40 Weeks: What I Know Now
- Tomorrow’s my due date. I have a feeling we’re going to see it come and go.
- At my 39 week ultrasound my doctor saw the baby’s head and said, “Holy Moly!” I knew he was thinking “holy moly that’s an adorable baby!” because I can’t bring myself to think that meant anything else.
- This due date thing is kind of like saying that Christmas may happen on December 25th, but it could be a few weeks before or a few weeks after, so just be ready. Oh, and you may be getting 7.4 gifts, or you may be getting 8.14 gifts… but if you get over 9 gifts, they won’t fit through the chimney, so we may need to get them in another way…
- After being frustrated for a few weeks at no sign of an early delivery, I decided to just ENJOY. Once I realized it was COMPLETELY out of my control, I embraced each day, and even got a whole night of uninterrupted sleep! {ne’er one trip to the bathroom!}
- It’s bizarre being pregnant. Somehow the goings-on of your uterus and cervix are fair game for anyone to talk about. Your coworkers, your distant relatives, strangers…
- I have Shrek feet.
- The “last two weeks of pregnancy” warning I kept hearing has come to fruition. You weren’t kidding. My shoes don’t fit, my shirts don’t fit, my rings don’t fit, my feet are so puffy I can’t bend my toes, and I’m losing energy by the second. I can hardly breathe for most of the day… clamoring to get air in. It sounds like I’m operating heavy machinery, but I’m really just trying to catch my breath even sitting at the computer.
- Even when strangers aren’t talking directly to me about my pregnancy {rare}, they are still talking. I was in line at Old Navy and after a moment of silence, the lady in front of me leaned over to her friend and said, “Did you hear ‘so and so’ is pregnant?” Not ten seconds later did the lady behind me say to her husband, “Becky had her baby last week, a boy!” Subliminal?
- I’ve heard of ShrinkxHips, but what about ShrinkxFeet, ShrinksBoobs and ShrinksFace?
- I think it’s funny that doing the dishes after you use them and keeping up on laundry constitutes as “nesting.” I’d love to hire someone to do the ‘nesting’ for me.
- I went to the library to do some last-minute research on labor techniques. The books were on the BOTTOM SHELF. Are you kidding me? I probably looked like I was practicing the all-fours form of delivery as I tried to get to the books.
- I’m kinda sorta dodging a few phone calls that I know are people asking “how I’m holding up”… All 190lbs of me are trying to just keep moving and enjoying my last days with my hubby without feeling anxious or having expectations. But if *you’ve* called and can’t get ahold of me, I was probably in the shower.
- I can’t WAIT to get skinny. With a 5lb growth spurt in one week that my nurse likes to blame on the water-weight and I like to blame on my McFlurry “medicine,” I have gained 41 lbs. I’ve seen numbers on the scale I never thought I’d know. I’m really excited to get back down to normal digits {and will never take them for granted again!}.
- Growing up, I always wanted to have my kids close together {my sister and I are 14 months apart}. I tell you this so you aren’t surprised when I get pregnant again soon after, or so you can point and laugh when I finally realize how lofty this idea sounds.
- My husband has been so supportive of me through the ups, the downs and the really downs. We went to the beach last weekend and he even dug a {sizeable} hole in the sand so I could lay on my stomach for the first time in months. And though it was a process getting lowered down into the hole, it felt great and I loved him for it. If we could see what our future would be like with our spouses on our wedding day, we’d be even more excited I’m sure of it. I love my hubby more today than I ever have.
My pregnancy, month by month:
36 Weeks
32 Weeks
28 Weeks
24 Weeks
20 Weeks
16 Weeks
14 Weeks
I Bought The Chair!
You heard me ranting about my Eames knock-off chair craving, and with the help of Stacey’s keen eye… it’s MINE!
I did really want the white one, but they had black, and my husband said he liked the black one better. It’s rare that he ‘wins’ a debate of this manner and thought this way we’d both be happy.
There were 4 more at the consignment store if anyone local is interested!
Art Gallery Fabrics Giveaway!
Unfortunately the lack of posts this week doesn’t mean that {oh baby} has made an early arrival. BUT – let’s celebrate anyway!
As you may remember, I used Pat Bravo’s beautiful Medallion Teal fabric for the crib bedding in the nursery, and I am still totally in love with it.
And lucky for us, Pat Bravo has so graciously decided to host a giveaway!
2 Winners will receive a HALF-BUNDLE each the French Riviera Collection!
I LOVE this collection, after falling in love with it at a local quilting store. Check out the designer Pat Bravo’s blog at artgalleryfabrics.typepad.com where she shares news about her beautiful fabrics, projects, and even fun tidbits of her personal life, and her company website at www.artgalleryfabrics.com. Thanks Pat!
