Baby Names by State

Just came across this thanks to the girls on the Bump.com

http://our365.com/wisdom/babynamescape/


Top names at Fairfax Hospital:

Girl Names
Abigail
Audrey
Caroline
Catherine
Madison
Chloe
Isabella
Charlotte
Makayla
Natalie


Boy Names
Ethan
Christian
Daniel
Anthony
Julian
Christopher
Aiden
Joshua
James
John


Here is the list in NYC:

Girl Names
Sara
Ella
Cyrus
Isabella
Emma
Gianna
Mia
Elizabeth
Brooke
Madelyn


Boy Names
Michael
Ryan
Matthew
Jacob
John
Jayden
Andrew
Alexander
Christopher
Ethan

Latest purchases

I am so excited about some weekend purchases for the baby's room. Found this really cute comforter at TJ Maxx with some adorable pillow shams. Since I am going to be keeping a queen size bed in the baby/guest room, I wanted something that was comfortable and kiddy friendly. I love the colors in the comforters and the shams!

My next great find was today at Marlo while searching for bedroom furniture for us. I was back in the clearance section of the store and there it was. A small little swivel glider in beige micro suede. I approached it slowly, and looked at the tag...liked what I saw, and sat. It was very comfortable and had nice motion to it. I could totally see myself rocking my baby and passing out in the chair. I love the fact that it is a club chair, and much to Marc's dismay it is not going in the basement. They brand is called "Best" and is sold at JC Penney for $449.99, so glad I got mine for $199.99!!!

I have a Sweet Potato!

Your fetus has become amazingly mobile (at least compared to you), passing the hours yawning, hiccuping, rolling, twisting, kicking, punching, sucking and swallowing. And, baby's finally big enough that you'll be able to feel those movements soon. -thebump.com

Great Product Website

Just stumbled upon this site and had to share:

http://www.babygizmo.com/

It has a list of products side by side to compare. This is especially helpful in my quest to find a lightweight stroller!

http://www.babygizmo.com/compare/standard_stroller_compare_chart.html

http://www.babygizmo.com/compare/carseatcompat.php

Crib Detective

So I was feeling great after purchasing our little man's crib through BabyCenter after months and months of research. After I settled on a brand I wanted to make sure I got the best deal on it. It has been so difficult sifting through the millions of different names these companies operate under. It felt nice to check something off my list. I had finally settled on a Kalani Crib in honey oak by Da Vinci. If you look at my OCT blogs, you can see that this brand is listed as a C-. I was able to find out that is is made by Million Dollar Baby which ranked a little higher at a B-. So I was feeling better about my purchase. After I checked out, I continued to see if I could find any more info about the crib. I came across a few online boards where I found out Walmart is selling the same crib under the name BabyMod. I feel like I have been duped!! Buying a crib for a good price should not be this complicated. I was able to cancel my order through BabyCenter and will most likely purchase the BabyMod Da Vinci Million Dollar Baby one for $50 less at Walmart and pick it up at the store with the site to store shipping. Mommies to be beware!!!

IT'S A......

BOY!!!!!!!!!! We are in disbelief, with my background and all....but extremely excited!!!! Here is a shot from the underside of the baby, mainly his butt and legs. You can see right in between the legs and get a great shot of his man parts!!! I hate to admit it, but I secretly wore blue today!! We couldn't wait until Christmas to share the news with you all. Next, we just have to settle on a name!!!-Ashley

We are extremely excited! It's funny how this worked because Ash "just knew" it was going to be a boy. I think the little rug rat will have a blast growing up in a family filled with ladies. And those are literally two bee bees and a tic tac!-Marc

Lets make Guacamole!

Watch what you say... tiny bones forming in baby's ears mean the little one can now pick up your voice. Eyebrows, lashes and hair are starting to fill in, and taste buds are forming. And, if you're interested, an ultrasound might be able to determine gender. -thebump.com

How about some fresh squeezed.....

Continuing the march towards normal proportions, baby's legs now outmeasure the arms. And, finally, all four limbs have functional joints. Your fetus is squirming and wiggling like crazy down in the womb, though you probably still can't feel the movements. -thebump.com

When life hands you lemons... make lemonade!

