30 Weeks

 

How far along: 30 weeks (September 15-September 21)

Gender Prediction: Back to Girl.

Weight gain: Striking this category from the posts for now. haha. It is what it is! I might add that I did not gain anything between my 28 and 30 week appointments! So I got a cheese pizza for dinner!

Maternity clothes: Yes! My mom just got me a few plain long sleeve maternity tee's which will be perfect for the fall weather approaching.

Sleep: Anxious for our shower and to get stuff done. Falling asleep fine, but up and tossing from 4:30ish on.

Best moment this week: Our crib being assembled and my baby shower! Another post with details to come! And getting to see our sweet munchkin again at an ultrasound!

Miss anything:  Being able to bend over or move with more ease. Now it's slow and steady and usually comes with a huff or two.

Movement: Yes! They're softer movements now, moreso legs moving and stretching. Rolling from one side to another. No real karate chops!
Symptoms: Swelling of the feet, again! My feet puff up mid week from sitting at work. I'm trying to get up frequently and walk around to keep my blood pumping. Friday nights are the worse for these sausage feet!

Cravings: Nothing specific this week..

Looking forward to: Organizing the nursery!

29 Weeks

How far along: 29 weeks (September 8-September 14)

Gender Prediction: Thinking boy this week!

Weight gain: Striking this category from the posts for now. haha. It is what it is!

Maternity clothes: Oh yes. I've tried to squeeze into a few non maternity shirts, but they end up looking funny. Living in my maternity jeans and tees. Thankfully my job is casual enough to be able to wear jeans and tees and not have to buy all new work clothes.

Sleep: Not too bad this week. Been super tired and found myself in bed earlier than normal, but I wake up feeling rested. It's the mid morning and afternoon slump that are totally getting to me.

Best moment this week: Our crib is supposed to arrive this Friday! Hopefully this one is in good condition!

Miss anything:  A turkey club!

Movement: Tons.
Symptoms: Thinking this belly button is going to be completely flat at some point in the next week or two.And just feeling exhausted in general. I got back my blood results from the gestational diabetes test, which were negative for gd, but my iron levels are low so my docs want me to increase my red meat and leafy green vegetables intake. This could be part of the reason for the exhaustion, I'm not sure how much because growing a baby is hard work, but I look forward to a few burgers and a nice juicy steak in my future!

Cravings: Nesquick Chocolate Milk and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Looking forward to: Our crib, and working more on the nursery! 

What is your guess, boy or girl?!

Pink Blush Maternity Maxi Dresses

A few weeks ago I was scouring the web for a cute maternity dress for my baby shower, and maternity photos. I was coming up empty handed everywhere. Enter Pink Blush Maternity! This collaboration came at the perfect timing. I received three ridiculously cute maternity dresses. 

I was searching for something casual, that I could dress up or dress down and just be so comfortable in. This black solid short sleeve maternity maxi dress is exactly what I was looking for! It's so soft and comfortable, fits great, and can be dressed in so many ways. I chose to accessorize it with a simple gold belt and gold flip flops. I'm loving the belt above the bump, it gives a little decoration and makes me feel like I have a little waist still. 

This next contender I believe has won for my baby shower dress! If you're reading this and going pretend you didn't see these photos! hah. I was looking for something in a gender neutral color since we don't know the sex. This mint dress was immediately on my must have list once I saw it, collaboration or not! I love the lace, and the soft mint color. It's perfect for a baby shower. It literally would go with anything for any occasion! It's so versatile! 

Last up is my favorite dress. The fit of this dress is incredible. I literally felt amazing in this. This dress is so flattering. It's a maternity dress and can be used after baby is born as a nursing dress too! I felt so girly and feminine in this. Like I wanted to twirl around in a rose garden... which is precisely what I did. I've even scoped out the Shop Pink Blush website and found out that this wrap dress style comes in non-maternity as well. I am narrowing down the choices to pick out one for the winter! Seriously, so obsessed with this dress! It appears that the one I am wearing is no longer available on the website, so happy I was able to get it before it was gone! But here is another very similar style that I was debating over!

