Gathering the First Twigs

I don't think I'm fully into the whole "nesting" thing yet, but I think it is beginning.  I love spending time in Jonah's room and I especially love crossing things off of the to-do list!

Last week, Jesse and I went to Cincinnati to the huge IKEA store.  We had such a good day! It was a great trip and we ended up spending more than we had planned (which is always a sign of a good shopping trip, right?)

We ended up buying the Poang Chair, but we got a more expensive better chair pad for it.  I didn't like the look of the red one once we were in the store.  I thought it looked more orange online, but it was very red in person.  So, I selected a higher quality green one instead.  The chair is a lot more comfy than it looks.  I think, with some pillows, it will be a great nursing chair.  I don't think it will really get used a whole lot, so I didn't want to spend $400 on a comfy rocker.

We also bought an Expedit Bookcase, and 2 orange Kassett Box sets to go inside the bookcase.  I love the way this looks in front of the window, like a window-seat!  Now I just have to get busy sewing some pillows!

Another IKEA purchase was the gray abstract floral rug.  I really love the way it brings the room together.  I can't wait to see it with the crib!

At IKEA, we also bought some curtains (which aren't up yet due to the lack of a curtain rod) and we bought 6 identical natural wood picture frames.  I plan on taking illustrations from the children's book, Caps for Sale, and framing them to hang above the crib, similar to this  (I'll post pictures of mine later as the project progresses)

Here is a sneak-peek of Jonah's room.  I've only just been playing around with the placement of things, so it is likely to change a lot.  It was dark (obviously) when I took these, so I may do a re-take during daylight this weekend and post them soon.

The orange throw was bought by my mom...I love it and it is SO soft! She also bought the cute orange lamp.  I bought the orange teddy bear....and I made the "Snips & Snails" print using my computer and my incredible art skills.

I also have been practicing my sewing skills.  I made this whale softie for Jonah, too.

Second Ultrasound

This past week I had my second ultrasound.  The first time they were unable to get photos of Jonah's heart.  His position and the fact that he kept flopping around prevented them from getting the information that they needed.  So, they rescheduled me for a month later.  This ultrasound was a lot less exciting, but I was still really excited to get to see him again!

This time, they were able to get the photos of his heart (although, it took awhile and I was getting nervous!) but, unfortunately, we didn't get a good look at his face.  No yawns this time, but we did get to see him put up his 1st finger like he was saying "I'm number 1!"   That was pretty neat.  We did get a photo of that.

I feel like there are a lot of things I need to do now! I really can't wait to get the nursery together.  Jesse and I are planning a trip to Ikea to get some things. I'm thinking about getting some bookcases and a Poang chair.  The crib I want is from Amazon and they are currently out of stock.  I can't wait to order it!

Soon I'm going to start sewing a valance for his window.  I bought some fabric (some of the same fabrics from his quilt) the other day! His wrestling shoes arrived... monogrammed with his initials...and they are adorable!

My sister-in-law, Alyson, is throwing me a baby shower...and it is so fun to look at cute baby things! I have been working on getting my registries set up.  I have one that I have been using at Amazon.com mostly just to help me organize the things that I want to buy, but if anyone out there wants to help me on this endeavor...by all means, feel free! I also have a baby registry at Target.  I prefer Amazon, but I know a lot of people won't want to shop online.  Here is a link to my Amazon registry...and here is a link to my registry at Target.

He has a name!

We have decided on a name for our little man.  He is Jonah Andrew Crouch!  We gave him the same initials as Jesse!  We were pretty sure about the first name for a few weeks.  I've been looking at whale stuff for the nursery for awhile now!  It's so cute!!

As soon as we decided on Jonah Andrew, Jesse ordered him some infant wrestling shoes!  Here is a photo of what they look like.  I'm not sure what colors he picked for Jonah, but they are all pretty cute.  They monogram the baby's initials on the shoes, so Jesse had to wait until we were sure before he ordered them.  

I've spent a little bit of time during Christmas break shopping for baby stuff.  I've bought some stuff and my mom has bought some stuff too!  She got him a really soft, bright orange blanket and an orange lamp for his room.  I bought a cute orange teddy bear, some clothes, some hooded towels (with whales on them!), a shopping cart cover, and I ordered him a custom quilt. 

I picked out the fabrics myself with the help of the lady who is making it.  Then, I put together this quilt pattern...

but we finally decided on something that will look similar to this one. (This is just a small sample, the actual quilt will have more squares than this)

She has ordered the fabrics and I can't wait until she starts sending me photos of the piecing process!

Last Holiday Season Sans Baby

I've been thinking about how different my life will be next year at Christmastime.  Things will definitely be different!  I have thought about the last 9 years of Christmases with Jesse and, honestly, they all run together.  I can't think of one that really stands out in my memory (except when my Mom was recovering from cancer surgery in 2009).    However, from now on, we'll be measuring the passing of time with a growing little body!  Next Christmas, I'll be the parent of an 8 month old!

I'm looking forward to a lot of great things in 2012! Jesse and I will be married for 10 years in May and, of course, our little guy will be here at the end of April or the beginning of May!  I'm thinking that 2012 will be the best year yet!

