36 Weeks

Wednesday, June 20th marks 36 weeks!

Babycenter tells us:

Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, that will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying he'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly. (PS- I saw this on a video during birthing class and Kinley, if you are reading this, I would appreciated your cooperation in NOT having to do this!)

So... I am really pushing it to make this a 36th week blog. I have 2 days until week 37 starts!

During this week, we wrapped up our baby shower fun. On Saturday (6/24), two of my girlfriends from college threw a shower for our 'little lady'. Once again, our sweet girl was blessed by people that already love her! Here are a few pictures that I snagged from Tiffany.

One part of the food set up

The other part of the food  set up
They also had our maternity pictures as a slide show!

YUMMY red velvet dip!!!

Miss Kinley should not want for anything when she gets here!

Kinley even got presents from Australia!

Aren't her first pair of UGGS adorable?!

During the shower, I heard my phone ding telling me I had a text message. When I checked it later... this is what I found...

 We are ready for walks and car rides!

 Clearly, Hubby reads the blog and saw that I wanted this done after the shower. So he went one step ahead and did his while I was AT the shower.

This scary picture was taken once I got home from the shower.

With my little BFF after the shower

Shortly after the shower, we headed out to Hubby's company picnic. It actually started at 4 but it would have been too hot then for us to go so we got there around 6:30. They offered tours of his the new place and had the food and games set up at their "park" (the park= grassy area. it has a cement picnic table.). It was quite the set up! There was a mechanical bull, swing rides, a trampoline jumper, a ride that was the equivalent to a tilt-a-whirl or like the teacups at Disney (i wouldn't actually know about those since i've never been but i've seen them on the commercial), a bumper car ride, inflatables galore: football throw, basketball shoot, slides, and bounce houses. There were even carnival games! Kids were running around with plastic bags full of toys. Cotton candy!! and popcorn. We stayed for an hour and half just wondering around chatting with people he works with. If they do it again in a couple years, we will be busy chasing Miss Kinley around. It was like a kids paradise!

 Monday, while Hubby was home for lunch the doorbell rang. It was the mailman. He had a box for us. I guessed the two people I knew were sending packages but he said no to both. It was from a sweet little boy from my class! He moved to Texas in March but we (the class and I) emailed back and forth until school got out. 

An cute diaper changing pad and adorable blanket.
They look homemade too!

We start our weekly appointments tomorrow (Tuesday, 6/27). Can you believe it?! I can definitely tell that she is getting cramped in her living quarters. She is still pretty squirmy in there though. Every now and then, there are sharp jabs of limbs that appear when it seems like it is going to pop right out of my side. Preston will lovingly say, "You're really sticking out.........[long pause] and looking cute." or "You look big....... [generally an even longer pause] and cute today."

On the agenda for the remainder of the week (and most likely into week 37...) is putting all of Kinley's things away (shower items that haven't quite found a home), washing some little bitty baby clothes and packing our bags.

Pinterest Inspired

During my summer break, I have had time to do some little crafties. These ideas were inspired from pinterest or I just found directions to help guide me. 

The first project was a hair towel. Several years ago, like 7 at least, I had asked for Turbie Twists for my birthday. Nandy obliged and bought me a set of 2. They work like a charm after getting out of the shower because they hold your wet hair out of your way and the are not super heavy like wrapping your hair up in a regular towel. I used them religiously every day. Then maybe 6 months ago, the white one went missing! 

Just by looking at the towel, I figured I could make one pretty easily... I just never got around to it. During a Wal-Mart shopping trip, we happened to go by the towels so I grabbed two hand towels. I also got a, "what are those for look?" So for a whopping $4, I got 2 new hair towels!

The top one was my first. Then I decided to get fancy and add some ribbon that I had laying around to the second one.

Wha-La! My fancy new hair towel

These were made for two of my girlfriends. What better way to thank them for hosting a shower than with a little school spirit?!

for the Allen's

for the soon to be Murray's

While I was painting the M, I thought, Chris, Tiffany's fiance, may not enjoy it as much... he is a Sooners fan, but he needs to know what color their house will bleed. :)

35 weeks- part 2

Here are some little tidbits I forgot to include in the first  35 week post (which seemed very long to me)....

I was on a mission to make a bow frame. It was a pinterest project I found. I started with a lovely $5 frame from the Salvation Army Family Store.

I ripped all the backing off (it had paper glued on the back keeping that attractive golfer in) and painted that bad boy pink!

Added some ribbon and later some hooks (with Hubby's help)

excuse the blur on this!

And WA-LAH! A bow frame!

