A Fourth to be Reckoned With

What a wonderful Fourth of July weekend! It started off strong and then fizzled into couch-dwelling by the time Monday rolled around. And to be honest, that was pretty much a perfect pace for me.

That nesting instinct is a powerful force, friends (hence the punny title of this post). As I mentioned recently, I have been going to town on errands and crossing things off my list. In fact, I've been so on top of things that I have run out of preparations to complete, and I found myself searching for projects on Saturday. I decided to wire lamps out of two $5 glass vases (vases from HomeGoods, lamp kit from Home Depot, shades from Target), then I did a little hand-painted, no-sew valance in the guest bathroom to coordinate with our towels and mats and cover up an unsightly metal bar at the top of the wooden blinds.

My lamp project. The other one looks just like this.

This lamp from Crate & Barrel kind of looks like my lamp, but costs $229!

Bathroom valance. I just used hemming tape and craft paint. It actually looks pretty good in person and finishes out the room.

We also bought a baby monitor (it's a good one!) and visited Cabela's, had brunch, went to the Dallas Farmer's Market, and ran a ton of random errands (grocery shopping and the like). I think sometimes I forget my nine-months-pregnant limitations, because on Saturday night Brad and I were getting ready to go for a walk, and I realized my ankle had really been hurting. Sure enough it was all swollen, and not just because of the heat and stuff. I think I tweaked it, or the relaxin hormone made my ligaments temporarily really crazy in one ankle.

So we went to church on Sunday and otherwise were pretty low-key, since I had developed a really attractive little limp. I was REALLY self conscious because I didn't want to be perceived as having a "pregnancy waddle." I baked and just did stuff around the house.

Monday our friends Abby and Zach came over in the morning... SO nice to visit with them. Brad and I were going to make mozzarella, but I didn't realize you needed a gallon of whole milk and I didn't feel like going to the grocery store again. So I made chicken tikka masala out of stuff I already had on hand. Interestingly, that's considered the unofficial national dish of Great Britain, and I made it on the day we celebrate our independence from them. :)

Not a whole lot of baby news in this post. He is moving A TON and really making me excited to meet him in a few weeks!

Planning

Those who know me well know that I am a "Type A" personality at heart. I love lists and being organized... In fact, not knowing what time it is happens to be my ultimate pet peeve. It literally makes me feel insane. I shouldn't admit this, but I almost lost control of my car on the way to church a few weeks ago because I noticed Brad messed with my stereo settings and I couldn't get the time to display. (Brad was my passenger at the time... needless to say, he was NOT happy with me. So much for that whole love tank thing.) :)

So it's probably not a huge surprise that I have undertaken this whole pregnancy thing in a very orderly fashion. I've read lots of books, done my research, but ultimately I've settled on what feels right to me. Some things can't be planned. I've done everything you're "supposed" to in terms of taking care of my health--eating right, getting an appropriate amount of physical activity, staying hydrated, not stressing myself out for the most part, going to childbirth preparation classes, setting up a nursery, pre-washing cloth diapers and baby clothes and linens, installing the car seat ahead of time...

And I've got EPIC packing lists for the hospital (yes, lists: one for me, one for the baby, one for Brad, and one of everything I will need to have handy in labor & delivery), as well as some to-do lists for before the baby comes (again, "lists" plural: personal care, like getting that last pedicure and hair cut before Baby Day; housekeeping, like making some frozen meals and getting the carpets cleaned; and even random things like getting my oil changed, creating a spreadsheet for birth announcements, and the like).

I realize I'm going to have to loosen up quite a bit after the baby comes, and probably even get comfortable with losing track of time. (Note: I really do think I have relaxed a lot more over the past several months. Brad says he has been watching me "sit down on the inside.") But at this moment in time, I'm glad for my list-making tendencies because I feel as prepared as I can from a logistical standpoint to welcome a baby into the world!

Our bags are packed and we're ready to go, as the song says. I definitely haven't hit the point of feeling impatient, though. I'm just enjoying these precious days.

Nursery Sneak Peek

I just attended my last class as an SMU master's degree candidate last night. What an incredible feeling!

