30 Week Pregnancy Reflection {baby two}

How far along?:  I'm about 30 weeks along in my second pregnancy - TEN weeks and counting!

I am feeling:  A little down after getting diagnosed with gestational diabetes today.  I failed the three hour test.  My resting level was 90, I passed that one.  My one hour level had to be under 190 and it was 217!  UGH.  I needed to pass the second test with a level of 165 or below and I failed it with a 175, so I didn't even make it to the three hour test.  I know eventually I will feel determined and ready to go and feel empowered by the new changes (diet and exercise) - but right now I just feel bummed out about it.  I am worried about the chances of having a gigantic baby that would require a c-section.  I worried about any other ways this will impact Molly's well-being.  I'm worried about failing and not being able to control this.

Movement:  Molly has been a moving machine lately!  I feel her mostly on the right side of my body (where her legs are) and it's gotten to the point where her limbs can really stick out of my skin!  She loves to move while I read.  (Currently reading the Divergent series and ALMOST done... they are AMAZING!!!)

What I miss most:  Ugh.  Right now, I miss not having to worry about my blood sugar level.  Not having to log every. single. thing. I ingest.  I haven't had to start testing my levels yet - but by the end of this week that'll be added onto things as well.  I know the better part of me is going to be pointing out the silver lining of this situation - but that will probably be a couple days from now...

Cravings:  Doughnuts, of course.  :(

Best moment of the week:  Finding out Molly's kidneys are OKAY and back to normal at the specialist on Monday!!!!  That was SUCH a huge relief.  Second best moment of the week?  Getting to see her beautiful face for the first time and in 4d!  It seriously blew me away how amazing the photos were.

What I'm excited about:  Rereading the Divergent series.  Not even done with the third and final book yet and I am already planning on reading them all over again!  This is necessary because I seriously flew through them the first time that I'm sure none of the information was retained.  Not to mention they are just THAT GOOD.

Five on Friday.

Baker.
Proud owner of a breadmaker.  Now that I have one, I'm a little intimidated to get started.  I think I'll just have to find a simple recipe and start from there.  If you have any favorite bread recipes that are tried and true - make sure to share it!

Book Hangover.
When will I learn?!  I swear, this is the 3rd or 4th time I've read through the Hunger Games books and I am just an emotional mess.  I'm not ready to let go of those characters or the story and I think the worst of it is the ending of the series.  It just feels so unfinished.  Like I am waiting to hear the rest or have a better explanation of how the characters got from point A to point B.  I have been wanting to read the Divergent series ever since getting them for Christmas - but now I don't want to start it because I feel like I will resent the book and characters for not being the Hunger Games.  I almost just want to reread all the Twilight books because I had such a strong connection to that story/characters.  Or maybe the answer is reading a regular, stand-alone book before reading another series and getting so attached.  Maybe I should do that.  Anyways, I definitely didn't foresee finishing the books another time around having this much of an impact on me.  Again.  Only 210 more days until the first Mockingjay movie hits theaters!

Bad, iPhone!
Back up your iPhone before agreeing to any updates!  I made the mistake of not doing so and lost some of my photos, videos, and had to re-download all my apps, etc because it went into restore mode or something.  Also, take a screen shot of your home screen before updating, too.  Mine feels so disjointed because I'm getting used to where everything is now that I can't remember exactly how everything was situated before.  I know... not a very substantial problem to complain about - all I'm saying it be prepared in case it happens to you.

Barbacoa.
I made a Chipotle-inspiried dinner at home last night and it was a huge success!!!  Let me start by saying I got a big top round roast marked down from Target and I honestly had no idea what I was going to do with it.  First instinct in finding a recipe proved to be a good one (aka Pinterest) and I found this instantly drool-worthy recipe for the meat.  Thanks to this fantastic blog I also found a recipe for a Cilantro-Corn Salsa and also Cilantro-Lime Rice (both similar to what Chipotle offers).  It was super delicious!!!  I'm excited to heat up leftovers and see how they taste the second time around.  It all turned out something like this.  Amazing!

Bathetic.
I love our life - but I miss having more moments like this.

Granted, it's not everyday that you get to celebrate some of your best friends getting married, but I just look back to so many of our adventures pre-kids and wonder if our life will ever resemble that again... even slightly.  I think it would be easier if we lived near our friends with kids (my sisters, my cousin, friends back in Illinois with kids/nieces or nephews...), because then we would have common interests that would draw the families together more often... but I tell you, it gets lonely being a stay-at-home mom.  It's a great life, but I wish there were more opportunities to share with others.  Not to mention, I have a hard time branching out.  But I suppose that is necessary when moving.  I know I've said it so much lately... but I am really kicking myself for all the moments I took for granted living so close to the family and friends in the Quad Cities.  I haven't missed our old rental home or the weather since we moved - but I have severely missed living in Moline, being 5-10 minutes from anywhere I needed to go, living 4 miles away from the nearest relative, our old routines and the places we frequented, and just the community there in general.  It really was home.  I always felt stuck living in the Midwest (mostly because it was frigid half of the year) and knew I'd like to get back to Tennessee, so I feel somewhat ludicrous for having this reaction.  But it turns out, I am having a hard time letting go.

