Overview Weeks Thirty-Five, Thirty-Six, and Thirty-Seven

Week 35:  

My baby shower happened during this week! I had already bought my dress last week, I just needed to get my hair and nails done. On Friday, March 28 2014, I got my hair done. My hairdresser re-colored my hair ombre. She colored my hair ombre last year, but it grew out and this time I wanted the blonde part lighter, and I love it! 

On Saturday morning I got my nails done. That mani/pedi felt so refreshing. From the massaging chairs to the perfect baby blue manicured nails, I felt like a new woman! Not long after that my Uncle Jeff and Aunt Star came down from New York to spend the night because the baby shower was the next day. My mom and sister also came over for dinner, so we had a nice  family dinner. My mom made Cesar salad and baked ziti. Tommy made chicken parm, green beans, and cheesy garlic bread. OH I CAN STILL TASTE IT!! Everything was delicious. We spent the rest of the night watching T.V. and catching up. 

Well the day has finally arrived, MY BABY SHOWER DAY!! The baby shower was on Sunday, March 30th, 2014. The theme was nautical and here are the invitations my mom sent, they are the cutest:

PICTURE COMING SOON

Everyone from my family and Tommy's family came to share this special day with us. My mom did a wonderful job (I wouldn't expect anything less) with the shower. She is the best party planner. The decorations were so creative. The center pieces were sail boats that had little bears on them and Gavin's name on building blocks. There were sailboat candles, rope decor, small lights, banners, balloons, so many adorable decorations! Instead of me trying to describe the decorations, let's just look at some pictures:

My mom, me, and my sister

The favors and lollipop

THIS CAKE WAS THE BEST CAKE IN THE WORLD! Chocolate and vanilla marble cake with canoli filling from the best bakery. 

We played baby shower bingo and a left and right game. Let me explain... my mom created a make-believe story about the day I go into labor with Gavin. The words "left" and "right" were written in the story, for example, "Tommy drove Lindsay straight to the hospital, but he LEFT the hospital bags at home. He turned RIGHT around. Once they had the bags they were on their way. First Tommy made a LEFT and then he made a RIGHT and then made another LEFT."  At every table there were two prizes. Every time my mom said "left" while reading the story, the person with the prize passed it to the person on the left. The same rules applied when my mom said "right." It was funny because there were a lot of lefts and rights in the story and everyone had to keep up with passing the prizes to the left or right. 

Tommy and I opened our presents and were overwhelmed by the generous gifts. Overall we got Gavin's stroller and car seat, knitted blankets, clothes, crib sheets, bibs, picture frames, thermometer, baby grooming kit, pacifiers, diaper bag, baby shampoo, lotion, baby tub, diapers, wipes, books and toys, the baby bullet and the baby bullet steamer, and so much more. My mom bought Gavin's bedding and his treasure chest toy box for his room. We can not thank everyone enough for the wonderful gifts. Gavin, Tommy, and I are truly blessed! 

After the shower I wanted to open everything and put it away. We didn't get home until seven-ish and we both had work the next day. But I couldn't help it! I wanted to wash Gavin's new clothes and bedding and put them away, I wanted to open his toys, decorate the nursery with the baby shower centerpieces, label and organize everything. It was either lose sleep thinking about everything I wanted to do or just not sleep and at get stuff done. Tommy and I stayed up until one in the morning washing baby clothes, bibs, hats, blankets, crib sheets, the bedding, and putting it all away. We organized the gifts, and figured out what we still needed. Needless to say, I was tired the next day. 

Well, three days after that (Wednesday, April 2nd, 2014) my co-workers threw me another baby shower, only this one was a surprise. My mom told me she took half a day off from work because she had to go to the "dentist." She mentioned she would be home by 2 in the afternoon and asked me if I wanted to go out for a late lunch. Of course I was on board with that idea! After work I went to my mom's house and we were on our way to "lunch." But before we went to the restaurant, she had to drop something off. My mom sings on the worship team at church and they practice every Wednesday night. Apparently the bass player had to "miss" practice that night, so my mom had to "deliver" the music to him so he could practice for Sunday's service. On our way to some random house, my mom made a "wrong turn" (which I learned later on that it was to stall us). We finally arrived and I saw three of the teachers I work with get out of their cars and start walking to the house. I look at the house and saw blue balloons, with "It's a boy!" written on them. I look at my mom and yell, "WHAT'S GOING ON?!" My mom yells, "I DID IT!!" It turned out we did not have to drop off anything, we were going to a surprise shower thrown by my fellow teachers! I had such a fun time. A lot of people came and the house was decorated in blue baby decorations. There was a ton of food and desserts and more presents! We got swaddles, diapers, clothes, pacifiers, bibs, spoons, blankets, and the big presents: a swing and jumper. All the teachers pitched in for these presents and the shower. One of the teachers who had retired made a diaper wreath with random baby supplies tied onto it. The wreath was on the front door and the cutest thing ever! Again, Gavin, Tommy, and I are so blessed. 

