Sneak Peak...

Before pictures with the room all cleared out:

closet doors

view from back corner of room looking into bathroom and out to the hallway

 

 Ben putting the crib together! He could not wait for my dad to come over and help so he did it himself, which wasn't hard, definitely not a 2 person job! Thanks for offering to help though, dad!

ALL DONE!!!!

 

The stroller and carseat make the room look more cramped than it already is but obviously those won't stay in there

Name sign to go above the crib!

Dresser/Hutch/Changing Table, and of course a Vera Bradley Diaper Bag!! 

Stay tuned for more updates on the nursery! The bedding comes tomorrow! Can't wait to make the crib!

22 weeks

As I am writing this I am 23 weeks pregnant today, so again, I am behind on weekly pregnancy updates.  I think it is so easy to get behind because there is not much change to talk about.  I have been doing good on keeping up with pictures, which shows pretty much the only change-I feel like I am getting huge-fast!

Pregnancy Updates-Week 22

How Far Along: 22 weeks, but as I am writing I am 23 weeks-oops!

Total Weight Gain: sore subject-at doctor appointment the scales said I gained 4 pounds in 2 weeks for a total of 15 pounds-oops!!

Maternity Clothes: Yes! I am wearing some of my 'regular' summer shorts that sit low on the waist

Favorite Moment This Week: Seeing Miss Brooklyn during the ultrasound.  She is still shy and modest-we tried to get a peak between the legs just to make sure she is still a girl and she was not showing!

Gender: GIRL

Movement: TONS and TONS and TONS! I love it! So amazing! My stomach is actually starting to move a little when I lift my shirt up you can see her moving around!

Food Cravings: still OJ, but a new one now-Rainbow Sherbert! I am eating a bowl of 4 scoops right now as I am blogging (maybe this is why I gained 4 pounds in 2 weeks...)

What I Miss: Being able to get out of bed quickly-I told Ben I think I am going to need to get a step stool for the side of my bed-our bed is pretty high and with me getting up 4 times a night to use the restroom it is hard work, I just don't move like I used to!

Sleep: Pretty good! I have been walking on the treadmill (I can't wait for the weather to cool down so I can walk outside) and I think walking daily helps me to sleep better at night.

What I am looking forward to: Decorating the nursery.  The crib is up and the bedding should be delivered tomorrow!! Yipee! I am so excited!

Symptoms: Nothing really-I feel pretty good!

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions....

When I was newly pregnant I started looking for nursery bedding and found exactly what I wanted if we were having a girl, boy bedding on the other hand was very difficult to find anything I liked.  Luckily, I don't have to worry about boy bedding, yet! So, when we found out we were having a girl I thought I would go ahead and buy the bedding from Land of Nod (Crate and Barrels baby store).  I always said that if we have a girl her room will be light pink and chocolate brown.  Well, I thought wrong and made the mistake of 'browsing' more online at girl crib bedding, so now I am confused on which one I should go with.  Back before I knew we were having a girl I found a bedding set I liked from Restoration Hardware Baby and Child, but never thought I would spend that much money on baby bedding, but I am coming to realize a couple of things:1-this is our first baby, I should be entitled to splurge just a bit and 2-our master bedroom bedding is from Restoration Hardware so why can't Brooklyn's be too?!?

I am going to post some links to the 3 bedding ensembles that I am debating between.  I would love all of the comments and opinions I can get! Things to keep in mind about the nursery: color scheme is light pink and chocolate brown AND the crib is espresso brown.  HELP!

http://www.landofnod.com/baby-crib-bedding/kids-bedding/with-a-flourish-crib-bedding/f5588

http://www.rhbabyandchild.com/catalog/category/products.jsp?link=CuddlePlushAndContrastDotGirlsAnd%252339%253BNurseryBedding&categoryId=rhbc_cat199045

http://www.potterybarnkids.com/products/scallop-nursery-bedding/?pkey=bgirls-nursery-bedding

All 3 are very different! The only thing about the Pottery Barn one is the majority of it is white-our house has beige walls and cream trim so I don't know how well that much white will go with the cream trim.

Any and all comments are appreciated! 

Week 21

This is going to be another short and sweet post-as I am writing this I am actually 22 weeks, so I am still playing catch up.  I am also too lazy to upload my 21 week picture, so that is going to have to wait too...

