8 1/2 months

Can't believe it's been almost a month since I have posted an update, but it's bound to happen this close to the end, especially getting ready for baby and getting the house ready for the baby shower.
At my last appointment, everything went great. We are so thankful to always leave the doctor's office with good news. My weight and the baby are measuring perfectly and baby is in head down position!
We have had so much fun "nesting" and finishing up the nursery. For the most part it is complete, so I am here to share many pictures as well as the buying information for those interested in where we got everything. Enjoy!
View of the crib from the doorway:

View of the changing area from the doorway:

The Crib:

Handpainted mural over the crib:

The Bedding:


The Dresser/bookshelves:


The hamper with custom liner made by Grandma Sandy:

Custom artwork made to match the bedding:

Changing Table with custom pad made by Grandma Sandy:

Above the changing table:


Window Valance custom made by Grandma Sandy:


Corner Hooks/Storage area:

A Peek in the closet:

Rug with Sonny & Holly modeling:

Nursery
New-
Crib: JCP Hartford straight-back crib by Rockland convertible crib for life $249
Crib Mattress: Burlington Coat factory Sealy Celestial $60
Crib Bedding: Target Circo Mix and Match Animals & ABC’s Collection $92.92
(1) comforter/Quilt, (2) Plush Blankets, (3) fitted sheets, (1) set of 4 flannel receiving blankets, (1) bumper, (1) dust ruffle
Custom Art Prints: Etsy $20
Rugs: Target Chunky Green Shag $29.99ea.
Changing Pad: Burlington Coat factory Contoured Pad $15
Lamp: Target Mix and Match base and Shades $12
Wicker Hamper and Shelf Baskets: Ross $12.99
Wire Closet System: Lowes White Wire System $32.99
Animal Book Ends: Marshalls $8.99
Handed Down-
Changing Table
Dresser: added new hardware $4
Toy Box
Books
Repurposed-
Book Shelves: Painted $6
Towel Rack/Shelving above changing table
Hand Made-
Closet Dividers $6.50
Changing Pad Cover: JoAnn’s Topsy Turvy Stripe Fabric $8
Hamper Liner: JoAnn’s Topsy Turvy Stripe Fabric $6
Basket Liners: JoAnn’s Topsy Turvy Stripe Fabric $2
Window Valance: JoAnn’s Topsy Turvy Dot Fabric $11

Closet Organization

When it comes to the nursery, "nesting" has taken over and I have an extreme need to be organized. I have seen quite a few closet dividers for separating all of the different sized baby clothes, and decided to make my own on the cheap. I think they turned out super cute. I definitely would have gone with more feminine paper and was so tempted to top it off with a satin bow, but being team green, I had to fight the urge to "feminize" them. Here are the pic's and directions for any other DIY mommy's out there!


DIY Closet Dividers
Project Time: 45 minutes
Project Cost: $6.50
Materials needed:
(5) Blank pressboard doorknob signs (sold at Michaels for .89¢ each)
(4) Sheets of 12x12 scrapbook paper
Glue Stick
Hot Glue Gun
Scissors
Exacto Knife
Cutting Board
Your choice of decorations: Wood cut craft critters (shown), stickers (shown), flat foam cut out’s, ribbon, bows, markers, etc.

Directions:
1. I cut each sheet of 12x12 scrapbook paper into 3 equal pieces measuring 4x12 each.
2. Using a Big Glue Stick, I spread a layer of glue on the surface of the front side of the pressboard doorknob sign, making sure that the glue went all the way to the edges.
3. I took a 4x12 piece of the scrapbook paper and laid it on the cutting board wrong side up. Next I laid the glue side of the pressboard down, on top of the wrong side of the paper and pressed firmly. Then I turned over the pressboard and used my fingers to firmly press the paper to the pressboard to insure good adhesion.
4. Set aside and continue this with each piece of pressboard.
5. Next, beginning with the first piece of pressboard, I used an Exacto knife to trim away the excess paper. The glue dries quickly and trimming can be done within a few minutes. Repeat the whole process to the backside of each piece of pressboard.
6. Using a hot glue gun, I applied the wood animal cutouts. Then I used stickers for the numbers/letters.



UPDATE: Wanted to share a few more sets that I made. The first is Pink and Green Damask which I have listed in my ETSY store: www.idopaper.etsy.com The next two are sets that I made for one of Keith's co-workers. They have the same due date as us, but are expecting twins- a boy and a girl! The boy's nursery is Stars and Hockey themed. The girls nursery is Pink and Brown with Lady Bugs. This is how they turned out. Get creative DIY mommies!

30 weeks, 7 1/2 months

Time is just flying by! Now 7 1/2 months and doing pretty good. This week, Holly girl had her spay surgery. She is doing great thanks to our fabulous vet. In fact, she is doing too good. She certainly isn't acting like she just had a histerectomy, no she is being a pain in the butt. I am constantly on her trying to keep her from playing, jumping and running.
In baby news, not much to report. We had a Doctor's appointment on Tuesday and everything was great. My weight gain, measurements, and blood pressure are all great. I even passed the last 1 hour gluccose test, yay! The doctor actually said the baby seems "perfect," so we are are excited and greatful.
In the meantime we are working on the nursery. Sandy helped me by making a valance for the window and it turned out soo cute that now I have commissioned her for a few other custom creations! I will put pic's of those up when they are done. Nothing else to report so I will leave you this week with a survey and some belly shots of me at 7 1/2 months!

