Had another fun picture session with Chris today! I’m thinking it could be my last pregnancy photo depending on when the little guy decides to go into action. Otherwise, I may squeeze in another one at 38.5 or 39 weeks! Gotta capture these moments; it’s not every day that you’re pregnant! I’m totally going to miss my bump but will probably love a flat stomach again, too.
It was a cloudy, rainy day so lighting was not in our favour (I only use natural light) but honest to God, that new Canon L series lens I bought a few months back can conquer any lighting challenge (lens here). It is seriously a magical lens and is one of the best investments I’ve made in a while. I’m so happy with it!
And here’s one with the hubster. These ones are always the most difficult shots because we use a tripod and a remote control. Framing is limited and there’s no one to direct your poses or give you feedback on how the photos are turning out / looking. But we manage to get a few we like each time, so that’s all that matters!
I also just started to use Instagram stories; I know I’m a bit behind but better late than never! It’s really fun and kind of addicting — not sure if this is a good or bad thing (lol). Anyways, would love for you to join me on Instagram if you haven’t already @charleneprecious. :)
My legs are MUCH better than they were a week and a half ago. I can walk my normal pace again albeit still with a waddle :). Lying down is still uncomfortable and is when I feel the pain in my pelvis and groins the most but nothing unmanageable. Sleeping overall is on point other than needing to wake up every 2 hours to empty my bladder — it makes for a very choppy sleep but I have no trouble actually sleeping, which is really nice.
Alright, I’m ready to share another part of this magical room, yay! :) This is the other side of the nursery. I really don’t know which side of the room I like better – they both make me very giddy! It’s really my new zen place (perhaps until the chaos of a newborn comes).
So let’s chat quickly about the different pieces here.
DECOR TIPS:
1. Rocking Chair: What I love about this rocking chair is that it has the traditional arched legs vs the modern “gliders”. Not only that, the legs are made of wood, which added a nice touch and fit nicely in the room. We really wanted a traditional wooden rocking chair but the comfort is just lacking compared to modern rocking chairs, so it was awesome to find a middle ground between traditional legs and modern comfort. This piece is from Pottery Barn Kids and it’s called the Charleston Convertible Rocker.
2. Dresser: This super white dresser is the Jonesport Double Dresser from good ol’ Toys R Us. It looks fantastic and very reasonably priced. If you haven’t already noticed, I don’t love deliberately matching furniture pieces and tend to steer away from “sets”. In fact, I purposely make sure things don’t match but rather complement each other! That’s the real trick and changes the game!
3. Rustic Ladder: Boy is it ever tough to find a good looking ladder! After a few failed tries, we found one at a local store called Hearth Manor Fireplaces. This ladder was tucked away in a dusty corner and we happened to spot it. It wasn’t cheap but it had quite the beautiful rustic finish, so we took the plunge. We had to cut it down ourselves because it was a 12-foot ladder and we only have an 8-foot ceiling in this house! Other than that, I absolutely love it. Ladders are fantastic decor pieces and never fails to add character to a room :). Once the baby is able to walk/climb stuff, we’ll have to relocate this to another place in the house but ’til then, it can stay :).
4. Wall Shelves: Got these at VdeV downtown. They’re the 48 x 9″ pine shelves with small Demi Lune brackets. These shelves are super HEAVY DUTY. They weigh a ton and they are gorgeous with a finish that matched the ladder almost perfectly. The vision for the nursery was always whites and greys with rustic wood accents to add some boyishness to the overall baby softness, so these pieces delivered nicely on the “harder” accents!
5. Crochet Pouf Ottoman: Instead of spending a fortune on a matching ottoman for our rocking chair (and also because I really hate matching furniture pieces :P), we got a pouf instead. This one’s from an Etsy Shop, Looping Home. The artisan is based in Portugal and makes all sorts of beautiful custom poufs in various colours, shapes, and sizes! It’s not the cheapest (but still cheaper than a real ottoman) because nothing is cheap on Etsy but a) I love supporting artists and b) being able to customize items, so I continue to be a huge fan of this marketplace!
