I'm kind of bored. I have really busy days where I'm full of energy and get a ton done, then I have days where the TV is on all day and all I do is sleep, try to start something, don't finish it, and eat. But when you start having dreams that you're driving around with a baby and no car seat and Judge Judy pulls you over for speeding, its time to stop thinking all about baby, turn off the TV, and get some things done around the house.
This is what I've done this week.
I made these frames and hung them up. They'll eventually have pictures. And the bassinet is below them. You can't see it well, but the colors match our bedroom perfect and it doubles as a travel crib/mini playpen...or something.This is an old window that I found on the curb a couple streets away. I added paper to the glass, a couple nails to string some lace, clips, and pictures. The pictures will also change soon, but I got sick of Paul saying, "I really like this post-it note picture frame." When I first made it I clipped yellow post-its in it, but then I found these pics that Paul's Grandpa sent us.This wall needs some work, but this is how it looks for now. I made the little plaque with the knob, and the magnet board with picture. I like it ok. I think the wall needs a bit more though.I'm pretty happy with this area. It's in our dining room as you walk in the front door. We bought the bottom hutch piece unfinished and its been sitting there wrapped in plastic for months. I finally painted it and then Paul distressed, stained, and finished it. We really love how it turned out. I painted, distressed, stained and finished the red hanging shelf and then decorated the pieces with stuff I had around the house. We like it. And in case you're wondering, the little boy in the left picture frame is cute, but since we don't know him, he'll probably be replaced with a picture of our little boy in the future.That's it for now. I also took pictures of the finished nursery while I was taking these ones. Those ones will come in the next day or two.
Has it gone by fast? For the most part I would say yes. Weeks 7-12 and weeks 36 til right now have been the slowest. But overall when I look back and realize that I've been pregnant during the freezing cold, snow, ice, cool spring, rainy afternoons, seeing things outside come back to life, to the sweltering dry heat of the endless summer days, and now beginning to feel like fall is upon us, yes, having felt like I've experienced a little or a lot of all 4 seasons, its gone by fast.
What are you most excited about? Probably seeing what he looks like and holding him in my arms.
Does he move a lot? Yes. All the time. Well, not all the time, he sleeps every now and then, but I feel him very often throughout the day and night. Mostly in my ribs on the right side and on my bladder, and usually both at the same time. He loves to stretch and use ALL the space available to him. Sometimes he stretches so much and so hard from top to bottom that I feel like I've grown a couple inches taller to make room for him. (And it's no secret that I've grown more than a couple inches around to made room for him.)
Have you had weird cravings? No. Not weird as far as combinations of food like the classic pickles and ice cream. The ones that come to mind as being cravings that repeated themselves or came at weird times were: Arby's Jr. roast beef sandwiches, zucchini, green beans, caramel twix, watermelon, soft serve ice cream, banana slurpees, and the strangest that hit the past couple days- tapioca pudding (YUCK) and root beer (Kind of yuck). And I'm happy to say I've fed the healthy cravings far more than the unhealthy ones.
Is there food you liked before that you can't eat now? Not really. But at the end of the first trimester and part way through the second, I could not eat leftovers. No matter how delicious dinner tasted, and no matter how much I loved eating something that didn't come back up, I could never eat it again the next day.
Have you had any pain? My lower back has probably given me the most problems. It was the worst in the beginning and thankfully its gotten better as the pregnancy has progressed. It still comes and goes and I'll still see the chiropractor a time or two (hopefully) before go time. But the constant pain that never stopped day or night, and lasted about 5 weeks a few months back has let up.
Do you think you'll miss being pregnant when it's over? Maybe, oddly enough. As much as I want to be done right now, I think I'll miss a little of the "all mine" time that I have with him right now. I love feeling him kick and wondering how he's facing and what he's really doing inside that make my stomach move like it does on the outside. I'll miss watching Paul talk to and read bedtime stories to my belly. But that'll be a fun one on the outside too.
Have you gained a lot of weight? It's funny how this question becomes ok when you're with child. It feels like a lot. But I think I've stayed about average for pregnancy. Down 5 lbs in the first, up 17 lbs in the second, and up 5 more in the 3rd.
