calling all mommies: pediatricians

This week's topic is.....

PEDIATRICIAN

It's time for Matt and I to start thinking about who we want our little guy's doctor to be.  It's so crazy to think that we need a doctor for someone who isn't even here yet, but he'll be here sooner than later!! Nine and a half weeks to be exact if all goes according to planned!!

So......

How did you pick your pediatrician?

What type of things were you looking for?

What questions did you ask them?

Did you meet with them before the birth?

Did you choose someone close to home?

30 weeks

how far along?  30 weeks

how are you measuring?  At my appointment today I was measuring 32 weeks

size of baby? According to Baby Center our baby is 15.7 inches long, almost 3 pounds, like a head of cabbage.  Since he was already 3 pounds at our 28 week sono, he's probably a little over  3 pounds now.

heartbeat? 140 bpm (at our 30 week appointment)

total weight gain/loss? +26.2

maternity clothes? I am wearing all maternity pants, mostly maternity tops, and maternity dresses.  I have a few regular shirts and dresses that I'm still wearing, but I'm not going to for much longer.  I had to retire my Smith Bulldog polos that I wear to school on Friday.  They were all looking a little too small, even with a maternity tank underneath them.  

stretch marks? No stretch marks yet.  I'm hoping I don't get them, but I think my belly still has quite a bit of stretching to do in these last 10 weeks.  
sleep? I slept okay this week.  We were super busy this week, so maybe I slept better because I was so tired.  I still wake up 2-3 times to go to the bathroom and almost every time I switch sides I wake up because I have to adjust all my pillows.  

best moment this week? We started our Childbirth Classes this week.  Although it wasn't that exciting learning all about Childbirth, I actually enjoyed going to the class.  It is really helping me be more confident about the whole childbirth process.  (I don't really have a choice about now!! It's gotta happen!!) I enjoyed having dinner with my hubby before and spending the evening with him and going to class means it's getting closer to meeting our baby boy!!

movement? Pearson has been very squirmy this week, especially in the evening when I sit on the couch and watch TV and when I hop into bed at night.  He hasn't really been kicking, he's just been moving all around.  I don't think I'll ever get tired of that feeling.  It is a constant reminder that our God is truly amazing!!

food cravings? Nothing really. 

gender predictions? It's a BOY!!!  Pearson Davis Link!!!

what i miss:  Being active.  

what i'm looking forward to: I'm taking Thursday off for no reason!! I'm planning on doing a little relaxing and a little shopping for some wall decor for the little guys nursery.  I have 8 days to take off before the end of the year, and I plan on using all of them.  I'm going to try to save atleast 4-5 of them until closer to the end just in case I have to go on bed rest or if I have him early.  But hopefully neither of those happen and I can just take my 8 days off when I feel like it!

how are you feeling? I'm feeling pretty good.  I still had some belly pain this week, but it wasn't near as bad as it has been. Praise the Lord!!

friday vs. monday

I'm definitely feeling like the polar bear today.

Only 7 more Mondays until summer!!

meal planning monday

Monday: Swedish Meatballs, Rice, Veggies & Rolls

Tuesday: Out to Eat before our Childbirth Class

Wednesday: Chicken Spaghetti, Veggies, & Rolls

Thursday: Taco Chicken, Rice, & Beans

Friday: Barbecue Cupcakes & Fruit Salad

Saturday Breakfast: Pig in a Blanket

Saturday Lunch: Chicken Sandwiches, Chips, & Fruit

Saturday Dinner: Baked Cream Chicken Taquitos and Leftover Rice & Beans

Sunday Breakfast: Breakfast Casserole and Fruit for our ABF

Sunday Lunch: Chicken Noodle Soup & Crostini's

Sunday Dinner: Talapia with Shrimp Bayou Sauce, Rice, & Veggies

sunday's are for....

......takin' it easy.  

We usually try to get all our house work/yard work done on Saturday so we can take it easy on Sunday afternoon/evening.  

Today after church and lunch at Sonny Bryan's with our ABF, we definitely took it easy on the couch.  Matt watched The Masters, The Rangers, & The Stars while I caught up on reading blogs.  We finished up the evening with some Amazing Race.  I love our lazy Sunday evenings together!!   

Izzie loves our lazy Sunday evenings too because of all the cuddling and belly rubs she gets!!

five on friday

Just thought I would share 5 random things with you today!!

1.  I put a roast in the crockpot this morning for dinner.  I love coming home and smelling dinner already cooked!!  

2.  Softball season starts tonight.  Matt and I have played together for the last 3 years.  I won't be joining him this year.  I'm kind of sad to not be playing, but I'm excited to be taking on the role of Team Mom!!

