Nursery- a few of my favorite accessories

I wanted to post a few of my favorite accessories from the nursery, since they weren't as visible from the nursery pictures. :)

This is an owl bank that I painted at a local pottery painting place. I love it! It works so well with the room. :)


This is a beautiful crocheted ball that Jeff's great-aunt made for the baby. I absolutely adore it! She used brown and green for the colors in the nursery too. So precious to me!


The owl lamp we got at Target. We changed the lampshade to match the room because it came in black, but it fit so perfectly with the room! The penguin Jeff made when he was in high school and when I went away to college he gave it to me to watch over me (I LOVE penguins!). :) When we started the nursery, we were cleaning out the guest bedroom, where the penguin was living, and he told me that the penguin stays in the nursery to watch over the baby now. So cute. Hehe! And the adorable picture frame was a gift from our baby shower which I put my halfway ultrasound in the picture.


This is one of the maternity pictures we had taken when we had our pictures done with Krotzer Photography (Ky and Matt are friends of ours so it was an honor to have them do our pictures!). I created the backing for the picture and framed it. I just love how it looks in the room.


And of course the book shelves. I know I posted about them in the nursery post, but I am just so proud of my not-very-handy hubby (although he proved me wrong here!). He did a beautiful job on them and I just love how they look in the nursery on the wall!


So those are a few of my favorite things that we decorated the nursery with. I have a frame that is below the maternity picture frame that I love too that my mom gave us for my shower, but I don't want to post it because it isn't my kid that is in it. :) It will be much better when it is my kid's picture and prints in it!

39 weeks... still pregnant!

I went to the doctor's on Thursday and there was no progress from last week. BUMMER! At least I know there will be no more than 2 weeks until baby is born (from the time I was 39 weeks... so at this point no more than 1 1/2 weeks!). I did get to see the baby in an ultrasound and my mom got to go and see baby too. :) It was neat to have her see her first ultrasound experience, and of course I loved seeing my munchkin! I was able to get another video of the ultrasound too (I have one from my 22 week ultrasound too), which will be so neat to show this baby someday when he or she is older. One really good thing from the ultrasound, too, is that baby is only about 6 1/2 pounds and shouldn't be more than 7 1/2 lbs when born. YAY! I was a small baby and Jeff was a BIG baby, so I was nervous about having a big baby. If I make it to my next appointment, I will be having another ultrasound to check the fluid, a non-stress test, and another internal. I will also probably set my induction date since my dr's office doesn't let anyone go past 41 weeks. I really want this baby to have his or her own birthday, and my birthday is exactly 41 weeks, so I am going to hopefully be able to set an induction date for a few days before 41 weeks.

I thought FOR SURE I was going into labor yesterday. I had some serious back pain and crazy pressure, but by the end of the day I was sitting and feeling OK and today I feel much better than yesterday. I even was able to get on my hands and knees to scrub the kitchen floor (one of the things that was suggested to me by friends to help me go into labor. We will see if that works! Believe me... I've tried so much at this point!).

I am CONVINCED that this baby takes after his or her father because Jeffery is so laid back and content and not worried about when he arrives, and I am the one who has to be everywhere early. I was even on time when my mom had me (well one day late, but she went into labor the night of July 10th while in bed, which was my due date, and I was born July 11th). Baby will get here on his or her own time! I am just DYING to know if baby is a BOY or a GIRL and who baby looks like, what color hair baby has, etc.

OK- questions-

How far along: 39 (and 1/2, but not in the picture) weeks 

Total weight gain: Maybe around 20 lbs

Maternity clothes: Always... and the looser (or in this heat, the LESSER!) the better when I am at home. 

Sleep: Meh... I toss and turn all night. I really miss sleeping on my stomach! 

Best moment of this week: Seeing baby in the ultrasound

Miss anything: Wine and running for sure! And my body...

Movement: Definitely

Food cravings: Fruit, coke slushies

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not anymore! YAY! 

Gender: Didn't find out! It will be a surprise!

