35 Weeks...1 Month To Go!

How Far Along? 35 weeks, 6 days...29 days to go! Today is exactly 1 month away from my due date!!!

Size of Our Sweet Caroline? She is one of my favorite fruits this week-a honeydew! 5.25 pounds and 18 inches

Maternity Clothes? It's amazing what I am still "able" to fit into these days...I never thought I'd still be sporting non-prego clothing, but I can't say it doesn't help in the wardrobe department. Although I cannot lie, yoga pants + a long sleeve top paired with a

cardigan + a fun bold necklace could be my favorite "staple" outfit
Weight Gain? 26 pounds
Stretch Marks? Nada
Gender? If you read my blog for any length of time, it's obvious what is about to come into our world...a mini-me!

Sleep? What's that? We used to be good friends, but it's like she defriended me or something...my nightly routine is getting old really fast. Down to sleep/up for bathroom break/down again/up for rotating positions/up for bathroom break/etc {you get the drift}

Food Cravings? Clementines, Fiber One cereal, ice cream, and powdered doughnuts...I think I might have a hard time saying hasta la vista to some of these cravings once little bit is here 

What I Miss? A full night's sleep, endless amounts of caffeine, my energy, running, and alcohol...yep, I'm not sugarcoating it this week friends, I miss it all! Everyone tells me this is the final stretch-the hardest part to overcome-and I am feeling it in a major way. I'm just ready for Caroline to be here and I want to feel like me again.

Symptoms? I had my first weird episode Sunday night...I'm laying in bed watching TV and start feeling these sharp pains "down below"-so I kindly ask Jeff to come in our room and tell him what's up. I then proceed to look online at baby websites for possible causes and then Jeff says "babe, don't look at that...it'll tell you that you have cancer." Bless his heart, I just needed to know I wasn't going crazy. I decide to call my doctor's on-call service and let them know what's going on. They ask if it's my first baby, and then proceed to tell me it's totally normal and that it's either my body preparing me for what's to come {oh joy}, or Caroline is resting upon a certain nerve that is causing the pain...either way, not fun and not comfortable. It's since happened 2 additional nights, so I know it's the name of the game. Other than that, I'm hanging in there...trying to stay hydrated so I don't blow up like a blimp, trying to "relax", and telling myself that crying every day is absolutely normal ;).

Belly Button? Half and half.

Best Moment of the Week? My 2nd baby shower! I promise pictures are coming soon from my fabulous photographer, and I cannot wait to show you just how gorgeous each and every detail was. My friends most certainly showered Caroline with incredible gifts and we played  fun games and indulged in so much food I almost went into a coma...it was the perfect day! Here is a little sneak peak of me and the incredible hostesses!

Our Baby Registry…Part III: The Fun Stuff and Misc. Needs

Here it is friends! My third-and final-installment of our baby registry. I left some of my favorite little things for this post, as what registry could be complete without a few toys and some adorable random necessities? Enjoy!

JJCole Head Support and Strap Covers. Seeing as little bit will most likely be fairly small when she comes home, we registered for head support to help “cradle” her in the car seat for the first few months. In addition, we registered for the strap covers, too, so they won’t irritate her skin or cause a fuss.

 Brica Day and Night Musical Auto Mirror/Brica UV Alert Shade. As much as we are on the go, I am hopeful Caroline will love the car! Wishful thinking, yes, but we’re positive people over here in our house. We were told to get the MUSICAL version of the auto mirror to keep her stimulated and to make sure we invested in sun shades as not to blind her sweet little eyes. Oh, that reminds me, baby sunglasses need to be added to my list!

Swaddling Blankets. If it one thing I’ve been told, it’s that the little one needs to be swaddled ASAP. Swaddling blankets are similar to being in mom’s tummy in that it keeps them warm, comfortable, and helps soothe and calm them, as well. It helps babies sleep more peacefully, and {fingers crossed}, may help them sleep through the night!

