27 weeks

Ah my little cauliflower at around 2 1/2 lbs & 14 1/2 inches! It's just incredible that she is sleeping and waking at regular intervals. What's even more so amazing is that she actually sleeps at night with me. Let's hope this trend continues once she's born!
Supposedly I should be able to feel when she has hiccups sometime around now but that hasn't happened yet. She is moving like CRAZY though & I swear she thinks she's already at the Gymnastic Olympics... or at least she's training for them because she is constantly tossing and turning like she has all the space in the world to do so. It's especially annoying when she stops in the weirdest position so then I have to push her down to get her out of my ribs or what feels like her leg already coming out of the birth canal!

On another note I am officially in my 7th month and 3rd trimester! It seems so weird and surreal & I know I probably say that every week but it still holds true. My pregnancy with Makenna seemed like there was a beginning & end without the middle so I honestly can hardly remember anything. I know for a fact I didn't count every week or keep track of things that happened every week (like this pregnancy) so that's probably why I feel like this pregnancy is going by so slow... but yet so fast! 13 more weeks... TWELVE! 92 more days. It really feels like yesterday I was just saying that I WAS 13 weeks pregnant. January 27th feels like it was no time ago and realistically we're already in May.

We are getting closer to filling our list of stuff that we have ready for Kendall. YAY! Oddly enough we have 3 strollers. All are different though so I'm excited about using each of them. We have a jogging single stroller (the 3 wheeled kind), a double stroller and a light-weight single stroller. We have decorations for her nursery all set up & ready to go up on the walls, & her crib. Next step is getting her car seat. I really wanted a matching set but nothing will go with the 3 strollers we have so now I am changing my plan of attack on the whole car seat thing and just picking 1 we love.

"Showering Mommy & Baby" Giveaway Event! - Sweets Perfume Review

So like every woman I LOVE to smell good! Sweets Perfume sent me 10 different scents of my choice to review! Of course I have my goto perfume but I like to mix it up a bit and have John guessing so I was excited to try something new.

I was sent:

• Divinity
• Gardenia Lily
• Flirty
• Hawaiian Breeze
• New Romance
• Pink
• Very Sexy
• Sweet Pea
• Creamy Vanilla
• Beautiful

I'm not usually a Vanilla or flowery type girl so I was trying to step out of my comfort box by ordering those two (Creamy Vanilla & Gardenia Lily) and I was pleasantly surprised! My favorites are the Flirty, Sweet Pea and Pink though. Of course Pink, right? lol.

None of the scents were overwhelming so I wasn't worried about putting on too much then gagging everyone around me or walking through the grocery store. They gave off just the right amount so you could smell good but you wouldn't have to worry about smelling like you took a bath in your perfume bottle.

So if you're like me and want to smell great and try something new then I definitely suggest heading over to Sweets Perfume! They have over 50 different scents to choose from so I'm sure you will find something you can fall in love with. their prices vary from $3.95-$49.95 so they have something for every budget!

Buy them:

You can buy their amazing scents direct from the Sweets Perfume website!
Use the code: FIRSTORDER to receive 15% off!! How "sweet" is that (lol, sorry)

**No other monetary compensation was received for this review - Sweets Perfume sent me 10 different scents to review at no cost. The views and opinions are strictly my own. Your results and views may differ.**

Adoption

So I'm SUPER excited and beyond words happy today.
We started the adoption process today for my husband to adopt Makenna. I've mentioned it a little bit on my "Meet Makenna" page, but John, my husband, is not Makenna's biological father.

Makenna's biological father wasn't involved in her life at all until 2007 when she went for a visit to Colorado to see him.

But now that John and I are married and have been for over a year now we just think it's right. We've always talked about it and John has always been passionate about Makenna having his last name. So we printed out everything and started the whole process today. Hopefully it won't be a horrible experience and it'll be fast and uneventful. I really don't want to be going to court every month dealing with crap and fighting over this and that.

I've had someone tell me in the past, "at least all my kids with have the same daddy" and of course it annoyed me but psh, I never let that crap get to me. I'm definitely not the first and only woman that has kids from separate fathers. I'm in no way shape or form a "whore". Makenna's biological father was my boyfriend at the time, we didn't mean to get pregnant... but it happened and I will NEVER regret it or the decisions I made to keep the pregnancy going. My daughter is the most beautiful little girl in the world because she is part me.
This same person has even said she wishes I have problems with this pregnancy and miscarry ! What a horrible, low, despicable person, right?

John is her dad and Makenna needs his last name.
Let me clarify though, Makenna DOES NOT have her biological father's last name, she has my maiden name as her last name. I didn't even put his ass on her birth certificate!

Today, Monday, is a happy day and I'm going to be living in his bliss for a while. Again, I really just hope by the end of the year Makenna can officially be a Mercurio.

