FINAL COUNTDOWN!

                       .... & some nursery lovin' 


Baby Junipers nursery is all ready to go, we just need her to gain a little more fat over the next few weeks and then make her appearance! Eeeeek! SO excited! I didn’t think that getting the nursery together would be that important to me. I have always thought “Crib, dresser, clothes, done!” I now think that the nursery helps you to focus your energy on something other than “the countdown”…while you definitely have a count going on in your head, at least with a nursery project you can also have the thought “not yet – your room isn’t ready!”

My sweet Nana gave me her old sewing machine 4 years ago and as of last month I had never used it. Chris and I took it out one time, Googled “how to use a sewing machine”, couldn’t figure it out and returned it to the box for the next 3 years. Last month I decided there were two things I absolutely needed for Junipers nursery that I could not find anywhere. She NEEDED a pillow for her rocker, and a pendant banner to go over her crib and zero on the market were exactly what I was looking for. We loaded up the sewing machine and took it to a local sew shop and for free of charge…they taught me how to use it! I mean minimally, of course, I still had to Google tips and advice throughout the entire project, but I am so proud! 

Harper was very confused at this process. 

Are they perfect? No! Do I love them because they are the first projects I have attempted and I made them for our sweet baby girl? Yes! 

If anyone wants an imperfectly sewn anything for their baby made with little skill but lots of love – I’m your girl!

The color doesn’t come through just right in pictures, but her room is the prettiest lightest minty-est of colors. I didn’t want a loud or busy nursery. No hot pink and lime green zebra stripes over here. (No offense if that’s your style! More power to you!) I love that our bedroom is our sanctuary, where we sleep and relax; I wanted her nursery to be a relaxing sanctuary for her as well. 

I hope that my next blog post will be the welcoming of a very healthy Ms. Juniper Grace. We will hope and pray that the remainder of our pregnancy goes smoothly, safely, and healthy. Until then, Mommy, Daddy, Harper & Poncho will continue to wait as patiently as possible. Well… Mommy and Daddy will! Harper and Poncho will continue to not know what the hell is going on until their life is turned upside down with the arrival of a tiny new human who may steal some of their cuddles and attention.  

Just ask  if you’re interested to find out where any of the furniture came from. Between Target and Amazon it is all very well made, affordable, and easy to assemble pieces!

"Never gonna sleeeeep againnn"

I have heard people talk about that phase in the last trimester where your body/mind prepares you for having a child and waking up for feedings every few hours and you are no longer able to sleep. I don't think it is some crazy phenomena that your smart body is preparing you for- It is a very logical situation. It simply boils down to peeing every single hour, the inability to get comfortable, hurting once you have laid on one side for too long, but knowing that if you roll over to the other side you will be out of breathe for 10 minutes and your significant other will wake up to the sound of you heaving...from..rolling over. Tonight is the first night I have chosen to stay on the couch rather than stay in bed, not because I don't love my bed, but because I really do love my husband. I don't want any uncontrollable third trimester anger raging as he sleeps peacefully and I struggle to balance a pillow behind my back, a pillow between my legs, a pillow under my huge belly, two pillows under my head, and two feet out from under the blanket...because did I mention how being 25 pounds heavier makes you 50 degrees warmer?!

I would much rather complain about the sleep situation than the actual pregnancy. I feel so guilty if I whine about it because I know it could be way worse. I am growing a precious baby girl that Chris and I already love so much, and that alone makes up for feeling like a huge turtle stuck on its back. We have been very blessed that although at some point during this pregnancy I have experienced what seems like every pregnancy symptom known to (wo)man - so far Baby Juniper is healthy and so is this mommy.

We are literally on our final countdown. Next week we have our 36 week ultrasound appointment where we see approximately how much Juniper weighs, how long she is, and which direction she is facing. I do know that for the past 2 months she has been head down in the birth canal, and all of the sudden TONIGHT she has decided to flip over. Her cute little hiccups are now above my belly button rather than far below. I hope she turns her defiant little self back around before the doctor makes any decisions about the birthing situation! We haven't seen her since our 20 week ultrasound, so I am counting down the days until next appointment!

