A Blue-Eyed Boy Met a Brown-Eyed Girl

bringing you up to speed…

2012-01-27T11:30:00.001-05:00

It’s funny that this time last year my blog went eerily silent as well.

I was pregnant, wanted to talk about it but wasn’t ready to announce it yet AND the first trimester blahs had me exhausted and too tired to get creative and write about anything else.

Is it also weird that this January, one year from the date we saw Houston for the first time on ultrasound, I was again lying on an exam table, watching the ultrasound image on the screen again, experiencing C.R.A.Z.Y. déjà vu?

But before you jump to any conclusions about the amazing parallels of my life in January 2011 to January 2012, know this.

That ultrasound showed an empty womb.

{Except for the fun cyst we’re keeping an eye on. YAY.}

AND I made the ultrasound tech search and prove there were DEFINITELY no babies hiding in there ;)

{Don’t get me wrong, I want more babies if I should be so blessed… just not today.}

{…or this year}

It seems the exhaustion this January is due to the baby on the outside of my belly! That and the whirlwind of the holidays, changing jobs and only the winter blahs this year – NOT the pregnancy blahs.

Did you catch that little part about changing jobs? Ahhh yes… it seems my prayers have been answered. As always, God’s perfect timing, his perfect plan, has shown itself and made me completely ashamed in my doubting and fretting over things that are now a distant memory. Next week, I will be going BACK to CVS and working the 30 hour week I had always hoped to cut back to once that baby was on the outside of my belly ;) Less weekends, MUCH shorter days away from the babe, even closer to home and more opportunities to get in those church doors with this new schedule. I couldn’t ask for more!

As for that sweet child of ours… poor thing needs an update on this blog! He was 2 months old last time I gave some decent detail on his development. That makes my heart sad :( Last time I showed you a monthly pic he looked like this:

Seriously?! Head all adrift, legs wobbly… who IS that boy I don’t even remember anymore? Because for month 4, I bring you THIS little gem:

and this one…

and how could I leave out this one??

My precious baby boy is growing bigger, stronger, and more intelligent before my very eyes. From week to week it is now a battle for me to try and grasp what is happening here. A little {or a LOT b/c I’m way behind and needing to catch up} about Houston right now:

He is SWEET. I mean this with every fiber of my being. He smiles 99% of the time, which makes for some great pictures ;) He wakes up smiling and makes it much easier for this sleep deprived momma to get her morning going with that precious face. He doesn’t know a stranger, he recognizes everyone close to him but he won’t shy away from anyone else either.
You can see from the pictures, boy just wants to STAND these days. He will wiggle all around and throw tiny tantrums for you to stand him up N.O.W. He’s starting to throw in a few bounces and steps these days too.
As for rolling, he still does it only within the confines of his play-mat or crib, but doesn’t do it to get anywhere yet. He doesn’t sit up entirely on his own, but he’s getting close – able to at least lean his tummy forward on his chubby thighs and stay upright for a little bit that way. I have yet to see him on all fours, but I have a feeling that he’s working more towards walking and is much less concerned with crawling. ‘Skip to the good stuff!’, he says.
Baby boy drools and drools these days though there are no teeth in site just yet. He reaches and pulls everything towards his mouth, including sinking his razor sharp nails into my neck or cheeks to pull me towards his open drooling mouth. It’s quite painful – but I laugh at the funny face he’s making every single time. He also has been CHOWING DOWN on his hands and fingers for months now.
He took his first bites of oatmeal this week and we started letting him “cry it out” in our own way last night {ugh}. More on both of those at another time.
Still in some 0-3 months clothing, mostly 3-6 months, and moved up to size 2 diapers at about 4 months old. Still eating every 2.5 – 3 hours during the day and we are currently {and by “we”, I mean “I”} attempting to wean him from middle of the night feedings. He was 14 pounds and 26 inches at his 4 month appointment. 25th percentile for weight and 75th for length – long and skinny boy!
He spends play time on his back on the activity mat, in the exersaucer or in the doorway jumper – both of the latter we have to pad around him with a blanket to help hold his little body steady in the middle. His favorite toys have either mirrors {he loves looking at his own handsome face} or flashing lights. For this reason {the lights} I have yet to take down his mini Christmas tree in his room yet. I’m considering making it a year round tree with decor for every occasion – we shall see!

Since we all together skipped the 3 month post – here’s one for the books!

I’m planning a “picture catch-up” post too if not just for my memory’s sake – I figured this one was already long enough ;)

Have a great weekend! Tootles poodles!

Happy Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Year/Birthday…

2012-01-05T07:16:00.001-05:00

Where, oh where, is the time going?

2011 was without a doubt, my best year yet. The arrival of this little munchkin was the biggest blessing of my entire 27 years and ringing in the new year with his smiling face smushed between kisses from his momma and daddy tell me 2012 will most likely blow the last year out of the water!

This sweet baby boy turned 4 months old on December 29th and I have yet to document him even turning 3 months old, let alone his first Thanksgiving, his momma returning to work, his first Christmas or…. hello????… his BIRTH story!

I WILL play catch-up even if y’all roll your eyes at my insanity :) I want to remember every.single.moment. of this little guy’s life:

Could you not just eat him up?!

{Now to the main reason I’m posting today!}

The love of my life, my favorite person in the world, my love, my baby-daddy, my husband and prince charming is turning 28 years old today! This man blesses my life with his mere presence each and every day. He caters to my every request, he treats me like a princess, loves me through my every mood and manages to look like the man of my dreams through it all. Most of all, this year he celebrates his first birthday as the most amazing father I could ask for my child. He deserves the world and I will love him till my last breath.

Happy Birthday, sweetest! Houston and I love you more with each passing day♥

Houston meets Santa

2011-12-23T12:48:00.001-05:00

Does it get any more precious than this???

We had such a wonderful experience with Houston meeting Santa for the first time a couple of weeks ago and then a fun Santa photo shoot of our own at home to feature on our family Christmas card:

We have been so extra busy this year during this Christmas season {see above photos for the main source of our happy business :)}, that I haven’t got to share with you all the joyous moments caught on film with this little one like I would have liked.

I didn’t even decorate as much as I usually do for Christmas, {though my husband can attest to the fact that it’s still an awful lot…} but if you’d like to take a trip down memory lane at last year’s decor, be my guest. After the holidays pass, I think I foresee a hopeful return to my love for blogging.

We would like to wish you the Merriest of Christmases filled with lots of love and laughter from our family to yours. I know our Christmas is especially blessed this year with the addition of our little miracle =) How fun to remember that on Christmas day last year, we were telling our families of our impending arrival!♥

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good weekend!!!

can your hair afford NOT to steal this deal?

2011-12-13T07:59:00.001-05:00

I’m breaking my blogging hiatus to bring you a beauty steal of a deal for the holidays!

It’s nice how blogger keeps reminding me on my home page that I’ve left you hanging since Novemeber 21st… how has that much time passed since I last blogged???

Oh wait, I know… the Thanksgiving travel whirlwind came and went, then momma went back to work 2 weeks ago, baby turned 3 months old and is far too cute to let go when momma gets home, Christmas started coming fast and furious, my tree still isn’t fully decorated and my friends and family gift list to buy for is miles longer than last year… blog, what blog?

I have had several posts in the making by haven’t had quite the time or clarity to finish them – for example, is a Thanksgiving recap too late for y’all? ;)

Back to my beauty steal… have y’all been following Kate from The Small Things?

If you have and you didn’t share with me, shame on you!

She is a BRILLIANT hair stylist with lots of advice and hair tutorials for the hair challenged such as myself. Seriously, I discovered her on Sunday and ever since, every free moment {i.e. while nursing the babe!} has been spent watching her youtube hair tutorials. They are amazing!

So girl had me convinced I needed a new straightener. Hello ghd classic! Goodbye el cheapo Vidal Sassoon.

BUT I wasn’t so convinced on the price. I put it on the backburner as a possible addition to my birthday wishlist… and kept it there for all of 12 hours.

I opened up my Plum District this morning to find a sign.

$30 for $50 towards Folica.com

and do you know what Folica sales????

BINGO!!!

That baby is now in the mail and on the way to my bathroom sink =)

If you want your own – or want to buy one for a gift – or anything else from Folica including tons of other hot tools, curlers, hair accessories, styling products, etc. – I can get you your $50 toward your purchase for only $22.50!!

Just follow this link to receive $5 off your coupon purchase from Plum District, then type in the promo code fabulous at check out for 10% off.

For example… This straightener is only $59 dollars at Folica and had 907 awesome reviews. That leaves only $9 for you to pay after you plum district coupon!!!!

Ok, now I’m going to be late for work, but I could not NOT share this with you!

Don’t say I didn’t try to help you next summer when your hair is frizzed in an afro from the sweltering summer humidity. ha!

Will be back soon with lots of lovely updates!!

get outta’ town!!

2011-11-21T13:08:00.001-05:00

“Get outta’ town” has been the theme this month.

The very first weekend in November, my mother-in-law graciously agreed to keep out little guy while the hubs and I went to Cincinnati for shopping, dinner with friends and a full night’s sleep. Everything was going pretty well till about 11 that night when I started really and truly, super duper missing our little guy and thought it would be a good idea to look at the 1 billion pictures and movies I have of him on my phone.

BAD IDEA.

The cuteness saved on my phone only intensified my emotions and I started tearing up about how fast time was passing, that we hadn’t taken enough video of him, yadda yadda yadda.

I was a mess. Point blank.

The next day I was a maniac trying to rush through our nice breakfast, pack up, and urging Nick to drive 30 miles over the speed limit to get home.

I realized that small day trips or a few hours away, I can handle. Combine that with a full night away and it feels like I haven’t seen my child in an eternity. I honestly thought he was going to be crawling when we walked in that day after being gone for 24 hours.

That was suppose to be our 24 hour practice day away for the next weekend… when we had planned to take a trip away for 4 days and 3 nights.

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

What was I thinking?!

My parents were coming to our house to watch him while we were going to be gone on the trip that was over before it began. The final decision was to do a “stay-cation” to have a little mommy and daddy time alone during the day but to also get our baby boy fix in.

Excellent decision if I do say so myself!

We kicked off our stay-cation on Thursday, Nick’s first day off of work, by cleaning our house. What a blast! ;) But seriously, we spent some much needed time together with the babe. Friday got a little more exciting, zip lining at Red River Gorge, just a little over an hour from home.

Our first time zip lining was on our honeymoon in Jamaica. Funny enough, when we got there this time, we learned the same man built and owns this one in the gorge as well. Of all the zip lines in the world…. crazy!

Check out that view!!! That’s the hubs and me, 350 feet high, soaring 2000 feet across from mountain top to mountain top, side by side. If you squint, you can barely see our end point on the other side. Amazing =)

I found a video on YouTube of one of the zip lines we were on that gives you a better idea of the kinda’ fun we were having ;) Breathtaking! This is the longest of the 5 zip lines:

Friday night was dinner out with my parents and the cutest little boy in the entire world. We don’t do much talking to each other these days, more like staring at the baby and waiting for the next facial expression or sound he decides to make while all talking in obnoxious baby voices to him and only him. If he’s sleeping, we reluctantly resort back to adult conversation ;)

Saturday morning started out with a 90 minute couples massage. The day could have ended with just that and I would have been happy!

But instead, we had even more fun with dinner out and bowling with our great friends, Ginny and Andrew. We are so excited to be in their wedding next August!!

Ginny, who is always the best dressed in the room, had on the cutest boots, which of course she had to trade in for bowling shoes on the lanes. I just had to have a picture of this fashionista moment!

Thank goodness we have no clue who “Red” is… what a loser! haha!

{and that is Nick’s finger pointing to his winning score of 104… only in this group could you be so proud of such a low score!}

Sunday morning consisted of a photo shoot before church, naturally.

Who could honestly resist this child?!

Monday was mom and dad’s last night staying with us and since Dad’s birthday was coming up on Thursday {the 17th}, we decided to celebrate it with caramel apple streusel crunch pie… DELICIOUS!!!

I.♥.this.photo.

Poppy loves his “little buddy” so much, he couldn’t even blow out his candles without him…

My happy boy:

We have a whirlwind week ahead of us with more “gettin outta town”. Houston’s first Thanksgiving is in the mix {happy face!} as well as my last few days as a stay at home mom {sad, sobbing, mascara smeared face!}. I start back to work the Monday after the holiday and I’m doing my best to #1) not think about it and #2) soak up every last minute with my boy I can get.

Pray for me?!?

my life, the sitcom

2011-11-17T15:21:00.001-05:00

I have my days.

Days where I wonder if I took a moment out of the chaos to peek over my shoulder, would I see a film-crew taping these sitcom-worthy situations I get myself into? Because honestly, these things only happen on t.v.

…and to me.

It is in these moments that I consider changing my name to Lucy. I have the red hair, a devilishly handsome husband that puts up with my shenanigans, and the sweet little boy to boot.

I could even start selling Vitameatavegamin in my pharmacy!

On today’s episode of My Life, the Sitcom:

After bragging on my baby boy's excellent sleep habits for weeks, we had one loooooong crazy night where I finally decided to put him in bed with me, only to wake up to wet sheets and a wet baby in the morning.

We get cleaned up and I put a new, never worn outfit on him even though we don’t have any plans to go anywhere today. He’s growing quickly and I want him to wear everything in his closet, even if it’s just for lounging around the house.

Baby’s dressed and I dash to start a pot of coffee, needed more today than usual after the night we had. But it’s a no-go.

Coffee - we have. Milk or creamer… both out.

I don’t do black coffee. So I soldier on without my caffeine.

