Organic Baby

This was the first football-less Saturday since August. Well, there is one game on right now (Army vs. Navy)...GO NAVY, BEAT ARMY!!! Hubby gets a little depressed this weekend every year because his #1 choice of entertainment is over for a while. He asked me last weekend what I wanted to do this weekend in anticipation for an empty Saturday.

Well, our plans are never really plans. All we've done so far is go to our favorite grocery store, Whole Foods. We are on a real organic foods kick. It's been a gradual transition in our house over the years. It started with milk and eggs, then fruits and veggies without a peel, and now meats and most diary products. Emily will hopefully be born a VERY healthy baby or toxin-free. Hubby looks like he has lost weight from all the home-cooking these past couple months too.

I've been decided for years that I want our children to eat organic food from the start. God willing, I hope to breastfeed for as long as possible (praying for a year). All the grocery stores we shop at carry Earth's Best baby food and formula, so I plan to use that brand. Occasionally, I might puree fruits and veggies, but it will all depend on time and cost. It almost seems more cost effective to buy the jarred baby food. Produce is pricy (especially organic) and then there are the container costs and the water bill. Oh, and storage is limited, so recycling the jars is looking pretty good right now.

Keeping with the earth friendly theme of organics, my diaper selection is split. I can't commit to something I've never tried before, but I want to try cloth diapers. I read a long time ago on a facebook friend's page that she was stuffing Pocket Diapers. I was like, "What is a Pocket Diaper?!?!" Well, from my research, it is not actually a brand but a style of cloth diaper. There are lots of brands on the market, but my research found that Fuzzi Bunz is the consumer favorite. So, I'm registered for Fuzzi Bunz. The coolest part of today's cloth diapers are that they come in fun colors and patterns. I'll admit, aesthetics is usually #1 on my list when selecting material goods. However, with cloth diapers and all things B.A.B.Y, I had to go with consumer reviews/ratings. Fuzzi Bunz only come in solid colors, but they are still cute and in my opinion act as a bloomer if worn with only a shirt. I'm sure Emily with be sporting just a diaper and a top from time to time. Also, the diaper color can coordinate with her outfit. Okay, okay, so I'm going a little overboard with the color coordinating. I'm having a girl for heaven's sake. This is my dream to dress my child for as long as possible.

As for the other half of diapers in our household, we will need the disposable kind for emergencies and probably when we are out of the house. Per a best friend's suggestion, I've chosen yet again Earth's Best brand for diapers. She promises they are the best eco-friendly disposable diaper. She is an old and very trusted friend, so I've already bought a few.

If anyone has further suggestions or stories about using cloth diapers, please share. I feel like I can't possibly hear or learn enough in the next 12 or so weeks.

Just wanted to share another picture. It's beautiful wintery weather here on 12.11.10. What a memorable date. Plus, my boots finally arrived. First flat, knee-high boots I've owned. Ordered them online and was a little nervous without trying them on first. They are awesome with fur lining, a mini zipper so I can pull down my pant legs, and comfortable. Alright, I've got to run. We are going to the festival of lights in St. Augustine...whoo hoo!!! Our plan is actually turning in to a reality. Love that hubby of mine!

Our Christmas Card 2010

Cinnamon Sweet Stars Christmas Card

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Lil' Contortionist & The Disappearing Belly Button

I've heard for some time now from a fellow pregnant co-worker that when a baby gets so big (about 3rd trimester), the mommy will start to see her belly skewed from time to time. Well folks...it happened to me for the first time last night.

Sitting on the sofa after dinner, a long day, and comfy in my jammies, I felt Emily moving around. I lifted up my shirt to see the movement, which is happening each time she moves now too. To my surprise, I saw my belly skewed to the right. I yelled for hubby to come witness because I just couldn't believe it. He was just as amazed. She's a little contortionist inside mommy's tummy. I can only imagine not having enough space to stretch out completely anymore or do somersaults. She is just getting so big, and we notice it the most at night after a full day of eating. I've gotten super hungry again, as well. At work, I space out my snacks every couple hours and eat lunch, but sometimes there is a long gap between my last snack and dinner. Yesterday especially because I went out after work to get some more Christmas shopping complete.

I've been wanting to mention for a while now two other key facts about my pregnancy with Emily. First, for several months now, she has done this thing where she sends what I describe as a shockwave through my abdomen, down, and outward. It is less startling than it used to be, but it stills feels funny. My assumption is that she is hiccuping. It is anywhere from 2-5 times...not very many hiccups, but it makes sense. I'm going to ask the doctor at my next visit to confirm. Second, my disappearing belly button (as I've renamed it). With my every growing bump, my once extremely deep belly button is now almost flat. I hope it doesn't become an outty. Then, I will really feel huge because I thought I would never lose my little black hole. Very soon, I will know what it must have been like to be Adam. It's speculated that he had no belly button because he is the only human that wasn't from the womb of a woman. Eve was created from Adam's rib, so she may not have had one either. What are your thoughts?

In the meantime, here is my first up close shot of The Disappearing Belly Button. I've been hesitant to display pictures of my bare bump because of all the veins. I'm also translucent...LOL!!!

Wish I had taken a "before" The Disappearing Belly Button

Catch Up since Thanksgiving

As you all are most likely familiar with...from Thanksgiving to Christmas is the most chaotic time of year. When I said I was going to post about Black Friday (now just over a week ago), I really thought I would. I've been either too tired, too lazy, or just too busy to blog. Now this is me playing "catch up."

