32/33 weeks

These photos brought to you by 5 AM on the day we left Wisconsin to head home. 

HELLO ROAD TRIP. Also, Christmas was insanity. So, COMBO POST.

Skin

Hella dry the last week and a half or so - HELLO WISCONSIN. So cold and dry here. 

Weight/Clothes

Feeling good about how I look overall, thanks to so many family compliments these last two weeks and all, but let me tell you folks... Carrying around this extra poundage on 24 hours in the car? Not fun. Super uncomfortable.

Cravings/Aversions

Meh. Nothing really. I have super enjoyed all my Momma's cooking whilst I have been on vacay, but I haven't been starving or wanting to eat tons. I also kept it under control on the Christmas cookies, which I NEVER DO. 

Cramps/Pain

Oh, friends. Super long road trips are nothing but pain while this preggo. Hello RLS. Also, fun fact! I learned this week that my Grandma had RLS with all SEVEN of her pregnancies. Genetics! And look husband, this PROVES I am not making this up. 82 year old women don't just lie about crap like that.

Sleeping

Oy. SLEEPING HAS BEEN ROUGH THIS WEEK. Ev decided that she was going to start having some extreme separation anxiety and only wanted to sleep in my arms or on my chest like two or three times.

What the heck? Girl didn't even like me that much when she was a newborn! She has never, ever been a snuggler. But, all of a sudden, all she wants is Momma.

Weird? Yes. Also uncomfortable considering that laying down with an almost 18 month old on your chest when your lungs are already constricted from an almost full term baby INSIDE OF YOU TOO. Yikes.

Heartburn

ugh. Counting down to not being pregnant and not having heartburn. Seriously. It is the number one thing that makes me not like being pregnant. For realz.

Fetal Movement

This baby is SO FREAKING ACTIVE! I can't believe it. On a related note, perchance due to Evelyn's sleep related troubles as of late - I am hoping that this baby isn't going to be going crazy every time we try to lay him or her down to go to sleep.

The Girls

Bigger. My Momma bought me new bras. Yay for Mommas!

New this time around

Having an additional toddler to carry around and console while this pregnant is...challenging. Good chance this is why I am not gaining as much weight. Hello work out.

Last time round I was over 190 pounds at this (32 week) point. Though the midwives said that was totes normal then...I am not that now, like not even close. Also, they say this is totally normal too.

Oh yeah, this again.

The puppy is getting protective and cuddly with my belly again. So cute. Other than the fact that Ev is being that too. So there is a constant pile up on Momma. So I guess this is sort of again, but new too? 

Mental State

Christmas is over! Now I can look at my ridiculous to do list and freak out and be anxious about that. Hurray!

32 weeks, last go round.
33 weeks, last go round.

Evelyn Rae is seventeen months old, I am 33 weeks (actually now 34- today! - yikes!) along

...and here's an extra photo that hubby took close up. Hello 5 am. Though I still like my navy blue manicure. Love.

Progress?

Oy. Well, we just finished the worst going down for a nap time in at least a week.

Things had been going so lovely. Picture perfect, kiss goodnight, leave the room, baby girl would read to herself for a minute (you know "read" to herself) and then turn over and be out. Easy peasy. No getting out of bed, no crying, awesome.


But today? Well today nap time started at 11:50. And she just went to sleep at 1:37.

Yup. Fun.

Granted, she is teething (canines, booooo.) and feeling not great (snot, coughing, sneezing...all over me), so this probably, maybe, has something to do with it.

But this is what parenting is like. Things are going well, and then all of a sudden, something like this throws you. And it's always when you have a super long to do list, and twelve million ambitious things planned for said nap time. Or when you finally feel like you just got "back on track" On some semblance of a schedule.

Without fail, it is always these times that you will need to muster up your patience, every trick and skill in the book, and every fiber of willpower you have to succeed against a two foot tall little human being who could care less about all that shizz you have going on, because their entire being and self is dedicated to no thinking about nothing else except how much they do not want to nap. Or bathe, or eat. Or whatever.

