C's First Yearbook

After C was born, I took a moment to look through my own baby book and noticed that my baby pictures were few and far between, and I also didn't have a whole lot documented from my first year.  It would have been awesome to read back on my life as a baby, especially being a new mom myself.  So I decided to create a yearbook for C's first year, and I plan to do the same for Baby #2, and also a family yearbook for each year after the babies turn One.

With all of the awesome technology that is available for photo storage and editing, it's become super easy to manage and store the millions of photos that I took of C in her early days.  I used the Shutterfly webite to create her yearbook.  It was so easy and turned out even better than I thought it would.

This is the 12x12 glossy version.

I told her story from the very beginning with the monthly belly photos that we took.

We documented her nursery, which is nice because we've already changed it so much to transition her to a big girl room that I'm sure we'll forget how special this space was to us.

...and all of her first holidays.

I did a page dedicated to her First Birthday Party and added in a letter that I wrote to her on that day.

These are just a few of the pages out of the 30 page book. 

Since I documented each month of her first year on the blog, it was easy to copy in a message about her milestones, our everyday routines, and her likes and dislikes.  

I just know that I would think it's hilarious to read all about what I was like as a baby, and I'm sure one day C will appreciate having this book.

C's Nursery & Her Favourite Things

Here it is!  The only freshly painted and finished room in our entire house.  She was spoiled before she was even born.  I wanted to keep it simple, clean and most importantly, functional.

 

I refinished the change table that was a gift from P's aunt, and painted it white.  I also refinished the toy chest that was a gift from my Mom.

I wanted a really simple white crib and this one was perfect, also a gift from my Mom.

A few cute accessories and of course, Sophie, who is C's favourite right now.

 And a few things that C loves and that have maintained our sanity over the past couple months.

This is the Fisher Price I Luv U Zoo Swing... it's by far the best investment we've made as far as baby gear.  C hangs out in it for hours at a time, watching the mobile and listening to the awesome music.  Around 6 weeks old, when she went through a rough patch where she didn't want to nap, we would put her in her swing and she would fall asleep with a smile on her face.

Her Bumbo chair.  She can finally sit up in it for about 5 minutes before she gets tired.  It's quite the work out for her tiny muscles.  I just think it's cute.

Her Fisher Price Ocean Wonders Aquarium is awesome.  We bought it for her around the fussy 6 week mark because we were desperate.  It worked for a couple of days until she caught on, so we gave it a break for a while.  She's right back into it now and loves it for morning naps.

This is the exact moment that C focused on something for the first time.  We call it her Lion.  It is also the first toy she ever smiled at and she still loves it.

Sleep Sheep.  Enough said.... no, but this little guy is the reason C falls asleep every night and it's also the reason that Mommy and Daddy are loving parenthood.  THE BEST!

C loves being read to.  Her favourite books right now are Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See and The Gruffalo.  When I'm feeling sappy I read her Love You Forever and when I'm feeling impatient I read her Go the F*#k to Sleep (minus the swears... because how horrible would it be if her first word was bulls*#t?).

C is the happiest baby in town.  We could not have lucked out more with our first child.  She's the reason I bug Daddy every day to make her a little brother or sister.  He has to cave eventually, right?

xo Kiara

27 Weeks, Nursery Plan & Toy Chest

 

 

How far along?  27 weeks

Total weight gain:  20lbs

Maternity clothes:  Oh yes... so happy I'm pregnant through the winter.

Stretch marks: No

Sleep: Sleeping great.

Best moment this week: Getting together with the girls...and popcorn!!

Missing anything? Sunday afternoon drinks.

Movement: Lots of movement all day long... and she started kicking my ribs....Fun!

Cravings: doughnuts... danishes...muffins...any kind of baked good that will go straight to my ass and hips.... and definitely already has.

Anything making you queasy?  Coffee

Gender: Girl

Labour Signs: Pretty sure I had some braxton hicks contractions last night... kinda uncomfortable. I can see how deep breathing will come in handy.  Yikes!

Symptoms: Back pain, overall discomfort, shortness of breath.

Belly button: In...almost flat...looking very unfamiliar.

Emotions:  Happy ...irritable sometimes... kinda bitchy about being uncomfortable.  I just keep telling myself how worth it it's going to be when we finally get to meet her.

Excited for:  Painting and getting baby girls nursery ready.

 

Baby is the size of a cauliflower...holyyy! She weighs 2 lbs.

So I'm a crazy organized person anyway, and now I'm apparently "nesting"... so this is what I've come up with for a nursery plan in our new home.

Since I have a lot more free time on the weekends now that I'm not spending my days too hungover to move, I wanted to do a small project and refurnish a toy chest that my mom bought me.  

 

 

First I sanded off the original finish.

 

 

Then I primed the chest and sanded it again.

 

 

 

 Then I painted it and painted it again.

 Then I personalized the inside with a little note.

 

...But of course, I had to edit out baby girls name... just for suspense!

22 Weeks & Nursery

How far along?  22 weeks

Total weight gain:  15lbs

Maternity clothes:  Yes! they are saving my life. Keeping my boobs contained is another story.

Stretch marks: No, finished my second bottle of bio oil.  Fingers crossed!

Sleep: Still sleeping great.

Best moment this week: Deciding on Baby girl's name. I've been talking to her and saying her name and it fits perfect! I'm in love.  We're keeping it a secret until she arrives ;) muahaha!

Missing anything? Captain Morgan's and Coke, funneling beer and mmmm..  sushi.

Movement: Lots of strong kicks and punches.  Baby girl started dancing to the Beatles...well, she pretty much rocks out to all music.

Cravings: Cheesies, Multi-grain Cheerios and anything chocolate.

Anything making you queasy?  nope!

Gender: Girl

Labour Signs: No, trying not to complain about the muscle aches, which will be nothing compared to labour.

Symptoms:  ligament pains and cramps.  She doesn't seem to care, she still kicks the crap outta me even though I'm hurting. I can't complain, I love feeling her move.

Belly button: In, but I can now see to the back of it for the first time in my life.  Cleaned out some super old fluff. ew

Emotions:  extra super happy!

Excited for:  Finishing my baby registry at Babies R Us.... It's actually been a blast.

Baby weighs ONE whole pound!

Baby Girl's Nursery Design

     This is what we've come up with so far for the nursery.  Which we're not even sure where the nursery will be, either here or in our new house, but at least we have ideas.  I have a feeling that I'll still be getting it ready when I go into labour.  Some of the items are from Sears and some are from Babies R Us...all on our registry...in case you were wondering ;).  You can check out all the hard work I put into carefully selecting really important things like diaper wipes and nipple cream... :S  It seriously took me hours!  Here are the links...

http://www.toysrus.ca/registry/index.jsp

http://www.giftregistry.sears.ca/gift/egrB_main.jsp