It's getting closer...

How far along? 35 weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: 22 lbs gained, all belly, minus the insane swelling.
Sleep: I have been sleeping really well...as long as it's very cool in the room.
Food cravings: sweet tea [decaffeinated], bbq, sauteed zucchini and squash, oreos.
Best moment this week: installing the car seat :) cutting all my hair off [it's such a relief!]
Movement: Omg. She's stretching out a lot now, and it hurts my ribs SO bad.
Gender: girl!
Stretchies: none, yet. [I know I'm probably jinxing myself.]
Belly Button in or out? seriously on the verge of poking out.
What I miss: margaritas.
What I am looking forward to: her arrival :)
Symptoms: swelling. UGH!
Milestones: the fact that we're almost there. weekly doctor's visits.
Weekly wisdom: relax.
Emotions: a little nervous, but really excited.

Food for thought?

Since Aaron has been back, I've been cooking A LOT.
I'm not even going to lie. The entire two weeks he was gone, I didn't cook. Not once.
I relied on frozen dinners, fast food, and sandwiches [don't judge me!]
I just hate cooking for one.

When he came back, though, I didn't just want to make the same ol' things I'd been making for the past few months, so I spent some time recipe searching.
Here are a few of my favorite NEW recipes:
The Marlboro Man Sandwich
Southern Style Corn
Cajun Chicken Pasta
Knock You Naked Brownies

Seriously, all of these recipes are delicious and really cheap/easy to make. Spoil yourself and try at least one.

Fill in the blank Friday

1. If I could get away somewhere for the weekend I would go to Panama City Beach and I would bring my hubby...and a camera.

2. Something I often rant about is people who post wayyy too much info on facebook. I mean, come on...no one needs to know that you crapped yourself because your son was sooo hungry and you just had to feed him because you're a 'good' mom.

3. One item I need to have in my fridge all the time is chocolate milk. Or at least milk that I could possibly make chocolate.

4. My 'life saving' product is my phone. Seriously, in awkward situations just having it makes me feel better.

5. A friend is someone who will listen to your stupid rambling/embarrassing stories, laugh with you at you, and always tell you exactly how they feel/what they think about you.

6. If I could write my own blank it would be...'The last thing I do before laying down in bed is'....take my prenatal vitamin.

7. My favorite kind of art is printmaking. Hands down. Specifically dry point/etching. I would do it all day every day, if I could.

Things I love Thursday

The Sarcastic Edition

1. Gas Prices


2. Alabama Heat/Humidity


3. Civilians that think it's cool to wear Military Regalia


4. Rachael Ray


5. Heartburn


6. "Driveby Parenting"


7. The fact that the air conditioner at work broke....


8. Swollen feet/hands


9. Know it Alls


10. Unorganized/Unreliable people
    

Things I love Thursday

source

1. Magnum Ice Cream Bars
2. The History Channel
3. Coupons
4. TJ Maxx
5. sidereel
6. Key Lime...anything [pie, yogurt, cupcakes!]
7. Feeling Adelei moving around in there, even when it hurts!
8. My Glider
9. Adele's new album - 21
10. ME time
    

Movie Reviews

Since Aaron has been gone and I'm only going to be working two days a week until the baby is born, I've had a LOT of down time.
That being said, I've had a lot of time to watch all these chick flicks that I have been pushing to the side over the past few months.

I started out with Morning Glory.
After 45 minutes, I turned it off. It was so slow that I was bored out of my mind. I kept hoping that it would pick up and that something would happen to grab my attention, but it didn't. So I decided to cut it short. I would not recommend this to anyone unless you are having a hard time falling asleep.

Next up was No Strings Attached.
I'm not going to lie. It was your typical chick flick. Every moment seemed to be predictable. Still, it was interesting and funny. I mean, who can say no to Ashton Kutcher? To top it off, the soundtrack? Amazing.

Then came The Switch.
When I saw that Jason Bateman was in this, I knew I had to see it. I love him and have seen pretty much everything he's been in. Anyways, I went into this with an open mind and it turned out to be pretty good. Like No Strings Attached, this movie was pretty predictable, too, but it was almost comforting that way. And I'm pretty convinced that my kid is going to be similar to Sebastian because [hello!] I'm the biggest hypochondriac ever.

