March

*Thank you - your words on the nursery reveal were so sweet.

Steve and I read them all and truly appreciate your kindness! <3

*** 

March.  How can it already be March?!  

The end of winter?!  Almost three months since Christmas?!

Our due date month?!

 Yesterday marked full-term for us.  37 weeks.  

Just crazy.

Days are starting to pass slow rather than fast.  And I'm likin' lovin' it -

 these last few pages of this chapter...

Two weekends ago, my (talented) friend, Kelly, came over and turned a Friday night (and our dining room table) into a fun-filled paint party.  She teaches paint classes.  And I was so excited to host a class and invite a handful of my dearest friends.

Pizza and salad - creative fuel

We chose Kelly's "Spring Love Birds" painting and got right to work.

She had us set up so nicely - fresh canvases, an array of brushes, paint galore, aprons for each of us and even a pretty, protective tablecloth. 

We had so many colors to choose from.  It was neat to see everyone's paintings come along as the minutes passed - all different, but still somewhat the same.

 Muffin was jealous.  She didn't get an apron or a spot at the table.

 More creative fuel - sugar

Kelly made adorable cupcake ice cream cones.

 Jessica made red velvet cookies (and left me with a couple dozen too many...always tempting me every time I walked by them in the kitchen for the following week).

 My finished love birdies

 Kelly took them out to the deck for a coat of gloss.

And once our masterpieces were dry, we posed for some photos.

 Thank you, Kelly, our fabulous teacher!   It was so much fun to get all of us together and do something different for a change.  <3

 Love these ladies.  Love this photo.  Loved this night. 

<3

Wednesday night - "cooking class"

My mom's best friend, Karen, and my mom came over to teach me how to make lasagna.  Yes, I know, it's (supposedly) easy.  But I'm a visual learner.  And as you know, I just began getting comfy in the kitchen a few months ago.

  Besides the pumpkin lasagna I made at Thanksgiving, I've never made a regular lasagna.  Yes, you read that right.

Karen brought over all the ingredients 

along with this brand new, shiny, pretty, red lasagna pan for Steve and I.

My mom brought the wine for her and Karen (and the pretty leftover bottle for me to turn into a vase later).

Karen's clever sign.

Don't listen to her.  They barely had two glasses each. :)

 I was already likin' her recipe - lots and lots of cheese!

Steve came home from work and the four of us sat around the kitchen talking as we waited for the lasagna to bake.  My mom was Karen's student teacher years ago - back when my mama was just twenty-one.   They told Steve and I stories of their old class and students - many of them quite amusing and shriek-worthy. 

We watched American Idol during dinner and my mom and I continued the shrieks, as we 

rooted for our favorite singers.

 Dinner is served.

  It was awesome and hard to not go for seconds thirds.

  We had so much leftover, we had a few meals worth to freeze for later. 

  (Perfect for after baby's arrival).

Thank you, thank you, Karen! 

 Another sweet gift from Karen.

   Love these ladies.  I'm so inspired by their 30+ years of friendship.  

And so blessed to have them both in my life for all these years.

<3

Thursday, I was lucky enough to get another dose of lasagna.

I went over to my dad's for dinner.  Brigid made lasagna (and her famous salad) and we all had dinner together for the last time before baby's arrival.

 <3

Friday, we had a double date in

with Jen and Sean.

Jen was saying good night to baby girl, telling her the next time she "saw" her would be when she truly gets to meet her.  She got a few kicks out of her instantly!! <3

 Dessert buffet...I'm stuffed just looking at it.

<3

Sunday morning, Steve, my mom and I went to church with Kim and Adam.

And afterwards, went to breakfast/lunch.  Well, lunch for my mom and I.  Breakfast for Steve.

 Steve said he was making up for me and my mom's healthy eating.

We went with the salad bar.

And Steve...he went for the funky meat bar.  YUCK!  At least he ordered the tomato juice and put some oatmeal on his plate to make it look a little bit healthier.

We all felt like we were going to explode afterwards.  Steve, with bacon.  

My mom and I, with vegetables.  

My mom and I spent the day together and walked it off 

with a trip to the grocery store and Five Below.

The lesson in church was about never giving up.  And as my mom aggressively wrangled (for five minutes straight) the two toothbrush holders I had my eyes on (for our hospital stay) with the hook of a three dollar umbrella,

 she proudly exclaimed "You don't give up!!" as we caught them and

 laughed at how ridiculous we looked.

 <3

A big thank you to my friend, Lindsey, who sent and surprised me with this giant box of teeny and precious clothes for baby girl.  Her daughter, MaKenna, wore them just months ago.  I was so blown away at her thoughtfulness and that she passed them onto me for baby girl.  

<3

 <3

We had another doctor's appointment last Thursday.

*Cervix closed

*50% effaced

*Total weight gain - 25 pounds

*Tested negative for Group B test - Yay!

*Her head is down and in position!

37 week bump... 

 37 week baby girl...

 How you've grown since the summer!

6 weeks to 37 weeks

What a difference 7+ months (and 25 pounds) makes...

 

Don't you love the off-centered line (linea nigra or whatever you call it) that I'm sportin'?

 Yesterday marked twenty days until our due date.

We're in the teens now...

 <3<3<3

Have a happy one. 

I'll see ya soon.

 

Full-Term Lovin'