In preparation for getting our pictures taken, I went shopping. I just needed to see if anything jumped out at me saying, "I would make an excellent outfit for maternity pictures!!" The first place I looked were the clearance racks at Target. Throughout this pregnancy, I tried to buy clothes that I can wear again when I am not pregnant. Since flowy clothes are... it makes the task a lot easier. 

Anywho, I stumbled on to this gem:

photo courtesy of Courtney!

Did you know this once cost $28!!! I have definitely gotten my $7.06 worth of it. 

Preston also celebrated Father's Day. I mean, all of the men in our family did but it was Preston's first. He will object, saying he has been a dad for 8 years to Tobie so I remind him this is his first Father's Day as a Dad of 2. Then he objects saying it isn't official yet, "she's not here yet." Then is when I wish Kinley could kick on command because I would put my belly up to his face, have her kick him and ask, "Is that real enough for you??"

After Tobie delivered his gift, she wanted to help him open it

His new key chain from his girls

So, trying to get a dog's attention is easy. It is the husband I had trouble with!

That means we end up with a slightly blurry picture because I am tired of trying and Tobie is tired of being promised a treat or a walk in return for an attentive pup in the picture.

On our way home, we saw a rainbow!

Tobie is patiently resting her head on Preston's leg in hopes of getting a bite of steak. It didn't work. 

In regards to Preston's becoming a Dad.... I do agree with him. Tobie made him a Dad almost 8 years ago. She allowed him to know it was okay to love unconditionally. She made him come out of his loving little shell (even though he didn't want a 'girly dog'). His own mom even commented that she didn't know if he would ever show his emotions. Well he does... for her especially. I am sure he will do the same, if not more for Kinley. 

However, now he is a father of 2. One 4 legged child and one 2 legged child is quickly on her way. I know I have said before how lucky she is to have him for a Dad but I really do believe that. He takes great care of Tobie and I and only has more love to give when she gets here. His parents raised him to be a good man and I 'trained' him to be what I want in a man. Kinley is going to have an excellent example for how a man should treat a woman which also means her future (I don't want to say husband yet, she's not even here! I can't go giving her away already!!) has a lot to live up to. 

Just to prove it... the other day, we were talking about something and I commented about my appearance or how I felt like I looked for the day, something along those lines.

P: you look fine.

me: you have to say that, you are stuck with me for life.

P: {looking down to Tobie and including her in the conversation} well, Tobie, we have to be nice all the time. we don't want Kinley to think it's okay to be talked to like that.

In a nut shell, I can't wait to see what kind of Dad he will be to our little Snowflake. It will be a huge culture shock to him being that he has never changed a diaper, held a baby for an extended amount of time, used a car seat, and the list could probably go on... but I am still so excited for what is to come! I love you Boogley Bear and can't wait to go on this adventure together!

35 Weeks

This week's photo comes courtesy of our maternity/family shoot with Courtney. :D

Wednesday, June 13th marks 35 weeks!

Baby Center tells us:

Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that she's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, she isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times she kicks should remain about the same. Her kidneys are fully developed now, and her liver can process some waste products. Most of her basic physical development is now complete — she'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

While little Kinley is growing, there are still lots of things I can do! For example, I can still paint my toenails, tie my shoelaces in the middle of my shoe, shave my legs, and wear my wedding ring. She has brought on quite the case (be it at very random times) of heart burn. It will happen hours, I do mean hours after eating. I would have thought that the food was long digested but then the little burn starts.

So Wednesday night (6/13), my friend Courtney took some pictures for us. She sent me 58 edited photos to choose from but I can't! She did such a great job. I just keep looking through them trying to decide which is my favorite but it is just so hard. Now being human, there are some that I look at and say, my mouth looks weird, my leg looks odd, and so on, but that is just me judging me and picking myself apart. One of these days, I may be able to choose a favorite, although the Sneaky Peeky ones I posted are right there at the top.

Tobie and I are discussing her little sister.

The crazy thing is that she is coming over Saturday morning to take some more! Before she found that cool wildflower field, I insisted on having one taken in front of our house. So Saturday it is!

Later that day we are headed off to Enid for Father's Day weekend and a shower at the church I grew up at.

The weekend of our first shower in Enid, my mother-in-law had some issues with the iron (meaning, she put her hand on it while it was turned on). She had several choice words during that event and then started saying "that baby will never get to stay with Grandma!" That is when we said Grandma would need a swear jar. She would have to put in a quarter for all the swear words she said and that money would go towards college. {that day alone, at least half a semester could have been paid for. ;) }

Enter this cute little bank....

...Made with love for Kinley's Grandma...

... and college fund!!

