Stroller Time!

We decided which stroller we were going to get a long time ago, but just ordered it yesterday. A lot of people have asked why they didn't see one on our registry....well, we are just snotty and special ordered ours from California...
(I found an awesome retailer in San Francisco that gives great deals when you order over the phone...and free shipping!)

As mentioned in a previous post, after living in Europe we fell in love with the more European-style stroller or "pram" and hope that the one we chose will last for multiple children and will prevent the need for 3 different kinds of strollers. We went with the Mutsy (sounds like moot-sie) 4Rider Single Spoke Stroller. The picture to the left obviously shows the "seat" and there is a large canopy that attaches as well. We did get it in "College Black".

We also opted to get the bassinet that attaches for when the little guy is very small. Our plan is to treat this also like a portable pack-n-play for sleeping while he still needs to be in our room, etc. The "carry-cot" detaches and attaches easily (I guess we'll find out when it comes in on MONDAY!) so again, theoretically this will work out well. (The frame in the picture is actually for the Mutsy "Urban Rider". Our front wheels are not that large, but are still air-inflated.)












This stroller could also be made into a "travel system" with the purchase of the Graco Car Seat adapter. (coming on Monday too). We already got our car seat a while ago because the color/design that we wanted has been discontinued, so we snatched it up before it became unavailable. It is the Graco Snugride in "Metropolitan". So, while Connor is very small, if he isn't in the bassinet, he'll likely be in the car seat which can snap right into the stroller frame.

One of the reasons we chose the Mutsy over the popular European "Quinny Buzz" is that it had the Graco car seat option as well as the fact that we could get a "dinner tray" as an accessory for the toddler seat. Most European strollers don't come with any kind of tray because European people don't tend to eat on-the-go like Americans do, so it isn't necessary. I can see that we would get a lot of use out of this little tray though, so it was one of the deciding factors. And I like the look of 4 wheels as opposed to 3, and the seat is larger so hopefully Connor will fit in it until he no longer needs a stroller.

Of course there are other accessories that we can purchase at a later date, but this is all we got for now. I had a very difficult time deciding between "college black" and "active black" (active looks like gray) so thankfully Brian made the decision....black black it is. Hopefully all the research done will pay off in the end. Most people would probably think I'm nuts for ordering something we'll use so much without ever even test-"driving" it. I guess I just have faith in the internet and in other people's reviews. We'll find out on Monday!

Connor's Room!

Connor's furniture came in today! Since I knew it was going to be delivered today, I couldn't help but get the other valance from Babies 'R Us yesterday and also found the wooden curtain rods I'd been looking for to hang up the valances. I just knew I would want it to look as "done" as possible when the furniture arrived today!

I am very pleased with how everything turned out. Brian and I only put the crib and hutch in every possible configuration. I'm not sure that the crib will stay in front of the windows as it is now, but for now...it is fine. We are also going to use the dresser and hutch as a changing table, so I will have to take out the bottom shelf, but again...for now, it is fine.

I love all the bold colors and the fact that it looks like a little man's room. Let's just hope the ultrasound technician was right and we are really having a boy! It would take a lot of work to girl-up this room!

Obviously, the room isn't 100% complete, but for just getting the furniture today, I am very pleased with the outcome. I'll have to take some truly completed pictures at a later date, and during the day too. For now...I hope you all approve!

A Little Bored...

I promise I am not trying to set some sort of record like...."how many posts can I have in the month of June???" I'm just a little bored.

I am tired, and yet I can't sleep. I don't feel like painting anything at the moment and I just finished making Brian 2 little cakes to take to some hospital in the morning. Of course I made a tiny one for me to have tonight too... :)

There isn't much to report, but I did have a Dr. appt. today. It was my first appointment with an actual doctor in Ohio. It was also the first guy that I've seen. I don't care and he was super nice. He has long, grey hair and yet he is balding....a very strange combination, I know. He was also very tan and had on his scrub booties over his shoes. I'm not sure why I thought this was so odd, but I did...I was just in an office, not an actual hospital. Anyway, it was fun to get to hear Connor's heart beat again. Although he didn't time it exactly, the doc said it sounded great at about 120-125 bpm. I am also measuring 30-31 cm, which is great for being 31 weeks and 2 days pregnant. This alone proves to Brian that I am not "too small". I know that I am not huge and I don't claim to be. I eat when I am hungry, but have not been stuffing myself for the last 31 weeks, so what do you expect? As long as the doctors are pleased with my weight, size and general health of the baby, then I am a happy camper.

