my girl.

        

Now that I've completely submerged myself in the YouTube mommy community (and totally loving it) I have put my blog on the back-burner.  But I still am passionate about writing; I still believe it to be extremely therapeutic for me.  This blog is like my diary and it has been with me through so many years now.  I want it to capture my life, in words.  And so I am coming back and I hope to stay that way!

I still can't believe I'm going to have my baby girl in 7-ish weeks.  Sometimes I still can't believe I'm pregnant!  From that very first positive pregnancy test (which completely took me off-guard) to feeling her kick and move around, there hasn't been a dull moment of this pregnancy.

I've been sick, sore, and achy.  Emotional, anxious, and stressed...  but above all, I have been BLESSED with the most amazing gift I could ever ask for.  I haven't met her yet.  I haven't kissed her sweet face, or grasped her small fingers, or smelled her sweet newborn baby aroma that every baby magically has, but I am so looking forward to each of these memories.  I'm looking forward to holding her for the first time, to laying with her, to bringing her home and have her see her room (even though right now it's a disaster but hopefully won't be that way for long).

David and I set up the crib tonight. Well, not completely.  We are almost done.  We spent 2 hours moaning and groaning trying to put the darn thing together before he had to go to a meeting and we still  didn't get it done in time!  The whole time we were setting it up, I couldn't help but imagine her in it.  This is going to be her bed for many years to come; her sanctuary and peaceful place for sleeping.  It will be the crib she sleeps in after lavendar baths, bedtime stories, and devotionals.

I imagine her blue eyes and her blonde, curly hair (David and I have similar features so I am assuming these things, naturally) & imagine how she will laugh and sound when she starts saying baby words.
I wonder what her first word will be, and what she will be wearing when she takes her first steps.  Will she be a natural musician?

I just can't wait to meet this precious little girl, and the more I type, the more excited I get!
This is such an amazing time in my life and I'm looking forward to becoming a mommy.  It's what I have desired my whole life.  Sometimes I pushed it deep down and told myself otherwise, but it has always been my biggest dream.
We will meet you soon, Eden Noelle. ♥

          

Beautiful Curls in 30 Minutes (Tutorial)

So, you've watched the tutorial.  Now where do you get these great products?

The curler/straightener I used is called the ISO Turbo Pro Flat Iron.  They have all colors.  You can order it off of the ISO Beauty website; however, I don't recommend that.  The one pro of ordering off the website is a lifetime guarantee, but like I said in the video, I had my straightener for 7 years (used it almost everyday) and the only reason it ended up breaking on me is because I wasn't properly storing it away.  I would wrap the cord around it, which takes away life on these products.  (To keep them working longer, you need to fold the cord in half and then wrap it around).

They are on Amazon for half, even sometimes a QUARTER of the price.  And they come brand new.  It's the best deal if you are wanting to invest in an ISO.

This is the Black one, but you can search for any color, basically.

The hairspray I used is the Sebastian Shaper Professional Hairspray and I like it a lot.  It didn't leave my hair crunchy.

The finishing spray I used is the Thermafuse Shine Polishing Spray.  Again, you can get it much cheaper on ebay brand new (I like deals).

Hope you can easily create fabulous hair with the tutorial! Have fun!

25 weeks.

I'm almost 26 weeks already.  I feel like the first trimester lasted forever, but the second just flew by!  We are almost in the THIRD trimester.  I can't believe it!  But it's a day closer to meeting my sweet little baby.  March 31st is approaching very quickly and I haven't done a THING for the nursery yet.  I'm such a procrastinator.  I always get stressed out but then at the very end great things come together!

My feet have officially disappeared when I look down.  My belly is in the way!

The countdown to Christmas in Colorado is almost here.  We booked the tickets in May and I have been counting down the weeks in my head ever since.  I seriously need to be with my family right now.  It's been 7 months since I've been back home.  Luckily, my sister Kiley and best friend Holly both came to visit me since my last visit there which makes time go by a little faster, but it's been hard being pregnant and not having my mom in the same town, same state, same coast.  This will be a lovely reunion.  And I am hoping for snow!!!

My update this week:

Merry Christmas!  Be blessed.

How far along? 25 weeks

Total weight gain: 10 pounds total

Maternity clothes: I'm wearing shirts and pants, but mostly just leggings and tights.

Stretch marks? Small ones are starting to show

Sleep: Watch vlog. LOL

Best moment this week: Today--having the day off and wrapping Christmas presents

Miss anything? Yes.  I miss everything but it will be worth it in the end.

Movement:  She doesn't stop.  :)

Food cravings: Pasta...yogurt..

Anything making you queasy or sick? Smell of garlic.  What else is new?

Gender: Girl girl girllllll

Labour signs: No.

Symptoms: Just little bouts of nausea, mostly when I'm on an empty stomach, and backaches from not sleeping well.  Also, just normal body changes.

Belly button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On.

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy this week!

Looking forward to: CHRISTMAS!

22 weeks.

I feel so huge already and I'm barely past halfway! I feel like I blew up this last week and I'm getting bigger by the second. Lol. Goodness gracious!  I'm a little bit nervous now of the next 18 weeks or so and what I'll be looking like at that point.  Midwife said that baby is growing healthy and strong and all is well.

How far along? 22 weeks

Total weight gain: 6lbs

Maternity clothes: I can still fit in my regular clothes; however, I did start wearing my maternity jeans this week and they were oh, so heavenly.

