In loving memory...

In loving memory of my dainty, cute feet.  

I have only one pair of shoes that fit my feet anymore.  Everything else either leaves deep impressions(which makes the swelling worse) or just won't allow me to squeeze my feet into.  It's very, very sad.  

Before pregnancy feet

(mine are on the left)

During Pregnancy Feet

apparently my right foot/ankle tends to swell worse than the left. 

CANKLES- YUCK

As you can see, even the tops of my feet are pretty swollen.  No more cute shoes until I deflate. 

Happy Anniversary

Two years ago today, I married my best friend.  God has truly blessed our marriage in ways I never expected.  I love Brady more now than I did the day we got married.  In the beginning, people would tell us that the first year is the hardest.  If that is true, then the next 50 years should be a breeze!  So far, being married to Brady has been easy and lots of fun!  (minus the whole living with a guy part- since we all know men can do some weird and/or gross things in his own home) Don't get me wrong, we do still have our arguments and life isn't always rainbows and bunnies.(we are still human)  But we have God on our side!

This past year we have...
*celebrated our anniversary by going to an adult "prom"- April
*got another dog, Lexy, because I started talking about babies- April
*renovated our front yard- May
*I turned 22- May
*Brady turned 28- June
*I quit my job as a dental assistant- June
*I spent a week at a camp for kids in the foster care system in San Antonio (royal family kids camp)- June
*traveled to Maryland/DC to visit Brady's sister's family and my brother who is a marine- July
*started working at our church's Mothers Day Out program.  I'm a two year old teacher- August
*found out we are pregnant- September
*dealt with first trimester. Brady did amazing! -Sept-Nov
*It's a GIRL!!!! -December
*decided on a name for our little princess "Kenzie Rose McDaniel"-February
*took a couples childbirth class (4 weeks long) Brady now knows how take naps while I'm in labor-March


And now it's April 24th and I'm 2 weeks and 5 days away from our due date.  We have no plans for Easter/anniversary and I no longer have ankles.

4 weeks left

Disclaimer:  If you are looking for a happy blog... this is not the post for you.  

Today is Friday and that means I have exactly 28 days until my due date. Or 672 hours left-  Which ever way you want to look at it.  Neither seem to sound like the time is going to fly by any faster.  I will NOT pray for patience though.  God will probably choose to allow Kenzie to stay cozy for an extra 2 weeks, and that just cannot happen.  I want to cry just thinking about it. 

So here is the update.  

1. I waddle everywhere I go.  I have two speeds- penguin waddle(to only be used when rushing to the bathroom), and turtle waddle (used all the other times). 

2.  Kenzie is still head down with her feet in my ribs.  My midwife says she's already really low, but I haven't had an internal exam yet, so I have nothing to report on that issue. She is currently "sunny side up" (facing the wrong direction) though.  I'm doing some stretches to encourage her to turn her back towards my belly. 

3. I am having really bad sciatic nerve pain.  Nothing seems to help except for sitting around and doing nothing all day.  (which is impossible when you work with 2 year olds)  This will probably get better if miss Kenzie will turn around.  

4. We graduated our childbirth class- so brady hopefully listened and learned a few things. :-)  He says he would be able to deliver her at home, as long as someone can bring him hot water.  I asked what the hot water was for... and he said "I don't know but it's what they always yell in the movies."  Thank you Lord for cell phones to call 911.  I'm not sure I'd survive it were up to my husband.  

5. As for the nursery, things are looking great.  I'm still waiting for Brady to make the shelf  that will go in the closet, and the wall shelf that will hang above the changing table.  

6. I have yet to pack my hospital bag, but I have several lists made of things that need to be packed.  

Hmm.... what else has been going on?

7.Don't let any dentists read this- I'm obsessed with eating ice!!!!  It's absolutely amazing and delicious!!!!  I know how horrible it is for my teeth, but I don't really care.  

8. My new crocs came in last week.  They help with the back pain.  They are very comfy, but I'd still like to get a pedicure.  :-) 

9. Our yard is a work in progress.  I hope it will be looking better by Monday so I can plant some of the veggies and herbs that we bought several weeks ago.  10.  Brady's buisness is going very well these days.  He currently has 2 employees, and will probably hire another one by summer.  God is truly providing. 

