baby blog | Sarah Fortune

Pregnancy Blog: 36 weeks

Sarah Fortune
September 20, 2011
3 Comments

So tomorrow (Wednesday) my 36th week will be over and
do you know what that makes Iris?

A full term baby! That means she’ll be safe to come out and play,
but turns out… it might be a while.

This week was a busy one. Probably a bit too busy, but at least I had some fun. It was full of friends, football, family, and GL’s baby shower. It was also full of me complaining since I am still getting more uncomfortable by the day. I didn’t even think that was possible. Any time I was able to rest, I found myself counting strong Braxton Hicks contractions, sometimes as many as seven in an hour. So I thought SURELY I was making progress towards labor, but after my doctor’s visit this week, I found out otherwise.

The good news:
The doctor said that it looks like the baby has dropped and that she’s head down.

The bummer news:
I’m not dilated or effaced. (Nothing. Zero. Zilch.) Meaning, she’s most likely going to be cooking for a little while longer.

I know it’s still early (my due date is October 12), but I couldn’t help but feel a little discouraged. These last nine months have flown by, but imagining being this uncomfortable for another three weeks seems crazy. Anything can happen though, so at this point I’m just embracing it and relaxing as much as possible till the big day.

A few photos from the week…

Our nursery was featured on the Australian baby/kids blog, Baby Space

Baby gifts keep arriving!
This sweet one is Flora & Henri

Yep. I’m pregnant.
I carry waffles & syrup in my purse these days.

GL’s amazingly sweet baby shower.

Animals in the nursery

One of Sadie Pup & me just for fun.

Well… settle on in folks, it looks like we have at least a couple more weeks of blog posts. If there are any miraculous changes, I’ll be updating on Twitter, so feel free to follow me there.

Pregnancy Blog, Words

Pregnancy Blog: 35 weeks

Sarah Fortune
September 13, 2011
3 Comments

As I sit here on the last night of my 35th week, I just can’t believe that this pregnancy whirlwind is nearly over. Every morning I wake up, check my favorite pregnancy iPhone apps, and glance over my calendar about five times. Maybe it’s a bit much, but I’m just so ready to have her here.

This week of pregnancy was another uncomfortable one, but what else is new? I did have another doctor’s visit and, like usual, everything is going according to plan. My weekly visits start next week, where we’ll find out how things are (or aren’t) progressing. The doctor said that depending on what’s going on, we might have an idea if Iris will be a 38 – 39 week baby or more like a 39 – 40 week baby. Can I vote for the first option?

Of course I know that nothing is certain, so I’ll try not to go in with any expectations. I’m aware that she could very well be late too, but I’m not opposed to being induced around my due date and it seems like my doctor isn’t either.

At the visit, I once again expressed my concern about having a big baby, so she felt around on my stomach for a bit. She’s pretty sure Iris is still head down (yay!) and that she doesn’t seem big, but pretty average in size. In fact, she guessed that she might be about 7 pounds at 40 weeks. That was good to hear, but I still have my doubts.

Even though things are getting more uncomfortable by the day, at least the weather has started to drift into fall. The cooler temperatures are helping a lot, especially mentally. I’ve been longing for autumn all year, knowing that’s when Iris will arrive. Now, it’s here. And soon she will be too.

Photos, Pregnancy Blog, Words

Pregnancy Blog: 33 weeks

Sarah Fortune
August 30, 2011
3 Comments

I got so exited about the nursery post that I almost forgot to do this week’s update!

Here at 33 weeks I’m to the point where when someone asks me how I’m feeling, my response it completely different than how it’s been the past 32 weeks. Long gone are the days when I was upbeat and chipper responding, “I feel great!” Now I just start to rattle off the list of “my back hurts, I can’t breath, my feet are swollen, stairs are the devil, I don’t sleep, and I can’t imagine how I’m supposed to get any bigger.” To top it all off, I’ve come down with my second cold of the year. Now I REALLY can’t breath.

Okay – enough complaining! This week was still a good, busy one despite the pregnancy woes settling in. I spent much of the week in Nashville for my very last work trip before Iris arrives. Surprisingly, 9 hours in the car (each way mind you) wasn’t bad at all. I was a tad nervous about being away from home in case anything happened early, but after approval from my doctor, we hit the road. Everything went smoothly and we even got to stop in my hometown of Memphis for some BBQ and a tour of Graceland. Not a shabby way to spend a work day!

Besides the travel approval, the doctor’s appointment was easy breezy. I’m pretty sure it was the quickest appointment in the history of pregnant ladies. I was in and out the door in 15 minutes (usually the wait alone is an hour). My weekly visits will start soon, so that’s another sign that we’re getting closer…

A few pictures from Memphis & Nashville

And one more of Iris & me this week!

Baby Blog, Photos, Pregnancy Blog

Baby Blog: The Nursery

Sarah Fortune
August 29, 2011
13 Comments

With about six more weeks to go, the nursery is done! Well, about as done as it’s going to be. I’m sure there are little things here and there that we’ll need, but it feels good to have the basics taken care of.

