Thursday, June 26, 2014

The nursery - part 1!

Now that Baby G's nursery is complete I thought I'd write about putting everything together and my dreams for the nursery.  It's going to take two posts otherwise it will be obscenely long.
I have included pictures along the way and part 2 will be the final pictures and how I feel now that her nursery is done.

When we found out that we were pregnant I almost instantly started dreaming about the nursery, I dreamt of sailboats with a grey and navy blue color scheme if we were having a boy...Mr. G has a sailboat and we were engaged on the sailboat.  It was such an easy decision because of how special sailing is to both of us and how cute some of the items are for a nautical themed nursery. 

The dreams and ideas were endless if we were having a girl, I had so many things "pinned" and my brain was just running with ideas. 

I was shocked when we found out we were expecting a girl, Mr. G comes from a family of boys so I kind of assumed we were going to have a boy.  But nope, the cake was pink:)  We were able to see our little lady 2 additional times and it has been confirmed.

Immediately Mr. G and I decided on our back bedroom as the nursery, we loved that is had big windows and hardwood floors.  We decided on a white crib & changing table combo in order to help with space.  Our home is smaller and the bedrooms are not large so we wanted to be smart about what we put in the nursery and how we arranged things.

I scoured baby stores and online sights for full sets of beautiful bedding, I found a handful of options but nothing felt right.  So after many nights of, "what about this one?" and "oh I like this one" I decided that since we can not put anything other than the baby in the crib that I would piece together a nursery set instead of purchasing one.  Ultimately for me it was the best decision to make, we do not have big fancy bumpers that I will have to take off and store somewhere nor do we have a big quilt that I would have to do the same with.  Like I said...small bedroom, not a lot of room. 

So I started with a color scheme, I thought that would be the best first step.  Mr. G and I decided on pink and grey; I had seen a lot of pictures of the combination and really loved the way it looked.  We hired a painter and then I had to decide how I wanted it painted, many different ideas were thrown around but when I saw a nursery on pinterest painted grey with the accent color (turquoise) on the ceiling I knew that we had to paint the ceiling pink!  So I convinced Mr. G to trust me, I chose the shade of pink and the shade of grey and told the painter we wanted the walls grey, ceiling pink and trim and moldings white.  It turned out perfect!!  Mr. G was excited at how cute it looked, bonus:) 




The small bedroom does not have a closet but luckily Mr. G & I had an armoire in our bedroom that I've wanted out for a while and after measuring it we decided that it would be her closet and dresser.  It has a hanging bar and room for lots of baskets for storage.  Mr. G's brother helped him move it and it fit perfectly in the corner and I love the amount of storage it provides.  I was able to get all of her clothes hung and lots of baskets for her other clothes, blankets, burp clothes and shoes...along with some other general stuff.





After the armoire was moved I began the hunt for a rug, that turned out to be a much bigger thing than I ever expected.  I had absolutely no idea how expensive rugs are!  We looked for both pink and grey rugs; neither of us had a specific picture in our heads about what we wanted other than it to look nice and have a little cushion.  Luckily after an exhausting hunt we found a nice grey rug on overstock.com that has a little pattern to it and bonus it was affordable and free shipping!  We bought it on the spot when we found it and when it arrived it ended up perfect.




Another thing I knew I wanted was a decal for her wall and I wanted it to be pink to accent the ceiling.  Mr. G had a bit of a hard time seeing the vision I had but trusted that it would come together, so when I found a flamingo pink decal that said "With a butterfly kiss, and a lady bug hug, sleep tight little one, like a bug in a rug"...he went with me on it.  The decal also came with little lady bug and butterfly decals that matched the butterfly finials on the ends of her curtain rod.  The curtains are white with small panels of a light pink and hot pink, so that matched as well.

Some other items I chose were a pink crib skirt, a variety of crib sheets (pinks and greys), and I made a pink and grey tie blanket to decorate the side of the crib.  It only cost me $14 to make the blanket because I bought both colors on clearance. 

Mr. G and I finally decided on a glider from Babies R Us, we liked the comfort and the size was a little smaller which was perfect for the small bedroom. 
I also had been talking about the IKEA spice rack bookshelves for a while and my wonderful husband had absolutely no idea what I was talking about...boy was he surprised when I told him he had to spray paint them and then eventually get them up on the wall.  It was an interesting project that should have been easy, but nothing is as easy as it seems.

