Diaper Bag Drama

    Ok, the title might be a little dramatic, but at this point, it's stressing me out!!

So, when I was pregnant with Elyse, I didn't know much about diaper bag. Cole and I were browsing at the mall and remembered that we needed a diaper bag. He wanted a unisex one that he can hold and not be totally embarassed by it. We were are nordstroms and looking the petunia pickle bottom bags and got the Evening in Innsbruck Boxyback Pack. We used it for a good year, and it is suppose to have a waterproof kind of liner where you can wipe the cloth inside clean. 

Well after a year of use and wear and tear, I managed to spill a whole bottom of formula in the bag :( I cleaned it and cleaned it, but it got a funny smell that I couldn't get out. So I emailed petunia pickle bottom about it and expressed my disappointment for such a highly praised(and NOT cheap) bag. They have amazing customer service and had me send the bag in to be fixed. Once it arrived, they said they were unable to fix it, but would replace the bag this one time. So they send me a brand new bag. It's teh same print and style as my old bag, but the old bag had this annoying velcro and the new bag had magnets which is great! Well, by the time I got this bag, I was in Philadelphia and was using a much smaller diaper bag. I no longer had the need for a big bag. So I never used it. 

Well now that I am in my third trimester with my second child, I remembered I need a diaper bag! Well, I don't want to use the PPB bag just because I want to change it up and I don't want to have the same issue I had before. So I am trying to sell the bag on craigslist. It is a BRAND new bag. Still in the bag from the factory, never been used and retails for $169. I am selling it locally for $130 which I don't think is unreasonable!!! But I am only getting offers for $90.... thats not happening since I need to buy a different bag with it. 

Anyways, if anyone knows anyone that would by it for $130 locally or $150 out of state(I'll ship it) then I would be happy to send it on its way!!! Let me know!!

Here are pictures:

28 weeks - Pregnancy Update

  

Last wednesday marked the begining of my third Trimester!!! YAY! We made it!

So we are now 28 weeks and 3 days today :) and I keep getting bigger and bigger. (oh and have i mentioned I am hungry pretty much all the time?)

Still having plenty of pelvic pressure and difficulty standing for long periods of time. (like more than 60 sec) But its doable. I will say, I really really disliked pregnancy my first go around. I think it had a lot to do with not having seen anyone else close to me go through it and no one else around be also going through it. So all the new expeirances were very new and there wasn't really anyone to relate. We were just in different places in our lives. At the time I didn't think about it that way. The only thing was not being able to drink when everyone else still was. 

But this time, plenty of other have been through it now or are going through it. Even though I have had more pains this time, I have enjoyed pregnancy more too. I also think it has to do with knowing more of what to expect than last time. I can honestly say, I like being pregnant. Last time, not at all....

BUT I am getting close to being ready to be done as well. I am huge and feel gross, but it's nice to have a reason to have a belly :)

Speaking of belly, our little boy is doing very well!! He rolls and kicks more! I had an ultrasound yesterday and they checked his growth. He is estimated 3lbs 1oz and in the 81%. This feels huge to me, being only 28weeks. I remember when Elyse's water broke at 29weeks 5 days she was barely a pound. Needless to say, if I make it full term, I am going to look like one of those moving houses.... He will be huge. Good thing he's not coming out of my woo-ha! Although, he is head down which would have been helpful if he was coming out that way. 

Here's a 3d shot of him. For those who are having a hard time seeing it(which I don't blame you), this is a shot of us looking kind of down on his face .

Here is a profile shot of him, this was REALLY hard to get because he was moving sooo much!

Maternity and Childrens Consignment Sale - Best Ever

  Last friday, my (also pregnant) friend Amanda brought me to this really nice consignment sale. It was hosted by Jack and Jill and the bump.com was also there!! I am usually not a huge fan of used things unless its from someone I know. But this sale was really clean and everything was nice and organized. We got there early with the "new mom to be" group since Amand is going to be a first time mom. So we definitely got a great pick of things!!! Here are the awesome things I got and great prices!!

Doll Car Seat - $5 ( Original Price $13)

Home Depot Work Bench with accessories - $15 (OP $50)

Doll Stroller - $12 (OP $30)

Leapfrog Reader - $5 (OP $30)

Brand New My Breast Friend - $15 (OP $40-$50)

Brand New(I used it already) Boppy Preagnancy Wedge - $5 (OP $15)

And not pictured, a changing pad for $10. So thats a total of $57!!! 

Most of it, I didn't need, but was SOOO thrilled to get at such a deal! The used items were only slightly used too!!

Elyse LOVED shopping :) She even carried some of her own stuff!! 

We also got this "leash" as a joke. Of course when we put it on her to see if she would respond to it, she did.... Then someone came up to us and asked "Where did you get that? Are there more?" HAHA

out of ALL the things we got, THAT was the thing someone asked about. Don't worry, we won't be using the leash... too often haha :)

California Baby Shower for baby #2

  Two weekends ago I went down to California for my baby shower! I am so lucky to have friends offer to throw me another shower and I loved it so much! I definitely will need all the gifts people gave me so having a shower is SOOO helpful!

The whole thing was really cute. It was "rain showers" themed and the host, my friend Jodi seemed to put a lot of work into it all. The invites were really cute and had an umbrella on it with rain drops.

