Kari's Blog

Here recently when I finally get to crawl into bed at night my mind goes CRAZY. I am so tired, but it just won’t stop. All these random thoughts start buzzing through my brain and it isn’t until complete exhaustion takes me over that I can finally fall asleep. Last night as I was laying there desperately wanting to sleep I decided to take all my random thoughts and turn them into a blog post. Of course, there will be some editing, you don’t need to know ALL my crazy thoughts.

First of all, I can’t stand that I still haven’t posted about Abby’s first month of life. It’s really starting to get to me. I blame the delay on the lack of picture. You have to have a first month picture to put on a first month blog. It’s like an unwritten rule. Secondly, I blame it on my lack of time. I tell you what, an infant takes up more time that I could ever imagine! That post will come soon…I’m just waiting on the pictures (hint, hint Andrew).

Second….I’m plagued with thoughts of dressing Abby up. Ha. I know. That is completely silly….but I am. I have all these cute ideas for outfits for her, but I’m faced with dilemmas once again. First, clothes are expensive and I was just recently given a budget for Abby’s clothes. Let’s just say I’m going to have to really search for great deals for her. Second, she will grow out of them before you know it. So I think in my head, do I really want to spend all this money on clothes that she will only wear a couple of times? The answer is yes of course! Ha! To cut back on how much money I spend I’ve decided to learn how to make bows. It can’t be that hard right? Millions of people do it, and sell them at boutiques and Etsy for way more than they are worth. There are lots of tutorials on YouTube for making bows so I will begin that process this weekend hopefully! I am way excited about it! Think of all the bow possibilities! Now, if Abby would only keep them on her head!

Third….I can’t wait to lose the rest of my baby weight. It has also been driving me nuts that I can’t hit the gym hard like I used to. It’s really hard to work out when you are EXHAUSTED. The couple of times that I have worked out I kept thinking, “Ok, save some energy for tonight..you are going to need it!” Once it cools off Abby and I are going to go on lots of walks together, and today I think I’m going to try and bring Miss Abby to the work out place at our apartment and see how she does. I’ve got to do something people..I can’t wear maternity pants forever!

Fourth…I am in desperate need of a haircut and highlight. My roots are WAY too long and my hair just needs a trim. I had a wonderful stylist in Houston that I loved. I’ve been so nervous to try someone new because I’ve had lots of bad experiences with haircuts. It’s like no one knows how to cut and handle curly hair. Very frustrating. Plus, not knowing many people in town makes it hard to get good recommendations. Andrew has asked some women in his office but they get their hair cut at the mall! Ghastly! I’m pretty sure this is the biggest dilemma of all!

There are other thoughts as well, but I think that’s enough for now!

Enjoy some pictures of Abby..she is a cutie!

Abby all ready for her first trip to the mall!

Abby's first experience of college....walking around the Baylor campus

pajama day with mommy!

playing (laying) under her play mat

she hasn't quite figured out what to do with the toys

chillin' in her lounger

sitting like a big girl in the rocker!

I haven’t had much time to blog lately…a certain little lady has been taking up quite a bit of my time (not that I’m complaining!) It has been a full month since Abby’s birth and so much has happened! I am planning a post dedicated to her first month…be on the lookout!

I’ve been thinking about how I can’t wait for the fall…here are some reasons why:

• Our little sweet pea will be older and hopefully over her colic
• Cooler weather…it’s been over 100 degrees for FAR too long
• Walks outside as a family…which is dependent upon the cooler weather
• my birthday!
• we will look for and buy a house
• visiting family

I’ve got big plans for you fall…hurry up and get here!

We’ve also had several visitors over the last couple of weeks. It has been lots of fun visiting with friends and family and showing off Abby. Andrew’s parents spent the night last Friday so that Andrew and I could go out and celebrate our 2 year anniversary. It was so great to spend some time with him, get out of the house, and have a little break. We went to a restaurant called 135 Prime and it was delicious! We both got steak and really enjoyed it. We chatted about life, the past year and mostly about Abby! Andrew’s mom gave us a great gift too…she stayed up with Abby so that we could get some much needed sleep! It was so awesome…who knew that sleep could be the best gift there is?

Up next…Abby’s first month!

Looking all cute for her guests

out

Tummy time!

napping on Daddy

celebrating 2 years

Abby has now been with us for 2 weeks! It seems hard to believe that 2 weeks have gone by. I feel like I can barely remember the first couple of days with her, maybe because we are so sleep deprived, but it’s almost scary how quickly the time goes. I have been wanting to write down her birth and the days after, but just haven’t had time. I know I will need to do that soon so that I can get down all the details.

I always knew it would be hard to have an infant here, but I now know that I really had no idea. It’s amazing how this little bitty person can completely turn your world upside down….but then you love them so much, it doesn’t even matter!

