our little seal has chubby cheeks!

we had an elective 3D ultrasound this morning. I always thought they looked kinda alien-like, but I guess it's different when it's your own kid. Ronin, of course, was not cooperative in the slightest at first. he was sleeping like a rock and would not change positions... and when he did show his face, his put his hand up in front of it. he even put his hand in front of his face and FLICKED US OFF. 

anyway, after moving around and poking him, we finally got some decent shots of his cute face. remember how my bump watch update said that he should be weighing about 2lbs? yeah, this chub weighs about 3lbs 10oz. the sonogram tech estimated that he will probably be over 8lbs at birth. 

he has a large head (no surprise there... have you SEEN my husband's dome?), fat feet, and big hands. he's also got a pretty long torso, which is probably why he's weighing so much already... it also explains why I feel like he's cramped in there. 

I may be biased, but I think he's pretty damn cute already! I can't wait to meet him! :D

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

for anyone in the MD/DC/VA area looking to have an elective ultrasound, I highly recommend That's My Baby Ultrasound in Bowie, Maryland. the facility was spacious, clean, and comfortable. the cost is very reasonable and there are several packages available to choose from based on what you want. Jen was a pleasure to work with and gave us plenty of time to try to wake Ronin up to ensure that we could have a great experience.

disclaimer: I was not paid or compensated for my review of the services performed at That's My Baby; these are just my honest opinions based on my experience. 

baby Q bump watch - week 27

holy crap. I'm in the last week of the second trimester. 

where has the time gone? it seems like it was yesterday that I peed on that little stick and found out about baby Q, and now we're in the home stretch! 

at this point in my pregnancy, Ronin is super active and he usually wakes me up in the morning with a swift kick to the ribs before my alarm goes off. I haven't experienced any hiccups or BH contractions yet, but I'm sure they'll make their appearance soon enough.

he likes hearing Daddy's voice and kicks back when I nudge him. :)

I am so amazed at how in love I am with him already. I know my heart will just melt and puddle on the floor when we finally get to meet him in a short 3 months. 

how far along? 

27 weeks. 

how big is the baby? 

he weighs almost 2lbs and is measuring about 14 and a half inches long with his legs extended. he is practicing inhaling & exhaling. his brain is officially showing brain activity (!!!) and will continue to develop and become more complex. 

total weight gain: 

hmm, not sure. I pigged out in NYC over the weekend... but we also did a LOT of walking. probably up about 8-9lbs now if I had to take a guess.

sleep: 

ugh, kinda sucks. I didn't bring my Snoogle to NYC over the weekend and my sleep definitely suffered. it feels like I wake up 2837 times to pee, too. 

best moment of the week: 

visiting with Kaycie & Adam all weekend in NYC! also, we got to experience the Bodies exhibit, which I've been wanting to see for YEARS... it was everything I thought it would be. exploring the city was awesome, but my poor feet swelled up pretty bad from all the traveling. we also got lots of packages for Ronin's room - can't wait to share them once we get the room put together. 

food cravings: 

anything cold and fresh.

food aversions: 

heartburn inducing foods.

symptoms: 

my pelvis feels terrible, but that could be from all the walking we did over the weekend. I'm starting to get winded pretty easily, so I know he's moving up and squishing my lungs. also? heartburn is a bitch.

OH! and a totally new one that developed over the weekend - nipple leaks. I can't believe it's starting already, but I woke up Saturday to a stain on my tee shirt... I thought it was just an old stain (it was an OLD shirt), but there was a matching discoloration on the tank top I was wearing underneath. looks like I might be buying nursing pads earlier than I expected. 

gender sex: 

still a BOY! :D 

most looking forward to: 

getting some good sleep this week (fingers crossed) and our 3D ultrasound. we're heading south to Florida for our friends' wedding on Friday. we'll have a day of beach time on Saturday and then we'll be back home Sunday afternoon. after that, this girl is DONE traveling for the summer. 

what I miss right now: 

sleeping on my stomach. and beer.

next appointment: 

we have a 3D ultrasound scheduled for Thursday, and my next OB appointment is on June 8th, where I'll get to participate in the oh-so-awesome glucose test.

baby Q bump watch - week 26

how far along? 

26 weeks. 

how big is the baby? 

