The Proudfeet

Happy Valentine's Day

2012-02-14T19:21:00.000-05:00

... from us to you!

She's obviously gotta work on her "come hither" look ;)

The nursery (plus source list)

2012-02-12T11:26:00.001-05:00

I planned to post this the week Little Foot came, but she obviously had other plans ;) No matter... It's still the nursery and everything is still relevant.

My ultimate goal for the nursery was to do it for less than $1500, make it sweet and feminine without being too childish, and just make it a little sanctuary for our baby girl. While I didn't quite stay under budget, I think the nursery was well worth every penny. Without further ado...

The crib, dresser and glider were our splurges. Still don't regret it one bit!

DIY crib mobile; Blue blanket was made by my mom

Can you tell I love it?

Crib sheet from this seller; Quilt made by my aunt

Christmas present from my other aunt

Book cover clothesline from my shower

DIY canvas art; Piggy bank from my dad and stepmom

Blocks from DC Big flea; All the books from my shower! <3

Art made by my aunt

Cloth diapers all ready to go

Well, that's it! Here is a detailed list of sources and the cost breakdown for pretty much everything in the room.

Crib and dresser (Bambi Baby)- $940
Glider (Babies R Us)- $450
Nursing stool (Babies R Us)- gift
Bookcase (Target)- already owned
Side table (Urban Outfitters)- $58
Mirrors- stolen from my sister
Custom bedding including crib sheets, crib skirt and changing pad cover (Etsy)- $165
Quilt- Gift from my aunt
Baskets (Homegoods)- $35
Diaper Dekor Plus (Craigslist)- $10
Stainless steel trash can (Homegoods)- $10
Curtain divider (IKEA)- $25
Curtain rod (IKEA)- $8
Curtain wire (IKEA)- $6
Floor lamp (IKEA)- $50
Monitor (Amazon)- $90
Humidifier (Ebay)- $30
Canvas art (DIY)- $12
Crib mobile (DIY)- $25
Lotus print- gift from my aunt

Three weeks old!

2012-02-08T19:09:00.000-05:00

Time is flying by, people. Seriously. I have so many things to post and not enough time in the day to get them posted... But I did take a few pictures of Little Foot today to celebrate her turning three weeks old :)

Who's the cutest baby in the world?

I am!

We took her in to get her weight checked today and she put on 5oz in six days. The pediatrician was really happy with that since at our previous appointment she only gained 5oz in ten days. Mama's happy, too :)

I've also started doing "tummy time" with her, and she's not a fan. She much prefers laying on her back and looking at all the fun toys. Macintosh made sure to watch over her the entire time.

Then we've got Mama Aspen, who made sure she was safe and sound while snoozing on our bed.

I'd say we're doing just fine over here :)

Two weeks old!

2012-02-01T16:49:00.000-05:00

I can't believe Little Foot is already two weeks old. She's been a really good baby- she let's us sleep through most of the night, and she isn't a big cryer. Yet. ;) Yes, I realize it can all change... and it probably will.

I was able to snap a few pictures today... Enjoy!

I call this her "serious face"

And this one is her "milk-induced drunken state" ;)

Not much has changed

2012-01-30T17:39:00.000-05:00

Back during the 26th week of my pregnancy I posted this picture...

Today was my first day home alone with the babies, and this was the scene for much of the day.

And they say babies change everything ;)

Introducing Abigail Rose

2012-01-22T18:23:00.000-05:00

Our sweet little girl decided to make her entrance a bit early! Abigail Rose was born on January 18th at 6:51pm. She was a tiny (to me) 5lbs 13oz and 19 inches long. We are absolutely in love with her, and are so happy to have her here.

Posting may be a bit sporadic these first couple weeks, but here are some pictures to tide you over :)

First family picture

Contemplating life ;)

All ready to head home on Friday!

One more family picture before we head home

And one of my favorite photos of her so far... Appropriately titled "Aaargh" by my brother-in-law.

The baby files: Week 39

2012-01-17T15:43:00.001-05:00

One week from the finish line! Considering only 5% of babies are born on their actual due date, the day she comes is anybody's guess :)

39w

How far along: 39 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: I completely forgot to weigh myself this morning, so we'll stick with an 11.5 pound net gain.

About the baby: She's about 20 inches long and weighs about 7 pounds.

Maternity clothes: 99% of the way through this pregnancy and still fitting in my pre-pregnancy clothes. Gotta love it.

Best moment of the week: Hearing Mr. Foot say "I just want her to be here already. I've waited long enough." It warmed my heart to know he can't wait to meet her!

Movement: She's still practicing gymnastics daily

Food cravings: Back to cupcakes

The Mr.'s cravings: None

Food aversions: Nothing

Milestones: Hitting single digits for days left until my due date. Back in May this seemed so far away, but the time as seriously flown by.

At long last, the DIY crib mobile

2012-01-16T14:00:00.003-05:00

I originally wanted to go with the mobile blogged here, but then I came across this one at The Virginia House and knew it was even more perfect. (Pics from The Virginia House.)

I used this pattern to cut out all the birds and my Mom was a superhero and sewed and stuffed them all for me. She also made the yarn balls. So yeah, I pretty much owe this completed mobile to her!

While at Babies R Us one day, we came across a mobile on clearance and thought the frame would work well for my idea. If we're looking at the true "before", here it is:

So after cutting, sewing, stuffing and hanging, this is what we've got!

The fabrics were all leftover from the quilt my Aunt made me, and my Mom sought out some coordinating yarn to make the balls (though some of it was leftover from baby blankets she made!).

Cost breakdown:

Mobile form: $20

Birds: $0 (leftover fabric)

Yarn balls: $0 (leftover from baby blankets or bought by my Mom)

Ribbon: $3

Fishing line: $5

Total: $28

Time for some 2012 resolutions

2012-01-13T07:22:00.001-05:00

Yes, it's almost two weeks into the year. Cut me some slack! :) It's hard to think past January since we have so much going on but I did my best to think of goals that I can achieve throughout the year of 2012.

