Week 36 (9 months!): For all the world to see…..

First let me apologize for the skin-baring photos this week.  I never thought I’d show the belly in all it’s glory, but something about being at 9 months makes me want to document every little thing from here on out.  So please overlook the nasty appendectomy scar, belly button piercing hole, newly outie belly button, and overall hilariousness of my lop-sided gut and realize—THERE’S A BABY IN THERE!  I can’t wait to show my little girl these photos someday and say “That’s you!!” 

By the end of this week, little Baby C will be considered “full term” at which point I will be eating all the spicy foods I can find, to coax this girl out of my swollen belly!  Truly the anticipation is already driving me nuts.  Every little backache and contraction (which I’m guessing are just Braxton Hicks) has me imagining calling the hubby and saying those sacred words [like in the movies], “It’s time.”  My other reaction [to the aches and pains that could mean labor]?  Panic.  At this point I’m exhausted more often than not, so the idea of giving birth just sounds completely impossible to me.  But you know what?  I think I have plenty of incentive to get me through—I mean, like I said before:  THERE’S A BABY IN THERE!

 In these photos:  vintage tshirt (cut into a tank top by moi), vintage bracelets and rings, Hard Tails yoga pants (every pregnant woman should own these!!  they also do wonders at flattening a tummy on non-pregos)

xo

Jayme

P.S. Soo....now that I've shown you my belly, will you please take a quick second and vote for us on Top Baby Blogs?  Just CLICK HERE and then click again.  Thank you muchly!  

Aurora's (and Mommy's) Etsy Wish List

Aurora is going to be 10 months at Christmas this year, and I can hardly wait to watch her experience all the sights and sounds of the holidays.  Q and I decided not to go overboard on gifts this year 1) because she won't remember as much this year and 2) she's going to be spoiled by the rest of our family.  But I've be perusing Etsy pretty regularly and have some things I'd love to get for Aurora (and me!). And everything just happens to be under $25 because you know I love a good bargain.

Hello friends and family, if you're reading this, consider this a wishlist of sorts! ha.

Things to Play With

1.  neely bug boutique (pink apron with 'Aurora' in yellow stitching), $12  Such a great personalized gift to go along with the kitchen grandma and grandpa are getting her.

2.  Gallivanting Girls, $24   No kitchen is complete without kitchenware!

3. Bells and Whistles Shop,$15  I love the crayon storage and can't wait to fill this thing with paper and coloring books for little trips we take together!

     Pretty Things to Wear

1. Frog Princess Designs, $25  It's a teething ring AND jewelry.  Awesome!
2. Ms Tips, $8.40  Must have for my little bohemian babe.
3. Handmade Baby Love, $17.99  Something to keep her feet warm around the house and on our hardwoods and she starts (gulp) walking!

Snack Time Things

1.  Kitchen Stitchen, $6.60   I love the blender print! So unique.
2. Our Simple Life, $9.50  No more crumbs in mama's purse!
3. My Eco Baby, $20.00  This will go under her highchair so I don't have to mop the floor daily.

Things for the Nursery

1. Ida Done That Vintage, $12.99  So sweet and perfect for her growing library.
2. Matty Handmade Crafts, $18  Princess Aurora 1920s print on a poster
(which I'd frame in a vintage frame of some sort).
3. Teruki's Treasures, $9.99  No matter what anyone says, i still love the Shabby Chic vintage look, and I plan on redoing Aurora's room for her upcoming 1st birthday...vintage-styled, of course.

Something For Mama

1.  A Lovelly Design (with the lighter green 'pea' and an A initial, of course), $19.50
This necklace is so simple and pretty, but also meaningful.  You can also purchase versions that have more than one pea/leaf!  For now, I just need my one little sweetpea.

