1 Month

Dear Mia,

You've arrived!  You're here!  And you've turned our lives completely upside down!  It's incredible to me that one little swaddled human can be so destructive to such and organized set of parents.  I mean, where does the time go?  You probably sleep 20 hours a day and yet, it seems like I'm always at your beck and call.  It's embarrassing, really, that I've been home with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week since you were born (5 weeks ago) and yet I haven't even had the time to start writing in your baby book!  Or write a blog post!  Or order your birth announcements!  Or even simply print a picture of you!  And let's just say a little prayer for automatic bill pay because I'm positive I wouldn't have found the time to pay any of those... and we'd hate to lose our house at a time like this!

So needless to say, I'm a little behind.  Please forgive me.

You turned 5 weeks old today and are already a totally different person than you were on the day you were born.  You look us in the eyes, coo, burp like a 50 year old man, and when you smile (albeit unintentionally) our hearts stop.  You hate being cold and in order to give you a successful bath we subject ourselves to heat stroke and turn the bathroom into a sauna.  You love your car seat and will shop with me for hours.  You love to be swaddled and snuggled, listen to music with Daddy, and have a love/hate relationship with your pacifier.  You love it in your mouth... you hate it in your mouth... you hate that it's not in your mouth... you love that I've put it back in your mouth.  We do this all day long.

At night when we put you to bed you will fuss about the status of your pacifier (see above) but to calm you down all we have to do is stroke your hair and rub your cheek.  Sometimes we'll also swaddle you and turn on a little heater because you like to be nice and toasty.  It can take some time to get you to fall asleep but it's worth it because you sleep through the night!  You sleep from 11pm to 6am each night.  You'll never understand how incredibly amazing that is until you have a child of your own.  You think you'll be able to handle living on 3 hours of sleep until you're actually required to do so... and then it's a whole different ballgame.

You will launch your pacifier across the couch when you're done with it.  You love your right arm and always manage to break it free of your blanket constraints.  You also love to lay on your right side- a position you assume on your own at naptime and bedtime.  You started rolling over on your side at only a few weeks old and it scared the hell out of me!  I watched you do it one time.  You swung your left leg over your right with such force that it brought the rest of your left side with you.  You are such a troublemaker!  Don't you know that you're supposed to be sleeping on your back?

You hate to wait for your bottle in the morning, have the boogers sucked from your nose and are still startled when the dogs all bark in unison.  You poop when you eat- complete with grimacing, grunting and leg thrusting.  It's both the most adorable and disgusting thing I've ever witnessed.  Sometimes you poop with such force we can hear (and feel!) it.  Gross.

Over the past 5 weeks you've met most of your immediate family members including your cousins: Aaliyah; Lily, Bella and Corbin.  They all think you're pretty fantastic- along with your Grandpa Snipes, Grandma Snipes, Grandma Young and your Aunts and Uncles.  Everyone you meet comments on your full head of long, brown hair, including Lily, who insisted she brush it upon meeting you for the first time.

You had your one month check-up with your pediatrician on April 5th.  You were 21.75 inches long (77th percentile); weighed 9 pounds, 8 ounces (62nd percentile); and your head circumference was 37.6 cm (66th percentile).  I didn't have any major concerns to discuss with her, other than your recovery from jaundice, and she said you were looking great.  Yay!  I also checked with her that you are eating and sleeping within the normal range (3oz of breast milk every 3 hours) and she said that since you're at a healthy weight, we're doing all the right things.  Let's keep it up!

You change ever day, Mia, and I'm so blessed to be your Mom.

Love,
Momma

39 Weeks

Dear Mia,

It feels like the night before the first day of school.  The excitement!  The nerves!  The anticipation!  The unknown...!  (It also kind of feels like it's Thanksgiving and I'm hiding the 10 pound Butterball under my shirt!)

Tomorrow will mark our 39th week and everyone wants to know- when will you enter this world?  Today?  This weekend?  Two weeks from now?  (Dear God, I hope not!)  We're all getting a little impatient around here!