TO ENTER
Leave a comment here before midnight on April 8th… when I fear my little one may finally make his week-late appearance!
Dresser Before and After
…And you thought I’d be bored on my Maternity Leave…
This dresser was a wedding present from my mom, and we’ve had it for over 7 years. I love this dresser. I even loved it white but it was getting pretty dirty after so many moves. Here are the highlights:
- The dresser was almost raw wood so dusting and very little sanding was needed
- I had four of those little knobs left over from another project, so I decided to save a little money and use these knobs instead of purchasing a whole new set. I was able to purchase the remaining knobs at Home Depot.
- Paint color was Elegant Silk Interior Satin Latex Valspar Paint from Lowes. This was my first time using Valspar and my review is mixed. I thought the coverage was great but the paint dried too fast. Of course, this has to do with many variables, such as the weather, but I had to work in double speed to not leave brush marks
- I almost never have a plan when I head out to get paint. I knew I wanted a fun color, and that’s about it. I spent about 10 minutes looking for a color, and decided on this fun teal. I like how it looks with the black and white and even lime green {risky move!} in my bedroom.
Here are some tips for a quick paint job
Roll the paint first using a small roller.
Get the paint into the crevices with a brush. Use the same brush to smooth out the nap marks left by the roller. Be sure to go with the grain of the wood and make your brushstroke last the entire length or width of the brush so it doesn’t leave a mark where you started or where you ended.
Keep the bottom of the piece raised a little bit. I had my dresser on a furniture mover so it was elevated and I could easily rotate it to paint comfortably. You can use little pieces of cardboard underneath each corner so you can be sure to get paint along the very bottom of the piece.
How Do Whales Sleep?
This crossed my mind the other day as I struggled to get a good night’s rest at 8 1/2 months pregnant. Or even a nap. I bet whales don’t have to prop their legs up on stacks of pillows, but tossing and turning might be as turbulent nonetheless. I feel like a whale.
I even bought some ugly comfy shoes when I realized I had become “the girl who wears crocs in public” {gasp}. When I wake up in the morning, my feet KILL. I can’t even walk to the kitchen without putting shoes on because the weight, gravity, and water-retention have become too much to bear on my little pigs. I have all elbows and knees swirling around in my belly.
And to top it off, no love from Craigslist!
Two unbelievable deals on that white Eames knockoff chair I want so badly, and neither contact emailed me back. Guess I’ll get back to my laundry, washing dishes, and vacuuming for the billionth time and daydream about what could have been.
I’m Sharing: Thank You IOU Cards
After my shower a few weeks ago {I’ll share when I’ve got pics}, I wanted to make sure my thank you cards were special, but didn’t need to spend a lot of money on them. I came up with an “IOU” idea, and created these in Photoshop. They print out 3 to a letter-sized piece of paper and fit in a standard number 10 envelope. Click here to download my free PDF to use these cards for yourself!
Pretty Closet
Were there more important things to do today? Probably.
{1 12″ square scrapbook paper, cut in half, and double stick tape per drawer. I’ve had some of these scrap pieces of paper for over two years, and now they are living out their dreams hiding my art supplies and tools.}
The Baby Room Reveal
He may not have a name yet, and he may not actually be spending any time in this room for months, but, well, it’s all ready!
So much of this room was a collaboration of friends and family, and over 90% of it is used or handmade. I don’t know if there has ever been a smaller bedroom recorded to date, but this would give it a run for its money.
wall stencil – HANDMADE – by me, tutorial here
changing table - USED – from Craigslist
chalkboard – VINTAGE – from the Alameda Flea Market
elephant – NEW – Ross $8
hamper – VINTAGE – from the Alameda Flea Market
hamper liner – HOMEMADE – by me, tutorial here
giraffe print rug – NEW – from Tuesday Morning $12
diaper basket - VINTAGE – from the Alameda Flea Market
diaper basket liner – HOMEMADE – with scrap pillowcase fabric by me, tutorial here
lamp – NEW – from Urban Outfitters Clearance $5
lampshade – USED – had around the house
metal awning – HANDMADE – by artist and friend Linda Raynsford
curtains – HANDMADE – by me, post here
rice paper lanterns – USED – by me for April’s shower
crib – USED – purchased from craigslist and painted by my husband
bumpers – HANDMADE – by my talented and ever-generous mother, post here
crib quilt – HANDMADE – by me, post here
burlap pillow – HANDMADE – by me, and used in our previous guest bedroom
wool rocking horse – HANDMADE – by my brother, post here {on the top shelf next to my mom’s brass baby booties}
shelves – USED – hand-me-downs from my sister
puzzle – HANDMADE – by my in-laws
wire basket - VINTAGE – from the Alameda Flea Marke
fabric baskets - HANDMADE – from Nestings Home Storage on etsy, gift from Susan
word posters - HANDMADE – by me, download here
air balloon poster – HANDMADE – by Sea Saw Designs on etsy, gift from Jessica
metal clip board – VINTAGE – from the Alameda Flea Market
rocking chair - VINTAGE – recovered by my mom, post here
high chair – VINTAGE – had around the house, post here
amy butler pillow - HANDMADE – by my mom, post here
umbrella image – HANDMADE – free download here
Here’s a little video tour:
Baby Room from Brooke Hall on Vimeo.
