Connecticut River

Matt and I wanted a quick city escape this weekend, so we packed our bags and dogs and headed up to the New Hampshire - Vermont border. We set up camp at a state park in Vermont and on Saturday morning rented a canoe to float down the Connecticut River. We spent 6 hours on the river before heading back to camp for dinner. From the pictures, you can see why we love New England.

Belly Business - 24 Weeks

How far along: 24 weeks
Size of the baby: Ear of Corn (about one pound and nearly a foot long)

Total weight gain/loss: Last doctors visit was at 22 weeks and I had gained 13 pounds total. I think I have only gained a pound or two since then. Doctor says I’m on pace to gain about 31 pounds.  

Maternity Clothes: I can still wear some of my old shirts and dresses, but pants are a whole other story. I am embracing maternity clothes and can’t wait to get back to Boston where a box of clothes from my sisters was delivered yesterday.

Cravings: Sweets… or at least I am letting myself eat more sweets. I love ice cream!

Symptoms: Heartburn, back pains and the realization that I am getting slower and burn out faster.

Movement: He is active. Squirming and kicking all the time. Mostly after meals, but there isn’t much that keeps him quiet and I LOVE IT!  

Gender predictions: No need to guess, it's a boy

Name: Reed Stewart

23 Weeks

24 Weeks

You guys not only get to follow the growth of my belly, but all of my hotel journeys ;) I think I only have one or two pictures from home. Here is another good belly shot from this past weekend while camping in VT.

Gifts from Mommy and Daddy

Everyone has told me not to buy anything for the first baby until after the showers are over, but I just can’t help myself! As soon as we found out it was a boy I ran to Target and picked up his first set of sport balls. I know it says for ages 3 and up, but how can these really hurt him?

I also couldn’t pass up the cute footed onsies, especially the New England one in the middle what says “Who’s Crabby?”

Of course I had to make sure he has a nice warm Tech outfit, although I couldn’t find anything for Newborns or 0-3 months. He will still need a warm outfit Feb-April.

This past weekend we took a day trip up the coast to a town right at the boarder of New Hampshire and Maine called Portsmouth. It was a charming little city with some of the cutest shops. One of the shops we popped into had a Christmas ornament I fell in love with. Every year, my mom gives each of us girls a unique Christmas ornament- usually an angel- so I have decided to pass on the tradition and start with this one for Reeds first Tuel Christmas.

I saved the best for last. Matt made his first baby purchase this weekend too. Matt is nearly 100% Irish and spotted a Celtic store in Portsmouth he wanted to check out. Here is what he found (it reads "I drink me milk by the pint"):

Belly Business - 22 Weeks

How far along: 22 weeks
Size of the baby: Spaghetti Squash (1 lb and 11 inches)

Total weight gain/loss: Not sure… haven’t stepped on a scale in the last two weeks. I head to the doctor tomorrow, so I’ll know the official weight gain then. I’m guessing 10-12 lbs total??

Maternity Clothes: Some! The good news is the clothes I ordered before vaca came just in time. The jeans I purchased are amazing and can be worn after pregnancy too. I wore my maternity work pants for the first time this week and they were so comfortable. I can get used to all the elastic. Alex – you were right on the gap shelf tanks. They are amazing!

Cravings: Nothing out of the ordinary – this week anyway.

Symptoms: Heartburn, go away!

Movement: All the time, he is one strong baby boy. I skipped right past flutters into full blown jabs and kicks. He is most active after meals and conveniently when I’m trying to fall asleep.

Gender predictions: No need to guess, it's a boy

Name: Reed Stewart

Today:

21 weeks in Cabo:


Reed Stewart Tuel

Some women dream about their wedding day from childhood. They picture the dress, the venue, the guests, the flowers, and the food all down to the last detail.

Their weddings dreams were my baby names. This gave me the false sense of calm going into baby name “negotiations”. I thought it would be a fun and exciting process… boy was I wrong. We quickly agreed on a girl’s name, but the boys name proved to be more difficult. Too bad we have no need for a girls name, yet.

