Randoms

It's been an exciting last few days.

My last day at work was last Friday and B and I celebrated by going out downtown to Trek Winery for complimentary appetizers and desserts and of course wine for Brian. Afterwards we strolled over to Left Coast Depot which is now open for dinner and I stuffed myself silly with there beet salad and a side of garlic fries.

Saturday, we hit 33 weeks pregnant! Supposedly Baby Flora is now the size of a pineapple, about 18 inches in length and weighing about 5 lbs! It's crazy to know that when I was born I was only 1 pound heavier than where she is now. It's also a wild thought to know I'm now 4 weeks away from being full term! She really could come at anytime!

Saturday evening, despite the stormy wet weather we braved the elements and drove (we planned on walking but I was nervous about slipping!) downtown to Novato's Annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony. We got a chance to see the tree all lite up, hear the girl scouts sing some carols and scored some home baked goodies at the bake sale.

Sunday morning B and I dressed in our Holiday attire and took a trip south
to the annual Christmas
Brunch at the Country Club. We've been going for as long as I can remember and it's always a fun, festive time. Pictures with Santa, decorating cookies, mugs, gingerbread houses and tote bags, a buffet that blows away even a pregnant ladies appetite, beautiful holiday decorations and Christmas carolers that greet you when you arrive. It's going to be so special to have Flora with us next year and have our first family Christmas photo taken with Santa! And of course I'll be able to partake in endless amounts of mimosas!

Sunday afternoon we took the tour of labor and delivery at Kaiser Santa
Rosa. We were able to see a delivery room, the nursery, and the post-partum wing and I was so emotional during the whole thing. I was overwhelmed with excitement knowing that's where our Daughter is going to be born in just a matter of weeks. We get our own private room and bathroom for both delivery and post-partum, free wi-fi, and TV which B is very happy about ;)

Now that we've seen where she'll be born I guess it's time to start packing up our hospitals bags and type up our plan of action (who to call/email) when I go into labor and start preparing some
frozen meals for when we return home.

33 Week Q's & A's

Taken from our backyard around 5pm

How far along? 32 weeks 7 days
Total weight gain/loss: 13 lbs. ugh.
Maternity clothes? because the cold weather has arrived my outfits these days are usually a mismatch of maternity leggings,  big sweaters,  moccasins and a long tank. And yes, I do leave the house in this sweet ensemble. 
Stretch marks: A 4th popped up recently but luckily it's tiny. So I have 4 small ones located on my lower tummy. 
Sleep: My heartburn comes and goes (I recently read a cup of water and a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar is the trick), I'm up twice in the middle of the night to pee and just within the past 4 days I feel like she's dropped so changing from side to side is a wee bit more challenging and uncomfortable. 
Best moment this week:  Today is my last day at work ;)
Crazy Dream this week: Hmm, I can't think of one. I haven't had a good night's rest in a week so that's probably why.
Miss anything? Same things: Sleeping on my stomach, ALCOHOL, hot tubbin', wrestling with my husband & puppy :)
Movement: All day every day! 
Food cravings: It doesn't matter, just food in general. Although I've really enjoyed grapefruit juice lately. 
Anything making you queasy or sick: mushrooms, tuna, and Mexican food. Ugh-I don't know if I can ever stomach Mexican food again. I attempted a kid's size bean and cheese burrito the other night and that didn't work out. at. all. :(
Have you started to show yet: lol, absolutely. 
Gender prediction: A little princess!!!
Labor Signs: None thank god. Not even Braxton Hicks.
Belly Button in or out? In. It'll never pop out! You could probably dig a damn hole to China through there, lol. 
Wedding rings on or off? On and still really loose. 
Happy or Moody most of the time: SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HAPPY!!!!
Weekly Wisdom: Don't involve yourself in ANY stressful situation, even if people try to involve you in one. The health and well-being of you and your baby is the MOST IMPORTANT thing to focus on so remove yourself from the stress and meditate, relax and breath deeply. Let your partner, spouse, or friend handle the BS and refocus on baby : ) All I have to say is my husband and I make a phenomenal team in stressful times :) We're each other's ying-and yang. 
Looking forward to: maternity leave for 4 long blissful  months starting TODAY, walking with my fellow hypnobirthing mamas and having brunch Monday morning, a mother daughter Christmas dinner that night and volunteering to make a meal for a new mother in the Novato Mother's Club and her family for Friday. 

