Bump Watch: Week 31

How Far Along:: 31 weeks, final week of the 7th month!
 
Size of Baby:: Little Miss Kemp is the size of a pineapple!

Gender:: Girl!

Stretch Marks:: My tummy is feeling rather "tight" again so I think another growth "spurt" is quickly approaching. My parents asked me the other day how much weight I had gained; then how much baby estimates! Not sure if I was pleased with my mother's response: "That's all she weighs with your weight gain!?!" Thanks mom, lol! But, I am not seeing any stretch marks!

Sleep:: Sleep is going pretty well, besides the frequent trips to the bathroom. The other day I asked Coach to guess how many times I frequent the bathroom. His response miffed me slightly, because seemed almost oblivious to the fact that I get up so dang much! Must be nice to sleep that hard throughout the night. I am honestly contemplating keeping a tally, but then that would require more brain power when I already try to expend as little energy as possible getting myself there & back!

Exercise Fit Pregnancy::  As I mentioned in my previous post, Redefining "Fit Pregnancy," I have discontinued my CrossFit workouts but have been approved for 30 mins walking/day and resistance band exercises. I plan to share some of my resistance band exercises over the next few weeks, so be on the look-out. Also, since I am unable to workout at an intensity level that I desire, I am also trying to focus on the second aspect of being "fit," that being the foods that I consume!  

Cravings:: Just ignore my last statement from above because Coach returned from his most recent recruiting trip with a box of Popeyes biscuits, and this woman did a small happy dance! We do not have a Popeyes in Athens, and I do miss the one right around the corner from our neighborhood in Toledo. Ok, my waistline is happy there is not one close by... Wait, my waistline is nonexistent anyways, lol.

Back story for the biscuits...

Two weeks ago, when admitted into the hospital, Coach was in Indianapolis recruiting... When I called him that Saturday night, he quickly packed his suitcase and jumped in the car to return to Athens. Once things had settled at the hospital, Coach announced, in a beaming way, that he HAD to go through the Popeyes drive through on his way to town! In an indulgent manner, I inquired if he had had a biscuit, which I knew he had. He laughed as I dabbed my watering mouth.... So, my loving husband figured it was only righteous to bring home Popeyes biscuits on his return from being out!
 
Miss Anything::  CrossFit I am doing good, lol.

Symptoms:: Braxton Hicks!

Belly Button In or Out:: Flat as a pancake!

Movement:: Her kicks, stretches, and movement are becoming ever more uncomfortable for this momma! I love the feeling and the ripples/movement of my stomach. Coach is always amazed when my stomach jumps and prods about.

Best Moment This Week:: Being released from my bed rest, hooray!

Looking Forward To:: Friday we will enter the 8th month. I am really excited but also a little anxious!

Michelyn Cynthia

Newborn Essentials: How I Saved Money

We have about another 2 months until Little Miss Kemp's arrival, which means Team Kemp Residence is over-flowing with baby gear and essentials.

Just last week I started assembling a few items, and it is beginning to feel even more real! If you follow me on Facebook, then you are informed to my baby stroller ordeal. I am hear to announce that I assembled the Baby Jogger as well as the Mamaroo! The Mamaroo was terribly more simple. Honestly, I like the picture assembly directions, but why no verbiage? Has our literacy rate plummeted that much? I digress....

In unpacking/washing/assembling all of my goodies, I was reminded of all the $$ that I have saved, and figured I should share some of my tips with all of you.

