You, Me and Baby makes THREE

Survival of the fittest is now what I imagine whenever I think of a mother. My Nana's nostalgic words strike again as she couldn't have put motherhood any better, "Mothers are martyrs." Yes, now as I AM  a mother those words couldn't be any more true because being a mother is giving every bit of yourself for another being. This February I was blessed to deliver, my first child, a healthy and handsome baby boy. And to think,  I thought five months of morning sickness was brutal. Well, let's just say these first four weeks of my son's life have been both a mental and physical uphill marathon. I won't deny the joy that his quirky faces and sleepy milk smiles have brought me. But boy oh boy learning how to be a mother is a complete full-time event. I'm not one to sugar coat situations so here it goes, from my personal to everyday duties, here are the facts.

After twenty hours of labor but only a good half an hour of pushing I naturally delivered my sweet son. Unfortunately, the labor and delivery were probably the easiest part of the beginning of this motherhood adventure. The first few days I was home my body was in shambles. I could barely walk and I was so sore down there I was using the Boppy as a type of hemorrhoid pillow instead of baby accessory. I know it was that bad. Then there was bloody Friday. My paranoid self thought I was hemorrhaging so I went to the ER. Turns out my cervix wasn't contracting the right way but all I needed was some pill poppin' action. Throughout all of this chaos I was trying to learn how to boobie feed. Yes, my 'lil guy wanted milk and he wanted it  fast. He was sucking so vigorously I thought I was going to run out of this liquid gold. All I can say is I was sore for the first two weeks of his sucking life. Finally, I made it through the rain, both literally and figuratively. Because four weeks and five days later I feel a little back to normal. I've still had some occasional postpartum anxiety meltdowns from sleepless nights, fear of SIDS and plain 'ole cabin fever but things are s-l-o-w-l-y getting better. Now whenever I think of my past life, before my beautiful Bebe, I resist to complain because nothing could be sweeter than looking at his face and these tootsies.

Nine Months and Counting

I'm officially nine months and no, today is not my due date. Women are actually pregnant for 40 weeks (which I didn't know:) and so that would equal 10 months of being pregnant. I like to count it this way. Technically I still have a few weeks left until my due date. This journey, emotionally, physically and creatively has been a whirl wind of surprises both positive and lets say interesting. Now, I'm looking forward to the next part of this journey, LIFE. The life of my new little bundle of boy! God willing our next photo update will be of our healthy baby boy and his own journey in this world.

Shower of Blessings

Dear little baby G's shower was held on the most beautiful day. On Saturday, January 15, 2011 the sun was shinning, friends were smiling and excitement was radiating underneath the tule shaded canopy. What can I say besides, I was blessed to have a perfect baby shower. Honestly, I was terrified that the recent rainy days were going to strike again and we would all end up in our winter boots covered with mud. Surprisingly, the day was gorgeous and actually a bit hot. I believe it was a gift from my sweet little Nana looking down on us and letting her love shine through for her great-grand son. The great grand son she knew and already loved at only three and half months but would never get to hold. So, thank you Nana, for your warmth that surrounded our family, friends and our baby boy that will be named after you.

Since my Nana was such a special woman and had an enormous part in raising me, this baby shower was truly dedicated to her. From the 1900's antique transportation theme to the photos of her holding me when I was a baby. Our colors were after my recent discovery that I love to love turquoise-all shades. Now, I'm a pink girl all the way but for some reason, maybe it's because I'm gonna have a boy, I just can't get enough of this jeweled color. It's a color that makes me want to reach out and touch it...then buy it…whatever it may be. From a luxurious throw, to a crisp new notepad for work, turquoise literally fills up three-fourths of my home's decor. And so for the baby shower we worked in the turquoise with black and white accents to create a boyish yet bit of 1940's glam. Here are the results…

B is for Boy! Yes, you are knockin' at the right house. Below are the silhouettes of myself, our first baby girls and Mr. G (another antique touch).

Antique transportation vehicles filled the rooms. My sister found this garden bike which we painted black, giving it just the right feel for our vintage theme. The packages were the gifts for the games.

