Or more appropriately titled, "Preggo Stuff - 40 Weeks".

This post is just about oh, 4 months late! But so I can officially complete my series of "preggo updates" posts, I figured I should post some 40 week pictures. Taken on my actual due date, February 26th!

Looking back on the preggo posts is so fun for me and I've gotta say I'm so proud of myself that for once in my life, I actually followed through with something like this. Having these posts (even though they started late in my pregnancy) makes me incredibly happy!

My parents invited us over for a "last family dinner before baby" on my due date and we had a blast! At that time I thought Violet would be coming in another 5 days by induction but of course she graced us with her presence just 2 days later. (and yes, I was wearing the same thing that day. Don't judge, I was down to maybe 3 outfits by that time!)

After dinner we made sure to get in some pictures with my mom, dad, sis and brother...and of course the man who helped make this babe possible ;)

Geez I was big.

But of course, it was all very worth it.

Baubles Before Baby

Thank you 100x over for all the sweet comments yesterday. I'm not feeling so hot lately with gaining 19 lbs. and while I *know* that's not a lot, being an overweight girl to begin with, it's been killer. I never appreciated my plus sized pre-baby body but now I'm just dying to get back there! and then lose some more of course...which only makes me think of SHOPPING!!

I've been dying to buy some cute Spring clothes but I know I should wait until my body adjusts to well, whatever it's going to look like after this baby girl is outta mah belly! I know I won't go back to my usual squishy self, this will be a totally different squishy self! ha! So I'm gonna hold off on buying clothes and for now just stock up on my favorite thing to shop for, jewelry! Jewerly is something that looks great no matter your size ;)
So all of the stuff I'm eyeing right now is from Bauble Bar. They did not ask me to post this, I'm only doing it because I love the products on their site! If you aren't signed up, do it now. The prices are so affordable AND you'll get $10 off your first order!

And if you didn't already know, I'm obsessed with COLOR. And as a kid of the 80's, I tend to lean towards neons a lot and Bauble Bar actually has a neon section that is to die for...so check these babies out! ;)

Crayola Links Necklace $26
I used to have one just like this but have no idea where it went so I might need to replace it with this one! :p

Octagon Initial Bracelet $50.00

I'd love this with a "V"! The colors are customizable too!

Acrylic Monogram - Medium $56.00

This I am just fully obsessed with!! They have a few different colors and I would love one with baby girl's initials.

Studded Ring Duo $62

I'm still loving the double ring look and this one's pretty edgy which I like ;)

 

Gem Stoned Drop Earrings $26

These are SO 80's right? Love it! They come in pink too.

Cord and Chain Bangle $38

It's like a grownup version of those corded friendship bracelets from back in the day. LOVE!

Phospho Necklace $38

These necklaces are everywhere lately and I've been wanting one so bad!

Atari Glam Cuff $38

Love the chunky stones in this one! It comes in pink/orange too.

So what do you think? Are you a fan of neon??

There's more where that came from so go sign up and start shopping!
Tell your hubbies I said it was ok ;)

Preggo Stuff - 39 Weeks

Greetings, my lovely cupcakes!
I've been slacking on the ol' blog lately but I'm still here. and still very pregnant.

I am currently 39 weeks and 4 days...and ready to pop.

Please don't focus in on this pic too much.
I'm looking wretched lately. That's what gaining 19 lbs look like.
Yes, I'm now at 19. BLEH.

I'm grateful to have had such an easy pregnancy but to be honest with you, in the past few weeks, things have really started going downhill. I've have had the worst back pain and pressure in my lady parts that it's almost too hard to walk sometimes. By mid day I practically walk hunched over. And after overdoing it this past weekend trying to get last minute things done at the house (including painting the kitchen!!), I truly thought I might go into labor Sunday night. No such luck though.

So with all this pain, I went into my OB appt yesterday ready to beg to be induced this week. But wouldn't you know it, I'm still only 1/2 cm dilated and about 40% effaced. No progress whatsoever since the last appt. TMI but the doctor even tried to get in there to strip some of the membranes but everything is so closed off she couldn't do it. It was painful to say the least. OB said she's afraid to push me into an induction that might just end up in a c-section since my body is clearly not ready. And I completely agree.

Now the plan is, if V doesn't come before then, I will be admitted to the hospital next Thursday night and be induced at 7am on Friday, March 2nd. Now it's up to Miss V whether she wants to be a February or March baby :) I'm ok either way because she'll still be a Pisces! (Yes, I totally believe in astrology in case you didn't know ;) It's just funny because at my second OB appt (it seems so long ago now!) my doctor had mentioned that I might possibly be due more towards the beginning of March but she kept me at the Feb. 26th due date because the baby was growing accordingly. Funny how March might now be the month!

No matter the complaints, it's all worth it for her and I'm just so ready to meet this little girl. This crazy active little girl who's recently started booty dancing (it's hilarious to watch my belly move). I've even tried taking video of it but the moment I start the camera she stops. Then when I give up and put the camera down, she starts up again. It's like she knows!!

So no matter what happens, by next weekend I will be a MOM! Bring it on! :)

Preggo Stuff - 38 Weeks

Well, so far my 38th week has been very eventful to say the least.

To start off, Valentine's night was so nice and I was so excited when Ronnie agreed to pizza because I was craving it so badly! We went to our fave place near our house and had a blast hanging out on their patio. But let's just say I overdid it on the pizza and mozzarella sticks...and ended up hugging a toilet all night. Seriously. Have I not learned by now that my belly has no more room?

