My top mommy must haves: 3-9 months

The original plan was to post this at 6 months, but as usual, time started flying by & now here we are! Guess that's what happens when you throw a baby into the mix...your "plans" somehow seem to slip, ha!

Anywho (can you tell that's my word?! I use it in regular conversation too ;), I hope this list will be useful to some of you! When I was pregnant with the munchkin, I always found similar product recc posts from some of my mommy blogger friends helpful...and I still find them helpful - geared towards older babies of course since this one:

{last weekend @ our lunch date to Chipotle...yes we go on lunch dates...minus the hubbs ::wink::}

...well, she's becoming such a big girl! <3 her!

So, without further adieu (sp?), here's a list of the top products I couldn't live without over the last 6 months:

1. The Summer Infant Video Monitor:

{photo credit}

We moved Amaya to her crib early, a little before 3 months actually, and I'm so happy we did! Since she was so young, the transition really wasn't tough at all. The one thing she had to get used to was her limbs - she used to startle herself awake with them several times a night. Sometimes she'd be up until we put her back to sleep, but eventually she got used to them!

Anyway, one of the things that always gave me comfort was this monitor. I was skeptical about getting one b/c of the cost & b/c Baby Bargains recommended against it, but the hubbs insisted (I think he was thinking about how cool it was rather than the actual usefulness of it, lol), so I relented & added it to our registry. We used gift cards we received at our baby showers to purchase one & it's seriously one of the best baby purchases I've ever made!

2. Boogie Wipes:

{photo credit}

I cannot say enough good things about this product! We were in the throws of our first cold when I stumbled across these at BRU one day & I picked a pack up wanting to try 'em out. Now I can't live without them! Anytime AJ becomes a little snot box, I break out a pack of these babies & her nose gets cleaned without getting all sore & raw. They are also perfect for getting dried on boogs or food off her face...awesome product!



3. Clean Shopper:

{photo credit}

I had another shopping cart/high chair cover, but it didn't cover the sides of the carts, which didn't work for {germ-o-phobe} me...I hated seeing AJ touching the exposed parts of the cart then putting her hands in her mouth! Ugh, can you say germ fest?! I knew I needed another shopping cart/high chair cover & one day they just popped up on Zulily! Awesome. I cannot say enough good things about the Babe Ease brand of Clean Shoppers & Diners. They are GREAT - huge, soft & easy to clean...all the things busy mamas need & everything I was looking for!

4. Summer Infant Tiny Diner

{photo credit}

This is another can't live without product for anyone who likes going out to eat at restaurants. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this mat. It suctions to most tables & contains A's messes like no other (see photo of munchkin above). It's also super easy to carry around & clean up - it rolls right up & fits in your diaper bag or purse, then when you get home, just shake the mess into the trash & either toss in the dishwasher or rinse off with soap & water. Easy peasy & such a great value - if you buy one, you definitely won't regret it!

5. Sophie the Giraffe teether:

{photo credit}

Yes, I admit it - I bought into the Sophie hype & bought one for A for Christmas, or did Santa bring that?! he he he. Nonetheless, she has her, she chews her, she loves her. She used to spend 10+ minutes at a time chewing on Sophie's nose & legs! It is quite the expensive teething toy, but she has held up remarkably well so far & she's easily washable in the sink with warm, soapy water.

6. Evenflo Exersaucer:

 

 {photo credit}

Amaya LOVES her exersaucer - she loves to "bouncy bouncy" & starts jumping up & down as soon as we say those words, lol.  This is another example of Santa's infinite wisdom. :) I like that it keeps her entertained {& contained} while I get stuff done or when I'm getting ready for the day. She has the 123 Tea For Me version of the Exersaucer & especially loves the stacking cake, the mail/mailbox & the spinning wheels. It even has a small tray & a place for her cup!

7. Tomee Tipee starter cups:

{photo credit}

We received these cups as a gift during one of our baby showers & when the time came for Baby AJ to start practicing with cups, I decided to try 'em out. She took to these surprisingly easy & it now a little pro at drinking out of her cup! Her teacher at daycare even commented on how good & advanced she is with the cup! I like the soft spout, small amount of parts + no spill feature, the handles & the top that closes over the spout...you know, for when your little one is over drinking out of the cup & instead wants to bang it on stuff & throw it around?!

