Baby Registry: Bath Time

Alrighty, round two of the registry stuff and probably one of my favorite things to have registered for.

Bathtime!

I know kids don't always like getting baths and I'm ready for the screaming of an infant and the tantrums of a toddler, but let's be real most of the time bath time was a blast. At least for me it was. I always got to play with toys, and my mom would give my sister and I crazy soap hairstyles and beards. Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about, I bet all your parents have pictures of you in the tub with some "Cindy Lou-who" hair going on :) 

I'm really looking forward to creating these memories with baby and of course snapping photos to embarrass the crap out of him/her once they are older.

1. Leachco Flipper 2-way Baby Bather: When it came to deciding on what to do for an infant tub I really wasn't sure what to do. Some people have exclaimed they are an absolute must, while others have said they are a complete waste of money. I won't lie at first I was not all about getting anything for bath time like this because I figured we would just bathe baby in the sink like parents have done for a really long time. However, I decided to do some research on infant tubs and quickly realized that maybe our sinks were not really deep enough to bathe baby in. A lot of the infant tubs that go into the sink wouldn't have fit as our sinks aren't very deep so I'm not sure a baby could really fit into one either. Upon realizing this I knew we'd have to use the tub and I knew we'd definitely need something for in there. The Leachco flipper got some of the best reviews for in-the-tub bathing because it's a good quality product, is easy to use, dry and store, and it can be used for your growing child!  We did receive it as a gift from my sister and I will just say it's pretty adorable.

2. Safety 1st Rubber TempGuard Ducky:  This product was rated at the top temperate readers for bath time, but most of reviews I'd read said there are many other alternatives that are just as good. The important thing is to find one that is good quality to ensure the temperature is accurate each time and it won't poop out on you. One of those things I wasn't really sure about getting since tons of people have gotten by without them in years passed but again once realizing we were going to have to bathe in the tub I knew temperature would be an issue. I tend to like my showers/baths pretty hot and have no idea what is going to be to hot for a kid that can't tell me "Ouch! Hot!" like all the kids I've babysat for have in the past. This is merely one of those items that will put me at peace and reassure me.

3. Aden + Anais Hooded Towel and Washcloth Set: Baby Bargains rated Aden & Anais as one of the best brands out there for things like towels, bibs, etc and they highly suggested registering for some hooded towels over regular towels (this is so you can keep baby extra warm by keeping the heat around their head from escaping). So really this purchase is a double positive! Plus all the different prints are really stinkin' cute!

There are several options when it comes to hooded towels. Most people don't have to many issues with other brands expect for the quality. I'd read many of the cheaper brands started to fall apart and lead to the parents having to buy more. Baby Bargains also suggest Pottery Barn hooded towels because of their quality and how soft they are for baby's skin, but let's be real they just can't help how cute those are either!

4. Munchkin Scoop & Drain Bath Organizer with Munchkin Sea Buddies: So these aren't really things that I researched on or even had on the registry but we received them at one of my showers and I realized I should have put on the registry because 1. the scoop and drain organizer is a good idea and 2. what kid doesn't need some bath toys? Am I right, or am I right? The organizer is very easy to "install" and both things are very easy to clean. There are several organizers out there but after receiving this I noticed that this specific one would have been the one I choose because of the size. Some of those organizers are massive! 

 

5. Johnson & Johnson Shampoo & Body Wash/ Honest Company Shampoo, Body Wash & Lotion: I think it's safe to say that most people know and love the Johnson & Johnson brand when it comes to their babies and kids. It's been a top, trusted brand for years! I also, added some shampoo, body wash, and lotion from the Honest Company. If you haven't heard of this company it's was founded by Jessica Alba and is a company the centers around supplying and creating non-processed, green friendly products for kids and mommies! I honestly don't know anyone personally who has used these products but the reviews I've read have been positive so I wanted to give the brand a shot! A clean kid is a clean kid and with their products being made from natural plants, etc there doesn't seem to be to much risk of rash or other skin reactions.

Have any of you used Honest Company products?  Thoughts?

So there you have some of our bath time registry items. 

Is there anything you would suggest, recommend, or absolutely not buy? 

Happy Monday! 

32 weeks...and counting!

How far along 

32 weeks!

BabyO is the size of a jicama...

... WTH is a jicama?

Best moment this week?

We've had two baby showers this month that were awesome!

I enjoyed seeing friends and family, but I won't lie and totally admit it was fun to start getting things for baby. 

Sure, Kev and I had bought some things here and there but we've been blessed to be gifted with so any other things we need and want.

It makes me more excited, and nervous to think that the time to meet our baby is so close! 

This week was our last monthly appointment. Although, going to the doctor isn't my favorite thing scheduling bi-weekly and weekly appointments makes me so excited to know that baby is almost here!

 

Maternity Clothes?

Please see above... 

Stretch Marks?
None! 

Movement?

