24 weeks

I am starting this blog because I don't want to be one of those people to flood your FaceBook newsfeed with constant updates and photos of my pregnancy and baby. Because we are already obsessed with her, I want a place to share with those family and friends that care how our little one is doing.

So here's the latest scoop on Baby Mercer…

I am 24 weeks and 4 days pregnant. Our sweet babe is a GIRL and we have decided to name her Avery Parris Mercer. We are keeping my maiden name as her middle name, since my dad didn't have any boys to keep the name alive. I do have one boy cousin though, so I guess it's up to him. :) Besides that, we think it's pretty and we have decided to make her nursery a bit of a Parisian theme.

Avery is moving around like crazy inside my belly each day now, and it is the coolest, most amazing feeling I've ever felt in my life! It's so surreal to think that Jon and I have created a HUMAN and she is one of a kind. It blows my mind to think she is half of me, half of him and even if we have another child/ren down the road, they will not be exactly like her.

This past month we have begun to get things ready for baby. Avery's nursery will be grey, pale pink and white, with an antique/feminine/Parisian theme to it. We refinished a dresser that used to be mine, and my dad's before that. We painted it an antique white, with a pink undertone and crystal knobs. We have painted the nursery grey, bought a chandelier that needs to be installed and are looking online at furniture and stuff. Getting everything ready is going to take all the time we have left. It's so fun, but the expense of making everything look how I've pictured is pretty stressful. I've been told more than once in my life that I have champagne taste on a beer budget, but aside from that, baby stuff is pretty dang expensive!! Luckily I have received many hand-me-downs from my sister, in the way of cute girly clothes and my friend Candace that just had a baby in February has loaned me a pretty nice collection of maternity clothes. I am so grateful for these 2 women, as they've given me invaluable advice and help so far!!

This week I also got registered for my baby shower at Buy Buy Baby and Babies R Us, which was a big check off of my to-do list. My friend Candace went with me for that, which was a huge help, because those baby stores are so overwhelming. Especially when it comes to essentials…slow-flow vs. fast-flow bottle nipples and orthodontic pacifiers can be scary for moms-to-be! I can't believe my shower is just a little over a month away!! So exciting!!