30 WEEKS!!!!!!!!!

Wow...time has been flying by these past few weeks!!! I thought I had blogged, then realized I hadn't, then forgot to do it again. I don't know if it's me or if it's baby brain.  I'm just going to blame it on the baby brain!!

There are several things that I would like to give thanks for here in blog world. I know, everyone has listed their daily thanks on Facebook, so have no fear I'm not going to do that. I'm just going to let you in on some secrets!!

1. WE SOLD OUR HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know that was all caps and a lot of exclamation points, but we are sooo excited!!! The best part, the couple that is buying it loves it as much as we do. The lady has all these plans for what she wants to do and they are so cute and sweet. I'm just so thankful that this happened before the baby!

2.WE ARE HOMELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok so it's wonderful that we sold the house! It's magical that we are packing and planning on buying a new house, but.......we don't have a new house. We haven't even made an offer on a new house. Also, there really aren't a lot of houses to buy right now... So I'm thankful we are homeless. I'm thankful because I know that God will provide for us. He found us jobs, he sent us the people to buy our house, he blessed us with a child, so I know that he will find us a house and let us move in before January 24th. Right!???

3. We are having a baby!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok, so you totally knew this, but it is hard to believe that in less than 10 short weeks, there will be a little bundle of joy making her appearance into the world. I am so thankful that this pregnancy has been pretty smooth. She is growing, kicking, and thriving! She has a crib to sleep in, just no home to put the crib in! haha But we are so thankful that she is healthy!

4. Charles and I have been married for 4 years!!!!! Wow, has it really been 4 years!? It has and it has been the most wonderful 4 years of my life. I wake up each day and thank the Lord that he sent Charles to me. I know that our marriage is truly one that God planned. When I was created, I was created to be married to this man. Don't get me wrong, I know that some days are tough. I'm sure that Charles would say most days are an adventure with me...but we are so lucky to have each other! After this week, I'll share with you the gift I am giving him...too cute!

I'm thankful for so much more than these things. I have a wonderful family that makes me laugh and supports me and I have wonderful friends that keep me grounded and secure.

I have a lot to share with you as far as cute things I've made, but some of them have to do with baby showers and they haven't happened yet. So, I'll have to wait until after the showers to show you how cute everything turned out. Until then, here is my 30 week update!

How far along: 30 weeks and 3 days

Baby is is size of: a large cabbage (about 15.5 inches and 3lbs 7oz!) Just went to the doctor on Friday and they measured her at this weight. I asked if it was normal and she is in the 60th percentile. She may be a little chubby! ;) 

Current symptoms: swollen feet and hands still. I'm really tired all the time too!

Any cravings: sweets! I could eat pastries all day long...I'm refraining!

Baby bump?: Oh yeah. It seems like I have blossomed in the past week...even my students are telling me I look really pregnant!

Maternity clothes: Yes! There's no way this belly or behind is fitting in my "old" pants. Dresses are ok and most shirts, but for the most part (80%) I'm maternity all the way!

Belly button in or out: in and I hope it stays that way!

Gender: baby GIRL!

Best thing this week: Going to the doctor and seeing an ultrasound. Now, she looked like pig to me and we really couldn't see much...but she's in there are doing great!!!

Looking forward to: my first baby shower this weekend!!!! My friends are hosting in and I'm so excited to see everyone!!!

Who Knew....

So several months ago I got a wild hair and decided that I was going to sew my baby's crib bedding. Nothing to do me, I got my mom's sewing machine and decided to give this a real go. If you know me, then you know that nothing goes as it is supposed to. If it weren't for bad luck, sometimes I think I'd have no luck at all. Anyway, I got the sewing machine out and of course it didn't work. It took a week in the sewing machine hospital and then she was as good as new. The hunt for the perfect fabric commenced...

If you have never been to Premier Fabrics (http://www.premierprintsinc.com) in Tupelo, you are missing out. They have beautiful fabrics at really great prices. The staff is really helpful and will let you browse around and take your time. I suggest you go if you have a project that needs that little extra flair! I looked at Hobby Lobby, Jo-Ann, and Hancock and couldn't find anything prettier than there. I also had a coupon for $1 off each yard so I ended up spending minimal for this large project.

So obviously I found the perfect fabric, got what I needed and was once again back on the road to DIY. If you have never sewed before, you have no idea the time it takes before you even make the first stitch. I would say that cutting the fabric takes longer than the actual sewing. And, once you measure it and cut it out, you have to pin it all together. I will save you or rather, spare you, the whole long story. But, one day I will put up a tutorial on making bumper pads and you will be blown away.

