My Favorite Shopping Buddy

Top: Old Navy / Jeans: Motherhood (yep, still rocking them!) / Shoes: Target / Scarf: Groopdealz

So let's just focus on the positive here - it's actually an outfit post!!

Getting out is definitely not as easy as it used to be. Running to Walgreens takes time and planning with an infant. So, when it does occur, I like to try to get dressed in something OTHER than sweatpants! Bean and I had a little shopping to finish up today, so after a nice long early-afternoon nap, and a hefty feeding, we hit the door and made a few stops. She's pretty much the most fun shopping buddy. She even helped me pick out some of Daddy's stocking stuffers!

My outfit is obvs nothing fancy, in fact, I'm pretty sure Olive is the one who should really have the fashion blog here (hello cute owl outfit), but it does feel good to start to feel a little more normal in my clothes again. A good scarf has been a staple for me right now - it draws some attention away from my still full belly, and adds a little something extra to the ensemble. Other then that I'm still keeping it comfortable. My pre-preg pants are still not quite fitting - I have some weight left to lose - so I have no shame still rocking the maternity jeans. They are hella comfortable, and especially at this time of year when there's so much delicious food to be eaten!

Hope everyone is having a joyous holiday season!!

My Life as a New Mommy - Olive Update!

My little Bean is now 3 months old and change. It's crazy how the past three months have gone so quickly and so slow at the same time, and yet giving birth seems like it was an eternity ago. Olive has already grown and changed so unbelievably much since we brought her home from the hospital. From a little baby blob to a beautiful little flirt that often looks something like this:

All smiles and happy dreams.

My girl.

What kind of parent would I be if I didn't brag a little about how amazing she is? Cuz she's pretty super. God was kind enough to bless us with a very patient and easy going first babe, who likes to sleep just as much as mommy and daddy. Baby sleep was a big issue I was worried about, and yet knew nothing about at the same time. We co-slept the first 6 weeks, but she was too big and too independent for her bassinet or snuggle nest by week 6. She has been sleeping in her crib ever since. I expected that transition to be difficult, but girlfriend loves her room, and loves sleeping in her own space. That was proven even more when she started sleeping through the night week 7. And by through the night, I mean she goes to bed at 8:30pm, and as I write this post (at 8:00am) she's still asleep (though she's starting to stir!). My angel.

She about the happiest baby ever. She smiles and coos, and is so happy just to see mine or daddy's face in the morning. *Heart melts.* Sure she has her moments, she's a baby after all. But honestly a big blowup is really rare and it's (usually) super easy to fix. Mostly she just whimpers, and if you check her diaper, stick a boob/bottle in her mouth or just pick her up or put her down for a change of scenery, she's happy as a clam.

Don't get me wrong, this parenting thing is hard. Like HARD. Trying to sift through all the advice from friends and family and make the best decisions for you and YOUR baby is tough. Knowing when you do something, say something, try something, it all affects this little human and who she is becoming is terrifying. We have our bad days like any other family. But she brings so much pure joy to B and I, it's insane.

I never knew how much I would love being a mother - and a stay at home mom at that. Our days consist of sweatpants and sleepers, spit up and snuggles, naps, feeding, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Sofia the First, learning to grab and hold and giggle. Poopy diapers and sucking boogies out is the norm. And I'm ok with that.
Before, my whole life goal was "career". I never even knew if/when I would have kids. And now, all I want is to be here with her. And make more perfect little humans like her! I do work one evening a week at Motherhood, and I can't even tell you how many times I almost quit because I didn't want to be away from her, even for those short 4 hours. I cannot fathom having gone back to work full time at 8 or 12 weeks - and its given me mad respect for all you ladies that have and do!

My little girl was a unplanned surprise. But she has been the best one of my life. She came to us at the perfect time, when we didnt know it was the perfect time. But that's the way life works sometimes, isn't it?

Beauty Review: Rimmel Stay Matte Foundation

As part of an Influenster Vox Box* I recently received a sample of Rimmel's new Stay Matte foundation.

Now normally, I don't wear foundation. I'm a BB cream or tinted moisturizer kind of girl, so as you can imagine I was apprehensive about trying a real foundation! Overall I have fairly even skin and not a lot of problems with acne. Since having Olive, however, my hormones have been out whack causing a little bit more skin issues than I'm used to.

Enter - foundation.

Influenster and Rimmel sent me the 'True Ivory' shade, which seemed like it would most closely match my skin tone. Upon my first application I noticed it was really cakey. Is this normal? I may have used a little too much. After washing my face and letting it dry I tried again with half as much. Still pretty cakey. After I applied it (with my fingertips) I still had to go back and put some lotion around my jawline and mouth to blend it and make it feel less heavy.

The plus side though, was it did have significant coverage. See below - before and after.

Overall, I would purchase this foundation for two purposes - 1) if I am really broken out and need to even out my skin and 2) for a fancy look for a special occasion.
It definitely didn't convert me to a full on foundation wearer. Mostly I couldn't wait to get home and wash my face after wearing it out to dinner.

