Saturdays in the South

Saturday between the hedges.

Friday's Letters

Dear Friday, I'm glad you're here. It's been a long week, sick week. Dear Weekend, Take your time. Please don't disappear too quickly. I need a nice long weekend. Dear Hubs,  You're amazing. Enough said. Dear Baby Girl, I love you so so much! You are kicking like crazy and I'm loving every minute of it! Dear UGA Football, Please don't make me stress out too much tomorrow. I'd like a nice, easily played game with a good and comfortable score. Dear Real Refs, Thank you so much for returning. Those wanna-be refs were embarrassing.

Grilled cheese and tomato soup, I'm loving it!

My darling daughter...

I know we haven't officially met yet, but I feel like I know you. I've spent many hours trying to picture what you will look like. Will you be a blonde, a brunette, or a ginger? Will you have blue eyes, brown eyes, green eyes, or even hazel eyes like me? Your dad and I joke that you can have his looks and my brains and we'll be alright. No matter what, my darling, you are a beautiful girl. I'm seeing the world in a new light now, knowing that you will be joining our family, and I can't wait until I can see you discover it through your new eyes. 

When I first heard this song by Tyrone Wells I immediately thought of you. Now, whenever I hear it, which is often because I can't stop playing it, I tear up knowing that this is your song. There is just something about this song that sends a message straight to the place in my heart where you have taken residence. It is your song and there is none out there that suits you better. 

"You fit me perfectly, darling it's plain to see, you are a beautiful girl"

I can't wait until you're here so we can dance to the song together and I can whisper in your ear over and over again that you are a beautiful girl. That you are my beautiful girl and you make my world beautiful.

Bringing Home Baby; the Nursery

A lot of research has been put into this whole "having a baby thing." I have found out there is a lot more to bringing home baby than just popping them out and then placing them in a car seat to bring them home. Obviously I'm kidding just a little here. 

Even before baby comes home, baby has to have a place to come home to. A place for baby to sleep (eventually), a place for a diaper change, and a place to keep all of baby's cute adorable clothes that so many loved ones has purchased for them. A nursery. For some people the nursery is a shared room, either with another child or room that has another purpose. Other people set aside a special room just for their little new little one. Of course, this varies from family to family and it all depends on living situation. The hubs and I are lucky to have a room that we have set aside for our little girl. Now we just have to fill the room with lovely things.

Things I've found we need:

• a crib

Now this isn't our crib, just one like it. I'm saving sharing the final crib reveal for when our nursery is fully complete.

• a changing table

Once again, this isn't ours. We decided to go with a dresser that can have a changing pad added on top. This way the changing table can serve dual purposes.

• a crib mattress

Cribs don't come equipped with crib mattresses. Who knew? There are so many options out there with crib mattresses. There are foam mattresses and spring mattresses. We opted for a spring mattress when we registered. 

• a glider or rocker

I imagine a glider will be ideal for feedings and rocking my little one to sleep. Honestly, I can't wait to put ours to use!

• storage

I'm still on the lookout for a good bookshelf unit for storing toys, books, and nick-knacks. I have the perfect spot for a shelving unit just like the one in the top right picture. Now just to find the perfect piece.

There are more things that a nursery needs, but in my opinion these are the essentials. Of course, I'm a first time mom so this list might change as time goes by and we get adjusted to life with a little one, but that'll be for another post. If you see anything I need to add, please feel free to let me know! The goal this weekend is to work some more on the nursery. I'm ready for it to be ready, because, even though she has 3 and a half more months of cooking to do, I'll feel better when things are settled and ready. It's just my nature I guess. Oh well, here's to a weekend of organizing and getting things ready! And then once that's all done, I'll post all about our little one's nursery!

24 Weeks!!

How far along: 24 weeks 

Trimester: Last month of the Second Trimester!!!

Baby size: Ear of corn - a foot long and over a pound and a half!

Toes: They're getting harder and harder to see every day.

Gender: BABY GIRL!

Movement: Baby is wriggling around like crazy and getting stronger! We can now see her moving and kicking!

Cravings: Food. Please. Food. I just need food! My sweet tooth has picked up, though it could be because there are so many yummy sweet treats that are fall-iscious.

Aversions: I've tried chicken, and it's okay...still not my favorite though.

