Ready to PoP! School Shower

So my super sweet first grade team, and another great friend of mine on the Kinder team...worked so hard to throw me a super special school shower! The theme was "Ready to PoP!" It was absolutely adorable in every way! We had tasty cake and punch, the amazing company of our staff, and, of course, GOURMET popcorn made especially by the ultra talented Angela! It was here that we celebrated the coming of Baby Kiss...but I sadly announced (most people already knew), that I will be staying home with Kinsley next year...it was hard to say out loud...and pretty much brought myself and my team to tears, but I know once she arrives it won't be so hard to swallow! :(

The invites were ADORABLE!

Decorations were perfect!

The cake was super tasty...of course I ate the chocolate half!

Look at this sweet little addition! Love it! 

The best 1st grade team EVER! 

Kristen is Ready to Pop!

They made all of my favorites...personalized popcorn...who knew! 

Red Hot Popcorn= My love of hot tamales

Thin Mint Popcorn= My love of Girl Scout Thin Mints

Birthday Cake Popcorn= My love of Birthday Cake flavored ice cream 

We received so many thoughtful words and so many sweet gifts! I truly feel blessed to have been part of this amazing staff for the past 5 years! Here is a sneak peak of the fun we received!

Lots of sweet gift cards for all of those
miscellaneous needs and wants!  

How adorable is this little sign?!!?!?

An amazingly cute homemade sign from my
friend Susan...it goes perfectly!

Homemade burp cloths from the Kinder team...love them!
Especially the one on top...it's my favorite...of course
it matches her nursery! 

Officially Full Term...37 Weeks

This week was absolutely FULL of FUN to celebrate our OFFICIAL 37th week! It is just absolutely amazing to me that we have made it this far and we will be meeting Miss Kinsley so very soon! This week, I had a school shower with my teacher friends, we saw Bon Jovi, got the 1st snow cone of the season, made and hung Kinsley's nursery letters and bow holder!!!! Wow wee we were busy! 

Thursday we made our way out to the American Airlines Center to see BON JOVI! Kinsley got the chance to hear the sweet sounds of Mama's favorite...Bon Jovi! We had an absolute blast, though I must say concerts on a school night can be pretty tough, but soooo worth it! 

 This weekend....we finally made it to TIKI HUT for some Tropical Sno, shave ice, as the Hawaiians call it! It was a supppper windy day, hence the amazing pictures we captured....but nonetheless....Kinsley got her first true taste of Mama's favorite Texas PINEAPPLE snow cone...you better believe I got a LARGE and ate it all! After all, it WAS the first one of the season! 

Mama and her LARGE Pineapple snow cone
to go with her LARGE belly! 

Then, Mr. Kiss and I got to work on our projects for Miss Kinsley...he painted the letters for her nursery...which he was so excited about! How cute is he with he painting gloves?!?!?

The letters look sensational...but I still have a few touches I plan to add to them, when I can find the just right additions for them at Hobby Lobby! 

I FINALLY had the chance to work on Kinsley's bow holder frame for her nursery! 

 

Mr. Kiss helped me paint the frame to match her furniture and get that tight squeeze of a frame backing on WITHOUT breaking the glass...it was a difficult job for sure! 

 I am in absoute love with how it came out!!! YAY!

 She's already got a collection going! 

And it is hung up and on display! Perfecto! 

What an amazing week to celebrate our journey to the official land mark of FULL TERM! 

 

How far along? 37 weeks

Fruit/Veggie Comparison: Winter Melon (estimated 18.9-20.9 inches)
Total Weight Gain/ Loss? 35 pounds 

Maternity Clothes? Oh yes! Thank goodness with the Texas Spring heat well on its way (we hit 90 degrees this weekend)....I only have 3 maaayyybeeeee 4 weeks left to go. As I was out and about I found myself thinking "Wow, what a wonderful day to wear shorts....why am I not wearing shorts??? Oh wait....I am pregnant (for a second I literally forgot I was pregnant, as I was so enamored with the summer shorts, LOL) and I don't have any maternity shorts...nor am I planning to buy any in this last home stretch!"

Stretch Marks? I am pretty sure that little hint of one is ONE! Well what can you do...just hope it fades away I suppose!

