BusyGirl

surviving one month

2013-05-16T14:58:00.002-04:00

One whole month this little guy has here!

He's pretty much turned our world upside down in the greatest of ways. Other than the lack of sleep. Our world would be even greater with a little more sleep :)

Although, considering Jake sleeps a solid 3 to 4 hours at a time already, I can't really complain.

Here are a few of the things making our life a little easier though :)

MobyWrap - Jake is such a mama's boy already. Loves to fall asleep on my chest and somehow knows the exact second that I lay him in the pack'n'play, no matter how deeply asleep he is. So the Moby has been a lifesaver around the house, giving me back both my arms so I can do important things like make myself a sandwich. It's also great for going grocery shopping or out in public. Keeps him close to me where other people can't touch him, and I don't have to lug him around in the car seat.

Aveeno Baby Calming Lavender Lotion - Babies' skin loses moisture twice as fast as adults, so keeping Jake's skin moisturized is part of our daily routine. We started out using Johnson's baby lotion...which worked great on Jake. But...made me break out in hives for some reason. Gentle enough for baby but wrecking havoc on me. So we switched to Aveeno which has been gentle for both of us.

Graco Snugrider Elite - We bought one of those all-in-one travel strollers and quickly returned it after receiving this baby from one of my relatives. The travel stroller weighed a cool 40 lbs. This is lightweight enough for me to lift with one arm and easily folds/unfolds. It's great for quickly running into to Target to grab more diapers...and works with our car seat seamlessly. It's already got quite a few miles on it from walking the dog as well.

Pampers Natural Clean Wipes/Swaddlers Sensitive Diapers - I wish, wish, wish that we could have gone the cloth diapers route. But with Jake heading to daycare in eight short weeks (wah), it just wasn't an option. Jake seemed to be pretty comfy in the Pampers he was rocking in the hospital. So we just kept with them. So far they're working great - not irritating to his skin and are holding together well (only one leak so far...and believe me, NO DIAPER was going to hold that poop in). Plus they have a stripe that changes colors when they're wet. A detail that greatly helps out that 2am sleep-deprived mind. And the natural clean wipes are fragrance free, hypo-allergenic and affordable.

Nook - Holy cow do you spend an insane amount of time sitting around when you're breastfeeding. Like, half your day. TV tends to make me sleepy so my nook has been a lifesaver. Along with mindless reads like 'Shopaholic' to hold my interest at 2am.

Carter's newborn onesies with mittens - Yeah, you can't swaddle this kid. He's an escape artist. Who insists on having his hands by his face at all times. Where they can scratch his skin and poke his eyeballs. These mittened onesies keep his arms warm at night and his fingers under control.

Bath Luve towel - The first bath resulted in Adam holding his finger in Jake's mouth to keep him from screaming so much. The rest have been relatively drama free thank goodness. Jake is starting to tolerate baths and most of that is due to the bath luve towel that keeps him warm.

one moment

2013-05-09T12:06:00.001-04:00

Amazing how my day has morphed from heels, deadlines and exhaustion into yoga pants, nap times and extreme exhaustion. I won't lie, motherhood is an adjustment. One that doesn't come easily at times. Especially in the middle of the night when you've changed three diapers within minutes, are covered with spit up and are falling asleep nursing.

But then you feel his little hand reach up to rest on your chest and look down to see him staring so intently at you.

That moment makes it worth it.

Completely worth it.

Getting to spend every day with this little guy, well, that's why being a mama is the bee's knees.

Here's to hoping the next eight weeks don't go too fast...

good reads || denise from gratefully inspired

2013-05-08T09:30:00.000-04:00

While I'm out snuggling the newest member of our family, I thought I'd share some of the blogs on my 'must read' list. Take a gander and leave these girls some love - they're sure to become part of your daily reads :)

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Gratefully Inspired

twitter - facebook - instagram - pinterest

Three posts you can't miss out on:

georgia grace
friday realizations
ode to matthew

good reads || megan from across the pond

2013-05-07T12:36:00.000-04:00

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Across The Pond

twitter - facebook - instagram

Three posts you can't miss out on:

a little about megan

stephen and megan

lets talk about blogging

quotable

2013-05-04T09:00:00.000-04:00

In a recent burst of spring cleaning, my mama has been going through all our childhood memories that were packed away down in the basement for years. Original artwork by yours truly (masterpieces I tell you). First place ribbons for silly events like sandcastle building and three-legged races. Handwritten stories declaring my mom to be the best mom ever. Even if at age six I was convinced that she sat at home and ate chocolate all day while I was at school. Folders from high school covered with Dave Matthews quotes and the scratched out names of old crushes.