And when they are sick? Oh please, then it is just pathetic and heart wrenching and maddening all at the same time.

These are the days when I warily wonder upon succeeding..."what would this have been like with a newborn here?" And then I think (very Scarlett O'Hara (Hamilton Kennedy Butler) like) "I'll just think about that tomorrow." And try to move on with my day.

Though all I really want to do is take a nap.

So yeah, all in all, big girl bed is going well.

You know, except when it isn't.


Evelyn Rae is 17 months old, I am 32 weeks along with Bump

...and does every subsequent baby after the first feel like it could literally just drop out of your uterus at any given moment? Moms of more than one kid, I need.to.know.

Life.

My husband and I were both awake before 5 o'clock this morning. Unintentionally. This was a stressful weekend - not just because we are undergoing home projects, wrapping up last minute Christmas shopping, planning for our upcoming Christmas trip and oh, yeah, the financing of all this stuff with the impending arrival of a new baby.

But, because all through the weekend, we were still processing the unbelievable tragedy of this Friday in Connecticut.

I honestly cannot imagine Evelyn being old enough that I need to process something like this with her, because I cannot wrap my arms around it myself. I can't wrap my arms, mind and heart around the moments of complete innocence that I now see in my own child as a parent contrasted with these horrific events. Knowing that within a few weeks I will be gazing into the eyes of another completely new, shiny soul for the first time...


There are so many discussions to be had - as individuals, as communities and as a nation.

I am relieved to see and hear the inclusion of mental illness in the debates, opinions and processing discussions that are already swirling. I am amazed and grateful that parents are coming forward with their own heart wrenching stories.

These debates are imminent, and while I don't know that I am quite ready to hear all of the political ideologists on either side with extremist views, I know that they are already coming forward, they were coming forward in the moments immediately following this - when we didn't even realize just how bad the situation actually was.

What I am ready to hear is a responsible discussion engaged in by all sides - I know that it can happen, and God willing, it will. At the end of the day, we are all just people, people with vastly varying facets and opinions. People who need to demand a responsible move forward.


The blogosphere has been in full swing with parents holding their kids a little tighter, parents who realize that we will in fact return to normalcy, and parents who are offering simple and genuine support and prayer.

I find myself falling into different reactions almost every moment, and probably will for a while.



Evelyn Rae is seventeen months old, I am 32 weeks (!!) along with Baby Bump

...and I sincerely hope that we all get to send our thoughts and prayers to all the families and people affected by this tragedy, at the same time as being able to hold our families a little closer this holiday season.

31 weeks

Skin

Feeling good about it. Crazier still? no new stretch marks (yet.) Um, why couldn't this have happened last time? Last time I discovered my first ones beginning to appear at about 30 weeks when I was in Texas, getting ready to be a bridesmaid for my friend Shelby (which I did at 31 weeks), but hadn't rolled over to the 31 week mark yet. This time? I haven't seen one. Bio Oil ftw?

Weight/Clothes

Feeling good still. Why couldn't I have been this small last pregnancy when I had to be in weddings and events and have my photo taken all over the place and stuff? Don't get me wrong, I still have my "Damn, I feel like a whale" days, but overall...feeling light as a feather.

Cravings/Aversions

Ugh, food. So full, all the stinkin' time.

Cramps/Pain

Ok, now HERE we go. Definitely having Braxton Hicks contractions...way earlier than with Ev. Plus, ugh, this baby is like IN my pelvis already. I feel every little head movement down there and my pelvic muscles are TIGHT. Like the horizontal muscles across my hips...if that makes sense. Craziness. 

Sleeping

Sleeping is difficult as this baby grows and moves. But, I am doing ok. Trying to ride some energy all the way through Christmas and the 24 hour car trips. Yikes.

Heartburn

Ick. Boo. Done.with.it. GO AWAY.

Fetal Movement

Definitely there. Still moving way more than Ev was.

The Girls

Holy hell. Here they come. They are definitely growing now. New bras. Needed.

