Saying Goodbye to Pup

This has been a ridiculously hard week for us.

We had to say goodbye to our puppy.

We adopted her when she was only 7 weeks old after she had been rescued from a kill shelter in Tennessee.

She was the most perfect little ball of fluff, never barked in the house, was great with the baby, and always tried to stay close to her.

Even as Emma got older, Bailey was perfect with her, never even showing her teeth if her ears or tail got pulled.

They were always playing together. 

Emmalee constantly referred to Bailey as her puppy, saying things like "I love you my puppy".

And still, they were always together.

Bailey's loss was hard for Emmalee to understand because she's not quite old enough to grasp death yet. 

Macaroni Kid Baby Brunch

I posted yesterday, quickly about the Macaroni Kid Baby Brunch that Emma and I were invited to over the weekend. 

Macaroni Kid is pretty wonderful, it's a weekly newsletter and website that highlight all the great local events for you and your family! Sometimes they include great new companies and giveaways to events.

Laurie heads up the South Shore Boston version of Macaroni Kid and it's one of the few I'm subscribed to!

She hosted a baby brunch where Emmalee and I were invited to try out some really wonderful baby products!

There were tons of product samples, and Emmalee had a blast eating Happy Family snacks all afternoon!

Sadly, I was one of like 3 people to NOT win a raffle prize (wah!) but we all left with great goodie bags full of coupons, free samples, and discounts to local businesses!

I'm hoping they host more events because I really enjoyed this!

Birthday Weekend Recap

So far, 28 hasn't been so bad!

We started the weekend with the signing of a purchase and sales agreement!

Happy birthday to me, right?

I'll share more about the house later!

Dave treated me to a breakfast I didn't have to cook or clean up after: Dunkin Donuts! Ha!

Then we went off to go see the Lego Movie, which was ridiculously cute!

We picked up some sushi (crabmeat-no raw fish!) and went home to relax!

Friday night was spent at the hairdressers getting a cut while my friend watched Emmalee!

Saturday, we were up early for swimming lessons and since it was Emmalee's last, my mom met us to watch!

She also brought cupcakes, a nursing tank, gift cards to Home Goods and Cupcake Charlie's, as well as Cadbury mini eggs and Dove chocolates!

She totally spoiled me!

Emma and I went right to the Macaroni Kid Baby Brunch (more info tomorrow!) after and stopped at Charming Charlies and Marylou's on the way!

We got to try out some really great products!

Then it was time for dinner with my friends!

In honor of National Margarita Day, we went to a Mexican restaurant in downtown Plymouth.

I had not one, but TWO watermelon margaritas, virgin of course. 

Topped off with some fried ice cream and it was heavenly!

And then Sunday was spent in pj's most of the day-- glorious!

If 28 could keep going this way, that would be awesome!

Baby Update: 29 Weeks

How far along? 29 Weeks

Symptoms: Pregnancy brain, restless legs, achy lower back...

Total weight gain/loss: +6

Maternity clothes? Clothes? It's school vacation week. I haven't even gotten dressed unless I was going out...

Sleep:  I'm impressed by how well I have been able to sleep.  Still only at 2 wake ups a night!

Best moment this week:  So many this week! We went and saw my husband's side of the family, stayed in a hotel, went to an indoor water park, went to Disney on Ice and signed a purchase and sales agreement on our first home! Oh ya, and yesterday was my birthday!!

Movement: "He's going to be a soccer player..." says my husband and every old woman I meet...

Food cravings:  Canned pears. So weird. 

Gender: Boy!

Labor Signs: Nope, and it needs to stay that way.

Belly Button in or out?  In. But way shallower.

What I miss: Being able to lay on my back and snuggle my daughter as she lays on my chest.  We used to lay like that and watch movies a lot but now she's a bit off to the side and it's not nearly as comfy.

What I am looking forward to: Birthday dinner with my friends tonight! So excited to have such a great group of girls!

Weekly Wisdom:  If it's meant to be, it will be. Also, birthday cake ice cream is delish.

Milestones:  Took my glucose test this week.  Haven't heard anything yet so I'm hoping it went well!

Happy Birthday To Me!

It's my birthday!

I will NOT be around today because I'll be off doing wonderful amazing things all day!

I'll be back later to post the winner of my Birthday Giveaway!

Baby Update: 28 Weeks

How far along? 28 Weeks

Symptoms: Pregnancy brain, lower back pain, and I'm just sleepy some days.

Total weight gain/loss: +6

Maternity clothes? I still fit into my prepregnancy pants and this week fit into pants smaller than I used to! Not sure how I pulled that off! However, the past few days I've just wanted to wear sweatpants and oversized clothes.  I FEEL big lately.

Sleep:  I actually had two nights of full uninterrupted sleep this week which is pretty awesome.  Emma isn't waking up as frequently so that's helping too!

Best moment this week:  Meeting with my principal and getting a glowing review/assessment from her, having a boxful of baby clothes and maternity clothes dropped off in my classroom, and roses showing up at work from the hubs!

Movement: Constantly moving.  I wish I could tell if he's breech still and he's kicking down, or if he's flipped and is punching down.  The movement is everywhere!

