Baby Shower Saga....Part 1

Pardon the rant, but I am LIVID!

Here's the deal:

Back in DECEMBER I contacted my apartment complex regarding holding my baby shower in their clubhouse.  I was originally told when I moved in that you could not rent out the clubhouse, however, upon looking at the website I noticed that it stated among the amenities "Beautiful and spacious area for entertaining in clubhouse."  So, I decided to call and verify and also suggest that they change their website if in fact you could not utilize the clubhouse as the wording was deceiving. After getting someone on the phone I was told that they were "pretty sure" I actually could use the space but they needed to verify.  I was put on hold and ended up speaking with a second tier manager (the one actually who originally said I couldn't rent it out).  I said, "I remember you telling me that I couldn't use the clubhouse, but the website says, etc. etc." She responded, "Oh no, you can't use after business hours." To which I replied, "I don't want it after business hours, I would like to use it during business hours for my baby shower."  She tells me, "Oh yeah, that's fine. When were you wanting to use it?"  I told her the date and time and she made it sound like she was writing it down. 

Fast forward to three/four weeks ago. My best friend is giving me the shower and called the apartment complex to verify where we were having it, get parking info and see how much liberty she would have to decorate. The woman on the phone confirmed the party, gave her info to give to my guests for parking and told her that she really couldn't do much decorating since it was already a decorated space.  We had figured that would be the case and were totally okay with that. 

Rewind to last night.  As I'm leaving my job, I get an email from my apartment complex "reminding" me of the COMMUNITY WIDE BRUNCH ON SATURDAY FROM 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM.  The EXACT time and date of my shower. I panic, call my bestie and ask her when she last spoke to them. She tells me three weeks ago and gets on the phone with them immediately.  Long story short: the woman that I spoke to in December now blatantly denies that she spoke with me at all and told me that I could use the space. She claims she never would have done that and that parties are never allowed in that area. I took it to her manager who apologizes but says there is really nothing they can do. However, they've offered me an outdoor space that I can use (mind you it will be 39 degrees outside the night before and only 65 at the time the shower is scheduled for.) Other than that, the option is to have the shower in my tiny one bedroom apartment. As of now I have close to 20 people confirmed and another 20 that I've not heard from. People were asked to only RSVP if they could not make it so there could easily be another 20 people on top of those already coming. There is no way in the world I could fit that many people in my apartment. I am going to be doing good to fit the 20 that I have already coming!!!!!!!!

Sadly, it's too late in the game to change venues, as this is happening in 2 days. I am beyond beside myself with all kinds of emotions and actually had about an hour of contractions last night after finding all this out. UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay, I'm done. I guess check back on Monday to find out what happens in the Baby Shower Saga.....geeze.

Mosaic Monday ~ My Daughter's Duds

In just a short while I will be welcoming my little baby girl into the world. I look forward to the many things we will do together and the experiences we will share. Speaking of sharing, seeing as how I live in a one bedroom apartment, the first thing we will be "sharing" is a bedroom, the second, is a closet! And though she's not even here yet, my child has already started to take over my closet with her vast array of cute onesies and fancy dresses.  It's okay though, I don't mind. Tehehehe.

I'm linking (for the first time) to Mary's Mosaic Monday.

Home Sweet Home

Finally!!!!! After having been in my apartment a little over two months, the living room and dining room are complete! I'm ecstatic!!  My mom did the decorating for me. She loves doing that type of thing and she's quite fabulous at it so I just turned her loose! Here are the fabulous results!!!

All that's left now is the rest of my bedroom and bathroom. We're waiting until the crib comes in to finish that. I will post pics once it's done though. 

In the meantime, I'm happy to have a place that actually feels like a home now! 

Let's All Do The Bump.....Bump, Bump, Bump.

Chugging along! 21 and a half weeks! I cannot believe it's going by so fast. I only have two more appointments until I start going every other week. Then we're really in the home stretch.

Went to the doctor today. Confirmed it IS a girl. I'm actually really happy now. Since I know her name and have bought a bunch of stuff for her, I've really started to connect with her and already love her to pieces.  She is very, very active. The nurse, while trying to get her heartbeat today, said that she could actually see her move through my stomach. She had a hard time getting her to be still long enough to hear her heartbeat. Those that know me, know that she gets that from her momma! ;) I also feel her kicking all the time at night. I swear she's going to be a soccer player or a kicker for the NFL. It's all the time.

I finally found her bedding! Actually it's going to be custom done by my Nana. I am getting a mini crib and have had a really hard time finding anything that fits. What I have found is no where near my style. As I've said before I'm not a theme person nor a gender specific person. I really prefer neutrals. That left me with zero options so custom was really the only thing I had left. It took looking around a good bit but I finally found something that I LOVE. I ordered it and cannot wait to see the finished product. I will order her bumpers and sheets separately. They will be lavender. Once all is complete, I will post a picture.

My apartment is coming together slowly but surly. I finally got in one end table (two were ordered, one was lost, fun stuff). It looks really good. The other should be in next week. Then mom will come over and finish her magic. She truly is amazing at decorating and doing so within my style preferences. Once she's done we will take some good pictures and I'll post those as well.

My maternity pictures are next weekend! It's a bit early compared to what most women do, but I'm as pregnant as I want to look for them. Any bigger and I don't think I would be too happy with the outcome. I found an adorable dress! It's not maternity but it's super cute and works like a maternity dress. Cannot wait!!!

