Today's the day...

We have to be at the hospital in a little less than three hours, and my alarm isn't set to go off for another hour. But I'm up (and have been for awhile) because I can't get over the fact that we're finally about to meet our girl.

There are really no words that could adequately describe how I'm feeling right now.  I''m definitely a jumble of emotions, and to say that I'm anxious would be an incredible understatement.  But I'm mostly just ready to meet this little princess that has stolen our hearts. 

 

Hopefully I'll get the chance to check in again once we get settled in.  Otherwise, you can stay updated via Instagram (@MrsHargrave) or Twitter (@Mrs_Hargrave), and I'll obviously get a post up once she makes her debut! :) 

 

Thanks again, y'all, for your sweet words of encouragement and for keeping me sane over the last nine months.  I have a feeling, though, that the real craziness is only just beginning...

Two more days...

I feel the need to pop in and say hello, but I have to be honest.  All I keep thinking is...

... I'M ABOUT TO HAVE A BABY!

Still no labor or contractions, so we're still scheduled to induce on Wednesday. 

(us at 39 weeks... I'd say we're both ready! :))

I am going to do my very, very best to keep you guys updated via Instagram (and possibly here on the blog if I can).  So if you want to go ahead and follow so you don't miss anything, you can find me on Instagram at @mrshargrave (and I usually publish all of my Instagram updates to Twitter, so you can find me there at @Mrs_Hargrave as well).

Until then, we're just trying to stay busy.  We celebrated our last child-free weekend with a little Cheesecake Factory and a trip to the iPic theater to see Oz: The Great and Powerful on Saturday.  Was it just me, or was the movie only okay?  As a devoted Wizard of Oz and Wicked fan, maybe I just wasn't in love with this take on the back story of Oz?  Even so, we loved the theater.

 

 

The chairs were so comfy, and the dessert we ordered was delicious.

 

On Sunday, we took it easy and ended up grilling a delicious dinner:  Italian chicken, chopped BBQ salad, and these campfire potatoes.  (The potatoes were phenomenal.  I'd add a bit more butter next time to keep them from getting dry, but altogether fabulous.)

 

 

I also made these cake batter Rice Krispy treats. 

It was a different recipe than the one I've used in the past (and courtesy of my girl, Kristin), and so much better.  The frosting sent the whole thing over the edge (I used regular vanilla buttercream frosting rather than cream cheese), and I'm not ashamed to tell you that we've already devoured the entire pan.  Judge away, y'all.  They're delicious.

Today, Micah has worked from home, and we've just been tying up some loose ends around the house.  I got new tires (Micah insisted that we get that done before Grace arrived) and did the last load of Grace's laundry (mostly towels and burp cloths).  We also got a fun surprise in the mail.

Grace's baby book came in!  I ordered it on Etsy from here, and I love it.  It's really well-made, and I like the pages and layout.

Alright, friends.  I'm just waiting for Micah to get home from his last softball game of the season (poor guy had to go alone because I get so uncomfortable sitting on hard surfaces for long periods of time these days).  And then I'm going to try and get some sleep (if I can get my mind to shut down long enough to rest). 

XOXO, loves.

April 13, 2013

My darling Grace,

 

It's unfathomable to me that you're already almost here.  It seems like just yesterday that your daddy and I were staring at that pregnancy test in shock, happier than you will ever know at the news that you were on your way.

 

 

Over the past nine months, God has used this time to fill my heart with more love than I could have ever imagined.  We heard your heartbeat for the first time, and I cried at the sound of you.  I had one of the worst moments of my life when I thought we might be losing you and one of the best moments when I saw that you were safe and sound.  I felt you move and marveled at the miracle of it.  We got the best surprise ever when we found out that you were a girl.  We took you to Paris and decided on your name.  Daddy felt you move for the first time and fell even more in love with you.  We spent many hours decorating your sweet room.  We celebrated your upcoming arrival with family, friends, and co-workers. 

 

And now here we are, days away from meeting you, and the anticipation is almost too much.  Because although there is a part of me that is sad to give up this precious time you and I have had together over the past nine months, I know the best is yet to come.  I know that we are about to embark upon the most exciting/wonderful/terrifying/humbling/amazing/exhausting journey of our lives, and we couldn't be more ready. 

We are honored to be your parents, sweet girl.  I know we are going to mess up about a billion times, and there will be moments when you won't like us very much.  But I promise to do everything in my power to equip you to face the world.  I promise to give you every piece of my heart.  And I promise to be the best mom I can possibly be, even when that means doing the difficult thing.   

Just a few more days, love. 

Until then,
Mommy

Thankful for...

Cue the cliche, I'm-a-horrible-blogger speech.  I know I've been slow to get my Thankful Thursdays posts up lately, and I've all but stopped my weekly pregnancy updates.  But the weekly updates seem unnecessary since we've been getting news more frequently than that, and I don't like to have to wait to share things with you guys! 

 

I suppose that I'll be even more unpredictable once Miss Priss gets here, but I promise to do my best to keep you all in the loop.  I feel like you guys have been such a BIG part of this journey, and I can't even tell you how encouraging it has been to be able to share every little milestone with you.  (And I'm currently trying to figure out how I can get labor updates to you all on Wednesday.  I'll let you know what I come up with.)

 

So today's post will be easy.

 

{I'm thankful} for YOU.  My friends who have kept me going throughout these past nine months.  From the nausea to the carpal tunnel to the bed rest, you've been there. And I'm so thankful for you.

 

What are YOU thankful for this week? Link up and tell us!

 

What's been up...

First - Baby News

 

We had our 38 week appointment yesterday.  And although I don't technically have preeclampsia based upon the bloodwork they ran last week, I'm on the bubble based on the amount of protein in my urine (but my blood pressure is still normal, thankfully). 

