Bitsy Hitzy is Here!!!!!!

Hello Blogland Family,

Biz gave birth to a healthy baby girl at 11:56 am.  She was 20 inches long and 8 lbs 4 oz with a 15 inches in diameter head.  Momma and baby are recovering at the hospital and Biz looks forward to returning to her blog as soon as she can.  Thank you to everyone who has been a positive and encouraging voice for her!!

~Bud

Baby Diaries #31

How far along? 39 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Officially 31 lbs. 

Maternity clothes? For sure.  Occasionally when I'm at home I'll attempt to wear a regular t-shirt, but it's rather humorous because my belly hangs out the bottom at which point Cappy comes to "kiss the baby".

Stretch marks? No! :D

Sleep: Nothing has really changed in the past week.  I'm trying to fit naps back into my schedule and I sleep about 6-6-1/2 hours each night.  Overall I feel pretty darn good.

Best moment this week: My mother-in-law arrived Monday and has been here waiting with me.  Since Bud had work Tuesday, Wednesday, & Saturday from 3-11 it was nice to know that if I went into labor she could drive me straight to the hospital and he could meet us there.  

Movement: Thursday night we had the Air Force Ball and my daughter was a mover and a shaker all throughout dinner and the speech.  I think she thrives in social settings!  Last night while I was knitting, I felt as though I was a pong game.  She kept bouncing back and forth and back and forth.  She still has yet to kick me in the ribs or cause me pain, but I am baffled that she still has enough room to move as much as she does.

Food cravings:  No.  Although my mother-in-law thought I had a beverage craving yesterday.  I cooked up cheddar brats and french fries for lunch and asked Eric to run to the vending machine and get me a soda (I rarely drink soda, but a meal like this requires soda or beer and I obviously can't have the latter).  My Mother-in-law (Oma Dear) asked if I was craving soda.  I kindly told her no....

Gender: As far as we know it is still a Girl!  How weird would it be if Bitsy was born and they told us we had a healthy baby Boy? A blessing none-the-less, but I have too many pink outfits for a boy ;)

Labor Signs: Still dealing with Braxton Hicks and nothing stronger.  I am in shock that we are here on another Sunday leaving an update.  We were for sure she'd be here by now...just goes to show how little we know.  Thank you for that lesson, father...your timing is perfect.

Belly Button in or out?  Belly Button....what belly button?!

What I miss: HOPPING out of bed.  The past few mornings it has grown increasingly difficult to get out of bed...I have to roll over a certain way and kinda roll off the mattress.  Rolling over on a Tempurpedic mattress is quite the task in itself.  At least I sleep hard though.

What I am looking forward to:  Tomorrow is JF's birthday and he really wants Bitsy to be born then, I'd love to make his day if possible (**hint hint baby girl your honorary Uncle would love to share a b-day with you). I have 2 appointments this week (I'm hoping I don't make either one).  The first appointment is Tuesday at 9 am to test for TB, the second appointment is my weekly appointment on Thursday also at 9 am and I REALLY hope we don't make that one.  If we make that appointment we'll be talking with the doctor about scheduling our induction at 41 weeks.  I asked if it would be possible to just break my water before we did any drug induction.  He said that the midwives are normally okay with trying that and he feels that once my water breaks it won't be long at all.  So I have a busy week and I'm looking forward to all or none of it depending on Baby Girl's plans!

Weekly Wisdom:  Laugh.  Laugh at funny things, laugh at ridiculous comments, laugh at mistakes you made and know they won't be the first or last.  Laughter IS the best medicine and it makes life so much easier.  A few of my laughing moments this week included:

-Friday we all (Oma Dear, Bud, & I) went to Jason's Deli for lunch.  Bud overheard a woman at a table full of Mom's with their kids say, "Oh its got to suck to be her right now."  Referring to me.  All the Moms at the table turned to gawk at me.  Bud told me this when we sat down and I wished so badly that I could have heard her so that I could tell her that for almost 39 weeks pregnant I felt WONDERFUL!  Since I couldn't comment back, I just laughed...quite a few times.

-Friday after Jason's Deli, Oma Dear & Bud decided to walk me around the mall.  The doctor had suggested plenty of walking at this point.  After an hour of walking the mall, we headed to Barnes and Nobles and walked around for another 30 minutes.  Then we came home for about 30 minutes before we were going to set out to watch Moneyball.  I sat down at the computer and within seconds I looked over to see this....