Going into our vacation last week we were determined to settle on a name for our little jumping bean. After a couple days relaxing on the beach, Reed Stewart Tuel won out. Not only do I love the name, but it also honors both of our families. Reed is my mom’s maiden name and Stewart is Matt’s dads middle name.

How did Matt come around? He said the name Reed was growing on him and it sounded better than all the other names I had thrown out there ;) Strange enough, when I got home and checked my email, the name genie (a website that sends a name suggestion every day) had send an email on July 1st for Reid Robert. It was fate.

Our Mexican Jumping Bean has officially been upgraded to Reed Stewart - aka baby Reed.

Belly Business - 20 Weeks - Half Way There!

How far along: 20 weeks
Size of the baby: Length of a Banana (10.5 oz and 10 inches from head to heal)

Total weight gain/loss: I’ve been on the road all week (on a train from NY to CT now), so I haven’t had a chance to weigh myself. Plus we leave for San Diego/Cabo in two days, and I don’t want to see my new weight before I spend a week in a bikini.   
Maternity Clothes: Finally ordered some!! I’m still in my regular clothes, but I took all of the shopping advice I’ve received and made a couple bulk purchases online. Figured I should get some new clothes anyway for the trip, might as well be maternity. Or at least clothes I can wear during maternity. Only one problem… I don’t think they are going to get here in time… opps

Cravings: My cravings have really settled down. Back to normal eating habits and eating schedule. I think that is a good thing, but Matt told me I need to eat more to make sure his boy is big and strong. I think his exact words were “now that we are having a boy, you need to start eating more to fatten him up. I want a big strong baby boy.”

Symptoms: Nothing major. I really can’t complain. It has been an easy pregnancy so far. Let’s hope it keeps up!

Movement: Finally!!! This morning while I was waiting on a flight out of Dayton, OH I felt a kick!! Or punch. Then a couple more. Later, while I was in the NY office we were in the conference room and I had my hand on my stomach and felt it both from the inside and outside. It was amazing. It also has me wondering though. How do you go from nothing at all, to feeling him multiple times in the day. They were really strong “kicks” that seem to protrude right out of my stomach. Could it be something else? I have no idea what, but I am just super excited to feel him!

Gender predictions: No need to guess, it's a boy

Top Name: Still no movement on the name. Matt really can’t think of a single name that he loves. Although going through a name list the other day, these were a couple he wanted to think about: Conor, Shane and Galvin. Although just writing Galvin made me dislike it. Scratch that one off the list.

Let's be honest, my belly doesn't look that different from week to week. So I'll get some pics up from our trip this upcoming week and post those when we get back!

Wall Decals

My sister-in-law, Alex, introduced me to the newest design craze of wall decals just a few months back when decorating for Olivia’s nursery. Olivia’s room is precious with white birch trees set against a dark blue wall with white and yellow accents. I was inspired to go out and find my own design for our little jumping beans room.

I have recently felt like the internet is my enemy. It has way too much information and way too many choices. That is a whole blog in itself. Either way, I finally found one I loved on Etsy.com, but it was sold out. Just my luck. I searched the internet until I found a similar pattern on Amazon and went ahead and ordered it.

It only took a couple days to make it by mail and I was so excited to open up my new package. Unfortunately, it wasn’t exactly what I expected. I still liked the design but the color was blah (aka jet black other than the leaves) and it seemed kind of small. So I got creative. Matt was in Chicago this weekend with his brother and a couple of friends from home, so I had plenty of down time to work on my new project.

I still used the leaves from the wall decal I purchased, but the rest I hand painted. I think it turned out great!

Stage 1

Finished Product (although thinking of adding either another little boy swinging or a little girl)

Our dresser with changing topper from Pottery Barn Kids came in this past week as well. I’ll get better pictures up later, but the nursery is really coming along.