BOWTIES OR FLOWER CROWNS? IT'S A.....

We found out the gender of our little Roo! 

So will I be making bowties....

Or lots of flower crowns?

 

 

 

 

Keep scrolling....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Almost there....

 

 

 

 

I think we were all convinced it was a boy, so when the ultrasound tech said she was 99.9% sure Roo is a girl and that she'd say it's ok to start painting the nursery and buying clothes, we were shocked and ecstatic!!

 

Of course the most important part of the appointment was to make sure she (!!) is happy and healthy in there, which we are so very thankful for. 

After we found out, we headed to my parent's house to share the fun news.  Wade rigged a fan to blow out pink confetti.  It was fun to see all the pink wafting through the air, and my parents were so surprised.

My mom and dad are always prepared and were ready for either a boy or a girl.  They even made up this sweet little poem! 

And Roo got her first girl outfit, a perfect peach ensemble (my mom knows me so well). 

 

It's full steam ahead here now with lots of ideas being formed and smiling every time we use the pronoun "she" or "her". 

 

It was real before, but now it seems even more real.  We're halfway there, and I'm realizing how much we still have yet to do.  Wade has an awesome retro game room in what will be the nursery.  I wouldn't say he's been dragging his feet on moving stuff out of there, but he hasn't yet felt the pressure to get going either.  I think we're now both feeling the pressure. 

Here's a mood board I put together on how I envision the nursery looking.  It's not set in stone yet, but I'm thinking bright colors with flowery accents.  It will be interesting to see how closely the finished product resembles this initial sketch.

 

 

I went to a garage sale last week and found some adorable baby girl clothes and well priced glider.  My sister-in-law also gave me a HUGE pile of girl clothes to sort through, which was so sweet.  This weekend has just been the best going through all the little clothes and imagining that someday soon we'll be cuddling our little girl in them. 

 

It still seems surreal.  More than anything, I feel extremely blessed and thankful.  Now I better get on those flower crowns, right?  I'm going to try to learn how to make felt flowers, so we'll see how that goes!

 

Were you right in your prediction? 



 

 

 

 

 

WILL IT BE A BOY OR A GIRL? LET'S SEE WHAT THE OLD WIVES' TALES SAY...

I remember when my sister-in-law was pregnant, we pinned a string to a pencil and dangled it over her wrist and saw it move side to side.  If you believe the old wives' tale, then she was carrying a little girl.  A few months later we learned it was true! 

Since becoming pregnant, I've started paying closer attention to these old wives' tales to see if I could predict my baby's gender before our 20 week ultrasound appointment.

So here are a few of the wives' tales and which way I swing.  Keep in mind that you get a different answer based on different websites.  For instance, some websites say that if you have morning sickness, that's a boy, while others say it means a girl.  I just went with the first answer I found.

Based on these answers, do you think it will be a boy or a girl?

Old Wives' Tale #1: Got Morning Sickness?  Apparently if you have morning sickness, then get ready to buy pink.  Absence of queasiness means that blue is in your future.

I had a lot of morning sickness, so this one is swinging towards a girl.

Prediction: Girl


Old Wives' Tale #2: Which Side You Sleep On  If you sleep on your left, it's a boy, and on your right, it's a girl.

I switch positions during the night, but I'm more inclined to fall asleep on my right side.

Prediction: Girl


Old Wives' Tale #3: Chinese Calendar  Legend says that this chart is over 90% accurate in predicting gender.


Prediction: Boy



Old Wives' Tale #4: Beauty  Do you look more radiant pregnant than you did before?  If so, it's a boy.  If you look more haggard, then it's a girl since she's stolen your good looks.

Considering I've been pretty sick and much paler than usual, I'd lean towards girl.  Maybe this will change, though, as food starts tasting better.

Prediction: Girl


Old Wives' Tale #5: Numbers  Combine your age at time of conception with the number of the month you conceived.  If the result is odd, then a girl is on her way.  If the number is even, then it's a boy.

32+12=44

Prediction: Boy


Old Wives' Tale #6: String Test  Pin a string onto the eraser part of a pencil and hold it over your wrist.  If it swings side to side, then it's a girl.  In a circle, and it's a boy.