1. "Baby Bargains." This is a MUST have book! I am so glad that my girlfriend urged me to buy this book because I was so overwhelmed with all the options in babyland. Sure, Pinterest has a wealth of baby essential posts from all various bloggers, but this book lays out the information in a simple manner. Denise & Alan Fields review nearly every imaginable baby product known to man, and give each a grade (A-F). They even have quick access tables, registry cheat sheets (Good, Better, & Best), and a stellar website. I would refer back to this book BEFORE making a purchase. It was my plan to buy only items with an A rating, and I did!  
2. Start Buying Early. I started buying items in December, before we even announced our pregnancy to the world! December is a month full of hot deals and discounts because of Christmas. Now, if you don't want to start buying until you enter your 2nd trimester, that makes total sense to me! However, I would not recommend waiting until you enter your 3rd trimester to start buying the essentials or waiting until you have a baby shower! To pull this off, I re-adjusted Team Kemp's budget to include a "Little Miss Kemp" line item. (Yes, I am pretty particular about Team Kemp Budget! Coach affectionately refers to me as 'Frugal Franny,' but I always remind him that his checking account, savings account, and lack of credit card debt love me for it! My frugal budget conscious ways go out the window once we enter some of my favorite, designer stores though! I have been known to rationalize a number of purchases in our two years of marriage, lol! )
3. Buy Manufacturer Discontinued Items. See that Mamaroo?!?  Well, it is the "older" version and not the new, 2015 version! The 4moms Mamaroo 2015 Classic sells for $239.99; while I got the older version for $175.00 (originally $219.00). On face value, I saved $44.00; and $64.99 if comparing the new verse the price that I paid for the older version. Prior to purchasing the older version, I did my research to determine if my savings would be worth it. You know this baby product world is like I-phones! Until there is some major, unique change, why buy the most recent version? Now, Coach would disagree with me on that analogy with an I-phone, touche.
4. Mint Arrow. Guys! I cannot sing the praises for this fabulous blog and writer! Ok, I probably should have simply said "blogs," but there is no denying that Corrine really catapulted my savings this year, and not only on baby products! You remember those grey Hunter boots that I wore in this A-Game Attire/Game Day Review post? Well, I got those on sale because of one of her posts. And from the items above, only the Baby K'Tan and BOB Revolution SE are items that I found not through her website. It is important to note, that she has advertised for about two or three discounts on the BOB Revolution SE. In my case, a mommy acquaintance shot me over an email, about a deal in which I saved $220.00!
5. Share Resources/Deals with Other Mommies.I just mentioned how I saved $220.00 on our BOB Revolution SE. One of the CrossFit SEO mommies sent me the link about the stroller at the beginning of January, and I bought it later that day. Now, before purchasing I had already decided that I wanted a BOB because of friend and the Baby Bargain reviews. Because I had already established a "LMK Budget," the purchase was made instantly! And I still to this day forward emails to other expecting mommies about specific deals that I find. In return, they send me deals. Most recently, my cousin forwarded some deals about glass bottles through Diapers.com. I have now added this website to my go-to list for baby purchases.
6. Make Purchases Online. From time to time, I do miss being able to run to any one of my favorite stores, but now I truly find online shopping to be my best tool in bargain shopping. Now, do not get me wrong, it has always been my friend, but it is on a whole new level these days! Some of my favorite online baby essential websites include: Amazon, AlbeeBaby, and Diapers.com. (There will have to be another post for baby clothing/attire.)  I have truly been able to get some major discounts, coupons, and even gift certificates through each of these websites! Just the other day, I received a $50.00 gift card to AlbeeBaby after making a purchase! I am over here making money by spending it; love! Amazon is my go-to for all my home purchases, and it has been easy to include baby essentials with Amazon Prime and Subscribe & Save. And Diapers.com always has great deals/promotions. You too can check-out through your Amazon account on diapers.com. The key to catching all these deals is to also sign up for their emails, but be careful! Be careful because it is very easy to rationalize needing that 20th receiving blanket because it is currently 20% off! No, you certainly do not need that many receiving blankets. Finally, I find online shopping beneficial because I am not inundated by all the cute items in the aisles that mysteriously make their way into my cart. When shopping online, I can place many items in "my cart," and then assess the items in the comfort of my own home. No worries of sale associates lurking around trying to coax you into purchasing an item, or pressure from onlookers that you are truly mulling over 5 different baby bottles. 
7. Review Return Policies. It is essential that you read the return policy on all items that you make as each retailer sets different guidelines, and with Amazon it can be different for each item. I am hear to say that I "pulled the trigger" on items before really thinking them through. For example, Corrine at Mint Arrow shared about a $200.00 savings on the Baby Jogger City Versa stroller. I knew that I wanted the Baby Jogger City Select, but got a little anxious, because I was waiting for a deal and figured maybe it was best to just go with the City Versa. Well, a few days later, Coach and I visited the Buy Buy Baby store. I got to talking with the sales associates and learned that to dis-assemble the City Versa, you must take out the seat! Ok, that seemed like a lot for me, especially since I wanted the Baby Jogger to be our "travel system." A day or two later, the stroller arrived, and before it even collected dust inside our house, we returned it. Now, I am completely to blame because I acted hastily when making my original purchase. But, I was able to return the item. This did not occur in a more recent experience in which I purchased two breastfeeding books - "Breastfeeding Made Simple" and "Working and Breastfeeding Made Simple." These two books were recommended by our Lamaze instructor. Again, I acted hastily, and purchased both through my Amazon I-Phone app. On April 25th I realized that it was silly that I had both books and figured I could return the "Working and Breastfeeding Made Simple" book. Well, I had missed the return date by ONE day!!! Granted, the book was only $20.00, but I was still a little peeved with myself. Luckily, I contacted one of my girlfriends who is expecting, and will be sending her the book! So my lesson here is to always be cognizant of your return policies, especially if you buy items well in advance.
8. Think About the Future. If you have been following the blog for some time, or even caught that I said "Little Miss Kemp" and not "The Kemp Twins," you may be wondering why I have the Baby Jogger City Select Double Stroller in my picture! When discussing the pros and cons of the various Baby Jogger strollers with the associate at Buy Buy Baby, she shared that 2nd time parents return to the store to purchase a double stroller. She shared that typically these parents have children between the ages of 2-3 year-olds. Though some 2-3 year-old toddlers are over their strollers, she stated that many second time parents return to purchase a double stroller which can cost from $500.00 and up! So, they really have spent far more money because they just bought a single stroller 2-3 years prior. Team Kemp is hoping to expand the brood to include one more little, God willing, so it was easy for Coach and I to decide to purchase the City Select because it can easily be converted into a double stroller. Then, I sat on our decision and waited for a deal! And then it came! I was able to purchase the Baby Jogger City Select with a FREE second chair through AlbeeBaby. This find was thanks to Mint Arrow! (I must confess that I have followed no ones recommendations of buying gender neutral newborn and early stage infant wear.)
9. Bring Back-Up/Reinforcement & Consider Your Budget. Let's be honest, newborn and baby essentials are so stinking cute. Companies and stores make you believe that you NEED all these items, and 100s of each, but the truth is that that is untrue. However, I am still a sucker when browsing about at stores, and have found myself purchasing items that I did not need! Just the other day, I went to Carter's to return some items, and ended up spending an additional $50.00 with my return! When I returned home, I assessed my purchases and will, again, be making some returns but Coach will be joining me to ensure I do not buy items that are unnecessary (i..e, Newborn to 3 month attire). Also, when I first started perusing baby items, I wanted all the chic, expensive items like the $1,000.00 stroller. I did not develop an overall budget, but do think that would have been advantageous. With that being said, buying an overly luxurious stroller would have eaten my "LMK" baby budget for the month, so that curtailed those purchases. As mentioned above, I also referred to the Baby Bargains book before making most large-ticket purchases which helped me in making sound decisions based on quality. In the end I realized that the dollar amount really did not matter as much as the quality. 
10. Free Shipping. When buying items online, always use websites which have free shipping. I absolutely refuse to buy from stores that do not provide free shipping, and applaud those that provide free returns, as well. I will certainly go out of my way to buy a miscellaneous $2.99 item verse paying the $4.99 (+) shipping cost. This is also my motto with bank withdrawals. If your institution's ATM is not in the vicinity, at least go to CVS, Walgreen's, etc. and get a pack of gum in efforts of getting that cash you want in your pocket (cough, cough Coach!).  