Clothes:  I am a mess.  A few weeks ago I was down to 2 bras that actually still fit... cue an underwire disaster and then I was down to 1 bra.  Cue another underwire disaster and I am now left to wear this horribly uncomfortable torture device.  Yes, I've bought new nursing bras but they're a little big and I'm not really interested in wearing a white, granny nursing bra when I don't have anyone to nurse yet!  My shoes have also called it quits.  My feet only fit into two pairs of shoes- black Ugg-like boots and a pair of black Michael Koors flats.  The boots are literally ripping apart at the seams and have holes in the soles.  And lastly, I get to play a lovely game of tug-of-war with my t-shirts.  I pull them down to completely cover my belly and then pull them back up to keep my bra covered.  Up and down... up and down... fun.

Sleep:  I go to bed so early it's embarrassing.  But I'm going to keep sleeping that much because I have a feeling you won't be one of those champion sleepers and I'll be sleep-deprived in no time.

Movement:  Yep, you still move around all day long.  Just yesterday you went into such a fit while I was at my desk that I had to lean back in my chair and give you more room to move around!  Things must be getting cramped in there but you're still very active.

Food cravings:  I'll eat anything at this point.  I bring 2 lunches to work each day.  I have the first around 10am and the second at 1pm.  I try to stock up on protein but I can't lie, there are plenty of sweets in there for you, too.

Labor signs:  Nope.

Belly button in or out?  Still in and holding strong!

What I miss:  My sanity.  I'm starting to have these really crazy thoughts that I'll be pregnant forever.  I worry that the swelling in my legs will never go away and for the rest of my life I'll have shins like Fat Bastard.  (My legs are actually so swollen that I can't kneel to play with the dogs or clean the wood floors.  When I try to bend my legs too far back there's such pressure it feels like they're going to explode!)  I worry that the swelling in my hands will stay and I'll never get to wear my wedding rings again.  And just the other day I told your Dad that I didn't want to plan on bathing you in the bathtub because, you know, I can't bend over.  He looked at me and said, "you know, there will come a time when you can bend over again, right?"  Actually, I'd lost all hope for ever being able to do that.  Whoops.  

Doctor’s notes:  The Doctor is still very pleased with my blood pressure (despite the swollen legs, hands and face), your heartbeat and your movement.  She said I've dilated to 1-2 cm and  thinks that despite your large size, I should be able to go into labor and have you naturally.  However, she's giving you a time limit of 41 weeks.  If you don't get a move on by March 17th you are going to be forcibly removed from my body. Consider this your two week warning, 'lil miss.

What I am looking forward to:  Your arrival!  C'mon, Mia.  Let's do this!

Love,

Momma

Thrift Store Finds

Dear Mia,

On Saturday afternoon I needed to make a few last-minute pre-baby purchases so I headed out to the mall.  I ended up getting a little turned around and taking some back roads which led me by the local Salvation Army Thrift Store.  I decided to stop and take a peek because the Goodwill store in Naperville used to be a favorite hang out for me and your Aunt Kirsten!  (That's actually where I purchased that little brown chair that's now in your playroom!  Aunt Kirsten and I were in high school, and when I bought it we loaded it into the back seat of her little red convertible and drove it to Grandma Young's house.  That was almost 10 years ago!)

Hello new favorite store!  This place is awesome.  The prices are incredible and they have a ton of stuff.  I'm not sure if they always have that much baby/kid stuff but when I was there they had 2 swings, a glider and ottoman, travel system, stroller, 2 play mats, a little desk, dollhouse (which was a little too beat up- otherwise I would have bought it), and plenty of other items.

I ended up buying a pink breathable bumper, pink crib sheet, three bibs, a little summer hat with a chin strap, 5 cotton hats and an umbrella stroller.  My total?  $12!

I wasn't sure if I really needed to buy the bumper (do you really need more than 1?) but it was in perfect condition and when I asked the employee how much they would charge me for it, she said $.75.  SOLD.

Needless to say, we'll be returning to this store often!

Love,

Momma

38 Weeks

Dear Mia,

We've reached 38 weeks!  Yay!

Doctor’s notes:  I went back to the Doctor on Friday afternoon for a check-up.  Your heart rate was strong and the Doctor was happy to hear that you're still very active.  We had a lengthy chat about my options for delivery and it sounds like your Dad and I have some decisions to make.  I made an appointment for Friday and we'll know more then.  Eek, we're getting close!