When Dr. Mitchell measured me, I mentioned that Connor really likes to hang out on the right side, but I couldn't tell what was what....head, butt, etc. So, after he finished doing all the stuff he needed to do, he poked and prodded to see if he could tell me what I was feeling. He agreed immediately that he is "all on the right" which is why I feel like my stomach looks lopsided most of the time! Of course I don't know if he is right, but doc gave me his best guess of how he was positioned: Connor's head was down, and then his back kind of goes across diagonally to the right. The pain I feel/felt when I slouched was likely knees under my right ribs. Anyway, I was tickled to hear anything like that. I've seen plenty of pictures, but how am I supposed to know how he is all scrunched up in there without an actual ultrasound? I don't think we are going to get a 3-D ultrasound. After my routine 20-week one I felt pretty weird for a while and almost like we somehow disturbed him, so I guess we'll just wait to see all of his little features in person....less than 9 weeks to go (hopefully)!

On a totally different note...house stuff:
We got our couches on Monday and I really love them. They are big and comfy and fit really well in the space. I was worried about how dark they are, but I actually think they are just perfect. We got our TV on Tuesday night. I am currently looking at it, sitting in front of our fireplace.....not even plugged in. The cable people will be here between 2:00-4:00 tomorrow. Woo-Hoo! Once we get it all hooked up, we'll figure out how to mount it above the fireplace. I found a great rug for this room at Lowes on clearance last night. It is a very big (almost 8'x11') modern looking, oriental rug that has lots of browns, some blue and green. The big size allows it to go completely in front of both couches which is great, but our coffee table just looks like it si floating a little. When my mom and dad drive up when the baby comes I think they are going to bring us one of their coffee tables....it should work well and won't be as much of a hazard to the baby as our glass-top. Anyway, the only glitch in the rug is that it was rolled up for a very long time and for some reason there was a band of plastic wrapped around the middle of it (not just the outside) and we can't seem to get all the fibers to go the same way...so it looks funny. Any ideas on getting these out? I really love it, but if they won't come out then I'm going to have to return it. They had a few others (of this same style) but they were packaged the same so I don't know why they'd be any different than this one. I also hung 3 valances across the windows in the family room. I really like the way they turned out, but now I've got to figure out something in the kitchen....wasn't so pleased with that attempt! Oh well. At least I'm developing good relationships with the Lowe's employees. :)

BEST PAINT AWARD: VALSPAR FLAT INTERIOR Paint (previously called "American Tradition", available at Lowe's)

I got 2 gallons of a medium quality ("Classic 99") paint from Sherwin Williams prior to my marathon paint excursion at Lowes and I am much more pleased with the Lowes paint....and it was a lot cheaper too! The Valspar has a thicker consistency (still like water compared to German paint...crazy!) and it covers extremely well. I bought 2 gallons of paint for our family room and now I've got about 1.25 gallons left. I never dreamed that a medium tan could cover a graphite gray color in one coat! I had to do a little touching up here and there, but I can't find any areas that need a full second coat. The color is exactly what I thought it was going to be and the flat finish looks smooth and almost a little like a suede or something similar. So, there ya go...my first product placement on this blog.

Ok, I guess that is all for now. Sorry there are no pictures of the house. If you want to see it...COME VISIT!! The doors are always open...frequently literally.

Baby Bump Progression: 15, 19, 23, 27, & 31

(click on the image to see it larger)

Obviously the background changed since we moved, but I am still in front of the same cubby/bookcase thing. Sorry about the lighting behind me. Oh well.

This shirt is getting tighter and tighter. I'm afraid the cable knit will be stretched out for good! Only 2 more pictures in the series and Connor should be here!

"Baby" Steps — Connor's Nursery

Amid the chaos of getting ready for the packers and movers that will be here in less than a week, we are also having to keep all of our baby ducks in a row. So, after organizing all of the important documents we might need for closing and just traveling in general, I ordered the baby furniture!

