20 & 21 weeks and Cocoa Bean's first Photo Shoot!

Well, we are more than half way to meeting our little Cocoa Bean and we couldn't be more excited!

At 20 weeks, I definitely started to notice the belly getting bigger and finding it more difficult to sleep through the night. However, thank goodness for whomever invented the 'Snoogle pillow'...it has been the best purchase yet!!!

And over the weekend, Daddy spent his day off putting together Cocoa Bean's new room furniture!!! We aren't revealing the nursery just yet (as we have so many details to finalize) but here is Daddy hard at work! I cannot wait for this room to be done...I find myself spending so much time in there already!!!

Change Table is coming together!

We had a little scare this week and we made our first visit to emerge. Everything was/is completely fine with Cocoa Bean, Mama just started having some pains and Daddy and I both felt more comfortable going to have everything checked out! Can you tell we are first time parents!!!

Dr. said Cocoa Bean is just a moving and groovin', so he/she is pressing against muscles and bones are shifting etc. Oh the joy!!! But, as long as we have a healthy little Cocoa Bean, we will take it!!

This week marks 21 weeks and I must say, besides being tired and finding it difficult going more than a few feet without having to pee (haha TMI), I am feeling great. And best of all, we finally got to see our precious Cocoa Bean and let me tell you, this babe is one cute little monkey!!!

Our ultrasound technician was amazing and spent so much time just showing us every detail of our little Bean! We had no idea that we were going to be able to get some 3D shots and were so excited to see our little Bean's face and features.  However, the tech had a hard time keeping up with our little Bean, as he/she decided it was a great time to practice some dance moves in mommy's tummy; my mom says this is payback for all the years of my 'bull-in-a-china-shop' personality! We might be in trouble hahah!

Our little Cocoa Bean!!!

One of our favorite photos! But, I see a bit of a smirk there and think we may have one cheeky little monkey on our hands!!!

Only 19 more weeks until we meet our Bean...whoa, time really is going quickly!!!

And Grammy Mahon sent Cocoa Bean his/her first gift in the mail! We cannot wait to have our little Bean in this Muskoka onesie!!!

6 Years, photos, one wooden bus and 19 weeks...WHOA!!!

On August 18th, Dave and I celebrated 6 years of marriage...CRAZY!  I cannot believe how quickly the time has gone, the adventures we have taken and not to mention having lived in three different Countries all in those short 6 years! Side note: if you need moving tips, we've got them lol!!!

We have had a very busy summer, with many huge blessings and mile stones concurred (goodbye Step 1), and we wanted to take just a few moments to reflect on those past 6 years; they haven't always been easy, and we have certainly grown along the way, but these past 6 years have been our journey, our story, and we are so thankful for all that we have been able to do and for what is yet to come!

Dave's Mom (Nanna Ilceski) took some amazing photos for us and we couldn't be more happy with them! It was a gorgeous day to celebrate 6 years, and of course our little Cocoa Bean who will be welcomed into our lives during our 6th year of marriage!!

We have had a ton of things going on in the last few weeks and Dave and I  simply wanted to spend some time together with family and friends for our anniversary; we knew in only a few short days, our schedules, and availability would drastically be changing!

We had friends join us a few nights before our anniversary for games, and then went out to dinner and ice cream with family...honestly, we needed it!

But what I was blown away by was my husbands thoughtful anniversary gift!

As many people know part of our journey took us to England for a year, and we loved every moment there. What many people don't know is that it was also the beginning of our journey to becoming parents...it's taken a bit of time, and struggles, but we are amazed at how God works!

Without going into a huge story I will say this: While touring the Tower of London we came across this little wooden double decker bus...it was perfect for a nursery!! Dave and I talked about buying that bus that day (hahah me listing the reasons why we NEEDED to have it lol) and decided that because we weren't actually pregnant, it could end up being a sad memory, instead of a good one. Needless to say, that little bus remained on the shelf.

Well, bring us to our 6th anniversary (almost 2 years later) and a package arrives for me!!!
As I begin to open the package (which I had to wait hours until Dave arrived home to open, lol) I see this little sticker on the side of the box...

Which reads:

At this point I realize that it is definitely something from England...my heart is jumping as I start to think of that little bus. Dave sees my face and says "what do you think it is?".  I tell him my thought and the saddest look comes over his face. " Oh Nic, I don't think we would be able to order that".  I feel horrible because: 1. I have just ruined the gift that he did get and 2. He sees that my hopes are dashed lol.

As I open the package and remove the contents I see this:

IT IS THE LITTLE RED BUS!  My husband is so sneaky!

In the last few weeks my husband has been so stressed with starting clinicals, with us moving and just figuring out how our daily schedules will work...but I realized through all this, he is one excited Daddy and has a heart of gold!  I don't think my heart has ever been this full....hahah not because of the bus, but because of the thought, love and memories behind this bus!

Mommy and Cocoa Bean are two lucky people: We have the best husband and Daddy in the world!

And finally...week 19 has come and Daddy has not only felt, but seen Cocoa Bean dancing in Mommy's tummy!  We've learned that if you want Cocoa Bean to dance, just have Daddy either sing or read right at my belly. Cocoa Bean sure loves his/her Daddy!!! (And no, we don't know the gender of Cocoa Bean, and we aren't going to find out lol...sorry friends hahaha).