 

So because of that and the fact that Miss Priss is measuring plenty big already, we're going to induce next Wednesday if she hasn't made an appearance by then.  It's only a day before my due date, so I feel good about it.  (Plus, if we continue to wait, there's a chance that she might decide to come on 04/20, and that's just unaccaptable. :))  I'm really happy to have a date certain by which we'll get to meet her.

 

Second - Stella Jo

 

Thankfully, I got a baby fix this weekend to tide me over until then.  While Micah and my brother were hosting a skeet shootout and Bible study for a group of teenage guys on Sunday, my sister-in-law, niece, and I headed over to my mom's house for some girl time.  I can't even express how big and smart Stella is right now.  It makes me so happy and so sad at the same time - she's growing up too quickly!  (Go get a full Stella update at my sister-in-law's blog here.)

 

 

Third - Mad Men

Since I've been working from home, I've been able to get caught up on Mad Men.  I finally finished Season 5 yesterday and caught the Season 6 premier last night (around 2 am, since I haven't really been sleeping lately).  Did anyone else see it?  Thoughts??

Fourth - Life

Until Grace decides to arrive, Micah and I are trying to enjoy these last few days of being a childless couple.  We are so, so, so excited to meet our little girl, but I have to admit that it's a teensy bit bittersweet to say goodbye to this phase in our lives.  I'm so happy that we decided to wait a few years before having kids because I feel like this time has given us a strong, solid foundation on which to build our future.  And now we're ready to welcome Grace into our lives and watch our hearts expand in the most amazing way.

In the spirit of celebration, I talked Micah into taking me on a last date to the iPic movie theater (which features fully reclining seats with pillows and blankets - heck yes!) and The Cheesecake Factory (my FAVORITE restaurant) on Saturday.  We're going out with a bang, y'all!

Hope you guys are having a fabulous week!

Some candid thoughts on pregnancy...

These last nine months have been a trip, y'all. Mostly, they have been filled with moments of awe and wonder and love, and I will never get over how incredible it is to assist God in creating a life.

 

But, let's just be completely honest. There have been a billion times in the last thirty-eight weeks where I've had a "What the...?" moment.  My body has done things that I never expected, and it hasn't all been pretty. 

 

So for those of you who haven't yet experienced all of the "joys" of pregnancy, I feel like it's my duty to tell you what you're in for.  Here's a candid list of questions you may end up asking yourself when the time comes.  I share because I care. :)
 

 

Would anyone notice if I took a little nap at my desk right now?

 

That first trimester brings with it exhaustion like you've never ever known.  I made it through four years of difficult biochemistry courses and three years of law school without feeling as tired as I felt those first few months.  Just sleep when you can and look forward to the awesomeness that is the second trimester.  (And do be sure and enjoy that burst of energy when it comes because the third trimester is just as exhuasting as the first.)

 

Do I look pregnant or just fat?

 

Sorry, friend, but you won't look pregnant to anyone but you for awhile.  You'll see that bump start to emerge almost immediately, but most people will be too scared to assume it's a baby or ask you about it until it's really obvious.  And can you really blame them?  No one wants to be the person who makes that mistake...   

 

Will I ever be able to go #2 without struggling again?

 

You will.  The constipation doesn't last forever, I promise.

 

What does heartburn feel like?

 

If you, like me, hadn't experienced heartburn and/or indigestion before you got pregnant, you'll hear about how bad it can be during pregnancy and wonder what it feels like.   Unfortunately, it's just as terrible as you've heard, and as time goes on, those Tums will be about as effective at keeping it at bay as swallowing a bottle of Tabasco.  Get yourself some Zantac and avoid Mexican food like the plague. 

 

What the heck is happening to my nipples? 

 

They're getting darker and bigger and just generally more funky-looking every day.  But apparently I haven't seen anything yet -- nursing will supposedly bring even more fun nipple surprises my way.  Goody.

 

Is it possible to get stretch marks on my feet?

 

I know not everyone swells the way I have swelled, but if you're one of the unfortunate ones who will end up with feet and ankles as thick as they are wide, you'll check your feet make your husband check your feet every day for signs of stretch marks.  Thankfully, we've avoided those so far.

 

Is my face really as fat as it looks in pictures?

 

I hate to tell you, but it probably is.

 

Is it socially acceptable to flick people in the nose after they comment on how huge I am?

 

Everyone loves a pregnant lady.  Most of the time it's fabulous, but sometimes people just can't resist telling you how humongous you are.  (I had someone tell me at seven months that I looked like I was ready to pop.)  Or how you, like them, aren't one of the lucky ones who look like they stuck a basketball in their shirts.  I appreciate the commiseration.  I really do.  And I own a mirror, so I'm under no delusions about what I look like.  But, as women, I think we should all make a pact right this second to promise to never tell another woman that she's "so huge" or "enormous" or anything even remotely close to those sentiments.  I say a little white lie in this situation won't do anyone any harm...

Why does my bladder hate me?

I pee approximately every 30 minutes to an hour during the day, and I get up at least three times a night to pee.  (A couple of weeks ago, I literally got up every hour on the hour for six hours straight.)  As far as I can tell, there's no stopping the daytime trips to the bathroom (I do have to stay hydrated, after all), but limiting my fluids after 7:30 p.m. seems to help at night.  Well, that and the thought that this, too, shall pass.  (Pun totally intended.)
 

Will my... ahem... lady parts resume their normal size and shape after childbirth?

 

We're in this one together, y'all.  I sure hope the answer to this question is yes.

 

What were we thinking??  I have no idea how to keep a little person alive!

 

Again, I obviously haven't yet been able to test this one out, but I'll tell you what I tell myself when I start wondering whether I'm going to be a good mom:  there are thousands of women way dumber than I am who manage to raise perfectly healthy and well-adjusted children to adulthood.  If they can do it, then surely I can too.

