Baby's First Christmas

Merry Christmas to all! Hope you are filled with peace and joy today!

Baby F.....

Baby F is here. Born Tuesday morning at 2:32. Pictures and story to come. It been a hectic couple of days. I will share details soon.

Oh ..... It's a BOY!!!!!!

Funny Barley Picture

Sometimes we roll over and find Barley sleeping like this.....(I've been saying for months we needed to get a picture - thanks to my little toy the iphone, this was possible!)

Still here - 39 weeks

Still here waiting on Baby's arrival.  39 weeks...WOW!  Things are still pretty much the same.  I've been really tired lately and have started to take 30 minute naps.  At our appointment on Monday the midwife indicated she thought this would be the week, but I hate to get my hopes up ;)  Mom and Dad will be driving down on Saturday, so if Little One could wait until then, it would be good - though I keep telling James, Little One can arrive whenever he/she wants at this point - Mama is ready ;)  We're off to a Holiday Dinner tonight, so I'll have James take a picture. 

Holiday Decorations

A non-baby post!!

Our holiday decorations are complete - or at least the decorations I am planning to do this year.  Also, I am done Christmas gift shopping!!!  Most are wrapped and under the tree!  Here's a quick tour of our decorations....

The decorated mantle.  Don't mind the crooked candle.  Also, I have more 2 more candlestick holders to add to make it 3 on each side.  Stocking holders are silver snowflakes from Pottery Barn.  Barley and Baby's stockings are on the left.  I am sure we'll get a more baby appropriate one for next year, but not knowing if Baby would be here, we used what we have.

This is our fake tree.  We decided to put it in the dining room this year.  Don't mind the red wrap I am using as a tree skirt.  I need to buy a new one, but didn't make it out for one.  I kept this one simple.  Reds and silvers.  I would like to set the dining room table because I hope we will eat there for Christmas.  I have red placemats, my dishes are white and silver (with reindeer on them), and I'll use white napkins in silver napkin rings.  I haven't set the table yet because the placemats and napkins need ironed and that hasn't made it to the top of my to do list yet.  (I realize these aren't the best pictures)

 And this is our REAL tree.  We have not had a real tree in about 5 years.  Because we always travel at the holidays, we've been using a fake tree.  We didn't want a real tree to dry out while we were on the road.  But since we are here this year.....we finally got a real tree.  I love it!!!  The ornaments are a mixture.  Some new ones from RH and PB, and some that James and I have collected over the years.  Its really a story of our lives and I love it!  I even have my "Baby's First Christmas" ornaments.  Yes - there are 2.....(I was the first grandchild on both sides, maybe I was a little spoiled!!)  (We might need a bigger tree topper, but again, this will have to do for this year!)

We also have 2 lighted 4 ft trees out front.  The wreaths have not graced the doors yet.  Otherwise, that about sums it up.  Simple, yet it still feels festive!

Merry Christmas All!!

Crib Update and Crazy number theory

We're getting our crib on Tuesday, our actual crib!!!! 

Now I did tell them to call first thing in the morning, you know just in case we were at the hospital with a cute little bundle of joy.  That could be wishful thinking, but I'm just putting it out there....12/12 would be a nice birthday don't you think?  We, I mean I have a little thing with birthdays in my family - I'm a crazy numbers person - my mom, sister and James have birthdays on the 4th, mine is the 12th and my dad's is the 16th.....so to keep with tradition (oh - btw - sister's boyfriend is the 12th also - we actually share a birthday) Baby should arrive the 12th, 16th (Dec 16th was hubby's original due date) or 20th.......my vote is the 12th ;)

38 weeks

On Time!!

No pictures today (or maybe I'll post some later).  I'll do the stats post since I haven't in awhile..

Pregnancy Highlights:
How Far Along: 38 weeks

Total Weight Gain/Loss:  30ish lbs according to my scale.

Maternity Clothes:  Comfy clothes (workout capris, etc) are still regular sizes.  For jeans, I had to stop wearing demi panel and go to all full panel.  Demi panel started digging into belly and were not comfortable anymore (this actually started about 4 weeks ago).  Shoes - oh boy the feet are swelling.  I've been wearing the new flats when going out or my Uggs here lately as its been cold.  However, the Uggs are the easiest things to put on and take off, so it just depends.  My black riding boots are not working right now either, which makes dressing up a bit tough.

Best Moment this week:  Car seat is in the car.  Feeling "ready" to bring baby home.  Finishing Christmas decorations (will do a post on this later)

Gender:  Its a SURPRISE!

Movement:  Lots and Lots of movement.  James is shocked sometimes at how strong it can be.  Baby has dropped so getting some movement around pelvic bone.  Baby still seems to have body on right side and limbs out to the left, so most of jabs are that direction.  James says all this movement is baby trying to stretch me out, that my belly is too small!  Sometimes it feels like the baby is pushing itself down....maybe wishful thinking that Baby's arrival will be sooner rather than later.

Food Craving:  Really don't "crave" anything.  I can pizza any day of the week.  An ice cream snack has become ritual the past couple weeks.

What I miss:  Full night sleep ;)

Sleep: pretty interrupted, taking Tylenol PM to help with it.  Up at least 2 times per night to go potty.  Usually have BH during that time as well.

