The Maternity Series: 33 Weeks

Outfit details: Dress: Boston Proper (I found it at a garage sale for $1!) // White Sports Tank: Target  // Belt: Old thrift store find  //  Bracelet: Score from Brickyard Buffalo

I love the fact that we've created this space... this virtual memory box of my kids growing up. The way they've changed, photos that prove how long their hair grows and the occasional video with their cute little voices that seem to evolve into something deeper and older each month.

Now that we don't live near much of our family, it's a great way to keep them updated and I'm reminded of this fact when we get a call or an email mentioning a certain photo and "watching" the kids grow up online. Or when we visit back home and see photos that we've posted here that have been printed out and framed, lining tables around the grandparents house.

Though I've been a little behind in posting these Maternity Series photos in this space, and it's not necessarily easy to remember to carve out time each week to take these photos, I'm blessed to be able to watch our third little one grow already. Our little bunny is certainly well loved from our home here, snuggled into the gulf coast, he's loved from the cooler temps and green landscapes of "the mitten," and we know there are so many hugs and kisses already being sent from so many other cities around the country.

So, today, I'm feeling grateful for friends and family near and far. For those in my life, who are around no matter what... and no matter how many miles may separate us. And I'm grateful for the way we can all stay connected, feeling closer than ever though we may physically be further apart. I'm grateful for the friends I've "met" here, in this vast online world, for those that have watched my kids grow and for the kind words that seem to make our days that much sweeter. Today I'm just feeling grateful, grateful to rub this big, growing belly, smiling knowingly at what's to come.

What are you grateful for today?

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Life Lately, in iPhone Photos

These photos were originally posted on Instagram.  If you want to find me, I'm on Instagram as TabithaBlue and would love to "meet" you!

Welcome to our tradition here on Fresh Mommy Blog... on Wednesdays, when I try to be wordless, which doesn't always happen, I'm just going to dump the previous week's photos from my phone. Welcome to Hump Day Dump, we'd love to have you join, whether it's one photo or many, phone pics or camera pics, wordless or not! So just grab a photo and link up with us! You can grab my button from the sidebar, but it's not required. If you'd like to connect with some other great Wordless Wednesday participants, just click here or on one the thumbnails below. Don't forget to link up below!

      

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Master Bedroom + Nursery Nook Inspiration Board

1. Babyletto Convertible Crib  /  2. Adorable personalized mobile from Pink Cheek Studios  /  3. Gold Knit Toss Pillow  /  4. Organic Cotton Pintuck Duvet  /  5. Desk Lamp  /  6. Tufted Gray Bench  /  7. Room accessories like this colorful glass lamp, gold letters, Sweetleaf Baby Nursery Mist, Sweet Heavenly Molasses print  /  8. Andelusia Wool Rug  /  9. BlaBla Cloth Doll  /  10. Nurseryworks Sleepytime Rocker  /  11. Gray Knit Pouf  /  12. Zig Zag Changing Pad Cover  /  13. Soft White Baskets  /  

14. Expedit Shelving

We're getting down to the wire with Peanut #3, and so I thought I'd share the inspiration behind our shared master bedroom and nursery nook that is just now beginning to come together. Since we decided against a separate nursery for the time being, and our babies tend to stay in our room for a good few months in the beginning anyway, we're calling this space a nursery nook... and wanted to keep the look soothing and comfortably sophisticated for our master bedroom, without sacrificing function or the bit of whimsy we wanted to add.

If you're wondering, I haven't really started with putting any of this together yet, besides clearing out the dresser for the bunny's things and subsequently cleaning out and weeding through our entire closet. There's also one other small project completed for our updated space, and that's our bedside tables. I had an idea in my mind for these simple and sleek white lacquer tables and couldn't find them anywhere, although I did find a few similar styles for a very high price tag. Because I already have a list of items that I'd like to purchase, I just couldn't justify spending a large amount on nightstands and decided that we'd make them. You know, because I'm sure my hubby would be more than happy to help... then another idea came that happened to save money and the dimensions fit perfectly in the space we have! We purchased two square Expedit shelving units from Ikea, and built them using only the top and two sides, giving us the sleek design of the nightstand table I was hoping for (see photo above)!

So now, I just have to put together some art for the walls, figure out which of these items from our dreamboard I can score (or find another similar piece) and put together before baby arrives! We are getting close to go time – only five weeks left (even though I'm a little behind in posting our weekly series) – and I'm anxious to get the details all worked out while waiting for the "end-of-pregnancy" energy to kick in and help a mama out.

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The Maternity Series: 32 Weeks

Outfit details: Yellow Dot Swimsuit: Rey Swimwear  // Skirt: Old shawl I've always used as a skirt   // Hat: Bebe

Today I sat at an outdoor picnic table tucked between the walls of her cafeteria at school and the path that leads to the playground and grassy fields that make up her outdoor PE class. Just my girl and I, settled into the rays of sunshine as they trickled in on us and the few other tables reserved for "special lunch dates".  It was our time, between the waves of her classmates through the glass as they'd walk by or the birds chirping from the few trees nestled around us... and I couldn't help but see how much she still needed me, and yet how independent of me she is already becoming.

This week we again visited a nearby splash park with our newly potty trained little Brayden and I just sat back and smiled as he ran in his "big-boy" swimsuit and diaperless, through the downspouts and trickling water, between the dumping buckets and around the slippery slide... not needing me, not needing anyone to guide him. He was unafraid and happy, leaving the timidity of last year at that very same place behind in one fell swoop.

Our babies, they grow. And as much fun as it is to watch them grow into their personalities and spread their wings, it also leaves behind this little empty place where their need for you begins to slowly fade from complete reliance to moments of asking for more, and moments of wanting... needing less.

With one more on the way, I'm already learning to balance his needs (because at this point, baby bunny is already asking for mama's attention) with the needs of my other two and I'm realizing that they are naturally merging to a place of more independence.

This crazy, beautiful thing called motherhood, it's breathtaking, and it hurts. It's the wonderfully terrifying, and it's the growing pains that every mother faces... right there alongside her children.

As I go through the cravings and growing stages that this littlest new one is giving me, I can't wait to hold him in the crook of my arm, his soft, squishy skin against my own... and yet I know, his total dependence on me will only last so long. Thus goes the cycle of life, and the reminder to enjoy each and every stage, each and every moment, before we arrive at a new one.

Because new stages, they do come.

Wishing a very Happy Mother's Day this weekend to all of you beautiful souls living this crazy beautiful life of motherhood!

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