24 weeks

How far along: 24 weeks
Size: She's the size of a cantaloupe and the length of an ear of corn

Gender: GIRL! I get more and more excited every day to be having a girl. We always thought we'd have a boy first but we're getting extremely excited for a little girl! I can't wait to see how Ken is with her, it's going to be the sweetest thing :)

Fun Fact: Baby girl is VIABLE! Meaning, if she was born this week she'd have about a 50% chance of survival. Not that those are very great chances, but it's crazy to think that she could actually survive at this point outside of my cozy belly. We are perfectly OK with her staying in there for another 16 weeks or so though :)

Symptoms: Exhaustion still comes and goes. Some days I'm very productive and can get a lot done and other days I'm a couch potato. Every once in awhile I'll get some heartburn after I eat but it's never bad enough to where it really bothers me. I actually really do love being pregnant and seeing this bump get bigger and bigger :)

Maternity clothes: Pretty sure I'll be wearing maxi skirts and leggings from here on out. Which is pretty much what I've been wearing since December anyway. Anything comfy and I'm all over it.  I tried on swim suits the other day since NONE of my old swim tops fit anymore and it was pretty depressing. I just look huge and my boobs are just beyond huge, to me anyway.  Looks like I'll have to do my tanning topless! Bring on the pasties!

Stretch marks: None that I've found

Belly button in or out: In for the win

Sleep: Sleep still varies. Still going to bed between 9 and 10 and if I'm not working the following morning I'll sleep in until 7 or 8. Then there's still those nights where I wake up at 1 and lay there till 4am.  Guess my body is gearing me up for some late night awakenings/feedings!

Best moment this week: All of the bloodwork from my needlestick I posted about last week has come back negative so that's a huge relief. We also registered for the bean this week which was a lot of fun! We pretty much had a good idea about what we wanted before even going to Buy Buy Baby, which was great since it can get pretty overwhelming at that place.  I think Ken had alot of fun too scanning away at all the potential goodies for baby girl! I even let him pick out a few items ;)

Worst moment this week: Remember how I mentioned trying on swim suits? Ya.

Miss anything: Running in this amazing weather! I'll have to stick with walking Sadie and riding bikes for now.

Movement: The last few days her movement has become so much stronger and more frequent. It really is my favorite thing to do, to sit and just feel all her little movements. Now I can feel her on all sides of my belly so she must be growing big in there! Ken has felt her move several times now too which is pretty damn cool.

Cravings: Still iced coffee. I never needed to drink coffee daily but lately I could drink a small iced coffee with a pump of mocha every single day. In fact, I'm drinking my fav Dutch Bros iced coffee as I type this. Cheers!

Queasy or sick: Naw. I always take my prenatal vitamin and Metformin right before bed at night and occasionally when I wake up in the middle of the night my stomach will feel a bit queasy and I'm sure it's because of the pills.

Looking forward to: We've ordered a few more things for her nursery so I'm looking forward to getting those and getting it all set up. I also ordered the diaper bag I fell in love with and am so so excited to get it in a few days! Also looking forward to our next OB appointment and ultrasound in a couple more weeks! I can't wait to see how big she is and what her little profile looks like now!

24 weeks

Registry Wishlist

So we registered at Buy Buy Baby the other day and so much fun doing it. We pretty much had in mind everything we wanted to put on our list which made the entire registering process much smoother and less overwhelming. There are still certain items from some awesome shops I follow on Instagram that have made it to my "wishlist" that I thought I'd share. Hoping to scoop of some of these goodies in the next few months!

1. Kate Spade Stevie Diaper Bag I can thankfully cross this off my wishlist since I purchased it this morning! I knew I wanted a diaper bag that didn't look like a diaper bag. I love how this bag looks like a normal handbag but has all the functions of a diaper bag including tons of pockets for organization, an easy to clean exterior, and stroller straps.  It also seems to be the perfect size, not too big and not too small. I've read tons of reviews on it and have yet to find a negative one. Also, this bag retails for $400+ and I scored it for less than $200! Thank you eBay! It pays to do some research for the best deals, literally.

2. Reusable Snack Bags I knew I wanted some small bags to keep in the diaper bag to keep everything even more organized for things like my personal stuff (chapstick, hair ties, gum, etc) and things for baby (pacis, wipes, snacks, etc). I found these adorable little reusable snack bags on Etsy that I think will be perfect. Plus, the prints are way too damn cute to pass up. 

3. Gold Initial Necklace Ever since I found out I was pregnant I've wanted something that I can wear all the time in honor of the babe. I found these BipAndBop necklaces on etsy and think they're so pretty and simple.

4. Black & White Striped Headband One of my favorite shops I follow on instagram is @missjhandmade. She makes some of the cutest baby/kids stuff out there. I love black and white and think baby girl would rock this headband all.the.time. Too bad it's been sold out but I found a similar one here that I have my eye on.

5. Candy Kirby Designs Organic Cotton Leggings in Watercolor Ikat Ahh, baby leggings. Why why why must they all be pricey and out of my budget? I think these watercolor leggings are too freakin adorable for words. Guess I'll have to wait for a sale, wahhh.

