A Few More Maternity Pics

  Hi there! Just wanted to share some more maternity shots. My mother in law was here for a visit a couple weeks ago, so she took some cute pictures!! 

I dont remember what I told her in this one, but her expression is priceless! All I can remember is she didnt want her picture taken! 

She likes to be doctor! She puts the stethoscope on my tummy & says boom boom. She's learned that from going to the doctor with me :) 

They are so cute! Love the block idea too :) 

Kelly 

DIY Canvas

  This project has been on my to do list for quite awhile (like almost 4 years ago when we got married) & I've finally gotten around to it. Of course I did a lot of research trying to find the cheapest way, or cheapest place & decided to take the plunge & just do it myself. 

   If you look close they arent as great as what a place or company would've done for me, but as much as I like to change & re-do, I didnt want to spend hundreds of dollars on this & not like the way it turned out. 

    So, on with the show!!! 

First what I did was measure above our bed to determine the size I wanted. I also knew I wanted them to be square, so that eliminated several places from doing them because they only offer standard sizes like 8x10, 16x20, etc.. 

  So....here's the area above the bed where the canvas will go... I someday will repaint our bedroom, only reason being where the previous nail holes where you can see the spots & it makes me crazy!! But right now Im not about to move that bed out of here, so, I have to live with it for now :(

  Then I went to Hobby Lobby & bought 2- 18 x 18 square canvas. 

   $13.99 a piece & they were 50% off! 

Then I ordered 20 x 20 (bigger so I could wrap them around the edges) prints from Shutterfly. They were $10 a piece. Ive seen some easy DIY canvas where you can paint the edges, but I wanted the wrap around look. 

   

  To apply the picture to the canvas, I just laid the picture up-side down, laid the canvas on top of it to get an idea of the position of it & then cover the whole canvas in Modpodge (I used a foam brush.) Dont be stingy with the modpodge either! You'll want a good amount. Then position the picture where you want it & press down good on the back side (so you dont get any fingerprints or anything on the actual picture) 

   I also taped the back of mine to give it some reinforcement. 

Just duct tape! 

    Doesn't have to be pretty... You wont see it anyway :) 

    Now the scary part!! I've done this with photos over wood before, but for some reason it was scarier on a canvas! 

    Turn over to the front part of the canvas & smear modpodge all over the front of your picture, not only will it help adhere to the canvas it will also give it a more matte look. 

    After I smeared modpodge all over the front of my picture I took a scrap piece of fabric I had & laid it over the top of the canvas & pressed down. Then remove & hang!! Voila! Done! 

Here's a closeup... 

You can see how it gave it more texture, sorry I didnt get a before shot of this. But it just looked like a smooth picture. You dont have to do the modpodge on the front either if you like the smooth look. 

And the side view... 

And of course the finished project.... 

I still need to get something to go in the middle, I have a glass vase wall hanging thing I have in mind... Its on the to do list :)

 So the total project was lets see... $13.99 + the pics were $10/piece... Each canvas was $17.00/piece & a few materials I already had at home. Not bad compared to several I found that were $75 a piece & like I said, they dont have near the quality as if a professional were to do them, but Im happy with them :) 

Maternity Pics

  We just got a sneak peek of our maternity pics & I wanted to share! Im SO excited how they turned out!! Our photographer is AMAZING! Not only does she take great pics & is great with Reese, the color & quality of her pictures are great! When I got back Reese's 2 year pictures I just couldnt believe how bright & clear the quality was! Pam you are WONDERFUL!! 

 

 My main concern was to get Reese to cooperate, she's at the stage where she doesnt want me to take her picture, but she did great! We told her if she did good she would get a treat... So what does she pic? McDonalds apples!! Haha! Hey, whatever works! My good little eater :)

 My favorite is the one where she's kissing my belly! Cant wait to get them displayed in the nursery!!

Thanks as always for looking & I really am trying to post all my new projects... I promise soon!!! 

Kelly :) 

9 1/2 weeks to go

  Hope your all doing great! Ive been busy, busy as usual. I dont know if you call it spring cleaning or nesting?!? I cant believe how fast the time is going! I only have 9 & 1/2 more weeks to go! Here's a few of my latest belly shot... 

So far Ive gained about 16lbs. Thats about 1/2 of what I gained with Reese so far... I gained almost 50 with her! Yikes! 

The baby this week is the size of a butternut squash & is approx 17 inches long & weighs a little over 3lbs now. She's moving like crazy! Reese got to feel her kick yesterday. She usually doesnt keep her hand on my belly long enough to feel anything, but she finally did :) 

  At my last dr appt I had my glucose test, which I passed, but I also found out I was anemic. Now I have to take medicine for that, which is really kind of a pain. You're supposed to take it in the morning on an empty stomach, one hour before, or two hours after a meal. Well when an 8 month pregnant lady is hungry, she's hungry & baby dont like to wait for a meal! 

