31 Weeks

Here is the 31 Week BUMPdate: 2/19/14 -

And a side-by-side from last week:

Kamdyn is about the size of a coconut:

She is around 3 lbs and 17 inches tall!  She will gain about 1/2 lb per week from now until two weeks before she's born.  She can turn her head from side to side and her arms and legs are starting to plump up as she continues to store fat.

At this point we are less than 2 months from the big day and as people keep asking me if I'm ready, to be honest - nope, I'm not.  But quite honestly, is anyone?!  Don't get me wrong, am I ready for her to be here?  Yes.  I want desperately to hold her and kiss her and look at her.  But just typing those phrases makes me a bit anxious because I'm not good at not being perfect at things and I'm really not good at not being prepared for things…and well, that's actually the real joke of parenting.  You can never be perfect or prepared.  So, this should be interesting.  :)

And lastly, those of you following me on Facebook or Instagram saw this last night, but included in my weekly belly pic text was this little gem:

I could not possibly love either of them more.  :)

That's all for today, friends.  Have a great weekend!

Happy Birthday, Kanga!

Dear Julie,

I wanted to take today on this little blog to celebrate YOU.  I am so, so, so thankful for your birthday because it's the day this world became a much better place with you in it.  :)

The ways my life has changed since you messaged me that day in May, less than a year ago, are countless.  A constant skeptic, I wasn't really sure about this crazy idea.  But after spending time texting, calling and skyping with you - I quickly knew this was all meant to be.  You have such an incredible way with people.  You just make people feel at ease the moment they meet you.  It is my constant prayer that Kamdyn is soaking up as much of that as possible while she's in there because it is one of the many qualities that I love most about you.

I love that you are such a remarkable mom to your kids.  You are patient far beyond when most people would be.  You love each of them in exactly the way they need to be loved.  You are never too busy to stop what you're doing and sing a song, or sit on the floor and play with them.  I love to watch you with them - they are truly such blessings to you, and I can see it in your eyes every single time.

I love your sense of humor.  The fact that you sang to your belly while going through fertility treatments.  The fact that we had a little too much to drink the day before the procedure because you were just sure you were going to get pregnant the next day.  The fact that you enter into my crazy family and just go with the flow - hugging people and giggling as chaos ensues around you.  Your honking laugh.  That you still go down water slides.

That your favorite thing at Cheesecake Factory is their fries.  That you can make what should be an awkward process {someone else carrying our child} into something that is the furthest thing from awkward I could imagine.

Obviously, I love you because you're carrying my daughter.  I don't really have the words to tell you how I feel about that.  I'm getting teary eyed just trying right now.  It is so hard for me to be away from her all the time, but there is a strange comfort knowing that she's with you.  It is really the biggest gift of love you could give me - you are standing in for me, doing something for her that I can't, being her kangaroo - I will never stop being thankful to you for her.

While I could go on and on about the reasons I'm thankful for you, the biggest thing I'm thankful for is that you picked us.  Yes, most people believe that our family picked you to carry our child, and while that is partially true…the flip side of that is that your family also chose us - you not only chose us to carry our child, but you chose us to become forever family and one of my very best friends - and for all of that, I am eternally thankful.  I am humbled and honored that you chose me.  This world, and certainly MY world are far better because of YOU.

I hope your birthday is filled with all the things and people you love.

I love you,

30 Weeks!

Here is the 30 week BUMPdate: 2/12/14

Here is the side-by-side from last week:

How is it possible that we are already at 30 weeks??!  Doesn't it seem like yesterday that I was sharing this picture at 4 weeks?!

It's SO crazy!

Kamdyn is about the size of a large cabbage this week:

She is about 3 lbs and 15 and 3/4 inches long.  Her eyesight continues to develop, although is still not very good {and won't be for awhile after she's born}.  Actually her vision will be about 20/400 - isn't that insane?!  In other news, the lanugo {fine hair} is beginning to fall off this week in preparation for the big day.  As in weeks past and for the remaining 9 weeks {gasp} she will continue to store fat at rapid paces before her birth.