6. BlaBla Knit Dolls-Colette the Cat I can just picture Colette the Cat sitting in baby girl's crib or being dragged around the house and snuggled with at night. 

7. Freshly Picked Gold Moccasins This woman knows how to make the cuuuutest moccasins I've ever seen. I've read amazing reviews on them. They come in a variety of sizes that stretch with baby so she's able to wear them for a long long time, and they also provide enough sturdiness but flexibility when baby girl is learning to walk. They come in about a bazillion different colors which makes it incredibly hard to choose just one pair! 

8. Aden + Anais Classic Muslin Swaddle in Twinkle Pink So this item is actually on our registry. I've always loved Aden + Anais products and can't wait to get my hands on all their amazing stuff. It's my go-to baby shower gift for other mamas. Swaddles, crib sheets, changing pads, washcloths, sleep sacks galore. I especially love this Twinkle Pink print because 1. I've never seen this print of theirs before and 2. it's freakin cute.

9. Candy Kirby Designs Fitted Crib Sheet in Metallic Gold Polka Dots Another awesome print from Candy Kirby Designs. We plan on having touches of gold throughout baby girl's nursery and this crib sheet would be absolutely perfect. 

10. White & Gold Cloud Mobile So in love with this cloud mobile I've seen on Etsy. It's whimsical, pretty, and incorporates just a touch of gold in the nursery like we want.

11. House of Mia Everyday Quilt Another amazing shop I follow on Instagram is @house_of_mia. She makes quilts, leggings, headbands, and scarves in some pretty awesome prints. I know I want baby girl to have a couple quilts that she can snuggle with and thankfully, I have two very talented friends who are (hopefully) making us an adorable quilt!

12. Cuddly Cloud Pillow I've mentioned how I want to add elements of whimsy into the nursery and think this cloud pillow does just that. I plan on getting a couple floor pillows for when we're playing/reading/snuggling in baby girl's room and this pillow fits in perfectly :)

And if I had enough room for a "FOR DADDY" section it would include a life-time supply of Dunkin Donuts coffee, a carrier to strap baby girl in, and a bottle of Jack Daniels ;) All in all, we will be so incredibly grateful for anything we receive from friends and family and are so incredibly blessed to have the love and support from all of them! XO!

Registry Wishlist

23 weeks

How far along: 23 weeks, 4 days (sorry this post is really late!)
Size: She's the length of a green onion and the size of a papaya!

Gender: Girl

Fun Fact: Baby girl weights one whole pound! She'll double in size in the next couple of weeks!

Symptoms: Exhaustion is back. Feels like the 1st trimester all over again. 

Maternity clothes: Yup. I can still fit into some of my regular pants but mostly just wearing maxi skirts or comfy pants 

Stretch marks: Nope

Belly button in or out: In

Sleep: Sleep has been OK this week. I still wake up a ton to toss and turn. 

Best moment this week: Being outside a ton and enjoying this amazing AZ sunshine all.week.long. I've layed out by the pool on almost all of my days off, sorry east coasters. 

Worst moment this week: Worst moment was by FAR getting stuck with a needle at work AFTER it was used on a patient! I was mortified and still can't believe I did this. First time it's ever happened and of course just happens to be when I'm pregnant. Thankfully, the patient didn't have a history of anything and so far all the blood work that's been done has been negative. Phew. 

Miss anything: Energy & working out

Movement: Feeling baby girl move around more and more is the most amazing feeling in the world! Her little kicks are getting stronger and she's starting to feel like a little fishy swimmin around in there :) Her movements are still strongest early in the morning and at night.

Cravings: Iced coffee. Only allowing myself 1, maybe 2 a week really blows.

Queasy or sick: Nope. We had some yummy steaks on the grill for Valentine's day and they were delish! 

Looking forward to: Garage sellin this weekend, 5 days off work, and registering for this little babe! 

23 weeks

3 days, 60 miles, $2300 to raise

3 days. 60 miles. $2,300 to raise. 

That's what I have to look forward to achieving in the next 9 months. 

One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. ONE IN EIGHT. I think almost every single person has been affected by breast cancer whether it's been a close family member, a dear friend, a neighbor, co-worker, or in my case hundreds of patients.  As a nurse, I've taken care of hundreds of patients struggling with breast cancer.  I see them on their worst days. First day out of surgery for a bilateral mastectomy, admission for nausea and vomiting related to chemotherapy, and I've sat with patients at their bedside as the doctor tells them for the first time they have breast cancer.  Not only do these women (and men) struggle with this diagnosis physically, but emotionally as well. 

 I've decided to walk in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day this November in honor of my patients. It would mean the world to me, and to them, if you could help me achieve my goal of raising $2,300.  ANY dollar amount donated can make a difference!

Go to my personal page to make a donation. Together we can, and will, make a difference!

3 days, 60 miles, $2300 to raise

22 weeks

How far along: 22 weeks
Size: An eggplant

Gender: Girl!