Treasures.

Finding my old 'quote' book was definitely one. Just a tattered notebook filled with every quote I ever loved and held dear. I had a thing for quotes back in high school. They inspired me and gave me some type of motto to live by. My biggest problem was that I loved so many of them, I could rarely focus on just one.

That hasn't changed much as I've gotten older. It's still hard for me to pick one quote, one verse that defines my life and how I want to live it.

But if I had to. If you were holding a klondike bar hostage and I had to pick just one in order to get it back...

Without a doubt it would be this verse from Romans.

[print from Sproutz Design]

It's just three simple reminders that I need in my daily life. To have joy, to be patient and to always turn to prayer.

I even ordered this print to put up in our nursery (reveal coming soon!) as a reminder for Jake. And for me during late night feedings when I feel myself becoming frustrated at the lack of sleep. It's amazing how something as simple as a quote can remind me to look down and instead be thankful for those steel blue eyes gazing up at me. Sleep can wait.

a birth story. sort of.

2013-05-03T12:02:00.000-04:00

Or the closest thing you'll get to it on here. Not that I don't want to share every detail with you, but I know that there are non-mamas out there who just don't want to know that stuff. I used to be one of them. Until I got pregnant. And then I scoured every blog for a detailed account of labor so I'd know what to expect.

Yes, I could have just watched the video. THE video. You know, the one that keeps you up at night and keeps occurring in your dreams long after you vowed to forget it? But I couldn't bring myself to.

So here's the closest thing you'll get to a birth story.

Unless you really want all the details, then I am more than happy to share. Just send me a quick email and I'll send it to you. I know it helped me be a bit more prepared to read others' tales beforehand. So I'm happy to pass on the knowledge.

Just not on here.

Jake was born one day past his due date. We had actually gone to the OB the day before to schedule an induction for a few days later. Apparently all the little guy needed was that eviction notice in order to get things moving. I spent most of the night awake and annoyed at the irregular contractions I was having. Until the annoyance turned into joy as they finally became regular and close together towards the morning.

The greatest joy being when I woke Adam up to tell him that I didn't think he was going to have to go to work that day. Finally. It was baby day. A thought that hit me with excitement and nerves. Labor was going to happen. And it was going to happen TODAY.

My two biggest pieces of advice for mamas heading to hospital? Take a shower before you go and eat everything in sight on your way out the door. Labor is a long process and once you enter those hospital doors, all food is off limits.

At the hospital I did opt for the epidural as soon as it was offered. I know that's not in everyone's plan, and I commend you for wanting to give birth naturally if that's important to you. But after suffering all night and most of the morning, I felt I had paid my dues in pain. And to be honest, I really wanted to take a nap.

They ended up giving me Pitocin in the afternoon after breaking my water and seeing that there was meconium (meaning the little bugger had pooped). The actually pushing part of labor was only 15 minutes for me since they had to get him out as soon as possible. I didn't know it at the time (thank goodness) but his heart rate was dropping and they were worried he was going to inhale the meconium.

At 7:06pm there he was. A full head of hair and sneezing away. The next ten minutes were the longest of my life. Since he had been in distress, they immediately took him to the warmer and did a detail check of his vitals and respiratory functions. With about ten doctors in the room, well, there wasn't a chance I could even get a glimpse of him.

It was torture. Hearing him cry (and sneeze a lot for some reason) and still not even knowing what he looked like.

But ten minutes later they finally declared him healthy and fit for mama's arms.

And that's where we just sat there and cried.

[photography by full bloom photography]

Everyone says their baby is perfect.

You can't help it.

To you, they really are. All those months of waiting for his arrival, well, they couldn't have prepared me for how big your heart feels in your chest when you see your baby for the first time. When you count ten fingers and ten toes and can't stop staring at every little eyelash.