From whattoexpect.com

Your Baby in Week 39 of Pregnancy

Coming down to the wire, your baby weighs around seven to eight pounds and measures 19 to 21 inches. Those measurements won't change much from now on, but her brain is still growing at an astonishing rate, a pace that will continue for the first three years of life. Her pink skin has now turned whitish (even babies who'll eventually have darker skin appear whitish now — they haven't yet developed pigment). Her head may have dropped into your pelvis by now, which makes your breathing easier but walking harder.

source
Our little one is the size of a mini-watermelon.

I hope you had a Blessed Sunday!

This week's verse to memorize:

"Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." ~Hebrews 12:3

Book #23: The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding - Diane Wiessinger

Back in the day woman learned all they needed to know about nursing and infant care by witnessing their mothers and other women.
Thus the phrase 'it takes a village'.
At some point it became a faux pas to be seen breastfeeding.
Maybe you still grew up in an environment where breastfeeding was an acceptable and honored tradition.
Maybe you grew up where no one talked about this naturally beautiful act.
I grew up never seeing anyone breastfeed.
Any thing I heard about it from others (not my parents per se) always seemed to be along the lines of how 'inappropriate it is to do that in public' or how 'gross' it was.
Despite hearing this as often as I have, it didn't seem to affect my decision to breastfeed my own children.
And yet having never witnessed it in person and little hand me down knowledge I felt like I was going to be starting from scratch.
Fortunately, a friend and new mother (who shared my views on the importance of this bonding experience) purchased and sent me the above book.
This book is wonderfully written to explain the importance and art of breastfeeding.
Despite this being such a natural part of life it isn't something that comes naturally to everyone.
The book takes the time to explain the how to's and the what if's and the if that didn't work try this's.
Later in the book it discusses pumping, bottle feeding, sleeping arrangements, and transitioning to solid foods.

Whether or not you feel 100% about all the methodology in this book, I still highly encourage all mothers-to-be to purchase this book or register for it so friends of mothers-to-be can get it for you.
Find out if your hospital provides a lactation consultant for the moments and days after birth while you are still in the hospital.
Find a local La Leche League for support and additional education.
From the moment we announce that we are pregnant everyone has suggestions and advice on how to be pregnant and how not to be pregnant.
From the moment you have a baby, I've been told, people will tell you how to and how not to parent.
I've been warned that I will be critiqued.
Everything I do will be analyzed by someone.
I know that I'll hear the whispers about how 'inappropriate it is to do that in public' or how 'gross' breastfeeding is.
I don't think there is anything that can prepare you for the bluntness of complete strangers, except being informed and being confident.
Knowledge is power.
So pick up a copy of this book and inform yourself.

I hope you all had a Blessed Saturday

This week's verse to memorize:

"Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." ~Hebrews 12:3

Bible Verse Friday #18

"Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." ~Hebrews 12:3

Each day our faith can be challenged.
We can experience an event that makes us question God's existence.
We can have seeds of doubt planted in us that make us wonder if HE is really listening to us.
Horrible things happen and we ask "Why did God allow this"?
Bad days occur and we think we have been left hung out to dry.
However, we must "consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men"...
Why did he do this?
..."so that you will not grow weary and lose heart".

So when I see the news air horrific tragedy, instead of asking "Father, why would you allow this to happen".
I remind myself that God gave US freewill.
That freewill is what allows bad to happen.
But no matter how much bad happens we must continue to remind ourselves of this verse..."so that you will not grow weary and lose heart".
We must go out and spread God's word, planting seeds for him to cultivate.
People of God have different standards for their lives.
They differentiate between right and wrong and thus we use our freewill to do more good than bad.
Thus if we are able to spread God's word and people are able to come to Christ through that we are making this world a better place.
We are ultimately helping people choose to use their freewill for the better.

So when life hands you lemons or you are thrown a curveball....
Stop....
Breath....
Consider....
"...him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

I hope you all had a Blessed Friday!

This week's verse to memorize:

"Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." ~Hebrews 12:3

Ball gown & Blues

Earlier today I had another doctors appointment.
The doctor measured me at 38-1/2 weeks, right on track, which is good.
However, the doctor said that at this point it is still possible to go into labor at any time OR I could walk around like this until 41 weeks and then be induced.
How frustrating....I feel so close, but I know that HIS time is perfect.
We just really want to meet her!

On another note...

Tonight was the Air Force Ball.
We weren't sure we'd even make it.
Bud bought tickets a few weeks ago and then we found out how I was progressing.
We decided to hold onto the tickets and see how things played out.
Fortunately, we were able to go and it was a nice excuse to get dressed up!
In fact I was able to do something I have yet to do before.
I wore one of my bridesmaids dresses for a SECOND time!!!
Here are a few pictures of our night...