Ronin is the size of a head of lettuce - weighing about a pound & two thirds and measuring 14 inches in length. his eyes are forming and will start to open soon. he's preparing his lungs for life outside the womb by breathing in small amounts of amniotic fluid. 

total weight gain: 

7lbs.

sleep: 

crap crap crap. when I finally get comfortable, I have to get up to pee. and Sean is snoring. 

best moment of the week: 

hearing hims strong heartbeat at my appointment on Friday afternoon. we also acquired the rest of the nursery furniture (dresser, nightstand, bookcase, store ottoman) and finally getting the room cleaned out. I don't know why we waited so long to do it - it only took about an hour. 

food cravings: 

anything that doesn't cause heartburn.

food aversions: 

anything that causes heartburn, which seems like EVERYTHING.

symptoms: 

pelvic pain, heartburn, back aches.

gender sex: 

still a BOY! :D 

most looking forward to: 

painting the room this week (hopefully) and our trip to visit Kaycie & Adam in NYC this weekend. 

what I miss right now: 

sleeping on my stomach.

next appointment: 

I made an appointment for a 3D ultrasound for the 31st - so stay tuned for cute face photos of my boy. :)

baby Q bump watch - week 25

damn Sean and his blurry photo taking.

how far along? 

25 weeks. 

how big is the baby? 

Ronin is the size of a cauliflower (according to The Bump... aren't those smaller than cantaloupes?) - weighing about a pound & a half and measuring 13.5 inches in length. he's starting to accumulate some baby fat and now that his sense of equilibrium is developing, he is learning which way is up and which way is down. 

total weight gain: 

I think I'm about 5lbs up from my last appointment (according to my scale at home), which will be a 4lb total weight gain. <--- same as last week.

sleep: 

meh. it's been kinda crappy this last week because Sean has been sick... which means he is snoring and coughing like crazy. luckily, he has volunteered to sleep on the couch every night since last Wednesday.

best moment of the week: 

quite a few things actually! the cloth diaper workshop we attended on Saturday (SO helpful and really confirmed our decision to cloth diaper), being told "Happy Mother's Day" on Sunday, and finally getting my fix of Maryland blue crabs over the weekend. OH, and we now have a crib and mattress thanks to my MIL. :)

get in my bellay.

food cravings: 

fruit pops, anything with cheese, raw green beans. strange, I know.

food aversions: 

nothing.

symptoms: 

same old pelvic pain. my feet are starting to swell a bit too, but as soon as I prop them up, the swelling goes down. <----- yep. 

gender sex: 

BOY! :D 

most looking forward to: 

we have a trip to IKEA planned for Saturday to acquire more nursery furniture. and I get to hear the nugget's heartbeat again on Friday. weeee!

what I miss right now: 

sleeping on my stomach.

next appointment: 

May 18th - Friday afternoon.

baby Q bump watch - week 24

I feel like today is a huge milestone - it's V-day! little baby Ronin is now considered to be a viable pregnancy. technically, he would be able to survive outside the womb (with a LOT of medical attention) if I were to go into labor today. of course, we'd prefer to wait the 16 weeks we have left before we get to meet him... so feel free to just keep on cooking in there, my little seal.

I took this over the weekend at Kaycie & Adam's Cinco de Mayo reception - 23 weeks, 4 days.

taken this morning - 24 weeks exactly. no idea why it's blurry. grrrr.

how far along? 

24 weeks. 

how big is the baby? 

he is the size of a cantaloupe - weighing over a pound and about a foot long. his see-through skin is becoming more opaque and pink, thanks to all the new capillaries that are forming. his lungs are developing branches, as well as cells that produce a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he is out of the womb.

total weight gain: 

I think I'm about 5lbs up from my last appointment (according to my scale at home), which will be a 4lb total weight gain. 

sleep: 

the Snoogle is where it's at, folks. sleep is MUCH better. still peeing multiple times during the night, but that's nothing new. <---- yep, same as last week. 

best moment of the week: 

Sean is finally able to feel Ronin's forceful kicks. the look on his face when he felt that little bump against his hand is something I will treasure forever. I think it feels more real to him now, and that makes me a happy Mama.

he is also reacting to my voice in the morning, which is pretty damn awesome. he usually snoozes until I start talking to Sean, and then he just kicks away. sweet boy. <3

food cravings: 

fruit popsicles, water, and Maryland blue crabs... which I will be devouring this weekend.