Every baby is perfect.

That's the way God intended to make them.

good reads || candice from teatime thoughts

2013-05-02T13:29:00.001-04:00

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Teatime Thoughts

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Three posts you can't miss out on:

A Girl's Guide to Simple Entertaining

Session 3: Shine On {Candice}

Sunsets & Sequins

250 words

2013-05-01T14:32:00.002-04:00

I still have a few more 'good reads' coming your way this week and next, but in the meantime am attempting to jump back into blogging. More often. My girl Jenni's little 'every day in May' challenge inspired me a little to sit down (with my sleeping baby boy in my lap) and spend some time actually writing. About something. About anything. Now that I have my pre-pregnancy brain back. I don't know if I'll make it blogging every day. Seems like quite the commitment especially with a newborn running my schedule right now, but I figure I can at least hop on a few of her prompts to get back into the swing of things.

Sometimes the writer's block just hits you hard. And I don't want this blog to turn into 'All About Jake'. Even though he totally could own that. He really is that cute.

the story of your life in 250 words or less

I was born on April 14^th, 1985 and was as bald as my bottom for the majority of my toddlerhood. Once I grew hair my mom cut it in the most attractive mullet you’ve ever seen. I was styling. I have three siblings; we’re quite close and very weird when we’re together. I think it makes for a good family dynamic. We moved around quite a bit when I was younger, including a brief stint in Orange County, but ended up in Cleveland when I was eight. My father passed away when I was 15 from a sudden heart attack. I’m still trying to wrap my head around that day. I spent my summers lifeguarding, which I find ironic since I can’t swim all too well and have a fear of deep water. I danced a lot and even initially went to college to pursue my dream of becoming a dance teacher. But as with all college careers, I changed my mind, fell into business and haven’t really looked back. Adam lived across the hall in my dorm at Ohio State and as with all good college romances, we bonded over too many red solo cups of watered down beer and ended up getting married in 2010. We’re now back in Cleveland, living the dream with a dog, a house that needs some TLC and our baby boy, Jake, who just had his two-week birthday yesterday. To say that the last twenty-eight years have been interesting would be an understatement.

good reads || sarah from fairy tales are true

2013-04-30T10:00:00.000-04:00

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Fairy Tales Are True

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[photo by jessica lorren]

Three posts you can't miss out on:

love letter to my husband on the eve of our first anniversary

two years

2012 through instagrams and favorite posts

good reads || amanda from marshalls abroad

2013-04-29T12:35:00.000-04:00

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Marshalls Abroad

twitter - pinterest - instagram

Three posts you can't miss out on:

our love story

lake tekapo, new zealand

canterbury, new zealand

good reads || michaela from michaela noelle designs

2013-04-24T13:31:00.000-04:00

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Michaela Noelle Designs

twitter - facebook - pinterest - instagram

Three posts you can't miss out on:

[mint & peachy pink] my bedroom tour

peachy pink bridal shower

my favorite day ever

what's up world? i'm jake :)

2013-04-22T13:11:00.002-04:00

He's here. He's actually here. And he's perfect.

Jacob Paul was born on Tuesday, April 16th, 2013 at 7:06pm.

6 lbs 6 oz, 21 inches long and with a full head of hair.

Yeah, we're in love.

[all photos taken by lauren]

what 28 looks like

2013-04-14T12:56:00.000-04:00

Still pregnant. Not that that's a bad thing. I'm just getting really impatient.

And I can't have a birthday mimosa. I'll make up for it by eating extra cake. Which I will immediately regret as the sugar spike sends Bebe Stud into a fit of kicks.

Holding tightly onto every ray of sunshine and degree of warmth. Seasonal depression hit me hard this year. Too hard.

Loving life's little luxuries. My husband asked me what I wanted for my birthday. My response was new sheets. Yes, sheets. I could have anything in the world (within reason) and this was my request. Of course, I'm also the type of person who would use one of her three wishes in life to have clean linens every single day. There's really nothing better.

Found a grey hair. Yes. A few weeks ago. There it was. So I pulled it out and there it wasn't. It's kind of like it never existed, right?

