Ethan's Nursery

Since I found out I was having a little boy, I started dreaming about what I wanted his nursery to be like.  I wanted it to be all about him, and not something he (or we) would grow tired of in a few months.  So....

 

Rule #1: NO THEME.  That's just my own personal preference and Nicholas's by default.  I really wanted to do colors and that's it.

 

I decided on navy and lime green and really knew that was it after I saw my friend Kori's nursery.  I you are feeling frisky, you can check out her blog here:  http://aviewfromtheedge-dandk.blogspot.com/ It's funny and sassy and you will oooohhh and awwww at her newest addition, Tucker.  So, while at her baby shower, I proceeded to steal plenty of nursery ideas from her as she did the exact thing I wanted to do.  Look at how precious that baby is of hers.  Allie and I fought over who could hold him more.

 

 

Then a dilemma hit.  We are building a house and Nicholas tells me he will have me in it by Christmas.  Ethan's expected the first week of October.  I thought to myself, "Why plan and do a nursery when he probably won't be in it but a couple weeks?"  I decided to not do a nursery, I told myself.  I'll just keep him in the bassinet in our bedroom and set the pack and play up in the den and then there is the swing and what not.  Well, that lasted all about a week when I woke up one Friday morning in complete panic.  I walked by the room that I had planned on being his room and realized he needed a nursery. STAT.  I got on the internet, ordered a crib and mattress,  some more baby things, and then cleaned like a crazy lady.  Apparently this is 'nesting' and it hasn't quite stopped.  So without further ado, I present you Ethan's nursery! Well....the rental house nursery:

 

Craft time!!

 

The letters are from Hobby Lobby.  I bought mod podge and pretty scrap book paper and went to town.  Attach some ribbon on the back and you will see the final result below.

 

 

 

The dresser was mine from when I was a tot.  It was oak and has been good to me through pharmacy school and our marriage. It also made the perfect dresser for the nursery.  I read on pinterest the best way to paint wood.  So off I went to the Home Depot, bought some spray paint, sand paper, a good MASK, and some new hardware, and transformed that puppy!  I felt like Martha Stewart and was on cloud nine, then Nicholas flipped.  He thought I was staining it to match the crib.  Um, no. Boring.   He's not a fan of the navy.  Good thing I didn't ask what he thought about my idea before it was already painted!  He likes the total package now though.

 

 

Bumpers....apparently we all had them as children but now if you have them you are evil.  Whatever.  I read the warnings and decided I still wanted them.  These are thin, super soft, and I love them.  I don't want him sticking his little arms and legs through the crib.  I ordered the bumper from amazon, went and bought some ribbon, and had a party with hot glue and fabric glue.  I ordered the crib skirt as well and plan on doing some crafting on it, too.

 

 

My living room looking like a total disaster while Nicholas and Aunt Jessie assemble the crib.  I ate a snack and watched.  Good work you two.

 

 

Staying up late to put it all together!

 

 

My precious momma

 

Annnnd the final product!!!!

 

 

The crib is from Target.  Monkey came from Pier1. 

 

 

Hope those letters look straight.  Totally winged that.  I also chose to have a bed in his room.  That was rule #2.  I wanted my family and friends to stay with us when they came to visit. 

 

 

I replaced pictures I had in there with his ultrasounds and navy and lime green backgrounds.

 

 

The big E came from my shower in Tn that I spray painted to match the dresser.  The ribbon came from my B'ham shower that I hot glued on to match (thanks hostesses!).  The lamp shade was a gift from his Auntie Allison and it is sitting on the perfect lime green base from Target.  Another find by Allison.  When I came home from work when my mom was here, she surprised me with the changing pad, cover, and the basket beside of it that holds....stuff?  Thanks, Gammie!

 

 

Overall, I'm pleased.  We didn't paint the walls because we aren't going to be here too much longer.  But I like it and I hope he does, too!!