29 Week Pregnancy Reflection {BABY 2}

How far along?:  29 weeks along in my second pregnancy - which leaves us about 11 weeks or so to go!

L: 29 weeks pregnant with Presley
R: 29 weeks pregnant with Molly

I am feeling:  Hot all the time.  And it's not even getting into the high temps yet.  I have a feeling I am gonna be in trouble for the next few months.  If not, our electricity bill might be through the roof.  (Sorry, babe!)  I also still feel pretty awful from the glucose tolerance test.  Fasting + forcing down the MOST disgusting, sugary drink first thing this morning is not exactly my idea of a good time.  This time around, I failed the one hour test.  A normal blood glucose level is lower than 140 milligrams per deciliter and an hour after the drink mine was somewhere around 165 mg/dL, I believe.  So, I will go back and have the 3 hour test taken next week to see how I do.  Thanks to my mother-in-law being able to watch Presley, I will have those three hours at the office to myself to read a book.  I told the nurses it will be a mini-vacation!!!  (I plan on starting the Divergent series in the next few days, so that will give me plenty of time to read and I'm already excited.)

Size of baby:  Molly's about the size of a small cabbage!  If I remember correctly, the ultrasound technician said shew weighed somewhere around 3.5 lbs!

Movement:  Not much change in this area.  I woke up for some reason around 5am this morning and she was bouncing around like CRAZY!  I thought she would be a lot more jumpy this morning after the super-sugary drink, but she wasn't too active.

What I miss most:  Being comfortable.  I have a hard time just getting comfortable to read a book these days.  I also miss sleeping through the night - though I know this is just to condition me for the newborn phase!  I miss being able to move around without being so uncomfortable.  It's just crazy to me I feel like this with so many weeks left to go.

Cravings:  Well right now?  Some Krispy Kreme doughnuts - thanks to this upcoming promotion.  Hands down, they have the best doughnuts, ever.  I'm also looking forward to making Mexican lasagna tonight for dinner - one of my favorite meals!

Best moment of the week:  Easter Sunday was really relaxing and nice!  My in-laws came over and we spent the day together as a family and it was really nice.  Tony hid some eggs for Presley to find in the living room and she had SUCH a blast finding them (and emptying them).  We also had a great little family date night last night - dinner at Chipotle in the mall and then carrousel riding!  When Presley broke down after leaving the carrousel, Tony hoisted her up on his shoulders and she was her happy self again.

What I'm excited about:  Our appointment with the specialist on Monday.  I am looking forward to hearing what he thinks about Molly's kidneys and maybe even get a good look at her face for once!  I'm super excited Tony will be able to be there with me and definitely makes it something I am looking forward to rather than dreading it.

Marriage Monday: Question Game

It's hard to know what to talk about when it comes to the topic of marriage... sometimes learning about marriages in the modern world can be sort-of depressing.  Sometimes exactly what you need to hear, but doesn't always make you feel warm and cheery on the inside or necessarily closer to your partner than you felt before.  Anyways, if you ask me, it's all important to talk about.  Thanks to an entry on the Gottman Blog that I stumbled across, today's Marriage Monday post will be a potentially exciting one!

One of the most fun ways to interact with your spouse is learning more about each other, especially asking questions that might not come up in everyday conversation without making a point to talk about it.

So, today, I want you to play a game with your spouse.  And don't worry - the instructions are easy.

Step one: Both of you will need something to write with and something to write on.  Together, randomly decide on 10 numbers between 1-30.  Then, write down those numbers in a column on the left side of your paper.

Step two: Below is a list of numbers and corresponding questions.  Match the numbers you two agreed on with the questions below, and take turns asking your spouse the questions.

If your spouse gets it right - you can award them the number of points indicated for that question, and you receive one point.  If your spouse is wrong, neither of you receive points.  The same rules apply when you answer.  The winner at the end of your 10 questions is whomever has the higher number of points!  And remember... great conversations and connections lead to great sex!  (And I don't know a single couple who couldn't use more of any of those things!!!)

*   *   *   *   *

1. Name two of my closest friends. (2)

2. What was I wearing when we first met? (2)

3. Where was I born? (1)

4. When is my birthday? (1)

5. Who is my favorite relative? (2)

6. What is my fondest unrealized dream? (4)

7. What if my favorite time of day for lovemaking? (3)

8. What was one of my best childhood experiences? (2)

9. What do I like most to do with my time off? (2)

10. What is my favorite movie? (2)

11. What do I fear most? (4)

12. Which side of the bed do I prefer? (2)

13. What medical problems do I worry about most? (2)

14. What is my favorite romantic restaurant? (2)

15. Name one of my favorite novels. (2)

16. Name two of the people I admire most. (4)

17. What is my favorite sex position? (3)

18. What spot on my body is most sensitive? (4)

19. What was my most embarrassing moment? (3)

20. What is my favorite outfit to wear when I want to look sexy? (3)

21. Do I prefer flowers or candy? (2)

22. What is my favorite holiday? (2)

23. What physical quality am I most attracted to in the opposite sex? (3)

24. When was the first time I had sex? (2)

25. How many kids do I want to have? (3)

26. What is the date of our anniversary? (1)

27. What did I think about you when we first met? (4)

28. When did we have our first kiss? (1)

29. What is my favorite getaway place? (3)

30. What is my favorite way to spend an evening? (3)

*   *   *   *   *

Did you guys end up with some good questions for each other?  Did anything you learned by playing this game end up surprising you?  What was your favorite part of this exercise?  And the competitive person in me has to ask... who won?