New this time around

Earlier Braxton Hicks and stuff. It's crazy dealing with things that happened last time so much later and then not dealing with stuff that I was dealing with last time. More Braxton Hicks, no stitch marks, etc. Weird.

Oh yeah, this again.
Sleeping is hard. And lame, especially when your hubb sleeps like a rock.

Mental State

CHRISTMAS. Taking over my mind. A's Holiday Party tonight, our family Christmas next week and then we are OFF TO WISCONSIN. Blergh. Overwhelmed.

31 weeks, last go round.

Evelyn Rae is 17 months old, I am 31 weeks along

...and no shots of the Bug this week because girl has been a GRUMP and was finally rocking out a decent nap. Hurray!

Construction Zone

We have a ton of projects going on in this house lately.

And we have an impending deadline - Baby Bump's arrival.

Not only do I have some "construction" projects for this virtual space, but we have tons of construction for our physical space.

I plan on sharing all of that renovation with y'all, of course. I have already mentioned that we have the great room switcheroo happening here shortly. Us to Ashley's old room, Ev to our old room, baby in the nursery, etc.

With all those switches comes redecorating for each (minimal to the nursery, thank goodness). We are also adding a closet to a void space previously unused in our new room. Additionally, thanks to a crack in our upstairs bathroom sink, we have decided to go ahead and pull the trigger on a total reno.

A month before our baby is due.

Yup, we are totally INSANE.

Granted the space is relatively small, as are the projects in reality - we aren't moving plumbing, etc. We are just upgrading a whole bunch of stuff to make it more functional/get rid of the stuff we have hated since we moved in.

So, yeah. In any case, since I am going to be sharing all this with y'all, combined with the fact that Andria from Illinois (I don't know that I will ever be able to stop calling you that, btw < 3 ) has been wondering how the heck we fit 4 bedrooms into our dreamy little bungalow, I have decided to go ahead and share our floor plan as well as a little house tour (coming soon!)

So here it is, thanks to floorplanner.com (which is totally free by the way!)

Our Home

First Floor

Second Floor

(click for larger photos)

I started this thing back when I had plenty of computer time every day - you know, when I was at a desk, in an office, and not trying to keep my laptop balanced on some surface too high for tiny hands to reach. These are screenshots I took today, so they are not to scale or anything technical, but they give you a good idea of the layout. I was also really optimistic with the furniture layout when I had all that time - clearly I never got past the Living Room. 

All in all we have just under 1800 square feet, which most people find hard to believe when they have only seen our house from the front. We have tons of space hidden in here!

Our room and "Ashley's room" (no longer Ashley's room - sad faces) are the exact same size, but now I think you can see why we will be moving to the back of the house. 

Our new bedroom door and the bathroom door are sort of on one "wing" of the hallway, which once we redo the bathroom and our bedroom in complementary colors will hopefully give us a sort of "Master" bathroom feeling. Turns out they didn't have master suites in 1927 when this dear old bungalow was built, ha.

Plus, the kiddos doors will be together, sort of giving them their own "side" of the upstairs. Evelyn's new big girl room is quite a bit larger floor space wise than the nursery (though it don't look it here - I promise it is) so her room will also be where most of the playing occurs. 

There is also a closet in the guest bedroom that sort of juts into some kitchen space, and I legit *just* relized I didn't add that it. Note to self.

Anyway, that's how we do it. How we hide 4 bedrooms in our little bungalow. 

Excited to share the tour and progress with y'all.

Evelyn Rae is 17 months old, I am 31 weeks along with Baby Bump

...and when your home becomes your office, I think you get a little more picky (and impatient) about making it the way you really want it.

A Christmas Miracle

Friends.

Friends.

I have/had another blog post planned for today.

But.

I SWEAR A MIRACLE JUST HAPPENED IN MY HOUSE.

...

Nap time and bed time have been a STRUGGLE lately.

Monday? Naptime took 3 hours. THREE. To get down for a two hour nap. Kill me.

She was initially so good with the big girl bed thing, and then, then she really realized she could GET OUT of bed. Oy.

But last night? Picture perfect.

And just now? Friends. I am in shock and disbelief.

...