Then yesterday? Ronnie warned me all morning about how slick our outside entry way was because of some drizzle and to be careful on my way out. I was EXTRA careful and had no problems. But I'd come home during my lunch break and on my way out, I tripped INSIDE the house. I fell first onto my left knee but the fall was so hard and fast that it just threw me all the way down and I ended up on my belly. As you can imagine, I was hysterical and freaking out.

I called Ronnie who was at school an hour away! We're both hysterical but I had to compose myself enough to call my doctor's office, who told me to go straight to labor and delivery at our hospital. Ronnie raced into town and my sweet coworker met up with me to drive me because she didn't want me going alone. When I got to the hospital they immediately hooked me up to a heart monitor. Luckily my blood pressure was good and hearing her perfect hearbeat was all I needed!

By the time Ronnie got there (the fastest he's EVER driven back into town!) they had me waiting for a sonogram to rule out any internal bleeding. After quite a wait the nurse said my OB only wanted me to be monitored for 2 hours and the sono wasn't necessary since I wasn't bleeding or having any cramping. So Ronnie and I just hung out for 2 hours and V's  heart rate was perfect the entire time. Even just in that crappy little room, we had the best time together. We were just on cloud 9, feeling so relieved and thankful that our baby was OK! We quickly realized just what a miracle baby she really is.

Today though I woke up like a creaky old lady with a hurt knee and a hurt shoulder. I had to go into work late because I was in SO much pain! I guess I hadn't realized just how hard I'd fallen down!

All whining aside, I'm just beyond happy V is ok. Thank you for all the prayers and well wishes on Twitter yesterday, it meant a lot to us!

Then I had my OB appt earlier today and that brought some interesting news:

• I've gained 3 lbs since my appt last week! Yowza. I'm now up 17 lbs total! I know that's not the worst but my OB did only want me to max out at 20 so I'm getting close! :/ 

• I had my first cervix check today (not a whole lotta fun, let me tell you!) and unfortunately I'm not dilated even one bit. Nothing. I was hoping I would be so I could be induced next week but at this point, it's not happening.

• They ended up scheduling my induction for March 2nd, when I'm at nearly 41 weeks. We only scheduled this just in case V doesn't come on her own before then. I hope she realizes she was supposed to be a February baby and doesn't make us wait til March!! ha

So there ya have it! It's been a crazy week so far. I haven't even taken a preggo pic this week! Instead I'll leave you with an exciting picture of us at the OB office today. We had to wait an extra 45 minutes because the doctor was off doing an emergency c-section and look at how much fun we were having ;)

Have a great day! :)

Preggo Stuff - 37 Weeks

Hello and welcome to another installment of Jessica Complains About Being Pregnant!
(At least I'm sure that's how I'm coming off lately. But seriously, I would never truly complain about it!)

Per usual, I'm behind on posting this so at this point I'm now technically 37 weeks 4 days. Meaning there are now just 2.5 weeks (or less!) left until we meet our baby girl. Since I'm not very good with using my big girl words, I'm not really sure just how to describe how I'm feeling right now. But I'm definitely feeling quite a few different emotions...

Nervous
Anxious
Scared shitless (ok, that's a bit dramatic)
Overwhelmed
Excited
Tired.

I'm just ready for the pregnancy part to be over (though I will miss her precious -sometimes crazy- kicks and hiccups) and ready to love her, smell her, kiss her, feed her and change all those dirty diapers. I honestly just wish I could fast forward through L&D to the part where we have her at home, safe and sound! But I'm just lucky to know I'll have the best partner ever by my side!

Here I am yesterday, in an outfit I haven't worn in a few weeks because the shirt is too short. That's why long tanks were invented I guess! It's one of my fave pre-pregnancy shirts so I'm glad I got some use out of it during the pregnancy.

It's definitely starting to look like I'm carrying around a 6 pounder in there!

Updates in Week 37:

Full term, baby!!

•  According to BabyCenter.com, baby V should be weighing about 6 1/3 pounds and measuring a bit over 19". Right on target since OB put her weight at 5 lbs. 13 oz at last week's appt!
  
  
• Remember last week when I swore I hadn't gained 5 lbs? Today the OB asst said "Oh you lost 3 lbs!"..which I know just means I'd only gained 2 at that last appt and not 5! It's really not a big deal, I just want things to be accurate! haha
  
  
• I'll get my first cervix check next week and if things are looking "favorable", I have the option of setting up an induction for the next week. Wanting to be able to plan anything about the delivery, I'm definitely open to it.
  
  
• I'm starting to crave coffee like nobody's business. I've allowed myself a tall Chai latte at Starbuck's twice this week and the rest of the time I'm sticking to the decaf K cups. Boring.
  
  
• Nursery bedding should be complete soon and once it is, pictures will be up! Mind you, I'm no designer so don't expect magazine worthy decor, just a whole lotta cuteness :)
  
  
• The pain in the nether regions is getting worse by the day. You know how tennis players let out a scream when they hit the ball? That's kinda what I do every time I get out of bed now. It's painful, yo! Poor Ronnie, I'm sure he could do without the dramatics. ha
  
  
• I didn't think it was possible but my dreams are getting WEIRDER and more vivid. Not sex dreams, just whacky ones. Like the one where Tim Tebow got injured and had no place to go so we took him in? And then I eventually kicked Ronnie out if Tim and I were gonna have any chance of making it as a couple? Yeah.