28 Week Pregnancy Reflection {baby #2}

How far along?:  I am currently 28 weeks along in my second pregnancy.  This means somewhere around 12 weeks to go!  According to just about every stranger I encounter - "JULY?!?  There is NO WAY you'll make it to July!"  As you could imagine, hearing this is not comforting at all.

I am feeling:  Really great as long as I'm not trying to get from sitting on the ground to standing up quickly.  I was feeling kinda crampy (for lack of a better term) last night but it went away as soon as I laid down - thank goodness.
Size of baby:  Roughly the size of a head of cauliflower - around 2.5 pounds & 16 inches!
Weekly growth milestone:  Apparently, babies start hiccuping around this time.  (Uhh oh!)  Babies at this stage of development start having REM in their sleep cycle - which means she could be dreaming already.  Also, Molly should start settling into the proper position for birth.
Movement:  I put a flashlight up to my belly the other day and Molly started to REALLY kick me.  Her movements are now pretty visible on the outside, though she doesn't do a whole lot of moving.
What I miss most:  Being able to breathe more normally.  I also miss it being just the three of us - the anxiety of what's to come has been getting to me lately.  Not to mention, keeping up with Presley at this stage is still not a problem - but it is more tiresome!
Cravings:  Cucumbers & ranch. Strawberries. Peaches. Bananas. Things topped with chili and cheese sound sooo good (fries, hotdogs, baked potatoes... etc).
Best moment of the week:  It was awesome having a date night - thanks to my husband for arranging it & taking me out, my mother-in-law for coming to hang out with Presley, & Presley for being such an awesome kid!  I had a lot of fun going to Lowe's the next day all together, too.  I'm sure if you asked my husband, the best part of the week for him was picking out his new mower!

What I'm excited about:  Weirdly enough, I'm excited to take the glucose tolerance test next week.  In so many ways I am not looking forward to it - but it will be comforting to know the results.  Not to mention, I have another ultrasound scheduled at the same appointment and I am very much hoping to get a good photo of Miss Molly at this far into my pregnancy!  (Last time she was literally curled in a ball and the technician never even got a peek at her face.)  I'm excited about visiting the maternal fetal medicine doctor the following week, as well, to hopefully gain a better understanding of what's going on with Molly.  I'm also excited for consistently warmer temps and more visits to the park!

For those who read my review & entered the Preggers gift card giveaway, a winner was drawn by Rafflecopter a few days ago and Amanda Carrico is the lucky winner!  I planned on publishing this one earlier in the week - but I am just now getting around to it.  Thanks again to everyone who entered the drawing & better luck next time, homies!!!

Currently x17 & positive affirmations {link ups}

So, today is somewhat of a link up dump!  I love both of these link ups & the hosts, so check them out. 
Currently: Harvesting Kale & Write Yourself Happy (Positive Affirmations): Smile & Write
First up, this week's prompts are {clearing, digging, mixing, reading, watching}

CURRENTLY:

CLEARING:  Our bank account.  Man.  It seems like all I'm doing lately is spending money on groceries or something we need for the house.  Tony even talked me into a $60 leaf blower!  And he was very convincing!!!  (And on his behalf, it is something that we needed.  But still!)  This was on top of the new mower.  And a $45 extension cord.  And new curtains and a rod.  And a million other things.  I will be excited when it all settles down and starts to pay off.  We will also need shoe molding for the entire house (ughhhhh.... stupid project), a few area rugs (I'm thinking eventually for the living room, dining area, & bedroom), to install a new disposal (which was "working" before we moved in & cleared the inspection.... somehow...), a weed eater... and that is just the short list.  It's all very exciting but I am going to feel much better when we are spending less!

DIGGING:  The fact that it is almost Thursday already.  The Scandal finale is tomorrow and I can hardly wait!  I'm several episodes behind with Grey's Anatomy... as usual, but thankfully we have a few more weeks before that season finale.  I'm also SUPER behind on Parenthood & How I Met Your Mother... which YES... means I have NOT seen the finale yet and NO I would not like any spoilers!  The speakers for our computer went out so I just need to catch up on my phone.  Eventually.

