Hump Day || Bump Day - 30 Weeks

Dress

How far along: 30 weeks. As in...three-oh!

Baby's size: A cabbage! After our appointment this week, baby girl is weighing in at 3 pounds 5 ounces!

Baby's progress: Baby is still filling out and her skin is smoothing out. Also to note...she has enough strength to grip a finger, which makes total sense because the other day I got a really weird pain/feeling right behind my belly button and as it turns out, she was pulling on the umbilical cord. Cool but not a cool feeling...

Weight gain: 19 pounds total. No weight gain between my last two appointments and after I devoured an entire Chipotle burrito, which I haven't done since college, I'd consider this a win. I was SHOCKED that the scale didn't tip at least another 3 pounds... To note: that burrito was damn good! Every last bite.

Stretch marks: Besides the little one that keeps popping up every once in a while on my ta-ta, I haven't seen any others but I am constantly searching for them.

Sleep: If I could sleep more than 2 hours without having to get up and go pee, life would be great. God's little lesson of what's to come...I can only imagine...

Gender: Andddd she's still a girl!

Movement: Oh ya! I know I've said this before but this is probably my favorite thing about being pregnant. I feel like you wait SO long to feel that first little poke or nudge and now that she's taking up more and more room, the movement is more prominent than ever. Also, since I now know how she's situated in there, it's really cool to be able to know that her legs are what poke me right under my belly button, her elbow right along my right side and her back/butt along my left side. Apparently she's already head down and is kind of in the shape of a "C" if that makes any sense?!

Best moment this week: The best moment this week has got to be our shower we had this past weekend. There's just something about having all of your best girlfriends and family in one place that warms your heart. Oh-and the gifts help, too, of course! ;)

Other moments to note...

• Finding a mailbox stuffed to the max with sweet monogrammed baby duds! My girl Shaina at SKCreations has got it going ON when it comes to monogrammed gowns, burp clothes, bibs, outfits, baby koozies, and, well everything else you can imagine! She can literally do ANYTHING, too! I've got my eye on these pretties next! (I mean...that baby blanket!!) And I don't know where on earth she finds the materials she uses but it is the softest stuff known to mankind! 

• The car seat and stroller being gifted to us at our shower and showing up at our doorstep last night! (We may or may not have strapped in a stuffed animal and "practiced" walking around the house last night...)

• Our 30-week appointment. Never did I EVER think I'd say that going to the doctor was the highlight of my week but every chance we get to see our little lady on the ultrasound screen instantly makes my day.

Looking forward to: Un-baby related but I am genuinely looking forward to a nice, relaxing 4-day weekend with absolutely no plans. For the first time in years, we aren't going to the Frio for the Fourth of July and though I LOVE that place like it's my own home, I just really have no desire to be the only sober chick on the river. Plus, a 4-hour car ride with a 20 minute max on my bladder would easily make the trip 5+ hours. No thanks.

Food cravings: The one TRUE craving I had this week was that Chipotle burrito I mentioned earlier. Either that or I'm a billboard marketer's dream come true because I saw the billboard and it's like my car set itself on autopilot to get me there. Typically I go for the salad or a burrito bowl but because the billboard was advertising a burrito, it was obvious that's what I had to get. Duh. I got the whole enchilada...literally...and devoured it in 6 minutes. And yes, I timed it.

Weirdest food I ate this week: Nothing weird this week!

Anything making you queasy or sick: Nothing necessarily making me sick but last night I was so exhausted after work I just felt nauseous. Clearly that called for an hour-long nap on the couch followed by a bowl of Fruit Loops. Isn't that the cure for everything when you're pregnant??

Labor signs: Nothing as of now!

Symptoms: SI (sacroiliac) FREAKING JOINT PAIN. Oh my-lanta. I never knew pregnancy symptoms changed daily but boy was I wrong! The pain I was feeling in my pelvis has now shifted to my back/butt/upper leg and it HURTS like a mofo. Basically anytime I'm walking, there's a slight limp going on. Or maybe it's the start of the infamous "pregnancy waddle". Either way, I'm okay with this one going away ASAP. Also, and I was totally expecting this one, but I've noticed I feel a little congested at random times. Apparently your body produces more mucus during pregnancy, which makes your nose feel stuffy at times. Weird? Yes. But totally manageable.

Workouts: I can officially say, thanks to the SI pain I have not worked out once this week. I've gone on a few walks with Beau and Oakley but at the end of the day, my back/butt/leg hurt so bad it's all I can do to limp to the bathroom.

What I miss: This week, I miss being able to stand up and walk without being in complete pain. And yes, this is me wanting you to feel sorry for me. ;)

Things that suck: Double chins. There. I said it.