The nursery is complete. yall!  I will definitely be posting pictures soon seeing as I am quite proud of the outcome! I just picked a few colors and had an idea in my head a few months ago and it has come together so beautifully. We have lived in our house for a little over a year now and her room is literally the only "finished" room. We put lots of love and labor into it and seeing Chris put together ALL of the furniture with zero frustration or bad words is another adorable thing that shows me just how excited he is to meet his daughter!


Any week now our little girl will be here, in our arms, ready for hugs and kisses, and that my friends...is worth the not being able to sleep/breathe/eat/walk/bend over/ part.

Juniper's Baby Shower

What a GREAT weekend!

I flew back to Georgia on Wednesday October 29th (also my very last day of nannying) to spend 3 full days with friends and family and good ole southern food...and man...did I eat southern food ;)  Between the crab cakes and the fried chicken and the pimento cheese sandwiches and cucumber sandwiches and chicken salad croissants and slow cooked green beans with potatos and deviled eggs and petit fours and the best sweet tea a girl could ask for.. and... and and... needless to say, baby Juniper and mommy have very full, very happy bellies. Don't worry - we are now "detoxing" with tons of water and fruits and veggies.

The entire trip was perfect. I was able to see my sweet nana in the hospital (she is recovering well and goes home tomorrow!), I spent a full day with my mom, and two special days with my amazing in-laws. There is never a long enough trip to see all the friends and family that I would like to see and I truly regret that...but maybe one day!

I am so thankful for the people that Chris and I have in our lives (and sweet baby Juniper's). The baby shower was so much more special than just gifts - every card moved me to tears and just having everyone together celebrating our baby girl truly meant the world to me. My best friend Sara knit baby Juniper a blanket.... I didn't even know Sara could knit! It was just all so special to me and I love knowing that Juniper will be raised surrounded by so much love, kindness, and thoughtfulness.

As of today I am "officially" unemployed & on mild bed rest. AKA - time to nest and focus my energy on the nursery! I cannot wait to update this blog with the progress of the nursery and the anticipation that comes with awaiting the arrival of Baby Juniper!

9 weeks to go, yall!

 Me and the grandmas! Nay Nay & GiGi

 Renee's Best Friends - Nancy, Audrey, & Rita

 I absolutely love everyone in this picture!

 Embracing the curves...they are growing a baby!

 YALL....THE FOOD

 My sweet nieces

After a busy (but amazing) weekend I am happy to be back home with my husband and pupcakes.... LET THE NESTING BEGIN!

Come One, Come All

Hi! After a very long break from blogging, I have decided that with the expected arrival of our first child and hopefully being a little more mature than the last time, it is time to start back. Looking back, my old blogs weren't actually blogs. They were more like Internet diaries for 18 year old me full of me whining about boys, college professors, bad grades, car problems, and the inability to master the art of straightening my hair - to no one in particular.

Today I am a happily married, expectant mother, doggie-mama, who is fast approaching 30 (who still can't quite perfect her hair.)  I have nannied full-time for the past 10 years and although I have always loved my job - I believe with the arrival of our first child I will put this chapter behind me. So what is next? Your guess is as good as mine but I am so excited to find out! That's where you come in- I would love to take this journey with others. With friends/strangers who have been where I am, who are where I am, who are fast approaching this stage, and those who can look back with tons of advice and laughter on this stage of their life.

My husband and I got married on October, 20, 2012 at my wonderful in-laws vacation home in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Three days later we loaded all our stuff into a Uhaul and made the 24 hr trek out to Denver, Colorado. Life has been challenging since the move, but my husband has since settled into a career he loves and excels at - the medical marijuana industry- and I have enjoyed learning a new city with amazing mountain views.
                 So here we are, just trying to Make The Best of What's Around!