MIXING:  I am feeling EXTREMELY mixed on whether or not to transition Presley to a toddler bed before Molly comes.  So many pros/cons and informed opinions.  Ultimately, the decision is ours because every kid is different from the next and as her parents, we know her best.  The thing that is completely throwing me off is the fact that she is STILL UP as I type - an hour after she laid down in her crib!  It is SO DISHEARTENING going from a serious sleeper to someone who plays at bedtime now for so long.  Will this get better in a toddler bed, stay the same, or get worse?  I guess I'm just worried that she isn't ready for it.  I'm worried that she will backslide once Molly is here.  And I'm worried it will affect all of our sleep!  Tony's response?  "Well we can't keep her in a crib forever."  -_-  I wonder if switching to a video monitor for Presley would take some of that anxiety away.

READING:  I just got involved in giving myself a reading challenge with the Goodreads website/app.  I think once I have Molly I am going to regret setting such an ambitious challenge for myself - which is 24 books this year.  Especially considering I started the challenge in April.  Usually, this wouldn't be so bad, but with a newborn?  I am thinking it's just not gonna happen (I'm already 6 books behind schedule...) but we'll see.  Reading any amount of books is better than none at all.  I started the challenge re-reading the Hunger Games and I am still stuck there.  I have not been able to keep my eyes open at night to read!  The book, however, is just as awesome as I remember.

WATCHING:  We've been watching "Ultimate Car Build-off" on Netflix the past few nights (you can guess who chose this) and it is a really good show.  Cars and sports are two of Tony's favorite pastimes and hobbies and thank the good Lord that I've honestly come to love them both as well.  Of course, not as fervently as he does, but I do really enjoy them nonetheless.  Anyways, they have to do these crazy challenges on the show and these shop guys are pretty spectacular with what they can pull off with random vehicles in 40 hours!

Five affirmations for my life:

• A ship in port is safe but that's not what ships are built for.  Grace Murray Hopper
• You is kind.  You is smart.  You is important.  Aibileen Clark
• I am thankful for today.
• Never apologize for being sensitive or emotional.  It's a sign that you have a big heart, and that you aren't afraid to let others see it.  Showing your emotions is a sign of strength."  Brigitte Nicole
• Therefore, what God has joined together, let not man separate.  Matthew 19:6

I plan to incorporate a couple of these the more I begin decorating - the first two are absolutely going up somewhere in this home.  The first one on the list is very special to me and became ingrained in my heart during a TEC weekend a few years ago.  The second definitely speaks to my heart and is from the movie/book The Help at one of the most moving points of the story for me.  The last affirmation on the list is something that has always given me comfort in the struggles that come in our marriage.  The third and fourth on the list are such needed reminders for me - to just stop and be THANKFUL for today and to also stop apologizing when expressing genuine emotions... especially the ones that might make myself/others feel a little uncomfortable at first (such as crying).

I'd love to know what you guys have currently been up to and/or the five affirmations that resound for you.  You can link up through the bloggers listed above!  Thanks to both hosts for bringing bloggers together and giving us the chance to express ourselves further.

Happies & Crappies.

Today is so not my day.  The beginning of today was so not my day.  Thankfully, it all turned around and ended on a sweet note.

CRAPPIES:

•  Drove over an hour round trip to Memphis Lights Gas & Water downtown to pick up some paperwork that MLGW sent to our new home but never ended up making it to us somehow... they told me I had to visit their office as they couldn't send it back out (awesome).  Of course it is in the 30s-40s today and VERY windy + Presley has a cold and a very runny nose.  Great combo!  The trip ended up being a WASTE of time (don't even want to get into that fact).
• To top of the morning's trip - while Presley and I were crossing the street, we hit the trolley tracks just right wrong and the stroller flipped over to where Presley landed face down on the pavement and I landed belly first right into the handlebars.  iPod, iPhone, and keys go flying everywhere... all in the middle of the street!!!!  AHHH!  I just wanted to give up.  Poor Presley was SO upset because I'm sure that did not feel good.  I gave Presley the option of getting back in the stroller or walking the rest of the way and needless to say the stroller became obsolete after that accident.
  

  

  This is pretty much EXACTLY where we bit the dust in the road.

• Once we were home, Presley somehow rolled off the couch while she was laying there.  This girl cannot catch a break today!
• I'm not sure what caused it to be exact, but now that Presley is in her room for a nap, I have got a splitting headache.
• Seems like no matter when we try to plan a trip to visit Amanda, John, Anne Marie, Sammy & new baby Matthew - something comes up and makes it a little more difficult to execute. 
• Just been missing my QC friends a whole heck of a lot lately.  It sucks that so many of them were just becoming mommies as I was leaving and now not only am I missing out on their sweet friendship but also missing out on the mommy/kiddo moments we could have had.  I know life goes on and our friendships will, too, but it's just been bumming me the heck out lately.
• I've had Disney on the brain lately and just constantly find myself dreaming of going back on my honeymoon with Tony again.  I know that we would probably be homesick the moment we got there for our Presley girl and wish she were with us... but a toddler at WDW sounds like less of a vacation to me then if it were just the two of us.  Not to mention, financially, that kinda trip just won't be happening anytime soon!  But for some reason I just can't tell my brain to drop it!!! 
  
