37 Week Bump Date

So we are finally in the home stretch! Less than 3 weeks until the due date. I refuse to even think about going late at this point, although I know its a possibility. We just can't wait to meet our baby boy! At our 37 week checkup on Tuesday the doctor said I'm "fingertip" dilated, which is the same as my 36 week checkup; so no progress. :( I have been having braxton hicks and every day I'm having new pains of some sort. I know it can happen anytime, I'm just trying to be patient and rest as much as possible.

How Far Along? 37 weeks! That's considered full term, even though my due date is August 20th.

Size of Baby? Winter melon? I'm not sure what that is, but he's definitely over 6 lbs, and my doctor is guesstimating  closer to 7 lbs.

Maternity Clothes? This is a silly question. I'm down to like 5 outfits I will wear in public and around the house its tshirts and pj pants. I've even resorted to Jason's boxers when I don't feel like doing laundry.
Weight gain? +30
Stretch Marks? Nope. I'm pretty happy about that one.
Gender?  BOY!!
Sleep? Its not that great. I'm up to pee every hour, sometimes I have to get up and get a snack, and sometimes I just can't get comfortable enough to sleep.
Food Cravings? We had to make a late night run to Krispy Kreme this week, but I'm not being picky these days...I just want to eat.
What I miss? Caffine, wearing my rings, being skinny, being comfortable in general, having more than one pair of shoes that fit...I could go on but I'll stop there.
Symptoms? Heartburn, swollen ankles and feet, uncomfortable most  all of the time, fatigue...
Belly Button? Finally out.
Best Moment of the Week Month? We've had some wonderful showers, finished the nursery, finished breastfeeding and childbirth classes. Lots of good times!
Looking Forward To? Having this baby - preferably sooner rather than later!

Stay tuned for a birth announcement!

30 Week Bump Date

I can't believe we've only got 10 weeks left until we meet our baby boy!
I've been feeling lots of movement, especially at night.
I am surprised by how strong some of kicks his are!
I get some sciatica if I sit or stand in one position too long.
And I've had some rib pain most days.
But overall I feel good!

How Far Along? 30 weeks. I'm measuring ahead though..my fundal height at the 30 week appointment was measuring 32 weeks. All of our ultrasounds he's measuring a little ahead too.
 I think he's going to be big.
Size of Baby? a (large) cucumber; 16 inches long and 3-ish lbs.
Maternity Clothes? Oh yeah. Dresses are definitely the most comfortable these days since its gotten hot. But I'm also loving my Japanese Weekend maternity shorts.
Weight gain? +20 pounds...These two months I haven't been blogging, I've been sitting around eating!  Ha!
Stretch Marks? Not yet, moisturizing like crazy.
Gender?  BOY!!
Sleep? Eh. Its hit or miss. Some nights I sleep really well and other nights I'm restless and can't turn off the train of thoughts about baby and to do lists.
Food Cravings? Sweets, fruit, red meat and still eating chicken salad several times a week.
What I miss? The usual....caffeine

Symptoms? Heartburn, weird dreams, starting to be uncomfortable most of the time, shortness of breath, emotional
Belly Button? It's flush...neither in or out.
Best Moment of the Week? We got the nursery painted and the glider and pouf are here! We started our childbirth classes which we have been enjoying. Out of 8 couples...7 of us are having boys in August!

Looking Forward To? The shower in Memphis my sister- in -law is throwing me is coming up. I'm really looking forward to seeing some family and friends I haven't seen in awhile there. Also, getting the nursery finished. Just a few more details!

Sew Easy: DIY Burp Cloths

Happy Monday!

Long time, no blog.

April and May were really busy. 

There was only one weekend when I wasn't traveling or hosting out of town company

and those are the busiest months at work.

So, needless to say, blogging wasn't at the top of my priority list.

Lately though, I've downshifted (and plan on staying that way until Baby Battles has made his debut). I'm done with work  (woo- hoo!) other than helping out at summer camp a couple weeks.

I'm hoping to blog more over the next couple of months as I definitely want to document this time in our lives.

Today, I wanted to share a little sewing project I just finished up,

DIY burp cloths.

I just took the standard Gerber cloth diapers and

sewed some cute fabric and trim down the center to dress them up. 

Easy peasy and I think they turned out pretty cute.

I'm in my last month of sewing classes now,

and working on a sweet day gown for my little man.

I'll be sure to share when I get it finished up.

Have a great week!

20 weeks

Like that skirt I'm wearing? I made it!

I've started taking sewing lessons again - this time garments instead of home decor - and it going great!

The maternity skirt was my first completed garment, now I'm working on a PJ top.

(Because otherwise it would be an unflattering maternity blouse - but it has some attributes my instructor wants me to learn next.)