Things that don't suck: Doing baby laundry. I've never been so motivated to wash, fold and hang clothes in my LIFE!

Also, palazzo pants definitely don't suck right now. And I thought yoga pants were where it was at...

I found these on clearance at my Target, but they sell other prints online here.

Oh! And be sure to stop by Katie's blog today and check out her very first bump date!! I remember being SO excited to post my first one so head on over there to see what baby Krysh is up to this week!

Ok that's all. Only 9ish more of these bump dates left...bare with me people! 

Showered With Love

Throughout these whole 30 weeks, I can honestly say, it has been pretty surreal. From a positive pregnancy test, to seeing our little girl on the ultrasound screen, to hearing her perfect little heartbeat and picking out nursery colors...it has all been a pretty unreal feeling. Almost like...is this really happening? To me? To us? 

You feel like you see everyone else's pregnancy announcements, you dream of seeing your baby on the ultrasound screen and hearing that tiny (but quick!) heartbeat for the first time, you imagine picking out the colors of your very own baby's room and then...it all starts happening for you. And you're immediately reminded of just how real, how incredible this whole journey is and that soon enough, you'll be bringing a brand new life into this world.

I know I already said it but this entire process has been so incredibly surreal from the very beginning and this Saturday, at my very first baby shower, it made it seem even more so.

You know...you get everyone else's baby shower invitations in the mail, you go to the nearest baby store and pick out the perfect gift and then you show up as a guest and shower the momma-to-be with lots of love and gifts for her and baby but when it's your turn...it really hits home and you're immediately reminded of just how precious this time in your life is. 

Maybe it's the hormones (Ok. It's definitely the hormones.) but I just felt the need to put that out there. To say that all of this pregnancy stuff still feels a little unreal to me at times. And from what I hear from other moms, it feels this way up until the moment she takes that first breath, lets out that first squeal and the nurses place that precious little pink bundle in your hands and then...THEN it hits you. You're a momma.

Ok ok...I can't write much more or tears may start flowing so here's a glance at my very own, my very first baby shower. It's hard to put into words just how thankful I am for friends willing to throw such a fabulous get together and those who were willing to take time out of their hectic schedules to come and show Miss Paisley just how excited we're all for her to get here. I hope she looks back on these pictures and is filled with love. :) ...because that's exactly how I felt when I was there.

Also, you'll probably notice my dress hiked up well above my thighs at one point when I was opening gifts because thanks to these awesome hormones goin' on, I broke out with the most ridiculous hot flashes ever known to mankind. Though I didn't post the pictures of it, know that there were definitely sweat marks on that maxi dress of mine...Pregnancy glories...

My sweet sister-in-law, Julie! 

(Yes...this is the mom of the TRIPLETS! She looks AMAZING, right?!)

Me & my very best friend until the end of time, Julie. :)

My lovely hostesses and I! (George Anne, Pam & Kitten)

These ladies know how to throw a baby shower!

My momma

Both grandmas!! Excuse me...Meme & Nonna, as they are wanting to be called! :)

Me & some of my girlies 

Julie, Ashley, Kelly, Kathie, me, Selena, Casee, Casey & Chelsea

Daddy showed up at the very end (beer in hand, of course!) to open a special gift from his parents...his baby blankets, books and rattle. It was so neat to see all of his baby stuff come back around full circle! And I'm excited because my mom gave me my baby blanket, too, so now Paisley will have both of our baby blankets passed down to her!

Thank you to all of our amazing friends and family for all of your love and support over these past few months and for the next couple of months. Words cannot describe how incredibly blessed you have made our little growing family feel!

Personalized Gifts for Baby (Ok, But Really For Mommas-To-Be!)

If there was a way for me to monogram my baby, I would.

Ok. That's a lie. 

But really...isn't it like an unwritten rule that baby girls should automatically be born into a world full of monograms, initials and personalized items galore?! I rest my case.

Because I've spent more time researching all things monogrammed than I've researched hospitals and daycares (#truestory), I wanted to take a quick minute to share them in case any of you are in the market for similar items either for yourself, or for a mommy-to-be! Also because giving things like diapers, wipes and butt cream are just far too practical to give as gifts... ;)

And also because they're just too stinking cute not to post about. Le duh.

First things first, the baby book. Ahhh. Something I couldn't WAIT to buy, but at the same time, the thing that took what felt like forever to find! (Sidenote: did you know that people pay anywhere up to $200 for a freaking monogrammed baby book? Ya. Me either.) I knew I wanted something timeless and not modern, yet soft and girly but not outrageously expensive. Just when I was about to throw in the towel, I stumbled upon The Sweet Rhino's personalized baby memory books and it was love at first site. 

