A Sprinkle for Baby Boy

I was on the fence of whether or not I wanted to have a baby shower/sprinkle.  I know it's a busy time of year for people and money can be tight…I didn't want to seem greedy either, since we just had Brooke 2 years ago, had a lovely full blown shower, and I will be able to use all of our 'big stuff' again since I made a really big effort to buy gender neutral "just in case."  

However, my mother in law really wanted to get close friends and family together to celebrate the life of baby boy to be!! I would be lying if I wasn't excited to have my friends and family all together;  I love the holidays and having a little party at my house was PERFECT.  More than anything, I think Brookie thought the party was for her, but that's ok.  She's got a big role to fill as big sis!  She had a ball.

My mother in law Maria has a friend Marisa who makes amazing desserts---she made these adorable cupcakes!  They were vanilla and chocolate.  Inside was a jelly or jam…I think maybe raspberry? SO GOOD!!

Aaaaaand my mother in law used Pinterest.  Check out her peppermint candy plate!! haha I LOVE IT!

In typical Italian fashion, there was a TON of food!! I didn't snap any pictures of the actual lunch, but here were just the apps!

Brooke lovin on my besties Alison and Ann!

Of course Miss Holly was all up in everyone's biznass.

Baby cards get me!

The foxes!

I just can't get enough of cute little orange foxes!

Outfit change.  I believe Joe's Aunt Phyllis got Brooke a big sister gift, which were Minnie footed pjs.  She of course had to take off what she was wearing and immediately put that on! #minnierules

Funniest gift:  Pee pee Teepee! Friends of ours have a little boy and she said they could have used these. Oh boy!! Of course Joe's mom shared a funny story of how he "wee wee'd" in his grandmother's face as a baby. haha

His first jean jacket! Look at that fur collar.

Great-grandma fixed us up with some wonderfully warm knitted hats.

And a baby blue blankie.

She also knitted the 4 of us matching winter hats!! {niners colors!}

Brookie got a scarf too.  Love the braids!

Silly girl and her stickers.

This gift made me cry.  My dad and stepmom made Brooke a name plaque, so of course we wanted baby boy to have one too!! This time they used a piece of wood that was cut from a tree at my grandparents' cottage [which we sadly no longer own] but my dad wrote a really nice note to go along with it, and it came out perfectly for his room!  It was very special and sentimental.  I was all choked up here.

Car booties from my mother-in-law!

A homemade lion, bought from a local senior center.

Whoever said baby boy clothes aren't cute was dead wrong!! I am obsessed with all of his new looks!

Thankful for these women in my life!

Getting a new set of jammies.

It was time for dessert…and someone, ahem, Aunt Brianna, made sure Brooke had a chocolate cupcake.

Wait, that's all I get???

She was unhappy when she was done with it, and wanted more…but mama said no!!

She was so exhausted from all the fun, she fell asleep at 7 and did not wake up until 8 am the next morning!  How cute is she?

Daddy's kangaroo from when he was a kid.  I believe it is from Australia.

Thank you Mama D for putting all of this together and for all of the amazing gifts.  Seriously, you put so much time and effort into it all, and basically did it by yourself.  Thank you!! I am so blessed to have you as a mother in law, and we are lucky to have you in our lives. Your grandson is well loved and I am so excited to bring him into our loving world!!  

Thank you for everyone who came that day and has sent us love.  It meant so much to me to feel the love from everyone.  I can't wait to see what life will be like with two kids.  We are so ready to meet you little one, so whenever you are ready, we are here with open arms ready to scoop you up!!  

31 Weeks {2 months to go!}

Our due date is 1.10.14, so technically he could be here in less than 2 months! If he's like his sister, he'll come late.  However, I know these things are totally out of my control.  I hear that second babies come faster or sooner, which would be nice.  I just pray for a healthy delivery and baby, that is all!

I got this CD the other day and just love it.  Her voice is amazing and I love the holidays, so it certainly makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  I ordered it on Amazon and they give you the mp3 version as well, which is cool because I can just leave the CD in my car.

I find it so weird that my belly now rests on my lap haha.  There is no mistaking I am pregnant and it's funny how many opinions you hear while carrying a baby. I've been told how big I look and how small I look, so I just smile and try to be polite, as people are just trying to make conversation.

I just cannot believe I am already filling out hospital paperwork and going to the OB every 2 weeks!

Symptoms:

I am at the point where I kind of hate running errands only because I feel like I have to pee all the time. I am so very thirsty, so I've been pounding water, but then of course I have to go.  I know it's all part of the process, but man…I'd like to not feel like I have to go, right after I just went!!

