Ellie's Pink and Gold Dinosaur Party

Ellie has a slight obsession with dinosaurs lately, so when we decided to have a party for her third birthday, I couldn't help but use them as a theme. I wanted to mix it up a little bit, so I decided to be a little unconventional and decorate a pink and gold "girly" dinosaur party. The ideas of gold T-rexes and pink flowery dinosaur cookies were just too exciting for me to resist. I absolutely love putting my creativity, which quite honestly has been put on the back burner lately since adopting the Monny title, to work on things like this. I wanted to share a few photos of the girly dinosaur party decor that I had so much fun putting together. 

These were the invitations that had to "hatch" out of their dinosaur eggs, along with some fun confetti of course. I am such a nerd. And yes, I eat a lot of eggs.

This one time, I scooped ice cream and decorated cakes at Baskin Robbins for a living. Making and decorating these cookies sure brought me back! 

The set-up, pre chips and dip and veggie straws (those things are amazing by the way, if you haven't tried them you need to right now)

I used this cute little printable for the cupcakes.

Finally, the Elliesaurus birthday girl, before she turned into a raging, sugar-fueled maniac. We love you so much Little Bean! Happy 3rd Birthday!!

Thank you to everyone that helped us celebrate, it was such a blast. A definite whirlwind of crazy chaos, but so much fun. I wish I had remembered to capture pictures during the party, but honestly, they probably would have just been a blurry mess anyway. Three year olds sure don't stop moving. Ever. 

Now to go find a spot somewhere in my house to display that awesome gold T-Rex...

39 Weeks

How far along: 39 weeks.

The Bambean's size: 19-22 inches and 7 pounds. Baby is as big as a watermelon.

Maternity clothes: Maxi Dresses.

Sleep: I am feeling about as exhausted as I was in the first trimester lately. Too much peeing and trying to get comfortable at night.

Cravings/aversions: Nothing new.

Pregnancy Symptoms: You name it, I am probably experiencing it.   

Best moment(s) this last week: Going to the beautiful Johnson wedding and spending some quality time with Kev.

Movement: It's getting pretty uncomfortable at times, but still so amazing and fun to watch.

Gender Prediction: I think baby is a boy for sure.

Belly button in or out: Flush with my belly or popped out.

Happy or moody: I am on quite the pregnancy hormone roller coaster lately. 

Looking forward to: Moving into our house, pleeeaaassseeee, this mama needs to nest.

Bumpity Bump:

37 Weeks

How far along: 37 weeks 5 days. I am basically 38 weeks already, time is really flying! I can't believe I have actually made it this far this time, it's kind of an odd feeling.

The Bambean's size: 19-22 inches and 6.5 pounds. Baby is about the size of a watermelon.

Maternity clothes: Even the maternity clothes I have are having a hard time covering this baby belly. Dresses it is!

Sleep: I would just love to sleep through the night without having to lift, roll and haul this watermelon to the bathroom 15+ times a night.

Cravings/aversions: Cherry dipped cones from Dairy Queen.

Pregnancy Symptoms: My most recent and quite annoying pregnancy symptom has been my hands and fingers falling asleep at night, and getting really stiff fingers. My doctor says that this is a normal symptom towards the end of pregnancy, but it sure isn't helping in the sleep department.   

Best moment(s) this last week: Taking Ellie to the fair with my mom and Kelci. She loved seeing the "sheepies" :)

Eating her ice cream cone that Meemaw got her at the fair.

Movement: Not too much, there just isn't enough room to do a whole lot in there.

Gender Prediction: Boy.

Belly button in or out: Flush with my belly or popped out.

Happy or moody: Moody.

Looking forward to: Meeting this little (actually probably quite large) peanut!

Bumpity Bump:

Ellie is convinced that baby is a girl and that she is getting a sister. I'm getting so anxious to know!!

35 Weeks

How far along: Welp, it has officially happened. I have fully missed an entire week's update. I'm actually kind of impressed that I made it this far without that happening yet, even though last week was a pretty close call. I am 35 weeks and 1 day pregnant today. If this baby is like big sister Ellie, it will decide to break my water in exactly one week from today. I can honestly say that I am NOT ready! Eek! Please keep cooking little one. 

The Bambean's size: 19-22 inches and 5.5 pounds. Baby is as big as a large cantaloupe.

Maternity clothes: I have kind of run out of things to wear besides my trusty dresses and a pair of extremely comfortable maternity shorts, but it is pretty pointless to buy anything at this point.

Sleep: Ellie is still waking up crying a lot at night, I think from nightmares. That combined with bathroom trips, well I have explained this one before... I am tired.