8. Graco Blossom 4-in-1 high chair:

 {photo credit}

I love this high chair! One of my fave things about it is that it's not too baby'ish looking & it has so many features that keep growing with your child, like it's THREE {yes, 3!!} trays, the multiple seat levels & it even comes with a booster seat! I'm sure we will keep this for years & years to come! In fact, we won't ever need another one since it goes all the way thru the toddler age range. Amaya likes playing with toys or smearing food all over the large main tray. But don't worry, the tray is machine {dishwasher} washable & the straps & cover come off easily to wash if you need to.
 
9. Aquaphor:

 {photo credit}

This stuff is ahhh-mazing. We mainly use this to treat & prevent diaper rash - it's the only thing that has ever worked for AJ - we tried Triple Paste, Desitin, Butt Paste & none worked quite as well as good 'ol Aquaphor. And you don't need the baby kind (same as the adult version btw), nor do you need the brand name. I have used the CVS, Target & K-Mart store brands & they are all pretty awesome. When AJ is getting a little red or a rash down there, we slather it on thick (& have her daycare do the same with the Aquaphor we provided) & normally it's gone the next morning, or at the very least, markedly better! Love it. Want some more of it. :)


10. LOTs of storage baskets:

 {photo credit}

I recently bought a couple C&B baskets for our living room for toy storage & I'm so happy I did! Their baskets are stylish, affordable & large enough to hold a lot of munchkin's toys! I hate clutter, so at the end of the day, I just toss all her toys in the baskets & my living room instantly looks less like a playroom, lol. We also have a Pier One basket in our room where I put any toys that find their way into our room so that they are handy if we need them, but not laying around our room. Baskets are essential for those of you who crave a clutter-free, organized home.

11. Formula Dispenser:

 {photo credit}

If you use powdered formula, these are essential for trips out of the house. I bought one dispenser & each compartment holds up to 8 oz each time. I just fill this baby up before we plan to head out, fill a couple bottles up with water & head out. It makes it super easy to prepare the bottles when you're out of the house as well, just pop open the top, pour into the bottle, shake & you're all done. and for the price, you can't beat how useful this product is!

That's all I got for now, I'm SO tired so I'm gonna turn in for the night. Try some or all of these products, you won't be sorry you did! 'Till next time!

My top mommy must haves - 0-3 months

::waves hi:: Hey there everyone - I can't believe how much of a break I took from blogging. It's crazy how busy just one little person can make your life, lol. I have had some D-R-A-M-A @ work to tell yall about. Yep, you read that right & no I'm not back at work yet, but some stuff has gone down related to my promotion & being on maternity leave which pmb {pretty.much.basically} p!sses me off & I'm pretty sure is illegal. But, that's a story for another day - today I want to talk about happy baby stuff! :o)

I always loved reading these types of posts on other mama's blogs when I was pregnant, so I decided to try my hand at my own...hopefully it helps another expectant mama out! This is my list of what we products we couldn't have done without over the last 8 weeks of Baby AJ's life - yep, 8 weeks. They grow up so quickly, huh? Anywho, I digress...here goes:

1) The Sara Bear Diaper Caddy:

Photo Credit

This thing is awesome. In the first several weeks that the babe was home & even still, we spent A LOT of time in other parts of the house not so much in her nursery (which is where all the baby supplies are), so this thing has proved invaluable. It has so many compartments for all the essentials - diapers, wipes, cornstarch, brush/comb, etc. etc. This thing was so handy & travels with us all over the house. The one down side to this basket is the fact that the liner is not machine washable, which is annoying. But besides that, I love this product!

2) Babies 'R Us (BRU) Disposable Multi Use Pads:

Photo Credit

Oh my gaw. These things are ahhhh-mazing. Seriously. My neighbor made me this gift basket as a baby gift & included these in it & I didn't realize just how valuable they would be to us! We keep them in diaper caddy & her diaper bag & use them to change her wherever we happen to be hanging out - on the couch, on the floor, on our bed {in the middle of the night} & in public bathroom changing stations. I especially love them for public bathrooms. I am just a wee bit of a germ-o-phobe, so putting my little girl's butt on those public changing stations was out of the question for me & is totally solved by this product. And the best part - they are really affordable & re-useable, so unless she spits up, pees or poops on the mat, then we just fold it up & hang on to it until it needs to be thrown out. I totally recommend these to ALL new moms/parents...in fact, I just included a box in my friend's baby shower gift bag & will probably continue to give them out as gifts at friend's baby showers in the future!

