Home Stretch

We've come to the 3rd and final trimester - WHAT?! I know, it's crazy to think about but we're here. I still can believe that in just 11 weeks {or less} we get to meet our sweet girl. A lot has been happening over the past few weeks. I'll try to break everything down and yes, even include some pictures!

So, first things first, my "mommy" came to visit last week and we bought all of the furniture for the nursery {crib, night stand, dresser, etc.}. I was nervous that it wasn't going to come in time but Potterybarn Kids really has their sh*t together and we got everything in less than one week! The crib is already together as is the nightstand but we're still working on the dresser and changing table situation. We're also still debating on the chair that can fit in the room and if we really want to sell a kidney {or 2} to pay for said chair. As D-day {delivery day} quickly approaches we run out of time {read: options} for the chairs we can order. I guess it's crunch time!

Crib and the infamous wall

The lamp that you see was inspired by this lamp from, you guessed it, PBK. I've been looking at this lamp since the day I found out I was pregnant; turns out, willing the lamp to appear on my doorstep for free didn't work. I kept thinking, "I could totally make that lamp!" So, while my mom was visiting she convinced me to do it. We went to Ross {such a hit or miss store, am I right?} and found a cute little lamp with a glass base for $14.99 {winning!}. Then we went to Michael's, my mom's second home, armed with our 40% coupons, and proceeded to buy every single pink/white rose on their shelves. Even though we bought every stem in the local Michael's, I still didn't have enough to cover the lamp shade! {Shout out to the mama and Auntie Jolene for pulling through and getting the rest of the flowers for me from all over the state of California!} I seriously cannot wait until this room is done. The nesting is beginning to hit HARD.

Even Jake likes the lamp!

In other news, we've been taking baby classes at the hospital which are going pretty well. Our teachers have been quite the cast of characters but we've learned a lot {everything from labor to bathing a small nugget}. Doctor's appointments are becoming more frequent and at the last one I learned that I had only gained 14 pounds so far! Now, I'm calling shenanigans on the whole thing {basically because this means that I was way bigger than I thought when I got pregnant}. I say we call it a wash at 20 pounds. Doctor also said he expects at least 10 more pounds! 10 MORE POUNDS?! 10 more pounds on a person my height is a lot, but, hey, anything for Tater. Not sure how I will be doing this {less her weight gain} because I'm back to having a normal appetite and heartburn like I ate at the greasiest of greasy spoons. But, don't worry, I'm sure I'll manage to do it.

I can't believe that it's already April. Next weekend Brian, Jake, Tater, and I are all going to Santa Barbara for a little R&R, our maternity shoot, and my baby shower! I'm so excited to spend my last allotted travel time with the people I love the most. Below is the most recent picture I've got and there will be plenty more in the next few weeks - don't you worry!

28 weeks, 3 days

Rock-a-bye Baby

Today I finally finished painting Tater's nursery! Now before you start judging me for tooting my own horn you'll need to understand that the painting scheme was a lot easier said than done. I had this genius idea that the wall behind the crib should be grey and white chevron striped. Like I said, easier said than done.

I googled directions on the best way to paint the stripes and found several sites with detailed instructions. I wish I had taken pictures of each step but alas, I did not. Basically the best way to do this is to make a graph on the way and then tape off the stripes. Well I made a boo boo and didn't tape off the stripes completely before starting the paint job. It caused a little problem but it was easily fixed with a coat of white paint. {Hence, the green tape you see in the picture}

This has to be the most time consuming thing I've ever done in my home. From start to finish it took me about 5 hours to paint 3 stripes! My advice to anyone who thinks this a good idea? Make sure you're patient and that you have the time especially if your wall is bigger than 9ft 8.5in x 7ft 9in.

I'm so excited that the painting is finally done so we can get on with the buying of furniture and hanging the decor. Obviously as the decorating is done more pictures will come but for now, here's the finished wall...

Just Some Pictures

I don't have anything witty or clever to say, I've just been getting flack for not having enough pictures, so here's a couple from last week.

23 weeks

2 Parts

I've got a lot to say so this post might be a little wordy but there are pictures at the end so it's totes going to be worth it! So I got the idea for the first part of this post from the wonderful and lovely Bridget over at tales of me and the husband plus 5 kids & a gracie. Bridget posted her feelings/thoughts/responses to pregnancy questions back in the summer of 2011. I've always loved her blog and I love this idea, so here we go...

Cravings: During the first trimester I wanted cheeseburgers. I tried many but all failed. Except one. I'm almost embarrassed to say this but Tater wanted McDonald's cheese burgers. I know! So gross, right? Well I'm glad that passed. Then, once cheeseburgers were over I wanted kiwis, pears, and apples. I ate fruit like it was my job. To be honest, I'm still apple obsessed and I've added oranges to this diet as well. And I'm the worst. My boss will spend her sweet time peel and separating her oranges and I'll walk by and eat them. I know, I'm the worst. {It's a good thing she likes me}. Also, as of about 5 seconds ago, grapefruit sounds delicious.

Weight Gain: I plead the 5th. Alright, not really. The last time I was at the doctor it was 18 pounds. Actually, maybe less, maybe more. I'm not 100% sure what I weighed before getting knocked up.