Clinicals have begun!

This morning, around 6am, I heard my husband up and moving around!  The alarm wasn't suppose to go off for another 30 minutes...this prego needs every moment of sleep she can get!! But, I knew that he was excited to start today and was probably up well before I even heard him lol!

As I finally ventured out of bed, I could not believe that we are already at the clinical stage!  As I watched Dave collect the final items for his day, I could not help feeling proud and emotional (hahah  might be the hormones); he just looked so handsome with his white coat, PD kit and his pager (which may be my worst enemy in a few shorts weeks...or days lol).

It is crazy how two years have come and gone, and Dave is now in his third year! He starts his first clinical rotation today, in Pediatrics, and although I am sure he is a bit nervous, he is certainly ready for this next chapter!

To all the third years starting their clinical rotations today, BEST OF LUCK! It will be done before you know it (hahah easier for me to say when I don't have to work 30 hour shifts or sleep at the hospital for days!!!).

Dave's first day of medical school at Northumbria University

Dave's first day of clinical rotations!! Isn't he so handsome!!!

 So proud of you, Dave!!! Even Cocoa Bean is doing an excited dance for you today lol!!!

Week by Week Baby Bump!

About a year ago, I was being oh-so productive on pinterest (wasting time) and came across an uber cute blog: You can find it here Cutest Blog

After looking through some of this Mama's cute and creative ideas, I started saving and pinning some ideas for the future!!! I knew that one day some of those ideas would be a MUST to do!

While, now that we have our own little Cocoa Bean on the way, I have been trying to document and take weekly photos of this journey! I hope that one day I can share these photos and ideas with Cocoa Bean and just sort of think of it as a 'Modern Day Baby Book' that our kids can look back on and see all the fun milestones and events (hahah I am sure they will be thrilled to hear about their first poop explosion and peeing on Daddy etc. etc.).

Nanna Ilceski took almost all of the photos (you will see the room colours change, since we moved). But we love that we have some photos from Nanna and Papa's house, and then now continuing the weeks from our new home; also Cocoa Beans first home!!!

We started documenting at week 10, as I was a littler nervous to start documenting too early in the pregnancy.

So, although totally behind in posting weekly, here are the weekly bump photos:

Pretty sure I was a little tired in this photo lol!

Daddy has made an appearance and is holding his little 'peach'.

Hard to read: But Daddy is finished his test and we're staying in Detroit!

Still loving Dill Pickle Chips!

Daddy and Nanna literally just finished painting Cocoa Beans Nursery this day!

At our new home and in Cocoa Beans nursery!!! (A little sneak peak) And Daddy wrote Cocoa Beans board this week...he did a great job!

Up-to-date!!!  Belly is getting bigger, Cocoa Bean is dancing and Daddy Started Clinicals! A lot has happened in only a few weeks!

Putting Papa to work!

With our latest Dr.s appointment, where the Dr. reassured us that Cocoa Bean looked good and was growing, it finally began to sink in and become real: WE ARE HAVING A BABY!!!

With that...let the projects begin!

I have known for awhile some of the projects that we (hahah I) could not live without. One of the project ideas came from a blog I saw (via Pinterest) and I knew that I wanted to create a similar chalkboard and use it not only throughout the pregnancy, but as our baby grew...however, this was a lot easier said than done.

As I began to look for this said chalkboard I could NOT believe how expensive they were. And on top of that, any of the chalkboards that I did find were either too small or simply did not have the look that I was hoping for.

So after a few weeks of searching Nana Ilceski suggested we try to do a little DIY project and make a chalkboard that would fit within our budget, would be about the size we were going for and have the look we wanted...and so our first Home Depot shopping trip (there have been many since) commenced.

After only spending $26.80 on all the materials (a far cry from the $80-$100 ranger we were seeing) the chalkboard project began!

Chalkboard paint, Primer, Door trim (for the frame of the chalkboard) and the 'Chalkboard' itself

Really, this is all it took!!!

Dave was still in study-mode for his step 1, so we recruited Papa Ilceski to help with the task of painting and cutting all the wood!!!

Step 1:
Prepare for some serious spray painting!

Step 2: 
Get one  Papa that is so excited to start making some nursery projects for their coming grandbaby. Oh, and prime the 'chalkboard'!

Priming!

Step 3:
After the Primer has dried, apply the chalkboard paint!

Hahah so excited for the photo shoot!

It's getting closer to the finished product!

 The Chalkboard is finished...now to start the trim!

Step 1 (of trim):
Set up shop!

Step 2:
Let the cutting begin!

Step 3:
Fitting the trim pieces together!

And making sure it fits around the chalkboard!

Step 4:
Gluing and securing the trim pieces together!

Step 5:
Painting the trim!

And finally:

Little Baby Ilceski coming January 2014!!

We're so excited!!! (Taken at 8 weeks).

 And just because:

We also scored an amazing deal on our stroller and car seat...ahhh we are getting so excited!

Daddy getting the goods out of the car (in study-mode attire lol)

The first items bought for Cocoa Bean!

Daddy's excited for the baby and in study clothes..Mama's excited for the baby, the amazing purchases and trying to pretend that I feel great hahah!! (taken at 7 weeks).

More projects are on the way!!!!