Omg yes, unless my mom is around...baby is play games with her already lol.

It's turned into more pushing than quick jabs and we've started to actually see the movement.

It's awesome...and semi-freaky lol.

 Food cravings?
Nothing in particular.
I'm still eating anything and everything that's put in front of me.

What I miss:
Sushi. I just want some sushi dang it!

Symptoms?
My feet, particularly my heels hurt really badly, but my feet aren't swollen so I'm guessing that's just more about the pressure from the weight gain.

Sleeping still isn't up to par but I'm almost used to it at this point.

I suppose this isn't technically a symptom but the waddle has started lol. Sometimes it's worse than others because my feet hurt but I feel like I'm waddling most of the time lol.

Workouts:

Yoga.

This week was the last week but since I have a dvd I'd really like to stick to it until baby is born.

 

Gender Prediction?

No idea, I really have no feeling at to whether it's a boy or a girl at all.
We had a poll at one of our showers to see what people thought and no joke it was 13 to 13!
The fact that it was 2, 13's and the baby is due 2/13 is to much of a coincidence...even for me!

Sleep?

It's been a little bit better but like I said I'm getting pretty use to not sleeping through the night.

What I'm looking forward to?

I'm pretty excited for Christmas! I can't believe it's less than a week away.

We are having another shower in January and having our maternity pictures done so those are two more fun things to do before baby is born.

Now that there is only about 2 months left until we finally get to meet our child my patience is wearing very thin. I just can't wait to finally see our little one and hold them!

Wisdom or other thoughts?

Nothing to stellar to share or advise on that hasn't already been said at some point.

The feeling of having a child is so much more real now then it's ever been, and I am starting to get more nervous.

Mainly nervous about giving birth, but honestly a little nervous about becoming a parent.

It's a whole new responsibility and I do believe Kev and I will be great parents, but not knowing what to expect makes me nervous in general. 

Happy Friday!

There Just so Much to be Thankful for!

There is so much in my life that I am thankful for and I'm blessed to include my health as one of them.

Last week I had a fellow blogger, Heather, reach out to me to ask that I share a little bit of her story and something I am thankful for.

Heather is an 8 year survivor of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer you can get from the exposure to asbestos in the home or workplace. When Heather was diagnosed was only 36 years old, had just given birth to her daughter, and was given about 15 months to live. If you read about mesothelioma that is usually the life expectancy given to those diagnosed. However, with a brand new daughter and an amazing support system between her family and team of doctors Heather knew that giving up and letting this illness beat her was just not an option. She has beaten the odds by leaps and bounds, and continues to spread the knowledge of this disease to others in hopes they will not give up either because 'With Hope, the Odds don't Matter." 

Heather explained that if there is one thing that being diagnosed with cancer has taught her it's to value life and everything in it. This time of year is a difficult reminder for her as she was diagnosed in November those 8 years ago, but it's also that time of year that most of us are being reminded to be thankful for everything we have. Heather made it a goal one year to list something she was thankful for everyday in December, but this year she has taken the idea out to the blogosphere to include other bloggers.  That is where I come in and get to share something I am thankful for.

I have so much to be thankful for but I believe the most important piece are my family and friends. If I had nothing in this life but this amazing support system I would still consider myself to be an extremely blessed person

My family, Kevin, and his family have taught me so much about life and love. Everything from learning how to ride a bike to being part of something so much bigger than yourself. My admiration for so many of my family members continues to grow and I only hope to be half of the person that so many of them are. The beauty of family is that we all bring something a little different to the table, but share the same unconditional love that bonds us forever.

Then of course there are my friends. I've always been blessed to have a very solid group of friends. I had an unwavering group of girl friends in high school that stuck together through thick and thin. I find that to be rare because usually there is some kind of drama that will tear a group apart but that never seemed to happen with us. We were there for each other and I feel very blessed to say that we still have this unbreakable bond today.

Then we have my group of friends from college and have carried through to this day. These friends have become part of my family. We have been there for each other in ways you would believe and expect your family to be there for. They are a group that has pushed me to be a better person overall. Even Kev and I's parents have comment on how blessed we are to have such a good, strong, supportive group of friends. They've helped us create this "home away from home" as we transitioned from high school to college, and then college to what I like to call "real life" and without them I'd be lost. 

It's an amazing feeling knowing that I have all of these people in my life that love and support me. I know that no matter what happens I'll have others to rejoice in my accomplishments and pick me back up when I fail.

What are you most thankful for?

Happy Thursday!

Links I Love

  1) Ebates! Ebates! Ebates! I had signed up for this site awhile but didn't fully start to utilize it until I was pregnant. I wanted to save some money that I was getting on these maternity clothes since I know I had a limited time to wear everything but they were necessary. However, my love for the site quickly surpassed that and it's been my online shopping life line every since. 

Seriously, just with my holiday shopping alone it's been an absolute God send! If you don't really know how it works I'll give ya a quick run down. 

