August 26, 2013
August 23, 2013
nursery update
Last week we put some finishing touches on the nursery.
Although technically the true finishing touches can't be completed until our little babe makes his or her appearance.
We added a photo collage above the dresser as well as a shelf for some future pictures and little decorative additions.
Here is a close-up of our little photo collage...
{please excuse the poor quality of photo... it was difficult to get a photo without glare and you may notice my pretty awesome workout shirt reflected in one of the frames. Literally. It says pretty awesome. Lately workout clothes have gotten interesting...}
{1} I had this print picked out for sometime. I thought it was pretty perfect for our situation and I don't know if I could say it any better.
{2} It's pretty obvious at this point that Baby McQuinn is going to grow up a dog lover, so when Grandma Schoenfelder (my mom) found this dog, it had a reserved space on the wall.
{3} I had seen several similar prints on Etsy of different states and countries, so I thought it only appropriate that we have a bit of Colombia in the nursery After cutting out the country of Colombia, I added a little heart to the location of Cartagena. Right now it is taped on some coral paper for the background. There is also a green background waiting to be displayed. Coral for girl, green for boy. I'm still under the assumption that Georgie is a little boy, but displayed the coral for the time being.
{4} Aunt Minnie sent a print for Baby McQuinn that we love. 'My love will fly to you each night on angel's wings', which are lyrics from a Dixie Chicks song. I always said there were certain Dixie Chicks songs that would be lullabies for my babies. This is one of them. So it's pretty special...
{5} When Matt and I were in Cartagena, we took the opportunity to take a few maternity photos. Two of these photos made the wall, a solo photo and one of the 'three' of us.
{6} Obviously Bella was going to make the wall. After all, they are best friends.
{7} Grandma McQuinn, Matt's mom, gave us this great frame as a shower gift. It has a kit to make a handprint and footprint of the babe and a spot for a perfect newborn photo. I've already got plans for the accent colors in the frame once George is here. And I imagine using the kit to get that perfect little handprint and footprint will make for an memorable project.
{8} See 5.
We also have plans to hang little baby McQuinn's first initial above the crib.
This little cabinet is stocked with fun little toys we've found along the way and lots and lots of blankets that make my heart melt.
I love spending time in this room. Folding itty bitty baby clothes and looking at all the baby gear waiting to be used.
While there are a few details left to attend to, this nursery is ready to see it's baby.
And so are we.
Although technically the true finishing touches can't be completed until our little babe makes his or her appearance.
We added a photo collage above the dresser as well as a shelf for some future pictures and little decorative additions.
Here is a close-up of our little photo collage...
{please excuse the poor quality of photo... it was difficult to get a photo without glare and you may notice my pretty awesome workout shirt reflected in one of the frames. Literally. It says pretty awesome. Lately workout clothes have gotten interesting...}
{1} I had this print picked out for sometime. I thought it was pretty perfect for our situation and I don't know if I could say it any better.
{2} It's pretty obvious at this point that Baby McQuinn is going to grow up a dog lover, so when Grandma Schoenfelder (my mom) found this dog, it had a reserved space on the wall.
{3} I had seen several similar prints on Etsy of different states and countries, so I thought it only appropriate that we have a bit of Colombia in the nursery After cutting out the country of Colombia, I added a little heart to the location of Cartagena. Right now it is taped on some coral paper for the background. There is also a green background waiting to be displayed. Coral for girl, green for boy. I'm still under the assumption that Georgie is a little boy, but displayed the coral for the time being.
{4} Aunt Minnie sent a print for Baby McQuinn that we love. 'My love will fly to you each night on angel's wings', which are lyrics from a Dixie Chicks song. I always said there were certain Dixie Chicks songs that would be lullabies for my babies. This is one of them. So it's pretty special...
{5} When Matt and I were in Cartagena, we took the opportunity to take a few maternity photos. Two of these photos made the wall, a solo photo and one of the 'three' of us.
{6} Obviously Bella was going to make the wall. After all, they are best friends.
{7} Grandma McQuinn, Matt's mom, gave us this great frame as a shower gift. It has a kit to make a handprint and footprint of the babe and a spot for a perfect newborn photo. I've already got plans for the accent colors in the frame once George is here. And I imagine using the kit to get that perfect little handprint and footprint will make for an memorable project.
{8} See 5.
We also have plans to hang little baby McQuinn's first initial above the crib.
This little cabinet is stocked with fun little toys we've found along the way and lots and lots of blankets that make my heart melt.
I love spending time in this room. Folding itty bitty baby clothes and looking at all the baby gear waiting to be used.
While there are a few details left to attend to, this nursery is ready to see it's baby.
And so are we.
August 19, 2013
August 14, 2013
classes
Last night I attended a class about breast feeding.
