HELLO
Mom to Iris. Wife to Todd. Our little family lives at the foothills of the Ozark Mountains in Fayetteville, Arkansas. We love it here and I love sharing little bits of our life.

© 2014 sarahfortune.

+

Posts Tagged: baby shower

Baby Blog: Blankets for Iris

Baby Blog: The Nursery

As mentioned in the nursery post, we’ve received some really special handmade blankets for Iris. So special that they deserve their very own blog post.

 

Rainbows & Zig-zags
Blankets for Iris

This hand stitched cozy was a gift from Leslie and Dustin at my baby shower. It received lots of “oohs & ahhs” from the ladies as I unwrapped it and then a collective “what?” when it was discovered that it wasn’t made by Leslie… but by her husband, Dustin. One of my most favorite shower moments (and gifts).

 

Pink Hearts
Blankets for Iris

This sweet one is made by one of my oldest friends, Julia. We became like sisters back in kindergarten thanks to our parents. She now lives in Maryland, so she wasn’t able to make the shower, but sent this heart filled blanket for Miss Iris. I love knowing that my child will have something made by one of my childhood friends.

 

Snow White
Blankets for Iris

Sweet, simple, and the softest blanket ever. Made by Todd’s great aunt Bobbie, we’re keeping this one on our nursery rocking chair for easy reach since I can already tell it’s good for cuddles.

 

Vintage Memories
Blankets for Iris

This blanket here is extra, extra special and for several reasons. If you know me at all, you know that to this day I still sleep with a blanket of some sort with satin trim. It all started before I was born when my late great aunt Martha made me a blanket, identical to the one above. I was obsessed with it from the beginning, and then a little too late in life as well (here I am in fourth grade with it):

Blanket

Sadly, I lost it long ago but one day I was antique shopping with Todd’s mom and found the exact same vintage fabric that my “blankey” was made of. I held on to it for the last five years and as soon as I knew we were having a baby, I enlisted my best pal Kerri to recreate it. I love that this blanket already holds memories of my own childhood, my great aunt, Todd’s mom, my best friend, and with many to come from Iris.

 

By Dorothy Delle
Blankets for Iris

Last, but never least is a blanket given to us from my dad and made by one of my most favorite people in the entire world – my grandma. Actually, it was made years ago, way before Iris was even a thought in anyone’s mind. My grandma passed away shortly after we found out I was pregnant and played a part in choosing the name Iris Adella. Even though the blanket was made at least a decade ago, I just know she would be over the moon about it going to her great granddaughter.

Baby Blog: The Nursery

With about six more weeks to go, the nursery is done! Well, about as done as it’s going to be. I’m sure there are little things here and there that we’ll need, but it feels good to have the basics taken care of.

So here’s a little tour of our nursery, with my notes along the way…

● The room before. For a few years it was my Bittersweet Styles office (which I wisely painted light pink back in the day), but as you can see, its last purpose was to house all of our junk. It was bad. Really bad.

Baby Blog: The Nursery

● But with a lot of organizing, some construction on the ceiling, and a little paint, we started the transformation to a nursery…

Baby Blog: The Nursery

Tah-dah! Here she is…

● Vintage floral rocking arm-chair found on Craigslist.
● Vintage fabric pennants made by Kerri.
● I decided to forgo the traditional bedding. I actually have a matching set, but have it neatly packed away for when she’s older. I like the simplicity of it how it is now, plus infants aren’t supposed to sleep with anything but a flat sheet at first anyway.

Baby Blog: The Nursery

● The three big pieces of nursery furniture are from Todd’s dad & step mom. It’s a ‘lifetime set’, so the crib turns into a toddler bed and then a full size bed, while the changing station dresser turns into a desk and bedside table. So thankful to have something so nice that Iris can use as she grows.
● Our wedding invitation is framed and hung over the tall dresser.
● Stuffed vintage Razorback for good measure.
● Pink & white poms I made from tissue paper.
● A bassinet that we’ll actually keep in our bedroom at first.
● Pink vintage lamp that once belonged to Todd’s mom.

