Ready, Set... Go!

We are just about 5 weeks from our due date!! I cannot believe it... Life as we know it will never be the same. But in an amazingly good way :) I've had some anxiety about how ready we are to bring home baby, but after 2 wonderful and generous baby showers I think we are finally ready to welcome little Felix home!

We are all set to hit the road with our Chicco stroller for everyday use and our Jeep stroller for walks and jogs. Between morning jogs in the park and evening walks with daddy, that pre-baby body will be mine by Christmas!

Bring on the dirty diapers! We got so many supplies from friends and family that I doubt we will need to buy much in the first few weeks. And I hope baby Sheehan never has to go through all of the diaper cream we got! We are trying out gDiapers which are a combo of cloth and disposable. They have a cloth outer diaper and a disposable insert that is flushable and biodegradable. I'll keep you posted on how they go. We also got lots of disposable diapers, so either way we are set. :)

We can't wait for bath time! In addition to all of the basics like a tub, soaps and towels we got so many cute bath time accessories we didn't even know about! One of my favorites came from a coworker of Shawn's. It's called Bath Luve and its an adorable towel that you dip in warm water and place on the baby to keep its body warm while you bathe. I can almost smell that baby smell now...

Mommy and Daddy diaper bags! We've already started stocking our bags with some essentials. Shawn got his diaper bag "The Diaper Dude" as a Father's Day gift. I highly recommend it for dads-to-be and can't wait to see him in full dad mode with it. Here's some Sheehan trivia for you... Shawn's diaper bag has our wedding colors gray and orange. How romantic?! ;)

Thanks to an incredibly thoughtful baby shower thrown by close friends, Jessica and Belinda, we are all set for story time. Instead of giving cards, guests for the baby shower were asked to bring their favorite children's book and write a message inside. Having these books and heartfelt messages means so much. I can't wait until Felix is old enough to understand all of the love in those messages. He or she is going to feel so loved and special. I also look forward to seeing what stories Felix enjoys most and wants to read over and over. There are so many great stories to choose from - I look forward to reading them all!

Thank you to all of the friends, family and coworkers that have helped us get ready to become parents! And for anyone who gave us a stuffed animal, you have definitely gotten Coco's attention... she thinks they are for her! haha

The Big Gender Question...

As of Friday, we are only 10 weeks from Felix's due date! As we get closer to meeting our little miracle, we can't help but bring up the question, "Are you thinking Boy or Girl?!" Shawn and I have gone back and forth through the entire pregnancy and have finally concluded that we have absolutely no clue! Felix has done an outstanding job of keeping us all guessing.

We have gone through all of the old wives tales used for guessing the gender. Here are a few of our results. You will quickly see why we are so in the dark.
-No morning sickness = BOY
-Carrying high = GIRL
-Skin looking better than ever = BOY
-Irish ring test (ring moved side to side) = GIRL
-Craving salty foods, meats and cheeses = BOY
-Chinese gender chart = GIRL
-Belly looks like a basketball = BOY
-Pillow faces south = GIRL

So we are back to the starting point, with no clue about the sex. While there have been moments that we just wish we knew, I'm glad to be in the dark. I can't wait for the moment we meet our child for the first time. I'm also excited for the moment Shawn walks out into the waiting room and announces the news to friends and family. :)

Feel free to take your best guess and place your bets!

The Lucky Number is 29

Hello again!

It's amazing how the time is flying and how quickly things continue to change. As of today, we are 29 weeks pregnant. Only 11 weeks to go!! Thursday is also my 29th birthday! We already have a great evening planned to celebrate. Dinner at one of my favorite Italian restaurants and an outdoor concert with friends on Friday. Please pray for an end to the heat wave!

Shawn and I went to the doctor today who said that everything looks great, normal and healthy.  He may have recommended I dial back on the sweets to keep my weight gain in check. Hey, I've been eating grandma's cooking for the last two weeks! What do you expect?! ;-)


I have been so blessed that since May all four of my grandparents have visited from Puerto Rico. Spending time with them makes me very thankful for my Puerto Rican roots and my loving family. It also inspires me to make sure I teach our child as much as possible about the Puerto Rican culture. The pictures are from our mini family reunion this past weekend. I can't wait for the first time we take our baby to Puerto Rico to meet the whole family!