My mother was my supporting partner.
It was an interesting class, with a lot of review from things I have read, but I took away some key ideas and got a few questions answered.
I was equally as interested in analyzing the other individuals/couples
as I am sure they analyzed me & my supporting partner.
One of the drawbacks of our 'situation' is not having Matt to attend these classes with me. While I share all the information with him and we discuss each class, both the content and the attendees, it just seems like the classes are something you do together, a sort of prerequisite to first-time parenting.
However, I feel thankful I have a mother who is willing to step in and play the role of my supporting partner in these classes.
Despite the awkward videos, relaxation exercises, and role playing of birth.
Last night we received certificates of completion for the class.
Each couple received one certificate, with both of their names on it.
Not mom and I.
We each received our own.
Take notice of our matching last names.
Yep.
My mother was my supporting partner.
It was an interesting class, with a lot of review from things I have read, but I took away some key ideas and got a few questions answered.
I was equally as interested in analyzing the other individuals/couples
as I am sure they analyzed me & my supporting partner.
One of the drawbacks of our 'situation' is not having Matt to attend these classes with me. While I share all the information with him and we discuss each class, both the content and the attendees, it just seems like the classes are something you do together, a sort of prerequisite to first-time parenting.
However, I feel thankful I have a mother who is willing to step in and play the role of my supporting partner in these classes.
Despite the awkward videos, relaxation exercises, and role playing of birth.
Last night we received certificates of completion for the class.
Each couple received one certificate, with both of their names on it.
Not mom and I.
We each received our own.
Take notice of our matching last names.
Yep.
August 12, 2013
August 8, 2013
a bella boxer birthday
Today someone turned 7.
It's hard to believe Bella Rose is 7,
but then I think about all the memories we've made with her and I notice her grey hair.
Today we went for a nice morning walk,
made a trip to Petsmart to pick out some birthday toys,
and stopped at River Dog Bakery to pick up some birthday treats.
4 birthday bones and 3 pupcake balls...
4 birthday bones because Bella got one in the afternoon and then shared the other three with her friends after dinner.
I'm not sure what next year, the golden birthday, will bring as things are bound to change with our new arrival. But this little boxer baby will always have a special place in our hearts as our first furry babe.
Happy Birthday Bella.
xo
It's hard to believe Bella Rose is 7,
but then I think about all the memories we've made with her and I notice her grey hair.
Today we went for a nice morning walk,
made a trip to Petsmart to pick out some birthday toys,
and stopped at River Dog Bakery to pick up some birthday treats.
4 birthday bones and 3 pupcake balls...
4 birthday bones because Bella got one in the afternoon and then shared the other three with her friends after dinner.
I'm not sure what next year, the golden birthday, will bring as things are bound to change with our new arrival. But this little boxer baby will always have a special place in our hearts as our first furry babe.
Happy Birthday Bella.
xo
August 6, 2013
five things
{1}
Ruby accompanies my parents to work each day, so during the week, when I am not out, I spend my days with these two.
They totally make me wish I had a dog in Cartagena.
Then I remember that the next time I return to Colombia, I've got a pretty great little companion in our little George.
{2}
Speaking of Georgie, can I just say how much I loved that the future King of England's name is George.
{3}
My great-grandma Sara had plans to visit some family in the midwest, so we picked her up on our road trip to Iowa and she made the trip with us. It was pretty special to spend quality time with this 94 year old beauty. Hearing her stories of birth and babies past made me thankful to be pregnant in 2013.
{4}
Bella really likes her pillows, including the pregnancy pillow.
I don't blame her.
{5}
My mom bought Matt a special little baby shower gift.
When I sent him the picture, I had no idea how thrilled he would be.
Pretty ecstatic as he apparently had a secret wish that George's first collegiate gear would be Iowa. This and the recent report of Iowa being ranked as the number one party school, has him dreaming of George attending his alma mater.
Which is totally okay with me...
as long as it's the alma mater that his college diploma came from.
August 5, 2013
August 3, 2013
a baby shower
We're back from a week long stay in Iowa.
My bags are unpacked, the nursery has been organized with many new adorable additions, Bella has been working on getting her fill of attention, and my personal engineering skills have been put to the test in constructing baby gear {a job that will forever remain my husbands when he is available}.
But mostly I've been soaking up the love that George and I felt last weekend at a baby shower.
When Kathleen shared with me that the baby shower had a "Oh, the Places You'll Go" theme, I loved the idea of a travel inspired theme as traveling will be such a big part of our little George's first year... or years.
The girls did a great job decorating with adorable pom pom trees as center pieces and Dr. Seuss quotes.
