28 week chalkboard + nursery sneak peek

Dear sweet little one,

 Well, it's official. The third trimester. It honestly feels like your Daddy and I just found out that we were expecting again, and here we are, two thirds of the way closer to meeting you. It's so unreal how fast time flies, especially when you're having fun - believe me, I am having a blast being your mama!! (And, as you can see, also embracing the new year with some new blonde hair!)

How far along: 28 weeks - third trimester, here we come!

Gender: Little baby girl <3
Name: Waverley Violet
Maternity clothes: At this point, the number of maternity clothes I own may have eclipsed the number of non-maternity ones! I'll be so sad once I don't have a need to wear them anymore...
Best moment this week: Seeing all of the progress on the nursery! I may or may not have (but definitely did) repainted the purple accent wall this past week. I saw a color at Home Depot that I knew was just perfect, so I bought a sample and tried it out. And I love it! More on the nursery below...
Worst moment this week: It's pretty safe to say that pregnancy RLS is back. Thank God I'm going in on Tuesday for my (last) monthly checkup so I can ask about some relief. I get so crabby when I have no sleep!
Miss anything: Sleep. Rest. Naps. Siestas. Shut eye. Ugh.
Movements: With a belly that big, you'd better believe it!
Cravings: Crushed ice is life. Pretty sure Raleigh is sick of cleaning up cups with spoons in them that he finds littered around the house. #sorrynotsorry #crushediceisbestwithaspoon
Queasy or sick: Starting this year off feeling really good :)
Looking forward to: Getting my glucose tolerance test over with on Tuesday. Fingers crossed for low numbers like I had with Pemberley!

Okay, so your nursery. It. Is. Amazing! It's definitely a tie between your room and Pemberley's room for my favorite space in the house. I'm really happy we decided to go with purple and pink, instead of just purple. I think it adds a sweet, girly touch :) The alphabet wall is done and hung, and the lampshade is finished too. They couldn't match with your rug any better! I hope, hope, hope you grow to love your room as much as I do when you're old enough. Once the closet is finished and your name is done for above your crib, I'll post more pictures. But for now...here are some sneaks! 

 

Love you so much, little baby girl!

27 week chalkboard

Hi sweet little one,
Next week we're in our THIRD trimester and it makes me want to CRY! I honestly can't tell you how much I've enjoyed this pregnancy with you. I didn't get to experience pregnancy over the winter holidays with Pemberley, but I'm loving Christmas and New Year's with you and our little baby bump! The chalkboard says it all, sweet girl...the best IS yet to come next year for our family!!

How far along: 27 weeks + 2 days

Gender: Little baby girl <3
Name: Waverley Violet
Maternity clothes: Yep, and I got spoiled with a bunch of new ones for Christmas from Mom and Grannie. I can't wait to show them off over the next few months!
Best moment this week: Watching Pemberley open her presents on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day :) I'd also like to give a shout out to the enormous turkey feast that Raleigh made on Saturday night. d.e.l.i.s.h.
Worst moment this week: Waking up multiple times a night because I can't get comfortable...and we're not even in the third trimester yet :(
Miss anything: Well, I can't help but give the espresso beans I bought as a stocking stuffer for Raleigh the stink eye every time I walk past them. I'm sure one wouldn't hurt, but I doubt I'd be able to stop there. #thestruggleisreal
Movements: Yes! This is the first week when I've been woken up by big movements. But I'm not complaining; I'm loving every wiggle and roll and kick!
Cravings: Crushed ice like WHOA
Queasy or sick: Feeling like a million bucks, minus the whole not sleeping part
Looking forward to: Having another week off so I can rest before the home stretch starts at work, and, of course, continuing to make progress on the nursery!

That's all for this week. I'm going to go try to convince Daddy to help me with hanging the alphabet wall in your nursery while big sister takes a nap. Wish me luck!! I love you SO much!

26 week chalkboard

Hi sweet little one,
Merry first Christmas! You're not even here yet, and you're going to be spoiled rotten!