We registered for a number of swaddling blankets(HALO SleepSack/Summer Infant SwaddleMe/aden + anais 4-Pack SwaddlePlus Wrap) in different sizes and fabrics as I had heard fabulous things about each, so I thought we’d do some experimentation to see which works best for Caroline.

Toys. Hello! What wee one doesn’t need toys to keep themselves occupied?

Lamaze Jacques the Peacock/Mortimer the Moose/Stretch the Giraffe. Everyone went on and on about just how wonderful the Lamaze brand of toys is so of course we had to register for a few of the most adorable animals around! The contrasting colors and fun attachments/accessories are supposed to be fantastic for baby’s development.

Rockabye Baby – Beatles Lullaby Renditions CD. A CD with Beatles’ infamous songs remixed as baby lullabies?? How is this not a total win/win situation…funny enough, there are so many different versions out there that I know we’ll want to get a few more. I think Pappy (my dad) will be buying his little darling the Aerosmith CD since that is his favorite band.

Cloud B Sleep Sheep. There are so many “noise machines” out there, so I was a little overwhelmed in this department. It plays white noise, which I have been told is the best for helping the peanut fall asleep at night, and then it has extra sounds in case they prefer to hear a heartbeat/rain shower/ocean waves/whale songs. We shall see, we shall see. I love that it has an automatic timer that shuts itself off and has volume control, too.

Vulli Sophie the Giraffe Teether/So'Pure Sophie Giraffe Teething Ring. Another crowd favorite, Sophie helps develop baby’s senses and stimulates sight, hearing, smell, taste, and is supposed to soothe little ones when they have sore gums during teething. Plus, they are just too cute and one of Caroline’s aunts just LOVES giraffes {hehe, Aunt Bev, I love you!}

For other fun toys, we registered for this, this, this, and this.

So there you have it...the gear, the feeding/bathing/diapering/well-being gadgets, and the fun stuff we all actually want to scan! I hope you enjoyed my little tour through "natasha's baby prep", and i hope this was helpful. now we sit and wait to see what works, what doesn't, and what we'll be running to the store to grab during the wee hours of the night.

34 Week Baby Update...Still Chugging Along!

How Far Along? 34 weeks, 5 days...ahhhh!! 37 days to go
Size of Baby Caroline? another week of contrasting site views...one says canteloupe, and one says durian fruit-these people need to get it together. wee one measures right at 4.75 pounds and is about 18 inches in length.
Maternity Clothes?  i'm sporting anything and everything these days...it doesn't matter if it's "maternity" or not...it's all about comfort, so we're talking long tunics, dresses, and leggings.
Weight Gain? 26 pounds-my doctor said i need to gain more weight these last few weeks, oi vey. i'm trying, but i get full so much more easily now.
Stretch Marks? the Good Lord is treating me well in this department
Gender? GIRL!
Sleep? i'm really trying to be a tough cookie {oh a cookie sounds good} but i am over the non-sleeping component of pregnancy. tossing and turning, hot/cold, and the endless potty breaks...nighttime isn't my favorite, however, my doc approved me taking tylenol to help me sleep and i am already seeing a major difference.
Food Cravings? any kind of ice cream i can get my hands on! loving my fruit, and any type of breakfast food
What I Miss? my energy...this lady is slowing down dear friends and i am not happy about it. jeff tells me to rest, yet all i want to do is go, go, go. feeling kinda helpless and I hate having to ask for help.
Symptoms? picture this-we're in the grocery store last weekend and i start getting this lower back pain...i think i have a fairly high pain tolerance, but this had me bent over in the middle of the aisle with jeff massaging my back-i wanted to cry it hurt so bad. apparently it was my sciatic nerve acting up, which is normal during this stage. other symptoms: bloatedness, leg cramps, emotional, and just plain uncomfortable.
Belly Button? out...at least i can still wear my wedding ring though!
Best Moment of the Week? i was at target the other day checking out when an older gentleman comes up to me and asks "when is the blessed event?" to which i told him next month. he then asks me if i know if it's a little boy or girl and then i tell him a little girl and he says "oh, those are the best!". you could tell he was a grandfather and the sweetest little thing i've seen in awhile. just makes my heart happy when people go out of their way to say kind things about babies and such.

i am getting SO excited for this weekend...it's my 2nd baby shower with all my friends and i cannot wait to see everyone! i know my best friends have gone above and beyond to make this a special event and i am ecstatic to enjoy some much needed girl time-yay!