I will admit that this project was not as hard as I thought it would be. If you can use a sewing machine to sew a straight line, you can make your own crib bedding.

Da..Da..Da..(entertaining sound) I present the crib bedding. It would help if I had this bedding in a bed, but alas the crib is in storage and we are hopefully finding a new home. So, let me explain what you are seeing. The back piece has 3 different sections. This is the "inside" of the bumper; or what Little Miss Priss will be gazing at as she sleeps for 8 hours a night at 2 weeks (The power of positive thinking). It is in a pattern of grey circles/pink pattern/grey circles/pink pattern, etc all along the inside. The white and grey scroll fabric is the "outside" of the bumper. You are only seeing the small part of the outside, but all the bumpers have this fabric on the back. Once it gets in the crib, you will be able to tell more about it.

Lastly, I finished the mobile I wanted to make. I found a chandelier for $10 and took the crystals off of it, strung them up with fishing wire, and put them on a florist wreath I got at Hobby Lobby. I then took the coordinating fabric (which we used on the foot stool that will be in her room) and made a ruffle to go around the top. Again, just picture this in a sweet baby's room instead of hanging in my kitchen.

So DIY is done...for now. I can't wait to see what else I can come up with. Until then, I'll leave you with me update on baby girl.

How far along: 26 weeks 4 days

Baby is is size of: a cucumber (14 inches and 1 and 2/3 pound!)

Current symptoms: swollen feet and hands. Most days they are minimal, but some days they are bad. I can still wear my engagement ring, but not my wedding band.

Any cravings: food in general...I'm starving

Baby bump?: yes and the touching of said baby bump by people has begun.

Maternity clothes: Oh yes..but there are several pieces of clothing that I have been able to wear from pre-baby days. What can I say, I love big clothes I guess.

Belly button in or out: in and I hope it stays that way!

Gender: baby GIRL!

Best thing this week: Finishing the bedding and mobile!

Looking forward to: Going to the doctor Friday and hearing her heartbeat...I also have the dreaded sugar test, so I'm looking forward to getting that over with. I hope I pass!!!

Nursery

I've been dreaming up the perfect nursery for a while. I had a boy nursery in my head and had even looked at some girl nurseries. If you know me, then you know that I love to make things harder than they have to be. So in this case, I thought I could DIY the entire space.  As of right now we do not have a nursery for Baby Girl. We "hope" that we won't be in our house, but don't know what house we will be in. So, it does make it hard to plan her room. I have researched everything needed, looked at cribs, bedding, and paint. Right now, these are the nurseries I'm planning from....

found from: www.projectnursery.com

found from: www.projectnursery.com

again...projectnursery.com

I can't give credit to this pic, the web address isn't valid anymore

I just love the grey walls and light pink accents. So I'm going to do the unthinkable, break out the sewing machine and try to make my own bedding. I know that I won't be able to recover a chair so we've picked one out that we love. I also know that I can't build a crib..thus buying that as well. And I've already shown you what we got! I just love that crib the more I think about it!

 We went this weekend and bought paint!!! Before you say, but you don't have a room, let me remind you we are the coupon king and queen. Sherwin Williams was running a sale and we thought, why not buy the paint now!? We bought it, love it, and can't wait to get painting. Well I can't wait to have Charles and John David get to painting.

This is the color we are doing for the walls...gray doesn't transfer as pretty as other colors!

Not sure how this is going to turn out, but wish me luck!

Still here...Still Kicking

Here we are...one day away from October!! I'm super excited because I LOVE Fall! I mean love, love, love; but here in Mississippi, we don't get too many Fall days. One of my favorite things to do is decorate for the season. I have cute pumpkins and little metal bats that I put in the yard. However, this year in the mist of packing to move (which didn't happen) and storing things in our storage unit...the decorations are spread all over Prentiss and Lee counties. So here we are again wishing we were moved, kinda moved, but still not selling our house.

As you may remember, we took our house off the "official" market. We are now selling it by owner. I want to sell our house so we can move, but I dread leaving this cute home. We have done so much work and really made it our own so I hate to see that go. Blood, sweat, and yes...tears have been shed at this home. But please---someone buy this sucker!!!! I'd like to find another home before the baby gets here!!! I'd love to be able to see the house, close at the end of October and be in a new home by Thanksgiving. But that is really pushing it. So I just pray that our house sells before Christmas and we can find another home before January 24th (or whatever day she decides to make her appearance)!

