I had my very first baby shower last night at Cross of Glory, hosted by my dear friends Kara, Heather, Erin and Missy. It was truly an evening that I will never forget and all the hard work everyone put into making the evening so special for me was extremely evident. From the flowers, to the pink plates, the gorgeous card stock used for the words of advice, the abundant and delicious food, the creative and clever games, to the prayer time that followed, this was by all accounts, a wonderful evening.
When I got home, I had an extremely challenging night sleep. I think I was just so overwhelmed by the experience and excited by everything that transpired that rest seemed to escape me. The one thought that kept coming into my mind were all the moments in my life where I have felt small, unimportant, insignificant, and under-valued. Thoughts like this often creep into my life, and as testimony by last night, they are lies straight from the devil. Let it be said that I felt SO loved, significant, and of great worth last night. Thank you dear friends for my wonderful evening and creating such fanfare for this new little life. You are much loved by me!
Friday, March 11, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Knobbly Bits?
On Sunday, Scott and I attended our comprehensive baby preparation class at Amma Maternity. The class covered such topics as labor & delivery, breast feeding, and infant care. Overall, the class was worth while. Perhaps the most enjoyable part of the class was the instructor, Suzy, from the UK. She had the greatest Bridget Jones accent and was an absolute hoot!
The curriculum was sound, and while I knew most things just from doing basic reading, the class really helped both Scott and I to feel more prepared. At least, we have some idea of what to expect and what the process looks like. We watched several videos (which weren’t horrific at all, I might add), and the whole time I just kept thinking; “only 7 weeks from now, and this will be my reality.” Despite several people telling me that the videos were frightful, I actually enjoyed the birthing video a great deal. I became very choked up at the whole thing and it made me eager to meet my darling girl.
The curriculum was sound, and while I knew most things just from doing basic reading, the class really helped both Scott and I to feel more prepared. At least, we have some idea of what to expect and what the process looks like. We watched several videos (which weren’t horrific at all, I might add), and the whole time I just kept thinking; “only 7 weeks from now, and this will be my reality.” Despite several people telling me that the videos were frightful, I actually enjoyed the birthing video a great deal. I became very choked up at the whole thing and it made me eager to meet my darling girl.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Weekend Happenings
So, we’re nearly done with our nursery. I promise to get pics posted soon. The chandelier is hung, the window cornice board has been constructed and mounted, and Scott built a custom shelf for above the changing station. I admit to being partial, but I am so pleased with the outcome. It is bright and happy and unashamedly girly without being baby, baby, baby, which is what I wanted. My auntie is still in the midst of sewing the crib bedding, and I am waiting on several pieces to arrive from Etsy, but overall, project complete.
Scott and I washed and folded all baby girl’s clothes this weekend and loaded up her drawers and shelves. Tell you what, folding tiny clothes takes way more time than folding adult size clothes. Whereas one hamper full yields 12 adult items, one hamper full of baby clothes yields 50 items. It’s fun to see her drawers full and her room filled with life. Just waitin’ on her at this point.
Scott and I also bought a stroller over the weekend via Craigslist. We ended up getting a used Baby Jogger City Elite. It’s a 2008 version, so it has been used, but we got a decent price on it and it cleaned up well. Now we just need to buy the Chicco car seat attachment so I can get going right away on all my pre-pregnancy walks. Can’t wait to go trailblazing with little girl.
Scott and I washed and folded all baby girl’s clothes this weekend and loaded up her drawers and shelves. Tell you what, folding tiny clothes takes way more time than folding adult size clothes. Whereas one hamper full yields 12 adult items, one hamper full of baby clothes yields 50 items. It’s fun to see her drawers full and her room filled with life. Just waitin’ on her at this point.
Scott and I also bought a stroller over the weekend via Craigslist. We ended up getting a used Baby Jogger City Elite. It’s a 2008 version, so it has been used, but we got a decent price on it and it cleaned up well. Now we just need to buy the Chicco car seat attachment so I can get going right away on all my pre-pregnancy walks. Can’t wait to go trailblazing with little girl.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Diaper Deals
I can tell I am easing my way into motherhood when a really good deal on diapers excites me. Yes, I am all jazzed about diapers: stinky poop & pee catchers.
When I found out I was pregnant, my nice friend Heather bought me a subscription to a baby magazine. She mentioned that the magazine often includes really good offers on diapers. She was right. Almost every issue has some type of coupon to be redeemed on Amazon. Sometimes it’s $10 off and other times it’s a percentage discount. On Sunday night I decided to take advantage of some of the coupons and my diapers should be arriving today via 2-day free ship.
I ended up getting an 84-count of newborn Pampers Swaddlers for just $3.15! Whoo-hoo! I also got a 216-count of size one swaddlers for less than $20.00. All in all, I figure I saved around $50.00.
As an aside, I have 59 days to go as of today. In many ways it seems far too long, and in other ways it feels like I just need to blink and she’ll be in my arms. I think a lot will depend on what sort of weather we experience in March. If March lives up to its name of being the snowiest month, I am pretty sure time will drag, however if we follow trend with the snowless March of 2010, I feel like I am well on my way. Hoping the latter is true.
When I found out I was pregnant, my nice friend Heather bought me a subscription to a baby magazine. She mentioned that the magazine often includes really good offers on diapers. She was right. Almost every issue has some type of coupon to be redeemed on Amazon. Sometimes it’s $10 off and other times it’s a percentage discount. On Sunday night I decided to take advantage of some of the coupons and my diapers should be arriving today via 2-day free ship.
