Baby Showers!

By Natalie

I had two wonderful baby showers. I had a work shower and a shower at Brandi's. My hostesses really outdid themselves, and made me and the baby feel loved. I got so many wonderful things. Everything is ready for baby, now he just needs to arrive.

Work Decos:

 Friends & Family Decos:

There were non-alcoholic mimosas and cappuccino milkshakes. Very tasty!

Work Cake:

 My mom came to the shower!

 Costco cakes, they are truly the best!

Family & Friends Cupcakes, made by cousin Katy:

Favors made by Jennie: home-made caramels, they were delicious! I was able to take home all the extras!

Hostesses from Work:

 Whitney hard at work, not pictured Kim, Shirley, Phyllis, Cindi, Yessica, Connie, Susana, Maria Elena

Hostesses from family and friends shower:

Shannon, me, Jennie & Brandi

A big thank you to everyone who attended and of course to the wonderful hostesses!

Just Jack

By Natalie

We have finally come to a decision on a name. Jack Sullivan!

We are choosing Sullivan as a nod to A&M. Lawrence Sullivan Ross, or Sul Ross was a former president of A&M. He has a statue on campus, where students put a penny at his feet for good luck before an exam. I like the nickname Sully too.

P.S. If you have a negative opinion keep it to yourself. ;)

Nursery

By Natalie

I had big plans to work on the nursery during spring break, but it's pretty much complete. My mom is still working on some turtle art. It's awesome to have such a crafty mom. I'm pleased as punch on how it turned out.

We bought the furniture from Lone Star Baby. This is the Ragazzi collection. I bought the knobs from Target. I didn't like the clunky brown knobs it came with.

The bedding is CoCaLo, which my mom bought from Buy Buy Baby. Thanks mom! I hear that you can find the same bedding at Burlington Coat Factory.

I love the ABC wall! I bought all the letters from Hobby Lobby. The wooden ones I painted the edges, then modge podged the scrapbook paper on there. One layer of modge podge to glue the paper, and then one thin top coat. I added buttons and ribbon that I had on hand. The biggest problem was how to keep the letters from falling off. First, I tried command strips, I probably spent over $20. They stayed for a few weeks, until we had a humid day. Then they were falling off left and right. Then I tried industrial strength velcro. Finally, I drilled tiny holes through the letters and nailed all of them up there.

We bought this organization system at Target first, and then found it much cheaper at Home Depot.

You Spin Me Right Round, Baby

By Natalie

Last week I had an ultrasound and found out the baby is head up. This is bad news, but I'm trying to stay positive.  I'm planning on delivering at a birthing center. If the baby is breeched, then I will have to go to a hospital and deliver at a place I'm unfamiliar with. Even worse, I'll have to have a C-section.

Good thing, I have my entire spring break to dedicate to turning this baby. I've been going to the gym at least once a day to hang upside down from the workout bench. I went and did some handstands in the pool at the gym. And I've had Micah do the Rebozo Sifting. I've also been doing some inversions, which look like the dolphin pose, except you are on a couch or raised surface. I found all of these ideas at spinning babies.

In addition I'm going to go to a chiropractor three times this week. The chiropractor will perform the Webster technique. According to Fit Pregnancy the Webster technique is 82% effective. Read this article for some interesting facts about breeched babies and other methodologies. It is interesting how doctor's knowledge of delivering breeched babies has changed over the course of time.

I'm 35 weeks today, and I need him to turn by 36 weeks. After 36 weeks it becomes much more difficult, because there is less room. Thinking spinning thoughts for me!

What Will It Bee?

By Natalie

 I saw these invitations on Etsy and HAD to have them.  My cousin Katy made me a beautiful cake. It was perfect. I LOVED IT!

Everyone gathered around as I sliced the cake to reveal pink or blue icing. I envisioned Micah and I slicing it together like a wedding cake. He told me I'm a little too weird for him.

 Awww, It's a boy!

 Isn't the bee on top so cute? Katy made it with fondant.

 Here's the bee crew. They bought me the surprise shirt in Canton, and they all coordinated their bee outfits. Right down to baby Harper.

 Here's the lovely bee girls!

 After the party, we promptly drove over to Macy's and bought some cute BOY clothes. And my MIL when on a shopping spree and bought home so many cute outfits.

20 Weeks- It's a boy!

By Natalie

We had our 20 week appointment on Friday, December 2nd. The 20 week appointment was awesome! I've only had one sonogram at 8 weeks, and at that point the baby looks like a little bean.  It was completely obvious that it was a boy. He was NOT shy at all. The sonographer assured us that she was 100% sure and to go paint the nursery. Everything else looks great, 2 kidneys, 4 chambers of the heart, and good looking brain. The baby weighs 13 oz, right on schedule for 20 weeks 2 days.

Now, we just need to choose a name. I'm open to suggestions. I haven't a clue.

18 Weeks- Boy or Girl

 Baby is the size of a large tomato this week. Baby turned 18 weeks on Wednesday, November 16th.

Pumpkins in the fire place is an idea I stole from Pinterest.

I looked up some old wives' tales to see if it is a boy or girl.

1.  Heart rate- heart rate was over 140 BPM, so it's a girl.
2.  Key test- If you pick up a key at the largest part, it's a boy. Who picks up a key at the narrow part anyways? 
3. Mayan Tale- Mother's age + year of conception= 29 + 2011= 2040, even number means it's going to be a girl.
4. Acne- If you have acne during pregnancy it's a girl. Unfortunately I have acne.
5. Cravings- I want salt. Therefore I'm having a boy.
6. History of parents' kids- I'm a first born, I'll have what my mom had starting off with her second child, which is a boy. I'm having a boy.
7. Legs- I have tree trunks for legs, therefore I'm having a boy.
8. Chinese Calendar- Says its a boy
9. Dreams- Dreams show the opposite of what you are having. Therefore I'm having a boy.
10. Side you rest on- I prefer to rest on my left side, which equals a boy.
11. Hands- I show my hands with my palms up, so I'm having a girl.
12. Dad's weight gain- He hasn't gained any weight. We are having a boy.
13. Morning sickness- No morning sickness means it's a boy!
14. Breast test- Left is bigger, therefore a girl it will be.
15. Hands are dry- Mine are cracking. So it's going to be a boy.
16. Nose- My nose is staying the same, therefore I'm having a girl.
17. Baby Name- I can think of a girl name, but not a boy. So I'm going to have a girl.

It's a boy: 10
It's a girl: 7

We shall see on December 2nd! I CAN'T WAIT!

Decorating in my dreams

By Natalie

On Sunday, I took a luxurious nap. When I woke up I had a great idea for a nursery, if it's a girl. This is just a rough sketch. I like the idea of red & white. This would be the accent wall that the crib would be on.

The bedding could be something along this color scheme with a white crib skirt. I'm thinking white furniture.

This was the other idea I had with a pink accent wall. The color is hard to see in this picture.

If it's a boy, then Micah wants turtles. You have to understand Micah's love for turtles. He can spot turtles anywhere. I joined Pinterest to find some ideas! Here's what I found.

I consider myself pretty lucky. My mom is VERY creative and VERY talented.  When I showed her these sketches, she liked the tree one best. Then I told her that Micah wants turtles; she said she draws really cute turtles. PERFECT. Granny and Mom sew too!

What are your ideas? What do you like best?