Baby gets fed, mommy gets fed and we decided to call Houston’s Mimmie on Facetime since she just learned how to use it. We giggle together at his grunts and disgusting squirty sounds that confirm a dirty diaper is in the making. We hang up and I go to let the dog out and change the diaper.

But when I pick Houston up, my wet hand on his back tells me something’s not quite right. I look at the back of the baby… yellow gook. I look at my cream colored sofa he was just laying on… yellow gook.

{Forgive the picture of poo residue on my blog. This is who we are these days, like it or leave it.}

{Thank goodness for micro-fiber upholstery, this couch is holding up well against all baby bodily functions!}

Baby boy gets stripped down in preparation for a bath. While on the changing table, Houston spits-up, starts to choke on it and then coughs a mouthful in my face. Fabulous.

Luckily I’m in the mood to laugh. This is funny. My life is a joke.

I actually texted my husband, “I believe the day could only get better from here.”

In a way, I was right. It did get better. The way a sitcom gets better for those watching it, not for the person living it.

I went to start the bath and for some reason, {stupid, stupid curiosity}, I decided to pull down on the part of the faucet that would start the shower, if there was a shower. But there is only a bath-tub. The water cuts off and I try everything to reverse what I just did, including calling my brother-in-law and texting him a picture of the problem. No luck.

Now my curiosity knows what happens when you pull down on the silver shower starting contraption when there is no actual shower. Yaaaayyy.

Houston hangs out in his bath chair in the hall-way while mommy tries to figure out if she’ll be able to fix the faucet or if we’ll be moving to the guest bath.

With no water in sight, bathing in the hall-way was out of the question. Once in the guest bath, the little stinker pees straight up into the air and onto mommy. I laugh again.

The end of today’s sitcom, all before 11 a.m.

I love this life!

{Did I mention that today is the first day of my diet to get rid of the baby weight and even though these days at home with my precious baby boy are the best days of my life, a plate full of brownies would really hit the spot after the morning I’ve had!}

Coincidence that my first sitcom moment happened the day I found out I was pregnant and hasn’t stopped since? Motherhood is one funny hood to live in ;)

my favorite things… BABY GEAR edition

2011-11-08T20:57:00.001-05:00

Before we dive right in: just in case you begin to wonder… I was soooooooooooo NOT compensated to write about any of these products.

{I mean, who am I? Oprah???}

We either received these at our baby shower or bought them ourselves. These are purchases I researched and chose to register for and these are my honest to God, non-influenced opinions! =)

First things first, though this may be a little tongue in cheek and not a literal baby item, personally, my day’s productivity level {since baby} can be measured by what time I got to drink my coveted cup o’ joe and how strong the coffee is that’s now coursing through my veins. If you don’t own a coffee maker, I strongly suggest that you purchase one. It also doesn’t hurt to get yourself a cute coffee mug to look at when the rest of the scenery in your house could pass for the remains of Armageddon…

{source}

{Side note for those who are wondering: I’ve been enjoying my coffee since day one that this joyous little creature entered my life. I usually don’t have more than one cup a day – there are exceptional days though – and I haven’t seen any problems with breastfeeding and the consumption of caffeine. My little angel takes fantastic naps throughout the day and lately – knock on wood! – has been waking up just once or twice in a 10 hour stretch at night =)=)=) Praise GOD!}

The First Years BabyPro Sterilizer by Learning Curve

Speaking of Armageddon and the lack of cleaning that seems to take place with a newborn… a friend suggested this little gem to me for helping with the endless sterilizing of pacifiers, bottles, breast pump equipment, etc. I have used it at least a million times already in only 10 weeks and I LOVE IT.

Angelcare Movement Sensor with Sound Monitor

Seriously, peace of mind – can you put a price on it? This device fits under the mattress and is SUPER sensitive to your baby’s every move, specifically breathing. If it doesn’t sense movement {breathing} within 20 seconds, an alarm goes off alerting you and hopefully startling the child enough to prompt breathing.

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

Also, a good baby monitor is a MUST! A sound monitor can do the trick, but a video monitor can be a mom’s best friend. Count the years you can continue to use it {I’ve been told} once he’s in his “big boy bed” and you just want to check on him without opening the door and risk waking him up – totally worth the $cha-ching$! I just got my monitor, a Safety 1st brand, this summer but can no longer find it online. There is an Angelcare monitor that incorporates video in the device as well, and if I were doing it all over again, I’d probably opt for that instead of having both monitors at my bedside. Live and learn!

Graco® Pack 'n Play® Portable Playard with Newborn Napper™ in Maddox

I love the newborn napper on this pack ‘n play, great for a bedside bassinet to keep the baby up higher and in your view, as well as giving your baby the little bit of incline they love and keeping super cozy. There’s a tiny nightlight built in, but it isn’t really bright enough to be of much use. The vibrate and sound is a great little feature that we did find useful though. I haven’t used the changing table much but had no complaints when I did. Great for a travel bed and I’m assuming we’ll get lots of use out of it as a play pen when he gets a little older.

Pee-pee Teepee™ by Beba Bean

Okay… if you’re having a bouncing baby boy and you haven’t heard of these, consider yourself warned! IT will get you… ;)

Medela® Pump In Style® Advanced Breastpump with Metro Bag

I haven’t even been back to work yet but I’ve already used my electric pump a ton! I’ve been doing my best to save up a good freezer supply and it’s definitely MUCH quicker to pump and let someone else feed the baby at times. This weekend, we got away for a 24 hour span {more on that later!} and I even used this in the car. I.LOVE.THIS.PUMP. I have a manual hand pump by the same brand too… holy cow, it is night and day in speed difference and how much more milk I can get with the electric!

Lansinoh HPA Lanolin

Essential for breastfeeding moms! I tried the Medela brand, which was much more “runny” and even though some think the Lansinoh is too sticky, it was better at doing the job it’s made to do. In the first few weeks, I used it after every feeding. Now I only use it about once a week, though once daily would probably be better for the health of my little friends ;)

At the risk of you thinking I’m completely gross and downright weird, I’ve now been using it as…. chapstick!

My lips have developed insane sensitivities to random chapsticks and lip glosses and when Houston was about a month old, my lips reacted to a new lip gloss and decided to peel off completely, leaving them swollen and burning 24 hours a day for a full week. Though I truly enjoyed the look of my new Angelina Jolie-esque puffy pout, they were unbelievably painful, continually peeling, and made it extremely difficult to eat, drink, or kiss my precious little angel. My mom suggested I try this to heal them. Lo and behold it WORKED! I’m now on the search for actual lanolin based chapstick to make it more convenient for my purse than this large tube.

Pampers Swaddlers

I didn’t know we would favor one diaper so much over the others, but I will only buy these for now because of their OVER THE TOP HELPFUL little yellow line that changes to blue when wet. Love it! Truly saves all the guessing when the baby is crying and you’re not sure why. You can take a peek at the diaper without having to unnecessarily undress them just to find out they’re dry. I’ve compared prices using coupons, ordering from places online where you get cash back and there’s no tax or shipping costs, and STILL, Sam’s club beats all of those prices. We burn through this HUGE box right now in a little over 2 weeks!

My sweet little model showing off that tell-tell blue line and just how cute a dirty diaper really can be!

NEST Elliott Diaper Bag

I looooooove my diaper bag! More than enough pockets, zippers, and room for organization while still staying stylish ;) I always get compliments carrying it.

Looks like Heidi Klum loves hers in black!

NEST Quilted Diaper Bag – Black

I really wasn’t wanting a diaper bag with lots of colors and busy patterns, I figured getting one in brown and one in black would take me far. I have not been disappointed with that decision. I love this bag that is also from NEST, but not as much as the previous bag. Sometimes I think I should have got the first bag in multiple colors!

I’m also diggin’ this NEST Canvas Diaper Bag - Khaki/Black!

custom designed baby bedding at Carousel Designs

I spent far too much time searching for the perfect baby bedding. Every time I liked one, it was waaaaaaaay out of my price range. {As in, more than I paid for our lovely king size bedding, 2 sets of sheets, decorative pillows, 2 dust ruffles to make it extra frilly, and 4 curtain panels…. yeah, some crib bedding is totally overpriced!}

This website has a fun little interactive tool you can use to combine your style and your fabrics to create one of a kind bedding you can see on the screen before ordering. It is a whole bunch of fun and surprisingly inexpensive!

Here’s the screen shot of the bedding I put together online before ordering:

…and in real life:

How’s that for accuracy?!

Skip Hop Funky Farmyard Activity Mat

Nothing special – just a fun little place to let him kick and reach and stare at himself in the mirror. I love the little curved pillow that comes with it that helps him tolerate tummy time much better when propped under his chest.

Chicco®Cortina KeyFit 30 Travel System in Romantic

Researching the many strollers and travel systems that are out there: muy frustrante!

This travel system came highly recommended by… like… all of my friends who have kids. That’s all it took to sign me up. I haven’t had one single problem with it and thanks to the dog needing his daily walks, we have been strollin’, strollin’, strollin’. No probs with the carseat either – little man never protests and never seems uncomfortable.

Baby Jogger City Mini Single Stroller

We also got this jogging stroller at the recommendation of friends who navigate the streets of NY and Chicago with it daily. I’m a believer, but not from experience… it’s still in the box. When the boy can hold his head up consistently, we’ll be breaking this bad boy out! I’ll be sure to update you.

Fisher-Price® Zen Cradle Swing

Thanks to this little beauty, yours truly was able to finish typing this post while my sweet angel swings and slumbers! I love that the seat pivots so that you can experiment with which way soothes your baby better – swinging side to side or front to back. It also plugs in, battery free is a positive these days!

There is so much more to review… carriers, books, teethers, toys, bouncy chairs, bumbos… I will be back with those reviews as soon as they have been tested and tried! Hope you enjoyed =)

61 years of holy matrimony

2011-11-03T16:36:00.001-04:00

61 years later…

5 children, 15 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren…

All of whom would never be here without their love for each other.

I am SO BLESSED to have these two as my grandparents and to be celebrating this momentous occasion today. Like two peas in a pod, it’s easy to see they were meant for each other! I have never seen anything but love from them for their family. They give of themselves and their means more than most anyone I know. They love without limits and are always down for a good time ;)

♥I love them both more than they will ever know!♥

Happy 61st anniversary, Mamaw and Papa!!!!

the most monumental FIRST Halloween EVER.

2011-11-01T17:16:00.001-04:00

SHEW… brace yourself, we have picture overload today!!

Poor Houston has been subjected to enough photo shoots in the month of October to last a lifetime. Sadly for him, this will only be the tip of the iceberg ;)

Bahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!! So true…

It’s our boy’s first Halloween, therefore we must recap his first Halloween gift.

Who gives “Halloween gifts”?

~~Crazy people.~~

Grandparents that are crazy in love with this little guy, of course.

Who couldn’t love that little grinnin’ fool OR his new adorable teddy bear with it’s little blue paci?! Sooooooooo cute. Thanks, Mimmie and Poppy!

Have y’all every heard of Funkins? It was after that fact that I used every last weakling muscle in my arms to carve this huge honkin’ pumpkin that I had the brilliant idea that I should have just ran to Hobby Lobby and got one of those sweet, carvable fake pumpkins to plop my baby inside.

Hindsight is 20/20 people.

That being said, our baby pumpkin photo shoot went as well as could be expected. I’m kicking myself for accidently setting the camera on some stupid setting that shouldn’t even exist and getting dark pictures that I tried to lighten up on the computer but turned out grainy instead.

My precious, precious baby pumpkin!:

Anyone wonder whether our child will grow to need therapy????

Disclaimer: this pumpkin was carved days earlier, had dried out and was then lined with receiving blankets before we inserted our child. He is not in cold mushy gook and is actually cushioned quite nicely. The boy just didn’t want to be in the pumpkin… and I can’t quite blame him!

***********

Mommy was quite sure she had scoured the stores and internet for costumes with sizes small enough for our tiny boy and had no such luck. I now know I must not be such a great mommy after seeing my friends and their tiny babies in costumes on Facebook :(

HUGE FAIL.

BUT! I had previously bought this cute little jersey and had a light-bulb moment on Halloween day that maybe this could be his costume.

I grabbed my best “indoor basketball” {hehehe…} and started yet another photo shoot =)

Proud mommy will be so happy to have these one day…

UK Men’s Basketball 2029, anyone?

Look what Halloween also brought us!

Houston and Wyatt finally met each other!!

What sweet trick or treat buddies they’re gonna be♥

and FINALLY, one more photo shoot since Halloween was also Houston’s 9 week milestone:

I know what you’re thinking…

“But, I thought you said you didn’t find a costume for Houston?”

and you’d be right.

I didn’t. But I did repurpose someone else’s Halloween costume from a couple years back.

Is it me or does he look like he just learned he’s wearing the dog’s old pumpkin costume?!

Yes, dear, mommy’s crazy. Just get used to it, son ;)

We had a fabulous FIRST Halloween with our babe and hope yours was just as fantastic as well!!

xoxo

2 months of baby love

2011-10-30T17:08:00.001-04:00

****If you haven’t got your Erin Condren life planner for $12.50 yet {normally almost $60} check here to see how. Today is your last chance!****

We have had one crazy {wonderful} week around here!

Houston turned 8 weeks old last Monday {the day his new friend, Wyatt, came into the world!} and then yesterday, officially celebrated his 2 month birthday.

He wasn’t much into our 2 month photo shoot, unless laying like a knot on a log counts for being “into it”. So I asked him to give mommy a smile:

I got attitude instead!

I guess if he won’t smile, sticking his tongue out may be the next best thing.