Baby Blog: The Nursery

Baby Blog: The Nursery

Baby Blog: The Nursery

● Gifts from friends & family in the dresser cubbies.
● The stack of blankets are all handmade. They’re so special that I’m working on a separate blog post just for them.

Baby Blog: The Nursery

Baby Blog: The Nursery

Baby Blog: The Nursery

Changing station…
● The vintage cats are actually a night light that also belonged to Todd’s mom.
● We’re using the vintage Iris/Tennessee bowl that Erin gave us to hold all the booty cleaning supplies.

Baby Blog: The Nursery

Baby Blog: The Nursery

Baby Blog: The Nursery

Baby Blog: The Nursery

The crib…
● Filled with cuddly friends for now.
Yes, that is a llama.
And a Blabla bunny.

Baby Blog: The Nursery

Baby Blog: The Nursery

Baby Blog: The Nursery

Baby Blog: The Nursery

● Framed baby shower art from Jill, who designed the invitations.
● Diaper bag from Mini Boden & a couple favorite dresses.

Baby Blog: The Nursery

Baby Blog: The Nursery

Shelf treasures…
● Framed Skateland photo from my mom. I used to roller skate there in Memphis growing up & it has since burned down.
● Paper flowers made by me.
● Vintage Fisher Price toy found in Mississippi by Kerri.
● Vintage doll case I’ve had forever.
● The tiniest (and cutest) Hog hat ever.
● Little lambs I found in Berryville, Arkansas. As I bought them, I was asked for the first time when I was due.
● House made by Tim. The story is here.

Baby Blog: The Nursery

Baby Blog: The Nursery

Baby Blog: The Nursery

Baby Blog: The Nursery

Now for some of Iris’ loot…

● The best books from the best friends.

Baby Blog: The Nursery

● Her heap of clothes (I should do a whole separate post on all of the adorable outfits she received at the shower). There’s one whole drawer dedicated to onesies. One dedicated to pajamas. One dedicated to outfits. And a closet just for dresses. My favorite part about these photos is that Todd is actually the one that did the baby laundry & arranged all of the drawers. Hee!

Baby Blog: The Nursery

Baby Blog: The Nursery

Baby Blog: The Nursery

Baby Blog: The Nursery

Baby Blog: The Nursery

● Burp cloths & blankets.

Baby Blog: The Nursery

● Bath drawer.

Baby Blog: The Nursery

● Bibs, socks, hats, & bows.

Baby Blog: The Nursery

● Storage bin/hamper.

Baby Blog: The Nursery

● More shower gifts (!!!)
Baby Blog: The Nursery

Baby Blog: The Nursery

Sweet Sadie Pup decided to try out the nursery and see how she likes it.
Thankfully, it’s pup approved.
Now all we need is a real baby!

Baby Blog: The Nursery

Pregnancy Blog: 32 weeks & the baby shower!

Baby Shower!

I’m a little late on getting this week’s post up, but that’s because I’m sitting here typing this from a hotel in downtown Nashville. It’s my last work trip before the baby arrives and now at 33 weeks, I’m moving a little slow.

Despite the swollen feet and aching back, week 32 was the best yet! With my baby shower this past Saturday, my week was full of friends, food, and prizes for Iris. More than anything, I just loved having so many of my favorite people around, especially those who live out of town that I rarely get to see. I am beyond thankful for all of my eight (eight!) shower hosts and all that they did. It was truly a day that I will remember forever. And oh my goodness can I just talk for a minute about the baby loot we received? It took me forever to open up all of those goodies! So long that I actually started to feel bad for the guests. Hah. We are so grateful for everything we received.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Once we get completely organized I’ll do a feature on the nursery, which I’m sure will include lots of the gifts. For now though, here are some photos from the weekend (with more to come later, from Erin, who thankfully also took pictures while I was busy cracking open presents and talking to everyone).

Baby Shower!

Baby Shower!

Baby Shower!

Baby Shower!

Baby Shower!

Baby Shower!

Baby Shower!

Baby Shower!

Baby Shower!

Baby Shower!

Baby Shower!

Baby Shower!

Baby Shower!

Baby Shower!

My mom

Baby Shower!

Brandy

Baby Shower!

