36 Weeks!!

Front view of the bump, taken yesterday.

How far along?  36 weeks! Almost there!!
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How big is the baby? Harper is packing on the pounds at the rate of about an ounce a day. He weighs almost 6 pounds!
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Weight gain?  As of today, I have gained 30 pounds!!! Let's hope it is not too hard to loose.
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Stretch Marks? After applying all of this belly balm, I better not have any!
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Sleep? Still not comfortable when I sleep but I am sleeping quite a bit!
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Best moment of the week?  Watching Erik put together the new crib and move in the new furniture. I just love it. And it is so fun to see everything come together. I am so ready to finish up all the decor and see that little man in his nursery. Although I have a good feeling he will spend the first few months of his life in our room. And I won this awesome stocking from "Living A Beautifully Blessed Life"  blog. YAY!

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Food and cravings? Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia ice cream. I am obsessed. And banana pudding. I found the best recipe. I will have to put it up on the blog this week. I think I am going to make some on Wed. I have a hard time eating full-sized meals now. I get full really fast. I guess because he is taking up so much room in there!
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Movement? Still kicking a bunch. He loves to kick during church service and late night.

What I miss? I actually miss working. I have been working on baby stuff... you know getting the nursery together, washing baby clothes, preparing as much as possible. But I miss work.
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Belly Button? Flat! bye bye belly button.
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Looking forward to? I am taking a few pregnancy classes this week. They are usually fun and very informative. So I am looking forward to it! And I started packing the bags for our Charleston trip! ;) And I started packing my hospital bag. Any advice?

Milestone? I had my weekly checkup today. I am 2 cm dilated. The doctor thought that was great and said I am further along than a lot of women at my stage of the pregnancy. But she also said I had to come in before our Charleston trip next Tuesday morning to make sure I have no passed 3 cm.  If so, they think it is better to stay close to home incase baby comes early. So I hope Harper will stay in there a little longer!! I am really looking forward to our Charleston trip. :)

Here is a side view so you can really get an idea how big the bump is:

Baby Announcements!

I have this crazy idea stuck in my head that once the baby gets here, I am not going to have time to do anything for awhile. I made a long to-do list to try to accomplish before his arrival.

Fifth on the list is gathering all my friends and family's current contact information. I want to make sure we have all the numbers stored in Erik's cell so he can make the phone calls when Harper arrives. And I want to have everyone's address for the baby announcements.

I have found it REALLY difficult to keep up with everyone's address information. I swear my friends and family move on a regular basis. Erik and I just moved in June and I am thinking about ordering those cute little "we moved" cards to send out. Because I am having a heck of a time figuring out which friends live where. So I figure if everyone sent out these cards, life would be easier.

But anyways, back to the baby announcements... I looked up several websites that carry announcements but I think I am going to stick to what I know which is Shutterfly. We used Shutterfly for our Christmas cards last year and they were BEAUTIFUL!!

Here are my favorite picks from the Shutterfly website:

Which one do you like the best? I think they are all pretty darn cute! 

One of my favorite things about Shutterfly is the fact that you can set-up an account and it allows you to save all of your addresses online. Then you can pay a little extra and they will actually address and stamp the envelopes for you and send them out. We haven't decided if we are going to take that route but it is a nice option to have!! 

Right now you can get free shipping on orders $30 or more. You just have to put in the coupon code "Ship30" at checkout. 

So what do you think? Do you like any of those announcements? Do you have any other websites or stores you recommend? 

4D Ultrasound

Yesterday we had the best time going to our ultrasound appointment! We went to a place called Vision of Life. It was a family affair. Erik, Erik's parents, my sister, my mom and I headed to Powdersville, SC to see a 3D/4D  ultrasound of little mister. 

They use the state of the art GE Voluson 730 Expert to complete all ultrasound examinations. The GE Voluson 730 Expert has been seen in GE television commercials and many printed articles from around the world. This machine is the best 2D, 3D and 4D ultrasound machine available. 

The staff was wonderful and the facility was really pretty. They had the viewing room set-up with plenty of fluffy couches so that every one could see the ultrasound up on the big screen. It actually holds up to 12 people but we decided to just invite the immediate family. 

They even have a baby shower room! So if someone wanted to have a shower there, they could play baby games then everyone could watch the ultrasound. I thought that was a really cute idea!