Sleep: Well, for as far along as I am...I really can't complaint but I do toss and turn all night from side to side and it is extremely hard to maneuver! When I sit up...I can no longer use my HIDDEN ab muscles, I have to roll on my side and push up with my arm...like a person fresh out of surgery!

Best Moment THIS Week: Rocking out to the amazing sounds of Bon Jovi with Kinsley and her daddy! At 36 1/2 weeks pregnant and on a school night, I surly had to take sitting breaks but I rocked out with the best of them. (of course with all of the concerts I have been to, this was the only one where the drunk man next to me was escorted out by police...only a pregnant thing!) I also had an amazing 'Ready to PoP' shower hosted by my first grade team at school surrounded by all of my teacher friends! It was so adorable and so much fun! I am so blessed with an amazing school and staff, and so very sad to leave! (I will post some pics soon.) Also, seeing how happy my sweet husband was painting the letters for her name...he smiles and laughs a cute little laugh every time he walks upstairs and catches a glimpse of them on the wall behind her crib!
Miss Anything? My little footsies and ankles not being thick and fat! They are so not cute! Oh ya and the ability to wear cute SUMMER shorts in this Texas heat! 

Movement: She is still a mover and a groover! I think this week she has flipped again and I am pretty sure she is back head down again! Let's hope she stays that way!
Food Cravings: Cara Cara Oranges....they are my new replacement for the non-existant clementines! They sure do the trick! They are super sweet and seedless too! You can't beat that! I've been craving the dips again this week...french onion and bean dip! Yum!
Recent, Unpleasant Developments: Ummm still heartburn and I feel like I can hardly bend at all! It feels like there is a bowling ball inside of me! 

Have you started to show yet: Haha yes of course...I can't believe it's only a few more weeks I have left with this belly of mine!

Gender: Full TERM Baby Girl

Labor Signs: I wake up sometimes with a couple pains or tightness on the sides of my tummy...only a couple times though...but the doctor says this could be the beginning of CONTRACTIONS! 

Belly Button In or Out? IN, and she is still hanging on! If you look closely in some shirts you can see the little part that is pushed out LOL! 

Wedding Rings On or Off? SADLY enough...this week they had to come off....I still love, love, love my husband...however, it was getting harder and harder to take them off and I DID NOT want them to get stuck! SOOOO we had to part ways for a little while and I feel so sad and naked! 

Happy, Emotional, or Moody Most of the Time: Freaking out that we are FULL TERM....how on Earth did we make it this far so quickly?!??!?
Funny/ Sweet Quotes from the First Graders:
"Can't you get a babysitter?" -Maddie (in regards to coming back to teaching 1st grade)
"But now we can't come and give you hugs before class in 2nd grade."- Liv (when talking about me staying home with Kinsley next year)
"It's cute that you and Kinsley will both have the middle name Elizabeth!"- Arabela
"When you passed by me, I heard a baby sound from your belly." -Dylan (a Kinder student)
Looking Forward to: The coming weeks and our FULL TERM 37 week appointment! We will do another growth scan, check to see if she is head down, and see how far we've progressed in regards to dilation and effacement!

36 Week Appointment UPDATE:

Last Wednesday was our 36 week appointment! I had the oh so fun and delightful Strep swabbing! Little Kinsley is doing well and has a strong heartbeat of 120 BPM! I had my first DILATION check and I was about at 1cm...which so surprised me! He said it could be a little more but he didn't want to push too hard and cause early labor! He said that is very normal for this time and we are looking great! Don't let me forget my super comfy new, WHITE robe they gave me as a gift!!! Woo hoo!  

Our Jumping Gymnast at 36 Weeks!

 

How far along? 36 weeks

Fruit/Veggie Comparison: Cabasa Melon (estimated 18.9 inches)
Total Weight Gain/ Loss? 32 pounds 

Maternity Clothes? Oh yes! I even got me 4 new, amazingly, comfy, and cute maternity short sleeve tees! I am in love and might wear them every day! I also bought myself a pair of Yellow Box flip flops to help my little feet to have some comfy flip flops instead of walking on cardboard...they are an official pregnancy purchase to help with the next 4 weeks! 

