35 weeks

Merry Christmas Blogland!!  I have had a completely relaxing and blessed day spent with my amazing Husband.  I've been spoiled beyond belief this year and am typing to you on my new iMac!  We've been talking about this for while with my love of photography and new edition on the way and today it finally became a reality!  It's going to be a learning curve but I'm SO excited!  

Last Christmas before baby!

Last night we hosted our first California "Friendsmas" with other military orphans too far away to be with family this holiday season.  It was a blast to say the least!  Here are some of the highlights, and hilarious pics, that ensued!

So. Much. Food.  Don't forget the Birthday Boy, Joe!  

Vallejos & Lamberts!  I love when friends become family!

A little engineering and ghetto phone manipulation, eh voila, group photo!

The ladies went in the kitchen to talk doTERRA for 5 min, guess they were ready for Santa to come!

Awkward family photo or prego prom pic- either way it makes me giggle and I love it!!

How far along? 35 weeks, Day 2
Total weight gain: 12lbs and hoping to keep it that way!
Baby is the size of ? A Coconut
Maternity clothes? Yep!  Whoever said yoga pants and leggings weren't pants is wrong, just plain wrong.  Those things are a gift from God.  Come to think of it, anything stretchy is gracing my body these days.  You're welcome.
Stretch marks? Same!  Although I've noticed some older ones fading a bit, which makes me happy!
Sleep: Ahhh, we've definitely entered the third trimester sleep patterns, better known as "getting you ready for a newborn because you sleep like crappity, crap, crap"!  Unfortunately it's also around now when Mr. Ladd is getting banished to the, way more comfortable, guest bed.  I miss my husband but my sleep is SO precious I'll sacrifice a few nights with him! 
Best moment this week: Seeing the belly dance more and more!  We also had our birthing class last week and while it was pretty, um terrifying eyeopening, I feel more empowered and better prepared for the big event.  Might I add that at 35 weeks the lungs are fully developed?  While I'm not advocating for little Miss to make her debut tomorrow, I'm saying it's pretty much up to her now!
Miss Anything? Breathing and eating more than two bites of anything.  Enough said.
Movement: Little gymnast is doing summersaults all. the. time.
Food cravings: Anything sweet, but not really craving too much lately.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Not really but meat is starting to not appeal again.  Weird.
Exercise? Lots of walking around the office, during Christmas shopping and in general.  That's taking way more energy than it did before.  
Gender:  SHE
Labor Signs: Not really.  My belly keeps getting rock hard at the top but doesn't have any pain associated with it.  I am having random pains every now and then that stop me in my tracks, but they're done as fast as they come on.
Symptoms: Same.  I have good days and bad with random aches and pains.  Hello round ligament pain.  Google it.
Belly Button in or out? In- but I can now see both holes where my belly button ring would’ve resided.  
Wedding rings on or off? Normally I'm able to wear my engagement ring, but not my wedding band.  I'll take big and sparkly because people are serious judgers when I don't have any rings on.  Geezeeee.
Happy or Moody most of the time: More emotional than a 13yr old girl.  Make. it. STOP!
Looking forward to: Putting the nursery together, installing the carseat, writing my birth plan and packing our "to go bag".  Sh*t's getting real.

That's all for today folks!  I hope you have a fantastic Christmas and you remember the real reason for the season!  The most important things you get on Christmas, aren't things at all. 

Until next time...

A moment & my life in photos!

Tuesday, September 17: A memory you would love to relive.
Wednesday, September 18: Only photos

I'm cheating a bit here, but like I always say- rules were meant to be broken!!

Oh, if I could put time in a bottle and take out specific memories I would do it all the time!  I love to take a trip down memory lane, look at old photos and really relive those times!

As I'm trying to pick out just ONE memory I would love to relive, I realize that I can't.  There are too many amazing nights with my bestfriends & my sorority sisters, my college years, times with my Grammie, my year as an exchange student and of course my wedding.  So, instead of choosing just one, I'm going to let the pictures do the talking.

No judging on the outfits!  I stand by my fashion crimes!

Until next time...

Love you long time!

Monday, September 16: Write a public love letter to someone in your life. (It doesn't necessarily need to be romantic.)


Dear Kelsey, Amy, Jessica, Donald and all other secret party agents,

I would like to confess my undying love for all of you.  Not only have you proven just how much you love me, but you have proven that you are truly ninja worthy.  I have to thank each one of you for working with my amazing Husband on this secret party extravaganza to welcome me into my 30's properly.

I would like to tell you all how thankful that I am that you have kept my sweet, well meaning other half on path for a ladies birthday party instead of a Joe Dirt fiasco.  While he means well, my better half gets very excited about themes and may or may not have gone a little off course by himself.  I would also like to state that you ladies have made sure that no toilet bowls will be present for food items to be eaten out of, and for that.... I am TRULY thankful for.

While I do not know much about this secret (or not so secret) birthday bash I do know all of you.  You are the most amazing women and I am truly blessed to have you in my life.  You are always there for me when I need you and are already making me feel like the luckiest *almost* 30yr old ever!  I am truly honored to call you friend and I will work tirelessly to make sure you know just how much I appreciate and love all of you!

Here's to 30!  


To My Husband,

Thank you for taking on my birthday and making me feel so special.  It warms my heart that you are taking such an interest, putting in the time and really trying to make everything perfect for this epic event.  You may or may not have gone a little crazy with the "dirty" in Dirty Thirty, but I love your childlike enthusiasm!!  I am so blessed to call you Husband and feel like the luckiest wife in the world!  Also, thanks for figuring out what this Pinterest thing is and stalking me on it.  You should be given a medal for listening to my birthday demands and dealing with my amazing, crazy, oh so excitable friends.  But let's be serious- you like it!

Of course I could go on and on and on about how much I love you and the rest of my friends but then I would expose more of my secrets and knowledge and we can't have that.

Yours Truly,
Better Spy Than You

Ps.  I know everything.  :)

Until next time...