Hollyhand House

Friday, September 30, 2011

38 weeks

I can't believe we have less than one week to go!! 

Symptoms:
I have felt pretty good this week!  I just have lots of back pain, mostly in the evenings and at night.  I haven't had any swelling or anything like that.  I am feeling more pressure also.  But considering how close I am, I really feel great!

Weight Gain: 28 lbs.

Maternity Clothes: 
Dresses or tunics and tights are the most comfortable and of course my pjs!!

Sleep: 
I have slept pretty good this week.  I have been able to go back to sleep pretty well after getting up for the bathroom.  I still have to get up at least 3 times during the night to pee though.

Movement: 
Movement has slowed down a bit but she still gets very active at times!  I really feel like she has no more room to move!

Cravings:
  I don't have as much of an appetite anymore so I really haven't craved anything lately. 

Drs. Appointment: 
 I went to the doctor yesterday and everything still looked great.  Her heartrate was 152.  We mainly talked about what would take place next Thursday with the Csection and he answered any questions that I had.  I have to be at the hospital at 5am and my surgery starts at 7. Can't believe it is almost time!!

Getting Ready: 
 I mentioned in my post on Monday how I have been in full force nesting mode!  I feel like things are pretty organized and ready and then of course I find some other cabinet that needs cleaned out!  I guess this is the spring cleaning that I didn't do in the spring!!  I started back at the end of July planning our meals months at a time and it has worked out SO great for us.  I am not longer waiting until Sunday night to figure out what to cook and what groceries I need for the week.   So, I decided to go ahead and do our "menu" through December!  It didn't take long at all (I only cook 2-3 days a week and we eat leftovers the other and often go out or grill on the weekends).  I also stocked up on all of our toiletry items (thanks to Soap.com) and bought the non-perishable ingredients I need for all the meals until November!! haha!  I love planning and getting things organized and I know how busy we get during the fall not to mention having an extra member of the family now so that is one less thing I have to think about!  :)

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Dads of Daughters

I saw this on Pintrest and wanted to share.  Click here for the actual link.
I am so thankful that my girls will have such a great Daddy!  Relationships between fathers and daughters are just so special! 
 Here are 50 rules for Dads of Daughters:

1. Love her mom. Treat her mother with respect, honor, and a big heaping spoonful of public displays of affection. When she grows up, the odds are good she’ll fall in love with and marry someone who treats her much like you treated her mother. Good or bad, that’s just the way it is. I’d prefer good.


2. Always be there. Quality time doesn’t happen without quantity time. Hang out together for no other reason than just to be in each other’s presence. Be genuinely interested in the things that interest her. She needs her dad to be involved in her life at every stage. Don’t just sit idly by while she add years to her… add life to her years.

3. Save the day. She’ll grow up looking for a hero. It might as well be you. She’ll need you to come through for her over and over again throughout her life. Rise to the occasion. Red cape and blue tights optional.

4. Savor every moment you have together. Today she’s crawling around the house in diapers, tomorrow you’re handing her the keys to the car, and before you know it, you’re walking her down the aisle. Some day soon, hanging out with her old man won’t be the bees knees anymore. Life happens pretty fast. You better cherish it while you can.

5. Pray for her. Regularly. Passionately. Continually.

6. Buy her a glove and teach her to throw a baseball. Make her proud to throw like a girl… a girl with a wicked slider.

7. She will fight with her mother. Choose sides wisely.

8. Go ahead. Buy her those pearls.

9. Of course you look silly playing peek-a-boo. You should play anyway.

10. Enjoy the wonder of bath time.

11. There will come a day when she asks for a puppy. Don’t over think it. At least one time in her life, just say, “Yes.”

12. It’s never too early to start teaching her about money. She will still probably suck you dry as a teenager… and on her wedding day.

13. Make pancakes in the shape of her age for breakfast on her birthday. In a pinch, donuts with pink sprinkles and a candle will suffice.

14. Buy her a pair of Chucks as soon as she starts walking. She won’t always want to wear matching shoes with her old man.

15. Dance with her. Start when she’s a little girl or even when she’s a baby. Don’t wait ‘til her wedding day.

16. Take her fishing. She will probably squirm more than the worm on your hook. That’s OK.

17. Learn to say no. She may pitch a fit today, but someday you’ll both be glad you stuck to your guns.

18. Tell her she’s beautiful. Say it over and over again. Someday an animated movie or “beauty” magazine will try to convince her otherwise.

19. Teach her to change a flat. A tire without air need not be a major panic inducing event in her life. She’ll still call you crying the first time it happens.

20. Take her camping. Immerse her in the great outdoors. Watch her eyes fill with wonder the first time she sees the beauty of wide open spaces. Leave the iPod at home.

21. Let her hold the wheel. She will always remember when daddy let her drive.

22. She’s as smart as any boy. Make sure she knows that.

23. When she learns to give kisses, she will want to plant them all over your face. Encourage this practice.

24. Knowing how to eat sunflower seeds correctly will not help her get into a good college. Teach her anyway.

25. Letting her ride on your shoulders is pure magic. Do it now while you have a strong back and she’s still tiny.

26. It is in her nature to make music. It’s up to you to introduce her to the joy of socks on a wooden floor.

27. If there’s a splash park near your home, take her there often. She will be drawn to the water like a duck to a puddle.

