Baby Girl Swag

Yup, its time for another post about all the cute things I'm getting for baby girl! I blame Grammy Kiki!!

From Grammy Kiki, possibly one of the cutest pairs of shoes ever!! 

They are 3-9 months size from Carters. 

More shoes! The pink booties are from Catie, one of my college roommates, and the pink flats and blue uggs are from Grammy Kiki

From Grammy Kiki, a GUESS rain jacket. I'm waiting for one in my size

 

From Catie, these outfits came all the way from the Hamptons in a care package from Catie, my college roommate. I cannot get over how friggen cute the pants are with the cupcake on the bum! Baby girl has many nick names, and Catie calls her cupcake, so these are even more perfect! (they are from Carter's)

BIG things are happening!

First off, I apologize for the lack of updates (week 26 is coming soon!) Chris and I have had a very exciting week!

CHRIS AND I ARE ENGAGED! I could not be happier, or in more shock! Marriage was never a discussion we had, we had made jokes, in typical Chris and Kelsey fashion, but it was just wasn't on the radar at this point in our lives, or so I thought. Here is our engagement story:

Chris had lured me to his parents house, with the promise of dinner after work on Friday, September 7. Once I got to the house, he suggested we take Brew for a walk. I was not loving the idea, I just drove an hour from work and wanted to sit and relax, but he convinced me to go. We went to Elm Bank, in Wellesley, just down the road from his parents. We walk Brew there pretty often, there are lots of trails and open fields he loves to run in, and it goes along the Charles River into Boston, so Brew can go for a swim too. Its a great spot to go walk, and is one of our favorite places to go. We were walking on the trail, and stopped to let Brew play in the water. We were standing there talking about what a cute "baby boy" we have, and next thing you know Chris goes "so Kelsey..." and is down on one knee asking me to marry him. I think I said "no way" about 8 times before I finally said yes, but I couldn't be happier to be marrying my best friend. 

The ring is absolutely stunning. Chris had asked for my mom's blessing quite a while ago, and she had offered to give him the stone from her wedding ring to have re-set into mine. They were so sneaky getting this past me! Chris used a diamond from my moms ring, and added it into the setting he designed for my ring. I really got a good one! Everyone knows how sentimental I am, and having the diamond that my dad gave to my mom in my wedding ring is one of the most special things in the world. I wish more than anything that my dad were here to share in this exciting time in our lives, but as my brother Johnny said, "dad would be so proud and he would approve of Chris" Having this ring means so much, of all the wonderful memories love creates, and of all the wonderful memories that have yet to be created. 

excuse my fat pregnant lady fingers

Holy crap, I couldn't believe it, and I still can't!! A baby on the way and a wedding to plan, we will have a busy house! 2012 has been such an incredible year for both of us, and we are so excited for all the new adventures that 2013 holds for us. Looking back at this time last year, I could never imagine all the amazing blessings that life would have given me, I am so thankful and grateful for how lucky I am. 

Week 24 & 25 Update

Sorry for the late post! Pictures are to come later today or tomorrow I promise! I am now 25 weeks, we had a crazy busy labor day weekend, so sorry for the delay! 104 days to go!

How far along? 25 weeks

Total weight gain: +7 pounds

Maternity clothes? Wearing some jeans & leggings, but still in my regular clothes. I can't wait for fall to wear sweaters!

Stretch marks? none yet, mama mio lotion is holding up!

Sleep: Unfortunately my beloved sleep has begun to get interrupted with jabs to my ribs. Baby girl is always more active at night, but lately I've been getting woken up by her movement. I can no longer sleep on my stomach, so I wake up to switch from side to side when one arm falls asleep or I start to get uncomfortable, not to mention the trips to the bathroom. 

Best moment this week: Starting to actually look and feel pregnant, its been some time coming, but I get really excited about my growing bump!
Miss Anything? Seasonal Beers, I can't even count the number of Shipyard Pumpkin head displays that are taunting me, especially with fall and football season coming up.
Movement: starting to get stronger and feel more of it during the day

Food cravings: fruit and sweets....still

Anything making you queasy or sick: nothing (knock on wood!!)

Gender: Girl 
Labor Signs: None, still too early

Symptoms: aches in my lower back, and some general discomfort due to the growing human inside me

Belly Button in or out? in, but it is beginning to get mysterious 

Happy or Moody most of the time: could not be happier! Sometimes I need a time out when I start to cry, or just call up Grammy Kiki when I am feeling sensitive. 

Looking forward to: starting to get the nursery put together!

This week in the life of baby girl.....(24 Weeks)

She is now about the size of an ear of corn: measuring around 12 inches long and weighing a little over 1 pound. In the coming weeks, your baby will continue to grow and mature at a fast rate, gaining about 6 ounces of weight a week. Her brain is growing rapidly, and her taste buds are developing. She is pretty lean at 24 weeks, but she'll soon be putting on some "baby fat" to fill out her frame and wrinkled skin, which is due to the lack of subcutaneous fat. She has begun to develop white blood cells. These cells are responsible for fighting off disease and infection. Her lungs develop branches this week, and her inner ear is completely developed. In fact, she has basic control over all of her senses: hearing, touch, taste, smell, and vision! 

This week in the life of baby girl.....(25 Weeks)
Just in time for football season, baby girl is about the size of a football! As she gains weight, her skin begins to become less wrinkled and she begins to look more, and more like a newborn. Also, her skin is finally gaining some color. Her hands are fully developed by this week, fingerprints and all! And at 25 weeks, the structure of the spine is beginning to form (33 rings, 150 joints, and 1000 ligaments)!

A Present in a Blue Box...and an owl! Thanks Aunt Patty and Uncle Pete

I am in the works of putting together a post about all the new goodies I've been receiving for baby girl (I'm on shoe overload from Grammy Kiki, so I need some time to take pictures of it all!). However, this one deserved its own post. 

This week was my Grandma Annie's 90th birthday celebration down the Jersey Shore. Grandma Annie will be baby girls great grandmother!All of my family, except my brother John who is away at Norwich and was greatly missed, was there to celebrate and honor the matriarch of the Flanagan family. It was wonderful to visit with everyone. 

At the end of our visit, my Aunt Patty and Uncle Pete gave Chris and I this gift for baby girl. I already knew I would love it because it came in my favorite color box! They got baby girl a porcelain Bunny Bank from Tiffany's! This is such a special gift that will be placed high up on a shelf in a safe place, but it is a great piece that she be able to have. 

The Tiffany's bunny bank was such a special gift, but it came with an OWL! Patty and Pete also gave us an Izzy Owl from National Wildlife Kids for baby girl. I cut it off in the picture, but the owl is wearing flight goggles, which is a perfect tribute to Chris, who flew on KC 130s in the Marine Corps. 

Thank you AP & UP!

Here are some pictures from our visit:

Baby girl will be joining a big family! Meet the Flanagan (Roper, Rochon, & Stefaneli) family. Sorry for the blurry photo!

I am in the front, next to great grand daughter #1 Nora, who has asked that we name baby girl "Sparkles". Chris is in the back, with great grand son #1 Griffin on his shoulders. We had so much fun with everyone, but especially the twins, who gave us a glimpse into parenthood! 

Here is Grammy Kiki, Uncle Bobby and Grandma Annie, on the phone is Uncle John, who got special permission from his Cadres at Norwich University to call Grandma on her 90th birthday!