39 Weeks

I have had multiple people texting me and facebooking me to ask me how I was doing and, if I've had this baby yet!  So, first off, because I know that it's all you REALLY care about... No, I have not had the baby yet.

Now to me.  I am doing fairly well, considering I am 39 weeks pregnant and the largest I have ever been!!  I am getting anxious about the baby's arrival and am ready to feel a little bit more normal.  I know the exhaustion won't go away completely, but I'm hoping the allergies and headaches and being uncomfortable at least tone themselves down a little bit.  Altogether though, I am not miserable.  Sleeping is getting more difficult and the baby's movements are fairly uncomfortable for momma now; she is still a wiggle worm like her mom used to be and her dad still is, she'll probably stay this way for years to come!

I do feel fairly prepared.  All of the clothing and blankets are washed and put away, my bags are packed (for the most part) and the pack n' play is set up.  I've had my intake interview at the hospital so paperwork is done and I just have to finish filling out the birth certificate (will do the VERY last touches after she is born... like her name, which is still not decided!)  Now I just have to wait until she's ready!

So, keep an eye out on facebook for pictures or for when my mom checks me into the hospital (Kadlec Medical Center)... I've given her this duty to let you all know when I am in labor and fully admitted into the birthing center.  I do ask for all friends and family to refrain from rushing to the hospital as soon as I go into labor because it can be a VERY long process and you may just have to wait in the hallway for hours until the baby and mom are ready to see your beautiful faces!! :) There will be a picture of my little girl on facebook as soon as she is (and I am) all cleaned up and mom or I will post all the details (she'll tag me in everything so that all of my facebook friends can see!) And then... of course, I'll try to post a blog... although you know how great I am about that.  Visitors are welcome to come by the hospital or at my house after the baby is born, just text me and I'll let you know if then is a good time!

Love to you all!  I'll try to keep this updated and get a couple more good belly pictures before I don't have a belly anymore! (Excited for that day!!!)

The 37th Week

It's time again that I updated this lovely blog.  I have always thought it would be SO much fun to be a blogger, but, turns out, I would fail miserably at that profession.  I am terribly sorry to all the people that keep checking my blog, hoping that one day I will post something.  The fact is, nothing much has happened since my last post. I am still, in fact, pregnant... a little larger now (there are some pictures on Facebook and I will try to get a few more up.)  I am also still working at the new Sterling's as a server, granted I'm working less than I was before and it is less new.  My online course ended a few weeks back and so I am no longer studying or anything like that.  I have been reading quite a few books lately.  Sadly, none of them are very noteworthy.

Since my last post, I have had two lovely baby showers; one with family and one with friends.  Thank you again for all who attended the showers and a special thanks to my Grandma, Auntie Karlyn, Chelsea Kennedy and Amelia Boomer for being lovely hostesses.

I am pretty much all ready for the baby's arrival.  Jaymee helped me rearrange my room a week or so ago in order to make room for the Pack n' Play as well as a lot of necessary baby things; baby's dresser has made it's home in the tv room.  Mom and I have taken some of the "unnecessary" items back in order to purchase everything that the baby and I will actually need and we seem to be all ready for baby's arrival.  The only thing still left to purchase is cloth diapers (a large upfront cost but will save me thousands in diapers.)  All of her clothes are washed and ready to go and my diaper bag is slowly getting packed for the hospital.  Seems crazy that in three weeks, all of these things will actually be put into use!

Everything is going great with the pregnancy.  I am 37 weeks, as of last Friday and my due date is still June 1st (my mom's birthday.) I am now onto my weekly appointments with the obgyn.  At the last appointment, the doctor said that my little girl was measuring short but that it could be due to her dropping a little bit into my pelvis (getting ready to make her grand escape!)  We are having an ultrasound before my next appointment on Wednesday just to make sure everything is still going alright and I will post if there are any changes.

These next few months are going to be crazy hectic but I believe that I'm making all the necessary movements to prepare for it!  Only a few short weeks after the baby is born, I will start my two summer courses (Econs 102 and Acctg 231) that will go on for six weeks.  Nathan and Vicki's wedding (my brother and his fiance) will then be creeping around the corner (June 23rd), which means alterations will need to be done to my bridesmaid dress.  After that, I have orientation for WSU Pullman on July 8th and 9th.  While in Pullman I will also be meeting up with the instructor of the daycare that my little girl will be going to come the beginning of Fall semester.  She will be going to WSU's Children's Center which I have heard many good things about.  If any of you are wondering, I am going to WSU Pullman next semester and will be moving up to Pullman mid-August into my new apartment (a cute little one bedroom close to campus.)  I have to finish off my last four semesters of my undergrad (Hospitality Business Management) at WSU Pullman.

I believe that is enough to catch you up with my life for the next few months!

