BIG news.

32 weeks + 1 day.

33 Week Appointment today and was very surprised to find out that our little baby boy is measuring

BIG

Can you believe that? I have gained 17 pounds this pregnancy and feel small compared to other pregnant women and this kid is bigger than average?

What this means specifically, is that the doctor is measuring him to be an 8-9 pound baby instead of the average 7-8 pounds.

RIDICULOUS!

My doctor said that there is someone in my family to blame and since I only weighed 6 pounds when I was born, I am pointing all fingers to the hubby!

(In fact I confirmed with his mother that he weighed 8 pounds 8 1/2 oz. Turns out all her children were big babies and my sister in laws two children were both over 8 lbs also. 

Silly Ford Genes! )

Baby and mommy are both doing great... per doctors standards. However, according to my first time mommy standards... I am not doing great. It has been a pretty rough two weeks for me as the nausea has kicked back in, insomnia has taken over my nights and discomfort like I have NEVER felt before consumed my very existence.

I am trying so hard to stay strong these last 7 weeks before the baby comes to make it at work. I feel awful for complaining but sitting in a chair for eight hours straight seems almost unbearable. Even when I get up to walk around or stretch, I feel pain almost immediately when I sit down again. I just keep telling myself it will all be worth it once I get to see my little guy (and believe me I am counting down the days until that moment.)

Can hardly believe he is almost here. Kev and I talk often about how wonderful it will be to finally meet our son. We start wondering who he's going to look like and what his little personality will be like. What his first words will be. What sports he will play. We cannot wait to meet him and it is all really just terribly exciting!

My folks are coming into town this weekend for a cousins wedding and we are so excited to spend this week and the following week with them, as we head to Sacramento for my sisters graduation.
Yes, my sister McKenna is graduating! I cannot even believe it.
Isn't she gorgeous?

And how cute are her and her boyfriend Kevin? Precious right?

 So proud of her! And can't wait to celebrate this big day with her. Love you Mickey G.

In other Ford family news:

Mother's day was wonderful this year. I don't know if it officially counts as my first mothers day since he isn't here yet, but the way I looked at was that I have been pregnant for 7 months and that fact alone should be acknowledged! Ha. Kevin did a wonderful job making me feel special on that day. He made my favorite breakfast, his secret french toast recipe, and TOTALLY surprised me with the new kitchenware I wanted.

Totally love them and am dying to have a dinner party to show them off at. Any volunteers for a Kyla home cooked meal so I have an excuse to set a table for ten? Let me know!

Also was able to complete TWO baby room projects I have been dying to do and being home sick last week allowed me time to finish them.

Project Number 1: DIY Crib Skirt

 My mom bought these awesome gingham red and navy blue sheets from Pottery Barn (perfect for his American Cowboy themed room) and I wanted to find the perfect fabric for the crib skirt to match. I finally found an adorable print at Hobby Lobby of a little teddy bear cowboy with a red gingham shirt and blue overalls. So cute and perfect for a nursery.

I have been struggling with my sewing machine lately (we are not agreeing on threading the machine) and so I opted for a no sew version of a crib skirt and it turned out just great.

First I measured the three sides of the crib (I only did three sides because the back is against the wall and no-one sees it anyways).

I took my measurements to Hobby Lobby and got 2 1/2 yards of the perfect fabric!

I also picked up the other supplies I needed for my NO SEW project which included:

Heat N Bond Hem (Super) and pre cut squares of sticky back Velcro.

I measured and cut my fabric so I had my three sides of the crib skirt.

I added an extra 3 inches to the length and width so I had an inch and a half on the ends for the seams.

I then simply folded the seams over the Heat N Bond Hem tape and ironed it on. The hem tape is double sticky sided so it grabs both sides of the fabric and makes a lovely hemmed edge.

With my three panels cut and hemmed I added on the Velcro to the tops of each side and it's partner to the crib frame.

The last step was to hang the panels and they look awesome!

This was such a fun project.

There were lots of great links for DIY crib skirts on Pinterest and I even found a video on google of the step by step process!

Total Cost of Project: $10 for fabric (with Hobby Lobby 40% Coupon) + $3 for Heat n Bond Hem Tape + $2 for Velcro patches = $15.

Project Number 2: DIY Baby Mobile

  I have been dying to hang something in the baby room to give it a little more dimension and knew I wanted a baby mobile. I searched at the stores for ones that play music and have flashy lights but none fit the "decor" of the baby room. I searched Etsy for a cute hand made simple one but didn't care to spend $50. So, after searching Pinterest (yes again) I found that I could make one exactly how I wanted it (isn't that the beauty of DIY projects?)

