NUMBER 298

last week, we celebrated so so much! on friday, i had a big 30th birthday, and saturday andrew and i celebrated 6 blissful years of marriage! needless to say, lots of food was involved. we celebrated at cowfish [a birthday tradition] and the fig tree [an anniversary tradition]. the rest of the weekend was spent snuggled on the couch watching it rain all. weekend. long. no lie. andrew traveled for the early part of the week, and my parents popped into town tonight for a late birthday celebration! i'm currently snuggled up in my barefoot dreams cardigan -  a new bday present that i'll be wearing long after baby arrives!

i'm finally inching these posts back a little further each time. since i'm 20 weeks tomorrow, we'll just count this one as a 20 week update. i'm not so good at this whole pregnancy journal gig. let's assume i'll be better at the whole 'motherhood' part.

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• how far along? 20 weeks
• baby size: a banana! -- that's just crazy to me! 
• total weight gain/loss? 9 pounds
• maternity clothes? most definitely. i have 2 pairs of maternity jeans i keep on rotation. i wore my favorite non-maternity leggings this week and thought they were going to slice me in half. ok. maybe i'm being dramatic.
• stretch marks? no. i thought i saw one, then i realized it was just where i had scratched my belly a few seconds before [total laura move, think old fat man belly scratch]. since then, i've been slathering on coconut oil and belly oil twice a day.
• sleep? great! i mentioned that andrew traveled earlier this week. what i didn't mention is that i made my brother come stay at the house one night because i heard a noise out back. being the good uncle he is, he obliged.
• best moment this week? seeing our little one at last week's ultrasound, winning a holiday mini-session from the shultzes. oh, and the birth of one of my very best friends' new baby boy! welcome to the world, baby ben! 
• miss anything? real deal raw sushi at cowfish
• movement? yes! i've been feeling lots of little pops and wiggles this week! can't wait for more and to finally feel it from the outside as well!
• food cravings? none in particular. 
• anything making you queasy or sick? not a thing 
• have you started to show yet? you decide [picture below!]
• gender: BOY! we saw allllll the goods on the big screen last week! 
• labor signs: noooo
• belly button in or out? in
• nursery: i finally sent my fabric off and paid for my glider slipcover to be made. i guess i should start some progress on the rest now... 
• wedding rings on or off? on
• symptoms: a big belly and some heartburn
• mood: fat and happy
• workouts: none...eek. i've really really been slacking. i went for ONE walk early last week. the weather has been so crappy, i don't feel like doing much after work other than coming home and lounging. hopefully the weather will take a positive turn after this weekend's rain, and that gorgeous fall weather will get me out and about!
• looking forward to: cold, fall weather

my little pumpkin belly:

NUMBER 297

we've been back on the grind at work for a couple of weeks now. BUT it's my birthday week [and mine and andrew's 6 year wedding anniversary! wow!] so even though things are busy, there's still lots to celebrate! i turn 30 this year, and i've been reflecting lots this week on so many blessings that have come our way - too many to count! ok, before i get all hormonal...

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• how far along? 18 weeks. i need to start posting these updates at the beginning or end of the week seeing as i'll be 19 weeks on friday! 
• baby size: a sweet potato!
• total weight gain/loss? still sitting at 8 pounds. i haven't gained any this week, it seems.
• maternity clothes? yes! i got a bella band as an early birthday present, and sported that this week, along with 2 pairs of maternity jeans. there is NO use in suffering trying to squeeze myself into normal jeans.
• stretch marks? none! fingers crossed that they won't show up!
• sleep? great! well, maybe i've just gotten a little more acclimated to not sleeping through the night. and, dare i say, i haven't bought a pregnancy pillow yet? 
• best moment this week? andrew returning home from a weekend away! every couple needs a little time apart every now and then. this is cheesy, but i guess since we spend so much time together throughout the week, i do miss him when he's away - even if it's only a couple of days.
• miss anything? not missing anything too bad this week...
• movement? yes! well...maybe? over the past few days, about once a day, i'll feel something that feels like a thumping from the inside. almost like bubbles or popcorn popping. i'm going to keep thinking that's baby boy in there saying hi!
• food cravings? pressed sandwiches, candy corn [but not candy corn sandwiches]
• anything making you queasy or sick? nope!
• have you started to show yet? yes, but i've still been wearing lots of loose fitting tops, so i may still just look fat to some people! 
• gender: boy! [just a guess], but we find out FOR SURE tomorrow!!! 
• labor signs: noooo
• belly button in or out? in
• nursery: i finally found some inexpensive fabric for a glider and ottoman slipcover. i bought more than enough and plan on making a matching dust ruffle for the crib! as soon as the fabirc arrives, i'll ship it off to my etsy vendor so she can get to stitchin'!
• wedding rings on or off? on
• symptoms: maybe some movement? definitely some bloating, but the back pain has seemed to subside this week!
• mood: happy and a little [or a lot] overwhelmed with the amount of stuff left to do and realizing we're almost halfway through this thing.
• workouts: one 30 minute walk on monday, but i plan on going on another walk today and maybe a short hike on saturday
• looking forward to: celebrating my birthday and anniversary this weekend, both celebrations should include lots and lots of gooood food, and you know that makes this mama happy!