 

In all, any one who is currently on the hunt for cute maternity clothes please do yourself a favor and check out Pink Blush Maternity! You won't be disappointed with their selection of maternity clothing! 

Please note that this post is written in collaboration with Pink Blush Maternity, but all opinions are my own!

28 Weeks

How far along: 28 weeks (September 1-September 7)

Gender Prediction: Was boy for a bit of this week, then went back to girl.

Weight gain: Getting up there. :/ Let's leave it at that!

Maternity clothes: Of course. I also am collaborating with Pink Blush Maternity. Their maternity dresses are amazing, stay tuned for a feature on three favorites I received from them!

Sleep: I've found myself having a hard time falling back asleep after say 5am. Once 5ish hits, I'm kind of up and ready to get on with the day. It's at that point that I can't get comfortable in any position and it's almost easier to get up.

Best moment this week: Celebrating our 2 year wedding anniversary!

Miss anything: Yep, the wine.. especially with our anniversary dinner. I've 
made it this far..

Movement: Yes! I love watching it from the outside. You can see little kicks, and rolls across my belly.
Symptoms: Swelling came back at the end of the week. And some back pain or just 
trouble getting comfortable on the couch and in bed.

Cravings: Salty foods this week! I had the glucose test on Thursday, so after that, I really felt like eating a full spoon of salt! I opted for a bacon egg and cheese instead, but I was very turned off from sweets for the day. Don't worry, I'm loving them once again... waiting 
on my results. 

Looking forward to: This weekend we have our niece's first birthday party, a fishing tournament, and our friends band is opening for Smash Mouth at the Norwalk Oyster Festival. Should be a good weekend lined up! I'm also looking forward to some cooler temps, it's mid 90's this week!

Pregnancy Favorites

I'm sure everyone has their own thoughts as to what is best for a pregnant lady. This, is the list of my absolute hands down, must haves! 

First, let's talk about these Liz Lange for Target Maternity Tee's. Now, these are hard to find! They're not cotton, they're made from rayon and spandex. I love how stretchy and comfortable they are! My sweet mother in law got me one in the spring, the one pictured above, in pale purple and white stripe. Once I actually had a bump and fit into the shirt I was obsessed! I now have 5 or 6 of these! 2 white ones, because you never know when you'll need to trash one, one black, one grey, and one navy and white stripe. I seriously want to wear these everyday. They're not really in stores anymore, or at least the two targets around me, but they're still available online. Must have maternity clothing, for sure! 

Up next is a really cute tumbler or water bottle. It's so much easier for me to guzzle down water when drinking out of a cute cup, rather than a normal kitchen water glass, or a regular plastic bottle of water. If it's cute and you can fit more water in it, the more water I'm likely to drink. A must have to keep a mama to be hydrated!

Let's talk skin. So, from the beginning when we first found out we were pregnant, I started slathering on lotion. The first trimester I didn't show at all, so I really just used whatever lotion I had at the time. Once this baby started to make his or her presence, I knew I needed to invest in something meant for pregnant skin, and super moisturizing. Enter, this lotion. It's non greasy, super light, and I'm just obsessed with it! I'm in my 28th week and no stretch marks so far.. I'll keep slopping this stuff all over this belly!