I hope you find these tips helpful. Over the last few months, I have saved over $1,000.00 in newborn essentials (e.g., crib, strollers, carrier, car seat, etc.).

I will need a few months to develop some strategies for buying/saving money when it comes to clothing. I have a tendency to buy clothes/shoes for myself without a clear vision of how I will wear it. Of course, I think about my closet, but I do take a more liberal, "look at the savings" approach when buying clothes for myself and Coach. I believe this is ok, only because we both have a pre-existing wardrobe that we are building upon. Babies grow out of items at warped speed, and I do not think this same approach is going to be the most cost effective!

Michelyn Cynthia

Question(s) of the Day: What tips/strategies do you use for saving with newborn and baby essentials?

What recommendations do you have for saving money on baby clothing/attire?

Redefining "Fit Pregnancy"

The last two weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind. One moment, I was feeling 100% perfect and then the next I am heading to the ER -- for the second time!

I was placed on a modified bed rest - oh my! You know, I was beginning to get a little over-confident about having such a smooth sailing pregnancy, and then a few roadblocks came my way. Over the last ten days, I questioned how people do this (i.e., pregnancy) multiple times, if my body can even handle pregnancy, if I was going to be a "prisoner" to my office chair/sofa/bed, and the list goes on... See, this is what happens when you put a woman on bed rest! She goes a little batty.