To wrap up my chick flick movie marathon, I watched Country Strong.
This was actually a movie that I wanted to see in theaters so badly, but couldn't find anyone to go with me. I'm a country girl at heart, so I enjoyed it thoroughly. I was actually surprised that the songs were so good and that the actors/actresses actually sang them. This movie, for me, was not as predictable, and that was a much needed change. The story line is very interesting and coincides with a lot of issues that a present in today's society. There were some really heart wrenching moments and it proved that not everyone has a happily ever after. I would recommend this to you ladies [and gents] IF you can tolerate country music.

Movies that I'm looking forward to seeing soon:

Bridesmaids
Something Borrowed
The Help

Any recommendations for me while I have a little free time?

Random Life Update

Since the last time I blogged I....

• graduated from college.

• started back to work at my minimum wage job until I can [hopefully] get a big girl salary job.
• started my 32nd week of pregnancy.
• came home to 92 unread blog entries. woo wee, I've got a lot to catch up on.
  
• said goodbye to my husband for 2 weeks while he goes to Annual Training for the National Guard.
• made another cute dress for Adelei. [I can't WAIT for her to get here]

What have YOU been up to?

Things I love Thursday

source

1. Chelsea Handler
2. My NOOK <3
3. Deep Fried Oreos
4. Fast5
5. ThirtyOne
6. Fabric by Amy Schimler
7. Conversations with my Nanny. Especially when she says, "Do what you want to, Jamie, and screw every body else."
8. My Life As Liz
9. The VolksWagon Tiguan--Doesn't anyone want to buy me this? ;)
10. Italian Ice
    

Sneak Peek

Today was quite possibly one of the most exciting days of my pregnancy.
I had my 4D ultrasound, and it was amazing.

Aaron ended up having TWO finals today, so I had to go it alone, but I was mesmerized the entire time.

Look at my sweet baby:
She was being very uncooperative at first, which I was sad about because she literally kicked during the entire drive. It seemed as though the minute I sat down in the waiting room, she was ready to take a nap.
The ultrasound tech had some tricks up her sleeve though, and eventually got her to wake up.
It was SO cute to see her yawn.
When she finally woke up, she opened her eyes. I didn't even know they could DO that in there! And, I could be mistaken, but after a while, it even looked like she was smiling.
As if I wasn't excited before, I'm even MORE excited now. She looks so much like me [from what I can tell] but she definitely looks like she has her Daddy's lips.
I just can't wait until she is born so I can hug and kiss her cute chubby cheeks!

Just this once

Yesterday Aaron and I made our way downtown to TroyFest. It's a little arts and crafts festival that they have here every year. I love looking at all the interesting artwork and hand made furniture that the vendors bring. Yesterday I was obsessing over these beautifully crafted pastel colored bird houses, but there were none in my price range, so we moved on.
I bought Adelei a pair of bloomers with our school Mascot's logo embroidered on them, but other than that, we just bought food :)

I absolutely LOVE street food, and I'd be lying if I said that wasn't the main reason that I wanted to go. There were SO many choices. Too many choices, really, for my indecisive husband and I to choose from. We got the classic chili dog with fries, and quickly realized that although it was really good, we wished we would have gotten something else. Not long after we ate our lunch, Aaron decided it would practically be a sin to go to a festival and not get a funnel cake. And so we did. Only while we were in line for a funnel cake we saw that they ALSO sold deep fried oreos.
Folks, if you've never tried a deep fried oreo, you are seriously missing out. Heaven in your mouth. This is not a lie.
We didn't even finish it all before I felt like I was going into a sugar coma [I know, not good for the baby, but I just couldn't help it!] However, I kept seeing people walking around with Italian Ice. Not that crappy blended ice stuff, but the real, gourmet looking kind. I just couldn't do it. I wanted it so bad, though. We quickly decided that we would have to go back on Sunday to get lunch, and satisfy once and for all our street food fix until next year.
So that's exactly what we did today.
We headed back downtown for lunch and ended up getting the best grilled chicken [on a stick] that I have ever tasted in my entire life, ribbon fries, and of course...Italian Ice.
I chose the Blue Raspberry flavor and it was so delicious that it made me sad to eat the last bite.
Yes, I am a food-a-holic.