WhAT juSt HapPENed?

OH WOW!!!! I don't even know where to start, it's been almost 2 months since i've posted anything....it's been absolutely crazy lately to say the least. I guess i'll just start from October 22nd, when Laura arrived for her 3 week visit!! We did a lot of beaches, and had a day free of Gemma and went to a local spot for all the tourists to go, kind of like a Senor Frogs type place, we had a great time petting monkeys and riding horses on the beach, jumping off rope swings and laying in cabanas. The weather was perfect most of the time she was here so that was great because last time she was here, it was kinda cloudy and rainy the whole time. Having Gem now, makes for very interesting adjustments when having people visit. Working around her naps and melt downs gets tricky. She did pretty well for the most part but every few days we just needed to stay home and adjust back before going again for a few more days doing stuff. One of the fun things Laura got to be a part of was Halloween (lol)...that seems so long ago now. Gemma's first Halloween was a success! The girl wore what I wore on my first Halloween, the only difference is I had a full snow suit on under it so the space was mostly taken up, Gemma doesn't need all the cold padding so it looked more like a pumpkin gown than an actual plump pumpkin hahaha. We went to a friends neighborhood where all of us met up with our kiddos to trick or treat along with the neighborhood kids...saying 50 kids is probably low balling it. My first experience with kids on Halloween, it was absolute chaos lol, but they had so much fun and once everyone started to spread out, walking around was nice. The following night we had a sitter and Laura along with me and two other friends were superheros in tutus for a Halloween party! The next day we had Alan come in town which started the trickle of friends coming in daily for Alan and Jenny's wedding the next weekend. We had a crazy busy week with at least 5 people and a baby in the house at anytime that week, for 4 of the nights there were 7 people and a baby here. We had a great week exploring with everyone and got some great photos!

Alan and Jenny's festivities started with rehearsal at Sea Cat, a fantastic restaurant here. I had told Alan i'd decorate everything at the restaurant that night and for him not to worry about it....I did it as a surprise to Jenny (and everyone else) and i'm pretty sure she loved it! Us girls went to stay at The Crane Resort that night and had hair and makeup done there the next morning before headed to the wedding at Lone Star Restaurant. I was super stressed out for days since I helped plan a large part of the wedding, but it paid off and everything went great, I was glad it was over and I felt more like me almost instantly. I can't wait to see pictures from the photographer, Jenny was absolutely stunning and the little twists and turns of detail made it special and more memorable. They set off for their honeymoon sailing in the BVI's and the rest of the group (as well as Gem and I) headed back to Orlando.

Darin came up 5 days later and we did a family/holiday day with each of our families which consisted of good food and watching Gem open her first Christmas presents! We also had planned on going to Disney with Drey, Shane and the girls as well as Grammie and Poppie (Mark and Marcie, Darin's parents)....it was for Jordis's 7th birthday and it was Gem's first disney trip. I got the super stinking cute mini mouse ears for her that she wore and didn't care for a good part of the day. She got to ride Dumbo, It's a Small World and Peter Pan, just the most cutest thing ever was having her at Disney, even though she won't remember it, but I will :) We also brought Gem to see Santa!! Oh my gosh was that so freaking cute too....I just love her so much at this stage, the 9-10 months has been my absolute favorite age so far. She's just the coolest, cutest kid....she's got this personality and smile that kills me every time I look at her. Her hair is getting so long with these curls at the ends and her eyes changed to this really cool green with a super dark blue ring around the outside, they're gorgeous!!

We had also planned a surprise party for the Doty's 40th anniversary. Drey got a good group of people from close and far, old friends and new to come out and celebrate and boy were they surprised!! Great night for sure!!

Since our visit, we've just been getting back into our daily routine and enjoying lots of holiday parties here and looking forward to a few friends that are visiting for the holidays. We're also looking forward to January when my brother gets married!! I hope to not go 2 months again with out posting, enjoy all the pics...I know I do ;) 

LoVE biRDs

I have some fantastic news!!!! My little/big brother is ENGAGED!!! He met this amazing girl years ago and on occasion, randomly would hang out with the same group of friends. They never thought twice, or maybe just the wrong timing in life, but they were never more than that person that they see sometimes when everyone hangs out.  I do remember Craig talking about this girl he thought was pretty at someone's wedding but nothing ever came of it...maybe she had a boyfriend or word just didn't get around to her that Craig was interested. It's ok though, a little while later we had a new renter in our house who was Laura and Craig's friend Maggie.....and her friend who came over all the time was Kaitlyn. Even though they kind of, sort of knew each other, it wasn't until then that they really got to know each other. Still with a few obstacles they remained friends and nothing more. A few months after that, the timing was right and they fell in "like" with each other. Craig has been waiting for the one to come along for a while, he said when he found her one day he would know right away. They started dating and we quickly learned Craig has probably found that one he's been waiting for. A few facetime convos with Craig and we heard all about Kaitlyn. It wasn't until I went home in October to surprise a friend for her birthday that I got to meet her. I was excited to meet her because I heard such great things from Craig, but also nervous because I wanted her to be right for my brother, I didn't want her to hurt him, I didn't want him to get heart broken, I didn't want to see him sad and I definitely didn't want her to be a snobby, all about me, selfish person who was going to one day take my brother from me. I was pleasantly surprised (at 6 months pregnant) when I walked in the house and this girl with a big smile on her face got up from the couch and gave me the biggest hug like she's missed me....yet she's never met me. All those doubts in my mind instantly faded and I felt an immediate connection with Kaitlyn, like i've missed her too!! Since that day, they grew into a loving, caring, fun couple. In May they came to Barbados for a week and it was great to spend good quality time with them and really get to see them together as a couple. Kaitlyn fits perfectly with our family dynamic and when we're all together things just flow like normal, we've never felt like we had to "fit" someone else into our lives. She's very easy going, enjoys life, loves our family, adores my brother and as nervous as us Zubli girls were for the girl Craig would one day marry, we have nothing to be nervous about anymore. 

A few weeks ago, Craig picked up the engagement ring he'd been designing with a friend of the family who is a Jeweler. Besides Kaitlyn, we were all involved, got updates of drawings and everything, so it would only make sense for all of us to go with Craig to pick up the ring on his lunch break....I of course was on facetime so technically I was there :) My mom cried, then I got kind of choked up, it's just so special seeing my brother design and purchase something that means so much to him and he's become this great man who's found the one he wants to spend his life with and I can not be happier.

He went out that night with Kaitlyn for their 1 yr anniversary but he didn't propose because it was to obvious....so he waited until the next night. He hatched a plan and proposed in downtown Winter Garden FL in front of the fountain. I was impatiently waiting for updates from Laura who was the ring holder and picture taker. When it was over, we facetime'd quickly but it was loud where they went to celebrate so it was pretty much hand gestures of excitement because they couldn't hear us lol.