Do you guys wear foundation? Have any tricks for making it less cakey? Or are you a tinted moisturizer kinda lady like myself?

*I received this product complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

I Had a Baby Y'all

I know I've never been the worlds most disciplined blogger, but as you may have gathered from my previous months of posting, this recent little break had a very good excuse and her name is Olive Grace.

If you follow me on twitter you already know our little Bean was born Sept 12, at 12:30am, weighing 8lb, 13oz and 21in long. The labor was looooong but overall L&D was a good experience. I've written a draft of my birth story and I plan to share that another time soon! (Hopefully!) One thing I was definitely not prepared for was how much time newborns take up! I'm the first in my family to have a baby, and I'm the youngest, so I haven't been around babies - you know - ever. Its amazing how one tiny little human that just eats sleeps and poops can wrap up your whole day in the blink of an eye! It was a tough transition at first, but now that Olive and I are in our little routine and have had some time to get used to it, I'm LOVING being able to be home with her every day. She's so special and beautiful, and growing so quickly already. At almost 7 weeks old she already has so much personality!

SO, anyhooters, back to the reason any of you come to my blog - fashion! As you can imagine as a SAHM with a 6.5 week old, I really don't get dressed that often (though I am rocking a pretty stellar set of Owl pjs at the moment). When I do, I'm trying to figure out what looks good on my postpartum figure. I still have about 10lbs to lose until I'm at my pre-pregnancy weight, however, when I got pregnant (surprise!) I was trying to lose weight, so ideally I'm aiming to lose about 20lbs. I just had my 6 week check up and was cleared for working out, so its time to hit that new elliptical we have sitting in the garage! But in the interim I'm right in between my maternity and pre-preg clothes, making for a very random wardrobe. Additionally, nursing has created some challenges in my postpartum wardrobe!

BUT, that being said, I want to get back in the swing of this blogging thing - time permitting (I dont know how you other new momma bloggers do it!!) So here we go -- this is the closest thing I've got to an outfit photo, and frankly, Ollie's is far better than mine! :)

Who doesnt love a good 'get that sun out of my face Mom!' photo?!

Hope all of you are doing well out there in blog land! Looking forward to catching up with you soon :)

38 Weeks

Tank: Motherhood Maternity / Pants: Motherhood Maternity / Jacket: Old New York & Co. / Shoes: Toms

 

How far along? 38 weeks, 5 days

Baby’s size? 19-22 in., about 6.5-7 lbs - the size of a watermelon!

Days until next doc appointment? 1 - every week now!
Total weight gain/loss? Around 30 lbs total. I'm hoping to stay around that until the end, but we shall see!
Maternity clothes? All the ones I have been wearing all pregnancy are becoming too small. I didn't want to buy a bunch more for the last month, so I'm more or less back in comfy leggings and B's old oversized shirts. The same way I started pregnancy! :)

Stretch marks? My stretch dots turned into definite stretch marks along my lower belly. There aren't a ton but enough to make me oil and lotion up like 10 times a day. They also itch like crazy!

Sleep: I dont sleep that well, but I do sleep for long periods of time. I've been exhausted lately and sleeping in until 11am some mornings since I'm not working most days. Often I get up around 7 or 8 and stay up for an hour or two and then go back for a nap too!
Best moment(s) this week:
We have had a lot of moments over the past several weeks! This week though its like she knows when we are talking to her. Shes especially responsive to B which is so stinking cute.
I'm also done working! I made it to my 38 week mark working retail yall, and I dont know how I did it. I thought I'd be done way earlier, but it still felt ok being on my feet for short shifts so I did it up! In fact I am about to go in and help out for an hour today too, but they aren't putting me on the schedule anymore. Its more of a day to day thing, and I think this'll be the last one I go in for. But I'm super proud of myself! It keeps me active too.

Movement: She's super strong now, and most people told me her movements would like slow by now, but shes really becoming more aggressive. When she moves we get big, bulging movements and my tummy gets all kinds of dilapidated and weird! I think she wants out, and I try to tell her I want her out too, but its all up to her... I think shes still trying to figure it out ;)

Missing anything? My regular clothes now that my maternity ones are becoming too small too! AE had a big sale last weekend so I bought a couple flowy oversized tops and a couple cardigans that I can wear over nursing tops this fall... felt good to shop for normal clothes a little again!
Food Cravings: I can not get enough of those mango pineapple smoothies from McDonalds. I require them several times a week and usually have them drank before I even get home. I'm obsessed. But I'm not sure if its because of a craving or they are really just that damn delicious! :)
Belly button: Turkey's done!
Happy or moody most of the time? Still happy. Swollen, but happy

Weekly symptoms: Swelling, some minor back pain, fatigue, increase in *ahem* certain secretions (tmi, I know)... overall I feel pretty good though which makes me worry I'm no where near l&d yet, even though my due date is next Saturday!! Gah!

