Getting a Room Ready For a Newborn and A Toddler

It's time to make room for Dakota.

This has been a productive weekend. We painted Cheyenne's new toddler bed and organized the nursery.

Here is a wide angle view. Everything seems to fit. We had to move the rocking chair to another room, so I lost that seating area. Thank goodness for the window seat.

A pink toddler bed. It turned out cute. Cheyenne loves her new bed.
 
Let's hope we don't have a wild baby who will try to knock down the TV.

It took us a while to figure out what layout would work best, but I think this is the best way to utilize the space. Her is another wide angle view.

Yesterday, we had Chey's bed long ways against the wall, see picture below. We lost a lot of wall real estate and had too much wasted space in the middle of the room. The new layout makes more sense.

Here is a reading area and I can sit on the bench and still read books before bedtime.

I love the space!  What do you think?

All Signed Up & Sanding & Painting Furniture

Well, we did it, we signed Cheyenne up for a summer ballet program at Texas Ballet Theatre. It's a week long program that will be in July. I'm so excited for her!!!!! Out of all the programs I researched, I feel like this is the best one for her. It's a 5 day program for 3 hours each day. Each day, she'll learn ballet, drama, do crafts, have story time and eat a snack. At the end of the week, there will be a recital.

I don't want her to get jealous of Dakota since Dakota will be getting so much attention. I mean, naturally, the baby will be glued to me, I'm sure, so I think this program will not only give Chey something fun to do, this summer, but it will be her time to shine.

This Tuesday is a big day for my ballerina, she has a very first ballet recital, so today we went out and bought a new outfit for her to wear to the program. 

I couldn't get her to be still, she kept dancing! Oh, and she insisted on wearing the outfit out of the store. I didn't mind at all. Next to the store is a ballet company and there was a class full of ballerinas warming-up. Chey was dressed in her new outfit peering through the window, she was mesmerized. That image of her, was priceless. 

Oh, yeah and this happened today....
Since we only have 20 more days until my due date, we figured we better start getting things done. 

We took a used toddler bed, sanded it and painted it the color Cheyenne wanted. Guess what color she requested?

Uh-huh.

Thanks Trey for making all those trips to the store, since you kept running out of spray paint cans. So far, he's only had to go on one service call. It's shaping up to be a good weekend.

More on the progress of the room later, in another post.

My Week in Pictures

Remember how I said I was going to give up caffeine? Well, about that....
I got a Keurig Vue (best Mother's Day Present!) and it came with a million caffeinated coffee samples, so I HAVE to drink them. Most days, I have two cups. I'll try a sample coffee in the morning and then I'll have a vanilla latte at night. I actually bought the vanilla latte cups. I saw online that there are cappuccino and Carmel Mocha cups available. SWEET. I must get my hands on those...

Trey has asked me to tone it down, for the sake of the baby. I mean 2 cups is probably pushing it. He could be right, he's always right. He wins every argument we've ever had. Well, most of them. So, I'm cutting back to one cup a day and once my samples run out, I'll buy a box of decaf and a box of some specialty cups (latte/mocha/cappuccino) and use those sparingly. That's the plan.

Let's Talk Make-Up
There are certain products I will spend lots of money on. For example, electronics and in most cases work clothes and a girl needs nice jackets. However, I always go cheap on make-up. I've never met a person who has looked at my face and asked, "Is that Stila, Chanel, Cle de Peau Beaute, or Bobbi Brown you are wearing?" So, who cares? Since we are talking brands and all, you should know my skin is not sensitive and usually does well with Cover Girl or Maybelline. If we are really being honest with each other, the cheapest brand that is currently in my cosmetic bag is a Wet N' Wild eyeliner. I've had this baby forever and it's finally dwindling down to a stub of a pencil. That's the best 99 cents, I've ever spent!

I've been busy writing thank you notes... 
If you haven't received a card, it's because you didn't give Dakota a gift. That would be awkward thanking you for something you didn't give. Am I right? Another reason you haven't received a card yet, is because I want to personally hand it to you. My biggest fear is forgetting someone who did give Dakota a gift. I hope I didn't miss anyone.

I'm almost out of my favorite seasoning. I guess, it's just a good excuse to eat at the melting pot again and while I'm there, I can buy more seasoning.

I'm The Best
This is what I made myself on Mother's Day; scrambled eggs with bacon bits, spinach and strawberries. Meanwhile, my girlfriends were tweeting and FaceBooking, My husband made me breakfast in bed, I'm so lucky. I was eating my food and reading those messages, thinking -- MUST BE NICE! Not really, but it may have crossed my mind. I told Trey in a whiny voice - "You didn't make me breakfast in bed." And then I remembered the man doesn't cook and I got over it.