 It's so awesome having my family who is so close, we want each other there for things because it's important and we can't imagine doing them with anyone else. Keeping the bond is what's most important in life and Kaitlyn is part of that family bond. Darin, also an in-law, fits in perfectly too ;) and i'm grateful for the relationship he has with my family as well. He's become a best friend and brother to Craig and Laura and I love that! He means so much to Craig, that Craig has asked Darin to stand with him at his wedding....my heart is so happy, I married such a great guy who means just as much to my family as he does to me. Just like I can't imagine someone else for me, I can't imagine someone else for Craig, Kaitlyn loves and adores my brother so much, he's changed as a person over the last year (in a great way) and I can see the change he's made in Kaitlyn as well. They make a great team and they make each other better in the process.....I can't wait to watch them start their lives together as husband and wife on January 31, 2015!!!!!

ParEnTs VisiT #2

A few weeks ago my parents came for their 2nd annual Barbados visit. Remember how I said Gemma was so close to crawling that maybe she'll surprise my parents and do it first while their here? Well she didn't lol....still so so close! We had a great week despite the clouds, some rain, the car window breaking in the down position, using a trash bag to cover the window only to have it rip off and it start pouring rain on the way to the dealership, not having a car for a day, pools being closed, restaurants closed because September is "slow time" hence time to renovate and close, service for lunch one day was the worst i've ever experienced since living here....but we had one absolutely perfect day the day before they left, BUT...we had a great time because we got to spend quality time together and that's what's most important. We left Gemma with a friend one night and went to dinner at a new place we haven't been before and it turned out to be a really good meal and had a few really good laughs. So glad my parents are able to visit, they have a lot going on with moving into an apartment because they sold the house and are building another, so it's nice that they were able to squeeze a visit in. My mom and Aunt plan on coming back for Gemma's 1st birthday in January so that should be a fun sister trip for them. 

I decided recently that I was going to surprise my friend Jenny for her bachelorette weekend in Clearwater Florida. It worked out perfect that my parents were here the week before so I got to fly back with them and thank you Jesus because Gemma was a PILL on the flight from Barbados to Miami. No more afternoon flights with that girl.....and no more flights with my parents either lol, we had the WORST traveling luck i've ever had in my life. I have so much anxiety traveling with her because I simply don't want to be "that lady with a kid", any noise she makes I immediately start to panic and my blood pressure i'm sure is through the roof, so she and I both make it to Miami in one piece...besides Gemma being horrible on that first flight, we were happy to get off and finally grab some dinner and wait for our next flight. Little did we know the universe had other plans for us. We get off the plane and head for immigration, all is well...we use the new kiosks and print out tickets out but my mom's has an X on it. Dad and I go to the "fast lane" and get through fine while my mom has to go through the actual line which didn't look bad because she was the only one. My dad and I are standing there waiting for my mom who is taking forever!!! My dad goes to check on her and gets yelled at to leave the area.....it was about 10 mins I think before she finally came around the corner!! We get down to the baggage area for customs and our bags are the last 3 on the carousel....obviously because we took so long in immigration. I get my bag and head towards the LOOOOOOOONG Disney world line that looked at least an hour long....great! I'm starving, Gemma needs a break and needs to eat and this line is just so so long. I move a little in line as my parents are coming up and the security guy lets me and my parents cut through!!! What a relief we are now 2nd in line instead of 200 lol....we get though ok, head around the corner for security for our connecting flight and my mom gets stopped because her and dad's tickets are wrong for the flight to Orlando....awesome....something ELSE goes wrong! We have to go to the ticket desk and get new tickets printed, get back in line for security to head to dinner, food, a beer and finally our flight.....but no. Security went well (i thought), my mom and I got through and we're sitting on the bench putting shoes on, the door is RIGHT THERE and we're clear, no more bad luck!! Here comes dad and we head out the automatic doors, i'm thinking, watch the door close and hit one of us in the face just our luck right now. We get through about 10 steps and I told my parent's I need a beer stat, i'm about to freak out if something else happens....cue my dad "where's my phone".....are you freaking kidding me!!! I go back into security with him and after a few mins of confusion and no luck, anxiety and nausea kick in and I start to panic....we find it at the lost and found right there....OMG i'm gonna die, my heart is racing, i'm over traveling, I just wanna get to Orlando. We stop at TGI Fridays for dinner finally...the hostess told us our bad luck was over and we get a booth and are happy to sit and order. Dad goes to the bathroom, I pass Gemma to my mom so I can get her food ready when Gemma grabs for something on the table and I quickly grab it away from her but as I do that I knock over an entire glass of ice cold water all over the table, my mom, the booth and I just start crying, laughing too but they were more tears of frustration and insanity than laughter. This day has GOT to end. We eat, get to our flight, Gemma has a bottle and passes out, we get to Orlando and the bags are taking FOREVER, but Laura is promptly there to pick us up. We finally get home, exhausted....I told my parents I will not be traveling with them again lol.....jk, I probably will, but on this day, I feel like I never want to again lol.  

*top row is my parents visit, bottom is our flight back....that middle bottom picture explains our travels, my half beer and my mom overwhelmed as were all of us lol.

7 months almost 8:

*absolutely loves the water, she fell asleep in her float for the first time lol

*apparently doesn't mind sunglasses or hats at all

*loves to stand and play

*eats eggs and pancakes every morning and loves it

GroWiNg gROwInG

Besides G growing so fast right before our eyes, so are her nails, her appetite, her voice, her curiosity and diaper size. It's been a fairly crazy month of firsts, i'm pretty sure 6 months is the most confusing for new parents. She started sitting a week before she was 6 months, and that was cool....just toss some pillows around her on the floor and bam, pillow fortress! Then comes the eating new foods and trying something new every 2 or 3 days, which is cool too until she gags on something because the consistency isn't right, or something gets stuck on her palate and she gags.....which is not cool! We tried little bits of things, banana, watermelon, a puff cereal thing, and all of it....gag. I swear i'm not gonna feed her anything but mushed pureed food until she has all her teeth in lol and even then, i'm gonna be so paranoid! She has found every level of noise her little voice can make, but luckily her loudest screams are always happy ones, when she's the most excited. Since sitting for a little over a month now, she frustrates herself because she can't get to things and wants to. Her tummy has become a little more common to her and she doesn't freak out as fast laying on it anymore. She's done a fair share of face plants into the floor because she can get on one knee but can't figure out the other leg and where it goes so she sits back or face plants. If we leave her sitting she'll be sitting 2 ft away not to long after but it's mostly because she leans and scoots, not fast at all, but it's movement. She continues to LOVE bath time, doesn't mind at all when we dump water on her, she just gets back to the toy she had, like it's no big deal. We were at the beach 2 weekends ago and completely dunked her, no cry, just a little surprised, caught her breath look and then she'd smile.....hopefully we really do have a water baby!!