Labor signs: crampiness, back aching, contractions here and there, lots of pressure, and at the doctor's I was 1cm dilated, 50% effaced, and -1 station! (same)

Belly button in or out: At this point I think it will stay in. It pops out a bit when I sit, but when I am standing it is in and not coming out. 

Wedding rings on or off: On :)

Happy or moody most of the time: Mostly happy, but definitely notice that I am getting moodier towards people and my personal space.

The Nursery!

I realized that I hadn't yet posted pictures of the nursery. It is pretty much done, with the exception of a picture frame that needs my baby's prints and picture, and obviously it doesn't yet have the baby. Otherwise, it is done and I think we did a pretty good job. Jeff keeps asking me which room in the house we are doing next... I keep trying to convince him that we should do the living room next because I want new couches! Haha! But no, we will wait for a bit on that room until we save up some more money.

In this room we: repainted the walls, ripped up the carpet, sanded the wood floors, and refinished the wood floors and then pretty much everything else you see!

Looking into the nursery from the hallway. The rocking chair was my mom's and then mine when we were kids, and the rocking horse was mine. It is a tradition in my family that my grandparents gave all of the grandchildren rocking horses when they turned 1.:



The wall right inside the door. Jeff built the shelves the books are on. The toychest was mine when I was a kid. My dad built it. He repainted it for the nursery.



Here is a closer picture of the shelves.



The wall on the other side of the windows. We bought the dresser at a local Amish store and painted it. The one picture on the wall is one of our maternity pictures that I then made a background for and framed. The frame under it is waiting for our baby. :)




The crib wall. We bought a wall decal and put it on the wall. We *LOVE* it! We did a naturey, owl theme in the room, so the tree fit perfectly. We didn't want it to be owl overload, so we really only have a few in the room, but we brought in some nature as well and the tree, especially with the leaves the perfect colors of green and blue, complete the room!

38 weeks... will it be soon?

We have been wearing out the sidewalks around our neighborhood walking, trying to get this baby out! :) I feel pretty good most of the time, with lots of pressure or contractions here and there other times. Sunday was interesting and I was sure I was going into labor, but then after about 2 hours of contractions, it all stopped. Bummer! Jeff is predicting I will go into labor this weekend. It could happen! I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and the doctor checked me. I am 1cm dilated, 50% effaced, and -1 station. Of course, my mom so nicely reminded me that she was 2cm dilated with my brother for 3 weeks. Sigh... BUT the doctor felt pretty optimistic and sent my info over to labor hall already. I have an ultrasound scheduled for Thursday. My doctor told me they won't let me go past 41 weeks, which I am thankful for. So either way, 2 1/2-ish weeks from now I will be holding my munchkin! My birthday is July 11th, which is exactly 41 weeks, so I am hoping I go earlier than that because I really want baby to have his or her own birthday. There is a full moon on Sunday... maybe baby then? :) We'll see! I'll do my best to be patient!

How far along: 38 weeks 

Total weight gain: Maybe around 20 lbs

Maternity clothes: Always... and the looser the better when I am at home. 

Sleep: Not the best. My insomnia comment from last week came to bite me in the butt... I can't seem to get a deep sleep. When I wake up to pee, or turn over, I am wide awake and then it takes a while to fall back asleep. There also isn't a time of night I don't have to pee. 

Best moment of this week: Hearing my dr say she thinks I may be close and that she was sending my stuff to labor hall!

Miss anything: Wine and running for sure! And my body...

Movement: Definitely

Food cravings: Fruit, coke slushies

Anything making you queasy or sick: I am noticing my aversions starting to disappear. I actually ate 3 oz of steak yesterday!

Gender: Didn't find out! It will be a surprise!

Labor signs: crampiness, back aching, contractions here and there, lots of pressure, and at the doctor's I was 1cm dilated, 50% effaced, and -1 station!

Belly button in or out: At this point I think it will stay in. It pops out a bit when I sit, but when I am standing it is in and not coming out. 

Wedding rings on or off: On... ALTHOUGH I did have an evening that I had to take them off because my hands were a tad bit swollen, but since then have gone back down. I am so thankful I am not swollen! I have friends who have had a terrible time with this!

