Wednesday, October 31, 2012

33 Weeks!


How Far Along: 33 Weeks!

Size of Baby: a pineapple {19 to 22 in, 4.9 lbs} according to What To Expect.

Maternity Clothes: I think I've finally found my groove.  It's nice to have a couple pairs of jeans to rotate through, a handful of tops that fit just right, and some dresses to throw in when I feel like dressing up.  And I'm really enjoying the limited selection each morning because it's saving me time trying to decide what to wear.

Gender: a sweet baby GIRL!

Movement: Feels like a little less this week, maybe because she's running out of room, but I feel like I may be feeling some hiccups.

Sleep: I think my sleep may be getting worse as the weeks go by... one night last week, I woke up to take the dog out around 2am and couldn't fall back asleep, so I got up and went downstairs so as to not disturb Sam and fell asleep for a few more hours on the couch, but still felt pretty sleep deprived.  I'm really hoping that night last week was just a fluke {wishful thinking, maybe?}.

What I miss: Still getting over last week's hopeless feeling, but also missing my appetite some this week.  We're running out of room in there...

Cravings: Nothing... just eating whenever I'm hungry.

Other crazy symptoms: With each day, my skin is stretching more & more and boy, does that make for an itchy stomach.  I've got lotion that I'm using daily, but sometimes I just can't help but itch.

Best Moment this week: Last weekend might have been one of the last "quiet weekends at home" before baby, so I enjoyed it by lighting some candles and plowing through 2 books.  It was both relaxing and comforting to just cozy up at home.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Friday Favorites: HelloBee



As an avid and daily blog reader, I have quite the collection of starred posts in my Google Reader that fit into one of two categories: 1. they either speak to me or 2. they are make me want to {try to} DIY.  Sometimes I go back at reread these posts and other times I just forget I’ve starred them at all.  So instead of letting them pile up in my Google Reader, I thought it’d be best to share some of my favorites with my readers, especially since I know how much I enjoy being introduced to new {to me} blogs that peak my interest and keep me coming back for more.


With less than 8 weeks to go in this pregnancy, I find myself asking questions and researching everything I can think of that would be beneficial – the best registry items, immunizations, getting babies on a schedule, costs associated with raising a child, etc.  So when I stumbled across Hellobee recently, I starred no less than ten posts in my first half hour of browsing through the site.


Hellobee was the brain child of the same person who created Weddingbee and is comprised of several different bloggers who write on the topics of trying to conceive, pregnancy, and parenthood and everything that goes along with it.

What caught my attention right away is that this blog isn't all about the happy moments surrounding pregnancy, but rather the true, every day situations that is happening all around us.  Albeit there are a lot of happy little moments that you can share with the writer, but there are also those that bring you to tears almost instantly because life just isn't fair.  Since our pregnancy has had it's own share of ups & downs, I find myself reading and taking in each post as if I was in their shoes {which, honestly, isn't always an easy place to be}.

If you're a mother or mother-to-be {or longing to be one}, I would highly recommend this site to you.  The stories and advice are both very true and easily available on one site.

Some of my recent favorites are:

Any must-read blogs you would recommend for this mama-to-be?

Thursday, October 25, 2012

32 Weeks!


How Far Along: 32 Weeks!

Size of Baby: a honeydew melon {19 in, 4.5 lbs} according to What To Expect.

Maternity Clothes: I think I've finally found my groove.  It's nice to have a couple pairs of jeans to rotate through, a handful of tops that fit just right, and some dresses to throw in when I feel like dressing up.  And I'm really enjoying the limited selection each morning because it's saving me time trying to decide what to wear.

Gender: a sweet baby GIRL!

Movement: Still feeling {& loving} it!  I'm sure I've mentioned it before, but baby likes to hang out on my right side - like it makes my stomach lopsided when she's over there.  Such a crazy feeling!

Sleep: Still sleeping & thankful for that.  I've been waking up once during the nights to go to the bathroom {and let the pup out}, but other than that, I'm sleeping from 9pm until 5:30am.

What I miss: This week?  My hope... For those who have been following along {and those who haven't can read this post}, our little girl has some big hurdles to overcome when she arrives.  And for the last month or so, I've felt really optimistic about her future, but this week was different.  I felt like my world came crashing down and reality sunk in again.  It's hard to talk about and explain to others how we're mentally preparing to meet our baby in the coming weeks, but I almost feel like we're planning for several outcomes and how different they all look.  I think these ups & downs will continue, but I'm pretty sure they won't get any easier...

Cravings: My usual "3 meals a day" has turned into "6+ snack a day" over the last couple weeks.  It's as if I get hungry, take a bite, and am almost instantly full.  So keeping small portions on hand is key right now.

Other crazy symptoms: Charlie horses... enough said.

Best Moment this week: A couple this week - 1. Attending my third shower, which was pulled right out of Pinterest {a shower recap post to come...} and 2. Seeing our little girl open & close her eyes, suck her thumb, and see that she's probably going to have a little bit of hair at this week's ultrasound.

