Anniversary Dinner

We made our anniversary dinner last night (since Mondays is never a fun night to make a romantic meal). We made Fondu together - was a lot of fun, and was nice to switch off whisking the fondu :)

Here is the recipe we used:

1 pound Swiss cheese, grated
1/2 Gruyère cheese, grated
3 tablespoons all purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground white pepper (was 1/2 but we both love pepper)
1 1/4 cups (about) dry white wine
3-5 large garlic cloves, minced

Combine both cheeses, flour, nutmeg, and white pepper in large bowl; toss to coat. Bring 1 cup wine and garlic to simmer in a heavy large saucepan over low heat. Add cheese mixture by handfuls, whisking until melted and smooth after each addition. Mix in more wine by tablespoonfuls to reach desired consistency. Transfer to fondue pot.

For dippables: broccoli, apples, french bread, roasted purple potatoes, steak, and for Nick mini saussages. The only ones we finished were the apples and broccoli. The dogs got quite a bit of meat too. What was best dipping in my opinion was the apples and the potatoes and of course bread.

2 Wonderful Years!

Happy Anniversary Nick!!! It has been an amazing 2 years! I love you so much! The years to follow will be so much fun, adventurous, and exciting! I love spending my life with you!!!

34 weeks

How Far Along: 34 weeks

How Big is Baby: Around 5 lbs and 19.5 - 20 inches long

What is Baby up to: Baby can recognize and react to simple songs...time to start practicing your lullabies! In fact, baby will recognize frequently sung tunes after birth and probably find them soothing. Less cute news: She now urinates about one pint per day. Get the diapers ready!

Total Weight Gain: +10 - 11 - I have been bad about weighing myself

Best Moment this Week: Always love the kicks!

Movement: Starting to be during the middle of the day when resting my arms/hands on the bump. Also feel a lot when laying down in the evening

Belly Button: Inny. Getting shallow!

What I Miss: Not much...

What I am Looking Forward To: Baby shower this weekend. Also Dr appointment next week which I have a lot of questions

Gender: No idea...

I think the baby is still breach. And has a head under my left rib. Really annoying and uncomfortable. Think I am starting to get tired about being pregnant. Getting excited for labor and meeting the baby!!!!! Really cannot wait!

Also my back is really starting to hurt. And the braxton hicks are increasing. Have realized they get less as I drink more water, so I want to make sure I am drinking enough. Breathing is getting shallower since everything is getting squished.

The kid is kicking a little less, but when it does it is a good one! I get some nice movements after lunch. And when I lay down on the couch in the evening.

Labor Class

This past weekend we had our labor series class. It was both Saturday and Sunday from 9-2 (but we got out early each day). So quick review of the class. Nick found this one to be the most useful.

We went over pre term labor, anatomy, what positions the baby is in and how it is delivered, how contractions feel, breathing to help during labor, what medications the hospital uses, hospital tour, what to pack, c sections, postpartum.

We wen through the stages of labor. I don't know why but it kinda freaked me out - I think it is the not knowing what the pain actually is and I know I am making it worse in my head...well maybe.

They went through different ways to go through labor. They have a birthing ball to use which I think I will find very helpful! I am so bringing the printout of the different laboring positions with me.

Nick is making a list in his head of the things that he will want to bring. He is really getting into it and thinking of all the things that will help me relax. We both want the same things for our birth plan, so I think that helps.

I need to review the breathing techniques they gave us and find something that I think will work. I also want to work on a playlist on my computer - one soothing, one more distracting that I can sing along to, one to pump me up, etc.

I really like the hospital I will be delivering at. They encourage rooming in with the baby and breastfeeding. I like how they go along with what I want for a birth plan. Seems a lot less like a hospital. I get my own room for delivery and postpartum! I like how they encourage walking during labor and no IV unless needed. They have a push bar and a birthing ball in all delivery rooms! I like at birth they put the baby on your chest right away and do all the measurements and looking with the baby right there. Instant bonding and hope to have it help with breastfeeding.

So for our birth plan here is what I am thinking:

• I am not against medicine but I want to try as long as possible to not take anything. Would love to go med free, and really want to try, but I am not against getting meds if needed. The hospital has an in between medicine (I forget its name) that takes the edge off the contractions, but you can still feel and move around. It is an injection in the arm.
• I want to try not to get an IV. I really don't like them and I would like to take in fluids regularly vs getting pumped full of them. I also want to be able to snack...
• I am happy my hospital does not really do episiotomy. They do massage you during labor and put oil there to help with stretching and not tearing.
• I really don't want to use a vacuum extraction or forceps. If needed they are fine, but I want to know why they are needed and why we can't wait a little longer.
• I don't want to use pitocin. I really think it will bring on an epidural. Would like to progress naturally.
• Would like to avoid a c section.