Happy or moody most of the time: Mostly happy, but definitely notice that I am getting moodier towards people and my personal space. I hate when I am in line and someone has to be pretty close to me. 

37 weeks (and pretty late posting!)

I am late posting this. And at this point I am almost 38 weeks, (but the picture shows 37 weeks). We had a pretty busy weekend so I totally forgot until now. And right now I am absolutely exhausted, so I don't know how long this one will be!

I had a doctor's appointment on Friday. It was pretty good. I lost a lb, which I wasn't complaining about. I told them about my anxiety of being overdue and losing the baby. They told me I could elect to have an induction at 40 weeks if I wanted, but that they don't like to let pregnancies go past 41 weeks, which I was happy to hear. Hopefully baby will show up before 40 weeks though! I am pretty uncomfortable, so I wouldn't mind if something happened today... or tomorrow. I'll try to be patient! I have another appointment Thursday, so we will see! I am hoping they check me one of these days to see if I am dilated at all. I have been pretty uncomfortable, crampy, back achy, mild contractions. I was sure something was going to happen yesterday based on how I felt, and then nothing happened. I am excited to meet this munchkin and to find out BOY or GIRL??? :)

How far along: 37 weeks (and then some)

Total weight gain: Maybe around 20 lbs

Maternity clothes: Always... and the looser the better when I am at home. 

Sleep: Meh... I've had better. But (knock on wood) no insomnia. I just have to pee a lot.

Best moment of this week: Finishing school so I don't have to worry about going into labor during school! :)

Miss anything: Wine and running for sure! And my body...

Movement: Definitely

Food cravings: Fruit, coke slushies

Anything making you queasy or sick: Still red meat, but not as much

Gender: Didn't find out! It will be a surprise!

Labor signs: crampiness, back aching, contractions here and there

Belly button in or out: At this point I think it will stay in. It pops out a bit when I sit, but when I am standing it is in and not coming out. 

Wedding rings on or off: On

Happy or moody most of the time: Mostly happy, but definitely notice that I am getting moodier towards people.

36 weeks and ready

36 weeks (well at this point I am closer to 37, but not in the picture!). And I am just noticing how tired my face looks in this picture. It was our 2nd to last day of school and my kids were wired because we had our End of the Year Party, and then after school my coworkers threw me and another teacher who is also pregnant and due a week or two after me a surprise shower. I had a doctor's appointment this week and an internal exam. My cervix is soft, but still closed, and the baby's head is down. I asked the doctor if she thought I would make it to my due date and she wouldn't commit. She said that labor can happen any time. I asked her how big she thought baby would be because Jeff's family grows big babies. She said if I make it to my due date, she estimated baby to be around 8 lbs. Phew! That is a lot smaller than Jeff and his brothers were! Either way, now that school is out, I'm ready to get this show on the road! I have a friend whose due date was a week ahead of me and we were texting back and forth about how it would be cool if we delivered on the same day or on Father's Day. An hour later she texted me that her water broke and it was baby time! Sure enough, baby came yesterday! She is the only person I knew that was due ahead of me, so I am next for the people I know.

This whole pregnancy I have been thinking that I am having a boy, until lately where I've had little niggling thoughts that this baby is a girl. It could just be that in my mind I feel like I have no chance of having a girl because Jeff's family is all boys so part of me wants a girl so that I get my girl. But regardless, I am happy with either. I still think boy with that small thought that thinks girl.

My job today is to pack my hospital bag and straighten the house so I can clean the house tomorrow. I had a tetanus shot Friday and my arm feels like it is falling off, so I don't have a desire to be cleaning like crazy today.

Ok- Onto the questions!

How far along: 36 weeks (and then some)

Total weight gain: Maybe around 20 lbs... they didn't tell me

Maternity clothes: Always... and the looser the better when I am at home. 

Sleep: Crappy right now because my arm hurts from my tetanus shot so I can only sleep on one side and that side gets tired so I try to sleep on my back but that isn't comfortable AT ALL and then I give the right side where the shot was a try and that hurts so then I am tossing and turning and up 3 times a night. 