Your adorable little fetus is busy with thumb sucking, toe wiggling, and (not so cute but equally amazing) making urine and breathing amniotic fluid as the liver, kidneys and spleen continue to develop. Lanugo (thin, downy hair) is growing all over the body for warmth. -thebump.com

Diaper bag...check!

I am so excited, I just won this Skip Hop http://www.skiphop.com/ diaper bag on Ebay. It retails for $89.00. I have a surplus of funds lately, with all of the items I have been selling so it was a nice treat and I snagged it at $65.00 with shipping. The best part is it has these little straps on wither side that you can hook around the handles of a stroller so everything is right at arms reach. Its nice and neutral it doesn't scream "diaper bag" which is nice, just hope Marc won't mind wearing it!

Feeling Peachy??

We are!!!




Your fetus is forming teeth and vocal cords... savor this, their non-functional phase. Baby is approaching normal proportions, with a head now only one third the size of the body. Intestines are in the process of moving from the umbilical cord to baby's tummy. -thebump.com

Great Website Uppercase Living!

I came across this great website the other day through one of my CustomInk customers. She was making the custest t-shirt design, and the website happened to be on there. I decided to stalk it, which is fun to do every now and again. I am so glad I did, because it gave me some more nursery ideas. The designs are basicly appliques, which can be changed, removed or painted over when ready for a change. You can even customize your own ideas, and design in a lab similar to Customink's. www.uppercaseliving.com

More baby pics!

Baby A Bouncing around

Today we had a few appointments. First we met with Dr. Forrest, our OB in Fairfax. We were able to hear the baby's heart for the first time. It was amazing, well not at first....unfortunately the Baby Doppler was running low on batteries. So instead of heartbeats, we heard alien like squeals, all 3 of us could not stop laughing. There was an alien in my tummy! Eventually he grabbed a new Doppler and we were finally able to hear our baby's heartbeat. Loud and strong and right around 150 beats minute.

Then it was of to Fairfax Hospital for a cervical measurement and pics of our little one. The room was great, nice comfy bed and a large plasma TV nearly 50 inches to watch our baby move around. At first the baby wasn't cooperating, but after some Mommy movements, the baby cooperated and moved how we wanted. We were able to see the legs and arms stretching around, and bouncing all over. Again we heard the heartbeat, around 158 beats a minute. I was dying to know the sex, but the Dr. said it was way to early and to stop asking!! Oh well, guess we'll have to wait another 6-8 weeks.

My mama is for Obama!

Cute little onesies I came across! Go OBAMA!!!!

http://www.sandboxthreads.com/423.html

Plum Pudding this week!

As you move into the second trimester, baby shifts into the growth and maturation stage. After weeks in the critical development stage, almost all of baby's systems are fully formed.
-thebump.com

Baby Name Website

I have been searching and searching for this baby name site, and I finally found it!!!

http://nameberry.com/list/57/If-You-Like-Lily-You-Might-Love

Enjoy!!

How about a Margarita?

Your fetus currently enjoys a 1:1 ratio between body and head, and has skin so transparent that blood vessels show right through. But, fingers and toes are no longer webbed, and hair follicles, tooth buds and nail beds are forming -- setting up a significantly more attractive future.-Thebump.com

Baby Crib Ratings

Not sure if its pregnancy brain, or if I have truly misplaced my Baby Bargains book, but thankfully I was able to find this post online with baby crib ratings:

