First few days

Since we have been home on Wed. afternoon, the first few days have been going by pretty well so far :) . A few rough nights but one really good night so we are hoping for a repeat performance very soon! Overall, Elias is doing very well with breast feeding and on Monday we go back to the pediatrician to check that he is gaining weight appropriately. I think this appointment should go well since he is eating very regularly and seems to be passing enough dirty/wet diapers which means he is in good health.

We have learned lots of things he doesn't like so far and things he does like. He loves to be swaddled but can't stand his arms in the swaddle anymore. He HATES to have his diaper changed because that means he is cold! The other thing is that he really likes to be quite during the day and at night he has a period of time where he is a bit out of control, it doesn't last too long but you have to try just about everything to get him to stop fussing...my sister used to call this the "witching hour" with her first little one so we are hoping that this goes away in time.

I can't help but look at out little man, it is amazing to have him here and we just love him so much! Adam is a really great Dad too, he helps out everywhere possible with exception to the breast feeding of course! But if I need him to change the baby in the middle of the night or soothe the baby when I have done all I can he jumps right in.

Things should get a bit easier with feeding Elias around the 2-3 week mark I plan on introducing the bottle because I am going to start pumping my breast milk. I think it will be nice to have the option to have Adam feed the baby especially in the middle of the night.

So there you have it, that is our 4 day wrap up so far, we are learning allot with this process of being new parents and every day should get better as we learn what works and doesn't work.

Hope you all enjoyed the pictures !

We are home!

Hi Everyone,

I feel like I have so much to catch up since my last update. First things first....Elias John is here! He is a healthy little boy, he weighed in at 7lbs. 12.3 ounces & is 21.5 inches long. We couldn't be more happier with our little guy and he was worth all the work to get out!

After my last post on Friday about being induced mother nature took over on its own it seems...Saturday I woke up not feeling well at all, I attributed my feeling strange to the extreme humidity we were experiencing here in CT. About 12:30 in the afternoon I started to have some back pain on top of feeling crampy and by 3pm Adam and I figured going for a swim in his parents pool might make me feel better. We then decided to go to dinner & the movies. On the way to dinner at 6pm I started to feel my back pain intensify & while eating dinner I decided to time what was going on. I thought I would have contractions I could feel in my belly so I wasn't sure what was going on.

After calling my sister who has been through back labor she verified what I was feeling was labor. I was so upset because back labor was not what I wanted at all. We skipped the movies obviously & went home right away. I called my doctor when we got home and told her how I had been feeling all day & she advised me to come into the hospital and get checked out.

We got to the hospital by 9pm on Saturday night and they decided to keep me because I was inf fact having contractions & my cervix had soften almost completely on its own. I was only 1cm dilated at this time & the hope was that staying overnight controlling my pain would give me some quality sleep so that they could start the induction process a day earlier.

On Sunday morning the Pitocin drip started at 7am & my doctor came in to check me at 9am but I was only 2 cm dilated by that point. My pain started to increase dramatically by this time with every contraction and by 12noon I was buckled over shaking in pain looking for my epidural. My dilation was moving slower than molasses, but I was making some progress so they gave me my epidural and THANK GOD for that. I was able to manage my pain and I got some rest while the dilation process was still going on. By 3pm I was only @ 5cm dilated and feeling really discouraged. My contractions started to get too close and the baby's heart rate was doing ok but not great. They slowed the Pitocin drip to get things under control & it took until 7pm for them to safely start increasing the Pitocin drip again.

It was a rough day, when I was finally fully dilated & able to start pushing it was 10:30pm! UGH..... Honestly, this was the longest and hardest thing I have every been through and I still had all my work ahead of me. The doctor had determined I was having not only having a crappy back labor experience but Elias was "sunny side up" - meaning face up. She quickly told me that was not the best way to try to deliver a baby on top of back labor. She explained my options after an hour & half of pushing with little progress (forceps/vacuum/possible c-section if the baby's heart rate kept dropping). I was convinced I could do it if I could get my epidural topped off more. After I got topped at midnight I was in fact moving along and making some progress.

Thank god my doctor was patient with me, I had to have oxygen on in between contractions to help the baby's heart rate but I avoided having a c-section and other means of intervention. I ended up pushing out our "sunny side up" baby after 3.5 LONG HOURS.

