Girl Time

I absolutely love it when I get girl time! Yes, I get my fill of time with Kalli who is my ultimate girl but I mean my friends, who are my age. Sometimes that is nice too! A bunch of us got together on Sunday afternoon and did a project that we saw on Pinterest.

I love how they turned out!!! It was a beautiful day and our friends have this big new shop that we worked in. We chit chatted, ate sugar cookie bars and went home with this awesome project that I never would have had time to do on my own. We've already made plans to do it again in November and are going to try to keep doing it every 6 weeks. I'm hosting November and we're going to make Christmas stuff! Yay, my favorite!!!

I seem to be cramming in the girl stuff before this baby comes in October. This weekend my mother in law, sister in law and I are going to get pedicures and do some shopping. Next week, a local business is hosting a Ladies Night Out and a bunch of us are going to that too. They have vendors, snacks, drinks & some pampering like nails, etc. I should be all relaxed and full of me time before the 6th when we head to the hospital for our c-section! Right?! 

Speaking of girls... My sister in law found out she is having a GIRL!!! We all thought it was a boy and we're so excited for her and her husband. I just had to send her a little pink happy present the day after they told us. I hope you are all getting a little me time or a day with your friends! It's such a great way to reset and relax! Oh, and Happy Fall!!!

Getting Ready for Baby - Cooking & Baking

Things have been so crazy around here! I thought we had plenty of time until baby was here but now we're down to almost 2 weeks! Just 2 weeks people! I think I was ready three months ahead of time with Kalli but the time has just disappeared this time around. I have just two projects left for baby's room & then I need to go dig out the car seat, baby bath, breast pump & who knows what else. The one thing that I have accomplished...freezer cooking. And I am sooo excited that I have so much done.

Here's a rundown of all the meals that I currently have in our freezer. 

- Cashew Chicken

- Terriyaki Chicken

- Homemade Runzas

- Ham & Potato Casserole

- Beef Stew

- Mexican Chicken

- Chicken breasts (portioned & ready for something quick)

- Lasagna

- Tater Tot Casserole

I'm so happy that I will have these ready for myself or Chad to just throw in a crockpot or the oven. I'm still in the process of doing a few more casseroles but my mouth is watering just thinking about eating all this yummy food this fall.

Speaking of fall, apparently the cool weather combined with my nesting instinct has also kicked off an urge to bake! We've had some yummy sweets & breakfasts around here lately. We'll just say it's all for the baby. ;)

Saturday morning I made these quick 60 minute cinnamon rolls & Sunday I made this pumpkin baked oatmeal. Both turned out so good. I am loving all the fall recipes out there and my Pinterest is just full of them! Check it out here. 

So yeah, I would say that food wise, we are definitely ready for baby. We can not wait and hope that these last 2-ish weeks fly by super fast. I'm telling myself that I still have 3 weekends at least so I gotta kick it in gear and work, work, work!!
Best news this week...we're going to have a niece!!! Totally thought that my sister-in-law and her husband were having a boy but we're so excited for the surprise that they are actually having a girl! Bring on more pink!

Friday Favorites - Big Sister Edition

Not only will we be adding a new baby boy to our family in October, but Kalli is becoming a big sister. As excited as we are to meet this baby boy, I'm so excited to see her grow into her new roll too! She is already so good at being helpful and loves to take care of her baby doll. She wraps her in a blanket, pushes her in the stroller, feeds her with a bottle and will rock and sing to her. She is so sweet and knows that I have a baby in my tummy and will randomly give my belly kisses unprompted. *heart melt* I've been getting a big sister "present from baby" ready for her because I want her to have something special/exciting for just her from the baby. Here's a bunch of items that would be perfect for a little girl taking on the exciting new roll of big sister!

Big Sister shirt | Big Sister necklace | character socks | Play-Doh | stickers | My New Baby | 

Olivia - Guide to Being a Big Sister

I included some stuff that is "big sister" specific and some that is just fun stuff for Kalli. We've been reading the "My New Baby" book to Kalli for a while now and she seems to like seeing the different stuff that big girls do and babies do. When we ask her where Kalli is, she will point to the big girl. I got the play doh so she will have something fun to do at Grandma & Grandpa's that night and for the week when my mom will be here helping. The stickers are for when she's in the hospital visiting us and gets impatient or too crazy! She has also started having an obsession with her socks now that it's getting cool out. She will not let anyone take them off and when we do she throws a fit unless we let her carry them around with her. Makes for some stinky cute little toes!

