Cousin's Party

Hi Everyone,

As you can imagine it's been pretty hectic lately with the holidays. I'm playing catch up with just about everyone and everything and finally have a free few minutes to catch up on the ol' blog.

The Saturday before Christmas we hosted the second annual cousin's party at our house. We invite all cousin's, significant others, and their children over for a holiday party. Nick's cousin Adam died unexpectedly last year so we do this in memory of him as well. It was a really nice and relaxing time. We also do a Yankee Swap and although there were no appalling/hilarious gifts this year, it was still fun.

Welcome Reagan Kate!

My best friend Brooke gave birth to her daughter Reagan on November 1st. Mom and Baby (and Dad!) are all healthy and well. I will be visiting them in January and I cannot wait to see Brooke and meet the newest addition! :) Here are the pictures she has shared with me:

Being a Parent

Just a sweet little saying I saw on FB and had to steal:

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There comes a point in life when fun no longer means clubbing, drinking, or being out till 4am, or thinking about yourself. Fun means Disney movies, family dinners, bedtime stories, long cuddles, a messy house, sleeping by 10pm and hearing little voices say “I love you.” Becoming a parent doesn’t change you, it makes you realize that the little people that YOU created deserve the very best of your time.
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I absolutely love this statement. I am surprised at the type of parent I am. I was always a very neat, organized, ok, obsessive person. I get anxious in parking lots. I get anxious ordering a pizza over the phone (I just don't do it). I get anxious when I'm driving when I don't know where I'm going.

With Nicholas, my world is just different. Better. The best. I come home from work. I sit/lay/ crawl around on the floor with him until it is time for him to go to bed. I don't touch my phone, the tv, the computer. I just don't care about those things. He and Nick are my world, and honestly I forget about everyone and everything else.

I don't care that my house isn't clean, that there are handprints on the glass door, on the fridge. That there is dust and dog hair in the corner. It just doesn't matter.

What matters is that my healthy, chunkamunka, baby boy is happy. Because I take being a parent very seriously. Because I don't want to miss a single second of him growing up. Because he is growing so fast and he does something new every day.

Because friends that don't keep in touch, that don't care to ask how I am, that aren't there when I go through something difficult, just do not matter anymore.

That is all!

xoxo

Giuliana & Bill

Does anyone watch Giuliana & Bill? I'm not a big fan of TV, I never watch the news...I like "fluffy" funny stuff. So I joke and say my "news" is E!

Giuliana Rancic does the "news" on E! and is married to Bill Rancic, the winner of the original (I think)Apprentice with Donald Trump. She was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and had a double mastectomy. My former boss went through this same illness so when I watch the show I can't help but think of her as well. Giuliana & Bill have also been trying to get pregnant for some time and perhaps some of the hormones she had to take may have contributed to her cancer (don't quote me on that but I thought I had read that somewhere). They are an amazing couple together, truly loving, adorable, and very likable people.

Anyway, when I watch this show and I look at our son, I think how lucky Nick and I are to have him. Some women/couples go to great lengths to get pregnant and simply can't. Couples want children so badly and struggle to make it happen. I look at how thin Giuliana is and think "wow I'd like to be smaller" (vain I know) but she would give anything, ANYTHING, to be able to have a baby like I did. Nick and I are truly blessed to have a beautiful son and to be free of illness. It's the simple things that make life so wonderful.

xo

Crystal

Happy First Birthday to Quinton

I can't believe how fast time has gone by! :)

Pics from MA Baby Shower

Here we go! Apparently it works if you just do one at a time. Thanks to Brooke for playing photographer for the day!

Self Pic before we left...certainly not getting any smaller ;)

The adorable centerpieces - so many diapers! And so appreciated! The favors were adorable different jungle animal chocolate lollipops (the nursery is giraffe themed)

The incredible red velvet cake! So amazing! Made by Cakes by Michelle in Billerica

My favorite work peeps and my friend Heather

Me and the Nashua Girls!

Adorable outfits from Brookealicious - she also bought me the video monitoring system because she is nuts, oh I mean incredibly generous ;)

So this is Elmo wearing a hilarious onesie (it's made to look like a work shirt with a tie and pocket), riding a bicycle made of diapers, blankets, a baby bottle, socks, etc. Adorable and so clever! From my friend Monica and her daughter Chloe.

