Aunt Mona's quilt and Mama Pearce's lamps...

Mama Pearce loved to quilt....and knit and crochet!  Mama Pearce's quilts were always so pretty.  All of the grandkids have at least one of her quilts and I think the great gandkids have one, too.  I can remember going to her house and seeing all of her quilting squares ready to use and she always had a quilt that she was working on.  Her quilts were hand quilted and beautiful.  Aunt Mona sent baby a quilt, but this one is so special because she used Mama Pearce's quilting squares.  Even though Mama Pearce is no longer here, she had a hand in making her great grandchild's quilt.  And like Mama Pearce, Aunt Mona hand quilted the whole thing!  Thank you Aunt Mona, I just love it! 

The different colored squares were Mama Pearce's.  Aunt Mona added the yellow pieces and border. 

I love this label that is on the back of the quilt.  My niece, Taylor, wrote "Handmade by Aunt Mona 2011."  I love that she helped, too!  And look at that handwriting! 

Mama Pearce meant so much to me.  I remember so many special times Ashley and I had with her.  When we went to visit, Ashley and I would wake up early with her to help make breakfast.  We always had scrambled eggs, sausage, and toast.  Mama Pearce always let us help her in the kitchen.  She had a big collection of old Barbie dolls that we loved to play with and dress up.  We always watched our "story" together which was "Days of Our Lives."  We had fun just sitting on the front porch or playing in the yard.  We would go out back and pick gooseberries to make gooseberry pie.  Oh, and she loved to go to garage sales, so we would go with her and she always got us a toy or a book.  I loved being with her so much and I have so many more fond memories of her.  When she passed away, the grandkids got to go to her house to pick out any of her things we wanted.  I picked out quite a lot.  I love looking at her things that I have in my house and remembering her.  I remember getting these two lamps, although I wasn't sure where I would use them.  Now that we are expecting our baby, I want to use one or both in his nursery.  They are pretty much in perfect condition...a few little worn spots, but I love that.  One still has the light bulb in it and it still works.  The base is a mirrored base with a little flower etching going around.  The lamp stem has marbleized glass balls going down.  I just need to get a lamp shade for them.  I'm going to take the lamps to a lamp store to get the cords checked out and maybe even get the cords replaced.  There's no telling how old these lamps are.  But I think they are perfect and beautiful and would look so sweet in baby's nursery....I love the thought of having a little part of her in there. 

"Grandma"

For the past 3 years, my class has had a class "Grandma."  Her name is Betty and she is a retired Kindergarten teacher.  She contacted our school and wanted to know if there were any classes that would like to have her read to the kids.  I jumped at the opportunity and for the past 3 years, she has come to my class every week (well, except for the time she went to the Caribbean with a "man friend" for 2 weeks!) to read to my kids.  She always brings a bag with 3 books and my kids sit quietly on the floor and listen to her read. 

 She tells my kids that since her grand-kids don't live in Austin, THEY can be her grand-kids and call her Grandma. They know the day she is supposed to come and when they see her open the door to the classroom, they all yell, "Grandma!"  This is how it's been the past 3 years every week.
 

Before school started, I called Betty to let her know when she could start reading to my new class.  I also told her my exciting news!  She was sooooo happy for me!  I mean, genuinely so extremely happy and excited....like a Grandma would be!  Today, she brought me a gift.  This is a baby blanket that she started crocheting when she found out I was pregnant....she made a blue one AND a pink one :)  How sweet is that?  So, she said she will keep the pink until I need it or one of her granddaughters needs it.  So special!  



Baby's first mail!

I got home today and saw a package waiting on my doorstep.  I opened the box and saw the cutest gift box inside.  I knew it was for baby!  One of my best friends, Adriana, sent him the CUTEST clothes! 

Look at all of this she sent! 

These little pajamas are soooo cute!  I love new babies in footy pajamas.  And there's a matching hat AND blanket! 

Umm....seriously, how cute is this?! 

And this little romper!   

When I saw this outfit, I just about died!  Look at the cute red polo onesie and the overalls AND the hat!   

I can see baby chillin' at the beach with an ice cold bottle of milk in this outfit!   

I love that he now has some outfits for the following summer.  Our baby is definitely going to be one stylish lil' fella!  Thank you so much, Adriana.  We love you!!!



21 weeks, 1 day!