32 Weeks-size of a large jicama

Picture taken today at 32 weeks 4 days.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Love, The Costas

Well hello 4am

Last night B & I picked up Flora's new dresser/changing table. We had a neighbor help us unload and situate it in her nursery and ever since it landed in her room I haven't been able to take my mind off decorating her sweet space. I brought my birthing ball in (it's really just a plain ole' exercise ball we'll bring to the hospital to pre-labor on) and sat in her nursery for a few hours, just staring around the semi-empty room. B came to the rescue and said he could tell I wasn't "feeling" the current placement of the new dresser and told me to go lie down so he could rearrange some things. In typical me fashion, I usually wouldn't allow this to happen, I would rearrange to my own liking, however by 8:30 at night and almost 8 months pregnant, I easily surrender these days. A few minutes later he had it all redesigned, just as I would have imagined it! Way to go Hubs!

So, long story short I've fallen madly , deeply in love with Flora's nursery and it's all I can think about now. How to decorate, how to organize the dresser drawers and design the closet space, etc, etc, etc. And this my friends, explains this insane and random 4am blog post. Only an excited mama-to-be would be adding items to her 'Wish List' on Amazon in anticipation of her daughter arriving in 7.5 short weeks (or less!).

4 days of work left and it's on and poppin in that nursery of hers!!! I can't wait!

Changing Table/Dresser Inspirations

I've finally found the dresser/changing table for Flora's nursery!!! It's posted on Craigslist and I'm patiently awaiting a reply from the seller for the offer we just made! It's EXACTLY what I've been wanting. 9-drawer BEAUTIFUL antique/vintage dresser! It's currently painted a medium shade of gray, which really would go with the room color scheme, however I envision it painted a true white to match her crib, side table, and wall trim in the rest of the room.

Fingers crossed we get to bring it home TONIGHT!!!

Here are a few images that have inspired me:

This dresser is VERY similar to the one we hope to get for her room!

And...the verdict is in.....WE GOT THE DRESSER!!!!! And for $50 off the seller's asking price. She said she didn't want to go that low because it was an expensive purchase and pricey to refinish but said she couldn't say no to our offer because it's being placed in a nursery!

I'm SO HAPPY I just might cry! Damn you pregnancy hormones :)

31 Weeks- size of 4 oranges!

It's wild to know that in just 8 weeks from today Flora's due date will be here! And I'll be starting my 8th month of pregnancy in 5 days! So far so good I must say. Will she arrive early or on time?!!? Mama's thinking early, but not TOO early!

Baby girl seems to still be in position, although I think she has swung her little legs around and are now more up towards my ribs, where they're suppose to be. I'm no longer feeling the ninja-kicks to my right hip bone, just new movement at the top center of my stomach, between my rib-cage. I mentioned on my last post that I can tell when she has the hiccups, which seem to be nightly these days. I'll be laying in bed and think to myself, "Wow, she's active right now,"  then I count the "kicks" and realize they're synchronized about every few seconds. Silly girl :)

Time went by rather slow this weekend, which we certainly aren't complaining about. Saturday morning B got a facial, yes let me repeat, B got a facial (i made him lol), and I had a few waxings done (arms pits weren't that bad!). Afterwards, I meet up with one of my fellow HypnoBirthing mamas for lunch in Corte Madera at The Counter! Talk about an indulgent lunch, woo-wee! We each ordered our own massively sized burger and side of fries. Mine were a 'special' fry order with parm and rosemary which ended up being twice the size of a regular order. And I'm proud to say that I ate most of them. What can I tell ya, Baby girl was hungry lol. After lunch we walked (waddled) and talked and had some great laughs comparing sleeping positions, cravings, and our excitement for the weeks to come. She is 4 weeks ahead and I can't wait to hear her birth story. She and her husband are going to be wonderful parents. I so anxious to meet their new addition!

Sunday B took Newts on a killer 6.5 mile hike up Mt. Burdell in Novato while I went and 'tested' out another catholic church in town. We're trying to find a church that we vibe with because we'll eventually baptize Baby Flora there and attend mass regularly. What I really mean is, we'll attend at least once a month  maybe every other. Is that bad? lol.

Ran a few errands, ate a ton, walked a bit, meditated and relaxed with my favorite person and fur babies. Life is great. And we're blessed to have only 8 short more weeks until we meet our sweet, precious bundle of joy. What more can a girl want in life <3. I have it all.

Sweet treats at my beauty salon, The Beauty Nook. I couldn't pass up the cotton candy!

My wonderful friend and mom-to-be, Julissa! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

My DIY Pinterest project : before

My DIY Pinterest project: after. This is in our kitchen window and
I will make two more for the windows in our living room!