I hope it goes without saying that every ache/pain/pimple I've experienced in the last nine months have been absolutely worth it.  I'd do it all again (and probably will do it all again in a few years) to bring a baby into the world.  And I don't take a single second for granted. 

Even so... we owe it to ourselves to be honest enough to laugh at all the crazy things our bodies do for the sake of and in preparation for childbirth.  In the grand scheme of things, nine months really isn't very long, and I hear that we'll be longing for this time again someday.  (Although I feel sure we won't miss the clown feet.  Can I get an amen?)

Thankful for...

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There is much to be thankful for today, friends!

{I'm thankful} that I am pre-eclampsia free!  Of course, I won't lie and tell you that the chance of meeting Grace a couple of weeks early wasn't appealing (even though the circumstances obviously weren't optimal), but I know it's best for her to come when she's ready.  And I'm obviously happy that I don't have any health risks to worry about.

{I'm thankful} that my sweet Mamaw is stable.  She was admitted to the ICU yesterday for incredibly low blood pressure, and apparently she's got some sort of blood infection.  It's still very serious, but they're running lots of tests, and her blood pressure is relatively normal again, so that's definitely praiseworthy!

And speaking of grandmas, {I'm thankful} that my other grandmother, Mimi, starts her radiation therapy next week.  I'm ready for her to kick this lung cancer to the curb, y'all!

{I'm thankful} that my work has generously agreed to let me work from home until Grace gets here.  Just another reason that I love my job and will be happy to return once my maternity leave is over (even though I'm already dreading having to leave Grace). 

Last, but definitely not least, {I'm thankful} for Micah.

(us, circa 2003)

This guy.  Oh, this guy.

He makes me better in every way, and I couldn't have dreamed up a more wonderful husband and father for our children.  How in the world did I get so lucky?

What are you guys thankful for this week?  Link up and tell us!

Also linking up with black tag diaries, The Fontenot Four, First Day of my Life, kate says stuff, and  a punk a pumpkin and a peanut.

{No} April Fool's...

I thought about titling this post "Baby's here!" and playing a fun April Fool's Day joke on you guys, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.  It's so not in my nature to play pranks - I just end up feeling too bad about it. :)

So instead, you'll just get a little bit of an update.  The end of last week was sort of crazy.  We have a trial going on at work (not one I'm involved in, but my friends are and I'm pulling for them), and my whole floor is moving down to another floor, so I've been in moving mode (which definitely isn't fun when you're nine months pregnant).  My office currently looks like this, and I'm ready to get everything put away and settled.

(What you can't see are the five large bins stacked to the side containing all the notebooks and books that need to be put up on shelves...)

But look at what we did get all put in its place this past week?

Whoop whoop! 

With the carseat installed and the hospital bags (mostly) packed, I think Grace is welcome to make her arrival any day.  I'm getting more uncomfortable by the minute and sleeping very little, so at this point I'll be more than happy for her to come whenever she's ready.  I'm just trying to ignore the part where I actually have to push her out... :)

This weekend, we (almost) finished getting all of her stuff put together and put away.  We pondered the practical./functional difference between the swing and bouncer (you veteran moms are going to have to educate me - is one better suited for certain situations than others, or are they both just alternatives for somewhere to put the baby when your arms need a rest? :)).  We sanitized bottles.  We washed a few blankets and some PJs.  We bought groceries and stocked up on the essentials.

And then when we finally slowed down long enough to sit down and reflect on the fact that we were about to be parents, we freaked out a little. Ha.  I've got both sentimental and silly pregnancy posts swirling around in my head, but for now I'll just say that this whole thing has been a trip.  An amazing, beautiful, exhausting trip.
Yesterday we celebrated our last baby-free Easter. 

When I walked into my family's celebration after having eaten some (delicious) food with Micah's family, the general consensus was (1) that I look like I'm ready to pop and (2) my swollen feet/ankles are out of control.  I tend to agree (and will spare you guys any pictures of the aforementioned swelling.  That kind of thing surely falls into one of these categories, and we all now know how I feel about that). 

When we got home, we watched last week's and this week's The Bible episodes.  Did you guys watch them?  Micah and I have both been believers for a long time, so we knew all the stories, but there is still something about watching them come to life on the screen.  If you missed them, I feel sure The History Channel will be replaying it and/or selling the dvds.  Go check it out!

Alrighty, friends.  I'm going to try and focus long enough to get some work done.  I've got my 37-week appointment this afternoon, and I'll give you an update afterward on how things are progressing!  So exciting! :)

I'll probably regret this post someday...

... but I'm writing it anyway.  If only so that you guys can direct me to it after I have a child and end up doing all of these things myself. 

So because I just can't help myself, let's go ahead and call this post: "I'll probably make a liar of myself, but after I have a baby, you won't catch me..."

... posting pictures of myself nursing on Facebook.

I don't dispute that breastfeeding is a beautiful, natural thing.  It is.  And I have NO problem seeing someone nursing in public because, heck, if a kid's gotta eat, the kid's gotta eat.  Nor do I take any issue with informative breastfeeding blog posts like these, which sometimes contain pictures of cute babies nursing.  (In fact, I've loved the girl in the red shoes's breastfeeding diaries series!)

But the nursing selfies I sometimes see on Facebook just bother me because I feel like they're completely gratuitous.  If the world absolutely must know that you're breastfeeding at that precise moment in time, I suppose you can post a status about it (although I'll probably put you in the same category of people that use Facebook as a minute-by-minute update of their lives. ["Just ate dinner, and now I'll do some laundry.  Think I'll grab some ice cream in a bit.  Laterzzz!"])

... sharing pictures of Grace with food all over her face.