The string swung from side to side on this one.

Prediction: Girl



Old Wives' Tale #7: Skin Dry or Soft  If your skin is dry, then you're having a boy.  If it's soft and supple, then a girl is on the way.

Well, it's wintertime, and I always have terrible dry skin in the winter.  Not sure if it's any worse this year, but I'll go with boy.

Prediction: Boy



Old Wives' Tale #8: Cravings  Craving something sweet all the time, then it's a girl.  If salty foods are all you want, then it's a boy.

Due to the morning sickness, I haven't been craving many sweets.  Salty foods have always been my weakness.  We'll see if that continues, though.

Prediction: Boy


Let's tally up the score.

Girl: 4

Boy: 4


Well that was absolutely no help.  I guess the odds remain at 50/50, and I'll just have to wait and see.  I've got blue and pink confetti all cut up so we're good either way.


Did any of these wives' tales work for you in the past? 

We're finding out the gender this week!  More than knowing if I need to make flower crowns or bow ties, though, I just want to know that everything is ok with the baby and he or she is happy in there and doing well.  That's what I'm most excited to find out.


Linking up with Life of Meg today!

A LETTER TO ROO: A DREAM CAUGHT

Dreamcatcher won through giveaway from The Golden Bee (check out Caitlin's awesome blog, too!)

Dear Little Roo,

Today I felt you kick for the first, unmistakable time.  For the past few days, I had been feeling little movements or flutters in my lower left hand side.  I thought it must be you, but wasn't quite sure.

After eating a snack, I started feeling those movements again.  This time, though, I placed my hand on my stomach, and I felt your little hand or foot for the first time!  It was like you were giving me a high five to say that you're in there and everything is ok.  It made me smile and tear up at the same time.

Up until now, it's been hard to imagine that you're really in there.  I know we've seen you in ultrasound pictures, but it's still hard to believe.  Feeling you, though, has made this more real.  I still can't believe that in a few months you'll be living outside of me, a little being that started from just a dream.

I often times don't feel ready and worry about all the changes you'll bring.  But I know they will be the best possible kinds of changes and soon I won't know what we did without you.

I want to show you everything and watch you explore the world.

I want to teach you how to be good and kind and why those things matter so much.

I want you to feel how much we love you for always.

In a few days we're going to find out if you're a boy or girl.  You're the only one right now who knows that secret.  When I first found out I was pregnant, I thought I wanted it to go a certain way.  Now, though, I just want you to be healthy and happy.  I love you already and nothing could change that.

Love always,

Your mom (that's the first time I've ever written this.  It's strange and exciting all at once.)

 

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I've been trying to document my feelings and thoughts more during the pregnancy, and after reading through Devon's letters to her Sprout, I love the idea of writing about various things that happened and struck me through the nine months.  Thanks, as always, for the inspiration, Devon:)

SWOON ALERT!! LILLY PULITZER FOR TARGET

Oh, Target.  Do you have some magical ability to see inside my mind?  I know I've asked this question before, but when I saw the new Lilly Pulitzer collection being released on April 19th, I felt like that emoji with hearts for eyes.  I WANT IT ALL!

Really, there's one pattern that I really love.  I would have just made a collage full of all the different items in that pattern, but I thought I'd pretend to switch it up a bit.  Can you guess which pattern is my favorite?  Not pictured: the hammock.  I don't really need a hammock, but come on!  Everyone secretly wants a hammock.

Target

Unfortunately, Target didn't sponsor this post and send me samples to try out.  I'm just sharing the info in case you haven't seen it.  Even if that does mean I have more competition when I go to check things out in person on Sunday:)  

What items are your favorite?  All the colors and patterns are perfect for spring/summer!  

THE BUMP REPORT: 17 WEEKS

Up until now, I've been in that weird in between stage where no one really knows I'm pregnant unless I tell them.  They may have had their suspicions based on my increase wearing of stretchy pants and always eating some sort of cracker, but the bump wasn't front and center.

It's here now, though!  I had high hopes of taking a picture in the same clothes every week throughout my pregnancy, but only managed to take one picture at week 10.

