The Seussery

Rob and I did not have a difficult time in deciding not to find out the gender of Baby Callahan. Finding a nursery theme, however, was another story. We first went to Pottery Barn Kids when we were home for Thanksgiving last year. We were amazed at how gender specific everything was. We left Pottery Barn Kids, feeling a bit defeated...what were we going to do about a nursery? Surely there were others like us out there who wanted to keep the gender a surprise! As we left I grabbed a catalog that was at the door.

Rob and I were heading out west to meet my parents and were discussing different ideas as I flipped through the catalog. That is when I saw it: A whole page of Dr. Seuss decor! That was the end of the discussion.

I have always had a love for Dr. Seuss. How can you not? He teaches children how to read while also expanding their imaginations and providing a sort of escape from a very grown up world. Even as an adult I read Dr. Seuss to laugh and remember that not everything is as serious as we sometimes think. It is whimsical and fun and best of all...it will work for a boy or a girl.

As Peanut's "birthday" is fast approaching, we took today to finish the Seussery. I am so excited about the outcome! For years I have collected Dr. Seuss items. Most were purchased by my parents so it is perfect that some of those items would end up in the seussery! I have books, blankets, ornaments and stuffed animals that Mom and Dad have purchased for me over the years. Rob and I made our own additions too...we found a Cat in the Hat Hat and Green Eggs and Ham at Pottery Barn Kids. And, surprisingly, we found some great additions at IKEA. The multicolored buckets that hang above the changing table will hold all of the changing necessities and the fish mobile looks like it is right out of One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish. They were perfect additions. Ebay proved to be a great resource as well. I found removable decals on Ebay that we used instead of painting. We still have a few pieces left to purchase from Pottery Barn Kids but for the most part the "Seussery" is complete! I also included a couple of pictures of Rob and I as we anxiously await Peanut's birthday!


Our baby blankets will remain in the "Seussery"

Big Belly!

Fish Mobile from Ikea

Cat in the Hat Decal...doesn't it look painted on?

Buckets from Ikea

Shelf 1

Futon with Cat in the Hat blanket

Shelf 2

Corner

Thing 1 and Thing 2 (above the crib)

Crib with Pottery Barn bedding

Rocker with our baby blankets

wall above changing table

The Spolight Dance

This week Baby Callahan was introduced to a Callahan family time honored tradition: The Spotlight Dance. According to our weekly "What to Expect" emails, this week Baby Callahan has finally opened it's eyes. It is pretty dark in there so baby can't see much. Peanut can, however, follow light! We held a flashlight up to my belly and the baby followed the light! It was so funny.
Rob is trying to exchange "Peanut" for "Thumper" in light of the fact that Baby cannot quit with the kicking but the new name has not stuck. The spotlight dance is another thing to keep baby moving!

"Found a Peanut, Found a Peanut, Found a Peanut Last Night..."

The other night we had another amazing experience. Peanut has been extremely active. He/She kicks and turns all of the time. Last night I was laying in bed and Peanut started kicking like crazy! Pretty soon, I had a little bump sticking out of my stomach! I think it was a foot. It was there for about 30 seconds and then went away. I waited patiently for it to happen again. Several kicks later, it re-appeared! It has not happened again, but I am eagerly waiting to see it again!

It's time for an update!

It has been quite a while since we have updated the blog. We have had some significant occurrences within the last few months. First of all, Peanut (as we like to now call Baby Callahan) has started kicking! It is the most amazing thing in the whole world! It started one morning when I was on my way to work. I almost always listen to a morning show during my commute and a song came on that I liked, so I turned the radio up. I promptly received a swift kick! It was so amazing! I have decided that Peanut likes The Fray.

After that occurrence I decided to read up about what Peanut could or could not hear and discovered that Peanut can now hear outside sounds. Tiffany Snyder gave me a Baby Einstein Lullaby cd for Christmas. We listen to it with the IPOD every night. I make sure to put the headphones right on my belly so that Peanut can hear.

In our 21 week ultrasound we learned the Peanut is a full week ahead of where he/she should be in development. This does not change our due date, but does show promise with the development of our little baby. The baby weighed in at one pound and measured 10.5 inches long. Again, Peanut would not hold still for the tech. We managed to get a good picture of Peanut's foot and another full picture of Peanut. This second picture is not as good as the first but we will post anyway.