Ok so just for shits and giggles, here's a collage of me in this same outfit. The first picture was taken 10 weeks ago, y'all! My boobs definitely looked bigger then but I think it's just the ruffles playing mind tricks on you. Because they are definitely much more large and in charge now! ha!

And look, my hair grew too! I blame the humidity, tyvm.

I hope y'all are having a great week! :D T

And don't forget - if you met your honey online, get your post ready to link up tomorrow!!

Preggo Stuff - 36 Weeks

I'm still hanging in there..and apparently so is Baby V! I'm now 36 1/2 weeks which means she can really can come at anytime now but I don't think she's budging. Her actual due date is just 3 1/2 weeks away! I never thought this day would get here so fast!!

This is the dress I wore to my shower this past weekend! It wasn't the day of the shower but I thought it was appropriate to wear for my 36 week pic :) I should've held ze belly but I'm sure you can see it's there and getting bigger!

Updates in Week 36:

• Yesterday was my 36 week OB appointment and it went great! V is weighing in at about 5 lbs. 13 oz! OB's guess is she'll end up 7 to 7.5 lbs. Fine with me as long as there's no 10 pounder - I don't know if my never-given-birth-before self could handle it. ha!
  
  
• We got an ultrasound and a partial 4D sonogram at the appt but unfortunately V is too low and squished so the tech couldn't get any good pictures! :( So dissapointing because the tech rushed through it and we had been so looking forward to it, my mom even came with! We did get one OK shot though and she looked kinda like me!
  
  
• Apparently I've gained 5 pounds since 2 weeks ago. Which if I truly did, I'll own it. However, my OB appt's have always been at 9 am and I don't trust being weighed in the afternoon after having eaten breakfast and lunch! And maybe a cookie. ha! So I'm gonna weigh myself at home tomorrow morning just to compare.
  
  
• I had my Strep B test done yesterday. Fun times, let me tell you! My OB is the best though and just laughs along with my nervous laughs and jokes. I seriously lucked out with her!
  
  
• I am now in full waddle mode. My lower half just hurts too much to walk normally anymore. Another fun new symptom is shocking pains in my lower back and numbing on the left side of my groin (TMI!) because of pressure on the sciatic nerve.
  
  
• My latest craving is vanilla ice cream!! More specifically, the ice cream cones from McDonald's. They've always been my favorite but now it's like a serious NEED. I have to focus on driving straight home instead of turning left into the Mickey D's right by my house!!
  
  
• The nursery is slowly but surely coming together but we have a LOT to do this weekend. If it's not done by Super Bowl, I swear I'll be bugging Ronnie to continue helping me. We'll see how that argument turns out. haha
  
  
• I have a feeling V will love music just as much as her parents. I've caught her kicking this week to The Beatles, Bob Marley and Pink Floyd. She loves her Momma's playlist I think ;)
  
  
• Today's my work baby shower!! I bitch and moan a lot about my bosses and co-workers but they've really been nice lately and have actually been asking me about the baby, how I'm feeling, etc. I'm looking forward to our lunch at Olive Garden and then coming back to open presents!

Preggo Stuff - 35 Weeks

Happy Thursday, cupcakes! :) (mmm doesn't one sound good right now? :)

I'm currently at 35 1/2 weeks and starting to get nervous. Shit's about to get real! haha. I'm excited about getting my girl, the only part that worries me is the labor and delivery. I'm hoping and praying I luck out and it's a quick process because I just want that part over and done with!

Ronnie took my picture last night when we were just hanging out. Jammies and all! My face is definitely getting more swollen looking lately as are my feet and ankles. But I know those will return to normal in just a few short weeks!

Updates in Week 35:

• According to BabyCenter.com, baby girl is measuring over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon).
  
  
• I've definitely noticed how big she's getting. I'm feeling the most pressure I've ever felt and it's even getting hard to walk. Rolling over in bed and getting up off the floor is so painful and isn't a pretty sight either. We laugh because Ronnie's always having to help me get up. It's sweet though :)
  
  
• New, exciting symptom - itchy skin. I've read about pregnant women getting itchy on their belly and breasts but I feel itchy EVERYWHERE. Mostly on my hips, belly, lower back and thighs. It's so weird and frustrating.
  
  
• Charlie Horse cramps are NOT my friend and have been hanging around too much lately. In fact, my left calf is still sore after I got a cramp two nights ago. They've been pretty frequent and I'm so tired of them! I will say though I've become a pro at getting rid of them quickly!
  
  
• I'm still addicted to water and fruit but my latest craving is Gatorade! Because of the cramps, Ronnie mentioned maybe needing more electroytes. When he said that it felt like I've been missing out on Gatorade my entire life, that's how intense the craving was. ha! I've drank a couple this week and they were so good.
  
  
• I finally hit total nesting mode. Kinda funny that it kicked in when I'm at my slowest! Last night I tore through all the gifts we've received so far and boxes of random baby stuff and organized it all! I did two little loads of her little clothes which now smell like heaven and her room is finally clean! The house as a whole is looking great too!
  
  
• Once and for all, I decided what to do with the nursery. Again, this is happening so late but whatever. We can do it! :) Ronnie's on board with my ideas and we're gonna start Sunday. My mom even "intervened" and put a stop to my back and forth on the bedding and is just going to make it for me, I just have to choose fabric. Halleluyer!
  
  
• I'm SO excited for my first shower this Saturday! A few of my closest friends and most of my huge family will be there so I think it's gonna be a lot of fun! I'm so grateful for all these wonderful people in our lives who are just as excited for Miss V!
  