Comments: "Your bump is so tiny!" {Thanks, I think. I am still 23 weeks pregnant} "Do you have any weird cravings?" {I wouldn't call them weird} "You're due in June? You're so big already! You're going to be huge! Are you sure you aren't having twins?!" {DO NOT under any circumstances say this to someone} And then there's the one off crazy old lady at the grocery store that thinks it's OK to touch me {If you didn't put it in there, don't touch it!} 

Fears: Under-cooked meat, not being a good mom, labor, going in to labor early, etc... The first one, and to an extent the second, see highly avoidable. We basically eat at home so it's easy to avoid it but getting food poisoning in general just doesn't sound fun. I think that being a good mom is something that every mom worries about and I don't think that's something that goes away. My mom told me, "Being a mom is like having your heart beat outside your body in someone else." {One of the wisest ladies I know}. As for going in to labor or actually birthing this kid, yeah, that's terrifying. I think that this is something else that all moms worry about. You want to make sure that you're ready but as D{ue}-Day gets closer the scary/more realistic it becomes. It's a vicious circle.

General Mood: The first trimester, WATCH OUT! I was crazy. It can only be described as "Hulking out". One minute you're fine and the next your a scary big green monster destroying anyone and anything in your path. Yeah, crazy. Then I went into b*tch mode {sorry family that had to spend Thanksgiving with me}. I self diagnosed this/blame it on hormones and being hungry. Blood sugar levels can really mess a girl up! Second trimester brought more tears than usual for unknown reasons but then a calming. For the most part I love being pregnant and having a supportive husband is probably {read: really} helping.

Things I Was Surprised By: How nervous I was to tell people {yeah, Bridget and I are on the same page here}. I was scared to tell people even after we went to the doctor got the 2-thumbs-up, and waited until 12 weeks. I was so paranoid that something was going to happen to Tater {still am a little bit}. Also, TMI, the stretch marks on the girls. That's right, the ta-tas have gained a lovely shade of purple/blue/red lines. Just a few in a small region, but still, this was something I tried very hard to avoid. Oh, and the chestne {like acne on your chest}. From the articles and books I read I thought it might happen, but boy did it ever. Nothing like putting pure rubbing alcohol on your chest twice a day. {Yes, I know, this is not the best beauty regime but it's the only thing that works!} And last but not least, the audacity of strangers. Grandma Mimi said, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."

Things I'm Most Looking Forward To: Meeting our sweet little girl. I cannot wait to hold her.

What I Think Is Really Cool & Crazy: There is a human inside of me. Said human is growing bones and organs and other crazy sh*t. I've said it once and I'll say it again, science is so flipping cool! {God totally knows what He's doing}

Most Embarrassing Moment: I don't think I've had any public embarrassing moments, yet. However, TMI, pregnant lady gas is NOT a joke. 

Alright, that was fun. Now, for a little update on life...

Yesterday Brian and I both had the day off work so we did the standard dog park visit, had lunch, and then painted the nursery. I feel like I can call it a nursery now without it being weird because it's painted and none of our stuff is in there. We're not "theme" people so we went with a color scheme instead. 

During lunch I decided that Tater and I needed to do a little tanning so I sat out on our back deck and caught some rays before we headed upstairs to paint.

22 weeks, 4 days

Below are some before, during, and after shots of the room.

  

Before

Before

 Handsome hubby. Go, Daddy, Go!

We're getting there

After - one of the "Barely Pink" walls

Another one of the "Barely Pink" walls

And last, but {hopefully} not least.........................................................................

22 weeks, 4 days

I'm so happy to have the room painted but there's one more step that needs to be completed before the room is finished. This coming weekend we'll be adding stripes to the non-pink {not pictured} "Billowy Cloud" wall so that it's grey and white. I'll be sure to add more pictures when that wall is done.

It's all coming together so stay tuned for more soon!

Daddy on Board

Last night Brian finally felt Tater kick. I'm not sure if that makes things more real for him, but it was nice to be able to share something that I've been feeling for weeks. At first he said he couldn't tell if it was really the baby moving for his own heartbeat in his hand. POW! POW!

More pictures when I'm not trying to fight off sickness.... Pregnant lady DayQuil is my new dream.

I'm a Dragon

Like a stranger in the night it attacks. Creeping its way up my stomach, playing in my chest, and dancing its pretty little way in to my throat and mouth. Trying to exhale CO2 is silly because I've become a dragon. I can only breathe fire.

The 2nd trimester heartburn has come on full force. I could eat the most bland foods on Earth and yet the burning continues. I eat Tums like candy and sleep sitting up. All I have to say about it is, it sucks and this little girl better be real gosh darn cute to make this up to me. {Not really, I'll love Tater no matter what}. Only 137 days to go!

D-Day

D-Day might be a little dramatic, but today is a BIG day. HUGE! Today we are going in for our 1/2 way check-up AAAANNND we get to find out whether Tater is a boy tot or a girl tot. I COULD NOT BE MORE EXCITED! {Can you tell?} We also get to see that all of Tater's organs and bones are in the right places and growing on schedule.

I'm feeling great; we've registered for all the stuff, we went to the baby clothes swap {we scored a whole lotta stuff for $10}, and we're starting to clean out Tater's room. I can't believe that we're already at the half way mark. It feels like I just told Brian and then I remember that was the beginning of October!! 

Can't wait to find out. Yay!!!

*UPDATE*

Well, I was surprised and Brian "knew it". Tater is a.…………… GIRL!!! We couldn't be more excited and I will now be spending the rest of the night looking at baby girl stuff. Can't wait to hold our little princess!!!!!! Our new due date is back to the original of June 12th.

Baby Girl. She is just the cutest!

For the record, I've been trying to work out more to make things easier on everyone.

Also, I'm glad I don't just look fat anymore. This was 18 weeks, 3 days.