Sleep:  I'm still getting plenty of sleep each night which is amazing.  I don't know how I'd be able to function on any less than 9 hours each night at this point.  I'm always so exhausted by the end of the day.

Best moment this past week:  Your nursery is finished!  And the playroom is finished!  I'm so relieved.  I also got a haircut so I'll look nice and refreshed when we take all those hospital photos. :)

Movement:  You still kick me all day long.  I've gotten so used to the feeling that sometimes I don't even realize you're kicking as much as you are.  I still love to put my hand on my belly and feel you kicking from the outside.  It lets me know you're still doing ok in there!

Labor signs:  Still none!  Your Dad asks me every morning "how are you feeling?  Are we going to have a baby today?" and I can read the disappointment on his face when I have to tell him that I feel fine... same as yesterday!

What I am looking forward to:  Your birth!  I finally feel 100% ready.  Your nursery is finished, all of your little clothes have been washed and put away, your playroom is clean and organized, and I've left good notes for my coworkers to take over my responsibilities in my absence.  I'm ready!

Love,

Momma

Nursery Remodel Part 3

Dear Mia,

I have been looking forward to writing this post for months!  This is your big nursery reveal!

I started planning your nursery minutes after I found out I was pregnant.  You may think that's an exaggeration but I can honestly tell you that I took a positive test, celebrated with your Dad and then popped open my laptop and started searching for "crib sets."  I searched for the perfect neutral crib set for days- these were my #1, #2 and #3 favorites- but then I decided to hold off until I found out if you were a boy or a girl.  And I'm so glad I did!  I love that you have a perfectly girly nursery.  This room is exactly what I wanted for you!

I did a lot of planning for your nursery by searching google images, blogs, websites and Pinterest for ideas (many of which I'll link to below).  One of my favorite inspiration websites was ProjectNursery.com and I would visit it daily to see what new and exciting real-world nurseries they were highlighting.  I'm going to submit pictures of your nursery and see if we make the website, but just in case we don't, I'm going to borrow their posting format for here.  I hope they don't mind!

Child's Name: Mia Ellen

Child's Age: Due March 10, 2012

Location: Illinois

Description:

I created a nursery that is bright, fun and youthful.  It's a space that will grow as my baby does.  

Design Inspiration:

My initial inspiration came from a floral fabric I found at our local JoAnn Fabrics store.  I loved the big, bold pattern and the warm colors.

Decorating Style:

I'm not sure what my style would be- I just buy what I like and make sure I never pay full price!  I like splashes of color, dark wood furniture, and I like to pick textiles that make bold statements against solid-colored walls.  I also like to mix new finds with antiques and sentimental pieces.  

Project Details:

• Technically the canvas above the crib was my very first purchase as a newly-pregnant woman.  I was shopping over my lunch break one afternoon and stumbled up on it at Gordmans.  I fell in love with it and knew that I'd make it work in the nursery- whether or not I ended up having a boy or a girl.

 

• The fabric was my second find.  It's called Trendi Sorbet (a Home Essentials print) and I bought it during a Black Friday sale at JoAnn Fabrics.  That was a story in itself!  My incredibly talented Mother-in-Law, and owner of The Slipcover Shop, did all of the sewing on the valance, crib skirt and book wall pockets, and I could not be more thrilled with the way it all turned out!

• The paint came next.  We chose Minuet White, Wisteria and Brave Purple by Sherwin Williams and had a painting party to get it all done.
• Closet organization was a must for me and I finished the closet well before I started decorating the main room.  A post on the closet can be found here.

• The furniture was our next selection.  We chose the Delta Bentley 4-in-1 Convertible Crib in chocolate and the matching Delta Bentley 6 Drawer Double Dresser in chocolate from Target and we've very pleased with their quality.
• The rocking chair is a Snipes family heirloom, lovingly re-covered by my Mother-in-Law (I told you she's awesome) in Glamour Fruit Punch (a Modern Essentials fabric) from JoAnn Fabrics.  I'll be doing an entire post on this chair because there's a lot of history there!  Stay tuned!

• The idea for the book wall pockets came from Pinterest and I found the actual instructions here.  Of course my Mother-in-Law completely out-did herself by cording the pockets in the same fabric we used on the rocker.  Love it!  The double curtain rods are from Walmart.