1. Have a healthy baby. This is the most important thing to me at this moment. I want this little girl to come into this world and be happy and healthy!

2. Don't just survive, but thrive during her first year of life and this first year as a family of ~~three~~ five. I think this is the second most important thing I can come up with. I don't want to just survive her birth and the first year of life... I want to thrive and enjoy every moment of it. Babies are only babies for so long and I want to cherish it all, including the good, the bad and the poopy :)

3. Get back to losing poundage and get down to my goal weight. I was kicking serious butt before I got pregnant and I have certainly not "let myself go", so I am hoping I can hop back on the weight loss wagon and get back to it somewhat quickly. (Please note quickly is a relative term and I am not looking to drop 30 pounds in a month!)

4. Make that living and last will. A resolution from 2011 that is popping up here. And to put more pressure on myself, I want to do it before I go back to work. I also have plans to update our life insurance, so I'm hoping it'll become like the snowball effect.

5. Keep up with the blog, and make sure it's not just about the baby. Yes, we're having a baby. Yes, this blog is about our life. But that doesn't mean this blog should be or will be devoted to the baby. I am hoping to get back to home projects, posting about the dogs musings, and just general activities we do on a daily basis. Now, I'm not trying to fool myself and claim there will be no baby stuff... that's just silly ;)

So there you have it. Five resolutions to a great 2012. Anyone else have any resolutions or goals for the new(ish) year?

Showered with love

2012-01-11T07:21:00.003-05:00

This past Saturday my mom and sister threw me an absolutely wonderful baby shower to celebrate the upcoming arrival of our sweet little girl. About fifteen of my family and friends were able to make it out and I had a great time with them.

They really went all out to make me feel special, so I am going to share a few pictures to show them off :)

These sweet little balloons greeted the guests outside my mom's house

The theme for the shower was "baby's nursery" so pretty much everything was literary, including the adorable clothesline decorations throughout.

Gorgeous and delicious cake pops made by my amazing sister and sweet niece!

A childhood friend of mine actually made the cake. It's a little hard to see from this angle, but it's a book written "by Mr. and Mrs. Foot" (on the spine) called "Welcome Baby ____". I especially loved the bookworm with glasses :)

I (we) were truly showered with gifts and love at the shower and I loved every second of it! But of course I couldn't take myself too seriously ;)

My bump at 37w4d

Me with my awesome shower hostesses!!

Thank you again to my sister, mom and everyone that came out to spend the day with me. I love you all so much and can't wait for you to meet our pride and joy!

The baby files: Week 38

2012-01-10T15:18:00.000-05:00

It's weird to think that each of these pictures could be my last bump pic. I know it's not likely to deliver early as a first time mom, but it's still a possibility. I guess I should get on taking that bare bump picture, huh? :)

38w

Please excuse the casual attire. I couldn't wait to get into them once I got home! (Also, for those looking for amazing yoga pants, I highly recommend checking out Marika. I found these at Marshalls last week for $15 and they are aaaamazing. And non-maternity, so don't think I'm pushing maternity clothes!)

How far along: 38 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Down 1.5 pounds this time around, so back to 11.5 pounds net. My weight is like a yo-yo...

About the baby: She's about 19.5 inches long and weighs in at 6 1/2 pounds. Of course these are all estimations since my doctor hasn't checked on her size in a loooong time.

Maternity clothes: Same same same. But I have to say- I am so lucky that I can still wear more than just my maternity clothes, because I am tired of wearing the same stuff over and over again.

Best moment of the week: Definitely my baby shower. It was so much fun to see everyone and we were truly showered with love and gifts. Pictures coming tomorrow!

Movement: Bunches. I thought they were supposed to slow down towards the end?!

Food cravings: It's hard to crave food when you don't have much room for your stomach, but it's still chocolate :)

The Mr.'s cravings: None

Food aversions: Nothing

Milestones: I feel like each week that passes is a milestone. I am just in awe that it's so close.

So... how did I do with my 2011 resolutions?

2012-01-04T07:36:00.001-05:00

I can't believe we are already four days into the new year. Time really does fly by when you're having fun :) The only problem is, I didn't get around to all my resolutions. Bummer for sure.

For those that don't remember, or weren't around back in January, I set up eight resolutions for myself. Here's a quick overview of how I did...

1. Get pregnant. I obviously succeeded with this one... Obviously.

2. Be consumer debt free. As predicted, we were able to complete this goal early on in the year when we paid off the Mr.'s car. Somewhat unfortunately, we piled some back on when we bought not one, but two new vehicles. Thankfully we only financed one vehicle, and now we're working to have that one paid off quickly.

3. Run a 5K, 8K and 10K. I was able to complete a 5K this year, but found out I was expecting just days later and all energy was subsequently zapped from my body. OK, not that bad, but I did get lazy, so I didn't get around to an 8K or 10K this year. Maybe this year?

4. Volunteer. Big fat fail here. And this is the one that bums me out the most. I even had people offer up ideas and charities that they were involved in. So mad at myself.

5. Live off the Mr.'s salary. We were able to increase the percent we saved, but with all the baby expenses and move to pay off the new SUV, this just didn't happen. Another fail.

6. Make last will and living will. While technically I didn't do either of these, there is a reason. See, we're expecting our little angel in January, so one of the first things I plan to do this year is create a last and living will to include HER. It didn't really make sense to pay for the paperwork to be done and months later pay for an amendment. My goal will be to do this before I go back to work. Don't count me out just yet :)

7. Find a hobby. Is planning for a new baby a hobby? If so, big check here!

8. Cut down on computer usage. Even with all the baby research, I definitely get a big check on this one. I don't always find myself grabbing my computer these days, which makes me happy.