I was also inspired by Disney's Lady and the Tramp movie. So, like the movie, the men were separated from the women and given cigars-chocolate cigars that is…they were placed in these vintage cigar boxes. The silhouettes below were our name badges and the "B-A-B-Y" sign was hung outside where guests signed a little note of love or advice for the parents to be:)

Our favors were lots and gobs of turquoise colored sweets for everyone to enjoy. 

Outside the guests were surrounded by hues of blue, white and simple winter centerpieces. One of my favorite details were the flying vintage airplanes. Mr. G and I were just speechless and filled with love because we have such sweet as sugar friends and family. 

The old fashion appies, made with love from my mommy, included scones, cucumber sandwiches and donuts. The picture perfect cake was created by my talented friend Nancy. 

 The grand finale was of course my "fauxto" booth. This time I wanted to mimic an antique silhouette frame. So- ta da! 

Week 33-36

Technically this week I am supposed to hold a honeydew but I think the squash from weeks 29-32 looks bigger. I switched it around a bit:) Here I am at 33 weeks-eekk, it's getting closer.

Smart Shopping

Here is some fun shopping advice for all the pregger or soon-to-be pregnant mommies, start shopping! After each holiday is actually the best time to go out and hunt. Hunt, like a warrior! My family and I have been on the look out, for simple but adorable items that will fit Baby G next year. All you have to do is figure out the size your baby might be, what style you would like them to wear and most importantly, you have to know the gender. I know this might sound like common sense but some people get so wrapped up in the holidays they forget about their future baby. And who wants to spend full price on the items you could have gotten in advanced, for less, this year?

My favorite hunting grounds:

Nordstrom
Jack and Janie
Kohl's (they have really cute Carter's clothing)
Macy's

Here are some of my finds for the top holidays next year. My last mission, Valentine's Day and Easter. Baby G will already be born by Easter so I'll just have to find some fantastic threads for the following year!

The classic jack-o-lantern onsie and reindeer booties were purchased at Nordstrom. I found the Baby's First Thanksgiving bib at Kohl's but I also so it for more at Macy's.

Lucky number 7

Yay, 7 months down! How many more to go? Well, I am officially in my third trimester and feeling not too shabby. Today, I had my monthly doctor's appointment and one of the nurses said, "You sure are all baby." I guess those extra seventeen pounds that I have gained are all going to baby G's muscles! Now it's crunch time. No more messin' around! I need to get down to business!! We have finally finished the baby shower invites. Next, on the agenda is to finish painting, crafting and ordering all the the details for the baby shower decorations. Oh ya, and we need to finish painting the trim, order the interior shutters, pick out a rug and install a closet organization system for the nursery. Jeez Louise, I…I mean Mr. G (hehehe) has a ton of things on his plate. Well, here is how I look before all the madness begins.
(p.s. don't mind all the blurriness; I'm practicing and trying to figure out how to use my new wide angle lens)

Eggplant= 25 to 28 months

Me at 7 months!

The invitations!:)

Gotta show the envelope:)

'Tis the Season to CRAFT...

Fa la la, la la, la la la la! I already feel overwhelmed just thinking about all the crafty decor and presents I want to make this Christmas. Here is my craft Christmas list:

changing the wall frame's scrap booking paper to match our new living room color- check

baby shower invites

glittering up our Christmas cards

cutting and sewing 25 felts stockings for my little rug rats

making an ornament or sweet treat for my co-workers

dazzling up my indoor holiday decor 

sewing some stocking stuffers for the family

...and I need to start and finish all of these projects before Mr. G and I go on Christmas break. HELP! Well as long as I continue to find inspiration by DVRing the Martha Stewart show, browsing through my old MS mags and always keeping up to date with my favorite blogs and a few new ones, I'll be alright. Here are some new crazy crafty blogs that I stubbled upon. Check out their creations! Fantabulous:)

These gorgeous glitter trees are from the eighteen25 blog. 

Here are similar glitter trees in a more traditional color by, I heart nap time.

Thank you to my bf Lisett, for introducing me to scrap booking our first year in college. Ever since then I can't find enough uses for this darn cute paper. I had these frames up in our kitchen nook for the past couple of years. Then we needed a change in our living room. So Mr. G painted and I recycled these frames to fit our new gray/blue & black/white living area. This is the before picture and below is the after.

