It's a...

GIRL!!!!

Hubby and I are so excited about our sweet baby girl! We got a perfect health record for her today and she's weighing in at a half a pound. I'm still down two pounds, but have gained 5 pounds since my last appointment. (If that makes any sense)

I am beyond ecstatic that we're having a girl and even more excited that she's in great health. She's been quite active the last few days and I've actually felt her kicking!! My husband got to feel it for the first time Tuesday night and the look on his face was just priceless.

Our tech surprised us today with some 3D images. They're a little strange, but still totally cool.

I love that we got a little sneak peak at her. Oh and we're naming her Alexis, but calling her Lexie for short. I couldn't resist buying her some sweet little outfits today :)

Hope everyone had a great Christmas! I'll have lots of pictures eventually from our holidays :)

Read more...

Merry Christmas Eve Eve

{credit}

Yes. Eve Eve.

Today is my last day of work for the year and while I'm beyond ecstatic, it's also a little stressful knowing I need to get a lot done in the 6.5 hours I have left at work. I've been a busy, productive bee, so I have no doubt I can do it!

But anyway, that being said, I'm about to be on vacation for 10 days. 10 days. I am so in need of a mental and physical break it's not even funny! For the next 6 days I don't have to cook or clean as we'll be traveling and that means I have no obligations other than to be where I am supposed to be. That's so refreshing. The last part of my vacation will be spent giving my house some much needed TLC and cleaning out the nursery :)

Which also means...that I am going on hiatus until after Christmas! I really just need to relax, enjoy family, and especially get some much needed time with my husband. I'm not sure if I'll write before the New Year, so in that case I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a wonderful New Year.

We've been very blessed this year with a new job for me that has proven to be such a good move, healthy family, more financially stable, and, of course, the new addition to our family that we are anxiously awaiting his or her arrival in May. {OK maybe I'll have to post next week regarding the gender...}But we really have been blessed this year and I am so thankful for all the wonderful things in our lives and the things we've been able to do and experience together. So cheers to all, be safe, and enjoy the holidays. And thank you for another fun year of blogging. It's been so good connecting with all of you this year!

Much love from me {xoxo}

{Hubby and I at my work Christmas party this week}

Read more...

An onion, but a cute onion...not smelly

How far along? 17 Weeks 4 Days

Baby's size? 5 inches long head to rump, about the size of an onion

Weight Gain? Not sure. Last appointment I was only down 5 pounds.

Maternity clothes? Love them. I pretty much gravitate towards them :)

Stretch marks? Nope. Rubbing on my lotion to keep them away.

Belly button in or out? In but a little shallow for some reason.

Sleep? Love love LOVE sleep!

Foods I am loving? Steak, beef, french fries, milkshakes, broccoli, squash, zucchini, oranges, strawberries, almonds and walnuts, chicken!!, barbecue sauce, frozen yogurt, sherbert, milk!, mac-n-cheese, craisins, vinegarette dressing, apple sauce, spiral ham and more...my list is growing! {still the same}

Foods I am hating? Mayonnaise isn't quite as disgusting, but I'm still staying away. Heavily seasoned things stink. Sandwich meat is still unappetizing. Blue cheese dressing - BLECH!

Best moment this week? Having strangers ask when I'm due or if I'm pregnant!

Movement? I think I'm noticing what they call "Quickening." I've only felt it a few times, but it's like a small little flip. Like a gold fish flipping or something. Kinda strange but definitely different than gas! lol.

Symptoms? I forgot to take my vitamins one day this week and felt a little crummy. I've noticed if I get too busy at work to eat or drink enough water then I don't feel well. But really I'm feeling great and like myself!

Gender? We find out next WEDNESDAY!!

What I miss? Nothing really. 

What BabyCenter says:

Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.


Since next week we'll find out the gender, I thought I'd give y'all a sneak peak into the nursery themes for either boy or girl! I don't want to do anything real "baby" and would rather do something they can grow in to.

For a girl, I want it to be chic and roomy. So, of course, I've chosen a collection of the darling Amy Butler, but I can't decide which one...opinions?

Then for a boy I want elephants and a kind of cool jungle thing going on...

Decisions, decisions...It should be a WHOLE lot easier next week. 7 days :)

Read more...

Too much to do...too little time

Does anyone else feel like the last few months have FLOWN by?? Like what happened to Summer...or Fall...or, hell, the year for that matter! I feel like I blinked and it's now 10 days to Christmas.

10 days to Christmas...

Shit! I think for the first time in years - maybe ever - I'm so not ready for Christmas to be here. I haven't even enjoyed the decorations being up because I've been flying by the seat of my pants! I had a meltdown yesterday because I feel like there is so much to be done at work and at home that I just can't get a grip on life! {Listen to that pity party, will ya?} Sheesh!

