Baby Shower Gifts

While I'm still going through the close to 200 photos from my baby shower, I thought I'd share a few of the gifts we received off of our registry. We got so many amazing gifts and a ton of clothes (baby girl will not want or need clothes for quite a while), but I thought I'd share some of the bigger items that I can't wait to try out this time around. Even with this being my second child, there were things I knew I wanted, that I didn't necessarily have with Jackson, or that I needed in the girl version. :-) Some things that I already have from Jackson, that I plan on using again are the pack n' play, high chair, baby swing, infant bath tub and bouncer, so there was no need to register for them again.

First and Foremost, the Fisher-Price Deluxe Newborn Rock and Play Sleeper

I borrowed one of these from a friend, when Jackson was a newborn. He loved it and slept in it in our room until he was around 4 or 5 months old. It beats any bassinet because it contours to their body and makes them feel snuggled and secure. It's also easy to fold up and move to a different room in the house throughout the day. I would highly recommend the Rock and Play to any and all new parents!

Second, we received this Motorola Digital Video Baby Monitor set and I'm so excited to try it out. We just had a regular set of monitors for Jackson and there were so many times I wished that we had a video monitor. Even now at 2 years old, I wish we had a video monitor in his room.

Third, the MyBaby by Homedics SoundSpa - Lullaby Relaxation Machine

We have this exact Sound Machine for Jackson and it has been great for his sleeping. 

Fourth, this Carters Diaper Bag. I have a smaller diaper bag that I've been using for Jackson for quite some time, but I knew it wouldn't hold everything I needed for both kids and I don't really want have to carry around 2 diaper bags. So I decided to register for this bag. I love it because it doesn't look like a regular diaper bag and it is gender neutral so I feel like I can use it for both kids. Plus it has a ton of pockets, both inside and out, and it has straps on the inside that can button to your stroller, making it easy to travel with when you're out and about!

Fifth, is a set of Summer Infant Swaddle Me's. I had one or two of these with Jackson and he just loved being all swaddled up when he was first born. These make it so easy to get them swaddled up and they are so cute too.

And I thought I'd also share a couple of items that we didn't receive that I'd still like to have.

First, a Double Stroller. We have a single Graco Stroller that we've used with Jackson. It came as a set with his infant carseat. However, I will now need a stroller that both kids can ride in when I'm out and about on my own. So I registered for the Graco DuoGlider Classic Connect Double Stroller. My sister recovered Jackson's infant carseat to make it more girly, so I needed to stay with the Graco Brand and this one seemed like it would be a good match with Avery's carseat and yet still gender neutral for Jackson.

Second, (and this is not really something I need per-say, but something that would be nice to try), A Boppy Newborn and Infant Lounger. I have a Boppy pillow from when Jackson was a baby and I received a "girly" cover for it to re-use it this time around. But when I saw this lounger, I loved it. It's a great idea because when you use a regular Boppy pillow to lay your baby in, the baby gradually slides out the bottom, but the lounger doesn't allow that to happen.

So these are a few of the things I'm excited to try with Avery and a couple of items I still need/want to get. Do you have any other baby items you would recommend that I don't have on this list?

33 Week Bumpdate

How Far Along: 33 Weeks (6 more weeks to go!)

(You can check out my 33 week post from when I was pregnant with Jackson here.)

 Size of Baby: (According to babycenter.com) 33 weeks: Your baby is about the size of a pineapple, measuring 17-plus inches from head to heel and weighing a little over 4 pounds. Your baby is rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and her skeleton is hardening. 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: 29 pounds total. I had a Dr. appt. yesterday and finally asked what my total weight gain was. 

Maternity Clothes: Yes, all maternity clothes and growing out of some of them. :-( I am so ready to be back in normal clothes again.

Gender: Its a GIRL!! Our sweet Avery Rose.

Movement: Yes, she's moving around quite a bit, and I love it. Her movements are getting bigger and stronger too.

Food Cravings: No real cravings this week, just really thirsty as I've been this entire pregnancy.

What I miss: Just being able to do normal things without feeling tired or out of breath. I also miss being able to wear my wedding rings, which I haven't been able to wear for quite some time now. :-(

Sleep: Not great. I'm having to get up several times a night to use the restroom and just can't seem to get comfortable sometimes.

Symptoms: Just feeling very tired and huge. :-( I'm also having a few Braxton Hicks contractions and a few cramps in the evenings, (which my Dr. said not to worry about unless I have 4 or more in an hour, which I haven't).

