Nursery Update

After posting my inspiration board for the nursery, a friend suggested adding in a little coral to help girly things up. I totally agreed with her, and decided to update things a bit. We also took a trip to Ikea last weekend, and bought a few things as well. The room has yet to be painted, hoping to get that done this weekend, so here's an updated room layout with the new pieces we've purchased.

I will be painting my old dresser a coral color, and changed the owl art work on the wall from yellow background to the coral as well. The drapes we picked up are a little long for the room, so seeing as they need some manipulation, I think I'll be adding a coral trim to them. We purchased the Branas hamper and baskets for the nightstand, along with the Expedit 4 cubby bookcase for the night stand, and the gray rug for in front of the crib.

The only thing not shown is the full size bed we'll be keeping in the room. Found some shams on Clearance at Marshalls, along with a coral throw. We popped into HomeGoods and found a light yellow quilt as well that goes perfect! Things are definitely starting to come together!

20 Weeks - 1/2 way through!

Baby Size: 
Banana
6.5" long 
10.5 oz

Gender: 
Girl! Reconfirmed at yesterday's ultrasound, no surprises here.

Knickname: 
We've been calling her by her nickname :)

Baby Changes: 

• She has working taste buds
• She's gulping several ounces of amniotic fluid each day

Weight Gain: 
-1 lb from our 16 week appointment! Total weight gain thus far: 4 lbs. 

Cravings: 
Still lucky enough to not have any.

Aversions: 
Thankfully no!

Showing:  
Some of my pre-maternity shirts no longer fit. So I'd say, hell yes I'm showing!

Body Changes: 
None really. I've been feeling great this week. I started at the gym, just walking and light weights, and found that I'm sleeping more soundly, and feeling so much better. Not nearly as tired during the day any more. Definitely feeling lots of stretching of the uterus as it continues to grow. Supposedly I should start gaining about a pound a week from now until labor.

Worst Moment this Week: 
The doctor telling us most likely yesterday's ultrasound would be our last before we meet her in person. (Unless an issue arises or we opt for a full 3D ultrasound.)

Best Moment this Week: 
Seeing a 3D shot of our little lady at our high risk ultrasound! All went well, and she seems perfectly healthy. She still has calcification in her heart, but it's nothing to worry about. All testing has come back great. Chances of chromosome issue is 1 in 3,000.

Looking Forward To: 
Painting her room! We hit up Ikea for a few accents this past weekend, can't wait to put everything together. The colors have  brightened a little, but still sticking to the main plan.

Completed this week: 

• Picked up the paint for her room
• Picked up the bedding for the full size bed we'll be leaving in the room
• Purchased several things from Ikea for the nursery, rug, night stand, hamper, light fixture.
• Almost done painting her mobile!

Nursery Inspiration

The only problem with finding out we are welcoming a daughter, is that all the nursery sets I liked, were very masculine. I'm not a girly-girly when I decorate, and didn't want anything that would make the room look like Pepto Bismol threw up all over the place. I in no way, expected this would be our colors for our little girl. But for some reason, I really like it, and think it works.

My idea all along was to have more of a "woodsy" theme. Hubby and I love to hike, and I'm kind of a nut for animals, especially woodlen creatures and barnyard grazers. So I wanted to try to mix that in somehow, without it looking to much like a boy lived there. I also wanted to keep it kind of modern. 

I stumbled upon Pottery Barn Kid's Georgia Nursery set, and thought "This might work!" So I started playing around, and here's what I've come up with. Light gray, yellow, white and baby blue. It's more gender neutral, which is fine with me, because we hope to be blessed with more kid(s). So hopefully this will work for boy or girl. It's feminine enough without making it all pink and purple. Which don't get me wrong, can be lovely. It's just not me.

Wall Color: Yarmouth Blue, Benjamin Moore Historic Colors

1. Color Scheme: White, Blue, Yellow, Gray

2. Letter Cards-Amazon

3. Adventurers Sign-Image from online, Photoshop'd

4. Owl Sign-Image from online, Photoshop'd

5. Free Dutalier Glider- painting it white, getting new cushions

6. Bedding- Georgia Pottery Barn Kids

7. National Parks Sign-Image from online, Photoshop'd to match color scheme

8. Hand-me-down Crib- Natural wood finish

9. Vintage Alarm Clock- LL Bean

10. Parent Sign- Etsy

11. Lamp-Shades of Light (something similar, hope to find at Home Goods)

12. My Old Dresser- painting white, adding numbers

13. White Ruggle Drapes- Amazon

14. Rug-Pottery Barn

Part of the reason for the light blue walls, is that we have natural wood crib and changing table, so yellow just won't work. And I tend to paint every room in our house green and I hate white walls. (Hubby suggested something other than green in the nursery.) I'm hoping the yellow and gray will work with the natural wood, otherwise, I may be painting our crib and changing table white. Shhh.....don't tell hubby. Hopefully it won't be needed, but it's always an option.