If you are interested in a 3D and 4D Ultrasound, you can call Vision of Life at (864) 269-5420. They are located at 104 Commons Blvd. Suite A Piedmont, SC 29673. It is really close to Greenville! 

Anyways, it was amazing seeing our little guy! Every day we talk about what we think he is going to look like, who's personality he is going to have, what sports he is going to play... and of course every day it changes. But we were finally able to get a little sneak peek into what he is going to look like! 

We think he is going to be born with some hair. Not a full head of hair but we could definitely see some! And the lady thought it looked wavy! I decided those are his little curls coming in! :) hehe Erik was actually pretty bald when he was born but I had quite a bit of hair. It was really dark! Within a few weeks it fell out and came back in "white." But initially I had dark blackish brown hair. I wonder what this little guy's hair will look like! 

Ideally, you get your 4d ultrasounds at abut 30-31 weeks. We waited a little too long. We were still able to see him but he is getting pretty cramped in my belly. He liked to play with my umbilical cord and he was pretty active in there. 

We noticed he has daddy's chin and lips. I wish I could figure out which photo showed his little chin but I can't find it. At the appointment we saw a close up of his chin and it was Erik's to a tee!  He also has Erik's lips. Erik's lower lip is slightly pouty. And you could definitely see it in a few pictures. In one photo I think we upset him... I was pushing on my belly to try to get him to move his foot, and he actually made a "mad" face. It was hysterical! 

I think he has mommy's long legs (mine are almost 34 inches long!) because he kept one up next to his head the entire ultrasound. He looked like a little acrobat. His feet kept blocking the right side of his head and it caused some difficulty when we were trying to view his little face! We also think he has my nose, which I got from my dad. He has big chubby cheeks! We were able to see him try to take a few breathes which was pretty amazing and we saw him open his eyes a few times. It was such an amazing experience!  Here are a few of the photos from the ultrasound:

He had his little hand up on the left side of his face for most of the ultrasound and his right foot was actually up on the right side of his head. The debris in front of his face is actually his umbilical cord. 

He kind of looks like he is smirking here! 

Can you see his foot straight up next to his head on the right side?

His little hand throwing up a "west side!" 

I definitely recommend getting a 4d ultrasound! It was an unreal experience. I wish I could go back and watch him in there all day! 

A Baby Shower Fit For A Rock Star!!

We had such a wonderful time at our baby shower on Saturday!! We felt so blessed that so many of our loved ones came. And it is a great feeling knowing that our little guy is already loved by so many people.

The theme of the shower was rock n' roll. I thought this was such a cute idea considering my hubby has been in a rock band for the past 10 years of his life... well more if you include his first band in high school, "Duck Tape." haha! Erik also has a ton of other musicians in his family so the theme fit perfectly! 

Typically men don't attend a lot of the baby showers but I really wanted Erik to be involved. So they had a Corona bucket set-up for the guys and they all seemed to enjoy themselves! haha Not to mention Anna and Kim's amazing feast. You just have to feed the guys and provide beer and they are pretty much good to go in any circumstances. And I think Erik enjoyed opening the gifts as much as I did. Sometimes he took too long playing with the presents so I started opening them while he played. It was very cute! 

Here are some photos from the shower:

Adorable Diaper Cakes!!

"Rocker" diaper cake

Delicious cupcakes!! Made by Aunt Anna :)

Anna made a guitar cake out of cupcakes

Rock candy :) How appropriate! ha! 

Love all of the decor! 

Cute little guitar on my boutonniere

This is what the invites looked like!

Love my sweet hubby!

Erik and his wonderful family!

Erik playing with Harpers hooded blankie! His Aunt Sharon knit the most beautiful gifts for Harp!

Me and Mom! Her hair is coming back!! It is dark and thick now.

Erik is going to have fun playing with Harper and all of his toys.

A guitar rattle! 

Love the onesie!

33 Weeks Pregnant!

I am really excited about the upcoming week!! I have tons of things going on. Tonight is my first Junior League of Spartanburg meeting. I am trying to decide whether or not to join. I really want to give back to my community and I think Junior League is a great way to get involved and meet other girls my age. So it could be a great idea and opportunity. I am a little worried about joining with the new baby on the way but I think because we are going to have so much help with Harper from our family and friends that I could still handle the responsibilities of Junior League. Marisa and I are going to the meeting tonight to learn a little more about it!