Food cravings:  A friend made chocolate covered strawberries and posted them on facebook so I wanted them badly.  She brought one to class for me and then the culinary dept at my school made them and were selling them for 20 cents so I bought a whole dozen! I'm finding I'm really not hungry lately. It's weird.

Gender: Boy!

Labor Signs: Nope, and it needs to stay that way.

Belly Button in or out?  In. But way shallower.

What I miss: A lot of my clothes. My belly has popped enough that lots of my shirts don't cover the bottom of my belly!

What I am looking forward to:  It's officially school vacation week! This week we are looking at houses, escaping to Connecticut to go to an indoor waterpark, going to Disney on Ice, celebrating my 28th birthday (!), and getting a ton of lesson planning/school stuff done! Next vacation I'll be 37 weeks along!

Weekly Wisdom:  Calories don't count on holidays!

Milestones:  Even though we passed vitality week, baby's lungs are grown enough that if born today he'd be able to breathe on his own! That's crazy!

Taking the Plunge: House Hunting!

Well, apparently it's that time.  

We're growing up.

We have started looking for a house.

And more than just the "let's creep on Ziprealty, and Zillow, and Redfin and see if we love something" but actual, pre-approval letter in hand, looking at houses kind of house hunting! Yikes!

We're not in a rush but it's really fun so far!

What's the best piece of advice you could offer to us, since we are property virgins!

I'd love to hear some words of wisdom!

Baby update: 27 Weeks!

How far along? 27 Weeks

Symptoms: Pregnancy brain, lower back pain, and I'm just sleepy some days.

Total weight gain/loss: +6

Maternity clothes? I can still wear most of my prepregnancy jeans/pants and a lot of my shirts since I've always work things longer but I love maternity shirts, they are just more flattering. 

Sleep:  I go to bed at 9ish and wake up at 5:45 with one wake up sometime between 2 and 4. I can't complain.

Best moment this week:  Seeing girlfriends from college! One friend who had her daughter exactly a year after my little girl had her housewarming party and it was wonderful!

It's water.. don't sweat.

Movement: So much movement.  Sometimes it feels like he's pushing up, sometimes like hes trying to kick his way past my bladder.  He's an active little one!

Food cravings:  This weekend has been the weekend of fruit... blueberries, strawberries, pineapple... yum.

Gender: Boy!

Labor Signs: Nope, and it needs to stay that way.

Belly Button in or out?  In.

What I miss: Nothing at the moment...

What I am looking forward to:  My Tastefully Simple party that was supposed to be last week, is pushed to Tuesday! Also, we're going to start look at houses so we can buy our own!

Weekly Wisdom:  Don't try and drive into Boston on a Friday afternoon! Ew!

Milestones:  It's the third trimester-- officially!

Torn and A Little Stressed Out

I'm having a really hard time with something.

Emmalee has this (not so new) thing where she wakes up in the middle of the night and walks over to my bed and crawls in.

The master is on the first floor, the other two bedrooms are upstairs. 

Because of these middle of the night wake ups (and the fact that there are no heating vents to the upstairs rooms- whole other vent), we moved Emma's toddler bed to our room so I didn't have to worry about her falling down the stairs while drowsy during a middle of the night wake up.

Well now it's a habit. Every single night.

But here's my dilemma, I don't mind it. I love 'nuggle' time with my princess.

But I know it will be short lived because in a few short months, there will be another little munchkin who will have to be in bed with me to nurse.

So do I enjoy the snuggles for as long as I can, or do I start weaning her off of them sooner rather than later?

I'm afraid if I wait too long she'll feel like she's being kicked out for the new baby.

Any advice? This is totally stressing me out!!

Build A Bear Workshop

Emma was given a Build A Bear gift card for Christmas and we just HAD to go use it immediately!

Warning: Picture Heavy!

Baby Update: 26 Weeks

I really wish I documented more of this pregnancy because I feel like I'd flying by! So it's never too late to start right?

How far along? 26 Weeks

Symptoms: Pregnancy brain, lower back pain, and I'm just sleepy some days.

Total weight gain/loss: +5

Maternity clothes? I can still wear most of my prepregnancy jeans/pants and a lot of my shirts since I've always work things longer but I love maternity shirts, they are just more flattering. 

Sleep:  I go to bed at 9ish and wake up at 5:45 with one wake up sometime between 2 and 4. I can't complain.

Best moment this week:  Emma and David feeling the baby kick.  Emma holds her hands to my belly and says "Give me high five Baby!" and waits to feel it! I just love her!

Movement: So much movement.  Sometimes it feels like he's pushing up, sometimes like hes trying to kick his way past my bladder.  He's an active little one!

Food cravings:  Not really. I really wanted a peanut butter and jelly one night so Dave made it, but otherwise things come and go as whims.  Buying my first Cadbury egg of the year was probably a bad idea though...

Gender: Boy!

Labor Signs: Nope, and it needs to stay that way.

Belly Button in or out?  In.

What I miss: Margaritas.  A ton of friends were posting pictures of them on Instagram and Twitter the other night and I was super jealous. 

What I am looking forward to:  My Tastefully Simple party this coming Wednesday!

Weekly Wisdom:  "When it comes to pregnant women: the bigger the belly, the shorter the fuse." Words of wisdom from the guidance counselor to a student during a parent teacher conference this week.

Milestones:  Most people consider week 26 the end of the second trimester!