6. Teddy Bear Faux Taxidermy: Also bought this super cute faux taxidermy at an Etsy Shop, Heidi and Finn Studio. They’re local in Georgetown, which made me want to support them even more. They make all sorts of super cute faux taxidermies but given the colour scheme of the room, the brown bear was the right one to go with :). Real taxidermies can be a bit creepy but plush ones are simply cute as buttons. Notice his little crown as well! So adorable. Turnaround time was also impeccable with this shop; the bear came within 2 days of me ordering!
7. Changing Basket: This might honestly be one of the most impractical things I’ve purchased for the room but am still kind of proud of it! I say it’s impractical because it’s not overly big and I’m pretty sure my little guy will outgrow it in no time. Having said that, it is just the prettiest and most unique change pad. I find the traditional ones a bit of an eye sore and couldn’t get myself to buy them, so I went with this Reva Oval Changing Basket from Olli Ella. :) I also just love the finishing touch that wicker pieces bring to a room!
8. Blanket: The blanket thrown over the rocking chair is from Indigo called the Cabin Cozy Sherpa Blanket. It’s so soft and cuddly, I adore it! Rocking chairs and couches always need some sort of a throw for a finishing touch, otherwise they look bare and incomplete :).
9. Teddy: The little teddy bear on the rocking chair is actually just an old Build-A-Bear that I gave Chris as a present many years ago. Now it’s being passed down to the little guy. :)
10. Floor Lamp: Because our ceiling light fixture is dim in nature (we didn’t want an overly startling bright light), we decided to get a secondary floor lamp in case we needed the room to be brighter for any reason. This spot light is the RANARP floor/reading lamp from IKEA. Super cheap and looks awesome.
11. White linen drapes, rug, and ceiling light fixture were covered off in my first baby nursery post here.
I’d love to start by venting about how my body is feeling at 36 weeks and 2 days. Everything hurts :(. But it might have been completely all my fault. Just before I hit 36 weeks, I was feeling like a million bucks. Minor aches and pains but nothing debilitating or disruptive to my overall mobility. My energy levels were fantastic and I felt beautiful!
But then of course I injured myself by reaching for something on the top shelf of my kitchen cupboards and overstretched a little too much. I heard a crackle, crackle, and when I landed back on my feet, I was in huge pain. My groins were throbbing and it radiated to my pelvis, which now feels like it’s carrying a bowling ball that’s trying to break out of my body.
Since then, I have not been able to walk normally and have been in a full and extremely slow waddle and hobble the past 3 days. Not to mention changing positions while sleeping at night is a near impossibility. I’ve never had to be so thoughtful about how I changed sleeping positions; it has become quite the strategic task.
The doctor checked me out and everything is fine and not dangerous. I’m simply stuck with this until the end. Essentially, my body was already preparing itself for birth, releasing the hormone relaxin to start loosening up the ligaments around my pelvis and by over-stretching myself, I exaggerated the loosening of those ligaments, driving my pain and discomfort up from a dull 4/10 to a painful 10/10. Sigh. I wish I could turn back time and be more careful. I wonder if I would’ve eventually gotten here and I’ve just accelerated it or if I could’ve completely avoided it by not injuring myself. Guess we’ll never know!! We’re here now! It hasn’t been fun hobbling around at a turtle’s pace and because it’s so stressful to walk, I’ve been extra tired by the end of the work day.
Having said that, I’m still loving being pregnant and having my little buddy with me everywhere I go. So I’m happy to grin and bear this until he comes and am in no rush for him to come out. Stay in there, little guy!
Now onto the fun stuff. General Mills threw me the most lovely surprise baby shower last week. It was a flawlessly executed surprise. I was completely shocked and overwhelmed. The company takes surprises very, very seriously and the decoy plans to execute a stellar surprise are just so good, it requires some serious acting talent.