To be honest I felt cheated a bit, all the work I had done trying to keep fit during this pregnancy just didn't hold up when I needed it. All the nurses & doctor told me the exact opposite but I still felt like why couldn't I have pushed Elias out sooner? The doctor reassured me if I wasn't as fit as I was I would have ended up in a c-section and she said I really impressed her and the nurses. It was a very involved labor with lots of things against me but I did it.

Looking at Elias for the first time was the best feeling for Adam and I. I could have run 2 marathons in a row and not felt as drained as this process but it was something I had to get through and I did it. Elias is such a joy to have and honestly we can't stop looking at our little man, he is just the best. We have lots of new experiences to go through and learn but we are excited to do it together as a family :)

Updates...

Today and yesterday I had doctor's appointments to make sure everything is going ok with me and the baby and I am happy to report they are :) The only thing is there are no signs of dilation still or that a natural delivery is happening anytime soon.

*BUT *I did get some good news which at the time was a huge sigh of relief for me. I really, really, really did not want to have to go to work on Monday and my wish was granted.

The doctor told me today they will start the induction process this Sunday. From the start of being pregnant, being induced was not what I originally wanted to happen but right now it sounds like a decent plan. I know there are many things that can happen being induced and I should not expect a perfect situation but I feel well informed and think this is the way to go at this stage in the game.

The plan is that on Sunday I go to the hospital at 5pm & the process is started to try to soften my cervix, by Monday morning they will start the Pitocin. From there we hope my body responds nicely and Baby Elias makes his arrival safe & sound within the day.

So what's a pregnant girl to do with this news on a Friday night? Well - for starters she is going to eat whatever she wants this weekend, see a movie and get one last manicure & pedicure. Oh yeah - maybe a little cleaning up around the house but I have been doing lots of that lately so really just tidying up!

What's annoying me lately....

I think I have been a very happy pregnant girl so far if I might say so myself. I have been able to do all the things I would normally do (with exception of drinking really) and Adam has it good because I don't pull the "I can't do anything physical around the house nonsense". Since I am "officially overdue" by 4 days now, I have noticed this increasing feeling of being annoyed by just about everything. And because it is easier for me to vent this way instead of tearing into people I figured I would take a minute out of my day here at work to do so....

1. The foot in my right rib that has been there for almost 2 straight months now is literally killing me - if anyone wants to know how this feels let me know.
2. Walking into work for the past 2 weeks every day and being asked (no more like yelled at) "You're still here" is more than annoying, it gives me the right at any given time to punch someone. Like I really want to be coming to work right now? SERIOUSLY people.
3. Being stared at while at the gym by strangers who are thinking 1 of 2 things - "Why is she still here working out" and "When is she going to have that baby already"
4. People who tell me to "Sleep now, because when the baby gets here you're not going to get any sleep". Well guess what - since January, no make that December (when I was sick with bronchitis) I have slept like absolute crap. I get 5 hrs a night but broken up, on a good day I get 6 hours. Here is a typical night for me - Go to sleep at 10:30pm up at 12:30am to pee, then back to sleep which usually doesn't happen until by 1:15-1:30am or so, and up again at 3:30am to pee, then back to sleep only to hear Adam's alarm go off at 5:00am over an over again until 5:30am when I LITERALLY kick him to get up out of bed. And I haven't even mentioned how looking over at Adam sleeping so soft & sound for another day is going to make me puke.
5. Being told have you tried walking, washing/scrubbing the floors, eating pineapple/eggplant parmesan/or spicy foods yet to get labor started? UM YES I have - more than once & none of it has worked.

Ok so I am going to stop my rant now. I can go on for a few more but you all get the point. When Baby Elias wants to come he will come, and if not he will be out by force next week. Let's just hope between now and when they want to induce me I can get my mind off from having this baby and enjoy my last few days being pregnant. I think the movies are in order for this weekend for Adam and I, and another manicure & pedicure for me...other than that not sure what else is in store for the next few days!

Due date has come & gone....

Well today was supposed to be the day and little Elias has decided to continue his camping out in my belly instead! Is this an indication of what is to come for Adam and I ?!? haha....


