Time to Catch Up!

Ok.... here is my "catch up" post. All the things I've been needing to post but haven't for whatever reason.

Baby Shower -
Here are some pictures of some of the wonderful gifts we received. Again, it was such a blessing in so many ways. I am so thankful for my friends and family. Note: If you don't see your gift in these pictures it is probably because it was in the laundry or already packed in the diaper bag or maybe already in the closet waiting on Miss M to use it!

Check out my new diaper bag in the top left of the picture - I am IN LOVE with it! It totally makes me feel like a cute, stylish Momma (and I've been needing to feel like that lately!)

I love all the monogrammed things we got! I am totally in the mood to monogram everything since I know I won't have to save it for another baby :) I'm trying to restrain myself though.

Red shoes - need I say more!

A sampling of the sweet outfits M gets to wear soon! The little brown sleeper actually matches some PJs the big girls have so you know I'm thrilled to see all 3 of my girls dressed to match! LOVE IT! I love it all, I really do - thank you all for the sweet gifts!

And the car seat cover from Aunt Whit Whit - we weren't sure if we would need it with the weather being so warm last week, but thankfully it has turned cold again and this will be perfect!

Baby News -

We are packed and ready. I went to the doctor this morning and guess what... NOTHING! There is nothing at all going on. This baby is going the distance. I'm ok with it now. I have been frustrated because we were expecting her to already be here. BUT I am embracing the fun of getting to plan out her arrival. Only 10 days left and I'm going to do my best to enjoy all of them!

Haircut -

My children, bless their hearts, had no hope when it came to their hair. J's hair is full of cowlicks and grows all crazy and my hair is very fine with a nasty wave (that isn't cute no matter how hard I try to work with it) and a lot of cowlicks. So our poor girls have the craziest hair. Well, P has been needing a haircut for a while. Her hair was so stringy and blah and I finally got sick of looking at it so I cut it!  I am just not ready to try to fight with her at a salon to get her hair cut so I decided to cut it myself. I am no hair dresser, but I did an ok job. I just took a few inches off all around so she has a sweet little bob to match her sweet little personality.

I am so proud of her... she is really growing up and it is so fun to watch! Oh how I love this girl!

** I would have taken pictures of our re-arranged living room, however I have a huge wall that is blank because I haven't figured out how to fill it up yet and we are still working on sorting through the toys and finding them all a home somewhere in our house. So it really isn't picture worthy yet! Hopefully soon...

Hope you all have a fabulous start to your week!

Wish me luck...

Ever since my second daughter was born I've been bitten by the "craft" bug. Well it keeps getting worse and worse. Not so much worse, but I just keep finding more crafts that I love and things that I love creating.

When I was pregnant with my first child I was in Law School and so I didn't have the time to make her nursery everything that I had dreamed. Sure it was cute, but it wasn't ME exactly. Then as I was pregnant with my second child I wanted more of my own touch in her nursery and in my oldest's room.... I did what I could despite my constant state of freaking out about having two children. Still not exactly ME.

Now here I am, pregnant again and I've decided to make this little girl's nursery exactly what I want. I've also learned some things these past 3 years about baby bedding and nursery decor so I knew what I wanted and what I didn't need. The result: I am making a crib bumper for this new baby! Seriously, I'm not a sewer... although I'm learning and would LOVE to be one. Thankfully I have a great Nanny (my grandmother) who will help me execute this task!

Today, I bought the fabrics for the bumper. I am so excited, they are too cute! I have them cut and pinned. I didn't buy the trim because I haven't exactly decided on that or the ties yet, but everything else is ready to go! Hopefully I'll get the bumper made over the Thanksgiving holiday so we can get this baby's room ready! I would show you pictures of the fabrics, but I kind of want it to be a surprise.

I also have plans for some artwork and fun things like that so we will see how it all turns out!

Now I just have to figure out what I'm going to do in the big girls' room.....

Baby Gear... My Thoughts

Ok, first let me say that I do not consider myself an expert on anything baby. I have two and one on the way, but I learn something new every day! Kelly at Kelly's Korner is doing a Baby Gear Linkup today in her Show Us Your Life series. I thought today would be a good day for me to participate and maybe learn some things too!

First, I would say that the most invaluable thing when it comes to babies and children is the advice of experienced moms. I have a wonderful mother, grandmother, mother-in-law, sister, and sisters-in-law who have been my "go-to" people for each and every question I have. They have never let me down and I would advise anyone to find an experienced Momma to guide them through this journey!

The one and only product that I absolutely cannot live without is Aquaphor! It is a bootie saver - keeps those sweet booties healthy and free from rash. I use it on my girls constantly! I have tubes in the nursery, the diaper bags, the overnight bags, and at grandparents' houses!

I've glanced at some posts from the list and a theme I've seen is that no one uses all those receiving blankets that are too cute. Well.... I used them with the tiny newborns but then there wasn't much to do with them... until my girls started playing with baby dolls. A whole new use for those little blankets arose! We wrap the baby dolls up and put them to sleep with their blankets. So my little opinion is to save those blankets if you have girls because they become great baby doll accessories! As do the preemie diapers that you have left over :)

Aveeno baby wash and lotions. I love the smell of Johnson's pink baby lotion but the Aveeno is incredibly gentle and makes baby skin so soft. My girls both were irritated by the pink lotion and wash but Aveeno cleared it up almost immediately.

And bags. I have a number of tote bags - all different sizes. I use them ALL THE TIME! Whether it is to pack some things separately for my girls for church nursery or to pack toys for car trips, they are always handy. I use bags to hold their clothes for overnight visits (we have suitcases for them for extended visits, but tote bags are perfect for a night at Nana's or Mimi's). I love bags and we definitely use them constantly.

A few other thoughts -

• Bumbo chair is great for a "traveling" high-chair.
• Baby swing is a must!
• You can never have too many burp cloths - they make great nose wipers once your babies grow a little and are always useful. Plus they fold up small enough to fit in a purse or whatever you take with you when you are on the go!
• Sturdy passy clip - a life saver in the car. The passy never gets lost and you can usually get it back in baby's mouth with little effort!
• Tide Free detergent or Cheer Free or any laundry detergent that is free of dyes and perfumes. It is considerably cheaper than "baby" detergents and I love using it on our clothes as well - it doesn't irritate skin or have a strong fragrance.

Ok so that isn't all "gear" but it is the baby stuff that I love and can't live without :) However, I've learned the hard way, that what works for one mom doesn't for another and what works for one baby doesn't for another. So there is a lot of trial and error - and I'm still learning things that work for us. But hopefully my list gives someone some thoughts because I've gotten some ideas from some of the posts I've read on this!

Hope you all have a great Friday and a great weekend!!!