Hello Again

Today I decided to resurrect the old blog. We've had some very eventful and busy last several months. I'll try to catch everything up as much as possible before the love bug wakes up fro her nap.

Ellie Kate ended up arriving on August 27th at 12:46am weighing in at 8 lbs 7 oz and measuring 20 in. She was big beautiful and perfectly healthy. I was in labor for 23 1/2 hours (four hours of pushing) but made it through completely unmedicated and drug free. We were in total love for the moment she arrived and somehow that love grows everyday.

We got off to a rocky start with breast feeding but everything clicked around week four. In fact that is what I'm doing right now since I only made it through the first paragraph before EK woke up. That first month of breast feeding made natural childbirth seem like a walk in the park. It is so amazing how much I love it now when I think back to all the tears and frustration from that first month.

I went back to work two days a week when EK was about 6 weeks old. On Wednesdays my mom was watching her and Greg had her on Saturdays. Everything was going pretty smoothly until the results of my pap smear came back from my postnatal appointment. After a biopsy and a leep procedure we decided to do a laparoscopic hysterectomy about two and half weeks ago. Luckily we've always wanted to have just one child. I'm now healthy and ready to put that month behind me and hope to never go through something so scary again.

The recovery has gone really well and now I'm going back to work this Wednesday. I think it's going to so much harder this time around now that baby is doing so much more. Plus I get really lazy in the winter and never want to leave the house. I do not like cold and/or rainy weather. Hopefully I'll feel excited once I start back when I get to see my wonderful clients and coworkers.

I'm finishing up this post with some pictures of the beauty. I'm sure that you can tell that she looks exactly like her daddy but I'm still holding out hope that I marked her a little bit.

me and Ellie Kate 4 days old

newborn photo shoot 9 days old ( she already had such a little sense of humor)

So Much for Punctuality

I guess little Ellie Kate is going to take after her mommy and be fashionably late for her own party. We're just hoping that she makes it before the two week late mark, so we aren't forced to be given any Pitocin to induce.

I am definitely feeling fully hormonal now. Yesterday I started laughing really hard at something and ended up crying because it hurts, whatever is left of my abdominal muscles, to laugh. I wasn't actually crying because it hurt, but because it made me so sad that I can't even comfortably laugh anymore. Nor can I comfortably tie my own shoes, pick anything up off the ground, roll over in bed, etc. I'm pretty much a basket case.

Oh and FYI never, never call a pregnant women at the end of her pregnancy to find out if she has had the baby yet. This is really annoying to her because she doesn't need to be reminded that it hasn't happened. Someone will let you know when the baby comes, if you asked to be told. Your curiosity is not important in this situation!! Did I mention that I'm feeling hormonal?

This is my first week that I'm not working. I have a feeling that, if I don't go into labor, I'm going to be pretty bored. It would be nice to have the time off if I was physically capable of doing some projects around the house, but I'm basically only capable of sitting on the coach.

I have started to pack up my maternity clothes. I don't know if this happens to all pregnant women, but I never want to see any of these clothes again (unless they are on one my pregnant friends). It's going to be so wonderful to wear real clothes again.

And to be able to shop in real stores will be amazing. We actually got an Anthropologie while I've been pregnant. I haven't even stepped foot into it yet. Once I get back to my normal size, I'm treating myself to a trip out there. Hopefully it won't be long since I was fortunate enough for my weight gain to only be about 16 lbs so far. I wonder what that will mean for post pregnancy weight loss.

Hopefully my next post will be about Ellie Kate's birth......we'll see.

Completed Nursery Update

Even though I've had my nursery done for about two months, I realized that I still hadn't made a final post of it. I really tried several times to get some good pics of it, but the size of the room made that really difficult. These were the best that I could do:

The Chandelier

(that replaced the ceiling fan)

Crib and Wall Decor

Close-up of Name Decal and Paper Butterflies (that I handmade)

Changing Area

Close-up of Butterfly Mobile (made by me)

Baby Rocking/Reading Corner

Tissue Paper Pom-Poms (also made by me)

Small White Chest

(replaced oversized chest)

Framed Vintage Pattern Envelopes

&

Recovered Lampshade

So you see that I did a few little projects for the nursery. I wanted her to have some handmade touches in there. Click here to see how to make the paper butterflies on the wall. Click here to see how to make the butterfly mobile. Click here to see how to make the tissue paper pom-poms. Click here to see how to recover a lampshade.

Now we just need our little, baby girl to make it truly complete.....though we prefer for her to wait at least a month before she decides to make her debut.

Baby Shower

Three of my awesome friends and my wonderful little sister threw the best baby shower ever for me a few weeks ago. All of our friends and family who helped us celebrate made it such a special day. And as Greg said " Ellie Kate struck baby gold". Here are some photos from the day:

The Wonderful Hostesses

My Mom and I

Thank you to everyone who had a part in making this shower such a wonderful event!!

