31 Weeks - Bump Update!

Dear Baby Holler,

Guess what?  Daddy comes home in 2 days!  You and I have been busy after traveling for work last week, and now trying to get your nursery organized and completed....So this will be a short post so we can get back to work!

I have read in a lot of my preg books that as the third trimester progresses, most moms experience a "nesting instinct."  Apparently, something makes expectant mothers go nuts organizing and cleaning in preparation for the new baby.  I think this is starting to hit me.  After all of the lovely things we got at the shower last week, and all of the final things I ordered from Amazon this week to get totally finished - I'm basically the Tazmanian Devil in our house trying to find a place for everything and clean the house so it's nice for Daddy.  And while I'm doing everything, I'm thinking about all of the things I need to complete each week for work so that I can not go crazy.  But I'm probably going to end up going crazy anyway!  I'm starting to feel like you're so close, and so I want to make sure that absolutely everything is done/organized/clean before you're here.  I am a procrastinator by nature, but we're basically at a point where procrastination is out of the question.  Eight weeks from today, if you haven't graced us with your presence yet, I will be induced.  In a little under six weeks, you'll be considered full term.  So honestly, you could come at any time after that.

LESS THAN SIX WEEKS!  Yeah, that just freaked me out and I've  gotta go back into your nursery and get back to work!  Aaaaahhhh!

Oh one last thing - Daddy is in charge of your middle name and we're trying the one out in the photo below....What do you think?  Daddy's middle name is Michael after the Saint.  So he thought it'd be neat if you also had a middle name after a Saint.  The church he grew up in was Saint James, so we're testing this out, but I have to say, I'm kind of loving it!  It's different without trying too hard...At first I was a little weirded out that it's masculine, but I think it flows, and I really love that Daddy picked it out all by his lonesome:)

I had to start labeling photos again for Daddy's sake. He showed this pic to some of our friends and very confidently told them I was 27 WEEKS!  So they probably think I'm a huge heifer and I'm mortified.  Sigh.  I don't know how Daddy is so genius with numbers, but he cannot keep up with how old you are in weeks and months to save his life.

 That's it from out here, Baby Girl!  We love you so much!

Mommy

30 Weeks!

Dear Baby Holler,

We've only got 7 weeks left until you're considered FULL TERM - Woohoo!!!  Daddy will be at work from weeks 34-37, and when he gets home, that's when I'm going to start partaking in all of the old wives tales that are said to stimulate labor. 

 If we can get you to come a couple of weeks early, that would be just dandy!  Not because I'm miserable or even THAT uncomfortable, to be honest, but because we're just ready to meet you:)  We have all of this little tiny stuff - cute clothes and little diapers and baby skincare that is going to make you smell all heavenly and baby-like....And I'm just ready for YOU.  It's like when I've been at someone's surprise party before, anxiously awaiting for them to arrive so we could all jump out and yell "SURPRISE!!!"  I just wanted that person to arrive already so the fun and the happiness could begin.  That's how I feel about you.  I want to kiss the the little feet and hands that keep bopping me in my tummy.  And I want to know all about you....Like will you have hair?  Who will you look like?  And when will you get here?  My brain just goes wild with questions about you every day. 

Speaking of all of the tiny person stuff that we have just waiting for you to get here and start using it, your awesome Aunt Bri threw me a shower this weekend!  It was so much fun:)  We played games and had delicious food, and everyone gave you lovely presents...It was a blast!  You are very lucky to have such a good aunt....The sooner you get here, the sooner you can meet her!!! 

Here we  are going to our shower yesterday, our bump update...I don't know how you can possibly get any bigger!

30weeks&2days

That's another thing I wonder - how big ARE you?  We haven't had an ultrasound since 20 weeks, and I know you're a little over 3 lbs now according to baby books, but I still wish I knew exactly what is going on in there.  Maybe you are bigger.  I just like knowing fun facts about you:)  Unfortunately, we won't get to see you again on ultrasound for a while.  My doctor said that it will be 35 or 36 weeks before they check to make sure you're not breech and that you're preparing your exit:)  I tried to talk Daddy into getting an elective 3D/4D ultrasound, but he wants what you look like to be a surprise.  I KIND OF agree with him, but I still miss seeing you.  Even though I can feel you squirming around pretty much all the time, so I know you're still in there.  Well, obviously.  Look at the picture.  You're DEFINITELY in there.

Daddy's home next Tuesday, so hopefully that will pass our time very quickly.  He always keeps us so busy...We already have a lot planned while he's home, because this is his last time home before you're born.  Then next time he comes home from work, we'll be having a baby! 

That's it from the outside, Baby Girl.  We love you and we're getting so close to touching you:)

Love,

Mommy

29 Week Update!

Dear Baby Holler,

The last time I blogged, Daddy and I were about to leave for our Baby Moon to Charleston, SC.  It was amazing!  We had the best time!  We spent a lot of the trip talking about you.  You were definitely the main topic of conversation...We're just so excited that you're *almost* here!

