Must-Have Monday: 6 Week Favorites

Six fabulous weeks of being a mommy have already flown by and I have come to learn that certain items make life much easier because they exist. So, I thought I would follow mommy-blogger trend and put together a list of my favorites. This is not to say there aren't several other items that McKenzie and I use regularly that could be easily be added to the list, but I tried (key word: tried) to keep the list to a minimum since it is supposed to be favorites. But, those who know me also know I have lots of room to love many things (3 majors in college, 10 bridesmaids, over 100 pairs of heels ...) so it is a bit longer than I originally intended. None-the-less, here are the items I have grown to love and depend on over the past 6 weeks.

McKenzie Grace - 1 Month Old (a week late)

Our baby is one months old! Well one month and one week because I am just a tad behind on blogging - you would think that being home on maternity leave I would have more than enough time to blog - but somehow it just is not the case. Did you know maternity leave is nothing like vacation and the days are just as busy/exhausting as those spent in the office? But I digress and staring at her kicking her legs, cracking smiles and cooing/babbling away, I wonder "How in the world has it been over a month already?" I am absolutely in awe of her on a daily basis.  I still cannot believe that this little baby is the one that was growing, kicking and hiccuping in my belly for 9 months. 

5 days old

McKenzie's Birth Story

I know it's been awhile since I last blogged, but i have been a little busy having a baby and trying to figure out this whole being a mom thing. Man! It's exhausting, but I have never been happier.

Let's start from the beginning.

On Thursday, March 21st I got about halfway through the work day when I just started not feeling so well and, with the much appreciated persistence of one of my co-workers, decided to finish up what I was working on and head home a little early.

So, I got home and tried to decide if the cramps were just cramps or actual contractions. Once they started feeling more regular, I began timing them with my fancy pregnancy app. After several hours of debating whether I was in labor or not, they started following the pattern we were told to watch for (5 contractions within one hour, each 1 minute or longer). So ... I hopped in the shower (they didn't hurt very bad so I figured I still had quite a ways to go) and took my time blowing out my hair before heading to the hospital.

We got all checked in and sent back to OB Triage, but everyone kept saying "You look too happy to be having a baby". Knowing what I know now, they were right ...

 last picture of the bump

Representing NAU since McKenzie has already been bombarded with Wildcat and Sun Devil nonsense.

Wardrobe Wrap Up: Styling the Bump 33 & 34 Weeks

 For those who do not know, my attempt at walking Miss McKenzie out were successful. Shortly after positing the previous blog Mac and I headed to the zoo and by 5pm (exactly 5pm to be precise) our daughter was here. Birth story blog to follow!

For now, I have some catching up to do on the wardrobe posts - although it seems a bit weird to be posting pregnant pictures of myself now that our little one is here ... hmm. anyway, here we go.

Miss McKenzie is asleep on my chest as I write these, so for now, I am just going to list the items that I know off the top of my head.

Blue Sweater: H&M; Grey Leggings: Forever 21; Black Boots: Shoe Dazzle

Wardrobe Wrap Up: Styling the Bump 32 & 33 Weeks

I am admittedly slacking (severely) slacking on the wardrobe wrap-ups I aspired to start doing, but it is not for lack of trying. I did take the effort to assemble my best attempts at fashionable outfits, and even photographed them. But, for some reason I kept failing to upload them to this blog as intended. As I got further and further from the original post date, I was less and less diligent about taking the photos and then, once the heels went, pretty much stopped all together. So, I have a few to catch up on, and rather than slapping them all in one blog post, I am changing the formula a bit.

I am going to posts a few photos at a time and make it more reminiscent of times when I didn't have to stuff swollen feet in ballet flats and find clothes that don't make me look like the marshmallow puff man from Ghostbusters. Here goes nothing ;) Photos below are from weeks 32 and 33.

Button Up Shirt:  I will have to find this one - sorry! Sweatshirt: Gap Maternity; Jeans: I got them at Savvy Sale - so I will need to look up where they originally came from; Sash: Etsy Shop - FantsyYouFashion

McKenzie's Nursery

As promised, I am finally getting around to posting pictures of little one's nursery. We are still awaiting the arrival of the glider, which will either go in the corner by the closet or where the two owl chairs currently are. Haven't quite decided just yet. I also need to get some wall art for at least the one big pink wall across from the closet, but I feel like the one with the bookshelf is also missing a little something. We shall see. I had an idea for some wall art, but haven't quite made up my mind.

Well on with the grand tour I suppose!

Let's start with the bathroom, which is just to the right of the nursery room door.

39 Weeks: #comeoutmckenzie

I am so over being pregnant. I know we aren't even at her due date yet, but ever since the heels went and the room was completed, I am more than ready to be done with this. And most importantly, meet McKenzie. I have even made McKenzie her very own hashtag ... #comeoutmckenzie pretty  catchy huh ;) 

***Warning - graphic pregnancy procedure talk ahead. Skip to the stars if you get grossed out easy :) I know I used to!***

This week at the Dr. I got to see my favorite of the 5 (or is it 6?) and she said that I was far enough along that she could do a membrane sweep if I wanted. My response? Heck yes, let's get this baby out! So after the exam she went ahead and did it. Unfortunately, we are approaching 48 hours since my appointment (it was at 5 on Friday) and still nothing. :( So, all that pain and cramping for nothing I guess. Ugh! Totalyl doesn't mean I won't be up for it again next week. Anything to help move her along.

***Safe Again***

I have literally tried a handful of natural induction theories with no luck. There are a few I won't try (Castor Oil sounds very unpleasant - no thank you!). I get a few braxton hicks and some cramping but no true labor. This little one is stubborn! Regardless, I plan to spend the rest of the day on my feet and walking. She has to come out sometime, right? Maybe I will be the first woman int he history of pregnancy to carry my child through her whole childhood :) at this rate it totally feels like it.

Enough complaining for one blog post. Let's get on to the update!