So, if I tally these up correctly, I get 4.5/8 (the half point being the wills). Not bad but also not great. I have yet to decide on 2012 resolutions, but I hope to have them figured out by the end of the week. Come on back if you want to see what they are!

Hope everyone had a great New Years and here's to an awesome 2012!

The baby files: Week 37

2012-01-03T17:01:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year everyone! The turn of the calendar means that I am now officially due THIS month. WOOHOO!

37w

How far along: 37 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Up 1.5 pounds this time around, so 13 pounds net.

About the baby: She's about 19 inches long and weighs in at over 6 pounds. To put it another way, she is the size of a watermelon.

Maternity clothes: Same thing here (am I broken record yet??)

Best moment of the week: Getting her cloth diapers washed, pack-n-play and bouncer set up, car seats installed and settling on a pediatrician! I feel a little more ready for her now.

Movement: Still moving all over the place. It's like a three ring circus in there!

Food cravings: Yup... still chocolate

The Mr.'s cravings: None

Food aversions: Still certain forms of chicken

Milestones: I am now officially full term. Wow.

The baby files: Week 36

2011-12-27T15:24:00.000-05:00

I wish I'd had enough forethought to take a picture of us during Christmas... Ya know, since it's our last one with just us. Oh well! :) Here's my 36 week bump.

36w

How far along: 36 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: No weight gain this week, so still at an 11.5 pound net gain for the pregnancy.

About the baby: She's a little over 18 inches long and weighs in at over 5 1/2 pounds.

Maternity clothes: Still the same ol' same ol'. The sweater in my picture is pre maternity clothes.

Best moment of the week: Seeing a bunch of our family for Christmas celebrations.

Movement: Oh yes. She is learning how to kick my ribs now... But she's head down, so I refuse to complain!

Food cravings: Still chocolate

The Mr.'s cravings: Cookies of all kinds

Food aversions: Chicken again

Milestones: We are less than a month away from my due date! I can now say "I'm due on the 24th" instead of having to specify January 24th!

Yet another wonderful Christmas

2011-12-26T15:54:00.003-05:00

I hope everyone who celebrates had a great Christmas on Sunday.

We had a lovely morning that started at 7:30am, which is about 30 minutes later than our weekend days usually start. Macintosh's present to us must have been sleeping in a little bit longer :) We always start off with the dog's stockings and this year was no exception. They even posed for me despite their excitement!

They knew something good was in there

Nylabones and Jumbones... yum!

They immediately went to town, chewing up a storm

They would have been happy with just that, but we decided to replace two of their toys as well. Macintosh loved them and couldn't decide which one to play with.

Aspen wasn't impressed by them and stuck with the nylabone

Trying to suck someone into playing with him!

How 'bout now??

Still sticking with the nylabone

While the dogs enjoyed their new toys, the Mr. and I opened our presents. I'd say we both made out pretty well as usual.

The Mr. got an iPod shuffle for the gym, two Under Armour shirts, a Redskins shirt, a PS3 game, and some Suzy Q's to fill his stocking. I got a couple pairs of shoes/slippers, books, handheld vacuum, necklace, earrings and iPhone case.

Our families also spoiled us with some WVU shirts, books, a board game, a vintage trophy (thanks Mom!!), amazing smelling candle, Elf on the Shelf, a family name sign, original art for the nursery, sweets and even more goodies for the dogs.

But of course the season is also about spending time with family, which we were able to do plenty of! I am appreciating the extra day off work, so I can just relax, finish up some chores and play with my new presents. I can tell you already that I love my new handheld vacuum. Love. :)

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T07:37:00.017-05:00

Macintosh and Aspen are wishing everyone a Very Merry Christmas filled with tons of ~~dog bones and Kong stuffing~~ human goodies and family time!!

DIY canvas art for the nursery

2011-12-21T10:41:00.001-05:00

I never really had a firm plan for what to do as far as nursery art goes. There isn't a ton of open wall space since she'll be sharing our room, but I wanted to created at least a couple things just for her.

I started with some research on what I could attempt and a canvas piece seemed simple enough to create. After some looking around, I came across this art for around $60. Not a bad price, but I wanted to keep it a bit cheaper, so I opted to create my own. Vision? Check!

The next step was to figure out how to do it. I saw this tutorial online and thought it might be a neat way to go. Who knew potatoes could be used in the arts? How to? Check!

Arguably the most important step was to gather all the supplies I needed for this project. I brought along fabric I already had on hand to pick out paint colors, but I ultimately ended up mixing paints to get better matches. I was lucky enough to hit up Michael's during a sale, so my canvas and paints were around $12 total. Materials? Check!

Now to get started :)

Here you can see I've cut out my potatoes and mixed up my paints so I am ready to rock and roll!

After attempting the potato swirl a few times, I gave up and realized using my fingers would be easier and faster... So that's what I did :)

I just kept adding circles until it filled in. Bigger and more squished together on the top, smaller and more sparse on the bottom.

After the first layer of circles dried, I added in some more. I let it sit for a few days to dry completely and this is what we've got!

Close up:

The full monty

It's not exactly the same as my inspiration piece (duh), but I like it enough to keep it and hang it somewhere on the walls. That exact location is still to be decided. You'll get to see the resting place when I do a final reveal of the nursery :)

Cost breakdown:

Canvas: $4

Paints: $2 each

Potatoes and fingers: Free ;)

Total: $12

The baby files: Week 35

2011-12-20T15:24:00.005-05:00

This past week and weekend were jam packed with cookie decorating, birthday dinners, the ICE! show and multiple appointments and I am definitely paying the price right now. I'm tired just looking back at everything I did. I hope this cold-like head fog I'm fighting decides to leave me alone before Christmas weekend gets here since we've got a bunch of plans to see family!