Everyone have a Happy New Year!

Oh Boy, Oh Boy!!

On Tuesday December 13th, Jesse and I had to get off work a little early so we could go to Dr. Chaffin's office in Teays Valley for our first ultrasound.  We were very excited and I was a little nervous.  They make you drink a ton of water beforehand....then they make you sit and wait forever in a waiting room before they push around on your belly!   It turned out to not be as bad as I imagined, so I was very grateful.  They took awhile to get to us and THEN, it took almost an hour to get all of the photos that they needed.

The technician was a nice, young lady and she walked us through the process.  First, she put about a pound of clear goo on my stomach (which may or may not have soaked through my jeans).  Then, she told us about all the photos that she was taking.  She had to make sure that our little one had all ten fingers and toes.  She had to measure all of the bones and then, at the end, with all the combined measurements, they can get an estimate of the baby's weight.  We later learned that it weighed about 13.5 oz, which was right on track with my due date.  She also had to make sure the heart was pumping normally.  It was pumping well at 151 beats per minute, which she declared as "perfect."

At first, the little "stinker," as she called it, wouldn't sit still. So, she couldn't get some of the heart photos that she needed.  Then, we were lucky enough to get to see three REALLY cute yawns...and the baby fell asleep on it's belly.

Now....for the good part.  The technician says, "So, do you want to know the sex?" and I say "YES"...and Jesse reluctantly says, "Do you already know?"  The technician responds, "uuhh...YEAH"  (kind of like it was obvious to her) So, Jesse says, "That must mean it's a boy?" and she says, "uuhh..NO."  So, Jesse says, "ok, tell us" or something like that. And she says, "It IS a boy."  And I was so excited!!!  I didn't realize how much I had wanted a boy until that moment.  I was also so happy for Jesse.  I said, "I told you it was a boy!"  and he immediately pulled out his cell phone and texted his friend, Ty...then his whole family...to tell them the news.  And on the ultrasound photos, there is no mistakening it....he is for sure a boy.  I cried a bit and then do to a combination of the fact that my head was tilted sideways to look at the screen, and just staring at that blurry screen for almost an hour, I couldn't get my eyes to stop watering!  I looked like a blubbering mess. 

 Since the little guy fell asleep on his belly, the position made it impossible for the technician to get the heart photos that she needed.  She wiggled my belly around, but still couldn't get the "stinker" to roll over.  So, we actually have to come back in a month and do it all over again!  I'm secretly very happy that we get to go back just so I can have another chance to see him!

I called my dad from the parking lot.  First thing I said was, "Just wanted to let you know that you are having a Grandson!"  His response: "Oh My God!"  haha.   It was fun telling the family, especially since it's a boy!  With 9 neices and only 2 nephews and NONE of the Crouch boys born first, we weren't sure it was possible! 

Getting Close to the Gender Reveal!

On Saturday I will be 20 weeks pregnant...and then on Tuesday I get to find out if I'm having a boy or a girl! I can't wait!

Jesse would prefer to wait to find out the sex: He says he doesn't want to be disappointed (if it's a girl). He knows that he won't be disappointed on the day of the birth, since he'll get to see her and fall in love with her, of course.

Sorry, Jesse! I can't wait! I want to decorate the nursery and buy stuff that doesn't look to plain for a girl and too girly for a boy!  So, anyway...we'll be finding out the sex on Tuesday and I. Can't. Wait.

Jesse mentioned that we should have the ultrasound technician write down the gender on a sheet of paper and put it in an envelope.  Then, we can find out if it's a boy or a girl while we are alone.  So, we might do that.

I saw some photos on Pinterest where a family had the technician write down the results and put it in an envelope.  They took the envelope to a party store and had them fill up a box with helium balloons...pink for a girl and blue for a boy.  Then....they brought the box home and hired a photographer to photograph them opening the box!  The photos were super cute!   I've also heard of people having gender reveal parties.  That could be fun!  However, I doubt that I'll be able to wait that long.  If we put it in an envelope...I'm pretty sure I'll be checking it in the car!...maybe the parking lot!

19 Weeks

I think my baby bump is getting bigger.  People are actually making comments and I see them looking at my belly a lot.  I don't mind at all.  I'm excited about it.  Jesse thinks I'm crazy, but there is something really amazing about  getting bigger, at least for me!  It makes me pleased to know that my body knows just what to do.  God is an amazing designer and His plans for us are quite intricate and amazing!

I have been feeling better over the past few weeks..and I have had a lot more energy.  I've been trying to walk a lot, either outside when the weather allows or on the treadmill.  I've done some workout DVDs but probably not as much as I should.  Hopefully it won't be too hard to get back into the swing of things after the baby is born.

Only a week and 3 days now until we'll know if we're having a boy or a girl.  I'm so excited!!

I've been planning what I want the nursery to look like..and here is what I'd like for it to look something like if it's a boy.

 I've loved this children's book (especially the illustrations) from the first time I read it (which actually wasn't all that long ago) and I decided to base my color scheme from it.

For a girl, I'm not a certain...but this is one of my ideas for her room. (Kinda matches the blog, huh?)