Then on Wednesday we have our 3-D ultrasound. I CAN'T wait!! Erik is back in town.. yippie! And he is supposed to finish up his photo shoot on Wednesday in the late afternoon which leaves us time to go to Powdersville to get the 3-D ultrasounds.

We might get pregnancy photos taken this week. A photographer in town mentioned that he would like to take photos of me, Erik, and the bump in exchange for letting him use them in his portfolio. So hopefully it will work out and we can get some cool shots.

And I am supposed to sign up for a tour of the hospital this week. I am trying to figure out a time that works with Erik so he can join in the fun.

It is getting close only about 6 weeks to go!

How big is the baby- He is a little over 4 pounds!!! So exciting.

Weight gain? My belly is legit! Seriously growing every day. I actually bought a dress two weeks ago to wear to my shower this past weekend and I couldn't zip it up! I was disappointed the dress didn't fit but was actually really excited that the little man is growing so much.

Stretch Marks? Not yet. I have been using Maclaren Supporting belly balm and I seriously LOVE IT!! If you are an expecting mother, you should give it a try. It is made with moisturizing Shea Butter that helps prevent stretch marks and contains Rosehip oil which promotes cell regeneration and skin elasticity. It also contains Orange, Mandarin and Neroli to assist in hydrating, repairing and regenerating the skin. I tried two other belly balms during my pregnancy and this one is by far my favorite!! It isn't sticky and it goes on so soft. Plus my husband likes the scent much better than the other belly balms. I think the orange gives it the sweet scent.

Maternity Clothes? I went to Target to buy a maternity dress for the shower but they were really slacking in the maternity department. So I ended up buying the dress in the photo above instead. It was in the ladies section but it was nice and pouffy so it fit over my belly!

Sleep? I sleep a lot! And Harper loves to karate chop me as soon as I lay down in bed. He starts moving with 2 minutes of me lying on my back. It is hysterical. And these are not small kicks... they actually move the sheets on the bed. But I have trained myself to sleep through most of it. The hardest part for me is actually getting out of bed. I feel like I am completely off-balanced. So I kinda have to roll off or get Erik to help pull me up.

Best Moment of the Week? On Saturday we had another amazing baby shower. Erik's Aunt Anna and his momma hosted it. It had a rock star theme and everything was perfect! We had such a wonderful time and we feel so blessed to have the love and support of so many loved ones. We received our Chicco travel system and our big Chicco play yard along with tons of other wonderful gifts!! I am going to post photos and more details from the shower tomorrow.

Food Cravings? Ice cream. I think the crazy heat plays a big part in this craving!

Name? So I only know a single person named"Harper." I actually babysat him growing up and always loved the name. Erik and I really wanted to find a unique name and decided to go with Harper since it was so original. Well guess what name made the new trendy baby name list?! Harper of course!! I opened up Yahoo.com and right on the front page the article said, "Welcome Tenley, Harper, Castiel and Bentley: The Hottest Baby Names of 2010." Now what are the odds of that!? I really hope it doesn't become "trendy." But I still love it!

Movement? The boy wants out of the belly. He kicks me all day long. I started chuckling in church yesterday because he was kicking so hard Erik could actually see the fabric of my dress moving back and forth!

What I Miss? Having a ton of energy. I feel like I am sleepy all of the time!

Fun Fact? This week he's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

As the baby fills out even more of your belly, lots of things might start to change: Whereas before you were sashaying, you may find yourself waddling. Finding an easy position to sit in — let alone sleep — is becoming more of a challenge. And bumping into chairs and counters is par for the course. (I have bumped into my fair share of doors and chairs at this point! I feel so off-balanced!)

Bringing-Baby-Home Outfit

I did some online research and I found a very helpful with some suggestions about the bringing-baby-home outfit! I think I am going to go against the gown idea. It would be too difficult to try to figure out with the car-seat and probably not as comfortable for Harper.

Here are their tips:

Step 1

Think about what you want your baby to come home in. Choose an outfit that is both cute and functional. However, be aware that you may have to sacrifice the perfect outfit for what is easiest for your baby to come home in, so mainly think of the colors that you want your baby to wear.

I think I am going to go with the classic blue.