At each place setting there was a baby bootie filled with goodies, that was actually themed from George's nursery {thanks mom!} and a card of baby wishes for each guest to complete, which is a sweet addition to the baby book.
And the cake... oh the cake.
Kathleen found a local bakery and they worked together to create this adorable perfect pastry.
The diaper bag is modeled after the diaper bag I have and each little adorable baby item was edible.
I think my favorite was the passport.
You could actually see the inside pages of the passport, which amazed me and it melts my heart a bit to think that our little Georgie will have his or her own baby passport.
It was a beautiful day, made all the more special by the guests who attended. I was amazed by all the love in the room and my cup runneth over a bit to think that all these people came to celebrate George.
Friends traveled from all over and we we even able to celebrate with some family from out of town, including my grandmother and Aunt Sarah & cousin Lilly from Minnesota and Aunt Betty from South Dakota.
We enjoyed a lovely brunch style menu and the room was full of hugs and lots of friends and family catching up. Many friends brought their little ones, which I loved. It was fun to look at all their adorable faces, but also wonderful to look around the room and see how much our lives have changed.
Then came the time for gifts and goodness were we spoiled.
Enjoy the many expressions of Sarah opening baby gifts...
We received so many amazing and special gifts and you have no idea how much fun I had going through them again at home.
What wasn't so fun was figuring out how we were going to fit everything into the car for the trip home.
I think many of our guests who attended believed it couldn't be done, but somehow it was.
We couldn't have fit another diaper in that vehicle, but we made it work.
And my sister was an excellent future aunt as she had just enough room carved out in the backseat for her to sit... just for Georgie.
I had a baby shower high for the next 36 hours. I loved seeing so many special people and feeling all the love for our little darling.
My baby shower high lasted right through this...
Who am I kidding? I loved going through it all and organizing it.
I am so thankful to everyone who attended and helped to make it such a special day that will always be a special memory for me.
And now that it's over and there is a MamaRoo in the living room, a changing pad on the dresser and stocked diapers in the room, it's really starting to hit me that this little one we've been talking about, thinking about, and dreaming about, will be here.
Very soon.
My bags are unpacked, the nursery has been organized with many new adorable additions, Bella has been working on getting her fill of attention, and my personal engineering skills have been put to the test in constructing baby gear {a job that will forever remain my husbands when he is available}.
But mostly I've been soaking up the love that George and I felt last weekend at a baby shower.
When Kathleen shared with me that the baby shower had a "Oh, the Places You'll Go" theme, I loved the idea of a travel inspired theme as traveling will be such a big part of our little George's first year... or years.
The girls did a great job decorating with adorable pom pom trees as center pieces and Dr. Seuss quotes.
At each place setting there was a baby bootie filled with goodies, that was actually themed from George's nursery {thanks mom!} and a card of baby wishes for each guest to complete, which is a sweet addition to the baby book.
And the cake... oh the cake.
Kathleen found a local bakery and they worked together to create this adorable perfect pastry.
The diaper bag is modeled after the diaper bag I have and each little adorable baby item was edible.
I think my favorite was the passport.
You could actually see the inside pages of the passport, which amazed me and it melts my heart a bit to think that our little Georgie will have his or her own baby passport.
It was a beautiful day, made all the more special by the guests who attended. I was amazed by all the love in the room and my cup runneth over a bit to think that all these people came to celebrate George.
Friends traveled from all over and we we even able to celebrate with some family from out of town, including my grandmother and Aunt Sarah & cousin Lilly from Minnesota and Aunt Betty from South Dakota.
We enjoyed a lovely brunch style menu and the room was full of hugs and lots of friends and family catching up. Many friends brought their little ones, which I loved. It was fun to look at all their adorable faces, but also wonderful to look around the room and see how much our lives have changed.
Then came the time for gifts and goodness were we spoiled.
Enjoy the many expressions of Sarah opening baby gifts...
We received so many amazing and special gifts and you have no idea how much fun I had going through them again at home.
What wasn't so fun was figuring out how we were going to fit everything into the car for the trip home.
I think many of our guests who attended believed it couldn't be done, but somehow it was.
We couldn't have fit another diaper in that vehicle, but we made it work.
And my sister was an excellent future aunt as she had just enough room carved out in the backseat for her to sit... just for Georgie.
I had a baby shower high for the next 36 hours. I loved seeing so many special people and feeling all the love for our little darling.
My baby shower high lasted right through this...
Who am I kidding? I loved going through it all and organizing it.
I am so thankful to everyone who attended and helped to make it such a special day that will always be a special memory for me.
And now that it's over and there is a MamaRoo in the living room, a changing pad on the dresser and stocked diapers in the room, it's really starting to hit me that this little one we've been talking about, thinking about, and dreaming about, will be here.
Very soon.