As you can see from the pictures, mommy and baby are growing with each day. It literally feels like each day brings new feelings, new symptoms and a wider stomach. Not every moment is pleasant, but I'm trying to take it in stride and keep a good sense of humor. Sometimes you just have to laugh at the craziness that is pregnancy! Shawn has been great too - bringing me water so I don't have to get up from the couch, rubbing my swollen feet, and making sure I avoid any chores that involve heavy lifting or being outside in the heat. I'll admit, I'm a tad concerned of what the next 11 weeks have in store for me... Luckily, we know the end is quickly approaching!!


Time to start the weekend with husband :)
Stefanie

Babymoon, Nursery and Hello Third Trimester!

Cocktails before dinner in Savannah

 Hi everyone!

There is so much to share with you! Shawn and I spent last weekend in Savannah for a little pre-baby getaway. We had an amazing trip! On Friday we went to Tybee Island where we visited Fort Pulaski before chowing down at The Crab Shack. That night we walked the historic district and River Street going into shops and enjoying the beautiful squares Savannah is known for. Saturday we grabbed a trolley tour which was great because we got to learn all about the history of Savannah. That night we had dinner at the Olde Pink House where the bartender treated me to a beautiful "mocktail". If you are ever on Savannah, the praline basket dessert at OPH is NOT to be missed! Overall the trip was perfect. We were so relaxed and spent most of the time laughing or having sweet talks about past memories and the exciting events in the future. I'm so happy we were able to have this weekend away and can't wait to take baby Sheehan to Savannah in December for a trip we are planning with friends.

Entering the 3rd Trimester!!

Now that we are back, we are in full nursery decorating mode. We have most of the big items out of the way with just some wall decor and a rug left on the list. I made the curtains by hand. Shawn and I chose the fabric together which sparked the bird theme. The crib and bedding were purchased by both of our parents (thank you SO much!!). They look amazing in the room and I can't wait to set our tiny bundle of joy down to sleep in this lovely crib. The rocking chair is the most comfortable chair in our house and I already go in there to rock when I want to chill out. The rocking chair also has a great view of the back yard which (I hope!) will be a calming site when I'm trying to soothe a fussy baby.

I still can't believe that in exactly 3 months our lives will change forever and we will be parents! Even seeing the nursery, my growing belly and feeling baby kicks aren't enough to make it fully sink in. It almost feels like I'll just be pregnant forever - which is not something that I would enjoy...

As I enter the third trimester, I feel like so many symptoms have hit me all at once. Swollen feet, heartburn, trouble sleeping and a few others that I probably shouldn't share on this blog. I do love having little Felix safely tucked away in my belly, but I am also looking forward to soon having my body back to myself. I will say that the thing that I'll miss most about pregnancy is feeling our baby kick. Felix has been super active recently and as I feel his movements I get so curious wondering what he's actually doing in there! Whatever he's doing, he seems to be having a lot of fun which is all that I care about. :)

Wish us luck for the next 3 months! (And the 18 years following that - ha!)

Yours truly,
Stefanie

Baby Kicks

I have to start off by saying that pregnancy is so much more than I could have imagined. So often, we are too busy to listen to our bodies and often work against ourselves. Being pregnant, I have learned to listen to my body's cues and not to underestimate how good you can feel by just taking better care of yourself. Not that I eat super healthy ALL the time... if my body is craving double dark chocolate gelato, I know exactly where to find the ice cream scoop. :)

Another aspect of pregnancy that I am loving are feeling my little baby's kicks! It seemed like it was going to be forever before I would be able to feel them and then, almost overnight, they are happening all the time! They are a sweet reminder that our little Felix is growing bigger and stronger with each day. 

Something really special that happened yesterday is that Shawn was able to feel the baby kick for the first time. We were laying down to go to bed (a time when the baby usually gets active) and the kicks were pretty strong. I wasn't sure if Shawn would be able to feel, but I had him put his hand on my belly to see if he could get in on the action. It was so perfect. Just then, Felix gave a big kick right in the middle of Shawn's hand! A few seconds later, there came another. It's as if he was saying, "Hi, dad!". The moment was perfect and I am so glad that Shawn can start connecting with the baby in this way. 

