Tuesday, March 20, 2012

24 weeks

24 weeks!!

This pregnancy was going so slow now it's going so fast. I've barely had time to sit down and collect my thoughts on what is really going on and happening here. With Miss B, you can go back and see I documented my whole pregnancy. This time, I got nada. Poor baby #2. Already getting slighted.

So here we go:

How far along? 24 weeks!
How big is baby? According to my pregnancy app, about 13 inches and 1.25 lbs.
Total weight gain/loss? Depends on the time of day. But somewhere between 5 & 10 lbs.
Maternity clothes? Yes please!! Sweats, loose tops, dresses, anything that's comfy.
Sleep? God it's getting horrendous. I may have texted my friend last week saying "I feel like a beached whale when I try and roll out of bed!"
Best moment of the week? Miss B singing and talking to Baby.
Movement? Yep. Belly flopping happens all day long.
Food cravings? Everything sweet. Donuts, cake, cookies, sugary cereal. 
Food aversions? God so many. This baby has made me the pickiest eater on the planet!
Gender? Definitely still a boy.
Labor signs? Some braxton hicks here and there, but nothing too bad. 
Innie or outie? Still an innie
Baby prep? Hired my doula! Started Hypnobabies. My house has never been so clean. I'm crocheting like a ninja. And I've started house hunting and car hunting for when we start looking at the end of the year.
Looking forward to? Meeting him for the first time.
Milestones? 24 weeks. Almost down to double digits.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Decorating Cheap : DIY Headboard

I wish I could say we have the nicest things.
But we don't.
Infact, small secret?
Most of our big ticket furniture items...are hand-me-downs.

We had moved back to CA at the start of the economic meltdown in 2008 and were adjusting to life on one income
and quite frankly, 
M and I...
are just not caught up in fancy, brand-name things.
Part of it being our personalities and the other part being, culturally, how we were raised.
I mean, both of us were raised sleeping on futons on the floor at our grandparents house.
And to be honest, those are some of my best memories.

So when we were offered a bunch of stuff from my family...we took it.
One thing we were exceptionally stoked about 
was the most comfortable california king bed we have ever laid on.
Everytime we lay down, it's hard to get back up.

But the headboard and footboard were hideous 
and wouldn't fit in the master bedroom of our little apartment.
Not to mention, the 6" wide gaps where the headboard/footboard met the mattress
 never would have worked for us, since Miss B never left our bed.
So we donated the headboard and footboard and just used the frame.

And it was ok. No complaints here.
But with all the beautiful bedroom sets out there,
I couldn't help but think about how beautiful and organized a beautiful bedroom set would look and be.
But M and I just couldn't justify spending the money on it.
We had to figure something else out.

Enter Pinterest.
Basically all the best ideas
combined in one, visually stimulating site.
I couldn't love it or spend anymore time on it then I already do.
The creative muses speak to me everytime I'm on there.

So when I saw this:

Picture taken from: http://blogalacart.com/2011/04/shutter-headboard-inspiration/

I couldn't believe what I was looking at.
It looked so relaxing and inviting
And would be perfect for a headboard

So the wheels in my head started turning...
Where could I find these for cheap?
Garage sales? Antique stores? Craigslist?
I was at a loss. 
Especially since I didn't want to spend more than $50 altogether on the project...
So I started looking.
And some people on Craigslist? Wanted $200+
Umm, no.
So I waited. Patiently.
Or as patiently as I could, considering when I want something, I want it NOW.

And one day
the Craigslist/shutter gods shined down on me
I found old plantation shutters for $15
And even more fated?
They measured perfect.
It was meant to be.

So I sent M to pick them up.
Because, let's face it, there are some crazy yahoos out there,
and going to random people's houses to pick up their old junks is not my thing.

Then I started brainstorming our room and my shutters.
What color did I want them? 
Did I want to glaze them with that rustic antique look? Or just leave them one color?
What could we do to wrap it all up together??

Then while, walking around our local Ikea one day, we found this beauty for less than $150 


and it was like the pieces were all starting to fit together.
I decided to go with a blue for the shutters. 
Which would go with our gray sheets and comforter set
and tie in with our new dresser and a yellow desk that isn't pictured

We found a $2 can of paint at Home Depot of a light baby blue
and since we were on a budget
I figured, ok. Let's see how it looks.

So M sanded down the shutters, put everything together and got to painting



Please don't mind the naked toddler in her pink snow boots. ;)

But the blue was a little lighter than I wanted. 
And even though I loved it, I wasn't completely sold on it.
Until my genius husband decided to darken up the paint a little
and voila!
I was in love.

Now to tie in our gray sheets/comforter and finish up the rest of the decorating the room.
This project = less than $25!!
So easy and fun! And there wasn't even any need to glaze it like I thought,
though we are keeping the option open if we decide later ;)

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

What I've been cookin'...

I've kinda kept mum on what I've been cooking up lately.
1) Because time flies and before you know it, you are more than halfway done
and 2) it has almost felt unreal. 
and 3) I've been so sick I barely have time to do anything.

But indeed it is really happening. 
The most amazing thing I have ever made and created out of pure love:

 

We're having a baby boy, due July 10th.

Is it bad I already have a stack of mama's crochet items for him to wear and model for me, despite it being mid-summer?? :D

So Happy Bee Boutique is growing by one more little Bee!