The good news! This momma-to-be has been released from her modified bed rest. Given that this is my first pregnancy, the doctor's are being cautious but they believe I have a dynamic cervix; meaning that it shortens and elongates more easily. (As an aside, cervixes, in general, are dynamic; however, they believe mine is more dynamic than average. This, again, is a hypothesis, there was no specific test administered, but the data trend of my cervix length would lead one to conclude this finding.) 

Little Miss Kemp, in the future, dancing away! Or, just celebrating that mommy is off bed rest!

I have been placed on a strict exercise regimen - 30 mins of slow walking/day. I too have been approved to continue with resistant band exercises, most of which I do from a seated position. Now one can find me with a band in hand while I peruse the internet online shop and read my blog roll!  My 30 mins of walking will include going to the grocery store, a walk with the dog, or walking on the treadmill (2.6 - 2.8 pace); and then it is time to sit, relax, and try to not push it too much!

If you have been following my weekly Bump Updates, this is a change to my previous exercise regime. I had some unease because I felt like I had, once again, failed in my vision for a "fit pregnancy." I previously wrote a post about my frustration with not feeling comfortable with running while pregnant (post here),though it was in my plans. Now the second curve ball came these past few days, and it was after my Fit To Be Pregnant feature which made me a little more dejected.

What is most important - following my vision of a "fit pregnancy" or a healthy baby?

A healthy baby, for sure, and this has always been my goal for my entire pregnancy. Over the last 8 months, my definition of having a fit, healthy pregnancy has surely evolved because my body has shown signs that it needs to slow down.

I am in no way shunning women that run throughout their entire pregnancy or those that are able to continue their regular/modified workouts without any issues. In contrast, I commend them. I too commend women that redefine their workout routine to accommodate their pregnancy.

I too had to remember that "fit pregnancy" is not only defined by activity level. Many fitness and health professionals actually state that the foods that one consumes is the most important factor in living a healthy lifestyle.

For the next 9 weeks, my goal is to focus on my diet, the foods that I consume, to continue on my quest for a "fit pregnancy."

What has been the best aspect of this whole ordeal?

The many ultra-sounds! Typically patients at my OB office have USs  between 8-12 weeks, 20 weeks, and then a final US at 36 weeks right before delivery. Well, Little Miss Kemp already likes the limelight because we have seen her "on the big screen" an additional four times! She is doing well, thriving, and wondering what is all the commotion about in that outside world. However, she always puts on a little show for the on-lookers - wonder where she gets that from?

 Michelyn Cynthia

Bump Watch: Week 30

How Far Along:: 30 weeks!
 
Size of Baby:: Little Miss Kemp is the size of a cucumber.

Gender:: Girl!

Stretch Marks:: Haven't seen any. Do you think these truly show post-birth once your skin tries to tighten back up?

Sleep:: Started sleeping more, between 9-10 hours/night. I have no reason to arise early to hit the gym, which was my main reason for being an early bird! Ha even though I despised waking up, I now miss it! 

Exercise:: Taking it slow this week. I have another appointment tomorrow, Thursday, and we shall see what the doctor says. Staying off my feet, sitting on the couch, and not being active is unbelievably challenging for me!

Cravings:: A glass of wine sounds pretty divine!

Miss Anything:: I won't mention it again, but not being active! I know, I mentioned that last week!

Symptoms:: My ankles and lower leg occasionally get minimally swollen. I did not even realize it, until the doctor mentioned it to me.

Belly Button In or Out:: Still flat!

Movement:: Little Miss Kemp may come out running or doing flips! She is one active little one.

Looking Forward To:: Doctor's appointment tomorrow. Updates are sure to be shared on Friday!

Michelyn Cynthia

Coaches Corner: #SaulBall Chapter 2

Alrighty! It has been quite a few weeks since the end of college basketball season, but not too far from that national championship game that college basketball is an irrelevant topic!

Most conversations around the water cooler entail the latest head coach firings, and more importantly, who will be the replacement.

Over here at Ohio University, Saul and Company are gearing up for the 2015-16 season, or as I am referring to as "Chapter 2" of #SaulBall! Coach heads back out this weekend for another round of recruiting and then we have some "rest" until July! We shall see what Coach's recruiting schedule look like given Little Miss Kemp's due date (June 26, 2015).

Before Coach heads out, I figure I might as well sit down and ask him a few questions about Ohio Men's Basketball!