Literally.

I meannnnn....everything I was looking for...

She has all types of prints of fabrics for the outside of your baby's book, several different options as far as the inside page design and you can buy allllll the extra pages you want. Not to mention...she doe custom jobs, too! The cover is lined with fabric, in case any of you are wondering, so say you had some fabric that matched baby's bedding, she could make a book out of that!

Also to note: I placed my order on a Thursday and had it in my hands at the beginning of the following week. Definitely a plus!

As a writer, naturally, I cannot wait to sit down and take the time to fill in every single little blank line on every single page!

Ok moving right along.

Besides a baby memory book, I knew I wanted some type of journal for baby girl so that I can write notes to her as the days go by and so that she will always have something to look back on when I'm old and gray and can't write anymore. I knew I wanted something simple, yet again, something that was personalized for her and her only and that I could always buy more of , should I fill the first one up.

Insert: the May Designs custom May Book.

I hope I fill this one with so many little love notes that I have to buy a new one for each year, but I'm trying not to put to much pressure on myself and just take it one letter at a time. To say I'm anxious to sit down in the rocking chair in her room and write her the very first letter would be the biggest understatement of the year! Now just to figure out exactly what I want that first letter to say...

This next one is incredibly near and dear to my heart: the monogrammed hospital gown. Seriously...when I got this out of my mailbox, I instantly thought to myself,"Ok I'm pretty sure this is the most precious piece of mail I will ever receive!"...besides a puppy, of course. But please don't mail me a puppy. Oakley is enough to handle right now. ;)

While I'm not 100% sure if she will be coming home in this or if this will be the very first real outfit baby girl wears outside of the womb, knowing that I will have a precious little pink bundle wearing this little number in less than 11 weeks makes my heart skip a beat. I know that's "so cliche" of me to say, but it's an honest to goodness feeling that I just can't explain!

And last, but definitely not least...something that will make cleaning up baby puke cuter than EVER...personalized burp cloths! So bright and cheery and hello...they scream girly girl! I just can't handle it. Who knew getting burp cloths in the mail could literally make your week?!!

Know what else can make your week? YOU get a chance to win your very own set of personalized burp cloths! And you can personalize them ANY way you want!! No really...ANY way you want!

The ever-so-sweet Susanna with Sweet & Simple Stitches has offered to giveaway a set of personalized burp cloths to one lucky follower!! She was seriously a JOY to work with and her products are nothing short of adorable! (DUH!) She also makes the most precious monogrammed sippy cups that I cannot WAIT to get my hands on once Paisley is old enough to drink out of one (though I'm definitely not trying to rush any milestones here!).

To be entered to win a set of personalized burp cloths, all you have to do is 'like' Sweet and Simple Stitches on Facebook ! That's it! And even if you're not a momma or momma-to-be, don't be shy! Go ahead and enter...you can always gift it to one of your momma bear friends!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

So ya...I used to talk about happy hours and booze and here I am talking all things burp cloths and baby books. My how things have changed... ;)

Hump Day || Bump Day - 29 Weeks

How far along: 29 weeks!! Ahh!! The countdown is seriously ON!

Baby's size: Acorn squash - about 3 pounds and 16 inches long! Grow baby growwww!

Baby's progress: Baby is finally putting on a little fat! Come onnnn chubby cheeks and thigh rolls!

Weight gain: 18ish pounds...I'll find out at my appointment next week.

Stretch marks: I can officially say there is a faint stretch mark on one of my boobs. While I'm not thrilled about it, it's definitely not the worst thing that could happen and hopefully it will disappear after pregnancy/breast feeding. Other than that, I'm constantly scoping out my hip area and slathering on Burt's Bees Mama Bee.

Sleep: Loving it...in between potty breaks. :)

Gender: Do we really need to cover this anymore?!

Movement: Yessireebob! I'm starting to feel more all over movement,  like in my sides, which is pretty cool because it lets me know baby girl is growing away in there! Also see: she's starting to run out of room so it's less kicking and jabbing and more complete movements. If that makes sense?! Basically instead of feeling like a poke here and there, I can actually see her moving inside me. My tummy is beginning to take on all sorts of weird shapes lately!

