Baby Deal Alert!

Discovered a great new Web site... BabySteals.com! No, they don't steal your baby. But they offer ONE big deal -- as in a "steal" -- each day. Today, Oioi diaper bags are offered at a substantial discount!

Of course, I had to sign up for a daily e-mail alert of the deal of the day. I am only wondering how most of my pregnancy has flown by without me knowing about this amazing site!

Another big deal to be aware of is that gDiapers is selling some of their cutest little pants for 20% off!

And both Amazon.com and Diapers.com are having a sale on Britax car seats right now.

Update: Two more sites where you can sign up for daily baby deal e-mails are GreenBabyBargains.com and MamaBargains.com

Happy Shopping!

Sneak Peek: Our nursery is coming together!

Are you ready to see how our nursery for Baby Lima Bean is coming along?! First, here is a shot of our nursery the day I got home from my fabulous shower... Look at all this stuff! Where to put it?!

Two weeks ago, we selected these four paint choices... Hmmm.

After seriously considering Pottery Barn's Wales green, I decided to take a chance on Benjamin Moore's bright "Apple Green" paint! This is what our nursery looked like last Thursday -- only one week ago!

THEN our fabulous glider rocker arrived! I love how the Amy Butler quilt and bird in Amy Butler's pink coriander fabric look against the dark brown of the chair and bright green of the walls! All three items on the chair were fabulous Etsy finds!

Finally, here are some shots of how the room is developing thus far! We still are waiting for the valances (also in Amy Butler's pink coriander fabric) and we need to put up some bird art on the walls. Plus the crib and crib skirt and a fabulous bird mobile from my mom are coming too! But in the meantime... Here's a sneak peek!

Here is a close-up of the pink toy bin that we snagged at the Pottery Barn outlet last weekend for $14! And a lime green one for bath stuff! Slowly but surely, we are getting ready for baby!

35 weeks down, only FIVE to go!

We are now in crunch time! We have only a little more than a month to go, unless Lima Bean is early. A girl I know just gave birth this past weekend at 35 weeks and 2 days. If I was that early, I would be in labor THIS FRIDAY!

But I just heard from another reporter today who was a week late with her child that timing depends more on heridity than anything else. My mom was late with me, very late, as in weeks, I believe. So that should mean that I am more likely to be late with Lima Bean.

In the meantime, we are plodding along. One thing at a time.

Also today, Lima Bean took her first step toward becoming a TV star! A reporter friend e-mailed me this morning because a TV crew at her office was looking for pregnant women to video for a story about a new swine flu vaccine for pregnant women. Sure, why not?

The cameraman and producer just came over to my office and took some shots of me walking down the sidewalk and sitting on a park bench rubbing my belly. I am in a black dress. If anyone sees me on the nightly news, let me know! Baby bean was a great prop. She even kicked me vigurously when I was sitting on the park bench, as if to say, "Look at me! Look at me!"

Drama queen, this one. :-)

Happy Birthday Aunt Jenny Bean!

Baby Lima Bean can't wait to visit you in Spain someday! Or, wherever exciting place you are living. And she can't wait for you to teach her some Spanish as well! Besos!

Happy Birthday Grandpa Howard Bean!

Lima Bean definitely has a sweet tooth, so I know the two of you will get along just fine! I know this because every time I eat something sweet, she does summersaults in my tummy. Er, maybe I am the one with the sweet tooth?

Our house is coming together!

Such a busy and productive weekend! And it's only half over!

Our nursery has been painted - Benjamin Moore's Apple Green in Natura paint! The chocolate brown upholstered glider rocker chair from Grandma Enid Bean was delivered! The Restoration Hardware dining room table was delivered! Our house has been painted too! Wall paper is down and new paint is already up - Pottery Barn yellow in the kitchen, blue in the dining room, sage green in the living room and khaki in the hallway and stairs! Plus, to get out of the house when the painters were here, I spent the day shopping for baby stuff at Buy Buy Baby!

Pictures to come. We are so excited about our house. And we're closer to having everything ready for baby Bean! Not that you can ever REALLY be ready, but still.

Our stroller has arrived!

Holy amazing cuteness! Is this not the best stroller ever?! A big thank you to Grandpa Howard Bean and Mema Wanda Bean for such an amazing gift!