I know a lot of things will happen and all of this may be thrown out the window. I know Nick will be on top of everything asking the doctor and nurses why is what happening and if we can wait a little longer before we make the next decision.

First Cloth Diapers Ordered

I am so excited to do cloth diapering! We have decided to go with a 2 size diapering system - or one size if the brand makes one. Mostly AIO (all in one) or pocket diapers. I would like to do some pre folds too - but trying to make Nick's life easy and slowly get him into the cloth diapering system, and the pocket/AIO seem to be the best combo of easiness for him vs disposable. I know these are more money than prefolds + cover, but the ease factor for Nick just makes it worth it.

We are planning to use some disposables at the beginning as we are getting used to life together. Also we do plan on having some disposables on hand in case - traveling, run out, etc. For disposables I plan on using the least chemical diapers out here - seventh generation or the huggies natural ones.

We also plan on using a liner - Nick isn't a big fan of washing a lot of mess. Doing this to make it easier for him and us. We also need to get a sprayer for the toilet to make sure they are as clean as possible before going into the wet bag. Happy we have a steam washer to get these things as clean as possible!

So far I have ordered 4 diapers! These are part of the 2 size system. I like the idea of adjustable diapers as the kid grows so that we don't have to keep many sizes in storage and just seems like they will last longer. I was going to order one more brand, but they are being discontinued today - and a new style comes out next week! So will order some of those when they do - I was the most excited for this one (bum Genius).

So the type of diapers I ordered:

Right now I am ordering gender neutral colors - once we know what the gender is I bet I will get some adorable girl or boy ones

2x Thirsties Duo Diaper
They come in two sizes (I got 2 size one)
size one from 6 - 18 lbs (says 0 - 9 months)
size two from 18 - 40 lbs (says 9 - 36 months)
The diaper comes with snap adjustments to make it fit as the baby gets older.

This shows how the diaper changes size to accommodate a growing baby.
They have inserts that you put in to increase the absorbency of the diaper. I did not order any more inserts, but I know I will.

2x FuzziBunz Perfect Size Diaper
These come in three sizes ( I got 2 Small)
Small 7 - 18 lbs (0 - 6 months)
Medium 15- 30 lbs (6 - 36 months)
Large 25 - 40 lbs

There are adjustable snaps for the legs and waist to make it fit as the baby grows.


The diaper I was really excited for is getting discontinued
The BumGenious 3.0 One Size Diaper!
Will see what they come out with next week. Probably and hopefully is better than the 3.0.

Eeek! Cannot wait to get the cloth diapers in the mail so I can look over them and show Nick how to use them!!! Then when the baby is a few weeks old - maybe earlier - I'll try them out and see what I like the most and order more!

(Oh also looked at used in excellent condition - but Nick isn't a fan of used diapers so we are going with new)

Coffee

Falling asleep at my desk so I decided to get a cup of coffee. Yes it is not as good as the stuff I usually have at home, but its OK. Oh how I miss daily coffee. Smells so good, love the taste, just relaxes me.

I know I can have a little coffee each day, but I have been good usually not having it. But today is a day where I need it to focus.

But oh how I have missed coffee. Think I am going to order some Kona coffee for after the baby is born so I can really enjoy it! Touring a coffee plantation and bringing home some pounds really made me love good coffee! YUM!

Tiring Weekend

We got a lot accomplished this weekend!

Saturday and Sunday we had our labor class. Started at 9 and was supposed to get out at 2. But we skipped lunch and breaks and got done around 12:30 on Saturday and 11:30 on Sunday! Got a lot of useful information - will update later about it.

Both days we went out and grabbed lunch after the class.

Oh something odd that happened when we were touring the hospital (I plan on bringing it up at my next dr appointment next week) - we were standing in one of the delivery rooms and my back started to hurt real bad. Then I started sweating so much. Ended up sitting down and felt much better. Was definitely strange.

Saturday my back was killing me every time I did something. Eventually took a tylenol and it started to get better. All I wanted to do was lay down and stretch it out. But I did clean out both cars!!! Nicks was horrible. Would not believe all the wrappers, receipts, old printouts of directions, etc that I threw away. My car wasn't as bad - just a lot of cd cases and some garbage.

Sunday I was very productive! I cleaned out our 'office' area which was holding a lot of stuff from the closet project. Also cleaned out most of the stuff from the guest room so it is pretty much usable! So nice to get those things done. We still have sanding to do in the 'office', but there is now room!

Sunday we also went out and picked up an AC for our bedroom and installed it! Had it on last night and it worked well. We arn't planning on using it often - just on really warm nights. And when we have the baby in our room. So the kid will probably stay with us in our room until the weather gets cooler so it can sleep in its own room.