  
  

HAPPIES:

• Tony & I got to go on our first date in a long long time and it was so nice!  My mother-in-law came over to spend the night on Saturday and watched Presley while Tony & I went out to dinner at Chipotle!  We just watched the Chipotle special on Netflix and it really made us want to go there.  And it was DELICIOUS.  Seriously awesome, fresh, good food!
• When we wiped out in the middle of the road downtown, this nice guy ran over to us from way down the street to make sure we were okay.  He told me I was doing a really good job taking care of my baby and that she was a tough little girl.  He offered her a cough drop - which was sooo nice but I had to decline because sometimes the crazy people ARE the nice ones!  Even with the minor creepy factor, it was really touching that he would come all that way to check on us.
• My OB/GYN office called me today to give me the information for our referral to the maternal fetal medicine doctor for Molly's kidneys.  My appointment is about two weeks away and thankfully on a Monday so hopefully Tony will be able to take off that day and go with me.
• Speaking of kidneys... I get frequent e-mails from WebMD on various topics and yesterday I randomly got an e-mail on the function of kidneys!  I thought that was a nice little refresher and a funny coincidence.
  
• Thankfully, Matthew's baptism is coming up in a few weeks.  So, even if we can't coordinate a trip, we will definitely be meeting him then.  (Which hopefully we can just do both - go visit them and then see them again on baptism weekend!)  That weekend should definitely be a good one - a bunch of family in town PLUS we're having our housewarming party the day before his baptism!  Can't wait!!!
• I took a short, glorious nap while Presley napped.  Didn't plan on it, but definitely must have needed it. 
• For the second day in a row, I was able to run errands sans Presley after Tony got home from work.  He's such a good man/husband/daddy/lover! :)
• Since the weather turned cold today (and tonight), Tony had the great idea to use our fireplace for the first time!  HEAVENLY.  And he suggested chicken tortilla soup for dinner - another huge hit.  (I used the recipe above plus lime juice, salsa in place of rotel, black beans, cumin, chili powder, minced garlic... and topped it with shredded cheese, avocado, & tortilla strips! YUM.)  Ended the evening with some of our leftover peach cobbler.  YUM!

Marriage Monday: Our Song.

After reading Mandi's post on this topic (thanks to link ups with NFP & Me and Camp Patton), I thought it'd be a perfect opportunity to reminisce.

When Tony & I started dating, a special song for us was "Hanging by a Moment" by Lifehouse.  It was popular at the time and a feel-good, loving song and we just mutually agreed on it as our song!

 I'm falling even more in love with you
Letting go of all I've held on to
I'm standing here until you make me move
I'm hanging by a moment here with you
I'm living for the only thing I know
I'm running and not quite sure where to go
And I don't know what I'm diving into
Just hanging by a moment here with you

 And a little while later, at prom, our first dance together was "Only God Knows Why" by Kid Rock.  Not exactly ideal or extremely romantic in the usual sense, but it was definitely popular at the time.  And I love that it has a funny story attached to it!

And when your walls come tumbling down
I will always be around

We almost ALWAYS get it mixed up with "Picture" by Kid Rock & Sheryl Crow.  "Picture" will come on and I'll say "Awww... it's the first song we danced to!" and for the first half of the song we are being all googly-eyed and sweet and then EVERY TIME one of us realize "WOOPS! Wrong song!!"

I found your picture today
I swear I'll change my ways
I just called to say I want you to come back home
I just called to say, I love you come back home 

When our wedding was fast approaching, picking all the right music was so fun and important to us!  Like so many women, I wrote out an entire list of possible songs - songs that either one of us loved, both of us loved, meaningful songs to us, notorious love songs, etc. and went over and over the list.  You know when it was so awesome to make mix tapes (well, CDs...) for the people you love?  Well, Tony got MANY CDs from me over the years and every so often he would make one for me and I can tell you they meant so much to me.  This song ended up on one of them and ever since it has been special to us.  So when it came to picking our first song we wanted something that meant a lot to us and hadn't been OVERLY used.  It was perfect for us.

However far away, I will always love you
However long I stay, I will always love you
Whatever words I say, I will always love you
I will always love you

I love all of our songs, the various meanings and memories they hold for us, and feel like it makes one heck of a balanced playlist.  I still get the same butterflies in my stomach when I hear "Hanging by a Moment" as I did ten years ago and I literally can feel my brain being transported back in time.  And just a few weeks ago I played "Love Song" by 311 on the Jukebox at dinner... it still feels just as special as it did three years ago.  (Now if I could've only talked Tony into dancing with me at the restaurant!!!!  Next time, for sure.)

It makes me curious - what are some of the songs that have meant a lot to you and your significant other over the years?  And how did they come to be special to you?

Five on Friday!