  
• Last but not least, irritability is at an all-time high. I feel like if anyone tries to mess with me, I will not hold back. I've always kinda been like that but it's even worse now. It seems my "balls" have gotten bigger during pregnancy. ha!

Thanks for reading along all this time...Just a few more weeks and you'll be done looking at my big belly and hearing my complaints! :p Have a great day!

Preggo Stuff - 34 Weeks

Is this real life? I swear I just found out I was pregnant and now I have only about 5 1/2 weeks to go until I finish baking this little cupcake! I'm not gonna lie. I'm feeling pre.tty overwhelmed right about now, knowing how soon she'll be here!!

This weekend, Ronnie is going to paint her room and we'll start setting it all up. Did I tell you we don't have her crib yet either? Oy vey. We are so behind and at this point, it's all because I can't make a freaking decision. But with my first baby shower being moved from this weekend to next, this will be my last weekend to prep the room for all the baby stuff I'm about to bring in!! But moving on...

Here I am in all my 34 (almost 35) week glory...

Updates in Week 34:

• According to BabyCenter.com, baby girl weighs around 4 3/4 lbs. (like your average canteloupe) and is almost 18" long.
  
  
• According to my OB yesterday, she's estimating baby girl right around 5 lbs. However, she said that my uterus is measuring about 2 weeks ahead so that's throwing her estimation off. She'll get a more accurate look at her size when I get my sonogram in 2 weeks!! (I haven't seen her since 18 weeks!!)
  
  
• Halleluyer for not gaining any weight since my last appt 2 weeks ago! My total weight gain is still at 12 lbs. I'm just waiting for it to hit 20 or so by the end. EEK.
  
  
• Speaking of which, Project Healthy Momma will be ON after this girl is here. Right now it's so hard to pick and choose what I eat because I get SO hungry that I just want whatever's near me and I WANT IT NOW. It's not always the best choice but I'm still making good choices mixed in with a few bad (but yummy) ones ;)
  
  
• I'm still ridiculously addicted to water and fruit but a new craving is strawberry milk! Mmmm.
  
  
• Round ligament pain is about to be the death of me. It just really started this past Sunday and my OB laughed when I described it to her. She said she's surprised it took me this long to have this pain!
  
  
• I'm soooo excited about my baby shower next weekend! It's my first of two and I'm actually glad to be having them so late since I have nothing prepared at home anyway. ha! I ended up registering at both Babies R Us and Target to make it convenient for everyone. I just can't wait to share this time with my family and friends!
  
  
• I received the BEST gifts ever yesterday from a company I work with... I can't believe how generous he was - we basically got the biggest items that we still needed!! He sent us a play yard, highchair, stroller, bassinet for the stroller and an infant car seat!! Thank you, Jesus! as my mom said. haha. I say more like, Thank you baby Jesus! :D
  
  

baby girl's pretty ride!!

That's about it, y'all! Til the next time :)

Preggo Stuff - 33 Weeks

Hey y'all! TGIF, am I right?? And crazy enough, it's Friday the 13th! I'm superstitious about oh so many things but I've never believed the whole bad luck thing about today...But please excuse me while I go knock on wood just in case. ha!

This is the latest in the week that I've done this update so technically now I'm only two days away from being 34 weeks! But let's pretend I just turned 33 weeks, k? :) It's hard to believe in just 2 days, we'll be down to a SIX week countdown! My dad's betting that she'll come 1-2 weeks early (please no!) but everyone else seems to agree she'll be right on time. I'm set on her being a February baby so all I hope is that she doesn't go so late that I run into March which is only 4 days after my due date. But we'll just have to wait and see!

Here's my latest pic that was taken yesterday while out and about with my baby daddy. We were at Bed Bath & Beyond and I figured I'd just use one of their mirrors! It's a horrible picture and thinking about it now, I proabably should've put down my damn purse but I was in a hurry! It's all about the belly anyway and you can definitely make out that part! :p 

Updates in Week 33:

• According to BabyCenter.com, baby girl is now a little over 4 lbs. and over 17 inches long...The fact that she's that big is definitely starting to show in mah belly! :p
  
  
• I hadn't had any crazy cravings for a while (other than my usual water and fruit) but in just the past week I've been dying for gummy bears and fried fish. I've eaten both now and they were heavenly.
  
  
• Two nights ago I got my first case of swollen feet and ankles. It wasn't that horrible but it was obvious and I guess it's something I have to get used to for the next few weeks!
  
  
• Sleep is getting harder to come by each night :/ I actually stayed home from work yesterday because the awful sleep from this week had caught up with me. I ended up sleeping until about 11:30. MUCH needed.
  
  
• I finally finished up our Babies R Us registry but I have yet to decide on crib bedding! I can't believe how super behind I am on that but I've given myself the deadline of this weekend.
  
  
• I've had some Braxton Hicks contractions in the past week which at first I didn't know what I was feeling but I know now they couldn't have been anything else. It's crazy to think how much more serious those contractions will be in just a few weeks! :/
  
  
• During my work days I've been walking around our building a lot because I just can't sit any longer! It hurts my butt, my back, everything, to just sit there all day. Things are definitely getting more uncomfortable around here!
  
  
• Baby girl is still as active as ever though her kicks are much less and it's more of rolling and tumbling movements now. I've tried so hard to catch my belly moving all around on video but she always stops as soon as I start the camera!
  
  
• Sometimes it still doesn't feel real that I'm really about to have a baby but when I feel those movements, I know there's most definitely a little girl in there... It's an amazing feeling!
  