Our Baby Registry...Part II: Feeding/Diapering/Bathing/Well-Being

Hello friends!! Back for round 2 of operation “let’s get prepared for everything baby!” It’s just crazy how much these little wee ones need {well I say need, some are just wants}, but you get the idea. Let’s get on with the important stuff:

Feeding

Medela Pump in StyleDouble Electric Pump. To put it nicely, I’m just not certain how I am going to feel about breastfeeding. To me, it’s an extremely personal decision for a mother and so I’ve decided to try it out and see how it goes. If it is something that works for both Caroline and I, we’ll try to stick with it for a bit. If it proves to be too much/she doesn’t latch/etc, then we will seek alternative methods to ensure that baby gets the proper nutrition she needs. From every mother I know, they have raved on and on about the Medela brand, so we’re sticking with that!

{Update: we learned a lot more about breastfeeding from the class we took at the hospital…to be honest, it made the whole process a lot less confusing and I highly recommend taking a class like this for any expectant mother considering the possibility-they showed us holds, informed us on what a proper latch should look and feel like, gave us pointers on bottles/pacifiers/pumping/etc, too!}

We also registered for a few necessities to complement the pump: Quick Clean Micro Steam Bags, Disposable Nursing Bra Pads, Soft Fit Breastshields, Lanolin Cream, Hydro Gel Soothing Pads, and Pump + Save Bags. 

Dr. Brown’s BPA Free Bottles. Bottles…another area of experimentation as I see it. We were informed Dr. Brown bottles are great in that they comfort the little one with a “vent system”, and is the most similar to breastfeeding. Air never mixes with the milk/formula, which helps prevent colic, spit-up, burping, and gas {we shall see about that friends, we shall see}. We registered for the infant set that has a variety of sizes of bottles and nipples to see what works best for us.

Medela Breast Milk Bottles. We also registered for Medela’s bottles, both in the 5 oz and 8 oz sizes, since they are compatible with Medela pumps—you can pump, store, and feed with 1 bottle, which is a big plus in my book! The less to clean, the better.

Aden + Anais Burpy Bibs. Another hot item that seems to be on everyone’s wish list is anything and everything from Aden + Anais. They are 100% cotton muslin, and serve 2 purposes as a bib and a burp cloth—genius! The fun prints are cute, too!

Skip Hop Splash Drying Rack in White. Space saving design (because our kitchen isn’t tremendously large), plus an attached brush, as well as the perfect shelf to hold all the feeding essentials, and you have a winner in my book. 

Mamas and Papas Baby Snug. This is basically the newest version of the Bumbo and I read a lot about it to compare the two. It adjusts as your baby grows, comes with the tray for easy feeding, is lightweight, and easy to clean. Personally, I think it’s a lot prettier to the eye rather than the Bumbo—but that is totally just my preference.

Other items we registered for on the feeding front are Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Feeding Bibs, Dr Browns Bottle Brushes, Bumkins Waterproof Super Bib, Munchkins Dishwasher Baskets, as well as OXO Tot spoons, feeding set, and snack catchers.

Diapering

Diaper Dekor Plus. In the world of champs, genies, and such, we decided on a slightly different option. With a hands-free step disposal, that had me sold! It’s also odor-free, larger capacity than a few others on the market, and isn’t a complete eye sore. Only downside is that you have to buy specific refill bags, which we registered for as well.

Huggies Pure and Natural Diapers. The diaper aisle…now this is a topic that could have its own post, but I wanted to make it as simple as possible. When I was little, I was a Huggies baby and so was Jeff {yes, we absolutely asked our moms to verify}. So, we’re going to give these a shot and hope for the best. My grandparents have done their own independent research and have stocked me up. Remember, this is a team effort my friends, and everyone is involved.