So between the braxton hicks I've been having & being anemic I need to be winding down on the house cleaning. So I've got a couple more weeks left & Ill be staying home full time again. I got rid of the booth I was renting at the antique mall, I wont have time to keep up with that for awhile. Reese is really going to miss being around the other kids at daycare, but she can get into a program at our church when she's 3, so she'll have to be home with me for a year. She's going to be a great big sister & helper though, I just know it :) 

  We are getting maternity pictures taken this weekend, so let's hope those turn out! Our photographer does a great job, it'll be if little miss Reese cooperates.. She doesnt like the camera on her :( 

  I still havent had much for cravings.... heartburn like crazy though! I've gotten to the uncomfortable part of pregnancy when it comes to sleep. I have to get up & potty about every 2-3 hours. I sleep with about 4 pillows & about the time I get comfy its time to get up & potty again. 

I'll get another sonogram at 36 weeks, I'm anxiously waiting for that! Can't wait to see her little face again! Im curious to see how much her & Reese look alike. I know they'll both have blonde hair & blue eyes, Reese was born with dark hair, but it all fell out & came back blonde. Im just so excited & so blessed to be having another baby! I know somedays are rougher than others, but it is SO worth it in the end :) 

Thanks as always... 

Kelly :) 

 

EVERLY IT IS!!

  So now that we've FINALLY agreed on a name I can get on with the fun stuff with the nursery!! 

  

I saw these letters at a store here in town & I went home & told my husband, ok we need to hurry up & make a decision because I NEEDED this in the nursery!! It was perfect! So after a couple days the agreement was I got the first name & he gets the middle name... Agreed... On one condition... Her middle name can't begin with "G" then her initials would be EGG. 

Anyway, so EVERLY it is!! He says he's not calling her Everly though, he will call her Evie... Which is great too!! Im just glad we've finally got it figured out & now I can relax about it... Haha! I'm such a planner, I couldn't wait until she's here to decide! 

Here's a few pics of what is done so far :) 

Kelly :) 

Ladder Shelf Redo

 This is just a quick little project I did, part of getting the nursery ready.... 

I've had this handy little ladder shelf a long time & its been great for storage & display. I had painted it tan the last time (I believe this is the third time Ive painted it... Maybe fourth) Anyway... So in the nursery Im doing more of a gray theme, so I decided it needed painted again! 

Here it is in Reese's room... 

So I stole it out of her room to put in the baby's room. I need the storage in the baby's room more then Reese needs it (for diapers & such) Plus Reese has a dresser in her room & I dont have room in the baby's room for a dresser since we need to keep the bed in there for guests. 

Luckily we do have great closets that we dont necessarily need a dresser. I'll show all that when I do get the nursery done, for now... Back to the ladder shelf!! 

  So, all I did was used the Annie Sloan chalk paint in French Linen (one of my favs!!) Brushed it on, took no time at all & Voila!! Im very happy with the way it turned out! And it goes great in the nursery :) 

 

Here's a before & after for better comparison :) 

Kelly :) 

27 weeks

   WOW! Where have I been!?! Has a month really gone by?!? I have been busy, surprisingly, this time of year is usually boring, catch-up time... But it is seriously February already!! So I have alot of catching up to do!! 

   Well first of all I am now 27 weeks (crazy!) I don't know how its going by SO fast! Possibly because I have a 2 year old keeping me busy this time around. I only have 13 weeks left! Next week I will be in my 3rd trimester... Holy cow!! 

   At my dr appt last week everything is going good! Heartbeat was 145 & she was rolling around in there like crazy! I am measuring a week ahead, which really doesnt mean anything yet, I usually measured 2 weeks ahead with Reese. I have gained 13 lbs so far, which doesnt seem like much to me considering I gained almost 50 with Reese! Im hoping I dont swell like I did my 1st pregnancy. And I will say it is much nicer being pregnant this time of year than during the summer! 

   Anyway, so the baby this week is about the length of a cucumber (15 in) & weighs about 2 & 1/4lbs. Im really feeling alot if kicks & movement & I can actually see my stomach moving at times. Reese is pretty much obsessed with the baby & she lifts up my shirt all the time & says "baby come out?" I wonder what she'll be like when she gets here....

Cravings lately have been caramel!! Salted caramel especially! Starbucks has a wonderful caramel drink with sea salt on top- oh my!! 

  We are still "debating" on the name... Im in love with Everly, my husband, not so much :( We would call her Evie, which he does like that, so we'll see if there is anything else we can come up with. Our other top names were Hallie, Elsie, & he said yesterday he liked Piper. I know last time I said we had it narrowed down to two, but he keeps changing his mind. I just want to start personalizing the nursery & I've got my eye on these gorgeous letters for the wall! 

   So the last picture we took was at 24 weeks, So this is the most recent I have & its already 3 weeks old!! 

This belly photo session didnt turn out so well, but we are getting professional ones taken soon, so as long as Reese cooperates they will be much better :) 

   We've been working on the baby's room, it is painted & the crib is set up. But I have been going through all the clothes, blankets, etc & getting those organized. I got rid of most of my baby stuff when we moved, so Im trying to make a list of what I'll need to get yet. 

Its crazy to think Reese just wore those clothes not too long ago & now Im hanging them in baby sister's closet! 

And of course... My little helper... 

She likes to climb in there & play :) 

Thats all for now! Thanks as always for looking... 

Kelly :)