food aversions: 

nothing I can recall.

symptoms: 

same old pelvic pain. my feet are starting to swell a bit too, but as soon as I prop them up, the swelling goes down. 

gender sex: 

BOY! :D 

most looking forward to: 

we're attending a cloth diaper class this weekend. I feel as though I have a good handle on how everything works, but I think it will be extremely helpful to have some hands-on learning available. we're also going out to eat crabs on Saturday afternoon for mother's day and I am salivating just thinking about how delicious those suckers are going to be.

what I miss right now: 

honestly? nothing. I love being pregnant.

next appointment: 

May 16th - next Wednesday.

baby Q bump watch - week 23

um, holy shit. according to WTEWYE, I am 6 months pregnant today. 

how the hell did that happen?! 

time is flying... although I'm pretty sure I'll be singing a different tune when I hit the 3rd trimester. 

top from Old Navy

how far along? 

23 weeks - 6 MONTHS. 

how big is the baby? 

Ronin is a little over 11 inches long and weighing in at a little over a pound. he is the size of a pomegranate (or a large mango). his face is fully formed (just waiting on a little fat to cushion it) and he is developing nipples. he can also hear my voice, heartbeat, and loud noises like cars honking or dogs barking.

total weight gain: 

I haven't weighed myself this week, but I would assume I'm at about the same I was last week... maybe even up to pre-pregnancy weight now. 

sleep: 

the Snoogle is where it's at, folks. sleep is MUCH better. still peeing multiple times during the night, but that's nothing new. 

best moment of the week: 

totally not baby related, but the Caps moving on to round 2 of the Stanley Cup playoffs! baby related? creating Ronin's nursery inspiration board and my MIL ordering our crib. :)

OH, and I forgot to mention that I ordered our first cloth diapers last week (mostly prefolds and some fitteds) and they are the cutest fucking things I've ever seen in my life.

food cravings: 

Dole fruit popsicles, shells & cheese, and burgers. yum.

food aversions: 

nothing I can recall.

symptoms: 

SPD is funnnnn. <---- pretty much. other than the pelvic pain, I feel great.

gender sex: 

BOY! :D 

most looking forward to: 

celebrating Kaycie & Adam's wedding at their Cinco de Mayo reception this weekend, working on the nursery, and the moment when Sean will finally be able to feel a baby kick.

what I miss right now: 

I really wanted a beer while watching hockey over the weekend. I settled for a glass of wine, but it wasn't the same.

next appointment: 

May 16th.

Ronin's room: inspiration board

I whipped this up yesterday just to have an idea of how everything will come together. and I gotta say... I lurve it. check out the sources below.

[1] color scheme: grey, navy, aqua, yellow. paint color = Sparrow by Behr. it's the same color we have in our entry way (which is shown in my latest bump photo).

[2] mobile from Etsy. I love the modern fabric and the simplicity of the design. I don't want anything too distracting up there. if you'd like the link to the seller, leave me your email in the comments. I haven't purchased it yet, so I don't want to share the link. ;)

[3] pendant from Ikea. because there isn't enough room for a ceiling fan (location is too close to the wall), I want a simple pendant lamp that will bring some natural textures to the room.

[4] octopus hook from Urban Outfitters. I love this guy. he's quirky and boy-ish. I'll hang him on the back of the door.

[5] gumball lamp from Land of Nod. I may not end up buying this exact lamp, but it's the style and color I'm looking for. this will either go on top of the bookshelf or on an end table next to the glider.

[6] Baby Mod Modena crib. I did a whole post on this yesterday.

[7] hippo bookends from Serena & Lily. obviously, used to keep books together. I like that these are a natural color so that they can be used in his big boy room as well. also? they're hippos. FTW.

[8] Billy bookcase from Ikea. I'm torn between the Billy and the Expedit... I may end up with both depending on what will fit. either way, this kid needs a bookcase and it shall be one of the two. I feel like the Billy has more storage space, so that's why I chose it for the board.

[9] Hemnes 8 drawer dresser from Ikea. pretty self explanatory. white, cheap, and easy (that's what she said). however, we'll be using these knobs instead to spice it up.