After that I'm planning on doing a dress for me 

before moving on to some day gowns and jon -jons for the baby.

Now on to the bumpdate!

It's the halfway point!

We had our 20 week appointment today and the doctor said baby boy looks good and healthy!

We even got a good peek at his little face!

We are so in love already!

How Far Along? 20 weeks

Size of Baby? Length of a banana, 10 inches head to toe. At the ultrasound they said he weighed 14 ounces

Maternity Clothes? Yes, yes and yes. When my mother in law was in town she bought be a few things at the Pickles and Ice Cream here in Nashville that is going out of business. Coupled with things my mom bought me on my last Houston trip and clothes I'm borrowing from my sister in law, Angie, I'm almost exclusively in maternity clothes, except for the occasional top  can fit into. I'm so ready for the unending winter to be over to I can wear some comfortable dresses!

Weight gain? I'm up three pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight.

Stretch Marks? Nope, still slathering on the moisturizer everyday

Gender?  BOY!!

Sleep? I've been sleeping hard with vivid dreams nightly thanks to my Snoogle.

Food Cravings? Chicken Salad. Random but true. I eat it almost everyday. Lovin' those sweets too.

What I miss? Still caffeine

Symptoms? Round ligament pain in my sides in the evenings

Belly Button? It's super shallow. I swear its going to be outie before long!

Best Moment of the Week? Seeing baby boys sweet face in 3D! Also, we've decided on a name, but I will most likely wait until he is born before I share it on the world wide web.

This weekend we are heading to Texas for a friends wedding and a quick visit with my Mom and Dad in Houston. I'm looking forward to getting out of town for a minute and heading for some warmer weather!

A New Look

The blog got a new look, and I LOVE it!

The template I bought from Chelsea at Bella Lulu Ink on Etsy.

She has great designs at very reasonable prices, if you blog

and are in the market for new updated design, you should check her out!

I decided it was high time for a makeover.

I've been blogging for over a year now, 

although I missed my one year blogiversary back in February 

since I've been so distracted (rightfully so) with my pregnancy.

But I decided I could invest a little money into this hobby of blogging with a new design.

I spent less than I do in a typical trip to the fabric store for sewing notions and fabric;

so, not bad if I do say so myself.

Hope you like it as much as I do!

Nautical Baby Boy Nursery

 

Nautical Baby Boy Nursery by headhearthouse on Polyvore

So I've really been working hard on compiling ideas for baby boy's nursery.
I knew as soon as we found out we were having a boy, that I wanted a nautical themed nursery.  
Jason and I both love boating, fishing, and being on the water so it made sense.
My first purchase for the nursery was the three prints from Fit to Print on Etsy. 
I loved the whimsical design and the color scheme so that was our jumping off point.
 
As far as furniture goes, my mother in law bought our crib from Pottery Barn Kids, 
which has already come in. (Thank you Gram!!!)
I wanted one that was simple, but good quality to last through any more children we may have.
Thinking along the same lines, I really wanted a nice upholstered glider 
as a place to rock and cuddle baby. 
(Not to mention, for late night feedings in the beginning and bedtime stories down the road.)
We decided on this one from Pottery Barn Kids - and my parents bought it for us, although we are still waiting on delivery. (Thank you Cookie and Pop!!!)
There are definitely cheaper options out there, but after sitting in the Pottery Barn ones in store, there really is no comparison...so comfortable.
Plus, its slipcovered, so it will easily adapt to other rooms down the road if we need it to.
The other pieces of furniture in the room are pieces from my room growing up.
There's an painted armorie that we call, "the pie safe" that my grandfather built,
and a pine chest of drawers that my mom used as my changing table,
that we will use as his too. :)

As for bedding...I have really had a hard time finding crib bedding I liked,
and was thinking of sewing my own, until I saw this James bedding collection at Serena & Lily. 
They are currently running a promotion where all fabric swatches are free,
so I ordered those before I pull the trigger on the crib skirt and crab sheets.
I ordered a swatch for the bumper but I don't think I will end up getting it.
I just can't justify the high cost, when I will be too nervous to use it.
(The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends not using bumper pads because young babies can suffocate on them, and older babies can use them to climb out of the crib and fall.)

 As for the rest of the decor on the moodboard, the whale decal (no, we are not naming the baby Ryder) and mobile are also from Etsy, a goldmine for all those special touches and unique items. 
The rug and the pouf are from Land of Nod. 
I may have to get all of these... you'll just have to come back to see! :) 

xoxo - Bethany 

 

Bumpdate : 17 weeks

We are beyond thrilled to be having a BOY!

Honestly, I was shocked. I was convinced he was a girl.

But the ultrasound, was *very clear* once the boy bits were pointed out.