Can't believe these fools are getting so close to becoming parents! ha :)

Have a great weekend!! <3

Preggo Stuff - 32 Weeks

Holy moly, y'all...Just 8 weeks left!!!

My only wish right now is that my boobs would stop growing because they're starting to compete with my belly again. UGH. Not a fun problem to have. I would MUCH rather be growing out the back, thank you very much :)

Updates in Week 32:

• According to BabyCenter.com, baby girl is approx. 3.75 pounds (like a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long.
  
  
• I had my OB appointment yesterday and we got to hear her perfect little heartbeat ALONG with her hiccups. It was really cute to hear them through the monitor :) The hiccups started on Christmas day and she gets them now at least once a day.
  
  
• As of yesterday, I've only gained 12 lbs through this pregnancy! It's not bad but for someone who was already overweight, it's been tough to manage. OB had told me only to gain 15-20 so I hopefully I'll be ok by the time she's here!
  
  
• I'm still in major (maybe even worse now) pain because she's positioned so low. I sit all day at work but have been forcing myself to get up and walk around or else the pain will be worse after a long time of sitting.
  
  
• On New Year's Eve, mountain cedar blew in and left me with some bad allergy symptoms. I'm taking Sudafed which helps but I get so stuffy at night that I wake up every 2 hours. I'm basically a zombie these days.
  
  
• Extreme hunger has set in. I can eat small meals all throughout the day and still feel like I'm starving by the end of the day. Doesn't help with the weight gain part.
  
  
• I finally cracked down and chose paint for her nursery. We're way behind in her nursery but it's finally getting set up and I can't wait! The paint color's called Misty Aqua and it's the perfect blend of blue/green that I wanted. We also had new carpet installed in her room this past week. Hers was the only room that still had ugly (red!) original carpet!
  
  
• I had dinner with my friend Elizabeth last night and afterwards went by her house where she LOADED me up with hand me downs from her sweet little girl. She also gave me a gift AND is making me flag bunting with baby girl's name. I'm seriously so lucky to have her as a friend.
  
  
• I have two baby showers coming up in about two weeks and I still haven't fully completed my baby registry! I told you, I'm way behind. Between setting up the new house, holidays and my crazy work hours it's been hard to buckle down but we are finalizing the registry TONIGHT!

Even though I am getting more uncomfortable and stuff is starting to hurt that never did before, I couldn't have asked for an easier pregnancy thus far! Life is good! :D

Preggo Stuff - 31 Weeks

I'm freaking out that it's already Thursday...it means I'm getting closer to my vacation being over! :( But believe me, I'm grateful for this week! I'm also grateful that Ronnie is on his break from school because it has been SO nice sleeping in with him and spending our days together. Our time together is definitely something I'm cherishing with just NINE WEEKS left til baby girl is here!

So far this week we have eaten out a lot (no surprise there. ha!), chosen paint for the house so Ronnie can paint next week, having new carpet installed in baby girl's room (hers was the only room with original RED carpet in it!), we're going today to finally register at the hospital, we've done lots of shopping, and our house is sparking clean! I think I was made for this homemaker stuff! (not!) :p

Yesterday while out to lunch I realized I was supposed to take my weekly belly pic! Since my usual scenery is the bathroom at work, I decided the bathroom at the restaurant would do. ha! I don't look very happy but it's probably because I was in a hurry to get outta there!

Updates in Week 31:

• First off, holy crap. Just NINE WEEKS LEFT!
  
  
• According to BabyCenter.com, baby girl weighs around 3.3 lbs (like carrying four navel oranges) and is over 16" long! She's gearing up for a growth spurt soon too!
  
  
• My sleep is getting worse by the day so I'm taking advantage of being able to sleep in and take naps this week! #totalheaven
  
  
• Baby girl's kicks are still frequent but lately I'll feel a random kick/punch out of nowhere and it's a really painful and shocking one! She's growing bigger and stronger for sure!
  
  
• On Christmas day, those kicks definitely hit a nerve. While in the car I got the worst pain all the way from my lower back up to my neck. It stung so bad and it hurt to even move! I tried to adjust her and it finally went away but it was pretty scary for a moment.
  
  
• I have a 32 week OB appointment next week and am really curious to see how much Christmas weight I gained! ha.
  
  
• I also can't believe my appointments are now at 2 week intervals. Crazy!

• I feel like bathroom breaks seriously take up half my day now. Ronnie teases me about how much toilet paper we're going through. ha! #TMI
  
  
• The comments have definitely gotten more frequent like "Are you really that far along? You don't look it!!". I'm sure there's no harm but I take it in the overly sensitive "Am I too fat to even be showing?" kinda way. ha
  
  
• I'm still having a ton of pain "down there" but I know she's just positioned really low. The worst is after sitting a while or sleeping, it hurts to even get up and I basically have to waddle around until it goes away.
  
  
• I'm extra hormonal lately and have been causing some petty fights with Ronnie. I can't wait (and I know he can't either) to feel back down to my normal emotional level. lol.
  
  
• I finally feel like things really are moving along but I'm still shocked at how soon she'll be here. My biggest worries don't even concern bringing a baby home or not knowing what to do with her - I'm scared of the delivery! Any advice for me?

I hope y'all are having a great week!

Preggo Stuff - 30 Weeks

I just want to apologize...Lately it seems like I have nothing left to talk about but this pregnancy and that's just not the case in real life. I didn't want this to turn into any sort of pregnancy/mommy blog either and since it kinda has, I officially suck. Hopefully once the holidays slow down, I'll have more exciting things to talk about!

