Sail Away

Visiting the Ship

We dropped Paul off this morning and later he said we could meet him at work to spend a few hours together. The later that night turned into 8:30 at night but we still spend a little time with him on the ship.

27 Weeks

Delana is almost two pounds (about the weight of a head of cauliflower) and is about 14.5 inches long when legs are extended. She sleeps and wakes at regular intervals maybe even opening and closing her eyes or sucking her thumb. Her lungs are still developing but if she were born now she could breathe with lots of medical help. It is also very common for her to get hiccups but they only last a few minutes

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The Last Weekend Home

It's Bunko night but I didn't know if I was going to go since it was Paul's last weekend home. I had the idea that if I went to Bunko; he and Madison could have a date night. He thought that it sounded like a good idea. So about a week or two ago we decided that I would go to Bunko and they would go out on a date. Maddie has been thinking about how she would like to do with Daddy on their special night. The ideas she had included playing games, swimming, and watching tv. I asked her what they would eat for dinner, at home or go out to eat. She said "can I fit all this in my time?" I told her she might be able to fit it all in.



I mentioned to Paul about bringing her to see Hannah Montana The Movie. He said he would like to take her so they are going to dinner and a movie. We looked up the times the movie was playing and the best time for them left them only 40 minutes to eat dinner. Paul was thinking that he wouldn't be able to do the movie and dinner so I suggested they go to Burger King since it was really close to the movie theatre. Now Daddy had a plan he told Maddie that they were going to go to Burger King for dinner. Maddie was excited and now it was time to leave to drop me off at Bunko. Paul and Maddie went in with me so Maddie could say hi to Ms. Allison. She said she was going on a date with her dad. Everyone asked her where she was going and she excitedly replied "Burger King." After saying hi to everyone they were off on their date. I told everyone they were going to Burger King and The Hannah Montanta Movie.



Bunko was over so I called Paul to come and pick me up. Maddie told me all about her date with Daddy. We went to see Hannah Montana's movie. She told me about the movie all the way home and how they bought a huge bucket of popcorn and a enormous cup of pop, we shared. I was so happy to hear they had a good time.

Appointment Update

The update from the doctor's appointment this afternoon, my doctor said everything is good. Delana's heart beat was 130. I'm measuring 27 weeks, which isn't bad since that is only a six day difference. I gained four pounds in the last month which is also good, doctor says I'm where I should be. I still don't want to go over the recommended fifteen pounds I was first told I should stay in but the doctor also said it wouldn't be bad if I went over. I just think it would be easier not to gain the weight and turn around to have to lose it again. I'm just trying to be healthy and not worry to much about the weight.

Mini Makeover for Madison's Room

Yesterday was Paul's last day on vacation. Paul brought Maddie to school and then we went to Starbucks for coffee. We sat outside on the patio as we had our coffee and homemade carrot cake (I finally made his favorite cake). After a little time alone it was time to get to work. I had planned on giving Madison's room a makeover while Paul was on leave but I thought we would get to it before the last day of vacation. We went home cleaned up her room, as you can see it was a mess. My idea was to give her a room that she really likes and wants to keep clean. To have an organized space so it will be easier to take care of stuff.

We move her bed in front of the window which stresses me out a little because she didn't have a headboard on her bed. I'm afraid that she would be playing and fall out the window. Yes, I worry too much. So I told Paul that we should look for a heardboard. I really just want a simple white headboard, cottage style would be nice, it would be cool if we could find something for $5 but I don't know if they would be that cheap. Later that day we headed in town to find a headboard. We were going to go to the thrift store I usually go to but I felt like I was being told to go to a different thrift store I never go to. We went to the thrift store and as we pulling in the parking lot there displayed outside was the headboard I thinking about. "Honey, hurry up and park so we can get it. I wonder how much it is?" I said as I was getting ready to jump out of the truck. I had already thought that I would pay as much as $20 for a headboard. He went over and grabbed it, "how much is it" I yelled over to him. He replied, "$5." I was so excited. We went inside and I seen a boppy pillow in almost perfect condition for $4 so I grabbed it even though I already have a My Breast Friend Pillow. (I got it for $7 a few weeks ago. But I'm not sure if I'll like it.) We got we needed there so we were off to Target to get the other stuff we needed to finish the room.

