Our Nursery for Baby Boy

It still blows my mind that we will be welcoming a new bundle of joy. We were on the fence for quite some time about growing our family (if, when, all those questions you constantly think of). For some reason I never envisioned it to be in the home we currently live in. I couldn't wrap my head around putting a baby in the spare room upstairs. Thanks to my husband for immediately showing me with some new paint on the walls it could become a brand new space. What a difference it made! With our last room having a bit more color & wall decals I felt like this time I wanted something more neutral. I had envisioned whites, greys, along with stripes, polka dots & some natural tones as well. With not knowing the gender until 22 weeks I felt it was our best bet to keep it quite gender neutral anyhow. Here is how it looks below: 

Melissa xo

The Past Few Months

It feels like I haven't blogged in years! I feel like Instagram & remembering to write down "one line a day" about Avery takes up enough of my time. It could also be that I'm now in my third trimester & well I could go for a nap pretty much all day long. 

The past few months have been pretty good. Not feeling as sick, enjoying Christmas activities & of course all the snow we had! It was definitely a white winter this year. We've never seen that much snow consistently! A good excuse to stay at home & be cozy. Christmas was amazing!! I would like to relive Christmas morning again. It was absolutely magical! Her face, her expressions... Priceless! Everytime she opened a gift she would say "wow! I always wanted this!" So fun to watch her be so expressive. We've also being dealing with some fierce terrible two's. To be honest, it's kicking our butts! I don't know if there's any advice or feedback that will help. It just seems like another "phase" that we'll have to work through & we'll eventually get through it. In the meantime 😳, that sums it up. 

I think I should make a resolution to blog more this year. That might be too ambitious with baby #2 on the way! 

Melissa xo 

Hospital Bag

I think this was my most searched item on Google. I always like to hear what Mom's think & any helpful advice they can pass along! So now that I have had my trip to the hospital I figure it's a good idea to make a post of my own on this topic. Considering I had never had a hospital stay or a baby this was all so foreign to me! 

I had thought that I had been prepared with my bag for about 2 months. It's funny, the day I went into labour I had come home & added more things to the bag! I felt like I didn't have enough things & didnt want to be sending my husband home to pick up a million things (we are lucky where we live our hospital is about 7 minutes away). Here are my helpful tips below:

• A fan (you don't realize how hot you will get, could be a combination of hormones or maybe the fact you are having the most intense workout of your life! They tend to keep the hospital quite warm a well) 

• Cozy pajamas or lounge wear (you want to be in something that isn't constricting & comfortable)

• Snacks (depending on what time of day or night you go into labour you want to be able to have something to eat after. Luckily my sister had brought me Gatorade which was fantastic to replenish my electrolytes after the fact)

• DSLR camera (I really wasn't interested in having photos in the delivery room. My sister decided to use our camera halfway through the delivery to capture the first moments with our baby. These are photos I know I will cherish forever)

• Flip flops (you don't know what's on the floor & they are easy to slip on & off, plus you can wear them in the shower) 

• Pillow (you want to be as comfortable as possible so any comforts like this from home make it much better)

• Boppy or Nursing Pillow (I had forgotten mine at home & regretted this deeply! My back was killing me within no time. Do yourself & your back a favor by propping your baby up on the nursing pillow)

• Lip Balm (it's amazing how fast your lips can dry out, stock your bag with your favorite lip chap as you will be constantly applying it)

• Baby Sleepers (I had brought the sleeping gowns for the baby, so easy for changing during the night & it also has long sleeves. Our baby wasn't the Swaddle type so she wanted her arms out at all times, this way I didn't worry about her cooling down too much) 

• Shampoo & Conditioner (I wanted to shower as much as I could so these were nice to have as the hospital only provided some foaming soap to use) 

Overall the hospital does provide a lot of care items for the baby. These are mostly items to make Momma's feel more comfortable. I hope you find these tips helpful. 

Melissa xo 

40 Plus Weeks!

Baby girl, what's the hold up? We thought for sure you would be here by now.

 Everybody does say that the first baby is always late but I had a strong feeling she would be early. We have been extremely patient with waiting. It's amazing how every little movement, pain or change makes you think "could this be it? Is she coming today?" Then another day goes on, then another week. I have officially run out of room. It's bizarre to see a foot move across your stomach. Then feel your stomach tighten because the baby is adjusting. These are moments I hope to never forget. 