3) Graco SnugRide Stroller Frame:

Photo Credit

This thing is so convenient when you need to head out on a trip or if you want to take your baby on a walk. If you use the Graco SnugRide brand infant car seats, then it just snaps right on this. It's MUCH cheaper than the expensive, heavey & bulky travel systems that a lot of people buy for their newborns. Now granted - you can only use this for as long as the baby can sit in his/her infant car seat, but that's 22 lbs. at the minimum (which for most babies is at least 9 months - 1 year) & it's so affordable (only $75 from BRU). I love that this has the cup/misc. items holders on the bar & the roomy storage area down below, which is great for diaper bags, the baby's bulky coats & purses. We registered for this & a friend bought it for us &amp. We also registered for a Maclaren Quest Umbrella Stroller for when she can sit up on her own to use later on, so now we are all set on strollers! PS - Baby Trend also makes a similar stroller frame that's $5 cheaper & is supposed to be universal to *most* infant seats, but I felt better using the frame & infant car seat from the same manufacturer because it was much more secure - it snapped into place vs. just fitting well enough & using a belt to secure the seat, which is how it works on the Baby Trend version).


4) Fisher-Price Newborn Rock & Play Sleeper:

Photo Credit

We use this as our daughter's bassinet in our room & really wherever else we are. It's so much more portable, less expensive, more easily stored & useful for a longer period of time (weight wise) than the bassinet on a Pack & Play. Baby AJ has acid reflux, so the fact that this is slightly elevated is even better for her. I read some reviews about the fact that the back (where baby lays her head) is sorta hard & the cushion is not thick enough, but I just put a soft blanket under the cover & we haven't had any problems. Once she starts sitting up we may still purchase a Pack & Play for her to sleep in when we travel, but for now we are all set with this!

5)  Johnson & Johnson Bedtime Bath Washcloths:

Photo Credit

We were given these as a gift & used them to give Baby AJ sponge baths before her umbilical cord stump fell off. They are ready-to-use washcloths with the soap already on them. They got her clean, made her smell yummy & seemed gentle enough that they didn't dry her skin out. I like that they got sudsy, but not too sudsy for a small infant. Since she was a teeny newborn when we used these, I can't say if they actually helped her to fall asleep - she slept just fine because she was so small!


6) Vick's Baby Rectal Thermometer:

Photo Credit

I was a little freaked out to use a rectal thermometer at first, but when I read that it can help your struggling baby to go #2, then I knew I had to try it. You see, my daughter has had HORRIBLE gas since she was about 3 weeks - it's painful, at least it looks painful. We literally prepared to try anything to help her & guess what, it actually worked! You just stick it in their bum for about 45 seconds - 1 minute & if they have to poop, then they will shortly after you take it out. It seems like it would be uncomfortable to the baby, but it's really not - when she was fussy (from gas) & we inserted it, she actually quieted down. Just be sure to use a little Vaseline to insert it & it slides right in. And extra bonus - this thing takes the most accurate temperature reading & does it within seconds. I highly recommend this!


7) Baby 411:

Photo Credit

I have looked to the advice in this book so much & I'm sure I will continue to! I got the rectal thermometer tip from it - see above! This book is written by the same author who wrote Baby Bargains, which I consulted when deciding what baby stuff we'd need or not need & this one is just as valuable. It discusses topics from sleeping to {minor} medical issues/remedies (co-authored by an AAP Pediatrician) to feeding to poop & everything in between. I LOVE this book & I'm sure I'll continue to consult for years to come! I think any first time momma would benefit from having this book handy.


8) Soothie Pacifiers:

Photo Credit

This is the same pacifier they give the babies in the hospital & our daughter loves them! We use them mainly during nap/bed time when she just needs the extra comfort to wind or calm down. They work like a charm & I think they will be easy to wean her off of when she gets a bit older. The one down side is that you can't really use the cutesy pacifier clips sold everywhere with them since they have no clip, but you can buy a Wubbanub or two (just bought 2 on Amazon for Baby AJ's Christmas gift) in order to keep track of them & they are just too cute, aren't they?!