I checked out fine at my doctors appt. today, I gained 2 lbs, my blood pressure was 115/68 and the baby's heartbeat was nice & strong as usual. My measurement is exactly 40 weeks spot on so they truly don't think I am having a GIANT baby like I feel like I am having!


I do have some updates - I have to go back several times within this next week:

• Thursday for an ultrasound to check the level of amniotic fluid in the womb


• Friday for a Non-Stress Test which is a 30 minute monitoring test


• Monday for another Non-Stress Test
  

AND the good thing is that on Friday I will know which day next week they are going to induce me on. It is looking like next Wed. or Thurs. as of now (8/26 or 8/27). I will have to go in the night before for a small procedure to try to "soften the cervix" then I would go in that very next morning to start the inducing process @ the hospital.

So that's it for now.....hopefully some day this week I spontaneously go into labor naturally!

Finished Bathroom!

Just in time before the baby arrives the 2nd floor bathroom is finally complete! Thank you Adam - my dear husband who does all the labor for these house projects when I have my "visions"...haha...
Here are the before & after pictures I promised, they pretty much speak for themselves. The old bathroom was just slightly 70's in style & run down so it really needed a complete overhaul. What we can't seem to figure out is if we miss the old light fixture above the vanity or the wallpaper more??? LOL


AFTER

39 weeks & No signs of progress yet

Monday I had my 39 week appointment and all is well. With just one exception - the baby is a bit too cozy in there! I am making no progress towards a timely delivery it seems....no dilating or anything. My blood pressure was healthy and low as usual, the baby's heart rate was very strong and normal and my weight was fine. I am still loosing a little weight but that is ok - just a sign that I am nearing the end of my pregnancy.

Monday the 17th is my official due date and I have another appointment that day. At that time if I still have no signs of progress in the right direction they will talk about possibly inducing me sometime in the 41st week of pregnancy. That would make Baby Elias being born sometime in the week of August 24th. Lets hope things happen naturally on their own before then. Adam and I just want to meet this little guy finally! I know it will happen when he is good and ready but the waiting around wondering when he is going to come is hard to do!

No other news to report other than trying to find a comfortable sleeping position is increasingly hard to do and my ribs are still killing me. I am still going to the gym 4 days a week & everyone at the gym is probably wondering why I even bother but the more active you are the more it is supposed to get things "going". If at the very least all this working out and staying fit while pregnant is supposed to help with labor, delivery & recovery period. I just hope it really does!

38 weeks and a few days....

Yesterday, I had a doctor's appointment that went A-Ok. The baby's heartbeat is nice and strong -about 130 beats per minute, my blood pressure was 117/59 & I lost 1.5 pounds. Seems strange to me but at this stage in pregnancy it is not so uncommon. I checked into it and here is what I found :

This normal weight-gain slow down or standstill is actually one way that your body gets ready for labor — a sign that all systems are gearing up for the big event (and for the much bigger weight loss of childbirth). Here's what may account for this late pregnancy "down scale":

• Level of amniotic fluid starts to decrease — even before your water officially "breaks." Less amniotic fluid means less water weight, literally.
• The increased urge to urinate now that your baby's head is pressing down on your bladder means that you're flushing out fluids faster than ever before.
• Sweating like a pig —Now that the end (of pregnancy) is near, your body is busily ridding itself of fluid it won't be needing once its baby-making factory shuts down. The more you sweat, the more weight you lose.
• You might actually be burning more calories than ever if your nesting instinct has kicked into high gear.

On another note, I am making no progress towards the finish line as of yet. The doctor checked to see if I was dilated & no luck in that department. She did give me a suggestion to take Evening Primrose Oil capsules so I quickly picked those up at CVS. Evening Primrose Oil is an excellent source of prostaglandins, which readies your cervix for labor but it does not cause labor to start.

Basically, I can take these pills to try to ward off being induced if I am overdue by 2 weeks with a drug called Pitocin. These capsules are popular with lots of women who want to go the natural route & don't want any drugs intervention. So I am giving it a whirl - BUT let it be known I am not against drugs when the time comes to real labor!!

Weekend Events

Hi Everyone!

This weekend was low key for Adam and I for a couple of reasons....

1. The baby is due in just over 2 weeks and it isn't the best idea to "get away" at this stage in the game.

2. Adam had to tile the 2nd floor bathroom tub enclosure on Saturday and he worked later on Friday so Friday we just stayed in & relaxed.