Feeling pretty thankful for the past 28 years. I haven't gone on all the adventures that I wanted to, but hey, I've still got at least 28 more years for those, right?

maternity shoot sneak peek

2013-04-11T08:33:00.000-04:00

I suppose one good thing about Bebe Stud not making an appearance yet is that I had a chance to snag some maternity photos! Kayla from Full Bloom Photography wanted to style a maternity shoot that was a little more relaxed and carefree than more traditional shoots.
I wasn't one to say no to playing model for a few hours :)

I hadn't planned on getting maternity photos done; mainly because I wasn't sure how comfortable I'd be by the time I started actually looking pregnant. But I'm in love with these. They're me, but just with a fatter face, fatter arms and sporting a little belly.

chiffon maxi dress from forever 21 (non-maternity from last year, they have a ton of similar ones. I LIVE in these all summer, and they're usually only $16 each)
hat from target
jean jacket from gap (hand-me-down from my MIL, she has cool clothes)
stacked arrow necklace in last photo from forever 21 (available in silver or gold)

I'm so glad Kayla was able to capture some of this pregnancy bliss. And take my mind of waiting for Bebe Stud for a few hours. Not only is she an absolutely amazing photographer, but she has a knack for making anyone feel relaxed, comfortable and absolutely gorgeous.
Even when you're waddling around with swollen ankles in a field.

If you're looking for a wedding/engagement/lifestyle/family/maternity photographer in Cleveland or Chicago, she is your girl. AND she's in the process of opening her studio (eep!) in Cleveland this summer!

All photographs taken by Kayla Westfall from Full Bloom Photography.

letters to bebe stud || five

2013-04-08T15:19:00.000-04:00

Dear little one,

39 weeks today! We're so close to meeting you! Yet, it seems like that day will never come. Patience has never been your mama's strength.

We've gotten to see you a lot lately at our weekly ultrasounds. I think our doctor just likes looking at your cute little toes, because they can't find a thing wrong with you :) You're a little shy when it comes to the camera though. Always making sure your hands are up in front of your face.

We are definitely ready for you to come out. Your room is all set. Even the guest room was redone in a nesting craze that I caught the past month. You have a line-up of people a mile long waiting to see you. And it's actually starting to feel like spring here. I figured you were just hiding out until winter was over.

I would've waited until it was warm too.
You must be a freezebaby like me.

If you could hurry up and get here we'd all really love it.
No pressure or anything, but we're getting impatient :)

xo,
mama

dreaming of warmer weather

2013-04-03T13:11:00.000-04:00

...and not being pregnant anymore so I can fit into regular clothes. It's pure torture to see all the spring and summer styles hitting the stores and not being able to indulge in a little spending spree. I promised myself I would wait until after Bebe Stud arrives. That is, assuming that after he arrives some form or spring or summer will finally show its face in Cleveland. This bitter cold is giving me the blues.

Until then, I guess I'll just window-shop my favorites.

poshlocket mint iris enamel bangle || express coral stella jeans (on sale for $32!)

forever 21 bow accent chiffon top || jcrew panama hat

target braided gladiator sandals || h&m sheer jersey tank tops

laura mercier tinted moisturizer with SPF 20 || forever 21 mint maxi dress

nesting

2013-03-26T11:44:00.001-04:00

Oh yes, it's happening.

There's some kind of pregnancy hormone that kicks in around week 32. Demanding that you tackle those home improvement projects you've been sketching for the past year.

The nursery is of course, one of the main ones that we've been tackling. I wish I could tell you that it's completely set up and ready for Bebe Stud's arrival, but it's still a bit of a work in progress. And most likely will be until a month or so after he's born. It was one of those rooms that we had to redo top-to-bottom, which was no small feat.

Until I can post an actual nursery reveal, I'll just tease you with some of the projects that have been going down in this room including: new paint and furniture, revamping the little reading nook, making no-sew curtains, framing my favorite bible verse (from this little shop), sheets covered with little sailboats and creating some art for the mini gallery wall above the crib.

That's not all we've been working on though. This took place last night:

Yes, that bright purple guest room that acts as the backdrop for a lot of my instagram bump updates is finally getting the makeover it deserves. It was perfect for the little girl that used to live here before, but not quite the look we were going for when picturing our guest room. Especially once I fell in ~~like~~ love with these curtains from the Boho Boutique line at Target.

