This weekend was a pregnant woman’s dream weekend: Fun daytime activities followed by relaxing nights on the couch. Who am I kidding? That’s also my ideal weekend even when I’m not pregnant.
Our Friday night in included pizza from our beloved Brooklyn South and an embarrassing number of episodes of House of Cards. Fellow HoC fans, what do you think about season 3? Ryan likes it way more than I do right now, though it is definitely still holding my interest.
Pure Barre: Pure Madness Challenge
Saturday morning my day began with a Pure Barre class. During the month of March, all Pure Barre studios are encouraging Pure Barre fanatics to go all-in and take the Pure Maddness challenge: 20 classes in 31 days.
I signed up and hope to do my best, but I’m already behind and know it will be hard to catch up! Since I don’t like to double up workouts and teach + take Pure Barre on the same day, it makes Pure Madness a little challenging… But I guess that’s the point of a challenge. I made it to a morning class Saturday, Sunday and today though, so I’ll consider that a victory, especially since my Pure Barre attendance during my first trimester was a little lackluster. I’m definitely going to listen to my body and not beat myself up if the challenge isn’t in the cards, but I figured I should sign up anyway to at least give myself a shot.
After Pure Barre and breakfast, Ryan and I took Sadie on a 40-minute walk around our neighborhood before cleaning up around the house for a few hours. It was much needed! I swear our kitchen was giving me the side-eye for neglecting it for so long. I need to get back into the habit of a quick 10-minute cleaning session each night. (<—A tip I picked up from The Happiness Project!) It makes such a difference.
Bowling + Baby Bump Update
Once we were done cleaning and eating lunch, we had plans to meet up with our friends Chandra and Kevin for some afternoon bowling!
Before we left, I had Ryan snap a quick baby bump picture that I shared on Instagram last night. I am starting to see some bump development/rounding!
Hi, baby!!
I threw a vest on over my shirt before we left the house because I feel like I am officially in the awkward stage of pregnancy where people wouldn’t really know I’m pregnant, but I also don’t look like myself anymore either. Is there a baby in there or just last night’s pizza dinner? (Probably both.)
Our bowling double date with Kevin and Chandra was great!
These two are so much fun and we had an awesome time hanging at the bowling alley for over three hours.
The four of us had to wait about an hour for a lane due to a billion birthday parties, so while the boys went into the arcade to play a bunch of games, Chandra and I chatted over fries, a chicken quesadilla and pretzel bites.
When Kevin and Ryan came back to join us, they gave us their cards with all their arcade points to redeem at the prize counter and Chandra and I returned with candy because candy = The best prize!
I picked up a White Mystery Air Head for Ryan and I’m pretty sure I haven’t seen him that excited in several days. Love that flavor!
We bowled two games and Chandra and I were both a little too pumped when we managed to break 100 during game two. Victory!!
(Side note: I cannot remember the last time I went bowling and we entered in our real names on the score board. We are five years old.)
Sunday
After a morning out and about (Pure Barre + brunch with Ryan in Davidson + a trip to Lowe’s), Ryan and I spent most of our Sunday outside walking with Sadie and inside working on projects around the house.
The nursery is coming along slowly which is just fine with me since my only real goal is to have it mostly done before my tentative baby shower date in June. I have no idea what kind of crib to get or what glider chairs are the most comfortable/practical, so if you have any suggestions, please let me know! I haven’t done any research yet, so I’m an open book.
Now it’s time for me to shower and meet Ryan at the doctor’s office for our 18-week anatomy scan ultrasound!!! Even though we already know the sex of our little one, I’m looking forward to seeing our baby again and hearing the sex confirmed since we found out rather early. I’ll be sure to share the news with you guys this week!
Have a great Monday!
![\"Quantcast\"/](\"//pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-1e3-7hOJ_U8Bg.gif\")
I am 32 weeks pregnant. My suggestion is avoid the Baby R’ Us hype. You can often get great deals on the same cribs at places like Walmart.com or Wayfair. All cribs are the same in terms of safety because of government regulations. Never buy a used crib. After that, it is just personal preference. We choose a crib that converts to a toddler bed. We also skipped the changing table in favor of a dresser with a changing pad on top. As for the glider, I found one that wasn’t too expensive. Kids are hard on furniture. I am a first-time mom, but having a 5-year old step-daughter opened my eyes a bit. 😉 I did hear that Baby R’ Us does a discount on things not purchased off a registry. That might be a plus if you find something you really want or the store is just accessible to friends and family.