Ebates is a site that will give you cash back from certain stores, but there are many stores they are partnered with. I won't go into all the details but please read the "how to use ebates" FAQ & instructions before you start going because you do have to go through ebates to the store in order to get the cash back, different stores offer different percentages, etc.

 2) Now if this doesn't bring you some holiday cheer I'm not sure what will :) 

The Story of Christmas told by Kids!

   3) I might be a little bit biased on this one but I'm pretttty excited for the Victoria Secret Fashion Show this evening. I work for LBrands (the company the owns VS) but don't do any work directly related to the show but I know people that to and it's a lot of hard work! So, it was nice to see this article about 16 things you didn't know about the VS fashion show to pop up to give a little behind the scenes look at just a few of the things that others have to do in order to get this event up and running!

4) Hi, I'm Megan and I'm a cinnamon roll addict...and these from Ashley over at The Sweet Season look AMAZING!

 

5) We should all say more nice things, more often right?! The Kid President thinks so with this "20 Things We Should Say More Often" video. I think we should all listen to him more than most of the people actually running this country!

Happy Tuesday!

Baby Registry: Equipment/Gear

Registering has been a bit of a challenge for me. I found it to be much more difficult that registering for our wedding and mainly because you can't just buy whatever looks pretty you have to factor in things like safety, wear and tear, etc.

I feel pretty confident in all of the items that are on the list as I've put in quite a few man hours to research and deciding which options are really the best for us. The amount of options for every single thing you should have is endless.  I think many people know that I am not usually one to research a whole bunch, but I found the researching for baby items was key. Not just to figure out what are the safest items, or the best bang for your buck, but what will work for you and your growing family. 

The main resource I used was Baby Bargains the book & blog! 

It was really helpful in at least narrowing things down and then I relied pretty heavily on the user reviews once I actually looked up the item online.

Thanks to Katie I decided to use Lucie's List for our checklist.

There are things that I ended up putting on the registry that aren't on Lucie's List but not much.

We also did our registry on Amazon, for a variety of reasons.

The first  being I just plain ole love Amazon.

The second being you can add things from other website if you can't find an item you want already on Amazon so you only have one list of people to look at instead of sending them around to 2-3 different baby stores (Babies-R-Us, Buy Buy Baby, etc.)

I felt like there were some really good pricing deals on Amazon vs. the other places so why not try to save friends and family a little bit of moolah!?

I plan on doing a couple of posts about our registry and breaking things down in to groups.

Here are some of the equipment/gear items you can find on our registry!

1. Britax B-Agile & B-Safe Car Seat Travel System:  I spent a lot of time looking into strollers and car seats being that these two items need to be as safe as possible. Baby Bargains highly recommends the Britax brand, and this particular model seems to be a hit with several parents. It's light weight, easy to maneuver, and can obviously easily convert from infant use to toddler/older child use.

2. Fisher - Price Deluxe Newborn Rock N' Play Sleeper & Fisher - Price Deluxe Bouncer: There is also the Fisher - Price Deluxe Swing to complete this little set. According to all my mommy friends this set of items are an absolute must! It's also really hard to know if you really need all three or not because you aren't going to know if baby is going to like swinging, rocking, or bouncing until they are here! However, one mommy, Brandy J, said she used the rocker instead of a bassinet for her little one and loved it! My suggestion would be get all three and sell one/two if ya need to. Better safe than sorry when it comes to soothing baby.

3. Samsung Wireless Baby Monitor: I think the baby monitor was one of the most difficult things to decide on because there are so many options! We decided that a video monitor would give a little more sense of security especially because the nursery is on the second floor, and our room is on the main floor. Baby Bargains and the overall features offered on this monitor is what sold me on this specific product.

4. Graco Pack N Play w/Bassinet: Since my parents and Kev's mom don't live in town we knew we'd need a Pack and Play with some sort of bassinet for traveling around a bit the baby. Graco seemed to have pretty good reviews overall and was quoted to be an industry leader year after year in the Pack N Play field! Why not go with the best right? I suppose it's one of those things we won't know if like it until we really try it but the reviews were all pretty positive so why not try it out :)

Look for another post next week with some nursery essentials.

Happy Wednesday!
 

28 week bumpdate

 

How far along

28 weeks!!!
How did 7 months come so quickly?

Best moment this week?

I'm going to go with this month since it's been 4 weeks since the last update:

Baby's movements are so much stronger and you can finally feel most of those movements on the outside. It's pretty fun to let Kev and others feel a good kick or head butt. 

Had my glucose test and everything is all good to go. I wasn't to nervous about it but I guess you never really know.

We got our bumper & bedskirt in the mail yesterday and it's so cute!!!

Maternity Clothes?

Yes, very much so!

Stretch Marks?
No not yet. I hope with all the growing I've done already that they would have showed up by now if I was going to get any.

