1 More Month

Due date is August 20th, so today marks one month.
And, here it is.  The belly.  It looks even bigger in person. 

I'm hurtin'.  I have some pulled muscle on my inner thigh and it really hurts to walk, which is fun.   Sleeping is not the greatest, but not horrible...yet.  I wouldn't mind a week early arrival, but I'm guessing it could be more like a week late.

We started 'Preparing for Childbirth' classes this week (mostly to meet other expectant couples) and I was the only one to laugh during the video where the wife is in a compromising position and the husband is behind her (on her hospital bed on his knees) rubbing her back profusely and really just getting in the way.

A middle-aged guy at Home Depot asked if I was having a boy.  Because 'you're carrying high'.  Then his friend pointed to his gut and said "he's having a boy too".  He's the third person to ask that...nobody's guessed girl....maybe there's something to this 'the way you're carrying' business.

I found a book of baby/kid photos of Art his mom gave me when I was in Houston and I was glad because I wanted to see what he looked like as a babe.

He was cute.

Apparently he found a way to climb out of his crib at a really young age and they never found out how.

(He was a good rock climber later in life.  I was not.  I probably never even tried to scale those bars...just sat back with a bottle admiring my crib linens.)

As his hair grew, he got those wondey curls I love.

I was one of those babies that looks nothing like my adult self.

 Serious hair.  Serious chunk of a newborn.

I loved that doll and koala.

So, we'll see what Alexander has picked from the gene pool.

I am workin' on the nursery...and loving doing it.

A tiny little preview:

(and, it most likely won't be as good as my sister's so lower your expectations please.  danke.)

Emily's Nursery by Mama Erin

If you've been reading my blog for awhile, you know my sister, Erin, is a talented artist.  She decides she wants to do something or copy something cool she's seen...and well, there it is.  It doesn't happen quite like this for most of us layfolk.

I wanted to show you what a great nursery Erin created for Emily with her own special DIY touches.

Her best creation (tied with Emily?)?  Big brother Sam.

S O U R C E    L I S T  :

Abstract art by Erin inspired by Michelle Armas
( custom framing by husband :) )

Erin stencil-painted the white rug from Ikea...7 months pregnant 

"La vie est belle" print by Erin

Wire pendant light from West Elm
Throw from West Elm

Side table from Urban Outfitters

Turquoise lamp from Target

Baskets from Lantern Moon

Lack Wall shelves from Ikea

Sheepskin rug from Ikea

Wingback rocker from Pottery Barn Kids

Elephant sheet & Crib skirt from Pottery Barn Kids Harper Bedding

Showered in Houston

On my week-long visit here in Houston, the highlight and part of the reason for the visit was a baby shower hosted by my sisters and sister-in-law.

with two of my sisters and my mom. My sister, Erin, had to stay in Austin with 3-week old, Emily.

But we did make it up to Austin for the day earlier in the week to see her and baby Emily.

 

I think she felt most at home on my pregnant belly (besides in her mother's arms).

The house was orange, green and turquoised up.

Everything was so pretty and delicious.

How cute are the lanterns?

All my old friends I haven't seen in quite awhile all in one place!

 Mom with her besties.

Molly and cousin Mary.

and Aunt Mary (my Godmother) came in from Dallas.

Um, let's take a look at that belly.  No, I'm not due any day...I still have 5 weeks thank-you-very-much.  

Molly gave me a cute map from etsy marked with Alexander's roots for the nursery.

I felt so blessed and spoiled.  Thank you hostesses Amy (left) and Lindsay (right) for making my month!  And to all my friends and family for showering baby A and me with gifts and love.

Now off to fly back to Pittsburgh.  And start setting up shop (nursery)!

Sweet Emily

About to fly to Houston, but wanted to show off some pics of my beautiful new niece, Emily Elizabeth.  I'll see her in Austin on Friday!

 big brother's reaction to his new baby sister

And I will be picking up even more hand-me-down baby clothes for Alexander while I'm there, but I already have tons...enough to last his first six months.  Here's a sampling.  They are so damn cute and soft and they make me happy.

These are 40-year old handmade outfits from Art's family in Puerto Rico.  His cousin wore these.  The lace on some of the outfits and blankets is unbelievable...almost too pretty to wear.

Now time to see family and friends I haven't seen in over a year and a half!

Some things I'm getting used to

- my change doesn't amount to much (and is so light)
- clothing (more sporty clothes) flip flops everywhere, workout shorts, running shoes
- amount of overweight/obese people
- portion sizes
- amount of processed/prepared foods at grocery (a lot that I am admittedly happy to see)
- most food products come with a resealable zipper!  (or some sort of convenience feature)
- general shopping - selection, amount of STUFF - it's truly one of the biggest shocks and it's overwhelming.  I've heard stories of people crying at Target. 
- ice water at restaurants
- commercials - tv in restaurants
- eavesdropping - hearing convos
- coffee options (Starbucks has made people so picky about their coffee)
- very friendly people
- disposable everything - put everything in a paper or plastic bag - wrap it in some more paper - lots of trash...too many receipts
- grocery store - bagging for you - I feel I must help
- loud talkers
- TV is terri (flipping through at the gym...I did settle on Wheel of Fortune..lovin' that)
- miles and inches! lovin' you.
- radio gets on my nerves more easily (prob. bc I haven't listened to it in 3 years bc I didn't drive)
- iPhones everywhere
- no tram - can't easily walk - bus system kinda cruddy
- sports mania and paraphernalia
- pretty old style American homes with pretty yards...all unique with cute porches
- no easy system for recycling

 

Art's junk pick.

Mine.  Hello Peppy Farm.

And, that's it for now.  There's more.  I feel myself starting to get mostly adjusted.  I think Art adjusted after 8 hours.  He's had about 836 Philly cheesesteaks.  I forgot how hard and weird it is to be living in a new place where you know no one and don't have a life there yet.  We're getting there.  The heat is gone (for now) and I'm getting caught up on work and getting our home set up before I go to Houston next week!

Oh, and the belly is kickin'.  Literally.  Any slight incline and I'm winded.  And Pitt is hilly.  Have you seen the steps to my house?  Yikes. 

Elsie's doin' good too.  There's a grazing bunny in our backyard every morning that she rips my arm out of socket over.  She loves all the easy access to everyone's yards and she's likin' her new summer haircut:

She did not, however, appreciate the 9-hour flight and crate lockdown.  When we went to pick her up in baggage her whole crate was shaking back and forth and the guy next to it goes "washing machine?".

Right now I'm at Starbucks (I just asked for a tall iced coffee...and I think it made her uncomfortable that there weren't 8 adjectives before it) and I'm doing some work and waiting on the arrival of my newest niece in Austin!  Any hour now.  Her darling nursery by my talented sis to be debuted soon!

Tschüß or shall I say...later! 

Don't think I haven't said 'danke' to quite a few peeps.