If you recall, it took us a while to decide on a stroller... We wanted a sporty, rugged stroller that could handle the city streets, walking paths and rough terrain around our house. Papa Bean wanted durable wheels. I wanted lightweight and cute. Meet our new baby buggy - the Baby Jogger City Classic!

Here is Papa Bean looking at the pieces:

He put it together and didn't even need my help! (Darn, I like to lend help, offer advice, but he put it together before I could say a word!)


I then attached the parent console (shower gift from Mary Clare, another soon-to-be Baby Jogger parent!) and Papa Bean attached the all-important drink holder (thanks again to Grandpa Howard Bean and Mema Wanda Bean!):


Another shot at our lovely ride! Baby Lima Bean will love taking rides in her stroller! Stay tuned for details about our lovely and ultra-safe infant car seat, also a gift from Grandpa Howard Bean and Mema Wanda Bean! We need to get it installed in our car... Soon!

34 weeks down, only 6 to go!

If Baby Lima Bean, bless her little heart, goes full term (pleeeease!) then I've got a month and a half left! But if Baby Bean decides to buck her momma's advice and come early, I might have ONLY THREE WEEKS LEFT!

Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.

The good news is that there is no news. We had our Week 34 sonogram and doctor's visit today and Lima Bean is measuring a full FIVE POUNDS! She is now in the 40th percentile as far as size, so that is good. My belly and weight are also perfectly on track.

Still, my baby is FIVE POUNDS?! No wonder momma has gained so much. (I'm up 30 pounds. Still under the recommended weight limit. And I started out small-ish. Remember me at our wedding? I was so skinny I could have disappeared!)

Side thought: Someday when she is older, I will remind Baby Lima Bean that she once weighed no more than my girlie 5-pound weights. And she will roll her eyes at me. And I will realize that I have become THAT mother. Kill me now.

No fruit picture this week because Baby Bean is still the size of a honeydew melon. I can't wait until she hits watermelon status in a few weeks. Now, come on, is that a necessary mental image? Really. I told Papa Bean today that the next time he tells a pregnant woman that she looks like she is going to pop any day when she is only 7 months along that I will bop him on the head.

Note to men: If a woman LOOKS pregnant, most of you know well enough NOT to open your mouth, because what if she isn't? The same goes for a women who LOOKS like she is about to pop. You do not need to tell her that she has gotten HUGE and that the baby must be due ANY DAY. Because if she still has a MONTH AND A HALF TO GO, she will kill you. Word to the wise.

And now, here are some new pictures of our darling little five pounder. The first two shots show her profile and right hand, which she kept sucking on. The last shot is looking down at her face. I sure hope she doesn't really LOOK like an alien. That would be so hard to explain to Papa Bean. Your daughter is green and glowing because.............

Oh my cuteness!

I. Have. Discovered. The. Cutest. Baby. Clothes. Ever! Seriously. I may not be able to buy cute clothes for my bloated self (I swear if one more person tells me that I look humongous and the baby must be coming any day now, I will scream!)... But I sure can buy adorable designer threads for my little princess! Who cares that she's not born yet. Since when is being born a necessity when it comes to cute clothes?

I discovered the Tea Collection when I was at Buy Buy Baby purchasing items for our stroller, thanks to Grandpa Howard Bean and Mema Wanda Bean! (More ranting and raving on the amazing stroller coming up!)

Back to the cute clothes. Oh how I can't resist the Clearance rack. And there they were... The cutest clothes EVER! I displayed admirable restraint and only purchased two darling outfits...


BUT THEN, I Googled. I had to... And I discovered the Tea Collection Web site! And they just happened to be having a big sale, with 20% off already reduced prices THIS WEEK ONLY!

Again, I showed admirable restraint and only purchased several of the cutest dresses, in various sizes. Combined with the over-the-top cute clothes that Lima Bean already got at my shower, these dresses will certainly make her the best dressed, cutest baby ever!

Happy Birthday Grandma Lillian Bean!

Today is a very important day... It's my mother's birthday! So on this special day, here is a little note from Baby Lima Bean, for her soon-to-be amazing grandmother: I (heart) My Grandmother!

Another baby shower!