Brooke and I

Jessie, me, and Tracie

Raffi...the awesome fat ass giraffe that Jessie gave me - I squished him into the changing table shelf and couldn't stop laughing! He doesn't seem to like it though.

xoxo

More babies :)

On Wednesday we got to meet two new additions: Luciana Madison Antista who is the newest addition to the Antista family. She is tiny and perfect and I am a very bad person for not getting a picture of her! Karleigh and Jon are thrilled to have her home and they both look like incredibly happy new parents :)

After meeting Luciana, we got to meet Addison Paige Reinhart, Nick's cousin Bobby and his wife Mel's daughter. She is a little angel - she looks exactly like Mel did when she was born! I managed to remember to get a picture of her, and it cracked me up...my caption is her asking "who is this drunk dude holding me?" Nick did not have a drop of alcohol, it's just a bad picture (sorry babe!)

xoxo

29 week Update

Just a quick update as this was my first doctor's visit since being diagnosed with GD. The appointment went really well - My blood sugar is actually a little low because I haven't been eating enough. It's been hard finding combinations of food that work and that don't send my glucose levels out of control. Plus not being able to stuff myself with pizza makes me eat a lot less. :)I'm managing it well though and rarely go over 120 (it's supposed to be between 90-120 2 hours after eating). It has been in the 80's quite a bit which isn't terrible, but it should definitely be higher than that. The nurse poked fun at me a bit, but in a nice way, because I gave her very specific information about the last few weeks of my testing. I told her - "would you rather I give you too much information or half assed information?" She laughed and apologized and said she wasn't making fun of me, and appreciated how much trouble I went through.

Also - I lost a few pounds. In 29 weeks, I've gained a total of 14.4 pounds. I assured the doctor I am definitely NOT trying to lose weight, but having to restrict the good stuff has caused my weight to go down. I've always had a bit of a food obsession, and it's been hard to eat more and more even though I know I need to. But I'm working on it. Plus, I currently have no sense of smell because of congestion/stuffy nose so eating anything tasty just doesn't matter to me.

My stomach measurement was 29 inches, right on track with my due date, and the baby's heart rate was between 140-148. He kept wiggling around and she had to keep looking for him, then I started laughing so it took even longer.

Our friend Karleigh and her husband Jon are currently in the hospital waiting for their babe to arrive (Karleigh was due last week), so please keep them in your thoughts! Can't wait to see their new little one!

Hope everyone is doing well and staying warm!

xoxo

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to my favorite peeps :) We had a nice low key night and I’m really looking forward to all the new and exciting things to come this year. I’ve never been one to make resolutions, I think it’s just silly. Also silly – how RIDICULOUSLY packed the gym is right now. Clearly a lot of people made the standard resolution to get in shape/lose weight. As of right now, I like getting bigger just fine – heehee.

I am sick again – I don’t know if it’s something going around in the office, but it’s really frustrating. I try not to be a whiner, but I am just SO tired and SO achy. Hopefully it passes soon. I still try to stretch and do some mild yoga, but when my nose is dripping everywhere, it just isn’t pretty.

For those of you that like to read, I just finished The Hunger Games Trilogy for the second time and honestly wanted to just restart it for a third. It is one of the best series I have read in a very long time. I forgot about certain parts and it just made the books that much better the second time around. I’ve joked with my friend Jenn saying the baby better come early or late because the movie is in theaters March 23rd (and I’m due March 17th). Hopefully I’ll get the chance to see it.

Things are pretty low key for us, I’m trying to make very little plans and just relax for the next few months. It is AMAZING how few people I talk to (or talk to me), and I have to admit I kind of like it. It’s helping me realize who my true friends are. The less stress and aggravation I have, the better, and I’m really enjoying the quiet time. I got rid of Facebook in August, before announcing I was pregnant – I didn’t want unsolicited “advice” and comments from people, and with so many supposed "friends" on there, I knew it would be incredibly annoying.

Something else I thought of - you know how people always say "well when they had kids, they changed?" Well it is true, and I have to admit, I like the change that is coming. True friends are your friends no matter what, yes it gets harder to hang out or make plans when children are in the picture, but it's a simple effort to be made if you really care about a person. (and I'm saying this not even having a baby yet!)

Nick set up the nursery!! It's still a work in progres, but the crib, changing table, and glider are all put together and it looks amazing. I give him major credit for doing it all in one day - he is amazing. We are waiting on things like the mattress, changing pad, etc., so once it's all together I will post pics.

Also, exciting news - we bought a car yesterday and we’re picking it up tonight. I have had my Lancer since 2002- It only has about 85,000 miles on it. The reason we “upgraded” is because the Lancer is terrible in the snow and does not test well in crash ratings. I obviously need something safer and that has a bit more room with the babe on the way. I’m not a person that’s into “fancy” stuff (unless we count expensive body scrubs, heehee), but we got a great deal on a 2009 Nissan Rogue. It is bright blue which I love, and it was a lease so it was very well maintained. I really liked the way it drove, just like a car, and was surprised how instantly comfortable I was driving it. We know several people that have them and we have heard very good things.