Monday, October 22, 2012

#fmsphotoaday October Week 3







This month has been about getting things done.  I've had a mental list going for a couple months now and it finally feels like I'm able to cross things off of it.  And that couldn't come at a better time seeing as now that we've hit the "2 months* until baby" mark, time appears to be flying by!  Let's hope the rest of the month {& year} continues to be as productive...

* The 2 month mark is until my due date, but I've been told we'll probably meet her before.


+ Day 15 - dinnertime {simple, yet delicious}
+ Day 16 - something I wrote {meal ideas for the week}
+ Day 17 - fruit {some of the best apples I've ever tasted}


+ Day 18 - made me smile today {looking at this sweet girl's 3D picture}
+ Day 19 - letters
+ Day 20 - 4 o'clock {snack break while shopping with my mom}
+ Day 21 - calm {writing thank you's in the nursery}

If you'd like to follow along daily on Instagram, check out my feed here!

Friday, October 19, 2012

Book Club - Diary of a Submissive #BHBC



Earlier this year, a few friends {& blogs} recommended the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy and I will admit, I couldn’t put them down.  Now for those who know even a little about these books know they aren’t very appropriate, but while reading, I found myself skimming over those provocative parts and focusing on the character relationships more than the actions going on.  So when the BlogHer Book Club announced their next book, Diary of aSubmissive by Sophie Morgan, as a “real Fifty Shades of Grey”, I thought I'd give it chance.

If I thought I blushed a bit during Fifty Shades of Grey, then I must have been a permanent shade of red through Diary of a Submissive.  It’s not that I didn’t know what I was getting myself into, but the difference between Diary of a Submissive and Fifty Shades of Grey was most definitely the “real” portrayal of this alternate lifestyle.  Where I enjoyed reading about the development of the characters in Fifty Shades of Grey, I found that the real-life account in Diary of a Submissive was less of a fairy tale, which was hard to read at times, to be honest.

To read more about Diary of a Submissive, check out BlogHer’s Book Club page.  I’m interested to see what the discussions for this book will end up like.

While I was compensated for this BlogHer Book Club review, all opinions expressed above are my own.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

31 Weeks!



How Far Along: 31 Weeks!

Size of Baby: {slightly larger} head of lettuce {19 in, 3.9 lbs} according to What To Expect.

Maternity Clothes: I see this prompt getting relatively the same answer each week from now on, but I do have to say that I am still enjoying the maternity dresses I borrowed from Rhi a lot this week.  They are so comfy!

Gender: a sweet baby GIRL!

Movement: Still moving... Lately it's felt like she's trying to push on my hand when I put it on my stomach, which makes me feel like we're high-fiving or something :)

Sleep: I have been a pretty hard sleeper all my life, but one change I've noticed throughout this pregnancy is that I've become much less so.  And instead of baby waking me up in the middle of the night, it's our pup wanting to go to the bathroom.  At least I don't have to clean up any messes in the morning.

What I miss: Finding a comfortable position.

Cravings: Food.  I'm just hungry more often, so snacking throughout the day has become my normal.

Other crazy symptoms: I've mentioned this before, but the baby likes my right side and there are times when I think she's going to push herself out of my stomach.  I've also felt like my muscles are much more tense, which isn't fun.

Best Moment this week: I would say our nursery is about 75% and that makes this organizing girl very happy!  There are just a few more things to put on the walls and find a place for and then I think I will be able to say it's "done".

Monday, October 15, 2012

#fmsphotoaday October Week 2


We have entered the Fall weather scene here in the Pacific Northwest and by "Fall weather" I totally mean rain, rain, and more rain :)  Not to sound like I'm complaining here, because I'm not, more just stating a fact.  I'm actually really enjoying the scarves + boots aspect of it all.  Plus, I'm able to wear more from my closet - yay!

Is it feeling like Fall where you are?


+ Day 8 - angle {filled pillow}
+ Day 9 - red {a surprise baby gift from Target --- thank you Rhi!}
+ Day 10 - emotion {happy to finally have a dresser in the nursery!}


+ Day 11 - something close up {a photo Sam took that is currently my computer background}
+ Day 12 - on the table @ Chipotle
+ Day 13 - landscape {Fall trees in our front yard}
+ Day 14 - makes me laugh {how much Lily loves Kristi more than me}

If you'd like to follow along daily on Instagram, check out my feed here!

Thursday, October 11, 2012

30 Weeks!


How Far Along: 30 Weeks!

Size of Baby: a head of lettuce {18 in, 3.2 lbs} according to What To Expect.

Maternity Clothes: Prior to getting pregnant, I picked up a few basic tees in short sleeved & long sleeved, so I've basically only been utilizing the short sleeves up until now, so it's nice to have a few more tops to put into rotation now that the weather is cooling off.

Gender: a sweet baby GIRL!

Movement: Lots of kicks and hanging out on my right side.  At our appointment this week, we were told she is butt down, so I'm wondering if there will be any major movement in the next couple weeks if she decides to flip...

