Pink Holidaze

I'm so excited to finally share our birth story with all of you.  I've been writing bits here and there for weeks now.  And, p.s., before I got pregnant, I wouldn't have wanted to read a birth story, so you know, skip it if that's you.  Not offended. Let me start out by saying, we had a really positive experience, but I know not everyone does.  I don't believe everyone should have to love giving birth.  Or that if your experience didn't go well, that it was because of the way you handled it.  And I don't believe that there is one "right" way to have a child.  One of my favorite things about giving birth was learning what would be best for us and our family.  Just a little disclaimer.  As many of you know, Eloise was born eleven days late.  It felt like an eternity.  I hate to say it, but it did.  And I really didn't want to be induced.  I was hoping to go about this birth as naturally as possible and I knew that might ...

This was on Monday at exactly 41 weeks.  Don't I look thrilled to be overdue?  :)  Today, still no sign of Eloise.  We've been waiting and waiting in hopes of not being induced, but it seems as though she's a bit stubborn.  So, the plan is to be induced this Friday morning if she doesn't come beforehand.  A little different than planned, but very exciting to know she'll be here quite soon!

Well, now she's just being stubborn.  40 weeks and a day.

Joanna Goddard (from A Cup of Joe ) has done a post on maternity wear , for those who might be interested.  I never ordered anything from ASOS, but I kind of wished I would have now.  Here are my posts on maternity finds as well .  A few added things I wish I would have either known or followed advice on or simply liked... 1.  I wouldn't have bought so many maternity clothes at the beginning.  Some (it is nice to have a stretchy panel while your waistline grows), but not as much.  I got excited.  I didn't end up needing a lot of it until later on.  At which point I might have gotten different things.  And you may or may not end up changing sizes. 2.  A lot of people say to buy a size up and wear those things through your second trimester.  And I thought that was bogus, but if I would have followed this advice, I would have many more shirts that I could still wear in a few weeks (I don't think non-maternity pants would have wor...

This photo is from Monday (39 weeks on the dot).  I've been getting so impatient.  You know how you don't really realize your expectations until they come up unmet?  Yeah.  I think I "thought" she might be here a little early.  And it turns out I really thought she'd be here early.  I realized this after our appointment on Monday.  I hadn't progressed as much as I had hoped.  And I left completely deflated and bummed.  As much as I'm not ready, I was sooo ready.  p.s.  These are times when you feel extra lucky for having a sweet and supportive husband.  I feel lucky in general.  Or thankful, I should say.  But I've felt extra thankful throughout this whole process.  He let me cry it out.  So, it's back to learning the lesson of patience and God's timing (again and again and again).  And enjoying the moments I've got right now.  And letting go of the anxiety (my nerves are starting to get the best...

My mom got me this book, Hatched!: The Big Push from Pregnancy to Parenthood  ( here ), for Christmas and it is perhaps one of the most hilarious books I've set eyes on.  It's a bunch of little fuzzy easter chicks staged in all these hilarious settings with witty comments about babies and such.  Highly, highly recommend it if you're needing a gift for a pregnant woman or new mom.  Or if you'd like a nice laugh.

Wowza, it's been a while since I last posted.  It's been a busy week or so, in the best of ways.  Christmas was fun (personally, I like to think it's not over :).  It was snowy and white and absolutely beautiful.  And Zach's been home from work most of the week...also very fun.  And now we are waiting.  And waiting.  For this little baby to arrive.  I'm trying to be patient.  We're still 11 days from her due date.  But our bags are packed.  Her clothes are washed.  And I am so ready and so not ready all at the same time.  Are you ever really completely ready?  I'm not so sure.  Other than the normal discomforts and exhaustion, though, I'm in so much less pain than I've been for the past few months (since she has officially dropped).  Which makes these last weeks much more fun.  Either way, I'm in a whirlwind of emotions.  Our lives are about to change completely...for the better...but completely. ...

And a wee bit more progress...thanks to a sweet surprise shower from my high school girls (hello pink suitcases.  and hello pink Christmas tree!).  And five coats of white paint on the bureau and changing table (Pass downs from Zach's brother and sister-in-law.  So. Thankful.).  Let's just say I won't be painting anything for a long, long while.  I'm dying to put things on the wall right now (especially since receiving this ), but I'm weary of doing it too soon.  So I'll wait.  I'm so excited for it to be finished soon.   {Just in case you'd like any info so far... DaVinci Jenny Lind Crib ; IKEA Rand Rug ; IKEA Poang Chair and Ottoman ; Pottery Barn Kids Side Table ( similar style ); Hobby Lobby Pink Polka Dot Knobs ; Pier One Window Panels (blue found in store); Pottery Barn Kids Lamp ( similar ); Land of Nod Pink Suitcases ; "Baby Love " Smock Paper Card; ModCloth Pink Tree ; Olympic Candy Mix paint; Blabla Mini Prudence Dol...

