Catch Up

I still have a lot to blog about.

Like this

this 

this 

this 

and this 

But today snuggles, cleaning, laundry, baby clothes {No more newborn and barely 0-3!} and a Christmas blog re-do took priority.

One day soon I will blog about such things.

Especially because I don't want to forget the details and the days are flying by- I really can't believe we are almost at one month.

You have GOT to be kidding me. 

Anyways, enjoy staring at that cute little santa on top.

Can she be any cuter?! 

I know, I am biased.

But still... ;)

Skinny Cow

This whole "new mom bod" thing is really weird.

I'm skinny, but I'm fat.

I'm not quite sure how to handle it. 

I feel like I am Biggest Loser finale material.

The drastic change accompanied by the loose skin.

But it happened in two weeks  and I hardly worked.

Yet, I worked the hardest and experienced the most pain I ever have in my life.

And still trying to forget about it.

A couple days before I had Adalyn I really didn't think I was that big. 

 Strangers made it clear they thought otherwise though.

Now looking back at pictures I see that I was that big. 

And now I feel small.

But I don't.

I'm back to my pre-pregnancy weight and I fit into all my clothes.

But there's a little big something extra sagging in the front. 

It's weird.

And squishy.

And jiggly.

It does look tan though so that helps a teeny tiny bit. 

And when I say "tan" I mean it's darker skin from stretching out and coming back into droopy land.

We won't even talk about what my belly button looks like.

Of course Adalyn is worth every bit of it. 

And I realize it could be a lot worse. 

But it's just a weird phase to feel so skinny, but also so fat. 

And when I say "so skinny"- it's in comparison to this.

And this

So right now, I am enjoying my little girl and all the snuggles.

The quick and easy weight loss {and I'm not even breastfeeding}

And speaking of my boobs....those took on a whole new look of their own as well,
but we won't go there either. 

So maybe in about 4 weeks Jillian Michaels and I will reunite to try and conquer this whole pouch situation.

But until then I think the term Skinny Cow is a fair assessment :) 

Two Weeks

Has it seriously been 2 weeks already?!?

It really is amazing how quickly time goes by and how much she changes every day. 

We reached a lot of new little milestones this week:

The weather has been unseasonable warm for late November/December, so we didn't want to stay cooped up in the house.

You had your first outing to the mall.

I felt bad because this time you wouldn't be getting chick-fil-a

 this time around.

I think you enjoyed it in mommy's belly- it was pretty much on the menu every week!

first semi-bath 

to soak your red little bum and first diaper rash.

Because of this we started cloth diapers and cloth wipes.

I even went all "earthy" and used olive oil instead of diaper cream.

It cleared right up!

Shortly after you had your first real bath 

because you lost your umbilical stump at 10 days old.

You are very easy going and hardly ever cry.

You had your first cry this week accompanied by your first tear.

I guess you were tired of being in the car.

That was about the first and last time you cried. 

You typically just grunt and make monkey noises. 

You are a great sleeper.

You pretty much sleep 20 hours a day.

You are pretty consistent with your your awake times:

9:00am-11:00am

 maybe a tiny bit in the afternoon if we are lucky

7:00pm-8:00pm

10:30pm-11:30pm

and maybe 15 minutes during your 2/3am feeding.

This makes your night time feedings easy on momma. 

You are now drinking about 3.5oz/4 oz every 3.5/4 hours. 

The past few nights you have a bottle around 10/10:30 and then sleep until 2:30/3.

Go right back to sleep and ready to eat again around 6:30/7.

You seem to be most awake around 10:00 {Mommy and Daddy's old bedtime}

We are pretty tired around this time, but you are so so worth it.

We hang out in bed and talk to you. 

I can usually count on two faces during the 2am feeding and I look forward to it every morning. 

Face #1:

Face #2:

::DIMPLES::

We normally go back to bed after the 6:30/7 feeding.

Daddy has left for work, you get unswaddled and we enjoy a couple more hours of sleep.

When you're unswaddled you like to sleep with your arms up over your head

or

with your hands over your face

I love to dress you up. 

You are like my own little doll. 

It's too much fun!

This week you were styling in your super cute winter boots

You also went to church for the first time this week and you did wonderful! 

I never realized how quiet it was at church until I had you- I was so nervous you were going to fart or shart or cry! But you didn't! A few little grunts here and there, but you were an angel and slept on mommy the whole time. 

We love you more than words can express.

I can't even think about it or I start to cry {shocking I know...}

You are so beautiful and we thank the Lord every day for blessing us with you. 