Last Sunday, I was asked to play bass guitar again. There is a chance I may play one more time before I give birth to Dakota. Not, this Sunday, but the following is when they need me to fill-in.

If You Can Walk, You Can Clean 
The other night, after dinner, I handed Chey a damp towel and told her to start wiping down surfaces. She cleaned the table, fridge and chairs. And now you know the real reason why Trey and I procreate; free maid service. I can't wait until she can cook!

"This Must Be Your Second Child"

Alright, I'm in my 3rd trimester and I barely downloaded a few Pregnancy apps.
I know what you're thinking: this must be your second child....

I downloaded, what to expect and I also downloaded a contractions counter app. Trey is on call this weekend and for that reason alone, he's hoping I go into labor soon. Somebody doesn't want to work....

It seems like everyone wants the baby here early, but I'm okay if she keeps cooking for a few more weeks. Check back when I'm 40 weeks, I'm sure my tune will change. GET HER OUT! In the meantime, I will sleep. Speaking of sleep, I have been getting the best nights rest this past week. Shouldn't I feel uncomfortable and miserable? I'm so confused. The only time I'm really uncomfortable is when I shift my position, but once I shift once or twice a night, I immediately fall back asleep.

Last week, I took Trey's advice about taking it easy. SEE my DailyMile Stats? This is kind of a big deal for me.

I'm a normal person -- sleeping in, hitting the snooze button a million times, coming home after work and zoning out in front of the tube, while eating chocolate. It's been fun! I kind of love it! Taking time off, has really helped relieve the pelvic pressure I was experiencing. I'm still achy, but it's not old lady achy, it's just pregnant achy.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trey is not a domestic creature. I cook every meal that we eat at home. I don't like eating out during the work week, but then again I'm not exactly excited to come home after a 10 hr work day and make dinner.  Really, my 10 hour days are more like 12 hour work days, once you consider commute and all.

Last night, when I picked Cheyenne up, Erin had made Calzone's for her family and sent 3 massive calzones home with me. You guys, she's spoiling me!!!! Oh, my goodness they were amazing! They were stuffed with turkey, cheese, and broccoli. Yum.

Last night, it was just Chey and I at the dinner table. Trey has been working longer hours. We miss him, but we understand this is his busy season. I would say we'll see him this weekend, but since he's on call, we may not get to see him. You never know though. Some weekends are light and some are non-stop....

My Favorite Thing, in the Whole Wide World!

I want to share with you my FAVORITE THING in the whole wide world, well at least my favorite thing -- right now. It's a water bottle made by Contigo. A water bottle is my favorite thing?

If you know anything about me, you know I'm a water addict. Trey has joked about wanting to send me to rehab for my addiction, which is kind of strange since this was my birthday gift from him.

I always carry water with me. ALWAYS. If you see me and I don't have a bottle in my hand or purse, please offer me water because chances are I'm dying of thirst!

For several years, I've been using the tin can (sigg style) water containers, but my bottle was so deformed, it couldn't stand up straight. Yeah, maybe it had been dropped a few times....It had a wobble to it. Erin, is the one who introduced me to this amazing Contigo, no leak, auto sip, one push button water bottle. It holds 32 oz of water! LOVE! The only thing that would make it perfect is if they offered it in a gallon size too. I'm joking, maybe.

Here is what makes this bottle amazing, also mentioned on Contigo's Site:

• 100% BPA free.  No need to worry about the container you are drinking from - Contigo^® makes only BPA free bottles.
• Patented AUTOSEAL^® lid is 100% leak-proof and 100% spill-proof.
• Drinking made easy! Press to sip. Release to seal. AUTOSEAL^® automatically seals between sips to ensure no spills.
• One-handed water bottle operation for on-the-go drinking.
• Water bottle is made out of Tritan™, which provides high impact resistance and won't stain or retain odors.
• Carabiner clip on the handle makes this water bottle easy to carry. Attach it to a bag strap for hands-free portability.
• Water bottle is top-rack dishwasher safe.
• Wide opening fits ice cubes.
• Volume markings help you gauge water intake.

They even make kid size cups. I got Cheyenne this set:

Check out the website to learn more.

I'm Just a Woman, Not Wonder Woman

Today, I've been taking a trip down memory lane. It feels like I'm reliving the past. I've been reading old blog post from 2008, when Cheyenne was a newborn. I feel like it's helping to prepare me for what to expect.

Memories!

As I recall, taking care of a newborn goes something like this:
 - Being deprived of sleep
-  A lot of happy moments
- Lots of snuggle time
 - Nursing and changing diapers 'round the clock
- A lot of sitting (feeding) -- I already mentioned that, but it's true, newborns eat like crazy.