After looking around for nice side tables I scored a clearance side table at target that also required a coat (or two) of white paint, Mr. G smiled and happily painted it. 

It took a while and lots of hunting for the perfect items but I finally had everything to put together the nursery the way I wanted. 

Stay tuned for part 2...the final reveal! 


With love,


Mrs. G



Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Bumpdate - 37 weeks!

How far along: 37 weeks! 


She is getting so big you can't see the number 37 because it is underneath! 

Baby Size: Baby G likely weighs anywhere between 6.5 – 7.5 pounds (depending how much she gained last week) and is between 18 – 20 inches long.  She continues to practice inhaling, exhaling, blinking, gripping and sucking as she prepares for the outside world.  She is about the size of a winter melon.

Maternity Clothes: Yes of course, just trying to stay as comfortable as possible.

Sleep: Sleep continues to be difficult as I have a hard time rolling over and get pretty stiff and sore in one position for long.  However, I do feel that the sleep I’m getting is more restful than before.  Still up a couple of times during the night…for a trip to the bathroom. 

Gender: A sweet little GIRL!

Movement: Oh yes!  Her movements are mostly kicking and stretching as she is running out of room in there.  Mr. G had his arm around me one night last week and apparently she was having a party in there as I slept, it didn’t wake me up but he said she was bouncing around a lot!

Best moment this week:  Enjoying a nap in the glider on Sunday afternoon in her nursery, it was relaxing and felt great to spend some time in the nursery.

Looking forward to: Her arrival!!!!  I’m getting very excited to meet her…but it looks like she will arrive closer to her due date.

Food cravings: I haven’t really been craving anything specific, still having heartburn on and off so that is a bummer.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not sick but I still cannot stand the smell of garlic.  And a little bit of nauseous on and off.

Labor Signs:  About the same as last week, some cramping and Braxton hicks contractions on and off throughout the week.  This morning the doctor said that things look so good she has nothing to complain about (blood pressure & very little swelling specifically).  She also said that no additional progress has been made so as I left she said, “see you next week”! 

What I miss: It changes daily…..lots of stuff.

Symptoms: PREGNANT!!  Pretty standard pregnancy symptoms:  puffy feet and fingers, clumsy and bump into things often, very tired, tough to breathe at times, can’t get up by myself and just a general feeling of discomfort. 

I think I’ve reached the point where I am ready…ready to get the show on the road and ready to meet her, I can’t wait to see what she looks like and give her a name!!

Nursery:  I got home last night to a finished nursery…and beautiful nursery!  Mr. G put the glider together on Saturday and painted the side table Sunday, he and his dad put up the final book shelf last night and Mr. G set everything up so when I got home it was done and her little night light was on.  It was so sweet to see it finished, now just to have her in thereJ

Wedding rings on or off: Off and put away for the remainder of the pregnancy.
                                           

Mood: Good, I am definitely more emotional (can’t believe I could get more emotional) but in a good way. 

 
With love,

Mrs. G

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Bumpdate - 36 weeks!


How far along: 36 weeks! 
 
 



