Monday, April 30, 2012
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Current State of the Nursery
So we're at the magical 35/35 mark today - 35 weeks pregnant and 35 days to go. Things just got real people! A MONTH!?!?! Yikes! We've been trudging along on house and nursery projects and crossing things off my list (which makes me a very happy mommy-to-be!)
Here's the current state of the nursery - these are NOT "after" pics...there is definitely still work that needs to be done, but I'm happy that most of the big projects are done and there's just some organization and last minute touches to add.
Baby Boy's monogram will go above the crib, but since we're not sharing his name (or even his initials) until he's born, the panels I made are currently hidden underneath the crib and will be hung once he's here. Oh and definitely need to install that car seat this week!
Curtains that I "made" - I bought the navy black out curtains from Target and then added the yellow chevron to the bottom. The side table next to the rocker still needs a coat of paint - either yellow or white!
Both curtain panels and the large armoire that my dad actually built. I love all the extra storage. We need to get a small mirror to hang on the front where that white space is. The bookcase is a Pottery Barn knockoff from Target ($50!)
Our craigslist dresser turned changing table. The basket next to it is for laundry and it has the cutest chalkboard label.
Close up of the changing table set up. I made a pinwheel mobile (if I get motivated, I will post a tutorial!) and it came out pretty cute.
Another view of the rocker and curtains
My free printable art! I found all 3 of these for free, downloaded and printed them and popped them into $5 Michael's frame. Love a $15 custom art project!
So that's what Baby Boy's nursery looks like right now - I feel pretty good about it since only a week ago, it was pure chaos. All his clothes/blankets/towels are all washed and organized in the dresser and closet. I love seeing our list shrink as we count the days until little man's arrival!
Here's the current state of the nursery - these are NOT "after" pics...there is definitely still work that needs to be done, but I'm happy that most of the big projects are done and there's just some organization and last minute touches to add.
So that's what Baby Boy's nursery looks like right now - I feel pretty good about it since only a week ago, it was pure chaos. All his clothes/blankets/towels are all washed and organized in the dresser and closet. I love seeing our list shrink as we count the days until little man's arrival!
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Skirting the issue
I think pregnancy brings out the cheeseball in me - sorry for yet another cheesy blog title! But today we're talking about the crib skirt for baby boy's nursery. I am a VERY beginner sewer - basically straight lines are the extent of my sewing skills. But I really wanted to sew a crib skirt for the crib and I figured it was straight lines, so I should be ok with it. I found a ton of tutorials online and it seemed like the easiest thing to do was make the panels and then use sticky velcro to attach each panel to the metal frame on the crib. Easy peasy, right?
Maybe it was the math/measuring that threw me off, but for some reason, this project was HARD. Math is not my strong suit and I had a hard time figuring out my dimensions while trying to reach through the slats on the crib. I'm not going to lie, halfway through this project, I may have googled "yellow chevron crib skirt" on etsy to see how much it would be for me to just throw in the towel and order one. But I pressed on and just decided that it didn't need to be perfect, and as long as it fit and didn't look completely horrible, I would just go with it.
So there is no tutorial to go along with these pictures, because this was a true Tim Gunn "Make it Work" project.
Close up - I did pom pom trim because I thought it made it look cute and a little more "nursery" since the chevron is sort of an adult pattern.
And here's the sailboat sheets that I LOVE! The sage green matches the walls perfectly - that was obviously totally planned! ha!
In the effort to "keep it real", here's what the nursery looks like right now. Yikes - this weekend's agenda is to start the laundry and get organized!
I'm attempting to sew the curtains this weekend and I'm anticipating that this project should *hopefully* go a lot smoother! Wish me luck!
Maybe it was the math/measuring that threw me off, but for some reason, this project was HARD. Math is not my strong suit and I had a hard time figuring out my dimensions while trying to reach through the slats on the crib. I'm not going to lie, halfway through this project, I may have googled "yellow chevron crib skirt" on etsy to see how much it would be for me to just throw in the towel and order one. But I pressed on and just decided that it didn't need to be perfect, and as long as it fit and didn't look completely horrible, I would just go with it.