PS- this picture is horrible but it was all I could manage with my camera propped up on the toaster with a timer set.

35w

How far along: 35 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Up half a pound for the week so 11.5 pound net gain.

About the baby: She's now about 18 inches long and weighs in at over 5 pounds.

Maternity clothes: No change here.

Best moment of the week: It's a toughie, but I am going to say having some friends throw me a surprise shower. I am completely blown away by their generosity and sneakiness!

Movement: I am pretty sure she is practicing to be a gymnast.

Food cravings: Chocolate, chocolate and oh, chocolate.

The Mr.'s cravings: Beer

Food aversions: Nope

Milestones: Hitting 35 WEEKS and having only 35 DAYS left!

ETA: This was the original picture I had up, but I thought I looked like a whale, so I retook the picture (above). Lesson of the day- it was not a good picture day for me!

The baby files: Week 34

2011-12-13T15:14:00.001-05:00

I am really starting to feel like we are in the home stretch. Only six more weeks to go (if she comes on time) and that's such a tangible number to me.

Today was freezing so I threw on a pre-pregnancy puffy vest and I noticed my bump sort of disappeared. Or at least it became less of a baby bump and more of a general bump. Thought I'd share that along with my normal belly picture!

34w

How far along: 34 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Up two pounds this week, so I'm looking at an 11 pound net gain overall.

About the baby: She's now between 17 and 18 inches long and weighs in at around 4 and a half pounds.

Maternity clothes: As I said above, I can still fit into some pre-pregnancy clothing. I can even wear my Redskins shirt, which isn't always a good thing ;)

Best moment of the week: Starting work on the DIY mobile and canvas art (pictures to come when I finish!)

Movement: Still a bunch. Coworkers can now see my stomach move from a few feet away. Talk about priceless facial expressions!

Food cravings: Sweets of all kinds

The Mr.'s cravings: Nothing that stands out

Food aversions: Nope

Milestones: Feeling Braxton Hicks contractions regularly, though thankfully they don't hurt!

Extraordinary Merry Christmas!

2011-12-09T09:16:00.000-05:00

If you're not in the holiday spirit quite yet, I recommend skipping this post... Or you could pop in your favorite holiday music, get in the spirit and read on. Your choice :)

I wasn't planning to decorate the entire house this season since I wasn't sure if I'd 1) have the energy to put up and take down and 2) have the time! Thankfully my hubby is a huge help, so it didn't take too much to get everything up and in place. I still didn't go all out, but I am happy with the effort we put forth.

I have a bunch of little knick knacks that I like to sprinkle around our shelves and tables. This snowman on a sleigh is one of my favorites, so he always makes an appearance. (Hello again beautiful trophy!)

I also like to throw some ornaments into bowls and vases since it's so easy to do.

Of course I set up my olive wood nativity set. Still love it :)

And for the star of the show!! Our gorgeous tree all lit up.

And the stockings hung on the mantle with care

I also bought a new tree skirt this year. I never loved our old one, and the price was right. I love it!

One last look

We did outdoor decorations as well, but they look exactly the same as last year so I won't bother reposting. Check them out here if you're curious.

DC Big Flea

2011-12-07T18:53:00.003-05:00

I'm a little ashamed it's taken me over a month to get this post together, but I have been pretty busy. Truthfully most of it comes down to laziness and never remembering to take the camera downstairs to take pictures.

Excuses aside, back in November a bunch of my family and I went to the DC Big Flea. It's your typical flea market- a mix of junk and treasures, so you really never know what you're going to find. I went in not expecting to buy anything, but I brought about $100 to spend and that was the perfect amount!

Back in February of 2010 I posted about a kitchen I fell in love with. She used trophies to decorate and since then I'd been keeping my eye out for a few to buy. I never fell in love enough to spend my hard earned money, but that all changed and I dropped $65 to get this beauty.

I'd never seen any of these copper trophies before, so I snatched it right up. They were selling a bunch of them for $65 a piece and I was tempted to buy more!

The next purchase was for our baby girl. I'd seen this idea on a few blogs and I knew it was something I wanted to do for her nursery. I found these blocks at $.50 a piece, so I grabbed them all up for a total of about $20. I already had the jar, and it's the perfect punch of color! (Since I don't know if lead is present, she will not be playing with these! They are purely for decoration.)

This last purchase was out of left field, but as soon as I saw it I knew the Mr. would love it. Why? His lucky number is 15 and he thinks guns are fascinating. This sign ($20) was a train speed limit sign and I just love imagining the history it had. As soon as I showed it to my hubby he started guessing what gun made what holes.

And that is my haul from the DC Big Flea. It's no Luckett's Market, but I'll take what I can get!

The baby files: Week 33

2011-12-06T15:44:00.008-05:00

According to my Mom it must be Tuesday since I'm posting :) Sadly she's not wrong... But I do have a few more posts coming this week, so stay tuned.

I think I've officially popped. People around me are still surprised I'm as far as I am, but at least they are realizing that I'm actually pregnant and not just fat. Progress!!

33w

How far along: 33 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Back to my weekly one pound gain, so I'm at a 9 pound net gain.

About the baby: She's now passed 17 inches long and weighs in at a little over 4 pounds.

Maternity clothes: No changes here.

Best moment of the week: Going out for the Mr.'s holiday party and reliving some sweet memories.

Movement: Tons and tons. She always wiggles a bunch around 4:45am when the Mr. is heading out to the gym. I think it's her way of saying goodbye.

Food cravings: Turkey sandwiches and cupcakes. Seriously, does anyone want to bring me a cupcake?!?!

The Mr.'s cravings: Chocolate

Food aversions: Nothing comes to mind

Milestones: My due date is now less than 50 days away. It seems like just yesterday I found out we were expecting.

