Week 38!

This week was one full of lots of family and fun!

As part of my birthday celebration, my Dad helped Chris install the new ceiling fan in Taylor's room. The blue psychedelic fan just wasn't doing it. We went in favor of a plain white fan with a dome light. The ceiling fan went up pretty painlessly, with the exception of the light. We had to take a trip to Walmart to get a light that fit. Unfortunately the light we bought worked but was too long to fit under the dome so we ended up having to go back and get a different light bulb later in the evening.

The Fan on Its Way Down!


The Fan DOWN!


The New Fan Up and Installed!


Now I just have to finish organizing her room and we have to put up the curtain rods. Hoping to possibly do that today. We shall see!

My weekly OB appt went well. This time there was no internal since I mentioned having to move my classroom on Wednesday. The doctor said that sometimes internals can spur on labor so on Monday I have my next appt and will have my internal then.

Chris and I got our hospital bags all packed. Last thing that I have left to do is to decide what outfits to take with us for Taylor. It's such a hard choice so I have a feeling that 3-4 outfits will make the journey with us. =)

My classroom got moved to my new school just fine. Thank goodness Chris and my Mom are so helpful. Now to unpack and organize everything! I'm hoping to go over the next few days and get little things unpacked here and there so that at least it's not a giant pile in the corner as it is right now. =) Here are some photos of my finished classroom. Well let's just say that it's done enough that I can stop worrying about it.

Weeks 36 & 37

Sorry for the delay in posting. It's been a very busy two weeks! Lots to share!

School Stuff
At the beginning of July I participated in curriculum writing again. While it was only 1/2 days it did take a lot out of me. On the 15th I was fortunate to have two interviews for next school year. One was for an Instructional Resource Teacher with the county and the other was for a full time Technology teacher at a school in Columbia. I did not receive a second interview for the Instructional Resource Teacher, however I did receive an offer from both the school in Columbia that I interviewed for as well as Clarksville ES which I interviewed with at the end of June. I decided to accept the position at Clarksville ES. While I'm looking forward to being in one school full time, I'm not looking forward to moving my classroom. The move has been pushed back due to parking lot paving etc. I'm hopeful that Taylor will hold off her grand entrance just long enough for me to get things packed in boxes and moved over with the help of my mom and Chris this coming Wednesday. Fingers Crossed!

Gym Camp
Just this past week I worked our yearly gymnastics camp. I survived the week! Mornings went well but afternoon's got a big hot and sweaty in there. Working camp all day took a LOT out of me. So much that when I got to my parents each night I spent the evening lying on my bed watching movies and cross-stitching.

Cold - Or Something More?
So Wednesday morning I started to come down with a sore throat. By Friday morning, my ears hurt and my throat was very very sore. During lunch on Friday I went to the clinic in Easton where they told me I didn't have strep, I didn't have an ear infection, and I didn't have a sinus infection. What I have, who knows. My stomach has also been really feeling strange lately. Taylor appears to be dropping down a bit. She used to be right at the top of my belly, but is now hanging out somewhere between the top of my belly and my belly button. The random contractions, I've been having have been getting more intense too!

Birthday Girl!
Tomorrow is my birthday! My 32nd. I've never been one to feel older each year even though, obviously I'm getting older but this year it's been different. I don't know if it is that I'm pregnant and just feeling miserable or if I really am starting to feel my age, or maybe it's that I'm going to be a Mommy. Ok that still feels weird saying that! My parents and mom's family all joke that Taylor and I are going to share birthdays. I highly doubt that and other than it causing issues with moving my classroom I really wouldn't mind.

Well that's about it! Today has been a hot day and I've been doing a lot of nothing but staying cool inside or trying to anyway! Now some pictures for you all to enjoy!

Belly at 36 Weeks



Taylor's Day Care Bag from Land's End



Alphabet Cross Stitch Sampler - A Work in Progress



One of the New Dressers in our Bedroom



Hoping to finally finish Taylor's room this week. I'll post pictures once it is done!

Weeks 34 & 35

The past two weeks I have been very busy so I have to apologize for not posting anything in almost two weeks.

So what has been going on in the Trudden house and with Tiny. LOTS!

The Heat!
Last week the heat was unbearable. It was over 100 degrees with high humidity for most of last week. We almost didn't go to the fireworks on Fourth of July because of it. Click here to see some pictures from the Westminster Fireworks! Since Friday the 10th it has been much better. It's still hot but I don't find myself soaked in sweat by the time I waddle my way to the car. =) I don't move all that fast these days. During the heat wave, I spent some time out in the sun at one of my graduate cohort-mate's pool. It was great to see Natalie and her daughter Ellie. Ellie was so good and is a real waterbaby! She loved the pool. Luckily the pregnancy top bathing suit I bought last summer by mistake worked out well for me so that I didn't have sit on the side with just my feet. Today was somewhat better heat wise and Chris was so helpful to get my car all cleaned out and vacuumed. My car has been very neglected since I became pregnant and it was quite gross. But now it is all clean. We just have to detail the dash later this week.

Carseat - Check
Chris took time today after the car was all clean to install the car seat. We just have to go over to the fire department later this week and have them check to ensure that it is installed properly. Gives me a little stress relief knowing that at least Taylor can come home from the hospital legally in my car.