Also, congratulations to Nick's cousin Bobby and his wife Melanie for welcoming their beautiful daughter, Addison Paige, last week. She is a perfect little peanut and I can't wait to meet her. Everyone is healthy and doing well.

xoxo

Christmas 2011

Christmas was so much fun this year - mellow, low key, and I was quite spoiled (definitely enjoyed that...considering next year I won't exist anymore :)

I've been good about keeping my blood sugar under control, I treated myself to a sliver of cake on Christmas Eve and my sugar went through the roof, so I know I definitely have an issue. I had to go to a class yesterday and another Tuesday, but have been doing really well so I'm happy about that. I have good days and bad, but I know the babe and I will be just fine. :)

Here are some pics from the holiday- The ones of me in front of the tree are counting as the 28 week baby bump. I'm officially in my last trimester - woohoo! Only about 11 weeks to go!

Dexter & the Tree

Sparkly!

Nick and I on Christmas Eve at Auntie Marlene's house

Me & the tree on Christmas Eve (28 weeks!)

Nick and I at Auntie Diane's

Baby Liam, born in November - so adorable - he just looked around and smiled at everyone, such a good baby. (Courtney & Nick's cousin Bryan's son)

Giraffe ornament I picked up in Mexico

Happiest babe on the planet, Quinton

Belly Update

I called the doctor today to find out about the discomfort in my lower abdomen. Thankfully it’s nothing major. I really like my doctor’s office a lot. I leave a message on the nurse line and someone calls me back within an hour or two, and sometimes it’s within a few minutes. I talked to a nurse for a good 5 minutes and she explained over the next 10 weeks my uterus will expand rapidly, and there are muscles on either side of my uterus that are stretching quickly. So, she suggested alternating heat and ice and taking Tylenol, and also getting a belly band if I felt comfortable with it because that can help support my “rapidly” growing belly. I feel dumb calling, but the nurse made it clear to call at ANY time, that no question is dumb, and that they are there to help. That is exactly what I needed to hear and I feel very well treated there.

Mexico is next week and I have to say I’m pretty nervous about flying. I know I will be fine – I typically don’t mind flying at all, I think I’m just overly nervous with being pregnant and worrying something could go wrong. I see the doctor for my monthly check up next Monday so I’m glad that I’ll have that last visit before I go.

This coming weekend is the annual Tutela family gathering at our house (Nick’s mom side of the family). I think this year it will be about 30-35 people. I’m looking forward to it. Even though it is A LOT of work, I love that everyone comes and it’s great that we can all be together. Plus, Nick’s cousin Bryan and his wife Courtney just had their baby Friday and this will be his first official Tutela Party. I’m looking forward to meeting him (Liam) and will be sure to snap plenty of pics!


xoxo

Peace and Quiet

The house is so peaceful and quiet right now - Dexter is snoring softly next to me and Nick is upstairs reading sports articles. I really try to savor these moments, because pretty soon there will be quiet no more!

Yesterday I wasn't feeling so great. I had what I could only describe as "cramping" in my lower abdomen. When I was around 16 I had ovarian cysts and that is what this discomfort felt like. It wasn't overly painful, just very uncomfortable. When I sat down, it got worse. I don't know if it could be the pressure of the baby (he only weighs a little over a half a pound), or something else. I do feel better today though, so I'm just going to be mindful of it and call the doc if it doesn't get better. I had my friend Karleigh's baby shower and the girls did an amazing job! They went with a bumble bee theme (Karleigh doesn't know what she's having) and everything was delicious and so cute - Paula even wore yellow and black. I got to see Jenna & Jeff's house for the first time and it is SO nice! They live in Windham and the set up is great and the house is full of light - I'm very happy for them.

Saturday was also trick or treating in Dracut as it was rescheduled due to the power outage. Nick decided to invite half of Dracut over - I really wasn't up for having people over but I wasn't going to have Nick rescind the invitation. Originally Brooke was coming over and maybe John too, and that was it. We ended up with a small group, all of which left by about 10. Man we are getting old :) But I had a nice time, even though I wasn't feeling well I think having people here and me being distracted really helped. Also - we had about 25 bags of candy and we RAN OUT! HALF WAY THROUGH! I couldn't believe it. Guess we'll have to get double next year!

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

xoxo

Where does the time go?

I can't believe I'm almost at the halfway point of my pregnancy. I feel like I just found out yesterday that we were having a baby. It's really very crazy. That's the only way I can put it.

One thing I never thought I'd do? Drink milk. Like, milk out of a glass. I know I never got enough calcium. I like cheese, I like ice cream, but only so much. So, I try to drink a glass or two a day to make sure I'm getting enough. I don't like it, but I do it. I drink low fat organic, and it's ok. I was drinking soy milk, but I have it in my head that cow's milk is "better" although the doctor said either is fine. By the way, I did also have some delicious ice cream tonight. It's made by Hood and it's actually low fat frozen yogurt - PB cups and fudge swirl. Try it if you can! I'm good about sticking to the serving size (I don't know how I do it...but I think eating really slow helps), but it is hard to not go back for seconds.