Stretch Marks? Nope...still lotioning it up...though I MIGHT have spotted a hint of one...but we shall see!

Sleep: Not the best sleep in the world...definitely a lot of tossing and turning all night long...and can you say HOT...I get pretty warm while I am catching some ZZZZssss! I am not sure if it's just our mattress, my pregnancy pillows, hormones, or warmer weather....I am sure a combination of them all!  

Best Moment THIS Week: Taking the sweetest maternity pictures with Kinsley's sweet daddy to be! My mom came out to the Botanical Gardens with us to snap some amazing memories...she caught some greatness for sure...soon to be posted for your viewing pleasure! 

Miss Anything? My feet and back not hurting terribly by day's end! 

Movement: Well....our little gymnast continues to flip and kick around in there! I was quite certain she had flipped to breech again by the time we went to our appointment last Wednesday...and sure enough that little lady flipped again...SHE IS BREECH yet again...totally indecisive like her momma! She's dancin' to the beat of her own drum!
Food Cravings: CLEMENTINE CUTIES....pregnancy nightmare...my grocery store has been OUT of them for 2 weeks...I must travel to alternate venues...I am beginning to have withdrawals! Can't a pregnant lady get some cuties around here! Come on man! ;)
Recent, Unpleasant Developments: Slightly swollen ankles and feet by day's end...and slightly swollen fingers because of the weight gain and warmer weather I suppose! Oh and yes...heartburn and indigestion are back in action full fledged! On April 1st after eating my yummy roast, chocolate cake, and drinking caffeine, some severe indigestion set in...combined with a toothbrush gag caused some severe throwing up early that morning....nooooottt so fun at 36 weeks...or pretty much EVER! 

Have you started to show yet: Ummm....are you kidding...after taking our maternity pictures...I realized how round and voluptuous my pregnant belly really is...I was like WOW! that is a BIG belly! 

Gender: Flippin' Lil' Gymnast Girl

Labor Signs: Not at all

Belly Button In or Out? IN, phew...not sure how much longer it can hang on...it isn't totally flat YET, so maybe by the next 4 weeks it will be okay! 

Wedding Rings On or Off? ON every day....love, love, love my husband, but they are definitely more and more difficult to get off...I am seeing an end to their wear in the VERY near future! 

Happy, Emotional, or Moody Most of the Time: In disbelief that we only have less than 1 MONTH to go....that's 4 weeks! Oh my goodness gracious! Kinsley here we come!
Funny/ Sweet Quotes from the First Graders:
"Mrs. Kiss...do NOT let Baby Kiss ride a skateboard...it is too dangerous!" -Andrew
Looking Forward to: Getting the nursery letters on hung on the wall and making her BOW holder to hand on the wall too! I got the fabric and ribbon and I think it will be pretty sensational once it is all complete! Also, I am super excited for my Baby Shower at school with all of my teacher friends...

Her Sweet Name Banner I made for our Maternity Pics...
it will go pretty perfectly in her room might I add! 

We are OFFICIALLY in the LAST MONTH stretch for our little one to arrive and we are MORE than ready! Everything is pretty much set...though I may make some changes to her going home outfits and such...if we had her tomorrow we wouldn't be in a frazzled state! 

35 Week Appointment UPDATE:

Last Wednesday was our 35 week growth scan and you will never believe it...of course as I mentioned before Lil' Miss Kinsley has flipped and is now BREECH again...but that didn't surprise me, because as her Mommy, I could totally read her movements and knew very well that she had yet again flipped within the week from our last appointment, she's got LOTS of fluid in there so I suppose she is having a blast! The AmAzInG news is that she has had a HUGE growth spurt and is now measuring in the 27th percentile, the highest she has been up until now is 12th percentile (she's now measuring just a couple days small)...weighing in at about 5.8 pounds!!!! In the coming weeks she is supposed to begin gaining about an ounce a day...that is a WHOLE lot of growing...if the estimation is anywhere near correct we just might have ourselves an almost 8 pound baby on our hands by our estimated due date...only time will tell! This doesn't surprise me either...because in the last 2 weeks since our last growth scan...I have had sooo much more pressure on my lower back and MUCH more discomfort overall, feeling super heavy on my feet! I have also had a super ZAP of energy....so my thinking is that she is stealing all of my energy to grow, grow, and grow some more! Her movements are HUGE and so strong, and I swear that lil' lady is dancin' to the beat of her own drum! Our next appointment will just be a check up, and then at 37 weeks (full term...YIKES...I can't believe I am saying that)...we will do another growth scan. If she is breech then the Dr. will try and flip her around 37 weeks, and if that doesn't work we might try some chiropractic tricks! Whoooo knows! 