This one's all me, y'all.  I swear I'm not judging you when you post pictures of your kid with sweet potatoes all over them.  Most people probably think it's really adorable.  I just get weirded out by those kinds of pictures (particularly those involving savory foods), and I'm not sure why. 

... sharing pictures of Grace's (or my) boo-boos. 

Again, this is probably just me, but I can't stand it when I'm scrolling through my facebook or Instagram feed and I stumble upon a picture of a gruesome cut (or any other sort of bloody malady).  I'm squeamish, and so it's incredibly unsettling to have someone's injury visibly forced upon me like that.  So rest assured that if Grace or I slice something open, I won't be showing you pictures of it.  This one I can promise to abide by. :)

... talking in detail about Grace's bowel movements (or, heaven forbid, showing you pictures of them). 

There's a fine line, here.  I'll probably, at some point, lament the fact that she isn't yet potty trained.  And I'm sure I'll be quick to celebrate her potty achievements here on a very generic level. 

But, y'all. 

There are some things that our children won't appreciate us having blasted to the world when they're all grown up.  Their poop is probably one of those things.  (And you can probably be sure that no one is as interested in your child's poop as you are.  Take that for whatever it's worth.)

So there you have it. 

My judgy-judgerson post that probably made some of you angry.  If it did, take heart because I'll probably be judging myself before too long. :)

Week Thirty-Six...

How far along?  Thirty-six weeks.  Insane.

Baby is the size of... a crenshaw melon (whatever that is?).

Best moment this week?  We've had a lot of good moments this week.   My work shower went fabulously.  And then this weekend, Micah and I went and basically bought all the stuff on our registry that we hadn't gotten yet:  bottles, side-snap tshirts, the changing pad, etc.  Our cart at Target was overflowing when we got to the checkout line. 

Miss anything?  Same old, same old.  Sleep.  Bending over.  Feeling my hands.  Being able to walk around a store without wanting to collapse from exhaustion/back pain.

Movement?  Lots this week. 

Sleep?  I don't want to talk about it... :)

Food cravings?  Ice, ice, and more ice.  I've been chomping away on it for about two weeks now.  I'm sure it's terrible for my teeth, but I can't get enough.

What makes you queasy/sick?  Nothing.

Morning sickness?  Nope.

Other symptoms?  I think I've officially started nesting.  My best friend gave me heck at my shower about how disorganized my pantry was.  I was bound and determined to leave it as it was, but I tripped and almost fell (again) over all the stuff on the floor earlier this week.  So we spent last night cleaning out all of the expired food and rearranging some things.  It's so pretty and clean now.

Gender?  She's still our little angel girl!

Looking forward to... finishing everything up in the next couple of weeks so that we're READY whenever she decides to arrive!

High five for Friday 5...

Yay for Friday!

One.  Miss Grace and I started our weekly appointments today.  It's so surreal that we're already at this point.  I am 70% effaced (TMI?) but not dilated at all.  I won't complain even a teensy bit because, as far as I'm concerned, she can keep baking away in there.  We've still got a lot to do before she arrives!

Two.  The girls at work (and several of the male attorneys' wives) threw me the most lovely shower.  It was at an adorable tea room in Dallas, and they went all out.

More macaroons (have I mentioned how much I adore them?), delicious food, and sweet, handmade touches. 

And, by golly... in addition to all of the ADORABLE cute things they got me (including several lawyer-themed onesies - one says "Attorney Work Product" on it.  I die.), the hostesses went in together to get me the City Mini Jogging Stroller I registered for.  I'm so thankful for these girls.  They make long hours and stressful days so much more bearable. :)

Three.  I just ordered some headbands from here for Grace. 

via

I've looked all around Etsy for pretty, handmade headbands and bows, and most of them are SO expensive.  These look like great quality for (relatively) decent prices, and I can't wait to see them on our sweet girl.

Four.  Wouldn't you know it... not an hour after I posted the nursery reveal yesterday, I got a call from Buy Buy Baby telling me that our glider is in.  So it looks like we'll be heading to Frisco tomorrow to pick that up and (hopefully) grab the last few things that we're going to need before Grace gets here. 

Five.  I saved the very best for last.  I had told you guys about a month ago about my sweet Mimi having lung cancer.  Over the past few weeks, she's been to a series of doctors, had multiple biopsies, a PET scan, and all kinds of other un-fun things.  But we found out today that her PET scan was CLEAR!  The cancer hasn't spread anywhere else, and it looks like the tumor is going to be treatable with a few rounds of radiation, which she should start soon. 

To understand what a blessing this is, you'd have to know that Mimi was adamantly opposed to doing any sort of chemo, and the doctors had already told her that she wouldn't survive an operation to remove the tumor.  So radiation was really the only shot, and we were so worried that she might have a kind of cancer that couldn't be treated with radiation.  Needless to say, we're all jumping for joy at this wonderful news! :)

  

What are you guys high fiving about this week?  Link up with Lauren and Joy and let us know!

Nursery Reveal!

Finally, right? :)

I fear that all the suspense and buildup are going to result in a huge letdown for you all, but I want to share our little angel's room with you anyway.  It has been a labor of love, but the end result, I think, is a pretty, happy, simple space that I love being in.  First I'll show you around, and then I'll give you a list of sources at the end so you can find anything you're looking for there.

Alright.  Come on in, y'all!  (And make yourselves at home because you're going to be here awhile...)

*** Note - the first two pictures were taken by Lauren Ammerman Photography after Grace was born and added to this post after its original publish date.

This is what you see when you first walk in the door.

We went with a pale aqua color for the walls.  It took a few days for us to get used to it, but once we did, we fell in love.  I swear, you guys, every single person who walks in this room says, "it feels like such a happy place!" and I'm convinced it's the paint color.

That big empty space over in the corner by the window will eventually hold the glider (if it ever comes in...).