They put together quite a gorgeous setup that took my breath away. Impeccable and Pinterest-worthy. Some very kind and thoughtful words were said, which really warmed my heart. Cakes and treats were no stranger to the shower and they were both picture perfect and so delicious. We also played a good ol’ game where you match baby pictures to adult pictures and it’s always a hilarious time. The team presented me with a collection of beautiful nursery books that are going to fit perfectly in this little peanut’s bookcase and ever-growing library. They also got me a gift card to Pottery Barn Kids and although one more shopping trip to that store would make Chris absolutely delirious, it would make me very happy :). Last and certainly not least, they brought in Chris himself (who brought a bouquet of stunning flowers), my favourite person in the world, which was the cherry on top. I so loved that he got to meet all the wonderful and brilliant people I have the privilege of working with every day. I am so proud to call General Mills my workplace and second home. This place truly has a rare and outstanding gem of a culture that conquers and surpasses all obstacles we face as a team and I hope to never take it for granted. I will miss working while on maternity leave, but I know I’ll also be head over heels about motherhood :). I’m planning to work until 38 weeks, which takes me to January 31st. It’ll be a weird day!
I’ll end this long post with this one of a kind Cheerios onesie because every first time mom at General Mills earns one of these and they’re just too cute for words! xoxo
2018’s little bundle of joy here :). Photo credit to Chris! He’s getting really good with the camera; he just needs a tiny bit of help with framing and he’s off to the races ;). Framing is KEY.
The baby was sitting quite low last week and it was killing my pelvis and bladder but he floated back up this week and what a difference it makes!! It’s nice when you don’t have to waddle when you walk; I’m trying really hard not to :P but it really is just more comfortable to waddle around like a penguin most days.
A little bit sad that I’ve only got one more day left from the holiday break, that is tomorrow, and I’m choosing to use the day to catch up on work so I don’t go back to the office on Wednesday with a mushy brain. Oh well! Back to reality :). I’ve had an extremely fun yet restful holiday and truly, it’s time to get back to grinding for the next few weeks. January is going to be absolutely insane but I’m gearing up for it!
Ahhh, my favourite room in the house to date. Here’s a sneak peek of our little nursery. Everything is done! I just need to upload more pictures. Aimed for something gender neutral but mostly for a baby boy. I’m obsessed! I also created a brand new blog category, “Mommy Life”! Things just got more real.
Okay, here’s a rundown of what you see. Actual links to items will be down in “Shop This Look”.
DECOR TIPS:
1. Shiplap Wall: What a difference an accent wall like this can make to a room. They’re not super cheap but not super expensive either. They’re totally worth it though.
2. Crib: This is the Rory Crib from Pottery Barn Kids. It converts to a toddler bed, which is nice. All the bedding including fitted sheet, bumper, and crib skirt are also from Pottery Barn Kids. I might as well have lived there these past few months.
3. Baby Animal Prints: From Etsy! I love Etsy so so so much for really cool, unique handmade items. More to come on Etsy purchases in other parts of the room when I get to posting them.
4. Barnwood Picture Frames: These are from Michael’s Arts & Crafts. My favourite frames. I have them all over our house :).
5. Book Case: This is the Cameron 4-shelf book case from Pottery Barn Kids.
6. Rug: From Wayfair.ca, literally delivered in 2 days with free shipping! Impressive.
7. Rocking Horse: From Amazon! You have to assemble it but it was easy.
8. Light Fixture: From Union Lighting. We wanted something that would age well as the baby grows up and I think it does the job well. We’ve bought a lot of our light fixtures from this store; the selection is absolutely mind blowing. Highly recommended!
9. White Linen Drapes: Pottery Barn for grown-ups. I’m obsessed with Pottery Barn drapes and won’t get drapes from anywhere else. They’re just gorgeous and super high quality. Not cheap by any means but worth every penny.
Went to an engagement party last night and thought to snap an update picture of my baby bump :). 29.5 weeks! This little guy’s movements are starting to change; you can feel every detail now, it’s so fascinating. I feel like I have a perma-buddy everywhere I go. I’m going to miss him in my womb I’m sure!
We’re having so much fun putting the nursery together – it’s coming along really nicely and I can’t wait to share pictures :).
