He's Arrived!

We are thrilled to introduce...

Chase Asher Figueroa

born Sunday, January 19, at 6:05 pm

7 lbs, 12 ounces

We are overjoyed to have this sweet little boy join our family!

Legos

I have seriously been dying to buy Legos for my kids since...well, since forever.  Because I love Legos.  They are awesome. 

So this year, I finally decided Cole had the manual dexterity to build with Legos all on his own and I COULD NOT WAIT to buy him some.  Santa obliged, and Cole has pretty much played with them nonstop since Christmas.

You guys.  It is SO MUCH FUN to observe him while he's playing with them.  He works so hard, so much concentration and focus.  He builds towers and castles.  He takes things apart and tries again.  He builds staircases. 

 It is so rewarding to watch him create something, all on his own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh my goodness.

Little brother, this is officially your eviction notice. 

I swore up and down before I was pregnant this time that I would savor and enjoy our (probably) last pregnancy.  I had been so impatient and eager to meet Cole that I sort of rushed the last week or two of his pregnancy.  And, of course, now that I have first hand knowledge of how much easier babies are to take care IN the womb than OUT (slightly better sleeping, boobs still relatively normal, hormones not FREAKING OUT), I promised myself that I would not be in a hurry this time around to have my uterus vacated.

Well, I lied.  I'm eating my words. 

I'm sick and tired of being pregnant.  All done.  Finite. Of course, it might have something to do with the complete lack of appetite I've had the entire pregnancy.  The throwing up.  The incredible heartburn that no amount of Tums can tame.  The contractions that have been so mild but so irritating for a WEEK.  The hip and pelvic pain from my tilted uterus that is so severe I can hardly walk first thing in the morning. 

And, of course, the overwhelming excitement of I JUST CAN'T WAIT TO MEET our new little baby.

So, little sweetie pie...we are all so excited to see your sweet face.  Consider this your invitation to come sooner rather than later, ok?  Pretty please? 

Touvelle Walk

In a desperate effort (just one activity in a very long list) to induce labor naturally, we decided to take advantage of some sunshine and walk around our favorite park.

Even though I'm still very very pregnant, it was worth it for a gorgeous walk:

 Yup - see, Exhibit A for "very pregnant":

 

 

 Stuffing rocks in his pockets.  I'm pretty sure he came back with a good ten pounds of rocks.

 

 Loving on his Gram! We're so glad she's here taking care of us!

 

 

Content

This last year for Christmas, I kept asking Cole what he would like Santa to bring.  Just one little idea, I begged him.  Not that I needed any - I was pretty confident that what we chose for him, he would love.  I just wanted that little peek into his brain, ideas of what was important and special to him right now in his little life.

Well, after much cajoling and talking, I finally got one sort-of idea: chapstick.  He requested his own tube of chapstick - and that was AFTER I suggested he ask for his own when he continued to slobber all over and destroy my tubes of chapstick.

Any other time I asked him what he would like, he would simply answer: "PRESENTS! PRESENTS PLEASE! I THINK PRESENTS WOULD BE GOOD!"

And while I really wanted to know more about his desires, a huge part of me was so amazed, so grateful that this little boy of mine was already so wise. 

You see, Cole often sees things that he likes.  A toy, a cat (ugh, he LOVES cats), a candle... but he RARELY actually asks for them.  All his gifts this year?  He loved all of them, but everything he received was something I observed from his interests as something he might enjoy. 

Cole already has the wisdom to be content with what he has.  He recognizes that there are things that he likes, but knows that he doesn't need to ask for them, because he doesn't need them.  He's just happy with what he has.

Such amazing wisdom from my three year old son.

Dear Cole

Dear Cole,

Oh my darling.  It's been awhile since I've wrote you a letter like this.  Now that you're older, I can tell you all these things I usually write down - you are old enough and wise enough to listen and absorb!

But this is important, so I wanted to write it down.

My son, in just a few days or weeks, your little brother will be arriving.  Now, you and I have been best buddies for three and half years.  You've been my constant companion, my sidekick, my errand buddy, my partner.  We've figured out this parenting gig together.  I've practiced my new parent skills on you.  We've given each other grace with learning how to be mama and son. 

But now, we have a new little boy joining our family.  A tiny babe who will take up so much time and energy and attention.  I'm not going to lie, sweetie - it will be a time of transition.  A time of learning how to be a parent to two kids (me) and how to share your mama (you).  It will be harder to get out of the house, with two littles in tow.  If breastfeeding works out this time, it will mean hours each day I'm tied to the sofa, feeding Baby Brother. 

Can I tell you something? I'm a little bit sad about this change coming up, too.  I've so enjoyed our time together, little man.  I've loved having my world revolve around just you.  I've loved spending time focusing on your needs, your interests and passions.  I know you probably won't remember this sweet time we've had together, but I will - and I will treasure it.

