Nursery Notes 3

**I realized this post was going to be really long - so I'll split it into multiple posts**

 

What a productive and exhausting weekend - we accomplished so much on my our to-do list!

 

Friday night.

I made of list of items we needed to pick up from the fabric store & home improvement store and we headed into town. We ran into my friend Kelli at the fabric store and she was able to help me pick out the perfect accent pieces to go with my main fabrics!

 

We found a plain gray fabric and white with gray polka dot fabric {both cotton} that will be perfect for crib sheets and I'll also use the plain gray fabric for the diaper changing pad. I had been looking everywhere for an aqua accent piece and found a minky fabric that I love! It'll be a great fabric to make blankets and pillows - nice & soft! Seeing all the fabric together makes me so excited - I can see my vision for the nursery coming together!!

 

 

After finding the fabric, we ran to Lowe's to pick out a organizational unit for the nursery closet, new outlet covers, pulls for the nightstands and a couple other small items. I found a nursery closet on pinterest that I really liked, but once we saw the unit at Lowe's I wasn't that impressed with it {not for $300+} - I didn't like the fact that the shelving unit/drawers were right in the middle and we'd have to take the doors off the closet. I know myself too well and know I won't be able to keep the closet organized enough to not have doors on it!

 

 

 

 

We decided to go with a rubbermaid closet organizer - this way we can determine where to put the shelves -  and picked up a pull out caddy for more storage. I'll add baskets and hampers for the closet after we have it put together.

 

 

I love how dorky my husband is and how he hates to get his picture taken so he does these dumb poses!

 

 

It'll look something like the picture below when we have it all put together. {again, we'll be keeping the doors on the closet - these people are crazy for not having doors!}

 

 

 

Once all our work was done for the night, we met back up with Kelli & Reece at Texas Roadhouse for dinner & drinks! I enjoyed my signature cranberry juice with 7-up and lime - the best mock cocktail to have while preggers! We didn't get home until after 11:00 and I was ready for bed - I knew Saturday was going to be a long day!!

 

Nursery Notes 2

Here is the list of to-do's from my last nursery update:

 

1. Finalize the paint color - done

2. Paint the room - done

3. Put up crown molding - still waiting for Nick to put up the crown molding We have negotiated and decided instead of putting crown molding in the nursery - he will paint the foyer ceiling and put crown molding in there. But he'll also paint the nursery closet {it's the same ugly yellow the rest of the room was} and install a closet organizational system with shelving & 2 levels to hang clothes.

4. Order a crib mattress - ordered & delivered

5. Put furniture together - this is on hold until the crown molding is put up On hold until I get Nick to help me put it together {I don't think guys understand when your wife has something on her to-do list to check it off - she wants it done yesterday so she can check the box off!!}

 

Nick & his mom painted the nursery on a Saturday in January when I was stuck at work {year-end as an accountant is crazy busy!!}. My MIL is a painting fool & she's so good at it. She can trim an entire room without taping it off and it looks amazing!

 

You know she paints alot when she has designated painting clothes!

 

I got home from work right before they finished the first coat of paint and I was so excited to see progress in the nursery!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a couple days, I started questioning the paint color. It was looking more baby blue at times instead of gray - usually at night with lights on. Which of course, would not work! I went back to Home Depot to look for more paint samples. I found a couple samples that looked more gray to me {and less blue} but after I got home and painted a sample next to the existing color, it looked more green or brown. So I decided to stick with the color I originally picked out. I'm hoping once I get the furniture and fabric in the room - it'll tone down the blue hue. Sticking with the original paint color made Nick very happy - he wasn't too excited about the idea of repainting the entire room!

 

 

 

Picking out a crib mattress was the next step and I had no clue what to go with. I asked for feedback from several friends & family members - it sounded like either Sealy or Colgate was the way to go. So I did what anyone else would do - I went with the most popular ordered crib mattress on Target's website in the Colgate brand. Figured if everyone else was ordering it - it must be a good mattress. {and it had good reviews}

 

I have a big to-do list for this weekend. This will be the only open weekend Nick & I have in February and we only have 1-2 open weekends in March - so I want to get all the big stuff done this weekend.

