OMG!!!!!!!

I have nothing more to say than "OMG, these are the cutest shoes I have ever seen!" Tim has cut me off from buying anymore clothing items for Baby Murphy so I won't be buying them myself but I did add them to my registry :)

First Baby Shower Gifts!!!

Yesterday in the mail we received a wonderful surprise from my 92 year old Great Grandmother and Great Aunt...some adorable Christmas ornaments for the baby!! What a thoughtful gift :)

My shower is in just a few short weeks...can't wait to see what other fun things Baby Murphy receives!

Baby Has a Name!

...but we're not telling!

On Thursday, Tim and I finally sat down and had "the name talk" and I must say I am VERY satisfied with the results. After a few compromises (which I'm not very good at), my name won!

No, Tim Jr. this go around.

When I first got pregnant Tim and I decided that we wouldn't be sharing the baby's name with anyone because, although we value your opinion, there is bound to be someone (or a lot of people) who does not like the name we chose for our son and we would rather not hear opinions on our decision because we love the name!

So now I have a secret to keep for another 2 1/2 months...I hope I can do it!

What do you think the name is?

Rant: Things You Should Never Say to a Pregnant Woman

Over the past 28 (almost) weeks I have had a lot of compliments and even some direct and indirect insults...here are some things that I wish people would have just kept to themselves and subjects that probably should be avoided when trying to keep me from getting all emotional and weight/look conscious on you:

• "You look great! The only way I can tell you are pregnant is by your stomach and your chubby cheeks!"
• Discussions about someone you know and their horrible/scary/tragic pregnancy story
  
• (This comment came completely unprovoked, and out of the blue) "You look great! You're supposed to look like this when you're pregnant" .:squeezes my cheeks:.
• Comments regarding anything regarding my size or weight unless it is positive. Talking about my chubby cheeks and cankles can NEVER be turned into a compliment....no matter how hard you try.
  
• "You're so big! You're going to have a HUGE baby!"
• Unless it's relating to something that may be too big for me, no sentence should EVER start with, "This probably won't fit you...."
  
• "You're still in a size small?! Well you won't be for long."
• (Said by Tim, I took it in the wrong context, but still...) "Maybe it's because of all of the extra weight."
• "You're pregnant?! That didn't take long!"
  
• Discussions regarding what a horrible time your friend/yourself/your mom/your dog/a stranger had losing the "baby weight"...let's have the baby before you start worrying me with things like this please.
  

Anyway, I've been feeling really fat and gross lately...with the onset of water retention and fat face syndrome, comments other than "You look pretty/great/awesome/beautiful" (which Tim tells me multiple times a day) are really starting to weigh heavily on my mind.

These comments mainly came from acquaintances that I rarely see, whose opinions shouldn't matter so I am making this plea as a general Public Service Announcement for pregnant women everywhere...PLEASE BE NICE TO US, WE'RE SENSITIVE AND SELF-CONSCIOUS!

.:Stepping down off of my soapbox:.

Spider Angiomas

I have them all over my arms, shoulders, chest and face. They are tiny and I hope they stay that way but they are really annoying and I am beginning to become obsessed with them. Thankfully I have freckles all over my chest and arms that kind of help to mask them and I have a full supply of concealer for my face to cover them up!

According to my internet research they are due to the increased amount of Estrogen in my blood due to the pregnancy NOT because I am gaining weight (which is always nice to hear).

....apparently they will go away after the baby is here, I'll keep my fingers crossed.

"Lauren....Time For Cake!"

My friend Lauren is due 10 days before me and her shower was this past Sunday. I had so much fun and it was great to see her (she lives in Massachusetts) and she looks just as great pregnant as she does when she's not pregnant...what a cute little baby bump!

Since I don't have anyone to compare my pregnant belly to, it was nice to see that we are about the same size and (regardless of what some people say) I am not "HUGE" (neither is she) or bigger than normal, or gonna have a giant baby, etc.

Anyway, the point of my post is to talk about the cake at her shower...OH MY GOD! It was THE BEST cake I have ever had!!!! I pretty much hate cake, that was until I tasted the yummy goodness that her mom got from a place called Sugarbakers in Catonsville...I can't stop thinking about it and may just have to call up Sugarbakers and order myself my own personal cake just so I can get some more...my life will never be the same!

New Nursery Pics

Here are some new pics of the Nursery...it's almost finished we just need to hang some pictures! Tim and I have enjoyed a few nights just sitting in the room talking about "When the baby gets here..." we can't wait!

I Can't Walk

We got a surprise view of Baby Murphy yesterday...
I was walking into a store and went to step up onto the curb and mis-stepped (because the curb was about 6 inches higher in the spot that I was stepping up than it was anywhere else) and tripped! I tried to catch myself and almost did but after about 3 or 4 stumbles I fell to my hands and knees (it didn't hurt but I was so embarrassed!) because my center of gravity is just so off with this big ole belly! I got up and dusted myself off and proceeded to call my Midwife who told me that I needed to go to the hospital to be monitored and checked out to make sure the placenta hadn't detached from the uterus. So, I went home and picked up Tim and to the hospital we went!
They monitored the baby's heartbeat and made sure I wasn't having any contractions for a few hours (did I mention that they had me laying pretty much flat on my back which caused me to almost pass out? That was scary) then came in and looked at the placenta via ultrasound...we got to see the baby for a split second during the ultrasound (unfortunately the Doctors were strictly business so we didn't get to see his face or get any pictures to take home) and they said everything looked good so they sent us home.
I'm not very good at walking as it is but now I know I have to be extra careful...I trip like that ALL THE TIME! The difference is that now I have about 10 extra lbs extending from my stomach that makes me top heavy and not able to catch myself. Maybe I should just stop going out of the house?

