Nursery

From the moment I knew I was pregnant, I started looking at crib bedding. Unfortunately, I didn't like much of anything I saw. Look, I'm not your typical girl, so I need something that's different, funky and cute. I don't want teddy bears and Disney characters. When I helped my friend, Jenelle, make her crib bedding, I decided to make my own, too. So the hunt was on for the perfect fabric.

And I found it. I fell in love with it the moment I saw it and there was nothing that was going to change my mind. Before ordering it online, I went to my locally owned fabric store, Sew to Speak, to see if they had it or if they could order it. To my surprise, the lady at the store told me the fabric was Australian and they didn't order Australian fabric because it was much too expensive. Uh oh. When I took a closer look at the website, it was indeed an Australian site and the price was per half meter. Gulp. I needed at least 4 yards (approx 4 meters) and that was going to cost me a small fortune, not including shipping. But I said to hell with it and ordered it anyway because my kid is totally worth it. I bought enough for one half of the crib bumper and a little extra for other projects. And seriously...the fabric couldn't be anymore me and my husband. It's the freaking cutest thing on the planet and I think Waylon will LOVE it.

So his nursery is based on this fabric. We decided to paint one wall orange and the the other three walls turquoise and have navy blue accents (curtains, rug, etc.).

The first task was to empty the room. We were using it as a closet, so we had a lot of clothes to move and get rid of. Then a close friend of ours, who just happens to be a professional painter, painted Waylon's room as a gift. How awesome, is that?

Now it was a matter of getting the motivation and finding the time to put the crib and dresser together. I'll be honest...I'm in TOTAL nesting mode, so I was SO ready to get this room together ASAP. Unfortunately, my husband did not have the same sense of urgency as I did. But I really didn't have to wait too long because he knew I was getting antsy. So this weekend was it!

And of course after everything was set up...I realized that I didn't really have as much room as I thought I did. I still need to get a changing table and glider. We also still need to paint the bookcase, get some pictures/paintings on the walls, and sew the curtains. I'm sure I'm forgetting something...but the room is about 80% finished and I'm excited about it!

24 Weeks

Today, I'm officially at 24 weeks. That's 6 months. I'm more than half way there!

Aside from not sleeping as well as I used to, vicious heartburn and charlie horses, this mama has no complaints. People are constantly asking me, "How are you feeling?" My reply is always, "Great!" Because honestly...I do feel great. Aside from Waylon moving around in there, I don't even feel pregnant. I'm SO lucky!

Speaking of Waylon moving...Greg finally got to feel Waylon kick last week! He was so happy and had the biggest smile on his face. He'd been trying for a couple of weeks to feel Waylon kick, but whenever he put his hand on my belly, Waylon would just stop. My Mom was actually the first person to feel Waylon kick, and needless to say, she was super excited!

I try to play Waylon as music as possible. Music is a HUGE part of our lives (obviously...we're naming our kid after a musical legend), and we want our son to be exposed to and love as much music as possible. I play him Waylon Jennings (of course), Elvis, Johnny Cash, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Blackberry Smoke and even a little Motley Crue. I also throw in a little classical because it's beautiful and because I play the violin (or used to).

I wish I could explain to you how incredible it is to feel Waylon moving around inside my belly or to sit and watch my belly move when I play him "Home Sweet Home." It brings tears to my eyes because it's seriously one of the most amazing things I've ever experienced in my life. It's magical and breathtaking.

Check out the belly at 23 weeks!

21 Weeks

So the first time I felt the little Waylon move was at 18 weeks, right after I had my 4D ultrasound that determined he was a boy. Gradually, the movements have been getting more and more frequent. A couple of weeks ago, he gave me a good ol' kick that made me jump! It's the most insane feeling in the world. I don't even know how to describe it...it's just amazing. I look forward to those movements each day. Unfortunately, I think it's still a little too early for them to be regular, so they're very sporadic and surprise me throughout my day.

This past weekend was Christmas. Oh my! Waylon is already spoiled and he's not even here yet! My friend Jessica got him a Rolling Stones onesie and a Rolling Stones lullaby CD. My friend Amy got him some onesies, some cute little shoes and a book. My brother's girlfriend got him some rad zombie onesies. Greg's family got him some onsesies, bibs and picture frames. But Greg's Mom got Waylon the most amazing gift. She had a little rocking chair when she was a kid, which eventually became Greg's rocking chair when he was a kid. Well, Grandma Cindy found it in the attic and customized it just for Waylon! How cool is that???? Plus, she found some of Greg's baby clothes (super sweet glitter iron-on T's from the 80's!) and gave those to Waylon, too!