Here is a picture we had taken last Thursday while at the Mr.'s work holiday party. Not the best picture (both lighting-wise and self esteem-wise), but I still wanted to share.

If you can look past the cuteness you'll see the SR-71 behind us which happens to be the Mr.'s favorite plane ever. We went to the Air and Space museum on our first date back in 2005, and the first picture I ever took of my hubby was in front of this plane. And look! I even have that picture available to share!

What a hunk. A skinny hunk, but a hunk nonetheless :)

And that concludes our trip down memory lane!

Aspen's crazy night

2011-12-01T08:06:00.003-05:00

For those that have never met Aspen, she's a little... eccentric. And please know I say that with love!! It's just a fact of life. :)

As I've said before, she has a nightly routine that involves chasing her brother around, tossing toys to herself and burrowing under her dog bed when she's finally ready for sleep. I wish I had my dSLR upstairs to document this one night earlier this week, but these horrible iPhone pictures will have to do.

It was just like any other night- she'd chased Macintosh and tried to entice him with a toy, but he was not having it. The old man just wanted to go to bed. To entertain herself, she shoved her toy under the dog bed and started flipping it around trying to recover it. She clearly got tired halfway through and just gave in to sleep like her brother.

Shortly after turning out the light to go to bed, I heard her adjust. I was curious what she'd done this time, so I snapped a picture for a little look-see.

A little while later I heard "riiiiiiiip" and immediately grabbed my phone so I could see what was going on. Again, I apologize for the terrible picture, but it had to be shared...

Apparently when she tried to get up, her head got stuck in one of the holes. By the time I was able to help her, she'd moved the bed to her torso. She looked so confused by it all, but we were laughing too hard to do anything for a good two minutes.

It may be time to retire this bed (sorry sis!!) and buy a second cuddle cube.

The baby files: Week 32

2011-11-29T18:04:00.000-05:00

I'm a little amazed that I am posting this picture, but I figured it's all about keepin' it real :) This is what I look like when I am sitting at home all frumpy and comfy. And seriously, I need a tan.

32w

How far along: 32 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Somehow I lost half a pound (wha??), so down to an 8 pound net gain.

About the baby: She's still around 17 inches long and is close to 4 pounds.

Maternity clothes: Same as before- mostly maternity but not entirely. I am still able to wear all of my pre-pregnancy loungewear (see above), which has saved a ton of money. They're definitely getting stretched out now, so the Mr. keeps asking if I'm trying to show off my belly :) Makes me giggle.

Best moment of the week: Spending Thanksgiving with my family and taking the time to thank God for all that is right in our lives... and there is a lot.

Movement: Still a bunch! And we felt hiccups for the first time last night.

~~Food~~ cravings: Rest :)

The Mr.'s cravings: Blue Moon I think

Food aversions: Back to the chicken a little. Sometimes it's fine, others it's not.

Milestones: Preregistering at the hospital, figuring out short term disability and getting a meeting scheduled with a pediatrician. It's been a productive week!

The real stars of this blog

2011-11-23T07:00:00.001-05:00

I don't know what I'd do without Macintosh and Aspen. They are a daily source of entertainment, and while they may be frustrating at times, it's totally worth it. Bedtime is usually the most interesting since they have their own night time rituals. Macintosh preps himself for a good night of sleep and Aspen runs around (usually with a toy) until she passes out from exhaustion. The end result is usually quite funny and I was finally able to capture it last night.

Macintosh- Because one dog bed isn't enough (Also note in the foreground Aspen's discarded toy)

Aspen- the perpetual redecorator

Does anyone else have these issues?

The baby files: Week 31

2011-11-22T15:22:00.000-05:00

Dreary day outside, but it won't bring me down. One week closer to meeting my baby girl!

31w

How far along: 31 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Up two pounds this week, so we're at a net gain of 8.5 pounds.

About the baby: She's still around 17 inches long and is between 3.5 and 4 pounds.

Maternity clothes: Same as before- mostly maternity but not entirely.

Best moment of the week: Having my first baby shower down south. It was great to see the Mr.'s side of the family and talk about all things baby!

Movement: Still a bunch!

Food cravings: Chocolate (nothing unusual there).

The Mr.'s cravings: Blue Moon

Food aversions: Nothing

Milestones: Being 31 weeks along means we are in the single digits for weeks left!

And just because :)

The onesies I "stole"

2011-11-21T16:09:00.001-05:00

I posted a couple weeks ago about finding some organic onesies for just over $2 each. They came in and I was finally able to snap some quick photos to share. I just can't get over how cute they are :)

I can't wait for our baby girl to come so we can see them on her!

The dogs get a (very) early Christmas present

2011-11-16T11:09:00.001-05:00

Back when we bought our house, my sister gave Macintosh (the only pooch we had at the time) an awesome housewarming present- a donut dog bed. He and Aspen loved that bed so much that we opted to buy a second bed so it would last longer.

Fast forward a few years to present day and I am annoyed by the behemoth of a bed we bought them. It's about five feet long, ~~a million~~ 20 pounds and a pain in the butt to move. So this year we decided to buy the dogs a replacement bed for Christmas. Not sure why we bought it so early, but it came in yesterday and it may be the best $45 we ever spent on them. (I won't make that claim just yet since I want to see how long it lasts... will update later.)

Immediately after getting the delivery, we pulled it out and plopped it on the floor. It didn't take long for them to settle in:

And about an hour later, we already had this going on (sound is a necessity, I'm afraid):

I think they like it :) And I like it because it's a much better size and super light to move around. So now they've got two beds (the one my sister originally bought and this one) and I can reclaim the human bed for, well, the humans.

