i can’t believe she’s already a month in age. her cheeks are chubbier. her awareness is more acute. she smiles. she gurgles. she hollers like a pterodactyl when she sleeps. she loves to lay around and absorb her surroundings with her wide eyes. it’s so amazing to watch her grow!
she is so adorable. she is growing by the minute and it’s so cool to see her personality and reactions to us. happy one month baby girl! we love you so much!
i just wanted to post for everyone some cute baby tootsies! who doesn’t love little bebe feet?! those feet that kicked me non-stop in the womb. i could always feel her little heels poking against my skin or my ribs {ouch!}! it’s so surreal to feel her sharp little heels in the flesh. to see those adorable little toes.
hc likes to call her a kick boxer/swimmer. she has strong little legs when she’s a hollering and she flails her arms like she’s a swimmer. future career goals?! 🙂
everyone who comes to meet little olive love to touch and look at her little footsies. i think it’s the only time people really, really love feet. after that, it’s all down hill from there isn’t it?!
here she is curling her toes and footsies all up on her diapy, under her sleeper. quite adorable. that’s all.
figuring out the diaper bag essentials, every mom has told me different things and there were a lot of common threads {different moms are loyal to different products, or quite a few suggested the same!}. after assessing all the input, i have decided upon my most favorite items for the first year…
the bag: my beloved louis vuitton
the essentials
1. portable changing station – perfect for the places that don’t have a changing station in their restroom. it’s a great one stop shop piece {thanks carol!}!
3. paci wipes – for the oops it dropped on the floor of the market
4. stain remover – it’s when she’s wearing her cute outfit and pictures haven’t been taken yet occasions {or those poopy stains that don’t seem to come out!}
5. baby nail files – when you don’t get the clean cut while she’s asleep and need to smooth out some ragged edges
6. snot catcher – for those cold days or when she is snot 😉 feeling so great
of course, if you are breastfeeding or not, you’ll need some more essentials…breast pump, nipple cream, storage bottles, baby bottles, formula, etc. you can also add in a brush/comb for some stylin’ hairdo’s or maybe lack thereof ’cause she has no hair! as the tot gets older, you’ll need to throw in teethers, a toothbrush, some snacks, spoons, & sippy cups!
i know it seems like a lot but better safe than sorry! packing for this little bebe is like packing for a long vacation! i’ll probably slowly eliminate as i go, learn what i need and don’t need. otherwise, i am ready! 🙂
there have been some final touches to the bebe’s room! you can see the room coming together here. also, some very sweet friends have sent the cutest packages to us! so kind!
baby h is so spoiled already!
a little bundle! such a cute package sent to us from b! thank you so much, it contained so many fun items…i love how the contents are for mommy and baby! high quality, hand crafted, functional, organic pieces! so stinkin’ adorbs!
we are so excited for our bookcase! it’s the perfect addition to the room. it houses all the random stuff perfectly…it helps organize some of the chaos!
unwrapping a cute door delivery from o! thank you so much for the personalized print, so cute and perfect for her room. we love it…such a sweet gift.
what an awesome gift from olivia! how great does that look?!
jonathan adler lion night light from johann and matt. we absolutely love it…i know i keep saying this but it’s so perfect for the room! thank you so much guys!
we love the sequin pillow from kar and kt…and i love the ruffled crib skirt! perfect final touches to the nursery.
i love the changing table and the rattan diaper/essential holder, from tracy! we have the wipes, diapers, butt paste, and all the other necessities for keeping her bum clean!
we also have the white rattan hamper {for all those dirty clothes, sheets, and changing mats that she will spit on, pee on, and poop on…oh, baby!} and the storage box from pbk. embroidered personally for miss olive with grey floss and trimmings!
the bebe’s room is ready to go! it’s a small but mighty room. so many cute, adorable, and fun decor…all suited for this little lady’s style {or perhaps, more so her momma’s style!}.
thanks so much to everyone for contributing to little olive’s abode!
wow! i obviously took a small hiatus on blogging {i have a few posts to publish that are a bit behind but never the less worth a current post!} to spend time with my family. it’s been such a roller coaster of a ride!
as crazy as it sounds, i published my last blog post while i was in labor! i know that sounds crazy but it was already written {it was legit and i did want to share, since i really did make it to my 40 week mark!} and all i could do was sit at home, through my contractions, with nothing to do!
i’m going to write olive’s birthing story soon {can’t wait to share}, i definitely found giving birth a totally amazing experience. i have this new found lens of women, women being pregnant, and women being able to give birth to a life that changes everything.
this baby girl came into our world and it just makes life such a happier place. she’s so sweet and we love her so much!!!
i am sooo excited to share her baby photos! thank you, thank you to tricia from patricia anderson photography! she was absolutely amazing. her photos are so sweet and beautifully shot. of course, having the cutest little subject does help!