But while I have you...here's yet another preggo update ;) I am 30 weeks!!

 Updates in Week 30: 

• According to BabyCenter.com, baby girl is about 15.7 inches long now and weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage).
   
• At my OB appt this past Monday, I found out I only gained 1/2 a pound. Halleluyer! Baby girl has a great heart rate, my BP was good...but I have been told to lower my sugar intake some because of my glucose intolerance due to stinkin' PCOS. Nothing to worry about, I just need to cut back on my constant craving of OJ and fruit. Too much suga :/

   
• She's still pretty active but not like she was just a week ago. Her movements now are more like rolling and turning which feels so funny. My doctor said this is expected with her getting bigger and to just be sure and do my kick counts which she always meets.

   
• I am currently walking like I just got off a horse. Serious pain down there, y'all. She's moved down a LOT.

   
• Being down so low, she's also kinda mishapen my belly. It seems to almost have deflated a little and moved down. SO weird. But I do know a couple girls who experienced the same thing with their pregnancies and my doctor wasn't worried so I'm not.

   
• Remember when I thought I was a bad-ass who could sleep through the night? That time has ended and my sleep is getting more uncomfortable and I wake up at least twice a night now.

   
• My body also now sounds like that of a creaky old lady. I swear every bone in my body pops when I get up. It's not painful at all, just kinda funny.

   
• Still, things are GOOD. No major complaints and I'm just ready for the holidays!

   
• Oh and my cousin and his wife find out today what their baby is. I can't wait to find out!

And just for shits and giggles...
Apparently I wore this outfit exactly 3 weeks ago. I didn't think my belly looked much different at first until I realized it finally sticks out further than my boobs. ha! Success!!
 

Hope y'all are having a great Wednesday :D

Preggo Stuff - 29 weeks

Hey y'all! :) I can't believe I haven't even blogged since last week! Let's just say I've been ridiculously lazy. I'm not even close to being done with my Christmas shopping either. I guess I'm just taking it to heart when parents tell me "Get lots of sleep", "Take time for yourself"....I only have about 11 weeks without baby so I'm taking their advice! Is that so wrong? :)

 

So here I am, in all my 29 week glory!

(29 weeks and 4 days to be exact ) 

 

 

Updates in Week 29:

• According to babycenter.com, baby girl is about 2.5 pounds (about the size of a butternut squash) and is about 15" long.
 
• Lately I have been EXTREMELY tired. I feel like I could crash out anywhere at any time. My usual 8 hours of sleep just is not enough anymore. I've been sleeping in late every morning but not even that seems to help.
 
• In the past few days I started feeling a weird vibrating sensation towards the bottom of my uterus. I read up on it at a few sites and apparently it's some sort of muscle spasm, maybe when the baby hits a certain nerve? I don't know but it feels ca-razy!
 
• I have my 30 week (holy crap!) OB appointment next Monday and I'm definitely gonna ask about that weird sensation...I'm also hoping I haven't gained much weight since the last appointment. #prayforme
 
• I've really lucked out with my appointments being scheduled right before Thanksgiving and right before Christmas. Then I don't feel so bad about chowing down! ha!
 
• I am in LOVE with her kicks. It's just such a relief to know she's a active, healthy girl. The kicks are definitely picking up and have even started waking me up in the middle of the night!
 
• As I type this, I want to close my eyes. Told you, I'm that tired!
 
• Honestly other than all the petty "complaints" above, I feel GREAT. It's hard to believe I'm this far along and still feeling so good. To this point this pregnancy has been incredibly easy and I'm so grateful for that!
 
• As of last night, we're officially registered at Babies R Us! I went in SO excited but it turned out to not be the greatest experience after all. A hot store + feeling overwhelmed + needing to EAT = Momma nearly passing out. We got out of there pretty fast but at least we got it started for now!
 
• Next up, registering at Target. Oh yeah, and buying nursery furniture. With buying a house and it being Christmas time, poor girl's nursery has taken a backseat so I hope to finally get it all set up in January. I hope she knows that she needs to wait until at least mid February to make her appearance.
 
• At Babies R Us, another Christmas outfit found its way into my hands :) It was originally $26, marked down to $13 and at the register it rang up for $8! Holla! This girl now has 2 Christmas outfits..and considering we do about 4 Christmases, I think she has an excuse for a couple more ;)

 

 

I can't believe at this time next year, I'll be carrying around a precious angel in that outfit.

Seriously, SO exciting :)

 

And I just want to say CONGRATS to Heather, she found out the sex of her baby yesterday! I'm starting to feel like I need to move to Houston and be a part of those oh-so-cool H Town Girls. My baby girl would have built in BFF's with Baby O and Heather's Baby BUB! Plus, Ronnie would be in football heaven, living near his Houston Texans. ha!

 

Have a great day!!

Preggo Stuff - 28 Weeks

Happy Happy Wednesday!!

I haven't blogged in SIX days and was starting to feel some withdrawals!

Thank you for all of your positive comments on my preggo post last week. It means a lot to have found such sweet and supportive friends! :)

I can't believe I have just 12 weeks before I meet Baby V!

Updates in Week 28:

• We got a new mattress this past weekend and I am sleeping like a CHAMP! I haven't even gotten up to pee the last two nights! guess I just really needed to catch up on those zzzzz's!
 
• I worry with not getting up that I might pee the bed in the middle of the night. That would be some shit. ha!
 