Best moment this week: Hands down, our 3D ultrasound was amazing! Beau and I were both a little skeptical because, well, the pictures are kind of odd looking but the place we went to (Baby image in Sugar Land, for any of you locals!) spent over an hour with us and gave us over 50 shots of our baby girl! It was seriously so cool to actually SEE her moving and looking like a real baby, rather than a little skeletor baby (though I cherish those ultrasounds too!) The tech said she has really chubby cheeks and her lips look super full (not sure where she got those?!) and most importantly, they said she had a very strong heartbeat, ten fingers, ten tiny toes and looks great! All we could ever ask for! Oh-and they weighed her in at 3 pounds! Crazy?!?! If you're teetering on the idea of having a 3D ultrasound done...take my word and DO IT! Being a skeptic myself, I am so so happy we had this done!

Looking forward to: My first shower this weekend! A few of my mother-in-law's girlfriends are throwing it, who also threw us a wedding shower, so I know it will be nothing short of fabulous! Plus, it's my "girlfriend" shower so I'm excited to have all my girlies in one place with me celebrating our little girl! (And I'm not even gonna lie...I know they're going to have Crave cupcakes there and that's TOTALLY something else I'm looking forward to!)

Food cravings: Nothing really this week. I'm still crushing an entire watermelon and pineapple (by myself) every week and the other night, even though dinner was completely cooked, I made myself pancakes, instead. I don't know...they just sounded damn good. And they were! I'm noticing I tend to want more carbs than ever, but I wouldn't necessarily call it a "craving".  I'd call it "I'm pregnant and know I'm going to gain weight so I might as well enjoy every bite along the way!"

Weirdest food I ate this week: Nothing comes to mind?

Anything making you queasy or sick: Negative ghostwriter.

Labor signs: A few Braxton Hicks here and there but nothing worth calling the doctor over.

Symptoms: The ever-shifting pelvis is here to stay and oh-my-lanta it hurts! Every once in a while I'll stand up and have to sit right back down it hurts so bad! Walking/working out tends to help, but sitting all day at a desk definitely does not help my case. This symptom can definitely see its way out anytime now...

Workouts: One down this week, one or two more to go! Might I add I attempted running on the treadmill and I'm pretty sure I gave everyone in the gym a free comedy show. Picture an elephant with molasses stuck to its feet and that's what I'm sure I looked like. I even got a kick out of it!

What I miss: Hmmm...let's see here. Wine, bending over easily, sleeping on my back, sleeping without waking up to pee 1 zillion times, not having to pee 1 zillion and 1 times throughout the day in general, having a larger selection of clothes, blah, blah, blah. And no...this is not a pity party so don't go feeling sorry for me...these are just a few things I honestly miss and I promised myself I would never take them for granted again!

Things that suck: Double foot cramps + a Charlie horse while pushing a grocery cart in the store. I honestly didn't know what I was going to do. Pretty sure I was a site to be seen trying to walk and push a cart while standing on my tippy toes...

Things that don't suck: Crossing things off my to-do list like a BOSS! Seriously...I have been pretty darn productive these past couple of weeks...if I must say so myself...

• Pre-register at the hospital...check!
• Register baby girl at daycare...check!
• Order a rug for the nursery...check!
• Order hospital outfits for baby girl...check!
• Schedule pre-deliver hair appointment...check! (And totally a necessity!)
• Schedule maternity pics...check!
• Order outfits for newborn pics...check!
• Organize clothes in baby's room...check!

Ok and just for the heck of it...here's a glance at weeks 26, 27 & 28. :)

And just like that...I'm outty 5000!

Blogger BFF Babies (You Knew It Was Coming!)

I've said it once before...and I said it again...and I'll say it again (and again, and again!)... ;)

Being pregnant with your best friends is quite possibly the most fun time in my life! I feel like it's something best friends dream of but the fact that so many of my girlfriends and I are pregnant at the same time seems a little unreal. Like...we pulled it off?!

From sharing ultrasound pics and maternity clothes finds, to talking about symptoms and dreaming of our babies growing up and either being the best of friends or even husband and wife, it has been such a fun journey to experience and I cannot wait to get all these babies together in one place...one day...

And now we welcome this girl to the club...

Yep! My Ohioan other half, Katie, is expecting her little babe in January 2015 and I could not be more excited for her and Billy!!! 

I have literally been busting at the seams waiting for her to announce this exciting news so head on over to her blog and check out ALL the adorable pictures of her and little (growing) family! Seriously...they're stunning!

But one more before you leave...because this guy is seriously the most precious ball of fluff you ever did see...

Do you die or what?

Rocky...I love you. 

Katie & Billy...I love you more and am so so SO excited for you and baby Krysh!!! I cannot wait to wrap my arms around that sweet little baby and pave our way through parenthood together!

Top 5 Pregnancy Must-Reads

I should start this out by saying that I am not a reader. Sure, I enjoy reading from time to time, but overall, I really wouldn't consider myself to be a bookworm at all.

