Carmel pictures

Quick Carmel, CA recap

Wow, it's hot here in Dallas.  And it wasn't hot in Carmel.  Actually, it was cold.  For 10 days.

My parents spend the month of August in Carmel, CA to escape the Dallas heat every year (LUCKY!!), and every year we glom onto their vacation for a few days or as long as they'll have us.  For the past couple of years my best friend Melissa Spencer has joined us from Los Angeles.  She's basically a Whelan anyways.

Here are some iPhone pictures from the trip.  I'll upload some pictures from the real camera in a few days once acclimate to the weather again.

Headed to Point Lobos for a hike

(Mladen, Colin, Myself, Melissa and Jessie)

Point Lobos

Tobey (Jessie's dog) enjoying the California sunshine

Colin and I at a coffee shop in town

(Looks like I'm practicing the Baby Bjorn with Tobey - thanks for point that out, Melissa!!)

We had a great time on the trip, and I can't wait to go next year...which will include a little trip up to the wine country.  I can almost taste it now.  Wait, no I can't.

Stevie

Baby Room

So now that we are 100% sure that we're having a girl, I shall commence the baby room decoration.  Aaaaaaaannnnnnnnddddd begin.

I have in my head what the room will look like once it's all said and done, but it's getting there that will be the challenging part for me.  I'm not a designer, I'm generally not great with picking wall colors (master bath had to be repainted after a Smurf chose the color), and I'm not the most patient person in the world.  I remember how frustrated I was when my mom and I had to go to over 10 furniture stores to find our bed a couple of years ago.  Thankfully we did because I still love our bed.

I've already chosen the rug.  The rug wouldn't have changed whether or not we had a boy or girl.  Sure, looking at the rug now our poor hypothetical baby boy might have been lacking testosterone on the floor (the rug is a little girly), but whatever.  It all worked itself out.

Colin and Maggie enjoying the new rug

Next up: lighting.

I've already had 4 canned lights put in the room on a dimmer so I can sneak into the room at night without much light and stare at my baby without bugging her (ha!), but now I have to find a centerpiece light.  This one is going to be tough.  I don't want something too girly, and I want something different.  Here are some lights that I've found so far.

I've always loved this style, but I think it's too fancy for Aidan's room

This one is pretty, but I think a bit too typical

This one looks like a bronze version of the last which I like better, but I still don't think this one is it

So the search continues.  If anyone has any ideas or places that I should look, please send them to me!!

Stevie

It's a PIRATE!!

And it's still a GIRL!!  

The doctor confirmed today that we're having a girl, 100% sure.  Let the shopping begin (fine, continue).  YES!!!

Here are a couple of pictures of little baby Aidan.  One of her eyes is open.  

Arrrgghhh!

Look at that brain!

Stevie

Serendipity Sunday

This weekend was the first in 5 weeks that Colin and I were able to spend some time together alone, and we had a really good time.  Dinner Friday night, running errands Saturday, and more errands today.

I convinced Colin to go to the mall with me today to exchange a diaper bag that I had bought at Nordstroms about a month ago.  I just wasn't "feeling" this particular bag anymore, and I knew I could find a better one.  I figure that I'm going to be lugging this thing around with me wherever I go so I better like it a whole lot.

I've been keeping my eyes open for an alternative since I bought the original (never a good sign that I'm going to hang on to the first purchase).  I went into Kate Spade and was re-inspecting a bag that I had seen a couple of weeks earlier that I really liked.  I was unable to talk myself out of buying it so down went the credit card.  Sold please.  Thanks.

I like the brand Kate Spade, and I always have.  My second designer bag was a Kate Spade back in high school when they were those boxy nylon suitcases.  Side note: my first was a leopard Moschino that I still have and love - thanks Mom!

So, back to the story.  As the sales girl was ringing the bag up, she asked for my name, address, etc. for their tracking.  Stevie McCartney, blah blah blah.  And then lightening struck.  She says, "this bag is your namesake."  I looked at her like I had no idea what she was talking about.  Literally no one has ever said that to me, probably because my name is Stevie and not a more common name.  I grabbed the tag on the bag, and there it was:

The Stevie baby bag

I mean, WHAT?!?!?  This bag was meant to be mine.  I walked out of the store feeling like the planets and stars were back in line again.  YES!  SUCCESS!!

Here's the bag if you were wondering what a Stevie Baby Bag looks like.

