28 Weeks

Here we are at Seven Months or 28 weeks.  Only 84 days to go.

Yesterday I realized that it had been a while since I had seen Dr. Banks so I called my nurse and sure enough I should have gone in two weeks ago...so thankfully they squeezed me in yesterday.  All is good on the baby front so nothing to report.  (My last appointment was actually my Glucose and Thyroid test which I thankfully pasted however I am severely anemic so they have put me on iron supplements...maybe now I can stop biting my nails.  So now I take four prescriptions everyday...goodness how did we all survive before common medicine practices.)

Here I am with Gabe at 27 weeks and 6 days.

Current Stats:

Due Date: April 17th 2013

Total Weight gain: 7lbs

Gender: GIRL!!
Name: Kyleigh Blake

Movement: She is super busy at night when I sit down and get comfy, but she isn't causing me any discomfort yet.

How I am feeling: I am doing really well this time around.  I am not having as much SI as before and I seem to have more energy as well.  I hope I can keep it up to the end.  The one complaint I have right now is my wisdom teeth...they are making my life miserable!  I am in so much pain from one of them I can hardly talk or chew.  Hoping they can do something before she gets here...

Next Appointment: February 6th...going every two weeks now.

"She's Ready to Pop" custom invites for Lindsey

So I decided to create my own custom "She's Ready to Pop" invites for my best friends baby shower next month.  I really wanted to make the whole invite on the balloon, but writing on a balloon is a lot harder than people let it on to be.  So here is my version...

SUPPLIES

1. Blank invites (I used blank note cards with matching envelopes...bought 50 ct. by Spritz at Target for $9.99)
2. Balloons (I choose white because the invites are solid colors...bought two packs of 15 ct. by Spritz at Target for $1.54 each)
3. Sharpie Markers (I had a ton of these in different colors already so nothing to purchase...note to others...metalic sharpies with pop cheap balloons, so if you want to use a metalic sharpie you better go get the good balloons from Party City.)
4. Scissors (had)
5. Hole Punch ($1.99 at Target)
6. String or Ribbon (I used Sew Easy Floss Bakers Twine from Target for $2.99)
7. One pipe cleaner.  You will use this to secure the balloon shut while you write on it...that way you can deflate afterwards. (I have a toddler so we have a ton of these, but you can get them for cheap anywhere.)
8. Balloon pump...this is optional, but I had one and I thought since others would being blowing up the same balloon it was more sanitary this way. (These are also available at Target for $4.99)

I created my template in Photoshop to fit the 3.5x5.5 note cards and printed them out on my home computer.
You could also create a template in Word or Publisher.
Just set your paper to Portrait and sized to 3.5 wide and 5.5 high.

I decided that since I wasn't going to write the invitation information out on the balloon I still needed something cute for the balloon so I decided on the baby's due date.

Use your pipe cleaner to secure the balloon shut while you write on your balloon.

(***UPDATE...DO NOT USE A BLACK SHARPIE...THE BLACK NEVER DRIES AND IT WILL SMUDGE IN THE MAIL***)

This part takes a while...especially if you are throwing a big shower. 

Punch holes in your invite.

Loop the string through the holes.

You can see here that I alternated the color of the envelopes with the invites.  Thought it would be prettier this way.

Tie the balloon with the string and VUALA! 

I really hope she likes them!

Marshall Christmas 2012

Well Christmas came and went in a flash.  Honestly I don't think I had time to relax from Halloween until after New Years.  Between school, photo shoots, planning and shopping for Christmas, keeping up with Gabe, and trying to get ready for Kyleigh I feel like I blinked and it was all over.

Gabe had a great Christmas this year.  He was really into everything...a lot more than I thought he was going to be this year.  He was so excited about going to see Santa (we saw him twice) and is still obsessed with the Christmas decorations and is very sad to see them go.  He keeps plugging his tree back in even though we are in the breaking down process.

This year Gabe got one BIG gift from Santa, a real drum set as well as a Microphone, a new Kitchen and a special Arts and Crafts Table for his new big boy room.

(We went a head and got rid of the "playroom" since that is going to be Kyleigh's room.  We figured it would be better to do it now so he doesn't feel like he lost his playroom to his sister...pretty sure he will have enough to be jealous about when she gets here.)

Back to Christmas...

Eric and I were up until about 1am putting Gabe's gifts together (with Santa of course).  The drumset was more difficult than we anticipated and we had to watch a tutorial online because it didn't come with instructions.  The Microphone and Kitchen were easy and there was no assembly on the table...thankfully.

Eric did such a great job as Santa's helper...much better than last year...because last year he went to sleep right after Gabe and I had to do everything all by myself! LOL!  But he MORE than made up for it this year and he was really excited too!

Gabe's note to Santa

Daddy helping Santa write a note to Gabe, Santa's hand were full.

Santa and the Reindeer really enjoyed their snacks!

Like I said...we got finished and in bed around 1am...we both fell asleep pretty fast.

I awoke at the weeeeee hour of 2:45am to the faint and distant sound of a little drummer boy drum, drum, drumming.  I sprang out of bed and saw a very early riser playing his new drums with the biggest smile I have ever seen on his face.  He was not happy to go back to sleep, but daddy laid down with him and he soon was back in dream land.

Christmas morning Gabe slept until about 8am which was great for us because neither Eric or I had gotten much sleep the night before with Santa duty and then Gabe getting up at 2:45am....next year we are locking his butt in his room! LOL!

Gabe was so excited to see all that Santa had brought him.  I don't think I have ever seen him quite as happy.

Here is our little Rock Star!

 

 

What Mommy and Daddy got Gabe...

Spider-man Pj's and house shoes.

New play food...the cool kind that are held together with velcro and they get to "cut" them in half.

Head phones for his Kindle...Mommy got a Nexus so Gabe gets the Kindle.

The LeapFrog Tag Reading starters kit...though he needs some books because you only get a sample book with the reader.

A Nerf Basket ball goal (one of those little ones for the door and of course it only lasted about five minutes)

Eric had a big stack of presents too, though it wasn't because he was good all year...I just can't help but spoil my boys... :)

Eric got some really soft Pj pants, a robe, a beard trimmer, a new wallet and belt, and of course Assassins Creed 3. :)

Eric got me a New Google Nexus and pretty pink cover for it...just love it!  I don't think I have gone a day without using it!

After we got done with presents Anne and Luke came over for a yummy brunch and hung out most of the day.  My parents joined us a little later and we all had a great time just sitting around a visiting with one another.  All-in-all this was a pretty amazing Christmas for the Marshall's.