Nausea/Morning sickness: No more! Just tired now, and constantly out of breath. Round ligament pain, itchy and stretchy skin, heartburn, some slight dizziness, and back pain, but nothing to complain about :)

Maternity clothes: Yes yes and yes. I love them. I'm definitely one of those women who is proud to wear my maternity pants. They're just too comfortable to pass up.

Best moment of the week: Spending the weekend with Jo's "aunts." We had a fun time with just us girls.

What I'm looking forward to: Finishing the nursery! Now that I know what we're having, nesting has kicked in full force.  The crib is up, but that's about it.

Friday's Letters

Dear Friday, I know I say this every week, but thank you for finally getting here. Dear Nap time, You might just be my favorite time of the day. Dear Hubs, I've loved spending so much time with you this week! I'm not looking forward to going back to normal schedules next week. Dear Pregnant Body, I'm sorry the past two days have been long and I've been on my feet more often than not, but please go easy on me. Dear Baby Girl, I love your kicks and I've been pinning all the cute things on Pinterest. I just can't help myself! You are going to one spoiled little girl! Dear Weekend, Please take your time. I don't want you to speed by like you always do. Dear Girl's Day Tomorrow, I look forward to sushi and fun times with y'all tomorrow!!

The neighbor's cat just lying around.

Almost, almost the weekend...

Here's a little something to get you over that Wednesday hump. It sure did make me smile.

Oh I just love the Muppets.

Ode to Pregnancy Emotions

Okay, so maybe not an ode. That just sounded good in the title.

But seriously, pregnancy emotions, what are you doing to me?! One minute I'm fine, the next I'm curled up in a ball on the couch crying and can barely contain myself, the next I'm mad at the world.

I hope I'm not the only one feeling this way. And when I get this way the only thing that seems to make it better is a Wendy's Frosty. 

I mean, just look at the yummy goodness. I dropped enough hints with the hubs, so let's see if he comes home from work with one. 

Anyway, I'm sitting here breathing deeply trying to get these emotions in check. I know they're not a true representation of how I'm feeling and they're all just out of wack because of these lovely things called hormones. But it's all worth it, right? The ups and downs will all be worth it once this baby girl is here!

Hiking

I love being outside. Well, let me rephrase that. I love being outside when the weather is lovely and there is a nice breeze and not so many bugs. This weekend the weather was lovely, though I could have done without some of those pesky gnats. So taking full advantage of the weekend, the hubs and I decided to go hiking. I absolutely love a good hike, and this was going to be the first pregnant hike. So we found where we wanted to take our little adventure to and set off. 

 It was such a beautiful day.

Ready to tackle those 2 miles! I was good until I had to go uphill, then it took me a little while. But I was ready for more when it was over! 

The original plan was to hike around the lake, unfortunately we couldn't find that trail. The one we hiked though was nice and shaded for us. The best part, no one else was there! 

We traveled to a little park a little way from the trail head. This canal was beautiful.

A great day hiking with the hubs. 

I can't wait until the next weekend we can go hiking again! Hopefully though we'll find a more rigorous hike, or at least a longer one. Those two miles just weren't long enough for me. Instead they left me itching for more! Now don't get me wrong, it wasn't an easy hike by all means. Going uphill left me out of breath and I had to take my time, but it was a lot of fun and it felt good to get out and moving.

23 Weeks!

How far along: 23 weeks 

Trimester: Last month of the Second Trimester!!!

Baby size: Mango - 11 inches long and over a pound!

Toes: They're getting harder and harder to see every day.

Gender: BABY GIRL!

Movement: Baby is wriggling around like crazy and getting stronger! We can now see her moving and kicking!

Cravings: Food. Please. Food. I just need food!

Aversions: I'm warming up to chicken, as long as it's fried. Good southern fried chicken does sound good at the moment.

Nausea/Morning sickness: No more! Just tired now, and constantly out of breath. Round ligament pain, itchy and stretchy skin, heartburn, some slight dizziness, and back pain, but nothing to complain about :)

Maternity clothes: Yes yes and yes. I love them. I'm definitely one of those women who is proud to wear my maternity pants. They're just too comfortable to pass up.

Best moment of the week: This fall weather! The leaves are changing and the breeze is cooling things off! Also, getting out and hiking. It felt good to go for a walk and just enjoy being outside. 