So there is no tutorial to go along with these pictures, because this was a true Tim Gunn "Make it Work" project.
Here's the finished product in all it's glory!
I'm attempting to sew the curtains this weekend and I'm anticipating that this project should *hopefully* go a lot smoother! Wish me luck!
Monday, April 2, 2012
32 weeks...
So we've hit the 8 month mark and now the final countdown has begun - 8 weeks or less. I'm actually surprisingly calm most of the time, but I did tell J that I will be starting my list making this week so we can figure out what we still need to do.
Due Date: May 27, 2012
How Big is Baby: Depending on the source, either a jicama or a squash. I feel like those 2 things are really not that similar in size, so I'm confused, but whatever. Apparently he weights about 3.8 pounds and is 16 inches long.
Symptoms: I have noticed more heartburn this week, but that's pretty much it.
Cravings: Not really anything. I have been eating grilled cheese and pickle sandwiches this week that taste pretty darn fantastic though.
Sleep: Ehhh, I don't want to jinx myself, but it may have actually gotten better recently. I'm still pretty comfortable so I fall asleep pretty easily and I can turn over to each side without too much of a struggle yet. It's mainly just the fact that I seem to wake up at 6am no matter what day it is, so I'm taking naps on Saturdays and Sundays to make up for the super early wake up.
I Can't Live Without: my trusty Sigg Water bottle (my constant companion) and super long v-neck t-shirts from Target -- I have them in every color and honestly I wear one every single day. They work for the gym, hanging out around the house and I can dress them up a bit with jewelry if we go out to dinner.
I Miss: Now that the weather is nice, I'm really missing being able to go for a long run outside. I see all these people running through our neighborhood and I get super jealous. I just want to run and get really sweaty and feel great afterwards.
I am Looking Forward to: Trying to enjoy these last 2 months of pregnancy and then meeting this baby!
Milestones: We've had both our baby showers now, so we have more baby stuff than we know what to do with. I did re-organize his closet this weekend and nursery progress continues
Exercise: Still trucking along at the gym 4-5 times a week and running about 3-4 miles a week. I only run about 1 mile at a time (broken up into run/walk intervals) and it's super slow...almost like a wog (walk/jog) pace. But I want to keep going as long as I can so I can get back to running after he's born. Also doing light weights for my upper body and still doing my yoga DVD.
Diet: No difference - I'm still just eating my normal diet. Haven't noticed any changes in hunger.
Movement: It's getting sort of weird cause I guess he's running out of space. Not really kicking anymore, now it's just rolling and nudges, especially in my ribs. Oh and he gets the hiccups several times a day, which is cool and weird at the same time!
Labor Signs- No thank you!
Gender: It's a boy!
This picture is actually from 31 weeks (taken the day of my family baby shower) last week, but we haven't downloaded my pics from this week yet. I look basically exactly like this still ha!
Due Date: May 27, 2012
How Big is Baby: Depending on the source, either a jicama or a squash. I feel like those 2 things are really not that similar in size, so I'm confused, but whatever. Apparently he weights about 3.8 pounds and is 16 inches long.
Symptoms: I have noticed more heartburn this week, but that's pretty much it.
Cravings: Not really anything. I have been eating grilled cheese and pickle sandwiches this week that taste pretty darn fantastic though.
Sleep: Ehhh, I don't want to jinx myself, but it may have actually gotten better recently. I'm still pretty comfortable so I fall asleep pretty easily and I can turn over to each side without too much of a struggle yet. It's mainly just the fact that I seem to wake up at 6am no matter what day it is, so I'm taking naps on Saturdays and Sundays to make up for the super early wake up.