Peanut and I recently had some issues that caused us to spend a couple of days at the hospital for tests. Peanut does not like tests! He/She especially does not like the MRI machine, probably because of the noise. The baby kicked the entire 45 minutes that I was in the machine-and the entire 30 minute commute home. That must have tuckered him/her out because there was not much movement for the remainder of the night.

Peanut also gets very active first thing in the morning. He/She lets me know that it is time to eat. This has been a more difficult adjustment for me as I am not one who usually eats breakfast as soon as my feet hit the ground in the morning. But guess what? I have started to...otherwise Peanut gets a little cranky.

My belly is definitely showing that Peanut is growing. The maternity clothes that I bought in advance of this stage are now definitely needed! I am thankful that I purchased a new coat when we were back home for Christmas because I would be in a mess without it now! My new wardrobe not only includes new maternity clothes but I have also now started wearing Rob's t-shirts. I have never been so thankful that he has so many Boundary Waters T-Shirts! He has enough for us to share. So, when I just want to bum around in sweats and a t-shirt, I am raiding his side of the closet. He is so nice to share :)

In addition to all of the changes with Peanut, we are making some changes ourselves. We are moving this weekend! It all started about two weeks ago when Rob and I were off. I was off for a bank holiday and Rob took a day to help me get "organized." I know-those who know me well are laughing right now because I do not "do organization." I can't begin to explain the feeling, but as I was shuffling stacks of stuff from one place to another I was overwhelmed with where Peanut was going to live. In true Erin fashion, I cried. Rob didn't know what to do with me (no blame there) so he agreed to go with me to see what options we have for two bedrooms in the area. Most of the complexes that we looked at were pretty pricey. On our way home we stopped by the office here at our building and found they were offering a rent special on two bedroom apartments. An hour later we had a lease signed! Yay! Peanut now has his/her room. I have ordered a few Dr. Seuss pieces for the room and I am working on coming up with how we will paint it. It is so precious!

One more thing to check off of the list: Daycare. Yesterday we officially waitlisted for a daycare that is right behind where we live. This has been a major concern of ours. We may have to find daycare for a month or so until our spot comes available but I am convinced it will be worth the trouble because this is an amazing facility.

I will post pictures soon!

Let the baby games begin...

It has been a while since I have written-we have had a few changes and updates. The most interesting thing is a new battle between kitty and baby. Oliver is used to being the only focus of my love and attention (he pretty much ignores Rob) and he is now discovering that something else is brewing.
Oliver comes into bed every night when I go to bed. He always demands that I lift the covers so that he can curl up on a pillow under the covers to cuddle. He also almost always kneads with is paws on my shoulders. Recently, he has moved this practice to my ever expanding belly. I am not sure if he can feel baby, we can sometimes. At any rate, he will poke my stomach and the baby will poke back. It is a game of sorts I suppose.
It is one of the funniest things I have ever experienced. I think that Oliver will be quite surprised come July when Baby Callahan makes a grand entrance!

Our first look at Baby Callahan

Today Rob and I went to our first ultrasound. We have been so excited for this day to come, and it was definitely worth the wait! It was the most amazing thing that I have ever seen. Baby Callahan does not sit still for even a minute. It took the ultrasound technician quite some time to get the pictures that she needed because the baby would not stop moving. Baby Callahan did stretches and rolls, shook its hands and kicked its feet. It was pretty cool to see. So far, everything looks great. We cannot believe how much Baby Callahan has grown.

Strollers and bottles and pack and plays oh my!

We are officially in week 11-only one more week and our first trimester will be complete. It is so hard to believe how much baby Callahan has grown! This week, what to expect says that baby Callahan is about the size of a lime. We have come a long way from the grain of rice two months ago! Baby Callahan is also moving around like crazy (although I can't feel anything yet). The baby can now stretch, do somersaults and forward rolls. Isn't that amazing??

Rob and I took our first trip to Babies R Us this last weekend. We thought it might be a good idea to start to familiarize ourselves with all things baby. I never imagined how much gear is required for a little one! We will have to move simply to have space for all of Baby Callahan's necessities! We looked at strollers and realized we know nothing about the 50 different options we have to choose from. Bottles? There is everything from glass, to plastic with different sizes, liners or no liners. It is crazy! We had a good time and now feel that we at least have a starting point to start researching what we need and don't and what other parents love or could do without.

We also have a few friends here in Chicago with small children. They are full of great ideas and quick to share what worked for them and what they would do differently next time.

Our first ultrasound is on December 29th-we can't wait to get the first look at our new little one.