After a ton of research, many questions (thank you Nikki and Alissa!), and price comparisons we decided to go with the Munire Majestic furniture line in "Cabernet" - a very deep cherry finish. I never expected baby furniture to be an investment, but at this point, that is exactly what it is. We will likely send Connor away to college with this furniture --- at least he can have it as a grown-up if he pleases. We purchased the "flat back" crib, combo dresser and hutch for our little man..not the armoire that is also pictured to the right. The crib converts to a toddler/day bed and then to a full-sized bed. (We went ahead and bought the conversion rails for this after the very nice woman at the store scared me out of waiting....what if the line discontinues, they change the hardware, or he decides he is too big for the crib and we have to wait 10 weeks for the rails to come in????) At least we got 10% off the entire purchase! So, although he is not even born yet, we are ready for him to be a teenager. :)

A lot of people have been asking me about color schemes for the nursery. Brian and I fell in love with the bedding at Babies 'R Us and bought it (and the mobile) 3 days after we found out we were having a BOY! It is the Nojo "My Little MVP" collection and we hope that it too will grow with our little guy. It is certainly baby appropriate, but is not "cutsie". The set came with a quilt (we will hang on the wall....we know it is a safety hazard), 1 window valance, crib sheet, dust ruffle, diaper stacker, and bumper. We've registered for one more window valance, the hamper and the lampshade, but that should do it. I already love it, but think I will prefer the way the set looks on our dark wood furniture. (The green is a much nicer shade in person...much darker and not so minty at all!)

I'm not sure about wall color just yet, but we'll probably keep it a neutral tan/beige that goes with the bedding and looks nice with the furniture. Thankfully, we've got a little time to figure that out. I just had to order the furniture now because it could take up to 12 weeks to come in! (Babies are not for procrastinators!) The store we ordered the furniture from is in Ohio and they are going to deliver, assemble and remove all the trash for $89! Since we don't have a truck and the dresser and hutch come fully assembled, this was very appealing.

So, until we are actually in our little house and are settled, you can just use your imagination and the aid of these internet pictures to create your own visual of what Connor's room will end up looking like. We also hope to get an upholstered glider/rocker and ottoman, and we still need to get the mattress, but then he'll be all set.

Popsicle Kisses, and Big Bear Hugs....

Little red wagons, and jars full of bugs,
Grass stains, football games, lots of toys,
Oh the joy....WE'RE HAVING A BOY!

Our little guy decided to show off at the very beginning of our ultrasound today! Brian spotted the "goods" before the ultrasound tech even mentioned it. Her response was, "It is definitely NOT a girl!"

I already love that little nose!

Check out that mitt! :) One of the first things Brian said was, "I get to coach T-Ball!"

Brian's reaction to the news of the little guy! (I honestly think he would have been just as excited about a little girl.)





Apparently he is "very well endowed" according to the tech....he has a proud father. :)Look at those adorable little feet!

We couldn't be more excited and it was so fun to see his perfect little hands, feet and a beautiful little nose. His heart, brain, and everything else looks fantastic. He is weighing in at 12 oz. and is perfectly happy inside his current home.

The whole ultrasound that was supposed to take 30 minutes ended up taking an entire hour. Our little munchkin was very happy where he was and didn't feel like flipping around. I had to rotate all over the table and then sit up for a while to try to get him to move his head. Thus, when this picture was taken. I must say that I am proud because the tech said he probably wasn't responding to all the poking and proding because my stomach muscles are still "taut"....I'm proud! He finally did decide to cooperate and we got the pictures of the 4 chambers of his heart that we needed.

According to BabyCenter.com, at 20 weeks the baby is the length of a banana...head to toe, no longer bump to rump.

We are going out to eat to celebrate....Brian says this kid needs steak.

We found these at TJMaxx on our way home from our celebration dinner (we walked...Longhorn is close)! These are celebratory shoes!

9 Week Ultrasound Pictures

I thought this would be easy for everyone to check on periodically to see the progress of the baby. :)

I personally think it is hilarious that almost all books that help track pregnancy compare the baby's size to produce. This week, the baby is currently the size of a GRAPE!
(image by BabyCenter.com)

We are currently anxiously awaiting our next ultrasound to find out if we are having a little boy or a little girl, but we still have a few more weeks for that. I thought I'd go ahead and post our little munchkin's first pictures ever.

Isn't he/she "cute". :) Sonogram pictures from 22 January 2008.