Movement?

 Yep! Although there really hasn't been much of a schedule established. Baby is moving whenever he/she wanted to and I haven't really seemed to eat, drink, or do anything to initiate movement.

Kev talking to BabyO seems to help at times! Guess baby know daddy already :)

 Food cravings?
Nothing in particular.

What I miss:
I've actually been craving beer last few days.

Mainly because it's been a bit stressful at work and an ice cold beer just sounds so good.

Also, sushi but I think I can manage refrain for another 3 months.

Symptoms?
Lack of sleep for the most part.

Had some random break outs which has been oh so fun to deal with.

Workouts:

 Been going to yoga once a week still and I love it!

Seriously pregnant or not I suggest you try out yoga.

If you are pregnant it helps in so many ways: gets the blood flowing, relaxes you, creates some space as things get a bit more crowded, and helps tones muscles to help prepare you for child birth!

Gender Prediction?

 Honestly, lately I've been feeling like "BabyO" is a boy but I wonder if that is because we've had more people telling us they think it's a boy.  That feeling will probably change though since I've been going back and forh this whole time.

Sleep?

 Has not been great.

Trying to get comfy has been a challenge, but even then there are times I just can't stay asleep.

What I'm looking forward to?

 I'm ready for our vacation we are taking next week! It'll be nice to get away for a little bit and it'll probably be the last vacation for a little bit.

I'm SO excited for our baby showers to happen. We have two in the first couple weeks of December.

As weird as it might sound I am kind of excited for our child birth classes. I think it's mainly because it means we are so close to actually meeting our little bugger.

I'm not sure if we get another ultra sound or not but I hope so! I would love to see BabyO again :)

Wisdom or other thoughts?

 Honestly I don't have much overall. The experience of pregnancy just brings a plethora of thoughts and feelings.

It's been a very exciting process but I realized I've been very blessed to have a very easy pregnancy and I can only wish that others are as blessed/lucky.

However, whether you experience a lot of negative symptoms (nausea, heartburn, etc) or not pregnancy is a lot changes to get use to and experience in what feels like a very short amount of time.

I'm blessed to experience the miracle of bearing a child but there are moments when the changes become overwhelming and I'm ready to physically feel like my old self. I know emotionally I've never go back to how I used to feel about things because I love BabyO more than anything! 

Happy Friday!

Gender Reveal...

Got ya!

Sorry, that was kinda mean wasn't it?!

I am not sure there is a good place to start with this post but it's something that's been on my mind the last month or so and I think it's important to note. Important to note for those who know us and maybe don't quite understand why we aren't finding out the gender and important for anyone else out there that is on the fence of whether they want to be surprised or not. Shoot maybe it's just for my piece of mind but either way hear me out a little bit here mkay?

I am 1000% serious when I say that Kev and I have no idea what we are having. I say this because there have been a few people who thought we were lying and just wanting to keep it a secret from everyone else. Well we aren't, we really have no idea if BabyO is a boy or a girl.

We often get "Really? I could NEVER do that! I'm too much of a planner!", which I get. I really do because 99% of the time I am too. I have a tendency to need to know the plans well in advance or I get anxious. However, the more I've heard this lately about BabyO the more I think to myself "Well I actually am quite the planner and might be planning a little bit more/better than if we knew the gender for several reasons." Again, hear me out...

First, everything that we are doing is not only going to be just fine to use for BabyO numero uno but we'll be able to easily re-use for baby #2 and potentially #3. If we knew the gender and got everything related to BabyO's gender now and baby #2 is opposite gender I'm sure we'd have to get a lot of new stuff. So not only am I prepared for BabyO but I'm also pretty much prepared for baby's little brother or sister that we'll have down the road. If that's not planning I'm not sure what is? Really this also applies to the nursery.  We plan on moving current BabyO to a bigger room once baby #2 comes along and guess who will not necessarily have to re-decorate? Well, at least not have to repaint or get all brand new stuff like sheets or other little decor items.

Second, sure it's hard not knowing at times when I come across some adorable outfit or see a fun toy but I can get all of that stuff once baby arrives. Why do I need it right now? I don't, at all. Baby definitely doesn't considering it's still in the womb and really probably wouldn't be able to wear said outfit or play with said toy for a good couple of months. I don't feel it necessary for BabyO to leave the hospital in a tutu or cute little button down. A gender neutral onesies will be just fine for those first couple weeks of life until I can get myself to a store to get more gender appropriate clothing. Even then I almost wonder if some people have a few items for each gender already set aside for the day BabyO arrives.

Third, as hard as it is sometimes it's actually pretty fun and  makes me feel excited to give birth. I've been asked if I'm nervous yet and I can honestly say no because I'm going to be more worried about whether the baby is healthy and what baby is!!! It's also pretty interesting and funny to hear what people think we are having! It seems like lately a lot of people have thought it was a boy we are probably at the 60/40 split boy vs. girl.