Abby is the coolest little thing that has ever happened to Andrew and me. She is getting bigger and bigger which we are so thankful for! I can’t wait until she has all the cute baby rolls. She LOVES to be held, rocked, jiggled, swaddled, and talked to. Sometimes she is not happy sleeping in her bouncer or pack and play, but she always loves to sleep being held. Many times during the day she is so alert, looking around, trying to figure things out. Andrew will hold her and talk to her and she just sits there and stares up at him. It really is the sweetest thing I have ever seen. She is not a big fan of sleeping through the night right now, but we know this season of her life will pass…we are just praying it passes sooner rather than later.

We are so thankful and blessed by Abby! Life as a family of three is great!

Abigail Lily 7lb 19 3/4 in

First picture with my daughter!

Happy family of 3!

warming up

Abby and me

so cute!

Well…today is my official due date given by my doctor. In my mind, she was supposed to be here by now….obviously, things have not gone according to my plan. They really never do though.

Our sweet Abby has decided that she really likes living in my belly and wants to stay there for a while. Fortunately for us, there is a beautiful thing called an induction, which will be taking place tomorrow morning! I couldn’t be more excited for tomorrow to come…and for Abby to come. I have been dreaming these last 9 months what life will be like once she is here, what she will look like, what kind of baby she will be…and on and on it goes! Tomorrow I guess we will find out!

I have loved being pregnant and having her inside of me…but I am ready for her to be here. It really is amazing how fast time has gone. It feels like yesterday we were at our first doctors appointment, and here we are, waiting for her arrival. The Lord has really blessed us, and we thank him daily for the gift of our daughter.

Here is one last belly shot before tomorrow!

40 weeks...Abby's official due date!

We're going to be parents tomorrow!!

Hopefully my next post will include some great pictures of our sweet Abigail Lily!

We are finally here and FINALLY  settled into our apartment. We’ve worked really hard these last several weeks trying to get our townhouse packed and moved to Waco (and I had the swollen feet and ankles to prove it!).  We were so thankful to have the help of our family and friends. We definitely couldn’t have done it without them.

Now that we are here and settled, we are just getting used to a new city and anxiously awaiting Abby’s arrival.

I have had such a wonderful time “nesting” and getting things ready for Abby. I have been waiting so long to do that and it’s been so much fun! We put her crib together, hung pictures, boiled pacifiers, washed clothes, blankets, boppy covers….you name it, I’ve done it! We put together her pack n’ play, swing, and bouncer….all of which make me want her here even more!

Here are a few pictures of her room…

look at those pillow letters! too cute!

We also set up the guest bed in her room so that friends and family will have a place to sleep when they come to visit!

I love the tutu around the lamp

I’ve got a couple more projects I’d like to complete before her arrival. I’m going to start working on making a hospital door sign. I’ve seen some really cute ones on Etsy, but they are way expensive, so I thought I could just make my own!

Here is, which will probably be, one of my last belly shots. It’s hard to believe that I am already 38 weeks. It seems like we just found out that we were pregnant…now she is almost here!

37 weeks

Another blog you say? What is going on? Time people….I’ve actually got some extra of it. This can also be used as proof to Andrew that I am sitting and resting instead of working on moving stuff. Have I ever mentioned that I am HORRIBLE at sitting and resting? I am. I am terrible at it. Especially when I know there are things that need to be done.

I’ve recently bought a couple of new little outfits for Abby. One will be her going home outfit from the hospital…because really, every special occasion deserves a special outfit. Another one came from the sale rack at Target and I just couldn’t pass it up. I mean…it was on sale! What was I supposed to do? I also visited this cute little baby boutique and some bows and headbands JUMPED into my hands and I had to buy them. I was forced and had no choice.  This is what a summer vacation will do to you people. Leave you with no work and lots of free time to buy things for your first baby girl. Now all I need is for Abby to make her grand entrance into this world so she can wear all the cute outfits I’ve been planning for her!

Going home outfit

Look closely at the bloomers….they are crocheted! Oh Janie and Jack, you are a dangerous store!

outfit from Target

The flowered leggings just get me. So cute!

I also forgot to mention that I bought a cute little hat off of Etsy for Abby to wear in the hospital. Etsy is also a very dangerous thing.

hat from Etsy

At my shower in Houston I received a rocking chair made by one of my best friends and her mom. I am currently obsessed with this chair. It’s so cute and little and girly and just perfect for Abby. Every time I look at it I can’t help imagining Abby sitting in it reading a book or how adorable it will look in her nursery.

I mean, really. How cute is this?

back of the chair

My mom gave me a really special present too. She had the dress that I wore home from the hospital framed to go up in Abby’s room. After all these years the dress is in perfect condition and it looks so great in the frame. I can’t wait to hang it up.

my dress

I am so incredibly behind in my blogging….maybe I can blame that on being 9 months pregnant, or maybe on the fact that we are about to move to Waco…yes….those seem like great reasons to me!

Andrew and I have been so blessed to have been given 3 baby showers. We have literally been showered with so many gifts for Abby it’s incredible. We are so thankful to everyone for that.

