30 weeks along // a little peek at our little girl

The turning of the weeks was an exciting one this time!  We got to get an ultrasound yesterday to check on little lady's position and growth.  I can't tell you how exciting it is to get a little glimpse (albeit blurry due to her constant movement) into what your child is shaping up to look like, reconfirm the gender (especially as the pink is starting to roll in) and the best part, double check her health. This little peek gave me that little nudge I'd needed after several rough weeks.  It's really a baby in there. And she's already forming a little personality.
Much like her brother, she is a mover, even at this young stage in her life. She was kicking, punching and turning her head - making it hard to get some good shots, though fun to watch live on the screen.  We saw that she has a lot of hair already, full lips and chubby cheeks!  She is measuring about a week ahead (though back at the beginning of all this, according to my cycle, I calculated a week ahead of the given due date, so maybe I'm right after all...), but all healthy and no concerns.  She is sure making plenty of space for herself in there (while she can) and laying diagonal.  Her head is under my left rib, while her little feet are actively kicking my right hip (so that's why that hip hurts so bad...).
{Outfit details: actually wearing maternity pants... but at least they are on trend with a little leather detail; neon sweater - Gap last year (similar); favorite flats; similar necklace}
Now, you be the judge on these sonogram photos - can you make out her face?   Hint: She's looking out (forward-facing), at a slight angle and at the top:

 {her little profile}

P.S. A huge happy birthday to my husband!  We'll have a little birthday party tonight for him with our little family.  He had a fun weekend celebrating at a couple of sporting events - so tonight we're taking it easy by grilling out, a cake and singing (hopefully the practicing Liam and I have been doing will pay off)!

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29 weeks along // good-bye ankles

Last week in my 20s (and this countdown is a lot more exciting than when I left the age of my 20s)!  This last week took my ankles, and my wedding rings.  Hello, swelling.  I am hoping some of this will recede, as this past weekend I was more than 6,500 above sea level in Steamboat Springs, CO for a beautiful wedding (more on that later this week).  You may have a seen a few pics from those happenings via Instagram. I highly recommend a visit to Steamboat. Ridiculous beauty. The thing I might hate most about being preggo is the swelling. I mean, I've already lost my midsection and waved good-bye to the majority of my clothing (during my most favorite season, might I add), but now to have trouble with my shoes?!  It's just unfair, really. ;) {Outfit for a day off work at home with my boy: Cardigan, T-Shirt, Leggings & Sneakers; Liam's T-Shirt, Pants - Old Navy (similar) & Sneakers - Hand Me Downs (similar)}

{^Liam was showing us where his baby is!  We keep telling, the baby is only in mommy's belly.}

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2nd Trimester Pregnancy Must-Haves!

As I mentioned last week, I officially made it to my 3rd trimester, but not without a lot of help!  These are just some of the items I have come to depend on and love during this pregnancy.  1. Managing my pregnancy-amplified breakouts. I've always struggled with my skin, but this pregnancy has made my skin even more prone to breakouts! I recently started using Belli Anti-Blemish Facial Wash and Belli Acne-Control Spot Treatment.  I've noticed a difference right away and love this stuff.   2. Midi Skirts.  I've said it before, the best pieces to own during pregnancy are a plethora of midi-skirts!  You can wear them pre-, during and post-pregnancy, so no big investments into an item that has a limited shelf-life.  Even into your 3rd trimester, you can pull the skirt all the way up above your bump and still have the skirt length keep you covered.  Go here for my fav place to find these midi-skirts and here are a few more of my favs:

3. Alas, I've also succomb to wearing some actual maternity clothes. My last pregnancy I swore by materinity basics only - leggings, tank tops and camis, and that still holds true - but I've gotten a few other pieces this time.  Mainly because I'm a little more pregnant, quicker this time and also because I've found some super cute and affordable options!  ASOS maternity if THE PLACE to shop.  
You'll see some outfit posts this next trimester working in more maternity pieces (especially excited about these fun, but belly-friendly maternity tights).
4. Helping me get some sleep.  Both pregnancies, sleep has not come easy to me, even though I'm way tired.  I just can't seem to get comfortable - so I've tried a few little helpers, with the Snoogle being my favorite (though I should have probably gotten a new one this pregnancy, as it's a little less fluffy than I'd like).
5. Belly Potions!  I used a variety of products last time and still got some stretch marks.  I don't think you can completely avoid it if it's in your genes.  BUT, I'm still using it this time because at least it made my stomach skin less itchy and possibly prevented further marks. Two of my favorites are Burt's Bees Mama Belly Butter and Moterlove Pregnant Belly Oil.
What are your must haves for getting through the 2nd trimester?

