Let the nesting begin.

Week 25- (playing catch up still! :-)

I'll admit I haven't been myself lately.  In the sense that I am actually taking on new projects AND completing them before I allow months to pass!  It's a whole new feeling and one that I attribute to the 'nesting' bug that has hit me full fledged lately.  Perhaps it came in with the (brief) fall breezes we had, or perhaps it is because the date is approaching more quickly than ever and I am getting my butt in gear to make sure everything is as ready as possible for when our little bundle makes her appearance.  Projects that I have completed/close to completing:

-Fall front door containers planted: I have been wanting pots with real, live plants by our front door since we moved in!  I finally got inspired with all the fall foliage that I was beginning to see show up on inspiration sites that I look at almost weekly and when I stopped into Lowe's for some wasp spray the other day I happened upon a fantastic sale.  Sod, pots and plants all for under $50!  I couldn't pass up the opportunity to take another stab at having a green thumb.  I figured some of the fall plants that I am using will be a bit hearty enough to withstand cooler weather and can therefore withstand my 'black' thumb (I am working on it!)

-Curtains for living room/bedroom: 75% complete- The living room curtains need a solid hemming and then they are up, they are my main focus and I can't wait to see the way they will brighten up our living room! Our bedroom ones will be finished soon, hopefully by next week.  My hopes are high but I am working on my completion factor since my typical pattern is to start 50 projects and then take a year or more to finish them all.

-Painting the nursery: Paint is purchased! Step one complete.  It is a vibrant celery green and I am in love.  I can't wait to see the green against the white baseboards and espresso floors and crib.  It's going to be fun for a little one but at the same time very clean and modern.  Pics to follow when we begin painting this weekend!

How Big is little Autumn?

It is possible that there is a baby inside of me the size of an eggplant? Apparently!  It's still shocking to see the vegetable and fruit comparisons on weekly basis. And to think before this is all over she will be the size of a watermelon is mind-blowing.  She's weighing in at about 1.5-2 lbs this week and now has her sense of equilibrium in tact! Meaning that when she is busy somersaulting and flipping in there she is aware more aware of where she's at. Pretty phenomenal I feel.   She's beginning to get more hair on that little head of hers and continuing to fatten up.  She has definitely had me waking up even more in the middle of the night to not only empty the bladder she is pushing on but also to switch sides about ever 3 hrs at least!  It's exhausting at times because I was so used to sleeping through the night but I know it is but a minor preparation for what is to come!
 

Celebrate the Night!

Saturday we had the pleasure of being at Alaina's 30th 'Surprise' birthday party thrown by her hubby and it was nothing short of an awesome night!  Good food at Beach Monkey and then to top it off, a delicious and very thoughtful cake that was designed specifically by Stephen to represent their time in Florida thus far and all that they have seen and done.  We had a wonderful time seeing and talking with everyone and seeing Alaina be as happy as a clam celebrating 30 years young!  I think 30 really is the new 20 and I am doing nothing but looking forward to the wisdom that that benchmark in life will bring!
 
Cloth Diapering 101:
Chris is such a trooper.  He really is.  Saturday morning after the party we dragged ourselves out of bed early to attend a cloth diapering class in Niceville taught by one of my yoga students and consultant of Growing Green Bums, Marissa.  It is an awesome cloth diapering, organic store that has been nothing but a labor of love for all those involved in building it over the years.  We were incredibly surprised to find out all of our options that we have in diapering little Autumn's behind and came home with a folder of all of the information that we had gained.  With so many systems and types our heads were spinning at first but when we sat down to discuss our wants and needs in diapering, what is easiest, but still cost effective we have decided on going with mostly Fuzzi Bunz- a two-part, pocket system (crazy that practically acts like a disposable diaper.  It has a pocket in the liner which you stuff with cloth lingo, right?) absorbant pads and and then voila!  A cloth diaper that is ready to be snapped on her behind and grows with her until she is a whopping 35 lbs!  It has adjustable waist and leg snaps and the fleece barrier gives the same effect of a disposable diaper in that it wicks away moisture from her skin.  Overall, even if it's pricey to set up our system, we'll be saving over $2000 in using cloth diapers! (not to mention not tossing hundreds upon hundreds of disposables into the landfills!)  It's something both Chris and I feel passionate about so we're willing to go the extra mile to make sure they work for her and for us as well. (10-12 diapers on average we will be changing a day-just wow! We'll be seasoned pros before we know it.)

Odds and Ends:

• Autumn purchases: 2- an adorable mobile that coordinates with her room and a diaper caddy~amazing the little things I continue to find
• Miles run/walked this week: 17.5- Still on a run 1 mile, walk about 3 min. basis and I can honestly say it is taking me about 1.75-2 miles just to feel warmed up!  Amazing how the increase in blood volume and increase in heartrate make me feel inadequate at times but I know that it comes with the territory and I am completely listening to my body (and my heartrate monitor) and taking it easy whenever I need to.  Thanks to Chris for going on 2- 5 milers this week!  His patience is incredible.
• Weeks until Duluth: 1! So pumped
• Weeks until next ultrasound: 1! Can't wait to see her pretty little face again...

