3 More Thrilling Months!

How far along? 26 weeks
Fruit/Veggie Comparison: head of lettuce (13.6-14.8 inches)
Total Weight Gain/ Loss? 16 pounds

Maternity Clothes? Maternity pants and my same shirts! I am still trying to get wear out of all of the ones I know I might not be fitting into here soon! Haha

Stretch Marks? Nope...still lotioning it up

Sleep: Still sleeping really well and really deeply! 

Best Moment THIS Week: Seeing my Superstar Painter, Mr. Kiss, so excited and hard at work in Lil' Miss Kiss' room painting a GORGEOUS Gray on the walls with amazingly PERFECT Yellow Stripes

Miss Anything? Wearing my comfy t-shirts at home and not having them be tight on my belly! 

Movement: Oh goodness! We have had lots of movement this week...more and more every day. I can really see her and feel her the best when I am peaceful and resting on my back at night or in the morning. She is supposed to be over a foot long now, so it's crazy to see movements from one side of my tummy to the other all at once! One night when Jeff was at work, I even sent him and my parents a video of her moving in my tummy...it was CRAZY, you could really see her poppin around! Sometimes when as soon as Jeff goes to feel her BIG movements, she stops moving, so we say she hides from Daddy sometimes...or he has also said "She just likes it when Daddy holds her!" ;) He was watching her big movements and said "I wanna see how strong she is....wow! She is strong!" Chet got to feel her movements this week and he said "She's practicing her high kicks in there, she's going to be a drill team dancer!" (and he hadn't even read my 23 week high kick chalkboard blog...oh great sibling minds think alike! lol)
Food Cravings: Still lovin' my Tiny Clementine Cuties annnnnnddd chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream every now and again! WONDERFUL brand ALMONDS...I have been eatin' them up this week!

Recent, Unpleasant Developments: I feel that third trimester tiredness, slowly starting to creep its way in...or maybe I am just overdoing it with all of this energy...haha! Also, having to finally break down and go shopping for a new bra...thankfully my patient mom was there to help me through the nightmare!

Have you started to show yet: My first graders keep commenting daily on how much Baby Kiss must be growing because my tummy sure is growing! They love to give me AND my tummy hugs each day!  Baby Kiss is already sooooo loved! 

Gender: Bow Wearin' Baby Girl 

Labor Signs: Not at all

Belly Button In or Out? IN, still crossing my fingers for that not to change...but I can begin to feel it stretching

Wedding Rings On or Off? ON every day....love, love, love my husband! 

Happy, Emotional, or Moody Most of the Time: SO overly excited that Baby Kiss will be here in less than 100 days! Really loving each moment and letting it all soak in!
Funny/ Sweet Quotes from the First Graders:
"You're baby is growing up Mrs. Kiss, because your tummy is getting bigger." -Gabriel
Looking Forward to: A Super Bowl Sunday kinda weekend, complete with all of the YUMMY Buffalo Wings and Veggies I can eat! Daddy has agreed to do a special drawing on the chalkboard that Sunday...soooo be on the look out for Week 27's chalkboard done by DADDY!  

Let the NESTING Begin!

About a month ago, a friend of ours had asked me if I had started the nesting phase yet...I thought about it for a quick second and said no not really...at least I didn't think so. So earlier last week I began self assessing...thinking about the things I had been doing in the recent weeks which included being overly detailed and organized in so many ways. 

I found that I had developed a whole new mindset out of no where, not even realizing it. For example, after meeting with my first grade team, I would type up a synopsis just so we were all on the same page. I also found myself beginning to have a strong desire to want to clean and organize things. I went in on a Saturday to my classroom just to ORGANIZE! Ha...What started as a desire to organize a couple of piles of randomness, turned into that and more...by the time I left I had organized the piles, as well as my 4 cabinets filled with who knows what...ultimately throwing away 2 huge trash bags of stuff (did I mention I am in the GIVE IT AWAY or THROW IT AWAY mentality right now too?). I organized our closet, baby kiss' clothes and things in her room, the refrigerator, even cleaning the baseboards once I got down to see the yuckiness of them, etc. Sometimes I would catch myself thinking, maybe tomorrow I can organize Jeff's drawers and side of the closet like he has been wanting to do! So, I stopped to think...is this normal...where is all of this coming from? I thought to myself, I am not really sure what EXACTLY nesting is...but this has GOT to be it. 