For this project I needed to buy a 1 1/2 inch circle hole punch. This was normally $16 but with another 40% off coupon I was able to get it for just under $10 and can use it for a million other projects I am sure I will do in the future. The only other thing I needed to buy was the paper (cute designed scrapbook paper) and I got 10 sheets for just over $3.

 First I punched as many holes as possible on all ten pages (I had to use all ten because the paper is one sided so you had to put two punches back to back)
This made about a 160 circles total that I was able to use.

I had two rings to hang at different levels, one smaller than the other that sits a little higher, so I was able to get 8 strands on each ring (each strand was ten dots in length).

Then I spent the next 5 hours (literally took this long between my laying down breaks and Ellen was on) gluing the dots together with the string in between, each dot about an inch apart.

Then I evenly hot glued each strand to the ring. I did this for the big ring and the small ring.

I had to wait for Kevin to get home at this point to figure out how to hang the two rings, at different levels and have them be even. Luckily he is much better at math and was able to measure the rings and divide it up so I  knew where to hang the three strings at the top so the small ring would be higher and it would hang straight.

I think it turned out pretty good. Don't you?

I am pretty proud of it myself if I may say so.

One of my favorite projects I have made so far and I can't wait for baby boy to get here and enjoy it!

 

Total Cost of Project: $9 for hole punch, + $3 for scrapbook paper = $12.

(The string I used was just string from my sewing machine and the rings were leftover from other crafts (but I got those at DI for $.75)

 

 

I have just loved doing these projects and love how Kevin loves them too. He always tells me how awesome they look and how great he thinks it is that I make them myself. I totally love this part of being "that" domestic wife and because of my adventures in crafting this week, Saturday we welcomed a new piece of furniture to our home!

My new craft table!

Isn't it a beauty? She fits perfectly in our little office nook next to the computer table and bookshelf. We had been thinking about a craft table for a long time and found an awesome one we were going to make by putting two book shelves together, but on Saturday when we saw this baby (at DI of course) we knew we had found a winner. Even though I struggled with it a bit (concerned it was bigger then I wanted and would crowd our space) when we went back to pick it up I was still in love with it.

I was even more in love with it when we got it home, I cleaned it up and reorganized our "office" area and had all my stuff on it.

Kevin totally spoils me and I am so excited for all the amazing things that will be made on this table!

 

 

Well readers, this is what happens when I don't share all the wonderful things happening here in the Ford world for 11 days!

 

Sorry it's so long but I hope you enjoyed the read and my step by steps on the DIY projects!

 

What DIY projects have you done or are you doing crafters?

 

Let me know. I am always looking for a fun new project!

 

Hope everyone has a lovely rest of your week.  

Home again... Mommy Advice Please!

So far all of my MAY posts will be posted during the morning while I am not at work but stuck at home with Pregnancy pains. I really wish I could suck it up and just work through it all...but today it's Braxton Hicks contractions with abdomen pains. Nurse says the BHC's are normal but the abdomen pains could be another problem. She said to take it easy and if it doesnt get better head on down. Awesome.

I started getting the pains in my abodmen a few days ago. It started right under my belly button (or the area where my belly button used to be) and felt like a sore bruise. Last night we went to a wedding and the pain had moved up the right side of my abdomen.
As a first time mom and not having any CLUE what pains are normal or not, of course I get a little freaked out. I am especially nervous about this contractions business... just ask my husband (or anyone who knows me) I have a VERY LOW level of tolorance for pain.

Thirty-One weeks down tomorrow. Nine weeks to go. It feels like I have been pregnant forever and that I still have forever to go. The closer we get however I do feel that slight anxiety feeling of: "holy crap we are bringing home a baby in two months". But when the pains start up, the nausea hits, the restless nights exahust me and for the first time last night SWOLLEN ANKLES kick in, two months does not seem soon enough.

On another note. Trying to finish getting the babies room together. Poor Kev's clothes got the boot from the extra closet back into our tiny closet in the bedroom with ALL of my clothes. I promised him I would sort through it and allow EQUAL space for both parties.

Also trying to figure out WHAT carseat to get? No clue where to start and this is probably the most IMPORTANT since they won't let us take him home without one. Some of the carseats we have seen at the store seem so cheap and the "soft" fabric feels like plastic. I want my baby to be comfortable and safe!

Any thoughts on carseats mom's have used and liked or didn't like?