What a privilege it is to be your parents. 

Sneak Peek

The birth story will be posted next week, time is flying by and I really need to get on it before I forget everything!

{And thank you Lord for those hormones that allow you to forget everything! Whew!}

Mr. B went back to work on Wednesday and we are all adjusting very well. 

She is such a good easy-going baby which has been wonderful!

I'll post more stats on her 2 week post- I can't believe how much she changes every day!

{{P.S this is how I am blogging right now :D }}

We had her pictures taken on Sunday and our amazing photographer keeps putting up some sneak peeks and my hearts melts a little more each time. 

I have seriously been obsessed with pictures like these since I was a little girl and it is still so surreal to me that this is MY baby in these pictures! An absolute dream come true. 

I keep joking that it's like the 25 days of Christmas getting a new picture every day. It's so much fun!

I have too many favorites and there are still many more to come- I don't know how I will choose which ones to frame!

There are a couple others that she's posted that are super cute, but I am saving those for later! 

If the suspense is killing you, you can check her out on facebook- Lisa Louise Photography. 

We are so so pleased!!

Happy Weekend!

One Week

In an hour and a half my precious babe will be one week old! 

How is that possible??

She has brought us so much joy and we are still in awe every day that she is ours. 

Here are a few new pictures!

Mr. B goes back to work on Wednesday and I'll post all the details of her special day. 

We love you more than words can express, baby girl! 

Feels So Good

to finally kiss those cheeks.

Our Little Turkey has Arrived!!

Adalyn Faith was born on Monday night!

She was 7lbs 9 oz and 21" long. 

She is so precious and we are soooo in love.

We arrived home around noon and are adjusting well!

There will be many more photos and details to come!

Thanks for all the prayers and encouragement through out our journey!

We are beyond blessed and extremely thankful for our little miracle. 

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Daily Agenda

It didn't work yesterday {although I did have consistent contractions for a few hours, they were just a little too far apart}, here's to hoping it works today!!

Please, Jesus. 

Waiting Game Continues....

Thanks for the birthday wishes! I had a wonderful day! :) 

Today was my 39 Week check up, the one that I was so anxious for, that I lost sleep over because this appointment would determine if she was breech, transverse or head down. 

If I would have her tomorrow or at Target. 

It was also my first pelvic exam {I thought I was going to have one last week and I didn't} so I was extra nervous.

So glad it's over with! For now... I know the worst is yet to come. It wasn't quite as bad as I thought, but I was pretty animated. And for as nervous and tight as I was she managed to make her way up there and feel around, so that's a good thing I guess....

Anyways the results are in and Adalyn is....

Head down.

I know this is suppose to be good news. 

And it is, I was just hoping she would be here tomorrow. 

I'm really ready. 

And tired of throwing up.

And the heartburn.

But if she was head down I at least wanted there to be some progress and thankfully there was!

So I am 1.5 cm dilated and 70% effaced. 

Still not convinced this really means anything, but at least it's something!

So now I try everything in "my power" to get her here before Thanksgiving!

I'm about to go out and buy a birthing ball and walk til the sun don't shine no mo'.

Any other ways work for you? 

Did you go from 1 cm to labor quickly? 

Do you think it means anything?? 

I forgot to ask my Dr. about the membrane sweep...did that work for anyone??

Birthday Gift

24 years ago today my mom gave birth to me

And today I anxiously await the arrival of my little girl. 

So desperate for her to come that I am even willing to share my birthday with her.

But so far it seems like she is more interested in having her own special day.

Which I can respect.

Either way, I will be experiencing one of the greatest gifts I could ever receive or ask for

and I can not wait.

Seriously, I can't.

This is way too suspenseful. 

I don't know how people do it! 

And this birthday is extra special because it gives me a greater appreciation for my own mom and everything that she went through. 

It really should be a joint celebration. 

Although, I'm not gonna lie- It is nice to have your own special day :) 

The Nursery

Here is the official "tour" of Adalyn's room. 

This is mostly a thrift store/DIY nursery.

Hindsight I am not sure I would do again since I am really an amateur when it comes to these things. 

I have learned why people spend money on themed nurseries and bedding etc.

But I am really pleased with the end result!

This is really like 3rd {and final!} design. 

They all had the same idea and pieces, but it didn't really come together until the very end. 

And of course, I got a lot of idea off Pinterest :) 

I knew I wanted gray walls and kept going back and forth between yellow accents or coral accents.