I'm also really excited to see Kev and really everyone else's reaction when we finally get to meet BabyO! I can picture his face as he's told/sees we're having a little boy or girl. My heart even melts a little when I think about him getting to go out in the waiting room and announce we have a whatever baby is!

Now I am not dissing anyone that does or has found out what they are having. I really do get it and there have been a few moments where all I want to do is know. I just think it's important to actually state that you are and can easily plan and do everything you need to even when you don't know the gender. There is a really fun aspect about it all and I do think if you are on the fence about finding out you should try not too! It's not like you couldn't if you decide you do want to know in the end!

With all that being said I'd be interested in hearing what you guys think we are having?! Do you think it's a boy or a girl?

Here is a pic of me last week (27 weeks)! 

Some people are certain they can tell by the way a woman is carrying :) 

What do you think BabyO is?
	Boy
	Girl
pollcode.com free polls

Happy Tuesday :)

Someday

Someday I will...

Travel to Europe with Kev and fall in love with it all over again.

Hell, travel everywhere we have wanted to go in our lives because adventuring is one of our favorite things to do.

Get back to writing on the blog. I swear!

Will start or help start a no-kill animal shelter! 

I want it to be just like the SCARS animal rescue I shared a couple weeks ago!

I will get my to-do list complete. 

Learn how to fix a car. Kev thinks I'm nuts but it's honestly a little bit of a dream of mine to be able to repair things on a car without having to go to a dealership just to shell out hundreds of dollars on labor alone.

Will make a major difference in someone's life.

 I'll finally get my hair to do something other than be stick straight. It's been years and year of trying with no luck but something out there has to work right?

Run a half marathon. If you knew me this would probably be a pretty big feat because I am not much of a runner folks.

Become a better cook, and maybe even actually enjoy it. 

Learn how to accessories. I guess I'm not a less is more kinda gal.

Will adopt a child. Even though Kev and I are blessed to be able to have our own kids there are so many out there that need a good home and family. I'd love to be just that.

Kev and I will build our dream home, and probably own a few farm animals too! 

What will you do someday?

Happy Halloween!!

24 week bump date

How far along?

24 weeks.

BabyO is the size of an ear of corn...

Best moment this week?

Since I don't do this every single week I think there are a lots of moments over the last four that have been really awesome. 

Kev got to feel the baby move a couple weeks ago. I had to push his hand in a bit but he still got to feel it, which was exciting for the both of us!

Feeling the baby move a lot more has been wonderful. The jab, jab, upper cut feeling is making me wonder if we're going to have a little boxer on  our hands.

Kev put together the crib for me yesterday!!! He surprised me and it made me so excited!!

Maternity Clothes?

Absolutely!
There really isn't to much that I can fit to my non-maternity wardrobe, if anything.
I've even moved on to wearing Kev's t-shirts to bed instead of mine.

Stretch Marks?
No.
Thank god for Earth Mama body butter & stretch oil

Movement?
Oh yeah, quite a bit!

Food cravings?
Not really no.

What I miss:
Not to much currently!

Symptoms?
Mainly a lack of sleep.

It's been more difficult to get and stay comfortable.

Workouts:
I've been going to yoga the last couple of weeks and I love it!!

I would highly recommend yoga regardless of if you are pregnant or not, but I will say that prenatal yoga has already helped me feel more comfortable and even a little bit more prepared for the delivery.

On top of the class I've also been doing this yoga DVD at home!

*I'm just warning you now, the instructor on the DVD is a little hokey but it a pretty good workout.

Gender Prediction?
Still don't really have a strong feeling one way or the other.

I have started to call BabyO he and she though randomly instead of just "babyo".

Some people seem to have stronger feelings about it though and I am  hoping to do some of the "guessing tests" this month...ya know like the string over the belly, the myths quiz, etc.

Sleep?
Again, sleeping hasn't been to wonderful.
I'm getting enough to get me through a day but that's about it.

What I'm looking forward to?
I'm looking forward to feeling more movement and Kev, and in all honesty others, getting to feel it too!
We have a whole bunch of stuff happening in November that I am looking forward too: Kev & I's birthday's, my cousins wedding, and a family vacation to South Carolina.
Baby showers! They won't happen until December but we got the invite list and what not around for one and it just makes me excited for them to get started :)
The holidays! I can't believe that November is like right around the corner and I know as soon as the holidays start to hit time is going to fly and we'll be even closer to BabyO's arrival!

  Wisdom or other thoughts?
I honestly wish that I could stay in the second trimester for a little while longer.

Granted I haven't experienced the third to really know what it's like but I feel like right now I am getting to enjoy all the "picturesque" things about pregnancy like having a serious bump, feel movement, and having energy without starting to feel uncomfortable because baby is really starting to get squished in there.

I am really excited for people and even myself to really start to feel the movements on the outside because it's such a cool thing to feel.

