Happy Birthday to Me AND Happy 37 Weeks to Lexi!

Lexi's now considered full term!!!  We've made it to the safe zone, yea! 

Oh how my belly's growing:

Now we're just 3 weeks away!!

Pregnancy Highlights:  

How Far Along: 37 Weeks!  37inches around and 37cm top to bottom
 

Here's what's going on this week: (according to babycenter.com)
Your baby is now considered "full term," even though your due date is three weeks away. If you go into labor now, her lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb.  Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long.

My Total Weight Gain: 12 lbs.  
Oh no, I'm loosing weight!  When Edson & I went to the gym on Sunday morning I weighed myself & I had lost 2.8 pounds since last week's 149.8 pound weigh in.  Yesterday I called the OBGYN nurse's station and have been playing phone tag with them ever since.  Today I weighed in at 147 which means I'm still down a pound from 2 weeks ago.  Is this a concern?  I'm totally not hungry but have been able to eat more lately and have been working out way less (like 2 days a week I walk on the treadmill...less!).  Edson's really concerned, but when we measured my belly yesterday it's still measuring right on target...37cm.  BREAKING NEWS: A labor & delivery nurse just called me back and basically said there's nothing to be concerned about.  She said towards the end your stomach has no room & it's just hard to put on weight for some people.  Sounds good to me!  We have an appointment on Friday with the Nurse Midwife so we'll see what she says!   
 
Maternity Clothes: Still wearing smalls and mediums and prefer fitted rather than loose.  Some of the fitted ones even fit funky because they're not fitted enough at the bottom so they just flair out.
 
Movement: She's still in the same position, I think, but has settled a little lower.  Her little feet move around and either poke out of my right side in a funny looking lump, or they settle in front of my right rib cage in a little mound.
 
Sleep: Lately I haven't had a problem sleeping.  I get up either once or twice to go to the bathroom, but that's it.  
 
Cravings: None.  
 
Symptoms: Just a growing belly and acid in my throat after anything I eat.
 
Best Moment this week: My multiple birthday celebrations, getting to see my friend Wilda who was in town from Hong Kong, and Edson & I completing more baby tasks.
 
And onto other things: Okay, so I finally went to REI & purchased our BOB stroller on Saturday!!!  OMG, I was so excited!  I also purchased the baby carrier attachment and put it all together :)

Thank you Gaga & Papa for Lexi's new ride!!!

 I then went to Target and picked up a play gym with Hannah & Marc's gift card!

 And Edson & I also installed the car seat in the SUV!

 We've got the diaper bag packed for the hospital, our paperwork filled out, our birth plan typed out, and 2 diaper stations set up in the house.  I think we're ready!  Now all we're waiting on is Miss Lexi herself!!!!

Vote for Lexi♥

Friends & Family,

We need your help!!!  I know you probably think I'm crazy, but I have entered Lexi into her first photo contest.

Here's why:

One grand-prize winner will receive one $200 Hallmark.com gift card, one $1,000 Diapers.com gift card, and one copy of What to Expect When You’re Expecting: The First Year, autographed by the author, Heidi Murkoff.

Fourteen weekly winners will each receive one $60 Hallmark.com gift card.

Awesome, right?!  So please help us out by voting for Miss Lexi!  (I think the voting for our week STARTS NOW and ENDS TOMORROW-Tuesday!)

Here's how:
Click on the link below and find the picture titled "Lexi Paige" to cast your vote!  That's it.  That's all you have to do.  

Here's the picture you're looking for taken by the one & only Miss Kalyn (click on her name to check out her photography website)!!!

  (I would love to tell you exactly what # it is, but they keep moving the pictures around, sorry!)

http://www.whattoexpect.com/photo-contest/vote.aspx?contestId=35

THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE!!!!

Birthdays and A Baby Shower

This past  weekend...


Friday, September 17th--Edson took the day off and we got to enjoy alone time together :)  We know these kinds of days are limited with our due date just 4weeks away, so we made the most of it.

1st stop: breakfast at Polly's in Norco (Yummmmmy!!!)

After that we ran a bunch of errands and just enjoyed not having to be anywhere at any particular time.  Among those stops though was a haircut for Edson and of course a trip to AMC Tyler to see "The Town". 


Saturday, September 18th--was quite a busy day!  We started off going to Carlsbad to celebrate Cousin Stephie & I's birthdays at...

BJ's!!!!

Then we were off to Citrus City Grille in Corona to celebrate the soon arrival of Miss Lexi with a "friends" baby shower!  Sorry, I don't have hardly any pictures.  I was too busy visiting everyone!

The girls!  (not pictured: Snow, Rebekah, & Cheryl)

The Guys!  (not pictured: TC, Jonathan, baby Taylor, & Nick)

Just me, Lexi, Edson, and the guys :)

Lynn & I

Aunt Crystal, Uncle Luke, Aunt Geisa, & Auntie Pam

Angela won the diaper raffle & her prize was a bottle of wine called "Little Chica"

Angela & Lalli, Lexi's Alpha Chi Aunties :)

Ha-ha!  Final score...Chargers outfits: 3, Raiders: 0!!  Sorry Edson, looks like you're loosing this one!

Yep, we're "keeping up with the Kardashians"!  Thanks to Auntie Pam & Uncle Jay, Mason's got nothing on Lexi :)

And then, a quick 31st birthday celebration while we already had everyone together...

