The Nursery Reveal...Happy 36 Weeks!

The nursery has pretty much been done for quite some time now. I was waiting until Adam was home again to hang some final things and for me to put away some clothes and blankets.

With Adam being in school, it was important for us to do the nursery on a budget. I am a fairly saavy shopper so I was confident that with some diy projects and coupons to Hobby Lobby I could accomplish my goal. We were also fortunate to have such a generous family to help us with some of the pieces in the nursery!

When first finding out I was pregnant, I pretty much had a clear idea of what I wanted to do for the nursery if we were having a girl but really had no direction for a boy so it worked out well for us! I knew I didn't want a "themed" nursery where everything matched but wanted to mix the old with the new which you will see a lot of.

This is the view looking into the nursery from the door. The crib was my mother's gift to us and is a bit darker in this picture than it actually is. We ordered this before we knew what we were having-I thought the Cherry stain would work well for both a boy or a girl. I also wanted it to be something she could grow into. I LOVE white furniture for a little girl's room but I couldn't see that as she got older so this is what we went with!

The blanket underneath the poms was made for me when I was a baby and the mint blanket was made by my great-aunt when she found out I was pregnant. I love the idea of using pieces from Adam's and my childhood. The lamb in the crib was given to me by my grandparents during one of their trips to Ireland. The poms above the crib were part of my shower decoration and thought they would be cuter than a standard mobile.

Sorry for the glare and bad quality but this is the best I could do! I found this at Hobby Lobby (not even looking for a wall-hanging) and was instantly drawn to it because of the lyric. I sometimes sing this line to Adam and when I saw this I knew I had to incorporate it into the nursery. Plus, it was 50% off and I got it for $15 so I really had no excuse not to get it!

I love pastels for a girls room and I knew I wanted a piece of furniture that would be a fun color. The color of the dresser is more similar to that of the second picture but is still lighter in person. This dresser was mine growing up. Adam stripped it and repainted it once we knew what we were having. We replaced the hardware (all 50% off) and voila, a new dresser for Baby C! The glider and ottoman were given to us by Adam's dad and stepmother and the blanket on the glider was another one of mine as a baby. The picture above the glider was given to me by my mom and was taken at a ballet recital. It is a beautiful piece and I always knew that if I had a little girl, I would want to have it hanging in her room. The pictures above the dresser were from my room as a little girl. Each of them has a water color image on them with a bible verse. And the crucifix my dad gave me in college and thought the style of it would fit well in her room.

My aunt, and who we have chosen to be the godmother, gave me a really great piece of art that had a cross in it. In her note she said that through the Baptism class she took for her daughter, the Priest said it is good to have religious images or symbols in the home for the baby to grow-up around. That has always stuck with me and one of the reasons why I wanted that crucifix in her room.

The bookshelf is handmade and we bought it from someone selling it on a site similar to Craigslist. I think it was about $30. It just needed to be stained and have hardware added. It doesn't quite match the crib stain but is pretty close and the hardware is the same as the dresser's. All of the books were either mine or Adam's growing up and a few were gifts. The green rabbit was mine as a child. The clock is a piece that didn't quite fit into the new place from the move so I found a place for it in the nursery. The same goes for the canvas bird prints hanging above the shelf. 

When we found out we were having a girl, I pretty much had the attitude of "Bring on the bows, ribbons, and headbands." I knew I was going to need a place to contain the bows so why not display them and make something cute? This is what I came up with. Again, thanks to Hobby Lobby, I was able to get a plain, plaster frame for $18, painted it with paint I had from a previous project, added some pink ribbon with a glue gun, and I was good to.

This has nothing to do with the nursery but, I love Etsy! I was able to get 10 bows and 10 headbands for $20. I could choose from about 20 different colors so I got an assortment to pretty much go with any outfit!

Baby C's little toy corner under the window! The rocking chair used to belong to Adam's grandmother. When she passed away and his grandfather started sorting through things, Adam asked if he could have the rocking chair since had such fond memories of it as a child. The rocking horse was given to me by my grandparents on my first Christmas. The stuffed animals are a combination of mine and Adam's growing up.