So the first time it was just gray and yellow, but I wasn't loving it.

Then I decided to go with coral accents and a tiny bit of yellow. It was getting better, but still didn't love it.

Then I went with coral, yellow and teal {and found the perfect curtains} and now I love it. 

I still wish the walls were a tiny bit darker, but oh well :) 

-I got most of the hoops from a thrift store- they were like $2 for 6 of them! I got the rest from AC Moore.

Painted them white and placed various coordinating fabric scraps inside. 

-The letters are from Hobby Lobby {SO happy that we finally got one and it opened just in time!} and I painted those white too. 

This is the view from our room. We live in a pretty small duplex and her room is right across from us. 

- The lamp is from a thrift store for $2.99 and the lamp shade was also $2.99. I covered the lampshade with fabric and then glued on some coral ribbon and a rosette flower made out of scrap fabric. 

- I was so excited to find that little wooden giraffe at a thrift store too. It was $1.99 and its actually a pencil holder. I painted the bottom with some acrylic coral paint {it was dark green and said "Pencils"}

-The "Faith" sign is from Hobby Lobby. I wanted something that said Faith since it's her middle name and for the most part, the colors coordinated well.

-The 2 teal vases, the elephant, crates and bottom vase were all purchased from the thrift store/yard sale too. I painted the crates yellow and the bottom vase coral. The other stuff came in the perfect colors :)

-The shelves on the left side were purchased from Ikea. Everything on the shelves are from....thrift store. Duh.

- And the super cute awesome elephant hamper was a gift from Mama K for our shower and can be found here. 

This is the view from part of the kitchen. 

- Rug is from Ikea- only $20!

- I already had the chest from my room when I was younger. We painted it white, added some padding and stapled on some fabric. 

- The pillow was from a thrift store too and I just made a new cover for it and added some ribbon. 

- Curtains {one of my favorite things in the room!} I found last minute at Bed, Bath and Beyond. After making 2 different types/colors of curtains and not totally loving them I decided I would see if there was anything out there that would catch my eye. Originally I couldn't find anything- I didn't want the curtains to overpower the room since I had a bunch of different fabrics everywhere else in the room. It was starting to become really busy. Too busy. I didn't find anything in the curtain aisle, but decided to check out the shower curtain aisle to see if they had anything. 

And then I found these beauties and decided I do want the curtains to overpower the room and that I could tone down other things instead.  Although they were a little more expensive then I originally wanted to spend, at this point I was done with the whole "homemade" nursery thing and wanted something to look good. 

They were $39.99 each, but the width was way more than needed so I knew I could cut it in half and hem the edges to make 2 curtains out of the one shower curtain. I also had a bunch of BBB coupons for 20% off so it really wasn't too expensive. Then they didn't have another one on the floor, so I asked if I could take the floor model. They said yes and gave me 20% off since it was opened, and I still got to use another 20% coupon. So I cut them, hemmed them, bought some blackout liner and sewed that onto the back and they are perfect! 

-Faux wood blinds were also a last minute touch to the room and add a lot! They are from JC Penny Home Store and were on sale for $15/each- originally $45!

-Mr. B's dad made the beautiful changing station- that was the final piece of furniture that her room needed and it looks wonderful in there! 

-The frames and crates are from thrift stores that I painted. I brought the curtains into Home Depot with me and looked for some paint to match and then I purchased "sample paints" for just $3. 

-The yellow baskets are from Babies R Us

-I made the changing pad cover with some fabric that matched perfectly and was on sale at Joann's {which is where all my fabric is from btw}

-Trash can from thrift store {already in coral!}

-Hamper from thrift store and I added a fresh coat of white paint and covered the top with fabric.

-Mr. B made the bookshelf {and it still needs to be painted}

-I love our friend, Gia the giraffe and I hope Adalyn will too! She was bought with gift cards and can be found here 

-Pillows I made

-Chair is from Ikea

-Lanterns are from iParty and Hobby Lobby

-Mirror and frames are from a yard sale we went to this summer. 

-The crib: one of the most unique parts of her room and one of the first things I found on Pinterest when I had no idea what Pinterest was or what I was doing. It was pinned from this blog. It is the only one on the internet that I have found. I think I'll save the dets on this for a post of it's own.

- Bow holder: Hoping she has lots of hair! Already had the wood painting- repainted it white, glued on ribbon. 