Here’s a quick “almost 26-week” bump update. The photo was snapped over the weekend when I wasn’t quite 26 weeks yet! Getting bigger and more excited (and a bit scared) by the day but I truly can’t wait to meet this little guy. He’s a super active one; always busy in the womb with not sure what. :P Crazy boy. Love him to death already.
Also noting that 26 weeks marks roughly the time I’ve been feeling more energetic. Took long enough! Here’s to hoping I don’t lose it again as I enter the 3rd trimester. :P
Happy thanksgiving! We are thankful for sooo many things. God is so good and it’s a true blessing to know him. Thankful most of all for our little baby blue! Yes, we’re having a baby boy :). So extremely excited. The shopping has fully commenced. Gotta keep it in check though because stores like Pottery Barn Kids can be a dangerous place for first time mommies!! Everything is so cute, I want them all! We’ll be starting to put the nursery together in November when all the pieces are ready. We’re getting a shiplap accent wall installed this month, yay! I’ve always wanted one in the house, so why not the baby room? :)
Update on how I’m feeling: I never did get my pre-pregnancy energy levels back even now well into the second trimester but other than still being tired all the time, I am a very happy camper. Just gotta get those naps in and 10+ hours of nightly sleep, and I’m good. It’s worth mentioning that I go to bed around 8:30PM every night and wake up at 8:00AM for work (crazy, right?) LOTS of quality time with sleep going on around here. It’s as if I’m getting ready to bid it farewell, lol.
I’ve been feeling kicks and all sorts of baby movements since week 17. In fact, this little guy is quite an active one, like a little athlete in the womb. Feeling these movements is quite magical and every time I feel them, I am in awe all over again about the miracle of creating a little life inside of us. It’s truly so incredible! What a wonderful journey.
Also LOVING work and my new team. I am really, really enjoying having a team and coaching and developing others. I find it so very fulfilling. So I am thankful with my whole heart for these opportunities.
Last but not least, thankful for my amazing family (on both sides) and my all-star husband, Chris. YOU ARE THE BEST HUBBY IN WIDE WORLD. I am so lucky to be your wife :). I love you.
We are having a baby!!! We are so. very. excited. But it wouldn’t be the full picture without first sharing the part that wasn’t so exciting.
The truth about being MIA the last few months is that I was absolutely destroyed by the first trimester. What torture that was! I had never felt so sick in my life :(. All day nausea with vomiting (2-3 times a day), dizziness, extreme fatigue, constant bloating, horrible gas pains, and excruciating hunger. It was completely debilitating and I actually felt like I was going to die. While every inch of me was so grateful for this gift, feeling horrible every single day for 7 weeks straight really took away the excitement of the pregnancy for a while there.
The bright side of it all? Other than the obvious little peanut growing inside of me, Chris had been a rock by my side. I had never seen him in this light before. Completely and utterly selfless throughout my sickness and did everything he could to help. I am so blessed to have this man and going through this has made me fall in love with him even more. I have a sneaking suspicion that there will be a whole lot more falling in love as we journey through the ups and downs of life and as we grow and bond deeper with each other with each experience. :) I thank God everyday for you, Chris.
So then the second trimester came like a knight in shining armour! YAY!! All other symptoms have subsided or completely gone away and I am just dealing with fatigue now. I’ll take it!! I’ve accepted that it’s probably going to be a part of me until the 9th month and I’m okay with it. I’ve been able to get back into the groove of things a whole lot more the past few weeks with LOTS AND LOTS of sleep to get me through. :)
We are 16 weeks 3 days today and are sooo over the moon about our little human in the works! We’ll be three in February 2018!! What an absolutely incredible and incomprehensible thing to create LIFE. We are in awe. God is so good and we are so blessed. I can’t wait to capture our journey here as we embark on the next chapter so stay tuned!
Hi, Charlene Precious here! Welcome to my blog that is both a life journal told with words and photographs and an evolving portfolio. I'm thrilled to be able to share my work and my world with you, so thank you for following! (Read more)
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