What I am looking forward to: Bringing Baby home.  Christmas. 

Belly Button: In, but it has closed up.  I am not sure it will pop out. 

Symptoms: BH - lots of them!  Feet swelling.  Achy if I do too much (yes it is amazing how much our body tells us if we would just listen).  Frequent potty trips. 

(Had a doctor appointment yesterday - 1 CM, 50%.  Not too much progress.  But she says some consistent contractions could change that in a hurry!!)

37 weeks...

a little late....

So, 37 weeks or full term, seems kind of crazy.  I remember finding out I was pregnant and keeping the secret.  I remember telling our family and closest friends.  I remember finally showing and wearing maternity clothes.  Oh, that first little flutter.  Wow - thirty seven weeks....

The last week or so has been "getting ready for baby."  The room is sufficient for bringing a baby home, not totally decorated, but has a crib (i'll explain in a minute), dresser with changing pad and a glider/recliner.  A pack n play has been set up downstairs, 3 loads of baby laundry washed in Dreft (thanks for the advice everyone, I will probably switch to a cheaper option after this first round if I don't get addicted to the smell), and the carseat is installed in the car (still want to have it certified).  I still need to pack my bag, however, I think I have purchased everything that needs to go in it, just have to put it all together. 
The report from the midwife this week was very positive.  Everything looks fantastic and right on target.  Baby has dropped some.  No internal exam.  After the BH I have had this weekend (WOW - they can be intense, but aren't regular), I am sure there will be one this week.  I'm a little nervous about that, but I guess it is just part of it.  It's minor compared to the baby actually arriving....yikes, a bit apprehensive about that, but I keep telling myself, its really a short time in the grand scheme of things AND there will be a beautiful baby at the end of it......I just keep repeating that ;)
James actually took a picture of me this week on Wednesday (actual weekly milestone), posted below.  You get a peak of the nursery color and some of the furniture.  I really need to do a nursery post so you can at least see what is in there now.  We're still looking at bedding/decorating options (I just got some sample fabrics from Carousel Designs.  The custom bedding options seem very reasonable the reviews are all pretty good. 
The crib story ......We ordered our crib (or rather, my MIL ordered the crib as her gift to us) towards the end of August.  We were told 8 (ish) weeks for delivery.  Plenty of time for it to come in and the nursery to pulled together before my shower in November.  Well.....mid October, I got a call that there were some issues with the manufacturer and it probably wouldn't be in until mid to late November.  Given my due date, they were still convinced we would have the crib in time for Baby's arrival.  First week of November, James had a meeting near the store where we purchased the furniture, so stopped in to pick up our glider (it had been in for awhile).  They told him that now the expected arrival was mid to late December.  Naturally, my response was "That's not acceptable."  So he worked with the owner of the store (Who has been fantastic, by the way) and they agreed to delivery a loaner crib for our use until our crib arrived.  The loaner has been delivered and was set up.   They will call when our crib arrives and it will be delivered, the other one taken down, and our crib set up at our convenience.  So, overall the situation was handled appropriately and I am happy to at least have a crib.  (Please don't tell me Baby won't sleep in the crib for awhile anyway.  We are planning to try putting Baby in the crib from the beginning.  Optimistic I know, but is really something I want to try to do.)

Ok, on to the pictures and I'm off to bed.  Fighting a bit of a cold (yes, again) and trying to get all the rest I can!!

Add caption

A shot from behind (James thinks he is a funny guy!.....but it shows a bit of the glider and the crib.  Ours is very similar with the slats (but has a curved top)

HELP

I know I need to wash everything for baby.  My question and help request is in the details....

I bought Dreft for this go round - one of my friends swears by it - but do you all use anything else??

Also what needs to be washed?  Clothes - yes, blankets and sheets - I'm thinking yes.  What about the mattress cover before using?  The snuggler car seat thingy? 

How do you wash it all?  Cold water, warm water, things 1 at a time???
Dryer??

Thanks!

37 week post coming

Baby Shower

My sweet local friends hosted a Baby Shower for Baby Freeman a couple weeks ago.  Fortunately, my mom and sister were able to come in for the weekend.  In addition, James' mom and sister were there.  I am totally amazed at how blessed this baby is already.  Our friends and family have definitely outdone themselves with love for this little one.

I didn't get pictures of the food or decorations (I know, bad blogger on my part).  Just know it was simple and elegant.  The food was amazing.  My friend is a great cook and she did everything - even baked a cake that was TO DIE FOR.  I'll try to snag the recipe from her and post it here.

One thing they did is include a note in the invitation that in lieu of a card, they requested the person buy a book to build Baby's Library.  I thought it was a great idea and we got a ton of books!!

I'll just skip straight to the pictures  ( I was 34 1/2 weeks)

Me relaxing waiting to open gifts.

My friend loves Mustela - so she was excited when I got the gift set.

This blanket is handmade by one of the guests.  It has an incredibly soft fabric on the other side. 

My cute little sister!  So glad she could make it too!

The shower hosts.  A little blurry - taken with the iphone

I got a little excited about a really soft little lovey.  Kind of a silly picture but thought I would throw it in.

37 week post to come soon....I'll have James take a picture this evening (I'm going to run some errands and cross off some items on the To Do List which seems to keep growing!!)