Cravings/aversions: A vanilla ice cream and chocolate crunch bar sounds reeeaalllly good lately.

Pregnancy Symptoms: Swelling and fatigue have really been getting to me lately. I also have some lovely skin spots that are darkening, as well as a few of those dreaded stretch marks :( I'm sweaty, large, gassy, forgetful, and haven't shaved my legs in forever and a day. Life is pretty glamorous.   

Best moment(s) this last week: We have had a lot going on lately! We went up to Seattle for a few days last weekend and stayed in a house that my relatives from Texas had rented. Sara is living there now too, so we got to spend some good time with her as well, and see her new place for the first time. The mid 90 degree weather unfortunately followed us up there, and made for some pretty uncomfortable pregnancy moments. Also Ellie did not do very well sleeping in a strange place or riding in her carseat for an extended period of time, resulting in quite an exhausting weekend. It was still really fun and way worth it to see my relatives that I never get to see and spend time with Kevin, Ellie, Sara, my mom, and Kelci too.

We spent a day at the Seattle Zoo where Ellie had so much fun seeing all of the animals, and being a turtle :) I, on the other hand, ended up drenched in sweat with swollen fingers and contractions by the end of it all, not to mention they didn't even have a rhino! I couldn't believe it, a zoo without a rhino. It was still fun though, and so worth it to spend time with everyone and see Ellie's face light up at the sight of every little thing.

My best friend Jennifer got married yesterday!!! Twice... and they were both such beautiful ceremonies. The first was in a pretty little church where Ellie got to be a part of the big day by throwing rose petals as she walked down the aisle. She was pretty funny to watch, walking a few steps and then turning around to wind up and chuck a petal behind her before turning forward again to repeat the process. The second ceremony was outside, where Jennifer and David shared their own personally written vows that of course made me cry. Jen looked so amazingly beautiful, and the love between her and David was so obviously strong and real, it was really inspiring. The reception was a ton of fun with amazing live music, fun dancing and people, and yummy food :) 

Dancing with daddy

My handsome date :)

The bride and groom.

Movement: Bambean seems to spend a lot of time a bit sideways lately, which is helpful in terms of avoiding little feet in my ribs, but a little bit uncomfortable being stretched out to the sides so much. Also head down, which is often confirmed by the hiccups I feel lower down toward my pelvis.

Gender Prediction: I still feel that baby is a boy, but I have found a lot of people calling it a she lately without thinking. This is probably just because they are used to me already having a little "she" or "her" but it is still amusing :)

Belly button in or out: Both but mostly out.

Happy or moody: Both.

Looking forward to: Meeting baby Bryson!!!!!!

Bumpity Bump:

33 Weeks

How far along: 33 weeks 6 days, so basically 34 weeks. Whoops.

The Bambean's size: 19-22 inches and 4.9 pounds. Baby is about the size of a pineapple.

Maternity clothes: If it covers my belly I will probably wear it.

Sleep: It's not going so well...

Cravings/aversions: Craving blueberries and cherry slurpees. Yay for free slurpee day :)

Pregnancy Symptoms: Pretty much have them all going on. 

Best moment(s) this last week: Kevin and I celebrated four years of marriage yesterday with a yummy dinner and some dessert on the riverfront, just the two of us. The traditional four year anniversary gift is apparently fruit and flowers, so I had some fun carving up some strawberry roses for my love :)

Oddly enough, the modern version of the four year traditional anniversary gift is appliances, which we purchased for our new kitchen together on Tuesday night. I am pretty darn excited about that one! 

Also getting all of the painting in our new house done except for the bathrooms and trim (there is seriously a never ending supply of trim that needs to be sanded, and then have the nail holes filled, and then sanded again, and then painted...with at least 3 coats of paint.) A huge thank you to my sister Kelci for so much help with all of this.

Movement: Has slowed down quite a bit. I have also been extremely busy and not really paying as much attention to all of the movement.

Gender Prediction: Boy.

Belly button in or out: It spends a lot of time popped out now.

Happy or moody: Both.

Looking forward to: Our trip to Seattle this weekend to see Sara and some of my family that lives in Texas. 

Bumpity Bump:

But really more like 34...remembering to get these photos keeps getting harder and harder!

32 Weeks

How far along: 32 weeks 4 days. Sometimes I think about how far along I am, and I can't believe how time is flying. Other times, like right now for example, I sit and think about how long this seems to be taking, and that I have pretty much been pregnant for a whole year now (minus about 2 months). It was summer of last year when I found out that I was pregnant with Grace, and my body and mind just can't help but feel like I should already be holding a baby by now. I hate to complain, but it's a little bit exhausting.