I Can't Live Without: my trusty Sigg Water bottle (my constant companion) and super long v-neck t-shirts from Target -- I have them in every color and honestly I wear one every single day. They work for the gym, hanging out around the house and I can dress them up a bit with jewelry if we go out to dinner.
I Miss: Now that the weather is nice, I'm really missing being able to go for a long run outside. I see all these people running through our neighborhood and I get super jealous. I just want to run and get really sweaty and feel great afterwards.
I am Looking Forward to: Trying to enjoy these last 2 months of pregnancy and then meeting this baby!
Milestones: We've had both our baby showers now, so we have more baby stuff than we know what to do with. I did re-organize his closet this weekend and nursery progress continues
Exercise: Still trucking along at the gym 4-5 times a week and running about 3-4 miles a week. I only run about 1 mile at a time (broken up into run/walk intervals) and it's super slow...almost like a wog (walk/jog) pace. But I want to keep going as long as I can so I can get back to running after he's born. Also doing light weights for my upper body and still doing my yoga DVD.
Diet: No difference - I'm still just eating my normal diet. Haven't noticed any changes in hunger.
Movement: It's getting sort of weird cause I guess he's running out of space. Not really kicking anymore, now it's just rolling and nudges, especially in my ribs. Oh and he gets the hiccups several times a day, which is cool and weird at the same time!
Labor Signs- No thank you!
Gender: It's a boy!
Sunday, April 1, 2012
No Foolin'
It's April 1st, so that means we can officially say that the little man will be arriving NEXT MONTH. And that's no joke! (har, har!) Cue freak out mode!
PS - Pregnancy insomnia is wonderful for finishing up those baby shower thank you notes at 5:30am.
PS - Pregnancy insomnia is wonderful for finishing up those baby shower thank you notes at 5:30am.
Friday, March 30, 2012
The Baby Gear Post
I have always found these super helpful in terms of seeing what other people have registered for their kiddos, so I'm sharing our favorite registry items. Keep in mind, I don't have an actual baby yet to give a full review, so take these with a grain of salt. I will do an updated review once the little man is here and he gives his opinion on all this "stuff".
The Stroller:
So J and I (and the puppy dog) take a ridiculous amount of walks. Spencer gets 3 LONG walks a day and on the weekends, we typically take her to the park or hiking or some other outdoor activity. So we knew that we needed a stroller to fit into our lifestyle - something all terrain that could handle bumpy paths, grass, etc. Every.single.one of our friends with kids recommended the Bob Revolution. I don't know if I could name a family we know that doesn't own that stroller. It's also all over the internet as the Cadillac of strollers. So that's what we got, right? Wrong! We bucked the trend and got the Baby Jogger City Elite.
We just fell in love with this stroller when we test drove them at Buy Buy Baby. Really, what sold us was the super easy close on it - you just grab a strap in the seat and the entire thing collapses. It's one-handed and pretty much the coolest thing I've ever seen. It's also significantly smaller (in terms of width and length) than the Bob and I felt it was easier to maneuver because of that. It still has big tires (smaller than the Bob) and they are foam filled, meaning you can never get a flat tire. I could seriously go on and on about how much we love this stroller. My generous in-laws purchased this for us and I seriously almost cried when it arrived. Oh and it has the biggest canopy I've ever seen - since our child probably won't be blessed in the melatonin department because J and I are so fair, it was important that we could protect his pasty skin from the sun!
The Car Seat:
Again, a lot of research went into deciding on the car seat. We had it narrowed down to the Graco Snugride 30 and the Chicco KeyFit 30 and ultimately went with the Chicco because it seemed like most people really loved theirs. The #1 thing we heard about this seat is how easy it goes in and out of the base in the car. We got the "Adventure" color and it's a really pretty (and gender neutral for any future kiddos) green color. So far we love it!