3. I am basically in that "waiting" game mode & it feels like I don't really know what to do with myself. I am still doing all the normal things I would do - work/gym/house chores/errands, etc. but I feel a little out of place. It must be all this anticipation for the big day- like where/when is it going to happen?!

Saturday was a gorgeous summer day here in CT and to get out of Adam's way while he was working , I went to his parents pool. It was nice to relax but after about 1 hour of that I get bored. Could it have something to do with the fact that there is no Corona in my hand this summer? Hmmm..... Anyways, I managed to break up the day by coming back home to put some baby clothes away that Debbie washed then I went on an hour long walk with the dog/worked up a sweat to justify going back in the pool later in the day. After that I went to Babies R Us for some random things we still needed.

Poor Adam was home all day working on the tile - he started at 8:30am and finished at 10pm last night, it was a long day for him but he is thrilled the majority of the work is over.

Today Adam is treating himself to a day of golf & some beers with the boys so I am sure he is enjoying every minute of it!

For My Sister

So my sister Tammy has told me she isn't too happy with my blog entries that don't contain pictures! She thinks that this close to my due date I must have pictures with each entry.

I am really bad with taking pictures - mainly because Adam is a pain in the butt about it and doesn't like to do it for me. It is like pulling teeth with him, if I don't like the first picture he starts to get annoyed that I would like him to take a few more... MEN.

Here are some pics of me today - 2 weeks & 4 days from my due date, I just got home from the gym so they are not glamorous photos but they show my belly & the t-shirt my Aunt Lydia bought for me way back around 20 weeks. I am shocked it still fits to be honest.

It was a great t-shirt to have while I was working out so hard at the gym and no one knew I was pregnant, they must have wondered this girl works out all the time and she is only getting bigger!

37 week Doctor's appointment, Officially Full Term

Hi Everyone,

I went to the doctors today, everything is great, the baby's heart rate sounds nice and strong and I still have lots of movement from the baby which is good. My blood pressure was very normal for me - 103/57 and my weight gain was right on track - 1.5 pounds. That brings me to a grand total so far of 26.5 pounds. I have only 3 weeks to go!

Even with all these Braxton Hicks contractions I have been having the doctor told me that can go on for a while like this. I am not to be alarmed & don't call unless my contractions are lasting for a full minute and have gone on for an hour in duration & they are about 5 minutes apart.
I told the doctor I thought I would be stronger than this, because these "fake contraction" freaking hurt and they only last like 15 seconds! I am in for a world of pain!

On another note, I am still working out as usual getting to the gym 4 days a week along with walks on the weekend. Also doing lots of house work which is equally tiring as the gym it seems! I have not felt at all exhausted like I had expected to feel in my last month and I think the gym is to thank for this. Keeping up with all my working out really has paid off it seems. I also have not retained any water in my hands/feet and that could be attributed to working out too because it helps your circulation allot.

Adam and I have been working really hard around the house doing odds & ends that needed to be done since we moved in Fall of 2008. The list goes on and on but most importantly, in the past month the upstairs bathroom & linen closet have really taken shape. The bathroom was a complete gut & re-model and should be completed this weekend. All that is left is to tile the shower enclosure and put up a shower rod/shower curtain.

This was a huge goal for us to have done prior to the baby arriving and it looks like if the baby holds on for another week Adam will have time to get the tiling done! Once the finished product is done I will post before & after pictures. Also, once the bathroom is done every room in our house has been completely remodeled, in just over a years time. It seemed like such a long road back in April 2008 when we bought this house! If Adam wasn't the handy man that I married it would have never happened, all his hard work on the weekends & week nights after a long day of manual labor on a construction site is greatly appreciated!

Say hello to my little friend - Braxton Hicks

Today is the first day I have started to feel Braxton Hicks contractions and they are somewhat painful & scary all at once. If I move myself in another position they seem to go away or if I am sitting and get up to start walking that works too.

From Baby Center:

How can I tell the difference between Braxton Hicks and true labor contractions?