3.  I got a cute little step stool delivered from Amazon today.  I'm going to paint it black and make a vinyl that says "Pearson" to put on it.

4.  Izzie has started getting toys out of her basket and playing by herself.  It's the cutest thing ever.  I think she knows there's about to be someone in the house that is going to steal her playtime.  I keep trying to get it on video, but I haven't been successful yet.  Hopefully I can catch her in action soon.

5.  8 more weeks of school!!  We are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel!!

calling all mommies: hospital bag

This week's topic is.....

HOSPITAL BAG

We went to our first childbirth class last night, so I've got Labor and Delivery on the brain.  I know I'm still 10 1/2 weeks out, but I want to have my bag packed and ready to go 3-4 weeks out. {I know, I'm crazy!!} I just had a friend have her baby 3 weeks early so I want to be prepared.  I'm such a planner and I want to have everything packed and ready to go when it's "Go Time."  

So......

What did you pack that was absolutely essential?  

Did you pack things that you didn't need?

What do you wish you would have packed?

Did your husband pack a bag?

Look forward to hearing what you all have to say!! I have ABSOLUTELY loved hearing all of your input on my previous "Calling All Mommies" posts.  I just love how much all of you love being Mommies and love sharing your stories and advice with me.  I can't wait to be apart of "The Mommy Club!"

i'm a loser & a winner

Every year Matt and I make a bracket for March Madness.  I can't even remember who won last year, I usually don't really care about the tournament.  Long before the tournament was over I had already lost.  Both of our final four brackets were COMPLETELY wrong.  Matt beat me by just a few games.  So I'm a loser!

BUT.....

This year Matt's family decided to do a tournament online through CBS.  We all made our brackets (including Pearson) and made it a big competition.  Since we were together during the entire 2nd round of the tournament while we were in Arkansas, it was so much fun to check the standings each night.  Matt, Pearson, and I all kind of stuck around 4th place, 5th place and 6th place most of the time.  After all the games on last Sunday I was in 1st place and the person in 2nd place couldn't even catch up with my score even if she got all the rest her bracket right!! So I won!!  Matt's Dad even made a certificate for me!!

So until next year, I am the reigning champ of the Annual Link Family March Madness Tournament!!

29 weeks

how far along?  29 weeks

how are you measuring?  At my 28 week appointment, he was measuring 29 weeks in the sonogram.  When my doctor measured me, I was measuring 31 weeks.  Ahhhh....Am I going to make it to June 20th??

size of baby? According to Baby Center our baby is 2 1/2 pounds, like a butternut squash, and a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel.  According to our sonogram last week, he was already measuring 3 pounds.  We've got a big baby on our hands!!

heartbeat? 128 bpm (at our 28 week appointment)

total weight gain/loss? +24.6

maternity clothes? Lovin' them!!

stretch marks? No stretch marks yet.  I'm lotioning up my belly like crazy.  
sleep? Some nights I sleep great.  Some nights I sleep terrible.  I'm going to the bathroom 2 times a night, but it's at random times lately.  One night I woke up to go to the bathroom at midnight then I woke up and tossed and turned around 1am &  2am, then woke up to go the bathroom at 3am, then I woke up at 4am and couldn't go back to sleep.  Around 4:30 I finally got my phone out and messed around for 45 minutes or so.  When I realized I wasn't going back to sleep I just woke up at 5:15 and started getting ready for school.  

best moment this week? Seeing our sweet boy in the sonogram and hearing that he is doing great and really thriving.  And find out that I don't have gestational diabetes!! 

movement? Lots!!  Sometimes he kicks me so hard that it startles me. He's a little stinker though.  He'll be kicking me a ton, and I'll tell Matt to put his hand on my belly and as soon as he does, he stops.  Last night Matt did get to see him move and squirm alot.  He even asked, "How can you sleep when he's moving like that?"

food cravings? Nothing really. 

gender predictions? It's a BOY!!!  Pearson Davis Link!!!

what i miss:  Ever since my belly pain started 4 weeks ago I haven't really worked out or gone on walks.  I feel so lazy.  I hate not being able to workout.  I really feel like it's hard for me to watch my weight when I can't be as active as I want. 

what i'm looking forward to: We got the nursery painted yesterday.   Our chair should be here any day now.  I'm so looking forwarding to getting some things on the walls so his nursery can be finished!!

how are you feeling? I'm still dealing with some belly pain.  I have my doctor completely stumped with this pain, so I'm just trying to take it easy and sit down quite a bit, because that is the only thing that helps.  I had a little heartburn one day this week too.  Not bad though. 

meal planning monday

Monday: Dinner @ My Parent's House

Tuesday: Chick-fil-A on the way to our 1st Childbirth Class

Wednesday: Turkey & Cheddar Paninis & Coupon Class Goodies

Thursday: Chicken Chili Crescent Bake

Friday: Roast, Carrots, & Potatoes

Saturday Breakfast: Cinnamon Rolls

Saturday Lunch: Chick-fil-A.....again!! :)

Saturday Dinner: Chicken Parmesan, Spaghetti, Salad & French Bread

Sunday Lunch:  Sonny Bryan's w/ Our ABF

Sunday Dinner: Frito Pie

want some cute jewelry??

