Five On Friday- Anniversary Sale/Summer Finds

It's been so long since I did a Five on Friday post! Linking up with April for Five on Friday and Karli for Oh Hey Friday!

I thought it would be fun to do one today with our Nordstrom Anniversary Sale finds and current favorites right now. I may have gone a wee bit overboard, but think of all the money we saved on this sale! (TJ laughs and rolls eyes at this comment, I'm sure. Love you, darling!) In all seriousness, we let ourselves stock up/spend on a few things we like during this sale once a year and at least it is at a discount! Some colors have sold but I'm linking what I can!

These are some cozy things that will make the cold weather a little more bearable! And I'm already pretty obsessed with that floral robe. 

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I showed great restraint for the baby items, but did splurge on an ivory Little Giraffe blanket. They are SO soft and since they are pricey, I thought it was a perfect time to pick one up for Baby G. I'm in love with these Kendra Scott earrings and necklace and was happy to have snagged a pair of multi-glitter studs, which I have worn every day this week because they are so fun. 

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TJ picked out these goodies and I think they are so cute! He loves a good Anniversary Sale, too, which helps my case. :) 

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I ordered this Nanette Lepore one piece and plan to wear it while on vacation to Maine and Vermont next week with the family!

These are my favorite summer polishes right now. The Butter one is so shiny and the perfect tomato red, and the Essie one is even prettier in person! 

Would love to hear about some of your favorite Anniversary Sale/ summer finds! Have a wonderful weekend!

Dear Baby--31 Weeks

Dear Baby,

Hi, sweetie! You are in your 31st week! Since your due date moved up, I'm not sure if you are actually in your 32nd week, but we'll just stick with it! This week you are about 17-18 long and weigh somewhere about 3 1/2+ pounds. From now on, you'll gain more weight than height. This week, you are producing real tears! I know that we will be crying so many joyful happy tears when you are born, little love. Your brain is growing at a super-fast rate and so are the connections between nerve cells. You can now process information, track light and perceive signals from all five senses. You're also developing more distinct sleep and wake habits. Your digestive tract and lungs are almost mature, and your lungs are able to inflate properly at this point. You probably spend lots of time making faces, hiccupping, swallowing, breathing, pedaling with your feet and hands, and sucking your thumb.

Here's you this week! We thank God for A and the wonderful team of people taking care of you until we get to you. We are so, so blessed.

Look at that sweet baby bump! We can't wait to meet you!!

 

We have been VERY busy since last week, but it's helping us feel more prepared. Daddy put together your dresser, so I can finally wash and put away all your precious things! We also picked out your rug, which was delivered yesterday. I can't wait to show off your room! Daddy is going to put your crib together this weekend, now that we have a little more space in your room. We cleaned out our linen closet and just made room in general for our newest and most precious family member. There's still a bit to do, but we're definitely making progress!

 

One really exciting thing that happened for me is that my milk has started to come in! I have been pumping for about five weeks, and Monday was the first day I saw any milk. (My apologies if this is too much information!)  I don't know what our breastfeeding journey will look like, but just know that I'm trying really hard and feel very proud to do be able to do this. I am just in awe of what our bodies are capable of!

 

Honey, we are just thrilled that we leave for India in 5 weeks and plan to meet you in 6. We're so happy. Literally, I walk down the street humming, and find myself singing aloud as I walk around town. I have been thinking about how there was a time when I didn't know if  I would ever feel such pure joy again. And I'm so thankful, and I know our angels are surely smiling down on all of us as we prepare to meet one another in a few short weeks. There isn't one doubt in my mind that they are helping get you here, and what a blessing that is. All this to say that we can't even fathom the abundance of love and joy we will feel when we meet you. It's just incredible.

 

You are doing such a fantastic job, my darling. Keep growing big and strong! We are so proud of you every moment of every day and are counting the days until we meet you. You are our miracle baby and we love you, we love you, we love you so, dear baby.

 

Love,

Mommy and Daddy

 



Dear Baby--30 WEEKS!

 



Dear Baby,

Hey, sweetie! This week you are 30 WEEKS!!! It is such a gift. You are measuring over 3 pounds and from this point on you will gain about a half pound every week. This precious fat will fill your cheeks and also insulate and protect your organs and systems, which are in place and functioning. It will also help you regulate your body temperature after birth and give you the energy you need. Your skin is getting smoother, your brain is getting wrinklier to prepare for all of that growing brain tissue. Your body is now in proportion and you are strong enough to grasp a finger! Your eyesight continues to develop, and will become more and more keen as your grow.

 At your 29 week ultrasound last week, you were measuring almost a week ahead, so you're doing amazing! I thank God many times daily for your healthy and pray you continue to grow and thrive, get everything you need, and are born safe and healthy in our arms at the best possible time. At the time of the ultrasound, the placenta was at grade 2, which is on track for where we are in pregnancy. We continue to pray that the placenta provides all of your nutrients and oxygen and that you remain safe at all times! God has beautifully orchestrated this pregnancy and is knitting you together perfectly. We trust that He will continue to protect you and bring your into our arms.

