The Simple Life

Felix installed our screen door in place of the glass storm door to allow more breeze in the house. It is now the pups favorite sitting place.

36 WEEKS & Memorial Day Weekend

Well! Mom & Dad came back to visit & help us get prepared for the new baby's arrival. They brought little Molly with them, and we are watching her until the baby is born. Mom and Dad stayed for 5 days, and it was so nice to have them here. We had such a great weekend- I noticed I dont have any pics of mom, but I will post more when they send me some.

Here is Matti & Molly. Apparently, they both like to be in the same cage. They go in there during the day on their own- and of course, we don't close the door. I guess they are good buddies. Little Molly is doing very well without her parents. She even learned how to go down the steps on the deck, and she seems happy here (I know, the pictures don't show a happy face).

36 WEEKS! Only 3.5 more weeks to go. Thank goodness! I would really like this child out of my body. On Friday at the MD office they said my blood pressure was higher than normal (not high, just higher than mine normally is) so we are keeping an eye on it, but nobody is really concerned. I on the other hand, would love to have her as soon as possible. My belly is getting tighter & tighter and my skin is numb on the outside from so much stretching. I did get sick on Sunday night with nausea and bad stomach pains, but I found out today that a lot of my co-workers were sick over the weekend as well, so it was probably just a bug that went around. No lasting pregnancy aches & pains though, so I can't complain.


Dad did housework non-stop while he was here. He designed and installed a special frame in our bedroom window in order to accommodate an air conditioner- and then put the new AC in, installed a screen door behind our back door and put a doggie door in it, put together the rocker, the crib, and shelving in our closets. He helped rearrange our furniture to better use our space, cleaned our kitchen and got us a new coffee maker that fits under our low cabinets, fixed a leak in our shower, and helped Felix put together our new grill. He worked non-stop and we can never ever thank him enough!!!!!

Meanwhile, while dad was working, Felix was at Brown all day helping during graduation & mom was hard at work washing all the baby clothes and baby shopping. She & Felix went to babies r us earlier in the week while I was at work and got the rest of the necessities, and then over the weekend mom & I prepped everything and had fun organizing all the little baby items. The portable crib is all set up in our bedroom and the nursery is about 75% done. Finally, while Felix was grilling dinner for everyone, mom & I painted the shelves in the closet. Talk about team work!!!!! I just have to say, I am one very lucky girl!






If you know me, you know my FAVORITE thing to do is grill! Well...... I've never actually GRILLED, my favorite thing to do is EAT grilled food! Felix made the best cheeseburgers I have ever had! They tasted like the were straight from a restaurant, they were so good. I can't wait till next time!

Is this MY Husband?????

This was a big weekend for us! We did a lot of housework and prepared for the baby. Felix got up bright and early and decided to mow the lawn. He did a lot of research and bought a lawn mower- and it made SUCH a difference. Then he worked on putting together our new grill and cleaning up the outside of the house. I focused on the inside of the house- mopping, cleaning, and hanging curtains. Then I put together the baby swing and put away all her books. I felt like we were such grown-ups this weekend! Five weeks or less before the new baby comes!!!!

It was really nice that Felix enjoyed working on the house so much. I remember when I was little and dad was always working on one thing or another on the house or outside. This probably sounds silly, but after this weekend, our new house really felt like home. Can't wait until the new baby is here with us!

Getting Ready!!!

Tonight I attempted to put together the stroller! It is all set and waiting for the new baby. We still don't know EXACTLY how to use it, but the instruction manual is sitting nearby for us to read on a rainy day. We need to learn how to put the carseat in the car and all the little tricks of the stroller and we will be all set! One baby item down, 10 more to go!

I also washed her newborn & 0-3 month clothes tonight...everything was so teeny tiny they looked so silly in the washing machine! But now they are soft & clean and smell so sweet, I can't wait to put them on her.

3 Heeee's to a Whoooooooo

This past Saturday Felix & I attended our "How To Have A Baby" class. It was an all day affair from 9am-3:30pm and very informative. We learned how the body changes during pregnancy and labor and all the fun stretching & growing that happens to both the mother & the baby. Then we learned about the different types of drugs available to ease the pain of labor. Finally, we practiced different types of labor positions & breathing.