What I'm looking forward to: Finishing the nursery! Now that I know what we're having, nesting has kicked in full force.  The crib is up, but that's about it.

Friday's Letters

Little snippets of the little miss's nursery!

Dear Friday, Once again I am thankful you are here. It's been too long since I've last seen you. Dear Fall, You feel so good on my pregnant body! And the leaves are starting to change! I love this time of the year! Dear Hubs, I've missed you this week, but I'm glad it's the weekend and we get to spend time together! I'm just sorry neither of us are feeling very well. Let's hope we feel better so we can get out tomorrow and go hiking. Dear Baby Girl, I love feeling you kick! You've got some power behind those little moves. I've been obsessing over little girl clothes recently as well. You are going to be extra cute if I do say so myself! Dear Football, Again, I've missed you. Thank you for coming back in my life. Dear UGA Football Team,   Thank you for winning last weekend. Let's keep it up boys!

To Cloth or Not to Cloth, that is the question...

Whether 'tis nobler in mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune

Or to take arms against a sea of troubles

And by opposing end them.

Okay, enough of my Shakespeare rant. But I couldn't resist David Tennant as Hamlet. Amazing. Purely amazing. 

But seriously, to cloth or not to cloth? That has been the biggest question of my pregnancy and one I have been wrestling with for a while. Do we take the step and attempt to use cloth diapers or do we stick with the traditional disposable diapers. The heaviest weighing factor is the cost effectiveness. Disposable diapers cost a lot of money, around $2000 or more per child. But that cost is spread out over months. The cost of cloth diapers depends on the style of diaper that you buy and how many you buy. This is more of an upfront cost. But you can reuse diapers for each child you have. So it's only a one-time fee depending on how well you care for the diapers.

With the idea of me being a stay-at-home mom after this school year (this is the goal, we'll see if we make it - please pray that we do!), it shouldn't be too much trouble for me to keep up with a stack of cloth diapers and caring for the diapers. The thing would be getting a routine down (which I think I could do).

Everyone of my family members, especially the hubs, is against the idea. But the whole cost thing is really getting to me. I am trying my hardest to save as much money as I can, another thing helping me to get home for good. Of course I know there are coupons and I could coupon for inexpensive diapers, but I just don't know. There's something tugging at my gut that just leans towards the cloth!

Help! Do you lovely moms out there have opinions for me?! Advice? If I do go with cloth diapers, what should we go with? (Side note: I won't start officially cloth diapering until probably around 2 months or after we've established life at home with a new baby)

Any advice will be well taken and would be very much appreciated!

Seasonal Changes

This is my favorite time of the year, when summer turns into fall. The weather cools down, the humidity goes away, and the breeze picks up. I love sitting by the window with it open and have the cool breeze blowing through. The air is officially off in this house. We are solely cooling this house with fresh air. I love it! The fresh air smells amazing. Before we know it, it'll be cold enough to have a fire in the fireplace. I know I'm getting ahead of myself, but it'll be here sooner than later! 

Favorite things about fall:

The apple festival.

Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte

Berry College in the fall and the changing leaves.

Boots and scarves with skinny jeans and comfy sweaters.

My pregnant body is also saying thanks for the cooler weather. Last week my metabolism kicked up and my body is a 24/7 heat source. Thank you cool breeze for cooling me down!! A couple more days of that Georgia humidity would have killed me!

Never Forget

I was in 8th grade and it was time for band. I had left my flute in my lit class and was on my way to grab it. My teacher's television was on and I caught the first sight of damage done by the planes. Immediately I asked what had happened. The image on the screen was from the Pentagon and I had family that lived near there, so I was worried. She ignored my question and instead berated me for being in her classroom, though I wasn't breaking any rules. Instead of answering and telling me what happened, I had to go through the day worried and confused about what was going on. My mom came to pick my brother and I up early from school and the first thing I asked was to call my family. They were safe. Mom then had to explain to me what had happened. Part of me is still mad at my 8th grade lit teacher for treating me the way she did and not explaining it. The even could have been handled so much better. 

I'll never forget that day. Nor will I forget the men and women who sacrificed so much for our country.

22 Weeks!

How far along: 22 weeks 

Trimester: Last month of the Second Trimester!!!