My niece, Mariam

Baby Shower!

Erin

Baby Shower!

GL & me

Baby Shower!

Baby Shower!

Baby Shower!

Baby Shower!

Baby Shower!

Baby Shower!

Jessica & Brains

Baby Shower!

Baby Shower!

Hillary

Baby Shower!

Beth

Baby Shower!

Kerri & Brandy

Baby Shower!

GL & Milton

Baby Shower!

Ashlee, Jill, & Jessica

Baby Shower!

Brains & Lacy

Baby Shower!

Family

Baby Shower!

After the shower…
Todd’s dad & my nephew Cole

Baby Shower!

Baby Shower!

Dinner with Memphis pals

Baby Shower!

Baby Shower!

A few Instagram pics from myself & friends…

Baby shower!

Baby shower!

Baby shower!

Baby shower!

Baby shower!

Baby shower!

Baby shower!

Baby shower!

Smores wontons by Erin

Baby shower!

Just a few of the gifts

Baby shower!

Baby shower!

Baby shower!

What a magical weekend! Now I can’t wait to get home and set everything up. Thanks again to everyone who has helped make this baby journey extra awesome.

Xoxo

Pregnancy Blog: 24 weeks

Pregnancy Blog: 24 weeks

Ah, 24 weeks.

This is about the time where I start to regret committing to a photo of me every week. While I’m excited that baby Iris is growing strong, I can’t say the same for my backside and, well, everywhere else.

At least this week of pregnancy has been a productive one. Thanks to Todd’s hard work, the nursery ceiling is completed and the walls are painted. We actually left the room the same color as before, conveniently pink, but it needed some major touch ups and the trim color had to go. While Todd did the hard labor, I started the dreaded daycare search. I’ve always known that I would go back to work full time after having a baby, so this has been something I’ve worried about for a while. Handing over Iris every weekday will be terribly hard, plus the cost of care is literally like paying another mortgage every month.

We’re hoping to hold off on daycare until January, but I’ve heard it’s best to start the search early due to waiting lists and such. After researching online and making a ton of phone calls, my mom and I toured a few of them this week. So far my favorite daycare is one that’s only .3 miles (about a 45 second drive) from my office. Yes, I timed it. If we decide to go with this one, I’m sure there will be some comfort in knowing that she’s so close.

So yes, this week has been busy, but I managed to squeeze in some pregnant lady fun too. For one, GL found out that she’s having a GIRL! She’s only a month behind me, so I’m excited to know that Iris will have an instant best friend. Also, our friend Taylor had her baby shower this weekend. She’s having a boy this August, so it looks like Iris will have a built in boyfriend too!

A few pictures from the shower…

Taylor's Baby Shower

Taylor's Baby Shower

Taylor's Baby Shower

Taylor's Baby Shower

Taylor's Baby Shower

Taylor's Baby Shower

Taylor's Baby Shower

GL, Taylor, & me
Taylor's Baby Shower

Xoxo

Katie’s Baby Shower!

One of the best things about having a baby this year is that my sister-in-law, Katie, is also having her first one too! Baby boy Cole is due this May, so that means the little cousins will only be five months apart. Last weekend I hosted a shower for family & friends from around the Fayetteville area (she lives about an hour and a half away). Since my brain is strictly in baby mode, I had fun crafting the decorations and seeing all the baby goodies get unwrapped. Here’s the afternoon in photos…

Katie's Baby Shower

Katie's Baby Shower

Katie's Baby Shower

Katie's Baby Shower

Prizes & games

Katie's Baby Shower

Katie's Baby Shower

Katie's Baby Shower

Katie's Baby Shower

Katie's Baby Shower

Katie's Baby Shower

Katie's Baby Shower

Katie's Baby Shower

Katie's Baby Shower

Katie's Baby Shower

Katie's Baby Shower

Katie's Baby Shower

Katie's Baby Shower

The Dad & Mom

Katie's Baby Shower

Katie's Baby Shower

The two preggies

Katie's Baby Shower

Katie's Baby Shower

The fam

Katie's Baby Shower

Katie's Baby Shower

Can’t wait to meet ya, Cole!