We will be cuddling inside this weekend because it is seriously almost cold here! Bring on the football and soup! Have a great weekend!

Our Lately

Hello to another Monday. I'm really dragging today. It's warmed back up to the mid 80's but is supposed to be down in the 50's later this week. We haven't really been up to a whole lot lately which is why I haven't posted a lot. The allergies have reared their ugly heads and I feel itchy and sneezy by the end of every day. So that means Kalli either gets to stay inside with me or go to the shop with Dad for a while. She doesn't mind, as long as I have Frozen on for her.

We've slowly been working through some projects and to-do lists but I'm not quite ready to share yet. We took a break and took Kalli to her first Husker volleyball game last weekend. We decided that she's probably a little too young but she really like Lil' Red during time outs. And of course we thought she looked adorable in her Husker red!

As you can see, I'm getting really pregnant. We're 35 weeks now so I'm counting down my last 4 weeks until we get to meet this little guy. But oh what a long 4 weeks they will be. The swelling is starting along with not being able to sleep...at all. I waddle and my hips and legs hurt all day. Soon, very soon I tell myself. Nothing a little fall pumpkin spice cookie/bar/coffee/roll can't cure. (Along with some Tums!)

Be back soon with baby room projects & a few other fun things! Happy Fall y'all!

Hospital Bag Packing

We're counting down weeks and I'm getting so anxious and excited! I've been making a list of things to pack just so I don't forget anything and just in case I go into labor before our c-section date. I'll be putting together my bag about a week or two ahead of time so I thought I'd share my list with you guys. I know that there are a TON of lists out there for what to pack to take to the hospital. I know because I searched and read a million of them when I was preparing for Kalli...and then I over packed. It's really not that complicated and I've learned a few things just from doing it once (the wrong way). Since this is a repeat C-section for me, my hospital bag may be different than most but take from it what you will. This may not be the same for everyone so do what suits you best.

For Mommy - Last time, I didn't take a shower the first day (we had her in the evening the day before), stayed in my hospital gown and for clothes I had brought some loose t-shirts & my husband's shorts. I have no idea why I did this because I looked terrible in pictures and I probably would have felt better if I'd looked better or had some cute clothes. This time, I'm just taking some of my maternity yoga pants, nursing tops & a zip up sweatshirt for if it's cold in the room. I'll take some slippers to walk around in and just wear some flats when I show up at the hospital and then wear those again when we leave.
Don't worry about taking a lot of personal bathroom items (ehm, lady items). They will give you everything you need and it's only for a couple days so it will be fine to just use theirs. I am taking my own travel size items like shampoo, toothpaste, facial wipes & deodorant. For hair & make-up, I'm just taking the basics - powder, mascara, bobby pin, hair tie and some mousse if I feel like fixing my hair a little after my shower.
Don't take a breast pump to the hospital. They should give you one and most insurances will actually now cover a breast pump for each pregnancy. I didn't use it while I was there anyways. I am taking breast pads though. If your milk comes in or if you're already leaking these could come in handy.
Do make sure you take your electronics (phone, camera, ipad/kindle) for a little entertainment & don't forget the chargers! Our hospital gave us a camera to use while we were there and then gave us a disc with all the pictures on it when we left. But, it's nice to have your own too and of course your phone so you can share the happy news with family & friends. I used an app to track feedings last time so I will definitely need my electronics this time around too.

For Baby - Take an outfit for coming home and maybe one other one if it's super important to you but the hospital will provide some sleep sacks while you're there and they will be the ones changing their clothes for the most part anyways. Do take some socks, mittens, a onesie & a hat for the little one. Again, the hospital will probably provide these things but it's nice to have your own, especially for going home. The hospital will have blankets too but I'm still going to take one of my own to cover myself with while nursing and a warm one for in the car seat when we leave. Don't bother taking anything else for baby. They will seriously have everything you could possibly need and will most likely send it all home with you.

I honestly can not wait to actually pack my hospital bag! I'm one of those crazy planner people and getting stuff like this done makes everything so much more exciting and real. I'm also busy getting a present ready for Kalli "from the baby" and I will be back to share all of my ideas on that soon too! Have a great weekend!