I have had multiple friends ask me what they can buy for the baby (what I still need/want) and currently all I really need is cash in order to buy the cloth diapers and save up money for future expenses.  If you would like to send a present, I would love to expand my library with multiple children's books.  I really would like the whole collection of Dr. Suess and Eric Carle.  Please send any presents and/or money to the following address:

Alicia Kippes

133 Rosemary St.

Richland, WA 99352

Thank you for everyone's love and support and I will try my hardest to post a new blog as soon as the baby is here!

Maternity Clothing Fashion Show

I am writing this blog for two reasons 1) My brother's fiance reminded me of how absolutely awful I have been at blogging and 2) I went on a birthday maternity clothing shopping trip with my mom today which totally solicited a maternity clothing fashion show and some much needed belly pictures!

I am currently 29 weeks pregnant and the baby is for sure a little girl! I do not have a name picked out for sure but I really like Sophie and Eleanor (Ellie for short). I'm leaning more towards Eleanor because Sophie has been so popular in recent years but who knows what I will think after she is born. She definitely has an affinity for sugar; every time I eat anything sugary she will do somersaults in my belly for a good half hour.

As for me, I'm rarely ever feeling any morning sickness or headaches. I have started to get a little bit of heartburn and back pain but the medication (for heartburn) and the massage therapy (for back pain) that my doctor prescribed me is helping a lot! I am feeling quite large, even though I don't really look like I am 6 months pregnant... but it is definitely the biggest I have ever been! I got a job at Sterlings, a family owned restaurant here in the tri-cities, and have been trained and will be working breakfast and lunch at their new location (opening this Monday!!) I am still working on getting back into the winery but we'll see if that ever pans out. I definitely miss Terra Blanca and am going to have to visit soon!

Well, enough writing.. here's the fashion show!!

A VERY pretty dress I fell in love with from Motherhood Maternity and got a pretty good deal on after I spent way too much on work pants.










One of the shirts that mom bought me from Ross Dress for Less (we got everything around $10 per shirt)











Another one from Ross, the neckline is really pretty.. you just can't tell.. Mom was more concerned with the belly then showing off the shirts.










Another one from Ross












The back of another one from Ross, the front is below!












SUPER colorful!












A shirt mom had bought me for Christmas












A shirt that I bought myself while in Memphis at Target... showing off the bump!











One that I bought a while back from Ross and then broke the wooden ring that connects the straps to the back of the shirt... recently FIXED by handyman Alicia and some Krazy Wood Glue









Another shirt I bought from Ross a while back... bummed you can't really tell how cute the neckline is. It kind of reminds me of a tux shirt.










One mom bought me for Christmas, with help from Vicki, my brother's fiance











Standard black tee-shirt that I had to get for training at Sterlings

This is actually a shirt I bought prior to getting pregnant... after getting pregnant, I'm pretty sure it's a maternity shirt. Whoops!

Under Pressure

I honestly don't know how to write what I feel I need to in this blog. I want to explain everything but I don't feel like it's 100% my place to explain everything. So, brief synopsis.

On Friday, Colin and I decided that it was time to end our relationship. The pressure of having a baby and moving in together was too much for Colin to handle and too much for our young relationship to handle. I want to let everyone know that we gave it a shot. I know that Colin and I are both feeling like we failed our family, friends and, most importantly, our baby. We probably could have sucked it up and lasted a little while longer but we really needed to break up now so that we could do it and remain friends.

Colin and I decided that it would be best for me and the baby if I moved back home to Washington to be with my family and friends here. He, of course, is staying in Memphis for his job but is going to come visit our baby as much as possible.

I will still be posting on this blog, but not nearly as much, saying that I will be around most of the people that read this. But I will post belly pictures and important information.

For all of Colin's family and friends... I do want you to be in our child's life: the more love the better. If you have any questions for me or want to visit the baby when she comes into our world, I would love and appreciate it so much. Do not hesitate to call me or email me.

Colin and I will continue loving this baby and trying to create somewhat of a family. We care immensely about each other and even more about our child.

Thank you so much for being in our lives (Colin's, mine and our baby's)

23 Week Belly Photo!

I'm 23 weeks and the baby's getting bigger!!

Feeling the Reality

The past week has definitely had it's ups and downs but one major good time this week was when Colin felt our baby move the other day!

After watching the video that I posted the other day, Colin realized how small the movements were and how much it looks and feels like a muscle spasm rather than somebody kicking and punching. We were in bed the other night and I was feeling the baby move a lot so I put Colin's hand on my stomach. He felt a little movement and told me that he felt it. Here was our conversation post feeling a little movement...

Me: Are you freaking out?

Colin: Not really, it doesn't really feel like a baby. It just feels like a muscle spasm. I won't freak out unless it feels like a... Woah... that felt like a baby.

