More Photos

Blair from Chasing Grace Photography did some more maternity pictures of Jeremy and I. I am so excited!! They are amazing! Jocelyn is going to be so happy when she gets older to get to see all of these wonderful pictures. Blair is also planning on taking infant pictures and continue to take pictures throughout her first year. We have been so lucky to have two very amazing photographers volunteer to take pictures of us. It is interesting because their styles are very different, but both shoots have turned out so beautiful. Sophia is also going to take some infant photos of Jocelyn, and I can't wait!! She does an amazing job!

If you would like to see the pictures that Blair did, check out her blog, Chasing Grace Photography, at http://chasinggracephotography.blogspot.com/. Hopefully, I will get a CD from her soon and post some on my blog.

On a side note, we go to the doctor today, so maybe we will have some more news!!

Still Waiting

Well, Jeremy and I are still anxiously awaiting Jocelyn's arrival. In the meantime I had a really good day. I did a little bit of shopping, since I can now have light activity.

We had a wonderful dinner. We made Christmas cookies (pictured) Jeremy had way to much fun decorating them, and made a HUGE mess.


I made homemade beef stew. It was so yummy especially on this colder than normal Florida day.

Here is the recipe (from http://www.about.com/):

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 1/2 pounds stewing beef
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup sliced celery
3 cups beef broth
2 carrots
2 medium potatoes
1/2 cup baby lima beans
1 cup apple juice
1/2 cup frozen corn kernels
1 jar (12 ounces) small white onions, drained, or about 1 dozen frozen, thawed
salt and pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons cold water
Preparation:
In a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium heat, brown the beef in the vegetable oil; add onion and celery and sauté for 3 to 5 minutes longer. Add beef broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. Add the carrots, potatoes, lima beans, and apple juice; simmer for about 30 to 40 minute longer, or until vegetables are tender. Add drained onions and corn; continue cooking for 5 to 10 minutes.
In a small bowl or cup, combine flour with cold water until smooth. Add the mixture to the simmering broth, a little at a time, until stew is thickened. Taste and add salt and pepper.
Serve with hot buttered biscuits or cornmeal.Serves 4 to 6.

*I left out the celery because I really don't like celery. I doubled the recipe and added one and half cups of merlot to the broth. It made the broth really sweet and yummy. Jeremy and I didn't even put a dent in it. I kept some for lunch tomorrow and put enough for two different dinners in the freezer. I will have an easy meal for once Jocelyn gets here.


I also did a little bit of shopping. I couldn't resist this dress from Gymboree. It was on sale for $12.99. I am planning on monogramming the hem.









Jocelyn needed a small sweater and I found this one for $7.98 at children's place. It was mark $15 something but was an additional 40% off. It should go with almost everything, so I thought it was a great buy.









I bought this for $5 at Gymboree to go under her Christmas dress. You won't be able to see the "snow cute" but if for some reason her dress gets dirty, she has a cute undershirt as well.









Here is another picture of our tree, now that it has a couple of presents under it.

Yay! I picked up this mirror a couple of day ago. I love this one!! I got a great deal at Home Goods (which is TJ Maxx's homestore). I love this store. I suggest checking there for anything you need for your home.













I thought this was funny! While Jeremy and I were decorating cookies, Lilly and Fletcher were fighting over one of Jeremy's socks.

Lilly won!! She kept the sock right by her side the remainder of the night. She was so proud!

Christmas

Yay! I love this time of year. I love Christmas. Although, it is a little weird to that Christmas is in 9 days and it is 80 degrees outside. I wore a sleeveless dress to the doctor’s office. Very comfortable, but I wish it would get cold just for Christmas.








So, growing up, Christmas was a very busy time of year for my parents. We always had a tree, but they never hung lights outside the house. This is Jeremy and my first year in a house. So guess what? We hung up lights. Well, Jeremy hung lights, and I directed. We didn't do as much as I would have liked because we are pretty busy with the baby coming, but I absolutely love our icicle lights, and I am leaving all of the decorations up until baby Jocelyn comes home.











Speaking of, I went to the doctor's office today. My blood pressure has gone down and I am now on light activity. I am still supposed to stay at home, but she said I could maybe go to a movie or something. Well, I am definitely going to my kids Christmas Party Friday afternoon (as long as Jocelyn doesn't make her appearance). I hadn't dilated anymore, which is frustrating. The doctor suggested doing some light walking, and maybe she will debut before Christmas. I had the cutest dress made for her, and I am hoping she will have a chance to wear it. I think I will pair this flower and crochet band with it along with a long sleave red onesie underneath and maybe some red tights. What do you think?

Doctor's Appointment & Jocelyn's Room

Joceyln's Room from the door entrance

Her beautiful Pottery Barn Chandelier

Princess Table

I love everything personalized

Her crib bumper is monogrammed

I got this beautiful picture from a seller on http://www.etsy.com/

Her changing table

View front the front door

Yay! So, I went to the doctor's today for another check up. My blood pressure and swelling has gone down, and my doctor was really happy with that. She is still keeping a close watch on me. I am still on bedrest, but she is allowing me to go to my baby shower at school tomorrow. I am so excited!

