Thursday, September 27, 2012

DIY Headboard

I hope you didn't think this was going to turn into an "all about my pregnancy" blog!  There is still a lot going on in our world and most of it doesn't involve me being pregnant!!!

We have been in our new home for a little over 2 months and things have come together nicely!  There are still a few "big" things left to do but I promised myself I would take my time and find the perfect pieces!!!  With that being said....I had searched and searched and searched for the perfect tall upholstered headboard.  I even talked to a few companies about having something custom made.  I chose not to for 2 reasons.  #1 I refuse to pay $3k for a headboard...most quotes were between $2k and $3k...I know that I have expensive taste but holy college fund I am not that crazy!!!  Reason #2 I am impatient!  I want what I want and I wanted it yesterday!!!  Most people were quoting me an 8-12 week turnaround!  I just can't wait that long!

The greatest gift that the Navy has given me are some amazing girlfriends.  Specifically my girl Krystal...there isn't one thing that this girl can't do...move over Martha Stewart, Paula Deen, and Nate Berkus!  She can cook, DIY, decorate, restore furniture, draw up house plans, and anything and everything else in between!  If she ever moves close to me again you need to watch out because we are starting a business and taking over!!!

Krystal suggested I make my own headboard!!!  I didn't think I could do it but she gave us very detailed instructions, picked out my fabric for me (at a great price in NC) and sent me on my way!  Check it out...

Leif building the headboard

Looking good...
ironing the heck out of the fabric

Here it is...minus the nail heads

Where's Aiden?

We still need to add the decorative nail heads to the edges but I haven't really decided what type of finish I want so that will have to wait!  It will obviously look a little more "lively" with some nail heads but so far so good.  I am pretty pleased with how it turned out...it's not perfect but I doubt anyone is going to come in and point out the flaws :-)  I will take a slight imperfection over an overpriced headboard any day!!!  The total cost to build this was under $500!  Now I need to find my next project....Aiden's big boy room, the new nursery, or the toy room???

Monday, September 24, 2012

Preggo..."How are you feeling?"

Thank you to everyone for all of the kind words about our impending arrival in February!  Both Leif and I are very excited about welcoming another blessing into our lives!  This is something that we knew we wanted and to be honest were just trying to get the timing right.  Unfortunately for us, the timing didn't quite work out in accordance with the needs of the Navy but that will be another post!
So many people have asked how I am feeling?  I am pretty sure that is because most people know how sick I was with Aiden.  With Aiden I began vomiting before I even knew I was pregnant...and never stopped!  I would "get sick" upwards of 25 times a day and struggled to even lift my head from the pillow with out being sick.  After thinking it was normal I finally called the doctor and told her what was going on...over 15lbs lost and still in my first trimester I was put on bed rest and told I had Hyperemesis Gravidarum which is "a debilitating and potentially life-threatening pregnancy disease marked by rapid weight loss, malnutrition, and dehydration due to unrelenting nausea and/or vomiting with potential adverse consequences for the newborn(s)." (via http://www.helpher.org/ )  To make a really long story and little less long, I lost over 20lbs and never got better until my sweet Aiden was born!
SO....here we are again!!!  So many people have said to me "I can't believe you are doing this again"...Me Neither hahah!  Leif and I had so many discussions about "what to do".  We always wanted 2 children but after Aiden I swore up and down that I would never do it again.  But if I heard it once, I heard it a million times..."every pregnancy is different"!  So we waited until we felt like Aiden was in a less needy position and thought maybe we were just slightly settled and we tried again.  We also talked a lot about finances and knowing that there was a strong possibility we would need a nanny, we tried to brace ourselves financially as well!  We knew very early on that we were pregnant...no surprises here...and immediately set up a doctors appointment to start the medication.  I did well for about the first 6 weeks and then day by day I got worse and worse!  So here we are...almost 18 weeks pregnant, down 14 lbs (not too bad),  PICC line was put in at 14 weeks and hooked up to IV fluids/nutrients 12-24 hours a day, I use and elastomeric infusion pump for my anti-nausea 3 times a day, and I am still sick!!!  Luckily I am not on bed rest yet and I have actually gotten used to vomiting in public places (GROSS, I know, but life has to go on).  Trust me...this isn't a blog looking for pity or sympathy!  Both Leif and I know where babies come from :-), we knew the possibility and together we made the decision to go for it!  We wanted to expand our family and knew that, as with all pregnancies, anything can happen!  It might sound silly but we put ourselves in this position and are dealing with it.  Well, I am dealing with it hahah...he works 16 hours a day and is in and out with the ship...why is it easier for the guys haha!  So...is there a point to all of this....2 points.  1.  A ton of people asked how I was feeling so this was the easiest way to explain things.  AND 2.  This will all be worth it!  If I have said it once, I have said it a million times.  Aiden is my everything!  I love him more than life itself and I know that 40 weeks of hell will be worth the feeling and depth of love that we wills get to experience again! 
So...now that you are bored out of your minds here are a few visuals (hopefully nothing too graphic)
My nightly routine


PICC line!