Look at 

how cute 

 these necklaces are!!

I got lucky and won a giveaway of one these Rosette necklaces.   

 Today only you can score your own because Sew Called Life is offering 20% off all of her necklaces if you use the code WIN20.  So head over to her shop, Sew Called Life and your own cute necklace.  

Now what color should I choose??  Too many cute colors to choose from. 

I'm leaning towards the lemon or lagoon. I want a fun Spring color!!

newest little rangers fan

We love the Rangers here at The Link Home.

Maybe I should re-phrase that. I LOVE the Rangers, but Matt REALLY LOVES the Rangers!! 

So introducing to you........

The Newest Little Rangers Fan.

{And just in case you can't read backwards, it says "Fan on Board"}

Go Rangers!!!

I SO wish we were going to the game.

april desktop

Get your April desktop here.

my 2nd spring break

 This past week Matt and I took off Wednesday through Friday for a little R&R in Bella Vista, Arkansas with his family.  We went out there for Matt's cousin's wedding on Saturday but it was nice to relax for the days leading up to the wedding.  I literally did nothing.  I didn't even take a single picture. Okay maybe I didn't do absolutely nothing, I did get a pedicure one day!!  Matt on the other hand squeezed in 4 rounds of golf in 3 days.  He was in heaven!!

Here are a few pictures I stole from my father in law from the beautiful wedding on Saturday!!

Me and Matt

 The beautiful bride and her new hubby!!

 The Link Family cousins. 

 We had a wonderful time celebrating their Big Day and we definitely enjoyed making a little vacation out of it!!

calling all mommies: hostess gifts

This week's topic is.....

HOSTESS GIFTS

I have three showers coming up in the next month or so.  I am so thankful that my friends, family and co-workers are loving on Pearson in this way, and I want to show them how much I appreciate them.

  

Do you have any cute ideas for hostess gifts?  Or have you given or received a really fun hostess gift?

a day in the life of a pregnant girl

Today I......

......woke up 10 minutes before my alarm went off to go to the bathroom.

.....about cried when I stepped on the scale.

.....realized I had a hemorrhoid.  (sorry....TMI.....but that's real pregnancy for ya!)

.....noticed I had a little varicose vein on my leg.

......reminded myself that all these crazy things happening to my body will be so worth it.

.....ate a breakfast that didn't have any sugar because I had my glucose test today.

.....took my  pre-natal vitamin when my alarm ("my reminder")  on my phone went off.

.....was told by a few student that my belly was getting really big.

......felt lots of kicks and wiggles.

......was asked if my baby was coming out today.

.....accidently ate 3 M&M's after I gave my students some for good behavior.

.....frantically called the doctor asking if 3 M&M's would mess up my glucose test.  

.....ate a lunch with no sugar .

.....prayed that I don't have Gestational Diabetes because I really love sugar.

.....took a half day because my doctor's appointment was at 1:40.  

.....worked on my shower guest lists.

......talked to my Mom about all things baby/showers/pregnancy.

......drank the not-so-yummy orange drink for my glucose test.

......prayed that everything would look perfect in our sonogram.

......peed in a cup.

......got to hear my sweet baby's heartbeat at 128 bpm.

......found out that he is 3 lbs and in the 77th percentile.

......was told our little guy has a head of hair.

......saw that our sweet boy had the hiccups.

.....was told he is thriving and saw that everything looks perfect.

.....stumped my doctor with my belly pain.

......had to draw blood.

......went to Babies R Us.

.....stopped at Sonic Happy Hour.

.....relaxed and blogged about my 28th week of pregnancy.

......cooked dinner for my hubby.

......bought some diaper on Amazon for $2.49.

......bought some Diaper Genie Bags on Amazon for $6.57.

......rubbed my belly up with  lotion.

......crawled into bed with all 4 of my pillows.

......praised God for the healthy baby that is growing inside of me.