No, not mine. But a former co-worker of mine had her baby shower this past weekend! She is due about a week before me (6 days), is also delivering at Sibley Memorial Hospital, also goes to the same OB-GYN practice and also lives in Bethesda! So I'm looking forward to having someone to hang out with for play dates and to go strollering with while I am out on maternity leave!

This last picture shows how big I've gotten... Taken at 33 weeks, 3 days. Thanks to my mom for the brown maternity dress! Very comfortable!

Our Kid-Friendly Dining Room is coming together!

We just ordered a dining room table & got matching chairs! This was a BIG decision for us. A dining room table can be the center of family life... A place to pull our high chair up to and feed Baby Lima Bean. A place to spend time with family. A place to do homework and projects. We wanted a table that works with our room, fit our style and was also functional.

We started off looking at square tables, like this one from Steve Silver. But most of these tables come in countertop height, and after much discussion, we decided that regular height would be more comfortable, work better with a high chair, and be easier for Lima Bean to eat at once she is a toddler and out of her high chair.

But we still wondered, should we get a square table? Or a round one? Square tables are oh-so-modern looking! But they have sharp corners that kids can bump into. Our dining room table is in a thru-way between the living room, kitchen and sunroom. With a room of such high traffic, we thought a round table might work best. We both grew up with round tables in the kitchen, so it seemed like a good family-friendly choice. Plus, no sharp edges.

Papa Bean did a lot of research and we found this handsome round table that comes with a leaf to extend into an oval from Restoration Hardware! Photos below of the Larkspur table, which comes in dark oak, as a circular table and extended oval table.

We ordered it last week on sale (60% off)! Then, we picked up the matching chairs (pictured below) at the RH Outlet on Saturday (also 60% off)! Score!

Now we just need to find a nice espresso-colored wooden China hutch! Not something we need immediately, but a piece we'd like to get eventually. Next on our list of "needed" items is a couch set for the currently bare living room... Then beds/futons for our guest quarters in the basement and office!

The painting of the nursery has begun!

After work today, we dashed out to a nearby hardware store to check out paint samples! I already knew that I wanted to use Benjamin Moore's Natura paint in the nursery. This eco-friendly paint releases zero toxins and is odorless! And I wanted a bright lime green color.

But now the hard part -- which lime green?

Below are the paint chips I selected. The ones down the middle are my favorites: new lime, eccentric lime, snow cone green, pear green, grape green, apple green and limelight. Also, a Pottery Barn green that isn't pictured.

We got samples of four of the greens, shown below. Here they are with the pink coriander Amy Butler quilt I have and a piece of dark wood, to give you an idea of the color scheme I am going for.

Finally, after dinner, Papa Bean got to work applying the paint samples onto the walls! (Note that the animal wallpaper strip shown here is left over from the previous owner's nursery and it is coming DOWN!)

Can't wait to see how it all turns out!

Let's talk details!

How far along: 33 weeks/1 day

Total weight gain: 27 pounds at my Week 32 appointment (If I am on track, I'd be 28 today)

Maternity clothes: Just got a lovely package of FOUR maternity dresses from my mom! Two brown and two pink. Since dresses and yoga pants are the only thing I am wearing these days, these will sure come in handy!

Main symptoms: My big belly is the biggest symptom! Thankfully, after my dentist appointment, my gums are no longer a disaster zone. I do use the bathroom a lot, but I'm used to that now, so I just go whenver I stand up or start to leave home or the office. I got a cold last week during our move and the congestion was intense! Am over the cold now, but the conjestion has lingered... I have occasional back pain, but my Boppy sleep pillow and wedge are amazing and so it's not that bad and I am still sleeping soundly. Lots of forgetfulness and clumsiness!

Exercise: Walking 0.9 miles from our new house to the Metro every morning!

Best moment: Seeing all my friends at my shower this past weekend! And then, later, putting baby Lima Bean's clothes away in her closet. Every piece I held up, I imagined will soon be filled with a little baby, our baby, and it just makes me so excited to meet her and see who she will be and what she'll be like.

Movement: Nonstop! She kicks. She twitches. She rolls. She sticks her butt (or head? or foot?) up so that one side of my belly sticks up and I look lopsided. Plus, she is definitely getting the hiccups, nearly every day!

Food cravings: In this summer heat, anything cold and refreshing! Gelato and sorbet are still tops in my book!