What was the highlight of the 2014-15 basketball season?

The two things I will remember about our first team at Ohio would be the Akron and Buffalo home games. We were able to give our fans a glimpse of the excitement of the future. The Buffalo game, in particular, came down to the last possession and our senior forward Maurice Ndour dunked the basketball with one second left on the clock sending the crown into a frenzy. We have the best fans in the MAC. I cannot wait until next year!

What was your favorite road trip of the season?

Outside of the conference road win at Ball State, I would have to go with the Hawaii trip. It is hard to beat Waikiki Beach for the holidays! In addition to spending Christmas with family in Hawaii, we had a nice win against DePaul of the Big East Conference, and a game against our good friend Tim Miles, and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. It is hard to beat Waikiki Beach for the holidays!

This year you wrote again for the College ChalkTalk National Coaches' Diary Series. Are you disappointed to see the series discontinued?

It was a great experience writing for Chris Di Sano and College ChalkTalk. I enjoyed contributing to the site and hope the coaching fraternity enjoyed my entries. It would have been nice to continue writing, but college coaching will definitely keep me busy!

What was the most disappointing loss?

Since all losses are disappointing, I will go with the final loss of the season. We were coming off of a convincing win against Miami Ohio, and played at Western Michigan in the MAC tournament. I truly believe our guys played winning basketball for 30 minutes in that game. Unfortunately we came up short, but it was good to end the season in competitive fashion. It will certainly bode well for the future of Bobcat Basketball.

What are your thoughts about the Badgers?

I have been a Badger fan since I was about three. They are my hometown team. It has been a great experience to watch them play in two straight Final Four games. Simply put, the championship game was a battle of two great teams and two great coaches. Go Badgers!

The season is over, what is on your plate now?

We have turned over a large portion of our roster and are excited about the future. We have some talented players, and are excited about our freshman. We are spending a lot of time with our team, and they are responding well. Other than that, we have one more recruiting weekend, so we will be able to see plenty of potential Bobcats. I have plenty to keep me busy while we wait on Little Miss Kemp!

What do Ohio fans have to look forward to next season?

The Ohio fan base will be proud of the progress we will make next year. We will be hard working, and we will play together. Like our past teams, we will focus on emphasizing the winning elements of the game. Turnover margin, rebound margin, field goal percentage, and free throw margin will be our focus. We must get better in all of those categories. We cannot wait to get started with our new look Bobcats!

Thanks Coach for the interview. Check out our interview last year "The Madness Never Stops!"

Michelyn Cynthia

Fit To Be Pregnant!

On Tuesday I was honored to be featured on the Fit To Be Pregnant blog which is written by Deanna. Fit To Be Pregnant is a really useful blog for all my pregnant mommas out there. Deanna provides a wealth of valuable resources about nutrition and fitness so you can have a healthy pregnancy!

Please visit my feature post, Fit Pregnancy Profile – Michelyn PR’s Her Back Squat in Her Second Trimester, and follow her blog if you are pregnant or desire to be pregnant!

Michelyn Cynthia

Bump Watch: Week 29

How Far Along:: 29 weeks.
 
Size of Baby:: Little Miss Kemp is the size of an acorn squash.

Gender:: Girl!

Stretch Marks:: I believe we are still in the clear.

Sleep:: Sleeping like a log :)

Exercise:: On a short, modified exercise plan, which entails a little more rest than activity. On Saturday, I over-exerted myself by walking on the treadmill for an extended period of time, and then followed this up with a shopping spree in Columbus with my mother. You know the saying "Shop til you Drop!?1" Well, I may have followed that to the letter. I was admitted in the ER overnight Saturday for monitoring, and have been instructed to rest. Basically, all of the activity agitated my cervix, shortening it, but it seems to be ok now. Most importantly, Little Miss Kemp was fine throughout the duration of the situation. She, of course, put on a little show for the nurses/doctors!

Cravings:: My mother's arrival means some home-baked desserts. She has baked some scrumptious oatmeal raisin bars and fudge! We shared some with the OU Athletic department as well!

Miss Anything:: CrossFit SEO

Symptoms:: Nope, feeling good!

Belly Button In or Out:: Still flat!

Movement:: Yes! The last two nights I have eaten desserts, and she is going to town. It actually is way uncomfortable as it almost feels like she is pushing her back-side outward. My whole stomach is lop-sided when she does this, lol. Hoping we go back to simple kicks here soon!