I looked up NESTING on the internet and found the following definitions:

Nesting: the instinct that refers to a powerful urge to prepare the home in pregnant animals or people

Also, one of the articles said: If you're pregnant and feeling the urge to reorganize closets, alphabetize the spice rack, and thwarting dust bunny breeding under the bed...you're preparing the "nest" for your soon-to-be baby, just like hamsters, cats, dogs, and birds! 

It was so funny to see and read all of this info and I literally LAUGHED OUT LOUD to myself when I realized this is truly a case of nesting...the funny thing was I was doing it all without any thought of "oh I have got to get this house ready for baby"...I just suddenly became driven to do it all! What a weird thing to experience, but hey, I am not complaining, I am enjoying it!

So, in honor of my latest feelings of the get 'er done mentality. Jeff and I were off to Buy Buy Baby to match paint to our bedding and get some paint for the walls from your truly, Home Depot. 

Jeff's recommendation for my ventilation! ;)

We went out and got all of our tools and supplies, and I was dying to help paint...it just sounded like fun and we ALWAYS paint together! It's just our thing (if you have ever been to our house, you know EVERY wall is painted except the upstairs bedrooms, so we were thrilled to paint the room)...but I resisted the urge so that I could keep Baby Kiss as safe as can be! I still managed to pop in and capture some of the important moments of the project though!

Jeff with his fancy drill removing those
pesty outlets! 

Me helping with the prep work in the only way I could...
sticking on that BLUE painters tape to protect those baseboards.

Taping can be a dirty job...but someone's gotta do it!

Ready to pour that pretty paint!

It's GRAY! I'm so excited for Lil' Miss
Kiss' gray walls! 

The Paint is ON!

As Mr. Kiss got started we decided to have some fun with the painting! We are down to pretty much deciding between 2 names: Kinsley and McKinli...I am in love with them both, I just haven't been able to commit, sign, seal, deliver kinda thing...but for the past month or so Jeff has been calling her McKinli any time he talks to her and refers to her, and takes votes from anyone he comes in contact with...cute right?!?! I know! I am getting closer to finalizing the name and since he has been calling her McKinli, we decided it would be fun to paint it on the wall, as a fun memory!  

He was so proud! 

Jeff insisted I wear the mask while up there! 

Talk about serious protection! LOL

The stripes are ON!

I left him alone to paint and perfect, and after 2 coats and a day of taping and painting our sweet gray and yellow striped wall (on the day after he worked ALL night on the mid)...the painting is complete! Check out my Professional Painter's Work! 

Look at those PRECISE, no bleed lines!

I couldn't be more excited for the result...it is PERFECT!

Lil' Miss Kiss' 1st Photo in her New Room!

While he was up painting the initial night...I couldn't just sit around twiddling my thumbs or reading a book...so I got to work on our cabinets (which I had been itching to do)...some true NESTING, if you will. I went through and cleared out TONS of unnecessary glasses, cups, mugs, water bottles, etc to give away, so that Baby Kiss would have room for her kitchen supplies! She now has her very own 2 shelves and a drawer just waiting for her! I cleared out a whole drawer and even organized our fine china hutch in the formal dining room! EVERYTHING has its specific place, and I love it! Our cabinets and house, overall, was pretty organized before, but now it is beyond belief! I was so excited and proud once it was all completed! 

The dreaded Tupperware cabinet! 

Baby Kiss' Cabinet is ready for bottles and more!

Of course I am just dying to get the bedding and furniture in so I can put it all together and see the whole picture (I have never been a fan of unfinished projects, even more so now than ever). I can't wait to see it all unfold and put everything in its place. 

I still have a few more projects up my sleeve in regards to organization...but these last few weeks I have cracked myself up with this crazy nesting feeling that has come over me! It's been fun for sure! 

Celebration of the Eggplant

How far along? 25 weeks
Fruit/Veggie Comparison: eggplant (13.6 inches)

Total Weight Gain/ Loss? 14 pounds...thankfully the growth spurt has slowed! 