With that chapter coming to a close (I expect to have my grades within the next week, and I'll be graduating May 14), I am, of course, THRILLED to move on to the next chapter: motherhood!

As you know, I've been highly anticipating getting to work on the nursery. It's FAR from finished -- Mom is coming to help me with a few sewing projects not this weekend but next -- but progress has been made!

Brad found himself with a free night last Tuesday and decided to paint the nursery. What a guy. He had not painted a room in about 8 years, but he kept reading articles about how babies and pregnant women are exposed to too many household chemicals, including the VOCs in paint, so he insisted he tackle that project. Almost six hours later, during most of which I was at class, the room was painted.

The crib was delivered the next day, and he assembled that in no time. HOORAY!

Ceiling fans... What can I say about them? NEED them in Texas -- plus babies should have good ventilation in their rooms because of SIDS concerns -- but man, are they ugly. I decided to try to make the ceiling fan in the baby's room disappear as much as possible by spray-painting the fan blades white (don't worry, I used a mask). I took before and after pictures but I can't find them on my camera... Oops! Trust me, it's a subtle improvement.

I also made over a little bookcase that my grandmother had used for cookbooks for years. It's a great size and shape - nice and narrow for small spaces - but it has probably seen better days. I decided to paint it celery green (low odor/low VOC paint) last weekend, then distress it and apply a sort-of aging glaze.

Before:

After:

It looks yellow in this picture, but it really is sort of a bright, spring green.

Right now it has mostly childbirth/child-raising/breastfeeding books on it (ha!), but soon I will get some more baby-appropriate reading material, as well as a cute basket, and stage it nicely.

Finally, we randomly bought a chair on Saturday... I moved the dark brown chair and ottoman from our living room into the baby's room, leaving a giant furniture void in that corner of our most lived-in room. I had a $150 Groupon to a furniture store in North Dallas, so Brad and I headed up there just to see what was available. They had a pretty reasonably priced, neutral arm chair, so we pulled the trigger and bought it. Once we got it home, however, we realized it was GIANT and made our couch look really dinky. So, another switcheroo, and now that chair is in the nursery and the brown chair is back where it was in the first place.

Pillows subject to change. I like both of these pillows, but not necessarily together.

More soon! I can't wait for the sewing to commence. I am putting myself on a spending freeze this month, so it may be a while before there is much more to show. I've got an IKEA shopping list at the ready...

Last 100 Days!

Somehow my "baby countdown" widget in the right hand column was off a few days and I just noticed it. Kind of like when your watch stops, or something, it just wasn't counting down. Weird! So I thought I still had about 104 days until my due date, but I just realized I am under 100 days! 96, to be exact! I think I'm officially in the third trimester, too.

I had this big idea of doing a "Last 100 Days in Utero" post, kind of like how they measure a president's first 100 days in office. But now that I'm at 96 days, that feels a little anticlimactic. I had planned to finish all of my research papers before I got to 100 days. I still have one to go! Oh well.

My belly has literally doubled in size in the last 48 hours. I am not kidding. Last night was the first night I started to feel uncomfortable around my ribs. And my belly button is getting really shallow all of a sudden. I am glad that the baby is healthy and growing, but I am not ready for this discomfort and whale-ishness! As I was whining to Brad a little bit, he was sympathetic but teasingly reminded me that I have had a dream pregnancy so far, so I really can't complain. He's right!


We completed our "Prepared Childbirth" classes at Baylor and made friends with the instructor. I feel much more informed about what to expect over the course of the next several months, including postpartum. My big prayer is that I avoid a C-section. Brad was able to change a diaper for the first time (on a baby doll), and I brought along one of our cloth diapers so that he can practice with that too. We're planning to do disposables for the first four to six weeks, then switch to bumGenius. I have bought 13, and I'm hoping to at least double that number so I'm not doing laundry every day!

