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!
we decided to deck the halls a weekend earlier than usual because we weren’t sure when the babes would come {she kept us in suspense}! little did we know we did the right thing!
[coffee, quiche, fruit, and juice]
we started out the morning with hc’s homemade quiche! so delish! i’m so spoiled by him! it was a very relaxing morning. we agreed to have a totally lazy day!
hc did all the leg work. he brought up all the holiday decor from the storage room and we were ready to go right after brunch {actually right after our very long nap!} ha! i was tired! yes, even though i just woke up, i was still tired so a nap was in order…it was super comfy sleeping in the nook of hc’s arm.
so, finally, we got up and started on the decorating! we blasted the christmas music to get ourselves into the festive mood!
[a holiday must!]
[unwrapping all the fun ornaments]
[hc doing his best fluffing the garland…he wouldn’t let the preggo wifey do it]
[ornaments housed in bird cake stands]
[i love festive pillows! it just adds a holiday pop to the room]
[bar wear :)]
[ooohhhh, pretty]
[my hand made card holder from last year!]
[my hand made snow globes, holly, and silver mercury votive holders]
[ho ho ho, welcome in!]
[i love fresh pine!]
[tree topping! uh, this year, i was in no condition to be carried or picked up by hc to put the star on the tree!]
[oh, christmas tree! how pretty!!!!]
[the delicious meal hc whipped up after a hard day of decorating! love him!]
i love decorating for the holidays! it’s been a joy of mine since i was a child. decking the halls so gets me in the festive mood! it’s so pretty, fun, and brings back so many fond memories of holidays past.
i still have a bit of final touches to do but overall, i’m feeling the holiday spirit!
we were committed to go out for johann’s birthday on a saturday night but being 39 weeks pregnant and working 5 days straight, i was beat. seriously dunzo. my feet ached so bad and i was having major cramps, amongst other ailments. so, unlike me {i am not known to cancel plans}, we cancelled out on his birthday party 🙁
i was super bummed and really wanted to get together with them to celebrate his birthday {i might have missed out on saturday night but i was going to celebrate his birthday gosh darn it!}. so we were able to work it out and get together on a tuesday night, after the weekend! yay!
we decided on folklore {a yummy argentinian restaurant right by us}. it’s so good! they kindly picked us up from our abode {although i was ready to walk to the place, it’s only a few blocks from us} and dropped my preggo butt off at the restaurant {muchas gracias}.
during dinner, we exchanged gifts. i had johann’s birthday gift but they had gotten little baby olive a gift too! so thoughtful! it was so sweet of them and very kind!
[dinner by candlelight]
[love this restaurant!]
[the adorable couple]
[the hubs and me]
[opening his birthday gift]
[loving his gift!]
[so…we didn’t expect a gift in exchange!]
[love the pretty card]
[jonathan adler nightlight // how sweet and thoughtful!!! so perfect for the baby’s room!!!]
[happy birthday johann!!]
we absolutely love the jonathan adler night light {huge fan of his products}!!! it’s perfectly matched with the decor and definitely useful! i love things that are pretty and functional! thank you matt and johann.
after imbibing and noshing on some delicious eats {along with non-stop fun convos – i love matt’s interpretations of everything…especially his most recent trip to taiwan}, we were done and merrily we went home!
huy came home! yes, he came home for about a week. it was great seeing him and tashina! we were able to spend their first day in town at my p’s house. my mom gets so excited to cook for everyone! we all hung out for a bit around the house and then sat down for a delicious dinner with the famille! i love, love my mom’s cooking!
how hilarious is this?! r donned a rick ross shirt huy brought over from l.a. his friends design these tees through their company called pizzaslime. i love the tats and bling on little r.
capturing r through a red glass bead…so artsy, huh? this is what happens when you are just sitting around entertaining yourself. i, unfortunately, erased the awesome footage of r singing and dancing for us {whoops..} but he is such a ham!
playing around with the big belly bump. trying to get creative with this big bump of mine…why not make silly faces on it?
[goofing around]
[tashina and huy]
we were able to spend sunday night celebrating dan’s birthday as well! we all met up at baisi thai in oakbrook. hc and i ran into a store to quickly buy something before dinner, thinking we might be a few minutes late. of course, we were the first ones there! do we ever learn that when it’s a doan outing, we should never be on time?
on tashina and huy’s last night in town, we gathered together at my parent’s house for a final dinner {butter and garlic shrimp with a ramen vegetable stir fry} and a lazy night in just to chill and hang before they take off back to l.a.
overall, it was great seeing them. such a good time. too far in-between on visits! well, next time…christmas! cheers to family time!
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!
it was long overdue, an outing with dear dana. i am happy to get in some dana time right before the baby comes and right before the holiday craziness begins for her!
we quickly set a date to meet up and we did our usual routine. i was on my merry way to pick her up when my baby brain kicked into full gear. i drove right past her place. listening intently to the music in my car, relaxed, and ready to eat some yummy food, i just plain passed up her place! it was only until i drove up to a familiar street that i knew i was way past the street she lives on! ha! i called her and laughed about my story, as i was turning back around to pick her up.
off to southport grocery we went. i ordered the southern {house made sausage, red onion & PQM’s pimento cheese, and a jam-filled buttermilk biscuit} and dana ordered the hash {shredded potatoes, red onion, mushroom, peppers, white cheddar topped with scrambled eggs & chive-sour cream}…so delish and filling! we just absolutely love that place! after brunch, we walked to anthro – we always must make a pit stop there! we oohed and awed over the glittery holiday dresses in their store. we then stopped by cvs for some essentials and then trekked our way to jenis for some delicious ice cream. we sat there for a bit, deep in conversation. it was so calm and relaxing. i love hanging out with her! she is such a good friend. we can talk about anything and that is very comforting. just a really great, fun day with a silly friend.
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!
