Baby Shower....

I LOVE baby showers... especially when they are for me.  I had two baby showers. 

My co-workers had one for me at lunchtime and everyone was very generous and thoughtful.  Due to security restrictions at my place of employment, I was unable to take pictures.  :(   

My other baby shower was for ALL my friends and family.  It was on February 16, 2013.   I think there were probably just as many (if not more) people at my baby shower as there were at my wedding!!  I know I invited more!  My SIL and my husband's aunt hosted it and my mom, MIL, and husband's cousin all helped pull it off.  It was, in a word, AMAZING.   I loved everything about it!  I loved the location, the decorations, the food, the chocolate fountain, the cake, the layout and the gifts!!  This was the first event in my life where we registered for gifts and I loved that experience too!!  The ONLY thing about it that I didn't like was that it snowed!!!  A lot of the guests left after the games and food, but before I opened my gifts because they didn't want to get snowed in (I don't blame them!).  

Luckily, I was able to take pictures at this one. ;)  

My husband's aunt made the cake... So cute!!! (and yummy!!)

Here's the chocolate fountain.. and my wonderful SIL.

There were about 298347324987 pictures very similar to this one.. me opening gifts.  I thought one would suffice.  :)

I didn't get many pictures of me with people!!!  This is me with my niece and great-niece.  :)  

My very good (and gorgeous!) friend from high school.. I call her Bean.  

This is me and my mom.. look at all that snow!!!  

And me with my sweetheart SIL. 

We played a few games, not too many.  I originally said I didn't want to have any, but my SIL convinced me and I'm glad we did.  We played the game where people use yarn to estimate how big the tummy is.  We also played a trivia-type game.  There was a list of questions (that I answered ahead of time) and whoever answered the same as me for the most questions won (they were multiple choice questions).  There were questions like "How much do you think the baby will weigh?".  Some of the answers that I picked ended up being waaaay off.  For the weight question the options were 6lbs, 8lbs or 12lbs (I think) and I said 12lbs, because I just knew she was going to be a whopper... she was only 7lbs.  :/   Anyways.... the other game was the one where a tray with baby items is brought around and everyone has to remember as many things as possible and write them down.  (good thing I didn't play that one.. I have a TERRIBLE memory!  I totally would've just listed baby stuff and hope that some of it was on the tray)

All in all, it was a wonderful baby shower and I couldn't have been happier.    

Nursery Decor for a Sweet Lil' Girl

Guess I got a little caught up in the aforementioned projects that I was working on.  Mostly, the human I was creating, I'd say.  TONS to write about!!  Let's start with the nursery.

I finished all the bedding and it was REALLY tedious (the bumper at least).  I could have taken a few shortcuts, but decided against it because I'm too proud and stupid, apparently.  I learned SO much making this stuff.  Before beginning this project, I didn't even know what "bias" was (in the context of fabric/sewing, of course).  So, I made bias tape, the piping to go around the edge of the bumper, the ties (that was the worst part of all!!!), and the "body".  I didn't take any "in-process" photos....whoops.  It turned out okay... somehow a bit shorter than I had measured (and measured and measured), but it works and looks decent.  

Other than the bumper, I made the skirt (easiest part) and the blanket.  I had a little problem when making the blanket because the fabric I had chosen was discontinued!!  Sooo... I had to sew together leftover pieces from the bumper to make one big piece! Instead of a square blanket, as most baby blankets are, this one ended up a rectangle... roughly the size of the mattress.  I made it work (haha..project runway, anyone?).  I figure this way she will have a nice big blanket for when we turn the crib into a day/toddler bed.  

The rest of the nursery came together pretty well.  I love her room.  It took on a bird theme somehow, which turns out to be perfect because she reminds me of a little bird....gaping her mouth open if I come near her, wanting some boobie. :)

Here are some pictures of the finished product:  

The Ties

Check out that piping! :)  

Both the bumper and crib skirt have both fabrics and are reversible.  

I like them to match, but they could be arranged so that each print shows.  My mom bought us the crib from Toys R Us.  It converts to a day bed and then to a full size bed.  It is really good quality.  I highly recommend it.  If you're interested, it can be found here.

Here are some pictures of the nursery: 

My little sweetie's monogram above her closet.

The changing table has been moved so that I can actually use it.  I didn't think I would use a changing table (I thought I'd just change her in her bed...what was I thinking?!).  After I realized that I did need one, I moved it out against the wall to the right in the picture.  My mom had bought the changing table years ago for some extra storage space because it was on sale for so cheap.... I didn't go buy one with no intention of using it.   The white "blob" on the top shelf is a mold of my pregnant body at 8 months (I think).  And there is a quote by Audrey Hepburn in the picture frame with the really bad glare that says "Happy girls are the prettiest.".   

I LOVE the cherry tree decal that I bought from Etsy.  You can find it here.  It came with a TON of flowers.  I was pregnant when I put it up and I got tired of putting them up, but I am definitely going to add more soon. :)

Here is my super comfy rocker.  My MIL got us this rocker from Toys R Us.  I spend A LOT of time in it.  If you're interested, you can find it here.  The pom-pom things hanging from the ceiling are from my baby shower.  I thought it would be something fun to look at while she nurses and they have some sentimental value.  

Well, that's all for the nursery.  I'm always changing things around and searching for new/cute ways of decorating.  If you have any suggestions, please share!!!