I'm going to make you a promise now, my darling boy.  I promise I will love you at least as much as I did before your little brother came along - probably even more, since I'll get to see your tender heart loving and nurturing your baby brother.  I promise to still make time for just the two of us.  I promise to be patient with you while we all transition.  I promise that, even though things will be very different, we will still always be a loving family.

Thanks for being my firstborn.  I love you so much, my boy.

Love, Mama

Vintage Airplane Nursery

It's officially finished!  Baby Brother's vintage airplane nursery is complete:

 I went with the colors navy blue and a sort of apple/lime green:

 My mom and I searched high and low for the perfect fabric to sew the bedding out of.  I wanted vintage airplane blueprint type fabric, and found exactly what I wanted here on Restoration Hardware Baby and Child - but at $129 just for a flat sheet??! No way!!  After a lot of searching, I found the absolute perfect fabric at a little awesome fabric website called Spoonflower.  $15 per yard was much more affordable and the fabric was super high quality and nice.

 Mom sewed the bumper set, the pillow, and the crib skirt.  I added in a couple of minky and minky/satin blankets.

 

 I had my heart set on striped navy and white curtains - these I made and lined with blackout fabric to keep the room nice and dark.

 One of my favorite parts is the stripe detail on the walls.  It was a real labor of love taping that sucker straight, but it looks so very cool.

The airplane bookend was $6 from TJ Maxx, the sparkly airplane was a gift from my mom, the green airplane in the frame was one I drew and cut out, and the print up top is one I printed off the computer and mounted on canvas.

 

 

 I used leftover fabric to recover the lampshade:

 My dad found this perfect airplane - it was originally red, so I quick painted it navy blue to match the room.  It's Cole's favorite part!

 

 

 

 The large vintage print above the crib was an engineering print.  I found a picture I liked online, took it to Office Depot (Staples does them too) and voila! I just mounted it on a piece of light posterboard from the dollar store - I love that it's so lightweight for above the crib, and it was super high impact for super cheap!

 

 This was my old play baby doll crib from when I was tiny - Cole has been practicing putting his baby doll down to sleep. 

 While the crib set my mom made is my favorite part of the room, this is my second favorite.  I loved this mobile (again, from Restoration Hardware), but $49 was way too much.  So, I found a photo hanging mobile ($8 on amazon) and drew out some 3D airplane and cloud patterns.  It took hours to cut everything just perfectly, but I LOVE how it turned out:

 

 My mom found this adorable airplane hook in Pottery Barn Kids:

 

Ok, Baby! Come on out so you can enjoy your adorable nursery!

Birth

I've had some questions about our plans for birth for Baby Brother.  Just like before, we are planning on a natural birth at a freestanding birth center.  And I am so, so excited.

I know, weird.  Who gets excited to be in unimaginable pain for an unspecified length of time?  Especially since at a birth center, I will not have any medical pain relief options.  But I am confident the experience will be super amazing.

Case in point:  when I went to fill out my birth plan, there literally wasn't anything I needed to request.  Everything we wanted - quiet music, low lights, limited people in the room, the ability to move around during labor, a waterbirth - it's all what they do there anyway!  I love the feeling of mutual respect (our opinions and options are discussed with even the smallest of procedures) and the passion surrounding all our care providers about birth and babies.  I know this isn't going to be just another "day at work" for these women providing our care - it's going to be a loving, relaxed, and individualized environment.

I was asked at one of my appointment that if I could sum up how I want our birth experience to be in one word, what would it be?  For me, I most strive for Peaceful.  I think about how being born is the most stressful experience of our lives, how confusing and frightening it must be for a little baby to go from a warm, safe, quiet environment to loud talking, strange hands, and bright lights... I want to make the transition for our sweet little babe as easy and peaceful as possible.

How about you? What were your priorities during birth?

House is spotless, laundry is done, sheets are changed, bathrooms are cleaned, nursery is finished, co-sleeper is set up, birthing center bags are packed, food is in the freezer, and Mom is here.

Ok Baby Brother... we're ready for you.  Feel free to make your arrival debut any time!

Minute to Win It

We have had some of the BEST times partying it up this year with our friends.   Of course, we had to start the year off right - so what better way than to host a New Year's Day Minute to Win It party?! 

It was a blast.  Full house of kids, friends, and food.  Super fun and silly games.  Prizes and presents.  So much laughter and good-natured competition!

 The marshmallow wreath toss:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Face the cookie (put a cookie on your forehead, try to get it to your mouth without using your hands):

 

 

 

 

 Christmas tree cup stacking:

 

 You guys, this one was super intense.  I don't think anyone actually succeeded.  But it was awesome to watch.

 

 

 Can you SEE the intensity??!

 

 

 

 Ornament balancing act:

 

 

 

 

Too much fun!  Nothing like a fast paced party night to keep me distracted until Baby Brother arrives, right?