The baby files: Week 30

2011-11-15T18:43:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I had my standard four week appointment and everything looked great. My OB told me my "belly was all baby" and that I "look like I swallowed a basketball". She also said my uterus is so tight that our little girl is smooshed in there and she couldn't tell what position she was in (breech, transverse, etc). That made me giggle. I was really happy to hear that my blood pressure has been great, I've had a slow and gradual weight gain, and overall I've had a "textbook pregnancy". What a sigh of relief!! Now I'm to the point where I go in every two weeks, which is making this whole process even more real.

Picture time!! (PS feel free to look back at week 28 when I was wearing this exact same outfit. Spoiler: I don't look that different.)

How far along: 30 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: I didn't quite gain a pound this week, so I am around a 6.5lb net gain for the past 30 weeks.

About the baby: She's around 17 inches long and is between 3.5 and 4 pounds!

Maternity clothes: Still in some non-maternity shirts, but they are getting shorter and shorter by the day.

Best moment of the week: It's a tie between having a (free) 3D ultrasound and picking up her quilt from my aunt. It had been ten weeks since we'd seen her and it was nice to take a little peek at her but that quilt is just... just... amazing!

Movement: Tons, even if she is smooshed.

Food cravings: Chili

The Mr.'s cravings: Nothing this week.

Food aversions: Still chicken.

Milestones: Hitting 30 weeks. AKA being 3/4 of the way through the pregnancy.

Speaking of bedding...

2011-11-14T09:10:00.000-05:00

My aunt emailed me last week to let me know the baby's quilt was done, so we picked it up over the weekend. People... It. Is. GORGEOUS. Even though I picked out the fabrics and talked with her about design, I never imagined something this beautiful in my wildest dreams. I'll admit it- I tear up a little just looking at it. :)

It's hard to get a good representation of the colors, but I did my best with the subpar lighting situation I had.

(The top is not cut off- it's just how I hung it)

(Probably the most accurate depiction of colors)

Look at the details! ::drool::

My aunt even added in a neat accent with the stitching. You can see here that she followed the outline of the branches, and it produces the most wonderful design on the back.

Speaking of the back... Look at the polka dots!! :)

On the crib, with one of the blankets my mom made

The rest of the bedding has been ordered, but it won't be coming in for another 4-6 weeks. I can't wait to put it all together!

We also finished up a few more projects in the nursery that I have yet to reveal. The first being a divider using some IKEA curtains. It will give some privacy and block out a lot of the light and sound for our little girl so she can sleep in peace. We also purchased a new lamp at the same time since it was smaller than the one we had and it was a good price. The last update is the side table I bought from Urban Outfitters. It's the perfect size to hold odds and ends and the little feet are adorable.

All in all, the nursery is really coming together. Just a few more DIY touches (mobile and possibly a piece of canvas art) and we'll be done!

Some changes to our bedding

2011-11-13T08:12:00.001-05:00

You actually got a sneak peek at our new bedding in this post, but I still wanted to share the update. I'd been keeping an eye out for a new duvet cover since ours wasn't faring so well in our two dog house. I am not sure what I was thinking when I brought in a black cover with a white dog. Smooth move.

Somehow I stumbled across this gorgeous duvet cover at Urban Outfitters and I knew it would be perfect. It was on sale for $50 and I happened to have a coupon for 10% off, so it came out to just under $50 total with taxes.

We've had it on the bed for a couple weeks now and I love it. The colors are perfect with our existing bedding (you can see a tiny bit of the yellow quilt on the right of the picture below) and it's super soft. I am also going to point out our new (to us) bed frame. My sister didn't need it, so we snatched it up to replace ours.

It definitely takes a lot more energy and determination to get out of bed in the mornings :)

Aspen, the decorator

2011-11-09T08:13:00.000-05:00

Many of you will have already seen this on the Mr.'s Facebook page, but I still had to share it here.

This is how he found Aspen when he got out of the shower this morning...

Apparently she was not happy with how we had made the bed.

The baby files: Week 29

2011-11-08T15:24:00.011-05:00

I am back from the dead! The sinus infection has been beat (thanks to a change in antibiotics) and I feel like myself again. Thank goodness, because I had a great weekend planned (pictures and recap to come).

29w

How far along: 29 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Hellooo weight gain! And for once, I am happy about it. I gained just under three pounds this week, which puts me on track with where I was supposed to be- sitting at a net gain of six pounds this pregnancy (twelve pounds from lowest point).

About the baby: She's around 17 inches long and is about 3 pounds!

Maternity clothes: Amazingly the dress in the above picture is not a maternity dress. I picked it up at the outlet mall last weekend and it somehow fits better than the maternity sweater dress I bought a couple weeks ago.

Best moment of the week: Finding organic onesies for less than $3 a piece, plus a 20% coupon to bring them to $2.39 each. Did I need to buy them, no. But it was such a good deal I don't regret it.

Movement: Oh yeah. And I love it.

Food cravings: Cheeseburgers!

The Mr.'s cravings: Nothing this week.

Food aversions: Chicken, which is sad since I usually survive on chicken.

Milestones: I start kick counting this week. Thankfully she moves around so much that I haven't had to consciously do it yet but I am sure that will change as she gets crowded.

The little things

2011-11-04T16:18:00.001-04:00

I was driving home earlier this week and randomly looked over at my passenger door. I saw this little paper dolphin peeking out of the handle...

I guess my nephew forgot it in my car after we went out for dinner last weekend. Is it weird that I got a little smile on my face thinking that in a couple years I'll be finding these little presents all around my house and car? It really is the little things :)

Happy Friday!

The baby files: Week 28 (AKA the THIRD trimester)

2011-11-01T15:53:00.009-04:00

Sinus infection or not, I wanted to get this picture done. I still look a little... rough ;) But at least you get to see the bump!

28w

How far along: 28 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: The sinus infection really didn't allow for much eating, so I was actually down four pounds at one point last week. I did my best to gain that back, but am hovering right around a 1.5-2 pound loss. Sooo, I think that means I am back to a net gain of two pounds this pregnancy.