For his 2 month birthday, we got him the bestest gift of all. The gift of immunity to polio, rotavirus, hepatitis A,B&C, tetanus, diptheria, pertussis…

The poor boy got 3 shots in those tiny little thighs for his big birthday. How’s that for a mean mommy?! :(

The appointment actually went better than I expected. I nursed him ASAP after the shots were over and he barely had time to cry before they were already forgotten. Nick was in Atlanta for business and I was extremely thankful to have my mom with me to help keep a brave front. Houston slept most the day after that with a couple crying spells and a not.so.great night of sleep after. I was just relieved for no allergic reactions or fever – THANK GOD!

His 2 month stats from the appointment:

Height: 22 1/4 in (10-25 percentile)

Weight: 11 lbs 5.5 oz (25-50 percentile)

Head: 15 3/4 in (75-90 percentile)

In other words: still a small fry with a big pumpkin head ;)

Our little guy can still wear some of his newborn clothing and is now big enough to wear most of his 0-3 month without them swallowing him whole anymore. He is smiling up a storm these days and tracking our every move with those big gorgeous eyes. He’s also holding his head up pretty great these days too – soon we’ll be throwing that boy on our hip to tote him around and will finally be able to use the other arm when carrying him – hallelujah!

As I mentioned before, we braved 4 days and 3 nights without daddy here {survived with the help of H’s Mimmie!} We missed our daddy terribly but are so proud of the award he brought back from Atlanta. He has such a wonderful work ethic and still comes home to take care of us both after a long day {and commute}with a sweet disposition. We could not ask for a better husband or father!♥

Today we’re attempting the “baby in a pumpkin” shot with high hopes and low expectations – ha! I have little confidence that we will get a shot that he’s not crying in, but even that adorable sad face would be worth it.

{Worth it to me – I’m not sure how Houston actually feels about that!}

Sneak peek sans babe, hoping to share the final shots with you tomorrow:

Lastly, in addition to turning 2 months old, my little guy decided to roll over from tummy to back 3 times on Thursday.

My baby is growing up.

*tear*

I happened to catch one of those rolls on the camera on my iPhone but I:

1.) Filmed it sideways on accident.

2.) Moved and shook the camera so much you’ll feel like you’re watching The Blair Witch Project.

3.) Talked obnoxious baby talk the whole way through and ended the video with my mom and I whooping up a storm for this amazing display of gymnastic ability.

That being said: Enjoy! ;)

Erin Condren Life Planner for $12.50!!!!

2011-10-29T23:47:00.001-04:00

You could knock me over with a feather right now… my GOSH, this could be the deal of the century!

If you have not yet purchased the life planner, YOU CAN DO SO FOR AN EVEN CHEAPER price!

ONLY 1 DAY LEFT!!!!

If you’ve drooled over these planners like I have, but cringe to pony up the asking price…

JUMP ON THIS, PEOPLE!!! =)

Go here. Sign up. You get automatic 5 dollars for being a new member {use new email address if you already are a member}. Purchase the erin condren voucher. It will come up 20 dollars (takes off 5 automatically). Then enter code: spooky30 and get an additional 30% off! So you end up paying 12.50 dollars!

Then go to erincondren.com. Pick your life planner out! The total will come to 58.75. Put in code: welcome10. This will take off 10 dollars. Then put in your voucher code. Your total will be 0 with 1.25 left over!!’

THAT IS TOTAL OF 12.50 DOLLARS INCLUDING SHIPPING FOR A 60 dollar planner!

{can you tell how amazingly awesome this deal is?!}

{and if you have already signed up for plum district, in order to get the 5 dollar automatic off again, just use a new email!} this makes GREAT x-mas gifts!!

** if not showing up for your city CLICK "EXPLORE YOUR DISTRICT"- should be on the bottom right

okay start here!

****P.S. – If you’re wanting this deal and you find “your district” {according to your zip code} is sold out, the last time I checked at 11 am, the “Louisville district” still had this deal available, just use the zip code 40515… hope this helps!

Side note: I, shamefully, copy and pasted this entire post from Becky over at from Mrs. to Mama. I just HAD to share this with y’all ASAP! {It was too late and I am too sleep deprived to word it as perfectly as she already had… my SINCERE apologies, though I know she will be absolutely cool with it cause she’s pretty freakin’ awesome like that.}

P.S. – Becky is one AMAZING woman – gorgeous with a gorgeous family, working night shift as a RN and working days as a full-time mama AND is one phenomenal bargain hunting, coupon clipping saving super power. Follow her blog… you will NOT be sorry! ;)

pumpkins pumpkins everywhere

2011-10-27T18:15:00.001-04:00

Last weekend we visited Boyd Orchards to get our little punkin’ head’s first pumpkin. It was an absolutely gorgeous day to go patchin’!

My parents, Poppy and Mimmie, with Houston.

Our family of 3♥

I choose… that darling little punkin’ in the middle!

For every picture, there was the photographer and there was the person blocking the sun from the baby’s eyes. We are straight up gaga over this little guy!

There will be much more fun to be had by Houston when the next time we visit and those little legs start working the play ground =)

Then there was the yumminess that poor Houston can’t enjoy just yet. We brought home some jellies, apple butter, and a to die for “apple spice pecan honey butter” that has me wanting just toast for breakfast every day since!

Can’t wait to carve that big pumpkin this weekend and plop a tiny little boy in it for pictures… even if Poppy says we take so many pictures it’s child abuse.

What do men know?! ;)

decorating takes a back seat

2011-10-24T16:03:00.001-04:00

I’m sure some of you have noticed this blog’s turn in topic lately.

and by lately, I mean practically since I peed on a stick last December and held the secret from you as long as I could until February.

and by held the secret from you, I mean, I just didn’t write nary a thang… just take a look at January on the sidebar – I wrote one post that month. If I couldn’t write about baby, I couldn’t write at all.

Simple minded?

Sure.

My love of decorating and crafting has taken a backseat to my baby brain on the blog and in my house. Unless you count the nursery?

But I’m saving up ideas for next year when I project that my baby brain will have eased off and I may have gotten the hang of motherhood well enough that my simple minded brain can swing a few more things besides surviving with an infant.

Ideas for fall next year:

{and that you may still want to do this year if you have the time!}

Gorgeous modge podge pumpkins:

{source}

Burlap wreath with monogram:

{source}

Candy corn pom-poms:

{source}

Cinnamon stick candles:

{source}

Halloween banner… though I see myself doing this with purely “fall” colored fabric/ribbons so it can have a longer mantle life at my house than just October =):

{source}

Yarn candy corn:

{source}

So these next two are fall and baby related. Forgive me ;)

Baby pumpkin:

This one we will probably actually get to attempt this weekend!… we had been talking about this idea and then I saw it pop up on my sorority sister, Ashley’s, blog! Little Walker is absolutely GORGEOUS in his pumpkin. Could it get any cuter than those big blue eyes and sweet rosy cheeks?!

{source}

{Though Nick wants to make leg and arm holes in the pumpkin for Houston… ha! I think that may border on child abuse. We should have a hard enough time just pulling it off as is with H not able to hold his head up on his own just yet. We may have to modify it somehow for our little bobble head =)}

Candy corn onesie:

Last but not least: I was all ready to go make this cute onesie last week for Houston and for my friend’s new baby, but life got in the way… maybe next year, or more likely, next baby!

{source}

Happy fall, y’all!!!

xoxo,

Houston

He’s coming….!

2011-10-20T13:25:00.001-04:00

Houston may not realize it now, but his bestest little friend in the whole wide world, Wyatt, is just on the other side of Britney’s little belly. I could cry tears of joy thinking of their sweet future together as little buddies and how it will begin in just a few short days.

Their whole lives ahead of them. Precious, angelic, innocent little souls♥

Britney and I just spent our last day lounging on the couch in non-stop chatter before Wyatt’s arrival. I gotta say, I’ve really enjoyed poor Brit’s doctor ordered bed rest during my maternity leave;) Bless her heart.

Brit thinks her tummy is as big as a watermelon. I told her it was only a basketball and forced her to take pictures with Houston’s to prove it… ha!

Still so gorgeous at almost 39 weeks!

Side story: This basketball was given to Houston by his poppy. Nick later informed me while holding it that it was a “nice” basketball and it was not to be played with “out doors”… like he was afraid I was about to hit the street, shootin’ some hoops with it one day soon.

Seriously?

Truthfully, I had no idea there was a difference between inside and out door basketballs. No worries, I placed it safely on the nursery bookshelf, lest it be taken outside by mistake

Because that’s where basketballs go, on book shelves… right?

Back to Brit – just in case she gets mad I posted the last couple of pictures, here’s my payback. A picture of me after 28 hours of labor and still waiting to take a shower… of course Britney and Kennedy look beautiful!

I couldn’t choose between the 2 pictures; I look equally as hideous in both and Kennedy’s cheesin’ is just too darn adorable with her “blue baby”.

Wyatt, we’re praying for your safe arrival as well as great health for you and your momma. We can.not.wait. to meet you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

xoxo

rain, rain, go away

2011-10-19T18:46:00.001-04:00

This chilly, dreary day makes me so thankful we took full advantage of the *perfect* fall weather we had this weekend with a trip to the park. It’s not easy packing all the essentials for baby and man’s best friend, but we soldiered on and ended up enjoying the time with our little family on a blanket by the lake.

and speaking of soldiering on for the greater good…

Guess who slept in his crib for the very first time last night?!

It was a roaring success! Momma was relieved and pleased that I was able to put him down awake and let him go to sleep on his own with no tears - from either of us. When I have a little more experience under my belt, {like, more than one night…}, I’ll let you know what worked for us and what didn’t.

That means book reviews!

One I loved, one I despised, and one that just came in the mail today and that I can’t wait to get started on.

Happy Hump Day!

xoxo

PS – Please do not worry about my child and his crib bumpers! They will be taken down as soon as he shows signs of becoming a roly-poly. I have some great breathable mesh bumpers already purchased just for that occasion =)

7 weeks of baby love

2011-10-18T14:55:00.001-04:00

It’s naptime… which means it’s blogger time!

I’m loving these video monitors we finally set up and learned how to use this week in preparation for a possibly soon transition at night from pack n’ play to crib!!

Momma, a.k.a. sole care taker of the babe during the night, could definitely use your prayers on this one =)

At 7 weeks it’s not just about what baby did new today, but what mommy and daddy did new as well. We are happilly living and learning through trial and error and growing as parents day by day. Yeah, there is that cute little babe that’s growing like a weed and learning new things like every hour, but I’m making this weekly update more about the parents.

Because I’m shallow like that.

…and because if both you and I learn from my big fat failures, that makes me actually feel a little successful, ya see?

{It won’t be a completely self-centered post as the pictures will be only of that cute little man I’m neglecting to talk much about today and not my ugly mug. Win-win.}

How has it already been 7 weeks?!

What mom and dad have learned here lately:

There are a million and one ways to raise a child. There is also a book written for almost each and every one of those million and one ways. You will probably read more than one of these books before you choose your own style of parenting… so buy used, like on Amazon where used books can be really really cheap. Then when you don’t like the book at all, you don’t feel so bad about the waste of money - and because diapers are expensive and you sure as heck don’t want to buy those used. ;)

With a little one, sometimes just getting out and going to Sam’s Club, the park or a friend’s house is a gigantic learning experience in itself. Like how to breastfeed on the go, how to fit everything you need in the shopping cart plus a baby in a carseat, and to always ALWAYS keep extra diapers in the car – which has come in handy twice already… thanks for the good advice, mom!

Take any help you can get. Because it will be 5:00, your husband will be on his way home, there will be nothing ready for dinner, the house will be a mess, the dog will be begging to be walked, you will smell like garbage from desperately needing a shower and you’ll wonder where in the world the time went today.

When you start to stress out about it all, make a mental list of what’s most important at the moment and start there. Thinking about whether this will seem so important to you years from now {or even weeks from now} helps to put things in perspective as well. I’m guessing being weeks behind on thank you notes and mailing out birth announcements won’t still bother me a couple years from now???

6 weeks picture with Peter Rabbit:

Your significant other is your best friend. You are in this crazy, fun ride called parenthood together. Learn together, share your thoughts and feelings, help each other out, lighten up and most definitely have a good laugh about it all. You two will be the only ones who will share many of these wonderful memories of your little one for the rest of your lives. It’s easy to lose each other between diapers changes and feedings and trying to catch a few winks. Take the time, reconnect. A healthy, happy marriage will make for healthy, happy children! {and a healthy, happy YOU!}

7 weeks:

Now with just a couple hundred more nap times, I might finally get that birth story typed up before I forget some details.

Which means it should be finished some time around his 1st birthday! ;)

♥xoxo♥

memory snapshots from motherhood

2011-10-14T14:39:00.001-04:00

The first time I was left all alone with my son in the hospital and feeling genuinely surprised at how not scary and instead all together wonderful it was, just him and me.

The dog and the baby on the bed with Nick rubbing both of their tummies and watching both of them kicking away, side by side =)
Singing {loudly} every children’s song I could think of while taking a shower to pacify the little babe waiting for me in his bouncy seat in the bathroom floor.

Houston and I staring at each other quietly at 3 am and me tearing up, knowing no one will ever love this precious child the way that I do.

4 diaper changes and one clothing change within 20 minutes… in the middle of the night… the middle of last night.

Already having over 300 pictures of him on just my phone, taken by the camera on my phone, at just 6 weeks of life.

Nursing my baby and having him stare up at me, knowing he knows me.

Watching him learn new stunts every day, like turning his head to look at the person talking to him. The most minor of human achievements that make me fill with pride and excitement for him.

His poppy saying things to him in his “Donald Duck” voice that he use to do for my sister and I when we were little.

Watching every one of his grandparents melt over him, declare he is already a genius, and act like deliriously happy fools just to get a smile from this little boy.