I wish I had some nice photos to show you, but the problem is that Daddy has to be the photographer most of the time.  And as smart as he is, he cannot take a decent photo to save his life.  I wanted to have some bump photos in Charleston, but he managed to completely make me look like a huge walrus in every photo, so I don't have any pics of you and I handy.  I think there are some on the camera, but I haven't downloaded them yet.

I do have pictures of the souvenir I got you!  Daddy and I went to this fantastic Farmer's Market and I found so many little interesting booths!  My two favorites were a local candle vendor that uses recycled wine bottles from local restaurants to make candles that are scented with wine.  They're called ReWined candles, and I'll definitely be buying more!  I also found a really cute local baby clothes store that had a booth there, and all of the clothes are made from organic materials and were super cute...I'll show you!  Frankie was really interested in your souvenir, so I put it on him to model it.  I think he liked it!  If it's this cute on him, I can't wait to see it on you!

Dress and bow from Urbane Living in Charleston, SC

In other news, I am pretty positive that you were upside down for a while, with your head in my lungs.  I have had a really hard time breathing when I lay down, and my doctor said it's because you were on my diaphragm.  I felt a lot of movement this past Thursday, and suddenly I don't have the pressure under my sternum I was feeling, and I can breathe at night!  Yesterday morning I woke up and you had hiccups, and I felt them WAY below my belly button, so I know that's where your little head is now!  Thank you for being sweet enough to get off of Mommy's lungs!!!  It was just GLORIOUS getting to sleep these past few nights!

From today, there are just 70 days until you are scheduled to get here.  It's about 10 weeks, but I like 70 days better because it sounds much shorter.  You have grown A LOT.  I don't know where you are going to put the 3 or 4 lbs that you still need to gain before your arrival.  My tummy is already so big!
This is you and me yesterday, on our way to the gym:

29weeks 1day!

We are pretty ready for you!  We just have a few more things to get and prepare, but I feel pretty good about where the nursery is at!  I finally got the baskets and liners for your cubby so we can throw your stuff in there and keep it organized, and I love how it came out!

The Cameron cubby from Pottery Barn Kids and your new baskets and liners!

And finally, we had our maternity shoot on the beach a few weeks ago with Jamie Lauren Studios.  She did an awesome job, and I'm excited to get the prints in to put in your nursery!  Here is a little sample of one of my favorite photos:

So that's it from the outside, Baby Girl!

Daddy and I love you so much and we get more excited about meeting you every single day!!

Love,
Mommy

Dang it, Daddy!

Dear Baby Holler,

You and I have done a pretty good job of keeping active and going to the gym.  It's hard, and every week it gets harder. I am filled with dread, procrastination, and hatred.  The elliptical trainer is a torture device, and I feel pretty sorry for myself because I never see a SINGLE other pregnant person at the gym.  I also feel sorry for myself because I have still managed to gain weight all over, especially in my legs (I HATE THEM!) and I shudder to think of what I would look like if I listened to all of the pregnant advice I've been given that encourages me to "Just enjoy it!  You'll lose it later!"  I would apparently be 5'4 inches tall AND 5'4 inches wide!  My body just wants to be fat so bad - but the gym keeps you and I from being pregnantly obese:)

The other reason we have to stick to our regimen of 4 times a week at the gym is DADDY.  You see, you probably won't ever appreciate this, but Daddy is a pretty hot guy.  And he is very fit, and VERY active at the gym...I really would have appreciated it if he could have let himself go a little since I am pregnant and gaining weight - It really would have taken some of the pressure off me!  But noooooo.  Daddy continues to sweat, lift, and harden his 6-pack:




STOP IT ALREADY, DADDY!  CUT US SOME SLACK!!!

He doesn't even have a TINY bit of fat to pinch when he's sitting!  NOT FAIR!

Some may not care what Daddy does, but it's really hard to watch him walk around with his shirt off, his biceps bulging and his abs chiseled.  I don't want to be his fat wife, even if I am pregnant, so off to the gym you and I have to go.  We have to make sure that the only thing getting a lot bigger is YOU....And you totally are:


So even though we're supposed to be getting bigger, we're not supposed to be getting fat.  And I guess we should be glad that Daddy is so healthy, even if his perfect body puts pressure on us to hold it together as we waddle next to him.

(Sigh).  See you on the elliptical at around 5:30pm today, Harper....Dang it, Daddy!!!!!

Love,

Mommy

26 Weeks!

Dear Baby Holler,

We're officially past the 6.5 month mark!  This is our last week in the second trimester, or "mester" as Daddy calls it.  Next Friday, we'll be in the third tri- woohoo!

This morning we had our maternity shoot on the beach, and I'm pretty excited about seeing the proofs in a couple of weeks.  Daddy was not super thrilled about the early schedule, as the hair and makeup artist was at our house this morning at 5am...But I promised him we would go to The Pelican Grand for breakfast right after, which is the resort that we got married at.  Everything is always phenomenal there, and so that bribery worked and he was very cooperative this morning.  We took lots of photos, and then relaxed on the veranda at the Pelican and had the best breakfast that I can remember.  Good times!