And in case you forgot, this was the before:
Decorating Cables
I’m at the point where I’m deep cleaning every room in my home {and you thought I’d be bored on maternity leave…}. Call it “nesting” or call it “we’ve been so busy with life and work that our house turned into a pig sty,” but I am getting to the bottom of it.
I LOVE this. There are just some instances where we can’t hide that cord, and I love this fix, especially for the office. Thanks Jim!
{found on Gizmodo}
My Favorite Nook: Brooklyn Limestone Feature
My husband weeps as he reads about my favorite nook on Brooklyn Limestone; he refers to it as the death of his reading nook. It’s true, he set up this little narrow space with a chair and a shelf of books when we first moved in, and I greedily moved the chair to the living room where we needed extra seating and moved the books to the bedroom, where my husband reads every night. Since then I have been called a nook-killer and worse.
But alas, we must move on {seriously honey, get over it}, and my favorite nook in my house has been shared on Brooklyn Limestone.
36 Weeks: What I Know Now
- What’s that? You’ve seen this outfit before? Tough nookies – it’s what fits today.
- 33 weeks: Got my first kick in the ribs
- We took our birthing class, only to find we were the only ones in the class. Just me, my hubby, and the lady who kept saying “cervix” {shudder}.
- When asked if my husband was gonna “cut the cord,” he replied that he wasn’t sure. The teacher told us that the doctor was going to clamp it “here and here so blood doesn’t squirt everywhere.” … I think my husband found his answer.
- It’s funny how you can feel guilty for the littlest thing when you’re pregnant. I’ve had pretty severe upper back pain and nerve pain on the front of my stomach. Sometimes I want to scream, it hurts so bad {sometimes I do}. But what a loser I am for complaining when I have a healthy baby and it’s not his fault. I’m sure he doesn’t love being upside down all day with a keyboard in the middle of his back.
- Despite my best efforts not to, I caught a glimpse of myself in the morror after getting out of the shower. I kid you not, Venus of Willendorf flashed in my mind {I would have been a looker in 22,000 B.C.}.
- I wake up every morning in a panic when I mistake the wrinkles my sheets leave on my skin for stretchmarks.
- Oh, and yes, I did finally find some stretchmarks. I think my husband thought someone had died when I found out. I’m not ready to talk about it yet.
- My husband was out of town and with my shoe-putter-onner gone, I was confined to slip-on flats for a week.
- Do I stare at women who are eight months pregnant? I seem to get quite the looks these days as well as stories from strangers DAILY.
- I don’t know why my hubby laughed so hard when I questioned if my sweatpants had gone through the dryer on accident.
- A month to go and my doctor said my baby is measuring 6lbs 13oz. My brother suggested I get on a trampoline to help things along a little.
- Socks have become tourniquets on my legs. My ankles are getting poo-fy.
- Questions for my baby: You seem to be in my sister’s favorite cheerleading position every day: the double nine. Does this mean you’ll be a dancer or a hurdler? And while you are adorable and humorous, double nines at 5 in the morning make mommy grumpy. And if I may have a last request in this final month… can’t a girl have a little diet coke without her fetus gettin’ all crazy? Days that start at 5 can get a bit taxing… pretend Diet Coke is like a warm glass of milk, and get niiiiiice and comfy.
- Will I make it to my 40 week post?
{my other posts}
Digital Scrapbooking
You’d think that this is something that I’m totally into… but I really don’t have the patience. We take pictures all year long, and I want to document them somehow without printing out a bunch of pictures or keeping them holed up on my hard drive. My latest tradition has been to print a quick digital scrapbook of the years’ pictures after each Christmas. It has very few words, just picture after picture of the things we did during the year. It only takes until December before I forget that we went to Hawaii, went camping, saw my grandma for the first time in over 10 years, took a little anniversary trip and all the other exciting things that happen as time flies by too fast.
I love having these to flip back through.