7 MONTHS: 

Even though some days my brain feels like mush because I literally watch kid/baby shows ALL DAY.....I can't complain, it's a real privilege to stay home with her. It's quite sad but I not only have my favorite shows but I also have my favorite shows for Gem....if one comes on that I don't like, I change it, she doesn't seem to mind yet lol. We had a biscuit type cookie, a cheese puff and a rice wafer thing that she's done pretty good on today.....still, i'm so nervous and on super mom alert when she's eating, but she showed me today she is not like she was at 6 months, progress is good.

She's popped out her 2 bottom teeth the other day! FINALLY!! I've been waiting for those suckers....she's been quite good, had a runny nose and was a little fussy a few days before I saw them but nothing more than usual...and from what I hear about teething babies, i'd like to consider us super super lucky in that department!

We are currently in the "don't leave my side or i'll die" phase, it happens to be my least favorite. We've never been the parents that were all over her at every second, she doesn't sleep with us, nap with us, she plays by herself and has fed herself a bottle since somewhere in the 3-4 month mark. She's so content to play with her oh so interesting toys, but now when you can't leave her side, not even as close as sitting on the couch...I mean it's on the floor next to her or else. She seems to have freak moments during her awake time, sometimes it's the whole 2 hrs i'm on the floor and sometimes I can do some laundry, wash dishes, make something to eat and she doesn't care where I am. 

My parents, who are now Oma and Opa come to visit in 1 week and we can't wait!! Gem is so close to crawling, maybe she'll have a surprise for them when they get here!

Below is some 7 months pictures....this little girl has got one awesome life, I mean...that beach is down the street, walking distance from our house and she gets to grow up there, how lucky.

7 Months:
*eats puffs like a champ
*loves to go on walks and watch the waves
*absolutely loves bath time and all her toys
*pulled up on her own from sitting to standing!!

FirST foOdS

FINALLY the 6 month mark came and then quickly left, that's how crazy i've been!

From 6 months: Gemma is now testing out her taste buds!!  So far we do oats in the morning for breakfast and a veggie at lunch time. She's questioned it all but ends up eating it and liking everything so far....we started with carrots, then sweet potato and zucchini. She's had a taste of banana and avocado but hasn't had a full serving of them yet. I'm happy to say no allergies so far and I can't get more food in her mouth fast enough, our chunku-munk loves food, go figure :) She continues to amaze us with that personality that is coming out, her laugh and smile are still as sweet and cute as ever, and her and Darin love their chat time at night before bed. She loves people and smiles at them all so they in turn love her right back, she loves touching faces, loves Pocoyo (a cartoon) and toys that play music. We're also so lucky to have a good sleeper still, it's nice having that time with Darin at night when she's in bed to just relax and watch tv or a movie together, ya know, all that stuff old people do.....and we're also still in bed around 10pm lol, that's been our bed time for years, what can I say, we like sleep :)

6 MONTHS:

*17lbs 11oz, 25inches

*babbles like a crazy person, which is really funny

*still LOVES her jumper

*hates her tummy so she rolls right to her back

*still sleeps with the blanket covering her face...not sure that will ever end

*sitting up just before 6 months

KaDooMEnT

This past week was Darin's golden birthday, he turned 30 on July 30th, so also his "dirty 30th". His birthday weekend has got to be the best weekend all year. There's so many parties for weeks leading up to Kadooment Monday and especially the week before there's TONS to do. We started our weekend with Friday being a holiday but stayed in to rest up for the next 3 days. Saturday I took Darin out to dinner to celebrate his birthday and then after dinner our friends surprised him and we stayed an had a few drinks with everyone. He was quite surprised, I even made a ridiculously corny sign and got balloons and whistles for everyone, Darin also had a gold crown to wear :) Sunday was the annual boat cruise that we went on last year for the first time....I was also 3 months pregnant but had a blast so I knew this year i'd have a great time also, and I sure did! Nothing like being out on a boat on a beautiful day with blue waters and fun floaties to use....and of course the people watching part, lots of good laughs. We came home and were in bed by 8:30 because we had to be up at 5am to start getting ready for Kadooment....hair, make-up, costume, drop off Gem, meet up with friends to finish getting ready and head out by 7am to the stadium. Our group left the stadium around 9am with drink trucks and super loud music to start our 6hr walk! I was a little scared of drinking and being in the sun the whole day so I started out with a very large water. Kadooment was SO MUCH FUN!! I would do it every weekend if it was possible. There is SO many people and everyone is wearing these insane costumes and there's so many different colors and patterns it makes the sea of people look so good! The crowd watching on the side of the road is packed from the start of the morning down to the end of the road 6 hrs later. Everyone dances and interacts with the Kadooment people, kids, parents, grandparents are all having such a good time!! It was a great day to see the culture of Barbados and see thousands and thousands of people come together to celebrate! We had a great group of friends who made our first time doing Kadooment a blast, wouldn't of been the same without them and we're so happy they made us do it this year.....didn't know what we were missing out on!! Can't WAIT for next year!!!

MeRiCA!!

A few weeks ago G and I traveled back to Orlando for 2.5 weeks. She had just turned 5 months old and she's on her 2nd international flight. She did pretty well on the plane, almost had a melt down when the plane got to the gate and stopped....just like the car stopping for a bit, she gets fussy, she'd rather the movement. We got through immigration great and met Laura outside and started our road trip from Miami to Orlando. Thank goodness G is so chill, she impressed me with how well she did all day. I was nervous about her not sleeping at night and her schedule she's on might get all screwed up because of traveling and she's not at home, but she adjusted pretty well. The last few days she was ready to go home but she stuck it out and did pretty well on the flight home too....I had an open seat next to me so she slept there most of the flight.