I am going to sneak into school a little bit early and give all of my kids. I am also hoping to sneak in during our Christmas Party on Friday afternoon, and give them a super cute book that Ms. Snow and I purchased for them. I can't wait to see them!! I know I am going to miss them during my maternity leave, but hopefully I will have a little one of my own soon to keep me busy.

On a side note, Jeremy and I hung some pictures in Jocelyn's room. (Well Jeremy hung, I directed). Her room is getting there. I really need a shabby chic white mirror to go over her dresser. If you know of anywhere I can get one, please let me know. Let me know what you think about her room!!

Bedrest

Well, I haven't posted in an extremly long time, and there is so much to tell. We were so lucky, and IVF worked the very first time!! Jeremy and I are due to have a girl, Jocelyn Grace, on January 6th. However, we are hoping she makes it here by Christmas! I already have a Christmas dress that was made for her, and I am really hoping she gets to wear it.

I am currently 80% effaced and almost 2cm dialated. I have been swelling like crazy. I am on my feet all day, and my ankles are huge. My doctor decided to put me on bedrest for the remainder of the pregnancy (which we are hoping won't be to long). I will be 37 weeks on Monday, which is considered full term, so right now we are just playing the waiting game for Baby Jocelyn.

I am going to have all kinds of free time, so I plan to update my blog and keep it active, so that all my TN friends and family can know whats going on and keep up to date with pictures and news of Jocelyn. I am attaching some of my favorite maternity pictures. These were done by Sophia Hyde, love ya girl!!!

WHEW!!!

Holy Cannoli (I love cannoli!!!!) I haven't written a blog in forever. Wow! And there is so much to share. Jeremy and I had our surgery last week. We were pretty sore, but doing great now. Now we are playing the waiting game. We won't know if we are pregnant until May 1st. If you are reading this, please post any signs of pregnancy that you have experienced/heard about. I am just wondering what I should be looking for to know whether or not I am. Sometimes feel nauseous, but I am not sure if this is in my head or not, but I can definitely let you know that my tatas are killing me, which I have heard is a good sign. Plus, they look a lot bigger (which I could definitely use some help in this area!) So basically, I am analyzing everything and hoping that it means were pregnant!!!

Some great things that happened to me this week:

I passed my comp papers (thesis). Thank you so much to all of the wonderful ladies who proofed them for me!!

I had my last observation by my professor. All 5s (the best you can do)

I passed my last certification test!!!

I am scheduled to graduate with my MAT on May 2nd.

Jeremy starts at the fire department May 18th

The tile is almost finished (although our house is majorly out of order)

Everything is going great. Praise the Lord!! Just keep us in your prayers and hopefully May 1st will be a very exciting day!

Can't believe its Friday!!!

So I think this is a first. I am dreading the weekend!! Because Monday means back to work. How is it that Spring Break has flown by and I have gotten virtually nothing done? I basically spent most of my spring break in the doctors office. The only morning that I did not have to get up at 5:30 am to beat the traffic to make it to Tampa or St. Pete in time was Thursday (and even then my dogs woke me up at 7am). Oh well, from what I hear, you don't get to sleep in once you have a baby so I might as well get used to it.

We picked out tile for our floors yesterday and marble for the bathrooms. I am super excited. I know its going to look fabulous. I also got the best pillows at TJ Maxx for my couch. I am slowly but surely getting my house decorated. :) Its difficult because we have twice the amount of room that we did at the condo, and its super expensive to get everything we want. I found the most beautiful table that I want for our kitchen nook (we have a dining room, kitchen nook, and eat in counter, there are tons of places to eat in this house).

Doctor update: I went today, and half to go back tomorrow. My eggs are really big, lol, which I think is good, but they are still worried that I might be ready to early so they are keeping a really close eye on me. Hence me going to the doctor on Saturday. My doctor asked me today if my ovaries feel heavy? She said from the size of my eggs they should. I told her no, I hadn't noticed anything. She said, "Wow" you are the toughest woman I know. Your ovaries should be feeling super heavy. So guess what happened as soon as I left the doctors office (power of suggestion ladies) my ovaries feel ridiculously heavy, like they are getting ready to fall out. So I know I am being ridiculous because I hadn't even thought of it before, but now, I feel it like crazy. Otherwise, I think we are all on schedule and doing well. Still taking shots which is not enjoyable, but everything else is good.

We are going to Jeremy's play tonight (the Lord's Supper). Jerry is Simon, and did amazing job last year, so I am bringing friends tonight. I am super excited to have Samantha, Amy, and Javier going with me. I am ready for a great night. If I don't post anything else, have a wonderful weekend!!!