Meet our daughter

On November 26th at 7:33 pm the world welcomed Gray Emersyn. She weighed 7 pounds 1.6 ounces at birth and was 19.5 inches long. She is the light of our lives and I couldn't imagine not having her in our lives.

Nursery Reveal

I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what I wanted to do with the nursery. From the very beginning when I found out we were having a daughter I was very attracted to a hot pink, white and gray color scheme. I was also obsessed with owls. Kevin and I designed a nursery that was simple and was able to highlight a neutral design with pops of hot pink.

The crib, dresser, and glider are from Babies R Us. The nightstand is from Pottery Barn. I ordered hot pink curtains with white polka dots from Pottery Barn Kids and her blanket and pillow embroidered with her name is the Harper line from Pottery Barn Kids. I ordered the G over her crib from a seller on Etsy. The mobile was made by her Nana (my mom) and we couldn't love it more. It was exactly what we were looking for. I ordered the prints above her dresser from another Etsy seller and I love how they turned out. The owl picture, my baby brother drew just for his niece. The 3 pictures on the wall will house our maternity photos when we get them printed. The blank picture frames over the dresser will have some of the newborn photos. 

We love how the nursery turned out. 

36 Weeks!!

How far along? 36 Weeks

Baby Size: The size of a honeydew!

Total weight gain: 15 pounds....which is shocking after the adventures of the weekend
Maternity clothes? Leggings, long sleeved maternity t-shirts and my husbands sweatshirts. It's freaking cold here right now!

Stretch marks? Yeah they have appeared....I just call them battle wounds.

Sleep: I'm under the impression I am starting to prep for sleepless nights with the little miss. I wake up every hour or so to pee, and getting out of bed is a serious chore.

Best moment this week: The constant movement of our little lady. It was a very ROUGH weekend.

Miss Anything? Bending over, not having constant contractions or cramps, seeing my feet....you know the usual...however it's all worth it.

Movement: Lots and lots of movement.  She makes herself very well known.

Food cravings: Food and I had a massive disagreement this weekend. Friday night I ate P.F. Chang's with my friend Candice and hubby Kevin....by 5:30 Saturday morning I was throwing up non-stop. I couldn't even keep water down. This started 2-5 min apart contractions, which caused me to end up in the hospital. I spent Saturday at 10:30 am to Monday around 4:30 pm in the hospital for severe dehydration and contractions. Thankfully our daughter didn't even seem fazed and is still happily camped out in her water bed.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Solids. I'm on a liquid diet and frankly its fine....since the amount of throwing up I did on Saturday is more than I think I threw up in the weeks of morning sickness. Case in point (I burst a blood vessel in my eye from getting sick).

Gender: GIRL!!!!

Labor Signs: 1 cm dilated and thinning. Doc seems to think its from how sick I was....but estimation is she'll show up in 1-3 weeks.

Symptoms: Constant pelvic cramping/stomach cramping. Difficulty moving around and bending over is just NOT happening.

Belly Button in or out? hanging in there...but so flat. The belly is huge!

Wedding rings on or off? off

Mood: Stressed and scared. I was terrified this past weekend that something would be wrong with our daughter with how sick I was. I am ready to meet her.

Looking forward to: Baby's arrival.

35 Weeks!

 

How far along? 35 Weeks...only 35 more days!!!

Baby Size: The size of a coconut or honeydew melon. According to the doctor last week...she's about 6 lbs. I'm thinking she is probably a little less than that.

Total weight gain: Still around 10 lbs

Maternity clothes? I live in maternity leggings and tops. Much more comfortable that way. I bought new shoes this weekend and frankly I miss my size 7 feet.

Stretch marks? I have one around a scar, but I have a feeling AFTER I deliver her...that's when they will appear.

Sleep: I woke up every 1-1.5 hours on Friday night/Saturday morning. It was rough.

Best moment this week: Celebrating my 1 year wedding anniversary with Kevin. It's amazing that 1 year ago we were getting hitched and now we are waiting for the little lady to arrive. Getting one set of maternity pictures back from our photographer. So many amazing pictures, I totally cried. I also cut about 3 inches off my hair and feel SOOOO much better. It really needed it.

Miss Anything? Bending over. It's near impossible. I miss my shoes. I miss my normal non maternity clothes.

Movement: Lots of rolls, kicks, and somersaults!

Food cravings: Not a whole lot. Food and I don't agree most days. There is very little room and I am just not enjoying it these days.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Apple juice and I did not agree.

Gender: Gorgeous Girl!

Labor Signs: Had contractions roughly 15 minutes apart for more than 4 hours on Sunday...thankfully they stopped, but was really scared she would decide to make a super early appearance.

Symptoms: Just the braxton hicks contractions. I am really uncomfortable in this last stage and just counting down till we meet our daughter.

Belly Button in or out? Still hanging in.

Wedding rings on or off? Off (so sad!)

Mood: Excited for her to make her appearance. 

Looking forward to: Packing the rest of the hospital bags (started last night). Finalizing her nursery, I feel like I am never going to finish. Spending time with friends and family before she arrives.

34 Weeks!

From the wedding

 

How far along? 34 Weeks and 4 days

Baby Size: About the size of a cantaloupe or butter squash...getting bigger!

Total weight gain: 10lbs at the doc on Monday

Maternity clothes? A mix. I wore maternity leggings and an older sweater today. My feet have grown nearly a full size!!!

Stretch marks? I discovered one around a scar. Honestly...I'm okay with that.

Sleep: I'm waking up several times a night either to go to the bathroom or because I am super uncomfortable

Best moment this week: This past Saturday I got to be apart of my cousin's wedding. Seeing them get hitched was awesome and I couldn't be more happy to welcome Miranda to our crazy family.

Miss Anything? Bending over...feeling more energetic...all my pretty shoes!