How far along: 26 weeks + 2 days

Gender: Little baby girl <3
Name: Waverley Violet
Maternity clothes: Yes! (But not the sweater I'm wearing in this photo. Praise the Lord for warm, cozy, open knit cardigans!)
Best moment this week: Definitely a tie between leaving work on Friday and knowing I don't have to go back until next year, and celebrating my 34th birthday with Raleigh and Pemberley - hellooooo tiramisu cheesecake!
Worst moment this week: Realizing that Christmas is coming and I still have to buy and wrap several presents. I despise wrapping.
Miss anything: A stiff holiday drink & sleeping for more than 3 hours straight.
Movements: Yes! The big movements are finally starting!!!
Cravings: Crushed ice & pancakes with peanut butter
Queasy or sick: Nope, feeling awesome!
Looking forward to: Watching Pemberley open presents on Christmas Eve, and hosting dinner over here for the first time. I FINALLY feel like a real adult now that we get to host!

I can't wait to tell you all about Christmas in a few days! I love you so much, big girl!

25 week chalkboard

Dear sweet little one,

It's a big time for us! 15 weeks away from meeting you, and I turn the big 3-4 on the 18th! I am pretty excited that I get a half day at work on my birthday, and that I get to spend it with all of my favorite people...Daddy, Pemberley, and you!!

How far along: 25 weeks + 1 day

Gender: Little baby girl <3
Name: Waverley Violet
Maternity clothes: Yes! And I’m loving them.
Best moment this week: Hearing the heartbeat at our appointment. A strong 158!
Worst moment this week: Hearing that I apparently lost 6 pounds in the last month. Dr. Shipman isn’t too concerned yet, but they’re going to monitor my weight at my next appointment in January.
Miss anything: A good night’s sleep. But if you regularly read this, you already know that!
Movements: Waverley is a little mover and a shaker! She loves to give little kick reminders when I’m settling down for the night. I’m going to miss those…
Cravings: Crushed ice. I literally have dreams about it and moments throughout the day when I think I’m going to cry if I don’t get to eat any! Also, any kind of breakfast food. Fruit, pancakes, toaster strudels. So what if I ate breakfast for dinner three times this week?
Queasy or sick: Nope, feeling awesome!
Looking forward to: Seeing more nursery progress! The letters for the alphabet wall will be my Christmas break project :) Also looking forward to spending my birthday with my family!

With so much love,

24 week chalkboard

Hi sweet little one,
Well, little miss girl, Daddy and I are so excited to announce your name that we decided we couldn't wait any longer! Without further ado...

And finally I get to tell you all about how we picked your name!! Waverley is from two of Sarah Addison Allen's books, Garden Spells and First Frost. It's actually the last name of her main characters, the Waverley sisters. These books hold a special place in my heart; they're full of such magic and whimsy and every time I read or reread one of her novels, I feel such a peace inside. I mean, when she writes lines like "It looked like the world was covered in a cobbler crust of brown sugar and cinnamon" and "Crystalline swirls of sugar and flour still lingered in the air like kite tails”,  how can you not stop and just appreciate words???

((I might have worn your Daddy down until he relented with this name, but I simply couldn't help it. You're already my perfect little Waverley!!!))

We were up in the air as to your middle name for quite some time. I was pretty set on Eloise (yes, as in the little girl who lives "in the room on the tippy-top floor" of the Plaza Hotel in NYC), but it just didn't flow like I wanted it to. Daddy and I both loved Violet from the beginning, though. For some reason, Waverley makes me think of the color purple, so Violet made sense. I think your Gigi will also be very pleased, as I know she liked Violet too :)

I say your name all the time and fall more and more in love with it every time I do. I also think it's just too adorable that your name matches so perfectly with your big sister's! Pemberley + Waverley. My heart melts when I think about my two perfect girls with their two perfect names!