 *One*
Finally at my first prenatal appointment since the beginning of December and it was a pretty equal balance of horrible and awesome.  I come from a very busy, efficient OBGYN practice and never waited an unrealistic amount of time for an appointment.  The new place seems extremely busy and unfortunately I waited over an hour before seeing my doctor.  (From start to finish we were there just over 3 hours.)  To me, that is crazy talk.  And what made it seriously awful was that Presley was with me.  Another awful part?  I went in expecting a quick check up (because that's what I was told it would be) and it turned into a seriously drawn out appointment with an ultrasound, blood draw, pee-in-a-cup... those kind of things.  Granted, I was in need of all those things, BUT I purposely made sure beforehand to find out what to expect so I would know whether or not I needed to find someone to watch Presley girl.  I don't like subjecting her to these things unless I absolutely have to.  (Waiting around and being told "No!" all morning long is not fun for a 2 year old or her mom.)  Another not-so-fun part was being talked to like I was an irresponsible parent who neglected to come in from December until now for prenatal care.  I tried my best to explain that it was an unfortunate delay that I didn't want because of waiting for healthcare coverage PLUS not being able to be seen until now by this practice.  The doctor and ultrasonographer still treated me like I was an idiot.  Oh well.

An awesome part of the appointment today?  I ran into a really great friend I haven't seen since highschool at the tail end of my appointment today!  She seriously walked up at the perfect time - Presley was absolutely getting bent out of shape and I was literally JUST about to have my blood drawn.  Not only did Presley settle down, but I had someone to talk to and didn't have to think about the needle/blood/etc.  And she is one of those people you run into and leave feeling lighter and better than before - seriously just perfect to see her today.

Another awesome part is that all of these procedures/tests were done and I feel a HUGE weight lifted from my shoulders as a result.  Though I didn't appreciate the way I was talked to by the personnel, I can already tell that they take their jobs seriously and were very thorough with their duties and that they took my specific pregnancy with utmost care and seriousness.  That was VERY much appreciated as well. 

 *Two*
It became apparent that my new doctor took my care seriously when I received a phone call from the office two hours after I left - which I thought was odd.  Turns out, the doctor reviewed the ultrasound scans and found that it showed a mild dilation of Molly's right and left kidney.  The nurse let me know that they were putting in a referral to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist and that they would be in touch with me once they scheduled an appointment to do further research on her kidneys.

From the preliminary research Tony & I have both done so far - it seems like it's nothing to worry about, especially not at this point when we still don't have anything to go on for sure.  Like I said before, I really do appreciate the diligence of the staff at my new OBGYN office and feel cared for already and for that I am very thankful!   

 *Three*
 If you haven't tried Chicken Enchilada Pasta, seriously... give it a shot.  This is a staple in our household and my husband crave it all the time!  Every single time I make it, I swear it tastes a little different that before.  It's a super easy recipe and you can personalize it as you want (we add corn to ours plus fresh tomatoes... YUM) and the flavor is just amazing.  I made it last night and I already want to make it again tonight!

 *Four*
We are planning on taking Presley to see the Easter Bunny this weekend!  She is currently in stranger danger mode... so I fear I may do some emotional damage... but I am hoping for the best.  Plus, a free 4x6 photo from Bass Pro Shop with the bunny?  How can you turn that down?

 *Five*
Presley's sleep has been off the wall lately.  She has started to throw what I call micro-fits before bed or nap time and has gone from a kid who falls asleep right away to a kiddo who sits in her crib and plays/jumps/talks for at least an hour before tuckering out.  It's been a little exhausting, only because I don't know how to amend the situation, but for the most part it seems to get a little better everyday.  Or maybe I'm just becoming a little more immune to it everyday.  I take solace in knowing I am not the only parent who deals with sleep problems from their kids and the stress that comes along with that.

To balance it out - three things Presley LOVES doing lately is taking a bath in our huge bathtub, running like a wild woman throughout our bathroom (is it weird that our bathroom is carpeted?), and taking selfies.

Linking up for Five on Friday with Carolina Charm and the gang.

Currently {link up} x16

Linking up with Harvesting Kale.

This week's prompts are {dropping, making, wearing, kissing, keeping}

DROPPING:  If I physically drop something these days, it's a struggle to pick it back up.  And if I bend too many times in a row then you can pretty much guarantee I'm following it up right away with a trip to the bathroom to pee!

MAKING:  I am too proud of myself and some good deals NOT to talk about it - but yesterday, I made Target my bitch.  I went in armed with physical coupons, coupons from their Cartwheel app, and text coupons (you can currently get some for your own by texting THANKS to 827438).  On top of that, I took advantage of some of their gift card deals (for example: buy 3 UP&UP Paper Towel bundles and get a $5 gift card) and also bought a truckload of fresh meat that was marked down as it was nearing it's "sell by" date.  Just from coupons and promotions, I ended up saving $52 yesterday.  And I am not extreme about it whatsoever (my final bill was over $100)... but I certainly enjoy getting awesome deals (I got a pound of very lean ground beef for $2.52 after it being on sale, having a $2 off coupon attached to it since it was nearing the "sell by" date, and a 5% off coupon from Cartwheel) and doubling/tripling coupons... I just leave with a really good feeling knowing I am saving our family some money on stuff that is really great quality and on things we will 100% be using.  It makes ever buying things for full price a little difficult for me!  The lady who checked me out at Target yesterday kept saying, "Oh girl, that is a really good deal..." or "Dang! You got that for cheap! I need to go get me one of those..." and it was cracking me up!