MORE PICTURES COMING SOON

The baby: is the size of a honeydew melon! Gavin's organs are nearly complete. His kidneys are completely developed and his liver is functional and capable of processing waste products. 

Mommy's Health: BLESSED, LOVED, HAPPY! I have the best family, friends, and husband!

Week 36:  

After going through and organizing the shower gifts, we found out we still needed to get a few things. We needed bottles, an ergo baby carrier, a baby monitor, a bassinet, burp cloths, receiving blankets, more diapers, and cloth diapers. In a post I had written months ago,  I said I wanted to use cloth diapers. Just to update everyone on my cloth diapers obsession: I still want to use cloth diapers, but not in the beginning. There are two reasons why- 1) An infant's poop is watery and runny during the breastfeeding stage. I don't want the diapers to get ruined. 2) cloth diapers don't fit as well on newborns as they do on a  six month old. This causes messy sheets, clothes, well...everything. Babies start eating solids at six months, so the stool will be harder, making cleaning the cloth diapers easier. I will only be using cloth diapers at home because when Gavin goes to daycare, he is only allowed to wear disposable diapers. So even though I want Gavin to be in cloth diapers full-time, he can't. As much as I don't want him to be wearing those chemical filled  diapers, there is nothing I can do about it. At least being in cloth diapers part-time is better then no cloth diapers at all! 

OK, so, back to what Tommy and I still need for the baby. The rest is just miscellaneous things, like curtains, baskets for the drawers, a hamper, and mobile. 

We did buy everything else we needed, but little by little, week by week. On Friday we bought the baby monitor from Babies R Us and let me tell you... this thing is awesome! It has a decent size colored screen (that also has night vision) and the picture is crystal clear. It has two way talk so I can hear the baby and when I push a button I can talk back. The camera is controlled by buttons on the screen. I can move the camera to look at anything in the room from anywhere in the house! Actually from anywhere within a 600 ft. radius. 

On Sunday we had a photo shoot with a wonderful photographer I found in our area. We went to an abandon mill at the state park. It was a beautiful day and here are some sample pictures:

I still have to pick which pictures I want. There are so many great choices, she took over a hundred photos.  

On Monday I had my first weekly doctor's appointment. My doctor did a culture swab test and also an internal exam. My cervix is soft and Gavin is in position! He has been head down for months now. I gained six pounds in two weeks, Gavin's heart rate is great, and my doctor checked my boobs. She said they are ready and in perfect condition for breastfeeding!

On Wednesday my belly button popped, I'll spare you a picture of that ;)

On Thursday, Tommy and I decorated the toy chest after it was finally delivered. We had to exchange the brown chest from the baby shower for the white one because the white one fits better with the nursery furniture. We bought G-A-V-I-N letters and wooden nautical cut-outs. I painted everything and Tommy glued everything onto the toy chest with wood glue. It came out adorable, If I do say so myself. 

The baby: is the size of a crenshaw melon, but they are not in season yet, so we used a bag of potatoes that resembles the size of the melon. Gavin is still gaining weight and becoming rounder in appearance. By the end of this week, Gavin will be considered full term, Go Gavin!

Mommy's Health: I have a ton of energy and I am on a roll with getting everything done for Gavin's nursery.

Week 37:  

Friday we went up north to pick up my free MADELA breast pump because my insurance covers it! I was so excited to get my breast pump and even more excited I didn't have to pay $300 for it.  After we picked up the breast pump, we went to Babies R Us to buy a bassinet. The bassinet will go next to my bed so Gavin can sleep in our room. It is important for newborn babies to sleep in the same room with mom and dad because it is proven to reduce SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). It's also easier to breastfeed since he will be right next to me. Here is the adorable bassinet Tommy and I picked out:

 It vibrates, plays music, lights up, and the mobile rotates! I love this thing!

Saturday I had to go to labcorp to get blood work to check for HIV. I'm pretty sure, actually 100% positive I do not have HIV, but I had to get blood work done anyway.

Sunday, Tommy and I went shopping and bought a nautical pillow for the glider, more newborn sleepers, navy blue curtains that match the rug (ones that do not let the sun in), a trash can, and baskets for the drawers. Then we labeled the room... every basket, drawer, and shelf is labeled and ready! 

Monday was my weekly doctor's appointment. Everything is the same, cervix is soft, Gavin is head down, heartbeat good, and I lost three pounds. Oh and my blood work came back negative...no HIV. (close one) -_-

The baby: is the size of a bundle of  swiss chard. Gavin is now full term. That means his organs are fully developed and prepared for the outside world. 

Mommy's Health: My spring break was this week. I feel rested and accomplished. Tommy and I finished the nursery and as promised I will get started on my post about Gavin's nautical nursery!