Huggies Extra Sensitive Baby Wipes. These contain aloe as well as Vitamin E, are hypoallergenic and fragrance free. Here again, personal preference as I assume there are tons of great options, but our family loves the Huggies brand.

Prince Lionheart Premium Wipes Warmer. I’ve been told this isn’t a necessity, but more of a little luxury to make diaper changes a tad bit more pleasant. The warmer helps keep wipes fresh, and the pop-up lid makes it easy to use when your hands could be occupied with other “exciting” things ;).

A+D Ointment. This is why it pays off to have mom friends, so they can be the testers for everything before me…if I’ve heard one thing more than any other, it’s to stock up on A+D ointment and never leave home without a travel tube. Helps to relieve minor irritation, and the nurses at Baptist recommend using it with each and every diaper change to prevent diaper rash.

Mustela Stelactiv Severe Cream. In cases where you can’t prevent diaper rash, mom friends have told me that Mustela’s cream is one of the best. It works quickly to treat the area the FIRST time without having to reapply over and over again.

Bathing

Primo Eurobath Kit in White. I know, the giant blue whale is a top registry item for most, yet this was a top contender for us—5-star reviews from multiple sites, and transitions easily from birth to 24+ months so you only have to buy 1 infant tub. It supports babies by “cradling” their arms and legs, and the plug is easy to drain, too, which I’ve been told is VERY helpful. Even better, it’s white so it goes with everything. {can you tell I don’t like it when everything screams “baby”?}

Swaddle Designs Hooded Towels and Washcloths. Bathing essentials that every little one needs, and I think they should be cute, too—I’ve been told this is one of the best in how they hold up after use, softness of the materials (cotton and terrycloth), and they are really absorbent to keep Caroline warm straight out of the tub.

RH Baby and Child Hooded Towels. I also registered for these (and these) adorable hooded towels from my favorite baby décor store. They are simple, personalized, and are large, so they can transition to use when Caroline is a toddler, too! 

Mustela Newborn Gift Set. I was told that the starter set is perfect because you get to try out multiple items and Mustela is supposedly great for a newborns’ sensitive skin. This comes with foam shampoo, barrier cream, gentle cleanser, and body cream.

We also registered for the traditional Johnson & Johnson line of baby products (baby shampoo, moisture wash, and lotion) because we all know nothing smells better than a clean and fresh wee one.

Well-Being

Crane Drop Shape Humidifier. When I was little, I couldn’t survive without a humidifier in my room—granted, I had really bad asthma so it was a necessity, but I’ve been told that it’s always a good idea to invest in one of these gadgets to allow the little one to breathe easier. It also helps with congestion, and cold/flu symptoms and increases air moisture. This one is energy efficient, too-yay for the environment!

Other must-haves we registered for: Nasal Aspirator, Medicine Syringe, Little Tummys Gas Relief Drops, Rectal Thermometer {yes, I’ve asked numerous times, this is the best way to get the proper temperature reading}, Summer Infant Brush and Comb Set/Nail Clipper Set, and Orajel Day/Night Pain Reliever.

So there you have it--round two of everything baby! Exciting stuff, isn't it? ;)
The final registry roundup featuring all the fun goodies and toys will come soon, so stay tuned!

February is Here! 33 Weeks and a Bedding Sneak Peak!