What is his name? I thought everyone knew it was a secret, but I've been asked a lot the past couple weeks at showers and church. Everyone will know in a couple weeks! (hopefully, fingers crossed) We have however, told people that both the first and middle names are family names, but that's it. No other clues...no matter how hard you try...Dad. ;)
What are you looking forward to? Being a mom. Duh. But really I'm excited to be a mom. A friend of mine at work was telling me last week when I stopped by that her sister just had her first baby. She was saying how her whole life her younger sister has always just been her younger sister, a little girl. She said even at her wedding she just still saw a little girl and thought it would always be that way. But when I talked to her last week she'd just been with her sister and the new baby the day before and she said its amazing how we just become moms. And that something incredible happens when you hear that little one cry for the first time and suddenly you're a mom and you somehow know what to do to comfort and care for your child. And that its something amazing that only women experience and understand. She said it much more beautifully than I did. But that's it, I'm looking forward to being a mom and feeling that transition happen in my life.
Are you going back to work? I've already quit my job, and while I have days where I miss it, I think I'll miss it less and less as I have something new to occupy my time more and more. Our hope is that I'll be able to stay home long term, that is the plan for now anyway.
Are you ready? I think I am. Everyday I do something baby related that wasn't done the day before, but if he came today we could make it to the hospital ready and bring him home to a house and nursery that is full of the essentials and ready for a baby. So although there are last minute things that I want to do, everything that I need to do is done.
Can we come visit you at the hospital? This is a tough one that Paul and I have gone back and forth on. We each have a close friend or two who we've told can come to the hospital. We don't have huge families but big enough that everyone couldn't be there at the same time. We don't know how fast California family will get here and we don't know how soon all of my family will come to the hospital. It really depends on the day of the week, and also the time of day. Our priority is mommy/daddy/baby bonding time. The schedule of visitors will most likely be determined after he is born. Please understand that as a general rule we feel like home visits will be best, and please also understand that if we say it's not a good time, its really not, and that we do want anyone who wants to meet him to have that chance, we're just not exactly sure what that whole thing will look like.
Do you wear pants? Ok, no one has asked my that, but I had a funny moment this morning as I was reading an email. It was one of many (too many) emails I get weekly from pregnancy websites. This particular sight sends random quotes from pregnant women who are as far along as me and today's said, "I quit my job today and I'm so excited about it! Now I don't have to wear pants and I can sleep whenever I want!" Amen sister. More often than not these days I find myself showering, getting dressed, etc. And then within a couple hours just taking off my pants (or capris or shorts) and doing stuff around the house bottomless. I love it!
Happy September! We've made it to birth month! 11 days til due date...
Our power was out yesterday for 7+ hours. It went out at 6PM as I was leaving to go meet up with a friend who was in town. Paul wasn't home either, he was working in Ogden last night. We both got home at about 9:30 and the power was still out. But the streets to the east and west of us had power so we were confused. Paul hadn't eaten for about 9 hours and I didn't want to open the fridge or freezer and knew I couldn't find anything to make him without at least the microwave. So we got in the truck and drove to KFC. Paul had put some pillows and a blanket in the truck so we drove over to Sugar house park, hopped in the back of the truck, he ate chicken and we talked. It was nice. I'm loving this cool weather. We headed back home around 11:00 and still no power so we started driving around our neighborhood. We figured out our block was out but all the blocks surrounding us had power. We finally found a dark street and headed down it for about 4 blocks and finally found the problem. Someone had hit a power pole and there were at least 4 or 5 work trucks and several men working on the lines. We drove home, lit a couple candles so we could get ready for bed, and fell asleep. When we woke up this morning we had power again.
People have been telling us a lot to really enjoy these last couple weeks together, doing things we won't so easily be able to do in the near future.
Last night was one of those nights. Not the evening we planned (I guess there wasn't really a plan), but a good evening.
This little baby has been so blessed over the past few weekends! Thanks to all who joined in and made Paul and I and little baby PAW feel so loved. Showers have never really been my thing. I'm fine with the concept. And going to them for other people is great and throwing them for someone you love is even better, but for me, I get a little nervous being the reason for people to get together, bring gifts, and watch me open them. Don't get me wrong, its been wonderful to have so many people shower us and help prepare us for this incredible change that is coming up in our lives, but I've felt very spoiled and a little embarrassed and undeserving of all the attention! However, its VERY much appreciated.
34 Weeks and a Wood Connection shower... Thanks Wood Co girls for planning, Jen for hosting, and all of you for the fun stuff, and yummy dinner and dessert!