This weekend was a very busy one. Saturday I went to the gym for the first time in about a week. I have been exercising at home, but have been a bit tired so it's been difficult. I try to stretch for a few minutes each day because my hips, back, neck and shoulders have been achy. My neck and shoulders usually ache anyway, so now I've added hips and back to the fun. I'm glad it doesn't seem to be nerve related, and hope it stays that way. I haven't experienced any leg cramps/charley horses yet, and hope those stay away too! I'm honestly not complaining, because I know how bad some people have it! I feel very lucky to be feeling this good.

We registered at Babies R Us Saturday, as I talked about in a prior post, and I think I'm about done with touching the registry. I think I'll make myself crazy (as if I'm not already ;) and we can always buy anything else we need as we go along. A VERY special thank you to my friend Paula for giving a ton of input and help. My registry wouldn't have looked nearly as good without her! And thank you to my cousin Amber too - she recently had an adorable baby girl named Katie and she just emailed me some ideas as well. My friend Jen from high school already emailed me about a few items she is going to purchase elsewhere, so now I'm starting to get excited. Maybe this baby thing isn't so bad after all...heehee.

Sunday was another busy day. I woke up very early and went grocery shopping, then met my friend Jenn at the movies and then lunch. We saw Paranormal Activity 3 - I know I am in the minority when I say I LOVED the first two. I own them both and love the anticipation of being scared, and thought both of them had very satisfying endings (the ending of the second was awesome in my opinion). But this last movie should have never been made. The background was not well explained and I was left with way too many questions, and it was set up for a 4th movie, which I am not interested in at all. Major disappointment!

Saturday afternoon we went to Nick's cousin and his wife's house, Sam & Aisling. They recently moved from a townhouse in Arlington to a house in Wakefield. The house is great! Lots of space and very homey. A great backyard and a screened in area that will be so much fun in the summer. Their son Nicky is 3 1/2 and he is so smart- he already reads well and is such a cutie. Aisling was also a great help - she and I are very similar - blunt, straightforward, to the point - no BS :) So we get along great! She also talked to me about baby stuff in general and gave me a bunch of clothes - very excited! Now we just need to start working on the nursery so I have somewhere to put them. When we got home I cooked food for my friend Katy who just had a baby and also made Halloween brownies for my co-workers. I have a Betty Crocker calendar up in my cube at work (only me...hey it was free) and there was a picture of these brownies we have talked about every day in October. I managed to resist eating any, but were told they were delicious - and very easy!

Here's a pic:

And here's the recipe:

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/trick-or-treat-brownie-cupcakes/e60918bc-0554-41c2-816d-4372a63bccd4#?st=7&term=halloween%20brownies

I couldn't find the small snickers or whatever they were using, so I used Rolos...and it went like this: one for the top of the cupcake...one for my mouth.

One more simple and delicious recipe? Nick's cousin Sam made this for dessert: 15 oz can of pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling, pumpkin) and a box of chocolate cake mix (dark chocolate if you can find it). Mix and put in a bundt pan. Bake until done. You'd be AMAZED at how good it is. You can do the same with a box of spice mix and pumpkin - perfect for fall.

And...I just addressed my Christmas cards. Yep, Christmas. Let's hope no one moves before December.

Apparently I wasn't as tired as I thought...I'm very chatty tonight. Off to take a bath and lay around now!

xoxo

Crystal

Registry Time!

Nick and I spent about an hour and a half at Babies R Us today, and I won't tell you how much time I spend fiddling with the registry at home. I know I've talked to a few of you, but if you want to check out my registry and offer any tips, they would be greatly appreciated!

It wasn't as overwhelming as I thought, and I'm slowly learning what everything does. Plus, I'm happy to say the store is getting a little easier to maneuver.

We went up to Nashua for Nick's cousin Shawn's 27th birthday. It was great to see alot of the family because it has been awhile. We also saw Quinton and Dan beforehand - I can't believe how big he is getting! He's an adorable, smiley, happy baby, and he looks exactly like Dan. I can only hope our kid is as cute as he is!

xoxo

Congratulations to Katy & Dan

Congratulations to our friends Katy & Dan Halligan. Katy gave birth to a beautiful baby boy today, Declan Jack Halligan. We will visit them within the next few days, and I can't wait to meet the little guy! I got to see a picture on FB and he is just perfect. Katy had him at Lowell General, where I will be giving birth, so I'm excited to see how everything went for her (and maybe to hear about the labor...maybe ;)


xoxo