Josephine "Joey" Cecilia

Tomorrow our sweet baby girl will be a month old, so I guess it's time I share the news that we had a baby :-) and we've survived our first 4 weeks!

Josephine "Joey" Cecilia came into this world on May 4th at 10:36 a.m., weighing 8lbs. and .5oz & measuring 21 inches with a ton of hair. I never expected my baby to have so much hair!

I'm adjusting to my new mama schedule which doesn't involve much sleep and my new job as a stay at home mom. I'm so lucky to have a such a wonderful & supportive husband.

My heart is so full of unconditional love & joy for this sweet baby. I wish time would slow down. It feels like it was just yesterday that I was thinking I was going to die before I pushed this baby out, ha! Her birth was nothing like I expected (I never thought I'd scream so much), but it was perfect. For years I've wanted to have a home birth and God granted me my wish. We were surrounded by a group of wonderful women who will forever be like family to us.

Four weeks down...a wonderful lifetime left to go.

Joey's Montessori Nursery

This past Sunday this big ol' belly of mine hit 37 weeks! I still can't believe that there's a full term baby in there and that her due date is less than a month away. How did that happen?! I wrapped up our sweet girl's nursery a few days ago. I stuck to my Montessori nursery plan and I'm so glad I did. It turned out just the way I imagined. She won't be sleeping in there for at least the first 4 months (we've got her co-sleeper ready to go in our bedroom), but I do plan on using her room in the early months for her "play/work" time.

Her name is Josephine, but we call her Joey.

Her floor bed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Black & white mobile.

Movement mat area.

Bottom shelf holding her first pieces of Montessori toys/work.

I wanted her room to be simple, organized and child friendly. One of the first things people notice when they enter her room is the missing crib. Montessori nurseries do not have cribs, but have floor beds so that once the baby can move around they are free to explore their room. The entire room is basically considered a "crib." The high contrast decals around her floor bed are from Wee Gallery and this is their garden collection. I've also got a couple of sets of their art cards and framed some of the illustrations as art work in her room and above her changing table. The crib sheet came from Pottery Barn--I love those sweet little birds and her stuffed animals have come from everywhere--Restoration Hardware, local boutiques and some have been gifted.

The opposite corner is where her movement mat area is located. This is where she will spend some time the first few months working on tummy time, different Montessori mobiles (half of which we were able to DIY ourselves), and just time hanging out exploring things. The first mobile I've put up was a simple little project. I printed some images off of the internet, laminated them and clipped them to this photo mobile. I have several sets of images ready to go, so that I can change them out and I also plan to use some of the Wee Gallery art cards on there. In the Montessori world, different mobiles are used at different developmental stages. The first few mobiles are high contrast and eventually once she's interested in grasping, we will be using grasping mobiles--mobiles that she will actually be able to move, make sound with and practice grasping. Most of the mobiles are very unique and pretty--in fact, one afternoon I caught myself totally mesmerized as I watched one of the mobiles we made move and shine when the sunlight would hit it. The quilt I used in this area came from Home Goods and the owl pillow is from Hobby Lobby. The sheepskin rug is something we've had for a couple of years.

Her first pieces of Montessori work on the bottom shelf of her bookcase came from Etsy, with the exception of a precious elephant that a sweet friend made for her. They are such tiny little infant toys, made to fit into perfect little hands. The storage cubes on the top shelf came from Target, I love how large they are. I spelled out her name using cardboard letters from Hobby Lobby, modge podge and cute scrapbook paper. A super easy project and I loved that the letters were so light--I was able to hang them using Command picture strips. 

I'm sure once she arrives and the months start going by things will be changing. Eventually her movement area will be gone and it will most likely turn into her art area and other things will be changing as we learn more about her personality and interests. But, I love her sweet little room and I hope she does too!

Decisions, decisions! Help, please!

I still haven't started working on baby girl's nursery but I've been nesting in other ways! Like collecting 500 million diapers and diapers covers. My favorite covers are wool covers and I have become obsessed. I may need an intervention soon or I need to learn to knit because other wise J may cancel my Paypal account forever. BUT, how could I possibly resist these custom beautiful pieces:

All pieces were knit by Josie the wonderful and talented lady behind Payley Knits! I'm already busy getting another order ready.

We're about to get ready to start some real work in the nursery. Painting, figuring out closet organization and fabric choices. I need some help with fabrics!

We will be reupholstering a glider that J's grandmother gave us. I think I've narrowed down my fabric choices to these beauties...but I'm so indecisive right now that anything could change. The only fabrics that will be used are for a roman shade/curtains and this chair. Our color scheme consists of lavenders, grays and white. Do you have any other fabric suggestions or a favorite from my picks? Joann's is having a great sale on home decor fabrics, so I reallllly want to pull the trigger soon.  