You can also find good bedding if you skip all the “sets.” Babies cant have anything in the crib so why buy the whole set ? Just get cute sheets and a bed skirt!
😉
thanks for the tips!!! and i looove wayfair, so i’ll definitely browse their site. 🙂
I’m definitely curious to see what You guys think about HoC this season – I don’t think it was as surprising as season 2, especially the season 2 premier. It was good, but I basically just watched the last few to finish the season not actually because I was hooked on it!
we got this crib for our little girl, and we love it! http://www.walmart.com/ip/Baby-Mod-Modena-3-in-1-Fixed-Side-Crib-Choose-Your-Finish/15529734 It is all wood, very sturdy, beautiful, and very affordable.
thanks for the recommendation!!
I am on the fence about House of Cards season 3, I don’t think it is as good as past seasons but I am still watching. And if I break 100 bowling it is a celebration for sure!
HOC was alright this season. I didn’t love it and I didn’t hate it, so I guess that’s good? Looking forward to seeing what you think.
Looks like a great weekend!
I am 24 weeks pregnant and my advice is order the furniture sooner rather than later! Crib/dresser & glider both had crazy long lead times. We ordered the Tryp chair by Best from Buy Buy Baby and the lead time is 12-14 weeks! Can’t wait for it though because it’s ridiculously comfortable!! Good luck!
I’ll echo that! We found that the brand new crib & crib mattress were stinky for about a week after we set it up. We had to air out the room during that time. After reading a bit it seems pretty common.
I started watching HoC when the last season came out, but by the middle of season 2 I was totally freaked out and had to cut my losses! I think I’ll stick to the stuff I know is good for me (Hart of Dixie, anyone? Plus Parks and Rec re-runs for life!)
Latest post: https://renaissancerunnergirl.wordpress.com/2015/03/06/pbj-baked-oatmeal-cake/
http://m.target.com/p/little-castle-custom-upholstered-crown-linen-bordeaux-reclining-swivel-glider-assorted/-/A-14109936?ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001&AFID=google_pla_df&LNM=14109936&CPNG=Baby&kpid=14109936&LID=9pgs&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=14109936&kpid=14109936&gclid=Cj0KEQjwifWnBRCB5PT57KSVw-kBEiQASV7aRMO9CVTDMjzHS4N-egsbKXAglmaQirpSBL4Sd6eP72EaAnLR8P8HAQ
Best rocker, glider, recliner ever! I’m actually rocking my babe in it now and it’s soooo comfy! We got the Grey one and its beautiful in the nursery! We got a white crib at babies r us which we love and it converts to a toddler then full size bed. Plus babies r us let’s you use the 20% off coupon on them!
My sister got her crib at Costco. She loves it.
My suggestion: look only at cribs that are already set up. All cribs meet regulations, but some are pretty rickety. Shake them, push on them, etc… make sure it is nice and sturdy.
Also, we decided against a glider/rocker and instead got a swivel/rocker/recliner (non-ratcheting). I have slept in that thing so much and it is awesome!
I did a whole series on baby stuff if you want more suggestions!
http://babystepsandmommymoves.com/?s=baby+tips%2Fneeds
Yay baby things!!
My biggest suggestion is get a rocker/glider/chair thing that is SUPER comfy because you’ll be sitting in it a lot, and get it with a matching ottoman/foot stool.
As for a crib, we went with an Ikea one & love it. We’re so glad we didn’t shell out so much $$$ because this one has been great & sturdy & converts to a toddler bed too.
I had a really hard time wity the rocker. The oversized gliders with an ottoman are so nice. I have two littles one and we have definitely gotten our money’s worth!! It was hard to find because they are pricey and often take a really long time to come in :/ if you see one you loved I would say grab it or order it as early as possible! So exciting about the ultrasound, never gets old seeing that sweet baby!! We ordered two cribs online, both shipped really fast, less and a week I think. IKEA has great dressers for kids, not too pricey, cute and lots of storage space.
I was disappointed in the House of Cards season. I was expecting a bit more and it just wasn’t delivering!
I hope your appointment goes well! I have a 9-month old daughter and remember how anxious/excited I was for the anatomy scan- and we weren’t even finding out the sex.
We have the KACY Collection Morgan Nursery Swivel Glider from Babies R Us and love it! It is super comfy and swivels 360 degrees, which is quite helpful when you’re trying to get up from the chair and put a sleeping baby in the crib without waking him/her.
I would just definitely recommend getting nursery furniture that can grow with your little one, like a changing table that can be converted into a dresser….or just find a dresser you love and secure a topper on the back and side.