9) Fisher-Price Precious Planet Whale of a Tub:

 Photo Credit

I went back & forth for a while on what tub to register for & I'm so glad I settled on this one! Our daughter LOVES bath time & seems to be nice & comfy sitting in this tub. The little newborn stopper thing prevents her from sliding down into the water in the bottom of the tub & the back pad helps her from slipping around as well. I love that it is sort of it's own independent bathtub, so you can place it in your tub or on your sink & fill it with bubbles & water & not have to waste any additional water if you don't need to. I just turn the spout back on when I need "clean" water to wash her face or hair. It is a bit bulky (as are most baby tubs), which was my main concern since we only have 1 bathroom upstairs, so it has to stay in our bathroom, but I just let it dry out in the tub then lean it against our wall & it's fine.



10) Gerber Cloth Diaper Prefolds:

Photo Credit

Nope, we don't cloth diaper, but I do use & LOVE these things. They make awesome burp cloths & we need them a lot due to our daughter's acid reflux. They are very absorbent & are 10 million times better than the cutesy burp cloths they sell in the stores. I highly recommend picking up at least 1 pack of these & using them as burp cloths if you don't need them for cloth diapering & even if you do! As I mentioned, they are very absorbent, easily machine washable & have proven to be invaluable to us. These are very highly recommended!


11) Boppy:

Photo Credit

I stopped breastfeeding a few weeks after the babe was born due to several reasons, but this was awesome when I was BF'ing to prop her up on. It's still useful now to help the baby sit up when are just talking to her or need to prop her up while sitting next to us. I've also used it during her tummy time as well & really like it. It's very comfy & convenient & also very useful for multiple reasons!


12) The Diaper Genie II Elite:

Photo Credit

I heard mixed reviews about this, but I really like ours - it helps keep her room from being stunk up by her dirty diapers, which is definitely a good thing! It was a little difficult to get the bag refill in at first, but once I got the hang of it, everything else was cake. She's not sleeping in her room right now, but it's right across the hall from ours, where she does sleep, so we can just pop the dirty diapers in there at night. And I have a feeling that once she's sleeping in her room, then this will be even more useful!


I didn't list onesies, bibs, sleepers or blankets, which are all also very useful, but I didn't think they'd need mentioning since most expectant moms know that already! So that's all I can think of for now. I know once I hit "Publish" I'll think of about 10 other things lol. I'll probably do another one of these in about 3-4 months, so I can document what helped us out as she gets older. I hope this helps someone out there in blogland. And I apologize for being a slacker again, I promise to get better...I have lots of baby pics & weight loss stuff to document, plus I need to tell you my crazy work story - finding the time is the hard part! 'Till next time!

Project Nursery - bring on the books & art {+ a DIY monogram art tutorial}!

I feel like work has been consuming my life lately, so I have LOTS of nursery & house stuff to share, but I just need to find the time to do it! Tonight I decided to share my progress on & future plans for Baby J's bookshelf wall! I l-o-v-e the way it's coming together!

So, remember waaay back on my very first Project Nursery post, when I discussed our bookshelf choice - well I'm so glad we picked this bookshelf because it fits perfectly with the other furniture in the room & is SO roomy! And of course, my personal favorite thing about it - it's very affordable! Then, in my all put together post, I showed you how the bookshelf looked against the wall with just a few little odds & ends I picked up & even a couple books! Here's a reminder of how the bookshelf wall looked by that point:

Well my mom used to do in-home daycare, so she gave us LOTS of books & then I bought this cute canvas toy storage tote from PBK to go next to the shelf & keep all her cute toys nice & organized {I'm a little OCD about keeping stuff orderly, which I hear will most definitely change after the babe gets here ;o) }:

We are going to get a small flat screen for the bookshelf so that the hubbs & I can watch TV in the wee hours of the night while rocking the babe back to sleep. And later for her kiddo DVDs & what not. I know some people are totally against TVs in baby rooms, but we aren't, we'll make it work & if it doesn't, then we'll figure it out from there. We definitely don't plan to use it as a tool in helping her get to sleep, so we'll just see how it goes. We likely won't buy the TV until after the baby's born. She'll be sleeping in our room in the bassinet portion of her pack & play for the first 2-3 months before moving into her nursery anyways, so we may even wait until Black Friday to get a great deal on the TV. I'll send the hubbs out to get it while me & the baby cuddle up together & stay warm.