Speaking of color schemes....does anyone have suggestion for really pretty lavender-grayish paint colors? J is going to kill me :-) We have a million samples of purple paints on the walls but I'm not sure that I love any of them. I'd like something soft and pretty.

I'm determined to finally get working in that room no matter how much I'd rather nap or take baths. May will be here before I know it! I guess it's time things started to feel a little more real.

Funnies

I keep meaning to write some pretty funny things that have happened while pregnant to share with our sweet girl someday. Here are some favorites:

J: (Comment he made after reading a book our doula suggested). We need to make sure we have a nipple brush during labor.
Me: Huh? Ok...what for? (At this point I realize that he probably doesn't know what a nipple brush is).
J: Ummm....to brush your nipples during labor...I guess....
Me: TO DO WHAT?!?! Where does it say that???? A nipple brush is used for nipples on bottles!
J: Oh.....that makes more sense.

J: What smells would you like in the house while you're in labor?
Me: Umm...I don't know...there's still time to think about that. I don't know if I want any smells around here at all.
J: Should I make the house smell like garlic? You love garlic!
Me: No. Are you serious?

Me: We have to get this baby gym for her!
J: Why does she even need that?
Me: WHY DO YOU WANT OUR DAUGHTER TO BE STUPID?! (I begin to start crying, while completely aware that I sound insane).
J: It's ok...she's not going to be stupid...we will go get her that baby gym. I think you're just emotional cause you're pregnant...
Me: I AM NOT CRAZY!!!!! (I apologized a few hours later when I realized I was indeed crazy).

Lady waxing my brows: So, when are you due?
Me: Due? For what?? (Giving her a very confused look).
Lady: Ummm...(Nervous laughter & very confused look on her face).
Me: Ok...well...it's a beautiful day. Thanks and have a good day! (I get in the car and begin to drive away when I realize that she was asking about my due date).

Me: There's a little baby in my belly, so we have to remember to use gentle hands.
E: Ok. There's a baby in there?
Me: Yup...
E: Hmmm...(lifts her shirt up to check her belly)...there's no baby in my belly.
Me: No, no baby in your belly...just my belly!
E: There's crackers in my belly! I like crackers!
A few weeks later...
E: The baby gonna come out of your belly into your panties and pants!
Me: Ummmmmmmmmm.....ok.

This has been quite a fun adventure so far!

Let the nesting begin!

Up until this point in my pregnancy I haven't really had much of an urge to "nest" or really do much around our home. Every single day someone asks how the nursery is coming along and I usually shrug my shoulders and tell them we have a room....and that's about it. I haven't really been in a hurry for many different reasons, mainly because we plan to have baby in our room for the first few months, so her nursery hasn't been on the top of my list of priorities. However, sometime this week I started to freak out. We really haven't done anything...and it's the middle of January...and this child will be here before I know it. So, my dear loving husband has promised me that this weekend will be the weekend that we begin to work on nursery stuff, which includes a dreaded trip to Ikea. Hooray! He's such a trooper for agreeing to take a crazy hormonal pregnant lady to Ikea...I'm sure it will be quite the adventure.

Our nursery will look a little different than most traditional nurseries. After much talking, research, thinking, reading and planning...we have decided to create a Montessori nursery for our girl. A lot of people usually don't know what that means or think I've lost my mind when I explain how things usually work in such a nursery. I like to tell people that in a Montessori nursery the entire room becomes a crib...everything is safe for baby and the doorway is usually closed off with a gate. There is no actual physical crib, the child sleeps on a floor bed, once they're about 4 months old at least. Yes, a mattress on the floor (this is where people think I've lost my mind). There are many reasons for a floor bed, one of them being that once baby learns how to crawl she is able to move around her room to explore...we want to make sure we encourage her to move as much as possible. Just about everything in her room will be child sized and safe. My goal for her room is to create a soft calming environment that is organized, child friendly, comfortable and encourages independence.

Here are some examples of some of my favorite Montessori nurseries:

Finn's Montessori Room

Otis's Montessori Room

Montessori Floor Bed

 

 

 

 

We are totally prepared in case our floor bed idea doesn't work. She might be a child who needs a crib in order to get solid sleep and that's totally fine. While we agree with a lot of the philosophies behind Montessori, we don't plan to stick to everything 100%. We have agreed to follow and be flexible about what works and what doesn't work for us. Once she's moving around some more we plan to make our entire home Montessori friendly to continue to encourage her independence.

Since a Montessori nursery is quite simple, we don't have many things we need to purchase. We've just got some organizing to get through and figure out the best layout for her room to create a place for sleep, play, eating and diaper changing. Since we already have a crib mattress, we plan to use that in the beginning to see how she does and at some point change it out for a full size or twin mattress so that I can lay with her to nurse. We plan to build or purchase a low shelf for her "work" materials, which in the beginning usually consist of wooden or natural handmade items. I've started researching and collecting ideas to create some interesting mobiles for her as well. I'm excited to see what it will all look like in the end! But, I'm most excited to see her in her room exploring her "work" and becoming her own little person.