 All dressed up and ready to dance his socks off!

 CHEESE!

 I love getting all dolled up!

Scared of the Paparazzi (aka my Mother in Law)

 Here we are at the ball!

We had a great time.

We even danced to a few songs..

including, but not limited to swing and slow dances.

It was a great excuse to get out for the night.

Our first official military dining out.

Our last official military dining out where we won't require a babysitter in order to go.

Well it's off to bed for this lady!

Gonna hit the mall tomorrow to walk some laps and see if Bitsy is any closer to arriving, we will keep y'all posted.

I hope you had a Blessed Thursday!

This week's verse to memorize:

"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom." ~James 3:13

Bob Your Head #3

It's another Bob Your Head Wednesday.
Today's weather is cloudy and foggy and the perfect kind of music for today is the kind that makes you want to curl up on the couch with a good book and hot cup of tea.
On that note let me introduce you to a mellifluous voice whose helps me accomplish just that.
Sara Overall.
We had the pleasure of knowing her while we lived in Austin.
She went to Gateway Community Church and sang on the worship team.
I love her voice...she's a joy to know and a blessing to all who encounter her.
This is a music video of a song that is not on her album, but it makes me happy!
(check out the rest of her album)!


We are still hanging in here...no baby yet.
Just FYI for all those who are wondering.
I'm feeling splendidly and couldn't ask for a better pregnancy.
We will keep you posted!

I hope you have a Blessed Wednesday!

This week's verse to memorize:

"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom." ~James 3:13

Bits and Pieces...

of a random day.

My mother-in-law arrived in town last night!

She is staying with us until Bitsy arrives and then she will probably move to a hotel.

It's wonderful, because, when Bud goes to work at night I have someone here who could rush me to the hospital should the need arise.

It helps put Bud's mind at ease and my MIL is excited as she can't wait to meet her 1st grandchild!

This morning we passed the time by playing 'Jenga' (it was actually the knock off brand, but fun none-the-less).

 There is a lot of strategy required for this game.

 Everyone was secretly hoping that when the tower fell I'd get

startled and go into labor, haha!

 Listening intently to his Mom telling a story.

Again with the strategy!

The rest of the day was filled with grocery shopping, cooking dinner, and a little extra crafting!

I finished the NEW "A" for Bitsy's Rag Wreath.

 Technically I still need to distress this to give it a

more beachy feel.

 However, I like this "A" much 

better as it pops a little more against

the wreath.

"Okay Bitsy...I'm done crafting for you, for the time

being....you can come out now".

(I'm just kidding, she is on her own time and I am okay with that!)

I also decided that all this crafting for Bitsy had left me with some extra fabric and nothing for myself....so I took the 20 minutes tonight to make myself a new rosette headband!

Yeah for a new headband!

The easiest accessory to any outfit.

This headband has prompted me to think about a few more items for Bitsy, however.

For example a few gifts that Bitsy have received included newborn beanies representing both the University of Texas and Kansas State University.

If worn with a simple onesie...I'm afraid she may be mistaken for a little boy.

Luckily I have both UT and KSU fabric and so I plan to make some little flowers to attach to said beanies, just one way to girl-ify them!

I hope you all had a Blessed Tuesday!

This week's verse to memorize:

"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom." ~James 3:13

Banana Nutella Muffins

In an effort to reduce waste in our house I decided it was time I start learning what to do with the bananas that turn brown on the counter.
You know the bananas, the 1 or 2 left over towards the end of the week that no one wants to touch.
In our house, silly as it sounds, once there are "X" number of brown spots on the banana we will no longer eat them.
So I stuck them in the freezer and recently pulled them out to tackle making something that we could enjoy.
**Note to others who have never done this....thawed bananas, in my opinion, are gross to look at.  They are mushy and messy and the best way to remove them from the skin is to open one end and push them out!
I have never been a banana bread fan.
I started by googling recipes for banana peanut butter muffins and then thanks to good ole Pinterest I saw a recipe that I couldn't ignore!

Gooey Nutella Banana Bread

 Source: oleana.wordpress.com via Biz on Pinterest

With Bitsy Hitzy's arrival still pending and my desire to have easy to eat snacks and meals I decided to change this recipe just a bit.
Converting it from a bread to an easy to hold in one hand muffin.

Please visit here for the list of ingredients and instructions on making the bread version.

