22 week quickie. Plus some nursery items!

I don't have too much of a baby Helen update today (no appointments since our last) other than to say she seems like a really active little girl. I feel her movements stronger each day- mostly at my desk at work and the moment I hit the couch to watch tv at night. Sie has felt a few of her movements which has been so cool! She might be a touch ornery though- everytime she's moving up a storm and I try to get Sie to feel - she completely stops! haha. Or does that happen to everyone?

We're now officially 22 weeks along - a FULL five months down with only four to go. Amazing but kind of SCARY. even scarier? Two of those remaining four months are November and December which always fly right by. She's really going to be here before we know it and I just cannot wait to meet her.

Big steps... In the past few weeks, we've gotten all the big pieces ordered for her room (relieving to check off the list!) I've also moved on from the expecting part to the baby part of my parenting books. I just reached the breast feeding portion of the baby & child book and find it quite useful for grossing out both Sie & my brothers. :) haha I'm sure that will change but right now I think it's still quite shocking to see up close and personal!! (plus they have some pretty graphic pictures!)

For her nursery (our former den) - we've gotten the big pieces ordered and are planning to accessorize/decorate from there, once we see how it's all coming together in the room. I don't want there to be too much furniture (it's a fairly small room) so we're waiting to decide on other pieces for now (like a glider chair).

My favorite things so far:

Her crib! which converts into a toddler bed, then beautifully into a headboard for a full size mattress. I love that this piece of furniture will be in her life for many years to come... that it will be part of her memories of her bedroom for all her life and remind her of her childhood.

Her bedding. I'll confess I really love the bedding. It's subtle and sweet and feminine. We decided the cherry blossom motif would be perfect and sentimental for our spring baby born in DC (when the cherry blossoms here are in bloom!).

Here is a picture with the crib, bedding and dresser/changing table (also purchased) together.

We also have a tall/narrow dresser for her clothes (I think the changing table will mostly house burp cloths/diapers/ and other functional things) which Sie's great grandfather made and we recently antiqued ourselves. It turned out really well (kind of a light khaki color) and I think will go great in the room.

I'm torn on the paint. Since the furniture is mostly antique white, I think I'd like a very pale pink on the wall (they are currently cream) just so that everything does not blend into the walls. I think we'll probably go more neutral with the rug than the picture above. Something khaki colored perhaps- and durable. (since we do have a golden retriever and a tinkerbell to keep in mind!)

We have one window in the room, which actually goes out to a skylight area. Since we live in a row house, the center of the house would normally have no natural light (and you find many are very dark) but ours has a skylight that goes from 4th floor to basement and gives the center rooms some of that natural sunlight. Because that's the only natural light- we've gotten some pale pink "roman shades" which will I'm sure usually be open except in the early mornings if we're trying to keep her room nice and dark.

For her first months on earth, she'll sleep in our room. My mom & dad wanted to buy an heirloom piece of sorts- something my brothers and I could use when we have children and someday pass down for our children to use as well. A Selman heirloom :) I really liked the idea of starting a new family tradition. and we loooove what they chose (ok, I'll admit I weighed in!) It's beautiful and will be so nice having her bedside for those middle of the night feedings. (ignore all that other junk in the room! haha we're still in process of selling all the existing "den" items and transitioning into full on nursery)

Sie & I did order her baby book - our anniversary present to Helen and to eachother. I can't wait to see it in person.

Also, as my recent facebook posts undoubtedly indicate - i've been very emotional! Recently I ordered some pretty newborn bows which I hope to use in her newborn photos and of course sobbed upon their arrival. SOBBED. hahaha! Jumbled explanation to Sie included something along the lines of "I just love her so much alreeeeady." Oh hormones. Thank you for bringing that extra notch of crazy to the table :) Just what I needed!

I need to take a new baby bump picture. I am full on showing now. This week I definitely started sporting maternity pants to work too. (I found a pair on clearance at Ross! who knew?) And fully intend to wear these to death to work. My work is pretty extreme formal dress (men wear ties/jackets) so I was truly dreading purchasing a suit. For now I seem to be able to wear these pants (black with small pinstripes) and my regular jackets. We'll see how long that lasts. In non-work clothes- as an early birthday present, my mom got me jeans & corduroys (the latter will also be ok for work too) - and I'm in LOVE with them. they feel so great on and look cute too. My friend Amy said it best- all women deserve a pair of these just to wear to eat mexican food! ha!

That's all for now. I think I'll start blogging a little more frequently because I haven't gotten a pregnancy journal yet and it's a nice way to document how I was feeling/what I was thinking along the way!

Have a great week!