Now for the 24 week chalkboard rundown::
How far along: 24 weeks + 3 days
Gender: Little baby girl <3
Name: Waverley Violet
Maternity clothes: Definitely...I mean, have you seen my belly??! I made the mistake of wearing regular leggings to work last week and I was mean mugging my students all day because I was so darn uncomfortable! Lesson learned. Maternity clothes all the way from here on out.
Best moment this week: It'd have to be asking Pemberley to go get her baby, then watching her walk over to the toy bins, dig around for it, and bring it to me! We're still working on gentle kisses and not biting its face, but that will come in time. I hope.
Worst moment this week: When I woke up craving ice at 3am and realized that it was all the way downstairs and that just wasn't happening. It was a sad moment.
Miss anything: The ability to shave my legs in the shower, and to see my toes when I'm standing. I also miss being able to walk up the stairs while holding Pemberley and not feeling like I just got done running a 5K...
Movements: Yes! They've picked up quite a bit in frequency and intensity. I'm definitely in the "sweet spot" of the second trimester!
Cravings: Crushed ice. More crushed ice. And cold to the point of almost frozen pears.
Queasy or sick: Nope, feeling awesome!
Looking forward to: Our 24 week doctor's appointment on Tuesday, and getting more work done in the nursery! It's going to tie Pemberley's room for my favorite place in the house, I can tell already!

I love you so much, little baby Waverley! Love, love, love,

23 week chalkboard

Hi sweet little one,
I know Christmas is still about a month away, but I just couldn't help it...I'm so excited!

How far along: 23 weeks
Gender: Little baby girl <3
Maternity clothes: Yes. Remember last week how I wrote that I was buying a ton of clothes online at random hours of the night because I can't sleep? This red shirt is one of the things I bought. And I now want it in gray, purple, and blue. Hmmm...
Best moment this week: Two-way tie between leaving work on Tuesday and not having to come back until Monday (helloooo Fall break!), and starting to paint baby sister's nursery. It's going to be just g.o.r.g.e.o.u.s!
Worst moment this week: Another two-way tie between watching Pemberley battle yet another cold and realizing on Sunday that I did, in fact, have to go back to work on Monday. Is it Christmas yet? :(
Miss anything: Oh Lordy how I miss a good night's sleep. And a good beer. And rum in my egg nog. And being able to walk around without accidentally bumping into things because I haven't quite realized how big my belly is getting lately.
Movements: Yes! 100% in love with them.
Cravings: Crushed ice. I could literally eat it for every meal. I walk around with a spoon in my water cup all day long, crunching away. ((Just ask my students who constantly ask me to repeat myself because I try to give directions with a mouthful of ice - haha!))
Queasy or sick: Kind of have a sore throat, but probably got that from Pemberley's last cold so...not pregnancy related, but it still sucks.
Looking forward to: Announcing baby sister's name very soon!

That's all for this week, little girl. I am going to curl up in bed with some ice and watch reruns of Gossip Girl because that's how we roll lately. I love you so much!

22 week chalkboard

Hi sweet little baby,
Another week, another chalkboard! But this one means that we get to celebrate Thanksgiving in a few days, and this mama couldn't be more excited :)

How far along: 22 weeks + 1 day
Gender: Little baby girl <3
Maternity clothes: Well yes, and with more on the way thanks to it's-midnight-and-I can't-sleep-so-why-not-shop-online impulses
Sleep: Running on about three hours' worth as I type...
Best moment this week: Watching Pemberley walk all around the house! She's doing so great!!!
Worst moment this week: When I crawled into bed and realized that Pemberley peed in it. I swear, she was only in between nakey bath time and diaper for like, 2.5 seconds. Apparently that's all it takes, though. Pemberley - 1, Mommy - 0
Miss anything: COFFEE
Movements: I'm so in love with them! She's still sitting really low, so I can't wait to feel her kicking around in there even more very soon :)
Cravings: Strawberry fruit snacks. If anyone wanted to fill my stocking with them this Christmas, I *really wouldn't mind, Raleigh*
Queasy or sick: Twice this week I felt queasy from the smell of meat cooking. I've never had a food aversion while pregnant (quite the opposite, in fact!), so it kind of threw me both times! I hope it doesn't keep happening, given that we're going to have a delicious turkey in a few days!
Looking forward to: Our next appointment, and getting started on baby girl's nursery. Paint colors are picked out for 3 out of 4 walls, and it's going to be just perfect! I'll be writing up a nursery inspiration post in the next week or so :)

I love you SO much, little baby girl! March can't come soon enough!