Although I'm sure it made him a little freaked out, it was so special to me that he felt our baby with me and that he could feel partially what I have been feeling.

Baby Movements

Hello all,

I have been feeling the baby move for the past couple weeks now and just a few days ago realized that I could see the baby move!! It is probably the craziest feeling that I have ever felt and it really freaked me out when I could actually see our little baby girl. Makes it WAY more real that the baby is actually there.

Anyway, so I decided that maybe you all would want to see it. Despite how camera shy our baby is, I finally got video proof of it on my iPhone. Click on the link below and you should be able to watch the video on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCIxdGcP3EU

The First

Hi all! First off, I miss you all!!!

As most of you know. I moved to Memphis, TN to live with Colin. We are living in a cute little one bedroom apartment on Mud Island. Mud Island is right outside downtown Memphis and practically in the Mississippi River. It is a very nice apartment complex and is in probably the safest part of Memphis. I moved here two Thursdays ago, on the 12th of January, with a lot of my stuff and Tartuff! (My cat, for you who haven't had the great experience of meeting her.)

Before moving, I had kept an eye out for restaurants that were hiring. I was super excited when I found one a couple weeks prior to moving on Craigslist that was right down the road from Colin and my apartment. I emailed them my resume but wasn't expecting much because I applied so early before I would get here. But, alas, they told me to come in and apply in person when I got here. My first day in Memphis and I got a serving position at Tugs: A Casual Grill. I started training on the Monday after I got to Memphis.

Tugs is this cute little pub type restaurant that serves a lot the people that live on Mud Island; we call these people Islanders! Although I'm making a lot less hourly, miss you Washington, I have made fairly decent tips so far and have been very happy to get to know my coworkers and the regulars that come in practically every day!

--The beautiful Mississippi River somewhere between our apartment complex and Tugs!--

Most of you are aware of the fact that I moved down here so that Colin and I can be together for our first baby! We are both very nervous and scared, yet excited to start this part of our lives together.

I had my first ultrasound at 10 weeks because I was moving to Memphis and my doctor, who is in Washington state, would not be able to ultrasound me again at 20 weeks. Well, turns out he could, so I also got an ultrasound the day before I moved. Turns out our baby is not a very cooperative one (I kind of saw this one coming) and was in the exact wrong position to get a good view of some very important parts, mainly it's heart and the area in which you find out if it's a boy or a girl! Although it was a little hard to see, the doctor was fairly sure that our baby's a girl!!! We are super excited since we both were secretly hoping for a girl. I will have another ultrasound at 28 weeks to make sure of the gender and get some better readings on the heart but we are calling the baby "she" for now.

-- I personally think 3D ultrasound pictures are weird looking, so I posted both so you could choose for yourself. Also, these are both from my 20 week ultrasound. I think the pictures from my 10 week ultrasound were better so I may post them later.--

I am 21 weeks along and my due date is June 1st. But we've already decided not to have the baby on June 1st because it's my mom's birthday and she'd be WAY too happy about that. So far the pregnancy has been pretty awful but not as bad as some have had it. I think that I've been going through just about the usual pregnancy issues: fatigue, morning (mid-day and night) sickness, headaches, and now I'm in the heartburn and overly emotional stage (Colin LOVES this one.. haha). And no, I haven't craved any weird foods or disliked any awesome ones.

Also, I know you'll all be excited to hear that I am JUST starting to show and will be posting pictures of myself with a pregnant belly in the next post, if I remember. I have also been able to feel our little baby move inside of me for the past three weeks or so. It is seriously the strangest feeling ever. Colin and I are trying our hardest to have him be able to feel it but our stubborn little child will not kick hard enough yet... I know there has to be legs on that baby because I saw them in the ultrasound! And they have to work because, let's face it, Colin's her dad.

In the first weekend that I was here Colin and I went searching (via Criagslist) for furniture for ourselves. Prior to me getting here, Colin was a complete bachelor and only had a dining room table, a bed, and two nightstands. I guess we had done a little bit of shopping before I got here but pretty much everything was in boxes. We now have a beautiful coffee table and end table (thanks to Ashley Furniture and Groupon for 50% off!!!), a dresser to put some of my clothes (the rest of which got put into the portion of our walk-in closet that I annexed), a super comfy couch, the perfect sized desk, a dresser for the baby and a crib (in pieces) to match! All I'm waiting on is my dad to drive through and drop off a bookcase, kitchen stuff, my instruments, and my books. After that, I think we are pretty much done moving me in, at least for the time being.

Well, thank you for reading this. I hope that it wasn't too long and I'm sure that the next one won't be NEARLY as long. Of course, I love you all very much and if you have any specific questions about the pregnancy and the baby, don't hesitate to ask!