Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Hope everyone has had a relaxing and meaningful Thanksgiving day with family and friends.

We celebrated T-day at home (still as a family of 2 , by the way) with our Publix meal! It was a very relaxed day, especially considering the fact that we're usually driving between both families for the holiday and I'm working the day before, after and sometimes the day of as well.

I'm not sure why blogger keeps posting my pictures backwards. I've given up on it.

Yum!!!

Everything after it came out of the oven, before I carved the turkey breast! I must admit we did use ONE pan for the entire meal, b/c i heated the gravy on the stove.

Preparing everying to go into the oven...just unwrap the plastic and cover with foil!!

Our spread....pre-baking. As you may notice, I already had some pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving Eve.........

So the conclusion for the Publix meal is......................... we will definately do that again!!! The turkey breast was marinated and super moist in its own baking bag - only took an hour to bake. All the sides were super yummy and the mashed potatoes and stuffing were just as good as I could make. Everything baked at the same temperature for about the same amount of time- so everything was ready together. And there are tons of leftovers, so we spent about the same we would have for a nice dinner out, and ended up with at least three meals or more worth of food!

I have to admit that the sweet potatoes were not as good as my Father-in-law's recipe, but that is difficult to replicate.

So my new, official stance is that from now on, if we host Thanksgiving dinner, we'll be getting one of these meals!!!!

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas........

Obviously, it is still November and not even Thanksgiving, but we're getting close.......

I made a quick escape to Target yesterday afternoon after my doctor's appt b/c since everything has been pretty calm lately, they actually told me it is ok if I am walking some as long as I rest most of the time! Since I haven't been there in over a month, it was so fun to see all the Christmas stuff out finally! Last time I was there, it was before Halloween!!! And everyone knows how frequently i go to Target!


I have really, really been trying to control my baby-clothes purchases, but this is just such a cute sleeper. The baby has a christmas outfit and a onesie, but I wanted to get him something else! It says "Santa's Helper".






Also, I took advantage of the $1 bin and got this adorable "baby's first christmas" stocking. I'm not sure what we'll put in it, b/c we have decided the baby already is getting his swing and bouncy seat for christmas from us, although he'll be using them before the big day- but i'm sure we'll find something!!!!!

You may notice that I have added Christmas music to my blog....for those who don't like Christmas music this early, feel free to turn down your volume :) Otherwise, enjoy!!!!!!!!!

In other baby news, we're still waiting. As long as he is doing fine on his non-stress tests at my visits, the fluid is fine, and nothing otherwise worrisome happens, he'll continue to hang out till he's ready to show up!

names...

Just heard that Ashlee Simpson named her son Bronx Mowgli.....I guess she's a fan of NYC and The Jungle Book!!!!

Don't worry, family and friends- I promise his name is much more normal!!!

38 weeks and still cooking....

Isn't this the cutest hat ever? I actually got it in a package from my friend Jenny and I am quite certain it will be gigantic on the baby, but I can't wait to use it. I think i'm going to take it to the hospital and maybe he can wear it anyway. We'll see.

We're at 38 weeks today- I had another doctor's appointment and even though they were pretty sure they would induce me at 38 weeks, everything was fine and so they're going to keep watching and waiting. My belly is still growing, the baby passed his NST with no issues and my blood pressure was at my baseline with no real signs of preeclampsia. Plus, I'm not really "induceable" right now, so inducing me just to do so would probably end up in a c-section, and we're definately trying to avoid that! So back to the doctor in a few days to recheck things!

I am personally hoping that I can just go into labor on my own - so we'll see how things go.

So, in non-baby related news, it is finally cold in the Upstate!!! Our apartment complex keeps posting these signs that say "freeze warning" which I think are pretty funny. I'll have to take a picture of them. I actually wore regular shoes and socks today instead of flip flops. This is probably the first time in about 6 weeks!

In honor of the chilly weather and only 35 days till Christmas....I present an early christmas survey!!!

1.Wrapping paper or gift bags? i love wrapping stuff, so wrapping paper. The only thing I like about gift bags is that they fit oddly shaped gifts. Otherwise I am a big fan of brightly wrapped boxes piled under the tree. Bags just don't have the same theme.

2.Real tree or Artificial? we have a ghetto artificial tree that I bought at Walmart 6 years ago. I dream of the day when we have a beautiful prelit artificial tree. I do not really care for real trees, but they do smell nice so we have a mistletoe scented candle to give us the "real tree" scent.

3.When do you put up the tree?usually right after Thanksgiving. I have to confess that we are not sure we are doing a tree this year, and i'm very sad about it , but it might be the easies solution.

4.When do you take the tree down?after New Year's or whenever I can bribe Patrick to do so.

5.Do you like eggnog?sometimes

6.Favorite gift received as a child?This awesome bunk bed set for my baby dollsI got when I was 7. It was so exciting at the time :o)

7. Hardest person to buy for? my dad

8.Easiest person to buy for? people who give me lists

9.Do you have a nativity scene?no, but I really want one. My parents have one that my mom handpainted in the 70's and I have always loved putting it out.

10.Mail or email Christmas cards?mail

11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received?I don't remember anything bad

12.Favorite Christmas Movie?National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation...Also I love any movie on Hallmark or ABCFamily...cheesy but good

13.When do you start shopping for Christmas?too late, I never get everything bought early b/c people never give me lists early

14.Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?um....probably

15.Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?bourbon balls, wedding cookies, basically any dessert that you can only have during the holidays.

16.Lights on the tree?White, always on

17.Favorite Christmas song?Mary, did you know?

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?

I've been traveling to my parents since I was in college- Now we travel to both parents.

