Getting Close!

Time has just started to fly by. It seems like just yesterday I was looking in the mirror, waiting for my baby bump to appear.

And now - finally - complete strangers are starting to comment on my bulging belly! A sweet woman at Reasor's last night approached me in the cereal aisle and asked it I was carrying a baby girl because, apparently, I'm carrying high. Haha, she seemed shocked when I told her there's a baby boy in there. Perhaps my stomach looks high because my waste is so short!

I'm still squeezing into my regular jeans (with the help of a hair tie extender!), but the days of wearing my old tops and sweaters are long gone.

And baby Cailean is growing like a weed! His little feet have finally started to find their way into my ribs. The exciting thing about these last few weeks is that every day something new happens. Cailean has really started to wiggle around in there. Each little kick and punch is so precious.

Today we installed the car seat - and I've packed my hospital bag! Only a few weeks left. Wow, where has time gone?

A Letter to Cailean.

To my baby boy...

You have been on my mind and in my heart for so long now. Even before you were in my tummy, I was thinking of you and praying for you.

I had faith that one day you would become a part of my life. When your daddy and I took a vacation to St. Lucia this past spring, I bought a small wooden rabbit for you that was carved by a local artist. Although to some it would have just been another souvenir, to me it was a happy little symbol of hope and promise.

And now that little rabbit is sitting on a shelf in your nursery, waiting for your arrival with the rest of us. Only eight more weeks and we will see your precious face for the first time. Even now I cannot imagine the overwhelming emotion I will feel when you are placed in my arms. I'm so excited to watch you grow up - to see you play in the dirt, to teach you to ride a bike, to read to you, to take pictures of you on that first day of Kindergarten.

But until then, your little kicks and punches are growing stronger with every day. As is my love for you.

Love,
Your Mommy

Maternity Photo Shoot. Ah.

Well, I just keep getting bigger and bigger! I finally decided it was time to pull out the good 'ol tri-pod and snap some photos of my expanding belly. I'll be 8 months pregnant this upcoming week, so really, there isn't much time.

I'm just an amateur photographer, but I do have some mad Photoshop skills. Our photos were taken in Cailean's nursery using natural light. With the addition of some filters and a bit of brightness/contrast work, I think they turned out pretty well.

We're thinking about hiring a real photographer after the baby is here. But for now, enjoy these little homemade snapshots!

My Family Necklaces.

This Christmas I got a very special necklace from my husband Taylor - it was one of those gifts that makes you smile all over and tear up in your warmth and happiness. A beautiful platinum heart with three little diamonds nestled inside - the perfect, constant symbol of our soon-to-be family.

And then I splurged and had a necklace custom-made from a fellow artist. This one is a little less symbolic, but still a special little treasure...

I wear them both with pride and great anticipation of the months ahead.

Welcome to Babyland.

Well, I am so happy to announce that our son's nursery is finally complete! It has been a long work in progress - I was, after all, painting the walls at 11 weeks pregnant. Luckily, my choice of a soft, airy shade of aqua was spot on. Three weeks later, we found out we were having a boy!

Although I am not an interior design expert, I did have a few simple rules I tried to follow. It all began with a simple nursery checklist of must-haves:

- dark wood furniture (crib, changing table, and glider rocker). I wanted a deep contrast between the softness of the walls and the intensity of the accessories. And brown was the perfect solution to our "Lil Buckaroo" theme.

- a big cozy rug (I originally had ordered a cow-print rug that was on backorder for so long, I finally cancelled it). Instead, I opted for a modern style in chocolate brown, which I thought wouldn't compete too much with everything else. And let's face it, white rugs are impossible to keep clean.

- beautiful curtains that matched the bedding (I found a fairly decent deal online for a set that included valances). My grandmother helped me cut up the diaper bag that came with the set, and we created little curtain ties. It was a cheap way to get a great result! When in doubt, reconstruct!

- homemade art by me! I bought some great Boston Terrier prints from Etsy seller Brian Rubenacker, but I wanted to add some additional touches. I created one art print, painted some wooden lettering in a cow print to spell "Cailean" over the changing table, and made a cute frame to put on our floating shelves.

The result? Pure babyland bliss. Or at least I think so. It's currently my favorite room in the house.

Baby Shower #2!

Yesterday we celebrated little Cailean at our second baby shower - a festive event held at the charming Belvidere Mansion in Claremore. It was a fantastic occasion that included the best things in life: family, friends, and good food. We had a great time mingling and relaxing!

My cousins ordered the adorable little cake pictured above. And, of course, I was thrilled to get the "Cailean" slice!
Only about 2 1/2 months left now. Wow, how time is suddenly beginning to fly!

The 3D/4D Results Are In...

This last weekend we finally went in for our 3D/4D ultrasound at Miracle in the Womb. Wow, what an amazing experience it was to see our son's little face for the first time!

I can already tell that he is going to have Taylor's cheeks and nose. I'm not sure about his little eyes yet - they were closed most of the time (although he was blinking and smiling a lot)! It really made the pregnancy seem more real and gave me some encouragement to keep hanging in there. I'm approaching month #7, so there isn't much time left really. It's funny because the first 5 months seemed to drag. Now I feel like he will be here before we know it. I have got to start enjoying a good night's sleep!