 

This weekend's to-do's:

1. Clean out closet

2. Paint closet

3. Install closet organization unit

4. Put furniture together

5. Make crib bedskirt

 

 

Baby H: 24 weeks

 

 

How far along? 24 weeks - the baby is officially considered viable!!

Baby Size: Baby H is 12.5 inches and 1.25 pounds. The size of corn. I'm at the 6 month mark - only 4 months to go!!!  

Total weight gain: 23 pounds.

Maternity clothes? I'd say I'm wearing maternity clothes 90% of the time. The only time it's not maternity clothes is when I wear leggings or a couple tunics/dresses. But I just keep buying more & more maternity clothes - so why wouldn't I be wearing them?!?
 

Sleep: Still sleeping 8 hours a night. I'm going to be in shock once the baby gets here & I can't sleep through the night!!

Best moment this week: So many great moments this week!!! I had my 24 week appointment this week and heard the heartbeat again - I love that sound!  {heartbeat was between 130-140} While we were listening to the heartbeat, the baby was very active - so we were able to hear Baby H move around!! We finally decided on daycare. We had several personal references for the provider we went with and are very happy with her! I also set up my maternity photos with my photographer for the end of March. Now time to start picking out outfits for Nick & I and start pinning ideas on pinterest!!

Miss Anything?  I'm loving being pregnant so much that I don't really miss anything.

Movement: The movements are starting to get stronger and they've actually startled me at times!!
 

Food cravings: Nick got the best husband award last week when he made me turtle brownies!! I've decided that even if I'm craving brownie sundaes - I can't have one every night! It's been 5 days since I've had one and the withdrawal shakes stopped after day 2!  I'm still eating alot of fruit - pineapple, strawberries, peaches, apples, oranges...the juicer the fruit the better.

Anything making you queasy or sick/symptoms: Woohoo!! No bloody noses this week!! When I went to my 24 week appointment and told my doctor about the pain in my foot/lower leg {it's a shooting pain when I extend my foot} - he had me set up an appointment with a podiatrist. He wanted me to get it checked out now before the pain got worse or it became something more serious. The podiatrist said it's due to stretching of the tendons {due to the extra weight - hello fatty - and how I might be changing how I walk/stand} and gave me some medicine to ease the pain. Nick kindly refers to this condition as pregnancy hoof!

Gender: Not finding out. This week's wives tales to predict the gender of the baby - Acne:  Legend says that if you're having a girl, she'll steal your beauty and your skin will break out. If you don't experience any acne, it's a boy. I haven't had any acne during this pregnancy.  Based in this wives tale: it's a boy.

**Pretty much everyone in my family thinks I'm having a girl {along with me}. I even had my first baby prediction last weekend - baby girl 8lbs 2oz - we'll see how close the prediction is when the baby comes**

Have you started to show yet: Can't miss the belly!!

Mood: I've been very irritable over the last week. I don't think it's anything pregnancy related, but more with everything going on in my life. My nephew is in the hospital with cancer, my grandpa is in the hospital with several issues, it's the 1 year anniversary of my mom's death and year-end reporting at work is still dragging out. I'm ready for a vacation!! {I'm in the process of trying to book a babymoon in March for Nick & I!}

Stretch marks: None.

Belly button in or out: My belly button is starting to look wonky {is that a word}. Not sure if it's trying to become an outie?

Wedding ring on or off: On

Labor Signs: No

Thoughts: After my 24 week appointment I stopped by Target and picked up a few things. I found a cute side table for the nursery and picked up some more gender neutral onsies & sleepers. I'm excited to work on the nursery this weekend and start getting things organized in the room. I'm still waiting for this nesting stage to kick in!!

Last weekend, Nick & I traveled to Omaha to see my family. We spent Friday night in the hospital visiting my nephew. It broke my heart to see him so weak & sick. He's on so many meds to ease the pain {the cancer is in his skin & he scratches so much that his skin is raw} that he was out of it and feeling sick to his stomach. We visited him again on Saturday, went bridesmaids dress shopping with my sister, visited my grandpa in the hospital and then drove 3 hours back home. It was an exhausting weekend - both physically and emotionally!!
 