After my successful Kate Spade purchase, Colin and I headed to Baylor Hospital to visit Pop Pops / Leo (Gerard's dad) in the hospital.  If you get a second this evening and the next few days, give a shout out to God and ask him to keep his eyes on Leo.  All prayers pointed at his direction are appreciated.  :)

Here's a sign he made for his room this morning.  He's a pretty funny guy, that one.

Until next time,

Stevie

Baby name

Since about October 2010 when we started our fertility treatments I've been thinking about baby names.  Fib.  Since about October 1987 when I figured out Barbie and Ken could have a baby (via stork delivery of course) I've been thinking about baby names.  

So you can imagine Colin's excitement when that's all I've wanted to talk about for the past year or so.  I would always ask, "What's your favorite girl name...or boy name?"  He would always reply, "I don't really want to talk about it until we get pregnant."  Finally, we got pregnant.  And then it was "I really don't want to talk about it until we know the pregnancy sticks."  And then, "We should wait until we know it's a boy or a girl."  SO FRUSTRATING!  I want to fight over baby names, Colin.  Jeez, why don't you get this?!?!

Lucky for me, he gave in a few times over the past few months, and we easily decided on a boy name: Henry.  

And then of course the Dr told us that he was 90% sure we are having a girl (we're going back on Monday to confirm this).  And then we drew a blank.  We could not come up with a name that we both loved for more than a day or so.  And then there's something that was always in the back of my mind.  Let's all be honest, there's a fine line between a cool girl name and a stripper name.  There.  I said it.  :)

Some people gave their input on names, but we really wanted the name to come from us.  We didn't want anyone else laying claim to naming our child.  We were given some great suggestions: Greta (from my cousin Kelli - cute but not for this little babe), Evan (reminds me of an awkward teenage boy), Wesley (which we actually considered), Olivia (somehow Colin's dad slipped this one in...it's Colin's mom's name), and Colleen (sounds a lot like Colin to me).  Ha!  :) 

We're very appreciative of all the suggestions we've received, and we've finally come up with a baby girl name.  Well, the baby book came up with it.  One night I tossed the baby book on Colin's lap (he was not too pleased, it's a pretty heavy book, whoops) and told him to get crackin' on some ideas.  He started with the letter A.  And he said,

"What about Aidan?"

My heart fluttered.  I sat up straight.  I like it.  I like it a lot.  And then we knew.  Aidan was going to be our baby girl's name.  So there it is, if this little baby in my tummy is actually a female like they've predicted, she'll be named Aidan.  

Awww, she's so pretty.  :)

Stevie

No title needed post

Yesterday I was completely off.  I mean, I couldn't go 30 minutes without crying, wanting to cry, or thinking about crying.  Chalk it up to being pregnant, chalk it up to life, chalk it up to whatever.  All I know is that today is going to be different because I choose for it to be different.  Plus, I have this to look forward to so I better get myself together:

(A little blurry, but I think you get the point)

Also, this is my theme song for the day.  Enjoy:

Fader Lyrics

I'm in transit
But I'm stranded on this boat
And I pledge myself allegiance
To a better night's sleep at home

And the sweet, sweet sun's comin' down
Hard, the sun's comin' down
Hard, it burns the bones
So hold a hand for cover
Hold a hand for cover
Hold a hand for cover from harm

Talk don't change a thing
Oh, it's fadin' for ya
Words don't sink, they swims
Oh, it's fadin' for ya

Best
This mess we tried our best
For something we can do
While the angels walk with the lonely ones
In the cold rain and rescue you

And this fatal world's comin' down
Hard, walls comin' down
Hard, in all our homes
So hold a hand for cover
Hold a hand for cover
Hold a hand for cover from harm

Talk don't change a thing
Oh, it's fadin' for ya
Words don't sink, they swims
Oh, it's fadin' for ya

Talk don't change a thing
Oh, it's fadin' for ya
[I'm in transit]
Words don't sink, they swims
[Ah, sweet as a moment, be that it may]
Oh, it's fadin' for ya

The Birds and the Bees

I found this video on a fellow blogger's website, and I remember feeling exactly like this.  At least we can laugh at infertility now.

On another note I'm going to be trying out my first pre-natal yoga class this evening at 6pm.  I informed Colin yesterday that I would be taking the class, and that I would make up anywhere from 5-10 excuses on why I should just stay home and relax because I know I'm going to change my mind on wanting to go.  Let's see how committed he really is.

:)

Stevie