Nesting Mode
Nesting mode has kicked into full gear over here.
I’ll be 32 weeks this week, so technically there’s about 8 weeks left, but since we have our San Diego trip, Thanksgiving and Christmas sandwiched in there, the more we can do now, the better. I still have this feeling that she’ll be here before 40 weeks…. I could be totally wrong, but I keep thinking that she may be a New Year’s baby.
So I spent a lot of time in the nursery this morning,
starting to sort through and organize the beautiful, extremely generous baby shower gifts.
We’re going to have one well-dressed little lady on our hands <3
As much as I loved to “ooh” and “ahh” over all of the precious things before sorting them to put away
[can’t even handle the cuteness]
flip through the books
assemble the easy ones
[I say “assemble” but I really just put the cloth part in the frame and velcro-ed it together]
leaving the trickier pieces for Tom
what I was especially excited about was taking the time to really read through these:
I love cards.
I hate buying them –it’s so hard to decide- but love reading them. Since we blitzed through the gift-opening yesterday so that it wouldn’t take forever (I’m so glad Tom was there to help me because I am the slooooooowest gift-opener on the planet. I don’t like to rip gift wrap, so I find the tape, untape it, gently unfold it, and so on. My brothers get so annoyed at holidays because I take so long) and didn’t get to read the cards as thoroughly as I would have liked.
I got to read through each card today, and also get in the good cry I’ve been needing. There aren’t even words for how thankful I am that we’re stationed by my family right now.. having them nearby, and the fact that our baby will get to know all of them fills my heart with so much happiness.
My mom had each guest at the shower fill out a card for the baby’s treasure box:
As I opened each person’s gift, they read their card aloud.
It was such a great idea, and I’m so excited for the baby to read the beautiful notes that everyone wrote to her. Also in the treasure box, I’m going to add a photo album –was going to scrapbook, but scrapbooks are a PITA- of family members, pictures of Tom and I together, belly pics, her ultrasound pics, and photos of the day everyone found out we were pregnant- I have the best photos of the expressions on their faces. I’m hoping that she’ll love the book because when I was little, my mom made a similar one for me. I looked at it every morning and loved pointing out my family members in the photos.
Some other things I’ve been working on:
-Finally finishing the baby name letters so Tom can hang them tonight
-Last touches: we want to get a decorative mirror to hang on the wall across the crib (not above it), getting the rest of the big things put together (crib, bassinet bedding), an end table for next to the rocker. I ordered this one + the matching ottoman, per my friend Liz’s suggestion:
[Not the pattern we ordered- it’s a chocolate brown color, similar to the ottoman below]
She said it is the most comfortable chair ever and I love the fact that it doesn’t look to “nursery-ish” or baby. We ordered the above style in “Coco Slate” for the color. It takes 1-3 weeks so ship, so hopefully it will get here soon-ish.
-Trying to get in extra sleep/relax and spend time with Tom when I can, before the massive sleep deprivation begins. Extra naps? Twist my arm…. 😉
I tried to get Bella to come into the nursery to hang out with me while I organized everything, but she wanted nothing to do with it.
I think she definitely knows that attention competition is on the way….
Did you have a family photo album or scrapbook that you loved looking at when you were younger?
Did anyone else have a feeling that their baby would be early? Did it happen, or the opposite? When I was born, my due date was Halloween, but I didn’t want to leave my water bed until the 12th.
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The baby shower card idea was adorable and I love the colors in your nursery. Good luck getting everything organized and ready! 🙂
My due date was Oct. 15 with my first, but there was a jug of milk in the fridge with an best before date of Oct. 12 and I was so sure that would be my day for some reason that number really meant something to me. Turns out it was just a bit of dyslexia – she was born Oct. 21!
ahh i love it!
That patterned pillow in the first pic is so gorgeous! What an adorable nursery, you guys! Also, swag overdose for the little miss already! haha
My ex boyfriend’s mother made him this super-detailed scrapbook with tons of baby photos of him, along with a few pages about his feeding and bowel movement schedule (maybe a little too detailed there haha).