The decor was clear umbrellas with felt rain drops, white poms as clouds, rain boots as utensil holders and there were cute food picks with umbrellas on them. Then of course there was a cute blue punch bowl with ducks in them!!

oh and the food was sooooooo good!!!

Seeing this picture makes me want those tarts again!!

I am really grateful for all the effort she put into it all. It turned out so cute! 

I was also happy because I went down to Roseville friday afternoon til sunday afternoon and spent the whole time with my friend Courtney. It was really nice since we don't ever get to spend large portions of time together anymore. Plus I didn't have Elyse or Cole with me. They stayed behind for this trip.

So we went shopping(since doing that with Elyse isn't very enjoyable) and ate out. It was nice to getaway for the weekend to. I also got to see my cousins in the Bay Area for some time and we went to see the movie The Host. I can't even stress how rare it is for me to see a movie as well so that was wonderful!!!

My cousin and I are due at the same time so we took a picture of our bumps together. Of course, I look twice the size. I like to tell people "it's because its my second" HAHA. OR it could be that I eat all the time and everything in sight. 

So this is us at 26 weeks. 

Pregnancy Update - 26 weeks

  So the last post about Elyse's hair styling, published today. But I wrote it 2 days ago and just noticed that it didn't go through....or did it?

Anyways, Im 26 weeks and 1 day today! The size of a cucumber :)

I had an ultrasound today and it went well. I have had really terrible pelvic pressure and its gotten a lot worse this week. Unfortunately, this is normal for a second pregnancy and there isn't much that can be done. It feels like someone kicked me down there and feels swollen.  My cousin Sharon let me borrow her maternity belt and it does help a little. Assuming I am using it properly :) 

The pain was really bad on tuesday, so on Wednesday I told my nurse and she recommended I let my Dr know. Since I knew I had a ultrasound today I decided to wait till today. When I went into my ultrasound, the nurse noticed I was walking funny so I let her know about how bad the pressure is. She said that they will need to keep an eye on it. 

Once the ultrasound tech came in and put that warm gel on my belly the first thing she said is "oh... you're having a contraction right now. Can you feel it?" 

I said "ooooooh.... I thought I was having a stomach ache!!" hahaha turns out I have likely been having braxton Hicks contractions this week and have been contributing to my pelvic pressure and likely making it worse! From what I was reading about them, BH contractions can be painless or painful. But they usually don't affect the cervix which is good news for me! Other than that my cervix looks nice and long(aren't you thrilled to know about my cervix?)

So I was cleared to travel to sacramento this weekend :)

If you see my getting up slowly with a pained expression, don't worry. It's totally normal. The beauty of pregnancy :)

Elyse's Hair Styling

Lately Elyse has been enjoying putting stuff in her hair. She may become quite the hair stylist someday!! In one of the pictures she put aquaphor in her hair while we were at the Melting Pot.




Then she can scrub her hair with our dish scrubbers.



So pretty :)

McCarthy Baby Shower

  

A few things to update on, but I'll try to not be all over the place as usual and stick to one topic :)

This last month, I have been enjoying crafting for a shower we threw for our close friends Tim and Amanda! I'm not so great at hosting showers but I love to make stuff and decorate for them! So thankfully I had some help from Lindsay and Anna to make it all happen. I forgot to take pictures before everyone came so the pictures of the food(the biggest part!) don't really exsist. But it was definitely fun! So if you're throwing a shower for someone and want some ideas, here they are! We made a rag garland out of fat quarters on sale at Joann's. Onesies on a clothesline! and of course, poms in the windows :)(those are a PAIN in the butt to make, so I would recommend giving that task to a husband or something haha) On the mantle there is a game there too. The easy to do "how many candies in a jar". There were 1148 in that jar. Should have been 1149, but baby fingers got to one. 

Poms in the window.

It's a girl banner and pom garland. On the table there we had a few things set up. 

And basket and blank mailing labels for guest to write their addresses on. Takes one step out of thank you cards for the soon to be busy parents to be!

Advice cards - something for the guests to write any advice, if any to the parents-to-be and some guesses on the day the baby will be born and how long and how much she will weigh. 

And the favors! I stole this idea from pinterest, but since Amanda likes to garden, it seemed like such a cute idea! The one on pinterest required seed bombs but those are pricey. So we went with plantable sunflower seeds. The picture below.

Then there are of course the staples!!! Diaper wreath!

Dessert bar with wood "baby girl" letters on a clothes line. Lindsay had a great idea. The letters and  icons are wood and are from Joanns. Afterwards you can put velcro on them and use them on a velcro board for you baby when they are older.

This came out a little blurry, but it was the first thing I made for the party! A burlap and lace banner. The McCarthys haven't decided on how to spell their baby's name yet so we we put "baby McCarthy" instead. I have tons of extra burlap still so once they do know, we may make one with her name to add to the nursery :)

And the diaper cake! The letters we got pre made at micheals and attached travel size items and toys :) We used about 45 size one diapers. 

Lastly, a puff quilt! I didn't finish it in time for the shower, but did finish it now! haha. Amanda, Steph and I made one for our friend Erica last year. This year, i tried a different tutorial, but still needed some help making the squares. So Lindsay was able to help me there. But I tried a new way of adding a backing and making a ruffle, which I had never done. It's definitely an amature blanket, but its done! :)

I really enjoy crafting and making things for friends so this was a lot of fun for me to do :)