Knowing What I Know Now: 
This time I will try to do things differently. Last time, I didn't nap that often. When Cheyenne napped. I cleaned. I blogged. I visited with friends/family. I love you guys, I DO, BUT this time, if you're at my house and I'm tired and Dakota is sleeping, I might have to excuse myself and go to bed. I won't have any energy to entertain you. Thanks for understanding.

Another thing Trey and I are going to do differently is we are only going to allow our family to visit us in the hospital. There are a few friends I would like to invite, while we are at the hospital, but that will be more or less invitation only. Ohhhh, it sounds so exclusive. I don't mean to come across like that -- the whole VIP (to us) only, but having people in and out of the hospital room, immediately after going through labor is just too much for me. Some women can handle all that stimulation, but I can't. It's overload. I'm just a woman, not Wonder Woman.

Come On Over
Honestly, I am excited for when we welcome Dakota home, that's when we will have all visitors over and EVERYONE is welcome to visit. (I'm talking to you!) I really want you guys to come over and meet our baby girl!

Pregnancy Progress at 37 Weeks & Chey's First Mani

Today, I'm 37 weeks pregnant. Most of the time I don't feel like I'm that far along. I'm big -- but I feel like I should be HUGE at this point. There is the possibility of carrying this baby full term, all the way to 40 weeks, so I have time to grow or I should say, she does.

I'll tell you more about the pregnancy but first I wanted to show you what we did today. Cheyenne had her first manicure.

We had some great girl time with Erin and Brianna. We met them for lunch at Fuzzy's Taco Shop and then we took the girls to get their nails done. We were hoping to get our nails done too, but there wasn't enough time.

Chey and Brianna both did great and were well behaved.
Guess what color nail polish they chose? Pink! Right now, Chey loves anything and everything PINK. She's such a girly girl.

OK, switching gears again --- Back on the pregnancy subject...

Pregnancy Progress: 
This morning, I met with my doctor. I have started to dilate, a whopping 1 cm dilate and 50 percent effaced. Nothing to brag about, but the process has started. My doctor said, "I'm going to guess you will deliver 3 - 10 days early." That's a massive range of days, but she thinks I will go into labor before June 8th. I think I will go full term. Who wants to start a baby due date pool?

Tasha is graduating soon, I would like to make it to her graduation, but the idea of traveling out of town -- so close to the due date frightens me. I guess, next Monday my doctor will see how things look down there and I'll see what she thinks about me traveling and making a day trip to Abilene.

Next Monday, my doctor said she will give me the option to schedule an induction. She's not saying I will be induced next Monday, but she said I can pick a day and time if I wanted to. I already know that I want things to happen naturally, this time, so there will be no elective induction. I really want that SURPRISE, of OMG I'm in labor!

How Will I Know It's Real?
Saturday, I was on my feet all morning and afternoon working. When I finally got home, I started having contractions. I honestly thought I was going into labor. Every time I had a contraction I would hold my stomach and have to stop doing whatever it was that I was doing. I even started writing down the time and duration of the contractions to keep track of them. By the time I got to that point, they started to decrease and eventually went away. If I keep having these Braxton Hicks Contractions how will I know when I'm going into real labor? I want my water to break, when it's time, so there will be no doubt because the last thing I want to do is go to the hospital, just to be sent home because I'm not in active labor.

By the way, I constantly think I'm in labor. These contractions happen so frequent...the thought of labor is ALWAYS on my mind.

A Keurig Vue is My Mother's Day Gift

Happy Mother's Day! 
It's too early, for me to start calling the important women of my life, but I will call them later. Trey and I already sent out Mother's Day cards and bought gifts for our mom's. It feels good, not waiting until the last minute.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Beauty of a Machine
For several weeks, Trey has tried to convince me that I need a Keruig Machine. "Soon, you will have Dakota and you will be so busy, you won't have time to clean a coffee machine every morning." (I think it's more like, I don't want to, even now). I'm pretty sure Trey missed his calling as a salesman. He's sooooo convincing! Am I right? Although, Trey is not a coffee drinker, he is a hot cocoa lover and the KM makes hot cocoa, so he benefits from this kitchen appliance too.

So, if you've been living under a rock and don't know what a KM is, it's a single serving brewing coffee system. I kept saying no, no, no to Trey even with his valid selling points, but when I saw the new Vue Model, I could no longer resist. I'm glad I waited because this has some COOL features.

Before we were considering the popular B70 Keurig. It's still a great machine, but the Vue has some new features.
                 

Here is how the Vue compares to the popular B70 Keurig:

- The Vue has a Touch Screen

- Holds more water

- Has a smarter pump: different water pressure based on drink type....

