Hello and happy Friday of the long weekend!
Nesting is happening, but in random spurts. Most of the time I’m just thinking about how annoying the clutter/mess is and then doing absolutely nothing about it. Don’t you wish it was the man who got the nesting urge? I sure do! When I feel inspired, I’m organizing random drawers/spaces and generally eying every room in the house for how I can de-junk it. Nothing is safe! Or should I say, no one is safe either. The other day Eric came in the office to find me clearing off his desk. He was like, “Ange, control yourself!” hah. I just can’t help myself sometimes…I’m driving that poor man cra-zay.
I guess you could say I was nesting the nursery though. This week I wrapped up many of the nursery projects I’ve been working on dragging out. Designing this nursery is by far the most challenging home-related project I’ve ever taken on. Picking colour schemes, layout, and decor stuff doesn’t come naturally to me, but seeing this room finally come together gives me hope that I can do other rooms in the future. And it was actually fun!
Initially, I was pulled in two opposing directions for this room – bright and bold vs. airy and tranquil. In the end I went with airy and tranquil using a white, soft pink, and gray colour scheme. I know we’ll have many options for bright and bold rooms in the future, so for now this seems like a nice fit.
I’m going to do a full nursery tour in the coming weeks, but I thought I’d show you a few progress pics –
Here is the room after ripping out old carpet, installing hardwood, and priming:
and here is a sneak peek of the room now:
I did quite a few DIY projects and re-purposed old household items to save some money. I found some old antique frames from Goodwill, removed the glass, and then painted the frames with chalk paint. We secured the frames to the wall with hooks plus mounting tape so they aren’t going anywhere. I’m going to put baby’s first initial in the middle picture frame (I might order a letter print from Etsy or just paint a wooden letter from Michaels). It looks like this will probably have to wait until after the birth because we don’t have a name picked yet!
The most challenging DIY was this chevron pattern I painted on my white lamp shade (below). Here is a mid-way photo. The project seemed easy enough, but getting the pattern even was a big challenge and it took me a while to get a system down. In the end, I’m really happy with how it turned out! And since I used an old lamp it was much cheaper than buying a new one with a fancy patterned shade. I’m debating whether I’m going to add a small fabric trim on the top and bottom.
I also painted the wooden “dream” block pink (it was originally antique white, purchased from Winners). Eric spray-painted the bird cage (it was green before) and this Ikea UNG Drill mirror white. <— total Ikea hacker wannabees over here!
Anyway, a nursery tour to come later on!
Symptoms: After baby dropped a week ago, my right rib pain almost completely went away. It’s been amazing! The rib pain seems to have been replaced with lower pelvic pain, although it’s not too bad yet. Sometimes it feels like I’m walking around with a bowling ball between my legs. She feels so heavy in there! Aside from the pregnancy insomnia and sporadic pelvic pain/contractions, I’m feeling great. What a change from those 2 months when I was in so much pain and could barely walk or bend over.
Weekly OB appointment: I had my weekly appointment and he said my belly is measuring right where it should be and baby’s heartbeat is great. She’s head down and seems to be getting ready for her entrance into this world. My OB doesn’t check the cervix until 38 or 39 weeks along, so I won’t know details on dilation, effacement, etc. until then.
Days until due date: 24
Days left of kitchen renovation: It’s hard to say since there have been so many delays and issues, but I’m hopeful the majority of it will be wrapped up by Sept. 8th. Not much longer to go now!!
Appointments left: 3 OB appointments, 1 doula appointment, 1 lactation consultation, 1 car seat inspection. Good times!
Still in the box: Car seat, infant fold up bathtub, Mamaroo.
Baby names: We’re still very much undecided. We’ve been looking at our baby name book this week to see if anything else sparks our interest. I concluded last night that reading baby name books is similar to testing perfumes in a department store. You can only do so much before becoming desensitized! After that, I need to take a break and let the names sink in a bit. We want something easy to pronounce, spell, and a name that is special to us without being too “out there” or wacky. Oh and we want to like the nickname. There’s so much that goes into it! I’m sure we will know once we see her.