Happy Friday!

I'm alive for Link I Love

So it's been a little while and although my intentions of blogging more regularly are good ones it just isn't going to happen anytime soon.  

Kev and I have had so much going on lately that the good ole blog is going to have to take the back burner, and honestly that is fine with me.

However, I missed it over the last week so I figured I'd share some more links that I'm lovin' today as something fun to do and hopefully give you guys something fun to read :)

I am not much of a news reader.
You will rarely find me on CNN or MSNBC, but you will find me at The Gist.
It's exactly what it sounds like, a news site that gives you "the gist" of things that are going on here and around the world.
My favorite is there "5 things you should at least pretend to know today" series!


We've all heard me mention the fact that my hair doesn't really do much.
It's a miracle if I can get it stay curled for longer then 5 seconds.
I found this article on 10 Tricks to Making Fine Hair Look Thicker to be helpful and can't wait to try out some of the tricks.


 Ok I realize this isn't a link necessarily but it's a song that I heard the other day and I really like it!
{The Wire - HAIM}

I love pasta, but I am getting bored of making the same kinds of pasta over and over again.
All of these recipes found here look pretty friggin' tasty, and better yet, easy to make!

 What state should you really live in based on your personality?
A friend posted a quiz from Time Magazine on Facebook about this very thing and I thought it was pretty interesting, and fun!
Apparently I belong in Illinois...
Where should you be living?

What are your favorite links from the last couple of weeks?

Happy Wednesday!

Links I Love

A friend, Maria, started a blog and she does this little series about links she loves. 

I know many other bloggers do the same but ultimately she was the one that inspired me to start doing the same. 

There are so many articles and videos that I come across that I thoroughly enjoy for one reason or another so I figured why not start something similar. 

I love getting to share funny, cute, or helpful things with people and what better people to share with than all of you?

Right? Right!

These Apple Cider Caramels look amazing and process itself sounds heavenly!
Ya better believe I'll be trying out the recipes within the next couple of weeks!

 

Why are people really getting engaged and married? Is it for the right reasons? 

I don't always think so and apparently I'm not the only one. 

I found this article about getting engaged to be pretty insightful, and it got me wondering how often are people getting engaged for all the wrong reasons.

Thanks to many factors like preparing to be a mother, reading Samantha's post on other parents judging parents, and having worked in a restaurant where I watched an obscene amount of children being terrible and getting away with it, has really solidified my belief that my children will be polite and well-mannered if nothing else.

This article really helps you realize that your kids should know there basic manners by the age of five, and I'd be lying if I didn't say I think it should be earlier!

I'm a firm believer in the fact that it's not always about being the most trendy person out there to be fashionable but to wear clothing the right way for your body.

We'll blame watching "What Not to Wear" like it was my job back in the day for this.

Granted I don't always wear the right thing for this bod, but I try.

This article from Babble on putting together the right outfit proportions based on pant style is super helpful.

Also, made me realize some of the mistakes I am making when it comes to styling pieces together.

Dog lovers prepare yourselves!
Creating a place like SCARS animal rescue would be my ultimate dream job and probably what my Heaven will look like when I get there one day.
Maureen and her husband are doing such a wonderful thing, and could you imagine how much fun it would be to have all of those dogs!!!

Omg I died laughing at this one! 

Hearing things from a kids prospective is always pretty funny I think! 

Their insights on "How do you Decide who to Marry" is now my favorite!

"Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a truck." - Ricky age 10 (this kid is on the right track!)

Happy Wednesday!

October 1st

Two years ago today I married my best friend.

It's hard to believe that two years have passed because I remember the day so vividly in my memory, and I know it'll be one I cherish for my whole life.

Two years ago today we started our own little journey not just as man and wife but as a family!

One whole unit.

It's crazy and so exciting to think that at year 3 we'll have an 8 month old!

Two years ago I became the happiest woman in the world to be marrying the most amazing man ever, and to this day I feel the same way :) 

Happy Anniversary Kev.

Love you!

20 week bump date!

Is it bad that I woke up yesterday morning with Bon Jovi's halfway there stuck in my head?

Part of me is absolute shock that it's been 20 weeks and we are halfway through this pregnancy while the other half of me is so ecstatic because I know that means we are only about 20 more weeks from meeting our little one!
If time flies it has been it'll be here before we know it!!

How far along?
Welp, 20 weeks :)

Best moment this week?
Oh this is so easy! We got an ultrasound this week and finally got to see BabyO.
Well, BabyO looking like a baby, and not just sort of a little tadpole.
Everything is looking good and the growth is right on schedule.

I think the best part was actually getting to watch him/her move!

The arms were going crazy and we even saw his/her mouth open and shut a couple times (won't lie, that was kind of weird...but so cool!!!) 

Maternity Clothes?
Yep! Mostly when it comes to my pants/leggings but I've recently started to switch my shirts because my bump is actually getting to the point where I need to.