Wanting to keep smooshing him in his newborn size clothes because I can’t quite deal with the fact that he’s growing up so fast already. {Never mind that he is still comfortably wearing some of his newborn size clothes at almost 7 weeks… that still doesn’t make it easy on this momma.}

After spending almost 6 hours apart for the first time this week, thinking his cry was the sweetest sound in the whole world when I got to see him again.

Crying while writing this and hoping I never forget a second of his precious life♥

celebrating the “greats”

2011-10-09T14:18:00.001-04:00

Houston’s grandad is having a milestone birthday today! We spent last night celebrating with dinner at a very yummy Cajun restaurant and then back to our house for dinner and cupcakes.

I won’t tell you his age, but I can tell you it rhymes with crixty… except that there’s no “r” and the “c” makes an “s” sound.

You catchin’ what I’m throwin’ here? ;)

Happy Birthday, Grandad! Houston and his parents love you very much and hope you have a great first birthday as a grandpa this year!!

From one “great” grandpa’s birthday to a true great grandpa…

My papa had a birthday this weekend as well {Friday}! Houston got to meet his great grandpa a few weeks ago and it was one sweet day for us all to see papa with his first great grandchild♥

Happy Birthday, Papa!! We can’t wait to visit again soon. We love you so so very much!

♥xoxo♥

catching up at 5 weeks

2011-10-05T17:21:00.001-04:00

After this post, I *think* I’ve decided to begin doing mini-posts with random thoughts and pictures from the day on a quasi-daily basis. If this blog had a mission statement, a huge part of that mission statement would be to serve the purpose of keeping our dearest memories preserved and to share them with those we love. If I waited till I have a block of time carved out for me to do the long drawn-out posts I love anymore, it will all be forgotten… because it will be 3 years from now… and the dishwasher that I’ve been attempting to load for the last 6 hours will probably still be waiting as well.

Keeping a 5 week old fed, in dry diapers, and happy… well that my dear friends, is a full-time job. I no longer wonder what could be so time-consuming about being a stay at home mom and why they don’t skip merrily about volunteering hither and yonder with all of their free time.

What free time?!

{Glad to see someone around here has some free time…}

{P.S. I never really thought that about SAHMs…}

{and my child isn’t even walking yet… or making messes with toys and solid foods… and still only requires a bath about every third day… and doesn’t ask to be read a favorite book 30 times a day… and… and... and… God help me if this stage is suppose to be the easiest!}

Thus we stand, 5 weeks in, struggling to figure out motherhood while melting with every sweet facial expression and sound that comes out of my precious tiny one. Yes, even the “toots” are sounds I love. Not that I melt over them, but they are cute nonetheless.

{Though maybe I could melt from the noxious smells at times.}

Here’s what Houston is up to at 5 weeks old:

He’s eating! Around the clock! And by around the clock I mean look at a clock, imagine the big hand and the little hand at any position you want and then say to yourself, it’s __:__ time, Houston must be hungry… and then you can start to imagine our day around here and why I feel like an old heffer when you combine my milk producing with the pesky pregnancy weight that keeps hanging around my mid-section and thighs. But that will just melt away on it’s own, right? No worries. ;)

If he’s not eating, he’s getting his diaper changed. {All that food has to go somewhere, right?}

He LOVES spending time on his changing table! He’ll lay there after all is finished and contently look around with those big, alert eyes. A place where he use to scream 90% of the time is now becoming a place where he does most of his smiling. I am a pure SUCKER for those smiles!! I probably spent a good 30 minutes yesterday standing in front of the changing table with my honkin’ huge camera in hand trying to coerce him to smile. Which he did probably 10 times and which I only caught the tail end of each and every one.

Even thought I can’t show you yet, I promise he smiles the biggest, cheesiest grins that take up his whole face and his eyes get in on the act and squish up into little upside down smiles that leave you waiting with baited breath for the giggle you just know is hiding behind that grin - which will eventually bubble out of him one day soon and leave mommy in a puddle of love on our floor. I have taken at least a couple hundred pictures trying to catch that illusive grin on film!

Our baby boy is awake much of the day now and sleeps sweetly at night, only waking up for a diaper change and to eat, which can range from every 2-4 hours. I am so thankful for this blessing! Even though I’m up often, he goes back down pretty quickly, sometimes never hearing one peep of a cry at night, only a tiny bit of fussing. We haven’t had to walk the floors with him trying to get him back to sleep just yet. May that last forever and ever!

{This is all a stark opposite of our first night at home with our bundle of joy… one I can safely call the worst night of my life followed by an almost as terrible day. I’ll be telling that story soon. I believe Nick and I thought we were about to hunker down in the trenches for the worst parenthood experience ever. Thankfully, it was just those 24 hours!}

His little personality is shining through a bit more with each passing day. While I won’t say that “I can’t wait” to see more of that personality and the next new thing he will do – because I can wait and I will not wish this time away – I am looking forward to the rest of my life with this little guy and the new things I’m learning from him every day.

3 weeks old – funny pic of dad straightening up his head =) :

4 weeks old:

5 weeks old!:

♥XOXO♥

babies don’t keep

2011-10-03T13:34:00.001-04:00

Babies Don’t Keep
by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

“Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing, make up the bed,
Sew on a button and butter the bread.”

“Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.”

“Oh, I’ve grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,
Lullabye, rockabye, lullabye loo.
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo”

“The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo
Look! Aren’t his eyes the most wonderful hue?
Lullabye, rockaby lullabye loo.”

“The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow
But children grow up as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.”

I’ve been absent lately and it wasn’t because I was cleaning house, as the poem suggests ;) {Those who have visited me can send up a huge AMEN on the fact that I have most definitely not been keeping house!}

Instead we’ve been cuddling, feeding, kissing, feeding, changing diapers, feeding… you get the idea. We are busybusybusy with all things sweet tiny baby and very happy to be so! I’m hoping October will bring with it much more blogging from momma, but can you blame me if I keep happening to find a few better ways to spend my time? =)

♥xoxo♥

my boobs (and baby) say thank you =)

2011-09-16T15:30:00.001-04:00

I would say you all blew me away with your kindness and willingness to help as usual, but it wasn’t as usual.

It was above and beyond, over the hills and through the woods, ain’t no mountain high enough, ain’t no valley low enough, ain’t no river wide enough kind of helpful advice from the depths of your heart and from hundreds of combined years of priceless breastfeeding experience.

Even more than the 100+ comments I’ve had on the blog, I’ve received countless Facebook messages, emails, and phone calls from sweet friends of mine who took the time to read my frustrated, end of my rope ramble on breastfeeding and jumped to my rescue.

I am amazed to tears from the love and support you all gave so freely.

Since that post, I am so happy to report that we’ve already been doing much better over the past couple days… fingers crossed it continues. The pain has lessened which I’m sure is due largely to prayer and secondly to heaven sent nipple shields!The encouragement couldn’t have come at a better time since it seems my baby boy has hit a growth spurt since last night and has been eating seemingly non-stop. This momma with her new confidence has been handling it in stride – so far.

I feel compelled and humbly obligated to combine and share all of your information you offered me for other new mommies and ladies seeking help and encouragement with breastfeeding. One day {hopefully soon!} I’ll put together a post {or 2, or 3, or 4 posts… you all said A LOT!} with that information and add to it my own experience.

Thank you again from the depths of my ~~mammary glands~~ heart!

2 weeks of lessons learned

2011-09-14T17:30:00.001-04:00

Look what sweet boy turned 2 weeks old on Monday!

On his 2 week birthday, Houston finally lost his umbilical cord stump {YAY for taking a real bath and NO screaming during bath time!} and at the amazement {and slight horror} of his mother, little guy rolled over to his stomach… is that unreal or what?!

Bad mommy forgot to take an official 1 week picture, but I’m hoping I can get my act together and continue to take them next to Peter Rabbit {from his “first” Easter basket} from here on out so we can compare his growth.

I’ve been very surprised at how good our adorable guy has been to us for the first 2 weeks of his life. If you added up the total time he cries in a day, it wouldn’t top 20 minutes! Momma’s been getting fairly decent sleep during the night since I moved him out of the bassinet and into the bed {never planned to co-sleep, but whatever works goes now!} He’s been making the best funny faces when he’s awake, mostly due to the work of making a dirty diaper, but the laugh out loud facial expressions are worth the innumerable diaper changes. He’s the sweetest, most precious baby that we could ask for and I know no one in this world will ever love him the way I do! {Sorry daddy – that even includes you!!}

His 2 weeks stats from the pediatrician:

Height: 20 3/4 in (75th percentile)

Weight: 7 lbs 12 oz (25-50 percentile)

Head: 15 1/4 in (98 percentile)

It’s official in time for fall: we have our very own pumpkin head!!

Speaking of growth… I have such mixed emotions on the topic. While I look forward to each “next stage” and just how fun he’s going to be, I can’t stand to think of losing my itsy bitsy boy. Everyone means so well when they keep telling me to “soak it all in, they grow up so fast”, but I cringe every time I hear it. Stop reminding me he’s going to grow up and leave me – my mommy heart can’t take it!!!! =)

{First bath at home!}

After only 2 weeks of parenthood, we’ve learned a few things that have made our lives a little easier and that I would be remiss if I didn’t share them with you…

#1.) As soon as we assume – we’re wrong.

For example:

Just because he’s been eating every 3 hours for the past 8 days, assume it will be 3 hours again and decide that’s enough time to get a certain something done and *poof*, he’ll be hungry again in an hour.

Talk to people at church about how you’ve “fixed” the problem of him peeing through every diaper and *poof*, you will turn around to him screaming in his car seat and pick him up to realize his clothes are wet with pee.

As mentioned before, leave him snoozing on the couch for one minute assuming he’ll stay put like always while you run into the kitchen and *poof*, he’ll roll over and you’ll thank God and his angels when you find that he at least didn’t roll off the couch.

#2.) If you need parenting advice, ask Facebook.

I just mentioned that we had changed his clothes 6 times in about 12 hours because our little dude was peeing through everything, {nerve racking when he screams through most clothing changes and they were constant through the night}, and the advice friends gave me surprised me. While I heard “make sure it’s pointed down” which I was already doing, I also heard to try a size up in diapers.

What?!

Going up a size to contain the pee? How does that even make sense? I would think it would be too loose and defeat the purpose… but my assumptions were wrong again. We moved him out of the newborn diapers {even though he’s yet to reach 8 pounds} and into size 1… works 90% of the time!

Hopefully when Wyatt gets here, he won’t have the same problem since I passed our newborn diapers onto Britney.

If Wyatt does end up in the same situation, I know that at least Brit’s first born will make good use out of them like she did on this day with “Poo-buh”…

Cutest girl in the whole world and best soon-to-be big sister too!!

Finally, my biggest learning curve:

#3) Breastfeeding {for me, personally} has been beyond difficult.

I share this hoping I don’t scare anyone away from making the decision to breastfeed, but for the first time ever, I am fishing for encouragement!!!

My tiniest lady parts feel like they’re about to shrivel up and fall off. The pain sometimes shoots through to my shoulder pains. The engorgement is beyond frustrating when I’m so full he can’t even latch on to help me out and we’re both left in tears.

I can handle the loneliness I sometimes feel as the sole feeder of the babe. I can handle the crazy scheduling difficulties of trying to plan outings and visits from friends around when the babe will need me. But the pain – it is near unbearable. I have good days and bad, but the bad feel like 2 tiny torches burning inside my bra.

UGH.

Comments people… commiserate if you can… tell me it will get better… or even tell me you finally made the decision to switch to formula so I can feel less alone if I decide to throw in the towel.

The only thing keeping me in the game now is his benefit. I’ve been a quitter so many times in my life, mostly only letting myself down. But now I’m in it for someone much more important than myself. While I use to encourage myself with the bonuses of thinking of how much money we can save by not buying formula or the calories I’m burning without having to workout =) those reasons no longer mean squat to me.

Hearing the pediatrician tell us he’s gained over an ounce a day for the past 2 weeks gave me the boost I needed. If he had told me otherwise, I probably would have picked up some formula on the way home today and said to heck with it all.

Only the health of this precious little guy is worth it to me now:

WOW!

Long post.

Can you tell Mimmie and Poppy {my parents} are here to visit and I finally found time to sit in front on this computer???

Just the break I needed!

Now if only one of them could lactate… =)

Houston’s newborn photo shoot

2011-09-08T14:09:00.001-04:00

I’ve yet to find the time to write about the most amazing past 10 days of my son’s life, but I plan to… along with a 100 other things that are building up on my to-do list!

Until then, enjoy a sneak peek of just a few shots from Houston’s newborn photo shoot on his fourth day of life. Robin did an amazing job and I can’t wait to share the rest with you!

pre-labor day photo shoot

2011-09-05T15:22:00.001-04:00

Okay… so before I start posting non-stop pictures of the love of my life and y’all stop dropping in because you’re so sick of my sweet child’s face and this becomes a blog strictly for the entertainment of his grandparents… I’m going to bore you with ONE MORE post of my preggo belly.

It’s my “Pre-Labor Day Photo Shoot” if you will =)

hardee-har-har

Photos by Robin Allen Photography

Hoping everyone is having a relaxing and fun Labor Day weekend!

{and be sure to brace yourself for the hurricane Houston that’s about to hit this blog.}

♥

Introducing…

2011-09-02T15:53:00.001-04:00

Houston Michael Roberts

Born August 29th, 2011

11:51 am

7 pounds 5 ounces

19 inches

100% perfect and bringing his parents more pure baby bliss with each passing day!

I will be attempting to say much more about the joyful, blessed occasion when momma has a little more time on her hands! We are extremely busy soaking in our beautiful boy for now =)

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

40 weeks of belly love… P.S. we’re in LABOR!!

