but who will baby LOOK like?!

As if I don't have enough nursery and baby planning details running through my mind already... there are far more important things occupying my thoughts, like... what will my baby look like?! I'm already predicting a night owl (judging by the amount of nighttime kicks I get) and was fairly certain up until yesterday that baby was in the breeched position (aka head up). At this point it's not a big deal, but he will need to turn over in the next couple of weeks to prepare for delivery. 

So, today got some 3D shots of little man. I've been told that 28-32 weeks is the perfect time to go because they are chubby enough to be cute (duh, of course he's cute) but not be too cramped to not be able to get a good picture.Yesterday, he was SUPER active and I started to feel like he was actually in position (head down). I had more pressure on my bladder and pelvis and I finally had some solid kicks above my belly button - more than just one or two. Anyways, we went today to check his little face out and he was breeched. A little snuggle worm with his hands (and sometimes feet) in front of his sweet little face for most of the session... which is typical of our previous ultrasounds, as well. I'm not sure this kid is going to want to be swaddled since he wants his hands up by his head so much. 

28 weeks

How far along: 28 weeks

Maternity clothes: Nothing else fits!

Stretch marks: Nope. My skin just around my belly button is starting to feel tight, but I still think there's a lot of stretch left in me... even though I'm huge already.

Sleep: As if you can't tell from the picture. I'M BEAT! I haven't slept a full night this week. It's friggen hot again. By hot I mean 60 degrees. I want snow and cold and sleet and freezing rain so I can get some sleep damnnit!!

27 weeks

How far along: 27 weeks

Maternity clothes: Yep. I'll probably have to do a wardrobe refresher pretty soon. Flats are now a permanent part of my maternity wardrobe. My feet are swollen on and off and I have about 30% of the balance I used to have haaa.

Stretch marks: Still lucky.

Sleep: Better this week. I think my sleep issue last week was related to the warm weather. Thank goodness I won't be pregnant in the summer.

26 weeks

How far along: 26 weeks... already? Feels like I just wrote last weeks update...

Maternity clothes: All the time. And yes, it's true, you get tired of that elastic band. Even though it was way more comfortable at first, it's not flattering at all and I still have to wear a tank top over it to keep my pants semi-up and on my body!

Stretch marks: Nothing, but I've noticed that when I get out of the shower my belly is really red and is covered in veins. I'm hoping that's not the start of it.

100 days

Nothing like the 100 day mark to get the ball rolling on some serious Nursery Planning! Only 100 days left until my son is here... Wow... It really makes me think about the 100 day mark that we hit before getting married. There were SO many things left to be done. And here he is, just one little person, but he means so much to me, I want his room to be just as perfect and wonderful.

I bought quite a few things today for our little guy, including this bedding set that I found on sale at Zulily.com. I really like that it has several colors in it that we can use with other elements in the room as well as bringing in the star theme I really wanted to use.  After I picked the bedding, I went ahead and got the Monkey/Cloud wall clings I've been eyeing AND ordered a set of hand painted wood letters in his name that will be the patterns in the sheets. (FYI: Little man's name is NOT Mason. Those are the sample letters. She custom paints them according to nursery design.)

We are so lucky to have our crib, conversion rails, and mattress ready to be picked up this weekend. Several of my aunts pooled together and got us the crib as a family tradition. I'm thankful it's one less thing we have to worry about. So, it looks like all we need to do is take a trip to Home Depot and pick out coordinating paint colors and we can really get started on little mans room! So exciting to have some concrete plans finally.

300 sold!

I'm not sure why I thought 300 would be a hard number to reach when I started this project, because here I am at 317 sold and will probably be at 350 by the time May comes along. Things have slowed down a bit and I'm assuming it's because of the holiday and partially because of the new advertising on Etsy. You have to pay for your listings to show up on top of the search now as opposed to newer listings = top billing now. I have 3 hoodies shipping today (back logged from last week) and then I won't have any left to be done. It hasn't been like that for a while! I've been doing a few new things and really like when people ask for something different. Here are a few that I've done recently.

Awaken

Awaken: Meh. I wasn't too thrilled about this book. You should stop reading this now if you don't want a spoiler.

25 weeks

How far along: 25 weeks - 105 days approximately remaining. Sorry, no pic this week.

Maternity clothes... are a gift for a chunky preggo lady like me.

Stretch marks... haven't arrived. I'm still using my regular lotion and hoping for the best. Doing good so far.

Sleep... sucked this week. Between my cousin passing, not feeling good, and all the traveling, I haven't been able to sleep through a solid night all week without waking up at lease 1-2 hours. I even took a nap in the car on Tuesday's ride home. I can't remember the last time I napped midday.

#30 Go out for New Years

There were just a few things stopping this one from being checked off. Mostly, the baby in my belly. :) I'm not complaining, but I did have to figure some other way to "go out" without having to "party," if you will. We had originally made plans to have a nice dinner with another couple we know at Stoney River (one of my favorite restaurants), but sadly we had to cancel plans. I got a call two days before New Years that my of my cousins had passed away suddenly. So, we did go out for New Years this year, but very differently than any other year. We took the 13 hour trip from GA to get back to NJ to be with friends and family.

Although I know 2011 was a year filled with so many wonderful blessings, it is so hard to focus on the happiness we have had this year and to look forward with promise on the new year with it ending/beginning with such a tragic and sudden loss. There are so many memories of my childhood that come flooding back when I start to think about the reality of him no longer being with us. In my heart he will always be the free spirited, carefree memory of holidays and family times together. He had such a bright future ahead with so many directions to go and decisions to be made. But life doesn't always let you make those choices. In the unfairness of it all, I pray for everyone grieving over his untimely passing. May we all find comfort in each other and celebrate the memories made together of happier and better times.

We have so much to celebrate in the coming year and I have to look forward to that. I know of 13 babies so far being born in 2012 including my precious little boy. It's definitely going to be a year for life and living and loving. I'll be turning 30 years old, celebrating our second wedding anniversary, my baby brother is turning 21- oh how time flies. We are planning several trips including a few with little man back home to NJ, weddings, birthdays and his first Florida vacation. I'm excited for what 2012 will hold for my little family and I'm already planning on capturing it all with a photo blog focus once my 30 before 30 is complete. So, bring it on 2012... I've got my game face on and I'm ready for you!