Black Friday (the brief version): Dropped off my sister bright and early in the morning, went to a few stores around the city before meeting my best friend for lunch and a long day of shopping at the mall. Emily was truly my good luck charm because I hit NO lines, had NO trouble finding parking spots, and found LOTS of things I needed as gifts or just for me/our home. It was a warm day, very nicely spent with a friend, but...........my feet had never felt so bad in all my life. I am surprised I managed to drive myself home because I was walking like a crippled person when I arrived home. Hubby instructed me to put my feet up and take it easy for the rest of the weekend. I followed orders.

Cyber Monday: No mega Internet shopping for this preggo lady because I needed a breather still from Friday and I had to work. I did get a great bargain on curtains for Emily's room though.

After Thanksgiving Tuesday thru today (Sunday): Had an awesome week at work. My lessons have been great because the kids are very receptive to everything I've been having them do. I still have to make three kings' crowns for our Christmas pageant happening next week. It will get done after I finish this post. As for progress around the house, hubby and I set up Christmas yesterday. A week behind schedule, but again, Thanksgiving weekend was insane. Forgot to mention the exhaustion after work each day last week too. My bedtimes were between 7:30-8:30pm. I really needed sleep last week. Oh yes...how could I forget Tuesday...my day off...my feet were swollen for the first time. They were so fat (didn't get to take a picture) and barely fit in my sneakers. I do believe it could have been due to the climate getting ready to change from 70 degree weather to 50 degree weather overnight. Hubby was an absolute angel that night and filled up my massage foot spa. I sat in Emily's new rocking chair and soaked my aching feet in hot lavender water as the jets massaged my feet. It was heaven!

Emily has been having the time of her new little life. I feel her move so frequently now that it is noticeable in the car, at church, and when I rest my hand on my belly...she will let me know she feels me touching her. It's so precious!

Overall, I feel productive, energetic during the hours of light outside, moderately tired after the sun goes down, and excited to see my house decorated for the holidays. I honestly never thought I would be this motivated to do all that I have being pregnant. I'm not the type to compliment myself, but this time I'm not afraid to voice that I am voice of ME!!!

Proud Parents

FLORIDA STATE, FLORIDA STATE, FLORIDA STATE...WHOOOOOO!!! We are parents-to-be and very proud today because FSU crushed Florida (our arch-rival) for the first time since 2003. Final score was 31-7 (ouch!). We have been hard pressed for our Noles to beat the Gators ever since. Beating the Gators every year is the goal, but no team in the country beats their #1 rival every year.

Now to add in our proudness, FSU is also playing in the ACC Championship because Maryland beat NC State tonight. Thank you Maryland!! We didn't control our our destiny this season...NC State did for us. I don't know how Maryland did it, but they pulled through in the end.

This is what gator bait looks like at Doak.

Hubby believes me to be the Noles' good luck charm. When I am able to stay up and watch a full game, we 90+% of the time win. When I don't watch a game or fall asleep, we 90+% of the time lose. It helped that today's game was at 3:30 and I managed 12 hours of sleep last night. See next post for Black Friday shopping extravaganza to explain the half a day of sleep. I believe Emily to be our little good luck charm too. Again, see Black Friday post for details.

The Crafty Mommy at Thanksgiving

My sister was visiting us for Thanksgiving, and she makes unique stuffed creatures or animals really. She wanted to make something for Emily. While she was in town, we went to Hobby Lobby and picked up the supplies we needed. I couldn't believe it, but I ended up completing a creation on my own. My sister only needed to stuff hers, and there is still one more to make.

My owl for Emily. The fabrics are soft cotton, felt, a thin corduroy,

and buttons for the eyes. I chose a variety of textures for Emily

to learn and build sensors skills.

Thanksgiving was the next day. Sis and I stayed up till 1am completing the animals. We started cooking around 10am and sat down to eat our feast at 4pm. There were only three of us for dinner, so we chose to have a small turkey breast, stuffing, mashed potatoes & gravy, marsh-mellowed yams, green bean casserole with the delicious fried onions mixed in and on top, cranberry crisp, croissants, and sparkling grape juice for the non-drinking mommy-to-be.

A fabulous Thanksgiving feast at our house.

Cranberry crisp, marsh-mellowed yams, and mashed potatoes.

Green bean casserole and gravy. Let's not forget that sparkling grape juice. ;)

Croissants in the baskets kept warm, stuffing, and the turkey.

Mom's plate.

Pictures below are of the girls (our dachshunds) chowing down on a special Thanksgiving meal of their own. We gave them two special feedings that day so their little tummies wouldn't be upset later. It was a good plan. They napped shortly after like the little princesses they are.

Oh, and I just realized, we forgot to photograph the desserts. I'll describe them instead. We had two scrumptious pumpkin cheesecakes. The cranberry crisp is also like a dessert because of all the brown sugar, and we made two of those as well. We made one two days before Thanksgiving, and almost finished it by Thursday. That is how we came to make two. Hubby likes apple pie and said store bought would do because of all the other cooking and baking that was needed for the big feast for three...and a half (Emily). It was a wonderful day, but it should go on record here that is was just over 80 degrees. The house was toasty by dinnertime, and the chefs were sweaty. That is why there are no pictures of us. LOL!