Stretch marks? They're arriving, so I got Cocoa Butter and apply it twice a day

Sleep: Lack of it this week

Best moment this week: Feeling her move around

Miss anything? No

Movement:  Yes!

Food cravings: See chart

Anything making you queasy or sick? Same. Garlic, Chicken.

Gender: Girly girl.

Labour signs: No.

Symptoms: Backaches, and so tired!

Belly button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On.

Happy or moody most of the time: Moody

Looking forward to: When David can feel her kick

black friday.

I woke up this afternoon around 12:30, groggly and barely able to walk.  All I could remember was going to bed groggly and barely being able to walk.

Oh, the world of difference the Black Friday experience was this year as a pregnant shopper!
We started at 8 pm at Walmart and ended around 5 am at the mall.  I didn't do as terribly as I thought I would, but it obviously didn't measure up to the years before.  By the way, I'm not an aggressive, crazy maniac shopper... I just like going every year for the experience and to snag a great deal here and there. Like the $99 bike I got at Sports Authority.

Two back massages from David and a hot bath later, we put up our tree and lights and all our fun little decorations.  This year I had him help me a little more than usual.  Normally, it starts off as a project we do together and at the end I'm tangled up in lights and he's somewhere else.  Ha ha.  So, this was a nice change and we got it done a lot more quickly.

I love our tiny condo, but especially during Christmas.  It just turns magical.

And, in honor, of the Christmas decorating, I had to wear something a little festive.  Baby is growing!!

21 weeks.

How far along? 21 weeks

Total weight gain: 2 pounds total

Maternity clothes: Still none.

Stretch marks? They're coming for sure

Sleep: Got 9 hours of sleep last night which is amazing because this whole week I have had horrendous tooth pain after getting a cavity filled for the third time.

Best moment this week: Finding out she is a GIRL.

Miss anything? Feta Cheese.

Movement:  Yes!  Yesterday in the tub I was pressing down on my stomach and she was kicking me back.

Food cravings: Look at my picture :)

Anything making you queasy or sick? Smells. Still.  And garlic. Still.  And chicken. Still.

Gender: Girl girl girllllll

Labour signs: No.

Symptoms: Just little bouts of nausea, mostly when I'm on an empty stomach, and HORRENDOUS tooth pain. Luckily it has subsided, and I'm praying it stays that way!

Belly button in or out? In

Wedding rings on or off? On.

Happy or moody most of the time: Moody.  I'm going through a really self-conscious phase.  Hopefully it's just a phase, anyway...

Looking forward to: Thanksgiving!! YUMMY FOOD :)

sweet girl.

Since before I can remember, I've always felt very strongly in my spirit that two things would happen in my life.  And both are now true.
1.  Get married young.
2.  Have a baby girl.

Ok, so I haven't had her yet, but I'm carrying her with me right now. Everywhere I go and every step I take, she's with me.  She is at the safest place she will ever be. She's warm and happy and growing.  She has everything she needs where she is right now. A part of me wants to keep her there forever because this world scares me and I already want to protect her from all harm and face it for her.

But I know it's my job to only carry her for a certain time, and then she has to make her entrance, and she has to live her life; to grow from her mistakes and persevere through the hurt and pain.  But she already has this special place in my heart.  I knew she was a girl since the beginning weeks of pregnancy.  I felt that bond and connection to her even though she was seriously making me so sick and all I wanted to do was curl up in a ball and not be pregnant anymore.  It's a feeling I can't describe.

I saw her face on that monitor yesterday and I haven't stopped thinking about her since.  I can't help but to think of all the incredible things she's going to accomplish with her life.  The people she'll touch,  the love she will captivate.  I know she's going to be a world-changer.  Whether it's with music, or with words, or maybe a completely different path in medicine or science--there's something special about this little girl.

Yesterday during my ultrasound she was asleep in the beginning.  I had my ultrasound at 8 AM and hadn't eaten yet so she wasn't moving.  Then the ultrasound tech started pushing the doppler, shaking her and waking her up.  It was so funny to watch.  And throughout the whole ultrasound she moved from near my bladder all the way up to my rib.

The woman's body amazes me.  I still can't believe that a tiny little seed--formed from sperm and egg--can turn into a baby, child, adult and then an elder.  It makes me look at life from a whole other angle.  It makes my belief in God even stronger.
A year ago I probably would have cringed if you told me I was going to have a baby, and now I can't imagine it any other way.  God knew what was best for me and He is blessing me with the biggest miracle.  I'm so elated.  *Off to Pinterest* :)

And some things I'm really excited about:

And David?

we're having a...

buffalo in pictures.

Being as we've been married 3 years and I still hadn't been to Buffalo to visit David's brother, his sister-in-law and niece (Rachael) and nephew (Salvatore), we figured it was time to make a trip.

We just happened to pick the perfect time in fall to do so.

Here is our week in Buffalo in pictures!

Dressing Uncle David up as a fireman/lifeguard

Sal's pumpkin I carved for him.  He kept saying, "He so happy to see me!"

Niagara Falls/Canada








He's got "Greatest Dad-to-Be in the World" written all over him
Visiting Rach's Kindergarten Classroom on Halloween

laughter | little footsteps | running all over the house | macaroni and cheese and popsicles |
disney junior | leaf-throwing | singing contests | imagination.
 wouldn't you love to be a kid all over again? :)