The childbirth classes really affirmed my decision to deliver at Baylor. I initially chose it because it's the closest hospital to our home, and a friend of ours (our awesome and sweet neighbor's older daughter) had her babies there and had wonderful things to say about it. She told us they put little Bible verse cards on your meal trays... little touches that make you feel like you're in good hands. Turns out they also really work with you to ensure your birth is an experience that feels rewarding, and they want to accommodate your vision for the process as much as possible/reasonable. They are also huge proponents of breastfeeding and won't give your baby formula or pacifiers if they know you plan to breastfeed. The baby stays in the room with you, and the same nurse who cares for you cares for your baby (couplet care). Everyone we have encountered there has been nothing short of warm, friendly and incredible! The facilities are very nice and new, too; Brad said he's looking forward to staying at "Hotel Baylor." :)

I also think we might have chosen our pediatrician. She comes extremely highly recommended by some friends of ours. We'll be meeting with her in about a month to get a feel for her and make sure our views align.

So even though the nursery remains empty, progress is being made!

Nursery Progress

The title of this post may be over-promising a bit. There is actually no progress. Still a basically empty room with primed walls, waiting for a makeover.

But I have started buying! And I've nailed down my design concept, more or less.

After debating a nautical theme and an adventurer theme, I've landed on "whimsical adventurer," I think. It's really not going to have a theme, honestly, and it's going to be something that feels like a kid's room without being babyish. Hopefully it will grow with our little lad for a few years. I want it to be a room that I can tolerate and enjoy (not overloaded with muscle cars, dinosaurs, jungle animals, footballs) -- fresh but boyish, bright and cheery but not over-the-top silly.

I have lots of ideas, including thoughts on storing books and toys, a lamp redo, possibly making some paper lanterns and/or pendants, and of course I've been thinking about the art on the walls. But for now, I'll give you a sneak peek of things I have bought or already own that will end up in the room. Before you look at all the fabrics and think "pattern overload," I have plans for simple ivory drapes, an off-white or tan rug, and generally just lots of spots for the eye to rest. So don't worry. :)


WALL COLOR
"Water Mark" by Behr

What can I say about this color... It's exactly what I wanted. And its name is the same as my church's name (Watermark). It was meant to be. Hopefully I'll love it when it's on the walls! I am crazy about the fact that it's a COLOR, but it reads kind of as a neutral. Totally soothing.

FABRICS
I have plans for most of these fabrics, at this point. I own them all. Some will turn into bedding, some will line shelves, at least one will be a book/toy sling... You'll just have to wait and see!

The next three fabrics and the trim are from Hancock.

I bought this hexagon fabric in both cotton and laminated cotton. 

This stripe will run vertically, as I envision it. I'm pulling a lot of the colors for the room from this (grassy yellow, aqua, ecru, bold orange).

I tried to find a swatch of this fabric online and couldn't; it's the same exact fabric/pattern that's on this journal, only it's in fabric form, obviously--not a journal.

This is a trim I will be using on the curtains. It's not as day-glo as it looks here. It's just a fun, vintage-looking pom pom fringe. 

All fabrics below this point are from Tonic Living. Highly recommend the online store's selection.

This one with the kids playing is so precious. It actually looks a lot better in person than it does in this picture.

EXTRAS

 

Knobs for the closet doors. I love them. They are actually already on, so I guess that is one thing I've done in the room. From Anthropologie, of course! 

A bowl that was on sale at Anthro. Figure I can use it to hold pacifiers or something.

 Jelly Cat corduroy lion from Anthro (I had a coupon and a gift card).

This world map served as the jumping off point for the whole room. I had originally bought it for the living room, but the orange was way too bright. It's magnetic and has a nice white frame. Baby G has already been to five countries since he's been incubating, so we'll put magnets over those. From Future Maps Co. online.

 

I have two of these IKEA pails for diaper purposes. Thinking about spray-painting them, but maybe not.

IKEA faux sheep skin for layering over... stuff.

FURNITURE

Jenny Lind crib in white. I bought it off Amazon the other day. A little earlier than I planned, but I noticed it said it takes up to three months to ship (?!?). Oh and don't worry, I didn't get a drop-side crib. It's stationary. I just used this picture because it didn't have bedding on it.

Grainy image of a storage cube. I got two of these after I mistakenly bought a Groupon to Ashley Furniture. Well, buying the Groupon wasn't a mistake, but I thought I could get lamps and -- long story. Anyway, I have two beige storage cubes now. 

This isn't exactly the chair I have... but it is close enough to give you an idea. Also has an ottoman. We might add a rocker (TBD) in addition to this chair. 