We got home and started dinner. As we were cooking Paul said to me "ah Maddie seen her room, she is up there screaming and saying awesome." We went up stairs to see her, she was laying on the bed. "I feel like I'm in a princess room. Like I'm rolality. I love it, love it." So she really loved it, I knew she would. After dinner Paul put the headboard on and we hung up a map of the world up on the wall. Which surprisingly is actaully her favorite thing about the room, well along with the bed/bedding. I thought it would be a good idea to put a map up so I can show her where Daddy is when he is gone. We are going mark the places he visits and display the postcards he sends us around the map.

26 Weeks

Oh my, I'm 26 weeks today and there is no denying that I'm pregnant. I definitely feel pregnant since my belly is getting in the way of my being able to do stuff now. I organized the kitchen cabinet the other day and ended up sitting on the floor instead of bending over because it was so uncomfortable. I have also been having horrible back aches. Ouch! Sunday I was not feeling well I think I might have been having braxton-hicks contractions. Which I thought wasn't a huge deal until I was reading about it and I see says you should call your doctor. I figured I would call if I still felt the same way on Monday (I didn't) since I'm going to the doctor on Wed afternoon. I'm getting more excited since it's getting closer to meeting my little Laney. To be exact... 14 weeks! Depending on when she decides to come and if she decides to come on her own. I had a dream around the time I concieved that I would be pregnant and the baby would be born on 8-10, so we will see if she really comes on August 10th. HA HA, not counting on it. I'm actually hoping for a September birthday, of course by August I'd be happy with August. So here is what is going on with our little Laney bug.

Delana's ears are better developed and more sensitive this week, she may be able to hear my voice and also the person am talking with while we carry on a conversation. She is inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amonitic fluid which helps her lungs develop. These are similar to the breathing movements that will occur once she is born, these inhaling and exhaling movement help her to be able to breathe once she is born. She is continueing to gain fat, she now weighs about a pound and two thirds and is about 14 inches long (about the length of an English cucumber.)

Monkey See, Monkey Do..washcloth candies

I just checked the mail box and recieved at package. YAY it's the "Monkey See, Monkey Do" washcloth candies I won from Sweet CuddleCakes. They are so cute and I will be using them soon enough to give the baby a bath once she comes. Thanks again for the great giveaway.

My Favorite Children's Stories

Here's a list of my favorite children's books. I have loved these books for years now. I read them to Maddie when I was pregnant. However I discovered a few of the books before I had a kid. The Napping House, Love You Forever, and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom were my favorites from back in jr high and high school when I used to help in the preschool where my mom worked.

Wordless Wednesday

25 Weeks~ We have a Name

Delana Grace

We have a name....YAY. Delana Grace. After 25 weeks we have finally decided on a name. Delana's nickname will be Laney/Lana.

Head to heel baby measures about 13.5 inches and her weight is about a pound and half. She is beginning to change her long lean figure for some baby fat. As she gains fat her wrinkled skin will start to smooth out and she will start to look more like a newborn. She is also starting to grow more hair, if you were able so see her you could tell the color and texture.

My next doctor's appointment is on May 20th. Paul will still be here but he has duty and will not be able to go, although he will see if he can leave for the appointment and then go back to work. My doctor's only at the clinic one day a week and the 20th is the only day she will be there. I can't complain much because I'm glad to be seen by the same doctor the whole time with this pregnancy vs being seen by a different doctor eveytime with Madison and having a different doctor deliver her. I think that it works out better this way and I just hope that my doctor is on call when I go into labor.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day

To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.

The Mother's Day gift Maddie made me at school.

Nursery Painted

First step:.........paint. Done!