2011-08-28T14:46:00.001-04:00

This morning around 8 am, I saw a little something that caught me off guard and let us know our sweet boy will soon be on his way!

We went on to church and slipped out before it was over, the contractions hitting my back were getting a little too intense to sit any longer.

We came home, ate, walked the dog, cleaned, finished packing and are now… waiting.

The contractions have not stopped!

and guess what?

It’s my mom’s birthday today!!!

Happy birthday, momma =)

Just a few pictures to remember us by, I’m guessing we’ll be heading to the hospital SOON!

♥We are SO excited♥

Wednesday after our doctor appointment:

Friday date night on our due date! 40 weeks exactly here:

This morning after we got home from church ~ soon-to-be parents!

40 weeks, 2 days

Who’s ready to have a baby?!

Please keep us in your prayers!! We’ll hopefully be back soon with some very good news =)

~Stephanie

Part 1: Q&A on pregnancy and conception

2011-08-25T14:59:00.001-04:00

EXCITING NEWS!!!!

As of our doctor appointment yesterday, I am 2 cm dilated and 50% effaced. Have I mentioned lately that I’ve gained 42 pounds in this pregnancy?! Never saw that one coming… =)

That’s not the exciting news since it doesn’t really give us any prediction as to when he’ll actually get here… BUT, if we don’t see him soon, he’s scheduled for eviction next Thursday at 6 am! We might just have us a little September baby after all =)

♥♥♥God willing, by this time next week, we’ll have our son!!!♥♥♥

*******

It’s a drizzly, dreary morning here in Lexington and it’s just what the doctor ordered. I’ve been off of work since Sunday, trying to rest and relax, but hanging around the house means always seeing something that needs to be done. If the sunshine is taking a day off – I am too!

In all actuality, there is a little “work” to be done today… laundry, light cleaning, a quick trip to the grocery and some very welcomed Fall decorating. I finally convinced my husband to go up into the attic to get the fall things down last night. I’m not sure “convinced” is the right term to use since I actually threatened him that I would do it myself for 2 days straight if he didn’t.

{I’m not crazy – I wouldn’t dare try to navigate the ladder, attic, and lots of oversized storage totes at 9 months pregnant just for the sake of decorating – but I didn’t tell him that!}

I KNOW it’s not fall yet, but it is my favorite season and I doubt I’ll have much time to decorate for it once the bambino decides to make his grand entrance. Bringing the baby home to the colors of fall and my favorite scents in the world… heavenly!

Fall in the Roberts’ love nest via 2009

Now for the answers to your ~~burning~~ questions!

Q: What did you use on your belly to not get stretch marks? ~Tiffany

A: I used Bio-Oil and lots of lotion. I’ve always been a lotion addict, usually taking a full “lotion bath” after every shower and for the past year, I’ve been using this one exclusively: Target’s version of Vaseline Intensive Rescue. It’s a great heavy duty lotion for a heck of a price! I didn’t start using the Bio-Oil till about the second trimester when all the stretching started meaning lots of itching – which is how the first customer ever figured out I was pregnant before I was even showing!

While moisturizing is important, especially when the itching begins, I’m afraid it is mostly a genetics game. My momma never had the first stretch mark with either of us and I’m thankful for her great skin genes for the future too, she’s aged beautifully and slowly! I love my momma♥

Q: Your hair has gotten so long compared to the early pictures. How much longer will you be growing it out? Or will you chop it off after the baby is born? You see that a lot with new mothers I think. ~Anonymous

A: There will be no hair chopping for this soon-to-be momma! I cut my hair for Locks of Love last October and it cannot grow back quick enough. My round face is much happier with a little more hair to hide behind =) Not to mention it was a whole lot easier to wrangle – short hair is high maintenance! {In my opinion…}

Before & After:

Q: I love your maternity clothes? Can you please help a sister out and tell me where you shop? Please? I need some cute ones! ~Angela

A: I wrote up the best advice this non-fashionista could offer for clothing the bump for 9 months here!

Q: I would LOVE to hear your reasoning for natural vs. "assisted" childbirth! I haven't done any research myself but would love to read what you've learned and how you decided! ~Anonymous

A: My reasoning? I do my best to avoid excessive pain!!! haha

Seriously though, I thought a lot about it and began this pregnancy thinking I would go au naturale just like my mom did… then I got real… real scared. There are lots of things that could go wrong with an epidural, with minimal chance of each. We take a lot of risks in this life and I’ve just decided this is one I could live with after talking to several moms and medical professionals. I wouldn’t turn down any pain medicine for any other procedure – dental extraction, colonoscopy, etc. – and I’m sure you’d think I was crazy if I did! I’m not about to turn it down now, I’m just tiny bit whimpy like that ;) That’s the best way I can explain it. After this child, if we continue to be blessed with more, I’m still open to going completely natural in the future based on how well this birth goes!

Q: Have you guys done maternity pictures and are you going to show them on here? ~Courtney

A: We did do pictures and I can’t wait to get them back and share them on here! As of right now, our gallery is still up with Robin Allen Photography. Click on the link, after the page opens up, click “Client Proofing”. Our password to our gallery is “Stephanie” and it is case sensitive. You’ll then be able to click through all of our photos while the gallery is still available. I’m not a big fan of the ones where we’re dressed in black but I lovelovelove several of the others. The pictures in the gallery have not been re-touched, the ones we chose to order will be – I would much rather show you these for the first time after we’ve been photo shopped, but hey, we’re all non-judgmental friends here, right?

That’s all for Part 1 of the Q&A – if you even made it through all of that!!

Part 2 coming soon =)

~Stephanie

Nursery Details

2011-08-23T13:27:00.000-04:00

I did my best to pick apart the pieces of the nursery to let you know where they all came from… if I left anything out that you were wondering about, leave a comment and I’ll try to update this post as quickly as possible =)

I put asterisks {**} next to everything I hope to talk more about in a future post or write a tutorial on, depending on the time permitting before our baby boy gets here!

Paint color: Valspar’s Stone Mason Gray

Crib: borrowed, I wrote about the brand and it’s where-abouts here

Glider & Ottoman: ordered from Buy Buy Baby and given to us by my in-laws

**Bookshelf: from my room at my parents house which I painted with Annie Sloan’s chalk paint in Paris Grey

**Nightstand & Dresser: both are mine from college, also painted with the amazing chalk paint in Duck Egg Blue and Old White

{I didn’t think to take a picture of these 2 pieces till I had already painted the nightstand and taken out 2 drawers from the dresser. The super messy picture below is of the guest bedroom being taken apart to become the nursery – if you look through the mess you can see the nightstand “before”!}

Changing table: Badger Basket White Sleigh Style Changing Table from Babies R’ Us

Changing table baskets: Buy Buy Baby

Rug: Hand-woven Shag Solo Honey White Rug (7'6 x 9'6) from Overstock.com

**ABC lamp: purchased at TJ Maxx and also saw it at Marshalls, I painted the base and jazzed up the shade =)

Silver & lucite lamp: from Marshalls’

Colorful fabric bunting: purchased on Etsy from Starlit Nest Gifts

Sunburst mirrors: from Hobby Lobby

Vinyl bible verse above crib: purchased on Etsy from KidsCorner

Crib Bedding: custom designed by me on Carousel Designs website

Curtains: made by me with fabric ordered from Carousel Designs

Curtain rod: Bed Bath and Beyond

“Houston” painting: painted by me

**BABY ♥ Letters: cardboard letters from Hobby Lobby and a foam heart I wrapped with yarn

Personalized Piggy Bank: painted by Houston’s mom and dad at the Mad Potter

“LIFE IS GOOD” letters on bookshelf: iron wording from Hobby Lobby that I spray painted red

Hot air balloons: ordered here on Amazon

Houston’s Twinkle Little Star art: Giftsforyounow.com

Baby Reds’ Jersey: purchased at Babies R Us and personalized at a local shop

Airplane, Tractor, and Truck on bookshelf: all from Hobby Lobby

Crystal globe over glider: bought a couple years back from TJ Maxx for a future nursery =)

“HOUSTON” personalized baby blocks: gift from Sam, custom made by the crafty Bloem and Grow

That’s all I can think of for now – let me know if I left anything out!!

39 weeks of belly love!

2011-08-21T16:10:00.002-04:00

♥♥♥ IT'S THE WEEK OF HOUSTON'S DUE DATE!!!!!!!!!! ♥♥♥

We have, amazingly, reached 39 weeks! And even though I know the end is in sight, it doesn't feel like it in the least. While everyone around me has had their babies and I drool over pictures of their precious chubby cheeks and tiny toes on their mom's Facebook accounts, it doesn't feel real that I will ever be in their position.

As of my last doctor appointment on Tuesday, I was barely 1 cm dilated. No signs of labor whatsoever. Several people have told me that you will feel a surge of energy just before labor begins... I'm aware this is just a old wives' tale and not everyone experiences this, but I am beyond sleepy lately {not tired, sleepy} and I have no urges to nest whatsoever. The old wives' would say I'm no where close to giving birth to this child.

I am stilll working at this point, but only 24 hours total a week. The cut-back in hours has been a major relief to me. My one pet peeve at work lately has been the question.

"When are you due?"

When I answer, they act all surprise, continue with the questions and absolutely will not move on to the point of why they have walked up to my counter. All in the middle of a busy day with more customers piling up in line behind them and lots of prescriptions waiting for me back at my computer.

While I use to long for someone to ask me when I was due, I now dread it. I sometimes wish I could camoflauge the bump... but only at work. Ask me the same question at the grocery store and I'll positively light up. Ask me at the pharmacy and I'll give you the fakest smile I can muster =)

Hormonal much, Stephanie?

Here we are, 39 weeks and the first bump pic we've taken in the nursery... possibly the last?

Doubt it!

No stretch marks!

Thanks for the great skin genetics, momma =)

Do you spy with your little eye the puppy hiding in the carpet?

He loves this rug more than we do!

After posting the pics of the nursery, so many people had questions on where I got {fill in the blank}and asking me to break it all down for them that I'll hopefully be posting those details tomorrow.

Thank you for all the love you all showed me for our little room for our little love bug. I was floored by your sweetness {but not surprised, because y'all are always crazy sweet!}

Have a great start to a great week!

Welcome to Houston’s Nursery!

2011-08-18T15:31:00.001-04:00

This morning I called my mom to chat and started like I always do by asking “What are you doing?”

She goes on to say she’s brushing her teeth, but I don’t hear any brushing. I could tell in that moment, she was standing there - frozen - waiting for me to say those magic words she’s been waiting on.

I tell her “Well go on, you can finish brushing you teeth..”

“No,” she says “what did you call for?”

“Mom, I’m NOT in labor.”

“Oh.” and she finished her teeth cleaning =)

In that moment I realized my momma is anxiously anticipating the call as much as I am those first contractions. As of today, all 4 of the girls I knew who were due around the same time I am – one of them even due in September – have all had their babies.

I.am.the.only.one.left!

Waking every day to wonder if today’s the day, wondering if “whatever just happened” was a sign of labor, ready to make those phone calls at any moment, especially to my dear husband… all the excitement is almost too much to handle =) In all seriousness, I’m not even miserable pregnant yet. I want him here because I want him here, but I’m honestly not even sick of being pregnant!

There are , however, moments where I remember how easy it use to be to do whatever it is without a huge belly in the way or a shooting pain here and there, but I’m still cherishing those little kicks and wiggles knowing that soon I’ll be missing this big belly. We are 39 weeks with 7 days to go… it’s a good thing we finally have his room finished ;)

On to the reveal I’ve been so eager to share with you!!

Welcome to Houston’s new room outside the womb.

We just need our baby boy to make this nursery complete♥

We hope he loves it as much as we do and we hope he gets to see it very soon!♥

Linking up!:

times like this with friends like these

2011-08-17T18:44:00.001-04:00

I told you last week that I was going home to see my parents and grandpa on Thursday, eat some home cookin’ and relax in east KY one more time before the baby takes over and the next visit is a little ways off. Then I was heading back for dinner with friends and a date night with the hubby over the weekend. I had FIVE WHOLE DAYS OFF FROM WORK and I believe I lived them up to their highest potential =)

Seriously, I had the BEST WEEKEND EVER!

{I also told you I was going to pack the hospital bag… I lied. But I finally started working on it today. I’ll just have to throw a few things in there that I still have to use day to day at the last minute. We’ll be fine – I think.}

Just a few pictures from the weekend:

A visit with Papa.

Swimming at my parents… the dog wanted in the pool with his momma so bad, but didn’t really want to swim, so my dad blew up a float just for him.

He is unbelievably spoiled by us and his grandparents… this babe on the way won’t have a chance!

Friday night dinner at our house with friends:

Britney, Ginny, Kennedy, and me.

{Of course our men were all there as well – but don’t expect them to get into any pictures without pulling teeth!}

We only made it through a couple pictures before things started getting silly…

A little sillier, but trying to keep a serious face:

About to lose it:

Officially LOST!

Kennedy may have been the only real model there that night. This gorgeous girl doesn’t take a bad picture♥

Last minute {like getting close to midnight!} we decided to do one “jump” picture for old time’s sake. Let’s remember that 2 of the girls in this picture are pretty darn pregnant… Britney at 29 weeks and me at 38.

And Ginny… she’s just skinny and completely disgusts me right now in my state of whale blubber. I wouldn’t even hang out with her anymore if she weren’t so darn nice! ;)

Prepping for the jump…

AND THE MOST PREGNANT {and oldest, I might add!} GETS THE HIGHEST OFF THE GROUND!!!

I couldn’t be more proud… though I have a feeling I should be more embarrassed than proud. I’m choosing to suppress that feeling for now.