And speaking of baby...she's definitely in there! I'm feeling her kick all the time and it is so funny (albeit a little strange). I had my 22 week check up last Tuesday and everything is going good. Her little heartbeat was at 146 and she was moving away. We didn't have an ultrasound, but by using the doppler, you could hear her rolling! I think we have decided on a name..but I may leave you in some suspense until we tell all our family first. Let's just say it's a great mixture of both of our families names. We couldn't be happier and we're excited to have some things monogrammed! Of course I'm worried that I will take one look at her and say...that's not her name!!! What would we do!!?? Ok, ok, I'm sure that won't happen...but have you met me!? Alas we have decided and that's one thing to check off my list!

Here's the latest update on Baby P:

How far along: 23 weeks 3 days

Baby is is size of: an eggplant (11.38 inches and 1.1 pound!)

Current symptoms: terrible, horrible, relentless heartburn/indigestion. Medication helps, but just for a bit!

Any cravings: Still Peppers Grill or a real Coca-Cola

Baby bump?: yes! 

Maternity clothes: Heck yeah, but I'm loving it!

Belly button in or out: in and I hope it stays that way!

Gender: baby GIRL!

Best thing this week: Picking a name and hearing her heartbeat, which was technically last week..but who cares!

Looking forward to: selling our house so I can decorate a nursery at a new one!

21 Weeks and Counting

Well here we are...past the half way point! Whoo!!! I'm so excited to be on this journey, but boy does pregnancy really play tricks on you. I mean one minute I'm great and the next I'm either exhausted or having some weird ailment, it's strange.

We have development in the nursery department!!! No, we don't have a house in Booneville yet, but we do have a crib! This past weekend was so nice, we decided to get out and enjoy the day. We called Charles' parents and met them in Woodland, MS. If you've never been to Woodland, you really need to go! There is nothing there except a furniture store- and man is it huge. This little town's school shut down and someone bought it, started selling furniture at wholesale prices, and it really took off. Now there are 4 buildings with anything from baby furniture, dining room furniture, to outdoor rugs. There's even a small diner that sells burgers, sandwiches, and ice cream! Ok, enough of the Woodland plug... We got there around lunch time so we all ate at the diner and then walked off the calories. I have been shopping around for a crib since we found out that we were expecting; and, once I found out it was a girl, I've really upped the search. Going into the furniture store I had in my mind what I wanted...boy was I wrong. We looked and we looked, we compared this one to that one, we walked in circles and finally...there it was. I am in love with this crib. It is gorgeous as a crib, but once it converts to a full size bed, it's really pretty. I hope that if we have another child (a big if) and if it's a boy, he won't mind sleeping in this baby:

As the crib

As a regular size bed

I have some nursery plans, but I'll share all of that with you a little later. On a different note, our house goes off the market Saturday. This means that we will be trying to sell it ourselves or decide to stay for a while. If you know of anyone that needs a cute, affordable place to live in Saltillo, give me a shout! I have a deal that people will not be able to refuse!

Here's the latest update on Baby P:

How far along: 21 weeks 4 days

Baby is is size of: a carrot (10.5 inches and 12 oz)

Current symptoms: not many! just some aches and pains that come and go

Any cravings: food!!!!! I'm so hungry

Baby bump?: yes! 

Maternity clothes: I'm there! And it is so roomy here!!!

Belly button in or out: in and I hope it stays that way!

Gender: baby GIRL!

Best thing this week: getting a crib

Looking forward to: picking a name! (yes that is the same as last time) We do have it narrowed down to 2 names now!

I hate taking pictures, but here is one from this week. You can totally see my bump in this one...well not the best, but kinda!!

He or She, We Shall See

How exciting is it to find out what you are having!? I mean I couldn't sleep the night before, the whole day at work I was antsy, and driving to the doctor's office all I could think was he or she, she or he, girl or boy, him or her!!! I had text all my friends and family to let them weigh in on what they thought the baby was. The score there was 15 for boy and 7 for girl. As for us, let me remind you that I'm thinking boy and Charles is thinking girl.

So, on Tuesday, August 26th, Charles and I went to have the anatomy ultrasound. It didn't take any time for the ultrasound tech to find baby p...and boy was he/she moving! She zoned in on the baby and wanted us to look and guess what gender we thought.  I don't know if you have ever seen an ultrasound of a 18 week old baby, it's not very clear. For one it's black and white, fuzzy, and a little cramped in there. I also wasn't wearing my glasses...so there's that. But of course, neither one of us had a clue! We looked at the sweet lady with confused looks on our faces and said, "I dunno!" She responded with a....