Now if you've been reading my blog, you know that I have all my Christmas shopping done, so that part isn't what makes me NOT ready for Christmas. I bought presents starting in September! September! So that I would be super duper uber prepared this year and so ahead of the game. And, well, we see how well that worked out, don't we?

You see I've had everything sitting and ready for me to work on, but this sweet, little bun in my oven made me super sick for about 3 months. Not so good for productivity. Although, I did enjoy what some like to call morning sickness... "connecting with your baby." Umm yup I hear ya loud and clear kiddo :) You and me? We're like this {Makes crossed fingers gesture}. [p.s. dear kiddo...thanks for not making my ass the size of a house while laying around the house for 3 months...or at least not yet anyway. Love ya!]

Not to mention Spunk & Sass had 3 craft shows this Fall for me to prepare for. I guess you could say that Life Happened, but whatever. Life has been going 90 to nothing and I'm so ready for the slow lane. What is that, by the way? The slow lane...can I pull over?

So all of this combined with the fact that I've been insanely busy at work working on some proposals. So far this week, I've worked 23 hours writing proposals. It's a wonder I have a brain and eyeballs left, not even mentioning sanity, which I'm pretty sure got lost somewhere along the way yesterday. Cue in crying fit yesterday on my way home from work and a very successful grocery shopping trip in which I filled my cart with ice cream sandwiches, sherbert, cereal, craisins, nuts, snack mix, skittles, and probably more crap. But you know what? I ate an ice cream sandwich in bed last night, and it was the best.damn.thing.ever.

I guess, basically, I'm overwhelmed to the gills and trying to make sense of it all and prioritize life. If that's possible. So yesterday I sat down with my iPhone and a handy little app called "Errands" and made to-do lists for the rest of the week. Each day has a few tasks for me to complete - legitimate ones too. No unrealistic goals - and well, so far so good. Yesterday I completed all but one task, which can be done today.

I assume we all figure out ways to make things work and to accomplish what we need to do. Perhaps, my hormones, plus a lack if time, contributed to my meltdown yesterday and the best thing I can do is to calm down and try to make some lists. I feel like more of a sane person today instead of some hormonal, pregnant, stressed-out woman with runny mascara and smudged eye-liner - or in other words...one hot mess!


OK, I'm going to say {end rant here}. Happy Hump Day y'all. Hope everyone is having a good week and is getting excited for the holidays. I'm on my way....

"Jingle Bells...Jingle Bells..."

Read more...

4 months!

{16 weeks}

How far along? 16 weeks - 4 months!

Baby's size? 4.5 inches long head to rump, about the size of an avocado

Weight Gain? Not sure. Last appointment I was only down 5 pounds.

Maternity clothes? I'm realizing how much more comfortable they are. On the weekends I only wear my maternity jeans and during the week I alternate since I don't have maternity pants for every day of the week. The shirts are way comfortable and definitely show off the growing belly :)

Stretch marks? Nope. Rubbing on my lotion to keep them away.

Belly button in or out? In :)

Sleep? Love sleep. I toss and turn a bit, but still sleeping well.

Foods I am loving? Steak, beef, french fries, milkshakes, broccoli, squash, zucchini, oranges, strawberries, almonds and walnuts, chicken!!, barbecue sauce, frozen yogurt, sherbert, milk!, mac-n-cheese, craisins, vinegarette dressing, apple sauce, spiral ham and more...my list is growing!

Foods I am hating? Mayonnaise isn't quite as disgusting, but I'm still staying away. Heavily seasoned things stink. Sandwich meat is still unappetizing.

Best moment this week? Watching the belly grow :)

Movement? They say I will start to feel "quickening" now, but still nothing. I'm ready though!

Symptoms? Feeling better so the symptoms are less and less. It's pretty much if I get too hungry I turn into the hunger monster haha.

Gender? Still waiting - will know for sure on the 29th. {Doc said she guesses a girl}

What I miss? Nothing really. 

What BabyCenter says:

Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.


I've been documenting my belly over the weeks and months so I can see growth and it's so neat to see! Now that I'm 4 months along, I thought I'd share months 1-4 in pictures...

Read more...

Great weekend!

I'm a day behind posting this, I realize, but yesterday was crazy. I have a big proposal I'm working on that's due on Monday, so I busted major booty working on it yesterday. I figured I would write my post now, because I'm about to spend the rest of today working on it as well...anywhoo.