In the days or weeks before labor, Braxton Hicks contractions may intermittently become rhythmic, relatively close together, and even painful, possibly fooling you into thinking you're in labor. But unlike true labor, during this so-called false labor the contractions don't grow consistently longer, stronger, and closer together. Try drinking a couple of glasses of water, since these contractions can sometimes be brought on by dehydration. If you're past 37 weeks, there's no need to call your doctor or midwife just for contractions until they last about 60 seconds each and are five minutes apart — unless your caregiver has advised you otherwise.


So that is the deal...I could have these contractions for a long time very sporadically or things could come together quickly. All I know is that they freaked me out enough to "officially" pack my hospital bag this evening!

36 week appointment

Today I had a doctor's visit and everything is going well. My blood pressure was 119/59 (very normal for me) and I gained 2 pounds. The baby gains a 1/2 pound per week at this stage of the pregnancy so that amount of weight gain was par for the course it seems. Also, the baby's heartbeat was strong & my belly measured exactly what it should have. I tested negative for the strep test they gave me last week so that is good news as well. If I had tested positive that wouldn't be terrible either, they just give you an antibiotic so that you don't pass it along to the baby during delivery.

Some things I have been feeling lately:

1. My right side of my rib cage is ON FIRE!!! I either have a bruised rib or the baby's lodged his foot under it and has not come loose for over a week. Sometimes the pain is so-so & other times my rib is actually hot to the touch it seems. I feel better standing, or even exercising than sitting at work, the dinner table or driving. I am finding myself leaning back allot more to ease the discomfort.
2. The baby moves even more than before. I think he is becoming very impatient with his space he has in my belly or maybe he is even annoyed his foot is lodged under my rib? LOL....
3. I am starting to feel "ready" similar to the feeling I had a few weeks before I ran the Hartford Marathon. Basically, my head is there already. I wish I could say the same for Adam but I think he is JUST starting to realize how quickly a month is and this baby is coming very soon!

Other than that we have been taking stock of what we have for the baby and getting things we still need. Our trip to Babies R Us last night got allot accomplished and we need to gather some more things this week and then we should be all set.

I am packing my hospital bag this week as well, every time I see the doctors they ask if I have had any contractions which I have not experienced at all. But it made me think about getting that hospital bag packed very soon, I just never know when Baby Elias is going to make his arrival!

Baby Pavelchak's Shower!!

This past Sunday was Baby Pavelchak's shower and it was just perfect! The weather was so nice which was great because it was outdoors poolside at Debbie & John's house. My mother, Tammy & Debbie are quite the party planners! The threw such a fantastic shower for me and the baby, I can't thank them enough. We are truly blessed to have the family we have. There were many other people who helped make the day run smoothly that I would like to thank as well - John, Mimi, Brenda, Sarah and everyone else who pitched in thank you, thank you, thank you!! All the gifts we received are so greatly appreciated and we want to thank everyone for attending the shower and taking time out to welcome our little one into the world!

Here I am - Just under 5 weeks left to go and I am also positioned nicely in front of my favorite table! Hahaha...





Adam modeling his "First Time Daddy" t-shirt that Aunt Lydia gave him. He also is modeling matching Red Sox baseball caps for him and the baby from Auntie Tammy :)

And now, time for some ground breaking news to the blog.....

Baby Pavelchak will be named Elias John Pavelchak. We really liked the name because he can be nicknamed Eli, E.J. or just be Elias. We picked John as the middle name because that is Adam's middle name & his father's first name. Plus it just sounded nice to us!

Adam and I have liked this name from day 1 when I had the mother's intuition I was carrying a boy. I guess I should admit why I had such a strong feeling I was carrying a boy....I visited a psychic back in Jan. 08' that told me I would get pregnant at the end of the year AND I would have 2 boys in a row with a potential for 3 pregnancies...Not sure what the 3rd pregnancy means but she has been right so far! I know the psychic thing could be a bunch of nonsense but I do have to say she freaked me out a bit by how much she knew about my family & relationships, it was all so strange!

Back to the shower....

My sister - "Auntie Tammy" made a gorgeous diaper cake for Elias and I don't want to take it apart until I am desperate for diapers! This is her first diaper cake and she did an awesome job with it, I was very impressed!

Adam's brother - "Uncle Tommy" gave us a very sweet gift for Elias. His very first Radio Flyer wagon, rocking chair, and cozy teddy bear! We absolutely love the gift, it goes perfect with Elias's barn/farm themed room. I can just picture Baby Eli one day rolling his wagon behind him with all his toys overflowing it!