Sleep: No changes --- I'm pretty tired in the evenings, so I'm finding myself falling asleep on the couch around 8pm and then moving myself to bed around 9pm and sleeping through the night.

What I miss: Being able to move like I used to.  Whether it's carrying something or just trying to put on my pants, every task feels like it takes twice as much energy as before.

Cravings: Thinking back, I really only recall craving one thing early on in my pregnancy and that was bagels + cream cheese.  Since then, it's just been about what food we have available.  I do find that I need to eat more often, so I'm carrying little snacks around with me wherever I go.

Other crazy symptoms: Lately, I've been feeling my stomach tense up on one side {usually the right} and I think it might be because she's hanging out on that side.  Some people have said that maybe it's braxton hicks, but I'm not sure I'm ready to believe that :)

Best Moment this week: We got to see our little girl in 3D!  This isn't the first time, but it was still amazing!  We also got word that my fluid levels have returned to the normal level, which was a big relief {they had been teetering at the higher end of normal for the last month or two}.

Monday, October 8, 2012

#fmsphotoaday October Week 1


For some reason, October feels like Fall to me.  Maybe it's the pumpkins everywhere or the fact the the cooler weather is making it's appearance, but regardless, I'm enjoying it!  Not to mention that we are most likely meeting our little girl in under 10 weeks {how is that even possible?}.

Does it feel like Fall to you?


+ Day 1 - where I stood {making dinner}
+ Day 2 - lunchtime
+ Day 3 - this happened today {a hair cut}


+ Day 4 - what I read {or am currently reading}
+ Day 5 - shadow
+ Day 6 - I'm thankful for... {a relaxing Saturday evening}
+ Day 7 - light {streaming in the window}


If you'd like to follow along daily on Instagram, check out my feed here!

Thursday, October 4, 2012

29 Weeks!



How Far Along: 29 Weeks!

Size of Baby: a butternut squash {17 in, 3.1 lbs} according to What To Expect.

Maternity Clothes: Pretty much the same as last week, but looking forward to wearing some {borrowed} maternity dresses + boots once the weather cools down a few degrees.

Gender: a sweet baby GIRL!

Movement: Still moving around in there, but doesn't feel like as many kicks as flipping around.  She's an active one, which we've been told at almost every ultrasound appointment.

Sleep: I'm still sleeping through the night {thankfully!}, but my dreams are getting weirder which leaves me feeling less rested in the morning.

What I miss: knowing what our future holds - of course, that wasn't completely possible in the past, but we had a general idea of where we were going to be in 6 months or a year, but in a few short months, our lives our going to change more than we ever imagined and I'm not sure what life in 3 months is even going to look like...

Cravings: Nothing sticks out as a real craving this week except food.  I'm back to feeling really hungry, like I did in the first trimester, so I am trying to remember to have healthy snacks ready at all times :)

Other crazy symptoms: Still some back pain after sitting in an office chair all day, but just trying to get up and move around more.

Best Moment this week: We are making progress in the nursery and hope to put some of the finishing touches on it in just a couple weeks!

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Lisa Leonard - Life by Design

Over the last several years, social media has played an influential role in my life.  Especially blogs.  I went from following just a handful of people I knew in real life to discovering those people who I instantly relate to and would dream of being friends with if we ever had the chance to meet in person :)  And Lisa Leonard is one of those people.

I first discovered Lisa through The Pleated Poppy's WIWW {What I Wore Wednesday} posts and was drawn to her simple, yet classic style and love of Anthropologie, but as I read back through her past blog posts, I realized the person behind the style was even better than I thought.

More recently, when we were told our child appears to have a disability of some sort, I have felt a deeper draw to read about Lisa's everyday life with her oldest son David, who also has special needs.  I know that no two stories are ever the same, but the faith & love that Lisa portrays gives me a lot of strength for our future and for that I am so thankful!

And now Lisa has the opportunity to share her story in the form of her own reality show & I couldn't be happier for her, her family, and the business she's created!  Take a look at the trailer below & check out her blog:

Monday, October 1, 2012

#fmsphotoaday September Week 4



If I only had one word to describe September it would be 'busy'!  Work was busy, our social calendar was full, and any down time at home was spent trying to complete a few projects before the cold sets in {& the baby arrives}.  But honestly, September was still a good month, regardless of how busy we were.  With a few more projects to complete and a few less social engagements, I'm hoping the next couple months slow down a little - but that may be hoping for too much :)



What word would you use to describe September?


+ Day 24 - 3 things {gifts from Mateya, my scarf swap partner}
+ Day 25 -  frame(s) {some of my favorites hanging up in our room}
+ Day 26 - near {me right now - a sweet gift from my supervisor for Charlotte!}
+ Day 27 - love/hate {love: my new Erin Condren iPhone case; hate: the cost that comes with a quality case}


+ Day 28 - a good thing {squeezing in one more BBQ of the summer}
+ Day 29 - errand(s) {a full day of them & what I have to show for it}
+ Day 30 - me, then {still hard to believe we'll have a little one in just a couple months}



If you'd like to follow along daily on Instagram, check out my feed here!