Lastly, I have to say, I have a special spot in my heart for classic, wooden toys. As unavoidable as it is, I kind of despise plastic toys-which I know make up probably 99% of the toy market. The wooden toy between the horse and the chair Adam and I actually gave to our niece when she was about one. His brother isn't planning on having more children so he said we could have it.

And her closet. I would say she is good to go for a while! Thanks to friends and family who were so excited we were having a girl and my saavy shopping, Baby C probably has more clothes than her daddy! The clothes are arranged by sizes and types (chalk it up to the nesting) by handmade separators. I didn't get a picture of them but I just took wooden doorknob hangers, used Modge Podge to cover them with scrapbook paper, and wrote the sizes on them (0-3 Months, 3-6 Months, etc.). That was really the only way I could think of to keep the clothes organized by size! 

So that's a nursery on a budget! Again, we hardly had to buy anything and if we did, it was on sale! I am really happy with how it turned out and will sometimes sit in the glider because the room has a calming effect!

Some 36 Week Updates:

• Had my 36 Week appointment today-No dilation or effacement. I know its still really early but I was hoping for something to give me hope she might come early! My doctor said that even if I am dilated, I still could go into labor past my due date. On the flip side, she has had women who aren't dilated at all and could go into labor in the next couple days. 
• I am definitely to that point of being so ready to be done with pregnancy. I was talking to a co-worker and she asked if I was at "that point?" I would say I am-I am hot all the time, I cannot get comfortable, I hate how I look, and the list goes on. I don't mean to complain because I know it could be a lot worse, I am just SOOO ready for her to be here and for me to be comfortable again. 
• Some symptoms: Some light Braxton Hicks, lots of lower back pain, and starting to feel some heaviness in my lower belly. The good news is that she is getting into position according to my doctor!
• Next week, I get to review our birth plan with her so I might share that on the blog as well. This one might be hard for me because I have a hard time deviating from a "plan" and labor is definitely something out of my hands!

What I Want to Teach my Daughter

I believe that for every woman who wants children, there is a tiny ounce of them who wants to have a girl. I am sure raising girls and boys come with their own unique challenges. I have the benefit of being a woman and knowing how difficult I made things for my parents but I also have a brother who was no walk in the park either.

I also have the benefit of working with over 400 women through my job and I see what they face today which isn't much different than what I faced about 10 years ago when I was in their shoes. I am grateful to my parents for teaching and allowing me to become a confident woman who is comfortable enough to stand up for what I believe in but respectful of others.

By no means am I super-feminist because I am sure those out there would cringe at some of things I have done or want to do. But, I am proud of myself for the woman I have become and there are things I hope both Adam and I can instill in her starting at a young age.

I have seen these lists floating around Pinterest but decided to make my own.