Here are a few pics of me that Tim took yesterday...I have just developed some lovely chipmunk cheeks that apparently are "cute"...I think otherwise.

Nursery Progress

Here are some pictures of our quickly progressing nursery...please note the shoe molding that Tim did such a great job on...also note the ceiling lines, I did them myself and you will not see any imperfections even if you are an inch away. I sewed the curtains myself! The only things that we need to be finished are some pictures on the walls, a rug and a hamper! I can't wait to be finished!!

Happy Viability Day to Our Baby Boy!!!

Today is the day -- 24 weeks gestation -- that if (GOD FORBID!) I go into labor, the NICU will do everything in their power to save little Murph. Before this, most insurances wouldn't allow it.

::Exhale::

Keep cooking little baby!

No New Posts in a While

Sorry for not posting in a while but things have been really crazy around here...

-We've been working on the baby's room a lot and also trying to get the house ready for him...what a lot of work! We've repainted the entire basement and stairs, pulled up the old carpet, got new carpet installed, got a new sectional sofa (with a chaise...YAY!)...that was not easy!

-The Jeep died so we have been trying to get that fixed while stressing out about whether or not it was going to be covered under warranty or if we are going to have to come up with enough money to pay for it on our own (which may be more than the value/what we owe on it)

I will be back to regular posting once things slow down!

Hiccups

We had our 5 month appointment yesterday and everything is fine...I'm measuring right on target and the baby's heart beat sounds great. We also got to hear him hiccup which, now that I know what it feels like, seems to be what he does for a few mins every 1 or 2 hours that I was mistaking for constant kicking and punching. He hiccups A LOT!

When I was little if I got tickled too much and laugh too hard I'd get violent hiccups that would make me throw up...I don't know if this is a defense mechanism that my body created since I'm so freakin' ticklish but it works...anytime Tim starts with the tickles all I need to do is warn him that it will make me throw up and he stops.

I wonder if the baby is gonna have my same hiccup issues?

We Bought a Crib!!!

Thanks to Tim's parents, (who offered to buy our crib for us) we ordered our crib this weekend. We ended up deciding to go with a crib that was a little more fancy looking and a tiny bit more expensive (though not by much) and we are very happy with our decision. We thought that the style of the crib that we decided on looked more like a traditional crib than the original one. The only thing that the 'new' crib is lacking is the ability to convert into a headboard and foot board for a twin sized bed. It converts into a toddler bed and a day bed but it's conversion abilities stop there. We aren't too worried about that though...we're hoping the little guy will have a brother that he can share bunk beds with like his Daddy and his brother did.

We were furniture shopping this weekend and they have lots of really neat bunk bed sets...I'm getting way ahead of myself here so I'm gonna stop now!

On another note, thank you to my Mom, Cal, The Heringtons and Ginga for your response on the stripes for the crib skirt...you all liked the wide stripes so that's what we went with! I can't wait! Now if only I could decide on a paint color!

I've Picked My Bedding...Kind of

I found a website, http://www.babybedding.com/ that allows you to custom design your own baby bedding and they have the exact fabric that I want! I've included a picture of the two sets that I created (I will not be getting the bumper though) Which one do you like better, thick stripes or thin stripes?!

I have registered for the matching changing pad cover and will also be buying some additional matching fabric from this site to make some curtains! I CAN'T WAIT!!!! It's gonna look so good with the black crib!

Baby Pictures

I found this newborn photographer named Megan Russell, her pictures are great, she is super talented and I am so excited to have her take our Little Man's picture after he is born.

http://www.meganrussellphotography.com/index2.php

I bought a cute little knit hat like this one (except it's blue and white) for him to "pose" in! (This pic is not one of Megan's)

It's gonna be so cute!!!!!

Tim is still disgusted by the fact that the baby is getting pictures taken when he'll still have his umbillical cord nub...I think the nub is cute, Tim thinks it's gross.

Daily Affirmation

I must keep telling myself this...

Children's Books!!!

I just found this list
(http://childrensbooksguide.com/top-100?gclid=CKWLzNTUoJsCFR0NDQodCn6tBQ) and I must say that a a lot of these books brought me back to my childhood...I recognize about half of them and can't wait to read them to Little Murphy...I specifically remember loving:
-Caps for Sale
-Miss Nelson is Missing
-Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
-Where the Wild Things Are
-The Lorax

One that is not on this list that I remember loving is "The Monster at the End of this Book" I remember the first time my dad read it to me I cried and screamed for him to not turn the page to the end of the book only to find out that Grover, who was the narrator telling you not to turn the page to the end because of the alleged monster, was actually the monster at the end of the book!

What are some of your favorites???

Stroller

I figured I'd do a bunch of mini updates today and wanted to take this time to post a picture of me posing with our new stroller, the Bob Revolution! I love it...it was a tough choice (with the Baby Jogger City Mini coming in a close 2nd) but thanks to our neighborhood's horrible uneven sidewalks, our love of hiking and the need for the extra large storage basket, we figured the Bob was the most suited for our needs...it is so easy to manuever, has giant tires and shocks and is very very cute! I love it and can't wait to use it...anyone have a baby I can borrow? Bella won't cooperate long enough to get her strapped in!

Got My Mobile!!

I got the baby's Mobile in the mail on Friday and I am so excited...I love it. Since the theme for the baby's room is black and white stripes and polka dots with blue accents I thought this mobile was PERFECT! The theme IS NOT zebras and the color blue in the Mobile isn't exactly the color that the walls are going to be but it was so cute and perfect in relation to the dots and stripes that I had to get it!

Crib

So, I think we have decided on a crib for Little Mr's room! It's not the most fancy or the nicest but since Tim and I are paying for the entire nursery it is what we can afford and we like it (and it is safe) :) What do you think??