My mom, sister and some aunt’s threw me a shower in Port Neches. It was a lovely shower, filled with great food, friends, family and gifts! I enjoyed every minute of it! Here are some pics of the day:

Cute cake by my cousin Rachel

Waiting for the shower to start

Food!

The next shower was thrown by my best friends here in Houston. I was blown away by everything they did to make the shower so special. It was another day filled with yummy food, great friends and fun!

food table

yummiest drinks!

cupcakes by Becca

seriously..look at that tutu!

banner by licia

onesies

my wonderful hostesses

oh the food! It was all so good!

Mom and me

presents...check out the rocking chair for Abby!

My third shower was given by my life group at church. These ladies made the day very special. I had a great time sharing it with them!

yummy food

those cupcakes were delicious!

presents!

Today I got to celebrate Father’s Day with the best husband around! We went to Carrabba’s and enjoyed a delicious lunch and have spent the afternoon relaxing with each other. I can’t wait to see Andrew interact with Abby….I know he is going to be the best dad to her.

lunch at Carrabba's

This post might be a little late…but it’s better late than never! Last weekend we headed down to Port Neches for my cousin’s wedding. It was so nice to see my family and a great wedding!

Here are some pics from the night:

Andrew and me

Kelli and me

Kelli and Toby

Onto baby news….I am now at 29 weeks….it will be 30 on Saturday! I can’t believe that we only have 10 weeks left. She is growing more and more, which means her kicks have gotten harder and harder. I had my gestational diabetes test done and it came back negative. No diabetes! Yippee! I was also told by the nurse that I drank the “orange sludge” faster than anyone she has ever seen! Booyah!!!!

Here are some baby bump pics:

27 weeks

29 weeks

This past weekend Andrew and I went on our “babymoon.” Basically one last trip with just each other before Abby arrives. Our babymoon can be summed up as follows: eat, relax, eat, laugh, eat….repeat as needed! It was perfect!

Friday night we went and ate at a place called Shady Grove. I had gone there a couple of weekends ago with my girlfriends and knew that Andrew would love it! Andrew got a big ol’ hot dog and I got a hamburger covered in chili….which looks absolutely nasty in the picture, but it tasted so good!

Shady Grove

chili and cheese hamburger

hot dog...someone couldn't wait to take the picture!

After dinner we headed over to Mozart’s…a local coffee shop that we always end up going to when we are in Austin. It has a fun vibe and good coffee.

Saturday we slept in, then headed over to The Domain…an outside shopping area. It was so nice! I loved looking in all the nice shops and watching all the people. There were some interesting ones to say the least!

at The Domain

I decided I’m tired of just having face shots, so we asked a nice man to take our picture:

The Domain

After the domain we ate some lunch and got ice cream at Amy’s. Yummo. Then we started the world’s longest search for a putt-putt place. The one place that Andrew found before hand only had about 7 spots to park in, which were all full, so we decided to let the GPS do it’s thing and find another one for us. So….seven hours, one ghetto putt-putt place later we found a good one! I’d say it was worth all the effort! I won’t be including who won the game…but I think you can guess!

Saturday night we went to a place called Moonshine for dinner. My best friend Alicia recommended it and we both thank her! It was delicious! We got there around 8 and found out that the wait was about one and a half  to two hours. We weren’t sure at first if we wanted to wait that long, but decided it would be fun. Let me tell you….it was totally worth it! That was some of the best food I have ever eaten….and the dessert? Don’t even get me started on the dessert. I could eat that for the rest of my life.

waiting at Moonshine

We didn’t get any pictures of the food because we were too busy stuffing our faces.

Sunday we sadly checked out of the hotel and headed over to Cracker Barrel for breakfast before we drove back to Houston.

Coffee for Andrew...

this just makes me laugh

As you can tell, we like a little coffee with our Splenda and cream.

I’d say it was a great babymoon. Too bad we can’t do it again next weekend!

Let’s just face it…this sweet girl is already consuming many of my thoughts…and a lot of my belly! Why not let her have her own post?

She already has some adorable outfits to wear…I can’t wait to see them all on her. Here are a couple of my favorites:

Janie and Jack dress from Mimi

Baby Gap dress from Mimi

adorable romper from Nana

play outfit from Carter's

I mean really, how could you not fall in love with these little outfits???

We have also registered for all our showers, which was fun and incredibly stressful all at the same time. We have picked out and purchased her bedding, her crib and dresser/changing table combo came in today. (Thanks David for helping pick those up!!!) I can’t wait to see her nursery all put together. I have big plans for that room!

Abby's bedding

another view

the quilt

Her crib and dresser are white and I can’t wait to see it all put together!

Abby continues to grow…as shown in my growing belly size. She kicks and moves around all the time. She also lets me know when I am sleeping in a position that she does not like. Andrew has been able to feel her several times, which was thrilling for both of us. We only have about 13 more weeks to go…I can’t believe it has gone by so quickly. I can’t wait to meet our little girl.

24 weeks

25 weeks