32 Weeks,a Rainy Day Casual Ensemble, and My Pregnancy Non Plan

Tee: Birthday present from B / Jeans: Old Navy Maternity / Shoes: Target / Glasses: Firmoo

So before I launch into my update, I want to write a little bit about my pregnancy experience thus far. More for me then anything, but with all the other pregnant bloggettes out there I figure it could be good to read about others experiences!

I've mentioned before that our little bean was a surprise. We weren't planning for her, or trying to conceive. That being said, after being together nearly 3 years, B and I knew we wanted to start a family one day, and likely sooner rather then later, as I approached my 30's and B edged into his mid 30's. From the moment we found out, we have been excited and we knew she was coming at just the right time for us. I didnt know a ton about pregnancy or babies, (though thank God, many of my friends had just gone through pregnancies of their own which has been a tremendous help!) and at first I immersed myself in books, blogs, apps, friends tales and anything else you can get your hands on to learn about what was ahead. 

After a few weeks of research, I put down the books, and frankly, I've barely picked them up again. Now, don't get me wrong, I still read my weekly updates from my Babycenter and What to Expect apps, to see where baby girl is at in her growing process, and I've definitely Googled different pregnancy symptoms as I've experienced them (to find every single one has been normal). But at the end of the day, I'm just living in this experience.

I've had a very blessed pregnancy so far. I didn't have a lot of nausea, and my belly has been very accommodating to my growing girl. Aside from my belly and boobs, my body has barely changed, and I haven't even had any real swelling yet (except after a long day at work, but retail does that to even non-pregnant folks!). I've carried her easily to this point and without any bumps along the road (knock on wood). My moods have been extremely stable, without any crazy pregnant lady outbursts at all, and I have, for the most part, been my same smiley self (if not more smiley!). I feel calm and at ease.

B and I have had open communication between us and our doctor and then midwife, but we have had very few questions for her up to this point. As long as she has told us we are healthy and Bean is healthy, we just continue to do what we do. We also - and this one is a biggie - don't have a birth plan. Whatever way, and however she needs to come out is ok with us. Yes, I am hoping for a vaginal delivery. And I'm also hoping I can be strong enough to not have any meds. But if I can't take it, I will absolutely get an epidural. And if baby girl decides she doesnt want to be in the proper position for a vaginal delivery, then a c-section it is. The only "plan" we have is for her, and I, to healthily and safely go through this process in as much of a peaceful labor and delivery as possible. Just me and B, creating our little family, and likely having some laughs as we do so, because that's the kind of couple we are.

We have educated ourselves, but we also trust our midwife and doctors to help us along the way. Mostly, we are just incredibly plugged into our baby. Her movements, her reactions to us.. not to what everyone tells us she should be at this point. In a way, B and I are just along for the ride, and that's exactly how we have treated the past 7 months. We are in our little cocoon of a family already, and shes absolutely already a part of 'us'. I dont really know how to explain how calm we have remained during this time, but I feel so good about the ease of my pregnancy and what I hope will continue through labor and delivery.  None of it scares me and I just can't wait until shes in my arms. 

I've looked around the interwebs to see if there are any other couples who have treated their pregnancies in this manner, but I haven't had a lot of luck. Mostly I find ladies who are incredibly immersed in their pregnancies, which is awesome - it just doesn't work for B and I. I dont know what to call us ... hippies? free spirits or zen mamas? All I know is its all in God's hands for us, and we are just thanking him for even blessing us with this gift to begin with! Maybe it'll all change as we get closer to delivery, and if it does, thats ok too :)

On to the update...

How far along? 32 weeks, 3 days

Baby’s size? 19 in., about 4.5 lbs - the size of a honeydew melon!

Days until next doc appointment? 4 - this every 2 weeks thing cray.
Total weight gain/loss? Around 23 lbs total so far. The doctor tells me I'm healthy and on track so I'm going with it!
Maternity clothes? The shoes pictured above are just for looks. They don't even remotely fit anymore. Sad face.

Stretch marks? Got my first one on my belly! Though its less a stretch MARK and more a stretch DOT. Still oiling up on the reg!

Sleep: Getting so. much. harder. And I wake up really early most days and just get up. We are talking like 5-6am early. But my body just isn't having sleep, so I go with it. I know its all prep for bringing home a newborn! Besides, I Love Lucy is on at 6am so at least I have that to look forward to. :)
Best moment(s) this week:
Its been several weeks since I updated so lots of moments!! But my favorites of the past few weeks have been:

1) Had my baby shower weekend in Indiana - it was small and perfect thanks to my amazing sister in law!

2) FINALLY finishing her furniture and moving it all into her nursery, and starting to put things away! Its surreal to have baby things in the kitchen and family room and in her room like she actually lives with us now. 

Movement: The movements are changing but shes still a mover and shaker! Now its more rolling, stretching and pushing, lots of feet in my right ribcage and fists and head (our midwife tells me) in my left hip.