The super cool thing is, our friends Josh and Jenelle have a daughter named Guinevere. This year for Christmas, Guinevere also got a rocking chair that belonged to her Grandma and Jenelle! Also, Greg (AKA: Uncle Chops) customized a Radio Flyer wagon just for Guinevere! It got a new paint job with pink scallops on both sides and silver pinstripes around it. It also got some big, go-kart wheels! And I sewed leopard print padding for the inside.

And check out sweet, little Guinevere hanging out in her new wagon!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! Happy New Year to you all! I know it's going to be a great 2011!!!! :)

19 Weeks

So...I had another ultrasound this week. The doctor just wanted to check out some stuff and make sure everything was in good working order. Well, my doctor got quite a show. Waylon decided he wanted to flash her every chance he got. It was quite humorous and we both had a good laugh over it. Luckily, she was able to get a pretty awesome shot of Waylon's cute, little foot. Today, I'm taking Waylon to his very first Broadway musical: Rock of Ages. I can't wait! It's a musical with nothing but 80's rock!!!!! The hubby got me tickets for my birthday and my friend Charlene and I are going. Then we're meeting up with a few lady friends afterwards for dinner. So here I am all dressed up and ready to go!

Waylon

Since I'm incredibly impatient, I couldn't wait until January at my doctor's appointment to find out the sex of the little nugget growing inside of me. So, I set up an appointment with my local 3D/4D ultrasound office. Armed with my posse of family and friends, I walked into the room crossing my fingers that the little one would cooperate and show the goods.

He didn't disappoint me.

As soon as she put that thing on my gel covered belly, it was out for all the world to see, "Oh! Did you see that? It's a boy! It's sticking straight up!" Go figure. The room filled with laughter and screams. Next...everyone was on their cell phones informing EVERYONE of the news.

It's a little boy. His name is Waylon Mark. Waylon, after the legendary, badass country singer, Waylon Jennings. And Mark after two great men in my husband's life: Mark Chatfield, guitarist for Bob Seger, and Mark Farley, my husband's stepdad.

FINALLY

Yes, finally. After what seems like an eternity of trying, there is officially a little rock star growing in my belly.

Check out the wee one at 9.5 weeks! Pretty freaking sweet! I got to see it's heartbeat, and once I saw it...I felt like the weight of the world had been lifted from my shoulders. It was such a HUGE relief to know that everything was OK. I cried and cried and cried.

My next appointment wouldn't be until I was at 14 weeks, and it was yesterday...on my birthday. And on my birthday, I heard my little baby's heartbeat. It was the most amazing birthday present EVER.

So far, the baby has been pretty good to me, and I'm so thankful. No morning sickness. Maybe a little bit of queasiness for a little bit, but nothing major. I've lost my taste for pretty much all foods. NOTHING ever sounds good to me...except for bread and sweets. Sleeping has become a lot more difficult for me. I toss and turn a lot and my hips ache. But other than that...it's been smooth sailing.

I'm ecstatic, excited, nervous, happy and relieved. :)

She's a Crazy Bitch

And I don't mean that in the way the song intended.

Two months off birth control and I'm about to go ape shit. I'm not one who likes to take any kind of drugs, even if I have a headache. So the idea of actually getting on the pill wasn't that appealing to me because I really didn't want to mess with my body's natural state of being. But for the sake of not getting pregnant when I didn't want to, I got on the pill. Ten years later...and getting off of the pill is like trying to regain control of MY body. Holy shit...I'm a train wreck.

The first month seemed fine until my monthly visitor came around. I've never been overly bitchy around this time, so when this RAGING mean monster came out of me for about a week, I thought I was losing my mind. My husband couldn't figure out what he was doing wrong (nothing really) because I was shitty to him 24/7. It was uncontrollable. I knew I was doing it but I just couldn't get myself to stop. At one point as I was driving home for the grocery store and I wanted to cry my eyeballs out and beat the shit out of someone all at the same time. I seriously thought there was something wrong with me...until I realized that my body has been doped up on birth control for a decade and doesn't really know how to react without it, so it was just freaking out. Or so I thought.

We're on to month two and I can feel this bitchy monster making it's way out of me once again. I'm just angry. Everything makes me angry and I don't really know why. I swear I don't ever recall being this insane when I was a teen and not on birth control.

And it's not just the bitchiness that's different. It's everything about this time of the month that's different. I won't bore you or gross you out with the details but it's like hitting puberty and discovering my body all over again at the age of 32.

If I were you, I'd stay the hell away from me for about the next week. I'll let you know when the coast is clear. ;)