Weird picture, but that white shelf behind the lady is what I'm going to be using as a changing table. It's just the right dimensions, and we don't have a place for it anywhere else. I bought it from one of my favorite bloggers in October, intending to use it as a bar cart, but I realized once I got it home that it was not the right size for the space I hoped to put it in. Supposedly it was sold through Horchow and retailed for $500 (I got it for MUCH LESS than that). Probably sacrilegious to use it as a changing table. Oh well.

More updates soon, I hope!

Baby Boy Gaultney Nursery, Take 2

Yesterday's news has me thinking about a nursery!

I mentioned in my last inspiration board post that I was re-thinking the Baby Boy Gaultney room because I need to go with a lighter wall color. I thought it would be a good opportunity to use some colors I don't normally decorate with, like orange and yellow. Not too blue, even though I love blue, and not too babyish. Here's what I'm working with today. I may change my mind before I actually start buying stuff and putting paint on the walls. I did order about 20 fabric swatches from a Canadian company, Tonic Living. I can't wait to put the fabrics to use in curtains, floor cushions, book slings, etc. I still want some punches of fun and whimsy, but these are the basics.

It's sort of an "adventurer room" and reflects Baby G's parents' love of travel! 

[click on the photo to enlarge]

Sources:

Chalkboard Globe, Etsy
Zigzag Rug, West Elm
Magnetic World Map, Future Maps Co. (already own)
Nutmeg Flags, Tonic Living
Remo Camel Sailcloth, Tonic Living
Pedigree Linen, Tonic Living
Jefferson Denim, Calico Corners
Poang Rocking Chair, IKEA
Brown Microsuede Armchair, already own
Paint (Forest 3 and Lazy Days), Valspar
Uncle Goose Hebrew Alphabet Blocks, Magic Beans
Sailing Ship Sketch, Anthropologie
Wonders Never Cease print, theblackapple (Etsy)
This is Texas travel book, Amazon
Ram head, Z Gallerie
Junglie Gorilla, Hanna Anderson
Jellycat Cordy Roy Lion, Hanna Anderson
Boppy Crib Sheet - Pinstripe Tan, Target
Skip Hop Mod Dot Fitted Sheet - Light Green, Target
Tiddliwinks Safari Fur Blanket, Target
Solid Chocolate Brown Box Pleat Crib Skirt, BabyBedding.com

Boy v. Girl: What the Old Wives Say

Image via Getty Images

It's a close one in the boy v. girl poll (in the right column)! Six to six. Last I checked I think it was 6 for girl, 4 for boy, so perhaps the boy mojo has grown stronger in the last couple of days. Just for fun, I'm going to do a run-down of how I compare to the old wives tales. We'll know for sure on Monday!

Old Wives Tales Comparison 

(Adapted from Smonk You and With Two Cats)

The baby's heartbeat was clocked at over 140 = BOTH (click here and here for heartbeat posts)
According to the Chinese gender chart = Boy
Sleeping on left (boy) or right (girl) side = BOTH (No matter which way I start off sleeping, I end up on my back. No lectures about sleep positions, please.)
Short time to conceive = Girl
I feel no nausea = Boy
I'm not craving citrus = Boy
I am gaining weight = Girl (this seems like a weird question, because at 20 weeks, of course I'm gaining weight)
I'm breaking out a bit = Girl
I'm feeling clumsy = BOTH (I have always felt clumsy, so no change)
No weight gain in my face (I hope) = Boy
I'm craving salty and sour stuff = Boy (I'm not craving anything, but I'd rather have pretzels and cranberry juice than cookies or cake)
I'm not moody = Boy
I'm carrying high (girl) or low (boy) =  Girl (I'm not sure I'm carrying a whole lot of anything right now, but one person told me I'm carrying high)
My hair has become thinner and dull = Girl
Hair on my legs is not growing faster than before = Girl
Feet are not colder than before I was pregnant = Girl
Brad has not been gaining weight = Girl
Craving fruit or meats and cheeses = BOTH (again, no cravings, but I'll eat any of these.)