Missing anything? Sleep. And just being able to do things for myself. B takes such good care of me, but I hate that sometimes I cant even get off our bed (its really really tall and huge) without him pushing me, or shave my own legs.
Food Cravings: Not really having any anymore, or food aversions for that matter! I still like all the same foods I did pre-pregnancy, with the exception of some poultry. Chicken has to be, like, overdone for me to want to eat it.
Belly button: Its still a halfie! Though its more out than in now!
Happy or moody most of the time? Happy! Just can't wait for her to get here!

Weekly symptoms: Overall achiness (is that a word?), especially in my back and feet, still heartburn if I eat too much spicy or red sauce...

27 Weeks

 Tee: Target / Pants: J. Simp for Motherhood

How far along? 27 weeks, 5 days - The 3rd trimester! OMG!
Baby’s size? 16 in., about 2.5 lbs - the size of a head of cauliflower!
Days until next doc appointment? 7 - the dreaded glucose test
Total weight gain/loss? I haven't really gained since last week, still around around 20.5 lbs. I've made some good changes in my diet (less candy, more whole grains!) So thats probably helped!
Maternity clothes? I'm not sure I'll ever go back to regular clothes....
Stretch marks? Still no new ones! And my linea negra is really really faint too, and doesnt even reach my belly button. I think my oil is working wonders.
Sleep: I've been really tired this week, and even required a nap one day. I'm hoping this isn't already the start of the downswing back into fatigue for the rest of the pregnancy! My dreams are starting to get really vivid again as well.
Best moment(s) this week:
We took our basic newborn care class - 'Little Fingers, Little Toes' - at the hospital. It was such a relief after feeling like I knew NOTHING about babies, to find out that I already have the instincts of how to take care of her. A lot of it felt like common sense to me, and for the first time, it really just made me so excited for her to get here because I know I'll be able to navigate being her mommy.
Movement: Still wiggling away! I think its getting a little tighter in their for her though, so her movement seems more localized than crazy all over the place.
Missing anything? Not this week... I feel good and am loving my growing belly and feeling her. I've felt connected to her from day 1, but the further along we get the more I just want to make the right decisions during this pregnancy for her!
Food Cravings: A lot of raisins... just plain from the box, or raisin bran cereal.. om nom nom!
Belly button: If you saw my instagram this week you know the answer.
Happy or moody most of the time? I've had a couple moods this week, but overall I'm still generally happy. I dont know how I've made it through this far without any major mood swings!!
Weekly symptoms: When I bend over at work to pick something up, I almost always hear and feel this really gross pop in my lower back spine area. I'm not sure what it is but it actually makes me physically ill. Due to that, I bought one of those maternity support bands, and while it makes me feel like a carpenter, it helps!

26 Weeks

 Dress: Old Navy Maternity / Shoes: Toms / Glasses: Firmoo

How far along? 26 weeks, 3 days
Baby’s size? 15 in., about 2.2 lbs - the size of a cucumber!
Days until next doc appointment? 16 - the dreaded glucose test is next
Total weight gain/loss? About 20.5 lbs. - GAH!
Maternity clothes? I'm really filling them out these days!
Stretch marks? Some small white ones on my side/hip area. Shes growing lots and my skin is really tight - I'm oiling up daily!
Sleep: Going ok for the most part, I'm getting used to not rolling around as much. But I get heartburn bad if I'm on my right side.
Best moment(s) this week:
Vacation! We saw over 30 country music artists last week in Nashville at CMA Fest, and baby girl seemed to really enjoy the music. She would NOT stop moving to Eric Church, especially 'Smoke a little Smoke'... should I be worried?! B and I want her to love music like we do, so it was awesome that even in utero she seemed to be dancey-pants :)
Movement: See above!
Missing anything? Being able to walk around easily without getting tired. It was tough getting around Nashville with a 6 month preggo belly. But, that being said, it honestly wasn't as hard as I thought it would be!
Food Cravings: Nothing weird this past week...
Belly button: Still a half & half! I wish it would just pop and get it over with. Its tight and kind of uncomfortable.
Happy or moody most of the time? Happy happy girl. A little emotional this past week, but I think that was a mix of being a little homesick and exhausted!
Weekly symptoms: Really tight and a little itchy skin. I also noticed if I use my core muscles to pull myself up from a leaning back position, a little egg shaped protrusion happens, and it will pop out in different areas of my tummy each time. Is that a head or butt or something?! I feel like I'm in Alien!

24 Weeks

 Top: Motherhood Maternity (clearance) / Pants: Motherhood Maternity / Shoes: Michael Kors

How far along? 24 weeks, 3 days
Baby’s size? 9 in., about 1.7-2 lbs - the size of an Eggplant!