Best Worst Moment of the Week:: Visit to the ER!

Michelyn Cynthia

Becoming A Calm Mom: Strategy #6

I have said it before, but I will say it again... these tips are not only useful as one becomes a calm mom, but also as simple reminders for a satisfying life. "Becoming A Calm Mom" has not taught me any new lessons or concepts, per se, but it has brought these ideas to the forefront of my mind.

Now, we still have a little over 10 weeks to go, so let's hope I can remember some of the strategies when I am stricken with exhaustion, fatigue and overall feelings of being overwhelmed. I can report more about that in a monthly update! LoL

But, we are not done with the calm mom strategies as Dr. Ledly outlines one last tip, calm companionship.

Unlike the previous tips, calm companionship, involves an attitude toward fostering and maintaining adult relationships for the new mom. 

Tips for Calm Companionship

Make time for relationships. Remind yourself that making time for relationships - and the relationship with your partner, in particular – is not selfish. A strong, loving parental relationship is one of the greatest gifts you can give to your baby. Look out for yourself in relationships.  Tailor your relationships so you get what you need (love, support, fun, etc.), while also feeling good about giving back to others. Don’t neglect others’ thoughts, feelings, and needs. Don’t be baby-centric. Make sure to ask friends and family members what is going on in their lives. Seek out other people in your situation. Meet and connect with other new moms. People in the same boat you are in will likely be a great source of support, advice, and fun.

Ledley, D.R. (2009). Becoming a calm mom: How to manage stress and enjoy the first year of motherhood. Washington, DC. American Psychological Association.

 Did you miss any of the other strategies for your Calm Mom Toolbox? Below, I have listed the 5 other calm mom tips:

Strategy #1: Becoming a Calm Thinker

Strategy #2: Becoming Your Own Behavior Therapist

Strategy #3: Calm Communicator

Strategy #4: Making Decisions

Strategy #5: Calm Body & Soul

Question of the Day: What recommendations, tips, and/or strategies do you have for remaining calm during the first few months of motherhood?

Michelyn Cynthia

Bump Watch: Week 28

How Far Along:: 28 weeks. We are in the 3rd trimester, folks!
 
Size of Baby:: Little Miss Kemp is the size of an eggplant.

Gender:: Girl!

Stretch Marks:: I believe we are still in the clear.

Sleep:: I have been super, duper tired this past week. I believe my body is still "recovering" from all the fun of the Final Four, plus I resumed CrossFit which I did not do for a whole week.

Exercise:: Back into the swing of things at CrossFit. I have been so tired and busy with work, that I have been unable to keep up with my treadmill work-outs but know they will resume here shortly.

Cravings:: I have been yearning for KrispyKreme donuts!

Miss Anything:: KrispyKreme stores, lol.

Symptoms:: Besides exhaustion, feeling really good. I have my next OB and adjustment appointments tomorrow. I need to get a list of questions together.

Belly Button In or Out:: It's flat as a pancake!

Movement:: Last night she was going to town! But, she is pretty active on most days!

Best Worst Moment of the Week:: The Badgers losing in the National Championship Game, boo!

Looking Forward To:: My mother arrives later today (huge smile)!

Michelyn Cynthia

A-Game Attire: Season In Review {A Repost}

Hello followers! Coach and I returned home from the Final Four late yesterday afternoon, and I am still trying to catch my bearings from being away for 1.5 weeks! The laundry machine has yet to stop, the fridge has been re-stocked, and Prince is glad to be home!

I wanted to re-post my last A-Game attire post since returning from the Final Four. While there, I had the opportunity to attend many wives events, befriend new wives, and meet two (in-person) that are featured below! In all, I would claim this year's Final Four as a major success!

Without further ado, let me re-introduce you to my starting 5 for the 2014-15 season:

Point Guard - Danyelle Musselman

Shooting Guard - Andrea Hansen

Small Forward - Lisa Compton

Power Forward - Ashley Pittman

Center - Amber Tysl

If you have not done so already, please head on over to each of these ladies' feature posts! Danyelle, Lisa, and Amber have blogs of their own which I do hope you follow! Andrea and Ashley have personal businesses/professions that they discussed on their features, and they be be able to help you in that regard.

Michelyn Cynthia

Question of the Day: Are you a college and/or high school coach's wife or significant other? Interested in sharing your game-day attire and style? If yes, contact me, for more information for the 2015-16 season!