A fed and content Daddy hanging out at The Pelican Grand...

We leave this Wednesday night for our Baby Moon in Charleston, SC.  That will be our last vacation without you!  We are spending the rest of the week there, and on top of relaxing and just enjoying the beauty of Charleston, we're also scouting out neighborhoods to see where we want to live...You have no idea, but Daddy and I are planning on moving there in the next year or so.  Many, many things have to happen before we leave Fort Lauderdale, but it's a definite that we'll be a family there by next Christmas.  On one of the first dates that Daddy and I ever had, he told me that after being stationed in Charleston with the Coast Guard for a few years, he felt like that was his home, and that he would raise his family there.  At the time, I had no idea that I would be that person he made a family with.  I was just the person he brought out on the town and drank top shelf margaritas with at Lucy's Retired Surfer Bar in New Orleans (where we met!).  So here we go...We're building our family, and about to set up our life in the place that Daddy's heart has always been:)

Speaking of Daddy, you should know that he passed his Chief Mate/Master's License test.  He now has the highest level of license that anyone in charge of a sea vessel can have.  As of Friday, he is officially a Chief Mate (second in command to the Captain), and after just another year of sea time, he'll be Captain and in charge of the entire oil rig.  That test was a gigantic accomplishment.  We are SO proud of him.  SO proud! 

And one other bit of important info to share...I had a doctor's appointment on Friday, and we actually were able to schedule your induction date, which is very exciting!  I will be induced on the evening of Sunday, December 2nd, due to Daddy's crazy work schedule.  So hopefully you'll make your appearance on December 3rd, and then you can spend some time with Daddy before he has to ship out:)  And of course, if you want to come a week or two before that, then that's FINE with us too!  We're ready for you!!!

So finally, here's our latest bump update!  26w2d...Our last one in the second trimester....Peace out, second tri!

Yeah, I know I'm wearing the same outfit as last week...But I had to wear something tight to show off the belly for the maternity shoot, and I was too lazy to change when we got home:)

That's it from the outside, Harper doodle!  We love you!!!!

Mommy

Nursery Sneak Peek

Dear Baby Holler,

Daddy delivered on his promise to get your decal tree up in your nursery over the weekend...I have to say, you need to give him tons of baby kisses and cuddles when you see it, because it is beautiful and he was super patient getting it on the wall just perfect.  We are really lucky to have such a sweet Daddy:)

We still have lots to do in the nursery to finish it, such as put up the curtains, and I'm still waiting on your rug to come in....But overall, I think we've made some progress and I'm pretty excited about it!

The only bummer is that your name decal is too dark of a pink, and it's hard to see on the walls, but the super awesome seller I purchased it from on Etsy, a shop called Modern Walls, is sending me another name decal in light pink!  So I'm excited that she was so accommodating and even though I picked out the dark pink, she is still sending a light pink replacement free of charge.  I'll definitely be using her again in the future!

Okay so here we go....Without further ado, YOUR TREE:

 

Next up, we have the changing table/dresser....I may do a collage of other prints around the one I currently have up there....

I LOVE the Cameron wall units from Pottery Barn Kids, and I really wanted to get you one, but they are pretty expensive!  Fortunately, I lucked out and found one on Craigslist for a REALLY good deal!  Daddy also hauled that upstairs and into your room- remember you owe him lots of baby kisses!!  I don't have all of the things I want to put in the wall unit, such as cute baskets with pink liners to organize your stuff, or books and frames for the shelves, but you can get a general idea...

Just giving a special shout out to Cousin Wyatt to thank him again for the super cute pink Humpty Dumpty!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the name that came out too dark of a pink....To be replaced soon with the light pink!  And that's Daddy's Lazyboy recliner that he demanded be a part of the nursery.  We girlied it up with a cute pink pillow just to drive him nuts;)

This is the view of the whole nursery as you walk in....We REALLY need curtains and a rug!!!

And finally, I ordered you the most beautiful and soft blanket from Pottery Barn Kids...It's one of my favorite purchases for you so far!  The inside of the blanket is crazy soft sherpa, and even Daddy threatened to swipe it since you're not using it yet, and use it for himself. 

So that's what we have so far....Hopefully, we'll get everything finished before Daddy leaves, but since we are heading out on our Baby Moon next week to Charleston, SC, I'm not totally sure.  Either way, we have a good start!

That's it from the outside, Harper!

We love you, and we hope you love your nursery!

Love,
Mommy & Daddy

Daddy's Home & Bump Update!

Dear Baby Holler,

Daddy's home!  YAY! 

I just got through doing "Show and Tell" for all of the things that came in for you while he was gone...And tomorrow he's going to finish the wall stuff in the nursery!  I can't wait for it to be finished!

He's off to nap, and I'm off to cook (red beans and rice with sausage - YUM!), but I just wanted to post a quick bump photo because you're getting so big, even day to day!

25w1d:

Happy Saturday, Harper!

Love,

Mommy