Friday night we went to Hubby's work party and it was fun! Minus the whole part of us staying out until 1 am!! I was one pooped cookie. Let me tell you. I started yawning at 9:30 and at 12:30 I was like HUBBY...I'm dying here. So then since I was DD and probably the only sober one at the party, I was DD to some other drunkards as well. It was incredibly amusing. One of the other coaches climbed into my car and looked up (I have a panoramic sunroof so it's over the front and back seats) he looks up and says "Holy shit...I CAN SEE THE SKY!" LOL. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to all the drunk-speak.

Saturday Hubby worked so I went out and finished Christmas shopping. I also picked up a few more maternity things on sale. Yippee! I had a purse order to complete, so got that done and then went to dinner and bowling with friends that night. Again, it was amusing to hang out with inebriated folk. I think it's halfway funnier being the sober one. Only one problem of the night was that we didn't get home until almost midnight. I think Hubby was trying to kill me lol. He said I was a trooper though :)

Sunday was ULTRA productive and exciting. First we woke up, sorted laundry and started on that right away, which we never do. Then we sat down to watch a movie while everything washed. I decided I had a few craft projects in mind that I could do in front of the TV. Enter in my wreath...

Super cute right? My good Canadian friend, MLIP, sent me one similar and said I had to make it :) So I did. I really love how it turned out.

Then I had this idea for a flower necklace, so I whipped that up too!

After the movie, we decided to go clean out the office closet, which will be my new place for craft storage since the craft room will now be the nursery!! I'm so excited. One more step to getting ready for baby. We got the closet completely cleaned out! We also went to Home Depot and got all the stuff to install the shelving in there. Now once Hubbs gets that installed, I can start moving stuff over. Then we can work on the baby's room! Yay!!

Later that night we went to the infamous Cesari birthday location, Carabba's, for my future brother-in-law's birthday. It was so much fun and full of laughs as always. We even had the table next to us say "we want whatever y'all are having!!" We are always fun...and loud :)

Bit of a long post, but it was just such a nice weekend :) Hope everyone's was just as wonderful!

Read more...

Etsy Review - Mama Mandalin

I posted recently about a new favorite Etsy shop of mine, From Mama with Love. She was my partner in a gift exchange this holiday season and I had so much fun getting to know her. So here's a little glimpse into who Mama Mandalin is and her adorable Etsy shop...

What is your favorite hobby/favorite thing to do?
Well, since babies it's hard for me to remember what I did before them! There are a billion things I love doing .... photography, crafting (of course), working out, reading non-fiction (nerd I know)...doing things my husband generally thinks are only for Grandmas lol!

How did you get started and how long have you been crafting?
I've been crafting forever. In high school I taught myself to knit and did a lot of that. However during my pregnancy I was on a modified form of bedrest the whole time and really began just searching around online crafts I liked. After the boys were born I slowly started making things and I'm slowly adding more to my "crafting knowledge".

Where do you find your inspiration?
 I find a lot of my inspiration on etsy, craft blogs and magazines. I find something that I like and try to make my own version of it, with my own spin.

What do you enjoy most about crafting?
 Being a stay at home mama, it's nice to be productive in a way that doesn't involve my kids, husband or house!

When and why did you decide to open a shop?
I decided to open a shop in August of this year. I went to a Handmade Festival craft show here in Southern California last spring and ever since then have wanted to open my own shop. It's my goal to have a booth in the show next spring.

Do you have a favorite item in your store?
 Even though I don't have many (yet) I live my knits. Maybe it's just because it's winter right now and I'm really into knitting. In the summer I don't do as much (for obvious reasons) but in the winter I get obsessed with all things made of yarn.

Do you keep any of your things for yourself or anyone in your family?
I do most of my crafting for myself. Our apartment is filled with everything I've made, which is another reason I love crafting. It's so much cheaper to just make things myself, plus it's more unique. My home isn't filled with things you'll find in 500 other people's homes.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
With twin boys who are now crawling, I don't have a whole lot of spare time. I do like to hit the gym a few times a week though just to get away from everyone and have some mama alone time. Or have an extra long soak in the tub after everyone is in bed!

What is your favorite food?
Anything with sugar! OMG through my whole pregnancy that was all I craved and I've had a tough time parting with it now that I'm not eating for 3!

Favorite TV show and/or movie (if you have one)?
Two and a Half Men is probably our family favorite TV show. There are two episodes on every night we both love watching, and for some reason the boys love the theme song and ending credits!

Have you read any great books lately?
Right now I'm reading Food, Inc, a book that goes along with the documentary. It discusses where our food comes from, the problems with corporate farming and how we have been sucked into this passive consumerism when it comes to what we put in our bodies. Definitely a good read.