If you would like to make the muffins here are the changes I made:

In step 5 of the directions instead of alternating banana bread batter and Nutella, go ahead and blend both together.

As far as baking I sprayed down a muffin tin with non-stick spray and used an ice-cream scoop to fill each tin perfectly.

The great thing about making muffins is that they will be done much faster!  

Mine were done in 25 minutes!

I set them out to cool for a bit....

...and then it was time for the verdict.

The test subject, Bud handsome husband (Nutella & Banana Bread LOVER)

Appears nervous to try the new creation

Wait for it.....wait for it....

Thumbs Up and a Smile :)

The verdict is a good one!  

Looks like these Banana Nutella Muffins will be making a repeat appearance as I have a few more bananas in the freezer awaiting their final destination!

I hope you all had a Blessed Monday!

This week's verse to memorize:

"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom." ~James 3:13

Baby Diaries #30

How far along? 38 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Officially 30 lbs. and holding despite my recent increase in appetite.  Interesting fact that I just learned though.  It's not uncommon for women to lose 1-3 lbs BEFORE going into labor.  So maybe holding at 30 lbs. is a sign that we are getting close?!

Maternity clothes? Ah yes, still wearing maternity clothes.  I recently started to pull out the belly bands again though to cover the gap that has started to form between the bottom of my shirts and the top of my bottoms.  Since Bitsy dropped it's a little harder for my clothes to cover this spot!

Stretch marks? Still nothing and I feel so blessed!

Sleep: I wake up 2-3 times a night to use the restroom and I tend to wake up very sweaty (gross I KNOW!).  After getting 6 hours of sleep last night I became narcoleptic this morning.  I woke up at 7:15 and around 9 Bud & I were discussing going to church at 11.  By 9:15 I had passed out on the couch...10:45 I woke up only to realize we were not going to make it to church.  I asked Bud, "What happened".  He told me, "You passed out"!  After I apologized that we weren't going to make it to church he informed me that it didn't matter, that it appeared I was sleeping well and he was happy to see that!

Best moment this week: Having the doctor tell me that we are 90% effaced, STILL dilated to 3, but that Bitsy is fully engaged now and she could arrive anytime in the next week or so!  I'm excited to meet her!

Movement: My little break dancer doesn't seem to feel too cramped if you ask me.  She stretches and moves more than I thought she would at this stage of pregnancy.

Food cravings:  Still nothing.  I eat when I'm hungry and drink plenty of water these days.  Bud noticed my appetite has increased a little so I'm taking his word on this :) 

Gender: It is still a Girl!  

Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks seem to be steady at certain parts of the day.  Every 15 minutes or so for anywhere from 1-3 minutes long.  They don't hurt, but I just wish they were more productive and we were closer to having this little girl in our arms.

Belly Button in or out?  Belly Button....what belly button?!

What I miss: Again with the beer.  We went to watch a football game at a restaurant yesterday afternoon and football and beer just go together...oh well.  Sacrifices are worth it for Bitsy.

What I am looking forward to: Bud has his scrubs, we are packed, the car is ready, my mother in law arrives tomorrow night, Bitsy's knit mermaid tail and headband arrived for her newborn photo shoot (I purchased the set here...so go take a look if your looking for an adorable knit item for your little ones!), and there really is nothing that needs to be done.  We are ready, so I'm looking forward to the drive to the hospital!

Mermaid headband

Mermaid Tail

Weekly Wisdom:  Listen to your body.  When it's time to rest, rest.  When you want to get up and move around, do that.  I attribute my bodies ability to cope with this pregnancy in that I listened to what my body asked of me.  I did as much as I could for myself as long as I could and now that I can't do somethings I don't feel guilty asking for help :) 

From whattoexpect.com

Your Baby in Week 38 of Pregnancy

Hey, your little one isn't so little anymore, weighing close to seven pounds and measuring 20 inches long. Fetal development is nearly complete as your baby tends to a few last-minute details like shedding the skin-protecting vernix and lanugo. He's also producing more surfactant, a substance that prevents the air sacs in his lungs from sticking to one another once he starts to breathe. Most of the changes this week are small but important: He’s continuing to add fat (so he can take advantage of all those photo ops by sporting a round, cute baby look!) and fine-tuning his brain and nervous system (so he can deal with all the stimulation that awaits him once he makes his entrance into the world).

source
weighing in at nearly 7 lbs and close to 19-1/2 inches

I hope you had a Blessed Sunday!

This week's verse to memorize:

"Who is wise and understanding among you?  Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom." ~James 3:13