So yes, you could say I'm nesting.

And am incredibly grateful for my husband who goes along with the crazy bouts of DIY energy I've had lately. He's been making things happen around our house.

Someone else I'm grateful for? My blog-turned-real-life-friend Candice who's featuring me today during her amazing 'inspired' series.

Check it out, and tell me you don't walk away feel motivated.

Perhaps motivated enough to come over and help us finish painting this room... :)

five things

2013-03-25T13:54:00.000-04:00

[1] My right foot is a smidge bigger than my left foot. Not in an obvious way, but enough that I can feel the difference when trying on shoes.

[2] I am not a cold weather person. And get a serious case of seasonal depression each January and February. The lack of warmth, light and green, it does me in.

[3] I'm a closet puzzler. I really do like sitting down with a good puzzle on the weekend. It's relaxing to me. And my friends are closet puzzlers too, so we're nerdy together.

[4] I'm not very good at being pregnant. At all. You know those women who are all glowy and in love with being pregnant? That is not me. Don't get me wrong, I am beyond excited and blessed to be having a healthy pregnancy...I just miss seeing my feet and having energy. Not to mention the fact that I spent more than half of my pregnancy praying to the porcelain gods.

[5] My hair is naturally very light, but I dye it brown to match the super-dark Brooke Shield eyebrows that I was blessed with.

You can find some other random tidbits here.

letters to bebe stud || four

2013-03-14T14:30:00.000-04:00

Dear little one,

Tomorrow marks ONE MONTH until your due date. I still cannot wrap my head around how close we are to meeting you! I can't wait to see what you'll look like, if you'll be an exact replica of your daddy and grandpa or if you'll take more after me. I wonder if you'll be born with a mass of hair like your cousins, or be as bald as your mama was.

I wonder what your name will be. We do have a name all picked out, but are also bringing along two back-ups. So it's going to be a game-time decision for us. Maybe we'll let you in on the vote :)

We've been busy getting ready for you! Your Auntie Megan threw us the most amazing shower the other weekend and boy, were you given everything and the moon. Your daddy is finally walking (!!!) so he's hard at work refinishing your dresser and putting the final touches on your room. Not to mention he's taken on the task of pack'n'play assembly. Those instructions were definitely not written in English.

Hang in there for now...we need you to stay put for at least a couple more weeks. You seem happy enough just kicking around in my belly though. At least, that's what my ribs have been telling me.

xo,
mama

showered with love

2013-03-07T08:49:00.002-05:00

My SIL/best friend threw Bebe Stud and me the most amazing shower this past weekend. She is so over-the-moon excited to meet this kid, I don't think he's going to know what hit him. Between her big heart and limitless energy, let's just say, Auntie Megan's gonna be one of his favorites. I can already tell.

Our little get-together took place at Avon Oaks Country Club, in a fully-windowed room that overlooks the golf course. A view that is somewhat lost when combined with Cleveland's winter, but at least the sun was shining for part of the day!

I had a last minute wardrobe change before arriving. Originally planning to wear this little number from ASOS Maternity, I quickly realized that morning why all the mamas-to-be end up wearing maxi dresses at their showers.

Cankles my friends.

Pregnancy. Is. Glamorous.

So I ended up in this Target Maternity dress that I've been rocking at work. Complete with leggings and boots to hide my swollen ankles.

[suzi, wren, me & megan]

These girls. I love them.

The decor was so perfect...navy and red with little nautical touches.

Yes, let's talk about those cupcakes for a hot minute.

They're from my favorite place...Giant Eagle. Yes. The grocery store. I've tried cupcakes near and far, but they by far have the most delicious buttercream frosting around. So delicious that we actually had them make our wedding cake.

And those cupcake toppers I'm told are from this little shop on Etsy.

Just completely smitten with them.

We didn't just fill up on sweets.

There was creamy tomato bisque.

Mixed greens topped with craisins, pecans, mandarin oranges, diced apples. Drizzled with apple cider vinaigrette.

And caprese sandwiches on fresh ciabatta bread.

Bebe Stud received so many thoughtful gifts.

And I loved that most of our guests brought books instead of cards.

