He's Here!!

                           

Leo John joined our little family on Thursday, September 24th at 10:51am and we couldn't be more in love. He clocked in at 5lbs 14oz, 19 inches and when we left the hospital on Sunday was almost back to birth weight. He's the most adorable little thing with lots of light hair and the best smell in all the land. He has seriously been such a good baby and is feeding like a champ. Bringing home a healthy baby is the biggest blessing and we are so, so thankful.

I'm going to take the next two or so weeks to just enjoy him, my family that is here to help us and meet Leo, and get used to life as a new mom.

Thanks for all of your well wishes and congrats on Instagram (@teatimewithtess) Leo feels like he totally broke the Internet.

Bumpdate: 36 weeks

 weeks 5-12 ::: week 13 ::: week 14  ::: week 15 ::: week 16  ::: week 17 

          ::: week 18 ::: week 19 ::: week 20 ::: week 21 ::: week 22 ::: week 23 ::: week 24

 ::: week 25 ::: week 26 ::: week 27 ::: week 28 ::: week 29 ::: week 30 ::: week 31 ::: week 32 ::: week 33 ::: week 34 ::: week 35

How Far Along? 36w5d, due October 15, 2015

Gender: BOY!

Weight Gain: 26lbs - Now that I'm at the doctor every week, I'm just sticking with their numbers.

Maternity Clothes: Pretty much rocking workout clothes everyday

Nursery: Waiting for my pillows and then it's done. We even have a garbage bag in the diaper pail!

 

Movement: He's still a groover but the movements are big and heavy and take my breath away. I really get him going when I'm eating and drinking.

Symptoms: SO tired. I do not sleep well at night, and by the afternoon my eyes are literally rolling in the back of my head. If I can sneak in a nap, I will and even 30 minutes seems to really help. I'm a little crampy and have been feeling some low pressure. Anddddd pretty anxious.

Sleep: Not great

Joel: I would literally not be able to function without him

Workouts: I swam twice last week and got in slow walks 4 of the other days. I had to suspend my gym membership, but I'm going to try and get the dog out for long walks everyday and do some yoga/weight videos at home too.

Mood: Anxious, nervous, worried and emotional!

Cravings: I had heard that some women stop being so hungry as there becomes less and less room for food, but that hasn't happened for me yet. I can go about 3 hours before I'm back to starving.

What I Miss: A calm state of mind

Random Things: All things get ready for baby are in full swing

Best Moment This Week: We got a picture of the baby's lips and nose on the ultrasound this week, and umm....so freaking adorable!

Looking Forward To: Taking things day by day.....but I'm mainly looking forward to being on the other side. I'm looking forward to that feeling of relief and joy and heaven of holding my baby.

Weekend Report

Seriously clocked in another weekend for the books!

Thankfully Friday we took it pretty easy. Joel worked a little late, so I made us pizzas and after dinner, we watched football and some episodes of Modern Family. I've been majorly anxious and in a funk this week, so to just decompress at home was just what the doctor ordered.

As I mentioned last week, one of my best friends got married this past weekend and I wasn't able to be there which....well, sucked. My girlfriends were so cute though and made a little cut out of me so that I could be there as best as possible. They were sending me pictures all weekend of the great time I was having - but it was seriously such a heartwarming and sweet thing, they made me feel so loved. 

Saturday morning, we were up and at um early with our friend's 2nd birthday party! I can't believe this little guy is two - I feel like we were just visiting him at the hospital when he was born.

 

Our friends put together a super cute "digger" party at the park in Santa Monica with a Pintrest-worthy cake too. 

 

 

When I got home, we took the opportunity to stalk hard on Sara - who honestly made one of the most beautiful brides I've ever seen. 

And Roscoe and I both snuck in a much needed solid nap during all of the college football games. 

 

And boy am I glad I got that nap in, because little did I know at this point what was in store for my evening!   

My cousin Erin is getting married on October 2nd, so we had a local bachelorette party in her honor. The party started innocently enough with a sushi dinner in Hollywood. The hosts had packed super cute goody bags for everyone which included some fun props and selfie sticks, which we were told would be very handy for the "musical" we were going to be attending after dinner. 

 

 Well, let's just say the night didn't end with a "musical"

 

Because, um.....we found ourselves at a strip club. I'm going to keep the pictures off the blog, but my OH my was that an....experience. And if I ever find myself back at one, I really hope I'm drunk - but hot damn I don't think I've laughed, or cringed, so much in one night in a long, long time.