28 weeks

Hello 3rd Trimester!!

how far along?  28 weeks

how are you measuring?  30 weeks (I'll know a better estimate when I go to the doctor tomorrow.)

size of baby? 14.8 inches long from the top of the head to the heels, 2 1/4 pounds and about the weight of a Chinese Cabbage??

heartbeat? 135 bpm (at our 24 week appointment)

total weight gain/loss? +23.4 (I think my scale might be wrong.  I'm really not sure how I gained 5 lbs this week.  That can't be right.  Especially since I had the stomach bug this week. Ugh, 23 lbs though.  I wanted to stick around 25 but I guess I'm pushing my limit up to 35.  Hopefully I can stay under that.  The normal weight gain is 25-35 lbs.  I really don't want to have to lose more than 35 lbs after he is here.)

maternity clothes? All the time!!  I'm really trying not to wear real clothes because I don't want to stretch them out.

stretch marks? No, not yet.  The line underneath my belly button continues to get darker, and I noticed a few teeny tiny varicose veins pop up this week. Ugh.....oh well, I know Pearson will be worth all these crazy things my body is doing.
sleep? Matt and I were out of town from Tuesday night to Sunday night.  I didn't sleep the greatest this week because I wasn't in my own comfy bed with all my pillows.  It also didn't help that I caught a little stomach bug this past weekend.  And not the throwing up kind.....sorry.....TMI.  

best moment this week? Not working!! I loved having 3 days off this week.  It's really going to be hard to get back in the swing of things.  I worked 1 1/2 days in the last 10 work days!! Only 49 more days to go!!   

movement? He's a little mover and groover.  He's so funny, when I lay down for bed, I always lay on my left side first.  He immediately starts kicking me like crazy, and I always have to switch to my right side.  I guess he doesn't like me sleeping on my left side.  

food cravings? I ate a TON of grapes this week. Mmmmmm....so good!! I actually just went to the store and bough 3 lbs of grapes today!!

gender predictions? It's a BOY!!!  Pearson Davis Link!!!

what i miss:  Getting a good night's rest and working out.

what i'm looking forward to: Getting an extra sonogram on Tuesday.  I can't wait to see my sweet boy's face again.  It's been 8 weeks since our last sono.  After this sono, it will only be 12 weeks until we get to meet our little guy!!

how are you feeling? I'm not going to lie, I haven't felt the greatest this week.  My belly pain continued to bother me so I called my doctor and she asked me to come in last Tuesday before Matt and I left town that evening.  She thinks it is my rectus muscle is being pulled and stretched by the weight of my uterus.  She advised that I buy a maternity belt and take it easy for a little while.  She also wanted to add a sonogram to my next visit just to make sure everything looks good.  I wore my maternity belt and took it very easy while we were out of town and I didn't have any belly pain while we were gone.  I hope that when I go back to work this week and I'm on my feet all day that the pain doesn't come back.  Also, this weekend while we were out of town I caught a nasty stomach bug.  I spent quite a bit of time in the bathroom in the middle of the night. That was no fun.  I'm still eating very light because I'm so afraid that I won't be able to hold it down. Hopefully I'll be back to normal this week!

meal planning monday

Ha!!! As you can see I have absolutely nothing planned for this week.  We just got back in town yesterday afternoon and I haven't been to the grocery store.  We have ABSOLUTELY nothing to eat.  Any ideas on what I should cook this week???

Monday: Tortilla Soup @ My Parents

Tuesday: Chicken Alfredo & Garlic Toast

Wednesday: Turkey & Cheese Paninis, Chips, & Grapes

Thursday: Papa Murphy's Pizza

Friday: Grilled Chicken & Pasta

Saturday Breakfast: Pop Tarts

Saturday Lunch: Me: Sandwich Matt: Corn Dogs & Sweet Potato Fries

Saturday Dinner: Smoked Sausage, Baked Potatoes & Macaroni & Cheese

Sunday Lunch: BBQ Sausage Sandwiches & Leftover Mac N Cheese

Sunday Dinner: Quesadillas & Homemade Salsa

calling all mommies: must haves

This week's topic is.....


MUST HAVES

It's a simple question this week.  

What are the things that you can't live without?

They can things from your pregnancy that you loved, things that your baby loves, things that make your life easier, or products you love? Anything.  What things do you think are "Mommy Must Haves"  

I can't wait to hear so I can add them to my wishlist!!

fuzzy's tacos

Have you been to Fuzzy's Taco Shop?

  If you live in the Dallas area, then you know that they are popping up EVERYWHERE.  I either hear that people love it or they hate it.  

If you've been, do you love it or hate it?  If you love it, what did you get to eat that you love so much?

There is one coming very close to our house so I feel like we are going to have to finally cave in and try it out.  I just have a hard time getting over the name.  All I can think of are moldy {fuzzy} tacos.  

And that doesn't sound good.