23 Weeks and a Sneak Peek

Things have felt a little overwhelming around these parts. When I'm not at work, for the most part I need to be working on my portfolio for graduation...which is really inconvenient when all I want to do is organize the baby closet. I have received some of the most adorable clothes passed down from other mom friends, as well as so many gifts. (Also, let's be honest. I haven't been able to leave Target without a few outfits since I found out we were having a girl.) When her furniture arrives this weekend I'll be able to start organizing drawers, and deciding what will need to go in the closet. This is going to be one spoiled little girl!

Baby girl's bedding and some girly clothes

On the left: Sweet little dress from my co-worker. On the right: The striped dress is from one of my best friends, auntie Brittney, and it came all the way from Paris, ooo la la

On the left: Little sailor jammies from my little brother - Uncle Spencer.

How Far Along: 23 Weeks (that is almost six months for those of you who hate when pregnant women tell you how far along they are in weeks)
Size of the Baby: About a foot long and a little over a pound (fatty).
Maternity Clothes: still wearing a couple of my regular pants with my belly band - but they are getting more uncomfortable. I still need to get my maternity pants hemmed so I can wear them!
Stretch marks: not yet...but I have reoccuring nightmares about waking up to find they are covering my body.
Weight gain: I think I'm up 14 pounds (give or take). This has been the least fun part of my doctor's visits lately. I hate that they want to weigh you every time!
Sleep: I still won't complain because I know that it will get worse! :-)
Best Moment of the Week: Feeling this little girl move! Her movements are getting so strong. Brandon and I were able to watch my dress twitch with every kick. It's an amazing feeling.
Movement: All the time :-)
Food Cravings: Everythinggggg lately. One minute I want a rootbeer float, and the next I want french toast. There is no rhyme or reason, I basically just want everything I see on a commercial.
Gender: GIRL!
Belly Button in or out: in but getting shallow
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope (still so happy about this!)
Labor Signs: No
Wedding ring on or off: On but the heat lately sure has been making my fingers swell up - so I've taken my rings off a few times.
What I miss: Laying on my stomach! I plopped down on the couch the other day (on my stomach) completely forgetting and it hurt! It feels like I'm laying on a squishy tennis ball, or hard water ballon.
What I am looking forward to: Our baby furniture gets delivered this weekend :-) I'm looking forward to getting the nursery painted, and furniture set up!
Emotions: Not as bad as it could be but I sure do cry easily. I was working on my final portfolio over the weekend, and I started sobbing while typing. I just felt so sorry for myself. I'm so tired and I want this project to be completed so badly. I also want a cleaning lady that will scrub our bathroom from top to bottom every week. I know, first world problems. 


Don't mind the trash can. I realized at the last minute I didn't have a week 23 picture.

 xo,

Feeling grateful

Most of my evenings and weekends have been dominated with working on my final portfolio for school. I spent seven (sunshine filled) hours on Saturday cooped inside the house writing and feeling sorry for myself. I decided on Sunday I would give myself a break. Brandon and I packed up his bronco and headed to the beach for a couple of hours. The bump and I sat on the sand, soaking up the last bit of summer and watching Brandon surf.

The bump and I watching dad surf

I don't know if it was just the break from staring at the computer, or if the weather really was that perfect - but I could have sat there all day long watching the man I married surf in the water and being so thankful for the time we've had together - just the two of us. An overwhelming feeling of "I married the right person" came over me and I thought back on the last five months. The look on Brandon's face when I told him he was going to be a dad. How he listened to me cry every day about how many times I threw up and how I felt like I was going to die and told me each time that this would pass and one day I would forget how awful it was. How he made sure to leave me slices of muffin, or plain toast on my nightstand every morning so I could get something in my stomach before sitting up. How he did the laundry and the grocery shopping and the cleaning and cooking for three months. How he set alarms on my phone to tell me to eat whether I thought I could stomach it or not. How he reads his favorite stories from childhood (The Chronicles of Narnia Series) to me and the baby before bed. I know that our daughter is going to have the most amazing dad in the world. I have never been so sure of something in my life.

21 weeks

How Far Along: 21 Weeks
Size of the Baby: Spaghetti Squash (About 10 inches and 1 pound)
Maternity Clothes: I'm still mixing maternity clothes with non-maternity. I am dying to wear my new maternity leggings with boots and sweaters but the weather is not cooperating.
Stretch marks: not yet - I'm still slathering on Palmer's and Burt's Bees Mama Bee cream twice a day.
Weight gain: 10 pounds total (give or take depending on the day).
Sleep: Aside from switching from side-to-side every hour - sleep is good!
Best Moment of the Week: My parents took me to pick out our nursery furniture! We ordered the crib and the changing table. I'm still on the hunt for a glider :-) Thank you Mom & Dad!
Movement: Every day :-) Feeling her little pushes is the highlight of my day!
Food Cravings: Lately, I want something sweet every evening after dinner.
Gender: GIRL!
Belly Button in or out: in but getting more shallow...
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope (still so happy about this!)
Labor Signs: No
Wedding ring on or off: On...but when I get really hot it gets really tight. Eeek, I'm hoping this isn't a sign I should stop wearing it.
What I miss: sleeping on my stomach :-)
What I am looking forward to: Our trip to St. Thomas in exactly four weeks!
Nursery: We're making progress! We finally decided on a coral, gray, and white color scheme. The furniture we picked is gray and has a shabby chic finish to it. Our bedding is white and coral. I'll post pictures at the end of this month when it's all been delivered :-)
Emotions: School is draining but overall I'm feeling really good.