What I Want to Teach my Daughter

1. Your father will teach you how a woman should be treated.
2. Your point of view is important and needed.
3. You should also be respectful of other's opinions.
4. Music will define your mood and can be powerful. It will either pick you up or push you further down. 
5. Mean girls will always exist. This isn't a reason to join in or to hide.
6. Sometimes Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie does make things feel better.
7. Develop REAL relationships and value the face-face conversations and interactions. Not ones electronically.
8. I don't even know you and I already think you are the most beautiful girl and always will.
9. Do not discount the value of a good book and your imagination. There is nothing wrong staying up late using both!
10. Good girls are not boring and do not finish last. 
11. Learn to not have the last word and to be the first to say "Sorry." This is something I still struggle with. 
12. Movies lie. There is no "perfect" romance or relationship. Romance isn't some exotic, whisked away date but it is doing the dishes together while listening to Van Morrison and being perfectly happy. 
13. Marriage isn't easy and never will be. It requires sacrifice, compromise, and selflessness. But, it is rewarding and fun.
14. Cherish your body and be careful who you share it with. 
15. Words hurt more than actions. Please use your words wisely and fight fair.
16. Don't let anyone squash your strength or sense of self. 
17. This one will be hard and will take a long time to get: You cannot control what others think of you and you need to let it go!
18. You also cannot please everyone. Do what you believe in and don't compromise to make others happy. Ultimately, you will lose in the end. 
19. Your father will teach you about his love for music and sports. These are things you will come to appreciate as you get older. 
20. You will more than likely inherit one of my greatest strengths and weaknesses: You will feel every range of emotion more than the average person. You will love deeply and laugh fully. You will also overreact a ridiculous amount over minuscule things. My dad (your grandpa) thinks I live life more fully because of this. I have been fortunate to marry someone who appreciates (and tolerates) these qualities but I also know not to take advantage of his understanding.
21. I sometimes play Landslide for you and hope you love this song as much as I do. I think you do because I can feel a calm movement coming from you when I play it. 
22. Knowing your father and me, you will have some eccentricities. Embrace them and don't be embarrassed of them.
23. Once you are old enough, budget for a good pedicure and massage every once in a while. I will probably even treat you to your first :)
24. There is nothing wrong with some good retail therapy. Don't make a habit of this though. 
25. Never chase a man.
26. Beauty is subjective.
27. "You is kind. You is smart. You is important."
28. Bad hair days happen. That's what ponytails and headbands are for. 
29. Bad haircuts also grow out. 
30. Your father will love you more than any man you meet. 
31. You will also put your father on an impossibly high pedestal so give the other men a chance!
32. You will want to grow up faster than you need to. Once you are a "grown up" there is no going back so cherish your time of freedom and no responsibilities. 
33. You will always have my shoulder to cry on.
34. You can always come home. 
35. Dress for the woman you want to be not for the man you want to have-you will attract the wrong kind of man.
36. You will have friends who fulfill what you need in your life at that time and they may fade away. This is alright. 
37. Your father will help you with your science experiments.
38. I will read you novels.
39. Your father might also teach you about Star Wars and you might think it is weird. Its alright to embrace the "weirdness."
40. I will always fight for you but I will also teach you to fight your own battles. 
41. Never stop educating yourself. Whether it is in the classroom or reading on your own, be a lifetime learner. 
42. You are not better than anyone and no one is better than you. 
43. I won't care how old or how young you are. If you need help, tell me. 
44. Develop your own relationship with God.
45. There will be times you will "hate" me and possibly your father, we hope that someday you will understand why we made those decisions. 
46. Additionally, there is no such thing as "perfect" parents and we are doing the best we can.
47. Finish what you have started. You will be respected for it. 
48. Someday I hope we can be best friends but I will always be your mother first. 
49. Your father will always love you.
50. I will always love you.

So ready to not be pregnant...Happy 35 Weeks!

I am in awe that we just have five weeks left. She could pretty much come at any time with really no issues!

I am definitely at the point of wanting to be done being pregnant! Along with the just the uncomfortableness that comes with being pregnant, I am just so ready to wear other clothes. I feel like I am getting to the point of having to wear the same thing over and over again. I refuse to buy more maternity clothes when I am so close to be done so I am just going to have to put up with it. Last Thursday, I went out with a few friends to watch a band that I really love (Soca Jukebox-check them out!) and I broke down when I was trying to find something that was half-way cute/trendy. Get me back in my normal clothes!!! And I just really want to go shopping!

My next appointment is on Monday and I start going every week after that. I will have my Group B Strep test conducted as well as a baseline for dilation and effacement of my cervix (sorry if this grosses anyone out!).

I don't usually take selfies but here I am at 34 and 35 Weeks. Some say that the growth of the belly is visible between weeks now. I don't see much of a difference between the two pictures. I am also going to refer to the 35 week picture from here on out to see if she has started "dropping."