- It makes specialty cafe drinks like ice coffee, lattes and hot or cold teas. It even makes frothy beverages! (that was a major selling point for me)

- Option to choose the type of beverage

- Option to brew a stronger cup of coffee

- Makes larger quantities at one time, up to 18 oz of coffee

- The Vue (cups) are recyclable 

Like the B70 it's also programmable and you can set the temperature. 

Cons: 

- I was disappointed to learn you can't use K cups, you have to use Vue specific cups. That is such a bummer because Trey's Mom has a lot of K cups, she was going to give me, if I ever bought a B70 model.

- As of today, Keurig does not sell the reusable coffee adapter. The adapter sold for the other KM models, gives you the option to use regular ground coffee, instead of cups ---- Which in my opinion is a huge $$$$ saver. The demand for the adapter is there, so I hope Keurig will start selling the adapters SOON. 

I've decided my Keurig's home will be here in the corner of the kitchen, near the pantry. What a beauty! The first cup I made was a latte. Mmm, FROTH!

My favorite coffee container is a 16 oz Starbucks travel mug. But guess what??????  
It's too tall to fit the KM!!!!!

I could stick the mug under there and have it hover like in the above picture, but that's probably not ideal. Trey suggested buying a prop. He's so smart! In the meantime, I  can use this tin. Instead of buying something, I should just have Trey make me a custom prop. Yeah, let's add that one to the honey do-list. I may be waiting a year for it. Mother's Day gift for next year?????

So, that's my Mother's Day gift from my family. I love it! Thank you Trey and Cheyenne!

My Week in Instagram Pictures

Mornin', friends!

I'm on my way to take photos for two nursing events. I'll be on my feet all morning and then for several hours this afternoon. I GOT THIS.

Here is what my camera bag looks like (see pic below). I have 2 cameras and 4 lenses (one is missing from this pic). I think I'm going to leave behind my portrait lens. I had 2 other photography events, this week and I only used it for maybe 4 shots, that's it. I just don't utilize it as much for event photography.

I really like my camera bag and to think I was considering selling it. I'm crazy.

Speaking of photography, I finally printed portraits of Cheyenne. I hung a copy of this 8x10 photo in our living room. I need to get in a better habit of rotating pictures out of the frames.

My latest coffee craving is La Madeleine. There is a LM cafe on my way to work. That's dangerous!!! However, their coffee is more affordable than Starbucks, about half the price. I'll take that. Any get up kids fans? I use to listen to them all the time in high school.


This evening, I was getting Cheyenne and Erin had all this dinner for me. She said she knew this week had been busy for me and she wanted to help out. THIS WAS SO NICE!!!!! Don't judge me, but I totally started eating the veggies on the car ride home, with my bare hands. I couldn't help myself.

I had to resist eating all this food in one sitting. I ate half of it and I'm saving the rest of it for my lunch, later today.

Trey is off the hook for mother's day. He doesn't have to get me flowers, since the faculty already got me some.

I didn't want to leave them in my office because I knew they would die fast, since it's a sauna. I'm not even joking. This is what my commute looked like. I had Chey's booster seat, so she used that.

Mmmm, frozen pizza with fresh herbs.

Herbs, pulled from the earth.

I don't know about you, but I think avocados make a meal.

I'll leave you with this sweet photo of Cheyenne. Everyone, have a fantastic weekend. I think I just want to stay home and recover from a busy work week. I'm going to have a bazillion photos to edit.

Bins, Trash Bags, String & a Marker is All You Need

Happy Friday! Do you have big plans? For me, it's just like a weeknight, since I have to work tomorrow.

Well, this is a follow-up post to 28 & Feeling Great. In that entry, I talked about organizing Cheyenne's and soon to be Dakota's -- baby clothes and said I'd share that whole process. So, here it is.

This is the walk-in closet, the girls will share. The top level is Chey's and the bottom is Dakota's. This is what you see when you open the closet (pic on the left) and this is what you see when you look to the right (pic on the right). I think Dakota has plenty of diaper bags. Hey, a girl needs to accessorize!

So, it was real smart of me to hang up all the baby clothes before washing them. I went to college, y'all! Now, I will have to strip them from the hangers and run them through the washer and dryer and hang them again. Who wants to have a laundry party????

Dakota has plenty of clothes, there is still another bag of new clothes that people got her from all the baby showers. I haven't touched that bag yet, but it's on my list of things to do.

Krista made me these temporary separation tags, until I buy the plastic kind. I dunno, they seem to be doing the trick....

I could only hang up so many baby clothes for Dakota, so the rest of the clothes are waiting patiently on the floor.

Now, here is the meat of this whole organizational process. Krista helped me separate the clothes by months and also by seasons. Pretty cool, huh?

I guess, what I learned, is you don't have to spend a lot of money or get all fancy with containers to organize. Bins, trash bags, string and a marker will do the trick.