my candy corn belly [and my handsome photographer]:

NUMBER 296

so i've already been slacking on my weekly updates. i'm growing a human, give me a break!

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we took off last week for vacation in seagrove beach, fl with my family. i did break out the two piece around thursday, though - my thinking was that a tan baby bump looks more flattering than a white one [i like to think i was right!] i more than made up for my lack of alcohol intake with extra appetizers [just for me] and several shirley temples [who says they're just for 5 year olds - they're delicious!]

• how far along? 17 weeks
• baby size: a white onion!
• total weight gain/loss? 8 pounds - right on track!
• maternity clothes? not yet, just flowy, comfortable outfits. if it doesn't have an elastic waistband, it's not going on my body.
• stretch marks? no
• sleep? still sleeping great
• best moment this week? spending time with friends' babies! i spent sunday afternoon playing with caroline, thomas and their mama, and saturday, i'm keeping my friend and coworker's baby girl! a little practice never hurt!
• miss anything? raw oysters! but i did sneak a little [or a lot] of smoked tuna dip!
• movement? not expecting any for another couple of weeks
• food cravings? all the food
• anything making you queasy or sick? nope - all food is fair game
• have you started to show yet? oh yes - the bump is out! i was surprised to still be able to fit into some of my favorite jeans earlier this week, but i think that's because i seem to be carrying pretty high, and those sat pretty low on my hips.
• gender: boy! [still guessing?]
• labor signs: not anytime soon!
• belly button in or out? in
• nursery: no progress, but i did start looking for some fabric for a glider slipcover. take a peek at my pinterest board to see what else i'm planning!
• wedding rings on or off? on
• symptoms: round ligament pains and some back pain -- oh and extreme hunger.
• mood: happy!
• workouts: none at the beach, but i did make it to one body pump class this week, so i'll chalk it up as a win!
• looking forward to: supper club! there are now 3 of us that have announced that we're pregnant since the last time we were all together, so we've got lots to celebrate!

my donut belly [and new haircut!]:

NUMBER 295: SO, I'M PREGNANT

given that i've been out of touch with the blogging world for some time, this is in no way my attempt at jumping back on that wagon. BUT so many friends have told me that i'll want to look back on bump recaps, symptoms and general feelings about pregnancy, and i've found that i can type much faster than i can hand write in a journal [and it's much more legible]. so here we go - my first "bumpdate"!

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over the past 10 or so weeks, we've had a handful of doctors appointments [all healthy!] and 3 ultrasounds. we passed the scary genetic tests with flying colors and even got a little hint from the doctor that it's likely a boy [she was pretty confident - 85% sure - but we'll see if that changes!]. our next appointment is september 24 where we'll do the full anatomy scan and find out for SURE! 

this week, we're recouping from a week at smith mountain lake with andrew's family and gearing up for a week in seagrove, florida with mine! one thing's for sure - this baby likes being in a bathing suit [one-piece].

after some great suggestions from friends [and constant questions on my part], i started our baby registry this weekend. who knew someone so little could need so much? thanks, in huge part, to so many generous mama friends and family who have offered to lend us the essential big items. it means so much to have such a huge support group for baby wyatt!