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28 weeks along // hello third trimester

Hitting the 28 week mark puts me into my 3rd trimester (though depending on your sources, I may have hit that mark last week, either way, officially official now).  This is an awesome feeling, yet also terrifying. I only have 11 more weeks left, yet the hardest 11 weeks of this whole process. I'm getting bigger by the day, which means I'm pretty much always uncomfortable, sleeping is getting worse, sciatica is still going strong, and the swelling is starting. Goodbye ankles... The good news is that 28 weeks is a huge mile marker for the little girl's development.  That is very comforting.   

And in case you are wondering if I just can't do math, yes, only 11 more weeks left.  I'll have a scheduled c-section at 39 weeks.  We found out, after 18+ hours of labor and being dilated at a 9 to 9.5 for over 4 hours, during my labor with Liam that my pelvic bone won't allow a baby to pass.  You'd never guess that looking at me. I seem to have great birthing hips!  But, while they are wide, the opening is narrow and my pelvic bone is tilted just a bit too much.  So, no even trying again, straight to the operating table for me.  I think it will be weird showing up and not even putting in the work to birth a baby.  I feel like at least last time I tried, and I tried really hard!  It also makes me a little more nervous.  I"ll be so much more aware of everything (as last time I was exhausted and would do anything to make it all stop).

Have any of you had your baby by a schedule c-section?  

Any tips on how not to be nervous about the definite surgery? 

{Outfit Details: Dress, Flats; Necklace - J.Crew Factory}

{my little budding artist ^^}

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27 weeks along // sciatica

I'm loving my time with my growing and active girl in there.  The other night she was moving around per usual, and I tapped one finger lightly on the side of my tummy. A few seconds later, in the same spot, she kicked or punched back.  I did it again in a different spot, and she responded with the same type of movement exactly where I tapped. She's already making me laugh.
What's not so funny (or perhaps it is if you're not me), is walking around while dragging my right leg behind me.  A new-to-me-this-pregnancy struggle that's reared its ugly head the last 2 weeks or so is sciatica.  Sciatica is leg pain, numbness or weakness that starts in the low back and travels down the sciatic nerve in the leg, causing pain.  This is the result of compression or irritation to one of the five spinal roots in each sciatic nerve. Basically, little lady is nuzzled down in my right hip and pushing into my lower back, causing me discomfort, shooting pain down my right leg and even some numbness (thus the leg dragging).  It's a very weird feeling.  When I was pregnant with Liam, he sat high and nuzzled into my ribs, also painful, but I could at least walk normally. 
Has anyone else experienced this pregnancy issue and have any advice for relief?
{Labor Day Weekend Casual Outfit Details: Tee, Maternity Pant - Loft; Loafers}

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Four Non-Alcoholic, Easy Cocktails Everyone Should Try!

You don't need a reason, like being knocked-up, to not drink (yes, I just said this), but for you preggos out there or those that don't like to drink during the work week, yet still crave a fun cocktail - this is for you. I spent some of last weekend, mostly during Liam's nap time, playing with fruit and mixers to come up with some delicious, yet easy drinks.  I started with the new Ozarka® Brand Sparkling Natural Spring Water in both plain and lemon (I also really want to try their other flavors) to craft four super easy, non-alcoholic cocktails that will help you get through the last part of your week, and take you straight into the upcoming long weekend (yay!).  Happy Hump Day!

Do you love peaches?  I do and I love a good Bellini.  Super easy to swap out champagne with sparkling water, mix with 3/4 peach nector juice (or to your taste preference), garnish with actual peach slices and sip on this cool delight.

Perhaps the easiest of them all. My version of a Mimosa that can drink during pregnancy. A great way to start your morning off, plus mixing in sparkling water (about 1/3 or to-taste) helps cut down the thickness of the OJ, while adding a refreshing effervescence to your morning juice intake.

For something a little more cocktail-like... I got a bit more creative on this one.  I mixed about equal parts (then went back at the end to add a bit more of what I was craving by tasting) of fruit punch (or in my case, Gatorade, fruit punch flavor, since I was looking to stay a little less sugary), ginger ale and the lemon flavored sparkling water.  I added a bit of fresh lemon juice and garnished with a wedge (I wanted to also add in strawberries, too, but we didn't have any (so if you try that, let me know - maybe even give them a little muddling to release their juices).  Liam woke from his nap to help about this point, taking his first bite out of a lemon wedge...

Another easy one, and perfectly satisfying for a hot summer night (the few we may have left): Raspberry Lemonade Spritzer.  Another use for that fresh lemon and the lemon-flavored sparkling water (about 1/3 to the 2/3 of already made lemonade).  Throw in some raspberries to make it extra special (didn't have those on hand either...), muddle to release their natural juices. This one is super refreshing and easy to make!
Thankfully for me... I had a few taste-testers on hand, who put my concoctions to the test:

Another good thing about non-alcoholic beverages... even the my little helper could try it out!  He loved to muddle the fruit wedges and tried every drink!  I think his favorite was the Virgin Mimosa.  Greg's favorite was the Raspberry Lemonade Spritzer and my favorite was probably the Peach Bellini.   
Now you go try them yourself, and let me know what your favorite is!
Thanks to Arrowhead®, Deer Park®, Ice Mountain®, Ozarka®, Poland Spring®, Zephyrhills® Brands Sparkling Natural Spring Waters for sponsoring today's post and recipe making. It was fun to learn about new ways to make fun drinks that I can enjoy while being pregnant!