 

The only other problem was closet space.  Nicholas and I are maxed out and I didn't know where I was going to put everything.  My mother-in-law suggested that I take everything out of this random closet we have in our living room, that pretty much had decorations and junk we didn't put anywhere else, and make it his closet.  So yesterday, I did just that!  He now has a closet with awesome, contemporary wood paneling!

 

 

 

In other notes....

 

I think the good Lord is letting Ethan's first holiday be Halloween instead of Christmas so that he can ease into the craziness that is my house during the holidays.  I had to get him some outfits to celebrate!  I can't wait to spend the holidays with him.  It's gonna be fun!!  I usually start decorating for Christmas in October but plan on scaling wayyyy back this year.  Like only one tree. That my friends is called restraint but I also realize I will be very sleep deprived.

 

 

So that's about it for right now.  I haven't posted a belly pic in a while so I'll post my 33 week below.  I even coordinated with the nursery colors.  Totally planned that.  We had a great check up at the doctor yesterday.  He weighs 5 pounds 12 ounces.  I won't tell you what the first estimate was, but me and the ultrasound tech both panicked so I made her remeasure him.  I only slightly hyperventilated thinking about how big he is going to get and that somehow he has to come out.  So sweet Ethan, if you want to stop being such an over-achiever in the weight category until you are OUTSIDE my belly, I will feed you ice cream when you get here.  I love you.

 

 

If you have any tips for our nursery or what was a life-saver in yours I would LOVE to hear it!  Post a comment below or you can always facebook me.

Have a great week and since the Hunger Games released on DVD this week, may the odds be ever in your favor :) (I know, nerd comment)

 

XO,

Britt



 

Grab Your Umbrella!

It's only been about 7 weeks since my last blog, so why don't we have an update?

It's shower time!!!

Not to say I have an excuse for not blogging but a lot has happened in our lives lately.  I'm becoming more pregnant everyday.  Strutting is no longer in style, waddling is.  Pregnancy is going wonderfully and I have zero complaints. 

I've been working 2 jobs (both part time) for the last 2 1/2 years now.  It was not a big deal until the last few months when working 50-60 hours a week was really starting to wear me out.  After a lot of praying and thinking, it was time to give one up and on July 31st I had my last day at Walgreen's Infusion Pharmacy.  I will really miss some of my coworkers there but the on-call nights were making me a crazy lady and they all understood and sent me out with a bang- a surprise baby shower!  I have no pictures from that day- but a big thank you to all of them for everything I learned there and my friendships that I made.  I'm very thankful for my job at Duncan's.  It just feels like home and I'm even more thankful to only be employed at ONE place :)

The next weekend I was off to my beautiful home sweet home in East Tennessee. Shout out to Allison for driving me there and back.  I could not have made that 6 hour trip alone plus it gave us good bestie time.   I know she did a lot of planning in Nashville which is not easy and I'm so grateful Ethan has her as an aunt and I have her as my best friend.  That car was loaded down with so much stuff I could barely get my belly in. She could seriously be a party planner to the stars. 

Ten hostesses made that day so incredibly special for me.  I will never forget it.  I will let you enjoy the pictures, but there was a prayer card table for baby Ethan (by the way, that's his name!), incredible food, awesome gifts, and a house full of what turned out to be around 55 people!!  Talk about making a girl feel special!  It really is true when people say there is no place like home!

The hostesses

Friends from high school

The food:

The decor

My daddy came at the end to help pack us up. And to eat some snacks. At this point I was wearing the super cute hospital gown Allie got me.  I loved it so much I pranced around in that thing forever...until I dropped food on it and Allie took it off ASAP.  Not my fault, my belly has turned into a catch all.

The gifts!

Thank you again to all of my family and friends for making that day SO special.

We also made a quick stop in Cookeville coming home to visit our sweet friend, Kori, and her precious little nugget, Baby Tucker!  She looked great for just having a baby and I sat there and cried as I held him (shock).  Congrats to her and Drew on their new sweet family.  I love all three of you!