How Far Along? 33 weeks, 4 days…45 days to go! It's February 1st meaning we will have a baby in our arms NEXT month!!
Size of Baby Caroline? One website says pineapple, one says honeydew—either way, that baby is getting big! She is over 17 inches and weighs more than 4 pounds
Maternity Clothes? Leggings, yoga pants, long sleeve shirts, and cardigans are my BFF! The weather this week in Nashville is in the 60s so I am busting out non-winter attire and it feels great.
Weight Gain? Still at 25 pounds-I think that scale is going to start creeping up as Caroline starts to gain more weight these next few weeks.  
Stretch Marks? None that I can see! Let’s face it, that big bulge is making it hard to see below the waist these days.
Gender? Baby Girl…I’ve officially gone overboard on the wardrobe. Everyone says I am going to have to change her outfits every3-4 hours because she has so many clothes. You know what they say “like mother, like daughter” ;)
Sleep? This changes daily…one night is great, and the next not so much. Keeping the house colder definitely helps keep me comfortable, though little bit loves to kick all night long.  
Food Cravings? Still with the powdered doughnuts {thanks Shell and Pattie for stocking me up!} as well as cereal and ice cream.  
What I Miss? I am perfectly content—I know that sounds cliché, but I am happy with peanut growing inside me and wouldn’t change it for the world.
Symptoms? I get tired by mid-afternoon now…wishing my company approved of a little siesta break every now and then; also with the achiness, occasional leg cramps, and swelling, and now I know what people are talking about when they mention heartburn-WHOA painful!
Belly Button? 3/4 of the way outie
Best Moment of the Week? Jeff has been in California spending time with his family, so what does that mean? Slumber party time with Mom. She has been staying with me the past few days and I am so thankful she came to the rescue. We've been hard at work each night, stocking up on necessities, working on craft painting projects for the walls, and then we put the crib bedding on Caroline's crib last night. And yes, I promised a sneak peak {because I can't contain my excitement} so here you go: I am in LOVE with the way it's all coming together! Jeff will be home this afternoon and I cannot wait to show him our progress.

putting on the new changing pad cover

Practice makes perfect...Pinky the Pig is one of
my favorite new nursery friends

Little Miss...32 Week Bumpdate!

How Far Along? 32 weeks, 4 days...52 days to go--check out this fav pregnancy website that shows you days and such and how baby progresses each week!
Size of Baby Caroline? A large jicama-can someone explain to me what in the world a jicama is? She is 16.7 inches long and weighs about 3.75 pounds
Maternity Clothes? I'm tired of maternity clothes...there is nothing else to say. I've been lucky in that the majority of items I've purchased aren't maternity (just one size up), but I am ready to be sporting cute outfits again. I bought my first post-baby top last week in the hopes that shopping incentives will make me lose that weight FAST!
Weight Gain? 25 pounds...I look like I totally have a basketball in my belly these days.
Stretch Marks? No, and I am thanking the Good Lord.
Gender? If you could see the nursery, you'd know there is no denying a little princess is coming to our house VERY soon!
Sleep? Oi vey. It's getting worse, yet I know I'm only going to get more uncomfortable as the final few weeks come my way. The pillow helps, yet I toss and turn because I can't get my mind to stop thinking about the whats/ifs/buts, get up to potty, and then the vicious cycle starts all over again.
Food Cravings? Fruit, cereal, and powdered doughnuts...thank gosh Krispy Kreme isn't too close to my house or we'd be in trouble.
What I Miss? Blatant honesty here-I want a gin and tonic more than you can imagine.
Symptoms? Restless leg syndrome, tiredness/lack of energy, bloating of the hands/feet
Belly Button? It's now half in, half out 
Best Moment of the Week? The nursery progress...I am in love with it. I came home last night to find the painters had finished and the soft, pale pink color is just perfect. Our contractor is finishing the new lighting and bookcase this week, the rocker/glider was delivered, and pretty soon I can finish everything else-assembling the crib bedding, hanging art on the walls, and then Caroline's room will be all ready!

Our Baby Registry...Part I: The Gear

Finally, right? I have received all sorts of questions asking about our baby registry so I hope this helps! I decided to break these registry posts down into smaller, more manageable details because too much of this stuff is completely overwhelming. First up, the necessary baby gear.

Of course I must insert a caveat before you read any further: these are only MY recommendations/opinions, based on hours of research online, tips and tricks from other mommies, Lucie’s List, Consumer’s Reports, and countless other blog posts I have read from pregnant gals.  Also, I am already betting some of these essentials will be replaced once Caroline comes…this is going to be an ongoing "experiment" in surviving the daily life of a newborn, and I’m lucky that there is a Target a mere 2.5 miles from my house.

