Pregnancy Survey: 27 Weeks

1. How far along are you? 27 Weeks

2. What fruit/veggie is your baby? Cauliflower (14.5 inches)

3. Symptoms: It takes more effort to get out of bed these days. Not waking up - literally getting out of the bed. It feels like I've got a watermelon I've got to haul up with me (even thought it's a cauliflower; don't eat the watermelon seeds). Oh, and feeling lucky, and thankful. 

4. Total weight gain/loss: 12 pounds

5. Sleep: I've been waking up earlier. But mostly that's because Hank's had to get to work at 6 a.m., and Bentley doesn't like to go back to sleep - he's ready to party. Besides that continuing to feel great. 

6. Cravings: Mexican (but that's nothing new)

7. Aversions: Asparagus. I put it on my plate often at lunch and then just look at it like, "what are you doing here!?"

8. Best Moment of the Week: Hearing Maura is flying in for our shower!! I have a vision of recreating my favorite bridesmaids photo now (bride now bump!). And that so many other sweet New York (and of course N.C.) family and friends will be driving in. Just warms my heart. Also, having the dresser delivered. And switching out the dresser's stocky silver knobs for these super handcrafted looking gold ones. And then getting the nursery painted Behr's toasty gray. The painter is here as I type. That's after the other painter canceled when I texted him - said he was out of town - you could have let me know as I'm on the edge of my seat with playing nursery over here. And heading off to our fifth anniversary trip / babymoon next week. We'll be kicking it five nights at the Sanderling Resort in Duck, N.C. 

9. Gender: Girl.

10. Belly Button In or Out? In.

11. What I Miss: Time. It's crazy how it flies. I walk Bentley, and I'm like man - just you and me bud. Just being sure I soak it all in and remember to live in the present moment - not wishing or waiting for that next moment. 

12. What I am Looking Forward to: Today. This moment. Tonight, when Hank gets home. Just getting to be. And of course moving the nursery furniture into the freshly painted nursery. 

13. Milestones: Having a maternity leave plan. I love my job so much and will be back. A lot of people asked me that question - if I'd be going back to work - and for whatever reason it caught me by surprise, but yes, yes I will. 

14. Exercise: No movement here. Literally. OMG it's horrible. 

15. Maternity clothes: Continuing to rock my sweet friend's maternity maxis. 

16. What I am Nervous About: My gestational diabetes test next week. Diabetes runs in my family and that's certainly a risk factor. Hoping I pass! Hank is ever the optimist though and said even if I do have it - I only have to manage it for 12 weeks. So that's not too bad, and really, people say there's not much you can control in regards to getting it - you're either going to have it, or you won't (5-7 percent get it). Prayers, please!

Photo above is nursery before. Bare bones, unpainted and ready for its makeover. 

Pregnancy Survey: 26 Weeks

1. How far along are you? 26 Weeks

2. What fruit/veggie is your baby? Hothouse (?) cucumber 

3. Symptoms: I've noticed a light black line running from my belly button down (due to an increase in hormones) - apparently that's a thing - linea nigra. 

4. Total weight gain/loss: Went to the doctor today, and it's always the news they greet you with - 12 pounds.



5. Sleep: Ah-mazing. Living it up (or sleeping it up!) while I can. 

6. Cravings: Avocados, guacamole, all the time.

7. Aversions: Some fish, fresh green beans and sweet potatoes - the things that are good for me of course.





8. Best Moment of the Week: So many things! Deciding on the name (almost two weeks ago, really)... Leighton Hope (!!!). Hank can feel the kicks. Deciding we are good to not move right now and being so happy in that decision (sometimes just be; and kick back, soaking in the season you are in). Clearing out our front room where the nursery will be. Booking a sweet cleaning lady that's coming tomorrow to make this place squeaky clean. Picking a nursery paint color - Behr's toasty gray. Hank finishing up repainting the rockin' boat (and last coat to a cute table on the way). Knocking things off the nursery to-do list left and right really, and it feels so good.

9. Gender: Girl.

10. Belly Button In or Out? In.

11. What I Miss: Margaritas. Queso. And Jimmy John's #10 Hunter's Club (add onion) with a pickle quartered and jalapeno chips.

12. What I am Looking Forward to: We're getting all the pieces of the nursery together - dresser ordered and on the way, gold knobs ordered, feet for the ottoman arrive in May, etc. Getting all those arrivals and actually starting to assemble the nursery - the vision coming together, and I can't wait to share.

13. Milestones: Picking a name, and being more than halfway there! Time seriously flies. It's no joke.

14. Exercise: Oh, no. I fell back out again. Must get back into it. It's riding my bike with a basket season so I need to get on that. And our pool opens in a month so that too.