Stretch Marks?
None yet, and let's hope that continues to be the answer.

Movement?
Yes, a fairly decent amount of fluttering but we found out in the ultrasound that my palcenta is in front of baby so it's created a little bit more extra cushion between me and baby so that's probably why I feel most of my fluttering towards my sides where it's legs and head are.

Food cravings?
I would say that all food sounds delicious but my craving for sweets has been much higher. 

What I miss:
Sushi.
I really miss this actually...but that's about the only thing really!

Symptoms?
Well a growing bump!
Still not sleeping the greatest but that is mainly due to my most recent symptom...
HEARTBURN!!!
I've pretty  much had consistent heartburn since last Thursday and I'm currently trying out different ways to alleviate it without meds (other than Tums!).

Workouts:
Been doing some walking here and there but I'm really excited to start a yoga class in a couple of weeks!
I did get a yoga video as well that I am going to start doing at home more often.
I've been researching some other workouts for home for during the winter season.

Gender Prediction?
I don't know why but lately I've been feeling like it's a girl.
Granted, I have no idea and I am not sure why I'm feeling that way but I am.
I want to do a few of the gender prediction tests soon since we aren't finding out and then start a poll with family and friends!

Sleep?
HA! What sleep? 

What I'm looking forward to?
Oh gosh, dang near everything right now.
The fact that we got to see baby and I'm half way there has just made my excitement grow even more!
I think the things I'm really looking forward to though is feeling the first big kicks/punches and getting the nursery set up and ready to go. 

 Wisdom or other thoughts?
-My body has been going through so much it's never been through before and each time I notice a change I find it amazing that my body just knows what to do!

-Heartburn really sucks!

- I seriously cannot wait until Feb. I know it's so far away (although the first half went SO fast) but I am so excited to meet BabyO!

Happy Friday!

Insights on Pregnancy...

From my perspective at least! 

There is so much to learn about pregnancy and yourself while pregnant that no one ever really tells you. 

Well, maybe they do but you don't really understand until you are pregnant. 

Here are some of my insights on pregnancy.

Other moms and books for me are the best way to get information.

I realize that the internet might hold a lot more for you to search through, but it also...holds a lot more of you to search through.

I found the internet to be pretty overwhelming unless I knew specifically what I was looking for and even then I came across some stuff that scared the living bejeezus outta me.

I have actually greatly enjoyed talking with other moms like Katie, Brandy J, and Audra!

They are indeed, ones that have actually been through this stuff before.

Some books I, and the hubs, have seemed to enjoy and get useful information from are:

Baby Bargains 

(this is a God send! Just make sure you get the right edition as they come out with new ones for new products all the time)

 What to Expect when you're Expecting

Dude, You're Gonna be a Dad

(Good one for expecting dads! It's pretty funny!)

Babyproofing your Marriage
(now there is nothing wrong with Kev and I's marriage, but I think it's a little crazy to believe that nothing between you and the hubs will change when a baby comes along! Can't hurt to be prepared and get some advice beforehand)

Be Prepared
(another dad book)

_________________________

Hormones are really terrible!!

You think that puberty was bad? 

Pregnancy is like going through puberty, having your PMS week, and a bit of menopause all at once.
You can wave hello to same of that acne you never thought you'd see again...and we won't even go into the mood swings.

Totally get the Knocked up quote, and ya know if that's the way I feel about them just imagine poor Kev :(

 

_________________________


You'd be surprised at all the things can do versus all the no-no's you hear about.
Even then, a  lot of the no-no's are actually alright as long as it's in moderation!
Who knew? Not this girl...

For example I thought that all caffeine was a strict no-no and in reality you can have a little bit throughout the day if you need some help getting by.

It should go without saying that I am not including: alcoholic beverages (until you get to "small glass of wine is ok" stage),  smoking, other drugs, and anything raw.

I also understand that it's completely up to a woman what she does and does not intake during her pregnancy, but I think it's surprising that you don't have to be as strict about things as you probably thought you did before pregnancy.
_________________________

I'm pretty sure that the lack of sleep you get during pregnancy is just preparation for when baby arrives.
Those people that tell you to get as much sleep as you can before baby arrives are playing a cruel joke.
I've had a few nights of good sleep here and there but overall, it's been horrible.

_________________________

 Heartburn...really hurts!

I have never had heartburn before this but I can tell ya right now I hate it!

Tums will and probably should be your best friend as long as it continues because it's not something fun to deal with, especially when trying to sleep! 

 _________________________

 

 You may go through weeks of not wanting to eat anything because you feel so sick but sooner than later, you will want to eat literally everything.

My hungry and appetite have easily doubled in the last several months.

It's never been more important to always have good for you snacks on hand and to eat your meals in a timely manner because the crazy hormones can make ya extra hangry if not!

It's quite shocking the amount of food one girl can actually eat if you let her.