Best Moment this week: My sweet Baby Shower that my family gave us over the weekend! It was so great and I can't thank everyone enough for all the hard work they put into it and all the wonderful gifts we receieved!! I will be doing a post later this week to tell you all about it. 

We also got the last piece of furniture in for the nursery. So Saturday, my dad came over after the shower and put the chest of drawers together. My mom and sister also helped get all the gifts that we got from the shower organized in her nursery and I got all of her clothes, socks and blankets washed and ready to go.

What I am looking forward to: Getting the last few decorations hung to complete the nursery and of course, meeting her on (or before) April 28th!! :-)

32 Week Bumpdate and We Have a Name!!!

How Far Along: 32 Weeks (7 more weeks to go!)

(You can check out my 32 week post from when I was pregnant with Jackson here.)

 Size of Baby: (According to babycenter.com) 32 weeks: By now, your baby weighs 3 3/4 pounds (about the size of a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: I'm not entirely sure. I had a dr. appt. last Monday, but they didn't say and I didn't ask. I'm not sure I really want to know. ;-)

Maternity Clothes: Yes, all maternity clothes and growing out of some of them. :-( I am so ready to be back in normal clothes again. 

Gender: Its a GIRL, and she finally has a name!!

It was a challenge agreeing on a name for this baby. Avery Rose was a name I loved and wanted to use if we ever had a girl way back when we were trying to get pregnant with Jackson. I had 2 names picked out at that point. Jackson Thomas for a boy (who would have the same initials as Jake) and Avery Rose for a girl, (who would have the same initials as me). Jake wasn't a huge fan of the name Avery, so when we started talking about girl names again during this pregnancy, I didn't really even bring it up. However, one night while we were driving to church, Jake mentioned that he liked the name Avery (like he had come up with it on his own and I had never mentioned it before, LOL). So we added it to the list of several other names we liked. We finally had it narrowed down to Lyla Rose and Avery Rose a week or so ago. (Rose was my Great Grandmother's name and a name both Jake and I really loved for a middle name.) I loved both names, but the fact that she will have my initials with the name Avery Rose tipped the scale for us. :-)

Movement: Yes, she's moving around quite a bit now, and I love it. Her movements are getting bigger and stronger too.

Food Cravings: No real cravings this week, just really thirsty as I've been this entire pregnancy.

What I miss: Just being able to do normal things without feeling tired or out of breath. I also miss being able to wear my wedding rings, which I haven't been able to wear for quite some time now. :-(

Sleep: Not great. I'm having to get up several times a night to use the restroom and just can't seem to get comfortable sometimes.

Symptoms: A growing belly, and some sciatic nerve pain that really only seems to hurt when I over do it. I'm also having a few Braxton Hicks contractions here and there and I've also had a little bit of heartburn in the evenings. Thankfully Tums seem to be helping with that a lot. I also have a sharp, burning pain under my right ribs that I also had when I was pregnant with Jackson, but that seems to be getting better too. Just feeling big and getting to that uncomfortable stage where I'm just ready for it to be over.

Best Moment this week: Getting a majority of the furniture put together and up in Avery's nursery thanks to my Dad, Mom and Sister, and doing some decorating in her sweet room. I can't wait to see it all finished. It's looking so cute. Here's a little sneak peek of what we have done so far.

My sister recovered the chair and made the pillow in the chair. We got the side table, crib, mattress and changing pad in last week/weekend so I got that all put together (with some help). My sister also made the crib bedding so while she was over yesterday, we put that in the crib and I just love it so much!! She made the valance and we got the cutest matching rod from Hobby Lobby, so my dad got that all hung up for me yesterday as well. I made the mobile hanging over the crib on Saturday evening and my sister is in the process of finishing up the second piece of bunting that will finish up the wall above the crib. We are still waiting on the chest of drawers (which should arrive this week) and I also have some more decorating to do. I will take better pictures and do a full Nursery Reveal in detail once its all finished. :-)

 

What I am looking forward to: Getting her nursery all done, my baby shower this Saturday and of course meeting her on (or before) April 28th!! :-)

31 Week Bumpdate

How Far Along: 31 Weeks (8 more weeks to go!)

(You can check out my 31 week post from when I was pregnant with Jackson here.)