Bump Watch: Week 27

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I know this is not the traditional format for my weekly photos but Coach doesn't have his computer to add the border, and the picture from the hotel room is well below average. So, you get a photo of the bump while in the hotel gym! We will return to normal bump pictures next week. 

H ow Far Along:: 27 weeks; the final week in my 2nd trimester.
 
Size of Baby:: Little Miss Kemp is the size of a large rutabaga.

Gender:: Girl!

Stretch Marks:: Think I'm in the clear.

Sleep:: I have some insomnia, and Coach's snoring makes it challenging to return to slumber but I get some good slumber in the early evening.

Exercise:: I've been frequenting The Princeton Club while we've been in Madison. I took so many various classes and loved them all. If you visit the Madison area, I highly recommend you try out The Princeton a Club or one of their Xpress locations!

Cravings:: We dined at Ian's Pizza, and I was in heaven. The mach & cheese pizza was as delicious as I remember it from back in the day.

Miss Anything:: Not being so tired!!

Symptoms:: doing good!

Belly Button In or Out:: Can flat be an option!?! My belly button is not out but not in either, instead it's just kind of flat.

Movement:: Lots of movement, Braxton Hicks and I'm on the fence on whether I've felt baby hiccups!

Best Moment of the Week:: Seeing our niece for the first time. Got some baby-caring practice in while in Madison. 

Looking Forward To:: Final Four baby!

Michelyn Cynthia

BBBC: One Moment, One Morning

It is April 1st! Later this afternoon, Coach and I head off to Indianapolis for the Final Four festivities! I truly can not contain my excitement to see some of my beloved coach's wives and to make new friends while there!

This year's show will not be going down like last year (Wednesday; Thursday/Friday) but we still have some fun days and nights planned. I guess I can ensure that I am the first one in the hotel gym, since I have no excuses, lol!

For the month of March the Beauty Blogger Book Club read One Moment, One Morning by Sarah Rayner. This book was chosen by Rachel who blogs over at Love To Be Busy. Here is the synopsis of the book:

The Brighton to London line. The 07:44 train. Carriages packed with commuters. A woman applies her make-up. Another occupies her time observing the people around her. A husband and wife share an affectionate gesture. Further along, a woman flicks through a glossy magazine. Then, abruptly, everything changes: a man has a heart attack, and can't be resuscitated; the train is stopped, an ambulance called. For at least three passengers on the 07:44 on that particular morning, life will never be the same again. Lou witnesses the man's final moments. Anna and Lou share a cab when they realise the train is going nowhere fast. Anna is Karen's best friend. And Karen? Karen's husband is the man who dies. Telling the story of the week following that fateful train journey, One Moment, One Morning is a stunning novel about love and loss, about family and - above all - friendship. A stark reminder that, sometimes, one moment is all it takes, it also reminds us that somehow, and despite everything, life can and does go on.

 One Moment, One Morning is an emotional tale of love, friendship and loss as well as strength.Strength found within and between women, at that! The three women are involved in different emotional levels to the death, but in being brought together the incident allows them to examine their own lives in a different light and discover what is important and how they can make changes for the better.

Poignantly, this book had me mulling over so many things. First, it made me realize that I need to cherish those that I love on a more regular basis. Second, I questioned my calling in life, and my overall happiness in all the roles that I play. We only get one chance at this game called life, and I wonder(ed) how I may make my being more meaningful and support my family unit. Lastly, it made me think about becoming a mother and the struggles that will invariably ensue.  

This is no easy read, but it is one that I highly suggest. It will make you cry, laugh and rejoice. You will sympathize and pain for the three women, and then rejoice at the freedom that comes at the end!

Now, head on over the the other Members' blogs to see what they thought about the book!

Ashley - If You Give A Girl A Ring

Heather - Love To Be Busy

For the month of April we are reading "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak. I chose this book after stumbling across Business Insider's "100 Books Everyone Should Read" list! This book is ranked #16 out of 100. I do see that it is a little long - sorry ladies - but it has received great reviews for many, many years! 

If you are a blogger, and are interested in joining our book club, please Contact Me to learn more. If you do not write a blog that is ok, because you can still join in on the fun!

Each month, one of the Beauty Blogger Book Club (BBBC) members will choose a book for the Club to read. At the beginning of the following month, we each write a book report/summary for our readers to enjoy and share the book for the following month!

Question of the Day: What did you think of "One Moment, One Morning?"

Michelyn Cynthia