33 weeks + 2 days + 2 Thanksgiving feasts... she's growing so fast! {Gap Maternity Tank Top and Jeans ; J. Crew Cardi ( similar )}

Here we are at 32 weeks and 3 days.  Less than two months out.

Attention preggos, someday moms, and anyone who will ever buy a baby gift: Alanna has written this amazing post, " Baby Stuff ," based on her experiences with baby gear so far.  Their little Elias Bravery (he has an awesome name) is just a little over five weeks old and he's sweet as sweet can get.  She's got descriptions and links to what has worked best for her and why, which is awesome.  A little gander over to her post might save you a little stress and money.  I've been pretty lucky to be trailing a few months behind her throughout this whole process.  

Things I thought were so far away.  My grandma bought me this shweater (I'm putting it up because it's one of my favs right now...from  A Pea in the Pod ) when she was visiting this past June.  I remember strapping on that big velcro belly in the store (yes.), showing she and my mom, and thinking...When the heck will I be this big?  What will it feel like?  Will this actually happen?  And now, this belly.  I've got this belly.  It's just there.  So tight and present.  And this baby, she moves.  I couldn't feel her move back then.  She's really there.  So much time has passed.  And we've worked through all these crazy feelings and emotions.  We've come to such a new place from where we were just months ago.  We've been really blessed with a supportive family and a really supportive group of friends.  People who have let us talk through things and helped us and are still helping us.  People const...

Just finished painting the second coat of pink in Eloise's room!!! Getting closer... {Gap Maternity Shirt and Jeans }

Somehow everything seems so much more real when there's a 3 at the beginning of that number! {Shirt: Gap Maternity ; Necklace: Kate Spade}

I never thought I'd say this, but I'm tired of my stretchy pants.  I really do think maternity clothes are an amazing invention, but I'm longing for zippers and buttons.  And I'm sick of pulling my pants up every few minutes.  And I don't know how to deal with all my shirts getting shorter (aka my belly getting bigger)...my height has never allowed me that problem.  And I think it's further spurred by the fact that I'm dying to wear some brightly colored tights (like these )...why do they only have maternity tights in black?  Maternity land tends to lack color all around...Bummer.  That said, though, I wanted to put up some of my favorites so far (here was my first set of faves ).  There is some cute stuff.  The type of stuff that has made me feel better, especially during these past few weeks of exponential growth.  :)  Here they are: Gap Maternity  Always Skinny  Jeans. Gap Maternity Embellished Tee . Gap Maternity St...

Plus one day.  It's the third trimester.  Time for things to get caaa-razy!

For Aleza's wedding, all of us unbridesmaids wore a purple or yellow dress.  And I found one a few weeks ago in a size up.  Fast forward two weeks, and it gathered weirdly around my tush.  Belly growth spurt (and apparently everywhere else spurt).  So, I wore this dress I have had for many years so I could return the other.  And I liked the way it looked.  But it was tight.  I had to be zipped in and zipped out.  But the funniest part.  I was bending down to get something (which I had vowed not to do for good reason) and I actually fell over (not dangerously so).  Bent at the knees and tumbled like a domino from sheer lack of give.  Somehow, it did not rip.  That, my friends, is the miracle of tweed. Maternity dresses.  They have them for a reason.

Plus one day. Other than the back pain that's finally arrived, things are going well.  We'll get another ultrasound in 3 weeks or so to check her size and make sure she's on track, but my belly is growing, so that's a good sign.  I feel like I'm finally starting to feel pregnant, and for some reason it just hit me that I will feel even more so over the next three months.  That's kind of  a long time.  :)  It's such an odd concept.

Dear baby girl, I thought I would write you a little note today.  I'm sitting here while our puppies, Sam and Mookie, nap away.  They will be very excited to meet you.  Too excited, maybe.   I have a feeling they will find you to be the perfect nap buddy, spending much time at your crib side.   You could be here in 14 weeks or less.  You're due on  your uncle's birthday.  I am hoping you will wait just as long as possible, so your birthday won't be too close to Christmas.  Silly, I know.  Either way, I promise never to combine them.  Your auntie Deepika will make sure of this.  :) You've been kicking more recently.  And you always seem to wake up around midnight.  Maybe you're a night owl like me.  Or maybe you're just a baby.  :)  The other day your dad gave you a little push when you kicked (or punched) and you responded with another one.  And again and again.  It made us smile. ...