When I showed Preston, he said, "It might not take long to fill that up." At least it will give her a starting place. I think the point is that she gives away all her quarters and realizes she needs to change her vocabulary instead of feeding the little piggy. :D


We left this for her since she wasn't in Enid while we were. After she got home, she called to say she likes her present. An hour or so later, I get a voicemail... "Kinley has $1.75 and it isn't even the half yet." She was watching the OKC Thunder game! It just happened to be a good time to leave it for her. She even teased that it may have to be emptied on a weekly basis, which is true since I forgot how colorful she becomes when watching a sporting event!!! She also commented that she "didn't even realize I was saying it and then Jimmy would say, '$2.00'" She made the remark that "at least it's all going to a good cause... but don't tell Kinley where all the money came from!"




The shower at the church was lovely. Many of the people that came were people that knew me when I was a kid (or even a baby!). Miss Kinley is a very loved little girl. I can't imagine how loved she will feel when she is here!

Yummy strawberry and key lime cupcakes!

In all this goodness are diapers, wipes, bath supplies, books, stuffed animals, socks, a brag book for me,  precious little outfits, bows, hand made blankets, a children's favorite Bible stories and an adorable little silverware set.

This handmade lovely is perfect for our little Snowflake since it resembles a snowflake! :D

On Friday afternoon, I ran, well drove, to school to pick up some letter tiles and blocks [random, I know but they served a purpose for pictures]. When I was on my there, I passed one of my kid's houses and saw she was out playing with her brothers. She is the one that would always say, "Mrs. Snow! Your belly is getting so big. That baby is growing!" I decided when I left the school I would look to see if she was still outside. She was so I decided to stop and show her how big it has gotten since school got out. She was amazed! Her mom told me that "Any night that she prays at dinner, she prays that 'Mrs. Snow's baby will come fast.'" AWE!!!! Isn't that so sweet?! I'm so glad I stopped to see her!!


 Next week should be a pretty low key week. I might wash some little Kinley's clothes so they are nice and clean for her (I've heard I should do that). We have one more shower next weekend and then it is down to business! The bags will get packed and the car seat will get put in because it is getting to be crunch time friends! {as of posting this... 30 days!}

Breastfeeding Basics

I checked online to see when there was a class about breastfeeding available. I have seen people do it. I have heard of the positive impact it can have on a mother/child bond. I have heard that it can help a child build more of an immune system. BUT, do I really know much more than that? Not really. So I signed up for one. 

On Tuesday night (6/12), I headed off to a breastfeeding class. When I walked in, I saw a couple from our birthing class. That's right, a COUPLE. Man and wife. I start talking to them and the instructor asking if Preston should have come with me. The guy tells me his brother highly recommended it to him so that is why he was there. The instructor tells me that lots of guys really take a lot of good information away from the class and tend to remember more since the mom is drained from the whole delivery aspect. All the while they are saying this, I am sending Preston a text that says, "You were supposed to come." The instructor also says that she has guys show up after the second portion because they were called to come by their wife. I didn't get a response so when the conversation dwindles I call him. I explain what the people told me to him and tell him it is a test... to see how fast he can get to the hospital! 30 minutes later he shows up {it's a good thing Kinley wasn't on her way out :) }.

I will say that he only missed 1 section out of 6 so he didn't do too bad considering he hadn't planned on coming. He had big plans with Tobie... hanging out with her and going for a walk.

The class went like this:

Introductions, video 1-how breastfeeding works, discussion, video 2-latching on and positioning, discussion, video 3-when to feed your baby, discussion, video 4- how much is enough?, discussion, video 5- breast care, discussion, video 6- breastfeeding lifecycle, discussion, and we're done!

This instructor was more personable than the previous birthing class one. Her jokes were actually funny and she was filled with lots of useful knowledge.

After video 2, we had a break and that is when I saw that our instructor had gotten out babies. These babies were for practicing the feeding positions we had just learned. Luckily, I grabbed a girl baby. I kind of thought the others were teasing when they opened the diapers to check but apparently they anatomically correct. Some even had little hospital bracelets with names on them. Ours did not. At his point, our instructor told us that she would not be taking off her clothes to demonstrate so we didn’t have to take ours off either. Good to know.

As I pick up the baby, Preston says “you better get good positions because I’m going to take your picture just like you did mine with the empathy belly.” Even though this baby was not real, he still didn’t hold it. I mean, I sat it on his lap but he didn’t really hold it. Kinley is in for it when she gets here. She will have her work cut out to make him feel comfortable holding a baby. ;)

One thing that I learned was that on Day 1, a baby’s tummy can only hold a marble’s worth of milk. Day 3 is as much as a bouncy ball and Day 5 it can hold a golf ball size of milk. Holy cow! That isn’t very much for all the diapers that will be changed. We were told (and can read in the booklet they gave us) that she will go from 1-2 wet and 1-2 dirty diapers on days 1 and 2 up to 6-8 wet and 3-6 dirty diapers on days 5-6weeks. Good thing we started collecting those bad boys early!