I was lucky enough to have my mom and sister-in-law come back to Kentucky with me to help organize and get the nursery started.  I was beginning to panic...like whoa.  Nicholas is currently playing super husband trying to get our new house built, therefore he has not been at my disposal to help get the nursery ready.  We got in from Tennessee late Sunday night, I worked Monday and when I came home that evening they had cleaned my house from top to bottom, done all of Ethan's laundry, assembled the bassinet, and had all the furniture moved and ready to go. OH and had a home cooked meal on the table.  The tears started when I walked in the door and haven't quite stopped. I'll post pictures and more on the nursery in the next blog.  But thank you Mom and Jess-Bird for everything you did those 2 days you were here.  I'm crying as I type this.  I'm so lucky to have you both in my life and I wish there wasn't 350 miles between us.  I count my blessing to be so close to my Mom and sister.

Fast forward to Friday and it was off to Birmingham for a double shower weekend (told you I don't slow down). Mom and Jessie even drove down and met us and Nicholas was able to come, too!  Brenna and I announced our pregnancies the same day, why not celebrate our showers the same weekend?  I haven't lived there in 3 years so I was very grateful our friends still wanted to celebrate baby Ethan.  They threw a beautiful shower complete with a bar (all virgin drinks, of course!) and a brunch to die for.  Thank you girls for all you did.  I know it was crazy planning 2 showers in 2 days, but it touched my heart.  Probably why I cried the first 2 hours after we left.  Poor, poor Nicholas.

I have been officially put on travel restrictions so my tail will be staying in Paducah until sweet Ethan decides to make his arrival.  He's a rather "large bambino" (my OB's words, not mine), so Tuesday we get another ultrasound to check his growth and weight.  I'm about 90% he is snuggling transverse in my belly.  He still has a few weeks to get ready so whatever he wants to do is fine with me.  Yes, I'm hot , swollen, usually pretty cranky and hungry, but my Aunt Karen told me this is the only time that I will have to help assist God in making a miracle.  So I'll prop my feet, eat a snack, take a nap, and rub my belly and tell him I'm the luckiest girl in the entire world to be his mommy and I love every minute I get to carry him with me.  I love that baby so much and I can't wait to have him my arms and kiss him non-stop.

I hope you have a wonderful week this week and can cherish all the miracles God is doing for you!

XO,

Britt

26 Weeks and counting....

So yesterday I reached 26 weeks!  It's becoming VERY real that we will soon have a sweet baby boy in our arms.  I wish I could tell you how it consumes my every thought.  What he will be like, who he will look like, how will I be with no sleep (probably hateful), how precious will Nicholas look holding him, and how in the world am I going to juggle all of it?!?  I am just so blessed and can't wait for all of the exciting adventures to come our way!  Now off to the fun stuff....

How far: 26 weeks yesterday!!! 

Pregnancy Highlights:  Feeling this precious baby move ALL THE TIME!!  I also thought when you felt your baby move that it would just be a kick here or there.  Not this little guy.  His favorite activity is using my bladder as a trampoline.  I seriously pee 50 times a day...sorry if that's TMI.  He loves to move at night and in the morning.  I cherish it so much.  I think once he gets here, I will miss this the most.  The belly button is creeping on out.  That's weird.  I'm trying to push it back in.

Name:  Soooooooo, I'm being very brave here.  We, and by we I mean I and Nicholas by force, have chosen a name!!  He doesn't read my blog so I feel I'm a little safe.  It looks like Ethan Nicholas Sullivan it is!!  But let me go ahead and clarify that Nicholas says he will *not* agree to a name until he meets the little guy in person.  I cannot begin to tell you my frustation with this. Really?  So you like Ethan now and have no back up.  So I'm gonna pop him out and you say he just isn't an Ethan. So what, we go with a family name....Delbert? Harve? Ersel?  Ok. He says I only wanna name him now so I can monogram burp cloths.  SO NOT TRUE!  I also want to monogram gowns, and blankets, and his quilt, and diaper bag....