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26 weeks along // they'd know if there were twins in there, right?

If I hadn't had two sonograms at this point (the first in the early stages to see the embryo and ensure I was indeed pregnant, and the second at 18 weeks to check on progress and identify the sex), I'd really wonder if there were two in there.  She's been a jabber, puncher, and overall mover way earlier than Liam ever was (but I've also been told that the location of my placenta, which is in the back of my uterus vs. the upper-front, like with Liam, has played a role into me feeling her sooner).  Her favorite game? To bounce upon my bladder. So it's really fun when I'm sitting in a meeting and all the sudden jump straight up and have to run to the bathroom.  She's funny like that.
The other night I was laying on the couch, talking to Liam about the baby in my belly (as he was inspecting my now stretched out belly button), when she started aerobics hour.  I could feel jabs all the way on one side and similar movements on the whole other side. So she's either the world's longest fetus or there are two dancer's in there... Or more likely, she just really likes to stretch out.  Maybe she'll be my swimmer, like mommy, since Liam is taking to anything that involves a ball, like daddy. I bet she's in there practicing the butterfly.
Have you experienced such strong, constant and/or spread-out movements in the 2nd trimester as this?  I don't have a twin hiding in there, right? It's not possible... it's not.
{Outfit details: Top - Target (similar); Skirt - Loft (last worn at 16 weeks pregnant; similar option); Shoes; Watch; Lips}

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24 weeks along // getting use to the word "brother"

It's hard to believe that I'm going to be a mother of two.  I mean, having one child was crazy enough, but to have a little family of four - something I grew up in myself as child? Mind-blowing. How am I already old enough for this?  Hah, oh, but I am.  But even harder to get used to is that Liam, my little baby, is going to be a big brother to a baby. But he's a baby!  How is this possible?
People ask us if he is excited to be a big brother and the truth is, he doesn't really understand what is happening (or going to happen, rather). He's only 20 months (TODAY!) and will be just under two-years-old when our little girl comes along.  But we have a great pediatrician, who has given us tons of advice and a plan to follow, which we're doing.  Currently, we're talking about babies with Liam all the time!  We got him a book on becoming a big brother, and tonight he picked that book (over all his beloved truck books, mind you) as one of our night-time reads.  On every page, he pointed to the baby and in his sweet little toddler voice, squealed "baby," with excitement!  
We've also been lucky that he's been exposed to real babies in the last several months.  This includes a friend's baby, to whom he just kept touching her feet and looking at her in awe.  Also, at his daycare a month or so ago, a couple of really little 6 to 8-week-old babies started.  He's not in their same room, but at the end of the day, they all consolidate to one room and the teachers tell me that Liam just loves them!  He'll watch the little babies and smile, laughing when they move or make little noises.  All of this gives me so much hope that he'll be excited to be a big brother. 
I just hope he knows that he'll always be MY little baby, too. And he's absolutely irreplaceable. And that our little girl on the way knows how freaking excited we are to have her join our brood.  Have you any advice about preparing your children to become brother's or sister's?
{Outfit Details - I have been LOVING these jeans (and my mint ones) from The Limited for this pregnancy. Old Gap shirt, J.Crew-inspired necklace via Ebay & orange loafers that I really want to fit, but they are a half size too small, so up for sale here (never worn outside, just twice around the house) or you can get some similar ones from J.Crew here.}

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23 week update // it's everything else that's the problem

Here we are into another week, but let me tell you - I've worked hard for this new week!  The pregnancy portion of the last week was all was great.  I slept pretty good with less nightmares and restlessness than weeks past. I don't feel like a took a huge growth spurt. I'm still  fitting into a lot of my normal clothes (with some help, of course - and mainly dresses). All that is really pretty amazing.
But the issues I had mainly stemmed around one little boy I know bring me home a nasty little cold and feeling like total crap because of it.  Just so happened to be an extremely busy time at work... so no rest for the weary.  The other little issues resulted in a fall down the stairs just last night and now, thankfully only, a pretty sore ankle. So I guess I need to find some cute little air cast to rock in between icing with a bag of peas. Here's hoping my foot heals quick so I can get back to walking as normal as a preggo can walk.
{Outfit Details - Dress - super old from Old Navy (similar in white) and Shoes - J.Crew (other colors, this fun print pair)}

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