Days until next doc appointment? 2
Total weight gain/loss? Around 14 lbs.
Maternity clothes? I started my part-time job at Motherhood Maternity last past week so.... yea. Lets just say I get a pretty good discount ;)
Stretch marks? Nothing new!
Sleep: I've been EXHAUSTED with starting work (hey, I've been off since the move back in Feb!) but sleeping is getting harder and harder. I get frustrated easy and I wake up on my back a lot.
Best moment(s) this week:
1. B finally felt her kick!!!
2. We painted the accent wall in her nursery (antique rose) this weekend and have painted all her furniture. Next step is touch ups and sealing, and then we are ready to move it in!!! I can't wait!
Movement: She's chilled out a little this week, but definitely stronger, seeing as B felt her finally! I'm thinking shes chill because I've been on my feet way more so I'm rocking her to sleep with my movement more of the time!
Missing anything? Non-swollen feet
Food Cravings: I think they are starting to get a little weird. Yesterday I put marshmallows on my waffles. Is that weird?!
Belly button: Still a half & half. Working its way out.
Happy or moody most of the time? Still happy! I feel way more accomplished this week after working a little - keywords - a little!!
Weekly symptoms: This week was pretty good to me, but with being on my feet more, I've got super swollen tootsies by the time I come home. I've also started to get REALLY uncomfortable if I eat even a little too much. I suppose there's no room for gas bubbles in there!

23 Weeks

 Dress: Motherhood Maternity / Cardi: AE (similar) / Shoes: AE (similar) / Belt: AE (similar)

I borrowed this little preggo survey from my beautiful friend and new momma Jonna. Girl has been so helpful even from a million miles away in Spokane! :)

How far along? 23 weeks, 2 days
Baby’s size? Supposedly 8.5" and just over about 1.5 lbs, though she was a pound at our 20 week checkup so I'm guessing closer to 2 lbs! About the size of an ear of corn.
Days until next doc appointment? 8
Total weight gain/loss? Around 12 lbs.
Maternity clothes? I pretty much live in them. I have a few non-maternity maxi's I can still wear, and looser fitting t-shirts, but mostly I just wear my maternity dresses, or maternity pants/shorts with a cute maternity tee or tank! So much easier and way more comfy. I tried the belly band too but wasn't really a huge fan.
Stretch marks? Honestly haven't had too many! A few extras on my boobs but I've always had them there (curse of the large breasted). I use my Earth Angel stretch oil daily and it seems to be working wonders!
Sleep: I have 'off' nights (last night *cough cough*) but for the most part I'm still doing well with my Boppy body pillow. I just get annoyed having to get up to pee or switch sides - rolling over isn't as easy as it used to be! Plus if I get up around 6 or so to pee, baby girl thinks its time to play with my insides. But most nights I get a good 9 hours.
Best moment(s) this week:
1. Got her crib and dresser all sanded - next priming!!
2. Found the fabric I've been looking for for her bedskirt and bumpers and ordered samples - can't wait to get it all together!
3. While sitting on the couch watching the Hawks game with B, she kicked/punched/headbutted me so hard we could see my stomach move! She did it twice, and though I willed her to do it some more she must have been tuckered out. SO cool!
Movement: Oh, she is ridiculous! Moving ALL.THE.TIME!
Missing anything? If I'm being honest - alcohol! All these warm summery days have me craving yummy flavors of Bacardi, an icy margarita, or a cold beer!
Food Cravings: Weeeell I just ate a full pineapple, so you do that math.
Belly button: Its an innie and an outtie. Its still in, but if I take a deep breath half of it pops out! Ha! Weird.
Happy or moody most of the time? Happy! I really haven't been moody this whole pregnancy...unless I dont get a good nights sleep! But even then I'm just a crybaby. Not so much cranky!
Weekly symptoms: Plenty of stretching pains this week, and the heartburn is starting to kick in a little more if I eat something too spicy or greasy or with too much red sauce.

Tonight we are going to prime baby girls furniture, and I start my new part-time gig at Motherhood tomorrow - AND my bro is coming to visit for a night Wednesday! Its going to be a good week :)

The year of the Blogger Babies

Tee: Motherhood Maternity (clearance) / Blouse: Kohls / Leggings: Target

Oh my word! Y'all didn't tell me how many of you were preggo out there in blogland!

After neglecting my bloglovin feed since *cough cough* February *cough*, I finally started weeding through and so many of you are pregnant too!! 2013 is clearly the year of the fashion blogger baby. I kinda wish I had been able to come back to blogging earlier so I could have been following everyone elses pregnancies too! Congrats everyone!!

So as I mentioned before, job hunting has been a real pain in the patoot. Due to the unemployment, the stark reality is - I dont get dressed every day (something tells me that will be the case post-baby too...). I spend a lot of time in B's sweats and an oversized tee or some combination of B's stuff and maternity stuff. But, occasionally I do have an errand that doesn't require full-on thinking about an outfit, yet still requires me to get out of my sweats. In those occasions, I go to my trusty leggings. I'm still rocking non-maternity ones... wonder how long that will last?

Anywho, hope everyone is having a glorious Thursday, it is Thursday, right?!

Hey, its almost an outfit post!

Cubs tee: Motherhood Maternity / Jeans: Liz Lange for Target / Camo Jacket: Surplus store / Glasses: Old Firmoo

Ok so it's not exactly blog quality photography, but I'm easing back into things, ok?! Prepare yourselves for another long post y'all, I promised a preggo update yesterday and here it is!