The Baby Carrier:
I became obsessed with my research of baby carriers. I really want to wear the little dude as much as possible and again, putting him in a carrier seems to fit in with our lifestyle of being active if we ever don't feel like bringing the stroller out for walks. There's so much information out there about what is best for baby, best for the parents, etc. in terms of carriers. We actually registered for 2 carriers after determining that a wrap was probably best for the newborn stage and then we could move him into a more traditional front/back carrier when he's bigger and has better neck control. Again, people swear by the Moby wrap. That thing scares and intimidates me, so we registered for the Baby K'Tan.
There is less wrapping/tying that goes with the K'Tan and it seems generally easier to put on yourself. One of my good friends pretty much wears her baby all the time and she swears by this one over the Moby. I was able to try hers out and fell in love. So that's what the little man will be snoozing in when he's a wee thing.
As far as the traditional carrier, we went with the Beco Gemini
The thing I liked best about this carrier is that the baby has the option to face in or out when you are carrying them in the front. They don't recommend you let the baby face out for a long period of time because of over stimulation, but I wanted the option in case we have a curious kid on our hands and he wants to see the world. The Gemini is supposed to have really good back support for parents as well, which is obviously important.
Changing Pad:
Oh boy - the debacle of the changing pad! I had seen the BabySmart Cooshee Changing pad all over the blogosphere.
It seemed like the most amazing thing ever - no cloth changing pad covers to deal with having to change and wash constantly when it gets poop, pee, barf or any other bodily fluid I don't even know about yet on it. It gets rave reviews everywhere, which is probably why it was completely sold out world-wide. Trust me, I searched and searched for any sort of sketchy website in India I could get one of these. No dice. I was about to give up and just get the traditional changing pad with the cover but I couldn't accept defeat yet.
So I did what any hormonal crazy pregnant person does - I started stalking Ebay. And lo and behold, one finally popped up. And then I got into a bidding war on a random Thursday afternoon, which resulted in me becoming the WINNER of said auction in the last 3 seconds! And yes, I totally fist pumped and danced around my living room when I realized I won it. And I actually got it for about $25 cheaper than it retails for, even though I was totally willing to spend several hundred dollars on this sucker. So it now holds the spot as my #1 most favorite baby item that we will ever own. Also, baby boy will be staying in diapers until he's 7 so that I can continue to use it (totally kidding!!)
The Diaper Bag:
I hate diaper bags that look like a diaper bag - what grown woman wants to carry a bag with Winnie the Pooh on it? Well maybe some do, but I do not. I wanted something that looked like a purse/bag that I would carry in my "non mom" life. I fell in love with the Skip Hop Versa
It's big, but not gigantic. It has a normal strap that can be adjusted to make it longer so you can use it messenger bag style. Tons of pockets on the inside and outside. Oh and the inside lining is the most fun shade of bright blue! I seriously want to start using this bag now! J had no opinion or input into the diaper bag, so I just went with what I loved!
Baby Monitor:
We've heard that video monitors are really worth the extra money, just so that you are able to look in on the baby without constantly getting up to check on him. Anything that allows me a few extra minutes of sleep seems like a good idea to me. We decided on the Motorola Digital Video Baby Monitor, with the 2.8" screen
It gets great reviews everywhere so I have a feeling we will love it. I'm really tempted to try it out by putting it in our living room and see what Spencer is up to at night!
Other Items:
The Nosefrida - super gross, but I'm SO excited to suck some snot out of my newborns nose!
The Miracle Blanket - we got 2 because I've heard these seriously live up to their "miracle" name and we won't want to be without it if one is in the wash.
The Ultimate Crib Sheet - I'm a fan of easy sheet changes in the middle of the night when the little man pees or barfs everywhere.
Fisher Price EZ Clean High Chair - I like that it has the word "clean" in the name, which is not something you normally hear when thinking about feeding a baby. My BFF swears by this as being easy to clean, compact and nice neutral prints so it may actually match your dining room decor!