28. She will eagerly await your return home from work in the evenings. Don’t be late.

29. If her mom enrolls her in swim lessons, make sure you get in the pool too. Don’t be intimidated if there are no other dads there. It’s their loss.

30. Never miss her birthday. In ten years she won’t remember the present you gave her. She will remember if you weren’t there.

31. Teach her to roller skate. Watch her confidence soar.

32. Let her roll around in the grass. It’s good for her soul. It’s not bad for yours either.

33. Take her swimsuit shopping. Don’t be afraid to veto some of her choices, but resist the urge to buy her full-body beach pajamas.

34. Somewhere between the time she turns three and her sixth birthday, the odds are good that she will ask you to marry her. Let her down gently.

35. She’ll probably want to crawl in bed with you after a nightmare. This is a good thing.

36. Few things in life are more comforting to a crying little girl than her father’s hand. Never forget this.

37. Introduce her to the swings at your local park. She’ll squeal for you to push her higher and faster. Her definition of “higher and faster” is probably not the same as yours. Keep that in mind.

38. When she’s a bit older, your definition of higher and faster will be a lot closer to hers. When that day comes, go ahead… give it all you’ve got.

39. Holding her upside down by the legs while she giggles and screams uncontrollably is great for your biceps. WARNING: She has no concept of muscle fatigue.

40. She might ask you to buy her a pony on her birthday. Unless you live on a farm, do not buy her a pony on her birthday. It’s OK to rent one though.

41. Take it easy on the presents for her birthday and Christmas. Instead, give her the gift of experiences you can share together.

42. Let her know she can always come home. No matter what.

43. Remember, just like a butterfly, she too will spread her wings and fly some day. Enjoy her caterpillar years.

44. Write her a handwritten letter every year on her birthday. Give them to her when she goes off to college, becomes a mother herself, or when you think she needs them most.

45. Learn to trust her. Gradually give her more freedom as she gets older. She will rise to the expectations you set for her.

46. When in doubt, trust your heart. She already does.

47. When your teenage daughter is upset, learning when to engage and when to back off will add years to YOUR life. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

48. Ice cream covers over a multitude of sins. Know her favorite flavor.

49. This day is coming soon. There’s nothing you can do to be ready for it. The sooner you accept this fact, the easier it will be.

50. Today she’s walking down the driveway to get on the school bus. Tomorrow she’s going off to college. Don’t blink.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Miscellany Monday


NESTING:
I have been in full nesting mode the past couple of weeks.  I have cleaned out and organized so many closets and drawers!  There are still a few things I would like to tackle before next week.  I think its so funny that you go through this phase of nesting.  I mean the baby is really not going to know if her Mommy's closet is perfectly organized!  But...I am enjoying having the energy to get it done because I can't stand a dirty/ unorganized house anyway!

WEEKEND:
We had a wonderful, relaxing Friday night.  Riley picked us up food on his way home and we ate and spent the evening outside playing and socializing with our neighbors.  Anna Riley loves to play with them and I am so thankful we have such great neighbors that we love and our kids play together so well! 
My parents insited that Anna Riley come spend the night Saturday night.  They would get her every weekend if I would let them!  She LOVES going to her Granna and PawPaws and never is ready to come back home!  While she was gone Saturday, Riley and I met up with Cyndee and Dan since they were in town to see her parents.  Riley and I watched the 1st half of the game downtown and then came home to watch the 2nd half.  It was a very good game and another win for Bama! :)

BABY SHOWER:
Last Sunday, two of my friends and my two sisters-in-law threw me a monograms and diaper shower.  Ava Kate got SO many cute things and lots and lots of diapers!  She is one blessed baby girl!

Mom and I
My hostesses: Frances Ann, Leigh, Amanda & Peyton
A guests wrote a special note to Ava Kate on a onesie.

All the monogrammed gifts Ava Kate received
Diapers, Diapers and more diapers!!! :)

Sunday, September 25, 2011

37 weeks

As of Thursday, I am 37 weeks! I can't believe how close we are!!

Symptoms:
  I have felt SO great until Thursday!  I had so much energy this week and just felt so good.  I was able to get so much done.   But Thursday, I woke up feeling not feeling so great.  I felt nauseous all day and got sick twice.  I also had some mild menstrual type cramping and was just so tired!  I felt somewhat better Friday and much better Saturday.  I have not had much of an appetite this week...I think I have ran out of room to put any food!!

Weight Gain:
Down one from last week...probably due to being sick and not having as big of an appetite. So I am now at 26 lbs.

Maternity Clothes:
Choices are very getting very slim!  I feel most comfortable in a tunic and leggings.

Movement:
I feel like at time she is dancing in my tummy!  We love to just sit and watch my stomach move...its a weird feeling but I love it!