Pregnancy Updates-Week 21

How Far Along: 21 weeks

Total Weight Gain: 10-12 pounds

Maternity Clothes: yes

Favorite Moment This Week: Getting away for a long weekend to the Ozarks-much needed and very relaxing.  Also, everyday for the past week or so when I lay down on the couch Brooklyn is very very active and I just love holding my tummy and feeling her move from the inside and outside-such an incredible experience-it just reminds me that babies truly are miracles!

Gender: GIRL!! Ms. Brooklyn

Movement: TONS! Especially when I lay down on the couch and when I lay in my bed and get ready to sleep she always starts kicking me.  She likes to kick A LOT around 11pm and then again between 4-5am.  It is amazing how I am already picking up on her sleep/awake cycles.

Food Cravings: fruit, OJ, mexican

What I Miss: Being active-this heat is killing me-I just want to get outside and walk, the treadmill isn't doing it for me

Sleep: Hit or miss-some nights are great and others I just lay wide awake and can't sleep

What I am Looking Forward To: the nursery furniture being delivered

Symptoms: Nothing unusual.  I feel like I am starting to get tired again in the afternoons like I did early on in the pregnancy, but I think the heat might have something to do with my sleepiness. 

Sorry, no picture with this update.  I will post one later when I am not lazy!

*7/27/11-Finally uploading pictures-here is 21 week belly picture*

Why my blog has been neglected...

I have been a very busy person these past couple of weeks which is why my blog has been neglected...Where I have been/what I have been doing...

• ...shopping, shopping, shopping for little miss Brooklyn.  Lets just say the bank account has seen better days.  This little girl is already spoiled.  I have been a good shopper though, and only buying things that are on sale.  I have been buying summer clothes that are on sale for next summer, and our trip to Florida in April.  I think Brooklyn has her entire summer 2012 wardrobe!! It is a little sad looking at all of the clothes and thinking about all of the money I have spent and then realizing she won't be wearing any of it until next spring/summer.  O well! 
• ...working.  I have had a crazy work schedule it seems like these past couple of weeks, but I am loving spending time with my kiddos-just thinking about my last day with them brings tears to my eyes, that is going to be a hard day.  At least my 'last days' will be staggered depending on the family.  My Monday family kids are starting kindergarten on Aug 24th, so my last Monday will be Aug 22nd.  I can't believe I have been watching them since they were 2 and they will be 6 on Aug 1.  Crazy how the time flies! My Tues/Wed family last day will be sometime in September, this is going to be the hardest last day ever.  Max and Addi were my ring bearer and flower girl, so they already hold a special place in my heart.  Ok-enough talking about my 'last days'...
• ...Lake of the Ozarks.  We went to the lake for a long weekend: Thursday-Sunday.  It was so nice to get away and not worry about anything at home or anything baby related for a few days.  We had a great time.  Dr. Dunville (a Goetze client and my dad's good friend) invited my dad and step-mom and Ben and I down for the weekend.  Ben and I went down to the Ozarks Thursday night and the Dunvilles took us out to a nice dinner on the lake at The Duck.  Friday we were out on the water all day, then dad and Cheryl arrived and we went to dinner.  Saturday we were out on the water again and enjoyed a cookout at Dunvilles. Sunday we went to breakfast on the water then went on a long relaxing boat ride.  On our way home we stopped at the outlets and I got more clothes for Brooklyn.  I told Ben it is pretty bad when I spend all this money and don't get anything for myself.  Ben did get a couple of new shirts and a new hat.  I got nothing!

When it is all written out it doesn't look like I have been doing a lot or going a lot of places, but for some reason I just have not had much time at the end of the day(s).  I am 22 weeks pregnant tomorrow and still need to do a 21 week post.  Hopefully I can get caught up on that tomorrow.  Tonight is ladies night with the girls-so excited to see my girlfriends!! 

Playing Catch Up-Week 20

This may seem outdated, but I want to post it just for future references when I look back on my blog in several years.

Pregnancy Updates-Week 20

How Far Along: 20 weeks...half way there!! CRAZY!!

Total Weight Gain: um...?

Maternity Clothes: mostly, yes!

Favorite Moment This Week: Finding out we are having a GIRL!!

Gender: GIRL! Brooklyn Paige

Movement: Yes, A LOT! 

Food Cravings: Still the same-waffles, orange juice

What I miss: Sleeping comfortably.  I can not sleep without my pregnancy pillow!

Sleep: read above!

