Tales of a Lady in Nesting

Anyone who knows me well or is a Facebook friend knows this already, but holy mother, I am nesting like a crazy-woman these days.  I am exactly 2 weeks out from my due date with this baby girl, and I am as impatient and irritable as I have ever been.  I know I should be relaxing and sleeping and soaking up these last bits of time that I have with my little family of 3, but it's just not in me right now.

I have over-scheduled our past few weekends, trying to fit in some fun things for Jones that might not happen for a while after the baby arrives: trips to the farmer's market, EdVenture Children's Museum, Columbia Museum of Art, haircut, festivals around town...we'll be at St Pat's for the parade tomorrow.  I just can't sit still for the life of me.  James told me a couple nights ago that pregnancy brings out the ADHD in me; I cannot be still, and I cannot focus on only one thing at a time.  I have been cleaning, cooking, and crafting like it's my job.  And I guess, biologically, right now, it is.

My default personality is a laid-back, fly-by-the-seat-of-her-pants, procrastinator.  The over-planning, anxious, antsy, irritable woman who has taken over lately is foreign and a bit disturbing to me; (and I can only assume to my loved ones as well).

Anyway, I know things will change as quickly as I post this, and our lives will be turned upside down by a new baby.  Just had to vent.

Photo evidence of my nesting of late:

Valentine's Day goodies for Jones' class (via Pinterest)

Easter Egg garland made w/ paint swatches/chips from Lowe's (via Pinterest)

Vidalia Onion Pie (for Pi Day!)

Here's hoping that this weekend brings an end to my craziness and a new beginning in the form of a healthy babe!

XO

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Toddler Tantrums & Treats

Minute-to-minute my emotions and thoughts are so differently-focused these days...I blame the 34-week-pregnant-hormones.

Today's focus seems to have landed on how to prepare (and love-up) my sweet 2-year-old before this baby girl comes into the world.  I'm having the typical anxieties about how he will react...I have a feeling nursing time will be pretty brutal, as Jones is already mama-clingy these days.  And I'm pretty sure he totally gets that there is change coming, as he has already started wanting me to hold him and rock him "like baby" more and more.

I am reading up and asking advice on how to handle all of this, and for now, holding tight to the boy while also trying to lay down some discipline as his tantrums and willfulness seem to have spiked to the "terrible twos" level literally overnight.  One thing I have thought might help with the behavior issues is to create a reward system for chores.

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I know some might think 2 is a bit young to do chores, but Jones loves to help and he actually can do some helpful things around the house, (with a little oversight!)  I just ordered these brilliant little chore magnets from Etsy and am excited for Jones to use them!  I included Feed Dogs, Pick Up Toys, Brush Teeth, Try a New Food, and Water Garden, among other things...

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A friend of mine "pinned" a genius idea on Pinterest the other day, a "nursing basket," full of new/rarely allowed toys, games, and stuff for the older child to play with only when the baby is nursing.  As I've been thinking of what to put in Jones' basket, I came across these personalize-able flashcards from Pinhole Press that I had "pinned" a while ago, and I decided to order them for him.  I think it will be a fun and educational thing to put in Jones' "nursing basket."

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So, any advice for me on how to seamlessly (ha!) bring a new baby into a 2-year-old's world??  I'd love to hear your thoughts and ideas.

XO,
B

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Baby Girl Clothes

Baby Birdie should be making her appearance in the next 4-6 weeks, and since I seem to be able to do nothing but nest and prepare for her arrival at this point, (although, I promise I am forcing myself to do other things!), I thought I'd share a few of my favorite baby girl clothes from Pinterest and my searches around the web.  (Friends are giving me a baby shower this weekend, and I am giddy about the sweet things that I'm sure they picked out for this sure-to-be-spoiled-rotten little girl!)

via The Mini Social, by Polarn O. Pyret (no longer available, but I got Birdie's in the mail yesterday and it is perfection!)

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via here, (though no longer available)- I am a sucker for bloomers!

So far, my favorite places to find cute, unique--not too frilly--baby girl clothes (and boys' too!) are the following: Baby Gap, Polarn O. Pyret, Zara Kids, (they have great sales!), Winter Water Factory, The Mini Social, and Zulily.  Etsy is a great place to find handmade and vintage baby clothes too.

Got any other great places to find unique baby clothes; I'd love to know?  I need more ways to kill some time over here!

XO, B

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Lately Listening to...

My sweet hubs bought me The Head and the Heart's self-titled album on vinyl, and this is one of my faves:



I mean, how can you not love a line like "I miss your face like hell"?

Happy Friday!
8 weeks until baby girl Hill's arrival--I'm counting minutes!

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My Kid Likes to Party

Jones received an Elmo watch (analog, not digital, thank you very much) for Christmas from his Aunt Liz.  He loves this thing, and we knew he'd love it because he's loved his Daddy's watch for months now.

passed out, wearing Daddy's watch

He wears the Elmo watch nearly every day and when you ask him what time it is, without fail he responds emphatically: "Party Time!"

He's a pretty damn cool kid.

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The Ultimate Adventure

my greatest adventure

A reminder to myself and any other mamas out there who may sometimes feel too "tied down" to indulge that nagging wanderlust, or too tired to endeavor to try new things, or too broke to pay for a babysitter and head out on the town--or out of town-- on a whim like we once could:

"Motherhood is the ultimate adventure..."

This nugget of wisdom borrowed from this post on Emphasis Added, one of my daily blog reads.

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Musings on A New Year

My growing baby belly is such a nice promise right now...a reminder that from all bad things, good must come.  2012 was not the kindest year to me and my family.  We experienced a lot of loss.  But, far be it for me to complain because really, my life is blessed beyond measure.  Utterly blessed.

Today is my birthday.  I am 34 years old--holy crap, that sounds old.  But I don't feel it.

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I bought myself 2 things to celebrate.  One was an iPad subscription to the NY Times, and the other is this little diary, which I hope will make it easier for me to record daily memories of this time in my life...this time when babies' firsts define the days and quiet moments at home with my little family are the new perfectly normal.

I read an article in the NY Times yesterday about T.S. Eliot's wife passing away.  This description of Valerie Eliot's happy life with her husband stuck with me and made me smile at how my life mirrors:
"she sat with him through long nights of eating cheese and playing Scrabble."

What more is there, really?

XO,
B

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