So, today I am 21 weeks, and 1 day pregnant.  I am so excited about painting his room.  I got the fabric swatches in and can't wait to pick out a paint color.  I also received a few pictures that I ordered and his growth chart is on the way.  I have his whole nursery envisioned in my head, but I don't want to get too many things until we have his furniture...then I can really decorate.  My little man has been very active the past few days.  This morning, I was laying on my side and I think he was doing somersaults or flips!

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 21 weeks, 1 day
Size of baby: 10 1/2 inches long, about the length of a carrot, three-quarters of a pound.

Weight gain: Still 15 pounds, I think. I go back to the doctor at the end of the month.

Maternity Clothes: Yes! I definitely have to wear maternity pants and I have been wearing maternity shirts, but I can also wear some non-maternity shirts, too.

Gender: BOY!

Movement: YES! I love feeling HIM move all the time now!

Sleep: I have to get up several times to go to the bathroom, but I can always go back to sleep.

Symptoms: Chris also says I have started snoring loudly at night...ha!
Cravings: FOOD period! I am loving food these days!

What I miss: Not a thing!

Best moment this week:  Receiving the fabric swatches....ready to pick out the paint! 

What I am looking forward to: Working on his nursery!
How's that scar looking? It actually looks the best it's ever looked because it's stretched out and laying flat.

Belly Button: I've noticed that my belly button has gotten more shallow this week.

My friend Heather, gave me this sweet little blanket.  I can just picture baby boy holding it and loving on it because it is so soft. 

She also gave me this balm.  It is so creamy.  She said it's good to rub on your belly to minimize stretch marks and you can also use it on baby, too.  I've been slathering it on my belly and it feels sooooo good! 

20 weeks, 5 days!

Today I am 20 weeks and 5 days pregnant with my precious baby boy!  I'm half way there!  I feel him moving all the time now.  I love feeling him move.  It makes me smile EVERY TIME!  Whenever I feel him, I always say or think "Hi baby."  I really am so amazed when I see my growing belly and feel his little kicks and thumps.  I look at all the kids at school and think how amazing it is that they were conceived and born.  It's such a strange feeling.  I wonder if their moms and dads felt as lucky as we do.  I'm sure they did and still do, but it's so strange that something so natural as making a baby seems so unnatural to me.  I seriously thought I might never get to experience pregnancy and now that I am....I'm just in awe of my body and of this whole process.  I want to enjoy this pregnancy and I feel like I am enjoying it, but I also kind of want it to hurry up because really, all I want is to hold this baby boy in my arms.  I keep telling myself that after he's born, I will relax....I know that's totally not true, but at least he will actually be here with me.  So, here are the belly pics and stats:

Pregnancy Highlights

How Far Along: 20 weeks, 5 days

Size of baby: 10 1/2 inches crown to rump, 13 oz, about the size of a cantaloupe.

Weight gain: Still 15 pounds, I think.  I go back to the doctor at the end of the month.

Maternity Clothes: Yes! I definitely have to wear maternity pants and I have been wearing maternity shirts, but I can also wear some non-maternity shirts, too.

Gender: BOY!

Movement: YES! I love feeling HIM move all the time now!

Sleep: I have to get up several times to go to the bathroom, but I can always go back to sleep.

Symptoms: Chris also says I have started snoring loudly at night...ha!
Cravings: FOOD period! I am loving food these days!

What I miss: Not a thing!

Best moment this week:  Ordering his bedding!  I can't wait to see it.  It comes in at the end of October!! 

What I am looking forward to: Working on his nursery!
How's that scar looking? It actually looks the best it's ever looked because it's stretched out and laying flat.

Belly Button:  I've noticed that my belly button has gotten more shallow this week.   

I ordered his bedding this week from Polka Tot Designs and am absolutely in love with it!!!  My mother in law purchased it for him and I just can't wait to get it in!!!  I should receive the swatches soon so that I can pick out paint color.  Here is a pic below.  WE haven't decided on a name yet, so that back piece will not be monogrammed.  As soon as we decide I will get it monogrammed locally.  Also, the bed skirt will be straight, not ruffled like in the picture.  I plan on having the room painted the same soft blue as in his bedding.  I also ordered a Roman Shade in the same fabric.  I want his nursery to be soft and soothing and I think it will be.  I just can't wait to get it all put together!!  Sooo exciting!!! 



My weekend with Ash, Mom and Baby Charlotte

I had the best time with my mom, Ashley, and Charlotte.  Get ready for picture overload!  Chris got me a new camera on Thursday, so I was anxious to try it out during the weekend.  As soon as they got here, I showed them the pictures of our baby.  They were so excited to find out our baby is a BOY!  We were ready to go shopping! 