Saturday, Nick and I spent a full day together shopping, watching Bridesmaids at the matinee, napping, dinner out, and then doing a belly cast on this preggo! I was in heaven all day with the love of my life. We didn’t take a single picture but as soon as I paint the belly cast I’ll be sharing it soon!

Sunday evening my parents stayed with us after meeting up with my aunt. My sister and brother-in-law came to Lexington to help us surprise Mom after church with a little early birthday dinner. Her big day is August 28th and might be overshadowed by someone’s birth, so we wanted her to have her own special day. She was definitely surprised and was one happy girl, I do believe.

I could kick myself for not getting pictures at dinner. But here’s one from late that night as Nick helped her set up her new iPod touch. She was a little excited!

If y’all have any more pregnancy/baby related questions for the “baby week Q&A” feel free to leave them here or email. I’m starting to formulate my answers!

I’ll hopefully be revealing the nursery… TOMORROW!!!

I’m so excited to share my favorite room in our whole house with you all♥

Baby Week! – 9 months of reading prep for baby

2011-08-16T12:27:00.001-04:00

You all continuously amaze me! The last post, I figured, would bore the living crap out of y’all, but instead, you go and add you two cents… your very helpful two cents that this clueless soon-to-be mommy truly appreciates! So I updated my hospital bag packing list. It may still look like a lot – but believe me, this expert over packer can fit it all into a small suitcase and carry-on bag.

I love the advice someone gave me to have the things I’ll want for labor in a separate bag from the things I’ll need for the rest of my stay – GENIUS. Every comment was pure gold and I’m so thankful for your generosity!

********

Baby Week continues on with my personal baby book reviews.

{Has anyone noticed that my definition of “baby week” has become a “week’s worth of posts” that will be posted over the span of 2 weeks? That wasn’t the plan, just so ya’ know… But it is a “week” of sorts if we’re gonna get all technical about it. So there.}

So anywho – let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start. When you read you begin with A-B-C.

{Anyone catching the Sound of Music vibe here? No? I’ll move on…}

The first book I bought the day I found out I was pregnant was not even a book for me – but for the baby daddy. It was in his box of gifts that he kicked like a box of rocks before realizing they were real gifts and then figuring out the message I was trying to get into that thick skull of his ;)

I asked Nick’s review on this book and he said {I semi-quote here}: “It seemed like a lot of common sense… like don’t call you wife fat and stuff. It was somewhat helpful but I think I could have figured most of it out on my own. Ummmm – I wouldn’t recommend it.”

The last book might have been the first book I bought once I was pregnant, but the next book I bought far ahead of time. I needed to know what to expect BEFORE I was expecting… the authors couldn’t have picked a better title.

I’m sure 95% of you would have bought this book anyway – it is the pregnancy “bible” – but I do highly recommend this book. It even has a chapter of what to do in the conception stage as well as great chapters on labor, delivery, and 6 weeks after.

If I had to describe this book with one word, it would have to be thorough.

{Also sign up on the what to expect website to get daily emails your entire pregnancy. I found them extremely helpful!}

“A Child is Born” is a must buy!! It’s amazing. Frickin’ blows my mind. It’s also a great teaching tool for you children, let alone you and your husband.I lovelovelove this book.

{Plus it’s mostly pictures – I’m not much of reader so that’s a huge plus for me. ha!}

Wanna know more about it than my vague absolute adoration for it – read about it here. Again ~ it. is. a-m-a-z-i-n-g.

This one’s just a fun book that gives you something to read for each day of your pregnancy. Unnecessary, but fun:

Jenny McCarthy brings it down to earth and truly has you LOL in this book. A great entertaining read that has a purpose – to let you know everyone who is ever pregnant goes through the ups and downs. Celebrity status or not.

Cute quotes from fathers. I believe my mom got this for Nick, which brings up the point – this makes a very cute gift!

A book to read to baby in utero – absolutely precious for time between mom, dad, and the “bump”♥

I've heard both good and bad reviews on "naming" books. This was a pretty good one. The only annoying part was that each section or genre of names would repeat a lot of the names that were also in the last genre I had just read. It is truly a test of endurance to read through thousands of names in ANY book!

This one I own... but planning on taking it back!! Not planning a natural childbirth anymore - God willing, I want the drugs =)

I'm in the middle of reading this one and have watched part of the DVD. The DVD seems very helpful to "see" what they're teaching put into effect. I am *extremely* hopeful that the 5 S's he teaches will calm our child beautifully. I will DEFNITELY be updating you on our findings!

This book was recommended to us by the nurses in our birthing classes. I haven't had a chance to read it yet but it looks like it could possibly cover every question we have! I was ready to run out and buy it, but when I met with our baby's pediatrician for our "prenatal visit" they gave a copy to us for free. JACKPOT! This is another one I will be updating you about in the future depending on it's usefulness.

Nick is already reading this one and loving it. {Believe me, I did not expect him to sing it's praises.} More updates to come, I'm sure!

I'm also half-way through this jewel! Lots of info helping me to feel much more secure and confident about breastfeeding, which I hear is half the battle. I would truly recommend it {I got my used copy for a penny on Amazon and only had to pay the shipping!}

I would have never shelled out the dough for this one, but I won it in this contest and have enjoyed a little mindless reading... It has lots of helpful hints to survive the 9 months in style, but I think it may be better suited to the fashionistas in the crowd. {a.k.a. – not the girl next door me!}

Have any book suggestions for baby? I know you do and I'd love to know!

Baby Week! – Packing the hospital bag

2011-08-11T10:37:00.001-04:00

I’m running “back home” to Eastern KY today for a quick visit with my parents, some time relaxing pool side, momma’s home cooking and to see my grandfather before this little rascal overtakes our lives and I have no clue when we’ll make the drive down again. I’ll be right back to Lex tomorrow to have some friends over for dinner AND if I make it to Saturday without a baby yet, I’ll get a little shopping done and possibly a mani/pedi, then actually get the hospital bag packed!

I found the perfect color for my pedicure: it’s OPI’s color named “Houston, we have a Purple”

ha!

Did you happen to catch the part where I said I’ll be packing the hospital bag at 38 weeks and 1 day? I guess you could say I like to live on the wild side, people. ;)

In the mean time, I find it at least comforting that I have finally, today, got my head together enough to make the list of what to pack. Unless my labor was fast and furious with a chase scene on the way to the hospital making it big screen worthy, I should be able to get my things together based off this list before hitting the road.

I should warn you that I am most definitely an “over packer”. I get made fun of by friends and family alike for the sheer amount of things I feel necessary to take along on trips. Seeing that I based my list off of other people’s “hospital bag list” and hardly think a thing was added that someone else hadn’t already mentioned, I refuse to be made fun of this time! Even if my husband is dragging in 3 suitcases for my 2-3 day stent =)

{It’s also nice to know the hospital is 15 minutes from home and anything left behind should be easily retrieved by one of my sweet, sweet family over those few days if I ask them very sweetly. Hey, someone’s gotta go home to walk the dog anyway!}

***Updated!: I got a TON of EXTREMELY helpful advice from a lot of you out there that has helped me trim the fat off of my list a bit. It may still look like a lot but I guarantee it won’t take up more space than a small suitcase and overnight bag =) And those who laughed at the make-up… momma will have to feel close to death {and I just might!} to go without just a smidge of concealer and a touch of mascara. Natural beauty just isn’t one of my selling points!

My Hospital Bag(s) List:

Camera
Video Recorder
Laptop and/or iPad
iPhone
chargers and computer connectors for all electronics
either some “BIG girl” underwear that I’m told I need to be ok with throwing away ~~or even the Depends disposable underwear… I’m gonna check out the Depends while shopping this weekend! This cracks me up =)~~

socks
house slippers
PJs and clothes I don’t mind getting ruined
robe
nursing cover
nursing bras {unless I don’t get to go shopping this weekend, in which case I suppose I’ll be winging this one with the old girls I already have!}
~~disposable nursing bra pads~~

flip flops/shoes
~~bath towel {I’m hearing the hospital ones are thin and flimsy}~~
~~nipple cream!~~

shampoo and conditioner
shower gel and puff
tooth brush and tooth paste
deodorant
lotion
eye mask
ear plugs {attempting to get some sleep in the hospital}
~~benadryl~~
going home outfit in a 6 month maternity size
make-up
~~hair straightener~~
curling iron
hair dryer
hair clips/rubber bands/ headbands
boppy pillow
~~leg contour pillow {I’m addicted!}~~

~~small pillow to hold~~
my regular pillow
personal fan

magazines/books
~~games to play/cards~~
snacks/drinks/suckers/hard candy – mostly for Nick since I can’t eat while in labor! Though the suckers and hard candy were recommended by a reader =)
notebook to write in
baby book to at least get foot/hand prints in when the nurse is already doing them
Salonpas patches for muscle aches – my fave!

insurance card and IDs
change for vending machine
~~fenugreek supplements – suppose to help your breast milk supply~~

prenatal vitamins and DHA
baby’s onesies and going home outfit
baby caps
baby socks and mittens
baby blankets
pacifiers
bag for Nick – I’ll let him take care of this one!
~~breast pump in car in case it’s needed~~

car seat in car – base is in there, just haven’t put the bulky seat in until necessary…

That’s all I know so far! I’d love any advice you have to give on the topic and feel free to link up if you have written your own post on hospital bag packing.

{and check out the ticker at the bottom of the screen – OUR BABY IS BIRTH SIZE AND WEIGHT!!!! Holy Cow!!!!}

Baby Week! – 9 months of preggo fashion

2011-08-10T06:35:00.000-04:00

Baby Week on the blog has officially begun!

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When I use to think about maternity clothes as a young little whipper snapper, I thought of only big tents and mumus.

Fast forward to the present with cute pregnant celebrities e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e. you look and I realized there are really cute maternity clothes out there but BOY OH BOY can they be expensive.

When you really don't need maternity clothes till about the second trimester - that's a whole lot of investment in clothes that will only be good for something for about 6 months. I do not have a celebrity paycheck. So what’s a girl to wear?

I know I'm not the first person to ever do what I'm about to tell you I did, but I do at least feel like I hit the mother load on a great, inexpensive place to shop for your pregnancy that you might not have thought of.

Behold: FOREVER 21

Since we don’t have a Forever 21 in Lexington, I had to rack up everything I thought I’d want in one day in the store in Louisville. This one was put in where a huge department store use to be – thus it houses a MASSIVE amount of young, trendy, inexpensive clothes. I spent more than 3 hours in that store trying on every big belly forgiving piece of clothing they had. Believe it or not, Forever 21 has their own maternity line which they don’t even carry it at this particular store – how much more could I have walked out with?

I might have even bought a boat-load of inexpensive jewelry and accessories that day…

…because as Clarice Belcher says In Steel Magnolias:

“The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize. “

After that early shopping trip, my preggo style for summer boiled down to this: long tanks, flowy shirts, and maxi dresses. The fashion season was perfect for my preggo belly needs! I already own a ton of my favorite basic long tank tops from both Express and GAP that I layer under everything and I had previously thought I would have to spend a fortune getting maternity tanks to do the same thing. But – SURPRISE, SURPRISE - even though they’re tight, spandex-y, and definitely non-maternity, I am still wearing them.

As for true maternity clothes, I bought just a few shirts here and there, a Bella Band in both black and white to wear over my non-maternity pants unzipped, 2 pairs of jeans, 2 pairs of dress pants for work and only 2 dresses I've bought are an actual "maternity dress".

The best part about it all is that I'll be able to continue wearing almost every piece of clothing I've bought after pregnancy. {Which should be great for all those chubby days I'm about to have...} At the moment, I can’t even think of one item I won’t be able to wear later. I’m not even against wearing the super comfy maternity pants with the tummy panel, especially when out to eat =)

********

Now if I were one of the many stylish young thangs out there that have their own blogs and show off their modelesque bodies in the absolutely most darling outfits that I could never pull off let alone put together, what I’m about to show you wouldn’t seem so strange.

But I’m not.

I’m just your girl next door trying to help out the other girl next door with tips on how to make it through the 9 months without spending a ton of dough.

So don’t judge me… at least not outloud ;)

Let’s get started on this chronological run-down of the clothes I have pictures in…

{So awkward!}

14 weeks

Dress from New York & Co. Still comfortably wearing this one today at almost 38 weeks and I've already owned this dress for a couple years now. Money saved: $$$$

16 weeks

Just my regular clothes and jeans still at this point... using the rubberband maternity trick of course!

17 weeks

A Forever 21 top with maternity jeans from Motherhood Maternity, Wall Flower brand.

20 weeks

Ralph Lauren wrap dress – non maternity! – from Macy’s

21 weeks

Maternity Jeans, brand Motherhood Maternity, and one of my many long tanks.

21 weeks

Maternity top and jeans, both from Motherhood Maternity.

22 weeks

Long tank and sweater – already owned.

22 weeks

Motherhood Maternity dress for Easter.

23 weeks

A Pea in the Pod maternity dress.

24 weeks

All non-maternity clothes I already owned using the Bella Band for the pants.

27 weeks

White sweater from Forever 21

28 weeks

Maternity top from JC Penney – gift from my MIL

29 weeks

INC brand non-maternity top from Macy’s

31 weeks

Same dress from week 14 =)

31 weeks

Top from Forever 21 with my favorite white pants and Bella Band

33 weeks

Top I bought from a Maternity consignment shop – I have nothing against the “gently used'”!

34 weeks

Top from Forever 21 – entire outfit non-maternity

34 weeks

Forever 21 dress

35 weeks

Forever 21 dress and sweater I already owned

36 weeks

Same dress as previous picture – just showing the full length here.