The Bambean's size: 19 inches and 3.9 pounds. Baby is about the size of a head of lettuce.

Maternity clothes: It has been freaking hot out, and if I didn't look like a sweaty, bloated, dimply-legged penguin waddling around with a melon (or maybe two) stuck in my belly I would seriously consider the necessity of clothing.

Sleep: It's getting harder to rest well at night. The frequent bathroom trips involving small trickles as opposed to what initially feels like gallons of pee about to make my bladder burst have multiplied. Also, trying to situate myself into a comfortable sleeping position with a basketball sized stomach that is apparently housing a nocturnal gymnast is pretty much impossible.

Cravings/aversions: Berries and chocolate milk.

Pregnancy Symptoms: Getting huge, along with many other things that I can't specifically think of right now because my brain is mush, and I have to waddle my way to the bathroom really quickly...

Best moment(s) this last week: We went to a fun BBQ to celebrate Ellie's friend Alegra turning 2! It's always neat to watch the kids play together. Ellie hoarded a bubble making lawnmower pretty much the entire time, telling everyone around her it was "Ellie's" at least 5 times while I stuffed my face with delicious food. I also went to my childhood friend Renee's baby shower, which was amazingly put together and pretty much trumped any Pinterest photos I have ever seen. It was so fun to see her and her adorable little belly.

Movement: Bambean gets the hiccups every night at approximately 11 pm, and frequently attempts to escape out of my right side throughout the day and night.

Gender Prediction: Boy.

Belly button in or out: It spends a lot of time popped out now.

Happy or moody: Moody. I am hot and tired.

Looking forward to: Having our own house to grow our little family in. Things have been moving a little slowly lately, but I am confident it will be picking up here soon!

Bumpity Bump:

Showed up to Renee's shower wearing pretty much the exact same thing as her, just with the colors inverted. It gave us a good laugh :) She's due with a little girl just 11 days before me!

31 Weeks

How far along: 31 weeks 2 days.

The Bambean's size: 17 inches and 3.3 pounds. Baby is about the size of 4 navel oranges.

Maternity clothes: I basically just wear the same two maxi dresses over and over again. I had pretty much the easiest packing experience ever this last weekend for a bachelorette getaway at the coast seeing as how I can only wear a few of the things I own anymore. I guess that is one positive thing about the situation that I can focus on.

Sleep: Naps are kind of a daily thing now when Ellie takes one. After working full time while pregnant with Ellie and not being able to do the whole nap thing, I am taking full advantage of it while I can this time around, and boy am I grateful that I can.

Cravings/aversions: Craving Chocolate milk over ice.

Pregnancy Symptoms: I'm pretty sure I have been getting hot flashes and have just accepted being sweaty a lot of the time. Also I will randomly get heartburn, but luckily it isn't really too often or severe. Crazy dreams have also been a nightly occurrence lately.  

Best moment(s) this last week: Last Sunday for Father's Day Ellie and I went with Kelci and my mom to see my Grandpa, Uncle Ken, Auntie, Uncle Andy, and cousins Megan, Rohan and Caitlin in Chiloquin, Oregon. It was a fun little road trip and I got to spend some time with family that I don't get to see regularly, which was really nice. I really wish I saw them more often.

Ellie twinning with her new little friend, my Auntie's pup Sable.

On Friday I left for a weekend trip to the coast in Manzanita to celebrate my good friend Jen's Bachelorette weekend. It was tough to leave my loves at home, but it was nice to get away for a girl's weekend as well. I did a lot of eating, sleeping in, and rare Oregon Coast sunshine enjoying :) Also, I'm pretty sure Bambean had the time of his/her life dancing away to Beyonce inside of my tummy at all hours of the night. It sure looked that way at least, he/she was quite the active little one. Although I wasn't able to participate in some of the festivities that would usually accompany a Bachelorette weekend, I still had a ton of fun with everyone, and I'm so glad I got to help my mother Hen celebrate becoming a Mrs. so soon!

Movement: Still loving watching and feeling it all. This kid is STRONG!

Gender Prediction: Boy. I had an odd dream over the weekend that I was pregnant with triplet boys. Actually let's just go ahead and classify that one as a nightmare... okay that sounds a little terrible. Seriously though, I would be pretty horrified.

Belly button in or out: It spends a lot of time popped out now.

Happy or moody: Happy, but also moody and stressed about getting our house done before our little bundle arrives...

Looking forward to: A nap tomorrow.

Bumpity Bump:

In beautiful Manzanita, Oregon.