WEARING:  My new pair of maternity compression pants from Old Navy.  I had a pair throughout my last pregnancy and just fell in love with them.  I continued to wear them occasionally when I wasn't pregnant and then again during this pregnancy (all.the.time.) so they were pretty worn out.  I replaced them and HOLY canoli... they are even more perfect than the first pair.  They are pretty much like yoga pants that just hug you all day long.  Who doesn't want to spend the day being hugged??

KISSING:  Time with my husband goodbye.  Between him working long days six days a week and his various activites after work... I just give up.  I literally HATE being a downer on my blog, but it's been a sore spot lately and I don't foresee it getting any better.  And I hate it.  I know you can't have your cake and eat it too... but the pace of life right now and the uneven balance between busyness and family time is making me resentful.  Both of us failing to make it a priority to talk everything out adds to the failure right now.  I know it's 110% NORMAL for marriages to have ups and downs and struggles - but when you are in the middle of it and feel like the only one in the battle, it really sucks.

KEEPING:  In mind that everything is cyclical and things get better.

27 Week Pregnancy Reflection {baby #2}

How far along?:  27 weeks along in my second pregnancy which makes me an official third trimesterer!  And 13 weeks left to go!

Left: Me @ 27 weeks with Molly
Right: Me @ 27 weeks with Presley

I am feeling:  Large.  I just am.  I'm trying so hard not to be down about my weight at this point (with THREE MONTHS left to go...) but after stepping on the scales yesterday, it's hard to not focus on that number.  Too bad that number won't shame me away from french fries or chocolate....

Size of baby:  Molly is about the size of a rutabaga this week.

Weekly growth milestone:  Baby is now measured head to toe (rather than head to rump).  Molly also might be recognizing my voice now.  

Movement:  She is still mostly calm but when she gets moving, she really gets down!  And the moment anyone else tries to feel her kicking, she stops.  An interesting little peanut she is shaping up to be, already!

What I miss most:  The ease of putting on a pair of socks.  At the end of the day I needed to put some clean socks on and I finally just asked Tony to put them on for me.  Such a sweet man to do so without blinking.  :)

Cravings: Doughnuts.  Chinese food.  Mexican food.  Potatoes.  Corn on the cob.  Cereal with dried strawberries.  Fresh strawberries.

Best moment of the week:  Eating tacos at home last night was a feel good moment for some reason.  It was a seriously delicious meal and it just felt so so nice to fix and eat dinner with Tony in our new home and watch the NCAA championship.  It was definitely a good night.

What I'm excited about:  Super excited for my prenatal appointment this Friday!  Hoping for all good news and results - although I think it really will be just a check up.

Preggers by Therafirm {Review & Giveaway!}

I am so happy to be sharing on this subject today.  Let me start by saying, pregnancy isn't always very glamorous... there are a lot of unattractive things that happen on a very regular basis.  The good news is - as long as your sense of humor is healthy and intact, you will survive these occurrences and laugh each one of them off.  Okay, okay... now you need an example?  Well, I am in my third trimester today, which is impossible to wrap my mind around!  If you know someone who has been this pregnant, they will likely tell you this is when things tend to get ugly - your bladder is harder to control on it's own, you feel so huge that you can hardly find a sleeping position (or sitting position!) comfortably... things of that nature.

Another thing that was very obvious in both of my pregnancies - swelling.  Another ugly byproduct of pregnancy.  I remember in my first pregnancy, my grandmother suggested getting support hose.  My first thought was, "What the heck is that?" and then once she told me more about it, the more comfortable they sounded.  She got me a pair of support socks that I wore towards the end of my pregnancy when traveling long distance over the holidays.  The socks were very basic, served their purpose, but were not very stylish - which is completely okay with me... for those who know me know I will sacrifice style for comfort any day of the week if need be!

Lucky for you (and me!) thanks to Preggers® by Therafirm, we really can have both style and comfort because their products are developed by future moms for future moms!  What's not to love about that?

Let me start with a little information about what they offer and how fantastic they are:  Preggers offers moms-to-be leggings, tights, pantyhose, compression socks, and maternity bands - and all products are gradient compression products.  Simply put, this means that they are tightest near the ankles, with pressure decreasing the further up the product you go.  This allows optimal blood flow and circulation for achy, swollen legs of us pregnant ladies. (And non-pregnant friends - just so you know, you're not missing out on this fun either because GOGO by Therafirm™ is their sister site with similar products for non-maternity clothing!)

Preggers offers so many brilliant colors (boho pink, blue my mind, shop teal you drop, etc...) and products also come in sizes ranging from plus size to petite!  Another huge reason to love them?  Therafirm products are made right here in the USA.  I also really appreciate the layout of their website and how easy it is to navigate.  You can find their frequently asked questions & answers, how to properly wear the products, where you can find a retailer nearby, and pretty much anything else you might need to know before ordering.