What are you getting your little ones this year?  Consider going vintage/handmade...you'll save money, save the earth, AND support some wonderful curators and artists.

xo
Amanda
(&Aurora)

WINNER: Little Buttercup Baby Giveaway

Thanks to all who checked out the adorable etsy shop we featured this past week:  Little Buttercup Baby.  If you're in the market for CUTE handmade baby goodies, be sure to check it out!
The lucky winner of the Bumble Bee Bib set is:

Shannon said... 

twitter follower(kayleebucket)and my favorite is the dinosaur striped bib

snaugle81@gmail.com

November 27, 2010 1:49 PM

Soo....Shannon wins a gift from another Shannon (the lovely shop owner/designer of Little Buttercup Baby)!  It was meant to be. :)

(We'll email you shortly with details on how to get your prize!)

Hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving!

xo

Manda & Jayme

Week 35: Old School

Well well well….look at this girl here.  She has finally gotten “big”. 

Andrew keeps giggling at me and my round belly. “I think the baby had a growth spurt!” he says.  When I lay on my side I can feel the weight of the baby pulling at my stomach.  And I’m walking a bit more slowly (and cautiously!) these days.   I’m one step away from the pregnant-lady-waddle.

All this strain on my body makes for an increase in anxiousness about d-day getting here sooner rather than later.  I certainly wouldn’t consider my current state completely uncomfortable….but I’m a  little nervous to get to that point.  I don’t want my hubby to have to deal with me if and when I get to that point.

But you know what?  The aforementioned “d-day” brings a whole other list of anxieties.  The thought of going into labor is SCA-RY.  Truly my one and only expectation for giving birth is to deliver a healthy baby.  I’m not ashamed to use pain medication.  I won’t be upset if the doctor tells me I need a c-section (though obviously I’d prefer NOT to have surgery).  Yes, I said doctor.  Like at a hospital.  No mid-wife or at-home birth for me.  I’m going old-school (well, I guess an at home would really be OLD school…I’m talking….past 100 years old-school).  The anticipation of labor and facing the unknown is enough for me.  If it takes a whole team of nurses, doctors, IVs, epidurals and the likes to get my baby out safe and sound, then so be it (but please cross your fingers that by some miracle of God it is naturally pain free and sets the record for the quickest labor EVER!).

In these photos:  Levi’s jeans, Steve Madden clogs, vintage red button up blouse

xo

Jayme

CLOSED--Handmade Feature/Giveaway: Little Buttercup Baby

With a shop name as cute as "Little Buttercup Baby" you know it must be filled with equally adorable goodies for your little one--homemade bibs, burp cloths, baby shoes and more, to be exact!  Shannon, the owner/creator behind this etsy shop has a great eye for all things baby.  We love the layers she uses in her designs-- quilted patterns, overlapping fabrics, rick rack accents and contrast stitching.  

Let's get to know Shannon:
--What does your life outside of Etsy/blogging look like?

Outside of Etsy I am a wife and a stay at home mommy of two wonderful children. I have a three year old daughter and a three month old son. I used to work full time outside of my home but when we moved two years ago, I was able to quit my job and do the job I have always wanted, a mom. My husband is amazing and works extra so that I am able to stay home and raise our children. We have been together for eight years and married for four. He is my best friend and our family means everything to us and I enjoy every day with them.

--Describe yourself (or ask someone else to do it!) in three words.

Creative, quiet, intelligent (those words come from my mother)

--Fall piece you can’t live without:

I am a big fan of the puffy vests with the hood and fur! I think they are still “in” but even if they aren’t, I still love them : )

--Most recent fashion-related purchase:

I bought a red hooded vest from Old Navy. I love red and it just stuck out on the rack to me and had to have it. I am not the most fashionable person so I never buy anything too crazy. Since I no longer work outside the home my wardrobe consists mostly of jeans and sweatshirts, comfy clothes I can wear while playing with my kids.

 --Do you craft/make anything else outside of what’s in your shop?

I make a lot of different things. I sew, knit, crochet, scrapbook….the list goes on. I am always trying new things when it comes to crafting. I make my children clothes and blankets, things for my husband. I am focusing most of my time right now on items for babies as I have a newborn and have a “guinea pig” to try my new items on!!

--Any pet peeves?

When things aren’t organized. I tend to be a perfectionist with some things and if they aren’t how I want them it makes me crazy. But don’t look at my sewing room…at least right now, still working on it. lol

--Bad habits?