Here's a closer look at the crib.

I opted to do without a bumper.  When she gets more mobile, we'll probably put a mesh bumper in.  But for now, it'll just be the sheet (we'll move the quilt away from the crib at night).

This may be my favorite part of the room.  We ordered the letters from Pottery Barn Kids (and ended up having to paint them because they weren't bright white enough).  The circles are just embroidery hoops with fabric.  It was the simplest thing to put together, but I think it makes a fun statement.

I've talked about the quilt here before.  We had it custom made using Amy Butler's Soul Blossom (Passion Palette) fabrics, and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out.  So feminine and vintage and comfy. 

The pillow was also custom made (Etsy is a curse word as far as my husband is concerned) using one of my favorite fabrics from the quilt. 

Clearly.  I used the same fabric for the diaper bag.

Now let's spin around to the other side of the room back toward the door.

You've seen a few of these elements before in the sneak peek I tortured you guys with a few months ago.

The lamp base was a HomeGoods find, and I found the shade at Garden Ridge (for $6... love it).  The bear was selected for Grace with much care by Micah in Paris.

The burp rags were (another) Etsy purchase using various fabrics from the Soul Blossoms line. 

I made the canvases myself, and they were a pain.  I had to (1) order the wooden letters (2) draw a grid on the canvases to ensure the letters would be centered, (3) glue on the letters, and (4) paint over each canvas by hand (I couldn't find any flat spray paint in the right colors).  It took about three coats to cover up the pencil lines I had drawn. 

But in the end, I absolutely adore them.  The idea to use the lyrics from one of my favorite hymns just came to me one day, and I couldn't think of anything more perfect.

The banner was another Etsy purchase.  I could have made something like this myself, but since I don't sew (after this, I realize that it would have saved me TONS of money and would eventually like to learn how), it likely would have looked much more homemade, so I opted to pay someone else to do it.

This is the gallery wall.  Oh the gallery wall...

It took forever to come together, but it ended up being fairly cheap (except for the "You Are My Sunshine" sign, which I bought on Etsy).  The frames are all from Goodwill (none of them cost me more than $3 apiece).  I painted and distressed them and filled them with my favorite maternity pictures.  The top left open frame surrounds three vintage-y keys I had laying around the house (they were a Pottery Barn purchase), which I painted to match the green frames. 

I made this by gluing Scrabble letters to white cardstock, and I think it's really fun.

Overall, I really love how the wall came together, even though it took me forever to figure out.  I'll replace a couple of the maternity photos with newborn photos once Grace gets here. :)

The last section of the room (I swear, we're almost done!) is by the window.

I ordered the tissue paper poms from (you guessed it!) Etsy.  The green paper lantern came from Walmart.  The curtains are from Pottery Barn Teen, and the little green "Twinkle Twinkle" sign came from the Canton Tradesday shops near my town.

The bookshelves are actually picture ledges from Ikea.  They were very cheap, and I got all the books from Half Price Books or Once Upon a Child for a few bucks apiece.

Lastly, here are a few random things scattered throughout the room.

When I saw these boxes at HomeGoods, I couldn't pass them up.  The colors are absolutely perfect for the room, and the words made me happy.

The rug is a jersey material rag-type rug.  It's so comfy, and I envision Grace spending lots of time playing on it in the years to come.

This table was a clearance find at Hobby Lobby.  It was originally hot pink, but Micah primed and spray-painted it for me a few weeks ago.  We'll probably put her little sound machine/projector on here at some point.  For now, it'll just go next to the chair so that I'll have a place to set my phone, etc. while I'm nursing.

Whew!

If you've made it this far, you're a champ.  We adore our little girl's sweet room, and we are so glad it's nearly finished!

Listed below are all of the individual elements and where we got them.  If I've missed anything, feel free to shout it out in the comments, and I'll do my best to track down an answer.

Source List

Wall Paint Color:  Lazy Days by Valspar (in flat)
Crib:  Bassetbaby Ava Convertible Crib in white 
Crib Quilt:  Rag Crib Quilt in Soul Blossoms (Passion Palette) (Etsy) 
Crib Skirt:  Custom Ruffled Crib Skirt in Amy Butler's Dehli Blooms in Grass Fabric (Etsy) 
Pillow:  Throw Pillow Cover in Amy Butler's Peacock Feathers in Blush Fabric (Etsy) 
Letters above crib:  Pottery Barn Kids (painted white) 
Embroidery Hoops:  Hobby Lobby 
Diaper Bag:  Custom Maranda Lee Emma Medium Bag in Amy Butler's Peacock Feathers in Blush Fabric (Etsy) 
Lamp base:  HomeGoods 
Lamp shade:  Garden Ridge 
Burp cloths:  Park Life Burp Cloths in Amy Butler's Soul Blossom Fabrics (Etsy - this particular set is no longer available, but they probably do custom orders) 
Wooden letters (on painted canvases):  Unpainted Baltic Birch Wood Letters (2" high, 1/8" thick, Times New Roman font) 
Banner:  Custom Soul Blossoms Bunting (Etsy - I had her incorporate additional Soul Blossoms fabric from the Passion Palette) 
Picture frames for gallery wall:  Goodwill 
"You Are My Sunshine" board:  Custom 21 x 24 Wood Sign Subway Art (Etsy - I had her use a custom light yellow paint rather than the more gold-ish paint that she normally used) 
Keys (in frame on gallery wall):  Pottery Barn's Vintage Keys  
Curtains:  PB Teen Ruffle Rings Drape  
Curtain tiebacks:  Urban Outfitters Triple Beaded Flower Curtain Tie-Back  
Tissue paper poms:  Party Poms Set of 7 in light pink, light yellow, and leaf colors
Green paper lantern:  Walmart's Martha Steward Celebrate Paper Lanters in Green  
Picture ledges:  Ikea's Ribba Picture Ledge (21 3/4")  
Decorative boxes:  HomeGoods 
Rug:  Walmart's The Rug Market Shaggy Raggy Yellow Rug (round 4')
Side table:  Hobby Lobby

To do's (and, holy cow, how am I so behind?!)...