At G's 5 months appointment (in Orlando) she was 16lbs!!! I knew she had to be up there in weight, my arm hurts if I hold her to long lol.  She's teething for sure but no teeth yet, just lots of drool when she's chewing on things, and she is so so close to sitting up. In Orlando she went in her first pool and loved it which made me smile, we hope she continues to love the water and be our water baby. Our families were so excited to see Gem, especially the grandparents!! Gem's cousins even drove down from Georgia for a week to visit. This trip was so neat, watching G interact with people and smile at them and grab their faces, she's a little person with a personality. Jordis was so excited to have Gem there and even though Joss was a jealous 1 1/2 yr old she still decided sharing things with her was ok and would carefully give her a toy or try and share a cookie :)  G also had her first trip to the mall lol! I got a new jogger and went for a test ride the next day at the mall. She loves her jogger because she faces out and sees everything. After a few days of on the go everywhere, she would have a day where she was a hot mess and stayed home those days, simply out of pure exhaustion and her schedule getting all messed up....sadly my mom was watching her some of those days and had to deal with the crazy 5 month old...thanks mom!! For the most part she's really good going out and running around with me, she's on a nice schedule so I attribute her awesomeness to that. She's great at napping too, I know she's tired and just lay her in bed and she'll fall asleep on her own, as long as there's a/c and a fan she's good lol. Night time is the same way, bath, eat, bed and then I could go out to dinner and things with friends :) 

Since the last paragraphs: Things happen so fast, 3 days ago Gem started sitting on her own after her morning nap...weird lol. It's like she just decided she was gonna sit today and she'll sit for forever before she goes over. People always say "they grow up so quick", "enjoy all the moment", "before you know it...", "when are you having another" (that's my least fav). I believe all of those "grow up so fast" comments because I blinked and high school was 13 years ago.......i'm trying my best to soak it all in and enjoy all those moments but seriously, if another person says it to me I may roll my eyes in annoyance at them....i've got to think of something else to say to parents when Gem is all grown up and I come across little babies, I have a little while to think of something clever. A great follow up comment to my least favorite question "when are you having another" is....enjoy this one because you're next one won't be such a dream.....well thank you for that, something that already terrifies me, people seem to remind me of, well done.

Anyways, we're back in Barbados, Darin was so happy we came home finally and G is adjusting well back to her schedule and sleeping through the night. We have her 6 month appointment next week so i'll have some stats up soon :)

CanADiaN TiME eH?

It all started almost 2 1/2 years ago in the Bahamas....I met this girl :) She was tall, blonde and from Canada, she was dating a friend of ours we'd just met and I was the girl they set up for her to meet and hang out with. I met her at dinner and then told her we'd go to the beach or something the next day and surprising to me, for the next 2 weeks she was in town we were joined at the hip. Whenever her boyfriend was working, day or night at the restaurant, she was all mine and we did everything together!! We became instant best friends and I was so upset when she had to go. Thanks to iphone for imessage and facetime, we continued to chat and talk like we'd been friends forever. We got to know each other pretty well over those next couple years and then the day came when she bought her ticket to come to Barbados!! It was only a month away but I was so stinking excited and we talked about all the stuff we were gonna do and where we'd eat or have glass after glass of wine.

Foxy is her name, we call her Jen sometimes but for the most part it's Foxy, and the day arrived when Foxy was landing in Barbados!! Her trip was amazing, we did so much stuff and ate some amazing food, trying new places and spending the days at the beach. It was so nice to have someone help me with Gemma too. If I needed to drop Darin off at work so we could have the car, she'd ask me to leave Gem with her so they could play. She fed her numerous times, changed diapers, watched her while I had to do some errands for Darin.....Gem loves her aunt Foxy and so do I. The week went by at a steady pace, not to fast, but the day did come when she had to go and I was not excited about it. Living here makes me love visitors but also hate it at the same time because I always have to drop them off at the airport and say good-bye. We had a good long big hug and I of course cried (lol, such a dork). I just don't want it to be another 2 years before we see each other again, and I couldn't help from thinking that when I had to say good-bye....wish we lived closer, Vancouver and Barbados are just to far apart. I'm very lucky to have a friend like her and even though our friendship has been and will always be long distance we'll always be close :)

Love you Foxy!! Come back!!

iNVenTor MoM

Having a baby and them being your first, you've always got your thinking cap on. They grow and change on a daily basis so i'm constantly figuring stuff out and how or what to do next.

Sometimes I think her naps are getting shorter, then she fools me and is out for 3 hrs. She's on a pretty good sleep, eat, wake, sleep schedule...eating every 4 hours or so but she'll throw me off sometimes and then we've got to re adjust...no day is the same. 
We've outgrown the swing and now use the jumparoo thing, which she loves!! She wants to sit by herself so bad, she grabs at toys and instantly puts them in her mouth and she's standing like a champ!! Recently though, i've had to invent a few things. At her 4 month check up the dr noticed a tad of "flat head" starting so she recommended a sleep wedge which I don't have and who knows how expensive that is here. So (since wearing a thinking cap) i've created a masterpiece!! After many random ideas that didn't work out....to keep her on her left side when she sleeps, I cut a swim noodle and use her swaddle to keep it in place lol, see pic below :) Pretty genius of me I think. I also made her nursing pillow smaller and taped it so she can lay her head on that and it won't be on the bed flat anymore (saw something on a baby website that was similar, but made my own). I like both things but i'll soon have an actual side sleeper when my friend arrives in a week. Another thing, her legs are so chunky when she sits in the bumbo seat that when you take her out it sticks to her, so unless she's in her pj's or pants she's good. The trick is to put a receiving blanket covering the seat....and now we can pull her out way more easy with no seat stuck to her bare legs!

I've also started to lose hair, not just the normal hair loss but I mean like CLUMPS.....I was so freaked out in the shower I started to cry, it was so much hair I swear i'm gonna be bald before long. From talking to other moms and reading online it's "normal".....guess i'll just have to ride out the hair loss for now, hope it ends soon because it's no fun. Gemma is losing hair too but in a baby way so that doesn't count.

We started doing cereal, randomly but we started it, her face explains it all hahahaha. At first she was so confused but a few spoonfuls later she liked it. Hasn't quite gotten how to swallow it all at once so most comes out to the spoon but then I put it right back in, eventually it's all gone :) I can't wait to start fruits and veggies but that has to wait for Dr's orders first :(

She is also sleeping through the night (not sure if it's this amber necklace but since she's had it on she sleeps even better, and she was always a good sleeper), she's down around 7 or 8 and isn't up till around 5am, Darin does that feeding (thank goodness) because i'm usually up at 6:30 with her and I let him sleep till 7am when his alarm goes off for work. She's also been teething...she's been doing really really well, she's had some down days or fussy days but from what people explain how horrific teething babies are I think I should count my blessings because she's not really that bad...knock on wood lol. 