Angel Line: C+ $ to $$
A.P. Industries: B+ $$$
Baby's Dream: A $$ to $$$
Bassett: B+ $$ to $$$
Bellini: B- $$$
Berg: A- $$$
Bonavita/Babi Italia: A- $ to $$$
Bratt Decor: B $$$
Capretti Home: just came out, no rating yet $$$
Cara Mia: B- $$ to $$$
Chanderic: B+ $$$
Child Craft: B+ $$ to $$$
Corsican Kids: C+ $$$
Creations: just came out, no rating yet $$$
Da Vinci: C $$
Delta: C+ $
Ducduc: B $$$
Dutailier: B+ $$$
Eden Baby: C+ $$
Ethan Allen: B $$$
IKEA: A $
Jardine: B+ (cribs only) $ to $$
JC Penney: C- $ to $$$
Land of Nod: B $$ to $$$
Million Dollar Baby: B- $ to $$$
Morigeau/Lepine: B+ $$$
Mother Hubbard: B+ $$$
Munire: A $$$
Natart: A $$$
Netto Colloection: B $$$
Nursery Smart: A $$ to $$$
Nurseryworks: B+ $$$
Oeuf: B $$$
Pali: A- $$$
Pottery Barn Kids: A- $$$
Restore & Restyle: D $$
RT Furniture: B $$$
Simmons: C $$$
Simplicity: D $$ to $$$
Sorelle: B- $$Stokke/Sleepi: B- $$
Storkcraft: C $ to $$$
Westwood: A $$$
Young America: B+ $$$

Suprisingly, I love this crib by Bassett and its from Walmart for $249.99!

Saturday Shopping Spree

Over the weekend I ventured out to Great Beginnings, a local store in Gaithersburg MD that specializes in everything baby. I went with my friend Kristen, who is about a month ahead of us. Even though we were both pretty clueless about what to shop for, it was a great way to learn about all the baby products out there, as well as get some ideas for the nursery. We both had a blast, check out some of the pics below!

Ways to piss off a pregnant lady:

1. Wafting wonderful aromas in front of her face. Example, driving behind the Taco shop on Wheels this morning
2. Eating the last pickle in the jar
3. Eating the last bit of ice cream
4. Asking me if it was "planned"
5. Foul smells of any kind

Thats all for now!

How about some prune juice?

With bones and cartilage starting to form and vital organs beginning to function, baby is making major progress. Body length will almost double in the next three weeks, and arm joints are now working. (Soon, legs will too.) -thebump.com

Shop 'til you drop

Over the weekend I priced out some of the items we will need for our little one. I was so surprised how expensive a rocker/glider could be. I want one of good quality, and one that looks more like a club chair, instead of a rocker with intricate parts on the bottom. This one is from JC Penney, a little over $400, which is more than the crib I like. So my search will continue. I did find some cute baskets ($6.99) for storage from Ikea, and inexpensive rug (12.99).

Walmart surprised me with some adorable bedding, but not sure how plush or soft it might be.

We have an Olive!

Your little embryo has now officially graduated to fetus-hood. Adding to the excitement, a Doppler ultrasound device might be able to pick up the beating heart. With basic physical structures in place and increasingly distinct facial features, baby is kind of starting to look like... well... a baby! -Thebump.com

Yeah, we are progressing so quickly!!

8 Week Photo Op!

Last week we had a second oppurtunity to look at our little one. Again, all I was waiting for was to see something in the sac. I couldn't believe how much bigger "Baby A" has gotten. Dr. Forrest called it a little Snowman! Needless to say, you can call it whatever you want, but we have a growing baby with a heartbeat!!

So the spins begin...

This morning was the first time I found myself running for the toilet bowl. It was so odd, I went to make coffee, stood over the sink, and an overwhelming heat came over my body and I began to sweat. I was able to get it under control and I have been ok since but not 100%. It seems that smells lately are really getting to me. My coworkers food, gasoline and cigarettes smoke. Truthfully, I welcome them all:)

First appointment pics

Here are some pics from our first appoinment. As you can see, I was pretty excited to be walking out of the office with a picture in hand. I have been feeling pretty good all week, aside from my mid day slumps. I find it hard to sit still at work, and I have some lower back pain already and thats about it. We have out next appointment the first week of October, hopefully we'll get another pic to share!

Meet our baby...

So after a long year, it looks like our dreams have finally come true! It has been a rough last few weeks, filled with nervousness and excitement. But, we finally got confirmation on Sept 23, that we have a growing baby with a heartbeat. As soon as I saw the image on the monitor, I knew we were in a good shape..as I have never seen this sight before. A small little bean with a blinking little heart. I couldn't believe it..I grabbed Marc's hand and just squeezed the life out of it, as my eyes filled with tears. Check out our baby crab on the right!