fill in the blank friday

1.   My favorite color is       light turquoise, you know that color in between robins egg blue and regular turquoise   .

2.  My travel destination of choice is    I really love Paris and there is something about Palm Springs that is always enjoyable but in general I just love to travel, especially new places  .

3.  My favorite  food is     mac and cheese - I love all kinds but the 2 best I've had are from BJ's and the Wolfgang Pucks in the food court in Macy's Union Square (I used to work in that Macy's and ate that mac and cheese at least 1x a week)  .

4.  My happy place is   being at home with the hubs and also now with our newest addition Hayden .

5.  My favorite saying is      I've never really attached to any quote or saying in particular  .

6.  My dirty little secret is      well if I told you it wouldn't be a secret anymore   .

7.  Something friends might say about me is that I      um I'm not really sure  . 

Hayden - Week 1

I still cannot believe that Hayden has been here for one week already! I'm loving every moment of this precious time and am saddened at how fleeting it is. She already feels bigger than when she was born and everyday she acts a little different than the next, usually better. 

So thankful to not be in the hospital - its crazy how uncomfortable I felt being there. The bed was loud and awkward, food was weird and its obviously nothing like being at home. I was extremely comfortable in labor and delivery but recovery was not the same...

After she was born I had some crazy hormones, where I would cry if she looked at me or did any other cute thing or watched Patrick be super dad with her. Its amazing how one moment its just the two of us and the next this family threesome. Any moment can change from sweet to a little scary to beautiful.. Parenting sure brings on a heart for prayer 24/7. 

As for Hayden in the first week - she has been so fun to watch and adore. I've always loved newborns but its so much more amazing to have your own :) I'm loving listening to the little noises and sounds she makes and holding her while she's sleeping. She is just so precious it makes my heart melt. 

Some wonderful things about this past week:

• All the amazing dinners and lunches and Starbucks that sweet people have brought us! We have felt so blessed by our church/blood-bought and blood-related families. Also the fact that Hayden had impeccable timing so that our friends Matt & Carley + their baby Ruby could meet Hayden before they went back home to Chicago.
• Breastfeeding - I was so scared that it wouldn't go well but Hayden is amazing and actually ate 15 min after she was born and her latching has improved significantly. 
• Patrick - I am amazed and so blessed by my husband daily and love the sweet interactions he has with his little girl. He has really gone above and beyond my expectations of a father :)
• Becoming a Stay at Home Mom - oh my gosh now that Hayden is here I can't even fathom going back to work unless she could go with me. I plan on figuring out a way for me to make money from home. Feel free to give ideas for that one. lol. 

fill in the blank friday on saturday

1.   One of my happiest moments ever was       the morning after I became saved, I had this overwhelming calm/peace feeling that has guided me since then but my wedding day and when Hayden was born are close seconds but without the first happy moment of being saved I wouldn't have the other two    .

2.  Summer is wedding season and weddings are    Awesome, I worked in event planning, specifically weddings and I love the excitement of planning a wedding  .

3.  This summer     my life has changed forever by an adorable little baby  .

4.  My summer food of choice has been   quite possibly In N Out and smoothies, we make them non-stop .

5.  My summer uniform has been     prego: linen pants, maxi dress, or leggings and now: anything loose .

6.  If I could spend the entire summer in one location I would choose      Palm Springs always!   .

7.  My summer anthem is       I really don't have one but I have been listening to some of the new britney songs and mat kearneys new song :) . 

She's Here

Hayden Elizabeth Tucker

Born on Saturday, July 16th 7:34 pm

7 lbs, 2.4 oz

18 1/2 inches

fill in the blank friday

1.   I am a (morning, evening, middle of the day person)       lately I've been a middle of the day or night person due to pregnancy but normally I am a morning person  .

2.  My favorite Pandora stations are    I hardly ever listen to Pandora, I prefer to make my own playlists or listen to the radio.. strange, right lol I guess I'm just a little old school   .

3.  3 of my "must-have" songs for a road trip playlist are     okay thats hard to choose so I will just choose some favorite bands for road trips: Foo Fighters, Enfield, Sum 41, Rascal Flatts, Black-Eyed Peas, Mat Kearney, Muse and Ray LaMontagne    .

4.  My favorite pattern is   I love all pattern!! my favorite though are probably just general floral patterns, like the ones from Liberty of London .

5.  My favorite perfume is     Burberry Brit and Yves Saint Laurent Paris au Printemps  .

6.  Rules are      usually there for a reason   .

7.  My most overused phrase or punctuation is       well punctuation its ellipses and smiley faces and speaking I say "what cha call it" a good amount and I'm sure there a lot of things I say a lot, perhaps "a lot" is one   . 

39 weeks

My lovely cousin Keri and I at her Bridal Shower

Weighty Issues: Weighing 140 at the moment, I did have a large breakfast though. I really don't like seeing that 4 in my number..

Stretch Marks: Nothing new but I've heard of a lot of people not getting any till their last couple of weeks. 

Sleep: Once again sleep will be good one day and then I can't fall asleep the next, which I then usually work on a craft project. Lets just assume this is my weird form of nesting. Acid reflux has improved with the little lady moving down into position. 

Best Moment this week: Getting the car seat in the car, finally!! Had fun at my cousin's bridal shower on Sunday. I really love spending time with my family it just sucks that they live 2 hours away.

Food: I really seem to lack appetite during the day but am always starving for dinner and strangely for breakfast this morning. We treated ourselves and went out for breakfast :) 

Clothes: Maternity everything basically.. even some of those barely fit now!