• My upper and middle back have started to hurt a lot and the only thing that helps is getting on all fours and doing some stretches. Ronnie has been really sweet and giving me back rubs too.
 
• I used to feel slight movement up top but in the past week they've started to feel like full on kicks which makes me think baby girl has changed positions and is head down now. At least that's what I think, in my own wannabe professional opinion :p
 
• I have a feeling this girl already knows her momma's a worrier. Literally every time I start thinking that I haven't felt her kick in a while, she starts up. That is always a major relief!
 
• My boobs must be in a race with my belly to see which can stick out the farthest. Ronnie doesn't mind the extra padding but it's getting pretty ridiculous, y'all.
 
• Every time someone says I don't look 7 months along, I wish I could just say "Look, I've never had a flat tummy so of course my pregnant belly isn't gonna be massive. What do you want from me?!". But that might just be the hormones talking.
 
• Speaking of hormones, I have felt pretty crazy lately. I cry over EVERYTHING. Last week while being sensitive over something Ronnie said, he tells me "It's ok, I know you're just being hormonal"...which basically pushed me into psycho mode. Poor guy.
 
• With it being cold outside now, it's easy to stay under the covers and sleep in. So fair warning, you will see a LOT more of me and my naturally curly hair around here. Straightening it is just too tiring and time consuming!
 
• We still haven't registered! My baby showers are in January so I guess I should get on that. I think in the back of mind I know I'm gonna be overwhelmed by it which has kept me from doing it. No more procrastinating - it has GOT to happen this weekend!

Hope y'all are doing well! Have a great day! :D

Preggo Stuff

I've decided to take a cue from my girl Meg O. and actually document this pregnancy stuff :) I totally understand if this kinda stuff bores you and you don't wanna read it! But to warn you, I want to do this weekly now until this girl makes her appearance in February!

So yeah I'm super behind on the preggo updates but honestly there wasn't much to talk about in the first few months. I had a few bouts of morning sickness and evening sickness, I only gained about 5 pounds the first 5 months (thanks to my major fruit and water cravings!) and had nothing to complain about except the occasional sore back and major lack of energy. My belly didn't even really show up til about 19 weeks! But while I haven't done a good job at taking pictures, I have been keeping a written journal that I will give baby girl one day - the same that my mom did for me! :)

To start off, here's some past pictures.

I obviously never thought to pose the same way every time.

(This is my first pregnancy, cut me some slack! ;)

But you get the idea! Click to make it bigger.

Now, today!

(Techincally 27 weeks, 3 days but whatevs :)

(I realize now the ruffles do nothing special for my already ginormous boobs. ha!)

Updates in Week 27: 

• Baby girl is getting more active by the day. Her kicks and punches are getting harder too which is super cool to me! Ronnie was able to see one through my belly a couple weeks ago and I got to see it for myself a couple days ago. I call her "wild woman" cause she can get crazy in there! ha!
 
• I had my 26 week OB appointment last week. Baby girl's heart rate was great and I actually LOST 2 pounds. That is awesome considering at my 22 weeks appointment I had gained 7 pounds in 4 weeks! Ugh. But with the loss, I'm currently up a total of 10 lbs. Not bad for being nearly 7 months.
 
• Those 10 lbs have definitely found their way to my face recently. I knew this day would come but I'm not happy about it.
 
• Despite never having the typical morning sickness, I have been gaggy in the mornings at least twice a week since the beginning and it STILL happens. Nothing comes of it though, just gagging.

• I'm still only waking up once or twice in the middle of the night to pee. I'm grateful for that considering I know girls further behind me who are up 3-4 times!
 
• I've been sleeping with my Boppy Total Body pillow since about 18 weeks and don't think I ever want to live without it. The bigger I get, the more of a lifesaver it is to me!!
 
• SUPER TMI alert. I'm starting to feel more frequent sharp pains "down there". It's been happening for months now but my OB says it's totally fine. It's nothing unbearable or worrisome, just painful. I usually have to lay down and try and move this wild woman off whatever nerve she's sitting on. I've read a lot about it on forums and girls seem to call it the "knife in the crotch" feeling. That about sums it up.
 
• It's starting to feel more and more real by the day. I haven't even started in her nursery yet and I know I still have 3 months but it's going to fly by. It already has!
 
• I can't believe I still haven't registered yet so hopefully we can fit it in this weekend!

'Til next week! Have a great Wednesday!

The guilt made me do it.

I woke up today feeling SO guilty that I'm not one of those overly cutesy preggos who's excited to take a weekly belly shot. Because let's face it, I started off plus size and I'm only getting.. plus-sier. And that's mostly in the boobage and arm area because happy joy for me, that is where I always gain weight. 

But don't get me wrong or think I'm just complaining because I'm excited as hell to BE pregnant and to be getting a precious baby girl at the end of this. This pregnancy has been super easy so far. I can deal with the constant lower back pain and the suddenly uncomfortable sleep, I'm just being a typical girl stressed about her weight. But whatever, this is me and all my belly glory this morning! I know it will be nice to have these pictures one day :)

(Every day's casual day at work soooo...don't judge. Oh yeah, no makeup either. ha!)

20 weeks, baby!

Oh and guess what? Remember how I mentioned we were looking for a house to rent? Well, it turns out I qualified to BUY a freaking house. With us living on just my income while Ronnie's in school, I didn't think buying wouldn't happen for another few years. But apparently it can happen now and I'm sooo excited! This is just the perfect step to make before baby V. comes along! So now, we're getting down to business and looking at houses this Saturday! I know it will be stressful but I hope everything works out as planned. Wish us luck!