I mentioned baby in my post yesterday but realized I hadn't ACTUALLY announced that she is a girl!
We are thrilled cuz it's what B and I secretly both wanted for our first, though I had older brothers so I would have been thrilled with a boy too, because I know the value of having a great older bro (or two!! :)

We are 22 weeks and growing quickly. She's a ginormous wiggle worm and is on the move constantly. I LOVE feeling her move, but I'm also fearful of it because she seems to not need that much sleep, and I have a feeling that may translate to a not-so-good-at-sleeping baby out of the womb?? Oi.

B hasn't been able to feel her kicking on the outside yet, but I can't wait until he does. Right now it feels like a secret between just me and her, and I know Daddy can't wait to be in on it :)

I have been SUPER blessed with a really fun and easy pregnancy so far. Only mild nausea in the first trimester (and vomiting only twice!), by weeks 11 and 12 I really didn't even feel pregnant (which of course wigged me out). But doctors appointments confirmed she was still in there and healthy! I had some insane sugary candy cravings early on, and was forced to temporarily swear off white meat and garlic due to scent aversions, but that all has since quieted. Second trimester has also led me out of the fatigue woods and into the 'feeling like myself again' clearing, with my only major change seeming to be my growing belly. At this point, I feel fantastic. My skin has been super clear, and my moods totally stable (albeit with the occasional 'I don't know why I'm crying, I just am' fit). I'm sleeping well most of the time (thank you Boppy body pillow) and it's a rare day that I need a nap.

Of course there has been the swollen feet if I'm up and about too long and lightheaded-ness here and there, along with the occasional painful round ligament pain stabs and weird dreams, but it hasn't been anything unusual or too tough to handle. If the 3rd trimester, labor and birthing go this smooth, I have a feeling B will want to keep me in a perpetual state of pregnant as long as we can handle it! HA!

Overall I've been pleasantly surprised and completely thrilled at how well my body has adapted to this pregnancy. It has an air of 'meant to be' around it that I love!

Other than that, B and I decided to do her nursery a little 'shabby chic'. We found a great crib and dresser at a garage sale and are in the process of (safely) sanding, priming and painting it from its light wood state to a pretty dark brown. I also have a really cool plan involving scrapbook paper for the dresser drawers! We've got our registries pretty well nailed down and we hope to get our sage colored glider via that, and my mom is going to help me make her bedskirt once we find the perfect brownish/gray shade of damask. Its a lot of work, but its so much fun! I'm getting antsy and nesty already about putting together her room, and can't wait to do so after her shower next month!

We also do have a name we love (we've had it since our 2nd date - true story!), as well as a few backups, but we won't be sharing. We want to make sure that's who she is when we first see her little face. Until then, 'baby girl' is her official moniker (along with nugget, bean, wiggle worm and the occasional 'little shit' when shes causing mommy a little too much pain).

So that's that! As I ease back into blogging I'll share more on a week to week basis and less on a 'heres a giant blog post to cover the last 5 months' basis. Sound good?!

What the what? A new post?!

Hi guys!!! Any readers still out there?! I know, I've totally disappeared the past few months. I even missed my 1-year blogeversary! Gah! But I wanted to give you guys a bit of a life update, so I hope you understand where I've been - and how much I've missed blogging!! Next entry will be a baby/preggo update, so hold tight for that one :)

Ok - life. Where do I begin....
When B and I first moved to Lexington in January, I was about 8 weeks pregnant (I'm 22 now! Agh!!). I figured I still had plenty of time to find a job before I started REALLY showing, and I hit the ground running with my resume. I've always been very blessed (and lucky) when it came to job hunting, and I have never really applied for jobs and not gotten one. I saw a lot of jobs available here in town that I thought I'd be a perfect fit for, so I excitedly applied to all of them as they came up, and patiently waited for my phone to start blowing up.

It didn't.

Then I applied for a bunch of jobs that I was mostly overqualified for, but would 'pay the bills,' and I again patiently waited for my phone to start blowing up.

Again, it didn't.

I wondered if potential employers were googling me and finding my blog and Twitter where I had clearly already written about my pregnancy, so I immediately locked them down and deleted preggo-related posts.

As the weeks (and months, geesh) started going by, I had a few phone interviews, but one of them straight up told me I was one of 150 applicants. 150! Apparently Lexington is really heavy with job-seeking marketing coordinators. At that point, I had started growing so much that I knew I wouldn't be able to hide my bump if I got called into an in-person interview. And I knew if I was 1 in 150, there'd be someone "better" (ie. not going to need maternity leave soon after starting) for the job.

It wasn't looking good. And then I thought - did I really want to go back into corporate marketing anyway? Eeeeh, yes and no. I was good at it, and it paid well. But it wasn't really fulfilling, and it was definitely stressful. My whole life outlook was already changing with this little one growing in my belly, and making money and being queen of the world was becoming the less important part of my life (don't get me wrong, money is still nice, and I'll gladly take what we can get!), but it seemed to me God was putting into motion other plans for my life, and career path. There's a reason I'm not finding a job in what I was doing pre-baby.