We were upstairs, doing our normal making beds, picking up, pre-nap time stuff.

Then I said, "Okay baby girl, how about a nap?"

She looked at me, raised her eyebrows and said, "Nap?"

The she looked into the hallway, walked right by me into her room and crawled into her bed.

Then she laid down, I read her favorite Spot book, gave her a kiss and walked out.

And she went to sleep.

In five minutes.

Just like she used to do in her crib! ACK!

...

ZOMG.

KNOCK ON A THOUSAND WOOD THINGS RIGHT.NOW so I am not royally screwed for sharing this with y'all.

I legit did silent a happy dance outside her room that may have included the cabbage patch.

Imagine that for a second please, a 31 week pregnant woman doing the cabbage patch.

And the running man.

And all the other cheesy dance moves I could muster.

Phew. Now I am on to conquer all my nap time tasks that haven't been done in a week.



Evelyn Rae is 17 months old, I am 31 weeks along with Baby Bump

...and considering the tearful breakdown at nap time I had two days ago, I am so legitimately thankful for today. Please, please, please let this be bed time getting back to normal.

Holiday Card Olympics

Who doesn't love holiday cards? I have been OBSESSED with them ever since I was a kid and I could read those fantastic letters about people I knew really well, or even better, barely knew. Bonus points if the mom or dad writing the letter were super clever and funny.

A and I have done Christmas cards for a few years now...

{2010}

{2011}

But, we have never had a year here we haven't paid rush shipping to get them in the mail on time.

And I use the term 'on time' loosely.

I am TOTALLY stealing this idea from my friend Megan, but as I love holiday cards and am sad when they roll in slowly, I am going to award my first few received cards with some medals...especially since they all have blogs I can direct you to!

GOLD

Gold goes to my friend Jessica, who blogs over at Grits and Gravy. Girl is like the most organized person on the face of the planet and so well put together, so I don't think anyone on her list was shocked when we got her card first! (I am assuming no one beat her to anyone's door, of course). She has had some seriously fun adventures this year.

SILVER

Silver goes to my Sister and Brother in Law. Extra points since it was their very first year doing one! I think they finally broke down since they could show off their cute new puppy, Miss Vera. We haven't convinced Haley to start blogging yet, but Justin blogs about beer over at Manroom Brews.  

BRONZE

Bronze goes to another friend Jessica, who also coincidentally just took our photos for our cards! She blogs over at VanNesting. Her card, of course, features some adorable shots of little Miss Eliza who is one of Evelyn's bffs. 

Way to go friends! You are both timely and adorable in all of your designs. 

Well, I guess I should go order ours.

In the meantime, here are a few of the adorable photos that Jess took for us that sadly won't fit on the Christmas card this year.

Check that face on the left! Ha!

I am so in love with this one. 

It will be finding a place to live in our home.

Evelyn Rae is 17 months old TODAY, I am 31 weeks along with Baby Bump

...and we have some serious Christmas shopping/ordering to do this week.

As it turns out...

...sometimes nap time is a going on two and a half hour battle of wills that you just have to refuse to lose.

Though I have never lost yet, I will fully admit that these days leave me mentally exhausted and feeling in need of a nap myself.

Ugh.

Also, as it turns out, Mondays can be so very Mondayish, no matter your occupation.



Evelyn Rae is 16 months old, I am 31 weeks along with Baby Bump

...and in the process of writing this short post on my iPad as I sit outside of her room ... She has managed to remove her diaper.

Awesome.

What up with that?

So, it's Friday.

And I haven't blogged in a week!



What up with that?

Well, dear friends - I haven't even had a bad week...it's just been...crazy? Without being especially busy? Weird stuff just keeps happening that just makes me look around and wonder, "HUH?"

This week alone I have been in a minor fender bender - MINOR, I promise, we are all ok. I was idling. That was the speed upon impact.

Also, my keys are currently locked in the car and I am waiting on husband to come rescue me.

He forgot his ID card yesterday morning, so couldn't get into work and had to turn around to drive home. His commute is around 35-40 minutes with traffic, so...that's fun.