During one of the discussion times, the instructor said, “Have you ever seen a kitty cat nurse?” referring to how they paw on their momma cat. Hubby looks at me and says, “What the hell is a kitty-cat-nurse (said as a total run-on of words)??” I laughed and said, “She was asking if you had ever seen a kitty nurse. Not a kitty-cat-nurse.” “Ohhhhh.”

Another thing that was funny was when she was telling us times that some babies won’t want to eat, in particular little boys after they “have had their pencil sharpened.” HA! I’ve never heard anyone refer to circumcision as having their pencil sharpened.

Now we know a little bit more to help us be prepared. Does that mean we are 100% ready? I hope so! She will be coming before we know it! 

Sneaky Peeky!

Grammar Guru???

I think not!!! 

I know that I am not the best one to be discussing grammar rules and judging other people's grammar BUT... I do know the difference and proper way to use some words. I would hope that if it were my job to create an ad or publish it on a table that I would have better knowledge of grammar and catch things like this.

I found this lovely grammar jewel when we went have breakfast for lunch on Saturday afternoon. All of the tables are covered in various ads. I noticed this table was made in March of this year so it may be a while before this little snafu gets corrected. When I saw it and went digging for my phone, Preston said, "don't!" He thought I was digging for a pen to correct it! 

"Only 1 Block South of Where YOUR Sitting!"

I did laugh at the "Covered Vacuums that Really Suck!" (it got cut off at the top right.)

 Somewhere I have seen a poster or sign that relates to YOUR and YOU'RE. It compares the two to help show the difference.

"YOUR shit and YOU'RE shit"

Definitely a difference in the two words!

Like I said, I am not the best at grammar. I probably have a lot of run-on sentences and too many commas but I just had to share.

34 weeks

Wednesday, June 6th marks 34 weeks.

(by the way... when did time start flying? it's already June???)

Babycenter.com tells me: 

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

While I want our little Snowflake to bake as long as she needs to, it is starting to get really real and I am ready to see her little face! Our little Babycenter app tells us everyday how many days are left (assuming she comes exactly July 18th). The number keeps getting smaller and smaller!

Even though we made our name choice public knowledge, many people still call you Snowflake. I think the little lady may be stuck with that nickname for quite some time (or life). But have no fear, certain people call Hubby 'Snowball' so she won't feel silly. I even find it a (i don't really know if odd is the word) little odd calling her something else since we have called her Snowflake for so long.

Hubby has been busy getting some staining done and hanging butterflies. The crib is no longer on bricks. It has nice wood blocks that are stained to match. It looks much less ghetto now. 

He also got busy on staining the nightstand. Not that it stuck out like a sore thumb before but now it matches the other furniture more closely.

We got these adorable butterflies that match her room. We hung them over her crib since we decided not to hang her name over the crib. {it is kind of big and heavy... just in case we have another go round earthquakes, the butterflies would do much less damage if they fell off the wall.}

Here are some pictures to document some of what we have been up to this week and last...


This was at Andy and Kristin's wedding (6/1). Isn't Kevin just a doll in the background?!

Take 2

This was my passenger on the way home. After the reception was over, we went to Kevin and Erin's to watch the Thunder game. Of course while we were there... the boys had to finish all of the beer from the reception that they brought to the house.

When Preston gets up for work, Tobie always joins him for a morning bathroom break and to get her pill. When he comes in to tell me bye, he puts Tobie back in bed with me. When she does things like this....

...it makes it really hard to want to get out of bed later. I just love when she snuggles in next to me!!! What a little lovie!!!

 This was after one of our morning walks. She was literally dripping from all the morning dew. I think this was the morning she pounced on a mole hill and chased to rabbits. The little hunter in her is back! Also during this week, Preston found a squirrel that she had hunted in our backyard.

Friday night, Erin was in town so of course we went to Santa Fe Cattle Co. to eat. It's not a trip to eat if we don't mount the bull for a picture.

It is always a great time when we are able to get together, even if it is only for a short time. In a conversation via text, we decided when we retire we should all move into the retirement village. There were a few requirements for this place... a margarita machine, pool and young pool boys. Could you imagine the fun?! 


We have another kind of busy week coming up which includes Bunco for me, a breast feeding class (again, for me), a picture shoot with my friend Courtney, Tobie getting her hair cut, a check up with the doctor, and trip to Enid for shower at the church I grew up at. All that business will flow over into week 35 so you will hear more about it next week!