What then, did I really want to do? Something I had never considered before, but was in the forefront of my mind - teaching. Getting to teach kids a subject I love, and help them grow, while having a great retirement plan and benefits, and summers off with my own babies sounds really, really good.

So now, I'm in the research phase of 'Project Katie's New Career'. My major was in journalism, and I'd like to teach English or Reading/Writing. Those don't necessarily go hand in hand so it looks likely I'll have to go back for another bachelors in order to get this gameplan moving. School and a newborn is a really scary prospect, but I wouldn't start until next spring to give me time post-September birth. I'm not sure how it will all look to me after baby girl is here, since I know I'll have my hands full, but I also know I wont be alone. And B is so incredibly encouraging and supportive of this path, that I know we could figure it out.

In the meantime I've picked up an awesome part-time job to get me out of the house and keep me sane - and also give me a discount on maternity clothes. Hello. Yes please. And I'll be working on my college application and any tests I need to take pre-going back to school (um. Scary.)

So there it is. What I've been mulling over and trying to figure out for the last several months.
What I want to be when I grow up.

Nothing is set in stone by any means. Everything that has happened in the last few months has been so insane and unexpected. I've gone with the flow and kept hope that God had a plan for me and for B and for this new little girl, and I think he does. So I'm going to keep giving it up to him and see where it takes us!

The flip side of this is I don't have to 'hide' my pregnancy any more, which also means - more blogging! Yea!!

Ok, so whats new with you guys??? Any teachers out there have any advice or suggestions? Or just want to tell me how amazing your job is? Cuz I'd love to hear it!!! Hope you all are fabulous!

A Grand Excuse

I know, I know. I took another hiatus and didn't even leave a note. Bad blogger!

Here's the thing. We all know I've been in the midst of a major relocation and all that jazz, and while I thought I'd have loads of unemployed time on my hands, I've actually been pretty swamped between unpacking, settling in, job hunting, hitting the gym and doing the domestic thang. Still no bites on the job front, but I just today unpacked the very last box in our room! Score!

As you can imagine, I don't do these things in cute outfits with my hair did and makeup on. In fact, I'm mildly embarrassed to admit that today I woke up, worked in our bedroom, showered, and put my pjs right back on. I'm sure B loves coming home to this hot mess every day ;) Anywho that's a large part of the lack of posting.

The other part?

Well -- remember THIS post, where I mentioned there were exciting things happening (re: our move), and no I was no pregnant before you even ask? Welp. Turns out I should have waited a few weeks before throwing that out there, cuz, well, I AM! Ha!! God sure has a funny sense of humor ;)

I'm SO excited to announce B and I are expecting a little bundle of joy this September!!! He/She was a lil surprise and we are so thrilled and excited. I had no idea how attached I'd be to this little being growing inside me so quickly.

What all that means for this blog, I don't know. I don't have a whole lotta outfits to share right now and I'm not sure how much of the pregnancy I'll want to put out there for the public either (I've already discovered that EVERYONE has opinions!) so I think for now I'll just play it by ear. But in the mean time, me, baby nugget and B are settling into Lexington and preparing for this next phase in our lives. And loving every minute. :)

Why hello there!

Dress: Groopdealz / Sweater: Kohls / Booties: Kohls

Just checking in guys!

I've been a busy bee over here getting ready for the move next week. We found a house in Lexington, and I'm finishing up at work - things are a little nutso! But thanks for hanging out! I'm about to be unemployed, so I'm guessing I'll have a little more time for bloggy things in the very near future :)

Also - check me and some other lovely ladies out over at D.I.Y. Louisville today!!

Hope everything is going well for yall!!

True Colors

Blazer: Target, old (similar) / Jeans: Forever 21 + / Shoes: Gap, old (similar) / Tee: WB Shop

I probably should have put a disclaimer on the nerdiness of this post. I have no problem talking about the nerdy things I'm super into, (re: video games, Ghost Hunters, Lenore comics, cats and anything-cat related, the occasional Disney movie... the list goes on) but I have a ridiculous love for all things Harry Potter. I'm not sure why it started, but around the time I caught the 3rd movie, I fell in love with J.K.'s wizard filled world. I think it stems from my mad desire to have magical powers when I was a kid. Hey, what kid doesn't wish for that?!

Anywho, B kindly indulges my HP love, and he bought me this tee recently. Thank's for enabling me honey! :)

What guilty pleasures do y'all have??

Simplicity.

Top: CAbi / Pants: AE / Shoes: AE (similar) / Scarf: Handmade gift

Hey guys - not a lot of time today, just a quick drop in to let you know I AM still getting dressed in the morning ;) There's nothing especially fashionable or extravagant about this outfit, but sometimes there's beauty in simplicity.

B and I are gearing up for our house-hunting trip to Lexington - can't wait!! I'm so excited to spend a little time in the city we are about to call home. I'd be lying if I said my head wasn't already there anyway.

Hope you all have a happy Tuesday!!