Labor signs: Have had some Braxton Hicks off and on throughout the week but I am seriously ready to have this baby like ASAP! Baby come out!! I have loved pregnancy but I'm just a little bit done lol.

Belly Button: Out and odd looking as usual, only because I have a scar above my belly button from where it was pierced.

What I miss: Feeling comfortable, thankfully my pregnancy has been comfortable till this point. My belly is just so tight I can't get comfortable and my itchiness has resurfaced.

What I’m looking forward too: Our baby. Baby girl please come out so I can snuggle with you.

Weekly Wisdom: I have none but if anyone has some proven natural inducing methods they would like to share :)

Weekly WTH:  Why do Braxton Hicks have to tease me.. I know they are doing some work but please can't I just have some real contractions

Nesting: Working on things hoping they start labor lol.. I couldn't sleep last night so I worked on putting some background papers in the Grandma brag books I'm making. Trying to finish decorating nursery nook and our room..

Milestones: Ugh baby is the size of a small watermelon and it sure feels like it..

To-do List Update

 Cutest little chalkboard ever :)

Do Laundry - I've been using my WonderWash  to save on laundry costs and its been working out pretty well

Get rid of boxes from moving - In progress, still many more to figure out what to do with

Finish organizing bedroom and craft/play area - craft/play area is about as good as it is gonna get for now (only papers to organize and file left) and bedroom is organized, just needs to be beautified

Write emergency number list to post on fridge

Get oil changes on both our cars... we both hate doing this! plus my car needs to be smogged :(

Finish thank you cards

Attach Billy bookcase to wall

Work on address change items (Dmv, social security, etc..)

Prepare freezer meals for post-partum - done, Thanks Mom!

Find out if I left some Pyrex pieces at old apartment... 

Install car seat and get checked for safety - okay so I know you are supposed to get it checked but...

Set-up notebook to track feedings, changes, activity, etc...

Finish packing hospital bag - almost done 

Set-up index card cleaning system - Now I must do a post on it and surprise, surprise I'm actually mostly keeping up with the tasks :)

Make birth inspiration book

Sew mermaiden doll for baby girl

Sew hospital gown for moi

Work on base pages for Gma brag books and our own photo and memento books for baby

Get pedicure - Went with the lovely Steiger ladies: Cindy & Ellen

Work on decor projects for the baby nook (hang shelves, make tissue paper poms, make faux mats/ frames for artwork, paint her letter)

To buy: more baby hangers- some bought they were out of the other ones I want, seat protector to go underneath car seat, curtain rods for bedroom and living room, stamps for mailing baby announcements and thank you cards, heavy duty eye concealer, lamp shade for baby night lamp, furniture fuzzy protector pads for our ottomans, shelf for in freezer, more clothes pins and possibly a rocking chair and rug... 

fill in the blank friday on monday

1.   My plans this summer include       having a baby lol  .

2.  The best summer I ever had was    I've never really had a favorite summer probably because I like fall :)  .

3.  Summer to me is      camp, resolved conference, popsicles, swimming, palm springs, seafood, concerts, bbq, fireworks and baseball .

4.  My favorite summer food is   hot dogs are probably the fave .

5.  The best way to quench a summer thirst is with     cherry limeade   .

6.  My summer uniform consists of       this year its lots of dresses due to the baby belly but normally I think I wear more shorts   .

7.  The best thing about summer is      just having time to make more memories  . 

38 weeks

Trying to up my chance of contractions with Pineapple popsicles :)

• Weighty Issues: Was 139 at appt. last week and 138 this week, its normal to not gain or lose a pound or 2 at this point 
• Stretch Marks: Nothing new :)
• Sleep: One night will be good and the next crap, I think she may have dropped so my acid reflux will hopefully get a little better
• Best Moment this week: Feeling more ready! Although the poor girls car seat is still not in the car... 
• Food: Cheese and smoothies this week 
• Clothes: Trying to dress normal, time at home is spent in comfy clothes or dresses
• Labor signs: Had Braxton Hicks on Monday (lasted an hour and had one every 10 minutes), I was really hoping they would last... So hoping she isn't born near her due date (20th) since the hubs birthday is the 19th and I don't want their birthdays that close together, I never understand why people want their kids born on their birthday? Heres to hoping before the 15th or after the 25th!
• Belly Button: Out, was just trying to remember what my belly button looked like before and realized I couldn't.. Now I wanna know how baby girl's will look 
• What I miss: Cooler weather.. kay only a little bit but it sucks driving my car in the heat
• What I’m looking forward too: Our baby girl being here :)
• Weekly Wisdom: Have fun 
•  Weekly WTH: Still dealing with night sweats but decided I need to sleep with the a/c on 
• Nesting: Doing projects little by little 

fill in the blank friday

1.   The best news I ever received was       finding out I was pregnant, its such a surprise when you find out for the first time cause then you know its possible lol   .

2.  Something I'm looking forward to is    baby girl getting here, ahh so anxious.. I want to play and snuggle with her now!  .

3.  Something I would never do is     go skydiving, eat bugs on purpose  .

4.  If I could choose someone to be my life coach (famous or not, living or dead), I'd choose   okay you are most likely all going to laugh because I'm gonna say... Michelle Duggar, I think she is an amazingly Godly woman and really focuses on keeping Jesus central in her life and is really gifted with managing her kids and home .

5.  If I had to put a label on my style it would be    comfy cute lol, I honestly will not wear something I'm not comf in or something that is modest, no tube tops here :)   .

6.  One should always       put others first   .

7.  I want to       either be in labor or be relaxing at the spa in Palm Springs   .