Baby size: Spaghetti Squash - 11 inches and I have a feeling she's well over a pound.

Toes: They're getting harder and harder to see every day.

Gender: BABY GIRL!

Movement: Baby is wriggling around like crazy! But I'm not complaining, I'm loving it! I just can't wait until I can start seeing her move! 

Cravings: Food. Please. Food. I just need food!

Aversions: I'm warming up to chicken, as long as it's fried. Good southern fried chicken does sound good at the moment.

Nausea/Morning sickness: No more! Just tired now, and constantly out of breath. Round ligament pain, itchy and stretchy skin, heartburn, some slight dizziness, and back pain, but nothing to complain about :)

Maternity clothes: Yes yes and yes. I love them. I'm definitely one of those women who is proud to wear my maternity pants. They're just too comfortable to pass up.

Best moment of the week: UGA FOOTBALL!!!!!!!!!! But more seriously, the weather has officially cooled down! It's been so much easier on this pregnant and prone-to-being-incredibly-hot body. Fall is officially here and that means just one more season until this baby girl gets here!!

What I'm looking forward to: Finishing the nursery! Now that I know what we're having, nesting has kicked in full force.  The crib is up, but that's about it. 

Friday Letters

Dear Friday, Thank you for finally showing up. Dear Nap time, I'm beginning to really appreciate our time together. I don't think I could get through the day without you. Dear Baby Jo, I love your little kicks! Your crib is all set up. Now we just need a mattress and other essentials. But I love you! You're amazing and I love feeling your movements. You also have a very special stuffed bear that your Great Aunt got you. I've been cuddling with it. But honestly, I'm ready for you to be here to cuddle with. Dear Hubs, I'm so thankful for all that you've done for our family! You're working so hard and I'm so proud to have you by my side on this journey! Also, I'm excited that it's the weekend so we can spend some time together! Dear Football, I don't think it was a good idea for me to get pregnant during football season. All of the raging hormones on top of the stress from football can't be good for me. Dear UGA Football, You better win tomorrow or I may have a coronary. 

A little bow for our little girl :)

Linking up with

What's in a name?

The hubs and I have always known that naming our children would be important. We both have a strong sense of family ties and wanting to carry on family traditions. It might just be a southern thing, but we love to carry on and honor namesakes. So when it came time to choose a name for our little girl, we didn't hesitate. We knew what we would be naming her. Johanna Mary, or Jo for short. Johanna honors my great-grandmother on my father's side, though she spelled her name slightly different. Mary honors about six people on both my husband's and my side, including my mother-in-law. The nickname Jo honors my maternal grandfather and his father. 

I personally just love the name. It sounds good when said aloud and it just feels right in my heart.

21 Weeks and Gender Reveal!

How far along: 21 weeks 

Trimester: Second

Baby size: Carrot - 10 1/2 inches long and according to the last ultrasound weighs 14 ounces (we've got a fat baby!)

Toes: They're getting harder and harder to see every day.

Gender: BABY GIRL!

Movement: Baby is wriggling around like crazy! But I'm not complaining, I'm loving it!

Cravings: Food. Please. Food. I just need food!

Aversions: I still don't like chicken, but really it doesn't matter. I just want food nowadays, maybe that's why we've got a little chunk! 

Nausea/Morning sickness: No more! Just tired now, and constantly out of breath. Round ligament pain, itchy and stretchy skin, heartburn, and some slight dizziness, but nothing to complain about :)

Maternity clothes: Yes yes and yes. I love them. I'm definitely one of those women who is proud to wear my maternity pants. They're just too comfortable to pass up.

Best moment of the week: Finding out the gender and sharing the news with our family! It was awesome having them all in one place when we told them our news. Now just for her to get here!

What I'm looking forward to: Finishing the nursery! Now that I know what we're having, nesting has kicked in full force. My goal is to get the crib set up today so I can work on the smaller details and the cutesy stuff.

Here's a quick photo snapped at the reveal. Everyone was so excited and I was so nervous when we opened that box. Even though I knew what was inside, I still had butterflies. But everyone is so excited. I'll have more pictures documenting the day later. One of my best friends is an amazing photographer and so she captured it all for us. I can't wait to see the pictures and share them all!