Anywho, after we agreed on all my plans for the wall, I thought to myself, hmmm, something is missing?! But I just couldn't put my finger on it. Then, while perusing one of my favorite DIY home decor blogs - Young House Love - I saw the perfect solution: an asymmetrical photo arrangement on the wall! And it's in little Clara's nursery, so they added some cute touches to make the frames more baby friendly & I fell in love:

Photo Credit

So, I perused Etsy for the perfect prints for the wall & found these two cuties in Etsy seller Pretty Smitten's shop & scooped them right up:

PS - while blog stalking perusing this morning, I came across another blog who's author made her own ABC art print & posted it on her site to share with everyone - it's pretty cute & my very favorite price - FREE! Check it out here. :)

So, I decided on a layout for our wall that would work for the space we have & came up with this:

Then, using old Christmas dollar store wrapping paper, I cut out the sizes of the frames I planned to use on the wall per my diagram above:

Then, I taped them up on the wall (WOD tip: I blotted the tape against my clothes before putting it up on the wall, so that it would pick up lint & not peel the paint). I measured approximately 1.5 inches between the frames & this is what I came up with:

If you notice, I left off the three 2x3 small frames to the far left of the diagram above - I decided against using them for now due to space limitations & because I don't want the frames to look too cramped up there. I may add them back later, but for now, they are out.

In addition to the two prints above, I will add this first year frame from Target & my DIY Owl Shadow Box Art. We haven't quite gotten around to getting all the smaller frames for the wall - I may work on that this weekend - so for now, this is how the wall still looks until I get the frames up. In all of the smaller frames, we plan to add a few family/maternity photos & some of Baby J's newborn photos after she arrives.

And now...drum roll please, feast your eyes on our baby girl's {mostly done} bookshelf wall:

That "A" in the pink frame is a ridiculously simple DIY monogram I made using a cheapo K-Mart frame that we spray painted the same color as her bow holder, some scrapbook paper from Michaels for the background & some spare kiddo wrapping paper from Hallmark for the letter! 

 

I just found an "A" in a font I liked, blew it up in Microsoft word, printed it out on white card stock & cut that out to use as a template. I also cut out the scrapbook paper to fit the frame backing (I just traced the insert that comes with the frame & cut the scrapbook paper to the same size. Then, I traced it on the back of my wrapping paper, cut it out & used double sided tape to stick it on the scrapbook paper backing. Once that was finished, I threw it in the spray painted frame & all done! And, that's it - you get an affordable, cute & very easy to make piece of framed monogram art:

Please excuse my fingerprints on the glass, this photo was taken before I cleaned the glass - DOH!

So what do you think of the wall?! It's coming along just how I envisioned - I just love it when plans work out the way they are supposed to, don't you?!

Wanna see our nursery progress from the beginning?! Check out my master plan for the room & the first set of DIY goodies I made for our little girl, the major furniture all put together, my cute owl accent finds & decision to do a understated owl theme in her nursery, my "Owl" Bean Bag score turned FAIL, how we "planted" a tree over the glider to read books to our sweet baby girl under, my easy peasy DIY owl wall art that I made using recycled greeting cards, and the finished dresser/changer combo & crib walls plus a simple & cute DIY bow holder! Enjoy. :)

And as I mentioned earlier - stay tuned for much much more Project Nursery (we are almost done with the room!), a recap on some organizing/cleaning I did this weekend, updates on my pre-Baby J to do list, my 29 week pregnancy update, fall decor plans & lots & lots more. Time is flying & I'm trying to get everything done so I don't have to do it when I'm all big & uncomfortable. 'Till next time!

23-24 Weeks...and more cute stuff!

Hey there everyone! We are back from South Carolina! My cousin's wedding was fun & it was great seeing my family...but I'm glad to be out of the car (it's an 8'ish hour drive) & back home!!