About the baby: She's around 15 inches long and is now weighing in close to 2.5 pounds!

Maternity clothes: You betcha (with this sweater being one of my new ones)!

Best moment of the week: Having my mom feel her kick. Now for my sister to feel it :)

Movement: Kicking, punching, rolling... She does it all.

Food cravings: Nope.

The Mr.'s cravings: Still candy bars.

Food aversions: Nope.

Milestones: Passing the GD test, and hitting the third trimester!

The last week of my life

2011-10-27T09:41:00.003-04:00

This past Saturday was the Mr.'s 30th birthday. I planned a huge surprise party for him at a nearby park and was hoping the weather would hold out and everyone would have a great time. The weather was a bit cooler than I had hoped for, but it was still fun to get out and play.

To help get him there, my mom planned a scavenger hunt complete with mysterious clues:

She sent him to her garage where he was on pins and needles waiting to see what awaited him.

The answer? A couple gifts and another clue.

That clue sent us to the "boat ramp", which was really a way for us to get to the party- at shelter 4!

What was waiting for us? In addition to 50 of our friends and family, there was a rock wall...

And bungee run :) As you can see it didn't take the birthday boy long to hop on for a ride.

My plan was for all ages to be able to enjoy themselves, and I'd say that was the case :)

And that folks, is where the pictures end. I can't believe I don't have any shots of the food (which my sister and her family so sweetly helped me with!!!) or the crowd of people. The one thing I skimped on was a photographer and I am smacking myself for it now. On well, it'll live in our memories forever!

Also in the "unfortunate" category- I have been hammered with a sinus infection. And when I say hammered, I mean it. I went to our family doctor on Thursday where he proclaimed I had a "raging sinus infection". He didn't want to give me antibiotics since I am pregnant, so he suggested nasal flushes and steam inhalation. Well, I tried that for four days and it just got worse. Worse to the point where I cried from the pain. Thankfully he agreed to give me a dose of antibiotics on Monday... but they still haven't set in. As a result, I've been at home on the couch, feeling miserable and in pain. I am hoping it clears up soon because I can only take so much of this down-and-out stuff!

BUT! Even though I don't have a picture from Tuesday (you wouldn't have wanted to see me anyway), we are officially in the third trimester of this pregnancy. Where has the time gone?

I hope to be back to myself soon, so expect more baby updates and a few more changes to the nursery and our bedroom.

The baby files: Week 26

2011-10-18T17:20:00.001-04:00

My day started off with my four week appointment and the doctor said everything looked great. I was measuring right on track (this was the first time she checked my fundal height), which made me really happy. I also had my test for gestational diabetes (GD). I had heard horrible things about the test and how bad the drink was, but I didn't find it to be that bad. Now hopefully I don't hear anything back from the office, which would mean I passed!

I took the rest of the day off and just hung out with my babies. I was even able to get all three of them in this picture :)

And now for my true bump pic!

26w

How far along: 26 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Yet another one pound gain, so I am up 10lbs from my lowest (four pound net gain). The doctor also said my gain over the entire pregnancy has been perfect. I feel like I deserve a gold star :)

About the baby: She's still around 13-14 inches in length, but is packing on some more weight and is probably closer to two pounds this week.

Maternity clothes: Still a mix of pre-pregnancy shirts. Thankfully I have a few more maternity shirts and sweaters now, so I've been sticking with those a bit more.

Best moment of the week: Watching my belly move around when she "dances". The Mr. was amazed at it!

Movement: Still moving a bunch, especially after the GD drink since it was packed with sugar.

Food cravings: Nothing that stands out.

The Mr.'s cravings: Still candy bars.

Food aversions: Nope.

Milestones: Taking the test for GD. I am just keeping my fingers crossed that everything looks ok!

The baby files: Week 25

2011-10-11T15:40:00.000-04:00

No beating around the bush today, folks!

25w

How far along: 25 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: No gain last week means a "big" gain this week- over two pounds! That puts me up nine pounds from my lightest.

About the baby: She's still holding steady on the length of 13-14 inches, but is now around 1.5 pounds.

Maternity clothes: I went all over Virginia to buy maternity clothes and had almost no luck. Then yesterday my mom and I went to Kohl's and found two whole racks of maternity clothing and I was in HEAVEN. My mom was sweet enough to buy me a few sweaters, so I am hoping that will hold me until the end of the pregnancy.

Best moment of the week: Taking childbirth classes and touring the labor and delivery floors at our hospital. It became so much more real.

Movement: Still moving a bunch, but thankfully it's not disruptive yet!

Food cravings: Nothing that stands out.

The Mr.'s cravings: Candy bars.

Food aversions: Nope.

Milestones: Getting one more week closer to the third trimester!

He-He-Hoooo

2011-10-07T08:19:00.000-04:00

I wonder if anyone got what that title meant... Hmm ;)

This weekend the Mr. and I are taking childbirth classes at the hospital where I'll deliver. For some unknown reason, I am actually pretty nervous about them. It might be because I have NO idea what to expect when I do go into labor and these classes will answer my questions in a (possibly) scary way. But I am glad to be doing them and hope we can take a lot of information away from the classes.

Also on the list of things to research and prepare for: lactation class, pediatricians, daycare and maternity leave. With only 109 days until my due date, we've gotta get rolling with these things, right?! (I'm pretty sure I just heard my husband faint...)

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend. The weather in our area is supposed to be fantastic so I hope to make it outside a bunch!

The baby files: Week 24

2011-10-04T18:51:00.000-04:00

Please excuse my makeup free, white as a ghost face. Not my most attractive picture, but it's better than nothing, right?!

24w

How far along: 24 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Holding steady on weight this week.

About the baby: While I didn't gain any weight this week, our girl put on about 4oz and now weighs more than a pound and is up to 14 inches long.