The Britax B-Ready Stroller. I was up in the air between the B-Ready and the UppaBaby Vista, and this was the chosen winner. I wanted a stroller that was easy to disassemble, had a "click-and-go" system with carseat, offered adequate storage {hello shopping adventures!}, and could accomodate another child {if and when friends, if and when}.  Let's be honest, I also wanted a stroller that was pleasing to the eye-I'm going to use this everyday and I didn't want something I couldn't stand to look at. We ended up getting the silver color and I love it!

The Britax B-Safe Carseat. Not only was it a top safety pick, but it easily pops into the B-Ready stroller. It's also gender neutral, and smaller than other carseats we looked at. We also registered for the additional car seat base so Jeff can pimp one in his ride, too. ;)

Britax B-Ready Bassinet. This was one of those items that isn't a necessity, but I really, really wanted it. This bassinet is going to be perfect for afternoon strolls in the park, little naps when we are out and about, and a perfect companion for our beach trip in May.

ERGObaby Carrier. I’ve been told this is the Cadillac of baby carriers out there, due to it’s ease of use, comfort level when wearing for long periods of time, it adapts to both mom and dad’s sizes, and how practical it is—you can do normal activities while having the little one attached to you. Friends assured me this one was the winner in their book. A little pricier than others, but something we're bound to get a lot of use out of. Check!  

Moby Wrap Carrier. For something a little less bulky, we opted for the moby wrap. It keeps the baby warm while my hands remain free, has wide straps for comfort, protects baby skin with SPF 50 material, is easily adjustable with no buckles/snaps, and looks to be fairly simple to use when running errands. This is going to be fun entertaining to learn the proper way to wrap our little bambino up.

Summer Infant BabyTouch Color Video Monitor. We splurged on this item and registered for one of the nicer monitors. It's has color display, touch screen monitor, a pan/scan/zoom feature so when little miss moves around the crib we can still see her, a 2-way talk back feature {for when she gets older}, as well as a handy dandy docking station. Let's just hope I don't get crazy and have to stare at the thing constantly "just in case".

The Nap Nanny. A friend and fellow mommy recommeded the Nap Nanny to me, and said she couldn't live without it--the perfect reclining infant sleeper. It "cradles" the baby, weighs only 3 pounds so you can take it anywhere in the house, is ideal for babies who don't like to lay flat, and is perfect for playtime and lounging. I've also been told this helps with reflux and helps preventscongestion, too!

Boppy Pillow and Slipcovers. I'm not sure this needs any explanation as practically everyone knows about this lifesaver. Helpful for feeding, can be used for tummy time, and a way to "prop" up the little one. I also registered for a few extra slipcovers since I'm assuming these get dirty frequently. Some other cute slipcovers I found: here, here, and here.

Fisher Price My Little Snug-A-Bunny Bouncer. Another tried and true absolute from everyone I have talked to. A bouncer, something to keep them in motion when they get fussy or refuse to sleep, and acts as entertainment, too. This one is lightweight with 8 different songs and sounds, portable and sturdy and has a mobile attachment for stimulation. To be honest, I also loved the fact this doesn't take up a huge amount of space.

Chicco Playard/Pack-n-Play-Romantic. This is one item I am up in the air about and may rethink and go with something else. I love the design of this, yet it's bulky and I've read it's not the easiest to travel with. I do love the built-in bassinet and changing table as we plan to keep this in our family room for sleep/play time, and it will make it easy to change little miss' diapers without having to walk up and down the stairs. It also has storage compartments, a mobile, sounds, and a night light. If we decide this one is just too much to deal with, I've got my eyes on the Quicksmart or the Aprica Haven OpenAir.  

We're also planning to get a jogging stoller (here or here), a highchair (this or this), an exersaucer/jumper, but we're waiting on those items for a bit to figure out what Caroline likes/dislikes and what we actually need.

I hope you enjoyed the first installment of the fascinating world of a baby registry...next up, the feeding/diapering/bathing/cleaning essentials...and yes, I guess this is where I have to talk about breastpumping and dirty diaper disposal...the not so glamorous part of motherhood ;).