[a sneak peek at tricia’s studio]
[love this, it makes me cry]
[tired mom hanging out while the babes is getting her first photos done // i love the backdrop]
little olive was not being cooperative, even though we kept her awake before the photo shoot, fed her right before, and did all we could to tire her out…yet, little baby girl had her own agenda {just like her mom}. she was not having it. she was fussy and not falling asleep! she wouldn’t feed and momma was sweating up a storm we wouldn’t get her photos done. oy, it was so stressful! i had been looking forward to this photo shoot and it was not starting off well.
olive finally gave in to a feeding {her belly was full!} and snore away she did! thank the Lord! i was so nervous she would never settle down so tricia could capture the sweet photos she does.
here are a few of the lovely, sweet, beautiful photos {she is 6 days new}…enjoy!
welcome little olive harper, she has changed our world and makes her momma cry happy tears! her cute munchkin face is so precious. we love her so much and can’t wait to have her meet everyone!
how far along? 40 weeks! whaaaa?!! oh baby girl! hurry up! i can’t believe the due date is here but she is not!
weight gain: 36 lbs. just what the doctor ordered! she wanted me to gain between 30-40 lbs…i felt the latter number was ideal to gain because it’s much more fun! hehe.
maternity clothes? i officially don’t have to worry about it anymore! i’m just waiting for her to arrive! i am quite happy how long i was able to stretch out {literally} my wardrobe.
sleep: sleep has been great. i’ve fallen back into the late night owl habits. it started out as very early bedtimes and slowly, very slowly progressed into later nights. sleep has been good though!
physical state: tired. achy feet. i’m very slow. the typical symptoms of a lady who is in her last weeks of pregnancy. although my energy is up! so crazy but true…i can’t move quick, my feet are so numb but i have a lot of energy! that energy is channeled into cleaning and organizing! i’ve become beyond ocd, i love making everything neat and clean.
miss anything? seafood in large quantities. wine. not worrying about what i should or shouldn’t eat. sautéed shrimp, breaded shrimp, garlic and butter shrimp.
baby movement: she’s kung fu hustling inside the womb. it’s amazing to see my belly shake back and forth. she has pretty much been in the same position for weeks now. i watch her kick and kick and kick with her tiny feet. she’s most active when i’m sitting on the couch, on the computer, which is usually early in the evenings. that is when she rumbles like a wwe fighter.
food cravings: bagels and cream cheese. fruit. sugar cookies.
bump status: ginormous. it’s most, most uncomfortable in bed. when I try to turn from side to side, oh my goodness!!! it hurts! she feels like a bag of bricks in my belly and when i try to turn from one side to the other, it feels like my belly is going to rip off my body. yes, that sounds like an accurate description.
gender reveal: it’s a girl! hurry up baby girl! it’s your birthday!
as an almost new mom, there’s nothing like discovering things on your own. i savor and appreciate the advice so many moms have given me, but figuring out your own way through situations and issues are quite fun for me. some ways might be over the top, some things might be unnecessary, some actions might be unneeded but it’s definitely about the experience and learning through all of it! to each their own journey.
registering for baby products was quite daunting and overwhelming! hc and i were so overwhelmed when we first started out! oy! we just stared at stuff, it was all so unfamiliar and awkward {seriously overwhelming}! after a short period of time at the stores, we went home to collect our thoughts and get familiar with all the products via the internet. hc did a lot of the research with the help of this book: baby bargains {it really helped!}. through this all, it’s finally becoming familiar!
here are some of my favorite things.
sophie the giraffe from pottery barn kids // this little giraffe came highly recommended from everyone! honestly, though, you can’t miss it…it’s sold everywhere!
could pillow from land of nod // just the cutest pillow ever…and it went perfectly with my bebe room’s decor.
skiphop changing station from buybuybaby // for when there is no changing station and it houses a baby’s diaper change essentials.
avent classic natural bottles from buybuybaby // i registered for the 4oz. and 9 oz. sizes, the avent storage bottles, and the avent double breast pump.
lansinoh cream from buybuybaby // for those who will be breastfeeding, this will soothe, heal, and protect!
nosefrida from buybuybaby // we took some baby classes at prentice hospital and they highly recommended this product. it’s a miracle worker for a bebe’s stuffy nose.
boudreaux’s butt paste from buybuybaby // how can you not buy this with a name like butt paste?!
sleep sheep from pottery barn kids // soothing noises {like she is still in the belly} to help her fall asleep.
the stokke tripp trap highchair // an awesome high chair that transitions through from infant stage to childhood! you will be using it for years!
johan the raccoon from land of nod // he’s just adorbs, the little bandit.
carter’s sleeper gowns from buybuybaby // i was told sleepers are the best, especially during the first weeks/months because it’s so easy to change the baby’s diaper in your zombie state.
aden and anais bibs from buybuybaby // these are so cute! you’ll need a lot of bibs {at least 10-15} if you are using them for feeding.