I could probably just glob weeks 5-16 together and say that I felt happy to be pregnant, but also felt really nauseous, tired, and unmotivated. 

But now we're already at week 17, and I want to make sure I capture all these wonderful changes and feelings.

Dress: Old Navy (old); Cardigan: Target (old); T-shirt (old)

How far along:  At the time of these pictures, I was 17 weeks and 2 days (black and white dress) and 3 days (pink striped dress)

Baby size:  Size of a turnip

Maternity clothes:  Not quite yet.  I have been raiding my closet for anything with an elastic waistband, though.  Skirts, leggings, those jammer pants (these have come in especially handy).  I have found a few dresses with an empire waist (like the one I'm wearing) or shift dresses at Target that I think will work really well with my growing belly, too.

Feeling  Morning sickness has gotten so much better!  I still have bouts where I don't feel great, but my appetite has come back in full force, and my energy level has picked up, too.  I also feel less nauseous throughout the day, which is fantastic.

When people would tell me that it does get better, I would always worry that it wouldn't happen that way for me.  So hopefully this feeling good trend will continue.

Cravings:  I ate fairly healthy before getting pregnant, but found in the first few months of pregnancy I craved anything that my 10 year old self loved: chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, potato chips with sour cream and onion dip, etc.  Terrible stuff for you, I know, but at the time I went with anything that sounded remotely edible and stayed down.

Smoothies from QuikTrip are still a favorite, and I keep having a hankering for chocolate doughnuts.
I am also throwing in salads and fresh fruit in the mix, too, so that's good.

I thought I'd be craving ice cream every day, but too many sweets tends to make me sick.  I downed a blizzard yesterday.  It tasted great going in, but made me a bit queasy.  Maybe it had something to do with how fast I ate it, though:)

Dress: Target (no longer available); Shirt: Target (old); Belt: Target (old)

Random Thoughts:  It's so surreal to see my body changing and know that the reason is because there's a little baby growing in there.  As my bump grows bigger, it's starting to seem more real that in just a few months we'll get to meet this whole new person that is a little bit me and a little bit Wade.  I've always been scared of the unknown, and this is no exception.  I'm scared of everything changing, like I know it will, I'm anxious about being a good mother, I'm worried about my little baby's health, and I feel at times that it's taken forever to get here, but then no time at all.  So many feelings, but most importantly of all, there's pure joy when I look down at my bump and know there is a little guy or girl in there just hanging out.  It sounds so cliché, but it truly feels like a miracle.


  

SHEDDING OUR WINTER COATS

When I walked into the house the other day, it was very quiet.  No Wade.  No Mr. Maisy.  I opened the back door, and a big fluff ball blew in my face.

As I gazed out into the yard, I could see Wade brushing Mr. Maisy, and the little bunny's fur flying all around the yard in the breeze.  It was like a bunch of soft, cotton balls slowly drifting away in the wind .

And there was so much hair.

Apparently, Mr. Maisy has gotten the memo that spring is finally here, and it's time to shed our winter coats and make way for the warmer weather.

Judging by the loud thump he gave us when we put him back in his cage, though, after his grooming, I don't think he felt he needed any help in that department.

I beg to differ, though, because he's a big 'ol fluff ball that sheds like crazy!  I didn't realize rabbits shed that much.  So he better get used to his grooming sessions.

Other than that, Mr. Maisy is a great pet.  He's quiet, uses a litter box to do his business (now that we got him neutered), and loves being petted.

He definitely has a funny personality.  He's extremely skittish and cautious.  When we bring him into the kitchen to hop around, he just sits there petrified.  Maybe we've coddled him too much.

The other night, we opened his playpen (where he spends most of his time) so he could hop around the sun room at his leisure.  After  awhile of hopping, he headed back into his playpen and I swear he tried to shut the door behind him.  He's pretty self sufficient:)

I'm loving shedding my winter coat, too.  And by winter coat, I mean the giant parka I wore all winter.  It's nice to be able to head out of the house now in just a light sweater.

There's a certain smell of sweetness to the air.  Just don't inhale too deeply, or you may breathe in a big pile of bunny hair:)