-Saw these pictures on Etsy, decided I could make my own. Made the verse on "Pages" and then had it printed at Walgreens when they were having their "poster sale". It was only $1.99 and I love how it turned out. Frame was a yard sale find that I painted {and distressed} and the matte was white that I also painted with the sample paint from Home Depot. 

-I added some knobs to the changing station. Found these at Hobby Lobby. 

And that completes the detailed tour of her nursery! 

Although it's a lot easier to just buy nursery gear or have other people make it, there is a sense of pride in knowing that YOU made it and how you transformed things! 

And best of all, created something on a cheap budget! 

Wordless Wednesday: Big Mama

I took this beautiful self-portrait the other day out of boredom. I think it's equally funny as it is scary. I sent it to everyone and didn't want any of you to feel left out. So there ya go. 

 

P.S:  DREADING my first cervical exam in an hour!! But anxious to see what is going on in there!!

Baby Update

I have been slacking on these pregnancy updates, I think my last one was at 28 weeks or something!

I have been faithful with my weekly pictures though! 

My maternity pictures were at 34 Weeks, here's 35 and 36:

So first off- I am officially full-term!! Wohoo!! 

AND

The due date countdown is in the TEENS!! 

A couple weeks ago I posted about when I went in for my 34 Week checkup we discovered that Adalyn was breech and a scheduled c-section may be needed if she remained that way. 

This was actually good news for me because I really wanted her to be born before Thanksgiving because Mr. B's family is coming to visit and my brother is coming home from college for the week. If I was due any other month I would be trying every trick in the book to try and get her to turn, but in this case....I'm hoping she stays put.

Well...at my 36 week appointment I thought for sure she was still breech or transverse, the Dr. felt her and agreed, then we had an ultrasound to double check her position and to our surprise she was head down. I'm not gonna lie...I was a little bummed! I wasn't convinced she was realllly head down though. Her head was down, but she wasn't low low and in position, ya know? So I felt like she could turn again.
Mr. B thought I was just in denial. 

THEN

I had my 37 Week appointment and she was transverse again! This girl...between moving all around until I have someone feel my belly to flipping all around and being very unpredictable- she definitely keeps us on our toes!  

So tomorrow I have my 38 Week check up. We will see where she is at. If she is still breech or transverse then next Wednesday we will check one more time and I will have a c-section on Thursday the 17th. {{NEXT WEEK!!!!}}.

I am really at peace with whatever way is needed, as long as she is healthy and safe! I actually think I am more nervous for natural delivery than a c-section! 

I am really anxious for my appointment tomorrow because I have definitely felt like something is going on, I just don't know what. I have just been feeling weird lately. Not like we need to go to the hospital weird, just not normal.  She is still moving around all over the place and it's hard for me to tell her position. But I have also been so sore "down there" and I feel like I have done some hard core inner thigh workout. And I promise you, I so have not.  So I don't really know what's going on, but after my appointment tomorrow if she is turned and is head down I will certainly be trying every trick in the book to get her here before Thanksgiving. 

Other pregnancy updates:

Tums are still my best friend- although I feel like my body isn't reacting to them as quick and good as it once was so sometimes I take Prilosec instead. 

I am still getting sick about 3 days a week and it is getting more miserable and harder the bigger I get. {But the end is in sight!!!}

I have some good nights of sleep and some nights where I feel like I don't sleep at all.

I am always so winded. Especially when getting ready or singing at church. Ha! Who knew singing takes so much energy?!

I am starting to get stretch marks on my stomach. Go figure, I made it this far! 

Her nursery is done!
(and I'll post more pictures another day}

The diaper bag and hospital bag are packed! 

We are very ready and waiting to meet our little miracle!!

One Question

How come when you're pregnant and whale-like you drop ever.y.thinggggggg?!?!

It could very well be more annoying than the nausea, throwing up {yes, at 36 weeks I am still getting sick} and heartburn.

It's definitely a close call.

And a symptom no one warns you about.

The other day I was at the Dollar Tree and I had about 5 rolls of ribbon....

and guess what?

The pile collapsed and sent every.single.roll every which way down the aisle.

I wanted to cry.

And lay on the floor for a little while I was crawling around picking them up.

But that would've been gross and weird. 

I did pause before picking them up just in case someone would walk by and feel bad for the helpless pregnant woman.

But no one was around {which made it even more tempting not to take a break on the floor}.

So pretty much anything that can be dropped-and requires you to bend your big fat butt over, while making obnoxious grunting noises and consequently taking your breath away making you feel like you just walked a mile- will be dropped.

It's all apart of this pregnancy journey, I suppose....