Fun Fact: Baby girl can hear our voices and even my stomach growl! She's about 11 inches long and weighs just under a pound :)

Symptoms: Happy & prego!

Maternity clothes: Yes and no. Still varying 

Stretch marks: Nope

Belly button in or out: In but looking more shallow

Sleep: This answer could easily change every day. Some nights I sleep like a baby, other nights I wake up 10000 times tossing and turning. I've noticed the nights I sleep like crap also happen to be nights before a work day, figures.

Best moment this week: Ken finally felt baby girl's kick this week! I keep putting his hand on my belly when I can feel her to start to move/kick and a few nights ago he was able to feel it! So amazing :) Oh, and bubble baths! I've never been a bath person (probably because our tub always has a nice layer of dust on it and I'm too lazy to clean it every week) but the other day I was thinking a nice warm bubble bath would feel really good. And holy moly, it did. It was so relaxing and I felt great afterwards. I really want to get some of these bath bombs from Lush. That store smells AMAZING every time I've walked by it but I've never tried anything from there. Hint hint on a V-day gift hubby!? ;)

Worst moment this week: I don't know if I'd say this was the worst moment of this week, but two of my patients flat out started talking to me about my baby belly. So apparently it's just obvious now that I am actually pregnant, and not just lookin like a fatty. Or both?

Miss anything: Energy

Movement: Movement has definately been a bit stronger this past week, and more frequent! I love it!

Cravings: I had the BIGGEST craving for Eggo waffles this past week. Mmmmm, I'll take 3 please.

Queasy or sick: Still not really loving meat. We bought some steaks today to have for Valentine's Day on Friday so we'll see how that goes!

Looking forward to: So so much. Registering for this little one, warm weather, layin by the pool, more decorating in the nursery, stronger movement, and V-day chocolate! Yum!

22 weeks

21 weeks

How far along: 21 weeks
Size: A canteloupe!

Gender: GIRL

Symptoms: Just a growing bump and getting tired very very easily

Maternity clothes: Some maternity, some regular. My go-to is either leggings or a maxi skirt with a stretchy top. I'm a little nervous for what I'll be able to wear when it's 100+ degrees here in AZ and I'm nice and round! 

Stretch marks: Nope

Belly button in or out: In

Sleep: Sleeping pretty good still, although some nights are still a little rough with tossing and turning. I started using my bump nest body pillow this week and it's been ah-maze-ing. It's so comfortable and keeps my body aligned which allows me to sleep throughout the night and never wake up. Love it!

Best moment this week: Getting more things for the nursery and feeling a bit more movement here and there 

Worst moment this week: I had a rough couple of days at work this past week which left me emotionally and physically exhausted. Thank god I have an amazing husband who thinks of my needs and had beautiful flowers and chocolate waiting for me at the end of my shift! Not only that, but I got a pretty good foot and/or back rub here and there as well :) 

Miss anything: I miss fitting into my regular clothes a bit. I don't mind getting bigger but it just means it's becoming more and more difficult to find something that fits and is also comfortable. It takes me like an hour every day to find something to wear. Guess I should go shopping more..?! ;)

Movement: Movement here and there! She's still very inconsistant and some days I find myself stopping everything I'm doing to make sure I can still feel her move. She's most active in the early morning when I'm still laying in bed or at night when I'm watching tv or whatever. When it's strong enough I can feel her from the outside. I'm pretty sure this little girl will be stubborn because everytime I put my hands on my belly to feel her move, she stops! 

Cravings: Still anything salty. I've been loving peanut butter toast, cereal, and lots of chocolate this week. Lots.of.chocolate. And it's not even Valentine's Day yet! Oy.

Queasy or sick: Naw

Looking forward to: Ken feeling baby girl move, warmer weather, and buying more furniture for the nursery!

21 weeks

Baby's Girl's Nursery

Nursery planning. Ahhh! This makes me ridiculously excited. Maybe because it makes all this feel even more real, or maybe I just love to decorate.  Whatever the reason, baby girl is going to have the most badass nursery. We want it to be simple with pops of feminine color and elements of whimsy.  A bit vintage and a bit modern. Silly pillows and fun prints. I'm loving pops of gold and black in nurseries and definately want to incorporate both. I think I've made about a bazillion inspiration boards and here's the final idea.

I love a lot of white in a nursery and think it gives the space a light, airy feeling.  We've bought the crib and have that set up but now need a dresser and the rocking chair.  I've also had my eye on this adorable side table from Urban Outfitters but waiting to see if it goes on sale. I love the "dip-dyed" look and want to incorporate it into some baskets or a hamper for the room like these baskets from Target. We also want some natural wood and subtle pops of gold in the nursery. I know we want a pouf for the rocking chair but haven't decided if we're completely sold on getting a gold one. We'll see! But I love pops of gold in the prints we've decided to use, possibly some gold frames, and a gold initial for our little one's name :) All in all, I think what we've decided so far is coming together perfectly and it's going to the cutest nursery we've ever seen! Of course, don't all new moms think their nurseries are the cutest!?

Baby's Girl's Nursery