Buying too much fabric! I love fabric and every time I go to the fabric store I find myself leaving with at least one piece of it. I always find a cute pattern that I want to make a bib or baby shoes out of and I have so much! Luckily I have a dresser in my sewing room and it is the perfect storage for all of it.

--Desert-island food?

Chips and hot salsa…mmmm

--Three bands/singers you can’t get enough of:

I can’t think of three at the moment but I know one of my favorite singers is Carrie Underwood.

--What made you decide to start a shop?

When my husband told me that our house didn’t need anymore quilts in it! I loved making quilts and baby things but I could only give so many away as gifts and my sewing room was getting taken over by finished projects. I thought Etsy would be a great way to sell my things and make enough money to support my hobby.

--Significance of your shop name?

My shop name was inspired by my children. When my son was born I kept calling him my little buttercup and then my three year old daughter started calling him her little buttercup so that is how Little Buttercup Baby came to be.

--Favorite item in your shop right now?

Infant Set of 3 Bibs – Candy, Sweets, Donuts & Ice Cream themed

http://www.etsy.com/listing/60148726/infant-bibs-set-of-three-sweets-candy

Shannon also has a lovely blog where she shares shop updates, yummy recipes and little bits and pieces of what's going on in her day to day life:

http://littlebuttercupbaby.blogspot.com/

You should check it out!

Some goodies from Little Buttercup Baby could be YOURS!  Shannon is giving one of our readers a set of two signature bibs in a fun bumble bee print--suited for you little boy OR girl!

Here's how to enter:

1. Follow our blog! Once you become a follower, just leave a comment below, telling what your favorite item from Little Buttercup Baby is.
2. Follow Miskabelly (@miskabelly) on twitter…and again, just a quick comment to let us know you did (with your twitter user name) and share what your favorite item from Little Buttercup Baby is.

3. If you’re already following the blog and our twitter—simply leave a comment, telling us what your favorite item from Little Buttercup Baby is!

4. Once we tweet about the giveaway, you can re-tweet to gain an extra entry!

Multiple entries are allowed (if you want to follow the blog, AND our twitter AND re-tweet  go for it!).  This contest will run through next Sunday, November 28th.  The winner will be chosen through a random number generator. 


Good Luck!!

Manda & Jayme 

WINNER: A Wild Tonic Giveaway

Thanks to all who entered the giveaway from A Wild Tonic.  And thanks to Lauren for sharing her lovely shop with us!  If you haven't checked it out yet click HERE.

The lucky winner of a $20 gift certificate to spend as you please at A Wild Tonic is.....
 
Marlowe said...

Im in love with the blue everyday cotton dress!
marloweopat at gmail dot com
November 20, 2010 7:34 PM

Congrats Marlowe!  We'll be emailing you soon with details on how to claim your prize. : )

xo
Manda & Jayme

A date with the hubby...

This past weekend Andrew took me on a little day-date.  It was a gorgeous afternoon.  We stopped at Starbucks (we are kind of adddicts...) and made our way to the Penn State Arboretum to soak up the sunshine.  Most of the plants are done for the year, but we got to seem some really cool partially-dried foliage that was almost as pretty as plants in full bloom.

The arboretum (which is just a fancy word for garden...) has walking paths and various seating areas.  We found these brightly colored adironack chairs to sit in while we sipped our drinks (decaf caramel macchiato for me, peppermint mocha for Andrew).

It was a low-key date...but these days that's what I crave.  Relaxation.  Alone time with the hubby.  Baby chit-chat.  We talked about how fun it would be to come back in the spring when all the plants were full of flowers....with baby in tow.

We even saw a hot air balloon!  It was such a lovely day, I decided I needed a shot of us together to remember it.  Just me and Andrew.  Oh yeah...and that bulging belly of mine.

xo
Jayme

P.S.  I must mention--this outfit has pretty much been my go-to pregnancy wardrobe.  Leggings.  Boots.  Long, slim fitting knit top.  Topped off with a scarf and jacket.  (At least the bag and boots are vintage!)