Felix has made sure we practice our breathing every day. One of the skills we learned was that if I begin to panic, I am supposed to look in his eyes while he tells me to breathe 3 times while making the sound heeee and 1 breath to sound like whooooo. Otherwise, while NOT in panic mode, there are regular deep breaths that I take to ease labor. We shall see....... :)

I have relaxed a lot since the class because we got a chance to see more details about where we go once in labor, what to expect about when I actually start to feel contractions and when we go to the hospital, and all the fun details from there.

The hospital where we are delivering:

The labor & delivery room.

Here is the private "labor" hallway where we can walk while in labor, and the hot tub that is available for relaxation during labor.

And here is the room where we will stay after we have the baby and everyone is happy!!!

Baby Shower in Miami

The shower in Miami was a lot of fun. It was great to see everyone- and Felix smiled pretty much the entire day!!!!! The food was made by Kate but really looked professional- it was amazing. She even labeled what all the food was. And the decorations & flowers were perfect. Wait until you see the picture of the cake..........


Steph & Felix

The two men... enjoying themselves! Dad & Grandaddy.

Here we are posing in front of the cake before we cut into it. Notice the "Brown Bear"... that was a big theme throughout the shower!

Such cute little outfits!

And here it is.....the cake. Have you ever SEEN such an incredible cake???? We saved the bear to eat on her 1st birthday (thanks for the great idea Marleen!). It still doesnt look like a cake to me!!! It was so crazy that every single thing on there was made from cake & fondant! Thank you Suzy for picking it out- we feel very special!!

Sitting in our guest of honor chairs while opening presents.

Gayle & Mom

Here is the diaper cake that mom made for Felix. Every single detail was well thought out and "water polo" themed. In the front you can see more slippers she knitted for the baby. Even the inside of the diaper cake was thought out- it was a bottle of suntan lotion!

Cutie Patooties!

My sweet little niece Ava. She is wearing her dress that matches her doll.

Gavin was helping Ava pick out wash cloths that he liked in Bed Bath & Beyond. Much to his mother's dismay, he kept pulling towels off the shelves to give to Ava to hold. She was very upset when we had to put them away.

We stopped in the mall and played in the fruit pit. It was really nice to see them playing together- I hadn't seen them do that before. So cute!!!

Ava snoozing with her grandaddy.

Ava & my sister Jackie. Just TOOOOO cute!!!

Pictures from our Baby Shower in Wellington

The host, my sister Stephanie. She had a 4 year olds birthday party to go to earlier that morning and then came home and set up the shower for us! She cooked all the food and organized the games and decorated- it was great.

Me and MY mommy!

This look says "Steph- tell me what I am supposed to do with this baby gadget??"

Opening up the socks that mom knitted for us. Felix is holding a pair of ballet slippers she gave us too.

Scenes from the festivities.

How lucky can a girl get.... THREE diaper cakes!! This one was made by Stephanie and was totally filled with baby gear.

Our family recipe- chocolate, chocolate chip cake. My absolute favorite! Plus, Steph made it into this cute little stroller... so cute & delicious.


We raced to see who could put on the baby bjorn first. Believe it or not... Felix won! Please take notice that at least I tried to make sure the baby was SAFE while I was doing it!!!!

Felix practicing with Baby Audrey.

Me & Baby Audrey's mama! My friend Catherine came all the way from Gainesville to help celebrate.

Florida Showers!

Felix & I went to Florida this past week to spend time with friends & family and celebrate the new baby with not one.. but TWO wonderful baby showers!
My sisters and mom put on the one in Wellington with our friends and family in the area, and Gayle, Kate, Marleen & Suzy helped put together the one in Miami with friends in the area. They were both amazing, beautiful, tasted DEEELICIOUS, and very fun.
I am exhausted right now- but will post pictures tomorrow.

Thank you to everyone for all of your hard work and planning to make everything so special. We feel so lucky to have family & friends like you!

32 WEEKS

This is posted a week late......sorry.
I had my 33 week appointment today and the doctor told me that we are in the home stretch!!!! I can't wait to have this baby!! The doctor said the baby seems to be of average size- expected to be around 7lbs, so I am totally relieved I am not expected to have a supersized newborn!!!!!