25 Weeks!

Yay for handy husbands!

Matt and I have been so busy this week! With both of us working and then coming home to work on the nursery at night... we are pooped. Between painting, door installation, crib assembly, clothing organization, mini blind installation and individualized art work, I think we could open a nursery decorating company! 

After we painted, and I mopped the floor about 20 times, we moved an armoire and recliner in the room. Matt then installed the refinished door to make the room a "room." On Thursday the crib arrived and Matt assembled it while I watched and brought the moral support. 

While arranging furniture in a limited space room, I started my hunt for the perfect piece of furniture to act as a changing table. Looking on Craigslist and just about every vintage/thrift store in Tallahassee proved to be pointless. I needed something with the dimensions 30 (L) x 20 (W) to fit in between the recliner and multifunctional armoire and I was failing at the search. Of course I toyed with the idea of buying a changing table online, but I was not satisfied with the look/price of any of the ones out there and the room is simply not big enough for a small dresser to fit. Defeated, Krysta and I tried one more place. 

Secondhand Sandies (on North Monroe) was the last and obviously only place we had not scoured. The place is interesting, to say the least, and finding something good was going to be like finding a diamond in the rough. You definitely have to walk in to Sandie's shop with an open mind and a plan to refurbish whatever it is that you will purchase. Greeted by two feral cats and a stray mutt upon walking into the store, sorting through her collection of history was just the right call. 

We finally found a perfect sewing table that measures 30 x 20 and has cabinet space underneath for diapers, wipes, etc. I was thrilled. For only $30 we walked out proud. I can't wait until Matt and I get to paint and change out the hardware... the piece is perfect. And when I become over ambitious one day, I might buy a sewing machine and use the table appropriately. Maybe.

Door view from the living room; Door view from inside the nursery.

Left corner and rocker of the nursery; Right corner and armoire of the nursery.

Dad gathering crib pieces.

Before

During

Crib after; Changing table pre up-cycled $30; Vintage Crochet Florida Blossom Blanket $15.

Wall Art.
So Matt and I have been doing our research on Etsy and storing away good ideas, but we are the type of people who can "do that ourselves." So today we went to Jo-Ann's and picked up some supplies to begin the crafting. The large USA print is a gem from Z-Gallerie, which we received as a wedding gift from a good friend and brother of ours. We decided to use this as the focal point for which we could pull colors and what-nots from. When the boy is old enough we will use a marker of some sort on the glass to keep track of where dad is, when he is on the road touring.
The other two are handmade. 

Wall Art. Created by the Mr. and Mrs... Still need one more on the left. 

GORGEOUS USA License Plate Print [Courtesy of Justin Smith]

And of course, we had to incorporate Montana's western beauty somehow.

25 WEEKS.

Oh baby. I feel it. 

I run slow. 

I barrel roll to get out of bed.

And I get heartburn when I think about spicy food. 

My back hurts in the morning.

I bend over like and 88 year old granny.

And I have round ligament pain like it's my freaking job.

Okay. Enough complaining. A beautiful thing is happening inside of me and in 15 weeks Sweet P and I will be gazing into each other's eyes wondering, what the hell do I do now?

Hello from BabyCenter! Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — isn't much more than an average rutabaga, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.>> Read more about this week Your baby at 25 weeks Your baby's hair has color and texture. >> See the big picture: 25 weeks

          Week 25

09
       Weighs about 1 1/2 pounds and is 13 1/2 inches long.

Your Baby:

• Is growing more hair, with a distinctive color and texture and everything.

You:

• Have a uterus the size of a soccer ball.
• Have probably noticed a decent increase in your belly size over the past few weeks — your fundal measurements (the length between your pubic bone and the top of your uterus) grew about an inch-and-a-half in the past four weeks alone.
• May start experiencing uterine contractions soon, if you haven’t already.

No, I didn't cut my hair. ;)

How far along?: 25 Weeks; 6 Days

Total weight gain/loss: We'll see at the 26 week check-up tomorrow! 
Uh oh.

Maternity clothes?: Just one pair of Maternity Jeans and my maternity 
leggings...

Stretch marks?: Nope!

Sleep: My lower back is starting to ache every morning, but that is a 

small price to pay if you ask me. 

Best moment this week: Nursery Assembly! Nursery Decor!

Miss Anything?: Running normal. It is going to feel awesome to get 
back in to shape after Baby P is born. 

Movement: MORE THAN EVER! He's so so so active. We are going 
to be in trouble.

Food cravings: Grapefruit with Salt?! I have one every single night. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Fish smell.

Have you started to show yet: Yes.

Gender: Sweet Baby Boy.

Labor Signs: None this week.

Belly Button in or out?: Flat!

Wedding rings on or off?: On and loose.

Happy or Moody most of the time: Ben Fold's said it first, "That I am, 

the Luckiest."

Looking forward to: Holding our sweet, soft little puddle of baby 
fat in 3 months. Being obsessed with his little hands and feet. 
And of course baby dress up.

I love being pregnant. 

Every time he kicks, I grin. 

Matt thinks it is awesome and so bizarre at the same time

and I feel special that Sweet P and I already have a secret connection.

Until Next Time, 

LP

Nursery Painted!

YAY!

One task down, a lot more to go.

Before.

During.

After.

And Matt's door is looking awesome!