Maternity Clothes? Maternity pants and my same shirts! I am trying to get wear out of all of the ones I know I might not be fitting into here soon! Haha

Stretch Marks? Nope...still lotioning it up

Sleep: Ha...much of this week I have been sleeping as hard as a rock...not really even waking up to toss and turn

Best Moment THIS Week:

• Lil' Miss Kiss had the chance to hear the sounds of her Uncle Chet's (my little brother's) new ALBUM that he released to the WORLD! He is such a talented musician and I am so proud of him! Check it out his debut album on iTunes...Chet Stevens "Destiny"!
• Another great moment was my date night with Mr. Kiss to Ha Na Bi...I enjoyed every SINGLE bite...my favorite is the EGGPLANT appetizer! What a perfect week to indulge in Hibachi EGGPLANT...I always order extra because I just love it that much! Afterward, we came home and made cookies and had the most AMAZING conversation with Mr. Kiss about our sweet, Lil' Miss Kiss and our future together as a family! He is truly going to be one amazing daddy! (This weekend marked our first official weekend where he has weekends OFF...yes, Saturday and Sunday...we have ALL day together! It's like a dream!

Miss Anything? Being able to bend over easily without a firm, hard, tummy getting in the way (i.e. Shaving)...I started to wonder if I had lost my flexibility and then soon realized it was just my belly in the way! 

Movement: She is moving in the mornings and at night still, mostly rolling sensations and some nudges, and she is still laying low in my tummy! Daddy loves to try and catch her in motion! 

Food Cravings: Yummy Hibachi at Ha Na Bi! Love me some eggplant!
Recent, Unpleasant Developments: Some back aches come around by the evening time, after being on my feet all day...but the heartburn isn't as bad...but still hangs around.

Have you started to show yet: YES! I love having my little bump knowing that our sweet Lil' Miss Kiss is inside! THIS WEEK, I had my first 2 encounters in public where someone asked how far along I was! :) 1: A substitute, who has never subbed at our school before asked, when I was due. 2: A girl in her early 20's at our hibachi table asked how far along I was...so much fun! So, truth be told, I don't just look fat to people I don't know...I really do look like a lil' pregnant lady! Haha and my sweet, hilarious husband shared this with me..."Now the first thing I feel when I hug you is your belly! I have to hunch all of the way around you to hug you all of the way!" -Mr. Kiss

Gender: Sweet Baby Girl

Labor Signs: Not at all

Belly Button In or Out? IN, still crossing my fingers for that not to change...but I can begin to feel it stretching

Wedding Rings On or Off? ON every day....love, love, love my husband! 

Happy, Emotional, or Moody Most of the Time: SO excited to feel like a fun, little pregnant person with a pregnant little belly!
Funny/ Sweet Quotes from the First Graders:
"You're baby is growing up Mrs. Kiss, because your tummy is getting bigger." -Gabriel
Looking Forward to: Seeing the Lil' Miss Kiss' room begin to come to life! Jeff has gotten the base color completed, and he will be working on the striped wall later this week! I can't wait to see how it all comes together! 

It Just Keeps Gettin' Better....and Bigger!

24 Weeks and a BIGGER belly!

How far along? 24 weeks
Fruit/Veggie Comparison: cantaloupe (10.5-11.8 inches)

Total Weight Gain/ Loss? 13 pounds...she's a growin' in there! 

Maternity Clothes? Still lovin' the maternity pants....who needs a zipper?!?

Stretch Marks? Nope...still lotioning it up

Sleep: Still sleeping well, but not wanting to get out of my comfy bed...got the pregnancy pillow back in action...because Doctor says no more TUMMY sleeping....boo!

Best Moment THIS Week: The hugs from my sweet first graders for me & BABY KISS! 

Miss Anything? Sleeping on my tummy :(

Movement: She is hanging out in the lower part of my tummy and movin' mostly in the morning and at night

Food Cravings: Haha...junk food cravings are setting in...Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ice Cream (loved this before pregnancy....just didn't give into the desire), Cheetos, and Chips (specifically Pringles Sour Cream and Onion)
Anything Making You Queasy or Sick: Nope...thank goodness! (we are going to change this category to Recent Unpleasant Developments, since I haven't really had any queasiness)
Recent, Unpleasant Developments: Heartburn and Indigestion is at its worst...almost daily! 

Have you started to show yet: It just keeps gettin' BIGGER...the bump that is...and Baby Kiss too! 

Gender: Eyelash Battin', Tiny Baby Girl! 