Aden & Anais Swaddle Blankets - Every single mom I know says these are the most amazing blankets ever. So of course, I need to have it! And my wonderful mom found the CUTEST print ones at this baby boutique in my town, so baby boy will have puppy dogs on his A&A blankets!
The Boppy - I don't think this really needs an explanation. We got 2 covers at the recommendation of everyone.
Things we didn't register for because we got as hand me downs:
A Swing
A Bouncy Chair
A Pack N Play
Nursing Cover
Bottle Warmer
So that's our list right now - I'll probably do an update at 3 months and maybe again at 6 months to see how we are liking all our gear!
The Stroller:
So J and I (and the puppy dog) take a ridiculous amount of walks. Spencer gets 3 LONG walks a day and on the weekends, we typically take her to the park or hiking or some other outdoor activity. So we knew that we needed a stroller to fit into our lifestyle - something all terrain that could handle bumpy paths, grass, etc. Every.single.one of our friends with kids recommended the Bob Revolution. I don't know if I could name a family we know that doesn't own that stroller. It's also all over the internet as the Cadillac of strollers. So that's what we got, right? Wrong! We bucked the trend and got the Baby Jogger City Elite.
The Car Seat:
Again, a lot of research went into deciding on the car seat. We had it narrowed down to the Graco Snugride 30 and the Chicco KeyFit 30 and ultimately went with the Chicco because it seemed like most people really loved theirs. The #1 thing we heard about this seat is how easy it goes in and out of the base in the car. We got the "Adventure" color and it's a really pretty (and gender neutral for any future kiddos) green color. So far we love it!
The Baby Carrier:
I became obsessed with my research of baby carriers. I really want to wear the little dude as much as possible and again, putting him in a carrier seems to fit in with our lifestyle of being active if we ever don't feel like bringing the stroller out for walks. There's so much information out there about what is best for baby, best for the parents, etc. in terms of carriers. We actually registered for 2 carriers after determining that a wrap was probably best for the newborn stage and then we could move him into a more traditional front/back carrier when he's bigger and has better neck control. Again, people swear by the Moby wrap. That thing scares and intimidates me, so we registered for the Baby K'Tan.
There is less wrapping/tying that goes with the K'Tan and it seems generally easier to put on yourself. One of my good friends pretty much wears her baby all the time and she swears by this one over the Moby. I was able to try hers out and fell in love. So that's what the little man will be snoozing in when he's a wee thing.
As far as the traditional carrier, we went with the Beco Gemini
Changing Pad:
Oh boy - the debacle of the changing pad! I had seen the BabySmart Cooshee Changing pad all over the blogosphere.
It seemed like the most amazing thing ever - no cloth changing pad covers to deal with having to change and wash constantly when it gets poop, pee, barf or any other bodily fluid I don't even know about yet on it. It gets rave reviews everywhere, which is probably why it was completely sold out world-wide. Trust me, I searched and searched for any sort of sketchy website in India I could get one of these. No dice. I was about to give up and just get the traditional changing pad with the cover but I couldn't accept defeat yet.
So I did what any hormonal crazy pregnant person does - I started stalking Ebay. And lo and behold, one finally popped up. And then I got into a bidding war on a random Thursday afternoon, which resulted in me becoming the WINNER of said auction in the last 3 seconds! And yes, I totally fist pumped and danced around my living room when I realized I won it. And I actually got it for about $25 cheaper than it retails for, even though I was totally willing to spend several hundred dollars on this sucker. So it now holds the spot as my #1 most favorite baby item that we will ever own. Also, baby boy will be staying in diapers until he's 7 so that I can continue to use it (totally kidding!!)
