Easter Basket Ideas - What's In My Kid's Easter Basket

My little guy has been very into blue things lately (a shift from his longtime favorite, red) and the first thing Rob and I got for his basket this year was an aqua blue plush bunny we spotted on display while out shopping a little while back. He has several Jellycat plush that we love, but this is his first bunny from them (they have them in many different colors and sizes).  From there, I went forward with a loose sort of blue bunny theme to inspire many of my choices for his basket. I was thrilled to find a bunny ear headband that perfectly matches the plush. Bunny Grahams are the closest thing to candy we are including, he is also getting carrot, applesauce pouches which I thought go nicely with the theme and since he is obsessed with both cookies and applesauce, I know he will love both treats. His plastic eggs will have hot wheels in them. Rounding things out, are the tried and true Easter basket staples of bubbles, crayons, a new toothbrush and book.

1. Jellycat Bunny
2. Aqua Bunny Ears (from Meijer, I was so excited to find them as they perfectly match the plush bunny we got him)
3. I Am A Bunny by Ole Risom
4. Bunny Straw Cup (similar here)
5. Playdough Bunny and Chick Stampers
6. Annies Bunny Grahams
7. Carrot Apple Sauce Pouches
8. Battery Power Toothbrush
9. Crayons
10. Bubbles
11. Hot Wheels

Captain is 2 and 3/4, and I love that his basket this year is pretty simple and classic and that I think most of the things in his basket would work for an older or younger child just as well or could easily suggest items that would (for example, a different cup/water bottle/mug for an older child or teen, who could also be given more sophisticated art supplies such as nice quality colored pencils rather than crayons, there are so, so many things an older child might love that can fit into plastic eggs...you get the idea). I also wanted to mention, incase it is helpful to those of you putting together your baskets last minute, that I purchased all the things for this basket in store (Nordstrom, Target and Meijer). 

For more ideas check out this post about what was in his basket last year, when he was just under 2, and here is a look back on that Easter, including a look at the baskets Rob and I gave each other.

5-8 Weeks Pregnant - Pregnancy Diary

~Five Weeks~

This week the baby's heart starts beating!

Lately, I am not having as much cramping or feeling as intensely bloated as I was last week, but I am feeling more nausea and heartburn. With Harper (aka Baby Burgess #1) was was a bit nauseous (I remember feeling so sick through Thanksgiving dinner that I imagined I must look green. I only threw up once that whole pregnancy and that was when I was extremely, emotionally upset about something as well as feeling ill from pregnancy. Most of the time, I can feel horrible and it just doesn't happen. Lately though, I have been feeling like it might really happen.

My other main symptom is fatigue, during the day, I have been napping with Harper whenever I have the chance (though his naps have been hit or miss lately) and barely staying up past his bedtime.

~Six Weeks~

We have been thinking about baby names! I have been obsessed with names since I was a little girl, maybe because mine is unusual.
I am about 90% sure I know what we will name this baby, if they are a girl! We also have some boy names in mind. One thing I do enjoy about early pregnancy is being able to think about names without feeling intense pressure make a final choice.

I am so tired right now, but it is a toss up as to if it is more because of being pregnant or because Harper is up multiple times per night. One thing that is clearly different, I am having trouble falling back asleep after I wake up to with Harper or to use the bathroom.

I  had a few days of not being very neausious, and then an afternoon with a super upset stomach.

~Seven Weeks~

The baby is now the size of a blueberry!

Being in this early, most precarious stage of pregnancy where we are most at risk for a negative outcome and least able to tell what is going on (I felt a bit better, with Harper when I could feel him moving around all the time), I am trying hard not to dwell on miscarriage fears and really looking forward to but also nervous about our ultrasound appointment that will finally be happening next week.

I am soooooo tired, like having trouble functioning, sort of tired. And emotional, I have burst into tears twice in the past few days, both times it was because of situations that were legitimately upsetting, but not the sort that I would normally cry over. I have also teared up while watching a tv drama, which is something I might ordinarily do, s - still, taken with the other crying incidents, It certainly seems like a lot. I don't think I was this emotional when I was pregnant with Harper.

~Eight Weeks~

We finally, after waiting for what felt like forever had our first OB appointment and ultrasound. I was nervous going in, knowing the risk of early miscarriage and having had pregnancy loss happen to so many people I care about, it is hard for me not to be anxious about it. At this ultrasound they were also checking to see how many babies are in there. There is one, seeing and hearing his or her heartbeat was such a relief. I know it doesn't guarantee things will keep going well, but it was nice to know that in that moment things were looking good and from a statistical standpoint, the pregnancy's chances are better going forward.

I am still nauseous,  tired  having trouble sleeping. There is so much to think about, both exciting stuff and worries, with a new baby on the way. 

See The Previous Pregnancy Diary Entry 
See The Next Pregnancy Diary Entry

4 Weeks Pregnant - Pregnancy Diary

 I have been keeping this pregnancy diary since I first found out I am pregnant, making notes around the end of each week. I am excited (you will notice I use that word a lot in this post!) to be sharing it with you now, starting with the earliest entry. I plan to post the rest of the past entries over the next few weeks, catching up to the present and then continuing to share for the rest of my pregnancy.

Finding Out

I had a random sort of heartburn, acid reflux type feeling one morning, 11 dpo (days post ovulation), the only other time I have ever had heartburn was when I was pregnant with Harper. So, I took a test, thinking even if I was pregnant the test might not pick it up. But there it was, a very faint line. I tested again the next day, and started planning how I would tell Rob the good news. With my first pregnancy, he was right with me when I tested, this time this time I wanted to surprise him a little. 