35 Weeks and My extended family shower... Thanks Aunts for planning and Grandma for hosting. I love family time. Especially getting together with the girls. Love my aunts, grandma and cousins. And great stuff- a walker, a mattress, a quilt from my aunt who is on a mission with my uncle. She made the light green quilt in 2 days! I LOVE it! My mom made the sheet, bumpers and quilt for the crib. It's really beyond adorable and I wish I had my moms talent. (You'll see better pictures when I post nursery pics.) We got a lot of clothes, gift cards, a bouncer, a carrier, and other stuff that I probably don't know what it's for! (How did babies back in the day...like me, survive without all this fancy stuff!?!)
36 Weeks and Paul's extended family shower...
Thanks to all of you for a wonderful weekend. Paul had family here from California and Colorado for the weekend. My in-laws spoiled us ALL, but especially the baby! We stayed for 2 nights at a condo in Park City. Golfing for the boys, pedis for the girls, good food, sight seeing, shopping, and lots of necessities for the baby!This is us acting surprised when we opened the stroller and car seat. I picked it out when Annie and mom and I went shopping last time we were in California.And this is dad acting surprised when he saw the stroller and car seat and found out that he bought it for us but didn't know it.And here is the lovely 36 week picture. I was a day late and half way in my pajamas before we remembered to take it. We just couldn't get a good one this week, so I'm going with the one of me showing off my sweet tattoo. Its a diaper and below it, it says 'Spank Me.' Doesn't get much classier... 37 weeks and the Girlfriend shower...
My good friend Deborah hosted a shower for me. It was fun to be with the girls. And we appreciate all the good stuff we got. Deb, Mara and Robyn (And Deb's husband, Erik) did a lot of work, and everything looked so cute! And here's the week 37 picture. Another failed attempt. Paul first took a picture of me yawning standing like this and I looked like a pregnant llama. So then we started laughing and couldn't get a normal picture. Oh well.38 weeks and the church shower... Thanks to Sam, Kate, Mario and Tera for the fun "Cookout to celebrate the baby on the way." Men came to this one, so we tried to steer clear of the words "baby shower." :) It was funny, when people first started showing up, (and I wish I would have taken a picture) all the men quickly migrated together near the grill with their drinks talking about whatever men talk about, (I'm sure not baby stuff), and all the women gathered on the other side of the yard and shared their stories with me about labor, giving birth, parenting, etc... It was a really fun evening and we appreciate all the work that went into it, and all the great baby gifts!
Thanks again to everyone who have been so supportive and generous as we make our way to parenthood. It means the world to us and it helps SO much. I think we might be just about ready for this little guy to get here!
I heard something at my front door a couple hours ago and I thought it was the guy who mows our lawn, but I looked out the window and no one was there. A while later I went to take some garbage out and there was a huge (heavy) box sitting at my door. I looked at the label and realized it was for some guy I don't know who lives 8 blocks from here. Not even kind of my address. It annoyed me so bad! ...maybe it shouldn't have, but it did. I carried the box in, thought about driving it to the guys house, and then decided to call FedEx. Took awhile on the phone with a machine who didn't understand anything I said, got put on hold, talked to a real person who didn't understand anything I said. And finally I was told that the delivery guy would be called and I could just leave the box outside so I wouldn't be bothered. So I did.
I just checked a few minutes ago to make sure the box was gone, and there was another box sitting there. But this one was for me! My guess is that the guy down the street got my Balboa Baby box and I got his audio equipment box. My sister-in-laws best friend designs for Balboa Baby so she told me to pick out some stuff, and it came today. I wasn't sure what I even picked, but I think I love it! A way cute nursing cover, and an even cuter adjustable sling.
Getting my own box of fun stuff made my grumpiness go away. :)
So most of the (all of the) time when I say anything about buying fabric and sewing/quilting/crocheting/knitting anything, it means I have this cute idea, I wish I was talented, and I hope my mom doesn't mind yet another project. She did a lot for the baby before she left for vacation and she took a project with her to Europe to make for him, and there is a thing or two that she's so willingly agreed to make when she gets home.
I've had a stack of cloth diapers and some fabric that I was planning to make into burp rags...but after a couple weeks I kind of gave up on the idea. And then Tuesday I got another idea from a friend of mine. They're called 'babylegs.' Probably mostly for girls, but the website had some cute boy ones. My friend sent me a DIY tutorial and it seemed simple enough. They are pretty expensive to buy finished, but the DIY way they are made out of knee socks. I went and bought 6 pairs of socks. But when I got home with a bag of socks and looked at the bag of burp cloth stuff I had no motivation (and no idea how) to make anything.