• How far along? 35 Weeks
• Total weight gain/loss: I am going to say 13 pounds total. They tell you that you lost about 10-12 pounds just from having the labor. If that's the case, I am hoping it won't take me too long to lose all of it plus more!
• Maternity clothes? Oh yes!
• Stretch marks: Don't want to talk about it! Luckily, when I have had stretch marks before (from puberty and growth spurts) they fade really well so I am hoping that will be the case this time. Adam told me that when I am done having kids I can look into some sort of removal process. Before you jump to conclusions, Adam didn't bring this up, I did. He has been very supportive!
• Sleep: I have been waking up with leg cramps periodically. There are some mornings where I feel like I could sleep forever which is SOO weird because I never sleep in. I will take it while I can!
• Best moment this week: I have the greatest two co-workers and friends who gave me a little "Mommy Shower." We got pedicures and they gave me a gift certificate for a pre-natal massage!
• Miss Anything? I am sooo ready to wear my regular clothes again!
• Movement: Yes and all over the place. I can tell that she is starting to settle-in lower because I have been feel movement VERY low in my torso. But there are also times where she is kicking up by my ribs. 
• Food cravings: I have had a few but they aren't super strong like "I've got to have that now!" Pizza sometimes sounds really good and Chinese!
• Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope
• Gender: GIRL!!!
• Labor Signs: Not yet!
• Symptoms: Lower back pain and lately I have had a hard time taking deep breaths. I still have acid reflux but not enough to where it is uncomfortable. Tums will usually do the trick!
• Belly Button in or out? Still in
• Wedding rings on or off? On!
• Happy or Moody most of the time: Pretty happy most of the time! 
• Looking forward to: Adam comes home FOR GOOD on Thursday! We used to think he wouldn't be back until the following weekend but we decided that it would be best if he comes home a week early. Now he pushed it up a day because he has an interview on Friday! 2 Days!!!!

Appreciating the Simple Things...Happy 34 Weeks!

Some would say that being so pregnant in the summer isn't ideal. It isn't. Luckily, we have had a fairly mild summer so I can't complain too much. But when I really reflect on the timing of this pregnancy, I am actually very grateful.

For those who do not know a lot about me, I work in administration for a university-specifically for fraternities and sororities. While I do still work full-time during the summer months, my schedule is much more flexible and relaxed. during the school year, I work, on average, 50-60 hours/week. I am not complaining by any means because I really love my job but it is a breath of fresh air when summer rolls around and I have more "free" time. I am also grateful to work in an environment where we all understand how much everyone works during the school year so I have the ability to be fairly flexible with my time during the summer. If I need a longer lunch to maybe take a nap, I can do it. If I need to leave early because I am not feeling well, not a problem. I honestly couldn't imagine working 50-60 hours/week being this pregnant. I had to in my first trimester and I never saw Adam because I went to bed as soon as I got home.

This weekend I was really able to think about the simple things that I sometimes take for granted. I had no plans this weekend (a blessing in itself) so I was really able to relax and get caught up on some things!

There are few things better than:

• Sleeping in freshly clean sheets in a made bed. I will be honest, I don't always make my bed in the morning but I don't know why I don't because I always sleep better!
• 60 degree weather in JULY! Yes, we just had that this weekend and it got me so excited for Fall (my favorite season). It was great having the windows open and enjoying the relief from the 90+ degree weather we had been having. 
• Enjoying a good book with my Woodwick going-since it was rainy and chilly (by summer standards), this weekend was the perfect weekend to stay cozy in bed and read, and read, and read!
• Getting a blissful 10 hours of sleep Friday night!

I know I won't have time to really sit down and enjoy these few simple things when the baby is here so I am trying to make the most of it.

Some 34 Week Updates:

• Nesting is in full force. This past weekend, I dusted our entire apartment, vacummed every room, finished everything for the baby (the nursery is DONE, the diaper bag is packed, laundry is finished, diapers and wipes are stocked up and put away), organized our linen closet, and did some final crafts for the nursery. 

• I am completely obsessed with looking at our 3D ultrasound pictures. I do it at least once a day. I already think she is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen so I cannot even imagine how I will be when she is here! Below is a picture of me when I was a newborn next to one of her pictures. I see some resemblances. Without even having to compare the two pictures my dad thought she looked like me and so did one of my friends. I wish I had a picture of newborn Adam to compare. What do you all think, do you see any resemblance? 