Here are more pictures from the shower that I would like to share, my mom & sister did a great job of covering all angles of the party with the camera! They put them up on Kodak Gallery - Enjoy!

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=yevfkcx.cggtll31&x=1&y=-f3mq6t&localeid=en_US

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=67kwhea.61ry103y&x=0&y=9xpkx4&localeid=en_US

35 week apointment

Hi Everyone!

This past weekend was fantastic. Great weather for the baby shower & spending time with Sarah visting from VT was so much fun. I will post another entry strictly about the baby shower when I get the pictures uploaded.

Today I had my 35 week appointment and everything is A-Ok. The baby's heartbeat is strong and my blood pressure/weight gain is very good. I only gained 1 pound since my last visit but I feel like I gained allot more. I am up to a total of 23 pounds weight gain which is right on track so that is good. Baby Pavelchak is very forceful lately with his movement in my belly.


Sometimes I cringe because I feel like there is no room for him to move and it hurts! I did ask the doctor today to estimate his weight because I feel like he is a GIANT baby but they told me he is par for course at this week in my pregnancy. The doctor probably thinks I am a nut because I used the word GIANT but it sure feels like that when he is moving around!

Still no swelling in my hands/feet at this point, and no stretch marks either! Lets hope over the next month they don't appear but so far I am lucky pregnant girl :)

One thing that was a little scary at today's visit was leaving with a paper that was titled "when to know your in labor"....it had all the necessary information for me & and where to call when I do go into labor. They say the last month you never know, the baby is going to come when he wants to make his arrival so he could be early or he could be overdue...we'll see!

Here is an update from Baby Center:
"Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds. Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight."

4th of July Weekend

This past weekend myself, Adam, Mom & Aunt Lydia took the trip out to Long Island for a family picnic @ Uncle Hector's house in honor of Uncle Max's 88th birthday & July 4th. He and Aunt Anna were up visiting from Puerto Rico and they both look fabulous for their age. They are the sweetest people ever :)

We made our travel more relaxing by taking the ferry over to Port Jefferson, NY. When we arrived we had lunch & window shopped a bit. It was Adam's first time going to Port Jeff so that was a fun new experience for him. Of course traveling with my mother & Aunt Lydia is always an experience - the two of them are like Lucy & Ethel from I love Lucy! We also got to see some pretty cool fireworks in the evening while traveling over the bridge on our way home from NY.

Here is a picture of me with my cousins Danny & James, they were like brothers to me growing up. They even hung me on the wall once by my Osh Kosh Bigosh overalls! I was stuck on that hook for quite a bit until someone saved me, those were the good old days....

Here is a picture of my beutiful mom. She is always hamming it up for the camera! Maybe that is where my neice Melina gets it from???

Again the horizontal stripes on the tank top! hahaha...But this is a great picture to show how large my belly is. I can honestly tell you that our little one in my belly doesn't feel "so little" lately. He is extremely active and moves around all the time. Looking at all the movement in my belly is a bit freaky sometimes. We still can't get over how close we are to meeting our little guy, time is going by so fast.

Next week will be a fun entry to the blog, I will have had my baby shower & another doctor appointment to report about. This Sunday is the shower that Tammy, Mom & Debbie have been planning for our little bundle of joy. I am sure it will be a success with these 3 planning it. I must say they have been very secretive about everything...I guess they all know how I truley am - I would be planning all the details if they gave me a chance! I just can't help it! I can't wait to see everyone and enjoy the time with family & friends.

33 week doctors visit & Strawberry Picking

I went to the doctors this morning and everything checked out A-Ok. I gained 2 lbs. since my last apointment and my blood pressure was nice and low at 102/64. I also do not have any swelling in my hands or feet and the doctor was happy with that. She did ask about the babies movement because they would like for me to feel 10 movements a day. I told her no worries, in just the time span of me typing this post Baby Pavelchak has jabbed me at least 5 times. I think Adam and I have quite the active little guy! My next appointment is in 2 weeks.


This is from Baby Center - "This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood."