37 weeks

Motherhood Maternity top

Almost 38 weeks

Motherhood Maternity top and maternity pants

There are still so many tops I don’t have pictures in from Forever 21 that I LOVE as well as plenty of clothes I already owned that still worked great for the belly. I also have a couple more pieces from the consignment shop as well as shorts just bought in a much larger size from Old Navy.

My advice for this time in your life is obviously, branch out! Don’t head straight to the first maternity shop you see and be limited to the few styles they have and the hefty price tags. Splurge on some good maternity jeans, though I think my most expensive pair was about $50 – not much of a splurge! Try to buy pieces you can still wear later and remember you’re going to have days where you feel like the ugliest blob on earth when the weight starts piling on and the hormones keep building up. A pretty top and cute necklace might just turn your frown upside down♥

Have your own maternity style post? Link UP!

Baby WEEK!! with the Brown Eyed Girl

2011-08-08T12:17:00.001-04:00

We are 37 weeks and counting!!!

It seems as if this pregnancy has flown by and all of sudden {insert panic attack here} we are in the “any day now” leg of the race. Houston could make his grand entrance today OR a month from now - should I go a week past my due date.

{FYI: Not arriving until a week past his due date will score him automatic grounding for the first year of his life…}

Though I feel like I’ve been pregnant for the past year, I still have so many topics I’ve never covered that are just nagging at me to write about. Thus, “Baby Week” was the brain child born from necessity… my need to feel that I’ve covered EVERYTHING I wanted to blog before this child is born.

{Question: Does blogging every single thought out of your head to clear your conscience also count as nesting?}

Topics I’m pondering over:

Books I’ve read, reading, and plan to read in preparation for baby
Maternity fashion – how I’ve winged the past 9 months
The hospital bag and birth plan – what I’m packing and YOUR advice
Thought vomit - a modge podge of the tips, tricks, and surprises I’ve experienced during this pregnancy
Q&A – answers to your burning {or not so burning} questions
Project nursery – all the DIY’s I’ve put into his sweet tiny space
The NURSERY REVEAL!!

I’ve also decided to add a little McLinky to the bottom of each post just in case any of you out there have your own insight on the same topic each day and would like to link up ~ I would be all over some good advice right about now!

For today:

Since I feel the need to plan and schedule every last detail of my life and since I’m sure you’ll enjoy a good laugh at my expense, I’ve even made up my own date I would like Houston to be born on… August 19th.

Let me explain.

The top 5 reasons Houston should wait until August 19th but not a day later:

#1 - August 19th will be 39 weeks for this little angel. Not quite the full 40, but just enough for a fully developed, though hopefully not overgrown, newborn. While he is now technically full-term, we all know he would be better off with a few more days of womb life, though not so many that I’m attempting to push out a 10 pound babe. Just as well, momma still has a little baby reading she’d like to bone-up on as well as a hospital bag left to pack, leaving me wanting just a few more days to get it together mentally.

{But since I’ve never really “had it together mentally”, should I really make that a goal now?}

#2 - I worked this past weekend, so I’d like to make it through to the coming weekend off for a last few days as a family of 2 with my hubby before baby. The baby to-do list will be finished and we could spend our time sleeping in, relaxing, and just having fun, soaking in those last few scream-free moments of life together as we know it. =)

My Sunday at work with the 37 week belly:

#3 - August 19th would be the Friday before the next weekend I’m scheduled to work… ding ding ding!!! Jack pot on no more work weekends for 3 more months!

#4 - If Houston is born on a Friday, which August 19th is, Nick would automatically have that weekend off from work {since he doesn't ever work weekends – lucky devil}. Top that with the days off he already plans to take and it all equals out to more time with baby and daddy before he returns to the daily grind and leaves me {dumb-founded and by myself} with the little human!

#5 - Last but not least – I don’t feel like I could wait a day past August 19th. The woes of pregnancy and the pure anticipation of our son’s arrival has me in fits of pain spiked excitement. Someone’s gotta go!

Should I serve him his eviction notice now to give him time to prepare???

DISCLAIMER: I truly just want my baby boy here in his own good time, healthy and happy. Should he give me more time to do a little relaxing or come just in time to save me from another weekend at work… that would all just be icing on the cake!

♥♥♥♥♥♥

So get ready for Baby WEEK!

{Or if you can’t stand more baby related posts… get gone for baby week ;) I’ll understand!}

Whatever questions you may have for the Q&A, start leaving them, or emailing them now. I’d love to hear from you!

robertslove {at} live {dot} com

Happy baby week!

a lil’ slugger baby shower

2011-08-03T17:44:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago, a few friends of mine threw Houston and I the most creative shower. I would have never imagined a group of girls having the loveliest time together at a baseball themed party, but that was exactly what happened =)

We spent the evening doing what we do best – eating, gabbing, laughing. It was a gorgeous Sunday summer night spend outside with the ones I love and I will always cherish that time together, knowing we were all gathered and sharing pure joy while celebrating this little life inside of me♥

The gorgeous decorations:

The fun {and delicious!} “stadium” food:

The amazing cake:

The fabulously sweet friends:

{Yes, even Maggie Davis wearing her life jacket is a fabulous friend!}

The sweet and beautiful hostesses!

Stephanie {on the left} was the creative force behind the cake masterpiece – we’re all trying to convince her to quit her boring day job as a pharmacist and become a baker extraordinaire ;)

Ginny {on the right} went over the top hosting this shower at her house, planning, making decorations, sending invites, cooking… phew! - the list goes on and on.

I truly love these girls to pieces as well as the friends that graced us with their presence that night. I am so blessed to be surrounded by these hearts of gold and hope that one day they rub off on me!

Of course, no shower re-cap would be complete without the BUMP!:

{at 34 weeks}

♥♥♥

“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”
~Marcel Proust

having a ball on the way to having a baby

2011-07-27T18:16:00.001-04:00

While I'm EXTREMELY excited and almost ready for the arrival of our little one, I'm trying to soak up and enjoy the last month or so left in this pregnancy instead of wishing it away. It's a weird mix of feelings to be almost fed up with this big belly and aching bones, but on the verge of tears to imagine it gone with no more little baby kicks or hiccups left to feel. We've got a lot finished latelyin preparation for baby and my stress is lightening with each passing day and freeing me up for more fun - which is good, because we've had a lot of opportunities to have fun lately =)

Last Thursday night, we went to an impromptu party celebrating the engagment of these two, Ginny and Andrew, two of my favorite people in the entire world.

To say I'm thrilled for them, especially sweet Ginny, is an understatement!

Britney, Ginny and me... Britney brought them the hats their wearing in the first picture!

Then the hats made their rounds and ended up in one of the cutest pictures of the night. Britney's little girl, Kennedy, was having a blast with all the dogs {6 total!} at Andrew's house.

Saturday night we went out with several of my work peeps who are always a fun bunch to shoot the breeze with. The only picture I got of the night was of Nick with his teacup and Curious George lunch box.

Should I explain that one of our friends had their 5 year old daughter with them who absolutely adored Nick and wanted to share all her belongings with him {as well as writing a note to him that he was a failure for not coloring a page as she had requested - hilarious!} or just let you think these are Nick's usual personal items he brings with him to Mexican restaurants?

Sunday afternoon we had a day of painting some very special pottery at the Mad Potter. An enormous piggy bank painted with love by Mommy and Daddy for baby Houston will be fired and ready for his nursery soon - I can't wait to pick it up!♥

Since all this fun has happened this past weekend, it's been back to work both at home and at the money maker.

My main job at home the last few days: curtain maker extraordinaire.

Okay, maybe not the extraordinaire part since I didn't stitch the first stitch... but I will say that at least 10 hours have went into making the 2 pairs of curtains I'm about to show you!

For all the sewing challenged out there, this stuff is M-A-G-I-C. This non-sewer has even hemmed her own pants with this stuff:

The new curtains made by moi in the dining room:

I even installed grommets and all!
{Yes I am strangely proud of my small accomplishments...}

The fabric used on the dining room curtains was originally ordered for the nursery.

HUGE FAIL.

The colors, the pattern - it didn't "go". I would call it disastrous except I've been wanting new curtains in the dining room for a while and I'm loving this quirky fabric in there.

Guilt demolished by a new found use for failed fabric choice, but back to the drawing board for the nursery.

Finished with looking for something unique that would turn out to be another big fail, I ordered the same fabric that the crib bumper and skirt were made of and hoped it wouldn't be overkill.

BINGO WAS HIS NAME-O!!

I love them!... you can see one of them here in this little nursery sneak-peak. You'll have to wait to the final reveal to see the pair together.

This space is quickly becoming our favorite room in the house. I've even found a certain Mr. Someone chilling in the glider and surfing the web on his iPad several times in here! It is quite adorable to see him hanging out in the nursery and I'm sure the sweet factor will be multiplied to infinity when I see him in the same chair with our son♥

2 BABY SHOWERS TO GO THIS WEEKEND!! and a recap of the precious shower the lovely, recently engaged, Ginny, threw for me coming up.

love at 35 weeks, 3 years AND 3 years =)

2011-07-21T11:37:00.001-04:00

This past Tuesday, the love of my life and I celebrated 3 years of wedded bliss together. I am beyond lucky to truthfully tell you that I married my very best friend AND I would put my hand on the bible when I tell you that my love for him grows with each passing year and that I am excited to grow old with him as that trend continues. He is my everything and I could never imagine my life without him♥

{Can you handle all the mushy-ness?!}

On our anniversary after dinner at Buddy’s Bar & Grill:

I remember fondly that at this time last year, the day after our 2nd anniversary, we quickly came to the realization that we were ready to move on to the next step in our lives. The birth control was promptly thrown out the window and we’ve never looked back =) We are so LUCKY {and trying to never take that for granted!} to be almost 35 weeks into the journey on the same day this year.

The ticker at the bottom of the page says we’re 35 weeks along with 35 days to go – fun stuff!

I don’t know if I could ever say this enough, but God has blessed us beyond any dream I ever had for our life together.

{That’s about all I can type now on the subject as the hormones have caused a huge lump in my throat and I’m ready to burst into tears with all the happy thoughts and memories right now… seriously. I already cried at a Huggies commercial this morning and I’m still trying to keep it together!!}

Moving on… to something else that makes me want to cry – our first fur baby turned 3 years old in June and isn’t such a baby anymore.

This little creature has seriously been a light in our lives. {Laugh if you must…} We adopted him just 3 weeks into our married life and have had a blast as a family of 3 ever since!

Was he really ever that tiny?!

His little world is about to be rocked with the arrival of a little brother. This dog wants to be cuddled, carried, and FED continuously and has been our baby our entire marriage. Though I think it’s safe to say he would prefer to not be literally babied – I put him in this bassinet my mom is keeping in my room at their house and he wanted OUT immediately!

{and the scruffy homeless dog has since had a very nice haircut, just so ya know…}

We will need some willpower to not spoil our child as much as we have this dog or he will be ruined… I would prefer Houston to move out of our house by age 30 ;)

Then just as I was uploading this picture from the car’s thermometer last night on our way to church {it was 100 degrees and felt like 150!} and about to talk about how I think I almost melted into a puddle on a 20 minute walk with the dog early this morning…

I read a friend’s facebook status that put the heat into perspective for me and thought I’d share it with you since I’m betting 90% of the people reading this are in a hot climate somewhere today:

“I was going to complain about how hot it is... then I realized: 1.) It isn't 109 degrees; 2.) I'm not 5,700 miles from home; 3.) I'm not dressed in a full BDU uniform & helmet and carrying 70+ lbs. of gear; and 4.) There is very little chance that anyone will shoot at me or that I might drive over a bomb in the road today! Thanks to all who serve!!”

AMEN!

Nesting… it ain’t always pretty.

2011-07-18T17:00:00.001-04:00

As we get closer to D-day {Delivery Day… not Doom’s Day, mind you} my anxiety levels seem to be on a roller coaster ride of peaks and troughs. My inner-most thoughts swirl around what still needs to be organized in the house, what still needs to be purchased, put together, nailed to the wall, what information we need to bone-up on and just which particular day in an already hectic schedule this is all going to occur on. When I’m not panicking, I’m planning, scheming, executing, and asking my dear husband to do just one more thing, which seems to calm the panic.

It must be said that the only true panic I’ve experienced happened last Saturday. After a 10 hour day at work on my feet, I came home determined to turn this house upside down until everything was neatly organized into 1 of 12 totes or in what I deemed to be the “correct closet” for an item to be stowed. Nick had been home that day and even though he had finished oodles around the house, I felt the need to do more. After carrying the 13th load down the stairs at almost midnight, I broke into hysterics at my dear baseball loving husband watching America’s favorite past-time in the living room.

Had he already worked all day on the house and deserved a break at almost midnight?

Yes.

Did he know I was idiotically carrying large totes of junk up and down the basement stairs by myself and fearing I would go into pre-term labor at any moment, still just couldn’t stop myself?

No.

Would he have jumped up to help me if he had 1.) Been aware or 2.) I had asked?

Yes.

After I sobbed a tiny dramatic bit, I decided I had finally hit bottom and called it a night {setting my alarm clock extra early so I could get up and do more on a Sunday morning before work…}. I was them able to more rationally explain to my poor, confused husband my fears and apologized for the water works.

Thankfully, most of this pregnancy has been rather calm. More psychotic breaks like this and I may have been admitted to the looney bin.

{Though Nick probably enjoys it – One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is one of his favorite movies!}

Amazingly, in the week since that small panic attack, progress has been made beyond anything I had ever imagined possible in such a small amount of time. {Hence, my absence from blog-world!} The glider and ottoman finally came in for the nursery, all the furniture is finished being painted and put in place, the fabric arrived for the curtains, the majority of the house has been organized to a more tolerable arrangement, our new dining room suit has been delivered {pictures to come}, and the kicker: the house has been cleaned spotless and I didn’t have to do a single second of it!