Birthday Bliss at 35 Weeks

What an amazing weekend! 28 years ago I was brought into this amazing world by my mom, and soon enough I will be bringing our little baby girl into this world on her very own birthday that will be celebrated for years to come! What an amazing thought! It is also hard to believe that over HALF of my life has been spent with Jeff! I have spent 14 out of 28 birthdays with him! We celebrated my 28th birthday this past weekend with our Annual Crawfish Boil at the Kiss', and then it was off to the real celebration on my true birthday which fell on Easter Sunday! Jeff and I even had the chance to have a special birthday date night of Hibachi and a movie on Friday night...which was so incredibly needed, in addition to my most favorite Blueberry Pancake breakfast at Cracker Barrel! I felt so much love surrounded by family and friends! What a special thing to celebrate the beginning of my life with this new life growing inside of me! I just can't wait to meet her on her birthday!
 
Mommy and Daddy with our babies before our Hibachi date night!

This belly is ready for some Birthday Hibachi!

Mommy and Daddy ready for a Birthday Date Night! 

The crawfish boil was a success, though we seemed to have gotten a bad batch where nearly half of the 90 pounds had died before cooking...Kroger saved the day with some live crawfish in stock! So, the boys ran to the store to pick up some extras...though they weren't the premium selects like the originals we had ordered...they still did the job! We had hard workers purging and cleaning the crawfish, sorting the dead ones from the live ones, and dad was hard a work cooking them! It was so much fun to have everyone together enjoying a beautiful day and time together!

Friends sorting the DEAD ones from the LIVE ones!
 
 

My Daddy the Master Boiler!

Time to eat some yummy crawfish! 

My Birthday Cake from Jeremy, Rachelle, and Korbin!

My sweet brother! We know how to pose with a cake!

Let the festivities commence! 

My girls...Katie, Lesha, Ashley and ME! 

Me and My Sweetie! He loves that belly!

The next day, which was my actual birthday, was followed with even more birthday bliss! My blueberry pancakes were ABSOLUTELY delightful! I loved my birthday breakfast! 

 

Then later it was followed with my favorite meal of all time...my mom's roast! It was soooo yummy I couldn't have asked for anything more tasty! Little did I know later that night it would cause me some severe heartburn and indigestion all night as I slept! Then I would wake up to a brush-your-teeth and gag reflex that would make me throw up the next morning to such a terrible degree I had to stay home from work! Sheesh...the joys of pregnancy...but I miiiiight have to say it was all worth it because it tasted soooo good going down...roast is my absolute favorite! 

Since Nothing Bundt Cakes was closed, she followed dinner with a German Chocolate Bundt Cake which was phenomenal...though the combination of the chocolate cake, roast, and caffeine was most likely the cause to my heartburn/indigestion that night according to the doctor! Though we had to put the candles in like a flying saucer due to the coconut and pecans on top...it made for an amazing birthday cake! Nothing Bundt Cakes ain't got nothin on my MOM'S bundt cake!!! She even bought me my own BUNDT pan! How fun! I also got some sweet journals for me and Kinsley! 

A fun little birthday bump...in the most comfy dress from
my friend Lesha!!!

The 3 Generations with one more in the works!

The Family!

28 candles!!! 

My sweet hubby surprised me with my much desired Petunia Pickle Bottom Diaper bag that reminds me of Kinsley's nursery and BON JOVI tickets for April 11! Kinsley gets to go to her first Bon Jovi concert woo hoo! 

Then my sweet brother and Katie super surprised me with the Ray Ban sunglasses I have been admiring! They truly spoiled me with this gift...but they are just in time for Spring and Summer and sunglasses are the one thing I have never spent money on for myself to have a good pair! I am oh so thankful and excited! 