This is super-weird, but right after we broke up and he started looking for somewhere else to live, I sat down one afternoon he was at work and flipped through the pages, totally sobbing my eyes out. Sometimes a good cry just helps you get from point A to point B I guess.
i totally agree about the good cry.
hahah and i will be omitting the eating and diaper schedule from her book 😉
I have this thing about appointments, being late and never, never cancel them. I had a 10:30 a.m. appointment to see the Doctor and guess what, the baby came at 10:24 a.m. And let me tell you, the doctor took her sweet time walking across the street to get to the hospital to deliver my sweetie. Telling me not to push until the doctor go there, yeah right!!!
crazy!!!
I was born a full week late. I didn’t want to budge!
neither did i – i was perfectly content where i was 🙂
We made a videos of the reactions when we told our families and close friends and then, somehow, I deleted them! I will never forgive myself for that one, they were priceless!
My due date was Halloween was well but I came early and was dyslexic because it was the 13th. 🙂 Quick question, I noticed the little earrings. Are you planning on getting your little one’s ears pierced as an infant or when she is older? Mi mama got all of ours (3 girls) pierced when we were babies (less than a year or so old) and I just love seeing our baby pictures. I know it might be a hot topic since one of my friends said ‘heck no’ to baby ear piercing when I mentioned I planned on it for any future daughters. Just wanted to hear your thoughts.
yes, we’re definitely going to get her ears pierced when she’s a baby. my mom pierced mine when i was 3 months old, and i’d rather do it sooner than later. getting ears pierced doesn’t hurt very badly and i think being scared of it would be worse than the actual piercing.
People get super weirded out about baby ear piercings. I don’t see the big deal. My 16 month old still doesn’t have hers pierced (just because I haven’t bothered), but I’ll probably do it soon. They look so cute, and you’re right, the fear is 100x worse than the pain – which is practically non-existent.
Aww look at that little snuggle bug on the sheets! Hopefully Bella will love being an older sister and sharing the attention.
I love cards too. There’s something so special and meaningful about them. And all that baby stuff is precious!
I love cards! I have some saved from my grandparents when I was probably 9 or 10. It’s really nice to look back and see them now. I’m sad that handwritten cards and letters seem to be disappearing. Everyone just types everything now! I’m sure your daughter will love seeing the notes and cards when she’s older–such a good keepsake!
I was sure my little one would be late (as did my midwife). She was due this past Saturday the 5th but surprised us with an early October 27th arrival. 🙂
congratulations!! <3
I love that idea of everyone writing something down for your little pretty baby girl to read someday! How sweet!
I had a feeling she would be late and she was, I had to be induced but for medical reasons not because she was like super over due. My friend thought her entire pregnancy that she was be early by like a week and her son was late. You just never know!
Looks like a wonderful baby shower! You got some great gifts…and I love the scrapbook idea.
I thought my first was going to be early…but he ended up being 10 days late and I had to be induced. Then I thought with the 2nd and 3rd that things wouldn’t go so late again, but yet again, they both decided to be 10 days late! I suppose they were just too darn cozy in my tummy 😉
I just had my first baby this past July. His due date was the 12th, but he was born on the 9th. Like you, I had a feeling he would be early. The whole time I was pregnant everyone liked to tell me that the first child is always a week or so overdue. Nope, 3 days early and perfectly healthy! Good luck, you and Tom seem like wonderful people who will be great parents…what a lucky little girl 🙂
All three of my gorgeous kids were early. I had that same feeling you do with mine each time and each time the little on came a bit earlier. I was very fortunate that they were never too early, they were already fully “cooked” with their little turkey buttons popped out :-). Just kidding.
I thought my baby girl would be early and she was – 8 days! And I was 2 weeks late do you just never know 🙂 my water broke 2 hours after my OB appointment where my MW said she had no idea when I’d had the baby and scheduled an induction date 🙂
LOVE cards! Love buying them, reading them, writing them, etc. A handwritten note is such a lost art and so special. I always know I’ve found the right one when I tear up.