The Diaper Bag:
I hate diaper bags that look like a diaper bag - what grown woman wants to carry a bag with Winnie the Pooh on it? Well maybe some do, but I do not. I wanted something that looked like a purse/bag that I would carry in my "non mom" life. I fell in love with the Skip Hop Versa
Baby Monitor:
We've heard that video monitors are really worth the extra money, just so that you are able to look in on the baby without constantly getting up to check on him. Anything that allows me a few extra minutes of sleep seems like a good idea to me. We decided on the Motorola Digital Video Baby Monitor, with the 2.8" screen
It gets great reviews everywhere so I have a feeling we will love it. I'm really tempted to try it out by putting it in our living room and see what Spencer is up to at night!
Other Items:
The Nosefrida - super gross, but I'm SO excited to suck some snot out of my newborns nose!
The Miracle Blanket - we got 2 because I've heard these seriously live up to their "miracle" name and we won't want to be without it if one is in the wash.
The Ultimate Crib Sheet - I'm a fan of easy sheet changes in the middle of the night when the little man pees or barfs everywhere.
Fisher Price EZ Clean High Chair - I like that it has the word "clean" in the name, which is not something you normally hear when thinking about feeding a baby. My BFF swears by this as being easy to clean, compact and nice neutral prints so it may actually match your dining room decor!
Aden & Anais Swaddle Blankets - Every single mom I know says these are the most amazing blankets ever. So of course, I need to have it! And my wonderful mom found the CUTEST print ones at this baby boutique in my town, so baby boy will have puppy dogs on his A&A blankets!
The Boppy - I don't think this really needs an explanation. We got 2 covers at the recommendation of everyone.
Things we didn't register for because we got as hand me downs:
A Swing
A Bouncy Chair
A Pack N Play
Nursing Cover
Bottle Warmer
So that's our list right now - I'll probably do an update at 3 months and maybe again at 6 months to see how we are liking all our gear!
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
The Nursery: Current State
We're 50% done with the nursery. And I'm happy to report that the 50% is the important stuff - the crib and rocker! The other side of the room - not so much. We still need a dresser (which will double as our changing table) and I haven't had the best luck stalking Craigslist. Everything is either a scam, super poor quality or way overpriced. So the hunt continues. I am getting a little anxious to find the dresser since we had our first shower this past weekend and now I'm itching to be able to put all those tiny, adorable baby clothes away. Hopefully we can find one soon!
So when looking at these pictures, keep in mind that the other side of the room looks like a bomb went off. We still have a full size mattress propped up against the wall and all the shower gifts are stacked up, waiting to be organized and put away. Just keeping it real!
This was actually before we set the crib up. But that's our wonderful rocker (From WALMART of all places - $200!) and the ottoman pouf I found on Joss and Main for cheap. We plan on painting that side table white.
And there's our crib (and my big 31 week belly). Ok, so obviously I still need to make the bedding (details, details!) and we need to hang the monogrammed fabric panels that I made over the crib. But at least the crib is put together!
Testing out the rocker - LOVE it! I seriously go into the nursery once or twice a day, sit in the rocker and just think about how crazy it will be when we actually have a tiny person living there.
So that's what things are looking like in baby updates right now. My first shower was AMAZING and I have another one this weekend, so that's exciting. This baby is already super spoiled and loved!
So when looking at these pictures, keep in mind that the other side of the room looks like a bomb went off. We still have a full size mattress propped up against the wall and all the shower gifts are stacked up, waiting to be organized and put away. Just keeping it real!
This was actually before we set the crib up. But that's our wonderful rocker (From WALMART of all places - $200!) and the ottoman pouf I found on Joss and Main for cheap. We plan on painting that side table white.
And there's our crib (and my big 31 week belly). Ok, so obviously I still need to make the bedding (details, details!) and we need to hang the monogrammed fabric panels that I made over the crib. But at least the crib is put together!
Testing out the rocker - LOVE it! I seriously go into the nursery once or twice a day, sit in the rocker and just think about how crazy it will be when we actually have a tiny person living there.So that's what things are looking like in baby updates right now. My first shower was AMAZING and I have another one this weekend, so that's exciting. This baby is already super spoiled and loved!
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