 

Sunday was pretty low key. I snuck in a walk before it got too hot, and then crossed a few things off our to-do list before Joel grilled dinner for us. The weekend was the perfect balance with lots of laughs with friends, and enough time spent relaxing at home getting some stuff done. 

Five on Friday

::: 1 ::: 

This is a really bittersweet weekend for me. One of my best friends is getting married back in Chicago on Saturday, and I'm obviously not going to be there. Sara and I met our freshman year because our dorm rooms were next to each other, and after about a week were thick as thieves. She asked me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding, and it just breaks my heart that I won't be standing next to her when she marries Sean. I have the happiest reason not the be at the wedding, but I'll be wishing I was there on Saturday like nobody's business. And she is clearly going to make one gorgeous bride. 

::: 2 :::

In other happy friend news, one of my girlfriends in LA had her baby this week. She didn't know what she was having, so we were even that much more excited to learn that she had a precious baby boy! Her baby and mine will be just a few weeks apart which will be really fun! We've been watching her sweet dog Lady while they're in the hospital and these two dogs have no idea whats in store for them! Ignorance is bliss buddies! 

::: 3 :::

The countdown for my own babe's birthday is on so I've really had to start focusing on what to bring to the hospital. Knowing we will most likely be there for 4 days has me feeling like I need a few extra things that I wasn't considering. I'd love your feedback if you have any random things to include. 

::: 4 :::

 Next week I want to get some fall baking done - and I'm glad I saved my canned pumpkin because Trader Joes hasn't even started selling it yet! Apparently I'm ahead of the game... I'm going to try and freeze a big batch of my bran muffins that I posted about yesterday too, so I'll let you know if that works. My mom will be out in CA for a few weeks when the baby is here, so I'm not worried that we're going to starve, but I think if we have a few dinners stored up we'll both feel better. Any favorite freezer meals? I don't freeze anything so I'm a total rookie. 

::: 5 :::  

I'm so glad to see the weekend here! It's kind of crazy wrapping up work, and I've been loving our weekend routines lately. Tonight we're going to stay home and make pizzas, then tomorrow we have a friends son's birthday party and my cousins bachelorette party and then taking it easy on Sunday. Hopefully a good balance of home and friend time! 

My Breakfast Go-To

When we were on our babymoon, each morning started with a latte, banana, and the absolute best bran muffin I have ever had. 

The muffin itself, while sounding healthy, wasn't, but I just haven't been able to get that breakfast combo out of my mind.

I used my mom's bran muffin recipe, made a few adjustments, and have been making these healthier breakfast muffins every week since we've been back from our vacation. 

What you need:  

Makes 12 large muffins

2 cups of All Bran cereal **My target didn't have All-Bran so I've been using Grape Nuts cereal1 

1 1/4 cup skim milk

1 1/4 cup flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt 

1 egg

1/4c vegetable oil

1 heaping cup of shredded carrots

1/2 cup of raisins *could do cranberries or golden raisinns as well 

   

What you do: 

1. In the mixing bowl, combine cereal and milk and let stand for a few minutes

2. Stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt

3. Add egg and oil and beat well

4. Mix in raisins and carrots

5. Add flour mixture and stir until combined (it'll be very lumpy)

6. Bake at 400 for 20 minutes

Best served warm with a banana and latte

Bumpdate: 35 weeks

 weeks 5-12 ::: week 13 ::: week 14  ::: week 15 ::: week 16  ::: week 17 

          ::: week 18 ::: week 19 ::: week 20 ::: week 21 ::: week 22 ::: week 23 ::: week 24

 ::: week 25 ::: week 26 ::: week 27 ::: week 28 ::: week 29 ::: week 30 ::: week 31 ::: week 32 ::: week 33 ::: week 34 :::

How Far Along? 35w5d, due October 15, 2015

Gender: BOY!

Weight Gain: 27lbs

Maternity Clothes: Starting to think about clothes for after I have the baby....I want to find a few wrap sweaters and roomy leggings

Nursery: My PBK order shipped, so all I need are two bolster pillows and we're done!