Gender: DEFINITELY A GIRL! At our last ultrasound, at Week 30, I asked the technician, who was a different technician than the one who originally told us we were having a girl. This one took a look and confirmed, without a shaddow of a doubt, that we're having a GIRL!

Labor signs: None. I might start having Braxton Hicks contractions soon, but haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary yet...

Belly button in or out? OK, how can you tell if it's in or out? My button is almost nonexistant now! It's now so shallow that white skin that was previously never exposed to sunlight is peeking out. But I woudn't necessarily say it's "popped" out...

What I miss: Really miss running! There is a great running trail right next to our new house and I am dying to do some long runs and check it out! Also, very excited to take baby jogging with me!

What I am looking forward to: Setting up the nursery! We are now moved into our new home and plan to paint the nursery this weekend! The chocolate brown glider rocker is being delivered on Saturday, July 25. Still waiting on the crib! Can't wait to start putting things where they go and getting it all ready for Baby Bean!

Weekly wisdom: I take water bottles with me everywhere. In this heat, I need it!

Milestones: So many! We moved into our new house last week! My friends threw me an amazing shower last weekend! We ordered a dining room table... We got an infant car seat and stroller, thanks to Papa Bean's dad and stepmom! We have received lots of amazing gifts to get ready for Baby Bean's arrival, like a swing from Papa Bean's sister and a high chair from my sisters! Plus, I attended a breastfeeding class last week. One thing at a time!

33 weeks down, 7 to go!

Less than two months! Eeek! At 33 weeks, I am now in my 8th month and the size of a honeydew melon! And baby is growing fast. I'm now up about 28 pounds, which at a pound a week, would mean a total pregnancy gain of 35 pounds by delivery. Perfect. I hope!

I am now wearing only skirts and dresses. And I am waddling. And when I sit for extended periods, baby sloshes around inside me, making ripples on my belly! It's funny to watch. I wonder what parts of her are sticking out when I see my tummy get lopsided.

I am still very forgetful. Fatigue such as what I felt in the first trimester has not returned, thank goodness. Having trouble bending over or picking up things from the floor. Stairs leave me winded, a strange thing for someone who ran a marathon less than a year ago!

With the countdown on, here are a few things on our minds:

-- Picking paint colors and painting the nursery! Thinking Benjamin Moore Natura paint: Bright Lime, Yew Green, Snow Cone Green or Apple Green. Hmmm.

-- Hope the crib comes in soon so we can set everything up. The glider rocker chair is being delivered on July 25th! And the stroller should be here by Friday!

-- What to bring to the hospital? We have started a list... More on that to come. In the meantime, any suggestions?

-- Cord blood banking: Do it or pass? So many opinions on this...

-- Pediatricians! We have some recommendations that we are checking into...

-- Maternity photos? Baby photos? Birth announcements? Final baby purchases... Furniture for our house... Finalizing maternity leave... NAMES!

We are plodding along. One day at a time. What seemed like a mountain of things to do way back when we first started looking at houses and thinking about selling our condo seems all the more doable now that we are in an amazing house that we are starting to make our home. We just ordered a dining room table and plan to paint the nursery this weekend. So it's all coming together, one thing at a time! Just hope Lima Bean doesn't come early!

My fabulous baby shower!

My baby shower was Sunday at noon, and it was fabulous! A big thank you to my friends who hosted it and friends who attended -- especially Missy who took the train down from NJ just for the shower! You all absolutely made my shower the most amazing day ever. Little Lima Bean is so lucky to have tons of great "aunties" like you gals!

Now, check out the fabulous decor! Libby used vintage Lima Bean labels to decorate soup cans filled with pink flowers! She also used the vintage labels to make favors that were filled with green jelly beans! It was the most creative and cutest thing ever! Even the balloons matched the Lima Bean theme!

Now, check out the food! Oh my goodness it was delicious! And the cupcakes... Red velvet all the way. But all of them were seriously delish! Wow! And check out the adorable diaper cake that Chimmy made! Holy cuteness meets practical!

Finally, the gifts! My goodness but you ladies spoiled me and baby Lima Bean. She is so lucky to have you all looking out for her and dressing her in all these adorable outfits! I'm now set on clothes, bath stuff, baby toys and gear, even a manly Diaper Dude bag that Papa Bean can carry!