So here’s a little tour of our nursery, with my notes along the way…

● The room before. For a few years it was my Bittersweet Styles office (which I wisely painted light pink back in the day), but as you can see, its last purpose was to house all of our junk. It was bad. Really bad.

● But with a lot of organizing, some construction on the ceiling, and a little paint, we started the transformation to a nursery…

Tah-dah! Here she is…

● Vintage floral rocking arm-chair found on Craigslist.
● Vintage fabric pennants made by Kerri.
● I decided to forgo the traditional bedding. I actually have a matching set, but have it neatly packed away for when she’s older. I like the simplicity of it how it is now, plus infants aren’t supposed to sleep with anything but a flat sheet at first anyway.

● The three big pieces of nursery furniture are from Todd’s dad & step mom. It’s a ‘lifetime set’, so the crib turns into a toddler bed and then a full size bed, while the changing station dresser turns into a desk and bedside table. So thankful to have something so nice that Iris can use as she grows.
● Our wedding invitation is framed and hung over the tall dresser.
● Stuffed vintage Razorback for good measure.
● Pink & white poms I made from tissue paper.
● A bassinet that we’ll actually keep in our bedroom at first.
● Pink vintage lamp that once belonged to Todd’s mom.

● Gifts from friends & family in the dresser cubbies.
● The stack of blankets are all handmade. They’re so special that I’m working on a separate blog post just for them.

Changing station…
● The vintage cats are actually a night light that also belonged to Todd’s mom.
● We’re using the vintage Iris/Tennessee bowl that Erin gave us to hold all the booty cleaning supplies.

The crib…
● Filled with cuddly friends for now.
● Yes, that is a llama.
● And a Blabla bunny.

● Framed baby shower art from Jill, who designed the invitations.
● Diaper bag from Mini Boden & a couple favorite dresses.

Shelf treasures…
● Framed Skateland photo from my mom. I used to roller skate there in Memphis growing up & it has since burned down.
● Paper flowers made by me.
● Vintage Fisher Price toy found in Mississippi by Kerri.
● Vintage doll case I’ve had forever.
● The tiniest (and cutest) Hog hat ever.
● Little lambs I found in Berryville, Arkansas. As I bought them, I was asked for the first time when I was due.
● House made by Tim. The story is here.

Now for some of Iris’ loot…

● The best books from the best friends.

● Her heap of clothes (I should do a whole separate post on all of the adorable outfits she received at the shower). There’s one whole drawer dedicated to onesies. One dedicated to pajamas. One dedicated to outfits. And a closet just for dresses. My favorite part about these photos is that Todd is actually the one that did the baby laundry & arranged all of the drawers. Hee!

● Burp cloths & blankets.

● Bath drawer.

● Bibs, socks, hats, & bows.

● Storage bin/hamper.

● More shower gifts (!!!)

Sweet Sadie Pup decided to try out the nursery and see how she likes it.
Thankfully, it’s pup approved.
Now all we need is a real baby!

Photos, Pregnancy Blog, Words

Pregnancy Blog: 32 weeks & the baby shower!

Sarah Fortune
August 24, 2011
2 Comments

I’m a little late on getting this week’s post up, but that’s because I’m sitting here typing this from a hotel in downtown Nashville. It’s my last work trip before the baby arrives and now at 33 weeks, I’m moving a little slow.

Despite the swollen feet and aching back, week 32 was the best yet! With my baby shower this past Saturday, my week was full of friends, food, and prizes for Iris. More than anything, I just loved having so many of my favorite people around, especially those who live out of town that I rarely get to see. I am beyond thankful for all of my eight (eight!) shower hosts and all that they did. It was truly a day that I will remember forever. And oh my goodness can I just talk for a minute about the baby loot we received? It took me forever to open up all of those goodies! So long that I actually started to feel bad for the guests. Hah. We are so grateful for everything we received.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Once we get completely organized I’ll do a feature on the nursery, which I’m sure will include lots of the gifts. For now though, here are some photos from the weekend (with more to come later, from Erin, who thankfully also took pictures while I was busy cracking open presents and talking to everyone).

My mom

Brandy

My niece, Mariam

Erin

GL & me

Jessica & Brains

Hillary

Beth

Kerri & Brandy

GL & Milton

Ashlee, Jill, & Jessica

Brains & Lacy

Family

After the shower…
Todd’s dad & my nephew Cole

Dinner with Memphis pals

A few Instagram pics from myself & friends…

Smores wontons by Erin

Just a few of the gifts

What a magical weekend! Now I can’t wait to get home and set everything up. Thanks again to everyone who has helped make this baby journey extra awesome.

Xoxo

Posts Tagged: baby blog

Pregnancy Blog: 36 weeks

Pregnancy Blog: 35 weeks

Pregnancy Blog: 33 weeks

Baby Blog: The Nursery

Pregnancy Blog: 32 weeks & the baby shower!