Innie or outie: It’s not an outie, but I wouldn’t say it’s an innie anymore. I’d say it’s almost completely flat against my stomach.
Maternity clothes: Still living in my Old Navy maternity tees (my fav) and my non-maternity Lululemon shorts and crops. The only problem is that my maternity tees don’t cover my entire belly anymore. Thanks hubby for pointing this out. So now I just hike up my shorts a bit higher and go on living my life in denial, blaming the washing machine for shrinking my tees! The nerve. When I’m feeling motivated to dress nice, I’m loving summery dresses lately. Anything light and breezy feels awesome right now!
Eating: Anything water-packed. I’m seriously eating my weight in cucumbers, tomatoes, red peppers, and veggie cocktail drinks (I love Lakewood brand – organic and cold-pressed veggie juice). I chop up veggies, arrange them on a huge plate, and pour on my fav lemon-tahini dressing and Herbamare. I only wish my stomach could fit more in there – I get full so quickly these days. Other must-have cravings of late: cashew-cheese kale chips (my current fav. way to get in kale), blueberry banana hemp protein smoothie (see here for the recipe), grilled tofu peanut bowls (a reno fav), plums, and salsa and chips. As for healthy fats, I usually enjoy the following each day: 2 tbsp chia seeds, 4 tbsp hemp hearts, 1 tbsp virgin coconut oil, and 1-2 teaspoons algae oil (for DHA). Avocado too. Love my healthy fats!
Current projects: Aside from finishing the nursery, I’ve been putting together a video documenting the pregnancy. We’ve been shooting short video clips of belly shots, nursery stuff, and other baby-related things here and there and I’m compiling everything in Windows Movie Maker. I’m hoping to record Eric on guitar and use that for the background music. It’s been such a fun project and I think it will be a nice keepsake.
Last maternity item purchased: 2 nursing tanks from Target – great price and they seem quite comfy/practical. They are already packed in my hospital bag and ready to go.
Looking forward to: The moment baby is placed in my arms for the first time. Seeing baby and her daddy snuggle for the first time. Kissing those tiny baby feet that have been poking me all these months!
Energy levels: My energy levels vary a lot by the day. It really depends on how much sleep I had the night before. Some days I feel awesome and like I could be pregnant forever, and other days I’m dragging my butt and can’t stop yawning. However, compared to the nausea and extreme fatigue of the 1st trimester and the shooting pains of the second/early third trimester, I’d say the past 1-1.5 months have been the best so far! It’s all relative I suppose.
Last baby item purchased: Eric bought the baby some pink, white, and blue Toronto Maple Leaf onesies for the upcoming “hockey season” lol. The other night he said, “I’m so excited to watch hockey games with our baby!” So cute.
Hospital bag: Almost all packed! Thanks for your suggestions last week. Plus, I learned a new word – padsicles! I don’t know whether to be amused or scared…
Wishing you the happiest of long weekends!
Beautiful job on the nursery! I’m also preparing (ahem…putting-off preparing) a nursery right now and we have similar styles. Please tell us more about the pom poms! I’ve been looking to start this project and I can’t seem to find the perfect online tutorial. Thanks so much!
Thanks Tamara!
I ordered the poms from a Canadian Etsy shop in Ottawa: https://www.etsy.com/shop/pomtree?ref=l2-shopheader-name
I ordered a bunch for my baby shower and then just repurposed a few for the nursery. I love them!
The baby room is gorgeous. One note of caution, the picture on the wall, lower picture with the pink booties. I made the mistake of thumb tacking a stuffed animal to my sons wall, before I knew it, he was old enough to stand and he pulled it down…sure nuff, when I was feeding him, there was a blue something stuck to his gums..it was the tack I had fastened the stuff animal to the wall with…Don’t know if the picture is high enough that upon standing your little might be able to pull it down. Those are the little things you say OMG OMG and of course God is watching. I was able to pull the tack out from his gums and all was fine. Yup OMG OMG…
ah that’s scary! Glad he was ok. We actually secured the shoes with mounting tape…haha.