Grand total:
Girl = 8
Boy = 6
Either = 4

At least two of the girl ones I take issue with (gaining weight and carrying high or low), but nevertheless, it looks like the old wives tales have us paying for a wedding in a couple of decades instead of a rehearsal dinner. Of course, that doesn't take into account parental intuition. Brad would love for it to be a boy to prove those old wives wrong, and I've been saying all along I think it's a boy. We will be OVER THE MOON excited either way. Truly.

I can't believe we'll know for sure in just a few days! Then I will get to start REGISTERING! I already asked Brad if he wanted to stop at a baby store on the way home from our doctor appointment Monday, and I didn't get a lot of enthusiasm. I'll let you know what happens. :)

Boy or Girl?

After today's heartbeat post, I thought I'd see what you think about Baby G's gender. Will the years bring us ballet slippers or football gear? Bills for a wedding or a rehearsal dinner? I added a poll to the right column of the blog. Submit your vote now!

Nursery Inspiration Boards

Aside from cleaning out the closets, I really haven't done much to prepare the guest room for becoming a nursery yet. I even have an unopened can of Kilz primer sitting in the room, waiting to cover up that deep red wall so that I can go over it with a nice gray-green or another calming hue. There's just something about nursery-izing a room... I guess it makes everything OFFICIAL. I don't want to get ahead of myself.

That's not to say I haven't been THINKING about what a Baby G nursery could look like. Depending on whether it's a boy or a girl, I put together a couple of options (click the photos to view larger):

Baby Girl Gaultney

Sources:

Niagra Blue, Valspar
Jenny Lind Crib, unknown
Pinwale Alphabet, Anthropologie
Sewing Basket Kids' Apron, Anthropologie
Quirky Heirloom Throw, Anthropologie
Buttonwood Curtain, Anthropologie
Venus Mirror, Anthropologie
Choisis la Joie print, Eva Juliet (Etsy)
Kitten Bandit print, theblackapple (Etsy)
Cold Toes Warm Heart print, theblackapple (Etsy)
Cori and the Bear print, Paola Zakimi (Etsy)
Coral Bay fabric, Calico Corners
Ellina Chintz fabric, Calico Corners
Hatteras Outdoor Buttercream fabric, Calico Corners
Wildflowers Double Hook, Urban Outfitters
Recycled T-shirt rug, handmade
Lotus Flower Chandelier, Viva Terra
Luca Glider, Real Baby Inc.
Natures Purest Sleepy Safari Knit Elephant, Baby Village
Hanging Paper Flowers, handmade
Acid Etch Letter, Urban Outfitters

Baby Boy Gaultney

Sources:

Deep Sea Curtain, Anthropologie
Royal Navy, Valspar
Denmark Crib, Natural, Amazon
Pique Nursery Bedding, Dark Navy, Pottery Barn Kids
Sailing Ship Sketch, Anthropologie
Brass Key Sample Set, Amazon
Brass letters, unknown
Wonders Never Cease print, theblackapple (Etsy)
Keep Calm and Sail On print, KeepCalmShop (Etsy)
Yacht Club Plaid fabric, Calico Corners
Sultana Lattice fabric, Calico Corners
Inlet View fabric, Calico Corners
Gazelle Trophy Wall Sculpture, Urban Outfitters
Devil Whale Wall Art, Urban Outfitters
Bone Finish Globe, Ballard Designs
Rope Knot Doorstop, Ballard Designs
Capel Shell Collection rug in Camel, Rugs USA
Industrial Cage Lights, unknown
Luca Glider, Real Baby Inc.
Uncle Goose Hebrew Alphabet Blocks, Magic Beans
Knit Octopus, unknown

I made those inspiration boards well over a month ago, and I've already pretty much changed my mind on the Baby Boy Gaultney room. I could still see it having a sailor/nautical theme, but that room doesn't get a ton of light, so I might need a lighter/brighter color for the walls. Whatever I choose, I want either room to be able to "grow up" with the little one and not be too babyish. I am in love with the little girl room, but I have a feeling we may be going with the nautical theme, if you know what I mean.

Oh, and I should mention that INSPIRATION is the key word here. Many of the sources I used are going to be WAY too expensive, but I'll look for something similar.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Other favorite sources I should check out?