Telling My Husband

We were out for coffee, having just sat down at a table with out drinks, Harper beside me, happily munching a croissant, Rob was across from me, spreading cream cheese on a bagel. I pulled out my phone and said that I wanted to show him a picture I had taken the other day.

"OK", he said,  gesturing for me to give him my phone.

"Umm, you should put your bagel down...because I don't want cream cheese on my phone" I said, really just wanting him to be focused on the moment that I handed him this:

when I said the line was faint I was not exaggerating

After a few seconds, understanding to flashed across his face.

"you're pregnant!?" He shot out of his seat with a huge smile and a big kiss for me. Followed by his asking why I decided to tell him at the coffee shop, because, according to him you take someone out in public to share bad news not great news. But he did concede that I succeeded in catching him off guard. 

How I Am Feeling

Physically,  the most acute symptom I have had so far is cramping and backache which I also had early on in my first pregnancy. I have also been a little thirstier than usual and feel a bit bloated.

Since telling Rob, the pregnancy has started to feel so much more real, I also had bloodwork done, a few days after my positive test to confirm the pregnancy and make sure everything seems to be progressing as it should. Now, I don't get to go back for my first real doctor's appointment and ultrasound for almost a month. It is going to be so hard to wait that long! I understand that they wouldn't be able to see much of anything at this point considering that Baby Burgess #2 is about the size of a poppy seed. But, we already love this little poppy seed so, so much!

baby is the size of a poppy seed

I am nervous, because it is super early in the pregnancy, but so excited! I am really looking forward to feeling feel the baby moving, having a cute bump and having shared the news with friends and family. Rob said he is afraid he will spill the secret, because it is basically the first thing he wants to say to everyone he talks to, I couldn't agree more. And it will be interesting trying to keep this under wraps the next few months.

See The Next Pregnancy Diary Entry 

Is The Baby a Boy or Girl?... Balloon Pop Sex Reveal Video!

Since we decided we would like to find out the sex of this baby at my mid-pregnancy ultrasound, we thought it would be fun to test out a few prediction methods in the weeks before. 

Heart Rate: 

Supposedly, 140 or below and the baby is a boy and if it is above the baby is a girl.

At my 12 week appointment, the baby's was 157, so by this method the indication is that the baby is a girl! 

However, while I don't remember what Harper's was exactly at this point, I believe it was in this range as well. 

Baking Soda Test:

If baking soda and the pregnant woman's urine fizz when mixed together, it is a boy if not, it is a girl. 
When I tried this one, my mixture was very fizzy, indicating a boy! 

Ring Test:

If the pregnant woman's wedding band, when tied to a string and dangled over her belly, swings in a circle it indicates a girl, while back and forth indicates a boy.

This one also gave us a boy result!

Family History:

This prediction method could possibly have a little more science behind it than the others, considering that it is the father who contributes the variable X or Y chromosome that determines the baby's sex. 

Looking at the recent generations, specifically the sex of the babies born to male Burgesses, it seems the Burgess line runs high to boys (that is a turn of phrase I read somewhere once and have always wanted occasion to use). However, our sample size was pretty small and I have seen other families thing they were destined to have a particular sex, experience dramatic reversals. My stepfather's family thought they could only make boys ... then came my sister and several female cousins on her heels. Still, it is hard not to wonder if there could be is something to it.
On the other hand, my mom had her first baby, a boy, at 30, followed by me three years later. I have noticed that families sometimes seem to follow certain patterns. It would be interesting if I were to have have girl now, shortly before my son, who was born on my 30th's, third birthday. I guess that gives us a mixed result for family history.

"Chinese Gender Prediction Chart"

There are several variations of this type chart to be found, they all basically predict the baby's sex (it really peeves me when people refer to sex and gender interchangeably, but I digress) based on the month of conception and mother's age at the time. I used the one from The Bump.

It previously predicted Harper would be a boy and predicts a little brother for him is on the way! 

So...three out of five test predict we are having a boy, one was mixed/inconclusive and only one predicts a girl. We would have been delighted with either and eagerly awaited the day we would find out. We had so much fun making our pregnancy announcement video that we decided to share our excitement with another video:

Merry Christmas, Baby!!

So excited to finally be sharing the news, Baby Burgess #2 is on the way! Check out our video announcement:

 

Family Christmas Activities

Lately, we have been having lots of holiday fun. 

We baked and decorated sugar cookies, while listening to Christmas music. Harper loves to help in the kitchen, but he loves it so much it can get pretty intense, he would be happy to keep mixing and stirring and adding new ingredients to the bowl, forever.

We brought home a nice fat, evergreen. 

As I added a second string of lights, Harper shouted out with glee "Christmas tree even more happy!",  it just filled him with such joy. 

Our local library had a real, live reindeer at their holiday party. Harper said she was "very fuzzy" when he petted her and then and he sang her the "Reindeers are better than people" song from "Frozen". Her name was Ana, and she had crazy eyes. It made me nervous to have my baby so close to her antlers. 

When Rob and I have asked Harper what he would like for Christmas, he says he would like "A little blue present for Thomas (his wooden train)... a little blue present for James (another train)... and little blue present for (insert the name of several family members, after Thomas and James have been taken care of.).