Papa Bean came to pick me up after an amazing afternoon. Can't wait for Little Lima Bean to try on all her new outfits and play with her new toys... What a lucky baby (Week 32, Day 4)!

Got our crib mattress! Adorable baby clothes! Love the new 'hood!

Today was a wonderful day... Started with some light unpacking. Enjoyed breakfast in our new home. Then we walked along a path down the street to downtown Bethesda!

Our house may be on a quiet street, but we are within a nice 15-20 minute stroll to tons of shops and restaurants in town. The path, known as the Bethesda Trolley Trail, will be great to walk baby Lima Bean on in her stroller. And I can go running along the trail, which runs from Rockville to Bethesda and hooks up with the Capitol Crescent Trail to D.C., to get back into shape! We are so lucky to have such a great location. I am so excited about our new neighborhood!

On our walk into town, we stopped at Urban Country's big clearance sale and I picked up some adorable baby clothes for Baby Lima Bean at half off! Check out this adorable newborn hat and mittens! And this cute pink hat and booties! All organic and so soft!

We then enjoyed a delicious meal at Cafe Deluxe, I got a manicure and pedicure, some delicious gelato and we walked home! I got an e-mail letting me know that our crib mattress was in, so we turned the day productive by zipping out to pick it up! Pictured below is the Eco-Friendly Sealy Posturepedic Springfree Crib Mattress. I ordered it on sale for $119 from Wal-Mart

Baby Bean's heartbeat is strong!

Today was my Week 32 doctor's appointment. It was pretty standard. Just a routine check-in with a nurse on my doctor's office so she could measure my belly and listen to baby's heartbeat. 

This time, she gave the monitor to Papa Bean and he rubbed it on my belly, finding our baby's heartbeat right away! Using his iPhone, we were able to record the heartbeat! Stay tuned for a clip, which I will upload to this post shortly. 

After the appointment, we had a nice lunch at a place down the street called Chicken Out Rotisserie. We grabbed a menu because it would be a great place to order take-out from when I deliver at Sibley Hospital, which is also nearby. 

After a short trip to Crate & Barrel and a swing through Bed, Bath & Beyond for some house essentials, we spent the rest of the evening relaxing and making our house home.

32 weeks and a new house!

Monumental week! Lima Bean is now nearly 4 pounds and fully formed. At her size, she makes my belly rumble when she turns and kicks. It's such a trip to watch! She also can hear the outside world. Wonder what she'll make of our new house!

We moved in on Wednesday. We still need furniture and have to finish unpacking, but it's amazing to have our own house! So much room! It's very quiet out here, so relaxing. And, of course, here is my Week 32 bump shot in front of our new pad!

Got a nursing stool!

Another great Craigslist find... An espresso-colored wooden nursing stool! The stool retails for $34.99 and I picked up a nice second-hand stool for $15 from a woman in Silver Spring, Md. Score!

Breastfeeding Basics

A really great resource for women in Washington, D.C., who plan to breastfeed is The Breastfeeding Center, located downtown on K St. The center is a nonprofit that offers a slew of great classes, many of which are free.

Today, I hit the Breastfeeding Basics class, which is recommended for women who are about 8 weeks from delivery. Since I notch 32 weeks this week and was off work for our big move, I decided to hit the class. The center has a no turn away policy and I was warned that the classes are often crowded, so I got there 30 minutes early and snagged a seat up front.

The class was CROWDED and some women ended up standing outside the room! I'm glad I went though, because it was a very informative session. I have heard that breastfeeding can be hard to get the hang of... We'll see. Hoping for the best!

Happy Fourth of July!

We had a great July 4th this year! Thankfully it was a cool day out, which was so nice. Some friends from Hawaii, Gabe & Aiko, and their adorable kids, Addy and Kai, were in Washington, D.C., this weekend so we met up with them at the White House! Photo below of me (yes, I am HUGE) with the gang.

After checking out the White House, we toured the monuments. Here are some shots of Papa Bean and I at the World War II Monument, with the Lincoln Memorial in the background. Then, later, at the Lincoln Memorial with the reflecting pool and Washington Monument in the background.

We think Baby Bean enjoyed the tour as well. She slept through most of it and only started kicking when we got home to take a nap! Doh! We then spent the evening at a rooftop party at a friend's place where we had a great view of the fireworks! Plus great food and company!