 

 

 

Baby H: 23 weeks

 

How far along? 23 weeks

Baby Size: Baby H is 11.5 inches and 1.1 pounds. The size of a large mango. Baby's face is fully formed this week - can't wait to see if the baby will look like me or Nick!!

Total weight gain: 22 pounds.

Maternity clothes? Loving the maternity skinny jeans from Old Navy - so soft & comfy!! Not all maternity clothes are cute - but if you throw on leggings & a scarf - it' makes it look so much cuter!!
 

 

 Sleep: With Nick being gone most of this week {on a snowmobiling trip} - I didn't sleep as well as normal. But still no pregnancy related issues with sleep. Still sleeping through the night and not getting up to go to the bathroom.

Best moment this week: No big milestones this week. I did pick up the last 2 accent fabrics for the baby's room {and a stuffed elephant - which I'm loving elephants for the nursery}. I'm ready to make more progress on the nursery - I still need Nick to put the crown molding up and then we can put the furniture together!!

Miss Anything?  Nothing new.

Movement: Last week after I was having some pain in my lower abdomen - I wasn't feeling very much movement {which freaked me out & I kept pushing my belly to get the baby to move}. I determined that the pain was probably the baby moving positions and now the baby's movements are back to normal. I've actually started to notice a pattern to the movement - 7:30am, 9:30am - a couple times throughout the day - 5:30pm, 6:30pm and then before bedtime.

Food cravings: Sweets - brownie sundaes to be exact.

Anything making you queasy or sick/symptoms: I thought the bloody noses had stopped {I went a couple days without them}, but they're still here. But if this is my worst symptom while being preggers - I'll take it! I've had a couple random things throughout this pregnancy - my tailbone hurts when I sit on hard chairs or for long periods of time and my foot/lower leg has a strange nerve feeling sometimes - but no major pains yet. Just some normal aches & pains, but I'm not going to complain about them...it's completely worth it in the end!!

Gender: Not finding out. This week's wives tales to predict the gender of the baby - Heartbeat:  If the heartbeat is high (over 140 beats per minute) then it's a girl. If it's lower, it's a boy. Baby H’s heartbeat has been consistent -- At 12 weeks it was 150 bpm, at 20 weeks it was 146 bpm.  Based in this wives tale: it's a girl.

Have you started to show yet: The belly is getting harder and more round every day!

Mood: Talk about a roller coaster of emotions. Ofcourse, I'm SUPER excited about the baby. Thinking about the nursery, baby showers and meeting the little one - all get me excited. But unfortunately, I heard not very good news this week about my nephew {who has been battling cancer for the last year}, so I've been pretty much a mess about that all week. I'm planning on visiting him this weekend and I can't wait to see him!!

Stretch marks: None.

Belly button in or out: In

Wedding ring on or off: On

Labor Signs: No
 

Thoughts: Nick was gone for the last 5 days - on a snowmobiling trip with the guys. I had a fun & productive time when he was gone. Dinner with my old Principal co-workers on Friday night and a craft day with the girls on Saturday. I like when he's gone on his trips - so I can enjoy my time with the girls!! But I was so excited to see him when he got home last night!

I worked on crafts for the baby shower I'm hosting in March and I'm loving the mustache theme!! There are so many cute ideas on banners, cupcake toppers and other decor to make. Can't wait to see it all come together!

I know alot of people think I'm crazy for not wanting to find out the gender of our baby, but I'm really glad that we didn't. The main reason ofcourse, is because I'm excited about the surprise when we have the baby. An added perk - I feel like I'm not spending a ton of money on baby clothes every time I go shopping...there isn't really a ton of gender neutral clothes - so I've only picked up a few things. And the baby will probably be in a onesie or sleeper for the first 3 months anyways - so I don't really need alot of gender specific clothes to start out with. {remind me I said this after the baby is born & I'm buying a ton of 0-3 month clothes!!}