Especially since he had to turn around and come to his preggo wife's rescue like an hour later when I was in said minor fender bender. (Two rescues this week - his office must think I am a nut case.)

I have gotten 25 weird phone calls from this 866 number that has other random complaints against it on the web. No one talks when you answer, if you don't answer, they stay on the line long enough to leave a voicemail of...nothing, and if you call back it is just some ambiguous company name with a full voicemail box so you can't leave a message. (I again registered for the do not call list...we shall see if this helps.)

Weird.

Every store I have gone to this week has been OUT of the thing I came there for...except for the grocery store. You know, that would be really weird if they were out of everything, etc.

I punched a hole in our wall after tripping through a baby gate. Like, not violently...part of the gate put a hole in the wall when I knocked it out of place with my heavy pregnant self. I caught myself though, no worries.

Evelyn has alternately been the sweetest and saddest baby on the face of the planet. Mood swings. Teething. Poor baby.

The only way she would nap one day this week was clutching my circa 2006 iPod, which she was frustrated that she couldn't work because in her world everything is a touch screen.

And yeah, that's it.

It has just been a weird week.

TGIF.

Be back in full next week.


Evelyn Rae is 16 months old, I am 30 weeks along with Bump

...and Bump seems to be chugging along just fine and going ahead with his or her head right down in my cervix. Or at least it feels like that every time I try to move.

30 weeks

Skin

Feeling good. Pale. It is winter, bien sur. However, we had unseasonably warm weather this week, so Ev and I rocked some spring clothes...the day of this shoot actually. So, don't mind the pale legs. K?

Weight/Clothes

Overall, I hate to admit this, because karma is a B with a capital ITCH, as we all know...but I am feeling rather, arm, svelte, in comparison to my last go round with pregnancy. Indicator that this might be a boy? Who knows. That's what everyone freaks out about when I admit that i feel smaller overall though. But, I mean, I do. So, feeling ok.

Plus, today, a new mom at Target (who was wearing her like tiny two week old in a Moby and he was making the SWEETEST noises) stopped Ev and I to tell us that we were both "just adorable." Why thank you, sister. You and your baby are just adorable also.

Cravings/Aversions

Meh, food. Still so full at the end of the day. Can't deal. Also, I have heard this can happen while pregnant, but didn't really notice it last time - I think my tastebuds may be a bit "off". I tend to think everything is under seasoned right now, and husband insists that it tastes normal to him. I told him he had better own up if he was just being nice and I was turning into a terrible cook, but so far, he hasn't.

Cramps/Pain

Oy. Baby getting bigger! lots of elbowing and kneeing and everything else to try and make some room in there, or at least, that's what it feels like to me.

Sleeping

Baby movement has woken me up twice this week. CRAZY.

Heartburn

Let's not even talk about it.

Fetal Movement

CRAZY TOWN. Kiddo, you are crazy active in there, especially when Momma wants to be quiet. I have started seeing things get bumped that are on my belly more and more regularly. Hilarious.

The Girls

Eh, hanging. I mean, not "hanging" but, hanging out. You know, remaining the same. Etc. Argh.

New this time around

The whole taste bud thing. As the chef of the house it is SORT of driving me crazy, especially when I think back to Thanksgiving dinner. I hope everyone wasn't just being nice about the food.

Oh yeah, this again.

Fun moments of A getting to feel baby. Ahhhh, the happy little picturesque moments in this miracle of growing a human that actually turn out to be as cute as you ever imagined. Fun.

Mental State

Doing better. My crazy, lovely daughter is driving me a bit nuts at the moment. I suspect we are hitting some serious developmental milestones that are leaving girlfriend SERIOUSLY frustrated...and she is taking it out on me. Her language is exploding and she is becoming more and more comfortable with all sorts of physical activity, so I am hoping this explains it? Also, molars. Boo. I need a glass of WINE.

30 weeks, last go round.

Evelyn Rae is 16 months old (for another week!), I am 30 weeks along with Bump

...and hey look! The tree is decorated this week! Booyah.