Full on waddling.

I'm not really feeling 'hungry' and eating smaller meals all day is very helpful since I am running out of room.

Sleep is okay; I wake up maybe once a night or really early to have to pee.

I definitely get a lot more tired again and find myself trying to take breaks throughout the day.

My calves have been getting tight, so I am trying to be more diligent with my calcium supplement. I take them in the morning, but sometimes forget the second round. I read that may help.

My belly button popped out! That never happened with Brooke.

The line down the belly is just starting to appear, whereas with Brooke that happened earlier on and was really dark.

I have good days and bad days with the pelvic pain; I haven't been to the chiropractor again, so that would probably help if I went, but otherwise I just rest when I can.  Which isn't a lot, since I have this crazy little girl who is full of energy!  Her latest obsession are my hats.  This is us trying to leave the house.  She continues to teach me patience.  It's not like I'm going anywhere fast anyway.

I'm pretty much busting out of the medium maternity.  I tried to put on my favorite pair of 'skinny jeans' and they wouldn't go over my rump! I am pretty sure my hips widened and they're getting ready to put this show on the road! The large pants I have still have some room to grow, so that's good.  I really stretched them out last time haha.   I ordered a few more tops because I know I'll be in them for a little bit after I have him as well; my belly seems to be bigger this time, even though the rest of me is smaller than with Brooke. If that makes sense…so most of my tanks and tees are riding up the front and I really don't love that.

Loving:

I love feeling him move, although some of his kicks and punches are getting quite painful. I never really felt them hurt with Brooke, so that has been new this pregnancy.

Gingerbread bars.  OMG. Seriously, it's the highlight of my day hahaha. I love these like no other.  I may have ordered 10 more boxes.

Looking forward to:

Finishing the nursery! I have lots I want to share and show, but I don't want to, until I have at least the crib in there and Brooke in her big girl bed.

This is the view from our couch.  We have this hole in the wall, which is actually baby boy's room.  Joe and his dad are going to fill it in like a window, I believe? Which is why I haven't really picked out curtains yet, because there is a real window on the opposite wall.  We just want to block extra noise out and make sure no one can fall/jump out of the hole! Such an odd thing to have there.

My sprinkle; my mother in law is insisting on having a little sprinkle for us. I don't want anything big or fancy, but a small gathering to celebrate our little boy with close friends and family will be fun!

My prenatal massage on Thursday!  I am so ready to be pampered.

I am also oddly looking forward to the snow?! I am usually just such a summer girl, may have been my match.com handle when I met my hubby  but I really want to bundle up, wear cute scarves/hats, and get some cute bump photos in the snowfall!

I am certainly looking forward to all holidays and having Brooke this time of year will certainly fly by so very fast!!  This whole pregnancy has gone really quickly. I cannot believe we have less than 2 months to go!

Hopefully we find Brookie a big girl bed and I can share more nursery progress soon.  As for today? It's going to be close to 70 degrees, which is crazy here in November in NY.  So we will be taking advantage of it for sure!  

Boxes and Bumps

How is it that we are one week out from Halloween tomorrow?! Oh my gosh.  I am super excited to dress up our little one, that is for sure! We have a family member's housewarming/Halloween party this weekend and may go to our Zoo Boo, so I will get to dress her up!! Weeeeeeeee!

What have we been up to?  Oh ya know, this and that.  

Boxes.  For coloring. Climbing in. Stuffing everything you own into. Pushing around.  I love how kids just love such a simple thing, and really can be entrained for awhile with it!  Nevermind the toys and all…just give a kid a box.

Last Saturday my pelvic girdle pain was pretty rough…so we lounged for a little bit.

Because prior to, I chased her around in Soccer tots.  She loves it!

Holly is obsessed with this chair lately. Such a weird little animal!

Panera lunch!!

My friend Alison entertained my tot while I perused Hobby Lobby for crafts and such!

Smellin the candle.

This happened today when I was blow drying my hair.  She loves this silly old bear.  

I'm getting visions of little brother being dressed up…bahah.

Speaking of, I've never been one to parade my bare belly, like everrrrr.  But, I thought ehhh what the heck.  Here it is.  He's growing great.  We passed our glucose test with flying colors and have NO iron deficiencies this time around. Holla!! Props to my Advo supps and a healthy babe.

Hubby's at Swim with Brookie, dinner is in the oven. Life is good!! Hope you are having a great night!