Maternity Photo Shoot ( picture HEAVY)

It's been 4-ev-er since I've updated the blog. Whatever, I'm pregnant in Memphis in July. I should get a pass on everything.

I got back my maternity pics last week, and I'm finally getting around to posting some of them. This are some of my very favs:

That's as many as I can get into one post. I'll post some more of the pics later.

Our photographer was great. I was amazed how many great shots she got, especially considering I was a sweaty mess. Check out her website Life in Arcadia.

I also had my baby shower a few weeks ago. All the girls hostessing and the guest made it an amazing day. There will be a baby shower post coming soon too.

Hope everyone one is having a great summer!!

Maternity Photo Shoot

Yesterday morning Greg and I headed downtown for our maternity photo shoot. Even though there was a heat advisory, our photographer, Chloe, made it fun. Check out her blog for a sneak peak.

I'll post more photos as soon as I get them. And I'm planning on taking a video of the nursery the I'll post soon too.

We start our natural childbirth class series tonight. I'm so excited about this class. I've heard that the teacher is inspiring and empowering.

This is whole baby really happening fast now!! Ellie Kate will be here before we know it.

babycenter Update

27th week update from babycenter.com:

"This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle."

And picture:

Cucumber

I haven't done a babycenter.com update in a while, so here is the one I got Saturday at 26 weeks:

"The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days."

And here is the picture that was accompanying it:

I got an email today from Motherhood that Heidi Klum has released some new items in the "Lovely" line that she has done for them. After checking it out, I decided that I needed to have this skirt:I thought that it was fun and hippie like. Also, it will hide any fat, swollen ankles (should I end up with them).

I'm definitely slowing down on the maternity clothes shopping though. I still seem to like my looser pre-pregnancy clothes better on me, and I'm running out of time to wear my maternity purchases. Though I'm sure they will be front and center in my closet by July.

I'm heading to the doctor this afternoon to check on how Ellie Kate is doing. I also get my glucose test today (fingers crossed that I won't have to be off ice cream after today).

Hope everyone had a nice weekend!! I'm off to take a walk in the lovely weather we are having this morning. Happy Tuesday!

Diaper Bag

In my recent post about the nursery, my new diaper bag was is some of the photos. I'm so excited about it, and I can't wait to start filling it with Ellie Kate's little things.

Here is my fabulous new diaper bag:

It's the AmyKathryn Gladiola Bag in Green. It has the two most important things that I was looking for in a diaper bag. It is 100% vegan and cruelty free, and it looks like a real bag that I would normally carry, not a pastel, goofy "baby bag". It's the perfect size for me, and I love the cross-the -body strap option.

If anyone is interested in this bag click here. You can purchase it from littledudesanddivas.com, and it's on sale for $80 (you'll save @ $27)!! This color option is actually discontinued, so I imagine they have very limited quantities left.

And it comes with this cool, matching changing pad (that has little pockets on it).

Here is another picture of my very own bag. Do you think that I'm maybe just a little excited about it, or what?

On another note, my mom and step-dad are quitting smoking in preparation for Ellie Kate's birth. They started Chantix last week and haven't had a cigarette since Monday night. Our whole family is so proud of the both of them. I feel so honored to be having the child to inspire them to make this great change for themselves. Please, please keep them in your thoughts. They need all the help they can get during this trying time.

So now I'm off to the gym and to work. Hope everyone has a wonderful spring day!!

Crazy Chipmunk

Greg video taped this little chipmunk chasing his tail in our courtyard. Around 55 seconds, he gets stuck in the crack of the concrete and can't seem to be able to find his way out. This is apparently what happens at the house while I'm at work.

The Nursery: A Work in Progress

My friend Stephanie has requested a post to show what is happening in the nursery so far. Even though I would prefer to wait until everything is perfect, I can't deny my fellow pregnant friend an update.

Most of the big pieces are in place: the crib, changing table, glider. All the decor items are yet to go in though. Oh, and nothing fit into the room according to "planned layout" that I previously posted.

This is the changing table with some of the storage baskets on it. The curtains still have to go up this window, and the fan has to be changed out for a chandelier.

Here is the crib outfitted with the bedding. There will soon be some wall decor above it.

Here is the glider and ottoman. This chest, that I was going to paint white, ended up being too big for the room. We ordered a smaller chest, that should be here in the next two weeks.

These are the rest of my plans for decorating Ellie Kate's nursery:

• change fan out for a cute chandelier
• hang curtains
• move in new chest of drawers
• hang framed art over chest
• put up name decal and paper butterflies above crib
• hang tissue, kissing balls above glider
• hang book bins on the wall

Hopefully, when my to-do list is complete, the room will be pulled all together.

And I guess I should finally be brave enough to post a fat picture. Here is one of Greg and I before heading down to Music Fest to see Panic ( I'm 24 weeks in it).