Purple Pride!

Week 24-

6 months down, 3 to go.  It feels like another milestone to be at even though I have so many more to go.  One of the next on my list? Hitting my 'thirties', as in week 30+, I hear the time really starts to either fly by or go extremely slow!  Either way, I'm taking the second trimester in stride still and really can't complain about the energy I have had not to mention really no pregnancy induced issues (besides the continual need to stay up and moving to keep my circulation going, but again, no complaints about that!)

How Big is little Autumn?

Little Autumn has hit yet another milestone in the form of being about the size of an ear of corn!  Growin' like a weed she is and I can definitely feel her kicks and twists more prominently now.  As far as appearance goes, she is getting more opaque, pink skin and is looking even more and more like a, well, baby, as the weeks go by!  Bye-bye see-through skin and hello to that beautiful glowing skin that every baby is born with.  You know, the kind that just makes you want to rub your cheek against theirs?!

Date Night in Pensacola

While the weeks sometimes escape us, Chris and I have been making an effort lately to get on at least one date night every couple of nights.  It is something that even before Autumn was a twinkle in our eye, we wanted to make sure we made it a point to just go out, have a good conversation over a glass of wine and delicious food and just be together.  We also figure that if we can get into this routine now before the little one is born, we'll be more apt to sticking to this routine after she arrives.

So it was off to Pensacola, where we weren't sure.  We both got a bit jazzed up, I in my favorite maxi dress that Lauren is letting me borrow and Chris got to sport his new grey blazer with jeans and dress shoes.  I am seriously in LOVE with that outfit on him and I wish I had snapped a picture of him in it.  Oh well, there's always next date night! 

We decided on 600 South just as we crossed over the bridge and we were both extremely happy with the decision.  We shared the triple dip which had fresh brushetta, olive tapende, and a spinach dip.  The house salad was delicious topped with kalamata olives, peppers and 3 different types of Italian deli meats.  Our entree was shrimp diablo, you just can't go wrong with shrimp and pasta!  And to top it all off? The 'chocolate shock', a chef specialty with 4 different types of chocolate temptations ranging from torte, to a chocolate and popcorn brownie.  Heaven on a plate in other words.  We laughed, had deep conversation that we sometimes don't make the time for, and just truthfully enjoyed one anothers company.  It was an INCREDIBLE evening that was definitely the highlight of the week!

Purple Pride!
 Being an alum twice over at a school that is my absolute pride and joy is a wonderful feeling.  My mind swirls constantly with all of the amazing memories Chris and I made in little Manhappenin' and particularly those involving the fall season, football, and tailgating with some of our good friends!  Life is good in Manhappenin' in the fall.  Cool breezes, sporting the K-State hoodie while tailgating, a good Oktoberfest beer and being surrounded by some of the most down to earth fans.  While both Chris and I pine for those days, we have such good memories that we know they will sustain us.  Plus, we are anxious to introduce Autumn, to our favorite little city and during our favorite time of year there that inspired her name.  The Cats are off to a good start, beating out Eastern Kentucky 10-7.  It was barely a win but a win none the less!

~Sporting new K-State threads ( a size up to fit around the belly!)  Can't wait for Autumn to rock hers!~

Tropical Storm Lee hits with a vengeance!
While my soccer stud was in San Antonio for the weekend for a soccer tournament (yes, that would be Chris :-) , Tropical Storm Lee came lurking into the Gulf and literally just sat on top of the panhandle and rained and blew gusts of up to 50mpr for days!  It was crazy to continually wake up to dreary skies but I am weird and I absolutely love the rain, even if it sticks around for days.  That doesn't mean I want to live in London and constantly be without the suns rays, but I don't let rain or weather stop me that's for sure!  I love to run in it, the pups love to be cooled off in it and we really do honestly need the inches to catch up on the draught that we have been in for the summer.  I even made it out to the UWF trails with Lauren and two of her friends she had visiting from South Florida, Mandy and Leslie.  It was a welcome break from being inside and we somehow timed it to where we weren't being deluged on! 
The cooler weather that it brought though, that literally made me a new person!  60's in the am, 70's in the daytime? Yes, please!  Words can't describe how it made me jonsin' for fall, and so even though we are far from fall temps in Florida, I didn't miss the opportunity to buy a couple fall candle scents and delve into my fall recipes that I simply can't wait to make.  And one of the best 'little' things of the week that made me (and at least half of all Starbucks drinkers smile): Pumpkin Spice is back?  I ponder why this flavor is so loved by so many.  I think that fall really has some amazing memories for a lot of people.  It's the signaling of the changing of the seasons, the beginning of the holiday seasons, and a time where many look fondly back on school days and the changes that each year brings.  I'm guilty, I had my first indulgence of a pumpkin spice latte and enjoyed every last drop!