Stroller - Check
Chris' brother and sister bought us the stroller we registered for so that is all set to go too! It will find it's new home in my clean trunk later this week as well. For Chris' car we are going to buy a travel system off of Natalie who has one she is looking to get rid of for a bargain! This way no matter who has Taylor will have an infant seat and a full-size stroller. Chris jokes that he needs the stroller to help him pick up chicks with Taylor. =) Men. LOL!

Taylor's Room - Coming along
Taylor's room is definitely coming along. Things are finding a home. More things every day. I have now done 4 loads of laundry and have another load ready to go. I got some great bins at Target that stack and I've been sorting items in the closet into the bins. I've also got my label maker ready to label when I'm finished. Yes I'm a nut, I know!

Today Chris put up the wall shelves and I added the few knick-nacks we have for Taylor. They look really nice on the shelves. The bottom shelf that is empty right now will house the ABC letters that we are buying that will spell out her name.

One of the letters


I may end up putting up a family photo on the top shelf and moving the figurines down later to put on either end of her name but just not sure for right now.

Shelves Going Up


Shelves Up and Stocked!


Close Ups!




How Am I Feeling Otherwise?
For the most part these days I'm feeling fairly good. I've been having more uncomfortable days where I just feel sore all over. My belly is continuing to grow. Picture coming later this week when I'm officially 36 weeks! Taylor has been quite active over the past few days especially. I've been able to distinguish that her butt is up, with help from the OB and her legs are mostly what I see popping out at me quite regularly these days. She is quite the mover and shaker in there.

We are getting more excited each day to meet our munchkin! I'm hoping for an arrival in early August rather than late August but only time will tell! Check back later this week for an updated belly shot and pictures of her room coming together!

Progress?

So today I did some more work in Taylor's room. The goal for today was to get the clothes taken care of. For the most part her clothes have been put away in either the closet or in the drawers of her dresser.

First I started by washing all the clothes I thought I would use right away when she is a newborn. I decided for now to wash mostly the 0-3 and 3 month things. I have about a 1/2 dozen Newborn outfits that I may keep and wash but not sure how big she is going to be. If she is 8-9 lbs she may be too big for them. Then I hung up everything else in the closet by size. I decided to use the extra rack I had in my closet to make all the clothes fit better in Taylor's. The top rack has Newborn, 3-6, and 6 month outfits. The bottom rack has 6-9, 9, 12, and 18+ month outfits.

Taylor's Closet


After her clothes came out of the wash, my parents were here for a quick visit so my mom helped me fold them and put them in the drawer. I used my Dream Drawers from my dresser to help me organize everything. So I have her Gown/Swaddlers in one section, Onesies in another section, and Sleepers in the 3rd section. Hats, pants, and socks are in there somewhere too!

I Love Dream Drawers!


And I couldn't resist. Taylor is definitely related to me! The girl already has about 6 pairs of shoes!

SHOES!


A floor shot of the room after I finished today!


Tomorrow I've got a pool date with Natalie and Ellie and then dinner with Lauren. The rest of the week is pretty jam packed with curriculum writing, and other appointments of this and that, so I'm not sure how much I'm going to get done but the shelves in the closet are the next thing on the agenda! Hopefully by the end of the week the room will be mostly organized and not so overwhelming!

6 Weeks To Go! Nesting?

Well as of Thursday I'm officially 34 weeks pregnant and only have approximately 6 weeks to go before Taylor arrives. This week I spent some time in Pittsburgh visiting with my Granny and my Mom's family before I'm no longer able to travel. My belly has been getting bigger and bigger every day. I used to think it wasn't all THAT big but it seems to be just getting HUGE these days. I don't even want to think about what it will be looking like in August when I'm 40 weeks pregnant!

Belly at 34 Weeks!


While I was gone the Pack n' Play/Bassinet arrived from Chris' mom. Yesterday during Chris' day off from work we spent some time in the morning putting it together. He did most of the work with just a little help from me. It is very cute and I'm very happy with it. Now we just have to get some play yard sheets for it.

The Bassinet all put together


The Turtle Mobile


The top of the Bassinet. I love that it has a changing station on it.


During the last few days I've been using most of my free time cross-stitching while I have my little Harry Potter Marathon. I've started with the Alphabet Peter Rabbit sampler. So far i have 6 letters stitched. Lots more to go, but it's quite relaxing! It's so nice to stitch something for myself too. I've never done that before. =)

The Alphabet Sampler


So they say when you get close you get the nesting bug! I am not sure if I've got it quite yet. Taylor's room is quite a mess from unpacking everything I've gotten from the showers and so forth. It's giving me a bit of anxiety. On one hand I'm chomping at the bit to get in there and start organizing and putting everything away. But on the other hand, I'm avoiding the room like the plague because it is just so overwhelming!

Do you see what I mean?





So I've started small! My goal today was to get the crib sheets, receiving blankets, and lap pads washed, line the drawers, and get the mattress I bought yesterday dressed and on the crib!

The new mattress!


Hating the fact that I have to wash EVERYTHING!!


Mission Accomplished!



Tomorrow is the 4th of July and Chris and I have the day off together. My goal for tomorrow is to go through the clothes I have and pick out the ones I'm going to need right away during those first few days and get those washed, folded, and put away in the dresser. I'm going to try to get the rest of the clothes organized and put away in the closet by size. Not sure if this will come together or not but we shall see. My goal for Chris tomorrow is to get the 2 curtain rods up and the three wall shelves hung so we can put up some of my cutesy nick knacks! Then we are going to hit some fireworks! =)

I hope that everyone has a safe and happy 4th with friends and family! Have a great holiday!