So there we sat, totally caught off guard with this huge announcement. A girl..a little bouncy, pink, ruffles, and tutus girl. I was so thinking boy that the news really shocked me! 

The rest of the scan was great. Her bladder, heart, and kidneys look good. And, might I add...her legs look really long. I know that at this stage I'm sure that all of the babies legs are approximately the same length, but you didn't see this child. She stretched her legs out and they went on for days. For me I'm thinking two things, one: great she will be tall and slender like her dad- two: that baby has got to get into the world some way and with long legs it's not gonna be easy! Charles was thinking that defending boys against long legs in 15 years will not be an easy feat! 

So there it is...a girl! I have gotten over the shock, spread the news, and started shopping. Did you know that baby bedding is so expensive! It's crazy! We are super excited to meet our daughter and hopefully she will have a name by then. Because right now....she doesn't! I'll keep you posted on that front. 

So here is the update for 19 weeks...

How far along: 19 weeks 4 days

Baby is is size of: a heirloom tomato (6 inches and 9 oz)

Current symptoms: still a little tired and some heartburn

Any cravings: not really this week

Baby bump?: yes, well it's starting to get noticed

Maternity clothes: some maternity stuff, but not all the way there yet. No pants, but I'm getting there!

Belly button in or out: in and I hope it stays that way!

Gender: baby GIRL!

Best thing this week: well last week...but finding out that she's a she!

Looking forward to: picking a name! Also, I may learn to sew (again)..so that should be fun!

Not Pregnant, Just Puffy

Well as you can see from my title...I'm not feeling very pregnant this week. I've started to notice that my pants are getting a little tight around the middle, but that isn't any different than my sad excuse for poor dieting in the past. Soo...I've decided I'm not pregnant just puffy. I'm happy that at almost halfway through this pregnancy (17 weeks), I am still able to wear my same clothes as before. However, I'm tired of getting the "looks".  You know what I'm talking about, "Has she gained weight?" "Is she swollen?" NO....I'm pregnant, my body just is slow to catch on!

We go next Tuesday to find out if our little baby squirrel (pollard family joke) or baby p is a boy or a girl! I'd planned to do a gender reveal party next weekend, but then remembered that it is Labor Day weekend and people probably have plans. But let me show you what I had planned...

I obviously blacked out the address...just in case there is a creeper on here ;)

That was the invitation I made. I love to fiddle around with Word and Photoshop...it wasn't the nicest invite, but I thought it turned out really cute.

I found these on pinterest and I thought I could make the cookies and the cake. Of course it wouldn't be exactly like these, I would've added my own flair, but you get the idea. The inside of the cake would be pink for a girl or blue for a boy.

I was also going to have an old wives tale chalkboard or poster set up so that people could see what it tells about the guess of the gender. Then everyone could vote and we would see who won. Here is an idea of the old wives tales chalkboard/poster....

so cute...right!?

Since I'm not doing this I thought I'd put what the Old Wives say about me....

Is baby's heartbeat: >140(girl) < 140(boy)--------------Girl

Cravings:  sweet (girl)  salty (boy)--------------both but maybe more sweet (girl)

Skin: acne/worse (girl) beautiful/no change (boy)--------Girl

Needle/String Test: circle (girl) back and forth (boy)----Girl

Ring/String Test: circle (girl)  back and forth (boy)-------Boy

Sickness: yes (girl)  no (boy----------------------------Girl

Chinese Gender Test: ---------------------------------Girl

Mayan Calendar Test---------------------------------Boy

Mother's feeling---------------------------------------Boy

Again, I'm not doing this, so you have just attended my Gender Reveal party (in my head)! I hope you had a great time! haha! 

I think what we are going to do is tell our parents on the day and then maybe try and go out to eat with our friends and share the news that way. We decided that we didn't need a big production, everyone that wants to know, we will tell.  

So here is the update for 17 weeks...

How far along: 17 weeks

Baby is is size of: an onion (about 6 ounces and 5.5 inches long)

Current symptoms: still a little tired, heartburn has continued, but no nausea in a couple days!

Any cravings: Peppers wraps for some reason

Baby bump?: not really, just feeling puffy

Maternity clothes: no maternity wear yet, my clothes still fit...kinda

Belly button in or out: in and I hope it stays that way!

Gender: no idea...as evidenced by the predictions above!

Best thing this week: nausea has subsided and I'm hungry A LOT!

Looking forward to: the Dr's appointment next week and finding out the gender!