• how far along? 15 weeks
• baby size: a pear!
• total weight gain/loss? 6 pounds - but i'm surprised it's not more. i've been eating everything in sight.
• maternity clothes? a little here and there, pants with an elastic waistband are my best friend and i've been sporting lots of dresses
• stretch marks? no, i've been using a great oil [earth mama, angel baby] and i'm hoping that'll keep them at bay
• sleep? sleeping well, minus getting up 1-2 times to pee in the night
• best moment this week? hearing the baby's heartbeat at our appointment. it's always so reassuring, especially since we're not expected to feel movement for a while
• miss anything? pumpkin beer. andrew got his first batch last weekend and it smelled SO good!
• movement? not yet, although i poke around quite a bit to see if i can find the baby in there. i supposedly have an anterior placenta which means i shouldn't feel movement until week 20 or so
• food cravings? steak and cheese sandwiches [haha!], candy corn
• anything making you queasy or sick? not anymore, i've been very fortunate to avoid most of the morning sickness symptoms that other moms encounter. even in early weeks, i was only queasy when i had an empty stomach
• have you started to show yet? yes. i feel like this week, i'm getting out of the "fat" zone and more into a bump state
• gender: boy! maybe...? haha!
• labor signs: none yet, thankfully!
• belly button in or out? in
• nursery: i've been pinning away on a baby boy nursery, but we won't make any big purchases until we know for sure. the walls in [what will be] the nursery are already sherwin williams aloof grey, which is perfect for a boy or a girl!
• wedding rings on or off? on
• symptoms: a few round ligament pains and some sciatic nerve pain on certain days - both are very minor.
• mood: content and relaxed?
• workouts: each week, i have every intent of working out at least twice, but i'm only making it to body pump about once a week consistently. i blame it on travel and weird schedules, but i'm pretty sure it's just that i'd rather do anything BUT work out...
• looking forward to? the beeeeach!

and so you can see my burrito belly:

NUMBER 294

image via

WHAT has been going on? WHY hasn’t she been blogging?

you might ask yourself these questions. if so, i have some answers:

is something wrong? no
am i sick? no, everyone is healthy!
did something BIG happen that you don’t know about? nope, same ol’ thing.
am i pregnant? no
did i change jobs? no
am i still designing blogs? yes, about 1 a week! [remember, that's not a full-time gig]
am i busy? yes!
am i happy? YES!

nothing new to report! i just haven't felt compelled to blog lately. i hope you don't mind! you can still get a little dose of my life lately on instagram. who else is thankful that spring is just around the corner?!

NUMBER 293

i've noticed a recent change in trend: the pendant necklace is coming back! i still love a good, short statement necklace, but i've found that some casual outfits can be bumped up [just a tad, my style] with a long pendant necklace. after seeing these gorgeous agate necklaces last week by poppy style, i decided to make one of my recent forever 21 purchases do double duty.

i love DIY's that don't really involve DOING anything...they're more like, string this pendant on this necklace and you're done. that's exactly what i did. i recently spent a ton of money on a necklace at forever 21, wait…that’s not right…i got it dirt cheap and less than $5. it’s a nice necklace - i’m wearing it here. this weekend i stopped at hobby lobby and scooped up a [faux] agate pendant for $3 [with my 40% off coupon]. because the quality was so awesome, the little pendant hook came out immediately after i removed the packaging [go figure], and being the glass-half-full type, i simply strung the necklace through the hole in the middle. no pliers needed! now i can easily switch pendants whenever i want! it's the little things, y'all.

NUMBER 292

"an ode to risotto". haha just kidding, kind of. we’ve been eating a lot of risotto in our house lately. between cooking it twice in 2 weeks and ordering it during restaurant week, i'd venture to say we love it [or at least, i do].

a quick google search tells me that you can make risotto healthy just by the ingredients you’re cooking with [mrs. hogan, correct me if i'm wrong]. a combination of chicken stock, white wine, and a lot of patience will deliver a creamy, decadent texture that we all crave so much from comfort food.

image via

now, i've only ventured into the risotto cooking ring twice in my life, but seeing as how it turned out really good both times, i'll call myself an expert. there are a few key ingredients that i've used in both recipes, and i believe that’s what makes it! olive oil, arborio rice, white wine, chicken stock, white/red onion [i’ve used both and it turned out fine], garlic, and parmesan. add your desired mix in at the end [spinach or mushroom], and you’re good to go. the key to a creamy texture [without the cream], is adding the broth a little at a time. pour in 1/4-1/2 cup increments, stir while it evaporates, and repeat until the rice is done!

obviously, i'm kidding when i say i'm an expert. if you have any awesome can't-live-without-em risotto recipes to share, i'd love to have them! i started out with spinach and mushroom [linked above], and they were each amazing [even as leftovers!]