Running for two:
I love my vibrams.  I honestly do.  As soon as Lauren got me hooked on my first pair, Chris since bought me the 'runner' version, aka the 'bikilas' and they were all I have run in since last December except my trail shoes when I'm off road!  As the weight has been creeping on, I have noticed a few aches in my legs that I didn't have before when I wasn't pregnant, namely in my shins which I know can't be good.  I have only ever had shin splints once, during 7th grade track season, and they literally knocked me off my feet.  I consulted my vibram expert, aka my sister, and she said definitely don't mess with the shins.  If it's calf, it's just muscle building but shins is not a good side affect.  So off to my local running store Run With It I go to order my second favorite shoe to run in, the Adidas DS trainer.  Chris and I first were introduced to these bad boys when we were training for our Team in Training half marathon back before Manhappenin' even had a running store and we had to drive to Topeka to Great Plains Running to get new kicks!  We loved them.  I had 3 pairs of them before my vibrams and I can't say I was disappointed to go back to them, yet a bit shocked when I saw that the new model came in HOT PINK!  Of course mom thought is was highly appropriate since we would be expecting a girl so for once, I didn't hesitate at the thought of wearing a lot of pink. 

I must say by feet, and shins, are much happier logging the miles.  I wonder if Autumn notices a difference? ;-)  Will she be a Vibram girl or a shoe girl?  Only time will tell.  And hey, they do make wee size Vibrams so we just may have to have her test a pair when she's a toddler!

Nearing 6 months!

Week 23-

~~OK, so here is the first of several catch up posts!  I don't know how I got so far behind!!~~

So, I absolutely can't believe I'm almost at 6 months!  I keep hearing that the months begin to go by slower from here on out, so I will relish in the fact that I can't believe I've reached this point already.  After coming off the high that was the reveal party, this week was quite a rush between actually being able to walk into a store and go straight to the little girl stuff, to beginning to put colors together for her room officially, and honestly, the best part?  Being able to refer to 'it' as 'her'!

How big is Autumn?

Weighing in a whopping 1.5 lbs. approx. and 11 inches long, she's about the size of a large papaya still ( not much change from last weeks fruit reference) !  Blood vessels in her lungs are beginning to become more fully developed in preparation for her to take her first breath of oxygen and her keen ears are becoming accustomed to all things that happen outside of the womb-to include the pups barking as they play and any music that we may be listening too~ Wow!


Training for Two: 

I swear she sleeps when I'm running.  And then when I finish or take a walk/water break she is wide awake twirling and kicking for more.  I have a feeling that she will need a heavy dose of rocking to get her to sleep!  They say the more active you are during pregnancy the more the baby likes movement when she comes out!  This week Chris joined me yet again on a run (seriously, can't thank him enough) while Jack and Lola tagged along.  He decided to try to get more of a workout in and took the pups a few more miles at a much more faster pace than my pregnancy jog!  It's just nice to get out there together sometimes even if we're not doing the same distance/pace and definitely more motivating. 

We also took the little rascals down to the sound one night and they had a blast swimming, playing Frisbee and soccer.  They were quite entertained and of course absolutely LOVE the water.  All of them.  We're pretty fortunate we have a 'secret' spot that we are able to take them on the beach where we've seen plenty of other pups frolicking in the water.  Besides the occasional regurgitation of salt water in the car ( they still sometimes forget they're not supposed to drink it) we so enjoy taking them out there and letting them roam.  It's important for them to have that freedom I believe!

The AbFab Team:

This weekend was one of our biggest weddings yet and being pregnant doesn't stop me from working a 16 hour day on Saturday to make sure Kristin and Luke's wedding was nothing short of perfection!  Alaina, Lauren and I seriously put our heart and soul into this wedding, and although we do the same for every single one, this one was exceptional because it was 75% us! From the arbor to the handcrafted benches, we designed, decorated, did all the flowers and rentals for this wedding and it was an absolute knock-out.  Here's the link to Kansas Pitts Photography who captured the big day~ we couldn't be more thrilled with how mesmerizing the pictures are {Sneak Peek: Kristin + Luke}.  AbFab is quickly making a name for itself on the Emerald Coast and we are stoked for what our future holds!  I just adore these girls! :-)

Odds and Ends:

• Appointments upcoming: 1. September 14th we get another ultrasound! 
• Trips Upcoming: 1. Duluth, MN bound September 15th for Chris's brothers' wedding! 
• Dresses currently fitting for the wedding: 1. Thank goodness.
• Winter jackets fitting into: 2 at least, whew.  I know Duluth weather and it will be chilly in September!
• Baby Autumn finds this week: ONE of her diaper bags ( picked out by Chris himself of course and scored at TJMaxx for $13 instead of $50 at Target!)