Gemma Loves:
-her jumparoo
-chewing on anything that fits in her mouth
-to stand
-my little ponies

Gemma Hates:
-tummy time....what's new

Gemma Stats
-4 months, 14lbs 5 oz, 25 inches long, our solid little girl :)

ViSiTOrS

Last week we had my brother and his very very sweet girlfriend come for a visit. Craig has been here before but Kaitlyn hasn't, she's been to Haiti a few times but this was her first vacation to the caribbean and what an awesome first caribbean vacation it was. We did so much with them, of course the usual amazing beaches all around the island with a different one to visit every day but the main reason for coming those dates is because Craig's favorite show Top Gear was here!!! We got VIP tickets and went out to the Bushy Park track here in Barbados for an all day even on Sunday, it was so much fun, an awesome day for sure!! We also did some paddle boarding on the west coast and saw a few turtles who weren't shy to see us at all, Kaitlyn even touched one!! The water was so clear so the visibility was perfect for snorkeling and swimming with the turtles. Craig has his GoPro so i'm sure there will be a video soon of all that :) Gemma got to spend some quality time with Alicia and her boys who LOVE their Gemma, it was nice to have some time and do things with them without the little one. We went out on a double date one night, watched the sunset at the Cliff on the west coast and then headed to Lime Grove for some dinner, which Kaitlyn and I shared a pizza and big salad and we couldn't stop moaning over how good the food was lol! Another great night was an annual party some friends throw called Mix Nutz and it's a paint party so we wear all white and show up at midnight and dance around in paint and powder like crazy people.....so crazy I lost our keys to the car AND my iphone :( good thing everything worked out and everything was returned...PHEW!!! Mix Nutz is on my top 5 nights in Barbados ever, seriously SO MUCH FUN (except I lost all the pics on my phone). It was nice when Craig and Darin enjoyed "bro" time because Kaitlyn and I got to enjoy girl time...we chatted about a lot of things that I won't share but that make my heart smile so just know that :) We miss them and hope one day they can come back and visit. Until next time....here's some pics :)

1st MotHeR's DaY

Very late post but after mother's day that week went pretty quick, then my brother and his sweet girlfriend came the following weekend and we've been super busy up until they left yesterday.

Here's my little Gem, who's made me enjoy life even more than I have been all along, I thought it was good then and it was, because it's great now. She's tested my patience, pooped on me, spit up on me, woke me in the middle of the night, screamed in my ear but it's all worth it when she flashes that gorgeous smile my way. Thank you Gem for being such a great baby for my first time around this crazy block! Last year I was pregnant with you but didn't know so this day is so special knowing what I know now, I was a mom last mother's day and didn't know it.....love how life changes!

The bottom left pic is actually Mother's Day, we went to breakfast and then headed to the beach :) 

TiME fLiES

We've just passed the 3 month mark with G. In the last 2 weeks we've had a great Easter weekend with friends, been to the beach a few times in the last 2 weeks because we've had probably 4 holidays (haha, we have a lot of those here), and she continues to smile big and be happy 90% of the time :) We got her a little rash guard for the beach to help protect her from the sun (see pic below), it's so cute on her! I got a swim bottom for her also a few weeks ago that a friend brought but it's already to small and tight on her legs....she's a chunk! 

It's so fun being home with her all day, yea sometimes i'd like to leave but for the most part I love being home, I can't imagine missing all the things I see all day if I had to work....the moms that work must have a hard time leaving every day then every minute they're gone they can't wait to get back. Babies don't do much till 2-3 months and then maternity leave is over and mom has to go back to work when all the fun begins, to those moms....you're amazing in every way! I'm very thankful for this life i've been given and all these great opportunities that are so amazing, there's nothing better than being able to watch her grow and change day in and day out....one day she's on her back and the next she can roll over and the next she can grab toys and put them right in her mouth!! She's also laughed a couple of times but Darin can really get her going and it's so funny listening to how she laughs and watching her stare at Darin waiting for the next funny thing to happen.

G had her first birthday party to attend (Liam's 5th) and as it was her first, it was also our first...with a kid lol...we're usually in the adult side group with no kids and a beer or wine in hand watching all the crazy happen around us and not having to do anything about it, haha, not anymore! She had a great time watching all the kids run around screaming and playing with all sorts of toys, she just sat there and grunted a few times as she kicked her legs and arms while the kids ran by her. She'll be amongst them soon enough :) 

I can't help but be jealous of how my daughter gets to grow up, the older she gets the easier it is to bring her around places so we go everywhere. She's been to the beach more times than some people go in an entire year and not just a beach but the most bluest, turquoise beaches. I'm not sure how old I was when I saw a beach for the first time, but the first time it was a blue, turquoise, clear water beach, I was 18 years old. I moved to Florida when I was 11, but the beaches there don't count as they are brown :( I hope G appreciates all this one day and I hope she continues to love the water as much as her mum and dad do.

Craig and Kaitlyn come in 2 weeks and we're so excited!! Gemma and I also go back to Florida the end of June for 2 weeks and we can't wait!!

Gemma Loves:
-her play mat
-watching daddy make her laugh
-holding a blanket when she sleeps and likes it on her face too (that's my girl :))
-her BIM (barbados) cousins, aunties and uncles 
-sitting holding mommy's hands and standing, she likes to see what's going on around her
-the beach

Gemma Hates:
-again, STILL hates tummy time, a part of me doesn't think she'll ever like it

Gemma Stats
-next apt is @ 4 months and is the end of May....we think she's 12 + lbs so we'll see, maybe 13 by the time we go to her apt.

BeAch TiME

We're approaching the 3 month mark and so much has change in the last week and some. Gem has become quite the smiley little baby, she's always happy, just chatting away and she loves when we listen to music. My favorite smile is the one in the morning when I get to her crib and she sees me, she's all swaddled up and just gives me the biggest smile, I need to get that on video soon!! She's gone from 4 hrs at night to 6 hrs the last 3 nights, lets hope it stays that way!

Last week our friends had a house for a few days on the East coast so we went up for 2 days to play at the beach with them. Gem has put her toes in the water a few weeks ago but it was cold that day and a little rough, so while on the East coast at low tide the rocks make these little pools that all the kids play in so Darin brought Gem in and she LOVED IT!! She smiled and her legs were going a mile a min under the water jumping on the sand and we learned she is SUPER buoyant! So glad she loved it because if she didn't then we aren't sure what we're gonna do with her, all we do here are things that involve water.

We had some sticky eye boogies last week and went to the Dr but it wasn't pink eye (PHEW!!), just a little irritation maybe a small start to an infection so we got some eye drops and those have helped SO much, plus Gem is a super star and the drops don't bother her one bit :)

I've started doing crossfit with 2 of my friends last week and ouch!!!! I could barely walk for about 4 days lol, feels good to get back to working out though. I have 6lbs till my pre baby weight which is great for not working out or breastfeeding which helps loose the lbs. Happy to get back to that weight where I felt right, I felt like me :) Plus I have to wear a Kadooment costume in 4 months.....so I must look fab!

Last Sunday Darin and I went out with our friends to Harbour Lights because they launched their costumes for Kadooment which is always one of the biggest parties of the year. Since all of our friends were going, we had to get a sitter for Gem! Tanya helped us and referred a friend, so when she (the sitter) came over a little early to meet us and meet Gem we instantly felt at ease. Never having to give instructions to take care of a baby before, I tried the best I could lol. We'd left at 5:30 and a few hours later, she texted us when Gem ate and was down in bed just fine :) We got home around 10:30pm and all was good in the Doty house. Our sitter said Gem was so good, such a happy baby and she'd love to come watch her again if we needed another date night!