Well, that's it for now I suppose. All good things happening in this neck of the woods. Hope all is well in yours!

Baby Girl at her photo shoot today! Notice the knee bent and the ribs!! 

21 and a half weeks! 

Get Out There and See The World!

As the days and weeks go by and Peanut's arrival gets closer and closer, I find my priorities changing. And not in ways I ever thought they would.  As you know, I originally intended to be in a house by now. But unforeseen credit issues appeared and my job situation changed, causing me to end up back in a one bedroom apartment that baby girl and I will share. My goal has always been to be a homeowner by the time I am 30. I still have a few years to go and possibly could achieve that. However, recently I've found myself less and less drawn to a house and more and more drawn to a travel savings account.

I've always loved traveling and have been blessed to be able to do a decent amount. I've no where near been where I would like to be though and have never been out of the country except to Canada. I've always wanted to change that for my child and give them a very worldly life experience. I've watched several friends (via Facebook, naturally) travel and have seen how much it has enriched their lives. Obviously at a younger age a child will have little appreciation for the concept, but as they get older and start learning about places in books and in school, I don't doubt at all that they will have a desire to and appreciation of travel.

That being said, traveling is expensive. Flights are insane these days so even if you stay in "less than" hotels, you're still out a good bit of money.

So my thinking has become this: I live in a very nice apartment complex. For now, I plan to stay in a one bedroom until my daughter is around 3 or 4. Then I plan on upgrading to a two bedroom where I am or if I can find better rent in a two bedroom elsewhere, moving to a two bedroom. Then from there, who knows? I  know of plenty of people that are never homeowners and while it's an accomplishment that I once hoped to achieve and somewhat still do, it's not a priority anymore. If I do, I do. If  I don't, oh well. My daughter's quality of life won't suffer because of it. And I actually believe her life will be enriched with experiences that she will always carry with her. And while I am all about memories in your childhood dwelling, who says it has to be a house? Family is family and those type of memories can be made no matter where you live or what you live in, but traveling is an experience that cannot be replicated.

Decorating Dilemmas.

Since I'm going to be back in an apartment again and not in a house, I'm going to be utilizing my current furniture in my bedroom - a white suite set I've had since I was 4.  Once I get it set up I'll post a picture, but it includes a full headboard and foot board along with a cute little vanity. I say little, but really it's somewhat massive.  Anyway, with the baby having to be in my room, I plan to get a white crib and changing table to match. The crib will be on the side of my bed while the changing table may actually be...wait for it....in the walk in closet.  Yes, I know it sounds a big rigged, but I really think it will be the best option. The closet is very, very long and has lots of space. No reason not to utilize it to it's maximum potential. I may not actually NEED a changing table from what I hear. Most of the mothers I know just change the kid wherever they are; floor of the living room, couch, bed. They just use one of those pads.

ANYWAY, that was a very long intro into the meat of this post. Ha! As far as my living room goes I will be obtaining new furniture with the exception of an over-sized chair and a coffee table (found at a thrift store for $15.) I will need to get a sofa and end tables. Also going to get some new wall decor. I've already "found" a couple of wall pieces to use. They're at my mom's house and are actually mine, but I didn't take them with me in my first move. The sofa, however is proving to be a bit of a pain. Everything that I like is running about $400 and up. I don't want to do IKEA. I've done their stuff before and it's just not really my style anymore. I've looked online at a TON of places but nothing screams out to me other than the most expensive thing in the inventory! Anyone have any suggestions? I've tried thrift store and garage sales...nothing. I want something sturdy yet comfortable. Nothing Victorian looking. Nothing dark green or maroon. And nothing leather.

I've found a dinette set that I'm going to get from Wal-Mart, believe it or not. Really like the look and it will mesh well with my other things. They had a couple of couches but nothing I would just buy sight unseen (most of their furniture you have to order online.) So for now I'm left with a chair and a coffee table. Hopefully no one is planning on visiting any time soon!

Here I Go Again On My Own.

Yes, another song lyric. Music is a major part of who I am so be prepared for song titles, lyrics and the like to be included in almost every post.

Well, tomorrow I will be back on my own. For the past couple of months I've been living with my mom. I moved in with her after I changed jobs. I was living about an hour from where I am now (due to a job), but after I accepted a new position closer to my family, I needed to move closer to it and wanted to move closer to them.

Originally the plan was to buy a house. It's truly a buyer's market right now and I'm one of those that hates throwing rent away. But after several unforeseen expenses and a credit score I hadn't expected, it isn't going to work out for now. At first I was really upset. I really wanted to have a home with a backyard for my dog and plenty of room for family to come over and visit once the baby is born. But, sometimes you just have to let things happen as they're meant to. I've got a short term plan for saving for the baby and its needs and then a somewhat long term plan for getting a down payment saved up and working on my credit score.  And after talking to several people about it, an apartment seems easier as a new single mom. No maintenance to worry about on my own. Plus the apartments that I'm moving into actually have a concierge service and will do your grocery shopping for you! How nifty is that?!  Once Peanut comes I will be utilizing that for sure!

So, disappointment aside, I feel pretty at peace about it all. I did end up getting a one bedroom in order to help save money. Yikes! Hehe. Peanut and mommy will REALLY be bonding. We will make it though. And hopefully in a year or two I'll be able to give Peanut a cute little house to grow in. However for now, he/she seems happy with the current living arrangements (mommy's belly!)

12 and half weeks.