• Symptoms: If I sit for too long, my tail bone starts to hurt so I try to move around every twenty minutes to help with circulation and to get the pressure off of my tailbone. Sometimes she really likes to hang out by my ribs which has made it really difficult to take deep breaths in. Usually when I nudge her a bit, she will move further down. On the flip side, there are times where I can tell that she is really low in my pelvis-definitely all over the place!
• I had my 34 week appointment this week. I will have another appointment in two weeks then I start going every week. That means I will technically be "full term" and she could come any time after that appointment! Crazy!
• I have actually lost half a pound since my last appointment. While I wasn't thrilled of my 5 lb weight gain, I definitely don't want to lose weight. So now, I have gained a total of 12.5 lbs. I am hoping this just means a small, but healthy baby! My doctor wasn't too concerned with it but just told me I shouldn't lose any more weight!

News Flash: You are pregnant for more than 9 months...Happy 33 Weeks

Why do people tell you that you are only pregnant for nine months? Its not true! This really dawned on me last week when I was 32 weeks. See, 32 weeks, divided by four (four weeks/month) is actually eight. Well, if you are pregnant for 40 weeks that means I still have 8 weeks left which is still two more months. Try telling this to someone who is this far along and doesn't want to be pregnant anymore-Not happy about it!

Adam and I were able to get a 3D ultrasound done this past week and it was one of the most amazing experiences. I think it made it more real for Adam because, while I can feel her move all the time, he was able to actually see her move. She looked like a little person-rubbing her eyes and yawning! Below are some pictures from the session. I might be a little biased but I think she is going to be beautiful. Both Adam and my mom think, by comparing these to some of my newborn pictures, that she looks a lot like me. We also have a video of the entire session.

• How far along? 33 Weeks
• Total weight gain/loss: I am still sticking with 13 lbs. I don't weigh myself at home so I don't know if I have gained any in the last week but I am hoping NO!
• Maternity clothes? Yup!
• Stretch marks: Thankfully, no more than before!
• Sleep: Hit or miss. We visited Adam's mom this past weekend and I slept really well (with the exception of going to the bathroom!) both nights. I just really want to either sleep on my back or on my stomach and that is not possible. If I sleep on one side for too long, my leg or arm starts cramping up. 
• Best moment this week: Seeing our baby girl and seeing Adam!
• Miss Anything? I miss having Adam home. I won't see him until he moves back the middle of August. 
• Movement: Oh yes! She is all over the place too. 
• Food cravings: Not really anything
• Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope
• Gender: GIRL!!!
• Labor Signs: Not yet!
• Symptoms: Still lower back pain. Depending on how she is positioned, I have a hard time taking deep breaths in.
• Belly Button in or out? Still in
• Wedding rings on or off? On!
• Happy or Moody most of the time: Pretty happy most of the time! 
• Looking forward to: This weekend-I am finishing up some nursery projects and then will be able to reveal it!

A Near Perfect Pregnancy...Happy 32 Weeks

I have said it before and I will say it again, I really couldn't have asked for a better pregnancy. However, I recently found out I have an inherited blood clotting disorder. The thing is, I have know there is a possibility of me having this for a good number of years since my grandfather had it and my dad has it. It just never crossed my mind to get tested for it prior to getting pregnant since I have never had blood clotting issues.

It was until a couple weeks ago when I was reading an article about how pregnant women are already more susceptible to having blood clots and then it mentioned Factor Five Leiden. This brought up a red flag for me because I knew my dad has it. At my 30 week appointment I asked my doctor about it and she said I needed to get tested for it immediately.

Well, my test came back positive for having one of the genes. If I am going to have it, this is the best way to have it because it isn't as serious. She explained to me that really having one of the genes isn't that big of a deal. It becomes more serious if a woman becomes pregnant (CHECK) or experiences trauma. From here on out, I just need to take an aspirin a day until the baby is born.

I am trying to look at this as positively as possible because it could be a lot worse. After doing some research (which I should have never done), I found that most women who have the disorder have a series of miscarriages and that is how they find out they have it. Fortunately, I have made it this far with no complications in which I am very grateful for. But now, I can't help but worry about the next eight weeks I have ahead of me and if something else could potentially happen to me or the baby.