Apparently, those old wives tales are just that...

Also, you may be wondering where the white long sleeve t-shirt went. 

You see, the plan was to take all the bump pictures in the same shirt 

so you could really see the progression.

Well, last week at 16 weeks I put it on and had a meltdown.

I felt very un-cute. 

And if you've ever been pregnant, 

you know that feeling un-cute when pregnant is on a whole different level.

The last thing I wanted was to have my picture taken.

So, the new plan is to just take a picture in whatever I'm feeling good in that week.

And the old white t-shirt got cut up into dust rags. :)

How Far Along? 17 weeks!

Size of Baby? Size of a turnip, 5 ounces, 5 inches long from head to rump

Maternity Clothes? I broke down and finally got some maternity jeans that fit well and man they make all the difference in the world. So comfortable.

Weight Gain?  I have been sick (upper respiratory virus) over the past couple of weeks, and lost some weight. I'm currently up 1 lb from my pregnancy weight but my doctor didn't think that it was an issue.

 Stretch Marks? No. Moisturizer is my best friend.
Gender?  BOY!!

Sleep? My friend Toni, let me borrow her Snoogle pregnancy pillow. Oh my gosh. This thing is a beast but I sleep so good with it!

Food Cravings? Nada. Trying to force myself eat my veggies and I've been conscience about getting plenty of protein and dairy. Still lots of carbs and fruit.

What I Miss? Caffeine and some of my normal clothes that no longer fit.

Symptoms? Constipated and I've got a big belly on me. Also, dirt and clutter are bothering me. I've really picked back up the deep cleaning around the house that was I was slacking on in the first trimester and I went on an organizing tear the other day.

Belly Button? It's super shallow. 

Best Moment of the Week? The ultrasound and finding out it's a boy! I've started on the nursery and will share more soon!

xoxo - Bethany

Pink or Blue, What Will It Be?

I can't believe I'm already 15 weeks,

but I am ready to find out if this baby is a boy or girl!

Lucky for us, we have our first ultrasound next week.

Its not the big anatomy scan, but an earlier one to check my cervical length.

But we will get a peek of the baby, which I am really excited about.

If the baby cooperates and is in the right position, we might be able to find out the gender.

So, which is it? Boy or girl?

I don't know. 

At first, I was positive it is a girl, but I've had several dreams where it's been a boy.

So then I started second guessing my intuition, and now I have no idea what Baby Battles is.

Jason says he has no idea either.

Here's what the Old Wives Tales say...

Carrying high = GIRL/Carrying low = BOY: Carrying high.Girl!

Craving salty or sour = BOY/Craving sweets = GIRL: Craving that sugar. Girl!

Morning sickness = BOY/ No morning sickness = GIRL:  No morning sickness. Girl!

More Mood swings = GIRL/ Less Mood Swings = BOY: My poor husband. God bless him. Girl!

Chinese Gender Calendar: Girl!

Age at Conception + Month of Conception: It's an odd number. Boy!

Ring on a string: Pendulum motion. Girl!

Baby's heart rate over 140 = GIRL/ Below 140= BOY: Its been high. Girl!

Wow! Overwhelmingly girl based off old wives tales.

Unfortunately they are just that, so we'll have to wait a little bit longer!

In the meantime, you can vote on the Head.Heart.House. facebook page

whether you think Baby Battles is a boy or girl!

xoxo - Bethany

14 week Bump-date

 

I'm offically 14 weeks today! I feel like the picture above is the first one I've seen lately that I look pregnant and not just like I've been eating too many cookies. Jason took it last night because I actually had makeup on, although I had just gotten rained on so that's why my hair is all frizzy.

How Far Along? 14 weeks

Size of Baby? The size of a lemon...approximately 3and 1/2 inches from head to rump and 1and 1/2 oz.

Maternity Clothes? Maternity pants are too big on me, but my regular pants are too small, so I'm using a belly band to keep my unbuttoned/unzipped pants up. Wearing maternity tops, or tunics with leggings mostly.
Weight Gain?  I don't know. We don't own a scale and I can't decide if I want to buy one or not. I want to be aware of my weight but I don't want to worry about it. So we'll see. At my 12 week appointment I had gained 2 pounds...and I feel like I may have gained a pound or two since then. So 3 to 4 in total?
Stretch Marks? No. Everything I've read says these are genetic, and my mom doesn't have them. I'm not taking any chances though and slathering on Burt's Bees Mama Bee Belly Butter and Body Oil daily.
Gender?  Don't know yet!

Sleep? Sleeping well with vivid dreams nightly.