Cravings:
Nothing really

Dr. Appointment:
I went to the doctor on Friday.  He said the nausea could be just have been a touch of a bug or just end of pregnancy stuff.  He said everything looked fine.  I am still measuring fairly big...I measured closer to 40 weeks.  He said he doesn't predict a huge baby but she will definitely be of good size!! 



Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Playtime

Last week, Anna Riley got to play with her friends Audrey, Emma and Caroline three days in a row so she was in heaven!  She loves those girls!! 

Wednesday, we met Mandy and the girls at the library for Storytime.  We really missed storytime during their break in August.  As soon as the girls got there and came to sit by AR, she started waving really big and said "Hi Guys!" 

After storytime, we went to ChickFilA for lunch and more playtime.

These pictures are with my phone so they aren't great!

She LOVES the cow!  As soon as we pull into ChickFilA she starts screaming "Cow, Cow, MOOO."  She would much rather sit on that cow the whole time!

Thursday, I had a doctor's appointment and my usual sitter had class and Riley had a meeting come up last minute so Mandy kept AR for me.  Mandy sent me this picture while I was at the doctor.  They got to make smores for a snack!  She didn't want to come home and cried when we had to leave! 


Friday morning, we went to Bama Bounders (a gymnastics place) for Preschool Playtime.  This was our first time going because you have to be at least 18 months to play.  I tried taking pictures but trying to keep up with her was hard enough.  Ane the ones I took didn't really turn out because I realized my camera was on the wrong setting the whole time!! 

She loved running up and down the long trampoline.

We then met Daddy for lunch at Tazikis...YUM! 

Monday, September 19, 2011

Ava Kate's nursery

I love the way Ava Kate's nursery turned out.  It is totally different from Anna Riley's and I like that.  There are still a few things I will add later. I would like to get a shelf to go on the wall on the right when you come in and also I will hang one or two of the maternity pictures up as soon as I find frames I like.   


Yes, the frame has Anna Riley's picture in it...it was left over from AR's birthday party and I forgot to take the picture out. 





Football Saturdays

Oh how we love Football Saturdays!!   I have to admit though, we have kind of enjoyed doing things low key this year.  We LOVE tailgaiting but it is a lot of work. We have really enjoyed tailgaiting at home this year.  Bama played a night game this weekend so we decided at the last minute to just go to campus and walk around and eat lunch.  The weather felt great and  I really felt good so we walked quite a bit.  We took Anna Riley to see the statues, had lunch on the quad and let Anna Riley play on the blow-ups for a while.   She and I were both worn out by the time we got back to the car.  She fell asleep on the way home and slept for 3 hours!  We spent the rest of the day being lazy and watching football all day!  It was a great day in football too:  Auburn lost, Tennese lost and Bama won! :) 


I tried to get her to stand on the National Chapionship we won 2 years ago
when I was pregnant with her but no such luck!


Giving Coach Saban high five






Thursday, September 15, 2011

36 weeks


Symptoms:  I feel great somedays and not so great the other.  I have had a lot of ligament pains on the right side this week, especially after going walking Tuesday morning.  I am not quite as tired as I have been so that helps a lot.  I still have trouble breathing and I have to take really deep breaths sometimes...this usually happens when I am sitting.  I have had more pain in my back this week.  My belly button is almost completely out.  With Anna Riley, my belly button looked more like a crater or deep hole but its a lot different this time. 

Weight gain: 27 lbs.
Maternity Clothes:  The options are getting very slim
Sleep:  Sleep is not the best.  I have to pee quite a bit and I am literally rolling out of bed.  Also, around 4 or so most mornings, I wake up to go to the bathroom and can't go back to sleep for like an hour.  So, if you get a blog or facebook comment from me in the early morning hours you know why! :)

Movement:  Movement has slowed down a good bit and now when she moves around it usually doesn't feel so great.  I am sure she has ran out of room!

Cravings:  Anything with cream cheese ( I don't think I can really blame that one on pregnancy!!)  I am eating the caramel apple cream cheese dip I talked about earlier in the week as we speak. 

Dr. Appointment:  Everything looked great at my Dr. appointment today.  The group B was negative, iron looked good, weight gain still about a lb, baby measured great so we were all good to go!  Cant believe we are only 3 weeks away!  :)  I am BEYOND ready to meet my sweet Ava Kate!

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

New Toys...

Or that's what she thinks anyway!!
We have brought home all the baby stuff (except for the swing) from my Father-in-laws basement this week.  Anna Riley thinks she has just gotten lots of new toys to play with.  She carries them all over the house, puts her babies in them, gets in the herself.  It will be interesting to see how she shares these "new toys" with her baby sister.






I'll be good...

For a cookie (or two)!!
These pajamas describe her so well!


Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Big Sister Practice

Laying with her baby in the bouncy seat


She had to bring her blanket and bunnies for the baby to "nite nite"

We found one of her pacis that had her name on it at Papa Dougs so she loved giving it to the baby.
(Its amazing to me how attached she was to her paci and now she doesn't even think about putting it in her mouth...its for the baby!)


Yes, the baby's head is backwards!

Let's just hope she doesn't do this with her new baby sister!