Last Post in My 20s

I seriously can't even believe it. I specifically remember going to hang out with some people a couple years ago and someone told me they were 30. I was like OMG - they're so old. And now that's me. Looking back on my 20s, it was filled with so much... Celebrating 21, graduating from my favorite place on Earth (Carolina), landing my first job, getting married, getting Bentley, traveling to favorites Paris, Rome, Barcelona and London, trying to get pregnant, getting pregnant and on and on. It was transitioning from college life to young professional, and I think that's certainly figuring out who you are and who you want to be. I think it's sad to say goodbye so perhaps it's see you later, but 20s, I won't be seeing you later. I'm not sad about leaving my 20s. I'm not sad because there's so much to look forward to. And I'm lucky that I even get to see my 30s - some people weren't even promised that. I truly believe age is just a number and it's about how much life you inject into your years. I plan to inject a whole lot into this next decade. And doing more of the same. As much of the same as can be with one big change, kicking my 30s off raising Leighton. So here's to the big 3-0. A decade of worrying less and living more. Being the best me I can be. And being positively grateful that I get to be 30.

Pregnancy Survey: 29 Weeks

1. How far along are you? 29 Weeks. I think I'm having a Golden (Pregnant) Birthday this year. Yep, that's what we'll call it, because what are the odds that I'm 29 today and 29 weeks and tomorrow I wake up 30 and 30 weeks pregnant. 

2. What fruit/veggie is your baby? Butternut Squash

3. Symptoms: Sometimes swollen feet, depends on the day, but I come home and kick my feet up, and it's all good.

4. Total weight gain/loss: 13 pounds

5. Sleep: I still sleep pretty good with the exception of: You have to sleep on your side so then all your weight is on one hip, you notice it starts to hurt a bit and flip. I probably wake up twice in the a.m. hours to tinkle. 

6. Cravings: While at the Outer Banks I had to have an Oreo Blizzard from Dairy Queen. Just had to. It was good but I'm just saying, it was if they had all the Oreos evacuate prior to the making of that Blizzard because there were none in there.

7. Aversions: Everything I should be eating. Fish and hardcore vegetables. I like broccoli though. Broccoli is a go. 

8. Best Moment of the Week: Our fifth anni / babymoon in the OBX. So. much. fun. But even more than that... On Friday of our vacation, I got my gestational diabetes test results back. Now back tracking on that for a second... They said they would call if I had gestational diabetes or needed to come in for additional testing OR I would receive an email to my portal where I would read that I passed. When I checked my phone, I had a missed called from my doctor's office. I was like oh great - first day on vaycay and I'm finding out I have it. BUT it was just a call to let me know to check the portal!? So I checked, and I don't have it, and I'm just so happy. 

9. Gender: Girl.

10. Belly Button In or Out? Still in!! It's still in! For now.

11. What I Miss: Margaritas. 

12. What I am Looking Forward to: Celebrating my 30th tomorrow - and the fact that I'm happily 30 and pregnant. And this weekend! Partying away with all of my faves at our 'Birthday Baby Q.' 

13. Milestones: Maternity photos! I was worried my bump wouldn't be showing enough for the photos but oh was it ever so we are good there. I can't even wait to get the photos back. We went to Falls Lake in Raleigh and played around in a field and down by the water. It was the prettiest day and right before sunset. I wore an ivory dress with a touch of lace and ruffle and had a flower crown made by Flowers and Flour. It was so fun. 

14. Exercise: Hmmm... I have the cutest pink bike with a basket. Must. hop. on. it. And our pool opens on May 16 for some laps. So there's that goal. 

15. Maternity clothes: No! Went to the Maxxer while at the beach and picked up some super fun summer dresses that are not maternity but are perfect for being pregnant, and I'll be able to where them after. 

Photo above is of Leighton's sweet little nursery gallery wall - all hung by her dad.

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.