And yes....on top of all of that fun...we hit 35 weeks! Wow! Only 35 days left estimated to go! 

 

How far along? 35 weeks

Fruit/Veggie Comparison: Honeydew Melon (estimated 18.9 inches)
Total Weight Gain/ Loss? 30 pounds 

Maternity Clothes? Yep... but still in need of some short sleeve maternity shirts and I am thinking about starting to pull the pregnant lady/teacher who wears tennis shoes with every outfit so my feet don't hurt so bad at the end of the day...the TOMS just aren't cutting it for me anymore...not much of a sole on those bad boys! 

Stretch Marks? Nope...still lotioning it up

Sleep: Mid day sleepiness for SURE! I have hit the 3rd trimester sleepy city! I think Jeff is effected by it too! On Wednesday night, we both could have gone to bed at 6pm and ended our night at 9pm, but that was even pushing it! Then at the doctor on Thursday, the nurse said...are you guys tired...haha! We are like the walking dead and she isn't even here yet!  

Best Moment THIS Week: Giving Kinsley a taste of Cajun Country...boiled crawfish, potatoes, corn, and mushrooms cooked by my All-Star crawfish boiling dad! Yummmmmmmm! Also, of course celebrating my birthday with my family and friends and the Easter holiday...Denton ISD even gave me a 3 day weekend to enjoy my 28th birthday (we had Good Friday off)! Also, taking the time to slow down life for a second, reminisce on some of life's amazing moments. Last Thursday, I took the time to look through the entire blog so far, and pictures from our wedding! I was overwhelmed with a sense of feeling beyond blessed! Our life has truly been one incredible journey filled with soooo many amazing friends and such a loving family! We could NOT be more blessed in our lives and cannot wait to share all of these blessings with Kinsley! 

Miss Anything? Sleeping without having to wake up and pee! 

Movement: Oh my this little lady was making some big waves this week...I was certain with all of the movements, huge movements she was for sure flipping around! Sure enough we went to the doctor on Thursday and sure enough that little gymnast had flipped to a head down position! She's getting ready for her debut!!!! Let's cross our fingers she stays that way!
Food Cravings: Gosh...I just want some APPLE JUICE and a PINEAPPLE snow cone....but Tiki Hut doesn't open until April....April here we come!
Recent, Unpleasant Developments: Nightly DOUBLE potty breaks...yes...I am now officially at 2 potty breaks a night...thankfully the puppies ignore me and don't get up when I do...they just continue their peaceful sleep! Also, slight leg cramps throughout the night, achy body (especially lower back), and just starting to feel uncomfortable! At the crawfish boil I had some super swollen feet...maybe because of all of that sodium?!?!?

Have you started to show yet: Yes! People at school have told me...gosh it's like you didn't show for the longest time and now you are looking really pregnant! 

Gender: Crawfish Tastin' Little Lady

Labor Signs: Not at all

Belly Button In or Out? IN, but yikes....yet again another little section has popped out a little, but it is still pretty much in but looking like it will soon be flat! If I wear a thin shirt it looks like it is popped out due to the little part that is poking out...but it isn't. One of my friends at school was on the look out this week to see if it had popped yet! LOL

Wedding Rings On or Off? ON every day....love, love, love my husband, but they seem to be getting a little more snug! 

Happy, Emotional, or Moody Most of the Time: Beyond blissful...So blessed to have a 28th birthday with a little one in my belly who will soon be born and brought into this world the way I was...the thought is unimaginable! It literally brings me to tears just thinking about it!
Funny/ Sweet Quotes from the First Graders:
"Kinsley will come out doing the Baby Disco!" -Arabela
"You won't have to teach her about 5 senses!"
"Did your baby come out Mrs. Kiss?" -A Kindergartner
Looking Forward to: Making the letters and being on the lookout for wall decor for her nursery! I have been dying to do this...I am also hopeful to get some maternity pictures taken in the next week or so to capture this cute, little Kinsley belly of mine! We will ALSO get to see how much she has grown next Wednesday!!!

 

To top off a great birthday weekend...my Easter Lilies bloomed for Easter! 

I was definitely left feeling blessed after this birthday weekend!