I'll take photos along the way so you can see the progress.

19 Weeks

Baby Size: 
Mango
6" long 
9 oz

Gender: 
Girl!

Knickname: 
Baby Girl, and her real name (to be revealed upon her arrival)

Baby Changes: 

• Developing a protective coating over her skin, called vernix caseosa. It's greasy and white and you may see some of it at her birth
• Working on her five senses. Nerve cells for her sense of taste, hearing, sight and smell are developing in her brain.

Weight Gain: 
We'll find out next week. Pants are starting to get tight around the thighs though. (Definitely getting to the gym this week, squats included.)

Cravings: 
None.

Aversions: 
Still nothing.

Showing:  
Oh yes. Some days more than others though.

Body Changes: 
I've noticed my legs have been purple a couple times. Not sure what that's about, but we'll be discussing it at our 20 week appt on Monday. Boobs have officially gone up a full size, at least. And my hips and ass are definitely bigger. Sigh.

Worst Moment this Week: 
Getting the follow up call from the doc on our ultrasound. The tech wasn't able to get a clear picture of the base of her spine, and they noticed a small white dot on her heart. Apparently the dot is most likely calcification, but can also be a "weak marker" for a chromosome issue. But seeing as our screening was so good, he's guessing it's the first. Either way, we are going in for another ultrasound next week with a high risk tech from MGH. (Looking forward to seeing our little lady again, and trying to stay positive. We'll be having more blood work to verify if the major markers for chromosomal issues are present, as well.)

Best Moment this Week: 
Finding out we'll be welcoming a daughter come July! She's definitely an active little lady. So excited to see what she looks like! Also we've agreed on a name! (that will be announced upon her arrival)

Looking Forward To: 
Another ultrasound allowing us to see our little girl again. 

Completed this week: 

• Letters of her name for the nursery
• Color scheme for the nursery
• Picked out her crib bedding
• Started making her mobile

The long awaited gender reveal.....

Unfortunately the majority of your guesses were wrong. Along with my husband, and in recent weeks, myself. I should have trusted my gut. Yes it's true, there's a little lady hiding out in my womb currently! She was just as active as our 12 week ultrasound, not sitting still and rolling all around. The poor tech took 30 mins to get all the measurements she needed. We saw her little fingers, toes, legs, arms, brain (which was pretty strange to see), and her quickly beating heart.

She has no modesty though, and had no problem flashing us her lady parts to ensure that yes, she is actually a girl. Twice to be exact. She's active, healthy, and measuring right on schedule. (Good girl!) And apparently she has my nose. Hubby was thrilled.

I must say, I'm now completely freaked out and scared shitless. The thought of raising a girl is overwhelming and quite intimidating. I'm praying she'll be a strong confident soul that loves herself. (I may have bought her a shirt that says "Love being me". I plan to do my very best to ensure she's comfortable in her own skin. It's one of the best things you can give a girl. (Thanks Mom for that!)

Other than that, I have no expectations. Seeing as she already does as she pleases, I'm pretty sure she'll give us a run for our money. Wish us luck!

Our Sweet Baby Girl

18 Weeks

Baby Size: 
Sweet Potato
5.6" long 
6.7 oz

Knickname: 
Baby. 

Baby Changes: 

• baby now yawns, hiccups, sucks and swallows 
• twisting, rolling and punching too

Weight Gain: 
Not sure, but my maternity pants are still fitting over my ass.

Cravings: 
Chips. Must. Refrain. 

Aversions: 
Still nothing.

Showing:  
Belly is definitely popping now. 

Body Changes: 
Started feeling some back pain and soreness, especially after sitting for awhile. Also had some constipation, that thankfully went away with a little Colase. Definitely had some ligament stretching as well. Left side was so sore for the last few days. Finally feeling better. I've also felt lots of stretching under my belly. Pretty sure linea nigra is coming in as well, very faint right now.