These next two products go hand in hand, and aren't necessarily for anyone pregnant. I discovered It's a 10 products about a year ago, and I have NOT looked back. I have thicker hair, and a lot of it. It may not look like it when you look at me, and I'm not one of those people to be the first to broadcast it, but, all of my hairdressers always comment on how much hair I have. I think because it's deceiving. It doesn't look like there's an abnormal amount in there. Anyways, it likes to KNOT, badly when it's wet and freshly shampooed and conditioned. Hairdressers hate me for this reason! I seriously had a hairdresser combing out my hair for 45 minutes once.. 45 minutes it took her to get through this. Anyways, it was around that experience that I knew I needed something at home too. My hair was long, and I loved it, but I couldn't take the constant pulling, breakage, and damage I was causing to my hair. I had tons of blonde highlights, which put texture in your hair and make it even harder to brush still. So I went on a search, and found the Miracle Daily Conditioner first. I was able to get my paddle brush through my hair in record time. Instantly I was obsessed. I quickly went out and got the leave in product. I've used the two, every time I wash my hair now. My hairdresser has even commented on how my hair has improved, and how much easier it is for her to brush through it. Thankfully they have the same products in their salon, so she now uses them on me when I'm there. If you're looking for an awesome conditioner and leave in product, please try this! You won't be sorry! 

Hormonal acne. My biggest pregnancy issue thus far. Yes, I've been so lucky to not have experienced morning sickness, but acne, is a whole other story. I know it's due to hormones being so out of whack, but it's hard to feel confident when your face looks like you're going through puberty! Oh the hormones! I was using a face wash with Salicylic acid pre-pregnancy, and it was working really well. Once my hormones went into overdrive and started cooking this babe, my face broke out regardless of what I did to it. I was in search of something gentler to the skin, to help keep it moisturized and clean. So after trying many other brands, I settled on the Simple products. I really think they're helping now. I still have some acne, but it's not as bad as it was, and I feel super clean after using these wipes and this face wash. I'm definitely going to continue with these products after pregnancy!

Lastly, a pregnancy pillow. Everyone will have some sort of hard time sleeping at some point. Around 16-18 weeks is when my doctor recommended no longer sleeping on my stomach or back, and getting over onto my left side. I've seen tons of people who use the Bump Nest or other huge pregnancy pillows. Don't get me wrong, they all look amazing. We only have a queen size bed, and I didn't want it to take up the entire space. So I went with this sweet little pillow and I think it works perfectly! I do find that I roll onto my back sometimes, but I try to prop another pillow behind me. This pillow is the perfect size to go between my knees, curve up around the bump, and also act as something to hold onto and cuddle while sleeping. I don't have any sore hips or joints. If you don't have the room for one of those huge pillows I highly recommend this smaller option! It is comfortable and does a great job!

Is there something I'm totally missing out on that I should be using? I'm open to any and all suggestions! I love trying new products!

27 Weeks

How far along: 27 weeks (August 25-August 31)

Gender Prediction: Still on girl this week.

Weight gain: 22 lbs, finally weighed myself, looking like 1 lb a week...

Maternity clothes: Oh yes.

Sleep: Still dealing with the dog coming in. He's starting to get the picture. Waking up at 3:30, and trying to make it till 4:30 before I have to get up and pee. Once I get up, Mack is soon to follow into our bedroom to try and cuddle.

Best moment this week: Our chuggies and huggies party! We invited over some of our closest guy friends/family for a beer and diaper party for Wayne. The guys all brought packs of diapers and they enjoyed beer and manly meaty foods! We were given roughly 3,700 diapers! Holy cow! In the estimates online, we should be completely set for the baby's whole first year. Cannot believe how lucky we are and how amazing our friends and family are for their generosity and support. Now.... to find a place to put them all.......

Miss anything: A glass of red wine.

Movement: Yes, and loving it. I'm finding that one day baby is super active, and the next, he or she is a little more relaxed.
Symptoms:Didn't really experience any swelling this week which was great. Just super sleepy lately. The afternoon is the worst. That's when I'm really dragging.

Cravings: Mexican, especially guacamole and cheese! I think it's because I had a dinner date with the girls on the horizon so I was dreaming about a chimichanga.

Looking forward to: Well, not looking forward to, the glucose test coming up, and the heat that is supposed to hit the north east. But I am looking forward to concentrating on figuring out what we are doing with my car, and if we are getting a new one, and our 2 year Anniversary!

The mountain of diapers!

We went out on Wayne's dad's boat on Friday for a little fishing and some sun. It was a beautiful day! I thoroughly enjoyed my day off!