Movement: Oh yeah she is a mover and a shaker.

Food cravings: Fruit! Sour patch kids.

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nothing new.

Gender: Girl

Labor Signs: I just feel an overwelming weight in my nether regions.

Symptoms: Large tummy, feeling more tired, aches and pains. You know...the usual.

Belly Button in or out? In and hanging on.

Wedding rings on or off? Officially off. My hands swelled so bad this weekend I thought I was going to have to get them cut off. Not risking it further, so it will be a few months before I get my sparkly's back.

Mood: I am beyond ready to meet this little lady. At our appointment on Monday she had her hand over her face in true drama queen pose of "no pictures please." I really can't wait to see her chubby cheeks in person.

Looking forward to: Getting our maternity pictures back and celebrating 1 year of marriage. Crazy to think that I am less than 40 days from my due date and I've been married nearly a year. Where does the time go?!?!?!

My daddy and I at the wedding (seriously LOVE my pops!)

 

33 Weeks!

 

How far along? 33 Weeks {due date is quickly approaching...December 16th!!!}

Baby Size: Since she is measuring ahead...I'm gonna go w/5 lbs + (I'll have a better idea next Monday)

Total weight gain: 9 lbs at my last appointment
Maternity clothes? Yup. I am starting to miss my non-maternity clothes
Stretch marks? No...but this belly is getting bigger every day. Scary!
Sleep: I'm still struggling with sleep and trying to find the most comfortable position.
Best moment this week: Meeting with our second maternity photographer, who will also be doing our newborn shoot. We had a blast and a few teasers were sent to me last night. I can't wait to see the rest!
Miss Anything? I'd really love a glass of wine
Movement: Oh yeah...she loves to cram her toes and butt up into my ribcage, makes bending over nearly impossible. I've resorted to having my husband help me put my shoes on.
Food cravings: Fruit, Fruit, Fruit. I seriously would be happy with a big bowl of strawberries right now.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Yeah, too rich food or too heavy.
Gender: GIRL!!
Labor Signs: Yeah, I get Braxton Hicks contractions....so kinda hoping little lady shows up ANYTIME after

December 1st
Symptoms: Just getting bigger and more achy. It's starting to take a toll...and I still have 6+ weeks to go. Oy!
Belly Button in or out? Still hanging in there.
Wedding rings on or off? On, but only my band.
Mood: Happy, anxious and ready to meet her!!
Looking forward to: Heading to West Virginia to be a part of my cousin's wedding. Yup....I'm a bridesmaid!

32 Weeks!

How far along? 32 Weeks...55 days to go!  Officially in my 8th month!

Baby Size: Baby is the size of a jicama or squash!

Total weight gain: 9lbs.

Maternity clothes? Yeah. Much more comfortable

Stretch marks? Still clear!

Sleep: Not horribly. Really run down.

Best moment this week: Our baby shower was this past Saturday and it was amazing how many people came for our baby girl. She definitely made out like a bandit.

Miss Anything? Being able to move easily. Her butt is basically in my ribcage putting pressure on my lungs, so breathing is harder.

Movement: Lots of rolls. She is camped out on my right side in my rib cage and its super uncomfortable.

Food cravings: Fruit, Cereal, Cupcakes (I might have eaten several at my baby shower)

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope

Gender: Girl

Labor Signs: Found out on Monday that I am having Braxton Hicks.

Symptoms: I pulled a groin muscle on my left side with all the walking and standing. My lower back hurts and just am generally uncomfortable.

Belly Button in or out? Still in...but flatter

Wedding rings on or off? Depends on the day.

Mood: Ready for baby girl to come....gotta keep her cooking, just increasingly more ready.

Looking forward to: Our second round of maternity pictures this weekend and my cousin's wedding in WV next weekend. Also trying to finalize the nursery and really can't wait to see it all come together. 

Baby Shower

Over the weekend my two best friends through a beautiful baby shower for our daughter. The theme...owls. Yup...I've been obsessed with pink, white, lace and of all things OWLS!

It was a beautiful affair and I had a blast.

All the yummy food

Pretty favors (don't mind the witch hats, the clubhouse was already decorated for halloween)

Presents for baby girl

Sitting pretty

Some of my favorite ladies (L to R: Danielle, Tamera, me, Heather, Caroline and Bekah)

Measuring my belly with string...have to love that my mother had the BIGGEST piece of string)

Realizing the belly really isn't that big. lol

GORGEOUS homemade crochet blanket from one of Kevin's aunts.

LOVE this balloon

Such a girly bib for my baby girl. LOVE

So many daddy onesies out there, I love when there is a mom one. 

Baby girl got a sparkly pink headband and I might have put it on myself

Awesome diaper cake from her godmother

Stylish baby bag, also from her godmother.

You know your friends LOVE you when they gift you with WINE!!

BEAUTIFUL Ralph Lauren velvet dress

Owl piggy bank

Purple booties, handmade from her aunt Rose...LOVE THEM!!

I might just want a matching hat (also made by her aunt Rose)

LOVE the booties

Probably my favorites...bunny slippers...handmade by Aunt Rose

Pink Lemonade Cupcakes...delicious

Daddy got a present too...Daddy Survival Kit

Tong, Face Mask, Goggles, Gloves, Washcloths, Bath Wash, Daddy Sippy Cup, Rum, etc. He LOVED it.

The book is from my childhood (gifted from my grandmother to me). My mother gave it to Kevin for our daughter. The first story: The King Owl....so she got him a crown and an owl puppet. Kevin loved it.

So many presents...thank you soooo much. This isn't even 1/2 of what baby girl was gifted with....many people who were not able to attend sent in some amazing gifts, like her swing and pack n play.

My mom and I

My favorite picture of the three of us....so far

My girls Candice and Heather