I should also mention I am not a researcher. I don't care about the facts or tiny little details. Sometimes, for me, ignorance is bliss. Beau, on the other hand, needs to know every single little detail about any and everything. He's so inquisitive and such an analyzer and I'm thankful for that because, well, if it weren't for him, everything in my life would be an impulse decision and something tells me that's not the best way to live. 

Enter: pregnancy. Ah this little miracle that happens and you get all excited and wrapped up in a whirl of pink and blue when all of a sudden you think to yourself "Shit! I don't know anything about this!" but at the same time, you know deep down you probably shouldn't rely on Google for all your pregnancy questions either. 

If there's one thing I DO know, it's that you should never rely on Google (or the internet, in general) for any health concern matters. One time I Googled something about these little bumps Oakley was getting on her chin and by the time it was all said and done I was convinced she had a terminal illness and only had days to live. Turns out it was acne and it cleared up on its own...

Anyway, back to my point here. Perhaps pregnancy has changed me. Maybe it's just because I am happy to admit I literally know nothing about anything when it comes to sustaining a baby in my belly but over the past 7 months, I have come to learn that I thoroughly enjoy reading and researching all things pregnancy and baby-related. Though some things I'd rather not know about, like bloody shows, mucus plugs and needles the length of my forearm, the truth is, I need to know about them so I'm not surprised when any of these events inevitably occur over the next 12 weeks. 

After the first couple of weeks went by and the whole "Oh my gosh I'm pregnant?!" sensation went away, I started to realize I needed to learn stuff. All the stuff. I needed to know about as much as possible and I knew I needed to find books because I knew people were going to give me all kinds of advice and I wanted the facts. Cold, hard facts. So where did I turn? Well the holy grail of all things...Pinterest. What did I learn? Not much.

So thanks to all the other lovely mommas-to-be that I know in real life and on Instagram, I was able to figure out which books I felt were the most important for me to read. If you are newly pregnant, or plan on being pregnant in the next year or so, I hope you find this helpful!

Baby 411: I've heard about this book for a while now and finally picked up a copy. It's almost like a baby manual, if you will, that helps you in just about every category: picking a pediatrician, first aid, nutrition, sleep safety, etc. This would be a good book to keep around at all time to refer to as certain issues arise. (Also see: you don't have to sit down and read the entire book in one sitting...you can kind of read as you go. My kinda book!) ;)

The Happiest Baby on the Block: I am loving this book. Though I'm only about halfway done, I love how the author helps you understand the reason for colicky babies and how you can soothe them from crying all day, every day. He really drives home the point that human babies are just born too early, and that we should actually carry them for another 3 months ("The 4th Trimester", as he calls it) so that they can continue to develop but because we are physically (and mentally) unable to, he explains all the different techniques to make your baby think and feel that they are still in the womb for another 3 months so that you (and baby) can survive that 4th trimester, outside of your belly.

Belly Laughs: LOVE LOVE LOVE. I read this book while we were on our babymoon and I literally finished it within hours. I adore how Jenny McCarthy is so lighthearted throughout the entire book, yet so open and honest. She discusses topics that you would swear should be illegal, but she makes it so humorous and reminds you that woman have been giving birth for centuries and you can do it, too! Though I read this one halfway through my second trimester and loved it, it really is a great read for anyone newly pregnant and/or still in their first trimester.

What To Expect When You're Expecting: My sister-in-law is letting me borrow this book and it has been incredibly informative. I enjoy it because, like I said before, I'm not a reader and because it's broken down by trimesters and months, I just read the chapters as they apply to me, rather than reading the entire book all at once. It helps you understand what's going on with baby, how he/she is developing, what's going on with your body (internally and externally) and what you can expect (duh) throughout the entire pregnancy journey.

The Vaccine Book: This is a new one for me and though I'm only into the first few chapters, I am loving how informative Dr. Sears is and that it's based on neutral grounds. Working in natural healthcare, and going to a mainstream medical doctor, I 100% understand how controversial vaccines can be so I'm not here to say I'm not vaccinating my child. I am simply reading this book to understand what all these vaccines are, why they're going to be given to my baby and the risks that come with or without receiving them so that when the time comes, Beau and I can make an educated decision as to what's best for us and our baby girl.

Next on my list to find is some sort of breastfeeding book. Besides pushing an 8 pound human being out of my hoo-ha, breastfeeding is second on my list of "Things I am absolutely terrified of". Any recommendations, ladies?!

Do you know of any other pregnancy, birthing, breastfeeding and/or baby-raising books I should read?! I am completely open to reading more and more about all this so that I can be as informed as possible!!