[10] letter hooks from Anthropologie. I'll be buying his initials (RRQ) and posting them either on the back of the closet door, or on the wall somewhere... maybe above the bookcase.

[11, 12, 13] artwork from Etsy and Land of Nod. they fit the color scheme and they're personal to us as well. we did a "perfect pair" theme for our wedding, Mama loves hippos, and well... bikes are a little boy's favorite toy! if you'd like the links to the sellers (for the pear & hippo prints), leave me your email in the comments. I haven't purchased them yet, so I don't want to share the link. ;)

[14] Trinity glider. mmmm, I love this chair. keep in mind that it'll be navy blue with white trim, and not the off white color shown. if I had photoshop, I'd change it... but I don't, so just use your imagination.

not pictured: the nightstand (to go next to the glider), the rug (still contemplating), the bedding (in this post), and obviously, the cute clothes and toys he'll be spoiled with.

so there you have it: Ronin's room, in a condensed board.
I'm so excited to get started and put some love into this space.
I'm so excited to have him grow up with all this stuff that I've picked out just for him.
I hope he loves it as much as I do.
<3

Ronin's room: the bedding

dude. there are SO MANY options when it comes to baby bedding. lucky for me, I knew from the get-go that I was not going to invest in a bedding set. it just isn't worth the money to me, because 1: the AAP recommends not using bumpers in cribs, 2: babies aren't supposed to have quilts/blankets in their cribs, and 3: I like an eclectic style and don't really want anything matchy matchy.

however, the one bedding set that really caught my eye was the Not a Peep crib bedding collection from Land of Nod. the prices weren't too steep, and I loooooved the modern patterns, as well as the grey and mustard yellow color. most of all, I liked that I could pick and choose my pieces... I didn't want the actual bird print anywhere, but I love the stripes and dots.

unfortunately, every item in the collection is backordered until at least July. sad trombone. and I am not a patient person by any means. even though Ronin will be in our room for the first few months, I didn't like knowing that his crib might not be complete when he comes home. sad trombone indeed.

so, as always, I turned to Etsy to look for affordable bedding that I could mix & match. I stumbled upon a few different sellers, but ultimately loved the choices (and pricing) at Cottage Belles. I also love that they sell changing pad covers, as that's something I want to coordinate with the bedding.

after browsing through the fabric selections for what seemed like DAYS, I finally came up with a combination that I loved that fit with the color scheme in my head (grey, navy, aqua, yellow). BEHOLD:

I plan on getting the option to add the patterned band at the bottom of the crib skirt. I'll also buy three sets of sheets (I especially love that the sheets have the elastic edges that go ALL the way around the sheet, and not just at the corners). I can also purchase neutral sheets down the road that won't clash with the crib skirt. I love the patterns and how they coordinate with each other without being matchy matchy.

oh, and in case you're wondering, we chose the Naturepedic No Compromise Organic Cotton Classic Lightweight mattress. highly rated by Baby Bargains, it's organic, firm, and only weighs 15lbs (most mattresses weigh a whopping 30lbs). it's expensive, but baby's sleep and safety is worth the cost.

I have yet to purchase these bedding selections, so I don't have real life experience with the quality. I will be sure to update once we order everything so I can review the conditions of the pieces.

disclaimer: I was not compensated by any means to write this post. Cottage Belles is just the shop I chose to order the bedding from. they have not paid me or discounted any purchases in exchange for this review.

baby Q bump watch - week 22

how far along? 

22 weeks. 

how big is the baby? 

Ronin is approximately 11 long and weighs just about a FULL POUND (!!!!) - aka, the size of a papaya. he is starting to look like a mini newborn with his lips, eyelids, and eyebrows becoming more distinct. he is also sleeping about 12-14 hours a day now that he's settling into a sleep cycle. 

total weight gain: 

gained 4lbs from my last appt, so I am officially -1lb away from pre-pregnancy weight. 

sleep: 

I spent $80 on a Snoogle this weekend. worth every penny. I slept like a rock last night. 

best moment of the week: 

making the trip to Great Beginnings (don't bother with their website, it's terrible) over the weekend. it was rated as one of the top baby stores in the nation by the folks who write Baby Bargains, and I can see why. it was filled to the brim with every baby item you could imagine. I finally got to try out some gliders, and my aunt graciously purchased my pick. 