Worst Moment this Week: 
Not being able to snowshoe during our weekend away because of the strained ligament. 

Best Moment this Week: 
Getting away for a few days. Definitely needed some down time, and time away. (And came home to a plowed driveway and shoveled walkway. Got to love condo living!)

Looking Forward To: 
Anatomy scan on Thursday. Hoping baby cooperates and isn't shy. We'll finally know if we'll be welcoming a son or daughter!

Cast Your Vote! B or G?

We'll hopefully be finding out the gender of Baby F this week! We are super excited, and interested to see what your guesses are.

So........tell us.......

 Do you think it's a boy or a girl?

17 Weeks

Baby Size: 
Onion
5.1" long 
5.9 oz

Knickname: 
Baby. 

Baby Changes: 

• cartilidge is turning to bone
• starting to gain some fat too
• umbilical cord is growing thicker and stronger

Weight Gain: 
Seeing as I lost 3lbs from weeks 8 to 12, and then gained 8lbs back from week 12 to 16, I'm technically only up 5lbs. But I'm still looking at that 8lb gain in 4 weeks. Yikes!

Cravings: 
Vegetables, finally! I've been eating a salad for lunch all week, and plenty of healthy snacks during the day.

Aversions: 
Nothing, thankfully.

Showing:  
Belly officially sticks out pasts the boobs.

Body Changes: 
Besides the weight gain.....my boobs are getting bigger by the day. Ugh. Apparently at the end of 2nd trimester, they are ready for breastfeeding. The changes are definitely being felt, I refer to it as "tingly nipples". (I like to text my husband that throughout the day as well.) Baby is moving a lot more, especially at night. Thanks kid! I noticed my pants are a little tighter as well, so I started back at the gym this week. Just walking, light weights, and squats. Lots of squats! Starting to get some inquisitive looks while working out though.

Worst Moment this Week: 
Watching that Disney commercial where the dad is talking about his 14 year old daughter loving some boy. I realized that if we are having a girl, she's going to date. I may have had a mini panic attack.

Best Moment this Week: 
Hubby coming home yesterday and telling me while driving home, he was thinking how he's going to be a Dad. That made me smile!

Looking Forward To: 
Our weekend away! Apparently Mother Nature remembered the last time we went to Nestlenook in February, there was no snow. That should not be the case this weekend!

Anatomy Scan & A Request

There's something about blogging that completely strips you of your privacy. Oh yeah, it's telling the world your thoughts. And at some points, that gets challenging. Mostly because the things you say, can severely insult someone else. Or your words can be taken a different way.

Why do I preface with that? Because I was asked today when our anatomy scan is. And my automatic reaction was "Next week, but we'll be telling family and close friends first." Which to most of you, and I'm sure it was to her as well, can feel like a huge slap in the face. After all, so many of you have been reading this blog for over 2 years, and have laughed, cried and screamed right along with me. And I'm sure, like us, you're dying to know if it's a boy or a girl held up in my belly at the moment.

So I'd like to explain something, if you'll let me.

I chose to publicly display our struggle to conceive. Mostly because I felt so alone when we started our journey, and I didn't want anyone I knew to feel the same. If you're anything like me, your family reproduces like rabbits. (I kid you not.) So when we started our journey, I had a very small amount of people around me who could sympathize. I began writing so that my family, friends, and anyone else who needed it, would know what we were going through. And so that I didn't have to tell the same heartbreaking story over and over again.

I would not change my decision to do so.

However, there are moments and milestones, that are sacred. Things that you kind of have to share, and want to share with your parents, siblings, best friends, family, and anyone else really close to you, first. One of those milestones for us, is knowing if we'll be welcoming a son or daughter in July. So although our anatomy scan is on Valentine's Day (not planned, or requested), I will be waiting a short time after to fill you all in. I hope you can understand our desire to tell our parents and siblings first. Because I'm guessing you probably felt the same way when your time came. (Am I wrong in guessing that?)

So what am I asking? Nothing really. Just wanted you all to be informed, and not left out. And I guess I hoped that although you are on this long ass journey right beside us, that you won't be insulted if I wait a day or 2 to clue you all in. Sound good? I sure hope so.

Thanks again for always being there, and supporting, giving words of encouragement, and being so invested in our journey. It means more to us than you will ever know! And as always, we so greatly appreciate it!