So here is the room with the paint finished. I really like it. It's going to look so nice once we put the crib in with the bedding and hang curtains. Step two: curtains. Step three: furniture (paint or not to paint.) I think I will see what it looks like the way it is now and if see if I really want to paint it. I know that it would look so cute with white furniture. Either way we still need to get the crib out of the attic and put it together. Step four: bedding and accessories. Step five: washing everything I will be using in the first couple of months, storing everything I will not be using right away in an organized way. Tick tock, tick tock. It's getting closer. I probably should wait longer to do a lot of the stuff but I just want it done. I like to be prepared..... ah. I like to think that I'm in control, especially with the stuff that I have some control over.

Alright I waited a little to long to take the picture so I could have a little natural light, now I'm stuck with the one lamp. This is without the flash. (What ever happened to lights in the ceiling?)

With the flash.

Big sister Maddie helping clean up the tape.

Another one with the flash. Verdict: I like the color, it looks good.

Painting Update

My sister in law offered to watch while we painted, thanks. We discovered that it's a lot faster when you don't have a kid asking for this or that every two minutes. As we were getting ready to bring Maddie over this morning she said "oh good you guys will get to have a romantic time." Paul and I looked at each other and laughed..... both of us thinking yep it should be LOTS of fun. See I have my way of doing things and he has his way. My way is much better at least in my opinion so sometimes we have some discussions. However today things went really well...... probably because he did it my way. LOL

So here is the starting point. One wall orange and one yellow, bright orange and yellow.

Walls primed.... wow look at the difference.

Bye bye yellow wall.

Now for the new color...........

Can you tell the difference between the primer and the new paint?

I think it looks pretty close in this picture but trust me it's not. It's

just the light coming in all the windows. I'll try to take another picture tonight

when the sun isn't shining so much.

Oooow I'm getting excited about getting the room together. YAY!

So I'm debating on painting the dressers and crib white. I personally

would like them to be white I'm just wondering if I really want to do it

and it we have enought time to do it while Paul is home. We'll have to

wait and see. One shabby chic nursery coming up.

Sleepless Night

It's 3:45 in the morning and I'm still wide awake. I CAN"T SLEEP! It is so annoying. I know that I should be sleeping but I just can't fall asleep so I'm hanging out on the couch surfing the net. My sweet hubby is sleeping on the couch next to me, he didn't want me to be downstair by myself. I really have a great husband, I'm blessed. I just keep thinking about how tired I will be tomorrow and how tired he will be from sleeping on the the couch all night long. We are supposed to paint the nursery tomorrow or today I should say. We cleared most of the stuff out of the room today and taped. All we need to do is paint now. I can't wait to see what it will look like after it's painted.

This is a picture of the room. I took it when we first moved in, THE HAPPY ROOM. I didn't pick the colors for this room.... orange and yellow are not on my color wheel.

Progress pictures to come.

5 Minutes For Mom~ Mother's Day Giveaway

5 Minutes For Mom is having an awesome Mother's Day Giveaway check it out.

http://www.5minutesformom.com/6032/mothers-day-giveaway-2009/trackback/

24 Weeks

Since last week the baby has gained about 4 ounces now putting her total weight just over a pound. She length is now about a foot and she is lean, about like an ear of corn.

Her body is filling out proportionally and she'll soon start to plump up. Her brain is also growing quickly now, and her taste buds are continuing to develop. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help her air sacs inflate once she hits the outside world. Her skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 large very ripe bananas, mashed
1/3 cup sour cream
1/3 cup buttermilk
2 1/2 cups unsifted cake flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips




DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 10 inch tube cake pan.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition, then stir in the vanilla. Mix in mashed bananas, sour cream and buttermilk. Combine the cake flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder. Stir flour mixture into sugar/banana mixture. Fold in the chocolate chips. Pour batter into prepared pan.
Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 45 minutes, or until golden brown and top springs back when touched. Remove from oven and let cool for 15 minutes before removing from pan. Cool completely before slicing.

Note:
I baked my bread in five mini (3x5 in) pans for 37 minutes.

Need a substitute for buttermilk:

Milk (just under one cup)
1 Tablespoon white vinegar

Add vinegar to milk in mixing cup and let sit for 5 minutes before using.