Here is the "after." I love it! So for all my fam and friends, yes this is our new living room color with black and white accents.

Here is the next project that I must complete by this weekend-baby shower invites. Of course I am using scrap booking paper, card stock, Paper Source envelopes, a rubber stamp from Etsy and some embossing materials. 

Friends and Baby Bumps

Just thought I'd share some pictures of my cute sorority sister and I with our baby bumps. My friend Karen, pregnant momma to be, and Valerie, my sorority 'lil sis, are best friends. Luckily for us, Val is an ultrasound techy girl and can get some pretty awesome pictures of our baby boy and Karen's baby girl. I feel blessed to have such sweet friends to share these special moments with. Thanks girlies!

 

Our kiddies first kiss:)

XOXO

My oh-so-cute and talented lil sis! Val was also the first one to reveal the baby's gender! Love ya girl:)

Before the careers, weddings and baby bumps:)

Months and baby Bumps

In my spare time, I like searching for creative, crafty, photographic, baby, and baking blogs. During one of my many searches I came across a photog blog that created this crazy maternity picture. Although I wasn't pregnant at the time, I imagined doing the same thing whenever I got the bump. So here I created a knock off, of the orignal idea from Pacing the Panic Room. Hope you love my version as much as I do!

August-Here I am at 3 months.

September-4 months

October-5 months...finally you can see the bump!

Book Worms

I come from a family full of book worms. My mom is an avid reader, especially in the summer. My four younger sisters also love to get their hands on a good fiction piece. Mimi can enhale a 300 page fictional novel, specifically those about vampires, in about two hours. Even my cute little old Nana used to love to read a story or two about Mother Teresa and the many Popes we have had. As for myself, I am not so well read. In the summer I do try my best to conqure a hard covered tale, but my genre taste makes it hard to do becuase I have a weird little secret. My mom and sisters know this secret but I don't even think Mr. G knows it. I'm an expository freak, like my dad. Ahhhh! Weird, right? Well, I think so. I can't help but grab a self-help, historical or informational text. This makes the good pickin' books a little more challenging to find, since most of the best sellers are fictional or romantic.

On Tuesday, my luck changed when my co-worker came up to me. While rubbing my belly, she let me in on a fabulous book find. Yes, I actually was able to get excited about a book that I would enjoy reading. She said it helped her daughter and many of her friends get through the first few months after the baby was born. She recommended The Happiest Baby on the Block book. She told me it had the mother load of secrets. Now I'm excited to get my hands on it and finally feel like I'm part of the book worm family!

Back on the BLOG

So I have been M.I.A. for around 2 months now. But I'm back. I had to take a little leave from the FB and Blog world because I got pregnant!!! I'm still pregnant but not going to disappear again. While I was gone I had the most horrible morning sickness any woman could imagine. Luckily I was on summer break and only missed enjoying the care-free days of summer. I literally traded my swim suite for the pajamas that would get me to the toilet bowl fast enough.

Well, I am now 4 months and 3 weeks with very little if anymore morning sickness symptoms. I am ready to blog again. This time I know my blogging will be a little skewed toward all the soon-to-be mommies. I feel so blessed, excited and happy all in one so I'm ready to share my ideas, finds and fascinations with this baby bump.

Here are some special items my friends and family have given me for our new adventure in babyland. The first gift was given to me by my friend Svea. So sad that there isn't a picture of all the yummy treats she brought to my house while I was sick in bed but they (mint tea, ginger, baby talk magazine, pasta) were all put to good use!

This stuff is amazing! It makes my body feel quenched and happy. My friend Charm knew this would come in handy!

My sister, Vanessa spoiled ME a little.

Some of the cards Mr. G and I have been receiving since our announcement. Our friends are the sweetest!

Finally, the most special gift of all. I received this gold baby spoon from my Nana when I got married. She humbly put it in an envelope marked for Eve's baby. I have saved this for a little more than 2 years only waiting for the moment when I could actually use it. Now that she has recently passed it will be the most precious gift baby G will have. Although she is gone and am saddened that she will not be here to see the birth of her great grandchild I know I was blessed to have such a spiritual and loving Nana.