We have hired what I consider to be, my very own cleaning fairy god-mothers =)

4 ladies + 4 1/2 hours cleaning every window inside and out as well as every piece of woodwork in the house and every inch of everything else including moving furniture to find socks I haven’t seen in years {thanks, Hendrix!} = one very happy preggo.

Previously, we had discussed possibly hiring a cleaning lady when I returned from maternity leave, but not before then. My plan had been to cut back to the minimum to still be considered full-time for a pharmacist, 32 hours, after baby and then determine if that was enough of a "break" to get the house done myself or consider the alternative. Long story short, my company decided to do a major overhaul this past June making all the managers salary positions at 40 hours with no option to cut back.

I have to say that a big reason for me going into this particular profession was the great amount of pay I could still make at part-time when I would “one day” become a mother. A great amount of time at home with my little one with a few hours of adult interaction and self validation in the business world seemed like the perfect mix. To say I was disappointed with this change right at the time I’m about to have my first child is an understatement.

I went through a little grieving, prayed about it and as usual, God gave a little push and made me see all my blessings once again: thankful I even have a job, thankful to be the manager and make my own schedule, thankful I’m being “forced” to work 40 hours and not having my hours cut back and begging for more work. It was a process and I’m sure I will have to remind myself of all the positives when I’m back at work after baby, but I am much more at peace with the situation today.

Back to the cleaning ladies… my other big blessings!

With the change in plans at work, I now knew I wanted some help when I went back. But with the little time we have left before Houston gets here and the many things besides cleaning that needed to be finished, hubs and I decided the time had come to go ahead with the hiring. These babies following me home after work each night helped the decision as well:

{Believe it or not, this was after an abnormal work day of SITTING in a meeting all day - not my usual 12 hours of standing... believe me, they actually get worse than this!=)}

All that to say my panic has almost disappeared with the progress we've made and cleaning fairy god-mothers coming bi-weekly... we may have even saved my marriage ;)

Nasty story about my nasty behavior combined with a nasty picture of my cankle - just keepin' it real, people!

Speaking of keeping it real... you know, Britney - go read her hilarious blog post about her preggo brain mix-up over my shower last night. {Shower re-cap to come, we had a fabulous time!!} You will laugh and feel compelled to say "Bless her heart..." in true Kentucky fashion. I love that girl!

33 weeks and a GREAT start to July!

2011-07-06T22:00:00.000-04:00

I won’t technically be 33 weeks till Friday, but since I’m usually about 5 days late on the belly posts, what’s a day early for once?

At 33 weeks, things are just starting to get serious around here… seriously exciting. We’ve even started child birth classes which have made this whole thing feel very real. While there hasn’t been much progress on the nursery since I posted this picture…

…I am feeling a lot more clear headed {as of just today} about what direction we’re going in with this sweet little room and feeling inspired again. That being said, I’ve made quite a long list of things to shop/search for but don’t find it too daunting as L-O-V-E cyber shopping. Getting out and actually walking through stores? Not so enjoyable for me pre-pregnancy and made even less enjoyable at 33 weeks.

But BOY do I enjoy curling up on the couch with a computer and a credit card =)

{P.S. Several of you asked about where I found the crib when I posted this picture. We are so lucky to have friends who are loaning us this crib. The warranty card says it is “Legacy” brand and has a website of www.childcraftind.com though I haven’t been able to find this specific crib on the web to link you to. The friend loaning it to us use to own her own children’s store and ordered it back then. Just wait till you see the GORGEOUS wood carved heirloom bassinet she’s letting us borrow as well – you will melt. Again ~ we are so blessed!}

My extra awesome hubby decided to take matters into his own hands last night to iron the crib skirt and put the bedding together since I finally bought a mattress. I didn’t really realize this until he finished, but it literally is perfect. I love the colors and fabrics more now then when I picked it out! This was definitely the kick that got me inspired again.

Did I mention how wonderful my husband is?!♥

As for 33 weeks updates, there’s not much that has changed, especially when it comes to weight! While I can tell he’s getting bigger in there, taking up more room and people keep commenting on how fast my belly has been growing lately, I haven’t gained a pound in a month - weird. No complaints on that front!

Symptoms: I’ve developed the slightest case of heartburn lately – not that it actually “burns” but just feels like it’s coming back up and just sitting in my throat. Lovely, I know, but it’s really not bad in the least, just a tad annoying. I’m still sleeping like a rock {Praise God!} and getting around fairly decent – I already got in an hour walk with the dog this morning and he’s the one tuckered out snoozing in my lap now as I type. The swelling in my hands and feet is getting worse with each week, making work a little miserable and bending over truly sucks BIG TIME but I still feel I have been crazy lucky and have breezed through this pregnancy thus far.

Plus or minus 7 weeks to go – I can do it!!

Thanks to my great sister and brother-in-law, we got to enjoy this past 4th of July weekend on their boat with a visit from my parents. Even Hendrix got to tag along!

Baby boy took his first ever swim ~ he was a natural.

{It was amazing to see his little legs start dog paddling in the air before he ever hit the water for the first time.♥ How do they just know what to do?!}

Our family picture on the shore we all swam up to together. Enjoy the only {far away} picture of this preggo in a swim suit!

Nick and Dad chillaxin’.

Lots of fun tubing for Mom, Dad, and Nick. I can’t wait to get back in on the fun next summer!

♥♥♥♥♥♥

Vegas Babymoon! Part 2

2011-07-01T13:07:00.001-04:00

Did you catch Part I of the Babymoon?

Part 2 of our Babymoon in Vegas actually shows us stepping outside of the Bellagio and onto the famous Las Vegas Boulevard for lots of sightseeing fun =)

Why can’t our shopping malls look like this at home?!

Dressed up and ready to party!!

A grainy cell phone pic taken inside of Eva Longoria’s restaurant, Beso.

It was delicious!!

Funny story that while we were there, Eva’s cheating ex-husband’s NBA team was playing and getting killed… the entire wait-staff was cheering in the back =) Way to support the boss, guys. Ha!

After dinner we went to our first Cirque Du Soleil show, “O”. It was phenomenal to say the least. I was frickin’ frackin’ amazed at the acrobatics, water stunts, and gymnastics. We had awesome seats in the second row and never took our eyes off of the stage. It was by far my favorite part of the trip!

There are several Cirque shows to choose from in Vegas and I read tons of reviews before deciding to see this one and I am so glad we did =) It’s the only one you have to reserve tickets for ahead of time, the rest of the shows you can still get tickets the day of on sale. I can see why this one never has any seats left to grab last minute!!

{Sorry – I can only show a picture of the outside of the theater. No photography allowed inside. Just imagine the most amazing thing you’ve ever seen and multiply it times 10 =) }

The next day while strolling the streets, we decided to see the strip from the top of the “Eiffel Tower”.

What a great view!

The Bellagio, right across the street:

And onto more amazing sights we saw – giant boxes of Nerds! =)

Getting lucky {not!} on the slots:

and didn’t we already see New York, New York this past November???

A jelly-bean Lady Liberty inside NY, NY:

Would this re-cap be complete if I didn’t show this pic from inside Caesar's Palace?

I think not.

Even with all of these pictures, I felt like I didn’t take many on the trip. There were so many nights out with great restaurants, comedy shows we took in, saw the fantastic Penn and Teller magic show {I highly recommend this!}, a day of lounging by the magnificent Bellagio pools and ENORMOUS breakfast buffets each morning that I didn’t take a single picture of.

We might just plan a second baby sooner than we thought just for another great Babymoon =)

Thank you, hubby, for being the reason all of our trips are such a blast. I am so lucky to have truly married my best friend♥

Our smallest souvenir…!

Vegas Babymoon! Part I

2011-06-29T07:41:00.000-04:00

We had such a blast on our “babymoon” in the fabulous Las Vegas, that I can’t believe I’m just now getting around to recapping it more than 2 months later!

Believe it or not, I took one too many pictures and it’s taken a while for me to work up the gumption to sort through them and get them on here for your viewing pleasure ;) Still, after majorly cutting back, I’ll be posting in 2 parts… I wouldn’t want to overload your hard drive!

I’ve been to Vegas only once a few years ago with a great group of girls and I have fond memories of standing in front of the Bellagio fountains mesmerized by the intricately choreographed water and music shows. I knew that the next time I came, THIS is where I wanted to stay so that I could watch the show over and over from my own window.

We were lucky enough to do just that – this is one of a thousand pictures I took of the Bellagio fountains from our room!

Houston and I at 22 weeks on the trip:

{…and we’re about to be 32 weeks in a couple of days…. yes, I am waaaaaay behind posting this!}

Daddy at 22 weeks! =)

I took so many pictures of the Bellagio gardens and the blown glass flowers in the lobby that I’m going to dedicate the rest of this post to them. Just MORE reasons to stay at Bellagio – it truly is my favorite hotel on the strip!

More substance and the rest of the trip {we did actually step outside of the Bellagio the week we were there…} in Part II on Friday.

Just a side note that all the flowers you’re about to see are REAL.

They are AMAZING! Pictures do not do this place justice.

31 weeks of belly love and a night at the zoo!

2011-06-27T17:44:00.000-04:00

We turned 31 weeks this past Friday - where has the time gone?!

Houston is {obviously} growing like a weed in there. My belly seems to be growing overnight lately. It may have something to do that he may *hopefully* have finally flipped. I woke up one morning last week feeling very different - my stomach felt stretched, harder and then - hiccups! But not just any old hiccups... hiccups down low, y'all.

Maybe I'm just hoping to avoid a C-section the best I can, but I would put money on the fact that he has indeed FLIPPED!

Just for funsies... same dress in the first belly pic I ever posted on the blog, 14 weeks:

{!!!}

Moving on to more exciting things than weekly belly pictures ;) ...this past Saturday night, Nick and I had the pleasure of attending his company's yearly banquet held this year at the Cincinnati Zoo. What a fabulous idea?!

We got to watch the Cheetah show before dinner and watch the "fastest Cheetah in the world" sprint after a stuffed animal. She was UNBELIEVABLY fast. Loved this!

Not only did we get to walk around and see the animals of the zoo, they even joined us on the dance floor!

The official mascot who actually attend the games of the Cincinnati Bearcats:

The exotic Ginny was even there =)

This cake was just as delicious as it was beautiful. Between 3 of us girls and our significant others, we snagged every flavor offered and had a bite of each ~ perfect end to the perfect night with Perfection Group!

My PSA: laughter is the best medicine

2011-06-23T08:05:00.001-04:00

…and if you can’t trust your local, friendly pharmacist for pertinent medical advice like that, who can you trust?

Seriously though, I know laughter can do a world of good. I may not go as far as practicing laughter yoga, {I’m almost that crazy, but only almost}, but I do purposely seek my laughs on youtube on days when I could really use a shot of the good medicine.

I thought it was time that I share some of my old faithfuls – a few videos that Nick and I have laughed out loud at a bajillion times by now.

These videos have become like family to me over the years and I hope you get a kick out of them too.

FREE MEDICINE!!!!

{Not something I get to say too often, people…}

30 weeks of belly love, unborn child bribes, and video entertainment

2011-06-21T15:56:00.001-04:00

We’ve come a long way baby!

30 weeks – how did you get here so fast?

{Actually, since I’m so slow to post – 30 weeks and 4 days today!}

Not the best bump pic from our friends’ wedding this past Saturday – but I do love my sweet friend, Ginny!

More importantly, how did 30 weeks get here with me still having a to do list a million miles long in preparation for baby, lots of baby books still unread and a nursery that looks like this (!)

Important ~~plea~~ note to Houston: Mommy and Daddy are very much relying and counting on the full 40 weeks of gestation to prep for your arrival. We have only a single piece of furniture in your nursery – a crib. The gorgeous crib bedding I ordered for you isn’t even in it because we don’t have a mattress yet! Your dresser, night stand and book case are all in the garage waiting to be painted, your swivel glider and ottoman were ordered in May and we’re crossing our fingers it’s 8-12 weeks delivery is closer to the 8 than the 12, AND your changing table has yet to be picked out, let alone purchased and assembled yet. Do you get what I’m trying to say here, little guy?

If Houston knew what was good for him, he’d realize it might be a bit cramped in that oven right now, but with the sweet tooth on the mother God gave him, his taste buds have got to be dancing! Once he’s out, he’ll be wishing he was back to cinnamon toast crunch and Double Doozie cookies when it’s nothin’-but-milk for 6 months ;) Stay in there sweet boy, I’ll finish getting ready for you AND fatten you up to adorable proportions =)

The little evidence left beside my computer of today’s Double Doozie that Big Daddy brought us home:

The 30 week low down:

As of today, I’m up a whopping 28 pounds!! At this rate, I will not stay within the 25-35 pound limits all the books would like to keep my weight gain within. I eat absolutely ANYTHING I want, though it helps that I’m staying pretty darn active – running around like a chicken with it’s head cut-off at work, taking the dog on long walks at home, and working on that big to-do list all keep me from gaining astronomical amounts for the time being.

PRAISE GOD, I’m still sleeping like a rock. Aside from some swelling in my hands and feet and absolutely despising bending down for the one million things I drop each day, I’m feeling great.

I do, however, feel my energy level dropping lower and lower. I fear how completely exhausted {and enormous!} I will be in 6 weeks from now when I’m sure I’ll still have plenty to do and still working a 40 hour energy depleting job. Though I have lots of hope since this pregnancy has already been wonderfully easy, smooth and enjoyable far beyond any expectations I had. We shall see what the little time we have left holds in store for us!

Dying for something non-baby related on this blog? Enjoy this incredibly entertaining video. Unbelievably talented people blow my mind! I’m so glad this earth is so full of so many kinds of them =)