17 weeks :-)

We find out the sex of our baby tomorrow!  My actual comprehensive ultrasound isn't until Wednesday but since they close at 6 and there was absolutely no way Leif could get off on the day I scheduled, even though I picked on of his suggested days, we have scheduled a gender ultrasound at 7:30 pm tomorrow evening!  My sister and Mom will accompany me to my "big" ultrasound and since they want to be surprised we won't be sharing the info until Wednesday!  We are excited and anxious all at the same time!  I am just praying for a healthy baby!!!!


Wednesday, September 19, 2012

God is great...

The age of 3 must be the age of "I want to do it by myself".  I know allowing him to be independent is not only great development for his little mind but I am sure it does wonders for his confidence as well.  Lately Aiden has been want to do so much "by myself".  This phase is also a huge lesson in patience for me.  It probably takes 50 times longer for him to do things with out my help but I am learning that sometimes my desire for punctuality is completely trumped by my sons self pride when he does something independently.  Before dinner this evening I asked Aiden if he wanted to say the blessing and without hesitation he said the whole darn thing PERFECTLY!!!!  Not only was he proud of himself but I was so shocked, happy, and proud of him that I immediately teared up and called about 5 people to share the news!  I asked him to repeat it so I could show daddy...he had a few hiccups the second time around but still something to be proud of!!!



Sunday, September 16, 2012

Our little firecracker is 3...party time!

Most people that know me well know that I love to host parties.  Sometimes I tend to go a little over board!  This year I think I was pretty tame for Aiden's 3rd birthday party.  We have had such a busy summer and the month leading up to Aiden's party was a rough one for many reasons!  But we managed to pull it off!!!  In honor of our new "Made in America" home we decided to do a patriotic themed birthday party.  I definitely think Aiden is the "all American boy" but the truth is, I picked a theme that was easy and required minimal creativity on my part.  Being extremely tired and sick didn't help my planning and creativity so I was lazy with my theme this year!  As usual, I say that I am going to go small but once you start inviting people it is really hard to stop.  I know that I left some people out but I had to stop myself somewhere short of placing an announcement in the local paper!  Overall we had an absolute blast!  Thank you to everyone who came out and helped us celebrate our little firecrackers 3rd Birthday and a special THANK YOU to Nana and Pops for dropping everything at the last minute to take care of me and Aiden when I was down for the count a few days before Aiden's party!  Here is a look at Aiden's big day!




















Still can't believe my BABY is 3!

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

3 Years of Aiden

On Saturday my sweet baby boy turned 3 years old!  Oh how the time flies!  Here is what 3 looks like for my baby boy!

Stats:
28lbs
Size clothing 2 T
Shoe size: 8 (should be 7.5 but they don't make 1/2 sizes for toddlers)
Favorite Movie: Toy Story 3
Favorite Food: Strawberries, grapes and salads (just like your momma)
Some notable quotes:
"I love you so much in the whole wide world"
"Mommy, I growed up last night in my bed"
"Thank you for making me healthy food so I don't get sick"
Nicknames: Mr. A

To my Sweet Aiden,
Nothing could have prepared me for life as your Mommy.  I am not sure what I did to deserve the gift of you, but I know without any hesitation that I was blessed beyond measure!  You are, without a doubt, the sweetest, most compassionate, loving little boy!  People always tell me how special you are, and although I already know it, it is nice to know that they see it too!
Over the past 3 years, you have been such a trooper.  Your adaptable personality amazes your daddy and I everyday.  Most 3 year olds see the same friends and family everyday.  You, my love, have moved 4 times in 3 years.  We've lived in Virginia Beach, Maryland, Rhode Island, and now Chesapeake.  You didn't miss a beat when we moved into a hotel room for 10 weeks, put you into school for the first time, and started potty training you all at the same time!  We moved from MD to Rhode Island 2 weeks before Christmas and by Christmas morning it was like you had lived there forever!  In 3 years you have been to MD, VA, RI, SC, NJ, NY, FL, NC, MA, and Mexico.  You have been on more plane rides than some adults, taken more long distance car rides than I want to admit,  stayed in too many hotels to count and thrived in each and every situation.  We have had the best time just being lucky enough to watch you grow and learn!  So many people warned me about the terrible two's...I can't think of one terrible thing about 2 year old you.  Trust me, you had a few meltdowns, tested my patience, and thought you were the boss a few times.  But guess who won :-)  I honestly can't even think of 2 whole days in a row where I thought you were in a mood or possibly approaching terrible!  Thank you for that!!!
I am looking forward to the 3 year old you!  I really can't even imagine what is in store for us...but whatever it is, I have no doubt that you will handle it in the same fashion you have every other situation.  With lots of questions and lots of fun!
Although it may sound silly to you...and probably to most...but THANK YOU for making me a Mommy!  You are my first...and no one can ever take that away from you!  You blessed me with the title of Mommy and it is a responsibility that I take very seriously!  It is BY FAR the greatest role that I have ever or will ever have...there is no job, pay check, title, or career goal that could give me the satisfaction of knowing that I created such a precious boy!  Trust me, I have reached for the stars but my love for you has sent me to the moon and back! I have accomplished a lot but nothing compares to the sense of pride and accomplishment that I feel as your Mommy!  "I love you so much in the whole wide world"  Thank you for just being you...sweet, loving, adorable, compassionate,empathetic, respectful and delightful YOU!!!!
Love Always
Mommy