baby bjorn bib from buybuybaby // when the baby starts eating solids…this bib is a must! you just rinse it off and voila! done. reusable. easy.
carter’s teething bibs from buybuybaby // make sure you buy plastic backed bibs for when she just drools and drools and drools!
britax b-safe infant carseat from buybuybaby // this carseat came with rave reviews on safety! all you really need the first year is an infant carseat. we registered for the convertible carseat as well but realized that we didn’t need it because it’ll be a year before we would use it. by that time, we would rather buy one that was most up to date with current safety features!
boon’s collapsable tub from buybuybaby // it converts from an infant tub {it’s deeper} to when the baby gets bigger {the more shallow conversion} and it’s simple and easy to store! perfect for us city dwellers {it just hangs up on the wall in our closet}!
aden and anais swaddle wrap from buybuybaby // soft, pretty, cuddly…and the bebe will love it! she’ll feel snug as a bug like she’s still in the womb!
there is so much more i can recommend and love! a big thanks to the mommy friends of mine out there that have helped me, guided me, and were the guinea pigs so i can select the best and coolest products! i am a huge fan of aesthetics {not gonna lie, it has to look good, be functional, and practical…hc and i believe in modern simplicity} and try to stay away from anything too crazy ‘kid’ looking. it’s just how we roll.
for first timers out there, have fun with it…try not to get overwhelmed {although it’s easier said than done!} and despite all the recommending, suggestions, and opinions – truly go for what you love and like!
i just discovered how freakin’ adorable little baby girl clothes can be! yes, it’s true. this entire time i have been pregnant, i honestly did not buy one piece of clothing for baby h. not one. i, for some reason, was just not that into it!
now that i am hitting the last few weeks of this pregnancy journey, i’ve truly enjoyed shopping for little baby girl clothes {much to hc’s dismay}! just last week, i bought my first few outfits for the baby! i’m really loving baby gap {you truly can get a deal there!}, carter’s {you can get an even better deal}, janie and jack, jcrew & nordstroms! so many cute choices and i can’t wait to see baby h in all these fun clothes.
i am loving all the gifts we received from everyone! soooo many cute outfits given to us! here’s a little sampling of what baby h will be wearing. i’m giddy over every article of clothing!
i’m a big fan of feminine, cutesy outfits. nothing too crazy bright, nothing too crazy pink! more subdued, sweet, semi-preppy and pretty! i favour greys, mint, a warm coral, navy, and soft pinks on the little one.
i’m really digging baby tights and leg warmers! i purchased a few leg warmers from target! they had these adorable grey ones and i also got the pink ones too! she’s going to look so hip!
how far along? 38 weeks! only a few more weeks! eeekkkk! she’s ready to go anytime soon! i said to hc…this could be my last post…kinda sad! we’ll see if i make it to the 40 week post!
weight gain: 35lbs. it’s so cray to think i’ve gained that much weight! well, at least it’s more gradual than the pounds i was packing on before!
maternity clothes? the same mix, the usual and so near the end! wow! i’m so glad i was able to just wear all my regular gear…it felt more like me. it was so hard to be sold on the maternity wear! i didn’t love anything {the fashions are just sooo…maternity!} or i had a hard time justifying the money spent on it.
sleep: pretty restful although i find that if i have the opportunity to sleep in, i don’t! i pop awake and that is it. i use to sleep, sleep the morning away but not so much the case now. i usually can fall asleep just fine but sometimes when i wake up, it feels like she’s punching my stomach {she’s heavy and the pressure she puts on my stomach is yucky}! ugh! it makes me feel nausea and absolutely uncomfortable, sometimes painful. it feels like someone punched me in my stomach and i need to kneel over to subside the pain.
physical state: i was just on a staycation, so i was feeling great! i am still tired {it’s a little frustrating} but take out the work factor and it’s so much better! i’m a little nervous to go back because i’m afraid it will be very exhausting!!! i’m slow and i seriously do waddle now :p i struggle getting in and out of the car, in and out of the bed, sitting upright…oh you know, the usual pregger afflictions.
miss anything? yes, a good glass of wine. i know you can have almost anything ‘forbidden’ in moderation but i prefer not to.
baby movement: she’s so strong! and it’s so cute to feel her little feet and itty bitty hand movements. i always feel the heels of her feet against my skin and her hands rubbing around by her face! some of her movements can be quite uncomfortable {the rib kicks and the pressure at the bottom of my uterus}, otherwise it’s fun to feel her movements inside my belly. i tease her and try to grab her feet when she’s so active.
food cravings: soups {all kinds}, bagel and cream cheese, cronuts, and of course, lots and lots of fruit.
bump status: big. did i say big? yes, big. and now peeps are not asking me when i’m due but rephrased to “are you due soon?!”. yup, she is big and ready to go.
gender reveal: it’s a girl! we love her and can’t wait to see her! come meet us soon baby girl!