Cravings:  Has been and is still marinara.  Holy cow.  I usually have something Italian everyday just covered in marinara.  Poor Nicholas has to be tired of spaghetti because I suggest it every night.  I had tonight actually.  And now I'm enjoying some TCBY mint chocolate chip.  They sell pints in grocery stores!!  Holy cow. 

Weight gain:  Sadly my scale is still broken.  Oops.  I'll get right on fixing that...

Random:  I'm begining to swell.  All over.  It's awful.  I think between the pregnancy and the heat and the salty foods I crave, I'm in trouble.  I have "cankles".  They're super attractive.  My face swells.  My wrists and hands swell.  I think my legs are too, but that's probably part of the pregnancy or just them getting fat, although we are going to say swelling.  It makes me feel better.

I'm getting extremely nervous about delivering this sweet boy.  Like whoa.  I do NOT do pain.  And apparently child birth has a tendency to be painful.  At our 24 week appointment, I had a nice chat with my doctor about the birth plan.  It pretty much includes the anesthesiologist meeting me at the doors ready to go with the epidural.  Get that done and noone gets hurt.

And while I'm at it let me just say this:  I realize that I look like I'm really big to some people.   If you are one of those people you are correct.  I'm definitely bigger!!  But to hear on a daily basis... " WOW, you are due until October?  That's going to be one big baby!"  OR my favorite

"Oh are you sure it's not twins?"

Yes. Yes. YES!!  Is it really necessary to ask a pregnant woman that!?  I mean filter, people!!  No, I'm not having twins.  There is ONE healthy, growing baby boy in there all by himself.  So, this is a warning- I cannot be held responsible for my actions to the next person who asks me that.  :)

To sum it up so far (aside from the twin comments)....I love it!!!  It's such a fun time for me and Nicholas.  He's going to make the greatest and sweetest father and I look forward to seeing our little family grow.  Our dogs are getting excited too!  Well, I think they are.

Here's looking back a couple of weeks....

25 weeks



24 weeks

Last weekend I took off a few days at work and went home to beautiful East Tennessee to visit my wonderful family.  It was such a needed time at home and my mom catered to me hand and foot.  I'm so spoiled!  And yes, Jessie, you made the weekend that much better.  Thank you for having a few days off with me.  I was also able to spend some time with my grandmother in the nursing home.  I think most of you have seen the picture of her feeling Ethan kick for the first time.

Insert tears here....







We also had a lot of fun on the lake.  I heard there was a whale spotting that day, too.  Crazy.

My dad is such a rockstar.

When I left on Monday, you could say I had somewhat of a breakdown.  My hormones kicked in a I could not. stop. crying.  My mom went with me to the gas station and filled my car up with gas.  Well, that made me cry.  Then I had to tell her bye.  That made me cry even harder.  As I was driving away and sobbing like a lunatic, I looked over and she had packed my car with snacks and a roll of paper towels so I could wipe my tears.  Well that made me lose it worse.  All I could think about it how wonderful my parents are how in the world will I be as good of a parent as they are?  They really take the best care of me.  Thanks for feeding me fruit and chicken salad, too, Mom.  I know you just want me to stay healthy.  But I did eat a big ol' piece of strawberry cake when I went to visit Allison.  It's all her fault. I couldn't say no. Anyway, sorry if I gave you a hard time about needing a "heartier" snack.  I love you.

And to finish this blog off, I want to wish my precious hubby a belated but wondeful 3 year anniversary.  June 6th, 2009 you made all my dreams come true.  I love this kid more than anything.  He's my husband, my best friend, my should to cry on, my guinea pig to try to recipes on, and my snuggle bug at night. Well, not really anymore because I'm too hot and sleep is too precious.  Anyway, here's a pic from our anniversary dinner at Patti's.  Such good food and even better company :)

And to end this blog on a little funny.