I love u Punkeeee!

Mmmm, a Baskin-Robbins Mint 'n' Chip ice cream cake!!!

 A Special Thanks:

1) Thank you to my friends Jenee, Crystal, & Geisa for throwing such a fabulous baby shower!  We had an amazing time and can't thank you enough for putting it all together.  From happy hour & games to dinner & gifts, you guys are the ultimate party planners!

2) Thank you to all our phenomenal friends for coming from near & far to celebrate the soon arrival of Miss Lexi.  You guys are such gracious individuals and have blessed us in so many ways.  We are eternally grateful and can't wait for Lexi to meet each one of you!  Your friendship means the world to us XOXO 

Side Note: 
As hard as we tried to leave them at the shower, Jovan & Jenee wouldn't let us take off without the balloons.  So, we took them home & wrote our wishes for Lexi on each one.  We then released them into the heavens, hoping that our little girl grows up to be loving, happy, kind, independent, healthy, inspiring, Godly, intelligent, grateful, and respectful.

WE LOVE U LEXI!!!

35 Week Bump!

Okay, it's a day early but here's my 35week baby bump!

Here we are, just 5 weeks away and growing like crazy!  

Pregnancy Highlights:  
(the idea borrowed from Irene Dunbar's blog, a friend from college)
 
How Far Along: 35 Weeks
Size of baby: Not sure exactly but according to babycenter.com Lexi is "over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds. Because it's so snug in your womb, she isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times she kicks should remain about the same. Her kidneys are fully developed now, and her liver can process some waste products. Most of her basic physical development is now complete – she'll spend the next few weeks just putting on weight."
My Total Weight Gain: 13 lbs.  
Dr. Jebelli would like me to gain 20 but said he isn't worried as long as Lexi is on target for her growth, which so far she has been.  The problem is that I'll eat a tiny amount of food and be so full I can barely breath for pretty much the remainder of the day.  It kinda stinks.  I've had to miss out on plenty of good meals because of it...errr!  I've also still been training with Snow (my trainer for the past 4 1/2 yrs) every Monday and have been trying to get to the gym at least 2more days a week besides that.  It's really been helping my circulation, core stabilization, & flexibility and has been maintaining my strength & endurance.
Maternity Clothes: Definitely. Target tank tops are my favorite along with a pair of jeans & jean shorts, a pair of white shorts, and a pair of camouflage shorts.
Gender: Female...please lord, no surprises or else our son's going to have a very feminine room & lots of pink clothes!!!
Movement: LOTS!!!  She has been in pretty much the same position all along (at a diagonal with her head on the bottom left side and her feet at my right rib cage) and loves to do huge movements.  Now that she's running out of room you can totally feel where she is and see little feet & knees moving under my skin. 
Sleep: Besides getting up 2-3times/night to go to the bathroom, I haven't had much trouble sleeping.  I also haven't needed to take any naps or anything (except for yesterday) and have had a normal amount of energy.  In fact, 2weekends ago I went to Vegas with my girlfriends for Jessica Hale's bachelorette party and was able to stay up until 4am both nights, no problem (although the 2nd day we all took a 3hr nap, ha-ha!)!
What I miss: Lying on my stomach & back, being able to put on socks & tie my shoes with ease, and being able to eat without acid burning in my throat.  I also miss feta cheese, being able to eat larger portions, and I really miss margaritas.
Cravings: None.  I still love anything with sugar and would rather have it instead of a meal.
Symptoms: Just a growing belly, trouble eating more than a mouse can without getting full, and acid in my throat after anything I eat.
Best Moment this week: Edson's foot massages!  He does it almost every night while we're watching t.v. I love my hubby!!! :)
And onto other things: Lets see, our next Dr.'s appointment isn't until October 1st because she (our nurse midwife) says she has no concerns.  My hospital bag is pretty much packed.  Our paperwork is filled out & ready to go.  And last but not least, our final baby shower is this Saturday!  We're really excited for it because we'll get to see a lot of friends we haven't seen in quite a while.  It should be lots of fun; can't wait!!! 

Maternity Pictures

On August 21st we had our maternity pictures taken by one of my dear friends growing up, Kalyn (click on her name to see her photography web site).  We just got them back and they are as cute as can be.  Great job Kalyn!

Here are some of our favorites...

Thank you Kalyn!  You're an awesome photographer!!!

Zoe's First Padres Game!!!

On Wednesday, August 25th Jess, Ryan, and Zoe were still in town so we decided to make a trip to the Padres game!
Ryan's dad, Dan, was so sweet. He made sure Jess, Zoe & I all had pink Padres gear to go to the game in, so we all suited up and away we went :)

Padres #1 Fan

Awww, Zoe (11wks) & Grandpa Dan

Dad & I showing off our baby bumps, ha-ha!

We had such a good time just sitting in the grass, eating, playing with Zoe, & watching the game (I think it was pretty much in that order too, lol!).  Next time we'll have to go when it's not a school night so Xia can come...and by then, it will be Xia, Zoe, & Lexi!  How fun will that be?!  I can't wait!!!

The next day, Gaga & Papa came over & I got a couple pics of them with Zoe:

Papa's 1st time holding Zoe!  He's always been too afraid to until now :)

Josh, Courtney, & Xia came over for dinner too, but I got so busy visiting & holding Zoe that I didn't take one single picture-I'm so sad:(