She's Here!

 Im about 10 days late posting this, but life is a little different now! Meet Everly Claire...

She was born May 9th at 2:17pm. She weighed 8lbs 12ozs & was 20 &1/2". And looks almost identical to her sister (who absolutely loves her!)  

My labor was a breeze! Three pushes & she was out! I was to be induced at 7am, but I went in around 1:30am because my contractions were about 8 min apart. I was already dilated to 4cm, & my contractions were never very strong. At 7cm I still was in no pain, but went ahead & got an epidural. The nurse said if I waited too much longer she'd be afraid it would be too late to get one. Had I known it would've only taken 3 pushes, I may have skipped the epidural! They broke my water around 8am & she was born at 2:17pm. 

We got to bring her home on Mothers Day :) 

Its been an adjustment with 2 now... Luckily my mom is here, she has been a huge help! Now that Everly's about 10 days old I'm getting my energy back & she slept from around 10:30pm last night until about 2:30am. I dont feel like such a zombie with a schedule like that! Im sure it'll get easier as time goes on :) And Ill try to be better about posting pics :) 

And one last one...

Reese is on the left & Everly on the right

Thanks as always for looking! 

Kelly :) 

Almost time!

  I had my 39 week dr appt today. They did an ultrasound to estimate how big our baby girl is getting. She is approx 8lbs 13ozs, above 90th percentile so they will go ahead & induce on Friday (they would've done it tomorrow but they were already full for inductions.) But she really doesnt think I'll make it until Friday! She also checked me today & I am dilated between a 3 & 4 & alot lower than last week. 

  Poor baby is so squished in there, she is running out of room. We didnt get very good pictures today because she's so squished. 

 

  You can kind of make out a little face on there. 

And one of my last belly pictures... 

I'm at a grand total of 21lbs, even though I feel a heck of a lot bigger than that! 

I cant believe little Everly will be here soon! Cant wait to hold her :) 

37 weeks

  Hey all! As of right now I am over 37 weeks & counting down the days until miss Everly makes her appearance. 

  I'm pretty sure I've gained all my weight in my tummy this time...20lbs so far... No swelling though like when I had Reese (I gained close to 50 with her!) And my poor ankles & toes... 

This was what my feet looked like with Reese... Yikes! 

   The baby this week is (average) the size of a watermelon. When we had our sonogram about a week ago our baby was approx 6lbs 15oz. So we will do a repeat sono in about a week & a half (she said if Im still pregnant) and see how big she is then. If she is in the 90th percentile I will be induced. 

   My doctor appt this week I was 30% effaced, almost 2 cm dialated, & baby was at a -3 station. 

  Here's a little diagram I found about "stationing." I was never told with Reese what station I was at. -3 station just means the babies head is pushing down on my cervix & causing it to dialate. 

  And a picture of our baby last week.., 

  Its not a great picture, its a picture of a picture, so it's a little blurry... But she looks like Reese in her sonogram picture :) 

  And now... My big belly! (My husband says my belly is bigger this time) 

I wasnt ready for the picture & this is the only one he got... But ya get the idea ;) These were taken on Easter, I was trying to get Reese to come over & get in the picture with me, but that didnt happen! 

I did get a few of her though :) 

Isnt she adorable?!? 

Haha! Dont let her fool ya... I had to bribe her to get her to pose :) 

  Anyway! Ive about got everything wrapped up in the nursery, so I'll be posting pictures of that soon. Ive got two more things I'm waiting on before its complete & they should be here any day. I tell ya... I think I've forgotten how much stuff such a little baby needs! It has been fun buying some new stuff, & its crazy how much things have changed in just 2 &1/2 years since I had Reese. 

  Til next time 💝 

Kelly :) 

  

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 :)