 

________________________


Everyone women is truly different.

Well, duh Megan you are all saying, but I kinda thought before going through this that there had to be some similarities across the board.

I was wrong.

The list could go on an on about all the different things that one woman might have happen, while another is completely different.

Nothing is really right or wrong as long as you are taking care of yourself and being as healthy as you can for little one. 

What are some of the things you have found to be shocking about pregnancy, whether you go through it yourself or witness a friend/significant other go through it.
Any helpful tips on this heartburn madness?



Happy Thursday!

Lately

So first, check out my sweet new blog design thanks to Shannon (designer) and Kate (giveaway hostess)!

Isn't it pretty? 

I love Shannon's designs and she is so easy and fun to work with. 

Thanks to both of you ladies :) 

I've been really thinking about blogging and my lack there of lately.

Mainly how I miss it and I really should be better about being on top of it but in the same breathe I realize that right now I'm not completely into it.

I think this is mainly because my brain has been a million other places.

I feel like there is so much to be done before BabyO arrives.

Not only things around the house but just generally educating myself on what to expect, birthing methods, nursery safety, etc. 

When I get inside my own brain I tend to overwhelm myself.

I don't do well with prioritizing and it feels like Kev and I are always on the move, on top of working 8 hours a day.

I really have no idea how some people work, blog, and have social lives...it completely throws me for a loop. 

We have had a lot of fun things going on with friends and family lately so I can't say that I'm to upset about blogging falling to the wayside.

I realize I'd rather be out and doing then sitting and writing about it, but I suppose that's why I started a blog! 

I wanted to document all of these memories!

Things like this pregnancy.

I've been wanting to document my pregnancy without boring the pants off of all of you because I know it reality you don't care that much.

I've been writing things down on my own but have yet to meet my own expectations. 

I've decided to set up some rules for myself once some of the upcoming events we have are out of the way to take some time and actually be productive.

I'm very good at having the intentions of getting something done but end up just hanging out and relaxing instead.

 Well no more.

I hope in the near future that blogging becomes one of those productive points in my life again.

I suppose right now I can't even promise that, but here's to hoping!

How do you guys find the time to work, go out with friends/family, and get things done around the house?

Do you have a set of rules for yourself?

How about any good time management tips or even better motivators to get me off my butt at times?

Your personality matters!

I have always a little thing for personality quizzes so when I saw the prompt for today I knew I was in. 

 I find these quizzes to be a fun way to really learn about yourself, and others too.

I'm always interested in learning where other people fall, especially close friends, to see what sort of differences we have that end up bringing us together.

My results are: ESFJ

Extravert(22%)  Sensing(1%)  Feeling(25%)  Judging(56%)

 

I was honestly a little thrown off by this but then I read the profile and really it couldn't be spot on. 

Although there were some questions that I thought I could answer either Yes or No because at times I feel one way and others the opposite.

I suppose I answered the way I did because that's how I most often feel. 

I feel as if the profile is really difficult for me to sum up because it truly does embody who I am. 

Some of the key points that I think are most ablicable are:

ESFJ's are people-persons.

As much as people can drive me absolutely crazy I am a people person.

I like being around people.

I like engaging with people.

I think I'm pretty darn good at reading a person, and finding the good in most people.

I feel as if though I'm a very giving person and have real issues with understanding how people can treat others so poorly.

"The ESFJ takes their responsibilities very seriously, and is very dependable. They value security and stability, and have a strong focus on the details of life. They see before others do what needs to be done, and do whatever it takes to make sure that it gets done. They enjoy these types of tasks, and are extremely good at them"

I couldn't have said this any better myself, but I find it to be very accurate!

 ESFJ's tend to want to control their environment.

I like to be in control.

In control of myself and my surroundings as much as I can.

As if you guys didn't know that already!

 ESFJ's have a strong respect for rules and authority.

I do believe in rules and respecting authority.

Although I can't say I've never broken the rules, or the law overall I am not one that is going to do something that will get me into trouble.

This definitely came from the way I was raised and just the sheer thought of disappointing my parents kept me from doing anything I really wasn't supposed too.

To go along with this I tend to be more of the traditional side of things.

I like the way classic looks, and I generally like the way things are done.

However, in the sense of work and the world I do understand things change and new traditions pop up so I'm pretty willing to roll with it when I have too.

I think this quote overall is the one that really embodies my personality...

 "The ESFJ's value system is defined externally. They usually have very well-formed ideas about the way things should be (oh yeah, the control thing), and are not shy about expressing these opinions.

However, they weigh their values and morals against the world around them, rather than  against an internal value system. They may have a strong moral code, but it is defined by the community that they live in, rather than by any strongly felt internal values (I honestly really haven't thought about this point until now, and I suppose it does hold true overall).

 Here is the test for you to take and join the fun!

Where does your personality fall?

Do you think it says who you are overall or does it not quite fit?