This weekend is Easter and though i'd love to be home and go to church and spend time with our families we'll be spending time here with our island families and having a big big lunch! Candice came in town and rented a house on the East coast in Bathsheba and since Friday and Monday are holiday's, Darin has 4 days off and we're headed up to stay with Candice!! Last Easter we only had ourselves to pack, this year should be interesting because we have to pack Gem for the long weekend also. Can't wait to get up there and lay in the hammock and enjoy the nice breeze on my face :)

    First time in the ocean April 13, 2014

Gemma Loves:
-bath time
-watching mommy in the kitchen
-snugs in mom and dad's bed in the morning
-having her first baby sitter so mom and dad can go out

Gemma Hates:
-STILL hates tummy time and licks the fabric the whole time, if this is the only thing she    doesn't like, I can handle it :)

Gemma Stats @ 3 months: 
11lbs, 21.50 inches               

AdJUsTiNG to G

Keeping up with this is going to be trickier than I thought. My goal will be to post something every week, but i'm thinking it's going to be more like every 2....we'll see!

Since my last post, even a couple weeks before that G has had this "bewitching hour" from about 7-8pm and it SUCKS!! I guess it's a type of Colic, not the full force all day all night kind, thank God! For about a week now she's been pretty good at that time of night so we're hoping it's over. Darin gets home from work at about 7pm and that's when it all starts.....poor dad, he only sees her when she's crying and angry. We had her 2 month appointment which she had to get shots, one in both leg and she did great! We were feeding her during the shots and she'd let out a big cry then go right back to eating. She had Tylenol prior to the appointment and then some a little while after and pretty much slept the rest of the day. She didn't run a fever or anything so that was nice :) She's still a pretty good napper during the day, goes down about an hour after eating every time and is out for about an hour or more. Since we got our barrels of stuff and her room is all together, we just starting putting her in her room this week, out of the pack n play and into the crib! She's done really well in there giving us about a 5hr stretch then a 3 or 4 hr stretch before she's up for the morning, schedule is KEY, so is the baby monitor!! She is smiling a lot of BIG smiles and making some noises trying to find her voice, I love it!! We've been to the beach for the first time with Gemma and we've also been to watch Darin surf a lot the last 2 weeks. She seems to love being outside either at the beach or on our daily walks around the neighborhood, she likes to watch the trees as we pass and when the birds make noise she looks towards them. Gotta keep this little one loving the outdoors!

I finally start working out again next week, signed up for crossfit! I had a hard time giving up the gym but I think this will give me better results than the gym, although i'll miss spin class :( Two of my friends do crossfit already so it will be nice to have the support already there :) It's 4 nights a week starting at 7:30pm so Darin is all alone in the kid department....hope he survives.

My brother and his girlfriend come next month!! They just booked their tickets and they'll be here for 9 whole days!! Top Gear is filming a show here so we all bought VIP tickets and can't wait to go! It's pretty much Craig's favorite show :) so of course he'd be here for the filming! Can't wait to show Kaitlyn around Barbados and all of our fun spots we love, she'll get to surf and paddle board and see some amazing beaches....plus spend quality time with us :)

Gemma Loves:
-car rides, these bumpy roads seem to soothe her :)
-her play yard and looking at all the colorful hanging animals
-the bumbo seat only for a few mins
-sleeping, day or night
-being swaddled to sleep
-the breeze at the beach
-stretching after she eats so the burp cloth covers her face

Gemma Hates:
-tummy time and licks the fabric the whole time

Gemma Stats @ 2 months: 
10lbs, 21.25 inches

G's BiRTh ViDEo

No no, not that kind of "birth video", just something i've put together after collecting video and pictures since finding out I was pregnant. I've cried PLENTY of times watching this so you probably will too, there's a real tear jerker moment :) you'll know when you see it. It was one amazing day and i'm so happy I have this to watch and remember one of the best days of my life. One day I hope Gem enjoys it too :)

                   

ParTy oF 3

Well....Gemma is a month old already and finding the time to post has had it's challenges. I've started it and added to it several times but just can't find a solid hour or 2 to write, forgive me...I have a child now :)

Over the last month i've changed dozens of poopie diapers, taken over 500 pictures of this little human, attempted breast feeding which is still a challenge to this day, been on 2 flights with a newborn (which she did fantastic on both), was a single parent for a week because Darin had to get back to work in Barbados, been to several Drs appointments, a few lunch dates and of course Target was her first public outing :) This girl has been all over the place in just a month and has seen so many happy visitors too. It was a crazy, fast month but the best month ever!

It's unreal to think that in just a day everything in your life changes...it's not gradual and nobody's advice can really prepare you for what you'll actually go through. My whole pregnancy I was so excited to be a mom, I waited for that moment...when I felt I was a mom...maybe when I felt her kick for the first time or when she had her first hiccups and I could feel those or maybe when I had to wear maternity clothes but that moment didn't come for me and I started to worry if I could do this and when will I get that feeling I wanted so bad. I don't know how to change a diaper, I don't like crying babies, I don't like holding babies because they're so squirmy I might drop them.....what was I gonna do when I actually had my own? Be afraid of it? No need to be afraid (I promise), you'll just have to wait and see that when that day actually comes and you have your little baby physically in your arms you just know what to do like you've been doing it for years, it's pretty crazy. I surprised myself when I didn't even think about how to change a diaper, I just did it....holding her wasn't awkward like I thought it might be and amazingly I somehow knew how to soothe her when she cried. The few short weeks after that day flew by, our nights were great and she continues to be such a good sleeper, i've stared at her so long i've gone cross eyed and somehow the "mom" in me started to surface and all of a sudden, without knowing when it happened.....I felt like a mom, I am Gemma's mom. Although it's still so weird to me when I think about it, that Darin and I have a daughter....it feels as natural as anything else in life. January 24th forever changed my life, I couldn't imagine my future without her, I want to be a better person and role model for her to look up to and hopefully one day i'll get something from her, like a card on Mother's Day, a note on a napkin, or a post on her blog saying i'm the best mom in the whole world and she couldn't imagine her life without me either.

The little things I love are her tiny features, the noise her pacifier makes when she goes to town noming on it, her gassy smiles and the way she stares back at me with those pure innocent eyes when she's nursing or has a bottle. Here's some pieces of our Gem....