Tell us something interesting about yourself.
There are multiples all around my family and my husband's but we had ours totally by chance. My mom had triplets (through IVF). My husband is a twin (but twins come from the maternal side) so it's just coincidence that he has a twin brother and I have triplet siblings. When people find out that we have twins and that there are all these multiples around us they always say, "oh well that explains it!" However I rarely go into detail about how it was all just by chance!

I just love Mama Mandalin, so please show her some love and visit her Etsy shop if you have some free time :) She also has a great blog you can check out as well! {her little boys are just too adorable!}

Read more...

Gift Exchange

This year I participated in a gift exchange hosted by Craftaholics Anonymous {one of my new favorite websites!} You were required to send a handmade item to your partner and then record your gifts :)

I was lucky enough to be partnered up with Mandey of Mama and the Dudes. She is so sweet and not to mention unbelievably talented! She has her own Etsy shop, From Mama with Love. Her shop is filled with lovely goodies that are certainly drool worthy. {more on that later...}

Well she really loved Spunk & Sass's birds nest ring and love birds necklace, so I sent her one of each.

She has so many wonderful items in her shop that it was hard for me to choose! I hinted to her that I LOVE elephants, hair clips, and that I have a baby on the way. She did a wonderful job of picking some things out for me...check it out:

I wonder what's inside??

Seriously so stinking cute!

Love love this. Going in the baby's room.

I HAVE to wear this asap

Isn't it all so darling? She did such a wonderful job on everything. I was so LUCKY to be her gift partner! I even got a discount on my next order from her shop, so you better believe on December 29 I'm buying some of these if it's a boy and these if it's a girl.

Thanks Mama Mandalin <3

{I enjoyed meeting Mandey so much that I've asked her to be a guest here on Next to Heaven, so stay tuned for a "get to know you" post on her. She's such a doll!}

Read more...

Baby C Update

{15 weeks}

How far along? 15 weeks

Baby's size? 4 inches, about the size of an apple

Weight Gain? Confirmed by the doctor, I'm down 5 pounds from my confirmation appointment. So looking good.

Maternity clothes? I'm starting to wear more and more. I had to break down and go buy maternity bottoms this weekend. Got a pair of jeans, capris, black work pants and a black pencil skirt. Even though I can make my old clothes fit with belly bands, I'm noticing that the maternity bottoms are SO much more comfortable.

Stretch marks? Nope. Rubbing on my lotion to keep them away.

Belly button in or out? In :)

Sleep? Love sleep. Getting to bed at a decent time and figuring in at least one nap every weekend!

Foods I am loving? Still starchy items, but lately I've been craving milkshakes like it's no one's business! Oh and I've been wanting a spiral ham SO BAD! Mmmm and I love me some chicken.

Foods I am hating? Mayonnaise still high on the list, heavily seasoned meat, leftovers (well most), taco seasoned meat, ground up ground beef (patties are ok), yogurt (all the sudden), fast food, grease...the list seems to grow!

Best moment this week? Watching my belly grow and seeing our baby last week :)

Movement? Nope still just gas bubbles or things adjusting. I've felt a few things, but I'm sure it was nothing. Doc said a week to 3 weeks and I'll feel something.

Symptoms? Dizzy if I get up too fast, getting nauseas at dinner now, hunger pains lol, lots and lots of stretching - that little brown line has shown up

Gender? Doc said most likely a girl!! I've already picked out GORGEOUS Amy Butler fabric for her nursery. We'll know for sure though on the 29th.

What I miss? Nothing really. I do wish that I could eat more in a sitting and not get so sick at night. I love dinner.

What BabyCenter says:

Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")

{bare belly shot Friday night}

Read more...

Etsy Gift Guide - Part 1

I love supporting handmade, especially this time of year. I know how it is to run a small, handmade business and when someone choses something from your shop as a gift it really makes your day. I'm always on etsy perusing and saving things to my favorites. Well I thought I would share some of the things I've found to maybe help you with some of that gift giving this season. My goal is to do a few of these, but we'll see :)

Happy Friday loves...

For the planner:

Calendar

Custom Planners & Journals

For the crafty one:

Vinyl lettering

Inspiration necklace

For baby:

Girl onesie

Boy onesie

For Mom:

Bath Gelato Cream Soap

Birthstone Necklace - Family Nest

For Mommy-to-be:

Due Date shirt

Pea in a Pod Necklace:

For her:

Monogrammed Locket Necklace

Felt Flower Clip

For the organized gal:

Wallet Organizer

Chalk Labels

And, of course, Spunk & Sass has lots of lovely items for your gift giving! For today's gift guide, I'm offering 10% off to my readers - that's YOU! Just enter NEXT2HEAVEN10 at checkout and your 10% coupon will be added! {Thanks to Etsy for finally adding coupon codes!} Coupon expires next Friday, December 10. Enjoy :)

Read more...