Step 2

Consider the weather. Though you may not know what the exact weather or temperature will be for the day you deliver, you at least know the season, so plan accordingly. Choose long pants, long-sleeved shirts and fitted hats if it's cold outside. Go with a simple onesie or one-piece outfit with legs if it is going to be hot.

It is going to be September so I imagine it will be a little warm but not too bad!

Step 3

Avoid gowns and big frilly dresses. When your baby has on an outfit that does not define each leg (such as pants), it is harder to put your baby in the car seat or adjust the straps. You do not want to run into these problems just after giving birth.

So once again, no-go on the gown idea!

Step 4

Carry a receiving blanket. No matter where you go with your newborn, but especially when bringing your baby home from the hospital, always bring a receiving blanket. You never know when there will be a temperature change and a receiving blanket can always come in handy.

Hmmm... maybe a matching receiving blanket!? How cute!

Step 5

Bring a hat for your baby. Newborns have trouble regulating their body temperature and can get cold easily, especially when their heads are exposed. Wearing a knit hat can help your baby keep warm.

Brooke's mama knit baby Harper the cutest little hat!!

Step 6

Take infant socks. As with a hat, your baby should not leave the hospital without socks. Socks will help your baby keep warm. If the outfit you have selected has built in booties, you can skip the socks.

Hmmm socks or built in booties? That is the question!

Step 7

Have baby mittens with you. Because baby fingernails grow in the womb, babies often have sharp nails that can easily scratch their fragile skin and face. Protect your newborn from itself with a cute pair of mittens.

Maybe I can find an outfit with the built-in mittens!

A little list for a reminder!

Things You'll Need:

*receiving blanket

*newborn hat

*newborn socks

*newborn mittens

*newborn outfit

And a few extra tips!

*No matter what you choose for your bringing-home-baby outfit, make sure it is easy to put on and take off.
*Take multiple outfits. You may want to consider taking more than one outfit just in case the weather changes, your baby spits up or his diaper leaks through, or you're surprised by the gender.
*Remember, people will take pictures of your baby in the hospital in the outfit that you choose, so make sure it is something that you want others to see him in.
*Wash the outfit you have selected prior to giving birth using a detergent designed for babies.

I also looked up some tips on dressing your newborn baby. I found a cute "how to" on the Healthy Children website.

*When dressing your baby, supporting her on your lap, stretch the garment neckline and pull it over your baby’s head. Use your fingers to keep it from catching on her face or ears.
*Don’t try to push your baby’s arm through the sleeve. Instead, put your hand into the sleeve from the outside, grasp your baby’s hand, and pull it through.
*When undressing, take off the sleeves one at a time while you support your baby’s back and head.
*Then stretch the neckline, lifting it free of your baby's chin and face as you gently slip it off.

Do yall have any helpful tips!?

Harper's nursery!

The new carpet has been installed! Which means I can finally start decorating the nursery. It is painted a gorgeous blue and I am trying to determine if I want to paint stripes on the wall or have the men put up chair rails and wainscoting.

Here is an example of chair rails and wainscoting in a nautical nursery:

And here is an example of it in a bathroom:

Here are some photos with blue stripes in the nursery:

We are going to have to choose one and that project is going to be the next big step in decorating the nursery. I try to pick up cute nautical items and decorations whenever I see them. And I am currently painting several canvases with cartoon sea creatures to hang on the walls. I just finished up a seahorse and I started on a crab. I think I am going to do a fish and and a whale. Then eventually I want to paint a larger canvas with a sailboat and his name. I need a full day to just sit down and paint. But life has been a little hectic lately. Now that my mom is out of the hospital I will probably have more time. And I need to have mom help with some of the paintings, she is actually an amazing artist and went to the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale where she graduated with a degree in advertising. When we were little, my dad built us a playhouse in the yard, it was just like a real miniature home, and my mom painted the entire house with Disney life-size murals. It was unbelievable! She said she wants to paint one for Harper one day too! 

In the meantime I am trying to find other decorating ideas for the nursery. Here are some designs that I love!

This is the bedding we decided on! I received the bumper, quilt, bedskirt, and two fitted sheets at our baby shower and I LOVE it!! 

Do you ladies have any fun ideas for decorating a "nautical nursery?" Or do you know of any places that have good nursery decor?