Weekend Fun-

This weekend mom & I went up to my sisters to spend the weekend and we had lots of fun with everyone. We got up there for dinner time on Friday and left Sunday morning. It is always a good time visiting we have lots of entertainment with Melina & Bennett, the two of them are too cute together! Tammy had the idea of strawberry picking on Saturday at a farm nearby since the beach plans looked so-so. There were thunderstorms in the weather forecast and we were worried to get all the way out to the beach & be stuck in the rain. Here are some pics from our trip to the farm.

Mom, Melina & Bennett in front of the tractor at the Farm. I wanted this picture for Baby Pavelchak's room, we are doing a farm theme in his room and I think having grandma & his cousins up on the wall will be a nice touch!

Here I am 33 weeks preggo, the horizontal stripes really show off my belly I have acquired with Baby Pavelchak! It was super hot outside picking strawberries but I was determined to get a good amount since our plan was to make Strawberry Rhubarb pie. Tammy and I prepared the pie when we got home and it turned out yummy!

Kitchen Pictures

The professional pictures are up of our kitchen - they came out great, I am so happy they were done for our contractor's site. It really makes me appreciate all the time & effort our home renovation took.

Check them out -

http://khimprovement.blogspot.com/

http://alexissteinphoto.blogspot.com/

New Washing Machine

So you know how things crap out at the most inconvenient times? Well our Washing machine died...It doesn't owe us anything after using it for 8 years straight but it finally doesn't spin the clothes correctly, they come out soaking wet all the time. So we went to Sears last night and bought a washer but we didn't purchase the fancy front loader type. We opted for a very efficient top loader because our dryer died on us about a year 1/2 ago and we had purchased the dryer that matched the washer at the time. We went this route because we eventually want to relocate our Washer & Dryer to the first floor when we do our addition off the back of the house. At that time we plan on buying the matching front loaders that not only look really cool but are even more efficient.

Our plan is to wait to do the addition until we eventually have 2 children that are too old to share a room, probably by the time our first child is 5 years old. At that time we would have both kids in the upstairs bedrooms then move ourselves to the first floor. The first floor bedroom currently is on the smaller side so we would go off the back of the house with an addition. Nothing too huge - just something that would make the first floor bedroom a master suite with a walk in closet & bathroom. While we do this project we would expand the 1st floor bathroom that is currently there and put the washer & dryer in that room. And you know what that means....No more trips to the basement!

I have been reading quite a bit about the front loaders & the only downside is that they vibrate & rattle much more than top loaders. So when the time comes, we will research & purchase a good set that will be quite & vibrate the least. Luckily Adam is a plumber by trade and super handy at just about anything he puts his mind to regarding our house projects so we rarely have to hire out help. The real trick will be "finding the time" to get this project done...but for right now we have a nice new washer that will be in next week - just in time to start washing all Baby Pavelchak's clothes I have to get to!

Here is our new washer :)

Weekend Events

Hi All!

We had a very busy weekend which started on Thursday night with the rehearsal dinner and then Friday was the wedding. We had such a good time at Rob & Sue's wedding, everything was gorgeous and it made me miss our wedding day all over again. I have to say that was a day I would love to be able to relive over and over again :) . It was so nice to share in their special day with them. Adam was a "natural" presenting his best man speech! I was so proud of him :)

Here are some pics from the wedding. I am officially 8 months pregnant in this picture. I danced all night and was full of energy - even with my heels on! Thank god I haven't experienced any bloating in my hands & feet just yet..... I thought I would be exhausted but I was up until 1 am partying with everyone, I was shocked!

The "first time grandparents to be" - John & Debbie

This weekend was also Father's Day so Adam and I went to breakfast at Parkside cafe in our town & it was really nice to celebrate Adam's first father's day. Adam took me there for Mother's day too. We then cooked a surf & turf dinner for Adam's dad John. I have to say we impressed ourselves on this one! It was super easy but very tasty. We made Lobster rolls & Beef Kabobs on the grill with veggies & pineapple. Check out the picture below, we were so proud of the meal I had to take a picture!

Sunday I was also in full nesting mode. We all know I am a little crazy with the cleaning & organizing, but this Sunday I really went over the top. We were getting professional pictures of our kitchen taken and we have an open floor plan in our house so everything needed to look in its perfect place.