Aww Gina I’m so excited for you! I also love reading cards and I’m sure one day the Mini Fitnessista will enjoy sitting with you and reading through them again! 🙂 My mum was really, really good at taking tons of photos of both my sister and I when we were babies and when we were growing up. I love scrapbooking and would like to say I plan to do it for my future children too, but like you said, it can be a PITA when you start to run out of ideas for new layouts!
Gina! We’re birthday twins! I don’t know how I never knew that but regardless I am finding it very exciting! Haha, so so excited for you and LOVING these family posts! You seem so level headed and open minded about everything and I know it’s going to make you the BEST mama 🙂 Plus, our birthday is coming up so soon!! I’m guessing it’s sneaking up on you as much as it has for me!
I love the memory box idea. My mom kept all of my baby shower cards. I read them when I was preparing things for my graduation, it was so cool seeing what all of my friends and family had to say!
If your the type to save cards, a good tip is to hole punch them and put a binder ring through them to resemble sortof a book and it can be used and admired forever!
Similar to this pin: http://pinterest.com/pin/424374443/
How exciting, I’m not having anymore so I’m just enjoying reading everybodys updates. With twins they want you to make it to 36 weeks but nobody thought I would because I’m so short (4′ 10″) I was determined I would though. My twins were born at exactly 36 weeks, the day after my birthday 🙂
I was due 1-21-11 and was SO SURE the baby would come early, like around new year’s eve (when my husband was working a 14-hour shift!). of course, like many first babies, she ended up coming a week AFTER my due date! oh well 🙂
My son’s due date was Sept. 13 and I thought that our little guy would arrive earlier. After a really uneventful pregnacy I however didn’t expect to be induced (and ending up with a c-section,) at 37.5 weeks because I suddenly measured way behind of what I should have. He was born August 27, weighing only 4lbs (but healthy, thank goodness) – at 10 weeks he is now around 10lbs. 🙂
By the way, I know you still have some time but I’m already looking forward to reading about your postpartum fitness ideas, once your little girl is here. I’m just trying to figure out how to exercise at home (it’s rainy season here in Vancouver and I’m not ready to leave our little guy at the gym’s child care just yet…) without driving my downstairs neighbors crazy! 😉
i wish my mom would have done something like that. I’ll probably have a nice little collection of everything when I have a baby. I think a cool idea for the day the baby was born, is to also write a list of things like, weather, temperature, price of gas, president, etc. Things like that, i think its cute!
I am a sucker for cards, too. I love a good mushy card and a good Hallmark cry 🙂 Glad you were able to savor everyone’s kind words in the peace and calm of your own house today.
And what great stuff you got…and yes, leave the trickier pieces for Tom. Agreed!
I had a feeling Skylar would be early but they say, oh first babies are rarely early. I kept saying, well, I think she’s going to be (tons of Braxton Hicks) and sure enough, she was 2 weeks early 🙂
My first was a few days early, and my second was actually ON his due date! It was 2 days before Christmas, and I was intending on going in to be induced that morning, but my water broke the night before! I was lucky to have shorter labors! Arrived at the hospital around 10:30 PM and delivered at 1:11 AM with my first (I did stay home a little longer than I should have with her); and arrived at the hospital at 12:00 midnight with my second and he arrived at 2:38 AM! And I only stayed in the hospital for 1 day because I wanted to be home for Christmas with my first child as well! I was a little nuts!
I totally thought my first would be early…he was so big!, but he came 2 days later. I have a special photo album for both of my babies that is mainly pictures of delivery day, and the few weeks after. We look at it on their birthday, and they are so fascinated by it. We also celebrate the birth minute kiss… just about the sweetest thing you’ll ever touch your lips to is your newborn baby’s lips (hope that doesn’t sound too weird, but it was so true for me).
I was positive my little guy would come early. I was due November 20th and I stayed in such great shape my entire pregnancy…I just knew he would. Yeah… he came exactly one week late – November 27th. Little stinker! I went into labor the day after Thanksgiving after putting up my Christmas tree. haha!