Some 32 Week Updates:
-I don't even know how this is possible but I have gained 5 lbs since my last appointment two weeks ago. My eating habits really haven't changed but I absolutely cannot continue gaining 5 lbs every two weeks until this baby is born! This puts my total weight gain at 13 lbs. Overall, I am fine with a 13 lb weight gain at 32 weeks-I am not happy with how much I have gained in two weeks.

-This baby has been moving A LOT lately. I actually think that is the one thing I will miss after she is born. It is a constant reminder that she is doing well!

-I am going to Kansas City in a couple days for work and am staying for the weekend. One of my good friends recently had her baby and I get to meet her for the first time! Adam will be meeting me and this will be the last time I get to see him before he moves back permanently in a month!

Our Decision to Cloth Diaper...Happy 31 Weeks!

Ok, I know what you are thinking because it is probably the same thing I thought when I heard of "cloth diapers." And, I will be the first to admit that I had a pretty negative attitude towards cloth diapering before I really looked into it.

So this is what I first thought of.

 

You know, a piece of cloth held together by a couple of safety pins. I was definitely wrong. 

What really drove me to start researching cloth diapers was hearing how awesome they were from people I knew who used them. I have a couple of co-workers who use them and my step-sister uses them as well. 

Fortunately, for Adam and I, there is a great store called Time for Baby here in Kearney that has a good range of types. I won't go into all the details about the variety of cloth diapers there are but if you want to know more, I would recommend checking out The Diaper Jungle. The owners of the store are amazing and so knowledgeable and helpful. They showed me all of the different types, what they recommend, and the biggest difference between disposables and cloth. Besides the obvious (much more environmentally-friendly) the other big difference is cost and that is what really made me interested. 

I would really love to be one of those people that is doing it for the environment, but for me, that is an added perk to the amount of money we are saving. You see, with cloth diapers, you buy the amount you need, your baby uses them from essentially birth through potty-training, and that's it. You don't have to buy diapers every week or every month-you pretty much use what you started out with at birth. Yes, it is an up-front investment, but if you look at the long-term, it is estimated you are saving about $2500. 

Getting Adam on board was a little bit harder. Luckily, Time for Baby was having a cloth diaper workshop in which they discussed the different options they have and we could hear from real families about their experiences. Adam kept an open mind going into it and when he started to hear about how easy they were to use and the money we would be saving, he was sold. Especially since we can use these with future kids also. 

Going to that workshop made me hear about all of the other benefits that go along with cloth diapering. Not only do they save you money, are good for the environment, but they are also great for preventing diaper rashes. I have read, and heard this time and time again. Because they material that is being used is so much more absorbent and chemicals aren't being used, they rarely give babies diaper rashes. This means a less fussy baby!

I definitely don't think it is for everyone and I do think you need to be committed to using them. Again, I didn't have the best attitude when I would hear about people using them, but I have had a change of heart and Adam and I are excited to use them. 

Like I said, there are lots of different kinds, but Adam and I have decided to use the Best Bottoms brand. We like these a lot because of the ease of use, the reviews we heard from friends, and you don't need as many of them based off the material they are made out of. 

Here are what they look like. 

The material of the shell (the part that is colorful with the snaps) is water and stain resistant. Unless the baby makes a huge mess, you keep the same shell on, and just change the liner (the part that goes inside the shell that absorbs everything). The shells are the most expensive piece so if we don't need as many of those, that is great. There are some diapers out there that you have to wash the shell and the liners after every use which means you need a lot more of the shells. 

Some 31 Week updates...

-Baby is about 3.5 lbs and is approx. 16 inches long. Apparently she is heading into a growth spurt. This must explain me needing to eat about every two hours and never feeling full...

-More recently, I have started to feel nauseous in the morning. I never had morning sickness in my first trimester but the past few mornings, even after I eat breakfast, I have a really intense wave of nausea. Not fun!

-Our little baby girl is starting to run out of room and has started to find a place for her little feet under my ribs. It isn't super uncomfortable, yet. Just feels weird. 

Stay tuned the next couple weeks because I will be featuring our nursery reveal!