I have found a new baby company to add to my list of faves: the buti-bag company. If you haven't ever seen their stuff, go check it out!! They have sooo much cute stuff in the most ADORABLE designs! The owner of the buti-bag company, Nicole, is also super nice! She contacted me about a link I posted on another blog I frequent where I was talking about my favorite baby stuff & she got a lot of traffic from that link, so offered me a free gift! So sweet & I'm absolutely not one to turn down cute stuff for Baby J, so I selected the oh-so-cute pink & chocolate bi-o-pad, which can be used as a grocery shopping cart, a restaurant high chair cover or even a public restroom cover. And I'm sort of a germ-o-phobe - like I only go to grocery stores that offer those sanitizing wipes so that you can wipe off the shopping cart/basket before you touch it & I always carry hand sanitizer around with me - LOL, so this was the PERFECT product for me! I also really liked her pod packs for baby wipes when you're on the go - also seems like an awesome product that I know will come in handy when Baby J gets here! So I asked her to throw that in too & I offered to pay for that, but she said she'd just throw that in too. :) Well on Friday, I got a ring on my door from the mailman & was elated to find a package from Nicole!

 The tube is an exciting something else for Baby J's nursery...more on that in another post soon!

And inside the package from the the buti-bag company:

Woo hoo! The bi-o-pad, the pod pack & she even threw in some of her CUTE binkmeister binkie clips!!

And now I'm officially in love with her company! The bi-o-pad is so soft & cute & I love all the adorable prints all of her stuff comes in! I even went back on her site & bought Baby J one of her adorable baby blankets too!

::swoon::

If you're in the market for some adorable, yet practical & high quality baby stuff or you are just obsessed with buying stuff for your little one like me {wink}, then head on over & check out all of the buti-bag company's awesome stuff!! Make sure to sign up for her email list to get word on buti-bag company exclusive sales & to be alerted when new products & patterns are added. I'll definitely be a repeat customer. :)

So today I'm 24 weeks & 1 day pregnant, which means our precious little girl has reached the point of viability!!! That means that she would have a chance of surviving outside of the womb if she were born today. Of course, we absolutely DO NOT want her to come any time soon - November or late October sounds best to her mama & daddy, so she just needs to stay in there & keep growing big & strong! The baby is pretty much fully developed at this point, her taste buds are developing & her lungs are continuing to mature. She's now putting on weight more rapidly & should be about 1.5 lbs. this week & 12.5 inches long! She also kicks away more & more every day. This past week, I registered for breastfeeding & childbirth classes, as well as our hospital tour! The BF class is in mid-August & I'm actually really excited to go to the class! Every milestone that gets me closer to my baby girl is a good thing. :) I have been feeling pretty good overall - just sore here & there by the end of the day. And I've also noticed that I am starting to get a little stuffy, which I hear is common during pregnancy.

I had a OB appointment this past Friday & I gained like 6 lbs since my 20 week appointment! The Nurse Practitioner, who I saw this time, said that I should try to just keep an eye on my weight & stay active, but that she's not extremely worried about such a fast jump over the 4-week period...she said it happens sometimes, but that I should only be gaining about 1 lb. per week during this part of my pregnancy. Eh well. I'm still well within the normal weight range, so I'm trying not to worry too much about it. But I am gonna get strict about walking on the treadmill @ the gym a couple times a week & about finding a pre-natal yoga class. We got to hear Baby J's heartbeat at the appt., which was right around the 150 beats per minute range - very normal & I got a lab slip to do my 1 hour glucose tolerance test. It's supposed to be done during week 26, so I'll handle that in a couple weeks - wish me luck! Oh the NP also checked out the swollen area under my right arm & she says it's just a swollen lymph node & warned that it may even get more swollen as my milk comes in. I asked when I would need to start counting the baby's kicks & she said not until around 30-32 weeks, but as long as she's moving daily then it's normal for now. And she definitely does that, hahaha! Oh & I now know the two dates for my baby showers - the hubby's family is hosting the first one (they live about 4 hours away, so they decided to do one down there for us) on September 18th & the one with all my friends & family is on October 2nd! I am SO excited & am constantly updating & adding/removing stuff from our baby registry because I'm so freakin indecisive! I also contacted my "life photographer", who shot our engagement & wedding photos & am working now with her to schedule a maternity photo shoot & also a newborn photo shoot when the babe arrives. the tentative plan is to do the maternity shots in mid-September, so I'll be a little over 30 weeks. And that's about it for the past two weeks of my pregnancy - just truckin' right along & waiting to meet our little girl in a little under 16 weeks!