she's a beaut!

her name is Trinity

we also picked up some ridiculously cute baby clothes (our first real baby purchase) that I can't wait to dress him in.

food cravings: 

still pickles. let's also add fruit popsicles, orange juice, string cheese, and ho-hos. 

food aversions: 

nadda.

symptoms: 

just the same old pelvic pain. other than that, I feel amazing. I have tons of energy. I feel blessed to be able to enjoy this pregnancy.

gender sex: 

BOY! :D 

most looking forward to: 

finally cleaning out the nursery this weekend and taking some measurements so that we can settle on furniture. 

what I miss right now: 

not a damn thing.

next appointment: 

May 16th.

on a completely unrelated note, I FINALLY got the camera fixed on my phone (woohoo!), and now that Droid has Instagram, I'm all over it. follow me if you wish! 

mandeefofandee is my user name :)

21 week bump!

feeling pretty large & in charge most days, but I know I've got a loooong way to go. I also just got a ridiculous amount of maternity clothing, courtesy of my wonderful MIL. it's so nice to have tops that actually cover my whole belly, haha!

Happy Thursday!

Ronin's room: the plan

the number one thing I hate the most about our house is that the other bedrooms are on the second level, while ours is on the first level. not only will the nursery be on a separate floor level as our bedroom, but it is a funky ass shape too. it's kind of shaped like an L, with a little nook by the window that juts out.

we don't really have much choice in this, as the other available bedroom upstairs has a big balcony and is subject to lots of traffic noise (we live on a main road), which doesn't usually make for a baby that sleeps well, from what I've heard. plus, it's a balcony. totes not worrying myself over THAT issue.

ANYWAY. we're gunna make it work. I figure he will be in our room/downstairs 99% of the time for the first couple months while we establish a set feeding/sleeping schedule, but I still want him to have a room to call his own that he can become familiar with once he's ready to sleep up there. and when he DOES get to finally sleep up there, you betta believe we'll have one of those fancy schmancy video monitors so I can spy on him at all times.

the GOOD thing about having a room upstairs is that the cats will not be able to bother him in his room/get cat hair all over his stuff/pee on anything because they're territorial. and I'll also get a great workout lugging him and all his laundry up and down stairs during the day. :)

I made a (not-to-scale at all) mock-up of how I imagine the room to be set up. I'm pretty certain that the space between the door and the wall at the top of the stairs will be too narrow to accommodate a crib, which is why I have the dresser there instead. however, if I can fit a crib there, I'd much rather have it there and move the dresser over across from the closet. we'll see how it all works out. 

I'm thinking that I could fit two bookcases in there, but I'm not 100% certain since I haven't actually measured the room. the glider and ottoman will also probably be caddy cornered and facing the door, but Paint wouldn't let me rotate them. ;)

right now the room is full of JUNK. when we first moved in, we stored all the boxes that housed our wedding gifts up in that room (think crock pot, Keurig, blender, etc) so that if we moved again, we can just pack the appliances in the boxes they came in. also, our Christmas tree, a lonely dresser without drawers, and other random crap. the carpet needs to be vacuumed and steam cleaned, the walls need some spackle work and paint, and the light fixture needs to be replaced.

AKA it's going to be a lot of work before we even get the fun parts of decorating it and filling his closet with cute little outfits. however, I know that we'll I'll be doing a grey, navy, aqua, and yellow (think mustard, not butter) color scheme. I might throw some orange in there too, but we'll see.

we're visiting Great Beginnings (rated one of the top baby stores in the nation by Baby Bargains) this weekend, where I hope to try out some gliders and maybe find a crib that I can actually see in person before buying. other than that, I already know (for the most part) what furniture we plan on having in the room, but that will be a post all on it's own later this week.

baby Q bump watch - week 21

I haven't taken a bump photo yet today, but will do so tonight, so be on the lookout for it tomorrow! 

BUT, I do have a special photo for you. Bear's birthday was on Sunday - he turned 4 years old. I cannot believe how fast the time has flown by. he went from being a helpless little dust bunny that could fit in the palm of my hand to a crazy, water-loving, highly vocal little kitty. I love him SO much. so here's one of the first pictures we took of the Cub, when he was still itty bitty. 

how far along? 

