see me, even strangers. They are very curious if we have picked out your name - we haven't chosen one yet. Your Dad and I have a few favorites but we aren't sharing with anyone...


We are planning and praying for you every day. I hope you are enjoying all the Christmas music, next year you'll be 9 months old & what a different Christmas we'll be preparing for. Exciting! 


Have a great week all! xoxo   

25 Weeks

I am happy to report that the shock of the 6 month mark has passed at our household and if anything it was a motivator that it's time to start registering for baby.  Registering is both fun and overwhelming.  I had wonderful advice from fellow mamas to get me started but still there are SO MANY CHOICES and I am the person who reads the reviews of every product to see why someone loved or hated it.  To sum it up, in one hour I successfully picked out 5 products!  At this rate, the child will be in preschool and I will have finally selected her highchair... ; )

Still rocking the leggings

Baby is now 9 1/2 inches and 1 1/2 pounds. Crazy fact - the baby's hair color has now been determined and if she takes after her Mama it will be jet black "Elvis hair"  (as my parents called it) when she is born - haha. 

Speaking of babies - yesterday my friend Katie and I went up to Santa Barbara for a posh baby shower for our sweet friend Nicole who is due in January!!  It was hosted by her mother-in-law who lives right on the ocean. It was a gorgeous spot and a wonderful shower.  Below are some pics

Perfect weather & backdrop 

Me, Mama Nicole & Katie

*I didn't get the memo on the purple ; ) 

How darn cute are these birdies??!

Sweet Mama-to-Be! 

What a fun day for Nicole and it made me super excited for my upcoming shower in KY! On this docket this week - CHRISTMAS: cards to go out, decorations to go up and more presents to be purchased. 

Fa la la la! xo fellow elves

24 Weeks!

Hiiiieeee! Holy moly - 24 weeks = 6 months or 1/2 a year!  I said this to Nick and a look of panic went across his face at the thought of how quickly this pregnancy is flying by and / or how "soon" our baby will in fact arrive. I know, I know we've got months to go and it will hit a point when the days drag on and the due date seems like it will never arrive but for now we are cruising in top speed it seems.

Is it just me or did I totally pop from last week to this week?  Granted this picture was taken yesterday so technically it's week 24 1/2 but still....

Baby Girl is almost 9 inches and weighs 13 oz. I did confirm this week in my books that we are out of fruit stage and just into your baby is a small doll phase.  Since it is dolls I guess my mind will picture everything from Barbie to American Girl doll between now and March.  : )

I'm off to work!  Happy Cyber Monday! xoxo

Turkey Time

Gobble, gobble. We just returned from a wonderful Thanksgiving in Minnesota. We were welcomed on Wednesday night by Nick's family to a great meal followed by several sweet gifts for Baby.  Thank you, thank you G-ma Millie, Aunt Julie & Mom Sass!

 It's Thanksgiving but yes the Christmas tree is up in MN - love.

On Thanksgiving Day, we watched the parade in the morning (always a favorite) and got to see our alma mater's, Miami University, marching band. They were the chosen band to lead in Santa - yay Redhawks!  By noon our crew of 22 had arrived and was ready to eat. 

 Grateful so many could be together 

On Friday, we left the crazy Black Friday sales for others and decided to go to the Christkindlemarket in downtown Excelsior. It is a cute, German-inspired market with booths, carolers, etc and then we spent a few hours doing a little Christmas shopping in the local shops. 

My sis-in-law & me

On Thursday night I was initiated into the annual "girls-only" Krumkake party. Krumkake is basically a delicious waffle cookie that you roll into a cone shape. It requires a special iron, some patience and if you are not pregnant I recommend a glass or two of wine. ; ) 

Ready to go!

Messy but so fun!

Fruits of our labor 

On Saturday morning we had to say our good-byes and fly back home!  Like I said, it was fun & memorable holiday - now it's time to focus on Advent Season / Christmas. 

Hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving too! xoxo