Padsicles! I had almost forgotten (my youngest turns 10 on Monday and, no, it wasn’t Labour Day that year). Not to worry and don’t be scared. They’ll be heavenly for the couple of days you need them.
You look incredible! I love that first picture of you – stunning, and such a pretty dress. The most incredible moment is when the baby is put on your chest that first time. You will never want her to leave that spot! (until they meconium poo all over you…)
Enjoy these last few weeks of pregnancy! And cherish those newborn moments, they will be over before you know it.
I echo this comment – you look very gorgeous in that first pic, and also motherly/nurturing :) Your baby will be very lucky to have the 2 of you as parents! Thanks again for keeping us all in the loop along your journey! Best of luck these last few weeks before the wee little one arrives! :)
By the way – do you mind sharing where you got that dress? It looks great on you!
Thank you both so much!
The dress is a maternity dress from ASOS. Hope this helps!
Just a warning – it’s not a very thick material so I found I needed a nude slip underneath.
Good to know – thanks! :)
You look beautiful and glowing. Good luck in the weeks ahead till you hold your daughter on the outside. My boys are men now, but they each have names -first and/or second- that have meaning to our extended family. I like that.
You look beautiful, and so does your nursery! What a lucky baby girl- love the hockey onesies!
You did a fantastic job decorating! It looks wonderful!
You look so gorgeous and absolutely glowing! And I’m in love with the nursery. DIY projects are always the way to go. It’s amazing how much you can save by perusing thrift stores here and there for certain decor/furniture pieces and taking on a project yourself.
Your nursery is amazing!!
Padsicles are seriously the best thing ever, don’t be scared, they are wonderful for the swollen bits and pain! Makes it all go away :) oh and so glad you got nursing tanks! I’d say forget the nursing bra for the hospital, tanks are so so much more comfy for those newly swelling and nursed on boobies. Best of luck, you’re going to do wonderfully!! Thanks for sharing your journey!
That is the prettiest baby’s room I’ve ever seen! Well done, mama! (and papa)
Not gonna lie, I totes just showed this nursery photo to my husband and said “I know its a nursery but can we make our bedroom look this calming?”. The nursery is so beautiful!
Fingers crossed for your kitchen reno to be completed stat!
haha that’s hilarious! I love calming rooms. :) I figure this is the last time I’ll probably have a “say” in our child’s decor…hehe.
Love the nursery, Ange. It;s so serene and beautiful. I cannot wait to see pictures of your beautiful baby girl. :) Hugs.
You look wonderful, I love that dress you’re wearing! :) The nursery looks great!
You look gorgeous in that photo. Love the dress!
As much as I love bright colors, I think you made the right choice with the light and whimsical nursery. I love the DIY lampshade, and the white furniture looks beautiful against the dark wood floors. I wish my husband and I were more creative and did more DIY projects in our nursery; we did a few things (art, mostly), but we forked over a pretty penny for the furniture, unfortunately. Oh well, at least it’s the convertible kind and will hopefully last years.
Good luck in your next few weeks! (And thanks for linking to those nursing tanks; I’m about to order myself a couple, too.)
I know this is very random, but when I saw the picture of that beautiful room the name Penelope (or Penny) just popped into my head! I can’t wait to find out what you name her! Good luck with everything.
Penelope is such a pretty name :)
Ahhh…the baby name game. With our first daughter, we had exactly the same issue. We wanted a name that was not too common…sorry to all the Isabella’s and Kaitlyns out there, but we wanted at least a chance that our girl would not share the same first name as three other girls in her first daycare class…and we didn’t want anything too weird and absolutely not made up. We finally settled on Sabrina Kylie and have never regretted the decision. Second daughter was easier…we picked three top names we liked, Madelyn, Olivia and Lydia and let Sabrina choose. So our little one is Madelyn Grace. Whatever you choose will be perfect for your precious baby girl. It will just come to you!