I didn't realize that my face looked so puffy until just now. Wow, guess I need to drink more water :).

Happy Cinco, Let's Run for the Border

I'm refusing to go to one of our normal Mexican eateries for Cinco de Mayo because there will be people enjoying things like Coronas, margaritas, mojitos, daiquiris, etc. Those assholes!! So we're celebrating this year at Taco Bell where there will be no adult beverages. That is of course unless someone spikes their Fruitista with rum ( like I would be doing if I wasn't with child). I'm thinking that I'm going to start having a moral objection to alcohol and become judgmental of anyone that drinks, until I give birth!!

Mango Baby

I've been a little lax on the babycenter.com updates the last few weeks. Here is the one for this week:

"Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb."

And here is the picture accompanying this weeks update:

The nursery was painted this week. After our house guest leave next weekend, we get to set everything up. I cannot wait!! Of course I'll be posting tons of photos of Ellie Kate's new room.

Thanks A Lot Lady Gaga Fans

Okay people, this is what happens when you start supporting freaks like Lady Gaga:

WTF!?! Are you proud of yourselves? You shouldn't be!!

NOLA Bound

I'm sooo excited that we are leaving this afternoon to drive down to New Orleans! We're going down to see my friend Shane and to go to French Quarter Festival. Of course, I would be a whole hell of a lot more excited if I could drink this weekend. Ugggg.....an entire summer without a wine, cocktail, or beer. Maybe I'll insist that Greg abstain also in an act of solidarity. No, even I'm not that big of a bitch.

Halfway Through It

Last Saturday I reached 20 weeks. That is the halfway point in my pregnancy....Yippy!!!

Here was my babycenter.com update from last Saturday:

"Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (For the first 20 weeks, when a baby's legs are curled up against his torso and hard to measure, measurementsare taken from the top of his head to his bottom — the "crown to rump" measurement. After 20 weeks, he's measured from head to toe.)

He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery)."

So the meconium in the womb thing is pretty nasty, but at least the picture this week isn't nearly as creepy. Here is the 20 week photo:Over the weekend we ordered the crib, changing table, and rocker/glider and ottoman, for the nursery. I sure hope that the doctor and all my predictions were right, and we don't find any extra body parts at delivery that would make all this pink stuff inappropriate. Well, I have always said that I would either have a daughter or a gay son :-).

Greg's in Trouble

'Cause it's a girl!!!

I hope he understands what this means....$$$$$. I'm pretty sure that a shopping addiction is inherited, and I plan to pass along the gene to this little one. Or should I say to Ellie Kate?

That will be her name, little Miss Elizabeth Kate, Ellie Kate for short.

We already had to do some shopping after the doc appointment. I'll post some photos of what we got later.

We're off to our doggy obedience class. It doesn't seem like a proper way to celebrate, but oh well.

Buy Some Sparkle on My Behalf

So pretty much any purchases that I'm making right now are either maternity clothes or baby stuff. There is so much sparkly stuff out there right now though!! Since I can't make any extra purchases, I need some of y'all to own some these lovely treasures.Look at these Betsey Johnson beauties!! They come in pink too. They're on sale for $110. Plus you get an extra 10% off when you spend over $100 and free shipping. check out the pink bottom. Wow!! Talk about a great way to spice up a LBD.

I also loved this fancy, little headband from JCrew. It's also on a sale item at $24.99.This sparkly wallet, also from JCrew, is adorable for a mere $16. Maybe for the girl who likes her sparkle to be a little more hidden. Before you get too excited, this fully beaded Tibi dress is not on sale. It is listed on Shopbop.com for $1395. A little on the high side, but wouldn't you feel more like a million dollars in it? It is too gorg for words. It inspires more of a squeal from me!!

Alright now, some of you non-pregnant girls step up and start shopping! Please report back if you end up with any of these delightful items. Oh and feel free to repost them to your blogs. It will make me feel good to help find a good home for these sparkles.

Large Heirloom Tomato ( Sounds Delicious)

Yesterday I began my 19th week of pregnancy, so that means a babycenter.com update. Here it is:

"Your baby's sensory development is exploding! Her brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.

Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. Her arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of her body now. Her kidneys continue to make urine and the hair on her scalp is sprouting. A waxy protective coating called the vernix caseosa is forming on her skin to prevent it from pickling in the amniotic fluid."

Here's the creepy, little picture accompanying this weeks update:

And now there's just two, long days standing between me and knowing what my baby is. Hurry up Tuesday!!!

Only One Week To Go!!

In one week, and a few hours, from right now, we'll know if we're having a baby girl or a baby boy. I can't believe that it's already time. The first couple of months of pregnancy seemed to go by really slowly, but now it seems to be flying by.

Make sure you vote this week on my poll for what we are having. Of course, I have a pretty strong intuition that it's a girl, but we'll see.