I ended up getting an 84-count of newborn Pampers Swaddlers for just $3.15! Whoo-hoo! I also got a 216-count of size one swaddlers for less than $20.00. All in all, I figure I saved around $50.00.
As an aside, I have 59 days to go as of today. In many ways it seems far too long, and in other ways it feels like I just need to blink and she’ll be in my arms. I think a lot will depend on what sort of weather we experience in March. If March lives up to its name of being the snowiest month, I am pretty sure time will drag, however if we follow trend with the snowless March of 2010, I feel like I am well on my way. Hoping the latter is true.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Two Months to Go
Less than nine weeks to go. On Wednesday, I’ll be exactly two months out. I know I keep saying that I can hardly believe it, but I literally, I can hardly believe it!
I saw little Cecily Benson at church yesterday (gorgeous little doll-face), and she is 2 months old tomorrow. I feel like I was just over at the Benson’s place meeting baby Cecily for the first time and now she is as old as the distance I have to go before I meet my own baby girl. Crazy.
Our stabs at nursery are coming along very well. We hung curtains this weekend, finished painting our furniture pieces, and found a rug for the space. We also hung some of the accessories. We still have a chandelier to hang, a window cornice board to construct, more accessorizing, and much organization to figure out, but overall, it looks like a nursery and could easily welcome our babe at any time.
I just purchased a wooden letter from Etsy. What is picture below is just and example, she will make mine from scratch after she reviews my fabric choices. I plan to hang the letter off of ribbon on a vintage glass doorknob. How fun!
I saw little Cecily Benson at church yesterday (gorgeous little doll-face), and she is 2 months old tomorrow. I feel like I was just over at the Benson’s place meeting baby Cecily for the first time and now she is as old as the distance I have to go before I meet my own baby girl. Crazy.
Our stabs at nursery are coming along very well. We hung curtains this weekend, finished painting our furniture pieces, and found a rug for the space. We also hung some of the accessories. We still have a chandelier to hang, a window cornice board to construct, more accessorizing, and much organization to figure out, but overall, it looks like a nursery and could easily welcome our babe at any time.
I just purchased a wooden letter from Etsy. What is picture below is just and example, she will make mine from scratch after she reviews my fabric choices. I plan to hang the letter off of ribbon on a vintage glass doorknob. How fun!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Bling for Baby
I am a girl that like sparkles—always have, always will. Not gaudy, drippy, or showy pieces, just subtle “bling” if you will. During this whole “nursery construction phase” the one thing that I have really wanted is a little chandelier for baby girl’s room. As we have short ceilings (7 ½ ft), I didn’t think this would be feasible. Lucky for me, I found a mini chandelier that is just 10 inches tall. It should be delivered next week. We are shooting for completion of nursery by the end of Feb. I will get pics posted at that time.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Mother Load
The title of this entry is no exaggeration. I received the mother load of baby girl supplies as of yesterday evening.
To back up, one of the local MN sales reps that work with routinely discovered I was pregnant w/ a baby girl. She immediately contacted me to see if I was interested in any baby stuff. She is now done having kids, with her youngest daughter being almost a year. I told her I would be interested. She said, “bring a truck.”
Yesterday Scott and I went to her home in Excelsior and picked up a whole truck bed full of baby supplies. Let it be said now: The Johnson household will NOT need any onesies. Scott joked that we could “wear and toss” given the amount that she gave us—around 110 to be exact. In addition to tons of onesies, she gave me gobs of little socks, hats, outfits, musical CD’s/DVD’s, books, nursing covers, shoes, toys. She also gave me a very nice cherry wood crib for my parent’s house, a crib set, a really nice jumpy contraction, an interactive activity mat, a bumbo chair w/ try, a nice baby swing, a brand new boppy w/ multiple slipcovers, and all sorts of infant stimulation gadgets. My whole new porch addition is currently overflowing with baby surplus. It is definitely going to take me some time to go through everything, and it will likely take even longer to get it all washed and organized, but can I say thank you Jesus! This was a tremendous gift.
Once Scott installs the new closet organization system, I’ll take a pic of little girl’s brimming wardrobe. I do believe I am pretty near set.
To back up, one of the local MN sales reps that work with routinely discovered I was pregnant w/ a baby girl. She immediately contacted me to see if I was interested in any baby stuff. She is now done having kids, with her youngest daughter being almost a year. I told her I would be interested. She said, “bring a truck.”
Yesterday Scott and I went to her home in Excelsior and picked up a whole truck bed full of baby supplies. Let it be said now: The Johnson household will NOT need any onesies. Scott joked that we could “wear and toss” given the amount that she gave us—around 110 to be exact. In addition to tons of onesies, she gave me gobs of little socks, hats, outfits, musical CD’s/DVD’s, books, nursing covers, shoes, toys. She also gave me a very nice cherry wood crib for my parent’s house, a crib set, a really nice jumpy contraction, an interactive activity mat, a bumbo chair w/ try, a nice baby swing, a brand new boppy w/ multiple slipcovers, and all sorts of infant stimulation gadgets. My whole new porch addition is currently overflowing with baby surplus. It is definitely going to take me some time to go through everything, and it will likely take even longer to get it all washed and organized, but can I say thank you Jesus! This was a tremendous gift.
Once Scott installs the new closet organization system, I’ll take a pic of little girl’s brimming wardrobe. I do believe I am pretty near set.
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