Emerson's Nursery

I'm not one with a keen eye for fancy decorating or anything like that, so as much as I think it would have been fun to imagine a whole room full of unique things, my brain just doesn't work that way. Thankfully bedding sets and matching decorations are sold for people like me. When we found out we were having a boy I knew right way the theme that I wanted for his room and I scoured the internet looking for the perfect bedding and decorations. I was so happy I was able to find exactly what I was wanted. It is perfect, I love every bit of his room and decorations, even if it's not a Hannah original. It's better than anything I could have cooked up on my own.

During the whole pregnancy, especially once I found out we were having a boy, I wanted to get his nursery done. Thankfully we already had blue walls so we didn't need to paint. But I knew there was a lot more to getting a nursery ready than just painting the walls. The Hubs and I decided we would wait until after our baby showers and then, depending on what we got or didn't get, we would order/buy anything we needed to for his nursery. It killed me to wait seven months before we started putting his room together. Yes, we had cleaned it out and moved everything that was previously in the room downstairs but that was about it. I just wanted his room done. 

After our second shower on Saturday January 12, we had pretty much everything we needed for him and his room. There were a few things still missing. So on Sunday after church we went to Target and Babies R Us and made some exchanges and bought the last few things we needed, including the big thing on the list: his crib. Thankfully Babies R Us had the one we wanted in stock and we took it home that day. Hubs spent Sunday afternoon putting the crib together and I washed some of Emerson's new things. 

Late Monday morning, the 14th of January, I had a doctor's appointment. Thankfully I was able to spend the rest of the day finishing working on the nursery. It put my mind at ease knowing it was pretty much all done. It was all I had thought about at school that morning. We had a bed, a fluffy marshmallow rocker, a dresser/changing table, a hamper, a bookshelf, and a little side table. I loved spending Monday giving all of Emerson's things a new home and cleaning his room. 

When Hubs got home that night he was so excited to see Emerson's room all finished. Though there was one minor concern. On one of the walls there were some spots the precious owners had puttied  over. Little white spots that did not look so nice. This really bothered us so we talked about how we could fix it. We talked about painting the wall so it would be an accent wall, but we both knew how we were with picking paint colors and decorating things, horrible. Also, I didn't want to wait for a wall of paint to dry. I wanted Emerson's room to be finished as soon as possible. It needed to be ready for him! Being the genius that I am I remembered I had registered for some adorable wall decals that matched Emerson's bedding. This seemed like the best solution. We would get decorations and have a way to cover up the little spots on the wall. I ordered the decals that night and we both anxiously waited for them to come in the mail. 

Thursday the 17th I came home from school to find the decals on my doorstep. We decided to wait until we had some time on Saturday to put them up. Saturday morning, January 19th, we spent an hour or so cutting out the decals and taping them to the wall to make sure they were in the perfect spot. Once it looked perfect we stuck the stickers to the walls and finished his room. His room was complete. We showed the finished room to Hubs' parents that afternoon and then to some friends on Sunday evening, January 20th, when they were at our house for Small Group.

After our friends went home and I was ready for bed I went into Emerson's nursery, sat in the fluffy marshmallow, hugged my belly, and said, "Ok, Emerson. We are ready for you. You come whenever you want. We can't wait to see you and love you and kiss you and hug you!!"

Six hours later my water broke. Five hours after that I was holding my sweet little Emerson. 

how about that?

Now, with no further delay, let's go on a little tour, shall we?  

This is what you see when you stand in the doorway of his room.

I am in LOVE with his rocker. It is a giant fluffy marshmallow. Seriously. 

We have already spent many nights in the marshmallow rocker. 

the closet... 

we have been blessed and have a stock pile of diapers waiting for him to fill :)

I love how his room looks! It makes me so happy to be in his nursery. 

4 weeks with Emerson

Emerson, 

Four weeks ago today you made your appearance, it is hard to believe it has been that long! In your first four weeks of life you have brought more joy to me than I knew was possible. You are the sweetest little boy ever! I love you so very much! 

I loved you the moment I saw you. 

You will always make my heart dance. 

Some things you have done during these first four weeks of your life are: 

- Sleep. You sleep pretty much all day, which is fine by me because it gives me a chance to catch up on my sleep too. 

- Smile. When I talk to you your face will smile at me, oh how I love your precious little smiles. 

- Make magic - with a pacifier. Sometimes you make your pacifier quiver in your mouth, and then you go right back to sucking away, I love watching you. Sometimes though you are sucking away and then you spit it right out, this makes you pretty darn angry. I try and tell you not to spit it out and then we would all be happy... but I suppose that's something we'll just keep working on :) 

- Use your hands. You use your hands a lot. Sometimes you pat or stroke me, sometimes you pray, sometimes you just chill with your hands up by your head. A few times when you are really hungry and angry because your belly's not being filled you will scratch or hit me with your little hands.... which I think is adorable because your hands are so tiny and you are using them to tell me what you need. 

- Sneeze. Your sneezes are the absolute cutest!! Oh, my goodness gracious! You are too stinkin' cute! 

- Watch things. You have started being more alert this past week and you keep your eyes wide open and we spend hours (or as long as you can keep those little eyes open) gazing into each others eyes. 