How far along: 30 weeks/ 7.5 months
Weight Gain: 18 pounds
Maternity clothes: yeah, otherwise my normal shirts would be working overtime.
Stretch marks: None so far (or least that I didn't already have ;)
Sleep: whats that? I have really bad back pain and leg cramps at night, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and a heating pad is my new best friend.
Movement: I can actually see the baby move my tummy when it kicks and rolls. Weird. It's like Alien!
Food cravings: None
Gender: It's a surprise!
Labor Signs: None, and hopefully not for a long time.
Belly Button in or out: In and nowhere close to popping yet!
What I miss: seeing my girl bits, let alone being able to shave my legs with ease.
What I am looking forward to: The baby shower. Can't wait to hang out with everyone. Getting the nursery completed, and meeting peanut.

A facelift before the baby comes...

Not for me, but for our master bathroom! O.K., so this isn't baby related at all, but this is a project that I have wanted to do since we bought the house. I finally made it happen this weekend. Most of our bathroom was updated in stages. After we moved in, we painted, replaced the lighting and the faucets, and installed a new medicine cabinet. After that we stopped working on the bathroom to tackle some of the much bigger projects around the house. This past weekend I finally finished the job. I painted the beat up honey oak cabinets- which were in really bad shape, and added new hardware for about $5.00. We took out the one large bath mirror and replaced it with two decorative mirrors I found at Marshall's ($29.99 each). Voila! What a fifference! I couldn't be more pleased with this facelift! It looks great and it is another project to cross off our list, yay! Here are the before/after's:

Officially in my 3rd trimester

Just shy of 7 months along and doing well. I had to take another glucose test today (they periodically check you to make sure you haven't developed gestational diabetes) and uggg! You have to drink a nasty supposedly orange flavor beverage and then sit in a waiting room for an hour (with a bunch of sick people) and then they draw blood. The drink tastes aweful and I always feel nauseous afterward-all the sugar I guess. But on the good side this will probably be the last time I have to do it-assuming I passed. Nothing much else to report, so I'll just throw in a survey for fun.

About Your Pregnancy
Is this your first pregnancy? Yes!
When did you find out you were pregnant? August 27th, 2009
Was it planned? Indeed
What was your first reaction? Elated and excited!
Who was with you when you found out? I pee'd on the sticks after Keith went to work, so I was alone.
Who was the first person you told? Keith! I picked him up at work to have lunch together and told him I had something for him. It was a onesie that said, "I Love Daddy". He was so excited and a little in shock.
How did your parents react? They were so excited and both commented on how "it was about time", they were very happy for us.
How did your spouse's parents react? Keith's mom was happy.
How far along are you? about 7 months
What was your first symptom? nausea and cookie tossing- which has stayed with me the entire time!
What is your due date? Cinco De Mayo (5-5-10)
Do you know the sex of the baby? Nope, it's gonna be a surprise, but today feels like a girl, but yesterday felt like a boy.
Have you picked out names? We have, but we have also decided not to share the name until the baby is born.
How much weight have you gained? Last I checked, 15 pounds, whoa!
Do you have stretch marks? None that are pregnancy related :) Tummy is still mark free!
Have you felt the baby move? All the time, this kid is doing gymastics in there!
Have you heard the heartbeat? Every time we see the doctor. Last time it kept dissapearing. The baby kept moving away from the nurse because it was clearly annoyed at her poking.
About the birth
Will you keep the baby? Uh, I guess so......of course!
Home or hospital birth? Hospital
Natural or medicated birth? I would love to say all natural but I'll probably opt for an epidural.
Who will be in the delivery room with you? Only Keith!
Will you breastfeed? If all goes well, if not I will try to pump it so the kid gets breastmilk for at least the first 3 months.
Do you think you'll need a c-section? I hope not! I don't forsee that happening.
Will you cry when you hold the baby for the first time? Most Likely.
What's the first thing you might say to him/her? I love you, Happy Birthday.
Would you let someone videotape the birth? HECK NO! I don't want my bajango on video!
Are you excited about the birth, or scared? Both I guess. I won't lie. the idea of giving birth fills me with dread and kinda grosses me out, but I know it will be worth it.

Double Digits! 99 days to go!

Wow, we are officially in the double digits! only 99 days until the due date. I am 6 1/2 months now and definatly look like it (my baby books tell my that my expanding waist line now grows a 1/2 inch a week!) We had a doctor's appointment last night and everything went great. The doctor was happy with my weight gain, I have now gained about 15 pounds, wow! It's hard to believe that is concidered under the average because I feel huge! But they doctor was happy, so we are happy. The results from the UA show that the antibiotics I was on a few months ago did get rid of the strep B! yay! So, there is no need to worry about it anymore although the doctor says I will still be on antibiotics during the labor as an extra precautionary measure. Our results from the Ultrasound also came in. Everything is perfect and normal. The baby is measuring up exactly how it should! All in all, it was a great appointment and Keith and I even celebrated our "perfect" baby over a nice date night out. Everything looks good and we are getting really excited for the little one. FYI ladies, my baby shower is scheduled for March 20th- The First Day of Spring! More information to follow over the next few weeks! In the meantime, enjoy the picture of our other babies, asleep on the couch!

No Visitors Please

For those of you who are eagerly awaiting the arrival of our little one, we wanted to share with you our Women & Infants Pavilion’s (the place I will be delivering) current policy on visitors. Due to the current H1N1 conditions, the policy states that only ONE person besides Keith will be allowed to visit during our entire stay in the hospital (NO EXCHANGES). Rather than trying to decide who that one other person should be, we are asking that ALL family members wait patiently for an extra few days, before making arrangements with us to meet the little one once we have settled into the comfort of our own home. I know it will be hard, especially for the new grandparents and great-grandparents to wait the few extra days, but I assure you all that Keith will have pictures and updates a plenty, to share with you!