We are less than 4 months from our due date and have lots to do! We have cleared out the room that is going to be the nursery and we are hoping to have the nursery done by the end of June. With our busy schedules, that actually doesn't leave too much free time to get it all done but I'm sure we'll make it happen - we always do :)  

Another exciting event we have planned for June is our "Babymoon"! For those of you who are not familiar with the term, Babymoon is like a honeymoon but its a couple's last getaway before the baby arrives. We have booked a weekend in Savannah and can't wait to take in the gorgeous sites and amazing food. We have our next ultrasound appointment the Friday morning of our trip. I can't think of a better way to kick off our Babymoon than seeing our little baby. :)

Thank you all for your love and support! I don't know what we would do without you!

Love,

Stefanie

Happy Mother's Day!

First, I'd like to start off by wishing all the amazing moms out there a Happy Mother's Day! Your unconditional love, endless compassion and tireless efforts are not recognized enough. I am thrilled to soon join such an outstanding group of women.

Although I have not yet earned the title of "Mom", this Mother's Day brought many sincere messages from friends and family. The first of such messages came Thursday evening after arriving home from a 5 hour road trip. Looking through the mail, I saw a card from my aunt Isabel whom I affectionately call "Titi Chavolo" (I love being Puerto Rican!). As I pulled the card out of the envelope, knowing exactly what occasion it marked, I started to cry. Happy tears filled my eyes as I realized that Mother's Day had taken on a new and very special meaning.

I recalled Mother's Days from my childhood. Richard and I had a very special tradition of making breakfast in bed for my mom each year. It likely started with a bowl of cereal and orange juice, then graduated to eggs, pancakes and coffee when we were old enough to manage in the kitchen. We would decorate a tv tray with a single flower and our best plate setting. Each year we were so proud to present our feast to our wonderful mommy. Imaging myself being on the receiving end of such love and admiration from my own child one day is more than my pregnancy hormones can handle right now! For now, I remain focused on providing this little miracle with all of the nutrition and safe-keeping it needs.

The pictures above are a glimpse into how I spent this Mother's Day. Shawn presented me with a gorgeous bouquet of red roses and the most perfect card to mark the occasion. He marked the envelope simply "Mommy Sheehan". This was the second card that had me crying before I read a single word! He also took me out to dinner. I decided to keep things low key and indulgent by going to Smokejack, an amazing barbecue restaurant on our downtown square. It was a wonderful day.

I wish you all a Happy Mother's Day today and every day!

Yours truly,
Stefanie

Cutest Fetus I've Ever Seen!

Hello friends and family!

Time is FLYING! We are officially 20 weeks into our pregnancy which means we are halfway there! Now that we are just 4 1/2 months from meeting our little baby, things are starting become very real...

Our 20 week ultrasound revealed a little person that has developed so much in the last 8 weeks. At our last ultrasound, Felix had a tiny little body with only small nubs for arms and legs. This ultrasound his arms and legs are in perfect proportion with this body. If you look at the second photo his foot is all the way up by by his face! Speaking of face, is that first picture just the cutest you've ever seen?! I could pinch those cheeks already! I am so in love :)

Another thing that is becoming that is becoming real is my baby bump. It has virtually appeared overnight! I think in the last 4 days the bump went from being somewhat identifiable to completely undeniable! Not that I'm complaining - a growing baby bump means a growing baby. All I care about right now is making sure baby Felix (or Felicity) is getting everything he/she needs to be healthy and strong.

Stats for our growing baby are very impressive. The ultrasound showed that Felix is weighing 13 oz and is 10 inches long! I think Shawn's genes are at work on that one... By fruit standards, our bundle of joy is the size of a small cantaloupe. No wonder my baby bump is showing!

All in all, things are progressing well and we couldn't ask for anything more. Being pregnant has brought out a new side to mine and Shawn's relationship that has allowed me fall in love with him all over again. I feel like the luckiest woman to be blessed with such love.

Alright, enough sappy talk! ;) I already almost cried once today (for no reason at all!). I think I deserve a brownie...

Love you all so much!
Stefanie