And because I love pictures...here are some more to enjoy!

Finn's Montessori Room: reading area & activity/movement area

Otis's Montessori Room: low work shelves & art work

Montessori ici: low shelves

If anyone has created a Montessori home or nursery for their little ones, I'd love to see pictures! I'm excited to get started this weekend and get some organization going in her room...which looks like a major disaster at the moment.

A little update on what's been going on!

I can't believe 2013 has finally arrived! It looks like this year will be a heck of a year for the mister and I. It's been a long time since I've blogged regularly or even cared about decorating my house. I can't promise when that will ever happen again, but I've received a few emails wondering how baby and I are doing...so, I figured it's time for an update.

• Early in December we found out that we are expecting a healthy baby GIRL! Every time we get to see her sweet little face I find myself in complete awe. The first time we saw her she was just a little dot and now she's a wiggle worm with long legs. Our baby girl will be the 4th girl joining the family. We have a niece that joined the family in November, another coming sometime this month, and another one arriving sometime in February. I wonder what we will all do when all 4 girls are 13! I see myself enjoying a glass of wine or two ;-) .
• Pregnancy brain is NO JOKE! I hate to admit the things I have thought/said/done some days. One day a sweet lady at TJ Maxx pointed out that my shirt was not only backwards but inside out. Oops. 
• Besides the regular aches and pain, things have been pretty uneventful. My exercise ball, yoga videos and bath tub have become my best friends. My favorite monthly treat is a wonderful massage from our doula...it makes mama and baby pretty happy!
• We are getting ready to start our Bradley childbirth classes this week! I guess this whole giving birth thing will have to happen at some point.
• We have yet to officially start working on the nursery. I'm actually in no hurry, except for random nights where I feel completely overwhelmed and have a great need to plan and nest.
• I constantly dream about eating Mission Burrito or Chipotle burrito bowls. It's a problem. 
• I no longer sleep through the night. I usually get 3-4 hours of sleep and then I'm wide awake for hours before I can finally go back to sleep.
• I have become obsessed with cloth diapers! We plan to cloth diaper baby from day one, so I have spent many, many, many nights researching and purchasing the tiniest and cutest cloth diapers in the world. If you're a cloth diapering mama and have any tips for me, please share! I plan to use natural fibers with covers over synthetics for the most part and also plan to add some wool to my stash.

So, that's what has been going on around my world! I hope everyone is enjoying the new year!! 

Thank You & a Pregnacy Update

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 First of all, I just wanted to say thank you for all of the sweet comments and emails in regards to our big news! We are SUPER excited :-) And a little very terrified...but that's normal, right?

Between weeks 5-10 we had the chance to see and hear our little bean every week via ultrasounds due to my past history. The doctor's wanted to make sure all my hormone levels were right and that our little one was growing. While I was excited at every appointment (and a little nervous before hand), the most exciting appointment of all was at 10 weeks. Our sweet baby looked like a baby! With 10 fingers, 10 toes, kicking away and waving at us. It was unbelievable! I think that was the first time I really believed this was actually happening.

Everything has been pretty routine for the most part with some extra precautions due to my past. I've cut back my work hours because I felt like I was going to die everyday after work...one day I came home at 6:15 and was passed out and sleeping by 7. The nausea kicked in for me at 3.5 weeks and it's still going pretty strong. I miss uninterrupted sleep, champagne, staying up past 9pm and being able to eat healthy foods. I'm slowly starting to gain some of my energy back which is awesome, cause this house isn't going to clean itself and it is driving me insane.

BUT, the coolest part of this pregnancy so far has been feeling movements very early on! Around 9.5 weeks I began to feel very distinct flutters that I have never experienced in my life. Since my body is doing all kinds of weird things I decided I was crazy and making things up. The flutters have remained pretty consistent (especially when I'm very still or sitting in traffic) and are now getting much stronger. Our midwife confirmed that I was indeed feeling the baby when she was having trouble finding the heartbeat with the Doppler a few weeks ago. She asked me to point to the area where the flutters happen and there it was...baby was kicking away with a strong heartbeat :-)

Yesterday, as I watched the cutest little ones in their cute little costumes ringing door bells, yelling out "Twick or Tweat!" I was reminded of how long I've waited for this. For this season of my life. It feels like I've waited forever, especially for someone as impatient as me. Soon enough there will be a new season. A summer filled with a new tiny little person, diapers and spit up. A season filled with first holidays, babbling and so much more...and so many more seasons to come.