11. Sorry I have to write this, but I'm ready for my daughter to be out of my ribs, and in my arms!!!  I had a very easy pregnancy, and have loved most of it, but I'm ready to have some control over my body again.  Plus I really want to meet Kenzie.  Brady's mom and grandmother are visiting my sister-in-law and her family right now.  They don't get back from Maryland until April 26th.  I love them dearly, but I'm not sure I want to wait for them to get back to get this show on the road!  Going to the due date seems highly over rated. lol 

12.  My moods are turning bipolar by the day....  keep Brady in your prayers.  Most of the time I feel like I'm in a "funk" I guess you could call it.  I feel like I have no life these days.  All I ever do is sit on the couch in an empty house.  I don't know when the last time I went out for fun with someone other than Brady.  I know there isn't a lot I can do these days, but I'd still like to try.  Ok enough of my moody "funk". 

PS: Kenzie is currently 5 1/2 lbs as of 4/12/11. 

starting to look more like a nursery

Kenzie is going to be one of the most spoiled little girls around!!!!!

Glyniss(MIL) brought over a few of the bedding set items the other day... and it's AMAZING!!!!
So here are a few pictures of what we have so far.

Item #1 The Changing Table Pad- complete with a flower on top of the velcro strap.

Item #2 The Important Items Holder (I'm not creative in naming things, sorry)-- Little pockets lining the front, some big, some small... perfect for things like the booger bulb, butt paste, lotion and anything else I can't think of, but will need on a daily basis. I reminds me of the advent calenders you see around Christmas time. (mine had a mouse that would move in the middle of the night and would have a candy present waiting for me when I got up in the morning.) 

Item #3 The Diaper Stacker-- OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!!   Inspiration was "I'm a sucker for ruffles on the butt." said by me of course.  I think I'm going to have Glyniss make some pants with the ruffles all the way down the leg for Kenzie to wear.  This just happens to be my single favorite item in the whole nursery!

And the last is something I created.  I am not a seamstress, nor do I have a mind that can come up with original crafts, but I do try, sometimes. So here goes...

Item #4 Clothes Dividers for the closet- Kenzie has lots and lots of clothes and I'm trying to come up with a way of keeping them organized.  I found some colorful foam and I used the acrylic paint we had left over from the wall stamps, and went to work. 

Belly picture almost 32 weeks

ok here she is.... 8 weeks and 2 days until due date!

Nursery Updates

I have an AMAZING mother in law!!!!!  Glyniss came over and helped me stamp the bugs on Kenzie's walls. It turned out so stinkin cute!!!  Now I need to start hanging stuff on the walls.  Only 56 more days until she is due to arrive.  I can't believe how quick time is flying by! 

the bugs are the colors of her bedding material. 

8.5 weeks to go

Today I had a midwife appointment.  Everything is looking great.  I'm currently 31 1/2 weeks pregnant, and Miss Kenzie is head down and feet in my lungs.  Now we just have to wait.  I'm feeling great these days.  I have more energy than I thought I would.  Sleep is a different story.  Some nights are better than others, but it's getting harder for me to find a comfortable position.  Poor Brady deals with my random screams in the night whenever I get a leg cramp- he usually thinks I'm in labor.  He's getting good at helping pull my toes towards my leg so the cramp will go away though.

As for other random updates:
*I have my first shower in Houston this weekend.  I'm very excited to see all the "girls" in my family!!!
*Also, I prepaid for the hospital stay today.  The man helping me said I have good timing because a few weeks from now, the hospital bill goes up $1000.  Luckily, I've already signed the contract and am ready to go.  God is good!!!!!!
*Tonight is our 2nd Childbirth class.  It's very educational.  Brady wasn't too thrilled with some of the video's content. :-)  He also fell asleep during the breathing exercises last week.  I guess the relaxation techniques worked.
*And finally I'm on SPRING BREAK!!!!! It's my first spring break since high school, and I'm 8.5 weeks away from having a baby.  My options are limited.  I will, however, stamp the walls in Kenzie's room on Wednesday. Glyniss (my MIL) will be coming over to help me that day.  Hopefully we can get it all done.