HAPPY [risotto] COOKING!

NUMBER 291

earrings  //  t-shirt  //  makeup bag  //  candle  //  comparison print  //  most of all print  //  bee print

so charlotte finally had a snow day! i have to admit, working from my couch with my house shoes on, in front of the fire beats being in the office today. the snow is melting fast, but you can be sure that i'm enjoying this gorgeous scene before it's gone. february 1st is THIS saturday which means valentine's day is right around the corner and with it comes hearts and love and flowers! here are a few things i'm loving lately. some valentine related, some not!

NUMBER 290

WOO HOO! it's friday! this week has blown by for me. and no, it's not because i had monday off [because i didn't]. it's just been one of those weeks that's been nonstop. regardless, i'm happy to see friday and to have a couple days off to relax. i'm popping in today to link up with some of my favorites [christina, darci, april, & natasha] for five on friday!
 

	food. this week is charlotte's restaurant week! usually andrew and i will have 2 or 3 reservations throughout the week - gorging ourselves on charlottes finest cuisine. this time, we're hosting some friends on saturday night and decided to treat them to one of our new favorite uptown restaurants, aria. we went there in december when my Nana was in town, and i can't stop daydreaming about their wild mushroom risotto.
	healing. andrew unfortunately had to go through some minor oral surgery on tuesday, so i've been playing nurse most of the week. actually, that's a lie. he's pretty self-sufficient. BUT wednesday, i whipped up some of christina’s enchilada soup, and i'm pretty sure that's assisted in his quick recovery!
	tv. earlier this week, andrew and i snuggled up and watched the first 2 episodes of hbo's true detective and are hooked! we agreed that it's very "silence of the lambs"esque. adding it to our beloved hbo sunday night lineup.
	lists. i just need to make a list. "my brain has too many tabs open" is about how i'm feeling right now. last night, i was a little overwhelmed with thoughts of things i "should" be doing in my life/job/home. sometimes, it's necessary to write it all down, so they're not clogging your brain and taking up that valuable space meant for loved ones and happy times. am i right?
	babies. i've got a few good friends that have babies in their lives - whether they're expecting one or have been toting one on the hip for a year or so. although andrew and i aren't quite ready to take the plunge into parenthood, it's SO fun living vicariously through them. by fun i mean, nursery décor and registries, not the scary i'm-raising-a-tiny-human and changing messy diapers stuff... we’ll save that discussion for another day.

HAPPY [F-F-FREEZING] WEEKEND!

NUMBER 289

for the past few months, i've been working [when i can] on giving the office a little facelift. you can see my inspriation board here. well, last week, there was one little adjustment that made me SO giddy, it's ridiculous. although i loved my chair from the start, the picking-up-scooting-back-to-get-up routine wasn’t cutting it. cue the casters. this was the easiest DIY that ever was – so much that it’s not even a DIY. take a peek into the office on a sunny saturday [finally!], and catch my instructions at the bottom!

probably should’ve vacuumed, huh? don’t judge. disclaimer: what made this SO easy was the fact that my chair came with pegs that screwed into the legs, and my casters happened to be the exact same size as the holes. so there’s that.

1. buy casters. these are the ones i bought [and love]
2. use a hammer and screwdriver to pop out the casing for the rubber pegs on your chair. if you have a different chair, a drill may need to be involved to make holes for your casters.
3. pop your casters straight in!*

*i opted not to hammer my casters into the sockets that came with them – just in case i decide to go back to a non-rolling chair.

it should be noted that i don't have any intention of this being a real DIY tutorial. just simply bragging about one of the best coincidences ever!