Best moment of this week: Hearing that my cervix is soft and the head is down so we are closer to meeting baby!

Miss anything: Wine and running for sure! And my body...

Movement: Definitely

Food cravings: Fruit, coke slushies

Anything making you queasy or sick: Still red meat, but as much

Gender: Didn't find out! It will be a surprise!

Labor signs: Braxton Hicks contractions, and some regular contractions here and there, but nothing consistent yet

Belly button in or out: In, but when I lay down and baby moves around it pops out. I think it will always stay in. When I am standing, it is in and up, so I am not feeling like it will pop out.

Wedding rings on or off: On

Happy or moody most of the time: Mostly happy, but definitely notice that I am getting moodier towards people.

35 weeks! Large and in charge!

Getting closer and closer (and bigger and bigger!)! I can't believe I am all but 9 months pregnant already. I have 4 days left of school, and once inservice day next week that I'd really like to go to, and after that I am ready to go! (Though my due date is still 4ish weeks off) I have a lot to do in school to finish the year, but I do have to say it is so nice packing up MY classroom for it to be cleaned this summer (last year I packed up my old room and left it, not knowing IF I would have another place to go... and a few short months later I had a permanent position in the district!), knowing that I will be back to unpack it! I am taking the first month off of school, so it is important to me that I set it up the way I want it instead of have my sub set it up their way for a month and then have me come in and change it for me for the rest of the year. The consistency for the kids is so important to me. So once I get done with this week especially, I will be in baby mode! I can't wait!

We had a baby appointment on Thursday, which went well. Jeff came with me. :) I told him he doesn't have to come to my next one because it is internal (although in a few weeks that little exam will be NOTHING compared to what I'll be doing!).

How far along: 35 weeks (and then some)

Total weight gain: Maybe around 20 lbs... they didn't tell me

Maternity clothes: Always... and the looser the better when I am at home. 

Sleep: (Same as last week) Still good, but I find myself laying only on one side and then waking up uncomfortable and having to turn, which of course wakes my bladder up so I have to get up and pee and then I lay back on the other side. Otherwise, sleep is my friend.

Best moment of this week: Hearing the beautiful heartbeat at my appointment

Miss anything: Wine and running for sure! And my body...

Movement: Definitely

Food cravings: Fruit, coke slushies

Anything making you queasy or sick: Still red meat

Gender: Didn't find out! It will be a surprise!

Labor signs: Braxton Hicks contractions, and I had one or two regular contractions a few days ago, but nothing more. 

Belly button in or out: In for not much longer, it is starting to pop out when I am laying down or when baby is positioned near it.

Wedding rings on or off: On

Happy or moody most of the time: Mostly happy, but definitely notice that I am getting moodier towards people.

Looking forward to: How far along: 34 weeks (and then some)

Total weight gain: More than 17 lbs, but I don't know how much more. I have an appt on Thursday, so I may find out then... but I hate finding that number out!

Maternity clothes: Always... and the looser the better when I am at home. 

Sleep: Still good, but I find myself laying only on one side and then waking up uncomfortable and having to turn, which of course wakes my bladder up so I have to get up and pee and then I lay back on the other side. Otherwise, sleep is my friend.

Best moment of this week: The random act of kindness gift, finishing our nursery, and finishing our baby classes!

Miss anything: Wine and running for sure!

Movement: Definitely

Food cravings: Fruit, coke slushies

Anything making you queasy or sick: Still red meat

Gender: Didn't find out! It will be a surprise!

Labor signs: Braxton Hicks contractions, but otherwise nothing else! I need 2 more weeks to finish the school year and then it can happen whenever.

Belly button in or out: In for not much longer, it is starting to pop out when I am laying down or when baby is positioned near it.

Wedding rings on or off: On

Happy or moody most of the time: Mostly happy, but definitely notice that I am getting moodier towards people.

Looking forward to: Getting the glider set up, seeing how everything is progressing at my appointment Friday, finishing the school year on Thursday