 
Baby Size: This morning we had an ultrasound and were able to get another peak at Baby G in order to ensure that she is positioned head down, which she is.  I was 99.9% sure that this was the case considering her feet are always in my rib cage but it was nice to get confirmation. 
The ultrasound also estimated her weight at approximately 6lbs 14oz, which I believe the doctor said is in the 77th percentile.  Her head is measuring 38 weeks and her body at 36 weeks 4 days; we had a good laugh about the size of her head due to the babies in Mr. G's family having notoriously large heads.  However, it is not uncommon for the head to be measuring big as that is the biggest part of the baby. 
Our doctor is not concerned with her size at all and is anticipating a 7.5lb to 8.5lb baby…most gain approximately ½ pound to 1 pound a week at varying rates.  There is no way to know how big she will be and ultrasounds this late in the pregnancy are not as accurate.
At this point they would not stop labor nor would they do anything to speed it up, I would not need to receive the shot that helps develop her lungs further.
So the next three weeks or so really just allows Baby G to put on some extra weight.
The bump.com compares the size of Baby G to a honeydew….a very healthy honeydew!
Maternity Clothes: Yes of course! 
Sleep: Sleep is still tough but I’m glad to report that once I fall asleep at night I am able to sleep deeply for good periods of time; I am up a couple of times during the night…sometimes for a bathroom trip and sometimes to just get more comfortable. 
Gender: A sweet little GIRL!
Movement: Oh yes!  Her movements are mostly kicking and stretching as she is running out of room in there.  She put on a nice show on Saturday night and allowed almost everyone to feel her, she gave my niece a nice little kick…and both my sisters and SIL were able to feel her hiccups.
Best moment this week:  On Saturday Baby G & I were blessed and spoiled with a beautiful baby shower.  We spent the morning with lots of family and friends celebrating the upcoming arrival of this little gal.  The food was fantastic, decorations adorable…I felt a special kind of love from everyone at the shower.
Looking forward to: Continuing to prepare for her arrival, washing and folding the adorable items that we got and putting all of the other necessities away.  The glider and the book shelves will be completed within the next 10 days.
Food cravings: I haven’t really been craving anything specific. 
Anything making you queasy or sick: Not sick but I still cannot stand the smell of garlic.  And a little bit of nauseous on and off.
Labor Signs:  Without sharing TMI…things are “starting” a little which is a good sign, it means that my body knows what it is supposed to do.  It does not mean she will come early…just means that preparation for delivery has begun.  It also explains that what I have been feeling (cramping) wasn’t my imagination and my instinct was right; likely little contractions.  The doctor encouraged us to put the car seat base in and make sure the hospital bags are prepared.  Again, if labor started they wouldn’t stop it.
What I miss: I’m not going to lie….I am ready to enjoy a cocktail.  Between seeing the bloody mary’s on Saturday and a glass of rose on Sunday I’m ready!
Symptoms: PREGNANT!!  Pretty standard pregnancy symptoms:  puffy feet and fingers, clumsy and bump into things often, very tired, tough to breathe at times, can’t get up by myself and just a general feeling of discomfort. 
I think I’ve reached the point where I am ready…ready to get the show on the road and ready to meet her, I can’t wait to see what she looks like and give her a name!!
Nursery:  We absolutely love the way it has turned out, I’m so happy with everything.  The next step is to get the bookshelves up and for the glider to be delivered and get it set up; at that point the nursery will be 98% finishedJ    
Wedding rings on or off: Off and put away for the remainder of the pregnancy.
                                            
 
Mood: Good, I am definitely more emotional (can’t believe I could get more emotional) but in a good way. 


With love,
Mrs. G


Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Bumpdate 35 weeks!

How far along: 35 weeks! 

 
 

Baby Size: Head to heel Baby G is likely measuring over 18 inches long and weighs approximately 5 ¼ pounds.  She is about the size of a coconut.  At 35 weeks it is pretty much systems all a go:  hearing is fully developed, the circulatory and musculoskeletal systems are complete, kidneys are fully developed and her liver can process some waste.  Her lungs are likely almost mature, that would be the main thing they would be concerned about if she were to come early.  She is running out of room in there, no more somersaults…mostly stretching and kicking.

Maternity Clothes: Yes of course!  Some of my shirts are beginning to get a little short in the front. 

Sleep: Sleep is still tough but I’m glad to report that once I fall asleep at night I am able to sleep deeply for good periods of time; I am up a couple of times during the night…sometimes for a bathroom trip and sometimes to just get more comfortable. 

Gender: A sweet little GIRL!

Movement: Yes, we have a great video from last week…she was kicking and stretching and you can see my belly jumping around.  It is really fun to watch.

Best moment this week:  There have been so many fun moments from this week…

·         We made some major progress on the nursery!  All clothes and blankets have been washed and put away, her crib is in place with the crib skirt and a sheet, and her wall decal is up and I absolutely love it!!  The swing is ready to go and her vibrating chair is put together and just needs batteries. 

·         I enjoyed a wonderful lunch with some coworkers and they spoiled Baby G!

·         On Saturday morning I had a 60 minute prenatal massage and it was fantastic.

·         We started packing all three hospital bags:  Mom, Dad and Baby GJ

·         Sunday evening we spent two hours with our amazing photographer April and she took some incredible maternity photos as well as photos of Mr. G & me.  I cannot wait to see the final pics.

Looking forward to: This Saturday my sisters and mom are hosting a baby shower and I’m so excited to celebrate the upcoming arrival of Baby G with family and friends.