I've got my 34 week bump date coming at you guys later today (complete with details about how we had to go to labor and delivery on Saturday [everything's fine now, I promise] and how I had my first real emotional freakout moment last night at my sweet family), but for now, I'm posting my things-I-need-to-do-before-our-daughter-arrives-and-oh-my-word-I-just-said-our-daughter-for-the-first-time-and-now-I'm-crying list.

Um, I might be slightly emotional and busting out the cray today, y'all.  

It's just that the reality of giving birth and bring home a child is starting to sink in, and there is so much that we still need to do.  But we've been so busy lately (not to mention the fact that I'm technically in trial right now), and all I want to do when I get home is curl up on the couch with a box of Samoas and snack myself into a happy coma. 

So to incentivize me to start crossing things off my to-do list, I'm putting my procrastination out there for the world (i.e., you guys) to see.  And, as always, if you have any tips about other things I need to be doing at this point (besides sleeping... I'm definitely already following everyone's advice on that one), shout them out in the comments, pretty please.

And here we go...

- pack the hospital bag

- pack the diaper bag

- take a birthing class

- take a CPR class

- wash baby blankets and crib sheets (I'm taking the advice of many mothers before me and not washing all of her clothes yet because she may not end up wearing them all, but I do want to wash the things her sweet little face will be constantly touching)

- figure out organization for her closet

- have car seat installed

- get my car fixed (I've got some issues with the electric locking/windows, and I want to have that fixed before she gets here)

- stock up on house essentials and personal items for once we get home from the hospital

- stock the freezer full of oven/Crock Pot meals

- call the pediatrician we've chosen and get things squared away

- call the daycares we're still debating between and confirm availability

- stock up on diapers

- order thank you notes (this is sort of cheating because I totally just did this, but it feels so darned good to cross through something that I refuse to take it off the list yet. :))

- buy nursing tanks, nursing bras, and comfy pajamas for the hospital

- make list of people to call when Grace is born

- pick out birth announcements

- clear out space in the kitchen for all of her stuff

- cord blood banking:  decide yay or nay

This doesn't include all the "baby" things that we actually still need for Grace, but we haven't had any of our showers yet.  Once those are over, we'll reevaluate and figure out if there are things we still need to buy.

Whew! 

Okay.  It seems more doable now that I've written it all down. 

Maybe. 

Or maybe I need another box of Samoas after all... 

So much love...

There are so many things swirling around in my head right now, but I can't seem to focus long enough to get them written down.  To-do lists for Grace, finishing touches for the nursery, little projects around the house.

But mostly, I just keep thinking about Grace.  And our little family. 

I'm not sure I've really written about this before, but from the time that Micah and I got married, I never felt like anything was missing in our little world.  Mostly, we are happy and content with one another, and so we were never one of those couples who were in a rush to have babies to "complete" our family.  And I honestly believe that if God never blessed us with children, Micah and I could have been fulfilled with just one another.

As time went on, though, we began to feel like we were ready for a baby... if one could ever really be ready for a baby.  And when we talked about it, we decided that it was time.  We always knew we wanted children, and we prayed for God's direction. 

And not long after that, we got the sweetest news of our lives.

Throughout the pregnancy, I've tried to picture what our lives will look like once she's here.  Although I know I can't yet anticipate how difficult it will be, I see Micah wrapped around her little finger and me doing, as my mom always did, my best to give her strength and and confidence. 

And as time has gone by, I've already begun to feel like she's a part of our family.  Micah and I do feel more complete, and we're so anxious to have her here with us.

It's just such a perfect illustration of God's provision.  He is already preparing our hearts to love her.  He is already cleaning out areas in our lives that need to be scrubbed fresh for her arrival. 

And, as bizarre as it may sound, I already feel like a mommy.

This love is a beautiful thing, and from what I hear, it's only going to get better. :)

Week Thirty-Three...

How far along?  Thirty-three weeks.

Baby is the size of... a pineapple.  I love pinapple...

Best moment this week?  Y'all, every moment right now is precious.  The time is just flying by, and I'm trying to soak in every single second.  But getting our maternity pictures back today was especially exciting.  I love them, and I'll be sharing them tomorrow, so don't forget to come back and check them out.  (Just a note, I'm having some trouble with Photobucket, so if you're seeing "bandwidth exceeded" messages on some of the blog pictures, just know that Photobucket has gotten an earful from me, and things should be resolved soon.)

Miss anything?  Sleeping well.  Being able to bend over.  Being able to put on shoes easily.  Fingers that aren't numb.  (The numbness that I was having during sleep has now become "permanent."  So my left middle and ring fingers are constantly numb.)  Not having to pee every 30 minutes. 

Movement?  She's squirmy.  Not quite as active lately as before, but I hear that's normal as time progresses.

Sleep?  Pretty terrible.  Between the peeing and numb fingers, it's not good.  I'm really trying not to complain, but it definitely isn't fun.

Food cravings?  Nothing specific, but boy have I been eating. (Clearly... my belly needs its own zip code at this point.)

What makes you queasy/sick?  Nothing, but I did go buy Micah some new cologne for his birthday because his usual stuff has gotten a teensy bit strong for me.

Morning sickness?  Nope.

Other symptoms?  Swollen feet/ankles.  Itchy skin.  Enormous boobs.  The aforementioned numb fingers.  Walking around for long periods of time makes my stomach feel so tight, like I'm stretching something the wrong way.  A few varicose veins.