And I definitely feel like I look pregnant nowadays - here are my week 23 & 24 bump shots. I'm always either in maternity clothes or stretchy pants & fewer & fewer of my pre-pregnancy shirts fit now.

23 weeks - clothed & bare belly:

And 24 weeks - clothed & bare belly:

Next week I think I'll post a comparison from earlier on in my pregnancy. I can't believe I am just a couple weeks shy of the third trimester! According to some of the things I have read, this week actually marks the last week of the second tri. Doesn't matter to me either way as long as this baby keeps growing big, strong & healthy in there!  And this also makes me realize just how close we are to meeting her - and just how much we need to get on the ball with her room & everything else we wanna get done before she gets here. 'Till next time!

Project Nursery - Part I

We have already gotten a good start on Baby J's nursery - the paint is on the walls, the crib & dresser are put together, the glider & ottoman are in their rightful place, but we still have LOTS to do with our baby girl's nursery. This first post on the nursery will basically document my overall plans for the layout, color scheme/theme & general ideas, plus show off some of the stuff we (read: my husband under my direction ;o) have already accomplished. Then subsequent Project Nursery posts will discuss specific elements of the nursery & feature some of my DIY projects for our little girl. Some of the Project Nursery posts will also just discuss what I'm thinking of doing in certain parts of the nursery & I'll ask my readers for feedback. I have so many ideas to share & incorporate into this room that it is going to take several posts, over several months to share everything!

In general, I'm going for a girly, but not too pink & not too babyish room - think whimsy & cute, but not frilly or over the top, in your face pink. Oh & I am not going to have a a theme for the room - I'm not really into overly themey stuff, I just want it to be modern looking and to flow with complimentary colors & patterns. I'm using the aqua as my main color (the walls), but I am going to balance that out with pink (both hot & light pink), white, chocolate brown, light yellow & light/pastel green.

Here is my idea of the general layout for the room (imagine it with walls around the outside):

I took a few photos of the beginning stage of the room before the hubbs had gotten the crib put together, so you will just have to wait on that! But here are some preliminary photos of the room:

This is the back wall (also the longest) - the dresser & glider will stay in this configuration:

This is the wall where the entryway door and the crib are (the crib is now put together & against this wall): 

 

Pictured below is what the convertible crib looks like assembled, we got the crib, dresser & conversion kit for the crib for right around $1K (including delivery) from Babies R Us (BRU) during their 20% off all nursery furniture sale.

This photo below shows half of the wall directly across from the room entrance, where there are two windows equally spaced apart (you can only see one in this photo) & the front wall directly to the left of the entryway door, where we will be putting a bookshelf & some toy storage. This wall also has our baby girl's teeny tiny closet - I'll likely get some sort of closet organization system or something to maximize the space here:

The dark blue window shades/blinds that are pulled all the way up in the photo above have already been taken down & need to be Freecycled. We have already purchased the same white fabric honeycomb shades that we got for our Master Bedroom & had custom cut to fit the windows in the room. I LOVE LOVE LOVE these shades - the are made by DesignView & sold at Home Depot. I literally cannot rave enough about these shades - we absolutely love them in our room & they are very affordable. They diffuse sunlight, so hopefully that'll help our little one sleep when she naps during the days, so that mama & daddy can rest too! So anywho, we have those & the hubbs just needs to install them.

The last major piece of furniture going in the room is this "Bentley Kid's Cubby Bookcase," I bought from Target for $100 with free shipping. I love how it has two large shelves that I can store baskets or books on & three smaller shelves to display photos or little trinkets (which I am sure will change once our little girl starts getting around on her own & getting into things). I plan to also put some sort of toy storage box or basket with a lid next to the bookcase for all her little toys she's sure to be spoiled with &/or accumulate over the years!


So that's the nursery so far! It's definitely a work in progress & I am constantly changing my mind, but everything I mentioned here will stay the same. We have the furniture, the blinds have already been cut, so there's no turning back now...which is a good thing for someone as indecisive as I am, LOL. I think we are doing pretty good since we still have another 22 or so weeks till we get to meet our little girl! I'll be back tomorrow with 5QF & I have a very cute DIY project I already completed for our little girl to share sometime next week. 'Till next time!