Labor Signs: Not at all

Belly Button In or Out? IN, still crossing my fingers for that not to change...but I can begin to feel it stretching

Wedding Rings On or Off? ON every day....love, love, love my husband! 

Happy, Emotional, or Moody Most of the Time: Happy and so excited Baby Kiss is on her way!
Funny/ Sweet Quotes from the First Graders:
"I wish Baby Kiss will come in a long time because I don't want you to stop being my teacher. (with little beginnings of tears in his eyes)" -Dylan
"I feel glad when Mr. Kiss will have a baby so he won't be alone while Mrs. Kiss is teaching and working with children, I wish he had more kids to be with him." -Liv
"I feel happy because Mrs. Kiss' baby is as big as a spaghetti squash and it can hear, I wish it could come today." -Jennifer
"I feel happy because Baby Kiss is getting bigger and I am excited... when your Baby Kiss gets older tell her that I am exited she is coming!" -Arabela
"I feel happy when Mrs. Kiss' baby is coming, I hope it comes sooner." -Alex
1st grader in another class had a conversation with another teacher that went like this...
"Do you know Mrs. Kiss is having a baby?" Yes. "You can see it! When do you think she will get it?" Maybe sometime near summertime. "Well when she got it, it was the size of a lemon!" -Dior
Looking Forward to: Deciding on the paint for the nursery and getting that room painted! Sayonara white walls! 

Battin' My Lashes like Baby Kiss

Our Tiny Dancer!

How far along? 23 weeks 1 day
Fruit/Veggie Comparison: Spaghetti Squash (10.5-11.8 inches)

Total Weight Gain/ Loss? 10 pounds...yes that's like 2 or 3 pounds in 1 week...haha I guess I am on a growth spurt...gotta catch up on my weight gain! 

Maternity Clothes? Maternity pants ALL the way...oh so comfy working in them...I am loving it! 

Stretch Marks? Nope...still lotioning it up

Sleep: Sleeping well...but my arms keep falling asleep in the middle of the night no matter which side I sleep on...I think it has to do with the pregnancy and circulation 

Best Moment THIS Week: Coming back to see my sweet first graders and the looks on their faces with the surprise of how much Baby Kiss had grown because my belly had gotten so much bigger!

Miss Anything? Still Jersey Mikes and Subway sandwiches....I am dying for one! 

Movement: She has been movin' and groovin' this week! Since I have been slowing down a little with being off work I have really been able to feel her little high kicks! It's so funny to know exactly where she is in my tummy! Daddy has been feeling her a lot lately too! 

Food Cravings: Papa John Cheese Sticks....YUM-O! 

Anything Making You Queasy or Sick: Nope

Have you started to show yet: Haha...and YES! I am finally an official pregnant mama and feeling and looking like it! 

Gender: Tiny Dancin' Baby Girl! 

Labor Signs: Not at all

Belly Button In or Out? IN, still crossing my fingers for that not to change

Wedding Rings On or Off? ON every day....love, love, love my husband! 

Happy, Emotional, or Moody Most of the Time: So happy...but sleepy getting back into the routine of working...and EARLY rising...not my fav!
Funny/ Sweet Quotes from the First Graders:
The day we took this picture was my first day back with my fabulous first graders!
"I feel excited that Baby Kiss is coming soon, I wish it would keep growing." -Gabriel
"I feel happy when Mrs. Kiss' baby is dancing in Mrs. Kiss' tummy, I wish it could dance more and more!"- Liv
"Maybe Baby Kiss might be on a dance team!" -Cole
"Maybe she dances because Mrs. Kiss was on a dance team." -Dylan
"Maybe she can feel you dance!" -Darian
"She copies a lot of Mrs. Kiss' life. -Daegan
"I feel happy that Baby Kiss can hear us when we are talking and learning, I wish Mrs. Kiss' baby could learn like us."
- Jennifer
"I feel happy when Mrs. Kiss' baby is dancing, I wish it could do it every day."- Kelly
"I feel excited that Baby Kiss is growing bigger, I hope that she keeps growing and Mrs. Kiss doesn't get sick so the baby won't catch it." -Arabela
"Wow Mrs. Kiss, you really look pregnant now!" -Emma (4th grader)

Looking Forward to: I had been looking forward all week to our 23 week appointment so we could see how much our baby girl had grown!