Gender?  She's still our little angel girl!

Looking forward to... getting prints of a few maternity pictures ordered and getting the gallery wall in the nursery up and finished.  It looks like our glider is NOT going to be delivered in time for the shower in two weeks, so that's a bit disappointing.  But obviously not the end of the world. :)  And then, obviously, we'll have the big family shower (plus a work shower for me and a work shower for Micah).  So fun!

Week Thirty...

Whoa, whoa, whoa.  We're three-quarters of the way there, y'all.

Insane.

(And I'm sorry for the lack of picture this week.  Again)

How far along?  Thirty weeks

Baby is the size of... a head of cabbage.  (How'd you guess?)

Best moment this week?   A good report at our thirty week appointment.  She's measuring right on track (maybe just a half-week ahead), and her heartbeat sounded lovely, as always.  We also got a ton done in the nursery!  The bedding came in, and Micah's parents bought her mattress this weekend, so the crib (and the wall behind it) is officially DONE.  We also got curtains hung and tied back and the wall above the changing table done, as well.  And because I can't wait to show you...

... her diaper bag came in, too!  I custom ordered it from here (in Amy Butler's Peach Feathers in Blush fabric) and couldn't be more pleased with it.  (It also happens to match a few things scattered throughout the room, which Micah swears is too "matchy matchy."  I disagree. :))

Miss anything?  Being able to bend over.  Eating without worrying about heartburn.  Drinking all the tea my heart desires.  Normal-sized feet and ankles. 

Movement?  All the time.  Love.

Sleep?  Still sleeping well, but I've been waking up occasionally with (I know this is TMI) the taste of stomach acid in my mouth.  It's totally reflux, and last night it made me cough so hard that I sort of threw up.  (Which, if you know me, you know that I haven't actually thrown up in literally twelve years.  Yuck.)  I've got to remember to take my Zantac before bed.

Food cravings?  All things sweet.  Still. 

What makes you queasy/sick?  Nothing.  Except the aforementioned reflux, apparently.

Morning sickness?  Looks like the nausea is gone for good.  (Fingers crossed!)

Other symptoms?  Same old, same old.  Swelling.  Heartburn.  Sore back.  Occasional ligament pain in my tummy.

Gender?  It's a GIRL!

Looking forward to... everything that's to come.  It's coming fast, and I just hope I'm ready when she's ready!

Week Twenty-Nine

How far along?  Twenty-nine weeks.

Baby is the size of... a butternut squash.

Best moment this week?  Passing my one-hour glucose test!  Thank the LORD!

We also loved getting these sweet little shoes from Joy and her hubby in the mail on Saturday. 

(And apparently another package is on its way?  Girl, you seriously shouldn't have...) Can you believe I've never even actually met Joy in person?  But she's become such a dear blog friend and you can bet that if I'm ever in her neck of the woods, I will definitely be stopping to see her! :)

Grace's crib bedding also came in this weekend, and I'm in love.  Once we get the crib mattress from Micah's parents, the crib will be officially DONE!  And I'm just waiting for the rest of the letters from Pottery Barn to come in (they should be shipping any day now), and then we can get the wall above the crib done, as well.  That just leaves the bookshelf wall and the gallery wall (which is proving difficult), and then we're DONE with the big stuff (as soon as the glider comes in).

 

Miss anything?  Sleeping on my stomach.  Drinking as much tea as my heart desires (because I do let myself have some when I want it... I just have to be mindful of the overzealous waiters who like to keep refilling my glass.)  Bending over in the car.  Being able to get up from the couch without groaning like an eighty year-old man. 

But I'll still say that being pregnant has been the sweetest, most wonderful thing.  I'd do without these things forever if that's what it took for me to get to meet our little girl.

Movement?  All the time.  I still love feeling her move more than just about anything.

Sleep?  Ehh.... it's not as fabulous as it has been.  My arms are going numb, so I have to switch sides every couple of hours, and I'm getting up to pee at least twice a night. 

Food cravings?  I've had the most insane sweet tooth the past couple of weeks.  Nothing specific -- any and all things sweet and sugary.  I put away almost a whole package of cookies in about a day and a half.  It's bad, y'all... (but I also hear that it's fairly normal for the third trimester, which makes me feel a teensy bit better).

What makes you queasy/sick?  Nothing this week.

Morning sickness?  None this week.

Other symptoms?  I've got some serious clown feet.  My feet and ankles are so swollen it's not even funny.  Micah just laughs every time he looks down at them.  I've been forgoing heels as much as possible at work and church, so it's been a LOT of dresses/tights/flats for me lately.  (And even my flats are tight.)

I've also had heartburn like nobody's business.  Before this week, I could pop a Zantac, and I'd feel better immediately.  The Zantac doesn't seem to be working as well as it used to, but it still helps a lot.

My nails don't seem as hard as they had been, but they're still growing quickly, as is my hair.  (Don't mind those inch-and-a-half roots up there...)

I've got a spot on my back that's so, so out of whack.  I can't tell if it's muscular or if it's an alignment thing, but it kills me every time I sneeze (which was probably about thirty-five times yesterday, no joke.  There's something in the air right now...) or cough.  I may need to break down and visit a chiropractor since my massage therapist couldn't seem to get it worked out.

Gender?  Still definitely a GIRL!

Looking forward to... getting a one-day birthing class scheduled.  (I realize that it'd probably be a total waste of time for most people, and that's why we haven't done it sooner.  But I really think it'd be good for me to feel like I knew what to expect, and that goes double for Micah.)  Having my best friend to come snap some maternity pictures in the next couple of weeks (which also necessitates me finding an outfit... ick).

Mommy in Training: Feeding

(Seriously, y'all... I can't thank you enough for all your helpful registry tips.  They were incredibly helpful when I went to register!)