Here is the progression pics I took....I was a day shy of my 38 week picture....darn it!! lol

I owe so much to my parents for everything they did for us while we were in Orlando. I couldn't of had a more relaxed and un stressed last month of pregnancy....they helped me do a lot those last weeks and those home cooked dinners were amazing, I am so glad I had time to spend with them before and after Gemma. Leaving Orlando with Gemma was harder than when I left for the Bahamas 3 1/2 years ago. I can't wait to come back and for them to see their first grandchild change and grow. Thanks to my amazing parents....you are the best ones in the whole wide world, God couldn't of chosen better ones for me :) and I can't imagine my life with out them. 

OH BABY!!

It's been 2 weeks since all my prayers were answered, we finally have our healthy, happy, perfect little baby girl, Gemma Lyn!! With all the feeding and changing and adjusting and learning in the last 2 weeks I haven't found the time to sit and write what I want to, so i'm glad that today I have found an hour (if G stays sleeping) to sit and share her story while it's still fresh in my mind, one day she'll be able to read this and know how she came into the world in such a special way and how much her mom and dad love her already. So...here it goes :)

It was Thursday Jan 23rd, I had my 38 week appointment (2 days shy of 38 weeks) I was effaced 80% and dilated 2 cm. My Dr said she could strip my membranes and i'd probably go into labor in the next two days but Darin wasn't in town yet so she said when he gets here and I come back next week she could do it then, so we had some time to think about it. I also only gained 1lb this past week, so a total of 32lbs all together, not bad.....hopefully the next two weeks will be another 1lb lol. The internal checks always make me a little crampy later that day so at night while eating dinner I just ignored it. I'd talked to Darin before he went to bed because he'd just flown from Antigua (he worked all week there) to Barbados, he was tired and had to be at the office the next morning so he ate dinner, left his suitcase still packed and headed to bed. Me and my dad watched Thor 2, then I headed to bed. 

Friday the 24th, 4:30am came around and as usual around 4am I get up to pee....every day....so this wasn't anything new. I peed and got back into bed but couldn't get comfortable, I still had some cramping. I gave it a few mins and then thought maybe I needed to pee again but when I got up I felt like I was going to pass out, so I went into my moms office to ask her to get me some water (my mom works from home and works the early shift from about 2am on), I have a syncope (not sure you knew that) so passing out sometimes is pretty normal for me. Mom came back with some water and was finished working, but by this time I was so uncomfortable in bed and I was timing these cramps because I wasn't sure what it was so just in case I decided to time them. My mom asked if she could go back to bed or if she needed to take her shower so we could head to the hospital......I wasn't sure what to tell her so she just took her shower in case, lol. Meanwhile, it's about 5:40am and I called Darin....I told him I wasn't sure if it was labor but i'm uncomfortable and they hurt and they're about 5 mins apart so it seemed like labor. He told me I was fine, and to try and relax and not freak myself out....I agreed, I was fine, don't freak out.....but these "cramps" i'm timing were 5 and 6 mins apart and the passing out feeling for every cramp was starting to freak me out. I told him i'd call him later and let him know how I was, so we said our love yous and hung up. I decided to lay on the floor so I wouldn't fall if I was up and passed out, I had Casper keeping me company on the floor and he never left my side. When my mom came back, she brought my dad and by 6:00am we decided to grab my stuff and head to the hospital just in case. My dad helped get everything in the car and my mom and I headed to Winnie Palmer Hospital. During the drive there the cramps finally turned into labor and I realized, THIS. WAS. IT. I wasn't going home like i'd thought I would be. We got to the hospital by 6:30am, and at this point I couldn't walk the pain was so bad...how, from 4:30-6:30 is it this bad?? People say they take showers and do stuff when they start labor, not in my case. I had my eyes closed trying to focus on NOT passing out because this labor was intense and it didn't give me any breaks of relief whatsoever.....I was 5cm, got admitted and the labor was just a constant 10 of 10 for pain and one long 3 hr contraction. My mom called Darin back and told him this was it, I was in labor and it's going fast....of course Darin starts to freak out because it's 2 weeks early, he's not in the states, he doesn't even have a flight, he wants to be with me so bad and not miss the birth. He couldn't believe I was in labor when an hour before that I called him and sounded ok. With my eyes still closed, I had no idea where I was, what people were doing to me, didn't know what anyone looked like and I can only remember pieces of the next 3 hours. With out Darin there I did my best to hold it together, I can remember almost loosing it and crying my eyes out because I just wanted him there but I had to do this for Gemma so I sucked it up and tried to just focus as best I could. It's now about 9:30am and somehow I had changed clothes and was brought up to labor and delivery for my epidural (don't remember a thing). I couldn't sit up because if I moved a centimeter i'd go right into a contraction again so we tried with me laying down, clinging to the bars on the side of the bed (where i'd been gripping for the last 3 hours), but when that didn't work, I HAD to sit up to get the epidural. That may of been the worst part of labor, moving to the sitting up position. Finally the epidural worked and my passing out feeling went away so I finally got to open my eyes, see my nurses and actually talk to them :) I was a whole new person haha!! I told the nurse I felt like I gotta poop (tmi, sorry....what did you expect reading a birth story??), so she checked me and I had gotten to 10cm all on my own, WHOOP! GO ME! So when the epidural was in full effect they told me I could push because I was ready, but I had to get Darin on facetime first. The internet at the hospital was pretty crappy and between 2 phones, 2 ipads and my macbook we couldn't get him on video...very frustrating, but we finally downloaded this video app and it worked great, just like facetime. The nurses decided to let me enjoy my epidural for a little while since I hadn't had a break all morning, so when we finally got Darin on video, it was push time!! It was about 2 hrs later (11:30am) as Darin sat at work in his office (in Barbados), my phone propped up next to me in the bed, I started pushing with my contractions. I had my mom on the left leg and Laura on my right leg to help me push. In the middle of contractions we talked and joked with the nurses until the next one. Darin eventually had to hang up, connect to the 3G and call back as he drove home to grab his suitcase lol. The whole time he would tell me to push and encouraged me in between contractions just like he was really there, he did a fantastic job :) When he got home and got his bags, he told me I had 10 mins and he had to leave for the airport to catch his flight to Miami (my brother was picking him up and driving him to Orlando, there were no connecting flights to Orlando that night....figures). I pushed her out just before he left the house....he was standing on our patio out front as he watched our daughter come into the world. Thanks to my mom, she picked up my phone and had the video on Gemma the whole time, so he got to see her cry for the first time, get her cord cut and see that full head of dark hair. She was here, she was healthy and she was perfect!! Gemma Lyn was born at 1:16pm, weighing 6lbs 3oz and measured 19.5 inches long, our tiny peanut :)

I got to hold her for a brief moment but she had to go to the transitional nursery to have her breathing and her sugar levels monitored. Once I was ok and got up to my room, I got to go visit her in the nursery and hold her more but couldn't take her until her sugar levels stabilized. I had my family stay for a bit and the Doty's came up for a while but visiting hours were over so they had to leave. Laura stayed with me for a while and Gemma finally came into my room at around 10:30pm....for the first time she was all mine. Darin got to the hospital at 12:30am, he picked up Gemma, sat in the rocking chair and stared at her for the next hour before we both went to bed.

