Nursery update

Just an update on the bookshelf- it's up and full of Baby Horton's things. Nate's parents put a lot of hard work into making this great piece of furniture. It' looks awesome!! Thanks so much:)

Happy 4th of July

Have a safe and fun 4th of July!

Along the coast of Maine

Wherever you are celebrating, hope you have some time to sit back, relax, and enjoy summer!Boothbay Harbor, ME

Corolla, NC

A couple of suggestions for your holiday picnic, if you're looking for a perfect summer drink may I suggest:

Tiff's Tasty Lemonade:
-1 can frozen lemonade concentrate, put into blender
- Fill can 1/2 full of 3 olives cherry vodka, put into blender
- Fill can 1/2 full of Sprite or water (one or the other, not both), put into blender
- Fill the remaining space in the blender with ice
- Blend until smooth, serve. Yum!

I've made rice krispy treats several times since being pregnant, I seem to like them even more now. Check out these 5 patriotic recipes. Aren't they cute?

Photo from the linked site above.

Full Term

Today I'm 37 weeks, so I'm officially full term. Several of my friends have had their babies around 38 or 39 weeks recently, maybe I'll follow their lead. As the time winds down, I've been thinking about things I can't wait to do once I'm no longer pregnant including:

1. BREATHE, I've been stuffed up for 9 months now, and poor Nate has to listen to my snoring because of it
   
2. Sleep on my belly
   
3. Sit up without having to use my arms to push myself
   
4. Cross my legs when I sit down
5. Wear normal clothes and my cute sandals that don't fit because my feet are swollen
6. Wear my engagement ring, also doesn't fit because of swelling
   
7. Have a frozen lemonade with 3 olives cherry vodka

Of course, mostly I can't wait to meet our little boy, to see what he looks like, to hold him, to introduce him to his family and friends who are anxiously waiting to spoil him, and to watch Nate be a Daddy.

Big Mama 37 weeks

Hydrangeas

I love my hydrangeas. They have grown so much in the 3 years since we planted them. This year they are full of blooms. There are plenty of flowers for me to cut and have an arrangements inside to enjoy as well.



I especially love the blue ones with the hint of green. I think they could be used as inspiration for a wedding, bridal or baby shower, birthday party, or even just a get together. I've collected some pictures of items necessary for hosting an event that would compliment the hydrangeas. As the hydrangea is already oozing with elegance, I would stick to simple arrangements in low round or square glass bowls (such as the picture above) for the tables and use the hydrangeas in other bouquets, highlighted with a few lime green berries.

Click on image to enlarge and see smaller pics better.

From top to bottom, left to right:

• Invitations found on Etsy by Km Thomas Designs
• A pretty blue and green tablescape that would look nice with a hydrangea centerpiece. Found on Country Living.
• Blue and green napkins from Etsy seller usafwife08's shop
• Blue curacao and apple martini's, the perfect blue and green drinks to serve to the adults
• Poms to hang from the ceilings of your tent, in the trees, really wherever. By etsy seller prosttothehost.
• Flag banner- perfect for baby shower or birthday party decorations. Found on Nursery Decor Land
• These cupcakes are almost to elegant to eat. They would make a beautiful display for a wedding. Found on Kiwi Cakes.
• Chocolate covered pretzel rods, drizzled with blue would make a yummy favors. From The Bride Organizer's Shop.
• Fun old fashioned sodas, arranged on ice in the white and green bucket from Target.
• Organizer that can be used for guests to write messages to the bride and groom or to hold recipes from a bridal shower. From Alter Design's Shop.
• Pretty bouquet for the bridesmaids, found on Eugene Wedding Flowers
• Green bridesmaids dress by Alfred Angelo. Love the sweetheart neck and white accents.
  
• Shepherd hooks with hydrangea balls perfect for lining the isle or decorating an outdoor space. Found here.

New Blooms

My flower beds are full of blooming beauties right now. I didn't get to see my day lilies because the deer devoured all of my buds but I did get to see a few lilies. My daisies, which are so easy to grow, just plant and watch them multiple each year, are blooming in full force right now.

Lily

Daisies

Petunia Power

Petunia's have to be one of the easiest varieties of annuals to grow. With very little work, they seem to just take off. Really, all they need is a little water and for you to remove of the dead flowers once in a while. I don't even pinch my wave petunias in the flower beds and they do just fine. Petunia's come in many different varieties and colors and they take the heat better than a lot of annuals. If you're like me and your thumb is only partly green these flowers have minimal risk of failure.

Porch for 2

Wave petunias start out small but really spread quickly.

Petunias work in pots and baskets too.

36 weeks

I've reached the final month! At the end of this week, I'll be considered full term! I had another uneventful doctor's appointment today; everything checked out fine. I'm starting to feel HUGE and I have some swelling. The swelling in my hands makes them ache but other than that and feeling tired at times I'm doing well. The baby is growing at a rate of about an ounce a day. He should now weigh about 6 pounds and is probably more than 18 1/2 inches long. He's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered his body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected his skin during his nine-month amniotic bath.

I've been consumed with nesting and have accomplished a lot on my to do list in the last week or so. My Mom shampooed my carpets, Nate and I cleaned all the windows, the garage, organized the kitchen cabinets and did some other odds and ends. I've washed all kinds of stuff including all of the baby's clothes and bedding. His nursery is ready and organized except for a couple of wall decorations. I also stocked up on necessities that we might need at the house and for the baby. I need to clean out my car and have Nate install the car seat, otherwise we just need a baby!

Big Mama 36 weeks