Happy Wednesday, lovelies :)

Where Have I Been?!

I hate hate hate taking such long blog breaks. But this hasn't been by choice, friends.

My ginormous work event has finally come and gone and I can breathe a sigh of relief...until we start planning the next (smaller, thankfully) event in a couple months. So here's a random list of what's been going on around these parts!

-We've started looking for our new place. We're grateful to my parents for letting us stay with them but 2 1/2 months is long enough. We thought we'd last until January but I don't think we can. We want to spend as much time as possible together ALONE before bebe and really, I'd just like my own space again dammit!

-But you know what, house hunting sucks. We're only renting (until Ronnie finishes school) so we want to be picky but really can't be, ya know? It's not our forever or even 5 year house so I know I just have to accept what's good for us right now.

-If you're my Twitter friend, you already saw this pic..but let me just say again, I am OBSESSED with my Erin Condren planner. This planner just makes me want to be extra organized! It's kinda huge but I love it anyway and I catch myself desperate to make any sorta plan so I can write it in. ha! #loser

-Spending nearly 2 weeks in Louisville really messed with my allergies. I'm still not over the stuffiness and today, I started with a weezy cough and chest pain. Please lord, I cannot get sick.

-Besides feeling yucky, I'm just glad the weather has cooled down some. It's feeling very much like a Texas fall and I am loving it!! Let's just hope it sticks around.

-I turned 29! And it was a lousy birthday to say the least. I flew out on my birthday and then had to celebrate that night with my annoying co-workers. ha! But no biggie, there'll be more to come. Especially since next year, we'll have a little 7 month old hanging out with us :)

-And speaking of that baby....guess what? ..................

61% of you were right...It's a GIRL!!!!! :D

She actually cooperated and showed "herself" the weekend before I left for my trip (I paid for a private ultrasound outside the doctor's office because I'm that impatient) and then the doctor's office confirmed it last week. I was in shock at first  but I should've trusted my initial instinct - I've always known it was a girl <3

Baby V. is so loved and already has some cute outfits waiting for her!

(sorry for crappy quality but you get the idea!)

So that's about it! Bear with me while I catch up on reading my 1000+ undread blog posts.

I hope all of you are doing wonderful and I'm sooo looking forward to getting back into the blogging groove! Happy Monday, y'all!

Well, hello there!

I am still VERY much alive :) and have very much missed all of you!

However I am VERY much sucked up in my work lately.

The event we work on all year is coming up in just 3 weeks so not only are things crazy in the office, things are crazy at home too. I'll be out of town for this event for almost 2 weeks so I'm trying to make sure September end-of-the-month bills are taken care of (or I WILL forget to pay them when I'm out of town), I'm trying to shop for some new clothes (all the while wondering "Will my belly be much bigger in 3 weeks?!) and most of all trying to make sure I don't freak out too much.

So yeah, it's been hectic. I'm tired and pass out my 9:30 pm and my lower back hurts constantly but other than that, I still feel pretty damn good :)

And we can't forget bebe who is also doing great! I got to hear his/her super fast heartbeat yesterday morning and it was seriously the best sound I've ever heard! Oh yeah and the stressed out fiance of mine is doing well too, adjusting to his overloaded school schedule while still trying to deal with living with my family. It's not easy but we're grateful to them for letting us and the animals take over their house for a few months :)

Now...bad picture time.

This was taken late last night (in bad lighting too) and ignore the shadow that makes it look like I have a huge belly button (I don't). Just see the bottom part that puffs a little. That would be the bit of belly I'm starting to see lately. Besides my pre-baby puff belly of course :p I tried taking side shots but honestly, my face looked too fat every time I did that angle and I'm so not ready to publish that kind of scary just yet! ha! Other than my waist expanding a bit, the most growth I've seen is in my boobs. (yay.) I have plenty to share if anyone's interested!

I set my next bebe appointment for 9/28, the day right after I get back in town. We should be able to find out then if we can call this baby "S" or "V" :) (By the way, I changed our girl's name ;)

and by the way, I added one of those Boy Or Girl? polls on the right columb. I think it's fun to guess! :)

I hope you all are doing FABULOUS. I'll see y'all soon!

Oh How Pinteresting - The Yummy Edition

Happy Wednesday, lovelies!!!

I'm linking up with Michelle today, one of my fave link ups ever! I tried linking up two weeks ago and it never showed up so I hope Linky likes me today :)


It's no secret, I am pregnant and VERY FREAKING HUNGRY. I wake up and go to sleep with food on the brain and I've been trying hard not to give in to the BAD cravings but who am I to always turn down the baby, right? My craving's are really all over the place so here are the things I'm DYING to make!

And I apologize in advance for making you extra hungry ;)

Source: laurenslatest.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Parmesan & Garlic Linguine

Source: chompingboard.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Basil Cucumber Egg Salad Sandwich       

Source: closetcooking.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Pizza Dip    

Source: closetcooking.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Pumpkin Pie French Toast

Source: lifesambrosia.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Creamy Bacon Tomato Avocado Pasta         

Source: tarteletteblog.com via Jessica on Pinterest

 

Pillow Cheesecake With Salted Butter Caramel Sauce

Source: closetcooking.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Jalapeno Popper Dip

Source: whisk-kid.blogspot.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Mini Lemon Poppy Seed Cupcakes

I am SO hungry now! ha. Have a good one, y'all!! :)