Also, definitely be sure to test out a rocker versus a glider….seriously, a whole slew of my pregnant friends would end up getting nauseous after sitting on a glider too long. I ended up getting a big comfy chair that also is a rocker…it’s lasted me through 3 babies 😉
Re: Nursery recommendations… I think all cribs they sell now are safe (just don’t buy a used one that has a drop side or the slats are too wide).
The one thing I think is a must if you’re nursing is a footstool! I have the gliding ottoman that came with my glider and it annoys the heck outta me! It is much more comfortable to nurse with a footstool that doesn’t move 😉
Looking forward to reading if it’s a boy or girl!!!
I recommend a leather chair for a “glider.” After my first and a move, the amount of spit-up that seeped through our chair was disgusting (sorry TMI). It’s like the hardwood/carpet debate people have. You never know what will stick around and go unseen in a cloth chair! But if you have to do cloth, make sure it’s got a washable cover at least!
I agree with the crib comments on not spending a TON of money on one. I am sure they are all safe when bought new. I love the dark wood, convertible 3 in 1 we got for our daughter from Target. It has bite marks all over the crib railing already which I think that’s inevitable so I am glad we got one that will grow with her, so she will always have her bite marked bed haha Good luck on choosing, putting together the nursery was SO much fun!!
We got our crib at Target, but at three months old he has only napped in it! Make sure to think about getting a bassinet for your room, because it has saved my sanity! I don’t have to get up and walk all the way to his room every time he wakes up to eat (which is every two hours still!) He doesn’t have time to wake up fully before I can get up and feed him, so it is much easier to get him back to sleep. We got a hand-me-down bassinet, but I would totally splurge on the co-sleepers by Arms Reach if I could do it over. I would use it for him and future babes and would be worth the cost. Sometimes all he needs to go back to sleep is a quick pat or putting the pacifier back in, so it would be nice to be able to easily reach him!
I bought a beautiful iron crib from Bratt Decor, and it is well built, sturdy, and really pretty, but I’ll be the first to admit my 5 month old has yet to sleep in it for longer than an hour and a half! Ha! Instead she snoozes much more soundly in her Fisher Price rock and play! I also second the suggestions about just using a dresser with a changing pad as opposed to an actual changing table.
I would suggest to not get a convertible crib if you think you might have a second child relatively soon after. The second kid will need the crib! Kids are only small enough for a toddler bed for a very short amount of time so I have always opted for a simple twin bed with bed rail or just a mattress on the floor to transition to.
I got a fairly cheap convertible crib/toddler bed off amazon and it’s lasted me through 18 months with my son so far, and my newborn will move into it when he’s done sleeping in his bassinet. As long as there are no moving parts and it’s new there isn’t much to worry about, the mattress is way more important — it should be waterproof and comfortable but really supportive. As for a glider, I got mine used from a neighbor and I love it. I wouldn’t spend a ton on a glider because if you’re going to nurse or bottle feed in it, it’s going to get thrown up on fairly frequently. I’ll probably have to replace mine soon, but since I spent $10 on it I’m ok with that…
Haha that sounds like my ideal weekend too!
I am 31 weeks pregnant with a boy. We started the nursery a little later than most at 24 weeks. We got the Larkin crib in gray from PBK. It is convertible and is very nice, sturdy, etc. My grandmother fortunately purchased it for us, otherwise I’m not sure I would’ve spent the money. We also have the Graham Glider from West Elm. Planning to keep it a long time and it will look nice in our living room later.
We went with the dresser for a changing table. Also from PBK in gray. Matches the crib. Again, family purchase.
Congrats again!
Congrats on the little one! I have one piece of advice for rockers – a comfy one that (this is the important part) has a back that is tall enough to rest your head against! The one that was the prettiest was a lower back and I was hesitant to go with the taller back but it was definitely a good move. As for ottomans, I opted for one that reclines which I’m super happy with because 1) its way easier to lay back and snooze in for you and 2) it’s a little more affordablet than a seperste ottoman. I chose a Best chair ans I can’t recommend it enough. Do you have a Buy Buy Baby near you? They carry Best and have a great selection that you can test out. Go with a high back!
I can see where you are coming from Julie w/ season 3 of House of Cards. It does start off a little slow. I would just say keep watching because it definitely heats up! I have very little control so I already watched the entire season. So much for delayed gratification 🙂 The final episode is sooo good!
A Canadian company called Dutailier is the top of the line in the glider world. You can go basic wood glider up to custom upholstered glider/recliner. I recommend going for one that will be supportive when you have baby and NOT what is most comfy to your weary pregnant body. Needs to be upright, supportive, etc.