- Be a night owl. You have enjoyed being up at night a lot more than I do! I am really trying to stay awake with you, it's just so hard sometimes. We are working on you sleeping more at night and being more awake during the day. And when I say we're working on that I really mean, we pray that you sleep for longer amounts of time during the night so I can get a little sleep. 

- Socialize. You have had so many people come and visit you! You are one popular little guy! Aunties and grandparents and friends have come from all over just to see you. You really are one loved, Emerson. 

It is amazing to watch you grow and change each and every day. I try to cherish each and every one of your days as a wee one because I know they are fleeting. 

I love your face. 

kehehe. I couldn't resist! 

You were dedicated when you were 3 weeks and 6 days old! 

It is our prayer that you grow up knowing, loving, and serving our mighty God. 

I love you so much, Emerson!!!

Maternity Pictures

Remember a while back I said we were going to have some maternity pictures taken? Well, we got some taken over Christmas Break, but I didn't have time to share them because Emerson decided to come one week after getting the pictures back and we were busy doing other things getting ready for his arrival. But I wanted to share a few, even if he is already here. The pictures might be mostly for my sake, but it's part of the pregnancy I didn't get to document on here. I was 32 weeks pregnant when these were taken, just four weeks before Emerson was born! 

I love this man. 

oh, my belly!  

I truly loved this time in our lives. 

 

I kind of miss being pregnant. It was such a special time and I loved knowing Emerson was safe, warm, and well taken care of. 

 

We never thought we would be welcoming our little Gooseberry a short four weeks later! 

We are so happy he is here and are loving every minute with him. 

I hope you all have a delightful weekend! 

happy day of love and hearts

Today is Valentine's day! Though I'm sure you are all aware of that lovely little fact. I get to spend today with my new little Valentine, I couldn't ask for a sweeter Valentine! I think we'll spend the day taking naps, reading a little bit, and doing a little bit of light house work. We won't work too hard though :) Tonight I think we might go out with Hubs for some dinner. I think it's the perfect day!

Speaking of days I'm trying to figure out how to get a little bit of order in mine. I feel like there has been very little structure in my day(s) since Emerson's birth apart from feeding him every three hours. This is fine, but I'm just trying to think of a few other things I could (should) do and when a good time to do them would be. So much to figure out! Any stay at home mommies have suggestions, ideas, or things that work for you? I'm sure we will get into more of a schedule when things return to "normal". "Normal" meaning: I can carrying the laundry baskets full of clothes around the house, people aren't bringing us dinner every night (which I love by the way) and I am having to cook for us again, going to the grocery store, doing other errands, and such. I guess I'm ready to get into a routine of sorts. What it will that will look like I'm just not sure. I'll let you know once (if) I establish a routine of sorts :)

some random thoughts

So, I think our computer just died. That or Hubs did something to it so I wouldn't be able to turn it on. I'm pretty sure he wouldn't do that though. I'm really hoping our computer isn't really dead. I have years worth of pictures on there and don't have the pictures backed up any where else, whoops. Is it ironic that I have been thinking that I need to back those pictures up for a while now... But especially since Emerson was born. We also have other important stuff on there, but right now I'm just thinking about the pictures for some reason :) 

My sister came all the way from Minnesota to visit and help us out for a few days this past week. It was so good to see her! We all enjoyed her visit. Too bad she doesn't live closer... I would share some pictures, but our computer is broken right now.

Emerson went four and a half hours between feelings last night! Holy moly! Granted his Grammy was holding him, but still! I welcome the sleep :) 

We have amazing friends and family! They have helped so much with so many things: bringing meals, holding Baby Boy so we can sleep, cleaning our house, doing laundry, taking Puppy outside because I can't, washing dishes... all kinds of things. We are very blessed! 

Anyhow, dinner is ready (thank you Sarah!) and Emerson is sleeping (for the moment, I bet as soon as I start eating he will wake up to eat .... little stinker....) 

baby shower number two

So, I had put this post together a while ago but for some reason didn't get it posted right away... I think it was because the little guy decided to make an early appearance :)

We have been so blessed by friends and family! Everyone truly showered their love on us and Emerson. Here are a few pictures from the shower the ladies at Hubs' church threw for us. 

Our little family one week before Emerson made his arrival! 

We thought we still had a few weeks to go... 

the lovely hostesses

 
like I said before, we were blessed! 

We got everything we needed and more at the shower. 

Hubs' family

One of my sisters and her daughter were able to come to the shower 

the ADORABLE cake that was made for the special occasion.

props to Lauren for getting the cake :) 

It was too stinkin' cute I didn't want to cut the cake or eat it. 

not only was it adorable, it was also quite tasty :)  

cute little center pieces. Little diaper cakes with different toppers:

 some were trees, bees, owls... 

It was a really beautiful shower and we are so thankful to have such wonderful and thoughtful friends and family. We really did get everything we could have needed and then some at the shower... all just in time too. But more on that later when I share pictures of Emerson's room :) 

our first day(s)

I'm not going to say much today, I'm just going to share some pictures of my sweet little Emerson and our first day(s) at the hospital. 

This is right before Emerson was born. Can you tell he's excited? :)   

Emerson in the nursery... 

look at his little cheeks! I just want to kiss them! (and I do :) 

I love him so much. 

Emerson watching his first UK game with Daddy. I love these two so much.