"Showering Mommy & Baby" Giveaway Event! - Pink Princess Review & Giveaway

**CLOSED**

Winner: Random.org #381 - Katy

-Winner has been emailed & has 48 hours to respond-

Huge Thank You to Pink Princess & to all of you who entered this wonderful giveaway! :)

--------------------

Of course I think my daughter is a Princess and she practically has everything Princess and LOVES to dress-up. What little girl doesn't love to dress-up?
I recently came across Pink Princess.com! Not only do they carry dress-up costumes but they pretty much have everything you need for any event you may need your Princess to sparkle in! From Flower Girl dresses, to adorable Pettiskirts, & even girls dress shoes perfect for a Christening or wedding!

Like I said though, I went straight for the costumes and found one of the cutest ones: A ladybug!
Makenna received the ladybug dress in a size Medium and it fit her perfectly. Unlike most dress-up or costume places I love that this (and other costumes) came with everything you need (excluding tights and shoes) so there really is no need to buy anything extra

You get the Glitter skirt and top, the wings, the headband and the wand! Like I said, everything!!
The wings are a bit loose on her but there isn't any folding/closing of the wings like she experiences with other fairy winged costumes so that's a huge plus! For now I just pin the wing straps on the shoulder straps of the costume so they won't fall off.

So love the dresses and it's all cute and adorable right? BUT... you have a son(s)? Well don't feel left out, Pink Princess has something for your little Prince as well!

They carry a great assortment of boys Christening gowns/outfits, along with boys Formal wear that includes Tuxedos, Etons & Short Sets, plus accessories to go along with them.

Buy it:

Buy the Black & Red Glitter Ladybug Costume for only $45.99!

Win it:

One lucky Princess/Prince will win a $25 Gift Card toward any purchase on Pink Princess!!

Here's how you can win it:

(PS:: PLEASE be sure to include your email in EVERY entry!! I need to contact you if you win!)

Mandatory first entry: Follow me on Google Friend Connect AND Go to the Pink Princess website and tell me what you'd use the $25 on!
 
(Mandatory entry MUST be completed FIRST for any other entry to count!!!)

Extra Entries: Please leave a separate comment for each additional entry.

1 entry - "Like" Pink Princess on Facebook. (Leave a post on their wall and tell them you're from doubledutymommy.com)

1 entry - Follow Pink Princess on Twitter.

2 entries - Become a Double Duty Mommy fan on Facebook.

1 entry – Follow me on Twitter

1 entry – Tweet about this giveaway:

#Win a $25 GC from @PinkPrincess & @jmercurio19 so ur Princess/Prince can look their best http://bit.ly/d7IOgY (5/24) #giveaway #dressup
(can RT tweet 3 times a day w/ at least a hour in between then comment again!)

1 entry – Subscribe to this blog by RSS and/or email.

2 entries – Vote for me on Top Baby Blogs and Top Mommy Blogs. Enter one separate comment for each site you vote on.

(You may click the link THREE TIMES a day. AFTER a hour wait each time.
Then leave a separate comment each time.)

2 entries – Put my *NEW* blog button on your site (right sidebar). Leave me a link so I can find it. (Right side of blog. Leave 2 separate comments)

2 entries - Put my *NEW* "Showering..." event button on your site (site sidebar). Leave me a link so I can find it. (Right side of blog. Leave 2 separate comments)

5 entries - Blog about this giveaway. Blog post MUST include links back to Double Duty Mommy AND Pink Princess to count. Leave me the link in your comment.

NO BLOG??  5 entries - Post a FACEBOOK status update about this giveaway. Status MUST include links back to Double Duty Mommy AND Pink Princess to count. Leave me the link in your comment (ur page cant be private though :/ To get the link: Click on the time of your post and then copy the address bar link provided. CAN ONLY DO ONE: Blog post OR Facebook post!!!!)

Are you eligible for extra entries? You know who you are. Write "Extra entry 1", "Extra entry 2", etc.

**No other monetary compensation was received for this review - Pink Princess sent us the Glitter Ladybug Costume to review at no cost. The views and opinions are strictly my own. Your results and views may differ.
Giveaway will close on May 24th, 2010 at 11:59 pm EST! Random.org will be used to choose the winner who will then have 48 hours to respond to my email before a new winner is chosen. Good luck!**

"Showering Mommy & Baby" Giveaway Event! - Braelyn Bounty Bug (Prego Planner) Review & Giveaway

**CLOSED**

Winner: Random.org #40 - Jennifer

-Winner has been emailed & will have 48 hours to respond-

Huge Thank You to The Braelyn Bounty Bug & to all of you who entered this wonderful giveaway! :)

--------------------

When I found out I was pregnant I never really think of all the little things that come along with it, sure you know there will be Doctor/Midwife appointments and things of that nature but you don't really think twice about it since that's normal stuff, right?. Well after a while I started to notice that keeping track of all these dates and times are pretty hard to remember, especially once the preggo memory (or lack there of!) sets in!

I tried looking around in stores for a regular planner but really nothing fit my needs, the needs of my pregnancy. Then I found The Braelyn Bounty Bug and wondered, "could this really be?!"

The Braelyn Bounty Bug Prego Planner will help you keep your pregnancy organized and allow you to remember what happened during those 9 months. Let's face it, there is more then just the once a month Doctor/Midwife appointment you need to remember. What about the Ultrasound date, Gestational Diabetes test, the baby shower date, Prenatal massage appointment (hehe)! Plus, if you just want to jot down the first time you felt the baby kick, the last day of your normal clothes, or even how long morning sickness lasted.