As if you guys haven't had enough baby talk from me lately, today we're talking about boobies.  And bottles.

I am planning on at least attempting to breastfeed (but I'm not going to put a whole lot of pressure on myself, and if it ends up not working out, I will happily [and with no guilt] feed our little princess with formula).  It's obviously a strange concept for someone who has never done it before, and I will frankly tell you that the idea of it weirds me out a little bit.  So I'm soliciting any tips/pointers/suggestions you guys have for a newbie breastfeeder.  I registered for what I've heard is the "Cadillac" of breast pumps:  the Medela Pump In Style double electric breastpump.  Did you guys use others that you swear by?

Similarly, if you used formula, I'd love to hear your thoughts on bottles, which formula you ended up using, etc.

Lastly (with hopefully no controversy), I'm curious about what you all decided on with respect to feeding on demand versus more scheduled, parent-directed feeding (i.e., the Babywise method).  I don't have any definitive plans yet (though I'll admit that I'm leaning toward a modified Babywise approach) and would love to hear your thoughts.

In a nutshell, I want to know:

How do/did you gals get your babies' tummies full?

This week's topic might strike some strong feelings in some of you mama bears, but let's keep this a judgment-free zone.  As I've said here before, I feel strongly that moms should support one another, and there are many ways to achieve what I'm sure is the ultimate goal of most moms:  to raise healthy, happy children who are equipped to face the world.

Thoughts on being a working mommy...

"You are coming back to the firm after your maternity leave, aren't you?" my secretary asked me as I was leaving for the day yesterday evening.

No one had actually asked me that yet, but I knew that others were probably wondering the same thing.

I smiled and assured her that, yes, I'd definitely be returning to the office when my twelve weeks are up.  She seemed happy to hear that, which made me smile.

And before I get lambasted with judgment, let me just say... the reasons for my steadfast determination to muster up the strength to continue working after I become a mommy are many.  First of all, although Micah has a great and steady job, we definitely couldn't afford our house and car payments without my salary.  I also have law school loans that stress the heck out of me (even though I know they're fairly insignificant compared to many others'), and we're aggressively trying to get them paid off in the next two-and-a-half years.  So even if I wanted to stay home, we'd be looking at selling our house, moving, getting different cars, and drastically changing the way we live life in order to accommodate that desire.

But more importantly, and beyond the financial aspects, I truly do love my job.  I know I'm going to love Grace more (I already do) and that my ambition and drive to succeed at work will shift significantly once she's here.  But I don't think my fundamental desire to delve into a case and advocate on behalf of a client is going to magically disappear after I have a baby.  I just happen to really like being a lawyer.

I also worked really hard in school for seven years to earn that J.D. -- with four years devoted to mastering biochemistry and three years reading thousands of pages in an attempt to learn to "think like a lawyer."  And I'm proud of what He has done in me through that learning.  The idea of leaving it all behind is honestly unthinkable to me.

Lastly, I grew up with a working mom, and I always planned on being a working mom, too, because that's what was normal to me.  I'll honestly admit that it was hard sometimes for my brother and me when she couldn't make it to every single event at the school and simply didn't have the time to be the president of the PTA.  But she didn't miss much, and she bent over backward trying to juggle it all.  And mostly?  She did an amazing job.  I never felt any less loved, and I was inspired to reach for my dreams because I saw that it really was possible to be a fantastic mom and wife while also accomplishing achievements in my own right.  Her strength always always encouraged me to be confident in my ability to do big things on my own.  I want that for Grace.

BUT...

I can already imagine how incredibly difficult it's going to be to have to leave Grace in the care of others when the time comes.  And I know, without any doubt, that I'm going to be green with envy of you incredible stay-at-home mommies. 

Not because it's easier.  In fact, I firmly believe that it's harder for stay-at-home mommies than it is for working moms because you phenomenal women carry the load of growing up your children all by yourself -- day in and day out -- without being able to pass the load on to others to carry and without the tangible reward of a fantastic bonus or a great year-end-review to remind you of what a great job you're doing.  Seriously... this mommy-to-be applauds you all and can assure you that I will never feel anything except admiration for your decision to stay at home with your loves.  (And I suppose I hope for the same courtesy from you about my decision to continue to work.  I really, really believe that we're all in this together and that, as a group, we could stand to be a whole lot less judgmental of one another.)

No, my envy will stem from the fact that I'm going to miss out on things in order to try and balance it all.  I know that going in.  I know that there will be many tears and much exhaustion and a whole lot of guilt.  There will be days when I'm tempted to quit, and heck... I may very well change my mind three years down the road. 

But I know one thing. 

I'll be counting on Him (and you guys!) to lift me up on the rough days.  I'm going to do my very best for Grace (and any other siblings that pop up down the road) and let Him do the rest. 

Because that's all any of us can really do, isn't it?

So here's to what I know will be the most incredible, rewarding, frustrating, wonderful, exhausting, and trying journey of my life.  Let's all just hope that I don't screw her up too badly... ;)

January 24, 2013...

My Darling Grace,

There are moments when I feel like I might burst with the anticipation of meeting you.  I imagine what your little eyelids and lips and toes will look like.  I wonder what shade of blue your eyes will be.  I think about the person you'll become and pray with all my might that you will come to adore Him the way your Daddy and I do.

And then I just thank my lucky stars that I get to be your mom.  Because whether you wind up with my chubby hands or your Dad's dazzling smile, you will still be ours; you will be the most beautiful girl in the world to us.  And we will love you to the moon and back.

Only eighty-five more days until I see your face.  I'm counting down the seconds.

Love,

Mommy

via

What are you thankful for this week?  Link up and tell us!


Also linking up with black tag diaries, The Fontenot Four, First Day of my Life, kate says stuff, and  a punk a pumpkin and a peanut.