• The inspiration for the four photos above the dresser came from Pinterest.  I found the 11"x14" frames at Hobby Lobby, had custom mats made at Jeffery Alans and then filled them with photos of myself and my husband as children (until they're replaced with photos of our own little one).  A post on how I hung the frames can be found here.

• Dresser Goodies:  Diaper tote was a gift; ceramic owl bank was a perfect baby shower gift from my niece; the framed letter to the baby is also from my niece (frame from Walmart); and I bought the ladybug nightlight because it's adorable (Target).

• I knew from all of my pins on Pinterest that I wanted to incorporate some shelving into the room.  The only wall I had left was pretty small so I bought a two-piece ledge set at Kohl's (also on Black Friday!) and filled them with some very special items from my Mom.  The musical puppy and book were baby shower gifts, the small pink plaque about daughters was originally a gift to me (but now I'm passing it on to Mia), and the I Love You needlepoint was originally hand-made by my Mom for her Grandmother in 1978.  She passed it down to me and now I'm giving it to my baby girl.

• The inspiration for the framed letter M came from Pinterest.  I already owned all of the brads and the paper, but I bought the buttons and the frame at Hobby Lobby.

• Crib Goodies:  The stuffed owl was the centerpiece at one of my baby showers (Babies R Us), the personalized pillow was a Christmas gift, and I bought the sound machine and mobile (buybuy Baby).

• The owl toy box was a surprise gift from my Mother-in-Law and it matches the rest of the room so perfectly you'd think it had been the original inspiration for the room!

Favorite Items:

I love every single thing in this room- from the I Love You needlepoint to the custom-matted frames and hand-made bed skirt- it's my vision come true!
_______________________________

Mia, this nursery would not look anything like this without the help of many people that love you very, very much.  I must remember to say thank you to your Grandpa Snipes, Grandma Snipes, Grandma Young, Aunt Kirsten, Uncle Josh, Aaliyah, and of course your Dad for putting up with me throughout this entire process.  Also, I need to thank everyone that gave so generously at the showers like your Aunt Carol for some of the cutest toys in your toy box and Aunt Cori for some of the beautiful clothes in your closet.

This room was created with so much love, Mia, and from so many people.  That's why I wanted to do this post- so that you would always know and appreciate how much love went into the tiny little room where you lay your head every night.  We all love you so much, baby.

Love,
Momma  

Playroom: Take 2

Dear Mia,

Last weekend I put the finishing touches on your playroom.  I was moving quite a bit slower than I was the weekend before that so thankfully I didn't have a whole lot left to do.  I ironed the new curtains in the living room, finalized placement of the new pillows I bought last weekend (meaning that I stared at them for a while and fell in love) and moved around a few more knick-nacks.  This is what the living room used to look like:

And now:

Not bad, huh?  Then your Dad carried the red couch downstairs for me, I washed its cover, and placed it in the playroom.  I moved the furniture around in there about 20 times until I settled on the arrangement I like best (for now) and added the new brown pillows that I bought last weekend.

I also took down a mirror (that I thought I was going to leave up) and replaced it with a great dog canvas that your Grandma Young gave us for Christmas.  I love the colors in it and how it perfectly matches the little toy bin.

After I was done in these two rooms I moved on to the guest bedroom/office upstairs.  I hung four prints, a corkboard and a mirror in there.  Then I finished by hanging another great print from Grandma Young in the bathroom.  It was a busy weekend!

I finished up this morning and snapped some pictures of both rooms.  I'm really happy with the way everything has turned out.  These are quickly becoming my two favorite rooms in the whole house!  (It might have something to do with the dogs being on the other side of the gates!)

Love,
Momma

Bribery

Dear Mia,

Your Dad is the best.  He is loving, supportive, dependable and fun.  He's also spontaneous and generous- two qualities I've been enjoying today!  This afternoon I received a box of chocolate-dipped strawberries from Edible Arrangements and they are SO delicious!  Your Dad is so thoughtful!

Oh, and he wanted me to tell you that he'll buy you chocolate too if you hurry up and pop out.  We're ready when you are, sweet cheeks!

Love,
Momma