24 Weeks!

I don't know how much bigger I can get. 

It is so hard to wrap my mind around the fact that I still have four months to go. And on the other hand, it is hard to believe that I only have four months left. My favorite part of the day is when I get to climb in to bed next to Matt, in the comfort and silence of our bedroom, and baby lets us know he is there by his gentle shoves and nudges; it is my favorite. I am going to miss that magical feeling when its all said and done. 

This has been a really busy week for us. In fact, this has been a crazy busy month, but that's a different story for a different blog. Matt and I spent the beginning of the week saying our goodbyes to his family in Montana. Followed by a red eye flight to Tampa and a four hour drive back home to Tallahassee, I was faced with Christmas decorations to be taken down, work, laundry and baby preparation. Matt has been up to his eyeballs in Go Radio writing and recording, managing the mood swings and hunger pains of a crazy pregnant wife, and working on baby's room. 

As I start to mention baby's room, let me just say... it is hard planning a nursery. Why? Well, I want it to be perfect of course. I want the room to be a beautiful, safe haven for our newborn son where we can read and play all day long; a room baby will love. Colors, patters, furniture, all on an economical penny. Well, we did figure out a few things this week. First off, we bought a crib! 

It should be arriving this week! Matt and I are so excited! Then, Matt picked out the wall color; we chose Behr "Roasted Nuts". And that's about it. Then, part of our plan was to buy a door from home depot in which we would install (we are turning a sunroom in to a nursery). But then, handy hubby found an extra pre-existing house door in our garage! So, Matt busily chipped away all of the old paint and sanded the door down to it's original surface. With a new coat of paint and brand new glass knob, Matt saved us about $140.00!

Dad giving Hank a talk about his new brother. 

So back to feeling like the world's largest woman. 

I think part or most of my issues are a direct result of how active of a person I am, normally. It is hard for me to acknowledge that I can not continue to do all of the normal things I am used to, and that is fine. I guess part of my complaining is because I have a basketball sized belly in my way every time I try to bend down. Earlier this week I did too much cleaning/organizing (nesting) and my back is still hurting from the whole thing. I have reached a new level of uncomfortable and I hear it only gets worse before it gets better. 

Well. Here it is. 24 Weeks. 

Hello from BabyCenter! Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.>> Read more about this week Your baby at 24 weeks Your baby's taste buds may be working now.

       Week 24

02

by Amalah

Your Baby:

• Is just about a foot long now. I believe it is a tradition to consume a foot-long sub sandwich or hot dog in your baby’s honor at this point. I also believe I just made that up.
• Is still very skinny looking, with translucent skin, but this will all start changing soon.
• Is officially at the edge of viability, and most hospitals would automatically attempt every possible life-saving option if your baby were to be born now.

You:

• Will undergo the glucose screening test at some point between now and 30 weeks to check for gestational diabetes. It’s done at a routine prenatal visit and involves chugging down an incredibly sickly-sweet beverage. Then you wait an hour and give a blood sample. And then you get someone else to drive your ass home, because you will be 1) passed out cold from a sugar crash or 2) howling in pain from a headache or 3) both. I brought a book to pass the time but fell asleep 20 minutes after the shot of sugar and woke up drooling on my husband, and I felt like crap for hours afterwards. But I passed! (A positive screen does not necessarily mean you have GD; it just means you have to get a whole OTHER, more-monitored test.)
• Oh! But then I had a huge baby anyway, and this one nurse in the recovery area at the hospital was all, “DIDN’T YOU HAVE THE GLUCOSE SCREEN? WE NEED TO TEST YOUR BABY’S BLOOD SUGAR BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY YOU HAD GD BECAUSE BABIES AREN’T SUPPOSED TO BE THAT BIG.”
• I did not have undiagnosed gestational diabetes, and Noah’s blood sugar was FINE, THANK YOU.
• Oh, I’m sorry, were these bullet points supposed to be about you, or something?
• Are probably noticing more aches and pains as we come to the final couple weeks of the second trimester, particularly in your lower back, hips and other joints.

This is the last week I didn't take a picture in front of the chalkboard. 

I thought I should celebrate Montana's beautiful landscape as long as possible. 

Plus, this picture was a really special moment to Matt and me. Three years ago, on December 22, 2008,  Matt proposed to me on the OTO in this exact spot!

How far along?: 24 Weeks; 6 Days

Total weight gain/loss: Who knows. I feel like I am 
wearing a ruck sack 24/7.

Maternity clothes?: Just one pair of Maternity Jeans 
and my maternity leggings...

Stretch marks?: Nope!

Sleep: Like a baby.

Best moment this week: Buying our crib and planning 
the nursery!

Miss Anything?: My energy level pre-pregnancy 
and my feet. 

Movement: Lots of squirms!

Food cravings: CHEESE and Chips still. Carbs. 
Anything carby.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Fish smell.

Have you started to show yet: Um, considering matt 
told me, "you look like you're wearing a giant bird suit 
from an elementary school play." Yes.

Gender: B.O.Y.

Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks!

Belly Button in or out?: Flat!

Wedding rings on or off?: On and loose.

Happy or Moody most of the time: The happiest 
mom-to-be in the world. 

Looking forward to: Crib arrival, nursery decor, plans 
plans plans!

Until Next Time,

LP