With the weekly doctor visits & procedures I thought for sure we would not go past our due date. Here we are 40 weeks plus 1 day. Non stop texts, phone calls, emails asking where the baby is. We know that she will come when she is ready.... 

Finn already loves you! As do we. 

Melissa xo 

38 Weeks!

Well I didn't anticipate we would be at 38 weeks so quickly but there was a change in the due date. I guess from having 3 different doctors & having the ultrasounds done it wasn't caught until last week. We are currently at 1 week & 2 days left until our new due date! The feeling that I constantly have these days is butterflies. I go to bed every night wondering "will she come tonight?" Then I wake in the morning to ask myself the same question. The waiting period is hard especially when you are nocturnal. I've never in my life had an issue with sleeping until about the past 2 months. Nobody warned me about that... That's okay though, I have had a few weeks off to enjoy some "me" time. Which was much needed.  Feeling anxious about labour as I'm sure that's normal. How bad is the pain? Will it really be as bad as everyone makes it out to be? It's the fear of the unknown.... All worth it in the end to meet our girl. 

The baby wasn't quite in the right position as of the doctors appointment yesterday. We have another check-up next week to see where she's at. She is the size of a watermelon right now & don't I know it! I can thankfully say most of my clothes fit up until last week. Thank goodness! She's weighing in at approximately 6.5 lbs & between 19-22 inches long. Funny to look back to around 18 weeks, I thought I had a "big bump" then! I can't wait to see her face for the very first time & hold her. We are ready to meet you sweet girl! Wishing you a safe entrance into this beautiful world. 

I don't have a lot of photos but a bathroom selfie will have to do for now:

Melissa xo 

Maternity Photos (35 Weeks)

I have been documenting my pregnancy by photos since 9 weeks (well let's be honest, my husband has been). Between my mirror selfies, drawing of the fruit or veggie on the chalkboard (according to the "What to Expect" app) to posing in front of a blank wall I think we pretty much captured it. Thank goodness my husband has been so easy going about being my on-demand photographer. 

I decided that I wanted to treat myself to professional photos. Who knows how many times in your life you will be pregnant, I have always loved the look of a pregnant woman. Plus this feels like a very special time in our lives & I wanted to make sure it was photographed. I felt like these were more for me than anyone else, so I saved my husband from attending the photoshoot. I went with Sheri Shanahan from Sheri Shanahan Photography. Living on the westcoast & being a fantastic time of year I knew I wanted it outside & to have a "natural" look to them. We decided that Piper's Lagoon would be a perfect location (grass & trees on one side & the ocean on the other). Sheri was amazing! I can't say enough great things about her. She had the same ideas as me & her passion for photography was evident. So grateful I had the opportunity to have these photos done. I know one day I will look back & have fond memories....

 

Melissa xo

35 Weeks!

We are currently at 35.5 weeks! Unreal... I'm finally finished work, currently nesting like crazy & trying to get some relaxation in before our baby girl arrives. I started on the outside & am now working my way inside. At least I can enjoy my backyard now :) I didn't realize that you feel the need to clean & organize every square inch of your home? 

I see the doctor every week now. Today he told me the baby's head is very far down in the birthing canal (sorry might be too much info) explains the pelvis pain I have every day. Apparently I am a "fingertip" dilated as well. This could go on for weeks so in the mean time I will just have to be patient. Baby is the size of a large cantaloupe (5.5 lbs). Heard her sweet little heart beat again today. She seems to be healthy & content. I'm feeling full on kicks & jabs now. I always feel her little feet at the side of my stomach sticking out, I'm sure I will miss that. Still feeling pretty good for the most part, able to still do the same things as before just needing a little more sleep at night (waking up usually at 3:00 AM seems to be a normal occurrence). Had my maternity photoshoot yesterday. It was so fun! I went with Sheri Shanahan of Sheri Shanahan Photography. She shared the same vision as I did for the shoot. The little daisies in the grass were the perfect setting for the pictures. We also did some by the ocean. Excited  to receive more copies of the photos! 

"Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart." Winnie The Pooh

Melissa xo 

33 Weeks, Countdown is On!

Hard to believe we have only 6 weeks left until we are at 40 weeks! Every morning I wake up feeling ambitious to do a million things but by mid-day all I would like to do is nap.... My list of things to accomplish is growing by the moment. I think the panic is starting to set in "this will be the last 6 weeks of my life to have time to myself & to get things done". Everyone I know has recently told me their birth stories (some really great & others not so great). Main thing I'm trying to remember from these stories is chances of the baby being healthy are 90%. Mothers give birth every single day across the world. The female body is meant to do this! Plus the benefit of meeting our little girl at the end is all worth it! 

Baby girl is the size of a pineapple this week. Weighing in at almost 5 lbs! She's keeping me up a lot more at night now. Very active! I don't know what's going on in there, perhaps a dance party? I think it happens to be right on top of my bladder.  I'm getting up a few times throughout the night ( a lot of pelvic pain as well). Who needs sleep anyways? I believe this happens in the third trimester just to prepare the soon to be momma's of an interrupted sleep pattern. 

For the most part we feel ready for her arrival. My husband ordered our last "big purchase" today, the baby monitor. We went with the D-Link wifi baby monitor. It really is amazing how technology has advanced so much. We can control it from our smartphones & iPads! My next thing to do is get the hospital bag ready. I think I have an idea of what to bring but any helpful suggestions would be great! 

Melissa xo 

32 Weeks!

Time is going quick! Although some days it feels like I have been pregnant for 5 years... I woke up this morning to look at my "What To Expect" app & it said 8 weeks remaining! Now the real panic is starting to set it. I think I will be cramming  with books, blogs & youtube videos within the next few weeks. I was quite open minded going into this pregnancy with regards to the mindset "anything can happen, it's not going to be by the book". Now I feel like I want to educate myself & prepare for babies arrival & bringing her home. 

Size: Honeydew, 19 inches, 4.5 lbs, she is to gain 1/2 a pound every week! 

Baby: She seems quite content moving around inside. Lots of movement still during the day. Finn loves to cuddle up on my stomach & feel her kicks. I have a feeling they will be the best of friends.

Momma: It's safe to say I look pregnant now. Some have told me I have a torpedo belly... My belly button is sticking out now. Getting hard to bend over. Thank goodness for my sweet husband who treated me to a nice manicure & pedicure yesterday. It might be hard to paint my own toenails. Feels like I am running out of room inside! Heartburn seems to strike daily. Smaller meals seem to help plus a pack of Tums in my purse. I find myself waking up lots in the night. This is good training for when the baby arrives, getting me used to interrupted sleep. All worth it! Still attending prenatal yoga & enjoying every minute of it. Feels great to connect with people going through the same thing. The teacher is amazing & gives a lot of advice/ positive encouragement. 

Soon you will be here sweet girl! 

Melissa xo 

Floral Crown

I've loved floral crowns for as long as I can remember. I debated wearing one at my wedding but decided to keep it a little more "traditional". I knew that if I were to do a maternity photoshoot that would be the perfect opportunity! Now is the time. I looked into purchasing them on Etsy & different stores online but decided "why would I pay someone else to make me one when they look simple & fun?" Plus this way I can pick the exact look I want. 

I bought all my supplies at Michaels. They had everything I was looking for. What I purchased was flowers (also looked for flowers with leaves as I like greenery), floral tape, glue sticks & glue gun, wire. 

First step is to measure the wire circumference around your head twice. Twist the wire together in multiple spots then using floral tape to secure it. 

Next, cut the flowers off the stem & start placing them around the wire to get an idea of how you want the floral crown to look. I like the look of having one large flower at the front with smaller flowers & greenery to follow. 

Once you have an idea of where you want the flowers & leaves to go you can use the glue gun to attach them to the wire. Once the glue has cooled, you wrap small pieces of floral tape around the stems to reinforce them (make sure to pull the tape tight!) From there, make your way around the crown. I did have to try it on a few times during the process to make sure I liked the placement of everything but that's because I'm picky ;) Voila, you now have a gorgeous floral crown! 