We had issues getting a custom upholstered glider to show up on time and ended up buying one last minute from Land of Nod (highly recommended).
I’m 22 weeks pregnant and we just bought our nursery furniture this weekend. We went with buy buy baby and they let you use 20% off coupons on each item if you have them-even expired ones for bed bath beyond. Highly recommend! They are so helpful and there was enough choices in store, if I kept looking other places I would have been overwhelmed. Happy shopping!
Congrats! I have a 7 month old and can honestly you are about the begin the greatest adventure. I agree about sitting in nursery chairs because you will spend a lot of time in it and comfort is key! We bought the wingback rocker from pottery barn kids. I have loooooved the wingback feature because it gives me a place to rest my head when doing middle of the night feedings. We got the rocker instead of the glider because they have a kit where you can change the rocker legs out for regular chair legs. We figured it would prolong the life of the chair.
We got our crib from Pottery Barn Kids. Its the Kendall crib and was on sale for a decent price. We love it! Have fun shopping 🙂
We went to PB kids on Charlotte to buy our swivel rocker glider , larkin crib, and Gilmore dresser. We absolutely loved the service and are extremely happy with the quality of our purchase. The bed converts to a full size bed later on. The glider is so comfortable. You definitely want to test out your glider/sit in a lot of them bc you’ll be spending a great deal of time rocking, feeding, and napping in it!!! My IG account has pics of our nursery and so does the baby account I_heart_babykale.
They even do white glove delivery, set up and clean up everything for you. No hassle and wonderful customer service. Ill be purchasing any other furniture we might need in teh future here.
I don’t have any crib advice, but I see tons of good suggestions in the comments. That’s interesting about House of Cards 3. I have only watched season 1 so far. Looks like a fun weekend!
Buying a rocker/glider really comes down to personal preference. Just make sure you find it super comfortable because you will likely be spending hours in it. Also it is likely to get spit up on it, so make sure the fabric is stain resistant, or you have a cover on it. I would also recommend wiggling/shaking the display cribs at the store. They may meet safety standards, but many of them seem flimsy and rickety.
Hi! I’m a new reader of your blog and love it so far! Congrats on your little one 🙂 My husband and I had our first baby this past July and we absolutely love this glider and ottoman from babies r’ us! http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=55062796&cp=2255957.2273443.2256245.50629046.50628856.50628876&parentPage=family
There are a ton of fabric options to have it upholstered in too!
Julie this is a bit off topic but look to register for baby showers on Amazon.com. I did and your selection is so vast and you can get so many more cute things plus it’s easy for people to ship you things (free with prime). You also get a few months free when you register I think with Prime Baby. I got my crib and nursery set from there too and they always have great customer service! :0)
I had a baby last August, and I believe the statistic is most babies are born between July-September. I feel the closer we got to our due date (within reason of course!) more and more items went on sale.
We started out with an heirloom bassinet, that baby maybe used all of 4 nights. After that it was all Rock n Play, which we loved. I honestly feel all new parents need one! I got it for free when Target was running a special on the fischer price swing we were registered for, so watch for deals (I believe we had the option of a free RnP or bouncer w the purchase of the specific swing). Our daughter had mild reflux and loved sleeping on an incline, and seemed quite cozy, plus I loved being able to easily move it from room to room with me. And while they’re small it travels a heck of a lot easier than a Pack n Play. Crib – we went with a Delta crib from Target, again you can get a good deal if you’re patient, and 5% off with Target RedCard. As for nursery chair, my husband bought a big leather recliner from a regular furniture store. I’ve loved it and appreciate that we can still use it after we’re done w babies. And leather is essential 😉
I can’t count the number of nights I sent my husband to Brooklyn South Pizza when I was pregnant this past summer and it was too hot to cook. One time he decided to walk there and back. He only did that once bc I fussed about him taking too long. Poor guy 😉
Hi Julie! Congratulations on the exciting news! I have a two and a half year old and am due with #2 in May. One of my top suggestions for other new parents is to get a super comfy recliner that also rocks for the nursery. We found one on clearance at a regular furniture store and saved $100+ dollars by not getting something marketed specifically as “baby.” I swear that doubles the price. It was perfect for rocking our daughter to sleep, then kicking up the recliner and napping with her 🙂 I even slept on it the first couple of nights we had her in the crib because, hello, neurotic new mom. We are moving that sucker over into the new nursery, too, so we’re definitely getting our money’s worth. Good luck and have fun preparing for your little one!