21 weeks. 

how big is the baby? 

he is the size of a banana - about 10.5 inches in length and 12.2 ounces in weight. he is now producing some lovely meconium that we will get to experience with his first diaper change(s). 

total weight gain: 

up 2lbs again, so still down 6lbs from pre-pregnancy weight. 

sleep: 

still on and off. the whole "sleeping on your left side is what's best" concept has me waking up a billion times to roll over. 

best moment of the week: 

baby kicks. :) 

food cravings: 

pickles, still. and Outback's cheese fries.

food aversions: 

nothing at all.

symptoms: 

SPD is funnnnn.

gender sex: 

BOY! :D 

most looking forward to: 

getting started on the nursery now that I've nailed down a color scheme and major baby room essentials. lots to do!

what I miss right now: 

nadda.

next appointment: 

Thursday morning. 

keepin' it real, part two.

so I wrote a long post here about my fears about being pregnant and becoming a Mama. I know that having doubts about my ability to raise a little human is totally normal, but sometimes I really need to reassure myself that I GOT THIS.

on the other end of the spectrum, I find myself thinking, "wow, I love this little baby SO much already and he's not even here yet." 

I told Sean at dinner last night that I know things will change for us, because I am almost certain that I will love Ronin more than I love Sean. I know that this perfect little child will cause our relationship some strain, and THAT scares me. I don't want to put our marriage on the back burner, but I know that occasionally, it'll feel like it is.

I know that I'll be stressed and sleep deprived and will most likely take my frustrations out on him, even though it's a crappy thing to do. thankfully, I married a kick ass guy who is more than willing to take middle of the night feedings and work a flex schedule in order to give me time to myself. I only wish that he could feel what I feel for our son - I wish he could feel the little kicks from the inside and experience the overwhelming love I feel when I think about the end result of this journey.

this kid is not even here and I already feel such a strong bond with him, and I know that I would do anything to protect him and keep him safe. I would die for him, in an instant, without second thought. he is my heart & soul already, and he doesn't even weigh a pound. I don't even know what he looks like, but I can picture him in my head and he is absolutely perfect, because he is half of me and half of Sean.

I find it difficult to picture myself loving him anymore than I already do, but I know that the love I have for him at this moment is nothing compared to what I will feel for him when he's here. I know there will be days when all I want to do is stare in awe at how lovely he is.

I know that I'll never remember what my life was like before him, and my life before him will no longer seem substantial. my priorities will change, and things that now seem to be of importance will no longer be significant. parts of my independence will be forfeited, and I will add the title of Mama to my resume.

baby Ronin will be makin' waves with his arrival. and I cannot freakin' wait. <3

baby Q bump watch - week 20 [half baked!]

WOOHOO! we are officially HALF BAKED today, which means that we are halfway through the pregnancy. it also means we still have a loooong 20 weeks to go. 

also? BELLY. no denying that there's a little pickle in there now! 

don't mind the Bear blur at the bottom. he's nosy. 

how far along? 

20 weeks. 

how big is the baby? 

Ronin is now the size of a cantaloupe (whaaaaat?!) he is measuring about 6.5 inches long and weighs about 10.2 ounces. he is gulping down several ounces of amniotic fluid a day and he has working taste buds. 

total weight gain: 

ugh, I seriously have no idea what's going on. I stepped on the scale last night and I was DOWN 2lbs again. I guess he's taking all the weight, but it still makes me feel like I'm not doing something right. 

sleep: 

eh, on and off. sometimes I just have a hard time staying asleep. other times, I can't get comfortable. I will be buying a body pillow soon. 

best moment of the week: 

finding out that little baby Ronin Q is super healthy (and has a weenis!) at our anatomy scan. I still can't believe he's a boy, but I couldn't be more thrilled. also, I felt movement last week for the first time (from the inside). I can't wait for Sean to be able to feel it on the outside. 

food cravings: 

pickles. this kid will be nicknamed after my ridiculous craving. 

food aversions: 

nothing at all.

symptoms: 

the same old pelvic pain and constipation.

gender sex: 

BOY! :D 

most looking forward to: 

feeling him squirm around in there some more! he's been lazy lately. I'm also starting to look at different nursery ideas now that we know he's a he.  

what I miss right now: 

nothing. life is perfect. 

next appointment: 

April 19th.