We get to see Baby G again next Monday, after a slightly confusing and frustrating appointment last week with the nurse practitioner an ultrasound was ordered to confirm her position and size…just in case.  But we are excited to see her one more time before she arrives.

Food cravings: I haven’t really been craving anything specific.  After a few days of terrible heartburn I was given the okay to take Zantac and that has been great…I finally got some relief. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not sick but I still cannot stand the smell of garlic.  And a little bit of nauseous on and off.

Labor Signs:  Nope!  Still experiencing Braxton hicks every once in a while but nothing serious.

What I miss: Blue cheese & brie!

Symptoms: PREGNANT!!  Pretty standard pregnancy symptoms:  puffy feet and fingers, clumsy and bump into things often, very tired, tough to breathe at times, can’t get up by myself and just a general feeling of discomfort. 

These complaints really are minor for me, I am still extremely thankful to have had a great pregnancy so far.

Nursery:  It is coming together and we absolutely love it, I’m so happy with the way it looks.  The next step is to get the bookshelves up and buy the glider and get it set up, at that point the nursery will be 98% finishedJ    

Wedding rings on or off: Off and put away for the remainder of the pregnancy.
                                          
Mood: Good, still lots of emotions but good. 

 With love,

Mrs. G

 

 

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Bumpdate 34 weeks!

How far along: 34 weeks! 

 



Baby Size: Head to heel Baby G is measuring between 17.2 – 18.7 inches long and weighs between 4.2 – 5.8 pounds.  She is about the size of a butternut squash.  Watch what you say!  Our curious Baby G is listening in on our conversations at 34 weeks.  It is said that a baby will recognize songs after birth that mom sings while baby is in utero.  I’m thinking she may just want me to play music to her instead of singing, ha ha!  Her fat layers are filling her out, making her rounder and her skin is also smoother.  Her central nervous system is maturing as are her lungs.

Maternity Clothes: Yes of course!  Some of my shirts are beginning to get a little short in the front. 

Sleep: Sleep is rough; I am up often throughout the night…sometimes for a bathroom trip and sometimes to just get more comfortable.  Rolling over is tough and my hips hurt, a lot. 

Gender: A sweet little GIRL!

Movement: Yes, she enjoys stretching out and shoving her feet into my rib cage, not the most comfortable for me.  Last night Mr. G and I watched her stretch out and her feet made the top of my belly roll like waves. 

Best moment this week:  Yesterday we purchased some baby laundry detergent and did four loads of baby clothing!  It was so cute to see all of those little clothes in the washing machine.  Now to get them folded and put away.

Looking forward to: Our 34 week appointment is tomorrow and our doctor will discuss all of the “what to do’s” when you go into labor.  I cannot believe how fast the time has gone and we are already having the labor & delivery conversation!

Also, we are having some maternity pictures taken on Sunday.  It will be nice to have some photos from this pregnancy to keep. 

Food cravings: I’m not really craving anything special this week, just eating what sounds good.  My heartburn has become worse over the last week, which is changing what I consume.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not sick but I still cannot stand the smell of garlic.  And a little bit of nauseous on and off.

Labor Signs:  Nope!  Still experiencing Braxton hicks every once in a while but nothing serious.

What I miss: Not having to heat up my lunch meat, I’m so tired of it!  I just want to eat a sandwich like a regular person. 

Symptoms: PREGNANT!!  I am experiencing the famous puffy feet and fingers, mostly when I’m warm or after a long day.

I am clumsy and bump into things often, yesterday at Menard’s I hit my belly on the cart…I just sort of ran into it.  I am very tired, it is tough to breathe at times, I have trouble getting up (I need help), heartburn and just a general feeling of discomfort. 

These complaints really are minor for me, I am still extremely thankful to have had a great and easy pregnancy so far.

Nursery:  We are making progress!!  We purchased baskets from IKEA last week and with the laundry I will be filling them up quickly.  Her bookshelves are put together and Andy is painting them tonight, hopefully they can go up on Wednesday.  The decal will be put up soon; I just have to read the directions so I do it correctly.    

Wedding rings on or off: Today my wedding rings fit…so I’m wearing them!  But I know this is short lived.
                                           

Mood: Good, a little emotional but overall good. 

 
With love,
Mrs. G