Yesterday morning, Nicholas and I were in bed and I was reading him the highlights on what happens during the 26th week.  It said that your partner can lay his ear on your belly and he may be able to hear the baby's heartbeat.  So Nicholas tired.  I kid you not, right when he put his ear on my stomach, Ethan hauled off and drop-kicked him in the face.  Hard.  I haven't laughed that hard in a long time.  I think he's taking after me a little.

 I love that baby more and more everyday.

XO,

Britt

Girl's Weekend!

So this past weekend was girl's weekend with my bestie, Allison.  I was beyond excited to get to spend some time with her because it had been entirely too long. 

Before I continue this story, I must say girls weekend started on Saturday morning ...instead of Friday night.  Friday night I had a date with the most handsome guy I'm married to.  He took me on a hot date to a place called "Catfish Kitchen". Be jealous.  That boy knows the way to my heart....and it's fried catfish (or the dreaded whiskas as he calls them).

So Saturday morning I headed off to Nashville for a day of eating, and shopping, and playing with this little love bug.  World meet Pene-paws!! 

Her real name is Penelope but I don't think I ever called her that once. Is she not just precious? She's such a little snuggler and diva and I ate it up. I can't quite cuddle with my 90 pound and 50 pound dogs so I packed this little pup around the whole time I was there. 

After I pulled myself away from p-paws, Allie and I hit the town to shop.  Somehow the only shopping we ended up doing was for the little peanut in my belly.  I bought the rug for his nursery!!  It is the first item I've purchased for the nursery and it was perfect!  There is no theme, but we going to do colors (navy, lime green, white, and yellow) instead.  I keep looking at that rug rolled up in the corner, thinking "good purchase baby momma".  

For lunch, we had a true Nashville experience and hit up the food trucks.  No, it's not like a corn dog outside of a bar at 2 AM when you may or may not have had a few too many drinks. The trucks were parked outside the prettiest park and it made for a lovely little picnic.  This food was so yummy in my growing tummy. Allie never disappoints when it comes to great places to eat.

We also did things other than eating....but who cares about that. This little boy in my belly has one heck of an appetite.  And bless him, I don't want him to go hungry ;)

For supper, we went to this totally random, hole in wall, kinda made me wanna pack some heat in the ghetto, Italian restaurant. 

O.M.G. I knew this place was going to be so good and Italian food is my favorite food of all time. I can't even talk about it. I swear I would drive back down there right now to eat again, but it put me in a food coma that I can't describe and I need to be able to function for work tomorrow.  Great job again, A.

Ok, one more picture of food then I promise no more food pics.  Yes, I eat a lot. Probably explains why the scale keeps going up but that's alright.  You'll understand when you see the picture of me below, but just know my hair was flat. And the camera adds 10 pounds. They don't just mean tv camera, do they?  This is the breakfast Allie made Sunday morning.  I'm not kidding.  She is an AMAZING hostess.  We even had scones to celebrate the queen's diamond jubilee.  Yes, another reason we are friends.  We love the royality.

We also headed down to ol' Cookeville, Tennessee on Sunday afternoon to visit a sweet friend of ours from high school for her baby shower.  It was seriously one of the greatest afternoons of laughing and catching up I have had in such a long time.  Kori will be welcoming baby Tucker in just a few weeks and she was so precious!!  Plus she is using the same colors for her nursery that I plan on doing so I was able to steal ideas and all kinds of inspiration.  Thanks, Kori. Her momma even came from Tazewell and I love Denise as much as anyone and it was so good to get to see someone from home.  Talk about a quick cure for being homesick!!  So happy for her and that we got to see that cute baby bump before he arrives!  The shower was suppose to end at 4, we stayed until 7. Oops. Love you KGE!

So, a great weekend was had by all (except for Nicholas for had to work but hey, someone has to and it's my turn this weekend).  I think no matter where you are it's so important to take time out for girl time.  Well, that's enough for today.  I'll update on the baby, the house progress, and our anniversary next time.  

And yes mom, I had "plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables today."  You can rest comfortably tonight. 

XO,

Britt