Now... to show you what I got!

First up - I got the tights in boho pink!  Such a fun color - especially when carrying a baby girl!

Hindsight?  I would go back and get a darker shade because I think it would look better with my complexion.  Not to mention, I am just not a tights person!  But I wanted to give them a try.  I think if you like wearing tights, you would absolutely like this brand.  And yes, this is the only picture I got while I was wearing these beauties.  Just means I will have to wear them again in the future and get Tony to take a better picture for me!

Next up - I got the leggings in black.  Classic.

I really, really love these and would highly recommend them.   They are a challenge to get on when you are THIS big... but trust me, worth the struggle!  My legs felt better in them and they were super light and breathable.  (For the record, I'm wearing them with a green wraparound maternity dress.  I should have worn an undershirt underneath the dress because the top was a little revealing - so I put my sweater over it and you can hardly tell what I'm wearing!)  We planned on going out to dinner tonight and I was going to get fancied up and everything - but today was delivery day for our furniture and part of the load had to come later in the evening so we ended up just getting Chinese takeout.  Anyways, back to these leggings!  I am so beyond happy to own these and you will be seeing me wear them over and over again.

And here comes the really fun part:

One of my awesome and lucky readers will be winning a $50 gift card from Preggers by Therafirm!!!  Like I said, these products are outstanding and the brand is very upstanding.  You can enter for a chance to win using the Rafflecopter below!  GOOD LUCK!

  

A huge thank you to Preggers for the opportunity to review your brand and products and for the giveaway for my readers!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

One winner will be chosen at random for the giveaway.

If the winner is unresponsive 72 hours after first contact is made, a second winner will be chosen.

26 Week Pregnancy Bumpdate! {Baby 2}

So, I don't feel like doing the questions and answers this week.

I'm currently 26 weeks along in my second pregnancy - which means we've got 14 weeks (give or take) until we meet Molly!

And this week has been a VERY big week for our family for a couple reasons:

1. We moved into our first HOME this week!

2. One of my best friends (Katie) had her little boy - Hunter Joseph - very early on the morning of April Fool's Day.  If my memory serves me correctly, he was 8 pounds 13 ounces.

3. And then, my sister (Amanda) went into labor and had her little boy - Matthew Alan - on her due date, which was also April Fool's Day!  My nephew weighed in at 8 pounds 3 ounces on his birthday!

Anne Marie meeting her brother, Matthew!!!

4. We also bought some new furniture to furnish our new home.  It won't be delivered until next week, but I am SO EXCITED.

We had SO much help from some friends and family when it came to moving - and we needed every last bit of it.  It was seriously the fastest move I've ever witnessed.  Most everything is still in our garage (we weren't able to move everything into the house because our carpets were getting cleaned and stretched the following morning) and we are SLOWLY moving things in.

I've been feeling pretty overwhelmed by the unpacking and moving process as well as the feeling of anxiety from all the responsibility that comes with owning a home.  My Gramma Myers gave some good advice about not rushing into owning a home and now I can see why she said that!  It is a lot to take in.  Overall, we are all adjusting well and I think it was the right move for our family but I suppose only time will tell!

We planned on moving Presley into her toddler bed upon moving in but we have yet to get her room set up and completely childproofed - and her safety is NOT something I'm willing to gamble with - so Tony set up her crib and tonight is the first night in over 100 days she gets to sleep in a real bed... or crib!  In that time she has been sleeping in her pack & play.  About a month into her sleeping in the pack & play we purchased a thicker mattress for her to sleep on as well.  Even still, it couldn't have been as comfortable and yet Presley handled it all like such a champ.  Bedtime almost always went smoothly and she slept regularly through the night.  I really do think she was excited to get into her crib tonight and bedtime went very smoothly (after the first few nights of bedtime in our new house NOT going very smoothly)!!!

Another ironic thing that happened to us since I last wrote - all three of us got a stomach virus!  If you remember, Presley got a stomach bug just a few days before we moved from Illinois to Tennessee.  A few days after that, I got it - literally the day before we left.  And then I infected Tony a few days later on the very day he was leaving Tennessee for Illinois to move everything out of our old house.  It was awful, awful timing.  This time?  Presley got sick at 2am on Friday - the day we closed on our house.  Tony got sick Sunday - the morning we moved.  And me?  I got sick on Tuesday a few days later.  AWFUL!  I hope it is a long time before we do that again.

We're looking forward to next week - getting our new furniture, my first prenatal appointment since the beginning of December, and having a new window installed in our bedroom in addition to some rotten wood being replaced outside of that window.  We are hoping to go see Amanda, John, Anne Marie & new baby Matthew sometime soon - maybe as soon as next weekend?  And this weekend, lots and lots of unpacking!!!

Also, get excited, because this weekend I will be posting a fun product review and hosting my first GIVEAWAY for one awesome reader!  So stay tuned!!