19.Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's?sure

20.Angel on the tree top or a star?Star

21.Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?Christmas morning...We usually didn't open any on Christmas eve. I think it is super fun to have special pajamas to open on Christmas eve, and I think we will start that tradition for our family.

22.Most annoying thing about this time of the year?people thinking it is just about getting/giving gifts. And all the stress that people get over everything-

23.Favorite ornament theme or color? Snowmen, snowflakes, and different shades of blue.

24.Favorite for Christmas dinner?real yeast rolls, sweet potato casserole (should be at thanksgiving AND christmas)

25.What do you want for Christmas this year? healthy baby.

And Patrick and I are sharing a Wii this year, so we already know what we're getting each other. Otherwise maybe some new pajamas???

Congratulations if you survived my poll!!!!! I have a few other Christmas-themed posts that i'll be posting soon to get us in the holiday spirit early!

Thanksgiving Dinner Plans.......

So this year we're planning to spend Thanksgiving at home- as a family of three! Since i'm sure we'll have lots of time to prepare our meal-hahaha , we ordered our dinner from Publix today.

I'm actually very excited about it- we're having a roasted turkey breast, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, green beans, rolls and cranberry-orange dressing. Still haven't decided what dessert will be- probably whatever the deli has on Wednesday afternoon! And all we have to do it heat it up in the oven.

Since we're expecting the baby will be here by next Thursday, I have a super cute Thanksgiving onesie for him to wear. We'll know for sure after tommorrow's doctor's appointment, but most likely the baby will be arriving this weekend. So I'll be keeping everyone updated when we know more!!

37 weeks!!!

We're now at 37 weeks and I had a big visit with the high-risk OB office this afternoon to do another in-depth growth scan! The baby has grown well in the last 3 weeks, his growth is on the 17th percentile overall, but that is actually a good thing b/c he has been gaining appropriately since his last measurements. I guess all the bedrest has been working!!!

This was definately a relief and an answer to prayer!

Since his growth is ok (he's just small compared to a lot of other babies) they don't need to get him out urgently due to growth restriction. It would be ok for him to be born now since most likely his lungs are well developed, but in another week he will be technically full term. I saw my regular OB after that visit, and they're planning to wait another week as of now to induce me unless new issues develop.

Showered again!!!!

Some of Patrick's coworkers threw us a great shower at a local restaurant yesterday at lunchtime- So sweet of them to do it! Of course he works at an office with approx 90% women, so they are all excited about the new baby coming! It was nice to finally meet all of them, and enjoy lunch with all of them. Weirdly enough (for those of you who know my usual eating habits), I had my second cheeseburger for lunch ( two days in a row.) It was very good- I'm not sure why I've been having these cheeseburger cravings, but maybe i'm saving up!!!

The funny thing about my lunch is that I was getting very full, but I had this weird abdominal cramp and thought "Oh, that could be a contraction, so I better eat as much as I can just in case I'm going into labor, b/c they won't let you eat once you get to the hospital!!!!" Lol. Clearly, i didn't go into labor, but I was stuffed the rest of the day!!!!

Not a great pic, but they didn't take a lot of pictures of us together, and none where we were both looking at the camera!!!!!!!

Adorable diaper cake!!!! It was made of 79 diapers, I sadly took it apart today b/c we will not have time after the little one arrives, but so cute!!!!! I saved all the animals b/c i am thinking I may use them to decorate in his room (when he has one of his own!!!!!).

36 weeks!!!!!

Another week down! I had another doctor's appointment this morning and it went fine. We were sort of nervous b/c i was seeing the most conservative doctor of the practice and last time i saw him, he wanted to put me in the hospital for my blood pressure!!!! Today was a pretty quiet visit, although it took a long, long time. They tried to do the non-stress test when we got there, but the baby was being much too active to keep him on the monitor, so we ended up just having an ultrasound study. However, there were three people ahead of me waiting for anatomy ultrasounds, so we had to wait a while. Everything looked good on the tests, and my blood pressure was actually normal after resting for a while, which was amazing so it ended on a good note. I'll be back again Monday and then I see the high risk OB on Thursday (37weeks) for another ultrasound to follow his growth. Then we'll go from there and I will probably get induced at that point if his growth is still the same.

I think we are going to cancel my hospital tour b/c i get a really bad headache if I stand for any amount of time now and i know it isn't good for either of us. So for all my coworkers, if you see my husband standing around looking lost in a week or two, please direct him appropriately!!!!

35 weeks!

Halloween marked a very important day- we' ve officially reached 35 weeks! This is a very important date b/c at my hospital you can go to the regular newborn nursery (as long as you have no issues) at 35 weeks, even though technically full term is not until 37 weeks.

Otherwise, Halloween was not very exciting because we do not have trick or treaters at our apartment. Therefore, we did not buy any Halloween candy which equals a very boring weekend!!!! Next year I expect a much more fun Halloween because I will have a 10 month old to dress in the costume of my choosing!!! haha...you only have a short time before they start expressing interest in their costumes, and I plan to take full advantage of that time.


In other news, my good friend Amanda got married this past weekend and the wedding was beautiful! Obviously I wasn't able to attend :( but I have seen lots of pictures! She is off on her honeymoon this week soaking up the sun. The wedding was definately a long time coming because she and her now hubby got engaged in Dec of 2005!!!!

My public service announcement today is to remind you to get your flu shot! I got mine today and hope that my body will hurry up to make IgG antibodies which will pass through the placenta. Patrick got his flu shot and TDaP on Friday as well. So remember, if you want to hold our baby this winter, get your flu shot and TDaP. Actually, that goes for any baby!!!!