What I like about this planner is that it is 3-ring binder so no more blank pages because something doesn't apply to you, just simple take the pages out if you don't want them. (Such as a baby shower section will probably not apply to your third pregnancy since some of us aren't THAT lucky.)

The planner comes in 3 stylish covers "Dressy", Zebra, and Chocolate Brown. I love how appealing the covers are and not some regular planner that is covered in some cheesy cartoon character or even babies. Don't get me wrong, I love baby stuff but I would like MY planner to fit MY style.

I chose "Dressy" because well, it's pink and like I said, it fits my style. Once I opened this gorgeous glossy covered planner I found the colorful pages were separated into sections with colored tabs on the outside for quick access to any section you need to jump to in a pinch.
I'm going to break this down into sections to make it a little easier to explain :)

The first section is a blank 12 month calendar to keep track of previous mentioned happenings along the way of your glorious pregnancy. I love blank calendars because of course it makes your planner just that much more personal. No more having to worry about having empty pages for pre-printed pages that say Jan, Feb, March & April if your pregnancy started in May!

 
The second section is a place to keep all the important information on your obgyn/midwife, hospital, pharmacy, and insurance company. It also includes a page for your Prenatal Visits and what tests were done, followed by 5 blank pages for "Questions & Concerns" so if you ever think of something to ask your caregiver then you can't forget at the time of visit.


Third section is great to help you pick a pediatrician (complete with some pre-written questions to ask and space for their answers). Even though I've had to choose a Pediatrician before I have still found these questions very helpful and I am definitely going to be looking to my planner when I go to find a Pediatrician for Kendall soon. If you're a seasoned pro at finding a Pediatrician then of course you could just remove the 'Choosing a Pediatrician' pages. Once you have picked a doctor for your little one, there is a page for all the information on their office and any upcoming scheduled visits. Again, this section also has a "questions & concerns" section for you to ask the Predication anything that came to mind about your newborn is in between her/his visits.

The next section is chalk full of checklists: a newborn checklist, gift list, and a 'before baby arrives' checklist.

The fifth and final section is the labor and delivery area. Complete with pages for birthing class notes, a birth plan, hospital bag checklist, call list, and a post delivery checklist (like a reminder to order those adorable Hospital pictures and scheduling your postpartum visit).

 Buy it:

Buy the "Dressy" Prego Planner for only $24.00!

Win it:

One lucky mama-to-be can win the Prego Planner in the style of her choice right now!

Here's how you can win it:

(PS:: PLEASE be sure to include your email in EVERY entry!! I need to contact you if you win!)

Mandatory first entry: Follow me on Google Friend Connect AND Go to the Braelyn Bounty Bug website and tell me style you'd choose if you won!
 
(Mandatory entry MUST be completed FIRST for any other entry to count!!!)

Extra Entries: Please leave a separate comment for each additional entry.

1 entry - "Like" Braelyn Bounty Bug on Facebook. (Leave a post on their wall and tell them you're from doubledutymommy.com) 

1 entry - Follow Braelyn Bounty Bug on Twitter.

2 entries - Become a Double Duty Mommy fan on Facebook.

1 entry – Follow me on Twitter

1 entry – Tweet about this giveaway:

#Win a Prego Planner & stay organized during ur pregnancy from @jmercurio19 & @BountyBug http://bit.ly/a0tc7Q (5/24) #giveaway #preggo
(can RT tweet 3 times a day w/ at least a hour in between then comment again!)

1 entry – Subscribe to this blog by RSS and/or email.

2 entries – Vote for me on Top Baby Blogs and Top Mommy Blogs. Enter one separate comment for each site you vote on.

(You may click the link THREE TIMES a day. AFTER a hour wait each time.
Then leave a separate comment each time.)

2 entries – Put my *NEW* blog button on your site (right sidebar). Leave me a link so I can find it. (Right side of blog. Leave 2 separate comments)

2 entries - Put my *NEW* "Showering..." event button on your site (site sidebar). Leave me a link so I can find it. (Right side of blog. Leave 2 separate comments)

5 entries - Blog about this giveaway. Blog post MUST include links back to Double Duty Mommy AND Braelyn Bounty Bug to count. Leave me the link in your comment.

NO BLOG??  5 entries - Post a FACEBOOK status update about this giveaway. Status MUST include links back to Double Duty Mommy AND Braelyn Bounty Bug to count. Leave me the link in your comment (ur page cant be private though :/ To get the link: Click on the time of your post and then copy the address bar link provided. CAN ONLY DO ONE: Blog post OR Facebook post!!!!)

Are you eligible for extra entries? You know who you are. Write "Extra entry 1", "Extra entry 2", etc. 

**No other monetary compensation was received for this review - Braelyn Bounty Bug sent me the Prego Planner to review at no cost. The views and opinions are strictly my own. Your results and views may differ.
Giveaway will close on May 24th, 2010 at 11:59 pm EST! Random.org will be used to choose the winner who will then have 48 hours to respond to my email before a new winner is chosen. Good luck!**