I was so excited to see the finished nursery because we are planning to use the same color scheme for ours! It looks absolutely wonderful :)
We just spent a half hour at the store trying to pick the perfect tan for the walls – do you happen to know which color you used?
Hey Ashley!
Thank you :) We used Barren Plain by Benjamin Moore: http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/barrenplain
Have fun decorating!
I love your nursery so far! It’s so pretty, but still cozy-looking, too! I think decorating kids’ rooms is more fun than anywhere else in the house… sort of like how it’s so much more fun to dress babies than it is to dress one’s self, lol.
Also, I had to laugh at your mention of “padsicles”. I never used such thing with my first, but I did find the numbing spray, Dermoplast, to be a real lifesaver! I see those padsicles all over Pinterest though and I have to say I’m intrigued!
Thanks Nicole!
numbing spray….I’m intrigued…haha.
Hi Angela, you look great and your outfit in this foto is super! I also love your nursery, it’s heaven. I was really astonished that you painted that lamp yourself. I woud leave it as it is because it’s perfect! You should be very content because you did a great job.
I haven’t been on your blog for a while now (been in a vegan rut) and it is so exciting to see how much your belly has grown. I’m trying to catch up with everything you wrote in the last couple of months, but I have begon with your 35 weeks and 36 weeks blog. So happy to read that you have packed your back! Don’t forget the snacks and the grooming products / make up. If I would have read your blog earlier those things would have been my advice to, because those were the things I didn’t think of when I had to deliver and that was a bummer. Make sure you have everything you need to make yourself as comfortable as possible (if that’s the term we can use when it comes to giving birth :D LOL).
Thanks Nina :) I’m glad to see you back!
I have to laugh at the padsicles. I ended up with a c-section after 2 1/2 hours of pushing, but had so much swelling I needed those anyway. (My mom had the same problem with me… Something about how our hips are made) Anyway, I loved labor and can’t wait to hopefully get to do it again someday. I know that sounds weird, but I did truly love it. It’s beautiful and messy and empowering and embarrassing and a completely incredible experience. I hope you have an amazing experience.
I so agree! I needed the padsicles–the nurses taught me how to make them with diapers!–but labor was amazing. One of the most powerful, transformative, painful, amazing, and awkwardly beautiful experiences of my life!
Your blog makes me happy.
I used to babysit a little girl. Her name is Leora. It means “my light.” When you said you’ve been looking through your baby name books, that’s the name that came to my mind…. This blog gave me clarity about my daily food choices. It has been “my light,” as I’m sure it has been for many others. So… Leora… just a suggestion.
What a beautiful space for your little girl! Looks like you are almost ready for her arrival! Now for the kitchen to be finished so you can prep meals and make lactation cookies these last few weeks. Here’s to some good nights of sleep before she comes :)
You look beautiful Angela, and so does the nursery! I remember those last few weeks; terrified that I wasn’t ready, and frustrated that I had to wait. Our visiting nurse told me to take every opportunity to rest with baby in arms because absolutely NOTHING is as important as your health and bonding with that sweet little one.
Nursing her will be absolutely the best when it comes to bonding time, even when you can’t remember the last time you were able to take more than a 3 minute shower or shave your legs!
Seriously though, take lots of quiet and meditation time these last few weeks and ENJOY!!
You look fabulous! I’m so glad your kitchen reno is nearing an end. My husband and I are planning one for next summer… When our baby girl will be 1.5 yrs. I am excited for the finished product, but dreading losing a kitchen. I figure a summer reno is better when we have our CSA veggies and BBQ…. Haha or so I say now! I’m eager to see photos of your kitchen!
I am loving your book, and have bought it for 3 other people as gifts, and raved about it so much that two other friends bought it too! I just gave it to my girlfriend for her bday yesterday and she was sooo excited! I had hoped to tag my favourite recipes for her, but I’m travelling solo with my daughter, and she is not cooperating, so the book was given untagged :) I am eager to hear if she likes th recipes!!