Food Cravings? First trimester all I wanted was carbs and fruit. And lots of cereal. Meat is now sounding more appealing, but I've also been craving sweets. We're having chicken tacos for dinner tonight because it sounded particularly good. That's kinda how its been -eating what sounds good that day- even if it entails daily grocery trips. I have been mindful to ensure I'm getting dairy, fruits, veggies, and protein daily.

What I Miss? Coca cola and coffee!! I'm allowed one cup of coffee a day which doesn't really cut it but I've been really good so far and haven't cheated at all. I haven't had a caffeinated soft drink since I found out I was expecting but do allow myself the occasional ginger ale or sprite.

Symptoms? The fatigue has lifted some but I'm still waiting on this supposed "burst of energy" everyone says is coming. Breakouts, constipation, nasal congestion...fun stuff. I have boobs for the first time ever which is pretty cool...it's a shame my tummy is starting to outshine them. Just keeping it real.

Belly Button? It's getting more shallow...

Best Moment of the Week? Moving the guest bed out of the soon to be nursery and setting up the crib! Also, I bought the first piece of baby clothing! Just wait until I find out the gender!

xoxo - Bethany

**WARNING! Bump Ahead!**

via

So, as you may have noticed, all has been quiet in my blog world for the past month or so,

and I apologize for just dropping off the radar so suddenly, but I promise I have a good excuse.

Jason and I are expecting a baby!

We couldn't be more overjoyed and excited!

Baby Battles is due August 20, 2013.

I'm 13 weeks today and starting to see some light

 at the end of the first trimester tunnel of absolute utter exhaustion.

So I plan on picking back up with the blogging, 

but I'm also going to give myself a break if I don't get around to it as much as I would like.

As far as the baby goes...so far so good!

We heard a really strong heartbeat at 170 bpm at our 12 week appointment.

Our next appointment is at 16 weeks, but I promise to be back with more details before then.

From the bottom of our hearts,

thank you to all of our friends and family who have been more than supportive and excited for us!

We look forward to this journey of love called parenthood!

xoxo - Bethany

Resolutions or Re - Solutions for 2013

Happy 2013!

We have really been enjoying relaxing and laying low around the house.

Jason is back to work in the morning.

Today we had the obligatory New Years Day supper...

ham, greens for money, black eyed peas for luck and homemade mac and cheese.

So yummy!

Neither Jason or I are huge collard green fans, but these were sooo good!

Jason had thirds!

In case you're interested, its this Paula Deen recipe. 

Of course, the other things that goes along with the New Year are the resolutions.

I don't know about you, but New Years' resolutions are somewhat depressing to me.

Every year, I make resolutions to exercise and eat better and it lasts about a week.

This year, even though I need to exercise and eat better, I'm not making that my resolution.

I'm actually looking back to September, when I posted these 4 simple goals before 2013.

So, did I meet these goals before 2013? 

I'll be the first to admit, I did not.

Some weeks were better than others, but overall  there was definite room for improvement.

That's why I'm making them my re-solutions for 2013.

I'm going to continue to work toward them,

and give myself a break if I don't do them perfectly.

But they're definitely goals or solutions I still believe in and want to pursue.

1. Try a  new recipe once a week -  Some weeks will be crazy and we'll be lucky that I'm cooking at all or even made it to grocery store, but I do want to continue to experiment in the kitchen. And this week, I can check it off my list thanks to Paula's collard greens. :)

2. Aim for three blog posts a week - This seems to be the hardest one for me, and I'm not quite sure why.

Maybe, it's a lack of planning on my part.

But I love blogging. I love how it's a virtual scrapbook of my life that I can share with friends and family.

Blogging takes a lot more time and creative energy than I thought it would. 

I guess I was a bit naive when I started.

Some days, I can sit down and I feel inspired and it's fun and easy and bloggy rainbows.

Other days, its the opposite. It has a lot to do with my attitude.

But I want to keep blogging, and keep growing.

So whether its one, two, or three posts a week...and like everything else, some weeks will be better than others...I'm going to keep on keepin' on and aim for three a week.

3. Practice slow decorating - Gosh, this one is hard for me. I just want to go out buy every piece of furniture I see and think I can't live without. But then I'd be a furniture hoarder and probably divorced.

Currently, I'm thinking my life won't be complete until I get a sideboard in my dining room.

But I know, once I get that, it'll be something else. This is closely tied with being content and grateful for what I do have and I want to always be mindful of that.

4. Practice sewing - This one I'm pretty dang excited about because I just got a really nice, new-to-me sewing machine. My Aunt Darnell was upgrading her machine and my mom bought me her old one for my upcoming birthday. I've already gotten to play on it some and its amazing. Now I've got to come up with some new projects. Also, I'm thinking I'm going to take some more sewing classes this spring. So this one won't be hard at all.

What are your resolutions or re- solutions for 2013?

xoxo - Bethany