Me, Ash, Charlotte

 On Friday, we went to a boutique type store but the boy section was so sad. It was tiny. I know that's how it's going to be, but this section was especially small! I did get a sweet picture frame for one of his sonogram pictures.  I have it on my nightstand so I can see him when I go to bed and when I wake up :)  I love how he's looking right at me!  Ashley also got me a Woombie from this store.  I think it's so neat because it's like a little sack that you just zip the baby up in and it keeps the baby swaddled....it's swaddling, but easier!

We then decided to go to Janie and Jack to look at clothes.  We also went to Gymboree.  We found some really cute things!  This is our loot from the first day of shopping.  

We got this little outfit from Janie and Jack.  It's so soft and so warm!  Perfect for a January baby! 

My mom got this at Gymboree for Chris.  I love the little hat and matching socks!

This cute outfit came from Janie and Jack.  He's going to be one stylish baby!

Ashley got this outfit for him from Gymboree.  The little shirt has a football on it and the jeans have footballs along the bottom edge!  The little shoes also have footballs on them!  Chris is going to love seeing his baby boy in this outfit!

That night we came home and ordered Mexican and just relaxed.  Saturday we had our plan.  We wanted to go to the Container Store, to Babies R Us and to Pottery Barn Kids.  We also wanted to try to fit in a pedicure! 

Me and Baby Charlotte.  It was kind of fun just having Charlotte with us because she is so easy.  She just enjoyed being with us and was so happy the whole weekend.  She has the most laid back personality.

I had fun fixing her hair.  I would get it wet and then spray a little hairspray on it to keep the curl.  She just let me do whatever I wanted to her hair :)

Me and Ash...and baby :)

Me, mom and Charlotte. 

We went to the Container Store first to look around.  My mom showed me these really neat baskets that are like shelves.  It's kind of hard to explain, but I loved them!  I want to get a set to put in the nursery closet to have even more places to store his things.  After that we went to Cheesecake Factory for lunch.  YUM!

Charlotte enjoyed her lunch :)

We kept playing with my camera, trying to get the PERFECT shot :) I'm sure everyone in the restaurant thought we were silly for taking so many pictures of each other but it was fun! 

After lunch, we went to Babies R Us to look at gliders.  My mom wanted to get my glider because she knows that is the one thing I can't wait to do...rock my sweet baby boy.  I remember my mom rocking us....even when our legs were hanging off the side of the rocker and we both barely fit on her lap.  I can't wait to do the same with my baby.  We found the perfect glider!  I love that it's smaller and won't take up a lot of room in the nursery.  It was so comfy and just perfect for me.  We ordered it in the camel color (light tan) and it has dark brown piping along the edges.  I love that the ottoman glides, too.  I can't wait to get it!

This is a picture of it, but this isn't the color I ordered. 

My mom also got these two outfits for baby.  Aren't they soo cute?  And they are so tiny, too!

We thought we wanted to go to Pottery Barn Kids to look at their gliders, but after I found the glider at Babies R Us, I knew it was the one I wanted.  So we went and got pedicures instead!  We were hoping Charlotte would just sit on mom's lap and be a good little girl.....she was!

Ashley and I got flowers painted on our toes.  My foot is the fat one on the left :)

I got Charlotte and Nathan matching Halloween pajamas at Gymboree.  She looked so cute in hers!  Nathan's are the same except they are black with a tie...hers has a necklace.  So cute!

Charlotte loves her baby dolls!  She has two that she carries around contstantly...loving on them, wrapping them up, feedding them!  This is a baby doll I have that I used for a White Trash party we had a while ago.  I was dressed in cut offs, hair in a ponytail with a scruchy, holding a Big Gulp cup and this baby on my hip.  It was a fun party!  Anyway, I thought Charlotte would like this baby.  She did!  This is when she first woke up...she wanted her baby:)

My sweet Fatty.  He is the calmest dog in the world.  Daisy not so much.....but we're working on her:) 

And this is the quilt my mom made me and baby boy.  It's sooo cute because it has different animals all over it.  I can just see him laying on this looking at all of the different colors and animals.  This picture does not do the quilt justice.  It is soooo cute!! 

My mom also knitted this sweet little baby blanket.  It is soooo soft.  I can't wait to have my baby boy all wrapped up in it.  It's going to be so fun to snuggle with him! 

Thank you mom and Ashley for such a fun weekend!  I love everything we got and can't wait to see my baby boy in all of those cute clothes!  20 week update coming later this week!!!