This was SUPER long.....i'll catch you up on the last 2 1/2 weeks with my next post :) but until then, here's a picture of our new little family :)

Here's Darin on our porch watching Gemma being born:

Here's our little family:

                                                1/24/14  -  6lbs 3oz  -  1:16pm  -  19.5 inches

36, 37 wEEkS

Slowly i'm getting things done so when Darin comes i'm free to spend all the time I can with him since it will be just us for a few short days once he arrives. 

I got to go down to Ponce Inlet and spend time with my Tierney family, went to dinner, had a sleep over and snugged with my Jenna pup who missed me so much that she jumped up on the bed to sit with me and she NEVER does that for anyone :) i'm so special :) The next day was my baby shower and my sister and Teya did a great job, I loved all the little crafty decorations and the food was yummy too. I got so many great gifts and visitors came from far away, the whole day showed me just how much G and I are loved by everyone, how excited everyone is to meet her and how happy they are for Darin and I.....really makes a 9 month prego mommy feel good. :) It only took me 3 days to go through everything from the shower, deciding what goes in the suitcase home, or barrel home, what stays here for next time and what doubles I needed to return and then a bag for tags and hangers and trash, laundry alone took me an entire day, unreal!! I got some great pics so i'll be sure to post them :) I now have her changing table and pack n play all set up and ready for her to come home too. I have just a few more things to get and my shopping is DONE!! I'm also deciding on a dresser and some shelves to ship.....it's all a learning process with shipping costs, dimensions, duty to pay in Barbados and all that, I should write a book about it lol.

My dad and I had a movie night and we went to see Jack Ryan (so good!), we also had a really pointless trip to Target the next night that ended in purchasing a pocket knife, women's things and a Starbucks coffee.....not what we planned on getting or doing but it's nice to have the quality time with him since he works all day and I don't see him until dinner time, and then i'm going out or he's going bowling so the time with him i'm grateful for.

I had my 37 week appointment Friday (i like friday am appointments because my mom always comes and we are sure to stop and get coffee and donuts from dunkin donuts after, :) I'm effaced 65%, dilated a big fat 0, got a flu shot, and measuring right on the dot....I also gained 3lbs....again....in a week! I think thats the hardest part about all of this is the weight gain in the end.....you seriously want to consider dieting even though you know it's for a good cause and most of it will probably go away after but still....this girls isn't use to this type of weight and I can't wait to get back into the gym and be me again, although my mom is happy she weighs less than I do now :) such encouragement! 

1 WEEK TILL DARIN'S HOME!!!
2 WEEKS TILL BABY G!!!

34 & 35 WeeKs

I've had this post written for a while but my computer was giving my issues so I spent 3 days at the Apple store and now i'm finally able to retrieve all my photos and post this blog!! Sorry about the delay :)

Christmas day I woke up and made a big breakfast for Darin and I, we exchanged our stockings and then I got him a few fun things to open, since he already got his new surfboard a month ago for Christmas. I was pleasantly surprised when I got a little Pandora box!! I wanted something with a G on it for Gemma so Darin got me a G bead and a bag of money bead....it took me a second but then realized, duh, we call her "G Money" sometimes lol....so hence the G and the bag of money bead haha, good thinking babe!! :)

Been in Orlando for a little over a week....SO SO glad we (G & I) made it safe and sound with no complications, besides A LOT of walking because of gate changes at Miami airport and the crying children that seemed to follow me around from flight, to flight, gate to gate and through immigration and customs.....I just kept telling G, don't be like them, you're gonna be a good baby right? The thought terrifies me bringing a crying/screaming child through the airport.....i'll be "that" mom one day i'm sure of it. When I finally got to my parents it was almost 7pm! We had family Christmas dinner and then Christmas presents to open which was nice, I was glad they waited so patiently for me :) My mom got us all tickets to ICE at the Gaylord Palms, i've been wanting to go there for years.....glad to finally make it with the family :) I did manage to get some of my suitcase put away but I was exhausted so I tried hard to just stop what I was doing and then get some sleep. 

The next day I had my first Dr. appointment but because of some misunderstandings and neither the Dr or his office manager weren't there, I ended up not seeing anyone and as a prego should, I cried in the car to my mom :) With a friends help we got things figured out over the next few days so the following Friday I finally got to see the Dr. and boy do I love him!! I'm so happy to have him and feel 100% comfortable to see him for the care of G and I while we're here. He's happy with my belly size and weight gain, listened to G's heart rate and said she sounded awesome!! I have to re-do all my labs, blood work, sugar tests etc because although i've had it all done in Barbados, he isn't quite sure what the numbers mean for the results lol....guess it's not that bad but it does stink it's just something else I have to do here.

I've been splurging on fun foods I haven't gotten to eat in the last 8 months, but I know it can't last long or i'll gain 100 lbs in the next 5 weeks and that CAN NOT happen!! I bought a couple goodies at the food store for me to snack on that I don't have in Barbados like cheeze-it's, goldfish, ravioli, yummy cereals and MILK, finally normal MILK!!!! (see pics below haha) It's been nice that i've got to unpack completely and put my suitcase away and have my mom and dad making sure i'm comfy all the time. It's nice that I don't have to rush off so fast back to Barbados but at the same time we miss Darin, a lot! Wish he was here to spend the relaxing time with me before G arrives but hopefully the time will go by and he'll be here sooner than later and make it in time for our daughters arrival.

New Years my mom made her traditional donuts which were amazing as always!! I think I had 4 or 5 total?? I had to make up for missing it last year duh! :) I went about a mile down the road to a friends family house on the lake to watch fireworks and hang out to ring in the new year but sadly, with me being pregnant and my friend with a new born, we made it till 10:30 before we left hahahahahaha, I was in bed by 11pm...LAME!! Oh well, there's always next year!!

Prego Quirks, Symptoms & Info:

*gained 3lbs since my last visit....not bad if you knew how much i've eaten in the last week alone :)
*love my 3 rotating maternity pants and shirts, how do people NOT like these things?
*my nose closes up at night so those nose strips are my friend, except when i have to pull them off in the am
*missing Darin 24/7, i send him videos or G in my belly so he can see her move, he says she looks like she's            dancing :)  still my sweet girl, not hurting mommy one bit 
*love my moms dunkin donut chocolate glazed donut coffee.....i'm bringing back BAGS of it!!
*looking forward to my shower this weekend!! YAY!!