Maternity clothes: Similar boat to last week- shirts that are too short. Unfortunately not a lot of stores near me carry maternity clothing, so I have to figure something out. I bought the sweater in this picture last weekend and it was a total splurge for me. Now I want to buy it in every other color- it's so comfortable and cute!

Best moment of the week: The Mr. feeling her kick again. It was three kicks in quick succession and I got to see that sweet smile again :)

Movement: She moves a lot, especially around 8pm when I'm crawling into bed. And she also likes to kick my bladder, which is still a really weird sensation.

Food cravings: Chocolate and tea.

The Mr.'s cravings: He's hiding it well if he has one.

Food aversions: Nope.

Milestones: It depends on who you ask or what you read, but most believe that a baby has a 50% chance of survival if born at this point. So... I guess you could say that being viable is a pretty big milestone and a weight off my shoulders. (PS to my baby girl- please stay cooking for quite a bit longer. Love, mama.)

Now, let's talk about my outfit a for a sec. The sweater was a splurge and the pants are the same ones I've been wearing for the past 6-7 weeks. I bought these boots a year or two ago and they fit me so much better now. Before I lost those ~35lbs, they would be tight around my calves and knees, but now I have room to fit my jeans in them. I'm still no skinny mini, but it feels good to be...... more slender.

She loves her Macintosh

2011-10-03T07:30:00.000-04:00

If you come over to our house on any given day, this is what you're likely to see:

Aspen loves her big brother and does everything in her power to be touching him at all times. There are definitely instances when Macintosh might not appreciate this (usually when she is on top of his head), but most of the time he takes it in stride and cuddles right back. It warms my heart to see how close they are and I can't wait to bring home our little girl and see how they welcome her in to the pack. We'll just have to make sure Aspen doesn't try to smother her with love ;)

The baby files: Week 23

2011-09-28T15:19:00.003-04:00

Forgive me for being one day late. Yesterday was not a great day for me- I had a horrible migraine and terrible sinus pressure. Probably needless to say, I wasn't up for having my picture taken. Today I am feeling a bit better, but I am really hoping to be back to 100% soon!

23w1d

How far along: 23 weeks

Total weight gain/loss: Another one pound gain this week, so up seven pounds from my lowest weight.

About the baby: Our little one is still about 11 inches long from head to toe and weighs a pound or more.

Maternity clothes: I've noticed most of my pre-pregnancy shirts aren't quite long enough now, so I think it's time to purchase a few more maternity shirts.

Best moment of the week: The Mr. felt her kick!! HARD.

Movement: She is moving around a ton and I can feel her throughout the day.

Food cravings: Pumpkin anything. Hence why I have two pumpkin pies in my house right now! (I swear I'm bringing one to work!)

The Mr.'s cravings: Caramel steamers from Starbucks.

Food aversions: Not really.

Milestones: The Mr. being able to feel her kick for the first time. The smile on his face when he felt her is something I'll never forget.

Thankfully it wasn't quite this bad ;)

The nursery!

2011-09-26T08:38:00.003-04:00

All the furniture for the nursery is in and set up! I am still deciding on some smaller things like lighting and artwork, but it'll be months before I make the final decision, so I figured I'd show you all a sneak peek. Ready?

For those that don't know, the nursery will be in our bedroom. Our townhouse has two bedrooms, but they are separated by way too many stairs, so this made the most sense. PLUS our master bedroom is huge... like two rooms in one. So now it'll just function as such :)

As you come up the stairs, the amazing glider calls out for you to come take a nap

That floor lamp really doesn't work anymore, so I am trying to figure out an alternative. I also plan on taking down the obi and putting up some nursery art (discussed below).

We angled the crib in the corner since we had the space and we both loved the look

Still to come: a homemade mobile!

From the foot of our bed

Bookcase on the left for more storage (ignore the baskets- they've already been returned and replaced)

Dresser and changing table in one

Now for a few of the smaller details :) A couple weeks ago my mom stopped by and brought along two blankets she'd made. You can see them in the pictures above (on the crib and glider). They are so beautiful and soft and screaming for some baby wrapping!!

Impossible to capture the true beauty of the colors, but I tried...

Love the little pompoms on the corners :)

And another gift from my mom- our first batch of cloth diapers!

Like I said above, I am still deciding on the extras... I know for sure I'll be making a bird mobile with coordinating fabrics from the crib bedding. It'll look a little something like this:

Instructions and picture found here.

As far as wall art, I originally thought I'd making something like this using the flashcards generously posted by Ashley for use here.

But (and there is always a but!) I came across this gorgeous nursery and fell in love with the ABC and name print from Petite Lemon.

Decisions, decisions!

As you can see, there is still a ton to do and buy for everything to be finished! I'm not stressing about it yet since all we really need to bring our baby girl home is a mattress and some bedding, so if it doesn't get done we'll still survive.

So, what do you think? I think it'll look so much better when the bedding comes in and we get it put on a mattress (still to be bought). Mattress springs don't really do much for me :)

WGG: September 21

2011-09-21T15:50:00.000-04:00

I'm still loving the delivery of fresh fruits to our front door from Washington's Green Grocer. I was a dork and forgot to take pictures of our last batch of fruity goodness, but we're still working on finishing a few things (mainly bananas, grapes and plums). The bananas that didn't get eaten are a little too ripe now, so I think I'll be making up some banana bread to enjoy.

I opted to get another delivery this week since everything sounded so good. Bonus? Everything looks good too :)

Clockwise from top: bananas, Cortland apples, pears, oranges and mangos in the middle.

My plan is to make homemade applesauce with the apples. Everything else is perfect for the take-along snack which I've found myself needing most mornings around 10am. One of my coworkers turned me on to mangos plus cottage cheese, so I see a little of that in my future. Yum!