Hi Angela,
I absolutely love your nursery. May I ask where did you get your furniture and this beautiful floor rug ? I have been looking for one for my son’s room but I can’t find anything nice.
Please share
Hi Joanna, The crib is from a Canadian company called Natart (was a gift from the grandparents!) and the rug is from Home Depot. Hope this helps!
Such a lovely and light nursery. So many pretty ideas. Very nice. Also, you look beautiful.
wow that nursery is so beautiful and you did a fantastic job with those frames and decor…
can we get a sneak peak at your hospital bag…it would be so helpful if you can list the items that you packed up..i am just one month behind you..have not yet packed my bag yet
Do you feel sick taking the coconut oil? Everytime I take a tbsp my stomach starts squirming and I feel so sick.
I haven’t encountered that with coconut oil – I usually just add it to my smoothie. Maybe your stomach would tolerate the fat better if you had it with food? It’s great on toast with chia jam too :)
Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful nursery! I’m also excited for your new addition. We are moving into a new house and I was completely taken with your floors. Do you mind sharing if they are Bamboo Hardwood, click function or something else? We need to redo a few rooms for our baby girl, whom by the way is a little Charlotte. :) All the best!
Thank you Elizabeth! The flooring is an engineered hickory wood. My only complaint is that the dark wood shows EVERYTHING – every piece of dust, etc. So if I were to do it over again I’d opt for a lighter wood probably. :)
Congratulations!! Not only have you tremendously influenced my life with your healthy vegan recipes, but you’ve helped me love food for the first time in over a decade. I don’t think I would have stayed vegan without your guidance. And going vegan has opened my eyes to so many other forms of compassion- it’s contagious and humbling and bright. I actually feel that internal glow of self-love.
My sister-in-law is pregnant and I’ve suggested your site to ramp up her nutrient intake. Plus it’s just so miraculous to watch your belly grow!
For a girl’s name, might I suggest “Amalia”? I chose that name for my own daughter, as it is unique yet classic. We nicknamed her Mali (pronounced Molly). Cheers to healthy inspiration! (as I sip my Mojo-ito Smoothie)
Namaste,
Kristen
Beautiful name! And thanks for your lovely words…I’m so happy you are enjoying the recipes so much :)
I have nursed 6 children and by far, the target nursing bras are the best!
You will be surprised by how many you need. Drizzling milk might not have occurred to you!
The tanks are nice when you pull up you shirt to nurse..in public. Because your back and tummy won’t be hanging out.
I have had to nurse Everywhere. Do not feel alone. ( where are all those nursing moms when it’s you at Costco and baby is hungry now.) yep, just put my cover on and have hubby push the cart as i throw in chia seeds hoping i have time to make endurance crackers. I am gonna need them!
Keep company limited in the first weeks. That is the most challenging time to learn. It is hard. When all the well wishers visit you won’t be able to learn how to bond. I am sure you have lots of friends!
Sorry for the unsolicited advice. Nursing IS a challenge at first. I have nursed ea. for 14 mos. (my shortest) to 23 months (my longest.) i just want you to succeed.
But nursing is easier and so wonderful. I don’t pump or have any on hand. My babies are always with me. Pumping and storing is ridiculous and time wasting.
Your baby will want only you. As it should be. What greater love is that?
Oh, I am excited for you!
Those were my most favorite nursing tanks! I have one in every color – you will love!
Oh my goodness the nursery is beautiful! So excited for you both
I don’t know you personally, Angela, but when I read your posts I can literally feel the enormous love you and Eric have for this sweet baby girl. She is very blessed. There is nothing more wonderful or rewarding in life than being a parent. The nursery is absolutely beautiful!
LOVE the sneak peeks of the nursery!! & that video sounds like a fabulous idea! You guys are so creative!
It’s gorgeous! What color did you use on the walls? If you already mentioned it…I apologize I didn’t see it..
Hi Wendy,
Thank you, we used Benjamin Moore Barren Plain.
Maybe I missed this at some point, but I’d love to see photos of your kitchen before and after! I’ve been so curious after hearing about it throughout the summer.