But yesterday morning I woke up determined.
I grabbed the bags and headed to my parents house. I pulled out my supplies, cut all the pieces, and failed at the sewing machine. The sock instructions used a zig zag stitch and I couldn't get the needle to move. Let alone figure out how to make it zig and zag. But my mom also has a serger. I went for it and it worked! I think the serge stitch is better (more durable), faster, and easier than a sewing machine.
Here's what I made yesterday! 4 burp rags, serged around the edges, and big stitches by hand down the middle.And these are babylegs. They are leg warmers for babies. You can put them on under pants if you're going out on a cold day, or if you're just hanging around the house in the winter you can put the baby in a onesie and just slide these on their little legs. I think I found a couple that will work for a boy, and I'm sure someday someone will have a girl and the other ones will get put to use!
Here's the finished product. Here's the before, cut up, and done picture of a pair. It took about 10 minutes to make a pair from start to finish. Way easy, and so cheap! Here's some cute little babies showing off what babylegs are. And these are a couple tied quilts that my mom finished for me before she left, but I did help tie these ones.If you can't tell, I like the handmade stuff over store bought, even though it's more work and sometimes more expensive.
1. Paul and I each had a baby girl dream two nights in a row. He had a strange swimming pool, diving board birth, Samoan baby girl dream on Saturday night. And then Sunday night I had a dream that I was telling Heidi, Cat and Deb about Paul's dream and I didn't realize that my baby I was holding was a girl until Heidi complimented her dress. But it's a boy.
2. We finished our birth class last night. We feel really good about all we've learned. The nursery is done. The birth plan is complete. The bags are pretty well packed. And the emergency bucket of supplies for the car is ready. Now we just go to the doc once a week and wait...
3. Speaking of waiting. I went into work yesterday. Yes I quit my job but I had a couple projects I wanted to finish. I've worked 6 hours in 3 weeks. Exhausting. ;) Anyway, a co-worker asked how close I was and I said, "just over 37 weeks." He said, "So any day now!" He's like the 10th person who has said that in the past week. I thought "any day now" started at 39.5 weeks. But 37 is full term, and if labor started my doc wouldn't be concerned and it would just happen. That's weird to think about... I kinda miss the crafty world I used to live in. I found this online and thought it fit!4. Paul and I are grown-ups. Why? Because we got a land line installed in our house. Isn't it just grown-up, settled down, old people that have home phone numbers? Once our promo with comcast was over, our cable and internet bill was cheaper if we added digital voice. So we did. I don't know our number and no one else does either (except telemarketers!) So when it rings I don't even look at the caller ID and I never answer it. But if the TV is on and the phone rings the caller ID shows up on the TV screen. It's actually kind of annoying.
5. We had a movie night on Sunday with some of Paul's co-workers and their families. We watched 'Newsies'. (Paul's idea) He actually had to go buy it that day because we didn't own it and he really wanted to watch it. It's funny how cool those kind of movies are when you're young and how funny and cheesy they are when you're old. The same thing happened to me and my brother Taylor in Hawaii with 'Harry and the Hendersons.'
This is an old window that I found on the curb a couple streets away. I added paper to the glass, a couple nails to string some lace, clips, and pictures. The pictures will also change soon, but I got sick of Paul saying, "I really like this post-it note picture frame." When I first made it I clipped yellow post-its in it, but then I found these pics that Paul's Grandpa sent us.
This wall needs some work, but this is how it looks for now. I made the little plaque with the knob, and the magnet board with picture. I like it ok. I think the wall needs a bit more though.
I'm pretty happy with this area. It's in our dining room as you walk in the front door. We bought the bottom hutch piece unfinished and its been sitting there wrapped in plastic for months. I finally painted it and then Paul distressed, stained, and finished it. We really love how it turned out. I painted, distressed, stained and finished the red hanging shelf and then decorated the pieces with stuff I had around the house. We like it. And in case you're wondering, the little boy in the left picture frame is cute, but since we don't know him, he'll probably be replaced with a picture of our little boy in the future.
That's it for now. I also took pictures of the finished nursery while I was taking these ones. Those ones will come in the next day or two.
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