  Size of Baby: (According to babycenter.com) 31 weeks: This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. She weighs about 3 1/3 pounds (about the size of a coconut) and is heading into a growth spurt. She can turn her head from side to side, and her arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath her skin. She's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

 Total Weight Gain/Loss: I'm not entirely sure. I had a dr. appt. yesterday, but they didn't say and I didn't ask. I'm not sure I really want to know. ;-)

Maternity Clothes: Yes, all maternity clothes.

Gender: Its a GIRL!!!

Movement: Yes, she's moving around quite a bit now, and I love it.

Food Cravings: No real cravings this week, just really thirsty as I've been this entire pregnancy.

What I miss: Just being able to do normal things without feeling tired or out of breath. I also miss being able to wear my wedding rings, which I haven't been able to wear for quite some time now. :-(

Sleep: Not great. I'm having to get up several times a night to use the restroom and just can't seem to get comfortable sometimes.

Symptoms: A growing belly, and some sciatic nerve pain that really only seems to hurt when I over do it. I'm also having a few Braxton Hicks contractions here and there and I've also had a little bit of heartburn in the evenings. Thankfully Tums seem to be helping with that a lot. I also have a sharp, burning pain under my right ribs that I also had when I was pregnant with Jackson. Not really sure what it is, but it comes and goes.

Best Moment this week: A nice visit with Jake's Great Grandma and his Grandpa in Kansas City Saturday, getting to hear Sweet Girl's heartbeat yesterday at my Dr. appt. and ordering all the nursery furniture today. :-)

 

What I am looking forward to: Deciding on a definite name for baby girl and getting her nursery all done. I'm also looking forward to my baby shower on the 15th and of course meeting her on (or before) April 28th!! :-)

Project 52 2014: Week 9

"A portrait of Jackson, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Taking a bath Tuesday evening. :-)

 *Linking up with Practising Simplicity.*

A Storybook Photography Photo Session - Baby Lily

Earlier this month, a friend of ours had a beautiful baby girl. She lives out of state, but came into town for a baby shower her Mom was giving her. As part of her shower gift, I offered to take a few photos of the baby after the shower was over. Baby Lily slept through almost he whole shower, but of course, decided to be awake and hungry when it came time to take her pictures. So my friend Holly fed her and tried to get her back to sleep, but we were losing daylight and had to take a few where she was awake. Regardless, I think we got a few good shots and I had lots of fun loving on sweet baby Lily.

I just love this sweet smile she gave us while she was sleeping. ♥

30 Week Bumpdate

How Far Along: 30 Weeks (9 more weeks to go!)

(You can check out my 30 week post from when I was pregnant with Jackson here.)

  Size of Baby: (According to babycenter.com) 30 weeks: Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now and weighs almost 3 pounds (about the size of a large cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will shrink as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face.

 Total Weight Gain/Loss: Right around 25 pounds.

Maternity Clothes: Yes, all maternity clothes.

Gender: Its a GIRL!!!

Movement: Yes, she's moving around quite a bit now, and I love it.

Food Cravings: No real cravings this week, just really thirsty as I've been this entire pregnancy.

What I miss: Just being able to do normal things without feeling tired or out of breath. I also miss being able to wear my wedding rings, which I haven't been able to wear for quite some time now. :-(

Sleep: Having to get up several times a night to use the restroom and just can't seem to get comfortable sometimes. I did get to take a nap yesterday afternoon, which was great!

Symptoms: A growing belly, and some sciatic nerve pain that really only seems to hurt when I over do it. I'm also having a few Braxton Hicks contractions here and there and I've also had a little bit of heartburn in the evenings. Thankfully Tums seem to be helping with that a lot. I also have a sharp, burning pain under my right ribs that I also had when I was pregnant with Jackson. Not really sure what it is, but it comes and goes.

Best Moment this week: Jake and I had a date night Friday night which was long overdue and Jackson stayed all night with my parents. :-) The weather was super nice on Saturday, so we were able to spend some time outside in our friends backyard for their son's birthday party. My sister also got the last bit of the bedding done for the nursery, so now all she has left to make is the valance and the bunting and it will be completely done!! My dad has also gotten the nursery painted and is almost done with the trim work. Here is a picture of a corner of the room that's all finished. :-) The picture doesn't do it justice at all, but you get the basic idea.

 

What I am looking forward to: Deciding on a definite name for baby girl and getting her nursery all done. I'm also looking forward to my baby shower next month and of course meeting her on (or before) April 28th!! :-)