I was completely convinced my son would be born at 42 weeks via induction LOL, but SURPRISE he came on the first day of week 39! Still didn’t want to come out, but that’s another discussion all together! Enjoy your last few weeks with the two of you, life is going to change so much once your little baby is born (but entirely for the better!!! <— that expression used to always scare me, like "OMG having a baby is going to be the end of my life", but it really is for the better =O)))))
My doctor was shooting for 37 weeks for our twins but when I went in at 36 weeks, my blood pressure was up and so he scheduled a c-section for the very next morning around 9 or so. Well, the next morning, as I was getting ready, my water broke. 😉
My mother left when I was around 2, and for some reason, there are no photos of me until around 5 or so. Because of that and because I love pictures so much, I keep a private blog for my kids. I LOVE what you are putting together for your baby!
My boyfriend’s mom kept a great scrapbook for him with all of her dr. appointment cards, his hospital bracelet, etc., but my favorite part is the sweetest letter she wrote to him about a week before he was born. It was so full of love and hope for him, I would defy anyone to read it and not cry! She also wrote a sort of letter later to detail what the day he was born was like too, which I loved. I decided then and there that I would do the same if I am ever blessed with a baby! A funny thing she had in there was a little sketch their friend had drawn of my boyfriend’s cone head that he had at first…
Awww so exciting. I love your hamper!!! I have a plain pink one exact same hamper never saw that snazzy colorful one??????
I had lots of scrapbooks when I was younger. My mom had lots of albums and I made a bunch from the time I was 10 on. I love looking back on them although we ripped apart many of them to make into other things as the years went on 🙁
I was CONVINCED Ella was coming early. Convinced. I was due April 27th, and I needed her to be here by the 29th because I was born a few days before Princess Diana’s wedding in 1981 [my bday is July 25th the wedding was the 29th and Ella was due a few days before Prince William and Kate’s wedding in 2011. It was kismet. Convinced I tell yah. I wanted to sit watching the wedding feeding Ella as my mom was doing with me. AND I was just So ready to meet her!
Well….. I was bouncing on my ball and supersetting that with 527,642 squats on April 27, 28th and 29th. Ella as born on May 4th. May the 4th be with you 😉 I guess we just weren’t meant to share the Royal bond
In retrospect I am so happy she was a week late. I am now telling myself she will developmentally benefit. I have no idea if that’s true but it is what I tell people will happen! .
I loved looking at my parents’ wedding album!
I just knew that I was going to go past my due date, I was sure of it. The due date was August 13th and I figured it would be then or sometime later when she arrived. Buuuuut…then my water broke on July 13th exactly a month early! I was worried but everything turned out to be fine and she was healthy!
I’m getting so excited for you!
My mom kept a “baby book” for both my brother and me. It’s not a scrapbook, per se, but it has all of my “firsts” (words, steps, etc), little anecdotes and stories my mom would transcribe as soon as they happened. It has a a lock of my baby hair too. It’s soo fun to look at to this day!
Sarah came 5 days early which was SO nice of her! 😉 I was due May 25 and she arrived on the 20th…..I had a feeling she would be earlier, though.
Noah was content to hang out in the warmth indefinitely, but b/c I had some serious “issues” with my first pregnancy, I was induced on my due date with him (as I would have with Sarah if she was “late”)….Jan 28.
Wow! You have been busy! That chair looks awesome. My mom always did scrap booking, and I LOVED it. I still love it! I have those photo albums forever, and they are for sure dear to my heart. Totally worth doing.
I was actually convinced my daughter would be late, with hopes that she’d be early. When everyone said that she was going to be born 4th of July weekend I told them they were crazy because I still felt great! They were right, she was born 11 days early on July 3rd!
That rocker is perfection where did u find it?!!!! Congrats on the new addition we had our first baby 2 weeks ago & its the best thing ever…so excited for u!!!
Lol!!! Gina, I too, am a slow-gift-un-wrapper, and my family teases me every time! Holidays are special, and I enjoy opening gifts. Actually, my coworkers just through me this awesome birthday for my “Golden” 30th birthday back on October 30th, and they made fun of how carefully I unwrapped the gifts! I think it’s sweet that we savor the moments…and the pretty paper 😀
i couldn’t agree more 🙂