Melissa xo

30 Weeks!

I feel like I have a little boxer inside my stomach these days! Baby girl is a wild one. She calms down at night but during the day it's non-stop kicking, stretching out & moving around :) My favorite thing these days is to touch my stomach & see if she responds back, she always does! 

She currently weighs 3.2 lbs & is the size of a head of lettuce. From now on she will be gaining nearly 1/2 a lb a week. Is it any wonder I feel like I'm starting to run out of room? I find myself starting to eat smaller meals now & trying to catch my breath quite often (especially after walking up stairs!) I'm also finding myself up more at night now but still getting a good nights rest. My appetite is ever so changing. Finally I can eat pasta again! Can't seem to get enough of cereal & smoothies...

Prenatal yoga has been amazing. So glad I signed up. I always forget my love & passion for yoga when I'm not partaking in it. Of course, this yoga seems quite tame in comparison to the classes I'm used to going to. Lots of deep breathing & stretching. Interesting to meet other moms ranging from 17 weeks- 38 weeks. I look forward to the mommy & baby yoga classes after this :) 

Still hard to believe it's Easter weekend & we have 2 months to go! That felt like a lifetime away at Christmas time. Everything is progressing nicely. Doctors visits will be every 2 weeks now. 

"A mother's joy begins when new life is stirring inside... When a tiny heartbeat is heard for the first time, and a playful kick reminds her she is never alone." 

We are so excited to meet you Baby Coulter! 

Melissa xo 

27 Weeks!

We have now hit the third trimester! Hooray! This feels like an exciting time. Feeling great (no more puking), finally looking pregnant & everything is setting in that I will soon be a "mom" (still is hard to believe at times) Actually just last week I had the moment where I realized it's really all happening. Hard to believe I have only 2 months left of work then I will be on maternity leave & next thing you know I will be holding this baby girl in my arms.

Everything is still going well with the pregnancy. The usual visits with the Doctor every 3 weeks. My stomach seems to be growing by the day. It's now quite firm & finding that clothes aren't fitting like they used to (thank goodness for Old Navy & Thyme Maternity). Baby girl is so active during the day. I swear she is doing somersaults in there. Makes me happy when I can feel her moving around all day. She's the size of a cauliflower, unreal. I'm still sleeping well but noticing is much harder to roll over during the night, could be the massive tummy I have now ;) Finn already loves baby girl. He lays on my stomach in the evening. Precious! Starting to do yoga again. Found some great articles on prenatal yoga. Also considering taking a prenatal Pilates class. It is true what people say, pregnant ladies do love their ice cream. Can't seem to get enough of it these days! 

"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think, and loved more than you'll ever know."

- Winnie The Pooh 

Melissa xo

Nesting, Nesting & more Nesting

Feels like I have been going through a lot of changes lately (not just the fact I have a baby growing inside of me) but at home too. All of a sudden it hit me that I wanted to set up a nursery, re-do a bathroom, paint furniture, plant a garden, clean the entire house top to bottom & the list goes on.... I've heard of this "nesting" phase but I thought it wouldn't effect me. I always felt I was on top of cleaning & having our house organized. Now it feels like time is of the essence and there are a million things to be done! I better start making my list of to-do's as we are on the 15 week countdown. When did this pregnancy start going so quickly?! 

We have accomplished a lot in the nursery. We put up our polka dot Urban Wall decals, set up the dressers (filled with clothes, shoes, blankets etc.) crib & shelf, picked up an area rug & now just waiting for prints to arrive to complete our gallery wall. Starting to feel like a cozy little room for our baby, thanks to my wonderful husband for all the work he has put into it. 

Here's a sneak peek of what we have been up to:

Baby girl is moving like crazy! I'm not sure if she is trying to get my attention or she is trying to burn off energy. Thankfully it's during the day so I can still get a good nights sleep (knock on wood). I can actually see my stomach moving now. Very neat! Appetite still feels the same, lots of fresh fruit seems to be what I "crave". I can't seem to get enough of navel oranges. We are just over 6 months now & everyone seems to notice within the last week that I finally look pregnant. No denying the baby bump now. This week baby girl will start to open her eyelids. Also, if the belly is poked she will most likely move around. So amazing to learn the new developments week by week. 

Melissa xo