I think that's it for today, friends.  Thanks for continuing to pray for and love on our family.  We appreciate you more than you know.

Lots of love -

29 Weeks

Here is the 29 week BUMPdate - 2/5/14:

And the side-by-side from last week:

Evidently, we've had a little growth spurt!  When Julie texted me this picture it said "I am huge!!!'  Bless her heart.  She's so adorable!

Kamdyn is about 2 1/2 lbs and a little more than 15 inches long from head to heel.  Her muscles and lungs are continuing to mature and her head is growing bigger to make room for her growing brain.  She is continuing to collect fat and she should have about 3.5% body fat around now…which considering she started at 0%, I guess is quite a bit of progress!

We are 10 weeks from delivery, less than 70 days.  I'm getting more and more anxious to meet this little lady…time seems to be going quickly still, but I just can't wait!  :)

I posted the first part of this yesterday in my K Everyday post, but I thought it'd be fun to do a little walk down memory lane at each of the BUMPdate pictures I have so far…

I just love how adorable she is in every single picture.  She's my angel on this Earth.

I think that's it for this BUMPdate friends -

Have a great weekend,

#K-everyday - Week 4 & 5

Since I was in Florida last weekend, I didn't have the chance to upload my K Everyday photos from week 4, so here's two weeks mashed together.  :)

Day 24:

My PVP family at a baby shower for Kamdyn :)

 Day 25:

Watching Maicey at her solo recital.  I love her.

 Day 26:

The ATB competitive group recital.  Amazing.

 Day 27:

Yummy pasta bake for dinner.

 Day 28:

Some days you just need a little ice cream.  :)

 Day 29:

Riley loves her daddy. 

 Day 30:

This is the captain of my dance team who took this selfie to show me how excited she was to leave for Nationals in Florida.  A few hours later, we found out our flight got cancelled and chaos ensued for the following 24 hours is something I'd like to forget.

 Day 31:

Due to the flight cancellation and weather nonsense, we chartered a bus to Chicago to catch a flight.  This is 6 AM.

 Day 32:

After 2 amazing performances on the Nationals floor.  So proud of them.

 Day 33:

Crazy hair night for a UDA party at Universal Studios.

 Day 34:

This was not a very pleasant transition - but I'm so happy to be home.  :)

 Day 35:

Such a fun field trip with my fifthsters.

 Day 36:

Doing a little reminiscing on the beginning of our surrogacy journey.  So incredible.

That's it for this week -

28 Weeks

Here is the 28 week BUMPdate: 1/29/14 -

The side-by-side from last week:

Kamdyn is about the size of a large eggplant:

She weighs about 2 1/4 lbs and is 15 inches long.  Her little eyes have lashes now and she's able to blink them because she's now able to see light and dark!  She's in the business of fat collection as all of her limbs and parts are present, she's just filling out for the next 11 weeks.  Her bone marrow is now producing lots of blood cells and her adrenal gland is beginning to produce hormones.

She only has to cook for another 75 days!  SO excited!

Have a great day, Friends -

#K-Everday - Week 3

Time is going by so quickly!  It seems like I blinked my eye and it was Friday this week!  I'm not complaining…but it's still crazy.

We had an unexpected mid-week break yesterday with another day of bitterly cold temperatures.  While I enjoyed my sleeping in and crossing things off my to-do list - I really am not interested in going to school until June.  Oh well - such is life.  :)

Here is my week 3 in review:


Day 17:

A little TGIF selfie.  Last week was long!

Day 18:

Happy 6th Birthday, Maicey!

Day 19:

Kamdyn's library is growing.  :)

Day 20:

My renewed teaching license - 5 more years without continuing ed!  YIPPEE!

Day 21:

My sister's 30th Birthday!

Day 22:

The snow drift outside my window is so ridiculous.  But pretty, nonetheless.  :)

Day 23:

Another unexpected day at home due to weather = cleaning out and organizing baby stuff.  I'm happy with the progress!

That's it for Week 3, friends!

Have a great weekend -