I know, that makes me a hypocrite, working in the greeting card industry and all. But having a bookshelf full of these favorites (with sweet little notes from each gifter written inside) meant so much more.

It was really the perfect baby shower.

Megan, I cannot thank you enough for hosting this lunch for us.

And Wren, thanks for letting me 'steal' your photos :)

thirty-four

2013-03-04T08:03:00.000-05:00

Weeks. We're in the home stretch!

My belly button has officially popped. Which most say is an indication that the baby is done cooking. Gosh, I hope not, I'm not quite ready for his arrival. His nursery is still in shambles, and while we received an amazing pile of baby items from the two showers this past week, we still have a couple things to pick up.

That belly button.

It's really out there.

My one friend told me not to touch it. She said that your belly button acts as an eject button for the baby. I snorted iced tea out my nose.

And if you couldn't tell from these pictures, yes, it is still winter in Cleveland.

Never-ending winter.

getting fancy with crème brûlée

2013-02-26T10:21:00.001-05:00

My husband collects a lot of things. Like jackets. Shoes. Chapstick.

And more notably, kitchen supplies.

My gift to him on our wedding day was a meat slicer. Something he had been coveting for years. I was reluctant to give him one, wondering if it would ever get any use. But all those doubts went away when I saw his face as he opened his gift. I've never seen him grin like that.

So it was only fitting that his parents gifted him with a professional crème brûlée torch this past Christmas. A kitchen accessory that shoots flames? Count him in.

In my great state of sleep deprivation this past weekend,
I decided we should break out the torch and give it a go. Class up dessert. By making crème brûlée in my pjs.

Surprisingly, what I assumed was going to be an epic fail (as most fancy desserts are in my kitchen), turned out to be the perfect morsel of dessert. I say morsel as this recipe says it makes four servings, but in reality those servings are about six spoonfuls. Which is probably a good thing, for a dessert made of egg yolks and heavy cream.

I did add my own twist to the classic recipe, adding in a hint of lemon and topping with fresh berries. Just to trick the mind into thinking you're eating fruit for dessert.

1/2 pint of heavy cream
2 tablespoons sugar
2 egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
juice of 1/2 lemon
1 tsp of lemon zest
sugar for dusting (before torching)
berries

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Boil water in a kettle on the stove.

In a saucepan, heat heavy cream, 2 tablespoons of sugar, lemon juice and lemon zest for 5-6 minutes over medium heat until tiny bubbles appear along the edges. Remove from heat.

In a bowl, beat together egg yolks and vanilla extract until smooth. Slowly add in cream mixture until combined. Pour into crème brûlée ramekins and place in a glass 9x13 pan. Pour boiling water from the kettle in the pan until it is about halfway up the side of the ramekins.

Bake for 25 minutes or until the custard is starting to set. Remove from the oven, cool ramekins on a cookie sheet and then chill in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours.

When it comes time to serve your dessert, sprinkle a dusting of sugar on each crème brûlée ramekin and light up the torch. Holding the torch horizontally, pass it over the sugar (do not touch the surface with the flame) until the sugar bubbles and browns. Top with berries and serve!

We didn't have the proper ramekins so I used our french onion soup crocks, which made the torching process a bit more difficult since they are deeper than crème brûlée ramekins. I guess we'll be investing in some new dishware so we can properly torch our dessert next time!

on finding out

2013-02-19T08:38:00.000-05:00

32 weeks. Wow, did they fly. It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating the idea of having a little one in our family. And now we're nearing the end of our 'let's grow a human' venture. I suppose it's about time I let you in on the details of our baby making.

No, not those details.

Nice try.

:smirk::

Basically there's this candle.

Yes, a candle started this whole baby-making trend.

Or rather, we decided to have a baby and a candle made it possible.

I'm getting ahead of myself.

My girlfriends have this glass green candle that [as the legends says] brings good luck to those who burn it. My one girlfriend got a job within days of placing the candle in the southwest corner of her house. My sister-in-law happened upon an even better job than her current one when she did the same. They were all in agreement that there had to be some sort of truth to the legend after such results were observed. So this coveted candle was placed in my hands.

With the promise that it would bring me baby-making good luck.

They're really the sweetest girlfriends.

This gift was bestowed to me on a Saturday night, after we had had one too many glasses of wine.

