Amelia Joy Ross

One of the first photos of my daughter, moments after being born

Our baby girl arrived on May 22 at 7:13 in the evening. 7 pounds, 0.5 ounces. 20.25 inches long. Her name is Amelia Joy and she is completely perfect.

She has a head full of thick brown hair, the cutest button nose, and deep blue eyes that are just beginning to focus on her world. Christopher and I are completely smitten with her curled little toes, her squeals and sighs, her chubby thighs... everything.

It's pretty incredible to think that today she turns two weeks old. Goodness. She's already changed so much! We're growing to know each other more and more every day, and it is one of the most rewarding things (albeit challenging) I've ever been a part of. Even now as she sleeps on my chest, my heart has grown larger than I thought possible.

Posting on GH may be a little sporadic as I get used to motherhood (specifically, the lack of sleep) but I'll do my best to share little updates as I can in between baby snuggles.

Arrested Development: Season 4

Let's take a break from all the baby talk, shall we? Let's watch this trailer instead.

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT RETURNS IN TWO WEEEEEKS!!!!!

Ten Days

Instagram taken by Sharon after our weekend trip to the Goshen Farmer's Market

Ten more days until baby girl is due to arrive. Ten. more. days.

It just doesn't seem possible that in less than two weeks, Christopher and I will be parents. I just can't even. I've washed teeny tiny onesies and the smallest socks in the world. Christopher has assembled the bassinet (and disassembled it to discourage kitty naps for the time being.) The carseat base has been installed in the back of our car, ready to go. Diapers, baby shampoo, blankets galore: check, check, check. We've essentially been preparing for this for the past nine months, but I still don't feel ready. The only thing I haven't done yet is pack the hospital bag... I'm half afraid that if I cross that last thing off my list, baby girl will know and I'll go into labor immediately.

Even though I've had it pretty easy with my pregnancy overall, I'm definitely feeling huge pregnant these days. Swollen feet, achey hips, a distinct waddle. Pregnancy is not a glamorous thing, don't let anyone fool you. Also, the dream hair and glowy skin they always tell you about? It's a lie, too, at least for this mama. Baby girl has stolen my beauty like the old wives' tale said she would... but it's totally worth it.

All that said, I'm besides myself with excitement. I can't wait to meet our little girl! (duh.)
TEN MORE DAYS!

Kitties + Pregnancy

Oh, just some of my favorite Catstagrams

Before I was pregnant, our kitty Ulia was my snuggle buddy. Most nights, she would curl up next to me in bed and purr herself to sleep. Cutest thing ever. Once I found out I was pregnant, though, I distanced myself from her quite a bit out of fear of contracting toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection occasionally found in kitty litter that can cause severe birth defects. Scary stuff, right?

My doctor said the chances of contracting the disease from Ulia are low, especially since she's a house cat, but that hasn't stopped me from being extremely paranoid cautious about it. That has meant no more kitty snuggles, kisses, or squishes. So sad!

I've been trying to give her a little extra attention in these few final weeks before baby arrives. After all, she is our first baby, and I'm not sure how she'll react to having an actual baby around (cat moms, any tips?) So among all the baby posts that have been popping up on GH lately, I thought I would dedicate this one to her.

I love that squishable belly, those little white paws, and her raccoon tail.

Four Favorites: Nicely Neutral

Today's four favorites are distinctly lacking in color. I'm not sure how that happened, but I'm going to go with it. After a particularly busy week, these soft neutrals just feel right...

1. When I spotted this Totes Ma Goats tote from West Elm this week, I died. I love that phrase (thanks to my favorite movie, I Love You Man) and I love those goats.
2. Please tell me I'm not the last person to know about Sam, the cat with eyebrows. Chris thinks he's creepy but those concerned, raised brows crack me up. I just started following him on Instagram and I laugh at pretty much every photo. 
3. These sculptural paper flowers from Etsy shop Frances & Francis are incredibly beautiful. I can't imagine all the time put into cutting and arranging something so delicate! Check out their entire flower selection here, including an everlasting flower for Mother's Day. Lovely.
4. Summertime baby clothes are officially the cutest things ever. Case and point: Baby Gap's bow bubble onesie in the sweetest floral print. Actually, pretty much everything from Baby Gap.

The weekend weather promises highs in the upper 60s, which isn't much but I'll take it after this week's snowy, 40-degree days. Chris and I will be partying it up, with a going away celebration for friends and a birthday party for our niece (that little stinker is already two!) I hope it's nice wherever you are... Happy weekend!