Our contractor that did our renovations last year wanted our kitchen to be pictured for his advertising and I was super excited for that, I can't wait to see the pictures. So I put up the new dining room curtains that were done just in time from Adam's Aunt Eva. She hand made these curtains for us, I bought the fabric and told her the design I wanted and they came out JUST the way I wanted them :) She is quite the talented curtain maker in my opinion. Check out her work. -

Another fun thing that happened this weekend was a package that arrived on Friday in our mudroom off our Pottery Barn registry! It was the book/cubby shelf system we registered for! We was super excited about it & we just want to send a big thanks to all my girlfriends from college that went in on this gift - Corinne, Caralyn, Gillian, Niki, Sylvia & Margaret - thank you so much we love the gift and you all are so generous & thoughtful.

Here is a picture of it, we have to fill it with books and stuff but I put some things in just to give you the idea of what it will look like.

31 week appointment & Small Dresser

This past Monday I went to the doctors and found out that all my blood work I took 2 weeks ago turned out A-OK which is great. The doctors even commented on how "I have great nutrition and my diet must be very well rounded!" LOL....They obviously don't know how much crap I eat! But I think because I am very active and have continued my normal workout routine that it helps allot. My blood pressure checked out fine as well & I managed to not gain any weight this time...? Weird because I feel really heavy. I am sure at my next appointment the weight will appear. It has to because at this stage the baby is growing allot - on average a 1/4 pound a week!

On another note- the weather has been so-so here in CT, lots of rain and below average temperatures...so that makes for a very happy pregnant girl. I know any other summer I would be upset being that I love the summer, but this year I couldn't be happier! If July turns out to be a normal summer month, I can't complain one bit, I have been very lucky so far. Back in April we had a couple really hot days and I was actually really worried how I would do with heat but so far so good.

I finished the small dresser my mom gave me for the baby's room and I love it just as much as the other one. I am happy I did these dressers because honestly I can't sit still. I have always been like this, I thought pregnancy would make me be the opposite but it hasn't done that at all. I have to be grateful that I am still feeling good & not exhausted one bit. I vividly remember the days from my first trimester falling asleep at the dinner table, fork in hand...

This weekend we have a wedding to attend for our best friend Rob. Adam is the best man & has written a great speech so I hope he does well. Rob has been a lifelong friend to Adam and he is how I met Adam! What is really great is that Adam is responsible for his first date with his soon to be wife. How cute is that? These boys are inseparable, we even live just under 2 miles from each other. I also hoping for a great picture of Adam and I from the wedding to post next week.

Here are the before & after pictures of the small dresser :)

Baby's Room & Belly Growth Progress

So I have been growing a bit lately, can't you tell? Here is my growing belly, I am 30 1/2 weeks now! Here is a snapshot of what Baby Pavelchak & I are going through right now (provided by BabyCenter.com):

"Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and he weighs almost 3 pounds - like a head of cabbage. A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him, but that volume will decrease as he gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. His eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after he is born, he will keep his eyes closed for a good part of the day. You may be feeling a little tired these days, especially if you're having trouble sleeping. You might also feel clumsier than normal, which is perfectly understandable. Not only are you heavier, but the concentration of weight in your pregnant belly causes a shift in your center of gravity."

Now for the Baby's room progress- The room is a little bare right now but I am sure it will be filled very soon after the shower in July & once Adam and I start emptying out our dining room which has become filled with baby stuff lately. Adam and I found this dresser at a consignment shop in Canton that I love going to find "trash to treasure projects" at and refinished it in a creamy yellow paint. The dresser is a timeless look which I love and will work perfectly as a changing table too once I put a pad on top of it.

I painted it a creamy yellow so that it would match with the colors in the baby's quilt/bedding but also so that in the future if we do have more children it is a gender neutral color since they will be sharing that bedroom for sometime. We also have another small dresser that will work nicely with a lamp on it that my mother gave us for the room that I am working on currently and will post pictures of when done.

The baby's room was a room in our home that we never got to with all our renovations last year so becoming pregnant was our motivation to finally rip down wallpaper, re-sheet rock the ceiling, install a closet organizer & paint. We couldn't have done it all without everyone who pitched in here & there to help out so a big thanks to both sides of our family who helped along the way!

The room will have a Farm/Barn theme so as things come along and we have stuff on the walls I will post more pictures. Here are the pictures we have so far of Baby Pavelchak's room, I included a "before" picture so you all can see the transformation that has occurred!