On Sunday, I reaped the benefits of one too many glasses of wine.

And on Monday, I thought I had set the record for the world's longest hangover.

Feeling hopeful, I took that little test.

Low and behold, two little lines appeared.

I. was. pregnant.

I had planned on telling Adam in a creative way, but by the time he walked in the door from work, I was too excited to do anything but wave the test wildly in his direction.

I sometimes get a bit overexcited.

And that's the story of how Bebe Stud came to be.

Just to be on the safe side we still have the candle tucked in the southwest corner of our house. And there it will stay until he makes his arrival. And then I plan on passing it on to another one of my girlfriends for good luck. Maybe even in the baby-making department :)

letters to bebe stud || three

2013-02-15T14:43:00.000-05:00

Dear little one,

I have to tell you that I had a dream the other night. That you were already here and were as awesome as we know you're going to be. And then I was sad when I woke up, because you were still in my belly. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad you're comfy and staying put until you're ready to come out. But I'm so ready for you to be here - it's going to be like Christmas and my birthday rolled into one.

Although, your due date is the day after my birthday, so you if you could avoid that day, I'd appreciate it. I don't think they let you eat cake while in labor.

Your daddy should be off crutches next week, which means we can really get going on finishing up your room! Your crib is put together, as is the beautiful glider that your Grandma (you'll come to know her as Bama) bought for you. And in the corner is a dresser with a lot of history. It was your Grandpa's as a kid, and then your daddy's. And now it will be yours.

I love that.

You're nudging my ribs right now and it's making me smile. It's like you know I'm talking about you.

You really are my favorite thing already.

xo,

mama

thoughts on pregnancy

2013-02-11T09:29:00.000-05:00

Just a spattering of questions I get on a regular basis :) If you have any other ones, feel free to leave in the comments below!

How far along are you? 31 weeks today :) And thanks for realizing I'm pregnant and not just thinking I've hit the Oreos a bit too hard lately.

Boy or girl? it's a boy! We were super blessed to find out in the sweetest way!

Do you have any names? Finally, yes. Yes, we do. A few contenders. But since the gender has been revealed, we're keeping the name a surprise for when he makes his entrance into this world.

Will you tell me if I guess it? No.

How are you feeling? like a whale :) Great in comparison to how sick I was in the beginning of the pregnancy, but starting to feel uncomfortable. He's up really high, so my lungs are a little constricted right now.

Can you feel him? oh Lord, yes. He's going to be a soccer player, just like his daddy. Constantly rolling, kicking, squirming. I can't wait for him to come out and play!

You're still so small! I'm glad you think so because I feel huge. I've put on a hefty 22 pounds in the last seven months. And there's still more to go. They'll be rolling me into that delivery room.

Are those pants maternity? No my friends, those are my regular pants. Yes, even my skinny jeans from last year are still in the rotation. What you don't see, is that there is not one button or zipper that is even remotely closed. My co-worker suggested the Be Maternity BeBand from Target (only $16.99!) and I've never looked back. I love that I can still comfortably wear most of my regular clothes and that I've only had to buy one pair of maternity pants and a few shirts.

Are you sleeping okay? Other than the mandatory bathroom break every two hours, yes! I'm actually still sleeping on my back - it's still the most comfortably position even though that goes against every pregnancy book ever written.

Sorry, does the smell of my Chipotle bother you? Not anymore :) Although it was rough there for a while. Any type of meat smell sent me into extreme nausea. My trick was to light a candle and have it right in front of me during dinner so I couldn't smell what Adam was eating.

Are pickles and ice cream on the menu? No, oranges sure are. In any form. Especially orange juice. Which makes me crack up because that's what my mama craved when she was pregnant with me!

What do you miss about your non-pregnant days? Volleyball. I miss it terribly. I've been doing a lot of yoga and pilates (both of which have become humorous to watch since I can no longer touch my toes) but it's not the same as real exercise.

Are you ready? Um. If I say no does that slow down this process? Honestly, I think the answer will be yes in a couple weeks. Once Adam is able to walk again (next week!) and we can finish up this little guy's room, I'll feel more prepared for his arrival. But, in terms of the excitement level, we are BEYOND ready for him to get here!