Also trying to put together a list of things we will NEED right away when our little arrives. Going to the baby section at the store is not helpful and just overwhelming. Do I really need a highchair right now? He's gonna be on the boobs for a while anyways right?
What about a crib/basinett for next to our bed? Do I get one of those big play pin thingys or just a small rocker?

Seriously starting to feel like we have SO much we still need to do.. guess I will be taking advantage of the two months I still have.

Final question for mommy advice today I promise. What have you found to be NECESSARY to pack in your Hospital bag? I feel like I have asked this question before but I guess Im asking it again because I want to be sure I have what I need for that big day.


PS. Have you ladies seen these amazing hospital gowns? I kind of REALLY want one. Just a little something to make me feel pretty on that BIG day. Also so cool for friends or family having surgeries. Check out Annie&Isabel's web site and BLOG to read some awesome stories of their gown wearers!

Happy Friday Readers.

This is my 30 week photo.. 1 week late

Family Home Evening Adventures

For our wedding someone gave us this awesome book with tons ideas for family home evening nights as Newlyweds. Kev and I have loved all of the idea's in the book so far and have had such a good time with each activity.

This week's activity was to take a roll of toilet paper and as the first spouse unrolls the whole thing, he/she must continuously state why they love being married to their spouse. 

Example: "I love being married to you because you cook awesome dinners." (From Kevin)

Once the entire roll is unraveled (about 50 or so lovely compliments of why your spouse loves to be married to you later), the second spouse must then do the same thing in reverse. Wrapping all of the toilet paper back around the cardboard and also stating reasons they love being married to their spouse in return.

Example. "I love being married to you because you kiss me everyday before you leave for work and its the first thing you do right when you get home." (From Kyla)

 After the activity, the lumpy roll of toilet paper goes back in the bathroom where you can be reminded throughout the week of all the nice things that were said.

 

As Kev and I prepare to bring our little into the world soon, we have talked about the traditions and standards we will set in our home for our family. One of the things we plan to do is have regular family home evenings. It makes its easy that Kev and I have a Family Home Evening schedule set up now with just the two of us and we hope that we will be able to continue this when our kids get old enough (of course with a little more noise and fussing I am sure). 

The activity Kev and I did this week I absolutely loved and I book marked the page to look back on and use when our children are a little older. I think for any families that have kids this would be a KILLER lesson during a rough week of arguing and name calling and tension among siblings. Make the children unroll the toilet paper and state reasons why they are glad each sibling is theirs! Awesome! 

What have been some of your favorite family home evening nights readers? Just you and your spouse or activities with the WHOLE family.

Let us know. We love gathering ideas we can barrow someday ;)

May Day May Day. Two and half months to go!

The verdict is in and May is already the hardest month of pregnancy! 

(Don't let this smile fool you)

29 weeks + 2 days.

How frustrating that at 7 and a half months along I am starting to finally not "LOVE" being pregnant!

Sleepless nights as I toss and turn in discomfort and pain. Nausea kicking back in and power kicks from our little that feel as if he is using my insides for boxing practice.

I am such a little complainer and my sweet husband continues to love me and stay patient with me through it all. 

Stayed home from work today (which I hate doing) because of the pain I am in. My glute and hip areas are so uncomfortable that sitting, standing and walking all bring tears. 

The nurse advised me to take some Tylenol PM and rest for the day, but I have done so well all pregnancy not taking any medications except my pre-natals and I somehow feel if I take something now its gonna mess me up! 

Am I being paranoid? 

I am going to need to do something different to make it this last leg of the race.

My goal is to work all the way up until this baby comes but sitting at a desk for eight hours a day is becoming unbearable. Even with elevated feet, blanket propped behind my back and constant walks to the bathroom, I still feel so uncomfortable throughout the day.

I EXPECTED discomfort the further along I got, but I was not expecting this. I keep hearing that voice in my head saying "Suck it up Kyla. Women have been having babies for thousands of years and they all experience the same thing and they all survived."

I keep comparing myself to all the other sweet girls at work who are pregnant and wonder how the HECK they put on smiley faces EVERY DAY and seem to be as happy as clams! Not fair.

Guess I just needed to vent a little today. Feeling bad that I'm not being "tougher". How am I going to be when Labor kicks in? Oh my heck, I can't even being to think about THAT yet. Ten weeks to get it together little momma.

Thanks for listening to me vent.

Stay tuned for a second post today about a fun Family Home Evening activity Kev and I tried that you can do with your families! 

Happy May Readers.