What I am looking forward to: decorating the nursery in pink and brown!

Symptoms: NONE! I am feeling great!

Sorry this post is short and sweet!! We could not be more excited to have a little girl joining our family.  I never imagined I would have a girl first, I always thought I would have a boy first and he would be the protective older brother, but now we are going to have a protective older sister for our other children.  I have heard that having the first born be a girl is amazing, because she generally is more mother-y and loving to her younger siblings! We can't wait to meet Brooklyn in November!!

Gender Reveal to our families

Thursday July 7th was an exciting, stressful, crazy, wonderful day.  I woke up to a nice thunder storm, which made it hard to get out of bed, but finally I got up, picked up the house a little bit, started some laundry.  My ultrasound appointment was at 1pm.  Ben and I were very certain that 'nugget' would cooperate and we would find out if 'nugget' is a he or a she.  We knew how we were going to reveal to our parents what 'nugget' was, so that morning I went to the store and bought some things to get the reveal process started.  I came home and I starting baking cupcakes (it was Ben's idea that I make the cupcakes before the appointment, which I am so glad he suggested I do that).  My last batch of cupcakes came out of the oven at 12:25pm and we left the house at 12:40pm to go to my appointment.  'Nugget' was not cooperating at first and I was beginning to get frustrated and mad that we might not find out what baby was.  We had already told Ben's mom that we would be in St. Joe around 6 to take her out for her birthday dinner and maybe have a little surprise for her.  While I was in the bathroom emptying my bladder I could hear Ben telling the ultrasound lady (don't know the proper title-sorry) that I was prepared to tell our parents that night what 'nugget' was and that I already had cupcakes baked waiting to be filled with either pink or blue.  I am so glad Ben was telling her this, because when I came back in the room she worked extra hard to get baby to move and look between the legs and we finally found out we were having a girl!! So excited!! Then, we had to go sit in the waiting room for about 30 minutes to wait and see my doctor, once we got back into the room we waited another 30 minutes before the doctor came in and saw us.  So, needless to say, I am SO glad I baked the cupcakes before hand because we got home and had less than an hour before we left our house to get the gender reveal show on the road.  Long story short ( I hope) we went to my dad's house and dropped off 3 cupcakes and a poem, headed to St. Joe to take Ben's mom out to dinner and give her a cupcake and poem, after dinner we drove to Parkville to see Ben's dad and step mom and give them cupcakes and a poem, then back to our house to wait for my mom to come over.  My mom and step mom were at the Royals game with their work (yes, my mom and step mom work together-crazy and weird-but, that's how my family rolls-ha!).  So, finally around 10:20pm my mom comes by and we give her a cupcake and poem.  I called my dad around 10 to ask if he had been tempted all night by the cupcakes (he was waiting until my step mom got home so they could eat them together).  I was sad Ben and I weren't able to be with my dad and step mom as they ate their cupcakes but there just wasn't enough time in the day to get to everyone and I wanted all of our parents to find out around the same time-so, thanks dad for understanding!
What the poem said that we gave each parent along with a cupcake:

In this cupcake holds the key,
To let you know what I will be.

Ten little fingers and ten little toes,
Boy or Girl...nobody knows.

If the middle is pink, a princess I will be,
If it is blue, a boy, cute as can be.

So come on Grandma and Grandpa take a bite,
And come November it will be love at first sight!

We had them read the poem first then bite into the cupcake! It was pretty cute!! Pictures below! ENJOY!!

Grandma Lisa opening the box with cupcake in it-she didn't know it was a cupcake until she opened the box, after she saw it was a cupcake we handed her the poem to read

Grandma Lisa reading the poem

Getting ready to take a bite...

Cupcake and poem waiting for my mom (Nana) at our house-this is what she saw when she walked in the door

Nana opening the cupcake...

We told her she had to take a big bite to get to the middle...

Grandma Lisa sent me this picture-she only ate half of her cupcake after dinner so she could show people the pink inside!

 

 

 

 I don't have any pictures of our dad's and step mom's reading their poems and eating their cupcakes, which I feel bad about, but again, it is hard to be 4 places in one night-I am just glad all 4 sets of grandparents found out in the same night!!

It's A....

Brooklyn Paige Brunker will be here in November!! Ben and I could not be any more excited that we are having a little girl!

I will post later how we revealed the sex to our parents and also will post a 20 week pregnancy post.  Stay tuned...