Jazzin' it Up

Cardi: Old Navy (on sale!) / Tee: Amos Lee concert tee / Jeans: CAbi / Boots: Steve Madden (similar) / Earrings: Target (old)

Some days you just want to wear a plain ole t-shirt. Really, that's a lot of days for me, but I try to refrain. In this case, Friday seemed like a good opportunity to jazz up a tee a little bit. I paired it with my awesome new cardi, a little animal print goes a long way. Its hard to tell, but there's metallic threads woven in it too, which makes it extra fun. A pair of heeled boots and some saucy earrings and wa-la. I love the way it turned out and bonus - I was super comfortable all day. 

What are your tricks to making a snooze-worthy outfit more fashionable??

Copycatted

Sweater: Target - old (similar) / Shirt: Kohls (similar) / Jeans: AE / Mocs: Minnetonka

I got the inspiration for this look when I saw it on Ms. Franziska over at Franish - she has a super cute blog and great real-girl style! I fell in love with the jewel toned color combo and I realized I already had all the pieces to recreate it. I decided to go flares over skinnies for an even more casual look, but I think it still has the same effect. Thanks for the inspiration lady!

So our move is picking up steam - we have our house hunting trip to Lexington planned out and our realtor there is on the hunt for a good rental for us. B has his start date and travel arrangements. I got a vet appointment set up to get my kittehs ready and get some sedatives for the flight, and I ordered another Sleepypod Air (we flew them separately last time so we used the same one for each flight!) -- sidenote, if you are ever traveling with your small pet in-cabin I HIGHLY recommend these. They are the perfect size and they are lined with super cozy fleece/fur stuff. They are easy to carry and the dark mesh kept my girls calm (for the most part. When the sedatives wore off mid-flight Lilly got a little chatty, but that's a story for another time.)

Anywho, its getting a little nutso around here, so you should probably follow my twitter to keep up with me! Do it, do it!

Have a happy Friday y'all!

Styling Faux Pas

Sweater: JCPenney / Dress: Kohls (similar - dressier - sexier) / Tights: Kohls / Boots: Blowfish (old) / Glasses: Firmoo / Necklace: Gift

I feel my lack of daily photo taking has left me with even less posing skills then I had to begin with (which was essentially zero anyway). Am I putting on a straight jacket in photo number 2? And seriously, whats on my boot?! Ah well. You can't win 'em all.

I'm pretty super in love with this sweater, but looking at the outfit now it could have used a belt. And different boots - if I had some! I'll try again tomorrow kids ;)

Hope y'all have a good day!

My New Motto

Last year there were a lot of changes in my life. While a lot of them helped mold me into a stronger, smarter woman, some of them brought out the worst in me. In any case, it's made me look at a lot of things differently, and in an effort to make some positive changes in my life, in ALL regards, I'm adopting a new motto for 2013.

Why put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

I've become lazy. Lazy in my health, lazy in work, lazy in blogging, lazy in chores, lazy in education, lazy in relationships... the list goes on. I need to be proactive in my life again. Last week I received an email from an old friend. It was easy to say 'I'll write her back tomorrow,' and then get busy and forget. Next thing you know its been 6 months and you haven't been in touch. Life is too short, amirite? I decided to immediately write her back. Even though I 'didnt have the time,' I took 2 minutes and just let her know I was glad to hear from her.

I'm going to make every attempt to do that in ALL aspects of my life. Sure I could take my outfit picture later (but I wont, and then I wont have anything to post). Sure I could empty the dishwasher later (but I dont and then the dishes pile up and I get anxiety). Sure I could start working out tomorrow (but I dont and then I've gained 2 more lbs then I've lost). See the pattern?!

This wasn't meant to be a resolution - more of just a life change. And I think by following it, I'm going to make better decisions and be healthier in all physical and emotional parts of my life. Its an easy thing to change and I feel a little less cluttered and a lot less overwhelmed already.

Do you have any 2013 resolutions or mantras??

Last Trek to Seattle

B and I finagled some tickets for this past Sunday's Seahawks vs. Rams game from one of his friends at work who is a season ticket holder. Given our current situation, we decided to make a weekend of it and have our last little Seattle outing. Photo dump warning!

Our adorable hotel - Hotel 5 on 5th & Blanchard -- excellent location for us, and really trendy, but the beds were TERRIBLE. If you can get past that, I highly recommend it.

B and I at the top of the Space Needle. It was scarier the second time around for some reason!

B & I in our seats at the game, with our new Seahawks apparel.

12th man.

Seahawks!

We had so much fun on this trip, and discovered a bunch of fun new things in Seattle (Bathtub Gin & Co. - Go there. Stat.). When we left we were both super sad that we didn't get to spend more time there. I know we'll have plenty of adventures learning Lexington though, and we'll be just a car ride away from the best city in the world -- Chicago! :)

Hope you all had an awesome New Year! Tomorrow I plan to talk a little bit about my 2013 motto, as well as FINALLY have an outfit to post! (No really - I will! I just took the pictures on my lunch break! :)