baby bump alert: my little lebron

In the spirit of the NBA finals 

I was thinking of naming my Baby "Lebron."

Or perhaps Dirk.

Not just because of the NBA Finals, 

but also...

because he looks like a 

basketball!

At least that is what everyone keeps saying.

Supposedly boy babies are carried out front like a basketball.

Someone even said to me at work today:

"Oh look! You brought your basketball!"

Heh. Funny. 

I do not play basketball.  Or any sport involving a ball.

Or coordination.

I run.  Long distances. Trying not to trip.

The one on the left is the 5th grade me...looking awkward and definitely NOT

like a basketball player. More like I have to pee or somthing:

My hubby, however, loves the sport!  

We go to many Kentucky basketball games, he plays twice a week with a group of guys...

...so maybe, just maybe...

Baby will be a basketball player! 
{or at least a fan} 

:o)

For now he will just have to keep making 

my ready-to-bounce preggo belly

look like a round, large

"basketball."

Weeks along: 36
Pounds gained: 32
cm dilated: 1
Position: head down

Nursery: complete!

g

{five ways to know you are about to have your first baby}

1.  All of a sudden it is exciting to come home from work and find a pack-n-play set up in your bedroom.  

 2. The books on your nightstand are ALL baby-related.

 3.  Suddenly there are 5x the normal amount of pillows on your bed...and you still can't sleep comfortably. 

 4.  You have been carefully packing your hospital bag for the past month...and still are concerned you will not be ready.  {Yes, I did invest in comfy slippers.}

 5.  You leave notes for your spouse surrounded by cute baby things.  Or, at least, I do.  Because I really don't know what to use these things for yet.  :)

Anyone else ready for me to have this baby already???

The little man is getting restless.

So is mama.

I am dilated 1cm!

Can I make it another four weeks?

Hope everyone has a beautiful weekend!

g

{avocado, feta & tomato salsa}

I'm a sucker for a good salsa.

But before I go into my latest favorite salsa...

let me share with you something first:

Being nine months pregnant is grand...except for the part where I want to eat a huge pile of food {growing baby and all} but then I feel stuffed after eating half.  Like last night, I really wanted a 3rd bratwurst {yes 3rd!} but I knew if I ate it would not be able to sit upright for the rest of the evening.  I would be in "feet-on-the-coffee-table-reclining-just-so-I-can-breath" mode.  

Which I sort of ended up being in anyway.

Like every night. 

Sigh.

Back to salsa.  

If you are a lover of avocado like me, you love to chop it up in salads, dips and of course, make delicious guacamole!

Well, for today's post, I thought I would share a view of a delicious feta, tomato and avocado salsa...which can be eaten as an appetizer with a fork, or a salsa with some tortilla chips.

Both ways are delish.

You will need:  2 avocados (chopped) 4 roma tomatoes (chopped) 1 small onion (chopped) fresh cilantro, feta cheese (4oz crumbled) 1/4 cup olive oil, 2 TB red wine vinegar, a pinch of cumin, and salt to taste.

Gently combine all ingredients and serve chilled, with or without the chips!

Oh, and go ahead, have that 3rd bratwurst.

Unless you're nine months pregnant...

then you might want to stick to the salsa.
:D

g

{feeling showered!}

This past week I was showered.

{read: spoiled} 

I had three amazing baby showers given by women who I am sure will be paramount in the life of my darling little paramour.

Okay, I know that baby showers are, in essence, for the baby.  However, I can't help but feel these sweet, pretty events are more for the mothers.   The mamas-to-be like me, who are feeling huge and so NOT pretty in the latter part of pregnancy.  The chance for us to put on a dress, maybe prepare with a pedicure, 

and be treated to a spread fit for a princess.
The food was heavenly... 

...the decorations were thoughtful and made each event special...

                        

 ...the gifts that will make Baby cleaner, cuter, and cuddlier...

{these adorable onesies were made my talented sister-in-law Jen, who blogs at with grace and lace}

...and the best part was just being around the people I love.

I am so thankful for all the ladies that made my showers some of the most special days of my pregnancy!

{also I'm feeling much more prepared!}

L O V E,

g

baby bump alert: dear baby

Dear Baby Boy, 

It's your mama.  By now you know my voice because I sing to you and talk to you whenever I get the chance {aka when people aren't around to think I am going bananas.}  I've also spent a great deal of time showing your "big brother" Colbie {uh, the dog} my tummy and saying the words "Baby" and "Gentle" over and over in the hopes he associates the two when you are finally out of my belly.

Usually he just looks at me with confusion;

 however, occasionally he will lick my tummy 
which is, perhaps, progress.  :o)

{I won't let him eat you. Promise.}

Anyway, your dad and I spend a lot of time wondering what you will be like when we finally meet you.  Mostly this wondering occurs during conversations we have in the middle of the night because I have gone to bed at 9pm and wake up at 3am because I am no longer tired.  Dad is awake because he has fallen asleep on the couch watching sports and has woken up at 3am because Colbie was licking him in the face.  {the dog likes to lick - prepare yourself!}


We have discussed everything it seems: your name, the possibility that you will have special needs, how we will discipline you when you get bigger, how we will play with you, what personality you might have, whether you will love literature or math {or both!}, and all the adventures that are in store for the three of us!  

Believe me when I tell you, we are over-the-moon for when you finally enter this world!

In other news...today I splurged and got a haircut.  The first in, well, my entire pregnancy.  Only a trim really...but I feel like a whole new mama!

{goodbye split ends}

I also got a pedicure, because I can no longer reach my feet, much less paint my toenails.  It was lovely!  Except when the guy doing the pedicure looked at my feet, looked at me, looked at my feet, looked again at me, and asked: "What happened here?"{Never a good sign when getting a pedicure.}  I guess my only point in telling you this, Baby, is to give you this advice:  Always make time to do the things that make you feel happy and healthy!  Oh, and pumice your little footsies when they get dry...

So here is where we are in our journey of pregnancy together:

Weeks along: 32

Pounds gained: 29

Times I wake up per night: 8-10

Your kicks occur: 10 in less than 10 minutes, consistently 

{way to go!}

Infant/Birth classes taken: 1 (8 hrs long, mind you)

Birth Plan: au naturale

                      

Yes, my belly has taken on a very uncomfortable, yet hilarious, misshapen form.  

Suffice to say, you do not "look" comfy in there.  
Be patient.
Keep kicking like a soccer star.

Only 8 more weeks, my little one...
Can't wait to meet you!


Love, 
Your Mama,
g

{tea time}

This morning, in the mood for spring, and feeling rather British after discovering all the lovely "tea" quotes {below} I made some strawberries and cream muffins, and, of course

drank some tea.

:o)

If man has no tea in him, he is incapable of understanding truth and beauty.  

~Japanese Proverb

If you are cold, tea will warm you.  If you are too heated, it will cool you.  If you are depressed, it will cheer you.  If you are excited, it will calm you.  

~Gladstone, 1865

Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves - slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future.  
~Thich Nhat Hahn

Find yourself a cup of tea; the teapot is behind you.  Now tell me about hundreds of things.  

~Saki

You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me.  
~C.S. Lewis

Great love affairs start with Champagne and end with tea.  

~Honoré de Balzac

tea leaves

tea loves

loves tea

lives tea

leaves tea?

never.

~Uniek Swain

Did I mention my baby showers are all this month?

I am beyond excited!

One even has a "tea party" theme...

L o v e

and 

tea, 

g

PS: This post is featured over at Vanessa's lovely blog {nifty thrifty things}...check it out for sweet posts and fabulous ideas!