The doctors changed your due date to September 18th, though we expect to meet your beautiful face early in the first week of September. I am just pinching myself that we leave for India in 6 weeks tomorrow! We decided it made sense to stay in our current apartment, which means I am running around like a mad woman trying to get everything ready! Believe me, I am grateful for every second of it. I just can't even think straight, though! There are approximately 137643587 things running through my mind at any given moment but you know what? Not one thing matters except getting you home safely with us. That's it! Everything else will fall into place and if we don't have the rug (+dresser, wall, décor, new living room furniture) ready before you come home, that will be okay. We're going to get to you and you're going to get to us and we can do anything from there. We're so excited to meet you!

This week my parents (your Mimi and Papi) have been here for a visit. We've had lots of fun exploring the city, seeing a play (Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime) shopping, and eating good meals. Your daddy has been in China this week, so he was here for part of their visit, and I'm thankful he comes home tomorrow and that it's his last work trip before you're born! Mimi and Papi went to Quebec for part of the week to see the Rolling Stones, and they come back to NYC today to stay another night. Love having them here and showing them all of your precious things! My dad told me that when he has had dreams about you, you're a girl, and mom said when she finds herself praying or talking about you, she unconsciously says "she". We will know in a few weeks! I tend to still lean towards thinking you're a baby girl, but I definitely still flip flop and think you're a sweet baby boy. It will be the surprise of a lifetime finding out!

You're doing the most amazing job in there, sweet baby. Keep growing big and strong, and know that you are our miracle, our gift from God and we are over the moon excited about meeting you and starting our lives together. We are so proud of you and we love you, we love you, we love you so, dear baby.

Love,
Mommy and Daddy

Dear Baby--29 Weeks

 

Dear Baby,

 

Hi, love! You are 29 weeks this week!! That means you're the size of a butternut squash, nearly 3 pounds and around 15-17 inches long. Your muscles and lungs continue to mature, and your head is growing bigger to make room for your growing brain. The part of your brain associated with intelligence and personality is getting more complex.  Also, this week your buds for permanent teeth are forming! Your baby teeth buds formed a few weeks ago under your gums. You have an ultrasound this week and we're continuing to pray expectantly that you're growing right on track and getting everything you need!

 

 

We are busy bees preparing for your arrival! Every day we put something else together (the stroller and bassinet came yesterday!) and we are counting down the days until we meet you. We leave in 7 weeks and plan to meet you in 8! Our plane tickets have been purchased and we are getting closer everyday to having everything ready. It's not there yet, but things are coming together.

We also went to a friend's birthday on Friday and enjoyed some awesome rooftop views. We celebrated the Fourth of July and had a low key day! We just hung around town and then went to our building's rooftop and enjoyed the nice weather.

 

We are looking forward to a visit from your Mimi and Papi this weekend! We have lots of fun things planned to do with them, and they are about to burst they're so excited about making the trip to India with us in 7 weeks!

 

You are doing a wonderful job in there, sweetie! Keep growing big and strong and know how absolutely ecstatic your mommy and daddy (and a whole village of other wonderful people) are to meet you! We are so proud of you, and we thank God for you everyday. We love you, we love you, we love you so, dear baby.

 

Mommy and Daddy

Dear Baby--28 Weeks

 

 

Dear Baby,

 

Hi, honey! Happy THIRD TRIMESTER!! At 28 weeks, you weigh over 2 1/2 pounds and are about 14.8 inches long. You are about the size of a kobocha squash. This week, your eyes are open and your are blinking regularly with eyelashes! Your eyes are sensitive and can perceive light. You are also sleeping and dreaming regularly. I wonder what you must be dreaming about, darlin'. Your lungs are almost fully developed and your body is packing on baby fat each day. You are likely sticking out your tongue, which is something babies like to do at this age. We are just so excited to see your face.

 

This weekend, Daddy and I went to see the Rolling Stones and Ed Sheeran in Kansas City, Missouri. It was, by far, the best concert either of us had ever seen! They are so awesome and seeing such a legendary band up close was amazing. It was a little spontaneous that we booked a flight to see a concert, and not something we had done before. We both agreed it was so worth it and we had the best time. Daddy kept saying, if _____(you!) ever has a chance to do something like this, I'd say go for it. I'd have to agree, just maybe take mom with you? :)

 

Here are some pictures from our weekend:

 

 

 

 

 

You are doing such a fantastic job, sweetie, and we can hardly believe that we leave for India in 8 weeks, and plan to meet you in 9! God is so good. You are our greatest adventure and we are over the moon excited to meet you. Keep growing big and strong and know how proud of you we are. We love you, we love you, we love you so, dear baby.

 

Mommy and Daddy