15. Maternity clothes: Yes! One of my best friends Kathleen let me borrow a few faves.

Pregnancy Survey: 22 Weeks

1. How far along are you? 22 Weeks

2. What fruit/veggie is your baby? Spaghetti Squash (?)

3. Symptoms: I noticed my feet were a little swollen after a day of wearing a favorite pair of gladiator sandals. And most recently, heartburn... It's seriously the worst. To all the heartburn-ers out there, I get it now.

4. Total weight gain/loss: Nine pounds. I was sick with the stomach flu last week which explains why I had no weight gain since my last doctor's visit. They said it would show the next time though so not to get too excited. I also slipped and fell this week but caught myself after rolling my foot. I couldn't walk at all on Saturday night but am happy to be back in action this week with *hopefully* no more incidents. 

5. Sleep: I continue to sleep great and continue to catch myself when I flip to my back and readjust to side sleep away.

6. Cravings: Hank's grandma's 'orange you glad' salad. I came across it in her recipe book the other day, and it was all hands on deck to make it a reality. You can find that oh-so-good recipe here. 

7. Aversions: Still orange vegetables - I kicked sweet potato fries to the curb this weekend. 

8. Best Moment of the Week: OMG this was so fun. My mom and I happened upon an epic floor sale at Pottery Barn Kids. We scored both the crib and the DREAM chair and ottoman (thanks to Hank's mom for the c&o). Hank and I love the furniture so much. You can switch the rocker feet on the chair for regular feet later and have a lovely wingback. You can find their look here (crib, white) and here (c&o, belgian linen, natural). Now we just need the dresser (that someone else scored the day prior - I texted the buyer to be sure she was picking it up), and then we are good on nursery furniture. Fun before and after of a rockin' boat - that's a thing - coming soon. Hank and I also had some fun registering at Amazon, Buy Buy Baby and Land of Nod. 

9. Gender: Girl.

10. Belly Button In or Out? In.

11. What I Miss: Queso. And Jimmy John's #10 Hunter's Club. 

12. What I am Looking Forward to: Deciding on a name with Hank (yep, still deciding!). When Hank can feel a kick. Painting / decorating the nursery (gallery wall vibes pictured above). Our shower on May 14. 

13. Milestones: Feeling the kicks more frequently - it's reassuring and crazy beautiful.

14. Exercise: I've been to Pure Barre five times this month. That's better than last month.

15. Maternity clothes: Not yet. Dresses, maxi skirts and loose rompers so far in this springy weather.

Prints Charming

Here's to a happy little feature in Chapel Hill Magazine this month. Check it out. I talk about 'a bowl full of wrinkles,' life is short and all that pineapple-y goodness. Hank and I's wedding and Bentley the Bulldog have both been featured in CHM previously so this mag surely holds a special place in my heart. One day I hope to turn my Happy Little Prints characters into a lifelong dream of writing / illustrating a children's book. Shop HLP in the meantime. 

Pregnancy Survey: 20 Weeks

1. How far along are you? 20 Weeks

2. What fruit/veggie is your baby? Small Cantaloupe

3. Symptoms: My feet hurt at the end of the day so much. I use a stand-up desk at work (which I love and recommend to anyone!), but I'm not sure how much longer that will last.

4. Total weight gain/loss: Nine+ pounds? I only check the scale at doctor's appointments so we'll know next week.

5. Sleep: I continue to sleep great. I haven't been using my Snoogle because it makes my ear hurt (I have no clue), but I catch myself when I flip to my back and readjust to side sleep away.

6. Cravings: Snacks. Any kind of snack to snack on here, there, everywhere.

7. Aversions: Vegetables. I'm continuing to try!

8. Best Moment of the Week: Kicks! I can feel tiny kicks. They're not what I was thinking they would be (all out sucker punches), but they're happy little flutters here and there.

9. Gender: Girl.

10. Belly Button In or Out? In.

11. What I Miss: Margaritas on a pretty day.

12. What I am Looking Forward to: Deciding on a name with Hank (yep, still deciding!).

13. Milestones: Seeing a little bumpity bump.

14. Exercise: Yes!! Yes to this one. I've started back at Pure Barre and have two classes under my belt. I take it easy, and my goal is to do 20 classes this month.

15. Maternity clothes: Still LOVING my Dylans (inexpensive leggings by Mud Pie). I'm trying to hold out on buying any winter-type maternity clothes. I think this is totally doable. Then I'll definitely have some fun finding flow-y dresses for spring and summer that I'll also be able to where post preggers (which works great since boho is my style of choice).

Photo note: How fun is this!? I told Hank #BabySaye was on the way Budsies style. I turned my favorite little kid drawing Hank did into a stuffed animal. It was in my closet for months at the ready. Their work is seriously amazing, and it was worth the wait it was such a hit. They even painted his nails!!