 

Movement: Lots of heavy movement and I think his dance parties may another reason I'm waking up in the middle of the night

Symptoms: Hungry a lot and just overall less comfortable. Certain positions don't work anymore, bending is harder, putting on shoes is harder, getting more tired and being swollen when its hot or if I sit on bar stools.

Sleep: I'm tired by 9 and fall asleep quickly but there is only one position that is comfortable to sleep which is an S formation with a lot of pillows, laying on my right side. At some point every night, I want to toss and turn but literally there is no other position that feels comfortable for one reason or another. I end up just having to lay the same way all night,  which in turn bugs either my arm, or neck, or leg, or whatever. I'm up by 6am mainly just to get the heck out of bed.

Joel: He's getting very excited - and is a pro at making sure everything on our list is getting checked off.

Workouts: Made it to the gym twice, 1 treadmill and 1 pool, and then walked 3 other days. I'm putting my gym on maternity hold pretty soon, so I'm going to try and get to the pool and at least one more spin class before I no longer have them as options! 

Mood: Anxious

Cravings: All food sounds good at this point

What I Miss: Chicago in the fall

Random Things: Well, we had the major conversations that we needed to have, along with another check on babes position (still, very much so, breech). We are moving forward with a scheduled C-section and have set the date and time with our doctor. I have waves of anxiety when I think about the surgery, but talking to friends and family that have had planned Cs has really helped calm my nerves.

Best Moment This Week: Setting the birthday was/is a pretty incredible moment, feeling, and reality.

Looking Forward To: Crossing off our list of to-do's, enjoying the next few weeks of "just us", and lots of fun social events to keep my mind nice and distracted!

Weekend Report

 

This weekend was nice in that we really didn't have much on the books and got a chance to just relax at home. 

Friday night I made pasta and meatballs, we cranked up the A/C so that it felt like the cool, fall air everyone else has been experiencing lately, and just bummed around.

Saturday morning I got in a much needed swim at the gym. There is nothing more peaceful to me than having the pool to myself at the gym, and it doesn't happen a lot, so I was so thankful for the quiet and relaxing time. After a stop for a latte on the way home, we were watching game day at home by 9:30am. 

 

We decided to head to a Tennessee Vols bar to watch the game on Saturday afternoon, and I'm so glad we did.

It was really fun to meet a bunch of Tennessee fans, and even though they lost in OT, it was a great game and we had a blast. 

 

I got major cool points for being 9 months pregnant at the bar, sipping on my club soda, but paid a dear price for sitting on a stool for almost 5 hours. My feet were SO swollen by the time we left.

 

Sunday morning I had a wedding shower for my cousin Erin. I went to her house early and got to get a little sneak peek at her wedding her and makeup.

I didn't take any pictures are her shower which I'm so bummed about! It was a really nice luncheon and a great chance to see some of my girlfriends. 

Sunday afternoon was low key with some chores and work, and then Joel and I ordered thai, watched a movie, and got ready for the week ahead! 

 

Five on Friday

Whoa, this week just flew the heck by. We are most definitely in the throws of the last month of pregnancy and it's not for the weak! Along with now weekly doctor appointments, there's all of the other stuff that I'd like to get done before baby (other doc appointments, oil changes, vet appointments, house stuff etc). Add in a birthing class every Thursday, trying to get work done, and calendar full of other fun celebrations, we've got ourselves a jam packed month!

::: 1 :::

Thankfully last weekend we spent every day at home getting major work done. This was the nursery on Saturday night. 

It's come a long way, I promise!! 

::: 2 ::: 

 With every forward step we took in the nursery, it left us with two extra steps in another room of the house.  All of baby's bath stuff, meant we needed to reorganize the guest bathroom. It was just a joke, but it feels so good now to have everything feeling as organized as I can get it. 

 

::: 3 :::  

Plus, since I was clearly nesting....the fall stuff went out too while we were at it. I don't need the extra clutter, so I'm keeping it really easy this year, but I'll show some better pics next week! 

 

::: 4 ::: 

It's been very, very hot in LA this week....and after a long walk, Roscoe popped up on the cool tile fireplace to cool off. He used to sleep up there all the time as a little pup....pass me some kleenx.

::: 5 ::: 

We don't have much planned for this weekend which I'm really, really thankful for. Aside from my cousins wedding shower on Sunday, we're going to lay low. Hopefully make it to a bar for the Vols and Hawkeye games, and that's about it! Hope you all have a great weekend!