On Monday we went in for our 23 week appointment and sonogram of Baby Kiss! Here are a few sneak peeks of what we saw...she was so sweet and adorable as she moved her hand around her little face! 

Sweet Little Bird's Eye View of Her Pretty Face
(Check out that eye socket formation!)

Sweet little profile...she was moving that mouth like crazy!

Dr. Snead said she has continued to grow which is great (obviously...have you seen my emerging bump)...she is still looking in healthy in all regards but still measuring on the smaller end...in the 7th percentile (the size of 7 out of 100 babies at this stage), but our dates could still be off a few days or she could just be our Tiny Dancer. He is a super informative Doctor who just really wants us to know every detail about our sweet little girl, which we love and appreciate. In 4 weeks we will be headed in for the dreaded GLUCOSE screening (yes, a blood test where I will once again fail miserably, by getting weak and pale and nearly pass out) and another sonogram to check in with Lil' Miss Kiss to monitor her growth! Keep her in your prayers to keep growing and growing! 

2013...The Year of Lil' Miss Kiss

What a great start to one of the biggest, most important years of our lives...2013, the year we bring our own Lil' Miss Kiss into the world! I can only imagine the excitement, amazement, wonder and beautiful change that is in store for us this year! We officially rang in 2013 last night in good fashion! I had my sparkling juice for the midnight celebration, comfy clothes, a couple of amazing friends, some fun games, yummy food, fireworks (that we caught a glimpse of from surrounding houses), and of course the sweetest midnight kiss I could ask for! What more could you want when you are pregnant on 

New Year's Eve! 

Gotta love me some sparkling
Mango Passion Fruit Juice!
(The shadow makes my belly look bigger lol)

Yes, the BEST is YET to come! 

We had a little fun!

Prepped for our New Year's Kiss!

And captured a little silliness along the way!

How far along? 22 weeks
Fruit/Veggie Comparison: Papaya (10.5-11.8 inches...she weighs about 1 whole POUND!)

Total Weight Gain/ Loss? 7 pounds

Maternity Clothes? My mom took the leap for me and bought me my first pair of maternity jeans...so it was off to the store we went to find some that fit me just right (my short legs in mind) luckily we found some great jeans, khakis, and grey dress pants in a petite size at Macy's for a decent price! I wore them for the first time on Thursday when we went to register and LOVED them! They kind of magically make you feel like a pregnant person haha! 

Stretch Marks? Nope...still lotioning it up

Sleep: Sleeping GREAT but sometimes it has been tricky for me to fall asleep since I have so much on my mind...and I have been able to sleep IN since school is out! I have definitely been taking advantage of that since the holidays have passed! 

Best Moment THIS Week: Registering for Lil' Miss Kiss with my super sweet hubby, and seeing his face light up when he bought her her pink and brown giraffe and matching blanket! :)

Miss Anything? Not really so much

Movement: I can truly feel her moving so much now. The movements are definitely becoming more noticeable but so sporadic! I mostly feel them in the morning and at night. 

Food Cravings: STILL Starbucks Coffee...it IS the holidays you know! I wish it was packed with nutrients so I could just drink it 24/7!

Anything Making You Queasy or Sick: Nope

Have you started to show yet: YES! Feeling more like I have a pregnant little belly, Jeff has said that my belly is out further than my boobs now...I guess I am well on my way! 

Gender: Sweet Baby Girl

Labor Signs: Not at all

Belly Button In or Out? IN, still crossing my fingers for that not to change

Wedding Rings On or Off? ON every day....love, love, love my husband! 

Happy, Emotional, or Moody Most of the Time: Walking on sunshine and laughing it up all of the time with my funny hubby!
Funny/ Sweet Quotes from the First Graders:
I miss their sweet comments since we have been out of school this past week! 

Looking Forward to: All week I was looking forward to last night! Celebrating 2013 with a New Year's Eve Kiss with Lil' Miss Kiss in my tummy...what a beautiful thing!

Lil' Miss Kiss' First Official Word Decor...
You know I love to fill my house with words!
How precious is this for our Baby Girl's room!

We bought this cute little sign at Cracker Barrel today! I thought it would go perfect in Baby Kiss' room! It looks slightly more purple in the picture, but it has more of a gray color...I thought about making it (which is why I took the picture) but then thought the colors are perfect and to make this would cost just as much to buy it...so we bought it right then and there! Precious!